Clyde's eyes widened at…well, he didn't know how to take in what he witnessed . Melody's eyes s.h.i.+fted from gray to glowing red, which matched her hair . Crimson wings sprouted from her back, glowing . Three fiery pink orbs of…something materialized around the young G.o.ddess . The shapes changed . A sun, a rose, and a sword . And so much aura . Heat and strong winds exerted from it .

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The aura from her exerted palpable pressure, signaled that gravity just stopped giving a f.u.c.k .

[A new dark G.o.ddess is awakening . . ]

[Melody's G.o.ddess blood switches from dormant to active . ]

[Your party has entered combat!]

[Melody is unaffected by magic . ]

The G.o.ddess ignored the Blood Hand as she walked toward Clyde, cool, calm, and actually a little terrifying .

"Nero, we should retreat," one of the Blood Hand minions said to the leader .

"No," he said . "Or we will not dare call ourselves the Blood Hand . Men, prepare . "

As Melody approached him, Clyde could not help but noticed that the Blood Hand uniforms were all red kimonos, except for Nero, who opted for gray . They also had on boots and were armed with katanas . The fallen angel wore normal human clothing, as if she wanted to be as excluded from her unit as possible .

Melody stopped in front of him, eyes cold . When she spoke, her voice…was different, maybe crueler and more dignifying than Tear's . The words held so much power that they rattled against his mental protection like giant bells .

"I want you to prove that you are worthy of me," she said, "because I will prove that I am worthy of you . And you will marry me . "

"Attack! We are the Blood Hand!" Nero yelled .

"f.u.c.k I need a drink," Hiros.h.i.+ said, taking a fighting stance . He may be human, but he knew how to fight Clyde supposed . But the Blood Hand just weren't the opponents for him . The s.h.i.+p girls thought the same because they dragged him to safety as Clyde's party engaged the numbers .

Clyde peered into Melody's glowing eyes and nodded . This…was going to be interesting . Melody waved a hand, sending the Blood Hand minions flying, many hitting the concrete a dozen yards away .

"Listen Blood Hand," she said in a voice that floated through the air . "I will not let my father do what he wants . He won't be stomping on me anymore . And neither will Mother . Not Matsuko or you . "

"I know your weakness!" Nero snarled .

[Nero activated Tier one skill: Night holy winds . ]

Clyde got the h.e.l.l out of the way, but Melody simply stood there, staring at the enemies with a kuudere's gaze . Then she started toward them, the three glowing objects, hovering above her shoulder .

With a hand outstretched, palm at the enemies—Clyde's party and even the military group got the h.e.l.l out of dodge—Melody unleashed so much magic . All shaped like roses .

[The Rose represents the fragile heart of Melody . ]

[Nero's HP has dropped from 500% to 1%]

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[Nero's Focus Sash prevents the one-hit kill . ]

The man panted, on one knee, disbelieving . Ashard stood up, dusting himself off, fully healed, although Clyde didn't see any of his party members go to his aid . Then the second illusion fell and the real Nero plunged a sword into Melody's chest .

"Ah, the benefits of being a trickster demon," Nero said, laughing . "Sorry I had to do this, but we're taking you back . "

Melody…turned to stone . Clyde shook his head .

"You know that's not going to work . "

The real Melody patted Nero's shoulder, appearing out of seemingly nothingness .

"Tsk . Tsk . Tsk," she shook her head . "You're terrible at this . Well, off to h.e.l.l you go . "

The sun symbol, which hovered above Nero's head, poured onto him and he instantly melted into goo, which solidified into stone . "He forgot that I'm leagues higher than him in that department . " The survivors hopped back into portals, cursing, some calling for their mothers .

"What is up with everyone going all glowy?" Seth said . "I hope I'm next . "

Kitome punched him in the gut .

"Don't ruin the mood, dips.h.i.+t . "

Seth wheezed a laugh .

"Says the girl who scored lower than me on the test . "

Silence . Clyde winced . Seth tried to run, but Kitome grabbed him and unleashed an insane suplex .

"He will never learn," Alice said .

[Quest: Defeat the fallen angel, Matsuko . This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused . Optional step: purify her . ]

Clyde glanced at the quest log in response to the calling card . The real Ashard landed, reporting that he took down a dozen Blood Hand .

[Battle completed . Victory! Reward: 1 . 5 million EXP and $ 500,000 . ]

Quest log:

Main story .

-Defeat the fallen angel (MS . )

-Defeat Dark in a Real game (Stone-Token quest . )

-Craft 1 complicated item . (MS . )

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-Get to know Sazuki over time .

-Take all female party members on one date .

-Investigate the Dragon threat .

- Quest: kill 10 enemies using Ki skills during the day . 5/10 . (MS . )

- Quest: visit the dojo . You must take either Kitome or Melody with you .

"Can you turn on this form again?" Clyde said to Melody .

"Of course," she said . "It's a little draining right now . I still have to get used to it . "

"Then tomorrow, we're going to deal with the fallen angel," Clyde said . "Nuke her . If you can't, then I'm giving my genie the spotlight . Same goes for you Alice . If you can reach whatever form that was, do so, then nuke Matsuko . She's literally wasting our time . We could strike while the iron's hot, but Toru's just not in it . "

He eyed Harumi wrapping up the healing of his wound . For some reason, she was still in kitsune form .

"You know, boy, I'd normally have words for you," Harumi said . "But if you want, we'll all go with you to check up on your wife . "

Toru glared at her .

"I'll be fine . Let's go, Nina . "

"Are you sure?" Clyde said . "If you're having bad feelings, we'll stay with you, even if all night . "

"I'm fine," Toru said . "No need to babysit, leader . " He walked over and placed a hand on Clyde's shoulder . He said lowly, "you get to prove yourself to our glowing G.o.ddess of doom over there . " He smirked . "Good luck with that . "

"Alright, Team Stone, dismissed for real . " Clyde looked at the military group . "We're not joining you . Team Stone looks out for Team Stone as well as this city . " He eyed Hiros.h.i.+ . "You're welcome to help us anytime . "

"Uh-oh, no can do," Ayu said . "We're not allowed to go back empty-hand—ow!"

That whack was surprisingly from Maho, the other s.h.i.+p girl .

"Bad Ayu," she said, wagging a finger . "Don't try to pick a fight with the glowing angel girl . "

Ayu pouted .

"Wimp . " She stuck her tongue out at Hiros.h.i.+ .

Hiros.h.i.+ glared death at her before turning back to Clyde .

"We're not forcing you," he said . "But tomorrow, can you meet with us? From my observation, it looks like you're simply not informed enough . You need to know what the military faces . It's something kept from the public—"

"Are you sure we should be giving out cla.s.sified information," Ayu said . "I'll tell Aki . "

"Is this a face that gives a s.h.i.+t," Hiros.h.i.+ said . "In fact, ATTEN-HUT! DROP DOWN AND GIVE ME TWO HUNDRED . "

Teary-eyed anime girl style, Ayu actually started doing pushups, while whining . Hiros.h.i.+ held out a hand . Clyde accepted the handshake .

"I will love to know what's going on," he said . "Let's meet at the ramen shop on twenty-first street . "

[Quest: meet with Hiros.h.i.+ tomorrow . You've already pre-selected yes . ]

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That night after showering, Clyde and Melody sat on the balcony and simply talked . Normal conversations, jokes, favorite things, goals . No rush .

Toru had no idea that Clyde asked Ruri and Matsume to trail him, with Tear's a.s.sistance . They'd have no problem following a vehicle and already knew where he lived .

[Your relations.h.i.+p with Melody has increased to Absolute Endearment, friend closer level 4 . ]

[Quest: See Harumi for details . This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused . You must have Alice present with you . ]

The red-cloaked being snarled as he Jumped .

"He's with a dark G.o.ddess…I think I'll have to consider smacking some sense into him . The maidens aren't going to like this . Not after that transformation—I have no doubts about who she is . And to deceive the Stone . "

Some bar in Lot City… .

Matsuko burst into laughter at the news and then vomited on the Blood Hand's boots .

"And then you show your sorry faces to me . " She laughed again . "You let that little cherry-head kill Nero? Is this really the Blood Hand that fought wars, a.s.sa.s.sinated great ones? Of course not—this generation is pathetic!"

Matsuko stormed out of the bar, meal spoiled . The nerve of them to show their faces to her after such a huge failure . And holy s.h.i.+t the pathetic looks was priceless entertainment . Now…It was time she sent a message to He Who Paints the Night .

Matsuko grinned as she released the magic into the air .

"He's going to f.u.c.k s.h.i.+t on a cataclysmic level and all of it will be blamed on Platus . Maybe even the entire planet . Then I'll be free, no leashes . A pity . The blacksmith made me such a nice sword . " She unsheathed it . "Now . I sensed the legendary Undine . I wonder if she can still drink the right way . "

When she stepped out into the night, the fallen angel sp.a.w.ned black wings . She lurched into the air, following Undine's presence .

Approaching Toru's mansion…

The feeling of dread consumed him as he drove closer and closer to his house . His neighborhood was usually quiet without a single car pa.s.sing by . Even the wealthy side of the city held its fair share of traffic, but this night…Something felt wrong . So much absurdity .

He looked at his phone once again, then the road, to Nina, then back to the road .

"Calm down, Toru," Nina said . "You—"

Abruptly, Toru smashed his foot on the brakes, skidding his car . They did not hit the person standing there with his arms folded . His…uncle .

The car suddenly shut off . Hideo teleported next to Nina's side, pulling the vampire girl out through the window .

"Stop! What the f.u.c.k are you doing?" Toru yelled, triggering Zen Mode . He was too late . His Raining Blast hit, but did nothing . He felt the strength drain out of him when his uncle did the unthinkable .

"Please, don't do this," those words couldn't come out of Toru's mouth as the paralysis from the dart took its course . Two crusaders emerged from the bushes ahead, grinning, wiggling dart guns .

"No need to worry, you won't be harmed," Hideo said, unsheathing a…wooden stake . Toru's eyes didn't miss the paralyzing dart in Nina's shoulder . "Your father says some funny things under compulsion, but I love my brother and always want him safe . To think you had a f.u.c.king vampire in his home! You disappoint me nephew . You disappoint me . "

Toru did his best to move, strained against the dart's poison, but nothing happened . Hideo raised the stake . "Fumi, such a sweet thing, had a nice purple-flamed, taste of my Fading blade . It's a sacred sword for monster killing, you know . It once belonged to a band of the greatest monster hunters on the planet . " He grinned wildly . "Re-education . I will show you the horrors and teach you, you idiot . We'll make a decent crusader out of you . To think you'd…let those things in your place of living . " Hideo spat to the side .

Toru tuned him out as the words. .h.i.t like the explosion of dynamite . Fumi…and the fading blade . Fumi…purple flames . Fumi…his Fumi…gone .

Abruptly, claws raked across Hideo's face, followed up by a kick from Matsume, which sent him back a few feet . Ruri's paws turned back into hands as she grabbed Nina . Matsume grabbed Toru . Tear initiated the Jump .

"We heard it all," Ruri said . "But you can't do anything with a poison capable of immobilizing an elephant, running through you . It reeks . "

Toru's eyes were blank as Hideo's words recited in his head over and over again .

Hideo chuckled as he drove Toru's car back to his mansion .

"He'll need a lot of saving . I can't believe the monsters have full control of him . But you saw the proof . "

The crusaders nodded .

"We've called the champion and her group to clean out the area . She should be here on Sat.u.r.day . "

"I see . Make sure they nab Toru . "

"Will you loan them…some of your enhancements?" a crusader said .

"Nope, they're white knights, goody-goodies," he said . "Besides, with that immense strength, this entire city will be safe in no time . Demons, monsters, the works, wiped . "

The other crusader guard chuckled .

"The only thing that can get worse is having some demon G.o.d showing up . "

Hideo let out a breath .

"Just focus on doing your jobs . Send some from the camp to patrol the area . Monsters running wild, deceiving my own nephew under my nose . This world is coming to an end . "

"Not really," a crusader said .

"What did you say?" Hideo said .

"I've been thinking—most of them lived among us with no problems . Why should we waste our time with them?"

"We aren't," Hideo said . "The smart ones will stay out of our way . " He laughed .

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