History?

"History?" Rudolf inquired, his raised eyebrow reflecting his deep intrigue as he leaned in, fingers gently stroking his beard.

"Yuppy dup! Today, we make history. How, you ask? Well oh boy thats a good question, I agree to form an alliance with Polanoire!" Saturn's voice rang out with a sense of grandeur, and her posture exuded pride.

A sudden hush fell over the room, leaving everyone in bewildered silence. Saturn's gaze shifted to Lumi, who stood there with a sly grin, her hand resting on Plutonia's shoulder. Rudolf's initial curiosity had now transformed into excitement, tinged with a growing sense of pride in Saturn.

"Would you like to create the pact now?" Rudolf inquired.

Saturn responded with an eager nod and approached Rudolf's imposing throne. As she stood before him, Rudolf rose from the throne, causing his size to seemingly double. He transformed his massive hammer into a small dagger. Him standing revealed a towering, muscular figure that now loomed over the miniature Saturn in comparison. With a snap of his fingers, the throne behind him dissipated, unveiling a circular table with carved pathways that led to a central tree, its roots resembling those of a real tree. Rudolf walked slowly to the table, taking his place near the tree's tip, and gestured for Saturn to step forward. She obeyed his silent command.

The table itself was a masterpiece, crafted from a single block of gleaming pearl. Its pristine surface reflected the surrounding light, giving it an ethereal glow.

With his dagger, Rudolf made a precise cut on his hand, allowing a trickle of blood to fall onto the carved tree.

"Ouchies. That doesn't look comfortable," Saturn whispered to herself, her initial excitement giving way to unease as she contemplated the implications of what she had just committed to.

"Your turn, Processor of Plansanturia, Lady Saturn S-"

Suddenly, the stained glass windows behind them shattered, and a radiant figure with enormous, fluffy wings burst through, brandishing a long silver sword aimed directly at Rudolf's back. It closed the gap in mere milliseconds, a blur of movement.

CLASH

The sword collided with another piece of steel, but it wasn't Rudolf's armor; it was Aren's blade. The impact released a shockwave of energy that sent Saturn tumbling down the steps, while Aren's body cracked from the force. The ethereal being thrust the sword with its right hand and, with its left, summoned a gleaming spear that impaled Aren. In an instant, he vanished, just as swiftly as it had appeared to defend Rudolf.

Rudolf, gripping his massive hammer, swung it overhead with tremendous force, attempting to pound the new being into the ground. But the being effortlessly flipped its sword, aligning its blade alongside its arm, and halted the forceful attack with ease.

"Vladilena!" a voice called out. It was Lazuli. She stood near the door from which Lumi and Saturn had exited earlier.

"Did he wake up?" Lazuli inquired.

Vladilena, a girl with long white hair flowing down to her knees and luscious wings on her back, revealed her striking blue eyes as she shook her hair away from her face.

"He has, and you must go," she replied, her voice as gentle as her appearance.

"Can't I stay a little longer? I mean, come on, Vladilena, it's not like I do much there anyway," Lazuli protested in frustration.

Rudolf, still exerting his energy to keep his hammer aimed at Vladilena, finally lowered it when she deftly pushed the hammer out of the way and drove it into the ground next to her.

"You can debate, plead, and beg to Krafell himself," Vladilena responded firmly, leaving Lazuli with no choice. Reluctantly, Lazuli complied, but before departing, she flew over to Saturn and spoke.

"Don't slit your hand; he tried to create a blood bond, you dummy," she said with a sincere smile, and then flew away with the Angel out of Dae Turris.

"What just happened?" Plutonia asked, her disbelief echoing the lightning speed of the events that had unfolded.

"You traitors!" Rudolf's voice erupted with fury.

"Did we just make an oopsie?"

"Saturn, it's not the time," Lumi silenced her, trying to contain the escalating situation. Rudolf was descending into a pit of uncontrollable rage. His body began to glow, and his armor soon followed suit. His eyes blazed like a wildfire, and his consciousness seemed to fade. Random groans and growls emanated from his trembling lips.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of light bathed the entire room in white brilliance. In front of Saturn, Plutonia, and Lumi stood a blazing demon, its hammer dripping with lava that melted everything it touched.

"Wumi! I think he has anger issues," Saturn remarked jokingly.

"SATURN!" Both Plutonia and Lumi shouted in unison, their voices filled with panic, as they sprinted for their lives towards the elevator. Saturn sat on the floor, seemingly oblivious to the danger unfolding in front of her.

"Oi, you brat, get in this darn elevator before I toss you out the same window that Angel thing came from! I'll pray you land on some spikes that get rid of you!" Lumi scolded Saturn, her voice laced with urgency.

"That's not very nice, Wumi," Saturn replied, still not fully grasping the peril that was slowly closing in on her from behind. The footsteps of the fiery beast cracked the ground, its breathing resembling that of a wild predator hunting its prey. It raised its hammer, and just as Saturn realized the impending danger, she zoomed in the blink of an eye to frantically press the elevator button, desperately trying to return to the ground floor.

She slammed the elevator button so intensely that it popped out from the wall and landed at everyone's feet. They all stared at it, and an awkward silence hung in the air for a couple of seconds.

"Didn't you mention the window, Wumi?" Saturn asked, hinting at their only way out.

"Look out!" Plutonia screamed and jumped out of the elevator, pulling Saturn with her. The demon's hammer smashed through the roof of the elevator, jamming itself amid different pieces of rubble, which slowly melted away as the hammer pushed through.

"Woaaa Aaaah!" Lumi screamed at the top of her lungs, her gaze fixed on the demon's hammer, her body frozen in fear.

A hand reached out and tugged at a piece of Lumi's clothing. She felt the gentle pull and her face flushed with a deeper shade of red than the demon itself.

"Saturn," she called out. Her head soon appeared, revealing the person's hand that had just grabbed her. As Saturn looked down, she understood exactly what it was she had grabbed – something oddly wet and warm.

Saturn withdrew her hand, and a look of amazement crossed her face as she examined it in awe. Meanwhile, Lumi stood there, her cheeks burning with embarrassment, unsure of how to react. Saturn's gaze darted back and forth, shifting between her hand and the piece of clothing that was concealed beneath Lumi's skirt and trembling hands.

Their shared moment was abruptly shattered by a resounding crack emanating from the elevator's machinery. Without hesitation, Saturn swiftly reached back under Lumi’s skirt, her grip firm, and yanked her out of the elevator. The sudden motion sent them both tumbling to the floor.

As they tumbled, Rudolf Heartblaze's hammer was unleashed, and his rampage continued. It seemed as if he had declared war on the very room, smashing objects and walls, leaving chaos in his wake. Every few seconds, his focus was zeroed in on Saturn, his fury unmistakable. He seized the hammer with both hands, swinging it fiercely and launching it in their direction. It narrowly missed the tops of their heads.

With adrenaline coursing through her, Lumi grabbed Saturn by her collar and pulled her to her feet, and they began to sprint towards the shattered stained windows where Plutonia was already positioned, awaiting their arrival.

The two stopped just before the hole in the shattered window and looked outside, their breaths catching in their throats. They had never realized the extent of the Dae Turris of Polanoire, the massive tower's tip extending far above the clouds. Jumping off would mean certain and immediate death, even for a Processor.

Lumi, still catching her breath, spoke to Saturn with a hint of remorse in her voice, "Saturn, I apologize for saying I'd throw you out this window."

Saturn clenched her fists and cursed softly, "Screws and bolts this!" She stepped back, preparing to activate her Divine Entity Drive.

"I'll glide us down just enough and then revert back, so no one sees," Saturn explained, her mind working quickly to devise a plan, as expected from a leader.

"Saturn!" Plutonia shouted in warning, but it was too late. An oncoming blow struck her directly, and she was sent hurtling through the room to the next. Alone and disoriented, Plutonia curled up into a ball on the floor, trying to hold back tears.

"Damn!" Lumi exclaimed underher breath and realized she had to act quickly. She transformed, her body taking on the DED form, and grabbed Plutonia, holding her close. With a swift leap, she jumped out of the shattered window, the wind rushing past them as they descended.

Meanwhile, Saturn was left alone with the relentless beast, Rudolf Heartblaze. His fury showed no sign of disappearing anytime soon as he stomped toward the rubble where Saturn lay. His fingers itched for another devastating blow.

Suddenly, a sword flew out from the darkness, but it melted upon direct impact with Rudolf's body. Another sword followed, this time with Saturn just a step behind, her sword flourishing, ready for her own strike. The second sword met the same fate, melting like snow on a hot stove. Saturn, with all her might, collided her sword directly with Rudolf's hammer, the impact snapping her blade like a twig.

She quickly phased to the side, putting some distance between them, and materialized another sword.

Saturn's eyes constricted as she delved deeper into her own insanity. The circuitry designs adorning her gear began to emit an intense glow, and her wings expanded further, taking on the form of a radiant X. The rims on her cat ears also glowed with a neon blue light.

"You want to mess with me? Then I'll mess you up," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling with determination. Her eyes locked onto her target.

"Nos, eorum exultant lusibus?" She took a single resolute step forward.

"Saturn!" Lumi's voice called out, waving urgently for Saturn to retreat. But Saturn's resolve was unyielding, and Lumi recognized that she was beyond persuasion.

Rudolf Heartblaze laughed in his demonic tone, and from his single massive hammer, he effortlessly ripped out another one, as if duplicating it on the spot. The beast now wielded two hammers, swinging them rapidly like nunchucks. With each forceful swing, the ground shook, and fragments chipped off.

"Saturn, please!" Lumi's pleas continued, but Saturn remained steadfast. As the ground fractured further with each pound, Saturn recognized a weak point. She unleashed her sword and manifested dozens more, each hovering around her like a halo.

With a graceful motion of her hand, Saturn threw the swords into the air, creating a lethal circle of shimmering blades. She chanted, "Dimittis armamentarium." The swords shot out at once, heading straight for Rudolf's body. Each one melted away upon impact, but this was all part of Saturn's plan.

She launched herself into the air with a powerful right-footed kick, and from above, she summoned the same skill. This time, the swords aimed not at Rudolf Heartblaze but at the weakened ground he had created. The collective force shattered the ground, and the beast plummeted downward, his immense weight causing him to crash through hundreds of floors below.

With the battle won, Saturn's ego gradually subsided, and she turned to Lumi with the biggest smile Lumi had ever seen.

"Thank you, Wumi. I beat him."

Lumi, grinning in return, said, "Next time, we will definitely have a different Processor in this nation, hehe."