Empty Heart, a clan of outcasts from the United Sanctuary and Dragon Empire unite in the Dark Zone to protect themselves from their predators. The founder of this clan was a former warrior for the Shadow Paladin clan. Long before the great Blaster appeared and defeated the Black Dragon, she had somehow accidentally absorbed much of the energy released by the Black Dragon releasing its true form. Due to this, she had been exiled from the United Sanctuary out of fear that she could possibly revive the black dragon. She roamed the Dark Zone trying to survive. She was known as Almana. [Lack of Will, Almana/Emptiness Lord, Almana]
After the Liberation War had passed, she managed to find other outcasts like her, most of these were remnants from Void's forces during the Liberation War. Those that had allied themselves with Void for power or the like. After Void's defeat, many of them were either sentenced to death or exiled. Many escaped towards the Dark Zone and allied themselves with Almana in order to protect themselves.
"Masked Golden Knight, I hope you do not believe you can defeat us all." [Lack of Will] Almana taunts a knight from the Gold Paladin faction of the United Sanctuary. "We do not need to fight, you back off and we'll show mercy."
"I am the Masked Golden Knight, the king requested I take care of outcasts like you." the Knight unsheathes his blade and prepares to dash that the female warrior.
"Very well, then." Almana holds out her hand, and assembles a ball of dark energy and prepares to charge at the knight with it. "I need more power…" She unsheathes her blade and aims it at someone behind her in her army. An angel of black and white nods. [Confused Half Angel] "Lend me your power!" Almana shoots a streak of lightning from the blade at the Angel. Suddenly, the ball of black energy increases tremendously in size.
"Oh, no." the golden knight sees the black energy and collides with it falling backwards, and flies back. Now, the golden knight lies down on the ground of the Dark Zone unconscious.
"Come on, let's escape we shouldn't kill him. We don't want to provoke the whole United Sanctuary's army." Almana orders her clan out. "The sooner we leave the better."
A fallen angel, [Void's Angel, Perdita] and Almana's right hand asks the demon warrior a question. "Why must we keep them alive? We're already outcasts anyways, it's not like we'll cause any larger problems."
"I guess you have a point there. However, there are more clans than just those in the United Sanctuary and Dragon Empire. It's best that we don't kill anyone unless we must for the future." Almana replies smiling to the fallen angel.
Even though both the United Sanctuary and Dragon Empire sent out warriors to kill those that had been sentenced to death, they had survived all throughout. Eventually, just before the next war would arrive they had become recognized as a clan in the Dark Zone, and signed a treaty with the Ocean Route clan. Though, things weren't going to work well for them much longer as, because when the next war against Void, Link Joker war, started their leader just… vanished. Taking over was her second-in-command, Perdita. [Void's Angel, Perdita/Supreme Reawakened, Perdita]
After the Link Joker war ended, and Link Joker became integrated as a clan of Cray. Almana remained MIA, and Perdita decided to take over recruiting new members, these members lack the knowledge of the great knight. One such example is Neoma, a former member of the Narukami clan that had been sentenced to death by the Dragon Empire due to her allegiance with Void during the Liberation War.
Chaos Dragon, Dinochaos closes in on the female warrior. "Finally, you've been cornered. You might've escaped your public death sentence, but the Dragon Empire has sent many warriors after you. You won't be able to live for much longer." The dinodragon closes in the warrior.
The female warrior covered in bruises, scratches and many areas of her clothes torn. Her front is facing the wall. "Please, have you not heard what I've been called in the Dark Zone?" She turns around slowly and takes out her sword. "That Demon Warrior you've been hearing about?"
"But they specifically said that it was a male from the Empty Heart clan. You're not a part of a clan anymore, nor are you male. Though, it's a crazy matter that you even survived all those previous attacks." The dinodragon laughs at the female warrior.
"In that case, there are two." The female warrior has suddenly jumped onto the dinodragons back and prepares to stab the dinodragon. "DIE!" Suddenly, the sword disappears and then follows the female warrior.
A fallen angel appears guarding the warrior. "We're going to protect her now, you're not going to be able to make a dent unless you wish to face the entire Empty Heart clan."
"hahahaha, I never expected I'd find the entire Empty Heart clan here. Though I guess this is also a good chance to take out all of the exiles from the Dragon Empire." Dinochaos smirks.
Perdita smirks and replies to the giant dinodragon "Really? Look out for the Demon Warrior behind you."
A witch [Witch with no Name] is giving her power to a male demon [Demon Warrior, Shadow] next to her. "Thanks, now to take on this beast." The warrior runs towards the dinodragon and the dinodragon turns around to see the Demon Warrior.
"Ahhh… so you're that demon warrior." Dinochaos laughs. "You're weaker and punier than I thought." Dinochaos takes on an attack stance and prepares to attack the Demon Warrrior.
Suddenly, a Sorcerer [Black Sorcerer, Dred] from the side takes power from the Angel of Black and White. [Confused Half Angel Reawaken Half Angel] and the power takes the shape of a black ball of energy, and is thrown towards the Demon Warrior.
The Demon Warrior on the back of the dinodragon catches the ball of energy and prepares to attack the dinodragon with it. "You don't remember me do you? I was one of your targets, when I was exiled from the Dragon Empire nation, you guys stripped me of all of my power. I'm thankful to her [Almana] for recruiting me, not only am I lent the power I need to survive. I can help others, those that don't wish to fight lend me their power and I use it to take down overconfident beings like you." The ball of energy slams into the dinodragon, and the dinodragon is knocked down to the ground.
The angel, Perdita. appears in front of the dinodragon. "We'll spare you this time, just make sure you don't try anything again." The dinodragon dismisses it and runs away from the clan. The angel walks towards Neoma and holds out her hand. "Young lady, would you happen to wish to join this clan. I'm sure we could use power like yours."
Neoma faces the fallen angel and scoffs. "Psht, don't call me young lady and I didn't need your help, I was going to kill him myself."
"Exactly." Shadow says to Neoma.
"Psht. Well, I'm already an outcast. There's no point in me not killing. They'll just come after me again anyways." Neoma starts to leave.
"You can join us. Your choices aren't limited." Perdita jumps in front of Neoma all of a sudden. "Not only do you get a place, you're more likely to survive this way. We could also use a person of your prowess."
Neoma smirks. "Seems more like my choices are limited, you're not going to let me leave unless I join you are you? Very well then." Neoma says turning around to the rest of the clan. "Though I would've expected that this clan to have a whole lot more people considering what I've heard about you from my executioners."
"Yes, it is much larger. We just split up in small groups when trying to find other outcasts around the Dark Zone." Perdita replies to Neoma's comment. "Well, let's go back now."
After the Gear Chronicle clan arrived to the current timeline, and the Stride phenomenon started to become more and more common. Neoma was one of those affected by this phenomenon. Though who appeared, was more surprising. The great founder and saviour of the outcasts, Almana herself had appeared due to the Stride phenomenon.
The Masked Golden Knight appears in front of them, ready to kill each one of them. "That's enough, this is the end of the road for all of you. After your founder died, you guys seem to have gone into hiding more so, it was more difficult to find you than I thought." The golden knight unsheathes his sword. "PREPARE TO DIE!"
"Will you please stop it, our leader already told you that we're no longer your enemies. Your mission is over, you can go home to the United Sanctuary and leave us in peace." Perdita spreads her wings, and blocks the sword.
"The Masked Golden Knight, never stops a mission until it's been finished. My mission was to kill everyone in the Empty Heart clan, and I shall complete such." The golden knight falls back as does Perdita. Neoma then charges towards the Golden Knight and they clash their swords against each other. "You're a new face. I see there are still outcasts that haven't been killed."
Neoma looks at the golden knight with a face of spite she looks at a half-demon looking person. [Slaying Half Demon] "NOW!" The demon unsheathes his sword and channels all his power through it and sends it towards Neoma and Perdita. Both of them harness the power, Neoma through her sword and Perdita through balls of dark energy. "PREPARE TO DIE!"
The masked knight takes out his shield and blocks both attacks. "I'm not going to fall to the likes of you!"
"Well, too-" Neoma is cut off on her sentence when a beam of energy engulfs her in a magic circle. The beam of light slowly fades away, and who appears is not Neoma, but Almana. [Reminiscent Sovereign, Almana] Her form still takes the form of her body when she was willingly experimented on by the Dark Irregulars to become stronger and protect the clan. [Emptiness Lord, Almana] However, with slight differences.
"What's happening here?" Almana looks around her, and sees the Empty Heart clan. "Who are all of you? I only remember being engulfed in a stream of light."
Perdita looks at her in sheer awe, and bows down before the founder. "Lord Almana, we knew you weren't dead."
"I'm sorry, I don't know you." Almana looks at the whole clan on their knees before her. "Why are you all on your knees, please get up. It is disturbing." Almana looks at the golden knight in front of her.
The Masked Golden Knight is looking at Almana feeling an incredibly strong presence. "It feels so much like… so much like… the black dragon. The horrifying black dragon. That settles it, you must die." The golden knight charges towards Almana with his sword out and about to stab her.
However, within a centimetre of reach Almana stops the sword with her finger. "Please, do not fool yourself. If you wish to kill me, you'll need more than that." Almana creates a ball of black energy, this is much larger than what Perdita had created and throws it at the knight. The knight tries to block it with his shield, however, the shield is sent flying away. Almana creates another ball of black energy and walks towards the golden knight intimidatingly.
The golden knight with not enough time to grab his shield, aims his sword at Perdita who is frozen out of sheer amazement of Almana's power and strength. Charging at the fallen angel, he shouts out. "THE OUTCASTS WILL FALL BEFORE I DO."
However, the sword's path suddenly stops as Almana stands in front of the fallen angel. "What did you say?"
"Outcasts… will… fall…" The golden knight is sent flying back from the ball of energy that is slammed into his armour from Almana's palm. He gets back up, and sees Almana closing in on him angered by this, he charges towards the weaker group also frozen with amazement behind Perdita.
Almana looks at the members behind her, and stands in front of the blade again stopping it within a centimetre of her. She turns around, and creates two balls of black energy that take the energy of the Half-Demon and Half Angel [Reawaken Half Angel]. She looks at another warrior behind her, a demon male in knight's armour. [Fiendish Knight, Pavo] "You, take this." She creates another ball of black energy and throws it at the knight to catch. He catches it, but almost stumbles. She throws the other ball of energy towards Perdita who also catches it. "Now, we'll attack."
A witch behind Pavo [Enchantress of Trepidation] behind Pavo lends Pavo power, which Pavo then hands over to Almana. "Take my power as well. We'll attack." Pavo behind the golden knight charges towards him with the ball of black energy. "THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR THREATENING OUR CLAN!" The golden knight is sent recoiling back towards Perdita.
Perdita then attacks the golden knight from the front and recoils him back towards Almana. Almana then is standing right in front of the golden knight. "Here's your warning, leave now or you will cease to exist."
The golden knight runs away afraid of the clan's strength. "I give up. I admit defeat, I'll go back to the United Sanctuary, you have won this time. I won't bother you anymore." He picks up his sword and shield, and begins stumbling back to the United Sanctuary. However, before being able to even get past the horizon. He falls over.
Suddenly, a dragon appears out of nowhere. "I am Mystery Flare Dragon, you have transcended time and space to reach here. It is time now to return your timeline." A gate opens behind Almana, and they both travel into the gate and when the gate disappears. What's left is Neoma lying on the ground and Steam Maiden, Elul standing next to her.
Perdita flies towards Elul and grabs her by the shoulders, shaking her. "You're from the clan Gear Chronicle! You know about Stride, you know where she came from right?! Was that Almana from the future or the past?! TELL ME!"
Elul looks down at the ground in sorrow. "Sadly, that Almana is from the past."
"THAT CAN'T BE! SHE NEVER HAD THAT AMOUNT OF POWER BEFORE WHEN SHE WAS WITH US!" Perdita begins crying.
"Well, we heard about the Stride phenomenon happening here, we're going to need to get one of you to come with us." Elul looks at Neoma. "She's going to have to learn how to control Stride, it'd be best if she comes with us."
"That's fine…" Perdita looks at the ground in despair. Neoma begins waking up. "Neoma, you're going with these people. You're going to learn how to control Stride."
"Hang on, why are you so down?" Neoma asks Perdita.
"Don't worry about it, there's nothing saying that Almana can't exist in the future." Elul says herself with unease towards the fallen angel.
"It's fine… I'll just have to lead the clan in her place. Until then, I'm leading the Empty Heart clan." Perdita sighs, and signals at everyone to follow her while Neoma goes along with Elul.
"What's this Stride, you are talking about?" Neoma asks Elul.
"It's a phenomenon that transcends time and space, it brings beings from the past and future to the present. Gear Chronicle is working here to ensure that the timeline returns to normal." Elul replies to Neoma. "Come, our leader is waiting for you in the ruins."
Meanwhile, in Almana's time where she was sent back to. She quickly asks the Interdimensional Dragon a few questions. "Hang on, I'd like to ask a few questions. Who were those people? Why did they bow to me?"
"I guess, I should tell you according to the timeline. However, I must make sure you forget everything about them and me." Mystery Flare Dragon begins to tell the story and her legacy in the future to ensure that her will becomes to unite the outcasts into a clan. "They call themselves the Empty Heart, because they don't know what their reason to live is. Just… to live. Now, I must leave." When the Interdimensional Dragon has left Almana's memories are lost.
She touches her face, not knowing what happened and continues walking the wasteland in her past.