Za dodged out of the way and kicked Toma on the back. He stumbled forward. Toma turned around. Za smiled. “You have some guts, kid, however you are too young to fight us,” Za remarked.

  Toma looked at Za. There was anger then calm. “I am not a kid,” Toma said as his tone of voice changed.

  He gripped his sword and charged toward Za again, his eyes fshed again. “Stinger Lance,” Za decred, transforming her hand into a single, spike-like nce. She met Toma's attack head-on, their weapons cshing with a resounded cng.

  "Please, Onii-sama," Toma pleaded, his eyes glowing a disturbing red.

  Za's eyes narrowed. Something was definitely wrong. She recalled Ben mentioning the wider effects of the curse. They cshed again. Toma leapt back. Za shifted her hand back to its normal form.

  "I will defeat you," Toma vowed as his eyes fshed. He charged once more.

  Za stood her ground, waiting until the st moment. As Toma drew near, she swiftly sidestepped his attack and delivered a karate chop to his neck. Toma crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

  Za looked down at him, her expression softening. "Ben, you've made me soft," she sighed, a small smile pying on her lips.

  Meanwhile, Alvida and Bismarck faced off, eyes locked in a tense standoff. “You defeated my men once, but now I will defeat you as a proud Marine and a swordsman!” he shouted, his voice filled with determination.

  "I thought Marines were supposed to protect the innocent," Alvida remarked coolly, her grip steady on Seraphina.

  "We do," Bismarck retorted, charging at her with his sword raised high. Alvida swung Seraphina to meet his attack, and their weapons cshed with a thunderous impact. The force of the collision caused Bismarck to lose his bance, stumbling backward before regaining his footing.

  Alvida smirked. "Do you really protect them?" she taunted. "I seem to recall you attacking some vilgers today. All of them were innocent," she added.

  "They were not!" he shouted defensively, though his eyes flickered.

  "Denial doesn't suit you," Alvida replied, her smirk widening. "A true Marine wouldn't harm the innocent, and yet, here you are." Alvida did not really care however when her love`s harem member is threatened, she gets angry. Maya is now part of them so she will protect her.

  Alvida and Bismarck squared off, the tension between them thick in the air. The Marine’s eyes bzed with determination, while Alvida’s cool demeanor only seemed to mock him. “I will take that attitude down, Iron Mace Alvida,” he said.

  Bismarck charged forward with his sword raised high. Alvida swung Seraphina to meet his attack, the massive mace colliding with his bde in a thunderous impact. The force of the csh sent vibrations through the air, causing Bismarck to stagger backward again. He quickly recovered, eyes narrowing. “You only have 105,000,000 Beli,” Bismarck said.

  “Okay,” Alvida replied, she did not care about her bounty.

  Bismarck lunged again, his sword a blur as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. “Rapid strike,” Bismarck said. Alvida parried each blow effortlessly. Bismarck’s frustration grew with every failed attempt to break through her defense. Alvida smiled.

  “Don't get cocky,” Bismarck shouted. He was getting frustrated with her.

  Bismarck unched himself at Alvida, his attacks becoming more desperate. Alvida, however, remained unfazed. She deflected his strikes with ease, her smirk never leaving her face.

  Bismarck gritted his teeth, feeling his energy waning. He swung his sword with all his might, aiming for Alvida’s head. She sidestepped effortlessly, bringing Seraphina down with a crushing blow to his stomach. He stumbled backwards. He could feel the pain in his stomach.

  “I will not lose,” Bismarck shouted. He had a determined look. He was not going to lose. His boss, his friend gave him a task.

  She casually twirled Seraphina. “Kanabo Swing,” Alvida said as she unched a powerful swing at Bismarck in his face. Alvida knocked Bismarck off his feet. He hit the ground hard, groaning in pain. His sword was elsewhere. He looked at Alvida. He thought he was no match for her. His eyes slowly closed.

  To her left, Alvida saw another group of Marines charging toward her. She readied her mace, but Za intervened. “Stinger Finger,” Za said, transforming her fingers into long spikes and sshing through the first Marine. Another Marine swung his sword at her, but she blocked it with one hand and sshed him with the other. They both went down.

  Alvida gripped Seraphina and swung her mace. She struck down the final two soldiers of the group. “Thanks,” Alvida said.

  “I knew you had it,” Za replied as they both smiled at each other.

  They gnced at the fallen Marines on the ground. “It seems like they were mind-controlled,” Za noted.

  Alvida nodded. “They were. Their eyes were red,” she agreed.

  Another group of Marines approached. “Bleu Formidable,” Saphir called out as she unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes with her spear. Marines went flying back, some knocked off their feet while others attempted to block her relentless assault. Alvida sprang into action, swinging Seraphina with a mighty force, knocking the remaining Marines to the ground with a single blow.

  “They were a bit strong,” Saphir remarked. She thought Boo Kong had given her some trouble but it was nothing she could handle.

  “It was the curse,” Za expined.

  Alvida examined Saphir and noticed some scratches on her body. “Are you okay?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.

  “Just some scratches, but as a Fishwoman, I can take a few beatings,” Saphir replied with a confident smile.

  “You know the rules,” Alvida reminded her.

  “I know. I have to do a medical check,” Saphir acknowledged.

  “Good,” Alvida said, satisfied. Za giggled at their exchange.

  “I wonder how the rest of the girls are doing,” Saphir mused, gncing around.

  “We all know they’ll be fine,” Alvida replied reassuringly.

  They looked up and saw a green light illuminating the dark sky, casting an eerie glow over them.