“I’ve no interest in something as petty as you,” Akasha says, “Besides I need to hurry, he isn’t dead yet.” She picks me up as a portal of darkness opens behind her. She begins to prepare to open a dimensional rift and escape. Devil and Fool leap in between Pir’e and Akasha. “Sorry about this,” Devil smiles sadistically, flinging herself at Pir'e. Fool creates a barrier of holy water around Akasha, himself, and I, as well as many prayer slips floating in and around the water barrier. “No! Grif!!” Luka screams as she rushes towards the barrier.
“Enuma . . . Elish!!!!” Tyrant screams as he thrusts his lance forwards. A massive turbine of black and red DE blasts forward, destroying everything in its path. It is more than just destruction though, it is as if the entire world is being unmade before it.
“Don’t you think I’ve tried?” Akasha says to Pir’e. “So many lifetimes, so many generations. I’ve fought to bring peace for so long and I even achieved it sometimes. But sooner or later, the generation that I helped make peace with each other or mamonos died off and a new generation with new ideas would start new conflicts. The youth never remember the suffering of their elders until it is too late, and then they can’t change anything. All of my many different companions, lovers, allies who fought with me for peace throughout the ages, are you saying that I should let them have died in vain? The only alternative for humanity is for them to be robbed of the possibility to fight or inflict harm upon themselves or others. After all, a good mother wouldn’t let her children run free all the time. Certain discipline is required after a certain amount of disobedience.”
I look at Akasha, “Well, I can’t say I disapprove. After all, this is the plan that we made together. To think that Masquerade was under your control now. I guess we aren’t enemies after all. Or at least, that is what I would have said. But now, I think that we were wrong. After meeting Isaac and his family, maybe there are other ways that mamono and humans can live in peace with each other, some of them at least. I know how you feel, but you can’t just stop the world from moving forward.” Akasha stare at me blankly for a moment, then, “So, you’ve betrayed me?” A single tear falls from her eye, right before sixteen spears of blood stab through me. “Gahk!” I cough up blood. “Then . . . die,” Aksaha says, her face still blank.
Tyrant becomes extremely angry, “You . . . You HUMAN would defy ME! The son of the former DL?!” He draws a sword out of thin air. It is a long, cylindrical black lance that is engraved with glowing red circuit patterns. “I don’t care that my father’s heart is sealed within the Bloodstones! WE don’t need it! I’ll destroy everything here, you mongrels!!!” The lance begins rotating like a drill and gathering a massive amount of DE around itself, even more than Tyrant or Pir’e have naturally.
“Honestly,” Tyrant sighs, “First Marina was going to try and make herself a god, now all of you are interfering. Move aside and let us finish unsealing the Bloodstones. The hostages have almost been completely consumed anyways.” He gestures towards the Bloodstones. Sure enough, the hostages are sinking into the fleshy stones.
Devil separates from the tentacles and leaps back. “Heh, I knew you could be feisty,” she laughs while nine large black spheres form around her. They are sticky and dripping a black ooze. They fly towards Kuno-chan.
I stand their silently in front of Akasha, her arms still wrapped around me. “All this time . . .” I mutter.
Akasha’s kind smile suddenly fades, “Didn’t I tell you not to fight anymore, Pir’e? You fail to understand. I want peace not violence. I will turn all humanity into mamono and incubi and then create a “Pandemonium” that envelopes the whole world. If nothing ever changes and no one ever dies or ages, then there will be no war or suffering and it won’t matter that mamono can’t have male children either, since all need for ‘future generations’ will have stopped. Don’t you understand how beautiful such a world would be? All I have done is take the Radical Mamono Faction’s plan and perfected it.” Akasha tries to talk to Pir’e about her plan, but suddenly, Tyrant disappears from where he is standing. He appears behind Pir’e and mercilessly punches her in the back of the head, sending her flying across the clearing. Before she lands though, he appears in front of her again, stopping her with a punch to the stomach that takes her breath away. He then flips and round house kicks her from above, sending her crashing into the ground in a smoking crater. “Types like these, won’t quiet down through talking,” Tyrant says to Akasha. “You desire world peace, but honestly, sacrificing trash here and there to get to it is necessary. I understand though, you aren’t willing to do it. That’s why you have me,” he smiles as the red glimmer appears around him. Hundreds of gold blades appear and rain down towards the smoking crater where Pir’e is (?).
“Well, guess we’re fighting again,” Devil sighs, turning into multiple tentacles and wrapping around Kuno-chan. “Where would you like it first?” Devil smiles evilly.
Tyrant looks over at Akasha and sighs, “Hmph, fine then. If Aka-chan says so, then who am I to say no. And I was really looking to finishing you all off.” The blades floating behind him dissipate. Devil also begins laughing and says to Kuno-chan, “Hmm, looks like we aren’t allowed to fight anymore. If I were you all, I wouldn’t try anything. Even I listen to Akasha.”
I casually walk between you and Akasha, “I would prefer you don’t threaten my mother. Friend or not, I won’t take it well if you do.” Akasha smiles and hugs me, “It really is good to see you again, Grif.” I turn towards her, “Don’t think this means that you’re off the hook. What the hell is going on?” I demand. Tyrant makes a sour expression, “Aka-chan is now the leader of Masquerade.” Fool continues, “Actually she forcefully took control of Masquerade about six years ago. She truly is a goddess sigh. She even has the power to subdue Tyrant-sama! And soon, she shall make the dreams of people throughout the ages come true! She will create a world where there is nothing but love and peace, an eternal world of plenty! Utopia, a world without humans!”
“Well, that was close,” I sigh, as metal shards fall out of the air where my and Tyrant’s weapons crashed. “I told you, we can’t approach him recklessly,” I say to Hell-chan. “Hmph, you damn human. Interfering with my disciplining that mangy dog,” Tyrant raises his hand and more swords appear, “You won’t live through this next one.”
“Enough, all of you,” the white-robed woman says. “Honestly, you are all acting like a bunch of children.” She pulls back her hood to reveal a beautiful face with long hair the color of pink cherry blossoms. She smiles kindly, revealing sharp fangs. She is a vampire.
“You . . . Why are you with Masquerade?! Mother!” I yell at the new vampire. It is Akasha BloodRiver, my adoptive mother.
The white robed figure laughs at Pir’e softly. “My superior? You really have forgotten your place little girl,” it is a kind and youthful sounding woman’s voice.
“Come on. Don’t you know any clichés? Kunoichi are always getting gang-banged and knocked up in the line of duty,” Devil laughs before sprouting multiple dragonic heads and breathing hot flames at all of Kuno-chan’s clones.
“You dare speak to ME in that tone?! Looking like some human woman in cosplay, as you do now?! Do even know!? Can you even fathom the splendor of the demonic Hellhound in my father’s time?” Tyrant seems to become incensed with rage. The golden spears and swords fly out of the air behind him right at Hell-chan. “Iron 80%, carbon 10%, trace metals 8%, DE 2%. Shape analyzed. Structure, complete,” I mumble to myself. Steel copies of all of Tyrant’s weapon’s burst out of the ground and collide with his attack, blocking it right before Hell-chan is hit.
“Haha, you wish. But it’s too late,” Devil sneers at Pir’e. The figure in a white robe walks forward quickly and moves their fingers in a star shape. Suddenly, bright silvery threads wrap around Pir’e, binding her. They are made of Holy Silver. No matter how hard she struggles she can’t break free.
Devil leaps in front of Kuno-chan, “Fool ain’t really a fighter. But if you wanna tango, then play me with me. I might even cop a feel.” She laughs insanely as her arms transform into multiple scythes, dragon heads, tentacles and other weapons.
“No,” I say to Hell-chan while standing up, “I can fight. But don’t do anything reckless, he is extremely strong. Stronger than Pir’e strong. He is neither human nor incubus. I honestly don’t know what he is. We’ll have to think this through carefully.” The Tyrant continues to look at Hell-chan, then, “Hmph, honestly. You all are supposed to make men your slaves, not chat with them like good friends. Isn’t that how you were made? And you let that human call you ‘mutt’?” he gestures towards Isaac. “I demand to know. Is it because you demand he calls you that? Answer carefully. Humans and mamono interacting in such a friendly manner . . . angers me.” The whole air behind him glows a demonic red and the tips of many golden swords and spears emerge from the glow in rippling pools. It seems to be some sort of dimensional portal that holds weapons.
“Well, you old Vamp, you’ve become rather cocky haven’t you,” a voice says from the edge of the clearing. “But honestly, all you Vampires need is for someone to put a Dhampir in your belly to teach you some respect. Heh . . .” It’s the Devil. “Wha-,” I am shocked, “But that explosion, how did you . . . ?” I am cut off. “Hah,” he laughs, pulling back his hood. Except, he is not a he. It is a young girl with long blue black hair. “You think that some human alchemist trash could kill me? I told you, right? I’m a Vampire too. Well technically, a Dhampir. And a Chimera I guess, since I have so many other mamono fused with me. But I already told you all that,” she grins evilly.
A man covered from head to toe in golden armor and a figure cloaked completely in white walks out beside her. He looks around the field and makes a tsk sound. “To think, that this is all that there was to beating three of Masquerades operatives. Aka-chan told me thinks were in a fix, but this. Well, what can you expect from a bunch of . . . mongrels,” he says, looking at me and Isaac. Fool suddenly looks overjoyed, “Tyrant-sama!”
“N-No way,” I fall to my knees in fear and shock, “You, you’re . . . Masquerade’s leader, the Tyrant!” Tyrant looks at me, his red eyes burning with light and malice, “Oho. You’re that boy, the one whose sister I killed.”
“Y-Yes, master . . .” Marina says painfully. Death makes an unsatisfied sound and sinks into a shadow, disappearing and leaving Marina behind. “Say, does this mean we won?” I say, looking at the Marina and then the hostages.
“Withdraw your monster that is holding on to Pir’e immediately,” Yuki tells fool with an icy coolness, her sword pointed at his throat. “O-Of course,” he laughs nervously.
I suddenly tackle Death from the side and begin fighting him. “Go and help Pir’e,” I say, “I finished up with Devil already, he was nowhere near as tough as you. But Marina is a different story, trust me. She has a lot more tricks up her sleeve than either you or Pir’e realize, so she will need your help!” I continue to clash blades with Death.
“Hmm? I supposed that you were sealed away because you finally annoyed someone past there limit,” Marina says. Right then, the monster holding Pir’e dissipates and she is freed from its grasp at least. The chains are still binding her temporarily.
“You think THIS will stop ME?!” the Devil yells, creating water all around himself to extinguish the flames. “Oh, not a wise a choice,” I reply, right as the water touches the flaming wires. “You see, those are magnesium flames. They react with water and break it up into its primary components, hydrogen and oxygen, both of which are extremely flammable.” A huge explosion envelopes Devil. Also, the sodium mines are ignited, creating a massive pillar of flames that incinerates everything within it. “Too bad, brat,” I say, turning back towards the battle, “but Masquerade will fall by my hand.”
Death steps between you and Pir’e. “You won’t get past here,” he says, pulling sharp daggers from his cloak.
The monster lets out one last roar, and then dissipates. Fool let’s out a small shriek of terror and runs towards the Bloodstones. Yuki lands in front of him and freezes his feet to the ground while also freezing his hands together, along with his Tarot cards. “This is it for you,” she says calmly.
The mucus toad creates a slippery floor of mucus on the ground to try and slip you up, while the dragon flies into the air and breathes out a sheet of flames to cut you off from jumping. The hellhound and ogre wait at the foot of the hill in the center of Bloodstones for you, gruesome looking sickles at the ready.
Meawhile, I am dodging Devil's attacks while throwing silver colored daggers at him. So far, he has dodged all of them, and using his sensory abilities, he has dodged the land mines too. He laughs, “Some petty human can’t hope to beat me!” I smile again, only half serious, “Well, if you say so.” I snap my fingers, just as Devil notices that there are thin wires attached to each dagger and he is surrounded by them. The wires and daggers burst to life in brilliant blue flames. He is effectively trapped in a net of blue fire, or so it seems.
The monster roars and thrashes about, but soon, Liz-chan has gotten a good portion of its armor off.
Another of Fool’s large monsters picks up Pir’e, who is still chained. “Take her to the center of the Bloodstones. She should fulfill the purpose of being the sacrifice of a High Ancient Vampire,” Death says. “As for you,” he says to his underlings, “Deal with anyone who tries to get in our way.” The underlings are a dragon, an ogre, a hellhound, and a mucus toad, all of whom are wearing the skull masks that are the signature of Death’s underlings.
“You aren’t getting away!” Devil yells angrily, a wild grin on his face. “I have to make sure that everything goes smoothly after all!” As he steps forwards, the ground under his feet suddenly explodes. He is thrown back even further this time. “You go help Pir’e,” I say, smiling lazily, “I’ll deal with him. Besides, I took advantage of you fighting him to set sodium mines all over, so it is best if it is only us.”
Most of Fool’s monsters are defeated, but one massive armored one is still standing. It roars and charges at Liz-chan, Hell-chan, and Cur-chan.
Right as Pir’e is preparing the attack, Death appears behind her from her shadow. He tosses a necklace of garlic over her head. Then, four more of his subordinates toss heavy iron chains around Pir’e, trying to capture her.
“Well, you ladies seem to be having a good time,” Fool says, walking towards Hell-chan and Liz-chan. “Perhaps you would care for a reading?” he says, shuffling his Tarot cards. Suddenly, huge, hideous monstrosities emerge from the cards. “It won’t be a pleasant fortune, I can assure you that now.”
The Devil suddenly transforms his hands back to normal and his skin turns red in color. He takes control of the fire that is breathed at him and sends it back at Isaac. “Hm? So it really was true,” he says, “You are like me. You have the powers of mamono, too.”
Several more skull-mask wearing underlings appear and start to fight Hell-chan and Liz-chan. The Girtablillu is also fighting Kuno-chan by sinking in and out of shadows and throwing poisoned daggers.
"Stop calling me a child!!!!" Marina shrieks, knocking Pir'e back with a powerful blast of lighting and darkness. She raises her hand and create a miniature sun of black flames that she throws at Pir'e.
The Devil rushes at Isaac and I. "Now, this is where the fun begins!" he yells laughing. "I thought something was wrong with you when you showed up with that old Vamp!" His hands transform into monstrous mouths that spout fire and electricity. Death stays back to help Marina.
“Hmph, not like I care, you classless gambler. You’re the real disgrace to Vampires!” Marina suddenly becomes much taller as her power is released. Her breasts and hips become much more voluptuous. “Ha! Who’s a child now?” she asks, lighting and dark energy swirling around her. “Don’t forget, I was from the former DL’s era as well.”
“I never said I didn’t know,” Fool says, smiling. “After all, I wouldn’t want to give myself away. Now, with all of you revealed, we have ALL of the sacrifices here.”
“Sorry, Isaac,” I say, “Seems we messed up a little. Looks like we’ll have to get serious too.” I say as I remove my eyepatch. DE starts to swirl around me with an intense aura. I draw Kuro and Shiro and let Luka and Yuki turn into their human forms.
“You underestimate us,” one of the shadowy men says. At that, nine of the skull-masked figures leap towards Lic-chan, various weapons in hand. Only the Girtablilu stays back. She makes an annoyed sound, sinking into the shadows, leaving her companions to their fate.
“Ha, like you could even fathom the Bloodstones true power. You don’t even know what Akasha left here, do you?” Marina arrogantly replies to Pir’e. “As for you,” she looks at Isaac, “Akasha left six years ago to begin the preparations for Utopia Project. She intends to change the entire world you know? Then again, that is her role. She LEFT you in my care, knowing that I was practically her other half. ! N-Not that I liked her or anything, B-Baka!!!!” Marina suddenly yells, lapsing back into being a tsundere. At that moment, Death’s shadow wriggles, and the Girtablilu girl appears beside him. “Not . . . Grif,” she says, pointing accusingly at Isaac. "Oho, so you did come after all," Fool says smiling, "Isaac Kifer."
“Wait,” Marina says, smiling wickedly. “You mean, Akasha didn’t tell you where she went? Oh my, I never knew. And here, she told me exactly what she was planning to do.” She glares at Pir’e, “And you, be silent. I will soon awaken the Bloodstones and become a god, so you mean nothing to me anymore.”
The shadowy figure does not move, however, all of our shadows begin to squirm and writhe. About ten masked figures appear, dressed similarly to the first, all wearing skull masks. Some are male, some female, some mamono, some human. They do not attack this time, however we are surrounded. A scantily clad Girtablilu, who seems to be the leader, approaches us. She also wears a skull mask. “Who are you all,” I ask, both Luka and Yuki drawn. “Remove . . . the barrier,” she hisses. “Or die within it. Either works . . . for me.”
“Why would I help you?” Marina asks furiously. “You would always treat me like a child and force me to play games with you! You even nailed my coffin shut once! Meanie!” She sticks her tongue out at Pir’e. “Besides, why are you so angry Grif?” she asks. “Aren’t you happy to see me too? After all, when Akasha and I raised you together for awhile . . . I always felt like you were OUR child,” she blushes. “B-But, don’t get any weird ideas! It isn’t like I like her or something, you know?!” Death continues to stare at Isaac from beside Marina. “It is rather odd,” he says to you. “You always were so mild in nature that it almost seemed like you never took anything seriously. I would never have expected you to seem so . . . fiery, Grif.”
I turn to Lic-chan. “Is there any spell you can use to get us up there?” I ask. Right then, a dark shape rises out of Lic-chan’s shadow. It is dressed all in black and is wearing a white, skull like mask over its face. It has a dagger in its hand. I quickly draw my sword (Luka) and block its attack just in time. The shadowy figure leaps back, landing in our midst.