"Does everyone remember the plan?" Dumara spoke, looking up at everyone.

"Yup, I get Eight out of the house, lead him far off," Duman looked to Stella.

"Brandon and I stay really close to Duman in case he can't get to the others in time," Stella added.

"Me and flora and Gantlos and Tecna search the house for the marble jar."

The pairs were not a random decision — Dumara had to be prepared for his Anagan and Gantlos's intervention, their minds were broken by the black circle long ago. Now, Dumara could barely call them their own people. They were husks filled with bloodlust and dark energy. Slaves to their master. He needed counter options, Anagan could out run Gantlos, but was useless if he ran into himself, and Gantlos could crush Anagan, but can't overpower himself. These girls were teamed for that very scenario — Flora could potentially restrain Anagan, and Tecna could wear Gantlos down with mind games, divert him. Everyone looked at each other, tension in the air.

"Dumara…" Stella started, seeing Dumara shift uncomfortably, "Is there anything else we should know?" Everyone looked at him.

"My guys…aren't like your guys…they won't exercise restraint just because they think you're not worth it, they will, my Ogron will, kill you, if given the chance…please don't give them the chance." His voice was barely a whisper.

"We can take them in sure—" Dumara interrupted Riven.

"You don't understand — they catch you without a weapon," he gestured to Anagan, Gantlos, and Duman, "they make a joke out of you and move on. My guys catch you without a weapon, and they will cut you limb by limb with the very sword you hold now. Remember; their causing pain isn't the means to an end, it is the end."

Anagan, still bearing the fresh mental wounds from his encounter with Eight, nodded grimly. "He's right. I've seen it. They're not just fighting to win—they're fighting to destroy."

Gantlos, who had been listening quietly, clenched his fists. "We have to be prepared for anything. We can't afford to underestimate them."

Dumara's eyes met Gantlos', a flicker of respect passing between them. "Exactly. They won't hold back, and neither can we. We need to be ready for them and find a way to outsmart them."

Everyone shared looks of determination fused with concern, they prayed this would work.

—————

Phase 1: Distraction

Duman stood in the forest, his heart pounding in his chest. The plan was simple but dangerous: distract the other Ogron long enough for Group B to locate and free the real Ogron. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he had to do. This was their best chance, and he couldn't afford to fail. He saw Eight just leaving what was supposed to be their home.

He stepped forward, making sure to be within sight of the other Ogron. "Hey, Eight!" he called out, his voice carrying through the trees. "Looking for someone?"

The Ogron turned, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Duman. A cruel smile spread across his face, quickly replaced by a frown. "Eight? You dare reduce me to a mere number? Insolent little shapeshifter. I must say it took you long enough to show up, come to play with little me~?"

Duman took a step closer, tauntingly. "I don't think, I know. You're just a dick who got lucky in one reality. But here? You're nothing."

Ogron's smile faded, replaced by a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Careful, Duman. Your words might get you hurt."

"That's the thing about you, Eight," Duman continued, ignoring the threat. "You always underestimate your opponents. You think fear is the only tool you need. But fear isn't enough. And besides, didn't I beat your sorry ass once?"

Eight's expression darkened, his anger simmering just below the surface. "You're going to regret those words."

Duman could see the fury building, exactly what he needed. "Big talk from someone who's scared of a fair fight. Why don't you prove me wrong? Or are you a pussy?"

With rage, Eight lunged forward, magic crackling around him. Duman's heart raced, but he maintained his composure. He had to lead him into the trap, just a little further.

He turned and sprinted into the forest, the sound of Ogron's pursuit loud behind him. The trees blurred past as he pushed himself faster, weaving through the underbrush with practiced ease. He could feel Ogron's magic snapping at his heels, but he didn't look back.

As he neared the clearing where the trap was set, Duman glanced over his shoulder, taunting Ogron one last time. "Come on, Eight! Catch me if you can!"

—————

Phase 2: search and rescue

As Eight faded from sight, Anagan, Flora, Gantlos, and Tecna quietly entered the cabin. Nothing seemed out of place , everything was quiet. Heavily quiet. The beeping from Tecna's scanner seemed so loud. Alerting.

"I got something—upstairs, third room to the left, I can't pinpoint exactly where though—AAG!" Tecna was hoist into the air, then slammed into the floor. The floor boards cracked around her and she gasped on impact — a familiar blonde stood over her.

"Tecna! Get away from her you animal!" Flora was about to attack when he lifted Tecna up by the leg.

"…" his face was unreadable, he looked at Tecna, who seemed so fragile in his hand. "I…like…pretty…" his words were broken by syllable, his voice sounded like he hadn't spoken in years. "Want…fairy…"

They stared, Flora in horror as he licked her wings. Tecna's face twisted in disgust and pain as he practically crushed her into him.

"L-let me go!"

"Small… too small," he mumbled, his voice rough and broken. "Needs… me."

"Don't hurt her!" Flora shouted, her magic swirling around her hands.

"Anagan moved to flank the other Gantlos, his eyes darting between Tecna and their foe. "We need to distract him," he said, his voice tense. "Flora, can you use your vines to create a diversion?"

Flora nodded, her hands glowing green as she summoned thick vines from the floor. The vines twisted and writhed, reaching for the other Gantlos, but he tightened his grip on Tecna, making it clear he would harm her if they got too close.

Taking a deep breath, Anagan stepped forward. "Hey, look at me! You don't want to hurt her. You want to hurt me, right you mutt!? Come and get me."

The other Gantlos's eyes flickered with recognition, but his grip on Tecna remained firm. "Small… needs me," he repeated, his voice a low growl.

Seizing the momentary distraction, Anagan used his super speed to dart around the room, positioning himself behind the other Gantlos. With a swift motion, he grabbed a nearby chair and swung it at their foe's legs, knocking him off balance.

The other Gantlos stumbled, loosening his grip on Tecna just enough for her to activate her techno shock . An electric current coursed through his body, causing him to release her and drop to his knees.

Flora used vines to try and restrain him. Layer by layer he was wrapped in thick vegetation.

"You two get upstairs, we'll take care of him down here," Flora shouted as he ripped away her vines.

Gantlos hurried up the stairs with Tecna, who kept up despite being winded. They opened Ogron's room and searched high and low. In the corner of the closet, Tecna found it! A small jar holding a few marbles. Despite each one being the same man, the magic auras were slightly different, she analyzed each one before she found the correct one.

"Can you get him out?"

"Yes, but I'm going to need a few minutes. Think you can play gaurd the brains for me, brawn?"

Gantlos gave a curt nod, his senses on high alert. He could feel the vibrations of every movement in the cabin, ready to intercept any threat. Vibrations. Fast vibrations.

Suddenly, a blur of motion shot through the room. The other Anagan, with his cruel smile, appeared before them. "Well, well, trying to steal our little trophy, are we? You know, I love brainy girls ~" he taunted, his eyes fixed on Tecna.

Gantlos cracked his knuckles, "You're not touching her," Gantlos growled, stepping between Tecna and the other Anagan.

"Oh, how noble," the other Anagan sneered. "But we both know you're no match for me." He circled Gantlos, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Still playing the guard dog, I see. Didn't get enough of that treatment from Ogron?"

Gantlos's jaw tightened, anger seething, "You shut your mouth,"

The other Anagan's grin widened. "Freeing him won't get you any treats, you know. You're still his loyal little pet, doing tricks to please your master."

With a burst of speed, the other Anagan lunged at Tecna, but Gantlos intercepted him, their bodies colliding with a bone-jarring impact. This Anagan was strong. The room echoed with the sound of their struggle, Gantlos using his strength to hold the counterpart at bay.

Tecna worked frantically, hands moving as fast as they could trying to decode the stasis. "Almost there," she muttered, her heart pounding. She knew Gantlos couldn't hold off the other Anagan forever. He may be strong and sturdy, but Anagan was nimble and had more stamina.

The other Anagan, moving with blinding speed, struck at Gantlos with a series of rapid blows. Gantlos grunted with each hit but stood firm, his focus unwavering. "Not trying to be rude, but can you do this a little faster?!" he shouted, his voice strained.

The other Anagan darted around Gantlos, aiming for Tecna. Gantlos reacted swiftly, using his seismic abilities to create a shockwave that knocked the other Anagan off balance. "Cmon, hurry up," he growled.

"Just a few more seconds," she said, her voice filled with anxiety.

The other Anagan recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "You're just delaying the inevitable," he hissed, charging at Gantlos once more.

Gantlos met him head-on, their struggle intensifying. "Tecna!" he shouted, sensing the critical moment.

With a final surge of energy, Tecna broke through the stasis field, freeing Ogron. "Got him!" she exclaimed, relief evident in her voice.

The other Anagan, realizing his failure, snarled in frustration. Gantlos seized the opportunity, using his seismic waves to create a powerful shockwave that sent the other Anagan crashing into the wall.

"Get Ogron out of here!" Gantlos ordered, his eyes blazing with determination. "I'm going to bring this place down."

Tecna quickly moved to Ogron, helping him to his feet. "Hold on, we're getting out of here," she said, her voice urgent. Ogron wasn't all there and needed to support himself on her shoulder.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she saw the other two still struggling with the other Gantlos.

"We gotta move out, this place is going down!"

With one final effort, Gantlos unleashed a massive seismic wave, causing the entire second floor to collapse. The other Anagan and the other Gantlos were buried under the destruction.

Anagan, Gantlos, and Ogron watched their home be reduced to rubble.

"Where— where's Duman?" Ogron sounded disoriented. Tecna pulled out her communicator.

"Bloom, we got him! Dumb and Dumber are out for now, too! How are things looking on your end?"

"We're doing our best but he's really strong! Duman's trying to keep him on his toes, but this guy's relentless! It's not looking good —" static rang over their ears. They all looked at one another. Silence fell heavy, until a voice came through, quiet, calm, taunting.

"Well, well, it seems I've caught a little rabbit's friends. How delightful. Did you and the mutt enjoy playing with yourselves?"

Tecna's eyes widened, and she instinctively gripped the communicator tighter. "Eight," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"Such a warm greeting, Tecna. I'm touched," Eight replied, his tone dripping with mock affection. "You know, I do so enjoy these little chats. They break the monotony of conquest."

Gantlos clenched his fists at his sides, "This isn't over."

Ogron, still weak but more oriented, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "You're going to regret ever stepping into our reality."

Eight's laughter echoed through the communicator. "Promises, promises. Do try to keep this interesting for me, won't you? I'm rather enjoying our little game. By the way, you might want to check on your pet shapeshifter. He put up quite a fight, but even wild animals eventually get caught."

Gantlos's heart sank. "Duman…"

Eight's voice turned almost tender, dripping with false sympathy. "Oh, poor thing. But don't worry, I'll take good care of him. After all, a hunter needs his trophies. Speaking of trophies, Tecna, did you enjoy your little encounter with Gantlos? He has quite an attachment to you, you know. In our reality, he treated you like his little doll. He would play with you every night —"

Tecna grimaced, her face twisted with nausea, "Don't try and make things weird you creep!"

Eight's voice took on a mocking tone. "Oh, I assure you, it's true! Unfortunately, the poor brute was just too rough with his little doll, he cried for days! It was quite amusing. Every reality we went to he would cling to you, scared you'd leave him. Of course you always did, but that's never stopped him. Poor idiot so brainwashed by his own power didn't even understand where you kept going,"

"Those are members of your coven— your circle! You're a monster," Flora shuddered at how painful that must have been.

Eight laughed, the sound chilling and gleeful. "I'm merely a connoisseur of chaos. By the way, Gantlos, you seem to have a fetish for pink hair. First Tecna, now Duman. Quite the pattern."

Gantlos's eyes flashed with anger. "Shut up."

Eight's voice remained playful, unbothered by Gantlos's anger. "Touchy, touchy. But don't worry, I won't hold it against you. It's rather endearing, actually. I wonder…"

"This device has been disconnected, please sync to device B."