|  [ORIGINAL SONG] Metamorphosis | AmaLee 

With the Navy on his last legs and barely able to even fight given that most of his weapons had been destroyed while his energy levels prevented him from summoning more…

One would imagine it would be easy for the [True God].

Those people were fools.

As confident in not losing as Mother was… She couldn’t be sure if she could actually beat the monstrous beast of wrath in front of her; even if she went all out there was no way to be sure. Mercy had been released from its sheath several times yet she was never able to cut deep enough to cause pain to her.

“Ara~ ara~ you really are in a different league to your sisters - it’s very likely that only Sohn-Tochter could be your match in that little cursed club of yours ohohoho~.” <Mother>

She lightly teased as once again she swung her infamous blade down. Her second of her three swords technically not having a sharpened edge yet made up for it by refining her already potent energy into an intent so pure that one wouldn’t even realise when they died. Even so, as it came down with the might to live up to the name [Sukaisābā], it merely was rebutted by the chalky skin of Violent.

Technically she did more than most could do as there was definitely a clear mark on the face of Violent however that quickly regenerated. Vivi’s first move with her technique wasn’t to try to steal the absolute body from Violent because of raw jealousy alone. She knew how unfair it was.

And so did Mother.

Once again the crow beak’s hammer head came flying right towards her beautiful head - Mother spreading her legs while letting that carry her head backwards just enough to avoid it. Regardless,  the wind pressure alone caused her lilac hair to wildly blow about as . Still, she wasn’t intimidated as she took this moment to change her stance. Resting the flat of her blade under her free hand as she opened her eye slightly to let her raw infinite power ooze out while simultaneously sinking into her attack.

Others may not remember but it was a fact that the girl who became the unmatched Infinite Mother had many teachers when she was young.

Among them was one figure that everyone feared to some degree.

That teacher always ensured that she prioritised patience over all else; ensuring she only approached each situation with a mindset of a game. Finding every little detail so that she could make the most out of whatever circumstances she found herself in - creating a solution when there didn’t seem to be any - not stopping pushing forward no matter how hopeless fate decreed her reality. Something she obviously took very seriously in her rule as the god stopped all other gods within the mortal realm.

Even upon “mastering” her power… She never forgot that it was through suffering that her teacher became who she was and so continued to push herself. Mother wasn’t lazy even if her natural biology often left her into long periods of activity. Afterall it was inactivity that caused strife on both sides as well as failed to preclude the necessity of the two great wars.

That teacher's name… Was Cheshire.

“[Chimei-Tekina Kekka].” <Mother>

All her effort accumulated into a simple and almost slow forward thrust of her sword, nevertheless, it is never the actions which Mother cared for. It was the result of the actions that brought the True God to act whenever she did. So (with the same philosophy) that sword flew forward to meet the unstoppable nature of absoluteness that the “perfect oni” represented.

This action caught the still recovering Violent by surprise - this wasn’t the first time she had fought Mother and she knew the goddess’ distaste for face-to-face conflict even during combat. It was in her nature to prove her superiority. Most of the time that manifested in taking as few risks and moves as possible.

Leading to her fights seeming effortless; as if she had merely been toying with her opponent no matter how close the conflict had actually been.

Seeing her willing to trade blows led to Violent realising something was very wrong but she also wasn’t willing to give up so followed up by throwing her tomahawk toward the god. What Violent failed to consider was as a sociopath… There was nearly nothing she wouldn’t do in order to do what she felt was best for the mortals under her reign.

Not hesitating even as that axe rapidly approached her arm. Thrusting her sword forward with such potent energy stored inside that even the energy passively created due to the density of Violent muscle couldn’t destabilise it in time. At first it seemed like an unequal trade as one of Mother’s arms fell to the ground with her regeneration slowed down to actually be visible to the eye.

Even her precious image of being untouchable was clearly marred.

At most; all her sword could do was puncture Violent’s chest. Yet even losing her heart would hardly stop an oni as strong as she was. Still her plan was never to pierce Violent’s flesh as she instead opened her eyes as wide as she possible could just as the blade landed on the oni’s chest.

At that moment such a powerful wave of energy- Didn’t appear. Instead all of the power was diverted right inside of her sword, coating it in such a vivid green & magenta mix that the blade couldn’t even be seen under the density, only to be transferred right inside Violent. Moments later that incalculable energy accumulated inside the beast exploded with such force that even Mother herself was sent flying backwards.

Unfortunately that also made her arm get erased (removing any hopes of a quick recovery) however her smile didn’t falter as she got what she wanted.

Violent who was at the centre of the green explosion looked more confused than angry as she spread her arms to look around her body then on her trusty steed. Both looked at each other in bewilderment as they were not harmed at all. Luckily Mother loved the sound of her own voice.

“I’ve spent aeons wondering how I could go about ignoring your ability to passively destabilise energy, however I realised that as long as it’s there, there is nothing I could do to defeat you… So I changed my thinking.  You’re a risk and I can’t allow risks that the mortals can’t deal with to exist without any possible means to challenge them.” <Mother>

She said as she expertly threw her sword up in the air only to catch it as it spun 180 degrees; only then proceeding to stab it in the ground to prevent her from sliding back any more. After doing this she stood up while taking ammoment to glance at her missing arm but she merely just chuckled at the irony that it was her who got her arm removed for once. Although it was a chuckle that certainly sounded like someone barely keeping their unceasing rage under control.

The wrathful oni still looked on in a moment of confusion only to realise that the heat that she always felt in every inch of her body… Had greatly subsided. That energy that even she couldn’t do anything about had been forcibly pushed outside her body in the explosion of Mother’s own infinite.

Still Violent just snorted.

“And?” <Violent>

“And I believe you have other things to worry about…” <Mother>

Tilting her head with that familiar kind smile as she knew she had won - not because she could now fight with Violent while using her magic. Sealing & illusions-cum-reality warping obviously being her favourite techniques in her goody bag. No, rather, she knew she won as she could stop the fighting now.

Once again brandishing her sword howbeit she had no plans to use it to cut at Violent. Alternative to expectation she actually made two x-shaped cuts into the fabric of space itself; those tears in reality soon expanded to create diamond shaped portals in space. A showy move that made the beast snort again.

“Stealing other peoples techniques again, are we, fuckhead?” <Violent>

“So uncouth but I’m afraid this move was my best bet since I can hardly use my own preferred form of traversal with you being such an unsavoury individual  ohohoho~.” <Mother>

“Yes… No doubt another move learned from the teacher you cruelly betrayed?” <Fox>

“It was her who betrayed my trust first; since the day I’ve been born I’ve only ever cleaned up messes that other people have made, for those who were left behind by their careless creators.” <Mother>

Clearly Violent didn’t care about Mother’s opinions or words as she raised her weapon while summoning her axe back to her hand… Yet she quickly lowered them upon seeing what was one the other side of those newly opened tears in space. Two opposing battles became clear for her to see.

“To your earlier question again… I believe, as previously iterated, you have other things to worry about I’m afraid~!“ <Mother>

“YOU SCALESS BITCH!” <Violent>

“Calm yourself… These could be illusions.” <Fox>

Those scenes were so shocking that even the silent (till now) fox spoke up to calm his partner.

In front of them was the scene of a gigantic dome of demonic blood in which Vibrant could be seen repeatedly being nearly beaten to death only to be healed up again. The sight alone was enough to enrage the oni but what made it worse was the one who was doing it. A fully recovered “Vivi” was already stronger than a cursed Vibrant but this “Vivi” seemed even stronger than the one during the great wars!

“I must admit I’m surprised that the Vibrant Violent Victory has grown so strong after burning herself to a crisp and I certainly didn’t plan for it. Still… If nobody stops her I don’t know what she may do to the poor little sword saint who can’t even hold a sword~.” <Mother>

The sadistic goddess’ words echoing in the air as she turned her head to look towards the other portal despite both of them knowing it was simply theatrics since she had re-closed her eyes.

“Sadly there also appears to be some inter-group trouble happening to the yakuza.” <Mother>

Placing her hand on her cheek to feign worry at the sight of Ebony & Ruby clashing weapons while it was actually Ruby who seemed to be struggling to keep up with the far younger oni. Ebony’s metal club was fueled with rage as she wore a fittingly wooden hanya mask that burned with wrath as she screamed at the other Kijin for the whereabouts of her daughter. Something that greatly confused Ruby who was already one arm down.

“Say… Isn’t Ruby your younger half-sister? Well it seems you won’t need to worry about her possibly seeking to take back the title that you took from your father. Surely it shouldn’t take the current queen of the oni much longer to finish her off ohohoho~!” <Mother>

From the start Mother knew where her advantages lay so she was never in a hurry; though it was certainly a hidden blessing that Vivi had evolved into this “Victory”. She was merely waiting for the right moment as well as the opportunity to show what she had prepared beforehand. Although she wasn't certain that the last head of the Asura would appear…

It never hurts to be prepared.

“Sadly you can only be in one place at a ti-” <Mother>

She didn’t even get to finish what she was saying as Violent ran through one portal while the crimson ten tailed fox ran through the other without hesitation or communication. Both knew & trusted the other to do what needed to be done. Something that Mother could at least respect as she turned her gaze to the kneeling figure of Navy.

Smiling kindly as she clicked her fingers to summon chains that promptly coiled around Navy as his younger sister turned around to meet his eyes.

Despite his current situation, his confident smile never faded, as he slowly mouthed two words to Violent.

I

Win

Violent gritted her teeth yet she was the same as Sohn-Tochter in that, although she may beat the living shit out of them, she held family more important than anything else in the world. Even the world itself. As such she didn’t hesitate in abandoning her current fight in favour of preserving her kin’s life.

That left Mother alone as Navy was pulled into a pearly gate that led straight into her home base under the ocean for which he’d remain forever under lock and key. Now alone in the slowly collapsing pocket-domain that her teacher had created. No matter how she looks at it she has officially won as she has achieved everything she desired as far as sniping this conflict could be considered.

She even noticed that her archangel (whether they wanted to or not) has secured a decent contract with that newly reborn demon monarch.

“It appears her new ability has allowed her to take in unci’s power of law so I needn’t worry about her breaking any deals we forge. Plus it seems like her hatred for dealbreakers is stronger than even that of that silly snake hohoho…” <Mother>

Her laugh echoing through the hollow realm as not even the void beasts dared to enter the pseudo space despite all the cracks given them access.

As such she just stood there, completely alone yet at the top, wearing a faint smile.

“This is how it’s meant to be… Right, oh treacherous teacher o’ mine?” <Mother>

Sheathing her blade to look towards her nails painted in black metal.