Chapter 158: Chapter 157: The Kids Aren’t Alright

Three figures stand outside a suddenly erected castle, built entirely out of darkness that belongs to the Abyss above the ruins of the former venue of a once friendly tournament between shadow clones and their close associates. The walls are lined with the soulless shadow clones of Madeleine, still as mannequins. 

"So… what's the plan? We go Rambo on their ass?" Asks the reality warper, who is currently holding up a barrier that allows the three to stand unnoticed by the castle's entrance.

"Stealth tends to be the best choice for castles… but I don't know if you or Madeleine can stealth." Says the ranger, who cautiously eyes everywhere despite the barrier, like the experienced adventurer she is.

"I can stealth. I'm a Maid School graduate, remember… but you're right. I have a different idea. We need to stall." Replies the maid, whose whimsical nature has returned, as shown with her hoppy stride, yet she gives off a much more competent air, like the combat genius she was previously lauded as.

"Stall? Don't tell me you're," Her lover quickly turns to face her with eyes that heavily questioned her choice of action, only to be interrupted before she could finish.

"That's right, oh my dearly beloved! We shall have the bad guy monologue for ages!" The mad one grabs out a dagger, throwing it at the door, alerting the shadow clones standing guard and popping the barrier.

The shadow clones summon spears and point them towards the trio before suddenly going inert, dropping into the darkened ground below them. A few moments later, the door opens, and a singular figure walks out. A shadow clone that looks exactly like the others but carries an aura of enormous malice and hatred that could dampen even the brightest of souls.

"You've finally arrived, mother. Come inside. I have trophies I'd like to boast about." Cookie curtsies to her visitors, then turns around, intending to show them around. She makes her intention and desire to bring despair evident in her aura, which the other three quickly pick up on.

"Castle tour, castle tour! I hope she takes her sweet time!" Madeleine merrily skips behind her foe, excited about this tour, despite coming here for entirely different reasons. She fully intends on stalling, even using skills she had long forgotten in her episodes of craziness. Her target does not know what is about to be unleashed on her.

"That was Cookie, right?" Asks Melanie, to which Myka replies with a nod. She then took out her bow, running after Madeleine whilst on guard, carefully judging the danger of her surroundings. Although they came to take down whoever was eating Madeleine's soul, her priority right now was keeping Madeleine safe… and to pay her back for the times she saved her. This should be the third time if Mel was keeping count right. She owes quite a lot.

"Geez… why am I even here?" Myka shrugs and then walks behind the group, her hands casually held behind her head. She covertly puts a layer of protection on her two colleagues, but beyond that, intends to interfere as little as possible. As far as she can tell, there are no stakes in this bout for her. She'll soon find out that's wrong.

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Having walked what seemed like an endless hallway, the group of four stopped in front of a door that didn't even try to be subtle about what the sadistic devourer would consider her trophies. A blood-red door decorated with bloodied weapons, each familiar to the three intruders. A pair of gauntlets with a navy theme, a formerly glittering golden sword, a giant axe that would be unwieldy for even the biggest of men, and much more weaponry. However, the empty spaces next to the door handles stand out to the group, with outlines that show what would go there. A bow on the left and a single dagger on the right.

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"Man, talk about subtle." Remarks Myka, who was still carelessly looking about.

"Apologies for the long walk." Cookie turns and does a bow, despite not sounding or seeming apologetic. "I only had enough time to create my trophy and throne room, so I had to fill the rest of the castle with a long hallway."

"I had fun!" Yelled Madeleine, who seemed unaffected by the long walk.

"I didn't." Said Melanie, who was still on guard.

"Now, let me welcome you to my trophy room!" The copy slams open the door and grandly poses, wanting her guests to take every little detail in it.

The gang enters and finds a cacophony of corpses, each placed orderly and posed within personal glass boxes, yet each box chaotically plopped within the trophy room's space. Cookie turned to the group, curious about their expressions, but ended up sorely disappointed, noticing a lack of reaction. Myka, being technically evil, was the most unfazed and just stared at the showcase with a bored expression. Melanie, being a long-time adventurer, kept a relatively calm poker face but was grimacing inside. 

As for Madeleine, all she showed was a neutral face that unnerved Cookie, who hadn't even thought Madeleine could hide her feelings. Mel, who had grown a little worried, was about to place her hand on the maid's shoulder when the maid suddenly spoke up in the calmest voice possible. "Continue the tour, Cookie." 

The shadow copy, elated at the prospect of being allowed to explain each and every one of her masterpieces, starts to ramble, going on and on about her countless murders. Internally, however, Madeleine was angry… but biding her time. Soon would come combat, and there… she would excel.

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Meanwhile, in Sacre Pla

A sole shadow clone searches about in the ruins of the former guest mansion. Eventually, within the rubble, she finds a box. Inside it are four items, each yet to be used for its purpose. The shadow clone, having completed the task, sets off towards the dark castle.

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Chapter namesake: The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring

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