"Looks like Avenir finally caught us…"
A young brown haired man makes his way to our mysterious man and woman. "Seemed like I finally caught you two red-handed…"
The man took out his sword, "Fancy meeting you here, Ganache… Were you eavesdropping on us?"
"Oh, a long time already. I know of your plan to take down our company, and my boss is not happy about it…"
"I heard it all from Chian. You bastard!"
"It's just business… This is how the business world works, oh intrepid adventurer… We'll own this nation, along with its economy, and we'll be the rulers than that Black Heart…"
It was then that the man had snapped. He grabbed Ganache by the collar and threw him at the wall with brute strength. "Woah, don't kill the young man…"
"Shut up!" he shouted as he made his way to where Ganache ended up. The glasses guy seemed to be unfazed. He just threw away his broken glasses and spit blood. "Oh, unnecessary violence…"
"You! Disrespecting your goddess' name! I may be an otherworlder, but I can't let this nation fall to ruin as I had with-"
Ganache then took something out of his suit pocket. A remote. "But, right now…"
*engine noises* *wall breaking* BANG!
"Violence is greatly needed."
A humongous machine appeared behind Ganache. The mysterious man shuddered in terror…
"W-what…"
"Our contract with you two has ended. Killachine! Eliminate these pests!"
But the mysterious man did not back down. "Get ready for a fight, woman!"
The woman wore her magic-amplifying gloves, "Oh, magic versus machine… bring it…"
"I don't care if you have a machine," the man retorted, and his sword reverberated his anger. "…Humans are superior than machine… And gods are superior than humans, AND I'LL PROVE THAT!"
Chapter 3: This Villain of Ours (Who…)
~ Lance's Dream World/POV ~
"L…e…"
Ghh.. .Who's… Who's there?
".an.e…"
Huh? Who's there, I said?!
"..ance, wake up, you dingdong!"
Dingdong?!
"I said wake up, donkhead!"
KICK!
GAHHH! MY WOUND!
"Finally, you're up…" a guy wearing a black jacket and yellow button-up shirt asked me. Who is…
"Dude, this is a hoodie, you know…" !
That voice… My vision started to clear up…
"Your friendly neighborhood MiddonaitoShi, here… *snickers*"
"You're… The Author?!" I look on in disbelief. He's younger than me?!
"Yeah, so what if I look like a damn teen? I mean, come on, I'm 16!"
Now that he said it, he does look like a teenager at best. He's raven-haired, has sapphire blue eyes, lightly tanned, and wears a black hoodie, and a yellow polo shirt underneath, with a white shirt underneath. He's also wearing maroon slacks, and black shoes. He also has a silver monocle on his right eye, with a crosshair thing dangling from it. He looks like the 'gentleman noir type' as my new dictionary says.
"I thought you were gonna pay me back…"
Middonaito sweatdropped, "Uh… I still have to arrange my Character Planner in alphabetical order, so… maybe next chapter? Well, anyway, that's not why I'm here. See, I did say I'd fill you in on the stuff that happened when you fell asleep…"
It was then that he took out some sort of weapon, looks like a 'pistol'. He fires it and what the heck?! A sofa appeared! "Okay, sit there, while I…" he checked his pockets again. Then, a 'remote control' appeared from his pocket. He also sat down.
"Here we go… Let's start the show, shall we?"
Click.
[FLASHBACK REQUEST TRANSMISSION DETECTED. Initializing…]
~ Earlier, Third Person POV ~
Lance had fallen asleep from the head injury he had obtained. Compa is cleaning up his wound while Neptune took ahold of the key fragment, for Histoire was speaking through it.
"Neptune, what you are holding right now is a Key Fragment, one of four key fragments that you need to break my seal…"
"You mean this broken key is my way back to my memories?"
"Yes, Neptune. I want you to release me from my seal. The other fragments can be found in the other three Nations…"
And after overhearing the conversation, Compa couldn't help but ask something as well, "Does that mean that if we release you from the seal, Lance could go back home as well?"
"I am not too sure. From what I know, his world is slowly getting destroyed, so it's questionable if Lance could ever go back…"
At that time, Neptune swore that she saw Lance shed a tear, even though he's asleep.
"Okay, leave it to good ol' Neptune to find these fragments!" she proclaimed.
"I'll help too. After all, I want Nep-Nep's memories to come back and for Lance to go back and save his world," Compa promised as well, though a tone of sadness could be heard from the last part.
"Are you sure, Compa? Cause you have nursing school and all that. Lance and I can take care of ourselves…"
"I'm sure. Plus, the school is closed because of the monsters, so…"
"Thank you… ve…ry…much…"
Noticing the interruptions, Neptune asked, "What was that? I think you're losing signal reception, Histy…"
"I…using…Fragment…I…o…ut of…time…Pl…ease…look…Key...Frag-"
"Histy? Histy? Seems like we lost connection or lag or something…"
[TRANSMISSION ERROR. Signal lost. Please adjust your external antenna.]
~ Transmission error, transferring to Lance's Dream World ~
"HEY!" I shouted at Middonaito's ears, but he didn't hear me. He's playing this game named 1010! while playing music I'm unfamiliar with on his earphones… Oh, he's coming around…
"Dammit, man! And I was gonna get a 1000+ high score for once! What do you…" Before finishing his sentence, Middonaito looked at the screen, reading the error message… "Oh."
I was gonna say something, but he said something, "Eh, blame it on the cable company. It's not my fault that the signal was lost…"
"What did Histoire mean by my world slowly getting destroyed?!"
Middonaito's face turned from mischievous to serious, "Oh man, I really can't sugarcoat this, can I? *sigh* Sorry man. But… the Sorcerer's Salamangka is now spreading throughout your Earth. Without Arthur Pendragon and the Excalibur, there is nothing that can be done to reverse its corrupted effects…"
Middonaito then talked to himself, "Remember readers, Salamangka is the Darkest Human Potential, while Magica is the Purest Human Potential out there, just saying… *wink*"
"So..." I clench my fists, "King Arthur's dead, isn't he?"
"No, no… He's in Gamindustri, along with Queen Guinevere, Merlin, Mordred, Galahad, and Rex…"
"Rex?! You mean he's not in Hell?! Plus the Royal Court themselves are safe?! Wait, shouldn't Morgan Le Fay and Sir Lancelot be with them? And where are they?!"
Middonaito trailed off, "Yeah, but if I tell you their respective locations, I'll be spoiling this story, so nope, you're not getting anything from me about them… yet."
It was then that I just grabbed him by his collar, "Don't screw with me, Author!"
What I didn't expect is that he donned an expressionless face, and his sapphire blue eyes glowed brighter, "I am not screwing with you, Sir Lance. All will be revealed in due time. Of course, once you know where they are, you will divert from your fate of releasing Histoire with Neptune, Compa, and another party member, which according to the manga 'Magi', is really a bad thing. So, I'm keeping my mouth shut until it is time to open them."
My anger kept growing, but as I kept looking at the composed expression on Middonaito, I couldn't help but put him down. "I'm sorry," I apologized.
"It's alright. I had my times when my anger took over my own reason as well."
And it was back to his cocky face, "Well, I better be going. I still have an exam and a birthday to sift through time. Just a tip though, go back to the place where you found the Key Fragment, but this time, go to the Guild first. Welp, ciao."
"Wait! Stop! I want to know more about this world!" I begged, but all he did was wave his hand while walking away. "Sorry, smooth-talking blabbermouth, but I can't stay… since…"
He turned to look at me with the bravest eyes I had seen, "It's time for you to wake up… First Magica Hero…"
~ Gamindustri – Lance's POV ~
"Hah!" I wake up, palpitating. Middonaito… what were you trying to tell me by fate? And 'First Magica Hero'? What blabber was he talking about?!
"But, it's good to know that the Royal Court are safe…" I thought to myself. Well, I'm even more relieved that Rex is sa-
Wait, why is the window broken? "Hello… a-anyone there?"
Oh man, I don't like this eerie feeling… "Anyone th-"
And then, a jumpscare… "AHHHHH!"
"Lance!" and instantly, Neptune comes through the door, and… SWINGS THE SWORD AT ME?!
"Neptune?! What are you-"
"Lance, I'll save ya!"
"Uh, Neptune, you do know that I just overreacted right?"
"Should I pull a joke here? Alrighty… OveReaction Ten…" *stealthily hides, Nepgya style*
I suddenly feel stupid. Thinking of the serious Middonaito, now replaced by some stupid kid who tries to pull an unfunny joke…
"Ayy… try being a comedian and tell me how it feels, dude!"
Wait… a dogoo? And…
"Is that you, boy?"
*jump*
It jumped onto my lap, and it seemed like this guy had it rough today… the poor dog-goo crossbreed is shivering like it's hiding from its predator. I just gave in to instinct and hugged the little thing. "It's alright… it's alright…"
"You know, you'd be a great father one day…" Wow, did not expect that to come from Neptune's mouth, "What? Why?"
"You're kind and sweet, heck, you're a man because you shed a tear."
"Author, did you do this?"
"He doesn't have any part in this…" Neptune said, putting her hands behind her back.
"It's rather unusual for Neptune to speak from the heart, so yeah… wasn't me…"
Rather… unusual huh?
"Thanks for that, Neptune…"
And she grinned at me, "Oh, come on, you chivalrous softie, we gotta find those Key Fragments so that I can get my memories back, and you get to save your world…"
Save the world, huh? Am I worthy to save the world, even though it's my own fault that my world is crumbling apart? But… if no one else is going to…
I raise my head up.
"Let's start tomorrow."
~ Somewhere, in another dimension – Middonaito's POV ~
[Playing in Middonaito's earphones: Martin Garrix – Oops]
Backreading my Character Planner, and it seemed like someone meddled with my notebook. But this notebook is always by my side… well, apart from that Gamindustri to Earth chapter, but the only time I left this was… that time where Mist-
*slams fist onto palm* Oh, of course. Ultradimension Plutia and the one who Yato is acquainted with. They had read this planner before. Well, it was my own fault that they had read this story's prototype. Lance gets plot conveniency power… The Sorcerer didn't exist back then. Then, how did he exist? Salamangka… Oh. Dammit. This was what Kami told me. It was my own fault again. I wonder what Lance will think of me…
I indirectly created the Sorcerer through my concept of the Dark Human Potential…
*sigh* Already nighttime back in my world. Well… not that I have anywhere to return to on Earth. But…
Sifting through these… man, and I thought Mistress Iris Heart (Ultradimension) was the most fearsome one. So is the Endimension one. *shivers*
But, I'll have to thank both Plutias somehow.
They saved a world, no, two worlds, from demise…
Holding up the planner, I thought, "But I never expected them to know about the Magica and the Salamangka lore that I made… Seriously man. Those two…"
I stand up and changed to the look that made the people call me the 'Kaitou Kid of the Authors'… and looking at the mirror, I saw my brown irises turn into the pure sapphire blue ones. Yep, there it is, my Author side.
"Time to pay a visit to those two then."
Taking out the [Sekaishu], I point it at my head. No, I'm not committing suicide, and don't even think that I'm promoting such stupidity. And as I pulled the trigger, I think of the location both the Plutias are on: the Hyperdimension.
And in a blink of an eye, I teleport out of my room.
I do not have some sort of romantic relationship with both the Plutias. Let's just say… we're 'great' friends. Wait, I'm supposed to switch viewpoints now. Sorry. XD
~ The next day, Gamindustri – Lance's POV ~
"Ahh! My back is killing me!"
"That's because you had to sleep on the couch again," Neptune said after hearing my ordeal. Yeah, goddamn, didn't think that couch would be painful to sleep on the second time around. Right now, we're going to this Guild Middonaito advised us to go to. For the Author to tell me such information, it must mean that there's a clue there. Wait, now that I think about it…
What did Middonaito mean by 'another party member'? Does that mean there will be another one than Neptune and Compa? Why did you have to make it so enigmatic, Author? I'm sure he's giving off that stupid face of his again.
And there was this conversation between two faceless men… they, apparently, had learned of the cave we traversed yesterday. But what makes it most disturbing is that they're… 'faceless' as in no face! Man, even King Arthur would be creeped out.
"We're here!"
"Oh my life!" I managed to react after seeing all this advanced technology. These massive screens everywhere, huge metal… things and stuff! Merlin would be awestruck with this place. He may be a mage, but he's known to perform science and technology as well. Let's say… he's the greatest scholar who had walked the Earth, and now, Gamindustri.
"So this is the Guild, Compa?"
"Yessy! Amazing, right?"
I grinned, "Heck yeah it is! I mean, there are weapon sellers here, quests to take, and a hub for many fighters to meet… this is practically a Knight's Utopia!"
And both of them stared at me. "What?"
And just suddenly, Compa threw something at me. I manage to catch it and when I opened my palms… a great amount of this world's currency, named Credits, shone upon my eyes. I look at the Credits, then to Compa, back to the money, then to Compa, and repeat until I realized… did she just lend me her money?!
"E-eh?! What are you giving me money for, Compa?!"
Neptune then said, "Last night, me and Compa were talking and… we thought you need a weapon so that you can really fight…"
I held up my fists, "But I can fight with these, right?"
"We just… don't want that to happen to you again, Lance…"
These two… What did I do to deserve such great friends? Author… Huh? No answer. Must be busy. I swear, I wanna cry.
"You two keep being kind to such an otherworlder like me… it touches my heart…" I said to both of them, almost shedding a tear. A tear of joy.
"Aw, sheesh, you're a Knight who's supposed to protect the ladies… what Knight is there without a sword to fight with?"
"You know, that's not really our job, Neptune…" I retort, getting a giggle from her. "Just messing with you, Lance…"
"Nep-Nep and I will fill out the Guild registration forms, so go buy yourself a sword, Lance…"
I begin to walk away from them, and with an enthusiastic voice, I answered, "Yes, Ma'am Compa."
Oh my life, what if this is Earth's future? It would be really awesome if this would be the projection of Earth's future tech. And wow! Look at that, and that, and that! Man, I feel like a kid agai-
Thud!
Someone bumped into me. Well, I don't know who because it was behind me. I turn around and said, "Oh, so sorry…"
"It's alright…" I lent her a hand. Yes, her.
Should I describe her, Author?
…
Still no reply huh? Guess I'll describe her.
She has light brown hair, with some bangs, and some made into a ponytail wrapped, or should I say clipped, by a green leaf… thing. She also has green eyes, and she's wearing an overcoat that seems oversized for her, underneath she wears a black tank top, and I noticed that there is this I on it, but the most eye-catching of all was her array of cellphones strapped onto her unbuckled belt. Like, oh my life, that's a lot of good tech on her. That is all, since I don't want this to drag on…
"Uh, so…"
"…" she stayed silent. Ah!
"Can I ask you what is the good sword out of these?" I directed her to a weapon shop. It was focused on swordsmen, so there are a lot of swords to be sold. I can't really pick one, because I was really attached to my old Knight one, since King Arthur himself gave it to me.
"How about that?" she pointed at a sword which seemed slim for a sword. I asked the seller to let me test it out and wow, she's right, this sword works well for me!
"Thank you, Miss…"
"Call me IF."
"Okay, IF. I'm Lance, by the way. Thanks for the advice, but I gotta go back to my party now…"
She waved her hand, "See you then, Lance."
I waved back, and walked to where Neptune and Compa were. They seemed so happy together. Oh, friendships. "So, we ready to head out?" I asked. Both the girls gave me a thumbs up, and together, we walk out of the building, as friends.
~ A while later, the Cave ~
"Rah!" I shout as I slash through a mob blockade. Yeah, currently we're deep within the cave we found the Fragment in…
"No fair, Lance! Even though we have shared EXP, you can't just steal the protagonist's spotlight!"
Making it seem like I was wearing sunglasses, I answered, "Deal with it, Neptune," add in me sticking my tongue out.
After a while, I got so exhausted from all the power attacks that I keep pulling, and ahh! My back hurts again!
"You getting old, Lance! Better get the waifu before that happens, gramps!"
Sitting down, I look at Neptune with a stupid face, "Ah, you found a way to tease and intimidate me, haha," and take note that the 'haha' part is sarcastic. Switching her attention from me to Compa, she just asked, "Hey, Compa, what were we supposed to do here again?"
"Nep-Nep… you didn't the fine print, did you?"
Neptune then pointed at me, "Aw come on, no one reads the fine print, right Lance?"
Nope, always read the fine print. I always read those small etchings inscribed on the dungeon walls me and Rex go into. That's how I learned 'Fast Judgment'.
"Sorry, Neptune, but I gotta side with Compa on this one. There are always details on the fine print. You should never skip them."
But I had to add in something, "But I am interested on what we're doing here… what did the Guild task us with?"
Compa answered, "Well, we were to check on the monsters, how they're doing, etcetera…"
"Uh, what about that Guard Vermin we got into a scuffle with yesterday…?"
"A lot of people had come here already, so I guess Mr. Monster isn't a problem anymore…"
Yeah, I feel that the boss may have been defeated by other fighters, but I can't just brush it off… I gotta keep my vigilance up. We decided to move again. We had a few battles with tenacious mobs, but they fell by my sword, Neptune's (wooden) sword, and Compa's syringe. Heh, if we stick together, there is nothing that can stop this intrepid party!
A few minutes later, and we're at least halfway through this dungeon. And *whistles*, it's getting a bit darker…
"Nep-Nep? Lance? Where are you?"
Dammit, I can't see anything! "Compa, where are you?"
"Man, this is encounter flag material right here, folks… and who will it be?Roll the dice, let us play Red Dwarf!"
"Just follow my voice, Compa, Lance…" Neptune instructed, like her previous comment never happened. But how? We're not bats! Eh… eh, what's this?
"Compa, is this your hand I'm holding right now?" I hesitantly asked to the darkness, since I don't know where Compa is.
Then, I heard a soft "Mhm…" and it felt like her hand was getting warm. Fighting my own embarrassment, I told Compa, "K-keep ahold of my hand. I'll guide us…"
THUD!
"Nep-Nep? Are you okay?"
I also ask out of concern, "Hey, Neptune, please don't tell me that you got Game Over'd…"
A while later, an answer echoed, "Yeah, I think someone ran into me… I knew this is an encounter flag!"
And after Neptune said that, the crystals around this cave section began to glow, like the electricity came back to the light bulb. But, most surprising is that… "IF?!"
"Ow, watch it, girl…" she was a bit peeved (I dunno what peeved means) but she managed to stand up… "Hold on… Lance? And a bunch of kids?"
"Kids?! Speak for yourself, missy!" Neptune retorted. Seemed like she didn't like being called a kid… even though her attitude is a bit childish… *sigh* "Who are you anyway?!" Neptune added.
Dusting off her clothes, IF introduced herself formally, "I'm IF. Let's just say I'm the Wind Walker of Gamindustri."
"Wind Walker, you didn't tell me that…"
"Huh, Lance? You know this new character?"
"Yeah, earlier. She helped me pick my sword…" I explained.
I decide to introduce the girls (and myself) one by one, "So yeah, IF. Let me introduce you to my friends Neptune and Compa. They've been with me for a while now. Neptune is the lilac-haired one, while Compa is the peach blonde one. I am Sir Lance Axlrod of Riverton."
"Hey, hey… Wild Talker of Gamindustri? Looks like we have a talkative one, folks!" Neptune said out to IF, acting like a commentator. I just facepalm.
"Wind Walker. I travel around the world, making a living by working for the Guild. But that's enough chit-chat from me. What are you three doing here?"
I look away, "Unfinished business, I guess?"
"Unfinished business?"
"Well, we came from the Guild too. Just don't mind Lance's cheesy monologues. His personality does that sometimes."
"Neptune, what are you talking about?!"
IF seemed confused with all of this, "Wait, you guys work for the Guild too? Well, Lance, I understand, but you girls? No way."
And Neptune seemed ticked off at IF's comment, "Yeah, sure… girl, we can handle ourselves, you know…"
"Girls, please save the claw scratching for later," I said, ticked off at these two.
"Oh, are you so sure? Even with all the monsters around?"
After that, Neptune seemed to lose her composure, maybe shot down by IF, who continued, "Ah, you didn't read the fine print, didn't you?"
"Goddammit, I swear I-"
Oh no. I grab IF by the hand and said, "Hey, Compa, Neptune. You seeing what I'm seeing?"
The girls turned their heads to the direction where I was looking. "L-Lance…"
I was staring deep within the Guard Vermin's eyes. This bastard who knocked my chops off!
"NOT AGAIN!" both Neptune and Compa shouted as they realize the situation that we're in. I gripped onto my sword's handle, tighter than ever.
"W-w-what should we do, Compa! It's gotta be looking for me!" Neptune said out in sheer nervousness. "Girls, stick behind me!" I shout, pointing the sword directly at the boss monster.
"Wait… you three know this thing?!" IF could only muster to say in fear.
"One way or the other, yes…" I said calmly. In fights, you always have to keep your cool. Wear your poker face, the poker face of bravery and courage. The strength to never back down from a boss monster. No matter what, I have to protect them!
"Wh-what should I do? It's gotta be looking for revengeance… "
"Welp, she's panicking. That's something you don't see everyday," I try to tell a joke to ease up the tension, but no effect whatsoever. I keep staring at the Vermin's eyes, like we're having a staring contest. Dammit Author, where are you?!
"Hey, Neptune…"
"I think it's time for you to… you know… go hero and stuff? I'm feeling uncomfortable looking at this mob's eyes for long…" I shuddered.
"Ahaha, even Knight Lance needs me to take the spotlight, well…"
A beam of light shone upon Neptune, temporarily blinding us, and as it toned down… "Hah, I'm ready…"
IF could only look in disbelief, "Guys, what just happened? Like, she's huge! All over!"
"Heh, tell me about it…"
"Surprise! Nep-Nep can change forms! She gets really strong in that form!"
"Normally, I'd be a bit peeved at myself, but yeah, she's the strongest out of us three."
"Now, can you call me a kid one more time?" Neptune said at the flabbergasted IF, definitely implying something.
"Showoff…" the brown-haired girl could only respond with one word.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" I shout, as I jumped right up to the Guard Vermin to deliver the first strike.
"Let's start this showdown!"
~ After the battle ~
I had to skip out the battle part since I'm too exhausted to even talk to myself. Somehow, we finally put an end to the Guard Vermin. I learned that IF could perform a skill named 'Demon Flames' that completely shrouds an ememy into flames! Oh, life, I don't want to accidently smooth talk to her if that'll happen to me!
"And… there, how does it feel?" I ask IF. Oh, did I tell you that she was the cannon fodder of the party? Man, I got so infuriated that I somehow activated my own new skill 'Athena's Justice', giving me the ability to deliver two powerful slashes at the enemy. Neptune finished the Vermin off, but it was still me who took the spotlight.
She moved her arm around a bit, and answered, "Y-yeah, Lance…" with the tone defined as clearly flustered.
I also had a few gashes of my own, so I had to self-medicate… or so I thought. Compa helped me with tying up my bandages. It still hurts, but I'll live.
"To be honest, I felt like it was an unfair match. It was injured after all…" Neptune just said out of nowhere.
"Well, we had to protect our lives. Would you have wanted to die?" I quickly retort.
"Not bad, honestly, that was a good fight!"
"It was my fault for not checking again…" Neptune said with a forlorn face.
"Nah. We Knights often forget to double tap 'dead' boss monsters, so it was partly my fault too…"
IF then changed the subject of the conversation, "Still, that was some transformation. You're like a different person."
This 'other' Neptune is serious, level-headed, and a great leader, on par with King Arthur's own leadership skills. So I had to agree with IF. I nod.
And she decided to transform back to her normal self, "Phew… I'm beat…"
"Nice fight, Nep-Nep! You were really cool out there!" Compa complimented the ditz.
"Aww, stop flattering me…"
I just muttered, "Even though I was the main attraction…" before giggling at myself.
"Hey, Iffy, wanna join our party?" Neptune asked, looking hopeful.
"Iffy?"
"Yeah, girl! IF = Iffy. It sounds cute, don't you think, Lance?"
"Well, I can't lie, it does seem cute."
"Iffy…" she muttered, and by the tone of her voice…
"Wait, did you have some sort of past with that nickname?" I ask her.
IF changed her expression, "No, no… just call me anything you like…"
"Iffy it is!" Compa said out joyfully.
"I'll stick with IF. I'll call you Iffy sometimes, but yeah, still gonna call you IF."
"Oh, do you really want to join our party, Iffy?" Neptune asked, wearing a stupid face that made me crack up.
"Sure, why not…"
"Well," I said out while grinning, "Welcome to the most random team that ever existed, IF!" and I held out my hand at her. I swear I saw her blush a bit, but she answered, "Mhm!" as she held my hand.
A while later, I filled IF in on the story, me being an otherworlder and all, and Neptune losing her memories and the situation with Histoire and MiddonaitoShi.
"Nep falls, Lance ends up being in Gamindustri, Nep loses memories, Histoire and MiddonaitoShi, Key Fragments… man, that's so random that I can't puzzle the pieces together," IF said, clearly scratching her head in a struggle to connect the dots.
"I did say that we're the most random party of all…" I replied while smirking.
A few minutes after that was just silence… ah, so boring!
Man, where are you, Author?!
"Hey, guys! I think I found something…"
Me and IF ran to where Neptune an Compa were. I forgot to tell you guys that Neptune and Compa were in the lead, while I had to stick with IF to tell her the story.
"What is that?" I only said, for Neptune was holding out some sort of circular metal sheet with a hole in the middle.
"That looks like a disc… Nep, where did you found it?" Nep?
Neptune seemed mind boggled, "Wait, hate to be that guy, but is Nep… me?"
"You called me Iffy, so why not? But that's not the point here, where did you pick that up from?"
"It was hanging on that wall there," Neptune answered, pointing at the wall behind her.
"Wall? Disc? Hey, Neptune, doesn't it seem to be… far-fetched?"
"*gasp* Iffy! Lance! You don't believe me?! After all the things we've been through!"
I quickly answer, "Uh, hello… IF just joined us a few paragraphs ago… and I'm not saying that I don't believe you…"
"You two are horrible, not believing in Nep-Nep…"
IF and I just stared at each other. In our minds, we must be both thinking of, "Randomest party of all…"
"I know that Iffy's name means that you question a lot of stuff, and Lance's name means that he can stake anyone with his blunt one-liners, but come on you guys!"
"That's not what our names mean…" IF and I retort in sync.
"Iffy… Lance…" Neptune said softly, and I was taken aback by the appearance of her eyes. Wait… PUPPY EYES! I gotta shield myself! I cover my eyes with my arms, in an effort to not let any of Neptune's cute aura get to me. Clearly, she's using this to soften IF, but I wonder if that'll work, since IF seems like a tomboy to me.
"Okay, okay. You win…" and I was wrong! IF is still a girl no matter what.
"Now that's the Iffy I love! Iffy must mean 'I Feel For You'! Iffy is love!"
"How about we call you AI instead? That's Japanese for 'love'!"
"Better make it lowercase, like 'ai'! It really sounds cute!"
"Come on you girls, you're making this chapter drag on. We have wasted like 5,209 words trying to build up nothing…" I just said out of irritation. Complete that effect with my foot tapping the ground.
"Ohoho, Iffy, are you blushing or are you blushing?" Neptune just said, wearing a clearly stupefied face that made me crack up uncontrollably. What… how did she do that?!
"Wait…" I stopped laughing. "Is it just me or is that circular sheet shining?"
"What's going on, Iffy?"
"Why are you asking me?!"
I reached for my sword, "Ah, in England…"
The disc flashed a blinding blink and after that…
"A-A monster?! It came out of the disc?!"
I continue what I said earlier, "In England, we call those things… monster spawners. Get ready for battle!"
~ A few minutes later ~
"This is the end!"
Critical hit! And the crowd goes wild! Woo!
"Wow, that was quite a surprise. Lance, you should've told us that monsters spawn out of discs…"
"The only monster spawners that I'm aware of are monster cages and the Invocatio. I've never heard of a circular sheet creating monsters…"
"So that's where the monsters came from… Amazing!" IF shouted in amazement.
"Yessy! I think this is a super discovery!" Compa added in in an ecstatic voice, bouncing a little.
"Ahahahahahaha!" and suddenly, a laugh echoed through the cave, sending chills up my spine.
"I came here for my Guardian, but I never expected for Neptune to be here…"
"What is it with people and the phrase 'I never expected'?!" I thought to myself, before laying my eyes on the new character. Should I elaborate, Author?
…
No answer still.
She had pale white hair, so did her skin, she wore a black and purple dress that only non-stylish witches wear, a witch's hat with a purple ornament, and her blood red eyes focus only on one of us: Neptune.
"Hey, old woman, what's with the cliché creepy melodramatic witch's laugh?"
"Hmm… Mocking people as usual. You didn't change one little bit."
"Hey, Neptune, do you know this weird woman?"
"No way, even though I lost my memories, I'm sure I wouldn't be friends with this gothic fanatic…"
"That's a relief, Nep-Nep. I was beginning to doubt your taste in friends…"
Neptune acted like she got stabbed by a spear. "C-Compa…"
"Man, if you were friends with her, I would've left this party in an instant."
Once again, Neptune gets figuratively stabbed, "I-Iffy…"
"Wow, I would've vomited, even Morgan Le Fay had style…"
Instead of Neptune, the newcomer was the one who got figuratively shish kebab'd.
"Soo… who are you, lady?"
"Tch, you insolent fools, saying what you want in front of me. I'll get rid of you all!"
I held up my sword, "Yeah? Try us, old hag!"
I ran and ran to the new enemy, and jumping up, prepared for an overhead strike. But ah! She pulled out a spear, and when I attacked… it phased by her?! "W-what?!"
"RAH! FOOLISH MORTAL!" she shouted, and swung her spear right up my abdomen, knocking me airborne. She jumped up, and again, slammed her spear right by my stomach, giving enough force to slam me onto the ground. "GAH! IT HURTS LIKE A BITCH!"
IF attacked next, but to no avail. The witch had knocked her airborne as well, and she might have gotten KO'd. The same happened with Conpa and Neptune, even though she was in her other form. Who… is this woman?!
"It hurts…"
"Ouchies…"
"Hey, no fair! I call cheat! Ack!"
I struggle to get up, only to be stepped on by this mysterious villain.
"Now… the Key Fragment… give it to me!"
Ahh… she stepped on my hand! I… can't reach the fragment… is this… the end!?
~ Hyperdimension Gamindustri – Middonaito's POV ~
"Aww… slow down, Middy…"
"Bleh, I don't wanna…" I reply to Ultradimension Plutia. Right now, me and Ultradimension Plutia are playing a bit of tag, and Yato, along with Endimension Plutia and Blanc, are spectating. Hey, I'm still a kid at heart, don't judge.
"It's about time you chose to be active offline, Middo…" Yato commented.
"Oh, an Author's gotta have a break once in a-"
GHHK! WHAT'S THIS FEELING?!
"Middonaito, are you okay…?" Endimension Blanc asked me. No, I'm not okay. I quickly turn to Author form.
I take out the [Sekaishu], aimed at the ground, and shot a dimensional transmitter. On the screen revealed Lance, Neptune, Compa, and IF downed by Arfoire herself. I make a 'Tch' sound.
"Isn't that Lancy…? What happened…?"
Wasting no time, I fiddled with my smartphone and hastily contacted someone.
"Hey, dude… Something's up…"
~ Gamindustri – Lance's POV ~
"Finally, it's mi-"
What the?! I never expected that! Wait… dammit. Whatever, what happened was that someone threw a knife at the witch, just mere centimeters away and it just grazed her hand, but she dropped the fragment, thank goodness!
"Who dares?!"
"You know… I've gotten angry…"
And the mysterious hero batted his brown eyes at the witch, "I will not let you hurt my ancestor ANY LONGER!"
"Wait, ANCESTOR?!" WHATTTTT?!
[BGM: Martin Garrix – Oops]
Next Chapter Preview w/ Middonaito!
Waddup, Middonaito here, and since I had formally introduced myself to this story, might as well do a chapter preview. *winks* Well, just a few paragraphs after going offline, I get welcomed by a rekt Re;Birth1 party?! Jeez… Can't I get a break?! Well, I called a friend so yeah, they're saved! Question is, who was my 'Call for a Friend' support? And will my friend and the party rekt Arfoire?! Moreover, he's an Axlrod descendant? Sure, didn't see that one coming. Next time – Episode 4: This DLC Character of Ours! Wait, did I just call out Episode instead of Chapter?
And are they making fun of my self insert fanfiction?! I'm gonna sue them! *cries in a comedic way*