Love it? Hate it? Questions? Send them all to sigma72@protonmail.com

Our Story So Far: The demoness Xala marked Superia with the brand of her master, Bel-Deron, and it’s only a matter of time before she’s dragged away to do with as the demon pleases. With the help of Bombshell and the Sorceress Thera, Superia is traveling to a temple where the monks may be able to help her get rid of the mark.

Superia #3: Demons Among Us pt. 2

by Sigma

IV

"Oh...God dammit..." Superia doubled over and heaved as the portal closed behind her. She stood in ankle-deep snow, whipped by wind. Bombshell stood over her in a heavy winter coat, rubbing her back while Thera waited a few feet away.

"Breathe," Bombshell told her.

Superia took a deep breath and the stood up. "I'm good, I'm okay." She looked around to realize they were on a mountain surrounded by an entire range. The sky was clear, the air was frigid, and the wind howled all around them, making Superia pull her hood up over her head. "Where the hell are we?"

"Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle," Bombshell told her.

"What? Then why is it so fucking cold?"

"This place is called the Veiled Land," Thera explained. "Magic is strong here and, thus, the rules of the world as you understand them don't apply. The island itself is about the size of Louisiana and has deserts, jungles, and temperate climates as well."

"And giant spiders, dinosaurs, ape-men, and a bunch of other stuff that would try to eat us if we were seen," Bombshell explained.

"Are you serious?" Superia asked.

"There's much about this world that you don't know, Naomi," Thera said. "This island is hardly the only place like it on the planet."

"A far cry from beating up shithead bikers and gangsters..."

"Yup," Bombshell said. "Let's get moving."

"Where's the temple?" Superia asked as they started walking.

"Just over that ridge," Thera pointed. "I could not open a portal directly onto its grounds because of the wards the monks there have set up. They’ve spent centuries keeping away demons and training to kill them when they do appear. Portals can only be opened within a mile of the temple by a person currently in that location."

"Ugh, I hate cold weather. I decided to stay in Delta because of the mild winters," Superia said. "My coach in college made us run in shitty weather like this. Didn't think I'd be doing this again."

"What did you play?" Bombshell asked.

"I wrestled," she told her. "I had to wear a suppression collar during practice and competitions, but I still won most of the time," she grinned. 

"Heh," Bombshell chuckled. "I get it. I went through the same on my school's rugby team."

"Yeah, I could see that being your game, big as you are. What about you, Thera? Did you, like, go to Hogwarts or something?"

"I grew up in a place called Providence. It's a sanctuary of sorcerers, witches, mystics, and other people touched by magic. The keepers there were my teachers. We didn't participate in sports, per se, but the other children and I played plenty of games."

"So, these secret societies like the monks and your wizards, they're all over the place?"

Thera looked back. "Oh, yes. They have been for thousands of years. Aphrodites are far from the only force for good in the world, but at the same time, all sorts of evil lurks in the shadows, too..."

"It keeps us busy, though, doesn't it?" Superia said. "If I have to keep punching bad guys until I'm an old lady, I'm fine with that."

"Hmm, that's a good attitude," Thera said.

"Hey, that reminds me of something I've been wondering. Are we, like, immortal or something?"

"You mean Aphrodites?" Bombshell asked.

Superia nodded.

"No, most of us aren't. You and me and probably all the others have lifespans that are maybe slightly longer than a typical human's. We maintain our physical primes way longer, though. Ask Asa about her grandmother, Kiyoko, some time. The woman was like 90 years old and died in combat, not of illness."

"In combat at 90? Holy shit."

"Yeah, killed by a younger Aphrodite. Some kind of conflict with another clan. It's her story to tell, not mine."

"Damn. I want to be like that, a badass until my final breath," Superia said. "But you said 'most' of us?"

"Any Aphrodites who've shown to be immortal usually have a father who isn't human," Thera explained. "Star Woman, for example."

"What about her?"

Bombshell and Thera paused and looked at each other and then at Superia.

"Y...you don't know?" Bombshell asked.

"Know what?" Superia asked.

"Star Woman was part alien," Thera said. "Her father's people come from a distant solar system in our galaxy."

"What? Star Woman was an alien? Are you serious?" Superia's jaw dropped.

"No one told you?" Bombshell asked. "Didn't you read Delphi's files on us?"

"I skimmed them..." Superia said.

"Oh...well, now you know," Bombshell slapped her on the shoulder.

"Wait, so, are there aliens hiding all over the place too?" Superia continued following them. “There was this weird family in my neighborhood where I grew up that I always suspected...but I can’t say for sure I’ve ever actually met an alien.”

"Visitors from other worlds have been among humans for thousands of years, likely before humans had written language," Thera explained.

"Well...wait, how has Earth never been invaded?"

"We've been invaded a bunch of times. I was dealing with an offworlder while you, Mantis, and Crane were fighting those gangs a few weeks back." Bombshell told her. "I mean, it's not like the movies where the sky is darkened by ships and whole cities are getting blown up, but plenty of ugly bastards have come down and caused all kinds of mayhem."

"You never hear about it on the news," Superia said.

"There are organizations who keep it that way to prevent mass panic," Thera told her. "The average person is fine with superpowered humans and the occasional mutant. They also generally know aliens exist, but the majority of people never actually meet one to their knowledge. Any more than that, and it’s something a lot of people wouldn’t be able to handle.”

"Yeah, you didn't know demons were real before a few hours ago, did you?" Bombshell asked.

"I...no, I guess I didn't. Was kinda fighting for my life at the time, didn't really have time to think about it. Where do they come from, these demons?"

"There are all kinds of parallel planes of existence and sub-dimensions linked to our own. That's where you'll find the majority of them. The most famous, of course, is what modern humans typically refer to as Hell."

"Hold on..." Superia stopped them. "So, if Hell's real...that means God and Jesus and..."

"That's a very complicated answer," Thera said. "I'll explain the entire thing when we have more time," she said before continuing on. "The point is, Earth is constantly besieged by all manner of evil not native to it and always has been," she said. "That's why we do what we must to protect it."

"If this shit's blowing your mind, wait until you learn about the multi-verse," Bombshell uttered.

"The what?"

“There are other Earths, too,” Thera told her as they trudged along. “Many of them, much like this one. Some are more advanced technologically, some less. Some had historical events that played out differently. One world, as an example, never progressed past the dark ages. On another, World War II is still being fought. Most of these worlds probably have a Naomi Grant who is the same age and looks just like you, but they might not be Aphrodites. One may be...say, a famous actress, or professional athlete, or just an ordinary, everyday woman.”

“I met one of my others once,” Bombshell said. “She had three kids and ran a grocery store,” she shuddered. “One of the multi-verse Delphis is French instead of American, and one of the Cranes never left Tokyo. It’s all over the place.”

“Holy shit…” Superia said. “So...is it considered weird if I fuck one of my others?”

“Oh my god…” Bombshell groaned.

Thera suppressed a chuckle as they continued one.

"We've arrived," Thera said roughly 20 minutes later. The three of them stood before a wide courtyard with a stone ground, surrounded by a massive temple complex carved into the mountain right in front of them. As they walked across the courtyard, Superia took note of a series of massive statues lining the sides. One in particular grabbed her attention, a tall, busty woman holding a sword with the severed head of a monster in her other hand.

"Is that an Aphrodite?" she pointed.

"Ah, yes," Thera stopped. "Her name is Kassia. It's believed she was the first, or at least one of the first. She was active about 5000 years ago throughout Northeastern Africa. All of these statues are heroes who've done great things to protect the world from evil."

Superia looked at them all as they continued toward the temple. She noticed that Kassia was far from the only Aphrodite there. There were about two dozen statues, and at least ten of them were tall, curvy women who she figured to be her forebears. She looked at the names carved into the pedestals. “I’ve never heard of any these people.”

“That’s because most of them aren’t known to history,” Thera told her. “Their legends shifted and changed over time, until they inspired characters you probably have heard of.”

“Heh...that’s kind of a punch in the gut. These people have all saved the world, and most people don’t even know their names…”

“Become a singer if you want applause. Don’t do this for glory. The world’s not short on unmarked graves filled with brave, dumb bitches who tried to be heroes solely to be admired.” Bombshell told her as they continued on.

"Do the others know this place exists?"

"Everyone else has been here at least once," Bombshell told her. "Delphi, and Star Woman before her, thought it was important for us to know who our allies were. They help train heroes from all over. Hell, I remember the first time we brought Crane here, it was like she had some kind of spiritual awakening. I had to tie her up and carry her out on my shoulder because she didn't want to leave."

"That's...kinda hot. So where are the...shit!" Naomi jumped into a fighting stance when she saw a group of men and women in green robes in front of them. When she turned around there are more of them, completely surrounding them. There were easily 50 of them.

"Stop it," Bombshell punched her in the shoulder. "These are the monks," she explained.

"Oh...my bad," Superia said, lowering her stance.

"Lady Thera, how are you?" A monk stepped forward. He was a middle-aged, balding man in impeccable shape.

"Master Yama, hello," Thera bowed when he was close. "I'm afraid we have a bit of a problem. Is the Grandmaster available?"

Yama furrowed his brow. "He's in meditation at the moment, but I will inform him of your arrival when he finishes."

"Thank you," Thera said.

Yama nodded and the monks began to disperse. Superia watched them and then turned to Bombshell, who seemed to be looking for someone and not paying attention to anything else happening. Just then, giant of a man crept up behind her, and she yelped in surprise when he wrapped his thick arms around her waist, picked her up like she was nothing, and swung her around. He was even bigger than Bombshell, and Superia guessed him to be about 6'6''.  He put her down and she turned before they hugged and pressed their foreheads together while sharing a laugh.

“Thera! Good to see you again!” the big monk beamed while hugging Bombshell close.

“Tsomo, how are you?” Thera asked, putting a hand on his arm. “It’s been too long. This is Naomi. She’s the newest member of Delphi’s team.” 

Superia simply smiled and waved at him. He nodded back in greeting and he and Thera exchanged a few words. While they talked, Superia looked from Tsomo to Bombshell, who still had her arms around the monk, and simulated putting a dick in her mouth while pushing against the inside of her cheek with her tongue.

Bombshell glared at Superia, pointed at her, and then put a hand on her own neck and pretended to strangle herself.

Superia grinned and blew her a kiss in response.

Bombshell turned when Tsomo finished talking to Thera and squeezed her ass.

“Let’s get out of the cold, baby,” Tsomo grinned before walking away with his arm around her.

“So Bombshell’s got a man,” Superia said. “These aren't the celibate kind of monks?"

"Physically fit people, stuck on this mountain, in the cold, cut off from the rest of the world. What do you think?"

"Fair enough," Superia relented. "So, we go somewhere and wait for this grandmaster?"

"Yes. Come, I'll show you the hot springs," Thera said, taking Superia by the arm and leading her away.

***

Calling Thera's naked body a work of art was the understatement of the year. Superia sat at the edge of the hot springs, an expansive section of the temple grounds with several large, circular pools of steaming water carved out of the rock, and watched the sorceress stretch her arms over her head.

Thera's tanned skin was without blemish, and the script tattoos on her flesh were perfectly arranged and intricately laid out, hugging her generous curves. They started just past her collarbones and ran down her arms, ribs, wide hips, and outer thighs, leaving her chest, stomach, back, and lower legs untouched. Superia couldn't tell what they said, they were in a language she didn't recognize, but she figured they were somehow tied to Thera's power. Her body lacked the muscle definition that Superia, or Bombshell, or Mantis, or Iron Crane had, but instead had a fertile, feminine softness to it that was impossible to ignore.

The sorceress lowered herself into the nearest pool and sighed with relief. She then turned to Superia. "Are you not going to join me? The water is perfect."

Superia had already taken off her coat to reveal her costume, a silver, low-cut, skintight body suit with black stripes up both sides. She undid the zipper and slipped out of it, revealing her own athletically toned body, and then removed her boots and threw everything into a rough pile before approaching the pool.

She climbed in next to Thera and paused when she was waist deep. "Holy shit." She got in all the way, the water stopping just above her tits, and leaned her back against the edge of the pool.

"It's perfection, is it not?" Thera smiled.

"Think we can convince Delphi to put something like this in at HQ?"

"It wouldn't beat this," Thera said, sinking into the water slightly. Her braided hair floated around her as she leaned back.

Superia watched her and then edged closer to the sorceress. "Okay, I have to ask: What's with the tattoos?"

Thera opened her eyes and then lifted a soaked arm, twisting it to show Superia. "They help to channel my powers when I use them. The body is a conduit for magic for those us capable of using it, but without some way to control the flow, well...it could end very badly for the user. I usually have my staff for that, but if not, these markings do the same job."

Superia took Thera's arm in her hands. "So, what, if you channel enough energy can you, like, blow up a mountain or something?"

"In theory...though something that powerful takes a lot of energy."

Superia held onto her arm, tracing a finger up the skin. "Well, we'll just have to find something safer that takes a lot of energy, won't we?" she smiled.

Thera looked her in the eye and touched the side of her face. There was a brief moment of quiet before the sorceress leaned in and the two women kissed.

They reveled in each other's taste for several long moments before Superia pulled back while gently biting down on Thera's lower lip.

"Wanna see how long I can hold my breath?" Superia said before taking a deep breath and submerging herself.

Thera watched her curiously and then gasped when her body jolted out of reflex as Superia made a meal of her pussy underwater. Superia pushed Thera’s legs apart, gripping her thighs and pushing her face in. The sorceress threw her head back and cried out, forming her hand into a fist with one hand while grabbing the top of Superia’s head with the other.

She shoved Superia's face in even more, and squeezed the sides of her head with her thighs. She felt Superia's nails dig into her skin. She felt her tongue going as deep as it could as Superia went slow, taking her time to taste every inch of Thera's sweetness. Her nipples were rock hard, she could feel herself getting warmer, even with the humid air given off by the hot springs. She suppressed a yell, in case anyone was in earshot.

Thera took a deep breath, clutching a fistful of her own braided hair while she gasped and her tits heaved. She could feel her toes curl under the water and thigh muscles twitch as the pleasure mounted. She was entirely at Superia's mercy while the woman did what she wanted to her.

She didn't know how much longer she'd be able to take it. She just closed her eyes and let Superia continue. The sweat beaded on her skin, her heart raced as the sensation of ecstasy welled up in her core. Despite the water, she felt herself begin to squirt, her thighs shaking as Superia continued to eat.

Then she let out a cry as it happened. It was a shrill, high pitched sound that she immediately suppressed with her hand over her mouth.

Superia surfaced a few seconds later, her hair soaked and a big grin on her face. She then looked up and past Thera.

Thera craned her head back and saw someone standing over her, a young female monk with short, black hair and pleasant smile on her face.

"Uh...hello," Thera said.

"Hey. Give me a sec and I'll get you next," Superia joked.

"The Grandmaster will see you in the sanctum when you're ready," the monk smiled, bowed and then turned to walk away.

Thera and Superia exchanged looks, unsure what to do next.

"So...I guess we go get rid of the mark now?" Superia said.

Thera grabbed her hair and pushed her head back underwater. "In a minute, Naomi."

***

About 10 minutes later, the women, back in their costumes, walked into the temple's cavernous sanctum. Hundreds of candles burned through the room, and the two of them looked around in awe at a space decorated with intricate art depicting various heroes throughout history vanquishing evil.

A man in the same green robes as the rest of the monks stood with his hands clasped behind his back and turned when he heard Thera and Superia approaching. He was an older man but, like the others, in remarkable shape. Long white hair sat on top of his head and a long white beard grew from his face. His eyes were icy blue but had a welcoming warmth about them. He smiled and nodded.

"Lady Thera, it has been too long."

"Master Shang," Thera bowed. "It's good to see you again. I just wish this reunion was under better circumstances."

"What troubles you, my dear?"

Thera stepped aside. "This is Naomi. She's the newest member of our team in Delta City."

"Yo," Superia waved.

Shang nodded and then approached her. He stopped and leaned forward, eyeing the mark on her chest. "Ah, a Brand of Subjugation. Hmm, this is Bel-Deron's mark..." The old master stroked his beard and then looked at Superia. "May I?"

Superia bared her tit. "Because you asked nicely," she grinned.

Shang put his palm to her chest and closed his eyes. Several moments of silence passed before Shang opened his eyes and growled. "Thera! We've been fooled!"

At that moment, Superia lashed out, hitting the grandmaster with a punch hard enough to send him flying back.

"Naomi!" Thera gasped, just to get leveled with a second punch. She flew back and landed on the floor next to Shang.

"Naomi...why?" Thera got up to one knee.

"It wasn't Naomi who struck us, child..." Shang told her while helping her to her feet.

"You got that right, old man," Xala's voice came out of Superia's mouth. Her eyes glowed red as she approached them. The symbol on Naomi's tit then flashed and her body began to separate into two, until Xala's form manifested and Superia fell to the floor next to her.

"Ah, I'm so glad I listened to my instinct and hid myself in the brand when I sensed you approaching, witch," she said to Thera. "I was laying in wait this whole time, watching this little fool live her life," she kicked Superia in the ribs. "I thought you'd lead me to other Aphrodites, but instead I get the Temple of the Guardian itself!" Xala stretched her long arms out. "Oooooh, master Bel-Deron is going to love this." The demoness then snapped her fingers and several portals opened all over the sanctum. First, the other three Flawless Knights emerged, but then came chattering laughter and dozens, if not hundreds of footsteps as more demons began pouring out of the portals and completely surrounding Shang and Thera.

"Go, enslave or slaughter, it makes no difference to me," Xala said to her army. The demons then let out a collective roar as they ran off to other parts of the temple.

"You have made a grave error, demon witch," Shang said calmly, taking a fighting stance. "This place will be your tomb." He then beckoned her to attack.

Thera gripped her staff tight and prepared a spell. "Naomi...please get up..." she whispered as Xala and the remaining demons attacked.

"Agh...motherfucker..." Superia groaned, pushing herself up as demons rushed all around her. She watched Xala and her henchmen approaching Shang and Thera and stood up on wobbly legs. "Bitch hijacked my body. I'm gonna rip her goddamn spine out!" Superia promised as she started to approach Xala from behind.

She didn't get very far when something wrapped around her ankles. Superia looked down to see herself standing on top of a newly opened portal, with spectral hands emerging to holding her ankles in place. "What the fuck?!" she screamed and tried to kick them away. They pulled and she sank, and more hands emerged, grabbing her arms, wrapping around her waist, and grabbing her neck, head, hair, and shoulders.

Thera threw a blast of energy that scattered many of the demons and cleared a path just in time to see Superia being dragged under. "Naomi! No!!" she screamed and ran to her.

"Fuck! Get off me!" Superia screamed, trying to break free as she was up to her chest in the portal. Anger quickly began to turn to panic. She saw Thera coming toward her and managed get a hand free to reach out to her.

"I'm coming, Naomi!" Thera said, running as fast as she could while using her magic to knock attacking demons aside.

"Thera!! HELP!!" Superia cried out, up to her neck now.

Thera dove the last few feet, but by the time she reached Superia, all she was able to touch were her fingertips before she vanished and the portal closed. "No..." Thera gasped in disbelief. Thera then screamed Naomi's name as some demons behind her grabbed her and pulled her away.

V

Bombshell lay with her ear to Tsomo's bare chest and traced her finger across it as she sighed and stared out into the mountains through his window. The two of them lay on the bed in the monk's dorm room, their naked bodies wrapped in his sheets. Bombshell then rolled over, sat up, and straddled Tsomo's waist. Her naked tits dangled over the monk's face before she leaned in and kissed him. His hand grabbed one of her ass cheeks and squeezed as she sat back up.

"I was starting to think you were too busy to come see me," Tsomo smiled.

"Shut up," she playfully hit him in the chest. "Like you don't know where I live."

"It's true. I'll have to come see the big city some day. It's cold up here," Tsomo said, sitting up slightly. "Maybe show you girls how proper crime fighting is done."

"Uh huh..." Bombshell grinned. "I was thinking more I could show you what we can do with a bigger bed."

"Oh? This not good enough?" Tsomo laughed and sprang up, catching Bombshell by surprise. He wrapped his big arms around her waist and tossed her down onto the bed face first. He then gripped her hips and lifted them, and she spread her legs, resting her hands on the wall at the top of the bed.

Bombshell gasped and clutched the sheets under her when Tsomo slid his cock in. One hand rested on her hip and the other went on her shoulder and Tsomo began thrusting himself in and out of her ass. His hips slammed against her butt, he grunted and moaned as he slid one hand from her shoulder and down the muscles of her back. Bombshell's tits swung back and forth with her partner's thrusting, her nipples rock hard and her chest heaving with steady breath.

Her pussy still dripped from their last go just a few minutes prior, but Bombshell could feel a climax beginning to build already. She reached down her chest with one hand just as Tsomo reached up and squeezed the meat of her right tit, and she stuck two of her own fingers inside her pussy while using her thumb on her clit. Breathed heavily, muttering to herself while she finger fucked herself and Tsomo continued thrusting in and out of her ass. He leaned forward, pressing more of his weight down on her, and plunged deeper. At the same time, Bombshell went deeper inside herself, going up to her knuckles while toying with her clit in a gentle, steady massage.

"Ugh....ugggh..." she groaned, spreading her legs and arching her back to go even deeper. She took a deep breath and picked up the pace of her own fingering. Her fingers were soaked, her stomach was tight, she slammed her meaty ass back on Tsomo's pelvis as he gave her his entire impressive length.

He reached up, putting a hand on her neck and gently applying pressure while he leaned in so that his bare chest was against her back. Bombshell looked over her shoulder, reached back with her free hand to caress the side of his face, and the two of them kissed as Tsomo took several long, deliberate thrusts. Bombshell then gasped and moaned, her pussy overflowing onto her fingers until she pulled them out.

Tsomo grunted at the same time, finishing on Bombshell's ass as he moaned.

Bombshell collapsed onto the bed in sweaty, breathless ecstasy, giggling when she felt Tsomo's kisses along her back, shoulders, and neck. She reached behind her and caressed the side of his face again as he held her close and the two simply sighed and enjoyed the silence.

After a few minutes, Tsomo perked up. "My love, do you hear that?"

Bombshell rolled over and smiled up at him. "Sorry, that's my stomach. When's the next meal?"

Tsomo put a finger to her lips and when she saw the look on his face, she knew it was serious. She sat up and listened, not bothering to cover herself. Within moments, Tsomo's door burst open and a lanky, snarling demon entered the room, saliva dripping from its fanged mouth.

"Well, well, what's this?" The demon asked, its 12 yellow eyes glowing. "My, but you two are big ones. I think I'll enjoy this meal..." the demon licked its lips, only to reel when Tsomo smashed his big fist into the demon's face and sent it stumbling into the wall.

"You insolent...!" those were the only words it managed before Tsomo's glowing fist went right through its face and came out the back of its skull. The demon then burst into flames and its withered remains were carried away on the cold mountain air out the window.

"I think we'd better get dressed, baby..."

Bombshell grabbed Tsomo's robes and threw them to him and then began putting her costume on. "That ugly son of a bitch ruined my good time!" she growled.

"Baby, language. This is a sacred place," Tsomo reminded.

"Sorry," Bombshell apologized as she slipped into skintight outfit.

Once the two of them were ready, they ran into the halls to find the temple in chaos. Dead monks lay on the floor, but the number of dead demons was far, far greater. As they moved through the halls toward the sanctum, monks fought off demons left and right, their glowing fists and other deadly techniques ruining the demons' earthly forms and destroying their spirits.

One creature leapt out at them, but Bombshell charged and tackled it hard into the wall before slamming it to the ground. The demon wrapped its clawed hands around her neck and squeezed, and she gagged and pummeled it in the face, shattering teeth and crunching bone. Still, the creature would not let go, and it laughed under her assault. The demon then rolled its body so that Bombshell was the one who was pinned down, and it slammed her head against the stone floor, laughing the entire time as she tried to force it off of her.

Moments later, the demon's body stiffened as its head was pulled from its shoulders. Tsomo's hand, the one holding the severed head, glowed before the demon's head burst into flame and then withered away along with the body. With only a smile, he helped Bombshell back up and they kept going. The monks had rallied, organized, and were beating the invaders back through their skill and magic.

***

The scene in the sanctum was no less chaotic. In the time since the invasion started, many of the monks had made their way there, including Master Yama. Dead and broken demons lay all around them, including the three Flawless Knights. Many of the monks were covered in black blood, but the smiles on their faces from such a thrilling battle couldn't be denied.

Xala crawled across the slick floor, in the blood of her defeated army. Her own blood oozed out of her mouth and countless wounds on her lithe body. She could feel her strength draining and despair began settling in when she realized she was the only demon still alive. "I...I’ve made a terrible mistake. These monks. They're destroying our very spirits!" she coughed while dragging herself across the ground. For the first time in her very long life, Xala felt fear. "I...I can't die here..." she whimpered.

Just then, Grandmaster Shang calmly walked around her and stood in her way with his arms behind his back. His robe, beard, and hair were all stained, but the old man didn't have a mark on him.

Xala breathed heavily and rapidly as the Grandmaster put his hand under her chin and forced her up to her knees.

"It seems your incursion has failed, demon witch."

Xala coughed and swayed on her knees, feeling like she was on the verge of collapsing. Still, she clenched her teeth and looked the old monk in his eyes.

"I...I'm not finished with you, old man!" she screamed defiantly, her voice shaky.

"But I am finished with you, devil..."

Xala felt the monk tap his fingertips against her chest in four different places, all in quick succession. More blood spilled from her mouth. Her chest tightened. She could barely move her limbs. Shang pulled his hand back and delivered one final blow, like the quick bite of a snake, and Xala screamed and exploded into a black mist.

Shang looked at his stained fingers, smirked, and turned to Yama.

"Master Yama, find out how many we've lost then begin tending to the wounded."

"At once," Yama nodded and turned to leave, taking several monks with him.

At that same moment, Bombshell and Tsomo ran into the sanctum and surveyed the scene before them. Bombshell then ran to Thera, who was sitting on some steps, clenching her staff and staring at the ground. Her robe and face were stained, and she jumped when Bombshell put her hand on her shoulder.

"Thera! Are you okay?"

The sorceress nodded quietly. Bombshell then looked around. "Wait, where's Naomi?"

"Lea..." Thera whispered. "It's bad..."

Next: The Flawless One, Terror and Enslavement, Enter Nocturne