(Reverence 3, 59 / 12:10AM)

  (Luna) That’s the signal.

  The three of them watched the burning fmes that were just to the east of them.

  Upon noticing the fastening speed of the inferno, Luna noticed a rge red barn that seemed void of life. Despite needing shelter from the fastening fmes, she also looked behind to see the rge southern hill that Jack was on top of.

  Kicking a batch of fertilized dirt softly, she looked over to the fmes again, her eyes pushed down with her metal batons lightly creaking.

  (Luna) Benn, Chris; go back to the hill where Jack is.

  (Benn) You’re going to go where Luke is?

  (Luna) It’s a funny feeling, but I think he needs my help.

  Benn and Chris looked at one another, with Chris not muttering a word as he quickly looked away from the shark-human. Folding his arms, Benn only nodded, followed by turning his body so that he was walking toward the hill.

  As for Chris, he began to ctter his teeth repeatedly, his entire body swelling up despite the hot blowing wind starting to flush against his face.

  (Luna) What are you doing idiot? Follow Benn.

  (Chris) … I’m going with you.

  (Luna) Excuse me?

  (Chris) I want to take part in this.

  (???) Ew … a man.

  To the north of the two of them was a woman the same age as Luna, her hair being drenched in a light turquoise. Wearing nothing but a bck skirt dress that covered up to her knees along as well as her shoulders, she also had on a white hairband with a golden star stitched onto the center.

  Being the same height as Hope, along with having the same weight, only made Luna push up her face. Noticing that the girl looked toward the teenage boy who had a couple of garlic stems in his hair, Luna raised both of her hands high.

  All the while the light turquoise-haired woman had a cigar in her left hand.

  (Luna) Who are you?

  The turquoise-colored hair woman turned to face Luna, she only scrunched up her face the fme of the cigar ceased in the snap of a finger. Her cigar put out, she threw it down to the garlic crops, cocking her head to the right.

  (???) Ew, a muscur woman. I hate it when women try to be muscur and strong to try to impress men, it’s annoying!

  (Luna’s thoughts) Is this the female version of Harold!?

  Hovering over her fingers onto the buttons tched on her batons, she extended her right hand straight at the girl. Gring at her, she spread out both of her feet apart from each other, with her right foot being pressed more forward than her left.

  Having her body straightened, she sniffed the air once to recognize the now-burning smell of garlic coming its way.

  (Luna) You got a problem with me?!

  (???) Not just you, but every other girl in general. Always trying to impress or sacrifice yourselves to men who won’t even bother to look at you. It’s shameful.

  (Luna) Not my fault you have a shitty love life.

  (Chris) Uh, Luna…

  (???) Beat it, you idiot! I’m talking to her, thank you!

  As the woman tilted her head when talking to Chris, she gnced back toward where Luna’s spot was—

  Luna simply vanished.

  Taking a couple of steps back, the woman pced both of her hands up toward the level of her shoulders, her hands already enclosed into fists.

  But in one swift motion, a long bde instantly hovered over her neck.

  Tilting her head upward, the woman also had her arms and hands locked hard by none other than Luna’s other hand. Having no choice but to submit to her, the woman brushed her back against Luna’s stomach and chest, her head looking up at the tanned beauty.

  (Luna) Again, who are you? Before I turn you into a mute.

  (???) Are you going to rob the Zirardges?

  (Luna) One st chance.

  Tilting her head down, the silver bde started to slowly press on her lower jaw, with a flick of blood rolling down her throat. The droplet of blood just barely staining the crops, the woman soon released a devilish grin.

  (???) I’m Vivy, Vivy Zirardge. Unlike most people, I have power. The kind of power that doesn’t involve just money.

  Her body soon started to melt.

  Like ice cream on a hot summer day, Vivy’s body soon started to drip and shed into the ground below. Letting go of her, Luna took a step back as she raised both of her metal bdes to create a defensive stance. By having her swords mostly blocking her face, the lower end of the bdes also covered her thighs and lower stomach.

  Meanwhile, Chris took out a Mauser pistol, having his finger on the side of the gun as he aimed it at the watery blob.

  All the while the blob started to grow, starting to form arms and legs simir to that of a humanoid creature. Like a fountain that drips water but collects it back up in an infinite pattern, the creature had a defensive yer of liquid that resembled that of water.

  With a gasp of air, the creature’s mouth-hole was opened upward.

  (Vivy) Now come here!

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Luke’s group)

  (Luke’s thoughts) Wait … is he the head of the Zirardge family!?

  The middle-aged man started to slowly walk forward along the gravel road, having his left hand hold the center of the trench gun. Holstering the butt of the gun onto his right hip, he hovered his finger on the trigger, his eyes analyzing the three of them.

  Especially Luke.

  Continuing to walk, bits of pebbles and rock were skipped away, as some of the rocks and pebbles soon brushed onto Luke’s boots.

  (???) Do you know how much I had to bribe Reed of all people? Half of my fortune is gone thanks to you guys.

  (Luke) Y-You’re the one that had Reed against us?!

  (???) I consider it payback. Besides, you guys were just going to spend time in The Dome, but you made it complicated.

  The man soon ceased his slow walk, with the barrel of the gun just nudging onto Luke’s upper back. His leather jacket fully enclosing the barrel, the young man tapped his right foot on the gravel repeatedly, along with him biting down on his teeth.

  His knuckles glistened in the hot dry wind, he soon lowered them onto his thighs despite the man pushing the barrel into his upper back. Taking a step forward as he was softly pushed, Luke darkened his eyes while slightly arching his back.

  (Luke) … We could’ve paid for the damages to your tower. We could’ve helped out with the reconstruction … But why send us to prison…?

  Silence fell upon the four of them, with the sound of burning garlic to the right of them crackling under the cloudy night sky.

  Without moving his head, Luke used his eyes to gnce at his left holster that was situated on his left hip. Keeping his hands still, he also gnced from on top of the southern hill that carried the red-haired sniper, as a thought came to him.

  A thought that could save him if he was that lucky.

  But after his thought, the man started to push his finger on the trigger, with the trigger 40% already pressed.

  (???) To dispy an example of what happens when you decide to py hero.

  Immediately, Luke ducked his head and body 90 degrees, with the barrel of the man’s gun having no chance to shoot him.

  Firing the trigger, the point-bnk range didn’t even scratch or graze any contact on Luke’s body or clothes, with only the top of his hair being burnt from the bullet. Having both of his hands on the gravel, he used his right foot to kick back the man onto his knee, causing him to drop his gun.

  Hearing a simple crack, the man wobbled backward while scrunching up his face.

  (Jack’s thoughts) Time to put you in a bind buddy.

  Another sniper shot thundered the ranch.

  Luke and the others already had their heads down low. Gncing up, a gushing river of blood rolled along the man’s right shoulder, having his knees hit the gravel ground hard.

  Pcing his left hand onto the wound, Luke, Miles, and Hope squint their eyes to notice an abundance of dust and ash being pelted by boots. Widening their eyes, the three of them slowly started to walk backward, their lungs already filled with embers and ash.

  As figures drenched in thin brown jackets wielding Thompsons and carbines were seen far in front of them.

  (Luke) We have to hold out until Sean arrives…

  (Miles) How can we hold them out!?

  (Luke) Uh … How long can you hold a solid shield for?

  Giving Luke a furrowed brow, Miles clicked his tongue while letting out a dry cough from the inhation of smoke.

  (Miles) cough … For a solid defense shield while they shoot at it, I guess 10 minutes max why?

  (Luke) Alright.

  Giving Luke a nod, Miles pced himself in front of the two, kneeling with one knee on the gravel and pebble road. Having his palms scraped against the ground, a blue light began to emit from his wrists, with the light seemingly taking form to form of a rge see-through shield that spanned just enough for the three of them to take position.

  Keeping his hands still on the center of the shield, Miles lowered his head, as the footsteps of a ptoon of guards began to be seen right in front of their eyes.

  Both Luke and Hope sitting down along the blue shield, they soon brought out their weapons, with Hope bringing out her usual combat pistol. As for Luke, he took out dual-wielding uzis, his palms gripping tightly onto the grip of the metal.

  (Luke) Guess we’re going to have to ride it out.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Luna’s group)

  Bits of garlic crops and leaves began to fade away from the liquid bestowed upon it.

  Wielding her dual-wielding bdes, Luna blocked every swing and thrust from the liquid creature that was controlled by none other than Vivy.

  Moving eloquently like a gazelle, the souls of her feet were bnketed with the liquid substance, as every kick and raise to her foot released bits of the substance onto Luna or the crops. With just one touch of the liquid, the substance didn’t retively burn through the leather.

  But as she tilted her head downward for one split second.

  (Luna’s thoughts) Why is half of my boot pink!?

  Turning her head back up, another thrust of the humanoid creature’s hand blew against Luna’s face. Making contact with her skin, Luna barely took a step back as the brunt of the impact only stumbled her off a couple of feet.

  A swollen bruise already formed along her right cheek, and small sizzling started to sunburnt her cheek, with blotches of red screaming out from utter pain.

  (Luna’s thoughts) A-Ah!

  Having her left hand occupied by her sword, she raised her hand toward her cheek, with the grip of the bde mostly being used as a way to heal her burns. As soon as the metal made contact, bits of the metal began to turn an orangish color, as if a month full of water drenched onto a piece of old metal.

  Clenching her jaw while showing her teeth, Luna swayed her head as she honed her sights on Vivy.

  Using her right hand again, Vivy thrust her right hand yet again, this time aiming at Luna’s bdes that she used to block herself with. Instead of trying to keep it away from her, Luna used the tilt of her right sword to make it clear as day.

  The liquid substance soon spshed onto the metal, swallowing it whole.

  But having two swords, she flew the sword on her left hand straight onto the humanoid creature's throat, the bde being completely submerged in the rotten egg-smelling liquid.

  (Luna’s thoughts) There’s gotta be a weakness to her!

  Unbothered, Vivy used her other hand to grab hold of the other sword lodged in her throat.

  Like a symbiote, the foul-smelling liquid soon began to creep down on the bdes, leaving a trail of orange blots along the used-to-be white metal. Seeing the full-on desecration of her bdes, Luna began to pull back, digging her heels into the muddy fertile soil.

  But in no matter, not even her strength was able to pull out from the humanoid creature, as the liquid soon began to reach down onto her bare fingers. Barely caressing her fingertips, Luna looked up toward the cloudy sky, the stars trapped up above like guardians chained by a father above…

  (Luna) Just what are you!?

  (Vivy) I am what you use to clean your bathrooms. And don’t try to escape, there’s no use doing so.

  Another sniper shot trifled the air.

  Not able to gnce at the southern hill, Luna was able to take a gnce at the now warm air that mixed with the dry humidity. Patches of sweat rolling down her cheeks, she turned her head to see the fmes already in the same crop field that was to the east.

  Vivy gnced at the embers of the crop fields burning, making her push up the corners of her lips to reach the height of her ears.

  (Vivy) You see, you came to your own accord. You have pissed off Daddy really bad, so now you’re going to receive the punishment he has bestowed upon you.

  (Luna) I don’t … grunts … take consequences from men.

  (Vivy) You’re finally being retable now. As a fellow fem—

  (Luna) But only for one man.

  Buzzing slowly came forth from the southern side of the two of them.

  Both girls looking toward the sound, noticed a rge swarm of insects that caused Luna to let go of both of her bdes. Her breath being caught inside of her throat, she widened her eyes as the ck of blood flow from her feet soon began to crumble her down.

  She noticed all of the insects were coated with dark and yellow skin.

  Her heart pounding out of her chest, she slowly trailed backward as her teeth cttered.

  (Luna) BEES!!!

  Her tough side crumbling down to that of a regur teenage girl, Luna bnketed herself with the garlic crops, covering her face with her hands.

  Vivy quickly walked backward as she also noticed one different characteristic compared to the insect that Luna bred out. One of the characteristics is that the insect had long slim legs and body, along with their skin being more oiled and shiny.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) Wait! Wait! Wait!

  In the snap of a finger, the swarm of yellow devils from hell began to surround the poor woman, as she fought the air with her arms and hands while keeping her head down.

  Chris, who had just seen the entire fight like a spectator, noticed a rge burly figure sitting down along the far end of the garlic field. His eyes closed, he was wide open for anyone to take down, but fortunately for him, there were eyes right above him.

  Eyes that were eagle-shaped and nested itself on top of the hill.

  Gawking his mouth open, he looked over toward the dancing Vivy who fought against the swarm of yellow devils, with just a single word coming out.

  (Chris) Wasps…

  (Benn’s thoughts) Wasps have tough exoskeletons, but not that much when dealing with bleach. But they could withstand bleach more than actual metal.

  The swarm beginning to shrink, many of the fallen wasps that attacked the poor humanoid creature soon got swallowed up by the liquid bleach. Blots of bubbles soon popping out from the humanoid creature’s skin, she knelt down on the ground with both of her palms holding herself up.

  Turning her head toward the burning crop field, she had no choice but to soon wither all the liquid away. Like an ice cube that melted onto a patch of sidewalk, the liquid spread out far and wide for a few meters, but unlike the ice cube, it still left the core.

  A core that had wasp stings all around her body.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) I … gotta get up …

  Despite 75% of the wasps being killed by the bleach, the other 25% still continued its merciless rampage. Reaching her hand outward, she looked toward the ranch that had its dazzling lights on.

  Her thighs swollen, her lips botched up, her cheeks puffed like a pufferfish.

  Her entire lower body was paralyzed, with no choice but to cw herself on top of the fertilized dirt that engraved itself onto her pale skin legs. Cttering her teeth, her throat soon began to be molested by a couple of stings from not outside, but inside her throat;

  Her windpipe soon began to be clogged by the rge infmmation of her insides.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) I … gotta make it back … before … I need … I need he—

  (??? in Vivy’s thoughts) You got to be perfect in what you do Vivy. Promise me you won’t be like your good-for-nothing brother.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) no…

  Her crawling soon ceased, as she just blindly stared straight at the rge ranch that she called home.

  Still letting the wasps sting her repeatedly, even noise from all around her soon began to fade away with the world of white taking over. Not even feeling the sensations of the world around her, even the palms that were drenched with dirt soon began to fade into submission as well.

  Next, she couldn’t see what’s in front of her anymore.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) I need power.

  Her body soon began to melt like water.

  Like water she ebbed, being submerged in the dense liquid that she found soce in. Allowing her mouth to be open, a rge quantity of the liquid soon plowed into her desote mouth, all the while she saw the fading light that was out of her reach.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) I need more.

  Then came the Hades zone of the abyss.

  Trapped in the pitch-bck void of what’s not real and what’s real, not even a trace of breath or thought soon brought up to her mind or body. But just as she was about to close her eyes, a single fsh of white sparkled and gleamed right in front of her.

  A light that was just narrowly in her line of grasp.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) I need your strength; Vivy.

  Grabbing a hold of the white spark, the pitch-bck void of nothingness soon erupted into reality. Like a time suck, a jolt of lightning traversed through her entire body.

  Having her knees grazing the soil below, she looked up toward the cloudy sky that she longed to see for the stars above.

  But in the end, all that matters is perfection, not detours.

  (Vivy’s thoughts) Blessing of Bleach: Act 2.

  A burst of bleach soon brushed down against all of them, along with the fmes from the eastern side soon being put to a halt.