Chapter 12: Cousins' Battle

12:12 PM (Japan Time), Friday September the 24th…

"… Stop right there!"

"Catch me firstly!"

Yuriko ran down a street while chasing Odoroida.

"Shah, shah, shah! That gal was stalking Detective Misaki: it's obvious she works for Silver Arrow!" Needle Man exclaimed.

"Yeah. But no grunt will outrun me."

"… Shit. That woman found me out." Odoroida cursed.

"What do we do, Karina – chan?" Cecline asked.

"Uh! That warehouse will do fine."

She spotted a warehouse's read door and she ran inside while shutting it from the inside: Yuriko tried to ram into it, but it didn't budge.

"Shit! She must've blocked it from the inside. However! All warehouses always have another exit." She hissed.

She ran and turned the corner just as Odoroida ran out of the building, cursing and running.

"Wait!"

They kept chasing each other for another five minutes, and Karina suddenly found herself in a cul – de – sac ally and trapped.

"No more running away!" Yuriko declared.

"... Hey there. Don't spoil it now, when I'm feeling most pleased. I've got no time to play with you anymore." A resigned voice rang out with a hint of annoyance.

Yuriko and Odoroida gasped: they looked to the right and spotted Sergei standing in the rooftop of the right building while looking somewhat bored and unimpressed.

"Sergei." Yuriko cursed.

"Hmpf. Special Summon!" He announced with a smug smile.

"Damn." Yuriko cursed.

Some data materialized and gave way to "Zoan" Yamato Man: he'd already assumed his "Bestialize" form and looked ferocious and deadly.

"Hmpf! Eject!"

He snapped his right hand's fingers and vanished out of the street along with Odoroida.

"Thousand Spear!"

Yuriko gasped and barely dodged while she took out her Link PET and pressed a button.

"Science Labs! I need a "Dimensional Area"!"

"Roger! Dimensional Area: Activate!"

The "Dimensional Area" formed and Yuriko quickly climbed up into the roof using a garbage bin.

"Hah!"

She took out her "Synchro Chip" provided by Wily.

"Synchro Chip, Slot In! CROSS FUSION!"

She finished the transformation and drew her cannons.

"Needle Cannon!"

"Zoan" Yamato Man merely swung his spear to form a circle and bounce off all rounds before he jumped into the air and dived towards "CF" Yuriko: he hit her with the spear, but a cloud of smoke ensued and a Kawarimi was left on his place.

"Flare Needle!"

"Huh?"

She delivered some quick cuts to his back and he recoiled as three shuriken hit his back.

"Tornado Arm!"

The attack sent the enemy flying and "CF" Yuriko spotted "CF" Airstar there: he was smiling.

"Yo! Miss Yuriko! Been a while!" He greeted.

"Mister Pilot bothered to drop by, eh?" "CF" Yuriko sounded amused.

"Yeah! I was flying nearby and saw that chase."

"You better not talk of this, Charlie…" Gyro Man warned.

"Don't worry: Tesla is busy planning the Jawaii vacation!" "CF" Airstar replied with a smile.

"Shah, shah, shah! Let's go for it!" Needle Man suggested.

"CF" Airstar took out his rotor and hit "Zoan" Yamato Man with it while "CF" Yuriko aimed for his back.

"Program Advance! Hi Cannon, Triple Slot In! Giga Cannon!"

The Program Advance caught "Zoan" Yamato Man off – guard and annihilated him while "CF" Airstar flew into the air.

"Nice!"

"Heh."

Both canceled their "Cross Fusions" as the "Dimensional Area" faded away and picked up their Link PETs.

"…Human holders of my "Duo's Crest"!" A voice boomed out of nowhere.

"No way!" Airstar gasped.

"Impossible!" Yuriko gasped.

They looked nearby and saw a frizzling speaker: it was obvious that something was going on inside of its Cyber World.

"Sheesh. I suspect "S" being behind this." Yuriko cursed.

"Oh. Netto told me about the guy… The energy theft culprit…" Airstar admitted.

"Let's go!" Yuriko told him.

"Plug In!"

"Gyro Man!"

"Needle Man!"

"TRANSMISSION!"

Both Navis entered the speaker's Cyber World and spotted a possessed Navi manipulating the controls.

"When you humans' "Crests" become one… With that power… Will you humans be able to overcome my trial? Earthlings! The day of judgment is close by!" The Navi announced while copying Duo's voice.

"Quit the act." Gyro Man told him.

"Shah, shah, shah! Do ya think we're silly?" Needle Man challenged.

"Heh, heh, heh… No. But I liked that face of angst and terror. It was worth it." The guy named "S" replied through the Navi as it turned around with a shrug of the shoulders.

"Fight!" Both challenged.

"Nope. This Navi is not a combat model. But remember something: I have the "R – Program". Not even Rock Man will be able to overwhelm me with his 75% max output copy." S replied in calm manner.

"Sheesh." Both grumbled.

"Anyway… I predict that we will meet in less than three weeks' time. Will you be able to endure my teasing?"

"Yeah. And now go to Alaska."

"Heh, heh, heh… Bye-bye!"

16:57 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Spiky Boomerang!"

"Yikes!"

Rock Man dodged a black boomerang covered in brown and deadly-looking spikes: Agatha was his opponent.

"Sheesh! I end classes and I get a message that there's a ramen knockout offer in this store… But it was a trap!" Netto grumbled.

"Yeah. And this shop has been empty for years." Rock Man grumbled.

"Hmpf. There's someone in your class worth my Mistresses' time. That's why I'll remove you from the way." Agatha announced.

"Yeah? Do ya think I'll let ya?"

"Hmpf. Worthless men. That red headed one will be worth my time. Heh, heh, heh." Atamane put up a smug smile.

"Whaddya want to do to Meiru – chan? Wait! You must be one of the thugs which escaped that police raid!" Netto grasped.

"Yeah. That's me. But I have my own business. And only women are allowed into it. Hmpf." She looked amused.

"… Girl on girl type, then…" Rock Man muttered.

"Greek Sword!"

Agatha took out a customized Long Sword with Greek symbols engraved on its blade: she jumped towards Rock Man.

"Battle Chip, Shirahadori! Slot In!"

"Shirahadori!"

Rock Man blocked the blade and forced Agatha to step back.

"Sheesh."

"Did you think I wouldn't defend myself?" Rock Man questioned.

"Whatever." She scoffed.

"… Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh… Preparations: completed! Good work. Your role is over." A familiar voice rang out.

Both gasped as Sergei gallantly walked in and stood in threshold while having a smug smile on his face.

"Sergei!" Rock Man cursed.

"Agatha – san. Please depart the premises. I shall take care of the rest. Go ahead and meet up with your target." Sergei told her.

"Roger. Have at cha!"

"Tee, heh, heh." Atamane giggled.

"Damn." Netto cursed.

"Hrah!"

Sergei swung his sword around the room and the ground was deleted: they both dropped into a new room and Rock Man landed into the ground in a rather unceremoniously manner.

"Ouch!"

Sergei gave him the back and walked to the north end of the room: there was a doorway with the word "Shrine" written into it and four large pelican statues decorated the brown-tiled room.

"Pelicans of all things?"

The walls have some cavities build into them and there also was a mural with a curious drawing set above the north door: a purple sphere and a yellowish sphere were drawn to the right and left and there were connected by two straight lines colored purple and yellow: they formed a white sphere once they met in the middle.

"What, some rip-off? This guy keeps on lacking any imagination." Saito complained.

"Guess that…" Netto guessed.

Sergei seemed to be looking at it while Rock Man grumbled and stood up: he then looked above him: the "ground" of the store had reformed, trapping him inside of the room.

"Obviously."

The ground had a brown octahedron which had a circle and eight interrogation-sign like shapes extending from it: the rest of the ground was made of square brown tiles.

"… Heh."

Sergei turned around while looking amused.

"…Hiya, Cousin Saito. You're still alive, it'd seem. Meeting you again must mean that..."

"Another scripted battle…" Netto grumbled.

"Having our encounters repeat must mean that... There surely is a red string of fate which is tying us." He amusedly commented.

"Very original." Saito drily told him.

"Hmpf. Have a look at this! Yo!"

He spread his arms open and the mural was illuminated all of a sudden as if to allow him to have a better look to it.

"This explains the tale of an eternally ongoing conflict… The battle between "Light" and "Dark"! And the result of their mutual eternal clash is… Chaos! Self-destruction!" He grandly announced as he signaled them with the right arm.

"Sheesh." Saito grumbled.

Sergei turned and assumed a pose as if he was revering the mural while sounding amused: he suddenly warped and appeared to the left while kneeling in an admiration pose.

"This looks bad." Netto grimly muttered.

"Heh, heh, heh. Watch…" Ivan teased.

"All the time I had to hold back 'cause it was way too early… But not anymore!" Sergei announced.

He warped again and appeared on a shelf right in front of the mural in a kneeled position: he stood up and slowly lifted his arms while letting out a sigh.

"I wouldn't be able to meet that lovely girl twice... Or it seemed." He announced.

"Yet again with the "maiden" talk…" Netto grumbled.

"This is just the prologue." Ivan teased.

Sergei crossed his arms and looked towards the right while looking in a good mood: he suddenly faced forward and opened them while making a sinister smile.

"However!"

He suddenly jumped into the air and dived towards Saito: he landed in front of him and suddenly appeared behind while leaning both hands on top of his shoulder pads.

"I've gotten good news by coming here. There's still one road left!" He exclaimed.

"Oi! Don't invade my personal space!" Saito protested.

He tried to turn around and punch Sergei, but he warped and gracefully landed one meter in front of him: he opened his arms and the room lightened up.

"That little girl is necessary to achieve the complete resurrection of our Lord... I can finally fit "it" in my hands!" Sergei announced.

"You're not gonna resurrect Twilight: we know that." Netto grumbled and sounded annoyed.

"Tch, tch… Don't be so quick to criticize, Cousin Netto." Ivan told him.

Sergei lowered his arms and looked slightly towards the right.

"By the way... It's about Cousin Saito's treatment but... I did say "I'll grant you a living Hell" a while ago but... I'm going to discard it... That fine for you?" Sergei commented in a casual tone.

He pointed his right hand at Saito while looking amused.

"… Heh… If you docily exhale where the Time-Space Device is at... No... If you told me? Because you MUST know it, right?" Sergei invited.

"Time Space Device… The machine Golden Star used to travel to and from "Beyondard", you mean? Don't you know that yourself?" Saito replied.

"... My, my... Can't be helped. Well then. In that case... Should we get serious already this time around?" He suggested as he turned to let Saito see the left side of his body.

"Coming?" Netto wondered.

"Heh, heh, heh…"

Sergei slowly let the mantle dissolve and gently lifted his forearms while the room's lighting dimmed.

"Heh!"

His forearms' DNA-like patterns changed to a bright golden color all of a sudden.

"Whoa!" Both gasped.

"How is it? What do you think of this attentive skin? What do you think of these arms wrapped in armor of flexible muscles? Aren't they beautiful? Are you becoming fascinated?" Sergei asked while glancing at him.

"…"Beautiful"…" Netto looked skeptical.

"Heh, heh, heh. You never were the subtle type, Cousin Netto." Ivan chuckled.

Some circuit-line purple lines formed on the left side of Sergei's face and upper torso, giving him a creepy-like aura.

"W-what?" Saito gasped.

"Scary~!" Netto gasped.

"True! I am! My true form is! Beautifully shaped! Gracefully faced!" Sergei exclaimed while facing forward.

He suddenly looked to the left and sighed.

"Ah… But my precious true form happens to have just one defect... It happens to have..."

"One defect…?" Saito wondered.

He suddenly looked forward and seemed to be trying to look imposing and commanding while making a grin.

"I can't... hold myself back..."

"What do you mean? You were using power limiters and this form disables them or what?" Saito questioned.

"… Well then, Cousin Saito… The red string of fate which ties me with Cousin Saito… Our string of fate is surely… Tinted just like Cousin Saito's blood color, I guess… Heh, heh, heh…" He announced.

"Yikes!" Netto gasped.

"I knew it: this guy is a leech!" Saito cursed.

"Okay! Showdown! Only Sword-type Battle Chips are allowed. No – one will get on our way: I've locked off all accessing it!" Ivan eagerly announced.

Sergei calmly began to walk forward accompanied by what looked daggers sans handle and having a red light around them: they spun around their own axis and were hovering above his right shoulder and next to his left foot.

"Battle Chip, Long Sword! Slot In!"

"Long Sword!"

Saito aimed for the daggers and then swept the sword from the left to right, hitting Sergei's outstretched right hand.

"Hah!"

He stepped back and snapped his fingers: another two daggers appeared and floated parallel to his upper torso.

"Now!"

Saito tried to hit him, but he caught the Long Sword while one of those daggers hovered above his head and aimed for Saito: it shot a small laser which startled him and forced him to recoil.

"Sheesh." Netto grumbled.

Saito stepped back and analyzed the movement of another two daggers floating in front of his head and in front of the feet: he hit the palm and struggled to move the sword.

"Ho, ho, ho… I'll be taking this." Sergei announced.

Saito's Long Sword suddenly broke down into data and reformed into his right forearm.

"What!"

He swung it and hit Saito, kicking him into the floor: he then made it reform on Saito's right forearm.

"Damn. I'd forgotten this guy can steal swords." He grumbled. And

"Hang in there, Saito – niisan!" Netto encouraged.

Saito nodded in agreement and managed to land some hits on Sergei: he recoiled and now summoned four daggers.

"Heh."

Saito took out two of them but got his Long Sword caught when he tried to hit the other two: Sergei summoned replacements while Saito struggled to free the Long Sword.

"Hmpf."

"Sheesh."

The four lasers hit him and Saito had to recoil while grumbling something under his breath.

"Crap."

He focused again and managed to land two hits on Sergei's hand: he stepped back and took out his tongue which he swept through his lips while looking reminiscent of a vampire.

"Hmpf! Hah!"

He took out two swords: he held one on the right forearm aiming towards the ground while the left forearm one was pointed at the ground.

"Crap. Two swords this time around…" Saito muttered.

"We should've seen it coming." Netto grumbled.

Saito tried to hit the right sword, but Sergei countered and pushed him into the ground: he then slowly licked the right sword's blade while sounding eager.

"Y-yikes! He wasn't kidding when he said that of my blood color!"

"But you can't bleed, right?"

"If I were a human, I'd be bleeding by now!" Saito pointed out.

"Oh. Yeah… Trying to attack directly is reckless. We'll have to wait for a window." Netto deduced.

Saito put some distance between him and Sergei swept the air with both swords: he held the right one above his head and the left one pointing skywards.

"Now!"

He quickly landed some hits into him before he jumped back: he snapped his fingers and about ten of those daggers popped out.

"Heh!"

"Again…!"

The daggers formed a curve and were placed exactly above Saito: they quickly moved left and right before colliding with him.

"Damn. He's really serious!" Saito cursed.

"Heh, heh, heh…" Sergei chuckled.

He suddenly landed another blow on Saito and licked off both blades while looking bloodthirsty.

"Hmpf." Ivan put up a smug smile.

"Sheesh." Netto grumbled.

The daggers circled around Saito and quickly flew past him while leaving some cuts on his bodysuit.

"They're really sharp, too!" He cursed.

"Hah!"

Sergei jumped into the air and warped.

"What!"

He suddenly dropped from above and plunged both blades into Saito's shoulder pads while pushing him to the ground with his weight.

"A~h!" Saito groaned.

Sergei jumped out and it could be seen that some fragments of data had gotten attached to the swords' ends: his chest emblem shone and he absorbed them.

"Hmpf."

"Damn. My shoulders ache." Saito cursed.

"Battle Chip, Recovery 50! Slot In!"

The wounds vanished and Saito sounded relieved.

"Thanks, Netto – kun!"

"Coming!" Netto warned.

"O. K.!"

Sergei tried the same trick again, but Saito stepped asides and he plunged his swords into the ground.

"Eat this!"

Saito delivered about eight to nine hits before he jumped away and assumed his standard pose: the blades formed a curve again above him and flew past him while leaving some shallow cuts on his bodysuit.

"Sheesh."

"Hmpf."

The blades formed a circle but Saito spun around his axis and shot some of them back at Sergei: he blocked them.

"Heh."

They appeared in front of him and formed three groups: the first group ones shot forward and Saito cut some of them.

"Huh!"

The next ones shot vertically and Saito made some of them bounce off and hit Sergei, who couldn't block all of them.

"Grah!"

The third and last group shot in a horizontal manner as well but they hit Saito because he swung his sword too early.

"I feel like I'm building up tension." Netto admitted.

"Yeah. I get that same feeling, too." Saito admitted.

Sergei came close and swung his swords from left to right while heading up and from right to left while heading down: the second blow hit Saito and he hissed as Sergei licked it off.

"Sheesh! Take this!"

"Heh, heh, heh…"

He tried to counter, but Sergei ducked and jumped into the air before warping: he tried to come down from above, but Saito saw it coming and he managed to dodge and deliver some hits to him.

"Sheesh." Sergei grumbled.

"Hah." Netto grinned.

"Hmpf." Ivan put up a smug smile.

"Crap." Saito cursed.

Sergei summoned the three rows of daggers and shot them forward: Saito cut through the first and second rows, but the third one hit him and he had to step back.

"Hah!"

Sergei summoned the blades again and they assumed a curved position as they shot toward Saito: he managed to cut through the third group and one or two hit Sergei, who stepped back and stopped.

"… Phew! It's over." Netto sounded relieved.

"… Gruh!"

Sergei used the right hand to cover the right side of his face and panted.

"… Hmpf. As expected…" He muttered.

"What?" Netto gasped.

"Heh." Ivan grinned.

"… You're really improved, Cousin Saito. I'll praise you." Sergei told him with a smile.

"Hmpf. I'm flattered." Saito dully replied.

"… Maybe you will be able to survive if you are to face that person in battle… But I cannot guarantee that you will come out unscratched from such a battle." Sergei teased.

"I knew that."

"Heh, heh, heh… Okay. Lil bro! Time to pull out…" Ivan announced with a grin.

"Heh. Bye – bye." Sergei grinned.

"I'll beat the skin outta ya, Ivan!" Netto challenged.

"Come anytime." Ivan invited.

Sergei swung his swords and warped out of the room while the ground lifted up and Saito was returned inside of the abandoned store.

"PHEW!"

Hhe sighed in relief and stepped out only to be met by a possessed Navi who was standing there.

"…"S"..." He muttered.

"An amusing fight... Maybe I'll get inspired from it, even… I'm looking for some fresh ideas roaming out there…" He announced.

"Sheesh." Netto grumbled.

"Enjoy… While you still can…" S taunted.

The Navi was freed and the black mass escaped.

S… What kind of enemy is he? Saito wondered.

He has an overwhelming pressure to him…! Netto gasped.

Yeah… And he's giving me the creeps, too. Saito admitted.

They must be extremely powerful…!

"Guts, guts… Rock Man! Is this the spice store? De guts?"

"No. It's four blocks south."

"Huh… Guess Guts Man needs a compa-something, too, de guts."

"A compass!" Tomahawk Man corrected.

…"S"…! Who are you really? What's you game?