Multiversal Mania

As soon as they entered the pocket castle, Luka and the others noticed a shift in the mood of the residents. A certain tension hung in the air, one that they couldn't quite place. The usually calm atmosphere had been replaced by a subtle unease.

Tiny, usually mild-mannered and diligent in her tasks, was aggressively wiping the floor with a broom. Her brow was furrowed, and the intensity with which she scrubbed the floor made it clear that something was bothering her.

Vanilla, typically a friendly face, was standing in the middle of the hallway, her voice booming as she aggressively called out to passersby. "My wares are cheap! Everyone, you must buy my products!" she shouted, her tone unusually harsh and impatient. People glanced nervously at each other, not sure whether to approach or avoid her.

Luka exchanged a look with Kazuya, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's going on here?" he muttered, unsure of what was causing this strange shift in the castle's residents.

Kazuya frowned, watching the two women's behaviors closely. "Something's off. It's not like them to act this way."

Vanilla continued her speech. "I offer a bounty of ten gold if someone manages to catch SubLuka!"

Luka blinked, his eyes widening in confusion. "Oh, looks like everyone decided to call him that," he noted. "...Wait, what am I talking about?!"

"More like, what is SHE talking about?" Kazuya scratched his head, walking toward her with a bewildered expression. "This is getting stranger by the minute."

"She still has her senses of affairs in order," Hakunen added.

As Kazuya approached Vanilla, she didn't seem to notice him immediately. Her eyes were focused on the crowd, her frantic pitch to lure attention still echoing down the hallway. "Catch SubLuka, and you'll be rewarded! The bounty's on his head—bring him to me!" Her voice was growing more desperate, a kind of madness in her tone that didn't match the usual spirited merchant.

Luka took a step forward, his voice steady but with an edge of concern. "Vanilla, what's going on? Why are you offering a bounty on SubLuka?"

Vanilla turned abruptly at the sound of his voice, her eyes wide, almost feverish. "Oh, Luka! I didn't mean to... I... I just—" Her voice faltered, and she took a deep breath, as though trying to collect herself. "It's just... they've been saying things. The whispers... the voices..." She trailed off, her hands shaking.

Luka's expression softened slightly, but his concern deepened. "What voices? What's happening to everyone here?"

Tiny, who had been scrubbing the floor with increasing intensity, finally stopped, standing still for a moment as if to gather her thoughts. Slowly, she turned to face them, her face pale and her eyes distant. "I... I heard it too. It's not just her... something's changed. We're all... we're all being pulled towards him. To him . We must kill him."

"It looks like what happened in that world," Jotaro noted. "But for some reason, they're all against SubLuka."

As soon as he explained, a group of monster girls rushed past them, running, slithering, and flying in a frenzy toward the upper floors. 

Luka's eyes widened, and without thinking, he gripped his sword tightly, ready to spring into action. "Oh no! They're all going towards SubLuka's room!" He started to sprint after them, adrenaline kicking in.

Kazuya's hand shot out, grabbing Luka by the shoulders just before he could go any further. His grip was firm, preventing him from running headfirst into the chaos. "Wait. We don't know if it could happen to us as well."

"So we should just stay here and let himself get murdered by my comrades?"

"No. But it could make the situation worse if we were to fall to this brainwashing too."

Luka's eyes flickered with hesitation as the words sank in. He didn't like it, but Kazuya was right. Rushing in without understanding the full scope of what was happening could make things worse. They had to act fast, but with caution.

"Then what do you suggest?" 

"Let's save everyone, as usual."

Just then, SubLuka, walking with a quiet but renewed confidence, pushed open the door to his room. But his steps quickly came to a halt when he found himself face to face with a cute creature with soft, squishy tentacles. The creature blinked up at him, its round eyes wide with curiosity.

"Kyu! Kyu!" it chirped in a high-pitched voice, its tentacles waving in excitement as if greeting a new friend.

He stared down at the creature, slightly taken aback. The tentacles were familiar to him, it was the ones that grabbed the blue-haired succubus back when the first portals appeared. 

"Hmmm… You're Nuruko, right?"

"Kyu!" the creature answered with a light slap of its tentacles against his face.

It wasn't a hard hit, more of a playful tap, but it still caught him off guard. SubLuka caressed his cheek, looking slightly bemused but also irritated. He wasn't sure whether to be amused or annoyed by the creature's antics.

"What was that? You little…" he muttered, pulling it by what seemed to be its hair—or at least, the tentacle-like appendage that resembled it.

"Kyu!" the creature chirped again, its eyes widening as if confused by SubLuka's reaction. It wriggled slightly, trying to break free from his grip.

Nuruko then pointed its tentacles in one direction and chirped again, making him turn his head. 

"You're telling me to go this way?"

"Kyu!" the creature nodded enthusiastically, then used its tentacles to slap him once more with its eyes squinted in what almost seemed like a judgmental glare.

SubLuka exhaled, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "Okay, okay, fine! I will go there." He gently placed Nuruko down and sighed. "Are you mad at me or something?"

"Kyu kyu…" Nuruko shook her head disapprovingly, then mimicked someone flexing their muscles, pointing at SubLuka and striking a pose.

Ah… I see.

SubLuka blinked, a realization dawning on him as he watched the creature's actions. "You're just telling me to get back up, huh?" he asked, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

The creature chirped again, clearly satisfied with his understanding, before giving a little hop forward, eager for him to follow.

"I swear… You all are too demanding sometimes," he chuckled again. "You're lucky I'm not that spiteful."

With a deep breath, he started moving in the direction Nuruko had indicated. They soon arrived at a small room, filled with equipment, chemical ingredients, books, and magic circles drawn everywhere. It was a space that felt both cramped and organized, yet oddly chaotic, as if all the elements of science and magic had collided in one place.

As SubLuka stepped further inside, a young woman with red hair and glasses greeted him first, her tone brisk but appreciative. "Ah, I see you've finally arrived. Thank you for your assistance, Nuruko."

"I assume you are Promestein, right?" he asked.

The woman nodded, her glasses gleaming slightly as she adjusted them. "Yes, that's me," she said, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity as she studied him. "Please come in quickly, I will explain later."

SubLuka stepped forward and glanced around the cluttered room. At the back, in a place shadowed by the lack of light, stood his old friend Nina Lunatis. The blonde-haired scientist, wearing a white lab coat, stood up from her chair with a sense of urgency. Her disheveled hair fell across her shoulders as she fumbled to adjust her glasses, almost knocking them off in the process.

"Oh great! You're here!" Nina exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and excitement. Her eyes lit up as she saw SubLuka, though there was an underlying tension in her gaze. "The situation is dire. You need to get out of here now."

SubLuka's brows furrowed in confusion, stepping closer. "What do you mean? What's going on here?"

"Thanks to Nuruko we were able to contact you but we are now closed off from the outside in this room," Promestein continued. "To put it simply, the whole pocket castle wants your death."

"Excuse me, what?" SubLuka asked, deadpan.

Nina quickly grabbed a small flask from the desk and held it up to his nose. "Because of that," she said, her voice low and serious, though SubLuka saw that the flask was completely empty.

He raised an eyebrow, his confusion deepening. "Tell me… It's microscopical?"

"Exactly," Promestein confirmed, nodding firmly. She then motioned toward a nearby microscope on the desk, taking the flask from Nina's hand and placing it under the lens. "Look for yourself. Those are samples I collected in Grangold."

SubLuka approached the microscope, his curiosity picked but his mind still racing with questions. He carefully peered through the lens, focusing on the faint residue left in the flask. At first, he saw nothing. But as his gaze adjusted, small particles came into focus—tiny, almost invisible specks floating within the liquid substance, moving as if alive.

"What am I looking at?" 

Promestein answered. "Those are microscopical creatures sending electrical impulses directly into the brain when gathered in large amounts. It seems to be what caused your world to go crazy."

SubLuka nodded. "Okay, so if we can destroy these things, we can stop—"

"Actually, no," Nina shook her head, letting out a deep sigh as she slumped back into her chair. "It's like a microscopic creature akin to a miniaturized human. It's neither a virus nor a bacteria, and after taking some samples from our world, they're different in every way from the ones here."

"Besides…" Promestein picked the flask up and poured its contents into a distiller. She then filtered the liquid so that only a tiny amount of it was left. "Not only it is remotely controlled, but it reproduces on contact with air."

"Okay, that's just bullshit," SubLuka grumbled. "You're telling me it's already infected the whole world now? Then how the hell haven't we been already brainwashed back then?"

"That's the scary part," Nina replied, rubbing her temples. "We already are."

SubLuka froze, his mind struggling to grasp what she was implying. "What... what do you mean we already are?"

Nina's voice was low and strained. "It's not instant. The influence of the creatures builds up over time. Slowly. People aren't all affected at once, but they're already under its influence. They just don't realize it yet."

Promestein nodded in agreement. "It's only a matter of time before we fall as well."

"But… I should already be…" SubLuka trailed off, his mind racing to understand why he wasn't fully affected yet.

"It doesn't work on some individuals," Nina added. "At least it doesn't work on Nuruko here."

"Kyu, kyu!" the small spirit chirped happily, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, as it picked up an apple from the table and nibbled on it with delight.

"Can we tell which individuals it doesn't work on?"

Promestein and Nina exchanged a brief, uncomfortable glance. There was a long silence before Nina spoke, her voice quiet and filled with uncertainty. "We don't know yet. The pattern is still unclear, and the creatures are too unpredictable to draw any solid conclusions. We don't even know why some people, or beings, are resistant."

"I might have an idea," a voice interrupted their conversation, startling SubLuka.

"Vinum…" he growled, instinctively stepping back into a more defensive stance, ready to fight back if needed.

"Calm down, boy," the familiar voice sighed, clearly unbothered. "This whole castle has gone mad, and it bothers me during my reading."

"You're not affected by it?" Promestein asked, confused.

The small succubus smirked, clearly enjoying the tension in the room. "Kuku… Not only me, but others as well."

SubLuka raised an eyebrow, his patience thinning. "Can you tell us who?"

Vinum shrugged casually, her gaze shifting between them as if this was all some trivial matter. "I don't know why I should help you," she continued, her tone sly and dripping with sarcasm. "After all, if I were to tell them where you are, all this mess would be resolved. That thing wouldn't bother us any longer."

SubLuka's hands tightened, his frustration increasing. "So you're saying you'd rather let it keep spreading?"

Vinum's eyes sparkled with amusement, enjoying the discomfort she was causing. "I didn't say that. I'm just pointing out that it's not my problem if you're in danger. But..." She glanced at Promestein, a new gleam of thought passing over her face. "As a scientist, you should see that it's the fastest solution. If that thing is trying to kill him," she said, nodding towards SubLuka, "there's a probable chance it will leave this world alone once it's done."

Promestein nodded along. "It is true. The simpler solution would be to sacrifice him…" but she then smiled. "But that is not how we do things here."

"That's right," Vinum nodded, her tone light and teasing. "Where would be the fun in that?"

SubLuka straightened, his shoulders relaxing slightly at the unexpected shift in the mood. "Huh?"

Vinum's smirk widened, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "I will help you on one condition," she said, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "I want a rematch."

SubLuka blinked in surprise, his mind briefly reeling from the change in conversation. "A rematch?" He shook his head, still not sure if he was following. "What are you talking about? You've got to be kidding."

"Oh, I'm dead serious." Vinum's eyes sparkled with a mix of challenge and excitement. "Last time, I didn't get the chance to finish what we started, and I'm not one to leave things unfinished. If you want my help, boy, you'll have to give me a rematch after you've resolved this issue.".

SubLuka didn't hesitate, offering his hand in agreement. "Okay, fine."

Vinum was slightly taken aback by how easy it was but extended her hand anyway. "I would have preferred if you were torn apart by this decision."

"Look I don't really have the luxury to choose my allies right now," SubLuka explained while scratching his head. "If someone as knowledgeable as you can help, I'll take what I can get."

"Kuku… That's some fine words for a human."

"Now go," Nina interjected, clutching her head with her hands, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "It's only a matter of time before we want to murder you."

SubLuka gave a wry smile. "Alright, alright. Let's escape from here first, Vinum."

Vinum raised an eyebrow, amused. "You're really focused on surviving, aren't you?"

SubLuka gave a quick smile. "That's what I'm best at."

With the deal made, they both headed out of the room. SubLuka carefully adjusted his talisman launcher and looked on both sides of the corridor. As if the residents of the pocket castle had sniffed him, he heard a cacophony of steps, beating wings, and cries coming out from the staircase leading to the entrance—and only exit.

"Looks like they are eager to see you," Vinum chuckled.

He felt a chill crawl down his spine as he saw the mass of monster girls with hungry looks in their eyes rushing toward him. A group of harpies even flew close to the ceiling, diving straight toward him with Lucretia leading the charge.

"Come die from bliss in the queen's embrace!" she called out, a lustful grin stretching across her face.

SubLuka's eyes widened. "That's one way to go, but no thanks!" he cried out, sprinting in the opposite direction, his heart pounding. Vinum was hot on his heels, her footsteps quick and light.

"Can't you stop them for a few seconds?" SubLuka shouted over his shoulder, feeling the heat of their pursuit.

Vinum, with her usual deadpan expression, glanced back at him, keeping pace with ease. "I hate to say it, but some of them are extremely powerful monsters," she said with a hint of frustration in her voice. "Even fighting that queen harpy one-on-one is trouble."

SubLuka's mind raced as he pushed himself harder, dodging corners and racing down the corridor. "Great. So, any ideas other than running?"

Without another word, Vinum's expression shifted to one of focus. Her body shimmered, and within a blink, she transformed into her succubus form—her wings unfurling behind her, their dark, elegant shape cutting through the air. She was faster now, and with a swift motion, she grabbed SubLuka's waist, pulling him off the ground effortlessly.

"Let me carry you," she said, her voice surprisingly calm despite the urgency of the situation.

SubLuka, caught off guard but not surprised by her sudden shift in form, instinctively wrapped his arms around her to steady himself. "I—what?!" he stammered, his thoughts scrambled. "What the hell are you—?"

"We need speed," Vinum said, her wings beating strongly as they soared down the corridor. "And this is the fastest way."

SubLuka's mind raced as they zoomed through the hallways, his heart still hammering in his chest. "You're insane!" he shouted, though part of him couldn't deny how fast they were now moving.

With precision, she narrowly flew straight into the enclosed space of the castle. Another group of monsters stood in their path, blocking the way. Kraken blocked most of the passage with her huge body and stretched out her tentacles to take most of the space, ready to catch them. Beside her, two elves stood poised to strike, their bows drawn. At the center of it all, Papi, the small dragon, let out an adorable but nonetheless determined roar in an attempt to intimidate them.

SubLuka quickly assessed the situation, his mind racing. Pointing his finger at the group, he called out, "Close your eyes, Vinum!"

"Oh, right," Vinum said, recognizing his technique immediately. She squeezed her eyes shut as a fireball formed at the tip of SubLuka's finger. It quickly condensed into a small but potent ball of light, erupting in a brilliant flash. The hallway was filled with blinding light, eliciting cries of surprise and pain from the monsters.

As the group stumbled and shielded their eyes, Vinum took the opportunity to veer sharply to the side, adjusting her flight path with practiced ease. "Smart move," she muttered, her tone almost approving as they surged forward.

SubLuka shifted his body, directing her toward the dining room, which came into view ahead. The scent of food wafted through the air, and the room was packed with monsters. A wyvern perched on a bench, a lamia coiled near the corner, and a hulking minotaur girl sat in the center, happily devouring sukiyaki.

"Hey, you! Catch him!" Anastasia shouted at Mina, the minotaur.

Mina barely glanced up, her focus entirely on the steaming pot in front of her. "Huh?" she mumbled through a mouthful of food, clearly too absorbed in her meal to bother.

"Looks like this one is too busy filling her belly to even have any hatred in her heart…" Vinum mused, her tone dripping with amusement as she dodged through the room.

With another twist of her body, Vinum flew into the kitchen, SubLuka still held tightly in her arms. The scent of fresh food filled the air, and standing near the pantry was Eva, the mischievous thief of the castle. She had been busy stuffing as much as she could into her oversized bags, clearly taking advantage of the chaos to pilfer supplies unnoticed.

As the pair burst into the room, Eva froze mid-grab, her face paling as she locked eyes with SubLuka. "Oh crap—" she started, but her words were cut off as the bags she was carrying toppled to the ground, spilling their contents across the floor.

Vinum's tail flicked out as she soared past, grazing Eva just enough to send her stumbling. 

Eva scrambled to collect her loot, muttering curses under her breath as she glared after them. "No! All my hard work!" she cried out.

With another beat of her wings, Vinum flew outside of the kitchen and they finally found themselves near the entrance of the castle.

Unfortunately, that was also where most of the residents were packed, waiting to pick him up.

"Looks like they were expecting you," Vinum quipped, her tone light despite the looming threat.

SubLuka groaned, his frustration mounting. "Why does it feel like they've multiplied since the last time we ran into them?"

"Probably because they have," Vinum replied, smirking slightly. "Word spreads fast when there's a delicious human on the menu."

"I'm not on the menu!" SubLuka cried out, gritting his teeth as Vinum hovered in place for a moment, her eyes scanning the mob.

A small robot stood in the middle of the crowd, clearly confused as to what was going on.

"Why is everyone gathered here…? Hild confused…" The robot said, looking around.

"Get him! Ten gold for whoever catches him first!" Vanilla's voice boomed in the room.

Vinum chuckled. "I believe he is worth more than ten gold, lady."

"Two cross-world contacts detected, entering combat mode…" Sonya robotically said, holding her club firmly.

"I feel like one of them is doing this on purpose…" SubLuka sighed while looking at the priest unconvinced. "Why is she mad at me?" 

"Because you're an asshole who made a mockery of me!" a sharp voice hissed, interrupting his thoughts. SubLuka turned just in time to see Morrigan, the blue succubus, flying toward them with furious speed. Her blade gleamed ominously with a freezing aura that sent a chill down his spine.

"Now's not the time for personal grudges!" SubLuka shouted, his panic rising as Morrigan closed the distance.

"Oh, it's exactly the time!" Morrigan shot back, her eyes blazing with anger. "You humiliated me, and now you're going to pay for it!"

"Would you stop antagonizing everyone you meet?" Vinum teased, her tone far too casual for the situation as she banked sharply to avoid Morrigan's incoming strike. "You're making my job harder."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" SubLuka growled, gripping tightly to Vinum as she maneuvered through the incoming attacks.

"Maybe a little," Vinum admitted with a sly smile.

The glow of Morrigan's sword intensified as she prepared for another attack, the crowd below cheering her on. "You won't escape this time!" Morrigan bellowed, diving toward them again with a fierce determination.

"Oh for fuck's sake!" SubLuka growled in frustration. Just as Morrigan was about to strike, he twisted his body and kicked her in the chin, sending her reeling backward. "Are you even brainwashed? I swear I can't tell anymore!"

Morrigan hissed, rubbing her jaw as she steadied herself mid-air. "Brainwashed or not, you've earned this!" she shouted, her sword reigniting with a fiery glow.

Before SubLuka could respond, another voice echoed in his right ear. "That guy is mine!"

A fiery blur shot toward them—a flaming lizard girl closing in at full speed, her eyes blazing with determination.

"Burning spirit, flame on!" she yelled, her fist engulfed in flames as she aimed directly for SubLuka.

"What are you even talking about?!" SubLuka yelled, narrowly avoiding her fiery punch as Vinum performed a sharp barrel roll, barely evading the attack. The air sizzled with heat as the flames passed uncomfortably close. "And can't you fly better, Vinum?"

"Excuse me?" Vinum retorted, clearly offended. "Perhaps you want me to throw you in that pack over there?"

Before either of them could say more, another voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Fox Ninpo: Revolving Fire!"

Kitsu, the fox ninja, appeared in a burst of motion, her hand weaving intricate signs before launching a spinning torrent of fire directly at them. The flaming whirlwind surged toward them with incredible speed, threatening to engulf them entirely.

"Oh, come on!" SubLuka yelled, his panic spiking. Without hesitation, he activated his launcher. A talisman was written at a speed unmatched by human hands and was hurled toward Kitsu. The talisman activated mid-air, unleashing a torrent of water that collided with her fiery attack. The collision erupted in an explosion of steam, temporarily obscuring their pursuers' vision.

"Are you here to kill me or cook me!?" he asked as the fox continued its relentless attack with a swing of its dagger. 

"Both!" Tiny, the lamia shouted below them before throwing a bunch of kitchen knives at them. "It's useless!"

"Useless?!" SubLuka snapped, glaring down at her. "Who even fights like this?!"

Before the knives could reach them, another voice echoed in the hallway. "Star Platinum: The World!"

The moment after, the knives Tiny had thrown were abruptly redirected, sent flying in every direction except toward SubLuka and Vinum.

Jotaro stepped forward from the shadows, his Stand looming behind him. He adjusted his cap, his expression stoic.

"Fly straight to the exit!" Jotaro shouted, his voice firm and unwavering as he pointed toward the door. "We'll create a path!"

Vinum smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Kuku… He isn't bad either..."

"Just go," Jotaro snapped, his tone brooking no argument. "You've got a chance—don't waste it."

SubLuka tightened his grip on Vinum. "You heard the man. Let's move!"

With a sharp beat of her wings, Vinum launched forward, aiming straight for the exit as multiple people stood their ground to stop the attacks of the monsters. Hakunen used his binding charms just in time to stop Sonya from rushing toward them. Kazuya summoned Lampas thanks to his ring to bind more monsters with her vines, while Luka beat up the monsters with the back of his blade.

However, another problem erupted as soon as they passed the grand door. Three giant monsters stood tall in front of the gate, blocking their path: the mud golem, another golem girl, and Giga. 

"Looks like we cannot go further," Vinum said. 

"Then stop flying straight toward them!!" SubLuka shouted in desperation, seeing his vision closing up on the three giant monsters.

"Iz Tula: Seven Drive!" Koyanskaya's voice rang out outside of the castle.

In an instant, a massive pink tank-like machine appeared behind the three giant monsters. Its heavy, mechanical steps reverberated through the ground as it moved forward. The tank's massive claws extended, and with a deep mechanical growl, it collided with the monsters, forcing them back with all its strength. The mud golem stumbled under the force, while the golem girl and Giga struggled to maintain their footing as the tank relentlessly pushed them.

SubLuka watched in awe as the machine continued to bulldoze through the three giants, buying them precious moments. "Now that's some timing," he muttered, feeling the tension ease just slightly.

"NFF Service at your service~!" Koyanskaya's voice chirped from right on top of the machine. "A special ride has been prepared for you at the exit, ma~ster!" 

SubLuka's eyes lit up as he gave her a thumbs-up. "Thanks, Koyan!" he called out gratefully, appreciating the timely assistance.

Vinum, her expression unchanged, huffed and then quickly flew straight beneath the small gap created between the gate and the struggling monsters. With her wings cutting through the air, they darted toward the exit, the path now momentarily clear thanks to Koyanskaya's intervention.

SubLuka clung tightly to Vinum, his eyes scanning the exit ahead. "Let's hope that's the last of the obstacles."

In a flash, they found themselves outside of the miniature pocket castle. The scenery was a simple forest but not without any residents. In front of them stood a flashy pink with black stripes convertible car, probably left there by Koyanskaya.

SubLuka raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "A convertible? Really?"

Vinum glanced over at the car, skeptical. "Especially in a world without roads made for them…"

He didn't have time to think too much about it, though. As soon as they stepped outside, a goblin girl popped out from the entrance of the castle, her eyes narrowing in determination. "I demand you to stop!" she yelled dramatically, her hammer held firmly in her tiny hands, ready to strike.

"I demand you to stop!" Gob dramatically said while holding her hammer firmly between her fingers.

Vinum let out an exasperated sigh before gently placing SubLuka on the ground. Without missing a beat, they both rushed toward the car, not wanting to waste any more time. Fortunately, the keys were already inside the car, just as Koyanskaya had promised.

With a quick flick of his wrist, SubLuka turned on the engine, and the car roared to life, the tires slipping slightly on the muddy ground before gaining traction. The goblin girl's voice was drowned out by the screech of the wheels, and SubLuka could hear her grumbling in the distance as they sped off.

"Hold on tight!" SubLuka shouted, gripping the wheel with determination as he guided the convertible through the forest.

Vinum leaned back in her seat and then looked into the mirror. There, she saw Gob running at full speed after the car, slowly catching up to it.

"She is fast with such tiny legs," Vinum observed, a touch of amusement in her voice as she rested her elbow on the armrest.

SubLuka looked in the mirror at the center and his eyes went wide. "SHE IS CLOSING IN ON US?" he shouted in disbelief. "What are the monsters in this world made of?!"

"Stop acting like you're impressed," Vinum sighed. "I bet you can do it too."

"That doesn't make it less impressive!" SubLuka retorted, his eyes still glued to the mirror, watching the goblin girl close the gap. "Hey, you know about Eurobeat and drift culture?"

Determined not to let her catch up, SubLuka gripped the wheel tighter, his knuckles going white but not without a grin. He didn't have time to waste, so with a quick, calculated motion, he pushed the lever to a higher speed. The engine roared in response, and with a quick flick of the pedals, SubLuka executed a smooth drift around a tree, expertly angling the car toward the main road.

The path was bumpy, the rough terrain throwing them off course at times, but SubLuka kept his focus, gripping the wheel with precision. The car bounced and jolted under the uneven surface, but he did his best to keep it steady, determined to avoid flipping or losing control.

Vinum steadied herself against the sudden change in speed. She glanced at SubLuka, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Not bad at all. You know how to maneuver that toy well."

But the goblin girl was still catching up, her legs were moving so fast it almost looked cartoonish, like a roadrunner speeding along the ground. He swore that if he heard 'bip-bip,' he would lose his mind.

"Okay, road rage it is," SubLuka growled, his frustration bubbling over. He quickly adjusted the speed using the regulator and then twisted in his seat, facing the goblin girl who was closing in on them. His muscles tensed as he aimed carefully at the fast little gremlin, feeling the pressure mount.

With difficulty, he prepared another fireball at the tip of his fingers, the energy crackling between his hands. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the rapidly approaching goblin. He couldn't afford to miss—if she got too close, she could break the car and along with it his hopes of escaping this hell.

While running, even the slightest inconvenience can ruin your concentration and, along with it, your steady breathing rhythm. 

With that in mind, he launched another one of his trusted fireballs. It exploded as soon as he shot it, creating a black smoke thick enough to at least inconvenience her.

And thus, stop her right in her tracks—

"SHE DIDN'T EVEN SLOW DOWN?!" SubLuka shouted in disbelief, his jaw dropping. He watched in shock as Gob seemed to inhale the smoke, holding her breath for a moment before continuing to run with the same speed, now breathing as though nothing had changed.

SubLuka's frustration surged. He quickly turned around to face the road ahead, spotting an incoming bump. Without wasting a moment, he slammed his foot down on the accelerator. The car jumped into the air, almost as if it was flying for a split second. Then, with a loud crash, it came back down hard, slamming onto the ground with a jolt that threw SubLuka off balance.

For a moment, the wheels spun out of control, the car veering slightly to one side, but his grip on the wheel tightened, and he managed to regain his composure, keeping the car in its tracks.

Of course, it wasn't the end of it. Not far from here, he could see a bridge… packed with imps.

"What are they even doing here?!" 

"It looks like all the 'infected' are coordinated…" Vinum noted.

"Omega blaze!" the imps chanted in his direction but nothing happened. 

"Ah! These idiots can't cast a spell like that!" SubLuka grinned, feeling that the danger had passed.

Little did he know that the imp at the front, Rami, who was sprinting towards them had another 'trick' up her sleeve.

"Wait! Don't run into her!" Vinum shouted, seeing that the car was about to hit the small imp.

"Shi—!" SubLuka steered the wheel, turning around at the last second before hitting Rami. "Didn't know you cared that much about her," he said with a relieved sigh.

"Idiot, the bumpers of hers would've thrown us off course right into the river," Vinum snapped, crossing her arms with an exasperated sigh. "I didn't want to get wet."

"...You're joking, right?" SubLuka asked, glancing at her incredulously.

"I wish I was," Vinum deadpanned, not even sparing him a glance.

With the imps no longer an immediate threat, SubLuka adjusted the car and decided to take another road, hoping for a smoother escape. However, his relief was short-lived. In the rearview mirror, Gob was still hot on their tail.

As Gob swung her hammer upward to strike the car, she seemed to forget how physics worked. The sheer force of the swing combined with the pressure from the air pushed her backward, causing her to lose balance. She tumbled to the ground, rolling comically before finally coming to a stop in a heap.

SubLuka turned his head to look again in the mirror, but no one was around anymore. 

SubLuka glanced in the mirror again, and to his surprise, the goblin girl was nowhere to be seen. "Where did she go?" he asked, blinking in confusion.

But that didn't matter. For now, he had to reach a safe place, and that was easier said than done.

They soon reached Iliasburg, the small town nestled in the forest. Its cobbled streets and modest houses seemed peaceful at first glance, but it was clear they'd need to cross through it to stay on the road.

"Ta~da!" A high-pitched voice rang out, startling SubLuka as the White Rabbit suddenly appeared on the car's hood, her grin as wide as ever.

"Whoa!" SubLuka jolted in shock, his grip on the wheel tightening as he jerked it sharply to the side. The sudden movement caused the White Rabbit to lose her balance, stumbling off the hood with a yelp and landing in a heap on the ground.

"What the hell?!" SubLuka shouted, his heart pounding as he straightened the car back onto the road.

The White Rabbit popped back up again, this time on the seat behind them. Her face was smudged with dirt, but her wide grin remained unshaken. "Hey there! I miscalculated my warp!" she said cheerfully, dusting herself off as though nothing had happened.

The detective twisted in his seat, his face contorting with rage as he stared at her. 

You—!" he growled, his voice dripping with fury. The girl who had started all of this mess, was right in front of him! His hand instinctively moved toward the gun hidden in his pocket, but he forced himself to stop, clenching his jaw. He knew better than to let his anger take over completely.

"Cut the parade, fox," Vinum sighed. 

At Vinum's words, the White Rabbit's grin widened. Her body flashed, and in an instant, she transformed into a nine-tailed fox with sleek purple fur, her tails fanning out dramatically behind her. "Hohoho… It's not fun to reveal my secrets so easily!" she declared, her voice playfully haughty.

"Shit, an enemy!" SubLuka quickly pulled his gun up to her face.

"Wait!" the fox yelped, her hands raised in mock defense. Her wide eyes sparkled with amusement despite the weapon pointed at her. "I am here to give you a hand♡."

SubLuka didn't lower his gun, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What kind of… 'hand'?"

The fox smirked mischievously, leaning closer with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Whatever kind~."

SubLuka's face twisted into a mix of frustration and desperation as he turned back to the road ahead. "Then get me out of this whole mess!" he pleaded, his grip on the wheel tightening.

The car sped toward the entrance of Iliasburg, where the road was now lined with angry-looking townsfolk. SubLuka could already feel their heated glares and hear their shouting over the hum of the engine.

The fox stretched her arms lazily. "Well, that's easy enough. Let me work my magic~!" She snapped her fingers, her grin widening.

"Warp!"

In an instant, the car and everyone in it were gone, transported to the land where the counterattack finally began…

Meanwhile, Luka, Hakunen, and Kazuya found themselves in Hades, standing in a solemn line before the ever-judgmental Reaper. Their heads hung low, each of them looking ashamed as the Reaper gazed at them with cold disdain.

"Next time," the Reaper said, her voice sharp and disapproving, "try not to get too excited mid-fight."

Luka shuffled toward the circle, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm sorry… I didn't think she would reflexively stab me for touching her—"

"And you," Reaper interrupted, turning her gaze toward Kazuya. "Don't choose your opponents just because they are sexy."

Kazuya's face flushed with indignation. "I–I didn't choose to stop Morrigan because she was sexy! But, honestly, she didn't have to cut my head off so fast…"

"And you," the Reaper continued, her icy eyes now fixed on Hakunen. "Try to be more careful next time."

Hakunen sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I know… I'll do my best not to get crushed by a mass of monsters again."

The Reaper raised a single, disdainful brow before gesturing toward a glowing circle in the center of the room. "Now, step into the circle. You'll return to the world of the living. May I not see your faces again until this is over."

The three nodded solemnly, exchanging brief glances of mutual embarrassment before stepping into the circle, their forms vanishing as the Reaper watched them leave with an unimpressed sigh.

"D-Do they die often?" the man behind her asked.

"This is none of your business," Reaper answered.