The great oaken doors of the Grand Cathedral burst open with dramatic flair.
Vuvi leads the charge, wind catching her coat like a cape as she descends the stone steps two at a time. Behind her trails the rest of the team, Pip, Veena, and Penelo, each radiating a unique energy.
Focus, resolve, and boundless cheer, respectively.
Sunlight spills across the courtyard in gold-brushed waves, glinting off Pip's metal frame like a divine spotlight. His new plating shimmers from their recent upgrades, faintly humming with energy.
Vuvi halts at the edge of the cathedral stairs, one hand raised against the blinding morning rays. "We're not turning back," she mutters. "Not until Pip is strong enough to kick that white-haired, doll-stealing demon queen straight back into her pit."
Behind her, Veena slings her cloak over one shoulder. "Maribelle wouldn't want us to stall. And I don't think she plans on staying a doll for long."
