"Isn't that the Ripper? Why the hell is he with her?!"
Marcel's shout snapped everyone's attention.
Jackson and Rebekah froze in shock.
Lyon and Bash stood motionless, eyes sharp, not daring to make a reckless move.
Behind Alfie, Lucy moved swiftly—her expression unreadable. From her storage ring, she pulled out a sealing scroll, identical to the one she had once used to sever Alfie's Renshi link by disconnecting his five senses.
The air thickened.
The aura grew wilder.
Alfie's screams tore through the silence.
Without hesitation, Lucy ripped Alfie's shirt apart, exposing the first Renshi seal already burned into his back. She opened the new scroll and pressed her fingers to its inked spell pattern. Concentrating her Renshi into her fingertips, she aligned them with the glowing tattoos on Alfie's back.
A circular array of symbols flared. The scroll's spell leapt from paper to flesh, merging with the first seal.
The violent aura began to weaken—then vanished completely.
Alfie collapsed unconscious.
"ALFIE!" Rebekah rushed to his side, falling beside him. Jackson and Marcel followed, their faces tight with concern.
---
Lyon's voice cut into Lucy's head through telepathy.
"Hey woman… you mind explaining why you're still keeping that monster with you?"
Lucy flinched.
"Ayy! Don't scare me like that— I'm not used to this telepathy stuff yet!" she shouted aloud, making everyone turn toward her.
Her words stumbled. "It's not… I mean… I just—huhhh…" She searched for an excuse.
Meanwhile, Rebekah shook Alfie, her voice breaking.
"Alfie! Hey, Alfie, get hold of yourself!"
Bash's calm voice entered Lyon's mind.
"I don't know what this woman is planning, but it's not a good idea…"
Lucy's tone shifted—serious, commanding. Her voice carried into their minds.
"Listen, both of you. I have my reasons for every action. Killing the two of you earlier wouldn't have been hard. But Sasaki? He's different. He's human, yet he devours darkside spirits and gains their Renshi. That's not normal. He was born with something greater, and I intend to unlock it."
Silence followed.
Lyon finally replied, his pride lacing every word.
"You're powerful, I won't deny that. But killing me and Sasaki together? You're brave to say it aloud. Don't underestimate me brat."
Lucy smirked.
Brat ? In terms of age, I'm older than your bloodline itself. The first to create the tentacle bloodline was just a junior to me. I'm no ordinary woman. I was once a powerful Shinra. Choose your words carefully."
Lyon froze.
(What… no way. One of those legends? Impossible… but her transformation back in Guhan—damn it, it makes sense. How did we end up tangled with someone this dangerous?)
Bash exhaled slowly, his voice steady in Lyon's head.
"Don't think too hard, buddy. I figured it out earlier. That oppressive aura? It was too much. I couldn't abandon Jack and Marcel, so I played along."
"How did you figure it out?" Lyon asked sharply.
Bash chuckled.
"Idiot. Don't forget my bloodline ability—Ultra Scan. Back in Guhan, I wasn't a combat Shinra, but I trained myself anyway. At first, I could only scan Shinras weaker than me. I was mocked for it. But I pushed, cultivated, refined it… and now, I can scan anyone. Shinra or darkside spirit, no matter how strong."
His tone hardened.
"When we teleported here, the first aura my scan locked onto was hers. Compared to me, her Renshi was ten thousand times greater. The strongest Shinra I've scanned before was only a thousand times stronger—and he belonged to some organization called The Avengers. Bad news. But her? She's on another level entirely."
Lyon's chest tightened.
"T-ten thousand… Bash, you've grown beyond recognition. I'm proud of you. If that's the case, then… from here on, we work with her we can't afford to offend her."
---
Lucy knelt beside Alfie. With no hesitation, she slapped him hard across the cheek.
"Get up, you idiot. This isn't the time to sleep."
Alfie shot up, startled, screaming.
"I just fell asleep, Master Lu! You shouldn't wake me up like that!" He yawned, rubbing his eyes.
Rebekah's relief turned to fury. She punched him across the face.
"Don't scare me like that, fool!"
Alfie hit the ground again, clutching his cheek.
"I—I'm sorry!" he stammered, scrambling up.
Lucy folded her arms, her gaze sweeping the group.
"Alright. Enough playing around. Now…" Her eyes narrowed.
"…what's going to be the fate of all of us?"