Chapter 28: Fall
"We're baaack! And we have brought you a key!" Erina announces as the Thieves enter the hideout. To their surprise, the Rebels were already downstairs, drinking tea served by Yuki before turning their heads around to look at Erina. Eyes widening as they see the key in her hands.
"Ohhh! It is! It's the long desired music room key!" One of the Rebel's cheers as they all look at the key in wonder. As though it was the first time they ever saw a key on their lives. "Well done you lot! With that in hand, victory is essentially ours!"
"Yeah! Now he'll have no choice but to let us go!" Another Rebel cries, throwing a hand into the air. "It's time to finish this revolution! Let's bring the hammer down!" All the Rebels cheer in glee as they rush up the stairs, scrambling over each other in a mad dash. Leaving the Thieves gapping at the space they once occupied.
"My… They sure are worked up now, aren't they?" Haru comments with a weak smile.
"They certainly are…" Yoshida remarks, folding his arms. "I wonder if they will allow us to plan a strategy for the upcoming battle. Then again, we have no maps to help us this entire time."
"Going in blind once more… A good thing we are quick to adapt." Hifumi remarks, shaking her head.
"Still, these guys have been trapped here for a long time right? Thinkin' about how long that has been, can't blame 'em for bein' so worked up." Ryuji remarks, leaning on a stool. "Dont'cha think?"
"At any rate, we will be facing off against this kingdoms ruler." Morgana quips, jumping onto the bar. "No matter what, need to stay on our toes. We can't let anything sneak up on us."
"Don't forget about Jerri." Tao growls, grasping her arms. "That flying bitch is no doubt here. Watching us."
"And we'll be ready to stop her again. We did so once, we can do it again." Ren confirms, nodding his head. Suddenly, a faint visage of a blue butterfly floats past him, seemingly unseeable to the others as they prep themselves for the upcoming battle. Followed closely by an all too familiar voice.
"Ren… Can you hear me? There is something we must share with you immediately. If possible, come to the Velvet Room right away."
Lavenza's voice echoes in Ren's mind as he glances at the Velvet Room door. Sending a discreet nod to Makoto, Ren quietly excuses himself from the Thieves and enters the Velvet Room. Finding it still its s armoury form with Igor and Lavenza patiently waiting for him nearby.
"Welcome back to the Velvet Room." Igor greets as Lavenza curtsies to Ren. "Our apologies for calling you here with such urgency, but it was with good reason."
"It's no trouble at all. We were all readying ourselves for the fight with this Kingdom's Ruler. At least… we think he is." Ren tells them, before having a quick glance around. "So, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
"We're afraid it is something of an ill omen." Lavenza replies, her face grim. "Do you recall our explanations on how the Velvet Room was altered?"
"I do. And that this force of negation also affected me as well, when Makoto and I were told what was going on after being rescued. It still surprises me that even happened." Ren replies, shaking his head. "Does this mean you found out who has caused this?"
"Not as yet, unfortunately." Igor replies, shaking his head. "However, we have sense that this force behind all that has transpired has shifted. Surging with a surprising force. Unfortunately, all we can say is that a looming presence of great maleficence is approaching."
"The Velvet Room is indelibly linked to the heart of the guest." Lavenza adds. "Under normal circumstance, no external influence should be able to alter this place. However, we already know of one being who did so with unchecked ease."
"Yaldabaoth." Ren grits out with venom in his voice, before his eye widen slightly. "Wait… does this mean another god is responsible for all this?"
"It appears that may be the case." Igor replies, his voice grim. "Tread carefully Ren. Your enemy is no normal adversary."
"We will." Ren replies, thanking the two before leaving the Velvet Room. Finding the rest of the Thieves still in the middle of their preparations
"Welcome back Ren. What did Igor and Lavenza want?" Makoto greets as she checks over her revolver one more time.
"In short, we've got a hard fight ahead of us." Ren says cryptically, picking up his own gun and giving it a look over. "Igor and Lavenza warned me of an ill omen approaching us, and that said omen is possibly the same thing that altered the Velvet Room. And that they could be on the same level as Yaldabaoth."
"Called it! It's another wannabe God sticking their noes into our lives again." Ann calls with a smug grin while Shiho shakes her head.
"That only begs the question. Which god is it?" Yusuke asks, hand on his chin. "Is it another false god like Yaldabaoth, or one that has been around from humanities creation?"
"Let's not get philosophical here Yusuke." Akechi replies, shaking his head. "It is pointless to speculate when we know so little about our foe. Other than the fact it has grown more powerful. I wonder how…"
"No point in getting worked up about it." Sojiro remarks, folding his arms. "All we can do now is press forward. No matter what comes next. So long as we keep this warning in mind, we won't be caught off guard."
"So this is it. The final stretch." Sumire remarks, stretching her legs. "Do you think we will be going home this time?"
"I hope so. Kaoru is probably worried sick about me." Iwai remarks, pulling his hat down. "We have been here for more than a few days after all. Not that I haven't been enjoying my time here…"
"But I wonder, what will happen to Yuki-san, Tsuchiya and Erina?" Sae asks, looking over at the three of them as they stand near Toshiro. Her question caught the attention of the three of them, as Yuki lets out a sigh.
"This may sound obvious, but I will cease to exist." Yuki remarks sadly. "After all, I am dead. Even if I were to leave, where would I go? I have nowhere to return to. In truth, I will most likely stay here, within Toshiro heart…" She turns to look at Toshiro, giving him a warm motherly smile. "You are old enough that I am no longer needed to guide you or your sister, Toshiro. I know you will make me proud."
"Well, I don't know about you, but I have NO idea what will happen to me." Tsuchiya remarks, leaning on the wall. "Will I fuse with the me in reality and retain everything here? Or will I end up like mother and stay in Tosh's heart? I haven't got a clue. What about you Erina?"
"Ha. You took the words right out of my mouth…" Erina remarks, looking away with an uneasy gaze. "Boy, I wonder what's going to happen to me… Still. I'm grateful you all brought me this way, despite the uncertainly of myself." She glances at the Thieves, a smile on her lips. "I have to admit, I'd like to catch a peek of your own world, at least… I'm curious how you guys spend your time there, the activities you get up too."
"It'd be a blast if you could come with us!" Shiho remarks with a grin. "There would be so much to do that I can't even list them all."
"You can't even give me a run down?" Erina asks jokingly before shaking her head. "Still, I'd like to see your home someday. To see the places you go to and the sights you can see." But as the team talked about what to do if Erina came with them, Toshiro was looking out the window. A far away expression on his face.
"Yo, Toshiro! We're having a feel-good convo over here—don't you wanna know what's going on and to take part in it?" Futaba calls out, snapping him out of his daze. "You getting tired or something? You looked really spaced out."
"Sorry, I was just doing a little think and got lost in my own head." Toshiro deflects, ringing his hands together.
"C'mon. Keep it together pops." Shinya remarks, giving his leg a nudge. "You're the elder statesmen here, not us. You got to show off your clout to us when Erina comes to visit." Toshiro glances to Shinya with a slightly surprised look, before quickly replacing it with a gently smile as he looks towards Erina.
"Right. It would be improper of me to slack behind." Toshiro agrees, nodding his head.
"And I look forward to being there, Toshiro." Erina replies, glancing at everyone. "With that said, let's go put an end to this! Our future is waiting for us!"
It was a strange precession that moved through the empty halls of the kingdom. A group of hat people wielding rifles marching along in tight formation. While behind them was the Thieves, walking in a spread out group. It was slightly unnerving for them, seeing how enthusiastic the hat people were about this. Even more than what they were like in the past three kingdoms. But no one decided to comment on it, agreeing that the sooner they were done here the better it was for all of them. Especially as the door soon came into view, with a golden padlock gleaming on the front.
"We are here!" The rebel leader proclaims, his fellow rebels standing on either side of the door. "The tyrant is beyond these doors! My comrades! After great pains, we have finally reached the decisive moment! To battle! We will show that disgusting swine the punishment he deserves!" The rebels around him cheer in jubilation, while the Thieves sweat drop at the sight before them.
"Wow, they're really ready to tear into this place…" Ohya comments as Morgana lets out a nervous chuckle. "Glad they are on our side." A sigh from Erina catches the ear of Chihaya, who glances at her in concern.
"What's wrong Erina? Are you worried about the incoming fight?" She asks, grabbing her attention. And judging by how she almost jumped into the air, she was not expecting to be asked such a question.
"Oh, sorry. Am I really that obvious?" Erina asks, rubbing the back of her head. "I was just thinking how there's no turning back once we open this door. Strange isn't it? That I'm getting cold feet now of all times?"
"I don't think so." Shiho comments, looking at her with understanding. "Anyone would feel like this. But do you think its more for what lies after the fight?" Chihaya glances at Shiho, before taking out one of her tarot cards to get a reading for the upcoming battle. But to her shock, the card she drew was one she didn't even know she had. It was blank.
"Maybe it's just pre-fight jitters, or I'm worried for after the fight. But don't worry, I won't let it slow me down." Erina assure Shiho, missing the surprised look on Chihaya's face as Futaba steps forward.
"We don't know what lies in there, but we have some advantages. Plus our moral is through the roof. While we don't have a strategy like the last battles, we do know what to expect by now. And we have been through enough in those creepy rooms to know what to expect."
"It's just one more fight before the curtain call. Let us make an effort to give it a dazzling flourish." Yusuke remarks, arms folded.
"Yuki-san, stay near Tsuchiya and Isara. We don't know what to expect, but your safety is still our priority." Makoto comments. Yuki nods at her, standing closer to Tsuchiya as Isara rolls up to her feet. Toshiro meanwhile walks up to the door and unlocks the padlock. It falls away with a heavy clunk, the door swinging open as though it was automatic. The moment that it opens, the rebels charge in with a furious charge, leaving the Thieves behind as Toshiro takes in a long breath of air.
"No matter what history has in store for me, I'm prepared to accept it." He turns around, staring at Ren with resolution behind his eyes. "Let's go, Amamiya-kun."
"Right. It's showtime." Ren's reply was simply, yet the weight behind it was anything but. The moment those words left his mouth, all the Thieves expressions became serious and determined, Toshiro's more than anyone. And as one, they enter through the door, moving through the red mist as the flames of rebellion cloak their forms. Soon, the red mist peels away, revealing the Thieves to be in a vast room, easily large enough to fit Yaldabaoth with room to spare. The platform they were one was lone long rectangular road surrounding a rectangular platform with a square box about half it side jutting from the middle. Metal towers with speakers run along the four corners of the squares, and while lava poured around the walls around them, down bellow was nothing but a black void.
And standing on the square box, hands behind his back with an impassive look, was Nakabachi.
"It's over, Nakabachi!" Tsuchiya shouts, glaring right at the corrupt man as the Thieves take up positions. But there was one worrying thing that didn't escape their notice. Where did the rebels go?
"How dare you disturb the sanctity of my domain… You absolute lowlives…" Nakabachi growls, looking over the Thieves with disdain in his eyes. "By brining yourselves to this most sacred of places, am I to assume you're all prepared to enter a world of regret?"
"Think again, freak!" Skull shouts back, pointing a finger at Nakabachi. Nakabachi flinches, taking a step back while fixing his tie as sweat pours down his head. It was almost laughable how he was acting compared to the last rulers.
"This is most disappointing, Kasukabe-kun… I was under the impression you and your sister were smarter than this. What a shame." Toshiro stares at Nakabachi in the eyes, feeling nothing for the old man but disappointment.
"Nakabachi. All of your crimes were exposed to the public. Our rebellion was a success. Every last one of your spies turned on you and sided with us. You scheme to rule over our school and dictate our futures was destroyed!"
"Hahaha! What are you on about!" Nakabachi shouts back, a crooked smile on his face. Seemingly unaffected by Toshiro's words. "You don't truly believe that you did the right thing by putting that little uprising together did you?"
"Of course we do!" Tsuchiya shouts back, stepping up to her brothers side. "If it wasn't for us, you would have made yourself a king, and force everyone into committing more crimes!"
"Hmph! Is that so?" Nakabachi scoffs, looking away without a care. "In that case, then I have heard enough of this racket! Don't you losers realise you're merely reaping what you have sowed?"
"And isn't it your job as a teacher to teach children from right and wrong?" Teach question back, shaking her head. "You're not the first teacher I've met who abused their power, and I'll be sure that no more of your kin will take a step into Shujin academy!"
"All you did was abuse them and force them to carry out your own scheme! Blackmailing and threats are all you are capable of." Noir comments, hand tight around her axe.
"Shut up!" Nakabachi shouts while throwing a hand out, clearly growing flustered at the provocations thrown at him. "You brats can't even cook up a single variation of your own immature theme!"
"Oh, so NOW you want to act like a music teacher? Well, too bad we aren't interested in hearing your lessons." Outlaw quips, spinning his two blades around him.
"Well, you are going to listen regardless, oh dear pupils. Some say society functions like a song—that people are suppose to complement one and other for a common cause… And that is absolute nonsense!"
"What is he talking about?" Shadow asks, shaking her head at the man's ramblings.
"How did he even become a teacher in the first place?" Gecko asks, pulling his hat down.
"You could say the same for Kamoshida…" Athena remarks, shaking her head.
"People climb the social ladder on the backs of others! It's a simple concept! How can you fail to comprehend this!?" Nakabachi screams, anger lacing with every word in his voice.
"He says we don't have a tune, yet he is just as bad…" Violet comments, looking at Nakabachi with an uncaring look.
"Indeed. You extorted students for your own gain. Lording over the school as you pleased. If we must punish you again, then we will." Fox intones, hand grabbing his assault rifle as the Thieves ready for battle. Around them, cover materialises from the ground, while small paths connect the outer walkway to the central area.
"There are those who rule and those who are ruled. How do you not recognise this familiar tune?" Nakabachi asks a purple and black aura surrounding him. "How much lecturing does it take to get into your thick heads, you nitwits!?" As his anger rages, the aura around him consumes him, forming into a large orb of purple and black. "Initializing Training Curriculum…! Commencing instruction!" The orb explodes, sending black and purple slime raining down all around as Nakabachi's true form reveals itself.
A variation of one of the sumo types, with a giant head for a torso with two red eyes. Rocket boosters were attached to the back, while a small dome emerged from the top of the torso. Connected by a cylinder dressed in a suit. The metal body, arms and legs were coated in rust, as Nakabachi slams his feet into the ground. Summoning his Legionnaires to the field.
"What the hell!?" King shouts, ducking into cover as shots start to fly.
"It's a sumo type robot! Wonder what it's specks are…" Oracle comments, ducking under cover as Isara morphs into her tank form. Unleashing a swarm of missiles towards Nakabachi, only for them to collide into a force field. "And a forcefield too!? Not fair!"
"Not the time, Oracle!" Crow shouts, sending a blast of Megidolaon towards the Legionnaires. Catching three troopers and a drummer in the blast.
"How do we deal with it!?" Panther shouts, sending down a stream of bullets only for a shielder to block the rounds from hitting a brute.
"If it's like the other one, we need to nock him down from his perch!" Queen shouts, sending down a few rounds before blasting a group of troopers with Freidyne.
"NEW SCHOOL RULE: SKILLS PROHIBITED!"
"Seriously?!" Skull shouts in anger as a brute charges over one of the bridges towards him. Gecko jumps between them, nullifying the brute's bunch before countering with a kick and sending it colliding into a group of troopers rushing up behind it.
"We have other means of attacking! Don't focus on one specific set of skills!" Sensei remarks, turning around and slashing a ninja that had tried to flank them with his odachi.
"NEW SCHOOL RULE: MELEE PROHIBITED!"
"Is he going to just ban everything!?" Guernica shouts, blasting several troopers who tried to move before rushing from her location. Just in time to avoid being crushed by a brute before turning around and blasting it in the face.
More Legionnaires arrive on the field, appearing next to Nakabachi who grabs them and starts throwing them towards the Thieves. Distracting them as he grabs a bolder and throws it towards Yuki, only for Edelweiss to move in front and block the attack.
"Try this!" Edelweiss shouts, firing her main guns at Nakabachi's platform. Only for the forcefield to negate the blast, dispersing it harmlessly over the area. "Oh come on! That's my strongest attack!"
"We have to get in close to take him out!" Medic shouts, peppering a charging brute with rounds. The brute leaps into the air, aiming to crush her only to Shadow to snipe it out of the air like a skeet ball. "His barrier won't be of much help if we can slip inside it!"
"NEW SCHOOL RULE: MOVEMENT PROHIBITED!"
"So much for that plan…" Mona groans next to Boss, who gives him a rub on the head. Teach and Noir glance around, seeing how spread out they had become from avoiding the leaping brutes. But now they were no longer able to move, evident by how the brute became priority targets for the Thieves. But they had a different target in mind.
All around the central platform were towers, possibly holding up the forcefield that protected Nakabachi. But there were also speakers as well, blaring out those school rules prohibiting their movements. They remember the first time they came here when Teach managed to destroy some of the speakers, freeing them up from the restrictions. If the speakers were outside of the protective field…
"Noir, I'm going to take a risk." Teach tells her, aiming her RPG at one of the speakers. It was currently not blaring out rules, unlike its fellow towers, and Teach had a suspicion about what rule it would shout. Meaning it was either now or never.
"NEW SCHOOL RULE: SHO—"
Just as the speaker came to life, Teach lets a rocket fly towards it. The rocket slammed into it just as it was about to finish it's sentence, erupting into a fireball as it travelled up the metal tower next to Nakabachi. A snapping of metal cuts through the field as the tower collapses on itself, causing Nakabachi's field to flicker for a moment. Oracle, who had been keeping tabs on the area around them, had noticed that the field was about to be covered by whatever rule the speaker was about to emit, only for it to not only stop but vanish as well. Reminding her of what happened initially as well.
"Guys! Aim for the speakers! With them gone, we'll be free to move!" Shadow, who had already had a clear line of fire on one of the speakers, changes her aim towards it and fires a round. The bullet slams into the dishes, causing them to spark wildly before erupting into an explosion, taking both it and the tower along with them. On Oracle's screen, the aura preventing them from moving vanishes, allowing the Thieves to once again move without restraint.
Fortune, Erina and Tsuchiya take advantage to run around the edge, aiming for the two remaining speakers at the back of Nakabachi's platform. At the same time, Edelweiss rains down fire on the Legionnaires. The rest of the Thieves press forward over the bridge, despite not being able to use melee attacks or skills, yet manage to force the Legionnaires back onto Nakabachi's central platform. With Nakabachi distracted, Fortune, Erina and Tsuchiya get to work on the remaining two speaker towers, placing explosives at the base of each before rushing around to join the others. The moment they regroup, Tsuchiya presses a detonator, setting off the explosives and destroying the last two towers. Freeing them from the oppressive rules surrounding them as well as deactivating Nakabachi's forcefield.
Taking advantage of this, Edelweiss lets loss a storm of missiles onto Nakabachi's platform, raining down and catching any Legionnaire out in the open. At the same time, Nakabachi focuses on defending himself from the onslaught of missiles. Unknowing to him, it was a distraction, as Gecko, Athena, and Queen scaled up the ladders on either side of him before rushing around to his blind spot within the smoke.
"Is this all you nitwits can do!?" Nakabachi shouts, swiping away the smoke to get a better view of the Thieves. While he could see them below him and Edelweiss rolling onto the bridge with Yuki behind her, three people were missing from the crowd. "Hm!? Three of you are missing!?"
"Checkmate." Joker simply says, sending a chill down Nakabachi's spine as he spins around. Is he had a mouth on this body, it would have been left wide open as Gecko, Athena and Queen all kick him simultaneously. Sending him flying from his perch and down onto the ground below. The impact, combined with his heavyweight, was more than enough to deal critical damage to him. His legs snapped off, and his arms became non-functional. Leaving him a smouldering pile of metal as the Thieves surround him from all angles.
"No…How!?" Nakabachi screams, trying to force himself to move. "How…could I…"
"It's over Nakabachi. You've lost. Just like last time." Toshiro tells him bluntly, standing in front of him with his arms folded.
"Damn you… Toshiro Kasukabe. How many times do you have to get in my way?"
"As many times as it takes. I have no problem standing up for what's right anymore." Toshiro replies, resolute in his stance, and eyes not wavering from the truth. Nakabachi growls, glaring at Toshiro as his eyes stare at those around him. Seeing the satisfaction on their faces, Nakabachi growls in disgust before letting out a sadistic laugh. "What are you laughing at?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be having a right good time, eh?" Nakabachi questions, sowing confusion among the Thieves. "It's laughable to put all this blame on this man and play the revolutionary game… for it is high time you remember your crime! Your truth!"
At that moment, the entire place shook as though an earthquake had struck the place. From outside, they could hear what sounded like the destruction of buildings while the ticking of a clock boomed above them in a haunting echo. An echo that made Joker and the seven original Thieves pale in thought. But why that was, they did not know why or cared for the moment. For they were all blinded by a flash of light as Nakabachi seemingly detonated before them. Sending them once more into a memory flash.
"Hey, didja hear about Nakabachi?"
"I sure did. You know, there was this one time he gave me a real skeevy look…"
"Get this. The old coot docked points off my overall grade for 'insubordination'. Hey, doesn't this mean we're all victims of his too?"
"Yeah, we oughta to hold him accountable!"
Voices continue to echo, students voicing their anger against Nakabachi before the black void morphs into that of a train station at night. With snow gently falling from the sky. And Toshiro and Eri were waiting at the platform for the next train. Both of them had less than joyous expressions on their faces.
"Don't be so down, Tosh. Not that I don't know how you feel…" Eri tries to reason with a smile, yet it doesn't reach her eyes.
"Things were going fine until we convinced the students to confront Nakabachi…" Toshiro remarks, his gaze looking far into the distance. "When we got them on board, we ended up having the entire school turn on Nakabachi. By the end, even students with questionable allegations came after him. Not that he didn't deserve it, but…" He lets out a sigh, staring into the snowy void of the sky. "I'd have to be stupid or cruel for this not to have affected me in some way. Me and Tsu both."
"I'm sorry…" Eri responds, her own gaze looking into the sky. "If I hadn't pushed us so hard…"
"I'm not blaming you. And neither is Tsu. We could never do that." Toshiro interrupts gently, grasping her hand with his own. "The people I blame are the ones forming a lynch mob for the man. They took what was supposed to be a peaceful revolution into a man hunt. I heard from Tsu some students even chased him down to his own home, harassing him for all sorts of stupid stuff. They blamed him for things like their deserved detentions or whatever excuses they spun up for their poor grades."
"All we wanted was for him to face proper judgment for the crimes he committed." Eri finishes for him, letting out a sigh as she leans into him. "Tsu told me that he's still held up in his house, except when he's being summoned for questioning. There are even rumours that he's cracked under the pressure."
"Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if I was wrong about the average person's self-control." Toshiro admits, his gaze falling on the timetable. "You try to find the right words to convey what's ethical… but ultimately, you can't get through to them."
"Toshiro…" Eri breaths before getting a determined look on her face. "It's too soon to give up! Let's try talking to them tomorrow, even if it means starting over again. Okay?"
"Yes. Good idea." Toshiro replies instantly, turning to look at her. "It is our responsibility. Let's do everything we can until it's actually over." He gives her a warm smile, one that is equally matched by Eri as they stare into each other's eyes.
"Yeah. Thanks Toshiro. As long as we are together, I'm sure we can pull it off. We can turn this around yet."
Train announcement: The express train will be arriving momentarily. Please remain behind the yellow line.
The two glance down the track, seeing the upcoming train as they back away from the edge. Nether one of them heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Or the difficult, hysterical breathing behind them. At least, until a hand pushed Eri forward, nocking her off balance as she turned around in shock alongside Toshiro.
Everything began to go slow for Toshiro, watching as Nakabachi pushed Eri towards the track. Watching as she falls off the platform towards the tracks. Watching as the train came down, right towards her falling body.
He felt himself acting on impulse, reaching out with his right hand to grab Eri's left, even as the train came closer towards them. Engulfing them in its bright lights as it screeches to a stop, desperately not wanting to hit either of them. He could see the look of fear grasp Eri's face as their hands reached closer together as the train got closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Before darkness shrouds their eyes.
"W-What was that!?" Panther shouts as everyone comes back from the vision, standing around with shock plastered on their faces. None more so than Toshiro and Erina, who stand still as statues.
"That's right… I'm…" Erina speaks, looking at her shaking hands as realisation dawns on her.
"So you remembered? But it is far too late for that." Before anyone could react, a gust of wind wraps around Erina, dragger her into the air as Jerri reveals herself in her true form. Holding her hostage in a spiral of wind. Before anyone else could react, similar spirals of wind entrap Yuki and Tsuchiya, dragging them up into the air beside a now unconscious Erina.
"JERRI!" Joker, Guernica, Violet, Crow, Fox and Guernica shout in anger, aiming their weapons at her on instinct.
"Let them go, you creep!" Guernica shouted, firing a blast of rounds at her, only for them to do minimal damage.
"Such vulgar. Is that how you always greet old friends, my dear?"
"We said. let them go!" Joker shouts, aiming his gun at her alongside the rest of the Thieves.
"I am afraid I cannot. Not when they are the greatest threat to my Lord's plan. Especially her." Jerri replies in an uncaring voice, holding Erina right above her before getting blasted in the face by Edelweiss's main guns.
"We weren't asking!" Edelweiss shouts back, keeping herself aimed at Jerri and taking a small bit of delight at seeing the head with several cracked lines.
"Impudent brat! You have been a thorn in our side for too long! It is time that you were dealt with. Permanently!" At that moment, both sides of the bridge Edelweiss was on were detonated, collapsing the bridge beneath her as the Thieves turned to gaze in shock. Oracle rushes to the edge, staring down over the side as she watches Edelweiss's form vanished into the darkness below.
"ISARAA!"