When the war of the beasts brings about the world’s end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting

It felt like an instant. Everything that happened, and everything that was erased in its own pocket dimension. Moonlover’s attack landed on empty space. Punisher’s grenade had done some damage, though the intended targets had vanished in the blast. Firestarter was in the back, with the Incubator on her shoulder. And it was Worldeater that approached and climbed onto the stage, after the dust settled.

Luca: …I’ll admit. This was not my finest performance. (Luca repeated the phrase in English, then in Chinese, doing the same every sentence or two as he spoke further) I can’t rightly deny some fault in my theatrics. However, I am not alone in shouldering the blame for this fiasco. Nor is this the end for our design. The captive audience, aware of our intentions, is no more a threat than they were before today. Nor are they any less vulnerable. Our work continues, as we previously planned. 

Shiori: (she drops down from the rubble at the back of the venue, the cold November air creeping in through the hole in the ceiling) Oh, shove it, fuckface. I should’ve crushed those Soul Gems when I had the chance.

Punisher: (she glares at Shiori, holding the scattered remains of Hotaru’s Soul Gem) <You ran off.>

Shiori: (she points at her ears) How many times do I gotta tell you? I don’t fucking understand what you are saying. Comprende?

Kyubey: (still perched on Shiori’s shoulder, the incubator utters what sounds like a sigh, before leaping off and scurrying to a convenient spot in between its band of Balancers) She is wondering why you didn’t join the fight, Firestarter.

Shiori: (she narrows her eyes) I was waiting to jump someone, I guess? ‘S not like you were in top form either, Candy Crush. Too busy chasing that high score to notice the fucking sniper?

Punisher: (she just glares at Shiori) …

Shiori: Anyone gonna fucking translate that for me? (he turns to Kyubey) Oi, tell her!

Luca: (he pauses, contemplating a diplomatic way to translate what Shiori said) <She was wondering—>

Kyubey: (it shakes its head) Let’s not get so hung up on details, Firestarter! You all performed adequately. Unfortunately, Yui Arashi and her friends don’t go down so easily. That’s why I called you all here, after all! Don’t worry. We still have the higher ground, and our advantage will only continue to grow the longer this war lasts! Isn’t that right, Worldeater?

Luca: (he smiles) Precisely. We will all have our encore soon enough. A nightmare awaits them at night, and at dawn, they awaken in rubble. (he repeats this line specifically in Chinese.) The city is falling into ruin thanks to you, Firestarter. The rats will soon run out of nests in which to hide. We can let them squirm all they want, and burn them at our leisure. We have already won.

Shiori: God, you must be a hoot at parties.

Luca: Very much so, yes. You ought to come to one, one of these days. I host them nightly, both here and in the realm of nightmares. Consider this a formal invitation.

Shiori: Don’t gimme the deets, man. I might actually show up.

Luca: Ah, is that a promise? Because I sold tickets and everything. Look for a gaudy, ancient Italian concert hall. I, er, “borrowed” the design, for the sake of spiteful irony. (he glances back at Kyubey) More to the point, we all should discuss our next move. I believe I’ve given my argument on maintaining this war of attrition we’ve started.

Punisher: (she waits for Kyubey to hop onto her shoulder, translating Luca’s words, before turning to him) <What’s the point of wearing them down? We can beat them as we are.>

Kyubey: <We have to stick to the original plan, Punisher! All our effort will have been in vain if we get sloppy now.>

Shiori: Oi. Japanese, please?

Kyubey: My, aren’t we all being impatient today! I wouldn’t worry, Firestarter. We aren’t talking about you! Your colleague simply expressed her concern about the way we’re approaching the Balancing.

Shiori: As she fucking should.

Kyubey: No, no, this project has been long in the works. We will not stray from the way we said we are going to do this. Everyone was given their role, and I heard no complaining back then! I don’t think there’s any need for it now either. <After all, is today’s attack going south not exact proof of why the long game is the way to go, Punisher?>

Punisher: … (she glares at Kyubey and the others, before grunting something in confirmation, before turning her attention to her phone)

Shiori: Fuckin’ bootlicker.

Luca: Firestarter, please. Patience. …I realize after I said that how absurd the notion is, given the events of a few minutes ago, but please. You and yours can continue to ransack this city, no one said you had to sit on your ass. But breaking someone’s will is a far more effective tool to utterly destroy a person than destroying their body. (he paraphrases this sentiment in Chinese while looking at Punisher) When have I ever led you astray? …Okay, bad example. But when has Kyubey ever led us astray?

Shiori: (she scoffs) Fine, Sun Tzu. Have it your way.

Kyubey: So, we’re all agreed that we continue what we set out to do in the first place? This initial strike must have shaken them up, quite a bit, so they’ll be more susceptible to your machinations, Worldeater. Besides, even if we failed at killing… most of them, we did manage to separate them, at least. This could be quite advantageous!

Shiori: What do you mean, separate? 

Punisher: (without looking up from her phone) <The one who died. She managed to use her powers in the end. Moonlover went after them.>

Kyubey: Moonlover…? That was not part of the plan!

Luca: God damn it. …Not an iota of patience, that one. She runs a serious risk, going out alone like this. If we do not stay on the same page, we give them the chance to regroup. Damn it all! (he sighs, taking a few deep breaths) So long as the rest of us stick together, our plan should not run any further risk. Can I count on you? Firestarter? Punisher? (Luca paraphrases in Chinese)

Shiori: … ‘s not like I’ve got anything better to do. Heh.

Punisher: Mmh.

Luca: Good, good. (Luca visibly relaxes, speaking in Japanese, then Chinese) We are more than just eccentric freaks with strange powers and a visceral hatred of the world we were dumped in. We are a collective of eccentric freaks with strange powers and a visceral hatred of the world we were dumped in. We need to stick together for this Balancing to succeed. We don’t need to go running off, chasing personal pursuits of revenge. We will achieve it wholesale in the end. 

Shiori: Whatever you say, edgelord.

Punisher: (she looks up, pocketing her phone) … <The river. The soldier’s awake.> (she looks at Kyubey)

Kyubey: <Finish the job.>

Luca: <Hey, what did I just say about going alone—>

Shiori: … (as Kyubey and Punisher exchange a few words, she glares at the two, before brushing up to Luca and whispering) Gimme the short and sweet, Babel Fish. She found someone, didn’t she?

Luca: (shaking his head, he turns to Shiori) …Yes. The soldier that fled into the river. She has drifted downstream, and has regained consciousness. …If she’s alone, there’s minimal risk. But I don’t like this.

Shiori: Boo-dee-fucking-hoo. Send me the coordinates if she happens to mention them, ‘kay? (she amicably taps Luca on the shoulder before running up the rubble, and leaping through the hole in ceiling)

Luca: H… Hey! (he reaches out towards the ceiling, but Shiori is long gone, and he sighs, lowering his head) <…Send her the coordinates, Punisher. Frustrating as this is, I cannot deny that Firestarter has made this merry band far more interesting, at the least.> (Luca cannot help but show a little smile.) <Perhaps she will put on a good show. After all… none of us knows how she fights yet.>