The black abyss left the room spinning behind Aiden's closed eyes.
Aiden forced himself upright, opening his eyes on sheer will alone. One hand braced on the scorched stone, the other flickering with unstable static as a new sword began to pulse into shape. His ribs ached with every breath, but he moved anyway—even if it was his last. He had to make sure Lila and the baby were safe.
Rowan's rope dart hissed through the air, her movements sharper and more refined with every strike. Carlos's cane snapped to intercept it mid-spin, metal ringing as sparks burst from the clash.
The unicorn monstrosity roared nearby, charging low to intercept—but Carlos leapt aside with impossible speed.
"You're slowing down," Carlos jeered, cane twirling with predatory grace. "This is getting old. Just lie down and die already."
Rowan said nothing. She pivoted, flinging the dart wide before snapping it back in a tight arc. The frozen claw skimmed past his throat—close enough to burn frost into the air.
But only if you want to emphasize the near-lethal danger.
Beside her, the dire wolf pounced, its form barely visible through the swirl of shadows. The gorilla crashed down from a crumbling balcony, bellowing as it landed with a seismic crack, forcing Carlos to stagger.
Aiden surged forward again, sliding across broken pews, his blade aimed for Carlos's side. But Carlos twisted smoothly, parrying the strike with the flat of his cane. Rowan shot in, separating them, motioning for Aiden to keep going.
Aiden didn't waste any time, sprinting to Lila's side. He studied her intently—her hand still pressed against her stomach, confusion and fear plastered across her face
Just as he reached her—
The air shifted.
A low hum vibrated in their very bones, rolled across the ruined nave. Dust trembled. The shadows casted by the cocoon pulled backward, retreating from a single point of pressure.
Everyone stopped.
Carlos froze mid-step, his smirk flickering.
The cocoon at the center of the room pulsed once—then cracked.
A thin fissure raced down its side, glowing crimson and violet.
Rowan's voice was barely a breath. "She's waking up."
The wolf backed away from Carlos, snarling.
The gorilla knelt, fists trembling against the stone.
Even Carlos took one uncertain step back, eyes narrowing as hairline fractures spread across the orb's surface, spidering outward like veins of lightning.
Then—
The orb of raw power that had cocooned Marisol finally cracked apart, dissolving into shimmering ribbons of dark energy. It spiraled downward, wrapping around her body like silk before vanishing into her new form.
The life returned to her eyes — both burning with a rich, glazed amber — as she opened them slowly, breathing in as if for the first time.
The room froze.
Carlos, his remaining familia, Aiden, Lila, Rowan, and Eri all stared, stunned into silence.
Marisol stood at the heart of it all, transformed.
Gone were the tattered remnants of a little girl. Instead, she wore a gown of living beauty — deep black layered with crimson and dark green, roses blooming along the hem and bodice. The thorns that crowned her head glinted under the flickering light, a twisted mirror to Sylva's serene halo. Bare shoulders gleamed under the shifting folds of her dress, and a delicate gothic choker wrapped her neck, adorned with a single crimson rose.
Power radiated from her — wild, commanding, yet achingly beautiful.
She scanned the room, her presence enough to make the air itself tighten.
At her feet, her loyal shadows — bowed low, their bodies pulsing with a silent message only she seemed to hear.
Marisol's lips curved into the faintest, bittersweet smile.
"I see," she whispered, voice soft but ringing clear through the stunned silence. "If that is your wish…"
She raised a hand.
The shadows stirred, green light and darkness swirling around them. Their bodies rippled, twisting, merging — fangs, claws, scales, and hooves combining into a single breathtaking form. A chimera stood where they had once been — a creature of raw grace and terror, forged by her will.
Carlos moved first, a desperate flash of violence.
He darted in, landing a brutal cheap shot into Rowan's ribs before she could react. She gasped, falling to her knees, her rope dart clattering against the stone floor. Frost spread along her fingers as she lost her focus, the weapon slipping away from her control.
Carlos turned to strike again — but the chimera lunged.
With a low, rumbling growl, it slammed him against the far wall, pinning him effortlessly. The ground trembled beneath the weight of its snarling presence.
Marisol strode forward, her bare feet brushing the ruined floor with unnatural grace. She flicked her wrist once — and the chimera shifted its grip, holding Carlos in place without crushing him.
Rowan pushed herself upright, grimacing through the pain. She summoned her weapon back into a solid spear, cold anger flashing in her eyes.
"Move, he's mine!" she growled, stepping forward.
She barreled toward him, spear flying forward with blistering speed to strike its mark.
Marisol was there in a heartbeat — faster than the eye could see.
Her hand closed around Rowan's spear mid-air, halting it without effort. The weapon quivered under the pressure, frost and flame crackling at the point of contact.
"No," Marisol said, her voice steady — not a command, but a truth.
Rowan stared, panting, her knuckles white.
Marisol murmured, loosening her grip. "This is not the way. Leave this to me."
Rowan didn't move at first. Her spear trembled in her grip, the frost still clinging to its edges like indecision made manifest. Her eyes stayed locked on Carlos — on the man who had nearly destroyed everything. A war played out behind her gaze.
Then she exhaled, sharp and bitter.
"...Fine," she muttered, turning away. "He's not worth it."
She turned her gaze to Carlos — broken, defeated, but seething as he searched for an opening to escape.
"It's time I kept my promise to you — and rewarded you for what you've done, Carlos," Marisol said, her voice cool.
With a slow, deliberate gesture, Marisol touched two fingers to his chest. The air rippled.
Carlos's voice cracked into a gurgled scream, his body convulsing as the unseen curse tore through him
Malice and confusion bleed through Carlos's glare.
"With this curse, your future is written," she added. "Your familia will see you for what you truly are — small. They will never follow you again, not for the rest of your days."
The chimera loosened its grip at her command, allowing Carlos to drop heavily to the floor.
"Please… Mari. Don't leave me like this. Kill me. End it."
He reached for her ankle, fingers trembling, his razor sharp nails barely brushing her gown.
Marisol looked down at him—not with hatred, but pity.
"No," she whispered.
"I could peel you apart with a thought, rearrange your flesh into whatever shape I desired. But I won't. That would be kinder than what you truly deserve."
He lay there, trembling with rage.
In a blink, Carlos hurled a flashbang from his belt.
The world exploded in a burst of light and sound.
Rowan cried out, shielding her eyes — but Carlos was already moving, scrambling through the smoke. He sucker-punched Rowan hard across the jaw in passing — dirty, desperate — and bolted through the side door into the night.
The smoke hadn't even settled before one of the remaining familia screamed.
The chimera turned, eyes glowing with Marisol's fury. Its shadow stretched across the crumbled nave like judgment incarnate.
Three of Carlos's soldiers cowered in the corner, unable to escape—too stunned to run. One lifted his hands in a pleading gesture, stammering, 'Please—he left us! We didn't—"
The chimera didn't care.
It charged.
Claws raked across stone and flesh, hooves crushed desperate limbs. A flash of unicorn horn and the tails reptilian maw, and it was over in moments. Blood misted the air, red against the shifting light.
The room went still again.
Marisol didn't flinch.
She watched it happen—not with cruelty, but with a cold clarity: order was being restored. Then slowly, her eyes drifted back toward the door Carlos had vanished through.
She didn't chase after him.
She stood still, the hem of her gown swirling around her ankles, the chimera purring softly at her side.
Aiden sat frozen, fear locking his limbs as he gently wrapped his arms around Lila's trembling form. She leaned into him, eyes wide, one hand still resting over her stomach. His fingers threaded through her hair, pulling her close as if his presence alone could shield her from the chaos.
"It's okay," he whispered, breath ragged. "I'm here. I've got you."
Across the room, Eri lay against the stone wall, her outline flickering faintly in the aftermath. The squirrels ears flickering with joy at the return of their master. They ran back to greet the glowing god before them. She gazed at Marisol—no longer a scared girl, but something radiant, unshakable.
A quiet smile tugged at her lips. Her mission—her mistake—had been corrected.
Eri closed her eyes slowly…