Firing dual handguns, I target Moroaică torsos, not heads. Each hit staggers them, shattering chests until they collapse.
"Instinct worked," I say.
"Wow, Ethan, who are you?" Eveline cheers.
"Told you. System engineer," I reply.
"Liar!" she teases.
Clearing Moroaică, I reach the hall, slotting a grieving mask into a statue. It sinks. Three more. I head to Duke's.
"Winters, you're alive! How was it?" Duke asks.
"Not great. Checked Dimitrescu's room—no Rose," I say.
"Not lying, right?" Eveline glares.
"Pity. Paths will open. Need anything?" Duke offers.
"Nah, later," I say.
Checking the map, I note marked keys. "Back to the courtyard."
"I'll scout!" Eveline zips ahead.
"Careful. Could be anything," I warn.
"They can't see me!" she boasts, vanishing.
Seconds later, she sprints back, screaming, "She's here!"
"What!?" I tense.
"Found you," Dimitrescu stoops through the door, advancing.
I unleash both guns, but she doesn't flinch, smirking.
"Persistent big hag!" Eveline yells.
"Lady! Filthy outsider, I'll decapitate you!" Dimitrescu roars.
"Eveline!" I call.
"On it!" she replies.
I morph both arms into Molded fists, swinging. Dimitrescu grabs my neck, lifting me. No leverage.
"Same trick?" she mocks.
"Try a new one!" Eveline shouts, gesturing.
My right fist unmolds, then reforms as a Blade-Molded arm, piercing Dimitrescu's gut.
"Gah!" she chokes.
"Now, run!" I yell.
"No way I'm facing that hag!" Eveline bolts.
"La-dy!" Dimitrescu roars, wounds healing, chasing.
"Faster!" Eveline urges.
"Don't rush me!" I snap.
Back in the courtyard, I unlock a door with Dimitrescu's key. Arms revert. My trump card failed. Need stronger weapons. A map shows an opera house, but it's locked. Upstairs, a document reveals the sisters' origins: village girls mutated by bugs.
"Like someone's fake family," I jab.
"Can't deny…" Eveline mumbles.
"Deny it! My family's not like this," I say.
"Mine was, though. Surface love? Don't want it," Eveline says.
"You're different now," I note.
"Recognizing me!?" she beams.
"Separate issue," I deflect.
Clearing indoor Moroaică, I reach the opera house. A piano and sheet music wait.
"Piano's not my thing," I admit.
"Leave it to me, bio-weapon with elite training!" Eveline boasts.
"Right, bio-weapon," I recall.
She sits, morphing my arms to play flawlessly. A key with an iron bars crest emerges. Seen this crest everywhere.
"Impressive," I praise.
"Really!? Yay!" Eveline dances.
In the solarium, bugs trap us. Too many—two!
"Gross!" Eveline gags.
"Finally, you came! Everyone adores me… poor man, so cute I could eat you," Daniela purrs.
"Ruined my hunt! You're a trophy, Daniela, sync up!" Cassandra shrieks.
"Scary!" Eveline yelps.
"Don't rage, Cassandra. He's naughty, making you like this. No escape," Daniela coos.
"Psycho!" Eveline shouts.
Cassandra charges, Daniela saunters. No windows, no time. Fight.
"Damn it!" I curse.
"Shy? Like it rougher? My throat's dry…" Daniela teases.
"Over!" Cassandra snarls.
Firing both guns, bullets pass through. Harpe slashes hit, slicing me. I swing, but they teleport, gashing my back. Light source?
"Ethan, up!" Eveline points.
"Don't anger me!" Cassandra snaps.
"Look at me… kiss me!" Daniela pleads.
Cassandra swings at Eveline; Daniela rambles. I aim up—skylight.
"Swore to love only my family!" I shout.
"No! Too cold!" Daniela wails.
"My body!" Cassandra screams.
"Smash it, Ethan!" Eveline cheers.
I shatter the skylight. Freezing air solidifies their bug forms. I blast them, charging. A kick sends Cassandra flying.
"Why!? I'm your prey!" she gasps.
"Mean! I'll die!" Daniela whines.
"No reason. I'm your enemy!" I yell. "Eveline!"
"Go, Ethan!" she urges.
Dropping my handgun, I morph my right arm into a Blade-Molded, punching through Daniela's gut.
"Why don't you love me? Others begged to join me!" she cries.
"Only love my family. Never joining you!" I retort.
"Pay!" Cassandra lunges.
"Quiet for a sneak attack," I say, shooting her forehead.
Unlike Dimitrescu, their weakness—cold—makes them manageable. As they calcify, reaching out, I feel pity. Victims of Dimitrescu.
"A dream… no, I don't wanna die…" Daniela whispers.
"You're my… precious prey…" Cassandra chokes.
"Seen this in a movie. See ya in hell, baby," Eveline quips.
"Done with bugs. Damn witches," I mutter.
We bag their torsos, leaving. Only Dimitrescu remains. Even immortals have weaknesses—Jack fell, so can she.
Ethan's arms now morph into Blade-Molded. Big hag added to Eveline's fears.
Hope you enjoy! Ratings, feedback, typo reports welcome—more feedback, faster I write!