I have returned, everyone! Merry Christmas once again, and I have come to you, as promised, with something special for today for my MegaMan NT Warrior and The Owl House story, Owl House: NT Witch! Now, normally, I would do one or a few chapters a day, but since I had time after I finished my eighth chapter for this story, I figured I do another, and based on how long it took for me to write this chapter, I thought to release both new chapters as a gift for you all on Christmas Day of 2023! Now, all the thanks that I gave to you was shown in the previous chapter intro, so you know what I am to say. With this announcement, I now commence my next new chapter for the double-feature gift! Please be sure to review, rate, and as always, please be sure to enjoy!
Chapter 9: Divided We Fall, United We Stand
Luz was in her room, sleeping after a long day's work. Ever since the incident with the Net Wrecker, and the attack of both Lurerre and DevastationMan, more people had been invested in her business and in taking on the Darkloids. Thanks in part to Mattholomule, she was no longer backed up with special NetNavi commissions, and was able to make them at a faster pace with more Custom Burn Disks.
In addition, new Battle Chips were coming in each minute, from different witches with access to Scroll PETs and their own NetNavis. At the rate she was making more money, she would have to spend it. The problem was, she did not even know what to spend it on. Granted, gaining money from this experience was a bonus, but she did not expect to make so much.
Still, Luz was content. She was helping to make a difference, and with the lack of Darkloid sightings and attacks, she was free to rest, just as her mother had advised her to do when helping to keep people safe. Her watch was close to reading nine hours of sleep until…
A crash was heard.
Luz's eyes shot open, her hand racing to her mini side table. However, instead of grabbing her PET as Azura woke up as well, she grabbed a Light Glyph and leapt out of her sleeping bag all the way to the door, where she saw Eda as the Owl Beast. Quickly, she walked in front of her path, right as King dashed over and hid behind her leg, before activating ten Light Glyphs all at once.
Eda screamed before stumbling back, now back as her normal self.
"Eda! Are you alright?" Luz asked, running over to help Eda get back up.
"Ugh, yeah," Eda groaned, feeling her head while taking out an Elixir. Opening the canteen, she downed it in one go before summoning her Scroll PET, checking on the progress for her new NetNavi. "Wow, a little more to go."
"Eda, this can't keep going," Luz said. "This might help you with the progress on your Navi from the Owl Beast, but it won't stop you from going out of control. Something needs to be done."
"Luz, it's okay," King said. "She's been handling the curse as long as any of us have been alive."
"Yeah, King's right," Eda said. "Sorry to even wake you up from your rest."
"It's okay," Luz said as Azura walked over, tossing Luz her PET. "Now that I'm awake… I can take action."
Outside of the Owl House, Hooty was keeping watch for visitors until he heard something from inside.
"Luz, I'm sure there's another way!"
"I'm sorry, Eda, but for the good of everyone… this has to be done. You'll thank me later."
"Wait!"
"Hooty-Hoot!" Hooty exclaimed, opening the door to stretch his neck inside. "What's happening?!"
"Before you do…" Eda said, taking some powder and placing it into each one of her Apple Blood collections. "Gotta make sure the flavor still stays," she said with a chuckle before turning to Luz, who held a large elixir bottle in her hand. "Okay, go."
Luz smiled before pouring some of the elixir into each set of Apple Blood. Making sure each was an even portion, she made it through each bottle before setting it down, all now starting to show a more vibrant red color to them.
"There," Luz said. "When I was picky with my medicine as a toddler, my Papa would mix it in with ice cream, and I would eat it instantly," Luz said. "And by using that spellbook to enhance your elixir effect, added to that strong raunchy Apple Blood, it should create for a better effect than usual."
"Who knew what you learned as a kiddo would help me out, kiddo?" Eda mused, pocketing several bottles before levitating the rest to several random hiding places, where a million more stashes of the same new content were made. "And who knows? If my Navi finishes, I could give CrossFusion a go too."
"Whoa, now," Luz said, now with a Synchro Chip in her hand. "You might be getting a new Navi, and be able to CrossFuse after I saw your high rating, but combined with the unpredictable nature of the curse, any attempt to CrossFuse too soon, with too much power, could cause a disaster."
"And how big of a disaster are we talking here?" King asked.
"If not done right… it could take out the whole Owl House."
"Don't do it, Eda!" Hooty begged. "Don't kill my stucco and my bod!"
"Okay, okay! I'll hold off on CrossFusion until the time is right," Eda said as Luz walked closer to her, handing her the Synchro Chip. "Besides, I've already worked out the name I'll give my Navi when she comes to life."
"You know their gender by now?" Luz asked.
"Well, at times, when the curse takes over, I see the Owl Beast, and until the curse wears off, I learn a bit about her," Eda explained. "There's the fact that she's a female, but that's all I got from her. I called her by they/them ever since."
"Someone with they/them pronouns actually paid ten times for a Navi commission price on my opening week," Luz said. "They didn't leave their name, just ten times what one would usually pay for a custom special Navi. While I was generous, I did make sure to put up a notice to leave a name for each payment afterwards."
"Well, you're certainly proving to be responsible with this business," Eda said. "Sure to be something to bring up to your mom when you call her next, in addition to getting that rest too."
"Yeah, thanks to everyone, I'm getting some needed rest from everything so I don't burn myself out," Luz said. "We've even gone into MagiNet City to check things out, Azura and I."
"And trust me, things are looking good there," Azura said. "Everyone's talking about the Dem-N1 Grand Prix, which has skyrocketed NetBattles for days. Amity's at the top of the leader-board already."
"As long as we're all getting good stuff from all of this," Eda said. "Man, it makes me excited for how my Navi will turn out."
"Just remember to keep yourself in check with the new Apple Blood and elixir mix," Luz said. "If you need me here to help you in case you lose control again, I can stay."
"Don't you have plans after that long nap?" Eda asked, playfully rolling her eyes.
"Oh, right," Luz said. "As thanks for saving the school from DevastationMan and Lurerre, Bump allowed me to come with the school for the annual Grudgby Game! Hexside against Glandus!"
"Ah, a chance to wipe the smirks off their faces again," Eda said. "I miss those days. With all that's been going on, you deserve this. I think I can handle here. It's my day off from potion-selling anyways."
"Thanks, Eda!" Luz replied before making her way to the door, kissing King on the forehead as she did so. "Don't plot a coup without me!"
"Hey, it's the throne I'm trying to take!" King called back before Luz left. "Ah well. The usurper can have the throne at the Slayground for now. I'm gonna watch some MagiNet City violence!" he proclaimed, reaching for a mini-size version of the Battle Chip Gauntlets, Cyber Contacts and headset. "Wanna join in, Eda?"
Eda smirked as she revealed her own set. "Come on," she said, picking King up as she summoned Owlbert in his staff form. "We'll place bets on the way."
Meanwhile, at the Darkloid Palace in the MagiNet, ShadeMan was looking over all of Bonesborough. He saw several ships leaving from Glandus before checking on his Dark Chip facility. Seeing the progress of what was happening, he dismissed the screens before turning to Pandora and FeralMan as they approached him.
"Is everything set?" ShadeMan asked.
"Destron Squad is ready. We have the best new Darkloids for the job," Pandora replied. "Lurerre is handling the oversight of the watch over Hexside. They'll never see us coming."
"And we've revived at least half of the Fodder Darkloids that GrandeurMan used during the Wailing Star," FeralMan added on. "Our enhancements from the Titan's Backbone facility has increased their strength tenfold."
"Then you may begin when ready," ShadeMan said. "Remember, this is the day where there will be the largest gathering of witches and demons all in one area. Dozens of new Darkloids, ripe for the recruitment. No matter the number of new Darkloids you have, it will still be a success."
"And what of you, Master ShadeMan?" FeralMan asked.
"There's something I must take care of," ShadeMan said, patting a digital copy of the book on Mr. Wily at the side of his throne. "Thanks to our knowledge from Wily, we have all that we need for this operation. It is the day we show the entire Demon Realm the power of the Darkloids!"
"All hail ShadeMan!" FeralMan roared.
"Long live the Darkloids!" Pandora yelled, turning around as she did so, to a large army of new Darkloids.
"ALL HAIL SHADEMAN! LONG LIVE THE DARKLOIDS!"
"ALL HAIL SHADEMAN! LONG LIVE THE DARKLOIDS!"
"ALL HAIL SHADEMAN! LONG LIVE THE DARKLOIDS!"
"ALL HAIL SHADEMAN! LONG LIVE THE DARKLOIDS!"
"ALL HAIL SHADEMAN! LONG LIVE THE DARKLOIDS!"
ShadeMan grinned at all of the chanting before FeralMan, Lurerre, Pandora and the rest of the Darkloids digitized out, one by one. Soon, he was left alone. Seeing a screen of Emperor Belos, he chuckled and closed his eyes, leaving the Palace as well.
Back in the Demon Realm, Luz was now approaching Hexside. She saw the airships coming, with students getting in each one. As she neared the front of the school, she saw Amelia and Cat, as well as an Oracle Track student with grey skin and blonde hair and a Beast-Keeping Track Student with a bat-like face, blocking Boscha's view as they passed Willow, Gus and Skara, all of who hardly noticed them passing by before the five made their way to a more luxurious-looking airship.
"Let me guess, Boscha is still trying hard not to call you by that forbidden name?" Luz asked as she joined her friends, with Amity walking up to them while Edric and Emira made their way to the main airship.
"Yeah, she's trying really hard not to taunt Willow," Skara said. "But you know, it's strange. I nearly let slip the term, and nothing happened to me."
Amity looked to Luz before turning back, with a devious grin on her face. "Oh, there's a reason, alright," she said before leaning in, gesturing for Willow, Gus and Skara to do the same. "I undid the Oath after we first fought ShadeMan. For all Boscha knows, she'll slowly lose her mouth if she thinks, whispers or dreams 'Half-A-Witch'."
"Oh, you're a devious one, Blight." Willow said with a saucy smirk.
"Why do Boscha and the Banshees get a fancier airship, by the way?" Azura asked from the MagiNet, with Hecate, Melody and MirageMan watching the school get ready to leave. "That a one-of-a-kind sort of ship?"
"Oh, it belongs to the Grudgby Team, been it for years since the invention of Grudgby itself," Melody said. "It fits only the main team, plus all the equipment and uniforms needed. Only the pilot of their ship is allowed on, but no one else."
"Fledge Wikstrom and Bryce Wallace take the place of Skara and Amity," Hecate went on. "Amity and Skara can go on the ship any time they want, since they were never officially booted from the Grudgby Team, but just choose not to go on."
"Still, despite us not liking Boscha, we make this game day an exception," MirageMan said. "She's the leader of the Banshees, and for good reason too."
"I feel so proud to be among fellow… uh…" Luz started before a curious look came to her face. "Are we Hexidians? Hexies? Hexoleos?" she asked.
"Better," Willow said before a strong game face replaced her innocent smile, her fist clenched. "Winners!"
"Well, Skara and I better go find us all seats before they're all taken by Zoe and Paris," Amity said, gesturing to a mouth-haired girl, the same one Luz saw from the Covention at the Illusions stand, and a girl with orange hair, also from the Illusions Track that Luz saw at the Covention, sitting down and holding hands. "Those two really like their space when it comes to being together."
"Wait, is it weird that I'm not wearing Hexside colors?" Luz asked, looking to her shirt before looking around, eventually seeing the game poster, which showed a Grudgby Player from Glandus with the same colors as her shirt. "Oh, that explains things."
"Get ready to be creamed, Gland— oh! Miss Noceda! Sorry!" a giant student said as he passed by, stopping to apologize.
"No, it was my fault. I didn't know these were Glandus colors," Luz said, making the giant student sigh with relief before making his way to the ships. "Time to get this off." She said, tucking her arms in before removing her hoodie, revealing her in her heat wave's tank top.
The very sight of this caused many students aboard the ship to squeal, faint and blush, while Amity, upon catching Luz take off her hoodie, started to go red in the face. Quickly, Skara pushed her down so that her face was now in her seat.
"Luz!" Willow exclaimed, getting Luz to look over to her and Gus, the former using one hand to cover her eyes and the other to cover Gus's. She peaked through and sighed. "Oh, for a moment, I thought you had nothing on."
"Oh, I always wear this underneath," Luz said before walking to the ship. "There a place I can get clothes with Hexside colors?" she asked before spotting Amity and Skara while the students around continued to look at her with amazement. "Can one of you hold onto this for me until the game's done?" she asked.
"I'll do it!" Amity called quickly, grabbing the hoodie and hugging it in her arms.
"Yeah, we'll alternate." Skara said.
"Times like these, I worry for Amity and her gayness." Hecate mused from the MagiNet.
"So, where can I find some fresh Hexside clothes?" Luz asked, walking back to Willow and Gus as the Banshees' airship took off.
"There's a Lost-And-Found in the cafeteria." Willow said.
"Ah, the place where mouth-guards retire, and free money to rot." Luz said, walking into the school.
"Wait," Gus said, lifting Willow's arm right as Luz went into Hexside. "There's free money in the Lost-and-Found?!"
"Huh," Luz said as she walked to the cafeteria. "Why am I getting so many messages from Hexside students asking for marriage and not commissions?" she asked, looking to her Scroll PET.
"Beats me," Azura said before glancing at a lot of the pictures, which included several from Zoe and Paris making illusions of Luz doing random model poses, and with Skara trying to get Amity to stop getting massive nosebleeds and red faces in the backgrounds, and semi-failing at it, based on the steam showing from her face in another shot of Skara fighting to turn Amity away, getting her to snicker quietly. "Maybe we'll never know."
Luz shrugged before finding the Lost-and-Found chest. She opened it up and smiled. "Bingo!"
Meanwhile, aboard the Banshees' airship, Boscha was putting on knee guards while Amelia and Cat were checking out their Battle Chip collection. Boscha glanced over with an expression that was half triggered and half envious. When her team looked her way, she turned to the pilot instead.
"So, you ready for the game?" the pilot asked.
"Yeah," Boscha said nervously before covering up that tone of her voice. "How far until we reach the stadium?"
"Not too long," the pilot replied. "They'll be ready for us when we arrive. Best of luck on the mat—"
Before the pilot could finish, something crashed into the airship. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned, seeing a crack forming at the back. Slowly, Boscha and the Banshees reached for their equipment, only for a blast to suddenly come through and hit the pilot, shooting him straight through the chest. Immediately dying from the blast, he stumbled back and fell off the ship.
"What in the—?" Fledge, the Oracle Track Banshee, exclaimed, before seeing Pandora break through the crack, revealing herself, Lurerre, and seven new Darkloids emerging through. "Darkloids!"
"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" Pandora asked with a sadistic grin before a Darkloid in silver and red armor walked forward, cannons replacing his hands. "MunitionsMan! Now!"
"Die, Witches!" MunitionsMan yelled before floating up. Everyone took cover as he fired at them before turning into a set of shoulder, arm and leg cannons for Pandora.
Pandora grinned and shot forward, taking down Fledge first. He groaned as he was caught in the middle of using his Battle Chip Gauntlets to create a barrier before limping back, prompting Bryce and Amelia to run up and send blasts from their spell circles.
All of the Darkloids took cover before another new Darkloid, one with a golden version of a Coven Scout mask and a cracked shield as his Navi Crest, ran forward with two claymores in his hands, slashing the two down. The two groaned and staggered back until they hit the ground, leaving Boscha and Cat. The two looked to each other and nodded, reaching for the Grudgby Balls and lighting them on fire.
The Darkloids watched as Boscha and Cat tossed the flaming Grudgby balls at them. Lurerre only created a barrier that blocked their attacks before sending forth several rapid blasts from her Flask Cannons, destroying their balls. Afterwards, Pandora spread her arms out, allowing MunitionsMan to separate from her, and send out several blasts that knocked the two into the sides of the ships, all of the Banshees now down.
"Too easy," Lurerre said as the Darkloids approached the downed Grudgby Team, who started to come to. "You know what to do."
Bryce tried to get up, only for another Darkloid, one with blades for fingers, aimed one sword at his throat while two HeelNavis aimed blaster arms at Fledge, who clutched his arm, trying to stop some bleeding.
"Fledge!" Cat yelled, limping towards him, only for two other Darkloids to aim their weapons at her. "Please, he's hurt! I swear, just let me heal him! It's all I'm gonna do!"
The two Darkloids turned to Lurerre, who nodded. "Try any funny business, and you won't live to regret it." She warned.
"Thank you." Cat said, rushing to Fledge so that she could start to heal him.
"Keep the flight path to the stadium," Pandora ordered as one of the new Darkloids, one that had metal wings decorating his pack, gauntlets and the back of his legs. "My code still works since I was never discharged from the Banshees. And then the corruption can begin."
"All those witches and demons. Even if it's just two schools, it'll be enough," MunitionsMan mused while Boscha, pretending to be unconscious, quietly gaped at what she was hearing. Slowly, she took out her Scroll and swiped to her text app, starting to type. "All shall soon become new Darkloids for Master ShadeMan."
"But first things first…" Pandora said before spinning and kicking Boscha onto her chest, now keeping one foot on her back to prevent her from getting up. She looked to the Scroll as it disappeared, and saw Boscha weakly using one of her hands to get it to disappear. Before she could do it, she shot the edge of it, causing Boscha to gasp. "Such heroic nonsense. I can't believe I ever followed you around."
"It won't matter," the bladed Darkloid said as Cat continued to heal Fledge. "They'll be dead, and we'll have our army."
"Well spoken, SerratEnby," Pandora said before grabbing Boscha by the back of the hair to lift her head up, just enough to whisper into her ear, "They're doomed no matter what."
Back at Hexside, Luz emerged from the school, now with a shirt and hat with the colors for Hexside. In her hands were two pompoms as she leapt into the air with excitement.
"Go, Hexside!" Luz cheered, spreading her pompoms around before landing in a split. However, she landed on the top of the rail supports, and bent further than ninety degrees, causing a crack to be heard. "Well, I never did that before," she grimaced before looking around and seeing only Willow and Gus remaining. "Where is everyone?"
"Hexside rules!" the same giant student who nearly insulted Luz earlier called out as the bus left.
"Sorry! We can't keep them waiting!" Amity called before seeing Luz in her cheerleader getup, getting Skara to shove her head back into her seat.
Unfortunately, Amity's seat had Luz's hoodie on it, causing her to go red not just to her ears, but part of her neck and elbows too, upon accidentally breathing in the scent from the hoodie.
"We'll catch up somehow, don't worry!" Willow called back as Luz ran over, with Azura appearing next to her, tending to her legs.
"Why didn't you go with them? Or try to warn the bus not to go?" Luz asked before nearly collapsing, causing Azura to stop and catch her.
"Leave the cheering to Kim and M-Tech." Azura teased.
"We didn't want to leave you behind." Willow replied.
"Well…" Gus started, only for Willow to summon a plant from underneath him, causing him to squeal. "I get it! Don't hit me there!"
"Can we walk?" Luz asked.
"We'd never get to the stadium in time!" Gus exclaimed. "Terrace Stadium is all the way near the forest by the Skull!"
"I'd ask my Dads if they can give us a ride on their staffs, but they're busy." Willow added on.
"Well, I think we've got something better than staffs," MirageMan said as Azura returned to her PET to meet up with him. "Two people with CrossFusion, and one with the Battle Chip Gate!"
"Yeah," Luz said, taking out her Synchro Chip, prompting Gus to do the same. "I made sure that everyone gets a DashCondor as part of their starting Chip Folders, including you guys!"
"Great idea!" Willow exclaimed as Gus slotted in the DashCondor Battle Chip while Luz did the same, all while taking out her custom Battle Chip Gate. "I never did thank you for giving this to me until you have my Navi ready."
"No problem," Luz replied, placing her Synchro Chip in after taking a few steps back, with Gus doing the same, before they both emerged from CrossFusion. "With the Fishy Virus speed, we can reach the stadium in no time!"
"But I think it's best if we lead," Willow said before taking out a Battle Chip. "DashCondor, Battle Chip In, Download!"
Three Fishy Viruses appeared, and Luz, Willow and Gus leapt onto them. Without missing a beat, they all dashed ahead, with Gus and Willow leading Luz to Terrace Stadium.
Aboard her Palisman, and flying next to another airship, Lilith was speaking to Kikimora.
"You're missing out, Kiki," Lilith said. "We've always attended the games together, after all."
"Tempting, but you have been chosen this year as the ambassador for the Emperor's Coven while Emperor Belos plans for the Day of Unity," Kikimora replied. "We must adjust now that there is a Darkloid threat."
"With luck, people will remember to come together and not have to worry about the Darkloids for at least this day," Lilith said. "They will know that we shall have no need to fear," she proclaimed before ending the call. As she did, she thought back to her close encounter with DevastationMan, and what she saw from Luz and her friends. "They are practically the only ones who can even do actual damage on the Darkloids," she said to herself before she and her group approached Terrace Stadium. "Maybe… she's the one I need to follow."
Five minutes away, Willow and Gus continued to lead Luz to the stadium. Each of them were laughing as they sailed across the Boiling Sea, eventually coming up on the large stadium itself.
"Wow, that's huge!" Luz exclaimed.
"Yeah, she's a beauty," Azura agreed. "This Terrace person that the place is named after must have been an important role model to everyone in the world here."
"You could say that," Gus said. "Anyways, I think we passed both of the Hexside buses now. We can actually get there first!"
"I see the Banshee bus!" Willow called out as she, Gus and Luz landed. However, as she narrowed her eyes for a closer look, a grimace appeared on her face. "Hey, Luz?"
"Yeah, Willow?"
"There's a hole in that bus!"
"What?!" Luz exclaimed, letting her visor come down over her eyes. Enhancing her view, she saw SerratEnby and Pandora holding the rest of the Banshees hostage. "Darkloids! And they've got Boscha and her team!"
"CrossBlaster, Battle Chip In!" Gus called out as his arm changed. He aimed towards the Grudgby Team's bus and immediately opened fire, with Luz following suit.
"Access has been granted, and we can now enter," Pandora said to Lurerre. "Now, who shall we kill first?"
"How about…?" Lurerre started, only for one of the shots from below to almost hit her. She looked down and snarled as the rest of the Darkloids looked on. "Kill the Noceda girl! She knows she can't do anything with our prisoners!"
"They got there before us!" Skara cheered happily before the sound of blaster fire caught the attention of everyone. "What in the Titan?"
"I just got a message from Boscha," Amity said, walking up with her Scroll PET floating next to her. Her eyes widened when she saw the message. "Blinded eye!"
"No way!" Paris exclaimed as she turned to the rest of the students. "Blinded eye from Boscha! You all know what that means!"
"They're under attack!" Edric called, getting the rest of the students to fire spell circles at the bus for the Grudgby team before others used their Battle Chip Gauntlets to add extra firepower.
"Amity, come in! Skara, respond!"
Skara pulled out her Scroll PET as Melody and Hecate popped up on their screens.
"We see the Darkloids, Luz," Skara replied. "What can we do to help?"
"We've gotta take down the bus, but we can't do that with Boscha and her posse still inside!" Luz called back while returning fire with Gus and Willow. "We're shooting at each head that pops up, but you need to get the Banshees out before we can destroy that bus!"
"We can do that," Amity said before turning to Skara. "You ready?"
"Oh yeah." Skara said as she and Amity simultaneously loaded Battle Chips into their PETs.
"SYNCHRO CHIP IN! DOWNLOAD! BEGIN CROSSFUSION NOW!"
Amity grinned and held her arms out, letting Hecate's Navi Crest pass through her, giving her a black bodysuit. As soon as it did, she thrust her right arm to the side while her left arm gained her Navi's gauntlet. The same happened for her other arm before letting Hecate's boots digitize over her feet. Raising both arms into the air, she brought them down, letting her helmet appear before the crescent moon chevron manifested itself. Spreading out her arms now, her Navi Crest flew onto her chest, followed by her hair being undone and coming out the back of her helmet as a ponytail, followed by her blue tailcoat falling around her legs. Spinning around, she ended her CrossFusion with both arms opened to the sides.
Skara flung out her Navi Crest before letting it pass through her. As soon as it did, she let Melody's gauntlets appear over her arms before performing a high double kick, letting her boots appear over her own. Spinning around, her clothes compressed to allow for her black bodysuit to manifest onto her before her Navi Crest flew onto her chest. Eyes closed, she bowed her head down and let Melody's helmet appear over her, followed by her visor appearing over her eyes as she opened them. Spinning once again, she summoned her lute before backflipping, playing a single note from it as her CrossFusion finished.
"AreaSteal, Battle Chip in!" Skara called out, AreaStealing towards the bus.
"NoBeam, Battle Chip In!" Amity called out, using Abomination sludge to push herself off before dashing through to the bus with the NoBeam effect.
"How is everyone?" Cat asked as all of the Banshees continued to be held while the rest of the Darkloids fired back on Luz, Willow and Gus.
"Been better," Amelia replied before looking to Boscha, who clenched her damaged Scroll. "How do the others know we were in danger?"
"I sent out a message," Boscha said. "I don't know if anyone saw it or not."
All of a sudden, Amity burst through, knocking SerratEnby and MunitionsMan forward before Skara AreaStole in, sending out spell circles that caused Lurerre and the two HeelNavis to jolt forwards. While Lurerre caught herself, the two HeelNavis fell off and into the sea.
"Come on!" Skara called, carrying Fledge and Bryce away.
"You too!" Amity yelled, grabbing Amelia and Cat while Boscha clung to her waist as she used NoBeam to return, while Skara AreaStole back to the main Hexside bus.
"You're all clear, Luz! Blow it!"
"Mahou Charge!" Luz called out, charging up her MagiBuster. A large blast came from the gem's end, hitting the Banshees' bus, causing it to explode.
From the stadium, the waiting Glandus Team were getting ready until they saw the explosion. Everyone else in the stands took notice of well while Lilith and her scouts watched the Darkloids fly out.
"Get everyone to safety!" Lilith ordered. "Everyone else, battle stations!"
"Attack!" Pandora ordered, firing on Luz, Willow and Gus as more Darkloids and HeelNavis digitized into the area.
"Watch out!" Willow called, summoning large vines to block Pandora's blast before MunitionsMan and three HeelNavis started to surround the three.
"Let's play, brats!" MunitionsMan remarked, aiming his cannons out.
Before the blasts could be sent, Amity arrived with NoBeam once again and twisted the cannons of MunitionsMan upwards, getting him to shoot and Delete the HeelNavis instead. Afterwards, she leapt off, allowing Skara to AreaSteal in and use a WideBlade to slash him back.
"Nice tackle!" Gus complimented as he deflected the blasts of several more incoming HeelNavis with his Illusion Blade.
"Boscha told me that the Darkloids are gonna corrupt everyone in that stadium into a Darkloid!" Amity exclaimed, getting Luz's eyes to go wide. "This is probably what they've been planning with all the new Darkloids they've recruited, a chance to amass an even bigger army!"
"Inside, go!" Luz ordered as the jet Darkloid flew over, missing them with dark shadowy missiles. She fired back as everyone headed inside, with the rest of the students landing from the Hexside bus and running to fight the amassing army.
"Everyone who can fight! There's a Darkloid army about to attack!" Luz yelled as she, Willow, Amity, Gus and Skara all ran into the stadium, getting witches and demons in the stands to place their Battle Chip Gauntlets on immediately while the Coven Scouts readied all of their weapons. "All hands on deck! We need to take them down!"
Lilith gasped as she turned to the rest of the Coven Scouts. "You follow her orders!" she commanded. "She knows more about the Darkloids and how to fight them than anyone else here!"
Outside, blasts were being sent everywhere as Hexside attacked the new Darkloids and HeelNavis, with Viruses now joining, and being taken down as well.
Principal Bump yelled as he armed himself with his own Battle Chip Gauntlets, using a Katana Battle Chip to cut down several Viruses while some of the teachers fired at the Darkloids and HeelNavis flanking them.
"Over here!" Boscha yelled, running out with a chained Grudgby ball in hand, which she used to take out twelve HeelNavis before the rest of the Banshees charged out, armed with their Battle Chip Gauntlets. And thanks to Cat healing them, they were more than ready to pay the Darkloids back for their ambush.
"Inside!" Mary yelled, seeing Luz and Amity back to back while taking on several Elebee Viruses. "Let's go!"
"Dash Claw!"
"Look out!" a Healing Track girl called out, intercepting the attack, which came from FeralMan. "Help them! I've got this!"
Lilith flew down as two Darkloids shot at her, causing the platform she was on to explode. She landed and used her staff to slash down one of them before blocking a slash from another. Kicking him away, she started to blast through more HeelNavis and Viruses until she reached Luz, backing away as Amity was using her LunaStriker to send more new Darkloids and Viruses back, just as Mary and a handful of students came in and slashed more down.
"We're gonna get tired out soon, and the Darkloids know that!" Luz yelled as she and Lilith went back to back this time, both shooting and slashing down Viruses and HeelNavis as they charged at them. "You gotta get in touch with Eda, and get her to bring reinforcements!"
"Mike, find Edalyn!" Lilith ordered as Mike Socks flew off of her staff, leaving her to slash at a HeelNavi before creating two large spell circles to drive off Fishy Viruses. "Get help!"
Mike Socks screeched and flew off, clawing at several Batty Viruses as he did so before leaving the area.
"Mike?" Luz asked, stabbing a Darkloid behind her as she turned to Lilith.
"Mike Socks. Look, it was part of a bet for a name for our Palismen when Edalyn and I were growing up," Lilith explained before punching away a HeelNavi. "And I lost. No questions on how or what we did for the bet. It's not a story I like to talk about."
"Then be silent forever!" Lurerre yelled, jumping in with her blades drawn alongside SerratEnby.
Luz and Lilith turned and raised their weapons to block the attacks just in time. While Luz and SerratEnby circled around in their blade-lock, Lilith sent a high kick at Lurerre to push her back, the two narrowing their eyes at each other. Soon, they ran sideways, pushing their way through students, witches, demons, Viruses and HeelNavis alike until they charged to land a slash on each other simultaneously.
"Look at all of them!" Bella snarled as she, Donna and Pandora all saw their forces being fought and taken down both inside and outside of the stadium. "Does ShadeMan plan to even help?!"
"Oh, he planned for resistance," Pandora said before raising her arm. "But there won't be any new surprises with what ShadeMan built at the Titan's Backbone." She said with a grin before snapping her fingers.
Emira, Edric, and the rest of the students outside forced the rest of the Viruses and HeelNavis inside while Principal Bump was clashing with a Darkloid that had four arms, each one with a blade. He locked with a CyberSword from his Battle Chip Gauntlets before grabbing him and slamming his Palisman Staff onto his Crest, sending him staggering until the door to the arena fell on him.
"Neo SwordMan, Logging Out."
As soon as Neo SwordMan digitized away, Principal Bump walked over, a spell circle formed over his finger as he lifted the door back up.
"That's why I'm the principal," Principal Bump said before making his way inside. However, before he could even get to the door, a wall made of several multicolored hexagons appeared before him. "What in the—?" he asked before seeing more new Darkloids advance on him, getting him to ready his CyberSword again. "Do not get between me and my students!" he proclaimed before all eight new Darkloids leapt at him from all sides.
Gus slashed away two bladed HeelNavis before backing into Mattholomule, who was raising blocks from the ground to send several Darkloids and Viruses flying. The two nodded at each other before the latter knelt down, allowing Gus to roll over his back and send out several shurikens at HeelNavis as they AreaStole at the two, Deleting them.
"Get out of here now!" the captain of the Glandus Grudgby team yelled, sending forth blue fiery Grudgby Balls before the Healing Track Student from before was sent crashing into two Darkloids, a HeelNavi and five Viruses. She looked up as FeralMan leapt at her, causing her to grab the HeelNavi and kick him at him, which FeralMan slashed wildly at before Deleting him to lash out at the student.
The student backflipped away, where Amity appeared and locked with FeralMan right as Skara grabbed a Canodumb and spun around, using the cannon fire from both it and her Lyra String to take down several Darkloids surrounding her. She turned as MunitionsMan fired at her, forcing her to use the Canodumb as a shield before leaping at him.
"ElementFlare, ColdPunch, Battle Chips in!" Skara called out, summoning a ColdPunch fist over her hand while throwing her harp into her left. Using the boost from the ElementFlare, she froze MunitionsMan's cannons before sending musical notes at him, sending him back.
Luz ran and slashed down random Viruses and Darkloids, as SerratEnby did the same before the two clashed. As Luz tried to gain momentum over them, SerratEnby kicked her back, but she landed perfectly before blocking their ten blades. Breaking off and kicking them away, she spun and let out a Sonic Boom, disorienting them as Willow and Amelia summoned several plants, destroying more Viruses.
Luz and SerratEnby ran at each other, engaging in another blade-lock, until the former saw what was happening. Pushing SerratEnby back, she looked around in shock as several others around her took notice of the wall as well, coming from all around until they formed a dome around the arena.
"Luz, is that—?" Azura asked.
"It is if you think it's a Dimensional Area!" Luz exclaimed, seeing three Dimensional Area Generators set up around the stadium. "ShadeMan must have built one after we last fought him!"
"Dimensional Areas?" Amity asked as she, Skara, Willow, Gus and Edric made their way over to her. "You mean like the things Lan and MegaMan did CrossFusion in back in the Human Realm?"
"Yeah, like that," Luz said, looking around. "Don't get why ShadeMan went through the trouble of making another one, not when this whole place gives off Dimensional Area energy vibes."
"Wait," Skara said as around them, the new Darkloids, their HeelNavis and Viruses all readied themselves for more fighting. "Don't these do more than let anyone CrossFuse?"
"Yeah, to allow other Navis to come into the real world, allow Viruses to attack, and… ¡Dios Mijo!" Luz swore, her eyes going wide. "Keeping anyone else out!"
"What are we missing here?" Mattholomule's new Navi, BlockMan, asked as other Navis approached Azura, Hecate, MirageMan and Melody.
"These keep anyone else out! Anyone without CrossFusion can't enter!" Azura realized. "And while the entire Demon Realm gives off a Dimensional Area energy field, it doesn't stop actual Dimensional Areas from trapping anything or anyone inside!"
"Including us!" Luz exclaimed, to the surprise and horror of everyone else listening to her sudden panic. "Even if Eda gets here, there's no way she'll make it through the Dimensional Area! Same with the reinforcements she might bring if Mike gets to her!"
"Is there a way we can destroy the field?" Emira asked as Pandora, Bella and Donna flew down.
"Not past all of us," Donna said. "Sorry to say, but while you're all putting up a good fight, you won't keep it up forever…"
"And we'll be waiting eagerly to put you out of your miseries when you inevitably keel over!" Bella exclaimed. "Donna, on me!"
Donna grinned as she turned into an orb of light. As Bella spread her arms out, the orb flew into her Crest, changing it to depict two riot batons crossing a riot shield. When the light cleared from her, she and Donna had now become Belladonna. She had tainted navy and bronze armor with a scythe shaped like the petal of a flower. But not a normal flower, a dying flower.
"Anyone who still has fight in them, help those who are tired out, and take cover!" Luz ordered. "We're no good if we're not at full strength!"
With that, the HeelNavis and Viruses resumed their attacks, getting the rest of the witches, demons, students and remaining Coven Scouts to take cover in different parts of the stadium, while others fired back to cover the retreat.
"Bring down their defenses, and let the slaughter begin!" Lurerre ordered as she charged into the stadium interior with other Darkloids and HeelNavis, with the Viruses right behind them. "If they won't yield to us, we'll turn this place into their mausoleum!"
"Luna Shot!" Amity called out, coming from behind a pillar and taking out several Darkloids. As soon as they fell, Emira came out from behind another, sending out spell circles that stunned them before Eileen tossed potions that created a gas cloud, allowing for more students and audience members to escape.
As soon as the distraction was made, Amity joined Luz and the rest of her main friends, all panting and with Lilith. They each spread out their arms and fell to the ground, catching their PETs as they did so.
"Take it easy, Gus," MirageMan said. "When you're back at full strength, we can get back in the fight."
"You too, Skara," Melody said as Skara was given a bottle of water, which she drank. "We're no good if we're low on stamina."
"I know," Skara said before she and everyone else turned to Luz, "So, what's the plan after we get our strength back?"
"Well, Lilith is strong, but she's a bit limited without Mike Socks…" Luz started out.
"Don't start with me, I said I don't like to talk about that day!" Lilith nearly snapped.
"And if Eda is able to get reinforcements, she would need to break through the Dimensional Area first," Luz said. "We need every Healer to get everyone, themselves included, back at full strength, so that we can take down Lurerre, Pandora, and the rest of the Darkloids."
"Did we lose anyone in our first round?" Willow asked.
"No, I did a check," Zoe said as she walked up, flicking the tongue part of her head (something Luz wondered if she treated it like hair or not) out of her eye before making her way over. "Paris, Emira, Bo and I made sure to check with everyone. The Darkloids didn't manage to kill or corrupt anyone. We're all just a bit bruised."
"Mm-hmm!" Eileen muttered, walking over as she brought over some water.
"Um, anyone know how to speak eye?" Luz asked before turning back to Eileen. "No offense." She apologized, getting a brush-off shrug and a mumble that could be heard as "None Taken".
"Eileen said that Edric and some of the others are getting all of the food and water they can find from the concession stands to help replenish us," Gus translated. "But there's something else."
"What's that?" Luz asked, drinking some water of her own as Boscha came over.
"Those Dimensional Area thingies aren't being guarded." Boscha said.
Upon hearing this, Luz turned and spat out her drink. However, she did not aim at Boscha, but instead in the opposite direction, where Amity was. Upon accidentally taking in all of the spat water, she turned and spat it back in surprise, with her face going red, right at Boscha, who's eyes started to twitch as she glanced back and forth at the two.
"The Darkloids aren't even guarding the Generators?!" Luz exclaimed. "That's… that's…" she started before a devious smile came onto her face.
"What is it?" Lilith asked.
"I have a plan that I know would make Eda proud!" Luz proclaimed, getting Lilith to look nervous while everyone leaned in with anticipation.
In Bonesborough, Eda and King were using their gauntlets, contacts and headsets to access MagiNet City, seeing a NetBattle in progress. Everyone cheered as the two Navis battling clashed blades with each other before breaking off and strafing each other down as they ran throughout the arena.
"I knew Luz would bring some fun to this place with all that Net stuff," Eda said as King raised his fist to shake at the two battling Navis. "Even with all of those rumored failures and tantrums that Odalia has been throwing, we're getting to have the times of our lives with these."
"Go! Get him! Take him down!" King yelled as other witches and demons also watching with their own sets cheered alongside him. "Death is your god!"
"Really hoping for my own Navi to be ready when the time comes," Eda said as she pulled off her necklace, looking to it as the darkness in it disappeared and reappeared. "You're a stubborn curse. It'll take a miracle to get us to bond together when we CrossFuse."
"Ah, I'm sure you'll get it," King said as he and Eda continued to watch, while in the real world, they were at Morton's stand, while Morton himself, now with a Scroll PET floating beside him, was watching the same NetBattle while also giving Eda elixirs. "Has Luz called? We haven't heard from her in a while."
"Yeah, you're right," Eda said as she tipped Morton before picking up King and walking off. "The game shouldn't be taking that long." She mused before bumping into someone.
"Hey, watch it! I'm trying to enjoy the battle!" the figure said before turning, revealing himself as a Coven Guard. "Oh, you."
"Don't get your mask in a crunch, my charges have been dropped," Eda said as Mike flew over them. "We're on the same side now that the Darkloids made themselves known."
"Doesn't mean I necessarily agree with it," the guard said. "You and that human escaped me before, Owl Lady, but know that once Emperor Belos terminates the immunity you were given…"
"Caw! Caw!"
"Mike?" Eda asked, turning and taking off her contacts as Mike Socks flew down. "What's going on? Where's Lily?"
"Did something happen to the Head Witch?" the guard asked.
Mike Socks cawed a bit more before Owlbert flew from Eda's hair, hooting at him. He once again cawed before the former turned back to Eda, and hooted at her.
"Darkloids have attacked Terrace Stadium?! And they've trapped Luz and all of Hexside with Lily, her squad, Glandus and tons of other civilians?!" Eda exclaimed.
At that moment, Eda's Scroll PET went off. She summoned it and turned on the screen, showing eight new fallen Darkloids before switching to Principal Bump, with just a scratch on his shoulder and his CyberSword broken.
"Bumpy, where's Luz?" Eda asked.
"They're trapped inside of some sort of dome the Darkloids set up," Principal Bump replied. "I've tried to contact them, but you need to come and help your students save us all. I'm trapped out here, but I don't know for how long the Darkloids will not notice my absence from my school."
"Well, you heard him!" Eda yelled at the Coven Guard as several Scouts came out to see what was happening. "Call in any forces you have available, and let's save them!"
"Alert the palace!" the Coven Guard ordered. "The head witch is in danger!"
At the palace, Emperor Belos watched as several Coven Scouts left, with the captains repeating what the Coven Guard had ordered. Kikimora and the Golden Guard looked to each other before turning back to Emperor Belos.
"What do you advise?" the Golden Guard asked. "We can't let the Darkloids take all those lives."
"And they won't," Emperor Belos said, unaware of the dark shadow emerging as the door started to close. "But if Luz Noceda really requires assistance, this shows she is not as strong as the people believe her to be. And we will be the ones to truly be the saviors for the—"
"Delusional and overconfident."
Emperor Belos got up as the door closed, and all the lights went out. From the embers of the extinguished flames, the ashes started to float around to the center of the throne room before all three saw ShadeMan appear from them, grinning as he floated before them.
"I couldn't be more disgusted."
"You… the vampire," Emperor Belos said, walking towards ShadeMan as Kikimora readied some spell circles while the Golden Guard raised his staff. "What do you want with me?"
"I am here to show you that I am not to be underestimated," ShadeMan replied. "We Darkloids are like nothing you have ever faced."
"You are stains in the Titan's visage, and I will not allow you to live any further," Emperor Belos spat, aiming his staff to the side and blowing a hole in the wall, letting the sun shine over ShadeMan. "In moments, you will be nothing but dust, and I will stand triumphant over the leader of the Darkloids!"
"What is he doing?" Kikimora whispered.
"I'd say he has a plan, but… this seems…" the Golden Guard started before making a swirling finger motion at his head, getting Kikimora to quietly nod.
"Can you feel it, vampire?" Emperor Belos asked. "The deadly sun? You and your Darkloids cannot fool me. I know your kind, and you shall—"
"Are you done yet, you old crone?" ShadeMan asked with an unimpressed look on his face.
"What?" Emperor Belos asked. "How are you not dying? You are a vampire! The rays of the sun—"
"I suppose I shall add stupid to the list, you puny idiot," ShadeMan said before spreading his arms out. "Shade Drain!" he called out, blasting Emperor Belos back onto his throne, albeit with some smoke coming from him due to the attack.
"What did you do?!" Kikimora demanded.
"Stay out of this, only he is my target today!" ShadeMan snarled before reaching his hand out, causing Emperor Belos's eyes to glow green for a moment before fading away. "My work here is done," he said before snapping his fingers, causing the doors to open and several guards to rush in. "But just to show you that I am not so merciful as you think…"
One of the guards tried to run ShadeMan through, but he grabbed him by the head and shattered his mask. He turned and grinned, digitizing away and leaving a screen of the MagiNet in his place, where he reappeared with the captured guard.
"If you dare to challenge me, then THIS is what awaits you!" ShadeMan proclaimed, tossing the guard to the ground.
At the stadium, Luz was walking towards one of the Dimensional Area Generators until she got an alert on her PET. She, as well as everyone in the stadium recovering, took out their devices and watched as the guard got up, attempting to throw his spear at ShadeMan. Before he could, he coughed and looked to his other hand, seeing it vaporizing away.
"Hey… what's happening to me?" the guard asked as several others, who had been alerted to the broadcast, looked on in horror. "What's going on?! No! I can still do this! Please!" he begged before the rest of his body started to disintegrate away. "This can't be happening! The Titan was supposed to protect me! No… no… no!"
With that final word, the guard completely disintegrated away, leaving only his spear behind. ShadeMan grinned as he walked up, catching the weapon before it fell. He clenched his hand as he placed a Dark Chip into it, causing the spear to change shape. When the darkness dissipated away, the spear had now changed into a staff that had black and red wings that matches his own, a horned and clawed top with a golden eye in the middle, and a top handle grip with a crimson blood-red color to it.
Everyone looked on in shock before ShadeMan digitized away, with green mist following him before completely disappearing.
"ShadeMan, Logging Out."
Luz sighed, placing a hand to her chest in respect. After several minutes of silence, she turned on her PET again and let it record.
"This may seem dark, but know that even if one of us falls, the rest of us will fight for them. For everyone who dies, we will do everything to honor them. I cannot guarantee complete safety for everyone, but I WILL fight for you no matter what. Me, my friends, my family… we will do all we can to take down the Darkloids, and create a world for us all to thrive in. No matter how dark things may seem, know that we will be the light that shines through it all!"
Everyone cheered at Luz's announcement before she made her way further to the Dimensional Area Generator at the far left of the stadium.
Overhead, the jet-winged Darkloid watched over all exits while Viruses and HeelNavis readied their weapons to take down all those who tried to make their way in or out. Looking to one of the Generators, he saw someone running towards it and taking out something that crackled with sparks.
"It's Noceda!" the winged Darkloid yelled, getting the attention of the HeelNavis and Viruses. "Grab her!"
"You heard CommandoMan!" FeralMan yelled as Pandora and Lurerre narrowed their eyes at the figure. "Get her!"
Twelve HeelNavis charged at the figure before they could throw the item in their hands at the Dimensional Area Generator. Belladonna landed and grabbed them by the head, but gasped at the face.
"Sorry," Skara said, with Edric appearing behind her with one hand creating a Spell Circle that changed her hair back to normal, and the other with a TankCannon Battle Chip armed from a gauntlet. "You expecting someone else?"
With that, Edric opened fire on Belladonna and the HeelNavis, Deleting all twelve of them. While Belladonna was recovering, he tossed down the item that Skara had, creating an explosion that knocked Belladonna to the ground.
"A distraction?!" CommandoMan yelled before seeing someone with Luz's hoodie leaping at the next Dimensional Area Generator. "Get her there!"
"Savage Rush!" FeralMan yelled, sending a jab at the figure and pinning them to the wall, only to reveal themselves as Amity, with the hoodie on. "What?!"
"Goodbye, Jango." Amity quipped before seven Abomination spikes appeared from all around, impaling him and sending him crashing into the grid.
"FeralMan, Logging Out."
"What's going on?!" Pandora demanded before seeing Eda fly at the stadium in the reflection of her visor. She turned and snarled, seeing her with King behind her and Mike Socks beside her, while several airships flew behind her. "Where's No—?" she started before realizing what was happening. She gasped and turned back to the other Dimensional Area Generator, where Luz had the MagiBuster in her hands and her Synchro Chip loaded.
"Magi Charge! CrossFusion Now!" Luz called out, kneeling down and letting the light spread.
Luz cackled happily as she let Azura's armor manifest onto both of her arms. Spreading them out, Azura's boots appeared over her legs, right as a purple over-shield appeared over her top chest. On her back, a set of two stars split in half appeared, acting as a pack for her, before she crossed her arms, allowing her Navi Crest to form and place itself on the center of her chest. As soon as it did, she spun around, her black bodysuit appearing beneath. She turned around and grinned, Azura's hat appearing over her head, followed by the sides of her helmet forming and placing a plate over her mouth. Holding out her right hand, the MagiBuster appeared, which she spun around before aiming her staff out just as her CrossFusion finished, loading up the Magi Charge.
"No!" Lurerre yelled as she tried to intercept the blast, but was too late.
The Magi Charge made impact on the Dimensional Area Generator, destroying it and causing the others to shut down. The Dimensional Area around the stadium soon fell afterwards, getting everyone to charge out and fire on the Viruses and HeelNavis while they looked around in shock.
"We're not done yet!" SerratEnby yelled, running to slash at Luz. However, Amity made a nose-dive towards them and CrossFused at the same time, drilling right through them with her LunaStriker blade and sending them back.
CommandoMan yelled as he flew down, only for Principal Bump to fly at him and tackle him to the side, where Eda flew down on her staff and kicked him into the farthest wall.
"CommandoMan, Logging Out."
"DevastationMan, now!" Belladonna yelled as DevastationMan digitized in, only to be slammed back by Mattholomule and one of the Glandus Grudgby players. "Owl Lady, you're mine!" she snarled as she then proceeded to make her way towards Eda.
"Nice work on the distraction," Eda complimented Luz as she landed, with Mike Socks flying into her other hand in staff form, now wielding two at once. "Really would be something I had done back at Hexside."
"Glad you made it," Luz said before looking to Belladonna and several Fodder Darkloids, HeelNavis and Viruses approaching them. "I don't think I'll be able to load up in time."
"Well, I might," Eda said, taking out the Synchro Chip she was given, causing Luz's eyes to widen as she used both of her staffs to blast away several more Darkloids. "Get to your friends, I've got this!"
"Eda, wait!"
"You said, enough to take out the Owl House itself, right?" Eda asked with a devious grin.
Luz realized what was about to happened and grinned back before flying into the air.
Eda chuckled as she tossed both of her staffs into the air. Summoning her Scroll PET, she took out her Synchro Chip.
"Synchro Chip In! Download!" Eda called out, waiting for more enemy forces to close in. When they were close enough, she held out her PET, which blinked rapidly with the amber color of her necklace and the darkness spreading from it. "Here We Go!"
Due to the imbalance of both elements, as well as the mix of Wild Magic, the blinking quickened before a large explosion went off from where Eda was standing. Belladonna and her forces gasped as they tried to get back, only to get caught in the explosion as more Darkloids, HeelNavis and Viruses all around were caught in as well.
"Belladonna Fusion, Terminated."
"Bella, Deleted."
"Donna, Deleted."
"Whoo-hoo hoo!" Eda cheered, flying into the air with a fire spell circle. Catching her staffs, she flew to the ground and caused several more Viruses and HeelNavis to fly up, where Bo, Amelia, Eileen, Fledge, Zoe and Paris shot at them, all while Luz, Amity, Willow, Gus, Skara and Lilith watched in wonder, with the Coven Scout reinforcements in awe as well.
Across the Demon Realm, several recordings of Eda taking out a huge chunk of the Darkloid attack squad were going around, with everyone cheering at what had happened.
At the Emperor's Palace, Emperor Belos watched before slowly clapping.
"Well played, Owl Lady." Emperor Belos said reluctantly while the Golden Guard dropped his staff in shock, and Kikimora's eyes going wider than ever before.
"And that's why I'm the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles." Eda bragged before tossing Mike Socks to Lilith, who took out twenty Viruses before catching her staff.
"I have to admit… that was impressive." Lilith admitted before she and Eda went back to back, firing spells at the remaining Viruses while Skara, Gus and Amity charged at groups of remaining Darkloids.
"Fire, Aqua, Electro and Bamboo Swords!" Amity called, charging at MunitionsMan. "ElementSword!"
"Cannon Barrage!" MunitionsMan yelled, firing at Amity, but she charged through the blasts and slashed through him, taking off one of his arms in the process.
"MunitionsMan, Logging Out."
"BodyDouble, Battle Chip In!" Gus called out as SerratEnby slashed down at him, only to hit a decoy of him. He reappeared in the air and tossed down several shurikens before dashing back down, grabbing them by the shoulders. "AntiNetNavi, Battle Chip In!" he yelled, sending the non-binary Darkloid back before charging his sword. "Muramasa, Battle Chip In! Program Advance!"
"Body Guard!"
SerratEnby got up and gasped as several shurikens flew down at them. They flew out of the way, but several more continued to hit them before Gus dashed at one of them. Flying down with the rest, he slashed at SerratEnby before repeating what he did with another shuriken. Quickly repeating each process, he slashed through them from each side rapidly before slamming his sword onto them, sending them tumbling away as the Program Advance stopped.
"SerratEnby, Logging Out."
"Round Two, Lurerre!" Skara yelled, using a GoldFist to punch Lurerre away and leaving Pandora alone.
"DevastationMan, destroy them all!" Pandora ordered, only for him to get shot by Luz, armed with an OmegaRocket arm before AreaStealing at her.
"Pandora!" Luz yelled, getting Pandora to tighten her fist when she felt the presence of Boscha on one side of her and Luz on the other side facing her, both aiming out at her. "You're gonna pay for what you and the rest of the Darkloids did today!"
"Et tu, Boscha?" Pandora asked, turning to glare at Boscha.
"I don't like the human that much, but you've attacked a sacred place. Old friend or not, this won't go unpunished," Boscha said, readying her chained spike Grudgby ball again. "Let's go, Penny."
"Now… you know how I feel whenever I'm called that… Bossy." Pandora said with a grin.
"Get ready…" Luz said, readying the MagiBuster, the blade ready to emerge from the gem.
"Be careful." Boscha warned, lifting her spiked ball.
Pandora opened her eyes and let her crystal ball split into two. Grabbing one for each hand, purple blades emerged from them before she combined both together into a single double-ended blade weapon staff. She twirled it around before Luz and Boscha charged at her.
Boscha swung at Pandora first, getting her to slash the flaming chained ball away before locking with Luz, who immediately let out her MagiBuster Blade. Slashing her back, Boscha, grabbed another Grudgby Ball and tried to punch her with it, only for Pandora to slam the two ball halves at it in return. As the two locked together, Luz leapt in and sweep-kicked Pandora down, where she floated to the rest of her forces as they started to diminish.
Luz and Boscha both landed, slamming their weapons at Pandora. As she blocked them, Luz kicked the ball hilts, getting them to separate, before Boscha swung her into some of the Viruses. Amity and Eda took notice of the fight and charged in, swinging their respective staffs at Pandora, who used both her dual weapons to fend off against them. She backed into a HeelNavi and tossed him at the two, only for Amity to slash him into Deletion before Eda kicked a Mettaur at her.
Pandora repeatedly shot at the Mettaur until eventually kicking it aside, where Luz leapt back in, her left hand held to the side as she kept her right hand holding the MagiBuster.
"FireBlade, Battle Chip In!"
Gaining the FireBlade on her left arm, Luz slashed at Pandora's side, causing her to block before slashing back. The two slashed back and forth as they took out several HeelNavis and Fodder Darkloids at the same time. Eventually forcing the human into a corner, Pandora slammed her blades down onto Luz, but she spun back around and forced her back in return. The two slashed each other across the shoulder at the same time before backing away from each other, staring each other down.
"AirStorm! ZapRing! Battle Chips In!" Skara yelled, spinning towards Lurerre. Becoming a tornado, it gained lightning as several Viruses and HeelNavis were dragged into it.
Lurerre scoffed and slammed her hand down, sending forth a Chemical Tower. As soon the two attacks hit, Skara was gone, and she was seen flying above her.
"Gotcha! Fire Vial!" Lurerre yelled as she shot at Skara, only for explosions to go off from several explosives that simply took her shape. "BlackBoomers?!"
"StepCross!"
Lurerre gasped as she staggered back, with Skara now in front of her with a HeroSword and a GaiaBlade. She turned around and swung the blades down, narrowing her eyes at Lurerre dangerously.
"Nice move." Lurerre complimented before digitizing through a shining gold magic circle.
"Lurerre, Logging Out."
"You're done!"
Skara gasped and turned, raising her blades as she saw Luz kicking a HeelNavi at Pandora, who slashed it apart before flying at her, only for Gus to dash in and lock blades with her.
DevastationMan snarled as he got back up, taking out his crane arm and letting a blade appear on it. He swung it across, taking out several Coven Scouts and a few students before locking with Principal Bump, still using his broken CyberSword.
"You can't even CrossFuse, Bump! Too easy!" DevastationMan remarked before both were pushed back. He charged and ran at Principal Bump, slashing at his head, only for him to strike back at his chest. "Wait… what happened?" he asked as he felt something sink in.
Principal Bump only grinned before DevastationMan let out a yell. He fell in half before digitizing away through a tainted brown magic circle.
"DevastationMan, Logging Out."
"Too easy." Principal Bump echoed before flying off back into the battle.
All around, the rest of the students, Coven Scouts, Grudgby Players, Eda, Lilith and Principal Bump were finishing off the last of the Viruses and HeelNavis, with several Darkloids logging out. When they saw the battle between Luz and Pandora still going on, they watched in amazement.
Gus slashed Pandora back, putting her on the edge, before engaging in a blade-lock. She kicked him back as Luz charged in, using her FireBlade to counter several of her attacks until she was thrown into the air. As she tried to take a shot at Luz, Amity and Boscha ran in, slamming her back.
Pandora angrily sent forth blasts from her chatterbox pack at Amity and Boscha, forcing them to take cover before eventually leaping through, creating spell circles to shoot fire and Abomination slime at her. Deflecting both, she turned to lock with Luz, who dismissed her FireBlade to put all her strength into her main sword.
"You can't beat me like this!" Pandora yelled.
"Wanna bet?" Luz asked as she and Pandora circled around. She turned to Amity and Boscha before throwing Pandora at them. "Now!"
Amity and Boscha looked to each other and nodded. The two created a half a spell circle each and combined them, sending a large fire blast at Pandora. She groaned as she withheld some of the blast before spinning out of the way, the fire now heading towards Luz.
"Luz!" Amity yelled in worry.
"Wait." Luz said, looking to the spiraling fire. Recognizing something she saw from the first night Eda turned into the Owl Beast, her eyes widened. Quickly, she let part of her CrossFusion dissolve away to take out some paper from her pocket. As soon as her armor came back, the fire hit her.
"Burn, human! Burn!" Pandora yelled madly, with Boscha and Amity watching in horror.
"Luz, now!"
"Here… we… go!"
Everyone's eyes widened when they saw a light coming from the flames where Luz was standing.
"Wait, what's happening?" Pandora asked.
Luz closed her eyes as the flames continued to surround her. In front of her was a large circle at the bottom of the spell circle with a dot in the center and a curved triangle on top of it with a smaller circle and curved triangle on top and touching the top of the spell circle. Imposing itself onto Luz, her entire body started to glow a bright fiery red color. Luz spread out her arms, getting the fire to clear away. Holding out her hand, the MagiBuster reappeared, now with a spiked ball attached to a chain from the gem. Swinging it around, she slammed it down and held out her hand. Gaining spiked gauntlets, several flames disappeared, before the same happened when a coat replaced her top, resembling a letterman jacket. She glanced forward and grinned, now with streaks under her eyes, before catching the ball in her left hand.
"Second spell, Baby!" Luz exclaimed, swinging around her fire wrecker. "And new Style Change too! I dub thee Fire Champion Style! Thanks, Boscha! Thanks, Am-Am!"
'Am-Am?! Nickname?! IS THIS NOT PLATONIC ANYMORE?!' Amity thought to herself, her face, her ears, and now her armor, starting to gain a shade of beet-red.
"Oh boy," Hecate said from the MagiNet as she saw what was happening with an expression that showed half amusement and half concern. "I hope this isn't permanent."
"Say your prayers, because you'll need as many when I'm done with you!" Pandora yelled, separating her blades from her crystal ball halves. Now floating around her and multiplied into four different copies, she sent a punch at Luz, getting the crystal balls to act as a spring-loaded fist.
Luz looked up and spun her fire MagiBuster around, creating several cracks in the ground. From them came eruptions of fire before she swung her Fire Wrecker at the crystal balls. Each of them were knocked to the side until she reached the last one, which she grabbed and tossed back at Pandora, getting her to command it to float around her before charging again, slashing at her.
Luz swung her Fire Wrecker out, getting spikes to emerge from some of the exposed ground, which then caused Pandora to veer from her path. With her distracted, Luz AreaStole in and separated the Fire Wrecker Ball, now acting as a spiked gauntlet for her left hand.
"And her name is Luz Noceda!" Luz quoted, sending a punch at Pandora that sent her flying backwards. As she regained herself, she turned and launched one of her blades at her.
Luz held out her MagiBuster, letting a fire spread across the gem. "Flame Champion Saber!" she called out, summoning a fiery blade with a yellow core. Charging forward, she slashed the tossed blade in two, getting it to explode behind her, before tossing her spiked fireball into the air. Everyone watched as she backflipped and kicked it at Pandora, knocking her right into the dead-center of the arena, where the Fire Wrecker Ball multiplied in random places all around her.
"Game over, Pandora! This is where it ends!" Luz called out, holding her blade back to aim at her main ball. "Fire Champion Grudgby Shot!" she announced, hitting the ball like a large game of pool table.
Pandora panted before looking around, seeing the ball hitting all of the others. However, instead of stopping upon hitting one after the other, they all grew into one large and spiked fiery Grudgby Ball, eventually hitting her and knocking her into the scoreboard. Upon doing so, she landed into the goal, getting the Visitors score to read 100 as she hit the ground.
"I'll be back. You haven't seen the full power of the Darkloids just yet!" Pandora swore as she digitized away, groaning in pain as she clutched her side.
"Pandora, Logging Out."
Everyone cheered at the victory before Luz grabbed her main ball. Taking another ball, she held them like pompoms and leapt up.
"Go Hexside!" Luz cheered once again, landing in a perfect split. Everyone applauded her, impressed, before she got back up. She, Skara, Amity and Gus all spread out their arms and ejected from CrossFusion.
However, Luz's Hexside spirit shirt was now torn, leaving her once again in her tank top. Like before, several students squealed and fainted at the sight of her in that look while Amity's face became beet-red first, before slowly becoming a different shade of red.
"Oh, no! Not again!" Skara exclaimed, lifting Amity's cowl and covering it over her face, getting her to stop turning red.
"Great work, everyone!" Luz called out as she turned around. As she was, several students had boxes with rings out, but quickly put them away as soon as she was facing everyone. "I may have yet to start teaching, but an A+ for everyone taking my class! You all went up against impossible odds, and all came out on top in this fight against the Darkloids! This is a victory for us all!"
Everyone cheered once again, including the Coven Scouts, while Boscha walked up to Luz, handing her back her hoodie.
"Found this when Amity went back into CrossFusion," Boscha said as Luz took her hoodie back and put it back on. "And… thanks."
"It's what I do. For all of you," Luz replied before seeing Boscha's damaged Scroll. "So that's what Pandora did."
Boscha lifted her Scroll and showed it off. "It takes a lot to get it repaired, but I'm sure I'll—"
"For an upgrade, it's free."
Boscha shyly handed her Scroll over. Luz took out a newer version of her Extension Chip and slotted it across. Unlike her last one, the Scroll instantly changed into a new Scroll PET.
Boscha looked to her fully repaired and reformatted Scroll with wonder. It was yellow and gold with pink ends, matching her hair, and the Navi Crest had a symbol depicting a Grudgby Ball on it, the eye showing front and center.
"If you want a Navi, let me know." Luz said before walking off to her friends.
"One of these days… maybe."
At the palace, Emperor Belos growled as he slammed his fist onto his throne.
"Bring me more!"
"But all the Palismen are gone!" a guard replied as the Palisman Belos tried to absorb came back to life and flew away from him.
"How can this be?! What could have done this?!" Belos bellowed as Lilith watched from afar.
"Maybe you're not the key after all." Lilith said before walking away silently.
Later, in the forest, ShadeMan appeared. He looked to see several Palismen heading towards a cave, including restored versions of the ones he saw days ago. Looking up, he saw the Bat Queen fly in.
"How did you do this?"
"Belos is many things, but moral, he is not," ShadeMan said. "His ways are too similar to Dr. Regal, a man I thought to be just as despicable, but this Belos is just as worse. He won't be needing Palismen for as long as he lives. I am many things, but not cruel. They belong with you."
"For troubles, you are owed one."
"I look forward to it." ShadeMan said before teleporting away.
A few days later, the stadium was under construction, and everyone was resting at home.
"Once more, Luz Noceda has shown her cunning and bravery in the fight against the Darkloids. Though Terrace Stadium is closed for repairs, and the schools closed until further notice, we thank her for leading a great charge against ShadeMan's forces. Luzura Incorporated is now booming from their success, and with the Dem-N1 Grand Prix further in the works, we looking at a brighter future," Perry Porter said on a broadcast as Luz watched on her crystal ball. "All I have to say is… thank you."
"Got word from Lily," Eda said, walking in on Luz. "Apparently, ShadeMan attacked Belos while the assault was happening. We don't know what he wanted, and she hasn't been told anything further on how the fight went… if there even was one."
"Can you tell her to keep us posted on anything else?" Luz asked, making her way upstairs. "I've already created the syllabus for the first class, and I need some rest now."
"You've earned it, Kid," Eda said as Luz made her way up. As soon as she was out of sight, she looked to her Synchro Chip. "You're gonna have to wait until we're really ready for CrossFusion," she said before summoning her Scroll PET while putting the Synchro Chip into her hair. "Can't wait to see how you turn out to be too."
"Well, I'm trying my best."
"I'm sure that you are," Eda said before her eyes widened at what she heard. She turned back and gasped. "How in the—?"
"I'm not yet ready, but we can get to know each other until then. For now, you can call me Owlette."
Author's Notes: I hope you like my Christmas gift to you all. This was a chapter I had been dying to do, and I am very excited to have finally done it. The new year will see more new chapters, just wait and see. Please review, rate, and as always, if you can, PM me for anything on the story. After all, I'm always keen to hear from you. For now, this is SuperHeroTimeFan wishing you a Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays, I'll see you soon!
