Hello once again, everyone! I am back, the one and only SuperHeroTimeFan, with a brand-new chapter for my ever-growing popular crossover with MegaMan NT Warrior and The Owl House, Owl House: NT Witch! I'm glad that the last few chapters have been popular with you. They were all original ones, and it pleases me to hear such positive feedback from you, especially Blackmetalzane22 and Cloud4012. I also do very much appreciate the additions to the Tropes page for the story on TV Tropes as well, even though Donquill seems to have not noticed the updates as much. Still, it is great to see such great support, whether it be the Tropes page, my art for the story on DeviantArt or the story itself. It all means a lot. Now, without further ado, here is my brand-new chapter! Please feel free to review, rate, and as always, please be sure to enjoy!
Chapter 13: Ne'er the Twain Shall Meet
Gus sat nervously in his seat, glancing at everyone beside him, all gathered in the arena room of the Covention center. Most of them were from the Human Appreciation Society, while others included Lilith, Emira and Edric, while several other witches and demons were just as nervous as him. Eda stood beside the assembled crowd, seeming to be sweating bullets as everyone looked up.
There stood Luz, tapping her foot as she had a stern look on her face, a pointer stick in hand. Amity walked up to her and cleared her throat as Azura and Hecate were using KillerEye Viruses to record everything.
"Gus… do you know why I am about to explode?" Luz asked, trying to keep her anger in check.
"Because… of the annual pogo stick race?" Gus asked hesitantly.
"Yes… now, take a look at what you call a pogo stick," Luz said swinging her pointer stick to a large table with dozens of dynamite detonators laid about. "Observe that they all have levers, poles, and springs attached to the bottom. Thanks a lot, Eda," she said, getting Eda to gulp. "Now… take a look at this slide," she said, causing a screen to appear that had pictures of several pogo sticks on them, some even from random shows. "These are pogo sticks, whereas these…" she went on, changing the slide to show videos of the detonators being used to bomb mountains for their resources. "ARE DETONATORS USED FOR BOMBING! WHAT WERE YOU ALL THINKING?! YOU'VE BEEN USING DETONATORS FOR LEISURE FOR YEARS BEFORE I ARRIVED, AND DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THE EXPLOSIONS AROUND THE BOILING ISLES?!"
Everyone closed their eyes as Luz's yell seemed to almost cause them to go flying.
"If I may…" Eda said, raising her hand as Luz turned to her while behind her, Amity did her best to hide a guilty look on her face. "When I went to the Human Realm as a kid, I was told by someone that those are very much like pogo sticks, and took his word for it. I didn't know the difference… until today."
"And yet, you were having pogo stick races with them?!" Luz exclaimed. "I can't believe everyone I've gathered here has even confessed to using pogo sticks!"
"Well, I've only used one, and been a pogo stick enthusiast," Lilith said, getting everyone to look to her strangely. "Look, it's my guilty pleasure interest! Everyone has one, don't judge me!" she yelled before turning back with her calm demeanor once again. "I had never seen another pogo stick aside from the one I used growing up, so when I would ask Edalyn to have one so that I could lay off some stress… I always assumed it was a pogo stick."
"I can excuse that," Luz said. "But look over the slides, and make sure to know what real pogo sticks look like," she told everyone as she backed towards Amity, whose sweat started to get onto her. "At least I know a few people who actually…" she started before feeling the sweat. Turning around, she saw Amity continuing to nervously stiffen up and sweat. "Oh… you too?"
"I-it was just one time, when I was younger, I swear!" Amity defended. "I wanted to try out a pogo stick, and got one from Eda! But then, it didn't bounce, so I completely lost interest, but I had no idea it was… that! I swear!"
"Hey, don't panic, it's okay," Luz said comfortingly, getting Willow to smile affectionately while holding her hands out to her sides, where Gus and Skara were seated. The two of them silently handed her five sacks of snails, all without the smile leaving her face. "I'm not mad, I promise. As you said, you didn't know. It's okay, it's okay."
"See?" Azura whispered to Hecate.
"Yeah, I knew she wouldn't be upset with Amity over something like that." Hecate replied.
"Now, as for the rest of you…" Luz said as she turned back to everyone else. "Be sure to take home the packets I gave you on what real pogo sticks look like. I don't want to come across any more detonators being mistaken for pogo sticks in the future. That will be all, thank you."
Everyone sighed with relief before getting up and starting to make their way out. However, before Gus could go, Luz grabbed him by the shoulder.
"That means no more detonators in the school too." Luz reminded her Illusionist friend.
"Don't worry, I'll get them out when the school gets all of its boiling water drained out," Gus said as Azura and Hecate walked over towards the remaining group. "Still can't believe it's been two days, and BubbleMan's plan still hasn't seen recovery for the Isles."
"Yes, well, the Emperor is forced to put his resources into making sure everything gets repaired, but Mason cannot be rushed with such matters," Lilith said. "Now, did you give Edalyn and I everything you know about the Titan's Backbone?"
"Yeah, everything I told you is what you now know," Gus confirmed as Eda walked over as well. "Are you prepared for the trip?"
"Since it's the area of complete darkness, we made sure we were," Eda said. She turned to Luz and smiled for the next part of what she was saying. "And thanks to you teaching me those light spells, we have at least a way to guide ourselves through the darkness."
"And I've even made sure that I myself am well-e quipped for this venture," Lilith added on. "With any luck, we should be able to get one step closer to finding out where the Darkloid base is, and put an end to ShadeMan corrupting the Boiling Isles."
"Which is a mystery for us too," Luz added on. "I mean, there's a lot to take in from how he's doing it. What are his limits? How does he do it? It's a lot that I have to look—"
"Um, Luz?" Skara interrupted, getting the human NetOp to turn to her. "How about you slow this down a bit? We've been running ragged ever since Terrace Stadium, and we've had very little to no rest all because of Darkloid attacks."
"Ah, listen to the musician, kid," Eda said. "With my Navi forming from that day, and all of the Darkloid attacks going on, you deserve a break. The Isles isn't expecting you to take care of all of this by the end of the day. We'll all still be here when you've taken the time to actually relax."
"Are you sure?" Luz asked.
"Trust us, we're sure," Azura said. "Remember what Mom said."
"Right," Luz said, taking a deep breath. "So… what do you want to do until we get back to work?"
"Well, how about we just take the whole day off?" Amity suggested. "Hecate and I are already holding a top position on the leader board of the NetBattles in MagiNet City. I think it's high time for you and Azura to join in."
"Yeah," Willow spoke up. "Why haven't you been joining in anyways? A lot of people have been wondering if they could NetBattle you."
"Well, we've had a lot of NetBattles before, and technically, we're the founders of it here," Luz said. "I just felt it would feel unfair to everyone if we were to always battle and show off, so we just watch everyone have their own go at it."
"Fair point," Lilith said. "While I do not have a NetNavi of my own, I feel it would be best for you to finally join in. Your battles against Darkloids in CrossFusion is demonstration of your power enough to show you are more than ready to fight the Navis of others on the Isles."
Azura nodded. "I guess we will then." She said.
"I still need to ask about how you two are able to come out of your PETs like that." Lilith commented.
"Save the Q&A for another time, Lily," Eda said. "We'd best get going while the sun still shines the brightest today."
"You're right." Lilith agreed.
"Come with me!" Eda called as several witches and demons had stopped to listen and learn that Luz was finally going to NetBattle. Upon hearing what Eda had said, they started to follow her, much to the confusion of Luz and her friends before Eda came back and glared at the crowd. "Not you, you're the audience!" she snapped before Lilith followed after her, leaving everyone else sheepish.
"Well, with them going off to the Backbone, let's get you ready for a day of nothing but relaxing and NetBattling." Willow said.
"And I know just the way to get right into it, and with no distractions too," Amity said as Hecate grinned at her. "Come on, everyone! Follow me!" she called, making her way to the exit. However, as she did, the crowd once again started to follow her, confusing Luz and her friends once more before Amity came back in. "Not you, you're the audience!" she snapped before Luz and the rest of her friends followed her. "Honestly…"
Meanwhile, Eda and Lilith now started to make their way over the Boiling Sea. They looked down to the cities, still seeing them in disarray following what BubbleMan did. Several Maverick Hunters and standard Coven Scouts saluted to Lilith as the Clawthorne sisters flew overhead, to which she sent them a nod in response. As soon as they passed over the cities, they now made their way further out to the sea.
"It's been a while, Edalyn," Lilith said as she glanced at her sister. "Just the two of us on our own adventure. Before your student came along, we never would've had this chance."
"Life is just full of surprises to be sure," Eda said. She looked ahead to focus back on the flight path ahead. "Has Belos ever tried to go into the Backbone?"
"No, he's never tried," Lilith replied. "He claims it to be the unholy land of the Demon Realm. Those who had gone there had never come back the same," she added before a thought crossed her mind. "Have you told your student yet about Wily?"
"I've been trying to find the right moment to do it, but each time, it's always either a Darkloid attack, outing with friends, business matter, or a need for something called pads for her period." Eda replied.
"A what?"
"Something that happens with female humans, I still don't understand it myself," Eda said. "Lily, from what Luz said to me about Albert, he's apparently turned good. Yeah, he carries the Titan's Palismen from newspapers I found from sightings of him, but I'm also told that all he does is pick up littered drinks. Nothing evil has been done under his name ever since."
"He brought down the prison that once held Wild Witches without lifting a finger, and was also the one behind the destruction of seven structures that held the most prized items of the Titan," Lilith pointed out. "And don't get me started on when he came back from the Titan's Skull and returned with that power."
"All the more reason to wait until the right moment to tell Luz all he did," Eda said. "She's got it rough right now. She needs time before we give this all to her. Otherwise, she'll be more ragged than she already is."
Lilith hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. "Very well," she said before the sun started to fade from the sky. "We're nearly there. Stay close and vigilant. This place is the reason Flora came back almost lifeless."
"No one who goes to the land of eternal darkness ever comes back the same," Eda said. "Hopefully… we don't meet the same fate as your mentor."
Elsewhere, watching the NetBattles going on in MagiNet City, a woman sat in a recording booth. She had dark hair with a white stripe across it, mid-toned skin that nearly matched that of Gus's, a red jacket, headphones around her neck, a medallion that has a symbol of two swords crossing a chalice, navy eyes and crimson eye-shadow. She popped a bubble from her mouth before swinging her chair to a microphone.
"And with that, folks, victory goes to Elijah Avery and her Navi, Rico!" the woman announced as a white-armored Navi with blue accents threw her arms into the air, with a holographic image of a witch with fair skin and dark hair with a pin saying NSAF on it appearing on the leader board with her Navi image added to hers. "We are looking at some great battles here, but remember this for the Dem-N1 Grand Prix!"
"Wow," Luz said as she holographically appeared with Azura in MagiNet City, now approaching the arena. "She's got quite the personality."
"In order to qualify, you must have S-Ranked in any battle, either against Navis or Viruses," the woman went on as everyone else watched from their own devices. "In addition, making it into the top twenty of the leader board will also qualify for entry, and you must have developed at least thirty Battle Chips made with magic. Other than that, you are free to do as you please to enter into the Demon Realm's grand tournament! But don't worry for you Grudgby fans out there," she went on as elsewhere, Boscha was looking to her Scroll PET, both watching and keeping an eye on her Normal Navi reformatting into a custom one. "The Grudgby Season will still kick off, and we are looking at trying to get the team at Hexside to promote the Dem-N1 itself."
"Well, you ready?" Luz asked from her room in the Owl House as King scurried to watch over her back.
Azura nodded. "Let's go." She said, now entering the NetBattle Arena.
"Remember, you know me, and I know you. This is Octavia Porter bringing the sweet tune of good news across the entire Demon Realm. Don't forget to subscribe to my Penstagram account and ring the bell for notifications," the woman, now known as Octavia, said before swinging her seat to her monitor. "Now, let's see who we have for our next NetBattle royale event," she said before two Navis, exactly the same in appearance save for color, as one was crimson and the other navy, walked out from one side into the arena. "The Ferham Sisters, and their NetOps, Blake and Holly!"
The Ferham Navi Sisters were both beetle-themed, the crimson one being themed after a rhinoceros beetle and the navy one being themed after a stag beetle. Both had thunder symbols going down their chests from their shoulders to their waists, and had emblems that depicted serrated wings on the sides of their helmets and the sides of their knees, the right for the crimson sister and the left for the navy.
"Give them the thunder!" Blake called out alongside Holly. While Blake had an Asian look to her with short hair that could almost cause her to be mistaken for a boy, Holly had blonde shoulder-length hair and a bald spot at the very top of her head.
"And facing them will be… wait, is it really…?" Octavia asked as Azura walked out from the other side of the arena, with Luz appearing behind her through her sensory equipment. "Oh my Titan, it is! Ladies and gentlemen, witches and demons, your eyes do not deceive you! For the first time since MagiNet City opened up, Luz Noceda and her Navi Azura, the heads of Luzura Incorporated and soon-to-be teachers at Hexside, have entered for their first NetBattle in the Demon Realm!" she announced, getting everyone in the stands, especially Hecate, Melody, VineMan and MirageMan, to cheer wildly. "People have been waiting to get the chance to NetBattle them since the events of the Covention! This is a sight to behold and a day to remember now that they've finally made their appearance!"
"Looks like we've drawn in a crowd," Luz said, looking around before turning to Azura. "Let's give them a couple fights to remember."
"I'm ready when you are." Azura said, twirling around her MagiBuster staff.
"Well, well. Looks like we've hit the jackpot!" Crimson Ferham exclaimed.
"Don't think you'll be given an easy fight, you two!" Navy Ferham remarked. "We, the Ferham Sisters of Thunder, will be the first to ever defeat you!"
"Battle Start!"
"MagBolt!" Crimson Ferham called out, sending forth magnetic waves at Azura with the MagTect Viruses appearing around her to enhance the attack.
"CustomVolt!" Navy Ferham called out afterwards, slamming a CustomVolt arm into the ground and causing lightning to shoot up as it made its way towards Azura.
"Magi Aura!" Azura called out, defending herself from both attacks, which caused an explosion.
"Another for good measure!" Crimson Ferham called out, gaining an ElectroBlade over her left arm.
"I'm with you!" Navy Ferham grinned, getting an ElectroSword to appear on her right arm.
"THUNDER STORM SURGE!" the Ferham Sisters called out together, sending an enormous surge of lightning towards Azura, creating a bigger explosion. However, when it cleared, she was gone.
"Where'd she go?!" Navy Ferham asked as Crimson Ferham looked up in shock.
"Impossible!" Crimson Ferham exclaimed.
"In one go, let's do this! Boomerang and BambooSword, Battle Chips In, Download!" Luz called out.
Azura's left hand changed to gain the Boomerang, which she used to throw at Navy Ferham, causing her do digitize out through a sapphire magic circle.
"Navy Ferham, Logging Out."
"Sister, no!" Crimson Ferham gasped before seeing Azura slash through her using the BambooSword blade over her MagiBuster, disappearing through a ruby magic circle.
"Crimson Ferham, Logging Out."
"Winner, Azura."
Immediately, everyone cheered at the outcome of the battle. Even Blake and Holly, whose screens were active after their Navis were defeated, clapped with respect before signing off.
"Bring on the next challenge!" Luz proclaimed, a confident grin showing on her face as Azura held her MagiBuster into the air with triumph. As she watched her Navi bask in the moment, her mind drifted off to the past.
Flashback…
Luz looked to her opponent across from her at the Gravesfield NetBattle Arcade. She was a Taiwanese girl with dark hair, wore a grey hoodie, and was twiddling around two D20 dice in her hand. The Navi Crest on her PET even matched the D20.
In the stands, Camilla Noceda watched with interest at the NetBattle, seeing Azura flying out of range from several spinning tops, each side matching the symbol of a random element on them, as they went off each time they almost hit her.
"You're good, Kid," the Taiwanese girl said as Luz looked to the battle. "But you can't quite match the skills of Newton."
"You're so right," Luz said with a grin. "Why else do you think I've been going so easy on you, Marcy?"
Marcy gasped, as did her Navi, decorated in green with a ninja theme with goggles over the helmet. Both of them saw Azura now soaring forward with a confident grin on her face.
"Let's go, Luz!" Azura called out.
"Here we go! Fan, ElectroSword and Geddon2, Battle Chips In, Triple Download!"
A Fan Box appeared behind Azura, accelerating her speed and sending the spinners at Newton, disorienting him. As soon as he was distracted, the ground around him gave away before Azura slashed through him, sending him flying over the edge.
"Newton, Logging Out."
"Winner, Azura."
"That's my girl!" Camilla cheered as the crowd around her burst into cheers as well.
"Nice one," Marcy said as she walked to Luz, the two shaking hands. "You're gonna go far. Just sorry that I can't stay."
"You'll have fun in California," Luz said. "And don't worry about one loss. You're on fire."
"Thanks." Marcy replied.
"No, I mean look at your hem," Luz said, pointing down with a concerned look on her face. "You're literally on fire."
"Oh, not again!" Marcy complained, slamming her hand on the hem of her skirt as she made her way out, passing Chaud as he prepared to go up. "This better not be a thing later on!"
"That's one talented newbie NetOp there." New Yorker Elisa Maza mused as she watched from the entrance alongside Anetta.
"Yeah, but wait until she meets her next opponent," Anetta said. "Chaud won't be going easy on her."
Luz smiled as she and Azura looked to everyone cheering them on.
"Remember, Luz," Azura said as Luz waved to some students from her school. "Together, we can do it all."
Present…
Luz, now out of the Owl House and walking down the path that led to Bonesborough, smiled at the memory, before looking back through her contacts at the NetBattle arena.
"Bring on the next challenge!" Luz called, getting the crowd to cheer more before a Navi came out from the opposite side, now getting ready for the next battle.
Back at the Titan's Backbone, Eda and Lilith entered the large maw leading to the area of eternal darkness. Both shone their staffs with light spells as they made their way through, casting extra light spells to see better as they went through.
"You know, travelers who came here during the Savage Ages were said to have disappeared, as if they never existed," Lilith said. "When one man came back, they built a statue of him, to show the people who could survive the Backbone."
"And since that day, his statue has stood alone in Latissa Square," Eda finished. "Mom and Dad would often tell us tales of this place too when we were kids. They said that every nightmare we had, every foreboding fate that would befall us if we ever wronged them, would be waiting here to strike at us tenfold squared. Even Odalia would act a bit nicer whenever someone threatened her with the Backbone's Bane."
"Do you believe those stories?"
"Looking back, I do," Eda replied. "We need to be careful here. We don't know whether or not the Darkloids might already know about us coming, and might be laying a trap."
"This whole place is a trap for anyone, even the strongest of witches and demons," Lilith said, coming across a large cavern that had burning embers sparking at nearly every nook and cranny of the room. "Augustus said that the darker the Backbone, the closer we get to the Dark Chip Facility. And from the size he told us too, it will be putting the structure of the Palace to shame."
"The sooner we are out of here, the better," Eda said. "Goops said this place could mess with our minds too. So no matter what, keep your Scroll on speaker. If we get lost, we can ping each other to regroup before anything else happens."
"Hopefully, the facility has a light source so we don't get lost," Lilith added on. "Stay close, Sister, and we shall make it through together."
At that moment, some of the embers started to float. Eda and Lilith quickly shone more light spells before looking to the embers, now starting to take a form.
Slowly, the embers sparked together, eventually forming to shape into the silhouette of a hooded individual. It turned and held a hand out, pointing to one of them, but they were unable to tell who it meant. It turned back and slammed down what appeared to be a staff, creating a blinding light that let out a ghostly wail.
Eda and Lilith covered their eyes from the light, but when they opened them again, they both let out a gasp.
Eda was now backed against a wall overlooking a ledge. Her foot moved and caused some pebbles to fall. But no noise was heard when they fell over the edge.
"Here we go." Eda said, walking on ahead as she shone a light from her staff. However, it did not shine as brightly as before, but she pressed on nonetheless.
Lilith looked around where she was, finding herself surrounded by mist. She swung her staff with blue fire, causing the mists to part, before spotting a pair of cracked glasses on the ground leading to a cave entrance before her.
"Wait…" Lilith said, picking up the glasses. She brushed off some of the dust and gasped at an engraving she saw hidden underneath. "They… they're mine?"
"Sinner…"
Lilith gasped and aimed her staff out at the source, coming from the tunnel. Warily, she made her way into the passage, where she saw two blue lights coming from the distance. She took a deep breath before walking forward, an eerie echoing laugh sounding off around her.
"Winner, Azura."
Back at the NetBattle Arena, Azura landed with a MoonBlade in her left hand and a Katana over her MagiBuster gem. Before her was a defeated Navi, and the screen showing the NetOp had a boy with brown hair, grey eyes, and a rusted sword over his back.
"Still think we're weak, Lionel?" Luz asked as she and Azura held their hands together up high for their victory.
"As soon as I patch up Enforcer, you won't be smiling at our next fight, Human." Lionel said as his screen and NetNavi digitized away.
"Enforcer, Logging Out."
"And that brings us to our fifth fight in a row with Luz and Azura as the winners!" Octavia announced as the cheers became louder. "Just one more fight, and they'll be in the top ten!"
"Let's not get overconfident here," Luz said to Azura as they went to the bench to recover for the next fight, with Hecate, Melody, GardenMan and MirageMan joining them, followed by Amity, Skara, Willow and Gus. "There's gonna be some tough contenders now that we've made our way to the top ten."
"I wish I could see the next battle and how it turns out," Skara said. "But I've been talking with Amity, and we couldn't get the thought of the tracker off of our minds. Melody and I need to go inspect Hexside to see if the base of the Darkloids really is there."
"You'd better be careful," MirageMan said. "Even if the tracking sensor is wrong, you could be walking into a trap."
"We'll be vigilant," Melody said. "Just be sure to win the next fight. I hear the leader of the top ten is a tough one."
"We'll send you the footage of the battle when you come back," Hecate said. "Just be sure to stay safe."
"Will do." Skara said before reaching for the sides of her head. Pulling off her contacts and earpieces, she and Melody digitized away.
"Melody, Logging Out."
Luz smiled before turning to Azura, a confident smile on her own face.
"Let's not let our guards down on whoever we face next," Luz said before noticing all of the Navis and the avatars of their NetOps taking a break and talking with each other. "Guess we've got an intermission before the next fight begins. Time to take a breather."
"With luck, Eda and Lilith are doing the same in their venture through the Backbone." Hecate said.
Back at the Titan's Backbone, Eda was still navigating herself through the dark passage she had gone down. She aimed her staff around, keeping on alert for anything that might try to come out and attack her.
"Edalyn… Edalyn," a voice said, getting Eda to turn, suddenly seeing a familiar man with a military camouflage jacket, black spiked hair, and a fresh new Progress PET in his hand. "Did you do as I said? Have you finally found inner peace?"
"Baryl?" Eda asked, keeping her staff aimed. "How are you here? I was there, at your funeral. Not even you could cheat death."
"This place of the Titan, it's strange," Baryl replied. "It's not a place for the living or the departed, but can allow those who are not fully gone to exist. And not at the same time. There is still unfinished business that I must carry out, and until Duo's test is complete, my mission never will be."
Cautiously, Eda lowered her staff. "Did you ever know?" She asked as Baryl circled around her. "What he did? The man you called a father… how could you never say that Albert was that person? Why keep it all a secret? Did you really think so little of Lilith and I?"
"I didn't say that Albert Wily was always a good man, Eda," Baryl said. "When you came to the Human Realm all those years ago, I didn't even know you were her descendant. Wily's revolution had long since ended by the time your self-exile began. And I stand by all I said. Wily had become a changed man by the time Dr. Regal came into power. It is everyone's reluctance to move from the past that has nearly solidified his status as the tyrant who gained immortality."
"He did more than that, and you know it!" Eda snapped. "Stop defending him, you had the power to put an end to his madness that he and Tadashi brought with them!"
Baryl chuckled and looked down, his hands in his pockets. "We all have power of our own, Edalyn. And yes, it is our power in the end, no one else's," he said. "But that's all it ever is. Would I have used that power to bring forth everlasting peace? A world that would be free of tyranny? Or would I have stopped one madman's rise, and just paved the way for another to slowly rise up? There can never be pure good or evil. It's just as I told you after your first rampage," he said, getting Eda to stop and remember a time, a time when she, only younger and still cursed, had met Baryl after a blackout and a rampage. "It's all about balance. If not, chaos roams rampant. There must be a balance, no matter what."
Eda sniffled and held her hand out to Baryl. "Times like these, I wish you really were here so I could hear that wisdom of yours firsthand again." She said, only to suddenly feel Baryl the moment she touched him, causing her to gape.
"Ask, and you shall receive," Baryl said. "There's still a long road ahead of you, Edalyn. The question is… can you travel it and pass the test bestowed to you?"
"Wait, Baryl!" Eda yelled as Baryl started to fade away. He soon disappeared, leaving in his place a case. She knelt down and opened it, revealing gold-rimmed Battle Chips and three grips. She smiled and put them away before seeing a new open path ahead of her. "Thanks, Colonel." She said before walking down the path.
Meanwhile, Lilith was making her own way through, having made it out of the cavern she went down. Upon exiting, she looked around before spotting some flickering lights down another corridor. She was about to make it through until sensing another presence, turning and aiming out a spell circle, where a dark-skinned woman with glasses, burgundy clothing, and a monkey Palisman not as a staff, but as a whip, stood before her, looking disheveled and emaciated.
"Flora!" Lilith exclaimed before seeing the cracks in her Palisman whip. "Or rather… the part of her that died away."
"It seems I taught you well, Lilith. But I would have expected nothing less from my top student," Flora said. "You are correct. I am the part of your former mentor that was left behind when she ventured alone into the Titan's Backbone. How I wish all of me had died instead of coming back broken."
"Your father now runs the Beast-Keeping Coven in your place. He shows concern for you all the time," Lilith pointed out. "You survived here, Flora. Just as my sister and I will too."
"There's something you should know about life when it comes to living on, Lilith," Flora said. "It's not about surviving the dangers of betrayal and power. It's about enduring the pain of how you have sinned. And I see the sins of many whom I've mentored in the past years," she said before walking close enough to Lilith to stand next to her, just glancing at her former student. "I feared you would do your best to hide that guilt away from my presence, my apprentice," she said as Lilith's eyes went wide with worry. "How many times have you kept yourself awake just to fix the mistake you made as a child?" She asked, turning to hold her, only to be shaken off.
"I've told you before, Flora. That was told to you out of confidence alone, and is never to be brought up again, within or out of range of Edalyn's earshot." Lilith said sternly.
"Why have you hidden the truth for so long?" Flora asked. "For all my mistakes, you have forgiven me. Do you fear that Edalyn won't be able to find it in herself to forgive you the same way?"
"She can't know, you can't tell her!" Lilith panicked.
"I have sworn to never tell her, as you already know," Flora said, though it did little to stop Lilith from the tight grip she had on her hem. "But when keeping skeletons hidden away in the closet, know that the only key to unlocking it is you. And just like a key over time, you will rust away until you break from all the pressure. How long can you hide away your sins before you are broken by them?"
"She can never know."
"How long until the truth is revealed?" Flora asked again.
"Stop asking me that!" Lilith demanded, now starting to shake.
"Lilith, the more you deny the facts, the more this will hurt," Flora warned. "So what will break first? You? Or the truth?"
Lilith let out a small tear. "Most likely… me… Can I ever be fixed?"
"Only you know… only you know."
Hearing those last words, Lilith looked up, but saw that Flora had faded away. No longer was she at the start of the cavern, but now at the end of it. In front of her was the large Dark Chip facility. But at the moment, her focus was not on that. Due to the ordeal, she dropped to her knees and wept, just as Eda made her way out of the adjacent cavern.
"Lily…" Eda said, walking to her sister, she held her arm out and let out a light spell.
Lilith continued to weep before looking up after feeling the presence of her sister, now smiling down at her. She accepted the hand and hugged her tightly before the two made their way towards the Facility.
Near Hexside, Skara was using her headset to scan around for the tracking sensor. Through the visor, she saw the results of many scans she already took before seeing some text messages from Emira. She blushed at what some of them said before a pinging came up on her scanners.
"Melody, you seeing this?" Skara asked as Melody analyzed the data.
"Yeah, the signal is getting stronger," Melody replied. "If Amity and Hecate's trackers were right, we're gonna need to make sure the Darkloid base really is here."
"Ugh, why are you here?!"
Skara's eyes widened when she heard the voice and let out an exasperated groan. Turning, she saw Boscha walking out from a nearby shed, her arms crossed and looking annoyed.
"Last I checked, you didn't live here, Yong-Jon."
"Of course I don't live here, but all the pipes burst at my home during the BubbleMan incident, and the shack and shed were the only places I go to that weren't flooded with boiling water," Boscha said. "Those places are specially curated, something you should remember."
"You never invited me to any of your curated events even before you took over as Banshee Captain." Skara reminded Boscha.
"The point is, get lost!" Boscha snapped. "Why are you even here, Traitor? School's been canceled for half the week until all the boiling water has been drained away."
"Tracking down a sensor placed on ShadeMan and BubbleMan," Skara replied. "Unless you're in cahoots with them for whatever reason—"
"Whoa, that's an extreme accusation!" Boscha exclaimed in an offended tone and with her arms up. "I might be arrogant, but I'm not petty enough to throw in my lot with the Darkloids! If anything, I want to take them down, same as you!"
"Then let me look around to see if Hexside is or isn't where the Darkloids are hidden away," Skara said. "I gotta access the network."
"There's a crystal ball in the shed. Use it."
Skara nodded as Boscha led her into the shed. There, just as she said, was a crystal ball in pristine condition.
"Let's give this a go!" Skara called out, spinning around her Scroll PET before sliding it across her arm and aiming it out. "Jack In! Melody, Power Up!"
As soon as the laser shot out from Skara's PET, Melody was logged into the Hexside server. She looked around and scanned, data flowing through her visor as she did so.
"The signal from the Tracking Sensor is getting stronger at the east," Melody reported, seeing a surge going through as she scanned in the general direction. "Have Luz and the others on standby. I'm gonna check it out."
Back at the NetBattle Arena, Luz and Azura were walking through the viewing hall, where several other Navis, which included Hecate, MirageMan and GardenMan, were minding their own business. However, they came across two Navis, both with matching Crests, giggling as they were showing something to the other Navis around them.
"Looks like Zoey and Paris's Navis are really trending," Azura said before walking over, now noticing Hecate trying to calm down Amity, whose face was going red as a smile contorted itself on her face. "Is she alright?"
"Yeah, you look… pained, Amity." Luz agreed.
"You remember how Odalia tried to take on BubbleMan?" Hecate asked, getting nods from Luz and Azura. "Well, it seems that she had an Abomination recording the fight, possibly for proof that she could take down a Darkloid, and, well…"
This time, Azura tried to contain her laughter, but failed. "Wait, are you saying…?" She asked through a strained voice.
"Play it again! Play it again!"
Luz's eyebrow raised as she, Azura, Amity and Hecate all came over, seeing several screens of Odalia's attempt to fight BubbleMan, now trending on Penstagram and being replayed over and over again.
"This got ninety-hundred likes and remixes in the past hour since it was uploaded!" Eileen's Navi said, ironically able to speak despite having eyes all over their body.
Finally, Amity broke out into laughter, getting Hecate to try and get her to calm down as the redness of her face started to slowly, as in very slowly, fade from the built-up laughter.
"I was already given so many snails for just being there when it happened! This is the best thing that's ever happened without embarrassing me and my siblings!" Amity howled as more Navis and their NetOps burst into more laughter. "And Ed and Em remixed the whole thing for half the price of the original upload!"
"Yeah, this whole thing made her quite uncontrollable, even breaking out of the gags I tried to put over her mouth to get the laughs to stop," Hecate said. "After ten more minutes of her doing this, I'll get her to rest, and then again after she uses the recovered time to laugh again like she did before."
"I should be concerned for Odalia and her status after seeing that happen firsthand, but even I have to admit how amusing this all is," Luz said, letting out a chuckle. "Not sure why even some of the Coven Scouts paid extra for a never-ending loop of the video when paying me for Scroll PETs of their own, though."
"Who's laughing now, ex-boss?!" A Coven Scout howled in a pub with a dozen others, all laughing while the video played for everyone to watch, while behind him, Tiny Nose was drawing a chalk outline around another Coven Scout sprawled around and laughing so hard that tears came out from the slits of his mask.
"Well, whatever the reason, we needed this to lighten things up," Luz said with a shrug before seeing the stands starting to fill back up again. "Guess it's time for the next match now. Wish Azura and I luck!" She called out as she and Azura went to get into position for the next NetBattle.
At the Titan's Backbone, Eda and Lily made their way into the Dark Chip Facility. Upon entering, they gasped at what was around them. Several Coven Sigils were floating all around, some stained with blood, and being blasted at forging smiths, where Dark Chips were being made from them, each glowing with a dark aura of each selected Coven. They also saw a large monitor, one that had several screens on it, and made their way towards it.
"Let's see what this is all about," Eda said, typing away. "Really hoping my lessons with Luz about this kind of technology pays off." She said before typing more, starting to pull up several more screens, each with either different locations on the Boiling Isles or files of different people.
"They're using this place to create Dark Chips and monitor everyone?" Lilith asked with disbelief.
"Not everyone. Just anyone who's the strongest in each Coven. Once they've gotten them, they move onto the next, and the process repeats," Eda corrected, going through the files again. "And there's more to it. ShadeMan seems to have been taking an interest in a lot of special places all around the Demon Realm. The Palace, the Skull, and for some reason, Hexside. And that's only a few locations."
"Can you find where the Darkloid Stronghold is located?" Lilith asked.
"I'm trying, but it's heavily encrypted," Eda said, typing quicker and quicker. "The more I slip up on this, the more attention we draw ourselves."
"Then copy everything you've found and let's get out of here," Lilith said. "The longer we're here, the more uncomfortable this all gets."
"I've already started the process," Eda said, pressing a few more keys. "Thanks to the drive Luz gave me for any server in the Demon Realm, we should have this ready in a few minutes. All we have to do is…"
"Eda…"
"Did you hear that?" Eda asked, turning to where she heard the voice.
"Hear what?" Lilith asked, walking to the terminal. "This is what I'm talking about. Flora was right to forsake anyone who travels to this place of damnation."
Eda narrowed her eyes to the side, seeing a pair of glowing eyes, with a smaller pair underneath. They started to get smaller as they faded further into the shadows.
"Keep an eye on the progress and then find me," Eda said, walking off. "I'll be right back."
"Edalyn?" Lilith asked, looking to her sister. She was about to go after her, but heard something, causing her to gasp. "No!" she whispered, casting a spell circle to turn herself and the drive invisible.
"The longer we are here, the stronger the Dark Glyphs will make us," a voice said, getting Lilith to narrow her eyes to see the shadows of two individuals talking on the walkway above. "Belos is a shortsighted fool if he believes that he can even stop us after what Master ShadeMan did to him."
"Did you manage to get to the servers all over the Demon Realm for the next stage of the plan?" the other figure, a female, asked.
"Do not worry, Leona," the male said. "Soon, everyone will have a reason to fear us, and no longer will Belos stand in our way."
Eda searched the shadows until she came across the four eyes. Aiming her staff out, she walked forward and shone a light. The owners of the eyes soon were revealed to be Mr. Wily, with his cane's eyes glowing before the skull detached and formed into a small version of the Titan, only with a full body and not decayed like the Isles was.
"You!" Eda exclaimed.
"Yes, it is me," Mr. Wily said before stepping aside, revealing a door. "And your time has come to face your true test." He said before walking towards her, the door moving with him.
Eda gasped and tried to grab Wily, but he disappeared. She looked to the door and shielded herself as it zoomed at her. However, when she opened her eyes again, she found herself no longer in the facility, but in the Isles again, now at night, with the only bright light coming from the full moon outside of the house she was brought to.
"Wait…" Eda said, looking around before finding a bed. She walked over and gasped, seeing a young redhead witch sleeping soundly. "This was my room… and that's me!" she exclaimed before seeing the moon again, as well as the clock and a day circled on a calendar over the desk nearby. "Oh no… I know this day."
At that moment, the door behind Eda opened slowly. She turned and prepared to blast whoever was intruding, but was suddenly moved to the side by an unknown force.
"Alright, Big Eyes… who are you?" Eda asked as someone stepped out of the door, causing her to gasp.
"Alright, everyone! Now that our intermission is over, it's time for the final battle!"
Everyone in the NetBattle Stadium cheered as Azura walked out, with Luz appearing next to her.
"Winning every match so far, we have Luz Noceda and her Navi, Azura! The heads of Luzura Incorporated!" Octavia announced, getting everyone to cheer for Luz and Azura before someone else started to emerge from the other side. "And holding the title of the undefeated fighter, we have our current champion, holding the tenth ranking of the NetBattle Arena… Mediclaw!"
Luz and Azura looked to their new opponent with much interest. This new Navi, Mediclaw, was much different than any other they had faced so far. He had brown upper armor, with claws over both arms and shoulder spikes that resembled medical capsules. The lower body was blue with gold accents, as well as four separate halves of the Navi Crest located on the hips that was on the shoulders of the Navi, which were two claws crossed over a bandage. Mediclaw's helmet seemed to have the appearance of a nurse's cap with three wings on both sides. He also had fair skin, strands of short brown hair coming from the sides and the front, magenta eyes, and a blue mask over his mouth.
"Wow, this one seems way different from Enforcer or the Ferham Sisters." Azura said.
"Keep your guard up," Luz advised. "And be ready for whatever Mediclaw throws at you."
Azura nodded as she summoned the MagiBuster. Mediclaw stepped forward and got into a feral stance, his claws now glowing brown.
"I'm not going easy on you, but I won't Delete you either," Mediclaw said. "My NetOp and I swore an oath, after all."
"I wouldn't have it any other way then," Azura said. "Hit me with your best shots."
"Let the battle begin!"
"Magi Bolts!" Azura called out, making the first move and firing at Mediclaw.
Mediclaw simply slashed away the blasts before charging forward with incredible speed. Azura gasped and dodged to the side, summoning her blade to block the attacks. As she tried to press back, she felt herself getting pushed back instead, right before seeing Mediclaw readying his other claw for an attack.
"Magi Blade!" Azura called out, slashing forward and forcing Mediclaw back. As he staggered, she spun around and sent forth several Sonic Booms, each causing an explosion that knocked Mediclaw back until he landed several feet away from her.
"Not bad, Azura," the NetOp of Mediclaw said from a room in a house somewhere else on the Isles. "But there's more to Mediclaw than meets the eye. Revolve On! Now!"
Heeding the command. Mediclaw spread out his arms just as Azura struck again. However, a wheel suddenly appeared around him, causing him to spin out of the way. Azura gasped as she suddenly saw the claws retract slightly and convert themselves into clawed boots, with the capsules forming short knee pads and the Navi Crests splitting to resemble those of the former lower half. As for the former lower half itself, it had turned into the new top half, the knee pads becoming shoulder pads and the four halves of the Crests making newer Crests located on the shoulders, now resembling a coat with a majestic look to it. The head, which had folded back from the start of the sequence, rotated itself back around, now with an inverse of the design of the former helmet, with the wings forming a chevron and the nurse's cap becoming side-plates of the helmet. Now, the mouth was no longer covered, showing a confident grin.
"Whoa!" Luz exclaimed. "What did we just see?!"
"I think we just saw his whole body contort itself into a new one," Azura said. "And the levels of Mediclaw now seem to be way different from how he was before."
"Not many people force me to use my Revolve On so early into a fight," Mediclaw said. "I suppose you're stronger than we pegged you for."
"That we are," Luz said before she and Azura synchronized, simultaneously spreading their arms out. "Style Change! Fire Champion Style!"
Azura closed her eyes as flames started to surround her. In front of her, the Fire Glyph showed itself before imposing itself onto her as her entire body started to glow a bright fiery red color. Azura spread out her arms, getting the fire to clear away. Holding out her hand, the MagiBuster revealed itself now as the Fire Wrecker. Swinging it around, she slammed it down and held out her hand. Gaining spiked gauntlets, several flames disappeared, before the same happened when her letterman-like coat replaced her top. She glanced forward and grinned, now with streaks under her eyes, before catching the ball in her left hand.
"It's been a while, folks, but now we see the newest Style Change from Terrace Stadium firsthand against Mediclaw's famed Revolve On technique!" Octavia announced as everyone cheered. "The real fight begins now!"
Elsewhere, Melody appeared from the tunnel and looked in front of her. Standing there was the entrance into the Palace of Darkness. She glanced around before closing her eyes, getting her helmet to flash a little bit.
"Katana and V-Blaster, Battle Chips In, Double Download." Skara said calmly, sending in the Battle Chips.
Melody soon gained the Battle Chips over her arms before making her way inside, keeping a close eye out as she aimed her V-Blaster around.
"This is way different than the Hexside server," Melody said, continuing to look around. "I'll take a close look around, see what I can find. But be ready to pull me out. I'm sensing a very evil energy."
"Will do," Skara said. "Be careful."
"So…" Boscha said, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's been a while since it was just the two of us."
"Yeah, it has been," Skara said as awkwardly. "You using that Scroll PET upgrade to the best of its abilities?"
"Yeah, I have," Boscha replied. "I saw you've been getting stronger thanks to that CrossFusion."
"I'm glad you've noticed…" Skara said as she rolled her eyes at the fact that Boscha decided to bring this up just now.
"Not as strong as I am when it comes to Grudgby and Potions Duels, but hey, you made the effort, and that's all that matters." Boscha muttered, getting Skara to turn to her.
"Your generosity knows no bounds." Skara snarked.
"It's a statement of fact." Boscha said with a shrug.
"You know what else is a statement of fact?" Skara asked with a smug look on her face. "You suck."
"Hey, I resent that!" Boscha protested.
"Do you deny it?"
"… No. But I still resent it."
"Well, you tried your best, and that's all that matters." Skara said.
Boscha looked to her former friend with an annoyed yet amused look on her face before letting out a click of her tongue and a chuckle. "I see what you did there. Touché." She conceded.
"Thank you, I'm well aware." Skara replied smugly.
"Enough, you two amicable exes, and just make up," Melody teased before continuing to inspect the Palace. "Look at this place," she said quietly, looking all around. "We didn't even get to see the Emperor's Palace yet, but I can already feel the dark energy booming from this place. I'm amazed we haven't found anyone yet."
"And that is why you are all losing!"
"Oh, that voice!" Melody complained before turning a corner. There, in an auditorium, was BubbleMan, dressed with a professional white coat and standing in front of a whiteboard with a pointer stick in hand, which showed drawings of MegaMan in his DoubleSoul forms and Azura in her Style Change forms. "BubbleMan is their second in command now?!"
"I once believed that DoubleSoul was the key for MegaMan beating the original Darkloids, and that friendship was the answer to making our own," BubbleMan said. "Now, we don't need friendship to make our own version of what the human and her Navi, Luz and Azura, have been using to defeat you! The answer is all in the Glyphs they use!"
"Wow, he makes a good point!" a Healing Coven Darkloid exclaimed as SerratEnby just rolled their eyes.
"And fortunately, we have the first of our own Glyphs siphoned from the Dark Chips, the Dark Glyphs!" BubbleMan went on, showing a jagged version of the Light Glyph, but with the shape of the single horn on the top now resembling devil horns and the two slanted lines in the center now as X crosses. "While ShadeMan is busy, we shall be able to create even more of our own Glyphs to create Style Changes for ourselves!"
"Why didn't we think of this before?!"
"You're the smart one! You should've thought of this!"
"One problem at a time," Melody said as her eyes went wide at what she had seen. Retreating back, she saw the throne up ahead and walked to it. "This must be where ShadeMan spends all of his time," she said before looking to the empty throne. "Maybe this is how he sees everyone he turns into Darkloids…" she said, reaching her hand out. "If I can download all the data that this has…"
However, as soon as Melody touched the throne, she screamed as dark spirits seemed to come out and try to attack her.
"Melody?! Melody, what's wrong?! Speak to me!"
"Someone's here!" FeralMan exclaimed, all Darkloids having heard the scream.
"Find the intruder and chain them up! And we can let ShadeMan deal with them!" BubbleMan ordered.
"Skara, get me out of here!" Melody begged, reeling in agony. "The darkness here is starting to get to me! Get me out before I'm taken over or worse!"
"Log out!" Skara called, pressing the Crest on her Scroll PET, but nothing happened. "I think you're out of range. You've gotta get back here so I can get you out!"
"I'm already gone from here!" Melody exclaimed, staggering towards the entrance. Before she could make it out, she saw CommandoMan emerging from the room, followed by several other Darkloids. "Running again!" she called, leaping back and firing at the Darkloids as they tried to run after her.
"Lurerre, prove your worth and stop her!" Pandora ordered.
"She or her NetOp won't make it out alive!" Lurerre yelled, flying on ahead with two four HeelNavis joining her.
"Magnum, Battle Chip In, Download!"
Melody's left arm replaced the V-Blaster with the Magnum, which she used to shoot several explosive tracking shots at all of the other Darkloids trying to stop her. Her eyes briefly turned purple before she shook her head, using more blasts to get her further towards the tunnel.
"Full Battery Blaze!" MunitionsMan called out, preparing to let out a massive attack.
"Stop!" FeralMan intervened. "We can't risk losing the connection to the MagiNet!"
"Sonic Blade!" SaberMan called out, sending forth a wave from one of his swords at Melody as she neared the tunnel.
"You can't run, you know," Lurerre taunted as she got closer to Melody, preparing her Flask Cannons. "The longer you were here, the more you'll get consumed by darkness. Just submit and become one of us, save yourself the misery!"
"Never gonna happen!" Melody protested, slashing at Lurerre before jetting forward into the tunnel. However, as she started to accelerate further towards where she came in from, the four HeelNavis appeared in front of her, all aiming Dark Cannon arms out at her.
"Come on, come on…" Skara said, watching everything with Boscha. Soon, the Navi Symbol lit up, getting her to grin.
"Are you ready?!" Lurerre yelled, aiming out the Grand Flask Cannon.
"No, I'm not!" Melody spat back just as the sides of her helmet lit up, getting her to grin.
"FIRE!" the HeelNavis called out, firing on Melody just as Lurerre did the same.
"Now… we are!" Melody called out, turning around and saluting Lurerre before digitizing away.
"Melody, Logging Out."
"What the—?!" Lurerre exclaimed before her shot overpowered those of the HeelNavis, accidentally Deleting them. She growled and landed just on the other side of the tunnel. "You're not getting away that easily!" she vowed before digitizing away as well.
"Whoo! That was close," Melody said as soon as she appeared back in Skara's Scroll PET. "Thanks, Skara. Now that we've found the Darkloid Palace, we've gotta let Luz and the others know about this."
"Say no more, I've already sent an alert," Skara said as she and Boscha walked out of the shed, only for her to hear something. "Get down!" she called, pushing Boscha down as several blasts were sent at the two, creating an explosion.
Lurerre cackled as she hovered over the shed. "You may have found out where we're based, but if you think I'm letting you off easy, you're fatally mistaken!" she called before seeing the flames from the explosion get pushed back by Melody's Navi Crest. "What?!"
"Begin CrossFusion Now!"
Skara threw her arms out, clearing away the debris and flames around her and Boscha. As she did, her Navi Crest flew back through her, 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 Lyra String before backflipping, playing a single note from it as her CrossFusion finished.
"Whoa, close call!" Boscha exclaimed in wonder.
"Get someplace safe! I've got this!" Skara called out, to which Boscha nodded and ran back to the shed, just as Lurerre lunged at Skara.
"StepCross!" Azura called out back at the NetBattle Arena, letting flames engulf her as she dashed at Mediclaw.
"Right back at you!" Mediclaw called back. "StepCross!"
Mediclaw also harnessed the StepCross and dashed at Azura, both meeting in the middle with their blades locked.
"You've got this!" Hecate called.
"Get him!" MirageMan yelled.
Luz clenched her fist as Azura and Mediclaw tried to gain momentum over each other. However, before the lock could be broken, the screens all around them changed to show Skara.
"Luz, come in! We've found it!"
"What?!" Mediclaw exclaimed in surprise, breaking off with Azura to look at the screen in shock.
"Skara, what's going on?" Luz called out, stopping on her hike to see the message as well.
"We've found the Darkloid Palace, but Melody needs to get out of there so I can get her out of the MagiNet!" the recording of Skara said. "Amity and Hecate were right, and wrong. The base is at a server in Hexside, but there's a tunnel there that leads right to the palace! We've got Darkloids on our tail, and we—"
Before the recording could continue, it faded into static to show Skara now fighting against Lurerre outside of Hexside, causing everyone to gasp.
"They're in trouble!" Luz exclaimed before turning to Mediclaw. "Looks like our battle will have to wait! Skara needs us!" she called before removing her headset, disappearing from the NetBattle Arena.
"Do what you need to do!" Mediclaw called out to Azura. "Your friends need you!"
"Thanks!" Azura replied, nodding, before digitizing out.
"Azura, Logging Out."
At that moment, a screen showed up next to Mediclaw, showing the same buff Healing Track student from the day before.
"Let's call it a day for now, Mediclaw." The student said.
"Sure thing, Viney." Mediclaw said before digitizing away through a blue and brown magic circle.
"Mediclaw, Logging Out."
At the Backbone, Lilith watched the drive continue to download everything before it flashed. Quickly, she removed it before heading towards where Eda walked off to. Before she could enter the dark shadowy area, however, Mr. Wily walked towards her.
"You… Wittebane…" Lilith said.
"Yes, that is what the W in my middle name stands for," Mr. Wily said. "But I am not the same man that you once knew before, I have changed. And I come bearing a message from the Titan, and you know how serious I get about these compared to what Belos does." He said, uttering the name with disappointment and venom.
Lilith regained her composure. "What is it?"
"Your fate will be sealed when you lie splayed before the victim of your hubris, surrendering your pride and dignity. And your time as Lilith the Emperor's Hand will come to an end. So says the Titan to you, Spawn of Judas!" Mr. Wily bellowed before his Palisman's wings grew and covered him. With a burst of light, he had completely disappeared, leaving only Eda walking out, looking shaken and silent.
"Edalyn, are you okay?" Lilith asked as she tried to place her hand on Eda's shoulder, only for her to shake her off.
"Let's get out of here."
Lilith nodded as she flew on ahead, unaware of the glare Eda was sending her.
Back at Hexside, Skara leapt up from a Flask Cannon blast sent by Lurerre and aimed out her Lyra String, now forming into a bow.
"Bard Arrow!" Skara called out, firing several red energy arrows at Lurerre, causing her to fly back.
"IV Claw!" Lurerre yelled, forming a claw with IV Needles as each blade before slashing at Skara, who held up a MetGuard as an arm shield before slashing back with the Bard Arrow Bow, now as a blade with musical notes on it. The two flew together and clashed quickly, eventually landing in front of the shed.
"Come on, come on!" Boscha urged before seeing her Grudgby Wrecker near her bag with several potions. Picking up her weapon, she knew what to do.
"Can you feel that dark essence spreading?" Lurerre asked as Skara started to get pushed back, everything in her view turning from dark to light rapidly. "In a few moments, you'll be taken over by the Soul of Darkness. It's a brave effort to resist it, but ultimately futile," she taunted as Skara staggered back, shaking her head, only to get grabbed by a large hand. She looked to Lurerre, who had an amused look of surprise on her face as she held out her left hand, now with the Plant Coven Dark Chip's effect creating a large claw. "Now this is a surprise. Taking on other Dark Chips from different Covens gives me a boost! I should've taken more!" she proclaimed before lifting Skara into the air. "But before that, let me expedite the struggle and save you the trouble of hurting yourself."
At that moment, a stream of potions hit Lurerre's arm, causing her to drop Skara. She turned and saw Boscha with several potions floating from several vials on her belt with her Grudgby Wrecker in her other hand.
"Hey! Stay away from her!" Boscha yelled, throwing streams of more potions before running forward with her Grudgby Wrecker spinning around.
Lurerre snarled and kicked Boscha as she tried to hit her, knocking her down. She got up and kicked at her as Skara was recovering, causing the two to clash fist with foot. As she tried to go for another attack, Lurerre grabbed her by the neck and held her left plant claw back, now spinning and glowing with a blast ready.
Boscha struggled to get free before she could get blasted. Seeing Lurerre getting ready to unleash the blast, she quickly kicked at her head, disorienting her and allowing her to fall. As she looked back, she saw Lurerre's helmet having been knocked off. Before she could try to get a good look at Lurerre herself, Lurerre angrily kicked her back, sending her towards Skara.
"Thanks for the save." Skara said.
"You and your friends would've done the same," Boscha replied before they both turned to Lurerre, only to let out gasps of surprise. "What in the—?!"
Lurerre picked up her helmet, and as soon as Luz arrived, everyone stood aghast at her true face. It was that of Boscha, only with faded pink skin, blood-red hair, and Heterochromia eyes.
"Don't get too shocked."
Luz ran to help until she, Skara and Boscha saw Pandora approaching, just as Lurerre was putting her helmet back on.
"But… that's impossible," Skara said. "I mean, you sounded like her, but… she was with you when the Banshees were being held hostage! There's no way that she can be—"
"She's not Boscha Yong-Jon at all, but rather, all of the worst aspects of her in a clone of my own creation. Her sinfulness incarnate," Pandora said. "I knew GrandeurMan would fall the night of the Wailing Star, so I visited Boscha and pulled out all of her badness to create the new bearer of the Potions Dark Chip. A creation I called Lurerre. She's grown a bit rebellious, but that's what I get for not wiping her memory each time she remembers who she is. But you know what they say, fifty-seventh times the charm."
"Let me remember it this time," Lurerre said, readying a Bard Coven Dark Chip. "I never want to forget the ultimate payback against you, Traitor."
"As you wish." Pandora said, stepping aside, just as Emira ran in.
"Skara!" Emira yelled as she ran over, only for Pandora to trap her feet into the ground.
Amity, Gus and Willow arrived afterwards, with Eda and Lilith flying in. Lurerre blasted all around to keep them from going any further before cackling as she tossed the Dark Chip forward, all while Skara and Boscha were too stunned by the revelation to move.
"NO!" Luz yelled, jumping in, which caused her headset to fall off and broadcast.
Everyone in the Demon Realm caught what was happening and watched with shock at what was about to happen.
Skara closed her eyes and shielded herself and Boscha, but Luz leapt in, taking the hit instead. The force of the Dark Chip thrown caused her to fall back just in front of Skara and Boscha, while the Dark Chip suddenly shattered to the ground upon impact.
"Luz!" Amity yelled, running forward as Emira removed her shoes to get free and run towards Luz, Skara and Boscha as well.
"What happened?" Lurerre asked as ShadeMan suddenly appeared, grabbing her by the neck, much to Pandora's surprise.
"Lurerre, you fool!" ShadeMan cursed. "These Dark Chips were never meant to turn humans! I detest them all that much to not make them into my Darkloids! And now our enemies know!" he yelled, causing everyone to stand in shock upon hearing this. "But we have done enough today. Your punishment will be decided when—"
"Wait, wait! I let her do this!" Pandora interjected. "I allowed her to try and convert Skara! It's on me this time, Master ShadeMan! Let her go!"
ShadeMan scowled as everyone set eyes on the three Darkloids. "It's done. But this isn't over." He proclaimed before all three retreated.
"Luz!" Amity exclaimed, running to help Luz back up. "Are you—?"
"I'm okay," Luz said, feeling herself. "Just thrown off by that, but Dark Chips from ShadeMan won't work on humans? I didn't see that coming."
"You saved her! You saved her!" Emira exclaimed in tears, hugging Luz happily. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!"
"I'm okay, Em, don't worry," Skara said, ejecting from CrossFusion and making her way to Emira. "But yeah. Thanks, Luz."
"Oh, sweetie!" Emira exclaimed, hugging Skara tightly just as the headset powered off.
"Whoa…" Amity said, causing Emira and Skara to look at her.
"Yeah… we've got some explaining to do…" Skara said as everyone gathered together.
At the Owl House, Skara finished explaining everything through a video call on Luz's PET.
"We wanted to tell you when the time was right," Emira said on another screen. "But we didn't know how."
"Well, I think you two are perfect for each other," Amity said as Luz smiled, with Eda watching from afar as Lilith cleared her throat. "Now, what did you find?"
"Plenty. ShadeMan has been steps ahead of us for a long time," Lilith explained in her quarters. "But I suggest we all get some rest before we explain it to you."
"I think we all need some, especially since Azura and I need to try to come up with an immunity for everyone on the Isles now that we know Dark Chips don't work on humans," Luz said. "Good night!" she called, signing off as everyone else did as well. She turned to Eda. "You doing okay?"
"Yeah, just get some sleep, I just need to be alone."
Luz nodded and tucked herself in, leaving Eda alone with a dark expression.
Now in her room, Eda looked to her desk and remembered what happened. Angrily, she slammed her fist onto the desk and screeched, her amulet nearly turning completely dark as she yelled into the night.
"LILY! YOU LIAR!"
Author's Notes: Well, I hope everyone liked my newest chapter. It took me a while, especially since I had lost my aunt, which is why I hadn't done this sooner. Now that me and my family had our memorial service, I feel better. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon. Please review, rate, and as always, if you can, Private Message me for anything on the story. After all, I'm keen to hear from you, so long as it's positive. For now, this is SuperHeroTimeFan signing off. Have a great week, everyone! See you soon!