AN: ARC Eight is heading to it's final chapters, so stay tuned!

AN Fun Fact: Song title today was for Strike of the ninja by Dragonforce I really like the song. ENJOY!

ARC Eight: Sins of the Past

Chapter Sixty Five: Strike of the Ninja

Subaru once again was taken to see Priscilla and sure enough, she demanded the usual.

"Well are you not going to entertain me?"

"Okay then."

Subaru stuck his foot out, leaned forward and took a deep breath. Priscilla looked at him curiously…

"What in the-"

"-Oh yeah!"

Subaru did a hop forward and fell back, he then pressed his hands down before his back hit the floor and spread his legs wide, then he did it; he was doing flares, a textbook break-dancing move.

As he turned he showed her he wasn't done yet, he pressed both arms down with his legs still gigh in the air, then using his trained body he lowered them down...and did some comedic Buddha Spins.

"Oh my! HAHAHAHAHA! What is that?"

Then he did a fast Deadman Float whistled while doing it, making the girl laugh harder. He did a few quick jackhammers and finished it off by jumping back up and doing one last move: a rapid Windmill spin before jumping back to his feet and giving a courteous bow.

"How was that my lady?"

"Goodness! Hahahahaha! You are a strange one! But that was quite the show you put on! I shall let you live another day!"

"I'm a little uncomfortable with the fact that you were gonna do that. But oh well."

Subaru went over and put out his hand as if to expect a handshake.

"Now what? Ohhhhh, do you wish to have a reward? Well, I'm not so heartless to-"

"-Grodd is going to attack the mansion in less than twenty minutes."

Priscilla stopped her train of thought and simply stared up at the man in front of her. She looked into his hazel and cybernetic eye. She looked down at his mechanical hand, she felt no lies in his mannerisms. She was always sure about people's intentions by their appearance and mannerisms. Combined with her Divine Protection, intuition was pivotal in her successes in life...so why?

"...?!"

Why was she doubting him. She thought of him as a fool, yes, but he didn't seem like one to lie for selfish reasons. Maybe back in the capital two years ago, but as of now, he seemed trustworthy to everyone around him. A sole unlucky boy-

"Tell me then…"

-surrounded by countless who were so trusting of him. Almost...the exact opposite of her.

"Why are you willing to help me in the slightest, boy?"

"Because I know deep down under all that selfish, haughty and megalomaniac attitude of yours...which I hate by the way."

"Hmph, your words are as displeasing as ever-"

"-I know you're a good person."

Priscilla stopped her train of thought trying to process his words. They were strange. They would be. In the two years since they met, even she knew they had hardly even the nicest of relationships. It was corrosive at best. Even with the Priestella battle, they barely worked together at all...the only one she worked with was Batman and even then, he was rather upset with her for killing Sirius, so they didn't speak after that.

So why?

Why did he say that?

"How would you know this then? How would you know anything about me?"

"...I know that you helped save Liliana at Priestella, and you helped Batman-san fight off Sirius."

"..."

"And that you love to adopt a down on his luck orphan and give him a new start in life."

"...How do…?"

Priscilla's expression changed as Subaru continued smiling at her, even as he told her what he knew. How? How did he know?

"I know that you treat children abandoned by others better than even a thousand others out there."

"Be quiet."

"I know that even though you were forced into marriage, you found a way to turn it into a positive and brought prosperity to your lands."

"Stop it. Shut up."

"That even when a gladiator came in at third place in a competiton to be your knight, you found him amusing and gave him a chance, not many people would do that.

Her eyes widened and she began gritting her teeth. He knew too much, he was saying too much, he might…

"And even when you were abandoned by your own mother, you never gave up on yourself. You didn't let the world walk all over you, you walked all over it!"

"ENOUGH!"

Priscilla slapped Subaru across the face with a ton of momentum, but Subaru expected something like this…

"Revenge Counter."

Priscilla was hit with the same force and she flew back right into her bed. She gripped her face and looked at around in confusion.

She then looked down at Subaru who was quickly getting back up.

"What did you do to me?!"

"Gave you a little wake up slap to make you listen!"

"FOOL! No one has ever touched me like that! Not even my own mother or father!"

"...Your adopted ones or your actual ones?"

Priscilla was fuming with rage, as she went over to slap him again, Subaru dodged and grabbed both of her arms and kept her pinned on the bed.

"Let go!"

"Listen to me damn it!"

Priscilla furrowed her brows at the man that was attempting to pin her, she was going to teach him outright pain...but saw the look in his eyes.

"Sagitta...No...Priscilla, I want to help you."

"For what end goal? My money? My body? My alliance? WHAT THEN?!"

Everyone wanted something from her. Her own mother wanted peace of mind away from her. Her adopted parents wanted a daughter of great beauty of their own, just to show off. Leip wanted a pretty trophy wife. She even suspected, Al simply wanted a place to stay and a steady job...so this boy here-

"-Because I want you to live."

"What are...What in the world are you spouting out about?"

"Priscilla, I may know your past, but the past is just that...the past. I can see you becoming a better person. You've surrounded yourself with 'yes men' and people who just roll over and do what you want. Well, not me."

Subaru stared down at the girl as he made a bold face.

"You're going to do what I say Prisicilla! Because I want to be friends with you one day! And I sure as hell can't be friends with a dead person!"

Priscilla was stunned to hear this. In reality, she could think of people who were friendly with her, maybe to be qualified to be friends.

Due to her beauty.

Due to her riches.

Due to her status.

Due to her sexual aura.

No one was truly her friend. Maybe Schult was. Maybe even Al.

But here, she sensed none of those desires in Subaru's eyes…

Subaru slowly let go of her and got off her, he stepped back and allowed her to slowly get back up.

"..."

"I know it's all sudden and after all this is said and done, we can all talk long and hard about it, but right now we're wasting valuable time. We need to work together. Please!"

He reached out his hand and she just stared at it. For the first time in her life, she was unsure of what to do.

Could she trust him?

"...Very well."

She reached out and shook his hand.

"I don't trust you fully...but I don't suspect this to be a trick."

"Thank you Priscilla-sama."

"...Clever fool."

She giggled to herself as she found his comment to be the saving grace of the conversation.

But as Subaru turned around she kicked him in the behind, causing him jump up while rubbing his struck spot.

"Ow! What the heck?!"

"If you ever strike me again...I will show the very definition of pain, understand?!"

"Aye Aye Captain."

Subaru gave a half hearted salute and sigh, but ended it with a smirk.

Subaru made it outside as he went to speak with Al.

"What's up?"

"Listen, I know we can't fully see eye-to-eye now that we know Flugel is somehow in my body, but I don't think that should detract from us working together."

"The hell are ya spouting off about?"

Subaru's face turned serious as he stared up at him.

"In a few minutes, Grodd is going to attack the estate. I know this because of my Authority of Pride."

"Then-! Then you really are-!"

"Hold your horses there!"

Subaru waved his palms in front of him.

"This proves only that Flugel transferred the Authority inside of me, that's it! Anyways, that's the quick thing I want to discuss."

"..?"

"Al, I know you have the Gospel. I want you to get rid of it."

"Fuck off, it's the only way to-"

"-No, those things cannot be trusted to do a damn thing, but get people hurt and attract the wrong attention. So here's the thing, you can have it but please don't use it."

"Then what? Let it gather dust?!"

Al seemed to be fuming mad as kicked the wall behind him, but Subaru remained undettered.

"You don't need it, because you have me."

"What?"

"When the time comes and my team wins the Royal Selection...Batman-san wants to have the dragon help him someday, maybe not next year or the one after...but someday open a portal back to his own world...and ours."

"...Why?"

"He can't stay here forever can he? And neither can you. So if you help…"

Subaru went over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Then I'll help you home...and we'll give Flugel an earful together! How's about that?!"

Subaru gave a wry smile...making Al relax and realize it then and there.

He remebered his reserve and melancholic grandfather...this man was certainly not him. Even he wanted to give Flugel a piece of his mind.

"Fine then."

Al reached his hand over, and so did Subaru...they both shook hands.

"You better be ready for that day...Natsuki Subaru."

"Sure thing...Nomura Taikichi."

The two were now set to face Grodd…

Schult was looking down the opposite direction staring down the hallway. He was contemplating pulling something out of his pocket, but decided against it.

"I can handle this…"

Grodd was making his way through the woods and was slurping down a brand new skull he acquired earlier. He was enjoying the brain, but his mind wandered.

His glorious empire had fallen hard.

First, they ran into trouble againt Vollachia's strongest warrior, who was immune to mind control.

Then, some of his forces were coerced by a platinum haired woman as they retreated into Kararagi.

"Bring me the half-elf, and I'll help you in your next endeavors."

But his mission failed due to interference by the Royal Candidates and Natsuki Subaru.

Now, his remaining forces were picked off and he was now once again alone.

"Such disgrace! I'll make sure to get revenge on them! I'll devour the men and stuff the woman as trophies the next time I see them!"

Grodd tossed away the now empty skull as he continued forward. He saw an estate up ahead and smiled.

"Here and now, it is the beginning anew! I shall use this place as the restart of my kingdom! And all inside...will die!"

He began running out of the forest, with every intention of destroying everyone inside-

"Sorry, but that ain't gonna happen Grodd."

Suddenly, Grodd was hit in the face by an Unseen Hand and almost lost his balance but used his ape limbs to drag himself on the floor. Just as he shook his head, he saw an earth spear barreling towards him, but he summoned his own earth shield and blocked it. Grodd slammed his fists across the ground and narrowed his vicious eyes at the perpetrators.

"You...NATSUKI SUBARU!"

"That's right, and now it's time I pay you back for my eye!"

Then a beam of light was about to hit Grodd but he fired a psionic beam at it, the impact caused a humongous shockwave, sending dirt and grass flying everywhere. A crater formed where the two powers struck together. From the forest clearing, emerged Priscilla's camp. Herself now in a less revealing tight suit.

She pointed her fan at her combatant.

"If you thought of attacking my home with such despicable intentions...then I'll just have to teach you a lesson."

Grodd frowned for a moment...but then smiled.

"Very well..then with your corpses I shall mark the true beginning of my empire."

Grodd roared as loud as he could...marking the beginning of the battle.

Emilia and the others were tied up in the main hall with their backs to the wall. Deathstroke and the ninjas looked down at them with every intention of silencing them.

"Slade...no, Deathstroke, I hope you know that your crimes will not go unpunished!"

"Hmph."

"Subaru and Batman-san will come back and may you pay for what you've done!"

Deathstroke leaned down gripped Emilia's cheek hard, staring deep into her eyes.

"They'd have to find me first...and I'll be long gone by then."

Deathstroke forcefully pushed Emilia away.

Petra looked up the assassin and wept tears.

"Why? For money…?"

"That's how adults work Petra, in all honesty, it's a shame you had to figure this out now."

"But...we were friends."

Deathstroke pulled out his sword and tilted his head down at the young maid.

"No we weren't."

"...!"

"I never liked any of you in the first place. And to go along and pretend to like you all...was such a pain in the ass. Now, I'm free."

Petra cried loudly as she heard this.

Sarah gave a deathly frown at him.

"Yes, indeed you were nothing more than a filthy assassin! I hope you rot in hell for what you are doing!"

Deathstroke clicked his tongue as he snapped his fingers. A nearby ninja tossed him a large sack of coins, he looked inside and slowly walked back, chuckling to himself.

"Two months pay in one fell swoop, very nice."

"Now if you'll excuse us...we shall begin the executing."

The ninjas raised their swords as they all looked down at them.

"For the preservation of our kingdom, this camp must be eliminated!"

Deathstroke flipped a gold coin around and decided to ask one last question before kicking open a window behind him.

"Tell me, how are you going to speak with your superiors?"

"None of your business! Now leave, you got your payment!"

"Right Right...but it wouldn't happen to be a special Metia right...like a conversing mirror, one made to hide sound even between conversations...right?"

One of the ninja's eyes widened and he slowly turned around and shuttered to even face-

"See, that's the reaction I was waiting for. The answer I wanted…"

Deathstroke stabbed him right through the chest with his sword.

Using the opportunity, he held onto the sword hilt and kicked his legs wide at the other nearby ninjas.

"Fula."

His wind slice kick siced them clean in half, as well as any nearby vase, podium and drapes. He then spun his body around and kicked downward, slicing a ninja clean in half. The three remaining ninjas leap out of the way, but were shocked to see that Deathstroke actually flung the ninja's corpse at his fellow ally. It crushed him in place, giving Deathstroke a chance to fire some chakram wind blades at him, slicing him into pieces. The last remaining ninja tried to zip away...but Deathstroke took a deep breath and tossed a knife straight at him, the ninja blocked it with his own blade...only for his sword and blade to explode, sending him stumbling.

This gave Deathstroke the chance to get behind him and impale him with his sword...only for it to puff into smoke and show a log-

"Fucking stupid."

-Deathstroke quickly turned his body and launched his tomahawk towards a corner of the ceiling, hitting the hidden ninja in the back, causing to moan in pain and fall to the ground. Deathstroke quickly rushed over and stomped on the tomahawk, pressing further into his spince.

"UGHH! You tricked us!"

"Well that would be obvious now wouldn't it?"

Deathstroke then reached into the ninja's pocket and retreived a silver conversing mirror, he opened it up and saw a hollow light come out. He chuckled to himself as he turned to look at the stunned captives.

"Roswaal! How long are you going to act stupid?! Get out there and take care of the lookouts."

"Ohhhhh but of course."

Roswaal burned away his restraints. As he got up he used quick wind slices to free everyone else.

Roswaal tipped his small hat and flew out the open window, he saw the last two ninjas staring at him throwing their ninja stars. But he effortlessly dodged them and pointed his index fingers at them.

"Bye Byeeeee."

A fiery wind slice barreled down at them annihilating them both.

Roswaal took a deep breath as he quickly flew back inside.

Deathstroke removed his helmet as he continued pilfering the dead ninjas bodies. Eventually he smiled as he found three more stealth conversing mirrors.

"Perfect, now we have enough."

As he got up he was hit across the cheek by Otto, he obviously saw it coming, but decided to test if he would go through with it. And he impressed him.

"Heh, you do have quite the backbone after all, Otto."

"At any other point I'd be happy to see you finally refer to me by name...but at this point I am too pissed off to even joke about that!"

Everyone practically surrounded him as they gave him vicious frowns. Ram grabbed him by his collar and faced head on.

"What the hell is going on?! Explain yourself!"

Roswaal came through the window and waved his finger back and forth.

"Now now, eeeeeveryone calm down. Let us explain a bit, you seeeeee...we've been planning this for months."

"Roswaal-sama, what do you mean for months?! And who did you-"

Ram quickly let go of Deathstroke as Roswaal winked down at her.

"Who would think would be this secretive next to me of all people?"

Everyone tensed up as they realized who was the organizer of this entire spectacle.

"Batman-san?"

"Yes my dear...that maaaaan has known about the spies after Deathstroke kiiiiilled one of them a few months ago. He assumed it was a spy from a rival faction, buuuuuut the odd sense of uniform and his skills proved otherwise."

"...?"

"Sooooo he came up with a plan alongside the other camps."

"The other camps?"

Everyone was shocked to hear that Batman even had the rival camps cooperating with him in such a complicated operation.

"To put it siiiimply, he had a plan to capture all of these spies in one fell swoop and retrieve their metias."

"Yes, why their Metias Roswaal-sama?"

"Hm...well Sarah, Batman had a feeling that in this world they would have techniques similar to the comm links Batman-san brought over from his own world. So he wanted to acquire them...and flush out the other spies."

"Yes? Other spies?"

Deathstroke put his helmet back on as he glanced over at them.

"Batman knows that the other candidates are being spied on, probably by the other kingdoms. So just as planned...we're going to give them one hell of a surprise!"

"What do you mean, Deathstroke-sama?"

"Just as it sounds Fang-Girl, we're going to 'hack' into their stealth conversing mirrors."

"Ha...ku?"

"Batman has been working on an magical algorithm with Roswaal to send a virus of sorts into these little puppies. Their not supposed to make any sounds right? So what happens when they go off?"

Sarah straightened herself as she realized it.

"Yes, if they go off, our allies would be able to identify who is a spy!"

"Yup, and luckily according to Roswaal here, these things would run on a different wavelength than the usual ones, so it won't affect communication with them."

Everyone was stunned to hear that they effectively came up with a plan to root out the enemies from within, however…Emilia couldn't shake the feeling dwelling inside her.

"Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why didn't Batman-san tell us?"

"Firstly, he didn't want everyone else stressed out over the idea of being spied on, he cares for you all in that respect."

"I see…"

Deathstroke fixed his suit as pointed to Emilia with his thumb.

"Plus, if someone accidentally told Emilia, she honestly wouldn't be able to keep it a secret."

"AH! Not true! That's r-rude you dolt!"

"And Subaru's assessment about your odd word choices ceases to amaze me."

Emilia pouted, letting the air around them relax as they were now able to see that this secret plan of theirs was a success.

But Petra walked over and kicked Deathstroke. It surpirsed him, but then he watched as he was hit again and again with weak punches to his stomach. Her face was drenched in tears, and it only got more drenched with every hit.

"Idiot! Idiot! I thought you really betrayed us! Stupid! You! Subaru! Batman! You're all a bunch of-a bunch of…"

"...Petra."

Deathstroke held her hands as he looked down at the weeping child.

"Petra, I can say that I am honestly not a good person in the slightest. I've killed too many people to count, in both worlds. I've back stabbed. I've ruined people's lives. And in the afterlife, I'm definitely going to hell. But this time...I actually wanted to help."

"...Hk. Really?"

"Yes, not just for Batman paying me triple what these guys were paying me, or the fact that I usually try to stick to my contracts...but if I betrayed you all…"

Deathstroke gave one quick pat on the head for her...one not his usual roughness, but a softer gentler one.

He began walking away as he pulled out his own metia.

"...If I did that, Meili would be mad at me."

Petra was smiling but it didn't stop her tears from falling.

Deathstroke and the others were now in a room that was locked away from prying eyes...the only other person who knew about it was Beatrice, further clarifying that four people knew about this secret plan of theirs.

On the floor were written spell markings and several magical stones. Roswaal sat with his legs crossed in the middle. All the stolen metias were surrounding Roswaal.

"Oooookay! I'm ready."

"Right."

Deathstroke retrieved his conversing mirror.

"Ahem. All camps come in!"

The first sounded off.

"This Crusch Karsten, reporting."

"Nyaho! Ferris is here too! Will-jii is as well!"

The second.

"Anastasia Hoshin ready for business!"

"Hey! Hey! Is Garf there?! Tell him Mimi said hi! Hi! HI!"

The Last.

"Yo! This is Felt, we doing this or what?"

"This is Reinhard, we can hear you Deathstroke."

Deathstroke gave them instructions to call an emergency meeting for all their members. And instructed them to gather them all in one place.

"Make it sound urgent...and remember the phrase you need to say to get this started."

Deathstroke ended the call as he motioned everyone to stay put.

"This is going to be fun…"

The very ninja with the tomahawk embedded in his back, crawled down the main hall and out the main doors. He was drooling and coughing blood…

Al kicked a stone at Grodd who caught it and threw it at Priscilla, who simply kicked it away. Grodd raced towards her, but Subaru decided to fire Invisible Providence at him, but even with the attack being successful, it infuriated Grodd more then anything. He grabbed a nearby tree and ripped it out of the ground, roots and all. He used it as a blunt weapon trying to smash away his opponents. Priscilla carried Schult with her as they began to dodge his strikes.

Nevertheless, Grodd soon tossed his tree across from himself, adding velocity to it using his psychic powers, Subaru ducked under it as it crashed through the side of the estate.

"I'll have you all kneel to Grodd in no time!"

He began psychically invading their minds and laughed wildly at their pain. All of them clutched their heads as Grodd rushed at them, mostly at Subaru...he laughed maniacally as he imagined grabbing Subaru and ripping him in two.

Then two ice spears fired from the forest and stopped the gorilla's momentum. Grodd used his psychic aura to lessen the damage but he still coughed blood. Then before he could react a boulder was thrown at him, he caught it with his psychic powers...only for several pink spears to strike it and explode, making Gorilla fly back.

Grodd shook his head and let out a vicious roar.

"Sorry for the wait, Subaru."

Subaru looked up and put on a smile that trembled.

"Hey there…"

Subaru took Batman's hand as it began to rain heavily.

Grodd was spitting blood to the ground and became so enraged foam was escaping his mouth. The rescue team was now facing towards Grodd as he slammed his fists onto the ground, shaking all the trees around him.

"I'll have you torn to nothing but gore and bones!"

"No deal Grodd, this time…"

Everyone prepared to charge as they faced Grodd.

"...THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO STOP YOU!"

Grodd charged but just as he did…

All of the camps had their associates and employees assembled for their "emergency meeting" and looked at each of their conversing mirrors. They were given to them by Batman a few months back when he explained the plan to them in full detail. At each site, whether it was Crusch's mansion, Anastasia's temporary plaza in the capital or Felt's place at the Astrea Household...everyone was waiting.

Wilhelm gripped her sword.

Mimi twirled her staff next to her boss.

The Three Stooges cracked their knuckles.

All the employees and staff looked around in confusion…

Just then...almost in unison the party leaders opened their conversing mirrors.

"How do you scare a rat?"

Deathstroke grinned under his helmet…

"By pulling on it's tail...NOW ROSWAAL!"

Roswaal chanted the spell and all the stealth conversing mirrors glowed along with the writing on the ground. A light illuminated around Roswaal, as everyone stood back. A slight breeze came through and out of the room, as Roswaal opened his eyes slowly.

"It iiiiis done."

The stealth conversing mirrors had their lights flash rapidly and made an obnoxious beeping noise.

In all of the camps there were at least six to ten members in the crowd who panicked as their metias were going off wildly. Some attempted to quiet them, others looked around as everyone's eyes fixated on them. A few tried to pull out their weapons as they saw their cover was being blown.

Crusch raised her sword:

"We have set a trap to oust enemy spies in our camp! Capture or kill them at once!"

Anastasia placed her hands on her hips and winked:

"Everyone! Send these nuisances packing will ya?"

Felt stomped her foot down and raised her middle finger:

"Okay guys! Teach these assholes a lesson they'll never forget!"

With those words...the spies were quickly being knocked out or being killed off. One of them tried to rapidly dash towards Crusch, but he was cut in two by Wilhelm...only for it to be a ninja trick as a puff of smoke revealed a log. The ninja jumped from below...only for Ferris to touch his neck and activate her magic, the ninja's body stiffened and he slid to the ground mere feet away from Crusch. Wilhelm took advantage and impaled him.

Two ninjas were then seen jumping through two windows and making a run for the gates. Wilhelm quickly chased after them as the ninjas leapt over the fence.

"Huh?"

"This is!?"

Large vines sprouted from the ground and wrapped the spies up, making it impossible to move.

Wilhelm stopped as he looked up, then the vines slammed the two ninjas down to the ground, smashing them into bits. Crusch and Ferris followed from the broken window...as they looked up at the vines.

Another vine appeared and was clearly carrying someone….

Ferris smiled as tears fell off his face.

"Nyaa...nyou're late!"

Wilhelm sheathed his sword as he nodded at this person.

"I am glad to see you again...old friend."

Crusch walked over and gave her usual smile...but a single tear fell from her cheek.

"Welcome home."

Pamela looked down from her vine, unsure of what to say or do. She had the vine lower her down as she looked at them, stepping off gently onto the grass...but before she could say anything, Crusch ran to her and embraced her in a tight hug.

"Welcome back. From now on I order you to stay by our side...my friend...my sister-in-arms."

Pamela could no longer hold back her tears as she began to bawl loudly into Crusch's shoulder. Ferris joined in on the hug, as Wilhelm kept watching the tearful reunion.

The Fangs of Iron mercenaries continued slaughtering the ninja's that infiltrated their camp. One was able to get over Anastasia...but a strange red shimmering thing showed up behind him. When he turned his head to look...he saw what appeared to be a long koi looking fish, but with elegance to it's structure. It had long whiskers that shined beautifully and an aura that was intense like a forest fire. It darted straight at the ninja and he burst into flames. Anastasia stepped back as the ninja's body fell down. The fish swam in the air around Anastasia, she petted it gently and nodded her head.

"Thanks Ia."

The fish then swam away...and back to her master.

"And thanks to my oh so brave knight."

"Thanks are not needed Anastasia-sama...it is my duty as a knight."

Julius touched his scarred cheek and put on a proud smile...all around him his now evolved spirits swam around him. Each of them a fairy like fish colored in their respective magic.

This was the power of the Spirit Knight, Julius Juukulius.

Reinhard hacked away most of the Gusteko spies...but one made it past him. He aimed his portable rapier at the young girl, only for her to jump up and kick him in the jaw before activating her Divine Protection of Wind Acceleration to kick him with such speed that all his teeth came flying out. He became angry and pulled out little vials filled with some black substance and tried to stab her with it...only for Ton to grab him from behind and suplex him to the ground. Then Kan kicked him across the face making his body lift in the air, and then he was sliced away by Chin. But this still did not kill the spy as he prepared to toss the vials.

"Those are curses am I right?"

"...!"

Reinhard dashed in front of them and slapped the vials to the ground before dashing forawrd and chopping off the spies head with a karate chop.

Felt jumped down from her podium and grinned. She then raised a fist in the air and shouted.

"That's a win everybody!"

Everybody cheered back, even Reinhard couldn't help but softly raise his fist up in the air.

Heinkel was in the corner raising his own fist...of course away from the action.

Schult looked at his pocket as he began to panic, his stealth Metia went off wildly.

Batman saw this and glared at him.

"Subaru! This kid is a spy!"

Schult trembled as he tried to think of a way to feign innocence

"I knew that already. But how do you know Batman-san?!"

"Deathstroke and Roswaal are supposed to be implementing a plan today to oust some spies from the other kingdoms. Our means of doing so was to set their secret conversing mirrors off!"

Schult eyes sunk as he realized there was now no chance to talk his way out of this.

Could he claim he got it as a gift? No, Schult hasn't been seen speaking with anyone else.

Could he claim Subaru stuck it in his pocket? Al was always nearby and Subaru was too big compared to him to be that sneaky. Plus, the mirror itself was too bulky not to be noticed.

He had no idea of what to do.

"Schult?"

Schult looked over at Priscilla whose eyes were wavering...though he could feel the pain in her eyes fo being betrayed...he didn't care in the slightest.

He saw Grodd charging towards them and used it as a chance to escape.

Priscilla reached out to the young boy, but Al grabbed her as Grodd charged past them. He slammed his fists on the ground and earth spikes breached out. Making the large gorilla roar, Beatrice aimed her staff at him.

"Don't try to hurt Subaru, I suppose! Minya!"

Grodd put on a psycich aura around himself, saving him from death but it still pushed him back. Garfiel kicked him down, but got his leg caught and Grodd got up while slamming down on the ground several times before tossing his body at the estate, making crash through an unbroken side of it.

Rem summoned her horn and struck at Grodd with her Morningstar, he fired a psionic beam at it...destroying her signature weapon.

Rem spun the chain around and whipped it at Grodd, who bit onto it and growled furiously. His large teeth snapped the chains. Rem made it over and punched Grodd twice, before Grodd smacked Rem away. Batman made it behind Grodd and using his armored fist to punched Grodd across the face, then he kneed him on the chin and then fired a yang beam right at his shoulder.

Grodd roared in frustration as he used both fists to slam Batman to the ground. Batman activated Al Mabakka in the knick of time as Grodd slammed his fists over and over again ontop of Batman. Though the body barrier helped...he was still getting hurt.

"Invisible Providence!"

Grodd was hit by an Unseen Hand and Subaru grabbed a piece of broken Morningstar and stabbed Grodd in the leg, before uppercutting him again with a another Hand. Grodd slapped him away, but Subaru activated E.M.M. to save him from crippling damage. Grodd began invading Subaru's mind as he telepathically threatened him.

"Go ahead, try to fight it boy!"

"Ugh!"

"Now tell me some secrets!"

"...Okay, how about this?!"

Subaru glared up at him with a vicious smile, confusing the gorilla greatly.

"I can Return by-"

"-What?"

In Subaru's mind Grodd could see a silver haired woman in the distance. Dark hands gently touched his chest.

"Get...Out of...My love…"

Grodd now had his mind attacked and he gripped his head in pain.

"Impossible! How can this be?!"

"NOW!"

Batman punched Grodd several times in the face before Garfiel made it past him and kicked him in his injured shoulder. Rem made it over used her chain to slash him across the back, Beatrice fired two Minya blasts at his already injured shoulder. Priscilla then kicked him in the back before Al stabbed him in the back. Grodd's eyes glowed as he released a powerful pyschic wave.

"NO ONE! NONE!"

The ground beneath him gave way as earth spikes tried to destroy them, but they dodged effortlessly.

"NO HUMAN CAN HURT ME! OR KILL ME!"

Batman then received a call on the comm link.

"Batman-dono come in!"

"Otto, what is it?! We're kind of busy here-"

"-We've got trouble!"

"What is it, the spies?"

"No much worse-!"

Otto looked out the window as he saw the Blacksnake slithering its way to the mansion, breaking trees and raising the earth underneath it.

"-It's the Blacksnake! The last Great Demon Beast! It's coming this way!"

Batman realized the severity of the situation as he tried to figure out what to do…

"...Ah!"

Then he came up with a brilliant but crazy idea.

"Everyone get close to Grodd, we need to go back to the mansion!"

"Are you crazy?! You want to bring him with us?!"

"Trust me!"

Subaru relented and they all headed towards Grodd, and at that moment-

"Al Ermac!"

A tear opened in space and everyone ran through it, with Batman kneeing Grodd through.

Emilia and the others were now outside as they locked eyes with the Ma-beast. It hissed at them viciously as the stink of it's miasma was nauseating.

But a tear in space appeared behind them, from it, Grodd flew through before catching himself. The others came through as well, though the others noted they were all soaking wet.

Grodd snarled at them before turning around and locking eyes with the serpent. The Blacksnake tried attacking with it's tongue, but Grodd put up a psychic aura and was able to grab onto it...before ripping it off. Blood sprayed everywhere, and everywhere it landed, vegetation eroded away. They were lucky that the non-combatant employees were evacuated on time.

Luckily as well, this let everyone know to dodge the blood at all costs. Sarah leaped back from some of the blood...only for the injured ninja from before to try and stab her. Her mind panicked...

"Incorrect! I can't make-"

Batman then dashed behind her and punched the ninja harshly across the face knocking him away.

"Sarah are you okay?!"

"...Y-Yes."

Batman nodded before he realized that some of the blood was making it over to them he grabbed Sarah and jumped out of the way...but some of the blood sprayed on his left arm.

"AGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Batman!"

Batman rolled to the ground with her and quickly removed his armor, while it did prevent further damage...his left arm was hideously burnt and turned purple.

"Nghh!"

"Batman! Batman…"

She held him closely but they both turned their attention to the fact that Batman's plan worked...Grodd was keeping the Blacksnake busy for them.

"Everyone...now's the time...haaaa…"

Frederica was the first to notice Batman's hideous injury…

"Bruce!"

She ran over and looked over his arm, she tried touching it but stopped when she saw him flinch from it.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay...haaaa...Emilia!"

He was able to get her attention, the silver haired girl looked over at him...when the ninja got back up and tried to impale Batman, but he actually allowed his injured hand to get stabbed through stopping the blade right before his face. The ninja was shocked, but soon face two enraged ladies.

They then both punched him away with absolute fury plastered on their faces.

"Get away from Bruce!"

"Yes! Leave him be!"

As the ninja hit his back on the wall, his throat was slit by a wind blade by Ram.

"Hukkkkkk…."

The last ninja died, being unable to strike a killing blow on his targets.

With that out of the way, Batman removed the blade from his hand and urged Emilia into the mansion.

"Beatrice! Take her to the ritual room!"

"Now, I suppose?! We're doing it as well?!"

"The Blacksnake is here...we need all the help we can get!"

Beatrice nodded and grabbed Emilia's hand.

"B-Beatrice?!"

"We need to move! Come with me, I suppose!"

She was dragged along inside the mansion as Batman opened a small tear in space and brought out his next weapon.

"Alright th' fuckin' Justice Armor!"

"Yes...we need it to face her…"

From the bushes emerged a very pretty platinum haired girl who smiled at them happily.

"Greetings everyone, I'm sure you're wondering who I am…"

Rem tensed up as she sniffed the air.

"You are a Witch Cultist!"

"How rude...but in actuality I am the one who helpred forge the Cult...and lovingly created the Sin Archbishops."

"Fiend! If this is true do you know what your actions have caused?!"

"...A bit, but nothing in particular."

Rem and Ram were enraged to hear her speak in such a condescending way...but there was nothing to be done as Batman fully put on his armor.

"I know who you are…"

"...Please do tell me."

"Witch of Vainglory, Pandora."

"Oh my and how-"

"-I asked Emilia about it, and all the sins you've committed."

Pandora gave a seductive wink to Batman, which made Frederica glare at her.

"Now then...would you please move?"

Every single one of them got in battle positions…Subaru and Garfiel both clicked their tongues at her as they muttered.

"Not a chance."

Emilia was now in a room similar to the last one, but here were large slabs of crystals and stones from both the Sanctuary and the Elior Forest, even some shipments from Anastasia.

"You know what this is right?"

"...Yes."

"Very good, now focus, I suppose."

Emilia closed her eyes and put her hands together, in the middle of the room was the crystal from the misadventure from Priestella. The crystal began to glow.

Electric currents and vast wind bursts shot through the room Beatrice kneeled down and began saying her own encantations...then Emilia slowly opened her eyes as she something.

Batman fired his Jiwald which shot through Pandora, but she appeared next to a tree just fine.

"My goodness, you are quite the devilish one are you-"

Garfiel slammed his fists down on her head, splitting it open down the middle.

Pandora appeared behind him and was about to touch him, but Sarah used her forearm blades to slice Pandora into ribbons. Pandora walked past her unschathed...only for Frederica to charge forward her paws now out and stabbed her through the chest...only to see it was Sarah.

"NO!"

"ACK!"

Pandora was squatting down a bit as she smiled at them.

"Your eyes have deceived you...no?"

Then Pandora saw they were not there anymore and she was back at her starting point.

"This is!"

"Sorry lady, but I'm with these guys."

Al made it over behind the Witch and sliced off her head, but she got behind him and buried him into the ground. Batman and Rem made it over and pummeled her with a barrage of punches. But she appeared next to them, smiling as always.

Then she was back to her starting point.

Even the level headed Pandora was shocked by what was occurring. She then stared at Al and began muttered something, before a shadow casted over her eyes.

"Authority of Pride, then?"

"Something like that."

As Pandora was about to walk over; a massive amount of ice spikes stabbed her body into pieces. Her limbs torn, fat and blood leaked out of her...only for the Witch to be next to the spikes.

"Dear oh dear...you had to show up."

Everyone looked up to the moon...there they saw it. The silhouette of a small being.

"Sorry, but these fine folks have taken good care of my daughter these past two years, so I won't let you harm them Vainglory."

Everyone had different reactions at what they were looking at:

Petra smiled excitedly.

Sarah stared up in astonishment.

Frederica placed a hand on her mouth from sheer suprise.

Otto and Garfiel trembled in excitement.

Al and Priscilla were relieved.

Roswaal chuckled.

Ram and Rem smiled happily.

Subaru and Batman smirked at their old friend.

"It's about damn time, you lazy cat!"

"Hehehe! Yeah, sorry for the delay, but-!"

The grey furred cat with an adorable purple backpack and golden earring surrounded himself with floating ice spears…all directed downward at the unamused Pandora.

"-A gentleman always arrives, right in the nick of time, right?"

Here and now, the Great Spirit of Fire, Puck...contracted spirit to the silver haired half-elf Emilia, had finally returned.

.

.

.

Reunions. Revivals. Redemption. With all of this, the final battle against the forces of destruction was set to come.