Haiko maintains his stance and smirks at the enraged Goth-Woman, “Bring it…” He says confidently.

In a fit of annoyance, the Goth-Woman stabs her pointy long fingers into the ground, creating and sending out even more red vines that move towards Haiko. The ground shakes and cracks as the red vines tunnel through.

Haiko prepares, clenching his hands into a fist and using dragon scale formation. As he did, sharper and rougher looking black scales form along Haiko’s arms and turning his hands similar to a five fingered dragon claw.

A second later the vines pop out of the ground and lunges at Haiko. Haiko uses his claws to cut up the vines as they lunge at him from the ground.

The vines relentlessly lunge at Haiko from varying directions, but Haiko manages to cut all of them down without getting hit once. “That all you got!” Haiko says mocking the Goth-Woman.

“Not bad…” The Goth-Woman says with a smirk, as then her red vines envelop her and making herself disappear.

Haiko tenses up as the ground around him begin to shake even more, a moment later, large red thorned vines as wide as a full-grown tree burst from the ground along with smaller ones. The bigger vines swing around, trying to hit Haiko while the smaller ones continue to lunge at him.

Haiko dodges all of the larger vines swing and continues to cut up all the lunging smaller vines.

The boy from afar, looks at Haiko, who continuously moves about dodging and cutting up the vines. The boy clenches his fist and tries to stand up to join but was stopped by Mimir.

Mimir then speaks as he continues healing the boy and girl, “Don’t worry about him, I suggest you rest for now and take care of your sister” Mimir says looking at the white-haired girl seemingly falling asleep at the boy’s arms.

Haiko on the other Hand continues to dodge and cut up vines, but not for long as one of the larger vines was able to land a hit on Haiko. Then the smaller vines quickly grab and pins Haiko down to the ground.

The bigger vines then disperse into smaller red thorned vines that added to the other smaller vines wrapping around Haiko. As then the Goth-Woman appears as one of the larger vines disperse.

The Goth-Woman smirks at Haiko, “It’s been fun and all, but I really need to wrap this up…” as she says, she raises her right hand. As she does, the vines lift Haiko up off the ground by an inch, and begin to wrap Haiko into a cocoon made of red thorned vines.

“Goodbye…” the Goth-Woman says with a menacing smile as she closes her hand. As she does, the red vines thorns extend seemingly stabbing Haiko within the cocoon of thorned vines, as would the Goth-Woman and the boy who was watching believes.

Mimir reassures the boy, “Don’t worry, he slept in something similar before”

As the Goth-Woman smirks in triumph and is about to turn around, the cocoon made of thorned red vines explode from within.

The Goth-Woman covers her face from the explosion, “What!?” the Goth-Woman looks in annoyance as she sees Haiko in his tiny 1st form.

Haiko changed in his 1st form and used fireballs to free himself, “You’re in a hurry, right?” Haiko says while riding on his hover board as two fireballs float around him.

The Goth-Woman yells at Haiko angrily, “Annoying interloper!” as she says she lunges at Haiko with her elongated fingers and accompanied by her vines.

Haiko backs up and uses his fireballs at the Goth-Woman and her vines, the fireballs were able to burn the vines but wasn’t able to stop the Goth-Woman as she quickly nears Haiko.

Haiko quickly changes into his 2nd form and grabbed the two fireballs into both his hands as he dodges the Goth-Woman’s attack. As Haiko dodges by spinning like a ballerina, he changes the two fireballs in his hands into colourful toy mallets and uses them to counter the Goth-Woman.

As Haiko’s toy mallet’s hit, it made a squeaky sound. The Goth-Woman, in a fit of fury, relentlessly and wildly attack Haiko, but Haiko manages to dodge her direct attacks and continuously counters her. Even the Goth-Woman’s vines were unable to even touch Haiko as he destroys them with ease.

The boy then looks at the battle confused, “What is he doing?” he says as the sound of the toy mallet’s squeaking enveloped the area.

“Poetic Justice I suppose” Mimir states monotonously as he stops his drone from casting warmth onto the boy and girl.

The white-haired girl begins to wake up due to the squeaking sounds, as she does the boy assists her up as both of them stand and look at the battle confused, except for Mimir who just sighs at the sight.

As Haiko double side smacks the Goth-Woman, who guards the attack but got pushed back. Haiko smirks as he twirls his toy mallets, giving the Goth-Woman some time to breathe.

The Goth-Woman looks at Haiko menacingly, “Don’t get cocky, you low-grade piece of trash!” The Goth-Woman then uses her red thorned vines that surround and again lunges at Haiko from all directions.

Haiko calmly smiles and combines his two toy mallets to form one giant mallet and swings it around, destroying all the vines. Haiko then jumps up and to the Goth-Woman, swinging his giant mallet down towards her.

A loud boom emitted as the Goth-Woman blocks the giant mallet, but was still brought to her knees creating a small dent onto the ground where she stands. As she then stands and tries to speak, “How dare you toy with m-!” Haiko followed up his attack with a strong right swing cutting her off and flinging her into the trees.

Haiko swing his giant mallet onto his right shoulder, “Game set!” he says with a pose.

Haiko then looks at the boy and girl staring at him with different faces. Haiko sees the boy shocked, while the girl looks unfazed and mainly stares at Haiko curiously with her blue teal eyes. And Mimir looking bored as he usually does.

Haiko moves towards the boy and girl, dispersing his giant mallet along the way.

“I’m gonna guess, you guys are Xion and Nora, right?” Haiko asks with a smile as he reaches them.

The boy looks at Haiko confuse, “And who exactly are you?”

Haiko points to himself with his thumb, “Names Haiko,” then points to Mimir, “and that’s Mimir!”

“We found your mother nea-” As Haiko tries to explain the boy cuts him off.

“MOTHER!?” The boy yells, “Where is she!? I-is she okay!?” the boy asks nervously.

Haiko smiles, “Yeah, don’t worry! I have a friend with her right now healing her up”

The boy gleamingly smiles in response to what Haiko says, and heavily breathes a sigh of relief.

The girl on the other hand comes closer Haiko.

Haiko sees and kneels down to her level. Haiko smiles, “Hel-!” Haiko gets cut off by the girl as she smacks both of her tiny hands onto Haiko’s shadowy face.

The girl plays with Haiko’s face, squishing and stretching it as she pleases with a blank yet curious look.

Haiko and the boy is surprised as to how his face was being moved like clay. A moment later she let’s go and similar to what Haiko did, she points her thumb to herself, “Nora” the girl says nonchalantly and then points towards her brother, “Xion”.

Haiko chuckles wryly as his face is all messed up, “N-nice to meet you Nora… Xion…”

Haiko then stands up and tries to fix his face, “Umm… Mimir, a little help…” while Nora stares at him curiously.

Mimir floats near Haiko, “Why change? It’s an artistic look for you” he says nonchalantly.

Haiko sighs, “avant garde ain’t fun if it means to have my eyes on my chin and my mouth on my forehead…”

Mimir projects two hands and shrugs, “Just relax for a bit, and just do what you do when you change forms”

Haiko nods and a few seconds later his face returns to its normal state. “I know I’m squishy, but I didn’t know I was also malleable…” Haiko sighs as he touches his face making sure it’s really in its normal state.

Xion chuckles as he moves closer to everyone, “Can’t I have go at it?” he cheekily says while he sheathes his dropped sword.

Haiko wryly chuckles, “Haha… no… Good to see you in a happy light”

“Hey, if Nora likes you, then I like you!” Xion says with a smile, “Just so you know, Nora only comes near to good people or people she likes, which is really rare!” Xion explains gleefully.

Haiko looks at Nora who in turn looks at him, “So she’s like a cat?”

Xion ponders, “I guess so?”

Nora and Haiko look at each other, “Nya…” Nora meekly says imitating a cat with a blank expression to Haiko.

Haiko and Xion chuckle at Nora’s jest.

Mimir on the other hand senses someone coming and calls out to Haiko.

“Nora, Xion stand back…” Haiko says as he recreates his giant mallet and looks at the direction where Mimir is looking.

Xion covers Nora and holds onto the hilt of his sword. Preparing for whatever may come.

A moment later, a woman comes out of the woods. The woman reveals herself to be Eirene wearing her armour, seemingly all fixed up, “Xion, Nora?” Eirene calls out to her children as she sees them.

Haiko looks at Eirene curiously, “What’s she doing here?” Haiko says looking at Mimir. To which Mimir ignores as he stares at Eirene seemingly scanning her.

“That’s not our mother…” Xion states and then brandishing his sword at Eirene.

Eirene then angrily looks at Xion, “Xion! That is no way to treat your moth-!” before she could finish, the real Eirene wearing her bent and ruined armour stabs the fake Eirene in the back with her glass sword.

“That won’t work again you witch…” The real Eirene whispers to the fake Eirene.

The fake Eirene chuckles and shrugs, “Worked the first time didn’t it…” as she says, she disperses into red thorned vines that burrow through the ground.

As the fake Eirene disappears, the real Eirene sheathes her sword and as she sees her children, she then runs towards them and hugs them tightly as they hug her back, “Great work Xion… Nora…” she says as tears come running down her face.

A moment later a tall busty Felice comes out of the woods with Silfy on her shoulders, “I presume we made it just in time…?”

Nora and Xion sees Felice, “Felice!” Xion excitedly yells seeing her, while Nora looks at Silfy with twinkle in her eyes, “Silfy…” Nora says in a meek tone.

“As I expected, you again delivered with joyous results!” Felice says cheekily at Haiko as she moves towards him.

Felice and Silfy gives a bow directed at Xion and Nora who are still being hugged by their mother, “I presume you’ve already acquainted yourself with them Haiko dear,” she says to Haiko at her side, as she straightens herself up.

“That and knowing that my face is malleable” Haiko says as a he touches his face.

Felice chuckles, “I see, Nora has taken an interest to you!” Felice says lightly punching Haiko’s side, “you lucky boy!”

“Thanks?” Haiko replies to Felice not knowing what she means.

Felice focuses at Eirene who started talking with her children and reassuring them. “I wouldn’t know if it really is true or not but I presume only Nora can do that to you” Felice says while crossing her arms and looking at Nora.

Haiko looks at Felice confuse, “Only Nora? Why only her?”

Before Felice could explain the ground then begins to shake violently, as a giant cocoon of red vines burst out off the ground. As it unwraps itself, a giant half-woman and half-spider creature emerges.

Its upper human form daintily wearing pieces of clothing that matches with the Goth-Woman. Her lower spider like body has eight legs stuck to the ground and at the front, she has a huge spider like mouth with its fangs dripping red goo that seems to be acidic as it corrodes the soil. The upper human body and the lower spider mouth then begins to screech, “ENOUGH OF THESE DEVIANCES!!”

Everyone readies up, “A second phase,” Haiko sighs, “of course… Here we go!” as he says he uses dragon scale formation. While Eirene and Xion unsheathes their weapons, and Felice turns Silfy into her staff.

Mimir on the other hand, then begins to scan the creature in front of them, but to his and Haiko’s confusion, a short beeping sound emitted from Mimir, “I’m unable to get any data from her. As I see, she’s merely just a puppet, she’s not the original” Mimir explains to everyone.

“Her or that thing’s name is Carmella,” Felice frustratingly says to everyone. As Silfy continues, “We’ve encountered her copies before among our journeys” Silfy says to everyone telepathically.

Eirene then smirks showing confidence, “Heh… Then this would not take long…”

Eirene holds her glass sword with two hands, “Let us talk later, right now let us rid ourselves of this abomination!” as she says her glass sword glows brightly.

The Spider-hybrid then begins to charge at them screeching. Each step its thorny spider legs takes, leaves a small dent on the ground.

Eirene charges forwards taking the lead. She slashes her glowing sword in the air midway as she nears the Spider-hybrid, creating blue waves of energy that pushes the Spider-hybrid back.

Eirene and the Spider-hybrid clash, were the creature uses its arms to create multiple red thorned vines and use them as whips to attack Eirene. All the while Eirene counters by cutting up the vines as they near her.

“Nora, sweetheart, mind giving us a barrier,” Felice says looking at Nora and then looks at Xion, “Xion protect your sister and try and give cover to your mother!” Felice requests as she flies up to give assistance to Eirene.

Nora and Xion nod in reply. Nora then holds out her hands and as she does, her hands glow. Then, as Nora’s hands glow, everyone for second, slightly shine. While Xion sheathes his sword and begins forming in his hands his spears of light.

Xion throws a spear of light at the vines lunging at her mother with precision, giving her an edge in the fight. Eirene with Felice telepathic link thanks her son.

“Haiko dear, could you not just eat it up?” Felice asks as she begins casting her mini sun spell.

Haiko looks at Mimir, “Can’t we?”

“Weaken it first, as it is difficult with a resistant target” Mimir explains to everyone.

“Hmm… Then do get ready…” Felice says as she nears finishing casting her spell.

Haiko looks at everyone who knows what they need to do. Eirene keeps the Spider-Hybrid in place while Xion provides assistance and Nora puts up a barrier over everyone, while Felice prepares a lethal move.

Haiko smirks, “Let’s get this done!” as he says he changes into his 1st form.

The Spider-Hybrid notices Haiko’s change in form. Sensing a threat, it opens its lower mouth. The spider mouth that is, and quickly spits a giant ball of dark red goo at Haiko.

Everyone was caught by surprise, Haiko wryly chuckles as he sees the incoming attack and is unable to dodge as Xion and Nora are behind him, “Oh, boy…”

As the red acidic spit hits, it splatters. Haiko covers himself with his tiny arms but notices nothing happened.

“Okay…?” Haiko sees the red goo disperse in front of him. Haiko then notices two hands holding him up.

Haiko looks at the person holding him, “Nora?!” he sees little Nora holding him up and was the one who protected him.

Felice and Xion sigh in relief as they look at a tiny Haiko being held up by Nora.

“Get ready Haiko!” Felice yells as she finishes her mini-sun spell.

Haiko nods to Felice up above, “Nora put me down!” Haiko says patting Nora’s hands around him, but to Haiko’s surprise Nora indeed did put him down but not in a way he expected.

Haiko monotonously says, “Nora… I meant, you let me go…” he says while being held by Nora like a child holding their favourite toy.

Nora replies with a puff and does not let go of Haiko. “Umm…” Haiko lost on what to do, looks at Mimir for assistance.

Mimir ignores Haiko and simply went on to what he needs to do, “Sending in the drones” he says telepathically to everyone.

Felice then yells signalling Haiko, “BURN!!” as she says similar to before, she launches a large fireball looking like a miniature sun to the enemy.

Eirene sees the large fireball coming and dodges out of its way, Xion giving cover by giving his mother a clear way to dodge.

As Felice's spell hits the Spider-hybrid, it screeches loudly, “RAAAAAAAGGGHH!! YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS YOU INSOLENT TRASH!!” it screams in pain as it burns alive.

“Now Haiko!” Felice calls for Haiko to use Void.

Haiko looks at Nora, who stubbornly refuses to give in. Haiko not having much of a choice, gives up trying to get free from Nora’s hold, he then calls out to Mimir, “Mimir, let’s eat!”

Mimir’s drones begin to surround the burning Spider-hybrid, “VOID activate” as Mimir says, the drones erupt turning into the black sentient like mass called Mieza, and then enveloping the burning Spider-hybrid with it.

Eirene stands back in shock at the sight, Xion as well looks in confusion and fear.

Nora doesn’t seem to care as she stares at the creature who struggles to get free.

Haiko then raises his arms, “Nora, your really should put me down now!” Haiko insists as the Mieza begins to return to Haiko as it absorbs the creature.

Nora again just puffs in reply not caring what Haiko says and holds on to him.

As Haiko sucks in the creature, the Spider-hybrid tries to cut its upper body off as desperate move to escape. But is unable to, as a blue wave of energy cuts its head in half.

Eirene sheathes her weapon, “Let this be a lesson to never harm my family…” she says looking at the burning Spider-hybrid being absorbed.

The Spider-Hybrid then psychotically laughs as it gives up and accepts her defeat, “WE’LL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN!!” it yells as it is fully absorbed by Haiko.

As the last bit of the Hybrid is taken into Haiko, there was small kick to it pushing Nora and Haiko back a bit.

Haiko looks at Nora, “You okay?”

Nora again nonchalantly replies with a puff of confidence.

Xion and Felice, who just landed, laugh at the sight.

Eirene moves towards the group smiling.

Haiko sighs in relief and then looks at Nora, “Can you let me go now?” to which Nora simply shakes her head in reply, implying she doesn’t want to. Much to Haiko’s dismay, but to everyone’s delight.