Go

The wind howls, making Colonel's cloak flutter wildly as he walks towards the heroine group. As he goes, his manic grin grows more horrifying with each step he takes.

Colonel: How exciting...! This indescribeable thrill! This is what I've been waiting for! AHHH... I'M ALL JITTERY.

The cloaked man comes to a stop in front of Evelyn and the others and gives them an elegant bow.

Colonel: Welcome to The Dark Kingdom, my ladies. I am your humble host during your stay.

Evelyn: Colonel... so you really came first, like Ume said.
Colonel: Why of course I did!
Bee: Spit it out, bastard! Where are the missing drones?!
Colonel: Oh, right. We had some uninvited guests before you arrived.
Bee: Where are they?! Spill it!
Colonel: Hmm... just where could they have gone...?
Bee: You son of a...!
Ume: Save it, Bee. He won't tell what happened or where they are, anyway.
Bee: Gh...! Then what are you here for?!
Colonel: I can't possibly miss this excellent opportunity, can I? Wiping out the legendary Hive Five. This is what I have been working towards, after all.
Evelyn: Working towards... what? What are you implying?
Colonel: Toward turning you all into refined fighters. Excluding some exceptions, I threw all the monsters available at you so you would become true, seasoned warriors.
Ume: Are you stupid? You trained us so you could have fun now?
Colonel: Exactly, just that! You aren't the Sage for no reason.

He gets a bit closer, staring at Evelyn now.

Colonel: ...Dear Evelyn. I really am glad you found the way to this place.
Gertrud: Too bad we came to finish you off.
Ume: Correct. And what about your mandatory bad wording habit? Not that I miss it, I'm merely wondering.

Then, Colonel waves his cloak aside, now revealing his body beneath while he still keeps his face concealed under the hood. He wears a fine, black vest with a dress shirt in white and black stripes. Black dress pants and neat leather shoes of the same color round up his butler's look. His white gloved hands reach under the cloth of his cloak, pulling out a pretzel stick-like fashion cane from there, skillfully twirling it around for a second. Afterwards, he uses it to point at Evelyn and the rest of the team.

Colonel: I fear the time for bad jokes is over now. Now transform. And then, allow me to make this place your grave.

The Hive Five exchange glances, nod, then take their blood sugar meters.

Team Evelyn: Blood sugar rush, go!

Everyone swiftly transforms, successfully changing into their dresses of power once more. Evelyn raises her arm, pointing at Colonel with her partisan now.

Evelyn: Let us settle this, once and for all!
Only a split second later, he dashes towards Candy, already his arms stretched to hit her with his cane. Just before he hits her, Gertrud steps in to let her blackberry shield take the blow. This sends her gliding along the floor, dragging Candy with her in the process.

Ume: He's fast! And he sent our unyielding tank away just like that!

Then Colonel suddenly stands right before Ume, already preparing to kick her.

Chloe: Oh no, Ume!

Chloe quickly plays a chord on her starfruit harp, making him drowsy enough to stop his foot mid-air. Ume takes the chance and steps back from him as good as possible. However, now he seems interested in Chloe, lunging at her next with his cane. Evelyn's spear and his cane cross, successfully preventing him from harming Chloe.

Evelyn: Oh no, you don't!
Colonel: Oh yeah? Try to stop me.

After this, they go at each other, seemingly teleporting from one place to another as they swing their weapons.

Meanwhile Gertrud and Candy have come to a stop after the impact, admiring Evelyn's display of her powers.

Candy: Wow... Granny Evelyn is so fast and strong! She can actually fight against this crazy powerful guy on the same level!
Gertrud: Yes, she trained very hard to get where she is now. Let's try to help her the best we can.
Candy: U-huh!

As they speed off to get back to the others, Evelyn is still busy keeping Colonel at bay.

Evelyn(thought): Gh... I have no clue if I can keep up with his pace for much longer...

Just then, during a tiny moment of carelessness, Colonel hits her with the cone, sending her flying several meters away.

Gertrud: Oh no, Evelyn! Are you hurt?!

Gertrud and Candy rush to her side, kneeling down next to Evelyn, who already tries to get up again.

Candy: That looked like it hurt, are you okay, Granny Evelyn?!
Evelyn: Surprisingly, yes. - Look out!

At arm's length, Colonel attempts to kick Candy now, but is stopped by Evelyn's partisan once more. Then she shoves him away with it.

Evelyn: It's no use like this! He seems to have targeted you! Candy, please move higher up so he cannot reach you so quickly!
Candy: Okay!

The young girl uses the moment Colonel is distracted by Evelyn's intervention, stepping higher and higher up on the clouds she makes appear under her feet. Several meters away from ground now, Candy waves down at them.

Candy: Alright, I'll try to support you from up here!
Colonel: Hmm... Let's see how that works.

While Candy swings her cone to create some cotton candy, Colonel pulls his candy glass monocle from beneath his hood and holds it up, pointing it at Candy above him.

Colonel: ...Pew!

Somehow struck, Candy lets out a short scream of pain, then starts falling down.

Evelyn: Candy, no! Gertrud, please get her!
Gertrud: Right away!

Evelyn quickly rushes toward Colonel to distract him and Gertrud runs to Candy, catching her just in time.

Gertrud: Got you.
Candy: Thanks, Auntie Gertrud!

Ume and Chloe look around, worriedly assessing the current situation.

Chloe: This is bad. Ume, we have to do something or else we are going to lose!
Ume: I know! The main problem is his incredible speed. And the fact he is also able to reach us from further away doesn't help at all! Even though we have the rations, we cannot risk to use our abilities blindly. We need to try taking him down with minimum output. But how?