The Night Citadel's crystal chandeliers cast gear-shaped shadows on bulletproof glass. Twelve floating thrones formed an execution circle. The Third Seat's robotic arm tapped the table, its synth-voice glitching: "Provisional pact approved... if the whelp's collateral."
Raine's scaled gauntlet slammed the table, scattering holographic blueprints. "Chain me now or shut your cog-filled mouths."
Ellen huddled under Garret's wolf-pelt cloak, her starlit scales flickering under scrutiny. When the Sixth Seat's scan beam hit her nape, she coughed violently—blue-gold blood crystallizing into micro-gears mid-air.
"Adorable traitor." The Second Seat's squid-tentacle emerged from starry robes, slurping the blood. "Her chip's finer than my cutlery."
The assault on the Sanctum Ovum commenced during a acid storm. Serena's wings split cruise missile trails, her stiletto crushing a paladin's corroded visor. "Surprise party~"
Incubation Chamber Thirty-meter glass columns housed draconic embryos, umbilicals pumping holy light. Garret ripped open security drones, synthetic blood gumming his claws. "Fuck! These eggs are slurping my DNA!"
Raine's Blade severed the main console. Elaina's hologram materialized in the explosion, hands caressing her pregnant belly: "...forgive my offering to the abyss..."
"Found the Grail!" Ellen's scream echoed from drainage pipes. Her shedding scales revealed a Church-branded chip. "Reactor core... hurry..."
Serena outpaced them all. Her dress disintegrated under plasma fire, a second pair of wings—dried-blood crimson—sprouting from her back. The corrupted Grail pulsed inside an embryo's chest, its dragon-tooth rim gnawing through holy wards.
"To chaos." She drank the black ichor, pupils drowning in tar-like ooze.
Power grids overloaded. As Ellen lunged for the Grail, her last scales shedding, Raine's Blade barred her throat. "Explain."
"Mother's message..." The girl's mechanical spine projected draconic runes. "...cup's base..."
Serena's quadruple wings fully expanded, asphalt tears corroding metal. She hurled the Grail at Raine: "Catch! Your feeding manual!"
Blood revealed engraving—Elaina's cesarean note: "Vessel must survive." Embryos burst open, clones rising from synthetic amniotic fluid with Blade replicas.
"Pact voided." The Third Seat's voice boomed. "Execute Code: Janitor."
Garret crushed the intercom. "Knew these gear-fucks would betray us!"
Serena's wings churned a black hurricane, laughter slicing through acid rain: "New rules—last survivor keeps the Grail!"
Raine's Blade pressed Ellen's chip core as clones mirrored his stance. The Grail rolled into sewers, its base's hidden message surfacing in filth:
"He is watching."