"Well, this turned out better than I expected." I say as we walk back into town. I feel another source of power... but I ignore it.

"Indeed, I don't sense that we are being chased anymore." Do CPU's have omnipresence?

"Now that all of you are safe, I would like for you all to meet someone." Wait a minute...

"And this person is why you helped us?" IF questions.

"Yes."

"And let me guess... that someone is Lady White Heart." Yup... the aura does feel similar, but not quite.

"Ah... yes, but... no? It is quite hard to explain." That's obvious enough, if I remember correctly 'Lady White Heart' tried killing us earlier.

"Ah, hello again Financier. It has been quite a while." Two men pop around the corner, whom both are almost identical to each other. They both also wear identical coats...

"I see two delicate beauties. More beautiful than the sun. Are they the ones you spoke of?" Financier nods.

"I see. My name is..." He strikes a pose, "Older Brother." ...Older...Brother?

He points to whom I assume is his sibling. "And this here is... Younger Brother!" Part of me wants to end their misery. I'm here for a promise, not to mess around with a duo of jackasses.

"What unusual names." Compa says, intrigued on how they got their names. Though I do think that there is some hypocrisy going on here...

"Do not fret, these are simply aliases. Right, Older Brother?" Younger Brother says.

'Older Brother' proceeds to flirt with Vert and Compa. I've got to say though, they are smooth talkers...

"You could learn a thing or two..."

'Shut up...'

"Hey there! I'm Neptune!"

"I'm Erica, nice to meet you."

"And I'm IF." I hope they aren't expecting compliments because...

"So Financier, are they to see...?"

"Yes, it may start out badly, but I believe they can help."

The two oblivious brothers continue to pamper Vert and Compa. Erica's eye twitches slightly.

"Uh... girls?" Neptune starts.

"Did you guys notice, too?" Erica's answer was another eye twitch.

"Those two are sooo dissing us!"

"For some reason... this irritates me more than anything else before." Erica looks extremely close to snapping at this point, though I can't put my finger on why...

"I apologize to you three... they are only interested in people who are... special." Special...? Oh wait...

IF snaps, "Now we're being prejudiced because of breast size?! What in the world is wrong with Lowee?!"

"Every time... I swear..." Erica mutters dangerously.

"Oh now it's on!" Neptune says.

"Nep, I'll turn a blind eye. Go show them your stuff!" Nirito, Ryouichi, and I face palm at the scene before us. Neptune transforms.

"Wait a minute... Hey you two! Wait up!"

"Is everyone like this..." I mutter to Nirito. He shrugs.

"I'm... not sure about the other nations but, you don't usually see this is Leanbox." The two brothers noticed Neptune's 'transformation'. They proceed to apologize... profusely.

"What the... Hey! Are you betraying me?!" IF exclaims. Meanwhile, a dark shadow is hovering dangerously over Erica while she fiddles with... my guns?! I check my holsters. All four of them are gone.

"Hey! I need those back!" I run after Erica. That leaves only Ryouichi, Nirito, and Financier.

Ryouichi shrugs and reaches inside his bag for his book. "..." His eyes shoot upward, and see Erica's claw swinging his book around. "Hey! I need that back!" He runs after Erica as well, whom has gained a miniature mob.

Nirito face palmed. "Sometimes I wonder..."

"Ah... Hahaha... are they going to be okay?" Financier asks. Nirito replies, "Probably."

I rub my shoulder, which now shoulders (no pun intended) a new hole, complimentary to Erica. "Stupid Yandere... Why are there so many of them?!" I mutter next to IF, whom was also being apathetic.

"So sorry that I didn't come 'gifted'." IF says.

The brothers ignore IF. "In short, we are part of a resistance group." I can't even tell which one is which. They both look similar.

"We thought as much, but against whom?" Nirito asks.

"That is, of course, the CPU of Lowee." Neptune is extremely surprised, and for some reason, extremely against it.

"That's obvious why Neptune... 'Lady' White Heart is 'lacking' everywhere." Pissed IF is... pissed. "They just want to take her down and put up Lady Thunder Tits instead." IF smiles with a dangerous glint in her eye.

"I wouldn't mind it." Vert declares.

Wouldn't that upset the power balance between nations though? And last I checked, Lastation and Planeptune... aren't exactly on the best of terms.

Financier steps in, "This wasn't always how it was... Lowee was a land of happiness... however something changed in Lady White Heart. She became power hungry, even though the citizens were against it. That is why we made a resistance group."

"My my... this has got to be related to Arfoire... Iffy, do you know anything about this?" Vert turns to IF.

'Oh no.'

"Small isn't bad... I mean, some people like small... Small..." I think IF is broken... Though, when Vert threatened IF to 'not like' her anymore, and immediately bounced back.

"Based on intel, Lowee started a military reform starting back a few months ago." Wow. Vert has a silver tongue... "Lady White Heart made drastic changes to the landscape, and the government."

"Wow... she recovered fast." Nirito says. I shake my head.

"I'm going to go insane by the time this ends." I say. And follow along with the brothers to the 'hideout'.

"We're here." Financier says. We enter a room, which seems innocent enough. No hidden traps, no nothing. Just a stack of books, a laptop, and... White Heart? Everyone else seemed just as confused.

"I'm busy right now... could you lead them out for me?"

"Whaaat!?" We all exclaim our confusion, and I place my hand on my knife, just in case of course.

"They all came through a long way to meet you, it'd be rude to send them off now."

"Wh-Wh-Wh-Why is Blanc here?!" Neptune says, a small blush comes on to her face. My question is, why does she know her real name?

"Hm..."

"Why not? This is my room you know."

Financier announces, "This is the leader of our resistance and CPU of Lowee, Lady White Heart." So my instinct were right... the one in the basilicom right now is a fake.

"W-What?" Neptune made a comical face.

"Be quiet... Don't cause a commotion inside."

"So, you're the real Lady Blanc right? A pleasure to meet you." Nirito bows. Vert smiles.

The brothers look back... and forth between Vert and Blanc. "Oh my... compared to Vert... our goddess seems... 'little'.

"What did you just say?" Blanc's face turned from calm to... murderous.

"Nothing! Nothing, my illustrious Lady."

"Ah... haha... moving on?" Financier tries to move everything along, but I'm not sure if it is working too well...

"Right... in short, Lowee was taken by a fake Lady Blanc."

"Of course... Arfoire once again." I say. Honestly, Arfoire has become more of a nuisance more than anything else now.

"Our Lady was ambushed, and her powers, stolen."

"Don't. Remind me of her." Blanc's eye twitches just a little, obviously annoyed at the thought of 'Conversation'. She turns to Vert, then to me, and then to Neptune.

"Hey, wait a moment. I've seen all of you before...somewhere..."

"My my, do I need to remind you?" Vert takes of her 'disguise' and bounces her assets. The rest of us sigh, as Blanc's eyes once again twitch.

"Thunder Tits..." she growls, "What brings you here?"

"To help out Iff- I mean Neptune of course. That, and I would like to pay 'Conversation' a visit."

"So... that means..." She looks at Neptune.

"Well, I lost my memory, but hey there Blanc!"

'She's blunt, I give her that much.' I think. That, and I'm starting to doubt that Neptune has complete amnesia, or at the very least she knows Blanc.

Lady Blanc looks towards me. "Hm..." She tries to recall... something. "I know I've seen you before..." She really is racking her brain huh? She snaps her fingers, "Oh that's right! You are the idiot delinquent who fell off of Celestia."

"...not my proudest moment." I mean, it's not like I could've expected that there were only clouds right?

"And he is lying to himself again." Auguste rumbles in my head.

"So who are you? Another person to come contest for my position in the Console Wars?" Blanc accuses me.

Nirito steps in, "Sorry my Lady, but I've been informed that I should stop that line right there... the author doesn't want to write another block of text it seems..." Nirito says, looking at a text he received on his phone.

"Anyhow, to finish this off, I can't remember a single thing. So... let's reset! I'm Neptune!"

"You have amnesia?" Neptune nods.

"We can confirm that." Compa says. Though I myself am skeptical... she seemed to remember something about Blanc at the very least.

"Even so... I can't have other CPUs helping me... I'd lose more shares than I would regain, and I cannot afford that." Blanc replies.

Someone taps on my shoulders, and I see the Nirito, Erica, and Ryouichi huddled together. I lean in as well, and see what's up. We discuss a plan, and before we can announce it...

The ground shakes violently. It's not quite an earthquake, and I doubt we would have one since we don't have an ocean to shift atomic plates with.

One of the brothers run in, "Lady Blanc! The Basilicom is attacking us!" Great, just perfect. Blanc rises up, and starts following the brothers outside. We all follow after her...

We all arrive outside, and although it seems we have a little... 'issue' at hand. Blanc is face to face with... herself? I can't tell anymore which one is the real one, but I can bet on the one who isn't with the Killachine.

"God damnit, another one." This one seems upgraded, it's compartments are exposed, and it seems encased with a higher-grade armor.

"You!" The presumably 'fake' Blanc points toward me. "After I'm done leveling this village and killing everyone... your next!"

I scoff at her, "And why's that?" I pull out the green key that she dropped in our last fight. "Oh my, it couldn't be this little thing could it?" I twirl it in my hands, "It'd be unfortunate if someone had... stolen it?" The 'fake' Blanc looks like she is about to snap.

"...I think you made her angry." Nirito whispers into my ear.

"No shit?"

Before I could further irritate Arfoire in disguise, someone snapped. "Oh now? Was stealing my Basilicom not enough?! Now you want to kill everyone to ya bitch!?" Blanc snaps, eyes glowing red.

"I know my eyes take a similar hue but... that's just creepy." I mutter.

"Shut yer mouth! Before I bust your skull!" she screams at me. I raise my hands in surrender, and slowly back away.

"I've grown tired of this... Killachine! Finish them!" 'Fake' Blanc says, as she takes off. Before we can stop her, Killachine glows and roars to life, with the intent to kill.

"That's how you want to play is it?! I'm gonna smash your hunk of junk!" Blanc transforms into her HDD, which is pretty much a swim suit...

'Wonder if that gets cold at all?'

Neptune and Vert also transforms, much to the disdain of Blanc. I whisper to everyone else, "You guys just want to ditch the plan? I think they've got this one." They all nod, and to hop up onto one of the mushroom shaped houses, and watched the fireworks.

"Hoo... that was a stress reliever..." Blanc says as I listen in from a corner.

I can't say I have much place in their conversation... nor does the rest of us really. None of us really know about their pasts... Ryouichi and I specifically. He's here because of my stupidity, and I'm here for a promise. Nothing more, nothing less. Still though... that doesn't mean it's any less depressing. I look on as the three goddesses have a heart to heart talk, with Blanc tearing up at one point.

I sigh, and listen in on IF whom is now dishing out intel. "Alright guys, my sources say that they are planning on shipping in weapons from Avenir..." Avenir... Oh that's right. I didn't get a chance to level the Avenir Corp.

"Where is this happening? Is there any shipments going to Leanbox?" Nirito asks.

"Unfortunately... they are planning on shipping across to Leanbox and Lowee."

"Where are these shipments originating in Lastation?" I ask. She replies with "Avenir Storage Facility No.2" No.2? Isn't that extremely generic? We couldn't get to both places at once, and who knows what kind of damage could happen.

"I'm thinking..." Ryouichi says, "We could split up. It's likely that Lastation's facility would be heavily armed, while the transports are less so." We grabbed the CPUs and filled them in.

We sit in silence, pondering our dilemma. I couldn't take the silence anymore, and I speak up. "I can take the storage facility." I announce. I'm met with immediate resistance.

"Not going to happen..." Erica says.

"That's next to suicide." Nirito says grimly.

"I have to disagree too... this would weigh on my conscience." Well, it's nice to know that Vert cares about me. Even though I've said less than fifty words to her. I sigh.

"It's just a storage facility right? I just need to stop operations, not clear the dungeon." I stop for awhile, but I relent. "Fine. But at most, I can take two extras, I need to get there fast enough, before they start shipping to Planeptune too." I say. I look around for volunteers. Three hands. Erica, Ryouichi, and Nirito. Erica looks mighty hopeful...

"Hm... you think she is angry?" I say, and I flap with Ryouichi and Nirito hanging onto my feet.

"I don't know... but she was the first one to volunteer. How come you didn't pick her?" My eyes bulge a little as I remember everything in just the last few decades.

"No reason... Anyhow, prepare for touchdown." I say as I retract my wings, still a decent way up, maybe around four stories high.

"Not again!" Nirito says, as he pull out a jacket, yet another one of our genius bouncy houses.

Boing!

We bounce straight onto it, and promptly flatten it. "Oof... wow." Ryouichi comments, "You guys should work on the design. Possibly increase the capable load to accommodate one heavy vampire?"

"What is that supposed to mean..." I say.

"Nothing, nothing." he replies.

I look around, and I see the familiar steam punk theme. I much prefer a place like this to any of the other nations. I'm not entirely sure why though. We landed on what looks like a shopping district, and I'm glad to see that people are starting to re-open. I hope they aren't receiving any issues from the UAG.

"So, what's our game plan?" Nirito says.

"Well first off, we need to actually find where the storage facility is. You guys do that, I'm going to go to the Basilicom." They looked at me confused, "Unfinished business." I replied. I guess they found it better to just not question too far into what I'm doing. We are a demon after all. I take off, after handing Ryouichi some armaments for safety.

Magic was great and all, I use it to power myself all the time. But, there comes a time where good old fashioned gunpowder works best.

I walked out of the Basilicom, after being denied entrance to see Noire. It didn't matter much as I walked around back, and scaled the outside. I used a little magic to stick myself to the side under her window, and picked the lock with something I 'borrowed' from a thug. He won't miss it anyways.

Click

Got it. I climb up next to the window, and knock. I could just open it and let myself in... but that would be rude wouldn't it?

knock knock

I heard something topple over inside, the window opens, though unfortunately... the window swings out to the side, and the glass shatters on my face. I catch myself before I fall, and clutch my face, in fake agony.

"My beautiful face, oh no!" I exaggerate.

CHOP!

She chops me on the back of my head, and holds her finger up. "Quiet down..." She points below me, and I see a group of thugs roaming around. Though, before I could hop down, Noire pulls me into her room.

THUMP

"Ow..." I mutter, landing straight onto the floor. I look up, and I see Noire holding up on a newspaper.

"Can you explain this to me?" I take it from her hands and read it.

"Lady Black Heart Enlists a Black Winged 'Angel'." I read out loud. There is a picture of me fighting off a group of thugs at the blacksmith. "Damn, maybe I look a little bit too menacing?"

Noire sighs in frustration, "I never asked for your help you know..."

"Well, I like to think about it this way, you don't ask for help, people give you help." I keep on reading the passage.

"That makes no sense." Noire says flatly. I ignore her and look through my 'block' of text.

As you all may have noticed. Most, if not all CPU's have gone missing for an extended period of time. Throughout this absence, Lastation's economy has been dominated by a company named, Avenir.

I wonder if all reporters are like this in this dimension? This one certainly lacks tact... I like that.

The situation has continued to deteriorate until about a month ago our CPU has returned, along with a companion. As shown, he seems to be skilled in combat, and continues to clean up all criminal activity in Lastation. However, the looming question still remains for Lady Black Heart concerning Avenir... (See more on Page 12)

Wow, I wonder if Avenir even controls the media, because someone sure as hell made sure that I wasn't the highlight of the passage, despite the title.

"That or this reporter is terrible..."

'Also a possibility.'

"Alright then..." I look up towards Noire, whom was still standing over me, "I don't see the issue in this."

"I am the leader of a Nation, a goddess to all those in Lastation... to need the help of someone else, I could lose a lot of shares from this." I could see where she was coming from, however.

"You're wrong Noire." She gives me a questioning look, "It's only going to go down like that if you let it. Use this to your advantage." I guide her. "People love myths, spin that to your advantage."

"Ugh!" Noire is frustrated, "Look we can talk about this later." says Noire, whom obviously needs time to think over her next action. "I've already got a possible crisis on my hand. I have an expo coming up, with Avenir storing more of those damned Killachines down in the factory district. Right in front of me."

I stand up and put both my hands on her shoulders, much to her embarrassment. I shake her, "This is what you needed." Noire was smart, and a hard worker, but very narrow-sighted sometimes... "It's in the factory district like you said right? That's where most of your supporters lay."

"W-What are you getting at?" Noire can't seem to get that other's emotions can bend opinions over.

"What I'm saying is, we should get out there, make a show of talent in front of everybody!" One day she's going to overheat trying too hard...

"..." Noire is silent. She is always pushing people away unintentionally through her head-on approach.

"Not only is that going to stop people from leaving you in that district, people tend to exaggerate stories! If you want to free your nation, you should come with me and start." But... I promised myself that I would never leave someone hanging in trouble, and I wasn't going to break that now.

Noire nods, determination spreading across her face, "Okay, but you are following my lead." Plus... as much as Auguste may rip on me for it... I couldn't let go of hope. Hope that I could work this out with Noire, even if she doesn't accept me if I tell her.

'No... WHEN I tell her.'

I nod, and stood up, presenting the window. "After you."

BANG BANG

"Hey! What's going on in there" Noire seems uncertain, not about to jeopardize her nation. I put my hand once more on her shoulder and nod to her for reassurance. She transforms and flies out the window, I hide next to the door and a guard busts through.

"Hey! What's going-Mph!" He couldn't say anymore, as I wrap my arm and hand around his neck and mouth respectively, and hold up a knife to his neck, silently shutting the door and jumping out the window...

I landed silently, and while the guard... landed I suppose. Not too quiet either, but I put him in a sleeper hold, and knocked him out. I put my hand up to my ear, and activate a radio that Nirito was conveniently carrying.

"Hello?" I say.

"Hello Xiang, did you find anything yet?" crackled Nirito over the radio.

"Actually I did, the storage facility is at the factory district which is in the..." I stop. Where is it actually? "You know what? Just look for two shadows flying across the sky." I say, cutting the line. I extend my wings, and fly up, promptly catching up to Noire.

"So, what's the plan." I ask her, getting straight to business.

Black Heart replies, "Well, I don't know much about what you can do, and I'd like to minimize collateral damage. Are you capable of sabotaging the Killachines?" I nod my head.

"Yes, but no guarantees that it will be quick." I haven't seen how they are made yet since they tend to blow up every time I come close to one. It doesn't help that they are upgrading them every time as well.

"We're here." Black Heart announces, and we land in an alleyway nearby, as I grab her arm and pull her.

"W-What are you-" Noire was about to go off again, but I stop her by holding my finger up to my lips, and pointing around the corner. I peek around again, and I see two guys wearing that stupid hat.

I pull out my knife, but Noire stops me and shakes my head and the message was obvious. No killing. I nod and obey, though I was disappointed. I've yet to use the damn knife. I whistle, and catch their attention, large question marks appear above their heads as they wander towards our corner.

I shake my arm, getting some magic flowing and step out.

THUNK! CRACK!

I had stepped out, and thrust a palm into both their abdomens, and promptly grabbed both their heads and planted them into the floor. Noire watches on.

I shrug, "Hey, I didn't kill them." They might just have a few disorders now, including PTSD for wrestlers.

We sneak around to the next corner and take a look at the compound. It is centered in the middle of a large courtyard. "Hm... actually, we could just level the place with the Killachines in it. The blast radius would be small enough that it wouldn't damage the surrounding area.

"Absolutely not! I'm still dealing with the paper work from your last stunt." I had hoped she had forgotten that. Unfortunately not.

"Alright then. Plan B... sneak in."

"It looks like they have 100% camera coverage though, on top of the guards." I scratch the back of my head and look away.

"Well... there are two options as I see it right now. We can bust in the hard way, or I could go in invisible."

"Well obviously you should go in with invisibility right?" Because for that to happen...

"One issue... my illusion magic isn't as strong to bring... my attire with me." Noire processes that for a second, and immediately stands up.

"Okay scratch that, how many explosives do you have on you?" My eyes lit up.

'All according to plan, get Noire to let me blow something up!'

A/N: Hey guys, sorry this took a while longer, but on the bright side, it's longer with it! I've noticed how fast some of this story has progressed, and I plan on slowing it down, just a little that is. I'm open to all constructive criticism if anyone has any.