Hyperdimension Neptunia is owned by Sega, Compile Heart and Idea Factory and everyone else who worked on it.
Just letting you know, you might want to play Hard Beat x Break Beat a bit later on. If you don't know the song, it's from the Neptunia anime when they made their final push against Rei Ryghts.
Also, this chapter had another one of those "accidentally lost what I was writing" moments. Only this time, the entire fic was affected. Thankfully I was able to retrieve the story.
Chapter 75
"NO!" The three CPU Candidates cried out as they tried to stop Epic's point-blank attack while he laughed at them.
Chrome Heart turned her head to look at Epic. "If you're going to kill me, at least let me see Neptune one last time."
"No." Epic snarled. "It's time for you to..." His eyes widened and the blades surrounding Chrome Heart disappeared as he gripped his head. "What? Who's doing..?" He looked up to see DS Blue's left pinky was glowing a light gray color. "My mind!" He growled and threw Chrome Heart at DS Blue and swayed from side to side. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" He bellowed and spewed flames out of his dragon head while stumbling backwards.
DS Purple and DS Pink grabbed Chrome Heart, stopping her from crashing into the ground.
"Thanks." Chrome Heart nodded and looked at Epic. "What's going on?"
"I..." DS Blue looked at her left pinky in surprise. "The Mind Ring that MAGES. had and gave to me... It lets me attack his mind with... Confusion or something?"
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF YOU?!" Epic bellowed and blasted flames out in random directions while he continued to backpedal. "I WON'T LET YOU FINISH ME!"
"Well, I can't complain about this." Chrome Heart said as she grabbed her mace. "Let's finish him."
"Right." They nodded and rushed in at Epic, who let out a bone-shaking roar as a dome of energy erupted around him, launching forward and slamming into all of the imaginary people that were surrounding him, as well as Chrome Heart and the CPU Candidates, sending them backwards.
Epic panted while his eyes glowed and drool fell out of his gaping maw. "I... I WON'T LET YOU MESS WITH ME!" He roared and took a step back as power built up in his body. "I WON'T LET YOU HUH?!" He yelled as he felt something grab his leg. Looking down, his eyes widened in shock. "WHAT?!"
"Ca...Can't a girl get a nap?" Neptune asked as she looked at him while grabbing his legs. "You're too loud."
Everyone stared in shock and surprise, unable to believe that Neptune was still alive.
"Oh yeah!" Croire snapped her fingers as she remembered something. "If she was dead, her body would have erupted into data and disappeared. Huh, can't believe I forgot that."
Epic looked at Croire, who was giving him a smug grin. "WHAT?! YOU KNEW SHE WAS ALIVE?!"
"Well, somewhat," Croire admitted with a shrug, "I just know that if she's anything like her other self, she's pretty tough to kill. Besides, an abomination like you can't mean good news for anyone."
"YOU BITCH!" Epic screamed and pointed his Dragon head at Croire and was prepared to fire a blast of fire when he gasped as he felt a hand on his chest. Looking down, he saw Neptune grabbing at his chest. "WHAT?!"
"I kind of want my Share Crystal back." Neptune said as a hole appeared in Epic's chest, revealing Neptune's Share Crystal. "Mine." She grabbed it.
"NO!" Epic screamed and grabbed her body with his tentacles. He let out a louder yell as he was blasted from the side by DS Pink.
"Let go of my sister!" DS Purple yelled as she rushed in with the Share Blade glowing brightly. Before Epic could respond, she was upon him, slashing down and cutting his tentacles off.
"IT'S MY POWER!" Epic screamed and grabbed Neptune with his Dragon head before pulling hard and throwing her across the room. "I WON'T LET YOU TAKE IT FROM ME!" He roared and flapped his wings, sending waves of energy at DS Purple, who had to fly back to avoid the damage.
"AAAAH!" Neptune cried out as she was thrown across the room at high speed. "OOOF!" Her eyes widened as the landing was a lot softer than she had anticipated.
"Got you." Chrome Heart said as she grabbed Neptune out of the air. Neptune looked up at her and Chrome Heart smiled at her. "I'm glad you're alive."
"I'm glad you have such nice airbags." Neptune laughed softly as her head was pressed against Chrome Heart's breasts. "If I slammed into Blanc, I'd probably have a headache."
"I'm telling big sis you said that." DS Pink and DS Blue said at the same time with an expression on their faces that was a mixture of amusement and relief that Neptune was alive.
"NEPU?!" Neptune's eyes went white and blank as she looked at them in shock. "Traitors!" After a few moments, Neptune turned and smiled tiredly at Chrome Heart. "Thanks, Chromey." She hugged Chrome Heart softly before letting go as she was put down on the ground.
"Are you..." Chrome Heart stared as Neptune opened her right hand, revealing her Share Crystal. "That..."
"I got it back." Neptune said softly and let out a yelp as the room started to shake. "What's going on?"
"AAAAAAARGH!" Epic's scream was so loud that everyone was either covering their ears or grimacing in pain. "DIE! DIE! DIE!" His voice got darker as a pillar of blue-gray energy erupted from him and blasted into the ceiling before escaping into the air itself.
"HEY!" Croire yelled as she tried to avoid a piece of debris that fell down and almost struck her. "WATCH IT!" Her eyes were white and blank with anger.
"It almost feels like he's transforming." Chrome Heart said as she looked at Neptune, who was holding her Share Crystal and looking at the pillar of energy. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine." Neptune told her and closed her eyes as she held her Share Crystal in front of her, absorbing it back into her and transforming back into Purple Heart. "...In fact, I'd say that I feel... Slightly different than before." She frowned in confusion before shaking her head. "But I'm rather worn out from getting my Share Crystal ripped out of me, so I don't know how helpful I'll be."
The doors to the place exploded in and Green Sister and DS Black flew into the room. "Neptuna!" Green Sister yelled happily. "You're alive!"
"Yeah." Purple Heart nodded before throwing her arms up as the wind and power became more intense and the room itself started to twist and warp, a new center forming around the pillar of energy before a burst of power launched everyone far away from Epic. "GAH!" She cried out as she slammed into the newly formed wall.
"The hell did he do?" Chrome Heart asked as she looked around in surprise. The room itself had changed and they were seemingly on rocky platforms that seemed to float and hover up and around the center.
No one had any answers as the pillar of energy dissipated, revealing a new, more grotesque monster.
"What..." DS Pink began as she stared in shock.
"...The..." DS Purple, who was floating on another rocky outface continued as she was likewise staring in shock.
"FUCK?!" Both DS Black and DS Blue yelled at the same time.
The new creature was vaguely humanoid in shape and was much larger in size, being more than five times its previous size, while having a large, rotund body with what looked like a bone carapace around the rib area. But that was all that looked remotely human. From the waist area down the legs looked like crab legs. There was a tail that had a snake's head coming out of its back, where its tentacle arms had been were replaced with an arm that looked to be made out of tree roots while where the hand should have been was head of a large bird. The Dragon head had gotten larger and was drooling as it snapped out. Where the main head was, it was no longer human, instead it looked like a giant fly.
"Whatever it is, it isn't human anymore." Chrome Heart muttered and looked at Purple Heart, who was frowning softly. "What's wrong?"
Purple Heart closed her eyes and shook her head. "I doubt this is what he wanted. He wanted to save Gamindustri from things like this, not become something that would lead the world to its own destruction." When Purple Heart opened her eyes she had a look of sheer determination on her face. "For the sake of the world, for the sake of those that I watch, I won't back down." She looked at Chrome Heart and then at the CPU Candidates before looking down at the monster that Epic had become. "Chrome! Rom! Ram! Peashy! Uni! Nepgear! Lend me your strength! Our powers united, we won't lose!"
"RIGHT!" The others all yelled before everyone scattered while Epic let loose a scream that sent shock-waves through the air, destroying the platforms they were on.
"Uni!" Purple Heart yelled as she got close to the CPU Candidate. "Ready?"
DS Black nodded, wondering what Purple Heart had in mind. "Whatever you plan you have, let's do it."
"Right!" Purple Heart smiled and reached out. "HDD: Uni!"
"Wait, what the heck?!" DS Black yelled in surprise as she felt herself engulfed in power and transforming into a giant version of her own gun, which was already huge. "What the heck is this?!"
Purple Heart just chuckled softly as a port on the side of the cannon opened up and she slammed her left arm into it. "Oh, just making you my arm cannon." The side clamped down on her arm and she aimed at what Epic had become. The gun, which already looked big, was comically over-sized, looking closer to what a giant robot would use as its main weapon, not someone who was human-sized. "Nepgear is going to be so jealous I got to do this instead of her. Uni Cannon! Full Power! FIRE!"
A build-up of power happened at the end of the barrel while the gun seemingly drew energy in before blasting out, engulfing Epic's new, grotesque form and encasing him in a dome of energy.
Letting go of the Uni Cannon, which transformed back into DS Black, Purple Heart flew towards DS Pink and DS Blue. "Look out!" DS Pink yelled as she and DS Blue cast several spells to block the sudden arrival a swarm of small, flying creatures, all of which exploded.
Purple Heart was breathing heavily and reached out. "I don't have much time, so... HDD: Rom and Ram!" Both CPU Candidates yelled in surprise as they were engulfed in energy and became giant magic staves.
Grabbing the blue one with her left hand and the pink one with her right hand, Purple Heart smiled at them. "You two were with me the entire time I was in Gamworld, you've both grown so much."
"Thanks, big sis." The blue staff said while flashing.
"Now let's kick his butt!" The pink staff said.
"Right." Purple Heart nodded and crossed the staves as the explosion cleared up. Closing her eyes, Purple Heart focused before nodding. "Colossal..."
"STORM!" All three yelled as lightning, twisting winds, ice and rocks erupted from a magic circle in front of Purple Heart, slamming into the monster and driving it back.
Purple Heart panted and let go of the staves, which transformed back into their normal forms. "He's still alive?"
The monster looked up and let out a bellow before its stomach shook, wobbled and jiggled before bursting, allowing wolf-like creatures with wings to fly out at them.
"Leave them to us." DS Pink said while DS Blue nodded. "Just stop him."
"Right." Purple Heart nodded and flew towards where DS Purple was at. "Nepgear!" She yelled, before turning her head, her eyes widening as one of the creatures was right on top of her.
A moment later, a laser beam went right through where its head had been a moment ago, killing it.
"Hey," DS Black smirked, "don't count me out, okay?" Her tail, which had been pointing in Purple Heart's direction, waggled while looping around so it could fire a few more times. "Leave this trash fodder mob to us, okay? Just do what you need to do."
Purple Heart nodded and reached out for DS Purple. "Let's go! HDD: Nepgear!"
DS Purple's eyes widened in surprise as she found herself transforming as well. "What the goodness?!"
Purple Heart smirked as she grabbed the over-sized gunblade. "Just like your other self, huh?" She chuckled even as large insects started to fill the air. "Let's give everyone a hand."
"Right!" The gunblade affirmed. "Multiple Beam Launcher!"
"Wide Range... FIRE!" Purple Heart declared while pointing the gunblade to the left pulling the trigger, launching a powerful pink and purple beam before sweeping it to the right in an arching movement, wiping out several of the dogs and insects in one go. "Thanks, Nepgear!" Purple Heart said as she dropped the gunblade, which turned back into DS Purple, and flew towards where Green Sister was slicing apart the remnants of the monsters. "P-Ko!"
"Right!" Green Sister nodded as she felt herself transforming into an over-sized gauntlet.
"HDD: Peashy!" Purple Heart called out as she punched forward, her right fist slamming into the large gauntlet. "P-Ko connect!"
"This feels kind of funny..." The gauntlet whimpered.
Purple Heart rolled her eyes. "Blame the author for not being more original, I did this in the other story too." She swung her right arm back as her arm shook while power built up in the gauntlet itself. "Rocket..." She said softly before punching forward.
"PUNCH!" The gauntlet yelled as boosters suddenly erupted from the back of the gauntlet and slammed into the monster that Epic had become, causing the creature to let out a cry of pain as its chest cracked and splintered under the stress from the attack.
Purple Heart wasn't even looking at that she flew towards where Chrome Heart was at. Unlike the others, who had taken positions further out, Chrome Heart had flown in as close as she could get before the monsters started to swarm her. "Chrome!"
"I saw what you've been doing," Chrome Heart said as she smashed in the head of a large bug that got close to her. "So let's do this!" She flew at Purple Heart, her arms opened as though she was going in for a hug.
Purple Heart nodded, smiling as she reached forward. "HDD: Chrome!"
Chrome Heart smiled as she was engulfed in light and transformed. "Huh, so this is what it feels like, huh? Be gentle, it's my first time."
Purple Heart's cheeks were tinged pink as she grabbed the giant spiked mace that Chrome Heart had turned into. "Sheesh, do we really need such jokes?" A surge of power flooded Purple Heart and her eyes widened in surprise as her wings suddenly surged and light and energy started to pour out of them while power built up at the head of the mace she was using. "Alright, let's do this, Chrome."
"Right." The mace said as Purple Heart rushed towards the monster Epic had become.
There was a low, grumbling sound that came from the monster Epic had become before it snapped out with its bird head.
"Oh no you don't!" DS Black yelled as she fired dozens upon dozens of shots into the arm, causing it to jerk out of the way. "Neptune! Chrome! Finish him!"
A gout of flame erupted from the Dragon head, only to get repelled by a magic blast.
"Big Sis Neptune!" DS Blue yelled as she and DS Pink did all they could to stop any attacks. "GO!"
Purple Heart smiled as she flew in. "Thank you, all of you. You've all grown so much."
"Neptuna!" Green Sister yelled as she and DS Purple rushed in, slashing at some tentacle vines that were trying to grab Purple Heart.
"I know we can believe in you, big sis!" DS Purple yelled as she slashed apart several things that were trying to get close to Purple Heart.
Purple Heart felt herself sweating softly. "Alright, let's GO!" Both she and the mace let out a combined yell as they rushed in. When they got close, Purple Heart used the momentum to spin around one time before smashing the mace into the center of the monster's chest, getting a loud groan of pain from the creature. "Not done yet!"
The creature looked down as Purple Heart flew upwards at maximum speed, the mace glowing brightly as energy expanded outwards from the over-sized head of the weapon.
"HAAAAAAA!" Purple Heart yelled before she did an upwards swing, slamming the mace into the head of the monster so hard that a powerful shock-wave erupted from the point of impact, sending the CPU Candidates flying back as they crashed into the various floating rocks.
The monster's head jerked back...
...And back...
...And back as it flew off due to the blow being so strong that it was separated from it's body and the creature's body shook and started to crack.
Purple Heart panted heavily and let the mace slip from her hands, which transformed back into Chrome Heart, who grabbed the exhausted CPU. "Thanks." Purple Heart whispered, getting a nod from Chrome Heart as the two of them watched the creature shake before cracking and crumbling while light erupted from the creature, before exploding outwards.
Everyone had to look away as the flash of light was too bright to look at without being in pain.
When the light died down and they could see again, everyone opened their eyes to see that the room had returned to normal. When they looked to where the creature had been, all that was there was the crumpled form of Epic, laying in tattered clothes, covered in gashes and blood as his breathing was shallow and weak.
To be continued...
Sure feels like a long time since I started this fic, huh? But we're getting there.
...And you can't tell me that you didn't want to see HDD: Uni and HDD: Rom and Ram in Victory/Re;birth 3. XD
If Filyn had gone with, she would have turned into a large scythe.