All Eris saw around her was darkness. Plain and simple darkness. The last thing she could recall in that darkness was how she had struck the Emperor with all her might despite being attacked by his lightning, how she had freed her sisters and the others from the prison, and how they had pulled her out of there before she crashed somewhere, though all those visions were jumbled together without any order. Suddenly, the image of Wolfgun pointing his weapon at her flashed into her mind, and as soon as he fired, Eris snapped back to reality.
She immediately freed herself from the giant glass tube she was trapped in, shattering it and leaping out onto the ground. Eris breathed heavily as she knelt on the floor, a bluish liquid slowly dripping from her body. She didn't care if she was naked at that moment, as she stood up and looked around. Eris seemed to be in a strange room that blended technology with occult symbols. A bizarre combination, indeed.
She immediately sensed a presence behind her and swung a fist at it, stopping just inches from striking the person now before her. A gray-haired man, wearing glasses and a red suit, sat in an electric wheelchair. The man seemed unfazed by the prospect of being struck by Eris, or by the Hellbeast's nakedness, maintaining a modest smile.
“It seems you’ve woken up, miss,” the man said, clasping his hands together.
Eris frowned at the man for a moment until she removed her hand from him. "May I ask who you are?" Eris asked without taking her eyes off him.
“My name is Stephen, Eris,” the man said, making Eris raise an eyebrow. “Oh, yes. Your sisters have told me about you. They’re fine, by the way.”
Eris frowned for a moment until she began to look around.
“Where are we?” Eris asked, turning her head from side to side.
“You are in my humble abode,” Stephen replied. “You had quite a bumpy landing, considering how you came to land right in front of my plot. If you’re wondering, yes. You are in another world. The name itself is too complicated for ordinary folk to mention, but the United Worlds Federation has it designated as SMT01.”
“SMT01, understood,” Eris said, still looking around. Then she looked at her hand and then at her body, noticing that she had no recent injuries.
“Demon Fusion,” Stephen said, making Eris look at him. “A special technique we have in this world, where we can fuse two demons to create a stronger one. Or in this case, help heal someone.”
Surprised by his words, Eris looked at her hand.
“When you arrived here, you were in a terrible state. You wouldn’t have made it to a hospital in time, given your condition, so I had to resort to demonic fusion to help you,” Stephen explained. “You have no idea how many demons I had to use for the fusion to maintain your natural alignment without any radical changes.”
Eris didn't understand a single thing he was saying. But she could sense that she was simply different than before, more powerful, but she couldn't explain how.
Stephen coughed to get Eris's attention. "You see, Miss Eris, I'd like to ask you a favor in return for the treatment. We should meet the others in the living room. But first..." Stephen reached for a chair where Eris's clothes were. "Put on something more presentable. As special as your home world may be, I think you should be dressed. Don't worry about all the damage your clothes have sustained. They're as good as new."
Eris looked at her clothes and then at the man, shrugging her shoulders.
In the living room, Nami and Catilia, as well as Gida and Noka, were sitting in the chairs that were in the room, when Stephen appeared, crossing the door in his wheelchair.
“Good news, ladies. Eris has made a full recovery,” Stephen said.
Nami breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at Catilia, while Gida and Noka smiled at each other.
“If I may ask…” Eris said as she followed Stephen through the door, getting dressed. “Did you do anything to my clothes while I was in that tube? They feel a little tighter than before.”
As Eris mentioned, she was having some trouble with her clothes, as the leotard she was wearing was now a bit tight, as if it had suddenly shrunk. Even her body and breasts seemed to be more constricted than usual.
“Oh, that was a side effect of the demonic fusion,” Stephen replied. “The process has caused his body and musculature to grow a little.”
“Great. Now I’m going to have to find clothes in my size. And we’re far from that world,” Eris said, showing some discomfort at how tight her clothes now were.
“Don’t worry. I have someone taking care of it. Just be patient,” Stephen said.
After trying to adjust her clothes, Eris crossed her upper arms under her chest. “Very well, what do you need help with? You want us to repay you for saving me, don’t you?”
“Very true,” said Stephen, moving his wheelchair. “I ask that you help us resolve certain problems before the incident escalates into a war.”
“A war? And how?” Catilia asked, leaning towards him from her chair.
“You see, this world is very different from anything you have ever seen,” Stephen said, looking at Catilia. “I assume you have noticed the presence of my companions here.”
“How could I not see them?” Noka said.
As she said, in the room next to them was what looked like a harpy on one side, and on the other side what looked like a male naga wearing a helmet. Although for some reason, they kept their distance.
“Okay, so here’s the plot twist. They’re both demons,” Stephen said calmly.
“What?!” they all asked at once, looking at the two monsters.
“Are these two really demons?” Nami asked, pointing at the harpy.
“Well, they don’t look like it,” Noka said, looking at the harpy and the naga.
"Seriously? The harpy and the naga?" Eris asked, her eyes wide.
“Actually, the correct term is Naga Raja, miss,” Stephen corrected.
“Okay, okay, Mr. Stephen. Could you explain it to us from the beginning?” Gida asked Stephen.
“It will be a pleasure,” Stephen said. “This world wasn’t much to look at at first; it was just a normal world, until somehow a door was opened to what we call the Demon World, and from there the demons began to come. And so, this world became what it is now.”
“Okay, do you want us to send them home?” Eris asked.
“No, that’s not it,” Stephen corrected Eris. “You see, in this world, demons follow a specific alignment that affects their existence. Currently, there are three specific alignments: Law, Neutral, and Chaos. The demons here abide by these three forces. Neutral is one thing, but the problem lies with the other two. Law is associated with God, order, and peace, while Chaos is associated with Lucifer, freedom, and war.”
“So, Law is good, and Chaos is bad,” Eris said as she walked across the room.
“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Catilia said to Eris. “Surely both sides will have their positive and negative aspects equally.”
“Indeed,” Stephen confirmed. “The concept of Law promotes order and stability, but taken to extremes, it leads to dictatorship and elitism, rejecting individual freedom. Chaos, on the other hand, promotes freedom and free will, but taken to extremes, it can lead to absolute anarchy, with the survival of the fittest generally prevailing. Neutral alignment, or Balance as we call it, is what keeps both forces in equilibrium.”
“Okay, so why are you telling us all this?” Noka asked.
“You see, something is happening in this world. Members of the Cult of the Messiah, or Messians for short, and members of the Ring of Gaia, or Gaeans, are being attacked, affecting both humans and demons.”
“Let me get this straight. The Messians are followers of the Law, and the Gaeans of Chaos, isn’t that right?” Catilia asked.
“That’s right,” Stephen said. “Both sides are being targeted by these attacks, and for some reason, both factions are blaming each other, while the Federation tries to mediate between them to prevent the tension from escalating into armed conflict.”
“And let me guess, a war is bad, isn’t it?” Eris asked.
“That’s right. You see, this world, due to its very nature, has the capacity to affect other worlds according to its overall alignment. If a war were to break out, the nearest worlds would be affected by whichever alignment has the upper hand in that conflict. If Law gains the upper hand, there will be more dictatorships and control. But if Chaos gains the upper hand, then there will be war and anarchy everywhere,” Stephen explained. “The only way for worlds to be at peace is for this world to be in balance between these two forces.”
“And can you tell me why they would want to have a war if everyone knows how it will affect other worlds?” Gida asked.
"The demons and followers of Law and Chaos have always been at odds. For generations, both factions have conflicted, with the agents of balance preventing everything from spiraling out of control. Someone knows about this age-old enmity and is carrying out these attacks to provoke a war. Although I don't know who is behind this or why."
Eris scratched her head after hearing Stephen's explanations.
“Something certainly needs to be done. Some worlds may be in pretty bad shape, and they could get even worse if war broke out,” Gida said. “I worry about what might happen to our galaxy if something like that were to happen. Who knows how it would be affected?”
“Either the Empire becomes more cruel, or the rebels become more bloodthirsty. Both options are bad,” Noka said.
“Well, in that case, we must help. We can’t let all this get out of control,” Catilia said.
“Yes, but we must be careful. We don’t want to make the situation worse than it already is,” Nami said.
Eris sighed after listening to them. “Okay, we’ll do it,” Eris said before looking at Stephen. “What do we have to do?”
“First, we’ll go to the United Worlds Federation base on this world. You’ll be given more information about the situation there,” Stephen said. “Don’t worry. Though it may not seem like it, I have some authority in these matters. Besides, I believe they’ve hired someone to deal with the problem. Although knowing his reputation, I wouldn’t be surprised if things got out of hand.”
“Well then. What are we waiting for?” Eris asked, looking at the others.
The UWF base, a large building, served as the only military base in the capital city, located in what was considered a neutral zone between the forces of Law and Chaos. The entire area was guarded by uniformed soldiers who, in addition to protecting the base, also ensured that no rogue Messian or Gaean individuals caused any trouble under their watch.
“Let’s get this straight.” A voice said from the base general’s office. “What part of ‘gathering information, witnesses, and suspects’ didn’t you understand?”
“Don’t get like that, General. I’m doing what I can. It’s not my fault these people are always looking for a fight,” said a second voice in the office.
“But that doesn’t mean you should send them all to the hospital unconscious!” exclaimed the general, a stout, somewhat obese, elderly man in uniform, sitting in his chair. “We hired you to resolve the conflict, not make it worse, Mr. Hanma!”
“Yes, that’s true. But things are definitely heating up, General Glen,” said a man sitting across the table. An extremely tall man with an athletic, muscular build, wavy red hair, red eyes, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and black trousers with black chinos. “Besides, I don’t usually turn down a fight when one is offered to me.”
General Glen sighed, putting his hands to his head. “Sometimes I forget why they call you 'the Ogre'.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll see, next time I’ll bring someone to interrogate you,” the man said with a smile on his face.
“As long as he’s conscious and half in one piece, that’s enough for me. We’re paying you a hefty sum for this,” the general said. “And all you’ve managed to do so far is further inflame the situation between the Messians and the Gaians! We’re lucky you've annoyed both sides equally!”
The man began to laugh at the general's words, making him even more desperate.
“Look, we’re going to change the procedure.” The general placed his hands on the table. “Two representatives from both sides have just arrived to—”
"We can pass?"
The general and the man turned back to the door, watching as Stephen walked through the door, followed by Eris and company.
“Mr. Stephen? May I ask what you are doing here? I am busy right now,” the general said to the man in the wheelchair.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve brought some people who could help with the attacks on both sides,” Stephen said, introducing the group accompanying him.
“A group of women? You’ve got to be kidding me, right?” the man asked, looking at the group.
“And who are you, loudmouth?” Eris asked the man.
“Eris, don’t begin,” Nami scolded.
The man stood up from the chair, showing that he was even taller than Eris.
“This is Yujiro Hanma, the mercenary we’ve hired for this case, although it seems he’s only making things worse,” the general said, introducing the man.
Eris raised an eyebrow but noticed Gida putting his arm in the way to prevent her from moving towards him.
“I know this man. I’ve heard of him,” Gida said. “Yujiro Hanma, also known as the Ogre. Wherever he’s spoken of, he’s considered the strongest man in the world.” She explained as Yujiro smiled.
“It won’t be that bad,” Eris said.
“I’m serious! This man is not to be taken lightly!” Gida warned.
“Well, it seems the blue tigress knows what she’s talking about,” Hanma said. “I don’t know where you all come from, but I guarantee that even the strongest beings in your worlds are mere insects compared to me.”
“Please, we are trying to avoid a war! Let’s not start one here!” the general said, putting his hands to his face.
“I don’t doubt Mr. Hanma’s effectiveness, gentlemen,” Spencer said. “But I suppose a more mortal-level perspective might help to figure something out.”
Hanma looked at Stephen, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, well. Dr. Stephen. You’re much more famous than you think, did you know that?” Yujiro remarked, turning back to the girls who were staring at him in confusion. “Oh, didn’t you know? This man is directly responsible for this world being what it is, thanks to his experiments.”
“What?” Noka asked when they all looked at Stephen.
“Now is not the time for this discussion, you know? We all want to avoid making the situation worse,” Stephen said calmly.
Nami scratched her head, looking at the man in the wheelchair.
“On that point, I can assure you that I don’t need any help. These women would only distract me,” Hanma said.
“What did you say?” Eris asked, removing Gida’s arm and stepping in front of the man. “I’d be very careful what you say, big guy. We’ve taken down bigger fools than you. And do you know what they say about big guys like you?”
“Do we see everything from a bird’s-eye view?” Yujiro said, as if mocking her.
“Of course not! They say the bigger they are, the harder they fall,” Eris said.
“Oh, are you implying that you could beat me in a fight? Maybe I’ll get a little distracted, since I’ve never faced a dog with bug arms and legs before,” Hanma said.
“With you, whenever you want! Just tell me where and how!” Eris exclaimed.
They were staring at each other, their faces barely inches apart, as if they were about to fight. This changed abruptly when they suddenly felt a sharp tug on their ears, wincing in pain. Nami was grabbing Yujiro's ear, while Catilia was grabbing Eris's, pulling hard and making their faces contort in agony.
"Seriously! You're all grown up, and you act like children!" Nami exclaimed while pulling Hanma's ear hard.
“What the hell?!” Yujiro exclaimed in surprise and pain. “Let go of my ear immediately before I rip your arm off, cat girl!” He threatened, giving Nami a murderous glare, but the ear-pulling only intensified, at the same time as he saw a strange flash in Nami’s hand.
Yujiro froze for a second, more from shock than pain. No one had dared to touch him like that in decades… and Nami did it without flinching and with superhuman strength. It was clear these people weren't entirely normal.
“The situation is bad enough without you picking a fight. What do you think your father would say if he saw you?” Catilia asked Eris, tugging at her ear.
"Okay, okay! But stop pulling my ear, please!" Eris exclaimed as tears streamed from her eyes from the pain of the ear-pulling.
Everyone present except Stephen was surprised at how Nami and Catilia had managed to subdue Yujiro and Eris simply by pulling their ears as if they were spoiled children.
“General, we’ll gladly take care of this,” Nami said, looking at the general, while holding Hanma’s ear.
The general blinked for several seconds before snapping back to reality and shaking his head. “I-in that case, head to the meeting room. There are two members of the Gaeans and the Messians there. They should have information about the incidents.”
“If that’s the case, we’d better go there before they kill each other,” Noka said, as Gida nodded.
“Well, then, leave this to us,” said Catilia.
The girls left the room, with Nami and Catilia leading Hanma and Eris by the ear as the two complained incessantly. The general watched with concern as the door closed while Stephen simply observed calmly.
As they walked through the base's corridors, Eris and Yujiro rubbed their sore ears after Nami and Catilia let them go.
"Oof, that was quite a pull on the ear," Hanma said, rubbing his red ear. "I haven't had my ear pulled like that since my mother used to do it when I was little."
“Yes, tell me about it. I don’t know how many times I’ve thought they were going to rip my ears off doing that. And the worst part is when they both do it at the same time.” Eris said, rubbing her sore ear with one hand.
“Well, you must have been very naughty for them to learn this little trick with the ears,” Hanma asked.
“You haven’t seen many hellhounds, have you?” Eris asked. “But believe me, I could have defeated you if we hadn’t been interrupted!”
“I believe you when you say you would have tried.” The man started laughing. “But you were very lucky that your mothers intervened to save you,” Yujiro asked.
“My mothers, you say? They are my sisters. Since I was born, my father took care of me, but when he died, they took care of me. Truly, I don’t know what I would do without them,” Eris said.
Yujiro chuckled for a moment. “Well, if they can restrain a couple of beasts like us with just a tug on the ear, those sisters of yours have earned my respect.” He glanced at Eris. “I’m sure your father was just as formidable as they were if he had to look after something as rare as you.”
“No way! I’m grateful for it!” Eris exclaimed. “Although it turns out my father was a believer in heroes. But not the kind who do things for their own benefit, but the real ones, the ones who risk everything to help others,” Eris said. “He had a very specific mantra. A hero always does what is right, but a true hero always does what is right, even if it hurts them in the long run.”
“A true hero, huh? What nonsense. Only weaklings think about such things,” Yujiro remarked.
“Oh, really? Well, let me tell you, thanks to that, I know the right thing to do now is to put up with your abnormal behavior until this matter is settled,” Eris said. “Besides, let me tell you, you wouldn’t last half a minute against All Might!”
“All Might? What a silly name,” Yujiro said.
“Well, he’s the symbol of peace in his world! The strongest man in the world!” Eris exclaimed, but then she thought for a moment. “Although, of course, he’s retired now because he’s lost all his strength…”
Yujiro started laughing. "What a pathetic man if he can no longer fight! If a man loses his strength, he ceases to be a man!"
“Well, let me tell you, I saw a glimpse of his true power once, and believe me when I say you wouldn't stand a chance against him!” Eris exclaimed. “And I know this because I possess a copy, or something like that, of his power!”
“Well, allow me to doubt that, miss!” Yujiro gave Eris a devilish grin. “But if you want, we can check if that 'copy' of you you have is as genuine as that All Might guy's, you little mutant bitch.”
"If you're looking for a fight, you'll get one, you giant orangutan!" Eris growled angrily, glaring at Yujiro.
“Hey, you two! That’s enough!” Nami exclaimed, startling both Yujiro and Eris, who looked at her and Catilia, who were glaring at them angrily.
They soon arrived at the meeting room, where a soldier let the group in. The room itself was quite large for a big group of people, although the number of people allowed inside was now limited.
“It’s clear that it’s all your fault!”
"Oh, really? Well, you guys never miss an opportunity to cause trouble!"
The group was somewhat stunned by what they saw. Two men were shouting at each other in an aggressive manner. One wore a white robe with blue trim, along with a white pointed hat also adorned with blue. The other wore a samurai-like outfit of blue clothing and red armor, with a helmet that covered his face except for his eyes, and a katana at his belt. It was clear that they were representatives sent by the Messians and Gaeans factions, respectively.
“Well, you all want everything done to the letter, without any deviation!” exclaimed the Gaean.
“And I’m surprised that you’re surprised that you barely have a decent chain of command!” exclaimed the Messiah.
The two were in a heated verbal argument that could have turned physical if it weren't for someone holding them both down, leaving them just inches apart.
The Messiah was being held by his robe by a blonde girl with both colored eyes, brown fox ears and tail, wearing a green and purple outfit that revealed a lot, almost too much, of her body and her large breasts, although it also showed her muscular appearance, with a metal bow on her back.
The Gaean, for his part, was being held by his clothes, or rather lifted into the air, by an anthropomorphic female bird much larger than the rest, even Hanma's, with red plumage and a yellow beak, with avian heels also yellow, with almost colossal musculature but with a narrow waist and colossal breasts, covered by a sleeveless black leotard and a breastplate that covered the chest except for the visible neckline of the leotard, in addition to metal protections on shoulders, forearms and legs with black sleeves under the armor, with a heavy hammer on his back.
The faces of the two women made it clear that those two had been arguing for a long time, and that they had had to hold them back the whole time to prevent them from killing each other.
"A clear example of the current situation between both sides," Gida commented, watching the two fight amongst themselves.
“And those two are supposed to help us?” Eris asked, crossing her upper arms.
“What interests me are those two women. You don’t see something like that every day,” Yujiro commented with his typical smile.
“Not now, okay?” Nami asked the man.
“By the way, who are they?” Catilia asked, pointing to the two girls who were holding the emissaries.
“Judging by her appearance, I think the fox girl must be a member of the fox tribe. Although from what I’ve heard, they don’t usually have that much muscle,” Noka said, crossing her arms and tilting her head to one side.
“The other one, judging by its appearance, I can deduce that it might be a red chocobo. But I’ve never seen or heard of a case like yours,” Gida said, rubbing her head with one hand.
Eris sighed as she watched the two men continue their endless argument. "If we don't do something about those two, we'll be here forever."
"Leave it to me, you'll see how I'll settle this in a second," Hanma said, laughing as he walked towards them, cracking his knuckles.
Hanma soon stood beside the men who were arguing nonstop without noticing his presence, while the fox girl and the red chocobo stared at him.
“May I?” Hanma asked, grabbing both of their heads from behind.
With a sudden movement, Hanma slammed their heads together. The blow was strong enough to stop them fighting; the Gaean was squatting with his hands on his head, groaning in pain, while the Messian was curled up in a fetal position with his hands on his head, tears in his eyes, and a visible bump on his forehead.
“There, that’s it,” Hanma said, dusting his hands.
“Were you trying to kill them, you brute?!” Catilia exclaimed angrily, while Hanma simply shrugged and laughed.
“Oh dear, what a shame,” Eris remarked, making Nami look at her. “She beat me to it.” The cat girl sighed at that moment.
A TIE Advanced x1 hovered over the city for a while without anyone noticing its presence, until it eventually landed in a ruined area of the city, isolated from the rest. As soon as the ship touched down, one side of it opened, releasing its occupant.
Darth Vader looked around in silence, his artificial breathing the only sound coming from him. Vader had been sent after the group after they escaped the Imperials, following the trail of the shuttle they had stolen from the Imperial palace. Perhaps those guarding the rift would fail to capture them, but he would not.
The Sith Lord continued looking until he found, among the rubble, a small demon that was attracted by the visitor's arrival, but as soon as Vader laid eyes on the demon, it was overcome with fear and ran away terrified, leaving the Sith Lord alone.
Vader began walking through the rubble, searching for any trace of his targets, until something caught the Sith Lord's attention, causing him to take refuge behind a ruined wall. Peering over the wall, he saw two men in black robes talking to each other. One seemed calm, while the other appeared more impulsive. Vader considered asking them if they had seen Eris and the others, but something made him hide.
Passing by the two men appeared a pair of droids in black armor with dark red trim and black helmets with red lenses covering their faces, armed with rifles of the same color. Vader recognized these droids from a previous encounter. He hadn't expected to find them again in this situation. He decided to keep his distance and observe what the droids and the hooded figures were up to.
After the first encounter, they allowed the Messianic and the Gaian to sit in separate chairs, while Gida and Noka sat opposite them, with the others standing farther away. Hanma, for his part, sat in the chair backwards with his arms on the back.
“Okay, let’s begin. Can you tell us your names?” Gida asked.
“My name is Toshiko, and I am one of the high-ranking officials of the Order of Messiah,” the Messian replied.
“I am Tetsuo, one of the officers of the Ring of Gaea,” the Gaean replied.
“Very well, you have to start somewhere,” Gida said.
“Boring…” Hanma commented with her eyes closed.
“But we’ve only just begun!” Noka exclaimed, glaring at Hanma. “Now don’t interfere; you’ve already done enough.”
“Well, let’s continue,” Gida said, turning back to the representatives. “Could you explain to me exactly what has been happening with the recent attacks on both sides?”
The two began explaining the problems caused by the attacks both sides had been suffering, always blaming each other for every incident. Whatever was happening, it was clear that someone was using this long-standing mutual enmity between Law and Chaos to sow discord between the two factions. Of course, both had to intervene whenever Toshiko and Tetsuo started fighting, trying to prevent things from escalating.
Meanwhile, while Eris stood against the wall with her arms crossed, watching the interrogation, Nami and Catilia approached the fox girl and the red chocobo who were on the other side of the room.
“Thank you for your help,” Nami said to them both. “If it weren’t for you, those two might have killed each other by the time we arrived.”
“It was nothing. The general asked us to keep an eye on them in case something like that happened,” said the fox girl.
“Aren’t you from here?” Catilia asked.
“That’s right,” the fox girl replied. “I ended up here after traversing what you call a ‘Dark Corridor’ by following a trail, but I lost it upon arriving in this world.”
“Really? And why?” Nami asked.
The girl sighed deeply, looking away. “My home was destroyed by an army we never saw, and after spending more than a century as a slave to a neighboring tribe, I discovered they served someone from outside my world.”
“More than a century?!” Nami interrupted in surprise, while Eris glanced sideways at the conversation. “But you look younger!”
“Yes, my people have always been a very long-lived race,” the girl replied.
“I see,” Catilia said, suddenly realizing something. “By the way, we forgot to introduce ourselves. I’m Catilia, and this is Nami. The one back there is our younger sister, Eris,” she said, pointing to Eris. “The ones talking to those two are Gida and Noka. And that walking mountain of testosterone is Yujiro Hanma.”
The fox girl stared at him for a moment before turning her gaze to the two of them. “My name is Yamane, the last survivor of my village.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Nami said, nodding her head, then looking at the red chocobo. “And who are you?”
“Kueeh?” The red chocobo squawked, tilting her head in confusion, causing Nami and Catilia to do the same.
“Her name is Vulkan,” Yamane said. “And don’t worry, she doesn’t speak anyone’s language.” Nami and Catilia looked at her, confused, while Eris raised an eyebrow. “It turns out she was the victim of some rather shady experiments that turned her into what she is now. And obviously, her speaking wasn’t part of their plan.”
“Okay…” Catilia looked at Vulkan, who was looking downcast. Then she turned her gaze back to Yamane. “Hey, but do you understand her?”
“Yes, I can understand what animals say, so at least I can communicate with her,” Yamane said.
“And how did you get here?” Nami asked.
“I don’t know. He never told me,” Yamane said, shrugging as he looked at Vulkan. “I don’t think it brings back very good memories for him.”
“I see…” Catilia nodded.
Eris turned her gaze to Yamane and Vulkan. In a way, she understood them. Yamane had lost both her village and her family, and Vulkan was the result of some deranged mind's experiments. Eris knew what that felt like, for she had lost her father, and the experiments performed on her before birth had left her with four arms, legs, and a tail covered in incredibly tough chitin, and her Quirk, One for All, instead of being an ordinary Hellhound.
Hanma listened to the conversation between them, glancing sideways without moving his body or showing a single gesture, soon turning his attention back to the interrogation in front of him, wishing it was his turn to extract vital information from them, even if it meant beating them.
“So, do you have any clues as to who might be behind the attacks? Any physical descriptions that could help us?” Gida asked the two.
“Well, that’s the interesting part. According to some of our people, the attackers were wearing enormous blue armor and carrying huge swords,” Tetsuo replied, quickly pointing at Toshiko. “That’s why we think those Messianic idiots were responsible, since one of their predominant colors is blue.”
“Yeah, right, as if there weren’t demons who wore blue too,” Toshiko retorted. “Well, just so you know, the ones who’ve been giving us trouble on our side were wearing red armor, along with strange energy cannons. The kind of equipment and arsenal used by the Gaians.”
“We don’t always use firearms to fight, you sanctimonious fool!” Tetsuo exclaimed.
“And we don’t have to use weapons to fight, you neighborhood thug!” Toshiko exclaimed.
"Okay, that's enough! Don't make me ask Mr. Hanma to tell you to be quiet again!" Gida warned them both.
The two simply crossed their arms, looking in opposite directions.
“Let’s see, all the attackers were wearing armor, which doesn’t narrow down the list of suspects much. Anything else?” Noka asked.
Tetsuo started thinking until he remembered something. “Now that I think about it, some witnesses mentioned something strange. They swore they had seen a hooded figure in a black coat in the affected areas before the attacks.”
Eris turned her gaze towards them when the Gaian mentioned it.
Toshiko also began to think at that moment. “Yes, now that you mention it, some members had mentioned seeing someone in a robe wandering around the areas that were later attacked.”
Gida and Noka looked at each other after hearing that information.
“Does that tell you anything?” Catilia asked the Jedi.
“Well, maybe,” Gida said. “I seem to recall there was once an organization whose members used to wear black robes. But as far as I know, that organization was disbanded some years ago.”
“Wait a minute.” Eris began to think. “I seem to recall that, when we were in that world with the heroes, wasn’t it someone in a black coat who helped Wolfgan get there? I remember because All Might and Endeavor faced both him and Wolfgang.” Yujiro raised an eyebrow after hearing her.
“The one who gave Wolfgun that horrible dark armor and sent the Heartless against the city?” Catilia asked, recalling the entire incident.
“Wait, are you implying that those armors might be Heartless?” Noka asked.
“Heartless, here? That’s bad!” Tetsuo exclaimed.
“Wow, this is getting interesting!” Hanma commented with a smile.
“I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Those things are dangerous. Especially for someone who solves everything with brute force.” Gida warned Yujiro, making him look at her and raise an eyebrow.
“Oh, really? And in what sense?” Hanma asked.
“Heartless feed on the darkness in people’s hearts. And no, I don’t mean the actual organ,” Gida said. “They’re drawn to them like fireflies to light. And when they devour a heart, the resulting Heartless relies on that same darkness.” Then Gida glanced nervously at Hanma. “Knowing your reputation, yours could surely destroy a world in one fell swoop.”
Yujiro burst out laughing. "I'm starting to like this stuff more and more!"
“Nothing, there’s no way. He’d end up in a war without even being asked,” Noka commented.
“Let’s not assume anything, okay? We don’t know if they’re Heartless or not,” Nami said. “In any case, we should go out and investigate. Hopefully, we’ll find the ones in the black robes.”
“Yes, good idea,” Gida said. “It would be best if we split into two groups. One will go with the Messian representative to his territory, while the other will accompany the Gaean representative to his area.”
“Well, I was getting tired of standing here doing nothing,” Hanma said, getting up. “Me and the four-armed dog will go with the-”
“Not so fast, Mr. Hanma!” Catilia interrupted. “Absolutely not. Who knows what kind of disaster you might cause? You’d probably provoke her to fight all the time, and she’d take the bait. So no, you won’t be going together.”
Hanma simply shrugged as he looked away.
"Seriously, for someone who's called the strongest man in the world, he acts like a kindergartener," Yamane remarked, looking at Hanma.
“Well, he reminds me quite a bit of Eris when she was a child,” Catilia remarked.
“Hey!” Eris and Yujiro exclaimed at the same time.
“Okay, the groups will be like this: Eris, Catilia, and Noka will go in one group; while I, Nami, and Yujiro will go with the other group, okay?” Gida suggested.
Eris shrugged. “For my own good.”
“Can we come with you?” Yamane asked, causing everyone to turn their gaze towards her and Vulkan.
“Yes, why not?” Gida said. “You’ll go with us, while Vulkan will go with the others.”
“Kuee!” Vulkan nodded.
“Well, hopefully we’ll find out what’s going on here,” Nami said.
In a part of town that resembled a slum more than a middle-class neighborhood, Eris, Catilia, Noka, and Vulkan followed Tetsuo. As they walked through the streets, they noticed that the locals and some lesser demons regarded them with suspicion and disdain, while others simply hid at the sight of them. There were also a few people who threw objects at them for not being human.
“It’s clear that this side of town isn’t exactly what you’d call orderly,” Eris remarked, looking at some of the houses that appeared to be half-abandoned.
“Well, I guess this is what one might expect from people who don’t respect the law,” Noka said.
“We don’t respect Law, but we do follow some of the city’s laws,” Tetsuo remarked. “Keep in mind that this is where most of the members of the Gaia Ring live.”
“Kueeh…” Vulkan croaked, watching as some children hid from them as soon as they passed nearby.
“Don’t worry. Everyone’s like this because of the recent attacks. Everyone’s on the defensive,” Catilia told the red chocobo.
“Hey, can we ask the people here?” Noka asked Tetsuo.
“Yes, although I doubt they’ll want to answer you. Things are pretty bad. You know why,” Tetsuo replied.
“Relax. We will try not to cause any problems for the population,” Catilia said.
The girls then began questioning the people in the area, both humans and demons. Or at least those who weren't hiding out of fear or simply refusing to speak to them. Catilia and Noka, with Tetsuo's help, took charge of questioning those who were willing to talk, while Eris and Vulkan stayed close, letting them work. Eris didn't mind being on the sidelines at that moment; she knew herself well and knew she could scare off more people if she asked questions in her own way. Even so, the conversation between Eris and Vulkan was practically nonexistent, as the infernal beast was unable to understand the red chocobo's cries, despite her gestures.
Eris sighed deeply, unable to understand Vulkan when Noka called everyone.
“Hey! I’ve been told someone wearing a black coat was seen heading towards the arcade area!” Noka warned.
“Do you know where that is?” Catilia asked.
“Yes, it’s not far from here. Hopefully, we’ll find him there,” Tetsuo said.
“Then let’s go there!” exclaimed Eris.
The group began following Tetsuo through the slums until they reached a district filled with arcades, though the place was currently deserted due to recent attacks. Once there, they began searching the entire area until they finally found someone.
A man in a black coat. Eris recognized the clothes as the same as the man who had helped Wolfgun and his men pursue her, but his physical appearance was different, so it wasn't the same person.
“Hey, you!” Eris exclaimed to the hooded figure.
The hooded figure turned to them. “Are you referring to me?” the man asked calmly.
“Yes, that’s right,” Eris said. “We want to ask you a few questions, so don’t move.”
"Okay, whatever." The man calmly raised his hands without giving any reason for aggression.
“Okay,” Noka said. “Could you take off your hood? I’d like to see your face.”
“Well, if there’s no other choice.” The man said, using his hands to pull back the hood, revealing the head of a young man with blue hair and a blue eye wearing a mask that covered the upper half of his face except for one eye.
“I knew it! This stinks to Messian!” Tetsuo exclaimed as Vulkan grabbed her to prevent her from attacking him.
“Calm down, there’s no need to get so worked up, sir,” the man said calmly.
“We’ll see about that,” Eris said, pointing a finger at the man.
“Leave this to Noka. I can see you messing it.” Catilia said to Eris, which made her cross her arms and look away.
“Well, what’s your name?” Noka asked the man.
“Well, my name isn’t important, but you can call me Xelax,” the man replied.
“Well, Xelax. Why are you here alone? You should already know there have been attacks in the area,” Noka asked.
“Yes, I’ve heard that. But I can tell you that the threats from those beings won’t stop me from taking a stroll through these streets,” Xelax replied.
“Yeah, whatever you say,” Eris commented.
“Some people have seen you in some of the areas that were attacked shortly before those attacks. Did you happen to see anything?” Noka asked.
“Well, I admit I ventured into some of those areas. I was truly lucky to escape those nasty surprises alive,” Xelax said. “Although on occasion, I could see that the attackers seemed more aligned with Law than with Chaos or neutral.”
“Don’t tell me you’re believing that,” Tetsuo said to the girls, receiving a withering glare from Catilia telling him to shut up.
Xelax shrugged and shook his head. “It seems your friend doesn’t believe me.”
“I’ll decide that,” Noka said. “Getting back to the topic. Didn’t you see anything else in the area before the attacks? Not during or after, but before.”
“Unfortunately not, I’m sorry,” Xelax replied. “I can’t help you with that.”
“That’s strange,” Eris remarked. “The Messians told us that someone wearing the same clothes as you… And I don’t think many people are wearing those kinds of robes.”
“Eris, don’t interrupt,” said Catilia.
“Well, I don’t know much about what’s going on in Messian territory, but if things are as bad as they are here, I just hope the person responsible suffers the consequences as the Law dictates,” Xelax replied, clasping his hands together.
For some reason, Eris didn't like the way that man said things at all.
“By the way, I have a question. What is your belief?” Eris asked, causing everyone to look at her in surprise.
“What is my belief?” Xelax asked, surprised, after a moment's thought. “I believe that some things should follow a predetermined order for everything to work well, although I recognize that some things don't have to follow the established path. But if we all behaved ourselves, things would be better for everyone.”
“Bah! Typical ramblings of a Law follower!” Tetsuo said, crossing his arms.
“Well, whatever you say, it’s very strange that you were seen in several Gaean locations before the attacks,” Eris commented.
“That’s true,” Noka said, looking at Xelax. “I’d like you to accompany us to the UWF base for a more thorough interrogation, if you don’t mind, sir.”
“I admit that everything is a bit strange, but unfortunately, I must refuse to go with you,” Xelax replied.
"Well, if you don't come willingly, then you'll come by force," Eris said threateningly.
“Please, my dear. I highly doubt God wants you to use brute force,” Xelax said. “Besides, we could cause more damage here if you used One for All. We could accidentally bring the building down.”
“But if you come with us, there shouldn’t be any problems around here,” Noka said. “Besides, if you cooperate, we could-”
“Wait a minute!” exclaimed Catilia. “Mr. Xelax, have we met before?”
“Well, no, actually. This is the first time,” Xelax said.
“So how do you know about One for All? We haven’t mentioned it at any point,” Catilia said.
Noka and Eris stared at Catilia in astonishment, while Vulkan looked on in confusion, not understanding what she was saying. How could he know something that only they knew?
Xelax looked at the group silently for a moment. “Well, it seems I’ve let it slip.”
“Okay, this is starting to get really weird,” Eris said. “You’re coming with us right now, no question about it.”
“I’m sorry, but right now I can’t grant you that wish, ladies,” said Xelax.
“Oh, really? And how are you going to stop it?” Eris asked.
Just then, Noka sensed something was wrong and turned her gaze towards Vulkan and Tetsuo. "Watch out!"
Vulkan quickly grabbed Tetsuo and leaped forward, dodging a sword strike that narrowly missed them. As soon as they all turned to face the attacker, they saw that it was a large suit of blue armor with a massive shield on its left arm and an enormous sword on its right forearm, bearing the symbol of a bat on the shield.
“That thing is what’s been causing the problems!” Tetsuo exclaimed, pointing at the armor.
“But what is it?” Catilia asked.
“It can’t be. It’s a Fallen!” Noka exclaimed, seemingly recognizing the symbol on the shield. “But how?”
“A Fallen ?” Eris asked.
“Dark creatures related to the Heartless. They are practically fear made flesh.” Noka explained to the others.
“Fear made flesh? You’ve got to be kidding me, right?” Tetsuo asked.
The blue Fallen raised its sword to attack, but Noka anticipated it and blocked its attack with her laser sword. Tetsuo attacked the monster with his katana, but it blocked his attack with its enormous shield.
“Attacking it from the side of the shield is a waste of time!” Noka warned, blocking another attack from the Fallen.
Vulkan then gripped her hammer with both hands and struck it hard in the side, but the Fallen replied by attacking with his sword, while Vulkan blocked with her right armband, seriously damaging it with the blow. Noka used this opportunity to push it away a couple of meters with the Force, confusing the Gaean with her ability.
While this was happening, Eris noticed that Xelax was slowly walking away from them, but she quickly grabbed him.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t move, you clown!” Eris threatened Xelax.
“Calm down, there’s no need to get like this,” Xelax said, raising his hands.
Catilia stayed by Eris's side to watch over the man in case it became necessary to subdue him.
Seeing the state of her bracer and how the deformed metal now bothered her, Vulkan began to remove it so she could handle it better. She immediately rushed toward the Fallen, striking it hard and forcing it away.
Without them noticing, Xelax simply moved one of his fingers, and a block of ice emerged from the ground, freezing part of the lower armor of the red chocobo's left leg, trapping her there.
“Hey!” Eris glared angrily at the man.
“I haven’t done anything!” exclaimed Xelax.
The Fallen approached Vulkan, but Noka and Tetsuo kept it at bay, pushing it away from her as she tried to free herself from the ice, until Noka jumped over the Fallen and executed a direct slash with her lightsaber across its back, causing it to vanish in a faint burst of darkness, leaving behind a heart and a sphere of light that rose into the sky.
But unbeknownst to them, another Fallen of the same type approached Eris, preparing its sword to attack as its edge was enhanced by unknown magic, raising its blade. Catilia realized what was happening.
“Eris, watch out!” Catilia exclaimed, pushing Eris, and therefore Xelax, aside, placing her sword above her head in position to block the attack.
But…
When the Fallen threw its downward attack, its sword not only split Catilia's sword in two, but also cut her cleanly from top to bottom, her body being pushed back by the attack.
Eris was in shock as she watched Catilia being mortally wounded by the monster, her body beginning to glow with a faint blue light until it vanished completely, leaving behind an eight-pointed quartz star that shattered in two before hitting the ground. Eris stood frozen, staring at what remained of Catilia on the ground. She couldn't believe it. Catilia, her own sister, who had cared for her since their adoptive father died, had just died and disappeared before her eyes, leaving her unable to utter a single word.
The Fallen confronted Eris in that state, at the same time as Xelax began to slip away.
“I’m sorry for your sister. I will pray to our Lord that her soul may find peace,” Xelax said before disappearing in a flash.
Eris was paralyzed by what had just happened before her eyes, unable to see the Fallen preparing to attack her with its sword. At that very moment, Vulkan shattered the ice that bound her leg with a single blow, destroying the leg armor in the process, and with tremendous force struck it on the head from behind, instantly obliterating it and causing him to vanish.
After finishing off the two enemies, Noka ran towards Eris, leaving Tetsuo behind.
“Eris! Are you alright? Answer me!” Noka exclaimed to the infernal beast, receiving no response.
Eris then fell to her knees, her hands trembling and unable to grasp the shattered quartz star. Tears began to stream uncontrollably down her face as she gazed at what remained of her sister.
In an area of the city that resembled a rather elitist neighborhood, adorned with sacred symbols, Gida, Nami, Yamane, and Yujiro accompanied Toshiko. As they walked through the streets, the group noticed that the locals and some lesser demons regarded them with suspicion, some even moving away. It seemed the people there weren't interested in being near the group.
“Oh dear, so much sanctimoniousness,” Yujiro commented, glancing sideways at the streets and symbols.
“Well, all these people are believers, so, normally, there are religious symbols everywhere,” Nami commented.
“That’s right, we all have faith in the Law here, especially the members of the Cult of Messiah,” Toshiko said. “So I would ask you to respect their beliefs. They have already suffered enough with the recent attacks.”
“Yes, I can imagine,” Yamane said, watching as some people in their homes closed their windows as soon as they passed by.
"Well, you know. Don't let your ego get the better of you. We don't want you causing any more problems than there are now," Nami said to Hanma.
“I don’t promise miracles, but I’ll do what I can,” Hanma said, though it was clear he was already looking to cause trouble.
“Why did you decide to have this man accompany us? Any of the others would have been better than him,” Yamane asked Gida.
“Eris is physically a hell monster, while Hanma is one on the inside. I preferred an inner demon to an outer one so as not to frighten the Messians,” Gida said.
“I have my doubts that’s any consolation,” Yamane said.
“Okay, we’ll start asking around here to see if anyone knows anything about what’s going on,” Nami suggested.
“I think you’ve been beaten to it, ladies,” Hanma said with a smile, pointing at Yoshiko.
The girls watched as Toshiko approached several people on that street, who bowed as soon as they saw him.
“Bah! They treat him like he’s a god or something!” Yujiro exclaimed with disdain.
“Well, it seems he holds a high rank among the Messians,” Gida said. “Let’s use that to ask the others what they have to say.”
Yujiro simply shrugged.
Taking advantage of the fervor Toshiko exerted over the people, the girls began questioning everyone, including the demons present, about the recent incidents in their territory, though some reprimanded Nami and Yamane more for their appearance than anything else. The only one who had no problem with these people was Gida, who occasionally used the Force to extract any information she felt they were hiding.
Hanma, for his part, stood with his arms crossed, pressed against the wall, passing the time, although on occasion he would scare away any minor demon that approached him.
“Hey, catgirl,” Yujiro called to Nami, who was approaching him after failing to get any information. “I definitely have a feeling that you and the other catgirl aren’t normal. Am I wrong?”
Nami sighed. “Yes, that’s right,” she said, crossing her arms. “Catilia is a Servant, while I am a Blade.”
“Servant? Blade?” Hanma raised an eyebrow.
“A Servant is a warrior from the past who is summoned to fight alongside the mage who summoned it. Catilia, in her day, fought alongside Vercingetorix until the Battle of Alesia,” Nami explained.
“Vercingetorix? Alesia? You’re kidding me!” Hanma exclaimed. “Is she a ghost or something?”
“You could say that,” Nami said. Then she placed her hand on the gem on her chest. “For my part, I am a Blade, an artificial being that takes form when it connects with one we call a Driver.”
“And how on earth did that girl find you?” Hanma asked. “In a box or something?”
“You’re not far off.” Nami chuckled. “Eris’ adoptive father kept us safe in a box for a while, but when he died, and Eris found our belongings when she was ten, we took physical form and became her sisters.”
“And what would happen to both of you if something happened to your sister?” Hanma asked.
“In the worst-case scenario, we would both disappear,” Nami replied.
Yujiro snorted. “What a weakness. You’re both strong, but you depend on someone else to exist.” Nami put her hands on her hips at his words, while he glanced at her sideways. “But you’ve surely been through everything together until today, haven’t you?”
“You’d go crazy if you knew everything we’ve been through, mainly running from both soldiers and other monsters. Believe me, I highly doubt you’d survive unscathed in our world,” Nami said.
“Really? Why is that?” Hanma asked.
"To begin with, all monsters are half-succubus. That says it all." Nami shrugged, while Hanma started to laugh.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news,” Toshiko said as she approached them. “It seems someone wearing a black coat has been spotted not far from here, near a modest mausoleum.”
“Well, what are we waiting for? For God's child to come and pick us up?” Hanma asked, making Toshiko look at him with displeasure.
“Shut your mouth and walk,” Nami told the man.
The group began following Toshiko through the neighborhoods until they reached a district where there stood what appeared to be a solemn mausoleum adorned with religious symbols. Once there, they began searching the entire area until they finally found someone: a man in a black coat, kicking one side of the mausoleum.
"Such behavior towards a holy place!" exclaimed Toshiko as she saw the man in the black coat hitting the wall of the mausoleum.
“Hey, you, dwarf!” Yujiro exclaimed as he walked towards the man in the black coat.
“What are you doing here, idiot?” the man asked.
“That’s what I’d like to know, friend. I’m no prude or anything, but the people here respect this place, so if I were you, I’d be careful what you hit,” Yujiro warned.
"Well, if you're not a saint, get lost! I don't have time for idiots like you!" the man replied.
“Well, I’m afraid so,” Gida said. “Who are you to begin with?”
“I’m not saying anything to you, beautiful!” exclaimed the man.
“Excuse me,” Hanma said, putting his hand on the hood of the coat, pulling it down, and revealing a man with spiky red hair and black eyes, with three piercings under his right eye and earrings in both ears.
“Let go!” exclaimed the man, pulling Hanma’s arm away from him.
“If you want us to leave you alone, you’d better answer a few questions,” Gida said.
“And you’d better not try to dodge the answers!” Toshiko exclaimed. “But it’s clear you’re a Gaian.”
“So what if I am? Are you going to do something to me, idiot?” the man asked.
“Uh, we still don’t know if he’s a Gaean or not,” Nami said to Toshiko.
“To begin with, what’s your name?” Gida asked.
“How about ‘go to hell’?” the man asked in response, receiving a disquieting look from Hanma. “But if you need a name, you can call me Ixorad.” He shrugged.
“Okay, Ixorad. Have you by any chance been to the areas that were attacked recently?” Gida asked.
“So what if that’s the case? This is a free world. As far as I know, there’s no rule restricting entry to this area to those who aren’t slaves to the Law,” Ixorad replied.
“More respect, heretic!” Toshiko exclaimed.
“Relax, don’t let it get into your head,” Yamane said to the Messiah.
“So, did you see anything unusual in those areas before or after the attacks?” Gida asked.
“If you’re referring to those red armors that were attacking uncontrollably, then yes, that’s right. Seriously, how can you let those things run rampant?” Ixorad shrugged.
“And they keep adding fuel to the fire,” Yamane said.
“You’re not one to follow the law itself, are you?” Nami asked.
“I do what I want! Period!” the man exclaimed. “And now, if you don’t mind, I have better things to do than answer questions.”
“We’re not finished yet,” Gida said.
“Oh, of course we did,” said Ixorad, turning to walk away.
“Oh, of course not!” Hanma exclaimed, putting his hand on his shoulder to stop him.
Ixorad turned to him. “Bad move, gorilla,” he said, extending his hand toward Hanma’s face.
Instinctively, he moved his head to the side, avoiding a fireball that shot from his hand and struck a nearby wall, startling everyone. He immediately placed his hand over Hanma's, who was gripping his shoulder, causing a fiery explosion that forced him to release his grip as he shook his hand to extinguish the flames.
“What kind of black magic is this?” Toshiko asked upon seeing the man’s powers.
“What the hell? Are you a pyro or something?” Hanma asked Ixorad.
“The correct term is pyrokinetic,” Nami said.
“Not now!” Gida exclaimed.
“Listen carefully, you losers! Leave me alone, or you’ll be in serious trouble!” Ixorad threatened the group.
"We'll see about that, you scoundrel!" Hanma exclaimed, preparing to fight.
Ixorad extended his hand at Hanma, launching what looked like a dragon made of fire at him, but Nami stepped in and created a barrier that blocked the attack.
“Damn Blade, stay out of this!” Ixorad exclaimed.
“How do you know I’m a Blade?” Nami asked.
“Oh, I know more than you think, my dear! And believe me, you don’t know what you’re getting yourselves into!” Ixorad exclaimed.
Nami gritted her teeth, staring at the man in the black robe.
Just then, a figure appeared from the side of the area, revealing itself to be a massive red suit of armor with a large shield on one arm and a massive cannon in place of its right forearm, bearing the symbol of a bat on its shield. The armored being aimed its cannon at them, firing energy blasts. Fortunately, Gida acted quickly and blocked the blasts with her lightsaber.
“Is that our Heartless?” Hanma asked.
“That’s not it. That symbol… It’s definitely a Fallen!” Gida exclaimed, facing the monster.
“A Fallen?” Yamane asked.
“When someone’s heart is consumed by darkness, it leaves the body and soul behind, and the heart becomes a Heartless. But when both the heart and soul fall into darkness, they merge to form a Fallen, which takes on a form that people might come to fear,” Gida explained.
“So that thing is what’s been attacking my people,” Toshiko said, glancing at Ixorad.
“Enjoy my friends! Let’s see if you like the chaos they cause!” Ixorad said, before vanishing in a curtain of fire.
“You damned bastard!” exclaimed the Messiah after the man disappeared.
"Well, I was getting bored with doing nothing! Leave it to me!" Hanma exclaimed, cracking his knuckles.
“If you happen to be bulletproof, go ahead,” Gida said, blocking several shots from the Red Fallen.
Without warning, another Fallen in red armor appeared behind them, aiming its cannon at the group while charging it with energy to power up the shot. Nami realized the intentions of the monster that had just appeared and stepped in front to create a barrier and protect them, drawing the attention of Yujiro and Yamane.
Nami was prepared to raise a barrier to stop the shot, but suddenly she felt something strange that distracted her. Suddenly, she felt Catilia's presence vanish.
Unfortunately, that distraction was her undoing. The Fallen One fired a powerful energy sphere that struck Nami's chest crystal directly, shattering it, her body beginning to fade in a blue glow.
Both Yamane and Yujiro were in shock at what had happened, watching as Nami's body vanished, leaving only a shattered crystal falling to the ground. Gida couldn't afford to react, as she was focused on repelling the attacks from the Red Fallen that was firing at them at that moment.
Small fragments of memory surfaced in Yujiro's mind, remembering how both Nami and Catilia were able to 'tame' both him and Eris, and knowing how they took care of Eris all this time as they told him, also remembering what Nami had just told him recently.
Hanma gritted his teeth, displaying a murderous look as he stared at the second Red Fallen.
“you Bastard!” Yujiro lunged at the Red Fallen One, his fist ready to strike.
The armored monster immediately raised its shield to block his attack, but Yamane drew her steel bow, using it to fire a magic arrow powerful enough to knock the shield out of the way, leaving the Fallen exposed. Hanma then struck the monster on the head with such force that it knocked it to the ground, completely crushing the helmet and causing the Fallen's body to vanish.
After destroying this Fallen One, Yujiro prepared to attack the other, but Gida had to step in to block the red monster's shots, which began firing continuously, keeping her on the defensive with her lightsaber. Yamane had little chance of hitting the Fallen One with her arrows unless she accidentally struck Gida. Hanma was more than ready to charge at the monster, but he knew those shots were anything but normal.
The Fallen One continued firing at them relentlessly until someone pierced him from behind with a red laser blade, surprising the group. As soon as the Fallen One collapsed and vanished, Darth Vader appeared before them, his red lightsaber ignited, his artificial breathing audible throughout the area.
Gida was in shock at that moment. Had Vader followed them out of their world? Was he that obsessed with Eris and the others? Yamane, for her part, was on the defensive, observing whether the newcomer posed a threat to them.
Hanma, however, observed the Sith Lord with curiosity and interest, for he had dispatched the monster with ease. But at the same time, he felt a part of himself warning him to be very careful and not confront him as he usually did. He also sensed some strange presence trying to instill fear in Hanma's body—a feeling of fear he had never experienced before.
Gida glared coldly at the Sith Lord. They were in serious trouble now. And if Vader decided to get involved, things could get very ugly.
“Gida Szenda,” Vader said to the Jedi. “We need to talk.”
