Anon: Hmm... now how to punish the gophers for eating all the cookies... AHA! YOU ALL HAVE TO LISTEN TO ELSWORD SING!
Elsword: What? I don't sing that badly do I?
Aisha: YOu made me go deaf for a week.
Chung: You put me in the hospital
Eve: You cracked the El shard in my head.
Rena: YOU BROKE MY FAVORITE MIRROR!
Raven: You made my arm nearly choke me to death.
And there's also a new poll on my page for future chapters for my Velder high series.
Blaze's POV:
I sit in the cell with the rest of my group in the back huddling with my sister who was named Alpha-02 by the Nasods. With Theta-01 and 02 killed yesterday, it only left so little people left from the original group that they had pooled the rest into one big cell. We all were minding our own business when we all heard the clunk of the lock on the door to the cells opened. Everyone huddled away from the barred door of our cells as the clunk of heavy foot steps came closer to us. I hopped and prayed that he wouldn't stop at my cell and my sister hugged my harder trying to comfort me when he stopped at the front of our door. He took out some keys that unlocked the bars and slid them open.
"Unit Alpha-01, your up next." Everyone parted gladly knowing that they weren't next and it left only my sister and I in the middle. He walked up and reached down grabbing me, ripping me from my sisters grasp.
"No!" She tried to reach for me as he went out of the cell and he kicked her back into it violently before locking it again. I looked at her sadly as he locked the door again and smiled a farewell smile to her before I was taken away to the door. Behind me I could hear her crying before it was sealed away with a clunk of the heavy steel door. I was escorted to a metal chamber and strapped down to the cold metal table.
"Beginning the operation." I had kept my cool since I left my sisters side but now I'm starting to become afraid for a metal saw extended down and started to spin. My eyes widened as I saw it and I tried to get free but I was locked down tightly and I was helpless as the saw the saw blade descended towards my arm.
"AAAAHHHHHH!" I screamed as the saw blade started into my shoulders skin and bone before blacking out.
I woke up with someone shaking me and I shot up grabbing the persons neck before extending my arm blade to see that it was Eve. I let go instantly and retracted blade and watch as she rubbed her neck.
"Eve, I'm so sorry." She coughed once before replying.
"No, it's my fault for startling you."
"Why are you in my room?"
"Proto asked for me to come. She was worried about you for you were having irregular brain patterns and what you were mumbling in your sleep." My memory of the dream came back to me and I glanced down at my arm momentarily before looking back up.
"It was only a bad dream Eve. You shouldn't worry much about me that much but it was nice of you to check on me and thank you to Proto. You should get back to bed Eve. Night." She left the room for hers and I drifted back into my dream.
I had regained conciseness and was looking into a mirror to see that much of my body had changed. I was wearing some white shorts and a white t-shirt and I was still strapped into the same metal operating table but I could clearly see that both of my legs were metallic along with my right arm and the right side of my head. I looked around with my eyes when I spotted a feint figure of Proto and I tried to talk to her but no words came out and I could see that it was the same for her when two Nasods came into the room and undid the bindings on my arms and legs letting me free and escorted me to a room where they outfitted my mechanical arms, legs, and face with fake skin that resembled human tissue before bringing me to the throne room.
The large gold and silver doors swung open to the throne room and I could see Eve sitting on her throne with two Nasods at her sides. One of them i could make out as Oberon but the other Nasod was different. There was also another Nasod that only had it's head on a screen that was next to Eve and it looked at me.
"Nasod King, this is the the subject that you wanted to see?"
"Why have you brought this human here!? Get him out!"
"So it's done better than I thought. It even fooled our Queen." The voice sounded from the monitor.
'Wait... That voice! I know it any were. So it was the Nasod King that's been speaking to me through my dreams!'
"Fooled me?" I snapped back to the scene and I could see that Eve was quite confused but she kept a straight face when my body started to move on its own. My left arm reached up reached up to my right shoulder before pulling at the fake skin ripping it off to have my metallic one show underneath and I saw that she had raised an eyebrow while resting her head on her hand.
"So this is the project that I've heard you talk about?"
"This is it my Queen. Soon, the others will be ready and they will be trained for combat. Once training is over, the permanent layer of the skin will be in placed. Please take him away and strip the rest of the skin off before putting him with the others."
"Yes my lord." I left with the guards back to the same lab and had the rest of the skin pulled off and thrown away before I found myself back in the same celled area. I walked with the guard and I could hear the others crawl away from the bars but when I came into view I heard some of them gasp as they saw that I was alive. They locked me in the cell across from the others and they could see the full extent of my changes from my legs, arms, and head. I sat in the back corner of the cell and I could see the other crowding the the bars to take a look at me and I could see my sister sank to her knee and looked devastated as she saw what they done to me before going to the back of the cell. I stayed silent the whole time just sitting there when the door opened once again and the rest of them were taken for their conversions.
I then woke up and I felt a tear run down my cheek. I rubbed my eyes before sitting up in my bed when Proto appeared sitting next to me.
"So, you sister is still out there but I saw the whole thing. You had a rough life and everything that happened to you was something that wasn't under your control so don't beat yourself over the head all right?" I nodded and got up to take a shower and had taken my shirt off when I though up something.
"Hey, a Proto. You think you might be out of my head for a while?"
"Why's that?"
"Well I'm going to be taking a shower and your in my head and well..."
"Would it be awkward for you?"
"Yeah kind of." I rubbed the back of my head and blushed a bit.
"Fine, I will leave but I will be back." She then left and I undressed completely before taking a shower. Drying off and pulling on a pair of pants and a white T-shirt, I went down stairs for breakfast. I sat at the table and everything was served out and everyone was digging in chatting with each other but I only rested my head on my hand and picked at my scrabbled eggs.
"Hey, everything all right there?" I looked up to address Elswords question.
"Oh, it's nothing really. I was just thinking of something that's all."
"All right, if you insist."
"So, what's todays mission?"
"Well from what Chi and I been scouting, we've confirmed that our next target to hit will be the Nasod Foundry. Destroying that will cease the production of any more Nasod battle units but who knows how many of them are in reserve."
"Though taking out the factory will be one step closer to finding Ruben's El stone." Elsword said happily. "That settles it, pack your gear for we are heading out to take out that Nasod Foundry!"
I took one bite of my eggs before pushing back and heading upstairs to see Proto sitting on my bed waiting for me.
"So, mission time?" I stepped into my armor before having it cover my legs and pull on my glove before turning to her.
"Yep, it's mission time." I pull on my jacket and secure my sword sheath and rifle holster on my back before locking my visor in place. "I'm ready, lets go." I turn around for the door but was stopped when Proto put her hand on my shoulder.
"Blaze, I know something is going on inside of your mind and all I want to know if it will interfere with your fighting." I turned around and faced her with a smile.
"It's nothing I will be fine. It's just something that will play out during the mission." Proto and I joined the others and we made our way to the Nasod Foundry.
I wait behind the bush waiting for the signal and I have my scope zeroed on the Nasod Cannon Guard and the Assault Nasod. I take a quick glance on the surrounding area to have Rena's figure outlined on my HUD in some other concealed position also in wait for the same one. I skim the surrounding vegetation to have the other ID tags and outlines pop up near the entrance when Proto popped up on the HUD.
"All right Blaze, it's show time." I look across to Renas position and gave the signal before going back to my scope. I put my crosshair on the Nasod Cannon Guard before pulling the trigger. The bullet impacted the target shearing off a good portion of the Cannon Guards head before having three green arrows impale them selves into its chest. I shifted over to the Assault Nasod to see that a few arrows had penetrated him and I sent two more rounds to finish him off when a Nasod Bladder came out of no were and went inside with the metal door locking and an alarm sounded.
"So much for the element of surprise." I came out of my cover to join up with the others who were standing in front of the sealed door.
"Well that plan really back fired." Chi said while twirling her scythe around.
"These doors are also magnetically sealed as well so prying them open is not an option." Eve said before she scowled. "The doors systems aren't responding to any of my commands either."
"Well that only leaves one option left," Chung loaded a few more rounds in his cannon and stood in front of the door. "We blast it open." We all hugged the wall on either sides of the door as Chung raised his cannon.
"Shooting Star!" Multiple missiles were shot out of his cannon and flew towards the door and impacted it with a large explosion. The door was blown inward and smoke filled the entrance.
"Well that was easy." Everyone left the wall to go through the entrance with Chung in the lead when an object rolled under the smoke screen.
"What th- GRENADE! GET DO-" The grenade exploded stunning him when a laser pierced through the smoke screen aimed at him. Chi swung her scythe upward deflecting the shot when more came through the screen.
"Over Shield!" My shield got longer and wider as I stepped in front of Chung to block the lasers as Oberon hauled Eve out of harms way and the others rolled up to the wall. Chi pulled Chung out of the way just as cracks formed around the outer edges of my shield and a few bits chipped off. Rolling to the left as my shield failed and one of the laser shots caught my leg but bounced off harmlessly.
'Thank god for this armor.' I thought.
"And I thought that having the door sealed was bad but this is worse!" Chi yelled over to us. Oberon raised his blades ready to charge in but Eve motioned with her hand to not go.
"Hey Blaze, do I need to come out for some support?" Proto reappeared on the screen and I extended my mask before placing a fresh mag into my gun.
"No need. I need you here to help with the targeting system but I will call when I need you out in the field." Chung was shaking off the effects of the stun grenade and the hail of laser shots still shot through the entrance. Taking a quick peak around the corner to see multiple Shielded Nasods with Assault Nasods coming up behind them. Pulling back as one a shot impacted right in front of my head a plan formulated in my head.
"Hey Chung, you good enough to pull of a Heavy Railgun?"
"I'm good."
"Aisha, after Chung fires off his Heavy Railgun, can you follow up with a Plasma Cutter?"
"Sure."
"Once those two attacks are cleared charge in and attack." I got nods in return before I turned to Rena.
"You and me are going to take out those Nasod Cannon Guards. Chung Aisha, start your attack as we take out those shooters."
"You ready Proto?"
"Let the carnage begin!" I sucked in a breath of air before leaning out to the side and started shooting. Rena had also slid out of and started sending arrow after arrow down range and the Nasod Cannon Guards started to fall one by one when Chung rolled out behind me.
"Heavy Railgun!" I brought his Destroyer up onto his shoulder firing off a large cannon round sending the assault drones and shielded Nasod off to the side.
"Plasma Cutter!" A red hot plasma beam shot out creating a huge hole in their defense when I slipped my M14 back into its holster and drew my sword and charged in with the rest.
"On your right!" I twisted to me left as one of the assault drones tried to stab me. Grabbing the arm that it shoved at me, I brought up my right arm with its blade extended cutting its arm clean off. Using the momentum that I built from pulling the arm as the blade cut through it, I spun around to shove its own blade in its head. Running with the others as we cut through the Nasod forces when we came up on the manufacturing line. Mechanical arms were moving in synchronized with the others to build the Nasods.
"So this is where the magic happens." We all marvel at the shear size of the manufacturing line but we still had a mission to do.
"So, what next?" Chung asked.
"Well that's an easy thing to do," Chi swung her elbow into a control panel smashing it before swinging her scythe through one of the machines to have it spark and explode. "Break some things and have fun doing so." She said sad sadistically before laughing and continue on her destructive path.
"Some girl friend you got there Chung." I nudged him with my shoulder.
"Oh shut up." He ran ahead to join Chi in her destruction and the rest of us soon followed. I slashed my sword through one of the machines when one of those Assault Nasods jumped me from behind. I powered up my shield and raised it blocking the attack before rearing my fist back and swinging it in an upper cut. It impacted its chest armor crumpling it and it kept on going through its power core and out the other side. Withdrawing my arm from it, it fell to the ground with a new hole sparking hole when Proto came back again.
"Blaze, you forgot to extend your blade."
"Uhh yeah... I still haven't gotten used to the arm blade yet. But the punch did feel good." I found myself destroying another machine with Raven and Chi when Chung burst out of the machine and into the wall behind us.
"Chung!" Chi ran over to his aid and Raven and I turned around to see the perpetrator through the hole. Everything seemed to stand still as we all looked at the new enemy when it made the first move. It charged at Elsword and swung his sword at him and he parried the swing when it changed course and went after Rena. She fired a few arrows it before drawing Erendil to parry off a strike. Raven and I charged him but his attacks kept us at distance.
"Wait, this fighting technique."
"His attack techniques are exactly like mine!"
"They built another copy of Raven!" Oberon was engaging his when he jumped over him and sent a spinning fume of fire at us knocking Eve, Raven and myself into an indent of the room when we started the floor started to move downwards.
"What the." The floor kept on lowering when the Nasod version of Raven jumped on with us. Oberon was behind up but he was just to late as the elevator descended down into the floor and a metal door closed sealing us in with the Crow Rider.
"Well if it isn't the inferior version of myself." A robotic voice of Ravens came out.
"You're the inferior Raven here pale." Raven voice had venom in it as he glared at the replica of himself.
"Raven? I don't go by that name anymore. Now, I'm Crow Rider and you shall fall to my blade!" Crow Rider charged the two of us and Raven met him head on. Their swords clashed with each other when Crow Rider slashed low causing Raven to jump back.
"Inferno Blade!" Both of my sword and blade ignited and the imprints in my eyes started to glow before charging I charged at him. I swung my sword at him and he blocked it with his own before I swung upwards with my other arm cutting into his chest. He jumped back wards before teleporting away.
"I need to regenerate. Go my minions and deal with them." 4 mini versions of Crow Rider then appeared. One of them jumped up at Eve and she sent both Moby and Reby at it dazing him before delivering a hearty slap to his face turning him around to face Raven who had engaged the other Crow Rider and switched over to him. Me on the other hand was dealing with the other two Crow Rider droids. I parried one of their blows and forced to jump back as the other one comes up with its claw. The two of them then brought their swords down at the same time and I raised both my sword and blade locking in a battle of strength when the two of them raised their hands for an attack.
"Yeah Proto, I would like your help about now!" She appeared behind the two Crow Riders with her eyes glowing. I physically sweat dropped as I saw her like that and only felt bad for the drone that she picks to fight. She reached down grabbing the one on my left by its neck before pulling back hard. The other one looked to the side wondering what happened to its partner when I planted my heel in its face. It reeled around and glared at me as I spun my sword around before grabbing it again in a reversed grip before charging it. It tried to punch me with its fist but I easily side stepped the attack while bringing my blade upwards cutting off its arm. Wires hung out and sparked as it frantically waved its sword at me and I dodged the attacks easily before finishing it off. I look over to see that Eve was standing on top of a beaten Crows rider looking down in disgust with Moby and Reby flying at her side and Raven had finished off his target while Proto was hovering around the last one which had both of its legs and its attack claw ripped off and was trying to pull itself away from her.
"Jeez Proto just put it out of its misery." She looked at me with a small sad expression before sending a Nasod spear into it destroying it.
"You just had to ruin my fun." I only shivered at her definition of 'fun.'
"Well that was only an appetizer and the main course is on its way." The real Crow Rider then teleported back to us and looked down at the remains of the mini versions of himself with distaste.
"So much for them taking care of you. I guess I have to do the rest myself." He jumped at swinging his sword and I raised my own up to block it. He interlocked our swords together when he raised his claw and pointed it at me to send a spinning fume of fire at my. I jumped back to avoid it partially as it singed the edge of my jacket and he took a wild slash at as I jumped catching my right arm. I grit my teeth at the pain as the cut in my arm sparked. Proto then sent out multiple spears after Crow Rider forcing him back into Eve who slapped him hard in the face. Spinning around from the slap into Raven who brought his sword down lopping off the Nasods head. The new hole in its body sparked before crumpling over with a clunk and sparked even more. Proto was at my side taking a scan on my arm before motioning for Eve to come over.
"It's not as bad as it looks but you do need to be more careful. Any deeper and I wouldn't be able to help you with the tools I have. Though we will have to go back up to Oberon and the others in order to make the repairs." I nodded when I looked past her to see some light start to come through the wall as the elevator went down further until a windowed view of the area was present. Eve got up and quickly went up to the glass with some urgency and Proto followed. I looked around to see a giant silo in the center with multiple cable and catwalks connecting to it along with one large main corridor that connects to this elevator and revolves around the central silo.
"We're here."
"What?"
"We're here. This is were we are supposed to go, the Nasod core." Eve kept facing towards the giant core as her own thoughts went through her mind.
"Hey, do you think you override the elevator controls so we don't go down and meet who ever is down there with the four of us? I would feel a LOT better if we had the rest of the gang here and to also get repaired." She nodded and pulled up her console. Typing a few things in, the elevator stopped its descent and started its way back up but at a much faster speed.
Reaching the top, we were greeted by a happy Oberon and a relieved faces. I sat down on a table as Oberon started to go to work on my arm when my stomach growled. It was lunch time and all that this fighting had worked up my appetite. I sat through as Oberon worked on reconnecting some cut circuits and repairing any other damage that he found. Finishing I hopped off the table thanking him before going over to the cooking fire that Rena apparently made when we disappeared down the elevator shaft and I took the soup that she's created thankfully.
"So, were did that elevator lead you to?" Chi asked curiously.
"Our next objective, the Nasod Core."
"Wait what!? The core is right below us?"
"Yep, it is." I then turned towards Chung asking, "Hey Chung, you good enough to continue on?" He rolled his shoulders before replying.
"I've taken worse hits before so I'm ready for some more action."
"All right then, it's settled. Once we're done with lunch here, we're heading down to the core."
Crow Rider's POV:
My systems come back online and my visuals sensors activate as I step outside the pod I was in when a familiar voice sounded behind me.
"You should be lucky Crow Rider that we had one more Crow Rider unit left to transfer our data to."
"Humph, they just got lucky that's all."
"Lucky my ass, you got beaten hard by those four." I turned around to see one of the twins, Leviathan, behind me and I got ticked off my his comment.
"Hey I wouldn't be talking Leviathan. The last that I remember is that you and your brother Ignis were also trashed by those guys too. Hell even your parts were used to create the traitor a new body guard."
"At least we did more damage to the group than you did." Ignis then came out of the shadows behind Leviathan and I was about to say something when the Kings voice boomed over us.
"Silence you fools! Or I will dismantle the three of you and make a toaster, freezer, and a sword rack out of the spare parts!" That silenced all of us and we listened to his commands.
"Now that they've found a way to the core, I'm stationing each one of you at a different area to protect the core area but there will be another member that will join the team."
"Now who would that be!?"
"That would be me." A feminine voice sounded behind us and we all turned to see a girl walk out of the shadows and we watched her with distaste.
"You're adding her to the group?" Venom laced my words as the three of us glared at her.
"She's more powerful than the three of you and she will be following the group around once their down in the core. Speaking of which the elevator is on the move. All units, form up in a defensive perimeter around the core and the three different entrances to here. Crow Rider, Ignis, and Leviathan, you have your orders move out!" The three of us turned to leave and I glanced back to see that she was still there talking to the King before leaving as well.
'I will get my revenge on those people and I'm not letting her take the glory in killing them!'
Chung and Anon: *Mortified*
Proto: What's with those two?
Aisha: Anon just found out that DCxIP is a legit pairing in Elsword.
Chung: But...
Anon: How can you...
Chung: Date myself?
Crow Rider: YES! YOU GAVE ME A POV!
?: And I've been introduced!
Anon: ! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!
Review and you'll get a muffin :D Lets just hope the gophers haven't found those yet.
