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Chapter 32: Into the Final

Outside at the middlepoint of Gamindustri the CPUs stood ready, but they met up with the oracles and the ones in charge of guarding Gamindustri during their absence to get them ready.

"Alright, is everyone ready?" Neptune asked all of them, acting like a general.

"Don't worry, Neptune. The nations will be safe under our protection, just try your best. I also provide a connection via the N-Gear for whenever you seek a report of the situation." Histoire responded.

"That's really good to know, all these things make it seem like we can't lose this!" Big Neptune yelled out. "Or at the very least that failing doesn't mean an instant game over."

"Believe me, we've done everything we can to enhance the protection. We have even made deals and agreements to powerful criminals like Anonydeath and Affimojas to help us." Kei responded, pointing to those two.

"Ah, Noire! I am so happy that you agreed to let me go free if I help you!" Anonydeath brought up. "I assure you that I will do my best, since I can finally live a peaceful hacker life once this is all over!"

"You are letting a creeping hacker go free? Where's your sense of justice, especially towards perverts?" Big Neptune asked.

"I told myself I would regret this down the line and I am already regretting this since a few hours, but this was the best choice for guarding Lastation." Noire told herself in a regretful tone. "Letting him go in exchange for his robotics and any other help we could get is quite honestly a good deal compared to others."

"Quite frankly, to me it was so worth it in the end, chu!" Warechu said as he was being held by Compa, very close to her chest may I add.

"Watch your tone, rat." IF warned and made a stabbing notion while starring at him with her really edgy red eyes.

"Yes, Maa'm!"

"Now then, do you mind explaining to me how a little weak rat like you that was associated with ASIC is gonna be useful in any way, shape or form?" IF continued to make stabbing notions at it.

"Don't pester him so much, dear. He's a shy fella, but he does still own the disks from his time, so in the worst case scenario he can transform into his King form or whatever you wanna call it." Anonydeath responded. "I also think the stab wound kinda affected his behaviour, he was like a cripple for some time."

"IF's keeping an eye out as usual, huh?" Nepgear remarked as she kept staring at Warechu.

"Anyway, we will wait and guard Gamindustri while you're all gone and off to fight. We called as many of the Makers as possible to help during your absence." Mina explained to them, standing alongside masses of Lowee's soldiers that followed her.

"Lowee's defenses were amplified and upgraded to advanced levels, in addition I had most of the Peacekeeper Units move there and be led by Falcom and Mina. They will do well in protecting everyone from Kurome's invasion." Blanc explained to the others.

"Very good to know. And Chika..."

"Of course. General Affimojas, his loyal underling Steamax, Cave aswell as the entirety of the guild in Leanbox is positioned and ready to defend the nation with all they have. We will crush any monsters sent against us without trouble or difficulty, none will stand against Leanbox's defenses."

"Lady Chika is right! We will give our all for the nation that is rich in merchandise of busty blondes and great taste!" Affimojas pledged, even though nobody is able to take that statement serious.

"Good Job, Chika!" Vert responded.

"Thanks, Vert!" Chika instantly responded.

"Looks like our problems apparently reconsiled pretty fast and without long-term issues. Bless plot convenience!" Neptune joked about. "Ha, it's gonna be such a pain when I can't crack these fun jokes."

"I wouldn't exactly say without long-term, but apparently a near-end of Gamindustri helped us overcome our disdain towards Nepgear." Mina pointed out.

"Yeah, I'm still not very fond of her. But I am willing to forgive when I think about what I did wrong and about what we need to do right now." Chika explained.

"Things have certainly improved a bit, but to fix all of this, we need our CPU and the downfall of Kurome." Kei explained.

"As you can see, we have given it our all to properly guard and protect Gamindustri in your absence. So believe in us and give it your all when it comes to protecting everyone around here!" Histoire yelled out.

"I can see that, Histoire. We completely believe you." Nepgear told her.

"Alright, it's time to make our way and get moving. The last battle's about to start and I finished setting up the coordiantes to get you there." Croire and MAGES. reminded them all as she prepared the jump to the Heart Dimension, enveloping all of them in a purple circle before leaving.

"See you soon." Histoire waved them goodbye.

"Alright, up we go!" Croire answered before all of them were sent to a different dimension in an instant.

"Good luck, you all."

"Looks like the lambs have come for the slaughter, it seems you really are important to them." Kurome laughed as she felt the CPUs arriving in her dimension, next to her was a certain someone. Big Nepgear simply stood there, silent and stoic like a statue.

"..."

"What? You still keep silent, huh? Oh well, I've never judged you for your choices." She responded to her.

"Mistress, we have returned to fufill our task once more and to stand by your side." From the shadows Leader emerged once more, she had a sizable wound between her upper and lower half now that made her seem like a stitched mess.

"Whether it's to escape, to survive or to serve you, we are loyal to you for giving us our lifes and purpose." CDR and MSD arrived before her and bowed, they too received damage from their encounter with the CPU. Both of them now also received notable damage from Rom and Ram's ice magic, having frozen parts.

"It's perfectly fine, we don't have anything left to prepare for. It's time to start the offense on Gamindustri just like they thought." An army of monsters emerged behind Kurome as she opened portals to random points in Gamindustri.

"If these fool-hardy weaklings want an invasion, then I am more than ready to give them that in an instant. I have to deal with the CPUs first, the death of the nations can follow and be second." She decided as the monsters left through the gates and arrived in Gamindustri

"What about her?" Leader pointed to person who stood by Kurome's side.

"I had her true personality resurface and convinced her to help me, she will be of great help to kill the CPUs." Kurome thought about as she looked at her and smiled devilishly. "I obtained everything I need, but I figured that it will be very pleasant to have the CPU be killed by the person they tried to save."

"Your plans will surely work, mistress. However, may I ask what you have been doing with the blade we collected from her?" Leader asked of her, seeing her master be in possession of the Gehaburn.

"Everything has it's place in this world and this sword is quite powerful, but I've had a different interest in it instead of it's power. I finished preperations already, all we need to do is wait for the CPUs." Kurome responded before giving all three of her servants something.

"It won't take long anymore. Stall them."

In the meantime, the CPU finally arrived thanks to Croire.

"So this is the new Heart Dimension? This is very reminiscent, but quite different in it's own right." Uzume noted as she looked around.

This dimension was similar in form and structure, sharing the exact same flat and stream-lined layout as the original one. However the entirety of it was covered in purple and blue, everything was giving off a malefic and creeping sensation.

"This place is pretty creepy and it feels like we are being watched or simply played around with, looks like we fell into a maze of darkness." MAGES. commented as even she felt a bizarre feeling crawling up her back like a monster was on her back and draining her soul.

"Make no mistake, this is the realm that Kurome had been residing in for a long time. It's inevitable that this is the final heinous dungeon we need to go to." Noire figured as she inspected the area, the entire dimension seemed wobbly and incorporeal as if it could collapse any moment.

"This area is quite similar to what I remember." Nepgear pointed out as she looked around.

"Let's get a move on." Neptune told the others as they started walking through the shadowy pathway.

"Why would you want to get a move on? You can stay here forever." The pathways suddenly closed each other as a mirage of Kurome appeared in front of them.

"Just what the hell is your endgame?" Uzume yelled at her.

"Who knows? I've been setting the stage for such a long time, all I know is that I didn't wait this long just to be halted by upstart CPUs and madmen." Kurome told them and laughed.

"Why, thank you. I enjoy being called mad." MAGES. commented.

"Quite frankly I don't understand why you're trying so hard to save and help the people of this world, don't you think it would be better if they were to tend to their own issues? They aren't even your nations to begin with. You have no obligation to them whatsoever."

"Kurome, you don't get why we are CPUs or why we are willing to do this. As CPUs we don't just do this out of obligation, but because we want to." Uzume responded.

"I'm well aware of that, your desires are well understood by me. I've seen my demise in your world and a potential incentive for me to stop all this, but just like you I am not willing to give up just because there's no reason. Whether it's at destroying this or other Gamindustries, I will keep going and I will not lose my hatred." Kurome told them. "Your reasoning doesn't convince me to stop. I will not stop in my destruction."

"Fine, if you won't surrender, then we'll just make our way and free our friend. You won't stop us!" Nepgear declared and pointed at her.

"We will see. I'm excited to see how powerful that sword you have crafted with those sharicites is. I wonder how it does in comparison to the Gehaburn that your counterpart wields, well I'll inevitably see."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Who knows? If you really want to know, then come and get the answer yourself." Kurome disappeared and in her stead left various copies of enemies they faced before.

"Tsk, looks like we have to fight our way to the end! I see a clone of Affimojas, Steamax and Arfoire in our way." Nepgear figured as one of each got closer alongside a number of monsters, all purplish and foggy with red eyes. "Alright, then let's test how powerful the Holy Sword actually is!"

Nepgear summoned the Holy Sword and charged ahead, holding it swiftly and without hesitation as she immediately attacked the fake Arfoire first.

"I guess there's no reason to hold back and stay behind all day, we should definitely get a move on." MAGES. figured as she fired a immense magical wave from her staff, blasting Fake Affimojas against the walls of this dimension.

"Death to the CPUs!" Fake Arfoire declared as she swung her spear across the corridor, narrowly missing the CPUs.

"Eat dirt, Fake Arfy!" Neptune jump-kicked her from behind, jumping up and down on her like a kangaroo.

"Gefahrlichtern!" Blanc sent a barrage of blue projectiles at her, distracting Fake Arfoire from attacking Neptune. Fake Steamax fired his shuriken at her as she was busy using her skill, but his attack was instantly blocked by Uni's rifle.

"Where do you think you're firing at?" Uni aimed tightly before firing a clean hole into Fake Steamax's arm and knocking him over with her rifle.

"Gamindustri shall be destroyed!" Fake Affimojas unleashed magic from his palm, creating powerful lightning bolts from his hand and sending them at the CPUs.

"Don't get overconfident! E-Force Blizzard!" Rom immediately froze him with her ice magic, encasing and freezing him to an massive ice block.

"Don't let your guard down, everyone!" Big Neptune warned everyone as she flawlessly dodged any attack from Fake Arfoire and fired back.

"Worthless whelp!" Arfoire turned around and fired purple projectiles after both Neptunes, Big Neptune immediately jumped up and pulled her gun.

"This is pretty nostalgic, but I'm not up to play through this again! Aerial Shot Ver.2!" She flew through the air as she turned, aimed her gun and fired relentlessly from above at Fake Arfoire's head before landing behind her and drawing her blade.

"Eat this!" She drew her blades, dual-wielding two weapons and striking at Fake Arfoire at full force.

"Die!" Fake Arfoire turned around and struck at full force.

"Slash Wave!" Nepgear drew the Share Blade and unleashed a powerful cutting wave that was mich larger than usual and the sheer energy exceeded the normal amount, tearing through the dimension's ground and slashing Fake Arfoire's arm clean off.

"And Mirage Dance!" Nepgear charged forward, relentlessly slashing and striking at her before delivering a finishing place that slashed her in two Shattering Fake Arfoire apart into a nothingness.

"This weapon really is insanely powerful if it allowed me to win this quickly, I'm excited to see what happens if I try calling upon more energy." Nepgear thought about, impressed by the blade's strength.

"Hey, Nep Jr.! Stay with us and don't drift off to the Dream World!" Neptune shook her sister and moved her out of Fake Affimojas attack.

"Sorry, Neptune. I was a bit distracted." Nepgear refocused and charged at Fake Steamax alongside her sister instead.

"Sylhet Spear!"

"Flame Sword!" Fake Affimojas's blade was empowered with the fire elment before he countered Vert's attack, both attacks were evently matched.

"Advanced Spell Formula," MAGES.'s staff changed to a blue color before a condensed ball of water formed in front of it. "Mythical Siren!"

A giant condensed blast of water flew out right against Fake Affimojas, cooling his blade back to normal, damaging him due to it's sheer pressure and bashing him against the walls of this dimension and making him soaking wet and damaging him.

"Hm, it appears he has poor defense against magical attacks. Y'know I almost feel bad for this, but in battle you have to take any advantage you can get." MAGES. figured as she decides to abuse his weakness by continously pelting him with magical bolts and fireballs to remove the fake.

"These guys are really annoying, let's just get done with them real quick." Noire figured as she traded blow for blow against Copy Steamax until he left himself open to an attack.

"Thunder Edge!" Noire's blade shone with a bright light before she plunged the electric charged blade into Copy Steamax's stomach, destroying the fake in a large yellow explosion.

"Those weren't too tough, but then again...they were probably nowhere near as powerful as anyone important under Kurome's control like those twins or that Leader person who were all very powerful." Blanc figured, the difference in power was too significant.

"Yeah, duh! We all know that at this point of the game, you'd have to fight through a gauntlet of bosses before the real deal. It's only natural, before the real boss you fight minions and small-fry first!" Neptune mentioned.

"Ugh, as much as I don't like to agree on Neptune's dumb meta comments, she has a point. Kurome willingly threw copies and weaklings before properly picking a fight with us, we need to hurry or else we won't get anywhere." Noire commented.

"Alright, then let's try to navigate through this dimension." Uzume figured and held her hand against the wall, concentrating for a short moment. "But this entire dimension doesn't feel the same as the Heart Dimension, something is still off after all this."

"We'll see for ourselves, we need to look around." Uni suggested before they decided to walk through the halls and start exploring the dimension.

Back in Gamindustri, the invasion had already begun.

"We need to keep Gamindustri safe at all costs!" IF yelled out as she charged forward, jumping over a dragon and swiftly decapitating it.

"There's way too many monsters, we need to get control back quick." She thought to herself as she backed off from several machines attacking.

Despite their initial advantage, the monsters were nigh-infinite and incredibly powerful. Swarms of monsters just stood there, ready to attack any moment.

"Wings of Light!" Histoire charged through a number of monsters by herself.

"We should be careful, we don't know what else will be coming." Histoire figured as more powerful monsters came out of the portal.

"I don't want to sound pessimistic, but we've got big problems on our hands! There's too many monsters, we won't last long!" IF responded as she checked her phone for status.

"This is not good..."

"You CPUs are all failures..."

"Did you hear that?" Uni turned around in response.

"It seems this is in fact the area where Big Nepgear and Kurome went to during their apparent temporary alliance." Nepgear remarked as she heard it too.

"A CPU shouldn't be weak and emotional..."

"Was that my voice?" Rom wondered as that voice just now was exactly the same to hers.

"This place is quite a bizarre mess of mysteries and confusion, the voices retracting and echoing from the walls and the ground. Quite disturbing if someone were to stay here for so long." Uzume remarked while they were walking. "Croire, do you perhaps have any other ideas to get us through?"

"I could try generating a map, but something here is messing with my abillities. But I'm pretty sure that we'll get to our goal soon, just a little more and based on my knowledge, there is a large area up ahead." Croire responded.

"That's a good thing, this place seriously giving me the creeps." They all walked ahead as they entered a brighter area.

A large symmetrical room that was wide and tall, but it had no other pathways to the outside aside from the one they emerged from. Everything was the same across the entire room, the structure was almost mechanical in feeling despite this being a dimension.

"Wait, is that..."

"...Big Nepgear?" Big Neptune noticed as there was one person standing in the middle of the room, she was simply standing there. Her hair laid over her face and she looked much more messy as her clothes were dirtied and she was missing one of her D-Hairclips, her body standing like a statue.

"Hey, I can't believe you escaped all by yourself! That's good, now we can purely focus on facing Kurome..."

"Neptune, watch out!" Nepgear charged forward and pushed her out of the way as Big Nepgear struck and slashed at her, piercing deep into the ground with Gehaburn.

"What the hell is going on? Why are you attacking us?!"

"Look at her eyes, I think we are too late. I can't see any life or soul in her eyes." Nepgear mentioned as Big Nepgear's eyes were empty, limb, just like when their sisters were brainwashed.

"No...then that means..."

"Face it, the master's brainwashing is absolute." Leader stepped forward from out of nowhere and stood next to Big Nepgear.

"Isn't it beautiful to see your dear friend be the one to end your lifes?" CDR and MSD commented from above, flying in the sky before dropping down.

"What did you do to her?!"

The three gave no response and waited until Big Nepgear opened her mouth.

"Kurome simply does what she can do best, manipulating people. Now then, don't you want to do me a favor and sacrifice yourself for Gamindustri?" Big Nepgear answered in a sadistic tone before her eyes started glowing in a dark purple and her mouth formed to an uncomfortable smile.

"This is merely a stepping stone, but even if you managed to achieve victory...you'd never get over our final hurdle." Leader declared before leaving CDR and MSD with Big Nepgear.

"It's game over for you, CPUs." CDR declared as she revealed an Anti-Crystal in her hand and a dark blue light started enveloping the arena.

"Our master has tired of our constant failures, so she gave us new powers to prove victorious." MSD stated before both them and Big Nepgear were enveloped in a dark light.

"And now we will kill all of you."

"No way, that's..."

"Yes, we were granted an artificial transformation by Kurome and now bear witness to your end!"

Both of them declared as they reemerged with strong gray processors across their body, possessing black versions of Rom and Ram's processors alongside bits colored in their respective hair color. Their hair changed to an unpleasant dark orange and their staffs and guns combined to magical scepters.

"Now despair, for I am Shadow Sister CD!"

"And I am Shadow Sister SD!"

But silence followed as they witnessed Big Nepgear's transformation into Lilac Heart, but her presence was darkened and roar negative energy surrounded her and her processor was halfway corrupted alongside her one of her eyes being purely purple.

"This won't be easy, but we can't give up! Let's go! Sharing Field Activate!" Uzume proceeded to immediately transform into her HDD form alongside the others, facing off against the three dark CPUs.

"We won't give up on you! We'll save you no matter what!" Nepgear yelled out as she and the others banded together.