Ben shot forward, wings stretched wide,as he prepared to go after Ratchet. However, just as he moved, a massive hammer swung toward him. Nipthal's strike was fast.
Ben twisted mid-air, avoiding the crushing force. Landing smoothly, he locked eyes with Nipthal. He smiled. "You survived?" Ben mused, tilting his head slightly. "I have to admit, I didn't expect that," he added. He did not really care.
Nipthal's expression twisted with rage. "You defeated Captain Simon," he barked as he gripped the controls.
Ben exhaled sharply, barely interested. "Did I?" he asked. He thought it felt like a long time ago. His wings twitched as he turned slightly. "Would love to catch up, but I've got more important things to do," he added.
Nipthal's eyes burned with fury. "You are not going anywhere," he shouted.
His cannon whined, charging up energy until it glowed molten orange. "Sphere Blast," Nipthal said. A blazing sphere tore through the air, leaving a heated trail in its wake.
Ben reacted instantly, dodging the attack. The sphere hit the ground. The sheer force of the explosion sent rocks flying, creating a deep crater beneath them.
Before Nipthal could fire again, Mikita jumped in. Her body shifted, the density of her right hand multiplying in an instant. "Meteor Fist," she said. With a force akin to a falling star, Mikita swung her fist, connecting with Nipthal`s side armor. The impact was explosive, generating a shockwave that rippled through its reinforced plating, sending vibrations through its metallic core. A loud crack splintered across its body, the force sending it skidding backward.
Mikita rolled her shoulders. "Ben, I've got this," she said.
"Okay, keep close and give him hell," Ben said.
"Go beat him," Zala added.
Ben and the girls moved forward. "Moonwalk," Alpha said as she kicked and went towards the Love Pirates. "Storm Leg," Alpha said as she kicked at high speed and strength which launched a sharp compressed blade of wind towards Ben. Ben saw it last minute and tried to move but got clipped and hit the ground.
"Ben," Vivi shouted.
"Vice Captain Ben and Captain Alvida, we finally met," Alpha said as she bounced in the air.
"You hurt my love," Alvida said.
"I am okay," Ben said as he got up. "Alpha, the younger sister of Kalifa, how are you?" he asked.
"I will be better once you are gone," Alpha replied.
"You are mean," Ben said.
"We can talk more once you are all captured," Alpha declared. "And this turtle," she added with a smirk.
"Why do you want Shimagame?" Vivi demanded.
"It will be an asset to the World Government," Alpha replied coolly.
"Shimagame belongs to no one," Vivi shot back.
Robin folded her arms. "It's typical of the World Government to claim what isn't theirs," she said. She thought back to her home land.
"Capture them all," Alpha ordered as she bounced in the air.
At that moment, a Cipher Pol ship docked on the island. Its drawbridge lowered, and agents poured out, swords gleaming and guns at the ready. The first shots rang out.
"There are about 800 Cipher Agents," Kalifa observed, analyzing their numbers.
"800 or 8000, it makes no difference, we'll take them all," Alvida said, gripping Seraphina.
"She's right," Ben agreed as he looked at Alpha. He saw potential in her, but first, he had to deal with Ratchet. Ben raised a hand as he gathered his energy. The demon power formed to create a whip. "Demon Abyssal Whip," he said. A crackling whip of pure demon energy burst forth, lashing through a dozen Cipher Agents. They flew back, crashing into the ground in heaps.
Zala transformed. Her body elongated. Her flesh darkened, hardening into rough, scaly armor. Her arms shrank slightly, tipped with razor-sharp claws. Her legs bulked up, her feet growing large and powerful, ending in wicked talons. Her head morphed, stretching into a long, ferocious snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. Two small horns jutted from above her eyes. Zala stood tall as a Carnotaurus, her massive tail swaying behind her.
"She transformed!" a Cipher Agent shouted in alarm.
With a swift movement, Zala whipped her tail, sending a group of agents hurtling into the air before they crashed to the ground. Their hats lay scattered across the battlefield.
"Fire," another Cipher Agent commanded. Gunshots erupted.
Alvida reacted instantly, swinging her mace to deflect the bullets. She lunged forward, smashing one agent in the face before twisting and delivering another strike to the stomach. She kicked a third enemy aside, then followed with a powerful uppercut, sending her mace crashing into a fourth agent's jaw. She leaped into the air, bringing her weapon down on another Cipher Agent's head, sending him sprawling.
Kaya in her hybrid form took to the sky. "Angel Volley," Kaya said as she formed white orbs around her wings. They were small but grew in size to a tennis ball. They had a white glow. Kaya looked at the Cipher Agents and fired a barrage of angelic energy orbs that went towards them. The orbs went towards the agents and hit them on the face, chest and leg. There was a small explosion and they were sent flying back. They hit the ground.
The battlefield erupted into chaos as Alpha streaked through the sky, her eyes locked onto Kaya, her body twisting mid-air for a fierce downward kick. However, just as she swung her leg, Kalifa intercepted, launching herself into the air with perfect timing. Their kicks collided, the force of the clash sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Kaya exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Kalifa," she said.
Kalifa didn't take her eyes off her sister. "Go, I'll handle her," she said.
Kaya nodded and flew forward, leaving the two siblings to face each other.
Alpha's expression darkened. "You've made your choice," she said coldly. "And it's the wrong one," she added.
"We'll see about that," Kalifa responded.
Meanwhile, Raki unleashed her transformation, feathers sprouting from her skin as her body stretched taller. Her hands shifted into large wings, her legs sharpened into a crow's talons, and her head took the shape of a rooster, with a long, sinuous tail trailing behind her.She had become a two-legged dragon, a mythic terror.
She looked at the Cipher Agents. "Petrifying Gaze," she said. The moment their eyes met stone overtook their bodies, creeping from their feet upward like cursed vines. The agents froze, their forms hardening instantly, transforming them into statues before they could even react.
Raki looked around and thought there were many left.
Vivi raised her sword, the blade glowing deep purple, pulsing with an ominous energy. "Neo Beam," she said as a dark projection of energy blasted forth, hitting a group of Cipher Agents with crushing force. They were sent flying, their bodies slamming into the ground.
A single Agent rushed toward Vivi with a sword in hand. He swung wildly, aiming for her head.
Vivi dodged with ease, before countering with a slash across his chest. The blow was clean, cutting straight through him. He collapsed to the ground.
Saphir spun her spear. "Bleu Formidable," Saphir said as she lunged forward, unleashing rapid strikes. The Cipher Agents had no time to react, her spear stabbed through multiple opponents, their bodies jerking backward, the sheer force knocking them off their feet. They all collapsed to the ground. They were leaking blood.
"There seems to be no end to them," Saphir said.
"We need to keep pushing through," Alvida added as she swung Seraphina and hit another Cipher agent in the face. Her mace was covered in blood.
Vivi looked at Shimagame. "She is hurting," Vivi remarked.
Maya tightened her grip on her sword, feeling the energy build within its core. "Hex's Blast," said as released a concentrated, red light intensifying, glowing brighter as the blade drew energy directly. With a final pull of power, she swung the sword downward, firing a crimson beam at a cluster of Cipher Agents. The blast ripped through the air, hitting multiple enemies simultaneously, the force triggering a massive explosion that engulfed them in a destruction.
Nojiko lifted her hand. "Lightning Blast," she said as a small storm cloud formed in her palm. In a flash, she released the bolt, sending a powerful chain-strike across the battlefield. The lightning jumped from agent to agent, electrocuting them in rapid succession. Their bodies shuddered violently, their weapons falling from their hands as they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Marianne saw several agents charging towards her. "Yellow-Green of Friendship," Marianne added, her brush mixing green and yellow colours into a harmonious blend. She threw the paint at the Cipher Agents. The paint landed on their bodies. The agents hesitated. Their once aggressive movements slowed, their grips loosening on their weapons. Their postures changed, confusion flickering across their faces like puppets momentarily unstrung.
Instead of attacking, they approached Marianne, but there was no hostility in their steps.
One of the Cipher Agents blinked, shaking his head as if breaking free from fog. "What… why am I moving forward?" he asked.
Another Cipher Agent raised his rifle but didn't fire. "I'm supposed to shoot her, right? But…?" he muttered.
Their confusion deepened, spreading among them like an unseen force. One agent turned toward another. "Hold on—why are you standing next to me?" he asked.
One Cipher Agent, fired but not at Marianne. His shot hit the agent next to him, the bullet grazing his shoulder. The injured agent turned back, eyes wild. "You shot me?! You traitor," he shouted in pain.
"It was an accident! I don't even know what I'm doing," the agent said.
A chain reaction erupted as Cipher Agents started firing at each other. Some ducked, trying to regain control, others fought back with wild shots. Marianne watched. It was chaotic and smiled.
At that moment, Pau Ra Pa soared through the air, her cannon charging. It was glowing.
Then a beam shot forward, slicing through the battlefield with scorching force. It collided with several Cipher Pol Agents, triggering an explosive impact. The Cipher Pol Agents were blasted backwards, tumbling through the air before hitting the ground hard.
Marianne turned, eyes lighting up. "Pau," she said.
Beside Pau Ra Pa, another figure came. "Burn Bazooka," Rose General said as she spawned a Burn Bazooka and shot it at the Cipher Agents. The shell hit the ground in front of them. There was a loud explosion and the man went flying into the air and hit the ground.
Ben looked at the weapon. "Rose General…" he muttered. He knew that was Wyper's weapon, but seeing it used now meant something else was at play. He thought she could get the abilities of the other Generals.
Marianne took the lead, "Ben, everyone, Pau, Ra Pa, and Rose General will hold them off with me." she said.
"Are you sure? There are a lot of them," Kaya said as she looked around.
"I am," Marianne responded.
"Alright," Ben said. He smiled at Marianne.
"Be careful, Marianne," Robin said.
The crew charged ahead.