"There you are." Natsuru said as she walked through the crowd, approaching the hooded figure waiting outside the mall. While Chris had changed his outfit to avoid undue attention, the difference was slight. His jacket was now plain red, without any other colors to it, and the hood was pulled up over his head. Pulling his eyes away from the crowd walking in front of him, Chris looked at Natsuru through a pair of fake glasses, allowing Natsuru to see his green eyes before Chris pushed himself off the side of the entrance with his hands in his pocket.

"You know how to keep a guy waiting." Chris said, causing Natsuru to bring a hand up to the back of her head.

"Sorry, Chair Committee roped me into some stuff." Natsuru said.

"Hence why you're in your Kampfer form." Chris muttered. "Wouldn't you want to…"

"I didn't have a good place to change coming over here." Natsuru said, before gesturing down to her yellow and blue shirt over her white pants. "And I couldn't bring a change of clothes."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Chris said, not knowing what else to say.

"Eh, don't be." Natsuru responded with a wave of her hand. "I usually need to dedicate a day to one form or the other. It's nothing new to me." With that, Natsuru turned towards the mall's entrance, glancing back at the red hooded man beside it. "So, shall we head in."

"I… I'm having second thoughts about this…" Chris said, glancing back down at the sidewalk. "This poses risks. Risks I shouldn't be taking. I-"

"Relax, it'll be fine." Natsuru said, grabbing Chris's arm to pull him with her. "Shizuku and the others are doing their own things at home. Same goes for Kaede and the Whites."

"What if someone recognizes me?" Chris asked.

"You've been standing out there for how long?" Natsuru responded.

"I… True…" Chris said, before finally shaking his arm out of Natsuru's grip, following the blue-haired girl regardless. "But at the first sign of trouble, I'm splitting."

"Figured." Natsuru said.

"Now then…" Chris began, looking around the mall as he and Natsuru strolled into it. "Where are we heading?"


"So why didn't you go with Kampfer mode?" Natsuru asked, chewing on a fry as she looked at the hooded man across from her, causing him to suddenly pause as he picked up his burger.

"I… I feel uncomfortable about transforming…" Chris responded.

"Yeah, I do too, but…" Natsuru said, before gesturing to her form. "I got used to it, so why didn't-"

"I'm not talking about changing genders." Chris interrupted. "As a Warrior, I could do that any time I wanted. But when I go Kampfer… It does something to my mind. I don't feel like me when I go Kampfer. Someone else takes over."

"So… You're like Akane?" Natsuru asked, earning a silent nod from the man. "I see… What's she like? You're Kampfer form."

"Incredibly violent." Chris answered.

"So a lot like Akane then?" Natsuru asked.

"If you can believe it, it's more pronounced." Chris responded. "She an awful lot of power and an awful lack of patients and self-control. She just wants to kill everything."

"Hence the 'kill all Kampfers' thing Shizuku talked about." Natsuru said.

"A mix of my desire to stop the Moderators and her desire for bloodshed." Chris nodded.

"So you didn't want to kill everyone?" Natsuru asked, and Chris looked away from the blue-haired girl as she continued. "Then why did you come back here? Why did you try to kill-"

"I'm… Ashamed to admit she influenced me just as much as I influenced her." Chris said. "When she took Omega out of my Matrix, she became my only guiding voice; And when I was imprisoned, all I really thought about was how Shizuku put me there. I… Christ, what was I thinking…?"

"… You've changed since then." Natsuru said, and Chris glanced up at her as she continued. "You said you hated yourself more than I hated you. That means something."

"What? That after everything I've done, I'm a good guy?" Chris asked.

"That you're trying to be." Natsuru responded. "I think that's what's most important. That you realize when you've done wrong and try to do better."

"… I'm trying…" Chris muttered.

The two sat in silence for a moment before Natsuru hesitantly grabbed another fry, waving it aside as if to push the subject away. "Let's talk about something else." Natsuru said. "Something to make you feel better?"

"Please." Chris answered.

"So…" Natsuru began, dragging out the syllables as she glanced out the window, looking towards the blue sky before looking back to the man across from her. "What's it like? Out in space?"

"It's amazing." Chris said. "There's so much out there. So many galaxies, so many stars, so many worlds, so many possibilities. There are millions of planets with life on them, giving way to their own species and landscapes and cultures. It's one of the best parts of being a traveler, you get to see so much."

"What's the best thing you've seen?" Natsuru asked.

"Habited worlds." Chris said. "From outside their atmospheres. Especially this one. It… It makes all the problems we face seem so small. Makes you feel more connected. I hope you get to see it someday. The actual thing."

"Why this planet?" Natsuru asked. "Why do you like it so much?"

"Well, aside from the fact that I was based on a human from Earth…" Chris said, reaching up to his chin to think. "This planet is rich in diversity. Ethnicities, religious believes, number of species, environments. Most planets I visit tend to have one central… Tick to them."

"'Tick?'"

"Something to define them, like religious believes and geology and such." Chris explained. "Some planets have a few more, but you guys have the most in the galaxy. You can spend years reading up on different cultures from this planet alone."

"I see…" Natsuru said as she chewed on a fry.

"What about you?" Chris asked, seeming to relax a bit as he sat up in his chair. "What's your favorite part of this planet?"

"… Um…" Natsuru muttered, trying to think of something to say. "… The air's nice?" Chris let off a soft chuckle as he finally took a bite out of his food. "Hey, give me a break, I never thought about that stuff before."

Chris gave Natsuru a smirk as he swallowed his mouthful. "Guess it is like asking why a fish likes the ocean." Chris said as he reached for his drink. "How's about something more your speed? How are things at school?"

"Lonely." Natsuru admitted. "Especially when I need to go as Kampfer-me."

"Hard to believe the center of attention can feel secluded." Chris commented.

"I wasn't talking about that." Natsuru responded. "We've reached a point where… Where the others have given up on trying to talk to me. I haven't spoken to one them in over a week." Natsuru stared down at her plate, thinking back to the three Kampfers she's been fighting alongside with. "… Do you think I've been overreacting?"

"No, not really." Chris responded. "After a lot of what you've been through, you have a right to be a bit mad. How's your ear, by the way?"

"It's getting better." Natsuru said, brushing her hair back to reveal the hole in her earlobe had closed itself almost completely, leaving a scar in its wake. "It's just… Maybe I've been too hard on them. I'm starting to think that I should… Try and make up with the-"

"You shouldn't." Chris stated. "They wronged you, Natsuru, not the other way around. They should be seeking your forgiveness."

"Yeah, but…" Natsuru began. "How are they going to get it if I never give them the chance?"

"Right now, it's their responsibility to seek redemption, not yours to give it to them." Chris said, propping his head up against the table with his left arm.

"Still, I can't help…" Natsuru muttered before her eyes fixed on Chris's exposed wrist. "Where's your watch?"

"Hm?" Chris hummed, before glancing at his bare wrist as his sleeve fell down his arm. "Oh, I took it off before leaving. GLaDOS wouldn't shut up about how doing this was a bad idea. She…" Chris stopped himself, realizing what he was about to say and to who. "She said I should remain hidden. That exposing myself like this was too dangerous."

"Hm…" Natsuru hummed back, before squinting as she leaned towards the Warrior. "You know, now that you mention it, I just noticed your eyes are green again."

"This is the default color." Chris explained. "Nanobots in my blood light up different colors based on AI color, and they tend to change my irises."

"You just keep getting weirder and weirder." Natsuru commented.

"Yeah, it can be a bit groundbreaking to most people." Chris said with a shrug.

"Let's try something a bit more down to Earth." Natsuru began, before silently thinking over what to ask. "Did you know Tamiko?"

Chris once again froze in place, before looking up at Natsuru with wide eyes. "Shizuku told you about her, did she?" Chris asked, earning a nod from Natsuru.

"Sorry, I just-"

"No, it's fine, it…" Chris began, staring back down at his plate. "It's just… Back before I went mad, I would try to talk the Kampfers out of fighting, but neither side listened to me a lot. Tamiko was the first to give me the benefit of the doubt. After that, she became a sort of assistant, helping me figure out how the Kampfers worked. She was the only Kampfer who would willingly let me study them, and if I needed more samples… She didn't like it, but she helped me collect them."

"What was she like?" Natsuru asked.

"Clever, fun… Kind." Chris said. "She was the first friend I had in a while, and when me and Shizuku failed to get along, she played meditator between us. She always tried to talk it out with the other Kampfers, and come to think of it, I don't think she ever killed anyone." Chris let out a sigh as he picked his head up, looking at the Kampfer across from him. "She went to the grave refusing to fight, all because I failed to save her."

"Is… Is that when you…" Natsuru began asking, and Chris solemnly nodded.

"When she died, my Kampfer form convinced me that…" Chris stopped, taking in a breath to ease his nerves before he continued. "That I needed to avenge her. Shizuku showed the Kampfer who did it mercy, but I didn't. I made that Kampfer another subject. And then my Kampfer form convinced me to go further. The rest is history you already know."

"Chris, I'm sorry." Natsuru said. "I didn't mean to open-"

"No, don't be…" Chris said, raising a hand to silence the girl. "Sometimes talking about it can be a big help, right?"


"I'm glad you convinced me to come out here, Natsuru." Chris said as the two left the restaurant. "It has been a while since I've had a chance to relax."

"No prob, I've needed someone to talk to anyway." Natsuru said. "You know, aside from Tora."

"Your… Messenger?" Chris asked, earning a nod from Natsuru.

"Yeah, but he's usually not much help." Natsuru said, before turning away from the Warrior. "Well, guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"If I have the chance." Chris responded, giving Natsuru a nod as he turned away from her as well. With that, the two parted, and Chris began looking for landmarks to remind him where the nearest entrance to his base was.

After a couple of steps, the memory finally came to Chris, and he was ready to begin heading out before he heard Natsuru yelling, "I said, 'no!'"

Looking back at the blue-haired girl, Chris saw Natsuru standing in front of three men, each one with a slight scowl on their faces. Concerned, Chris began approaching the group, and while he couldn't make out what the man with black hair was saying, he could tell it angered Natsuru. "I don't care, 'no' means 'no!'" Natsuru responded, ready to walk away from the group before a brown-haired man grabbed her by her wrist. "Let me go!" Natsuru yelled, spinning around to hit the man holding her. She managed to knock him back with some force, taking them by surprise before a ginger grabbed her from behind, trapping her left arm

"You little…" The brown-haired man growled as he regained his balance, clenching his fist as Natsuru struggled against the grip around her arm before the third man grabbed onto her right.

"Leave her alone." Chris barked with an aggressive tone before Natsuru could say anything, causing everyone to look towards him.

"Chris?" Natsuru asked as the brown-haired man turned towards him.

"Why don't cha run along, four-eyes." The man said with a scowl. "This doesn't involve you."

"She's my friend, that's reason enough." Chris scowled.

"What, you trying to play hero?" The man asked as Chris began clenching his fist. "'Sides, you look like a strong breeze could knock you over."

Gritting his teeth, Chris pulled back his right arm, swinging it towards the man's face before he caught it. The man pulled his own fist back, before throwing it into Chris's cheek. Chris stumbled back as the brown-haired man let go, turning as he felt his glasses begin to slide down his face before he spun around, readying another punch before the man blocked it again, throwing another punch into Chris's face. Once again, the Warrior stumbled back as his fake glasses hit the floor, cracking on the tiles.

Continuing to struggle against the men holding her, Natsuru brought up her right leg, before bringing it down on the black-haired man's foot. She didn't put as much force into it as she could have, but it made him wince in pain. With a scowl, the man pulled his arm back, gritting his teeth before he threw a punch at her face. Leaning back, Natsuru barely avoided the attack, allowing it to connect to the ginger holding her other arm. As he stumbled back, his grip on Natsuru loosened, allowing her to pull her arm out and strike at the black-haired man still holding her. With a strike to the collar bone, he let go as well.

With a growl, Chris turned to throw another punch at the man, who stepped back away from it before throwing another punch. This time, Chris managed to avoid it as well and threw another punch into the man's chest. Finally landing a hit, Chris caused the man to stumble back a step. With a huff, the man lunged at Chris, grabbing his hoodie before he began punching his stomach. After a few hits, Chris stepped back and swung his arm around, hitting the man in the side of the head, almost causing him to let go before the man threw him to the ground. Beginning to pick himself up, Chris glanced over at the man before taking a kick to the side, rolling him onto his back before the man began stomping on his chest. The second time his foot collided with Chris, the Warrior grabbed his ankle before rolling over, bringing the man down to the ground before Chris got up.

Glancing over to Natsuru, Chris saw the blue-haired girl backing away from the other two men, clenching her fists as they approached her. As one of them charged in to strike Natsuru, Chris saw the brown-haired man getting up, a bruise beginning to form on his face as he reached into his pocket.

"Why you…" The man growled, before pulling out a taser. Chris's eyes widened as he saw the electricity ark between the two posts, and he took a step away from it before the brown-haired man ran at him. Leaning back, Chris barely avoided the electrified swing, backing away from the next backhand before the man attempted a jab, missing as Chris slid to the side.

Natsuru, meanwhile, continued to look between the two other men and the fight behind her before she brought up her hands. "Look, I don't want to hurt you guys-"

"Ya got an odd way 'a showing it." The black-haired man said before running at her, throwing a swing that Natsuru easily avoided. The man attempted another swing, only for Natsuru to grab his arm and throw him around her, causing him to fall to the ground before the ginger rushed up. Hooking his arms under her armpits, the man attempted to hold Natsuru in place as the black-haired man got up, ready to begin striking the girl. Once he got close enough, Natsuru brought up both her legs and kicked him in the chest, throwing him back before causing the ginger to tilt over. Once her legs met the concrete, Natsuru jumped back, causing the man to lose his grip on her, falling on his back while Natsuru flipped through the air.

Chris, meanwhile, continued dodging the taser swinging around him before grabbing the man's wrist, attempting to yank the taser out of his grip before he was punched in the stomach again. As Chris stumbled back, the man got ready to stab at him again as Chris tightened his right fist, his knuckles beginning to glow blue. The man lunged forward, attempting to jab the taser into Chris's face before Chris leaned to the side, swinging his arm to punch the man. With a cry of energy, the man was thrown across the way as a blue flash flared to life. Once the man hit the wall, Chris turned towards Natsuru and the men she was fighting to see they all had stopped, staring at him with wide eyes.

After a moment, Chris realized the blast had blown his hood back.

"It's… It's that guy…" The ginger said, looking to the black-haired man as he reached for his phone. Hearing chatter, Chris glanced around him, seeing the crowd that had formed around the fight as everyone looked at him with fear. Hearing footsteps approaching him, Chris turned to see a security officer, holding his weapon tightly as he aimed it at the Warrior.

"You… You're under-" The man began before Chris threw his fist down. With another pulse of blue energy, Chris was thrown into the air, allowing him to jump over the officer. Once he landed, he quickly ran into the crowd, finding everyone stepped away from him as he pulled out his sonic. Before the man could tell him to stop, he pressed onto the button, causing it to release a shrill screech as he ran away.

Natsuru clamped her hands over her ears in an attempt to drown out the noise before it quickly became quieter and quieter. Once her ears stopped hurting, Natsuru cracked her eye open, finding that the noise had left completely along with Chris. Stepping back as the crowd looked in the direction Chris went, Natsuru silently made her leave.


"What have you done?" GLaDOS asked with a growl as Chris reattached the matrix to his wrist.

"Look, they were hustling Natsuru, and-" Chris began answering as he slid his jacket off, his eyes returning to a golden glow. "And then they grabbed her, and-what was I supposed to do, let them?"

"Do you realize what you've done?" GLaDOS asked. "Your little stunt made the news."

"Did they get me on film?"

"No, but I highly doubt those Kampfers know anyone else who can do what you did." GLaDOS retorted. "I told you going out was a bad idea."

"The idea's to gain his trust." Chris responded as he reached for his usual jacket. "How am I supposed to do that if I-"

"Chris?" The two heard Natsuru call from the hall. As Chris pulled his jacket on, the door into the room opened, allowing Natsuru to step in, still in Kampfer mode from earlier that day.

"Natsuru?" Chris asked, pulling his robotic arm into its sleeve before he continued. "Why are you here?"

"I was worried when you ran off." Natsuru said. "You made a bit of a scene."

"As I'm aware." Chris nodded, before pulling up his matrix. "And as GLaDOS likes to remind me. But I can handle myself."

"And also… I wanted to thank you for earlier." Natsuru said. "You know, trying to get those jerks to back off."

"It was nothing, really." Chris waved his hand as if trying to dismiss the notion before he raised an eyebrow at the Blue Kampfer. "Though didn't you get mad when Akane tried something like that?"

"I was more mad at her for following me." Natsuru said. "And for everything else."

"I see." Chris nodded. "Well, like I said, it was nothing."

"Well, guess I'll see you later." Natsuru said as she turned to leave, earning a silent wave from the Warrior. As she began walking out of the room, her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out as she walked across the catwalk. "Wow, didn't know I got cell reception-" Natsuru began saying to herself, before flicking open her phone to see the text message, causing her eyes to widen.

"Um, Chris, we have a problem!" Natsuru said, turning back to the Warrior as she held up her phone. "Shizuku just saw the news. She knows you're alive." Chris immediately tensed up upon hearing those words, and he immediately spun around to look at the Blue Kampfer before Natsuru continued. "We probably don't have long before Kaede tells her she already knew, which is going to raise some flags. And once they realizes I've been on your side-"

"Okay, stay calm, stay calm." Chris said, more to himself than to Natsuru as he placed a hand on his head, beginning to pace about the room as he thought over the current situation. "Um… GLaDOS, show me our progress on our project." Lifting up his wrist, Chris tapped down on his matrix's dial, allowing a yellow screen to be projected from it. Reading over the screen quickly, Chris gave it a nod before tapping the dial again. "Good enough, I guess. Begin production immediately."

"Production?" Natsuru asked.

"Something I've been working on to even the odds against the Moderators." Chris answered as he began approaching Natsuru. "Reinforcements. I would prefer to give them more time for finalization, but we're running out of it. We need to strike now."

"So what's the plan?" Natsuru asked.

"Simple: We need to get to Kaede before Shizuku does." Chris explained. "Take her and her White Kampfers out."

"How?"

"Same way we stole our weapons back." Chris said, before poking a finger into Natsuru's collarbone. "We apply to her hormones."

"I really hate doing that." Natsuru said as she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but it's our best bet." Chris responded. "It's the only weakness we have on her. Now come on." With a wave, Chris beckoned for Natsuru to fallow him as he left the room. "Like you said, we don't have long. If we work fast, we can take down her and her White Kampfers. We can deal with the others after that."

"Others?" Natsuru asked. "Do you mean Shizuku, Akane, and Mikoto?" Chris silently nodded, and Natsuru's pace began to slow as she realized what he was saying. "But they're my-"

"Don't say 'friends.'" Chris said, turning towards the Blue Kampfer. "They're not. You've said it yourself, they're a danger to you. Like it or not, you won't be truly safe unless we take them down as well."

"I-I don't know. I-" Natsuru began saying.

"Natsuru," Chris cut her off, tilting his head a bit before continuing. "Would I lie to you? Or lead you astray?" After a moment, Natsuru shook her head. "Then don't worry. I want to help you, really. Now come on." With that, Chris turned to continue towards the exit, and after a moment of thought, Natsuru followed after him.


"This has 'trap' written all over it." Hitomi commented as she and the rest of the White Kampfers followed Kaede up the school's stairs. Her words were the first ones to pierce through the silence surrounding them in the empty building.

"The message was sent by Natsuru," Kaede countered, holding up her phone to remind the green-haired girl why they were there. "She wouldn't lie to me."

"I'm telling you; he's been lying to you." Hitomi argued. "Probably for days now."

"She wouldn't." Kaede said.

"I'm with Kaede on this one." Sayaka interjected before Hitomi could respond. "Natsuru doesn't seem like the type to lie like this, especially to Kaede."

"Yeah, he's not smart enough!" Rika joked, earning a glare from the Moderator leading them.

"Guys, listen," Hitomi began. "As tactical advisor-"

"Self-proclaimed." Kaede interjected.

"I advise that this is a mistake." Hitomi stated. "We shouldn't be having peace talks with any of those rebels. Our orders are to get rid of them."

"Counterpoint:" Kaede began, before turning to glare at Hitomi. "I'm your leader. You listen to my orders, not the other way around."

"But-"

"That's final." Kaede said, resuming her climb. As the rest of the White Kampfers passed her, Hitomi let out a huff before following. Once the group reached the top of the stairs, Kaede swung the door open.

Just as promised, Natsuru stood by the railing, hands behind her back as the Moderator and White Kampfers came through the door. "Kaede," Natsuru greeted with a friendly tone. "I see you brought your friends. It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see-" Kaede began before Hitomi pushed past her.

"Why did you call us here?" Hitomi growled, taking a look around the barren roof, failing to find another soul. "And where's the rest of your band of misfits?"

"No need to be so aggressive." Natsuru said, looking down at Hitomi's hands to see energy beginning to arch off them. "They aren't here."

"Yeah, right." Hitomi scoffed as Kaede put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back.

"What did you want to talk about?" Kaede asked.

"Simple:" Natsuru began. "I want to join you."

Kaede's eyes widened with the White Kampfers', who began looking between each other before Kaede found her words. "You… What?"

"I want to join you." Natsuru repeated. "I accept your offer."

A smile began to creep across Kaede's face as she heard Natsuru's words, and she was ready to run up to her before Hitomi grabbed the back of her shirt, pulling her back. "Why now?" Hitomi asked. "Why do you want to join us now?"

"Because I've realized that my friends weren't my friends." Natsuru said. "They push me around and hurt me, treating me like a toy. But you?" Natsuru held up a hand, gesturing to the brunette in front of her. "You've been nothing but kind to me. You actually want what's best for me, don't you?" Kaede enthusiastically nodded. "I see that now. They weren't my friends, you were. I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

"It's okay, Natsuru." Kaede said, pulling free of Hitomi's grip to place her hands on Natsuru's shoulders. "I'm just so happy you've finally seen reason."

"So am I." Natsuru said, pressing her forehead against Kaede's. "I love you, Kaede."

"I love you too, Natsuru." Kaede said before the two leaned in to kiss each other. As Kaede's arms went around Natsuru's neck and Natsuru's arms wrapped around Kaede's waist, the two began to press themselves together tightly, allowing their lips to dance across each other.

As the two kissed, Natsuru pulled an arm back, reaching into her pocket before pulling out a black box, bringing it up to Kaede's neck. In an instant, Kaede felt a shock run through her veins, and her eyes shot open before drifting closed. Kaede almost fell back before Natsuru caught her, attempting to hoist her up as she looked up towards the White Kampfers and behind them.

Chris jumped off of the roof of the entrance, pulling back his right arm as he tightened his grip on his sonic screwdriver. As he landed, he grabbed onto Rika and pressed the green bulb into the back of her head, and pressed the button to send a surge of energy into her. As the other White Kampfers quickly jumped back, Rika's eyes drifted shut.

"I knew it!" Hitomi yelled, summoning a pair of energy balls as Chris let Rika fall to the ground. "This was a trap." Hitomi got ready to throw her ball of blue energy, only for an orange streak to rush by her. Looking to Natsuru, Hitomi saw the Blue Kampfer summon another ball of orange energy, before throwing it at the White Kampfer. Jumping up into the air, Hitomi threw her energy balls at the Blue Kampfer and the Warrior. The two jumped out of the way of the attack and turned their attention to the other two Kampfers once they landed, finding Sayaka had summoned her sword and was charging in to attack Chris while Ryoka kept her gun trained on Natsuru.

Bringing up his robotic arm, Chris blocked Sayaka's slash before pushing her sword to the side and quickly swung his arm back around to jab the sonic into Sayaka's face like a knife. The White Kampfer barely avoided the attack before spinning around in another attempt to slash at the Warrior. Chris quickly brought up his other arm, blocking the blade.

"Haven't we done this game already?" Chris asked before he jabbed the device into Sayaka's chin. The White Kampfer's eyes widened before drifting shut, allowing Chris to push her over.

Natsuru, meanwhile, darted towards Ryoka, summoning an energy ball before the raven-haired girl pulled her trigger. Quickly ducking under the shot, Natsuru threw the blast to the White Kampfer's side, allowing the burst of energy to throw her away from it. As the girl was thrown to the ground, Natsuru began to close in, before a streak of blue whizzed past her. Glancing over to the other White Kampfer, Natsuru saw Hitomi summon another set of energy balls before Chris darted towards her. Hitomi launched her attacks again, and Chris and Natsuru both ducked under the shots as they ran to their targets.

Attempting to pick herself up, Ryoka lifted her gun to try and shoot at the Blue Kampfer running towards her, only for Natsuru to quickly kick her arm to the side, pinning it down before moving to press the device into her forehead. Ryoka grabbed Natsuru's wrist, attempting to keep the device away from her before Natsuru finally managed to press it against her temple. Just like the others, Ryoka was knocked out.

Chris launched his hand off towards Hitomi, attempting to jab at her with his screwdriver before the White Kampfer leaned out of the way of the attack. Grabbing onto the black cable, Hitomi yanked Chris towards her, summoning an energy ball before pushing it into Chris's chest. The energy surged through him, and Chris repressed the urge to scream as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his saber. Using the weapon as a brass knuckle, Chris jabbed Hitomi in the stomach, sending a shock of energy into her as well. The White Kampfer stumbled back, losing her grip on Chris's cable before the Warrior finished redrawing his hand. As it clicked back into place, Chris quickly jabbed the screwdriver into the side of Hitomi's neck, pressing the activation button. Before Hitomi could push the device off of her, the energy did its work, rendering her unconscious.

"There." Chris said as he straightened himself, looking around at the unconscious Kampfers and Moderator. "Nice work, Natsuru." Chris told his partner with a nod as he turned to face the Blue Kampfer. "You really had them going there."

"I've had practice." Natsuru said, before looking down at the device in her hand. "Good to know this thing works. I know you were kinda rushed on it."

"And the new setting for my screwdriver." Chris said, holding up the device in question before he dropped it back into his sleeve. "Now come on, we don't have long before these guys wake up."

"Right." Natsuru nodded. The two proceeded to undo the unconscious girls' ties, using them to bind their hands behind their backs. Once they were all restrained, Chris took Hitomi by the arms as Natsuru did the same with the Moderator, and the two began dragging their captured enemies back to the stairwell.

"So I was thinking of going after Shizuku next." Chris grunted out, glancing over at Natsuru as they worked. "The other two will be easy so long as they aren't coordinated."

"Sounds good…" Natsuru said, opening the door before lifting Kaede by her shoulders. "I still can't believe I'm actually doing this."

"I know, the end of things always seems so distant." Chris remarked. "It's hard to believe when you get there."

"No, not like that." Natsuru said, shaking her head as she continued to take Kaede down the stairs. "I mean I can't believe I'm going against the others."

"We've been over this, Natsuru," Chris said. "It'll be better for you if we do this." Natsuru silently nodded as the two continued to work.


You know, I was actually kinda nervous when I started writing this chapter. I wasn't very proud of how the last chapter turned out, and for a while, I thought I was starting to not like writing this story. It's possible that's the case, but I actually had fun writing this chapter. I'm much more pleased with this than chapter 17. While I'm not a fan of deleting chapters, I might just one day rework this chapter a bit and delete the previous one.

And if you're reading this after I've already done so: Hello, future reader. Just forget the last paragraph ever happened.

So there isn't really a lot I can say about this chapter. All I can really say is that I was unsure of what to give Chris for that fight with the White Kampfers. First, it was another device like Natsuru had, then it was a modification to his hand, then it was a modification to his screwdriver, and then I briefly considered making it his saber before discarding that idea.

With that, we're now moving back into familiar territory. For the past few chapters, I've been kinda discarding the original drafts I had in favor of original content. But now we're back on track, and we're closing in on the final.