At Ben's home, Ben raised an eyebrow after hearing an explanation of the day's events from Axis and Jason. He rubbed his chin while saying,"A claw appeared and changed into a Phantomranger."
Axis nodded,"When it transformed, the claw called the guy PhantomRogue."
"PhantomRogue… this is the first I've heard of a PhantomRogue."
"Well do you know anything about how a claw could make a Phantomranger or better yet, how it would be able to fly off on its own.",Jason said, exaggerating his movements as he did so.
"I'm afraid I can't answer the Phantomranger portion; as for flying off on its own, that could mean that either the claw is being controlled by someone else or it has a spirit of its own.",Ben said. Axis and Jason sighed then Axis said,"Great, now not only do we have to deal with monsters but possessed claw weapons too."
Kizu came into the room and said,"Axey-chan, can you come help Casey and I with Paul-san."
"Yeah babe.",Axis said while he, Jason and Ben followed Kizu.
Once in the living room, Axis picked Paul B up off the ground and laid him on the couch. Paul B gritted his teeth then said,"Guys, I'll be fine. I just got him by an explosion."
"Shut it, you're getting treatment whether you like it or not.",Casey sternly insisted. Paul B sighed then he sat back while Kizu got out his Circewand. Kizu put the wand to Paul B's chest and said,"Kaifuku." causing green aura to go into Paul B's chest until it abruptly stopped. Kizu looked confused by this then tried again to no avail.
"Babe, what's wrong?",Axis asked while stepping close to Kizu.
"It's not working; I tried to heal him but my magic just stopped.",Kizu said while looking at Axis.
"That's weird.",Jason said while crossing his arms.
Casey had a worried expression on her face, keeping her gaze on Paul B as he rubbed his chest. He looked at his friend then said,"Don't look so worried, Case, I'll be fine." with a reassuring smile.
Casey sighed then she left the room hurriedly. Paul B grunted as he stood up then he followed after Casey. Kizu was going to follow the two but Axis and Jason stopped him. Ben sighed then he noticed something and said,"Where are Daggon and Kou at?"
Jason, Axis, and Kizu all turned to Ben, Kizu and Jason's faces showing some embarrassment.
In a park, Daggon stood on a boulder and sniffed the air while being on all fours, similar to a gorilla. He gritted his teeth then let out an angered shout while saying,"Gah! Where'd that girl go?!"
"Xiya probably went back to the lounge that the Daemons use as a base.",Kou said while crossing her arms. Daggon jumped down to be in front of Kou and he said,"Where is that?"
"I am not going to tell you that.",Kou said bluntly.
"Why not?",Daggon asked.
"Because I know that you'll try and go to fight them which would lead to you dying.",Kou said while crossing her arms.
"I wouldn't die, I would easily beat that monster girl."
"No, you wouldn't because she'd have Ginza and Corvus by her side. I don't want you to die so I am not telling you.",Kou said sternly before turning away from Daggon. Daggon looked at Kou and he gained a saddened look before he walked over to Kou and hugged her from behind, placing his head on her shoulder.
"Okay, I won't go find that monster girl.",Daggon said softly, or as softly as his gruff and raspy voice allowed.
Kou looked at Daggon while cupping his cheek then she said in a caring tone,"I know you actually want to find her but thank you for not doing so."
"I want to, but I don't want to make you sad.",Daggon said in a caring tone. Kou smiled warmly then she kissed Daggon's cheek, causing him to chuckle happily. Daggon then kissed Kou on her lips causing her to giggle.
At the cocktail lounge, Xiya had just informed Ginza and Corvus about the events of the last chapter. Ginza gained an inquisitive look while saying,"A Phantomranger appeared from a weapon; this is a strange thing to hear."
"It was a weird thing to see. Well I didn't actually see the guy appear from the weapon but I did see him turn into energy and go into it before it flew away.",Xiya said, using her hands to mimic what she saw. Ginza nodded, then he looked at Corvus, who was unnaturally silent, and asked,"Do you know anything of this, Corvus?"
"I'm afraid not. I have never heard of nor created any kind of claw weapon that would house a Phantomranger. Although, I now wish to meet this one.",Corvus said with an intrigued smirk.
"Of course you do,"Xiya commented while rolling her eyes.
Ginza stayed silent for a moment until saying,"This could be fortuitous for us."
"It can?",Xiya questioned, looking at Ginza with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. This is if we can capture the weapon.",Ginza said while crossing his arms. Xiya and Corvus looked at one another then at Ginza with raised eyebrows.
Under a bridge near Ben's home, Paul B ran over it while calling out to Casey. He stopped when he heard some faint crying and he leaped over the bridge rail, landing on the ground and seeing Casey underneath the bridge. Paul B walked over to Casey and sat next to her while saying,"Case,"
"Why is it that you act so carefree when it comes to your own safety?",Casey said in a saddened tone, wiping her eyes.
Paul B thought about it, staying silent while putting her back to the bridge. He then sighed and said,"Because I don't think my safety is all that important."
"Well news flash, it is important to me! I know that you're our leader and want to show us how to be strong and keep going in tough times but damn it, I hate seeing you get hurt so much then act as though you're fine."Casey said with a shaky voice as if she was about to cry.
Paul B looked down, taking in what Casey said, then he said in an apologetic tone,"I'm sorry Casey. I just…"
"You just what? What is it that makes you feel that your own safety is less important than all of ours.",Casey asked, looking at Paul B with a frustrated and saddened expression, her eyes being red from her crying.
Paul B looked Casey in her eyes then hesitantly said,"I…"
Paul B was interrupted when the Rogueclaw flew past him and Casey, stopping ten feet from the two and having PhantomRogue appear from it.
"RUIN, RAGE, PURGE THEM IN FLAME! PHANTOMROGUE RAMPAGE!"
Paul B immediately got to his feet and sternly said,"Casey, run."
"I'm not leaving you here to fight this guy alone.",Casey said while wiping her tears and standing next to Paul B. Paul B glanced at Casey and he sighed before saying,"Alright."
"Phantomise.",Paul B and Casey said while putting their phantom medals into their Spirit Changers.
"REDPHANTOM READY! BLUEPHANTOM READY!"
Redphantom and BluePhantom readied themselves while PhantomRogue readied his Rogueclaw and charged at the two. RedPhantom threw a punch at PhantomRogue, but it was parried and he was back handed. BluePhantom threw two punches at PhantomRogue but both were dodged before she was kicked in the abdomen. PhantomRogue dodged several attacks from both RedPhantom and BluePhantom before he slashed both across their stomachs.
PhantomRogue then slashed BluePhantom three times before he landed seven quick punches to her chest. PhantomRogue then kicked BluePhantom backwards causing her to tumble backwards.
RedPhantom summoned his AgniBowblade and managed to slash PhantomRogue's back then he headbutt PhantomRogue. He blocked three slashes from PhantomRogue then he was kicked in the abdomen. PhantomRogue slashed RedPhantom twice then roundhouse kicked the man across the face. RedPhantom spun around and slashed PhantomRogue across the chest.
BluePhantom tried to punch PhantomRogue but, her punch was dodged and she was hauled into the air by her neck.
"Casey!",RedPhantom exclaimed in worry while charging at PhantomRogue. PhantomRogue dropped BluePhantom then he pressed the button on his Rogueclaw while quickly turning to RedPhantom.
"ROGUE REQUIEM!"
PhantomRogue punched RedPhantom in the chest with his Rogueclaw which was engulfed in surging black, violet, and burgundy energy. RedPhantom called out in pain as he flew backwards and crash landed onto his back, reverting into Paul B.
"Paulie!",BluePhantom exclaimed with worry while running past PhantomRogue to be by Paul B's side. She reverted into Casey, revealing a worried expression on her face, as she lifted Paul B so his head could rest in her lap. Paul B grunted in pain then he sat up slightly to see PhantomRogue staring at him and Casey. Casey looked at PhantomRogue, scowling at him angrily, then she summoned her Elizitrigun and aimed it.
PhantomRogue continued to stare at Paul B and Casey, being unphased by having a gun trained on him, then he was absorbed back into the Rogueclaw before it flew away.
Casey continued to have an angered scowl until she looked down at Paul B, her face softening as she saw him slowly sit up on his own. Paul B coughed in pain then he said,"That hurt, but at least you're alright."
Casey clutched her pajama pants then she said,"It doesn't matter if you're not alright." in a saddened tone.
Paul B looked at Casey then he sincerely said,"Case, I'm sorry for worrying you so much. I can't really explain why I don't look after myself more but I don't want to make you worry. So I'll try to look after myself more often."
Casey looked at Paul B then she suddenly kissed him softly. Paul B and Casey kissed for a moment then they stopped and looked into each other's eyes lovingly.
"That's all I ask Paulie.",Casey said with a shaky tone. Paul B nodded then wiped a tear from Casey's cheek, lovingly cupping her face. Casey and Paul B then kissed each other once more before they got up and began making their way to the bus stop.
At the cocktail lounge, Corvus was sitting at the bar by himself, shuffling his deck of cards while doing so. He then looked out the window at the moon before smirking evilly and saying,"Can't wait to see how my experiment will turn out."