Confrontation!

Raphaela's eyes narrowed as Medea sauntered into the throne room. "What do you want here?" she demanded, her voice sharp as a blade.

Medea rolled her eyes dramatically. "Did I stutter? I'm here for the Golden Fleece. Your listening skills could use some work, darling."

Before Raphaela could retort, a bone-chilling cry pierced the air. "Meda!"

All eyes turned to Ben as inky black smoke poured from his mouth. The acrid stench of decay filled the room, making everyone gag. The smoke writhed and twisted, coalescing into a nightmarish figure that made reality itself quiver.

The being wore tattered yellow robes that seemed to breathe, rippling like liquid gold corrupted by a vile poison. Shredded, tendril-like appendages writhed at its edges, reaching hungrily towards the onlookers. The air around it shimmered with wrongness, bending light in ways that hurt to look at.

Behind its skeletal head, a fractured halo pulsed. It morphed continuously into fragments of an alien symbol – the Yellow Sign. Those who gazed upon it felt their thoughts scatter like leaves in a storm, teetering on the edge of madness.

The figure's face was a blank yellow mask, somehow more terrifying than any expression could be. Wild, matted hair framed it, moving as if caught in an otherworldly wind. Red energy crackled around its form, lashing out like the tentacles of some cosmic horror.

As the room's occupants recoiled, four monstrosities erupted from the figure's back:

The first, a writhing mass of decay. Its face was a nightmare of rotting flesh and jagged teeth, crowned by a multitude of glowing eyes that seemed to bore into the soul of anyone who dared meet its gaze. Twisted vines, pulsing like diseased veins, covered its body. A thick, oily substance oozed from every pore, the droplets hissing where they hit the ground.

Next came a creature of primal terror. Its serpentine body coiled in the shadows, muscles rippling beneath scaled skin that seemed to absorb light. A maw large enough to swallow a person whole snapped hungrily, razor-sharp teeth glinting. Its eyes blazed with hellfire, promising violence and destruction.

The third monstrosity loomed like a colossus, its spider-like form casting a web of shadows across the room. Each movement of its segmented legs sent tremors through the floor. Its bulbous head swiveled, revealing eyes that glowed with alien malevolence. The walls seemed to warp around it, as if the very structure of the building cowered in its presence.

Finally, from a churning sea of blood that materialized out of thin air, rose a titanic horror. Mist clung to its massive form, but couldn't hide the wildly thrashing tentacles or the grotesque head that emerged. Its maw gaped wide enough to swallow ships, filled with row upon row of gleaming teeth. In the distance, storm clouds gathered, as if nature itself recoiled from the creature's existence.

The temperature in the room plummeted. Everyone's breath came out in terrified gasps of fog as they faced this pantheon of nightmares.

Medea, however, merely quirked an eyebrow. Her voice dripped with bored disdain as she said, "Oh, it's just my son."

Hastur's rage exploded like a supernova. With an unholy shriek, he unleashed his nightmarish minions. They surged forward, a tidal wave of teeth, claws, and otherworldly horror.

Medea yawned.

Her emerald eyes flashed, and the air crackled with power. The charging monstrosities froze mid-stride, their forms hardening into grotesque statues. The sound of their petrification echoed through the chamber like breaking glass.

Hastur howled. Twin bolts of midnight lightning leapt from his skeletal hands, followed by an orb of void-black flame that seemed to devour the very light around it.

Medea's lips curled into a smirk. With a flick of her wrist, a shimmering magic circle materialized above Hastur. It pulsed once, twice – then swallowed his attacks whole.

For a heartbeat, silence reigned.

Then the circle erupted, disgorging Hastur's amplified assault back upon him. The impact shook the very foundations of the room, filling the air with dust and the stench of cosmic horror.

As the chaos settled, Medea's voice cut through the din, dripping with disdain. "It seems you've forgotten, darling. I am your mother."

From the smoldering debris, a tiny snake slithered forth. It darted across the floor and vanished into Ben's prone form. His eyes fluttered open, confusion etched across his face.

Gilgamesh, lounging on his opulent throne, slow-clapped. "She's certainly not winning any 'Mother of the Year' awards. I'd wager she's not exactly the toast of the PTA meetings."

Tamamo's fox ears twitched in irritation. "Look who's talking, Mr. Arrogant himself. You're hardly one to judge parenting skills."

Off to the side, Jasmine nudged Akira. "Is it just me, or are we being completely ignored here?"

Akira shrugged, a wry smile playing at his lips. "If it means staying alive a little longer, I'm not complaining. Besides, I'm used to flying under the radar."

"Same," Jasmine agreed, then paused. "Wait a second. Did I just hear a pessimistic comment from you, of all people?"

Akira's eyes sparkled with mischief. "That's the beauty of life, Jas. There's always a first time for everything – even me embracing my inner doom and gloom."

Tamamo's tails lashed in agitation. "Hello? Earth to sidekicks! I don't recall coming here for amateur philosophy hour."

"Oh, I don't know," Gilgamesh drawled, examining his golden nails. "I rather enjoy these poetic interludes. You logical types could stand to learn a thing or two from the dreamers and philosophers. They see the world in ways we often miss."

Medea's laughter cut through the air like a knife. "Oh, please. I've lived long enough to see every drama, play, TV show, and book imaginable. It's all just an endless loop, recycling the same tired stories. There's nothing new under the sun."

Tamamo's ears perked up, a mischievous glint in her golden eyes. "Have you tried anime?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees as Medea's lip curled in disgust. "Cartoons? Why on earth would I waste my time on such childish nonsense?"

The silence that followed was deafening. Then, simultaneously:

"Ha!" Tamamo and Raphaela's voices rang out in perfect, indignant harmony.

Raphaela's form began to shift, her human features melting away as extra limbs burst from her sides. Chitinous armor covered her body as she rose on eight arachnid legs, venom dripping from newly formed fangs. "We must kill her now," she hissed, her voice a mix of fury and anticipation.

"Agreed," Tamamo growled. Her human guise shimmered and fell away, revealing her true kitsune form. Nine spectral tails fanned out behind her, each tip flickering with foxfire. The air around her crackled with ancient, mystical energy.

From his golden throne, Gilgamesh quirked an eyebrow at Jasmine, who had somehow migrated from leaning against it to perching on the arm like an overly familiar parrot. "I take it they're both hardcore anime fans?"

"Yep," Jasmine confirmed, popping the 'p' with relish.

A wicked grin spread across Gilgamesh's face. "Well, well. It seems our dear Medea should have chosen her words more carefully." He leaned back, steepling his fingers. "This should be quite the show. Nothing brings out a fighter's true ability like their passion for something they love."

His crimson eyes swept over the assembled group. "Now then, you peasants want some snacks while we watch this delightful little drama unfold?"

Jasmine's eyes lit up. "Yes, please!" she chirped, either oblivious to or deliberately ignoring the 'peasant' comment.

With a snap of Gilgamesh's fingers, reality hiccupped. A young maid materialized beside a massive golden trolley that would have made Willy Wonka jealous. It groaned under the weight of exotic fruits, decadent desserts, and beverages that sparkled with otherworldly allure.

Gilgamesh plucked a bowl of gourmet popcorn from the spread, the kernels gleaming like tiny gold nuggets. "Well?" he prompted. "Don't just stand there gawking. Help yourselves!"

Ben, still looking dazed from his earlier possession, reached for a crystal goblet. The maid's hand flashed out, smacking his away with surprising force.

"Tea or coffee?" she demanded, her tone brooking no argument.

"Uh... tea?" Ben stammered.

The maid's eyes narrowed dangerously. "WRONG!" she barked, shoving a steaming mug of coffee into his hands. "It's coffee."

Ben blinked rapidly, looking from the maid to the coffee and back again. "What... what kind of nonsense is this?"

Gilgamesh's laughter boomed through the chamber. "I believe, my dear boy, it's called a 'joke.' You might want to cultivate a sense of humor. It could save your life one of these days."

As Ben sipped his coffee (which, despite everything, was possibly the best he'd ever tasted), the air began to thicken with magical energy. Raphaela and Tamamo advanced on Medea, their forms radiating barely contained power.

Medea, for her part, looked utterly unimpressed. She examined her nails as if contemplating whether she needed a manicure more than she needed to deal with enraged magical beings.

The stage was set. The combatants were ready. And the audience had snacks.

"ANIME IS NOT CARTOONS!" Raphaela's voice boomed across the room, her fists clenched as she glared at Medea.

"Quiet. It's starting," Jasmine murmured, her hand casually diving into Gilgamesh's popcorn.

Medea raised an eyebrow, placing her hands on her hips. "What's the difference, then?"

Raphaela's eyes narrowed. "Cartoons are mainly for kids. They don't pay much attention to backgrounds or themes."

Tamamono joined in, snapping her fingers in a zigzag motion. "Exactly. Anime is for everyone—kids and adults. And it takes its background seriously. Complex, mature themes, real-world problems, everything's addressed."

Medea smirked, flicking her nails. "So, it's just cartoons drawn by sad, depressed man-children with overactive imaginations? People who didn't enjoy their childhood, so they project their power fantasies onto these ridiculous characters? It's a way for them to feel strong when they never could in real life, right? Just weak losers trying to inspire other invisible nobodies."

Raphaela's face flushed with anger. "Shut up, you—"

Medea interrupted with a mocking grin. "That's the best you've got?" Her voice dripped with disdain. "Here's a cartoon for you."

Tamamono didn't miss a beat, tossing a flickering blue fireball toward Medea. It transformed midair into a large black rat with red pants and shoes, smacking Medea square in the face. The rat tumbled to the ground, shook itself off, and whistled a jaunty tune as it walked away on two legs.

Medea wiped soot from her cheeks, fury twisting her features. "Did you just throw a whistling rat at my face?"

Tamamono grinned. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, dear. And yes, yes, I did. What are you gonna do about it?"

Medea's eyes flashed purple, her smile vanishing as black veins crept across her skin. "I'll show you, fox." The air around her shimmered with dark energy, shadows twisting at her feet. A high-pitched squealing sound erupted as she began to sink into her own shadow. Rats, hundreds of them, started clawing up her legs, biting and scratching as they pulled her deeper into the abyss.

"Tamamono!" Raphaela shouted, firing a web toward her friend, but just before it could reach, a fiery pillar erupted from the ground, stopping the attack in its tracks.

Tamamono, caught in the flames, struggled to keep her balance. "I'm fine!" she shouted, but the strain in her voice betrayed her.

Medea's laugh cut through the chaos. "That fox should've known better than to mess with me." She winked at Raphaela, but Raphaela wasn't paying attention to words anymore. Her face twisted in rage as she launched a barrage of venomous web balls, each one expanding into a massive net as it hurtled toward Medea.

Medea dodged swiftly, but not fast enough to avoid Raphaela's next move. With a flick of her wrist, Raphaela opened a portal in the ceiling. A massive great white shark tumbled down, jaws snapping wildly as it fell toward Medea.

Medea's eyes gleamed. "Nice try." She caught the shark by its teeth, her muscles straining as she ripped the creature in two. Blood sprayed across the room, the thick metallic smell filling the air. Medea slammed her palms together, turning the blood into solid crimson blades. With a scream, she hurled them back at Raphaela.

The room exploded into chaos as the blades whistled through the air, cutting through the dust and debris. Raphaela leaped aside, her webs firing off rapidly to deflect the deadly shards.

Meanwhile, unnoticed in the midst of the action, a shadowy figure crept along the edges of the room. A hand slipped out from the dark, reaching for the cloak draped over Gilgamesh's shoulder.

Just as the fingers brushed the edge of the Golden Fleece, Gilgamesh's hand snapped out like lightning, grabbing the intruder's wrist.

"So, this was your plan all along," Gilgamesh growled. "An act, huh? You really thought you could fool me?"

With a sharp tug, he yanked the thief into the light. Their body flailed, one of their legs kicking out and smacking Jasmine in the face, sending her sprawling off her chair.

"Why does this always happen to me?" Jasmine groaned, rubbing her cheek as she sat up, dazed.

"Well, well, aren't you a spoiled sport," Tamamono muttered, licking her arm casually.

"I'll show you," Gilgamesh growled, stepping forward with a sudden, deafening bang. Ben yelped as his coffee splattered across his chest, and before Tamamono could react, her face slammed into the concrete wall, leaving a spider-web crack in the stone.

"Ha! What's going on?" Raphaela asked, eyes wide as the room shook around them.

"No time to explain," Medea snapped, her body crackling with power. She hurled a massive lightning bolt at Gilgamesh, but he barely flinched as the energy danced across his skin, absorbed without effort.

"Thanks for the charge, darling," Gilgamesh smirked, redirecting the crackling energy toward Tamamono. The shockwave blasted her backward, electricity scorching the air.

"Bastard! Sword, extend!" Akira's shout cut through the chaos. His blade shot forward like a bullet, but the moment it struck Gilgamesh's back, it shattered into a thousand pieces. Glass-like shards floated in the air, suspended for a breath, before Akira whispered something under his breath. The fragments ignited with black flames and transformed into daggers that shot toward Gilgamesh, their edges cutting through the air with a deadly hiss.

Gilgamesh grabbed Tamamono by the arm and hurled her into the air, using her as a shield. The flaming daggers pierced her flesh, her scream echoing through the chamber.

"Seriously?!" Tamamono yelled, clutching her side.

"Sorry, my bad!" Akira winced.

Gilgamesh caught one of the flaming daggers midair, his fingers curling around it as he spun, deflecting the rest. Two more daggers flew straight into Tamamono's leg, pinning her to the ground.

"Again?!" she howled.

"That wasn't me!" Akira shouted, ducking under the deflected blades.

"Focus, girl," Gilgamesh barked, slamming his foot into the ground. The stone floor cracked open as a massive lion, armored in gleaming gold, burst forth, roaring as it launched Tamamono into the ceiling with a sickening thud.

Jasmine charged toward Gilgamesh, her movements swift and lethal. He turned, smirking. "Down, girl." A force like gravity itself crushed her to the floor, leaving a deep handprint in the stone.

But Jasmine's body flickered—just an illusion. The real Jasmine had tunneled beneath the floor, and before Gilgamesh could react, she erupted from the shadows behind him, delivering a vicious kick to his back that sent him hurtling into the wall. Without hesitation, her hands disappeared into her shadow, reappearing from the wall near Gilgamesh, wrapping around him like iron bands. "Now, Ben!" she yelled.

Ben, already poised, breathed deeply, an electric fireball forming between his lips. He launched it with a roar, the ball of energy spiraling toward Gilgamesh with deadly speed.

But Gilgamesh grinned, unbothered. His mouth opened, and a golden fireball emerged, colliding with Ben's attack and easily overpowering it. The fiery blast exploded, sending Ben sprawling backward, smoke rising from his charred clothes.

"Enough!" Tamamono growled. Her tails flared out as she summoned a massive fire phoenix. The heat of the room skyrocketed, the air rippling with waves of intense heat as the phoenix screeched and soared toward Gilgamesh. Not to be outdone, Raphaela gathered every ounce of her energy into a glowing ball of venomous green light and hurled it into the mix.

Medea, her eyes flashing with power, added to the assault, summoning a massive storm cloud above. Lightning and water coalesced into the shape of a dragon, its mouth crackling with pure electricity as it hurtled toward the center of the chaos.

The room trembled violently as the combined attacks collided in an explosion of color, fire, and lightning. The shockwave rippled outward, blasting apart walls and sending debris flying. When the dust cleared, Medea stood at the center, the Golden Fleece now glowing in her hands.

A sinister laugh echoed through the thick, smoky air.

Gilgamesh emerged from the haze, entirely unscathed. Not a scratch marred his skin, and his golden eyes gleamed with amusement.

"I haven't had this much fun in ages," he said, his voice rich with dark glee. "Thank you."

Medea's smirk faltered as she started to speak. "No, thank you for—"

Her words cut off abruptly. A soft pop, like bubble wrap, came from her neck. Her eyes widened in shock as pain shot through her body. She gasped, feeling her energy drain, her skin turning pale and tight like withered parchment. In seconds, she crumbled to the ground, her lifeless form hollowed out, a mere husk of what she once was.

"You!" Gilgamesh roared, spinning toward the source of the attack.

From the shadows, a figure emerged, tall and composed.

Raphaela gasped. "Mr. Cummings?!"

The figure's lips curled into a smile, fangs glinting in the dim light. "I believe you mean Count Dracula," he corrected, his voice as smooth as silk. He stepped forward, picking up the Golden Fleece from Medea's shriveled body. "Thank you for doing all the hard work for me. Now, I'll be taking this."

"That's mine!" Gilgamesh roared, summoning a bolt of red lightning and hurling it at Dracula.

But Dracula's body dissolved into a swarm of bats, the bolt slicing through empty air as the cloud of wings and fangs swirled upward and vanished into the dark corners of the room.

In the wake of his disappearance, silence fell. Raphaela stood frozen, her heart racing, her mind reeling from the chaos, the betrayal, and the sheer power she had witnessed.

Nothing made sense anymore. Not this battle. Not this reality.

And certainly, not herself.

To be continued…