A/N: Hey guys, thi is Dave and i'm back with another chapter of 'Blazblue Advent'. This one take me a long time and i know that once i go this far, there's no way i'll back out quickly so i have to go all in on this one and the other ones, so hope you guys enjoy it and without futher ado, let's us begin.
The power of hope
The Imperator of the NOL is sitting with her usual kimono wearing, purple hair and red eyes.
"Members of the Praetorian Guard of the NOL are all heroic men and women who swear allegiance to the imperator." Hazama says as an image of a giant black wall, which is a 'cocoon' for smelting a Murakumo unit appear as Hazama continue "And the convergence of their noble sours, which they willingly offered up is finally complete.
Hazama bows his hat down as he say "We shall now set this matter in motion. Having said that, hardly anytime has passed since Your Majesty's awakening and for the yime being, please conduct your imprtial inspection from there." as he and Phantom leave there and walking to an empty and black hallway in the NOL base.
"The imperator and the Izayoi, you got to be losing your mind at all the things you can't see right now, Takamgahara!" Hazama says, knowing this will shake feel on the system itself without knowing it's dissaperence of this shift.
Ragna and Makoto on the other hand were now walking back towards the location that they last saw Buckfire and Noel, knowing by this point they are already left so the two will just go on straight to the NOL headquarters quietly.
"Hey Makoto, there's something i want to know." Ragna says while walking, want to kill some time.
"Yeah, what is it?" Makoto says, wonder why the Grim Reaper want to ask her about something while still careful around him, not trusting to be close due to the fact that Ragna is the reason that cause Buckfire and Noel to go rouge.
"If the NOL is way too much for you, why are you even become a member on the first place?" Ragna asked, remember the time she told that everyone in the Academy back then treats her harshly.
"If i have a reason, it's beacuse of the fact that i grew up on a big familly so i want to help them somehow and taking a job here is the best thing that i can do, but with the situation going on, i don't know who i should trust for real now." Makoto answer, remember back that Ragna told her that Hazama was the one who puts treason on Buckfire and Noel.
'Helping your family, now that's an okay way to help them.' Ragna thought, now understand that he and Makoto are fighting for the same reason.
"Now, it's your turn." Makoto says, which earns a quiz brow from Ragna.
"What are you talking about, Makoto?" Ragna asked, wonder what the Beastkin talking by that.
"I told you the reason that i work for the NOL, so you have to tell me why do you go up against it." Makoto answer, wanting to see that if the reason is like everyone told her about the Grim Reaper: Killing for fun and being a Psychopath.
"Um..." Ragna gasped, hesitant to tell Makoto about his childhood so he tried to change subject "How about we talk about something diffrent other than that."
"Oh, come on. It's only fair if you tell me about it, you wouldn't want a lady to wait to wait for it, do you?" Makoto says teasingly as Ragna groans at this before turns around and decide to just talk about it.
"Alright fine, but remember that you're the second person i told my story about, okay?" Ragna ask as Makoto nods at this, wonder who the first that The Reaper told about as he explain "When i was young, i live on a church with my brother, my little sister and the Matron that took care of us. It wasn't the best place to live, but we were happy then until Terumi shows up."
"Excuse me for a bit, but who is Terumi you're talking about?" Makoto asked.
"Do you know the Six Heroes or not?" Ragna asked, which Makoto nods at this before continue "History only tell five of those heroes, Terumi is the unspoken Six hero and through my master called "The Betrayer". He burns the Church down and kill the Matron as well and somehow, in someway command my little brother to cut my right arm and left me impale there."
"That's horrible, how old are you at that point?" Makoto asked, instead of don't care for the Grim Reaper, she feels bad for him to live a tragic life like that.
"15, and after that, there are some people that help me, include my master Jubei, who train me and told me about where Terumi held my siblings at the NOL base. Hear that and the Ikaguta war is enough reason for me to go and destroy NOL." Ragna answer as he make a fist, moaning for what's to come.
"I see." Makoto says, understand his reason and now see his true side now: A harsh but nice guy and not a psychopath that everyone told her as she ask "Then, you're basically saying that you also doing this for your Family as well?".
Ragna didn't answer immideatly, he just looks up at the sky before answer "In a way, yes i am. Now let's keep going, hoping that Buckfire and Noel are alright while we go to the NOL base."
Makoto nod at this as she walk with him to the location, thinking sadly of what he said to her 'So, is this the person that people really tell me about? How can someone who is a nice guy can be consider a Psychopath as well?'.
A few distsnce away from the duo, Jin was standing next to a door, saying " I can sense that he is nearby. If it were brother, what would he do?".
"He is bound to head for the shortest path!" Jin says to himself as he grips his sword and walk to a path connect to where the Grim Reaper go, unaware of a surprise that will come to him.
Litchi was walking on the sewers, looking for Arakune as she thought back of Vulturon visit to her a few minutes ago and what he said to her.
"Hey Litchi, how you're doing? And how is Lena holding?" Vulturon asked peacefully as he walks through the door to Litchi's Clinic.
"I'm fine, thank you and don't worry, Lena is fine, she will be able to walk back sooner than expected." Litchi says, greeting but feels something wrong on the Vulture as she ask "Is everything okay to you, Vulturon?".
"Nothing's wrong, what makes you think of that" Vulturon answer, trying to hide his full intent on Litchi as she sighs a bit at his stubbornes.
"Vulturon, i can tell something is wrong with you. I'm a doctor and through your body movement, you want to ask me something, right?". Litchi says, wanting to get to know what other reason that the Pseuderoid come here for.
"Is that Obvious?" Vulturon ask which earns a nod of Litchi as he sighs before says "Alright, i just want to know something, that's all. And you better give me the truth or else."
"And what would that be?" Litchi asked, wonder what the Vulture wants to know about her while prepare herself for what's to come on the Pseuderoid.
"It's just, Is it true that you been given a chance to work for the NOL or not?" Vulturon ask, which makes Litchi shock at this knowledge as he explain "I heard some people tell me that you were talking to the NOL captian and been giving a chance to work with them."
"I see." Litchi says, understand what Vulturon meant of those rumors as she answer "Yes, Hazama give me a chance to work with NOL in exchange of something that i can get but i haven't decide yet."
"Does this have anything to invovle with Arakune or not?" Vulturon ask, which beffudded Litchi at this as he explain "I just battle him a while ago and even though i get to know him briefly, i can sense that Arakune isn't like this in the begining at all."
"I see what you mean now." Litchi says, understand the concern of Vulturon as she answer "Yeah, it invovle with Arakune or Roy about it."
"And judging by the way you say it, is it the Antidode to turn him back to his orriginal form?" Vulturon asked, gather all the information together to create a solid conclusion.
"Yes." Litchi answer shortly before fell into a panic expression amd says in sadness "Now, what am i to do now, Vulturon? I know the NOL is bad all along but at the same time, they held the cure that can help me to cure Arakune. What should i do now? Don't follow them or follow them, Vulturon?".
"Jesus, you sure are a depressing lady under all that emotion you show me before hand, Litchi." Vulturon says with a worried face on him as he continue while putting a hand on his beak and take a seat "As for your answer, if i have to give you a solid option, i would go for the former one."
"And why is that?" Litchi asked, wonder what makes the Vulturon thinks of that right away.
"It's beacuse of what you said about the NOL earlier." Vulturon answer calmly, know the circle of how villans do in deals before hand as he explain seriously "The NOL is a bunch of no good people for the most part and the NOL captian is deffinetly in the most part due to my enconuter with him before so instead of finally giving you the antidode when you sucess their duty, they will use you and once they done, they will kill you instead."
"Oh dear." Litchi says, gasping of the thought that the person offer her something that she want can also betray her when she doesn't notice.
"Trust me, it will happen sooner or later." Vulturon says, still serious about it as The door behind them open up and Linhua pops up with Lena, now in full condition walking out together, unaware of what Vulturon and Litchi just talked about earlier.
"Allright, i'll be careful next time, Linhua and thanks for the care." Lena says, smile at the assisant as she looks up and saw Vulturon, she greets "Oh Vulturon, nice to see you here."
"Nice to see you too, Lena." Vulturon greets her happily, tempopary keep his conservation with Litchi unknown off as he ask "So, can you two please walk out of here? I have something to talk to the Doctor here for a bit."
"Aww, can we join in for a bit, please?" Linhua asked with puppy eyes, trying to change their mind about join in to the conservation about NOL.
"Normally that work, but under serious condiction, it will never work so no, you girls can't join in." Vulturon says in a seious voice, don't want to let the two get in trouble all while struggle to hold those eyes off him as Lena was about to reason as well to join in.
"Vulturon is right, this conservation is way too much for you two so i sussgest both of you go to the other side of the clinic and wait until we done, NOW." Litchi interrupts, wanting the conservation ends before she close her clinic to go look for Arakune as soon as possible so she have resort to use the hard way.
"Okay, Miss Litchi." Linhua and Lena says as they leave the room, sighs at dissapointment.
"Now then, where were we at?" Vulturon asked once he sense that the two are out of their ear reach.
"I think at the point that you suggest i don't follow them." Litchi reminds the Pseuderoid.
"Oww, right." Vulturon says once he remember where they were at, continue "Now, about my opinon: You should try to find a diffrent way to revive him though, doing the other one will not only lead you to your death sooner or later, but it also means you betray everyone that knows you for hating NOL, including me as well."
"Y-you too?" Litchi asked, know the look that Vulturon held means literally what he meant as she ask "But wait, can you just try to convice them that i'm doing this for a good cause or something like that?".
"But if i do that, they will know your sellfishness and will immideatly think second of you the next time they saw you, mate." Vulturon explain, know his friends and brothers that it will only anger them much more instead of calm down Litchi as she sits down in depression of what to do in this situation right now.
'I can try to do that, but it will be a force instead of natural that i do it and it only show them how heartless i am.' Litchi thought of what to do next now she knows that the NOL can either give her an antidode for working or don't give for not working as Vulturon lets out a huge sigh at this with his head slowly shaking at this.
"I may not be good at support others in tough situation like this at all but i can give you an advice if you want." Vulturon says, felt pity for her.
"You do?" Litchi asked, felling deppressed which Vulturon nod at this before Litchi asked "C-can you give it to me?".
"I guess i can." Vulturon answer sadly as he sighs before continue "Whatever you do, you got to think carefully before make your decision quickly beacuse it may cost you something impportant depend on your view if you want something more: Your loyalty to those who know you or the antidode for Arakune."
"M-my decision?" Litchi repeats, which Vulturon nods at this before continue "A-alright, i'll think carefully about it."
"Good, and you better make the right choice or else it might backfire you hard." Vulturon says with a sad face.
"But, is it the right thing to do like he said is true or not?" Litchi asked herself at the thought of her talk before as she looks up and saw Hazama stand there with Phantom by his side.
"Oh Litchi, nice to see you here." Hazama greets her, unaware of the conservation that she had with Vulturon about the deal.
"Hey Hazama, what do you want?" Litchi asked, trying to hide it as soon as possible while trying to stay calm.
"Aw, nothing. I just happen to keep an eye on someone that you know here, that's all." Hazama says as he points his right hand towards it as she turns to see Arakune in a black hole, struggling to get out.
"M_ _dy _s m_ing" Arakune says, trying to get out.
"Arakune." Litchi says in worried as she went over to him quickly and examine him.
"Yeah, yeah. That bigger fail experiment than the Black Beast is struggle to stand still and if you don't agree to it, you gonna see him gonna crumble to pieces if you agree to our deal earlier." Hazama says, wanting to keep the shift the same by making Litchi joins him like all the other ones but Litchi able to saw the shifts that she agree to do this and most of the scene are bad, making the conservation between her and Vulturon have more meaning than what she usually thought as she understand what it means by this and she thought 'Alright, that's it.'
"No." Litchi answer, knowing that she gives up on getting a cure for Arakune from the NOL which earns a confuse look from Hazama once he heard it.
"No? What do you mean by that?" Hazama ask, confuse of the doctor's choice.
"Don't lie to me. I heard what you talk about before that you think that Arakune is a bigger failure than the Black Beast and judging by those information and our first meeting, that means that you're not gonna give the antidode sooner or later And that also means the Black Beast is like a creation of yours so that convice you create it and i won't have any of it." Litchi says in anger, realize what Hazama means by the word he randomlly chose to convice her to join them and know that Vulturon was right all along about this as she is about to leave before say "Goodbye Roy, i'm going to find another way to cure you."
"L_i, t_k _u." Arakune says.
"Oh, that." Hazama says, recalls what Litchi say just now as he leave with no choice but to use force on Litchi "Well then, i gotta use force or else things would not be the same and i won't let that happen."
Hazama throws the Ouroboros chain to Litchi, who was shocked at the sudden attack as the chains were inches away until a purple vibrate block it just in time, make the two confuse of what just happen.
"What the h--?" Hazama says in shock before being hit by a giant mark on his face as he slides a few inches back.
"Hmp, forcing someone to do something that they don't want, that's an low move even for you, Hazama." A rocky voice can be heard as Hazama and Litchi looks down to see Vulturon, standing there with his guitar on his hands.
"V-vulturon, you came/Oh, you again!" Litchi and Hazama says in relief and hate respectively at the sight of the Pseuderoid.
"Yeah, i came just in time." Vulturon says to Litchi as he turns to Hazama and ask "How you like my gift that i just sent to you?".
"Painfull." Hazama answer as he makes more Ourobors chain and continue "But that doesn't mean i'm not getting what i want at all, so give up while you can."
"You think that's enough to change my mind, well too bad for you." Vulturon says as he grabs Litchi and screams "Yahhhhhhhh!"
Vulturon and Litchi teleport out of here, makes Hazama stands in shock that the shift change a bit more than before.
"How could this be?" Terumi says in anger of what just happen as he continue "I thought that even though with the apperances of this animals that nothing can change at all, but they able to change some major events to their sides, this is Bullshit."
"Calm down, Terumi. It just one part of our plan, we have to deal with others so let's go." Hazama says as he walks back to the roof of the NOL base, preparing the smelting procces of Noel while can't help but wonder why this shift isn't the same as the other ones, even though he knew that the Pseuderoids were part of it, he just thought that they don't change much but he now have second thoughts of it now.
Buckfire and Noel were walking towards the meeting location that Vulturon says that it will give protection once you reach there.
"Hey Buckfire, do you think that where we're going is gonna be save?" Noel asked timidly, which earns a shock look from the Gaxelloid as he turns to her with his normal face.
"Yeah, i'm sure. Now come on, let's go before anyone else can find us and harm us." Buckfire answer as the two went to the meet point quickly as they can. Once they do get there however, they saw Relius sitting on a man waiting for them instead.
"My, my. I know that you two will be here sooner or later, so i wait here and i finally get my resolve." Relius says calmly as he stands up from the body.
"You." Buckfire says in shock and anger of this as he turns to the man and realize is Tager make Buckfire thought 'So my brother able to connect with the Sector Seven, huh?'
"W-what do you want?" Noel ask in fear of what's happening before their eyes.
"Nothing, except for you, Noel Vermillion or should i say, Mu-12." Relius answer as he steps closer to the duo, which makes Buckfire puts his arm together and ready to burn Relius if he give a chance.
"Stay out of us or else, you freak." Buckfire screams, not merciful to burn Relius in cold-blood.
"Oh, ready to fight back even though you gonna lose it, huh? Well then." Relius says as he snaps his finger but nothing happen, which make Buckfire looks at him in low guard, unaware of something coming.
"Um, are you stupid or..." Buckfire says before being zapped by a lot of electricity that makes him knock out the floor as Relius say "Sometimes, depress times need depress measure to get for the better."
"B-buckfire." Noel says in shock of what just happen before being knock out as well and been teleported to the alter, lying down there.
"Now our job is done, we better get out here." Relius says as he about to walk away before hear the footsteps and says "Hmp, i guess i can stop whoever went here to cut loose of them once and for all."
Relius leaves to an back of the wall behind the unconcious Buckfire and Tager, ready to attack whoever comes here.
And sure enough, Relius was right as Ragna and Makoto happen to walks past here, still going to the NOL base as they were walking by, they saw something that shocks the Grim Reaper and the Beastkin.
"Buckfire." Ragna and Makoto says in shock of seeing their friend in pain as they went over to pick Buckfire up just in time of he able to awoke from the knock down as he looks over and saw in relief.
"Guys, you came." Buckfire says, relief that his friends are here to help him as he able to stand up propelly.
"Yeah, no mention it, Buckster." Ragna says, earn a giggle from the Gaxelloid as they all heard a noise and turn to see Tager starting to stand up as Ragna comment "Well, you look like you went to actual hell, Red Devil."
"You could say that, Ragna the Bloodegde." Tager says as he cross his body from enduring more damage as he continue "I hope that you got a good reason for coming here."
"Yeah, you could say that as well." Ragna says at the Devil's word as he looks up and shouted "Hey Kokonoe, i know you can hear us so either come out and show yourself or talk right now."
Kokonoe then appeard on Ragna's words through a holographic matrix as the two glare at each other, making everyone sweatdrop at this consider Kokonoe have a piss face on her even after the Lambada incident, which make Ragna thought 'Jezz, what's wrong with her? If anyone is piss a lot, that will be me.'
"Hmp, always a foul mouthed as usual Ragna, i susspect this much from you." Kokonoe says with a hint of anger as she turns to Buckfire and Makoto and say "Hey, you two NOLs. Can you help transfer Tager to closet clinic you can find?".
"Sure/All right..." Both of them says in a bit of undersatnd and sadness that they have to delay their search for Noel a bit as Buckfire went to the left side and Makoto went to the right side of the Devil, lift him up and starting to walk out of there.
"May i ask, what just happen earlier before we got here?" Ragna asked, confuse as to why Buckfire and Tager were both unconsious before hand.
"Terumi, that's why. He came past here earlier and beat the shit out of Tager and left." Kokonoe answer in anger of what happen before Buckfire and Noel came here.
"And later on, me and Noel once reach here, we see a guy sitting on Tager and i was orriginally going to defend Noel before being shocked by electricity that enough knock me out." Buckfire says, remember what happen before his knock out.
"That's just great and where is Terumi is at right now?" Ragna ask, want to punch Terumi in the face for what he just saw.
"At the Altar of the NOL and if you think of going against him, then don't bother beacuse of what i told you earlier. Leave it to Rachel and Hakumen to take care of it, he's out of your leauge." Kokonoe answer, know the full intent on the Grim Reaper's purpose.
"You don't understand Kokonoe, that doesn't mean that i'm going to back down from whatever Terumi plotting to do at all. I swore that i will be the one who put down Terumi, he's a menace and i have to put a stop from him. " Ragna says, remember his promise to take Terumi down.
"So, the holder of Blazblue is more cocky than i thought." Relius says as he appeard in front of the group, making everyone look at him shock, but Buckfire is angry more beacuse of the fact that he was the one who take Noel away, Relius continue "Terumi and his phenomena intervetion... Can even he see how out of balance this shift already become of this?"
"You're..." Kokonoe gasped at Relius with wide eyes.
'Wait, then that means...' Ragna, Buckfire and Makoto thought and realize that Relius is one of the NOL members and Terumi's supporter as Ragna snarled and brought out BloodScythe for this reason and screams "Makoto, Buckfire get out of here."
"But Ragna--" Makoto says.
"I can't fight with Tager being broken here, i'll meet you two later at the Libary, promise. Now get out of here." Ragna says, doesn't want injured people to get involve much more than before.
"Alright, hope you good luck Ragna/ Alright, i hold you to it Ragna." Buckfire and Makoto says as they carry Tager and walk out of the field as fast as possible.
"Oh, and who said that i allow you three to escape here." Relius says as he commands Ignis to attack the now vulnarable Buckfire, Tager and Makoto.
'Ugh, why now?/ No, i can't die here...' Buckfire and Makoto thought at this as the Puppet were close enough to claw them, it been hit by a giant black and red energy which surprise Kokonoe and Tager once they know who summon it: Ragna the Bloodedge, the man known as the Gtim Reaper, who will bring an end to the NOL and will not stop until the end of it... save not one, but two of their agents.
(Cue Cold Blooded from Zayde-wolf)
"You're fights with me, bastard." Ragna screams at Relius for doing something like this and has a world that sums them up: Death. He circle until he standing between Relius and the retreating group as they succesfully gets out of there quickly.
"Impresive, you can use your Azure more succesfully in your rage. Quite an achivement, to able to control your power with your emotion." Relius says in delight of what he just saw before continue dark "But that is the exact reason why i must not let you live. You started to become a threat, boy."
"Boy, huh?" Ragna scoffed at the last part before continue "You know, you can end me off durring our first meeting or ask Terumi to kill me off back then to avoid me of becoming a threat but now I'm going to rip you to shreads, Relius Clover."
"And there's that baseless cockiness that i know will come. Ignis" Relius commands as the doll appeard before him and lunge to attack Ragna with her body now transform with wheel blades.
Ragna able to deflect Ignis just in time with BloodScythe and start to lunge at Relius, who summons two mechanical arms to help him. While they are childish in design, Ragna able to detect magic on them as he dodge every attack from the hands in time.
"Gauntlet Hades." Ragna shouts as he attacks Relius with an Soul Eater kick and land another strong kick on Relius as the Enigma stands up and command Ignis to attack Ragna from behind while summon another mechanical arm to blow Ragna up.
"Dead Spike!" Ragna screams as he summons a Black Beast head to Relius's leg, which ground him hard all the while, Ragna dodges Ignis's attack, grab its leg and use it to smash the mechanical arm away.
"What the..." Relius gasped at this as Ragna decides to clobber him with his own creation before throw it back to him, which he able to guard just in time and He asked "Have you always been savage or what, Azure holder?"
"Who's fault to blame for that, huh? Carnage" Ragna says as he immideatly charged for an attack, which is strong enough to destroy Relius's barrier before the Grim Reaper prepare for a second attack "Scissors." He preform a powerful slash coated with Soul Eater
"Bested by a fool." Relius says before being crash into a wall hard. Once he able to stand up from that damage, he says "You are certainlly much powerful than the other shifts, but that doesn't mean you will have a chance against to us at all."
"Oh yeah, let's test that shall we?" Ragna says as he charges to Relius with his sword, ready to cuts the Mad Pupetter apart and rids the world of a mad scientist but he heard a movement behind him and when he notice that Ignis had recovered and was barrelling towards him, the Crmiminal skidded to stop and readied his sword to attack the Marionette .
"Meteor Kick/Squirrel Power" 2 Shouts can be heard as the Gaxelloid's kick hits to the face and The Beastkin's fist and tonfa hits to the lower part of Ignis and blasted the doll into the wall behind Relius. They looked at Ragna for a gesture and the Reaper returned the gesture before ask "You two know how to make a dramactic entrace here and where's Tager right now?".
"Thanks Ragna and for the question, we left Tager in a clinic, he should be safe there." Makoto says, relief that her familliar is still save and sound.
"Yeah, let's get back to our buissnes, shall we?" Buckfire asked as he prepare to attack Relius.
"I couldn't agree more, Buckfire." Ragna answer as the three starts to prepare for another attack.
"Phantom." Relius shouts as she appears behind him, maming everyone thought 'What the hell is that thing'.
"I've seen what i wanted to see, bring me back to the headquarters." Relius says as he, Phantom and Ignis all disappeared into a dark vortex, leaving everyone there awestruck of what just happen.
(End song)
"That was unexpected, now come on, let's go help Noel before things got worsed." Ragna says once he sheated his sword back, Buckfire and Makoto nods as the three start to run to the NOL as fast as possible, hoping to stop the smelting procces in time as Makoto decide to ask "Hey Ragna, do you happen to know the guy's name during our first meet or not?"
"Yeah, Relius Clover who also dubbed the Mad Puppeteer, who also one of NOL leaders." Ragna answer, remember the rumors he heard of him and now getting to see the Enigma once, The Grim Reaper know those rumors are true then.
"I see... Hey Ragna." Makoto says, understand the siuation now.
"What?" Ragna asked while running as Makoto finally realize what the NOL truly is: A corrupt organization that their leaders will attack its own members with little provocation and appointed ruthless men the commanding position. She now knew where her loyalties lay and where her true friends were now as she asked "Do you mind if i become your friend or not, Ragna?"
This make Ragna and Buckfire stops and turn back in shock of what they just heard as Buckfire says "Wow, that came out of nowhere quickly and are you serious about this or not, Makoto?".
"Well, given the run in with that colonel, i think i might be the one who facing treason charges soon. And Let's rember, my friends always come first. I was already by this point thinking of defect but now i know someone on the outside i can trust right now. So, is the Grim Reaper want another friend or not?" Makoto says, makes both men look at her in shock eyes of what they just heard.
"I thought you never ask but sure, another friend can't harm though." Ragna answer, which makes Makoto happy about this while Buckfire smirks of what he just saw.
'My both close friends are noe friends together, i thought it wouldn't be but it happen.' Buckfire thought before say "Well now that's got out of the way now, how about we continue our search then?".
"Right, let's go." Ragna says as the three continue the run while Makoto blush at her new friend's aceeptance to her.
'This is going to be one of my good experience i ever thought of.' Makoto thought as they continue their run.
Sometime before the battle happen, Jin is walking to get close to Ragna as soon as possible and while walking, he glance back to his sword a bit.
"Yukianhesa. It still won't active." Jin mumbles about the sword.
"Brother Jin." A familliar voice says, which cause Jin to turn back as Tsubaki appears from one of the pillars.
"Tsubaki, what are you doing here? That uniform?" Jin ask, wonder of her pressence here.
"Yes and the reason i have appeared here dressed in this manner: Knowing you, i'm sure you can figure out." Tsubaki answer with a bit of sadness.
Jin starts to look at his childhood friend furiously before she orders "Major Jin Kisigari, you are currently charged with action against orders on numerous occasions as well as desortion. Please throw down your weapon at once and surrender yourself".
"I refuse." Jin says after some seconds of think.
"Why? If you would do as i say would resiteing, i--" Tsubaki says, wonder why her friend just refused all of a sudden.
"There's someone i must see." Jin interrupts, which make Tsubaki flinched at this before Jin continue "I must meet someone and ascertain something."
"Ascertain what?" Tsubaki asked in sadness.
"That is none of your buissnes." Jin answer, doesn't want Tsubaki to involve at all but the later grins her teeth in frusation.
"You leave me with no choice then." Tsubaki says.
"By force?" Jin asked, wonder what she means by it.
"Yes." Tsubaki answer in sadness.
"You think you can stop me with the level of skill that you possess?" Jin asked, wonder of the stupidity that she makes.
"I know i am no match for you..." Tsubaki says as she transform back to her Izayoi white form and continue "Which is why..."
From a few distance away from the two, Bifrost was walking quietly for the NOL base to not know his pressence anywhere.
"Hmp, looks like no one is here and that's weird considering that this is one of the most powerful orgnazation around the world." Bifrost says, wondering of what's happening to the emptiness of the Base until he saw Jin and Tsubaki standing, prepare for battle each other as he says "Jugding from things, these two must be friends that one devolpe a crush on the other but due to some reason, they have no choice but to battle it out. This is going to be interresting."
(Cue 'Childish Killer' from Blazblue LA)
Tsubaki starts first by summon towns of air blades towards Jin, who block every one of it with his sword. Tsubaki then use the whip to try and damage him but he able to dodge just in time for it, which make Bifrost realize what she using is.
'The Izayoi? Why would she even wields something like that infront of her friends of all people?' Bifrost thought with a shock face, knowing the full power of it.
'A relic of the old war passed down to the Yaoi family in aincent times and for her something to use like that' Jin thought of his friends decision to use something like that.
"Why? Why don't you draw your Nox Nyctronex?" Tsubaki says in wonder of her friend don't draw it in a battle like this, makes Bifrost realize why Jin isn't drawing his weapon at all.
'It must have been not been able to activate and that's why he isn't able to draw it, but what reason could have stop the weapon from unable to active at all is beyond me.' Bifrost thought of what could happen before hand that makes it unable to use effectively.
'If the Yukianesa will not active, then my offensive is limited then.' Jin thought, knowing the fact that he relies his weapon way too much than everyone else that Bifrost have fought during his protection agaisnt the forest.
"Brother Jin." Tsubaki screams as she keeps attacking while Jin deflect every attack as fast as possible.
"Freeze." Jin screams as he fires off a strong icy winds to Tsubaki, who able to block it with her shield just in time.
"It's no use, Brother Jin." Tsubaki says once the attack is over.
"The odds look bad, even for me." Jin smirks at this.
'Yeah, it looks bad for you as well, NOL guy but the Izayoi can do something bad to her as well so the odds are even then.' Bifrost thought, knowing what drawbacks the Izayoi can do as Tsubaki keeps firing air shots to Jin, who able to block all of it just in time and after some time, Tsubaki starts to feel tired on her eyes and rub it.
"That Ars Magus steals every kind of light from its surrounding even from the wielder itself as well." Jin says.
"I'm aware of that." Tsubaki says while rubbing her eyes.
"Why? Why would you use something like that?" Jin ask in worry.
"For the will of the Imperator!" Tsubaki answer as once her surronding atre clearer, She fires more shot to Jin, who dodge it to another corner of the wall.
"What is the Imperator for you?" Jin ask.
"The Imperator is light! Absolute Justice! Condeming evil, bringing hope and Peace order to this world " Tsubaki answer, which makes Bifrost growls at this beacuse he knows the NOL's true purpose: Making chaos than prevent it.
"Then let me ask you: What of the people of Ikagura, whose country was destroyed all beacuse they're not supposed the Imperator and the NOL? were they guilty of a crime like that or not?" Jin asked while looking past Tsubaki but didn't see Bifrost at all.
"That's." Tsubaki mutters at this before answer "The one who brought an end to the Ikagura Civil war was none either than yourself, Brother Jin! I can hardly belive these are the words of the Hero of Ikagura!".
'So he's Jin Kisigari then, i wonder what makes an NOL major have to fight with a Zero Quadron in the first place.' Bifrost thought of what he just heard.
"Even with the NOL, there were many people who objected to that war but those many were purged, in the name of the Imperator, at the hands of their own people by the Zeroth Division, which you belinged to." Jin says, which makes Tsubaki gasped in shock as she continue "The NOL, the Imperator. All who posses military might have blood on theit hands in equal measure, the justice you speak of is nothing more than a dream."
'Yeah, what kind of justice is that when you threaten lives beacuse they don't follow someone, that's bullshit into a whole new level.' Bifrost thought, knowing that Justice that the NOL looking for is actually death than anything else.
"Even so... Even so, i.." Tsubaki mumers.
"You are loyal though, i will give you that but when you adhere to something enormous, the more massive it is, the more you lost what is around you." Jin says once he moves to view look.
'Yeah, and beacuse of that, that is why i die for my first time beacuse of it.' Bifrost thought, remember the fact that beacuse of his devotion to his Father's plan, they were all destroyed in the first place beacise of it.
"Please stop trying to confuse me any further!" Tsubaki says as she leans in for an attack, which Jin blocks it easily as Tsubaki mumers "Brother... Jin."
"Tsubaki, do not be taken in by the mighty power that is the Imperator!" Jin advice.
"Power is necessary. Absoloute Power that repesents order!" Tsubaki says in sadness, which make Bifrost felt pety for her a bit.
"Order." Jin repeats the last word as he remember the advice that Jubei gives him the speech about Power of Order as he held the sword tighter, making Tsubaki gasp in worry and Jin smiles.
"Brother Jin?" Tsubaki ask in worried of her friend.
"I see. I see now and it's thanks to you." Jin answer.
"What are you?" Tsubaki ask, wonder what he meant by it.
"Tsubaki, the order you speak of is the order found in man's world. It is only a small, limited thing. But true order." Jin answer calmly as icy circle surrond them and Tsubaki been pushed back into the wall, making Bifrost gasp at this as Jin continue "I never had any doubts to begin with. I had been merely refusing to accept it."
'Hmp, so he remember and knows what Jubei was talking about now, this is interresting.' Bifrost thought of this with an careful face.
"Brother Jin." Tsubaki says while standing up.
"Tsubaki, i will show you. The order of the world, the power of balance. I am Jin, the blade that brings balance to the world. Yukianesa, Activate!" Jin chants as the sword realse an cold air before he pull it out and aims it at Tsubaki once the cold air around it dissapear.
'This is Brother Jin's Nox Nyctronex.' Tsubaki thought, shocked about this while Jin lets out a smile.
"I fell as though i have awoken from a long slumber." Jin says, which makes Tsubaki and Bifrost gasp at this as Jin charges right in to attack her, who able to block it just in time but gasped once she saw some ice on the shield and the floor that they're standing.
"I never knew this extent." Tsubaki gasped at this scene.
"Listen to me, Tsubaki. The Imperator is yet another force warping the natural way of this world just like the Black Beast." Jin explain what the Imperator actually is and Bifrost can't help but agree on this as well.
"Such Treachorous words." Tsubaki says, suprise her friend talk about the Imperator like that as she close her eyes before open them, this time being slowly faded.
"You will be shut out from the light. Dismiss the Ars Magus, Tsubaki or there will be no coming back from this." Jin says, trying to change Tsubaki's mind about this.
"I do not care! However, Charging Ars magus! Disengage Restraint System" Tsubaki screams as an giant light bomb blow up, making Jin jumps bwck from this.
'So she is prepared to die for the Imperator. A foolish move, Tsubaki.' Jin thought.
"Prepare yourself." Tsubaki says as they clash blades after blades until Jin decied to create ice spikes, trapping her as she struggles to get out.
"Do not pressume, Tsubaki." Jin says while he walks closer and seath his sword as he continue "Is that all your life worth it?"
"As you are now, you are not even worth killing." Jin says as he leaves, which makes Tsubaki sad at the view. Once the ice around her break, she was now on the floor as her costume change from white to black.
"Brother... Jin... Noel... I have nothing now. Nothing." Tsubaki mummers as she cry about her loss, which make Bifrost want to confront her a bit.
'I'll wait once she's finish crying.' Bifrost thought, respect people's privacy before helping her a bit before go on and destroy this NOL as Jin is still looking at his right arm, thinking of what just happen.
'This power i can fill it. The purpose of my existence. Thus far, i have been under Yukianesa's control but now, things will not be going to your way anymore! And at the same time, i realize who my true enemy is that i must fight, the being who destroys the ballace in this world.' Jin thought as he starts to smile evilly and say "Brother".
At the outside of the NOL base, Vulturon and Litchi were teleport to there after sometime of their previous encounter with Hazama.
"Now that's a wild experience we ecounter there, Litchi." Vulturon says as he lets go of Litchi once the teleportation is complete.
"Yeah, i guess you could say that." Litchi says while looking around and can't help but wonder "Where are we, anyway?".
"I think we're at the NOL base now." Vulturon answer once he finish analyze done where they are as he explain "Must have been beacuse of little time that i thought some place like this to teleport to it as soon as possible."
"I see, that's how we're here." Litchi says, understand what he meant by that as she looks up and contonue "Since we're here, we should put a stop to whatever Hazama's planning."
"I agree, let's go." Vulturon says as he and Litchi about to enter to the building.
"Oh, what's a suprise to see you two here of all place." A Haughty and arrogrant voice says to this as Vulturon sighs at this voice.
"Oh yeah, then why do you always invovle people buisness that not invovle to you one way or another, Rachel?" Vulturon ask back, which Rachel lands infront of them with her usual servants.
"I could say, it's one of my special abillity then, you stupid bird." Rachel says, trying to anger Vulturon to give her amusment.
"Yeah, and if you try to piss me of with something like that, then you have to try harder then beacuse i never get angry most of my life." Vulturon says, seeing that Rachel trying to piss him off but fail.
"Hmp, all right then." Rachel says as she looks at Litchi for a bit and thought 'That's weird, in normal shifts, Litchi will be working for the NOL as off right now but she doesn't accept it at all. I thought that this shift will be the same as the others but looks like it change a lot than i can imagine, looks like i'm wrong this time.'
"So miss Rachel, what are you doing here?" Litchi asked, wonder of the Bunny-Leech's apperence here.
"I'm here to stop Terumi's plan, what about you two?" Rachel says, wonder why the two here.
"Well, the same purpose as well." Vulturon answer, which makes Litchi confuse of what the Vulture just said as he explain "Hazama's true identidy is Terumi, the Six Hero himself so keep that in mind."
"I will, Vulturon." Litchi says, surprise by the thought of what just happen.
"Now then, Miss Litchi." Rachel says as the doctor turns to her before continue "Can you do me a favor, someone you know near here is in danger right now but i don't want to be involve at all so you can do it or not?".
"I can, so where do you want me to go?" Litchi asked as Rachel points to the location and once she memorize, Litchi say "Alright, i'll help this person out."
"Oh and just in case, i'll send someone to follow you, is that okay?" Vulturon asked as Litchi nods at this before he summon Mattrex to help her.
"Boss, what can i do for you?" Mattrex asked once he fully built up, wonder why the Condoroid call him now.
"I want you to follow Litchi just for safety." Vulturon answer while pointing at her to know speciffically who is he talking about.
"Understand, now let's go Litchi." Mattrex says as he and Litchi leave for helping someone else, leaving Rachel and Vulturon alone.
"So, is something bother you or not?" Vulturon ask once their pressence is no more.
"It just, Litchi doesn't seem to be with the NOL at all and that surprise me." Rachel answer, feel wierd about this change.
"Yeah, i give her an advice and she took it good and once she realize Terumi's true intention, she immideatly drop out and decide to go find another cure for Arakune." Vulturon says.
"I see, now then i will take my leave now." Rachel says as she teleports, making the Pseuderoid groan of what just happen.
"Whatever's happening, i need to make sure it has to be stopped like the Model W incident a long time ago." Vulturon says as he decide to hop through the door, climbing up to do what he said and hope for the best.
Tsubaki starts to walk to Jin with Bifrost secretly behind her as she crash her legs into one of the pillars and fell.
"I, for whom am i, for what am i to live?" Tsubaki thought as she stoods up and take the blade one last look.
"Brother Jin... Noel... Forgive me!" Tsubaki says as she about to end her life with the blade until Bifrost shot one of his icicles to stop it just in time, which make Tsubaki gasp at this as she turns back to see the crocodile himself in front of her.
"You are not useless at all and you haven't loss everything yet to just kill yourself like that, Tsubaki." Bifrost shouts at her angrily before calm himself and start to walk close to her, explain "I heard and watched everything that you and Jin just did before hand and i got to say: That's sad, even for you as well and i geuinelly felt pity for you to encounter something like this."
"But what do you know of something like this when you never felt this type of emotion at all, you monster." Tsubaki says in tears, not knowing if what pain Bifrost went through to get to this place at all.
"Don't talk to me like you know everything, Tsubaki." Bifrost shouts angry by this, make Tsubaki flinch as he continue "I have lost somethings before and i was nearly in that same place until a diffrent purpose came to me and help me change who i am today: Instead of a mindless slave, i have become a protector. And that's when i'm realised before i able to get to this place: I haven't lost anything at all, it just i went a diffrent path at that point that cause me to almost lose myself and i bet you're the same as well."
"Yeah, but my friends.. They're abandon me, it's obvious that they don't care about me at all." Tsubaki says in tears of sadness as once Bifrost is close enough, he puts both his hands on Tsubaki shoulders gently.
"No, they didn't abandon you. They just went a new path that you can't accept it but there's still time for changes and i need to know, what do you value more: Justice or Friends?" Bifrost says in symphaty of what Tsubaki has to suffer.
"I don't know, mister..." Tsubaki says, remember that she doesn't know the Crocodile's name.
"Bifrost. Bifrost the Crocodile and i can see why, i'll let you think for a while until our next meeting, okay?" Bifrost says as he relase Tsubaki's shoulder and back up a bit.
"Alright, i will Bifrost." Tsubaki answer as she looks down in depression.
"Good and Remember this talk, it's gonna be useful the next time we met and can talk by that point." Bifrost says as he runs towards Jin at a fast pace, Leaving Tsubaki in a world of thoughts of what he just said.
'Should i listen to him or don't at all at his advice.' Tsubaki thought as yellow lights suddenly appear and comes the Imperator.
"It can't be... It can't be...!" Tsubaki says, gasp of the Imperator's pressence.
"Tsubaki Yaoi, come join me by mine side." The Imperator says calmly.
"Your Majesty." Tsubaki says with tears of happines while thought 'I need to keep Bifrost's word in my mind for future meetings of him."
"I shall be the light to illuminate your path once and for all." The Imperator says, prepare to conquer this shift once and for all.
A/N: And that will be the end of the chapter, Ladies and Gentlemen. I gotta admit, it's been a long chapter that i write and i gotta admit, it's not bad to say the slightest of explain how a simple change can change it big and i'm proud of it a bit. So hope you guys a good day and see you again!