Chronicles of the Fractal-Verse Sequel to, Zerg Swarm empress

by NOOBZILLA

Sequel to, Zerg Swarm Empress. Starts by introducing a new character in her own arc then moves back to Ellens POV.

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

War and Revelation

---

-Hive Cluster-

Within the tunnels of the living Hive Cluster a Drone hovered through the chambers carrying a large red and orange crystal on it's back. Entering through a doorway the Drone entered the chamber Oracle was building the unknown structure. Moving onto the platform it passed the Hunter Killer Oracle was using to observe it. The Drone stopped in front of the dome in the center. The dome flowered open and the Drone placed the crystal in the center. The Drone backed away and the dome closed behind it. A wave of psionic energy rippled space while glowing cracks on the platform traced their way from the platforms outer edges to the center dome as it also became illuminated with glowing cracks of light that also traced a path from the domes edges to it's base where the two tracer lines criss crossed continuing on their path's outwards and inwards.

[Ok... hope that's nothing to worry about] said Oracle observing through the Hunter killers eyes.

Two energies Psionic and Magical both started combining and interweaving throughout the structure making the living matter it was made of pulsate with glee as it's intended purpose was coming to fruition.

---

-Captured Muramasa Fortress-

Rubbing Etsukos head Haruka said. "It's good to see you to Etsuko."

She stood back up as everyone watched. Understanding they expected her to say something Haruka took in a deep breath.

"I'm glad everyone is safe and sound." She turned left. "We all suffered from the Muramasa clans brutality but now that is all at an end. Tonight we all will rest, feast and tomorrow I'll send all of you to a safe place far from here. And after that you'll all get to return to your families who im sure are missing you."

One man stood up. It was the father of Minami and Sora.

"Haruka i'm overjoyed to be able to see my children again but what about you? Won't the Muramasa return in force to retake their Fortress?"

Many people agreed and looked at Haruka with worry in their eyes and wondering what she would say next.

"Actually that's what i'm expecting. I intended to handle the Muramasa clan one of two ways depending on weather or not their leader Kyoshiro was willing to sacrifice his own people just to get at me. He chose to keep his people safe. So in turn i'll spare his life. But I know that he'll want to retake this fortress and mine complex considering their importance. Which is why im having all your leave in the morning. I'll have a easier time fighting if I don't have to keep all of you safe."

The speech seemed to satisfy the people as they murmured amongst each other.

"If that was all... It's time to eat and make marry or putting it another way. PARTY!" shouted Haruka raising both arms.

While everyone returned to their meals and talking Haruka and Etsuko walked over to Motoichi and Pearl.

"Well it's not the greatest speech but it did the trick," said Motoichi holding a flat cup of sake.

"I'm glad everyone is having a good time," said Pearl looking around the large room filled end to end by so many people enjoying themselves and their new found freedom.

Haruka sat down opposite Pearl and Motoichi. She looked to her side as Etsuko sat down beside her. Etsuko looked up at her, with a smile before leaning on her arm with both hands wrapped around it.

"Etsuko you don't have to cling to me," said Haruka.

"Mmm no. If I let go you might leave again," said Etsuko tightening her grip.

"Eh? Well how will you eat then. The food looks good," said Haruka.

Etsuko looked at her plate of food then up to Haruka. "Can you feed me then."

Haruka let out a sigh not enjoying the new overly clingy Etsuko. "This is going to be a pain." She thought. "Your a big girl Etsuko feed yourself. You don't want people to start calling you baby Etsuko now do you."

The cute fox child looked down in thought and shook her head not liking that kind of treatment. "Umm ok."

Reluctantly she let go with one arm and grabbed her chopsticks. She fitted her finger's around them and grabbed a piece of cooked fish. Haruka smiled as Etsuko looked so cute eating with that reluctant looking face on. Etsuko still had one arm wrapped around Harukas but it was at least a start. Haruka grabbed her own chopsticks and started eating too.

After a few bits Haruka looked over at Vynella sitting beside Pearl. Despite not having any hands or at least full hands the snow white harpy was eating rather well with her clawed feet and the two fingers on her wings folding point. She watched as Vynella reached with her rather dexturis talons to pick up a cup of water and take a few sips before placing it back down. She then reached out with her other leg to pick up a sauce bowl and dip her fish. Vynella chewed and swallowed before noticing Haruka staring at her.

"What?"

"Err I just never saw a harpy eat at a table before."

"Were you expecting me to struggle of something. Just because we Harpies don't have full hands like you grounders doesn't mean we cant eat like you."

Haruka bowed respectfully. "Sorry I didn't mean any disrespect."

Vynella shrugged. "No big deal."

"So." Motoichi started. "How do you plan on dealing with Kyoshiro and his army. You got him by the balls last time but he'll have no reason to hold back next time. He may even destroy his own fortress rather then let it remain in enemy hands."

Haruka took a few bits of her meal before answering.

"Oh I have plans. And like him I won't be holding back the next time we fight either. With no non combatants to get caught up in our fight this time I'll have no reason to hold back either."

"But isn't it the same with him," said Pearl. "I wonder what he'll do?"

"Other then send a large army at us you mean," said Motoichi as he chewed is food.

"It would indeed be a problem if we had to fight a whole army. And i'm not feeling in the mood to kill all those people just because of the situation." said Haruka.

She started thinking about her current capabilities and what she could have and do given the current level of her swarms development. "Hmm, hehe that should work."

Feeling a little unnerved by Harukas laugh Motoichi and Pearl shared a look of concern before turning back to Haruka.

"Uh what did you just think up?" said Motoichi.

Haruka gave a small evil laugh. "Hehehe. Ah... Don't worry. It won't be that bad. I'm just going to take the high ground... the ultimate high ground."

Motoichi only got more concerned.

"Also Motoichi I'll need to see you later before bed," said Haruka

"What is it?"

"Just got to give you some thing that will make it easier for you to communicate with my swarm."

Vynella rolled her eyes.

-Next Morning-

Everyone was gathered as a large crowd in the courtyard of the fortress waiting. Then startling everyone a line of ten warp gates opened along the walls.

Haruka stood in the in front of the crowd between them and the warp gates with Etsuko still clinging to her arm.

"Don't worry everyone. These gateways will take you to different villages that will take care of you until we can send you back to your homes."

The people murmured between one another before walking into the warp gates one by one. As the people left the Tengu man from before walked up to Haruka.

"Thank you Haruka for everything."

"Your welcome... mister?"

The Tengu man rubbed the back of his head feeling a little embarrassed that he never gave Her His name.

"My names Saburo. I'll say hi to Minami and Sora for you when I get back."

With a smile Haruka replied. "I hope you like the new house then."

Saburo tilted his head in question. "New house?"

"You'll see when you get back. Oh and that warp gate there is the one leading back to your village," said Haruka pointing.

Saburo glanced over Harukas shoulder at the warpgate then to Haruka again.

"Thanks... I guess? I hope I'll see you again miss Haruka."

Saburo left following the line of people as they disappeared through the warp gates. Haruka watched as the last of them left leaving just her Etsuko, Pearl, Motoichi, Vynella and the twins.

Motoichi walked up to Haruka. "What are we doing next. I assume were going to prepare for the Muramasa clans counter attack."

Haruka looked up towards the sky. "Yes we will. Motoichi, now that you have that parasite in your head you can control the Creep now. Use it to create a army and defenses around the fortress. Oracle can answer any questions you have about Creep or controling zerg."

"Who's this Oracle?" He asked.

[That would be me] Oracle projected into his mind.

"Who said that?" Motoichi looked around expecting to find the source of the new voice.

[Sorry. Allow me to properly introduce my self. Im Oracle. I have no physical form as you would understand it, but I exist as a kind of... spirit that's connected to all the Zerg of miss Haruka's swarm.]

"Oh!" said Motoichi thinking that Haruka and these Zerg keep getting weirder and weirder.

Haruka turned back to the others. "Pearl and Vynella, I want you to gather up all the magic crystals in all the machines and buildings and bring them here to the fortress. Feel free to use the Drones and Overlords."

"Ok," Pearl said still feeling a little unsure amount the whole thing.

"Sure," said Vynella already used to using her parasite to order Zerg around.

"What will I do?" asked Etsuko.

Looking down at the child Haruka thought about what would keep her out of trouble. "Hmm... I want you to count and organize all of the Magic crystals Pearl and Vynella bring and place them all in a room for safekeeping. Can you do that."

"Uh yeah I can count. And I can organise stuff too. I always kept my collection of special looking rocks in order of type, color and size didn't I."

Haruka patted Etsukos head remembering that she had a collection of pretty or special looking rocks she always collected in her free time.

"Yes you did. Now let's get to work everyone."

"Wait! What will You do," said Etsuko.

"I'm going to work with my swarm to build up a Hive cluster and defenses to protect this place when the Muramasa clan come back."

Etsuko blinked. "I thought Mister Motoichi was doing that?"

Haruka crouched down to eye level with Etsuko. "He is but only around the fortress. Im going to build a larger base around the whole area of the mine complex."

"Oh," Etsuko said. "How?"

Haruka knew she was a little kid but the annoying questions and snickering from Vynella and Pearl was starting to grade on her nerves.

"I'll take you up in the sky and show you when i'm all done ok."

"Up in the sky!" said Etsuko excitedly, her tails waged back and forth rapidly.

"Yep. So do a good good or I won't take you up."

"Eh!... I'll do my best!"

Haruka smiled at Etsukos new enthusiasm. "That good. Now let's all get to work shall we."

Minutes later everyone split up. Haruka left a Alpha Zergling to help Etsuko and keep her from running off somewhere. Meanwhile Vynella and Pearl summoned a small group of Drones and a hand full of Overlords to haul all the magic crystals that were used to power the machines scattered all over the valley. Motoichi received some advice from Oracle on how to use Creep to make different things from barricades to bone spears to walls and pitfall traps to a army of clones. Sadly said clones were unable to use spirits force but could at least use level one psi-armor. And explode thanks to Baneling essence.

As for Haruka herself she walked to the large open field of the mine between the former slave barrack's and the mining area. The flat open area was perfect for her plans. She sent the order to the Maw's of the Swarm opening a ring of warp gates around herself. Frome the gates poured forth a army of Drones.

"I haven't had much time to really enjoy the feeling of building up a Hive cluster like when I played StarCraft." Sigh. "Well better late than never I guess. Now let's see what changes my counterpart made to the Swarm."

Haruka organised the Drones in groups and had them spawn Creep Cores in five dozen clusters of ten all arranged in a large crescent with some clusters on the outside between the inner groups. The uneven terrain wasn't much of a bother. Minutes passed until all the Creep Cores had finished growing. Next She selected Swarm crawlers to morph from some and Hatcheries from others. The Creep Cores formed large cocoons around themselves. But seeing the need for more resources Haruka opened more warp gates in a circular pattern twenty feet up in the air and ordered Drones in various chambers of the main Hive cluster to harvest Creep and place it through the warp gates. She also called over a few Overlords.

Before to long a rain of Creep chunks started raining down from above providing the extra biomass the growing structures needed. A few dozen Overlords that Pearl and Vynella wearnt using floated over head and started barfing Creep all over the place. In only a half hour the hole mining area was covered in a expanding field of creep. A hour after that, the first Swarm crawlers and Hatcheries finished hatching. Popping from their cocoons the new structures towered over the landscape ever so slightly flexing those giant horn like towers.

Haruka immediately ordered the Hatcheries to start growing more Drones. While she had the Swarm crawlers move over to the edges of the area along the cliff sides leading up to the forest to the right and by the river to the left. The Swarm Crawlers burrowed into place at the base of the cliff's and started producing Creep. Within just a few minutes the Creep had reached the tree line up above. The Creep then, under orders from Haruka grew up into a large thick wall with foot long spikes along it's top and outer side. The wall stretched all along the eastern side of the artificial valley excavated by the Muramasa clans mining. Another wall was created along the side of the river that split valley in half and the two walls connected at the lower and upper halves of the district completely encircling the eastern district.

Using her Avatar/body double flying up in the air Haruka watched how her new Hive Cluster was coming along. Its area radius size was five times that of the still growing main Hive cluster but that Hives growth was mainly focused on vertical expansion rather then horizontal. Now that Haruka doesn't have to worry about space constraints (or destroying the environment since the whole valley was barran) she can expand far more then before.

Haruka stood atop a Hatchery overlooking a army of Drones organised in a massive square pattern. She looked around for spots for them to build and formed a blueprint of the new Hiver cluster in her mind. With a series of mental commands the Drones scattered and began dismantling the buildings to make more space. And after that were organised into three groups.

The first group started digging down into the underground mine shafts. The shafts were much too small for Drones and needed to be expanded but did provide a good start for the new underground construction. The second group started forming creep domes around the Hatcheries. And the Third started breaking apart the machines that Vynella and Pearl had already striped of their magic crystals.

Haruka yawned after having watched her army of Drones work for another two hours. Having to keep track and monitor all the activity had distracted her from a very large target. That massive mountain excavator that the largest magic crystal had been taken from.

Remembering that device that Oracle was building Haruka sent the disembodied mind a call.

"Oracle whats the statues of THAT device your building?" projected Haruka.

[It's still charging and adapting to the mix of Psionic and Magical energies gathering with in it. I estimate a full week at most,] answered Oracle.

"A whole week!"

[Mixing both Psionic and Magical energy is a function of the device. When complete it will fully activate. Don't worry. After looking it over top to bottom I know for a fact that it's not a bomb or something like that.]

Haruka sighed looking up in thought. "Well... I trust you. Just tell me if something happens ok."

[I will.]

After having her question concerning that answered Haruka sent a order for the large mining excavator to be dismantled. While she watched some two dozen Drones hover over to it and start ripping it apart, Haruka decided to look in on the others who have been hard at work fulfilling their respective task's. Motoichi had made a small disposable army of generic Ogre clones armed with bio-katana, bio-spears,bio-shields and organic bows and arrows. Motoichi felt it would be too creepy if they all had his face so they all have a different face then his. But they still all look alike.

Haruka wondered if psi-armor would be effective on arrows. And as if reading her mind a row of the clones stepped forward in a row and all readied a arrow each. They aimed at the fortress wall and pulled back on the bow string. As they aimed at the wall all the arrows became charged with Psi-armor and fired. The barrage of reinforced arrows whistled through the air piercing through a foot of stone with ease.

"Cool" was all Haruka cold think.

"Glad you think so," projected Motoichi.

"Huh? Motoichi. I didn't send you a message?"

"I can feel it when you are focusing on me or my army."

"Oh yeah because of the hive mind," replied Haruka.

"You think this army of copies will be of use? They can be easily replaced but their pretty weak?" projected Motoichi.

"I don't expect them to win the battle on their own. Just serve as a backup force to defend the fortress. But I don't actually care about that fortress. It's just a decoy at this point anyway."

"I see. So that new... Hive Cluster as you call it is going to be our main base then?" said Motoichi.

"Yes. But it's far from complete. How long do you think it will be until Kyoshiro comes back with his army in full force?"

There was a pause as Haruka felt Motoichi thinking.

"I would estimate a week at most. If not sooner. We are right in the middle of the territory of the Muramasa clan after all. But I think that after suffering such a lose that Kyoshiro will want to make certain if his victory and gather as much of his military might as possible. Perhaps he will try to surround us on all sides and overwhelm us with numbers. Or not i'm not an expert strategist."

Haruka laughed at that concept.

"Ah hahaha. Overwhelm the Zerg. Haha. Thats a laugh. There's only a few armies I can think of that can match or surpass the might of the Swarm when it's at full power."

Motoichi raised a mental eye brow.

"Given that statement and what I know about the Zerg I guess I should consider the world lucky that you haven't just expanded without constraint."

"Quite correct." Haruka stated. "The victory I gained over Kyoshiro before was of tactics not power. But if he want's a display of power I'll show him what power really is."

"And how will you do that?"

Haruka looked up smiling. "With a very effective tactic as I had told you before. Taking the high ground but with a new twist."

---

-Fort town Honshina: Central Ehime Prefecture of Shikoku island-

Captain Kengo walked through the streets of the fort town with two subordinates following close behind. They pressed themselves through the crowd of packed towns people filling the streets.

"Sir the meeting should be starting soon," said one of Kengos men.

"I know." replied the Captain as they turned a corner.

The three men turned down a road and made their way up a series of stone stairs leading up to a temple sharing atop the hill overlooking the town. It was also a fortress although smaller than the one taken by the Monsters calling themselves Zerg but it was the second largest on the island.

At the same time Kyoshiro sat in a large room in front of a small table with some recently finished food plates. Sitting opposite him was a beautiful Oni woman in a shrine maidens red and white hakama. Her jet black hair was tied in a long ponytail in back with two long flowing braids hanging down in front of her shoulders.

She gave a sigh. "It's quite packed lately. Ever since the refugees from the your fortress came here."

Kyoshiro was half listening to Her as he thought over battle formations and strategies and also decided to finally use those new weapons Castle had sent him last year.

"Huh? oh yeah. Sorry to intrude."

The priestess tilted her head making a disappointed expression.

"Your not listening to me are you. No wonder you lost our clans main fortress."

Feeling as if he had been stabbed in the heart Kyoshiro placed both hands on both his folded knees and sighed.

"Don't get all pouty. It's your own fault for not being attentive," She said.

"Tsumugi." said Kyoshiro. "Ever since we were children you always found it enjoyable to torment me haven't you."

Tsumugi brought a sleeve over her mouth making a short laugh.

"Hehe! But it's just so fun to tease you. And you make it so easy. It's your own fault."

Kyoshiro placed his right hands index and middle fingers onto his temple and rubbed some of the headache away. Tsumugi drank the last of her water. A moment later the door opened and two Oni men in matching black armor, (one with gold lining around the edges of the plating and the other with silver a lining) entered with Kengo and his two men following behind them.

Kyoshiro turned to the five as they all bowed to him.

"Lord Muramasa. We have come to aide you," said the one in silver armor.

"We will slay those foolish enough to defile our lands and do..."

The one in gold armor stopped as Kyoshiro raised a hand.

"Tsutomu. Tetsu. I feel more relieved now that your both home again after your little trip to our sister clan in the north. Is lady Nyoko doing well?"

Tetsu (The one in gold armor) raised his head.

"Yes lord Muramasa. She's been feeling much better ever since prince Hiroshi and her uncle rescued her from that group of slaver's."

Kyoshiro took on a grim expression after hearing the mention of slavery. His whole experience with the trade has turned quit sour what with Kaguya's interference and now the recent kidnapping of the priestess of a sister Oni clan in the north. Even though shes a half breed between a Knife eared Elf and the prideful and powerful Oni. She was still distant family so Kyoshiro still worried. He may have little love loss with that puppet of a prince but he really should send a letter of thanks to the goody goody little brat.

Tsutomu raised his head as his brother lowered his.

"She said to thank those beast tamers who caused a ruckus and thereby gave her uncle and prince Hiroshi the opportunity to rescue her."

Kyoshiro took interest in that information.

"Who are you referring to?" He asked.

The twins glanced at each other a moment before raising their heads to speaking.

"Well ma-lord during the slave auction there was a attack by several individuals and unknown creatures," said Tsutomu.

"Two woman attacked the slaver market in which Nyoko was being sold and they killed all the auction attendants and guards. They also seemed to command large four legged creatures with deadly bladed arms on their backs."

The description was simplistic but accurate to the smaller Zerg creatures that attacked the fortress before. Kyoshiro felt a pang of frustration in his gut at the fact he owed Haruka for a favor he'd rather not owe her fore. But no one knew that except him and he felt like keeping it that way but his sense of honor made it hard to keep silent.

"I see..." said Kyoshiro. "Moving on we will have the meeting to discuss our strategy to retake our clans central fortress. Does anyone have something to say before we begin?"

---

-Undisclosed location?-

Within a dark room a ring of chairs were illuminated by lights from above. Several hooded men appeared one on each chair as if they were illusions.

"This meeting shall now come to order," said a older sounding man with a deep commanding voice.

"So what's on the agenda today?"

"I hear there's been a sighting of those creatures called Zerg in Japan."

"Oh!"

"Disturbing."

"Yes that is correct," said the voice of Castle.

"From the report it was some time ago that they were sighted. Why have you only now alerted us to their existence?"

The hooded Castle turned to the one who asked the question.

"Their behavior was different then in our records. And as well two of them had taken human form."

"Couldn't they have been infested humans?" asked another hooded man.

"Possibly" replied Castle. "However It also seems that they have another leader besides the two. From what i've been able to gather her name is Akuma Haruka. She has befriended several villages and towns and has formed a trade route between them. This has completely undone what we have had that Ogre Hiroshige do."

"I knew using a Ogre was a mistake," said someone. "Perhaps we should have had that Kyoshiro handle it. The price of the land on Shikoku island will be higher now that more people will stay. If we can't gain a stronger foothold in Japan by buying up land then we need to eliminate the problem before our plans are delayed any further."

"Agreed."

"I concur."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"We are in agreement." said the man with the deep commanding voice." Castle can you handle this infestation of Zerg on your own or do you need help?"

"At first I was interested in studying them at a distance but recently they have taken the main fortress of the Muramasa clan. Kyoshiro and his top officers are currently in a meeting discussing how their going to retake their land. I had attempted using a mind spell to instigate his death but it seems this Haruka is too crafty and strong willed to let a little threat to her life force her hand. If he had died at her hands then it would have been a useful trigger to have the Regent turn all of Japan on the Swarm. Once that had happened we would have only needed to watch as the two sides weakened each other and then we could have requested a use of the Hyperion to kill Haruka and destroy her Swarms Hive Clusters." said Castle.

"And then in the name of helping a allied nation rebuild WE could have made all the forced reframations needed to make Japan another member of our order," said another man.

"And our first foothold in the far east. If only the takeover of China had worked," lamented another man.

"The past is the past," said the man with the commanding voice. "We must look to the future. If these Zerg are allowed to spread too far even we will be powerless against them. We will force a use of the Hyperion to kill their leader and complete Castles plan. Any objections or comments?"

"Hmm... I have a alternative plane." said another hooded man. "Castle what of that young man whom you recruited into our fold. What was his name... Duke Leonhard Schwarzmann," asked one of the hooded men.

"Yes. What about him?"

"Doesn't he have a younger brother who has recently developed a rather unique fighting style and combat magic. Would it be possible to have him kill this Haruka?"

Castle was silent a moment as he thought. "That is a interesting proposal. But I highly doubt that one man can Kill the leader of a group of monsters."

"Not on his own. But I also have a few interesting... test subjects of my own. And I have been looking for a proper place to test their capabilities. Pairing them with that young boy could give us some valuable date."

"And results perhaps?" said another of the hooded men.

"I see," replied Castle. "I will contact the Duke concerning this. His brother should still be in Japan. But i'm not too confident that he will be willing to send his own brother on a possible suicide mission. But perhaps the opportunity to use his skills in a real battle will be enough incentive to accept."

---

-Formore Muramasa fortress: Now secondary Hive cluster-

The new hive cluster's construction was coming along quickly as the pace of the work was greatly accelerated when Haruka realised that she could use Maw of the Swarm warp gates underground to move massive amounts of dirt all at once. The result was that by the end of the forest day a few hundred thousand tones of dirt had been moved from underground to form a massive wall of earth surrounding the whole mined out valley around the mine. The outer wall's of creep had to be remade all over again but that was a minor setback.

After that she had a massive wall of creep twenty feet high and twelve feet thick constructed all around the giant mounds of dirt. By the time that was finished the Hatcheries had all morphed into Lair's arranged in their C shape with nine Spires and three Greater Spires arranged around them. In the center of the formation of Lairs, Spires and Greater Spires grew a single massive cocoon.

Haruka stood facing the opening to the C shaped encirclement of bio-buildings staring at the massive new Zerg growing before her.

"I can't wait to bombardment Kyoshiro's army into past from orbit."

---

-7 Miles north-west from secondary Hiver Cluster.-

A pack of Zerg loitered by a dirt road way leading to the new hive cluster. A pair of Zerglings played biting and pawing at each other. One pounced on the other and the two wrestled around while a pair of Roach's sat a few meters away looking a little annoyed that the two roughhousing Zerglings. After a few minutes a pack of three Hydralisk slithered up the road way. They stopped by the Roaches and their multiply heads bobbed and swayed around as they scanned the area.

One of the Hydralisk ordered the Zerglings to group up. The two wrestling stopped, four others who were sunning themselves in the bright sunlight and one other clawing a tree to death like a cat all rushed over. The Hydralisk made a pleased growl seeing all the Zerglings lined up. The Hydralisk then sent the Zerglings out to patrol the area while the Hydralisk remained and guarded the checkpoint. Just as the Zerglings started off on their patrol a rain of blue wispy arrows rained down from the sky impaling all of them.

Giving a pained growl the Hydralisk lifted it's main head up. There were so many arrows that each of its secondary heads had two stuck in them and four were sticking out of its head crest and another five in it's lower snake body. The Hydralisk looked around seeing what condition its fellow swarm-kine were in. It was the only Hydralisk left alive along with one Zerglings who only had two arrows in its left rear leg. All the others were dead but bothe the Roaches were alive and mostly uninjured except for being covered in arrows like a pincushion. After a few moments the arrows all vanished like smoke.

Observing the situation the Hydralisk ordered the remaining Zergling to burrow. The Hydralisk burrowed with it while ordering the two Roaches to remain on the lookout for who was attacking them. The Roaches moved into the middle of the road as a warning signal and report concerning the attack was sent to the hive cluster.

After a few minutes a second force of Roach's and Hydralisk arrive from another checkpoint farther up the road and like the others the Hydralisk burrowed while the Roached remain on the surface. The Zerg waited for close to ten minutes for a ground attack to come but instead another barrage of arrows rained down on them from the sky. But this time the arrows only buried themselves in the Roach's thick armored shells and and the ground. None of them reached the burrowed Hydralisk and lone Zergling.

Searching for the aggressor a flock of Locust swarmed the surrounding area but even expanding their search to five miles they still found nothing but forest and empty road. Then another barrage of arrows hit the area, this time striking with such precision that all the Locust were cut in half.

Hour after hour, day in and day out the barrage of arrows continued striking check points all around the Hive cluster. It continued for a full week sometimes reaching the Hive Cluster it's self. The damage was minimal but near constant.

Standing on the balcony facing southeast the Oni shrine priestess Tsumugi loosed another of her spirit arrows from her bow. It flew far off into the sky from normal sight. But having developed her Spirit Forces sensory abilities to a great extent she like her fellow archer maidens could hit a target many many miles away. Combined with their Spirit arrows who's trajectory they can control and there's truly is not a target they can not hit. Although the earth can get in the way if their targets can borrow as deep as the Zerg can.

"Those creatures are annoying," said one of the dozen or so Oni priestesses as she formed another Spirit arrow.

"I know what you mean. We can't hit them if their in the ground that far," replied another.

"We'll just have to hit the ones above ground," said Tsumugi shooting off another arrow.

The Spirit arrow flew at mach 1 velocity traveling over a dozen miles before splitting into fifty identical copies. They all rained down on the Hatcheries and Zerg many miles away killing dozens of Hyderalisk and Zerglings but only annoying the Roach's even when they struck them in the head.

One of the priestess turned to Tsumugi. "Ho long are we going to keep doing this mistress Tsumugi?"

The shrine priestess readied yet another Spirit arrow. She held it for a moment before letting it fly through the sky. "Not long," Tsumugi replied. "Today should be the last of our attacks. Lord Kyoshiro will be arriving with his army to attack the enemies flank by now."

One of the Miko priestesses lowered her bow and rubbed her shoulder. "Ah! It's about time. My shoulders are getting sore from doing this every day."

"But not right now." said Tsumugi "We'll continue until the end of today."

The other shrine maiden rolled her eyes with a grown.

"Ugh... well if it's only for the rest of today I guess I can suck it up."

She held her hand out forming another Spirit arrow. Gracefully she brought it up to her bow notching it and pulled straight back in line with her shoulders, holding it a moment before letting it fly.

The arrow few many miles until reaching its optimum point over it's target point. The shrine maiden then sent a command and it split into many dozens of arrows which rained down upon the hive cluster.

-Secondary Hive Cluster inner Command Chamber-

Haruka sat on a bone white throne growing up from the Creep covered floor. Her scythe in it's sheath was laying up against the side of the throne while she watched the giant ten foot wide bio-screen. The screen shown the group of Muramasa shrine priestesses shooting arrows at them from extreme long range. It had been troublesome at first but the new Hive cluster has already formed many armored domes and has most of its facilities underground.

"Master I still don't see why you haven't sent Mutalisk to eliminate them?" said Tatsuki.

Haruka crossed her legs looking to her left at the black haired armored humanoid. Tatsuki like her sister had gone through a evolution in the past week to make them as powerful as a normal brood queen. Their flimsy creep bodies became denser and more resilient to damage. And also gained greater psionic power along with the ability to produce Creep and control it's growth and structure like Haruka.

"If I just attack I can eliminate a threat to our swarm. But. Their not all that threatening at the moment. They can't even pierce the armored domes on the surface let alone reach the underground areas. So i'm not in a rush to do anything about them. And as for Kyoshiro and his main army circling around the whole island just to flank us. From what I can see they think attacking our northern side will make us send most of our forces up that way so our southern flank will be weaker and undermanned. That strategy only works if I can't see them coming. That and... I've decided to wait until BigBoy is done growing until making any big moves."

A low sigh came from behind Haruka. Mitsuki walked up to beside her master flexing her new wings while Harukas avatar clone followed and stopped standing behind the throne.

"Master are you really going to name our first Behemoth... BigBoy?" she said with annoyed expression.

Haruka let out a delighted laugh. "Hehe... ah no of course not. I just wanted to see how far I could annoy the two of you with that ridiculous name."

Both twins made a silent sigh.

"Oh they've arrived!" said Haruka.

High in the sky a Overlord spotted a large group of armored Oni marched down the road towards the hive cluster. Half their number hauled large wagons loaded down with something covered in tarps. The Overlord focused it's sight on the horse drawn wagons when a beam of fire cut through the air slicing it in two. The two meat chunks of the Overlord split apart falling to the forest below.

The heavily muscular and armored Tsutomu and his twin brother watched as the two halves of the Overlord crashed into the distant forest scaring off a flock of birds.

"So that was one of those bloated flying observers wasn't it?" said Tetsu.

"Seems so. That's the second we've downed," said Tsutomu.

A third man walked up behind the two.

"We best keep moving." Kyoshiro said.

The two Oni brothers agreed with a node and followed their master.

Meanwhile a few miles away another group watched the army march it's way through the forest. Hidden amongst a cluster of large group of rocks atop a hill a group of cloaked people follow the army as it snaked its way through the forest.

"That's the second one of those Overlords they've shot down. I wonder how much longer it will be until these Zerg creatures counter attack?" said a disembodied voice.

The air rippled a tiny bit as a enchanted cloak changing color and texture to mimic the surrounding foliage. Only a pair of blue eyes were visible under a hood.

"If our information is correct then the Zerg will attack once they reach ten miles from the Hive Cluster," said a hooded female.

"Then going by their current speed they will reach that point in just a few hours," said a second cloaked woman.

"And once they do we'll make our way into the Hive Cluster and take out the leader," said the cloaked man.

"Correct." said the first cloaked woman. "We'll have to be very careful. We don't know what kind of defenses that the Zerg will have in their Hive Cluster. So everyone will have to make sure you watch out for traps and patrols. Our cloaking suits aren't fulproof. If they get to close the Zerg may sniff us out or detect us by other means so keep your distance from any patrols or guards."

"Understood boss," said the cloaked man.

The five cloaked figures continued shadowing Kyoshiro's army all throughout the day until they finally reached the Hive Clusters south eastern wall. Hydralisk and Roach's took up guard positions at holes in the wall while hordes of Zerglings and Banelings raced out of said holes to attack the army gathered around them. Flashes of Spirit Force attacks and Baneling explosions lit up the forest as the waning sunlight beckoned the shadows of night. The wagons the army of Oni had been hauling were brought up the road ways to visual range of the wall.

While their samurai brothers held off the Zerg another group of Oni operating the wagons pulled the tarps off them and grabbed the large multi-barreled weapons they carried. Rows of Oni held the heavy two handed steampunk style gatling guns and loaded magazine's and removed saftie's. All at once lines of the Gunners aimed their new weapons at the horde of monsters charging and clawing their way through their fellow clansmen. All at once they pulled the triggers sending forth a barrage of enchanted ammo down range in a shower of rapid tracer fire.

One after another Zerg were either frozen or incinerated by the magic ammo as the rotary cannons sweeped side to side through the tree line.

In her command chamber Haruka watched through the senses of her swarm as they were gunned down by the new weapons.

"Well it's about time something that's an actual threat showed up."

Tatsuki turned to her master. "Should we send a counter attack to destroy their new weapon?"

Haruka watched as the Oni gunners swept aside the most of the frontline attackers with a hail of bullets. The gunners gatling guns looked like a modified two handed steampowered version of a american civil war era gatling gun. And thanks to their greater strength the Oni can two hand the otherwise heavy cannons with ease.

"No." said Haruka. "We'll let them attack our pre-established defenses. Once their actually in the Hive Cluster then we'll become more offensive. Besides I'ed like to see how my swarm handles this kind of thing on their own."

Back outside the Oni were ripping through the attacking hordes of Zerglings, Banelings and the occasional Hydralisk and Roach. Their high capacity ammo backpacks allowed them to fire continuously without reloading for a full minute as they spit out round after round. When they did run out of ammo the support team behind them in the rear lines would move up in a team of three. One would check the gun barrel for any warping from the heat while the other two would rapidly reload the ammo or check for any other damage caused from constant use. Three lines of these gunners, a hundred men each. The men in the middle lines would replace the one in front once they ran out of ammo and the rear lines would replace them in a continuous cycle of fire reload and check's for the weapons condition.

For close to an half hour the line of Oni moved as they continued their barrage getting closer and closer to the wall, the main force moving along the road marching with purpose and intent. But after so long even without any orders from higher command breeds the Zerg being sent to the front lines changed tactics from just charging at the enemy and started burrowing underground. The Gunners, reserve gunners and maintenance personnel started dying in droves as Zerglings jumped them from behind erupting out from below their own feet. But being prepared for such a tactic the Oni army rallied and the sword wielding samurai entered the fray once again.

A charge of blades and armor met the bulwark of claws and fangs. With their blades glowing in a blue fire the Oni samurai defended their brothers. The front lines became a pit of chaos and confusion while both sides were mixed in amongst the other ripping and tearing and slashing and shooting. The numbers of gunners decreased by half a dozen with every Baneling that detonated and every three Hydralisk that were able to shoot off a full barrage. But the same could be said for the Zerg numbers as a half a dozen Zerglings were cut down every ten seconds and flashes of crescent blades ripped through the Roach's two at a time.

The new chaos was just the thing that started turning the tide of battle in the Zergs favor as the number of gunners shooting at the charging front lines of the swarm dropped one after the other. Then a raining barrage of spirit arrows showered the two armies. But thanks to their accuracy and control granted to them by the shrine priestesses none of the arrows struck any Muramasa clan soldier. All at once the horde of Zerg fighting in amongst the Muramasa clans were all killed to the last. The entire Zerg offensive was stopped in one attack.

Kyoshiro near the rear lines turned to his two generals. "Tsutomu. Tetsu! Now break through their defenses."

The twins nodded and marched wordlessly to the front lines. Without batting an eye at the dead and wounded they marched on wards as the gunfire and fighting resumed in the front line.

A Zergling leaped atop a gunner as he raised his gun up as a makeshift shield. The Zergling bit down bending the steel frame rendering the gun useless while the bladed arms on it's back flicked and slashed. The gunner was stabbed on the neck and head killing him instantly. As the body hit the ground the Zergling caught sight of a new pair of target's and with a fresh pack of it's fellow Zerg behind it they all charged the two.

Tetsu raised his giant war hammer splattering one of the creatures across the ground it's body forced flat by the force of his attack. Tsutomu raised his war hammer over his head charging it with his Spirit force before bringing it down. The impact sent out a shockwave of fire blasting the rest of the attacking zerg to charred dust. Three Hydralisk fired at them only for their spines to be evaded and blocked skillfully.

Tsutomu raised his hand concentrating spirit energy into his palm and fired. The three Hydralisk dissolved in a blaze of fire and were turned to ash. The two continued to rip through the attacking horde of Zerg while they made their way to the wall of bone and creep.

"That stink's like bad sushi," quipped Tetsu.

"Agreed," said Tsutomu. "Let's see what it smells like when it's properly cooked."

The two brothers crossed their warhammers together focusing their spirit force into a large scale attack. As they powered up their attack a trio of Banelings appeared from the wall. The rolling bombs veered towards the two but just then a barrage of gatling fire made the three prematurely explode. The two brothers glanced behind them as a group of gunners regrouped from their previous loses and formed a defensive circle around the brothers.

Gunfire ripped through the attacking Zerg as soon as they appeared granting the two generals all the time they needed. In just a few moments the two had focused more than enough energy into their weapons. With a single swing the two sent a massive (twenty feet wide) fireball into the wall. The intense and concentrated heat burned through the wall like a stream of hot water through block of ice. But the fire ball didn't stop there it continued along its path after burning through the wall. It flew through the air in a downward arc directly impacting a hive dome.

In a bright flash of light a near nuke level explosion detonated vaporising the hive dome and heavily damaging two others nearby. All the surrounding Zerg on the surface were vaped by the explosion while the semi-circle of Lairs, Spires and the massive cocoon inside them were only blasted by the overpressure wave of the explosion taking minimal damage.

Within the command chamber Haruka breathed a sigh of relief as the condiction of the still growing Behemoth remained stable.

"That was close," stated Haruka as she felt a chill at the destructive power those two have.

"It seems that the explosion from their attack has left our defense force greatly weakened." said Tatsuki.

Mitsuki turned to Haruka. "Our defense structures are fine for the most part but if they attack in force they may get inside the Hive Cluster."

Haruka glanced at both of them. "We'll send the Spine crawlers out and see how they deal with them."

Back on the surface Kyoshiro and the bulk of his army charged through the giant hole in the wall finally arriving back at their formore fortress. The sight however was completely alien as the ground was covered in a grayish purple sticky slime. And off in the distance were dozens of oddly shaped structures that seemed to sway back and forth as if alive.

"What happened here?" said one gunner.

Kyoshiro knew that this unexpected sight may harm his soldiers morale so he needed to rally them.

"Listen carefully all of you!" Everyone listened intently at their lords words. "Though these were our lands once before it is now enemy territory. Make no mistake that these monsters will fight to keep this land just as much as we will fight to take it back."

Just then a loud rumbling signaled four dozen Spine Crawlers unburrowing a few hundred meters away. The bio-defense structures flexed their tentacle like upper bodies aiming at the massed group of targets and opened fire with barrage of spines both normal sized (5.56) and larger spines that could rip through tank armor (90mm).

The barrage of spines cut through 1/10th of the armies numbers before being blocked by a combined spirit barrier. While the barrage of spines showered them like lethal rain making the blue barrier ripple like water, Kyoshiro approached the Tetsu and Tsutomu.

"Tetsu. Tsutomu. I need you to break through those defenses while I deal with the enemy leader."

"Sure but where are you going." said Tsutomu. "The Fortress is on the other side of all those buildings?"

"And know doubt a army of those creatures lay between their leader and us," said Tetsu.

Placing a hand on the scabered of his sword Kyoshiro grinned. "Don't worry. I know exactly we're to find the rat im looking for. If all these... buildings are what they look like then the enemy leader will be underground. And in close combat I have no equal."

"Very well lord Muramasa. We'll let you handle the enemy leader," said Tetsu.

"Don't do anything reckless that we wouldn't do," said Tsutomu.

Kyoshiro nodded. "I will. You two are in command while I'm gone. Try to make your way over to the fortress. I'm sure that they have taken it as a base of operations if they have not destroyed it yet."

"Understood. We'll take it by the time you return ma-lord," said Tsutomu.

The Muramasa clans barrier started weakening from the overwhelming numbers of projectiles impacting it. Seeing his mens position start to weaken Kyoshiro decided to leave with a helping hand. Kyoshiro unsheathed his blade enshrouding it in a cloak of orange and red flames and thrust it upwards launching a flaming spear into the sky. Once it reached a hundred meters high the inferno spear split into a hundred smaller spears of flame. One by one they rapidly unfolded into crescent wave blades. The burning Spirit Forces blades fell like a wave of fire slicing half of the Spine Crawlers in half and incinerating others. Once the number and speed of the attacks was reduced Kyoshiro ran off for the two half destroyed Hive domes and the burned out creator between them.

While Kyoshiro ran for the entrance of the hive cluster the last words of Castle rang in his mind. He had appeared again at the Kochi sea port when Kyoshiro and his army landed. If what he said was true then it was not just the Muramasa clan but the whole world that was in danger if these monsters were not stopped. Little did Kyoshiro know that someone else was following him into the belly of the beast.

On top of the destroyed bone wall stood five people cloaked and nearly invisible for their magic cloaks.

"That one there," said the cloaked and hooded woman. "He's heading for the inner Hiver cluster."

"So we'll follow him then," said the cloaked Claus.

The five cloaked figures broke into a sprint following after Kyoshiro while the Muramasa army broke through yet another wave of attacking Zerg making their way to the fortress high above them on the cliff side.

-Fortress throne room-

Motoichi stood in the window watching as the bulk of the Muramasa clans army fought their way to the fortress not knowing it was a strategically useless building complex.

"Are we just going to wait here until Haruka tells us to leave or something?" asked Vynella. Etsuko stood behind her and Pearl nearby.

"The Muramasa clans army is headed this way," said Motoichi. "The army I created will slow them down but I don't think it will stop them. Still why did master Haruka have us stay here instead of in the Hive cluster?"

Pearl hovered beside Motoichi. "It would have been more secure," she thought out loud. "But Then again she may know something we don't about the enemy."

With a inquisitive look on his face Motoichi rubbed his chin. "Perhaps... It may actually be more dangerous in the Hive cluster then here. Maybe that's why she had us stay here. "

-In a random tunnel of the hive cluster-

A group of Zerglings ran down the organic hallway fangs and blades drawn. With a roar they leaped on their target. A blade was drawn slicing in a circular series of blurring cuts turning the Zerglings into bloody confetti. Kyoshiro flicked his sword cleaning off the majority of the blood. A moment later a trio of Hydralisk rounded the corner. Their multiple heads aimed at him firing in rapid succession. Kyoshiro rolled out of the first barrage and infused his blade with his burning Spirit force and swung. A wave of fire traveled down the tunnel incinerating all three Hydralisk and making the walls smell of burnt meat.

Kyoshiro brought a hand up to his nose as the smell reached him. "Gah! this place is disgusting. What Castle said about them is true after all... Such foul creatures these Zerg. I must not let them continue their expansion other wise the whole world will suffer."

Kyoshiro continued on his way reaching a spiral tunnel making its way down to the lower level's. As he made his way further down Kyoshiro passed multiple exits and at each one he was attacked. As soon as the Zerg showed themselves they were incinerated in spirit fire. As He reached the fifth level another group of Zerg appeared behind him. Kyoshiro turned around winging his blade. The last thing the Zerglings saw was a wall of fire speeding at them.

-Secondary Hives command room-

Haruka jerked her head feeling the pain of the dying Zerglings. "Eh! That stung. But he's heading straight for here. Just as planned."

Tatsuki and Mitsuki stood to Harukas left while Her avatar clone stood emotionlessly opposite of them.

"Are you planning on fighting him on your own?" asked Mitsuki.

Haruka stood picking up her scythe hooking it onto her waist strap. "Yes. And I want you two to leave. Go help Motoichi and the others defend the fortress."

The twins shared a look of concern. "What if he's strong enough to threaten your life master?" they said in unison.

"Don't worry I have my doppelganger to give me support. I have a feeling that Kyoshiro is going to try to sacrifice himself or something stupid like that."

Haruka walked off to the side of the chamber where a tunnel irised open. Her doppleganger followed.

Kyoshiro finally reached a large domed chamber easily large enough to hold four three story buildings, with room to spare. There were some odd organic structure's in the chamber with him that made sickening squelching and gurgling noises. Kyoshiro raised his sword and in one swing sliced through the pyramid shaped Hatchery. His second and third swings burned through three Spawning Pools and his last burned half a Baneling nest to ash.

"Well keeping yourself busy I see."

The familiar voice drew his attention. Turning around Kyoshiro once again was face to face with Haruka but this time there were two of them. One in that organic armor with wings and a tail and another identical Haruka in a red short kimono with a large folded object behind her lower back.

"Are one of you the real one this time?"

"Maybe," said the Haruka in the red kimono.

"Maybe not?" said the armored one.

Without warning Haruka in the kimono un-seathed her axe and extended it's handle as she dashed forwards. Kyoshiro barely blocked as the force from the swing pushed him back a few inch's.

"Gah! Your stronger then what I would have expected !"

Haruka smiled. "Thank you. I take it your planning on blowing yourself up?"

Kyoshiro was surprised at the correct guess. "How did you figure that out?"

The avatar of Haruka casually walked up to Kyoshiro from behind. "I just thought it was odd that you would come into the underground alone. It makes since tactically as a large group is slower and a bigger target in a enclosed space, while a small group that's powerful and can operate in small places while unhindered will fight better."

The Haruka in the red kimono continued the sentence. "But then I remembered that your the kind of person that cares for your people dearly. And..."

Haruka flicked the axe sending Kyoshiro backflipping into the air. He landed by the wall gripping his blade with both hands.

"I thought that if you felt regretful for you actions that you might try to redeem yourself by going out in a blaze of glory by sacrificing yourself to take me out. The Zerg do tend to make people desperate with how fast they can multiply and spread."

Kyoshiro laughed to himself. "Haha. I didn't know I was so easy to read. Still your going to have to kill me if you plan on surviving this battle."

Haruka looked up as if sensing something. She then refocused on Kyoshiro. "Ah haha. Uh no. There's no need to be so melodramatic mister hero. I have no intention of conquering the world. The only reason I attacked your fortress was to A. free the slaves. And B. get some revenge for being one of said slaves for two years."

Kyoshiro reeled back at that last comen't. "What?"

"It' complicated but my power to create the Zerg and control them only recently became active. Namely... after two ass holes shot me in the neck after I caught them having their way with some poor woman. The main reason I even took this place that is to say this mining area as a hive cluster was to show you what's it's like to lose something important to you. In this case your land and pride about being the strongest. There's always a bigger fish as they say."

"That's true!"

Before either Haruka or Kyoshiro could react a invisible force slammed into Haruka in a rapid fire barrage that left her bloody and staggering.

"Gah! I know that technique. Claus?" said Haruka supporting herself with her axe.

The air across the room rippled and a cloaked figure came closer. They deactivated their stealth cloak revealing it to be Claus from the tournament she won.

"Its surprising but i'm actually not all that angry that I lost to you anymore. All though learning about your true nature as one of these Zerg creatures was interesting."

Wiping a stream of blood from her mouth Haruka gave a smile. "Haha. It's nice yo see you again Claus. But why are you here."

Claus was about to say something when Haruka interrupted. "Na, na na. Let me guess. Your here as apart of some secret organization that somehow knows about the Zerg and is trying to kill me because they know just what kind of a threat they can be. Or am I wrong?"

This time it was Clauses turn to be surprised. "How do you know that?" Clauses eyes were searching the room for his four team mates who should be surrounding Haruka for a four pronged ambush. Even Kyoshiro wanted to know how she came to such a conclusion.

"It's simple really. I have a healthy imagination."

Off put by the simple answer Claus and Kyoshiro both blinked in astonishment.

"What." Haruka shrugged at them. "Not everything has to have a complicated answer you know."

At that moment Haruka ducked and her Avatar leaped into the air kicking the air behind Haruka. Her leg made contact with something sending it flying back into the wall. A rippling figure decloaked holding their side as they lay slumped up against the wall. Before anyone else could react three more of the cloaked assassin's jumped Haruka. One threw a spear of light impaling her through the gut just above her bellybutton.

"Ahhh!" Haruka swung her axe behind her but only hit air. Her avatar ran to her exposed back and took another one of the hard light spears to her shoulder. The avatar reached out and grabbed the invisible attacker throwing them over her shoulder slamming them into the ground. The avatar punched the ground where it believed the enemies head would have been but was blocked by a grasping hand blocking her fist. Haruka raised her axe to chop the ground where she felt the enemy was laying but was blocked by a formaless force.

Gritting her teeth Haruka gave Claus a sneer. He punched the air sending Haruka flying into the ground ten feet away. Another cloaked assassin attacked Harukas avatar but it ducked avoding the decapatating slash. Regrouping the Avatar jumped back still holding the second invisible assassin. While in the air She slammed her fist into the cloaked persons body. The avatar grinned hearing a pained yelp from the assassin. Landing in front of Haruka the Avatar flung the assassin up over her shoulder and in one stroke Haruka sliced the cloaked assassin's body in half.

With the cloaking device destroyed the assassin decloaked revealing a shower of gore and two life less halves of a woman in a skin tight body suit. Her appearance wasn't as interesting to Haruka as the spear she held. Grasped in her dead hands was a short spear made of a white metal and with a blade made of hard light energy.

As if remembering the spear lauged in her own torso Haruka pulled the weapon out with a pained yelp. "Eaa! That hurt like a son of bitch. I don't know where you got toy's like these but...?"

Just then Haruka and her avatar sensed the supposedly dead assassin move again. Glancing over to the body everyone saw the two halves slide back together and reconnect. Kyoshiro was horrified as the woman stood back up. The avatar slashed with her claws before the resurrected enemy could get away. This time she was thorough and far more brutal quickly smashing in the assassin's skull and ripping off all her limbs and crushing all her organs. In the short span of ten seconds all that remained was a splatter of gore and bone fragments on the ground.

"Well if anything your quit tough to kill Haruka."

Twirling the spear in her hands a moment Haruk turned back to Claus "Thanks." and then around to the remaining three assassins surrounding her and her avatar. "Now lets see how much of a beating you and your sluts can take."

-Outside the Fortress walls-

"Araaah!"

With a roaring battle call the army of cloned Ogre charged at Tetsu and his brother. The brothers raised their war hammers and started bashing their way through the wave of enemies. Bodies went flying broken and twisted as the overwhelming strength of the Tetsu and Tsutomu was far too much for the newborn cannon fodder to hold out against.

"What's with these guys? It's like their wanting to die," said Tsutomu as he crushed a dozen Ogre's.

"They lack a strategy and simply charge at us. But their numbers are great. Even the two of us will be overwhelmed if we let them surround us."

Five of the Ogre's flanked the Tetsu and Tsutomu attacking their blind spot. But just before they strike a hail of gunfire ripped through them. The brothers each killed a pair of the clones before turning to see who was responsible. Charging towards them were a squad of Gunners. Laying suppressive fire with their heavy weapons mowing down a dozen Ogre.

"Generals please do not run ahead of us," yelled the squad officer.

"Maybe next time you can keep up."

The group was attacked continually by the Ogre army but with a heavy barrage and skilled use of the groups close ranged twins and the gunners ranged fire the bulk of the enemies in their area were quickly eliminated.

"Gah huff! huff! Is that all of them," said Tsutomu leaning on his warhammer.

Behind him Tetsu looked up at the fortress far above while the gunner squad kept a eye on the surrounding area.

"For now. But we still have to get up that stairway if we want to attack the fortress."

A hail of bone arrows glowing with a faint blue aura rained down on them. Tetsu and his brother blocked and parried but half of the gunners squad were hit two in the body dying instantly while four were hit their legs of arms.

"Aaaah take this!" With a shout Tsutomu sent a fireball flying up at the battlements the archers were blasting a part of the wall to pieces.

"Were retreating for now." Tsutomu shouted as he and Tetsu covered the others retreat. "Those archers are two deadly."

A few minutes later they fell back to a makeshift camp where the majority of the Muramasa clans forces had secured among he ruins of the mining facilities store houses. The building was filled with machine parts and equipment.

"What now general Tetsu?" asked a lower ranked officer.

"Getting up that stairway without being shot by arrows will be a problem? Is there any other way up?"

Tsutomu thought about the times he had visited the fortress before but didn't know about any secret or out of the way alternative paths other then going up the hill to the west and around to the northwest gate. "Sorry no."

"We could use the elevator," said a random soldier.

Everyone turned to him. "It's used for moving heavy loads up from the mine before they are processed and shipped out. Its a risk that the upper level will be guarded but if the two of you can get up their you could clear the wall of archers so the rest of us can get up to the fortress. Uhh sir's."

Tetsu and his brother shared a glance before turning back to the lone soldier.

"And how do you know that?" asked Tsutomu taking a step closer to the man.

"Uh my brother works here as one of the guards."

"What's his name?" asked Tetsu.

"Yoshi sir!"

"Well then we'll have to thank your brother later after we take that fortress."

---

-First Hive cluster-

Oracle observed the pulsating structure she created. It's surface shimmered like reflective water glowing with and glyphs runes and waves of energy lines. All of them converged around the central dome forming a circular array of some kind. It seemed familiar somehow but Oracle couldn't put a mantle finger on where she had seen it before. Within the circular array the glyphs and runes arranged themselves into a magic circle array. The light and energy seemed to shift in phase and turn solid as the array seemed complete.

[Ok... what happens next?] Oracle thought.

---

Back with Haruka the battle was not faring well for her. One of the assassin was taken out but the other three and Claus were proving to be a hand full. Claus attacked sending Haruka flying onto the wall twenty meters away. She slid down the creep covered wall wiping the blood from her mouth. She gasp as the wound from before was still healing.

"Grah! I figured that your technique was much more powerful than it was in the tournament," said Haruka picking herself up while one of the female assassin's attacked her from the side.

Haruka raised up her axe to block but then a force struck her in the head sending her off kilter just as the assassin attacked. The light spear dug its way into her shoulder blade. It's surface burning to the touch like a superheated sword. The first time the spear only ran her through but this time the blade itself was stuck in her burning with every second that passes.

"Gahhh. That FUCKING! HURTS!"

Extending her creep tentacles Haruka grabbed onto the assassin's legs spreading them apart and causing her to lose balance. With a iron grip Haruka crushed the assassines throat before flinging her up and cleaving the ragdoll body into. Making sure she was dead this time she used her tentacles to tosh them airborne again and bisected them a second time. But claus took the opening to slam Haruka with a heavy barrage from a distance. Once again slamming Haruka into the wall.

With a bruised face and one eye closed. Haruka looked over to where her avatar was fighting the last two assassin's. The avatar was holding her own but only because of her overwhelming physical advantage. But those two must have a great deal of teamwork training put into their skills because they were able to dodge every one of the avatars counter attacks. But even so the battle looked even from Haruka was seeing it.

Turning back to her opponent Haruka stood back up. For a brief second she glanced over at Kyoshiro still just observing the battle. The only thing keeping Haruka from calling all her Zerg to defend her was that little fact as she wasn't sure if she could handle the both if them tag teaming her.

Turning back to Claus she grinned. "If you were allowed to use your full technique during the tournament i'm sure it would have been a much tougher fight."

Claus cocked a grin. "Don't you mean I would have won. But to be far I feel the dam about you. I've always felt that their more to your own fighting abilities Haruka. Why don't you stop playing around and fight me for real."

With a smirk Haruka raised her axe over her head holding it with both hands. "I see. So your the battle junky type huh. Always looking for the next near death thrill aren't ya. Well if your up for a painful lesson allow me to grant you your wish."

Twisting the handle Haruka shifted the scythe to it's true form as she pulled the unfolding blade back with a fierce glare in her eye's. The oversized scythe blade glowed with psi-armor reinforcing it.

Claus grinned reading his own attacks. "Finally show me what you really capable of little girl."

Claus raised both fists, pulling them back then punching the air sending a barrage of force at Haruka. At the last second Haruka wrapped her scythe in a cloak of her spirit force and swung. In a flash of light a giant wave of energy launched at Claus countering his own attack.

"Ah!"

Eyes bulging with surprise at the wall of light flew at him.

The energy wave crashed into the wall creating a massive blast that sent everyone flying. When the dust cleared Haruka was the only one standing asshe was the farthest from the explosion. The wall had a massive twenty meters wide cavity in it left from the blast.

"Damn." Haruka quipped spinning her scythe one handed before resting it on one shoulder. "Guess I should have held back more."

Haruka still felt the presence of her avatar. Looking around she spotted it over to her left. Walking out of the clearing smoke the avatar held the severed heads of both assassins. She stopped beside Haruka and raised both heads crushing them like grapes. Flicking the blood of her hands the avatar looked off into the still dissipating smoke cloud. Walking out from behind a ruin of a Hatchery both Kyoshiro and Claus stood unharmed.

"Fuck. Guess that means your siding with Claus huh Kyoshiro," said Haruka.

"It's only natural since our objectives are the same," said Kyoshiro.

Claus turned to Kyoshiro. "Thanks for the save..."

-Flash back-

As Harukas energy wave surged towards Claus Kyoshiro jumped in the way grabbing Claus and speeding away from the attack both of them hiding behind the destroyed Hatchery just before impact and the resulting blast.

-Flash back end-

"But don't think this makes us allies."

Without looking Kyoshiro replied. "Right."

The two readied to attack. Haruka and her avatar clone dashing at them. Kyoshiro and Claus both jumped in opposite directions as Haruka and her avatar landed where they were moments before. Claus and Kyoshiro both attacked hoping to catch the two in a pincer attack but instead of stopping Haruka and her avatar jumped again avoiding the attacks. Turning around Haruka and her avatar attacked the two forcing them back.

"I see you have that scythe Hiroshige used as a trophy," said Kyoshiro as he kicked Haruka away.

"Gah!" Haruka grunted.

The pain in her gut was mostly gone but Kyoshiro's kicks were certainly strong enough to hurt her.

"What do you care. Does this weapon belong to your girlfriend or something?" Haruka leaped back into the fight cutting through a barrage of flame cresent's fired at her.

"That weapon belonged to lady Haruka of the Masamune clan," said Kyoshiro covering his sword in a blazing inferno and dashed to Harukas side.

"We share the same name so maybe it was fate!" Haruka blocked the attack and spun her hips around round house kicking Kyoshiro.

A distance away Harukas avatar run around from cover to cover firing psi-armor reinforced spines at Claus as the two danced around each others attacks not stopping to let the other land a hit.

"You may have her name but you are most certainly not lady Haruka." Kyoshiro formed a orb of fire in his hand and reformed it into a second blade.

"Well then why don't I show how worth I am to use it then." Haruka raised her scythe in front of herself blocking the fierce two bladed slash attack. "Tell me if your so gung ho about the previous owner of this weapon then why did you let that guy Hiroshige keep it so long."

Gritting his teeth Kyoshiro jumped over Haruka and performed a spinning slash. Haruka dropped to her back and kicked Kyoshiro in the legs knocking him of balance. Landing on his butt Kyoshiro stared at Haruka as she stood up to her knees.

"That's not... I wanted to take it back to the Masamune clan but if I forced Hiroshige to give it back then he wouldn't have been so cooperative with me and my plans."

"You mean getting revenge for the death of the previous emperor." Haruka changed to a thrusting stance and felt a shudder in hr bones as the Behemoth started to wake from its growth. Looking up she mumbled. "About time."

Standing up Kyoshiro pointed his flaming sword at Haruka. " Akuma Haruka you and your Zerg are a treat to my people and to the world so im sorry but you and this place must be destroyed."

With a look of worry on her face Haruka asked. "Oh please I don't care about this world. Hell i'm planning on leaving once I find a certain ship."

"I don't believe you." Kyoshiro plunged his flaming blade into his own stomach. Letting go of his other sword he gripped the flaming handle with both hands. The intensity of the flame started to raise quickly glowing brighter the more power poured into it.

"Aaa hell no not on my watch," Haruka leaped at Kyoshiro simultaneously opening a warp gate behind him.

-A random location a few miles away in the forest-

The warp gate opened and both Kyoshiro and Haruka fell out dropping ten feet and landing in a field of knee high grass. The shock of the landing stopped Kyoshiro's self-destruction plan leaving him little confused and surprised. The two rolled over before raising to their feet.

"What... how are we here?!" Kyoshiro said looking around.

"Just a few miles away from our last location. If you want to die be my guest but I got plans so bye bye," Without another word a second warp gate opened and Haruka jumped through closing it rite behind herself. Left alone in the forest Kyoshiro could only brood over his failure.

Returning to the chamber where her avatar and Claus were still fighting Haruka dropped out of the warp gate. Looking around she felt a sharp pain in the psionic network as her avatar clone died. Turning quickly she spotted Claus over her avatars body.

"Shit!" Haruka charged at Claus wondering how he defeated the enhanced clone.

Claus looked up in time to see another wave of energy be shot at him. Dodging he barely had a inch to spare as the attack flew passed him and detonating against the wall.

"Try harder," Claus quipped.

Counter attacking he boosted his kinetic force and sent scatter shot of projected fists at Haruka. She anticipated the trajectory of the attack leaping high into the air. She flipped mid air bringing her scythe down with battle cry. Claus bent his knees and leaped away twenty feet as the ground was split by the attack.

"Your slower then I remember. Must be that dead weight you've picked up," Claus quipped.

Pulling her scythe out of the ground Haruka glared at Him. "Sigh... This is getting old. I tink need to end this little dance before things turn bad up top. Oh and for your information it's actually hard holding this little thing back. It may not look it but it's really eager to spill some blood. I don't know what the maker of this scythe was thinking but it's got a mind of it's own."

"Hmp... You expect me to believe you. But your right about needing to end this."

Claus charged his fists with multiplied kinetic force a hundred times his normal. Space rippled as the force bent the air around him and caused exaggerated vibrations from his movements. Haruka readied herself for a big attack pulling her scythe back charging it up again before launching another energy wave. As the giant wave of energy flew at him Claus continued charging his attack until the last second. Just before the wave hit he pulled back one fist and punched releasing all the stored up power. The kinetic force slammed into the energy wave splitting it in two. The two halves exploded behind Claus as he brought his other fist up. For a moment Haruka was dumb struck at the result their attacks clasing.

"Damn. You full of surprises an't you."

Claus smiled. "You don't know the half of it." He shifted his leg projecting the kinetic movement to Harukas legs causing it to shift out of place.

"Huh!"

As Haruka righted herself Claus attacked launching his second attack. Haruka glanced back at Claus just as the kinetic force slammed into her. With a pained grunt the hit knocked all the wind out of Haruka sending her flying into the wall thirty feet away. Claus feeling a little winded from the use of such amplified spells dropped to one knee taking in deep breath's.

Coughing blood from her lips Haruka picked herself up. "Fucking hell. I should have figured you could have a cheap trick like that. Since manipulating kinetic forces is your think and all," Haruka wobbled as she stood up. Even with psi-armor reinforcing her body she still took a bit of damage.

Breathing deeply Claus sighed at how little damage he did. "Your really are hard to kill. Guess I have no choice then."

Slamming his fist on the ground Claus telekinetically pulled the scattered hard light spears toward himself. They floated around him combining into a single large spear that ended in a triple pointed spear. The bladed harde light tips were all in a triangle formation instead of side by side like a trident. In the center of the three blades a light gathered.

"That old man told me to use this if I needed it. I rather wouldn't but if things continue I might lose. And I don't care to die or lose."

"Big attack slow reaction time," said Haruka. She opened another warp gate ten feet beside her and flung her scythe into it one handed. The corresponding warp gate opened behind Claus as he charged up his attack. He glanced back and leaned backwards as the scythe sliced through the air inches from his face byring it's blade into the ground. Without hesitating Claus through the tri-pointed spear into the warpgate. It reappeared from the other warp gate and flew at Haruka impaling her against the wall.

"Shit... cough cough. Didn't see that coming."

As Haruka grasp the spear pole it lit up and fired it's contained energy. Haruka widened her eyebrows in shock as she didn't have time to do anything. In a flash of light a beam fired burning a hole through the wall and severing Harukas body in two. The spear and her two halves fell to the ground leaving a rather large hole in the wall (only her upper torso, arms and lower pelvis, and legs remained).

Claus breathed in relief as he walked over the body. Looking the two halves over he gave a sigh of relief content that no one could have survived that amount of damage. He reached down to pick up the spear. As he raised back up he kept a eye on Haruka half expecting her to get back up again. Then again she was in two halve's with most of her central torso missing. Even if she was a alien creature that is most definitely fatal. Smiling he turned around and left.

A few seconds later a wave of Zerglings attacked him from all sides. He used the spear blasting them all into dust with few concentrated blasts and despite his fatigue easily evaded their despret attacks.

"Aaaa fuck that hurt!"

The words didn't reach Clauses ears for all the roaring and shrieking his attackers were doing as they tried to chomp off his face off. While Claus was trying not to die Haruka moved her tired up to catch a glimpse of the fight. She felt extremely tired and didn't feel anything between her chest and pelvis. The two halves of her body were communicating through a cell based psionic connection so she could still feel her lower half. Looking over her shoulder Haruka saw her lower half a few feet away.

"Ugh... that's it... no more miss nice girl."

Picking herself up Haruka wasted no time commanding the creep around her to grow around her self reconnecting and rapidly healing the damage. But it would still take time. While their master healed the waves of Zerg increased in number keeping Claus from retreating. He was getting tired and decided to use the spears power more. Plunging it into the ground it formed a bubble shield around him. The Zerg clamored and clawed at the shield while it built up a charge increasing in brightness until releasing its stored energy. A explosion rocked the chamber evaporating the horde of attacking Zerg.

"Is that all of them?" Claus asked himself looking around.

He was about to leave when he spotted a large cocoon where Haruka was. Getting a bad feeling he decided against his better judgment to make sure it wasn't his imagination and investigated. Upon reaching the cocoon he say that Harukas two halves were being held within the cocoons transparent shell.

"So you are alive then," Claus felt a migraine coming on from all the trouble this has caused him. "Sorry Haruka but orders are orders. I enjoyed the fight and you have might deepest respect for your strength and skill."

Claus raised the spear one last time aiming it at Harukas head. Surely that will kill her He thought. The spear charged up glowing with a unearthly white light and fired.

-POV change-

"Sorry buddy that's a big no no," I said wagging my finger while holding the spear upwards.

The beam had cut a hole into the wall above Harukas head. Grasping the spear I squeezed breaking it like a little dry twig. Claus stepped back taking in my appearance with fear and terror in his eyes.

Extending from my back were a pair of large Jet black wings, Their hard but flexibly feather like scales made a soothing hum whenever they scraped against each other. My body was lean and tall (7 feet) with well defined muscles tight as steel, but weren't excessively large. Curving outwards than inwards then straight up above my ears were a pair of jet black horns glowing with purple light between their overlapping scale segments. My thickly scaled dragon tail sweeped side to side like a cat hunting for prey. Undulated below my wings were Six tentacle's on my lower back, each with a flower pod like tip. I smiled showing my sharp K9s with my eyes glowed a soft crimson, each with six secondary iris's in a circle around the center iris.

Claus looked like he was about to freak out and piss himself. Stepping backwards tripped falling on his ass with a terrified look on his face. I raised an eyebrow as I sensed a warp gate open up nearby. The hunter killer Oracle used as a avatar stepped through eyeing Claus a moment.

"Ignore him," I said flicking a finger.

Claus burst into flames from a Incinerate spell. Basically human spontaneous combustion magic.

Turning away from the burning corpse, Oracle eyed me. [You were saying that we used to me allies and that my soul was... tethered?... to the genetic code of this Zerg swarm after I lost my body.]

Holding a finger up I stopped Oracle. "Hold that thought. I'ed rather not have to repeat myself."

Holding hand out at Harukas cocoon I cast greater regeneration. Harukas healing process sped up by ten times and was finished in just ten seconds. The cocoon popped and Haruka fell out on to the ground. Feeling a little disoriented she shook her head before standing up and looking around, being very surprised to see me.

"Who? the hell are you and why do you look so awesome? And why do I feel... wet and turned on !?"

"Oh shit sorry about that." I turn off my passive presence abilities. No wonder Claus was freaked out by me. Must have been my passive ability terrorizing presence, had it set to only effect males. "Better?"

Shuddering with a feeling of relief Haruka stares at me. "Yeah. Ok who the hell are you? And where's Claus?"

I point to the pile of ash. "Oh," quipped Haruka.

"And as for your first question my names Noobzilla. Well was. Past tense. I will change it but thats in your future."

Haruka face palmed. "Fucking time travel. I can already feel the headache coming on. So..." She looked back up at me. "the two of us will meet in my future."

"Yeah. But at the time i'm kind of a useless soul loitering in Ellen's well inner world. Think Bleach and Soul Reapers."

Haruka nodded crossing her arms. "Oh. I watched that anime before. But why?"

"I have my reasons. You'll know when the time comes. And to explain how i'm here, the structure that Oracle made was a interdimensional warp gate with a automatic summoning function built in. It was installed into your swarms genetic code by Psyon. He's not allowed to directly interfere in his own worlds which is why I had to come and explain a few things to you. And he recruited you for the same purpose. Ellen's going to need us in her court when the time comes. Some asshole. And I won't name names, Is sending people from the future to kill her."

Nodding reluctantly Haruka looked up at me. "Ok... I get it. Mostly."

Waving my hands I cut to the chase. "In short you need to get to that ship. It used to be mine but I don't really need it now that i'm a Ark-Demon lord."

"Don't you mean Arch?"

"Most Arch level beings can travel across their own local multiverse but don't innately have the ability travel across the Fractal-verse like me. And others on the same level as me who all have the Ark in their title as a differing quality. The difference between a multiverse and the Fractal-verse is that a normal multiverse consist's of different versions of one or multiple realities while the Fratacle-verse as a whole consists of many infinite and differing versions of whole multiverses. Like any universe you can think of even if it has it's own multiverse. Plus Arch level beings abilities are generally on a lower rank and class then us in the Ark category. There are... gods in the Ark but... I fucking hate their guts... mostly. Except for that one goddess of magic and knowledge whos a total closet pervert. Basically they all suck except her."

"Uh huh. Can you get to the point," said Haruka.

"What i'm supposed to tell you is the location of the ship. It's name is the Nirvana by the way. It's a upgraded version of the main ship from a anime called Vandread. It's a Ok series but the mecha designs are kind of lower tier even if they are powerful. But I really liked the Nirvana's design and improved on it. But... it's kind of... fucked at the moment. Split up into it's three main segments and trapped in three different dimensions actually. But you can still use it as a kind of gateway between the three dimensions if you can get to it. One dimension was sealed by a super advanced race of Elves whos world is where all the none human races of this world all came from so you can only go to the other dimension. Which is where Ellen her swarm and everyone else your going to meat is. Along with the main pain in my ass by the way whos responsible for nearly killing me and Ellen." Sigh "But the group I had gathered at that time weren't so lucky, except a few of them at least." I turn to Oracle... well the Hunter killer. "Also on a side note, these guys from a secret organization called the Illuminati are the ones that sent Claus to kill you and they found the Nirvana a few hundred year's ago. But they only have access to a few parts of the fragment of the ship that's in this dimension and haven't broken the main security codes. But I have the codes. Here."

I hand Haruka a bio-date chip.

Haruka takes the chip. "Thanks. That will help. It would have been a pain to search the whole world to find it. So what are you going to do now?"

"Oh i'm leaving. But I'll take care of those Illuminati guys for you before I go. Me thinks they"ll cause more bullshit for you and everyone around you. Oh and one last thing. When traveling across dimensions you can do a trick where you can time travel and arrive at any point in the timeline you wish. So long as you know the where and when. It's like GPS coordinates. Also one last thing." I turn to Oracle again. "Oracle have your memories started coming back now?"

The Hunter Killer Oracle was using shook it's head as if confused.

"Is that a no?" I ask.

[Huh! no no my mind was just a little fuzzy from them coming back. I remember most of everything that happened. Uh I really came close to dying there didn't I reduced to just a soul.]

Haruka took on a look of surprise. "What what! I thought Oracle was a manifestation of the hive mind or something."

"After she lost her body to injuries in battle, I placed her soul in a crystal to keep it from dissipating. After that I gave her to Psyon to place in your care for the time being. Her soul was tethered to the Zerg essence like a kind of life preserver."

Haruka shared looks with Oracle. "Ok but then who is she. Oracle was the name I had given her? "

[My real name is Priscilla,]

"As in Crossbreed Priscilla from Dark souls!." Haruka turned to me. "You isekai`d Dark Souls!"

"Well to be precise I was transported there by choice, not summoned like just now. It was the first dimension Psyon took me to. I even brought Ellen along for Dark souls 2 and 3. You should have seen her when she fought, The last giant and Yhorm the Giant. Oh! and then there was the time she fought the Abyss Watchers, I just hung out at the fog gate for that one. She insisted going solo. We also tag teamed those annoying double bosses, Sister Friede and Father Ariandel and those two princes, Lorian and Lothric. And those two big cats. They made nice fur coats."

Haruka gave a chuckle. "Haha. Sounds like you both had the time of your life's."

"Yes we did. But... enough about all that. Priscilla are you ready to get going. I have your new body ready."

[Yes. Sorry Haruka but I'll be leaving your service now.]

"Nah it's ok considering everything. I really didn't need you all that much but it was enjoyable having you around. Take care."

"If your ready Priscilla i'll be retrieving your soul now."

[I'm ready]

With a dramatic flare I raise my hand up deploying the Twilight bracelet. I scan the Zerg hive mind for a moment before grasping onto Priscilla's soul, pulling it from the hive mind and place it in a special soul gem.

"Well I'll be going off to kill that Illuminati group and then after that i'll leave this dimension. Take care Haruka."

Focusing I open a interdimensional warp gate and step through.

-POV Change-

Once the gateway closed Haruka was left alone in the empty chamber. She then switched focus to her most immediate concern which was the Muramasa army still besiege the fortress where everyone else was. Looking through the eyes of a Locust on the third floor Haruka spotted Tatsuki and Mitsuki with some other Zerg. They were fighting against another pair of twins in gold and silver decorated armor with a few dozen corpses of the Ogre clones and Oni samurai laying around the room. The Oni in gold armor attacked Tatsuki sending her flying into the wall by a powerful blast that started a few fires burning on the wall and floor.

"Damn! I was planning on bombarding these guys from orbit with the Behemoth but plans change I guess since its taking too long to hatch and that Claus and Kyoshiro were a pain. Oh and that Noobzilla guy talked a lot. Hmm wonder what he changed his name to. He never said what his new name was?"

Procrastinating for a full second Haruka then opened warpgate to the fight and jumped through. Fire burned along the wall while Tatsuki rolled away from a attack that busted the floorboards into splinters. Spinning on her feet she lashed out with her claws. Tetsu jumped back just in time to evade a strike to his neck but it still left a bad gash across his wrist.

"Gah! your quit the hand full monster. "Tetsu licked his wound. "But I like em that way."

"Ok, nope, stop, entering creeps vill," Haruka pronounced loudly standing in the middle of the room.

"Master!" shouted Mitsuki. She turned back to her own opponent blocking a strike from his warhammer. She was pushed back six inch's as she held a stone hard poster.

"Where's the other...? oh! nope I got them," said Haruka sensing the parasites in Vynella and Motoichi. They were on the fourth floor holding off a group of mook Oni samurai. "Tatsuki, Mitsuki were leaving." Haruka snapped her fingers and a warp gate opened behind the both of them.

The twins both glanced at Haruka then the warp gate's.

"Yes master!" they said in unison.

A moment later both were gone leaving Haruka with the two guys in matching armor. Tetsu and Tsutomu both glared at Haruka like they saw her as their next opponent. "You must be the one called Haruka," asked Tetsu.

Tsutomu circled around trying to get behind Haruka. Keeping an eye on both with the help of the Locust Haruka leaped away to one side of the room keeping both in her sight.

"You two may want to leave the place. I'm going to demolish the whole fortress in a few minutes. That's your only warning. Die if you want. Oh and your lord and master Kyoshiro is off in the forest a few miles away. You should probably go find him."

With those parting words another warp gate opened and Haruka jumped through leaving the two to ponder her words. Exiting the warp gate Haruka landed in the middle of the central nerve chamber in the Behemoth. Another warp gate closed behind Pearl, Vynella, Etsuko and Motoichi who had also just arrived. Etsuko sprinted into Harukas gut but this time she bent her knees so she wouldn't topple over.

"Ouf!... Etsuko... please stop doing that!"

"Haruka, Haruka, Haruka, Haruka, ah hahaa!"

Knot knowing how to handle the crying child Haruka sat down and just cradled her. "It's ok, it's ok no ones going to hurt you now."

Haruka glanced around the room at the others. Both Tetsuki and Mitsuki were both exhausted from their fight with Tetsu and Tsutomu and Motoichi and Vynella were both pretty beat up from fighting so many enemies at once. Pearl didn't have any injuries probably because she protected Etsuko while the other two fought.

"Well what now fearless leader," said Motoichi.

"Master how did your fight go," said Tatsuki.

Mitsuki looked disturbed for moment before turning to Haruka with a questioning glare.

"Master Haruka I can not sense Oracle in the hive mind?!"

"She's... gone... I'll explain everything later. But for now we need to get on the move."

Haruka sent the order to lift off to the Behemoth. It was mostly complete and was ready but it needed just a few more hours to pop from it's cocoon. Haruka didn't have that time so she forced it to launch. The massive cocoon burst covering the surrounding Spires and Lairs in green goo. The air around the Behemoth wavered like over a fire as the gravity warp organs flared up. A few seconds later the Behemoth floated straight up wards a few dozen meters. After it cleared the surrounding Spires it belted out a loud roar before speeding off into the sky.

In the nerve center the walls and floor changed to show the surrounding environment but the image was a little distorted were everyone were standing. Etsuko gasp in surprise and astonishment at the view.

"Ee he ha. Haruke look look were so high up."

"Se I told you I would show you a view from the sky," said Haruka. She enjoyed Etsukos reactions.

Etsuko looked in awe at the image of the slowly falling ground beneath them. As they ascended high and higher the forest and trees became smaller and smaller but the wider their view if the landscape became. Seeing that they were getting to far away from the hive cluster Haruka turned them back around. Everyone watched as the Hive cluster and fortress became closer and easier to see. Before to long they could see the Muramasa army in full retreat from the fortress. Checking through the eyes of the Locust Haruka knew that non of the Oni remained in the fortress. She extended a arm and snapped her fingers. Receiving the silent order the Behemoth launched a barrage of Glaives at the fortress. Dozens of squid like missiles launched from the sides of the Behemoth curving and arcing downwards. A few seconds later they hammered the structure boring holes into it's roofs and surrounding buildings. In a dramatic flare they all exploded in a shower of shrapnel.

The Muramasa army continued their retreat after having just escaped the destruction of their former fortress.

"Well that's all done with." said Haruka with sigh of relief.

"So what next?" asked Vynella scratching at the floor with her talons.

---

-Kyushu Island, 10:PM, Main fortress of the Masamune Oni clan. -

Within the well lit throne room Kaguya layed on her side, on a wide pillow swirling a flat cup of sake as the light reflected of it' surface while Shiro (in his giant white Tiger form) laid beside her. The doors opened and Shiro half opened his eyes. A man with red hair walked in with a young girl by his side. They stopped twenty feet in front Kaguya and kneeled.

"Sister i've heard the news. Is it true that the main fortress of the Muramasa clan has been attacked and taken over by a unknown group?" said Renji.

Kaguya half laughed but stopped and took a drink of her alcohol.

"Yes it's true." said Kaguya swirling her drink before downing it in one sip. "Some of our spies at the fortress town of Honshina reported that a large number of refugees had been displaced from the main fortress town. It seemed like the whole population had been evacuated given the numbers in the report."

While Kaguya poured another cup for herself the young black haired girl beside her brother spoke up.

"Sister (in law) please I..."

Yuri's words were abruptly stopped with one glance from Kaguya.

"Come now sister. Don't you have any faith in that renowned combat prowess of your older brother," Kaguya said as she sipped another cup empty.

Yuri clasp her hands together realising her train of thought and lack of faith had dishonored her brother who she feared for.

Looking at the fearful Yuri, Kaguya sighed. She had no love loss for the leader of a clan who had embraced the practice of slavery just to full fill his own ambition and revenge. But Kaguya had no real reason to hate Yuri, and in fact the two woman got along rather well despite Kaguya's apathy for anything not related to her clan or the Muramasa clan as they had been the target of her misdirected anger for the lose of her adopted daughter.

"Yuri," Kaguya said, Yuri looked up at Her. "I know just how bad it can feel to lose a family member. But your brothers a grown man and can handle his own problems. And your people are one of the most powerful clans in Japan. So have a little faith in them would you. I'm sure we'll hear another report about what's going on over there in another day or two."

Knowing that this was Kaguya's own way of trying to get things off Her mind Yuri gave a soft smile.

"Yes... thank you sister. Renji lets go."

"Sister." said Renji as he and Yuri stood up and left. Leaving Kaguya to brood in her self imposed solitude in her throne room.

Shiro flicked his tail.

"Are you sure that you don't want to get involved?" said Shiro.

Kaguya sighed sitting up straight. "Not particularly."

Shiro raised his head watching his master drink yet another cup full of sake.

"Your going to drink yourself to death," said Shiro with concern in his voice.

Kaguya laughed aloud. "Ah, haha. That's a good one. You know that a Oni can drink any other race under the table right."

Shiro rolled his eyes. "Yes I know. But I wasn't talking about your physical health."

Kaguya laughed again. "Heh! Oh now I get it your worried for my spiritual health right."

"That too. But mainly I mean that your motivation for doing anything except fulfilling your duties as leader of the clan is none existent."

Kaguya emptied her sake cup and laid back. "Ah... I see... You saying I'm lazy aren't you."

"Yes. And board out of your mind. You should get a hobby to keep your attention when not working."

Kaguya smiled. "Oh but I do have one. I drink." she said extending her hand up then back to her mouth drinking the cup dry.

Shiro sighed with a eye roll. "Something other then that."

Kaguya reached for the sake bottle to poor another cup. It felt light and she shook it hearing only a tiny bit slosh around inside.

"Empty! *Yawn* " Im going to bed."

Kaguya stood up, walking to her private room. Shiro lifted his head and stood up following her. Always her faithful bodyguard.

-Next morning 8:AM-

Snoring and sprawled out on her futon Kaguya blinked her eyes open as the light shifted on her face. "Emm!" With a stretch she lifted her self up rubbing her eyes. She looked around finding Shiro in his smaller house cat form laying on his own small bed next to hers. Kaguya turned her head to the window enjoying the view of the forest and rooftops of the town next to the fortress.

"Time to get up I guess." she mumbled as she got up.

A few minutes later she was in a fresh pair of clothes (white kimono with a red sash) and entered her throne room. Passing through she made her way to the kitchen where two of her personal cooks were preparing morning dinner.

"Ah ma-lady, " said a cook startled as she rarely sees the master up this early let alone here. "What can I do four you?"

Kaguya raised a hand over her mouth stifling a yawn. "In breakfast ready?"

"Uh not yet ma-lady but soon. It's rare for you to be up this early."

"Oh really?... Guess i'm feeling a little anxious for some reason. Continue on."

Kaguya left returning to the throne room and passing through again to her office opposite her bed chamber. Walking in she felt someone watching her.

"Good morning Rin," said Kaguya. She walked over to her desk and sat down.

"Morning ma-lady," replied a shadow along the wall and Rin wearing a dark kimono with ninja pants and gauntlets appeared out of thin air. He dropped to one knee in his master's presence. "I have grave news to report master!"

Looking somewhat focused on his words Kaguya looked about her desk. "It must be important if your using that tone... where's my sake?"

"For give me ma-lady but I confiscated it before your arrival. I am in the same opinion with Shiro that you partake of it far to much of the sake."

Kaguya shot him a glare. "Mmm. Give me your report." growled Kaguya. "I assume it has something to do with the events at the Muramasa clans main fortress."

"Yes indeed it does, However the news is far gaver than we thought. I didn't want to report this without proof and everything was quit chaotic during the battle. But I was able to proper evidence of what I say is the truth. Otherwise I think you would think i'm half insane."

"Get on with it I don't have all day. What happened over there?"

Placing his hand on the floor a shadow extended from below Rin's covering the space between him and Kaguya's desk. The inky black shadow rippled as the corpse of a Zergling raised up out of it. The shadow despired leaving the body on the floor. It was missing one of its back arms and tail with a stab wound in its skull and a few slash marks across its body.

"What is it?" said Kaguya as she examined the body.

"It's called a Zerg although there are many types greatly varying in form and ability. It was these Zerg that attacked the Muramasa clans main fortress. A week later yesterday the majority of the Muramasa clans army attacked in full force to retake the fortress. However the battle was quite harsh on them."

"How many died?" grimly asked Kaguya.

"Nearly half."

Kaguya placed both hands on her desk, one hand supporting her head rubbing her temple.

"Yuri needs to hear this." Kaguya looked back up to Rin. "And what of Kyoshiro?"

"He survived but is in a... rather depressed state. It seems such a lose hit him hard."

Kaguya leaned back crossing her arms. "I can imagine. Where is he now?"

"Actually he's on his way here."

"What!"

"Apparently he seeks a audience with you. I think his pride being thoroughly thrashed has made him more willing to ask help regarding his problem."

Kaguya could only laugh at the situation. "Ah hehe. Well then I suppose that I should at least welcome him in as my brother in law. When will he arrive?"

Rin hesitated a moment. "Some time today. Depending on his overland ride's travel time. I would say sometime mid to evening in the day."

Kaguya lowered her head shaking it side to side. "In other words you stowed aboard his ship and rushed over here when His ship landed."

"Yes."

"I need to make preparations then. Thanks for the report Rin. Your dismissed. And take that thing with you."

"Hai"

Repeating his gesture Rin pulled the Zergling back into his shadow and left through the door.

-Hours later. 12:45 PM Throne room-

Renji, Yuri, a few of Kaguya's court ministers and generals that needed to hear everything stood before Kaguya and Shiro.

"So my brother is alive then!" said Yuri expressing relief.

"To think these Zerg creature's could be so powerful?" said Renji tightening his fists.

The other court ministers and generals present talked and mumbled between each other for a minute. As soon as Kaguya spoke everyone stopped and listened.

"I expect all of you to welcome lord Kyoshiro when he arrives today. Which should be soon."

Practically on cue the doors opened up and a samurai guard entered. Everyone eyed him as he walked to the halfway point between the doors and Kaguya dropping to one knee.

"Ma-lord. Lord Kyoshiro of the Muramasa clan has arrived and is requesting a audience."

Kaguya tilted her head towards Shiro. "That was fast. Tell him he can enter the court right now with two guards."

"Hai"

The guard left and everyone became on edge as a full three minutes ticked by. Then the doors opened again and five men entered. Two were Masamune guards and the other three were Kyoshiro with Tetsu and Tsumugi. They stopped two half way to Kaguya's throne.

"Well it must have been quite the ordeal if your here Kyoshiro." Kaguya said somewhat coldly. "Why come to me so soon after a major defeat?"

Kyoshiro glanced at his younger sister and her husband to his right before turning back to Kaguya. "I'm... here to request aide from a fellow clan. We do have a alliance for the most part is I recall. Despite your... attacks on our shipping."

Kaguya broke out into a laugh which she quickly muffled with her sleeve but everyone still was off put by it.

"Sorry. But I just can't relish the irony of you asking us for help after the war fifty years ago. But... considering that was so long ago I think we can let by gone's be by gone's. But there is something I want to hear about from you."

"And that is?" Kyoshiro said willing to do anything at this point.

"Tell me about these Zerg creatures. I want to hear about how you were defeated by them."

Looking somewhat troubled by the request Kyoshiro sighed. "What would your like to know?"

"Everything. But for one thing tell me about their leader. Did you even meet them in battle?"

"Yes... she was... quite the handful. Such power for something so young. She went by the name Akuma Haruka. She even willded the scythe of your sister. Which she took from Hiroshige's clan."

Kaguya's face was like stone when the name Haruka was dropped. It couldn't be the same Haruka as the last name was Akuma. But the fact she held the scythe of Kaguya's sister whom she named Haruka after was quite the coincidence.

Speaking seriously and with force behind her words Kaguya asked. "What was her apparent age? What did she look like?"

Kyoshiro gulped before continuing. "She looked a little passed 12 and a half, with blood red eyes and deep blue hair."

"He... ha... Ah hahaha!"

Kaguya broke into a uncontrolled laughter. Everyone was quite confused. They shared look's between each other as Kaguya continued her laughing fit. Even Shiro was awe struck by the mad laughing. But he knew exactly why she was felt so overwhelmed at the moment. A full two minutes passed before She calmed down.

"Eh he. Eh he. Ah..." Kaguya wiped a tear from her eyes before speaking again. "Sorry everyone. I couldn't help myself."

"Uh lord Kaguya could you please enlighten us on what you find so funny?" said one of the court ministers.

"It's just that I found the situation to overwhelmingly ironic and..."

"Damn mom you can sure laugh like a mad woman!"

Everyone's attention was pulled to the doors as they burst open. Standing there was Haruka holding the unconscious bodies of two guards.

"I'm home! Shiro, mom been a while but i'm back now. Been a long adventure too," said Haruka as she sauntered in a few steps dragging the two guards. A group of people moved into the doorway behind her and following.

"Did you have to knock the guards out?" Motoichi asked.

"They weren't listening," Haruka replied dropping the two guards as she glanced back.

"Wow!" Etsuko exclaimed looking around the large royal throne room. Beside her Pearl was holding her hand.

"Their defenses were weak," stated Tatsuki. Her and Mitsuki had gotten new clothes and weapons looking very much like their old human like forms but taller.

"They require better training and weapons," noted Mitsuki. She walked beside Tatsuki with Vynella bringing up the rear. She looked shy and intimidated by the royal court for some reason.

"Haruka!" shouted Kaguya standing up. Both her and Shiro bore surprised but happy expressions.

"Gah! why are you here?" Kyoshiro, Tsumugi and Tetsu readied for a fight drawing weapons. Renji and Yuri along with the Generals present joined them.

Haruka steared at Kyoshiro holding both arms up. "Hey hey now. No need for any of that. Were not here to fight. All the bad blood between us is over and done with after that last battle Ok."

Everyone relaxed a little but Kyoshiro and Tetsu both still had their weapons out.

"Kyoshiro," said Kaguya in a silky and very threatening tone, with a materialize Spirit sword at his throat. "Drop the sword. Or I'll tosh your head into the garbage."

He glanced at the reflection on his sword seeing Kaguya's calm but murderous eyes boring holes into him.

"Eh! Ok." Kyoshiro dropped his sword followed by Tetsu. Kaguya lowered her own weapon before turning to Haruka.

"Sooo wanna talk over dinner?" Haruka asked.

---

-One Month Later-

With a yawn Haruka turned out her window. The home land of her adopted mother and now ruler of the Masamune clan. The house she grew up in was only a few hours of horse raiding away but it may have well been on the other side of the planet. Getting out of bed a weight held her back. Looking down She saw Etsuko with her arms wrapped around Her waist breathing softly.

"Jeez. Etsuko what am I going to do with you."

"Do you require any aide Master?" said Mitsuki standing in front of the door. Tatsuki was behind her sliding the door shut.

"Oh you two. Is the Leviathan ready?"

"Yes," Mitsuki said.

"All Zerg biomass has been converted into the new Leviathan," Tatsuki said walking beside her twin.

Taking one last look out the window Haruka glanced down at Etsuko. "Time to get up." Haruka flicked Etsuko on the forehead making her face scrunch up.

"Hmm. Uhh Harukaaaa!"

Etsukos whining brought a giggle to Harukas face. "Hehe. If you don't want me to flick your little head then don't cling to me all the time."

Rubbing her tired eyes Etsuko got onto her knees with a tired expression. "But your leaving today aren't you." Her tone was tinged with a bit of desperation. "I just wanted to spend as much time with you as I could."

Standing up Haruka sighed. "You've been spending every day with me for the past month. We've played, trained, ate and spent time together everyday. Heck I even stayed with you when you went to school."

"But but I just want to be with you big sis."

"Big sis!" thought Haruka. She had always thought that she was more of a mother figure to Etsuko rather then a big sister. But it fits more.

The door slid open again with Kaguya entering with a soft smile. "Good morning."

Tatsuki and Mitsuki turned to her and bowed with respectfully.

"Morning, greeted Haruka," She hesitated a moment lost in thought. "Mom I..." She was cut of with a raised hand.

"Haruka... The last two years were hard on me not knowing weather you were dead or alive. But. Seeing how you've grown and matured in that time and everything that has happened to you I guess it's for the best. Your a lot stronger than I thought you were and I should be less clingy." Kaguya glanced down at Etsuko. "You also need to be stronger little Etsuko."

The little twin tailed fox child got all flustered and angry. "Ah don't call me small granny Kaguya!"

"I'll call you whatever I want little missy. Until the day comes you can look me in the eyes without looking up at me like the little child you are."

Pouting Etsuko crossed her arms and turned away. "Humph!"

Haruka gave a short laugh at their banter. "Haha! I'm sure you'll be fine Etsuko. You and mother will be fine without me if you can talk to each other like that."

Etsuko turned to Haruka with a worrisome expression. "But I don't want you to go!"

"Etsuko, You've been like a little sister to me to... but it's time for me to leave. For now anyway but." Haruka kneeled down looking Etsuko in the eyes. "But some time in the future I promise that i'll come back ok."

"You promise!"

"Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye if ever I should lie. I'll also have to eat a thousand needles too. Heh."

"Sounds painful," Etsuko quipped before braking in to a childish giggle.

Haruka walked over to Kaguya and gave her a big hug lifting her of the floor.

"By mom. I wish I could spend more time with all of you but If I delay anymore then it will only get harder to say goodby," Letting Her down Haruka and Kaguya both shared a moment of introspection.

"Come back from where ever your going... and be well," Were the only words she could say.

Giving a big sigh Haruka backed up and patted Etsuko on the head. She closed her eyes grinning softly as she enjoyed the gentel patting.

"Take care of little Etsuko will you."

"I will. Im already well versed in raising one child already."

Changing to a serious tone and expression Kaguya stared Haruka in the eye's. "Are you sure you don't want the others to know about your parents?"

Still with a soft grin on her face Haruka met her mothers eyes. "Not right yet. When I get back i'll clear up all that business about my parents and the Regent. And my brother... well half brother. Until then just stay safe and take care of Etsuko for me would ya."

Closing her eyes looking down Kaguya gently smiled. "I understand. I'll also look into Pearls homeland. And make sure she and Motoichi put themselves to good use for me while your gone. Also on a side note I received a report a few weeks ago about a large number of high ranking people across the world dying all on the same day. Did you have anything to do with that?"

"Err! uh! not me but someone I recently met did that. From what I know they were apart of a group called the Illuminati and were some secret organization, I think they were trying to take over the country and expand their influence and I have a sneaking suspicion that they were responsible for the emperor... my father and biological mothers death's."

Looking somewhat shocked Kaguya crossed her arms while Etsuko wondered what they were talking about. "That's a bold claim Haruka."

Haruka shrugged. "I don't have any evidence really. But it doesn't matter much now that their all dead."

"Master. The Leviathan is now in orbit," reported Mitsuki.

Haruka turned to Her. "Really it's that time then huh."

Etsuko grabbed Haruka by the arm again. Haruka patted her on the head. Etsuko looked up at her and slowly let go. Kaguya wrapped her arms around Etsuko and lead her out of the room.

"Time to get ready then I guess," said Haruka.

A few minutes later Haruka left her room wearing a red short skirted kimono with long sleeves and long thick leg stockings ending at her upper thighs. Securing her folded Scythe to her sheath on her lower back Haruka followed by the twins left making their way down the hallway. Turning the next corner near the courtyard a voice called to them.

"Leaving with out saying anything."

Haruka and the twins stopped and She turned around seeing Motoichi in a fine light blue kimono with dark lower pants leaning against the wall.

"I'm leaving. Goodby and take care of that wife of yours. There I said goodby. Happy."

Motoichi laughed. "Haha. Good by Akuma Haruka. I'll see you again whenever you get back."

Haruka turned away and started walking. "We will. Say by to Pearl and Vynella for me."

"Sure."

A warp gate opened up in the middle of the hallway and the three of them disappeared through its event horizon.

Arriving in the nervecenter of the Leviathan Haruka took the command chair joined by Tatsuki and Mitsuki in the adjacent chairs.

"Ok are the coordinates loaded," Haruka asked.

"The location of the ship has been loaded into the navigation system. Displaying."

The wall in-front of them changed color and texture to show a map of the world. It zoomed in on Russia. Zooming in again it showed a cluster of large interconnected lakes. The largest lake had a reddot marking it.

"So it's there. Lets send in a few Mutalisk to scout the surface," said Haruka.

As the multi-mile long Leviathan drifted in space ite flexed oped a single tiny plate on it's under belly. A inner series of doors irised open letting a pack of Mutalisk fly out. They took a controlled reentry trajectory before entering the atmosphere. After a few minutes they passed through the upper atmosphere and reattached the lake and started observing the area.

Airborn images of the lake appeared on the main screen in the nerve center. Haruka told the Leviathan to focus on the area the ship was supposed to be at. The aerial view zoomed in showing the middle of the lake.

"Of course it's in the water,"

"Master. I've detected a psionic signal coming from the deepest part of the lake." reported Tatsuki. "It seems to be from a Khaydarin crystal."

"Lets warp over the lake and get a closer look."

Over the windswept lake birds and fish skimmed the surface. Ripples gew and spread scaring most of the animals away. A moment later a massive warp gate opened over the lakes southern half. With a presence that vibrated the air the Leviathan hovered over the lake slowly descending until it's two main fins skimmed the lakes surface creating large wave like ripples.

In the nerve center Haruka looked at the screen showing the energy output of the Khaydarin crystal and its location.

"That's a big crystal!" Haruka noted ordering a Abyss Ray to launch.

The manta shaped Zerg creature zoomed out of the Leviathan diving into the lake. It traveled for a few minutes going ever deeper into the lakes depths. It was apparent that the lake was far deeper than first thought as the Abyss Ray traveled for at least a thousand meters before bottoming out. It skimmed the lakes bottom as it traveled to the psionic signal. Slowing down a bit it finally reached a silver wall of a unknown metal.

"There it is," said said Haruka looking through the Abyss Ray's senses.

After a half hour of mapping the ship it was measured at a good two miles long and nearly one third that wide. It had a long semi oval shape with a smaller oval on its top center close to the rear oval pod shaped engines.

A short time later in the ship a light beeped on. The room lights following slowly illuminating the giant room. A pair of Zerglings walked in looking around for any threats. One spotted a odd sight and sniffed the object. It's breath blew a way part of the human shaped ash pile. A moment later Haruka walked up behind it.

"Those access codes really saved us a lot of time getting here."

Tatsuki and Mitsuki followed her in the main engine room.

They spread out as the giant spherical Khaydarin crystal floated above them with dozens of other crystals pointing at it from the spherical chamber walls. Walking up to a access console Haruka accessed the system using the instructions that guy left her on the date chip. After a few minutes of entering commands the Khaydarin crystal lit up. Haruka read streams of date on the console and typed in a few commands. A all green prompt showed up on screen showing interdimensional coordinates and a timer.

"Ok thats it lets get going!" Shouted Haruka.

They all ran back to the Nydus worm linking the two vessels. After they were all in, the Nydus worm separated from the ship. The Leviathan floated higher as the water in the lake was pushed back by an invisible force. In moments the Nirvana's upper half was visible but so was a inky black flat surface in the shape of a sphere when viewed from above. It surrounded the Nirvana as if engulfing it. The inky blackness then expanded to ten times it's original size becoming more illuminated as it grew like warp gate. Haruka reoriented the Leviathan to point downwards nose first into the open gateway.

"Here we go."

Plummeting down fast enough speed to create a 88 mile per hour gust of wind that slammed into the surrounding forest the Leviathan disappeared through the open warp gate. Mere moments later the gate closed returning to it's inky black closed state.

Chapter End

---

Longest... Chapter... EVER...!

Glad its over!

Next arch Return of the Empress.