Before that city, Ferinish eliminated the Renkai Creatures from its borders with simple movements of her sword. Simple, but they were like a dance. Aurora appeared as she flew, questioning her:
"Are you going to stop slowing down and kill everything, or am I going to have to do it?"
The other answered her with a grunt, spinning her blade and cutting the horizon with flames... without damaging the Inferius.
"Oh..."
"Apparently, you're only able to pierce through ordinary Inferius."
She landed beside it, a large mech falling beside her.
"Ferinish, the situation in this city is more worrying than usual. The portal surrounding NeonyRain is slightly smaller than the Inferius Complex, but it may be more dangerous in the long run. Let's eliminate all the demons inside as soon as possible."
"...Right."
Without hesitation, the two pillars entered that spherical portal.
***
Knock-knock.
An apartment door opened, and a sixteen-year-old girl saw a man slightly taller than her placing his hand on his chest and offering a formal salute.
"I'm sorry to disturb you in this chaotic situation our city finds itself in. I-"
"Who are you?!"
The girl grabbed a broom from her side, preparing to attack the man in front of her.
"Oh, I'm Johnny, a friend of Alice's."
A charming smile fell from her lips, her hand extended. The girl had a look of recognition, lowering the broom and giving a nervous smile.
"Sorry! I'm just very disturbed by the recent events in our city. It makes me suspicious of everything."
Her shoulders relaxed, a certain naiveté in her eyes.
"Alice told me a lot about you; you're someone I can trust. But what happened to her that made her come here?"
"She ended up having a little accident at work, nothing major, but she asked me to take care of Flowey. I'd ask you to rest and stay with your parents."
"Sure, sure. But if you or she needs help, just let me know, okay?"
"No problem, dear. I'll be able to take good care of the little one."
She shook the man's hand, gathering her things, and leaving the apartment with a gentle goodbye. "Johnny" began walking toward Flowey's room.
"You really managed to fool such an innocent young woman, Alice."
The sight of the small girl before his cold gaze seemed to... strike him with an unfamiliar familiarity. The sight of something so... pure and innocent seemed to trigger old memories in the man.
"How could such a small, fragile creature remind me of you?"
***
"Ahhh!"
The delicately dressed woman screamed as she fell into the abyss until she reached a... pillow?
Her gaze revealed an empty room with a dark hallway. From there, a female voice emerged.
"I heard screams, Vector, I heard screams!"
From the darkness, the figure dressed in training clothes appeared, smiling excitedly.
"Look at that princess! Can you fight? I DON'T CARE! LET'S FIGHT NOW!"
Even though she was dizzy, Alice tried to grab her knife, even though it was damaged...
"Ough!"
Feeling her hair being grabbed by a male hand, the woman groaned.
"Fuck, Vector!"
"Shut up."
The male figure, slightly larger than Skyler, appeared. His gaze, his face, everything spoke of a dangerous man.
"You've had contact with our boss, apparently. Sorry about my sister, she likes young people."
"Hey! I'm the one who should apologize if I made a mistake, not you!"
"Then apologize to her, now."
He released her. The woman, feigning embarrassment, clasped her hands together and crouched down.
"Sorry... I didn't mean to scare you."
Confused by so much information, Alice waved her hands in denial.
"No need to apologize, it's okay!"
"... I'll fight you later, stay tuned."
He smiled with a mixture of mischief and playfulness, turning and walking down the hallway. Vector and Alice were left alone, the man speaking first.
"Lucy is a bit complicated, maybe it's my fault or Paul's, but you'll like her when you're alone."
He extended his hand in greeting.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Vector Sybenkiosk. And that's my younger sister, Luciana Morgan."
"I... I'm Alice Larywall."
Her hand tightened on the man's, who was sweaty and shirtless, feeling the strength of his touch, but also the gentleness of it, so as not to hurt her.
"Sorry for the sudden question, but if you and Lucy are siblings, shouldn't you have the same last name?"
"It's a personal matter, not important yet. Well, you must have met Skyler, as I assumed."
"Yes, it wasn't a very pleasant experience."
"He's a master at that."
He let out a soft laugh. Without waiting for her, Vector turned to go into the hallway, simply inviting her.
"Let's go."
She followed him, her fingers rubbing nervously together, her teeth biting her lip until it bled.
"You're very tense, woman. What happened?"
"My daughter... I heard him say he would take care of her himself..."
His hand rested on Alice's shoulder in comfort.
"He will take care of your daughter perfectly well. He may be strange, but he is the most trustworthy person I know."
***
"FUCK YOU, YOU AND PAUL!"
Closing her bedroom door... carefully? Lucy turned toward Alice, her tone becoming quieter.
"You're wearing very delicate clothes, dear. Want me to get you something better?"
Alice's mouth fell open at Luciana's suddenly polite demeanor, but cleared her throat to answer her.
"I wear these clothes to attract... my victims. I definitely don't like them."
"Victims?... well, tell me about that later."
Lucy turned to find clothes more suited to a physique like Alice's. The blonde looked around curiously...
"It's a pretty clean room... for someone like you."
Despite her mumbling, Lucy heard.
"Kind of surprising for the way I am? It's just that on the outside I have to be strong... to protect myself from 'him'."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Paul. He's... terrible."
The atmosphere grew more tense, and Lucy's body, though well-built, began to tremble. Alice stood up and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"What happened?"
"... He could have killed me, abused me, if he hadn't protected me."
She curled up on the floor, hugging herself, tears finally welling up.
The mask of a strong woman was shattered too soon.
Alice remained silent, simply wrapping her arms around her.
"What did Paul do to you? You can tell me, I'm your friend."
With no choice but to trust her neighbor, Luciana surrendered to the embrace, hiding her face in Alice's chest.
"Some time ago, Paul broke free from the chains that bound him and attacked me, trying to tear my clothes. I remember the look in his eyes to this day... desire, pure desire. Vector tried to stop him, but was defeated with a single punch. So I closed my eyes, hoping it would be quick and that I wouldn't feel the pain. But suddenly, Skyler appeared and... I couldn't remember anything anymore, only waking up and feeling his hand on my face, telling me it was okay."
Alice felt a certain familiarity with such events, her hands gently stroking Lucy's hair, whispering in her ear.
"I've been through the same pain, but that time, I wasn't saved. I just remembered how horrible it was to be weak, how horrible it was to feel that pain without end, without rest, and to have no one to trust, to ask for salvation or comfort..."
Alice's lips tighten, like Luciana's, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'll be here to protect you, Lucy. Nothing else will touch you."
"I'll protect you too, Alice. Like a sister should."
"Yes... like two sisters protecting each other from the dangers of this cruel world."
"Forever..."
"Forever..."