Daily Life of Monster Girls in Alabama

by GoatManofAnime

It's time for a MonMusu fanfiction that takes place in sweet home Alabama, nuff said.

62. Dirty Paws

Chapter 57: Dirty Paws

'Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear those who can destroy both soul and body.'

—Matthew 10:28

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…Meanwhile…

Caleb's group could be seen hiding out in an alleyway between a large antique store and a barber shop. Caleb was hunched against the brick wall, clenching his bleeding nose while battling a splitting headache that felt like a wedge was being driven into his forehead.

"Chief, are you OK? Please talk to me," Lyca said in concern at seeing her shared mate in pain.

"I'm...OK, Lyca. I…overdid it with the teleporting. I just need a minute for this pounding in my head to stop. Then I'll be ok," Caleb told her, petting the top of her head. She took his hand, staring at him worriedly.

"That's quite the unique ability you have, young man. No doubt a little gift from one of your homestays," Lovelace acknowledged.

"You say it…like it's common knowledge or something."

"Trust me, when you're around liminals long enough, things about you start to change. Usually for the better and for both of your benefits," Lovelace said, flashing a knowing look at Marnie who smirked, "Though, it seems like you're still not quite used toyourchanges."

"Ergh, I'm OK. I just…" Caleb tried to assure the agent but he stumbled and lost his balance. Luckily, Lovelace was able to grab him and support him.

"Clearly you're not OK. You can barely stand, you need to rest a little, recover your energy," Lovelace said as he gently sat Caleb down against the wall, "Marnie, I will take watch and try contacting the others. Work your magic and help him recover."

"I don't do magic, Darling. That's Jill's department. I deal more in revolutionary hydrotherapy techniques," she clarified, creating a ring of water on her finger out of thin air.

"Save the fancy Ph.D talk for when we aren't being hunted by the mob, babe."

"Don't need to be a doctor to be a professional, babe," Marnie sassily spoke, swaying her hips, walking towards Caleb and kneeling beside him, "Hold still now, sweety. I'm gonna run a quick check to see where the worst of your strain is."

"A-Alright…"

The Undine moved her hand toward Caleb's face and concentrated. She danced her fingers around his face as if performing a ritual. After a few seconds, he felt a strange sensation in his skull and neck like pressure building from hanging upside down.

"Hmm, I see. OK, you're gonna feel little pain for a moment. Brace yourself," Marnie explained as Caleb gave her a reluctant nod. She moved her fingers in an opening and closing motion. Caleb grit his teeth, groaning as sharp pain shot through his head.

"Chief! What are you doing to him?!" Lyca exclaimed, kneeling beside him and baring her fangs at the pale woman.

"It's OK, it's just part of the process," she assured as she continued with her motions and as she did, the pain went away as his head no longer felt like someone was trying to rip it open.

"Whoa…the pain's gone," Caleb said, touching his forehead in surprise.

"That's the power of hydrodynamics!" Marnie proudly stated before giving him a more serious look, "But, seriously, I just relieved the pressure by thinning the water in your blood vessels. You had a clot near your prefrontal cortex that could've caused an embolism if I hadn't spotted it. Does that power of yours always put such a strain on you normally?" Marine asked in concern.

"Not always, just if I'm careless and I overuse them. But I know what limits are through trial and error," he answered honestly.

"I see. So it's the same for you too," Marine said, muttering the last part.

"What? I didn't catch that," Caleb said.

"Oh! Nothing really," Marnie brushed off.

"No, it wasn't. She said it was the same for you too?" Lyca said, who had picked up her voice with her canine hearing.

"What does that mean?" Caleb asked, not in the mood to be kept out the lop.

"Forgot that liminals like you have more attuned hearing," Marnie sighed before continuing, "To answer your question, I mean that you have inherited some of the abilities of your homestays just like my–"

"TERRA!" Lovelace stated, getting the others' attention, as he spoke into the earpiece, "Report! What's your current status?!"

'We've succeeded in neutralizing the Salamander and regrouped with agents Zyklon,' she answered.

"Have you heard from Nanaja or Voltaira yet?"

'Negative, sir,' she said, disheartened.

Lovelace's heart sank a little from hearing that but chose to keep up his resolve for the others, "Alright. What's you current position?"

'We're on our way to Mice and Men road!'

"Forget heading there, Ms Marequine was taken by…" Lovelace thought for a second to best describe what had happened since they last saw each other, "a liminal with teleportation capacities but it appears she had escaped and Jill and one of Mr Bizzell's homestays, a Devil, are currently on route to assist her. We have been forced into hiding after being assaulted by another group of Malone assailants."

'We'll be right there. Just tell us your position,' Terra said, concern in her voice,

Lovelace leaned out from the alleyway a little, looking for any noteworthy landmarks to relay, "We are currently in the alleyway of a barber shop called… Better Cuts Now?" Lovelace read the sign and wondered why they had went with that name before refocusing on the situation at hand. "Anyway, we are currently OK and I want you to instead head over to Jill's position and assist her and the Devil in saving Ms Marequine. I'm gonna give you the last known position they spotted Ms Marequine heading to," Lovelace said as he pulled out a map to check for the name of the intersection she was heading to.

'But sir-' Terra attempted to argue only for Lovelace to cut her off.

"No buts, unless it's the ones you'll be kicking to save that poor girl. We can hold out here until then," he assured.

'Alright, understood, just be careful,' Terra said.

"'Careful' is my legal middle name," Lovelace said confidently.

'I thought it was 'Hank'?' Pyra interjected.

"Only on paper, sweetheart," he replied before ending the communication. He then took a deep breath, sighing to himself.

Caleb gave a plaintive look at Lovelace.

"What's wrong?" Marnie asked, noticing his saddened expression.

"I just…feel awful for dragging you all into this. You're doing everything you can and all I've done is bitch and complain the whole time. Hell, people are dead, STILL dying for that matter, and for what?" Caleb said as he lowered his head in shame, looking to his hands, dirty from touching the wall.

Marnie lifted up his head, forcing him to meet her eyes, "You wanted to save someone you love, isn't that the reason? Is it your fault it turned out to not be that simple? Life finds a way to get in the way, every time. It'll never stop trying to throw you off. That's why we can't stop moving, can't stop fighting, especially when someone you cherish is on the line. They're the reason we keep going in this world."

Marnie stopped for a moment, as if caught in memory.

"We can do this, Chief," Lyca said, taking Caleb's hand, getting some of the dirt on her palms, "No matter what, we're a pack and we stick together. So whatever guilt you bare, I'll bare it with you!"

Caleb and Marnie looked to her, eyes wide before the former reached up and caressed her wolf ears.

"I really don't deserve you," he spoke with a small grin at the She-wolf.

"Whether you do or not, it's MY choice to be with you Chief! I love you and you love me. That's all that really matters. I don't care about the other stuff," Lyca stated fervently, hugging him close and nuzzling his cheek to his slight embarrassment.

Marnie watched, unable to help smiling, remembering a similar experience she had after meeting Lovelace; when she first manifested a physical form from her astral body.

"We got company!" Lovelace stated as he saw Malone's vehicles pulling up towards the front of the buildings. He turned to the others, "Let's move."

Lovelace lead them further down the alley. They proceeded to round a corner, staying out of sight to not draw attention.

Further away, Ivan, Boris, and his goons could be seen exiting their vehicles in front of the barber shop where the owner was locking up, about to head home.

"Evening, sir," Ivan greeted, getting the owner's attention, who was surprised to see a group of men this late.

"Hey, we're, uhh, closed right now. Y'all gonna have to come back tomorrow morning."

"We're not here for haircuts, we just wanna know if you seen four people come by. Two humans, a blue woman, and a Kobold girl?" Ivan inquired, as the man gave him a ponderous look and Boris looked to them impatiently.

Back to Caleb the others, the group snuck around to the back of the barber shop where Lovelace could be seen picking the lock. He had planned to have Caleb and Lyca hide inside while he and Marnie took out the Malones. While not fond of the idea of breaking and entering in a small business, the agent needed to keep them safe, no matter what.

Suddenly, Lyca caught a strange scent in the air and sniffed around for the source. Her ears then perked up, hearing a low growl. She looked up and was shocked to see a large Cougar woman atop the roof, glaring at Caleb with drooling bared fangs before lunging at him with a cougar roar.

"Chief! Look out!" Lyca yelled as she pushed him out the way before the Cougar landed on top of her, pinning her to the ground. Lovelace and Marnie were taken aback but quickly rushed to her aid.

"Lyca!" Caleb shouted as the Cougar woman was about to sink her fangs into the back of Lyca's neck.

Marnie performed a roundhouse kick, knocking the cougar off of her. She then performed a series of quick rhythmic hand movements, pulling water from the air and condensing it two tight balls in each palm. The Cougar elicited a loud roar before charging the Undine.

Marnie chucked both water spheres at the cougar and they exploded in a shower of water vapor, sending her flying and slamming into the wall of the antique store.

Further away, Ivan and the others heard the sound of the Cougar's roar.

"What in the hell was that?!" the shop owner asked.

"It looks like we found them. I suggest you go home, it's gonna be noisy," Ivan advised, stepping away from the older man.

"Wait, hold up now! What's going on he—"

Boris pulled out a large pistol, glaring coldly at the old man, "He said…go home. Are you gonna make me repeat it a THIRD time?" he asked as he pulled back the hammer of his gun.

"N-No, sir," the owner uttered, fearing for his life.

"Leave!" Boris commanded, prompting the man to hastily scramble to his car, dropping his keys a couple times before he finally got in and desperately drove away, knocking over a garbage can as he left.

"I'll take my squad through this alley, you take the others around. We'll trap them in a pincer," Ivan stated.

"Da, just don't let your guard down. We already wasted enough time as is," Boris replied, then gestured to some of the men to follow him.

Ivan slowly sighed, wondering how he got stuck with this guy and hoping his brother was having better luck on his end as he and his team proceeded.

Back to Caleb and the others, Marnie was busy trying to restrain the Cougar with a straightjacket made of pressurized water. The Cougar snarled and thrashed wildly with unprecedented strength and borderline suicidal resolve.

"It's like trying to get Voltaira to relax after her electricity overloads except this is worse somehow," Marine described as she tried to keep her hold without breaking any of the Cougar's bones.

"What the hell did they do to the poor girl?" Lovelace said, horrified by what he saw but then remembered his true mission, "Are you both alright?"

"Y-Yeah. We're OK," Caleb said as Lyca nodded in agreement.

"Good, now both of you get somewhere safe! We'll handle them!"

"A…Alright, come on Lyca!"

"Right.", Lyca nods as the two of them run off to find cover, leaving the two agents to deal with the situation.

…Elsewhere…

"AAAHGH!", "GAHHH!", Screamed two SWAT men right as the bodies are sliced to pieces in front of the horrified police, other SWAT men, a MON agents.

Standing before them in the middle of the street, surrounded by destroyed vehicles, large billows of fire, and brutally dismembered bodies of former law enforcement officials, was Mama Rosé still in her red slime battle suit and slime fingers elongated into wicked high pressure claws.

The old Russian woman reshapes the claws back into normal hands, looking at it with a satisfied smirk. She always enjoyed the power she had when combined with her beloved pet.

"Fire! Fire! FIRE!", One of the officers ordered all the remaining units and they immediately open fire on her.

Mama Rosé smirks extending her arms out welcomingly as bullets strike her but quickly stopped by thick slime layers that either dissolved or redirected the bullets from her body by Krasni.

"Have you not learned by now?", Mama Rosé spoke walking up slowly as a thin lay of red slime spread along the ground without their notice. She snaps her fingers and blood red spike made of pressurized slimes shoot out the ground impaling several police and SWAT agents through their armor. They are lifted up high in a grisly display reminiscent of Vlad the Impaler as some of the victims scream out in agony have their innards dissolved,

"Your bullets mean NOTHING IN A WORLD OF MONSTERS!", Rosé shouts.

The remaining police, SWAT, and MON agents look up the sight in horror.

"No! BUT HOW BOUT THIS?!", Shouted a Minotaur woman clad in yellow MON armor as she charges with a huge yellow and black combat hammer.

Mama Rosé quickly puts up her guard as the slime hands expand in great size becoming denser. The hammer strikes with incredible force sending the old woman flying back. She then senses another figure appear behind her.

It was a male lizardman clad in similar armor and carrying a large black combat machete.

"You're mine!", He shouted, thrusting the blade towards the old woman's back.

However, before it could even make contact, a red tendril of slime shoots from her back, quickly forming into a blade of pressurized liquid and slices both his hands off. The Lizard jaw drops in pure, his arm stumps sizzling from the acidic goo, not registering the pain yet.

"AHHHHHHH!", he screams out falling to his knees.

"Hm. Since when did they allow you to carry weapons like that?", Mama Rosé spoke looking down on him like a dirty stray dog, "They'll do anything to please you animals and your silly practices."

"P-Please…come on…I j-just started MON a week ago.", The lizardman pleaded, cradling his hand stumps.

"...Bad career move.", She uttered before a slime spoke impaled him straight through the skull. She looks back in disdain as his body falls to the ground.

One of the police officers hastily runs to call for more backup.

"Calling all units! Calling all units! We ha–"

He's quickly cut off when a red energy beam pierces through his skull and his body falls to the ground, much to the horror a the few around him. They look up to see the Gazer from earlier that destroyed several of their vehicles killing their personnel.

"Nuh uh uh, can't have that now.", Acula says, wagging his finger while levitating around the writing body of the impaled.

Several of Mama Rosé men come rush firing on the remainder of the law enforcement officials. The enchanted rounds easily piercing through their body armor like paper.

At that moment, the Minotaur appears above Mama Rosé coming down with her huge hammer.

"You BITCH! You're gonna pay for this!"

Mama Rosé give a cold glare, standing her ground at the Minotaur before catching the large hammer with her red slime claws creating a mini tremor around them, stopping it midswing, much to the Minotaur shock.

(Ah! My fucking knees! Krasni!), She spoke through clenched teeth as the red spine quickly shifted her surface, reinforcing her lower body more.

"What! HOW THE HE–AAGH!", The Minotaur elicits as Mama Rosé slashes through her kneecaps causing her to stumble backwards and falls to the ground writhing in agony. The remaining law enforcement officials are taken aback in shock at the behemoth of a liminal woman being knocked to the ground.

Mama Rosé taps her foot to the ground sending a red slime spike shooting from the ground through the Minotaur's stomach. It holds her in place as she elicits pained groans at the burning slime eating away her flesh.

"You have some nerve to make an old woman like me exert herself.", Mama Rosé venomously spoke, walking up to the Minotaur loading bullets into her large revolver. She pulls back the trigger aiming at the cow woman's head whose eyes widen peering into the barrel.

Suddenly, a two police officers pop up from behind one of the cruisers they were taking cover by and proceed fire at her. Rosé, acting quickly, raises her slime arm as it quickly expands in size shielding her face.

"Fools.", She utters before like slime spike shot out towards the officers, piercing one of them twice through the skull. The other cries out in horror attempting to make a run for it. Rosé grimaces, popping two solid shots into the Minotaur's skull, then turns her weapon on the fleeing officer, "Krasni. Aim."

The slime cover the gun up to the trigger and increases in density around her arm to stabilize her hand. She takes aim and fires a shot hitting him dead center in the lower back, severing his spinal cord as he cries hitting the ground. Mama Rosé takes a deep breath and exhales, decompressing herself as the fluid density around her body lessened.

"Hoowee! You and Krasni sure showed them Rosy! I haven't seen a bloodbathe like this since you sicked those hellhounds on that gang in Dalton.", Acula chortles, levitating around her with a toothy grin.

Mama Rosé ignores Acula turning to see the rest of her goons awaiting her orders amongst the dead law enforcement officials.

"Salvage whatever vehicles and weapons you find! We are going to retrieve my Nightmare!", Rosé ordered her men then turns to Acula with a malicious glare, "And you…"

Mama Rosé grabs the Gazer by the neck strangling her.

"Ghh! R…Rosé!"

"You have any idea how much your little slip up complicates things?! Now these Svin'ya(swine) will surely be on our trail! I would melt you down to PASTE if I didn't have further use for you. Do not forget who you owe your wretched life to.", Mama Rosé tightens his grip as the slime starts to burn the Gazer skin.

Acula shoots a look at her, tempted to blast her with one or all of her eye tentacles but chooses to just endure. It was already clear she had no intention to kill her anyway.

Mama Rosé then tosses her back into a nearby police car as she fall to the ground on all fours coughing and holding her neck. Rosé scoffs then turns away walking to her men.

Acula, shooting her a glare, decides now was probably as good a time as any to use one of her aces. She clears her throat.

"Ahhh o-oh gods! H-How?! What happened over there?!"

Mama Rosé turned to the visibly distressed gazer, "What are you babbling about?"

"I-It's your Elijah and his men. I sent my Eye Spy back over at Komanda Monstra base and…and…", Acula says, her voice quivering and lip trembling and getting Rosé attention.

"Spit it out! What happened?!"

"They're dead…all of them! Elijah included! They're torn to pieces! Ripped to shreds! Some of them were even shriveled up in lifeless husks like human raisins! It a fucking massacre over there with police and news guys on the scene!", Acula exclaimed hysterically with panic before covering her face in her arms lightly whimpering, "Gods…this is awful…"

Mama Rosé and the rest of her men look at her in shock. Rosé clenches her fists as Krasni feels the old woman's blood pressure rising.

'Hehehe, yeah I'm sure that gets your blood boiling doesn't it, Rosy?', Acula thought smirking internally.

"They will pay.", Mama Rosé spoke her eyes filled with rage as the news of one of her sons being killed fully awakened the beast inside, "I will tear that vampire and ANYONE else that gets in my way to shreds! Hurry up! We leave now!"

Acula smirks to herself, deciding to push her buttons further.

"Ah! I just remembered! Wasn't Fantina at their base too? And yet, I also saw her with some MON agents awhile back before you arrived."

"What?! What did you say?!"

"Yeah! I thought she was supposed to ensure those assassins keep to their end of the deal. Do you think…she was playing us? Is she the reason Elijah's dead?", Acula says in a ponderous tone while using her tentacle eyes to watch the old woman reaction.

Mama Rosé clenches her fists tighter, her nails digging into her skin hard enough to draw blood. It was quickly healed by the red slime "That…fucking…"

'Hehe, sorry Pedo goat, but I need to get the heat off my ass.'

"She'll pay for this. We are going after them! NOW!", Mama Rosé furiously stated as her men move more frantically, not wanting to face their leader's wrath. A tendril forms on the woman chest shaping itself into a small face of Krasni, who looks a her with concern. Mama Rosé pets the small slime head assuring her she was fine before taking out her phone, "She wants to play games. Fine. I can play too."

"W-Who ya calling?", Acula carefully asks, keeping up her pitiful act.

"Request from headquarters.", Rosé bitterly spoke.

'Hehehe, I hate to be you right now, Fantina.', Acula thought to herself, snickering lowly.

... meanwhile...

Mirabelle stood in the middle of a Mexican standoff between several liminals fearing for her life.

"Senora, Senor should be heading this way soon. I will try to clear ju a path. The second I do, run as fast as ju can and leave them to me!" Camilla told Mirabelle as she glare at this trash that threatened her family.

"She means us though technically it should just be me but my team will just deal with the paperwork later ", Jill clarifies.

"FUCK you AND your team!", Fantina stated conjuring a large red magic seal and shoots a blast of energy at the Dark Mage.

Jill defends with a dark purple barrier projected from her staff, "Oh, believe me, I do."

Jill then fires a barrage of dark purple energy blasts at the Baphomet who uses her scythe to deflect them away while firing her own red blasts.

Below, Camilla rushes the vampire and Mantis fires a torrent of black lightning at them both. Both acrobatically dodge the streams of burning black plasma ripping through the street like paper. Satella slides against the ground then notices a black magic seal right underneath her and several more appear around her and Hush as well.

Camilla, with an upward flip of her middle and index fingers, forces black spikes of energy out of the ground.

Satella leans back dodging the attack then begins skillfully maneuvering around each spike, quickly predicting their patterns. She then charges red energy into her claws starting to claw through them much to Camilla irritation. Hush, however, wasn't as lucky and, in her efforts to avoid the attack, gets stabbed by one of the spikes in her arm. In a fit of frustration slice's the spikes away with her free arm.

Mirabelle, taking the initiative, decides to make a break for it down the road away from the conflict which both Satella and Fantina notice.

"Hush! Don't let her escape!", Satella commanded.

Hush lunges after the Nightmare, slashing through and dodging black spikes that shot out at her.

"No!", Camilla stated, lunging after the Mantis but is quickly intercepted by a crimson red blade of energy ripping through the ground barely a few inches from her body. Satella then appears in a flash and delivers a devastating kick to the Elder Devil face knocking her back in spin. Camilla flips out of skidding to the ground catching herself while holding her injured jaw. She then sees the Mantis closing in on Mirabelle and tries to conjure a blue magic seal only for Satella to launch a blade of red energy, slicing through and dispelling it, to Camilla surprise. She then launching a much larger blade of energy at the Elder Devil intending to finish her.

Camilla leaps up into a backflip, dodging the attack as it slices the entire top of a police car clean off. She quickly pops her jaw back in place and conjures six green seals firing a barrage of green missile-like energy projectiles at the vampire. Satella cloaks herself in shadow moving at incredible peed dodging and weaving between each of the blasts. She brandishes claws like daggers as they, and her eyes, glow with menacing blood red aura then lunges at her opponent.

Camilla lands on her feet and quickly creates two blue magic seals in her fists, covering them in blue flame-like energy, then lunges at the vampire. The two intercept each other as air crackling with ripples of red and blue mana. The two move with great speed and proceed to exchange a rapid precession of blows with each hit generating a small thunderous shockwaves.

As that was happening, Fantina noticed Mirabelle below trying to run away. She fires a large blast at Jill to distract her before teleporting in front of Mirabelle path, blocking her.

"No you DON'T! You're not getting away! And you, FUCK OFF!", Fantina stated, firing a blast of red energy at the Mantis who immediately side flips away dodging. She fires a few more blasts driving her back further until one explodes against the ground, sending her tumbling off the roadside. Fantine then turns her attention to Mirabelle.

"Why are you doing this?!", Mirabelle stated, in anger with tears in her eyes.

"I don't have to explain anything to you! I have my reasons!" Fantina stated, ignoring the guilt that gradually got heavier on her heart, "You're coming with me whether you want to or not!"

Mirabelle steps back as Fantina brandishes her scythe only for Jill staff to come flying towards her prompting Fantina to defend with a barrier knocking her back with an explosion of dark purple aura. Jill levitates down next to Mirabelle who looks at her curiously.

"Sorry hun, but when a girl says no, it's best you accept. Or else you'll, as the young folk say, get cancelled.", Jill taunts as her staff, radiating with lavender aura, levitates beside her twirling.

"I'll CANCEL you! You balloon breasted, Witch wannabe BIMBO!", Fantina glared at her, releasing her scythe allowing it to levitate before rotating it like a buzzsaw.

"Oh what? You wanna cancel me for being gifted? Don't hate me cuz I'm beautiful hun, learn to love what YOU got.", Jill says being half playful and sincere, which caught the goat Loli off guard.

"Shut UP!", Fantina stated, launching the spinning scythe at the Mage. Jill sends her staff to intercept the spinning blade causing sparks of mana to crackle the air around them.

"Go on hun, I'll give this one a good spanking!", Jill assures Mirabelle with a wink.

"T-Thank you.", Mirabelle turns and starts galloping away catching Fantina's attention.

"No!", Fantina cried, losing focus for a split second.

Using the distraction, Jill counters by using her magic to override Fantina control over her scythe, much to her shock, allowing it to spin around her along with her staff.

"Have a little taste of this irony!", Jill stated before launching Fantina own scythe right back at the Baphomet while chain some dark purple energy blasts from her staff.

Fantina puts up a dense red barrier defending herself from the slashes of her scythe and the blasts..

'Come ON! What with my scythe being stolen from me today?!', Fantina thought in frustration, holding the barrier.

Back to Camilla, Satella creates an opening on the Elder Devil, and delivers a three piece combo to her face and stomach then attempts to finish with a double downward stab with her dagger-like claws into both sides of her neck.

Camilla, refusing to be driven in a corner, knocks both the vampire arms away, to her surprise, and delivers a strong uppercut into the bloodsuckers' jaw stunning her a moment. The Elder Devil then delivers a spinning back kick, sending the vampire flying crashing into a police car. Satella winces trying to regain her bearings then notices the Elder Devil charging a large black and red ball of energy, glaring murderous.

"PERECER(PERISH)!", Camilla shouts, launching the ball of death as Satella grits her teeth in agitation.

The vehicle explodes in a black and red fireball disintegrating some of the police bodies within radius. Mirabelle was running off the side of the road, when she stopped upon hearing the explosion then looks to see Camilla standing in front of the enormous pillar of black and red fire triumphantly smirking.

That is until she picks up the sound of something above her and, before she could process, a deep slash wound appears down Camilla's back spraying out blood as the Vampire kneeled behind her, hand pointed like a dagger at her side.

"AGHH!", Camilla elicits in pain.

Satella licks her finger, getting a taste of the devil's blood.

"CAMILLA!", Mirabelle cried out in horror, her eyes twinkling with purple energy. She then turns around galloping to her friend.

"Wait, hun! Wrong way!", Jill stated while still concentrating on her opponent.

"I vill admitted you are powerful. Elder Devils are truly an exceptional race.", Satella says before impaling her claws into Camilla's side eliciting a pained cry. The veins in her hands and arms bulge out as she drained the devil woman blood, "Ahh! I can taste the concentrated mana in your blood! It is exquisite! If ve met under different circumstances, I vould have offered you the chance to join us. Truly a shame. I suppose you vill have to suffice…as an appetizer"

"Ghh, appetizer? Then how about…I give ju the main course?!", Camilla spoke through gritted teeth glaring over her shoulder as Satella looks to her confused.

At the moment, a small black magic seal appears on the undead woman arm and a black spike shoots through her arm, severing it at the elbow. Satella recoils back in pure shock as her blood gushes out. Her eye widen upon seeing Camilla rip her severed limb out of her side and summons multiple magical seals of various colors, while glaring with killing intent.

Hush could be seen picking herself up from the road in time to see all magic seals fire off a rainbow of energy blasts at Satella, who braced herself, form a red barrier of energy. They explode in a flash of energy, ripping through the ground and sending the vampire flying off crashing through a building structure in the distance, much to the Mantis' horror.

Hush narrowed her eyes at the devil.

Camilla, after tossingsl the severed arm to the side, kneels down breathing heavily as her regeneration starts kicking in. She used a bit too much mana on that last attack. She needed a minute to recover her energy, "A few decades earlier…I might have considered the offer. But…that was when I had nothing to lose…now I have everything to lose."

"Camilla! Are you ok?", Mirabelle stated approaching her with a look of distress.

"Senora?! What are ju doing?! I TOLD ju to run!", Camilla berated, not her anywhere near the battlefield.

"I couldn't just leave you to die! You're my friend!", Mirabelle contested with conviction.

Camilla was taken aback by her statement but then sees the Mantis lung towards her from behind, scythes bared.

"GET BACK SENORA!", Camilla yelled, shoving Mirabelle out of the way and blocking the Mantis' scythes with a blue magic seal.

Hush doesn't let up somersaults over the devil woman, kicking her in the back of the head, rattling her skull as she stumbled forwards. Slashes the back of her legs, as Camilla grunts in pain, before jumping on the Elder Devil back pinning her to the ground. She positions both scythes on either side of her neck to decapitate her, glaring down at her disdainfully.

"No! Get off of her! STOP!", Mirabelle shouted at the Mantis, eyes flashing with purple energy and more cracks forming on the collar.

Hush doesn't listen and moves her blades closer into the Elder Devils flesh as Camilla grits her teeth trying to focus on her mana but fears she wouldn't make it.

Right as Hush was about to divorce her enemy head from their body, a sudden breeze blew behind her catching her attention.

Zwei and Drei appear behind her in a flash.

"PUNK ASS BITCH!", They shout in unison, double kicking the Mantis square in the back, sending flying off Camilla and tumbling to the ground.

At that moment, a tree could be seen falling to the ground in the distance were the vampire was flung.

Zwei and Drei land at Camilla's side as the Elder Devil sits herself on her knees. Ein descends from landing in front of her.

Mirabelle eyes widen before a relieved smile appears on her face.

"Ein! Zwei! Drei! You're all ok!"

"Heh…", Camilla smirks, relieved to see friendlier faces

"What can I say, ya can't keep a good woman down.", Zwei smugly remarks.

"Tell that to the U.S. job market.", Drei comments dryly.

"Nevermind us! Ms. Marequine you're hurt! You too, Ms. Sartana!", Ein stated, kneeling in front of the Elder Devil examining her injuries then points out the large bruise on Mirabelle's face.

"It is nothing. That punta just caught me off guard. I will be fully healed in another minute or two.", Camilla assures. Her healing factor had already fixed up some minor wounds.

"And you, Ms. Marequine?"

"I-I'm fine...", Mirabelle answered, not wanting to worry them.

"Looks like we made it just in time. Here I thought we'd miss the big finish.", Pyra remarks, walking up to the group, hands at her hips.

"Nope, looks like we are just in time for the finale.", Terra joins her, noticing the destruction, dead officers, and diminishing black fire burning.

"Who the hell are they?", Camilla inquires to Ein.

"They're part of the Elements team helping us.", Ein replies.

"We were headed towards Lovelace's position when he changed his mind and had us come here instead to assist you. He insisted we come even though he, Marnie, Mr. Bizzell and his homestay are being pursued.", Terra informs them as Camilla and Mirabelle eyes widen.

"D-Dear is in danger?!"

"Then WHY are ju here?!", Camilla stated incredulously, finally feeling the tendons in the back of her legs reconnecting.

"His orders are absolute! If he says they'll ok, then we trust him. Neither he or Marnie will let ANYTHING happen to them!", Terra attests as Mirabelle and Camilla were not too convinced but sensed their relatable devotion to that man, finding it difficult to argue before Terra asks, "First we'll take of things here, starting with the Mantis and whoever Jill is fi–"

Terra stops as she, Pyra, and the Zyklons realize that Jill was fighting Fantina.

"What? Ms. Fantina?!", Pyra stated in disbelief.

"What's SHE doing here?! Wait! How do you know her?!", Ein stated before questioning the Ignis.

"She was with them when we rescued them from Komanda Monstra!", She gestures to Zwei and Drei.

Ein gives them an interrogative look.

"It's a long and painful story. Like 'Titanic' but more like 'Hostel '.", Drei comments.

Hush finally picks herself up, catching the attention of Terra and the others. She turns around and immediately notices, to her shock, the three Kamaitachi before her.

"I'll go help out Jill!", Terra stated running up then forcing a stone pillar out of the ground to launch herself towards them.

"I'll go too! You guys deal with her!", Ein stated following Terra before anyone could say anything.

It takes barely a second for Hush's confusion to turn into rage as she brandishes her scythes. Her abdomen vibrates creating a hissing sound glaring with killer intent.

Pyra steps up, "Geez, what is up with me and killer bug women today? Alright girly! If you know what's good for ya, you'll lay your weapons down."

"Uhh,you do realize their part of her arms.", Drei points out.

"What?!", Pyra stated looking the Mantis girl up and down, "How does she wipe? Actually how do you wipe?" Pyra said, looking at sisters scythe's as well.

Hush ignores her focusing on the Kamaitachi sister's as she dashed toward them ready to kill them.

Before she even reaches them, Pyra knocks her away with a heated roundhouse kick. She winces from the pain as she knocks her back several feet.

" Wow that girl seems to be out for you guys. What on earth did you do to piss her off that much?" Pyra asked

"Let's just say she has a kind of hate for Kamaitachi as whole.", Drei remarks as Hush bares her teeth hissing at her.

"Hmph, regardless she and that vampire punta are obviously no match for us.", Camilla says raising up then summoning a red magic seal in her palm pointing it at the Mantis.

"True though isn't weird how Ein kinda just left us like that?" Zwei asked as she gathered her chi around her scythe's looking over at Drei who shrugged at her before realization hits them on what she just said.

"Wait, vampi–?" Zwei was going to ask only to stop in her tracks.

Suddenly, Drei and Zwei feel a jolt shoot up their spine as their tails stand erect. They look up, eyes widening in surprise.

"Above us!" The two yelled catching the other's attention to see what they saw

The group look up stunned to see a large U-Haul truck falling from the sky. Mirabelle looked terrified before getting out of the way along with the others. It crash hard into the ground sending class and some of the contents inside flying everywhere.

"I'm afraid you have it backvards you're the ones who are outmatched even." Satella said as she floated down with a large pair of pale white, veiny bat wings protruding through her cloak; her entire body radiating a fierce blood red aura. The stump where her arm was sliced off stopped bleeding as a new one quickly regenerated before their eyes, "Ah, such powerful energy this Elder Devil supplied me vith. My healing much faster than normal. I'd love to feast on this everyday."

Camilla gives a disgusted glare at the vampire.

"Hey, don't get so cocky! We just took down that Salamander chick a little while ago. By my math, you guys are outnumbered AND out of options!", Pyra stated.

Hush eyes widen in shock. Her body starting to tremble with rage and sadness enough to clench her fists and draw blood from the palms. Memories starts flashing in her mind of Ember, the closest person, next to Satella, she had to a mother again.

Satella was taken aback for a second in disbelief, "VHAT? Ember was defeated…by YOU vermin?!

"Weasels. We are weasels not vermin or rats. guess you have the same vision problem that she had." Zwei said, incredulously.

"No…you are VERMIN!", Satella shouted in a distorted voice as red aura enrapturing her body intensifies and an oppressive force weighing down the atmosphere brings some of them to their knees.

Mirabelle and the rest feel tremendous pressure on their body, like they were suddenly submerged miles below the ocean, along with a feeling of impending doom creeping through their senses. They fall to their knees unable to withstand it.

Even Hush wasn't spared from the effects, looking to Satella slowly walking up to the group. A chill shot up her spine sensing the malice her leader exuded.

"Wha…what the hell?! What's…this feeling?! Like my body's just made outta lead!", Pyra uttered on her knees as her body was trembling with fear. The flames emanating from her body started diminishing.

"Gah, this again?! And it's worse than last time. What is that ability?", Zwei spoke on her knees as well

Camilla and Drei were the only ones shown to still be struggling to remain standing.

"Hm, you both have enough villpower to resist my Monarch's Aura.", Satella spoke calmly, walking up to them. She stops between them as the others look upon them trying to move their bodies.

"Gh…I would NEVER…submit to a…worthless punta like ju.", Camilla spat, glaring right at the vampire.

"I've…been…sat on by Ein before as punishment. THIS is nothing.", Drei grunted, her body trembling as she held her ground.

Satella, not breaking eye contact, lift up her arm and brandishes her claws causing them to elongate. Blood red aura surges in her hand quickly changing into a large claw of rippling energy.

"I enjoy strong villed people. It is always a joy to break them.", Satella spoke, her face contorting into an unsettlingly unnatural grin.

Camilla and Drei eyes widen while the other, especially Mirabelle, could only watch in horror.

While that was happening, Jill and Fantina were still engaged in combat further up the road. Blast of energy flew around as they hurled spells at each other.

"Come now, hun. This is getting silly.", Jill spoke, creating a barrier around herself to protect from Fantina long range scythe beam slashes.

"Silly?", Fantina grips her scythe, which she manages to eventually reclaim, tightly in anger, "Is this some kinda game to you?"

"No, but if it was, I'd be winning. Like now, but that doesn't count." Jill said casually as she pressed her arms against her chest causing them to bounce some much fantina increasing frustration and anger.

"Jill!",Terra called from below, getting there and before lifting herself up on a stone pedestal.

"Terra! When did you get here?!"

"Not long, but we need to end this battle now! Commander Lovelace, agent Marnie and the civilians with them are in danger!"

"What? My darling is in trouble?" asked as her demeanor started to shift, some taking a more serious feel.

"Enough of this! I don't care what kind of drama bullshit you're on about, the Nightmare comes with me.", Fantina stated.

"Ms. Fantina, I don't know what happened or why you're doing this but this has to stop!", Terra firmly stated

"She's right!", Ein added, levitating on a swirling cyclone behind the Baphomet.

"Great you are here, didn't you learn your lesson from last time?" Fantina said annoyed watching the weasel land causing her breasts to bounce up and down some.

"Last time, I was trying to subdue you, not KILL you.", Ein plainly stated.

" Well I honestly don't have the time to care about what you are trying to do so I'm giving you a chance to step aside. If not then I'm going to cut off that extra fat you have on you!" Fantina threatened

"It doesn't have to be this way! Whatever is going on with you, it can be worked out. You don't have to play the villain any more." Ein pleaded

" Stop talking like you know me!" Fantina yelled.

"I know you used to be a great ICEP agent! I'm sure you still are!", Ein stated much to Fantina and the other's surprise.

Terra and Jill shared a look of astonishment.

"So you looked up my file so that makes you think you know kinda person I am!?" Fantina said back angrily.

"No, but Sterling does. HE'S the one who told me about you ."

Fantina pauses her expression softening and feeling an ache in her chest then tightens her grip on her scythe again, "Why? Why did you have to say his name?!"

"Because he's the reason I'm giving you a choice to end this peacefully.", Ein stated

" Well he made HIS choice that day! Now I'm making MY own today!"

"You understand what's happening?", Jill hovers over whispering to Terra.

"I'm still on the forced breast reduction surgery thing. I have no idea what's happening anymore." Terra whispered back.

"Fantina whatever Malones are giving or offering you it's not worth it when it's gonna cost you your life.", Ein attested before offering her hand, "Please just surrender. I give you my word on my clan name that I will do everything in my power to help you if you do. We're not your enemy."

Fantina goes silent a moment remembering the ridicule she faced when she arrived in this country. The disgusted or pitying looks from strangers, Malones, even her fellow agents. Always viewed as a freak and a joke with a child's body.

At that moment, they hear a large crash from behind them and see a large U-HAUL truck smashed against the ground with tremendous force then a figure descend from above on bat wings.

"Ah! What the? Who's that?!", Ein stated, seeing the winged liminal descend to the ground.

"I don't know but they're definitely not friendly!", Terra stated, clenching her fists causing her skin to harden, "Come on, we to–AAH!"

Terra was cut off when a red ball of energy strikes her, sending her flying off the stone pillar.

"Terra!"Jill cries then she and Ein whip around to see Fantina with her paw extended crackling with red spark.

She then teleports in a flash and reappears with a right hook across the Dark Mage's face then chaining with an energy blast straight to the head. Jill managed react in time to block the majority of blast with a small barrier, reducing the damage, but still got flung back from the force.

"STOP!", Ein shouted attempting to grab the Baphomet from behind but she teleported again out of the way.

Suddenly, the blade of her scythe is positioned on Ein's neck from behind as the larger Karmaitchi stops in her tracks.

"You say you're not my enemy? You're wrong…", Fantina coldly spoke before gripping the top of Ein's head forcing her neck toward the sharp edge, "YOU'RE ALL MY ENEMY!"

Fantina lets loose a strong surge of red lightning throughout Ein's body as she screams out in pain.

"The Nightmare is mine.", She whispered in Ein's ear.

"That is enough!", Jill shouts, flying towards them on her staff.

Fantina gives a disinterested look then teleports away with her scythe. Subsequently, allowing Ein to fall head first to the ground.

Jill quickly extended her arm creating a dark purple magic seal. Ein's body glows with a purple aura and starts levitating in the air toward her.

Ein's eyes flutter open and she quickly notices Jill floating beside her.

"Sigh, that was close. You almost had a worse fall than Humpty Dumpty hun.", Jill spoke.

"Ergh, we have to stop her!", Ein stated.

"Um, I hate to tell you about this girls, but it looks like she's the least of our worries.", Terra say, having recovered from the blast, pointing off in the distance.

Ein and Jill look to see a group of black cars, some of them police cruisers.

"Ah, maybe it's reinforcements?", Ein spoke, hoping she was right.

Jill creates a tiny blue magic in front of her face that greatly enhances her vision. What caught her eye was a black, multi eyed liminal riding on top of the lead vehicle in a provocative way much to their confusion along with a humanoid red goo creature leading the charge with a full sprint.

"Well, they're reinforcements…but not for us.", Jill says as Ein gives a disappointed frown release a sigh wondering when today will end.

Back to Camilla and rest, the vampire raises her arm up about to cleave Drei and Camilla to pieces.

"N-no…stop!", Mirabelle said, pushing against the sensation. Her eyes glow a faint purple, feeling as though, for some reason, it wasn't as constricting as before. She starts picking herself up and takes a few steps forward toward Satella much to the vampire and the other's surprise.

'To be able to move like that even Ranka and Ember had given everything they had to move even a few feet under its effect before they were left exhausted.' Satella thought as the nightmare slowly moved closer to her.

"S-Senora…?", Camilla uttered in surprise.

Satella turns her attention back to Camilla and Drei deciding to quickly finish them off.

"Leave them alone!, "Mirabelle shouts as more cracks form on the collar.

At that moment, Fantina appears in a flash of red energy behind Satella with her scythe raised ready to decapitate the vampire before she has a chance to fight back and then grab the nightmare and hope that she makes it back in time.

Satella quickly intercepted the attack with her claws creating a loud clang coupled with a ripple of red energy sparks.

"Really? You again?", Satella says in an unamused tone.

"Believe me, I'm sick of looking at you TOO!", Fantina said back as she pulled her scythe back avoiding Satella claws.

Fantina quickly slashes a portal in space much to Satella's surprise behind her intending to send the vampire through.

She then teleports in front of Satella with a red magic seal conjures and fires a barrage of energy blasts at her.

Satella focuses her energy and puts up her arms defensively tanking and dispelling each of the blasts. Mirabelle and the others look on with mixed expressions.

"Whoa, is she… saving us now?", Pyra uttered, still feeling the effects of Satella's ability.

"Honestly, it comes down to your definition of "saving". " Drei said as she tries to force her hand to reach and grab a vial.

'Come on! Just move two steps back!', Fantina thought as she put all her power into forcing the vampire back.

'So, she plans to me send through that portal rather than actually fight me? How covardly. But not a bad idea considering your facing me!', Satella thought, digging her heels into the concrete.

"Damn you! Disappear already! Hahhh!", Fantina shouted increasing the intense of the blasts

"Come…on.", Camilla uttered trying to ignore the feeling in her senses and focus her energy. A black magic seal flickers starting to form underneath the vampire.

'What should I do!?' Mirabelle thought in desperation having no idea what she could do as torrent of emotions went through her. Her collar was now completely covered in cracks and seemed to be barely held together at this point.

"It is over.", Satella spoke before shooting an intense gaze at the Baphomet causing her to halt her assault on the vampire. Fantina's body freezes as an overwhelming dread fills her mind.

'N-No! Not ag–ACK!', Fantina thought to herself before Satella grabbed her by the throat, choking her. She then starts to dig her claws into her skin draining her blood

"For…ju…", Camilla said, using whatever energy she could muster and shot large black spikes up from the ground ring through the vampire's stomach.

"GYAH!", Satella cries out, tossing Fantina to the side. She groans, feeling the spike starting to forcefully push its way upwards through the rest of her organs, aiming for the heart. Refusing to be destroyed, she quickly channels her energy in her claws and slash the black spike in two, breaking the connection to the seal causing it to dissipate.

Satella stumbles back closer to the portal, her legs trembling as cold blood trickles from her wound and shoots a vicious glare at Camilla, "Damn you! Vretched kin of Discord!"

The physical trauma inadvertently caused the vampire to dispel her Monarch's Aura, releasing the hold on everyone.

"Ah! I can move again!", Zwei stated picking herself up.

"Me too!", Pyra stated, raising to her feet as her flame's started to burn bright again.

Hush feels herself free from the hold as well.

'Ghh! Vhy aren't my wounds healing?! Vhat type of mana does she possess?! I can feel it eating at my insides!', Satella thought, clenching the hole in her stomach that seemed to emit a black miasma-like substance.

"Now…", Camilla viciously spoke, getting the vampire's attention, charging a red and black ball of energy front of her as the others watch, "Die!"

Camilla fires it at Satella who could only defend with arm having no choice but to take the full force of the attack.

However, right when the energy ball was mere inches from the vampire, Hush knocks Satella out of the way. Satella saw the devoted and trusting look in the Mantis' eyes as the blast sent her through the portal much to Satella and everyone else's surprise. The portal destabilizes before quickly vanishing entirely.

Satella stumbles back to her feet stunned by what just happened.

"Dammit! That fucking Mantis!", Fantina expressed ruining the best chance to get rid of the vampire.

"You…swine…", Satella utters with a low, grumbling voice clenching her fists. An explosion of red and black energy erupts from the vampire's body alerting the others.

Fantina feels a sudden jolt shoot up her spine as every cell in her body starts screaming for her to run.

Before she could process it, a blade of crimson red and black energy rippling through the ground towards her about to cleave her entire body in two.

At the very last second, a stone pillar shoots out the ground below the Baphomet feet, launching her upward as the blade of energy tears through it like butter. Fantina, while still in the air, was left stunned at how close she came to dying then sees the Rock Lizard that saved her in a stomping pose.

Ah! Close one–!", Terra utters before Satella appears in flash and kicks her hard in the back with such tremendous force that it bends her spine and sends her flying past the others before repeatedly slamming against the road like a skipping stone.

Camilla and the others were left shocked by the sudden attack.

"TERRA!", Pyra shouts as Satella, with malicious burning red eyes and red lightning pulsating from her body, appears above her with claws extends rippling with energy about to split her skull open.

Camilla quickly conjures several blue magic seal to encircle them as a wall of radiant blue fire shoots out of the ground forcing the vampire back. Mirabelle stood frozen in fear and shock.

"!PERRA DE MIERDA(Fucking bitch!", Camilla shouts, throwing her arm up causing the blue magic seals to lift from the ground pointed at the vampire before firing a barrage of blue fireballs. Satella body radiates with red aura as she moves with blinding speed, weaving through the fireballs before taking off in the air. Camilla, surrounding her body in white aura, takes in the air after her with Pyra right behind her.

"Eat my fireballs bitch!", Pyra joins her firing her own barrage a reddish-orange fireballs at the vampire as well, who moves with expert precision dodging every one.

"EVERYONE!", Ein shouted, as Jill join the group seeing the Elder Devil and Ignis engaging the vampire above but choose to focus on one thing at a time, "We need to move! More of the enemy is heading this way! It looks like Malones and they've got some kind of strong-looking slime liminal with them."

Fantina and the others are taken aback in surprise.

"You gotta be kidding me!", Zwei stated in frustration facepalming, "Does the bullshit ever end?!"

"No rest for the weary hun! You just take Ms. Marequine and go! We'll deal with them.", Jill says before an explosion rings out above the sunset sky. She then glares at the vampire that struck her teammate, "And especially that tramp up there"

"No, wait! I'LL help Camilla! You see about your teammate. Then get somewhere safe to remove Ms. Marequine collar!", Ein suggested as the Dark Mage give her an incredulous look.

Mirabelle's eyes widen upon hearing about being freed from the collar on her neck.

"A-Alright! If that's what you want."

Ein nods to her then looks to her sisters, who give an assuring nod, promising they'll be careful. She then launches herself in the air towards the fighting above. Jill flies ahead on her staff to where Terra lay sprawled out on the asphalt. She could see the Rock Lizard struggling to pick herself up while her lower half was completely limp.

"Terra! Are you ok?"

"Ugh…aside from excruciating pain from my legs, back, and ass getting blown out…dandy. What's our…health plan again?"

"It's a joke hun. That's why I'm here.", Jill say creating a white magic seal at the tip of her staff and pointing it down on her injured back. The rock lizard's body was enraptured with white light as all her pain quickly fades away and her bones realign back in place.

Drei then looks to Fantina who levitates down with a grim expression looking up at the two liminals engaging the vampire them off in the distance.

Her time wasn't up, she still had a couple minutes. So WHY is Mama Rosé heading this way?!

"What's your next move?", Drei demanded, getting the baphomet's attention, "You don't seem to be happy that the Malones are coming here. I thought they were your allies. If not, then what's your next move?"

Fantina looks away clenching her scythe with a sullen expression unsure of how to answer.

"Who cares Drei?! Let's just go! We don't need her! She's a traitor either way!", Zwei urges as the Baphomet shoots her a glare.

Drei closes her eyes in thought, "Hm, maybe you're right. We can't trust her."

Fantina eyes widened, taken aback at her words. She didn't know why but hearing that stung more than she expected.

Drei and the others run towards Jill leaving the baphomet by herself to contemplate as she clenches her scythe tightly in hand.

"There, feeling better?", Jill says as Terra could be seen getting up stretching her legs and back.

"Very much so. I'd like to keep it this way.", Terra replies before she and Jill notice Mirabelle and the others headed towards them, "Or at least for the next ten minutes."

Mirabelle gallops past them, the Zyklons sister sprinting at her side. Terra sprint after the and Jill hops on her staff quickly catching up to them.

"So what's the plan here?", Terra asks

"Get far away from here. Get her collar off and her out here. Get back in the fight and win.", Drei plainly informs them.

"Simple and easy to understand. I like that plan, just one thing you forgot to add." Jill said

"What's that?"

"Literally EVERYTHING else!", Terra stated, running beside the galloping Centaur.

"What she said. Also, what about her? The goat…girl?", Jill asks gesturing to the baphomet.

"What about her.", Drei inquires.

"Well, first you could have informed us that she was an ex ICEP agent working for the Malone's back when we picked you up.", Terra said clearly annoyed that she and her team were left in the dark.

"Wait, she's an ex Agent!?" Zwei yelled in shock as Drei was also taken aback in surprise.

'Well, that explains a few things.' Drei thought to herself before turning her attention to Terra

"It wouldn't have mattered much either way. Right now, we have other problems to worry about." Drei says, looking at Mirabelle, who was focused on the battle above clearly worried about Camilla and Ein safety.

"Ok, but, the least we can do is take her i–", Terra says before noticing Fantina was now gone, "Wait where is she?!"

Drei and the others also turned to see the baphomet had disappeared.

"It doesn't matter. Let her sort herself out", Drei says in a firm tone, "We need to leave. Now!"

Terra and Jill wanted to protest but realized it'd just be in vain at this point.

"Haa, I'm taking a sick leave when this is over.", Terra sighed in exasperation.

"I'm taking two with darling , your welcome to join us.", Jill chimes in agreement.

While all that was happening, the four liminals were still engaged in combat.

"HAAAAAAAAA!", Camilla yelled relentlessly striking at the nimble vampire with a flurry of black mana powered jabs and slashes which Satella easily parried and weaved through.

"How's THIS for a hot fisting!", Pyra quickly rushes her from behind with her flaming fists and throws a right hook at her temple.

Satella, sensing the attack, breaks through Camilla offensive by kneeing her in the chin then backwards somersaulting in midair, evading Pyra attack then jack knifing down right into the Ignis back. The Ignis gags as her body bends, sending her spiraling down.

"Cat-4 Break!", came the voice of Ein, alerting the vampire.

A powerful shockwave of swirling strikes goes rocketing towards Satella, prompting her to block the attack as she's forcefully sent upwards.

Ein catches the fire elemental in her arms much to her surprise.

"You ok?!"

"Agh, yeah, thanks for the assist. Man, she must really have a thing for blowing everyone's back out.", Pyra replies.

Ein sees Camilla pull up next to her and Pyra.

"So, ju managed to stay alive huh?"

"Yeah, long enough to put my head back on the chopping block. I'm guessing that's the leader of Komanda Monstra.", Ein replies, levitating on cyclone of air while extending her scythes from her arms.

"No. She WAS the leader.", Camilla coldly spoke, conjuring two magic seals in her palms as a shimmering red aura envelopes her body.

Ein looks to her then nods in understanding. Pyra then gets her attention signaling she was alright to keep fighting and releases her allowing her body to floating.

The vampire recovers from the blast earlier and rockets through the air towards them, her body shimmering with bright aura, as they get into an attack position.

Camilla, Pyra, and Ein flank the vampire a three different angles with a flurry of shockwave blasts, fireballs and blue energy projectiles as Satella dodges and deflects each while moving with blinding speed.

Suddenly, all three liminals close in on her all at once. Pyra going at her with a flurry of flaming jujitsu-style kicks and punches as the vampire dodges all her strikes before Ein comes in with a flip spinning hits from her pressurized scythe blades. Both liminals continue their assault as the vampire weaves through their attacks with surprising ease much to Ein and Pyra frustration.

Satella then vanishes in a flash of red black miasma, catching them off guard, and palm strikes Ein dead in the face so far it sends her flying into uncontrollable backflips. She vanishes again and knees the Ignis hard in the stomach twice before finishing with an uppercut to the chin. Pyra recoils from the attack as the vampire brandishes her ready to finish her.

At that moment, Camilla comes down with a powerful axe kick charged with red aura but the vampire catches her leg, stopping the attack to Camilla's surprise. Satella vanishes with incredible speed before reappearing above the Elder Devil and delivers a downward double hammerfist right into her back.

"Gah!", Camilla elicits reeling from the pain. She clenches her fists refusing to lose and spreads her wings out stopping her descent.

Satella brandishes her glowing red claws about to finish her off but Camilla quickly tosses two green balls of energy at the undead woman, who deflects them both as they explode in a flash behind her. Seizing the opening, Camilla charges her body with red aura and propels herself like a torpedo homing as her foe does the same.

Their fists collide in a thunderous clap as a shockwave rips through the air like paper. Both liminals engage in a brief but fierce trade of with pure intent to overpower their for in struggle of strength and will. The impact of their strikes sends shockwave after shockwave ripping the area. Finally their palms meet in a clamorous clash as red aura and lightning pulsates around them. The She-devil and fiendish bloodsucker red eyes full of pride lock and killing intent.

"I am going to tear your heart out from your chest.", Camilla spoke in demonic voice, words dripping with venom.

"Pity. You vill find…THERE IS NOTHING THERE!", Satella shriek headbutting the Elder Devil in the face breaking her nose and rattling her brain. She then double kicks her hard in the stomach sending her tumbling down much to her satisfaction.

It is short-lived when she sees, to her shock, Mirabelle galloping away with the others. Her prize get away.

"No you don't!"

The vampire takes off flying in their direction but is then blindsided by Ein, hitting with a shockwave charged strike from her scythes right for her neck Satella barely defends getting knocked back hard but catching herself on her wings.

"Where do you think you're going! Your fight is with us!" Ein stated standing in her path blocking her from advancing.

"Do not stand in my vay of POWER! GAHH!", Satella stated before getting struck in the back with a fireball by Pyra burning her clothes and skin as a result.

"I'll show ya power! Firepower!", Pyra stated with a rings of fireballs around her body then besets them upon the vampire.

Satella dodges and weaves between the fireball but is then hit with a shockwave blast from Ein.

"Ghh…vhy you–GAH!"

"Shoryuken!", Pyra stated, uppercutting the vampire in a spinning firey upper cut sending her soaring up.

Ein comes in from the top rope, her fist charge with super condensed air pressure and delivers a powerful strike on the undead. The impact reverberates through her spine as Satella gags out a little blood.

At that moment, Camilla rocketing towards her again, having recovered from her and delivers a powerful flying kick on the vampire knocking her away with tremendous force.

Satella catches her herself, extending her wings, glaring viciously at the enemy further away with contempt.

Her wound quickly started to regenerate but her outfit was in a shabby state. A new found anger arose within the vampire. One that compelled her, for the first time years, to fight with all her might.

"Heh! Looks like this is almost over! Time to for the finisher!", Pyra stated concentrating two fireballs in her hands before blasting with a beam of energy.

Satella evades the attack flying upwards only for Pyra to change the beam's direction curving upwards above the vampire, much to her surprise. Pyra then throws her hands down as the beam explodes in a shower of fireballs raining down.

"METEOR SHOWER!", Pyra screams.

Satella body erupts with red aura quickly charging crimson red energy into her claws, she crosses her arms to her chest, then rotates her body at high velocity sending a barrage of crimson red energy blades flying at all directions deflecting many of the fireball while Camilla, Ein, and Pyra skillfully dodged each one that came their way through the fire balls are destroyed.

Camilla charges a black ball of energy the quickly expands to the size of her body.

"DIE!", Camilla shouts, fires the ball of energy at the vampire.

Satella stops rotating, spreading her wings out menacingly, catching the ball of energy with her hands as she struggles to hold it back. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Ein. Her body radiates with red aura as her claws dig into the ball of energy then tosses towards the Kamaitachi.

Ein eyes widened before she hastily flew upwards to avoid the attack but then she, and others notice the energy ball on collision with a nearby neighborhood in the distance.

"NO!", Ein shouted.

"SHIT! I got it", Pyra rockets after the energy ball at high speed like an asteroid to intercept it while Satella uses the opportunity and flies after the fleeing Centaur.

"I wouldn't let you near her!" Camilla yelled

Camilla summons five blue magic seals firing blasts of energy at the vampire as she dodges before firing back her own barrage of red energy blades. Ein appears above the vampire scythes crossed with air pressure channeling in them.

"CAT-2 BREAK!", She shouts, launching a crossed shaped blast of pressurized air.

Satella then launches her own crossed attack, a red energy beam intercepting Ein's attack as it explodes on impact as Ein shields herself from the explosion. Her leg is then grabbed by the vampire to her surprise.

"I VILL BREAK YOU…!", Satella stated before tossing the Kamaitachi right into Camilla, sending them both flying down towards ground. She then charges a large crimson red ball of energy, "INTO DUST!"

She fires the energy ball a the two fall liminals as Camilla raises her hand forming a blue magic seal. The blast sends them both careening into the ground with a powerful explosion.

Satella stares for a moment in contempt then continues on to Mirabelle's location after taking care of one more thing.

At the same time, Pyra managed to catch up to the energy blast. She condenses a large fireball in her hand and fires a beam of plasma at it causing a bright explosion.

"Haaa. There, no casualties of war on my wa–GAH!, Pyra spoke before Satella knees her hard in the back, sending her plummeting into the ground below as she floats down next to her.

"Vorthless scum!", Satella stated before stomping Pyra's head in dirt then taking off into the sky on her wings.

Pyra grumbles lethargically into the dirt at the pain of getting her back blown out again.

Further away from her in a smoldering crater, the Elder Devil and Karmaitchi could be seen lying in the grassy area barred from the road.

At that moment, the group of black cars arrived, with the red slime that was leading them, as they maneuvered past the carnage.

"Damn! What happened here?!", Acula spoke noticing the big smoldering craters, butchered bodies, burning or damaged police vehicles, and chunks of road everywhere, "It's like Florida came through here or somethin'"

"Something almost as bad and we'll find it in that direction. Along with my Nightmare.", Rosé stated pointing to where Satella was flying, "follow me and get ready for fight!"

The black cars maneuvered through the last of destruction before speeding up with Rosé sprinting ahead.

"Ugh…my head.", Ein expressed, rubbing her forehead. She then hears Camilla's muffled voice beneath her and pushes herself up, "Ah! Ms. Sartana, are you ok?!"

It was then she noticed she was pushing herself up on a pair of plump thighs realizing they were Camilla's.

"Jes, now kindly get your FAT CULO(ASS) off me!', Camilla spoke, Ein's bushy tail dropped over her head and peach butt right at her face.

"S-sorry!" Ein said moving off her blushing in embarrassment.

...back to Lovelace...

"Darling! I can't hold her much longer without crushing her bones!", Marnie spoke, increasing the pressure around the snarling and struggling cougar woman.

"That's fine!", Lovelace says before taking out a tranquilizer pistol from his right holster saying, "Step aside. I'm going to put her down for a while."

Marnie glances back at him before stepping out of firing range. He pulls the trigger firing a dart into the cougar's neck, startling the cougar woman. Her thrashing comes to a halt and her body goes limp as she loses consciousness.

The Undine releases her hold, letting the water fall to the ground along with the cougar's limp body, which Lovelace catches in his arms.

"Good work. We'll deal with the collar on her later, let's hurry get her somewhere safe befo-"

BANG

"GHH!", Lovelace elicits in pain as a bullet gets him in the shoulder.

"DARLING!", Marnie shouted, then noticed one of the Malones, Ivan, standing with a cold glaring with a smoking gun pointed at them. He's quickly joined by 13 other men with guns pointed at them.

Not wasting time, Marnie summons as much water in the surroundings as she could.

"Privlekat(Engage)!", Ivan ordered as the men fire upon them, but not before Marnie puts up a circular wall of high pressure water. The bullets end up getting stopped by the wall's density or ricocheting off completely.

"Darling! Are you ok?!"

"Yeah, just a flesh wound.", Lovelace assured.

Marnie turns her attention at the men firing on them with pure rage in her eyes as the takes on an eerie blue glow. Some of the men close in on them with enchanted frag grenades.

Suddenly, large high pressure water tentacles shoot out from the wall surprising the men. The tentacles grab the men and their weapons tossing them away like rag dolls. One of the tentacles impales a man through the chest as he gags out blood then tosses him towards Ivan and the others.

"Chto delayesh'?! Pereklyuchit'sya na magicheskiye raundy!(What are you doing?! Switch to magic rounds!) ", Ivan ordered.

"Marnie! We gotta get out of the open!", Lovelace stated.

"A-Alright", Marnie spoke turning to him before noticing a few bullet pass through the water wall, "What?! They still have mana bu–Agh!"

Marnie collapses as two bullets pass through her lower stomach and right thigh.

"Marnie!", Lovelace expressed quickly laying down the cougar and catching the Undine in his arms. The water wall drops, prompting the agent to scoop her off her feet and take off sprinting as bullets fly around him. He looks back regretfully leaving the cougar girl behind then kicks the door down to a nearby outdoor storage room.

"Reload and Close in! Don't let them escape!"Ivan stated that when he noticed Boris was gone! " Where is Brois!" He yelled at one of men who went with Boris.

The man hesitated for a moment before answering, " He said he was going to circle around back saying he didn't want any more witnesses. He said it would take but a few minutes."

Ivan could only just mutter to himself "Klyanus', yesli by yego mozhno bylo legko zamenit', ya by sam ubil yego v etot moment."(I swear if he could be easily replaced I would have killed him myself at this point.)

Taking a deep breath, before turning his attention back to his men. "Let's end this."

Inside, Lovelace was tending to Marine wound's in the far back of storage room with the two hiding behind a truck kept inside.

"Fuck looks like two of the bullet's are still in your body we are going to have to get them out or they will keep draining your mana." Lovelace told her after examining her bullet holes.

"Yes you're right but..." Marnie said doing her best to endure the pain she was feeling.

"Just hang in there for a minute Marnie. " Lovelace moving his hand over her wound as if trying to sense something, "Hmm? It feels like you're core is little damaged. You need to rest for now. I'll take care of them."

"Darling, no! There's too many and they have enchanted weapons! You can't-"

She was then interrupted when Lovelace touches a finger to her lips, staring at her with care in his eyes.

"You know how much I hate that word. We WILL make it Marnie. You believe me, right?"

Marnie was reluctant to answer but knew she couldn't lie to him, "Yes...I always have."

He leans in an gently kisses her lips. The Undine pulls him by the back of the head, deepening the kiss as the tongues wrestled for a moment. She savored the taste of her lover as if it's the last time she'll get to.

A loud booming sound from outside caught their along with Ivan and his men's attention.

Outside, a bright flash catches the gangsters attention as they look up to see a rippling portal in space then a ball of red and black energy comes firing out accompanied by a humanoid figure. The energy blast crashes into the ground nearby forming a large smoldering craters as the shockwave rattles the buildings and knock Ivan and his men to their feet. The humanoid figure smashes into the roof of the antique store.

Further away, Caleb and Lyca were sneaking around to the back entrance of the antique store, hoping they could get inside, and were startled by the explosion. Caleb instinctively ducks down for cover as Lyca does the same.

"Fuck! What the hell was that?"

"It was really loud. Do you think Lovelace and Marnie are ok?!", Lyca asks, visibly worried.

Caleb wanted to give his honest answer but chose the nicer one for her sake, "I…I'm sure they are. They're skilled agents after all. We should focus on ourselves for now so we don't get in their way."

"O-Ok. If you say so.", Lyca nods, still unsure.

Caleb takes her hand as they make for the back entrance. Above them the figure that landed on top of the roof was stumbling trying to pick themselves up, their insectoid body emitting faint smoke. It was Hush. Her right arm, bleeding and broken and was damaged to the point where it hung at her side unusable like an injured coyote leg.

The Mantis glances around confused by her surroundings, noticing she was on a roof of a building of some kind. She then touches her arm wincing at the pain. Hush didn't know where she was now but she needed to get back to Satella.

She then hears what sounds like people talking and carefully crawls to the edge of the building.

At the same time, Boris and his men were encircling the area, having taken out a couple security cameras and intimidated a couple of workers to leave the area and keep quiet. He was then surprised by loud explosions that ripped through them startling several of his men.

"What the fuck was that?!" One of the men asked.

Boris ignores him as he focuses his attention on where he heard the explosions.

"Bah! What is that fool doing over there?"

"I think we need to turn back. This is getting way out of hand.", Another guy suggests, getting cold feet.

Boris turns to him with a glare, "If you want to abandon your job that's fine with me but I know mama Rose doesn't tolerate traitors or coward's." That is when he pulled out his gun and put it against the man's skull as he recoiled in fear.

"So I know she wouldn't care if you are put down right now because of that but I'm a generous man so if you all tough it out and do your jobs I should be able to find some girl's to melt away the stress you all been through. Doesn't that sound nice?" Boris said as he lowered his gun from the man's head.

"D-Da ser", the man answers as some of the other men voice their agreement, enthralled by the incentive.

"If you are all successful, perhaps I will let you all have a turn with that vampire of Komanda Monstra. I am sure I can ask Rosé to hold off on her punishment for a while. I might want one myself."

"I like the sound of that!", One of his men excitedly stated.

At that moment, a couple drops of liquid trickles on top of one of the men's head. He touches it and examines to see red liquid then looks up. He doesn't even have a chance to process what he saw as his throat is slashed open spraying the other's as they see hush on ground in front where man stood needing a moment to recover before she could move.

Boris and the other men were taken aback in surprise.

She looks at them with an expression of pure, animalistic rage. The kind that told every cell in their body to run. How dare these lowly humans talk about defiling her leader?

The rest of them were feeling overwhelming fear at the sight of the Mantis, but not Boris. No, what he felt was excitement at the sight of Mantis. From what he can see alone, in his years in trafficking people, human or liminal, he knew a strong will when he saw it. The kind that is always fun to break. He knew he had to have this one.

"SHOOT HER!", one of the men stated, brandishing his gun to fire at the Mantis.

Hush's pupils dilate, pulling back her one good arm, scythe blade at the ready, like a praying mantis stalking its kill.

Before he could even pull the trigger, the mantis moves in the blink of a slicing off both his arms. She moved onto her next target, slashing open his stomach as he fell to his knees catching his entrails spilling out. They fire on her as she darts around, jumps somersaults off the concrete wall, and decapitates one of them.

The rest scramble, firing at her as she butchers and slices them to pieces as horrified screams and gun fire fill the air and crimson red blood paints the dull gray concrete wall.

Boris, sneaking away from the scene, raises his hand with the inverted cross symbol and clenches his fist. The symbol glows responding to his will.

"Defend your master!", He stated.

Further away, the symbols on the cougar woman's collar glow jolting her back to consciousness as she springs to her feet. She lets out a roar, startling Ivan and his men, then sprints towards Boris' location, knocking a few of Ivan's men out of the way.

"What the hell was that about?!", Ivan stated in confusion.

At that moment, Lovelace walks out of the storage room getting the attention of Ivan and his men. Not wasting time, they point their guns at him. However, he had a strangely calm demeanor as he looked at the men, not with contempt, but pity.

'Five minutes. I'll be back in five minutes.', he remembers telling Marnie before walking out.

"Heh, look at this Ivan. He came out on his own. He must be eager to die.", One of the guys smirks as Ivan ignores him, more focused on the agent.

"Die? I think you're mistaken son.", Lovelace spoke, taking out a cigarette and placing it in his lips. He then raises a clenched hand lighting the cigarette with a flame, puffing it once, much to their confusion. Ivan immediately notices how there was no sound of a lighter being struck before the agent asks, "Now, I just wanna know, who was it that shot my wife?" He removes his glasses and glares at them. His eyes flashes with a menacing energy, reminiscent of the light given off from a nocturnal predator stalking its prey.

Ivan and his men look to him in shock when they heard a sloshing beneath their feet. They looked down, startled to see water swirling around their round their feet forming a perimeter. Lovelace then raises his foot up standing on one leg.

"What the fuck?", Ivan spoke, his instincts telling him something was off.

"It is trap! Shoot him!", One of the men stated pointing his gun before the rest follow suit.

"MOVE OUT OF THE WATER!", Ivan shouted, quickly getting out of the perimeter of the circling water prompting most of his men to follow, leaving the few too stubborn to listen.

Lovelace stomps hard on the ground with such force that it cracks the ground and creates a tremor that knocks the men off their feet. The ground around them caves in from the impact and Ivan, along with the others, fall to the ground in a mess of water and broken down stone. Lovelace then clenches his fist, eyes glow bright blue, as lightning surges around his arm then fires a bolt of electricity at the men electrocuting them. They scream out in anguish as their body convulsed violently and flashed with blue light from the current ripping through their cells; amplified by the minerals in the ground.

Ivan and his look on stunned by what they witnessed then see the calmly approaching putting them on guard.

"You know, I'm not someone who gets angry often. I mean that honestly. You have to cross a certain line with me and, unfortunately, the one you all just trampled over is the worst one you just crossed.", Lovelace emphasized as his eyes change to a fiery red then inhales his cigarette. He then exhales but, instead of smoke, he blows out a stream of fire at the men prompting them to duck their heads to avoid getting burned, "It's one thing I hate about lowlife like you who exploit liminal kind and try to make them into your property, is you think you have all power over them. You think those collars make you better than them? Cuz let me tell ya, you can force obedience but you can't force their loyalty."

"What the hell are you?! What are you talking about?!", Ivan demands, pointing his weapon at the agent.

"I'm simply a human. One who loves his teammates dearly and they love me too. You want me to show you HOW much they love me?"

Lovelace raises both fists, forcing two large rocks out of the ground the punching them with enough force to send them smashing into two of the gangster. They go flowing back landing on the ground unconscious and badly injured.

The agent quickly darted around them with abnormal speed as if he was practically skating on the ground. All the while the Russian try to track his movements.

"SHOOT HIM!", Ivan shouted, firing at the quickly joined by others.

Lovelace ducks and evades, using any nearby structures for cover while keep the firepower away from the buildings as possible to not cause unnecessary collateral damage. He clenches his fist creating three small fireballs then launches them at some of the men, severely burning their arms and chest as they cry out in pain falling to the ground. Lovelace then forces a small stone pillar out of the ground, launching himself like a trampoline and somersaulting over the group.

He lands with tremendous force, cracking ground, as the tremors knock Ivan and his men to the ground again.

"DAMN YO–GAH AHH!", one of the men stated, picking himself up about to fill the agent full of holes. Only for said agent to quickly disarm him then bashes his face in with the end of his own gun.

Lovelace fires it at two other men killing them as Ivan and a few other men duck for cover. Behind some metal discarded furniture and metal trash containers.

The gangster he bashed in the face doesn't relent and pulls out a large enchanted hunting knife going for the agent's kidney.

Lovelace grabs his wrist tightly stopping the attack, breaks said wrist causing the man to holler out, knees up through the chin breaking his jaw. He then grab him by his suit collar and throws the gangster, slamming him right into the large green dumpster much to the others shock. Lovelace winces slightly at a jolt of pain wracking his body, realizing he didn't have much time and need to finish them quick.

"Fire! Fire!", One of them shouts as he and three fire on the agent.

Lovelace throws his arms up raising a wide stone wall the height of his body out of the ground acting as a shield. He then pushes it towards them making glides across the ground with relative ease as he summons a fireball in hand.

"I got your fire RIGHT HERE!", Lovelace stated kicking the stone pillar forward crash right into the metal containers they were using for cover, knocking them for a loop. He then leaps up and, with burning red eyes, increases the size of the fireball throwing it at them. The men scream out in fear, quickly morphing to agony, as their writing bodies are engulfed in flames.

Ivan sees this, peering over a large dirty couch, questioning what the hell they had signed up for. He then looks to the storage room deciding to change tactics.

The gangster sprints over to rush into the storage room where the Undine was, weapon ready, only for a wall of stone to shoot out in his path, causing him to slam right into it hitting his forehead and stumbling clenching his face.

"Haa…where do you think you're going?"

Ivan whips around pointing his uzi at the agent, only for a bolt of lightning to blast it right out of his hand and scorching his palm. He clenches his wrist in pain as steam wafts from his burned flesh.

At that moment, Lovelace grabs him by the throat and slams him against the stone wall holding the gangster with his feet off the ground. The agent panted tiredly, already feeling his body reaching its energy limit.

"It's…*pant* over…you and the rest of your family…are finished.", Lovelace spoke through the fatigue as intense heat emanated from his palm threatening to seer the skin off Ivan's neck.

Ivan clenches his teeth glaring angrily at the arrogant agent. He taps the back of his heel against the stone wall causing a knife blade to pop out to the toes of his shoe and stabs Lovelace deep in the leg.

"GAHH!", Lovelace cries, releasing his grip and stumbling back as Ivan clenches his throat regaining his bearings.

"You're…the one who's finished!", Ivan shouted pulling out his sidearm proceeding to unload the whole clip into the agent's chest.

Lovelace gags and falls backwards to the ground motionless.

Ivan lowers his weapon sighing loudly looking at the dead agent. He then looks to brutally mutilation and charred bodies of his men, some of whom he'd known for years, with remorse that he dragged them into this.

" Pokoysya s mirom, tovarishchi(Rest in piece, comrades.)", He spoke before standing up, then turns his attention to the storage room where he knew the Undine was still injured. At the very least he can bring back a rare elemental type as a prize. He stands glares at the lifeless agent with contempt and spits at, "Now, I'll be taking that wife of yours." As he turns around to head into the storage room.

At that moment, he felt a sudden intense surge of pain go through his back and stomach, stopping him in his tracks. He looks down seeing blood pouring from his mid-section and red hot flaming hand pointed like a dagger stick out, prompting him to bring his trembling hand to it before coughing up blood.

"But…how!?" He asked as blood starts overflowing from his mouth.

"I told you, my teammates really care about me. That includes giving me some insurance in the form of magic and kevlar." Lovelace growled, ripping his shirt to show the bullet proof vest with the glowing dark purple magic seal on it.

Ivan looks back in shock then smirks, "Of…course. Real life plot armor. *Cough* What a fuckin joke. Haa…you'll…never…win…"

Lovelace frees his arm from the now dead Russian body as it drop to the ground.

"Stars and Stripes beats hammer and sickle, look it up in hell dirt bag.", He says with contempt as he leans against brick wall before sliding down it and landing on his ass exhausted. His alarm on his phone goes off as he takes it out and lightly chuckles, "Heh, I beat my record."

"Darling?", Came the voice of Marnie as she stumbled out of the storage room, clenching her side having removed all the enchanted bullets. The Undine's eyes widen looking upon the corpse of Russian gangsters and damaged surroundings, "W-What happened out here?!"

Lovelace tiredly pulls himself up to his feet, limping from the fresh stab wound that hasn't healed yet, going over to help her.

"Marnie! Are you ok?!"

"Aside from my mana still recovering, yes, but what about YOU?! You're bleeding and injured! Oh gods, your leg! What happened?!", Marnie expressed, examining him worriedly.

"Heh, nothing much. These commie clowns just found out they fucked with the wrong guy. Ahh…", Lovelace proudly stated before hunching slightly, using the stone wall for support.

"Did you use those powers again?! You know the strain they put on your body, especially when using all of them at once!", Marnie chastises, touching his chest worriedly getting a feel for his blood flow, "Ah, I can sense your blood pressure is elevated. Here sit down."

"Negatory! Not until the rest of those commie scumbags are taken care of!", Lovelace stated forcing himself up with Marnie supporting him.

"You've done enough, let me take of the rest of them! I just hope and Ms. Kessler found a good hiding place."

"I'm sure they're somewhere safe but I can't let you go at them alone. Not with those magic weapons they have!", Lovelace stated.

"That's a chance I'll have to take. We can't let them get hurt.", Marnie fervently replies.

"I always loved that spirit of yours. The kind I'll gladly go to hell to bitch slap the devil himself for. You know I'm coming with you and nothing gonna tell me otherswise."

Marnie flushes then smiles at him and takes his hand, "You stubborn fool."

"You're one and only.", He smiles proudly before shakily stands to his feet, "Come on, we got a job to finish." Only for Marine to force him to ground again

"First, I'm going to heal your leg cause you won't do any good for any of us if you can't put any weight on it." Marine said but Lovelace knew it was a demand that she wasn't going to budge on.

….

While all that was going on, Caleb and Lyca could be seen hiding for cover in the alley on the side of the building. The sound of gunfire and screaming in the distance rang out around them.

"Chief?" Lyca uttered, noticeably uneasy and afraid.

"It's alright. It's alright," Caleb held her close, trying his best to calm her down, despite also being afraid.

It was then he noticed the cougar Werecat run past the entrance of the alley in a frenzy. Despite every instinct as a black man telling him not to, he had to know what was going on.

"Stay right here," Caleb said to Lyca.

"No Chief! Don't go!" she pleaded, pulling his arm close and gripping him tightly.

"It's alright, I'm just gonna peek around and see what's going on over there."

"Then I'm going too!" Lyca stated, looking him in the eye with a fervent gaze, refusing to let him out of her sight.

Caleb could sense there was no point in trying to convince her.

"OK, but stay close t–"

Before he could finish Lyca pressed herself to his back, gripping his shoulders with a gaze similar to a husky happily obeying their master. Caleb took a deep breath, hoping for the best as the two teleported from their location.

…Meanwhile…

"NO!" screamed one of the gangsters, crawling on the ground, begging for his life before the Mantis stabbed him in the chest, twisting it a little before yanking it out.

Her body was covered with blood and all around her were the bloody, horrifically dismembered bodies of the Malone gang members.

Boris audibly reloaded his gun, getting the Mantis' attention, who faced him with murderous eyes.

He proceeded to unload a barrage of rounds at her. Hush leaped from wall to wall on both buildings, getting a higher vantage as bullets ricocheted off the concrete. She spiral flipped over the Russian man as he tried to get a lock on her before she landed behind him. Boris quickly turned around with his P-90 at the ready but was quickly intercepted when the Mantis girl sliced his weapon clean in half, much to his shock, causing him to stumble back. A wide grin spread across his face.

"Outstanding! You're a very feisty one, aren't ya?! I DEFINITELY gotta have you for my playpen!"

Hush glared with a loud hissing coming from her abdomen, her blood boiling just from hearing him speak. She readied her one good arm to dice him to pieces and prompting Boris to take a step back.

She lunged for him at great speed but was quickly intercepted by the cougar kicking her hard in the side with tremendous force. So much that the impact broke a couple of her ribs and sent her flying, slamming her back to a nearby wall. She violently coughed out from the impact, feeling her spine rattle.

"Hahaha! Right on time!" Boris gloated, strutting up next to the big snarling Werecat, ready for the command to tear the bug girl to shreds. He slapped her on the butt, making her flinch but not react, and remarked, "I knew you weren't a total waste of resources."

He the noticed the Mantis picking herself back up, legs wobbling and holding her side. Her breathing was labored as blood streamed down her face from the top of her head. She took an offensive stance, brandishing her scythe at the ready and bearing her fangs while hissing.

Boris smirked in amusement as the Mantis lunged towards him with killing intent. She brings her scythe blade down on him, but it stopped mid-swing and was pulled away. The cougar Werecat had grabbed the Mantis by her hair, yanking her head back, then delivered a hard punch to the gut, knocking the wind out her lungs as she gagged out and hunched over. The cougar then picked her up by the abdomen, lifting the Mantis overhead, then tossing her off to the side.

Hush grit her teeth, struggling to pick herself up but found that she could muster the strength. Her chest stung horribly with each breath she took from her ribs cutting into lung tissue. Her vision was blurry but she could still make out the image of Russian man and Werecat approaching her.

The Werecat pounced on her, pinning her neck to the ground while baring her fangs, bringing them to her neck to tear her teeth into it.

"NO, don't kill her, just keep restraining her," Boris ordered the Werecat as he walked over to where the remains of his men were.

He looked through the dismembered body parts until he spotted what he was looking for: a black bag that was cut in half with its contents spilled out. He pulled out one of the domination collars and walked over to the Mantis.

"Raise her up!" Boris stated as the symbol on his hand glowed, prompting the Werecat to obey, forcing the Mantis to raise her head.

At this time, Caleb and Lyca could be seen hiding behind a large stack of wooden boxes, having arrived a couple minutes after hearing the gunfire.

"Jesus…" Caleb uttered, unsure of what to make of the situation, especially with the dismembered bodies lying on the ground.

"W-Who is that girl, Chief?"

"...I don't know. Maybe one of Lovelace's folks? Definitely not one of theirs," Caleb replied, observing the scene, "Wait….is that…is that one of those collars?"

Lyca looked to him in surprise then back at the scene. She knew from earlier that those collars were bad news. Now one was being forced onto the liminal woman in front of them.

Boris opened the collar, red symbols flashing for a moment. Hush hissed at him, baring her teeth before the pudgy gangster kicked her in the stomach.

Lyca eyes widened in shock from the act, claws digging into the wood.

"Hiss to me?! Huh?! Know your place, insect, as part of my collection," he spoke before as he moved towards her neck with the collar, "I can't wait to put you to work."

Hush struggled to free herself to no avail before feeling the cold, hard metal clasping around her skin.

The collar fastened onto the Mantis' neck with a click and the bright red runes glowed. Seconds later, the Mantis girl cried out in agony as red spark alit her entire body. She writhed and thrashed at the unbearable pain wracking her body as all life slowly left her eyes. Her body then went limp and Boris commanded the Werecat to release her as she fell to the ground.

Caleb and Lyca looked horrified by the scene as Boris laughed boisterously, standing over the trembling and whimpering Mantis. Lyca stared at them, memories of her old pack flashing in her mind, digging her claws into the wood and letting out a low snarl.

"Have to hand it to Azaeli, she comes through with the good stuff, even in death. I could feel the power coursing at my fingers. Though you're about to experience that power first hand," Boris said as he took out a small knife.

He brings the blade to his hand, making a small cut, drawing blood. The Mantis wriggled desperately, trying to get away but Boris stomped on her injured, arm eliciting loud groans of pain from the young woman.

Unable to watch anymore, Lyca leaped from her hiding spot and sprinted towards Boris on all fours, fangs bared as Caleb tried to stop her.

"Lyca, no!" Caleb cried, trying to grab her and pull her back, but missed.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!"

Boris stopped, eyes widening when seeing the She-wolf leap up, ready to tear him apart.

"Defend!" Boris ordered the cougar Werecat, whose collar glowed brightly, prompting her to leap upwards, intercepting the She-wolf mid-air.

Both liminals fell to the ground, then quickly got to their feet, with the Werecat making a claw swipe at the She-wolf. Lyca dodged then, with a loud bark, tackled the Werecat to the ground. She and the Werecat fiercely wrestled each other, biting and clawing as the cougar snarled and canine growls filled the area.

Boris took out his pistol, aiming for the She-wolf as the Werecat pinned her down, "Filthy loud mouth dog."

Lyca's eyes widened in shock, seeing the man taking aim.

Right as he was about to pull the trigger, Caleb teleported next to him, grabbing his arm with the gun. He kneed him hard in the elbow, forcing him to drop the gun to the ground, eliciting a pained cry as Caleb kicked the gun far away. The Werecat stopped for a moment, distracted by the scene.

Lyca, seeing her mate fighting alongside her, refused to give in and used the distraction. She elbowed the Werecat in the face then tackled her, punching and clawing at her.

Caleb attempted a judo throw on the older Russian man but Boris, refusing to give in, skillfully broke Caleb's hold, to his surprise, then delivered a hard strike to the center of his ribcage.

Caleb gagged from the hit, feeling as if his heart had stopped then started back up, then noticed the man going for a second strike. He quickly teleported several feet back, avoiding the hit, to Boris' surprise.

Caleb took a defensive stance not taking his eyes off the Malone gangster. He glanced at Lyca still fighting with the Werecat then at the Mantis behind him. It was at that moment Boris finally got a good look at his assailant.

"Well, I was wondering when I would get the chance to meet you. The one responsible for causing our organization so much grief. Caleb fucking Bahzel," he spat, glaring at Caleb while the two liminals fought in the background.

"It's pronounced 'Bizzell'," Caleb growled in annoyance.

"Bah! Doesn't matter, you'll be nothing but a forgotten memory soon. I am going to bash your brains out on this concrete. Consider it penance for Nikolai, Jakob, Azaeli and the humiliation you brought to our organization," Boris venomously spoke, taking off his jacket, tossing it to the ground then loosening his tie before taking a martial arts stance reminiscent of Krav Maga.

"Do you Malones ever shut up?" Caleb asked, more agitated than afraid at that point.

A vein bulged on the old man's head, enraged by the African American man's complete disregard of his comrades. With a frustrated yell, he charged at Caleb as the latter braced himself for battle.

…Meanwhile…

Further away, Mirabelle and the others were heading down the street, cutting under a nearby overpass. Zwei and Drei felt a jolt up their spine and their tails stood erect, alerting them to danger. They looked behind to see the Vampire flying towards them.

"We got company!" Zwei called, alerting the others.

Satella's body radiated a crimson red aura and she rocketed towards them, tucking her wings like a falcon locked onto its prey.

Terra leaped back and slammed her fists against the ground, causing a large stone wall to shoot out of the road between the Vampire and the Nightmare.

However, Satella shattered through the wall with a devastating kick, as red lightning pulsated around her body, much to Terra and the other's shock.

Satella grabbed Terra's face, clutching her head tightly as Terra squirmed to get free, then forced her head into the ground. She proceeded to drag her face along the road, tearing through asphalt before throwing the Rock Lizard into a nearby concrete wall along the overpass.

"Terra, no!" Jill cried as Mirabelle trembled in fear and the Zyklons brandished their scythes, ready to attack.

Satella turned her attention to the others, her crimson red eyes glowing menacingly. She took a step towards them before going into a full sprint at blinding speed.

A large dark blue magic seal appeared in front of her, stopping her in her tracks and firing a blast of purple lightning. She flapped her wings, launching herself back into the air and avoiding the attack.

"Go! I'll handle her!" Jill assured, creating a large dark purple magical firing hailstorm of gem-like energy bullets at the Vampire, who flew around, evading the bullets.

Drei then grabbed Mirabelle's hand, making her flinch.

"Come on!" she urged her.

Mirabelle shook her head and galloped onwards with the Zyklons at her side.

Satella flew through the air, dodging the Dark Mage's spell then noticed the Nightmare running away. She was about to take off after her before a large net made of dark purple surrounded her. Jill levitated above her with a haughty smirk.

"Not so fast! You're not going anywhere, hun. This can restrain even a dragonkin! Ohohohoho!" she chuckled heartily as the Vampire scowled at her while brandishing her claws.

Red energy surged through Stella's hands as she crossed her arms then unleashed a barrage of energy blades on the net, striking it with great force in one location.

"Oh, give it up, hun. I just basically told you you're wasting your t–" Jill was cut off from her gloating when the red energy blades tore right through the net, dissipating it entirely. Jill stared at it with a dumbfounded expression, "Eh?"

"HO!" Satella yelled, creating a bright red flash from her entire body, disorienting the Dark Mage.

Satella, moving with blinding speed and cloaked in shadow, appeared behind the Dark Mage, who turned her head in shock. Satella slammed into her, stabbing her claws in the back. Jill cried out, arms and legs flailing, as the Vampire rocketed them through the air after Mirabelle. All the while draining half the blood and mana from her body.

"You mana is not as potent as the Elder Devil's but it vill do!" Satella remarked while Jill groaned painfully.

"I…I didn't give you…permission to slurp me…" Jill strained out with a spiteful look, pointing a finger that had tiny dark purple magic seal on it. It fired a purple beam straight for the Vampire's head.

Satella tilted her head, dodging the beam and shot a look of contempt at Jill before tossing her away into a nearby street. Jill crashed right into the top of a nearby bus stop, gagging up blood from the impact.

Mirabelle and the Zyklons could be seen up ahead, much to the Vampire's satisfaction.

At that moment, both Zyklons felt a jolt shoot through their spine as dread overtook them. They saw Satella land in their pathway tremendously, shattering the concrete beneath as Mirabelle skidded to a stop.

"Jill Lady! What did you do to her?!" Zwei demanded, extending her scythe blades.

"Fuel for the tank," Satella spoke before her body erupted with an intense crimson red aura as sparks of energy crackled the air around her. She then turned her vicious gaze on the trio, "Now…give me my Nightmare."

"You want her. You go through us," Drei said, extending her scythes blades.

"So be it."

Satella vanished in a flash of red, about to split Drei's skull open with chop to the head. Zwei, sensing this, moved with even greater speed, moving her sister out of the way in time. Satella reappeared behind her, surprised by what had happened, looking back to see Zwei glaring at her and holding Drei. Mirabelle looked between, confused at what had just happened.

"Run!" Zwei urged the Centaur.

"O…OK!"

Mirabelle started galloping away as fast she could.

"You're not getting away!" Satella yelled, launching a barrage of crimson red energy bladed towards the Centaur's legs.

Zwei quickly vanished and reappeared, launching her own barrage of pressurized air blades, intercepting the Vampire's attack.

Satella quickly charged a ball of crimson red and black in her palms, pointing it at the weasel, "I'LL DESTROY YOU!"

She fired the ball of blood red death at the weasel girl. Zwei exhaled, focusing her Ki as her scythe started to faintly glow. In a swift and precise motion, Zwei fired a super condensed blade of air, intercepting the blast, resulting in a powerful explosion that ripped through the area.

Mirabelle shielded her head from the rushing air before the shockwave knocked her to ground.

A cloud of thick red and black smoke quickly filled the surroundings as the Vampire focused her senses.

Zwei leaped out the mist from above, spinning like a ball with her knees tucked to her chest then performs an aerial diving kick on the Vampire.

Satella blocked, grabbed the weasel's leg, slammed her into the ground, then kicked her away. She charged her claws with crimson aura but was interrupted when Drei slashed her back legs, throwing off her focus. Drei attempted to slash the back of her neck but Satella instead seizes the little weasel by her neck, proceeding to choke the life out of her.

Suddenly, a sharp object pierced through the Vampire's arm, forcing her to drop the small Karmaitchi. She saw that it was a short spear formed from concrete then looked, with a scowl, at Terra who had recovered but was still noticeably injured.

Drei, seizing the distraction, backflipped away to Mirabelle's side.

"Come on!" Drei urged Mirabelle, who picked herself up. They ran from the scene which Satella noticed.

"No!" She attempted to go after them but it was knocked away by a stone pillar swung by Terra. She recoiled from the blow then bore her fangs, hissing at the Rock Lizard.

"Don't takes your eyes off someone trying to kill you," Terra remarked, then noticed Jill slumped against the crushed wall of the bus stop near them, "Jill! You…You bitch. You're gonna pay for that!"

Satella glared at her, brushing dust from her clothes before grabbing the stone spear and pulling it out her arm. A menacing red aura flared around her entire body as she clutched the stone spear, imbuing it with her mana, "I am so tired of you lower lifeforms getting in my way of absolute power."

The irate Vampire threw the mana spear back at her with great speed.

At that moment, Zwei leaped back in, sliced the spear to pieces mid-air and reducing it to rubble. She struck a pose, ready to support the Rock Lizard.

"Mind if I cut in?"

"I'd rather we make it a tag team," Terra remarked, taking a boxing stance.

Satella vanished in a flash, prompting Terra to guard herself, hardening her skin for extra defense. The Vampire Spartan kicked her away with a devastating force back by red mana as the rock-hard foot claws dragged through the concrete before she came to a halt. Terra raised both fists, forcing jagged stones out of the ground then fired them at the Vampire who blasted through them with a blade of red aura.

Zwei came in from behind to slash the back of her neck but Satella whipped around and slapped the weasel hard across the face, sending her into a spiral before slamming into a wall.

Terra charged at her with large stone gauntlets for fists and started throwing jabs at the Vampire who effortlessly weaved through each swing. Satella caught both stone fists, crushing them to dust as Terra clasped her hands to hers, trying to overpower the bloodsucking fiend, but couldn't do much as budge her. The Vampire them kneed her hard in the gut, making Terra gag violently.

"Is this all?" Satella said in an unimpressed tone, pushing down on the Rock Lizard wrist, threatening to break them and her arms, as Terra winces from the pain.

"Whirlwind-style…" came the voice of Zwei, catching the Vampire's attention. She looked to see the Karmaitchi's body, shimmering with a light green aura, air swirling around her while brandishing her scythes in a crouching position. Her eyes narrowed on her target, changing from emerald green to blood red, "MACROBURST!"

Zwei vanished with a burst of speed, shattering the concrete where she stood, sending the Vampire flying back while engraving several deep slashes all over her body, even her wings. A shower of blood sprayed out from the befuddled Vampire's body. Zwei reappeared in front of the Vampire's face and slashed a deep 'X' right into her chest. Satella grit her teeth as her blood glowed with a malevolent red aura before catching herself.

"COCKY VERMIN!" Satella screamed as a burst of burning red energy exploded from her body, sending Zwei flying upwards. Satella's wound started healing rapidly and her claws grew longer, erupting with crimson red sparks. She and Zwei vanished with blinding speed as shockwaves, generated by the clashing of scythe blade to claw, erupted around the area.

Terra, unable to track their movements, started sprinting to avoid the exploding air getting closer to her.

"Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" Terra cried out as a shockwave exploded behind her, rocketing her high into the air then slamming her against the concrete of the second overpass.

Further ahead, Mirabelle and Drei looked back in shock to see the air exploding with loud bursts. All the while, a concrete wall erupted with a large slash mark and indentations.

"WHAT IN NYX'S NAME?!" Mirabelle gasped, galloping faster with Drei at her side.

"Don't ask questions, just run!" Drei urged.

Zwei, while moving at unreadable speed, went for another killing blow, this time aiming for her carotid artery, hoping she was still disoriented from the explosion. Suddenly, Satella grabbed her by the face, gripping with a force that threatened to tear her face off.

"Enough GAMES!" she bellowed in frustration, throwing the Karmaitchi with great force.

Drei's ears perked up, sensing something heading towards her and turned to see her sister flying at her like a ragdoll. She backflipped upwards, dodging her as time appeared to slow to a crawl.

"Why didn't you catch me?" Zwei said in slow motion with a look of betrayal before violently tumbling to the ground, passing Mirabelle who then skidded to a halt. Zwei landed on her front with her legs bent over her head, face to the ground, lowly groaning.

"Zwei!" Mirabelle cried out.

Drei grit her teeth in agitation, landing on her feet. However, before her feet could even touch the ground, the Vampire delivered a powerful kick square in the small Karmaitchi's back, stunning her as the impact reverberated throughout her body. Mirabelle gave a horrified look upon seeing the Vampire.

As Drei went flying, Satella moved with blinding speed, intercepting Drei with a rising kick straight to the stomach, making her gag out blood and a little vomit. She landed hard on the ground, close to Mirabelle as she gasped.

"Drei, no! A-AHH!" Mirabelle gasped then flinched upon seeing the Vampire approaching her, "S-Stay ba–"

Satella cut her off, slapping her hard across the face, even leaving claw marks. Mirabelle held her face then gave a horrified expression upon seeing the blood on her hands.

"Is this it?" Satella spoke in a low voice, "You weak plebeian trash. You've killed my elite team of assassins? We've taken down entire organizations, countless powerful liminal varriors, and they were defeated by YOU lot?! It's a joke. A fluke! Ember, Madoka, Ranka…vere they really defeated by a FLUKE?!"

"I-I…I don't–GAH!" Mirabelle stuttered, not knowing how to answer before Satella slashed the Centaur's front legs with her claws as she cried out, bending her joints at the pain, blood trickling down to her hooves.

"I have had enough of your covardness to last a lifetime, now I WILL take what is rightfully mine."

As she said that, Drei and Zwei could be seen weakly picking themselves, legs trembling, as Satella and Mirabelle looked at them in annoyance and worry, respectively.

"You…don't own…her…" Zwei uttered through labored breath as blood trickled from her mouth.

"That's…right," Drei added, her breathing erratic then wiped the blood from her lips before shooting a glare at the Vampire, "We're…taking her home…and you…and your allies…can eat shit."

Satella turned her attention to the sisters, channeling red aura in her claws, "I have had enough of your absolute disrespect to me and my comrades prepare to pay the consequences."

Mirabelle's eyes widened, once again seeing her friends about to die for her.

Her mind raced as her pain and heartache grew, along with pure rage aimed at the Vampire. Her eyes flashed purple as more cracks propagated on the collar, where now it seemed ready to break any moment, as she clenched her fists with her purple hair, taking on a black hue for a moment.

Right as Satella was about to finish the sisters off…

SLASH!

Her arms were sliced clean off, much to the Vampire's, and the others', shock and confusion. Satella looks to see, to her disdain, Fantina levitating above her, scythe brandished with an angry scowl. She then conjured a red magic seal and fired a bolt of red lightning at the Vampire, prompting her to leap backwards to evade the attack, putting distance from Mirabelle.

"YOU AGAIN?!" Satella yelled as she ignored the pain she was in from the loss of her arms.

"Nobody touches my scythe but ME!" Fantina yelled, levitating down next to Mirabelle, who looked at her cautiously.

'Is that really what's important right now?' Zwei thought as she forced her body to move and get up.

Fantina tapped her end of her scythe to the ground, forming a white magic seal at by Zyklons' feet, "Don't move."

Their bodies glowed with a white aura as a warming sensation spread through every inch of their flesh, healing their injuries.

"So…you are helping us? OK, I'm just confused right now," Zwei said, not sure what the goat girl was planning,

"Look, I have my reasons, alright?! Don't judge a gift goat in the mouth!" Fantina retorted.

"That isn't at all how the saying goes, you know that," Drei said bluntly, getting up.

"I can EASILY leave you to die. So don't tempt me," Fantina threatened.

"Vhat is this nonsense? Are you still trying to steal the Nightmare for yourself?!" Satella demanded, as her arms started regenerating more slowly than before. Likely from Fantina's magic scythe causing major damage.

Mirabelle looked to the Baphomet, expecting the obvious answer.

Fantina sighed heavily, "...No."

Her answer surprised the Vampire and the others.

"No? So do you just have a death wish with how you are wasting my time getting between me and Nightmare?" Satella questioned angrily.

"Like I told the shit weasel sisters, you don't need to know my reasons. I'm just choosing…to do what's right at least once before I die. Also, her name's 'Mirabelle', you can at least get THAT right."

Mirabelle's eyes widened in surprise, unsure of how to feel or comprehend the goat woman.

"Haha! I told ya, Rosey!" came a familiar voice that got everyone's attention. They looked up to see Acula levitating above them with a wide grin, "BUSTEEED!"

They all looked to see several black cars aligning both sides of the street along the overpass with men in black and red suits pointing guns at them.

"What's that? When did they show up? And who the hell is the red-eyed tentacle troll?!" Zwei said, grossed out by the Gazer's appearance.

"Oh no…" Fantina uttered, catching Drei's attention.

At that moment, Mama Rosé leaped down from the overpass, the impact cracking the concrete below her as a giant blob softened the impact for her host. The red slime armor reshaped into a more sleek and human-like form.

"Whoa! What in the secret boss battle is this?!", Zwei stated incredulously.

"Well, it appears she was right. You are a traitor." Rose said in a venomous tone as a nervous builds on Fantina's head.

…Meanwhile…

Lyca and the cougar werecat were still engaged in a struggle for dominance while the two human men were locked in a heated struggle of grapple breaks and point strike blocks, neither wishing to give an opening.

Caleb could tell from his technique this man had plenty of experience in close quarters combat. His strikes were much stronger than he expected making it difficult to block them and didn't leave any opening for him to exploit. This guy was clearly the more experienced fighter but…Caleb had some tricks up his sleeves. Suddenly, Caleb got too careless with his right flank, leading to a powerful strike into his side.

"Gah!", Caleb elicits, recoiling from the blow before Boris follows through, kneeing him hard in the stomach, flipping Caleb over having him land on the hard ground.

Caleb gags, recovering from the hit, then sees the Russian gangsters looming over him menacing smirking before raising his foot to stomp Caleb in the face. He brings his foot down with all his might only to bounce right off of something, falling backwards.

"W-What?", Boris stated before noticing the small purple energy barrier around Caleb's head as the young man glared at him.

Caleb flips himself back to his feet, teleports in an instant, then kicks the older right in his chest, knocking him to the ground hard. Boris, recoils from the hit then spin flips himself back to his, glaring at Caleb with a bit more caution.

Caleb teleports quickly flanking his left going for an elbow strike to the neck. Boris his attack then goes for a palm and knee strike combo from the Russian man. He then delivers his elbow quick strike to the cBoris' nose making him stumble back from the blow.

"Podonok(Fucker)", He growled as he wiped blood coming from his nose then glares at Caleb, "What are you?!"

Caleb takes an offensive stance, forming a compact purple barrier around his body, "I'm different."

"In that case…", the Russian man grimaces then pulls out a large combat knife with strange symbols on it, holding it tightly in reverse grip as he charges Caleb, "Let see if you still bleed red!"

The russian slashes at Caleb, who attempts to block the blade with his barrier. Only for the knife to cut right through it and graze his skin forcing him to teleport back to get some distance. Caleb looks to his bleeding arm then back at Boris

" Enchanted blade. It was a gift for my loyalty and service to the Malones, which Mama Rose herself gave to me, though I doubted you could understand that level of trust."

"Says the folks that ENSLAVE people!", Caleb retorts in disgust.

"I imagine you should be quite familiar with that for YOUR kind since you clearly don't know your place." Boris said with no remorse.

"OH HELL NAW!", Caleb teleports behind the Russian man, who attempts to pivot slash, only to teleport again, kneeing Boris in the stomach then capitalized with a five piece combo on the Russian man. Boris recoils, spits out blood then strikes back with a slash of his blade cutting into Caleb's chest as he grunts from the pain. The droplet of blood splatters on to the Mantis around her face and one drop lands on the collar. The runes on the collar react glowing red symbols with the collar starting to sparkling purple energy for a few moments until finally the sparks stop and the symbols color changes from red to purple.

The two men fail to notice because of their fight as the two lock arms in a power struggle with Caleb holding his knife away.

"That werewolf, what is she to you, a friend or maybe a lover? I imagine the men back at my pen would love to meet her" Boris taunted, trying to break his opponent's concentration.

"Don't you fucking dare touch her!" Caleb yelled in pure rage with Boris smiling back having found an advantage to push.

"What's wrong?! Are you afraid that if IT meets a real man IT will lose interest in you? Don't worry, once they had their fun, they would return IT to you but I don't think IT will be quite the same after that. I have seen how werewolves are after twenty men go at it for the entire day. IT only think of next time they can breed like the FUCKING STUPID MUTTS THEY ARE." Boris said, emphasizing the last part as he ready himself for what's about to happen.

Caleb doesn't answer but just lightly chuckles much to Boris' confusion.

"You really think those empty threats are gonna work. You clearly don't know her or me for that matter." He said with a smirk, eyes glowing purple and still full of anger, ""If she, or worse, Camilla were in a room with your men, they'd be torn to shreds in seconds."

"What?", Boris stated before noticing a growling sound coming from his left. He attempts to take a glance to see what it is only to meet the amber eyes of a VERY enraged werewolf who proceeds to sink her fangs into his arm hard causing him to drop the knife as he hollers out, "GAHHHHHH!"

At that moment, he sees, to his shock, the cougar werecat lying bloody and bruised unconscious against the walkway of the antique store.

Boris, in a fit of blind rage, balls his fist about to hit her. Only for Caleb to grapple his arm back then strike his elbow hard enough to bend his arm the wrong way. Boris cries out in pain.

Behind them, Hush's eye weakly as she tilts her to see, through blurry vision, the battle unfolding between the Malone and another human male she didn't recognize.

"Then again…not like I'd EVER let it get to that point anyway.", Caleb spoke, every word dripping with malice and burning purple eyes full of contempt.

Lyca rips herself away, tearing some flesh from the gangster's arm as he cries out in agony. She then pivots back, sharing a glance with Caleb who nods, then the couple delivers a double spartan kick on the Russian man sending him flying back and tumbling to the ground.

Hush weakly turns her head seeing Boris groaning clutching his bleeding arm with his other barely functioning hand.

'This can't be happening! How could I possibly lose to that runt of a dog and some nobody freak? Where the hell is that idiot Ivan to put a bullet in their skulls?!', Boris thought bitterly before noticing Caleb and Lyca glaring at him in disgust.

"This fight's over. You're arms are useless right now. I suggest you throw in towel before we jump you straight into the ICU.", Caleb warns in a cold tone as Lyca bears her fangs growling.

Boris clenches his teeth feeling his blood boiling then remembers something else he grabbed earlier.

"Nngh…", a low grunt came from the mantis as she tried to move her body to no avail.

"Ah! Chief, she's ok!", Lyca stated before going over to Hush, who looked up at the She-wolf seeing the genuine concern on her face.

"Lyca, stop! We still don't know–"

Click

An audible click of metal gets their attention.

Fight's over, you say?", Boris spoke getting as they look to him, seeing him holding something in his trembling, badly aching hand then spits out a metal object to the ground, "NOT WHILE I DRAW BREATH!"

He chucks a black object at them and quickly runs away, snatching up the pistol on the ground, as Caleb's eyes widen in shock realizing what it is he threw.

Not wasting time, Caleb grabs Lyca be the shoulder and touches the Mantis' leg before attempting to teleport them away. Right at that millisecond, the object detonated sending a burst of golden mana that obliterated the surroundings leaving a crater. The resulting shockwave of energy temporarily nullifies Caleb's teleportation sending him, and the two girls, flying back before tumbling along the ground.

"Ouch are you two ok?" Caleb ask the two while trying to get his bearings of where they are now.

"Ah…my legs…they feel numb! " Lyca responded back in slight panic, not able to move them.

"What?", Caleb spoke in concern looking before kneeling down seeing the bruises and bleeding cuts all over her legs, likely from her fight the that Werecat of his, and scooping the She-wolf up bridal style, "Up we go."

He forces himself to stand, his body still rattled from the point blank explosion.

She smiles at him before realization hits her and she looks around "Wait! W-Wheres the bug girl?"

Caleb the realizes he didn't hear a response from the mysterious mantis girl, causing him to get concerned. He looks around to find where she landed.

His eyes suddenly land on a figure lying face down on the ground near the trash containers.

"Ah…I think I see her–!"

BANG

Before he could finish a gunshot goes off and bullet enters his right thigh, making him fall to his knee almost dropping Lyca.

"GAHHH!"

"CHEIF!"

Caleb clutches his bleeding leg then sees, to his panic, Boris limping toward him, his good arm extended with his pistol pointed at the pair.

"STILL ALIVE?! You're like COCKROACHES!", He starts popping off rounds at them as Caleb hold Lyca close and teleports them a short distance away behind some wooden crates cover, bullets ricocheting off the boxes and even shattering a nearby window of the building, "BUT LIKE ANY BUG, YOU JUST NEED TO CRUSH THEM UNDER YOUR BOOT!"

Caleb looks to his hand attempting to conjure a barrier but finds he can barely muster the energy. He couldn't even teleport farther than ten feet right now. Whatever kind of explosive that was, it seems to be interfering with his powers. He then touch his legs, seeing it was still bleeding.

"LEG FOR AN ARM! BLOOD FOR BLOOD! THAT'S HOW OUR ORGANIZATION WORKS!"

"Chief, are you ok?", Lyca inquires with worried eyes before more rounds are fired and strike against the wood.

"I-I'm fine. You just stay right here. For REAL this time…"

Lyca wanted to protest but knew she'd only get in the way with her legs in the state they are.

Caleb hugs her head close to his chest then kisses the top of her head before locking eyes with her, "I'll be back I promise fuzzy." Told using her nickname to calm her a little.

Lyca nods, choosing to trust her mate as Caleb looks in the trigger happy Russians direction as audibly ricochet then grabs a nearby wooden plank.

Boris holds the gun in his teeth while taking out some fresh round, reloading his weapon, then cocking it with his teeth.

"Come out Caleb Barzell and DIE like a man! Or would you rather I put down the dog first?!", Boris shouted, before he notices the mantis lying on the ground, "I'm almost tempted to put a round in your skull too."

If she hadn't killed his men they would have easily put an end to those two.

That is when an idea hit Boris on how to put an end to those roaches once and for all.

"But I think I have a much more fitting job for you." Boris said to himself as he quickly went to the Mantis while keeping an eye out for his enemies.

Once he reaches her, he quickly wipes some of his blood onto the collar. He waits for it to react, only for nothing to happen, much to his confusion and frustration.

"What's going on? Just accept it! You fucking piece of junk!"Boris before grabbing Hush by her hair forcing her up to his face shouting at her, "Get up and OBEY ME! PROTECT YOUR MAS–"

"AAHH!", Caleb screams hitting the Russian hard in the back with a large wood plank, breaking it in half, "MY NAME IS BIZZELL!"

"GAHHH!", Boris cries, falling to his hands and knees, then quickly turns, pointing the gun at his attacker.

Only for Caleb to smack the weapon out his hand with the broken plank then proceeds to bash him across the face repeatedly into a bloody mess, "And. She. Is. A. FUCKIN. WOLF!"

Boris, with a furious cry, kicks Caleb hard in the thigh where the bullet was still stuck. Caleb cries out falling to one knee then get a boot to the face knocking him to the ground, rattling his brain. He falls to his back clenching his head as Boris shakely stands to his feet. He stumbles over to Caleb, face dripping with blood, the stomps him the stomach. Caleb lurches forward,

violently coughing out blood and whatever contents of his stomach, before cradling himself as he coughs uncontrollably.

"I can see why…Rosé wants you dead! We can't…have trash like you…acting out for these creatures! Treating them like anything more…than a COMMODITY!", Boris berates, stomping Caleb in the back then starts repeatedly stomping him, "It's bad for business! Who do you think you are?! You aren't a hero to these inhuman freaks. You aren't shit!"

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!", Lyca bark loudly, getting his attention, as she crawls towards them determined to protect her mate.

"Hehe. Hahaha! Look at this! She's quite the fighter isn't she?", Boris chuckles heartily as Caleb weakly looks up at her, "You know what I think, let's see if she can keep going without a head. Then I'll finish you. Or maybe I'll ever see what that head of hers can do hehehe?"

Caleb weakly pulls himself up, seeing the Russian man picking up the combat knife from earlier then walks towards the paraplegic werewolf. He clenches his fist, as his anger grows towards the Russian gangster.

'No. Don't you touch her.', Caleb thought glaring intently at Boris as every bit of him wanted the man in front of him dead.

The runes on Hush's collar start to glow as if reacting to something. Her body slowly starts to rise up against her own will, almost like she was possessed.

Boris stands over the She-wolf with his knife at the ready and in amused grin as Lyca snarls at him, baring her teeth.

"How about we have some fun?"

"Screw YOU!", Lyca bark, swiping her claws at the russian, only for him to raise his leg away then stomp on her arm, eliciting pained screams from the She-wolf before kicking her hard in the chest onto her back

Caleb's eyes shot wide in horror, his pupils changing from brown to bright purple, as the Russian man plants his boot right at her neck. Lyca gags and whimpers in all the while Boris looks her body up and down in satisfaction.

"I'm going to take my time with you.", Boris remark, licking the blade.

"You… motherfucker…touch her…AND I'LL KILL YOU!", Caleb screams to the top of his lungs.

Hush's eyes shot open, pupils dilated, before extending her one scythe blades and dashing past Caleb with great haste.

"I would LOVE to see you tr–", Boris tauntingly remarks turning to him before he was cut off…by the mantis girl stabbing him right through the chest, blade exiting his back. Boris gags up blood in a state of shock, as were Caleb and Lyca. He looks down at the cold, lifeless eyes of the mantis.

Hush quickly removes her blade before stabbing him again, this time straight in the heart, before removing her blade. Boris chokes on his own blood then falls dead on the ground beside Lyca, who immediately scoots herself away from his body, then focuses on the mantis standing motionless like a statue before falling over unconscious.

Further away, the runes on the Werecat collar start to glow before unlocking and falling off her neck as the mana inside disperses.

…. Elsewhere…

Down in the PlayPen at the Malones headquarters, one of Boris' clients could be seen finishing up his session with one of the enslaved liminal females, a Greater Devil. He held her head against the bed as she grits her teeth in discomfort and humiliation.

"Haaa! Haa…oh shit. That was good.", The man sighed before removing himself then lighting up a smoke chuckling at the devil woman lying on the bed limp. He fastens his belt and zips his pants up then grabs his shirt slinging it on his body shoulders, "Same time next week, darlin. Try to get my bud down here too for his birthday." He told her laughing.

The Greater Devil woman digs her claws into the bed in humiliation, eyes shut tight.

Click

The sound of a metallic click caught their attention. The Greater Devil feels a sudden sense of relief around her neck as she raises her head, only for the collar to slide off her neck and land on the bed. She just stares at it for a few moments as she feels her mana slowly return to her not even hearing her client calling out to her. She looks to him, seeing the confused look on his face, as her rage swells before a red magic forms on her palms.

Outside, a few of Boris delegates he left in charge could be seen with two clients showing off a lineup of available females: two weresheep, an Inari, an orc, and two more greater devils. All of them wore a lifeless expression on their faces.

"I don't know, seems kinda steep just for one hour. Is she even that good?", One of the clients asks, looking the Inari up and down.

"It's 500 or nothing! Getting a hold of creatures like her isn't easy!", The gangster stated, not budging.

"If you're looking to be frugal, I'd go with these devils. Only 300 for the pair. Believe me, the experience is worth it.", One of the gangsters spoke, dragging his dirty hand up one of the girls' back, making her shudder in fear and revulsion.

"Come on man go for it! We can split it!", His friend urges.

"F-FINE but they be–" the client said pulling out his wallet before being cut off mid sentence by an audible

Click…thud

The men look to see the Inari woman's collar lying on the floor at her feet. The Inari herself stares at it trying to process what is happening.

That was when the sound of multiple clicks echoed in the room followed by the thud of metal hitting the floor. The liminal women were taken off guard seeing their enslavement collars on the ground. The Malone gangster where confused expressions not understanding why the collars just came off.

"AHHHHHHHHH!", a blood curtling scream echoes from one of the rooms, startling everyone. A red magic seal appears on one of the doors before exploding in flash of red fire sending chunk door material everywhere while everyone ducks an shields themselves from the blast. They see, in the smoke, a figure surrounded in shimmering red aura and demonic red eyes approaching them.

One of the gangsters pulls out a gun, quickly followed by the others, but the enraged greater devil points her finger firing a straight red beam three each of their skulls, killing them instantly as they fall to the floor.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!", one of the clients screams out in fear.

The two weresheep and Inari scream out in horror as the devils and orc take a moment to process what was happening. It was then they felt their strength and power quickly returning. They look to their fellow devil that just killed the men and she nods to them.

"It is time.", she spoke in her demonic voice with a noticeable German accent.

"T-Time…for what?", One of the weresheep girls fearfully ask, trembling as she hugged her friend.

The two greater devils walk past them, their aura flaring around them as they narrow their demonic red eyes on the two human men backing away in fear.

"Revenge.", "Revenge", they spoke simultaneously, baring their claws conjuring black magic seals.

They lunge at the two men who cry out in fear quickly replaced by visceral tearing of flesh, blood splattering, and screams of anguish all while the two weresheep and Inari look on in horror with orc ripping off a table leg to use as club before joining the devil's in the slaughtering.

It wouldn't be long before the entire PlayPen is turned into a human slaughterhouse as screams of terror fill the entire floor.

…Back to Caleb…

Caleb slowly picks himself up, stumbling a bit and holding his stomach as he limps towards Lyca. He winces at the pain from the beating he just took.

"Lyca…", Caleb utters weakly.

"Chief!", Lyca stated, crawling over to him.

"Here they are!", shouted a familiar voice getting their attention.

They turn to see Marnie coming towards them limp running with Lovelace right behind her.

"Mr. Bizzell! Ms. Lyca!", Marnie stated running up to them before she and Lovelace stop in her tracks, shocked at seeing their injuries and the two bodies lying on the ground beside them. Cale takes a step forward but stumbled on his injured leg before falling to the side.

"Chief!", Lyca cried out..

"Whoa there! Easy there soldier.", Lovelace says catching him in time before easing Caleb down in a seated position against a nearby pole. He then sees the bullet wound on his upper thigh, "Marnie!"

Hearing that she moved to go heal his wounds only for Caleb to shake his head "No, help Lyca and the other girl first."

Caleb told them even if everyone knew that was a lie Marine hesitantly went over to Lyca. She lies the She-wolf down flat on her stomach touching her hands to her back.

"What happened here?"

Caleb looks to the dead gangster and sighs before utters, "Haa…people tryna kill us, as usual."

"Well if it's worth anything the rest of our pursuers are dead as well so we should be safe for now." Lovelace told him then looked at the dead overweight gangster.

"Ok, you're going to feel a little something here. Are you ready, sweety?", Marnie says moving her hands in Figure-8 motion shifting her blood around Lyca's back.

"Y-Yeah."

"On three. 1-2-3!", Marnie does a pushing motion as a snap sound could be heard from Lyca's back prompting sharp canine help from the She-wolf.

After a few seconds adjusting to the pain, Lyca could feel blood rushing back to her legs and the numbness fading.

"I-I can feel my legs again!", Lyca stated before hopping to her feet, stumbling a bit.

"Easy now! You're blood needs more time to circulate."

"She's certainly still full of energy even after a tough fight! What a trooper.", Lovelace commends then turns to Caleb, "So, any chance you can explain who this girl is and the sliced and diced bodies we passed by to get here?"

"She…was fighting this guy and his men, and that huge Werecat lady that attacked us. I figured she was with you guys but…clearly that's not the case, apparently."

"Well, she has an enslavement collar on…so maybe they brought her?", Lovelace theorizes.

"No that…thing was put on her right little after we got here. We saw it.", Caleb explains cautiously looking at the liminal woman of unknown origin.

"Well, she did save us by killing the bad man.", Lyca points out, not sure if changes things.

"Still, maybe don't wake her up, better safe than sorry. Still heal her though."

"That's awfully kind of you, even though you are still wounded yourself.", Marnie says comfortingly.

"Please don't remind me. I'm doing my absolute best to stay awake and not go into shock.", Caleb insists, refusing to look down at his bullet wound.

"Oh, you said earlier this girl was fighting the Werecat right? Did she…", Lovelace inquires not wanting to say the word, fearing the outcome. Marnie listens in as water circulates around the Mantis' wounds, healing minor ones quickly.

"N-No, but Lyca did beat her up pretty bad. She knocked over by the garage.", Caleb informs, gesturing to his right.

"Ah. Good. We were worried that poor girl may have been killed in this squabble.", Marnie sighs in relief.

"There's like…sixteen butchered bodies over there and you drop that bombshell now?", Caleb remarks the looks to the body of Boris is disgust, "But you know what, I say good riddance to all these motherfuckers."

Lyca and Marnie give him a worried look.

"Don't make it sound so harsh. We know these were all people, probably did a little bit of good for some of the people in their lives. That doesn't excuse them for ruining the lives of God knows how many others. Two wrongs don't make a right.", Lovelace says looking back where he left Ivan's body and his men this at Boris, "Personally, I don't like to say 'I'm glad they're dead'. I just feel pity for how they wasted their lives causing misery to others, when they could've been so much more. Delight in others' downfall and you sour your own heart. Remember that."

Caleb goes silent letting his words sink in while also careful not to shift his body too much.

"All done, I managed to patch most of her wounds and return to blood flow to her broken arm. She'll still need more time to fully recover but she is at no risk of permanent damage to her body. Now let me see about that leg of yours young man.", Marnie says, moving over to Caleb.

"We can sort out the details later. First, we heal our wounds. Then we–", Lovelace insists before a familiar voice cuts him off.

"COMMANDER!", shouted a voice from above, catching everyone's attention as they see a winged figure descending from the sky. Lyca bares her fangs, growling at the possible threat.

"Ahh shit! What now?!", Caleb stated fearing the worst.

Lovelace and Marnie's eyes widen in surprise and delight as they descend several feet away from them. It was Nanaja.

"Nana!", Lovelace smiled stand up to greet her.

"You're ok!", Marnie stated, running up to her teammate hugging her, forgetting about Caleb's legs much to his disbelief.

"Commander! Marnie! You're ok!", Nanaja happily cheered with her wings wrapped around the Undine shaking her back and forth. She then notices a confused Caleb and Lyca, "Wait, who are they?"

"Took the words out of my mouth.", Caleb says.

"That's Caleb Bizzell and his homestay Lyca. He's the host family for Ms. Marequine.", Marnie informs.

"Oh. Nice to finally meet ya.", Nanaja remarks with a toothy grin.

'She accepted that quick.', Caleb thought, raising an eyebrow.

"Nice to meet you too!", Lyca happily stated greeting the Wyvern.

'These two are kindred spirits.' Lovelace thought

"How did you even find us? And why didn't you respond when I was reaching out to you", Lovelace inquires curiously.

"S-SORRY FOR WORRYING YOU COMMANDER! Our com pieces were lost in our fight with Komanda Monstra Salamander! Voltaira and I had to recover for a bit with some enslaved liminals we saved. We flew around until I caught your scent. Then we split up and tracked you here. That's when I noticed all the dead bodies. Seriously, what happened here? And who's the bug girl?"

"W-We'll get to that later. Go back to the part about Voltaira. What do you mean you 'split up'?", Lovelace inquired curiously.

"Oh, right! You don't know.", Nanaja spoke as Caleb and the others looked at her curiously, "There's something REALLY big and bad going on at the street a couple miles from here! She went to investigate."

"From here? T-That's the route Ms. Marequine and the others were headed!", Marnie stated.

Caleb give a horrified look, fearing Mirabelle and the others safety.

…Back to Mirabelle….

"W-What are you talking about?!", Fantina stated.

"About you never intending to give the Nightmare to her and how you're working with ICEP again, duh!", Aclua said with a wicked smile levitating around. "Though before you at least didn't make it seem obvious but then you went and admitted your work with the ICEP out loud. Really shot yourself in the foot. Or should I say hoof?"

"You! What have you been telling her?!" Fantina yelled glaring at Acula who just kept smiling.

"Do not move! All of my men are equipped with mana nullifying ammo and they will shoot if they do much a see you BREATH strangely!", Rose enforces as her men have their weapons at the ready. A few even have sniper rifles.

Mama Rosé then looks over at the still armless vampire, who's arms were slowly regeneration with a crack of red sparks.

"And look what else I find but the leader of her own band of traitorous clowns herself. It would seem I am turning over stones to find many of those lately"

"Huhuhu, looks like a few stones managed to escape your sight.", Satella chuckles with a smirk hold her stumpy arm behind her back then shooting Acula a glance, who pretends not to notice.

Mama glares at the vampire, her slime morphing from tendril to sharp claws, "I always knew you would bare those fangs against me sooner or later. Though I always wondered, why take so long?"

"I vish it was that simple. Between the hellhounds, magic veapons, and your endless supply of 'pets', as much as it pains to say, ve could be overwhelmed. So I vaited until the time vas right and your foundation was veak. Fortunately, I did not have long to vait. Thanks to an…anomaly I could not predict.", Satella explains, looking over at Mirabelle and the others then back at Rosé, "I am taking the Nightmare power...and I vill kill you. ALL of you."

Acula feels a sudden chill go up her spine.

"Unfortunately, it is you who will die here tonight, Vampire. I am going to remove your head and laminate your skull then display it in my office. Along with the other traitors.", Rose says in a cryptic tone.

"Yeesh, I'll never tease you about your origami dolls again.", Zwei whispers to her sister.

"As for you, Fantina, before I have one of my men put a bullet in YOUR skull, I want you to feel the same pain I feel right now."Mama Rosé bitterly spoke, dialing a number on her phone then putting it on speaker for all to hear.

Fantina looks on, as the dialing could be heard, wondering what she could be up to. Finally someone picked up.

'Dobryy vecher( good evening), Rosé.', came a gruff Russian man's voice.

"Are you in position?"

'Da, at the entrance, awaiting your order.'

"W-Whats going on? What are they doing?!", Fantina demanded as dread crept in her senses. Acula observed with a smirk taking every angle of her horrified face.

"A Witch hunt.", Mama Rosé answered in a venomous tone as Fantina's eyes widened in fear, "Do it."

"NOOOO!", Fantina cries out as tears form in her eyes as an explosion is heard on the other end.

Then a minute passed and Mama Rosé and others listening didn't hear any gunfire or screams, just complete silence.

"Well, what are you waiting for?! Kill them all!", Rose demanded.

'A-Apologies but…there's nothing here! T-The entire floor is empty!', the man on the phone explains as he and the other armed gangster could be seen standing in a huge empty white room.

Fantina gives a stunned look upon hearing those words then whispers, "She got the message."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'EMPTY'? THERE'S A WHOLE FUCKING VILLAGE OF PERVERTS AND LITTLE GIRLS UP THERE!", Rosé shouted in anger as Mirabelle and the others were taken aback in confusion.

'I don't know there is– wait what is going on out there!', the man says as loud noises could be heard in the background. It was quickly followed by terrified screams, gunfire, crashes and visceral sounds of flesh being torn much to everyone's surprise, 'STAY BACK! STAY BAAHHHHHHHHHHH!'

The phone immediately disconnects.

"What is going on? ANSWER ME!", Rose yelled at the phone getting no response and turned to Acula "Tell me what Is going on back there NOW!"

"I don't have one of my Eye Spies over there so I don't know. Whatever It is sounds like a real shit show though."

"Sis am I the only one who can't keep up with all the twists that keep happening today? Is this the fifth or sixth one?" Zwei asks Drei who remains silent.

"Hahahaha, it vould appear your empire is crumbling. How tragic.", Satella chuckles loudly, getting their attention.

"SILENCE MONSTER!", Rosé shouted in anger.

"Already giving into your emotions, pathetic. You humans vith your tools and societies, believing you are all powerful. Above everything and everyone. Vhen in reality, you are VERMIN with limited lives, limited dreams, and limited ambitions! And yet, despite scurrying along down in the filth, you look at yourselves as gods.", Satella says before removing her now fully regenerated arms from behind her back, her entire body surging with red aura, "Are you vermin ready to feel the wrath of a god?"

"Kill her!", Rose shouted.

Satella vanishes in a cloud of black and red smoke, moving with blinding speed as gunfire rings throughout the area. She has several red energy blades which slice and dice some of her men into blood chunks as they scream out in agony.

Mama Rosé, having enough of her men being lost, clenches her hands as the slime suit increases in density and she leaps with tremendous force, shattering the concrete, and slashing at the vampire with pressurized slime claws. Satella manages to dodge the attack, then throws multiple strong jabs at the old woman who defends, absorbing the hits.

"Finally choosing to get your hands dirty for once?", Satella remarks, before throwing a wicked right hook on the old woman, sending her flying back.

Suddenly, Mama Rosé slime arm stretches out to an inhuman length, wrapping the vampire woman leg, to her surprise.

"I don't mind at all! HOW DO YOU THINK I BUILT THIS BUSINESS?!", Mama Rosé stated, before whipping her body, dragging Satella and slamming her into the concrete wall shattering it and forming a large crater.

Satella flies out, eyes burning red and brandishing her glowing claws then several slime arm from her leg. All while ignoring the burning from the acid eating away her skin which would regenerate quickly anyway. She then forms to balls of red mana and rockets towards the old woman tossing them like shurikens. Mama Rosé dodges them both as the strike the surroundings creating massive explosions the shake the entire area and her men take cover.

"Do not just stand around! RETRIEVE the Nightmare! I will deal with this wretch!", Mama Rosé orders her men, creating long slime claws.

Her men turn their attention to Mirabelle's group then get in their vehicles.

"OK! Shows over! Time to book it!", Zwei stated, urging Mirabelle along then looked at Fantina, "Hey! You coming with us or do you wanna take your chances with the slime grandma and god complex?"

Fantina ignores the weasel, focusing her attention upwards to Gazer levitating far away from the chaos. The one who attempted and nearly got her entire coven, her family killed. She raises her scythe, a blue magic seal forming below her.

"Go. I have something to take of here.", Fantina says in a serious tone laced with anger then flies up into the sky.

"Hey!", Zwei called but quickly realized it was in vein, "Does she have a death wish or what?"

"That's her problem to worry about. We still have a mission to complete.", Drei says, gesturing to her and Mirabelle to follow.

Mirabelle and the Zyklons start heading away from the scene.

'Be careful.', Drei thought to herself.

Above them, Acula could be seen observing the conflict and destruction with childish glee.

"Hehehe, look at em go! Wonder who I should bet on. Ahhh doesn't matter. I win now. Hmm, can't have either questioning my loyalty when this is over though. Better come with a pound of flesh to prove my loyalty. Ooh, and what do I spy with my little eyes? Eenie...meenie…miney…you", Acula says she focuses her tentacle eye on Zwei and Drei, debating on who she should kill first, and settles on Drei.

Her tentacle eye starts to glow with red light, charging up energy. Acula stop charging and gives an annoyed sigh. She ducks her head, avoiding the blade of Fantina scythe from decapitation.

"Really? A sneak attack on ME? I thought you were smarter than that. I was just about to give shorty a new fuckable hole.", Acula remarks in displeasure arms crossed.

"Why are you doing this?! Are you siding with the Malones or that vampire?! WHAT ARE YOU GETTING OUT OF ANY OF THIS?!", Fantina demanded, brandishing her scythes.

Acula gives her an unfazed look arms folded behind her back and calmly says, "I was just bored. That and I just don't like you."

Fantina pauses at her statement, trying to process the absurdity of her answer.

"You did all of this because you were BORED?!" Fantina yelled at her.

"Yep, that and they each were making promises of power and riches to me but mainly I went along cause I was bored and clearly it was the right decision. I haven't had this much since last month." She said with a smile, "What can I say I LOVE to watch. People can be so entertaining when they're pushed a certain way. How they react, what they do, dark secrets they expose, the looks on their faces, it's all so delicious. It makes me fucking wet."

Fantina aura surges around her trembling body as she grips the scythe handle barely containing her rage.

"Oooh, that's what I'm talking about! You mad? Show me. Show me how mad you are Pedo goat.", Acula spoke levitating closer to her.

Fantina shoots a fiery look of unbridled fury at her and roars, "I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!"

She swings her scythe at the Gazer multiple times, who easily dodges floating backwards with an ecstatic flushing grin.

"There we go! Hahaha that's the stuff!"

Fantina conjures a several red seals before shooting a barrage of fireball-like projectiles all aimed at the Gazer flying around dodging the blasts as her tentacle eyes glow brightly.

"Counter attack!", She yells, firing six straight red beams of energy, ripping the projectiles in half making them explode.

Fantina release her scythe as it levitates by her in front of radiating red aura. It starts spinning at high velocity like a buzzsaw before launching it right at the Gazer.

Acula sees the magic buzzsaw heading towards her then fires a much stronger beam from her primary eye intending to disintegrate it. Only, to her surprise, the buzzsaw scythe cuts through the beam like Moses parting the Red Sea. She then concentrates three more eye beams on it while the others continue countering her energy blast. It was in vein as the scythe continues advancing, forcing her to dodge, leaning backwards as the rotating passes barely a millimeter from her primary eye.

She leans forward in relief only for the Baphomet slam her hoof dead in her stomach, making her gag as she's pushed forward. Acula then notices from one of her eyes the curving around to rip into her back with Fantina pushing her into it with a vicious gaze.

"GAZER FLASH!", Acula shouted doing a double peace sign as a blinding red light emitted from her large eye stuns the Baphomet.

"Ghhhh! My eyes!", Fantina elicits as the her scythe stops in place.

At that moment, Acula comes down from the top dropping an axe kick right on Fantina's head, sending her tumbling in somersault, then charging energy in all her eyes to unleash a combined laser blast down and screaming, "GET FUCKED!"

Fantina's scythe, responding to her will, starts rotating again surrounded by a red aura, then zips through the air and intercepts the beam splitting while shielding the falling Baphomet.

Acula scowls in irritation and, with a loud cry, intensifies the beams, pushing the scythe back. Fantina, who's sight started returning, creates a large red magic seal beneath her for support and throws her arms forward outputting her mana on the scythe and starts pushing through in fierce struggle. Both girls scream out refusing to let the other overpower them. Their energy outputs create a large explosion that sends the two of the rockets away in opposite directions. Fantina quickly summons her scythe to her hand and slices a portal space before she makes impact with the concrete.

Below, Satella and Mama Rosé were still engaged in fierce combat with the latter absorbing and rebounding the vampires attacks.

Satella fires several red energy blades at the mob boss who dodges each of the blasts with surprisingly precise footwork. Rosé, guided by her Krasni, reshapes her arms into a defensive shield as the vampire vanishes with blinding speed and delivers a powerful from kick that sends the old woman sliding back.

"Haa, excellent work Krasni.", Rosé spoke to the red covering her body as her arms returned to their original form. Tiny slime eyes appear on her shoulders and make a cooing sound.

"That pet of yours is strong. I understand vhy you always kept it so close.", Satella remarks, standing atop one of the men she killed.

"One reason yes. She has many uses that make her indispensable.", The mob boss spoke forming her hand into different shape stopped at an ax blade, "But, since the day I found her, I see her as one of my own loyal children."

"Huh, never imagined someone as ruthless as you would sentimental over a simple creature!", Satella mocks before fires a red energy ball at Rosé.

Rose launches herself upwards then swings her slimes blade ax arm to vampire, "You are going to be killed by that same creature!"

Satella dodges as the slice ax demolishes the vehicle cleaving it like wood before it explodes.

"HA! It just so happens I DEVOURED the blood of one of your LOYAL children some time ago! Elijah was it?"

Mama Rosé eyes widen, feeling a surge of anger but tries to remain calm. She replies venomously, "So I've heard. Believe me, I PLAN TO MAKE YOU SUFFER FOR THAT!"

Satella smirks feeling she was getting the upper hand, then notices the Nightmare was nowhere in sight. She curses herself for losing sight of her true goal for a moment.

She then hits Mama Rosé with two more red mana spheres to drive her back then tries flying off in the direction Mirabelle and the others went. Only for Mama Rosé to stretch her slime arm like a rope, grabbing the vampire my the leg.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?! The Nightmare belongs to me and my men!"

"I think not! Only I am deserving of having such power!", Satella asserts before splattering the slime arm and freeing herself, then flying off, "THE NIGHTMARE BELONGS TO ME!"

Suddenly, the vampire is stopped by a figure descending in her path with a bolt of lightning then slashes her with bright blue glowing claws. Satella recoils back, arms bleeding, putting some distance between her and her assailants. A large blue and green harpy.

"No, that girl doesn't belong to EITHER of you!", Voltaira spoke with disdain, electricity pulsating with each flap of her wing.

Satella glares the points a her hand at her to form a red ball of energy, "Out of my VA–"

The vampire is cut off when a blue buzzsaw-like energy blade rips past her, slicing off both of her wings. As she's falling out the sky, she looks to see Camilla off to her right in the distance. She clenches her fists furiously, somersaults mid-air, and lands on her feet in a squatting position, cracking the earth beneath from the impact. Her severed wings landed on the ground by her side and she glares up at the Elder Devil with pure contempt.

"I told you before I WON'T LET JU TOUCH HER!", Camilla stated levitating closer to the Thunderbird.

"What is this?! Who are…AH!", Mama Rosé stated before seeing the ground open up to ensnare her legs, prompting the old woman to quickly lift herself out. She is the intercepted by a fireball that strikes her from behind, dissolving the slime and seering her back, "GAHH!

Rosé looks up to see four liminal women posted up atop the overpass.

"Sorry but she isn't who you should focus on." Terra told her

"That's right! You aren't going anywhere either! Mama Rosé! You're under arrest by order of Georgia's ICEP division! For what? Take your pick because the list is as long as the number of different species there are in this world!", Pyra stated, pointing an accusatory finger.

"You will not lay a finger on Ms. Marequine.", Ein stated with a cold gaze.

"You'll never take the artichokes!", Jill slurred, her body twitching, staff limpy at her side and still pale in the face as the other girls looked at her with concern. The Dark Mage was still a few quarts low on blood.

"Yeahhh we should definitely get Marnie to check up on her after this." Pyra says in a matter of fact tone.

"At least that Devil woman was nice enough to lend her some mana to heal herself up a bit. I'm just glad she's alive", Terra points out.

"Ah ah ah stayin' aliiiiive!", Jill changed in a drunken sing songy voice.

"Focus!", Ein stated, bringing the back to the task at hand. She extends her scythes, crossing them as she faces the mob boss, "If you're really Mama Rosé, leader of the Malone's, then it's in your best interest to surrender right now. You're surrounded."

Satella jumps back getting some distance as the Elder Devil and Thunderbird descend to the ground.

"The same goes for you. Leader of Komanda Monstra. Make this easy…or make it fun. Your choice.", Voltaira says in an excited tone, itching for some payback after what that salamander did to her and Nanaja.

"I am hoping she makes it fun.", Camilla spoke with a vicious gaze, stomping her severed wings as she approached.

Ein and the others also jump down, with Terra catching a less than coordinated Jill then setting her to her feet, as Mama Rosé back away. She was especially cautious of the Ignis as Krasni physically shudders when she looks at her.

Satella and Mama Rosé step closer and closer to each other as their adversaries close in on them. When both boss women were next to each other.

"It would appear we have a common enemy.", Mama Rosé spoke side-eying the vampire.

Satella side eyes the Russian woman, "It vould appear so."

"What would you say to a cease fire until these ICEP trash are eliminated? It would be in your interest since you're will take time to heal. Not to mention, most of them seem powerful."

"That is true.", Satella plainly answers as her wings slowly regenerates behind her back while folded down and her enemies start surrounding them.

Mama Rosé smirks in slight satisfaction at still holding a little power of the vampire as Krasni eyes appear near Rosé back watching, "You take the fire creature and her allies, I'll handle the devil and bird."

"... Actually…vhy don't you do it?", Satella plainly spoke, to the confusion of the mob boss.

In a flash, Satella kicks the old woman in the stomach sending her flying and slamming right into Camilla and Voltaira, knocking them to the ground, much to Ein and the others surprise.

"Camilla! ", "Voltaira!", Ein and Pyra called out, respective.

Satella then generates and fires a large red ball of energy at them, prompting Terra to quickly raise a stone wall for defense. It blows up the wall to dust and sending the group flying back.

The vampire, cloaking herself in shadow, takes off sprinting with her head tucked low like a predator on the prowl in Mirabelle's direction.

"COWARD! Ju will not escape me this time!", Camilla shouted scrambling to her feet, conjures a blue magic seal and takes off into the air after the vampire.

"No you don't! They are both mine!", Mama Rosé shouted, hopping back to her feet and taking off after them. Krasni then yanks Mama Rosé to the side, narrowly a bolt of lightning through by Voltaira.

"Take one more step and I'll vaporize you.", Voltaira threatens, her wings rippling with lightning.

"I don't have time to play around with you FOOLS!", Rosé retorts, pulling out her large revolver firing a round at the Thunderbird, who dodges it in time but is then knocked away by a thick slime whip before taking off after them.

At that time, Ein and the others had recovered from the blast, going after them.

"After her!", Voltaira stated, taking off into the sky in Mirabelle's direction.

... meanwhile…

"Listen, you shouldn't be up right now! Your leg still need to recover.", Marnie says to distressed Caleb limping towards the front of the building. She had just finished removing the bullet and closing his wound.

"Forget my damn leg! Moon pie and the others are still in danger! We need to get to them NOW!", Caleb urges, ignoring the pain.

Marine grabs him by the shoulders, looks Caleb straight in the eyes before saying "No. None of us are in any state to get into another fight. Even with my healing, we are at a major disadvantage if we go after them, you especially! You'd just be running, no, LIMPING, straight to your death."

"Then what do you suggest I do?!", Caleb half-demanded.

"For starters, calm down think. Don't you think you should consider your own health before you can help others?", Marnie chastised.

Caleb wanted to retort something about not wanting to waste time but holding his tongue in frustration.

At that moment, Lovelace and Marnie's communication devices go off.

'Commander!? Do you read me?!', came the voice of Terra.

"I'm here, Terra!", Lovelace stated as Caleb and Lyca look to them. Nanaja leans in close Marnie to listen in.

'Oh thank the gods, you're ok! Listen, things have taken a really bad turn. The leader of Komanda Monstra and Mama Rosé are both here! We're engaged in combat right now but their pursuing Ms. Marequine down Mice and Men road!'

"Wait, wait, Terra slow down! What?!", Marnie says in disbelief.

"What? What's going on?", Caleb says looking between them. Lyca, who could pick up the sound from the devices, whispers in his ear, "What?!"

Nanaja shushes him trying to listen.

'It appears they'll be heading right for you! How's the situation there?'

"U-Under control! We've completely neutralized the threat on our end. How far are–", Lovelace says but Terra interrupts.

'WHOA!', Terra shouted as sounds of a battle could be heard in the back along with different voices, 'Can't talk right now Commander over and out!'

The communication ends as Marnie exchanges looks between Lovelace and Nanaja.

"Ok, this is getting crazier by the minute.", Nanaja admits.

"No shit! If they on Mice and Men road then they should be heading this way right? Let meet them halfway and get Moon pie!"

"It would appear that is the case now, isn't it? Right, we don't have time to lose", Lovelace says in agreement.

"Surely you're not serious?! You JUST nearly fell into a coma after using your element powers! Now you want out yourself in the ring again?", Marnie contests catching Caleb's.

"Wait, his what?", Caleb inquires.

"This young man is risking it all for his homestays! It's only right that we see it through to the end. Plus, there's the added benefit of bringing down the Malones.", Lovelace contests.

"Are you seriously considering bringing them along, after they JUST had a life or death fight, for the chance of our team getting recognition? What is wrong with you?"

"Uh, guys?", Nanaja tries to butt in until Marnie shoots her a glare, telling her to stay out of it, "Nevermind."

"It's not about recognition and you know it, Mar! It's about protecting innocent people and even if we forcibly restrained those two, do you really think that would stop them? They would probably go on their own anyway, which will make the situation worse for everyone. Besides, if the roles were reversed and we were told to stand down when one our own were in danger. Can you honestly tell me you wouldn't fight that?" Lovelace asked her with Marnie glare lessening as she sighs before speaking.

"Listen, I can perfectly understand this young man's desire to protect those he cares for but…darling even if we were in shape to fight, which we are not, mind you how would we get there?"

Caleb raises his finger to speak but Marnie stops him.

"And no, Mr. Bizzell that teleportation of yours is OFF the table. You're in no shape to use it even with my healing!"

Caleb slowly puts his finger down retracting his argument.

"We'll get here the same way he got this far." Lovelace said, pointing his finger at the dead gangster, "I'm sure one of these diamonds in the rough of humanity must have the keys to their vehicles."

Marnie gives him an incredulous look.

"Oh, so we're looting criminal corpses again. Ok.", Lyca says a bit too acceptingly, earning a concerned look from Marnie.

"Wait, what?", Nanaja utters in surprise then looks to Caleb skeptically.

"Don't look at me like that, OK? Sure, TECHNICALLY we looted corpses but it was emergency. Plus, they're with the mob and tryna to kill us! I think we get a pass.", Caleb defended.

"No need to justify yourself dude.", Nanaja says, waving off with her wings.

"I'm not justifying anything! I'm just saying that–"

"Dude! Seriously, it's fine. You do you, just don't do too much.", Nanaja brushes off dropping the subject before going over to Boris' body, "I'll start with the big guy over here. Damn, somebody really fucked him up."

"Right! I'll go back and check one of those other fellas.

Caleb was about to say something but Lyca lays a hand on his shoulder shaking his head as he begrudgingly complies.

"I hope you both realize how dangerous this is.", Marnie says to them arms folded.

"Believe me, we do. And we don't care. I'm not giving on Moon pie cuz damn sure no she wouldn't give up on me.", Caleb replies, his eyes full of resolve that caught Marnie's attention.

"We came this far. We aren't turning back!", Lyca stated in determination.

Marnie stares at them a moment remembering the first time she saw that look in a humans eyes. A look that saved her from her days of loneliness. A look that–

""Haha! See that, Marnie?! They have that indomitable spirit in them! Like the roar of a gran Torino fresh off the lot! I love it!", Lovelace pulls Marnie close by the shoulder, inciting a squeak as he hugs her to his chest.

"Alright, I get it just–", Marnie contests before her lifts up her chin forcing her to make eye contact.

Caleb turns away feeling a bit awkward as he gestures Lyca to help him find the keys.

"We won't let anything happen to them. Right?", He spoke in a loving tone.

Marnie's cheeks flush brightly before a small grin crossing staring her lover's eyes, "That's the look."

"Hm?"

"Nothing, just thinking out loud. Anyway, yes. I don't intend to.", Marnie replies as Lovelace heartily chuckles.

"I FOUND KEYS!", Nanaja ecstatically shouted, holding up some car keys on her opposable thumbs claw as the others look to her. She then pulls out something else on her other claw, "And some Trident gum! Bonus!"

"Excellent! It looks like our luck is turning for the better.", Lovelace proudly stated as Caleb clenches his fists steeling his nerves.

…Elsewhere…

Back at the Malones building complex, things were in utter chaos. The liminals from the Playpen were busy slaughtering every living human in the building indiscriminately. Gunfire, destruction, and explosions blasting out entire window as police and MON were on the scene trying to contain the situation.

News media coverage on the event was also happening as reporters and cameramen stood on the sidelines.

"We are right outside this building as what started as an investigation of potential fire by emergency services has escalated to a fire fight between police forces and Mon personnel against currently unknown gunmen." A female reporter said to her camera

"Although there have been claims the gunmen are associated with a criminal organization or are part of those responsible for the recent shooting of protestors, we currently can't confirm or deny those claims." Different male reporter said to his own camera.

"What is still currently unknown is the cause of smoke in the building. There are rumors that a swat team lead by Mon agents will be sent in to secure the building but that yet to be confirmed for the moment we can only speculate on what is happening within the building."

Inside, down in the Playpen, a scene was transpiring with three female devils and a Troll cornering a human male who was begging for his life.

"No, please no! I didn't do anything!" The man plead

"Bullshit! Then why are you here?!", A greater devil with wavy black hair spat, not believing him.

"He was with them! He and his sack of shit friends kept calling him 'Josh'. They wanted to have some fun with us. We took care of them", A greater devil with green eyes says gesturing to the severed heads of his friends mounted on the wall with a pipe.

The man shudders in fear and disbelief upon seeing them.

"Yeah! Then he took Molli over here! Isn't that right?!" Yelled one of the other devil's.

Molli, the Troll, recoils at the mention of her name.

"Y-Yes but…but he didn't do anything to me!"

"THAT'S RIGHT! I DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH HER–AGH!", He shouted, voicing his case before the wavy haired devil punched him in the mouth, knocking out a couple teeth as he writhed on the floor coughing out blood.

"Stop it! He didn't–", Molli tries to defend him but the wavy haired devil stops her, getting up in her face.

"Don't think he didn't want to. There was at least some part of him that wanted to force himself on you. It's in their nature. As long as it's there, you'll never be safe. That is why we have to eliminate them all from this building or we won't be safe! Understand?"

Molli pauses taking in what she said, before the wavy haired devil hands her a large hunting knife, surprising her.

"Take it, use it on him."

Molli's eyes widen, holding the knife feeling weight, then looks back at the man on the floor. His face in his own blood, tears streaming down his eyes, as he pleads for his life.

"I can't. He didn't hurt me. He didn't…he didn't…" the Troll

"But he can. As long as that's a possibility, we liminals are always in danger. We need to take from them before they take from us.", The wavy haired devil whispered then digs claws slightly against her shoulder making her flinch, "Or are you going to side with him? In that case, it's either him…or you?"

Molli flinches upon hearing the devil woman' warped voice then shakily approaches the human man, arm trembling while gripping the knife. She stands over him, hesitantly lifting the knife, seeing the fear in his eyes.

"P…Please…"

Tears well in Molli eye, "I'M SORRY!"

Bang

That when they hear a gunshot drawing their attention. One of the devil woman falls to the ground with a dart in her neck, much to the others surprise.

"What th–", the other devil stated before a dart knocked her out too.

The wavy haired devil then receives a dart in the neck, but stumbles trying to fight, then gets a second dart in the leg. She falls to the ground unconscious.

Molli gets a dart in the neck too, falling to the ground. As she's losing consciousness, a group of five figure clad in black and yellow MON armor approach them with rifles.

"4 hostiles neutralized, 1 injured male. Prepare a stretcher. Teams report on the status of your situations?"

"Team 1, first and second floor is secure. Hostiles neutralized, 33 confirmed deaths, 21 humans, 12 non-humans.

'Team 3 we found 3 non hostile liminals that appear to be suffering from severe psychological trauma. We need to evacuate them currently holding positions.'

'Copy that.'

The communication ends as the MON agent continues throughout the floor. Suddenly, an explosion of flames from one of the rooms sends the door flying off the hinge, putting them on edge as they ready their weapons.

Footsteps could be heard among the crackling flames as a figure approaches the doorway. A bird-like taloned foot comes into view followed by a large pair flaming radiant orange and yellow wings.

…. Meanwhile….

A large black vehicle belonging to Boris could be seen barreling down the road with Lovelace at the wheel. Nanaja tailed the vehicle from above acting as their scout.

Caleb and Lyca sat in the back. The former of which kept glancing back at the behind at the still in unconscious Mantis buckled up in the backseat, her hands on feet bound with, conveniently left, duct tape as a precaution.

"You know, I can understand us bringing this praying mantis girl with us. She did technically save us and we can't just leave her on the ground for the janitors to find, among other things. That makes sense to me.", Caleb remarks.

"Ok, I'm with you so far.", Lovelace acknowledges.

"What DOESN'T make sense is bringing HER!", Caleb gestures to the cougar werecat buckles up and bound with duct tape seated right behind Lyca.

"Yeah, I've been wondering about that too. She tried to kill us earlier.", Lyca points out.

"That's exactly what I mean."

"We brought her for the same reason we brought the mantis. It wouldn't be right to just leave her. Believe it or not, she's a victim in this too, enslaved by the Malones with those damn collars.", Lovelace says with disdain.

"At least she was. I found this right beside her body.", Marnie remarks looking at the open enslavement collar in her hand, now completely devoid of mana making it a regular collar, "I can't sense any energy from it and it doesn't appear to be broken. It's like it just…came off on it's own."

"Whatever the case may be, she's free now. That means we can properly reason with her."

"Uhh, no offense, but if I woke in the back of a truck that smells like cigarettes and vodka with my arms and legs bound with tape, I'd be way past reasoning."

"Good point. Let's just hope she doesn't wake up and that tape holds."

"I mean it IS gorilla tape so…", Caleb ponders, holding the roll of tape in hand.

Suddenly, an object land on top of the roof making Lovelace swirves a bit and startles the others. A knock is heard from the sunroof above, Caleb open it and Nanaja pokes her head through.

"Commander! Marnie! Other ones!"

"Geez Nanaja! Don't just slam right into car!", Marnie scolds the wyvern.

"Sorry! But I can see the Nightmare up ahead!"

Caleb and Lyca eyes widen at the news

"What?! Where? I don't see her.", Caleb says, lean forward to looking through the windshield but it was a too dark even with headlights.

"Of course YOU can't. We wyverns have excellent sight and night vision. She like five miles away down this road.", Nanaja informs.

"That's fantastic news! Now hold on tight up there and you two back there.", Lovelace says, as Nanaja digs her claws into the metal roof, before stepping on the gas.

While that was happening, an all-brawl was occuring occurring further down the street while in pursuit of Mirabelle.

Mama Rosé was fending off a combined effort from Ein and Pyra. The old woman, guided by the red slimes instincts dodges fireballs and blasts of blasts of compressed air. Her slime armor allowed her absorb and deflect any of Ein's attack but she was being extra cautiousl not to be struck by the Ignis' flames. Terra, despite providing support for her allies by block shielding hits against the enemy's corrosive slime claws, was also playing babysitter to an anemia-induced delirious Jill who carried piggyback.

Meanwhile, Satella was still in pursuit of the Nightmare also had to fend of the Elder Devil and Thunderbird bombarding her with attack spells and lightning strikes. Her superior speed and reflexes making it easy dodge and counter attack as her wings were almost fully regenerated.

"Are you just going to keep fleeing?! I expected more of the leader of the feared Komanda Monstra!", Voltaira berates, repeatedly slashing at the vampire with electricity imbued talons.

"I do not intend to vaste ANYMORE time on you vermin! I vill take the Nightmares power!", Satella retorts, weaving and flips dodging every hit then deflects her talons with her red mana pulsating claws, knocking the Thunderbird back. Camilla tries to get her with a roundhouse-kick-claw-slash combo but the vampire dodges then uppers the devil woman, sending her reeling before sprinting away with her body tucked low. Camilla shakes off the hit and sprints after her quickly catching up.

"What do ju want with Senora?! She has done nothing wrong to ju or your wretched compadres!", Camilla demands.

"You lot live vith that creature and you do not know?! How sad! Her power is far greater than simply entering dreams! They possess the power of , total dominion over mind and soul! And I vish to obtain by ANY means!"

"I do not know what ju are babbling about and I DON'T CARE! I am going to tear ju apart for harming her and Senor!", Camilla ferociously attests before conjuring a blue magic seal forming it into a rotating blade of compressed then launches it at the vampire torso.

Satella launches her blades, intercepting her spell, resulting in a small explosion that sends the Elder Devil tumbling off the roadside. Satella quickly recovers from the shock of the explosion and keeps running. She then senses her wings had now fully recovered, to her satisfaction.

Voltaira, locking on to the vampire, charges her talons with electricity making glow bright blue, "It ends now."

The Thunderbird launches herself, talons first like a bird of prey, intending to tear into the vampire. Right when she was inches away from grabbing her, Satella leaps above her in a backflip to Voltaira's surprise.

Satella than plants both her boots into into Voltaira's stomach, stomping her into the ground as the electric harpy gags out. At that moment, Satella spreads her pale, veiny bat wings then takes off into the evening sky.

"NO!", Mama Rosé shouts in anger before forming two large slime hammers for hands then spins around swinging them at Ein and the other driving them back , "OUT OF ME WAY!"

Using those same hammers, she slams them into the ground and propels herself several meters ahead of them.

"Hehe, hammer time.", Jill giggle pointing as Terra rolls her eyes at the Dark Mage slumped on her back.

"Don't let them get away!", Ein stated, lunging ahead with generated air bubbles as Pyra, Voltaira and Camilla flew ahead.

Terra adjusts Jill on her back then looks at the large craters left by their battle behind them, "We've destroyed a LOT of roads today."

"Tax payers expense!", Jill deliriously stated as Terra shakes her head then propels herself forward skating on the stone surface as Jill happily cries out, "Weeeeee!"

…..Back to Mirabelle….

The Centaur could be seen galloping down the street before slowing her pace, panting in exhaustion. Both Zyklons stop in their tracks looking to her in concern.

"I…I can't go on. ", Mirabelle panted, chest heaving as she clenches her stomach.

"Hey, come on, don't stop on us now. We gotta keep going", Zwei urges.

"I'm so tired. I've never been so tired in my life.", Mirabelle pants, then falls to her knees in exhaustion.

"Give me a break. You can do it, come on.", Zwei says going over to her horse body and tries to lift her up, visibly straining herself then starts pushing on her body, to no success, "Haaa haaa…gods I wish Ein were here. Uhh, how bout this? Get up, we keep going, and if we survive I'll buy you ANY Sailor Moon crap you want."

Mirabelle doesn't answer her.

"Really?", Drei raises an eyebrow at her sister.

"I'm in a moment of grief right now ok?! I just skipped denial and went straight to bargany if it'll get her moving!"

"I didn't ask for this", Mirabelle lowly spoke then looks up with a tearful scowl, "I didn't ask for this power and everyone just wants to take it from me! It's like one way or another my people always have a target on their backs! I JUST WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH CALEB! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!"

Zwei and Drei look to each unsure of what to say to comfort her as the Centaur girl lightly sobs.

At that moment, a ripple in space appears several feet ahead of them getting their attention. Mirabelle recoils fearfully as the Zyklons extends their scythes emitting low growls ready to defend the Centaur.

Out of the ripple of space is Fantina, flopping against the ground dropping her scythe with a pained groan, much to their surprise. Drei runs to her. Right as Fantina was picking herself up, she stumbled and falls to the side only for Drei to catch her, supporting her.

"I'm guessing the business didn't go so well.", Drei remarks.

"Get off my ass. Ghh that bitch was way tougher than she leads on.", Fantina retorts, wiping her face then notices Mirabelle on the ground.

"What's wrong with her?"

"This whole bloody day! That's what!", Mirabelle stated in frustration the lowers her head, "I don't know how much more I can take before I just…just…"

More cracks appear on her collar.

"We feel the exact same way you do. There's a power hungry vampire and a killer Russian slime mob boss chasing us…everything about this day sucks. We can't give up though.", Drei tries to encourage.

"Why not…? I'm never going to see Dear again anyway. What's the point?", Mirabelle utters despondently.

Zwei looks to her sister hoping she give an answer to help the situation only for Drei to shrug, unsure of what to do.

Fantina sighs then steps up to the female Centaur, "Listen, things are bad right now, yes, that doesn't mean you should just buckle under the pressure."

Mirabelle turns away from her, still not completely trusting Fantina, which the Baphomet sensed.

"Haaa, when I was young, my mother always told me that, no matter how dark things get, salvation will always come in the blink of an eye.", Fantina says in a comforting tone.

Mirabelle looks to the Baphomet sensing the sincerity in her words.

Zwei and Drei look at her as well, surprised by the display of kindness.

Fantina quickly withdraws, putting her walks back up.

"T-That's what she used to tell me anyway. I'm not sure how–", Fantina spoke, eye close with a shrug until she was cut off.

"Heyyy! You guys are still ok!"

They look up to see a winged descending towards them, putting them on edge before realizing it was the Wyvern agents.

"It's agent Nanaja!", Zwei stated

"What are you doing here?", Drei asks.

"Oh, commander told me to scout ahead and check on you guys. And make sure no other vehicles are coming through."

"He's on his way over here now?!", Fantina question, skeptically.

"Yep! And he's not alone!", Nanaja proudly assured.

Beep Beep

A vehicle blaring it's horn approaching the It's large headlights burning bright, illuminating the road. Mirabelle and the others shield their eyes at the vehicle as it comes to a stop ten meters in front of them. The lights dim slight, as two of the vehicle door swing open and out came two familiar faces.

"MIRA! DREI! ZWEI!", Lyca ecstatically screams, bolting towards them on all fours.

"Lyca!", Mirabelle stated happily.

"Lycs! Yo–AH!", Zwei expresses before the She-wolf snatches her into a tight hug. Followed by Mirabelle, Drei, and even Fantina, wrapping them in a tight group hug as her tail furiously wags with happiness, "I'm so happy you're all ok!"

"Who…is this?!", Fantina strained.

"An overly affectionate wolf with the personality of a husky.", Drei utters.

Lyca's wears a toothy grin then a thought occurs to her as she looks to Fantina, "Wait, you're not in my pack."

"You JUST realized that?!", Fantina exclaims before Lyca releases her and the others.

"Moon pie!", cried the voice of Caleb upon seeing his Centaur girlfriend.

Mirabelle's eyes widened, hoping what she was seeing was real. She stands to her feet getting a good look, feeling her heart start racing and tears forming in her eyes. Fantina and the others look to them expectantly.

Lovelace and Marnie get out of the car, observing the scene.

"Dear?…DEAR!", She cries aloud, rounding past Fantina, almost knocking her down, as she gallops towards her boyfriend with open arms.

"MOON PIE!", Caleb shouts limp-running towards her.

When the two meet, they wrap each other in a strong, loving embrace. Mirabelle sobs and chuckles with joy burying her face into his chest. Caleb holds her tight, running his fingers through her and kissing the top of her head as tears roll down his eyes.

"You're ok! You're ok. I was so scared I lost you for good!"Mirabelle sobs, clutching Caleb's shirt soaking his chest with tears as her body trembles.

"I thought I lost you too. I'm so glad to see you again.", Caleb spoke, his voice cracking a little near the end.

The two then separate and stare into each other's eyes, feeling the world dissolving around them. Their lips crash into each other passionately and with unbridled ferocity like two forlorn lovers that have been separated for months, no, YEARS and have reunited.

Those around them watching have their own reactions from Zwei and Lyca watching the tears of joy, Lovelace, Nanaja and even Marnie (despite her feels of being him and his student closer to danger) can't help smile feeling the pure love coming off the two with Marnie and Nanaja moving closer to Lovelace lean slightly into him with him welcoming it,Drei simply looks at two showing no emotion external to what she feels from the sight in front of her and then fantina.

Fantina couldn't help but watch the two reunion seeing serenity of the two that she nearly helped destroy with her mind drifting to sterling her … former partner, her friend? Former friend? She honestly doesn't know.

Suddenly, a jolt shoots through both the Zyklons spines along with an overwhelming sense of dread.

A crimson red winged figure descends from the sky, landing right on top of the vehicle, smashing in the front end of the metallic roof and shattering all the windshield, much to everyone's shock. Marnie, Nanaja and Lovelace, fall to the ground from the shock of impact as they all turn their attention to the female vampire standing atop the partially destroyed vehicles.

Satella's attention goes to Mirabelle and Caleb, "There you are…and it looks like the one obstacle to MY power is here as vell. Perfect."

"RUN!" Zwei yelled,as she launched a blade of compressed air at the vampire, who instantly deflects it with a swipe of her claws then glares at the Kamaitachi.

"We'll take care of her! GO!", Lovelace stated, pulling out one of the mana imbued sidearms he snags off one of the gangsters.

Nanaja leaps at the vampire, slashing her talons and delivering fierce kicks anfas Satella easily dodges them.

Marnie then hurriedly goes to check on the mantis and cougar werecat in the backseat of the car. Luckily, to her relief, they were uninjured. She then turns a fierce gaze at the vampire, proceeding to summon any available water from the damp air surroundings.

"Lyca! Moon pie! Come on let's go!", Caleb urges before Mirabelle and the others, including Fantina, go in the opposite direction.

Satella notices the Nightmare trying to escape from her again.

"That all you got ya Calvin Klein Twilight bi–", Nanaja berates before Satella delivers a powerful high kick right up the wyvern's jaw, sending her up a couple feet, then spin kicks her in chest sending her slamming into the back of the vehicle.

Satella extends her wings about to take off after Mirabelle, before a blast of water hits her right arm. She cries out in extreme discomfort as her arm emits light blue spark and smoke then loses strength in the limb.

"I bet that stings, doesn't it? You're very unlucky to pick a fight against a MON team with a water spirit on their side. I can blast purified water at your raggedy undead ass all day. Try me bitch!", Marnie stated, glaring daggers as balls of water form in the air around her while she makes a finger gun gesture then fires a barrage of water bullets at her vampire. Satella upward evading the attack before sending blade red at Marnie, who easily dodges.

"Don't let up! Bring her down!", Lovelace stated as Marnie nod fire sniper shots of pressurized water at the evading blood sucker, then turns to Nanaja, "Are you ok?!"

The Wyvern stumbles slightly lifting herself up, "Ugh…yeah. Let me go help!"

Suddenly, police sirens could be heard in the distance as several police cruisers and two MON vans could be seen approaching them; adding to the vampire's frustration.

"Ah, looks like backup is coming in right on time.", Lovelace stated.

While that was happening, Caleb and the others were going down the opposite end of the street. They could hear the sirens behind them and look to see the police cars and MON vans.

"Looks like the cavalry's here FINALLY!", Zwei expresses in slight discontent.

"Still, we can't let up with that vampire beh—"

Drei is then cut off, stopping in her tracks along with the others as a red laser beam appears from above, cutting a line across the road. At the same time, five black cars pull

"Hey, Pedo goat!" Acula said with a smile, hovering over them. She had a few noticeable wounds on her leg, side, chest and one of her eye tentacles was badly damaged. Five black cars with their lights flipping on burning brightly quickly block off the road before several of Rosé men step out with their weapons drawn. Caleb and the others back away cautiously, Mirabelle clinging to him in fear.

"Looky who we found, boys. The purple coward and her merry band of furry freaks. Oh? And it appears they've add a couple new faces: a doggo and a milk chocolate cutey."

"Who the hell is she?", Caleb questions, feeling like he should be offended.

"She's with the Malones.", Mirabelle answers fearfully.

"How did you even find us here so quickly?! I blasts you at least over a few miles!", Fantina demanded

"Excellent question!", Acula stated smirking, then pauses for a couple seconds, "Anyway, now we'll be taking the Nightmare AND taking your lives! Hmm, maybe let the black guy live a little longer for some fun. Whaddya say handsome can I have a taste?"

"FUCK YOU!", Caleb replies, flipping her off.

Yep, that's the idea. Haha! Alright, kill'em boys. Try not to hit the Nightmare.", Acula orders Rose men as they point their guns at the group forcing them.

Caleb positions himself in front of Mirabelle as Lyca, the Zyklons, and Fantina ready themselves to attack.

Right as they were about to open fire, a loud of something slamming into one of the vehicle catches everyone attention. Acula and the men turn to see Mama Rosé, still in her slime armor, panting in exhaustion while atop one of the cars.

"Wha? Rosey!", Acula stated as she and the gangsters upon seeing their leader.

Mama Rosé looks to Acula and her men, then sees the Nightmare, along with Fantina and other faces.

At that moment, Ein, Pyra, Terra and Jill arrive on the scene to continue battling the mob boss.

"End of the line, granny! You got five seconds to surrender before I burn even more of that slime to a crisp.", Pyra threatens holding a fireball in her hand as Mama Rosé glares at her.

"She's right! Give up, it's over!", Terra state raising her claws as jagged stone float up to her palm.

"Never gonna give you up, never let you down!", Jill started singing chuckling drunkenly as Terra keep her from falling off her back due to her flailing.

"Enough! She's done.", Ein stated then notices Caleb and the others, "Wait, Mr. Bizzell?! And is that Ms. Fantina too?!"

"Look what I got, Rosey! The traitor, the Nightmare, AND the Caleb Bauzell guy you wanna kill dead. That a three piece combo served just for you!", Acula chortles.

"IT'S BIZZELL! Oops.", Caleb shouts in irritation then touches his mouth realizing what he just did.

Mama Rosé starts to chuckle heartily surprising everyone.

"Done? Did she say I was done? Hahaha! I AM THE BOSS OF THE MALONE FAMILY! I say when we are DONE! Acula!", Rosé vigorously shouted, rousing her men, then quickly pulls out her magnum revolver pointing at the Ignis.

" You got it Rosey!", Acula shouted charging up all her eyes as Pyra and the others brace themselves, "TAKE THIS!"

The Gazer fires a large red laser blast at the group intending to disintegrate her.

Suddenly, two winged figures descend from the sky as a large green magic seal deflect the beam upwards into the night sky much to the Gazers' and Mama Rosé shock.

Red demonic eyes and glowing blue eyes surging with electricity greeted the gangsters as fear shot through their senses. Voltaira fires a bolt of lightning at the Gazer, who absorbs it by conjuring a red barrier in front of her. Camilla fires a torrent of green lightning, forcing Rosé men to scatter.

"strelyay v nikh!(Shoot them!)", Rose orders her men who quickly take cover behind the vehicles. Camilla instinctively conjures several magenta magic seals at her fingertips.

"Camilla NO!", Mirabelle cries out to her friend.

They open fire on the pair only for the magic seals to deflect and ricochet all of the bullets right back at the men killing some and injuring others. They all scream out in pain falling to the ground leaving Acula, Rose and the others stunned.

"HA! Your TOYS cannot touch me anymore!", Camilla stated proudly.

"Whoa! That was cool!", Zwei remarks.

"How did she not die?! Those were MANA canceling bullets!", Fantina stated, flabbergasted.

"TRIGGER FINGERS!",Camilla stated recalling the small magenta seals to all ten digits on her hands.

"Cool name! You guys take care of her, I got the vampire!", Voltaira stated, flying towards Satella. Camilla and Ein then rejoin Caleb group, as the Elder Devil wraps him in a tight hug.

"SENOR! Are ju unharmed?"

Above them Acula, seeing how badly things were turning out, decides she has enough.

"Ok, she deflects the bullets AND my beams. I'm out. G-G.", Acula remarks, before flying off, leaving the mob boss and vampire to fend for themselves.

"Oh you don't!", Fantina stated, raising her scythe as her red aura surges before launching herself towards the Gazer in pursuit.

Mama Rosé looks up at the Gazer fleeing above and scowls. She finally revealed herself a traitor after all.

"What the? Hey wait! Where are you going?!", Ein stated before, to her surprise, Drei leaps into the air on swirling wind after her, "Sis?! Where are YOU going?!"

"Unfinished business!", Drei replies as Ein looks to Zwei questioningly.

"Don't ask me. I checked out an hour ago."

Whatever the case, we can't stay here! I can't believe I'm saying this but let's go TOWARDS the police sirens.", Caleb replies taking Mirabelle by the hand as they and the others follow.

….

As Acula was trying to get away, Fantina suddenly teleports in front of as tries to slash her with her scythe but the Gazer dodged at the last second.

"Ghhhh! Seriously?! I don't have time to play with you, Pedo Goat."

"Who's playing?!", Fantina says twirling her scythe, making it levitate and spin like a buzzsaw charged with red man, "THIS TIME I will kill you!"

Acula smirks widely, "Ha! You and what army?"

"I'm no army.", Drei spoke getting both their attention as she levitates on a swirling cyclone, "But I AM a warrior."

Fantina looks to the Karmaitchi who nods at her assuringly.

"Oh, so the two furry Lolis are gonna tag team m-"

Before Acula could finish, Drei zips past her stabbing out the cornea of one of her eye tentacles.

"YEEOOOOOOOW!", Acula cries as eye tentacle curls up into her back. Drei hovers over to Fantina side, who looks at the weasel with intrigue then glares at their opponnent. Acula growls angrily then a red laser from her eye as the goat and weasel fly around evading her.

….

Below, Rose looks around seeing her men crawling around like injured animals then sees the police lights in the distance. She then picks up one of the assault rifles from her men, deciding to finish things one way or another.

"Hey! It's over! Reinforcements are already here! Put down your weapon and make this easy.", Terra suggested to the old woman.

"I don't think she wants to. She wants to go out in a blaze of glory. See what I did?", Pyra remarks holding a fireball in hand as Terra rolls her eyes and Jill snickers, "But seriously, give up."

Rose ignores them and whispers to the red slime, "Krasni. I don't care what it takes. I want you to make them PAY. Kill them all as painfully as fucking possible. Starting with Caleb Bizzell "

Little green eyes appear on crime boss' slime followed by a low, "Yes. Rose."

"GO!", Rose shouted, spraying Pyra and Terra with a hail of bullets, prompting the former the fly higher to evade them and the latter to bring up a stone wall for defense. At the same time, the slime girl tears away from her master's body.

At that moment, a dark purple magic seal appears below Mama Rosé and purple chains shoot out binding her arms and legs making her drop her weapons. She curses and yells out before a chain wrap up her mouth too.

"Lights out means LIGHTS OUT for old tiddie biddies.", Jill slurred, stumbling as she waved her staff. Terra grabs her by the shoulders, sitting her down on a stone pillar.

"Wow, even running on only half her blood she makes herself useful.", Pyra remarks.

…

While all that was going on, Satella could be seen flying around battling the combined efforts of the Thunderbird and Wyvern and avoiding hits from Marnie water pistols. Then water on her dried up letting her use her arm freely again. Her eyes widened seeing the Nightmare on the ground heading towards the police sirens and MON vans, feeling a surge of anger at the thought of losing her prize.

"GOTCHA!", Voltaira shouted tackling the vampire, sinking her talons into her sides as electricity rips through her undead body, "I'm going to tear apart after I fry you to a crisp you fucking murder!"

Satella powers through the current tearing through her nerves and grabs the Thunderbird's ankles. She forcefully pulls the electrified talons out her sides much to Voltaira's surprise that she still has that much strength.

"I…have…HAD IT VITH YOU!", Satella shouts, ripping her talons out then diving at the Thunderbird, stabbing her claws right in her abdomen like twin daggers.

Voltaira gags out blood as the vampire absorbs her blood along with some of her electrical energy. She rips out her hands letting the Thunderbird fall to the ground.

"VOLTAIRA!", Lovelace and the rest of his team shouted. Nanaja swoops down after her and manages to grab her by the legs before she hit the ground.

Before she could react, Satella swoops by Marnie, slashing a bolt of absorbed electricity at the Undine. Marnie cries out in pain before falling to the ground, her body twitching with sparks.

"I bet that stings.", Satella remarks coldly.

"Marnie!", Lovelace stated running over the fires a few mana enchanted rounds at the vampire. Satella vanishes quickly then clothesline him at the clavicle, electricity pulsating from her arm, then flipping the agent, making him do somersault before he hits the road surface. He gags out as electric ripple from his body.

Satella takes a second to admire the newfound vigor she felt after taking the Thunderbird blood.

"Shit!", Caleb expressed coming to a screeching stop along with Mirabelle and the others upon seeing the vampire standing between them and the police.

"There you are.", Satella smiles widely upon seeing them as Camilla and Ein get in front of Caleb defensively.

Police cruisers and two MON vans pull up to the group, lights flashing as officers get out of their vehicles.

"Nobody move!", Said one of the officers in a special uniform to make it obvious he was the leader. The other officers draw their weapons as several liminals, mostly Kobolds and Elves, in yellow and black MON exit the vans, "I am Captain McGinnis! We're investigating a string of incidents around the city involving gang members and hostile liminals! We are authorized to shoot on sight! Identify yourselves"

Satella, with an annoyed expression, forms a red ball of energy pulsating with lightning, then fires a powerful blast at the police cruisers, never looking away from Caleb and the others, as cars explode and screams ring out in the area. Caleb and the others look on in horror at the destruction before the vampire unfurls her wings, blocking their path.

"I vill be taking my Nightmare now.", Satella spoke in a slightly unhinged voice, red electricity pulsating around her body.

Mirabelle hugs Caleb tightly in fear as, unbeknownst to the group, the red slime was creeping closer to its target.

…

While all that is going on, Drei and Zwei we're still battling Acula above.

Acula laughs hysterically, chasing the goat and weasel with her eye beams.

"Keep dancing little Lolis, cause the second you miss a beat you will have new fuckable holes! Then again, if you're like Pedo goat, it will be an improvement since now you both will have wet holes people might actually consider using!"

"Is she always like this?" Drei asked Fantina, ducking under another laser.

"Years! I have been having to hear all her sexual fueled comments for years!" Fantina told her with her voice showing how tired she was while avoiding lasers.

Drei looks at Alcura as if studying her before coming up with a plan.

"You talk about fucking and holes so much. Are you trying to compensate for something?" Drei asks her with Acula just laughing it off as keeps firing lasers.

"Why would I need to compensate I get all the dick I want! Unlike you two, even banging the boss's kid while having the time of my life! It's awesome!" Acula said as she licked her lips.

"I'm actually willing to believe that he would have sex with you to keep you happy. Basically, pity sex.", Drei goded her without changing her tone as Acula appeared unaffected by the comment at first glance, but one of her eye balls twitches for a moment.

"So what?! It's more sex then you both could have had in your entire lives combined." Alcura defended, dodging slashes from Fantina's rotating scythe.

"See what I have to put up with?", Fantina spoke, firing blasts of energy at the Gazer who avoided it.

"Maybe, maybe not. It's a matter of perspective. And from mine, it seems he did it to get you to keep doing your job. I wouldn't be surprised if he was ordered by his mother to suck it up, no pun intended, and do what's necessary. Your happiness is a commodity." Drei replied, causing a few of Acula's eyes to change their attention to her glaring daggers at the weasel girl.

"What do you mean by that!?" Acula growled, firing more of her lasers at the weasel, who kept her distance tracking their positions.

"Simple. Despite EVERYTHING you say, your very subconscious about your appearance, to point you flaunt your sexual achievements over others to tear them down and make your self feel better. I bet you thought no one would want you because of your appearance, but you were only half right." Drei said as she kept dodging the increasing number of laser's fire at as she spoke.

Alcura simply growled then she focused only on the weasel. She fired every laser she could at the weasel yet she dodged every one without fail. She then focuses one large blast on the weasel but Fantina scythe splits the beam, defending her as the goat girl teleports Drei out of harm's way next to her.

Drei then vanishes from Fantina side with blinding speed as the Gazer tries to track her

"It was never your appearance that was the issue.", Drei from behind the Gazer who whips around to face her, "It was your personality! Your refusal to let anyone truly close, to understand you as you buried yourself in self-pleasure through manipulating and controlling those around you for your own benefit. That's why no one will EVER willingly fuck you." Drei told her as she looked her right in the eye.

Acula grits her teeth in profound rage as red aura emanates from her body and all her eyes focus on Drei, eurred by her newfound hate for the Kamaitachi.

"I'M GOING TO DISINTEGRATE YOU! YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME?! YOU FUCKING BITCH! DI—" Acula could blast the Kamaitachi into oblivion; she then feels the worst pain she ever felt, breaking her concentration as something falls toward the ground and her sight decreases. With only a moment of hesitation she looks down and see's one of her eye's cut off at the root of the tentacle falling then sees Fantina with her blade right in front of her.

"I've had enough to hear with that mouth of yours AND WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT!", Fantina cries, slicing off another of the Gazer's eyes as Acula cries out in agony. Fantina cries out in rage delivering several more slashes, tearing skin, fur, and tentacles to shreds as Acula screams in unimaginable pain and Drei watches with a cold expression. Fantina then teleports in front of Acula, to her shock, and delivers a strong right hook, powered up with red mana, into her jaw.

The Gazer goes into a spin flying off into the dark of night.

Fantina pants still glaring where the Gazer flew off to , "Good riddance."

She then feels a hand on her shoulder and turns, meeting Drei's expressionless gaze. Fantina, glancing away unsure of how else to respond simply says.

"Thanks."

No problem.", Drei plainly replies.

"I have to ask, how did you know what to say to get her that angry? Nothing seemed to get under her skin from my experience.", Fantina inquires.

"Do you have sisters?"

Fantina raises an eyebrow at the question, "No what does that have to do with–"

"When you live with mine or any of my family, psychological warfare is one of your best weapons against those who outclass you physically.", Drei responds as the goat is taken aback, "Anyway, we're not done. There's that to deal with."

Drei then gestures downwards, prompting the Baphomet to look down in surprise at the police and MON lights flashing, vehicles on fire, and people shouting and scrambling.

….

Below, Ein, Camilla, and Zwei could be seen fighting the vampire as Mirabelle, Caleb and Lyca could only watch, unable to do anything.

Zwei, using her speed, was able to deliver well-placed slashes on the vampire and Ein could capitalize on it with her shockwave powered strikes. Despite that, Satella healing, super charged by the Thunderbird blood, allowed her recover her wounds faster than they could make them. Their only saving grace was Camilla and her spells, keeping the bloodsuckers at bay but with Caleb and the others so close, Camilla couldn't go all out and risk putting them in the crossfire.

Caleb could feel Mirabelle trembling behind him wishing he could send her, everyone away from here but with that collar on Mirabelle their chance he could hurt her trying to teleport her away and as much he wish he could say otherwise he can't teleport everyone away alone especially with that vampire keeping them from getting close enough together.

Through all the chaos before them, the red slime Krasni stealthily drew closer to fulfill her master's last request. getting as close as she could before she pounces on her target eyeing up Caleb Bizzell.

"HAHAHAHAHA! IS THAT ALL?!", Satella laughs boisterously after kicking Zwei in the back, knocking her into Ein. The vampire body ripples with red lightning as Camilla channels black lightning in her claws then launches it at the vampire who counters with red lightning. The two streams of plasma intercept in a struggle for power before both curve their arms up, sending the black and red bolt up to the sky like a beacon as police and MON agents in distance look on in shock. Both liminals palms clash, creating a shockwave that knocks everyone to the ground.

Caleb is sent flying backward, rolling to the ground along with Mirabelle and Lyca.

"Agh… you guys ok?"

"Yeah, Chief.", "I think so…", Lyca and Mirabelle responded simultaneously.

Behind them, Krasni could be seen inching ever closer to Caleb. She reshapes, increasing her surface area as she looms over him ready to dissolve his entire body.

"CHIEF! BEHIND YOU!", Lyca cried out getting his attention.

He looks up at a pair of glowing green eyes loom over him before spreading like a blanket covering his entire body in corrosive acid as Lyca and Mirabelle watch in horror.

"CHIEF!", "DEAR!"

Krasni presses her form against him but, to the slime's surprise, she could not feel him thrashing or taste his body digesting. Suddenly, her form begins to ripple violently as she's lifted up by Caleb, his body radiating with purple aura after conjuring a barrier around his whole body. Mirabelle and Lyca smile in relief.

Caleb then teleports several feet back, letting the slime splatters in a gelatinous mass on the ground. Mirabelle and Lyca go to his side as the red slime reshapes herself into her humanoid form tilting her head at them with a displeased expression.

"How…still…alive?", Krasni spoke in a creepy, childlike voice.

"I'm different.", Caleb replies taking a defensive stance as Lyca bares her fangs snarling and Mirabelle hides behind them.

"You…die…for…MAMA!", Krasni screeches before launching herself at Caleb, who teleports himself and the girls out of the way, reappearing behind the slime.

""

Further away, Zwei could be seen picking herself off the ground along with Ein.

"Damn! What will it take to put this Twilight reject down?!", Zwei complained as she was breathing heavily not knowing how much longer she can keep going at this point. She looks to Ein who was reaching her limit too.

"Doesn't matter…", came the voice Marnie as the Undine shakily stands, her body still weakened by the electricity, "Throw everything we have at her until she stops moving!"

"*Cough*…she's…right.", Lovelace weakly spoke picking himself up, getting the Undine and the Zyklons attention as he held his arm to his brother collar bone, "We can't let…someone like her…go free."

"Darling…", Marnie utters softly.

Camilla and Satella we're still locked in their struggle for power glaring at each other with killing intent, and their aura flares around their bodies.

The vampire immediately senses something from and quickly shoves the Elder Devil away, pushing herself back.

"HEADS UP!", Fantina comes down with her scythe blade, intending to decapitate the vampire.

Satella quickly conjures a ball of red mana launching it at the Baphomet, who intercepts it with a barrier. The resulting explosion sends the goat girl flying, slamming Camilla hard in the stomach with her curves goat horns knocking the wind out the devil woman.

Drei suddenly appears intending to slash the back of the vampire neck, but is knocked away with a swipe from Satells fist.

"SIS!", Zwei cries as Drei tumbles to the ground. Ein shakily tries to pick herself up but stumbles back down from lack of energy.

Satella approaches her while charging a ball of red mana.

"Ranka's mistake vas letting you live. I vill clean up her mess."

"Don't move!", Cried out an unfamiliar voice as the group looks to see a male elf clad in yellow MON armor pointing a gun running towards them. He was accompanied by 5 other elves, 2 German shepherd-type Kobolds, and several police officers, "You are all under arrest! We are authorized to use deadly force! Get down on the ground NOW!"

"NO! STAY BACK!", Lovelace shouts, trying to warn them.

It was too late as the vampire conjures a ball of red energy pulsating with electricity and launches it at the group.

At the same time, Terra comes soaring overhead in the path of the agents and police, forcing a stone wall from the ground. The energy ball destroys the wall, reducing it to dust, as the shockwave sends Terra, along with agents, police, Lovelace and the others, flying backwards.

Satella then turns her attention to Caleb and Mirabelle.

At the same time, Caleb, Lyca and Mirabelle were still fighting against the slime. Caleb and Lyca did the fighting as Mirabelle circled around, unable to assist because of the collar.

Lyca charged her swinging with her claws as the slime's amorphous body allowed her to evade and weave circles around the She-wolf, to her frustration.

"Stay still already!" Lyca yelled, doing a spinning roundhouse only for the slime to contort her body underneath the She-wolf, then tripped her over using her head tentacle. Lyca hit the ground, landing on her back.

Krasni seized the chance and tried to smother the werewolf.

Caleb appeared and blocked the slime with his barrier then teleported himself and Lyca away. Krasni reformed, glaring at them in anger.

Caleb winced from a sudden headache, prompting a concerned look from Lyca.

"Chief?"

"Dear? Are you OK?!" Mirabelle asked, also worried.

"I'm good...Lyca, we can't touch her. Look," Caleb said, pointing at the street as the residual slime globs began eating holes into the asphalt, "Whatever that slime is made of, it's corrosive as hell. It turns us into skeletons before we know it."

"So what do we do?" Lyca inquired.

"I got a plan. Run around it, get its attention, I'll do the rest."

"Got it, Chief."

"Be careful, you two."

Caleb took a deep breath, readying himself, "Yeah."

The red slime lunged at them as the group scatters. Krasni set her sights on Caleb until she was hit by a fistful of asphalt chunks, courtesy of Lyca.

"Over here, ugly!"

Krasni's body jiggled in anger before lunging at her. Lyca dodged as the slime chased her.

Lyca got on all fours and started bounding around erratically, making circles around the slime as she tried to track her movements. Krasni was so fixated on the She-wolf that she failed to notice Caleb teleporting and getting closer.

"STOP! MOVIN—!" Krasni screamed in frustration before Caleb silenced her, creating a barrier around her top half.

Lyca stopped running around and ecstatically shouted, Mirabelle circling around to his side.

"You did it!" Lyca stated happily.

Caleb lightly chuckled then felt the slime pushing against the barrier, making him flinch. Mirabelle looked to him in concern as Caleb created a second layer around the slime, forcing it more and more into a compact sphere. The slime kept pushing back and prompting Caleb to add a third layer to the barrier, straining himself as he was forced to use more energy. Blood started to leak from his nose and a vein bulged from his forehead.

"Dear, stop! That's enough!" Mirabelle said, fearing for his life.

"I…can't let…this thing harm…either of you!" Caleb strained out as Lyca looked at Mirabelle, unsure of what to do.

Mirabelle reached out to him, then her hand went to the bloody collar around her neck. The one thing keeping her from using her powers, the thing that been keeping her helpless and under threat and now was forcing her dear to risk his life to keep her safe. As she could only watch him killing himself to do it, she felt a rage she had never felt before it engulfed her as she fingers dug into the collar, bleeding from stone.

"I'M HER MASTER NOW!" Satella suddenly screamed, catching their attention, as she fired a spear-like bolt of red lightning at Caleb.

As if reacting off pure instinct, Mirabelle's body moved on its own, rushing to her lover's side, and threw herself in front of the lightning bolt as it struck her through the back.

Time appeared to slow as Lyca, Camilla, the Zyklons, Lovelace and his team, Satella, everyone was left stunned.

Then Caleb looked behind, seeing the lightning bolt pierce through his girlfriend's chest as she started to fall over. Tremendous anguish immediately filled his eyes as he cried out with all his heart and soul…

"MIRABELLLLLLE!"

.

.

…his voice echoed…

.

.

... Everything was dark…

.

.

Mirabelle felt as if she'd been falling for eternity. His voice echoed around her.

.

.

.

.

.

.

She didn't want to leave him.

.

.

.

.

She REFUSED to leave him!

.

.

.

At that moment, a radiant purple light illuminated the young Nightmare's body. She looked to see a large towering feminine figure, seated upon an enormous round stone throne, dwarfing the Centaur. Her upper half was that of a woman cloaked shadow with tiny stars illuminating her figure like the night sky. Her lower half was that an enormous horse with midnight purple hue and powerful legs that could gallop across the cosmos. An aureole of dark purple mist adorned her head like a crown and her eye, though black as the ethereal night, held compassion as she gazed down on the little

Nightmare.

"Is that what you wish, servant of Oneiori?"

Mirabelle looked up at her, clenched her hands to her heart and fervently stated, "Yes! With all my heart!"

The figure pondered her answer for a moment.

"Very well. Be it so."

The figure reached down her massive dark hand, hovering it over Mirabelle's entire body. Purple energy covered the young Centaur as the eyes of the figure emitted a burning purple light, cutting through the darkness like a neutron star.

….

As Mirabelle fell with everyone watching in despair and Caleb's voice crying out her name, she clenched her fists and stomped her front hooves hard on the ground, cracking the concrete.

She roared like thunder as purple mana erupted from her body like a volcano cutting through the night sky. The collar on her neck shattered into pieces, unable to handle the energy outputs as the wound in her chest closed completely. Caleb and the others were taken aback before the purple extended out, covering a massive radius and bathing everything and everyone in purple energy.

Caleb, along with everyone else, felt every nerve in their body freeze as they looked upon the Nightmare. Her entire body radiated a dark purple aura like flames, eyes enveloped in bright purple light, her hair and fur changed to almost midnight black, and a glowing crescent moon symbol radiated on her forehead.

"Moon pie?" Caleb uttered as the Nightmare ignored him. Lyca stared in amazement.

"S…Señorita…" Camilla whispered, unable to move her body as Fantina, who was beside her, stared wordlessly.

Lovelace, his team, the police and agents, the Zyklons, and anyone else witnessing the event were stuck in place. Forced to bare witness to the divine sight before them.

Satella looked on, feeling her body completely losing control. It was exactly like when she had first encountered a Nightmare.

"Yes. This is it. This power. I'VE FOUND IT AND IT'S MINE!"

Mirabelle's eyes glowed brighter as Satella, Caleb, and everyone else's eyes rolled to the back of their skulls as images of their memories flashed through their heads, flooding their senses. Mirabelle focused on certain people within the vicinity she deemed deserving to be punished and flooded their minds with images and scenarios of being tortured and killed by all of their worst fears.

The gangsters that were still alive were now on the ground convulsing violently, all having intense seizures. Mama Rosé could be seen crying out, seeing all her worst nightmares, so vivid and so visceral, it felt it was all really happening. In an instant, the old woman lived what felt like seven lifetimes, being killed over and over again. The strain was too much for her psyche to bare as the intense stress triggered a heart attack in the old woman.

Satella felt her mind bombarded by images of her entire life flashing before some form of death took her, then resetting as if on loop, forcing her though multiple lifetimes in Vampire standards, having gone through more than hundred deaths. Her mind felt like it was tearing itself apart to end this horror she being put through.

Krasni broke free from Caleb's barrier, as the young man was still in a trance, prompting Mirabelle to look over her shoulder at the slime who appeared to be unaffected. Possibly due to her lack of a psyche. The slime reformed and prepared to attack Caleb again.

Mirabelle raised her arm as Caleb's mark glowed brightly and her pupils glowed bright purple, inciting him to stand to his feet and bring his hands to up. A large ball of burning fiery purple mana conjured in his palms. The red slime lunged at him, ready to devour his body but was struck with a powerful blast of purple mana, annihilating every molecule of her slime body, leaving only the core.

"ROOOOSSÉ!" Krasni, in her core form, cried out in a shrill voice to Mama Rosé before Caleb, with his purple mana blast, completely obliterated her.

Mirabelle gave an emotionless glare as Caleb turned, still entranced, then knelt before her, his mark now burning with purple flame-like wisps.

Satella screamed out, dropping to her knees as Mirabelle calmly looked to her.

The Vampire was clawing at her own head, tearing through her own flesh and blood in a desperate attempt to free herself from her agony.

Mirabelle tilted her head then, with a swipe of her finger, released her hold on the Vampire.

"…I'm…I am out," Satella spoke, looking at her very bloody hands, grinning madly. She then noticed, to her shock, to Nightmare simply staring at her unflinchingly, "You…so this is the real you. This, is the being vith the power of psyche!"

Mirabelle stared wordlessly as the Vampire stumbled towards her, giggling like a lunatic, her mind halfway gone, while reaching out to her.

"If that vas a taste, I can only imagine vhat I could be capable of! I vill bring everyone, humans, liminals, this VORLD under MY control! They vill all look to me AS THEIR GOD!" Satella maniacally laughed before noticing Caleb kneeling beside Mirabelle, then saw the collar no longer on her. It was then she came to a realization, "I see now. I had it backvards. He is not YOUR master, you are his."

Mirabelle's glowing eye twitched before Satella extended her arms out to the Nightmare with a Cheshire grin and blood staining her face.

"Offer your power to me and I vill create a vorld vhere the two of you vill live freely."

After a moment, Mirabelle reached out her arms at the Vampire, who smiled madly. She then stopped her motion and made a claw gesture with her hands, to Satella's confusion, before a purple barrier formed around the Vampire's entire body.

Satella screamed as the barrier squeezed every square inch of body, crushing her as her bones started to crunch.

"Your soul is foul,"Mirabelle spoke, her voice heavily distorted, an otherworldly voice like multiple people talking at once. She then crossed her arms, tightening her barriers as her purple aura flared.

Satella tried to speak but the intense pain as every bone and blood vessels ruptured all over her body made it come out as whimpers.

"Feel MY wrath!" Mirabelle roared, throwing her arms up as the Vampire's entire body erupted in a pillar of purple flames-like aura, before exploding in a blinding purple light.

Satella screams slowly faded into an echo as her entire being was reduced to nothingness.

As the light slowly faded, Mirabelle's eyes glowed brightly. Caleb, Lyca, Camilla, the Zyklons, and even Fantina's bodies radiated a purple aura. She raised her hand then, with a flick of her index and middle finger, teleported herself and the others away from the area.

Immediately, the purple aura covering everything disappeared as Lovelace and his team snapped out of their trance, while the police and MON agents behind them all remained unconscious on the ground.

"What just happened, weren't we back home? No, wait, we were here, but then how did... Agh, my head," Terra said, rubbing her head.

…Elsewhere…

While all that was happening, a fair distance away from the group was Acula leaning against a stop sign, breathing heavily as a mix of her black ooze and blood covered the ground from her severed eye tentacles.

Luckily for her though, one of her eyes was still functional before Fantina had sent her flying. She managed to activate it, despite being so far away and let her observe Satella and Mama Rosé as intended. However, at that moment, it didn't matter to her as she focused trying to get a lock on the pedo goat who had destroyed her eyes. She would pay for it, she had just enough energy to spare to kill her and still get the fuck out there.

"Come on just... Fuck!" Aclua yelled, she couldn't get a good lock on that pedo. Being out of focus, she just needed to get a little closer.

'If I could, I would take out that weasel midget too. But I only have enough to spare for one shot. Besides, I don't think I could land the shot unless I have the element of surprise on that midget,'Aclua thought as she pushed off the sign, taking a few steps forward and trying to keep her balance while focusing all her attention on Fantina until she came into focus, letting her get a clear view.

Acula smiled wickedly as she charged her laser, "Say good night pedo g-"

Acula suddenly screamed as she turned, only to have her large retina burned from a blinding white light, made worse by her vision still being zoomed in. Though it only lasted a few seconds before she was suddenly cut off, being hit by a large metal force slamming right into her, breaking her neck as she was chewed up by heavy-duty tires. A screech of tires against pavement from a truck coming to stop could be heard.

"What the fuck!? What the did you hit?!" asked the driver's girlfriend, raising her head from his lap where she was giving him a blowjob.

The driver was breathing heavily, shaking as he looked in his rearview mirror at…whatever the hell it was.

He adjusted his pants then got out of the car with his girlfriend following behind him.

They turned on their phone flashlights, standing over the body of, to their shock, what appeared to be a liminal person. It kinda looked like one of those cyclops liminals they saw at Walmart or the Dollar store, but this…thing doesn't resemble any of them at all. Then there was the black ooze and blood all over it.

"Oh my God…" his girlfriend expressed, "What kind of liminal is that?"

"I don't know, it came out of nowhere!" he yelled.

"Oh God, we're fucked. You know we'd get sent to prison for HURTING one of them in this state?! AND WE KILLED ONE?! We're fucked when ICEP finds out! You said nothing bad would happen if I let you drive!"

"NOTHING happened! You hear?"

"You call THAT nothing! Look at my dad's truck! The hood covered in black gunk. My parents are gonna to kill me AND I'll probably go to prison!" she said.

"Look, I know some guys, they will get that stuff off and it will look like as if nothing had happened. Alright, so like I said NOTHING happened, right?!"

"R-Right. What about…that?" the girl asked, pointing at the dead liminal.

"What about it? I haven't seen it in my entire life," the boyfriend said in a hinting voice.

The pair nodded, agreeing to keep their mouths shut before climbing in the truck and driving off.

…Elsewhere…

Mirabelle, Caleb, and the rest appeared with a flash of purple light in a backyard. Caleb's backyard.

The Nightmare stood in the middle of the yard, Caleb still kneeling beside her as the others lay on the grass, still entranced. The purple aura around her slowly faded as Mirabelle's body returns to its normal state then finally her eyes returned to normal. Caleb's legs gave out at the same time the trace everyone was in was released, snapping them back to their senses.

Mirabelle stumbled, nearly falling in exhaustion, barely managing to catch herself. The rest stumbled to the ground, trying to regain their bearings on reality.

"Is…ah…everyone OK?" Ein asked.

"Ergh…what do you think? Ah, my head," Fantina expressed, sprawled on the grass and rubbing her head.

"Oh, fuck…that was… just… FUCK!" Zwei stated, trying to get a grip on the fact that this was reality.

"Couldn't have said better myself," Drei spoke.

"Dio mío," Camilla's gasped, touching her head then looked to Mirabelle. "Señorita…"

Mirabelle glanced at the Elder Devil but didn't respond out of shame.

"Ah, where are we anyway?" Caleb uttered groggily, rubbing his temple then noticed the familiar setting. The others looked around as well, taking in their surroundings in surprise.

"W-we're…home?" Lyca whispered before a large grin slowly formed on her face. "WE'RE HOMMMME! WE DID IT!"

Lyca cheered and ran over and hugged Zwei, pulling her to her feet. She bounced around in delight as the Karmaitchi chuckled while bouncing with her, starting to care less about her splitting headache.

Lyca then ran over to the others, pulling them up to their feet. Caleb and the others, the others, save for Drei and Fantina couldn't hold back their smiles at the sight of She-wolf's enthusiasm and the realization that her excitement was warranted.

"WE DID IT!" Lyca shouted.

"WE DID IT!" Zwei cheered alongside her.

"YES, YES! WE WON! OUR PACK IS ALL BACK TOGETHER AND SAFE!" Lyca cheered, pumping her fists to the sky as Mirabelle couldn't help but get a small smile on her face.

"You're right, Lyca," Caleb said, getting everyone's attention as he stood up. "We won! We got our girl back AND we all are back safe and sound! We did it! WE FUCKIN DID IT! Woooooo!"

"Woooo!" Mirabelle joined him with a shy smile as he looked at her, smiling. He then grabbed her hand, clasping it in his own and threw them up high victoriously.

"Woooooo!" Caleb yelled to the sky as Mirabelle, Zwei and Lyca joined in; Lyca full on howling at that point.

"It is finally over!" Camilla heartily chuckled, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Yeah…" Ein spoke, feeling relieved as well as unable to fight her smile. "We actually did it. We survived AND succeeded."

Drei simply nodded in approval, eyes closed in thought.

Fantina watched the group celebrate, a bit annoyed by how loud they were but tolerating it, letting them have their moment. They deserved it. Still, she felt a bit out place right now.

After their little celebration, the group decided to head into the house (with Fantina coming with them, having no other idea of what to do other then follow them) through the soundproof sliding door.

Caleb unlocked the door with a spare key he kept under a fake rock and opened it.

To their surprise, they heard giggling and laughter inside and pushed back the drawn dark blue curtain and slid open the door, getting the attention of their intruders.

Caleb and the others were stunned to see their intruders were them; exact copies of Caleb, Mirabelle, Lyca and Camilla.

They also noticed how they appear to be watching 'the boys' on Caleb's TV. The living room was in disarray with snacks on the floor and couch, along with crushed empty soda cans, including Caleb's Diet Dr Pepper everywhere.

"Hey, they're back," Clone Caleb said while stuffing cheddar Pringles in his mouth, getting more crumbs all over couch.

"What the hell are y'all!?" the real Caleb practically shouted angrily before the front door opened, getting his and the others' attention.

In stepped Agents Catcher and Cody, followed by an agitated Sterling talking on the phone.

"I KNOW that already. We just barely managed to get through the interstate blockade!"

Upon hearing his voice, Fantina tensed then recoiled behind the group, staying out of sight.

"Then tell her we'll reimburse her for the car door AFTER we get things settled. OK? We still have the missing host family to worry about!" Sterling fumed before hanging up the phone, "I swear he does the worst bullshit ever–"

Sterling, along with Agent Sketcher and Cody, stopped in their tracks upon seeing two sets of the Bizzell household.

"They're back?!" Agent Cody stated.

"Welp!" Clone Caleb stated, rising to his feet before transforming back into a female doppelganger, followed by the other three changing back to their base forms, "Our work here is done, girls. Have a good night everyone!"

"Bye-Bye!" Clone Lyca waved, now back in her true form before her crew walked right out the front door and closed it audibly, leaving the living room a mess.

"Uhh, who were they? Why did they look like us? And WHAT did they do?" Lyca questioned.

"I think we have way more important questions to answer," Drei commented.

Caleb recoiled, seeing Sterling glaring daggers at him, breathing heavily.

"Hey...Sterling? OK, lemme expla-"

Sterling roared, running over and jumping at Caleb.

"Wait, WAAAAAAIIII-"

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"Hahahahaha! What's good NYUKAH?!"

*I come in and dropkicked him out of the room.*

Sorry about that Fam, no idea how he got in here. Well, this OFFICIALLY concludes the Komanda Monstra Arc and my God that took longer than intended.

Apologies for not getting this out by Thanksgiving but I had SO much going on. First turkey without mom, loads of work at the firm, the fact that I'm too much of a perfectionist and want to write a quality story without ruining narrative or doing a cheap ending. Also, sorry if this chapter is a bit longer than normal but I was hell bent on this being the final arc chapter. I still think it turned out ok.

I know it's late to say but in honor of Turkey day I'm thankful for my beta readers along with my co-writer Sandshrewmaster.

Well, see ya next time. PEACE FAM!

PS: In case it wasn't obvious, this entire chapter was one GIANT reference to my favorite Of Monsters and Men song, 'DIRTY PAWS'.