Oh god a FIRE DRAGON!

*Crash…!*

Johan:...!!

Isabel: commander, the fire…!

Rapi: That's the signal.

Johan: Listen up, everyone. From now on, our main priority is to rendezvous with the counters commander. Get in FF formation. We're going in.

Dorothy: commander, wait. Is rushing in like this really necessary? Why don't we simply let this play out? I don't believe that commander would live long enough. But he could probably exhaust her enough for us. that 's when we move in.

Anis: What are you talking about!? Are you really going to abandon the commander!?

Rapi: anis, calm down, getting angry won't solve anything. We should prepare to move in by ourselves.

Neon: roger.

Papillon: Alright, we must save honey who knows how much he can survive.

Johan: Harran, what do you think?

Harran:...well, it wasn't easy getting to Eden, so I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect it, even if it means giving up my life.

Johan: noah?

Noah: you're asking me what I think? Of course I respect how Dorothy feels, but….we aren't weaklings like those counters, and i am tired of just waiting around.

Johan: isabel? 

Isabel: Do you even have to ask? I'll go along with whatever you decide.

Johan: So it's settled.

Dorothy:...unbelievable. What's gotten into all of you? Did you all sneak into the ark and get implanted with NIMPH? I brought the counters along so they could take the brunt of the attack. I did it to protect all of you.

Anis: I knew something was fishy from the start!!

Rapi: It took you a long time to find out Anis.

Anis: what!? You knew about it!?

Rapi: *shake* i didn't notice, the commander told me,

Rapi gets close to Johan and the pilgrims.

Rapi: varakiel decided to take nihilister head on to give us a chance, he knew what dorothy was behind, but still went along with it, you know why?

Noah: because he's an idiot?

Isabel: He's naive?

Johan:.....

Dorothy: what!?

Harran:.....*sigh* yeah it sounds like him alright.

Rapi: because he believes in all of you, in Eden, let's go anis, neon, papillon.

The counters then walk forward.

Dorothy: But, in case you forgot, even if we defeat Nihilister, this is all far from over, the queen has many more subordinates under her command, ones even stronger than nihilister. To them, Eden is nothing but a pesky thorn in their side. That's why I've formulated a strategy where we'll be able to minimize any casualties on our end, so why..?!

Harran: dorothy. We're usually happy to do whatever you say. But that was because you never once forced us to cross the line.

Noah: We've always put up with your schemes and subterfuge because we weren't directly involved. But this is different.

Isabel: also, their commander. Is fighting to liberate all nikkes. A human, fighting as a nikke would do, to prove he's on their side, if i'd met someone who thought like that sooner, i would have fought with my life for him in the ark rather than coming here.

Dorothy: the ark…the ark. I'm glad you brought it up. Don't you all despise the ark? Detest everything about it? Especially you, commander. You were the most vehement of anyone. After all you've done for that place, what has it ever done to thank you? Fine then, join up with a commander from the ark. It won't tarnish Eden's reputation in the slightest.

Johan:...I used to think like that too. But meeting you made me realize something. What I hated was not the ark, nor the people in it. It was the abhorrent rhetoric you were spewing earlier today.

Dorothy: you…you've all gone insane….

Johan: Let's go.

Isabel: Yes, commander.

Noah: Woohoo!

Harran: About time we got a real battle around here!

Then the pilgrims rush forward, following counters squad.

….

Rapi: raptures incoming!

Anis: dammit! Why now of all times!?

Neon: Let's finish this quickly so we can help master.

Papillion: I will request a promotion after this, this isn't what I signed up for.

Anis: we'll gladly talk to burningum!

*caw caw*

Harran: Need some help?

Anis: you!

Noah: It seems you newbies have a lot to learn.

Shields cover counters squad.

*Fwooosh* from the sky raptures explode.

Isabel: We'll also want to help.

Johan: Isabel, Noah, Harran, encounter!

Harran: engaging!

….

*Crash!!*

Nihilister: hahaha!! Aren't you tired of running like a dog?

Varakiel: I can do this all day.

Varakiel evades the flames coming on his way.

Nihilister: come out and face me! I promise to make it quick.

Varakiel: That doesn't sound convincing enough! How about you try a softener tone in your voice!

Nihilister: 💢💢 what did you say?

Varakiel: I said, that doesn't sound convincing enough! 

Nihilister: 💢💢 

Varakiel: I said I will give my life for my squad, but I never said I would go down without a fight! Hahaha!

Nihilister: That's it!! Now I am mad!!!

Nihilister body then changes to that of a rapture.

Varakiel: oh? I have to admit it, your transformation is cool!

Nihilister then runs towards varakiel and chomps into him.

*CHOMP*

But he jumps back at the last second and escapes.

Varakiel: Maybe I should do so as well? ( Gregar, are you ready?)

Gregar: (*howllllll*)

Varakiel: *nod* let–

*boom* *boom*

Anis: commander! We are here!

Varakiel: oh! Took you long enough! ( woops, sorry Gregar it seems we lost our chance, maybe next time.)

Neon: Sorry for the delay, we found a lot of raptures on the way!

Rapi: commander, your orders.

Varakiel: Counters, let's become dragon slayers!

Papillion: dragon slayer? That would be good in my curriculum.

Harran: don't forget about us.

Johan: encounter!

Everyone: Engaging!

Nihilister: *ROAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*

Varakiel: anis, neon, bombard her! Rapi keeps in check on her missiles!

A beacon of light begins to come from varakiel.

Varakiel: I will keep her busy!! Johan, I leave the rest to you!

Varakiel rushes to nihilister.

*CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP*

Nihilister chomps into varakiel but he uses the gaps between them to move around her body.

Rapi: anis, neon, use everything you got!

Anis: you bet!

Neon: leave it to me!

Johan: Isabel help rapi to contain her missiles, Noah protect us from her bullets, Harran use everything!

Isabel: roger!

Noah: Leave it to me!

Harran: all those tactic talks were for nothing in the end *sigh*.....or not…this commander, is something else really.

Harran noticed that the battlefield was oddly ordered.

….

*BANG BANG BANG*

Varakiel jumps away

*BOOM BOOM BOOM*

Nihilister falls to the ground.

Neon: yeah we got her! Nothing we can beat after all!

Anis: dragon slayer title acquired! Haha.

Papillon: you had to go and open your mouth.

Rapi: this is not over!

*rumble rumble rumble*

Varakiel: of course it's not over, she won't be a heretic if it was only this!!

*crackle crackle crackle*

Red lighting begins to fall from the sky.

The dragon is Enraged.

Nihilister stands up and begins to fly in the sky. And she turns into a two headed rapture and her giant crimson wings show up.

*WHOOOOOOOOOO*

Varakiel: Everyone, hide underground now!!

Varakiel points to several holes in the ground.

Anis: roger!

Rapi: roger!

Neon: wahhhh!! Run!!

Johan: hide!

Everyone hides in the holes underground

*Rumble* *FWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO*

Anis: uwahhhh! You can begin to feel the heat from here.

Varakiel: go now!

Varakiel jumps out from the hole.

Nihilister: *ROAAAAAAR*

Nihilister roars and launched a barrage of missiles directly to varakiel.

Varakiel: BRING IT ON!!!

Varakiel charges ahead.

....

Nihilister: I feel…pain! How long has it been since I felt pain like this? How unfortunate that I'll only experience it for a few precious seconds.

*crack* *crunch*

Anis: she's healing herself again!

Neon: Any other ideas, master?

Varakiel: easy, we heal ourselves as well, quickly.

Anis: roger!

Neon: okay!

Rapi: got it.

Varakiel meditates on the ground, while neon anis and rapi shine with brown light and their bodies' scratches recover.

Varakiel: papillon come here, and be fast.

Papilion: roger commander.

Varakiel quickly repairs papillon using earth magic.

Johan: self repairing nikkes? No wonder they are confident.

Harran: But is as powerful as a heretic?

Noah: woah, and how is that their commander can do it as well!? Johan can you do that?

Papillon: I hate to say this honey but, we're caught between a rock and hard place, we might be able to sustain the damages but our bullets might not be enough, why not use this vapaus or whatever it's called.

Varakiel:....No.

Nihilister: I heard you had vapaus, c'mon shoot me! I dare you! I'll rejuvenate in no time and grind you all to dust. That puny bullet of yours won't stop me.

Varakiel: DAGA KOTOWARU (I Refuse)

Nihilister: what? You'll throw away your only chance of survival?

Varakiel: I just like to say "no" to those who believe they are in control.

Varakiel walks towards Nihilister.

Nihilister:....you really have lost it. Not that it matters. As long as I can open you up…

Johan: You fool, you'll kill us all!

*boom*

 a grenade donates near varakiel.

And his gun flies away.

And Johan catches it.

Johan: consider this a valuable lesson

*snap*

Johan: how can you expect to save someone else, when you can't even save yourself?

*bang!!*

Nihilister's body begins to convulse violently.

Nihilister: You shot me! You actually did it…?! Ha….hahaha…you fools! You showed your hand far too soon. You didn't expect me to fall for that, did you? 

nihilister severs the arm where the bullet hit and instantly recovers.

Nihilister: I'll be taking this with me. It may come in handy.

Johan: don't leave just yet. I've got another present for you.

*Bang!!*

Without any hesitation, Johan fires once again at nihilister.

Nihilister: what the…

*bang!!* *Bang!!*

Nihilister: what is this? Losing something so important to you must've driven you mad. Why else would you tickle me with that peashooter? Very well. If you insist on behaving like a fool, then I shall put an end to your misery.

Suddenly, Nihilister freezes.

Nihilister: hmm? Wh…what's happening? Why am I not healing…Argh…! Ahhhhhhh!

Varakiel: really!? The last bullet? Couldn't you have made it the middle at least!? That hurt a lot!

Johan: hmph, now! Give her all you've got!

Isabel: feather electric, maximum firepower!

Nihilister: Uhhhhh..! Ahhhhh!!

Noah: you didn't know my shield came equipped with a laser beam? Well, now you do! Hehe!

*jiiing* *Crash!!*

Johan: So you realize vapaus wasn't the first bullet in the chamber.

Varakiel: Of course I did , there's no reason to trust me that much!

Johan: Then I'm sorry that I lied to you, but the plan worked. Get up. Now that she can't regenerate, it's time we sent her packing.

Johan reaches out his hand to varakiel.

Varakiel: *Sigh* fine we're even now.

Varakiel grabs it and stands up with his help.

Anis: our bodies may be a wreck, but our trigger fingers are still fuctional!

Neon: hit her where it hurts!

*bang* *bang* *bang* *bang!!*

Nihilister: argh, damn you wretched insects!

Harran: It's time to wrap this up.

*click*

 Harran points her scythe towards nihilister.

Nihilister: wait…i…i could kill for you. I could still be of use to you! The queen…i…i'll kill her myself!

Dorothy: hold your fire!

Johan: What are you doing here?

Dorothy: Sorry that I'm late to the party. Just hear me out.

Johan: Sorry, not interested. We've got her where we want her. It's time to end this.

Dorothy: nihilister. You said you would kill the queen yourself. How?

Nihilister: I have…a plan. One that I've been planning for a long time…perhaps you have heard of lilith's body?

Varakiel: Lilith's body?

Nihilister: the queen's predecessor and the only thing she neglected to take care of during her time on the surface. If Lilith's body can be found, I will be able to kill the queen. Please, get the vapaus out of me!

*shooosh!*

*Splurt*

Varakiel: intercepts a laser directly into nihilister but is futile, this one pierces both of them.

???: silence. Your loose tongue will be your undoing.

A mysterious figure materializes, as if emerging from the ocean deep. Without a sound, yet with a presence so oppressive that everyone could sense it.

Varakiel: *cough* *cough* *cough*

???: still alive? Curious.

The figure takes the fallen nihilister and begins to leave.

Isabel: commander, should we attack?

Johan:..no. what you're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg. This is one opponent we don't stand a chance against.

???: a wise decision. I suggest you

*Grrrrr*

A growl came from seemingly nowhere, the growl of an Angry beast.

!!

Everyone, even the mysterious heretic, looks around in shock.

"YOU, how you dare to come into my territory, scraps like you should remain where they belong, laying low and treading softly"

A deep and dark voice comes from the wind.

"The next time you awaken me, all of you will be torn to the point of no return, LEAVE!"

???:!!!

A huge pressure falls into the mysterious heretic and then she leaves in a hurry.

"Now you humans, leave, your kind doesn't deserve to roam on the surface with just this power, you're still too weak!"

*Howlllll*

With a Howl the voice and the pressure disappears.

Varakiel: (good job gregar.)

Gregar: ( *growl*)

Anis: commander! Are you okay!?

Neon: master!

Rapi: commander!

Papillon: honey!

The nikkes from counters approach varakiel.

Varakiel: don't worry, I am fine, I managed to prevent damage to any vital organs.

Varakiel says as he shows a hole passing on his body, you could see the other side he's been pierce all the way through.

Johan: why did you do that?

Varakiel: do what?

Johan: why did you tried to protect nihilister?

Varakiel: heh, she was willing to give us intel about the queen over her life, looks like not all heretics are loyal to this queen, she must be a case of a queen in that case haha.

Harran: how can you laugh when you have been pierced all the way through…

Varakiel: Heh, I don't want to sound arrogant, but besides nikkes, I am the human with the most guts in the world.

Noah: more like stupid.

Isabel: Let's go commander, we need to take you back to Eden for treatment.

Isabel then carries varakiel in a princess carry.

Varakiel: ah, well….this is embarrassing hehe…..

Isabel: don't worry commander, we'll protect you, you have done more than enough. *smile*

Isabel looks at varakiel with a sweet smile.

Varakiel:...alright, counters we are returning to eden.

Rapi: roger.

Anis: Finally we are done!

Neon: That was one hell of a fight I must say.

Papillon: *sigh* I didn't sign up for any of this in the first place.

...