Shut Down

"This butler just won't give up!" Helena gasped, "I'm...I'm running out of energy..."

"I'm barely throwing pebbles here." Melia fell to the ground, "Aaahhh..."

"H-Hang in there!" Kaguya propped Melia up on her lap, "Even if you can't use anymore magic, stay awake! Don't black out on me!"

"Kaguya! Kaguya!"

"What is it, Corissa?!" Kaguya asked as she continued to try and keep Melia awake, "We don't really have the time or energy for small talk!"

"I got rid of it!" Corissa cried gleefully, "I got rid of the flower!"

"What?!" Kaguya swung her head around to Corissa's arm where her corsage was indeed completely gone, "How?! Wait, you did it?!"

"Yes!" Corissa nodded ecstatically, "I don't know how but I managed to use it!"

"That's...that's terrific!" Kaguya grinned, "Can you use it to free everyone else?!"

"Let me try!" Corissa grabbed Kaguya's arm where the Parasidea had taken over, "Holy!"

Nothing happened.

"Eh? But...I...I did it..." Corissa said, her enthusiasm taking a drastic complete turn, "I got rid of my flower, why can't I get rid of yours?"

"Heh." Kaguya weakly offered a comforting smile, "Guess it's not an easy spell to-"

"Holy!" Corissa cried again, frustrated, "Holy! Holy! Holy!"

But nothing happened.

"Why?" Corissa said through tears of frustration, "Why won't it work on other people?"

"It's okay Corissa." Kaguya said soothingly, "You can still help. Try to escape and find Roko. He'll surely be able to help."

"I'm afraid I can't allow that."

The rock wall that Melia had created suddenly broke apart, flinging a weak Helena onto the ground. Standing behind it was the menacing Joseph, broadsword hefted over his shoulder.

"To think that someone exists with the power to remove the Parasidea." Joseph frowned.

"That's worrying." Distol called from his platform, "Capture her. Otherwise, kill her."

"Yes sir." Joseph said coldly as he swung his sword back.

Kaguya quickly pushed Corissa and Melia away as Joseph swung his sword. Before his sword could make its mark, a large clang stopped the blade in its place.

"Oh?" Joseph frowned, "I believe we said no weapons were allowed at this party."

"This knife's a family heirloom." Kaguya smirked as she pushed against the sword with Calcify in hand, "I never go anywhere without it."

"How'd you hide it from us?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

With a roar, Kaguya shoved the butler off her and scrambled to her feet, swiping at Joseph to force him to retreat.

"Corissa, run!"

Corissa bit her lip, hesitating to leave her friends but with nothing else she could do, she got up and ran towards the door.

"You won't escape." Joseph said as he prepared to give chase until his brother suddenly fell in front of him, stopping him from pursuing.

"Sorry bro." Jeremy grimaced as used his staff to push himself back up.

Momo landed next to Kaguya, the two princesses facing the butlers together.

"Man, you managed to sneak a knife to a party?" Momo chuckled, "How'd you do that?"

"I don't think either of us have the energy to discuss that."

"How good are you with it?"

"In a direct fight? Very poor."

"Alright. So I have a big favor to ask of you."

"You want the knife?"

"Please?"

"Well, as it stands I'm in no position to refuse." Kaguya sighed, "But are you sure you can handle both of them?"

"Maybe? It sure would help."

"Well I have to warn you, this knife doesn't have an edge." Kaguya said as she handed her knife over to Momo.

"Oh, what?! Oh, that's weird. Is it supposed to be like this? That's interesting. I'll try not to break it."

"Little miss princess got a toothless fang and thinks she's got a chance now?" Jeremy scoffed, "I can't imagine what she thinks she can do. Especially under the Parasidea."

"I might as well offer this before I begin." Momo sighed as she stepped forward, "I am Momo of the Ichininkami Gari school. Royal Blade of the God Beast. Hereby offers a duel."

"What's she on about now?" Jeremy frowned.

"...Jeremy, hold this one off for a moment. I'll go after the escaped piece." Joseph said.

"I don't know how long I'll be able to hold her off though so you better hurry." Jeremy sighed.

"So much for that." Momo sighed, "Guess I'll make do."

Corissa reached the door in a few short seconds. She grabbed onto the handles and tried to pull them apart but the doors didn't bulge. Pulling didn't work either. The doors seemed sealed by an unknown power rather than locked so it didn't seem like there was a way out for anybody. Corissa turned to the windows, thinking she could break it open and jump out but there was sparse decorations and nothing seemed small enough for her to lift and dense enough to break glass. If it was even possible to break the glass. The more Corissa thought of it, the less reasonable the possibility of escape became. Fighting back was their only option. That sounded like something Roko would say. So they had to fight. She'll have to-

Corissa yelped as she suddenly heard Joseph approaching behind her and dodged to the side, the battle butler's broadsword slashing into the door but dealing no damage as it was repelled by a mysterious force.

"Do not resist." Joseph glared at her coldly, "Your safety will be guaranteed if you surrender."

"For how long?" Corissa scowled back, "I'll just be taken and experimented on until you end up killing me."

"That will depend on how much you cooperate. If you work hard enough, we will not have to kill you. The more valuable you are to us, the more likely you'll be left alive a while longer."

"I'll be alive but I won't be free will I?"

"That all depends on perspective." Joseph scowled in frustration, "If you prove your loyalty, you will be allowed freedom to an extent. You could even rise to be Master Distol's wif-"

"Why does everyone want to meddle in my love life?!" Corissa cried in greater frustration, "Why can't anybody let me find love on my own?!"

"...Fine." Joseph raised his sword again, "Then I have no choice but to kill you."

Corissa yelped and began running as Distol began to swing her sword at her. Corissa ran around the room as fast as she could but the butler was always a step or two behind her, almost nipping her heels with his sword. Corissa was keeping ahead but she knew he could outrun and kill her at any moment he wanted. Perhaps he was playing with her but Corissa knew she couldn't just run forever. She ran to the side of the room and grabbed onto a vase of flowers, flinging the sizable decoration at the butler. Joseph slashed the vase in half with ease, scattering the flowers and spilling the water. Despite the mess, Joseph continued onward completely untouched by any of the scattered flowers, water or vase debris. A feat that Corissa thought was thoroughly unfair but she kept running anyway, trying to think of a more effective plan as she threw adornment after adornment at him. But it wasn't long before Corissa suddenly heard Momo call out,

"Corissa, not that way!"

"Huh?!" Corissa jolted at Momo's warning, nearly dropping the next vase she was going to throw on her feet. Distol took the opportunity to suddenly close in on Corissa. With nothing left to defend her, Corissa could only watch as Joseph's broadsword began to swing down on her. Corissa closed her eyes and heard the tearing of flesh and the splattering of blood. But with without the feeling of pain, Corissa began to worriedly open her eyes. In front of her was Momo, standing there defiantly as Joseph's sword dug across her chest.

"Momo!" Corissa gasped.

Momo stood there, fighting the pain and her draining energy, collecting herself until she raised her knife underneath the broadsword, pulling it out of her body and swinging a leg to try and kick Joseph. Joseph easily retreated out of her range, withdrawing his broadsword as Momo collapsed into Corissa's arms.

"Don't worry." Momo offered a bleak smile through the pain, "I blocked it a little with the knife and used some defensive magic so it's not that deep."

"Why'd you suddenly step in?" Corissa said, tears coming to her eyes.

"Heh. You were clearly out of your league and you were slowly making your way directly to Distol."

Turning around, Corissa could see her running around the edge of the room had indeed drew her close to the stairs where Distol and the head butler were waiting. Had she gotten any closer, she might have been ambushed on both sides.

"But Momo..." Corissa bit her lip.

"Don't cry." Momo groaned as she pushed herself back up, "Not until it's all over."

Joseph turned to where Momo and Jeremy had been fighting, finding his younger brother lying on the ground, defeated.

"I'm surprised you managed to beat my brother." Joseph frowned, "He's a bit crass but I didn't think he was going easy on you."

"Nothing a little bit of electricity can't handle."

"I see." Joseph said as he pointed his sword at Momo, "I'll have to be careful about that then."

"Go ahead." Momo smirked, "I don't have enough energy for another bolt anyway."

"Momo..." Corissa said, distraught, "I..."

"Go to Kitt's side." Momo winked back at her, "She could use all the support she can get."

"But...I can't do anything..." Corissa said, her frustrations and depression leaking out into her voice.

"Just because you can't do anything doesn't mean you're not needed." Momo replied, "And right now, Kitt needs you."

"..." Corissa looked down, not quite convinced by Momo's words but she nodded and ran off to try and help out with the victims.

Momo and Joseph glared at each other like a cat and mouse. Joseph, the stoic butler looking condescendingly down at the mouse that he was playing with. Momo glared back, more fierce and determined despite being injured and weak, a mouse that was ready to fight for her life.

"You still intend on struggling?" Joseph asked, unimpressed.

"Even if I'm the only one left, I'll defy you until the end." Momo smirked back, "That's what a certain someone would do."

"This idol...he seems to be causing some trouble for us from what I understand."

"Let's go Roko!" Momo cried enthusiastically, "I knew you were meddling with them in the background! Now I really can't give up."

"Well, we have staff that can handle a little disturbance like him." Joseph scoffed, "It's only a matter of time before we capture him. Before that happens, I better subjugate you or I shall dishonor the Oarbine name."

Joseph swung his broadsword over his shoulder and leaped up into the air, drawing his sword over his head to swing down at Momo. Momo raised her arm and blocked the attack with the roots wrapped around her arm.

"I can't give up now." Momo grinned, "Not when you gave me such a good shield."

"To think you learned how to weaponize even the Parasidea." Joseph scowled as Momo pushed him back, "I'm sufficiently impressed."

"Heh. I can't stop now that I know Roko's fighting out there." Momo smiled.

"I don't know how one human can inspire such confidence in you but you will be able to join him in the afterlife soon." Joseph said as he drew his sword back.

With a small smirk, Momo brought her arms up, prepared to block with the Parasidea and counterattack with Kaguya's knife. Joseph took a step forward and raised the sword over his head,

"Daitengu Tessen..."

"EH?!" Momo cried, "Wait, hold on-"

"Ryuhobo no Tatsumaki."

Momo barely had time to bring her arms up in full defense before Joseph's sword came down with a great force of wind behind it. Momo met the blow but was barely able to stop it, moving instead to try and avoid the brunt of the attack only to get caught up in the whirlwind and get blown several feet away until she smashed into the wall behind her. Kaguya and Corissa cried out in horror until they saw Momo stumbling out of the cloud of her own impact. Momo stood there for a moment, gasping as she struggled to keep her battered and bleeding body up. For a moment, Kaguya and Corissa thought Momo would finally fall until she snapped up and yelled,

"What the hell?! You had a swordstyle all along and you didn't accept my duel?!"

"I have no reason to accept your duel." Joseph scoffed.

"Don't you have any honor?!"

"All I do is in service to the Oarbine family, not to some school or code."

"Good god, you're worse than Gaurav." Momo moaned, "At least he accepted my duel after he tried to use a sword technique on someone who didn't. I just want a good honorable duel! I've had so little chance to break out my swordstyle since coming to Memoria Auspice, I thought I was getting rusty!"

"I don't see how that's my problem."

"Look, all I have is a knife and a plant that's sucking my energy, the least you can do is introduce yourself!"

"..."

"..."

"..." Joseph sighed, "Joseph Johnavan. Daitengu Tessen. Scale IX."

"'Hereby accepts the duel.'"

"..."

"..."

"...Hereby accepts the duel." Joseph sighed again.

"Momo Kentoryu of the Ichininkami Gari school. Royal Blade of the God Beast." Momo nodded, "Now was that so hard?"

"Are you really in the situation to stand on manners?"

"Hey, someone has to enforce the traditions." Momo frowned, "Now let's duel!"

"I don't see why this matters. You're still hopelessly outma-"

"Ichininkami Gari." Momo jumped forward, "Yato sasu no Ya."

Joseph's eyes widened as Momo suddenly lunged forward at blinding speeds. He flattened the side of his broadsword in front of him to block the attack but as soon as the attack struck his sword, Momo had flipped over his head, falling gently down behind him.

"Daitengu Tessen." Joseph scowled, "Kotenbo no Gufuu!"

"Mamorigami."

Joseph swung his broadsword around as a whirlwind whipped up around him, trying to fling Momo away from him. Momo spun around counter to Joseph's rotation and swung her knife up. The broadsword was deflected upwards and the wind around him quickly died down as Joseph's technique was interrupted. Showing the slightest hint of frustration, Joseph gripped his broadsword with both hands.

"Ryu-"

"Tsuchinoko Kirimi no Touken."

Before Joseph could slash down at her, Momo had crossed over to Joseph's back again and in an instant, several dozen slashes cut into Joseph's body. The attack was shallow but the cuts were well placed. If Momo's weapon was actually edged, it might have seriously impaired Joseph's ability to move. As it stood, the attack merely stunned him but the fact that it might have caused considerable damage was enough to anger Joseph.

"Saburo no Tempest!"

Joseph changed his overhead attack to a horizontal swing.

"Cetus Satsu no Cestus."

Momo swung counter to Joseph's attack but ducked low, underneath Joseph's swing and slashed into his stomach. It was clear that Momo was outmaneuvering him but without a proper weapon, she couldn't actually land a hit that mattered. But the fact that she was winning so handily gnawed at Joseph's pride, infuriating him. With a roar, he stabbed the ground with his sword and summoned a typhoon around him, forcing Momo to retreat away from him. Momo watched as Joseph took his moment of reprieve to calm his anger and collect himself.

"So, I've been wondering..." Momo spoke up, "Your swordstyle specializes in combining wind magic with swordplay right?"

"What's with the question?" Joseph frowned.

"I was just wondering if you could throw a pressurized slash without using magic."

"...A what?"

"You know. When you dire a blade of wind using your weapon."

"That's not a thing."

"That's totally a thing." Momo said, "Here, look. It's all in the wind-up."

Joseph watched as Momo drew her bladeless knife back from several meters away. Momo held her stance for a moment before swinging into the empty air. A small blade of wind shot through the air and nicked the cheek of Joseph's shocked face.

"See?" Momo grinned, "I mean, your swordstyle is cool too."

Joseph closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath as a small drop of blood leaked out of his shallow cut. With a shaking hand, Joseph fixed his collar.

"Daitengu Tessen."

Suddenly, Joseph swung his broadsword around before heaving it upon his shoulder. Roaring in furious anger, wind spun wildly around him as if he was the center of a monstrous storm.

"Sojobo no..."

Momo took a deep breath and readied her knife, "Kamaitachi Kirekomi no..."

Joseph lunged forward, "Sojo Arashi!"

Momo met the attack head on, running right through the storm as it cut into her party dress and into her skin. The wind buffeted her approach and limited her vision but even with all her disadvantages, Momo saw Joseph's broadsword swing out from storm. And she had her arm all ready as she blocked the powerful attack with the Parasidea. The otherworldly flower shook and rattled the roots in her arm but otherwise held strong. Stronger than any shield that she could have brought as Momo held firm, stopping Joseph's enraged attack as she brought her knife up.

"Kaiken."

Momo spun. Her knife in reverse grip and she slashed into the cheek of Joseph. Of course, this attack alone would have been fatal if her knife had any edge. Instead, this attack knocked right into the face of Joseph, knocking his head to the side. But Momo kept spinning. As she turned away, she slashed into Joseph's arm. As she spun back to face him, her knife slashed into his other arm and then his chest. Another rotation and she slashed into his stomach. For her final spin, she tilted her body, shifting her horizontal spin to a vertical one that cut into the thighs of Joseph's leg. Once the wind cleared out, Momo was standing with her back turned to Joseph. Slowly, Joseph fell. First his sword fell out of his hand. Then he slowly leaned back until he finally fell on his back, unconscious. Momo breathed a deep sigh before falling to her knees in exhaustion. She gripped her arm. The arm where the Parasidea was still attached. Draining her energy until she felt sick. But it wasn't over yet. She slowly pushed herself back onto her legs and turned around. Turned to Distol standing on his stupid platform. And on the party floor beneath him was the head butler.

"To think Joseph would lose." The old butler shook his head, "Rune and Plume were also defeated. I'm surprised it has come to this."

"..."

"Lord Distol." The head butler turned to Distol, "How long until this process is over?"

"Not much longer, Walter. Please, lend me your service for a little while longer."

"There is no need to ask, young master." Walter gave the slightest hint of a smile, "I'll be with you until the end. For that reason..."

Walter drew his hands out from behind his back and tightened the steel gloves he was wearing as he approached Momo.

"I'll need you...all of you to surrender your lives for the sake of my family."

Momo turned to the head butler and tried her best to glare at him but she was having trouble keeping her eyes open as it was. No way to escape. No chance of winning. But Momo's mind refused to stop looking for a way out of her situation. She looked around with her eyes, desperate for some sort of hope until she saw something that made her eyes widen.

"That's not how you take care of a garden."

All of a suddenly, Distol was kicked in the back, running right into and over the railings, falling a painful amount onto the party floor. His assailant walked over to the railing and looked down at him.

"You have to get in there and get rid of the weeds yourself. If you won't do it, I'll do it for you."

Kaguya and Corissa gasped, "ROKO!"