HyperDimension Neptunia Ascension
(Midnight – Lastation Capital Central Power Station Outskirts – May 6th, XX18)
The two CPU's gracefully flew towards the three teens and came to touch down on the dirt. With elegant smiles, they both turned to the teens. "I hope you haven't gotten too roughed up in our absence, did you?" Purple Heart asked.
"Heh." Gohan gave a cheeky grin, "you're kidding, right? We've been struggling to our limit up here."
"Neptune!" Neputunu shouted, "I'm so glad you're alive! We couldn't find you anywhere, I was getting worried. And you too, Noire, when you suddenly disappeared, I thought you had..." the girl looked down before shaking her head and forcing up a smile, "no, that doesn't matter now. I'm just happy you're both okay!"
"Aw..." Noire said, closing both of her teal eyes, "that's nice of you to say. Anyway, what's the situation now? What is that giant thing."
"I have no idea." Garland said, turning his gaze to the rising mechanical ship, the others following suit, "it just appeared from nowhere after Fuuin fell unconscious."
Neptune blinked, studying the rising machine. Her eyes squinted at it, a sense of familiarity came upon her, almost as if she had seen it before. An unease came upon her, it felt like her chest was tightening.
"Damn." Noire voiced, lifting a flat hand over her eyes. "It's enormous, I'm amazed something that big even exists..."
Gohan turned to them. "That is no regular machine monster, I'd advise you to keep your distance. I've hit that thing with some of my best attacks, but it seems I've only been able to damage it." Noire blinked at him before giving her gaze back to the ship. The boy's eyes angled down as he held up a fist, shaking it in frustration. "If only I could have time to charge up my energy, I might be able to take it down for good."
"Charge?" Garland asked. "Wait, what else can you do?"
"Oh..." Gohan's expression suddenly lightened, "I never did tell you what I could do, did I? Ahaha~, shucks..." A groan came from the soldier, causing him to stammer. "W-well, it's kind of hard to explain, but I can manipulate energy."
"So that's what all of those lights we saw were." Noire turned to him. "How extensive is this skill of yours?"
"Oh, I'm very good at it. Been doing it all of my life actually..."
Garland blinked and turned away. I wonder how long that really is for him… Something's very fishy about Gohan… The Lowee soldier gave the machine his gaze again. Not only is he a very skilled fighter, apparently he's very strong, has a Share Crystal Shard, and he knows a lot more than he's letting on about. He's hiding something from us… Could he be… the evil god everyone's talking about? A low growl left the young adult's mouth. He even saved Taberu… I don't see how anyone can do that, especially after the things she's done.
Noire's sights shifted towards Neptune, seeing the purple clad CPU staring towards the large monster. Knowing her personality, something was off about how silent she was at the moment.
"Neptune? What's wrong?"
"Huh?" the mentioned suddenly sounded, turning to her with slight surprise. "Oh, um… I was just thinking. I think I've seen that machine somewhere before..."
The white-haired goddess' eyebrows shot up. "What? Are you serious? I've never seen anything like that..."
"Those lights all over it, the color… It's familiar to me, I don't know how, but it is..."
Garland took a couple of steps forwards, now coming to the CPU's sides, keeping his stare on the moving ship. "Gohan managed to deal some severe damage to that thing, but it's still flying. With that much damage, it won't take much more to bring it down, but I doubt he has anymore stamina left to fight with..."
Neputune ran up to Noire's side, bending down towards her hip and looking up at her, getting the woman's attention rather quick. "There's also this new person. She's dressed very skimpy like, a little too much exposed there in my honest opinion, but what can ya do… Bad guys are bad guys..."
"Yeah, I caught that. So what's the plan."
"Well… um..."
The group turned their heads back to see Gohan nervously scratching the back of his head with a grin on his face.
"If I could, you know, get some protection, I could gather my energy up and take that thing down with one shot. But, its attacks are very powerful. I won't be able to move if I'm trying to muster up the strength and energy, so if I get shot..."
"What you're saying is you'll be helpless, yes?" Noire asked, and she received a sheepish nod as her answer. A grief filled sigh came as the woman's head hung down. "Good heavens, why must it be like this. Very well, I'll lend you my body, but just this once, understand!?"
"Um, okay?.."
Garland looked back towards the monster. "We still have to deal with that witch."
"You leave that bitch to me..." suddenly came the voice of the devourer, Taberu. All five of the group turned to see Hondo and Taberu walking up from the side. The girl extended her arm, reaching out into the air and a thick fog of black and red suddenly materialized, producing her abnormally large weapon. She then proceeded to sling it up and let it rest over her shoulder, cocking a hip to the side.
Neptune's eyes narrowed towards them, sizing them up, wondering if they were worth trusting or not.
She groaned. "Look, I've already said I'm going to just let you guys go, okay?" she began to wave her hand side to side and looking away, seeming quite annoyed. "I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a liar. I want to deck that thing too just as much as everyone else does… and I owe him..." her eyes motioned over to Gohan, who only scratched his cheek. "So you leave her to me."
"Fine." Neptune closed her eyes, "while Noire protects Gohan, I'll go attack that thing directly. You guys..." she turned to Garland and Neputunu, "go find the others. Iffy, Yuuna, everyone else that isn't here and can't fight, take them to safety."
"Let me help." Hondo requested, stepping towards the Planeptune CPU. Both CPU's set their eyes onto the boy. "I can move them faster than they can, and I'm not as injured."
Noire blinked in suspicion towards him before sighing. "We have no choice… Fine, help them out. But if you do anything fishy-"
Hondo's eyes narrowed seriously towards her, looking straight into the goddess' own. "You can trust me..." Noire studied them briefly before turning away.
"Be off… All of you. And you," she turned back to Gohan, "get busy."
"Alright." The boy said with a teethy smirk, pumping fists up to his sides. Immediately, his body began to glow, slowly being enshrouded by a strange white and teal aura. His eyes closed tightly as he started to build his concentration. Taking that as the signal, Neptune took a small jump into the air and suddenly flew off, flying up and away, heading towards the large monstrosity overlooking the plains. Taberu let her blade fall at her side and was suddenly running off and away. Garland turned towards Neputunu and Hondo.
"Let's go find the others."
"What about your other two friends?" Hondo asked, turning his head to the highest plateau.
"Fuuin and Marvelous? I don't know, but we'll worry about them later. We have a job to do, so let's do it."
And with that, Garland was off. Neputunu gave a cheerful hum as she lifted her clenched hands to her chest and ran off with him. Hondo slowly turned and gave his partner one last look, seeing nothing but her back to him. His eyes shook heavily, shame coming over him as he shuddered, thinking on her actions. "Relax, Lee… It's just part of your job… She's counting on you… So… don't let her down." With that in mind, he too lifted his chin and was off towards the ravished plains.
Wind flew fast past Neptune, blowing her long braided hair wildly. She furrowed her brows, staring hard at the injured flying menace. I know I recognize that machine, it's so similar to the one that suddenly appeared inside of Planeptune. That large spider ball. Images flashed through her head of her hard time fighting against it. But I never imagined I'd face another one down, and especially not one this huge.
"Ahahahahaa!" a loud laughter shouted out from the brown-skinned witch standing proudly atop the head of the capital-class monster. "Yes, we'll destroy them all! No one will be able to stop the coming, absolutely no one!" A wide grin spread across her face. "Huh?" With a long frown, her eyes rolled down to see one of the CPU's racing head on at her. "Oh? It's one of the CPU's… Guess I'll have to give her a little welcoming gift."
The witch pointed dead on at her, signaling the machine to set its sights on the goddess.
"Kill her!"
A series of loud clicks sounded from the machine. Neptune furrowed her eyes as a large floodlight shined against her. The blue light was blinding, Neptune lifted an arm to shield her eyes, keeping the other holding the hilt of her blade so it was at her ready should anything happen.
The monster emitted a low hum, steam hissed loudly from various openings at the bottom of it's oval-shaped head and a strong crimson light now shined out.
Neptune's eyes narrowed seriously as she prepared herself, seeing a bright red light surrounding itself with a firey glow. It's charging up. A loud horn bellowed from the beast and a large beam of red shot out. The goddess gasped loudly, seeing red quickly blind her eyes. With no time to hesitate, she quickly acted on her instincts, sharply rolling to the left side and barely avoiding the scorching beam of energy.
"Oh my god! That's nothing like what the other machine had!" She growled and gave a serious gaze to the machine.
Noire winced as the large beam streamed down upon land some distance from her, she held up her blade, feeling the ground shake before a large explosion surfaced from the impact. "Damn." Recovering, she turned to the direction with wide shaking eyes. "What power..." Beginning to second guess her decision, she turned towards Gohan, seeing the boy continuing to charge his power with no fear to show. Noire blinked in heavy thought, angling her brows down. If that thing decides to shoot over here, there is no way I'll be able to block against it. Gohan will be killed…
She turned back towards the fight.
Worried pants blew through Neptune's teeth, flying even faster towards the large machine. She was closing in on it. I'm getting close, but when I get there, then what? Her eyes ran across the body, looking it up and down and side to side, scanning for anything. What will I be able to do once I get to it. Damn, if only I called Nepgear earlier… For right now, all I can do is distract this thing from Noire and the others so that boy can shoot it down.
The goddess took a sudden boost, flying at a mad speed towards the beast. Several shining projectiles launched from the top of the ship, instantly catching her attention. Bright sapphire in color, the missiles began to fly straight at her. With an amused smirk, Neptune turned to the side, flying faster and turning to see the explosives following after her quickly.
"So… you want me, huh? That's natural, I am a CPU after all." She smirked and turned her gaze forward, showing her teeth. "But you'll have to catch me first!"
Neptune quickly took to flying down, the missiles following closely behind her, steadily decreasing the distance between her and themselves. She began to dart to the side and go to awkward angles, forcing the missiles to veer off course and haphazardly seek her. One slammed loudly into one of the others, creating a sound explosion, catching another missile which was close by into it and causing it to explode as well. Four more zoomed after her with quick speed. Neptune flew at them, dodging each and every missile one by one. With a graceful spin, she swung her sword, unleashing a sharp disc of purple energy, sending it flying into the closest missile and destroying it.
The other three took wide strokes in their turn towards her. Neptune smiled at them, watching the eerie blue streaks they left in their wake when the monster suddenly bellowed loud and ominous chitters at her. Purple Heart growled lowly, seeing another volley of red charging itself. Getting the message, she took to fast flight again, speeding off and near the machine's side level.
The air shook as a deafening stream of hot red energy blew past her, barely missing her. Neptune fastly ascended, continuing to fly forward, the beam of energy quickly following after her before shortly dispersing. She heaved a heavy sigh as another explosion sounded in the far distance. Shaking her head, she gave the seeking projectiles her eyes again. One by one, they closed in on her and exploded upon coming close enough. She went up, narrowly avoiding the first, and catching the next missile flying through the smoke in her sights, she darted backwards before it exploded, quickly missing its target. The last missile shot through the smoke, aiming straight for her.
With a cocky smile, Neptune turned towards the machine and took to flying.
The witch narrowed her eyes at her, seeing the goddess flying fast at them. "What is that girl planning on, huh!?" she gasped loudly. "No way!" With a snarl, the witch lifted her arms, a sleek charcoal black rod in the shape of a sharp golf tee with a dark and blood red orb at it's end, she pointed at the approaching CPU. "No you don't, bitch!" With a loud shout, the orb suddenly shined and bright red lightning cackled and shot out instantly.
Neptune's eyes shrank and just barely, she managed to avoid the strike of lightning. "My goodness! That was close!"
The witch growled, an eye closing in irritation towards the CPU. The red bolts made contact with the missile and it exploded soundly. "Damn."
Neptune quickly flew towards her and with a loud battle shout, she swung her sword at her. The witch lifted her rod, soundly blocking the attack with a loud clang. Neptune removed her blade and began to swing more and more, the witch swiftly dodged before jumping high into the air and landing far back on the ship's rough and uneven body. Neptune growled and as she landed on it as well.
Steam suddenly hissed all around her, quickly getting her attention. Neptune's head darted towards one of the visible blows of steam to see a hatch open up and a long and sleek metallic tentacle appendage shot out, an eerie blue light at its end. Neptune's eyes furrowed in shock as a black lens stared at her, hints of her reflection in the emptiness of what she could assume was one of its eyes. It suddenly lunged for her, at which Neptune quickly went to the side, dodging.
"Oh my!"
More tentacles struck at her, all of which Neptune hastily avoided one by one before jumping high into the air. With her blade ready, she flew at the witch and shouted. The brown-skinned girl smiled sharply at her, cockily raising an eyebrow as Neptune swung down. More tentacles suddenly flew around before her blade and formed a strong barrier, causing her to slam her sword against what may as well have been a brick wall. The recoil of the attack was strong, Neptune gasped loudly as her arm shook from the harsh strike and retreated away.
"Damn it."
The wall of tentacles disbanded and the witch had her rod pointed, wild energy roaring across the jewel mounted on its end. "Eat this, CPU bitch!" she shouted.
With no time to react, Neptune's eyes widened as lightning struck forth at her.
Suddenly, a loud and pain filled groan bellowed from the mighty machine ship. The mechanical beast seemed to jump up strongly, sending the two unprepared women into the air with wide eyes. Instinctively, Neptune flipped around in the air and took to a hover as the witch seemed to land on her side harshly and took to a fast roll. Neptune watched as she quickly fell over the side and she smirked, now raising a hand up to her mouth and shouting, "Man overboard!"
The witch screamed loudly as she fell fast towards the ground far below. Hearing the wind rushing madly past her, she growled and clenched the base of her staff strongly. Gusts of wind began to form around her and her descent slowly drastically. She made a smooth touch down onto the grass and looked up with wide and angry eyes.
"That bitch..."
"Hey, you!"
Huh? The witch's eyes widened and she turned around to see a girl with pale blonde hair and ruined vest and shorts coming at her fast, swinging a large blood red blade. She scowled at her and lifted her rod to block the attack. The large blade slammed hard against her rod and continued to come, the witch's eyes widened and the blade collided hard into the middle of her chest. She was instantly lifted off of her feet and was sent flying fast and hard into a hill, bouncing off of it with a loud cry.
Taberu smirked as she lifted her blade. "Wow, that was easy." Her eyes suddenly widened as the shadow of the woman quickly got to her feet. A wide and wicked grin was worn across her face, staring down towards the god-eater.
"Oh my… what's this, a treat?"
Taberu smirked and lifted her blade, then a sharp pain suddenly shot across her body. With wide eyes, Taberu groaned before falling to her knees. At her side, the witch had jabbed the tip of her rod into the girl's ribs, staining it in crimson red liquid. She smiled darkly to herself.
Noire blinked, watching the fights unfold around her. She swallowed deeply, seeing the small shadow of Neptune weaving desperately back and forth on top of the large metal carrier. Furrowing her eyes, she turned towards Gohan, seeing the boy straining himself more and more, a bright and powerful glow basking over his entire being. Sweat was evident across his face, his brows twitched and contorted repeatedly, his breathing was rasped and hoarse. The ground around him was blowing and shaking, dirt and pebbles were bouncing fast.
"Gohan, how much longer are you going to need?"
The boy was unresponsive, his body was shaking under an intense pressure. Noire's eyes closed and she turned away.
"I guess he's too engrossed to pay attention to me. His faith in his friends is amazing."
The goddess' teal eyes slowly panned over to the ruined plains at her far left, seeing the ruin they now laid in, cracks stretching across the far side, large ravines and uneven plateaus everywhere.
"My beautiful home, stained in battle." She sighed. "It can't be helped." Noire turned back to the large machine. "Neptune, just hold on longer. You'll be fine..."
The goddess then turned over to the ground far below it, seeing two girls engaging in combat. Her brows arched down in concentration, seeing one was being beaten around by the other.
"Wait a minute… Is that, Taberu?"
Taberu screamed out loudly, her eyes wide, hunching over and holding her stomach, thin strands of blood falling from her mouth. A blood red orb suddenly slammed hard across her cheek, throwing her head to the side as blood was sent flying.
"Aagh!"
She stumbled back, now holding her cheek as the witch danced around her side, now throwing a long leg out and kicking her harshly in the girl's ribs. With a loud fall, Taberu fell against the ground and rolled. With heavy wincing, Taberu barely cracked open an eye and growled.
"D-damn."
The witch proudly stood over her and lifted her rod, the red orb facing high into the sky before swinging it down strongly. A sick crunch came as it collided against the girl, and the witch's smile widened. "Ahahahahaa~.." She lifted it up again at full height and swung harder, another cracking sound coming forth as a grunt left the girl below her. She swung again, and then again, and then again. "Oh my..."
Taberu's eyes were wide with shock, shaking as she held her side, staring off into the distance as the witch lifted her staff, thick blood drenched across the red orb.
"My, oh my..." the witch snickered. "I knew you were strong, but to still be alive after hit after hit slamming against your head… I'm amazed you're still breathing."
Taberu's body twitch back and forth, continuing to stare off.
The witch snickered as she lifted the orb to her mouth. "Your head still hasn't caved in, even after all of that. Don't worry, I'll end your life as miserably as I can..." She smiled to herself before letting her tongue hang out, now licking at the blood coated orb, bathing her tongue in the crimson fluids before giving a tasty smack. "Delicious." she sang.
Taberu's eyes narrowed sharply in rage. With great struggle, Taberu began to lift up her arm. The witch sneered down at her with a puzzled expression, seeing Taberu place her hand flatly against the ground. Blood began to drop in thick amounts against the ground as her body pushed itself up. The girl glared madly into the dirt, half of her face drenched in red. "Y-you!.." she began to growl… "You p-people… You all… have to gang up on me… t-to bea-beat-me!"
The witch blinked at her, appearing bored as the girl struggled up to her knees. "Now this is just sad..." A smile then spread across her face as she pointed her rod at her. Red lightning suddenly consumed the blonde, making her scream out loudly in agony.
Taberu's eyes were wide. She could feel every painful tingle shoot through her every fiber, each and every muscle tightening, burning. It was like she was being torn apart, hot and cold was rapidly clashing inside of her. Her teeth clenched harder and harder, and a small chuckle came from the smile of the witch who looked down on her like an amused and sadistic child with a magnifying glass.
Suddenly, the voltage stopped, and Taberu's body fell flat against the grass, completely still.
"Aw… hawhawhaw… I could almost cry." the witch said, lifting a hand up to her mockingly sad eyes. She lowered down onto her knees and she latched a firm hold on Taberu's hair, yanking her head up from the grassy ground. Her amused smile widened as she leered near her face before letting her sharp tongue roll out and pressing it firmly across the girl's cheek, soundly licking up, slowly and parting away. She smacked her lips with a tasty sigh. "Nice, but I find it strange how you're still so soft. You should be like cooked meat now."
There was no response from the girl. With a loud hmph, the witch pushed forward, loudly slamming the devourer's head into the ground.
"Oh well," the woman closed her eyes and turned her head to the clouds, "I guess I'll just have to beat you down even more. For the strongest… you were actually rather easy to..." her eyes opened and rolled down to her, hearing something strange being muttered, "beat… down?"
The witch twisted her head and stared at the girl, hearing gibberish coming.
"Heh?" she raised a long eyebrow and leaned awkwardly over to her face, frowning nastily at her, "what are you saying, I can't hear you, sweet-heart."
"nger, nger, nger nger nger nger nger nger..."
"Eh?" She lifted hand up to her ear, "what was that?"
Taberu's eyes began to sharpen in rage. "Stronger stronger stronger stronger stronger stronger-"
With a loud and annoyed groan, the woman lifted a hand high, clenching it and slamming it down hard against the girl's bare back, shaking the ground. "Shut… up, child! You're giving me a head ache."
Taberu growled loudly. "STRONGER STRONGER STRONGER STRONGER! NO!"
From on top of a cliff, with an unconscious Yuuna slung over his shoulder, Hondo, with IF, Garland, and Neputunu at his side, they watched the brown-skinned woman loom over the injured girl. Hondo's eyes narrowed. "Taberu..." he muttered.
"YOU!" Taberu's head suddenly snapped towards the witch, making her rear back. "You're… not going to beat me!"
A firm backhand slammed against the woman's cheek, throwing her off flying and slamming into the ground. With heavy pants, the slender girl stumbled to her feet, eyes shaking and wide with rage.
"I… I won't a-allow this!" Taberu growled more and more, her shoulder's hunching over and bouncing with anger. "A… a bunch of… weaklings… I'm losing to a b-bunch of… weaklings… Not one person, not one person!"
Her scream of fury sounded across the entire battlefield, taking Neptune and the machine's attention. It's bright sapphire lenses quickly zoned in on the scantily clothed blonde, sizing her up and down before opening its primary firing chamber.
Recognizing the hum, Neptune's eyes shot wide open. "Oh no."
The witch looked up towards the flying ship, seeing the red light of the charge flaring strongly as a smile stretched across her face.
"I'll kill you!" Taberu shouted. "I'll fucking kill you! You've humiliated me! If I wasn't already worn down by all of those idiots all around here, I would have killed you without a sweat, you wick witch!" Taberu strongly thrust her arm high up, quickly materializing her large arc into her hold. Energy began to cackle loudly around it and the witch only smiled more, amused at her.
"You little shit." She quickly chucked her rod up, catching it in her hand immediately and throwing it like a javelin, sending it straight and to the girl's gut.
Taberu's eyes widened as a sharp pain flooded her mind. Her grip vanished, the energy around the sword soundly dispersing chaotically into the air. Taberu shook madly as she looked down to her stomach, seeing the large end of the rod sticking out of her lower body. A strong and metallic tasting liquid filled the back of her throat, and she coughed out, dark blood spilling forth as she fell onto her knees and falling over onto her side.
Hondo only sighed and looked away as Garland stuffed his hands into his pockets. Neputunu's eyes arched up in shock and fear, holding hands up to her mouth. "Oh my god… Is no one going to help her?"
"She can go fuck herself." Garland said, averting his eyes from the lavender haired girl. Neputunu turned to him sadly before letting her head hang. "If you want, you can go down there and present yourself to that bitch down there, giving care for a rapist.
Hondo shook his head. "Even so, I can't ignore it." He set Yuuna down carefully, taking one last look to see if he was going to be alright. Hondo barely bowed his head before jumping off. Garland scoffed and watched as the boy ran off after his partner.
"So, I guess it's safe to say she's not with Cultrizer..."
"But she's not on our side either." IF said, folding her arms over one another.
"I've been meaning to ask..." Garland turned to the guild member, earning her eyes. "Where the hell is the CPU candidate, didn't she come with us?"
"Yeah, but I thought it'd be best to have Nepgear follow after that helicopter so we'd know where the Cultrizer base is. It can't be too far… I hope. If anything, she'll be back soon."
"Maybe… So, looks like Taberu is down. What now?"
"I guess we'll have to fight her next."
Taberu's sight blurred out repeatedly, glaring towards the snickering witch as a warm liquid began to drench her skin. Damn… am I… really going to die here? Her eyes glazed over. Wow… when was the last time I thought that thought?
She tiredly blinked to herself as a snarl left her lips. Head shaking, she lifted her chin to gaze upon the brown-skinned witch standing across the isle.
"Y-you bitch..."
Her world began to shake, her eyes quivered.
From afar, Hondo rushed as fast as he could with sharp eyes glaring forward. He growled, eying the witch who was smiling maliciously across the small area. The witch let her tongue roll over her lips, licking them soundly before smacking them, showing her shark-like teeth and her eyes stretched evilly. One by one, her legs began to carry her towards the collapsed female.
With a growl, Taberu rolled over onto her side, grabbing the rod and she began to give a pull. In an instant, a burning tinge soared across her body, stalling her actions immediately. "D-damn..."
Loud steps came upon the ground and the pale blonde stretched her head to look up at her opponent, seeing her shadowy form towering proudly over her. She opened her mouth, gaping full of glinting white razor teeth. She extended her hand towards her with spread fingers like a claw and reached down.
Then a fist suddenly slammed against the witch's face, forces of wind spiraling forth from the impact and blowing the woman far and falling against the dirt with a long skid. Taberu blinked and looked up, seeing a boy with brown hair with blond ends panting with an arm reaching out, fists clenched tightly. The girl didn't know what to feel, anger, relief? Her stormy blue eyes rolled to the ground, a very recognized feeling beginning to weigh upon her. Not one of thanks or happiness, not one of anger or sorrow… It was just disappointment. Only sheer disappointment.
"Ugh..." the witch pulled herself from the indention she made in the earth and sat up, rubbing her cheek. "You little snot nosed brats… I'll kill you all."
A loud horn suddenly sounded from above, quickly stealing the attention of Hondo, Taberu, and the witch. Large blue floodlights quickly shined down from the large mechanical ship in the sky, casting down onto the two teens. Hondo's eyes squinted as he lifted an arm to shield his eyes from the overpowering light created from the machine. A red glow began to take over, casting an eerie crimson light as powerful as the moon's own down upon the land.
Hondo's eyes narrowed, he knew what was coming, he could feel his insides churning, his mind was screaming to up and leave his partner, to save his own skin no matter what the cost. He knew once that thing fired, there was no chance he could escape, and taking a shot from that matter disintegrating laser was only a suicidal thought. If he didn't leave now, he was going to die.
His eye twitched in anger and confusion, he didn't want to leave an injured girl to die like this. After everything they had been through together, traveling with one another for over eight months, paying for hotel rooms, slaying monsters, doing odd-jobs…
He looked up towards the blood red light shining down at them from the monster's weapon chamber. "I… I can't leave her like this." His eyes narrowed. "I still have a debt I need to repay to her..."
Hondo rushed towards his partner, reaching out to her as another horn bellowed from the mechanical creature, its laser primed and ready. A loud beep sounded, and everything turned red, Hondo quickly grabbed a hold of Taberu, and then a loud explosion rocked the world around them.
The two teens winced loudly as the witch gasped and turned her head to the skies, her eyes were wide with shock, anger, and confusion.
"What the hell!?"
The large machine was groaning as a stark white beam had been shot in it from a far distance in the plains. She blinked, bewildered by what could have made such an attack, and looking to the origin, her eyes quickly set on the one responsible for the powerful attack.
"No..."
Floating far away, far beyond the reaches of the battle, a lone girl in a snow-white leotard with long bright pink hair and crystal blue eyes shining with the symbol of the goddesses was aiming a hybrid weapon composed of a sword and gun towards the large carrier. Her face was full of nothing but determination. Standing atop the carrier, Neptune couldn't help but let a smile come.
"Nepgear… I knew you'd make it back in time."
From far on the ground, standing on quaking dirt, the white haired goddess, Noire, smirked and put a hand on her hip, an intense teal light shining from behind her. "Nice, it's good to see the candidate had arrived just in time." The goddess took a small step and turned her body half-way to look to the blond teen standing behind her, shrouded in a blinding light of calm teal flames.
His eyes suddenly opened and he smiled at her. With a loud yell, he took a step back and brought both arms across his chest.
Seeing that he was ready, Noire turned towards the monster. "NEPTUNE!" she shouted loudly, "GET OUT OF THERE, NOW!"
Hearing her warning, the goddess of Planeptune turned to see that the boy was ready to unleash his attack. She quickly jumped off and away. Neptune smiled and looked to the sky before she found herself suddenly jolting to a halt. With a loud wince, she looked down to see a mechanical tentacle had latched around her ankle.
"N-no way."
Noire's eyes widened in desperation, seeing the situation. She stepped forward. "Neptune!"
IF's eyes shook. "Oh no, Neppy!"
Neptune's eyes quivered as she fought against the strength behind it, but it was stronger than she was. Slowly, but surely, she was being pulled towards it. "It doesn't plan on taking me down with it, does it?"
Gohan's eyes narrowed in drastic concern for the goddess, sweat began to form across his cheeks and forehead. His body was burning. "No… Neptune..."
Noire turned over to him. "Can you hold off for a few minutes, just until she can get out."
Gohan's eyes shook with avid frustration and concentration, he was growling loudly as his body shook rapidly, tensing up in strong strain. "I…" He shook more, hunching forwards. "I… can't maintain this energy for much longer… It's… now or never!"
"Come on!" Noire walked towards him, feeling the heat around him intensify. "You have to try-"
"I'll lose it all!" he suddenly screamed.
Nepgear's eyebrows angled down in anger and shock, seeing the machine attempting to take her sister as its shield. "No, Neptune!" Without a second thought, the CPU candidate flew towards them, arming her rapier at her side. "Hang on, Neptune!"
Neptune brought her sword up behind her head and slashed down at the tentacle, cutting it away. She instantly flew upwards before more latched around her legs and one of her arms and around her neck. Wincing loudly, she struggled for freedom, reaching her free hand up and grabbing the appendage around her neck, choking her. With a loud yelp, her strength vanished and she was pulled towards the surface of the beast.
Wind blew by Nepgear fast, her eyes were wide, she wanted nothing more than to save her sister. Slowly, a shining teal light began to cast over the plains. Nepgear's eyes turned towards the shining star on the ground. She could see Noire standing before it, and in the middle was a blond boy. "Gohan..."
The candidates shining blue eyes closed briefly before turning back to the machine. She could see Neptune becoming more helpless by the second, her eyes wavered at the sight.
"If he unleashes that attack, Neptune will be killed. He wouldn't, would he?"
Gohan growled loudly as he struggled in every sense of the word to hold himself back, his body rapidly shaking, teeth bared tightly, his eyes contorting to those of an enraged child. Noire watched as energy seemed to radiate off of him like fire. It was like a swirling inferno was being created, and it was getting more violent by the second. She could see a trail of blood oozing down from the edge of the boy's lips and rolling down his chin.
"Come on, please..."
The boy's green eyes quivered as they slowly looked towards her. He could see the white-haired woman staring at him, shrouded in teal light, a worried half-clenched fist up at her chest. It hurts… It hurts!
Nepgear flew faster and faster, hoping to catch up to her sister in time. She was close, but until she was out of there, she was not safe.
"Now now!"
Nepgear's flight came to a startling halt. She growled, glaring towards the brown-skinned woman in a skimpy outfit that was now hovering between her and the large machine. Her red eyes shined eerily towards her as a long smile crept across her face.
"You wouldn't want to become a meal for the Carrier of God too, would you? After all, I can't let that thing be destroyed. It's the only card I have to play against you ignorant blokes… I'll use it to kill you all."
"Rrr, get out of my way! Please, my sister-"
"My sister, my sister..." she mocked before laughing loudly. "Let her die with the machine," her eyes narrowed with a death stare, "if that boy has the heart to fire at that machine with her alongside it."
A small desperate gasp of shock left Nepgear as her eyes widened. She panned her sight towards the shining star on the ground. "Gohan, please..."
Noire's eyes blinked widely as the boy seemed to be losing his control. "Gohan..."
"… I- I can't!" Noire was taken back by his sudden proclamation. With a loud yell, the boy lunged both hands up to the sky and then threw them at his sides, fists clenched and brought up. "Neptune, I'm sorry!"
"No!" Noire brought her sword up at her sides. "Gohan don't!"
He sent both arms towards the machine and the air rang loudly. Winds similar to a torrential storm blew from the boy, stopping Noire in her tracks. The ground cracked and broke apart from the force of the blast. IF's eyes widened, seeing a large ball of teal flaming light now soaring towards the machine. Nepgear's face twisted, she couldn't believe he had really done that.
"No! You idiot, what have you done!?"
The witch's eyes widened. "That's impossible! He really fucking did it!?"
The large ball of chaotic mass flew soundly towards the machine. It stared at it through its many blue lenses, the reflection of the orb shining across its black glass. A low moan left the injured machine.
From on top, Neptune watched as her body became covered in a growing teal light. She closed her eyes tightly, feeling the heat of the attack getting stronger and stronger.
The machine stared at it, the flares from its eyes brightening. A sudden vision came before it, one of a lone human figure with shining cobalt blue eyes, the symbol of a CPU ever present within them. He could see his shadow nod his head at it.
The machine continued to stare at the approaching teal light before closing all of its lenses.
Neptune shook wildly, preparing herself for the destruction about to come upon her, and suddenly, she felt the weight of the mechanical tendrils leave her body. Her eyes widened, she looked down to see the tentacles retreating into the hull of the ship, setting her free. A single blue light shined before her. She looked at it, seeing a black lens look at her, focusing on her. Her eyes widened in the reflection of its sight.
Taking the immediate chance, she lunged for the sky, flying off as fast as she could.
"What!?" the witch shouted as she could see the form of the once captured CPU fly off. "What!? She's free!?"
Noire's eyes shook in shock. "Why? Did it… release her?"
A large horn bellowed from the monster, a final call to the heavens, a last signal of its existence as the large blue light slammed against it, shining brighter and brighter before an enormous explosion shook the world around them.
Light blinded the fields across Lastation, a large teal colored explosion roared as blue flames scoured everywhere, rising high into the sky. Pulses swam across the ways, blowing everything backwards in a continuous storm of heavy winds. Neptune screamed as she flipped wildly, rising higher and higher into the sky.
IF slammed upon the ground, lifting her hands over her head to shield herself as he hair and coat blew wildly. Noire braced her footing before getting on her knee as Gohan was blown clean off of his own two feet, being carried in the strong gusts and disappearing into the night.
Hondo knelt down, putting shielding hands onto Taberu's back, both teens wincing from the forces of the explosion.
The witch glared loudly into the blast before turning away, being blown away herself in a swirling maddened storm. "You, this will not be the last you see of me, you wretched humans and CPUs! My god will rise, I'll make sure of it!"
With a flare, she flew fast towards Taberu and Hondo and pulled her scepter harshly from the girl's body, earning a loud yelp. Seeing her, Hondo lunged at her, sending a fist strongly towards her face. The witch barely moved by it and let herself get carried into the sky by the winds. Hondo glared at her, seeing the witch cast her rod forward and a large circular force shined around her like a force field, and in an instant, she was gone, leaving nothing but small sparkles in her wake, being carried off in the winds.
From on high, Neptune was able to catch her bearing, and she looked down towards the roaring inferno of sapphire fire and teal colored smoke, seeing the remains of the large carrier slowly burning away. She looked to its burning body, her eyes wavering at the sight of the powerful creature before she closed them.
"Thank you..." She bowed her head to it, lifting an arm before her bosom. "Thank you for having a heart…"
Slowly, she barely opened them and smiled calmly down towards it, seeing a particular black lens staring back at her. The blue light shining from it flared strongly before dimming out, now being covered by white sapphire fire and teal smoke.
IF, slowly took to her feet, standing and watching the large ball of flames and smoke slowly begin to whisk away. Nepgear flew towards Noire and stopped by her side, too taking to a standing and watching the remains of the large carrier vanish. Hondo pressed down upon Taberu's open wound, earning a loud wince from the girl. She instantly latched a strong grip on his navy vest's collar and pulled slightly at it before just letting it hang. He couldn't help but smile at her before looking up.
"You're a moron… You know that?" she told him.
"Maybe. You're a bitch."
She scoffed and turned away.
"After this… I'm leaving."
Taberu closed her eyes. "Thanks for trying anyways… But you do realize we're under contact, right?"
"You don't really care, do you? To you, to someone like you, whose gained eternal life, the ways of "us animals" don't concern you, do they? Or somewhere deep down, have you realized you're still human?"
Taberu blinked at him and turned away from his gaze once again. "Shut up. I still have a wish, and Cultrizer has the means to grant that wish. I'll help them in whatever way I can… If they can't stand up to a bunch children like this, then they all may as well just die."
"Then I guess I'll be sticking around until then."
Taberu turned to him. "Make up your fucking mind. Are you staying or going?"
Hondo's face turned serious once again and he pulled at the girl's arm, hoisting her over his shoulder. He turned towards her rear. "I said "After this", I never specified what "this" is. Come on, we're leaving. It's all over for here."
Taberu groaned. "Just get moving already, geez."
"Sure thing, boss."
The young man turned around and jumped into the air, soundly vanishing into the darkness soon after.
On the ground, MarvelousAQL, who was kneeling by the side of her unconscious friend, looked upon the firey storm of the battle. She smiled softly and looked down to Fuuin, brushing dirty bangs aside from his face. "It's over, Fuuin. We won… Our friends… they won."
Noire and Nepgear watched the last bits of the inferno slowly fade away, bright lights shining before them, casting stark shadows across the landscapes of the field. Hearing a noise, they lifted their heads to see Neptune land next to them and smile.
"Nepgear, I'm so glad you made it in time."
"Once I heard that strange noise, I knew I needed to come back."
Noire turned to her. "Did you ever find the base that Mr. Leon was headed to?"
Shamefully, Nepgear slowly shook her head. "I didn't see it. What happened to everyone else?"
"It's a long story, I'll tell you about it later." The purple haired goddess responded, now smiling towards the final remnants of the machine.
From far out in the field, Gohan lied sprawled out, heaving heavy pants as a wide smile spread across his face. He looked into the starry night sky, feeling at peace finally. "Another battle… another fight won. Now… I can finally… relax." He closed his eyes calmly and his head fell onto the dirt, his world instantly taken away by fatigue.
