[January 19th]

Two hours south of Wilcook, the Elite Four had been called in to Rockfield, and Mia had kept her new brag going for half their flight.

"Does the sixth Revenant count?" laughed Mia, and three heads shook.

"No, 'cause it wasn't solo. Duh." said Marisa.

Mia nodded and grinned. "Then, I believe I -did- beat Matoi's record -"

" - you have to count difficulty -" laughed Matoi - " - it can't only be by numbers -"

" - and it -was- more difficult -" chimed Mia -

"- as if." laughed Matoi. "'Don't let anyone see your back' is far more difficult than 'Revenants can harm their hosts' -"

" - no, no -" laughed Mia - " - you can't - no, you wouldn't have been able to use Wedding's missiles if -"

" - I would have to aim them further, but -"

" - I couldn't use Solar Beam -"

" - I couldn't let anyone see my back!"

"We - we have to put this to a vote." laughed Mia. "Four Revenants - er, what was it again?"

"One was fire. One was creation of objects. One repaired objects, and one killed you if anyone saw your back."

"Seems like a harsh restriction." nodded Samuel, and Matoi nodded - " - but Revenants harming their hosts, well. That just breaks a fundamental rule -"

" - I'm your former mentor - you should be siding with me -"

" - well, I'm saying -" laughed Samuel - " - what did you - how did you counter it? The back one -"

" - I had to Blinding Light every minute -"

" - uh, and Mia-Mia couldn't use Solar Beam." grinned Marisa, Mia-Mia fanning herself beside -

" - yes, so she couldn't end the fight in five seconds -" laughed Matoi, relevantly -

" - if we do count Solar Beam, I think I should be allowed to count that neighborhood -"

" - Worldwide went out of control for that. You can't - you can't count that -"

" - but - but, someday - I'll have it fully under control -"

" - no, no - you can't receive your reward now -"

" - it'd be unfair." laughed Samuel. "Professional Revenant and all."

"Perhaps." smirked Mia. "But - I -did- have to fight someone who -"

" - don't even start." laughed Matoi. "No more. No more luring multiple Revenants."

"Unless you absolutely have to make a point." nodded Samuel, and the four laughed -

" - or if - if Kirihara is going to become president if I don't -"

" - perhaps then." laughed Matoi. "Only then."

◆◆◆

The four arrived in Rockfield with fog overwriting the sky's upper half and skyscrapers the lower. A representative from the police came before they deboarded.

"Good to see you - four." he nodded as he stepped in, four already standing. "I'll get right to it, then."

"Go ahead." said Matoi.

"Alright. Over the past… well, year, really - we've been dealing with - more cases of robberies than usual. No real pattern to it, we think, but - but maybe you four will - find something out about that."

"How frequent?"

"Admittedly, it's - hard to notice in a city like this. I try to handle - well, I handle statistics for the department - and - normally, the trend is lower crime, over time. Last year, it was much higher - about, from - nearly five thousand to six thousand. Only seems to be going up this year."

"You believe it's caused by a Revenant, then?" said Mia, and he nodded.

"It… well." He sighed. "…usually - we respond as fast as we can, but - they've already fled the scene by then."

"What type of places are they robbing?" said Samuel.

"Everywhere." he said, and the four tried not to laugh. "That's - well, that's about it, yes. Stores - gas stations - museums. Even had a bank robbery a few months ago. We sent a whole squad out for that, and..." He winced. "…not - not good. As you can tell."

"…not good." murmured Matoi, prior hesitance to send more experienced students to Wilcook in her head.

"Why did the - the department only call us in now, then?" said Mia, and he sighed.

"Because we - well. Some of us - not me - don't like Urasaria students that much - and so it's - bit of a pride thing to have to call you in -"

" - have any civilians died?"

" - yes -"

" - next time, call Urasaria as soon as you suspect a Revenant." sighed Matoi.

"I wanted to - don't get me wrong, I did - but I'm one out of… well. The - the important thing is - you're here now. And - and we've already told the press - no mention of you coming in. At least until - if you get in to a fight."

"If we get in to a fight?" said Marisa, and Matoi nodded.

"Someone always posts video online, regardless."

"That's what they said, too." said the man. "Told us it'd be unfair otherwise. Since you're public figures and all."

Samuel nodded. "And America's hottest heroes -"

- the four friends burst in to laughter, Matoi speaking -

" - be quiet, #4 -"

- and the four cackled at the in-joke, representative clueless beside -

" - you - you can leave, now -" laughed Matoi, and the man shrugged as he left, fuselage filled with laughing -

" - you - you know -" laughed Samuel - " - at least mine matches - the two ranks match up -"

" - as if -" laughed Mia - " - we had to go through a women's magazine to find one that even mentioned you -"

" - they might update it if we ever go back -"

" - yeah, and Matoi can visit Rin -" grinned Marisa -

- and Matoi's blood turned to ice as six eyes went to her.

◆◆◆

The three had taunted her for another fifteen minutes, though she'd thought about Rin for the latter half. She had been initially attracted to Rin for her appearance, though she quickly made the excuse it was for her personality. The two had begun to talk privately once Katuhisa was finished, and on a night the others were too tired to ask along, Rin had asked Matoi to dinner and received a stiff hug by the end of the night.

The four sat down at the back of a local restaurant, front doors opposite, orders already placed, and badges off.

"Are you gonna have her visit soon?" grinned Marisa.

Rin's mental but not physical presence stung for a second, and Matoi's head shook. "We've - started discussing that. Something to work around our schedules."

"Better deal with these quick, then." laughed Samuel, and the three nodded. "Still - not much to go on yet."

"Until one shows up." said Matoi, taking her tablet out. "Unfortunately, we should be nonlethal for this, if possible - assuming these Revenants are related."

"We can only hope they aren't, then." said Samuel, and the four laughed ultraviolently.

Their orders came, and once they were halfway through their meals, Matoi's phone vibrated. She held her hand out to the others as she took it.

"Hello. … No, we were eating. What do you need?" She leaned back, nodding to reassure Mia's expression. "…yes. Of course. Genesis and Mint Condition? … Yes. I'll call them for you - neither are busy. … Good. Goodbye." She hung up, three with expressions tense. "Kate and Serena ran in to a strong Revenant - though they're alright. She asked me to send Genesis and Mint Condition."

"Er - good." nodded Mia, mentally noting to text Serena later. "Is - were they able to deal with it?"

"They were - though another ambushed them while they were injured, and they were forced to flee."

"Probably had to go through Kate's bumpy ride." said Samuel. "Good they were able to get one down, at least."

"Yeah." nodded Marisa. "Um. I'm sure they'll, like - be fine, Matoi."

Matoi nodded. Two years ago, she wouldn't have allowed anyone knowledge of her guilt, but she'd already spoken to Aimee that year about student death. She'd resolved to greatness in one or two areas and ask someone more experienced in others. "Still - I need to call them and arrange their flights."

"Go ahead." nodded Samuel, and Matoi turned away as she called.

"… Mint Condition is in our year, right?" muttered Marisa.

"The redhead." said Samuel.

Mia nodded. "And Genesis is Yuruko. Serena's girlfriend."

"Wait, they're dating?" said Samuel and Mia nodded. "She's - Yuruko's the blue-haired woman we had that trip with, right? Dresses like a scientist?"

"The dreaded artifact." chimed Mia, and the three laughed.

"Don't think I'll ever forget that." laughed Samuel. "Was good for us, though. Didn't know Serena was dating her now."

"They've - been dating for a year or so." nodded Mia.

Matoi turned and set her phone down. "Yuruko had already scheduled their flight, apparently."

"Serena probably told her." chimed Marisa, and Matoi's non-gossiping head cocked.

"Serena? Why would she -"

- the front wall burst open in a cloud of rubble & concrete; the four shot up -

" - Urasaria!" shouted Matoi, four slamming their badges on as the smoke cleared -

- to see their foe on the other end, giant crab as tall as the building, hundred feet separating them & it, six legs & two enormous pincers. Marisa threw her hand out -

" - civilians - grab this!" she shouted; a rope erupted from her palm -

- and she yanked every civilian back just in time to avoid its pincers sweep, non-hosts fleeing out of the back as the three stepped ahead, eyes on their crustacean foe still. Pincers sweeping aside, it caught up a dozen chairs and hurled them forward -

- but ghastly hands threw them back in to the beast; wood smashing against its shell, a hundred brown eggs burst out of it and hit the ground, carpet of larva starting to grow as it covered the floor. The four started their rush forward with Revenants readied, carpet of eggs growing and starting to crack as they came fifty feet within range. Their mother's right pincer swept down -

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

" - Boudoir!" shouted Marisa, strand erupting from her palm and yanking a section of the ceiling down -

- and the chunk of concrete crushed down the beast's pincers, pain staggering it back as they came thirty feet within, carpet of brown eggs separating them & their foe, Mia&Matoi nodding as they stepped together.

"Wedding!" "Worldwide!"

- and the next scene was instant. An explosive barrage erupted from Wedding's shoulders -

- and a cloud of scarabs turned them burning blue as they flew in to the larva, hundreds & hundreds of young disintegrating ahead, but in the next instant -

- three tumors burst out of the ground, and as the hellfire missiles hit one -

- a cloud of gas burst instantly outward; the four started hacking & coughing, foul vapors slashing their lungs -

" - Outcast!"

- but a swift set of ghastly hands guided the gas away, four standing straight as they grunted & gagged again just in time to dodge underneath another pincer's sweep. The crab screeched as it staggered back; a geyser of larva burst out of its shell -

- and replenished the carpet anew, more tumors sprouting out of the eggs and miniscule pincers starting to peer out -

- but the next scene was instant. A line of missiles erupted from Wedding's shoulders, fire&ice scarabs following alongside them -

" - now!" shouted Matoi; Mia's scarabs burst in to water -

- and the shockwaves blasted the mist straight in to the eggs; another set of scarabs froze the field of liquid, icicles piercing through every last larva&egg, sharp ends slashing and clearing the field ahead. The beast started to back in to the plaza beyond, four chasing but keeping their distance as they started to run after it. Ahead, its claws tore in to what roof was left -

- and brought the entire building down on the four; accustomed to the rain of rubble by then, the four swept together -

" - Wedding."

- and one enormous beam obliterated the roof, scorching beam turning the concrete to Ash as the four kept their rush going outside, parking lot ahead & road beyond, beast fifty feet away & running between cars now.

" - really happens a lot." muttered Samuel, relevantly, beast throwing a dozen cars at them ahead -

" - I have it!" shouted Mia -

- and a pillar of blue flame disintegrated the typical projectiles, momentary flash of purple as she snuffed it out, four keeping their chase after the beast -

" - wait, there's another color?" said Marisa, relevantly; Mia laughed -

" - I'm - not sure, yet, but -"

" - focus." laughed Matoi, seeing the beast stop at the lot's end ahead. It stomped, and in the next instant -

- two gigantic tendrils burst out of the ground behind, sharp ends seeking their necks and more tumors growing -

- but the next scene was instant. Marisa stomped down -

- and the tendrils stopped right in their tracks, Boudoir's cleats growing to burrow through the ground -

" - it's connected!" she shouted as she crouched down, placing her gloves on the ground; more strands started drilling in to the asphalt -

- and the four nodded as they saw the beast slam in to the ground ahead, two tendrils having been its overgrown legs, thrashing against its own limbs as Marisa started yanking -

- but a sweep of pincers sliced off two of its legs in a burst of blue blood&gore, freeing it as it staggered back, coming over the lot and in to the road ahead -

" - gas station." winced Mia, four starting their rush that felt eternal again, gas station on the other end as the beast skittered, new legs of asphalt regrowing from its old stumps.

"Absorbs material?" said Samuel as they ran out. As they reached the road, they saw it reach the gas station's lot with civilians inside the store -

" - Frozen Ray!" shouted Mia, sweeping her hands forward; a chilling beam erupted from her palms and hit the station's store -

- and encased it unmeltable ice, beast's pincers catching only frozen armor as it bashed against it. Grunting as it turned, its pincers dug underneath the asphalt, and in the next instant -

- tore an enormous tank of petrol out from underneath the ground; throwing it towards them, its hose spewed as it flew -

- but the next scene was instant. Samuel rushed to the front with armor readied & hands spread -

- and the keen end of the 24,000-gallon projectile hit him chest on as he caught it, grunting as he staggered back, boots digging in to the ground as ghastly hands held it tight; beside, Mia's scarabs & Matoi's missiles burrowed in to the tank -

" - now!" shouted Matoi; Samuel threw it back, enormous projectile readied to detonate as it came within range -

- and the explosion ripped the crab's shell & four legs in half, shockwaves scraping the carapace off its meat and smoke swallowing their sight of the lot ahead -

- but the four groaned once the wisps cleared, station's store cracked and beast still standing ahead. Its last two legs burrowed down -

- and four legs of mangled bodies grew anew, blood & entrails dripping as it staggered left, shell still cracked as another cloud of brown eggs burst out of it. No option left, the four ran in to the shattered lot as the beast fled up the road, Mia&Matoi's frozen missiles slaughtering another thousand eggs.

"It's using its - meat - whenever it does that." muttered Matoi, and the four started their rush up the road after it, beast still fleeing & power lines flanking them as they ran.

"Gotta - run out eventually, right?" winced Marisa, seeing its shell regrow ahead, pincers burrowing in to the ground -

- and the three women swept instantly around Samuel as it tore the power lines out of the ground, still beating electricity like crackling whips in its pincers -

" - sorry." he muttered, accustomed to being the only one not immune to electricity as the whips shot towards the four -

" - that's why you're #4." droned Matoi, Wedding's insulation keeping her safe, Boudoir's protecting Marisa, Mia's elemental immunity guarding her as they kept their rush going, beast stopped ahead with more whips slashing & sweeping -

- but the next scene was instant. It stomped; an electrical leg burst up beside Mia, hundreds of tumors on it -

- and even she shrieked in agony as every last burst open on her, trillions of volts entering her skin -

" - W-W-Worldwide -"

- and a pillar of blue burnt the leg to ash, beast staggering again as new electricity reformed its leg, coming up to another avenue of buildings now. Beast turning, its grip shot in to one of the building's foundations, claws tearing and ripping in to the ground -

" - Mia - front!" shouted Matoi; Mia swept to the front as the beast tore the building out of the ground, and as it threw it towards them -

- the next scene was instant. Mia's burning blue blade raised high -

- and disintegrated a clear section out of the building as it flew past & behind, Marisa turning and Boudoir's strands shooting out to catch it -

" - Boudoir!" she shouted and flicked it back -

- and the keen end of the 50-ton projectile tore the beast's left eyestalk clear off, gallons of blood & gore geysering out as it screeched & staggered back, building collapsing behind.

"Fuck." winced Marisa as it smashed through a building right -

- and they didn't look back at the dominoes of rubble as they rushed after it, more electrical legs bursting up as they came in to another avenue -

- but as a true hero might, Mia took every hit torso-on, panting and twitching as they ran in to another street, swift Boudoir bullets healing her Lichtenberg scars -

- to at last gain sight of the beast on the road a hundred feet away, six legs electrical and one building gripped tight in its pincers, and as it threw it towards them -

" - Worldwide!" winced Mia, taking up the front with burning blue again -

- and the keen end of another home smashed them from the side -

- just in time for an explosive barrage to disintegrate it as it smashed them against another building, grunting as they stood with chipped bones, beast still a hundred feet ahead and readying to stomp -

" - fucking - Solar Beam!" shouted Mia, sweeping her hands forward -

- a white beam erupted from her palms and pierced through the crab's shell, hundreds & hundreds of scars like Junpei&Akira's forming on it, more scarabs joining her scorching ray as her aim kept centered -

- and in to a thousand pieces burst the crustacean, gore disintegrating before it hit the ground, swift sweep of white turning the creature to not a single ash.

"F-Fuck." panted Marisa -

" - guess you win that argument!" panted Samuel -

- and their laughter dulled their tension as they came up to the mark that had been the beast, Marisa wincing as Boudoir healed their wounds. "…f-fuck."

"…g-god." grunted Matoi, Boudoir pushing one of her red ribs back in.

"I'm… hoping this - won't be a pattern." winced Mia, memories of the Eastern League renewing.

"...and no identification." sighed Matoi. "If another one like that attacks - Mia, can you use your electrical ray?"

"I… yes." She nodded. "To try to knock the - host unconscious?"

"Correct."

"Let's - I think we should get some sleep." winced Marisa, and they nodded.

◆◆◆

[January 20th]

The press had already written of the four's presence by the next morning, and they set out badged on one avenue as Matoi checked videos online.

"Someone recorded your Solar Beam." muttered Matoi, showing it to Mia. "With music, apparently."

"Er, with music?"

"'With a noose around your neck! Knowing that you can't be tamed! What's mine is mine - what's yours is mine!'" said Matoi's phone.

Matoi shook her head as she shut it off, and in the next instant -

- the four slammed against the right wall, and a purple serpent burst out above in a rain of concrete, enormous fangs seeking their heads -

- but ghastly hands threw concrete chunks in to its maw; gagging as it staggered, it burst fully out of the wall and leaped across the street -

- just in time for Mia to disintegrate the wall, four safe as they stood normal again, eyes on their foe on the other end, enormous purple serpent with a shimmering outline.

"Remember." said Matoi, and Mia nodded.

"Yes."

Ahead, the serpent hacked up a purple globe to its left & down the street; the four felt a vague pulling force, and as their eyes turned -

- they saw every car nearby sucked in to the globe's vortex, tornado spinning & spinning as it hacked another globe left -

- and the spectacle began anew on the other side, dozens & dozens of cars spinning with the speed of light around -

" - Worldwide!"

- but two walls of blue flames burst up from the ground; and in to the blue went the cars, flashes of purple as their gasoline hit it, serpent smashing through the wall at its back & slithering inside the three-floor restaurant. With no time to waste, the four started rushing towards it, civilians screams starting as it slithered to the center -

- and the four winced as they came inside, corpses turned inside-out & serpent at the other end, sixty feet separating them & it still. Hacking one purple globe in to the roof, the four braced themselves, and in the next instant -

- they flipped upside-down and slammed in to the ceiling, boots on the roof -

" - gravity." droned Matoi, obviously. Mia nodding, a single fire scarab burnt a hole at their feet -

- and the four were launched in to the second-floor ceiling, grunting as they landed upside-down again -

" - it - it has something on the roof?" said Mia, seeing the serpent slither away below, lost sight as Marisa nodded -

" - is it, like - maybe it's leaving us for another Revenant?" she winced -

" - got an idea." muttered Samuel -

" - Boudoir!" shouted Marisa, aiming her palms up (but really down); a strand erupted from her gloves -

- and the three laughed as it hit her face, strand reabsorbing in to her traditional dress.

"I don't know what you were expecting." laughed Mia, relevantly.

"Uh, go ahead." chimed Marisa.

Samuel nodded as he stepped away, Outcast's armor readied as he stomped -

- and the next scene was instant. Chunks of concrete burst out of the ceiling -

- and ghastly hands manipulated them in to midair platforms, four nodding as they leaped as fast as they could back down, constant flying concrete keeping their path steady as they rushed back down to the first-floor, upside-down but moving freely now. They saw the serpent's tail peeking out of the kitchen door ahead -

- and disappear within as they rushed up, constant set of ghastly hands drawing their path as Mia burnt down the door, and as the four rushed in to the kitchen -

- they saw their rightside-up foe on the other end, hall of knives & cutlery flanking them as they rushed down, snake slithering as fast as it could away and starting to gain speed.

"It's trying to outrange me." sighed Mia; more projectiles flew towards them, but a cloud of scarabs devoured every last - " - I - don't know how the gravity - if it could counter my beam, either -"

" - there's a better idea." muttered Matoi, more projectiles flying towards them again -

- and Mia nodded as a set of shockwaves blasted every last metal piece together, lasers welding them into one solid line, shockwaves keeping the spear at their side as the beast slithered against the right wall. Bashing its tail against the wall, it slithered out of the aperture to the street beyond, and as they turned out to face the hole -

- they saw their foe thirty feet away & starting to flee out of range -

" - Wedding!" "Worldwide!"

A final shockwave blasted the spear in to the beast -

- and the keen end impaled straight through its maw, blood bursting as the metal extended towards Mia's blade -

- and a bash of her electrical sword blew it in to a dozen chunks of gore, nothing left but a still-beating heart as the four fell to the ground again, purple entrails turning flesh-colored.

"Too strong." winced Mia, relevantly.

The four sighed as they stood, Boudoir healing their wounds.

"…Should - should we like, destroy it?" panted Marisa, and Matoi's head shook.

"No. We need to find the source of these."

◆◆◆

The four met with the city's coroner, still-beating heart on the morgue's table.

"…well." he sighed. "Unfortunately - I can tell you it's not a normal Revenant."

"What is it?" said Matoi.

"You - described a Revenant that - turned its host in to a serpent. Correct?" The four nodded, and his frown pulled down his brow. "…well. That - doesn't match this Revenant's ability. This Revenant has the ability to control and talk to animals."

"Talk to animals?" said Marisa, and he nodded.

"Unfortunately, I doubt anyone will take it - so we might never know what they have to say."

The five laughed and he continued.

"Still, this…" He sighed. "…as far as I can tell, it - doesn't appear to have any - physical, tampering done to it. Likely Revenant-based. I'd almost rather destroy it."

"Because it's been tampered with?" said Matoi.

"That, and the Revenant facility for this region was attacked a month ago - or, well, from what I heard."

"Were any Revenants taken?" said Mia, and he shook his head.

"I don't - well, actually. Admittedly..." He paused. "... It's - possible. But - but I don't have access to those records, of course."

"Of course." nodded Matoi. "We'll have to go to the facility in-person for that."

"Yes." he nodded. "Do you know where it is?"

"We'll look up the address. Boudoir - take the Revenant with us. Destroy it if we're attacked."

"Gross." winced Marisa, forming a Boudoir-pouch for the beating treasure.

"Valentine's Day is coming up, you know." said Samuel. "Should last until then -"

" - absolutely not -" laughed Matoi -

" - I've - I can't imagine any man would want that -" laughed the coroner -

- and three lesbian lips pinched, man wincing as he realized Marisa's rainbow dress. "…ah. My - apologies."

The four shrugged and set out.

◆◆◆

The region's Revenant storage facility was built on an strip in Rockfield that had been an Air Force base ten years ago. Cars weren't allowed past the gates, so the four had walked from one end of the city to the other in an hour and met privately with the guard, Chimera. Three scaled tendrils hung off his back.

"There was an attack here last month, correct?" said Matoi.

"I can't divulge that information." he said.

"It pertains to an ongoing investigation."

"A federal investigation?"

"A local one." sighed Mia. "But -"

" - I don't get involved in student matters. I'm not at liberty to say whether there was or wasn't an attack here last month."

Something in his tone sickened Mia for a different reason.

"Was that all you came to ask? Because I have to get back to work. I don't have time to talk to students about -"

" - you don't have to be so fucking condescending about it." grunted Mia. "We nearly fucking died fighting these Revenants - if we don't find the source -"

" - if you need information, then there are -"

" - I'm a national level threat - I'm sure I fucking outrank you. Tell me what I need to know - now."

"...you're - what?"

"Threat level national. That's my fucking ranking. A national level threat."

He shrugged. "I have no idea what a 'national level threat' is. That something new?"

"You - what?" grunted Mia, hoping to keep her anger going - " - you don't know - the fucking threat levels?"

"Threat levels for what?"

Four sets of ignorant eyes went to her.

"It's - how the government ranks heroes - how could you possibly not know that?"

"Because I graduated Urasaria ten years ago -"

" - it's the fucking government's system! It's - fucking separate from Urasaria -"

" - if you're going to keep up the hostility, I'm going to have to ask you to leave -"

" - I'll stay as long as I fucking want." she grunted, standing. "Ask your fucking - whoever the fuck is above you - ask them about threat levels. Maybe they'll fucking know."

"If you say so." He shrugged. "Regardless, I can't release information like that - even to you four. You'll have to go above me for that." His eyes went to Matoi. "You do know who to contact for that, yes?"

"The government." sighed Matoi as she stood.

"Some fucking help you were." said Mia as they left.