"This way!" Lime whispered sharply, gesturing toward a small room at the end of the dimly lit corridor. The Team Rocket trio crept forward, their footsteps light on the cold metal floor as they tried to avoid detection.
"I really hope no one finds us… We've been walking for so long…" James muttered, glancing nervously over his shoulder. His voice trembled slightly, betraying his unease. "Also, I keep hearing this weird voice in my head…"
"Huh?" Jessie and Meowth exchanged a worried glance before leaning in close, their expressions growing serious as they whispered conspiratorially.
"Maybe we oughta knock 'im out," Meowth suggested, scratching his chin. His tone was half-joking but laced with genuine concern.
Jessie nodded, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Might be the best way to keep him quiet... and sane."
"Hey, I heard that!" James hissed, shooting them an indignant look. "I'm not crazy! There's really something—"
Before he could finish, the faint sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the corridor behind them. Lime shot a worried look and ordered them. "Get inside!"
Jessie, James, and Meowth exchanged nervous glances but quickly slipped into the small room Lime had pointed to. Inside, the space was cramped and dimly lit, filled with old equipment and crates. Lime shut the door quietly behind them, and used her slime to detect the outside as the footsteps grew louder outside.
"What now?" Meowth whispered, his voice barely audible. "We're sittin' ducks in here!"
"Stay quiet," Jessie replied, her eyes narrowing. "If they don't hear us, they'll pass."
After what felt like an eternity, the footsteps began to fade, growing quieter until they disappeared entirely into the distance. Lime retracted her slime, nodding to confirm the coast was clear.
"Looks like they're gone," she whispered.
"Finally," Meowth muttered, wiping his brow. "I don't know how much more suspense I can take."
The group cautiously pushed the door open, peering out into the corridor. The air was still thick with the faint smell of smoke, but there were no signs of anyone nearby. Jessie stepped out first, her head swiveling left and right to scan for danger.
"Looks clear," she said, her voice low. "Let's move before they come back."
The quartet crept out of the room, tip-toeing until they arrived at a stairway leading deep below.
"Do we really have to go further down?" James asked, seeing that no light was lit up further in.
"Yes, we do," Jessie snapped, her tone impatient. "How else are we going to come back high and proud if we don't?"
"What pride is left when you're dead?" James shot back, his shoulders slumping. He let out a nervous sigh, his eyes darting around, and saw that Lime was already on her way. "Wait, Lime! Don't go alone!" Without hesitation, he descended the stairs at full speed to catch up with her.
The air grew colder the deeper they went, until it was nearly biting against their skin. As they stepped into the underground chamber, the frigid environment surrounded them. The walls were coated in a thin layer of glistening ice, making Lime shiver in discomfort.
"You can get close to me if you want," James offered, his voice trembling as much from the cold as his nerves. "Staying together will keep us warm!"
"You're right!" Lime replied with a bright smile. Without hesitation, she slid back to him and wrapped her slime-like form around his body, encasing him like a warm, albeit sticky, cocoon.
"Ew… Gross!" Jessie recoiled in visible disgust, taking a step back as the slime clung to James, coating him like a second skin. Her face twisted in revulsion. "I can't believe you're okay with that."
James, on the other hand, was beaming. "Muwahaha! You're just jealous because Lime likes me more!" he declared triumphantly, his voice echoing slightly in the icy chamber.
"Puru puru~!" Lime chanted in agreement while feeling the heat of James's body warm her up.
"Now, let's go my dear friends!" James pointed ahead and started walking with renewed confidence.
Jessie sighed. "Sometimes I wonder what's going on in his head…"
"Probably nothin' useful," Meowth quipped, smirking as he followed after James. "Let's just hope he doesn't lead us into trouble."
The group pressed onward into the icy depths, the faint sound of their footsteps echoing in the silent, frigid corridor. They passed numerous cells, all locked and dark.
"It looks like a prison," Jessie remarked, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. She peered into one of the cells, but it was too dark to make out much inside.
"What kind of prison is this?" James asked nervously, his newfound confidence faltering. He clutched his arms tightly, Lime still clinging to him like a slimy scarf. "I don't see any guards… or prisoners."
"Yeah, but it feels creepy," Meowth muttered, his fur standing on end. "Like somethin's watchin' us."
"Kill… Luka…"
A quiet, raspy voice echoed from one of the cells, sending a chill down their spines.
"AAAAAAHHHH!" The group screamed in unison, scrambling to press against each other as a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows. It approached the bars with uneven, jerky movements, its face twisted and deformed, its hollow eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
Jessie gripped Meowth instinctively, holding him like a shield. "What is that?!" she shouted, her voice trembling.
James nearly fell over as he backed away, his eyes wide with terror. "It's—it's a ghost! A ghost!"
Lime moved forward slightly, her expression unreadable as she extended a tendril of slime toward the cell. "No… it's not a ghost, silly. It's… alive."
The creature pressed itself against the icy bars, its ragged, broken voice croaking out again. "Kill… Luka…" it rasped, its bony, elongated fingers curling tightly around the metal. Its grotesque form became more visible as it shuffled closer, revealing an impossibly large, grotesquely swollen brain that dwarfed the rest of its frail body. The imbalance was grotesque, making it clear why the creature moved so awkwardly.
Its hollow eyes stared unblinkingly at them. "Why… not kill?" it asked, its voice thick with confusion and a haunting sadness. The creature tilted its oversized head further and further, the grotesque mass leaning at an impossible angle until, with a sickening thud, it detached and fell to the ground.
James screamed, grabbing Jessie's arm. "It's falling apart! It's actually falling apart!"
Jessie recoiled in disgust, pulling Meowth closer. "What is this thing?! Is it allowed?!"
Meowth's fur bristled as he peeked over Jessie's shoulder. "I don't know what it is, but we should get outta here before it decides to 'kill Luka'—or us!"
Lime didn't move, her slime rippling faintly as she studied the grotesque figure. "It's suffering," she said softly. "I don't think it knows what it's doing anymore. I feel bad for him…"
The creature's body convulsed, its spindly limbs twitching as it tried to get its head back up. "Kill… Luka… please…" Then it collapsed into a heap, the grotesque weight of its swollen brain dragging the rest of its frail body down.
James snapped his fingers in sudden recognition, his fear momentarily replaced by clarity. "Oh, that's the voice I kept hearing in my head!" he exclaimed.
"Wait… Dat's the weapon?!" Meowth shouted, his eyes wide with realization as he clung tighter to Jessie.
"Could you please say something else?" Lime asked, reforming herself close to the cell. "Like, 'I like fish'?"
The creature twitched, its hollow eyes turning toward Lime. For a moment, it seemed frozen, as though her words were processing in its warped mind. Then, with a faint clicking sound, it began to speak again, its voice raspier but clearer this time. "I like… Fish…"
The group stared in stunned silence, the weight of the moment unexpectedly anticlimactic.
"That… That's it?" Jessie blinked, lowering Meowth slightly. "That's all it took? Just ask it nicely?!" She sounded almost offended at how simple it was.
James scratched his head, equally baffled. "I mean… it is better than it wanting to kill Luka, right?"
Meowth crossed his arms, his tail flicking nervously. "Yeah, but now what? We ask it to hold our hands and lead us to the big bad boss?"
Lime tilted her head, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Maybe it's been stuck here so long, it just needed someone to talk to," she suggested as she observed the creature. "It might even be useful."
"Useful?!" Jessie sputtered, pointing dramatically at the grotesque heap. "It looks like it couldn't even stand on its own, let alone help with anything!"
"I like… Fish…" the creature repeated, its voice gaining a hint of something—resolve, perhaps? It dragged itself closer to the bars, the weight of its grotesque brain causing its frail body to tremble.
Lime smiled softly. "See? It's trying."
"Let's find that damn reactor and go home…" Jessie groaned, stepping away from the cell.
"I will get you later!" Lime said, waving at the creature before sticking herself back on James.
The quartet then left the prison, hoping to find the reactor.
"Kyu!"
"Oh, is it this way, Nuruko?" Luka asked as the spirit of chaos accompanying him pointed at a trapdoor leading upstairs. "Aren't there radiations upstairs?"
"Kyu, kyu!" The spirit then nodded before opening the trapdoor.
Luka hesitated for a moment, peering up into the dark passage revealed by the trapdoor. A faint, ominous hum emanated from above, like the low thrum of machinery in the distance. "You're sure this is the right way?" he asked again.
"Kyu!" Nuruko chirped with confidence, darting upward through the opening.
Luka sighed, gripping the edge of the trapdoor as he hoisted himself up. "I hope you know what you're doing," he muttered under his breath.
The space above was dimly lit, the faint glow of flickering lights barely illuminating the metallic walls. The air was heavy, tinged with a strange, acrid scent that prickled at Luka's nose. Despite his earlier concerns, he felt no immediate effects of radiation—at least, not yet.
Nuruko shone strangely, emitting a faint light that seemed to envelop Luka as well, creating a soft, protective barrier. Luka noticed the warmth and smiled slightly. "You're protecting me? Thank you, Nuruko. Lead the way," he said, his voice tinged with gratitude as he followed the small spirit further into the upper floor.
The area they entered was a narrow mechanical space, clearly designed to house the building's essential machinery. Rows of pipes lined the walls, their surfaces slick with condensation. Tight spaces between the equipment made navigation difficult, and the hum of machinery reverberated around them. Gears turned and pistons hissed in rhythmic motions, creating an almost hypnotic soundscape.
"Looks like this is the guts of the building," Luka muttered, squeezing between two massive pipes. "I just hope we don't run into any surprises up here…"
"Kyu!" Nuruko chirped ahead, zipping through the cramped area and pointing toward a panel near the far wall. The faint glow of buttons and levers suggested some kind of control station.
Luka approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "This must control part of the reactor," he speculated, his hand hovering over one of the levers. "But which one?"
Before he could make a decision, Nuruko slapped his hand away with one of her tentacles, earning a surprised yelp from Luka. The spirit rummaged through his belongings and plucked the talisman he had tucked away.
"Hey, what are you—" Luka started, but Nuruko was already ahead of him. She zipped to the control panel and slapped the talisman onto it with a satisfied chirp.
"That's it?" Luka asked, his tone somewhere between incredulity and relief. "Are we close enough?"
"Kyu!" Nuruko nodded enthusiastically.
"Well, alright then," Luka said, relaxing slightly. "Let's hope everyone had it as easy as us."
As Luka turned around, he was met with a surprising sight—a yellow, fluffy tail swished so close to his face that it tickled his nose, making him sneeze. He staggered back slightly, blinking in confusion.
"Oh? Sorry to bother you, Luka," came a soft, playful voice. The tail withdrew, revealing none other than the diminutive form of Tamamo, her green eyes gleaming with amusement. She snapped her signature fan shut with a flick of her wrist and grinned.
"I couldn't help myself," the little Tamamo said with a sly smile, her nine tail swaying lazily behind her. She gave him a wink, clearly enjoying his startled expression. "I didn't expect to see you here, of all places."
"Tamamo?!" Luka exclaimed, his grip tightening instinctively on his sword. "What are you doing here? And how did you even—"
She held up a hand, cutting him off with a light laugh. "Now, now, no need to get so worked up. We're not brainwashed anymore, though…" She paused, her expression growing slightly worried. "I do have this strange craving for fish now, and I don't know if it's normal."
Luka blinked, his initial shock melting into a mixture of confusion and relief. "Not brainwashed? You're okay?" His voice wavered, the tension he'd been holding onto for so long finally starting to ease.
Tamamo nodded, her smile softening. "We're okay, Luka. Alice is somewhere else, looking for a way to stop the ritual that's happening right now. She's got it under control."
Luka felt his hand tremble slightly as the flood of relief washed over him. After all this time, the fear that he would have to face losing them too had been gnawing at him. But now, seeing Tamamo safe and sound, he couldn't hold back his emotions. Instinctively, he stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight hug, his grip firm yet gentle.
Tamamo stiffened in surprise for a moment before letting out a small, warm laugh. "Well, this is unexpected. Not that I'm complaining," she teased, patting him on the back with her small hand. "You've gotten soft, Luka."
"I thought I lost you all," Luka murmured, his voice muffled against her shoulder.
"What do you mean by that?" Tamamo asked, a tinge of worry in her voice.
Before Luka could respond, Nuruko slapped Tamamo lightly on the shoulder with one of her tentacles and shook her head, as if urging her not to press the issue. But Luka was already speaking, his voice heavy with guilt.
"I'm sorry," he said, his tone trembling. "I couldn't protect anyone… It happened so fast."
"Don't tell me… Our world is…" Tamamo frowned, her heart stopping.
Luka simply nodded and pulled away from her with a deafening silence. Tamamo's hands tightened around her fan, her usual composure cracking. She closed her eyes, and exhaled slowly to try to steady herself. "I see…" she said at last.
"But SubLuka had an idea on how to save everyone," Luka replied, his fists clenching. "That's why I'm here. It's a gamble but…"
Tamamo raised an eyebrow, curious. "Save everyone? I don't know a way of doing that…" she mumbled, clearly having a hard time imagining it was even possible. "But if you think it's possible, then I will follow you."
"Then let's get back to Alice first," Luka said. "She must be worried too."
"So this is it…" SubLuka muttered as he entered the grand room he had left in a hurry last time. The place where he met Desmond and Granberia along with everybody, right before that cataclysmic event.
At the end of the room this time, not Granberia but Alma Elma was standing, a strange helmet stuck to her head.
SubLuka's gaze hardened as he locked eyes with her. The presence of Alma Elma here wasn't a good sign, and the helmet she wore only deepened his worries.
"Alma Elma," SubLuka shouted, his voice echoing in the big room. "Do you remember me?"
Alma Elma turned slowly, a serious smile plastered on her face. It was the same feeling as when she turned against him back at the coliseum. The last time he saw her, she was an empty husk, her mind taken over by something else—no, the embodiment of wrath.
His enemy.
The succubus queen turned into a fighting stance, making SubLuka sweat with nervousness. The last time he fought her, it did not bode well, and he really wanted to keep his strength for later.
However, this time he had two reactors already supplying him with mana. Thanks to the talismans he gave to the others, he had gained a steady flow of useable mana.
He took a fighting stance as well and rolled up his sleeves. On his arms, multiple talismans were stuck to his skin, written with different types of effects. It was all or nothing today, so he did not hold back with the amount of resources he would use.
The both of them stared at each other, not moving an inch. SubLuka's mind was also occupied by Desmond's absence, and his eyes darted occasionally to the different doors surrounding him.
"Are you ready to face me, SubLuka?" Alma Elma's voice was a smooth, dangerous purr that echoed through the room, breaking the silence between them. "I've been waiting for this."
"Great, you still have some semblance of consciousness," he shot back with a grin. "Otherwise I would feel bad for beating you up."
"I just can't help but follow orders~," she said, her smile widening. But as if the machine on her head took over once more, her expression disappeared and her feet shifted.
Here she comes! SubLuka poured everything he had in his arms, and in an instant, he saw the succubus queen vanish with a simple flap of her wings.
His instincts kicking in, he stepped forward and turned around, dodging by an inch a vicious kick launched at him. A talisman on his right arm lit up, strengthening his limb. He then threw a right jab directed to her chin.
The punch landed with a satisfying thud, snapping Alma Elma's head back. For a brief moment, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly recovered, brushing off the hit as if it were nothing.
Alma Elma countered by pouring the elements into her fists and she launched a flurry of rapid punches at him. SubLuka had no time to think. His body instinctively moved to evade, his mind kicking into high gear as his control magic forced him to react faster.
Then, in a split second, he closed the distance with a Dempsey roll, sliding under her guard and landing a solid punch directly to her gut. The force of the blow echoed in the air, but Alma Elma barely flinched.
Not wasting the moment, SubLuka chained the punch with a couple of rapid jabs to her sides, landing them with precision.
"Take my right!" he yelled as he threw another jab toward her. However, Alma Elma blocked it effortlessly, her swift movements matching his own.
However, as he punched repeatedly, a talisman from his launcher was sent behind her and he used it to teleport right after.
"And my left!" he shouted, his voice filled with determination. He poured every ounce of mana into his left arm, his muscles tightening as he launched the punch at full speed, the force of it cutting through the air.
But Alma Elma was just as quick. Without hesitation, she wrapped her tail around SubLuka's waist, absorbing the impact of his punch aimed at her back. She winced, but it was only for a moment—her eyes gleamed with fury as she retaliated by tightening her tail around him and crushing him with its force. The sudden pressure left SubLuka gasping for air, but before he could react, she spun and delivered a devastating kick to his stomach.
The force of the spin-kick hit him squarely, and SubLuka felt the air knocked out of him. A sharp pain shot through his core, and he nearly spat out saliva from the brutal blow. His vision blurred for a split second, the pain overwhelming him, but his instincts quickly kicked in. He steadied himself, his feet planting firmly on the ground as he regained his balance.
With a deep breath, he reached forward, his hand trembling slightly as he extended his palm toward her. "Esfelto!" he shouted.
A burst of flames launched itself from his palm, but Alma Elma quickly swatted his hand aside before punching his reinforced body multiple times. He gritted his teeth as the force of her fists rattled his body. He could feel his insides unraveling with each strike, the pain making it hard to focus.
With one more shot of his launcher, he escaped, teleporting away from her.
But Alma Elma quickly followed his position and followed up with a vicious dropkick. SubLuka ducked right below her and grabbed one of her wings before slamming her down with all of his strength. The force of the impact rattled the floor, and for a moment, there was a silence. SubLuka stood over her, breath ragged, his chest heaving from the damage he received earlier.
Alma Elma smirked and glided on the ground with a quick, creating some distance between them. Then, with a flap of her wings, she flew in the air.
"Shit…" SubLuka gritted his teeth in anticipation. A flying enemy was hard to predict and she was one of the fastest he knew of.
Then, as soon as she was done examining him, she dove down at full speed. SubLuka intercepted her with a kick.
At least that's what he thought.
Like a mirage, she seemed to vanish as his foot connected with her. At the last second, she dodged with the power of the wind and found herself behind his back. Before SubLuka could react, she wrapped her arms around him in a vice-like bear hug, squeezing with unimaginable strength. Her wings beat behind him, and he could feel the crushing force of her hold tightening around his torso.
"Not… yet…" SubLuka grunted through gritted teeth, his mind racing. Then, just as he thought the pressure would be too much, he realized what she was doing. With her tail, she was working to unwrap his launcher from his left arm, trying to disarm him completely.
A surge of adrenaline shot through him. With the last remaining strength he could muster, SubLuka tilted his head backward, slamming it into Alma Elma's face. The force of the impact loosened her grip, and for the briefest of moments, she faltered, her hold slackening just enough for him to break free.
SubLuka gasped for air, his lungs burning, but he didn't wait for her to recover. He knew this was his chance.
Pouring all his mana, plus using all his talisman on his left arm, he stepped forward. The floor cracked on impact, and in a flash, he punched.
"How about no?" A voice cut him off. Before SubLuka could even react, a gunshot rang out in the room, echoing through the walls. The bullet hit its target—SubLuka's shoulder—just as he was about to deliver the final blow. The pain shot through his body in a brutal wave, and his punch faltered mid-air as he staggered backward.
SubLuka clenched his teeth against the agony, his vision blurring for a moment. He glanced down to see the blood staining his shoulder, the bullet wound throbbing with pain.
Another shot echoed but in a moment of clarity, he used a talisman on his right arm to create a small shield, protecting him for a slight second.
The bullets bounced off the shield and the shooter sighed. "Damn… Why do you guys always keep moving when I shoot?"
From the shadows emerged a figure, fully covered in futuristic armor.
SubLuka winced in recognition, and he cursed under his breath. "Desmond…"
The barrier protecting him was soon going to falter and then he would be helpless.
"Well, well, Luka," Desmond said, his voice muffled by his helmet. "How come you are not dead yet?"
At that moment, he felt another reactor being connected to him. It still wasn't enough for his plan to work, but perhaps he could now use their energy to survive.
No, it was far too idealistic. If he used the mana from the reactor then he would surely…
"What do you want?" he asked with a scowl. His eyes darted between Alma Elma and Desmond, waiting for their first move.
Then, with a sudden pulse, another reactor connected to SubLuka, making it four. It was tempting to try now but he needed the five of them to truly make his magic happen.
"I want to kill you," Desmond replied with scorn. "You who is the cause of everything. Everything!" the man shouted, waving his gun around in anger. "Just because you wanted to selfishly survive! Everyone, gone! Just because you couldn't sacrifice yourself!"
"Oh, shut up…" SubLuka sighed, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "As if I didn't know that song already."
"No, you don't get it!" Desmond lashed out. "That thing is here only because of you! Every time it's the same scenario… You get to live, while everyone bites the dust around you."
"Yeah, sure… Are you done?" SubLuka asked, seeing his barrier slowly decompose.
"You don't care, do you?" Desmond continued, his voice dripping with certainty, his eyes filled with bitterness. "Do you even remember what happened in Tamia?"
SubLuka shot a glare at him and he stayed silent for a few seconds. "Of course, I remember. How could I even forget about it, you moron?"
Desmond's face contorted with rage, the pain of the past spilling out. "I lost my family because you killed him," he spat, his words biting through the space between them. "After spending ten years there, making sure that nothing would spill out back into our world, you threw everything away—and a whole city was gone! Not long after, a random guy dispelled the secrecy of magic, and everything turned to shit."
"I couldn't see my son and daughter after that," Desmond continued, his voice trembling with years of resentment and pain. "I was labeled a failure, told to work for the Council under the Geas, of course. So I couldn't run away, couldn't escape..."
"You went to save Nina, you went to save your friends but what about me, huh?" Desmond asked, tears threatening to spill out. "Didn't my equipment that I left in Tamia saved you? Why didn't you—"
"Cuz you're a murderer you piece of shit!" SubLuka lashed out. "You killed so many people it's unimaginable. You tracked me down, and made everyone's life a living hell. And now you're telling me everything is my fault?"
SubLuka crouched slightly, preparing himself for any attack. "Yes, I was supposed to die, blablabla, fate or whatever," he continued, his jaw clenched in frustration. "I know this thing here has come to kill me but let's be honest, it's not by killing me that everything will work out."
"What do you want, Desmond?" SubLuka's voice was cold, steely with determination. "You want revenge? You want closure? Killing me won't fix anything. So what's your endgame? Because I'm not here to listen to a child's rambling."
Desmond's gaze hardened, and he aimed at him. "Once he arrives, he said he will fix everything. But for that…" his finger curled around the trigger. "You need to die first."
"So you believe him?"
"I might."
SubLuka sighed and shook his head. "Goddamit, you're so stupid…"
But he was outmatched. The barrier finally disappeared and he was at their mercy. Four reactors, and the last one wasn't connected yet.
"So? What ritual are you doing?" he asked.
Desmond smirked, a glint of madness in his eyes. "None of your business. In five minutes, he'll arrive and fix everything."
"You're just a dumbass clinging to one last hope," SubLuka sighed. "You need to be stopped."
"Stopped? Do you even realize how outmatched you are?" Desmond said with a smug grin.
"No, you are," SubLuka said with finality in his voice, his eyes staring deep into Desmond's visor. "Everything is fucked because of me? Then I just have to do everything I can to fix it."
He shifted his stance, muscles coiling as he brought his left fist down onto his right palm with a sharp crack.
Desmond pulled the trigger, not wanting to see any trick the man had in his sleeve. The bullet flew toward SubLuka…
But it was too late.
"Sing… My life."
The bullet came at full force on his head and… ricocheted.
Desmond's eyes widened in surprise and he stepped back. "W-What?"
"This is an ode to the world and its people…" he continued, his eyes closed as he focused on something deep within. A dark aura soon surrounded him, and an oppressive feeling took over Desmond, like a hand clutching his heart.
"Five minutes is all I need," SubLuka slowly exhaled and opened his eyes, facing Alma Elma and his enemy.
"Come and sing with me… Dark Rondo!."