Alexander was correct about Lily; she used electricity to accelerate the electric signals of her brain and her body, making her fast enough to consistently dodge Helga's quick slashes and stabs, and returning arrows and thunderbolts of her own, which were either dodged or redirected by a metal object. Then, when she received the multitudes of enhancing magic, she seemed to constantly disappear and reappear; that was the speed she now could fight. "Hiyaaa!" She screamed, and delivered blast of electricity that Helga jumped, only to immediately appear above her and shoot an arrow that struck her back, causing the smiling monster girl to grimace as she was shocked.
"Now I get your trick! You can somehow predict the attacks of your enemies, that's why I couldn't land a single blow! But even you can't dodge attacks if they are too fast for you to do so!"

Helga roared like a lion, and then wailed like a whale in fury. "Alright, now we're putting a stop to the cheating!" She charged right at Alexander, who surrounded himself with a couple of clones. This would deter any other opponent, but Helga simply smiled.
"Heh, what an idiot." With vicious intent, she ran past the clones with the palms of her hands opened up, drawing in air in her lungs. She then performed a destructive attack; the hatches on her palms opened up to shoot purple blasts of psychic energy while she simultaneously performed a sonic scream. The combined force of the attack was enough to break through all four barriers Alex had set up. Then, she struck a claw right into Alex' chest. Though his force-field broke, it lessened the force of the strike, and so she only managed to pierce his flesh without hitting any vital organs. Still, he was now heavily wounded, his suit tarnished with red color.

With a maniacal cackle, Helga proclaimed: "Love is over, wonder-boy." She followed the attack up by contorting herself into a twisted somersault, and delivered a heavy kick that hit him straight in the jaw, knocking him hard against the wall of a nearby building, cracking the very concrete. The force was enough to break a bone on his arm and leg. Helga then licked his dripping blood off her claws with glee. "You really should put more thought into those clones you build; a bunch of empty husks ain't nothing to write home about! HAAAHHAHAA!"

Alicia Hayden

Though her arrows had not succeeded in doing any real damage to her targets, Alicia was nonetheless satisfied to see the rest of the dolls destroyed. Those would not be around to get in the way anymore, which was another point in their favor. And she had drawn blood, so they could be defeated. She just had to make sure that she adjusted to their fighting style once they knew that they were under attack.

The debris was sent flying her way but that was easy enough to handle as she leapt over it with an elegant grace. She kept her eyes on the situation, noting Janet moving in against one of their targets with sword at the ready, though Penny seemed to be hanging back for the moment. "Why should anyone here believe that when you attacked innocent people," she yelled back in her challenge. They clearly weren't here just for a monster hunt after all.

Unfortunately in her concern she had lost track of the other fight, only to regain it when Alex got injured. A frown appeared as she mentally chastised herself for losing track of the fight that had been going on. She should have been focusing on all opponents, not just one of them. But now she would fix that. No one else would get hurt because of her carelessness.

She launched herself into another jump as she strung her bow and fired in quick succession. Arrows would be lit with rings near the middle as she fired at Ilia and Helga, leaving out Umeko because Janet was handling that. They might seem like normal attacks until they got close, at which point they would explode even if they did not hit them. She shifted between the two targets, keeping up a near constant fire rate as she suppressed them at least and hurt them at best. She had to make up for her error, and this would be the best way to do it.

@Card Captor@Ariamis@Shifter_Master@t2wave@skarsgard

Fiona walked over to Scarlett with a slight bit of an air of happiness. ”I have a feeling we aren’t going to have an impressive time anymore,” Fiona said, curiously. She had an air of relief that the gold dragon left in a hurry.

Scarlett sighed at what Fiona said. She looked at Fiona a bit and noticed the relief to her appearance even though she was still in her angelic form. ”You could say that but I have no idea where Tiamat is,” Scarlett said, annoyed. She still sensed Tiamat’s influence on Fiona but it was weakening ever so slightly. ”Something tells me that we are going to be hard pressed to find her,” Scarlett said, annoyed.

Fiona giggled at Scarlett’s annoyances but she was only happy that they could continue their journey north. ”Thank you for healing me. As well, we need to go to the north,” Fiona said, happily. She felt much more alive than all the time as a human when she’s flying through the sky as an angel. She lifted off of the ground and went towards the north.

Scarlett sighed gently and annoyed at the whole situation. She had a smile on her face when she was complimented by Bahamut’s Chosen for healing her. ”No problem, Fiona,” Scarlett said, happily. She lifted off of the ground and followed Fiona closely and kept a eye on the surroundings to not be surprised by a massive dragon again.

---

Sara was flying towards the city from where she had been in the fight with the Gold Dragon. She was worried about her best friend, a human wiccan living in the Northern side of Penrose. ”I hope my friend is alright,” Sara thought to herself, sadly. She was rushing to her new best friend side.

A familiar voice flown through her head and it was slightly much more relaxed. ”Ah, it was nice you found a friend my champion of the 13th century… I hope you can handle the up and coming renewal of me and my sister’s grudges,” Bahamut said, calmly. He had a different tone in his voice it was unquestionably being more helpful than normal. ”I have told the first champion the truth on what happened. She wasn’t happy to learn that I lost my place as a Deity,” Bahamut said, regrettably sadden. He had a solemn tone to his voice this time around and you could hear his words were much more warmer to the humans as a whole.

Sara listened to her older brother in a sense. She had a smile on her face and had some reservations on the whole ordeal to. ”Heather will come to realize many things happened for what they are. It will take awhile for her since she was born powerless when her family was powerful back in the day. I heard the kingdom she was apart of worshiped you to the end of its days,” Sara said, with a smile on her face. She had a slight annoyance that all her troubles had to because of certain events in the past.

Bahamut heard Sara’s words and put them into him and smiled. ”When you get a chance… Tell Fiona she already has what she needs for a better future and the thing of joining my fervent beliefs isn’t a setback. She already has a friend that you had in the past,” Bahamut said, with relief. He had a non-order tone to his voice when he talked but the friend he spoke meant more to him than even his three champions.

Sara heard Bahamut’s words throughout her head and was utterly shocked. ”Are you kidding me my Darcy is still alive? And she is friends with Fiona,” Sara said, startled a bit. She hyperventilated a bit in hysteria in believing her best friend had died all those years ago and wanted revenge on the Grand Devourer.

Bahamut heard his champion’s words and sighed in relief. ”Yes, all three of my champions share one single bond. Their best friend of their life was apart of my soul my daughter,” Bahamut said, revealing something about himself to two of his three champions. He had Heather in the Endless Dimension in his dragon lair anyway. ”I go by the name of Bahamut D. Eternal. My daughter is a Ethereal Dragon… Her name she goes by right now is Mary. She misses me eternally but the Grand Devourer you are searching for is no other than Dar’vech the Grand Devourer,” Bahamut said, happily to reveal the name of Sena’s quest.

Sara heard the name of Dar’vech and remembered that was one of her family’s advisors in the castle. She had remembered talking to her Darcy and she learned she was saddened her father had died along time ago during a great draconic war. ”Oh my… Dar’vech was working for Tiamat,” Sara said, terrified. She has never been afraid for her entire life since she had been fearless up until now. She had a smile on her face to learn her best friend is still alive and happy in this field.

Floating in the air in front of Sara, a female draconian appeared out of nowhere, since she had cloaked herself until she had appeared. She had beautiful Ethereal Dragon wings and an eternally young girl. ”Sara… Finally found you after all this time,” Mary said, happily.

Sara stopped so she doesn’t smack into her Darcy and Fiona’s Best Friend. ”Mary, it is nice to see you,” Sara said, happily.

Mary smiled back in return and giggled at the greeting. ”Did you find out who killed your family?” Mary asked, curiously.

Sara looked down at least she was flying in place with her six wings. ”Yes, by your father Bahamut. Dar’vech the Grand Devourer,” Sara said, shyly and scared.

Mary brightened up when she heard her father’s real name it has been a long time since that day. She heard the name of the Grand Devourer and she shivered in her draconian wings and had a slight fear to her. ”Not the one that killed my mother and helped Tiamat win the Dragon War as a whole. Dar’vech is the biggest multiple opportunitist Ethereal Dragon out there and he makes all the Ethereal Dragons nervous,” Mary said, saddened. She started crying about remembering seeing her mother torn asunder right in front of her.

Sara went over to her best friend who hasn’t aged at all. She had a smile on her face even though the name of Dar’vech creeps her out. ”I hope we are able to get our revenge then unless you don’t want it,” Sena said, kindly. She remembered her childhood with her best friend from the 13th century and it was nostalgic in all that. ”Want to see my new friend?” Sara asked, kindly.

Mary nodded with Sara’s question but didn’t really react to the statement. ”My father has never once tried to face Dar’vech alone ever,” Mary said, saddened. She giggled at the fact she’s reunited with one of her three best friends from her past.

Sara started to move into the city to the inn, where her this century friend is. ”Follow me Mary,” Sara said, kindly. She had a slight chill down her spine as if something bad is going to happen too.

Mary followed her friend Sena to her new friend. ”I am following as fast as I can,” Mary said. She had a slight chill down her spine as if something bad is going to happen too.

---

Stacey started to laugh and looked at her facial expression and demented slightly. She looked at a rainbow-colored diamond crystal right in front of her. ”Ah… There’s many people who would love to see the end of humanity as I. But none are as devious as Dar’vech,” Stacey said, happily and slightly crazed. She looked up towards the door.

A human male walked into the room through a door with ethereal draconic wings and smiled towards Stacey. ”You called? You should really drop that human visage it reminds me so much of the woman I killed during the dragon war,” Dar’vech said, evilly. He had a strange symbol on his clothing but it had more relevance during the Dragon War over now a days. ”Is there a reason why now of all things you want to restart the dragon war?” Dar’vech asked, curiously.

Stacey smiled towards Dar’vech and had an aura of power coming from her. ”Easy, your work was half finished. I found my brother finally after all these years to be hiding of all things. It was wonderful when you killed his wife but you didn’t kill his daughter or him. Why not?” Stacey asked, annoyed. She had an angered grin to her face and walked around the rainbow-colored diamond crystal and stood right in front of Dar’vech.

Dar’vech heard what she had asked and smiled. ”I did it because equal opportunity made it easier to track the Platinum Dragon’s Strategy forward,” Dar’vech said, evilly. He did it on purpose in not killing the Platinum Dragon or his daughter on purpose because it helped the coy fish of the pond to not know they were being tracked. ”Seems as if, you should read more fantasy novels to figure out the truth of what I speak,” Dar’vech said. He laughed out loud at the fact that Zani Gold Eyed failed in his task. He looked at Stacey’s posture and laughs at it. ”In all my time I worked for you. All I can say you keep the most pathetic company… The champions of the Gods of old are nothing without their feuds and you have grown weak and pathetic Tiamat,” Dar’vech said, eyes glowing as if they are stars.

Stacey sees this change in Dar’vech and was utterly terrified the first time ever to. ”Why are you threatening me?” Stacey asked, confused and afraid. She had no idea all this time Dar’vech was really using her until this very moment.

Dar’vech laughed at the question. ”It is quite simple. I found a higher calling and I have been working on a task that is different from yours for awhile now. In all my time on this planet of Terra. I have found secrets on this planet that intrigue me that you would try to stop me from getting. Therefore, I think I should end this farce,” Dar’vech said, evilly. He started to slowly transform into his Great Devourer Dragon form. His heartbeat was beating quicker than normal and slowly showed his Grand Ethereal Dragon form slowly piercing the veil. ”You are going to enjoy this eternal damnation,” Dar’vech said.

Stacey thought somewhat quickly and was terrified about this setback in her plans against her brother. She vanished before the Great Devourer was finished transforming into the Grand Ethereal Dragon.

Dar’vech laughed at the running away Dragoness and enjoyed a chase. He stopped transforming into the Grand Ethereal Dragon but his awakening energy was a conduit of powerful magics. The magics leaked everywhere and could attract anyone to his location, it was a mega pulsing heart and it was in abandoned building in the commercial part of Penrose City. The amount of magical leakage was insane and it spread throughout the entire city very slowly. ”I enjoy a hunt but I enjoy luring people to a trap more,” Dar’vech thought to himself, laughing to himself. He was near the Rainbow-colored Diamond of the Destiny Dragons and he smiled. ”Come here Pet of the one you call master,” Dar’vech said.

A female draconian walked into the room with a glazed look on her face. She smiled and looked at Dar’vech with fear and had her emotions come back to her for a moment. “Where am I? Dar’vech… why are you here?” ??? asked, the poor mind controlled Destiny Draconian.

Dar’vech looked at the Jewel in question and started to absorb it into his body but this stopped the mind controlling nature the gem. ”The Draconis Family always interested me,” Dar’vech said.

The female draconian had her entire mind and body felt normal and the centuries of brainwashing was over. She realized she had died to Zani but was revived to service Tiamat as a proxy defender. “Where’s my older sister? Dar’vech please tell me,” ??? said, annoyed now. She had a terrified feeling she shouldn’t make the person she is asking annoyed.

Dar’vech laughed at her questions ignoring them. He looked at her eyes and smiled kindly towards her. ”Don’t fret… Your sister is freed of the curse Tiamat caused your family. I freed you for a sense of irony really. Scarlett is still in the service of Bahamut. The only one that gave me trouble. Serra,” Dar’vech said.

Serra heard her sister’s name from the mouth of the Grand Devourer and was utterly scared. She felt helpless now and looked at Dar’vech. “I-I am terrified of you more than what happened to me,” Serra said, terrified at the Grand Devourer’s proximity to her. She was freaked out when Dar’vech said her name. She shivered and looked down at the ground than look at the grand devourer.

Dar’vech allowed the magical leakage to happen in this one space to make every single human or magical girl feel a terrible chill in the air. The magical leakage was spreading at a strange rate as if it is a heartbeat. ”It is wonderful you are feeling fear, Serra. You will be reunited with your sister soon,” Dar’vech said, evilly and happy at these turn of events.

Serra felt the chill in the air, mostly because Destiny Dragons are curiously highly magically inclined dragons. ”Scarlett please save me…,” Serra thought to herself, shivering in fear.

---

Darcey was standing behind the desk keeping the eye on her family’s inn and shop. She started to feel a chill down her spine and a magical door opened up in the inn right by the knickknacks. ”What is going on now?” Darcey thought to herself. She hoped it wasn’t more people trying to tear her away from her best friend she made.

A female walked through the portal terrified and utterly startled she appeared in an inn. It was Stacey and she recognized Darcey. ”Oh hello Darcey… sorry for the magical portal bargaining in but I lost control again,” Stacey said, annoyed. She was happy she made it to a part of town that was far north of whatever Dar’vech had planned. ”Ugh… The Grand Devourer I should have never trusted in the first place. Looks as if my brother has a point on me even he’s no longer around,” Stacey said, more annoyed. She had a hatred for telling her brother is right at all times and this is one of the times she wished Bahamut was around. ”Bahamut I am sorry for doing what I had done…,” Stacey thought to herself.

Darcey heard what Stacey had said and put two together easily about what all that meant because she had kept her mind opened. She was slightly confused on the Grand Devourer. “How bad is the Grand Devourer?” Darcey asked, curiously.

Stacey shivered in fear at hearing a human not knowing how dangerous he truly is. ”He scares me and no one should be able to scare a Goddess… But that was only after he told me he wanted me dead,” Stacey said. She realized she said too much to a human sixteen year old girl.

Darcey heard what Stacey had said and smiled. She reheard Goddess in her head for a bit and was startled she was talking to a goddess in her parent’s owned business. “Oh okay, that sounds scary. Can I have a stupid guess?” Darcey asked, curiously and shivering at the thought of something that scares Goddesses.

Stacey nodded towards Darcey and looked at the knickknacks all around and smiled at them. ”Only one you can have since yeah. Can I hide out in here?” Stacey asked, in response. She wanted a place to stay that won’t be invaded by the Grand Devourer.

Darcey thought long and hard about her guess for Stacey. She thought longer than she usually does and sighed in relief. “Are you a dragon goddess perchance? As long as you help protect and not kill any of my customers,” Darcey said, seriously.

Stacey heard her guess and was utterly startled and wondered how one such so young knows all about the magical world and their patrons. She looked deep within Darcey’s mind and sees a slight strangeness about her, which equals the Stacey’s confusion about this. ”What’s your last name?” Stacey said.

Darcey giggled at the question. “Liya is my last name,” Darcey said.

Stacey face palms at when she said that name. She figured out every single thing wrong with Darcey in an instant. She sits down on the chair next to the figurines. ”Oh my… It seems Darcey doesn’t know anything about what her true nature is and why all these magical entities are trying to get her attention. Never thought I would find myself the Liya Family ever in my many lifetimes of living… Cousins to the Grail Family as a whole,” Stacey thought to herself, with a painful headache. She sat there in awe and terrified woe at these turn of events. She fell off her chair with a fever.

Darcey saw Stacey fell off her chair and went over to her and checked her forehead and felt it was burning up. “I will get you to a place to rest,” Darcey said. She gently lifted up Stacey and walked her to a room that wasn’t taken and a bed that was comfy. ”Stacey is a kind lady she always tries to keep me entertained. But this is the first time she has ever fainted in my family’s business,” Darcey thought to herself.

Wordlessly, Alexander crumpled to the ground 'those are broken bones, I'd recognize that pain anywhere.' However, unlike in the past, Alexander had a way to fix this 'I can't let Sol know how glad I am to have healing magic right now.' Without any visible movement, healing magic began to stitch up Alexander's body 'It's a good thing that nut-job didn't hit anything too important, just a some bleeding and a few broken bones. So yeah, I should be able to come back from this.' Alexander took great care to not draw the crazy girl's attention to him, to give him the chance to heal in peace. 'Fuck...I hate getting broken bones, and the worst part is I can't even punch that bitch's face in. Man, I'd really love to do that; the feeling of cartilage crumpling beneath my fist, the sight of blood and teeth flying out of her mouth. Yeah, that's it. Just think about violence Alexander, ignore the pain.' However, something she said had left him confused 'Just what did she mean by "love is over"? Meh, probably nothing. She's crazy Alexander, and you don't listen to crazy people.'

Penny’s attention snapped to Lily’s fight as an animalistic roar came from the lighting wielders opponent, who proceeded to quickly tear through Alex’s defenses and take him out of the fight from the looks of things. A tingle went up the mechanical girl’s spine at the savage attack, from anticipation or horror she couldn’t say.

”Target acquired” Penny spoke softly as she locked her gaze on the Monster Girl that had attack Alex. She stilled for a moment as she unknowingly stopped breathing. Light sparks of electricity began running across her arms and legs as she prepped herself mentally for the fight before suddenly she burst in to motion.

Her makeshift bat became a makeshift javelin as she hurled it at Helga aiming for the girl’s chest hoping it wouldn’t be seen in the shower of light arrows that Alicia was firing off. Simultaneously she charged towards her target at a surprising speed considering she was seemly made of metal. ”Alicia, I’ve got this Wretch”she called out as she launched a flurry of punches at her chosen opponent trying to force her away from Alex ”Help Janet with the other scum”

@Card Captor@Flamelord@Ariamis@t2wave

---

Umeko saw the jellyfish girl charge out at her, and while the girl seemed fast Umeko was every bit as fast as her opponent. The physic magical girl was able to dodge the attack or so it seemed until the sword reformed and jutted out it in the shape of a long spear catching her as she was leaping back. The spear was able to cut Umeko just under the ribs creating a gash under her flowing robes. A flesh wound that while no vitals where hit, was quite intense to the point that Umeko had to quickly use her magic to turn mentally turn of the pain receptors around the wound. Umeko then darted off trying to create some distance between the two, while meanwhile unload her gun aiming at Janet. finally replying to the girl's earlier cry, "I think we do, unless the beacon can undo all the bloodshed they committed on innocent girls."

---

"If you mean the actions of the dolls I and Muninn (Umeko's magical alias) had nothing to do with them. If you speak of the fallen beacon girls well you can call them innocent, after what you done to us, to my kind, they got what they deserved". Ilia was weaving a bigger spell as another volley of arrows was sent his way. luckily these arrows' trajectory could be altered and Ilia was able to safely send them to the left where they exploded on the ground pavement allowing him to finish his spell. Ilia's magic created a strong gravitational distortion in the surrounding area, for Ilia, his familiar, Umeko and Helga giving them a speed boost allowing as well as allowing them to leap great distance. For everyone else they would feel immense pressure, slowing down and causing to tire from physical activity. letting his snake slither of his arm, Ilia let out huge breathe of dark purple poisonous gas, acting as a smoke screen around himself allowing his snake to assume its battle form. Under the cover of the purple haze, Anwyl quickly made its way towards Janet unseen until it rapidly leaped at the girl.

@Shifter_Master@Card Captor@Ariamis@t2wave@Flamelord

Fiona felt an odd feeling moving further from the Grail Estates what has been her home for 32 years of her life. She had never really been far from the home she lived in all her life. However, there was much mist and fog surrounding them that she couldn’t even see Penrose City from where she was flying towards the north. ”Scarlett, do you know what’s going on?” Fiona asked, curiously. She was confused in why this was a thing but she felt a familiar presence to it and was drawn towards it.

Scarlett sighed but felt a strong draconic heartbeat within the fog or mist. She felt the presence was friendly towards them. ”Who goes there?” Scarlett asked, worried a bit. She had heard of the legendary Mist Dragon but it was mostly a myth or rarer than the Ethereal Dragons.

The Mist started to converge into a thicker form and turned into a dragon. The Mist Dragon was rare and powerful indeed. ”You must be Bahamut’s Chosen. Dar’vech the Grand Devourer wishes to destroy everything,” The Mist Dragon said, with a faintly familiar female voice to Fiona. The Mist Dragon had a aura of kindness and gentleness to it and similar to more of a Biological mother to Fiona.

Fiona looked directly at the Mist Dragon and was confused when the Dragon spoke. The voice of the dragon and the aura surrounding it felt familiar as if she found her long lost family member she never wanted to forget. ”Mommy? Who is Dar’vech and why are you talking to me now?” Fiona asked, confused.

The Mist Dragon looked directly into the eyes of Fiona with the same color of eyes that Fiona eye color is. ”That is simple my sweet little angel you were taken from me. By force by the ones that harbored jealousy in their hearts for their magical powers diminishing but ours increasing,” The Mist Dragon said again. The voice this time around was coming from a woman on the ground with Green eyes and blonde colored hair. She was wearing a simple dress that was magical in nature. She looked ageless in her appearance. The Mist Dragon that she had summoned to stop her daughter from going any further north into another trap had worked in saving her. ”Come here daughter I have more to talk to you about face to face,” ??? said the mother of Fiona.

Fiona heard the female’s voice recognized it as her biological mother Maria I. Liya. She was delighted in hearing her biological mother’s voice. She gleefully landed by her biological mother and was happy she was successful in keeping her memories of what she could remember about her biological family intact. ”Mommy! I never forgot you ever. Therefore, how is dad?” Fiona asked, curiously. She didn’t really put two together right now the reason why she was apart from her biological parents was because of the Grail Family.

The mother of Fiona was happy to see her daughter. ”Hi daughter, he’s doing fine. My name is Maria I. Liya, the Summoner of the Mist Dragon who usually uses my voice to talk through,” Maria said, towards the Destiny Dragon that was following her daughter. She waved at Scarlett to come down here.

Scarlett saw the motion to come in closer and landed right besides who she has to stay beside anyway. ”Hello, Mrs. Liya. That is wonderful to know the true origins of Fiona. Zargoth at the time of what he was named said that the truth of Fiona will surprise you,” Scarlett said, phrasing what Bahamut had said when he still went by Zargoth.

Maria giggled at Scarlett response. ”Fiona was taken from me when she was only a infant by the Grail Family. By force I might add, they were trying to regain their power they had back in the day. They kept to their lies throughout the centuries but the laws changed for their benefit and our deficit,” Maria said, saddened and annoyed but happy in the end. She walked over to her biological daughter and hugged her tightly. ”My dear daughter, you have a younger sister. Her name is Darcey I. Liya. And Marcus will be happy to see you,” Maria said.

Fiona heard what her mother Maria had said and was utterly startled that she was taken from her biological parents by people who weren’t really loving to her. All the emotions of her dark past came back all at once as if a seal on her mental state was destroyed by the self realization. She killed people who were mean to her and her actual family. ”I will be happy to see my younger sister and father,” Fiona said, happily. She had peace in her soul and the calmness of someone who had magical power within her all this time but couldn’t use it.

---

Sara different things about certain things. Her thoughts were as if a fountain was overflowed and couldn’t stop running water with all the revelations she got from Mary. ”Dar’vech… Never thought I would find him in the modern era and that’s who I want to kill the most,” Sara thought to herself, terrified.

Maria followed Sara closely to keep a close sense of the direction, which that flowed to the pinpoint area. She shivered through the air because of all the dragon related stuff that was happening was intense for her. However, the realization her father is alive still is a good change for her. ”Dad, I hope we can reconnect with each other soon,” Mary thought to herself, happy.

The two reach in the northern part of the city with ease it is easy since they are both flying through the air to reach the Inn of Renouncing Harmony. They look down and notice strange monsters writhing in pain and suffering as if a Dragon came through here. They flew down to one of the monsters writhing in pain. ”What happened here?” Sara asked, the monster.

The monster was a large insectoid creature, which had multitude of legs and goals but were stopped by a creature of immense power. “We were stopped by a Blue Dragon… He was terrifying,” The insectoid creature said. The insectoid creature stood up barely but to see the female who asked the question. “Ah… one of the Bahamut’s Chosen… Most things make sense now who crushed our hopes and dreams,” The Insectoid creature said.

Sara looked and noticed some blue dragon scales on the ground around the Insectoid monsters that was utterly crushed. The only reason she saw them is because the insectoid creature said a blue dragon. ”How big was this dragon?” Sara asked, curiously. She had a slight shiver when it said what it said. ”What does that mean?” Sara asked.

The Insectoid creature reformed when Sena asked the two questions. “Easy… Traps are easier if you look the part,” the insectoid creature said. The blue scales formed around the insectoid monster and it was a massive blue centipede and it laughed at the trick it pulled on Sena. He didn’t notice Mary at all since she was floating above the battlefield. “We work for the Grand Devourer… All must be consumed for the greater good,” The Insectoid creature said.

Sara slowed her movement and was stuck in thinking a way out of this horrible situation she put herself into. ”Damn…,” Sara thought to herself, frustrated she fell for a trap by the one she wants to kill so badly. Her Iris persona kicked in to keep her mind on the task at hand. ”Before I kill you, do you have a name or can I call you Bluey?” Iris asked, towards the insectoid.

Mary wanted to tell her friend that it was a trap but it was too late. ”Sena… why do you have to be so friendly to every single thing. Search for Traps always,” Mary thought to herself, frustrated in not telling her best friend sooner. Her eyes started to glow with a bluish green energy in them and she was preparing a spell to cast. ”Stupid head! Looks like you forgot me too,” Mary said, cutely and embarrassed about what she said.

The Insectoid looked at Sena’s Iris Persona and smiled but heard Mary’s insult and laughed loudly. “We are a Swarm… We are Swarm Hunters… You will be regretting to fight us in Penrose,” Swarm Hunter said. The Swarm Hunter cracked from its massive large size to multitude of larger spiders of multitude of sizes instead of a Centipede it was many spiders instead. “We were told to make sure we bring you to Dar’vech alive,” Swarm Hunter said.

Mary eyes opened up wide when that happened the centipede turned into many spiders of various sizes. ”No fair!” Mary yelled. Mary didn’t like this ordeal one bit.

The larger Swarm Hunter Spider looked up towards Mary and laughed at her yelling. “This is the magical world after all… There’s nothing Fair if you face the Grand Devourer and live to tell about his deeds,” Swarm Hunter Spider said. The Swarm Hunters started to retreat a bit seeming as if they are scared of the Iris Persona of Sara.

Iris looked at the situation and calmed herself down and realized that she is at a massive disadvantage fighting at the same level as the Swarm Hunters. ”Mary they do have a point,” Iris said, towards Mary. She lifted off the ground and reached the same height of Mary since she had said that. Iris leaned into Mary’s ear and whispered into it. ”Mary do you have a plan?” Iris whispered.

Mary looked at Sara with a different voice coming from her. She shrugged her shoulders because she had never dealt with Swarm Hunters before. ”We could ask for help… from the one place my father doesn’t like since they were a cult along time ago but grew into a powerful organization now a days,” Mary whispered.

Iris laughed at that idea but thought how long it would take to clean up the filth that is the Spiders from Penrose. ”Eeeh… I don’t think he would like that much,” Iris said.

On the ground, the Swarm Hunters noticed that the Iris Persona and Mary are talking about something but cannot read lips on their end. The Swarm Hunters were happy the Iris Persona is smarter in not falling for another trap as easy as the first. The Swarm Hunters spread throughout the northern part of the city. The biggest Swarm Hunter slowly walked right underneath Mary and Sara’s Iris Persona. “We are impressed by your Instinct but I am not impressed by your non action,” Swarm Hunter Patriarch said. The Spider started to climb up the buildings towards the two girls. The Glass was cracking under pressure by this massive spider weight.

Iris looked down and noticed that massive spider was much larger than those monster movies. ”What?” Iris asked, dumbfounded at the size of that massive spider. She grabbed Mary’s hand and started flying up faster than the spider could slowly walking up the buildings. ”I have no idea why I am so afraid of that spider… It is probably because blue is my least favorite color… but on a Spider now that’s terrifying,” Iris thought to herself, shaking a bit at the size of that spider.

---

Dar’vech smiled when his Swarm Hunters intercepted the one that wanted to kill him, Sena and surprisingly the one he spared after killing her mother. ”Ah, Mary nice to see she’s still around,” Dar’vech said. He felt the magical leakage filtering throughout the city at a steady pace. He increased the leakage amount by a bit as if opening up a hole in a dam or a flood gate. He looked at Serra and laughed. ”I hope she does save you from me or dies trying,” Dar’vech said.

Serra heard Dar’vech gesture towards her and her blood was rushing through her. “Please no… she’s the only one I got,” Serra said, terrified. She went on her knees and begged for her sister’s life from the one who saved hers of being a mindless servant.

Dar’vech never had this happen to him before it was interesting. ”How interesting… you are the first person to ever beg to me. In the millennia I have been alive,” Dar’vech said. He thought for a moment and looked at her and laughed loudly at this entire ordeal. ”You will be the first person I will give my word to not to kill your flesh and blood at all. Scarlett won’t be harmed at all,” Dar’vech said.

Serra heard the Grand Devourer’s words and was utterly startled in what he had said. “Thank you Dar’vech,” Serra said.

A bit later, Dar’vech felt the magical leakage reach a hospital within the area and it started to make the heartbeat sound throughout the entire hospital. It had a faint magical essence flowing throughout the area. The Magical Leakage had covered about three fourths of Penrose City as a whole in the southern area of it.

---

Darcey helped the unconscious Stacey to a bed and laid her down. She had no knowledge of how she had gotten this fever if she is a goddess. “This is a strange illness, unless this has to do with the one she said,” Darcey said, worried. She looked over to her left and right of her and saw no one at the moment.

Her father Marcus walked into the room invisible and noticed Darcey had helped one of her family’s long standing enemies, Tiamat. He reappeared in the room right behind his daughter angered somewhat but he recognized the illness she had. ”Darcey, what are you doing? Why is she sick with the Ethereal Plague?” Marcus asked, curiously. He thought that plague was officially dead and buried unless something had happened to make it resurface.

Darcey was startled when her father asked her questions and reappeared right behind her. ”Dad don’t startle me like that. Ethereal Plague?” Darcey asked, worried and jumpy after her father had done that. She turned around and looked at her father.

Marcus laughed at her first statement and got serious at the mention of the Ethereal Plague. ”It is a dangerous plague towards Gods and Goddesses of Dragons if they get near a powerful Ethereal Dragon. Or in this case it is the aftereffects of being near the most ancient of them all,” Marcus said. He hoped his daughter doesn’t know the name of this infernal creature he hates hearing the name of.

Darcey remembered what Tiamat had said and sighed with a slight disdain in her voice. ”Dad it was Dar’vech that caused this then. He used her to get what he wanted I have no idea what that means,” Darcey said. She had no idea how to cure Ethereal Plague.

Marcus heard the name that his daughter had said and instantly had a bone chilling reminder of the fear he felt when he first saw that behemoth of a dragon that you could see through. ”Daughter… The Ethereal Plague is one way that Dar’vech weakens his enemies without the need to fight them. That what actually happened to Bahamut during the Dragon War and it was easy for Tiamat to win it afterwards. Dar’vech is three steps ahead of the game in most cases in terms of fighting other dragons anyway,” Marcus said, worried looking at Tiamat.

Darcey looked at Stacey. ”Does that mean Stacey won’t remember who she is because I remember you wrote something in your book on that plague,” Darcey said. She looked back her father and wasn’t happy about this at all.

Marcus nodded to his daughter and looked at Stacey a bit worried about all this. ”The alias she has right now will be all she will remember and nothing about the in and outs of her plan but her brother will still be in her mind though. But in a different light as if he was a shining knight or angel to save her from herself,” Marcus said. He enjoyed Stacey’s time at this inn to talk to his daughter. He was conflicted about the entire ordeal about Tiamat’s condition, one he is happy to see the Ethereal plague in action but the entire memory alteration is intense. ”I hate the decisions I have to make… keep her in the dark about her past or let her know about her true name. But the scar of that betrayal by Dar’vech won’t be remembered,” Marcus said, annoyed and conflicted at this whole ordeal.

The Roof of the Inn shook a bit as if something walked on it that was heavy but not heavy enough to break the Magical Enchantment on it. Darcey was afraid of whatever that was because it was big. She was terrified. ”Daddy, what was that?” Darcey asked, curiously and terrified.

Marcus felt what stepped on the Magical Enchantment and wasn’t happy at all. ”Swarm Hunters… They are dangerous monstrous Spiders,” Marcus said, annoyed. He was wondering where his wife was at this time or that angel girl by the name of Sena.

Darcey heard her father say Swarm Hunters and was shivering because she has a fear of Spiders.

Lily was shocked to her very core, more than any amount of electricity that could ever pass through her bloodstream; he saw how Helga brutally impaled Alex and almost smashed him through a brick wall.
"No...It can't be...Alex..."
She fell to her knees, with her hands to her face; she had come to believe that Alex had died. She had seen civilians killed before when she was just a rookie, and was too late to save them from being killed by monsters, but this was different; she came to realize how empty her life would be if Alex was not there. She would never hear his sarcastic remarks to her energetic manners, his hesitation when she would take his hand and lead them on a new adventure...Would all those happy moments become but a memory? Tears flowed from Lily's cheeks as grief overcame her.

Meanwhile, Helga danced among Alicia's rain of arrows, keeping up her deft dodging as she did with Lily's arrows. However, she did not have time to avoid the very first explosion, causing one of her drill-shaped tails of hair to get burnt up. In response, she bellowed like a dinosaur. "Blockhead!" She adapted to the tactic used by the light magic user far quicker than was possible, even for a fast thinker. Even so, she realized she was going to be attacked by Penny who was charging in, and so once again opened the hatches on her palms, and fired a burst of psychic blasts at Alicia; they stunned her, and caused her to fall down into the street.

Right as she was done with the ranged attack, Helga contorted her spine, bending backwards to dodge the first punch thrown by Penny, and followed it up with a sweeping kick that the mechanical girl jumped. The two then engaged in a vicious and swift close combat, with one side throwing out punches and the other claw strikes at blinding speed; it seemed the two were almost identical when it came to fighting ability; Helga would avoid the punches by twisting her body at unnatural angles and feigning attacks, while Penny avoided direct strikes by parrying and defending with her arms, sending sparks through the air as Helga's sharp claws left scraped on her metallic body.

"You're a tough tincan, but nobody has survived a point-blank blast of my sound magic!" She drew in a breath, about to deliver a potentially deadly scream, when she was suddenly struck from the side; even Penny did not see what caused the attack until Helga flew from the impact and had to stop her momentum by anchoring herself with her claws, long scratch trails made as she slowed down. "What is that? I killed your buffer boyfriend, that's impossible!"

Then she saw it, alongside everybody else; an aura of crackling yellow energy emanated from Lily as she suddenly appeared on a rooftop; she was slouched down on all fours, her eyes a blank yellow color. Her skin was covered in fur, and from her forehead jutted out a long, sharp horn in the shape of a thunderbolt. A horse's neigh could be heard in the midst of her scream as she once again disappeared, only to appear again and kick Helga right in her face, causing her shark-like teeth to scatter into the air and the monster girl herself to be knocked back.
"Ughh, no, this can't!" Helga growled, sounding demonic as she stood up on shaky legs, her claws wide spread in menacing fashion as her mouth bled blood. "I'll kill you, you bitch!"

Lily did not answer, and instead lifted her staff up into the air. The air itself seemed to become static, and a black storm cloud formed above the hospital. Penny resumed attacking, and Helga stopped her by catching her fists with her clawed hands, and the two were locked in place as they struggle. "You'll kill your friend! Just like I killed him! AAAHAHHHAAAA!" Helga screamed maniacally, before a mighty lightning bolt from above struck, and the world turned white.

Lily's Killing Blow, Wrath of Zeus, left a black mark of charring on the roof. There, a single magical girl was still left standing; Penny. Due to her Specialization of Lightning and Metal, had survived the blast that left Helga as nothing more than a pile of ash before her. The surge of power was almost overwhelming, however, and Penny crackled with electricity from her body; she felt faster and stronger than ever before.
Alex, having focused on self-heal, was completely recovered, and stood up to see his friend had become a monster. Lily was still slouched, her arms on the ground before her, as she neighed at both the Beacon and the Beacon slayers. Tension was high in the air, with no side willing to make a move. Would this conflict end in further death, or could a truce-fire possibly be formed?

TO BE CONTINUED...