Succumania

(Warning: Gore)

He didn't waste a second. The moment he threw that punch, he already knew what he had to do.

Using a talisman, he telported to Nina's lab. Even if ransacked, there was no way everything would be gone. With hurried and heavy steps, he entered the armory.

A wall of weapons. Without casting a glance at the rest, he already picked up the most practical in his mind. He already had a gun in his pocket, all he needed now was something to give him firepower. 

His gaze locked onto a sawn-off shotgun mounted on the far wall, specially designed to hold multiple modes of attack. Without a second thought, he grabbed it from its stand, running his fingers along the barrel. He snapped it open with practiced ease, checking the manastone embedded inside.

The small screen on the side flickered to life, displaying 60% capacity. More than enough for what was coming next. He closed it up, tucking the weapon carefully under his jacket.

Then, without a pause, he pulled out another talisman and activated it once more, feeling the familiar surge of energy course through him.

In a single minute, he had crossed the world two times, this time being in front of the house of his friend. In case of emergencies, he had hidden a talisman in the garden, allowing him to act quickly.

No more delays, time was running out.

Eyes locked on the door, he kicked it open, the frame splintering under the force of his strike. His gun was raised high, clearing the entrance with a practiced sweep.

"She's acting as his wife..." he muttered under his breath, recalling the words Mayu had spoken. If that was the case, then it was a succubus he hadn't been taught about during Vinum's lessons.

He tightened his grip on the handgun, his eyes hard as ice. With every muscle tensed, he stepped inside.

Darkness greeted him. The lights were off—strange for dinnertime. His senses sharpened, tracking every shadow as he cleared the space behind the couch, the closet by the door, then pushed into the kitchen. Silence hung heavy, broken only by a faint sound drifting from upstairs—soft, melodic laughter that didn't belong.

Luka's eyes narrowed. He knew that sound. It wasn't his friend's.

He moved toward the stairs, his gun trained ahead. The laughter grew louder, mingling with noises he didn't want to think too hard about. His chest tightened, anger flaring as he started to run—

—but he stopped dead in his tracks. In the hallway, a small figure stood, staring at him with wide, curious eyes.

"Huh? Who are you, mister?"

The kid. No older than six, clutching a stuffed toy to his chest. His innocent gaze locked onto Luka. 

His breath hitched, the grip on the gun faltering for the first time. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't prepared for this.

"Dad and Mom are doing something weird…" the boy mumbled, red streaks beneath his eyes glinting wetly—tears, fresh or dried, Luka couldn't tell.

"Go to your room," Luka said, voice rough, strained. "This is—"

The laughter upstairs morphed into a crescendo of moans and ragged cries, the noise clawing at his nerves. His jaw locked tight, vision tinting red with rage. Time was slipping through his fingers—he didn't have a second to spare.

Without another glance, he nudged the kid aside with a gentle but firm push and charged up the stairs, boots pounding the wood like war drums.

The air thickened as he climbed, heavy with a cloying, floral scent that didn't belong. The moans sharpened, punctuated by a low, guttural groan that snapped his restraint. His friend—alive, but not for long if he didn't move fast. Luka hit the landing, shotgun drawn from beneath his jacket, the manastone humming faintly as he gripped it alongside the handgun.

The bedroom door loomed ahead, half-open, spilling dim light and that sickeningly sweet laughter into the hall. He didn't hesitate—slammed his shoulder into it, the wood banging wide against the wall.

"Get the fuck off him!" he shouted, shotgun leveled, finger hovering over the trigger.

She froze mid-motion, straddling his friend, her head whipping toward him. It wasn't his wife. In her place perched a creature with blazing red eyes that burned like embers in the dark. Short, vivid pink hair framed a face both alluring and predatory, her lips parted in a wicked grin. Her outfit—if it could be called that—was a scandal of black fabric, barely clinging to her curves, with pink heart-shaped patches straining to cover her nipples, leaving little else to the imagination.

Luka's stomach churned, but his aim didn't waver. His friend lay beneath her, sprawled across the bed, shirt ripped open, chest heaving with shallow, labored breaths,his face drained to a ghostly pallor.

"Huh? Who're you?" she chirped, her red eyes—pupils twisted into heart shapes—glinting with dark amusement. She didn't halt her slow, deliberate grind, her grin widening as she met his glare. "Oh, wait—"

"OFF! NOW!" Luka growled, his eyes almost bulging out of its sockets, the shotgun's barrel inches from her face.

She tilted her head, pink hair swaying, her grin widening into something feral. "Oh, I like you," she teased, trailing a clawed finger down his friend's chest, leaving a thin red line in its wake. "You're that Luka guy, right? How cute." Her voice dripped with mockery as she leaned forward slightly, unflinching. "Consider this a little teaser of what's coming for you."

The man beneath her groaned, a weak, shuddering sound, and Luka's finger slammed the trigger.

But in that same instant—"AH! AH!!!"—she forced his friend to climax, a cruel twist of her hips. The shotgun roared, pellets blasting toward her in a lethal spray… only to strike nothing. The succubus stood unharmed, a sultry grin plastered across her face as his friend collapsed, skin clinging to his bones like wet parchment, his life drained in a heartbeat.

Luka staggered back, eyes widening, pupils shrinking to pinpricks in shock.

"Ah… He was so cute, babbling about how much he liked me," Ayumu sighed, her tone airy, unbothered, as she brushed a strand of pink hair from her face, smirking at Luka's stunned retreat.

Luka's ears rang from the shotgun's blast, the heat of the barrel mingling with that floral reek. His friend—no, what was left of him—lay still, a husk on the bed, eyes vacant, chest no longer rising.

Luka's vision bled red, the ringing in his ears drowning out all else. His legs faltered, and he gripped the doorframe to steady himself as Ayumu stepped down from the bed with a breezy laugh.

"You okay? You look pale," she said, feigning concern, her red eyes glinting with amusement as she sauntered closer. "I can't take you right now, but soon I might. So be patient, okay?"

Luka's chest heaved, each breath a jagged rasp as he clung to the doorframe, the wood biting into his palm. The red haze in his vision pulsed, fury and grief warring within him, but her voice—her smug, lilting taunt—cut through it like a blade. His friend was gone, drained to nothing, and she stood there, untouched, mocking him.

Tears welled in his eyes, spilling hot down his cheeks as he shoved himself upright. "Ah… Ah…" His mouth twitched, a choked knot tightening in his throat as he stared at the thing that must not exist in front of him.

"Daddy?" a small voice echoed behind him, faint and trembling, barely piercing the ringing in his ears.

Luka's head snapped toward the sound, the boy's call a lifeline yanking him from the edge. His tear-streaked gaze flicked to the stairs, then locked back on Ayumu. She paused mid-step, her grin faltering for a heartbeat as the interruption registered.

"Daddy's not here anymore, sweetie," she said gently, crouching slightly as if to meet the child's height, her tone dripping with mock tenderness. "Mommy took him for herself!"

Something about what she said clicked within him. 

If 'mommy' was here.

Where was the real one?

As if sensing his realization, Ayumu turned to him, her grin curling wider, sly and knowing. "I had to eat her as well," she said brightly, as if explaining a simple trick. "Can't take her form otherwise, you know?"

Luka's breath stopped, the world tilting beneath him. Absorbed her. The real wife—gone, consumed by this thing wearing her appearance. His knees nearly gave out, the doorframe creaking under his tightening grip as everything crashed on him.

"You…" His voice broke, a raw, guttural sound as tears streamed unchecked, his face twisting with anguish and rage. "You ate her?" The handgun trembled in his hand, rising to aim at her chest, his finger hovering over the trigger.

"Oh?" Ayumu's grin sharpened. In a flash, her form shimmered and shifted, morphing into another's likeness—soft brown hair, warm eyes, the face of the wife now staring back at him. She turned toward the stairs, her voice taking on the wife's gentle cadence as she addressed him. "What a bad man you are, threatening me like that. In front of my kid! Don't you have any shame?"

Luka's heart lurched, the handgun wavering as his friend's wife's face—her stolen face—twisted his grief into a fresh wound. The boy's footsteps faltered on the stairs, a soft whimper echoing up. "Mommy?" he called, voice small and trembling, laced with confusion.

"See? He still loves me," she purred, her voice a twisted blend of the wife's warmth and her own malice. "You're the monster here, Luka—scaring my poor baby with that nasty gun."

"Ah… Ahah…" Luka stammered, his tongue stinging as he bit down hard, blood welling in his mouth. His vision blurred, tears and rage warring within him until something snapped.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" With a primal scream, he hurled himself at her, the shotgun clattering to the floor as he abandoned it. His hands shot out, seizing her by the throat, slamming her back against the wall with a force that rattled the room.

Ayumu gasped, her stolen face flickering under the strain as Luka's fingers dug into her neck, his tear-streaked glare burning into her. "I'll fucking kill you! I'll kill you!" he choked out, his voice hoarse and ragged. His grip tightened, nails biting into her flesh.

She clawed at his wrists, her wife's facade cracking—brown hair bleeding back to pink, warm eyes flashing to blazing red. "Let—go!" she rasped. "You can't… hurt me!"

"Shut up!" Luka roared, slamming her harder against the wall, the plaster cracking behind her. Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the blood on his chin, but his hands didn't waver. "Why is this working now?! Why didn't the shotgun work?!" he gasped, tears streaming down his face even harder.

The boy's whimper grew louder, closer—"Mommy, stop!"—his small form appearing at the top of the stairs, eyes wide with terror as he clutched his toy. Luka's head jerked toward him, a pang of guilt slicing through his rage, but he couldn't let go—not yet.

Ayumu's claws raked at his arms, drawing thin lines of blood, but her struggles weakened, her red eyes narrowing as she fought for breath. "Stop…it," she wheezed, forcing a grin despite the pressure on her throat. "You can't… Kill me…" she choked.

"Mommy!" The boy's plea cut deeper, tears streaking his face.

Ayumu seized the moment, her grin twisting back to life. "Listen… to him… Luka," she croaked. "You're… scaring… him…"

"Your mom's dead! Your dad's dead! Everyone is dead!" Luka cried out, his grip tightening. He threw her back on the ground and punched her hard, her head slamming against the floor with a crack.

Blood smeared across Ayumu's cheek, her pink hair splayed wild against the floorboards. For a moment, she lay still, red eyes dimming, chest heaving shallowly. Luka loomed over her, fist raised, trembling with the aftershock of his strike. His breaths came in jagged bursts, the taste of blood and tears sharp on his tongue.

"Stop it! Stop hurting her!" The child rushed forward, dropping his toy to grab at Luka's leg, tiny hands tugging with desperate strength.

Luka froze, his fist hovering mid-air. His eyes darted to the boy—wide, terrified, pleading—and for a split second his rage was drained from him. He staggered back, releasing Ayumu, his hands falling limp at his sides. The succubus coughed, a wet, guttural sound, and propped herself up on one elbow. 

"Thank you, dear," she rasped, her eyes flickering to the kid. "This man is a very bad person, so come with me."

She held her hand toward the boy, and he took it without thinking twice. Luka raised his hand in alarm to stop him, but it was too late. He was already clutching his mother while giving him a mean look.

Luka's heart lurched, a cold fist squeezing his chest as he watched the boy nestle into Ayumu's side. Her arm draped around him possessively, her red eyes glinting with triumph as she hauled herself to her feet, dragging the child with her. Blood still trickled from her cheek, but her grin stretched wide, unbroken.

"That's a good boy," she murmured, stroking his hair with a gentleness that mocked Luka's failure. "How about an adventure with Mommy, hmm?" She flashed Luka a saccharine smile, then snapped her fingers. A portal ripped open behind her—swirling colors and warped shapes spilling from a landscape he couldn't place, alien and dizzying.

"Don't you dare take him too!" Luka scrambled for the shotgun, its weight a fleeting comfort as he fumbled to aim.

Ayumu pressed a soft kiss to the boy's forehead. His eyes fluttered shut, body going limp as she scooped him into her arms. "I'll give him plenty of love, don't worry," she said, her smile warm and venomous. "Bye now!" With a playful wink, she leapt into the portal.

The rift snapped shut, edges collapsing in a blink, leaving no trace—no way through. Luka's outstretched hand grasped empty air, the shotgun clattering back to his side.

His body erupted into violent tremors, tears streaming unchecked down his face. A throbbing pain took over his left arm, blood spilling from that accursed red mark .

I won't let her go. I'll kill her and every last one of them. I'll kill her. I'll kill her. I'll kill her. I'LL KILL HER!

His hands glowed faintly, contorting as they slashed at the air where the portal had been. Then—his fingers snagged something, a faint ripple, the ghost of an opening. He gripped the edges, invisible but real, and yanked outward with all his strength, teeth clenched so hard his jaw went numb.

The air resisted, thick and elastic, but it gave—barely.

Rip, tear it open, I'll follow her into the depths of hell if I must!  

A faint shimmer flickered where his hands clawed, the remnants of Ayumu's rift trembling under his fury. Luka's muscles screamed, veins bulging as he forced the gap wider, a guttural snarl tearing from his throat. The red mark on his arm blazed, blood trickling faster, each pulse a stab of agony that fueled him further.

OPEN! I ORDER YOU TO OPEN YOU SHITTY PORTAL! he wanted to scream, but the strain on his muscles left him breathless, his voice trapped in his chest.

The air around him crackled, the faint shimmer growing brighter, more unstable. Luka's vision blurred, his body trembling with the effort, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. A flame hotter than the sun was blazing in his chest, asking to consume everything in his path. 

With a final, desperate pull, the air tore open, a jagged rift spilling chaotic energy into the room. Luka didn't falter. He stepped through, reality warping around him as he plunged into the breach. But the portal didn't close behind him. Instead, the world shuddered—objects twisting, coming alive as dreams bled into reality. He emerged in the same house, yet not—stretched, distorted, vast. A kaleidoscope sky swirled overhead, giant plushies and oversized furniture looming like silent sentinels.

The land of dreams, where he could find her.

A group of wandering Drifters approached him. They wore white bunny suits, ears flopping beneath witches' hats, succubi of another form. 

"Huh? A human?" one chirped, tilting her head.

"What's he doing here?" another asked, blinking.

Luka advanced, shotgun snapping up, barrel trained on the nearest one. She smirked, unfazed, and pulled a golden-edged mirror from nowhere, holding it up to reflect his face. "Hehe, let's play!" she teased, her fingers dancing toward her cleavage with exaggerated flair. The mirror shimmered—magic, meant to bind him, to force his body to mirror hers.

But Luka didn't flinch. The shotgun roared, a deafening blast splitting the air. The mirror shattered, fragments glinting as they fell—but the Drifter stood untouched, the shot passing through her.

Luka's ears rang, the shotgun's recoil jarring his already aching arms. The Drifter giggled, brushing a strand of hair from her face as the mirror's shards dissolved into glittering dust. "Oh, you're no fun," she pouted, twirling a finger in the air. The others closed in, their bunny ears twitching, hats casting long, warped shadows across the plush-strewn floor.

"Violence doesn't work here," another Drifter chimed, hopping closer. "This is our playground."

Oh, I get it now.

He quickly snapped his shotgun open and grabbed the manastone. It was now at 50% but on its own, it wasn't enough. The succubi here were Nightmares, that much he could recognize. 

But why was he able to hurt Ayumu and Mayu earlier? Because he could, there was no doubt about it. 

The shotgun couldn't but he could. With a focused expression, he smeared some of his blood on the mana stone and popped it back into place, the barrel of his shotgun snapping back to one of the Drifter's faces.

"Where is Ayumu?" he asked, his aim perfectly still.

The Drifter froze, her smirk faltering as the blood-streaked manastone hummed—a low, menacing pulse that rippled through the dreamscape. The others halted, their playful chirps dying in the air, bunny ears twitching nervously. The one in his sights swallowed, her eyes darting to the glowing barrel, then back to his face.

"W-wait," she stammered, hands rising in a placating gesture. "That's not… normal." Her voice trembled, the teasing lilt crumbling under the weight of his stare.

"Wrong answer," he replied cold and final, pulling the trigger without hesitation. 

"Are you sure this is that way, Succubus-chan?" Alma Elma asked.

"Of course, I carried him there the other day," the person concerned replied with a sigh.

The succubi were all flying in the night sky, an invisible spell woven by Vinum to keep them concealed. Succubus-chan being the only one aware of that friend of Luka, was asked to guide them here. 

"I hope everything went fine," Astaroth sighed. "I promised the imps we would bring him back."

"Can someone explain why she's here?" Morrigan growled, her arms grudgingly cradling Mayu. "And why I'm stuck hauling her?"

"Because she is the only one who can defuse the situation," Lilith replied. "I'm not too happy about it either, but that's our only option."

"We're here," Succubus-chan announced, pointing down at the house below. Her wings faltered, eyes widening as she froze mid-air. "Wait… what's happening?"

The air around the house rippled, warping like heat haze, while the landscape bled into unnatural hues—greens twisting to violet, shadows pulsing with faint light. The distortion crept outward, slowly but surely.

 "This is bad," Astaroth whispered, her wings twitching. "It's spreading."

"The dreams are now encroached in reality," Mayu explained. "I believe Ayumu went back to the land of dreams somehow and… That's about it, I can't give more information until we get closer."

The succubi hovered, the night air growing thick with an unnatural hum as the distortion pulsed below. The house stood at the epicenter, its splintered door gaping like a wound, the surrounding yard now a patchwork of shifting colors—grass bending into impossible shapes, trees curling and growing taller.

"Down," Lilith ordered, her wings slicing downward as she descended. The others followed, landing silently on the warped lawn. 

Morrigan dumped Mayu onto the ground with a grunt, flexing her arms as if shedding a burden.

Mayu rose smoothly, brushing off her jacket. "The opening is further inside the house, something must have happened," she said as she crossed her arms behind her back.

"Let's go inside," Vinum ordered. They stepped through the broken doorway, only to find the house transformed. Stairs spiraled in impossible directions—up, sideways, looping back on themselves. The living room and kitchen fused into a single, warped expanse, where the couch and kitchenware chattered like old friends.

"Being a couch sucks," the sofa grumbled, its cushions sagging. "Can't even move."

"What do you think?" the frying pan shot back, its handle twitching.

"Is this a fever dream?" Alma Elma muttered, her crimson eyes widening as she stared at the absurdity. "Or did someone spike my drink?"

The air buzzed with a dissonant hum, the walls flexing like living flesh as the succubi ventured deeper. Mayu led the way, her eyes scanning the shifting space. The stairs creaked underfoot, twisting mid-climb to deposit them in a hallway that stretched unnaturally long, its wallpaper peeling into swirling patterns of eyes and grins.

"Yeah, the dreams are fusing with reality," Mayu sighed. "This is not what was supposed to happen…"

"And what was supposed to happen?" Astaroth growled behind her. "Tell me what was the plan in all of this?"

Mayu—the hare—turned, her posture easing as she let out a weary breath. "Guess there's no point hiding it now…" She relaxed her shoulders, meeting their stares. "We were tasked to watch Luka, get him to warm up to us for the future. A Nightmare named Est said he's key to preserving pleasure—whatever that means."

"That doesn't sound very clear to me…" Morrigan deadpanned.

 "It's not clear to me either," Mayu shot back, scoffing lightly. "I can't stand guys like him, so playing nice was a chore. I'd kill to know what's really going on."

"You? Hating Luka?" Alma Elma blinked. "Aren't you dishonest?"

"Hm," Mayu grumbled. "I guess he is not too bad but he is still boring. I defeated him too easily at the beach."

"Also, Est?" Astaroth chimed in. "Isn't that the person you fought in the Land of Nights, Alma Elma?"

"It was more the other heroes who did it, I was too busy being in a daze," the queen of succubi chuckled. "She is a powerful Nightmare, that's for sure. But as far as I know, she is more of a hedonist than me."

Lilith's wings flared, her patience thinning. "Enough chatter. If Est's behind this, she's playing a long game. Where's the rift?"

Mayu tilted her head, tuning into the environment. "Upstairs—the bedroom's where the rift at. But upstairs is a bit confusing to get to now," she started toward a staircase that spiraled upward in a nauseating twist. 

The air grew dense, heavy with that floral reek—Ayumu's stench—clinging like damp silk. The stairs deposited them into the bedroom, now a sprawling cavern of plush and stone. The bed loomed as a grotesque throne, Luka's friend a lifeless husk sprawled across it, eyes hollow. In the center, a rift pulsed—a jagged tear leaking crimson light.

Succubus-chan looked at the corpse on the bed and everyone stayed silent for a while, knowing fully what it meant.

"I know I'm not better," Succubus-chan began, her voice uncharacteristically somber. "But this is stupid for someone supposed to watch him."

The rift's hum buzzed louder, a low growl threading through the silence as the succubi stared at the husk on the bed. Vinum's wings twitched, her expression hardening. "Stupid doesn't cover it," her eyes turned to Mayu, "if what you told us was true. She also killed this man's wife to achieve that."

Mayu didn't answer, her eyes riveted on the rift. 

"I'm worried about him now…" Alma Elma muttered, her crimson eyes flickering with concern. "I hope he's okay."

"We'll see," Astaroth replied, her tone somber. "Let's go inside for now."

The succubi collectively nodded, steeling themselves as they stepped through the rift. The dreamlands on the other side weren't drastically different from the warped house they had just left, but there was something else that immediately caught their attention—something that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end.

Stains of blood marred the ground and walls, dark and fresh, as if the violence had only just occurred. Scattered across the landscape were multiple holes, like rabbit burrows, leading into the earth.

They heard something whimper from inside one of the holes—a soft, pitiful sound that echoed through the eerie silence. Morrigan approached the hole and crouched down. Without hesitation, she reached in and grabbed one of the White Rabbits by its ears, pulling it out into the open.

"Kya! Don't hurt me!" the rabbit squealed, her voice high-pitched and trembling. Her long white hair was matted with blood, and her wide, terrified eyes darted between the succubi.

Morrigan held the rabbit up, her expression a mix of curiosity and irritation. "What the hell are you doing down there?" she demanded, giving the girl a little shake.

"P-Please don't hurt me! I can't take it anymore!" the rabbit whimpered, hiding her eyes with her hat, her form trembling uncontrollably.

"We won't hurt you," Mayu sighed, her tone softer than usual but still edged with impatience. "What's going on? Where are the others?"

But the White Rabbit didn't answer, her form still trembling violently. Her whimpers grew louder, more desperate, as if she were trapped in a nightmare she couldn't escape.

"Hey, we're asking you a question!" Morrigan shook her again, her grip tightening slightly.

"Ah… Ah… Please stop it… It hurts…" the girl whimpered, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.

"Okay, that's definitely not good news," Astaroth noted, her eyes roaming the bloodstained landscape before returning to the girl. "Is she broken? Or just traumatized?"

"Both, probably," Vinum said, her voice cold as she stepped forward. She crouched down, her piercing gaze locking onto the trembling rabbit. "Look around to see if there are others like her."

"Uh…" Succubus-chan looked uneasily at the group. "There is another here but she is just staring into the void while clutching her knees."

Mayu's ears twitched, her frustration mounting. "We don't have time for this. If they are too broken to talk, we'll have to find answers ourselves."

"Wait," Alma Elma interjected, her tone gentle. She knelt beside the rabbit, her crimson eyes softening as she placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Hey, little one. I know you're scared. But you're not alone anymore. We're here to help. Just tell us what happened."

The rabbit's sobs quieted slightly, her trembling easing as she looked up at Alma Elma. For a moment, it seemed like she might speak—but then her eyes widened in terror, and she let out a shrill scream.

"Not the red eyes! Please go away!"

The succubi turned, their instincts sharpening as they followed the rabbit's gaze. Emerging from the shadows was another figure—a second White Rabbit, her long white hair tangled and streaked with blood. But unlike the trembling girl in Morrigan's grip, this one stood unnervingly still, her blank, hollow eyes staring into the void. Her hands clutched her knees tightly, her posture rigid and unnatural, as if she were frozen in a moment of unimaginable horror.

"What the hell…" Morrigan muttered, her grip on the first rabbit loosening slightly as she stared at the second. "What happened to her?"

"She's broken," Vinum said, her voice low and grim. "Something shattered her mind. She's not coming back from that."

Mayu's hands twitched with unease. "There's no way Senpai would…" she began but quickly shut herself up. 

Alma Elma stepped forward, her usual playful demeanor absent as she approached the catatonic rabbit. She crouched down, her crimson eyes studying the girl's frozen expression. "Hey," she said softly, her voice gentle but firm. "Can you hear me? We're here to help."

The rabbit didn't respond. Her hollow eyes remained fixed on nothing, her body rigid and unyielding. It was as if her soul had been ripped away, leaving only a shell behind.

"She's gone," Succubus-chan said, her voice tinged with sadness. "Whatever happened here, it broke her completely."

The first rabbit let out another whimper, her trembling intensifying as she clutched her hat tighter. "P-Please… don't let him find me…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He's coming… He's coming…"

"She's too far gone," Astaroth said, her tone somber. "We're not going to get anything useful out of her."

"Everyone," Vinum suddenly took the initiative. "We need to find the boy as quickly as possible. Alma Elma," she turned to the queen of succubi with a knowing look. "I can only hope he will listen to you as you are the most trusted within us."

Alma Elma's crimson eyes flickered with a rare seriousness as she nodded. "I'll do what I can. But if Luka's as far gone as it seems, even I might not be enough to reach him."

"We'll back you up," Succubus-chan pumped her fist. "Right, everyone?"

"You're surprisingly cheerful," Lilith smiled. "But yes. Luka might be understandably angry right now, but that doesn't mean he will kill anything he finds. We might be able to calm him down."

"Alright everyone," Morrigan announced. "Let's go!"

In Saki's castle, on the highest floor, Ntwali and Saki stood side by side, their eyes fixed on Nina. The scientist girl lay still on the ornate bed, her breathing shallow but steady. In the meantime, Ntwali began reading whatever he found on Saki's bookshelf, his face contorting everytime he found some strange stuff.

Saki sat beside Nina, her hand gripping hers tightly to give life force if needed. Her skin was recovering slowly, but it still needed time to regenerate fully. 

However, it had been a few minutes since she first felt some kind of unease deep in her chest. She tossed it aside all this time but now—

—A sharp pain took over her abdomen. 

"Kuh!" she grunted, clutching it tightly.

"Saki?" Ntwali's head looked up from his book and he stood up. "Is something wrong?"

Saki's breath hitched as she doubled over, her hand clutching her abdomen tightly. The pain was sharp and sudden, like a blade twisting in her gut. Blood began to trickle down as a red mark appeared on her side.

"Saki?!" Ntwali rushed to her side. "What's wrong? You're hurt!"

Saki shook her head, her jaw clenched as she fought through the pain. "No… it's not me," she managed to say, her voice strained. "It's… Luka."

"Luka? What about him? Did something happen?"

Saki didn't answer immediately. Her hand tightened around Nina's, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the sudden, overwhelming sensation. That kind of physical pain, she never felt something like this before. 

Because of her contract with Luka, they were both bonded by a red mark which, most of the time, was invisible. That contract was a bond far deeper than a mere Geass or deal, it was, in human terms, a bond for life. 

Emotions, life, everything was shared between them, though the contract had been modified to dull these sensations to a minimum. 

"He's… in trouble," Saki said finally, her voice low and urgent. "Something's wrong. I can feel it."

The pain wasn't just physical—it burned, a relentless flame consuming reason, drowning every other emotion in rage and grief. 

"I need to go…" She clutched her side tighter, blood staining her fingers as she summoned a portal, its edges flaring with unstable light. "This is bad. He's… he's going mad."

"Has he become aware of the Hatman?"

"I don't know," Saki's breath hitched. "But I must find out now."

The portal flared, a jagged rift of violet and shadow, and Saki staggered through, Ntwali close behind. The dreamscape swallowed them, spitting them onto slick black stone veined with glowing pink. The air was thick, heavy with Ayumu's floral reek, the sky above a churning swirl of violet and red. Saki's knees buckled as another wave of Luka's pain lanced through her, the red mark blazing in sync with his torment.

"Saki, hold on," Ntwali said, steadying her with a firm grip. "Where is he?"

She forced herself upright, senses straining through the bond. "Close," she muttered, voice taut. "We need to find him fast."

A trail. A trail of blood and flames that couldn't be stopped no matter what, no matter who. 

A flame, burning hotter than anything, carving its path toward the forbidden pleasure of vengeance.

He took a step. Then another. His gun roared to life once more, reducing a Drifter to minced meat on the wall.

Of course, no matter how many times he killed them, they came back. 

Of course, it didn't matter to him. 

"Where is she?" he asked, his barrel aimed at the newly formed body of the Dryad.

She tried to escape, to use her vines to trap him, to call for help, to plead for mercy. But nothing worked. She was asked the same question, over and over, as if she knew the answer. 

The Dryad's vines withered under the heat of his glare, her pleas dissolving into a whimper as the shotgun's manastone pulsed crimson. Another blast—her form shredded again, only to reform, trembling, useless. Luka's boots crunched over the slick stone, leaving bloody prints. 

"Okay, I was saying nothing until now," suddenly a despicable voice echoed behind him. "But you should stop."

His whole body snapped in one go, turning around and pulling the trigger with a rare ferocity. Ayumu dodged the incoming bullets with ease, her grip tightened around the boy. 

"Hey! You wouldn't want to kill the kid, right?" she shot back. 

"M-Mommy… I'm scared!" The boy's small arms wrapped around her legs, tears glistening in his wide eyes as he pressed into her.

"You're making a mess, you know," Ayumu chided, her scolding gaze dripping with condescension. "Scaring everyone here—huh?"

In a heartbeat, Luka lunged, closing the gap with predatory speed. His hand shot out, fingers clamping onto her face. The kid was a distraction—irrelevant. His grip tightened, digits digging into the edges of her skull as he slammed her against the pulsing wall, the stone rippling like flesh under the impact.

Ayumu's head cracked against the wall, a dull thud echoing as her grin faltered, red eyes flaring with surprise. "Oh, you're fun when you're mad," she rasped, voice strained but taunting, her hands tightening on his wrist. The boy stumbled back, a choked sob escaping as he hit the floor, curling into himself.

Luka's arm ignited, a faint, menacing glow spreading from the red mark. He shifted his grip, forcing her face toward the wall, her cheek pressed against its undulating surface.

"How's your pain tolerance?" he murmured. With brutal force, he yanked her downward, grinding her face against the stone like a fruit crushed on a slab. Skin tore, a wet scrape as flesh peeled away, blood streaking the wall in a grisly trail. He pressed harder, relentless, as Ayumu's arms flailed, hands raking at him in frantic desperation.

He didn't stop. Down and down, until her face was a ruined mask—bone scraped bare, blood pooling beneath. With a final shove, he hurled her to the ground, her body crumpling in a heap. A sharp click —the shotgun snapped up, barrel aimed at her head. He pulled the trigger. The blast roared, her skull exploding in a spray of crimson and gore, splattering the soil with wet, dark clots.

Her form shimmered, reforming instantly a few feet away, whole and unmarred. Ayumu's hands flew to her face, fingers brushing smooth skin as she blinked, dazed. "Huh? Back here?" Her red eyes flicked up, meeting Luka's icy stare.

Realization dawned on her. With a flick of her wrist, she grabbed a fistful of dirt and flung it at his face before opening a portal to flee from there. The portal showed a blue light, like filtered with water. She dove through, her mocking laugh echoing as the rift snapped shut.

Ayumu plunged into a vast swimming pool, water enveloping her in a cool, weightless embrace. Bubbles trailed from her lips, yet her voice carried clear as if the liquid were air.

Her eyes caught a figure—a blue-haired girl in a one-piece swimsuit, gliding through the water with a serene smile. Ayumu swam closer, flashing a playful wink.

"Hey there Yukari!" she greeted the girl with a smile.

"Hm? Ayumu? Yukari paused, treading water as her smile faltered into curiosity. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm getting chased by the guy we're supposed to look after," Ayumu sighed. "So I'm hiding here for a while, is that okay?"

Yukari tilted her head, brow furrowing as she swam a lazy circle around Ayumu. "What did you do? We were told to—"

A sharp crack split the water, the rift tearing open again. Luka's form plunged through, crashing into the pool with a violent splash, his eyes blazing as they locked onto Ayumu, unwavering even through the rippling blue.

"Wait, how did he do that?" Ayumu's eyes widened in terror for the first time. 

"Looks like he followed you," Yukari—the siren—sighed, her voice resigned as she glanced at Luka's advancing form. "I'll talk to him."

"Sure," Ayumu muttered, darting behind her friend as Yukari swam toward Luka.

But she didn't even have the time to open her mouth a Luka's shotgun shot another blast, this time of pure plasma. This mode consumed more energy, but it was needed.

This water was a hindrance.

The plasma evaporated the water around it in an instant, and Luka followed by activating a talisman from his brown jacket. 

A blinding flash seared through the pool. 

And both of the succubi's feet touched the ground, the water around them turned to steam, hydrogen and oxygen gas.

The pool was gone, replaced by a scorched crater of cracked tiles and billowing steam. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning ozone, the once-serene underwater world now a desolate wasteland. Luka stood at the center of it all, his shotgun glowing faintly as the manastone cooled, his expression unreadable beneath the haze of steam.

Yukari coughed, her blue hair plastered to her face as she stumbled back, her one-piece swimsuit now damp and clinging to her skin. Her serene demeanor was shattered, replaced by wide-eyed shock as she stared at Luka. "What the hell just happened?" she stammered, her voice trembling in confusion.

"Scorched earth," his voice answered, a blinding flash ignited by two other talisman. 

One to protect himself.The other to ignite the surrounding oxygen gas.

Both of the succubi couldn't react as the old swimming pool turned into a giant ball of fire, an explosion that shook the very fondations of the dreamlands. When it was over, there was nothing left but a searing hot black ground, smoke belowing from it. 

Luka walked up to the newly formed bodies of the succubi, the red mark on his arm the only thing visible through the smoke from their position. 

"Okay, Ayumu…" Yukari rasped, coughing as smoke seared her lungs, her eyes watering.

"I don't know what you did. But care to explain?! He's not supposed to be this—unhinged!"

Ayumu stood up, her eyes stinging from the smoke. "I… I might've messed up," she admitted. "How is he capable of hurting us? Or even this place?"

"We need to meet Mutsuki and Yui," Yukari clicked her tongue. "Pres might be able to find a way to lose him."

"Okay!" Ayumu pumped a fist, forcing a grin—until Luka's shotgun roared again, the blast tearing through the air from a distance. Her upper body exploded in a spray of blood and bone. Her lower half collapsed, twitching, as Yukari shrieked and threw herself aside.

Ayumu's remains shimmered, reforming a few feet away, her breath hitching as she clutched her chest, whole once more but rattled. "He has good aim too. And it hurts a lot!" she spat, her red eyes darting to Luka as he advanced, shotgun still glowing faintly through the haze.

Yukari scrambled up, her composure unraveling as she glared at Ayumu. With a sharp snap of her fingers, she tore open a new portal—its edges jagged, revealing a glimpse of a classroom beyond. "Move!" she barked, shoving Ayumu toward it. They leapt through as Luka's shotgun thundered again, the blast grazing the rift's edge by inches, searing the air as it snapped shut.

Ayumu and Yukari tumbled into the classroom, landing hard on polished wood floors. The air was still, heavy with the scent of chalk and old books, a stark contrast to the smoldering crater they'd fled. Desks lined the room in neat rows, a chalkboard looming at the front, scribbled with cryptic symbols. Ayumu coughed, brushing soot from her arms as she staggered to her feet, her grin shaky but defiant.

"That was close," she muttered, glancing at Yukari. "I thought he would kill me again."

Yukari rose, her blue hair dripping as she steadied herself against a desk, her glare sharp. "You tell me! What did you do to him? He's tearing through the dreamlands like a damn storm!"

"I mean…" Ayumu scratched her cheek. "I might have eaten his friend up. But he was so cute, I couldn't resist…" she tried to justify it with a dreamy sigh.

Yukari's jaw dropped, her glare morphing into incredulous fury. "You ate his friend?" she hissed, slamming a hand on the desk, the wood creaking under her grip. "No wonder he's a walking disaster! We both know he is dangerous!"

A sharp tap-tap cut through the tension—a ruler striking the chalkboard, commanding attention. A green-haired girl stood at the front, her stern gaze piercing through glinting glasses. She wore a black school uniform, a red ribbon stark against her neck, her ponytail swaying faintly as she frowned. "No shouting in class," she said, her voice cold and authoritative. "What are you two doing here? Ayumu, weren't you gathering intel? Yukari, how's the prep going?"

"Well, you see—" Yukari started, but a piercing crack interrupted her, echoing through the room. They whipped around, eyes widening as Luka's hands emerged from a tiny rift where the portal had closed—fingers tightening around its edges. In a heartbeat, those hands tore it open wider, the jagged hole splitting with a guttural rip. The succubi jumped, startled, as Luka's form loomed through the breach. "That! That's our problem!" Yukari jabbed a finger at the man stepping out,

Luka emerged, smoke curling off his brown jacket, his red mark pulsing like a live coal. Without pause, he surged toward Ayumu, shotgun roaring as bullets tore through the air. She ducked, the shots shredding a desk behind her into splinters, papers fluttering like ash.

"That's strange, humans aren't supposed to own the place," The school president said with a frown. She put down her ruler and transformed her nails into sharp claws, a cat tail sprouting on her back. "Is that the guy we're supposed to watch?"

"Stand back," he replied, his other gun pointed at her. 

"You'll stand back," Mutsuki smirked, her tone dripping with feline menace. She leapt at him like a panther, claws flashing as she closed the distance in a blur.

Mutsuki's claws slashed through the air, a razor-sharp arc aimed at his hand. He twisted aside, the tips grazing his jacket as he fired the pistol—sending a bullet skimming past her ear. She landed in a crouch, tail lashing, her smirk showing fangs as she sprang again toward his chest.

Luka ducked, his shotgun swinging up in a brutal arc, the stock slamming on her chin. Mutsuki's eyes rolled, and she tumbled across a desk. With a swift pivot, he fired again, the bullet tearing through her leg in a spray of blood. She crumpled, a hiss of pain escaping her gritted teeth.

Yukari shot her hands up in the air as soon as the barrel turned to her. "Hey! Listen to me!" But she only received a shot to her side, making her stumble on the ground. 

"Stay still," Luka whispered, his voice a chilling murmur as he turned toward Ayumu, eyes narrowing to icy slits.

Ayumu shrank back, her shaky bravado evaporating as she pressed herself against the chalkboard. "Okay, okay—let's talk!" she yelped, hands raised, her red eyes darting between Luka and the fallen Yukari. "No need to blow me up again!"

But as Luka raised the shotgun, its barrel inches from her face, a giggle bubbled up behind him. "Hehe, caught you!" A young girl with short, fluffy pink hair tied with a ribbon latched onto him from behind, her arms wrapping around his chest. Her golden eyes gleamed with mischief as a wispy tail coiled around his left leg, tightening like a vine. Another version of her materialized in front, a mirror image with the same impish grin, shoving him just enough to throw him off balance. He stumbled, crashing to the floor with a grunt.

"Yui!" Ayumu cried out, relief flooding her voice as she sagged against the chalkboard. "Thank you so much!"

Luka hit the ground hard, the shotgun clattering from his grip as Yui's twin forms giggled in unison, their voices a high-pitched echo that grated against the classroom's tension. The Yui behind him tightened her hold, her wispy tail constricting his leg like a serpent, while the one in front danced back, clapping her hands with gleeful delight. "Hey mister! This isn't good to be so violent!" she giggled.

Luka's jaw tightened, his red mark flaring brighter as he struggled against Yui's grip. His hands clawed at the tail coiled around his leg, fingers digging in as he yanked—once, twice, then with a vicious tug. It snapped free with a pop , drawing a sharp yelp from the rear Yui. His elbow shot back, slamming into her midsection—once, twice, three times—each blow a dull thud that forced a gasp from her lips. Her arms loosened, and he tore free, rolling to his knees as she stumbled back, clutching her stomach.

Luka surged to his feet, snatching the shotgun from the floor with a fluid motion, the manastone pulsing crimson as he leveled it at the front Yui. He pulled the trigger, blowing her up in an instant. 

Without a second's pause, he charged Ayumu, his hand clamping onto her face with crushing force. His elbow drove into the wall beside her, a brutal strike that shattered through plaster and stone with inhuman strength, the chalkboard cracking as debris rained down.

Ayumu's yelp was muffled under Luka's iron grip, her red eyes wide with panic as plaster dust clouded the air, the jagged hole in the wall exposing twisted beams and flickering dreamscape energy beyond. His fingers dug into her cheeks, pinning her as the shotgun pressed against her side. Blood dripped from his arm, the red mark blazing like a molten beacon, staining the floor beneath them.

The remaining Yui—the one he'd elbowed—staggered to her feet, her giggle replaced by a pained wheeze as she clutched her midsection. "Damn he is strong," she whined. "Hey! Stop it!" 

Luka's pistol whipped up—a sharp crack sent a bullet grazing her shoulder, forcing her back with a yelp as she stumbled into a desk.

Then, Luka pulled the shotgun's trigger, the blast roaring as it tore Ayumu's leg apart in a spray of blood and shredded muscle. She screamed, a raw, guttural cry of agony, her eyes flickering down to the mangled stump below her knee, crimson pooling beneath her. Luka released her face, letting her slump against the broken wall, and leveled the shotgun at her forehead. His entire body stood poised—unbreathing, unblinking—a statue of lethal intent as a deafening silence stretched on, broken only by Ayumu's ragged whimpers.

Ayumu's breaths came in shallow, panicked gasps, her hands clawing at the floor as blood seeped from her ruined leg, staining the polished wood a dark, glistening red.

"Oh no you don't!" Mutsuki snarled, her fingers snapping. As if the world around her was for hers to command, the classroom shifted, and Luka fell down a newly formed trapdoor. 

The mirror at the back end of the classroom flickered, revealing a vision of another place, a desk with a chair surrounded by nothing but the void beside a mirror in front of him, showing his reflection.

Luka stood there for a second, confused as he looked around, his hand gripping the shotgun tightly.

Suddenly, the air before him shimmered, and Mutsuki's form materialized—towering, colossal, her presence filling the void. She loomed as a giant, her school uniform stretched taut over her massive frame, her cat tail now a whip-like leviathan swaying behind her. Her eyes—cold, unyielding—stared down at him with an icy glare, glinting through her glasses like twin shards of frost. "You're stubborn, aren't you?" she pouted, her voice a deep, resonant rumble that vibrated through the dark, laced with mockery. "You can't kill any of us—how about you stay still for a second and cool that hot head of yours?"

Luka didn't hesitate. The moment Mutsuki's towering form materialized before him, he raised the shotgun and fired.

The bullets tore through the air, the crimson-tinged mana dispersing in a violent shockwave—

But it hit nothing, as if the void swallowed it. 

Mutsuki smirked.

"See?" she hummed, resting her massive chin against her knuckles, her other hand idly waving through the air. "If you're too much of a problem, I'll eat you."

"Give me Ayumu and I will leave this place," he shot back, his gun lowering. 

Mutsuki's expression hardened. "Sorry, but I can't ." Her words were sharp, final. "We're too far gone anyway. And between you and her, I choose her." She adjusted her glasses, her gaze boring into his. "You? You're nothing but a pathetic afterthought."

Luka exhaled slowly, slipping a hand into his inner pocket.

"Your choice," he said simply. "Don't come crying after."

He pulled out a talisman from within, and as it activated…

The void shook. 

The mark on his arm pulsed brighter, the pain flaring so much it could turn him mad. 

The reflection in the mirror flickered, distorting, before a jagged web of fractures spread across its surface.

Mutsuki's smirk wavered. "What—?"

"I'm just a pathetic afterthought, true. But I'm tied to the lord of dreams. Your cheap tricks don't work on me," he finally said, the void around him turning white, swallowing Mutsuki and him along with it. 

In a flash, he found himself back in the classroom, in front of the cracked mirror and a confused Mutsuki.

"You can control this place too—?" she didn't have the time to finish when Luka's fist slammed into her jaw like a hammer. 

The impact sent her flying through the classroom door, shattering it into splinters as she crashed into the hallway beyond, sliding to a stop against the lockers with a dull thud .

Mutsuki sprawled against the lockers, blood trickling from her split lip as the metal crumpled behind her, her glasses askew, one lens cracked. Her tail lashed weakly, a faint hiss escaping her gritted teeth as she glared up at Luka, her icy composure fractured. The hallway stretched dark and silent beyond, its walls flickering with faint dreamscape energy, disrupted by the talisman's surge.

The lights flickered, the floor flickered, the whole space around him flickered. It was as if his mere presence alone was disrupting the dreamlands themselves.

His red mark grew darker, the pain turning up a notch. But he didn't care. 

He looked around the classroom, only to see that everyone already fled the place. 

Mutsuki wiped her lip, spitting a thin line of blood onto the floor. She adjusted her cracked glasses with a trembling hand. "Tch…" She exhaled sharply, dragging herself up. "You're annoying…"

Luka stepped forward, shotgun still gripped in his hand. "Where did they go?"

She scoffed, rolling her jaw with a wince. "Why should I tell you?"

Luka's gaze was cold. "Because if you don't, I will kill you until you can't think straight anymore."

Mutsuki's eyes narrowed, a grin curling at the corner of her lips. "Hehe... Try me..."

Before she could even react, Luka pulled the trigger.

"Shit, everywhere we go, it's the same damn chaos," Morrigan clicked her tongue, her wings twitching as she surveyed the scene—Drifters cowering in the shadows, their forms trembling, eyes wide with terror from Luka's earlier rampage, the air thick with the acrid scent of fear and blood.

"Wait... is that…?" Succubus-chan lifted her hand, halting the group as she noticed something ahead. "A kid?"

Lilith raised an eyebrow. Her gaze followed Succubus-chan's pointing finger, and her expression shifted with interest. "Oh? What's a cute little boy doing here?"

The others fell silent, staring at the figure ahead—a young kid standing alone with a plush toy in his hand while sobbing uncontrollably. 

Lilith moved swiftly, her wings folding as she knelt beside him, her voice softening to a gentle, coaxing purr. "Hey there, little one—what's wrong?"

"Don't go and snatch him," Mayu remarked with a deadpan expression. "But you're right, who are you kiddo?"

The boy flinched at Lilith's approach, his small body shrinking back as he hugged the plush toy tighter. His eyes darted between the different succubi surrounding him, searching for an escape or a savior. "M-Mommy…" he whimpered. "I want my Mommy…"

Lilith's eyes flashed and she hugged gently the boy. "Shh, it's okay," she murmured in a soothing tone. "We'll help you find her, okay?"

"Is that kid belonging to who I think it is?" Astaroth asked with concern in her voice.

"If that's the case, he went through hell. Especially if he saw Luka's rampage," Vinum sighed. 

"Try not to eat him, big sis. We don't want Luka to go full doomslayer on us," Morrigan remarked with a grin.

"You and your shiny new references," Lilith sighed, rolling her eyes as she held the boy close, her embrace protective yet gentle. "Who do you take me for? He's safe with me."

"Yeah," Alma Elma chimed in, her grin widening as she stepped up beside Lilith, deftly scooping the boy from her arms with a teasing flourish. "I'll take it from here, okay?" She cradled him carefully, her crimson eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and warmth as she adjusted her hold.

The boy—still trembling—clung to Alma Elma as his sobs quieted into soft, hiccupping whimpers. "Mommy…" he mumbled again, his voice barely audible, his tear-streaked face pressing into her shoulder.

Lilith straightened, her wings unfurling slightly as she shot Alma Elma a mock glare. "Don't drop him," she warned, though a faint smile tugged at her lips, softening the reprimand. "He's too fragile for your usual fighting style."

"Relax, I've got him," Alma Elma replied, her grin softening as she adjusted the boy in her arms, her tone gentling. "The poor boy has been through enough."

"So, where is Luka?" Morrigan's hands flared blue. "I swear, he is prioritizing his vengeance over kids like that it's not like him."

At the same moment, on a nearby wall, a door began to form right before it opened. In a rush, they saw three succubi running away. 

"H-Hey," Mayu's eyes widened. "That's them!"

At that moment, a nearby wall shimmered, a door forming from the flickering dreamscape energy—its edges jagged and unstable—before it swung open with a creak. In a blur of motion, three succubi burst through, their frantic footsteps echoing as they fled through the garden now turned into a forest.

The three succubi—Ayumu, Yukari, and Yui—stumbled into view, their breaths ragged, their movements frantic as they darted away. Ayumu limped ahead, her leg hastily reformed but still unsteady, blood streaking her torn outfit as she clutched her side. Yukari followed close behind as she pressed a hand on her wound. Yui trailed last, her fluffy pink hair disheveled, golden eyes wide with fear as she clutched her bleeding shoulder, her wispy tail dragging limply behind her.

"Hey, everyone!" Mayu waved her hand at them, catching their attention. 

The three succubi turned toward her, their pace shifting as they made their way toward the group. "Mayu!" Yukari called out, her voice edged with both relief and urgency.

"Where's Senp—I mean Luka?" Mayu asked quickly, her tone turning serious.

"He's behind!" Ayumu replied, her voice strained. "With the Pres!"

Mayu's brow twitched, and a vein popped on her forehead. "Stop calling her that!" she growled. "We're not students anymore!"

"You're the one who called the guy Senpai just a second ago, though," Yui chimed in.

"That's different!"

Lilith's eyes narrowed, her gentle demeanor hardening as she glanced at the fleeing trio. "So, who's the one responsible for all of this mess?" she asked coldly.

"Yeah! Who dryfished Luka's friend so I can kick her ass?" Morrigan added, her aura turning into blue sparks around her.

"That would be Ayumu," Yukari replied with a sigh, lazily pointing toward her comrade, her voice tinged with frustration.

Vinum, arms folded, let out a heavy sigh. "Normally, I wouldn't care about this kind of thing, but right now? You've really done something incredibly stupid."

"I know, I know—can we stop talking about it?" Ayumu winced, her voice trembling as she shrank under their glares, her hands twitching nervously at her sides.

But the succubi weren't amused, their icy glares all turned toward her. 

"H-Hey, Mayu-chan," Yukari stammered, taking a cautious step back as she glanced at the group. "Your friends are intense."

"They're not my friends," Mayu sighed, her shoulders slumping as she rubbed her temple, exasperation etching her features. "I'm more of a prisoner here—for now."

"Wait, what?" Yui piped up, her golden eyes widening as she straightened despite her pain, a spark of indignation flaring. "Did you just betray us?!"

"Not my fault one of you screwed up the plan!" Mayu snapped, her voice rising as she gestured sharply at the trio.

Ayumu flinched under Mayu's accusation, her blood-streaked hands trembling as she clutched her side, her red eyes darting nervously between her accusers. "It wasn't supposed to go like this!" she protested, her voice cracking with a mix of pain and panic. "I didn't think he'd—he'd lose it this bad!"

"Hey, can I ask you a question real quick?" Alma Elma asked with a cold tone.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Are you sure you're not an idiot? Because even Eva wouldn't be this dumb," she sighed in frustration.

"She is," a voice suddenly interjected from behind the door, making everyone freeze.

The door split open with a groan, and a limp body flew through the opening, bloodied and motionless. It skidded across the floor, coming to a violent stop.

"Mutsuki?!" Mayu took a step back upon seeing the body of the Pres unmoving. Like the others, she was staring into the void, her body barely moving.

Luka stepped out from the shadows of the doorway, his presence dark and imposing. The shotgun was still clutched tightly in his hand, its barrel glinting ominously. His eyes scanned the group of succubi, cold and unfeeling, as if they were nothing more than distractions. He threw the shotgun to the ground, the sound of it hitting the floor echoing through the space.

The screen of his shotgun displayed "0%"

He didn't seem to care about the bloodied bodies on the floor or the succubi surrounding him—his focus was singular, locked on Ayumu.

"Hey, Luka," Succubus-chan was the first to speak, but her voice faltered. She realized, too late, that there were no words to ease the tension in the room, no small talk to diffuse the cold, lethal atmosphere.

Everyone gathered here was a maneater, in one way or another. 

Lilith had seduced and slain countless men in her centuries of existence, offering them pleasures they would never forget—before taking everything they had.

Astaroth and Morrigan were the same, being sisters of Lilith.

Vinum was a succubus who lived for a very long time, she had seen her fair share of prey from the heroes of forgotten epics to the modern men of steel and steam

Succubus-chan was a succubus living in the modern world. Before coming to this world, she never spared any of her victims, even if she was giving them a choice.

Naoe Mayu, once the Hare of the story, now a succubus forged in vengeance, had drained rivals and racers alike, her victories carved in the hollow shells of those who dared challenge her.

Even Alma Elma had a strict policy of finishing off heroes that threatened monster kind in her world, or even people who just outright challenged her to a fight.

None of them had something to say. 

What Ayumu had done, they had done it multiple times already. It wasn't guilt that was preventing them from saying something. They knew more than anyone that it was Luka's right to be this angry.

He made it clear from the beginning. He had given them mercy, given them a house, given them warm meals and comfort.

As long as no one crossed a line.

Ayumu shrank back, her bloodied hands trembling as she clutched her side, her red eyes wide with terror as she stumbled against the wall, plaster dust clinging to her torn outfit. "L-Luka, wait—" she stammered, her voice breaking as panic clawed at her throat. She looked at the others, but they stayed silent. Even Mayu simply sighed, as if expecting this was going to happen. 

However, Alma Elma stood in front of her, her face hardening against Luka's steely gaze.

"Luka, it's time to stop, don't you think?" she said in a steady voice while holding the kid in her arms. "Really, this is not going to work out—"

Bang.

Smoke billowed from Luka's gun, and a faint line of blood trailed Alma Elma's right cheek. She stood there, frozen, her arms instinctively clutching the boy in her arms to protect him. The bullet had missed her vitals by a hair, but the warning was clear—etched in the sting of blood and the cold steel of Luka's stare.

"You have five seconds to get out of my way, queen of succubi." The pistol remained steady in his grip, the red mark on his arm pulsing faintly.

Alma Elma stood rooted, her cheek stinging as blood trickled down in a thin, warm line, her crimson eyes locked on Luka's—unyielding despite the tremor in her wings. The kid's small hands gripped her tighter, his muffled sobs vibrating against her shoulder.

"One," Luka counted, his voice a cold, mechanical toll, the pistol unwavering as his finger hovered over the trigger.

"Luka, you can't kill her, it's useless. We both know that," Alma Elma continued, her tone staying soft despite the situation. 

"Two," his aim turned slightly to the right showing he won't miss the next time.

The succubi tensed, their breaths catching as the countdown pressed on.

"Hey, you're not serious, Luka…" Morrigan muttered in disbelief while slowly summoning a sword in her hand. 

"Don't make us do this, Luka," Astaroth spoke up as well, almost pleading. 

"We will take care of her, just stop," Lilith added.

"Three," but the countdown continued, his body not moving an inch.

Ayumu wasn't moving from Alma Elma's back, her hand still clutched to her side.

"Four." The next number echoed in the room, Luka's expression hardening as his finger slowly, inexorably, moved toward the trigger.

Alma Elma didn't flinch. She didn't speak again, but her silent resolve was louder than any words could have been. 

"Five." The final number echoed like a death knell.

But he didn't shoot. 

His jaw tightened further, his nails digging into the palm of his free hand, the muscles in his arm trembling as if the effort of holding back was more than he could bear. His gun remained raised, but his eyes had lost none of their fury.

"Even if you shoot me, you'll get nothing from this," Alma Elma continued. "Ayumu is a Nightmare. There is nothing that can be done now unless we carry the punishment ourselves."

Luka's fingers trembled around the gun, his finger still hovering over the trigger, but he did not fire.

"You think I don't know that?" Luka's voice cracked slightly, but he quickly swallowed it down. His eyes flicked between Alma Elma, Ayumu, and the others, the walls closing in on him. He seemed to be struggling with the words, as if they weren't his own, as if they didn't make sense anymore.

"I'm tired," he muttered, his resolve returning. "I don't care anymore. Give her or I'll kill everyone here, last warning."

"Just give her to him," Mayu said with a resigned sigh.

Everyone snapped her eyes back to her. Ayumu let out a strangled whimper. "W-What? Mayu?"

Mayu didn't flinch, her gaze cold and distant as she looked at the scene in front of her. "You're the one who did this. You're the one who should be punished. I think it's only fair to let him get his anger out on her, if that's what it takes to make this stop."

Ayumu's eyes widened, her breathing shallow, her grip tightening on her side as if trying to hold herself together. Her lips trembled, caught between the weight of Mayu's words and the impossible position she found herself in.

"Mayu, don't…" Ayumu whispered, her voice barely audible, choked with hurt.

"Do it," Mayu urged, her voice colder than ever. "End this now. Give her to him."

"Luka isn't a killer and vengeance will only make this worse," Alma Elma countered, her gaze never leaving Luka's. "Just stand down."

Luka's eyes flashed with a raw, primal rage as he whirled his aim toward her. "I'm not a killer? What the fuck are you talking about, Alma? You want me to forgive the thing that killed my friend? He was just a random guy! He did nothing wrong to deserve this!"

"We're all killers as well," she countered, her eyes pleading. "You're a hero, you shouldn't—"

Luka's fury exploded. "I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT BEING A HERO! STEP ASIDE, NOW!"

Before anyone could react, another shot rang out. This time, the bullet found its mark. Alma Elma managed to raise her arm in time to shield herself, but the projectile still tore through her flesh, blood blooming across her skin.

"Shit, Luka!" Morrigan surged forward, reaching desperately for him.

"Stand down, Alma Elma!" Astaroth barked, already moving behind him in an effort to restrain the man.

"We'll calm you down by force if we have to," Lilith added, sliding to his left with predatory speed.

In an instant, he was surrounded by the three Lilith Sisters, aiming to incapacitate him.

After everything…

They dare play the righteous card? They dare speak of reason? Of humility and good?

Nah, fuck that.

That fire in his chest had yet to be extinguished. 

All that is fantasy shouldn't exist in the first place. 

They should just…

Ah… My arm hurts so much!

Luka's eyes darted between the sisters, his jaw set in grim defiance. For one long, heart-stopping moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. Using his own life force as fuel, he gritted his teeth and met head-on the blows of the Lilith Sisters.

Then, like a slippery eel, he twisted past them and lunged toward Alma Elma, his hand raised like a claw ready to strike.

Vinum, watching from the sidelines, sighed. 

This was the worst outcome. Luka would end up angry at all of them, and in the end, they might have to subdue him completely.

Some of them might die in the process.

Without another doubt, she flew straight toward Ayumu, knowing what to do to ease the situation.

"Luka, stop!" Alma Elma shouted, launching a roundhouse kick while still cradling the child in her arms.

The young man ducked low, his body nearly brushing the ground as he evaded the strike. His whole body was screaming in pain from the use of his own life force to fuel his movements. Morrigan dove again, her claws slashing empty air as Luka rolled aside, his reflexes honed by desperation. Astaroth's tail lashed out like a whip, aiming to snag his legs, but he vaulted over it, landing hard, his boots skidding on the blood-slick floor.

Lilith, swift and relentless, darted in front of him, dark energy sparking in her palm.

"Enough, Luka!" she snapped, her voice low and lethal. "You're going to kill yourself at this rate!"

"Funny you should say that!" Luka fired back, his lips twisting into a bitter, hate-drenched smirk. "Wasn't long ago you'd have cheered for it!" He feinted left, dodging her crackling strike, then drove his fist into her ribs with every ounce of strength he could summon. It felt like hitting iron—Lilith barely shifted, absorbing the blow with maddening calm.

" Fuck off already! " he roared, frustration erupting as he swung again, this punch sharper, snapping her head to the side with a dull thud . His knuckles throbbed, pain shooting up his arm, but Lilith didn't falter. She stood firm, unshaken, her gaze piercing through him.

Lilith swiped a thin trickle of blood from her lip, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. "Stubborn idiot," she muttered, almost to herself. Then, louder: "You're not unstoppable, Luka."

Before he could snap a retort, movement flickered in his periphery—Vinum, arrowing toward Ayumu with fierce intent. Luka's heart lurched, a fresh surge of fury igniting in his chest. "No!" he bellowed, lunging forward, but Lilith intercepted him like a thunderbolt. She crashed into him, wings flaring as she slammed him to the ground, her claws pinning his shoulders with unyielding force.

But Luka didn't listen—not when everything he cared about hung in the balance. He thrashed beneath her, his life force flaring again, a searing heat tearing through his veins. With a primal yell, he hurled her off, the sheer force of his will sending her skidding across the grass.

Luka staggered to his feet, chest heaving, his vision blurring as the world tilted around him. Every muscle screamed, his body ravaged by the reckless drain of his life force, but he shoved the pain aside. His eyes locked onto Vinum, who had reached Ayumu and now stood before her, wings spread protectively like a guardian's shield.

"Don't you dare save her!" he screamed.

Vinum met his gaze, unflinching. And then, she smirked. "Of course, I won't."

In one swift movement, she grabbed Ayumu's shoulder and shoved her toward Luka. Just as the two were about to collide, Succubus-chan swooped in, grabbing both of them mid-stride.

"Hey, what was that, Vinum?" Morrigan demanded, turning toward the impish succubus with an incredulous frown.

Vinum shrugged nonchalantly. "I give the boy what he wants. If you want him to return to who he once was, let him do it. Besides, it's not like she's going to die anyway."

"Have you seen Mutsuki?" Yukari interjected sharply. "What about the Drifters?"

"Seriously," Mayu sighed, her tone weary. "Do you really think we're at a point where we can afford to care? This is bigger than one succubus's mistake. Luka's out for blood, and if we don't handle this carefully, we're all going to pay for it."

Now in the air, Luka's eyes never left Ayumu, who was now struggling in Succubus-chan's grip, her usual bravado replaced by sheer terror.

"Let me go!" Ayumu shrieked, her voice high-pitched and desperate. "He's going to kill me!"

"You should've thought about that before you decided to play with fire," Succubus-chan replied coldly, her grip tightening. "You brought this on yourself, Ayumu."

With deliberate swiftness, Succubus-chan carried them away from the melee, soaring over tangled trees until they reached a desolate clearing, isolated from the rest of the forest. The clearing was bathed in a pale, eerie light—an unsettling stage for what was about to happen. 

Succubus-chan deposited the both of them on the grass and she gave a wink to Luka. "Have fun~! Also, remember that I was one of the girls who helped you, okay?"

"Shut up and get lost," Luka snapped, not sparing her a glance as his fury simmered.

"Okay, bye!" she chirped, waving cheerily before darting back to join the other succubi.

Now, it was only the two of them.

This time, he would make sure she doesn't use another portal. 

Luka turned to Ayumu, his eyes burning with a volatile mix of rage and grief. She scrambled backward, her hands clawing at the grass, her wings twitching helplessly.

"Stay away from me!" she shrieked, her voice raw with fear.

He advanced slowly, each step deliberate, his boots crunching softly on the dew-laden grass.

Ayumu's back slammed against the rough bark of a tree, and she froze, her chest heaving, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. "Please listen. We are here to help you! I mean for you to help us but—"

Before she could finish, his hand lashed out and gripped her throat with crushing force. Her gasp for air was cut short.

"Help you?" he spat bitterly. "Why the fuck would I help monsters like you?"

"Succubi… The dreams…" she choked out, desperate. "We're… in danger…"

"Are you kidding me?! You ask for help after all that you've done?!" His voice thundered with fury and betrayal. In his eyes, the fragile hope for coexistence had long since burned out. To him, these creatures were nothing but treacherous nightmares.

In a moment of savage clarity, Luka's rage found its focus. His fist came down like a hammer, striking her head with brutal force. Then another blow, and another—each punch a brutal punctuation to his anger, a savage indictment of the trust he'd once foolishly placed in them.

As Ayumu crumpled against the rough bark, blood and tears mingling on her face, the clearing fell silent except for Luka's ragged breathing.

His strength was fading more than he would have liked to, his body growing numb with each passing second. The pain in his arm felt unbearable but it only fueled his anger.

He drew his pistol, the cold steel glinting faintly under the moon, and pressed the barrel to her forehead. Without a flicker of hesitation, he pulled the trigger. The gunshot split the night, a sharp, definitive bang , and Ayumu's body dissolved into a swirling cloud of shadow—only to coalesce moments later, whole and unmarred, standing exactly where she'd fallen.

Her eyes widened, a gasp barely escaping her lips before Luka's fist crashed into her again.

"You don't even get to die," he muttered, his voice low and bitter, laced with disgust. His knuckles were raw and bloodied, but he didn't care. The pain was nothing compared to the fire burning in his chest. "You can only exist because of us, and yet…"

Ayumu's breath hitched, her voice quivering as she forced herself to speak. "Luka, please… I'm sorry. I'll do anything to make this right."

"The only way for you to make it right…" he raised his fist again, his eyes blazing with a fury that seemed to consume everything in its path. "Is to die. Forever."

His fist came down again, slamming into her face with enough force to knock a tooth loose. Ayumu cried out, her body crumpling to the ground as blood spilled from her mouth. She clutched her face, her trembling hands stained crimson, but Luka didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Every blow was a release, a way to exorcise the pain and betrayal that had festered inside him for so long.

But even as he struck her, he knew it was futile. She would always come back. She would always reform, her existence tied to the very fabric of the dreamlands. And that knowledge only fueled his rage further.

It was truly unfair. 

His life—his entire existence—was a cruel joke.

While anyone driven by vengeance could enact it, he on the other hand couldn't do anything. 

But he continued. 

He killed her, over and over, just like those rabbit girls, those Dryads, this cat girl. 

Until his own body would give out, he would keep killing them. 

From afar, a silhouette watching him. Punching relentlessly, in an act of violence that couldn't be matched. 

It was her fault. The goal of Nightmares was to spread pleasure, not pain. And here, she only reaped what she sowed. 

She had ordered them to watch him, from fear of him being the one she feared. The end of pleasure, of dreams, and of Nightmares. 

But he was just a boy, a human, who held much pain and sorrow deep within him. 

Now she understood the words of Fulbeua. Why she wasn't fearing him and declared she would bring him salvation. 

After the portal crisis, she decided to watch over him, to test him, to see if he was truly a possible ally. 

But while she thought seeing a hero, one that could give her the highest of pleasures possible, she found a man with a broken past.

No family. No normal friends. No purpose besides being a tool of justice.

Truly, she hated pain.

And with a resolute stride, she headed toward him.

He lost track of time. What felt like hours—or was it mere minutes?—blurred into an unending storm of violence. Her words had stopped, her cries fading into a haunting silence, yet her body kept reappearing. Punch after punch, gunshot after gunshot, the cycle never ceased.

The trunk of the tree was smeared red, his jacket red, his arms red, his vision red, everything was red.

Eventually, he stopped thinking. He kept hitting and hitting until he felt hollow inside, unable to shake off that fire inside him.

Then, at last, his body couldn't keep up.

He fell to his knees, beneath the ancient distorted tree. The wind whispered through the leaves, the beat of his heart pounding without purpose.

For the first time, he could hear the silence—the absence of words, of cries, of pain. It was a deafening emptiness.

Luka's hands trembled as they dug into the earth, his fingertips slick with blood. He didn't know how long he had been there, kneeling in the dirt, the red haze fading from his vision but leaving an aching emptiness behind. He felt nothing. No anger, no hate, no purpose.

The whole reason why he decided to stay alive was for the people like his friend. For the normal people, those who did nothing wrong, living their life at their own pace.

He couldn't protect him.

"I hate you…" he choked out, tears starting to spill out again. "I hate you. Just go away… Forever…" 

But Ayumu didn't hear him. She had stopped thinking long ago, her mind blank in the face of his endless wrath. Her body lay there, silent and still.

"Truly sad…" a voice behind him took him by surprise, but he didn't have the strength to stand up anymore. 

"It's a sin, truly," the voice continued, indifferent to Luka's fury. "To give pleasure but cause so much pain in the process. It seems she lost her way."

Luka's head snapped up weakly, his body too exhausted to fight. A woman walked past him, her long purple hair cascading down her back like a wave. Her presence felt like a cold breeze cutting through the unbearable heat of the moment.

She touched Ayumu's cheek, and Luka's heart twisted, but he couldn't bring himself to move.

"A Nightmare like you," she muttered, her voice like silk, "should drown people in pleasure. Not in pain."

Her touch left a trail of sparkles, and Luka watched, his chest tight, as Ayumu's body began to disintegrate, transforming into particles of light inch by inch. Each fragment seemed to shimmer and vanish into the air, leaving behind nothing but the emptiness.

Luka's heart lurched, and his gaze snapped to the woman. He knew her—he recognized her.

But his hate was still there. Still raw, still unyielding.

"You..." Luka rasped, struggling to find his voice amidst the emptiness. His vision blurred as the last of Ayumu vanished before him, swallowed by the light.

"Luka…" the woman said softly, her usual smile absent, her gaze far more serious than it had ever been. "You have caused much pain in here as well. But now, I can tell you are not the promised end of pleasure I foresaw."

Luka's breath hitched as he stared at her, the words hanging in the air, sharp and hollow. He couldn't respond immediately—his mind was too fogged, the burning ache of everything he had just unleashed still coursing through him like molten metal. His hands trembled at his sides, stained red, as if the blood itself was still a part of him.

"What do you mean…?" he managed, his voice barely a whisper. It sounded foreign to his own ears, cracked and broken, as if even his body was refusing to keep up with the sheer weight of everything that had happened.

The woman—who he now recognized as the Nightmare, the very essence of his torment—looked at him with a strange mix of pity and something else. Her gaze softened.

"I shall return the life she took," she said, her voice quiet. "Those drowned into eternal sleep shall awaken once more. You can rest, now."

"Huh…?" Luka blinked at her, confused. 

The Nightmare's eyes softened, the faintest hint of sorrow in them, but there was no pity in her gaze now, only something more somber. "I can undo the death she has caused. By returning them here, to this place, this land of dreams. They will live here, as inhabitants of this realm."

"Are you saying…" Luka's voice cracked, the question dying in his throat. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself, to understand. "They won't be gone? They'll be here… in the dreams?"

"In this realm, the dead are not lost. They live on, in another form. They will awaken, not as they were, but as part of this world—this dream."

His heart pounded in his chest. It sounded impossible. It was impossible. And yet, something in the way she spoke, the absolute certainty in her voice, made him want to believe.

"You…" Luka's voice trembled as he spoke, his thoughts too jumbled to form a coherent question. "But… Will they be okay?"

A rare smile touched the Nightmare's lips—small, delicate, but filled with quiet conviction. "I promise," she said, her voice carrying the weight of an oath. "Upon my title and on your dear friend's name."

Luka sucked in a shaky breath, something thick lodging in his throat. His arms threatened to give out, but before he could collapse, warmth enveloped him.

Soft arms wrapped around him in a silent embrace, tender yet firm, as if to hold him together when he felt like falling apart.

Even if he didn't hear her, even if he didn't see her, he knew it was Saki.

"It's over," she whispered, her breath warm against his shoulder, her embrace tightening as if to reassure him that she was real. "Everything will be fine, okay?"

Luka squeezed his eyes shut, his hands clutching onto the presence he couldn't see, afraid that if he let go, she would disappear again. His body shook—not with anger, not with hate—but with something else.

Nostalgia, a quiet promise he had made. 

The reason why he was still standing.

"…Saki," he choked out, his voice barely above a breath.

She didn't answer, only held him tighter. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Luka let himself be held.

Let himself believe.

Let himself grieve.

Let his emotions run free… and live.