"It's still really incredible, y'know? That Akal was created right here in this factory." Zephyr said.
"It is rather incredible, yes." Sir Saiyan said. "We stand in the cradle of a new form of life: steam golems with the soul of a living creature."
"It's not all that uncommon now. But… At the time these golems were revolutionized, it must've been a real breakthrough." Fulgore said.
"I know, we're standing in a place where history was made." Moltar said. "Seems almost a shame there's going to be a fight here. Almost."
The golems gathered around the main floor of the factory as the group looked around in worry before Atlas himself emerged and entered the makeshift fighting space.
"Project Prometheus… It's been forever. I thought you were dead." Atlas said.
"I go by Alkaline now." Akal-P said. "The human who saved me gave that name to me."
"I see." Atlas said. "I wish we could have time to catch up… but that can come later. For now, are you and your allies prepared for combat?"
"Yeah, they are. But first, this fight. What are the rules to it?" Akal asked.
"The five of you versus me. We fight until one side is unable to go on or they yield. If your side wins, our mission will change to assisting the Combat Revues. If I win, they will no longer be Combat Revue pilots." Atlas said.
"Five on one? Isn't that unfair to you?" Erica asked.
"...Not in the slightest, unfortunately." Atlas stated. "Will these instructions suffice?"
"We accept the terms. Let's begin." Ichiro said.
"Very well. Auto-Kubo #001, Atlas, engaging!" Atlas declared as steam drifted off of his body. In a split-second, he dashed towards the quintet, his left arm poised in a sideways chopping motion.
"Dodge!" Alkal shouted as the five jumped back, avoiding the wide chop; even so, Atlas's attack made a wind that could be felt by the five. "That's a hell of a lot of strength."
"My specifications are an improvement of the STAR V models by five." Atlas said. "As such, my power output is 39,000hp."
Atlas then dashed towards Ichiro, fist pulled back in a punch attack.
Ichiro put his two katanas in front of him and blocked the attack, feeling pressure blasting behind him as he felt all of Atlas's strength. He took a little damage, but through sheer will he pushed Atlas back.
"Impressive." Atlas commended. "You have blocked a powerful attack. Now, how will you stop the next 99?"
Atlas then unleashed a flurry of punches at the Combat Revue commander.
"I'm not going to stop them." Ichiro said.
"You won't need to!" Alkal-P said as he pushed Ichiro out of the attack's way and countered with his own flurry. For a few seconds, the two steam golems traded blows, until Atlas's attacks overwhelmed the less powerful prototype, sending Alkal-P carenning back.
"I admire your courage, but your specifications are weaker than mine." Atlas said. "It is natural that you cannot overcome my attacks."
Atlas went to strike at Akal once again, trying to damage him more, but he was interrupted when he was pelted by bullets, coming from Erica's machine guns.
"Leave him alone!" Erica said.
"Your protection of your ally is commendable. Unfortunately…" Atlas said before he dashed in front of Erica and, in one quick motion, smashed the nun's gun with a clap of his hands. "... What use are bullets on a chassis made of Fahrenheit?"
"Oh no…" Erica said.
"Please do not resist." Atlas said, pulling a fist back.
"Erica!" Ichiro called, dashing towards Atlas. "Thunder Breathing! Second Form: Rice Spirit!"
With almost blinding speed, Ichiro dashed around Atlas and connected with five consecutive attacks on his chassis. The resulting attacks actually managed to dent his armor, and even cut into it as Ichiro slid to Atlas's left side, giving Erica enough time to pull away.
"...you actually managed to cause damage. Well done." Atlas congratulated the Flower Division commander. "That was unlike any of your techniques registered in the databases we possess."
"That's because my skills have evolved, training in another universe entirely to master new techniques." Ichiro said. "You only know everything we've used in the past. That's your weakness."
"So it would seem." Atlas said. "I will take this into consideration when rechecking our conclusions. And yet… I will not yield yet."
"Venting systems. Unleashing Full Spherical Rotation. Rotation Speed: Maximum."
A whirring sound was heard as small openings appeared around Atlas's body, expelling steam. The steam golem then stood up, steam pouring out of him, blanketing the factory in a haze.
"Warning: At Maximum Rotation Speed, it is hypothesized that all attacks made by Auto-Kubo units can be lethal." Atlas said. "If you can defeat me like this… then that will be all the proof I need."
"Stay on guard, Assault Force." Ichiro said. "From here on, every attack from Atlas will be extremely lethal."
"We'll hafa even it up then." Gemini said as Akal-P joined them. "Hey, Akal, can you do that?"
"...Maybe?" Alkal-P said, unsure.
"Gemini, he's a prototype, remember?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, so he might not have the same function as Atlas." Gemini said.
"And even if he does, there's no time for a test run. We'll have to dish out what we can." Ichiro said.
"I fail to see how you will be able to do such a thing." Atlas said. "Prepare for battle, Combat Revue!"
Atlas then seemed to vanish from sight before he reappeared behind them, preparing another attack.
"What the-?!" Alkal sputtered as the five avoided the attack, but were hit by the aftermath, being blown away to the other side of the makeshift arena. "Was that… a Flash Step?! How can he do a Flash Step!? Unless… his Spherical Engine is acting like a soul!"
Atlas jumped into the air and landed in the center of the circle, creating a shockwave that shook the factory in an attempt to knock the five off-balance.
"Your heroism and determination to fight. The stories of your heroism." Atlas said. "It is those things that shaped me, my AI. Your battles with the Kouma, the sacrifices you made… that is why I am fighting! You have gone beyond the call of duty to fight the Kouma. You deserve to live out peaceful days! And so, that is why I cannot submit. To do so… would be delivering you all to death!"
"I can understand you wanting to protect us from harm. But to leave the defense of our world in the care of machines when we put our very best to defend against the demonic forces every time? We cannot leave the defense of Paris, New York, or Japan to anyone else! This war with the Kouma has always been personal to so many of us. Sakura and myself lost a dear friend to their grasp, and we had to fight her to release her from that curse!" Ichiro said.
"And my master was killed by Ranmaru, and for a long time I wanted revenge…. But it was thanks to Shiny and the test of the Star Division that I was able to get revenge, but take pity on what happened!" Gemini said.
"Protecting the welfare of our world isn't so simple, Atlas. You can't just replace us with machines when you don't even know half of the things we go through, battle after battle." Sakura said.
"Don't you see, Atlas? Us Auto-Kubo may have superior power, but humans don't fight because they were made to do it, they fight because they want to! If we put those qualities together, then… we can change the future!" Alkal said.
"Then show me!" Atlas said. "Show me the alliance that can bring about a better future!"
The Auto-Kubo leader dashed forward with the speed of a bullet train, arms ready to deliver another flurry of blows.
"(We can't avoid this attack… there's no other choice.) Guys, I'm about to try something crazy. Do you trust me?" Alkal asked.
"We do." Ichrio nodded.
"Then don't try to dodge his attacks. Instead… match them with everything you got!" Alkal said. "And that goes double for me!"
"...Venting systems. Unleashing Full Spherical Rotation. Rotation Speed: Maximum."
(Cue- Jet Set Run)
Time seemed to slow down as Alkal waited with (metaphorical) bated breath… then he heard a whirring sound.
"(Yes!) NOW!" Alkal-P yelled as Atlas reached the five, unleashing the flurry of blows… only to find Alkal-P matching his blows, and the Combat Revue members unleashing attacks to match the punches aimed at them.
"What?! Prometheus, you… You have the Rotation function as well!" Atlas said in disbelief.
"I knew it!" Gemini smiled.
"How is this possible? They installed the Rotation function in me because my body was built to withstand it! Why would they install the same function into a less durable model?" Atlas asked.
"I don't know… but I can guess." Alkal-P said. "You fight to protect humans, even if it means going against them. Maybe… they wanted someone who could balance you out, someone who would consider humans as equals, rather than idols to be preserved. Because humans are much more than that! They adapt! They change! They can be good or bad, because they can choose the path they want! They have the potential to surpass any challenge thrown at them: Kouma, gods, even fate itself!"
"And that's why… we won't submit either!" Ichiro called, blasting back Atlas with an X-Slash.
"Rggh… I will not... I can not…!" Atlas struggled.
"Everyone! Give me covering fire!" Alkal said as he raced towards Atlas.
"I've got you, Alkal!" Erica said, holding her holy cross. "Sacre De Lumiere!"
Four pillars of light erupted around Atlas, blinding him before Akal turned up and punched him hard in the chest, sending him back. Atlas then grabbed Akal's arm and threw him aside into a wall, before seeing Ichiro charge towards him.
"Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form!" Ichiro said before slashing Atlas with both his swords. "Heat Lightning!"
Atlas was able to block, scratches on his arms deep and allowing more steam to escape his body. The steam golem lumbered back, his movements somewhat slower than before, until he saw Alkal-P racing towards him once more.
"C'mon, big brother!" Alkal-P said. "You've got one more in you, I know it! Let me show you… the will to change fate!"
Atlas turned to face the prototype, the two exchanging a flurry of blows once more. The exchange seemed to last an eternity before a hit from Atlas caused Alkal-P to stagger.
"This battle… is over for you!" Atlas declared as he aimed a fist towards Alkal's face… only for it to stop inches away. "...What?"
The Auto-Kubo tried with all his might to move his fist… but failed, being unable to move. "What… what's going on? I… I cannot move."
"You overused your full rotation. You've overheated." Ichiro said. "That's another thing we humans acknowledge in battles… we know when our technology is pushed to its limit."
Atlas stood, frozen in place for several moments until he spoke. "I… I yield. The victory… belongs to you."
(Cue theme change: Theme of ONE PUNCH MAN ~Ballad Ver.~)
"Phew…." Gemini said as Alkal powered off full rotation as well and entered his cooling cycle.
"As promised Atlas, you will cease your functions of building an army to fight the Combat Revues." Alkal-P said. "Instead, you'll stand by them, and work together."
"Yes… that is what I agreed to do." Atlas said. "I'll work with them, stand by them… I'll watch them…"
"Shh, it's okay." Alkal-P said. "Yes, it will hurt if that happens… but by standing together, you can still have a chance to prevent that from happening. And you won't be alone."
"...You are correct. I won't… be alone." Atlas said. "...I missed you, Prometheus. Thank you."
"You're welcome… big brother Atlas." Alkal-P replied.
(End song)
"And with this, we now have an alliance between man and machine." Ichiro said. "Going forward, we will battle against the Kouma as a united front."
"Hmm…" one of the other steam golems mused before they seemed to calculate something in their head. "By combining our forces, and factoring in new abilities obtained by the Assault Force present, the chance of victory against Kouma without needing any forces to be sealed away is now at… 45%. To raise the chance of victory without sacrifice to a favorable percentage, the fighting ability and technological advantage of Combat Revues would need to increase by… 105%."
"...I like those odds." ZS said confidently.
"Then in that case, it looks like this is another dungeon finished." Hope said.
"I think we can agree on that." Jexi said. "No treasure but someone found closure."
"And we gained support from this division of steam golems to strengthen our offensive power." Sakura said. "I'm really glad Alkal and ourselves both accomplished something."
"Yeah...I can tell they're gonna be fine from here on out." Sheer said.
"So, where shall we go next?" Erica asked.
"The Nature Universe sounds like a good idea." Theo said.
"Sounds like a plan to me. After being in a city like this, we could use some fresh natural air." Kendo said.
"I cannot agree more." Cheetah said.
"A lot of your guys are gonna be in your element here, Cheets. Especially most of the new blood." David said.
"Well...let's see what nature has to offer." Ethox said.