"Isn't that the Reaper? What the hell is he doing with her?" Marcel shouted, drawing everyone's attention.
Jackson and Rebekah froze in shock. Lyon and Bash exchanged tense glances, neither willing to make a reckless move.
Behind Alfie, Lucy acted quickly. She reached into her storage ring and retrieved a sealing scroll, similar to the one she had previously used to sever Alfie's connection to his Renshi by shutting down his five senses.
The atmosphere grew heavier as Alfie's aura continued spiralling out of control. His screams echoed throughout the battlefield.
Lucy wasted no time.
She tore open Alfie's shirt, exposing the Renshi seal burned into his back. Then she unrolled the new scroll and placed her fingers against its inked pattern.
Concentrating her Renshi into her fingertips, she pressed them against the glowing markings on Alfie's back.
A circular array of symbols appeared, spreading from the scroll onto his skin. The new spell connected with the original seal, and the two gradually merged into a single formation.
Alfie's violent aura began to weaken.
Then, all at once, it disappeared.
His body went limp, and he collapsed unconscious.
"ALFIE..."
Rebekah rushed to his side and dropped to her knees. Jackson and Marcel quickly followed.
Suddenly, Lyon's voice entered Lucy's mind through telepathy.
Hey, woman. Mind explaining why you're still keeping that monster around?
Lucy flinched, nearly jumping out of her skin.
"Ayy! Don't scare me like that. I'm still not used to this telepathy stuff," she shouted aloud.
Everyone turned toward her.
Lucy froze for a moment, then awkwardly tried to explain herself.
"It's not... I mean, that's not... I just... Huhhh."
She let out a frustrated sigh, unable to come up with a convincing excuse.
Meanwhile, Rebekah was desperately trying to wake Alfie.
"Alfie, wake up. Come on, get a hold of yourself."
Bash's voice entered Lyon's mind.
I don't know what this woman is planning, but I have a bad feeling about it.
Lucy's expression suddenly changed.
Her playful embarrassment disappeared, replaced by a serious, commanding look. Her voice echoed directly inside the minds of both men.
Listen, you two. I have my reasons for everything I do. Killing you both earlier wouldn't have been difficult, but Sasaki is different.
She glanced at Sasaki before continuing.
He's human, even though he devours Darkside Spirits and gains their Renshi. That's not normal. There's something greater hidden within him, and I intend to unlock it.
Lyon eventually responded, his pride evident even through the telepathic connection.
You're powerful, I'll give you that. But claiming you could kill Sasaki and me together? You're pretty confident, brat. Don't underestimate me.
Lucy smirked.
Brat? I'm older than your entire bloodline. The person who first created the Tentacle Bloodline was practically a junior compared to me. I'm no ordinary woman... so choose your words carefully.
Lyon froze.
What? No way. One of those legends? Impossible...
Memories of Lucy's transformation in Guhan flashed through his mind.
Damn it. Now that I think about it, everything makes sense. How did we end up getting involved with someone this dangerous?
Bash sighed before speaking into Lyon's mind again.
Don't overthink it, buddy. I figured it out earlier. That oppressive aura of hers was simply too overwhelming. I couldn't abandon Jack and Marcel, so I decided to play along.
How did you figure it out? Lyon asked sharply.
Bash chuckled.
Idiot. Don't tell me you've forgotten my bloodline ability, Ultra Scan.
His tone became more explanatory.
Back in Guhan, I wasn't a combat Shinra, but I trained myself anyway. At first, my ability could only scan Shinras weaker than me. People mocked me because of it. But I kept training and refining the ability until I could scan anyone, regardless of whether they were a Shinra or a Darkside Spirit.
He paused briefly before continuing.
When we teleported here, the first aura my scan picked up was hers. Her Renshi was ten thousand times greater than mine. The strongest Shinra I'd ever scanned before her was only a thousand times stronger than me, and he belonged to an organization called the Avengers. That alone was terrifying, but this woman is on another level entirely.
Lyon's eyes widened.
Ten thousand times? Bash, you've grown beyond recognition. I'm proud of you.
His expression soon turned serious.
If that's the case, then we'd better cooperate with her from now on. We can't afford to offend someone like that.
Lucy knelt beside Alfie and examined him briefly.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, she slapped him hard across the cheek.
"Get up, you idiot. This isn't the time to sleep."
Alfie shot upright with a startled scream.
"I was just taking a nap, Master Lu. You shouldn't wake me up like that."
He yawned and rubbed his eyes as though nothing had happened.
Rebekah stared at him in disbelief. Her relief quickly turned into anger.
"You fool!"
She punched him straight in the face.
Alfie fell backward, clutching his cheek.
"I-I'm sorry," he stammered, scrambling to his feet.
Lucy folded her arms and looked around at everyone.
"Alright, enough playing around. We have more important things to deal with."
Her expression grew serious as she studied the group.
"Now, what exactly is going to happen to all of us?"