Alright, I think this will be the penultimate chapter. So after this one, the next will possibly be the last one.
Factory Shutdown
We arrived at the factory, this was the first time I saw a place like this.
"It's more like a brewery than a factory." Kyanna commented. "I mean, it's got a wrecked billboard on the ground."
"Ngh." I groaned as I tried to open the doors. "Looks like they've been jammed."
"Let me handle this." Gavin said. "Yaaaaahhhh!"
He shoulder blocked the doors and the doors flung wide open, allowing us to enter inside.
Entering Dungeon: Carvery Factory
BGM: Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force OST - Dark Wine Factory
"Owww..." Gavin groaned.
"You're not hurt, are you?" I asked.
"Pay no attention to him." Rai-Lin said. "Whilst his method was effective, it was still reckless."
Gavin shook the pain off as he got back up. "Heh, reckless is my middle name."
"I can think of other nicknames for you." Monica muttered.
"Anyways, we're in the factory." I said. "Let's check around for more information and be careful."
"Yeah, there may be traps in here." Tiffany replied. "The last Quintet member could be waiting for us."
We explored the area, being wary of possible traps as well as the monsters roaming around here. These ones however were new, they were robots dressed in old-fashioned gentleman clothing with old-fashioned guns. Ranged attacks could be a problem for most of us, thankfully Monica is with us to counter those attacks. Apart from those, there were those bipedal mechs with rockets and purple-coloured souls.
Something else came into my mind as we continued exploring.
"Hey folks, this may seem out of the blue, but Kyu's been gone for some time." I said. "I do wonder if she's alright back home."
"Yeah, it's been a while since we last saw her." Tiffany agreed. "But she's a love fairy, I'm sure she can handle herself."
I nodded. But in my mind, I did wonder why it's taking this long...
"Hey all, I found a weapon that suits me!" Gavin exclaimed. "This platinum dagger will suit me really well."
"Well that's nice, but what about the skills you've had with your sword?" I asked.
"Don't question logic in a RPG world, buddy. I'll get the hang of using skills with a dagger as quick as using a sword, just you watch."
"Okay, whatever..."
We carried progressing through the factory until we entered a huge room with two giant canisters and there was someone standing on the stairway at the top.
"Welcome, ladies and gentleman, a pleasure to see you." A classy male voice greeted. He had a black long-coat with white gloves and a long black hat.
"I can tell that voice." Rai-Lin said. "It's him, the last Quintet member."
"Right you are, traitor. I also see that fumbling lackey and dear, lovely Monica are with you. Ahhh Monica, you are quite radiant as always."
"Ugh, this old man is snobby to the highest degree." Monica frowned.
"What was that, lovely? I couldn't quite hear those words." He walked down the stairs till he was on the ground. "Perhaps you could speak up for me?"
"Let me handle this." I said. "You seem to not notice that my party is here as well."
"Oh, well if it isn't Micheal Jones. A pleasure to see you at last." He smiled. "I am Arthur Bertram, the last of the Quintet and a wealthy businessman if I say so myself."
"This guy's full of himself." Kyanna muttered.
Arthur noticed Kyanna and Tiffany. "Oooh, what pretty young ladies you have there. May I ask for their names if you'd be so kind."
"Cease your pointless flirting." Rai-Lin said. "We're here to put an end to the Corporation's ambition."
"Now now, mister Rai-Lin let us not engage in unwanted violence," Arthur lost his smile. " I assume that you're all here because you've heard of the Power Generators that can power up a beam and conjures a portal which changed this world?"
"Yeah and we destroyed the one in the tower." I replied. "Thanks to Quinn who sadly is no longer with us."
"Hmhm, so Quinn chose to sacrifice himself. Well, that does not interest me in the slightest." He grew serious. "The point I wish to make is that you've become quite the annoying pest as far as President Gladstone is concerned. I am indeed impressed that you've got this far, but I'm going to ensure that you will not wander any further."
I smirked. "Oh really now?"
"I have the upper hand with this." He pulled out a pair of pistols from his cloak. "Now is the time to engage in a marvellous battle! If you want to destroy the Corporation, you will have to go through me and my skills!"
BGM: Medievil 2 OST - The Count
"Watch out!" Kyanna exclaimed.
"Don't let his middle-age appearance fool you." Rai-Lin warned. "Hey may not look like one, but he is a skilled gunfighter, do not let him get a shot on you."
"Got it, buddy." Gavin responded.
"Just you wait, Arthur, we'll beat you and then we're gonna this place out of it's misery!" I declared before battle began.
Arthur appears!
"He's got ranged attacks, but I don't think he's the type to withstand melee attacks."
Mike used Unlucky Thirteen Strike!
Tiffany used Fire Thrust!
Rai-Lin used Honourable Swipe!
Kyanna used 10-hit Combo!
Gavin used Figure-Four Stab!
Monica used Meteor Arrows!
Arthur received a total of 1650 damage!
"Very impressive boy and girls." Arthur praised. "But this is just the beginning of our confrontation, see what I can do."
Arthur consumed unknown potion!
Arthur gains Double Attack ability!
Arthur used Akimbo Delight!
The party received 800 damage!
"Crap! That double attack of his makes him very strong...but we can't give up!"
Mike used Divine Octagon!
Tiffany used Fire Thrust!
Rai-Lin used Honourable Swipe!
Kyanna used 10-hit Combo!
Gavin used Fire Stab!
Monica used Flaming Arrow!
Arthur received a total of 1900 damage!
"You are doing better than I calculated, but can you handle these?"
Arthur consumed Unknown Potion!
Arthur's Attack increased by 45!
Arthur used Six-Shooter Delight!
The party received 900 damage!
"Damn he's tough, he's far much stronger than all the others we've faced..."
Mike used Multi-heal potion!
The party received 1000 HP!
Tiffany used Thrusts Of Loyalty!
Rai-Lin used Honourable Swipe!
Kyanna used Surprise Uppercut!
Gavin used Lightning Stab!
Monica used Meteor Arrows!
Arthur received a total of 1800 damage!
"Ngh! My ways of deducing were incorrect?"
End Of BGM
Arthur defeated!
The party earned 1000 EXP and 2000 Munie!
Mike reached lvl. 29!
Tiffany reached lvl. 29!
Rai-Lin reached lvl. 29!
Kyanna reached lvl. 29!
Gavin reached lvl. 29!
Monica reached lvl. 29!
"How...how did I lose?" Arthur asked in surprised. "A gentleman like myself couldn't possibly lose."
"You may have your gentleman ways, but you forgot one thing." I replied. "Not everyone is like you."
"That may be so...still, just because I have lost, this doesn't mean I'm going to stand aside while you destroy this factory."
"Ugh, don't tell me we have to fight him again." Gavin muttered.
Arthur began to prepare for battle again. "Now, be ready to face the full might...ohhhh..."
"Hm?"
"Ack! Cough! Cough...ack!" He suddenly collapsed on the floor.
"What the heck?!" Gavin exclaimed.
"My god! He just coughed out blood and his body shrivelled!" Kyanna added. "What's going on?!"
BGM: Fairy Fencer F OST - Courage
Arthur struggled to get up. "It would seem that I have...consumed one potion too many...ugh..."
"Now that you mention it, what were those potions you drank?" Rai-Lin asked.
"They...ugh...contained the fantasy magic the Corporation was researching on...the President was keen on trying this out, so the Corporation had this factory turned into a potion brewery. Far away from the public's eye...you may have already seen through it all. But the idea of bringing security and stability to the city is nothing but a front for all of this happening."
"His signs are getting weaker." Rai-Lin added. "He doesn't have much time left."
"Why are you telling us this, now?" I asked.
Arthur laughed weakly. "All I wanted was to thrive in the business and be a wealthy man. But now I can see that it's gone too far for an old man like me...cough...ack!"
"Gone too far?"
"Listen carefully, ladies and gentleman...cough...what you face is far much worse than what has been let on. President Gladstone is going to use the fantasy magic inherited from these power generators and harness them into his own body."
"Harness them, what do you mean?" Tiffany asked.
"Exactly what I said...cough...he wants to resurrect the souls of the ones who lived at the ruined temple and bring forth another portal so that he can rule the city with his own army of monsters around us before moving onto taking over the world."
"Taking over the world...more like making sure those who disagree with him don't ever get to see it." I said.
"If you are certain of travelling there, then you should move towards the north east, there you will find the ruined place once known as Dragon Temple." Arthur cough as his voice was getting weaker. "One final warning to you all...the Vice President...Ken, that man is not to be taken lightly...he is the only one who has consumed many potions and has not felt the side-effects. He wants the same thing the President wants, but for himself...please...ensure that he is stopped...cough...cough...ack!"
He gasped his last breath and fell to the side, Arthur was no more.
BGM: Fairy Fencer F OST - Lonely Time
"Ken, eh? Much stronger than we think as well?" I asked myself. "No that's impossible, there's no way he could've survived the explosion back at the tower."
"But perhaps he was right." Rai-Lin said. "This also means that the Quintet is no longer in service."
"That means we'll be heading towards the final battle soon." Gavin added. "So what do we do about these backup power generators?"
"Let's leave them be for now." I replied. "I'm sure Nikki can take care of this after we let her know about this factory."
"Yeah good idea." Tiffany agreed. "I'll send a text whilst we're going to the temple."
"Then what are we waiting for, let's go and wrap this up." Kyanna said.
Suddenly, I saw a pink silhouette before it turned into a familiar fairy.
"Hey Mike, I'm back!" Kyu greeted.
"Kyu! I was wondering when you're gonna be back." I replied.
"Yeah, sorry I took so long. Listen, I've come with a warning from my boss. That Ken guy...he's still alive!"
"What?!"
"My boss knows why too, he's not exactly human."
I had question marks. "Wait...come again?"
"Well, remember the story you told about your former male friends and the sting that Ken got from those scorpions. It seems that he consumed a few of those magic potions a few days ago whilst inside the Corporation Tower and the added venom he got from those things gave him a side effect in not only providing him impressive strength and defence, but also immune to explosions."
"Immune to explosions...that means he's still out there?!"
"Yeah and where things are right now, there's only one place he's thinking of going to."
"Dragon Temple." I clenched my empty fist. "So Arthur was right, Ken wants the same thing the President wants, but he's ready to stab him in the back and take the powers for himself. There's no damn way we're letting that happen, we're gonna put an end to this RPG fantasy adventure and set things right...enough people have lost their lives because of this. You're all with me, yes?"
They all replied positively.
"Oh and I almost forgot, I'll be fighting alongside you again." Kyu said happily. "Hope you appreciate it, homie."
"Always...thanks for coming back."
"Don't mention it, champ."
Kyu joined the party!
End Of BGM
We left the factory and turned towards the north east...the final battle would be close, I could almost feel it...
Next time! It'll be time for the final battle very soon...