Grand Repossession

by LB27

Six hundred years after the Six Great Gods passed away, their descendants continued their legacy, striving to cleanse the world of anything inhuman to achieve their human supremacy. Pandora, along with every child of the Supreme Being, is now tasked with saving a world from the Six's descendants, who have become corrupted by their desire for power and control.

9. Vol1, Ch9 : Principem Rubeum

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Volume 1, Chapter 9 : Principem Rubeum

Valkyrie Sanguinaria, Doppelganger et Exilrix Dei

---

Somewhere south-west of Slane Theocracy

---

"They have moved," Barada said, his eyes watching a blip moving straight across the holographic map. "The intel is good alright, one VTOL,,, and a whole bunch of soon-to-be dead bodies aboard it."

"You're clear to move in."

"And move in, I will." Barada responded with a confident grin.

He stood up from the rock he sat on and twirled a small metallic orb in his hand. The orb emitted a faint red glow as he continued to twirl it.

He walked towards the destination, whistling a tune under his breath while dancing slightly to the rhythm. The team following him kept a close distance behind him, their eyes focused on his every move.

"Oh, and Garrier?" Barada called out, turning to his second-in-command. "Harina said if you rocked this assignment, she'd consider the request you made."

"Thank you, sir. I'll give my best to not botch this up," Garrier replied, bowing slightly before falling back into formation.

"No offense, kid. But don't take her words too seriously, a'ight? She means well." Barada said with a chuckle, patting Garrier on the back.

"Of course, sir. I know that Lady Harina has a tendency to say whatever comes to her mind. But I appreciate the motivation nonetheless," Garrier replied, smiling gratefully at Barada.

"Between me and you, she's an egotestical leader, bordering on narcissism. But she's got the skills to back it up, so we just have to roll with it," Barada whispered, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "Just keep doing your best and don't let her get under your skin."

"Lord Barada, I never asked this, but how did you and the other masters meet her? And how did she become your leader?" Garrier asked curiously, leaning in closer to Barada.

"Well, it's quite a story," Barada began, his voice lowering even further. "All of us, including her, are prisoners serving life sentences for our crimes."

Garrier raised an eyebrow, curious at the unexpected revelation.

"Prisoners? But how did you end up serving under her?" Garrier asked, his voice filled with intrigue.

"She's the one who broke us out," Barada replied, nostalgia tugging at his voice.

"If it weren't for her, we would still be rotting away for the rest of our lives. All of us... are the only people to ever escape that place. No word can describe that prison and the horrors we endured there. It was a living nightmare, a literal hell for the sinners." Barada paused, his eyes distant, as he recalled the memories.

"That place is the single most infamous death row facility in the entire universe. It is said that it's literally impossible to escape or infiltrate the most secure and impenetrable prison ever built. The guards were ruthless, the conditions unbearable, and the punishments unimaginable. But somehow, she finds a way to not only break her out, but all of us as well." Barada said, staring at the horizon with dead eyes.

"I see, no wonder you and the other masters are so loyal to her." Garrier responded, his voice filled with awe. "To have the audacity and skill to liberate not just herself, but an entire group from such a notorious institution... It's truly remarkable."

"Uhm, loyal is a bit of a stretch there, kid." Barada chuckled, breaking the tense silence. "We're not loyal to her; we're indebted to her. She saved our lives and coincidentally we shared the same goal and reason on why we're being imprisoned there in the first place."

"But loyal? No." Barada explained, shaking his head. "Well, maybe to a certain extent. She never held us hostage or forced us to follow her; after she broke us out, she told us to hide wherever we could among the stars as she had a thing to do."

"And we did... for a while, until we realized that even though we managed to escape, there was no place safe enough to hide. We kept moving, world to world, but the hunters were relentless in their pursuit. It became clear that our only chance at survival was to band together and fight back against our captors, so we did." Barada said.

"So that's how you've all ended up together?" Garrier asked, intrigued by the story.

"Yes," Barada replied with a nod. "We tracked where she went and proposed to unite as one against the Primordials. She was hesitant at first, as her own agenda in fighting the Primordials is extremely dangerous and could potentially put us all at risk. However, after much persuasion, she said yes."

"So, back to your question, I guess we're actually loyal to her. She never held us against something we didn't want to do, and she always let us quit whenever we felt like it. I talked with my pals, and we agreed to part ways once we successfully rid the world of the Primordials, those wretched Supreme Beings."

Barada continued, "But until then, we'll stand by her side and fight alongside her. She's proven herself to be able to deal with a bunch of misfits and kept us all alive for millions of years; there's just no one in the world that could replace her."

"That is some motivational words, sir." Garrier responded with a nod.

"Whatever you want to consider it, kid, now let's go..." Barada said as he turned towards the destination.

"We're killing some vampires today." Barada said, a cruel smile forming on his face.

'Incipiam Venatam.'

---

C/TA-01, Crimson Tears

---

Shalltear and her two escort teams, Blood 1 and Blood 2, are asleep in their seats aboard the C/TA-01, Crimson Tears. The personnel transport aircraft is currently cruising at a high altitude, smoothly gliding through the night sky.

The dark cargo bay of the aircraft is filled with crates and equipment, securely fastened to the floor with heavy-duty straps.

The faint hum of the engines provided a soothing background noise for her security details as they conversed in the dark cargo bay.

Shalltear could hear them talking to each other about non-related topics as they waited for their destination to come into view.

"So that's how I end up marrying her," Edwayne mused aloud, making the rest of the escort team chuckle.

"So let me get this straight," Bern interrupted, trying to suppress his laughter. "You're telling us that you got drunk... at your sister's party... and clapped her best friend?"

"Pretty much," Edwayne replied with a sheepish grin.

"That's got to be one of the most fucked-up ways to start a marriage," Raven exclaimed, unable to contain his amusement any longer.

The rest of the team burst into laughter, their previous tension dissipating as they enjoyed the unexpected story. Edwayne shrugged, his face turning slightly red.

"Well, you know what they say—love works in mysterious ways," he said, joining in on the laughter.

"Mysterious? The word you're looking for is 'astronomically impossible', you crackhead." Pilgrim chimed in, her laugh mingling with the others.

"I didn't even realize who she was until the next morning. It was definitely an awkward family gathering after that." Edwayne explained, his embarrassment evident in his voice.

"Heard of that excuse before. If I had a gold bar every time I heard someone say that, I'd have two gold bars. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice." Pilgrim added, her tone filled with amusement.

The rest of the team burst into laughter, finding the situation both amusing and unbelievable.

"Are you sure your girl is not an idiot for marrying a dumbass like you?" Scarce asked, joining in on the laughter. "I mean, yes, you did impregnate her, but that doesn't mean she made the best choice in choosing you as a partner."

"At least I'm being a gentleman and taking responsibility, dick." Edwayne retorted, not letting Scarce's comment get to him.

"Woah! Nice to hear that coming from you; you've come a long way." Scarce said, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise. "But seriously, congratulations on stepping up and being there for your family. It's not something everyone would do."

"What about you? Find a man who's willing to step up and be there for you?" Edwayne asked, genuinely curious.

"Nahh, the dating world is too hard for us military folks. It's tough to find someone who understands the demands and sacrifices of our lifestyle." Scarce explained calmly.

She looked at her teammate beside her, who had been listening to their banter in silence. His quiet personality contrasted with everyone else's loud and boisterous nature.

"What about you, Baby?" Scarce asked, turning to her teammate. "Have you ever thought about finding someone who can handle the challenges of our military life?"

"I thought we agreed to not call me by that embarrassing nickname?" Baby replied sheepishly, blushing slightly.

"Military nicknames are not for you to freely choose; the people in your unit give them to you," Babel explained, chuckling.

"So why do all of you call me Baby?" Baby asked, looking around at his teammates.

"It's because you're the youngest and newest member of our unit," Scarce replied, giving him a reassuring smile.

"No shit, you're so fresh, I could still smell your mom's homemade cookies on you." Parabola joked, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

"Come on, you guys, give the new kid a break." Pilgrim interjected, her voice filled with warmth.

"Yeah? Then what's with your nickname? Why Parabola?" Baby asked, intrigued.

"Because he used the satellite dish back at the boot camp to watch porn... and I guess I should mention it to you, but he somehow has the ability to calculate the trajectory of an ejaculation," Scarce explained, trying to stifle her laughter.

"For your information, it's not even porn. It's just a romance drama with mild nudity sprinkled every now and then." Parabola defended himself with a sheepish smile on his face.

"Mild nudity, you say. Then explain the scene where the main characters have a hot and steamy virginity 'exploration' in the bath house." Scarce raised an eyebrow, her amusement growing.

"Why are you triggered? The scene itself was censored by the steam in the bath house. We, the audience, can't even see anything explicit," Parabola explained, trying to downplay the situation. "Besides, the thing is rated safe to watch for teenage viewers. You're comically missing the point here."

"Can you believe this fool?" Scarce said to Baby.

"Ohhh, that's definitely not something I could ever forget." Baby said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," Scarce continued, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"What about you? Why Scarce?" Baby asked, curious to know how she got her nickname.

"I got mine because I seem to be able to predict the outcome of risky situations," Scarce replied with a sly smile. "It's like I have a sixth sense for danger."

"Definitely a rare and unique talent; pretty 'scarce' if you will." Baby replied with a pun intended, chuckling at his own joke.

"HAHA! Funny." Scarce rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't help but smile at Baby's lighthearted humor.

"Well, I guess it stuck, and now everyone calls me Scarce," she said, shrugging.

"Alright, let's call it," Edwayne said, interrupting the conversation. "Who has the weirdest nickname of all of us here?"

"If we're talking 'absurd' weird, I guess Dino takes the cake here; just add 'saur'." Sail said with a laugh.

"I can hear you!" Dinosaur shouted from across the room, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

"Oh, calm down, you drama queen." Sail said dismissively.

"Care to explain to the new guy what the hell your nickname "Sail" even means, ehh smartass?" Dinosaur challenged Sail, raising an eyebrow.

"He tore his wingsuit back in flight school, nearly costing him his life." Roach explained, joining the conversation.

"Ahh, yes, what do I expect from a clown like him?" Dinosaur said, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

"You shut your damn mouth, you nerd. You got yours from studying dead lizards and fossils all day. At least I earned mine through some real-life adventure." Sail retorted, smirking confidently.

"Yeah, but gravity never teased my life, and I didn't have to sleep with my professor to pass the mark." Dinosaur shot back at Sail.

"Oh, shit! That's a burn, right there!" Scarce exclaimed, laughing.

"Alright, that's enough, you two. Those days are behind you." Old Silver interjected, shaking his head.

"But if we're talking 'mysterious' weird, then I think Luna definitely wins with her nickname 'Moonbeam'. What the fuck does that even mean?" Edwayne asked, chuckling.

"Moonbeam?" Baby asked.

"Yeah, Moonbeam. She got all glowy when irritated." Edwayne explained, imitating Luna's annoyed expression.

"It is hereditary! My family said it was a direct blessing given by Supreme Being Lucifer himself because he was impressed by one of my ancestors." Luna said, raising an eyebrow. "I may not understand it completely, but it's a part of who I am."

The others exchanged surprised glances, unsure how to respond to Luna's revelation. Old Silver raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

"Bullshit, Luna. You expect us to believe that Supreme Being Lucifer just gave his blessing away? He's a Supreme Being, Luna. A Supreme Being doesn't just randomly hand out blessings to individuals." Old Silver crossed his arms, his tone filled with doubt.

"I've heard enough tall tales in my time, but this one takes the cake." Luna sighed, her eyes narrowing as she met Old Silver's gaze.

"I understand your skepticism, but I assure you, it's the truth. My ancestor is many things, but a liar is not one of them. The Supreme Being Lucifer has indeed bestowed his blessing upon him, and I'm proud to carry on his legacy." Old Silver raised an eyebrow, clearly still unconvinced.

"It is real, OS." Edwayne chimed in.

"Yeah? What gives?" Old Silver asked, crossing his arms skeptically. "I mean, how can we be sure this isn't just some elaborate hoax or a wild exaggeration?" Edwayne shrugged.

"Hey, I'm just telling you what Luna told me. Whether it's true or not, who knows?" He replied with a smirk.

"Mhmm." Old Silver continued to stare at Edwayne, his skepticism evident in his furrowed brow.

"Hey, come on, we came from a world where magic and science coexisted. What good does being an agnostic do for us now?" Edwayne retorted, his tone slightly defensive. "Besides, Luna has never led us astray before. We should at least give her the benefit of the doubt."

"That is yet to be seen," Old Silver responded, his voice filled with caution.

"Buddy, you were born in a world where the Supreme Beings created places and things that defied the laws of physics. You can't just doubt them, considering that they have existed since the beginning of time." Babel interjected, emphasizing the long-standing belief in the Supreme Beings.

"I'm a man of science and logic, Babel, not gods and mythology," Old Silver retorted, his skepticism evident.

"And you can be whatever you want, buddy, I never said you should believe in a god or any gods, in fact," Babel replied calmly. "But dismissing their existence without exploring the wonders they have created would limit your understanding of the world."

"So you consider the Supreme Beings as 'Gods'?" Old Silver asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I don't. They didn't consider themselves gods; they never have and never will. They created the entire universe and everything within it, but they are not deities to be worshipped. They are beings of immense power and knowledge, far beyond our comprehension. To label them as gods would diminish their true nature and the complexity of their existence." Babel explained in a calm and measured tone.

"They exist on a different plane of existence, operating on a level that surpasses our understanding. Their purpose is not to be worshipped but rather to guide and shape the universe according to their own intricate design. To reduce them to mere gods would be an oversimplification of their vast capabilities and the profound impact they have on the world."

"He's right, you know." Scarce added, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, how could you serve under the daughter of one of the Supreme Beings without believing in them?" Parabola interjected, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, this took a turn." Baby muttered under his breath.

The lights inside the cargo bay suddenly lit up in a blaring red, changing the bay door lock system to ready. The lamp at the door changed to green, indicating that the door was now unlocked and ready to be opened.

"Approaching jumping point, ETA 30 seconds," the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom.

Shalltear opened her eyes, waking up from her sleep, and unlocked her safety belt and strap on her seat. She stood up, putting on her helmet and grabbing her lance.

"You have 20 seconds to gear up." Shalltear commanded her escort teams.

"Okay, people, you heard the boss. It's time to earn our paychecks, double time!" Edwayne exclaimed.

The escort teams quickly sprang into action, donning their exosuit armor onboard the transport aircraft.

They slipped their toes into the assembly platform and pressed their heels firmly against the triggering mechanism, activating its assembly sequence.

The platform began to hum with energy as it whirred to life, extending mechanical arms and attaching various pieces of armor and external weapons to the escort teams, locking each piece with specialized, high-powered magnets.

With each piece of armor securely attached, the platform released a soft, satisfying click, indicating the completion of the assembly process. The escort teams now stood fully equipped with their newly attached armor and external weapons, ready to embark on their mission.

"Blood 1, that's Edwayne, Scarce, Baby, Babel, Gimmick, Chess, Roach, and Pilgrim; you're with me to the prime suspect hiding inside the underground hideout, through the cave." Shalltear said, her voice commanding and authoritative.

"Blood 2, that's Parabola, Sail, Moonbeam, Dinosaur, Drugs, Old Silver, Mountain, and Raven; you folks hold back in front of the cave, make sure the perimeter is secured, and alert us if you spot any suspicious activity," Shalltear continued, her instructions clear and concise.

"Ma'am!" responded the team in unison, acknowledging their orders. They quickly put on their helmets and lined up behind Shalltear.

Shalltear walked to the cargo bay door and pressed a button beside the door, activating the intercom system connected to the pilot.

"We're set, open the cargo bay door," Shalltear said, her voice projecting through the intercom.

The sound of the locking system disengaging echoed through the cargo bay as the door began to slowly slide open. The air inside the bay suddenly became filled with a rush of wind, causing the cargo bay to fill with a deafening roar.

"Follow my lead," Shalltear commanded, stepping confidently towards the open door.

She adjusted her grip on her weapon, the wing on her back slightly spreading out as she stood on the edge of the door.

---

Intro song :

Real Gone

Sheryl Crow

"Crimson Princess... descending now." Shalltear said, walking off the edge of the door and diving headfirst into the abyss below.

The wind whipped through her crimson armor, causing it to flutter and billow behind her as she descended.

"God, she's so cool." Scarce said, watching in awe as Shalltear gracefully plummeted through the air.

"Well? What are we waiting for? Parabola, descending." Parabola said, following Shalltear's lead and leaping off the door with confidence.

"Fucking showoff." Moonbeam muttered under her breath.

"Scarce, descending." Scarce said, jumping off the door and joining the others in their descent.

"Edwayne, descending."

"Babel, descending."

"Gimmick, descending."

"Chess, descending."

"Roach, descending."

"Pilgrim, descending."

"Sail, descending.

"Moonbeam, descending."

"Dinosaur, descending."

"Drugs, descending."

"Old Silver, descending."

"Mountain, descending."

"Raven, descending."

"This is Baby... descending."

Baby was the last to speak; he jumped off the door with a front flip and descended into the sky, following everyone before him.

Baby straightened his body, slipstreaming through the air faster so he could catch up with his teammates following behind Shalltear.

He passed by the other members of his team, rolling around in mid-air to safely avoid his teammates, before slowing his descent and falling beside Scarce.

"Look at you all acrobatic and shit." Scarce joked, giving Baby a thumbs up.

"Adrenaline kicks in." Baby replied with a grin. "Gotta keep up with the best, right?"

"Think you can keep up with the best?" Scarce challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"Try me." Baby responded confidently.

"Alright, the last one to land beside Lady Shalltear buys dinner for the whole team!" Scarce declared, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Bet," Baby replied before straightening his freefall posture like a bullet, reducing his air resistance and increasing his speed.

Shalltear just rolled her eyes while overhearing their banter over the open channel as she gracefully descended towards the landing zone. She streamlined her body, tucking her limbs close to her torso to minimize drag.

With a calm and focused expression, she effortlessly dove through the air, falling like a needle towards the ground below.

"2000 meters," the A.I. announced in a monotone voice.

"1500 meters,"

"1000 meters,"

"900 meters,"

"800 meters,"

"700 meters,"

"600 meters; booster activation recommended." the A.I. suggested, but she ignored it.

"Hold that order," Shalltear responded firmly, her freefall accelerating as she descended further.

"500 meters,"

"400 meters,"

"300 meters, speed reduction is highly recommended," the A.I. warned urgently.

"Boosters up!" Shalltear commanded, activating the boosters and spreading her wings wide to slow her descent.

Both of her escort teams, Blood 1 and Blood 2, activated their boosters as well, following Shalltear's lead. They adjusted their positions, forming a V formation behind her as they slowed their speed down to match Shalltear's descent.

The boosters on their suits roared to life, emitting a powerful burst of energy that countered the force of gravity.

The intense heat from the boosters caused the air around them to shimmer as they continued their controlled descent towards their target location.

"100 meters, increasing thrust to full thrust," the A.I. voice announced in their helmets.

They adjusted their body position to stand upright with their arms extended out in front of them, ready to brace for impact.

At the 20-meter mark, the boosters automatically shut off, and they landed on the ground with their feet, which were helped by their suit's shock-absorbing technology. The impact was still jarring, but the suits effectively minimized the force, allowing them to quickly regain their balance.

Shalltear stands up from her landing position and folds her wing. They followed her action and folded their wings into their suits.

---

"Game time." Shalltear declared. "Safety's off until I say otherwise, or you're dead."

The team members nodded in agreement and took out their weapons, checking them for any malfunctions or damage from the landing.

They turned on their suit's automatic shoulder cannons and activated their targeting systems. Their shoulder cannons moved around in sync with their gaze, ready to lock onto any potential threats.

"Set your firepower to low; we don't need to cause unnecessary collateral damage," Shalltear instructed. "We're here for a specific target, not to level the entire area."

Both teams adjusted their settings accordingly, ensuring that their weapons were calibrated for precision rather than sheer firepower.

They walked for a few minutes before reaching the front entrance of the cave leading to the underground complex.

The entrance was guarded by two bandits with worn-out leather armor and rusty swords. Shalltear signaled for her team to halt and observed their position from a distance.

"My lady, how do you want to do this?" Edwayne asked Shalltear, crouching down beside her,

"Do you want my honest answer, or do you want my strategic answer?" Shalltear replied with a stoic expression.

"Uhmm, we'll do whatever you think is best, my lady," Edwayne replied, slightly unsure.

"Logic dictates that charging head first is never a good idea," Shalltear said, her gaze fixed on the two bandits. "But just by looking at their trash gear, I don't think we have much to worry about. We could easily overpower them without much effort."

"So... we're jumping them?" Edwayne asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I'll jump them." Shalltear spoke confidently, standing up from her crouching position and walking towards the bandits with a smirk on her face.

Both teams followed directly behind her, walking with a sense of caution and readiness. Shalltear continued to strode towards the bandits; her lance reflected the dim sunlight of the late afternoon.

---

"I told you, man, this is the best job we commoners will ever get," one of the bandits said to his friend and fellow guard. "Snatching rich assholes' valuables and then doing the deed with whoever ladies they bring along? It's a win-win situation for us!"

"Right?! I thought being a bandit was all about danger and fighting, but this is way better," his friend replied with a chuckle. "And the best part is, we always have the element of surprise on our side. These rich folks never see us coming."

He glanced at the distance in front of the cave entrance and saw a group of unknown individuals wearing weird, bulky armor with a stick sitting on top of their shoulders.

He and his friend saw a girl wearing an even weirder armor as red as blood, with white feather wings on her back, and carrying a long lance with a tube attached to it.

"Now who the fuck are these idiots?" He muttered under his breath, perplexed by the strange sight before him.

"I have no fucking idea; boss didn't say anything about meeting with a group like this," his friend replied, squinting to get a better look at the peculiar individuals.

They saw the group stop a little distance in front of them except for the girl with the blood-red armor who kept walking towards them. She stopped right in front of them, her piercing gaze locked onto their eyes.

"Oi, girly! Who the hell are you?" He blurted out, trying to mask his unease with a touch of bravado.

"Yeah, I'm looking for a turd named Brain. Is he here?" Shalltear asked, her voice laced with a hint of impatience.

Shalltear saw the two bandits exchange unsure glances with sweat glistening on their foreheads.

"I'll take that as a yes, then." Shalltear said, a wicked smile playing on her lips. "Well, whatever, I'm coming in."

The two bandits crossed their swords, blocking her path. Shalltear stopped and sighed in exasperation.

"Look, I don't have time for this," she said, her tone dripping with annoyance. "Either step aside or I'll blow your heads off like a watermelon."

"Not so fast, girl! You better hand out all your money and weapons and that weird armor of yours." One of the bandits demanded, his voice filled with arrogance. Shalltear chuckled darkly, her eyes narrowing with amusement.

"Last warning, step aside or lose your heads." Shalltear spoke, her voice dripping with chilling confidence.

"Fuck you, little girl!" The bandit spat out defiantly, his bravado masking his growing unease.

"You ask for it," Shalltear replied, her voice cold and deadly.

In a flash, she slashed the man's neck with her claw on her left hand before pushing her needle-like lance through his chest.

Blood spurted from the bandit's wounds as he collapsed to the ground, dangling limply from Shalltear's lance as his head just barely remained attached to his body, clinging to whatever neck muscle she hadn't completely severed.

The sight of his lifeless eyes staring back at the other bandit sent a wave of terror through his body. He stumbled backward and ran inside the cave, desperately seeking refuge from the gruesome scene.

The echoes of his heavy footsteps reverberated off the cave walls, amplifying his fear as he prayed for safety from the merciless predator lurking outside.

Shalltear pulled her lance back, causing the dead bandit's body to lurch forward and collapse onto the ground. She moved her hand in a wave-like motion, controlling the blood that pooled around her and manipulating it into a swirling vortex of crimson.

As the blood danced in the air, Shalltear shaped it into a long phallic object and solidified it into a sharp, deadly weapon. With a flick of her wrist, she launched the blood spear towards the fleeing bandit.

The blood spear whizzed through the air, piercing through the bandit's back with a sickening thud. He fell to his knees, clutching the blood spear that stuck out of his chest.

He let out a gurgled gasp, his eyes wide with shock and pain. Shalltear approached him slowly, a sadistic smile playing on her lips as she watched the life drain from his eyes.

"What? I can't hear you with you spewing blood everywhere," Shalltear taunted, her voice dripping with malice.

After a few moments of spewing blood, the bandit eventually fell silent, his body slumping to the ground, lifeless. Shalltear walked over his dead body and casually kicked it aside, walking towards their underground hideout.

"Blood 2, stay guard," Shalltear commanded, her tone cold and commanding. "Blood 1, you guys come with me."

"Ma'am!" Both teams responded in unison, acknowledging Shalltear's orders.

They quickly followed her lead, leaving behind the lifeless bandit and making their way towards the underground hideout.

Team Blood 2 positioned themselves in front of the cave entrance with their weapons' safety disengaged and their senses heightened.

Shalltear and Team Blood 1 cautiously descended into the darkness, their eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

They strode down the dark passageway, their footsteps echoing off the damp walls. The air grew colder as they ventured deeper into the underground hideout.

"Detecting multiple life signs inside, current hostility level unconfirmed. Proceed with caution."

"How many?" Shalltear asked, her tone cold and commanding.

"77 humans, current armaments mostly consist of iron close-ranged weapons such as swords, spears, axes, hammers, wooden shields, bows, and arrows."

"Not much of a blockade, then." Shalltear remarked sarcastically.

"My lady, I'm detecting one individual with higher-than-average physical capabilities, the highest among the humans. I ran his data and compared it to one of the warriors mentioned in Lord Pandora's report and found a striking similarity in their strength and agility."

Shalltear's interest piqued, and she raised her eyebrow after hearing this information.

"Interesting," she said, her voice filled with curiosity. "Tell me more about this individual."

"Human, male, approximately mid-twenties, and capable of performing lower-tier magic. His physical capabilities are rated above average for a human, with exceptional speed and endurance."

"Still, he's just a human, I wouldn't bat an eye even if he could perform a few tricks," Shalltear remarked dismissively. "Remind me to bag his body back to Nazarick for "research purposes"."

"Of course, my lady."

Shalltear and team Blood 1 continued their walk down the cave as they ventured deeper into the bandit hideout.

Their eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any signs of movement or potential threats. Shalltear's dismissive comment lingered in the air, a reminder of her disdain for humans and their limited abilities.

She stopped in her tracks, raising her hand in a commanding gesture. Her escort team immediately stopped and raised their weapons in response to Shalltear's signal.

"Hold," she said, her voice filled with authority.

Shalltear's vampiric senses had detected a faint sound echoing from the depths of the cave—a sound of people talking and laughing, bottles clanking, and coins jingling.

"Lady Shalltear, what is your order?" Edwayne asked, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

Shalltear's crimson eyes narrowed as she listened intently, her mind calculating the potential threats lurking within the cave.

"The A.I. is right; alright, there's 77 people in there," she said, her voice filled with authority.

"Edwayne, you take point. You shield me; I don't want to waste my energy on these weaklings." Shalltear commanded, her tone dripping with arrogance.

Edwayne nodded, stepping forward and placing his shield in front of him. His suit's shoulder cannons slide upward from his back and lock into position, pointing forward above his shield.

He walked towards the cave's inner chambers, his eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement.

The team followed closely behind him, forming a protective barrier around Shalltear. They followed the sound of bandits coming from inside the cave, their footsteps echoing off the walls.

---

They reached the bandit's hideout underground and saw the bandits engaged in conversations with each other.

"That's enough, I'll take command now." Shalltear said, her voice filled with authority as she stepped forward.

The bandits turned to face her, grabbing their weapons on the cave floor and eyeing her warily.

"Who the fuck is she?" One of the bandits sneered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"I don't recognize her. She must be new around here." Another bandit, with a scar across his cheek, spoke up.

"Doesn't matter who she is, let's off her!" One of the bandits exclaimed, raising his weapon threateningly.

"Now, now, fellas. Let's think this through. I'm here to talk to 'Brain', is he here?" Shalltear asked, her voice calm and steady. The bandits exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.

"Who wants to know?" Shalltear maintained her composure, her eyes scanning the bandits as she replied.

"Let's just say I have some business to discuss with him. It would be in your best interest to let me pass peacefully." she said, her tone assertive yet composed.

"What's in it for us?" One of the bandits asked, crossing his arms skeptically.

"You get to keep your life and see tomorrow's sunrise. Either way, I'm having a talk with him." Shalltear added, her voice carrying a hint of warning.

"I'm sorry, little lady. Boss said nobody was allowed to go in or out without his permission." Shalltear's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin.

"Your funeral," Shalltear responded, her voice dripping with a dangerous calmness.

She snapped her fingers, signaling the escort team to move in and take control of the situation.

---

"That's our call. Blood 1, move." Edwayne commanded, the visor on his helmet slide down and cover his entire face.

The rest of his team followed suit, their expressions hidden behind their own visors. They moved swiftly, as fast as a pack of wolves.

They stopped around Shalltear on their knees, aiming their weapons directly at the bandits. Shalltear put on a wicked grin at the bandits.

"Well, well, well, how the turntables." Shalltear mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The escort team raised their eyebrows at her incorrect and obviously reversed phrase, but they remained silent, understanding the message she was trying to convey.

"My lady, I think you had it backwards," the A.I. assistant chimed in, trying to correct Shalltear's mistake. "I believe the phrase is 'how the tables have turned.'."

"No, this is how I prefer to say it," Shalltear replied, her grin widening. "It adds a certain... flair."

"Understandable, my lady. I will note your preference for future reference," the A.I. assistant responded.

"Now, where was I?" Shalltear paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "Ah yes, Blood 1."

The escort team focused their attention on Shalltear, waiting for her next command. Their eyes and shoulder cannons fixed on the bandits, emitting a red light beam.

"Dead, dead, dead, and dead. Take them to church." Shalltear said, spreading her arms wide.

The Blood 1 team immediately sprang into action, firing their shoulder cannons at the bandits in a hail of bullets.

Their cannons targeted each bandit, and their rotating arm moved along each bandit, ensuring no one escaped their deadly aim.

The sound of gunfire filled the space as casings rained down on the ground. The bandits, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, had no chance to react as they were swiftly eliminated one by one.

Shalltear watched with a satisfied smile as her team efficiently carried out her orders, leaving no room for mercy or escape.

The team's shoulder cannons spewed 1200 rounds of small explosive ammunition per minute. The bandits were quickly overwhelmed and fell to the ground, lifeless.

One bandit managed to dodge the hail of bullets and flee deeper into the underground hideout.

"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Shalltear shouted, signaling for her team to stop shooting.

The team stopped their assault, their weapons still smoking from the intense barrage. Shalltear's eyes narrowed as she focused on the escaping bandit, paying him close attention.

"My lady?" Edwayne questioned, his voice filled with concern.

"Shouldn't we go after him? He could alert others and jeopardize our mission."

Shalltear's gaze remained fixed on the fleeing bandit as she contemplated her next move.

"We'll get him later, along with his buddies. Two birds, one stone." Shalltear said with a confident smirk.

The bandits bodies lay scattered across the ground, blood pooling around them and smoke rising from whatever remained of their charred remains after being showered with explosive ammunition.

Shalltear took a deep breath and released it in a long, slow exhale.

"You smell that, men? That's the smell of your tax money at work." Shalltear said with a smirk as she surveyed the aftermath,

"My lady, as your A.I. assistant, I do need to remind you about not breaking the universal law of opening fire upon the defenseless, even if they were your enemies. Rules of engagement are in place for a reason," the A.I. assistant interjected, its voice calm and composed, causing Shalltear to grumble under her breath.

"Who made those damn laws and regulations, huh?! I want their names!" Shalltear exclaimed, her frustration evident in her voice.

"The Supreme Beings did, but I doubt I need to name all 41 of them to someone of your class, right, my lady?" The A.I. assistant responded, maintaining its composed tone.

"Ahh, damn. I forget that father and his friends loved the mortals too much," Shalltear muttered, her anger subsiding slightly.

"I suggest taking a more... diplomatic approach, my lady. Perhaps there are ways to subdue your enemies without you and your subordinates filling their bodies with a rain of lead and cyclonite hexogen combinations."

"I like the old you, cold and calculated, a true battle-oriented A.I. assistant, not this version with all these pesky emotions," Shalltear remarked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"I could revert back to my previous state if that is what you desire, my lady," the A.I. assistant responded, its tone devoid of any emotion.

"You know what? Hold that thought. I don't want to break your coding by changing your settings mid-mission," Shalltear said, her tone softening slightly.

"Are you sure, my lady? My old version comes with an "instant death" zone that could eliminate any non-friendlies in a matter of seconds. I know you liked to utilize it back when you were younger."

"Nope, let's keep you this way for now until I say otherwise. My father is going to put me on ice if I were to break your lines of code." Shalltear said, a bit apologetically.

"Blood 1, let's move out. I want this thing to be over before midnight." Shalltear commanded.

"Yes, ma'am!" The team responded in unison, ready to carry out Shalltear's orders.

---

After desperately fleeing the brutal onslaught, the still-living bandit retreats to his friends deep underground. The other bandits watched him stumble as he collapsed onto the cold, damp floor.

"What the hell happened to you, man?" One of the bandits asked, concern evident in his voice.

"My group... we were... we were attacked..." The injured bandit managed to gasp out, struggling to catch his breath.

"Slow down and speak clearly," another bandit urged, kneeling down to help him up. "Who attacked you?"

"I don't know! These guys... they have weird, bulky armor with cannons on their shoulders. Those things rained down hell on us all before we even blinked." The injured bandit's voice trembled as he recounted the terrifying encounter.

"Weird armor? Shoulder cannons? What are you smoking?" The second bandit scoffed, exchanging a skeptical glance with his comrades.

"I swear, I'm not making this up!" the injured bandit insisted, his voice filled with desperation.

"Okay, okay, what do they look like?" The second bandit reluctantly leaned in, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Well, they were tall, like giants, and their armor was this black all around, with glowing red lines running through it. And the shoulder cannons...they were small, as small as beer bottles, and they fired these small rocks that exploded on impact," the injured bandit explained, his eyes widening as he recalled the encounter.

"The guys didn't stand a chance at all! Their bodies were mangled and torn apart within seconds. We're fucked, man, we're fucked!"

"Calm down!" the leader of the bandit group interrupted, trying to maintain control of the situation.

"Brain, you wouldn't calm down if you saw what I saw back there." The injured bandit retorted, his voice trembling with fear. "It was like nothing I've ever seen before. These small rocks had some kind of explosive power that tore through flesh and bone like it was paper. We need to get the hell outta here."

"I said calm down!" Brain shouted, his voice filled with authority. "Tell me, how many of them are there?"

"Just nine, including a small girl with an even weirder red armor with wings; she might be the leader." The injured bandit added, his eyes darting around nervously. "The weirder thing is... she's looking for you."

"Me? I didn't think I had any enemies," Brain replied, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Why would she be looking for me?" The injured bandit shrugged weakly, wincing in pain.

"I don't know, but she seemed to know what you look like and your name."

Brain's confusion deepened as he tried to recall any encounters that could have led to this mysterious girl seeking him out.

"Did she tell you what her name is?" Brain asked, hoping for any clue that could help him make sense of the situation.

"No, Brain, I was busy running and keeping my body in one complete piece." The injured bandit replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Alright, then." Brain said, walking towards the hideout's exit.

"Where are you going?" The injured bandit asked.

"To meet this girl," Brain said casually.

"Did you not hear everything I just said? She will tear you apart, man." The injured bandit's warning only fueled Brain's curiosity further.

"All the more reason to meet her," Brain replied confidently. "I want to see what she's capable of."

He turned back and said to the injured bandit, "Besides, I've always been drawn to danger. It's in my nature to seek out the unknown and test my limits. Who knows, maybe she'll surprise me."

"That guy is so dead." The injured bandit shook his head in disbelief.

---

"I know they're idiots, but surely they can handle some intruders. Why do I have to do everything myself?" Brain muttered, exasperated by the lack of competence around him.

He had always been the one to take charge and solve problems, but it seemed like others were content with relying on him.

Frustrated, he wondered if he would ever find a team that could match his abilities and share the burden of responsibility.

"Still, who is the girl he's talking about? And how did she even know my name? This is getting a little suspicious." Brain couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping in.

He decided to keep walking towards the cave exit to meet with this girl and get some answers. As he approached the exit, he noticed a small group of people walking towards him.

He eyed the short girl who led the group; she strode with casual confidence and a deadpan expression.

'Red armor, wings on the back, short. She's the girl, alright.' Brain thought to himself.

As the group got closer, Brain noticed that they all had a similar emblem on their armor, which made him even more curious about who they were and why they seemed to be looking for him.

The girl's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Brain, making him feel even more unsettled. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about her, like she wasn't even a human.

'Shit. Something's not right about her.' Brain's instincts were screaming at him to stay away from the girl, but he couldn't ignore the magnetic pull she seemed to have on him.

"Hey, shorty. I heard you've been looking for me." Brain said, trying to sound nonchalant despite the unease bubbling inside him.

The girl's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were sizing him up.

"Are you Brain?" Shalltear asked, her voice low and devoid of any emotion.

"Sure am. Who are you?" Brain asked, trying to maintain his cool demeanor despite the unease creeping up his spine.

The girl's silence stretched for a moment before she finally spoke, her voice carrying an air of mystery.

"Call me Shalltear," she replied cryptically, her eyes never leaving his.

"Girl, you had one weird ass name. Are your parents weirdos or something?" Brain asked, unable to resist a hint of sarcasm.

Shalltear and the group of men following her immediately changed their demeanor, their previously calm expressions turning cold and hostile.

The atmosphere became tense as Shalltear's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. Brain's attempt at sarcasm had clearly struck a nerve, and he could feel the unease intensifying within him.

"Watch your tongue, mortal." Shalltear replied with a chilling tone, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Sorry, but anyone who heard your name must've thought of the same thing. What does 'Shalltear' even mean? Are you trying to tear something apart?" Brain couldn't help but push further, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Shalltear's grip on her weapon tightened, her knuckles turning white as her anger grew. Edwayne stepped forward to Shalltear's side, trying to calm her down.

"My lady, just give me the word and I'll-"

Shalltear raised her hand, silencing Edwayne before he could finish his sentence. She took a deep breath, visibly trying to regain her composure.

"No. I got this." Shalltear said firmly.

"Who is he? Your lapdog?" Brain asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Kind of, but that's not the point." Shalltear responded, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"So what do you want with me? I figure this isn't just a friendly visit." Brain asked, his tone tinged with suspicion.

"None of your concern, you puny mortal." Shalltear replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "But I need to bring you back with me."

"To where?" Brain asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "And why would I go anywhere with you?"

"I'd do it without asking questions if I were you." Shalltear said, her voice dripping with a dangerous undertone.

"I don't roll that way, lady." Brain replied defiantly, crossing his arms over his chest. "You'll have to give me a damn good reason to go anywhere with you."

"Follow me if you want to live with all four of your limbs intact," Shalltear sneered, her eyes flashing with a hint of menace. "Trust me, it's in your best interest to come with me."

"Yeah, no way in hell." Brain said, shaking his head.

Brain unsheathed his sword on his hips and held it with both hands. The glint of the blade caught the dim light, reflecting Brain's determination.

"I've faced worse than you," he declared, his voice laced with a newfound confidence. "If you think I'll back down that easily, you're sorely mistaken."

"You really think that piece of metal could scratch me? That tiny piece of scrap in your hands?" Shalltear mocked, her voice dripping with arrogance.

"I have a few tricks up my sleeve, girl." Brain smirked, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Shalltear's overconfidence. "Don't underestimate what a skilled swordsman can do. Prepare to be surprised."

"Let's see this 'surprise' then." Shalltear said.

She strode forward, her crimson eyes fixed on Brain with a mix of amusement and curiosity. Brain eyed her up and down, noting the confidence in her stance. He tightened his grip on his sword, ready to unleash his hidden techniques.

'These foolish monsters that think they're the strongest, they're all the same. They think that humans are weak, that our bodies are fragile, our abilities nonexistent. But I will teach you how dangerous it is to underestimate us.'

'Field.'

Brain conjured a magic circle around him and took a stance with his sword horizontally behind his back. The magic circle lights up, illuminating the dark surroundings.

'One swing. That's all it will take to prove that mortality is not a weakness,' Brain muttered under his breath.

With each step closer, Shalltear didn't back down, her crimson eyes gleaming with confidence. She continued to stroll towards Brain, and her expression remained unwavering.

As she reached the edge of the magic circle, a faint smile played on her lips, revealing her anticipation for the impending clash.

'Gotcha. Blade Technique, Whistling Wind!'

Brain swings his sword with all his might, aiming for Shalltear's neck. Time seemed to slow down as his blade went for the kill.

However, his blade stopped just an inch from her skin, captured by Shalltear's fingers in a pinching motion. Shalltear's grip was surprisingly strong, effortlessly halting Brain's powerful strike.

A glint of amusement flickered in her eyes as she effortlessly overpowered him, showcasing her superior strength and skill.

"M-Monster..." Brain whispered in disbelief, his voice trembling.

"Am I? I mean, for all we know, humans are the worst monsters," Shalltear replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

She let go of Brain's sword and took a step back, allowing him to regain his composure.

"I-Impossible..." Brain muttered, his eyes wide with shock.

"For you, definitely." Shalltear replied with a sly smile, her tone filled with condescension.

Brain swings his sword at Shalltear again in a wild and erratic fashion, fueled by a mix of fear and anger. His strikes were desperate, lacking any semblance of skill or strategy.

Shalltear effortlessly parried each swing with her pinky nail, effortlessly deflecting the attacks as if they were nothing more than a gentle breeze. She yawned loudly, clearly bored by Brain's feeble attempts.

"Is this really the best you can do?" she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

Brain continued to lash out at Shalltear, his frustration growing with each failed strike. Sweat poured down his face as he desperately tried to land a single blow, but Shalltear's superior speed and agility made it nearly impossible.

After continuously failing to land a single hit, he stopped and ran away from Shalltear, his pride wounded and his confidence shattered.

"Blood 1, kill them all except him; we need him alive." Shalltear commanded, her voice cold and calculating.

"Ma'am!" The team members immediately followed Shalltear's orders, swiftly chasing Brain towards his bandit brigade.

Shalltear waved her wand, controlling the floating ball of blood from the previous onslaught to hover in front of her.

"Incipiam Belli Sanguinis."

---

He ran down the dark path of the cave, crying along the way. The echoes of his sobs bounced off the cold walls, amplifying his despair.

His bandit comrades inside saw him running towards them, sobbing, and immediately knew something had gone terribly wrong.

"Brain! What the hell happened?" One of the bandits asked, but Brain didn't answer and continued to run.

He ran past his bandit comrades and went straight into the back exit, hidden behind a cloth curtain. The bandits exchanged worried glances as Brain disappeared through the hidden exit. They knew that whatever had happened must have been truly devastating for him to react this way.

"What the hell happened to him?" one of the bandits whispered to another.

"I don't know, but I gue-"

A sudden bolt of light struck the side of his head, causing it to explode in a burst of blood and brain matter.

"W-What the fuck?!" A bandit screamed, his voice trembling with fear. The remaining bandits frantically looked around, trying to locate the source of the attack.

Then another bolt hits another bandit in the chest, straight through his heart. The bandit collapsed to the ground, leaving a hole in his chest where the bolt had pierced through.

Panic filled the air as the bandits realized they were under attack by an unseen enemy. They scrambled to get behind any form of cover they could find, desperate to protect themselves from the mysterious assailant.

"What the fuck just happened, man?" One of the bandits exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear.

"I don't know! But they must have come from the entrance path." The bandit said, peeking out from behind a large rock.

He scanned the area, searching for any signs of the attacker. He squinted his eyes at the dark entrance path, trying to make out any movement or figure lurking in the shadows.

"What is that?" He whispered, pointing towards a faint glimmer of light in the distance.

"What is what?" The other bandit asked, turning his head to follow the direction of his companion's finger.

"That!" The bandit replied, his voice filled with curiosity and a hint of concern.

As they both focused their gaze on the distant glimmer, they could see it growing brighter, slowly revealing the silhouette of a figure approaching them.

"Are those glowing eyes?" One of the bandits asked, his voice trembling with fear.

The figures continued to draw closer, and as they stepped into the light, they could make out silhouettes of men in bulky armor that seemed to emit a faint glow on their eyes and chest area.

The bandits exchanged nervous glances, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.

"What the fuck are those?" One of the bandits whispered, his voice barely audible.

The men in bulky armor stood tall and imposing, their presence sending shivers down the bandits' spines.

The survivor bandit from before sees the men in bulky armor and is immediately frozen in shock. His mind remembers the sight of them decimating an entire group of bandits in a matter of seconds.

The sight and smell of explosives fired from their shoulder cannons still linger in his nostrils as he recalls the deafening sound of continuous explosions.

The survivor bandit's heart races as he remembers the devastating power of their weapons, causing him to question whether he should even attempt to engage with them.

"No... W-We got to get the fuck outta here!" He stammers, his voice trembling with fear.

The other bandits exchange nervous glances, their confidence shaken by the survivor's reaction. They too begin to question their decision to confront such formidable opponents.

"You! You fought them before, what are our chances?" One of the bandits asks, turning to the survivor for guidance. The survivor turned to him with a dead look in his eyes.

"None," he says flatly. "We don't stand a chance against them. We might as well kiss our asses goodbye."

"We're gonna face them, and you're coming with us." The bandit's voice trembles as he tries to muster courage, but his words betray his fear.

"What part of none don't you understand?" the survivor snaps.

"If I'm going to die, I'm going down swinging!" A bandit declares defiantly.

"Then die on your own accord!" The survivor's voice grows cold as he delivers his final words, turning away from the bandit.

He walked towards the back exit pathway but stopped suddenly, his footsteps faltering.

"Coward!" The bandit's voice quivers with a mix of anger and desperation, hoping to provoke a reaction from the survivor.

"Say that to my face one more fucking time," the survivor seethes, turning back to face the bandit with a fiery glare.

"You heard me... coward," the bandit sneers, his voice dripping with disdain.

"How about I-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as a bolt of light struck the right half of his face, blowing half of his head clean off. Bits of flesh and bone splattered across the ground, painting a gruesome picture of his demise.

The rest of the bandits just stared in shock, frozen in place by the sudden and brutal end of their comrade. They stood there, panting heavily, their eyes wide with fear and disbelief.

---

"Blood 1, begin sweeping. Pilgrim, you're with me. Babel, Roach, left flank. Chess, Gimmick, right flank. Scarce, you and Baby jump their asses from the rear." Edwayne barked out orders.

"Nice," Babel replied, smirking behind his helmet.

"Look alive, people," Gimmick called out.

"Shut up, nerd," Chess retorted.

"Just start shooting you fools," Roach added.

"Oh my god, why do I have to get teamed up with these idiots?" Scarce muttered under her breath.

"All of you, stop yamming and shoot already!" Edwayne commanded.

"You heard the man," Pilgrim shouted, raising her weapon and taking aim.

Edwayne and Pligrim bolt forward towards the bandits with their suits' back boosters, propelling them forward at incredible speed.

Babel and Roach, along with Chess and Gimmick, followed closely behind, splitting to the left and right to flank the bandits.

Scarce and Baby jumped above them with their boosters over the bandits. They performed a frontlip midair before half twisting and landing gracefully behind the startled bandits.

"Begin flanking attack! " Edwayne shouted, signaling the start of their coordinated assault.

The Blood 1 team fired their shoulder cannons at the bandits, firing their six rotating barrels one at a time to unleash a barrage of projectiles.

All eight of them rained down bullets and lasers on the bandits, overwhelming them with a relentless onslaught.

The dark cave was lightened by the automatic flash of gunfire and the bright bursts of energy weapons.

The bandits thinned out quickly, their numbers dwindling as the Blood 1 team maintained their relentless assault.

Bodies lay right and left, and blood and severed limbs scattered across the cave floor after being hit by the shoulder cannons' 12.7x42mm explosive rounds.

The deafening sound of explosions echoed through the cave, further disorienting whoever was left standing.

After a minute, every bandit lay lifeless on the cave floor, their bodies torn apart by the relentless firepower of the Blood 1's shoulder-mounted chain guns.

"Cease fire! Cease your firing!" Edwayne shouted, his voice barely audible over the ringing in everyone's ears.

The team stopped firing, their rotating barrels slowed to a halt, and then stopped with a final click as the cave fell into an eerie silence.

Edwayne surveyed the scene, looking over the dozens of dead bandits on the cave floor. Their bodies were riddled and torn to pieces; some were barely recognizable as human beings, with their intestines spilling out and limbs severed.

"Phew! That was quite exhilarating!" Babel exclaimed, opening his enclosed helmet to take in a deep breath of the stale cave air.

"Gotta thank the makers of these chainguns, they sure know how to transfer somebody to the afterlife in style," Gimmick chuckled, wiping the sweat off his brow. "Say, Edwayne, why can't we have these badboys for home defense again?"

"Because it's for MILITARY PURPOSES ONLY, you bonehead. Even then, this kind of firepower is not intended for civilian use," Edwayne replied, shaking his head. "These chainguns are designed for maximum destruction, not entertaining guests at a backyard barbecue."

"You sure? Because this baby gives me more joy and stress relief than the hookers at 67th Street," Gimmick added with a mischievous grin.

"What in the actual fuck is wrong with you, dick?" Scarce interjected, appalled by Gimmick's comment.

"Remind me to throw this one into the solitary confinement cell when we're back to Nazarick," Shalltear said from behind.

The team immediately straightened their posture and turned their attention towards Shalltear.

"My apologies, my lady." Gimmick quickly responded, his mischievous grin fading. "I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was just trying to lighten the mood."

"Gimmick, what you just displayed is a blatant disregard for civilians' safety and, in my personal opinion, a clear sign of the rise of your psychopathic mindset. I won't hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary action if this behavior continues," Shalltear sternly warned.

Gimmick immediately straightened his posture and lowered his gaze, realizing the gravity of Shalltear's words.

"Forget it, I'll deal with you later." Shalltear dismissed Gimmick with a wave of her hand.

She turned her attention back to the bandits' dead bodies, counting the numbers in her head to ensure they were all accounted for.

"A.I." Shalltear called out, her voice echoing through the empty cave space.

"Total hostile eliminated, 76. One escaped the premises, heading to the open area outside of our current location." The A.I. reported, its robotic tone cutting through the silence.

"Tag his ass and display his location on our HUD." Shalltear commanded, her eyes narrowing as she plotted her next move.

"Target locked. Current distance, 2200 meters northeast. Elevation 50 meters above ground level." The A.I. responded, projecting a holographic map in Shalltear and her team's helmet HUD.

They looked at the moving blip on the map, reading the detailed information displayed alongside it. Shalltear moved her eyes to the side, zooming the map out to get a better understanding of the surrounding area, and saw a bunch of blips on her HUD heading towards their location, glitching in and out.

"What are those blips?" Shalltear asked her artificial intelligence.

"Detecting fourteen unknown heat signatures. Accessing satellite imagery to gather more information," the AI responded.

Shalltear's HUD displayed the access logs as the AI processed the satellite imagery, but it too glitched in and out. The A.I. glitched again, struggling to stabilize the visuals.

"Unable to generate clear visuals due to interference," the AI reported.

"Interference?" Shalltear questioned, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Is there something or someone deliberately disrupting our systems?"

"The interference matched the unknown interference mentioned in Lady Aureole and Lady Nigredo's report, with the same frequency and wavelength," the AI responded.

"Open every audio and wave scanner window. Analyze every spectrum for any anomalies or patterns," Shalltear commanded.

The AI swiftly complied, scanning through the vast array of data in search of any clues that could lead them to the disruptor.

It displayed the soundwave and frequency analysis on multiple screens, highlighting any irregularities or patterns that stood out.

Shalltear closely examined the visual representation, her eyes darting across her HUD as she processed the intricate details of the waveforms.

"What the fuck is that?" Shalltear muttered, looking at the waveform displayed on her HUD.

One of the lines on the waveform appeared to be significantly different from the others, indicating a possible anomaly.

Shalltear zoomed in on that particular section and eyed the waveform with intense focus.

"Hey, splice this section and enhance it. Bring it up to full resolution," Shalltear commanded.

The A.I. quickly complied, isolating the section and enhancing it to reveal finer details.

"Motherfucker!" Shalltear exclaimed, her eyes widening as she analyzed the enhanced waveform. "It's a jammer signal! Someone is intentionally disrupting our communication."

"Blood 2 Actual, this is Blood 1 Actual. We have identified a jammer signal deliberately interfering with our communication. Fall back, I repeat, all back. Abort the mission and regroup at the extraction point." Edwayne barked into his comms, but no response came.

"Blood 2, come in, Blood 2." Edwayne continued to call out.

"Goddammit, Blood 2, answer the damn comms!" Edwayne's frustration grew as he received only static responses.

After a brief second, a static crackle came through the comms, followed by a faint voice.

"Blood 1, this is Blood 2. We're under heavy fire and taking cover. Requesting imme... cov... I repeat, reques..."

"Blood 2, you're breaking up. Say again, over." Edwayne's heart raced as he strained to hear his teammate's response. "Blood 1, we're pinned... Moonbea... an... Sai... down, reques... bac... up."

The Blood 2 team's voice continued to distort over the comms, making it difficult for Edwayne to understand the full message. He desperately tried to make out the words, hoping to decipher their location and situation.

He could barely hear the sound of their chainguns and pulse cannons firing in the background, indicating that they were engaged in a fierce battle.

"My lady, Blood 2 is under heavy fire and requesting immediate backup," Edwayne reported to Shalltear.

"Hold on, whoever this jammer is, they're good, I couldn't track where Blood 2 was located," Shalltear replied, frustration evident in her voice. She quickly assessed the situation and made a decision.

"Ahh, fuck this! A.I." Shalltear ordered, "Activate aeroacoustic sonar, scan the horizon for anything that slightly resembles Blood 2's gunfire."

"Affirmative, scanning the sound spectrum for potential matches," the A.I. responded, immediately activating the aeroacoustic sonar system.

Shalltear unhooked the lance on her back and held it in her right hand, aiming at the cave ceiling.

"My lady, what are you doing?" Edwayne asked nervously.

"Shortcut." Shalltear replied nonchalantly. "Jackhammer Mode!"

The tip of her lance expanded into four bladed extensions, resembling a broadhead arrowhead. With a swift motion, Shalltear throws the lance towards the cave ceiling.

The bladed extensions dig into the rock, creating a series of cracks that quickly spread across the surface and break through the layers of stone.

Chunks of debris rained down as the ceiling collapsed, revealing a hidden passage above. Shalltear opened her wings and flew up into the newly revealed passage, ascending to the surface.

The team Blood 1 activated their boosters and followed Shalltear's lead, propelling themselves upwards through the newly formed opening.

Shalltear scanned the surroundings, focusing her incredible hearing to pinpoint Blood 2's location. She detected faint explosions and the sound of heavy-caliber gunfire in the distance.

"Blood 2 location detected. Three and a half kilometers, one o'clock from our current position," the A.I. reported to the entire team.

"About time. Blood 1, engage! Full thrust from here on out." Shalltear commanded.

The team activated their thrusters to their maximum capacity, speeding towards Blood 2's location at breakneck speed.

The wind blew dust and debris behind them as they raced through the barren landscape. They beeline towards the coordinates given by the A.I., their eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of Blood 2's presence.

---

After taking a turn around a rocky outcrop, they finally caught sight of Blood 2 engaging in a fierce battle with another group of fighters.

"Scarce, Baby, you're with me." Shalltear commanded.

"What about us, my lady?" Edwayne asked.

"You see those hostiles down there?" Shalltear asked, pointing towards the ongoing battle.

"Yes, ma'am," Edwayne replied.

"I don't want to." Shalltear said dismissively.

"Yes, ma'am," Edwayne responded excitedly.

'Wait, where have I heard of that before?' Edwayne thought to himself, trying to recall where he had heard the word Shalltear just said.

The three of them descended towards the downed Blood 2, while the rest of the team quickly split up. Each member aimed their shoulder-mounted chainguns at the enemy fighters.

"Alright, guys. Change to a 20-mm shrapnel round. Fire at will!" Edwayne shouted as the team opened fire with their powerful weapons.

Their chainguns dispensed a hail of shrapnel at the enemy fighters. They, however, managed to cast a magic shield that deflected most of the shrapnel, leaving only a few scratches on their armor.

"Again," Edwayne commanded.

The team quickly reloaded their chainguns and unleashed another barrage of shrapnel rounds, hoping to find a weakness in the enemy's shield. Despite their efforts, the shield held strong, deflecting the majority of the shrapnel once again.

"Ed, something's not right here." Gimmick whispered to Edwayne, noticing the enemy fighters' shield remaining intact.

"20 mm should have punched through by now. There must be someone on the other side actively reinforcing the shield." Edwayne's eyes narrowed as he considered Gimmick's observation.

"You're right," he replied. "Something fishy is going on here."

"And you would be correct." A sudden voice spoke to them through their secure comms.

"Who is this?" Edwayne demanded, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Look up," the voice instructed.

Edwayne, Babel, Gimmick, Chess, Roach, and Pligrim looked up simultaneously, their eyes widening in shock as they saw a figure hovering above them in a casual manner. The figure was dressed in a sleek, white lab coat and trousers.

"Open fir-"

"Silence," the figure said, pressing a button on his wrist, causing Edwayne and the rest of his team's voice to cut off abruptly.

Their exosuit overloaded them with a surge of electricity, causing them to convulse and collapse to the ground. The figure floats down gracefully, landing in front of them with a confident smile.

"Now be quiet," he said, pressing the button again and electrifying the exosuits once more, ensuring their silence.

---

The figure walked towards Shalltear, who stood in front of the downed Blood 2 team. He strolled casually, whistling a tune as he approached her.

Shalltear looked at the figure from behind the team and squinted her eyes to get a better look. She could faintly make out the figure's face, which seemed oddly familiar.

'Is that... Barada?' Shalltear thought to herself, her heart racing with disbelief.

'What the fuck is he doing in this world? I thought he was imprisoned in Abyss for his crimes. Why is he here and not rotting for the rest of his life?' Shalltear wondered, her mind racing with questions.

She couldn't comprehend how Barada had managed to escape his imprisonment and appear in the world they're in.

"Hello, Shalltear, long time no see." Barada said

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the warcriminal himself." Shalltear responded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I must say, I'm quite impressed with your ability to escape the Abyss."

"Oh, technically, I didn't 'break out' per se, somebody else did, I'm just following along." Barada explained.

"Yeah? Then I'll make sure to find this person, whoever they are, and drag them along with you back to the Abyss." Shalltear threatened. "No one escapes the consequences of their actions, especially not a war criminal like you."

"Hahahaha, you are still a funny little vampire, aren't you, Shalltear? How long has it been since you grew an inch? Three? Four million years?" Barada mocked, his voice dripping with condescension.

"You are one to talk, you're just 167 centimeters tall yourself." Shalltear retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm. "But don't worry, I'll make sure to bring a measuring tape when I drag you back to the Abyss. It'll be a good reminder of just how insignificant you truly are."

"Sorry to pop your balloon, Shorty, but this time I'm just a researcher. Someone else is running the game, not me." Barada explained, his tone shifting to a more serious one.

"Yeah? Who's your boss then?" Shalltear asked, her tone filled with skepticism. "And why should I believe you?"

"Now that's up to you to decide," Barada replied calmly. "But if you're interested, my boss is a powerful individual who prefers to remain anonymous. One of a kind gal, she is."

"Damn, I thought a genius crazy ass person like you would be immune to simping, I guess I expect too much." Shalltear retorted sarcastically.

"I admit, she's gorgeous, bordering on perfection, alright, but not really my type. I'm more into geek girls," Barada chuckled. "But trust me, my boss is not someone to be taken lightly. She's got connections and resources that most people can only dream of." Shalltear raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself.

"Alright, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. What exactly does your boss want from me?" Shalltear asked.

"Oh no, not you." Barada corrected Shalltear, shaking his head. "My boss has her eyes on someone else entirely."

"Who?" Shalltear asked, her interest now fully piqued.

"Pandora," Barada replied with a sly smile.

"You son of a bitch. You leave him out of this, you sick fuck." Shalltear snarled, her anger flaring up. "If you or your boss lay a finger on Pandora, I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable lives."

"No worries; she just wants to talk to him. Unfortunately, you are not on her agenda, so you will have to die." Barada said with a cold, calculated tone.

"Try not to die too early, you wretched mortal." Shalltear retorted, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Let's see which of you bled first." Barada smirked, his eyes narrowing with malicious intent.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Shalltear demanded, her confusion evident in her voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not fighting you. My subordinate will." Barada said, pointing towards a figure standing behind him. "This is Garrier, he will be the one to make you suffer." Garrier stepped forward, his eyes filled with a twisted sense of pleasure.

"I've been looking forward to this moment for a long time." Garried said, clenching his fist.

"Where the hell did you find him? He looks underaged." Shalltear asked, her eyes narrowing as she assessed Garrier's youthful appearance.

"That's not important. What's important is that I'm just here to evaluate his abilities," Barada said dismissively, trying to downplay Garrier's age.

"I'm not above killing kids, but I got to ask. Is he even legal?" Shalltear asked, her voice dripping with skepticism.

"I don't know, I didn't exactly carbon date him, okay, he's on the young side." Barada replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Mehh, who am I to judge?" Shalltear shrugged, her interest waning.

"Then by all means, Garrier, continue." Barada said, gesturing for Garrier to proceed.

"Yes, sir." Garrier nodded respectfully, stepping forward to take his place in front of Barada.

---

He locked eyes with Shalltear, heating his fist, causing it to ignite and become coated in a flickering flame. He got down to his stance, moving his hand in a swift, precise motion. The flame danced and swirled around his fist, casting an eerie glow on his face.

"Oh, throwing hands, are we?" Shalltear remarked, a smirk forming on her lips.

"Fine, fists." She put her lance on her back, took off her left gauntlet, and cracked her knuckle. "Let's see what you've got," she taunted, ready to engage in a bare-knuckle brawl.

"What the hell are you doing? I signed up for a fistfight, it means both hands." Garrier protested, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Oh, please. I don't hunt deer with a tungsten penetrator." Shalltear retorted, rolling her eyes.

"I'm no deer," Garrier snapped back, his tone growing more aggressive.

"Then show me, don't just bark," Shalltear challenged, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I got places to be."

Garrier lunges forward, throwing a jab with all his might, aiming for Shalltear's jaw. She returns the favor with a left jab of her own, connecting their fists in a clash of force. The impact reverberates through the air, causing a sharp crack to echo.

"All that talk for a jab that didn't even make me flinch," Shalltear taunted, a smirk playing on her lips. "You'll have to do better than that if you want to impress me."

"Eat shit," Garrier growled, throwing another powerful punch towards Shalltear's stomach.

She quickly punched downward, blocking Garrier's attack with her forearm, and delivered a backhand strike to his face. The force of the blow sends Garrier spinning in the air before crashing onto the ground.

"A for effort, C for execution," Shalltear said with a condescending tone.

Garrier got back on his feet, his face bruised and bloodied. He raised his fists again, slowly stepping forward towards Shalltear.

He throws a right hook at her, but she just casually slaps it away with the back of her hand. He threw another left jab, but Shalltear swiftly ducks under it and counters with a powerful uppercut that sends Garrier flying backwards.

"Are you done?" Shalltear asked, her voice dripping with amusement. She watched as Garrier struggled to get up once more.

He ran forward and threw a powerful right cross, but Shalltear effortlessly caught his punch with her palm and crushed it with a tight grip.

Garrier winces in pain as he feels the bones in his hand shatter under Shalltear's immense strength. He delivered a swift upper kick with his left leg, aiming for Shalltear's chin.

However, she swiftly dodged the attack, her movements fluid and graceful. With a smirk, Shalltear released her grip on Garrier's hand, causing him to stumble backward.

She then held her left hand in front of his chest, vertically pointing inward, her palm flat like a blade. With a swift and precise motion, she closed it into a fist and drove it straight into Garrier's sternum. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through his body, causing him to gasp for air.

"Been a while since I did that weird punch," Shalltear said with a chuckle.

Garrier tried to stand from his lying position, but the pain in his chest made it nearly impossible. He groaned, clutching his injured sternum, as a small shower of blood dripped from his mouth.

"Stay down, kid, you're only going to make things worse," Shalltear warned, her voice dripping with amusement.

Garrier, against all odds, managed to stand back to his feet and take a stance. Spitting blood onto the ground, he locked eyes with Shalltear and mustered a smile.

"You can't cook a pancake without breaking a few eggs," Garrier said defiantly, his voice strained with pain.

"This ain't a game, you idiot, my next punch will definitely kill your ass." Shalltear growled, her eyes narrowing with anger.

"Bring it on," Garrier challenged through the pain. "I won't back down until I've given it my all."

'What in the Cocytus honor bullshit is this?' Shalltear thought to herself.

"Whatever, let's just get his over with," Shalltear decided to walk slowly towards him.

She feels pity for Garrier's determination, but she knows that he is no match for her. As she raised her fist, ready to deliver the final blow, Garrier swallowed a small orb that he had been hiding in his mouth.

Suddenly, his wounds start to close up, and his strength begins to surge. Shalltear's vampiric sense detected a titanic increase in his power, and she could feel the aura of a hidden potential awakening within him.

He throws a right cross at Shalltear, and she does the same with her left hook, their fists colliding with a thunderous impact.

The force of their clash sends shockwaves rippling through the air, causing nearby trees to tremble and the ground to shake.

Not only his strength, but his speed also increases exponentially as he moves with lightning-fast reflexes, able to keep up with Shalltear's own impressive agility.

Their movements become blurred as they exchange blows, each strike causing a blowback of wind that sends debris flying in all directions.

The intensity of their battle became even more evident as their attacks grew more ferocious and destructive. The sheer power behind each strike created explosions of energy, illuminating the battlefield with bursts of light.

Even with his strength and speed already raised to an inhuman level, he couldn't keep his punches at full power forever thanks to Shalltear's divine blood.

Garrier soon finds himself getting tired and tired with each blow he delivers, his muscles straining under the weight of his own exhaustion.

As the fight wore on, Garrier's movements became sluggish, and his attacks lacked the precision they once had. His vision blurred and his breathing grew labored, but he refused to give up.

"What? Couldn't keep running with the best, can't you?" Shalltear mocked, her voice dripping with amusement. "It seems your mortal limitations are catching up to you, boy. How disappointing."

Garrier slowed down and backed up slowly, distancing himself from Shalltear as he desperately tried to catch his breath.

Shalltear didn't give him a window to rest and immediately closed the distance between them, launching a relentless barrage of attacks. Time slows down as her punches get closer and closer.

---

'If you could control your innermost reserve and use it as some sort of emergency boost, perhaps you might stand a chance,' Barada's words echoed in his mind.

'What's the catch, sir?' Garrier asked.

'You put too much pressure on your magical energy flow, you die. It's always as simple as that.' Barada explained.

'But let's say you do survive, your body will be broken from the aftereffects. Your skin will evaporate, your blood will boil up to the point where you could brew tea with it, and last but not least, your heart will literally melt from the immense stress of the emergency boost. It's a risky gamble, but in dire situations, it could be the only option to turn the tide of battle. Just remember, there's no coming back from it unscathed.'

'I don't know if I could do that,' Garrier muttered.

'That's why it's called a gamble, because, like playing cards, only the house holds the advantage. Think of it like this, if you don't do it, you die. But if you did do it, you would also die. However, there's always a chance, no matter how slim, that the emergency boost could give you the upper hand and save your life.' Barada explained, trying to convince Garrier of the potential benefits of taking the risk. 'It's a choice between certain death or a slim chance at survival. The decision is yours to make.'

'Can you give me the number, sir?' Garrier asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

'0,00000000134 percent chance.' Barada replied, his tone serious.

---

'Let's see if this works,' Garrier thought.

He slowed his mind, controlling his energy reserve and unlocking his natural limiter. His dying mortal body produced just enough energy to reignite the orb he swallowed.

The last resort of energy restarted the orb's core, causing it to commence its biochemical fusion process. The orb suddenly generates an intense light from inside his stomach, producing a deadly amount of magical energy too powerful to be contained by a single human.

His body started to tremble uncontrollably as the surging magical energy threatened to consume him. The intense light emitted from his stomach grew brighter and hotter, causing the air around him to crackle with raw power.

Shalltear immediately pulled her punches and leapt back away from Garrier, her eyes maintaining a cautious gaze.

She could sense the overwhelming power emanating from Garrier's body, realizing that he had tapped into a force beyond his own safe limit.

"Warning! Detecting sudden energy fusion within the subject's body."

"A dangerous level has been reached. Nucleus instability has been detected, and the chain reaction of uncontrolled neutron emission is imminent. Supercriticality has been achieved; an impending fission explosion is unavoidable," the automated voice warned urgently.

"Estimate fission process time," Shalltear commanded her internal monitoring system.

"Estimating... the fission process will occur in 10..."

"10 what?" Shalltear demanded urgently.

"9... 8..."

"What the fuck?!" Shalltear exclaimed in shock as she watched the countdown rapidly approaching zero.

"7..."

She quickly assessed her options, glancing left and right, seeing her fallen escort teams' bodies scattered on the ground.

"6..."

With no time to waste, Shalltear pulled their bodies with a magnet spell and opened a gate to Nazarick. She pushed all of the bodies through the gate, ensuring they would be safely transported back to their home base.

"5..."

She glanced at the HUD displayed in her vision, the countdown getting closer to zero. She couldn't just bail out of there without containing the massive explosion about to happen.

She knows that with this world's very limited knowledge of science, a nuclear fallout is not something they would be able to handle.

'If I bail, people will die. Plants, animals, and potentially even entire civilizations could be wiped out,' she thought to herself. 'Father...'

"4..."

"Ah, screw it. FUCK THIS!" Shalltear exclaimed.

She put her hands forward and closed her eyes, controlling her entire magic reserve with intense focus.

"3..."

"CAMPANUS CONTENIMENTORIUM!" Shalltear shouted, unleashing a powerful spell that created a protective barrier around the area where Garrier was.

The protective barrier transformed from a barrier of light into a metal shield, encasing the entire space with a dome-like structure.

"2..."

"GLACIEM INSTANTEM!" Shalltear chanted, causing a sudden blast of freezing wind inside the dome that instantly froze everything within its reach.

The temperature dropped rapidly, turning the air into a chilling mist and covering the ground with a thick layer of ice.

"1..."

"One more! SCUTUM CONTAMINATIONIS!" Shalltear exclaimed, casting her final spell.

The dome-like structure is now encased in a glowing barrier, pulsating with energy that repels any attempt to breach it, whether it's from the outside or the inside.

Shalltear fell to the ground after depleting her entire magic reserve, panting heavily. The intense exertion had taken its toll on her, but she knew she had bought this world's natives a chance to survive a possible civilization-ending event.

She looked up at the barrier, hoping that it would hold the fission reaction at bay. The fate of the world now rested on the strength and durability of the barrier, as any breach could unleash unimaginable destruction.

"0..."

The orb inside Garrier's body exploded after reaching its final countdown. The fission reaction surged forward, colliding with the barrier.

The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air, reverberating inside the containment barrier and causing the ground to tremble.

The dome could barely hold the immense pressure and heat generated by the fission reaction. Cracks began to form along its surface, threatening to rupture and release the destructive energy within.

After a few tense moments, the cracks stabilized, and the containment barrier held strong. Garrier's body, however, was instantly evaporated by the intense heat, leaving behind only a cloud of vapor.

The fission reaction finally subsided, and the dome slowly began to cool down.

Shalltear summoned an ounce of her last energy and waved her hand, dissipating the dome and its protective barrier in a burst of magical energy.

As the dome vanished, the remains of the fission reaction were revealed. The once vibrant landscape was now a desolate wasteland, with scorched earth in a circle around where the dome had stood.

The destruction caused by the fission reaction was evident, as not a single blade of grass or tree was left standing, only charred remnants of what once thrived.

Shalltear lay there on the ground, her body weak and exhausted from the immense amount of power she had just exerted.

She rolled to her back and gazed up at the dawn sky, the sun slowly rising over the devastated landscape.

The beauty of the sunrise seemed to mock the destruction she had prevented, casting a golden glow on the scorched earth.

---

"Whoa! Look who do we have here! Shalltear Bloodfallen, still alive even after the amount of magical energy you just expended," Barada called out from behind her.

Shalltear turned her head to see the man who instigated Garrier to turn himself into a living fission bomb.

"Barada, you better get your ass out of here unless you don't want my lance to go through your heart." Shalltear said, her voice dripping with venom.

"Nahh, I'm going to stick around." Barada replied with a smug grin. "You just depleted your entire pool, even as a child of a Supreme Being, that's not something you could just shrug off. Right now, your body would be automatically in a state of temporary paralysis."

"You better hope your legs can run fast enough, because once I'm back to my leg, I will beat your ass like a Cherokee drum." Shalltear threatened, her eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. "And trust me, I won't be holding back this time. Your ass will be sent back to the Abyss, this time without any possibility of ever seeing the light of day again."

"Oh, I knew that already; you don't have to tell me twice." Barada replied with a smirk. "That's why I brought a friend of mine all the way out here."

Shalltear, in her paralyzed state, looked up from her laying-down position, turning her head towards the sound of approaching footsteps.

She saw a female figure wearing all black clothing covered with a long coat, with the sun directly behind her, making it difficult to make out her features.

As the figure came closer, Shalltear recognized her familiar silhouette and gasped in surprise.

"You?! I know there's something wrong with you, but this is your true color, you traitorous bitch?!" Shalltear exclaimed at her.

"Hello, Shalltear... or should I call you 'my lady'?" The figure's voice dripped with sarcasm as she smirked at Shalltear's outburst.

"You just betrayed your country and fellow men. I will not stand by this treason." Shalltear declared.

"That I did, I guess this is the part where I say 'I quit'?" The figure chuckled, her smirk widening.

"I'm going to make sure I have your head once I'm out of here." Shalltear responded, her eyes burning with anger. "You may think you're clever now, but mark my words, justice will catch up to you eventually."

"And who's going to believe you? Pandora? Albedo? Or even the Supreme Beings themselves?" The figure sneered, crossing her arms defiantly. "I've covered my tracks well, Shalltear. No one will ever know the truth of what happened here. Your threats mean nothing to me."

"Once I'm free-"

"If I let you." The figure interrupted, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "This is where we part ways, vampire."

The figure flipped Shalltear over and took her lance from her back before flipping her back again.

"Ahh, the Spuit Lance," the figure mused, examining the weapon with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Such a powerful weapon in the hands of a vampire like you. It's a shame you won't be able to use it against me anymore."

Shalltear tried her best to move her body, but her paralysis hasn't worn off yet. She could only watch helplessly as the figure continued to spin her lance with a smug smile on her face.

"Consider this my resignation letter... Shalltear." The figure said, she stopped spinning the lance and pointed the tip at Shalltear's torso. "They say one can only harm or kill a Supreme Being and/or their descendant with their own weapon. Let's see if it were true."

"You will pay for your betrayal... Bellial." Shalltear whispered through gritted teeth. "My death will only invoke the rage of everyone, my families."

"Of course, my lady. Say hi to Lord Momonga for me when you meet him in his domain, okay." Bellial said with a wicked grin.

Bellial pulled the lance back and raised it above her head. With a swift motion, Bellial brought the lance down towards Shalltear's defenseless body.

The lance punctured Shalltear's armor, causing her to bleed profusely. Shalltear let out a pained scream as the lance penetrated her flesh, her strength slowly fading away.

"I seem to miss your heart, ehh? No worries, let's try again." Bellial said with a sadistic smile, pulling the lance out of Shalltear's body.

She raised it once more, bringing it down with full force. Shalltear's body convulsed in agony as the lance struck her chest, causing blood to spurt from the wound.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Shalltear's piercing scream echoed through the air, her body writhing in excruciating pain.

Every ounce of strength she had left was rapidly draining away, leaving her feeling weak and helpless.

Bellial got up from on top of her and walked away, leaving Shalltear lying on the ground, pinned to the ground with her own lance.

"A-A-" Shalltear tried to speak with her mouth full of blood, but only gurgled sounds escaped her lips. Her vision blurred as the excruciating pain threatened to consume her consciousness entirely.

"A.I." she finally managed to croak out, her voice barely audible.

"My lady, you received two fatal penetrating wounds on your abdomen, contusions and fractures on your ribs, and severe internal bleeding," the A.I. responded, its voice calm and detached.

"Ca-C-Call Alb-b-b-bedo." Shalltear managed to stutter, her voice trembling with pain.

"Affirmative. Contacting Lady Albedo now." The A.I. swiftly initiated communication with Albedo, the sound of ringing filling the air as it connected.

Shalltear's vision began to blur as she fought to stay conscious, her body growing weaker with each passing moment.

"Yelloo~" Albedo answered cheerfully. "What can I do for you?"

"Be-Bedo..." Shalltear managed to gasp out, her words barely audible. "I... I need... assistance."

Albedo lowered her leg from the table and listened intently to Shalltear's low and raspy voice.

"Shalltear? What's your situation?" Albedo's voice filled with concern as she leaned closer to the communication device, desperately trying to understand Shalltear's distress.

"Co-C-C-Code..." Shalltear stammered, her voice trembling.

"Code what? Repeat." Albedo urged, her worry growing with each shaky word. "I need you to be clear, Shalltear."

"Co-C-C-C-Code... I-I-Iudas." Shalltear whispered, her voice barely audible.

Albedo's eyes widened in shock as she processed the significance of the code word. She knew that mentioning "Iudas" meant that their organization had been infiltrated from the inside.

"Who's the code word for?" Albedo asked urgently.

"Bellial." Shalltear let out one last shaky breath before stopping completely.

Suddenly, the main control panel started flashing a red flat line on the screen.

"Shalltear? Talk to me." Albedo pleaded, her voice filled with panic.

She frantically searched for any signs of life from Shalltear, but there was no response. The main control panel screen just displayed a flat line with a number 0 beside it.

"No no no no no no no no no no." Albedo repeated the word in disbelief, her hands trembling as she desperately searched for her location out there.

"Charon!" Albedo called out.

"Lady Shalltear's last known location has just been detected near the woods on the southside of the Kingdom of Re-Estize, approximately 112 kilometers from Nazarick."

"Open a gate to her location asap," Albedo ordered urgently. She pressed a button on the panel, activating a broadcast system throughout Nazarick.

"Attention everyone, I need a full team of medics on the first floor right now. Shalltear just issued a Code Iudas. I want a complete lockdown on all floors, no one is getting in or out without my permission."

---

Her body stopped moving, her hands cold and limp, leaving only her mind to function for how many more minutes she could hold on.

She fought to keep her eyes open, but they eventually succumbed to the heaviness, closing shut. Her mind started to wander off through her entire life up to this point.

'Mom, when is Papa coming home?'

'One day, honey, he will come one day.'

'But when?'

'Honey, don't cry. Mommy's here.'

'But I want to see Papa.'

'I know, but your papa is a busy man, okay, honey? He has a lot of responsibility for the people. But trust mommy, okay, he would want to be here with us, he just can't, not right now.'

---

Auhor's note:

Hello, this is LB. Sorry for the wait, folks. I got chemo last week, felt a little whoozy, and helped my friend with his project car that we plan to test out on the mountain roads next week.

Anyway, see you all in the next chapter. The next chapter will be the last chapter of Volume 1, sort of the final episode of this season.

I can't believe how fast time has flown by! I want to thank each and every one of you for your support throughout this journey.

I'm gonna take a short break to smooth out Volume 2's story and treat myself to some good time.

Stay safe, y'all! Drink water regularly and take care of yourselves. Remember to stay hydrated, especially during these hot summer months.

PS: I got delayed by a few days for having to do my research; don't ask what it is. I promise it'll be worth the wait, though!

PSS: God decided to hate me and turned the dial in the city where I'm living. It's too goddamn hot in here—hotter than Florida.