Golem Battle II.

Yeah. It's similar to the one I fought before, though this one looks even more dangerous. Elok Daven's work. We'll have to tear it apart, but that shield is going to be a pain in the ass. And every time the cannon charges up, we'll have to be extra careful. I don't want to know what happens if someone who isn't Niki is hit by that.

Planting your feet firmly on the ground, you slide your hand along the flat of Lauo. "Flare Blade!" you shout as the weapon bursts into flames. Then you slide a foot back and wind-up a thrust. You cast another spell straight after with a, "Flare Bolt", which causes the already-burning sword to glow bright. As you throw the tip of the weapon forwards, it pulses with magic, and it sends out a fiery ball which collides... unfortunately with the golem's shield as it rises up.

"Haha! Magic Bolt!" Eva from the side sends a blast of shimmering magic right into the side of the mechanical beast's head while it's distracted by your attack.

Thud! An ALICE lands right behind you, still bound by Delphi's magical ropes.

"I've got her," Niki says before pushing a boot down on her back. "But call it out if you think that cannon is about to burst."

You nod. Then you sprint forwards, right towards the rotund feet of the monster. As you reach it, you flex your glutes and squat for a leap, and as you do, it swings back its massive claws. Surely if you jump now, you'll be cut to shreds. Despite that, you're ready to hop. The moment you leave the ground, space bends around you, and for a moment, it feels as if the claws are about to make contact. However, you instead appear near the ceiling, and you use it to thrust yourself right back down. With a sword blazing with fire, you connect your attack with the golem's head. It pierces straight down through the top, though after you pull it out, you can't tell if that actually did damage or not.

That is, until it starts stomping around. Tables are knocked around, glass shatters. The poor woman screams again, backing up onto the panel as both of her shoes fall off. She timidly reaches out to perhaps retrieve them, but after one especially loud stomp from the beast, she retreats her hand back and decides that stockings are more than enough.

Before you can be skewered, you leap from the monster and tap your boots together, allowing you to safely float to the ground. "We need more power," you say. "I can keep stabbing it, but it's not enough."

"Ha!" Summer grunts.

"Hiya!" Taiga joins her.

The two bumblebees shatter the ALICE's spear with their own matching pair, and stop to aim the tips at her neck.

As you catch your breath, you feel the adrenaline pumping harder. You stare forwards at the cannon humming to life once again. Then, as things seem to quiet around you besides the deep, loud beat of your heart in your ears, you can see something you've noticed before. Or perhaps it's just a feeling--one you can perceive, while nobody else is able. There are invisible ties between you and your allies. It's what makes you strong. Firstly, in a literal sense as your team has grown. But secondly, there's something more. You're empowered by their presence, and it isn't just Lauo. This goes beyond a magic sword. But you don't understand, and it doesn't feel like it's enough. Not yet. But you remember the other times you've needed to utilize this weapon of yours. It might be time to count on that once again.

"Amara!" you call out. "I need you to just keep casting spells at this guy. Don't hold back. Whatever you've got, just keep doing it!"

"But it will not--" She purses her lips as she looks to you with a trusting gaze. Surely you must have a plan, and she's willing to follow it. With a nod, she swirls her silver staff up above her head and conjures up a Celestial Blast. While the golem may not be an undead, it still tends to deal damage regardless. She bathes the beast with golden light, though it hardly has any effect. She still takes a deep breath and begins to do it a second time. Though as she continues, her face starts to gradually fill with colour.

"Niki, in front of me!" you command.

"Is it firing?" Niki hurries ahead and poses with her shield up. "Are you sure?"

"Sorry about this," you say before reaching out for her bare midriff. With one hand, you begin to tickle her exposed skin.

"Ah! Ahaha! Wh-What the h-h-hell?!" She squirms in place, almost dancing as she's tickled. "S-Stop stop stop!" Though as she turns around, it only opens her belly to be tickled next. Your technique is overwhelming. You know exactly how to make her feel as ticklish as possible. Her body weakens, but that's a risk you'll have to take. Worst case scenario, you'll stop the cannon yourself.

"Delphi!" you shout. Quickly, you run to the captured ALICE and put your blade to the black of her neck. "Start undressing Eva."

"Aye aye, captain," the pixie says with a strangely immediate affirmation.

"... What?!" Eva calls out, but it's too late.

Instead of the ALICE being bound, it's Eva. First it grabs her arms, then her legs. She's quickly flipped upside down, causing her tiny skirt to fall. Her panties are pink and striped with a teddy bear's face on the front. Her face flushes red as she's unable to even cover up. As much as she tries, she can't budge, and she can't cast magic without moving her body. She's completely stuck.

"This is good practice. Let's see how intricate I can get with taking her clothes off," Delphi says, already into this. Another tendril of purple light snakes down her front, and it starts to tug on the only two buttons keeping her blouse shut.

Eva's eyes widen. "No, no, no! Please don't!" she begs.

"Celest... Ce-Cel... Oh d-dear. I cannot... Celestial Blast!" Amara shouts before a more pitiful wave of gold blasts out from her staff. Though after she does, her knees wobble, and she'd be on the ground if not for her staff. She pants heavily, and begins tugging on her collar in frustration. "Anymore and... and I will--"

"Let me go~!" Eva cries right before the blouse pops. Her massive chest falls completely free. She breathes heavily, knowing how many eyes are on her. She stares right back at you, and suddenly she's flooded with even more lust knowing that there's one particular gaze upon her--yours.

You pull a hand back from Niki. "Can you still block?"

She grabs you with a face flushed with colour. "A-Are you kidding me?! That's what you're gonna say after that?"

"It's about to fire."

She grits her teeth and pivots back to the beast. "Y-Yeah. I got it." She takes a deep, shaky breath, but once again plants herself firm. "Come at me, you bastard! My heart is pumping even faster now, so you better look out!"

Meanwhile, you stand behind her with an intense focus that's suddenly come. You feel this strange power flow through you. Then you look to Awakened Lauo, and notice that once again the flames that blaze from its steel are glowing vibrant pink--almost blindingly so. It isn't just in the weapon, however. It's flooding your body. While these invisible strings tie you all together, there are now three specific ones basically ablaze with a fiery passion of their own.