Senran Kagura BURST: Replica Ascending

Killing Dōgen and Orochi...

Finally, our feet landed upon the metallic flooring of the basement. Just as I feared, several layers of lab equipment ready for the inevitable summoning. It disgusted me how much at Hebijo was changed. Even if I wasn't alive long enough to see it, the disappointment of how corrupt this school was never faltered. Each step grew this shame.

Beakers upon beakers of Yoma, captured and made displays for future conflicts. One of them kind of looked like a fetus in retrospect...

Disgusting. That man will not go unharmed from today's encounter.

"Geez...how long did they had this under here?" Homura questioned, slowly becoming furious from the amount of hidden lies there was underground.

My eyes lay on the console near the east end of the hallway. It appeared to have monitors of the girls. One of them currently offline, given that Homura and I fought aggressively. Funnily enough, the scenes were reassuring...each member, pitted against their rival, coming to terms with how close they really are.

Yomi especially...Ikaruga apparently liked beansprouts. It was nice watching them all come to terms. I am glad they found common ground to move past their bias. Yet...dread followed.

If Dōgen succeeds, this is for nothing.

"I see you found my lair, Homura!!" The investors voice booms from the corner of the monitor, upon a circular platform surrounded by tubes of beasts. "Impressive isn't it? With this many, I'll be rich!"

"What?! You did all of this for fucking money!? Again...it happened again! I trusted you, and you betrayed me,"

"Funny how you could fall for the same trick twice. Cute even! But my bottom line stands. If I knew about that Replica's power, I'd have started years ago! So thank you, you have impressed me Replica," He applauded me sarcastically. Despite his taunting, I noticed an item on his chest; the stone talisman, carved into a circular ornament.

"...What are you trying to do, Dōgen? This seems awfully close to a trap," I told him, my sword unsheathed. "If so...I'll break it to pieces!!"

With my Rage form active, I could take him out. Everything I do from now on isn't fighting to win; it's to secure a kill.

Still the blonde man was unfazed by my transformation, snapping his fingers as a click opened the tubes of the Yoma. I assumed we'd fight them but...the talisman absorbed their essence within him.

"Ara~ Ara~. Seems the experiment worked after all," Wait...isn't that a condescending yet seductive tone I hear? It can't be...but from my time in the Barrier, my animal partner was wary.

There she was from the shadows, our puppeteer now following alongside the monster ahead.

"Heh! Her puppetry is good. But I have special techniques to render her mind useless and obedient. Like a Replica should!"

"Kagemitsu..." Turning, it was the tanned beauty who had uttered that. "His name is Kagemitsu. And follow-up, you brainwashed one of my friends? Tch...guess I'll have to show you what I did to the last guy who crossed me!"

I hadn't seen an anger like this from her. Mostly annoyance mixed with general bigheadedness. But this? It was pure fury at the man whom I had assumed Homura put his faith in. Bled for him. Nearly lost her mind for him. All to be a lie in the end, for him.

Guess I like this Homura now...she'd have deadly precision with those blades.

However, he only chuckled, as a dark aura gathered around his midsection, the talisman glowing in purplish symbols. And it fired. No time, I had already pushed Homura out of range, most of my face close enough to sear some flesh.