Chapter 37:
"Aw gawd. My back hurts" I quickly stretch my back.
"You're weak…"
"Weak my ass. Why are we in a cave right now mining for some ore?"
"Don't ask me. Ask Compa" I look at Compa who's trying, in any way she can, break a rock with her pickaxe.
"U~~~u, I'm so tired~~~…"
"Looks like she's busy"
" 'C'mon. We're only here to mine some ore, what's the holdup?' "
"*sigh*… circumstances Neptune, circumstances"
Here's an explanation of what the hell we are doing. While we are going to Chian's place to tell her the news of about the Tech Expo, because of a certain person who forgot to mention it. Apparently, Compa just accepted a quest at some random engineer and we have to mine some green crystal at some cave. And the kicker is that he wants it today. So Compa angrily, or rather, cutefuly, forced us into buying some pickaxe's. Compa, why are you such godsend good girl?
"So anyway, that's the gist of things"
" 'Who are you talking to?' " Neptune asked.
"No one in particular"
"Come on, Nep. You got more monsters kill" Iffy urged her.
" 'Right!' " she flew towards the monsters with speed. Sigh, she got it easy.
"Okay, let's get to some more mining" I face my side of the cave and raised my pickaxe when—
" 'Hey guys I found it!' "
"Haa?" she just left like two seconds ago. We all turn to look at Neptune, she's waving what seems like a green rock.
"That does seem like the thing what we are looking for" Iffy said.
"Well, that's less work for me" we all ran up to Neptune. Her green rock is glowing.
"Yay! Now Mr. Engineer will be able to continue his work" Compa seems happy.
" 'How do we know that it's the right one anyway? He only said a green rock' "
"Let's just leave it here. This has been a troll from the beginning"
"I agree" Iffy said.
"Eh, Mr. Engineer wouldn't lie like that" Compa is such a good girl.
"Didn't you see how sad he looked because he couldn't get this rock" Why?! Why was an angel born at such a place where lie and deceit is the norm!? It's so cruel! I cry in my heart.
" 'Well, in any case at least we got what we came for so let's go' " Neptune suddenly gave the rock to me… Wait, this texture… it couldn't be…!
"Iffy here" I gave it to Iffy.
"Eh, what's the matter?"
"It's Kryptonite"
"Haa?"
"You idiot it's Kryptonite! It's my weakness!" Hell no, That's not my weakness. Wait. Do I even have one in the first place?
"Haa?" it seems she doesn't get my drift.
"M-my powers…" I grab my wrist with my other hand.
" 'What's the matter!?' "
"M-my powers… slowly fading…"
" 'Haa?' "
"I must not… release it…" I fight with my own hand.
"Ge… get away…"
" 'No! Tell us what's happening' "
"I can't really explain… haa, haa…ask Google…"
"Okay, this is getting ridiculous" Iffy commented. Dammit woman, why don't you just go with the flow already!
"W-what are going to do, Iffy? Jared is acting strange?" at least Compa is getting into it. My hand grows more aggressive.
"No… Don't… Please… haa, haa…"
" 'Jared!' "
"Get away… It… it's about to be released…!" I can't hold on!
" 'B-but-' "
"No buts woman… I can't control it anymore…!" I point my hand at some opening. Then scream like an idiot.
"WAAAAAAA!" then all of a sudden a girl with white hair suddenly appeared.
" 'You know, you really stand out when you're in that form. You ought to stay like tha—Wait, what's happening!' "
"…" I remain silent at this turn of events. Okay, I was supposed to make this a joke. But how did she appear with such timing?
"…" everyone is silent at this also.
"The monster!" I pointed.
"EH!" all of them reacted.
"I must say, summoning a monster from out of my hand is an achievement unlock"
"No, no, no. This is just wrong. How did she appear from your hand?!" Iffy reacted.
"Now, now, I know that your jealous at me for having such an ability. Hey, maybe I can summon some more-"
" 'STOP!' " Noire shouted. Party-pooper.
" 'I didn't come here for your stupid jokes. I came here for Neptune!' " sigh, this woman does not like jokes one bit.
" '…You wish to fight again? You've lost once already. Care to make it twice?' "
" 'Tch! I like that you know just how to tick me off. Makes me want to hit you for massive damage!' "
" 'Before that, I'd like to know why you're coming after me' " I stare at Noire hard, to let her know about our deal.
" 'I apologize for any wrongdoings I commited against you in the past, but Compa, Iffy and Jared needs more clarification' " I don't need one by the way. Noire looked me in the eye signalling that she'll keep up the act.
" 'We're destined rivals, but I don't intend to explain myself to you. If you want to know, defeat me first!' " she jumped back and summons her sword and wings. Neptune does the same.
"*sigh*…Iffy, Compa, want to get involved?" they both nodded bringing out they're weapons.
"Okay! …Neptune!" a sword appeared before me. I take it before it falls.
" 'I won't lose this time!' "
Noire charged towards Neptune. Her speed hasn't broken the barrier but she's still fast, I position myself behind Neptune. And the moment Noire came close, Neptune flew off. I attack her with speed.
*CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!*
" 'Tch!' "
She blocks all of my attacks but I still push her back with every hit. Then from the corner of my eye, I can see that Iffy and Compa already positioned themselves at the side. They point and shoot.
*BANG!**BANG!**BANG!* *BANG!**BANG!**BANG!*
In response to this she pushed herself back against my hits.
" 'YAAAAA!' "
" 'What!?' " she looked up and saw that Neptune is coming down on her.
*CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!*
Neptune attacked relentlessly; she swings her sword so fast that Noire can't counter attack. I watch as sparks fly all over the place.
*CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!*
*CLASH!*
Neptune pushed Noire back. Then Compa and Iffy started shooting.
*BANG!**BANG!**BANG!* *BANG!**BANG!**BANG!*
Noire dodges all of them. Damn, she's not just quick on her feet but also on her reflex. And the hell is she able to dodge those bullets without lifting her feet? In a short window that she saw, she charged towards Neptune.
*CLASH!*
*CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!*
This time it was Noire's turn to attack Neptune. She attacked almost blindingly fast making it so that I can only see after images. Neptune is being pushed back with every hit. Noire still continues to attack.
*CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!* *CLASH!*
Noire's speed increased and her sword play just upped a notch. I can clearly see the difference in skill. Instead of her hand actually swinging, she lets her sword swing by itself. Does she not know how to swing a sword? I can see small gaps in between swings. I run towards them and deflected her swing with an uppercut slash.
*CLASH!*
" 'Thanks' " Neptune then moved from under me and performed her own uppercut that Noire blocked.
But that doesn't stop there. I twist my body and executed a half-circle slash. She blocked it again. I then let momentum do the rest to move me out of the way. Neptune attacked relentlessly again.
*CLASH!**CLASH!**CLASH!**CLASH!**CLASH!*
I move and repositioned myself deep under Noire.
" 'Wha-!?' " I believe she knows this move too well.
Neptune momentarily stopped and I thrust the handle of Noire's sword. Her arms fly high in the air as her weapon does too. Using this chance, I positioned myself dangerously close towards her front about to strike. Noire looked at her right and see a bullet coming straight at her. Looking at her left, Iffy came up with her knife ready to thrust at her. And lastly, looking at top, Neptune's sword is about to hit her. This is how you make people eat their own medicine. And even if she breaks the barrier at this point, I doubt that she won't get hurt from this.
" 'Tch!' " she flew back still knowing the risk.
She dodges both the bullet and Iffy's attack. I step up and cut her thigh only with the tip of the sword. Neptune charged towards her and Noire blocked it with her hands. She then kicked Noire on the side and hit the wall hard. I think that's game.
" '… I won again. Spill it' "
" 'You look the same, but you've changed so much. How can you look so proud while involving humans?' "
" 'You initiated the battle. Tell me about who I am' "
" '…' " I stare at Noire. Her mouth says that she wants to spill the beans about me. But I know she won't since her repayment for me clearly states that.
" 'No way! I'll admit this was a draw, but there's no way Lastation has lost!' "
"What are you bringing up Lastation for? What are you talking about?!" Oh yeah, I forgot that no one knows her but me.
"I know! What if Lastation is actually a huge transforming robot…?"
"That would be so funny…" I try not to laugh at that comment.
"That's fresh. It's possible on Planeptune, but here? I don't think so" Iffy said.
" 'Don't talk down about my homeland! You'll definitely regret it one day!' " I'm not.
*BANG!*
She exited the stage. Well that was a rather quick battle. I'm rather disappointed of what she's really capable of. Maybe she's holding back? Nah, I don't think so.
"She ran away! Nep-Nep, get her!... Whoa, y-you're already…?" I look at Neptune she's back on her usual form.
"Aww, candy wrappers. I'm outta juice today. Until next time, lady. Well, let's go back and get some yummy food"
"You're already hungry? We just ate an hour ago"
"Well, being in transform mode makes me hungry all the time…"
"You, woman, is seriously going to get fat. Even if you don't hit 30"
"Now, now. Anyway, where's the stone?" Iffy asked.
"Wait, didn't you have it?"
"I didn't"
"Haa? Oh well, that was some useless side-mission. So let's not bother"
"B-but, what about Mr. engineer?" Compa looks worried.
"You still want to continue on that?" she nodded. Why is she so godsend?
"*sigh*… Fine… Let's find another one" I give up.
"Yay! He'll be so happy!"
"E~~h, but I'm so hungry~~"
"Here, Nep. I think you might like this" Iffy brought out a plastic bag, the same one as last night. Oh yeah, we never really finish all those have we.
"Okay, let's finish this quick" we continue to mine some more. Sigh, how long are we going to continue this?