Editing BlazBlue:Phase Shift 3 Chapter 5 (section)

===Part 1===
Tens of thousands of refugees from all around the world had already moved before the setting sun painted the western skies. The city chosen as their destination was surrounded by walls of stone, which told distant tales of its origins as a fortress. However, the old walls were filled with shallow cracks, more weathered than solid.


Outside the city's walls, a blond man wearing a purple cone-shaped hat stood with about a dozen men in military garb: Seven was there after all. With his fingertips pushing up thin glasses, he relayed detailed instructions to his subordinates, the guards of the Orbis Librarius Norma. Soon, Eight walked up to them, with her long turquoise hair under a purple hat like Seven's and the long cape over her tight dress fluttering in the air.


— “I’ve done my part… what about yours?” Eight asked.

— Just finished mine,” Seven answered.


Seven sounded calm and peaceful, as if Eight had not just tried to lord over him. He looked at the surrounding walls with a thin, graceful smile.


— “The entrance is sealed. It's a simple ward, so we don't waste too much mana; but it should be enough to keep out everyone that isn't a mage.”

— “That’s just a bait pen.” Eight snapped sarcastically, looking out onto the town while raising her eyebrows lightly. Her sarcasm was directed at Seven, who had proposed a blockade of the city, but he did not take her words personally.

— “It’s what’s needed.”


Seven turned on his heel and headed for his position, somewhere he could see the town more clearly  from the hills at its outskirts. Eight followed suit, fingertips tracing her large swaying earrings.


— “If it works, the lives we’ll save will vastly outnumber the sacrifices here… I just hope this is over quickly.”

— “I’m with you there.” Eight answered coldly, staring wide-eyed at Seven before her.


Even Seven was doing everything he could to save mankind from the Black Beast. Eight understood this drive and believed they shared that goal; but his behavior was too unpredictable for her to let her guard down.


When they arrived at their planned position, Seven and Eight split their guards across three functions: escort, recon, and aides. From their higher ground, they were able to peek into the town, but the old city walls still got in their way. The city had a complex topography, with many stone buildings and intricate alleys. The country that had claimed this land was long gone, leaving it under no jurisdiction — meaning the Orbis Librarius Norma now had full jurisdiction over it.


It was now full of refugees, who had been pushed into the city without any warning or information. Even when this town had thrived, it would never have held this many people.


Soon, it would not hold any more.

A frightening amount of screams polluted the air, coming from the town. Seven and Eight looked up to see a dark mist erupting from the other side of the town and fading into the sky.


— “It’s starting…!” — Seven said. Eight let out a bewitching smile from her plump lips; she wouldn’t let him take the spotlight.

— “Let’s start… over there.”


It was an excellent opportunity to not only free all of humanity from despair, but also gain absolute respect as a mage.


By the time Nine's party landed on that capital city somewhere in Asia, the fires were already raging. The first thing they stumbled upon was the screams; like they’d been shoved in a jar filled with uncontrollable chaos. The chaotic crowds stagnated in idle strife, and sounds of objects breaking and cracking could be heard from everywhere. People ran for their lives, with nowhere to go. Their faces twisted with fear only to see a massive monster looming just outside the city walls: the Black Beast.


The dark mist looked thick, concentrated; with red streaks of light over it, like pulsing blood vessels. Eight heads, each with a long, thick neck so large that even one could end all hope, rose over the land – and they stirred against the plumes of smoke rising and merging into the leaden sky.


Everyone who looked on shuddered in mind-shattering terror. The sun was setting over the world.


— “We’re too late…”

Celica panicked. Her heart pounded, and she choked on her breath with her eyes on the giant in the flood of refugees. Her deep brown eyes were wide as a bug's, with fear inevitably welling up in their depths.
Nirvana took her in a hug, shielding her from the waves of chaos. Celica did thank her, but her voice was drowned out by more screams.


They'd landed close to the center of the city. Even though it was still far from the edge of the city, the Black Beast was still so massive it made the people below look like grains of sand. Its presence could overwhelm anyone's sense of distance.


— “This is awful… they didn’t even wait.” Nine raised her eyebrows in disgust, and the Kaka girls, Suzukaka included, raised their tails as they prepared to fight for their lives.


Jubei, too, was brimming with hostility; he didn’t want to let his guard down. On the other hand, Terumi had a smile on his lips, clearing his throat with a rancid creak.


— “Man… these people are falling apart, huh? They’re pretty much dead already!”

Celica turned around with a stern look, and Terumi then looked away with an exaggerated turn.

Suddenly, Hakumen turned around... and the next moment, the scent of roses wafted through the air.


— “You are so late… what took you so long?” Spoke the voice of a sweet, innocent girl.

— “Madame Rachel!” Valkenhayn said, gasping with surprise.


The girl stood on the roof of a house, wearing a rose-scented perfume. She was dressed in a luxurious black dress; and her glossy blonde hair hung down like a silk ribbon, held up on either side by black ribbons styled to look like a rabbit’s ears.


Rachel Alucard had a grace and elegance that betrayed her young visage, as a vampire who lived in a castle of endless night.


— “You took so long, I was about to leave for home…” Rachel said.

— “And… you’re just watching? Why won’t you do something?!” Hakumen snapped, looking up at Rachel. Celica’s eyes widened in shock at Hakumen; she rarely ever saw him get so emotional. Rachel herself, however, looked cold before Hakumen’s boiling heat.

— “How is any of this up to me? It's your job to save the day, o' mighty hero.”

— “Let me guess – you're just staying there until you get tired?”

— “My apologies... I am only a spectator. And surely you have more important matters to worry about... look behind you!”


As if to urge Hakumen on, Rachel's crimson eyes turned to behold the reality of a heartless, hopeless apocalypse.

A sluggish roar shook the entire city into ruin. As the Black Beast plunged into the city walls, the stone that had once repelled so many armies crumbled like candy.
Trinity staggered back, having cast a simple magical ward on the crew, and Valkenhayn helped her to her feet. With a roar of soul-rending hate, the Black Beast swung its head around and rampaged, crushing everything in its sight.


Then, a rain of light poured down on the terrifying giant; not from the same direction as Nine's party.

It was not magic; it was Ars Magus.


The first wave of fire fell on the Black Beast's feet; the next wave came from the opposite direction, aiming for its main body. The troops were numerous, likely twice as many as the Ars Magus forces Nine had led in the previous battle. They were deployed all over the city, among the fleeing refugees.


After taking in the approximate location by tracing the signs of Ars Magus, Nine frowned in anguish. She realized the Orbis Librarius Norma had no intention of ending the chaos caused by the clash between the Black Beast and the Ars Magus unit.


— “All units are in town... they'll even sacrifice their own subordinates?”

— “What now, Nine? The Black Beast's a big load to bear, but the refugees must be evacuated fast.” Jubei spoke up, bitterly and quickly, ready to run at any moment.


But Hakumen answered first.

— “Split into two groups: assault and evac. Trinity, Valkenhayn, and Terumi – evacuate the refugees!”

— “Oh, uh... yes, sir!” Trinity answered, nodding her head at the unexpected orders. Valkenhayn also nodded, but in disbelief.


— “Hey, hey, hey! Hah-koo-''MAYNE's'' feeling motivated now!”

Hakumen did not pay attention to Terumi's obnoxious remark. He stepped forward, not in the mood to argue.

— “...what?” Hakumen asked, his voice clouded with doubt; slightly hostile, as if to say, "get out of the way."

The hostile air put even Nine on edge.

— “If we're splitting up, there's still one more thing we can do...” Nine said, “Terumi! Look for Seven and Eight. If you find them, stop their summoning!”

— “Who? Me?” Terumi said with a grin, while pointing at himself with a thin, bony finger. — “You sure...? Let me at it, then. You know, maybe I'll find Seven and Hayter or whatever they're called. You know?”

— “Okay, here's what you're going to do: do as I tell you, and nothing more. That's a ''fucking'' '''''order!'''''”

— “...damn, girl. What's your deal?”


Nine's clear words tightened her rigid pressure over Terumi. His smile quickly faded, and he fled the scene.


— “Leaving this city will not be so easy... the entrance is sealed by a paling.” Rachel said, descending from the roof like rose petals falling to the ground. Her elegant looks and finely tailored dress stuck out like a sore thumb among the chaos in the city.

Nine answered Rachel's calm words with an irritated sigh. Her eyes turned to the city walls...

— “Seven... that bastard. He made this so it'll only work on forces coming from the inside. That's on the whole wall!”

— “Don't worry about it... we got this. Even if it's the Ten Sages we're dealing with.” — Trinity clasped her hands, her green eyes shining brightly.

Nine's eyes flashed with a sentimental glint at Trinity's reassuring words before she nodded.

— “Indeed, Trinity... I trust you.”

— “Yeah!”

When Trinity smiled, so did Nine. The mere sight of Nine so relaxed warmed the blonde's heart.


— “Let's go, Lady Trinity.” — Valkenhayn said, approaching Trinity. — "Please excuse me, Madame Rachel."

Met with a bow from Valkenhayn, Rachel narrowed her crimson gaze, as if to look off to the distance.

— “I'll be watching you... and your battle.” — Rachel said, disappearing just as she appeared: cloaked in the scent of roses. She likely went off elsewhere in the town.

With the faint scent on them, Valkenhayn and Trinity left for their posts.


— “Celica!” Nine exclaimed, turning to Celica. When their stares met, Celica tensed her posture in Nirvana's arms.

— “Please... stay with Hakumen. And never leave Nirvana's side.”

— “Okay... I promise you.”

— “And Nirvana ― take care of Celica.”

— “...”


Celica gave a determined nod, while Nirvana returned only silence. Then, Celica lifted her chin to see how she looked, and her eyes met Nirvana's glassy stare.

Celica smiled, before Nirvana's large hand softly rested on Celica's head.


Another large building collapsed. The ground shook and the Ars Magus practically exploded, pouring down on the ground. Turning around, Nine put on her triangular hat again.

— “The Kaka girls will cover for us. If there's anyone that can't escape, at least take them to safety.”

— “Aaaall right. Can't wait to go feral on that sucker!” Suzukaka said, carrying a massive club on her back.

— “You take it easy too, girl.” Jubei drew out his sword in preparation, shooting an apprehensive look at Nine.


Nine intended on casting a massive teleportation spell, but was in far from perfect condition; regardless, she brushed off Jubei's worries with a lock of her hair over her shoulder. — “Don't worry about it. Just try not to get caught up in my spell.”


Jubei was not sure if she meant it or was just bluffing. He could never read Nine's mind, but her strong words gave him enough confidence to challenge the terrifying beast to come.

— “Sure, I'll take care.”

So, they would return with their strength gathered, and run together towards the raging Black Beast.

A few steps back...

— “...if it fights, so do we.” Hakumen said, encouraging his hesitant companion.


People screamed incessantly from the town center, and they ran through wildly without looking where they went. Like they were not breathing air, but fear itself. If the Black Beast's presence was causing this, how overwhelming was the terror?

Hakumen looked on as Celica tensed up, continuing...

— “Let's go meet him.”

She was not going to fight him, or even to trap him. Celica was ready to make the choice.

— “Right!”


Away she went, to meet the Black Beast.

She could not afford to waste this opportunity; Celica knew she was not likely to get more like this.

Celica ran with all her might under Nirvana's protection, while Hakumen dashed through the crowd unrelentingly.