The group walked through the forest. Touya was still unconscious, but the girls were more than capable of defending him if things got difficult. Noticing how alert they were, Alpha calmed them down.
"There is no need to worry. There is a road nearby, so animals usually avoid this part of the forest. We just have to wait."
"Wait?! Our friends don't have much time; wait for what?" protested Lu.
"Not what. Who." explained Alpha.
Almost an hour later, they heard a chariot coming closer. Touya's wives prepared for a fight, but Alpha calmed them down with a gesture.
"Don't worry. Our transport is here. Follow me."
Yae and Hilde dragged Touya as the others followed Alpha, Beta, and Delta's to the road. They noticed three elegant black chariots, with golden ornaments engraved on them and an elegant golden kanji on the door. All of the chariots were spacious and luxurious. But the biggest and more luxurious one was the chariot at the end of the group. Pulled by pure blood horses, the finest of the finest.
Touya turned his head and looked at the kanji. He was still weak and recovering, but was able to recognize it. "Mitsugoshi?"
"Keep your strength, Touya!" advised Sue.
He smiled weakly, when the chariots stopped and the drivers jumped out of the chariots, making a perfectly coordinated bow to Alpha, Beta, and Delta. They were all beautiful women, mostly elves, in black, elegant suits.
One of the women then ran to the last chariot and opened the door to a tall, beautiful elf in a cocktail dress with a thick neckline. Her hair was indigo blue, and she had a beauty mark under her lip.
"Alpha-Sama, Beta, Delta, I am so happy to see you. Master, it is always an honor! And of course, it is a great pleasure to meet you, honorable guests. My name is Gamma, and I will take care of your stay in our world. I am aware we have a situation in our hands, but don't worry. The Numbers are investigating as we speak, and we are getting as much information as possible. Before you realize it, we will locate those who dared to put their hands on Shadow-Sama's allies. And will be exterminated as they deserve."
Touya mumbled something, to which Gamma nodded happily. "It is an honor. Please get into the chariots."
She tried to exit the chariot, but as soon as she put a foot out of the chariot, she slipped and smashed her face to the ground.
The women in black went to help her, in synchronized and well-practiced moves. They helped her stand up and cleaned her face with handkerchiefs they prepared specifically for these types of situations. Smiling, and pretending that didn't happen, Gamma invited them to the chariots.
"Please, make yourselves at home, honorable guests. Shadow-Sama, this way."
Shadow walked to the biggest, more luxurious chariot, and Gamma followed him to fix him a drink. She turned to Touya and his wives for the last time, before closing the door. Someone gave an order, and the chariots made a turn to go back to the capital of Midgar.
...
Touya opened his eyes, and the first thing he noticed was the comfortable couch. This wasn't his bed; this bed was far more luxurious, and someone had spread some perfume on it. Was this a hotel, or something?
Then, seven voices shouted:
"Touya!"
Yumina, Elsie, Lindsay, Yae, Sue, Lu, and Hilde jumped to the bed and hugged him.
"Girls! Where are we? What happened?"
"We are at the Mitsugoshi company housing. Shadow Garden's headquarters." explained Lu.
"I see. We are in his world." said Touya as he stood up from bed.
Hilde tried to stop him by putting her hand over his chest. "Are you sure you are okay, Touya? Don't you need a little more rest?"
"No!" said Touya, removing her hand gently. "Is it easier to use my divinity every time I use it. Besides, I cannot rest until I rescue Leen and Sacura. I can't sit here and wait, knowing they are in danger!"
"After the stunt you pulled on the city, we believe you," said Elsie.
"You scared everyone back there! You better apologize when we get back!" scolded Yumina.
Touya lowered his head. "I will; don't worry."
Then he jumped out of the bed. "How long until the end of the time that bastard gave us?"
"Two hours and a half," said Sue, worried.
Touya clenched his fists. "Okay, let's go!"
He walked to the door and opened it, only to find a woman in black about to open the door herself. They both stared at each other for a few seconds, and the woman finally smiled and bowed to Touya.
"Mochizuki-Sama, I am so glad to see you are awake. This way, please!"
"I am sorry, but we are in a hurry. I have to find my wives before it's too late."
"Don't worry. While you were sleeping, our intelligence network found the Cult's base, where they are holding her. We haven't been able to explore the inside of the facility, but we are ninety percent sure that's the right place."
Touya gasped, took the woman's hands between his, and smiled. "Really?! Thank you so much! I will be forever in debt to you!"
She smiled. "Shadow-Sama asked us to work extra hard for you, his old friend. This is how much you mean to him."
Touya nodded, and with the girls, he started to follow the woman.
"Are you okay, Touya?" asked Linday.
"Yeah, it's just that I owe a huge apology to Kagenou."
"With all his defects, he proved to be a good friend in times of need!" agreed Lu.
The woman guiding them raised an eyebrow. "Defects? Are you insinuating Shadow-Sama has any defects?"
Touya rolled his eyes. "Our personalities don't match. Okay?"
The woman, Nu, just glared at Touya. "I'll let that slip, because you are as figure as illustrious as Shadow-Sama. But be aware, these comments may not be well received by the other members of Shadow Garden."
Touya mumbled a half-assed apology, as the girls patted his back for comfort. His anger has evaporated, but his exasperation is growing every minute.
Then Nu guided them through the elegant mansion, which was over a huge department store, with beautiful white walls and stained glass. The whole place was decorated with exquisite taste, both in ornaments and little utensils. The only thing they questioned were the multiple paintings showing Kagenou in all stages of life. Baby Cid, Cid entering Midgar Academy, Toddler Cid, and adult Cid naked with a rose between his teeth.
"The peek of bad taste." mumbled Elsie to herself.
The others agreed in silence, trying not to call Nu's attention, and got another scolding.
Then, they went through a side door that led to a large hallway with lustrous columns, marble tiles, a cushy carpet, and at the bottom, an expensive-looking picture window that represented Shadow. But the centerpiece was a throne, lined in red velvet with lots of women in black placed on both sides of the carpet.
Nu guided the group right in front of the throne, as the main door opened, letting in Kagenou followed by seven women in black. Five of them were the ones the gang already knew, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon; but they were joined by another elf, with a half-asleep expression and a beastkin woman with cat ears.
The seven women in black stayed before the throne, as Cid simply sat on it. As soon as he sat, all the women in the room bowed in unison and greeted him:
"Shadow-Sama!"
From his throne, Cid grinned at Touya.
This is great! Finally, a schoolmate from my old life sees me as the eminence in shadow. I have to ask him later how this all looked, or something is missing to my act.
On his end, Touya just gathered his patience and lowered his head. "Kagenou. I owe you an apology. I wasn't thinking when I tried to fight you."
Cid shrugged. "Easy pal. Nothing happened, right? Ehem, Zeta!"
The beastkin woman with cat ears approached with a map and extended it. Waiting for this signal, the women in black rushed to bring a table where Zeta put the map on full display right before Touya, pointing her index finger at a certain point.
"During my research, we found a specific Cult base that we initially overlooked due to a lack of movement. However, after a closer look, we found out that this is the main location where the higher ranks teleport forces to your world."
Cid nodded. As you can see, Touya, we found the place where your wives are held hostage."
Touya nodded. "Thank you so much, Kagenou! We'll go right away!"
Cid snapped his fingers, and Nu approached Touya and company with a box with several compartments. Touya examined the content, and realized that it was slime.
"We don't need this," said Touya.
"If you are going to rescue your friends, you will need our help. Our world, our rules, Touya." said Cid. "I will lead the attack, and in the meantime, you will join Nu's squad. But don't worry, I won't be in the way of you and your revenge."
"The Cult must be eliminated no matter what, and we rarely have the chance to take out as many members in one strike!" explained Alpha, with a sinister smile.
Touya sighed and took his portion of slime as his wives did the same, and his wives followed. Shadow Garden guided them to some dressing rooms where they applied the slime, and it turned into a uniform like Shadow Garden's. Touya applied some of it himself, and it turned into an exact copy of his regular outfit, except that his coat was black and it had a hoodie.
He returned to the hallway, where his wives were waiting for him, dressed in their Shadow Garden outfits.
Cid then turned his outfit into Shadow's and gave the sign. "We are Shadow Garden!"
The women in black answered in unison. "We lurk the shadows to lurk the shadows!"
Then they all disappeared, moving too fast to be perceived by the human eye, leaving behind Nu, Touya, and the girls.
"Okay, time to go!" announced Nu.
***
From a clock tower, Cid was observing the city with his arms crossed, with the Seven Shades waiting behind him.
"We will not accept any compromises!"
"Rest assured," said Alpha. "We've encircled them." They will not escape."
"This is going just as the Master planned!" continued Gamma.
"Your wisdom proves to be unmatched!" praised Beta.
"The great hunt will begin after a long time! I can hardly wait!" declared Beta.
"They won't see my soft side," assured Zeta.
Eta just gave a quick nod.
"We're all waiting for your orders, Master," added Epsilon.
In several key points of the city, Shadow Garden members were waiting for their master's sign.
"Very well," said Shadow, turning to his faithful followers, then turning to the horizon. I'm unsure what I agreed to, but it felt like I needed to.
He then extended his hand and extended it to the sky. "I need more power."
A purple light was shot into the sky.
"The peak at which I aim is only one. Go!"
Lead by Shadow, the Seven Shades jumped into the sky with their shapes reflected in the moonlight. The signal everyone in Shadow Garden was waiting for started to move.
...
A group of guards were patrolling the streets of Midgar. It was late at night, but the streets were full of life, with lots of food stands, people going in and out of hotels, clubs, and bars. There was no chance someone would do something outrageous, like a murder, in plain sight, but the guards were always alert.
And between the guards, there were some who had a far more important duty. Keep people away from the Cult's secret hideout. One of those guards saw a shadow, disappearing into a corner.
"Hey, hold it right there!"
The guard was about to chase the mysterious figure, but his head rolled right before his horrified companions.
"What?"
A black blade stabbed two of them in the heart, and the two who remained just saw a woman in black before being cut into pieces.
The sight of the guards' corpses caused a general panic, and soon the civilians evacuated the main street amid cries of panic. But the guards had to fight and responded by drawing their own words. Heads were rolling all over, mixed between the screaming crowd. The enemy was choosing its targets and exterminating them. Those who were faithful to the Cult understood right away that they were the targets.
"Attention everyone! Inform Princess Iris! This is Shadow Garden!"
...
Iris Midgar, princess of Midgar and leader of the Scarlet Knights, was on her office busy with paperwork, when one of her soldiers entered the office.
"Iris-Sama, we have confirmed an attack from Shadow Garden!"
She threw the paperwork aside and took her faithful sword.
"Tell all the available knights to move immediately! We have to get Shadow even if it costs our life!"
Iris' knights saluted her and left her alone as she mentally prepared for a rematch.
"Shadow, this time I will get you for sure!"
***
Touya and the girls were running through the battlefield. Shadow Garden women moved as ghosts, coming out of nowhere in the middle of squads, and assassinating those who were involved with the Cult. Soon enough, the commotion got the attention of the owners of one of the many mansions in the area which worked as the Cult's hideout. They understood that Shadow Garden had come for them.
"We have surrounded this entire area." explained Nu. "We have to hurry if you want to get in time to rescue your people."
Touya nodded. "Thank you so much."
The group walked through the battlefield until they arrived at the gates of an elegant mansion, but they were stopped by a young woman with red hair and red eyes, with a rapier aimed at them.
"I heard that there was a man among Shadow Garden, but I was expecting Shadow. Where is he?"
"I have no idea," said Touya. "Listen, I don't want to fight with you. I just want to rescue my wives; they were captured by the Cult of Diabolos."
The woman glared at him. "If you are not with Shadow Garden, then wake up. The Cult doesn't exist, is all part of Shadow's conspiracy. If you are not with him, then join me. You are on time to leave all this behind."
"Shadow is my friend. I am sorry but we won't join you."
She then prepared her sword. "If you are not against Shadow Garden, that means that you are against me. Let me force you out of your fantasy!"
The Scarlet Knights started to cheer for her.
"You can do it, Princess Iris!"
"You can do it!"
"Let's go!"
Touya aimed Iris with his weapon, Brunhild, and shot.
Iris smirked as a simple bullet could never stop a dark knight. She let her magic power flow through her body and charged at Touya, but something was off about this bullet. It was faster than she ever saw and she could feel that it has an overwhelming power sealed inside. When she tried to deflect the bullet with her magically-infused blade, she couldn't. Instead, the magic sealed inside the bullet was suddenly released and Iris was trapped with it. She found out horrified that she couldn't move. It was a powerful paralyzing spell.
Iris glared at Touya with anger and tried to release her magic power to get free, but his power was overwhelming. Not as much as Shadow's, but still way stronger than her.
Once she was out of combat, Touya switched to explosive bullets and started to shot at the doors and windows of the mansion, allowing him and his wives access.
In the meantime, the knights of Midgar charged at Touya and his troups.
"Princess Iris!"
"How dare you?!"
"Damn you, Shadow Garden!"
Lindsay pulled out her wand and started chanting: "Come to me, water, ballistic bubbles, Bubble-Bomb!"
Enormous bubbles came out of nowhere and were sent toward the soldiers, exploding into a million pieces, sending them flying.
Yae drew her phrasium katana and prepared to fight. "Kokone style, swallow!"
The strange crystal sword cut through the other swords, even if they were infused with magic power. They were too surprised to react when Elsie finished them off with her gauntlets, sending them flying too. Yumina joined by shooting her explosive bullets to keep them away, with Sue as her backup by sending gusts of wind, and they were finished off by Hilde with her 'Lestian sword'.
Horrified, without being able to do anything, Iris Midgard could only watch that, once again, her elite knights were incapacitated with ease by a group that was not Shadow Garden. It was not ever a battle; it was a one-sided battle. The princess could only move her eyes and mumble some words behind her teeth. Touya turned to her one last time and made a gesture of apology, and he led his wives through the doors of the mansion.
Nu have suggested they join them to their attack from the shadows, but Touya said that he and his family were not Shadow Garden, so they will attack from the front. Nu didn't care and joined her squad to block all the escape routes for the Cult, and incapacitating them but not killing, as they knew Shadow will take care of everything in the end.
In the meantime, Touya was running through the hallways of the mansion, when the stone the Cult left him startd to warm up. Touya looked at the girls and they nodded. He activated his null-spell Long-Sense before taking the stone and activate it.
The image of the man in black appeared before Touya.
"Great Duke."
"Cult of Diabolos."
"The term has come to an end, but considering that our base is under attack, is obvious that you have decided to side with him. You asked for this, your beloved wives..."
Touya aimed Brunhild at the floor and shot.
The bullet, charged with divine power, went all the way down through the mansion basement, and the secret underground facilities, right before the man in the black hood. Then, Touya jumped the hole he just made, landed before his enemy, and punched him, covering his fist in golden divine power.
The man was sent flying, but he wasn't done yet. He called his followers, but no one came. Only a puddle of blood, followed by slow, firm footsteps.
Touya walked toward the man, putting a new bullet in his blade-gun. "Shadow may be crazy, but at the end of the day, he has proven to be a good friend. And he won't hesitate to help an old friend in need."
Touya shot again when he finished talking, and the rubber bullet made the man twitch and scream in pain.
"Where are Sakura and Leen?" asked Touya.
"You would like to know?" asked the man.
"Long-Sense!" chanted Touya, finding the metallic door by the bottom of the lab.
Without thinking, he shot at the lock and ran to help his two wives trapped inside.
"Leen, Sakura!" shouted Touya.
The two women turned to their husband and smiled.
"Touya, Darling!"
"Great Duke!"
Touya rushed to help them by destroying the chains. He used his divine power because, thanks to Shadow, he knew that the chains were enchanted with several protective spells. Luckily, his divinity allowed him to overcome any sealed spells inside.
"I am so happy you're okay!" said Touya hugging them both with tears in his eyes. They responded with a hug on their own, but they were still weak after their confinement.
The man in the hood could only look around, not willing to accept defeat. He knew that Shadow Garden had surrounded them, and it was pretty much over, but at least he would get back at the Great Duke. He pulled a flask full of red pills from the hood, but the flask was destroyed by a shot from Yumina.
"Nice try, but mess with one of us, mess with all!"
The man in black started laughing. "Fine, I am doomed. Now what are you going to do with me?"
Elsie smashed her two gauntlets against each other. "Good question. What about we beat you up?"
But before she could even start, a black sword cut the man's arms and legs, making him fall. The girls turned to the dark, where they saw Shadow approaching at a calm but constant pace. "You got your people, right? Now is my turn."
The man in the hood glared at Shadow with hate in his eyes. "Shadow!"
The girl shivered.
"What are you going to do?" asked Yumina.
Shadow smirked. There was no need for words, his expression said it all.
"Touya, we must get out of here now!" warned Sue.
There was no need to repeat it. Touya used his null-spell 'Gate' to escape as soon as possible, as Shadow was slowly releasing his power as a purple light.
"I... am..."
The members of Shadow Garden started to move. If anyone couldn't make it in time, it was entirely on them.
Iris Midgard recognized the light that covered the city a few months ago, when she felt the power of Shadow for the first time, but today, he was being serious. She tried to scream, but she still couldn't move. Luckily for her, the blonde elf who introduced herself as Alpha showed up, put her under her arm as she was carrying a package, and took her out of there. If she wasn't paralyzed, Iris would have started kicking and screaming and demanding to be treated with respect. But nothing came out of her mouth.
...
At Mitsugoshi's headquarters, Touya and his wives watched how a purple light rose to the sky as a tenth of the city disappeared into oblivion.
"Does he always have to do this?" asked Lu with a shiver.
Touya didn't say anything. He just sighed and turned to Shadow Garden, who were ignoring the guests and were having a little celebration, opening champagne bottles and making toasts honoring Kagenou.
"For Shadow-Sama's greatness!"
"For Shadow-Sama!" cheered the others.
After having a sip of champagne, Nu approached Touya and his group with a kind smile.
"Mochizuki-Sama, you may be tired after the events of tonight. We prepared a room for you to rest and recover until you feel ready to go back to your world."
Touya smiled as he helped Sakura and Leen walk to their room.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank us. We are now siblings-in-arms in the fight against the Cult of Diablolos."
Touya gave her a tired smile. "Thank you. I guess I'll have to speak with Kagenou before we go, but in the meantime, we need to rest."
Nu nodded. "Follow me; I'll take you to your room."