Clack

I squeeze the lever, and I see a flash of an orangish-redish color, before I am launched back into a neighboring wall, part of the building falling on top of me.

"ugh..." I come to, ears ringing from the explosion, and I lift some materials off my back. I stand up, and stretch, my back feeling a little bit too sore. I look around, and immediately start running towards a pile of rubble. Noire is trapped underneath it. I pass by Ryouichi and Sparky, whom are trying to dig out IF and Compa.

"Hold on Noire, I'll get this stuff off of you." I start pulling random debris off of the top of the pile on top of Noire (and presumably Neptune).

"zzz" Neptune is snoozing out under the rubble. Meanwhile, Noire looks pissed at me.

"Was is really necessary to use that much?"

"Sorry. I didn't know how strong they were."

She replies, "Well now you know... this is ridiculous." I stop digging, and I look around.

"Holy shit." I finally take in the destruction that my explosion caused. The entire south side of the warehouse that we were in is completely leveled.

I whistle. "I'd hate to be the CPU of this nation. The paperwork would be horrible." For a reason or another, Noire groaned, and planted her face into the ground.

"Help me! I'm stuck in the floor again!"

"...?" I ignored Neptune, and continued digging.

I check my inventory. I lost basically all of my discs in the explosion, except for the pudding discs. My pole-arm looks like a chew toy.

'I'll find someone to fix it later...'

"Say... doesn't this seem all a bit strange?" I asked everyone.

"How do you figure?" IF responded.

"We are walking out of a trap, set by a monopoly of everything that wants to kill us. Don't you think that was a little bit weak?"

"So? Maybe it was just MY skill that carried us through that."

"I dunno vampy, I'm still a little depressed. I didn't get the mineral OR to get to smash a disk."

"..." I had no response.

"Anyhow... back on track, it is kinda strange that they only had one robot there..." IF catches my drift.

"So there must be more... but where..." Noire thinks about where they would target, instead of ensuring success on our deaths.

I couldn't tell them one way or another, where that scumbag Ganache would send them. I hardly know the way back to the hotel, let alone the name of it.

"Oh no... they wouldn't be trying to harm Chian would they?" Compa's got a point... I've never met this 'Chian' but they seem to trust her.

"We need to help her! Plus. I need to return this awesome sword!"

tap tap

I groaned to myself.

'Why now out of all times?' I bitterly think to myself. These headaches are getting tiresome. I massage my forehead a bit before looking up.

'Everyone is looking at me...?'

"Well, lead the way... I don't know where her place is."

"Oh... that's right. Everyone! Follow me!" We all jog down the streets of Lastation, following IF.

BANG BANG BANG

My "headache" has turned into a full blown migraine by the time we reached Chians place.

"Oh my god..." Ryouichi spits out. With good reason too, there seems to be a factory, completely burned to the grounds, with every brick knocked down. Hovering over the wreckage are two large Killachines.

"I hope Chian is okay..." Compa says, very concerned for the health of all people.

Ryouichi reassures her, "Don't worry. Chian is a lot tougher than that. A giant hunk of junk isn't going to kill her."

"Nepu! Does that mean we won't get free food anymore?" My mouth waters at the prospect of food.

'I haven't eaten for a long time now... and I feel as if this isn't the first time.'

Noire turns to me, "Xiang."

I snap out of my food induced stupor, "Yeah?"

"I don't suppose you have anymore of those explosives..."

I shake my head, "No, but I have around a crap ton of pudding." Noire seemed conflicted, her head tilted down. My mind traveled back to our conversation last night.

'Could it be?'

THUMP THUMP THUMP

The secrecy on her memories, the question out of nowhere... and the paperwork!

'I am so stupid.'

At this point my head feels like it is glass to a cannonball... though I hide my discomfort.

I put a hand on her shoulder, "You should just do it, nobody would care." She jumped in suprise from the contact.

She nods, "Okay, but it's for my country. Not for Chian or anybody else!" I nod.

Noire turns to the rest of the party.

"Alright! We need to split in two groups! One group is Xiang, Ryouichi, and Neptune. IF, Compa! Follow me!"

A pillar of data surrounds Noire, and she comes out completely different. CPU Noire has long white-hair that is let down, with what looks like a black one-piece swim suit. Her eyes glow with a power-symbol in the middle.

CRACK

"Nepu! Now I don't feel special anymore!" Neptune as well transforms. "But I can see this is for the best... Noire." Neptune holds out a hand, and Noire begrudgingly takes it, and shakes hands.

I butt in, "Guys? Factory? Your country Noire? Pudding?" The last two was enough to snap the two out of their truce, and we moved out. I tailed behind, climbing a nearby fire escape onto a nearby roof.

I set up my rifle, and I take aim.

CRACK

"Gh..." My skull is made out of powder at this point... I push it back, and take aim.

There are numerous thugs in a building adjacent to the destroyed factory. They have weaponry laying around... I held fire...until I saw the stupid thug that kept on following me around. I see a small propane tank behind in corner of the room.

'That's convenient...'

I put a single bullet into it, blowing it up, scattering the opposition. I readjust and see that there was no need to pursue anymore. The three-armed lady is scaling the side of the building, and vaults herself into the window.

'Well, I'm sure she can handle it.'

"Hey! Can you hear me Xiang?"

I realized that I was still wearing small little earbuds, and I responded.

"Yeah, whats happening?"

"We are going to need backup, Noire took a small hit from debris but she is fine."

CRASH

I couldn't hear what Ryouichi was saying... It cut off somehwere near backup. Something finally snapped inside my head.

"Hello? Pull yourself together, it was minor and she can still fight." I wasn't listening however. The only thing I can hear is the blood pumping in my ears.

'This hurts so much!'

Something burst forward, bubbles... so many. Each one popped, and I see so many images flashing before my eyes. I can hear millions of noises, voices, explosions, cries, all resonating in my ear. And as fast it began, it stopped. And I lost control. I fell to the ground, in shock from so much information.

Ryouichi's POV

"Damnit! He bugged out." I've been trying to contact Xiang for nearly an hour now. Currently, only one more Killachine was left. We completely owned the other one easy. There was a maintenance hatch in the back of its head. I thought I was the dullest knife in the drawer. Clearly not.

This one however... its a buffed up version of the one we found. There are no gaps, nothing penetrates, and no hatch. To make things worse, it seems to be able to self repair itself. Noire and Neptune launch a coordinated attack. I do the same with Sparky, whom I'm riding on top of. We charge, reaching the Killachines bottom, jumping up and latching on with my whip onto its tail. I squeeze with all of my magical energy, causing the Killachine to try to swat me off. I jump off to prevent being squished, as I retreat to a safer distance. I see Xiang tending to IF and Compa, who were hit by a falling building.

"Shit dude! Where were you? And... your eyes are back to red!" He waves off my questions and asks where are the other two.

I point upwards.

Noire and Neptune come in, twirling together, combining their energy to create a drill like attack. They head at mach-level speeds, and hit the Killachine, drilling into its shoulder. Unfortunately, robots don't feel pain, and it releases a shockwave, knocking Noire and Neptune out of "Hyper Drive Divinity."

"Oh god..." I whisper. They lose their ability for flight, and fall helplessly, with no control in the air, the Killachine raises its mace, and swings it. The mace collides with both of them, sending them flying. Right before it looks like they were about to make a crash landing, somebody jumped from a nearby window and caught Noire, a robotic arm then catching Neptune. She lands next to us, and Xiang lets out a shaky breath.

"I want the both of you two to get Neptune and the others out of here."

I protest, "That thing just took out two CPU's. You can't!"

Xiang replies to me, "Look." He points to a gaping hole in its shoulder, "All I need to do is start pulling random wires." He gives a reassuring look. "Now go!"

I don't question him. Maybe it's because I trust him, or maybe it's because I'm too scared for my own safety. The last thought churns my stomach, as I help Compa and IF onto Sparky. And I order him to bring them back to the hotel, hoping he understands. Either way, Sparky starts transporting the two out...

"*whistle* Damn dude, your friend is kicking ASS!" said the agent. I look up and I see a pair of black wings, radiating black smoke that threatens to burn anybody that comes near. Xiang swoops in and collides with its right shoulder, and a large black explosion expands from the point of contact. The smoke clears, and the Killachines arm is completely gone.

BOOM!

"Damn right he is... wait who are you again?"

"Name is Erica, the Warrior of Liberty. And you must be Léons little brother." She smiles fondly at me, but I didn't care.

"Wait... do you know Léon?"

Xiang's POV

When I saw that our little "group" was out safely, I spread my wings.

"Eh... you can take this one. It was tiresome enough breaking those chains."

'Still as lazy as ever. I still can't believe I expected something different from the Searing King.'

No response, just a lousy excuse at snoring. I launch myself in the air, using my wings to glide towards the Killachine. I see the weak point that Noire and Neptune was able to create. I start charging energy, wicks of black smoke flying off of me, spreading into a pattern of a pheonix. I start towards the Killachine, nearing the sound-barrier, and I power up my right hand. I close in, dodging an ax from Killachine, and swing.

BOOM!

I back up from the smoke radius, and I find that its entire arm is gone. I don't stop there however, I swoop in to the right, grabbing onto the expose wiring and shot a spark of electricity into it. The robot promptly started freaking out, and I back away before I'm hit by a lucky swing.

It thrashes wildly, sparks flying everywhere. You can see screws and bolts flying out, and an explosion erupts in the tail, followed by numerous others leading up the body to the head.

BOOM!

Its top blows straight off, landed directly into the middle of the destroyed factory, and I lowered down towards two figures. One is waving to me, the other is in deep thought... I land and refold my wings.

"What's up dude? By the way... where did you guys store all of my shit?" Obviously he is thinking about something else, so I'm just going to ignore what happened just now. He's got enough to think about.

"Yeah."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm..."

I turn to spy over here, and I notice something off.

"...!" I backpedal, summoning my swords, and raise them.

"Who's servant are you? And what power do you possess?" I hope it isn't mind control. Last time something like that happened, let's just say that there was a man streaking through the street for an hour.

'Starting scan...5%'

She raises her hands in defense, "Hey hey hey! I didn't do anything buddy. Name's Erica, Warrior of Liberty." She holds a hand out for a handshake.

'Scan...29%'

"Mind cutting the bullshit?"

'Scan...57%'

"Geez, such a buzzkill. I don't know what your problem is."

'Scan...79%'

"I'm just a friendly neighborhood vigilante."

'Scan Complete'

'So that's why...'

I dissipate my weapons, and shake her hand.

"Haven't seen you since you were a little child. What has Léon been doing?" I smiled, finding an acquaintance. She still seemed confused.

'Still haven't recognized me yet...' That makes me depressed.

"Wait... you two know each other? And where is Léon?"

"Not here. Not in Lastation at least. Also, please don't make me streak through the streets again." Realization strikes her.

"Aww... it's just the old geezer." A salty tear runs down my face. "I'm just poking you... long time no see." She gives me a grin. "Now Spin." Oh god.

She slipped through my barrier with that hug, and I am now under her mind control. I know no physical harm will come from it.

But Demons can experience scarring from embarrassment too.

Ryouichi's POV

I watch Erica screw around with Xiang. I would laugh with her and torture Xiang normally but...

'She knows something about Léon... I'll just stay silent for now...'

A/N: First time writing a story like this. So, sorry if it difficult to keep up with. I try my hardest! Thanks for reading and if you liked it, leave a review saying so (or if you think something should be improved). I'm open to all constructive criticism!