Nuckelavee was shrouded in his shadows, keeping his form hidden from the two Riders before him. Witch and Heka stared down the Cannibal Phantom, remembering how afraid they were when they first witnessed this creature, but now, after gaining new power, the girls felt ready to finally face this monster.
"Heka, let me know when your timer gets low, I don't want you to get hurt," said Witch.
Heka smirked under her helmet as she replied, "No need to worry about that, Witch. Let's just say Bast and I have come to an understanding, and now no more time limit, I'm free to fight as long as I am able!"
Witch turned to her new girlfriend and gasped excitedly. "Seriously?! That's awesome! Oh, we are so gonna kick this Phantom's butt now!"
Nuckelavee snarled and launched its right arm at them. The two Riders swiftly dodged to the right and left, letting the claw strike against the ground and smash open a crater about three feet wide.
"Time for me to show you my new power!" Witch stated.
Witch landed on a roof replaced her Light Style ring with the Light Owl Style ring.
[LIGHT OWL.]
[KAGA~YA~KUUUUU~!]
A yellow light construct of La Lechuza appeared behind Witch before enveloping her with its wings. In a brilliant flash of light, Witch was transformed into her Light Owl Style. But she was not done yet as she slipped on the Connect ring.
[Connect, Please.]
Witch reached into the circle, pulled out the Owl Timer, and slipped it on over her right forearm.
"Witch, what is that?!" Heka asked from the adjacent roof.
"You'll see."
[Owl-Time.]
Witch turned the dial on the Owl Timer until it was pointed at the yellow section.
[Set Up.]
Once ready, Witch pressed on the thumb of the Owl Timer.
[Start.]
Witch reached back into the magic circle and took out her WizarSwordGun, jumped off the roof, and came down with a spinning heel kick. Nuckelavee jumped backwards just before Witch could hit him, letting her attack strike the ground. Witch pressed the assault by switching the WizarSwordGun into blade mode and started slashing and thrusting at the monster. Surprisingly, Nuckelavee was nimble despite his size, but Witch knew that wouldn't be a problem in a few seconds.
[ICE OWL.]
A blue version of Witch's magic circle appeared behind Nuckelavee, and from it appeared Ice Witch, speeding straight towards Nuckelavee. The Cannibal Phantom sensed her presence and jumped into the air, landing on the roof a building, and thrust out with both of its arms. The two Witches dodged in different directions and switched to gun mode as they pelted that roof with a barrage of mana coated silver bullets.
Nuckelavee once again hopped off the roof, but when he did, Heka was there to greet him. Using her Griffon Ax, Heka brought it down in an overhead strike, but Nuckelavee opened its mouth and caught the blade with his fangs. Heka was shocked by this action, and Nuckelavee used this moment to toss Heka away towards another roof.
[PLANT OWL.]
Before Heka could plow into the roof, Plant Witch appeared out of a green magic circle and held her arms out. Heka collided with Plant Witch, but the stout and strong Plant Witch did not move and managed to hold onto Heka before she went anywhere.
Heka shook her head and blinked. "W-W-Wait a minute! H-How are you here?!" Heka looked over her shoulder and watched as Light and Ice Witch were still blasting away at Nuckelavee. "And how are there two of you over there?! Is this your Illusion ring? Or your Copy ring?!"
"I got an upgrade while you were away, and now I can summon four clones of myself, each one in the version of my Super Form," Plant Witch explained.
Heka stood on her own two feet and asked, "Then…which one of you is the real Luz?"
"The me that's in Light Owl Style, she's the main one, but we're still her as well, hermosa," said Plant Witch.
Heka blushed under her helmet. "Oh, okay, that's amazing!"
"You haven't seen anything yet! C'mon! Let's get back in there!"
Heka watched as Plant Witch jumped off the roof and ran to join her other selves.
"Don't start thinking thoughts now, Amity."
This is neither the place nor the time!
Light and Ice Witch switched to blade mode and came swinging at Nuckelavee, but the Phantom blocked their attacks, striking back with his claws as sparks flew through the air with each hit made. Just then, Plant Witch jumped out of the sky, and hit the ground with a palm heel strike, sending a wave of nature energy that made the ground fissure and erupt around Nuckelavee's feet and threw him off balance.
[FIRE OWL.]
The fourth Super Form variation of Witch appeared out of a red magic circle and unleashed a hailstorm of fire mana infused silver bullets over Nuckelavee, making dozens of explosions go off at once. All four Witches assembled together, along with Heka, ready to attack.
"Hit him all at once!" Light Witch ordered.
[C'mon slashing, shake hands!
C'mon slashing, shake hands!]
All four Witches placed their elemental rings over the WizarSwordGuns' Hand Authors and scanned them, while Heka placed the Griffon Ax ring into her Driver and turned it.
} LIGHT! {
} ICE! {
} PLANT! {
} FIRE! {
} SLASHING STRIKE! {
} Griffon Ax: Blazing Strike! {
Heka's ax blade ignited with golden flames, while each of the elemental forms of Witches' blades glowed with their own elemental energies. All five heroes slashed at the same time, sending huge crescent waves that merged together to form a rainbow crescent energy blade that crashed into Nuckelavee, exploding right in the monster's face, and sending it flying into the tree line a few yards away. All four Witches and Heka chased after Nuckelavee and stopped just before it.
That's when they saw the shadow aura of Nuckelavee, still standing. His body making unnatural jerking motions as he stood back up and stared at them with his red eyes and smiling that creepy smile.
"Yeah, of course that's not enough to bring him down," said Fire Witch.
"Well then, I think it's my turn to show off," said Heka as she dismissed her ax. "Uh, by the way, who do I talk to? I mean, I know you're all you, but…?"
"Oh, don't worry about it," said Ice Witch.
"We're all still us, so, just talk to us like normal," said Light Witch.
"Ah. Okay, well, since you showed me your new power, I guess it's time I show you mine!"
"¡¿Qué?!" All four Witches exclaimed.
Heka slipped the Champion ring onto her left middle finger and held out her right hand, summoning the MaguScepter into it. Once in hand, Heka pressed the Champion ring into the slot on the MaguScepter and turned it like a key.
[Rise Champion!]
[ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!]
[THE HERO OF LOVE & ORDER!]
[HEKA~]
[HEKA~]
[CHAMPION~!]
[THE GODDESS ASCENDS!]
A pillar of purple light shot from beneath Heka, and Bast appeared next to it in a construct form. The golden cat jumped into the pillar, setting it ablaze with golden flames for a few moments before it all dispersed and revealed Heka Champion. The golden Rider twirled her MaguScepter around and took a fighting stance as her cloak flapped in the crosswinds of her swift actions.
All four Witches had the same reaction, they were gushing and hovering around their girlfriend, exploring her new form from every angle.
"Oh, my Titan! Amity, you got a Final Form!" Light Witch exclaimed.
"And it's looks soooo cool! Is that a new weapon?!" Fire Witch asked.
"Uh, y-yeah, my Dad made it, but I used my power to transform it into its current state," said Heka.
"You look so regal," said Plant Witch.
"Like a queen, tan hermosa (so beautiful)," said Ice Witch.
Heka couldn't help but blush at the attention she was getting from all four versions of her girlfriend – she liked saying that each time in her head – but they had a fight to end. "I promise to tell you all about how I got it when this is over, so long as you tell me how you managed to get this power. But right now, Phantom."
"Right!" all four exclaimed.
Light Witch pressed down on the thumb of the Owl Timer, activating its next power.
[Final Time.]
[Owl Four-mation.]
All four versions of Witch took their positions as four different constructs of La Lechuza flew out and then merged with their bodies, creating the OwlHead, Talons, Wings, and Tail. The five heroes were about to attack, but that's when something unexpected happened. Nuckelavee began to jerk around and make grunting noises, and within seconds something sprouted from his back, four inky black tentacles began to take positions on either side of him, but after a second, the inky substance sloshed off them and they transformed into four serpent heads, but not just any serpent heads.
"Wait a minute…Witch aren't those–!"
"Scylla's serpents?!"
Nuckelavee chuckled as he made all four of them fire spheres of dark energy at the heroes. Heka got out in front and raised her MaguScepter as the crystal ball shined and formed a barrier around them. Several explosions ignited as the spheres detonated on the barrier's surface, but so far, the barrier held. The ground beneath Nuckelavee rumbled and shook, prompting him to jump backwards just as Plant Witch burst up from the ground, leading with her Owl Talons and just missing him. Nuckelavee released a mist from his body, shrouding the entire area in a thick fog that made it hard to see.
It has Scylla's powers, but does that mean Scylla managed to get away during the attack at the school?!
"If she did, then it means she did not get far. This monstrosity not only gains power from devouring Phantoms, but also seems to take on some of their unique powers as well!"
That's great – wait a minute. If that's true, then doesn't that mean it also has–?!
Nuckelavee slashed the space in front of him with his claws, and in so doing, conjured the wind to thin out and create razor sharp wind blades that flung themselves at the heroes. Heka dashed forward and intercepted them, slashing back with the wing blades on her MaguScepter, at the same time, Plant Witch helped her in blocking them.
Ice Witch twirled around and sent waves of ice at Nuckelavee, but the serpent heads blasted the ice before it could get close to him. Fire Witch and Light Witch got into position and fired their attacks from the wings and eyes. The flaming tornado and twin light beams collided and exploded upon hitting the Phantom, but the monster Phantom merely summoned the wind again and smothered the flames around him. Nuckelavee looked in Light Witch's direction, and that's when his red eyes seemed to be glowing brighter and brighter until two huge beams of crimson light shot from them. Light Witch countered with the Holy Beams from the OwlHead's eyes. The two beams hit each other, creating a shockwave that flattened some of the nearby trees and nearly made Heka and the other Witch clones to fall over.
Fire Witch was going to render aid, but the serpent heads turned their attention to her and fired at her, making Fire Witch have to unleash another tornado to counter. Now with two beam struggles happening, Nuckelavee's attention was divided.
"Now's our chance!" Heka stated.
Heka placed her Champion ring into the MaguScepter and turned it twice.
} ROARING BLAST! {
The Twin Heart Generator in the crystal ball spun rapidly, gathering more and more mana until it was shining bright. Ice Witch and Plant Witch stood beside her and charged up their weapons in preparation for their combined attack. Once the MaguScepter was fully charged, Heka thrust the MaguScepter forward, unleashing a purple and golden beam that roared like a lion straight for Nuckelavee. At the same time, Plant Witch struck the ground with both of her Owl Talons, sending a surging fissure of emerald energy right alongside the first attack. Ice Witch swiped her Owl Tail forward, sending a stronger version of the ice wave. The two attacks were on a direct path for Nuckelavee, and with his other two attacks being handled by Light and Fire Witch, there was no way for him to dodge or counterattack.
At least, that's what they thought.
Something else grew out of Nuckelavee, this time from his shoulders. The new additions were now two black canine heads with gnarled teeth and glowing orange eyes. Both heads inhaled and unleashed blazing hellfire out at the incoming attack. The flames hit their attacks and caused a huge explosion that kicked up a large cloud of smoke, obscuring Nuckelavee from sight.
The four Witches and Heka stopped and waited to see what would happen next, but they didn't have to wait long as Nuckelavee launched his right arm out of the smoke and grabbed ahold of Fire Witch, snatching her out of the air and then swung her around before releasing her in Heka's direction. Fire Witch and Heka collided, sending both of them careening into the side of a building, through the wall, and into the building itself.
"HEKA!" the other three Witches exclaimed.
Nuckelavee sent out a blast of wind that made Plant Witch have to brace herself. But in doing so, Nuckelavee used another attack, this time firing another beam from his eyes, but this one was dark green in color and hit her right at the base of her feet. When it did hit, the ground and even Plant Witch's legs started to turn to stone.
"What?!" Plant Witch exclaimed.
Two more arms sprouted out of Nuckelavee as he fired them at Ice and Light Witch, grabbing them by their necks and slamming them together against Plant Witch, causing her to topple over onto the ground. Once there, the canine heads and serpent heads opened their mouths and released their attacks, at the same time, Nuckelavee's eyes fired another large crimson beam. All the attacks converged and created another huge explosion that made Plant and Ice Witch disappear as Light Witch was flung into the same building where Heka and Fire Witch were thrown.
Nuckelavee focused on the sky above the building and condensing the air around that point. With a mere thought, the Cannibal Phantom unleashed a powerful downburst that thundered as it struck the building, collapsing it atop the heroes. Nuckelavee smirked at his work, but instead of going in to finish them, he merely released the thick fog once again, disappearing into it not a moment later.
Witch and Heka managed to blast their way out of the rubble, both of them groaning in pain from the blitzkrieg attack that Nuckelavee had unleashed upon them.
"Where…Where did it go?" Heka asked.
"I…I don't know," said Witch.
Both girls were panting from their fight, and from mana exhaustion.
"We should retreat for now while its gone and rest up for our next encounter. Something tells me that that thing will be back," said Heka.
"Good idea."
[Connect, Please.]
Witch conjured her magic circle, and together, both her and Heka jumped into it, and disappeared from the battlefield.
Luz and Amity had teleported to the Owl House, where Eda had some sugary foods ready for them, knowing that both girls were probably going to need it after all the commotion she heard.
"Our first debut battle as a couple. That did not go as well as I was hoping it would," said Luz.
Amity smiled a little and remarked, "No it did not, but, then again, neither did the Tunnel of Love."
Luz groaned in embarrassment as she hid her face. "Oh, Amity, could you not make me remember that? I'm still beating myself up over how I made you feel when you saw me tear all down."
Amity chuckled at her girlfriend's embarrassment and scooted closer to her, touching her shoulder with Luz's. "Yeah, that was a bit dramatic and hurtful, at first. But, knowing what you've been through, I'm not mad. And Luz, I'll never make you feel that way."
Luz smiled broadly from hearing Amity's words; it almost made her want to cry. However, the sweetness of their moment was overshadowed by the Cannibal Phantom. "I wasn't expecting that thing to be able to copy the powers of the Phantom's its eaten, this is going to be harder than we thought."
"What was that thing, Luz? That was the monster that ate Bria, wasn't it?" Amity asked.
Luz nodded. "Its name is Nuckelavee. I fought it, once, it was the same day I first used the Owl Timer. I fought one of the Phantom Generals, one of their leaders."
"Wait, so the Phantoms have leadership?! They're not just doing all this on their own whims?!"
"Nah, in these kinds of situations, the monsters are almost always commanded by stronger monsters. In this case, Generals. I don't know how many there are, but I fought one in Latissa, and while I did beat him, Nuckelavee was there and managed to snag a piece of the Phantom and ate it. And from the looks of it, gave him Typhon's powers of the wind. But those other powers, aside from Scylla and Asura's, I don't recognize them."
"Maybe they're from the Phantoms that it devoured, both inner and free Phantoms," Amity suggested.
"Ugh…I thought we could just beat it straight out with just four of me, I knew I should've just gone straight into All Owl when I had the chance," said Luz, chastising herself.
"Hey," Amity placed her left hand over Luz's right, "you couldn't have known that it would have that kind of ability. But now we know it does, and next time we'll be ready for it."
Eda, who was listening while sipping on some Apple Blood, chimed in here. "That's what's bothering me about this. It had the chance to continue the attack, but it just left you two. Why?"
"Probably mocking us," said Amity. "Or maybe using those powers drained it somehow?"
Luz leaned back against the couch and smiled over at Amity. "So, what's the story behind your MaguScepter – very cool name by the way."
Amity leaned back against the couch as well and sighed. "Titan, where to start?"
Deep in the bone caves of the Titan, the Phantom Generals met up once more. It had been a while since they last met, not after Typhon was defeated. Barbatos was still there, his arm having been replaced with construct chaos energy by means of Set's magic. The beast Phantom at first declined it, feeling shame for his inability to defeat Nuckelavee, and providing it with even more power. However, Tiamat ordered him to keep it, as he was more useful to her with all his limbs. Needless to say, he accepted it.
"Set, how went the fight between Witch, Heka, and Nuckelavee?" Tiamat asked.
"Unfortunately, we seem to have gravely underestimated that creature's abilities. Consuming Phantoms and gaining power from them isn't the only thing this creature obtains after devouring one of us. During his battle with the Kamen Riders, Nuckelavee displayed powers from several different Phantoms, including that of Typhon, Cerberus, and Scylla, to name a few," said Set.
Barbatos growled angrily, remembering how his packmates were slaughtered by that monstrosity of a Phantom.
"So, safe bet to say that he's loaded up with the powers of all the Phantoms he's eaten, not just the freed and rogues, but also the Inner Phantoms that were not freed. Great," Ifrit remarked, as he crossed his arms.
"Do Witch and Heka stand a chance at defeating him?" Ahuizotl asked.
"Not certain. They were beaten, but I'm not sure if Nuckelavee retreated due to his magical power running low, or if he was just toying with them. What strikes me as odd is the fact he didn't use that power which creates paralyzing fear."
Tiamat did not like any of this, she just did not. There were a lot of problems ahead of them if the Kamen Riders were unable to destroy Nuckelavee. The irony that they were rooting for their enemies to destroy an even worse threat was ridiculous, but here they were.
"Lady Tiamat, what has the Master told you regarding this aberration?" Barbatos inquired.
"For now, silence. I do not want to go against his wishes, but if the situation becomes too dire, we may need to act."
Ahuizotl raised an eyebrow and questioned, "In what capacity?"
"Time will tell."
Belos was a busy man, very busy. So many things were happening on his island, so many things that threatened to derail his carefully crafted plan that took him centuries to put together. The time to bring it to fruition was approaching, his long work would finally be done, but no, something had to muck it up. The Phantoms, Witch, Heka, and now, this new creature that was a monster even by the Phantoms' standards. Hunter's description of the creature known as "Nuckelavee" were concerning to say the least. And not too long ago his Scouts gave him a report about the Riders engaging with Nuckelavee, and apparently got trounced.
Blasted girl, can't she do anything right?
The Emperor of the Boiling Isles would admit, the growth of Luz Noceda's power was, unsettling. He remembered their encounter at the Conformatorium, how dangerously close she had come to defeating him. But, again, from what Hunter had informed him, Luz Noceda's magic has grown vastly stronger, and could now multiply herself. One of her in that powered state was a handful already, but four of them, and with the ability to combine and grow stronger, it was if the universe was conspiring against him.
I must complete my work, for the good of all! Belos thought.
Currently, Belos was in his private study, reading through a book that he had Hunter retrieve from the Forbidden Stacks in the library. This book had slipped his mind over these last few centuries, but now with the appearance of the Phantoms and the Noceda girl, this book's existence popped back in his mind, filed away somewhere back in the recesses of his mind, forgotten for its – at that point – irrelevancy.
"The Midnight Sun ritual. See 'Sabbath ritual'." Belos flipped through the book and read over the passage.
"The Sabbath ritual, this ritual is also known as the 'Midnight Sun' ritual, due in most part to the fact that the ritual needs to take place during the annual night event where the moon is at its highest peak in the sky and tints the sky red, making the moon appear as a sun for a short time.
It is believed that sacrificing something of equal or greater value will grant you a wish via this ritual, it must be known that this is a commonly held misconception, this ritual does not grant a wish.
However, this ritual does grant the caster untold magical power.
This ritual will create a magic stone, one that will tap into a power unseen in this world. But a price must be paid in order to obtain this great power.
Simply put, you must sacrifice living people, their own magical power will be the fuel that drives the ritual forward and forges the stone of power for the ritual caster."
Could've used this centuries ago, thought Belos. Yet, you, Titan, had foreknowledge of this ritual.
Belos searched through the book, he felt as if this book may have something else that could aid him, not only in his own machinations, but also in the defeat of Nuckelavee. Just then a knock came at his door.
"Enter," said Belos.
The Golden Guard, Hunter, opened the door, and walked inside the study. "My Emperor, I've come to report on the current situation."
"Proceed."
"Currently the Scouts are fixing the damage from the battle involving the Phantom and Riders, we've been trying to track down where it went, but so far, we're coming up with nothing," said Hunter.
"I see. Hunter, go and recall the Scouts from the search and have them concentrate on reconstruction, and security," said Belos.
"But shouldn't we find out where it went?"
Belos shook his head. "We cannot risk more of our people getting put into comas, much less our own forces. Fear not, Hunter, I am working on a solution, and for that solution." The Emperor rose from his seat and brought with him a piece of paper. "I have a mission for you. Go out and seek these supplies and bring them back quickly. I am entrusting you with this mission, and no other."
Hunter hurried to his uncle and carefully took the piece of paper with the list of unusual items. "Okay, I will not fail you! Uncle!"
"Please, don't. More than just my rule is on the line here, Hunter."
Hunter bowed to Belos and swiftly exited the study.
Now alone, Belos sighed as he said, "So now that that's taken care of. What say you and I have a little chat…" Belos turned around and there he saw the humanoid shadow with horns. "Titan."
Needless to say, yesterday was full of eye-opening revelations for the two girls. Amity had told Luz about how she was sick, carved her Palisman, Ghost, and battled her Shadow in an epic duel that allowed her to obtain her Final Form. Luz's jaw had been dropping so much that it practically broke through the floor, and she also found out that Edric and Emira were in on their Rider identities. The young Latina was not really worried about that, she trusted Amity's older siblings, and after saving them not too long ago, she doubted that they would tell anyone about their secret identities.
However, the fun did not stop there, it was Luz's turn to tell Amity about the fun way in which she obtained the Owl Timer. The poor Blight turned as pale as a ghost when she heard that her girlfriend could've died during the ritual to obtain that new power. Again, it did not get any better when Luz went on to talk about her impromptu trip to Latissa, and her run in with the Golden Guard, who went by the name of Hunter. She spun the tale of how she used her new power to defeat one of the Phantom Generals, but that it was also the first time she engaged Nuckelavee.
Which brings us to now as the students were heading to Hexside. Gus, Willow, and Skara were awkwardly watching as Amity was clinging to Luz's arm in a possessive, and somewhat protective manner. Luz's face was blushing hard at having her girlfriend hug her arm like she was, but she did not mind it in the least.
"Okay, I'll bite, what's up with you, Amity? I know having a GF is great and all, but if ya get too clingy, you're going to annoy Luz," said Skara.
"Oh, no! It's fine, really! I-I don't mind this at all," Luz remarked.
"See," Amity retorted.
Willow chuckled a little and said to Skara, "This is just Amity being overprotective with her first ever girlfriend. She was kinda already like this before, but now…"
Gus began to understand. "Ah, I get it. Now that their official, Amity wants to really protect Luz. Cute."
Amity blushed as she said, "No! I mean, it's half the reason why I'm doing this, like seventy percent." I'm doing this because I found out that my girlfriend almost died a few days ago while I was sick!
Willow figured there was more to this story than was being told at the moment, so she decided not to press this issue further. Besides, it was just enough to finally see Luz and Amity together, and not have to tiptoe around Luz about how much Amity cared about the human girl. Now everything was out in the open, well, except for one thing. Skara was not in the know about either of her other two friends' secret identities. She wanted to tell her, but she also remembered that Luz wanted to keep the circle small and make it easier for those around them to deny any knowledge of knowing that Luz and Amity were Kamen Riders.
"Hey, is it weird that we're just casually strolling to school as if yesterday's attack never happened?" Gus asked.
"I think it's just we've gotten so used to these Phantom attacks. Not necessarily good, but it's kind of just become the norm. Ya know?" Skara spoke.
"Ugh, not something I want to get used to," said Amity. "The sooner the Phantoms are defeated, the sooner peace returns to the Boiling Isles."
Luz wanted to agree to what her girlfriend said, but she knew better. There was still the looming threat of Belos, and Pan's warning about him, and his apparent need to obtain a working portal door. Belos did tell her that he had no intention of invading the Human Realm, but after Belos' double cross of Lilith, she couldn't take anything that man said at face value.
"Well…"
Suddenly, a frighteningly familiar roar echoed throughout the area, and accompanying it was the equally familiar terror that struck everyone in and around Hexside. Amity held tight onto Luz's arm as she felt her body begin to seize in paralyzing fear, while Luz gritted her teeth and tightened her fists in an effort to fight the affects.
No way! He can't be here!
This can't be! Why is this happening so close to the school?!
The group watched as the front of Hexside school as suddenly blown up, sending some students flying to the ground, along with some debris from the destroyed walls. The few students who remained standing gasped in horror as the towering, shadowy beast that was Nuckelavee came stomping out of the wreckage, with flames burning on either side of him and only adding to the fear inducing image of him.
However, things were not going to play out the same way as last time.
La Lechuza and Bast had become stronger as well thanks to their hosts and were about to show just how little Nuckelavee's fear power meant to them. The Inner Phantoms of both girls released more of their mana from within, spreading it throughout the two girls' bodies. In an invisible show of force, ghostly images of both Bast and La Lechuza appeared around both girls and acted as a shield to protect their girls from the fear power of Nuckelavee.
Amity and Luz suddenly started regaining feeling in their bodies, and within moments they found themselves able to move.
"We're shielding you from Nuckelavee's power," said Bast.
"Hurry and transform before he does any more damage," La Lehcuza added.
Amity and Luz looked at their three friends, still paralyzed with fear at the sight of Nuckelavee, and because of the fear field he had produced. Their first instinct was to get them to safety, but Luz wasn't even sure if they could move them from that spot.
"I got this!" Amity stated as she drew a spell circle.
Upon doing so, an Abomination bubble formed around all three of them and with a flick of her wrist, Amity made the bubble lift up into the air. Now in the safety of the Abomination bubble, Luz and Amity ran back into the woods with their friends in tow. Once they were far enough in, Amity put the bubble down and took out her two rings, along with Luz.
[Driver On, Please.]
[Driver On!]
"No holding back this time, we really go all out," said Luz.
"Understood!"
[Shabadoobi touch to henshin!
Shabadoobi touch to henshin!]
"Henshin!"
"Henshin!"
[LIGHT OWL.]
[KAGA~YA~KUUUUU~!]
[Ready, Open!]
[Roar of the Heavens!]
[The Goddess Descends!]
A flash of yellow and purple light went off, and in no time the two girls had transformed into Kamen Riders Witch and Heka. But they didn't stop there, Heka put on the Champion ring and summoned the MaguScepter, while Witch reached into her magic circle and pulled out the Owl Timer.
[Owl Time.]
[Set up.]
[Start.]
[Rise Champion!]
[ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!]
[THE HERO OF LOVE & ORDER!]
[HEKA~]
[HEKA~]
[CHAMPION~!]
[THE GODDESS ASCENDS!]
The Abomination bubble popped a moment later, and when Gus, Willow, and Skara looked around, they were alone.
Back at the school, Nuckelavee stomped down the stairs as the heavy thuds of his hooves sent small tremors into the ground. One of the students, a boy demon in the Oracle track with long sleeves, and a beanie cap, was cowering in fear on the ground as he looked up at the monster that was now staring down at him with two sets of glowing red eyes, and a fanged smile.
"AAAAAAAHHH!" he screamed as Nuckelavee raised his claw.
But before the boy could be hurt, a streak of gold rushed in, scooped him up, and dashed away before Nuckelavee finally brought down his claw and smashed the ground where he once was. Nuckelavee seemed unfazed by this development but did not flinch a bit when he was assaulted by several silver bullets infused with light, ice, fire, and plant mana, all of which exploded against his body.
Heka brought the young demon boy to a safe spot as all four elemental Witches appeared. Witch stared down the shadowy monster as she proclaimed, "No holding back this time!" as she turned the dial on the Owl Timer and then scanned it on the Hand Author of her WizarDriver.
[Set Up.]
[Start.]
[FINAL TIME: ALL OWL, PLEASE.]
Ice, Plant, and Fire Witch hovered into the air at the same time as Light Witch. Four magic circles appeared behind them and within seconds the Fire, Plant, and Ice Witches transformed into construct owls of the corresponding colors. Each one merged into Light Owl, donning Witch in the Head, Talons, Wings, and Tail. Now with all her elemental powers united, she felt an incredible surge of magical energy coursing through her.
Heka, as well as the boy she saved, watched this and stared in awe of the new form she had taken on. Prompting both to utter only one word, "Whoa."
"Let's take this fight elsewhere!"
The Owl Talons and Head disassembled, allowing Witch to put on her Connect ring.
[Connect, Please.]
A large magic circle appeared behind Nuckelavee, and once it had, the Owl Parts reassembled. Witch and Heka glanced at each as a silent understanding passed between them. Within seconds, both heroines sped towards Nuckelavee and kicked him into the circle as they followed after him and having the portal close behind them.
The three of them exited into a large clearing with a huge rock formation that overlooked the entirety of it.
Heka looked around but did not recognize the area. "Where are we?"
"This is the place where the Sabbath ritual was done, where me and thirty others were forced into having our Phantoms brought out. This area is pretty far from Bonesborough, so we don't need to worry about holding back!"
Nuckelavee began to chuckle. "Fitting…a place where you were nearly brought to despair. Will be the place that you will once again be brought to it before you die…In that case…shall I show you the face of the nightmare that will end your existence?"
Nuckelavee's shadow aura started to disperse, and within seconds the monster's true form was finally revealed to them, and it was horrifying. The creature looked as if a horse and its rider were fused together, like some kind of missed up centaur. The arms were abnormally long, nearly touching the ground, and had bone white exoskeleton armor around them. The horse half had the same exoskeletal armor around its hooves, flanks, shoulders, neck, and the horse head. The horse head itself had piercing red eyes, with a jaw that was held together by strands of its flesh and lined with many rows of sharpened teeth. The exoskeletal face plate had jutting fangs coming out from the sides of the horse's head, giving it an almost sabertoothed appearance. The Phantom's skin was a sickening combination of dark green and black, as if its flesh was rotting. Despite the coloring, it was clear this creature boasted strong muscles around its horse body, but the humanoid half that grew from its back was different.
It was lanky, and thin, the long arms were thin as if the creature itself was completely emaciated. Despite this, it had bone white exoskeletal armor on its chest, shoulders, and on its face. The armor covered its face from the nose to its forehead, where four horns grew out from it that gave it an almost antler-like appearance. The lower jaw of the monster had the armor as well but disconnected from the top to allow for freedom of movement for its jaw. The monster's eyes were just as piercing red as the horse half, and its mouth glowed with the same eerie light as its eyes. The tail of this monster was entirely made of bone, and was whip-like, with an arrowhead spike at the end that was as sharp as a sword's blade.
"Yep, that's nightmare fuel," Witch commented.
"You don't know what nightmares are…but I will show you," said Nuckelavee.
Dark green light started to appear in his eyes, and within seconds he fired the Basilisk Stone Beam. Heka got out in front and raised the MaguScepter, creating a barrier that managed to disperse the attack. Witch took to the skies as she flew fast around the battlefield, from above she flared the Owl Wings and unleashed a barrage of burning feathers that cascaded down on Nuckelavee. The chimeric creature stopped his attack and began galloping away as the multiple feathers pierced the ground and exploded a second later. Despite the sheer size of the Cannibal Phantom, he was incredibly fast, but he wasn't the only one.
Heka deactivated her barrier and ran after the monster, appearing as a golden streak that managed to keep pace with Nuckelavee. She flipped her MaguScepter around, holding it like a sword as she raised it to slash Nuckelavee's legs. However, the horse head saw this and snapped at her, surprising Heka as she did not think that part of the monster was alive or could do independent actions.
Okay, I'm done with this!
Heka disengaged and pointed her MaguScepter at the ground. Within seconds a huge pool of Abomination goo appeared just as Nuckelavee brought down his hoofs. The goo immediately sprang to life and began wrapping around his horse legs, and then more of it lashed out and began wrapping up his arms. More and more of the Abomination tentacles began forming and wrapping around the Phantom's body, managing to immobilize him.
Witch appeared next to Heka as she said, "Whoa, Amity, how did you do that without making a circle?!"
Heka raised the MaguScepter and said, "The Twin Heart Generator inside the crystal ball constantly generates and pulls in ambient mana, and basically acts as a continuous spell circle. Meaning I can cast any spell I want so long as I focus! Like this!"
The golden Rider swiped the MaguScepter out in front of her and created hundreds upon hundreds of gold and purple fireballs that hovered in the air.
"Care to join me?"
"With pleasure!"
Witch flew into the air, channeled her flame magic, and unleashed a twin flame tornado from her wings just as Heka's fireball attacked launched. The two attacks hit at the same time, causing a massive explosion that kicked up another smoke cloud into the air. But the girls weren't about to give the monster any breathing room, as Heka placed her Champion ring into the MaguScepter and turned it twice as more fireballs formed around her.
} ROARING BLAST! {
Heka thrusted her MaguScepter forward, unleashing the same huge energy blast from last time, but as it flew towards the smoke cloud, the fireballs that she conjured wrapped around it, coating the beam in purple and golden flames. Witch powered up the OwlHead's eyes and fired her twin light ray from them, following her girlfriend's lead and unleashing her flame attack and combining to the two together. The attacks managed to converge on the same spot, unleashing another huge explosion, bigger than the last.
Despite their joint attack, neither girl was ready to say it was over until they saw Nuckelavee's body disintegrate with their own eyes. Unfortunately, they were right to be on edge. A burst of black and blue energy ripped through the smoke in the form of six black and blue crescents that tore through the earth as they careened straight for the two heroines. Heka charged the wing blades on the MaguScepter, and Witch did the same with her Owl Talons. Witch slashed the air in front of her with both Talons, sending her own green crescents to meet the incoming ones as Heka did the same with her weapon. The two attacks met in the middle and exploded, but when they did, Nuckelavee took that opportunity to run out of the explosion and grab Heka by the face with his left claw. He reared back that same arm and thrust it forward, extending it all the way to the rock formation and slamming her into it.
Nuckelavee fired two crimson beams from its eyes as it held Heka there, blowing up in Heka's face and created a smoldering crater. The Cannibal Phantom retracted its arm, showing that its hand had been blasted off as well, but it quickly regenerated in a moment. A rush of ice headed towards the monster, but four serpent heads sprouted from inky blackness out of its back and all four blasted the ice before it could reach him. But Witch didn't stop there, she flew around and around the monster, creating a blizzard tornado around Nuckelavee. The near subzero temperatures started to freeze the monster as ice formed on his limbs, but he was not afraid, fear was his ally.
Nuckelavee's shoulders sprouted the canine heads, and both of them unleashed a torrent of hellfire around them, at the same time, Nuckelavee conjured the winds of Typhon, combining it with Cerberus' hellfire to create a fire tornado within the blizzard tornado. The combination of heat and cold at such high and low temps created a steam explosion that threw Witch into a tailspin for a few seconds before she managed to right herself. As if things could not get worse, the Cannibal Phantom was now in the air, his back having now sprouted Typhon's wings and using the wind to carry him into the air faster than a huge creature like him should fly.
Nuckelavee held his hands up, and to them he formed a cudgel, the same as Barbatos'. The Cannibal Phantom brought down his weapon, but Witch raised her Talons up, taking the brunt of the attack as she was swatted away like a fly straight down to the ground with a thunderous "BOOM!". Nuckelavee landed and readied to attack her, but just then, several Abominations began to rise from the ground, about twenty in total. Each one was slender, with golden flames coating their chests, blade arms, and some of it came from their eyes. Nuckelavee turned its head and watched as Heka came walking towards him with her MaguScepter at the ready. Like a general commanding an army, Heka waved her MaguScepter, giving the silent order to attack.
The Abominations dashed for Nuckelavee, ready to cut him down with their flame coated blades. But that's when the monster sprouted four extra arms, and to each of his six arms he formed gnarled swords that looked like they were pulled from a nightmare. The Abominations started to attack, but thanks to the six arms of Asura, Nuckelavee was able to cut down the golems, clash with their blades, or outright push them back. Two of them tried to attack it from behind, but Nuckelavee's bone tail sprang to life, like an angry cobra it lashed out at them, extending within seconds as it pierced through their chests, picked them up, and tossed them into its fellow golems.
Heka came in at highspeed as she slashed with her MaguScepter, clashing blades with Nuckelavee as he seemed to be enjoying this. Witch managed to pull herself out of the crater she was smashed into, and took off towards Nuckelavee, firing her twin energy beams at him. Heka sensed the attack coming as she jumped up just as the beams arrived. Nuckelavee used his swords to cut the beams down the middle, and then deflected them towards the Abominations golems, destroying them on the spot. Witch and Heka both sped towards Nuckelavee and struck again with their weapons, but like before, the Cannibal Phantom blocked them.
"Too close…"
"What?" they exclaimed.
Just then, Nuckelavee's body began to glow bright violet as a huge dome of violet energy exploded around them. The two heroes were thrown from the explosion but weren't given a chance to get their bearings as lightning struck them, causing sparks to fly from their armor as they were being damaged. Nuckelavee appeared before them as he hit them both with construct energy claws from Orthros. More sparks flew from their bodies as the damage was piling up.
"This is bad, Niña! We're running out of mana!"
"Same here, Amity! And we've hardly even scratched that monster!"
"We can't give up, not yet," said Heka.
"Amity's right, that thing attacked the school, it obviously doesn't care about being subtle! We need to take it down!"
[LET'S GO! KICK STRIKE!]
Heka dismissed the MaguScepter and channeled her magical power into her left foot, at the same time, Witch channeled her magical power into her right foot as four magic circles appeared behind her. The two Riders jumped at the same time and launched their Rider Kicks right at Nuckelavee. Four construct Owls appeared and surrounded them as the head of Bast opened its fanged mouth and prepared to bite down. Nuckelavee did not run. The Cannibal Phantom's four legs widened its stance and threw away its swords as it readied all six of its arms. A raging black aura appeared around the monstrosity, growing fiercer by the second.
Right as Witch and Heka's attacks hit, Nuckelavee thrust out all six of his arms, creating a burst of dark energy to blast towards them. The two Riders' kicks collided with that dark energy, grunting, and groaning as they tried to fight back against it. But it was becoming increasingly apparent that Nuckelavee was not trying, as throughout this entire battle, the Phantom's smirk had not disappeared even once. Nuckelavee released his ungodly roar and the dark energy responded, growing in size and power as it rushed forward and swallowed the two Riders as a massive explosion took place in the air. Nuckelavee stopped his attack and watched as both Riders came falling out of the explosion and landed on the ground a few feet away. Unfortunately, Witch had been knocked back into Light Owl Style, and Heka had been knocked out of her Champion Form. Both girls were hurting from the battle, but worse than that, their mana reserves were very low.
The Cannibal Phantom began slowly stalking towards them, still making its jerking movements as it tilted its head back and forth. "You never stood a chance…"
Witch and Heka dragged themselves back up to their feet, but they knew they had to get out of this situation, to fall back and regroup. But Nuckelavee was not going to let them.
Suddenly, Nuckelavee's smirk left as his face, forming something like an irritated sneer. Several fireballs rained down on Nuckelavee's position, and right after, an intense stream of water cut through the earth, laced with magical energy as it struck his position and caused several explosions to erupt around him. Nuckelavee swiped his claws and made the wind clear the smoke away, but then was attacked by a huge pillar of black and red energy that shot up from the ground around Nuckelavee's hooves.
Witch looked at Heka, and Heka looked at Witch.
"I didn't do that," they said at the same time. "If you didn't, who did?!"
"Witch, Heka."
The two Riders turned around and watched as a Phantom came casually walking towards them, dressed in robes of black and red, and had the headpiece of an unrecognizable animal upon his head.
"Oh, c'mon…" Heka groaned.
"Let me guess…you're a Phantom General?" Witch asked, rhetorically.
The Phantom strolling up to them stopped and nodded. "Indeed. I am called Set. And my associates are here as well." From the sky, a fiery Phantom appeared. "Ifrit." And from the tree line appeared another. "And Ahuizotl."
Witch weakly brought up her hands, ready to fight, and Heka did the same, both girls were weak, both physically and mana wise. It made sense that now of all times their enemies would choose this time to attack and finally take down their opponents, regardless of their common enemy.
"I'd suggest ducking, all four of you," said Set as he raised his hand.
Nuckelavee roared as he charged for them, but as soon as they heard him, Witch, Heka, Ahuizotl, and Ifrit ducked as Set unleashed another of his chaotic energy blasts out of his hand and hit him full force in the face. Nuckelavee was sent flying backwards and growled in annoyance by the appearance of the Phantom Generals, but before he could attack, a sword pierced the right side of his chest. The Cannibal Phantom looked down at the blade, still sporting his annoyed expression as he looked over his shoulder saw none other than Barbatos.
"REMEMBER ME?!"
"Yes…but I don't care."
Nuckelavee's body energized as he prepared to unleash an area wide attack, but Barbatos pulled out his sword and jumped high into the air just as Nuckelavee released his explosion attack. The beast Phantom spun in the air and landed a few feet from them, brandishing his sword in his right claw as his left crackled with energy.
"Witch, Heka, retreat from this battle! We will buy you time!" Barbatos stated.
"…Okay, I am thoroughly confused right now," said Witch.
Set sighed. "Something we don't have time for."
The jackal-like Phantom snapped his fingers and conjured a black cloud and red lightning that swirled around all of them. Nuckelavee fired his crimson eye beams, but it was too late as the cloud whisked itself into the air, swiftly disappearing from sight. About two minutes later, the cloud reappeared somewhere outside of Bonesborough, depositing the two Riders onto the ground as they landed on their feet. Set snapped his fingers again and made the cloud disappear with the rest of his fellow Phantoms.
Witch and Heka were still on edge but Set raised his hand in a placating motion.
"Please clam yourselves, if we wanted to kill you, we would've done so back there," said Set.
"I don't get it, why did you save us?" Heka asked.
Set flicked his right wrist and a card appeared in it. "If you want to know the answer to this, come to this location. It's secure and hidden. That creature won't find us there."
Witch looked at the card and squinted from behind her helmet. "What is this? Some kind of gang style sit down?"
"Let's just say, we all have a mutual enemy."
With that said, Set disappeared in another chaotic cloud.
Heka looked at Witch and asked, "What do we do?"
Witch thought about it for a moment. Set, a Phantom General, saved them. And now they want to meet with them. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. At least that's what I'm assuming this is about. Amity, let's rest up, eat some cookies, and drink some juice, and then…we'll see what they're up to."
Heka nodded, it was clear to them that Nuckelavee was a powerful opponent, and to defeat him, they may need to resort to something that neither one of thought they might have to do.