(You can bet your ass that this chapter's gonna get deleted for being "explicit", even though the mature content is on.

On another note, it's my longest fight scene ever written so I tried my best with the errors, be indulgent. After all, 11k words is hard to read through multiple times.)

[This chapter will be exclusively combat. You are allowed to skip this chapter if you are not interested with combat sections.]

Finally reaching the entrance of the library, he could see the guests that entered the library. Standing side by side, they watched him emerge from the shadows with a worried expression. Carrying with him a single sword and a book, he stared back at the duo in silence.

Marisa: Yo, we're here for the books!

Reimu: So you're the one we're supposed to defeat?

The shrine maiden standing next to the witch was all business and nothing else. Yes, her eyes had a hint of greed in them but she was taking the matter seriously. The girl with short blond hair looked at her ally and then at her opponent.

Marisa: This is gonna be easy if it's just one.

Y/N: I suppose you received an invitation just like that woman of flames.

Marisa: Ze? A woman of flame? You mean Mokou?

Reimu: She was sent the same invitation?

Y/N: It seems so, also wishing for my death, this world is truly heartless.

He shrugged and the book in his hand began to float silently above his hand, glowing brightly. For the 2 girls, it was only a light but for the librarian, it had another meaning. With it, 4 pages separated themselves from the book and grew in size, forming the outer shell of the ones that were about to be awakened.

???: Situation optimal, running analysis for optimal outcome.

The first one to emerge was a girl with long gray hair and dull eyes of the same color. Wearing a black outfit and carrying a spear as large as her with a small, black and white headband that a maid usually have on top of her head. She swung her spear around and placed herself in a combat position.

???: Alice, engaging to combat, none must survive.

???: Come on everyone, we can do this!

A second voice called the others, wearing blue and black trousers and a reinforced vest. Her blue hair fluttered in the hair and her fists rose up, protected by strong gloves. Unlike the monotome Alice, that one was watching their opponents with a fierce gaze.

???: Don't worry Y/N, we'll take care of this.

She indirectly ordered the man to step away of the fight but he shook his head, not wishing to repeat the mistakes of his past. He simply took out his sword and the girl understood that he wasn't planning on running away.

???: Then let's do this, Jenna, ready for combat!

???: Be careful everyone, we cannot underestimate our opponent!

The familiar voice of the girl with blue hair and a ponytail echoed in the library. Just like before, the last time she was summoned, Clara ran to join the others with her sword, now different from Y/N's since he changed his weapon. She greeted the man with a bright smile and raised her weapon in the air.

Clara: We can win this, let's do this without casualties!

???: It sounds impossible but we can at least try.

Clara: Come on Maria, we can't lose hope!

The last one emerging from the light was a woman with short violet hair wearing a red coat, a long rapier in her left hand that she was handling with only that hand. Her eyes shone their purple light to their allies and comforted them.

Jenna: We can't lose with Maria on our side!

Alice: Probability of victory effectively increased, adjusting procedures.

Marisa: Heh? Where did they all come from?

Reimu: They were waiting for us.

Y/N: Can we start now?

He stopped them and readied his blade, shining inside the darkness of the forgotten place. Jenna tightened her fists and followed suit, prepared for the incoming battle that will soon devolve into an all-out war.

Maria: Be careful Y/N, you're still weak compared to everyone, don't hesitate to rely on us.

He knew that the current version that he was seeing from his friends were from the past but he gritted his teeth.

Y/N: No, I want to show my worth, I would only be a dead weight if I can't help.

Both the shrine maiden and the witch began to fly in the air, the witch sitting on her broom and readying a small machine that looked like an octogonal box. The librarians positioned themselves and began the first round of attacks.

Y/N: One of us need to keep clashing against the witch or else she'll copy our abilities while the others focus on the shrine maiden.

Maria: Got it. I'll keep the witch at bay.

Plan made, they all charged forward and the duo opposing them retaliated with Danmaku. Normally, they would have the advantage with their ability to easily fly around but Jenna fixed that problem almost instantly.

Jenna: Space rupture!

She swung her fist to punch the first projectile aiming at her and the sound of a massive whip being swung around resonated, causing the floor to tremble for a moment. The sound, however, was nothing compared to the massive rupture appearing in the air. Charged with electricity, it was like a gap that Reimu would often see from a certain gap youkai. Quickly destroying the atmosphere, it zapped the girl and forced her to land on the ground.

Alice: Deploying attack.

The robotic girl went for a powerful stab with the spear, which was blocked by her target. Equaling in power, none of them were harmed in the clash but the second one was not expected. Alice swung the spear upward and slammed the sharp end of it under her chin, taking her distances afterwards.

Following that, Y/N charged at the surprised guest and quickly slashed her before truly attacking her. It was 2 other slashes but with an ulterior purpose. Indeed, he weakly damaged her and simply tried to create wounds on her body so that she would hurt herself the moment she tries to fight back.

Reimu: ...What a pain to deal with.

Taking out a seal, she released the magic in the shape of 8 orbs. Activating, all of them were brought to life and flew with a precise aim to the librarian who previously attacked her. Left with no energy to fight back, he was forced to block this by himself and-

Clara: Got you~!

She called the shrine maiden and swung her sword, ignoring Y/N being attacked. She wouldn't even be able to protect him so it was better to focus the one creating those attacks. Prepared this time, Reimu guarded against the incoming attack.

Clara: Just kidding~

She answered with a dodge instead of an attack, making the defense of the shrine maiden wasted. After her feint, she returned to her attack and created another wound that will damage her soon.

Maria: Is that all you got? I was expecting more from a witch.

She called the guest that she was facing on her own, parrying a star that was launched at her with nothing but her thin rapier. Jumping between 2 bookshelves to reach a higher elevation, the woman that all librarians relied on stood her grounds easily. Her red suit fluttered in the wind created by her rapid movements and faced Marisa.

Marisa: Gotta say, you sure know a lot of tricks, wouldn't mind learning a few things from ya!

Maria: *Chuckle* Good luck with that goal.

Brandishing her mighty rapier, she jumped off of the bookshelf and defied gravity itself just to attack the witch. Fairly quick, she went out of the way and saw from the corner of her eyes the girl abruptly changing direction. As a rapid attempt to throw her off, she shot a Danmaku shaped like a star at her. Not slowing down she stabbed the bullet and attacked her with the side of the pointed blade.

Jenna: Y/N! Are you alright?

The one who only attacked once ran to the man who had to endure 8 attacks in a row. His body emitting smoke, he felt like he was on fire and his body wouldn't let him move from his spot.

Jenna: Crap, he's stunned.

Of course, unaware of his blessing, she placed herself next to him and was ready to take a hit just to make sure he wasn't attacked while he was in this state. The librarians and guests took a moment to recover some energy and the second waves of attacks began. With Y/N stunned, it was 4 librarians against 2 guests. Choices taken, they followed their plans and the fight resumed, new actions prepared.

First clash was Maria and the witch, still fighting. Many stars formed into the air and created a sky that the library would never be able to see otherwise. Shining brightly, it fell down onto her head. Attentive as ever, she swung her blade like a sword instead of her rapier and deflected one of the stars, jumping through the hole it was leaving. Above the curtain of bullets, she moved her thin weapon in a diagonal manner and intercepted a star trying to attack her in mid-air.

Maria: Too bad for you, I got enough experience with stars to deal with them, you gonna have to try something else!

Second clash was between Clara and the shrine maiden. With them, it was all about predicting each other's attacks and react as such. Reimu silently observed her opponent who kept her smile from the very start of this duel.

Clara: Hit and miss~ I wonder what will happen? Maybe I should with an- Attack!

She stopped herself and went for a quick stab, avoided by the shrine maiden. Still smiling, she side-stepped and swiftly dodged her opponents' attack. Going along with the flow of the battle, she moved her blade downwards and left a wound on her guest.

Clara: You shouldn't waste you energy on little me~ Especially with her.

Reimu: ?

Confused, she turned around and saw Alice violently charging at her and performing rapid swings up and down to create a large gash. Avoided at the last moment, she went for a quick burst of Danmaku to damage the opponent. Alice, unfazed by her counter, stabbed the ground with her spear and performed a full turn counterclockwise by holding onto the spear and spinning around.

Alice: No clashes remaining, performing one-sided parry.

At the end of her turn, she pulled the spear out of the ground and replaced it with one of her feet. With almost no time to react, she did a second spin in the same direction with the momentum she had and once facing the shrine maiden, smashed the side of her feet in the right side of her face. Staggered for a moment, she gritted her teeth and jumped away from the duo that caught her off-guard.

Reimu: ...How is that even possible?

Alice: Through optimal methods.

Her monotome voice answered her question while readying her spear for yet another round, not tired at all from performing the stunt that she did.

Clara: That's our Alice, truly beyond our understanding.

Alice: False, simply protecting.

Reimu: Tch.

Behind her, many Yin-Yang orbs formed and began spinning around. To distract them, she filled the area with projectiles and then launched the orbs at them while they were busy defending themselves against the bullet patterns.

Clara: Woah! That's cheating!

She exclaimed before receiving one with so much strength that she was tossed across the entrance, destroying a whole bookshelf. Alice silently watched the orbs approaching her and turned her spear around, deciding to block them instead of the bullets. Enduring the attacks from the Danmakus, her actions were not left unrewarded and the orbs were pushed back.

Meanwhile, Jenna was holding Y/N against her, using her body as a shield. Starting to regain control of his burning shell, he groaned and dropped to his knees, heavily damaged by the spell card used on him.

Jenna: Y/N, you need to back away, you're seriously injuried.

Y/N: No... not again.

Holding his sword, he struggled his way out of her grasp and took a deep breath to recover from the attack he received. While the other librarians were keeping the guests at bay, he looked at the girl who stayed behind to protect him and weakly smiled.

Y/N: Go help Maria, she won't be able to fend her off for long at this rate.

Jenna: What about-?

Y/N: I'll be fine, don't worry, I had my share of battles.

Jenna: *Sigh* Please be safe, I don't want to see you die because you want to be useful.

She stepped away from him and climbed on top of a bookshelf with ease to join Maria, jumping from one bookshelf to another like nothing. On his own, he prepared himself and charged at the shrine maiden, the third wave beginning. All dispersing to their targets, they fought with their hardest.

Y/N's mind: That witch is gonna use her Mass Attack soon.

Worried that they might not be able to complete this fight before that, he prepared a strong attack and clashed against the shrine maiden. She used her purification rod and blocked the sword. Applying pressure to the handle, the blade was shaking and could break at any moment.

Alice: Assistance required, responding as such.

Helping him, the girl with the black outfit swung her weapon down and interrupted the clash. Aiming at the girl next, she ran forward  and dodged more incoming projectiles tossed in her direction. Witnessing her attempt to stop the emotionless girl go in vain, Reimu flew away from the duo still standing and tried to gain some distance.

Alice: Y/N, boost up is necessary.

Y/N: S-Sure!

Crouching, he placed his hands together and waited for her. Taking a step away for a boost of speed, she dashed at full power at him and jumped in his hands. Everything up to him, he elevated her above his head and dropped on the ground from the transfer of weight.

Reimu: Are you crazy?!

Alice: Negative, effective.

She latched onto the girl and made the both of them fall to the ground once more. During that process, her spear dropped down on the floor but it didn't matter, she stopped their guest from having an advantage. Unfortunately, that's all she could do without her weapon, unable to give her a major wound.

Y/N: Clara!

He yelled to the one that destroyed a whole bookshelf after being thrown at it. On her feet a long time ago, she charged ahead and pulled out a grey dagger from inside her outfit, that was a black dress on top of a white blouse and black stockings.

Clara: Time for some string practice.

Rushing forward with a wide smile of excitement, she literally went through Reimu's body with the dagger like she was a ghost and stopped on the other side. Her dagger was gone but instead, strings were knotted at her fingers and connected to the girl that just got transpierced.

Clara: Puppet field, all shall become mine and mine alone~

She laughed and closed her right hand into a fist before doing an uppercut in the air. The movement opened many wounds on the girl affected by the strings. Still enduring the many attacks she received, she frowned and took out another seal.

Y/N: Crap, retreat everyone!

Clara: Huh?

She turned around and the familiar orbs of light appeared. However, this time, the one summoning them was glaring daggers at them, not holding back anymore.

Reimu: Fantasy Seal!

Y/N: !

Alice: Powerful attack detected, commencing protection.

Not afraid of the incoming projectiles, she faced the danger straight ahead. Meanwhile, the puppeteer broke the strings and prepared her sword to defend herself. Knowing that she already took a strong hit, she needed to avoid those that would aim at her.

Y/N's mind: Crap, Director, let me do something!

He asked to the one that was not here, begging to be able to perform what that person would be able to do. His eyes widened, he didn't want to see his friends die yet another time, he wouldn't be able to take it. He begged harder and prayed that he could use his hidden trick, borrowed from the Director.

Alice: Transpierce ready and set, retreat is a must Clara, Y/N.

8 orbs, 8 powerful attacks that were enough to immediately stun him when he was attacked by the same spell. Now, it was Alice's turn to feel the wrath of the shrine maiden in red, her laziness gone unlike last time. Her face frozen in a monotone state, her spear was held with a single hand and a precise eye keeping track of which ball of pure magic would attack her first.

Reimu: Release!

Finally, they were released and flew to the closest opponent, the girl with gray hair. Still not receiving his answer that he needed, he was forced to witness his friend get demolished into nothingness by the spell.

Alice: Transpierce!

For the first time, the girl raised her voice and swung the blade of the weapon to collide with the first orb. Sparkles illuminated their vision but it faded away, losing its power quickly. Still not done, she moved to the second one and repeated the cycle until the 8th one was dispersed by her attack that was beyond a simple trump card.

Y/N: She's free to go, Clara, we have to stun her now!

He finally realized but now that she was fighting seriously, she would obviously use attacks stronger than before. Alice gave them a chance but they needed to act quick. However that was where that turn ended, everyone needing a moment to recover a small amount of energy.

4th turn, 2 turns before the Mass Attack of the witch.

Alice: ...Energy lacking, be careful.

Loudly breathing to catch her breath, she used her spear as a support and leaned against it, trying to recover more energy before attacking the guest. After what she did, she was allowed that much at least.

Y/N: Clara, we need to cover Alice.

Clara: Right! Let's hope the others are fine on their own!

The turn began and for the second group too. Marisa still going strong, she grinned at her foes and tossed a few bottles in the air, exploding and creating massive lasers through the whole library and destroying many of the bookshelves that were being used as platerforms by Maria and Jenna.

Maria: She's fast, I have to give her that.

Jenna: Doesn't matter, we just need to predict her movements.

She replied, dodging a laser and punching a star flying in her direction afterwards. Unlike the other librarians and her abilities, she could easily do so with no problem. The many falling stars were dropped onto them, even stars that created other stars. The sight was overwhelming but both of them remained calm.

Maria: She really loves her stars.

Jenna: You can say that, that's almost the only thing she used.

Marisa: Ze, I can do plenty of tricks!

Jenna: That involve stars perhaps?

She mocked her opponent while kicking a nearby star-shaped Danmaku, rolling backward to avoid perfectly the rest of them. Maria, on the other hand, swung her sword in a horizontal line and majestic flames erupted from the rapier, like flowers blooming through the fire. Although they were flames, they devoured the stars like food and left nothing behind.

Maria: However, it has its charm.

Marisa: Someone gets it!

Maria: Not like it matters in the end, your stars won't do much inside a coffin.

She could give points to the technique of a foe but it doesn't change the fact that the both of them were trying to kill each other. It was better to stop conversations at that and end this quickly. Glancing at the trio fending off the pissed off shrine maiden, she focused back on the witch.

Maria: They'll be done soon with her. It was scary at first but everything's almost determined.

Marisa: Huh?

So concentrated on the battle, she didn't even notice that her ally was being attacked from all sides nonstop. Her eyes widened and she changed direction, aiming for the ones attacking Reimu.

Jenna: Space rupture!

Her attempt to flee was intercepted. Her fist swung to create a massive rip filled with electricty in front of her to keep her on their side. The ground vibrated accordingly and Maria jumped closer to grab the broom that was keeping the witch floating.

Marisa: Hey, let go!

Maria: ...Sure.

Placing her second hand on it, she moved all her weight down and forced her to lower just enough for the girl with blue hair to swing a good punch and snap the old thing in half. After all, it was just a branch and if her fists were able to create sounds capable of shattering one's eardrums, she wouldn't have any problem breaking a stick.

Marisa: Ze?!

Surprised, she dropped down with them to the cold floor and immediately searched inside her hat to pull out it a small, octogonal box. Unfortunately, she had to charge it before releasing the secret hidden inside it, time that her opponent would not allow her to have. The power of exterminating opponents with hatred itself was something that only someone else could do.

...A certain magical girl, who fights for her so-called "justice" and "love".

Jenna: Do you feel that?

Maria: Intercept her, she's planning a Mass Attack!

Both rushing at her, stunning her was necessary to make her stop. Sensing their intent, waves upon waves of stars illuminated the sad prison of knowledge and spread everywhere, along with more bottles thrown around to create lasers. It was a kaleidoscope of light, shown to the librarians that never learned what stars truly look like.

Maria: ...

Swinging her rapier in a casual manner, she charged ahead and destroyed the stars in her way like sheets of paper. The guest may be able to use magic to their aid but nothing is more trustworthy than actual talent. With accurate attacks, the bullets were dispersed like clouds in the sky.

Jenna: Tch, those things are annoying!

Unlike her ally, she was forced to retreat, only able to focus one projectile at a time with her fists. Electricity emanating from them, she punched one shining star and destroyed its very core. However, it also meant that she could only do so with one at a time, the opposite of Maria.

Tired, she ran away and jumped behind a bookshelf to hide from the projectiles. Sweating bullets, her head rose to the ceiling that couldn't be reached nor seen and exhaled the breath that she was holding. Her heart was beating vigorously with not only tiredness but emotions, powerful emotions emerging from her subconscious.

Jenna: Even though they're easy to counter, they sure know how to hit hard.

Remembering when Clara got sent into a bookshelf, she winced in pain and looked at her fists. The lightnings gone, her hands were hurting like hell, sore from all the punches she did. Slowly sensing the pain go away, she stood up.

She was scared to see their defeat, she was more scared than anyone else right now. She didn't want to see her friends perish in front of her eyes and it was haunting her.

Jenna: ...

Emerging from her cover and returned to the battlefield and joined her ally against the guest adoring stars. Surprised to see her back, Marisa gave her a surprised glance but her next words froze her blood.

Jenna: May this heart of mine rip apart and let the flow of fear eliminate those who oppose me.

Marisa: Woah, what's with the personnality change?

The person who mysteriously muttered those words looked at the magician and raised her fists, fiercely glaring at her and instilling fear in her being with just that glance. Just like she said, she was able to intimidate her with all the fear contained in her heart, fuelling that fear to the rest of her body.

Maria: ...I see, that should work fine with us.

Jenna: We have a chance of victory, we must seize it!

Her intimidation successfully completed at the beginning of the 5th turn, she kicked the ground and launched herself to the girl still on the ground. Still holding the small device she was carrying with her, she placed her emotions in it and created a flurry of Danmakus to stop her.

Magic against non-magic, 2 different forces clashed. With the approach of many stars, the girl wearing the reinforced vest swung her fist yet again and bolts of thunder emerged from her suit to assist her. Unlike before, once the fist and the projectile collided, large tendrils coming from her very own shadow pierced the projectiles and impaled the reason of those attacks.

Maria: Good hit.

Jenna: I get better.

She answered her ally with a grin and pushed her fist further away from her, launching the tentacles piercing the opponent into the wall. Her body fell down silently and the shadows returned to her.

Maria: Now lets's see, it should heavily damage her Stun Resist.

Jenna: Let's hope she's stunned.

The both of them observed the girl that got pierced in silence until the one wearing the red coat mumbled to the girl next to her.

Maria: Was there no better choice than choose fear?

Jenna: It was either that, vengeance or courage.

Maria: Yea, when you put it like that.

Looking back at their enemy, they saw her body slowly rising up. After a hit as strong as the one she received, she would definitely be stunned but she stood up and pointed her last weapon at them, glowing brightly.

...6th turn, the charge up began.

Maria: She's definitely gonna obliterate us with that thing, we have to hurry!

Her rapier in position, she charged ahead and stabbed her with no hesitation. Her first hit was followed by an uppercut and a hit with the back of her blade. With no time to breathe, Jenna bolted to her side and swung a punch at her in the guts, electrocuting her in the process as well. Not stopping at that, she kicked her in the ribs and the witch flew farther away from the shrine maiden.

Jenna: It's not gonna be enough, call everyone!

Maria: Gather up everyone, Mass Attack incoming!

Yelling at the others fighting against the shrine maiden, they turned around and ignored the attacks aimed at them to join the duo who tried their hardest to stun the girl. The first one was Alice, followed by Clara and finally Y/N, clutching his weapon.

Y/N: Crap, who's taking it?

Jenna: I will.

Clara: We can always count on you when we need it!

She responded with a wide smile and held up her sword, keeping her eyes on Reimu on the others side of the entrance. Not holding back, she prepared a third seal and began casting her spell while the witch was going the same on her side.

Clara: Seal incoming, who's taking it?

Y/N: I will.

Alice: Negative, your attacks do not possess enough power to overcome it.

Y/N: Unless Director tells me otherwise, I have to put my trust in that.

Maria: Y/N, this is serious, you can't rely on that attack that only works 25% of the time.

Y/N: Then how are we supposed to counter the both of them?

Clara: As much as I would like to support you, they have a point, we're still the stronger ones so we should take it.

Y/N: ...

...Yet, they still perished, that was his thoughts. He wanted to improve and show them that he was getting stronger but he was still being considered weak compared to them. Once again, it was a reminder that he was the cause of their death.

Jenna: Don't worry Y/N, we'll cover you.

Y/N: ...Understood.

He reluctantly agreed and simply chose who to target instead of focusing on the attacks aimed at them.

Marisa: Master Spark!

Reimu: Fantasy Seal!

The 7th turn began and the clashes started at a long distance. On one side, a giant laser of love formed and ripped through the air, its energy going straight for the librarians. Like she said, Jenna stepped forward and charged her right hand with power.

Jenna: Space rupture!

Repeating the move that she has already used 2 times before, she swung her hand and the mighty whip was swung. A large breach in space itself formed and started absorbing the large laser of power energy aiming right for them. At first, it calmly absorbed the laser but that breach acting as a wall began to crack, weaker than the Master Spark.

Jenna: Alice!

Alice: Transpierce ready.

Following her steps, the emotionless girl stepped up and swung her spear in the direction of the rupture, breaking soon after. Continuing its trajectory, it collided with the spear and the impossible was witnessed: clashing with the weapon, that seemed minuscule in comparison, reflected the light of the beam and divided it in half, one destroying the aisles of the library while the second one was perforing a hole in the wall, a hole was will not stay.

Alice: Composition 87%, time estimated for resistance is 16 seconds.

Maria: That's plenty of time.

She answered back and placed her left hand against her chest. Afterwards, her crimson suit shone brightly, turning the dark red to a pure color emanating light instead of darkness. The light turned into flames and a large fire formed on her suit.

Alice: Composition 64%.

Maria: O eternal watcher of the skies, I am praying for your mighty return. May this body of mine be the offering of your true power, for we are requesting your grand presence to turn our enemies to ashes.

Chanting to herself, she raised her hands above her head and flames fell down from the ceiling that none could see and turn around them. Her outfit creating flames as well assembled with the fire coming from above.

Maria: Your fiery desire of life shall fill my body and allow our goal to be completed. With your guidance, we shall be victorious so we pray for your aid.

Her eyes pupils turned from violet to pure red and fire emerged from its color without harming the girl affected by it. The fire gathering around her hands changed to create a specific form, the power requested by the one embedded in the very suit she was wearing.

Alice: Composition 20%.

Maria: Release!

Clasping her hands together, the fire extended like wings and a head of flames emerged from the shapeless form gathered around them. Claws followed and the loud warcry of a powerful bird echoed in the giant room. Above the girl who summoned it, a creature close to an actual phoenix was born and charged at the large laser.

Maria: Dragon's fury, make our enemies combust in their hatred and filthy greed!

The bird followed her order and casually charged into the Master Spark. With a single swing of its majestic wings, the light of destruction created by the device was blown away and redirected to the ceiling far above.

Marisa: What?!

Shocked, she witnessed the impossible approaching her at a quick speed. Still relying on her speed, she ran away and rolled across the floor at the last moment, barely avoiding the mighty bird of life.

Jenna: She dodged it?! How is that possible?!

Alice: Too... tired... rest needed.

Jenna: Do so, I'll take care of her.

Maria stayed silent and gritted her teeth, recovering from the powerful attack she created. Her suit losing its glowing power gradually, the fire inside her eyes dissipated and returned to their original colors. With the one capable to breaking space itself being the only person available, she charged at the soon-to-be stunned enemy and kicked her around.

Y/N: ...

On the other side, Clara distracted the shrine maiden and parried the homing projectiles. Unlike the trio's effort against the giant beam of love, she was on her own and her sword was less effective than their attacks. With enough power, she was able to deflect the first 3 orbs and had to endure the 5 others.

Clara: Ugh... this doesn't feel fun at all.

Each attacks were making her heart stop for a second, feeling like she was about to combust into holy ashes from her attacks. It was like fighting the very essence of a god, it was beyond their power. With the constant pressure, her emotions were going haywire and her mind was panicking.

...At the end, something broke inside of her. Not her mind but her emotions, snapping like a twig. Normally, it would gradually increase but now it went off the charts and reached a critical level. Her legs trembling, a soft giggle left her lips and a cruel smile followed.

Y/N: ...Clara?

The man standing beside her shot her a worried look and she bursted into laughter. With a large smile, sharp teeth replaced the canines a human should have and blood was smeared on them, unknown blood that could be hers but no one would know that.

Clara: I need more blood, this is far from enough! Show me your beautiful colors and substain me!

Hysterically laughing loudly, she ignored the man and swiftly glided across the floor, imitating the movements of a shadow. A clash ensued and the blade that she was holding was swung in all directions like a madman, out of her mind.

Y/N: Crap, Maria! We have an emotion outburst!

Maria: Give me... a moment.

Still under the binds of the fire, she was forced to watch one of her allies losing control of her body and blindly swinging her weapon around with actions that wouldn't be far from cruelty, they were all aiming to make the shrine maiden bleed as much as possible.

Y/N: Fine, I'll stop her!

Not waiting for long, he changed his target and ran to the librarian. Using only his sheath, he swung it at her ribs and pushed her away from Reimu, still recovering from all the attacks aimed at her.

Clara: The magnificent colors, so enticing, they must be here for me to consume!

Y/N: ...

Ignoring the one behind him, he readied his blade and observed her running in his direction. Both allies, they attacked each other with no hesitation like they were never associates, one driven to madness because of her own emotions.

Y/N: Get a hold of yourself!

Yelling back at her, he deflected one of her attacks and swung the sheath that he was carrying in her stomach, cutting off her oxygen. Exhaling everything that she had, she dropped on the floor and held her head with her right hand.

Clara: More... I need more... blood.

Swinging her head around, she finally gave herself a good swing and smashed it against the floor but not before unleashing a scream that a tortured soul would release. Not affected at all by the hit, she stood up and her legs trembled like she was standing in the cold winter.

Y/N: ...

Clara: Blood... need... recovery.

Alice: Guest confirmed to be stunned, attack is necessary.

A voice behind them called them before pointing the shrine maiden. Heavily breathing with many bruises that she would never have in a true Danmaku duel covering her body, she only looked down.

8th turn... where everything had to hurry. Y/N clutching his weapon glanced back at Clara, still holding her head as a way to remain sane.

Y/N: Use that opportunity.

Clara: ...Blood will... repair me.

Showing her sharp fangs to the man, she took out the small knife that she used to create many strings. Still under her own madness, she frowned and starting digging her fingers inside her head.

Y/N: The both of us, let's take care of this.

Clara: Y/N... must protect.... too weak...

Y/N: Let's forget about that, we can do this together.

Turning to face the shrine maiden, he discovered to his surprise that she was stunned from all the wounds that she received.

Y/N: It's now or never!

Clara: I need to recover... control... bloodlust.

Y/N: Use her.

Both of them charged back to the weakened shrine maiden trying to stand on her feet after that many attacks on her. Raising her head, she witnessed the both of them entering her field of vision at a speed that she wasn't expecting.

Reimu: Se-

Clara: Blood!!!

She swung her blade on her and jumped to reach for the crimson liquid. Y/N followed her and did the same thing with his weapon, 2 stabs, leaving much more damage than he expected.

Reimu: H...uh?

Her energy leaving her body, all she could feel was the cold surrounding her. She was trapped inside a prison of ice that she couldn't escape and her world turned gray, only capable of hearing her heartbeat.

Reimu: ...Marisa.

Her name weakly called, her body grew lighter and brighter until it exploded but not in a traditional manner. She exploded into many pages like a book being ripped apart and nothing was left behind but a single book with her name written on it with golden letters.

Y/N: We got her.

Clara: ...

Marisa: REIMU!!!

Forced to witness the one that accompanied her on this quest of greed disintegrate into a mere object that she was yearning for, she loudly screamed her name in agony. Completely ignoring her opponents, she ran for the book and received a powerful kick in the face, pushing her to the exit of the library.

Jenna: Didn't expect her to actually care for her, first time seeing someone not being selfish.

Nonetheless, she still kicked her to the door and she was laying on the ground. Reimu's book was collected by Y/N, who sadly looked at it in silence. He was standing close to the entrance as well and look at the witch scratching the floor and raising her head to face him.

Marisa: What did you do to her?!

Y/N: ...The invitation said what would happen if you lose. You die, you become the knowledge that people will desire, that's how it works.

Marisa: Give her back!

Y/N: She placed her life on the life when coming here and so did you. You should leave, you will only die by staying here.

Marisa: I'm not leaving until I get Reimu back!

Clara: ...I need something... anything.

Jenna: What a pain in the ass. Fine, come here, you can have my blood.

While the both of them were busy with that, Alice and Maria stepped next to the man and looked at their last guest on the floor, their weapons pointed at her.

Alice: Retreat is better than death, do as such.

Maria: That's the least I can do to someone who truly cares about someone else in this world. You won't do anything if you die anyway.

Marisa: ...

Gritting her teeth, she reached for something but could only grasp the void. Her eyes widening, she looked at her empty hand and turned to face the librarians.

Jenna: Looking for that?

She asked that to the magician while holding the Master Spark, one of her arms casually being emptied of its blood by Clara. With no hesitation, she tossed it to the ground and crushed it with her heel like a plastic toy, many sparkles created from its destruction.

Marisa: !

Her body froze up and her expression became livid. It was a normal reaction after seeing someone close to you vanishing and the thing that you loved the most being crushed in front of your eyes. She was nothing else than an empty shell, losing everything today.

Marisa: ...

Alice: Mental signs diverging, emotions increased.

Maria: She's still planning to fight? In that state?

Y/N: That would be...

He didn't want to say the obvious and instead stopped himself. The girl with short blond hair was still laying on the floor and her eyes were now blank, the very energy that she liked to show to others gone.

Jenna: You done?

Clara: ...Much better.

She sighed and released her pressure against her head, her sharp teeth tainted with the red liquid that she drank.

Jenna: She still wants to fight?

Clara: I don't mind ending her now.

Y/N: If she doesn't want to leave then we should do so.

Marisa: ...This is my fault. It was all my fault for coming here.

She whispered to herself, remembering the moment she landed in front of the shrine, carrying the black invitation that would eventually lead them to this. The reason they went there was because of her and she knew it, she couldn't forgive herself for it.

Alice: Your selfishness was your downfall, accept the reality and vanish like the many others who tried before you.

Not affected by emotions at all, she brandished her spear and prepared her final attack.

Marisa: ...

Blinded by her sorrow, she refused to flee, only tapping the floor around her, desperately trying to find the one that she saw disappear. She wanted to believe that it was a lie and that the one she would consider her friend was still alive.

Marisa: You... You goddamn monsters!

In a rush of adrenaline, she stood up and swung a punch to the man holding the book of her friend. That attack was intercepted and halted by Alice, piercing her heart with her weapon. That was the end for this reception and all the guests were successfully defeated.

Clara: *Sigh* Well, that was anticlimatic.

The puppeteer solemnly replied to this sight with a disappointed expression. All librarians still standing, they observed the witch slowly sliding off of the spear. The scene was grim for the man and he averted his eyes, guilty of their deaths as well. They may have been guests who tried to attack them but they didn't deserve it.

Y/N: I should have... I shouldn't have attacked her, then they wouldn't be dead.

Remembering that he was the cause of the shrine maiden's fall, he took another fatal hit in his mind, yet another victim because of his existence.

Alice: Emotions fluctuating, stand back everyone!

For the second time, she raised her voice in a panic and pushed everyone away from the girl who has yet to turn into a book to join her friend. Still standing, her lifeless eyes lowered and faced the group who put a stop to her life, or at least tried to do so.

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Marisa: Reimu..?

She called for the name of her friend with a fragile voice. Her call yearned no result but the librarians readied their weapons and faced the girl, ready for a second round. A large hole was where her heart should be but she was still standing through unknown methods at the cost of losing her own mind and giving in to her demons.

Y/N: What's going on?

Unhidden fear was on his face when facing the guest that should have stopped breathing. Everyone looked at each other and tension filled the air, none of them aware of what was happening.

Maria: I... I don't know, it never happened before.

Marisa: Reimu, please answer me! It's my fault, I admit it! So please, answer me! Just say something!

Her eyes began to produce numerous tears that seemed to be endless. The body standing in front of their eyes was sobbing to itself and the torrent of teardrops continued. The cries grew stronger and it was now a loud scream of desperation, one to mourn the passing of someone.

Clara: ...I'm scared.

Marisa: Reimu, please tell me how much of an idiot I am! Anything, I beg you!

Jenna: I feel awful seeing her like that, put her out of her misery.

Alice: ...The heart was already pierced, she shouldn't be alive.

Marisa: Please... say something... I'm sorry.

Y/N: Something's definitely going on, be careful everyone.

Hardly capable of holding back his fear, he held his weapon to the point of witnessing his arms shaking. It was his first time dealing with an anomaly such as this one and he didn't know what to do.

Maria: Clara, Jenna, cover Y/N. Alice and I will attempt to deal with this.

Y/N: You can't go on your own!

Marisa: You killed her... You killed her, it's all your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault! Your fault!

Loudly screaming at the top of her lungs, the walls began to ondulate and the floor breaking into pieces. The floor quickly falling into the void below it, the librarians turned their heads to the bookshelves and all started climbing on top of them to gain as much altitude as possible. All cooperating together, each level went by and they quickly reached the 3rd level of the library by only climbing the bookshelves.

Marisa: Justice must be given, pay the price of taking one's life!

The small body far below them raised her hands and the whole library vanished. With nothing to support them anymore, they simply dropped down to the ground and felt no pain when landing. All jumping back on their feet, they looked around and a new world was shown to their eyes.

They were now all standing inside a room illuminated by a giant window above them all. On the right, many bodies were suspended through unknown means, the method shrouded in a darkness that the window couldn't uncover along with their heads. All of librarians on their feet, they looked at their opponent and saw yet another change.

Marisa: Reimu... this is the least I can do to avenge you.

Instead of her witch outfit, her clothes were now replaced for a long dress touching the floor with the colors of a night sky: dark blue/black with many glowing stars on it. In addition, she was stabbed through multiple angles by swords and spears. Nonetheless, she was wielding a large scythe and a shield with the colors copying her attire. To finalize her new look, her hat was gone and changed for a blindfold covering her eyes while her hair grew longer and joined her dress by touching the floor.

Clara: Woah, what happened to her?

Alice: ...

Y/N: This is bad, I don't know what to do now.

Maria: We do what we usually do, follow the protocol and fight her like a normal opponent.

Jenna: How am I supposed to focus in this state?! The library's gone and people are hung up to the ceiling of this room!

Y/N: She's right, let's stick to the plan, we must remain victorious.

Recovering his combat posture, everyone helping him in this battle readied themselves. Alice's spear reflected the light coming from the window and created a sparkle of life in her otherwise emotionless gaze.

Clara: You gonna have to take some hits to cover me, that shrine maiden did a good work on me.

Jenna: You hear her? Damage her and let Clara deal the final hits.

Marisa: Reimu... she's not dead, it's impossible, I refuse to accept this!

Alice: Denial, she refuses to see the reality for what it is.

Maria: They do say that justice is blind. If she wants to judge us then she would be as well, blinded by her sorrow.

Y/N: Is that why she transformed into that? She's denying the death of her friend?

Jenna: No point wasting our time with that, let's get rid of her like all the previous guests.

Clara: If that's what everyone wants to do, I'll gladly follow.

The first turn of this unexpected twist began and the opening act started with the lonely girl on the other side of the field unleashing a high-pitched scream so loud that it would shatter glass into powder. Not prepared for this, the librarians covered their ears and endured the scream until it stopped.

Jenna: Ugh, I think my ears are bleeding.

Y/N: Keep it together everyone!

First one to charge ahead, he soon clashed with the opponent and fiercely propelled his weapon in the direction of the girl's head. His attack was met with the solid shell of the shield that she was carrying and the blade bounced off of it. Even in her current state, it was like she could see him perfectly.

Marisa: I won't get defeated by monsters like you, I must inflict punishment to all.

Y/N: Tch, your stupid justice will serve you for nothing.

Swinging his weapon down a second time, he gritted his teeth and attempted to break through her defenses. Unfazed by his response, she bashed the front of her shield in his face and pushed him away from her.

Next opponent was Alice. Her spear knew many battles and had a lot of experience along with its wielder. Still coldly staring at her opponent, she rapidly stabbed the target multiple times in succession and made a shift to defense when Marisa tried to attack her with the shield.

Jenna: Why isn't she using her scythe?

Maria: ...

Clara: Her emotions... that must be the reason.

Jenna: Huh?

With the last 3 of them not attacking, the duo who went ahead returned to the group and glanced at their opponent, holding her grounds with her powerful defense. Many tears were going down the blindfold that she was carrying and sobs were echoing in the room that they were locked in, no doors to escape the place.

Y/N: The hell, I can't put a hit on her.

Alice: My attacks did no damage as well.

Clara: It's probably her emotions causing this.

Maria: Emotions... Oh, I get it!

Y/N: ?

They all glanced at the strongest one of the group, awaiting an answer.

Maria: Just like how our emotions transform us if they reach a critical point, like Clara right now, maybe the same happens to opponents who becomes emotionally unstable.

Clara: Probably, I sure as hell ain't a vampire, those teeth are a pain in the ass.

Jenna: And when I became afraid that we might die, I was able to distort my own shadow as a weapon.

Y/N: So if we go by that logic...

Alice: Denial, her shield is serving as a way to protect herself from reality. We have to counter it in a way that would make the doubts in her mind vanish.

Maria: Like she said, she doesn't believe that her friend his dead so we must show her the proof that she indeed pass away.

Y/N: You want... to show the corpse of her friend to her?

Clara: She already turned into a book though, how are we supposed to get it out of here?

Maria: We use the bodies hung up to the room.

Y/N: ...This is awful. I know that it sounds like hypocrisy but we don't need to harm her more than we should.

Maria: It's do or die Y/N, we don't have time to think about the morality of our actions!

Marisa: Reimu... please come back...

Y/N: So, what's the meaning of her weapon then?

Maria: I would say her vengeance. As long as she believes that the shrine maiden is still alive, she won't rely on that weapon. However, we must be careful when she finally ackowledges it.

Alice: The same can be said about the ones impaling her, they must be her sorrow and guilt combined.

Y/N: They do say that emotions are a great weapon against people, it would also apply to oneself.

Clara: Alright then, Y/N, you go get the body, we'll keep her busy until then.

Y/N: Why me?!

Maria: Weren't you the one that dealt the finishing blow? It would resonate with her more, like repeating the scene that happened.

Y/N: *Sigh* Fine.

The second wave began and all dispersed to their assigned roles. The only one excluded from the battle reached the bodies and swung his crimson blade in the shadow and the sound of a rope breaking responded to his attack. With nothing holding it, the one attached to it dropped and he caught the person in mid-air.

Y/N: ...

Taking a peek at the face belonging to the body, he recognized the shrine maiden from before. At first glance, she seemed in a deep sleep but her coldness was telling otherwise, the red marks of a ropes around her neck sealing the deal.

...Now carrying the key allowing them to open a path to victory, he rushed into the action where the witch could see him repeat the sin that he committed in front of her.

Marisa: Reimu!

Y/N: Here's the price of your greed!

He tossed her in the air and swiftly pierced the heart of the fake body. Inside, no blood was there but only stuffing, a plushie more exactly. With no organs inside, it was like stabbing dirt and left the man with a bitter taste in his mouth, not happy to be forced to kill a second time someone.

Marisa: Reimu!!!

Her shield cracked and crumbled into pieces, unable to deny the death of her friend at this point. Even with her eyes blindfolded, she was still forced to see the one she wanted to keep alive die a second time.

Maria: We got her, rush her everyone!

Holding her rapier, she stabbed the one distorted by her own emotions and guilt with no hesitation. Her face was devoid of any worry and took a step back when the witch finally began fighting back.

Marisa: It's all your fault! You killed my friend! It's all your fault!

Jenna: She sure loves to repeat herself.

Clara: Can you blame her?

Jenna: Nope, doesn't change the fact that we have to win this or else we can say goodbye to our lives.

With everyone stopping their attacks, the room collapsed on itself and a new decor replaced the old one. Now, all of them were standing in front of a rather ordinary, yet small shrine. There was no unique decoration and it seemed almost abandoned due to the lack of objects around. They were standing near a donation box while the witch was standing in the grass outside of the path. They were outside of the library, feeling a gloomy wind in the air around them.

Clara: Woah, how did we get here?

Maria: Must be the witch's doing.

Curious, the man glanced at the donation box next to them and saw that it was completely empty, dust accumulated inside it as well. The sight left him with guilt, thinking that it must have belonged to the girl that he turned into a book.

Marisa: Justice must be given, monsters should die!

Alice: Anger seem to be her current main emotion, be prepared for dangerous onslaughts.

Clara: Denial and then Anger? Is she going through the stages of grief?

Jenna: Are we supposed to survive through all this bullcrap? This is madness, why is it happening to us?

Y/N: ...It's all my fault, it's my fault that everything is happening right now.

Lowering his eyes, he watched the grass around his feet and felt a warm hand land on his shoulder and a second hand moving his head upward. As expected, it was the calm Maria who gave him a gaze of kindness.

Maria: You don't have to be guilty, we simply are doing this to survive, it was their own greed that got them killed.

Y/N: ...

Marisa: Die! Die and vanish forever!

Y/N: Be careful everyone, don't let your guard down.

Escaping his self-loathing thoughts, he joined the others and began the 3rd stage of the battle that should have ended a long time ago. It was all because of the library's curse of weaponizing everything that enters it.

1st turn of this new development, they all charged ahead with everything they had. Manipulated by sheer fury, the blinded girl dashed forward with the large weapon that she was carrying and swung to behead one of the librarians.

With keen eyes, Alice swung her spear ahead of everyone and forced it to bounce off at the cost of her own attack. With a margin of time granted to the others, the soulless girl stabilized herself and took a new breath of air.

Alice: ...So this is how it feels like to be outside under the Sun.

She wanted to admire the surroundings, enjoy the sight to its fullest but it was not the time to worry about something as unnecessary as that. One day, she knew that they would be able to finally step outside that cursed library and look at the sunset in the horizon, everyone together like everything was a bad dream.

Clara: I can feel my bloodlust rising up again.

Y/N: I got this.

He swung his blade in a precise manner and left an opened cut in the girl's arm after her scythe was deflected by Alice. Taking that opportunity, Clara followed after him and hit the wound on the girl with her sword. During the short amount of time the blade was in contact with the opened wound, the blood suddenly climbed up to the hand with the aid of the previously mentioned blade and burrowed inside the suit that she was wearing. It mysteriously became alive and reached for her body.

Clara: Urk, her blood tastes awful.

Jenna: At least you have something, stop whining!

Forced to accept that, she endured the bad taste and attacked her a second time to absorb even more blood with the same method. Done for now, Jenna rushed to melee range and shoved a whole fist in her face, pushing her away from the group that assaulted her.

Marisa: Retribution...

She whispered to herself and glared at her enemies through the piece of clothing covering her eyes, now holding the scythe with both hands. Trapped inside a frenzy, she gritted her teeth and the weapons stabbing her left her body and all aimed at the librarians.

Y/N: Ranged attacks incoming!

Maria: Is everyone ready?

Clara: I wouldn't say that I am but I'll try my best.

Calmly organizing their thoughts, the attacks flew in their direction and stabbed through the air and the distance separating them from their designated targets.

Jenna: Space rupture!

Not hesitating as well, she swung yet another time her mighty fist and created another void in the air charged with thunderbolts. This time, it was made large enough to absorb all weapons and the ones protected by it crossed their fingers.

Alice: Opportunity spotted, we must take it and attack.

Completely ignoring the imminent danger, the girl with no emotions ran under the gap between their world and the void like it was nothing and charged to the witch who had nothing but her scythe to defend herself with.

Y/N: Crap, she's right, now's the time to attack!

Rallying everyone together for that single goal, he charged past the flying weapons that were stabbed inside the black hole of thunder. Mostly free to do whatever they wanted to do, they didn't hold back and began hitting her from all sides while retreating when she tried to fight back.

The first and second hits went well until she loudly screamed once more and everyone was pushed forcefully away from her. The ground broke down into pieces and the shrine weakened, one of the pillars cracking.

Y/N: I don't think my ears are gonna recover from that one.

He mumbled to himself and looked around. To his surprise, everyone was holding their ears and remained immobile. Unlike him, they were all stunned from the sudden scream and left him to fight alone on the next turn.

Marisa: Coward, that's all you are! You can't even face someone properly, that's why you should vanish forever!

Y/N: ...

Gritting his teeth, he frowned at his opponent and felt his blood going cold from his own anger. Yes, he knew that he was a coward, a monster that could only betray and disappoint others because of his cowardice. He was the reason that everyone was dead and he accepted that but he will not ignore her saying that his friends were cowards when they willingly sacrificed themselves for others.

Y/N: Do not blame others for your horrible and selfish actions, you were and will always be the biggest coward here.

...And that anger soon distorted too just like Marisa's grief, Clara's bloodlust and Jenna's fear. The library took a hold of his weakness and consumed the high amount of emotions emanating from his fury. His sword combusted into a large fire and remained attached to it like it was made that way.

The 2 still conscious fighters charged at each other, both were aiming for something and that something was the life of their enemy. One acting with hatred while one was using his anger as fuel to keep going. Arriving close to each other, it was a duel of blades with strength as the way to determine the winner.

Y/N: You want to blame us for killing her? Are you shunning our- No, MY will to keep living?! You both are guilty of risking your lives, just accept it!

He stepped on the side and swung his blazing weapon at her face. Sensing the imminent danger arriving her way, she dodged the hit and fought back against the librarian. He, too, felt her intentions and moved to prevent any damage on his body. Between the both of them, it was a battle of tension, the one with the slowest reflexes would be the one on the floor.

It was long and during some moments also felt fruitless but in the end, he kept defending the ones behind him that couldn't protect themselves. The large fire of his fury used against their guests quickly began to set the shrine on fire behind them and turned the scene to a more terrifying one. The finale of the turn was quickly approaching and stopped brutally.

...A strong hit landed on Marisa and the monster that was once a magician was left on her feet and in a powerful confusion.

Y/N's mind: She's stunned, about time!

The friends that supported him up until now soon recovered from their own and saw their final opponent stuck in place like a statue. They knew immediately what it meant and rushed to the aid of the man who performed what seemed like the impossible on her. All went into their combined efforts: blades, punches, etc. The vitality of the abomination distorted by this cursed library was absorbed with each hits until it fell down to nothing.

Marisa: ...Reimu... I'm sorry.

New lines of tears were flowing down her face as she muttered the name of her fallen ally. Suddenly, the shrine and the outside collapsed and broke down into many pages of a book being ripped apart, revealing the old library once again. The reason being that the librarians won over their opponents who had such powerful emotions that it manifested onto her and her surroundings.

Y/N: What's going on?

He glanced at the girl who was the reason of this anomaly and saw her escaping through the exit door with a loud wail, retreating to avoid her own death. The door closed and the ones still standing looked at it with shocked expressions, not expecting this encounter at all.

Jenna: We... won?

She asked to everyone but never received her answer. The guests now gone, they all exploded into pages and flew into the air, done with their task of defending the library. It was the end and only the man could savor that victory, forced to see his friends disappear yet another time.

Y/N: ...We did.

He gave the girl the answer she would have liked to hear and dropped on the ground, too tired to do anything at this point and it was understandable. After seeing all of this and still winning at the end left him with close to no energy to keep himself standing.

Y/N's mind: Too tired... No, I can't sleep, she might come back.

With everything done, he silently stared at the ceiling far above him to the point that he couldn't see it with his own eyes. All the noises were now gone and silence returned to this prison of madness, the way it should be.

*Dong* *Dong* *Dong*

Y/N: ?

Knowing what that bell meant, he peeked to the entrance door and saw it opening, revealing the small head of the youkai that helped him so far. She looked at him laying on the floor and showed genuine confusion.

???: Intruders detected inside the library, Koishi Komeiji, proceed with caution.

Koishi: Hello, I'm back.

Y/N: ...I can see that.

Slowly, he moved his body and stood up to greet the girl. With the battle completed, the flames that were attached to his weapon were now gone along with his emotions, leaving only adrenaline. He placed it back in its sheath and greeted her formally.

Koishi: So, what were you doing on the floor?

Y/N: Oh... that...

He didn't want to tell her about what happened because she might know the guests that they received. After all, she knew who Mokou was so it would be fair to assume that she might know them as well.

Y/N: ...

For the both of them, he closed his eyes and brightly smiled at her with a kindness that she wasn't expecting.

Y/N: I was just bored waiting for you, that's all.

Koishi: Sorry of taking my time then, I almost forgot!

She exclaimed with a certain embarrassment, feeling responsible for his "boredom". The man chuckled at her attempt to explain herself and it made the girl swing her arms in disapproval, not happy to see him laugh about her.

...It was temporary but with his laughter, he could almost forget the previous events that unfolded in this library of misery. The witch was gone but she was still alive somewhere, ready to take her revenge on the librarian who caused the downfall of his own friends by being a coward.

(Told ya that it was long.)