Hello and welcome to another month of 2024, everyone! You know me and I know you, it is I, SuperHeroTimeFan, now back with a brand-new chapter for my top story, the crossover with MegaMan NT Warrior and The Owl House, Owl House: NT Witch! I'm glad that you all liked my last chapter, especially Blackmetalzane22 and Cloud4012. Your feedback, and I mean all the feedback I get from all you who read this story, really helps a lot in making the story better. The same goes for the support given to my newest art for the story on DeviantArt and the tropes for the TV Tropes page. This will be another original chapter here before we get to something special later on, but before I go on, I would like to address a review's feedback by merendinoemiliano. I am glad that you like the story and how I do things, and I appreciate that you point out Luz being able to beat Kim's records. I would like to point out that she had not beaten them all, they are just a small margin above what Kim would usually hit when doing those physical scores. Some Luz beats her in and others about a tie or just below her scores. I would never go for a Mary Sue trope for Luz, that would not be right. But still, thank you for bringing that to my attention. Now, with that out of the way, here is my newest chapter! Please be sure to review, rate, and as always, please be sure to enjoy!
Chapter 18: If They Be Worthy…
It was Saturday, two days after Lurerre attacked Luz's memories in an attempt to kill her, and Amity, Gus, Willow, Skara, Boscha, Viney and Mattholomule were making their way through the forest leading to the Owl House. Each of them had bags slung over their shoulders and towels at their sides as they got closer to where Luz and her adoptive family were resting.
"Remind me why we're doing this so early again?" Boscha asked as she stretched her arms. "Don't get me wrong, I like a good workout, but on a day where we should be resting and watching the renewed season for Bleeding Hearts seems like a bit much."
"We held off on a CrossFusion workout since Luz was still not at full strength after getting her memories fixed," Gus said. "Now, we can finally do it together before Skara celebrates her birthday tomorrow."
"I'm really glad I'm having you all there," Skara said, looking to Boscha last. "Even you."
"Glad to be invited," Boscha admitted before Amity approached the front door. "And I hope you like my gi—"
"Hoot, hoot-hoot hoot," Hooty snored as Amity prepared to knock. "Hoot, hoot-Hooty Hooty hoot."
"Huh, he's out," Amity said. "I thought that Eda would have this place guarded with a lot of people going after her and Luz."
At that moment, the door opened, revealing a tired and disheveled Luz. She rubbed her eyes as she looked to see who her guests were.
"Morning, Guys," Luz said. "Wanna come in? After breakfast, I can get the course set up."
"Um, sure… thanks," Willow said as she looked to Luz before seeing Eda sprawled out on the floor inside behind her. "What happened to you all?" she hesitatingly asked.
"Eda wanted to take me out after seeing all the money Azura and I earned," Luz replied, yawning to pause as she led the others in. "And well, last night, after watching the season finale of Bleeding Hearts, she took me to some place called the Hit Me Up Casino."
"How did that go?" Viney asked.
Luz blinked both of her eyes groggily before making her way to the kitchen. "You got a flashback's worth of time?" she asked before pouring herself some coffee.
The Night Before…
"I honestly can't believe I let you talk me into this." Luz said with a deadpan look on her face, Azura's mirroring it as she stood alongside her.
"Oh, come on," Eda said, leading the two towards a building with neon lights and a large sign that read HIT ME UP!. "The Hit Me Up Casino is one of the best places to make it or break it when it comes to money."
"Financial suicide, Eda. Remember that," Luz reminded as the three entered, seeing games of different kinds being played. Unlike other casinos, however, they each had some sort of magical touch to them, such as the die on a table having sides that had different Coven symbols, a jackpot machine that spat out bags of snails, and a ski ball alley with creatures being used as the balls, resembling the Snaggleback that Eda ate when Luz learned of the Owl Beast. "Okay, not quite what I was expecting…"
"Yeah, a lot of these games probably would be too much for you to handle," Eda said, redirecting Luz away just as Azura saw Odalia trying her luck at a wheel of fortune, only to get laughed at when it broke on her. "So how about some good old Hexes Hold 'Em?"
"Had I not been busy cleaning up that mess you made earlier this week, I would have given you a fresh one for suggesting this." Azura threatened.
"You sorta did. I can still feel that blow to the head you gave me," Eda muttered, rubbing the back of her head. "Not sure how I felt it with all that hair," she mumbled before coming to a table with several people playing Hexes Hold 'Em. "Just try it. If you lose, you're free to do anything to me you like for the rest of tomorrow, I promise."
Luz rolled her eyes before sitting down. "Deal me in," she said reluctantly, getting a few cards before turning to Eda. "This is a waste of time, and I'll prove it to you." She said before everyone looked to the cards in their hands.
After a while, everyone put down their sets. Luz sighed and put down a random set, which suddenly came to life and took out everyone else's cards. They all looked to her with surprise as the snails put on the table, which included some of her own, were pushed towards her.
"What did I tell you?" Eda asked, sitting down with her own cards now. "But don't think I'll go easy on you, kid."
"I was lucky, and I'll prove it for sure…" Luz said as she was given more cards while Azura watched.
Two Rounds Later…
A larger group than before was now seated at the table, all groaning or planting their faces onto the table and pounding their fists as the snails they placed went to Luz, which included Eda's own snails. She gawked at Luz, seeing two piles next to the one from the first round she had, each one bigger than the last.
"Your parents teach you casino games or something, Ms. Noceda?" a unicorn-headed demon asked, whom Luz could have sworn was Mx. Orga from Hexside.
"No, I'm just getting lucky," Luz said as Eda reluctantly placed a few snails on the table. Everyone looked to her judgmentally for a few seconds, getting her to place more on before everyone did the same. "When my luck runs out, I'll really give Eda a fresh one for doing this to us."
"Cue the Card…" Azura commented, trying to prevent the crowd watching from joining in.
Fifty Rounds Later…
"Well, that was…"
"If you say luck, I will find new ways to… oh, who am I kidding?!" Eda exclaimed, all three now outside of the casino with several crying witches and demons inside, and large sacks of snails being levitated by Azura around them. "You beat everyone there, even the usher, the guards, the bouncer, and… that one guy with the teeth and the seven eyes."
"We're not coming back here again," Azura said sternly as Eda summoned her staff to take them all back to the Owl House. "And you're all helping me put these into the closet! I don't care if Cero objects, this is what you all deserve for coming here!"
Present…
"I'm pretty sure we stayed up nearly half the night putting that money away," Luz said, now taking a sip of coffee. "It was about two in the morning when we finally went to sleep."
Upon hearing the entire story, everyone's eyes went wide with surprise at what Luz had accomplished.
"Wow," Amity said. "That's… quite the night."
"Want us to come back later?" Skara suggested.
"You know… when you're not so groggy?" Viney added on.
"Nah, a workout is a good way to get the day started," Luz said as she turned back around to head to the kitchen again, only for a breeze of wind to suddenly blow by. "Someone mind getting the door?" she asked. "Hooty's out like a light right now."
"I got it," Boscha said, getting up and walking to the door. Another breeze blew by before she got the door closed. "That better?"
"Much, thanks," Luz said before noticing some papers from her backpack were flying around. "Oh boy…"
"Don't worry," Willow said, spinning her finger to get several nearby plants to grab the papers. "That's why we're here."
"Thank you," Luz said as she made her way for another cup of coffee, only to hear one more paper flying. She turned around and saw a scroll land down on the table in the living room, where it rolled open to reveal that it was the same scroll she and Azura found after Deleting PsychedelicMan. "Oh, can't forget about that."
Everyone looked to the scroll, with Boscha in awe at the image of the staff illustrated on it. "Luz…" she started as Luz came back with another cup of coffee. "Do you realize what this is?"
"I reckon it might be useful, but don't know in what way." Luz replied before drinking her coffee again.
"This is the Celestial Staff," Amity said, looking to the scroll inscriptions with as much awe as Boscha. "Said to be a conduit of power to whoever wields it. Fakes had been advertised by scam artists for years, and only a few had ever gotten to wield it before they passed."
"Really now?" Luz asked as Azura came out from her PET, same with Hecate. "Then… why was it never laid with their bodies?"
"Because whenever one user of the Celestial Staff passes, it returns to its resting spot until the next worthy one comes to claim it," Skara added on. "We only know of it because it was a myth told at some of our parties, but never got to see it."
"Luz, this could be the thing we need to tip the scale of power against the Darkloids!" Willow exclaimed, albeit not too loudly since Eda was still asleep. "How did you even find this?"
"It was after we defeated PsychedelicMan," Azura explained. "We landed in Adegast's mansion, and found that having fallen off of the shelf. It looked important, and we meant to ask about it to see what anyone knew, but with BubbleMan appearing and all the stuff that followed after that, we didn't find the time."
"Well, you certainly have our attention now," Viney said. "With you now all rested after your mind incident, I think you should be the one to try and find this."
"You sure?" Luz asked. "What about if a Darkloid attacks?"
"Don't worry about it," Gus said. "There are now eight of us who can CrossFuse thanks to Boscha and Mattholomule joining us. If any of the Darkloids even tries to attack while you're gone, we'll be there to give them a challenge."
Luz smiled. "Well, as long as we know the Isles are in good hands," she said as she looked to the scroll. "How about you all get started on the course?" she suggested. "I just wanna rest a bit more, and then I'll be off. After all, how bad can some competition for this thing be?"
Elsewhere, in a large mansion, several people with gold and white suits were gathered together, each one with a mask that resembled a Phoenix's head in one hand and in the other a sword with vibrant colors with energy lines across the blade. They all had their attention focused to the higher level, where a dark-skinned witch with red robes stood. He stepped aside to reveal a female witch with black hair, orange eyes, fair skin, red nail polish, and wearing a white and red shirt with navy pants. On her back was a diamond-encrusted sword with a golden blade, as well as six jewels along the guard. She walked up until she was overlooking all of the people in the crowd, an aura of respect surrounding her.
"Today is a proud day for you all," the girl announced as the people smiled softly. "Damaras has watched over your training, and I must say, I am quite impressed with how far you have all come. When we started, this was but a clan of assassins, a sad image to show to the Isles. Now dismantled bit by bit, we now fight to ensure the safety of the future of the Demon Realm, with an influence spreading across ten different islands. No more shall we instill fear, for today, you rise from acolytes to warriors of the Order of the White Dragon!" she announced, getting loud cheers from her followers before raising her sword. "By the power invested in me by the Temenos Sword, I proclaim you all—"
"A thousand apologies, Lady Serra," a disciple said, walking in as the dark-skinned man, now identified as Damaras, turned with concern to face them. "But someone has broken into the main hall," they reported, getting Serra to turn to them. "We have apprehended him, but he has injured six of the high guard. And… it's his fifth attempt to reach you."
Serra sighed before turning back to her graduating acolytes. "Your ascension to warrior still holds, but the ceremony shall have to wait," she said. "For now… my brother awaits."
In another part of the mansion, in a room with solid rock walls and a small window at the top, Lionel stood waiting. He looked around with resentment before taking out his rusted sword. As he looked to the blade, he could hear the sounds of blades clashing before ending with a yell of fury from him. Continuing to narrow his eyes, he was suddenly snapped out of his trance when two people approached him from both sides, wearing the same masks that the acolytes had and with red shoulder pads.
"Come with us." One of the guards said, taking Lionel away.
Soon, the two led Lionel towards the living room, where Serra was looking to the furnace, or rather, the portrait hung above it. She turned and put down an old family photo, now making her way towards the three.
"Lionel," Serra said as Damaras readied a thick sword at his side. "So, you've come back. I must say, you came here sooner than your last visit."
"Serra," Lionel said, shaking himself free. "Enjoying your luxury?"
"Luxury? I think not," Serra said. "For years, I have been taking apart the caste system that our parents set forth, the same one that divided us," she said before taking out the sword from her back. "And each time, I know we both remember the day that you three disgraced the name of the Kaniska Family forever…"
Lionel growled under his breath, recalling what his sister was talking about.
Three Years Ago…
"The sword goes to the best swordsman in the family," a man said to a younger Serra and her brother, Lionel, at ten and thirteen years old respectively. "I need to ensure the family is well-guarded."
"This violates all tradition of the Kaniskas, your grace!" Damaras protested as he walked forth, while Lionel tightened his grip on the family sword in his hand. "You bring shame to your father and his fathers before him!"
"Then what do you suggest?" the mother of Serra and Lionel asked.
"I issue you a duel, Lionel Kaniska!" Serra proclaimed, taking out a rusted blade from her side. "By rite of the family, from one warrior to another!"
"You dare challenge my chosen wielder of the Temenos Sword, Serra?!" the father exclaimed.
"She is the firstborn, chosen to wield it, not this spoiled prodigy," Damaras reminded. "And as Serra is the firstborn, Lionel is bound by honor to accept."
"Then let this be a reminder to you to never cross me, sister!" Lionel accepted, taking out the family sword. "I will enjoy shattering your fragile toy."
Serra said nothing and swung her sword down, just as Lionel ran at her for immediate impalement. However, she spun along the blade and elbowed him in the face, knocking him to the side.
Both of the Kaniska parents gaped at what happened, with their father trying to run in and intervene. However, Damaras swung out his sword and placed it in his way, blocking his path.
Lionel got up and wiped his lip, feeling some blood. Letting out a fierce yell, he spun several spell circles at Serra, each one sending forth lightning. However, she held her sword up and let the bolts dance around her blade like a Tesla coil before running at her brother, slashing him across the shoulder with the energy, causing him to yell and stagger back.
"I'm done with you, wench!" Lionel roared, lunging at Serra in absolute fury.
Serra remained calm as she turned back around, grabbing Lionel's left arm and twisting his wrist. As he gasped at her strength, she put her strength into her weapon and slid her blade along the skin of his right arm, creating a large gash that caused him to yell in pain before getting fully thrown back, the sword now flying out of his hand.
"Serra Kaniska, by the rite of combat in the Kaniska family tradition, you have won this duel, and true ownership of the Temenos Sword," Damaras proclaimed as guards watching raised their weapons once Serra grabbed the sword, now glowing in her ownership, something that did not happen for Lionel. "You are the true swordsman of the family."
"How?!" Lionel snarled as he backed away in pain, trying to feel his arms as his parents ran to his aid. "I was the prodigy of the family! I won the tournament that earned me my praise!"
"A tournament that was rigged," Damaras said, creating a bulky spell circle that revealed the ending of a fencing tournament where Lionel came out on top, causing the father to gasp. "As the right hand of the family, I see all, and I saw you, Dryden, bribe the referee to ensure that match was in Lionel's favor. You have brought shame by attempting to undermine your firstborn, as a Kaniska… and as a father."
"You knew?!" Dryden Kaniska yelled.
"Not until today," Serra said. "When Damaras told me about this, I had to go confront you myself. Now I know for sure that you had been gaslighting me into believing I was never good enough, when it was really your failure alone that was at fault."
"Serra Kaniska, the fate of these apostates is now in your hands," Damaras said as the family looked on nervously. "Typically, the punishment for such crimes is a thousand flogs by a blade. But as you have shown to be the most compassionate of those who have wielded the Temenos Sword before you… you shall decide their fate."
Serra turned to Lionel and tossed her sword to him. "You believed you could harness the power of the family sword based on claim and false talent," she said. "It is the swordsman, not the sword. Take the weapon used to win this duel and leave forever. You are not cast out from the family. You will still be allowed to come here, but each time, you will be treated as a stranger. No brother of mine would throw away his honor for glory."
"And… as for us?" Serra and Lionel's mother asked hesitantly.
Serra narrowed her eyes at her parents and aimed the family sword at them. "I can never forgive this treatment you have shown to me," she said sternly, now raising the Temenos Sword up, causing her parents to wince. But instead of bringing it down, she sheathed it onto her back. "For that, I hereby exile you to the Shoals of Solitude until I deem it time for you to return. The Order of the White Dragon shall never again be tarnished as you have done so for years."
"This isn't over, Serra!" Lionel swore as he got up, storming on out of the mansion as two guards took their parents away afterwards.
Present…
"I was set to inherit that sword, and you fool-heartedly disgraced our family name to wield it for yourself," Serra said, holding the Temenos Sword out to Lionel. "You can hold it. I know you want to. But know that anyone can hold the Temenos Sword… but they can't be completely worthy of it like I was."
Lionel narrowed his eyes before taking a hold of the Temenos Sword. He weighed it around and looked to its blade before scoffing, returning it to his sister.
"We had a plan that day, and had it not been for the family majordomo, we would have been the strongest and most feared family on the Boiling Isles," Lionel said. "Having that sword in my hand again doesn't feel the same knowing what you've done with our order."
"You've had a place at the table." Serra brought up, taking the sword back and looking to it for herself.
"I had scraps, and you never let me forget, for one second, that you were the gifted of us both." Lionel remarked.
"I… was the heir!" Serra snapped, turning back around. "And you disgraced our family name to spite me. Well, the Order of the White Dragon is no longer dedicated to earning fear, they are hard-working and worthy people now, ones who know like I do what it takes to truly be worthy of wielding a weapon like this," she added before seeing the sword on Lionel's back. "I see you've kept my weapon all this time. Been practicing day and night with it like I did?"
"It was never supposed to be you." Lionel spat.
"You always think the world revolves around you, Lionel, but you are not the center of everything," Serra spat. "It takes humility, honesty, dedication and so much more than what you had to truly be worthy, which is why you are never going to fully unlock all of the Temenos Sword's powers."
Lionel's eyes widened. "You… you've done it?"
"Yes," Serra said as all of the jewels glowed. "It took time, but Sabela and I have been able to manage it," she said, showing off a Scroll PET with a NetNavi who had white and gold armor with a red bodysuit, as well as a Navi Crest depicting a coat of arms. "Can't say the same for you and your Enforcer there. I give you the money for your own custom NetNavi to help you, and you didn't even make it into the Dem-N1."
"Things will change, sister," Lionel swore. "Soon, the Temenos Sword will know who its true—"
"A thousand apologies, Lady Serra." The same disciple from before said, getting Serra and Lionel to turn to her.
"Nothing to apologize for, Tigrerra," Serra said as Lionel's eye twitched at the interruption. "My brother has a large tongue. But you don't need to keep saying that, you know. I am a humble person, same as everyone else. But what is it?"
"The scroll has been examined," Tigrerra said, getting Serra and Lionel's eyes to go wide. "It had opened before on the day of the Lunar Eclipse, but now, it has been fully examined and we assume that now it will be sought after."
"Someone worthy has finally unearthed the scroll to the Celestial Staff?" Serra asked with surprise. "Thank you for this news. Assemble yourself and five of our best. We must ensure that this new individual truly has what it takes to wield the Staff."
"Well, if someone found the Celestial Staff, then maybe I won't need ownership of the Temenos Sword," Lionel said with a smirk, getting the guards and Damaras to aim their weapons at him while Serra turned with her eyes narrowed. "I think we both know the power that the Celestial Staff holds. Keep the trinket, sister. That staff will shatter it just like I will shatter your life for what you did to me." He bid before stepping back, revealing he had used his foot to draw a spell circle. It quickly took him away in a cloud of smoke, which Serra shielded from everyone with her own magic.
"Let us pursue him!" Damaras exclaimed.
"Oh, we will see him again where we are going," Serra said. "The Celestial Staff may turn to dust to whoever unworthy soul gets it, but if he beats the person who wields it, he lays claim to it. We must make sure to keep the Staff safe, and prepare for a clan war if he tries to challenge the other warrior clans with it, especially the likes of the Nightmare Battalion."
"Then let us take our leave." Tigrerra said as she left to gather the forces for their journey.
Back at the Owl House, Luz came back downstairs, yawning as she stretched her arms. As she made her way to the kitchen, she saw Amity and Willow leading Viney, Boscha and Mattholomule through the training course. Just like a few days ago, Gus had already finished, just jumping down from the salmon ladder alongside Skara before both making their way to get drinks.
"You feeling good?" Luz asked as behind her, Eda was getting herself some Apple Blood.
"After making a few sales in town to get over last night, I will be," Eda replied. "Boots told me that you were gonna go on a little venture. Still can't believe you found the map to the Celestial Staff. You know how many warrior clans on the Isles have been trying to find it?"
"Warrior clans?" Azura asked as Cero came in with some coffee.
"The Boiling Isles, in addition to having nine Covens, also has five family warrior clans that are loyal to no one Coven, even the Emperor's Coven. Thank Titan for that," Cero said, muttering the last part to herself. "They still use magic, but are mostly trained in armed combat, something which has boosted their morale ever since they saw the NetBattles in MagiNet City and your match against Amity," she went on. "Among them include the Sizzurai Syndicate, the Bonne Circle, the Archie Branch, the Order of the White Dragon, and… well…"
"What's the fifth one?" Luz asked as Azura raised an eyebrow at Cero's falter.
"We don't really talk about the fifth one due to their viciousness and bloodlust that even Belos fears," Eda said. "Not their members or their name. It's been like that for the longest time."
At that moment, Amity, Willow, Gus and Skara led Boscha, Mattholomule and Viney back into the Owl House, the latter three panting while Boscha was sweating like crazy.
"Had a good workout?" Luz asked, turning to the CrossFusion Squad.
"Depends. You have a good rest?" Amity quipped.
"Yeah," Azura replied. "After we grab a bite to eat, we'll be heading out."
"Don't worry about any possible attacks here," Boscha added on as she sat down, but not before taking out a dry towel while putting all of the other ones she had into her bag. "We've made sure to go over every location where the Darkloids could strike."
"Aside from Bonesborough and Latissa, there are other places," Mattholomule started out, getting himself a refill for his water bottle. "The docks, the mining caves, the midday market," he started to list. "The Iron Throne depository, the chemical testing grounds, Probing Area 69, the Terrace Studio…"
"Wait… what were those other two?" Luz asked. "You know what? Don't answer that. I feel it's something I'm better off knowing more than Eda's activity on my laptop for her account on something she made in her time on Earth called Only-Fans."
"An account for what?" Azura asked sternly, looking to Eda.
"I'm a simp. Nearly everyone, most likely a few even in this room, publicly or secretly are!" Eda remarked, as unknown to everyone, Amity, Boscha, Skara and Mattholomule's faces went red at what Eda yelled.
"Well, if there's nothing else to question, I'll be off," Luz said, picking up her bag and scroll, now making her way out. "Wish me luck!"
"Bye!" Willow called, waving with Gus. Amity soon recovered and started to wave as well, with Skara joining in afterwards.
As soon as Luz left, everyone else went to do their own thing with their day off. As Amity and Hecate were making their way towards one of the nearby towns, Hecate noticed the smile on Amity's face.
"You seem happy." Hecate commented.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Amity asked, placing her arms behind her head. "Luz sure is now that we've restored her memories."
"Yes, thank goodness for that," Hecate said. "You sure did well to keep yourself together in her mind, barring what we saw her having to go through in the bathroom."
The very mention of this caused Amity to shiver. "Thank Titan witch puberty doesn't work the same way as… periods," she said, shivering again as she said the words. "Thankfully, Eda and Luz were able to give me some pads in case it happens to Luz again, but besides that, yeah, I'm glad I was able to hold myself together too. Though I wouldn't have minded seeing some memories of Luz as a little kid. That would have been cute to see."
"I'm sure it would have," Hecate said before a playful grin came to her face. "Maybe there will be a chance once you and Luz get together."
"Wait…" Amity said, stopping as she nearly had a full-face blush at the thought of her and Luz together as a couple. "What… do you mean by that?"
"Well, when you and Luz become a couple, I think her mother might be inclined to show you a few pictures of her as a baby," Hecate explained, getting Amity to slowly turn red. "As many as you'd love to see."
"Oh, wow…" Amity said to herself, now going completely red in the face at the very thought of seeing baby pictures of Luz, causing Hecate to chuckle.
"I knew that would get you," Hecate teased, getting Amity to playfully pout a bit. "But just know when to control yourself and ease up. Do that, and maybe I can take you to that bakery you keep talking about when writing in your diary."
"Wait…" Amity said with an eyebrow raised. "How would you even treat me out there? Do Zenny Snails work just like the usual snails?"
"Well, after fixing Luz's memories, I talked to Azura about the bakery idea, and for that, she gave me this," Hecate replied, revealing a bag of snails. "From Luz's closet. Azura said she's got more than Luz knows what to do with. I figured there's enough I was given to be able to treat you out when the time comes."
Amity smiled as she and Hecate continued down the path. 'I'm really lucky to have you around.' She thought to herself, blushing a bit while Hecate was not looking her way.
In the MagiNet, at the Palace of Darkness, ShadeMan and his Darkloids watched footage of people around the Boiling Isles in disarray following him leaking the footage of his encounter from the Attack on Terrace Stadium. His two new Darkloids stood alongside him to watch, now in full view.
The new Abominations Darkloid was shown to have purple armor with a black bodysuit, and a helm based on a ninja's mask. On his back were two swords, with a main sword sheathed in his shield, which had a closed eye on it.
The new Bard Darkloid, on the other hand, was navy with a yellow visor. His face had two separate visors for each eye, both modeled after the Bard symbol on his Crest, and with a shoulder cannon, as well as a mechanical vulture flying next to him before perching itself onto his shoulder.
"With Lurerre banished from this abode and the Emperor's incompetence, the time to show the Isles what we are really made of has come!" SerratEnby proclaimed.
"Know your place," Pandora reprimanded. "Lurerre is still at large, and know that only Master ShadeMan gives the commands!"
"Enough," ShadeMan said. "I have allowed BubbleMan to return to the Human Realm to continue the legacy of the original Darkloids, so the competition for the position of my right hand continues," he announced. "Go forth and do as you please to the Boiling Isles. The Nightmare Battalion will help divide the Maverick Hunters to allow you all free reign in your attacks. Show no mercy, but do not overstep. SludgeMan and StereoMan are my eyes and ears while I am not out there. If you go against any of my orders, they will let me know immediately."
With that, all of the Darkloids set off to the Demon Realm cities, leaving ShadeMan alone to watch what was about to unfold.
Back on the path leading to the Celestial Staff, Azura was looking to Luz as she herself was looking to everything around them with awe.
"You know, we never get to see much more of the Boiling Isles anymore," Luz said. "Ever since we started our company and attended Hexside, it's always either the Owl House, Bonesborough, or Hexside. Rarely we see anything else."
"How are you feeling, Luz?" Azura asked, having been quiet for a majority of the tread.
"I'm doing well," Luz replied. "Been resting easy, working out…"
"No, not on the outside, but in here…" Azura interrupted, pointing at Luz's chest. "Ever since we came out of your mind."
Luz stopped walking and closed her eyes. "Honestly… it's a slow road to recovery," she confessed. "I've held that memory inside of me for the longest time, so now to remember it again is like seeing Dr. Regal alive. It's scary, but I know you and the others will be there to help me through it. And because of that… I'm starting to feel better than ever every moment."
Azura nodded. "That's what's important," she said before instantly pulling Luz in for a hug. "Remember, we're always gonna be here for you, no matter what, especially me," she pointed out. "I am your big sister, after all."
Luz stood surprised for a moment before chuckling and returning the hug afterwards. "We'll both be there for each other, won't we?" she asked before suddenly being pulled onto Azura's back. "Whoa! What's all this?"
"Can't let you get too tired on the way," Azura teased. "Besides… when was the last time we've ever had some sisterly fun?" she asked before carrying Luz along the path again.
"Piggyback ride from a sister… I feel like we needed this." Luz said blissfully.
Unknown to the two, Lionel was watching from atop a ledge overlooking the path. Scoffing at the sight of Luz, he turned around and looked to the shadowed alley, kicking a pebble towards it, where it was suddenly slashed in half by a sword.
"There's a reason I called for you," Lionel said. "Your old boss went and abandoned you when he became the first Darkloid to ShadeMan. I can give you so much more than that calamari, if you help me kill Luz Noceda and my sister."
The figure in the shadows scoffed. "Everyone knows going after Luz Noceda is a death wish with the powers she holds," he remarked. "But fortunately… I'm not like most other people." He said before disappearing.
"Just you wait, Serra," Lionel remarked making his way to the path. "Once I get the Celestial Staff, I'll shatter you just as you shattered me."
Meanwhile, Lilith was with her Maverick Hunters, still sweeping the mansion that formerly belonged to Leona. As she flew overhead, using spells to detect anything unusual, Steve and two other scouts walked out, carrying a chest with them. She noticed this and flew down, allowing for Mike Socks to fly around her.
"No sign of life, Head Witch," Steve said before the two scouts carried the chest beside him. "But we found this within the bed chambers. It's best that you see what we found inside."
"Whatever it takes to hunt down these collaborators with ShadeMan, the better," Lilith said before using her staff to open the chest. Kicking it up slightly, her eyes widened to see the contents inside. "What are these…?"
Within the chest were several rough versions of the Net Wrecker, as well as schematics for a new kind of Synchro Chip and cells for the Dimensional Area Generators.
"We've compared them to what had been created by Luzura Incorporated," a female Maverick Hunter explained. "These all seem to be bootlegged versions of what the company has created. Cheap copies, but surprisingly sturdier than what had been made."
"A lot of these could not have been made with the resources on the Boiling Isles," Lilith said, inspecting several of the contents inside of the chest, "Sonja, take a squad and inspect some of the other islands for the Nightmare Battalion's activities. And bring with you extra weaponry. If equipment like this can be made by them when working with the Darkloids, there's no telling what else they're capable of together."
"Yes, Ma'am." Sonja said, walking away to assemble her task force.
"Head Witch," Severine said, coming over with a compact device in her hands. "We found this at the gates. Your name was engraved onto it."
Lilith narrowed her eyes and looked to the device. Cautiously, she took a step back and cast a spell circle, opening it. Eventually, a screen of Leona came up in her Saktira form, where she was looking at a sword hilt with a WideBlade blade coming out from it. Turning to the perspective, she grinned and lowered her mask, showing her face.
"I must admit, I did not know you had been at the Backbone when Pranara and I were there, Lilith," Saktira said. "I must say, I'm impressed that you and your sister had been able to get to that facility… but I would expect nothing less from the witch who succeeded me."
"Someone track this message back to its source." Lilith ordered.
"No need, old friend," Saktira replied, surprising Lilith and her Maverick Hunters. "This is no recording. This is a live transmission, and when it ends, you will have the coordinates to come and find me. The Nightmare Battalion has been waiting to meet you after your fight with ShadeMan at the VineMan Memorial Garden Club and with the other Darkloids at Terrace Stadium. Skill like that without CrossFusion tends to grab our attention."
Lilith narrowed her eyes dangerously. "What do you want… former Head Witch Leona?"
"You, and you alone. No tricks if you do not show up. But should you come… you will know all the answers you seek on our collaboration with the true rulers of the Isles… true rulers who were robbed of their inheritance by your false Emperor. The choice is ultimately yours… Lily." She said dangerously before the message ended, now showing longitude and latitude coordinates, blinking slowly on a holographic map.
"What shall we do, Head Witch?" Steve asked.
Lilith gripped her staff as Mike Socks landed on her shoulder. "Continue to find anything of worth here," she ordered as she picked up the compact device, pocketing it away while saving the coordinates on her Scroll PET. "I shall deal with Leona myself. If you do not hear from me after my next call to you, come and find me." She ordered before flying off.
At the same time, in Bonesborough, Skara was walking with Boscha through the market. As they were looking at everything that the different vendors were selling, Skara noticed Boscha with a dreamy look on her face.
"So… even if we're not back to 'friends' yet… it's good to hang out around you," Skara said. "Not saying that Lurerre being a clone of you is a good thing, but that really brought out a better side of you."
"Yeah, it did," Boscha replied before looking to her Scroll PET. As Skara peeked over for a look, she quickly swiped the screen she was looking at away. "So… how often does Luz give you that course to go through?" she asked, changing the subject. "I mean, it does seem quite a lot even if I lead the Grudge—"
"How long have you been crushing on her?"
"Crush? What crush?" Boscha asked nervously. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Ever since she took down Lurerre at the start of the semester, you've been looking at her a lot," Skara went on. "So spill. Is Viney your type?"
"Viney? No… if anything, I like Cat and Amelia," Boscha said, starting to slowly sweat, which only made Skara grin wider. "I mean, I think they've started to take their own first steps, but Viney? I mean…" she started before pulling Skara into an alley that led to the shop once owned by Dottie and Roselle. "Okay, yes! She's thick, athletic, and has instincts like a Slitherbeast! She's the one who's caught my eyes, Skara! What do I do? What do I say?!"
"Okay, calm down, girl," Skara said, releasing herself from Boscha's grasp. "I got to know Viney a bit after the drama with my family business settled down, and she's a friendly person. Sure, she's heard of what you've done, but also that you've taken some steps of your own to be better ever since Terrace Stadium. She doesn't hold anything against you. If you want to ask her out, then go for it. It worked for me and Emira, after all."
"You make it sound so easy…" Boscha muttered before her third eye alone closed, causing her to gasp. "You feel that?" she asked, turning around.
"Yeah," Skara replied as she felt her ear. "Soft frequency, matching a Darkloid signature."
At that moment, over Bonesborough, SaberMan appeared, followed by SerratEnby. Everyone looked to them as they landed, and immediately started to ready their Battle Chip Gauntlets and Guard Grips.
"Better get out of my way, SaberMan," SerratEnby warned as they readied their nail blades. "I've got quite a quota of witches to carve up."
"It takes more than your pitiful weapons to boss me around, SerratEnby!" SaberMan spat, taking out his yellow-guard sword. "The position for the right hand of the Darkloids shall go to me! I was once an original Darkloid, so if anything, I should be the one to rule over you all beside Master ShadeMan!"
"Don't make me laugh!" SerratEnby spat before charging at SaberMan, slamming their blades onto his sword.
"Look out!" Skara called as she and Boscha ran towards the scene, the former letting out whistles that distorted the energy blades from the clash.
"Anyone hurt?" Boscha asked as she loaded some Battle Chips.
"No, they didn't attack us," a demon replied. "So far… they've only been fighting each other."
Skara, who was also loading some Battle Chips, turned with Boscha to see the fight continuing, with SaberMan sending out energy slashes at SerratEnby, who deflected them with ease, only for the deflected attacks to hit the tops of some buildings.
"With Lurerre gone, the Darkloids must be competing for something, probably her position in ShadeMan's ranks," Skara guessed as Boscha loaded her final Battle Chip. "Maybe SerratEnby and this new guy are the only ones?"
"In any case, I'm letting the others know," StrikeMan said from the MagiNet as Melody did the same. "Amity and Hecate, do you copy?"
"Yeah, we're here," Hecate said, appearing on a screen before Amity appeared on a separate one, wearing Cyber Contacts and her headset. "We were just about to call you and the others, actually."
"Before we say our piece, what's going on with you?" Amity asked.
"SerratEnby and some new Darkloid are at it here near the market in Bonesborough," Melody replied. "They've just been fighting each other, with their stray hits causing damage to the town, but haven't attacked anyone head-on."
"I wish the same could be said here," Gus said as he appeared on another screen, with blasts going off around him. "CommandoMan is attacking everyone he can in Latissa, and Viney and I are trying to get everyone to safety!"
"MiniBoomer, Battle Chip In!" Viney yelled in the background, with a MiniBoomer being sent at CommandoMan, forcing him to fly down and to attack her.
"That's not good," Amity said as she and Hecate looked to each other near the docks of Bonesborough. She swiped her hand across the holographic screens in front of them, pulling up the Navi Crests of every other CrossFusion member. "Everyone sound off. Do you have any Darkloid status?"
"DevastationMan is back, and he's gotten a Dark Glyph boost!" Mattholomule called out as he backflipped away from DevastationMan, who slammed his fists at him before the two punched at each other, now trying to gain momentum over one another.
"I'm dealing with Pandora!" Willow called out near the forest, using her Leaf Barrier to block several blasts from Pandora before using her GardenBlade to slash her backwards. "Amity, what about you and Hecate?"
"MunitionsMan," Amity replied before she and Hecate split apart, just as MunitionsMan readied himself to fire on them again. "The only reason we went this long without interruptions was because Bo and Eileen were nearby and provided us cover!"
"CrossFuse, Amity!" Bo called out as she used a WideShot from her Battle Chip Gauntlets to fire back at MunitionsMan. "Do it now!"
"Keep these Darkloids from destroying the rest of the towns!" Amity ordered.
"Should we let Luz know?" Boscha asked.
"Something is jamming me whenever I try to get a message to her." Amity replied. "It may or may not be the Darkloids doing it, but we've got to do this one on our own!"
"Right," Skara replied before she and Boscha turned back to the fight between SerratEnby and SaberMan. "So… since they're not really hurting anyone… we should still do something."
"You're right!" a random witch exclaimed, getting Boscha and Skara to look to him before he took out some snails. "I'll throw down twenty snails that they both snuff it!" he proclaimed, getting Boscha and Skara to facepalm at the notion.
"I'll take that action!"
"My money's on the Darkloid using knives as their fingers!"
"No matter who wins, we all lose." Skara muttered.
"I'm betting on the one who reminds me of my sixth husband." A random witch said, getting SerratEnby and SaberMan to turn to her with offended looks on their faces.
"And they heard you," Boscha said before taking out her Synchro Chip. "Shall we go?"
"I was getting tired of hearing them placing bets anyways," Skara said, stepping up and taking out her Synchro Chip as well. "Ready?"
"Ready." Boscha replied.
"SYNCHRO CHIP IN! DOWNLOAD!" Boscha and Skara both called out, placing their Synchro Chips in. As soon as the data went through, they both held their Scroll PETs out.
"CROSSFUSION!"
The light from the two witches caused their Navi Crests to fly out, knocking SaberMan and SerratEnby back before a bright light came from them.
Skara spread out her arms before letting her Navi Crest pass through her. As soon as it did, she let Melody's gauntlets appear over her arms before performing a high double kick, letting her boots appear over her own. Spinning around, her clothes compressed to allow for her black bodysuit to manifest onto her before her Navi Crest flew onto her chest. Eyes closed, she bowed her head down and let Melody's helmet appear over her, followed by her visor appearing over her eyes as she opened them. Spinning once again, she summoned her harp before backflipping, playing a single note from it as her CrossFusion finished.
Boscha held up her arms, allowing her Navi Crest to fly up before passing through her from above. Thrusting her arms down, she gained a black bodysuit, before fire spread across her. Holding out her right arm, StrikeMan's Grudgby Wrecker flung out from a cannon hand before pumping her left fist, gaining Jer Smidge Shield over her gauntlet. Stomping forward, she then gained spiked boots and her Navi Crest on her chest. Over her head, StrikeMan's helmet manifested itself. Holding her shield close, she spun around and aimed out her wrecking ball, her CrossFusion complete.
"Let's get them!" Skara called out, readying her Lyra String, turning into a sword, while Boscha let out her Grudgby Wrecker and spun it around. The two looked to each other and nodded before running forward, Skara engaging with SerratEnby and Boscha against SaberMan, all while the witches and demons in the crowd continued to watch.
Boscha spun back as SaberMan slashed low at her, evading each of his sword strikes before spinning her Grudgby Wrecker around. SaberMan snarled and sent forth several energy slashes at her, but she continued to spin the Grudgby Wrecker to deflect the attacks before launching it right at him as he began another attack.
"Great Sword!" SaberMan yelled, slamming his sword down to counter Boscha's attack.
Both attacks collided with each other, cancelling each other out. With the explosion that followed, Boscha dashed through.
"StepSword!" Boscha called out, running through the smoke to slash SaberMan down.
Meanwhile, Skara leapt into the air as SerratEnby sent forth energy knives at her feet. When they hit the ground, they exploded, but Skara was already out of range.
"Bard Blast!" Boscha called out, whistling and creating musical notes in front of her, which she tossed at SerratEnby. They quickly evaded the shots before jumping at her, arms pulled back.
"Jagged Slam!" SerratEnby called out, slashing forth a strong wave, which Skara ran through with a LifeAura around her.
"Harp Blade!" Skara called out, summoning her sword back and slashing at SerratEnby with it, clashing with them head-on.
As this was going on, Luz and Azura were still on the path to the Celestial Staff, the former looking to the map leading to it in her hands. As Azura looked over her shoulder, the two suddenly stopped walking and looked to each other.
"You feel that?" Luz asked.
"Sure do," Azura replied as Luz took out her Slash Grip. "We're not alone."
Luz held her Slash Grip PET in a reverse-grip as she looked around. Taking a deep breath, she took a step back and closed her eyes while Azura did the same, aiming her MagiBuster out.
"There!" Luz exclaimed, opening her eyes and spinning around, locking blades with one of the members of the Order of the White Dragon. Breaking off with them, Azura slashed at them from behind, only to miss before Luz grabbed her mid-jump and threw her to the ground, where she aimed the tip of her blade at her.
"Who sent you?" Luz questioned.
"Stand down, all of you."
Luz, Azura, and their attacker all turned to the side, where Serra leapt down from a tree, followed by Damaras and the rest of their selected acolytes. The felled acolyte got up and bowed to Luz before returning to their leader, revealing themself to be Tigrerra.
"Please forgive Tigrerra Lillian for her sudden attack," Serra said. "We needed to test your combat skills to make sure you were truly worthy of seeking the Celestial Staff."
"Wait, you know about it?" Luz asked before aiming her sword out. "Who are you?"
"I am Serra Kaniska, leader of the Order of the White Dragon," Serra said, introducing herself. "Formerly killers, now reformed into peacekeepers. The life of killers is now reserved for imps these days."
"Wait… you're one of the warrior clans that Eda told us about," Luz realized, lowering her weapon. "It's an honor to meet you."
"The honor is mine," Serra said, stepping up and shaking Luz's hand as she held it out. "Ever since you introduced NetBattling and NetNavis to the Demon Realm, it has boosted morale for warriors everywhere."
"Well, I can't take all the credit," Luz replied modestly. "If Lan Hikari were here, you'd have to thank him too. He's my hero."
"As you are one to me and others now as well," Serra replied. "But I feel that we should make sure that since you opened the map to the Celestial Staff, you securing it should be ensured. My brother will surely try to take it by any means necessary."
"Your brother?" Azura asked.
"I think you know him," Serra said. "His NetNavi is Enforcer, and his name is Lionel."
"The same ones who got booted from the leader board by Boscha?" Luz asked. "I knew he was a sore loser when we beat him… but I didn't know about this."
"He's one to hold a grudge, and is not to be underestimated," Serra said as she and Damaras signaled for the rest of the acolytes to join up with them. "Come now. The Celestial Staff is not too far away from here."
"But… how do you know if I have the map?" Luz asked.
"The Order of the White Dragon's head has studied the map before it was sealed away by its last wielder," Damaras explained. "Aside from you two, she is the only other one who knows it."
"Lead the way," Luz replied as she and Azura now started to follow after Serra. "But answer me this. When we found it, it was in the abandoned mansion that once belonged to a Demon named Adegast. How did he end up with it before ShadeMan turned him into GrandeurMan?"
"Adegast was a con artist who tried to find the one who was worthy of the Celestial Staff in the hopes of robbing it from them for himself," Tigrerra replied. "He had planned to scam the next person who would come to him, being you the day after you arrived in our realm, but ShadeMan corrupted him, and it was left to rust. He had an agenda with your mentor."
"That much, I understood," Luz said. "But at the time, I was anything but worthy."
"The Celestial Staff will reveal itself to whoever it deems as worthy," Serra reiterated. "On the day of the Lunar Eclipse, when it shone, it knew you had proven yourself."
"Thank you," Luz said before noticing a light up ahead. She and Azura looked to each other with excitement before going further, where a staff was placed in a stone. "Is… that it?"
In the stone was a silver staff with a blue gem held by two prongs intertwined with each other. The shaft looked to be rigid like that of a sword, and a guard was over the front of the staff. With each shine that the staff gave, a blade briefly appeared from the top of it, looking elegant and with a bright luster to it.
"Yes, it is," Serra confirmed. "That's the Celestial Staff. Many can pull it from its resting place and become its new wielder… if they be worthy."
"Right," Luz said, recomposing herself. She looked to Azura and nodded. "You ready?" she asked.
"I'm with you, Sis." Azura replied.
Luz smiled before she and Azura made their way to the stone. They were about to grab a hold of the Celestial Staff when suddenly, a set of daggers were thrown all around them.
"Protect her!" Damaras ordered the acolytes as they all got into defensive positions, with Serra running to Luz and deflecting more knives sent at her.
At that moment, a witch with dark hair, an exposed chest, an eye-patch over his eye and a sword in his right hand leapt down. Several others with blades in their hands leapt down as well until they were all surrounding the group, with Luz aiming out her sword while Azura aimed out the MagiBuster.
"Congratulations."
Serra narrowed her eyes and turned, seeing some of the assassins part ways for Lionel to walk through.
"I knew you'd lead me right to this." Lionel said with a grim tone.
"Lionel…" Luz said, narrowing her eyes.
"Two of three of my least favorite people in the Realm, all in one place," Lionel said. "The sister who robbed me of my sword, and the human who stripped me of my title. The triclops who dethroned my place as a top NetBattler will come later, but right now, the terrible two are here."
"Look who's talking," Azura spat. "Everything you've done was your own doing."
"Time after time, I was robbed of what I had, and it all stems back to girls like you!" Lionel snapped, getting Luz to slowly reach for her Synchro Chip. "Well, now I'll be taking the Celestial Staff, and with its power, I shall regain my status as both the best battler and warrior of the Boiling Isles! And all it took was hiring some of the Nightmare Battalion here… isn't that right, Nevareth?"
"I don't care for your glory," Nevareth replied venomously. "Just fulfill your promise to Lady Leona, and your place with us is secured."
"I don't think so!" Luz called out, spinning around her Synchro Chip. "Synchro Chip in! Download!" she called out, placing her Synchro Chip into the Slash Grip of her PET before thrusting it forward, allowing Azura to merge with her. "Begin CrossFusion Now!"
Luz slammed her Slash Grip down, getting Azura's gauntlets to appear over her arms as she tossed the sword into the air, now crossing her arms across her chest. Spreading them out, Azura's boots appeared over her legs, right as her purple over-shield appeared over her top chest. On her back, a set of two stars split in half appeared, acting as a pack for her, before she crossed her arms once more, allowing her Navi Crest to form and place itself on the center of her chest. As soon as it did, she spun around, her black bodysuit appearing beneath. She turned around and grinned, Azura's hat appearing over her head, followed by the sides of her helmet forming, with a new visor appearing over her eyes. Holding out her right hand, Slash Grip landed in her hands, forming into two MagiBusters in sword mode, which she swung down elegantly before finishing her CrossFusion.
"Enhanced Blade Mode, engaged." Luz announced, letting her mouth plate appear as Serra, Damaras and the acolytes all readied their blades as well.
"Burn them down! All of them!" Lionel ordered before leaping at Luz, clashing with her before Serra joined in. As soon as their fight started, everyone else ran to fight against Nevareth and the Nightmare Battalion forces, with Damaras clashing with Nevareth himself.
Back at Bonesborough, as Luz's friends were all battling against the Darkloids, Lilith flew over and watched everything happen. She narrowed her eyes before she grabbed a crow, holding it like a phone to her ear.
"This had better be important to the attacks, Kiki," Lilith said. "Because I've just found out where Leona finally is."
"Kikimora is dealing with people asking about the Emperor," the Golden Guard said on the other end at the palace. "She leant me your contact information so I could tell you that the Emperor has dispatched several of his scouts to take care of another Darkloid at the plaza in Bonesborough."
"If you're smart, kid, you'll call them off." Lilith said sternly.
"Emperor Belos has been studying this Darkloid's attacks since he decimated Probing Area 69, which I still question why we have," the Golden Guard replied. "The men are getting into position, and are ready to take him down. I have been told to tell you not to interfere with this one."
"Fine," Lilith conceded. "I can't deal with this now anyways. Not when the collaborators with the Darkloids are so close."
With that, Lilith landed at the location she was given. Carefully, she aimed out her staff as she walked towards the area, an empty park. Keeping her weapon at the ready, she prepared for anything.
"Welcome, Lilith. I've been expecting you."
Lilith turned and saw Leona walking down the steps, accompanied by a man with a gash over the left side of his face and another figure with a knife imprint over the center of his face. All three had their eyes narrowed dangerously at her as they continued to advance.
"Leona… you're working with the Darkloids?" Lilith questioned.
"The Nightmare Battalion was never loyal to the Emperor's Coven." Leona replied, taking out a katar. "In the end, all that matters is power… and ShadeMan supplies a lot of it to us."
"Now… you'll see just what we can do with it," the man with the knife scar on his face, Pranara, said. "Saigan, Leona! With me!"
"COMMENCE NAVI OVERLAY."
Lilith watched as Pranara, Leona and Saigan all thrust their arms forward. Tainted Synchro Chips flew out before entering marks on their bodies; the collarbone for Leona, the neck for Saigan, and the right palm for Pranara. Within a few flashes of light, different Navis appeared in front of them holographically before overlaying onto them, granting them armor.
"Empress Roll." Leona said, now appearing as Empress Roll, armed with her rapier whip.
"FreezeMan." Saigan announced, now with the armor of FreezeMan and with a claymore with a blade of ice in his hands.
"And CutMan." Pranara concluded, armed with dual blades in both of his hands as he donned the armor of CutMan over him.
"How… that's CrossFusion!" Lilith exclaimed.
"Oh, this evolves completely beyond that," Leona said, walking up as lightning crackled over her back Tesla coils. "We don't need Battle Chips for the Navi Overlay System, and we certainly don't need the bonds that the humans required. Rather, this grants us the powers of any desired Navi we are compatible with, and the stronger our compatibility, the greater our power! Roll Blast!"
Lilith gasped as sharp hearts were sent at her, forcing her back. However, the blasts exploded, nearly causing her to stumble before Saigan slashed his ice claymore at her. She regained herself in time and blocked the strike, clashing with him several times before stepping on some rebar on the ground behind her. Kicking him away, she picked it up and slashed at his leg before placing it behind her back, blocking a slash from Pranara.
"All this time leading your Maverick Hunters, and you still can't seem to face the full power of those with cyber powers," Pranara sneered. "I suppose your victory over ShadeMan at the VineMan Memorial Garden made you soft."
"Care to put that to the test?" Lilith asked, breaking off with Pranara to slash him away. As soon as she pushed him back, she used the heel of her foot to draw a spell circle in the ground as he and Saigan leapt in for another attack. Slamming her hand down, a beam of fire blasted into the air, forcing the two back, before Leona leapt through, easily canceling it out, before slashing at her.
Lilith used both of her weapons to keep Leona at bay before she found herself getting pushed through the wall behind her, exposing her to Amity as she, now in CrossFusion, was deflecting missiles sent at her from MunitionsMan.
"Miss Lilith?" Amity asked, turning to the side as she heard the fight going on.
"Don't lose focus, witch!" MunitionsMan yelled, firing at Amity with a triple-barrel blaster, forcing her back onto the defensive just as Pranara and Saigan leapt through to take Lilith on again.
At the plaza in Bonesborough, Emperor Belos watched as a Darkloid was blasting around everywhere. He looked to the side and nodded to a hidden Coven Scout, who fired a spell from his spear at the Darkloid, getting him to cease his attack. As he turned to fire back, another Coven Scout attacked from a different area, knocking him forward, before the process repeated itself. The Darkloid growled as he tried to fire in every direction all at once, but the attacks came quicker, allowing for Emperor Belos to slam his staff into the ground, causing two red hands to emerge and grab onto the Darkloid's legs before all of the Coven Scouts then leapt out, throwing their spears at him, skewering him from different angles until he pixilated away.
"Darkloid, Deleted."
"So… you're not entirely incompetent after all," a new Darkloid said, watching everything from afar. He had the appearance of an imp, but with armor that covered his entire body, save for his tail. A sawed-off shotgun was in his right hand, with a small knife in his left, and his skin and bodysuit, like his tail, were red. "Guess we got something to look forward to, you hog-faced haggard." He spat before digitizing away.
Back in the forest of the Celestial Staff, Lionel slammed his sword at Serra, who blocked it with ease with her Vambrace, before slamming him towards Luz, who proceeded to kick him to the side. Before he could even fall over the side of the walkway, he backflipped and kicked Serra to the side, but she still was able to remain on her feet before he slammed the pommel of his sword at Luz's wrist, forcing her to let go of the two-handed grip on her weapon and try to block his incoming strike.
"Nothing to save you now, human!" Lionel snarled.
"Never heard that one before." Luz spat before kicking Lionel away, where Serra dashed in and slashed at his abdomen, causing him to twirl and fall to the ground.
"Just be humble. That was all you had to do, be humble, and I could have accepted you as my brother again," Serra said as she placed the Temenos Sword back on her back. "We were family. We could have bonded again. We could have moved on, and rebuild the future together, had it not been for your greed."
"I'll rebuild it myself," Lionel said as Luz backed away to use a loaded Recovery Chip to heal her wrist. "Once I take that staff and cut you down for all you did to me!"
"What do we do, Luz?" Azura asked as the Recovery Battle Chip was still taking effect.
"Exactly what we came to this Realm to do," Luz replied as she held her hand to the side, unknowingly grabbing onto the Celestial Staff as Damaras was slashing Nevareth away multiple times behind her. "Until the last breath, for all those who face the same evils we do… we fight!"
With that, Luz pulled the Celestial Staff out, causing a bright glow. Everyone looked to her with awe, including Luz herself, as she pulled the Celestial Staff out, now revealing a blue blade from the gem. As soon as she had it out in front of her, the guard and the pommel turned to gold, and she looked into the blade as if she were in a trance.
"Impossible…" Lionel said in shock as he approached Luz. "Give me my Staff!"
Luz opened her eyes as she looked up, seeing Lionel approaching her. Sheathing her MagiBuster, she held up her left arm, the same one with the attacked wrist, and blocked his blade, causing it to shatter. He gasped at the outcome before she slashed him backwards, sending out a surging energy wave.
"Get her!" Nevareth ordered the rest of the forces of the Nightmare Battalion, leading them towards Luz as Serra and the acolytes watched on.
"She's done it!" Serra exclaimed in amazement.
Luz turned her head to the side before stepping forward as Nevareth tried to attack, making a single slash. With a twist of her blade, he fell to the ground before she raised up her weapon and sent two more acolytes flying, followed by grabbing Nevareth's hand as he tried to use a spell circle on her. She redirected it at two more Nightmare Battalion acolytes, sending them into the chasm under the walkway, before tossing them to the side as three more tried tossing daggers at her, call charged up with magic. She swung the blade of the Celestial Staff at them, dousing their powers, before grabbing them by the blades and swinging them at Nevareth's head, knocking him down for good.
As soon as he was down, Luz leapt up and slashed at the remaining Nightmare Battalion acolytes, scattering them across the clearing. When they all got up, they immediately retreated, leaving Serra and her forces in awe, while Lionel snarled and ran off, dropping his Scroll PET as he limped away, the remains of his rusted sword now hanging from his belt.
"Looks like the staff has synchronized with you," Serra said as she looked to Luz with awe, seeing her now with blue colors to replace her purple. "Only one who has fully communed with the Celestial Staff can use its power like that."
"I guess that's what the surge going through me was," Luz said before seeing the explosions going off at the town. "Thank you for helping me. Now, we need to make sure the Darkloid attacks cease there. I can somehow sense that there are a lot of them attacking Bonesborough and Latissa."
"Consider the Order of the White Dragon now on your side!" Damaras proclaimed.
"Indeed," Serra confirmed. "We shall be there whenever you call. As for me personally, you might even see me at the Dem-N1 Grand Prix."
"I can't wait," Luz said with a smile before throwing out her MagiBuster, now riding on it. "For now, let's take the fight to the Darkloids!"
Serra nodded as she led her forces to Latissa, leaving Luz to ride on to Bonesborough.
In Bonesborough, Lilith backed away from Leona, continuing to clash with her. However, Leona used a Roll Whip to knock her rebar out of her hand before slashing her across the waist, where Pranara slashed at part of her gown before Saigan caused an ice pillar to erupt from beneath her, finally forcing her onto the ground.
"No!" Amity called out as MunitionsMan tried to punch her. Without looking, she grabbed him and tossed him at Saigan, who easily knocked him to the side before she ran and fired at the three leaders of the Nightmare Battalion, forcing their attention away from the downed Lilith.
"Amity… no…" Lilith said weakly as she looked up, clutching her side in pain.
Amity held her LunaStriker at the ready as Leona, Pranara and Saigan readied to attack her. All of a sudden, before any of them could make a move, several HeelNavis from nearby were all shot back, each getting Deleted the moment they hit the ground.
"What?" Boscha asked as she parried away some attacks from SaberMan, looking up to see what just happened.
"Luz?" Skara asked, backing away from SerratEnby as they too were in shock at what happened.
Luz grinned as she flew down, spinning around the Celestial Staff. Making her way past Skara, she sweep-kicked SerratEnby into the air before elbowing them at SaberMan, causing both of them to crash into the wall while Boscha gaped in amazement. Afterwards, she flew up and armed her left hand with the MagiBuster. With both staffs in her hands glowing bright, she slashed down multiple times at the trio of leaders of the Nightmare Battalion, each energy slash creating her symbol. When it was completed, it spun around and sent a surge through them before she flew through and slashed them down, knocking them all out of their Navi Overlay.
"Fall back!" Leona ordered.
"This was unfortunate. I'll deal with you all when we're back on an even level." MunitionsMan spat as he digitized away.
"MunitionsMan, Logging Out."
"Luz… you did it!" Amity exclaimed as Luz landed next to her.
"Don't celebrate yet, Blight!"
Luz and Amity turned to see Lionel tossing his broken sword right at them. Quickly, Luz stabbed the Celestial Staff into the ground and threw her MagiBuster at the weapon, sending it off-course. Soon, the MagiBuster, still in blade mode, landed next to Lionel, while his shattered sword fell next to Luz.
"You won't be walking out of here with the Celestial Staff!" Lionel announced. "One way or another, it's gonna be mine!"
"Come and see!" Luz replied, picking up the damaged sword. As soon as she did, Lionel took a hold of the MagiBuster and readied it.
Serra, Damaras and the rest of Luz's friends soon arrived, and as soon as they noticed what was happening, stayed put to watch what was about to unfold next.
All around the Boiling Isles, the defeated Darkloids were retreating. The last one, BlitzMan, found himself being drawn into the incoming fight, before some rubble from Lilith's earlier fight, fell.
Lionel yelled and ran at Luz, who knelt on her back foot and pounced ahead. Rolling underneath him as he tried to slash at her, she kicked herself off of his back and slashed at his sleeves, tearing them off and giving him a few cuts. He growled and tried to stab her, but she spun around and elbowed his wrist, causing him to let his left hand hang.
Luz spun back as Lionel put his strength into his main arm. The two slashed at each other with a single stroke, landing behind one another. After five seconds, Lionel collapsed and coughed up some blood while Luz dropped the shattered sword.
"It's done, Lionel," Luz said, picking up her sword as Lionel limped up. "Now go."
Lionel narrowed his eyes and limped off, with BlitzMan chuckling at the outcome.
"B-Y-N-G-O. Looks like we've got our winner." BlitzMan proclaimed before digitizing away through a spell circle.
"BlitzMan, Logging Out."
Later on, Lionel limped into a dark building, where several masked figures stood waiting for him. Leona walked up as they parted to him before he collapsed to his knees.
"You came to us with a promise of a great power," Leona said as Saigan and Pranara walked in, dragging Nevareth with them not too far behind. "And here… you have failed."
"I just need… another chance…" Lionel said weakly.
"Do you remember my promise?" Leona asked, picking up Lionel by the collar, to his horror. "What would happen if you failed me?"
"No… please… don't!"
"Well, you failed me," Leona said before grabbing his head by the jaw. Grabbing his neck with her other hand, she twisted both in opposite directions with a sickening crunch, causing Nevareth to gape at the shadow as he was coming up. "And I always keep my promises."
When Nevareth was finally brought in, he saw some of the Night Battalion carrying away a stretcher with a body on it, tossing it into the Boiling Sea where two other coffins lay.
"Now… as for you…" Leona said, turning to Nevareth. "Take him to solitary confinement. ShadeMan shall decide your fate."
Nevareth gulped as he was then taken away, getting Leona to grin as the bodies in the sea were swept away.
Back at the Owl House, Amity and the rest of the CrossFusion Squad looked to Luz as she showed them the Celestial Staff.
"I can't believe we get to see this up close!" Gus gushed.
"Me neither," Boscha said. "You never fail to amaze me, Luz."
"Same," Viney said, causing Boscha to quietly blush that she joined in. "Must be quite the story how you got it, and the Order of the White Dragon to join us too."
"Yeah, it's a long one, and I'm glad Serra and her order is now on our side," Luz replied as Azura held the Celestial Staff herself. "But right now, we have a birthday coming up tomorrow, and since I made some money last night, what would you like me to get you, Skara?" she asked as everyone else turned to face her.
Skara chuckled. "You flatter me, you know." She said.
At that moment, Luz and her friends felt their PETs going off. They all looked to each other before taking them out, all displaying a holographic screen of Octavia on each one.
"Mom!" Gus exclaimed happily.
"Thanks to the efforts of Team CrossFusion, with an assist from the Emperor's Coven, the Darkloid attacks have been contained," Octavia reported. "And just in time too, for come Monday, the Dem-N1 Grand Prix will officially begin! And I am proud to present to you the twenty qualifiers who have made it!"
"Here it comes!" Edric exclaimed excitedly at Blight Manor as Emira, with equal excitement, hopped a little in her seat.
"At number twenty, we have the head of the Order of the White Dragon, Serra Kaniska and Sabela!" Octavia started off, getting every member of the Order of the White Dragon to cheer back at the Kaniska mansion while Serra smirked, with her NetNavi doing the same.
"Coming in at nineteen, sharing the spot together, we have Blake and Holly with their Navis, the Ferham Sisters!"
Blake and Holly whooped at their hangout and high-fived each other upon knowing they made it into the qualifying rounds.
"Eighteen shows the second-top Plant Track witch, Amelia Pond and Eratoeir, followed by Catalina Manx and Prairie in seventeen!" Octavia continued, as at the shack overlooking Bonesborough, Amelia and Cat cheered and hugged each other as they saw the results.
"Taking the sixteenth spot from Lionel and Enforcer, now apparently missing from the eyes of the Isles, we have the newly-revealed Boscha Yong-Jon with her NetNavi, StrikeMan!"
This news caused Boscha to wipe away some tears of joy from her eyes as StrikeMan crossed his arms and nodded in approval.
"Fifteenth shows Morgan Terry and her Navi, Leviathan, while fourteen's spot is claimed by Elijah Avery and Rico!" Octavia went on as down the streets of Bonesborough, Elijah and Morgan both high-fived each other with grins on their faces.
"Coming in thirteenth place is Zoe Saladin and her NetNavi Raticate, with twelfth showing Paris Bloom with her own Navi, Nightbird!" Octavia continued as Zoe and Paris hugged each other lovingly while squealing happily.
"And ranking at eleventh place comes Gavin Chaku of Glandus, the first from that school with his NetNavi, MuckMan!" Octavia announced as Glandus students around the Boiling Isles cheered for the dark-skinned Abominations student, who raised his fist into the air as behind him, the purple-haired witch from Cero's rampage and a demon with orange skin and Plant Track colors cheered him on.
"With them, we now reach the top ten," Octavia went on as everyone watched and listened intently on who made it to the top ten. "Coming in at tenth place, we have former Illusion Head Witch, Alana Graye, with her NetNavi, Mysteria!" she announced, getting many Illusion Witches to cheer.
"In eighth place, we have Lea with their Navi, Ravencroft, and in seventh, comes a newcomer to the CrossFusion team that revealed themselves today. We have Mattholomule and his NetNavi, BlockMan!" Octavia went on, getting some Construction Track witches, including Wendy Packard, to cheer for him, as Mattholomule himself pumped his fist with excitement.
"Nice going, Matt!" Gus complimented.
"Coming in at sixth, another newcomer to NetBattling, is Willow Park, and her NetNavi, GardenMan!" Octavia announced, which got cheers from several Plant Track students and her fathers, Gilbert and Harvey Park.
"Yes!" Willow cheered.
"Number five, we have the representative of the Energy division of Luzura Incorporated, and heir apparent of Capella Energy Industry, Skara Capella and Melody!"
"We made it!" Melody cheered.
"I knew we would!" Skara cheered as well.
"Good job!" Amity complimented.
"Number four goes to Viney Ravage Dion Martha, formerly the top-ranking NetBattler in the MagiNet City Arena, with her NetNavi, Mediclaw!"
At this, several Healing and Beast-Keeping students whooped for Viney as she pumped her fist in tandem with Mediclaw, all while Boscha did her best to suppress a blush from seeing her athletic build.
"And moving into the top three, we have my son, the great and powerful Gus Porter, with his own Navi, MirageMan!" Octavia continued as Gus created several illusions of himself that waved flags for him.
"Thanks, Mom." Gus said warmly.
"And now, our second spot goes to the first witch to challenge Luz Noceda in CrossFusion, the one who people are the most eager to see battle against her, we have Amity Blight, and her Navi, Hecate!"
"We… we made it!" Amity exclaimed happily as Hecate hugged her lightly.
"I knew we'd make it!" Hecate said supportively.
"And finally, for the number one spot in the NetBattle Arena, the human who started the trend that brought us together, the head of Luzura Incorporated and the model student of Hexside, whose status should come as no surprise…" Octavia started out as everyone looked to Luz with smiled, while everyone around the Isles had widening smiles. "Luz Noceda and Azura!"
"Yes!" Luz exclaimed, pumping her fist with Azura raising her MagiBuster Staff up high, followed by Luz crossing it with the Celestial Staff. "Dem-N1, here we come!"
"And there you have it! Our twenty competitors for the Dem-N1 Grand Prix! Mark your calendars, everyone! Monday marks the start of this most anticipated event, which means your classes are canceled until Wednesday. Rest up, because the first half of the Dem-N1 begins after tomorrow! This will be a blast, everyone! So stay tuned!"
THE DEM-N1 GRAND PRIX ARC: PART 1 – COMING SOON.
Author's Notes: Well, everyone, I really hope you liked my newest chapter. Sorry it took a while, I had a lot of stuff going on, both with work and with the story. My computer kept having to get restarted, which delayed a lot of the work done on here. Still, it did not keep me from slowing down on the chapter, and I was at least able to deliver. The next three chapters will all be part of one half of the Dem-N1 Grand Prix Arc, which will be released all together, or all at once, whichever comes first. So until then, there will be a short hiatus until I can get either one, two or all of the chapters done before the end of the year, but rest assured, this story will still be going strong. I do hope you like the work put into this. What did you think? Please review, rate, and as always, if you can, Private Message me for anything on the story. After all, I'm always keen to hear from you, so long as it's positive. For now, this is SuperHeroTimeFan signing off and wishing you a happy early Halloween. See you all soon!