(Quick AN for this chapter, viewer discration is advised.)
A member of the Esoterica entered, carrying a silver platter stacked with fresh lobsters. Moving cautiously, he approached the tank, head bowed in reverence.
"Hurry," Edwards ordered, his tone sharp. "He is in no condition to wait."
The Esoterica gave a respectful nod and stepped forward, but before he could offer the meal, one of Vilgax's tentacles lashed out with sudden fury, striking him like a whip. The force sent the servant hurtling across the room, crashing through the stone wall with a sickening crunch.
"I do not need food!" Vilgax bellowed, his voice echoing through the chamber. His eyes gleamed with raw fury as he pressed a clawed hand against the glass of his tank. "If I am to heal, I require power!"
Edwards turned toward him, his expression calm as he bowed deeply. "Great Dagon, there is only one source that can restore you—the source of all your might. Your heart."
At this, Vilgax's crimson eyes flickered dangerously. Then, slowly, a grin stretched across his monstrous face.
"My heart." He rumbled, the words dripping with realization. "Of course."
He leaned forward, his presence suffocating even through the thick glass of his tank. "Bring it to me."
But Edwards did not rise. Instead, he pressed his forehead to the ground in full submission. "Master, you know it is forbidden. The heart cannot be brought to you." His voice was reverent, unwavering. "We must bring you to it."
A tense silence filled the chamber before Vilgax let out a low, rumbling chuckle, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
"Then do so at once," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for defiance.
As the Esoterica bowed in silent obedience, Vilgax's gaze shifted to the side. There, bound tightly against a cold steel pillar, was Julie.
Blood trailed down her bruised skin, her breathing ragged. Her once-defiant eyes were now brimming with helpless tears, yet she refused to break.
Vilgax's grin widened at the sight.
"And do not let her rest," he ordered, his tone filled with cruel amusement. "I want her to understand what it means to defy a god."
Julie let out a weak whimper, her swollen eye barely able to open as she struggled against her restraints. Blood dripped from her split lip onto the cold metal floor beneath her.
Her body ached with every shallow breath, but she refused to cry out, refused to give them the satisfaction.
Conduit Edwards lifted his head, his expression one of unwavering devotion. "It will be done, my lord." His voice carried a reverence so deep it bordered on madness. He turned to the Esoterica who had gathered around, their forms flickering between reality like shadows caught in the wind. "Prepare the ritual. We shall bring our god to his heart."
The Esoterica bowed in unison before vanishing into the ether, their forms phasing out of existence as they began the preparations.
Vilgax's crimson gaze flickered back to Julie, his mouth curling into a sickening grin. "You are fortunate, girl. You will be witness to my ascension. The rebirth of an empire."
Julie gritted her teeth, mustering enough strength to lift her head. Her voice, hoarse but defiant, cut through the cold silence. "You're delusional... No one is coming for you. You're nothing but a parasite... clinging to power that isn't yours."
Vilgax's grin vanished instantly, replaced by a sneer of pure malice. He extended a tentacle, wrapping it tightly around her throat and lifting her off the ground. Julie choked, her legs kicking weakly as she gasped for air.
"Your insolence amuses me," Vilgax mused, squeezing just enough to make her vision blur. "But do not mistake my patience for mercy." He held her there for a moment longer before unceremoniously tossing her back against the pole, where she slumped, coughing violently.
Edwards approached her, crouching down to her level, his expression almost gentle. "You should pray, child. The pain you feel now is nothing compared to what is coming."
Julie glared at him with every ounce of defiance she had left. "I'd rather die than worship a fraud like you."
Edwards chuckled, rising to his feet. "Oh, but you won't die, Julie. Not yet." He turned away, his voice dropping to a whisper as he walked toward the ritual chamber.
"You still have a part to play."
Somewhere on the road, the night air rushed past as Michael, Jen, and Ferox rode atop Shockwave, who was in his bike form.
As usual, Ferox was perched on Michael's head, his small frame perfectly balanced despite the speed. Jen, on the other hand, was practically melting into Michael's back, her arms wrapped tightly around him.
Her grip was less about necessity and more about devotion—holding onto him lovingly, almost worshipfully. Every now and then, she nuzzled into his neck, sighing contentedly as if she were in the safest place in the universe.
Behind them, Kevin's car followed closely, Gwen riding in the passenger seat while Kevin kept pace, his eyes flicking to the road ahead.
A sudden beep echoed from Michael's Ultimatrix.
"Incoming call—Plumbers Headquarters."
A hologram of Shadow appeared on the faceplate as the call connected.
"Hallo, hier ist Michael Kaiser," (Hello, this is Michael Kaiser) Michael answered, his tone calm but expectant.
"Kaiser, this is Agent Fleebit," a gruff voice responded.
Michael's fingers tightened slightly on Shockwave's handlebars. "Fleebit, please tell me you have some good news."
The Plumber agent sighed. "You could say that. The raid on the building was even more successful than we'd hoped. We recovered a trove of documents detailing future plans, as well as possible locations for their next operations."
Michael exhaled sharply. "And the public?"
Fleebit continued. "The existence of Vilgax has been successfully kept under wraps. As for explaining the raid itself, that was surprisingly easy once we discovered the vault full of illegal alien tech—not to mention proof that they were trying to steal a Class 7 ship."
Kevin leaned out of his window with a cocky grin. "Yeah, you can thank us for that."
He was promptly elbowed by Gwen, who rolled her eyes.
"Gute Arbeit," (Good work) Michael said before Jen's voice cut in, her grip tightening around him. "That's great and all, but is there any other reason you're calling my husband?" Her tone was sharp, but her hold on Michael remained as affectionate as ever.
Fleebit cleared his throat. "Actually, yes. A surveillance team just spotted a group of Esoterica—along with Target V."
Michael's expression hardened instantly. The hologram on his Ultimatrix shifted, showing thermal imaging of the Esoterica moving in formation, their eerie presence unmistakable. Among them, a much larger heat signature stood at the center.
Vilgax.
Shockwave's optic flickered slightly at the sight.
"What are your orders?" came the voice of the surveillance team's leader.
"Do NOT let them escape no matter what until we arrive." Shockwave's voice was a deep growl as he revved his engine, doubling his speed. The sudden acceleration forced Kevin to push his car to the limit just to keep up.
The Plumbers crouched atop a dimly lit rooftop, their eyes locked onto the group of Esoterica below.
The cultists moved with eerie precision, loading a large, reinforced container onto the back of a blacked-out truck. The tension in the air was palpable.
The squad leader, a tall, purple-skinned alien with a single eye and frilled fish-like ears, signaled to his men. The ground team, already in position, nodded in silent confirmation, gripping their weapons tightly.
Then, all at once, they struck.
A controlled explosion blew open the warehouse's side wall, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air.
The Plumbers surged in, weapons raised. The Esoterica immediately turned, their hands crackling with dark energy, preparing to counterattack.
But before they could act, the rooftop team shattered the skylight. Glass rained down like jagged stars as the second team dropped into the fray, landing right in front of the truck. They raised their weapons, training their sights on both the driver and the mysterious container inside.
The third unit moved in from the opposite side, cutting off any chance of escape. Within seconds, the Esoterica were completely surrounded.
The Plumber leader stepped forward, his voice ringing with authority. "This is the Plumbers! Lay down your weapons!" His single eye burned with resolve as he surveyed the enemies.
For a moment, the Esoterica simply stared at each other. Then, to the Plumbers' surprise, they stopped their attacks.
But that was when the back of the truck swung open.
A slow, deliberate smirk spread across Conduit Edwards' face as he stepped down onto the pavement. His gaze met the Plumber leader's, eyes gleaming with something almost amused.
"Weapons?" He chuckled darkly. "We don't need weapons."
Before the Plumbers could react, Edwards suddenly phased out of reality, his form flickering like a mirage before vanishing completely.
Then the others followed.
One by one, the Esoterica disappeared into thin air, their bodies slipping between dimensions as if they had never been there at all.
The Plumbers tensed, fingers tightening on triggers, eyes darting in every direction.
The warehouse flickered with unstable light as the Esoterica phased in and out of existence, circling the battered Plumbers like vultures.
"Where'd they go?" one Plumber muttered, his eyes darting around in confusion.
"Hold your positions," the squad leader commanded, pulling out his scanner. The device whirred softly as it attempted to lock onto their enemies.
Then—bam!
Edwards materialized right in front of him, driving a brutal punch straight into his jaw. The leader staggered backward before Edwards followed up with a charged energy blast, sending the Plumber soaring through the warehouse wall like a ragdoll.
"Fire!" one of the remaining Plumbers shouted. The air exploded with plasma rounds as they unleashed a hailstorm of fire.
But the Esoterica were ready. They reappeared in a perfect circle around them, conjuring shimmering energy barriers that absorbed every shot. And before the Plumbers could adjust their strategy, a wave of searing orbs of dark energy rained down upon them.
The warehouse shook with the force of the explosion. The Plumbers were thrown back, their bodies collapsing into a tangled heap of armor and weapons. Smoke filled the air, crackling with the residual energy of the attack.
Edwards strode forward, his expression smug as he looked down at his fallen enemies. He turned to one of the Esoterica, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "You have served Dagon well."
The Esoterica nodded, their devotion unwavering.
Then—
"One problem."
Michael's voice cut through the air like a blade.
The Esoterica turned sharply as Michael and his team arrived, stepping forward from the dust and smoke. Shockwave transformed, his railguns already primed and humming with power.
Jen clung tightly to Michael's arm, but her eyes burned with intensity. Kevin cracked his knuckles. Gwen stood firm, arms crossed, her expression unimpressed.
Michael's gaze swept over the enemy before landing on the truck. "That guy you're worshipping? That's not Dagon. It's Vilgax. And he's been playing you all for suckers."
A flicker of doubt crossed a few of the Esoterica's faces, but Edwards scowled.
"How dare you even speak our master's name?" Edwards growled, his hand glowing as a sphere of dark energy formed in his palm.
Shockwave's optics gleamed dangerously. "Second problem. Where is Julie?" His railguns crackled, the hum growing deeper, heavier, lethal.
Gwen sighed, shaking her head. "Oh, use your head. If he really is your almighty Dagon, why does he need a truck to get around?"
Edwards snapped. His rage boiled over as he hurled a massive blast of energy at Gwen.
BOOM.
But the attack never touched her.
Gwen raised a single hand, her mana barrier shimmering effortlessly as it absorbed the impact like it was nothing.
She raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? That's all you've got?"
Kevin stretched his wings with a bored expression. "You done being responsible?"
"Yes," Michael and Gwen said in unison.
And then—BOOM.
A monstrous Ferox crashed down from the rooftop, his massive form slamming into the pavement with a sickening crunch. Several Esoterica were instantly crushed beneath his claws, their bodies crumpling like broken puppets.
But amidst the chaos, Jen giggled.
Not just any giggle—a giddy, high-pitched, almost unsettling sound. Her eyes gleamed unnaturally, like a predator who had just been let off its leash. She bounced on her heels, clasping her hands together, her entire body trembling with excitement.
"Darling~ Can I? Can I? Please? Can I?" Her voice dripped with manic anticipation, her lips curling into a twisted grin as she eagerly tugged at Michael's sleeve. She was practically vibrating.
Michael sighed, already knowing where this was going.
Then, without a word, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
Jen froze.
Like a machine shutting down, her crazed expression melted away. Her breathing hitched, her face pressing into his chest as she let out a shaky, blissful sigh.
"Jen, calm down." His voice was soft. Gentle. Firm.
That was all it took.
Jen collapsed into him, clutching his jacket like a lifeline. The twisted hunger in her eyes vanished, replaced with pure, worshipping adoration. "Anything for you, darling~" she whispered, her voice sickly sweet.
The battlefield went silent.
Even the Esoterica—the very cultists who had thrown themselves into battle without hesitation—stared in visible discomfort.
Edwards blinked. "Are they... always like this?"
Kevin deadpanned. "Yes."
Then, without hesitation, he blasted Edwards in the face with a fireball.
"Attack!" Edwards roared as the Esoterica charged in like a wave of darkness.
Shockwave didn't hesitate. The instant the first cultist moved, his railguns thundered. Hypervelocity rounds tore through the air, ricocheting off bodies, walls, and even each other in a devastating chain reaction.
One by one, Esoterica dropped lifelessly to the ground, their bodies riddled with burning holes before they could even react.
Michael and Jen exchanged a knowing look—time to go all out.
SLAM.
Both of them slammed their Ultimatrixes.
Michael's form swelled instantly, his body expanding into Humungousaur, towering over the battlefield like a living battering ram. At the same time, Jen hit the ground on all fours, her body twisting and reshaping.
"RAAAAAAATH!!"
She let out an unhinged roar, her new feline-like form bursting forward with savage speed, claws digging into the pavement as she lunged.
Michael stomped behind her, his massive footfalls shaking the ground.
Several Esoterica leapt from above, aiming for Michael's head— but the second they got close—BAM!
Michael's massive fist caught them mid-air.
Their bodies crunched as they were launched across the battlefield, smashing through crates and walls like ragdolls.
On the ground, a few Esoterica grabbed onto Michael's tail, trying to weigh him down.
Big mistake.
Before Michael could even react, Jen was already there.
She grabbed the closest one by the head— and slammed him face-first into the pavement with bone-shattering force.
Then another.
Then another.
Each impact left deep craters in the ground, splattering blood across the concrete.
Her fanged grin widened, her eyes glowing with manic glee. "LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU SIDE-SHOW FREAKS!!" she screamed, her voice full of untamed, raw energy. "NOBODY—AND I MEAN NOBODY—TOUCHES MY DARLING, MY BELOVED, MY PERFECT AND—"
Before she could continue her crazed rant, another Esoterica tried to leap onto her back.
Without even looking, Jen's claws shot out— and ripped him apart mid-air.
Michael turned his focus to Edwards, narrowing his massive reptilian eyes. "Time to end this."
BOOM!
Michael slammed his massive hand into the ground, creating a devastating earthquake. The shockwave rippled through the battlefield, sending Esoterica flying, tumbling, and collapsing like dominos.
But Edwards was too fast.
Before the tremors could hit him, he phased through reality. Reappearing right above Michael.
BLAM!
A massive energy blast slammed into Michael's eyes, blinding him with smoke. Before he could react, another searing shot exploded against his stomach, sending the massive alien toppling backward—right onto Jen.
Michael groaned, but Jen's ears twitched.
Her wild expression twisted even further, a sinister grin splitting her face.
"Darling~ you're crushing me." She said sweetly.
Michael grunted, quickly rolling off her.
"You'll pay for taking my assistant..." Shockwave's voice came low, measured, and lethal.
BANG.
His railguns exploded with fire, sending devastating rounds straight at Edwards.
But the Esoterica leader kept phasing, slipping through reality before the shots could land.
Shockwave's optic narrowed. His advanced scanners analyzed the battlefield, tracking Edwards' movements, predicting his next location.
And the moment Edwards started to reappear—
CRACK!!
Shockwave was already there.
His metallic foot rocketed forward, slamming into Edwards' chest with the force of a missile.
BOOM!
Edwards went flying, crashing through the air— and slamming straight into the truck that carried Vilgax.
Shockwave wasted no time.
His railguns hummed with lethal power, charging up to finish the job.
But before he could fire, more Esoterica swarmed him, their glowing hands gripping his arms and legs, holding him down.
"You are a pest." One of them hissed.
Shockwave's optic burned red. "Incorrect."
From Shockwave's shoulder, a blaster snapped into place and immediately fired, incinerating the Esoterica holding him down.
FREED.
With ruthless efficiency, Shockwave spun up his railguns, reloaded in a split second, and resumed firing. His shots ripped through the battlefield, the concussive force turning Esoterica into smoking craters.
Meanwhile, Ferox roared in frustration. Three Esoterica had latched onto him, phasing in and out of reality.
Each time he swiped with his claws, his strikes hit nothing but air. The moment he hesitated—BAM!
An Esoterica kicked him hard in the back of the head, making the beast stumble and snarl.
"Ferox!" Gwen called out, raising her hands.
A flurry of mana arrows erupted from her fingertips, blasting two of the Esoterica clean off.
Above them, Kevin unfolded his wings and fired a beam of freezing energy, locking the third one in ice before shattering it with a swift kick.
He landed next to Gwen. "You okay, big guy?" Gwen
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