Warren Stories: Deception

The Sealed Weapon

"The NOL isn't as strong as they claim to be. If a single man can destroy so many branches, why should we trust them?"

This was all Warren could think as he was waiting in the train. He had heard that Ragna the Bloodedge had gone to the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, and he wanted to talk to him. Actually, he wanted to work with him against the NOL. He had always thought the idea that the government controls basically everything was ridiculous, and wanted to do something about it for a while. He knew it was a longshot, but he thought that if he could find the man who was wanted by the Librarium, he could find a way to fight. However, he doesn't actually have any prior battle experience.

"But what if he attacks me? No, I can't worry about that. If I explain myself, I'm sure he'll at least hear me out."

With that in mind, he waits for the train to arrive to his stop. When he steps into the city, he is genuinely surprised at what he sees. He couldn't believe how the city looked, despite not being finished yet. He took the time to take in the scenery. But remembering why he came here, he headed to places where wanted fugitives might go. He headed to some of the lower levels of Kagutsuchi, thinking he might run into Ragna there. Before long, he wound up in a dead-end.

"Great. Now what do I do?"

As Warren thought this, he leaned on the wall, trying to contemplate what to do next. But before he realized what was going on, he started falling. When he came to, he realized that he was in a small room with an altar. Inside it was a strange bow. It had no bowstring, but it did have a giant arrow beside it.

"What is this thing? Why doesn't it have a-aggh!"

Suddenly, Warren could hear a voice inside his head.

"Take this armagus and fulfill your destiny."

"W-who are you?"

"I am the armagus, Hraesvelgr. I will guide you in your quest if you accept this weapon."

"Will I be able to stop the NOL with this?"

"Yes."

"O-ok."

With that, Warren grabbed the weapon. He didn't feel any different, but he decided that he should trust Hraesvelgr. He then grabbed the arrow, and he could feel the power emanating from it. Hraesvelgr warned him to only fire it in case of emergency, so Warren just held onto it for the time being. He realized that he was trapped, however.

"How do I get out of here?"

"Use the bow, but do not use the arrow," Hraesvelgr instructed.

"What?"

"Trust me."

Warren reluctantly made the motion for drawing an arrow from the bow. Suddenly, he could feel pressure from where he was holding. He realized that he was using the air around him. He released, and he could tell that the wind shot out, blasting a hole clear through the wall.

"Holy crap!"

"Impressed, are we?"

"You bet! I'll definitely be able to stand up to the NOL now!" Warren shouted enthusiastically.

Warren set out, and after a half hour's travel, realized that he was pretty far down in Kagutsuchi. In fact, he seemed to be in an entirely different village. Every resident seemed to only be wearing hoods with cat ears that seemed to hide their faces, save for their mouths and red eyes. Warren didn't know if these creatures would freak out and/or try to eat him if they saw him, so he tried to stay hidden. However, he was surprised when he accidentally backed into one of the creatures. He turned to see a perky looking creature that was not much taller than him, with braided hair.

"Hi there, new person!" the creature practically shouted.

"Ahhh!" Warren shouted, thinking she would eat him.

"What's wrong?"

"Huh? Y-you're not gonna eat me?"

"I dunno. Do you taste like meat buns?" the creature asked.

"N-no!"

"Tao was just kidding!"

"Oh. So, your name is Tao?"

"Yep. It's short for Taokaka. Nice to meet ya. What's your name?"

"It's Warren."

"Nice to meet ya, Bow Guy."

"Um, I just said that my name is Warren."

"Of course, Bow Guy."

Warren just sighed, realizing there was no point arguing.

"So what do you do here, Taokaka?" Warren asked.

"I'm the village guardian."

"Really?"

"Ask her if she wants to spar with you. It will be great practice with the weapon, and I doubt that she would fight to kill," Hraesvelgr suggested.

"Do you want to spar with me, Tao?"

"Really? Bow Guy wants to play with Tao? Yay! Of course!" Tao shouted enthusiastically.

Tao immediately started by bounding at Warren. He narrowly avoided the attack, and then shot wind bursts at her. She easily got out of the way in time, brandished her claws, and again bounded at him. He used his bow to block the attack, and pushed her away. He shot at her again, but she dodged and ran straight at him. She suddenly flipped over him, and then smashed him with a double palm thrust, sending him flying a fair distance, ending in a skid. He got right back up, and then prepared to fire at her again. She moved out of the way, but then noticed that he didn't fire yet. Tao thought this would be the best chance to pounce at him again, but what she didn't realize was that Warren was gathering more wind. When Tao was close enough, Warren released the wind, unleashing a burst that sent Taokaka flying.

"Meeeooooowwww!" Tao shouted.

"Whoa! Tao, you ok?" Warren shouted.

"Meow. I'm fine. But that hurt, Breeze Boy."

"So I'm suddenly Breeze Boy?" Warren thought.

"You're pretty tough. Not the strongest fighter, but Tao had fun."

"Thanks," Warren said.

Suddenly, Tao remembered something.

"Oh, that's right! Tao's supposed to find Boobie Lady to help Good Guy!"

"Wha-"

"Hey, Breeze Boy, do ya wanna come with me?"

"Uh-"

"Meow, hurry! Answer before Tao leaves neow!"

"O-ok."

"Ok, then. To Boobie Lady's place!" Tao shouted as she ran ahead.

"It couldn't hurt to follow her. I doubt that Ragna the Bloodedge would be here, and she probably knows her way around Kagutsuchi."

"I agree," Hraesvelgr commented.

Warren and Tao headed towards the upper levels of Kagutsuchi. Warren noticed that Tao seemed to be making a lot of detours, but he kept following, thinking she knew what she was doing. After a while, though, it seemed that she was just wandering. Warren decided to ask if Tao knew what she was doing.

"Hmmmm. Ummmmm... nope. I'm lost."

"Wha- But I thought you knew how to get to this woman's place."

"Ummmm... I forgot."

"Y-you forgot?"

"This girl is a piece of work," Hraesvelgr commented.

"Wait, now I remember!" Tao shouted as she suddenly ran off, leaving Warren on his own.

"Now what?" Warren said.

"I wouldn't know what to do next," Hraesvelgr commented.

"Reporting in," Warren heard someone say.

He turned to see a huge red creature.

"Whoa! Wait, isn't that Sector Seven's Red Devil?"

Warren approached the Red Devil, though reluctantly.

"Excuse me?"

"Hmm?" the Red Devil turned towards Warren.

Warren couldn't help thinking he looked more menacing from up close.

"Tager, what is it?" Warren could hear a woman say.

"Huh?" Warren asked.

"Who's the brat? Wait! That weapon... oh you've gotta be shitting me!" a woman shouted.

"Kokonoe, what's wrong?" Tager asked.

"Why does he have to have that of all sealed weapons? Ugh, Tager, take this kid down!"

"Wha-" both Tager and Warren shouted.

"That's an order!" Kokonoe shouted before disconnecting.

"I really do wish she would explain before giving orders. Sorry, but I've got no choice," Tager commented as he prepared to battle.

"What?" Warren shouted, afraid of having to take on the Red Devil.

Tager immediately tried to smash Warren into the ground, but he managed to jump out of the way. Warren shot at him, but the bursts didn't seem to do anything. Tager approached Warren and tried to punch him. Warren ducked and tried to kick Tager, quickly regretting that decision when he found out that his body is made out of metal. Tager then slapped him away. Warren wondered why he would do that, but he got his answer. He realized that he was magnetized, and being pulled towards Tager. He tried to shoot at him, but again it didn't do anything. Suddenly, Tager shot him with a burst of electromagnetic energy. Warren was starting to run out of breath.

"Use the arrow!" Hraesvelgr shouted.

"O-ok. Unleashing armagus!" Warren shouted as he used wind to propel the arrow to Tager.

The arrow pierced Tager, but it didn't seem to do any damage initially. However, a large tornado suddenly formed, engulfing the giant. It managed to cut through his metal body, but it didn't do anything permanent. However, it did give Warren the chance he needed to get away.

"Dammit!" Tager shouted. "Sorry Kokonoe, I let him get away."

"Aw, screw it. Forget about that kid for now, Tager, but keep an eye out."

"Understood. By the way, why did I need to fight him?"

"Because that armagus he has is the sealed armagus Hraesvelgr."

"What? But why would-"

"How the hell would I know? The only thing I do know is that I hope no one with a Nox Nytores runs into him."

Warren didn't stop running until he was certain that he was a good distance away from Tager. He then took the chance to take a breather. When he caught his breathe, he realized that the arrow had returned to the quiver he created. Warren figured he should just start walking, and see where he ended up. After some travel, he could see a figure running towards him. He could see that the figure was a woman from the NOL by the uniform she had. However, everything suddenly went black.

Noel didn't know where she was running to. The only thing she knew for sure was that she wanted to run. She felt at fault for hurting Carl, even if he was the one who attacked her. Suddenly, Bolverk gave her a warning. She then jumped away as high pressure wind was blasted right where she had been.

"What the?" she thought.

Suddenly, she could see the figure of a young boy approaching.

"Who are you?" she shouted as she pointed Bolverk at the figure.

"Ah, Arcus Diabolus: Bolverk. I'm going to make this simple for you: either give me the Bolverk, or I'll take it from you. And let me warn you, killing you first isn't a problem for me."