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Area-19: Black Throne
When Ashe entered the massive chamber, she felt a wave of dread wash over her. The chamber resembled a throne room of a castle, with large onyx pillars rising into the seeming nothingness of the darkened room. Walking forward she looked up to see several hundred red lights glowing in the dark. Swallowing the lump in her throat she turned to her mother.
"You ever come across a room like this?"
"Once," Aile growled; "but this feels much worse compared to back then."
When the two got to the center of the chamber, there was a heavy click and the room was flooded with cyan lights. Blinking to adjust to the sudden light, Ashe looked towards the throne.
And immediately she felt ice flood her veins.
The red lights that had been seemingly watching the two in the dark, were now revealed to be hundreds of Model W Core Fragments. Red pulsed across the surface of each Core, making each resemble a metallic heart. The two raised their weapons as the sound of clapping filled the area.
"Oh, excellent! I didn't expect you here this early. This place must look a mess."
The two's attentions were pulled to the throne as a familiar woman in dark robes walked forward. Four large mechanical arms slowly clapping as she made her way towards them.
"Vile!?"
The woman only smiled in response as she continued to walk towards the two.
Ashe, thinking quickly, rushed forward as her armor shifted into its Rosepark Formation. Closing the distance quickly she threw her arms forwards as they crackled with electricity. Vile didn't move as the attack connected, filling the room with an explosion of energy.
There was a moment when nothing happened, however that quickly ended when two of Vile's arms rocketed forward, slamming into Ashe and throwing her across the room. The girl hit the ground and impacted one of the many pillars as Vile walked out of the cloud of smoke.
"Now now, that was a tad impolite."
The woman continued to smile as her arms quickly changed formation to catch Aile's beam saber. She too was tossed as Vile began walking forward once more. The arms returned to their standard formation as Ashe and Aile picked themselves up.
So, she doesn't have to look at us to block our attacks. Just great.
'I believe that it is more the arms' defense systems then the actual person.'
Gritting her teeth as her armor shifted back to normal, Ashe raised her guns and began charging them, Vile noted this and chuckled as her arms began to open up. As the guns slowly began to gather energy, Ashe suddenly got an idea.
She needed to distract Vile for it to work however.
"So, before I blast you to dust, why are you doing all of this?"
Really?! Now you want to ask that?!
Ignoring Model A as she was silenced by Totten, Ashe put on a glare aimed at the cloaked woman. Against all possibilities, it seemed that Vile's smile grew larger, her eye beginning to glow.
"That is simple child. What I want more than anything...is the extinction of all life."
With how casually that statement was said, Ashe almost lost her concentration. Vile chuckled as her arms began shifting into a forward facing position.
"Don't act too surprised, I-"
Before Vile could continue, Ashe found her chance and fired her charged shots. The arms instantly closed themselves and moved to block the shots. Another explosion shook the room, the shockwave almost pushing Ashe over. As the smoke began to clear, Ashe saw Vile standing there, her arms now missing.
And then she noticed the new holes in the floor.
"Oh crap!"
Reacting faster then she thought she could ever manage, Ashe's armor shifted into its Argoyle Formation. She then quickly began splitting into several clones as Vile's arms began erupting from the floor. The first of the arms struck the closest Ashe and instantly destroyed the clone. Cracks then opened up on the chestplates of the other Ashe clones.
"Well that's concerning."
Erupting from the smoke came Vile's other arms, each aimed at a different Ashe. Cursing under her breath the silver haired girl dashed forward, the ground behind her erupting into debris as the arm impacted. As more cracks formed on her legs, she could tell another of her clones had vanished.
The second Ashe dashed to her side and formed a spiked ball in her hand. She gave the real Ashe a smile, and instantly she understood what she wanted. Quickly dodging another arm Ashe turned to Aile.
"Mom, I'm going to need a distraction."
"Can do!"
With that Aile rushed past the two Ashes and swung her saber towards Vile's mid section. The woman seemed to phase out of existence as the blade went through her. She smiled as Aile hopped back.
"Did you two think you were the only ones with dash thrusters? Nonsense."
There was then a flash of blue and a single beam of energy fired from one of the locks on Vile's chest. Aile easily avoided it and rushed forward again. Vile again smiled as the blade went through her body, however, before she could mock Aile, a Buster's barrel was aimed at her face.
Vile's eye twitched as Aile launched her charged shot, exploding on contact and throwing the two away from each other. Correcting herself, Vile shook her head to clear her vision. When the task was accomplished she looked up, and her eye then widened.
Ashe and her clone were standing in Aile's place, holding a glowing spiked ball between them. With a smile the two raised their legs and proceeded to kick the ball. The ball rocketed towards the robed woman with blinding speed. She smiled as green filled her vision.
An explosion of green energy shook the room, the W-Core Fragments seemed to move in anticipation as Ashe's clone vanished. The silver haired girl gritted her teeth as her armor reverted to normal, anxiously looking to the red lights that seemed to be glowing brighter.
"Oh, what fun."
Ashe's attention snapped back to the smoke as two arms exploded out from the cloud. Putting her arms up as quickly as she could, she attempted to block the oncoming attack.
She felt the arms slam into her, and she could see her gauntlets break apart. There was then another explosion as she was punched into a pillar. Pain exploded throughout her body, and she spat up blood as the pillar collapsed on top of her.
"Ashe!"
Aile began to rush forward to help her daughter, but she was also struck with two of Vile's arms. The woman was pinned to the floor as Vile slowly walked out of the smoke. The skin on her face slowly piecing itself together as she frowned at the two.
However, a smile instantly took her face as her arms slowly returned to her.
"That was a nice trick, almost made me actually feel something."
With a chuckle the arms then split apart and four large plasma broadswords flared into life. She then began walking forward as the arms aimed forward. She stopped before Aile as the woman attempted to push herself off of the floor.
"Sadly, I don't have much more time to spend on you."
Two of the swords then floated towards her as Vile's eye flashed red. Her smile widened as the blades readied themselves.
"Good night."
As the blades started to lunge at the woman, something massive slammed into Vile's side. The woman was thrown into another of the pillars. As it collapsed Aile quickly looked up to see Ashe standing there in heavy blue armor. However, her eyes were instantly drawn to the girl's outstretched hand.
"Ooh it's so cute!"
Instead of a normal arm, Ashe had the head of a mechanical dinosaur, clouds of ice and steam were spilling from its mouth as Ashe lowered it. Ashe smiled as she turned to her mother, holding out her non-dinosaur hand to her.
"Yeah, A just remembered she scanned him. Needed something heavy to get her away from you."
Nodding Aile took the hand and was helped up. The two then turned towards Vile as the woman slowly lifted herself back into a standing position. Her visible eye and the locks flashed red as her smile grew.
"You always manage to surprise me, sadly that's the only thing I've liked about humans."
The W-Core Fragments then seemingly began to shake as their lights became more intense. Vile looked up to the Cores and chuckled as she returned her attention to the two.
"Ah, its almost time. Time for me to end this little play date of ours. Disengage safeties."
There was then a small hissing sound as the lights on the locks slowly faded to black. The two Chosen instantly got into fighting stances as the first lock exploded open. Reacting quickly Ashe lifted her dinosaur arm and slammed it into the ground.
Pillars of ice erupted from the floor, surging towards Vile as another lock opened. The pillars stabbed into the woman as Aile began running towards the woman. She lunged as her saber materialized, swinging it as the final lock opened.
The room then exploded with violet energy.
The two were thrown back as a bubble of black enveloped Vile, the only thing visible was the lone red light of her eye. The orb then expanded as pulses of energy ripped apart the room. The W-Core Fragments seemed to cheer as the two stood.
The red eyes of the Fragments began glowing brilliantly as the bubble began to shrink. When the entire room then began to shake as the pulses became more violent.
"Totten, any idea what's going on?"
'Vile's energy levels are increasing rapidly. If this rate of expansion continues, it could level this city.'
Then all we have to do is hit her while she's vulnerable!
'I wouldn't advise attacking her now, the bubble seems to also be absorbing energy from the area. Attacking it now would either result in an explosive reaction, or it would only feed Vile's growth.'
"We can't just stand here while she gets stronger!"
'That is why I advise we retreat.'
Ashe gritted her teeth as she looked to her mother, who was staring at the bubble with an unknown emotion. Shacking her head the girl then rushed forward, the mouth of the dinosaur opening, revealing several rows of saw blades.
Totten and Aile yelled at her, but the girl didn't listen as the saws froze into ice blades. Throwing her arm forward Ashe made sure to aim at where Vile's chest would be.
The dinosaur made contact and the bubble erupted, Ashe's eyes widened as she was met with the smiling face that was all too familiar.
Area-17: The Absolution
Atlas grimaced as the door to the airship's command center slid open. Stepping into the room she was immediately met with the sight of everyone in an uproar. Taking a step to avoid a group of Cyber-Elves she turned to the only two people not in a panic.
Stopping behind Harpuia and Prairie she gave the back of the green Repliroid's helmet a glare.
"Why did you call me down here Harpuia? I don't want to be away from Thetis for too long."
Harpuia didn't respond, remaining quiet as he continued to stare at the main screen. However, Prairie's chair turned quickly and the woman gave Atlas a look that she couldn't read.
"Atlas we are moving the Absolution towards Ashe's last known location."
"Why?"
This time Harpuia turned towards her, his gaze holding some hidden anger.
"We have detected a massive energy reading located at the center of what we know as Vile's base of operations. Commander Prairie believes that she might need immediate extraction."
Worry flooded through her mind as she turned to the massive display, finally reading what was shown on the screen. Prairie watched the girl, giving her a reassuring smile as she turned back to the screen.
"Don't worry, my wife is with her, she'll be fine."
Harpuia's eyes narrowed, turning back to the main screen he gestured to the massive icon that took up a good portion of it.
"Would you know what that signature is, Artificial Chosen?"
Atlas shook her head as she moved closer to the screen. Reading the numbers that were flying past at incredible speeds, she felt her stomach sink.
She was well aware what those readings meant.
"It's almost time."
Prairie and Harpuia gave the girl confused looks as she then rushed from the command center.
Area-19: Black Throne
Vile smiled as she looked to the dinosaur head, which she was holding back with no difficulty. Clenching her hand, the head's armor cracked as purple flames sprouted. There was then a small explosion that sent Ashe flying backwards, her armor forcibly reverted to normal.
Aile quickly caught her daughter and looked to Vile, confusion evident on her face.
"Why dose she look like Momma?"
Vile's normal attire and armor was gone, instead replaced by a white bodysuit covered in violet markings. Several cybernetic wings protruded from her back, the top most pair forming a halo. Opening her eyes, they were now mostly black with two pink rings at the center.
Instead of her short blue hair, she now had nearly floor length lavender hair.
The woman stretched, her smile becoming more genuine as several pops could be heard.
"Oh how long has it been since I've been let out of that suit?"
Putting Ashe down Aile again raised her saber and dashed towards Vile. The woman phased out of existence with every swing, the blade harmlessly passing through her. As Aile's saber again failed to make a hit, Vile chuckled and proceeded to punch Aile away.
Wheezing, Aile kept her balance, looking up to glare at the woman. However, as she was about to dash forward again, a hand on her arm stopped her. Aile quickly turned to Ashe who looked at her with a smile.
"Mom, remember that attack you did on the train?"
Aile looked confused for a moment before a smile spread across her face. Ashe nodded as she materialized her weapons, the busters instantly splitting open and glowing. She stood and moved to stand beside Aile as the Ohm formed on the ground.
"Ooh, this is just like that one cartoon we used to watch together!"
"Yep, now we just have to think of a cool name."
Silently nodding Aile rushed forward as Ashe lifted her weapons, Vile watching the two with a bewildered look. Ashe gave Vile a sneer as she pulled the triggers.
The two then began yelling at the stunned woman.
"Take our Mother-"
"Daughter-"
"Omega Advent!"
Light filled the room as Aile and Ashe unleashed their attacks, the room was seemingly being erased as the combined strike detonated. The shockwaves pushed Ashe back, falling to her knee as she found a hole in the ground to catch herself with. The light slowly faded, as smoke filled the room.
Aile jumped back and landed a few feet away from her, smiling as she turned to Ashe and gave a thumbs-up. Ashe was about to return it until she heard a familiar laugh emanate from the massive cloud of smoke.
The smoke then was split, revealing Vile with no visible damage. She gave the two a smile before her attention slowly turned to Aile.
Raising a hand Vile sent out more shockwaves that caused large chunks of the floor to explode upward. The chunks collided with Aile and sent her flying.
Aile then crashed back into the floor, coughing as she curled into a ball. Frowning as she watched this Vile looked down to her hand, flexing her fingers slowly.
"Hm, still stiff. That should have killed you."
Returning her gaze to the two Chosen, Vile's vision was suddenly filled with blue light. Chuckling she lifted her other hand and the charge shot collided with it. The shot then vanished as she clenched her fist. Lowering her arm she smiled at Ashe, who was already charging another shot.
"I thank you, my little Chosen, it seems you have brought what I needed to finish my little task."
Ashe's only response was another charged shot, which Vile simply walked through. Ashe was shocked, but she stood as her armor shifted into its Buckfire Formation. Dashing forward Ashe opened the blades on her arms and swung.
Faster than Ashe could process, Vile grabbed her arm and throat. Tightening her grip, the armor on Ashe's arm cracked and broke apart. Shaking her head Vile released her arm and moved her arm to her chesptlate.
As Vile then shoved her arm forward, Ashe vanished. Blinking she turned to where Aile was laying and found that the woman had also disappeared.
Confused she slowly began examining the room, wondering what could have happened to the two. Clenching her fist she was then surprised to feel her hand stop around something. Bringing her hand into the light she then smiled as she realized what she was holding.
The W-Core Fragments also seemed to have noticed, as they began to shine.
Area-17: The Absolution
"Commander, the energy signature is increasing in size."
"Then move to a safe distance, I want to know what is happening."
The navigator nodded as she began typing quickly, Prairie then turned towards the two new occupants in the command center. Pushing off of her chair she instantly was at the two's side. Aile coughed as she slowly pushed herself off of the ground.
"Well, that could have gone better, eh Ashe?"
Aile slowly turned to her daughter, and her expression instantly changed from a smile to worry. The girl was laying on the ground, and her armor was missing. Atlas moved to the girl as Prairie helped Aile up.
"Ashe, are you okay?"
"No..."
"What happened?"
There was no response from the girl, so Atlas let out a growl. Reaching down she gripped the girl's shoulders and roughly pulled her up. However, her anger almost instantly vanished when she saw Ashe's expression.
It was one of total defeat.
"Ashe?"
"She took her, Atlas. That monster took Model A."
Aile and Prairie instantly turned to their daughter with wide eyes. However, before they could do anything, alarms filled the room.
"Commander Prairie! The energy signature is moving towards the surface!"
"On screen!"
Area-20: The Dead Sea
A mechanical roar made the sky rumble as a massive monster breached the surface of the ocean. Its body was covered in white plating, with red eyes spreading across its body like an infection. It opened its snake-like mouth and let out another roar.
The eyes along its body began to glow as more shapes breached as well. A serpent with the head of a falcon snapped at the clouds as its skeletal wings spread. Beside it was a serpent with the head of a spider, black smoke escaped wound like openings running along its body.
Two serpents, each with the head of a shark and dragon, rose from the depths of the ocean, intertwined.
The first serpent, pulling its tail from the ocean, opened its mouth and quickly ingested its own tail. Metal fell into the ocean as its fangs bore into its armor.
Its eyes then flashed, causing the other serpents to follow suite.
The people on board the Absolution then watched in horror as the five serpent then began to blot out the sky.
Another chapter complete, I hope you enjoyed!
So I'm going to try and start off with posting chapters every two weeks until I fully get back into this.
I've had that idea for Aile and Ashe's team attack since the chapter with Rosepark. I've also tried my best to make Vile's true form seem as angelic as possible. i hope it came off as such.
Also, I can't recall if Ashe knew that was her Mother on the train, I might change it when I find out.
I apologize if that ending seemed to have come out of nowhere. I feel like I might have been channeling a different story. Sorry about that.
So hopefully the next chapter of Tales of the Hunter won't take forever to come out.
Again, I hope you enjoyed.
Have a nice day!