Mischa's gaze fell to the staff in Lokei's hands, her smile twisting into something both cruel and amused.
"Is that really what you're bringing to the battlefield?" she teased.
"A fully armed giant doll… against a stick that's still figuring itself out? If I were your mother, sweetheart, I'd be seriously disappointed in you."
Lokei's eyebrow twitched. Just from that jab, the whole team could feel the tension rising by the second.
Esme whispered, "Oh no. She really went there."
Taura covered her mouth with her hand. "She clearly doesn't care about her life, throwing shade at someone with a past even I wouldn't want to touch. He hated when people talked about her. Hated it more than anything."
Lokei's face was practically on fire. Mischa's words dug up memories he'd buried long ago, and now this crazy maid was stirring them up again, his anger simmering like a pressure cooker.
"Lokei. Don't let her get to you," Sévon shouted.
Lokei rolled his shoulders, gripping the staff tightly as sparks danced along its length. He let out a slow, amused breath.
"A mother, huh?"
He raised the staff, pointing it at Mischa like a spear.
"That's rich… because you definitely look like someone who'd snack on kids for breakfast."
Mischa gasped dramatically, clutching her chest.
"How rude of you, boy! The audacity to even brush me with your words."
The giant doll's gears whirred
CLANK CLUNK.
Its massive arms shifted into position, weapons glinting under the flickering light. Lokei cracked his neck and stepped forward.
"Let's see if your oversized Barbie can handle this stick."
With an elegant smile, Mischa tilted her head, a graceful smile playing on her lips as she lifted the hem of her dress into a perfect maid's bow.
"Well then… if that's what you say."
With a snap of her fingers, the Titan Doll sprang to life, its gears screeching as the cannon locked into position. Its enormous blue eyes glowed like lanterns. Lokei didn't hesitate; he launched himself forward, a shockwave cracking the marble beneath him as he shot off like a bullet. His staff slammed into the ground, using the rebound to propel himself upward.
The Titan Doll opened fire, shells screaming toward him. Lokei twisted in midair, spinning his staff in a blur, deflecting each shot as sparks erupted in a chaotic halo around him.
Esme shouted, "OH MY— LOKEI'S GOING FULL MONKEY MODE!"
Taura yelled back, "STOP CALLING IT THAT!"
Sévon remained silent, a small smile gracing his lips. Lokei descended, driving his heel into the Titan Doll's head. The porcelain helmet dented inward, gears rattling. He flipped backward onto its shoulder, his staff glowing. With a loud yell, he declared,
"SHATTERING SURGE!"
A powerful burst of energy exploded outward, tearing through one of the doll's arms. The cannon broke off and crashed into the wall.
Mischa gasped.
"Ohh~ spicy!"
The Titan Doll reacted immediately, its remaining arm swinging a massive blade. Lokei ducked, skidding across its arm before kicking off, propelling himself into the air once more. The blade swept upward, and Lokei met the strike with the full length of his staff. The entire ballroom shook from the impact.
Lokei's shoes carved lines across the marble as he slid back. The giant doll didn't relent; its chain-sickle launched at him. Lokei spun his staff, catching the chain and twisting it around the pole. With a sharp yank, the doll stumbled.
Lokei grinned. "Got you."
He dashed forward, his body flowing like a blend of water and lightning. Every movement was precise, brutal, and beautiful. He dashed up the doll's leg, spun off its knee, and then used his staff to vault himself behind its head.
"END STRIKE!"
With a powerful slam, he drove both heels into the back of the doll's neck. The head flew off, spinning across the hall. The doll wobbled, struggling to maintain its balance before it finally crashed down with a thunderous thud. Lokei's foot touched down softly on the floor as he stood over the wreckage of the Titan Doll. Esme's jaw dropped in disbelief. Taura's tail shot straight up in surprise.
Sévon gave a single nod. "Good."
Mischa floated down, clapping slowly.
"My, my~ That was actually impressive. You even broke a sweat."
Lokei didn't crack a smile. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing right in front of her. Before Mischa could even react, his staff smashed into the floor, sweeping around to collide directly with her knees. Her legs twisted inward in a grotesque manner, bones snapping like brittle twigs.
Mischa let out a delicate gasp, sounding more surprised than hurt. Lokei leaned in closer, his eyes icy, his voice even colder.
"That's for talking nonsense."
He raised the staff slightly higher.
"And that's for underestimating me."
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!"
Her scream echoed through the mansion like a shockwave. The air trembled. Chandeliers rattled violently. Cracks spiderwebbed across the marble floor.
Sévon staggered back. Esme grabbed Taura tightly. Lokei stood firm, staff planted in the ground, his gaze still icy. Mischa clutched her shattered legs, her aura flickering erratically.
"H-HOW DARE— YOU— YOU— YOU—!!"
But she couldn't finish her thought. The world around them began to unravel. Walls crumbled into dust. The chandeliers folded into nothingness. The endless mansion flickered like shattered glass.
"Her Abyssal Reign!" Taura shouted. "It's collapsing!"
A blinding light engulfed them. In the blink of an eye, they were back. Their butler/maid uniforms dissolved into shimmering smoke, transforming back into their original clothes. The truck had vanished. Zheng Yan and Kinzau were gone without a trace, leaving Mischa alone to face her fate.
Lokei didn't think twice. He swung his staff with fierce precision, landing a perfect hit right across her jaw. Mischa's eyes rolled back, and she crumpled to the ground, out cold.
Esme let out an excited squeal.
"LOKEI!! THAT WAS AMAZING! YOU WERE LIKE—LIKE—AAAARRHHH!!!"
She leaped at him, wrapping him in a tight hug. Taura joined in too, throwing an arm around him.
"MONKEY KING MODE!! You totally crushed it!!"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
But he couldn't even finish his protest. Sévon strolled over, hands tucked in his pockets, his face a mask of neutrality. He stopped in front of Lokei and gently placed a hand on his head.
"Nice job. That was a blast to watch."
Lokei blinked, and a warm smile slowly spread across his face.
"…Thanks."
Across the street, Assad stumbled out from behind a rock, still trying to catch his breath. His butler uniform shimmered away, fading into nothing as his hoodie and regular clothes reappeared.
He looked down at himself, bewildered.
"…Wait. Did my clothes just—"
Then he noticed them. Team Crow. All standing there, completely unfazed. Mischa lay defeated at their feet. Assad gulped hard.
They really took down the caster?
His hands shook slightly.
Wow… they must be on a whole different level…
He gazed at Lokei, who still had his staff resting on his shoulder while the girls clung to him. Assad muttered under his breath, "…Wow."