[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uUb6fmS.png[/img][/center]Emilia's reaction to the sudden reversal of roles was nothing but a knowing smirk. The fact that Kanbaru didn't decide to take revenge then and there said a lot about her intentions. Even as they were right now, the trio before her was like an open book to Dollmaker.

Furthermore, this power that Kanbaru demonstrated right now. Could it be what Emilia has been looking for her whole life? The implications certainly were interesting.

[b][color=goldenrod]"Oh, and what is it that I have been looking for, I wonder?"[/color][/b] Emilia said as she brought both hands behind her back and reclined forward on her toe tips, like a playful child. [b][color=goldenrod]"Could it be that you are using me as a proxy for your own interests, miss?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=goldenrod]"However, if a bit of rough entertainment is what you are looking for. You will be glad to know that this Blood Ring of mine can offer more than enough to sate your lust,"[/color][/b] the Princess said as a smile found its way to her doll-like face.

[b][color=goldenrod]"Sadly, it seems that our little interlude is about to be interrupted by some rather petulant insects,"[/color][/b] Emilia said as she seemingly noticed the presences of the other two intruders. However, either she didn't do so in time to react, or she chose not to since she was easily captured by the vines while everything around them was blanketed in a white flurry.

Even so, the dark grin never left Emilia's lips. After all, there was a reason why the Dollmaker was known to be a hard catch by both the Imperium and the Librarians...

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5pY1T2E.png[/img][/center]Meanwhile, the situation would keep on getting stickier for the White Masks. Even without the trap in their way, it seemed like Caprice and Lin wouldn't be able to react to the looming threat of the giant serpent approaching them, leaving only Maria and Sherry deal with it.

With the former being captured by the creature after her bullets failed to leave even a scratch at the serpent's scales.

[b][color=firebrick]"That-that's not what I expected to face when I came to this place. I guess that you'll have to find a way to deal with this on your own, kiddo. At least until I'm out of this bind,"[/color][/b] the Huntress said to Sherry as she struggled against the serpent's coils, only ever being able to pull an arm out long enough to shoot at a seemingly random place in the floor.

However, as it would turn out said the place wasn't as random as it seemed...

[b][color=darkorchid]"Wha!?"[/color][/b] Was all that Sherry could say before the floor under Caprice, Lin, and herself opened up, throwing them down a second trap, leading to god-knows-where in the deep, dark dungeons of Victoire's castle.

[b][color=darkorchid]"Hey, guuuys! Maybe this would be a good time for you two to wake up?"[/color][/b] Sherry shouted as they fell before finally landing in a deep, dark pool—or maybe it was an underground lake—at the bowels of the castle.

[b][color=darkorchid]"Holy heck, this water is cold! And, what's that over ther—"[/color][/b] Sherry tried to say something while pointing to a faint light in the distance, only to be dragged underwater along with the others, by what seemed to be a group of demonic fishmen who probably inhabited the lake.