[DreadBringer]

Unfortunately, being smart provides disaster to the cast in this case.

I guess more insight about the Dark Sisters' goal is given by Shiori, courtesy of her admiration, the Door or Darkness is described as something that would bring change to the world, and what's supposed to be room of improvement for Academy by learning the truth of alchemy. Shiori deems the Academy as idiots for not as hungry for knowledge/power as she does to stoop to working with Dark Sisters. Ofc it won't be done by those with more regard to others well-being than solely being power hungry. And her path only led to her demise that Dark Sisters only used her as a disposable tool.... like general view on Chemies.

Feels as if Hotaro regards Chemies better than humans, to describe Chemies as inherently pure, but corrupted by human malice. Guess that can explain Hotaro only shouting over Chemies over humans. This'd put him at odds with Shiori who hurt them for her actions. Shiori also looks down on Hotaro's view, and as usual, it's proven wrong with the Chemies she stole fighting back. Ofc Hotaro still regards humans highly to call out Atropos for disposing Shiori. He also continually vow to bring smile to everyone for the drama that happens.

Shiori got Sabi chosen to be Dread, and though Dread's actions are outside of Sabi's control, Dread makes use of Sabi's intelligence and Chemies knowledge to act as the dark counterpart of Gotchard, mirroring his fighting style and usage of Chemies. Isaac seems to be more important than to act as Sabi's here, where it'd be the closest one can communicate with Sabi in his current state as Renge did.

Atropos' answer to Hotaro was to test humans depending on camaderie by taking them away. The Dark Sister fight with their repsective rivals, Lachesis' swordmanship with Supana while forcing Rinne into misery, and Clotho's brawl with Minato. So far, the battle has false hope like Hotaro receiving Exgotchalibur, and Sabi regaining his senses, only for Hotaro to get tired and Dread to go after Renge. Renge and Sabi also finally show off their alchemy, so it's not exclusively Rinne.

Now it's the heroes who pull the "exit stage left" move after losing by Minato's alchemy. It's typically done by villains after losing.

Afterwards, Supana gets sick of the "amateurs" treating the alchemist job like fun and games, when it's a life and death situation where alchemists can die to preserve the natural order. While Hotaro isn't strong enough as for now, upgrading your abilities don't necessarily have to mean you can't lighten up anymore. Though there are room of improvements for them, complains coming from no-nonsense professionals like this can come off like hating humans being happy.