Chapter 26

As the VENOM squad makes their way to close the distance between them and the SABER squad who are now causing a ruckus at the  side of the warriors, they halt midway when their leader, Emperor Scorpion, stops.

"What's with the sudden delay, stupid?" Harley asks, sending his cards flying and killing demons that are coming from every which way. It is not truly to his liking to do some extra errands when they have something bigger to deal with.

"A little bit of rest, shall we?" Gusion responds.

Hanabi finds no stronger demons that she only uses her kunai, poisoned with the demonic energy from her Higandaba, as a weapon. Angela is simply releasing her so-called killer love waves while protecting the backs of her comrades. Grock is just beside Harley, making sure that no one would lay a hand on him. He would mercilessly swing the large tank around him, throwing the demons away from them, as his tongue slithers in and out from his mouth.

With the other four members of the squad fight off the demons coming their way, Gusion walks up to the vampire he had a deal with weeks ago. Just like how he has predicted, Cecilion and Carmilla are now reunited after years of separation. And now that Dyrroth is not here to monitor them, they have all the time in the world to escape from his grasp.

"The plan is indeed perfect, ain't it, Cecilion?" the emperor scorpion states with a smirk curved at the edge of his lips. His arms are spread as if welcoming the vampire couple. Carmilla holds onto the arm of her lover, her eyes doubting the action of the assassin. Her instinct is telling her that he brings no good, his darkest aura tells it all. Cecilion, who promised to do his part in their deal, tightens his grip on Carmilla before speaking up.

"It is perfect on my side but only a little bit beneficial on yours, Paxley," he tells the truth, risking his safety from the anger of the assassin. Well, speaking of the truth would have lesser consequence compared to lying right on his face which would probably bring them demise than he could imagine. But instead of receiving the Emperor Scorpion's fury, he simply nods his head as if he has already expected such situation to come. Besides, he only wants Carmilla to shut all the portals connecting the abyss to the land of the warriors.

This is a signal for Cecilion to report to him, "Dyrroth and Alice are headed to the Moniyan Empire. That Alice–" he points at the fallen angel, whose wings are likened to a bat, flying over the other mages and is trying to destroy the barrier with the help of the other demons– "is simply a puppet."

Gusion could not care less about such obvious matter but he wants more information and in order to wring all the knowledge from the vampire couple, he would gladly threaten them. And such action is expected by Carmilla so she steps in and brings forth another news.

"Dyrroth did not only destroy the hearth of the Enchanted forest and made Land of Dawn become inhabitable, he is also planning to gain control over the five ancient crystals that Princess Silvanna keeps," she states which somehow appeases the fiery outburst of Gusion. He raises his eyebrow and nods at her direction, wanting her to continue spilling the beans. He has never heard of such five ancient crystals yet the sound of it seems interesting and somewhat powerful.

"It is said that the five ancient crystals are a source of great power that conquers evil. But that is not what you must watch out for, young man," Carmilla adds, her eyes narrowing towards Gusion, "it is yourself that you must be aware of."

Gusion smiles while shaking off his head for her last statement is something unnecessary. Gusion knows himself better than anyone and to be lectured about such thing is not a fit to his taste.

"Gusion, in return for lending me a hand to reunite with Carmilla, I shall leave a parting gift," Cecilion intervenes, believing that such piece of information would appease him and make up the work he did not complete.

His remark somehow amused Gusion, he shifts his gaze at him yet he is not expecting much.

"Do make it remarkable," he says, his blades starting to show themselves, glittering purplish and greenish in color.

"This war is not something Carmilla and I have to be involved in. But neither the abyssal demons nor the Saber squad nor Dyrroth are your real enemies out here. There is still something bigger, more dangerous and more threatening than them," Cecilion foretells, referring to the menacing energy that has been following him for years.

"It would be better to reconcile and gather more manpower instead of going against each other," the vampire adds.

Though he did not show it, Gusion is a bit confused for no one comes up in mind upon hearing such news. If the greatest enemy is not in their land, then who are they? And where are they from? Nevertheless, he has no interest in such reconciliation for he has a personal matter to attend to.

"And one last thing, the SABER squad is under control by Alice. Deal with her and surely, they will be released from puppetry," Cecilion states yet he shows no interest in that. In the very first place, it is not in his list to free the SABER squad. The magic cube is what he has to get his hand on, not to satisfy the foolish fetish of that stupid and crazy Mr. Ton.

"It is my pleasure to work with you, Cecilion. And before you could finally have your happy ending, Carmilla do me a favor. Shut all the portals," he says and to show how serious he is, his daggers start to circle around the two. He wants to make sure that no betrayal is to happen.

Carmilla did what she is told to do, not because she is afraid. But because if the portals remain opened, there is a great risk that even after the war, there would be no place for the demons to return to. She stayed at the abyss when she had no place to go to, thus, it became a precious place to her. And to at least return their hospitality, she shall make sure that the demons' so-called home remains after the war.

"It's an honor to work with the two of you. 'Til our paths cross again." Those are the parting words of Emperor Scorpion before leading his squad back on track to fight the very first squad in history.

"He has no plan to free them from the control of Alice," Carmilla states, her eyes reflects the sadness she feels towards the VENOM squad who are blinded with either greed or has been fed with false facts by force.

The land of the warriors are much more terrifying compared to the abyssal demons for they hold great power and wields the authority on what their land is to become. And knowing such fact, they want more power. With those thoughts in mind, Carmilla's eyes follow the sight of the VENOM squad who seem to be asking for trouble and face their enemy with no fear evident in them.

As the vampire couple disappears from the sight of anyone, the SABER squad is now ready to take on the VENOM who are initiating the attack.

"Johnson is heading this way," Harley states upon seeing the armored mustang revving their way.

"Vespid, who among them holds the magic cube?" Gusion asks and with her wings flapping faster like that of a hummingbird, Angela replied.

"Johnson keeps it inside a secret compartment," her mechanical voice somehow becomes more human. Her knowledge about the magic cube is vast for she was there at the laboratory and witnessed how it was sealed by the two doctors. Yet the origin of the magic within that cube remains unknown to her.

Only the two doctors know that and in spite of that, they promised themselves that no one shall ever know. They shall die and bring the secret to their grave for they knew too well that if such information is leaked, it would create chaos in the world of warriors. And the balance of power shall shift and no peace shall befall upon their land.

Harley and Gusion smirk, their eyes marvel just by imagining that they could have their hand on the magic cube.

"Okay, from here on, we are not under control by Nero Ton. We work on our own and get that magic cube, am I right, Harley?" Gusion asks, his grin is directed at their squad mage who rolls his eyes to the side for it still gives him goosebumps now that he and the Paxley assassin is actually agreeing on one thing.

"For now, yes," he simply responds.

"Gusion, this is not what we prepared your squad for. Go to the Moniyan Empire, kill Alice and release the SABER squad! That is all there is to your mission!" Doctor Baker yells at the squad leader through the two-way communication device placed right on his right ear.

"You are quite wrong about that, doctor," Gusion responds before shutting off the device so no one could intervene. His action leads the other four members to follow suit. Though they have just known each other, they respect their leader and his decision would be something they would follow.

Harley was recommended by Gusion and such action is something he considers as his recognition of his ability. Furthermore, it is because of him that he gets to know about the magic cube.

Grock, though he had been tricked by the devious Emperor Scorpion, is quite thankful to their leader for he became the bridge for him to reunite and show his support to Harley, his closest friend upon stepping in Magical City.

Hanabi, whose memories are still vague, highly respects Gusion, not just as their leader but someone who showed that he is concerned of her welfare, despite being strangers, after receiving harsh treatment during her transformation. Well, that is before Kenshin, the only person she recognizes from her past, showed up  and showered her with too much kindness.

As for Angela, though it is a somewhat of a betrayal to her creator, she would not want to be excluded from their group for it is a first for her to go to a mission with a squad. She wants to work with them.

"It is time for the real fun, VENOM," Emperor Scorpion states as they all summon their weapon upon seeing the summoned blades of their leader.