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Arc One, Part Three: The CPUs of Planeptune
(Dimension: "Ultimension" - a dimension series of Neptunia(?))
(Place: "[Unknown] Hotel" - a hotel)
(Time: 12:40 PM - Date: 9/23/XX)
The atmosphere turned sour and heavy despite the area being lively in the lobby. If one could looked closely, the air between the group and the woman, who had an inhuman skin color named Magic, was thick and one could literally see small sparks under their glares. But Magic looks calm but sinister glare in her eyes while Shade looks confused. The rest glared at Magic with intensity that could definitely destroy a rock.
Luckily, a certain oblivious person broke this pressure.
"Magic?" Shana said, breaking the silence. "Is that you?"
Magic's glaring eyes softened when she directed her eyes to the raven haired woman. "Do you know me?"
Shana happily skipped forward. "I do! You're one of my best friends!"
Magic's eyes narrowed before widening in realization, she sighed. "Did you come from another dimension? From your tone, it seems like you know me, but from your own Hyper Dimension, correct?"
Shana's eyes turned white as she sweat dropped. "E-Eh?!" Then she rubbed her head, closing her eyes and sighing in process. She looked up again at Magic. "Wait, how do you know I'm from another dimension?"
Magic put a finger on her chin. "There are many people that come from different dimensions, and they don't know how to go back to their own dimension so we help them return... or perhaps you come from a different Hyper Dimension." Magic gave Shana a sympathy look. "But this dimension is not Hyper Dimension; but Ultimension."
Shana's eyes couldn't be more shocking.
Meanwhile, as Magic and Shana comfortably talked to each other, the others behind didn't give a damn penny of appreciation from Magic.
"What is Magic doing here?" Eliza hissed. "We should call Lady Purple Heart right away."
"I wish I can agree with you." Azure looked around, the people were rather calm. "But I think the Magic we know...doesn't fit entirely to the person we truly know."
"So the Magic in this world became a good person?" Eevee asked. 'If so, then she's like the Magic back in my dimension.' He silently thought.
Andrew shrugged. "Maybe. But even though, it does not mean she's not the heartless Magic-"
"…!"
The group...heard a giggle.
Slowly, their attention turned around back in front. They watched Shana and Magic enjoyed their girl talk...and they witnessed Magic smile and giggle while talking like a normal human.
Cameron gulped. "I don't want to be rude, but that's creepy...or is it just me not used to seeing Magic like that?"
The males and Eliza nodded in confirmation.
After a minute of girl talk, Shana finally noticed them. "Oh, guys!" She approached them and leaned forward with a pair of sparkling eyes. "Histoire called us and said that she wants to see us."
"Well, if Middo-" Andrew talked casually, only for his mouth to be clamped closed by Azure as he covered Andrew's mouth with his hand. "Well, even if we're familiar with this place a bit, we have no idea where the Basilicom is."
Everyone tried to retort and wear a confused face but after Azure gave them a 'talk' eye followed by a wink, they got the idea. "Ooh, it's an honor we will meet the Oracle of Planeptune, Lady Magic." Shade is the first person to react.
Everyone nodded at this. While it was happening, Magic was observing them and she instantly knew they were hiding something. That word 'Middo' still in her mind. Suddenly, there was a shadow looming at her vision, and found out that it was a hand. She looked beside to the owner to see Shana waving her hands in front of her. Then Shana pulled back her hand with a smile.
Although Magic had no idea, she smiled. "Then let's go." And so, she escorted them out of the hotel to the famous Neptower.
'That's the second time I smiled without knowing...' Magic trailed off in her mind but she decided to shake that off and continue to focus in front.
(Place: "Planeptune; Basilicom" - the turf of the Goddess of Purple: of Progress; of Planeptune, Lady Purple Heartress)
Arriving at the Neptower, they saw several guards in the front gate equipped in purple armor holding long guns with a blade attached to its barrel and dogs wearing the same armor type of that guards but style dog armor.
"You probably already know this." Magic halt them as she turned to stand in front of the group. "Welcome to Planeptune, home of our Goddess, Lady Purple Heartress."
Eliza raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, but mind telling us why 'Heartress' instead of 'Heart?"
"Let Lady Purple Heartress answer your main questions." Magic dropped the question quickly. "But I can answer some."
Shade raised a hand. "Yes?" Magic said.
"Um, what is that in front of us?" Shade pointed at one of the guards. Magic looked back and then turned back at Shade.
"It's a 'Life Visor', but many people called it 'Personal Visor'. It was invented by Lady Purple Sister herself." Magic said before she turned and started to walk towards the entrance. "It is a device that tells a person's information, from personal to everything they've done, like work. It also counts everything the person had done, for example, how you breathe, your expressions, there's also a bar that tells how much energy you have left in your body. It's a wonderful invention, indeed."
The group looked at each before in awe before nodding and followed Magic. Which she made a quick salute at the guards who also saluted her back as well. "They're the group ordered by Lady Purple Heartress. I shall escort them to the goddess." Magic said to the guards as she proceeds to walk forward.
The group, on the other hand, was stopped by a guard with a dog beside him. "Please stay still for security measures and countermeasures. Be cooperative." The dog started to sniff at them as it walked around them one by one. Then it barked at Cameron.
"You seem to be holding a deadly weapon, young man." The guard pointed out.
"It's an arm cannon." Cameron showed his weapon. He narrowed his eyes at the guard. "You're saying that like I have malicious intentions."
The guard nodded as he pulled out a purple pistol and pointed it at them. The group nervously looked at the guard. "You're seriously not gonna try to kill us, right?" Andrew muttered.
Unfortunately, the guard pulled the trigger.
...
Nothing happened and the group, cowering on the ground like mittens who saw a dragon from above. Meanwhile, several guards found this funny, except the guard in front of them who just clicked the trigger of the pistol.
Instead of a bullet, a blue laser popped out and the laser expanded the line and scanned them.
"Hm. You're all free to go." The guard clicked the trigger again and the blue light disappeared, the laughter of the guards behind him slowly dissipated but the chuckles could still be heard.
"Silence." To the guards, Magic's soft voice sounded like a roar amongst the laughter, and in an instant, the remaining laughter and chuckles quickly stopped just after she ordered. Although some guards bit their lips to stop chuckling.
The group slowly stood from the ground. They all glared at the guard in front of them who just shrugged his shoulder as he brushed off their glares and turned around to face Magic. "Except a hidden deadly weapon, that I suppose is for emergency uses, nothing suspicious so far."
Magic eyed the guard before nodding, then she looked at the group. "Come and follow me."
Several footsteps are the only sound could be heard from the purple hallway that is lit in blue lights and dark purple royal rags on the floor. The thus named NPG of Planeptune, guided the group towards the room where... Purple Heartress is.
"Even if you all know Lady Neptune in your own dimension, in this dimension, she doesn't know any of you." Magic spoke without turning around. The group looked at each other before nodding.
They all stopped in front of a large purple doubled-doors with golden frame and a Planptune symbol between the middle of the two doors. Magic stood to the side as the group stopped a few meters away. The NPG faced them, "I required your utmost cooperation of respect. For the the presence of respect in front of a goddess is absolute and must be followed." She emphasized the word 'utmost' with a fist.
"Even if we're in a different dimension, she's still the Magic I know " Shana said quietly to herself with a smile. The rest nodded in affirmation. Magic grabbed the knobs of the doors, and with a firm grip, she pushed the doors and it opened flawlessly.
The room is mostly decorated in purple colors, save with some blue ones. There is also three pillars at each side that reached the ceiling. But in front of them is what caught their eyes the most.
There were three chairs- no, more like a throne, to their respective. A purple with silver decorations. There's three thrones and three figures sat there, whom they know quiet well.
From their left, sat a familiar blonde fairy that is seating on her open tome. However, this time, she wasn't floating. There's someone holding her tome. And it's her, just bigger that looked like late teens and look much more of a woman than the one they know. She's wearing a fancy long sleeve purple dress. Her azure eyes were slightly brighter than before and she's smiling at them.
From their right, is a familiar tinkering candidate. Nepgear, in her CPU form. She had her smile but her aura is quite composing compared to a carefree Nepgear. (Inaccurate persona info)
But among them all. Another woman sat in the middle of a throne-like chair. They all can tell that it is her. This is Neptune. In her HDD.
She sat there with her right leg over her left with a warm smile on her face. Her features, instead of a messy bangs, it was now neatly arranged with a small curl at the end and her hair, instead of braid, it was in a pony tail. Her lips is purple. Her leotard suit is still the same however there's an extra purple cape on her back.
"Woah." A single word/thought came out of the groups' mouths in a shock. Eyes widened as my pupils shrunk.
They heard separate giggles in front of them.
"Lady Histoire, Lady Nepgear and Lady Neptune." Magic kneel down in one leg in front of them, suddenly, her scythe materialized in front of her and laid there on the ground.
The group watched Magic do this. Until Shade and Shana lowered down and knelt as well. Like Magic, two weapons materialized in front of them. In front of Shade is a sword. It was rather a long sword honestly, probably almost as tall as him 5'4". It was a black sword with edged side, the hilt and the guard of the sword is white, the hilt covered in white bandage.
In front of Shana, is a katana in a sheath. The hilt of the katana is simple white and it's the only part that can be seen, for now. The sheath is also white, save or a small blue sun in the middle.
The others looked at each other before nodding and each one slowly lowered down and placed a foot forward as the other leg in kneeling position. Just like they anticipated, their respective weapons appeared in front of them.
Azure's weapon is also a sword in a black scabbard. The sword looks like a regular one, it is a one handed sword with a black metal hilt. It had a guard on the right, but no guard on the left.
Eliza's weapon looks like a halberd. A long black halberd with purple spiral designs and its blade is big with a drawing of a dragon on the blade.
Andrew's weapon is a purple katana with a black hilt.
Cameron's weapon looks like a blue, sparkling diamond sword with black/purple flakes around the blade.
Eevee's weapon is a long orange sword. Nothing else but everyone could feel that it radiates a hot air.
All of them knelt in respect. Magic stood from her position and motion to the group to stand. As everyone did, their weapon that magically appeared is gone. They all put their gazes in front.
(What was the point of security if they get their weapons anyway?)
Neptune's arms pressed on the armrests and slowly stood from her seat. She clasped her hands and smiled at them. "Let's end the formalities. Dear Magic, kindly lead them."
Magic nodded and motion the group to follow her, which they all did.
Upon arriving to Goddess-knows-where, they were led by Magic into a fancy living room. The aura here looks calm and much more relaxing. A purple sofa with matching colors of paired pillows but lighter color. A purple, blue, white carpet in front of the sofa with a large TV, connected to it is a kitchen with tons of utensils and stuff.
And another person who is sitting on the sofa. He has a snow white hair with large bangs that covered her right eye, and said bangs has strands of black, sky blue, green, purple and red strands. He wore a jet black zip-up hoodie, that was half zipped up, showing his white undershirt. Said undershirt had a red stripe in the center going pants with white stripes going down the sides. He wore purple fingerless gloves with a pair of matching purple boots. Finally he had a black chocker with a red pearl in the middle.
The group noticed that his eyes were closed. However, he doesn't seemed sleeping but rather, meditating...or something.
Shana turned to Magic who gave her a questioning look and quickly got it. The NPG stepped forward in front of the group while standing beside to allow them to greet the other person. "This person here is Eric, he was also here because he was called." At the sudden mention, the other person, named Eric, turned to them. Eyes still closed.
Eric stood from the sofa and faced them as he smiled at them. He raised his hand. "Name's Eric. Nice to meet all of you." He reached forward his hand.
"Greetings, my name is Andrew."
"Hello, I'm Shade."
"Yo, Names' Azure."
"Shana is my name."
"Cameron Wallis."
"I am Troy Kirin Sonar, but please call me Eevee."
"Eliza, badass." (Accurate)
The group introduced themselves one by one to Eric with a shake of his hand. "And with that, the introductions are over...oh, The Lady is here." Magic's voice interrupted their finished introduction as they all turned to the side.
There on the door stood Neptune, in her human form, with Nepgear beside and Histoire. But this time, there was no big Histoire can be seen. They instantly wore a puzzled look at Histoire.
"If anyone will ask, the one you all saw in the Throne Room is just a hologram of mine." Histoire raised her open palm in front of her when she noticed Shade was about to ask a question, and that instantly shut Shade's mouth. Probably his gonna-be question was answered. By Histoire's tone of voice, she probably had said that many times to others, except the CPUs and the NPG.
"How do you know, Miss Histoire?" Shade tilted his head in amazement and confusion.
"Just got used to it, dear." Histoire smiled. Nepgear and Neptune entered the room. While Nepgear go to the kitchen to prepare some snacks, Histoire said that she will return in the office to the work. Surprisingly for all them, except Magic, Histoire didn't shout at Neptune who remained standing there in front of the group and the new person.
"Now's the protagonist of protagonists shall declare her words!" Joyfully said by a perky CPU to them as everyone sweat dropped to her usual fourth wall breaking. Then she looked at them as her eyes narrowed but her big smile was still present. "I chose you all to participate in this upcoming Tournament event!"
"WHAT?!"
"Nepu?!"
Apparently, the sudden declaration wasn't supposed to be that surprising. What made everything in chaos is... their complaints! At least most of them.
Azure was slamming his head on the concrete floor and mumbling about something 'I haven't training myself for years...' or 'Curse you Middo...' or something along the lines. Surprisingly, his head doesn't bleed already but it showed red and swollen. (Inaccurate, he's trains all the time!)
Andrew meanwhile muttering random nonsense as his watch, Xelor, scolded him for the same reason like Azure.
Shade just sat there, confused and began asking questions to Shana what is Tournament. Meanwhile, said Shana's brain must have malfunction because she keeps opening her mouth and closing it after. (Please let Shade stay innocent forever.)
Eevee and Eliza met their faces with their open palms and shaking head.
On the side, Eric, made a smile. Although it twitched for a second there, like holding something back.
"Is this really the grout of guys Histoire chose as the participants?" Magic whispered to Nepgear as she eyed everyone. Nepgear already put out some snacks and cookies and some Nepish crackers.
The Planeptunian CPU Candidate gave the NPG a nervous laugh. "I guess they are." Observing the 'chaotic ' scene before them.
"Don't underestimate them Magic." Neptune's voice rang their ears as the two turned to the CPU who's looking at them with her usual goofy smile fist hands on her hips. "Like the ol' says, 'Stupidity can be your greatest weapon'."
"Said by a person who's stupidity raised by ten." Magic retorted bluntly at the now downcast expression CPU. The said CPU looked up at Magic with a teary expression and began muttering things like 'How could you hurt the Nep heart?!' or 'You might be the eggplant cheerleader!'
Nevertheless, Magic paid her no mind. Nepgear sweat dropped.
"Alright, Neptune, please guide-" Suddenly, the fairy on the tome enter the room and stopped what she is saying as she analyzed the scene.
"Hello Histoire. Neptune already informed them about that they're the new participants and, well... That didn't take it well." Nepgear give an awkward smile to the fairy.
Histoire sighed deeply and was about to shout at Neptune, but even then... "Nevermind, Nepgear. I shall handle this." Then she turned to white haired young man. "Eric, was it?"
The young man, name Eric, noticing the tome and faced her. "Yes Lady Histoire?"
The tome looked at him with a hint of saddened expression. "Mister Eric, I'm afraid you're not part of their group. Your positioned is in number three. You will meet your teammates on the third hallway from the guest rooms." Histoire then turned to Magic. "Please guide him."
Eric looked a bit sad but he made it up quickly with a smile. "It is fine Lady Histoire, I don't even know if I could deal them anyway." Eric looked back at the group before turning back at the tome.
"Hey!" Cried out by Azure, Andrew, Shade and Shana, hopelessly as Eric nonchalantly shrugged at them. Eevee and Eliza rolled their eyes.
"Anyway, mind telling me their names?" Eric asked, mentioning his teammates.
Histoire pondered to that question but she just smiled at him. "Meet them personally, act like yourself to them."
"Okay then." Eric turned away from the tome and faced the group, who are all now in good condition but their faces radiates gloomy atmosphere, well, except Shade, Eevee and Eliza. "It good meeting you guys for a short while, I'll be taking my leave." He raised a hand at them and waved a goodbye before walking away to the door and left.
Eliza looked a little confused. "Wait, he's not part our group?"
Histoire nodded. "Yes. He belonged to Group 3 that we organized. Your group, however, belong to Group 2."
Eliza nodded in confirmation. Histoire turned to Nepgear and asked her to guide the group to their room. The group one by one followed Nepgear on the hallway.
Histoire remained silent as she turned to the remaining occupant in the room. "Neptune, you're audibly quiet."
Said Neptune was crossing her arms on her chest, her smile was still there. She was silent after Magic pushed her off and still complaining after that, however, she stopped when Magic left and just watched the whole ordeal. She shrugged at Histoire. "I don't know Histoire, I just felt something about the group and the other guy."
Histoire looked confused before getting her idea. "I see. I also felt it. That Azure person, I can feel the share energy inside of him. Yet I felt that his capacity to the shares is blocked... Or he's hiding it, and it's perfectly stable. And Andrew, it's strange that his watch could talk, but I also noticed the watch was trying to connect itself to our Sharicite. That boy, Shade...did you feel yourself get stronger?"
Neptune nodded. "Yeah, I felt a bit of a rush and excitement in the Share Energy flowing in me." She said rather seriously.
"Also, that man, Eevee, I felt his breathing was a bit irregular and when my ears analyzed his breathing process. I found out that he's lungs was on on." Histoire said.
Neptune looked shocked. "On fire?!"
Histoire shooked her head. "Not literally, more like, he breathed out hot air. The carbon dioxide he's breathing out is above average. At best, he might be a fiery beast. And that girl, Eliza, she looks normal."
"But I also noticed that she's holding something back." Neptune added. "I don't know what it was but it's not in terms of power like God Eater."
Histoire didn't look surprised at Neptune's keen observation. She simply agreed. "That young man, Eric..."
"Oh you mean the mysterious man in the book?" Neptune grinned. "Just let it be, I will solve the mystery, as the protagonist of all protagonists!" Neptune said with energy.
Histoire shook her head. "What are your thoughts to the woman, Shana?"
Neptune put a finger on her chin. "She looks like... A supporter?"
"Supporter?" The tome raised an eyebrow. The CPU seems struggling to come up with words to the person but she shrugged.
"I don't know, I can't read her."
"Eh? You as well?" Histoire looks rather surprised. Even her cannot peer to the woman's strange aura.
The CPU nodded. The tome just shook her head.
Meanwhile, the two were overcome by sleepiness and decided to leave it for the day. Tomorrow, Neptune will meet the participants in the training grounds.
(Place: "Planeptune; ?" - ?)
(Time: 7:83 PM)
Everything in Planeptune looks so lively and brightly colored city. Purple buildings overcome the view of the other colors around. Flashing sponsored videos of brands of products or games that caught the people's curiosity and interest. Malls crowded, the highways and roads looks like a nerve of the city. Almost everything around, crook and cranny, of Planeptune city, is filled by bright and lively aura.
But do not forget the dark alleyway. There, a man slumped on a nearby trashed of every disgusted kinds. The man was covered in bruise and some wounds, he was notably ugly due to his beard and creepy face but his expressions is filled with horror as if he seen the depths of horror. He was wearing a black jacket and a grey t-shirt and a jeans, his tummy is fat.
"P-Please... I b-beg f-f-for my l-life..." He stuttered so badly he was panting hard. His sweat bathed his cold skin as it brushed to the cold breeze, much to the man's chagrin. His body giving up from the intense bruises and wounds he was constantly receiving. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Aww~ You are giving up already? Dog?" A shadow loomed above the man with a widest grin plastered to its face. It showed a figure of a very tall woman but to the man, he saw a monster.
A monster he must go away. But inevitable do so.
A monster that made him begged for his life.
A monster that broke him.
A sadistic monster who is also a CPU.
The tall woman stood above the man, no, the prey, the poor worm who was trying to escape her bird nest. Behind the woman is two Planeptunian soldiers clad in purple camo and a word 'PLAT' on their armored vest. Both soldiers carried a large but rather, not so 'heavy', rifle gun with purple dots on the barrel. They also, have a expression as if they also saw a monster but fortunately for them, it wasn't directly to them. They pitied the man the woman is currently 'slaughtering' right now, but they could do little to help the situation or else, they might disturb the 'monster' who is 'eating' her 'prey'.
"Boys." The woman flicked her fingers, not turning around. The soldiers knew they were mentioned and saluted the woman and without a response, left the place, leaving the woman and the exhausted, frightened man.
"P-Please, I beg of you..." He coughed. Feeling a pair of eyes coming from the monstrosity before him. He gulped nervously.
"This is gonna be fun." The woman cracked out a giggle, but to the man, he heard a frightening laugh. Which was disturbing.
Suddenly, the lights behind the woman, slowly flickered and slowly dimmed down. The man began to panicked at this. Once the light disappeared...
...so do hope he survives as well.
He started to cry like a baby who witnessed his candy fall on the ground, but this time, it's not his candy that fell, it was his life.
"Let's see~" The monster's sadistic voice purred over the man with intense frightening tone. He witnessed the small light disappeared into the darkness.
I will give a bucks to whoever knew this person is. Much to my delight if someone can figure it out (it's quiet obvious).
You might have noticed the Neptunia's canon characters was a bit OOC, it was supposed to be because it's from a different dimension.
Said Middonaito wasn't there in the text lines because we're not in the group's POV, or group of view, I don't know.
Hope you readers enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to leave a review, favorite the story and follow it (if some didn't).
Hope you like this chapter, leave a review and mark that favorite and follow the story.
~A
Beta Read by: MAuthorian-ApocalypseDemon