Martha looked distraught, she looked in pain… but most of all, Martha looked mad. Like some switch clicked in her as she watched her friend descend into that darkness. 

She quickly got up and walked back to the portal back to base

-Hey, don't you need some time?- I asked her before she leapt through the portal

-No… what I need right now are answers- As she said this, she jumped through.

Even if I was hurt, I quickly ran after her, jumping through the portal as well.

As soon as I arrived, it was a screaming match. Ness and Mark were trying to stop Martha from going any further, while she just kept trying to push through.

-Don't try to fucking stop me, I need to talk with Martel!- Martha screamed this, trying to reach the door, but Ness blocked the way.

-And what is Martel going to do, unkick your ass? You barely won that match and you're trying to take your anger out on her- Ness responded this in a stern tone

-Oh, if you think I'm going to release my anger from almost being beaten, then I'd rather use you as the punching bag. This isn't about the fight, it was about the person we fought!- 

Mark, who was stopping her movements in general said -We don't need to be hostile. Just explain the problem to us, maybe we can solve it-

-Look, this isn't something you guys can help with. I need Martel- Martha tried to plead with Mark, who seemed a lot more reasonable at this moment than Ness.

-With what?- As Martha finished speaking, the doors behind Ness opened. Ness fell through the door since he was leaning against it, with Martel dodging his fall with no issue

-Why was she a member of Anima!? She's nothing but good, there's no reason for her to be there!- Martha was clearly mad. 

-Well, it's just like Ness said, I can't really help with that inquiry- Martel said this and began to leave the room, but Martha wasn't having any of it. She quickly launched a Fire Nova in Martel's direction, missing by just an inch

-You are not leaving until you answer my question!-

Martel scoffed a bit, then sighed, muttering something under her breathe, before aiming her head at Ness 

-Ness, do me a favor and teach your teammate a lesson-

-Are you su-- Ness stopped talking as he looked to see Martel. I couldn't see her face since she had her back to us, but Ness looked terrified -Y-Yes boss-

As Martel tried to leave once again, Martha broke out of Mark's grasp and ran towards her -No, you are not getting out before-- As she reached the door where Martel was getting out of, Ness hit her in the stomach with his knee, launching her towards one of the window screens, breaking it. He had his armor equipped as he did, meaning it also left a burn mark on her body.

Mark went over to Martha's body, looking over her to see if she was okay, before turning to look at Ness -The heel are you doing!?- Mark shouted angrily as he stood in front of Martha

-You heard the boss. She needs to learn a lesson for threatening her-

-By kicking her while she's already distressed!?- I answered to that statement, as I put myself in the path between Ness and Martha

-Stay the HELL out of this traitor-

-I may be a traitor, but I'm not letting you hurt her- as I said this, I called my gauntlets, getting ready for a fight

-Fine then, I'll deal with you- As he said this, it almost looked like he teleported right to my right, to then whisper in my ear -Then, I'll deal with her-

After he said this, he punched me in my gut, then punched me in the head hard enough to launch me to the still open portal.

I was back on that grassy field. I tried to get up quickly, but those punches were already hard on me, especially after that last fight. As I stood up slowly, I saw flames begin to pour out of the portal. I quickly moved away, as a pillar of fire shot out of the portal.

After the pillar of flame, Ness came through, looking in my direction.

-You will not escape Martel's punishment- as he said this, he raised his right arm, charging a fire nova at me

I chuckled a bit, trying to seem level headed, as I got up -If you really think I'm going down to you, you should check our win to loss ratio- I put my hands up in a defensive position, as I activated Fire Witch. I wasn't going to let him push me around, especially after that attack on Martha.

Ness didn’t say anything. It looked like he was dead set, even under that armor. I could feel his rage. He shot the nova, before disappearing and reappearing behind me. He was trying to attack me from both the front and the back. I quickly jumped out of the way, but still got graced by both attacks. I quickly turned myself around to face Ness, who was now going for a direct attack on me. I quickly pushed the punch out of it’s direction and then punched him in the head, making him tumble a little. But, he still stood. I quickly jumped back to get to a safe distance 

-That form isn't going to do you any help- Ness said this as he walked towards me, changing the element of his armor to thunder. As he did, he got out his knives and threw them all around me. As he finished throwing all of them, he snapped his fingers. The area inside of the knife perimeter became electrified, bringing me down to my knees. The shock was intense, it was hard to even stay conscious, but I kept looking at him as I charged two novas in my hands. But, as they were charging, he got right in front of me.

His armor was making him immune to his own lightning, absorbing it back into his body. He quickly kneed my head, with the lightning disappearing after that. That attack almost knocked me out, bringing me down to the ground. He chuckled, before kicking me while on the ground

-You don't match up to me anymore- As he finished saying this, he started to walk back towards the portal. At that moment, I felt useless, but I wasn't going to let him go like this.

In one last ditch attempt, I activated Power Lust, before leaping against Ness.

That attack managed to launch him quite a distance, but he landed on his feet, brushing off some dust from him. 

-Demon's finally out to play. Get set to get fucked- The demon that takes over me when I use power lust spoke, with a smile on its face, with the innate adrenaline from it taking suit, taking away the pain.

-So you're finally not holding back huh. Time to get serious then- As Ness said this, he stanced up, preparing his knives again.

The demon quickly rushed at Ness, as he switched his armor element back to fire. As he launched the knives, the demon was able to dodge them, but as they passed him, the flames redirected the knives, striking the demon on his back. The demon pushed through, even after being struck, before getting back in front of Ness, striking him in the stomach, before punting his head to the ground.

-Where's all that style you were flaunting before!? Did the little baby run out?!- The demon taunted, as he started to charge dark novas in his hands, launching them to Ness' body. He flinched with every strike

Ness kept trying to stand up, but every time he made any progress, the demon pushed him back on the ground with another kick

Eventually, the demon stopped, after he saw Ness not moving anymore. He laughed, before going back inside my mind. As Power Lust and Fire Witch deactivated, all the pain from the knives came rushing in. The burning, the stabbed feeling. It all felt awful, but nothing I hadn't felt before.

I started to walk back towards the portal, before I heard some rustling from behind me. As I turned around, I saw Ness, getting up from the floor, on one knee, looking up at me. His armor had been called off, so I could see his face now. He didn’t look angry, or sad… he looked… happy

-I guess Martel was right- He stood up completely, before walking up to me

-What are you talking about now?- I responded, while preparing myself for an incoming attack… but he just walked past me.

-Ever since you came back with us, you have been abusing that form… Power Lust- Ness kept up his happy tone as he spoke, just looking back at me -Just like Anima-

-So? I need to be on at least equal footing to all of you, especially seeing how strong Anima has been getting.- As I spoke, I looked over to my left hand, where the mark had been left after the exchange. It seemed to be growing bigger. I just closed my fist, before continuing -It’s a necessary evil-

-A necessary evil? Bullshit!- Ness shouted, not even turning to look at me -You’re just a villain waiting to happen. And I promise you, the moment Power Lust fully takes over your body, I’ll be the one to strike you down- As he said this last part, he launched one of his knives at me, landing it in a tree to my left.-So, congrats. You saved Martha for today. But you signed your death certificate-

After saying that, Ness left through the Portal. I just stood there silently for a while. 

He had a point. This power was unstable, and if I kept using it the same way I used Overdrive, it would take over eventually. But, was there really a way for me to use it without screwing myself over?

I started to walk back to the portal, before I heard another rustle from a bush nearby, I quickly turned around to see what it was, but I saw nothing. I prepared a nova just in case, aiming it at the bush. 

-If there is someone there, come out- I said, in a calm manner.

Not long after, from behind one of the trees, someone came out. 

It was Dee

END OF CHAPTER 29