The air itself seemed to faintly shimmer with magical energy as Mariette's fury resounded through it, causing ripples to form in the surface of the lake. And in a single moment, all hell broke loose; portals rapidly opened in every direction around Caroline, and out of them poured out a force beyond imagination. In addition to the tentacles familiar to all, grasping and whipping like a roused kraken from the deep, there were also creatures of the dark that jumped out at the vampire girl, the kind of minions only a Dark Magical Girl could bend to her will. While any other girl would have been utterly overwhelmed at the sheer malevolence that Mariette unleashed, Caroline only giggled at the sight, insanity coursing through her crimson eyes.

[color=92278f]"Hahaa! Toys! Toys!"[/color] She screamed in utter delight, and spun her spear in place, deflecting the first wave of tentacles before jumping up; a Shadow was suddenly pierced by her red spear as it was thrown, leaving it impaled in gruesome fashion. Just as Mariette knew from personal experience, Caroline was a fighter unlike no other; unlike Minnie, who fought with grace and composure, the terror before her was like a deranged madwoman, her movements precarious and contorting. Yet, there was a method to her madness; as if she was simply dancing around, she extended elongated nails from her fingers, and performed a wide scratch around her as she dashed through the air, tearing the surrounding Shadows and tendrils apart. She also grabbed one of the Shadow's arms, and met the creature's rubberband attack with a giant snap of her jaws, biting the neck off the summoned being. She shot blood out of her palms, solidifying it, into a a pair of curved scimitars that she swung around with wild abandon, slashing faster than the naked eye could follow. However, despite her efforts, she could not close the distance to Mariette.
[color=92278f]"More! MORE!"[/color] She cried, and continued fighting, kept busy by the portal-based barrage.

"Holy crap...I sure am glad I never had to fight Mariette," Helga commented, only to realize this was their chance to slip by Caroline while she was distracted. When Alexander ran up to her, she nodded, and began running towards the secret entrance, gesturing for the magical boy to follow after her.
[color=9e0039][b][u]”Roger!”[/u][/b][/color] Penny did the same, and jumped up to the deck of Earth Bastion, preparing to storm the castle with all of her might as she charged up in electricity, her fists clenched as she stood with legs apart, teeth grit as she powered up. The ship hit the water with a big splash, and soon enough was afloat, sailing swiftly across the lake, soon leaving Mariette, Eli, Suwako and Shade ashore to fight with Caroline.

[color=92278f]"Oops! Big sister will be mad! Come in, Curie!"[/color] Caroline screamed amidst her fighting, and threw up a sphere of blood into the air. Once it reached the apex, it exploded, causing red rain for a couple of seconds.

[color=00aeef]"Freeze!"[/color]

A young woman's voice could next be heard coming from the castle as Earth Bastion approached it. And then, a sound of crackling could be heard; like a rapid wave of cold, the lake was instantly frozen, causing Earth Bastion to be stuck in place.
[color=ed1c24]"Who dares trespass upon Lady Justine's estate?"[/color] Another, more mature voice could be heard. And then, the crew on the ship saw her: floating high above, with the soles of her feet pushing out bright flames like rocket jets, and with her arms crossed over her chest, they saw her: 

[hider=Curie][img]https://i.imgur.com/r4kssV1.png[/img][/hider]

[color=ed1c24]"The Curie Corps, gatekeepers of her holy land, will not tolerate this intrusion! Doris, attack! Kimble, flank them! Umeko, provide covering fire!"[/color]
She screamed, and pointed with her giant sword.

[color=00aeef]"Understood. Beginning purification."[/color] 
The crew saw another woman floating over the ice, her hands tucked to her sleeves as she approached the ship, in full visual range:
[hider=Doris][img]https://i.imgur.com/8nFGoFA.jpg[/img][/hider]

The crew then felt how winds began picking up around the ship. They then saw a gust of green winds rapidly blow in their direction from behind them.
[color=8dc73f]"Nyaaah, I'll slice them to ribbonyah!"[/color]
Far away, thanks to their enhanced vision, they could see a catlike form that seemed to ride the winds:
[hider=Kimble][img]https://i.imgur.com/WoJ3fcR.jpg[/img][/hider]
The bestial girl then swung what looked like a sickle in her hands, and a gust of wind was shot at them; it sliced at Scout's leg, causing her to drop to one knee from the wound.

[color=9e0039][b][u]”Scout! Watch out-AGHHHH!”[/u][/b][/color] Penny cried out as she was suddenly shot on her shoulder, and the harsh sound of a ricocheting bullet could be heard; the nearby girls were fortunate their magical bodies were protected from deafening. It was a far distance, but Alicia managed to see where the shot came from: standing atop the castle rooftop was a familiar face aiming a sniper rifle at them: Umeko.
[color=9e0039][b][u]”Not you again, dammit!”[/u][/b][/color]

However, despite the danger, Amber felt that the winds of fate blew in her favor, as Earth Bastion was now just 200 meters away from the castle: she could reach the rooftop of the castle by flying, if she chose to do so.
[hr]
Helga, Alex, and Makoto ran through the gloomy tunnel for what felt like a long time, and noticed that the way split up at several points in a mazelike fashion. "Damn, it's confusing in here. I think it's...This way?"
However, Alex also felt how fate pushed him to walk a certain path, and as he led it he could sense a magical boy just like him lurking the passages. As he peeked around a corner he saw Ilia, the snakelike monster boy, slithering about, clearly patrolling; if they waited, they could let him pass by without him noticing them, and they could go on without alerting him.
[hr]

[hider="Beneath the Scarlet Moon, The Crazed Blossoms' Severance 2017"][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3M_HLc5ikM[/youtube][/hider]
Meanwhile, the fight was heating up on the lake shore, as Suwako joined in the attack and Mariette began performing more complex attacks, using her portals to redirect attacks and multiply her output. At that point even Caroline, the ferocious vampire, began to struggle; she kept slashing and biting, but to no avail. And soon enough, one of the vines pulled out a scimitar from her hand, while another struck from behind, vines and tentacles now wrapping around her as she was stunned for an eyeblink. However, the moment the tendrils touched her body, they slipped right through, as if grasping viscous liquid.

[color=92278f]"HAAHAAHAA!"[/color] Caroline laughed, and her red dress bubbled on the surface.
[color=92278f]"Caroline can play pudding, and play sweet red! Dennie taught Caroline how!"[/color]
Taking advantage of the surprise, she then swiftly dashed in, her arm raised in an overhead swing, aimed at Mariette.
[color=92278f]"MARIMARIII!"[/color]

Suddenly, sparks flew in the air, and Caroline's eyes turned to slits as they saw how Shade parried her attack with her fists. Some of Caroline's blood spilled on them, and Caroline leaped back, snarling.

[color=92278f]"Go away! Caroline only wants to play with long-haired dolls!"[/color] Her dress flowed as if bustled by harsh winds, and blood began puddling around her as she summoned a battleaxe with a wide blade.

[color=92278f]"Caroline will be gentle..."[/color]