Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience. Chapter 18: Wild at Heart, part XII Niu's reunion with the Azure Spirit was a lot more tearful than she would have imagined. The little blue girl who had shown nothing but conceited behavior until now was so happy to see Niu again that she immediately burst into tears. "Oh, Niu... I'm so glad! Finally someone I know in this crazy town..." The Azure Spirit buried her face in Niu's chest. Niu was flabbergasted. She had never seen the Azure Spirit behaving so childish before. Right now, she really looked just like a harmless little girl- a blue one, that was. "I'm so sorry I ran way... I had no idea how hard it was to be in this town on my own!" Niu had no idea what had happened to the Azure Spirit after parting with them- but she doubted that it could have been any worse than what had happened to herself and Chii. Niu gave the blue girl a reprimanding look. "More than running away... you actually turned against Fel in the fight." The Azure Spirit looked at Niu with big frightened eyes. "Do... do you think she will be very mad?" Niu gulped. She didn't even want to think of what Fel would do to this girl if she ever got hold of her. "Let's say... it's probably for the best if you two never meet again." The Azure Spirit shook her head. "But that's impossible! Without her, I can't use any of my powers!" Niu could clearly see how the Azure Spirit was in a desperate position. Still, she didn't feel sorry for her in the slightest. This girl had brought it upon herself. Whatever punishment Fel would seek out for her- she had to either live with it or spend the rest of her days as a powerless being. Niu continued to talk to the Azure Spirit for a while, but before long the weak little girl started yawning. Even the joy of reuniting with Niu and the fear of Fel combined weren't strong enough to keep up against her tiredness. Niu wondered if the Azure Spirit had always been that way. She probably had been sleeping whenever she had rested in Fel's bottle. It was even thinkable that she had spent most of her days in the Spring of Life just dozing away. Just then Senria entered the room. She handed Niu a white buttoned shirt. "Here. You can wear this for now." After thanking her, Niu put on the shirt that clearly fit Senria's tomboyish style. It was way too big for Niu, but this way it also covered up her penis and butt, leaving only her legs uncovered. Although it was still scanty, Niu never had felt so relieved to put on a piece of clothing. Senria looked at her seriously. "I also wanted to tell you that your friend is awake now. You should keep her company." Senria didn't need to tell Niu twice. Niu sprinted to the other room as fast as her bad leg permitted. Once again, she was struck by how tiny Chii had become. Her dark-blue hair was now almost as long as her body. Except for the white bandages on her stumps and over her eyes, she was still completely naked. Although it was more than inappropriate at this point in time, Niu couldn't help taking glances at the girl's cock from time to time. Now it looked even bigger, compared to what was left of her body. Chii heard Niu's footsteps. "Is someone here? Niu?" Niu rushed over to her. "Yes, it's me." Chii seemed to be very excited by Niu's arrival. Her little stumps wiggled. She was probably trying to hug Niu. It broke Niu's heart to see how helpless her friend had become. Niu bent over and gave Chii an affectionate embrace. As their faces touched, she realized that they both were wet from tears. Chii's voice was very soft. "I'm so glad. I was so scared when I woke up and you weren't around..." Niu immediately felt very guilty for not staying by her friend's side during the whole time. To her surprise, Chii giggled softly. "I guess you saved me in the end... say, is it true what you said that time? Do you really love me?" Niu was astonished how accurately this girl could remember the incidents in Siria's laboratory. But she didn't hesitate for a heartbeat when answering her question. "Yes, I do. I love you, Chii." It made her blush to say those words, but it still felt completely right. Chii's voice was suddenly tearful. "But there's not much left of me for you to love, I'm afraid..." Niu shook her head determinedly. "Don't say such silly things, Chii. I will love you for as long as I'm alive... no matter what that monster did to you!" Chii seemed to really enjoy what Niu just said. Her face became a broad smile. "Then please kiss me, Niu..." Niu hugged Chii tightly and kissed her on the mouth. Most of Chii's body felt quite cool, but the inside of her tiny mouth and the agile tongue which affectionately caressed her own were incredibly warm. It made Niu breathe faster. She could see from the corner of her eyes that Chii's dick was getting quite excited from the kissing. Niu wanted to show Chii that she really loved her. In most situations she would have been too ashamed to do it, but now she grabbed Chii's exposed cock and started to jerk it gently. It became rock-hard in an instant. So this is what it felt like to give someone a hand job... It made Niu's own stiff as well. She was determined to bring Chii to an orgasm, no matter what Senria might have thought about them. But Chii shook her flushed little head. "No, Niu... I really like what you're doing, but... right now I really have to pee!" Niu instantly let go of Chii's stiff cock and blushed all over herself. They both apologized to each other several times, then Niu picked up Chii and carried her to the sewage river right outside the residence. She carried her by holding Chii's soft butt, with Chii's face against her own neck. Niu wasn't completely sure if she just imagined things, but it felt like Chii really enjoyed being carried that way. When they reached the river, she turned Chii around so that she faced away from her and put her arms around Chii's upper body. Chii's erection had already subsided and the way Niu was holding her, she would just pee into the sewage water. "You... can do it now." Niu felt Chii shivering softly. Although this girl usually showed no shame, this situation seemed to be uncomfortable even for her. "Ehe... This is a little embarrassing..." Well, she had little choice. Before long, a hot stream of piss splashed from her penis into the dark water. It took quite a while. No wonder, the girl had been unconscious for almost a day. When the last drops had trickled down, Niu asked: "Finished?" Chii took a deep breath. "Actually... I have to poop too." It made Chii blush deeply to just say it. Could it have been that this her weakness? Niu tried to downplay it. She turned Chii around again, hugged her upper body and held her so that the little girl's butt was right over the river. Chii pressed her red face against Niu's chest in embarrassment. She tried to push, but nothing came out. Niu softly patted the tiny girl's head and whispered in her ear: "Try to relax, Chii. Breathe slowly and..." Her words were interrupted by a ghastly fart that made its way out of Chii's asshole. It stank bad, even with the river of sewage around. Chii started to cry softly. Then she began shitting. Several long logs of shit plopped out of her ass and splashed into the water. The process was accompanied by more loud farts. When she was finally done, Niu carried Chii back inside. The little girl in her arms was crying pitifully now. Chii asked to be left alone for a while after that. When Niu left the room, she nearly tripped over one of Keira's daughters. The tiny cat-girl was still rubbing her beaten ass in anguish. She reluctantly looked up to Niu. "Kia sorry for biting." The defiant look on the girl's face made it hard to believe that she was truly sorry. "You pet Kia again. Kia no biting." Niu was confused. Did Kia want to make up with Niu? Or was she really just asking to be petted? A little later, Niu ran into Senria. After making a little small talk about Chii and the Azure Spirit, Niu mustered up her courage. "I have been thinking about something, Senria... Since you intend to fight your sister... I can lead you to her laboratory. I'm pretty sure I remember the way." This came unexpected to Senria. "Well, that is certainly a very brave decision, but... it's also very dangerous, isn't it? Didn't you only barely escape my sister's clutches the last time?" Niu nodded with stern determination. She felt very proud that Senria had just called her brave. "That's true. But this time I'll be there with you. And I'm sure that you won't lose against your sister." Senria was impressed. Maybe she had misjudged this girl. Actually she wished that she would've had this much confidence in her ability to stand up against her sister herself. "Alright, then. Let's go as soon as the sun sets." A few hours later they gathered at the entrance of the residence. It was pitch-black in the sewers now, so Senria had brought torches for everyone. Other than herself and Niu, Keira also had decided to accompany them. She felt indebted to Senria for something the black-haired warrior had done for her and her children before. Also, when she understood that it was Siria who had caused Chii so much suffering, she announced that "Keira will kick this girl's ass!". Although Chii wasn't too happy about Niu putting herself in danger, she could understand Niu's motives very well. So she reluctantly agreed with Niu's plan. The Azure Spirit was way more adamant about Niu not "participating in this madness", but luckily, she felt asleep after a while and Niu could leave the residence without having to argue with her. Other than Senria's bastard sword no one brought a weapon along. Keira assured Niu though that she could fight with her claws better than with any sword. So they set off into the night. While they wandered through the vast underground ruins, Senria hardly asked any questions about her sister's laboratory. She was a spontaneous fighter and never made a lot of preparation for her battles. Keira cared even less about what was awaiting her. The tunnel system was way more complicated and confusing than Niu had remembered it. They got lost several times and in the end it was by pure chance that they reached a tunnel of which Niu clearly remembered that it was leading to Siria's laboratory. Still, it must have been midnight by the time they arrived. Niu felt somewhat tired, but the excitement about what was going to happen outweighed that feeling by far. Finally, they stood in front of the door to the laboratory. Senria didn't hesitate a second and fiercely kicked it open. Then she rushed inside with the huge sword eager in her hands, eager to cut anyone in half who stood in her way. But there was actually no one in the laboratory. Niu couldn't believe it. "Could... could she have known of our plan and gotten away?" Senria snorted, still ready to get involved in a fight to the death at any moment. "I don't know. Let's look around." While Niu still tried not to touch any of Siria's strange apparatuses, Senria paid a lot less attention. She even deliberately smashed several of the obscure pieces. The angry look on her face gave away that she really despised her sister for whatever she was doing here. It didn't take long before Keira found a door which lead to a place that would bring out even more of Senria's hate. "Senriaaa! Niiuuu! Come over here and look at this, quickly!" She sounded really distressed. Both her companions rushed over to her. What awaited them behind that door was far beyond what any of them would have expected. It was the room which Siria called her 'summoning hall'. During the days of the ancient town Narano it had been the main hall of a church in which pagan goddesses had been worshiped. It was only dimly lit by a number of candle holders, but what was visible in this room was a picture that none of the people who saw it would ever forget. Siria had gone all out with this summoning. The whole floor was covered in eerie arcane symbols. But they were not drawn in paint, and also not in blood. The thick red lines that were arranged in complex patterns were actually pulled-out human intestines. Siria had abducted dozens of girls for this project. They hadn't been gutted. Their intestines had been pulled out through their assholes while they still had been alive. Niu couldn't imagine what kind of pain this girls must have felt during this gruesome procedure. The intestines hadn't even been cut off after pulling them out. The corresponding girls were all still lying around in the summoning hall with their guts hanging out of their assholes. Most of them were already dead or dying. Only a few still managed to squirm around and had been nailed to the floor so that they could not interrupt the ritual. In midst of this madness stood Siria herself, wearing a robe that was completely covered in blood and a wooden mask that showed a horrid monster's face. With both her arms stretched out she recited a strange incantation in a language that Niu had never heard before. Her haunting words were interrupted by her younger sister's voice. "Stop it at once, Siria!" Niu looked over to Senria. Never had she seen a person filled with so much righteous anger. Siria stopped the incantation and took off her mask. Niu couldn't be sure since the room was so dark, but it looked to her like Siria was grinning. "What an unpleasant surprise. An annoying younger sister, a stray cat and the girl who killed my precious Succubus. If only you had arrived a little later, you would've been able to witness the new demon I'm going to summon. And be assured: This time it won't be some dumb titty-demon like before. No one in this whole town will be able to withstand this one..." Senria walked towards her older sister, both her hands tightly holding the hilt of her formidable sword. "Too bad this summoning will never finish! You're going down, sister!" Niu had a bad feeling about this. Siria didn't seem to be fazed at all. "Heh. I wonder about that..." Siria picked up a diffuse white object from the floor and threw it at her sister. Senria was quick enough to strike the thing with her sword before it hit her. It fell to dozens of little pieces that sprayed all over her. From wherever it hit her, the white stuff quickly spread out over her whole body and onto the floor. It was very sticky and resembled cobweb. Soon Senria realized that she couldn't free herself from this stuff. What was even worse was that she couldn't make another step in any direction because this strange web was holding her in place. "Damn you, Siria! Still playing dirty whenever you get in a pinch..." Siria gave her a condescending look. "I don't see any pinch here. You may cut them into pieces now, Cova." The gothic killer stepped out of the shadows. "I'd be glad to, mommy." But before Cova could even get close to Senria, an angry cat-girl charged her. Niu now regretted that she hadn't warned the others about Cova's abilities, but Keira quickly realized that this seemingly harmless girl had quite some tricks up her sleeves. Cova spun her umbrella and out came the black strings that were sharp as razorblades. But Keira's claws weren't any less sharp. It was an intense and unbelievably fast-paced battle between Cova's strings that tried to cut the cat-girl and Keira's claws that tried to cut or at least avert the deadly strings. Both sides' moves happened so quickly that Niu's eyes could hardly follow. But one thing was clear to her: Keira was at a serious disadvantage. Keira had ten claws on her fingers, but only two hands. On the other side, Cova seemed to be able to move all of her many strings virtually independently from each other while effortlessly spinning her umbrella. Keira was continuously attacked from all directions and was so busy with defending herself that she could hardly get any closer to her enemy. Cova didn't show any emotions on her face. "What a boring opponent." she muttered while Keira's right ear flew off, together some of her pink hair. Keira cried out in pain. The right half of her face was quickly covered in blood. "You little devil! You're so gonna get it when Keira gets you into her claws!" Cova gave her a tiny smirk. "But you will never get me." Another string cut into Keira's cheek and immediately drew blood. A second later, two fingers of her left hand were gone. Niu wished that there would've a way in which she could've helped Keira, but she knew that she would just be hacked into pieces if she dared to go anywhere near Cova. Actually, the only sane option for her was to run away as quickly as possible. But she didn't have the heart to abandon the others. Niu looked over to Senria. Surprisingly, the girl had made a little progress in getting rid of the sticky white matter by slipping off some of her clothes. Still, the power with which the web pulled her down seemed to get stronger with every move she made. Senria's head was flushed in anger. Her eyes looked like they were on fire. Niu decided to run over to her and try to help Senria in some way, but then she took another glance at Keira's and Cova's fight and froze in place. Keira knew very well that she was losing this fight in the long run. Her painful injuries made her disadvantage even bigger. If she didn't want to die here, she had to take desperate measures. An all-out attack. Maybe she could catch Cova off guard if she just... Keira leaped at her. Ignoring all the strings that were between them and that cut into her flesh right now, she jumped at the lithe black-haired girl with extended claws. It took Cova by surprise, but she was able to react just in time. Reversing the spin of her umbrella, she managed to wrap one of her strings around Keira's ankle. Pulling the string and taking a step aside she brought Keira to jump at nothing but thin air and fall flat on her face. Niu held her breath. Cova stood atop the cat-girl who managed to turn around her head and look into the gothic killer's cold eyes. One little spin and both of Keira's arms were neatly cut off right next to her shoulders. Blood splattered from the gaping wounds. Keira's face looked incredibly strained. "You win..." she whispered. "I admit defeat." Cova nodded. "Fine. Then die." She spun her umbrella around violently and the cat-girl was literally ripped into a hundred pieces. Little bloody chunks of her body could be found all over the room afterwards. Cova's pretty dressed was completely drenched in blood. She looked content. And then something hit her with the force of a hurricane. Senria's sword thrust came with such speed and such force that the severed halves of Cova's body landed on the floor quite a bit apart from each other. Where the gothic killer had been standing, Senria was standing now. Completely naked, covered in sweat, with several parts of the web still sticking onto her flawless toned body, her giant sword all ready to cut down the next enemy. But there wasn't a single drop of blood to be found on her blade. "Just what kind of creature was this..." Siria spoke for the first time in quite a while. "Don't fool yourself by thinking that you can defeat my little girl by just destroying the mortal apparel I gave her to cover herself. Show them your real form, Cova..."