Once again, everyone found themselves in a spacious room, which looked large enough to serve as an arena. Go figure. The biggest thing of note were the stairs at the far end of the room, leading up to a platform where a man sat upon an ornate chair. Taven guessed that this had to be Mundus. Rage began to swell within him. This bastard was responsible for all the bullshit his family had gone through for the last century. From killing Vlad and Arya's mom, to causing the death of his own mother in his attempt to conquer the mortal realm. On T.V., these kinds of villains were a dime a dozen, but when someone like that stood before Taven now, well...the laughing turns into rage.

They all tensed when the demon king leapt from his chair, landing in front of them and brandishing what looked to be a nodachi. However, the bastard was freakishly tall, and the sword looked like a regular katana against him.

No words were spoken as the group slowly split apart. What could be said? This was indeed the demon king, and he was their last obstacle to both getting home, and perhaps fixing this screwed up dimension. Fang glanced at the demon king's third eye, and yelled, "He's sealed Croire in his eye. Damage him enough, and she'll be able to pop out!"

Everyone else's glares hardened, while the demon king glanced over at Fang in confusion, as if surprised that he knew where the chaotic historian had been kept.

Seeing an opening, Vlad and Taven charged, the older brother reaching the king first and unsheathing his katana at the last moment, and attempting to cleave Mundus' head from his shoulders! In a flash, the king parried the attack, then lifted his blade up and caught Taven's sword in a deadlock as he came down on him from a charging leap. With a mere push he sent the boy flying back, before sidestepping a fire ball launched by Arya, and once again parrying a blow from Vlad. As the older brother fell back, Mundus sensed someone behind him, and swung his sword, intent on simply cutting this brat in half and...!

Mundus' eyes widened as their blades met, and cracks appeared on the ground beneath the two, the impact even creating a small shockwave! What was this?! This boy was actually matching him in strength!

Using his surprise to his advantage, Fang powered through the bladelock and pushed Mundus backwards, causing the king to actually skid back a few meters. So shocked was he that he failed to see Uzume charging him from behind. With a grin, the goddess leapt upwards, revealing Nepgear, who's arm was drawn back, ready to slash. As one they attacked, with Nepgear swinging her blade and sending a wave of energy flying towards Mundus, while Uzume inhaled, and screamed loudly into her megaphone, sending waves of energy flying at him. Mundus only managed to turn before both attacks met him, Uzume's attack cratering the ground and forcing him to his knees, before Nepgear's slash attack sent the king flying backwards, his body slamming into the steps leading up to his throne.

"He's not used to his body yet! Keep up the pressure!" Yelled Fang, rushing towards the downed demon king. Seeing the boy approach, Mundus growled and pushed himself to his feet, before he too began running forward. Once again their weapons clashed, and the shockwave created a gust of wind that knocked the others off balance, before Fang and Mundus began to trade blows in the center of the room. Vlad watched at his nephew held his own against their foe, and felt a small bit of envy at the boy's clear skill with the katana. Mundus himself was feeling frustrated each their weapons clashed, each clang of steel serving as an insult.

This brat, who's blood was tainted with that of a human's, was actually matching him!? Where did this power come from!? His anger rising, Mundus brought his blade down on the boy, and was satisfied to see him fall to one knee as he blocked the attack. Mundus then kicked Fang in his chest, and actually sent him flying towards the far wall, where his body crashed against the wall, creating webbed cracks before he fell to the ground.

Sensing magic, Mundus turned, and caught Arya's energy blast in his hand, the beam actually being absorbed and condensed into a ball, before he grinned and fired it behind him, catching Taven in the chest as he tried to attack from behind. Another swing of his sword knocked aside Nepgear's attempt to stab him, and with a chuckle he backhanded the CPU candidate across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground, and pissing off a Uzume as she saw her friend lying dazed.

"You bastard!" Enraged, Uzume actually tossed aside her megaphone, and charged in with a fist cocked back. Mundus, feeling 'generous' allowed her punch to land. He immediately regretted it, as Uzume's fist landed square in his face, and sent 'him' sprawling, his body briefly rolling before lifting off the ground and flying towards the wall. The king managed to right himself, and his feet touched the wall, before he leapt back towards Uzume, intent on avenging his indignation at her hands!

However, his attack path was suddenly shifted from Uzume, to the ground, as Vlad leapt forward and crashed into him mid-air. The two rolled together on the ground, before Mundus emerged on top of the vampire hybrid. his sword drawn back as he prepared to behead this wretch beneath him. However, the third time's the charm, as Arya's third blast of energy actually landed on the demon king, causing him to stumble back, and leaving him open to Neptune's cross slash on his back.

Roaring in anger more than pain, Mundus kicked backwards, and sent the older Neptune flying, just as Taven appeared before him, dashing forward and leading with the point of his sword. To Taven's shock, Mundus actually caught the weapon with his hand just before it could pierce his chest. Blood flowed between the king's fingers as the two struggled against each other, Mundus again being shocked at the strength of this half-breed before him. Briefly, he saw Dante in Taven's place, and his anger returned before he thrust out with his own sword.

To the horror of all watching, especially Vlad, Taven was impaled straight through the heart, and like a ragdoll, Mundus lifted the boy off the ground whilst still impaled, the flung him none too gently to the side, with Taven's body flying towards Uzume and Nepgear.

The two managed to catch him, and Nepgear was already preparing to lend emergency healing aid, when Taven actually cursed and leapt to his feet, gritting his teeth and getting ready to charge again. However, Uzume grabbed him and yelled, "Hold one moment! How are you-!" Taven, however, wrenched his arm free and said, "I barely felt that shit!" He then glanced at the two. "Hey, why don't you go HDD? We could use some divine power here!"

"We've tried, but the energy of this place is getting in the way!" Yelled Uzume, still shocked that Taven was walking off being 'stabbed through the heart'. Shocked, Taven looked to Nepgear for confirmation, the CPU Candidate glowing slightly, only for the light to die down. This caused him to curse. "Shit! Okay, we can still do this! Remember, we just need to rip Croire out of the bastard's head!"

Uzume grinned, cracking her knuckles as she said, "I'd prefer kicking that guy's ass completely, but I can suffice with giving him a punch in that stupid eye!" Inspired by her bravado, Nepgear held her blade at the ready, as the three rushed back into the fray.

Meanwhile, Mundus and Vlad were engaged in a fierce duel, the demon king fending off the enraged swings of Vlad's sword. Seeing his brother being impaled before him...it reawakened the wrath that had emerged against Arfoire when she essentially killed Taven. The blue aura began to emerge around his form again as he began to overtake Mundus, and Vlad suddenly drew back and sheathed his weapon, and Mundus only had a moment to recognize what was going on before his body was racked by multiple swathes of slashing waves.

Blood splattered, and Mundus felt his rage rising as he brought his sword down once again, only to be met by Taven's sword! Taven grinned at the shocked look on Mundus' face, before pushing the Nodachi aside and slashing upwards, carving a deep gash on the king's chest. Leaping over them, Uzume yelled into her Megaphone, the sound waves crashing into Mundus and leaving him open. Nepgear ran forward, using Taven as a springboard and coming down on the demon king, her sword carving another gash in his chest that crossed the wound Taven made.

Grinning, Taven raised his weapon to deliver the next blow, but was more than a little shocked as a blurred figure dashed past and collided with Mundus, taking him all the way to foot of the stairs. Blood sprayed, as the demon king glared up at his attacker, Fang, who was currently driving his sword into Mundus' chest. Fang was levelling his own hate filled glare at the demon king, who with a mighty heave, finally pushed him back towards the others.

Taven grinned, feeling pride in seeing his son kick ass like that, though he was a little salty that Fang took the last attack. "I had him right where I wanted him." Fang scoffed. "You did that to me all the time whenever you took me on your hunts. Kill stealer." Behind them, Vlad, and the two goddesses grinned, though the older half demon had to ask...

"Exactly how are you so strong?" Asked Vlad, seeing Fang actually tense. Meanwhile, Taven noticed that Fang's veins were starting to become more...pronounced? His skin was also turning more pale. He wasn't the only one to notice, as Uzume and Nepgear eyed him with worry.

Then Mundus suddenly dashed forward, becoming a blur and crashing into the group! Fang was grabbed by his collar and thrown up into the air. Before he could recover, everyone watched in shock as Mundus leapt up towards him, and crashed into him again, the two hurdling towards the far wall, and kicking up a large cloud upon impact.

"FANG!" Yelled Croire, watching as bright sparks illuminated the cloud, followed by clanging steel. Her eyes widened in shock as Fang came flying out of the cloud, crashing into the ground, and losing his grip on his sword. The blade stabbed into the ground next to his head, but before he could get to his feet, Mundus came crashing down, driving his foot into the boy's chest, causing an audible crack as his sternum caved in, with enough force to make him spit blood. Just as quickly, Mundus picked up the fallen sword, and made to stab him straight through the skull, only to be stopped when the sharpened point of Arya's cane appeared out of his chest.

Mundus roared in pain, as Arya continued to drive her weapon through his back, but was shocked when he suddenly turned, and to Fang's, as well as everyone else's horror, ran her through with his nodachi!

"Arya!" Yelled Mundez, Taven, with Vlad letting loose an enraged scream and charging the bastard! With a contemptuous snort, Mundus swung his sword, flicking the girl off of his weapon and sending her body flying into Taven, who flew back from the impact as he held his sister. They tumbled, then stopped, with Taven skidding on his back. To Taven's relief, Arya was more pissed than hurt. She was coughing up blood, but had the strength to growl and say, "He could at least buy me dinner before sticking it in!"

Meanwhile, Mundus actually found himself grunting as Vlad's blade clashed with his, sending out a small shockwave before Vlad pulled back and began to swing for the king's throat. Mundus' nodachi was swift to meet each of the hybrid's attempts, and thus commenced their duel. "You won't live past today! The world has long since moved on from you!" Yelled Vlad, once again shrouded in blue aura, and actually meeting the king blow.

Mundus growled and locked his blade with Vlad's, before he raised his free hand to Vlad's face, a small fireball beginning to form. "The world trembles at my return. Mankind will turn to ash in the face of my wrath!" With that, the ball of flame quadrupled in size, before flying into Vlad's chest and causing a sizable explosion between the two that sent Vlad flying backwards, before he landed and tumbled a few feet, his clothes singed, but already healing. If anything, his aura seemed to double his healing rate!

That's when Neptune and Nepgear leapt forward, the two attacking the demon high and low with quick slashes. Mundus grit his teeth as he parried the older Neptune's blades, before ducking under Nepgear's beheading strike and attempting to impale the CPU Candidate upon his blade, only for Neptune to cross her swords and catch the attack, throwing his blade of course and leaving him open to-!

Mundus' eyes widened comically as Neptune threw her foot outward into a kick that all men fear, planting her foot firmly between the demon king's legs! Seeing this, all the males winced, feeling the smallest sliver of empathy for the demonic tyrant as he stumbled backwards, clutching at his groin and taking deep breaths. Not expecting her attack to be so effective, Neptune and Nepgear actually hesitated.

Vlad did not.

In a flash, he was before the stunned king of the underworld, and blue swathes of energy followed his sword as he began to slice into his most hated enemy. Blood flew in all directions, as Vlad's blade tore into the king's flesh. Vlad then sliced upwards, the force of the blow making the king to stumble back, clutching at his shoulder, unable to swing his sword.

Seeing a chance to end it once and for all, Vlad went for the final blow, drawing his blade back, then thrusting it forward with all of his strength. The result? His katana went straight through the king's skull, stabbing him square in the eye upon his forehead! Mundus didn't cry out in pain, instead, his two remaining eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his jaw went slack. Grinning, Vlad pulled back his sword, watching as the body stood, twitching somewhat, before finally back, the sound of its impact against the floor practically echoing in the now silent room.

Vlad felt all sorts of feelings well up as the reality caught up with him. He'd just killed the demon king. His mother, his tribe, Naomi, they were all avenged! A rueful chuckle escaped him. He was shocked that he actually alive right now. He was more than certain that this path would end in both Mundus' and his mutual destruction. That's when he noticed something strange.

From his ruined third eye, a small ball of purple light began to glow, before it began streaming out steadily, forming a shape in front of Vlad. To everyone's shock, the shape turned into a small person, one Neptune instantly recognized.

"Croire!?"

Indeed, the figure before Vlad turned out to be none other than Croire, though this one was far smaller than the one that accompanied Fang, as well as looking drained and somewhat pale. She was small enough that she could sit on the open pages of a book, much like Planeptune's own oracle. Knowing that she was responsible for all of this mischief, Vlad was none too gentle when he grabbed her and began to drag the Tome back to the others. This served to instantly bring her out of her dazed state.

"H-hey! Let go of me damnit!"

"And let you cause more havoc!? Be lucky I don't strike you down as well!" Growled Vlad as he reached the others. Upon seeing the taller, human version of herself, her next protest died in her throat, and she felt a shiver run down her small frame as she regarded the glare she was receiving from her alternate self. She could admit that she didn't have a lot of fans, but to see her own face glaring at her...it was unnerving.

By now, everyone was gathered together, glad that it was all over, and allowing themselves to relax. "Did...we just win?" Asked Arya, with Nepgear glancing towards the fallen king. "I think we did. There's no way he could survive a move like that."

Vlad grunted when Uzume slugged him on the shoulder and said, "Damn, V! First Arfoire, now a freaking demon king? You're racking up the high profile kills!"

"Actually, he didn't 'kill' Arfoire." Said Neptune, patting her Nepnote. Indeed, the Deity of Sin was trapped within, gravely wounded, but alive. However, that didn't stop Taven and Arya from grinning, with Taven and saying, "Doesn't change the fact that my brother is an absolute savage." Fang was on his feet by now, and upon seeing Vlad holding the smaller Croire, he said, "Ok...now that we have Croire...we can make a portal to send you all home-!"

Fang was suddenly overcome with a violent coughing fit, collapsing to his knees and holding a hand over his mouth, shocking everyone. Taven and Croire were instantly by his side, and as his coughing slowly died down, Fang pulled his hand away from his mouth, revealing blood. "Damn, thought I'd have a little more time."

"The hell is going on? You can heal, right?" Asked Uzume, while Neptune was fishing in her supplies for some Nepbull, procuring a can and preparing to hand it to Fang. However, much to her confusion, he shook his head, and with some help, he managed to get back to his feet, though was leaning on his sword for support. However, he was now as pale as a ghost, and his dark veins gave him a ghastly appearance due to its stark contrast with his skin. Nepgear, with a worried expression asked, "Fang...what's wrong? You've been getting worse and worse!"

Fang took a deep, shaky breath, before dropping the bomb.

"Simply put...I'm dying...and at best, I have half an hour left before...before...!"

Everyone suddenly froze, feeling a shiver begin to run down their spines, before a chuckle began to echo throughout the room, coming from-!

"You've got to be kidding me!" Yelled Uzume, her gaze aimed at the supposedly dead Mundus' body.

"Umm...does anyone else feel that creepy crawly feeling running down their spine?" Said Neptune warily, stepping back as Mundus began to actually cackle, a violet aura slowly encompassing his form, as an invisible force began to lift his body up off the floor, like one of those creepy exorcist movies, before he was back on his two feet!

The king was still alive.

The heroes watched as the demon king broke out into full blown laughter, sounding absolutely maniacal as black, bat-like wings sprang from his back, and his body began to rise into the air. Glancing down at his stunned foes, he yelled, "This has been quite the amusing warm-up! Well done to all of you! However, your power still pales in comparison to mine!"

Vlad pointed his blade towards the gloating demon. "Big talk, your highness! But in case you haven't noticed, we've had you against the wall ever since this battle began! So quit with the bravado!" By now, Fang was too weak to remain on his feet, kneeling and using his sword as a crutch. Taven turned to him, frantic.

"The fuck is he doing?!"

Years of fighting against Mundus had made him more than familiar with what was about to happen, and he wasn't the only one. Seeing the aura gathering around Mundus, Croire barely had time to yell her warning.

"Everyone! Take Cover!"

Mundus' voice echoed, "All...Hail...Mundus!"

Everyone else then noticed an all too familiar sound, growing louder with each passing second. The sound of something entering the atmosphere, of something large falling to the earth. Taven himself finally realized what was going on, only after the roof collapsed above them all, with large debris crashing towards the ground, illuminated by a purple light. The last thing he felt before the large debris hit him, was the feeling of someone grabbing hold of him...

Meanwhile

"You know, I didn't think 'he' was your type. I always thought that you'd date a ninja like yourself." Said Compa, flipping through a small photo album Otoha had brought as proof she was from the future. She'd been quick to arrive once Neptune had called her, and the nurse was definitely shocked to see the crazy amount of monsters crowding the Basilicom, though they were rather cute and friendly. She took a good look at one of the pictures, and giggled as she saw IF's future husband, trying to maintain a cool façade as a young Otoha put red bows in his hair. Beneath the picture were the words...

He promised to let his little princess play with his hair , better him than me!

On either side of the nurse, a blushing IF and an awkward Otoha were sitting, though IF had to giggle at how Taven's expression was a mix of calm and pleading. On the other side of the room, Neptune was speaking on the phone to a certain tsundere she knew, who sounded none too pleased at the moment.

"You come back from your crazy dimension hopping journey, and you don't let any of us know!? I knew you were an airhead Neptune, but this takes it to a whole new level! And now, you're saying that IF's children from the future are currently in the present. with a horde of 'friendly' monsters?"

Neptune sweatdropped as Noire continued her rant. Clearly, she was more than a little miffed that Neptune forgot to let anyone know she was back, but hey, at least this proved that everyone's favorite tsundere goddess had a soft spot for her.

With a nervous chuckle, she said, "Okay...so maybe I forgot to call you, my bad. But...I 'was' really tired, and then these monster showed up in my Basilicom! Could you let Vert and Blanc know what's going on?"

"Why should 'I' have to call them. It wouldn't be too much for 'you' to handle, right?"

A moment of silence passed, with Neptune counting down in her head from five. Once she reached zero, she heard Noire sigh on her end.

"Fine...I'll let them know what's going on! Then I'm coming over to see for myself...'not' to check up on you...obviously!"

A click, and Neptune was left smirking as she pulled the phone away from her ear. Oh Noire...why do you have to be so cute?

She then glanced towards IF and Otoha. Now that she thought about it, Otoha didn't much resemble IF, or even Taven, yet the pictures were more than enough evidence that she was who she said she was...right?