Chapter 3-9: At Long Last…
Suddenly, they hear a familiar voice, "Hmph. So you're still standing. I suppose your wretched academy's reputation is deserved after all."
Everyone turns to the source and is shocked to see who it is.
Grim cries out, "Mrah! It's you…"
There, they see Rollo Flamme in an area where the flowers can't reach him at all.
"Rollo!" Grim shouts, "Hey, no fair standin' up there where the flowers can't get you!"
Then Malleus questions, "Was all of this your doing, Flamme?"
"Indeed. What an astute observation, considering what utter fools you are," Rollo says.
Sebek is offended by it, "Wh... What did you just call us?!"
"You wish me to say it again? Utter fools. All of you," Rollo says, "Oh, you can scarcely imagine how hard it was to contain my laughter… As I watched you blithely indulge in your merrymaking, completely ignorant of all the fire lotuses I was setting out."
"My, my. That was quite a predictable villain line, you know," Azul says.
Suddenly, Rollo shouts at them, "Silence! YOU'RE the villains here!"
Thay catch everyone off guard.
Then Rollo says, "And what's more, you flaunted your magic and mesmerized our good citizens with it... You mages cannot be suffered to exist! But worry not. I shall bring salvation to incorrigible villains like yourselves. I shall engulf the world in the fiery crimson of these flowers… And strip every mage in Twisted Wonderland of their magic!"
"Say WHAT?!" Grim cries out.
"And there he is, folks! The secret mastermind who was controlling the "final boss" all along!" Idia says, "But what kind of mastermind jumps the gun and shows up this early? Dude has like, zero patience."
"Could you not right now? You're ruining the moment," Azul says.
"Strip us of our magic? But then I wouldn't be able to become a great mage! That ain't cool!" Grim says.
Sereia hugs Briar. And Trinket hides in Briar's hair.
"Why are you doing this?" Briar asks, worried.
"Were these plants to spread, Briar Valley would not escape unscathed. Regardless of Flamme's motivations, I cannot stand by and let this happen," Malleus says.
Rollo sighs in response, "This is exactly why you're all utter fools."
Sebek shouts, "HOW DARE YOU! THREE TIMES NOW YOU'VE CALLED MALLEUS AN UTTER FOOL! I've had it with you. Time to teach you some manners!" getting ready to fight.
"Agreed. Rollo Flamme, prepare for battle. We can stop you without magic," Silver says, and is ready to fight.
"I'm never a fan of the brute-force option, but I suppose there's no alternative when our foe can't be reasoned with," Azul says.
"Yeah, I can't just ignore an invasive plant species. I'm gonna put a stop to this before it spreads outta control," Idia says
Suddenly, Rollo begins laughing, "Pfft... Hahaha!"
"What's so amusing?" Malleus asks.
Then Rollo answers, "Oh, you're FAR too late for that! My plan is already well underway. When the Bell of Solace rang for an unprecedented fourth time tonight, it suffused the city with magic. The fire lotuses aren't only in the school. They've spread throughout the city, and are sapping the energy from every mage living here."
"They've spread throughout the city?!" Trein asks, shocked.
Jamil looks through the windows and is shocked at what he's seeing.
Jamil calls out, "Everyone, look outside!"
Everyone rushes over and are shocked to see the entire Fleur City is being overrun by the fire lotus flowers, draining the magic of every mage who comes into contact.
Rook says, shocked, "My word, what a sight... The flowers are glowing brighter and brighter, at the expense of all the people… While the flowers harbor no ill will, I could not possibly call them beauté…"
"This… this is terrible," Sereia says.
"How awful!" Briar says.
"This is horrible," Tanzanite says.
Deuce turns and glares at Rollo, "I thought you were an honorable guy, but no... You're just a dirty, low-down PUNK! IT'S ON NOW! YOU COME DOWN SO WE CAN THROW DOWN!"
"YEAH! COME DOWN HERE AND FACE US!" Jasper says angrily.
Rollo scoffs, "Hmph. You Night Raven College students are the only mages here still standing. What could you possibly hope to accomplish by yourselves? By all means struggle and fight. You'll curse your own impotence soon enough!" and soon does something else.
Whatever he has done, make a strange clicking sound.
"Uh, what was that noise?" Ruggie asks.
"What noise? I didn't hear anything," Epel says, confused.
"I definitely hear something. It's a faint, mechanical-sounding…" Ruggie says, and the noise becomes louder, "Whoa! It's getting louder!"
Everyone hears the noise, making them stay on alert. And then, there's a loud click.
"Hm?" Ruggie & Epel respond.
Just then, Rollo says, "Allow me to invite you someplace more fitting... so you can CHANNEL your energies appropriately!"
And with that, a large trap door opens under everyone's feet.
Grim cries out, "Ack, the floor's gone! I'M FALLIIING!" and begins to fall.
Everyone begins falling as well, "AAAHHH!"
"Heeelp!" Briar cries out.
Malleus reaches out and cries out, "Briar!" and soon catches her in his arms.
Soon, all the Night Raven group fall through the trap door and the door closes upon everyone's departure.
Rollo begins to laugh maniacally, "Hmhm... Hmhmhm... Hmhm, mmhmhm, haha! AAAH HAH HAH HAH!" He then says, "We'll finally be rid of it! And those accursed mages, with Malleus Draconia and his little partner foremost among them... They'll all be finished! Enjoy your time down below. Though I think you'll find it quite...draining. At long last... I shall finally mete out my justice."