On the far side of the frozen tidal wave, Gray Marionette lowered her head slightly, as if pondering something. The moment the wave froze, the sisters knew their clever tricks would no longer work. Victoria Housekeeping's resilience was unexpectedly strong—they were still resisting with everything they had.
No. They needed to eliminate the one responsible for freezing the wave.
The Twin Marionettes quietly discussed their options, each harboring her own calculation. A joint assault was out of the question. Victoria Housekeeping was no ordinary group of trash. Judging from their earlier clash with the vampire, charging in recklessly would definitely backfire. So Black Marionette would press the attack, while Gray Marionette stayed on the opposite side of the wave to assist by ensuring limitless revivals.
W-Engine energy could be exhausted, but Ether Substance was inexhaustible. Victoria Housekeeping would be worn down to death by the sisters of the Twin Marionettes.
This victory was secured—!
A flash of light flickered beneath Gray Marionette's skirt as she began celebrating their inevitable success.
But… why was the floor trembling?
Wait!
A sudden realization struck her. Gray Marionette bent her knees and leapt back with explosive force. A second later, an arm burst up through the center of the floor.
Slowly, the hand spread its fingers. A blood sphere shimmered within its palm, glowing with a strange, ominous light.
Boom!
All five fingers clenched at once, crushing the blood sphere instantly. In a heartbeat, it exploded into hundreds of blood droplets—like a storm of needles erupting in every direction.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The rain of blood needles poured down relentlessly. Gray Marionette retreated at full speed, spinning as she moved. She danced like a ballerina, her fingertips and skirt edges coated in Ether Substance, deflecting and knocking aside the barrage piece by piece.
Boom!
The moment she flicked away the last needle, a deafening crash thundered through the floor. A gust of wind followed violently after.
A streak of dark red burst into her vision—Phaga, fingers curled into a fist, the vampire's blade formed between them, swinging straight down toward her!
Crack!
Gray Marionette caught the blow with both hands before leaping back. The spikes beneath her feet screeched against the floor as she slid away. After retreating dozens of meters, she pressed down with both hands, finally stopping her momentum.
Only then did she understand.
Victoria Housekeeping wasn't merely struggling to survive—they were still fighting with everything they had, searching desperately for a way to overturn the situation. And absurdly… their gamble had worked.
The Twin Marionettes had separated to eliminate the one who froze the wave—precisely when they were at their weakest.
Once war ignites, it rarely ends the way its initiator intends. Gray Marionette could no longer realistically provide Ether Substance to Black Marionette; Black Marionette likewise couldn't retreat to support Gray Marionette.
Both battlefields were now in full blaze, and only the ashes of the defeated could bury the flames.
Then let the battle roar on.
Boom!
Gray Marionette pulled herself forward like a fired arrow, then leapt high mid-charge. Both legs—sharp enough to pierce the sky—stabbed repeatedly toward Phaga.
Clang!
Clang!
Two slashes. Two parries.
Phaga skidded back, then stomped the ground.
An Ether crystal erupted beneath Gray Marionette's landing point, aiming straight for her core. She bent backward, narrowly avoiding it.
Opportunity!
A spark lit Phaga's eyes—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opening. He rose, lifted his leg, walked, sped up—then shot forward in a blur, wings beating hard.
In less than a heartbeat, Phaga closed the distance again, Netherflames blazing along the vampire's blade.
"Flame Sacrifice!"
The scorching fire wailed through the air itself!
No—defend!
No, it's too late!
A sudden flash erupted beneath Gray Marionette's skirt. She screamed in terror and kicked her right leg straight toward Phaga's waist. Attack where the enemy must guard—she gambled he'd pull back.
But… negotiating defense with a vampire?
Defense? Hell no.
Attack.
Attack at all costs.
"Haa!!"
Phaga roared. His heart contracted violently as most of his blood surged into his right palm. Netherflames erupted, surging upward like a living inferno that scorched the ten-meter ceiling.
Ssssh—!
Boom!
Simultaneously, the spike beneath Gray Marionette's foot pierced through Phaga's abdomen. And Phaga's blazing claw slammed into Gray Marionette's skull.
A shriek ripped through the entire hall, echoing clear to the other side of the frozen wave.
Across the battlefield, Black Marionette—cornered under combined assault—was faltering. Lycaon's metal prosthetic flashed brilliantly beneath his foot.
"Phaga's almost done over there—everyone, move in!"
"Yes~!"
"Tsk, let's wrap it up!"
"Corin will hel—oh. Looks like Corin's not needed anymore."
Corin held her chainsaw blankly, looking down at Black Marionette's shattered remains. She was unquestionably dead—beyond dead.
"Phew."
Lycaon finally let out a breath, glancing toward the opposite side of the tidal wave and murmuring:
"Now it's up to Phaga."
...
Meanwhile, on the other side—
Phaga pushed himself off the ground, clutching his stomach. The bleeding had stopped, but the pain lingered. Ethereal wounds left Ether Substance inside the body—too much, and corruption would become irreversible.
At that point… he might as well be brothers with the Ethereal who injured him.
Fortunately, vampires had naturally high resistance. This injury was nothing serious.
And…
Phaga lifted his head. Not far away, Gray Marionette clutched her burning skull, screaming. The flames had already crawled from her head to her arms, spreading across her entire body.
The vessel that once held life had become a leaking funnel. Time was dripping away.
Death was on its way.
Phaga straightened, drawing the Kunmutu blade strapped to his back. Its cold edge reflected the desolate moonlight.
Tap.
Tap.
Phaga approached, gripping the blade tighter, eyes flickering.
A kind-hearted vampire still couldn't bear seeing others suffer—so he would gladly help Gray Marionette cut ahead in line.
But high above, a third battlefield had gone unnoticed.
The Exquisite Doll dove rapidly, desperate to reach Gray Marionette before Phaga, intending to use her spatial rifts to rescue her.
But halfway there, a small hand blocked her path.
The Exquisite Doll's gaze sharpened as she stared coldly at the Black-and-White Doll. The Black-and-White Doll simply smiled.
[You know I've always been Doll's biggest snitch!]
...
Buzz—
Phaga thrust his blade downward, igniting Gray Marionette's [Core] in a burst of roaring flame. The fire reflected on his expressionless face—neither joy nor sorrow.
Only when Gray Marionette's body fully dissolved into drifting specks of light did his expression soften.
"Cutting ahead succeeded."
Phaga smiled faintly, then flapped his wings and rose toward the hole in the floor.
Before long, he reached the far side of the frozen wave and reunited with Lycaon and the others.
"Phaga! Over here!"
Eous waved, calling out. Phaga headed over immediately, joining them as they stepped through the final spatial rift.
Whoosh—
As soon as they emerged, Eous looked toward the sky. Thankfully, the airship still hadn't crashed into the Hollow. There was still time.
On the airship, Billy—still the only conscious one—had been waiting far too long. The moment he spotted Eous atop the Ballet Tower, he clung to the railing with joy, waving desperately.
"Manager! I'm over here!"
Billy shouted at the top of his lungs.
Seeing this, Eous cupped his hands around his mouth. "Billy! We'll be right there to save you!"
He turned toward Lycaon and Phaga.
"Phaga, can you fly up with Lycaon?"
"Relax. Mr. Lycaon isn't heavier than any exam paper I've ever taken."
Phaga chuckled as he spread his wings.
Lycaon sighed and extended his hand.
"I really hope you're just exaggerating."