Chapter 137: Back in Black

As the vision drifted away, Rachel let it go, and even with the filth of Yomi overhead, she could respect the legend. She saw an entirely different person from whom she’d fought; he’d found something worth more than himself, and the Black Moon provided a stage for him to be more than just a man seeking glory. He let his wife take the glory.

"I may not have had a high opinion of the short-shorts-wearing hulk of a man...excluding his muscles," she added to Nia’s giggles. "But...in the end, Conner was a hero, carrying the baggage of a villain."

Eostre looked away from the Black Moon as it disappeared. "Do you want me to give you his Seed to save those here? It must be given to another legendkin."

Rachel put her hand on her hip and looked at Nia. "Give Anthony an upgrade? Maybe we can get him to join the unit?"

"Sure. I don’t know him, but I need to get back into my battle gear for our next fight! We’re loaded on Hell Energy. Hehe."

The solemn woman held out her palm, another rose blooming to reveal a tiny, glinting, golden Seed. "I’ve condensed it into a physical container. If Anthony eats it, it will be absorbed into his soul, and now..."

A rift appeared as a tremor shook through them, and Rachel gave her a two-fingered salute. "Catch you on the flip side, Eostre. Hopefully, you won’t be a damsel in distress again."

"That would be nice," she giggled, stopping her just before she went through. "Although, Rachel, you will suffer harsh spiritual fatigue for how quickly you have stretched your soul. I suspect the many Unique Moons will also have their adverse effect on you after leaving the quest as things start to settle in."

Placing the legendkin’s Greater Seed in one of Nia’s slots, Rachel laughed, Hellfire dancing around her as she soaked in the fading, powerful waves. "I don’t feel like that’s new for me. I usually push a little too hard. Now, let’s see how Scarlet’s done."

Walking through the rift with a grin, bathed in black fire and crackling red electricity, she summoned her hammer and slung it over her shoulder, skirt ruffling in the night’s cool sea breeze. Her black ears slowly turned with her head, taking in the wealth of noises that hit her mind. It felt like an eternity had passed.

Hellfire dwindling as Nia pulled out the last of it into their new [Lunar Pool], Rachel chuckled at the chaos her entrance elicited, hair returning to its shimmering white hue.

"M-Major, w-what is this place?!" Nia panicked, folding down her ears and wincing at the overwhelming sounds she’d never experienced.

It’s okay, Little Bun. Can you turn into an adult?

"No—it needs to charge; I can’t hear with all these sounds in my head!"

Swiftly taking in Astra’s reports, Rachel let the stress go in a slow stream as she bent down to comfort Nia; her gremlin side dropped into an abyss to be replaced by the timid bunny child. MI6 seemed to have some teleporters, according to Astra, but the fluid mythickin hadn’t located them yet.

Her gaze drifted to Maria, less than a street away. Scarlet seemed to be okay. Selvaria was in the back kitchen with the unconscious fairy, but most of the targets had been eliminated somehow. The biggest threat left was Relica.

Reaching over to the discarded walkie-talkie, she greeted her teammates with a cheery tone. They knew nothing about what she’d just been through or learned, but they would soon.

"I said I’d come back, Scarlet."

The golden portal vanished, and by the jolts and reactions of the others, a surge of power hit everyone, making Astra choke. "Hold up, love—I just went straight from Level 5 to 8. The bloody hell?!"

"Yeah. Legend Quests are fun..." Rachel laughed. "Astra, give me an update. Scarlet, I’m coming. Nia, go over to that pretty unicorn woman and help her out. She’ll keep you golden."

"O-Okay..."

She raced off, almost tripping from nerves at the thought of meeting someone new. Maria shouted at her, soldiers coming in to help with the children she was with, but the wind was already racing past Rachel’s ears as Astra updated her. She locked onto one voice as she met Selvaria in the alleyway to the kitchens, slowing to a brisk walk as the leviathan hopped into gear, Astra’s drone hovering nearby.

"Selv, I’m hearing some trouble at sea; mind fishing out a sub and cracking it open like a can for our favorite saint?"

"I can do that." She grinned, and Rachel smiled at her monotone voice as the sea monster showed her sharp fangs. "Was the Legend Quest fun?"

"Very fun. Anthony will have to take us on another soon."

"Awesome. Oh, Rachel, what about Fiona?"

Holding out her hand, she took the unconscious fairy and snickered as Maria burst through the front door with a nervous Nia, intent on saving the other kids. Relica lurched for her bag, but things were moving too fast, and Rachel had developed a lot since their last meeting.

Nia, hit me with 25% Yomi.

"O-Oh, okay, transferred! Maria’s scary! Why isn’t she cursing like you said she does?"

Tucking Fiona into the pocket of her fantasy-like military school jacket, Nia took on a whole new vibe as the polluting energy flooded their systems.

[Lunar Spike - Hell Moon - Yomi: Activated]

[Princess of Hell (Restricted): Active]

[Baroness of Hell: In Effect]

[30 Seconds Remaining]

An aura of black flames and crimson electricity embraced her, and in a flash, she came between Scarlet and Relica, a triangle-like barrier of magical origin protecting the Priestess.

"Rachel!" Scarlet cried, lurching forward to hug her as she deactivated the [Hellfire Cloak] so her blood wouldn’t recognize a threat.

Relica studied her with wide eyes. "How... What are you?"

"What am I?" she asked, black fingernails becoming claws laced with dark fire and crimson energy as her hammer changed. A horn grew, and her hair, dying black, streaked with red. Rachel sank her claws into Relica’s barrier, piercing it like butter and making her stumble away as it broke. "I’m back."