Simon and Mary both let out sighs of relief as they witnessed Vulcan's apparent victory over Forbidden Nature. Their tense muscles relaxed as they realized the danger seemed to have passed. Meanwhile, Eve and Bard, who had orchestrated the surprise attack from the crumbling building nearby, also felt a sense of over them. Despite the structural instability, their strategic plan had proven successful in stopping the threat posed by Forbidden Nature.
As the building they were on began to crumble beneath them, Eve used her Ornament, using its power to lift both herself and Bard, propelling them across the gap to safety on the neighboring building.
Forbidden Lust approached Forbidden Nature with a smirk on her lips, her eyes glinting with amusement as she observed the scene unfolding before her.
"Nature, Nature, Nature... Quite the predicament you're in, huh?" Forbidden Lust remarked with a smirk, strolling up beside Vulcan and glancing at Forbidden Nature.
"Lust... Is this an act of betrayal? You know that this won't go unpunished..." Forbidden Nature weakly said.
"Hmm?" Lust looked at him with a smirk on her face, mockery in her tone. "I told you this is your battle, I have no reason to get involved. Besides, what's a little betrayal among 'friends', right?"
"Eve, should I finish him now? I pierced his core, right?" Vulcan asked Eve for confirmation, his sword still deep in Nature's chest.
"I won't go so easy, humans. I will accomplish my goal by all means necessary..." Forbidden Nature's voice resonating with power as his right eye glowed intensely. With a surge of energy, the very ground of Hyacinth began to tremble and quake.
"Vulcan, finish him off, destroy his core!" Eve exclaimed.
Geysers of lava erupted from the trembling ground, Forbidden Nature's voice grew weaker, yet his resolve remained. "This entire earth will be nothing more than ash..." he declared.
Before Vulcan could deliver the final blow to Forbidden Nature's core, Forbidden Lust intervened, forcefully pushing him aside.
"Don't destroy this entire place while I'm here, you idiot!" Forbidden Lust exclaimed, removing Vulcan's sword and tearing into Nature's chest, causing void energy to spew out.
Forbidden Lust reached out and firmly grasped an ethereal dark orb within Nature's chest, her fingers curling around it. With a great display of strength, Forbidden Lust ripped out the ethereal dark orb from Nature's chest. As the orb was torn free, the geysers of lava slowly ceased their eruption, and the violent tremors that had rocked the earth began to subside, leaving behind an eerie calmness.
As the ethereal dark orb was forcibly removed from Forbidden Nature's chest, his form started to disintegrate, his essence dissipating into the air. With a faint sigh, he collapsed to the ground, his presence fading away with each passing moment.
"Such treason won't go unnoticed, Lust..." Nature weakly muttered, his voice barely audible as his form continued to fade away.
"Hmph, I wouldn't consider this treason. You could say I was merely protecting myself," Lust retorted with a smirk.
"Once I come back, I'll make sure you're the first one I kill..." Nature's lower half already dissipated, his voice slowly fading.
"Well, until then, Nature!" Lust turned back and walked over to Bard, her smirk still lingering on her face. The rest of Nature's form dissipated into the air.
"I'll admit, I didn't expect you to help us," Bard admitted as he looked at Forbidden Lust.
"Completely wrong!" Lust playfully stuck her tongue out at Bard. "As I've mentioned before, I was merely protecting myself . If he had unleashed his full power and obliterated this entire area, I'd have been caught in the attack as well," she explained, a smirk on her lips.
Bard slightly grinned, "Sure, sure... Nonetheless, thank you."
"You're welcome, Bard," Lust replied with a nonchalant shrug, her smirk softening slightly.
"You're nothing but a loose cannon, however, I guess there's still benefit in having such an acquaintance," Eve sighed.
"Hmm, I'll help you with this annoying fly though," Lust said, flicking void energy into the sky and destroying a spy drone.
"Huh, were we being watched this entire time?" Simon asked.
"For quite a while, actually, that Edward guy has been keeping an eye on you." Lust explained. "But don't worry, I'll take care of it once we're done here."
"Hmm, what do you mean by that?" Bard asked.
"I mean I'll have a little 'chat' with him, remind him about boundaries," Lust replied with a smirk. "After all, it's not polite to pry into other people's business, wouldn't you agree?"
Eve interjected, "There's something I want to ask you. Who else is working with Edward?" she asked.
"Oh, that's quite the question." Lust smirked, "I'm not sure I should give such answers away so easily. But I'll tell you this, you're going the right way."
"Isn't there anything else you can tell us, Lust?" Bard asked.
"I've already said more than I should," Lust replied coyly. "But, I can tell you this. Once you're there and you don't know where to go. Check the basement."
"Check the basement? Can't you provide us with anymore details?" Bard asked as he pressed for additional information.
"Anyway!" Lust said loudly, attempting to change the topic . "I believe you need this to give to that rabbit professor." Lust handed the ethereal dark orb to Bard.
"I've been meaning to ask, but what exactly is this?" Bard asked as he examined the slimy texture and dark ethereal glow of the orb.
"That is a piece of Forbidden Nature's essence, his attribute. The Force of Nature," Lust explained with a smirk, her gaze fixed on Bard. "Consider it a token of our little friendship."
"Friendship, huh? And here, I thought you were protecting yourself." Bard grinned.
"Let's just say it's a mutually beneficial arrangement," Lust replied with a smirk, returning Bard's grin.
"Alright, alright, find some other time to flirt, Bard. But we probably should be going," Simon sighed.
"Agreed," Bard nodded, tucking the ethereal dark orb safely away. "We have much to consider and prepare for."
"Then, I think I'll take my leave. I still need to visit Edward. I'll see you around," Lust smirked as she used spatial retreat to teleport.
Edward worked diligently on the portal, he had to meticulously deconstruct it. Each component presented its own challenge, testing his patience and expertise. Despite the complexities far exceeding his initial expectations, he remained resolute. His determination was no longer in assisting Alexander, but rather to prove his own capabilities and mastery in such a task.
Lust quietly teleported in the room, her presence unnoticed by Edward as he remained engrossed in his task. She watched him intently working on the portal. Deciding to make her presence known, Lust cleared her throat, causing Edward to startle and glance around, surprised to find her standing there.
"H-huh, Alexander? Oh, wait, you're Forbidden Lust. What do you want with me? Wrath already visited me, and I told him that this will take a bit longer than expected," Edward said in annoyance.
"I'm here for a different matter. I'm sure that spy drone caught all of that footage before I destroyed it, and I'm not very tech savvy, you see," Lust smirked.
"Are you referring to my spy drone, the one that was monitoring the group?" Edward asked, concern evident in his tone as he glanced at Forbidden Lust.
"Yes, that one. You see, I did something bad, and I want you to delete that footage," Lust confirmed, her smirk widening slightly.
Edward looked at Lust with a skeptical expression, taking a moment before replying. "I have no reason to comply, and if you're seeking my intervention, it suggests something quite serious. Serious enough, perhaps, to warrant reporting to Alexander or Forbidden Wrath."
"Ohh, threatening me are you? Is that really such a smart idea?" Lust nonchalantly dismissed Edward's implied threat with a casual shrug.
"You can't hurt or kill me because you need me to make this portal. Make it worth my while, and I'll delete that footage," Edward said confidently.
"Deal! You don't want anything bad to happen to Ana Sarad, right?" Lust's tone shifted, the atmosphere in the room felt more tense.
Edward's eyes widened in shock. "Th-that's my wife's name, how do you know that?"
Lust's smirk widened even further. "Oh, and I can't forget about Reina, Edwin, and Red!"
"Y-you bitch, you better not do anything to them or I'll kill you myself!" Edward exclaimed.
"Hey now, you threatened me first, remember? All I want you to do is delete that footage and keep your mouth shut about this little meeting," Lust said, her tone firm.
Edward sighed, knowing he had no choice. "Very well, I'll delete that footage later."
"Good choice, and remember this. I'm always watching you, so don't think you can cheat me." Lust said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to." With a smirk, she disappeared using spatial retreat.
Edward watched as Lust disappeared, his gaze shifting to the cosmic stone.
Anger flickered in his eyes momentarily before he composed himself and returned to working on the portal.