While the six heroes talked, Alo and Chapa met in a diner in Littlecrop, beside the window to the sidewalk&street outside. Gabriel had asked for time to think that day, and the men of the family had never been too open with each other.

"The girl." murmured Chapa. "With that ill weather recently, she may have been killed."

"A man saw her out in this town. We shall wait for her, and when we find her…"

"We will not kill her. That - that would make us true monsters."

"Aye." muttered Alo. "As we did with the curator. Torture - if - it is required. But we cannot take revenge for…" He sighed. Normally, Chapa wouldn't ask him first why.

"The man who stole it, originally. He's likely dead." said Chapa.

"Do you believe father would deliver on his threat to have us exiled? I - will admit, that…"

Chapa saw him almost recoil when he kept his eyes on him. "… It's difficult to feel the connection that he must have with that history, but -"

" - the girl -" panted Alo, standing and waving to the window outside, where Nuiko had just passed by. The two rushed from their seats, up the diner and past the register, and as they ran out the doors to the sidewalk -

- there, thirty feet separating them and their oblivious foe, back-turned and walking, corner up ahead, and as she stepped to the curb -

"Stop! Daangin!" shouted Alo; a marker and mirror appeared in his right hand, and as Nuiko turned -

"Aawenan!" shouted Chapa -

- and for the three, the world turned as a reflection in a disturbed pond, civilians suddenly disappearing from sight. Nuiko gasped and stumbled back, and as Alo's marker touched her reflection -

- with the speed of Shrink, she shrunk to a microscopic size, the black highlighter missing narrowly her neck. The men rushed in pursuit, Chapa huddling at Alo's back, stomping and seeking their microscopic foe below, and as they hurtled around the corner to the avenue -

- there, swollen to normal size again, their dwarven foe running ahead, the road beside packed with cars.

With no time to waste, Nuiko swept her tablet from her back, and as she readied to send a message -

- it exploded in a rain of shards; with a curse, she yanked her phone out -

- and her last communication device exploded again, Chapa laughing behind as the men pursued.

"Here - Chapa -" said Alo, shoving Daangin's mirror in to his hand - " - keep her in its sights, and I will -"

- and the two groaned as they saw Nuiko leap on to a nearby car. A second leap on to an 18-wheeler in the other lane - a third, and she was gone to the roof of an adjacent gunstore.

Down the sidewalk the men ran, Chapa trying to keep the mirror steady, and they leaped up on to the first car, and as they sought the same truck Nuiko had taken up -

- it shrunk to a microscopic size, and as the men fell -

- it swelled to a tremendous size again, smashing them up and throwing them skyward; the two screamed as they hit their peak and started to fall, and as they saw the truck shrink below -

- a sweep of Alo's marker across the mirror, the store's reflection filling it -

- and a pole extended outward from the store towards them; the two gripped on to it, safely out of range and seeing Nuiko at the roof now. The two men swept up upon the beam, and as they readied to step like acrobats across -

- underneath the first pebble thrown by Nuiko they dodged, and as the second hit Chapa's free hand -

- it swelled to a boulder, stumbling him and losing his balance, and as he fell off from the pole -

- Alo gasped, leaped down beside, and as the two readied to land on the pavement below, the boulder still falling beside -

- Alo's marker swept across the mirror again, the ground's reflection in it, and a pole extended upward from the ground; and the two clutched it tight as they fell, sliding down like firefighters to the gunstore's entrance.

The two stumbled back, seeing Nuiko readying for another volley above. Her right hand swept out and back, and as she perched up on the ledge, she threw another rain of swelling pebbles-to-boulders down -

- that were sliced in half as if by invisible blades, Alo's marker a flurry of movement as Chapa kept the mirror square on it.

"Fucking shit." grunted Nuiko, her ammunition expended, and as she readied to step back off the ledge -

- it collapsed suddenly, buckled and burst down, and down she fell across the front of the building, landing on her back at the men's feet.

"We're not going to -"

" - swell!" shouted Nuiko, and as Alo looked up -

- there, a falling&swelling bit of rubble seeking his neck; with the speed of a brother, Chapa tackled Alo out of the way -

- and the titanic projectile missed the two, buying time for Nuiko to rush to her feet and run inside the gunstore.

"Keep going." grunted Alo.

The men set in pursuit again, burst in through the front door, Nuiko zigzagging along the counter and walls, civilians she knew were inside but couldn't see. Chapa kept the mirror on the wild flurry she ran, the door to the gun range up ahead, and in to there Nuiko fled in and through, slamming the door behind as she rushed through the range.

Five seconds separated her and a second door ahead. She heard the door open behind -

- and laughed as one of her fake nails swelled and impaled Chapa's foot, that she had dropped as she came through the door. She came up quick to the second door, and with no option left, threw herself inside, rushing along the bathroom and to the back -

- and in the next instant, invisible blades sliced her feet off in a waterfall of blood; a horrific shriek erupted from her as she stumbled and slid, decapitated below the ankles, smashing in to the wall and leaving a red streak behind.

And in stomped Chapa and Alo, no escape or fake nails left.

◆◆◆

"…yeah. I dunno. Could be another test, I guess." mumbled Aimee, still reading the tablet. "Doubt this has anything to do with it, though."

She tapped her electronic tablet and sent a message to Nuiko to shrink.

"… just hope one, um, doesn't come for Nuiko." mumbled Jeanne, having grown slightly dependent. 

"She's pretty strong." said Aimee.

"Yeah, but so are you." said Jeanne.

"Yeah, but I can't do clever shit with mine." laughed Aimee. "C'mon. Sure she'll be fine." She glanced at the tablet, which still hadn't shrunk. "... er."

"You told her to shrink it, right?" said Serena, and Aimee nodded hesitantly.

"Probably - fighting or shower, I guess." mumbled Aimee.

Mia placed her hand on Jeanne's back. "Remember when I was worried about Aimee? When we went to France?"

Jeanne laughed, but still had a bit of embarrassment for how she had acted back then. "Yeah. Um. I guess you're right."

"Yeah. I'm sure she'll be alright, Jeanne." said Aimee. "Uh. Do you wanna take the tablet with you?"

Jeanne nodded quick, took it quick. "Yeah. I'm - I'm sure she'll be fine."

"I'll let you know as soon as she contacts us, yeah?" said Aimee. "Take a nap. Helps the time go by quicker."

"We heading back to our pairs, then?" said Yuruko, standing up with Samuel.

"I - er…" Aimee's lips pinched. "… uh - wanted to spend - talk - with Schultzy. Uh, just let me know where you stay."

Serena and Yuruko nodded like she was talking to them.

"We should still be in pairs, however." chimed Mia, waving Aimee's wince down. "Serena, can you pair with Yuruko?"

Serena nodded rapid, knowing the mentor as her homegirl then. "Sounds good."

"Myself with Jeanne, then." said Samuel as Serena went over to Yuruko. The new pairs started out of the diner, and they heard Serena start the tale of two Revenants as they left.

"…hey, uh." Aimee placed her hand across the table. Mia caught her, and the two smiled. "Can we, uh - talk about you and Serena?"

Mia nodded. "Serena and I've talked about - my mentoring her. I'm... sorry that I've been… neglecting our relationship. I was worried about her, but - it's my fault that we haven't spent much time together."

Aimee nodded. "… I'm sorry, too. I should've talked about it with you earlier. I kinda figured that - the way you were talking about her, something might've been up - but I wanted to wait and see if it was something." She laughed. "Or maybe I - uh - just was hoping to avoid an awkward conversation."

Mia smiled, and felt her lips kissed. "It's been a stressful trip for both of us - but we shouldn't make it worse by being away from each other."

"I mean, I -am- gonna be gone most of the year." Aimee smiled. "Still. Serena be alright with Yuruko?"

"The two seem to fight well together, but she knows to ask for help if she needs it, now."

"Sure, yeah, but she's also got a crush on Yuruko the size of Texas. Like, she apologized to - we got in to an argument, and she fucking -" - Aimee laughed - " - she apologized to Yuruko -before- she apologized to me."

"Are you really one to be talking about embarrassing crushes?" grinned Mia. "Or do I need to remind you of the time I bathed you?"

"Oh, c'mon. We agreed not to talk about that." The two laughed. "… Still. I really love you. Kinda dreading the end of this trip - but kinda excited, just to get through with these Revenants."

"Only seven left. I love you too."

The two leaned over, and as their lips met -

- they heard the doors behind burst open, and as they turned -

" - are those fucking butterflies?" groaned Aimee.

And there, at the front door, was a swarm of fucking butterflies, hundreds of wings beating; they stared stupidly for an instant, and as the swarm shot towards them -

" - Worldwide!"

- a white wall of fire erupted from the ground and burned the first horde. With no time to waste, the women shot to their feet as a scarab snuffed Mia's fire, butterflies burnt to ash below.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Fucking really?" groaned Aimee, tendrils dipping in to Mia's veins, and in the next instant -

- the diner's walls began to buckle inward, cracking and rending down, fissures starting to collapse; they rushed through the diner, and as they threw themselves out the doors to the parking lot beyond -

- they saw a second titanic swarm encapsulating the entirety of the building, proboscises digging at the outer walls; sword and knife drawn, they drew to the center of the lot and turned -

- and the entire diner collapsed, a second swarm of scarabs burning the rubble that sought their eyes. The monarch cloud turned to them, flying towards the women and surrounding them quick; and the true battle began as the two moved back-to-back.

"This always - fucking happens! Every time I talk!" shouted Aimee, her knife a whirlwind of teleporting steel as she hacked and smote, hundreds of sharp proboscises seeking their eyes.

"Every time." groaned Mia, gleaming white sword burning the insectile swarm, her scarabs biting all around, butterfly wings nodding from butterfly necks that were stained crimson.

"You wanna risk it?" said Aimee, digging her tendrils in Mia's veins, and her girlfriend nodded -

- and Worldwide's sword burst in to blue flames -

- and a streak of burning blue went through the hideous swarm, disintegrating hundreds in an instant and clearing a path out, and through the hallway of butterfly blood the women ran, ice scarabs snuffing Mia's sword before it could melt.

Up the parking lot they rushed, and on to the sidewalk adjacent, buildings flanking them as they surged, immeasurable hordes in pursuit behind and immeasurable hordes in the sky above.

"They've gotta - fuck - gotta find the host, gotta find the host. Gotta be some way to track it."

"Fuck these fucking Revenants." said Mia, relevantly.

But the horde behind was fast approaching, and as the two turned and readied for another fight -

- a globe of ice formed around the butterflies, trapping the winged foes in unmeltable containment; and with the strength of time, Aimee kicked the globe away, laughing as it rolled down the sidewalk, insectile cargo crushed underneath the frozen wrecking ball.

"Least that works." chimed Aimee, and the two started again. The street corner was just ahead, and they took a wide berth and turned -

- just in time to dodge a set of proboscises seeking their necks; underneath a hundred synchronized stabs they dodged, and as the insects sought their eyes -

" - Worldwide!"

- a globe of ice formed around the horde again; but the butterflies' strength had grown. The ice began to crack, buckling inward and bursting open; and from out of the frozen prison broke the inmates, making towards the two again -

" - Rider!"

And for Aimee, the world slowed as a reflection in a disturbed pond -

- just in time for one's sharp probe to enter her neck; with a curse, she felt time speed up to dilute the damage -

- and the butterflies around fell dead in an instant.

"I, uh." panted Aimee, scratching her neck as time resumed.

"What - what is it?" said Mia, the two running again.

"I didn't do that. I just sped up time." muttered Aimee, and as the next horde descended upon them -

- a flash of Rider's tendrils, and they fell dead again.

"Didn't do it that time, either! No idea why!"

"I - hope the others are faring alright. We need to find the source." winced Swarm, scarab swarm to protect from another swarm seeking Swarm.

◆◆◆

"Reaaal useless here." groaned Jeanne on a nearby street, bashing the horde with Dream, her traditional steel-water useless against the flying foes surrounding them.

"Perfect for me." muttered Samuel at the front, Outcast's gauntlets a whirlwind of blue, snapping butterfly necks open and breaking butterfly spines.

The four stuck together close, three already wearing gas masks, and as Yuruko finished up her own -

" - Serena, do it!"

A stream of Blackburn's fog filled Serena's cup, and as she peeled the lid off -

- a white gas flew out of the cup and spread through the air, and all around them, the butterflies fell dead.

"That's why DDT's banned, baby." chimed Yuruko.

"This is rough." muttered Serena, and the four started down another sidewalk, housing adjacent.

◆◆◆

"Starting to realize what it is!" panted Mia, the two fighting at the front steps of a home, her gleaming white sword cracked underneath the growing insectile might. "It's feeding on our Revenants' energy! That's why it keeps getting stronger!"

Aimee grunted in affirmation, her tendrils disappearing. Inch by inch, the pressure of the horde's strikes forced them further back, and as their backs touched the front door -

- a single fire scarab burnt the entrance down, and in to the living room swept the women, knowing to use their Revenants as little as possible. Mia's sword disappeared as they rushed across the living room and in to the kitchen, and she grinned in relief to find the stove was gas.

At her side, Aimee dug through the cabinets, throwing and smashing bottles of oil, spreading them wildly across the floor; and as the horde entered the room, she huddled close to Schultzy -

- and a single fire scarab plunged the room in to a horrific blaze, a single ice scarab protecting Aimee as the gas explosion followed, the entire house lit aflame, smoke and oil flaming.

"G-God." coughed Aimee, starting a different kind of hacking then.

"Just like firefighting." winced Mia, yanking Aimee underneath the smoke and on to the floor -

- but the two slipped on to a surviving drop of oil, and Aimee landed on top of Mia, hands danger close to pinning her.

"Er, you want to do this right now?" chimed Aimee, and Mia hacked a laugh out.

"I - told you - we can't use our Revenants."

"I dunno, you said I'm pretty good even without -"

" - AIMEE!" laughed Mia as she pulled her tablet out. "We have to let the others -"

- but from out of the smoke came a dozen surviving butterflies, and their proboscises shot to her tablet; ripping it from her grip, they started to fly away with it -

" - Worldwide." winced Mia, and a pole of ice extended from her hand to the tablet; a yank of it back, and Aimee swept away the frozen dead as Mia typed quick. With a nod, the two shot to their feet, smoke shrouding them as they felt blindly around -

" - here!" shouted Mia, vaulting out of a window and to the outside, yanking Aimee with her a second later. The two rushed along the side of the home, still seeing a titanic swarm claim the business district in the distance, thousands of burnt butterflies around the smoldering house.

"Hey, wait." panted Aimee, and the two cut back around the home, running out on to the road ahead. "Look at that line."

Mia turned her eyes, and she nodded as she caught it quick, their new destination a mile away but deeper in town.

"Doesn't that look like where they're coming from?" said Aimee, singular line of butterflies joining the swarm on the distance.

"Likely, er - hatching them?"

"Got no other lead."

The women set out.

◆◆◆

And at the other end of town, the four backed in to the front door of another home, the titanic swarm having reached eye-level, fifty feet separating them and them.

"We can funnel them in to this, but -" grunted Samuel, Outcast's armor with a score of cracks, proboscises meant for others he had taken.

"Got something better - but it's gonna need our Revenants." winced Yuruko, knowing the restriction now, and the four nodded. "Serena! Water!"

At her left, Serena's cup filled with water; at her right, a hailstone of dry ice formed in Yuruko's gloves, and as she threw it to the swarm ahead -

- it fell only inches short, and as Serena threw her cup on to the dry ice -

- an explosion of white smoke erupted and claimed the entire swarm, vague shapes of wings still beating within and living; and as Jeanne sprayed at the cloud of smoke -

- the stream ended only inches before the cloud, the edge of Dream's range, and as the butterflies started flying through again -

" - spray again!" shouted Samuel, and his voice whipped Jeanne to spray again -

- and the next scene was instant. A shove of Outcast's blue gauntlet forward, and the stream flew swifter and further; the smoke turned to amber-smoke, and in to the sudden barrier smashed the butterflies, stuck as a fossilized dinosaur.

"You never said you could manipulate gases!" panted Jeanne.

"I've never been able to do that before." muttered Samuel. "I've never felt this strong before."

"Not again." groaned Serena.

◆◆◆

The prodigal couple rushed through another burning building, smoke and dead butterflies around, and they shoved through the back door to the street beyond -

" - there!" shouted Aimee, pointing to a flowershop further down the street, where a steady pace of butterfly customers were exiting. Down the sidewalk they ran, and as they reached the door, a miniscule spray of blue fire cleared their path.

They rushed inside the store, aisles of flowers to their right, their male foe at the other end, a hundred feet separating them and he; but few could match Aimee's speed. Her tendrils went taut, and in the next instant she was fifty feet away, and as she readied to clear the clearing -

- the man laughed, and Aimee heard Mia's urgent scream behind. She wheeled and turned, and saw a butterfly the size of three women, enormous proboscis seeking Mia's ears, the prodigal hero forced back and running.

"You've figured out Madama's restriction - but without use of your Revenant, you can't stand against her!" shouted the man, Aimee running in pursuit of him. "With Worldwide's power - she'll make a far better breeder!"

A dozen feet separated the two now, Mia still rushing and dodging the butterfly that sought her mind.

"And - of course -" laughed the man - " - if you'd like to use your Revenant, it'll only strengthen it -"

"- good." grunted Aimee, knife in hand, tendrils not. "Because I don't want you to die quickly."

That monster had hurt Mia. His death alone wouldn't satisfy her.

She threw her knife forward, and as the man instinctively threw his arm out with a cry -

- the keen end pierced his chest just in time for her tackle, and the two combatants hit the ground fighting. In a whirlwind of blows they revolved down the aisle, and as his hand shot to her knife's hilt -

- her thumbs shot to his eyes, and even Mia winced as she saw Aimee dig in, gouging the white sockets. A shriek escaped him as he thrashed and writhed, left hand gripping desperately her face, and as his right yanked the blade out -

- she ripped it back from him, free hand craning his right wrist down, inch-by-inch. Few could match the Mad Dog's strength, and as his left fingers sought her eyes -

- a whirl of steel cut his left hand clear off, a burst of blood as his hand fell. A horrific scream filled the aisle, and as Aimee's grip tightened on his right hand -

- as a woman might snap a wishbone, she snapped his hand back to his wrist.

Again and yet again, she stabbed through his lips and tongue, slashing deeper down. Again and yet again, blood filled his throat; a second slash opened it, and as she ground his face against the floor -

" - I believe he's dead, Aimee." chimed Mia, suddenly stood over, and Aimee's head shook, Mad Dog gone feral.

"I… oh. Uh."

Mia laughed, offering her hand to Aimee. She took it. "Was that you getting your stress out?"

"Uh, could call it that." laughed Aimee, a few long breaths. "…haven't gotten to just - let loose, in a while. Besides. He tried to hurt my Schultzy." She winked.

Mia laughed, and her scarabs cooled their wounds. "One down, six to go."

Aimee smiled and nodded, the number bettering her spirit. "Yeah. What would that be - hang on." She tried on Yuruko's voice. "Butterfly dumbass?"

The two laughed.

"Still - we should check on the others." chimed Mia, trying to hide worry that wasn't gone yet.

"Yeah. Uh - let's destroy the Revenant." Aimee enhanced Mia, and a pillar of blue flame disintegrated the grisly corpse. "… and then… uh. We'll be alone tonight, right? For the rest of the trip?"

Mia grinned as the two started walking. "Are you going to ask for Rider-time?"

Aimee laughed, but her head shook. "Nah. Be too worried about someone barging in."

◆◆◆

Gabriel found Alo and Chapa's corpses being recovered, and pretended not to notice them when the ambulance came, knew they were dead.

Back home, they had one fat cat at home & a few strays that lived in a field nearby. Their father had taught them the difference between the two breeds. Their pet cat wouldn't budge if a mouse ran across the floor, but the strays would chase through half a field & over three houses if they thought a meal was around. Their father hadn't offered to come reclaim the history of those now-dead names on the tablet, and Gabriel was thinking who the fat cat was.

He thought of all that he'd yell in his father's face, and he thought of that big man shrinking. He thought of Chapa - he'd taught Gabriel how to write. Ahote - back when Gabriel was just ten years, he'd pinned Gabriel under a blanket until he cried. Alo had yelled at Ahote for it, but it wasn't as bad as if their father had found out.

He thought of that girl, who he'd almost slipped in to thinking caused it all. Now he wondered what her dad was like. Whether she had any siblings, if her mother was around.

And on another street, Nuiko stepped in to the diner, up to the register.

"Excuse me." said Nuiko, flashing her badge. "Can I use your phone?"

"Paying customers only." said the cashier.

She sighed, went to take a booth seat. One eye glanced at the menu as she took her badge and set it in her seat. Her wounds were swollen, her feet hastily Swelled back on. She'd heal better when she wasn't worrying for Jeanne.

The microscopic revolver was still in her pocket. Alo and Chapa hadn't caught her swiping it, and six gargantuan bullets had blown their chests wide.

A man stepped up to her table. "I'm terribly sorry - you're a Urasaria student, correct?"

Nuiko nodded, tense for another fight, but the man shook his head.

"Whatever you need - if you need to use the phone, please. I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience - if you would like a meal on the house, let one of our staff know."

"It's fine." Nuiko stood, and the manager led her behind the register, brushed aside the previous man. The door opened, and in stepped Gabriel as Nuiko took the phone.

Her answer came instant.

"Hello, Jeanne?" She smiled. "Yes, I'm safe - I fought two men. My tablet and phone were destroyed. What dicks!"

Gabriel stared at her and took the only booth seat left.

"Two dead." said Nuiko, nodding. "… I'm sorry I made you worry - but I'm alright now, right? Are you okay?"

He felt something ting next to him as he adjusted.

"I'll be alright. I have your number. Did you finish reading the tablet?" She paused. She nodded. "Shrink. I'll call you tomorrow morning, with a new phone - have Aimee tell me your route again. Mon pote."

She smiled and hung up, said thanks to the manager as she swept herself back around the counter. Gabriel closed his eyes as he heard her walk out, the door shut.

They opened again. With a sigh, he glanced down to the seat -

- and found Nuiko's badge where she'd left it. He took it careful.

'Rank #5 - Grand Couturier.'

He traced the etching, heard the door open again.

"Excuse me." said her voice above, and he turned to find her there. "That's my Urasaria badge."

"Ah." he muttered. "I wasn't sure."

He handed it back to her, and she smiled as she set out again. As the door opened, Gabriel saw another patron across walk to the counter, a bald man, bottle of water in hand as he walked out.

Something in his leer made Gabriel watch him, and he followed the man out. Nuiko was oblivious and already around the corner.

"You know, it's very obvious." The bald man turned to face Gabriel, the two a dozen feet away. "Very obvious when some moron decides to follow me."

"You're the one obvious." said Gabriel, stepping back. "You've got something with that girl?"

"Who the fuck are you to talk to me like that?" Akira laughed. "I could rip your spine out through your skull, you Pocahontas fuck."

"Talking tough for a man balding in his - what, thirties?"

"It's no wonder your people were wiped out by blankets with wit like that." Akira turned and started walking. "Regardless, I have a woman to -"

" - Nisodotan." grunted Gabriel, and in the next instant -

- a soundwave formed in his hands like a sword; Akura laughed, but no sound came, and Gabriel's sweep sought his neck -

- but caught only air as Akira swept back, throwing his water on to Gabriel, lips laughing soundlessly again. A second soundblade formed in Gabriel's free hand, and he threw it back along the sidewalk, humanoid legs and torso beginning to grow outward from it.

"Sound - sweat - blood." grunted Gabriel, and the two circled. "All I need is one more to form a copy -"

- and the next scene was instant.

A serpent's head grew from the water below, the rest of its form following behind; and its teeth shot to Gabriel's neck -

- and ripped his spine out through his skull. Akira laughed heavy as his voice returned, soundblades disappearing, corpse falling limp at his boots. He stepped on Gabriel's corpse, savoring his spine.

"And I have a woman to steal. Mizuchi."

He tapped the blood below, and he was gone.