Gamindustri.
A world which exists outside our reality, where four CPUs rule and protect each nation.
The nation where CPU Purple Heart used to rule - Planeptune.
The nation where CPU Black Heart used to rule - Lastation.
The nation where CPU White Heart used to rule - Lowee.
The nation where CPU Green Heart used to rule - Leanbox.
Due to the threat of the Deity of Sin, the CPU Candidate of Planeptune wielded a cursed sword… and the CPUs were killed to ensure the Deity of Sin's defeat. The CPU Candidate, in a rash decision, fled and went missing for ten years…
In the ten years that have passed after the CPUs' deaths, new CPUs have been born.
CPU Red Heart became Purple Heart's successor - and rules over Planeptune.
CPU Blue Heart became Black Heart's successor - and rules over Lastation.
CPU Grey Heart became White Heart's successor - and rules over Lowee.
CPU Teal Heart became Green Heart's successor - and rules over Leanbox.
Just three years ago, a portal appeared and a Purple Heart from another dimension came to their world. It was thanks to her help that the world of Gamindustri was able to bond - and the CPU Candidate returned to her senses. Thanks to her help, peace was brought to Gamindustri…
However… Just a short few days before the beginning of the CPU Shift Period, the Deity of Sin - the enemy the CPU Candidate defeated so long ago - has reawoken and the CPUs have engaged her in combat in an attempt to preserve peace…
"Gah!" The red haired CPU grunted as she was thrown away by the monstrous beast that stood before her. She rolled through the uneven and hard red stone before coming to a stop. She heard the cries of her companions accompanied by the beast's roar.
"Get up Jupiter!" A panicked voice shouted from nearby as she was helped to her feet by a lilac haired girl, "The fight isn't over yet!"
"I know, I know…" Jupiter grunted as was slowly helped to her feet, using her rapier for support afterwards, "I won't give up Nepgear, don't worry."
Nepgear nodded as she took aim with her modified blade, a weapon made to resemble her old CPU one - the MPBL. A laser beam firing from the hilt of the sword towards one of the beast's many hands.
Taking opportunity of the impact, twin grey CPUs slashed their axes together at the hand, the beast roaring in pain before swatting the young girls away and towards the sharp and rock filled floor.
Without a moment of hesitation, the teal coloured CPU sent a spear of green energy at the beast before rushing towards the young grey CPUs, catching them before they could impact the ground.
"Are you okay, Marin?" She asked, looking at the beast slowly reorienting itself.
"Y-yeah. Right and I are okay, Jade…" The Blue Marin nodded slightly, her axe hand trembling.
"Why don't you take the sidelines for a while?" Jade suggested, looking at the two with concern.
"Hell no." Replied the Red Marin, who steadily started to fly by herself, "We're part of this fight just like you, we ain't backing down."
Jade nodded, letting the Blue Marin float alongside her opposite, "Then let us assist each other with a duo attack."
"You got it."
"Some help here!" Shouted the last combatant, the white haired CPU of Lastation, as she attempted to hold off the beast by herself. Her swords clanged against the beast's giant hands, her exhaustion was quite visible and the beast did not appear to tire in its onslaught.
"On it!" Nepgear shouted, her blade pointed at the beast's chest as a single beam of energy shot out of the blade impacting the beast and leaving a sizzling and burned spot on its otherwise intact body.
"Keep at it Nepgear!" Jupiter shouted as she rushed in, thrusting her rapier at the Deity of Sin's legs while Azure distracted the hands with her sword slashes.
The beast roared in anger as some of its putrid smelling blood came out of the wounds inflicted by the Planeptune and Lastation CPUs, both of which moved back in surprise as to not allow the blood to touch them.
In that split moment, the Deity of Sin attacked both with her giant hands, only to he stopped as Nepgear blasted them away with her gunblade.
Using Nepgear's attack as an opportunity, Jade aimed at the beast's back, "Marin! Here's a Sylhet Spear for you!" She shouted as a giant green magic spear appeared in front of her and flew towards the Deity of Sin.
"Got it!" Red Marin shouted in response, nodding towards her blue twin and spinning their axes in unison, coating them in fire and ice respectively as they spun to reflect the green energy spear allowing it to bounce between the two Lowee CPUs and imbuing their elemental magic into it as the spear approached the beast.
The spear sank into the beast's back and exploded into the different elements - fire, ice and wind - that were imbued into it. The Deity of Sin roared in pain and turned towards its attackers, attempting to grab the Lowee CPUs and throw an orb of dark energy towards the Leanbox CPU.
Almost in response to it turning its back on them, the Lastation CPU slid under the beast's underside and slashed at the back of her legs, more of the putrid blood falling down its legs.
As Azure came out through the other side, the Deity of Sin attempted to grab her but was met with a defiant shout from Jupiter, who managed to stab through the beastly hand.
The Deity roared. While it was clear to the CPUs that it had sustained heavy damage, it wasn't over yet.
Nepgear's eyes lit up as she looked at the damaged beast, "Everyone! Use that attack you've been practicing! It's our only chance to end this now!"
Nepgear was right, both Azure and Jupiter were floating lower than usual, Jade had countless scratches all over her body and both Marins looked barely able to keep on fighting.
The CPUs looked at each other in agreement and without a single word between them, they flew into their positions around the Deity of Sin, barely dodging her dark energy blasts as Nepgear attempted to divert her attention.
"It's now or never!' Azure shouted.
"We will… finish this in… this one last attack…!" Marin agreed, both her forms now back as one. She raised her axe and started to spin as she approached the Deity of Sin, slowly slamming the axe into her beastly body and ending it with a powerful uppercut that managed to send the Deity of Sin flying up towards an expectant Jade.
The Leanbox CPU wasted no time unleashing a barrage of strikes with her spear, each strike coated in wind energy. Jade weaved under the beast's attempts at countering her with her beastly hands before sending the beast crashing back down to the ground. Cracks spreading due to the impact.
As the Deity of Sin attempted to stand, Azure aimed her swords towards the sky. A powerful lightning soon followed, covering the Lastation CPU's swords in crackling energy as she slammed them on the floor along with the duo of Marins, their axes covered in fire and ice. The resulting attack made the ground under the Deity of Sin erupt with energy, sending her back into the sky.
She was then met with a downwards kick from Jupiter, the Deity of Sin slamming into the ground once more. With a shout, Jupiter flew down towards the Beast, her rapier pointing downwards in an attempt to pierce the Deity's body.
As a last ditch effort, the Deity of Sin shot a small dark orb towards the red haired CPU. The orb managed to struck her hand, her rapier blasted away and Jupiter being left weaponless.
"Oh no." Nepgear muttered, her expression dropping as their last attack failed. The CPUs floating around the crater, their expressions equally as grim as Nepgear's.
The Deity started to climb out of the crater it had left upon impact, a beastly laugh accompanying it. "Worthless." The beast muttered.
With a sudden shout, Azure threw one of her swords at the weaponless Jupiter up above, "Jupiter! Finish this!"
With a newfound feeling of confidence, Jupiter took the Lastation's CPU weapon and pointed it downwards. Her processor units vanished, and she fell. She fell towards the exposed back of the Deity of Sin.
Jupiter shouted as she fell. The sword's blade digging deep into the Deity of Sin's back. The foul smelling blood splashed out of the wound, the Deity's white body slowly coating itself in it. the beast roared as Jupiter quickly stood up on the sword and jumped off her, pushing the sword further in.
Azure caught Jupiter as she landed, "Good job."
"Couldn't have done it without you, Azure." She smiled gently.
The beast continued to trash about, slowly but surely her movement slowing down. Her roars becoming but a distant sound as the Deity of Sin dropped down, dead.
"We… did it! Yay~!" Marin jumped up and down in joy, ignoring her fatigue to do a little dance by swaying back and forth while looking at her friends.
Jade approached Marin and patted her head a few times, smiling, "Yes… we did, Marin."
Nepgear couldn't help but smile. That nightmare from all those years ago was finally gone. The beast she thought to have vanquished so long ago - the same beast that had caused her friends and only sister to be sacrificed - was dead.
Yet something bothered Nepgear. A nagging feeling in the back of her head. Something she had heard years ago, yet she struggled to recall what it was.
Nepgear looked over at the celebrating CPUs, their bodies clearly aching with exhaustion from the battle, yet they were smiling brightly.
Marin, being the bright and cheerful Lowee CPU she was, kept going around the others, smiling and giggling.
Jade, the usually reserved Leanbox CPU, was following Marin from a short distance away. Nepgear was sure she'd seen her smile and hide her laughs every so often.
Azure, the strategic Lastation CPU, had started cleaning the sword she had given to Jupiter as they spoke. It was clear to Nepgear that she was trying her hardest not to let her tiredness show.
And finally, Jupiter. The excitable and kind Planeptune CPU watched as Azure cleaned her sword, talking to her and patting Marin's head whenever she walked around nearby.
The other CPUs slowly noticed Nepgear, standing alone as she tried her hardest to recall what was it that kept bothering her. Tentatively, she placed her hand on a red rock on the floor. Her thoughts wandering as she suddenly felt a low rumble. It was certainly coming from underneath the ground, but not one that could easily be noticed.
"Nepgear? Are you coming to join us or no-"
Before Jupiter could even finish her sentence, Nepgear realised what was bothering her. Her eyes widened with fear, "Everyone! Get away from there!" She shouted, her voice quivering slightly as the CPUs looked confused.
With barely any delay, the rumble got stronger and stronger, building in intensity until the ground beneath the CPUs erupted in a brilliant light, sending them flying away.
"Everyone!" Nepgear cried in fear as the CPUs hit the floor with multiple loud thuds.
A new voice came from the light, a woman's voice filled with evil glee. She cackled with malice before addressing her opponents, "Weak! Weak and pathetic… Did you really expect to defeat me with your puny power?"
"No..." Nepgear muttered under her breath as the light faded away to reveal their opponent. While she looked nothing like the enemy they had just faced, Nepgear recognised it without a shadow of a doubt. The rabbit-like head with wings instead of ears; the red jewel that adorned her head; her lilac hair; the purple fur around her neck and the four mechanical purple wings behind her. It was, without a doubt, the Deity of Sin.
With a single motion, the Deity of Sin summoned a giant orb of darkness as she looked around the area. Marin and Jade were down on the floor, struggling to even rise after the attack; Azure had lost her transformation, her body sprawled on the floor. And then there was Jupiter… The only of the four to be on her feet.
The Deity of Sin sent the orb in her direction, aiming to incapacitate the last of the CPUs, but Nepgear jumped in front of Jupiter in the last minute, slashing the orb away. The ex-candidate turned towards Jupiter, her expression grim and serious, "Come on, Jupiter! We can't give up! We have to defeat the Deity of Sin! Or… at least delay her for our reinforcements..."
The Deity cackled. She looked at Nepgear - the one she knew the best - as she summoned another orb, "Again, young candidate. You have failed once again. I warned you that this world would rot, yet you defied me. Was the death of your friends not enough? Why continue to struggle against the inevitable?" The Deity taunted, each word stabbing into Nepgear.
"And I refuse to believe in your prediction, I will stop it for as long as I live… for that is my sister's wish!" Nepgear's body started to shake. A few tears rolling down her cheeks. Her grip on her blade tightened.
"Bold words. Let's see how they hold up." The Deity rushed at Nepgear with her double-sided spear, their blades clashing for the first time.
The Deity swung from the side and Nepgear parried; Nepgear counterattacked and the Deity blocked. The two remained locked in combat, yet each clash only managed to make Nepgear grow more tired. With each clash, the Deity of Sin slowly gained ground on Nepgear.
With the outlook appearing more grim the longer the fight went on, Nepgear refuse to give up. She shouted a defiant cry after she parried the Deity's overhead strike, twisting the Deity's hand and forcing her weapon to the ground.
"We'll never surrender to you, no matter how grim things look!" she shouted as she slashed with her weapon from the side.
Nepgear stood there motionless. So did the Deity of Sin.
Five seconds passed before the Deity of Sin started to laugh. Nepgear's eyes quivering and her legs shaking.
A dark purple aura covered the Deity's hand, Nepgear's blade stuck on it. With one quick motion, the Deity crushed Nepgear's blade in her hands.
"You've failed." The Deity taunted as the pieces of the blade fell on the floor, "Now perish."
With one quick motion, the Deity recovered her weapon and swung her spear towards the paralysed Nepgear. But she was stopped as four arrows imbued with different elements exploded on her back, allowing Jupiter to rush ahead and move Nepgear out of the way.
The Deity roared as she turned in the direction of the arrows. Jade, in her human form, nocked another arrow into her emerald and gold bow. Marin close behind, slowly healing Azure and Nepgear as Jupiter slowly placed her down. Slowly, Azure stood next to Jade, her guns drawn. Jupiter joined, standing right next to Jade and opposite of Azure. And finally, Marin split into two, each of halves on opposite sides - Blue with Jupiter and Red with Azure.
The four CPUs - now without transformation - stood against the Deity of Sin. Their weapons ready, yet their weariness still present. Some of their wounds had healed thanks to Marin's magic, but not all.
The Deity wasted no time unleashing dark orbs of energy against the CPUs. Thinking fast, both Marins created a magical barrier to block the attack.
"Jade! Jupiter! Now!" Azure shouted as her guns fired at the Deity of Sin, Jade following suit by shooting a few thunder arrows while Jupiter rushed forwards, her rapier coated in light.
"Energy Thrust!" Jupiter shouted once she got close enough to the Deity, her thrusts and stabs weaving around the Deity's attempts at defence and the bullets and arrows that followed soon behind her.
The Deity roared. She blocked Jupiter's next slash and followed up by grabbing her by the throat. She used Jupiter's body to block the projectiles that were being fired at her, each hitting Jupiter and filling her body with pain.
As blood slowly dripped down Jupiter and onto the floor below, Azure and Jade realised what happened as the Deity tossed Jupiter aside like a used rag.
"Juppy!" Blue Marin shouted as she rushed to her side while Red's eyes blazed with anger at the Deity of Sin.
"Ya frickin' bastard!" Red Shouted, lifting her staff into the sky, a blue glow enveloping it before she aimed it at the Deity of Sin, "Eis-Kafig!" She shouted as she unleashed the spell, a giant cube of ice forming above the Deity and crashing down on her.
The Deity of Sin simply raised her weapon, the ice cube breaking into thousands of small shards. With her other hand she collected the shards that fell around her, dark energy surrounding each shard. Without a moment of hesitation, the Deity gestured at Red Marin and the shards flew at her.
Red Marin attempted to block the shards with her staff, but it proved futile as one shard managed to hit her arm, leaving her defenceless against the ones that followed. The impact sent Marin flying towards a rock, her body embedding inside it.
"Marin!" Jade shouted, running towards the injured Lowee CPU while Azure held the Deity of Sin at bay with her bullets.
Azure quickly reloaded her gun as the Deity slowly approached her, spinning her spear. Azure shot at her, only for the bullets to be blocked by dark energy from the Deity's hand. She kept trying, only for the result to never change.
"Take this, Laser Bullet!" She shouted, aiming her guns and focusing some of her energy into creating the small energy field. Once the blue circle appeared in front of her guns, she pulled the trigger and multiple coloured lasers shot out of the gun and towards the Deity of Sin.
The Deity blocked most of the laser bullets with her dark energy, and others with her spear and yet a small amount of them managed to hit their target, stopping the Deity of Sin for a short amount of time, "You're nothing!" The Deity roared, rushing at Azure with her spear ready.
Azure shot and shot, but the Deity never slowed down. She crossed her arms when the Deity got close, she attempted to dodge but she was too slow and was sent flying by the Deity of Sin. Her body rolling across the red rocks.
The Deity cackled, only to be interrupted by a green energy arrow. She turned in the direction of it, Jade aiming yet another arrow at her, eyes filled with bloodlust. The Leanbox CPU stood right by Jupiter's recovering body.
Marin's magic flowing into Jade, "Ceylon Barrage!" Jade shouted, unleashing an absurd amount of arrows - each glowing with different elemental magic.
The Deity approached, her spear's blade moving through the air and slashing the arrows in half. The ones that managed to hit exploded into energy, yet they barely affected her approach.
With the Deity of Sin almost upon her, Jade nocked another arrow as she backflipped out of the Deity's range, "Dragon's Well!" She shouted as she released the arrow. Twin spiral of green energy in the shape of long dragons circled the arrow, both joining together once they hit their target - the Deity of Sin. An explosion engulfed her as they connected.
Jade waited. The cloud covered the Deity of Sin.
She continued to wait, a hand warrily on her arrow as she expected the Deity of Sin to emerge from the clouds, yet she never did. The clouds still covering that area.
She fell to one knee. Her energy slowly drained with a look of confusion. Her confusion soon turned to fear as realisation dawned on her.
As the dust cloud settled, Jade's fear materialised. In the Deity of Sin's grasp was Marin, being held high by the fiend. With one quick motion, Marin was sent flying towards her other half. A cry of pain as both halves returned to being one.
"You…!" Jade attempted to fire her arrow, but it was futile for she was exhausted. The arrow flew past the Deity's head, who laughed sinisterly in response.
The Deity of Sin slowly rised up into the sky, spinning her blade as an orb of dark energy started to form. Dark energy slowly flowing from the ground and into the orb, growing bigger and bigger with every passing second… and yet, all the CPUs and Nepgear could do was watch, "This ends here!" The Deity of Sin shouted.
The Deity motioned with her spear towards the ground, the orb of energy following her command.
The combatants slowly braced for their end. Each of their minds wandering off to those close to them...
But the end never came.
Multiple orbs of blue energy crashed into the dark orb, forcing it to explode in the air and causing no harm.
"Who dares?!" The Deity roared as she scanned her surroundings.
"We never see the end of you, do we Arfoire?" A familiar voice muttered with disappointment.
"Give it a rest, Neptune."
Slowly, the Deity's gaze went towards the voices.
The voices of those that should not be alive.
Standing on a red hill were four figures. Each with their weapons drawn.
The CPUs of old had arrived.
"You… You four should not exist." The Deity growled, her voice filled with malice.
"Perhaps. But we can't let our successors fail now can we?" Purple Heart mocked.
"Neptune's right. You won't harm anyone anymore!" White Heart raised her axe in agreement.
"To think we'd have to fight you yet again..." Black Heart sighed.
"To think you'd hurt my little successor sister..." Green Heart remarked, her voice filled with silent anger.
With a silent agreement, the four CPUs charged straight towards the Deity of Sin. The Deity rushed to meet them at the same time. Blades clashed and attacks were thrown around as the Deity fought to keep the CPUs off her.
Meanwhile, below the fight, the Candidates slowly helped everyone to their feet. Rom hurrying around the battlefield, using her healing spells as quickly as she could to recover the injured.
"Uni..." Azure coughed as she was healed, looking at the Lastation Candidate, "I failed."
"You didn't fail, you did really well in fact. Keeping the Deity of Sin occupied for so long..."
"Really? I'm glad..." She smiled a tiny bit, her arm clutching her own stomach as she lied down on the red rocks.
"Rom… Ram..." Marin muttered tearfully, her wounds being the most severe as both form's damage was all transferred to her single body.
"Don't move while Rom heals you dummy!"
"She's… right. Please stay still..." Rom nodded slightly, applying as much energy into her healing as possible.
Slowly but surely, the wounds on Marin's body faded. Satisfied with her work, Rom looked on to Jade and started to float towards her, but was stopped by Marin, "Let… let me heal her please."
"But you should… rest..." Rom muttered, but when she looked at Marin's eyes her feelings changed. She nodded slightly, "Don't overdo it..."
Marin nodded, slowly hurrying towards Jade and resting by her side, some gentle healing being applied as the Leanbox CPU smiled slightly.
"Nepgear..." Jupiter muttered as the Planeptune Candidate slowly helped her to her feet, a green glow surrounding the transformed Nepgear's hand and Jupiter's body.
"You did great, Jupiter. Now… leave the rest to us and our sisters."
"Thank you." She smiled with relief, yet at the very back of her mind she felt extremely disappointed in herself.
"Rest for now." She told her gently before rushing towards her other self.
Being the least injured out of the combatants, Nepgear was scrambling to rebuild her weapon and join the fight before she was stopped by the other her, who gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hey Big Me."
"Small me..." Nepgear's voice was filled with pain and disappointment. She had failed yet again. Thoughts of being unable to beat the Deity of Sin swirled around in her mind, and her other self could see it in her eyes. They were quivering.
"You did great, don't punish yourself for it."
"But I wasn't strong enough to-"
"And it doesn't matter, because we're all here right? Just rest now, and we'll handle it." She said reassuringly and with confidence in her voice.
"But-"
"Big Me. Here" She cut her off, handing the older Nepgear a familiar small object - a share crystal, "When I tell you to, I want you to use this to finish the fight."
"But this is a share crystal how can it...?" She stuttered, looking at the blue crystal in disbelief.
"The Deity of Sin can't be destroyed right now, but we can seal her away permanently."
Slowly, realisation dawned on Nepgear's face. She nodded, "I understand. I'll… I'll do it."
"Good. I'll give you the signal."
Older Nepgear nodded, holding the crystal as if her life depended on it while the candidate slowly floated off to join the other candidates. They nodded in agreement, "Nepgear and I will go in first. Rom, Ram cover us!"
With no delay, Nepgear rushed towards the Deity of Sin just as her sister slashed her away, "Take this!" She shouted, slashing the Deity repeatedly as she weaved under her slashes before turning around and firing a few shots towards her.
Before the Deity could recover, Uni shot multiple bullets at her each causing her to stagger slightly, "Now!" She shouted.
"On it!" Ram replied, raising her staff alongside Rom's before unleashing countless chunks of ice to embed themselves into the Deity of Sin.
"Nepgear! Finish it!" Uni shouted, closely followed by Nepgear flying up into the sky and aiming her blade. A laser of pure energy breaking every chunk of ice in the Deity of Sin and exploding brilliantly.
Yet, the Deity still stood. Injured, but alive, "Pathetic." She murmured as she threw an orb of dark energy at each candidate, only for each orb to be blocked by a CPU.
"Oh please. That was just the beginning." Purple Heart replied, each of the CPUs glowing brilliantly, "Noire, Blanc, Vert. We have one shot at this, so let's make it count!" She said as a blue screen appeared before her.
"As if we'd let it go to waste." Black Heart replied, a similar blue screen appearing before her.
"Let's end this." White Heart agreed as yet another screen appeared.
Vert simply nodded.
"NEXT form..." Purple Heart muttered as each CPU released their share crystal and placed it on the blue screen.
The other CPUs finished the sentence for her as they all flicked the screen into the air above, "Activate!"
"What is this?" The Deity roared as the Four CPUs of old were surrounded by a brilliant white light.
From down below, the New CPUs watched in amazement.
"They all..."
"No way."
"Goooo! Miss Blanc!"
"Beat her up, Vert!"
As the glow faded, the Deity of Sin was surrounded by the NEXT forms of the four CPUs.
Almost instantly, NEXT Green started the attack. Green circles appearing behind her as thousands of energy spears formed around the Deity of Sin. The spears all flew at her throwing her around the area before a green pillar of light descended upon her.
Before the Deity could react, NEXT White swung her axe and froze her on the spot as a giant railgun appeared before her, "Take this!" She shouted, engaging the railgun as a giant beam of blue energy joined together with the green energy beam.
With the Deity sent flying by the combined attacks from Lowee and Leanbox, NEXT Black flew to meet her. She flew past her repeatedly, and with each flight a sword slash connecting with the Deity's body, "Behold the power of the NEXT form!" She shouted as four energy blades appeared around her and aided her attack, "Neptune! Finish it!" She said as her blades all swirled around her for the final slash.
"This is for our successors." NEXT Purple muttered under her breath, holding her katana parallel to the ground as purple energy surrounded her and the blade. With one swift move, she vanished from sight and appeared right by the exhausted Deity of Sin. With one quick strike downwards, she sent the Deity crashing into the rocky ground below.
"Big Me!" Nepgear shouted as she held onto the exhausted Vert, "Do it now!"
With great effort, Nepgear rushed past the awestruck CPUs and ran to where the Deity was being sent and she raised the share crystal into the sky.
"I will not…!" The Deity roared as she share crystal glew a brilliant white in her presence. The energy from Neptune's attack surrounding her and aiding the share crystal's effect.
With a loud thundering sound, the Deity of Sin's body and essence was absorbed into the crystal, painting it a deep crimson.
Silence filled the area.
No birds; no blades clashing; no nothing. Absolute silence.
Slowly, cheers went up from the New CPUs, Nepgear sighing with happiness. It was finally over.
The Deity of Sin was no more.
One shout, however, rose above the cheering.
"Move move move moooooove!" Neptune's voice barely audible above the cheering slowly raised in pitch until it was too late.
With a not so satisfying thud, Neptune landed directly on Azure's back. Most likely injuring her.
"Ow ow..." Neptune muttered, "Geez what an uncomfortable landing."
"Uh Neptune..." Jupiter rubbed her head as she blinked in confusion, "You landed on Azure."
"Oh oh ooooh… Sorry sorry." She said, quickly getting up from the poor Lastation CPU and offering her hand.
"Damn you." Azure muttered, taking Neptune's hand and getting up.
As the Candidates descended with the other CPUs, their respective successors went to meet them. With joy and smiles all around, they thanked their predecessor for the help
However, Nepgear remained far from them. Her gaze fixated on the crimson share crystal she now held.
Her mind wandered away from the celebration. Thoughts of her inability to defeat the Deity of Sin plagued her mind, and even worse were the thoughts of hopelessness. She knew she wasn't a CPU anymore, but she kept trying to act like the others. Trying to act like a true predecessor.
Yet she was always far behind them. It was clear in the battle, her weapon held no hope to defeat the Deity of Sin so why did she push herself? Just as the thoughts were about to overwhelm her mind, she heard a voice calling to her.
"Jupiter to Nepgear, do you copy?"
"Oh sorry, sorry." She snapped back to reality, shaking her head, "You were saying?"
"We're going back to the Basilicom to celebrate, you coming?"
"Yeah. Yeah of course."
Jupiter smiled kindly and led her back to the others.
"Perhaps" Nepgear thought, "It wouldn't be so bad for me to keep away and let them handle themselves."
A low mechanical hum filled the darkened basement - if it could even be called a basement.
The place was filled with antiquated technology, reaching as far as it could be seen. Blue machinery acting as walls for the storage facility.
But it wasn't an ordinary storage facility. It wasn't made to store large amounts of data or items. This facility simply stored a single item - a white rectangular item with an orange swirl occupied its single pedestal, blue energy protecting the item and giving off a faint light to the surroundings.
A hooded figure approached the pedestal, some blonde hair barely visible. Her blue eyes shone with amazement as the figure looked around the area, "I'd really love to have a look at all this tech… but I have a promise to keep."
The figure reached to her back, a blunt red sword strapped there. With a swift motion, she slashed at the blue barrier and prevented it from working. With a chuckle, she picked up the item - a game's console she didn't recognise.
"Huh, odd choice but can't complain. Now, how do I get out of here..."