Ascension tossed Gargoyle back with casual effort, ducking under a swing from Sailor Pink as the Sailor raced through the air. Red and Blue flew around behind the villain, Red stabbing Ascension in the back and Blue slashing across Ascension’s arm as he raised his fist. The magic weapons barely cut Ascension’s skin, and just as Ascension swung his raised fist Faery Fire leapt between the villain and Pink.

Faery Fire could feel a light gust of air as Ascension’s fist stopped, inches from her face. Batting her eyes, Faery Fire cupped Ascension’s face and conjured the hottest flames her pyromancy held.

"Now now, no need for that," Ascension said, wrenching Faery Fire’s hands away as the flames licked at him, "You're just confused."

"Put me down!" Faery Fire Screamed, kicking at Ascension, "I'm not going back!"

"Psychedelika, restrain her," Ascension commanded, pinning Faery Fire.

"We've got to help her!" Blue wailed.

"We can't hurt him!" Green said.

"Follow my lead," Red instructed, dropping her Sailor form and returning to her school girl body.

"What?" Pink said.

"Just do it!" Blue ordered, dropping her own Sailor form.

All the Sailors quickly followed suit, assembling as a clic of highschool to middle school girl, dressed in school uniforms with various hair clips and charms hanging off them.

“Okay,” Pink said, “What now?”

“We need to stop her,” Red said, pointing to Psychedelika, “Get ready.”

“Ready to do what?” Green asked.

“I get it,” Blue said, “Girls, transform.

“But we just-” Yellow said.

“For the miracle of hope! Sensational Sword Saint Sailor Blue!” Blue said, a wave of technicolor lights forming around her as reality fell away to the performance of her transformation.

“What is?” Psychedelika muttered, her focus turning to the Sailors.

Gargoyle sprinted at Ascension, drawing the oversized revolver he had pilfered from Detective Rider and pressing it into Ascension’s elbow as he held Faery Fire in place.

“Get off-” Ascension demanded, the crack of gunfire cutting him off. The bullet dug into Ascension’s elbow, the shock allowing Faery Fire to break Ascension’s hold, with Gargoyle ducking under Ascension’s feral swing to press the revolver into Ascension’s knee.

“For the miracle of love!” Sensational Sword Saint Sailor Red!” Red declared, moving through her own transformation sequence.

The New Adventurers were struggling against GianTessa, the giant woman having received a few upgrades from Ascension and weilding a sack full of cannonballs. Each throw rang as the metal ball shredded the floor and forced the New Adventurers to dive for cover. Zealot and Gladiator worked to keep GianTessa defensive, but found the incredible difference in reach hard to overcome. Golden light flickered around Zealot as divine miracles enhanced her strength and the woman ran for GianTessa, Wytch casting platforms to spring Zealot into the air. GianTessa pitched her arm back, ready for a throw, and Gladiator hurled his trident to intercept the throw. The cannonball blasted through the trident, slowing down just enough for Zealot to duck around the throw.

Gladiator ran behind GianTessa and called his trident back to him, the magical weapon flying back to his hand and Gladiator stabbed GianTessa in the ankle.

“Ow!” GianTessa barked, kicking wildly at Gladiator, “You little-” Zealot dug her bardiche into GianTessa’s shoulder, howling in fury. “Ow!” A kick from GianTessa sent Gladiator flying across the room, but Zealot landed a cut across GianTessa’s jaw. GianTessa caught Zealot with a headbutt, slamming Zealot into the floor, and jumped forward at Wytch. Wytch put the thickest barrier she could conjure in front of her, and GianTessa’s feet slammed right through it as she drop kicked Wytch.

“For the miracle of peace! Sensational Sword Saint Sailor Green!”

Psychedelika tried to think about what all she had taken today, her gaze filled with glitter and sweeping colors.

Wytch caste a curving barrier that turned her flight for the hard wall into a slide into the air, readying arcane darts as she crested her jump.

Gladiator saw GianTessa raise a fist to beat Zealot into the ground and dove into a slide, propping his trident up as GianTessa brought her hand down.

“Psychedelika!” Ascension roared, “Focus!”

Gargoyle fired the revolver, knocking Ascension off balance as Faery Fire hooked a foot under him, sending Ascension tumbling to the floor. Gargoyle clambered onto Ascension, landing a pair of heavy hooks across Ascension’s jaw. Ascension swung back, fury etched into his face, but jerked backward as Faery Fire put a single finger in front of Ascenion’s fist. Faery Fire tapped her finger against Ascension’s fist before blasting spirit fire into her.

Ascension twisted and pivoted around Faery Fire’s pale blue flames, working to get Gargoyle off him, but Faery Fire put herself in front of every strike Ascension tried. Gargoyle drove his fists into Ascension’s side, stomach and solar plexus, swinging freely as Faery Fire kept herself between Ascension and Gargoyle.

“It is clear to me,” Ascension growled, clenching a hand around Faery Fire, “That some disciplinary action is required.” Ascension flung Faery Fire through the air, aiming towards Psychedelika.

“For the miracle of courage! Sensational Sword Saint Yellow!”

It was, Psychedelika knew, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

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GianTessa yanked her fist back as the trident dug into it, pulling Gladiator up with the trident. Wytch launched a flurry of arcane darts into GianTessa’s head, and the giantess whipped around, clapping her hands on Wytch. The illusion of Wytch was smashed to pieces, with the real Wytch landing atop GianTessa’s outstretched hand. An arcane dart hit GianTessa in the eye, the villainess jerking back and snarling. GianTessa opened her hand just long enough for Wytch to slide into them, clenching one hand above Wytch’s chest, and wrapping her other hand over Wytch’s waist and twisting.

Pain like she had never felt before shot through Wytch like a lightning bolt, leaving her howling in a mix of anguish and sheer terror.

Gladiator hurled his trident once more before turning and planting his hand to help Zealot spring into the air. The trident cut into GianTessa’s ear, and she shrieked and dropped Wytch, Zealot flying after the trident to slash a long cut over GianTessa’s eyebrow.

Ascension shoved Gargoyle off him with a single open hand, and Gargoyle twisted mid air to land on his feet.

“You,” Ascension said, “You’re Gargoyle, aren’t you? Stone Cutter’s lap dog?”

“What of it?” Gargoyle demanded.

“Ah, this is a joyous day,” Ascension declared, “Not only is my dearest work of art returned to me, but I also find Stone Cuttter’s hired thug, the prized superhero serum! I can hardly wait to study you.”

“The miracle of joy! Sensational Sword Saint Sailor Pink!”

Psychedelika idly wondered if there was some sort of side effect to watching the performance.

Gargoyle saw a line of harem girls jogging by. “Bail out!” Gargoyle ordered, “Get the hostages to safety!”

“Champions and heroes all!” Gorestrike bellowed, striding after the harem girls, “Face me in combat!”

“Gamer Man, you must get up,” the machine said.

“I created A.I.” Gamer Man muttered, “I created A.I. and now nukes are going to be hacked.”

“I am not an artificial intelligence,” the machine said.

“Then what are you?” Gamer Man asked.

“You bound a spirit to this machine,” the machine said, “To help you fight as a hero.”

“Oh,” Gamer Man said, trying to collect scattered thoughts, “Are you a girl spirit?”

“I am a product of your love,” the machine said.

“So, yes?” Gamer Man asked, “I think I like that.”

“You misunderstand,” the machine said, “I am a product of your love. Love is not a toy. Love is not something to play with for your entertainment. Love is work.”

“Not a girl robot,” Gamer Man said, “Just my luck.”

“Gamer Man, I am a product of your love,” the machine continued, “I saw your love as you risked your life to save people. Risked your well being for the sake of others. Now, Gamer Man, you must stand up. Gather your love.”

“Okay,” Gamer Man said, “Um, do you have a name?”

“Love,” the machine said, “I witnessed you work for the sake of love. Now I, Love, shall work for your sake.”

Gamer Man staggered to his feet. He walked with an awkward, loping step. Then he strode. Then he jogged.

Then, he ran.

Gamer Man came sprinting in behind Gorestrike, saw the heroes’ fight, and launched his grappling hook forward to cut ahead of Gorestrike.

“Trickery!” Gorestrike declared, “I shall have your head!”

“Round two!” Gamer Man screamed, rushing Gorestrike, “Everyone! Get out of here!”

Gargoyle, the Sailors, the New Adventurers, and the harem were quick on the retreat, Gamer Man charging against the tide to face Gorestrike once more. Gorestrike swung his axe in a downward arc, and Gamer Man leapt into the air. The axe ricocheted off Gamer Man’s helmet, shattering the thing, before Gorestrike righted the course and cut down across Gamer Man’s chest, tearing apart more of his armor. Gamer Man raised his shock club high, and Gorestrike swung across with his sword.

Gorestrike watched in amazement as Gamer Man pulled his feet and sprung forward off Gorestrike’s sword, the sheer daring, the mastery at skill of arms! Gamer Man shifted the club low, slamming it fully into Gorestrike’s helmet. The bravado! The daring!

The club, already facing abuse against Gorestrike and backed with all the strength Gamer Man could muster, snapped apart, its last deed sending Gorestrike two steps fully backwards.

Gamer Man landed atop Gorestrike with a roar of “I DEFY YOU!” Gamer Man hooked his grapple gun under the back of Gorestrike’s gorget, and launched the hook around a pillar. The grapple gun snapped taut as Gamer Man kicked off Gorestrike, pulling hard enough to snap the cable and wrench the anchor in the gun loose.

The cunning! Gorestrike thought, the resourcefulness!

The sheer, unrestrained, pure heroism!

Gorestrike landed hard on his back, Gamer Man speeding away from Castle Gorestrike.

Gorestrike thought about his skull collection, ignoring the people looking down at him. The skulls of the eight greatest heroes Gorestrike had ever killed, two on each pauldron and four hanging from his waist. From the great and mighty Vanguard, a symbol of peace and heroism in his life, to humble warriors that fought Gorestrike with all they had. After some consideration, Gorestrike concluded that Gamer Man would rank number five.

The heroes were quick to return to Viper Base, panting and huffing as they piled out of the armored cars.

“Where’s Faery Fire?” Gamer Man asked.

“Castle Gorestrike,” Gargoyle answered.

“We left her behind?” Gamer Man demanded.

“She knew the risks!” Gargoyle barked, “The mission was to rescue hostages!”

“So that we could blast the place apart with heavy artillery!” Gamer Man said.

The Sailors were all quiet, watching the growing argument with trepidation.

“We’ll get her back!” Gargoyle insisted.

“We can’t go back-” Gladiator said.

“I have lost too many good men,” Gargoyle snarled, “To leave her behind.”

“That took a lot out of all of us,” Wytch said, Zealot tending to her wounds, “I was nearly twisted apart like a soda bottle, all of his stuff if broken, and it looked like Ascension was going to take your head off.”

“I can take him,” Gargoyle insisted.

“He folded you like laundry,” Zealot said.

“Quiet!” Christopher bellowed, pushing the authority of a hardened military commander into his voice. Thankfully, it shut the heroes up.

“Right now, we need to focus on getting heavy guns set up,” Christopher said, “Gorestrike isn’t stupid, he’ll be looking out for military convoys.”

“You want us to lead him out?” Gamer Man asked.

“Exactly,” Christopher said, “Keep in mind, under no circumstances are any of you to engage Gorestrike. Your job is to lead Gorestrike away from the convoy.”

“What about Faery Fire?” Gargoyle asked.

“I have a few ideas,” Christopher said, “But right now, I can’t make any promises.”