Jackal : The Goddess Of Death

Alice, Coffee, Sylvie, and Sybil entered into a clothing store and entered the swimsuit section. Sybil nudged Alice. "Are you sure you should be out right now, hun? You're kind of still a freak in people's eyes."

"Look at this scarf."

"What about it?"

"I had Pinoy infuse it with special crystos. It's normally meant to set special traps or to boost illusionary powers, but this is special in the fact that it hides my true form from anyone who isn't a keeper or anomaly. Meaning, I can blend in with normal humans."

"14,000,000 yen... for that?"

"Hey, being a paradox class, that really isn't much money. You should know; you're one too."

"Yeah, but... never mind. As long as it makes you happy, sugar. Anyways, isn't today your zenith class trial? Why are we here?"

"My mission was specialized to me; take down the entire Derozues organization."

"Oh, yeah. I slaughter those guys for fun."

"Apparently, their base was just discovered by a different keeper squad. It's located near a beach. And well, I've never been to the beach before. So, I wanted to go."

"Ah, I see."

Sylvie grabbed Alice's arm. "Hey, Alice. Come here with me."

Alice yanked her hand back. "Did I give you permission to touch me?"

"Aww, don't be like that. I'm just trying to help you pick out a swimsuit for this beach trip. Don't you want to look nice for Yoshi?"

"... Ok, go on."

"Wow, it was that easy? You simp."

"Are we doing this or not?"

"Ok, geez. You got serious. Come here."

Sylvie dragged Alice over to the stalls. Sybil sighed and followed them. Coffee looked over and wanted to follow Alice because she felt safe around her.

Sylvie disappeared into the dressing room with Alice and nthe umerous swimsuits she gathered. She swung the curtain open once she finished dressing Alice. She wore a playful bright orange bikini with lime slices scattered across it.

"Wow, you look so pretty, Alice." said Coffee with childish awe.

"Not back, darling." commented Sybil.

"So, what do you think?" said Sylvie, nudging Alice.

"Too... fruity... and too tight as well. Geez, why did you pick it so small? Not only is it ugly, it can't even contain my curves."

"Ok, what cup size are you exactly?"

"Large."

"That doesn't..."

"Figure it out."

"Alright, give us one second."

Sylvie closed the curtain once again. When she reopened it, Alice was in a new swimsuit. It was a sleek, jet-black one-piece with a plunging neckline and an open back, accented by thin crisscrossing straps.

"Woah, so beautiful." said Coffee with wonder.

"Looking good." said Sybil.

"So, what do you think?" said Sylvie, nudging Alice.

"You do realize my fur is black, right? I feel more nude than being bare naked. Also, once again, too small."

"You do realize that's a DDD size, right?"

"I'm F cup."

"Well... that certainly makes since."

"Try again."

"Is this how you act with anyone who isn't Yoshi?"

"Basically."

"O-Ok..."

Once again, Sylvie dragged Alice into the dressing stall. She came out once again in another new swimsuit. She wore a sultry crimson bikini with a corset-inspired design on the top, complete with black laces and gold eyelets.

"So, what do you think now?" said Sylvie, nudging Alice.

"It's night, but not my style. This would look better on B.... never mind."

"What happens? Did the cat get your tongue?"

While dressing up, Alice got memories of her time spent with Belle. She's always made Alice wear ridiculous and skimpy outfits, but it brought them both joy, even if Alice didn't want to admit it. Her heart was filled with both warmth and sadness and her expression grew depressed.

"Are you ok, Alice?" asked Sybil.

"Oh, yeah. I'm all good. I-I think I'll just go in my normal clothes.

"Hey, Alice." a masculine voice called out. Alice peaked around the corner and saw Yoshi holding a unique, pretty swimsuit. "How about this one?"

"Ok, sur-... WHY ARE YOU IN THE WOMEN'S DRESSING ROOM?!"

Sybil chopped Yoshi on the head. "Ow."

She took the swimsuit from him. "Get out and wait patiently." Sybil handed the swimsuit to Alice and she and Sylvie went back into the dressing room.

When she came out again, she was wearing a dark navy two piece sprinkled with sparkling gold and silver stars. The top ties at the back with thin gold strings, while the high-cut bottoms hug her hips.

Everyone was too mesmerized to speak.

Alice smiled. "I like this one."

Later that day, everyone headed out to the beach. Colette and Maroon also came along to monitor Alice's mission. Alice looked over to Yoshi, who wore a skin-tight tank top that his abs budged against. It made her blush more than seeing him naked.

Alice walked over to Yoshi. "H-Hey, Yoshi. How do I look?"

"You look the same as always Alice. Beautiful. Though, you do look really pretty today."

"Thank-"

Suddenly, a burst of water was shot at the two of them. Yoshi blocked it with his hand, making the water disperse, soaking his shirt and Alice's hair.

Yoshi and Alice looked over to where the blast came from. They saw Sybil with her hand extended while smiling. She wore a unique seashell-inspired halter bikini with shimmering pearl hanging off to it. The top was in the shape of clam shells, while the high-cut bottoms gleamed like sea glass. And she still wore her long, blue gloves.

She was charging up more water bullets to fire at them. Yoshi yelled at Sybil. "Sybil, what the hell was that for?!"

"Fight me, Yoshi?"

"Huh?"

"We're at a beach. It's the perfect place for water-based keepers like us to have a little throwdown, wouldn't ya say?"

"You should have at leas-"

Suddenly, Sybil charged Yoshi, knocking him out all the way to the ocean. She then bolted after him and he stared back at her, his purple eyes glowing with fury.

"Ah, Sybil, stop it?!" cried out a young, helpless voice behind Alice. Alice turned to see Coffee. She wore a green one-piece swimsuit with side cutouts that resembled ocean waves. "Alice, please stop them!"

Alice patted her head. "Something tells me we should stay out of this one."

"Oh my, look at that." said a soft, mature, feminine voice walking beside Alice. It was Colette. She wore a dazzling metallic gold bikini that reflected sunlight with every movement. The triangle top is adorned with small sapphire at the ends of each tie. "Those two are really going at it."

Sybil threw a series of jabs, but Yoshi parried and deflected. He created a katana made of water and knocked her hand away, though because of her gloves, she took no damage. Yoshi gathered more water around his sword and turned it into a giant, 50-meter-tall blade. It came crashing down onto Sybil and temporarily split the waters. However, Sybil managed to create a water barrier that blocked the blade.

"Alice," spoke out Colette, "do you know what technique Sybil just used?"

"Uh, no. Isn't she just manipulating water?"

"Oh, heavens no. It's called Synergeta Shield. You take a massive amount of your internal energy and form a barrier of your passive skill element around yourself."

"Oh, really. Actually... I have seen that technique before."

"Why don't you try it?"

"Uh, ok."

Alice formed a layer of death mist around her skin. Coffee jumped back and screamed while Colette looked at her with curiosity.

"How interesting. Hold on-" Colette grabbed a flower and pressed it against Alice's skin. The flower instantly died. "Oh my. Alice, that's truly wonderful. You did it on your first try."

Alice blushed. "I-It really wasn't a big deal... T-Thanks, teacher."

"Please, just call me Mrs. Colette, dear."

"Mrs? You're married?"

"... I..."

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

"No, it's fine. It's my fault for bringing it up. It's... complicated."

Suddenly, Sybil went flying between Alice and Colette. She was covered in several scratches, but she was still smiling. "As, so this is why you're the leader."

Alice, Coffee, and Colette looked over to the ocean. Yoshi was in his dragon keeper form and he was marching towards the shore where Sybil was. "Sybil, stop this. I wanted to spend today with Alice."

"You spend every day with her." Sybil charged back in and once again.

Alice sighed.

"What's all this ruckus?" said a deep, feminine voice from behind them. Alice looked behind her and saw Maroon, Sylvie, Pinoy, and Kierse, all fully dressed in their swimsuits.

Maroon walked forward. She wore a light black bikini with ribbon-style ties on both the top and bottom. The soft material clings delicately to her curves and she has oversized bows on the shoulders. "Those two have gotten stronger in the last few weeks. Sybil might be stupid, but she's good at pushing Yoshi. Actually, looking at his records, he's grown the most since meeting Sybil."

"Looks like the muscle head and the meat head are really going at it." said Sylvie with a high and mighty tone. She wore a pastel-purple bikini with adorable ice cream cone patterns dotted across the fabric. The halter top had frills, while the bottom piece had small bows on the sides.

"Why doesn't Sybil enter her keeper form?" asked Pinoy.

"She doesn't have one?"

"W-What? How is that even possible?" asked Alice.

"It's due to Star's experience on her body. Unlike me and Coffee, she was ripped apart so much that she's formed a physical and mental block around herself. Whenever she tries to transform, it feels like her body is being ripped apart and she passes out. Pitiful girl. She can't be a true keeper. She just like you, Alice. A freak."

"I... am going to tear you apart."

Sybil threw a powerful right hook. Yoshi saw it coming and spun to the side, his fist shooting out to land a solid punch to Sybil's ribs. Sybil took the full force of the attack, blasting Yoshi with a close-range water shot that knocked him back.

Yoshi charged up a high-power hydro breath. Sybil started to create a giant water golem around her body to protect her. Though, the hydro breath ripped right through the golem, Sybil just used the water from the attack to reform her golem.

Yoshi flew in close. With a single swipe from his claws, he tore the golem in half. However, it left him open to a knee to the jaw from Sybil.

Alice watched closely. "Despite Yoshi being transformed, Sybil's keeping up with him. Incredible. However..."

Yoshi blocked Sybil's next attack with his 4 wings and grabbed Sybil's leg with his tail. Yoshi glared at her. "No more games." He tightened his tail around her leg and threw her across the water. "I'm gonna get stronger, Sybil. Alice is about to become Zenith class. Alice's goal, the reason she became a keeper in the first place, happens tonight. I refuse to be left in the dust. I will stand at her side."

Sybil lowly chuckled. "That's what I like to hear. Ok, from now, you're my rival, hun."

"Huh?"

Maroon fired a massive beam towards the two of them, breaking up their conversation and their fight. "Stop it, you two. Frankly, Yoshi, you got sloppy. You were so comfortable with your power difference, you let Sybil land multiple hits on you that shouldn't have happened. And Sybil, you were far too aggressive, which is why Yoshi managed to beat you. And to think you're both paradox class like me. Shame."

"Aren't we here to kick back and relax?" said Kierse while raising his hand.

"This isn't a vacation. It's a trial for Alice."

Colette approaches Maroon. "Oh, come now, Maroon. Loosen up. These kids have worked really hard to get stronger. Maybe you could give them a 2-hour beach break."

"..." Colette sighed. "Fine, but Alice, 2 hours. You better be ready after that."