"Clyde, I've got a form upgrade!" Kitome exclaimed . The young man considered hanging up but forced himself to listen to the normally hotheaded magical girl . She truly sounded excited . "I can be of better use . Get this, I've got an attack that can silence all non-friendly spellcasters for up to three minutes, within a mile radius . How awesome is that?"

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"Well, that's f.u.c.king awesome," Clyde said . "Where are you? I need you to gather the Fireside magical girls and your brother . We're preparing to deal with Nezerath . "

"Fine, but I need to talk to you after this," Kitome said .

"Okay . About what?" Clyde said .

"I'll tell you later, it's something silly," Kitome said .

"If it's—"

"I said I'll tell you later, dips.h.i.+t," Kitome snapped then hung up . Clyde let out a sigh . Women . Mysterious and snappy at times—he wasn't sure if it was possible to ever understand them .

[Quest: Either call or visit Kitome in the late hours . Reward: 45,000 EXP and a relations.h.i.+p gain with Kitome . ]

Another quest like this . He'd complete Chika's first before pursuing Kitome . Chika's seemed to be main story anyway . The other woman, not so much .

He made the phone calls to the others and waited . He tried to lay back and nap, but Natalia knee-slammed his stomach .

"Oh! You f.u.c.king—G.o.ddammit, that hurts," Clyde snarled . Natalia laughed until Alice glued her to the ceiling using the force . The loli pleaded, apologizing repeatedly, but the demoness held her for the entire hour . Yuki seemed fascinated by the TV, chatting idly with Alice . She let the loli down gently when Tear arrived .

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"Alice bullied me," Natalia said, anime-diving into Tear's b.r.e.a.s.t.s . Her mood immediately dropped for reasons Clyde suspected, but didn't want to get into .

The others began to arrive one by one until at last the party was ready . Even Clare joined . The young man was glad that he mediated before they arrived—during the loli's silent weeping period .

[You have a.s.sembled a Raid Party for the first time . You have the option to keep track of all HP and MP . ]

"Here," Sahara said then stuffed a bottle of red liquid into his hands . "Drink when you're injured . It will magically recover you . Very valuable stuff . Don't waste it . "

[You have received a Medium Health Potion . Potion level: okay . Item cla.s.s: common . ]

Clyde warped it to his inventory, getting an onlook of wide eyes .

"It still seems so unnerving to me when he does that," Alice said .

"Maybe should carry all of our things," Zera said .

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"Let's not get carried away," Clyde said . "I only have so much room and I'm not wasting it being your bag boy . Now let's move out . It's all on you, Tear . "

She nodded .

"I'm going to warp the entire group to the side exit of the Ashfall mansion . Be on your guards everyone . Nezerath heard the rumor and he's headed back to his estates . Uncle tried to go with him, but a riot broke out to our luck which means . " She winked at her cousin . "Alice, you still have support . "

Tear held a hand into the air and released the spell . Clyde's stomach lurched when the spell whisked them away .

Ashfall Estates… .

Nezerath barked orders to his maids, anger dripping from his tongue . So many things went wrong—so many f.u.c.king things . His elite guards vanished, the absence of their bonds meaning death . Yuki included . His project, dead . There was no way some lousy adventurers did this—that Hades b.i.t.c.h was behind it . Maybe a secret team? Her father wouldn't have broken the agreement, not if he wanted good relations between the Ashfall and Hades family . Not if he wanted the Omen's sphere to seal the deal . Nezerath's father was a fool for offering such a priceless artifact, but one step to controlling powerful demon armies, meant a step toward controlling the world .

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And now he had to confirm this rumor .

"Hurry up and find her! And you, clean up the latest dead sacks of trash in the room of No Return . Toss a few of the live ones into the incinerator as well . That will show any of you what happens if your fellows fail me . "

Nezerath stormed to his interrogation room . The succubus was gone as he ordered, sent to the room of No Return . He'd torture her enough to make her wish she'd never been born . Intrude his estates, will they? Well, he won't idly stand by and let them do whatever they wished . He will not be humiliated .

He couldn't wait to see Alice's screaming face in that room . He'd keep her alive and nourished, then flaunt her off in front of her father . Maybe public torture s.e.x . He chuckled to himself . He was the type of demon that topped them all when it came to dis.h.i.+ng out pure pain .

Outside of the Ashfall Estates…

[You are about to enter a Raid . Difficulty: Hard . You've preselected yes, so no takebacks . ]

When the light cleared, he examined the area . They were indeed in front of a side door for an enormous grey mansion . The air in this area seemed to be even colder . A group of succubus awaited the party, kneeling . Tear gave them orders .

"Melody's already checked the doors for any traps or wards," Tear said . "When we get inside, her magic will spread from me and begin the search for this mystery room . For now, let's split into groups . "

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, are you sure," Clyde said . "This isn't s...o...b.. Doo—we all know the downside of splitting the party . "

"s...o...b.. what?" Tear shook her head . "We've got to cover more ground . Do you know how long it would take to locate anything in a mansion this huge? You and Alice should go with your friends . Natalia and I will go with the maiden and the magical girls . "

"Not exactly what I had in mind for a raiding party, but f.u.c.k it, let's go," Clyde said . "Don't kill the maids but knock them out if they attack . Kill any Ashfall demon though—as they sure as s.h.i.+t will be trying to kill you . You know the drill . "

"No, I'm going with him," Sahara said then moved into Clyde's group . Tear simply shrugged .

"Move out," Clyde said .

Everyone nodded . Tear sent her succubus agents in first, then everyone followed in deadly silence .

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