29 Days Until Exodus Strike
The first thing Rex did as he woke up was go to Nia's room and checked up on her just in case to see if she was doing fine. After confirming that Nia was fine Rex went out in search of Zeke. He found Zeke quietly eating breakfast in the grand hall with Pandoria at his side. Seeing him Rex called out to him. "Hey Zeke, mind if you help me with something after you're done eating?"
Zeke turns his head towards Rex. "Sure thing chum. What is it you need help with?"
Rex puts on a calm but serious face. "I want you to train with me."
Zeke looks at Rex confused. "Train with you? Are you sure that's such a good idea? You aren't exactly combat ready." Zeke looks at Rex's stump for emphasis.
"I am more than able to fight. I can't just sit here and do nothing. If I do that, then Exodus will only manage to get stronger and I can't allow that to happen."
"What about Nia?" Zeke stares at Rex. "She won't be around to heal you during this next battle. Can you look me right in the eyes and tell me that you can get through this next fight without her healing?"
"That's the point of this training. To make sure that doesn't happen. I'll make sure Exodus doesn't land a single blow on me."
"An awfully bold statement don't you think?" Zeke smirks.
"Maybe, but I'll have you there to protect my back so I think those words have some merit to them." Rex shoots back.
Zeke sighs and puts a hand to his face. "Alright chum. I'll train with you. Just know I won't go easy on you."
Rex smiled at that. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I need a good challenge anyways."
Zeke smiles back before returning to his breakfast. "Meet me on the fields outside the capital in one hour from now. We don't want to cause too much damage to the city."
As Rex is leaving back to his room he gives a simple reply. "Alright."
After an hour Rex and Zeke find themselves just outside Alba Cavanich in a vast plain that has only the rocky formations known to Mor Ardain as well as the occasional dead shrub. Rex has Nia's sword still resting on his back as he stares at Zeke across the battlefield.
"Remember we both will go all out until one of us drops got it?" Rex states.
"If that were the case then my eye would have your ass on the ground in two minutes flat." Zeke plainly comments. "For the sake of this duel I will not use my eye so this fight can be a bit more fair."
"No objections here." Rex waves off.
"In that case..." Zeke slowly pulls his sword off his back and holds it in a ready position. "...let us begin."
Rex does the same and pulls his blade out from his back and holds it in a ready position with his left arm. "Let's do this."
As the two fight the sun continues to fly through the sky until eventually there isn't any sun left. The two had fought relentlessly for the entire day with neither accepting defeat. As Zeke realizes that the sun is no longer in the sky he tiredly holds a hand out to stop Rex.
"I think... we should... call it a day here." Zeke pants out to Rex.
Rex falls to the ground and sits there panting heavily as well. "Agreed... man I can't believe... we fought... all day."
"Well we had to stop. There's no more sun left. We'll just continue where we left off tomorrow." Zeke puts his sword back on his back and begins to make his way back to the city.
Rex gets up and sheathes his sword. "We have to keep training until the next attack. So I'm glad you are agreeing to continue this training with me. I'm really going to need it."
"You're not the only one who needs it chum. I can use this as an opportunity to learn how use blade shifting to become even stronger." Zeke clenches his fist.
"I wish you luck in trying to figure out how that works. Be sure to tell me how you did it afterwards alright?"
Zeke nods and puts a hand to his chin in thought. "Yeah Rex I'll be sure to tell you all about it."
After that the two kept walking until they made it back to the palace.
"Well, until tomorrow." Zeke waves off to Rex as he goes towards his own room.
"Until tomorrow." Rex waves back as he goes to check on Nia once more before heading off to bed.
23 Days Until Exodus Strikes
Over the course of those six days Rex and Zeke fought from after breakfast till after dark. The two of them never budging to the other as neither refused to accept defeat and they only stopped when the sun was no longer in the sky. With each of those passing days Zeke figured out little by little the true depth and knowledge of Pandoria's blade and he felt that he was on the right track to learning how to ascend her blade. Over that time Tora and Tatazo had been working relentlessly to figure out a way to build Morag her new body but as they kept building new models they found that each of them could not respond to Morag's will.
"It no use!" Tatazo cries in frustration. "No matter how hard we try just can't get limbs to respond properly."
"Dadapon it must work." Tora tries to calm down his father. "If artificial limbs not work then Morag never fight again. That can't happen either."
"What else can do? We run out of ideas." Tatazo sighs out.
As the two nopon continue to bicker amongst themselves a guard pokes his head in and tries to get the two's attention. "Um excuse me... Temporary Head Researcher Tora? Professor Tatazo? There is someone here who wishes to see you two."
In the commotion between the two, neither of them heard the guard as they continued to bicker. Seeing as neither one was paying the guard any attention Poppi and Lila answer the guard for them. "Who come visit Masterpon and Dadapon?" Poppi inquires.
"From what I can tell it is some sort of nopon that claims that he came to help Tora and Tatazo with their work. He's waiting in the front lobby and refuses to leave until he can talk with them. The strangest thing about the nopon is that he has a giant artificial blade with him that is easily about eight feet tall." The two artificial blades take a minute to think about this information.
Lila is the one to respond in a stoic manner. "I shall check on this nopon. Does Poppi want to come with?"
Poppi looks over to her sister in excitement. "Of course Poppi come with. It boring listening to Masterpon and Dadapon Tatazo bicker all day."
Lila looks over to the guard. "Lead way."
"Of course." The guard bows and leads the two artificial blades off to the front lobby.
As the two make it to the front lobby they see a massive artificial blade looming over head with a look of regal and elegance. However it was the nopon at the artificial blades feet that made Lila go into total shock and Poppi to look over to her sister in confusion. "Sister, what is wrong?"
Lila points at the nopon with wide eyes. "You! It can't be!"
As Tora and Tatazo wind down on their bickering between each other the two decide to have a short coffee break to reenergize themselves before going back to the drawing board. As the two quietly drink their coffee Tora realizes that their blades are missing. "Hey Dadapon? Where did Poppi and Lila go?"
"Hmmmm..." Tatazo looks at his coffee for a moment. "Tatazo not know. Maybe got bored of hearing Tatazo and sonnypon arguing?" Tatazo offers to Tora.
"Maybe..." Tora takes another sip of his coffee before suddenly the door bursts open with Poppi and Lila frantically scrambling inside. Tora and Tatazo looked surprised at the sudden outburst and look over to their blades. "Meh Meh Meh?! What have Poppi and Lila in such a panic?"
Lila is the one to respond. "Masterpon, Tora look who is!"
Poppi and Lila move out of the way of the door to allow the nopon and his artificial blade to come inside. Tora and Tatazo look on in awe as a giant eight foot tall artificial blade comes into the room carrying an old nopon on its left shoulder. The old nopon looks down at the other two nopon and his eyes shine with joy at seeing the two. "It good to finally see you two again after so long." The old nopon looks over to his blades head and asks it. "Would friend mind placing me down?" With a simple nod the artificial blade reaches their hand out for the nopon to stand on and slowly lowers him right above the floor to which the nopon hops lightly off the hand and looks up to his artificial blade in gratitude. "Thank you." The blade slowly gives its masterpon a thumbs up before going back to maintaining its regal posture. The old nopon looks over to the confused look of Tora and the shocked look of Tatazo. The old nopon puts his wings on his hips and gives the two nopon a gleaming smile. "It good to see you again Sonnypon Tatazo, Grandsonnypon Tora. It been a while."
"DADAPON!" Tatazo runs up to the old nopon and furiously hugs him with his wings. "Tatazo can not believe that Dadapon Soosoo still alive!" A few tears streak down Tatazo's face.
Tora looks over to the old nopon in skepticism. "That can't be right. Grampypon Soosoo die in lab attack all those years ago. Their no way it him."
Tatazo looks back at Tora in shock. "But it has to be Dadapon Soosoo. Look at face. It the same." Tatazo points to Soosoo's face.
Tora narrows his eyes. "If he real Grampypon Soosoo then why he have metal plate on head." Tora points out.
Soosoo answers that question. "It because Soosoo need build head plate to survive injuries from lab attack. That why Soosoo also have metal hand." Soosoo shows his hand for emphasis.
Tora looks at Soosoo for a moment then turns to Lila. "Is this nopon the real Soosoo? Lila originally built by Soosoo so Lila definitely know if this real Soosoo or not."
Lila looks at Tora extremely seriously. "There no doubt in mind. This is definitely Masterpon Soosoo."
Tora looks over to Soosoo with glassy eyes. "Grampypon?"
Soosoo nods his head. "It really me Grandsonnypon."
Tora runs over to Soosoo and hugs him tightly as well. "Grampypon! Tora can't believe you still alive! Tora is so happy."
"Soosoo can't believe how big Tora got. Tora grown so much."
Tora breaks the hug away and looks at Soosoo with questioning eyes. "But why Grampypon not come visit us sooner? Where has Grampypon been all this time?"
Soosoo looks at both Tora and Tatazo before speaking. "Soosoo has been on own this whole time because Soosoo want Tora and Tatazo to live on own two feet without help from Soosoo. Soosoo plan to never come back, but their a change of plan. Soosoo begin hearing rumors of her Majesty being in critical condition from last Exodus encounter. That is what big scary blade called correct?" Soosoo clarifies.
"Yes that name of enemy." Tora confirms.
"Anyways Soosoo hear about this and come over as quickly as possible to help. Their no telling what will happen during next attack when happens. Elysium need its Empress in top condition for when that happen. Soosoo also have hunch that you two would be trying to figure out how to build mechanical apendages. So what progress like so far?" Soosoo questions.
"At moment artificial limbs work properly in test and support ether flow through them, but their a lack of responsiveness when attached to Morag." Tora fills in Soosoo.
"So that problem ey?" Soosoo mulls it over in his head. "Soosoo can definitely help out. After all Soosoo build own artificial limbs as well." Soosoo points his artificial hand out for emphasis.
"Before planning for Morag's new limbs Tora must know who giant blade is. Did Grampypon make artificial blade all by self?" Tora eyes the massive artificial blade.
The blade was eight feet tall and was covered in red plated armor almost samurai like in nature. The joints between the plating were being connected by artificial ether that glowed a very dark purple. The helmet was a completely bare faced surface that shined red with the only detail being a long black strip across where the eyes would be which had a light green glow behind them. The last part of the outfit was a black sedge hat that was on the top of the head. At its hip rested a katana that had a red hilt, a white guard, and a long pure black blade.
"Oh her? Yes Soosoo made artificial blade during all this time to protect Soosoo and to create perfect artificial blade. Her name is Tuplia." Soosoo waves his hand towards Tuplia who gives a light bow.
"Artificial blade is girl? Not look very girl like if ask Tora." Tora puts his hands on his hips and eyes the blade with a questioning look.
"That because this only outer layer." Soosoo turns over to Tuplia. "You may reveal true self Tuplia."
"As you wish Masterpon." Tuplia has a mature and sultry voice that immediately catches the other two nopon off guard.
The pieces of the armor then opens up from the front to allow Tuplia to exit her armor. When she steps foot on the ground she is actually around six feet tall instead. Tuplia radiates the beauty of an older woman who looks between her mid thirties to early forties with her glowing green eyes and her long flowing white hair done somewhat in a bun at the top with some still flowing out to the sides and back. She wears a kimono that covers most of her body that is pure white with various designs of tulips throughout the entire kimono in the colors of light blues and purples. Her body has curves that put even Poppi QTπ to shame as a sign that this was definitely a blade that Soosoo created.
"It is a pleasure to meet the child and grandchild of Masterpon. He has told me so much about you." Tuplia nods her head towards the two shocked nopon.
"Meh Meh Meh! Tuplia is like fine art." Tatazo gawks at the artificial blade.
Tora looks off to the side. "Must hold back, must hold back. Think about Wifeypon." Tora tries to tell himself.
"I see they inherited your perversion Masterpon." Tuplia sighs with slight incredulous.
"It run in family." Soosoo happily replies.
"But why Tuplia talk like that? Tuplia not sound very nopon like." Tora asks in confusion.
"That's because I learned human speech patterns. I look more human that anything else considering the shape of this body of mine." Tuplia puts emphasis on her curves to which Tatazo looks like he's going to faint. "So do to this deduction of reasoning I learned how to speak more like a normal human much to my Masterpon's disagreement."
"That explain it. Although Tora must know if Tuplia possess any weapons in this state."
"She possess many weapons like this. Tuplia just use armor for intimidation and to finish off easier enemies." Soosoo responds.
"If I may." Tuplia speaks to Soosoo. "I would like to test my younger sisters here to see just how far along they have come." Tuplia gives a languid smile to the two younger blades.
"Permission granted if everyone else agree." Soosoo looks over to everyone else in the room and no one has any objections.
"Let Poppi lead way. Want to talk with other big sister on way." Poppi asks Tora excitedly.
"Tora see no objections."
"Everyone follow Poppi." Poppi waves everyone over.
"I must admit you sure are an adorable little sister." Tuplia gives Poppi a light head pat with her long slender fingers.
"Big sister Tuplia is very cool." Poppi beams at the older blade.
"I suppose so." Tuplia winks. With that Tuplia gets back into her armor and follows behind the group.
15 Days Until Exodus Strikes
Over the course of the past week Tora, Tatazo, and Soosoo continued to work on Morag's artificial limbs and were able to make some considerable progress. The three nopon had managed to build Morag new organs to replace all the ones she lost so Morag no longer required the breathing machine or the feeding bag. They were all still hard at work trying to build Morag her arms and legs but Morag was happy to have her abdomen fully rebuilt nonetheless. By this point Rex and Zeke had been training just as relentlessly as always and the two have been becoming even stronger with each passing day. On this day after Rex finishes his training with Zeke for the day Rex goes over to the lab to give a request to Tora. When Rex arrives at the lab he is surprised to see another nopon their with a giant blade. Rex made a mental note to ask Tora who he was later.
"Hey Tora, could I talk to you for a moment?" Rex calls out to his friend.
Tora turns around to face Rex. "What problem Rex-Rex?"
"Well it's just something I wanted to request for you to do seeing as you're making artificial limbs and all."
Tora quickly puts two and two together. "Ah! Friend want Tora to make new arm for Rex-Rex." Tora puts his hands on his hips and puffs out his chest in confidence in his answer.
"Glad you picked up on why I'm here. So you think you can help me out and build me a new arm?" Rex looks at Tora hopefully.
"Meh Meh! Of course Tora help friend Rex-Rex. Rex-Rex new arm will be side project while Tora and family work on building Morag's new body."
"Thanks Tora. You're a real life saver you know that?" Rex looks thankfully towards Tora.
"It no problem." Tora pulls out some blue prints and begins to scribble down on them before looking back up at Rex. "Does friend Rex-Rex have idea for design of new arm?"
Rex closes his eyes and thinks about it. "Yeah, as a matter of fact I do."
13 Days Until Exodus Strikes
Morag was just enjoying her quiet time with her blades in her hospital room when suddenly a guard comes in frantically with a letter in his hand. "Your Majesty this is urgent!"
Morag looks up to the man with a questioning look. "What have you brought me?"
The guard quickly hands the letter over to Brighid seeing as Morag can't reach for the letter at the moment. Brighid opens up the letter and quickly scans over it. "Th-this is!"
Morag looks up to her blade. "What is it Brighid?"
Brighid shows the letter to Morag who briefly reads it over. "A declaration I see?"
"It would appear that Exodus has his sites set on Temperantia next." Aegeon makes an observation.
"It would appear that way." Morag agrees. "Soldier you are dismissed. Thank you for bringing me this letter." Morag waves the soldier off with her right stump.
"Yes Ma'am!" The soldier bows then leaves.
"Do you think this is another one of Exodus' tricks?" Brighid questions Morag.
"Highly unlikely. This is the first time Exodus has given us the target of his next attack long before he attacks it. He's doing this on purpose as he is that confident that he will beat us." Morag deducts.
"Then what shall we do?" Aegeon asks.
"We shall deploy our men at once and begin to set up camp in Temperantia to prepare for the oncoming battle. We must be prepared this time around."
"Understood." Brighid agrees.
9 Days Until Exodus Strikes
Just as Rex has been doing every night before he goes to bed he found himself back in Nia's room to check up on his love. Ever since the attack Nia has gotten a lot better. Her organs were fully healed by this point and her flesh has closed back up after a while as well. Her flesh was still charred but even that was slowly getting better.
"Hey Nia, I'm back again. I hope you have been doing good."
No response.
"Me and Zeke are still busting are assess to get even stronger and to hopefully put Exodus in his place the next time we meet him."
No response.
"I have some good news regarding Morag. She got her mechanical arms today. She's slowly learning how to use them, but I don't know if she'll be ready in time for the next fight."
No response.
"Hey remember when I was telling you about how apparently Tora's grandad is back? I just found out today that his giant samurai blade was actually just a shell for his true blade. You should've seen her, she was immaculate." Rex then shakes his head vigorously. "B-but her beauty is only second to yours." Rex blushes profusely.
No response.
"Speaking of Tora, did you know that the arm I asked him to make is coming along smoothly? I'm expecting to receive the new arm within the next few days. I'm so excited, I just know you'll love it as well."
No response.
"Let's seeeeee... Oh! Zeke has made more progress on learning how to blade shift with Pandoria. He says that he is so close to cracking the mystery of Blade Shifting that 'he can almost taste it' as he puts it. Frankly I'm not too sure if I believe him or not." Rex shrugs his shoulders.
No response.
"Well I think that just about covers everything I wanted to tell you about today. Exodus will be attacking in nine more days. I'm not too sure if we can win, but I damn well will die trying."
No response.
Rex sighs heavily before leaving the room once more to return again the next day.
7 Days Until Exodus Strikes
It was just a normal day as any had been over the course of the past few weeks of Rex waking up going to eat breakfast and then heading out to go train with Zeke for the day when Rex was stopped on his way out of the palace by one of the guards.
"Um, Sir Rex. Temporary Head Researcher Tora would like to speak with you." The guard informed Rex.
Rex thinks back to his order he put in for his new arm and he beams with excitement. "Alright. Thank you for telling me." The guard bows a little and Rex heads off to the research lab to see that Tatazo and Soosoo were off on the other side of the room working out the kinks for Morag's new legs and discussing plans to improve the designs.
Rex looks to the side of the room that Tora was standing at to see that Tora has been waiting for Rex to arrive. "So glad friend Rex-Rex could make it."
"Of course I would come over. I think I've got a pretty good guess why you called for me." Rex excitedly remarks.
"Well friend thought right! It time to get new arm. Behold!" Tora gestures behind him. "Take look for self."
Rex slowly walks over to the table and sees a cloth draped over something. Rex grabs at the cloth with his left arm and slowly lifts the cloth up to reveal his brand new arm. The arm was white in color on the top half of the arm while the bottom half facing inwards was a dark brown in color. The arm had intricate designs of gold and red lacing throughout the arm in a similar style to Nia's clothing. Overall Rex designed the arm after his dearly beloved and it showed. Rex simply stared at the arm in amazement for a few seconds before looking over to Tora.
"Thank you for doing this for me Tora. This really does mean a lot to me." Rex smiles warmly while looking at the arm.
"It no problem as Tora said. Tora always help friend Rex-Rex."
"So how do I put it on?"
"That easy... but also extremely painful." Tora recalls.
"How so?" Rex questions.
"In order for arm to be connected to ether network and flow properly arm must be directly connected to ether supply at all times." Tora begins to explain.
"So how exactly is that done?" Rex asks.
"In order to do that Tora have to connect each artificial ether line to each real ether line. Their five ether lines within arm so friend Rex-Rex not have it as bad as friend Morag who had to have roughly eighty ether lines in total planted around body to work properly. This involve exposing raw ether lines outside body to be connected to artificial ether lines to make lines functional. This procedure is very delicate and very painful. However if success then friend Rex-Rex will never have procedure done again... unless friend break new arm as well."
Rex steels himself and looks at Tora calmly. "I'll do whatever it takes, as long as it's to protect Elysium and Nia." Rex grips his left arm to show his conviction.
"Very well. Then Tora begin operation at once."
4 Days Until Exodus Strikes
Today was a special day in the palace. Today was the day that Morag would finally get her legs and would finally be completed with her brand new robot body. Tora had come in earlier and had requested for the rest of their team to show up as this would signify the final part of Morag's healing. He had brought the legs in and had made a speech to everyone about how their friend was now put together and how she was the shining peak of what technology has become.
"But most importantly, We all happy to have our friend Morag back to old self. Please continue to lead us for many years to come!" Tora finishes his speech before unveiling the legs. The legs were the same color as the her new abdomen and arms that being a dark grayish brown with the ether lines glowing a soft orange that striped through all her new limbs. Tora gestured for Morag to sit up and over the side of the bed so Tora could attach the new legs.
Everyone watched on in anticipation as Tora slowly connected the artificial ether lines from the new legs into the artificial ether lines from her new pelvis as the lines weaved together. After that Tora began screwing and bolting shut the new legs so they would stay connected using a few plates on standby for connecting the parts together. Overall implanting the new legs took twenty minutes but after that it was complete. Against all odds Morag's body has been rebuilt. "Well friend Morag why not give new legs a test?" Tora offers to Morag.
Morag looks down at her mechanical hands and moves them around before looking past them at her new legs. Morag begins to focus on using her legs and at first nothing happens. After a moment of trying the legs begin to slowly move. Morag edges closer to the edge of the bed and gently places her new legs on the ground below. Morag then slowly pulls herself off of the bed and stands up for the first time in almost a month. At first her legs buckle a bit under the feeling of being used for the first time but after a moment of Morag keeping herself propped up by the bedside she slowly gets used to the feeling for her new legs.
Morag takes her first few steps with her new legs all while the legs slightly buckle with each step. With each step Morag gets more used to the feeling and before long she's back to walking like she used to. Everyone looks at her with a happy expression until they notice the sadness in Morag's eyes. "Morag? What's wrong?" Rex asks in concern.
Morag lets out a sigh and turns away and walks towards the window to look out of it. Morag places her hands behind her back and goes into a regal pose as she looks out the window. It takes Morag a long moment of thought before she finally speaks. "I've felt like I've lost something. Something very important."
"What Morag lose that so important?" Tora questions.
"Tora you can't just ask someone that." Zeke gets on Tora's case clearly catching the drift of what Morag is implying.
"I've felt that I have lost a part of me." Morag looks down at her new hands and they tremble slightly. "I have lost the majority of my body in that last fight. That is a part of me that I will never get back." Morag turns her head slightly towards the group. "Am I even still human? I can't be if the majority of me is no longer human. These are the kinds of thoughts I've been having recently. They aren't very pleasant thoughts but this is what I am now." Morag sighs. "Do not get the wrong idea. I am very thankful for all that Zeke and Tora have done to aid in my recovery and I know I'm being irrational and yet..." Morag clenches her hands.
Rex puts his right arm on Morag's shoulder. "I think... I understand how you feel. I have also lost apart of me. The only advice I can give you is to accept it and move on otherwise it will consume you, and if that happened then I wouldn't be able to protect what I hold dear to me. That's what I think anyways." Rex offers to Morag.
"I suppose so." Morag turns around and faces the entire group before going back into her regal posture. "Now let us prepare for the battle in the coming days. I'm not sure how much of a help I'll be considering I just fully recovered but I'll try my best to fight with my new body."
"Now watch yourself. If you're going to fight only do it if you're confident you can do it, otherwise you'd only be getting yourself hurt unnecessarily." Zeke chides Morag.
"But of course. I wouldn't want to be a weight on any of you during the next fight." Morag responds. "Please, allow me to train with you two." Morag asks Zeke and Rex.
"Your the Empress after all so it's not like we could say no even if we wanted to." Rex points out.
"Alright then, back to training." Zeke waves for Morag and Rex to follow him out the door.
2 Days Until Exodus Strikes
It was late at night and Zeke sat at his bed mulling over in his head how he was going to unlock Blade Shifting considering how little time was left before the next attack.
"I just don't get it. How am I suppose to ascend your blade Pandy?" Zeke asks his blade.
"How am I suppose to know? I didn't even know such a technique existed prior to seeing it." Pandoria responds flatly.
Zeke goes back once more to the fake Exodus' words. 'Become one with your blade.' Zeke thinks hard about this.
"I just don't get it! What did he mean by become one with my blade? I know our bond is strong but what did he mean by become one? In a sense I am already one with you since I have a piece of your core crystal inside of me. Plus I know every nook and cranny to your sword, I've been fighting with it for nearly fifteen years and yet I still don't know everything." Zeke lowers his head in defeat.
The cogs start turning in Pandoria's head as she hears her driver's rant and she comes up with an idea. "What if it was literal?"
Zeke turns his head up to look at Pandoria. "What do you mean Pandy?"
"I mean you and I are already connected through my core crystal correct?"
"Yeah that's true, but what does that have to do with it?"
"Well here's what I just thought of. What happens when a driver pierces themselves with their own blade?"
Zeke thinks about it for a moment before responding. "They bloody die that what happens." Zeke plainly responds.
"Well yeah, but what else?" Pandoria presses.
"They also get a temporary boost to their ether due to channeling the weapon through their own body."
"Ok now hear me out. What if I stab my blade into your half of my core crystal?" Pandoria gestures towards herself, then her weapon, the to Zeke.
Zeke stands up in surprise. "Are you mad?! That could kill me if it fails."
"Just hear my reasoning ok?" Pandoria begs.
Zeke sighs. "Alright go on."
"Since a blades weapon is apart of them a blade usually can't die by their own weapon. Since you have a piece of my core crystal inside you you won't be phased by my blade, so if I stab your half of the core crystal then you won't die. Plus you would technically become one with my blade." Pandoria explains her reasoning.
Zeke thinks about it for a few minutes, but decides to try out Pandoria's idea. "Alright if you can guarantee I won't die from this then it won't hurt to at least try." Zeke begrudgingly agrees.
"Thank you for trusting me Zeke." Pandoria reaches out for her blade and picks it up. "Wow I'm really not used to using my weapon like this." Pandoria struggles to keep the blade straight. "Ok expose your core crystal."
Zeke complies and leaves it exposed. "Here goes nothing."
Pandoria readies the blade and aims it at Zeke's chest and lunges the blade right towards the core crystal. As the blade and core crystal make contact with each other the room is incapsulated with a bright flash of ether before quieting back down. With this simple action Zeke would become the first human to ever use Blade Shift.
1 Day Until Exodus Strikes
Exodus was on his way to attack Temperantia and everyone knew it. They've known for almost two weeks by now that Exodus was on his way to take over Temperantia. Over the course of those twelve days Morag has been sending troops to Temperantia via titan transportation to set up camp for the upcoming fight. Today was the day that Rex and his friends would be using the teleporters to get to Temperantia a day in advanced to get everything prepared. Before Rex joined up with the rest of his friends he first made one final stop by Nia's hospital room to wish her goodbye.
As Rex enters the room to look over to Nia's body he looks at her with a warm smile on his face. At that moment Nia had finally fully recovered from all the injuries she had sustained the previous month and at the moment the doctors had predicted that Nia should be waking up from her coma any day now. It saddened Rex that he more than likely wouldn't be around in time to comfort Nia when she did awaken, but he had his priorities set on Exodus at that moment.
"Hey Nia, I'm back again."
No Response.
"We'll be heading out a day early to get everything ready for the next battle so you just hang tight alright? I promise I'll be back after this next fight."
No response.
"I want you to know Nia that I will always love you."
No response.
Before Rex leaves he walks up to the side of Nia's bed and slowly lowers his head. He then gives Nia a light kiss on the forehead before leaving to join up with the others.
"I'll be back by tomorrow. See you then."
After Rex leaves the room to join up with the others he misses something that has just happened.
"Rex..."
For the first time in almost a month Nia spoke her first word despite still being in a coma.
When Tora was leaving to go join up with the rest of the group Tatazo stops him before he could leave.
"Tora, I need Sonnypon to take something to battle." Tatazo gets Tora's attention.
"What Dadapon need Tora to take?" Tora has a curious look on his face.
Tatazo looks over to his side. "Tatazo want Tora to bring Lila with you."
"Meh Meh Meh?! But Lila is Dadapon's blade."
"Tatazo not rest easy knowing Tora fight strong opponent. Tatazo insist in bringing Lila with Tora."
"But how Dadapon protect self?"
"It ok. Tatazo will be protected by Tuplia along with Dadapon Soosoo." Tatazo reassures Tora.
"Welllllll if Dadapon say so." Tora looks over to Lila before calling out to her. "Come Lila, time to go to Temperantia."
"On it Temporary Masterpon." Lila acknowledges before Tora, Poppi, and Lila head out.
Once everyone gathers Rex notices Dromarch with them and asks Dromarch: "Are you sure you want to come with us? You can stay here with Nia if you want."
Dromarch looks over to Rex and closes his eyes. "Master Rex, as much as I would like to stay here and look after Lady Nia I simply can not do that. This team needs a healer and although I am not as good as my Lady is I can still heal any minor wounds that you all suffer." Dromarch gives his reasoning for why he's joining them.
Rex then turns his head over to Morag. "And remember, if you can't fight you should retreat at once. I'd imagine even with a few days of training that you're not entirely use to your new body yet."
"Rest assured I will pull out if I start to become a hinderance, but at the same time you should not underestimate my resolve." Morag cooly responds.
"Well with that I believe that we are ready to go." Rex begins walking towards the portal with everyone else following shortly behind.
Tatazo begins typing in the coordinates of the Temperantia teleporter and gives the group a thumbs up to signify that the teleporter is ready. With that the group walks into the teleporter and they all get teleported to the military camp that has been put in place.
"Now all we have to do is wait."
0 Days Until Exodus Strikes
On the day of the attack it was early morning when one of the guards on duty spotted a mass of bodies marching their way towards them from his binoculars. In a panic he calls out that Exodus and his army were upon them. Within twenty minutes everyone was in place ready to strike with Rex and his team at the forefront of the battle ready to take on Exodus. Morag looks to her team and reminds them.
"Remember to lure Exodus away from the main army. We can not afford for him to attack our troops directly. Take any precautions you deem necessary to lure him away." Everyone nods their head in agreement.
Within a few minutes of getting prepared the blade army is upon them with Exodus at the front to greet them all.
"It is lovely to see you all again. I look forward to thrashing you all for the second time." Exodus grins sadistically at the group.
Rex holds Nia's blade out towards Exodus with his human arm. "Are you truly the real Exodus this time? I don't want to fight another faker."
Exodus chuckles. "I can assure you..." Exodus summons twenty weapons of various shapes and elements around him. "...I am the real deal." Exodus then looks at Rex with another grin. "I see that trash is not here. Did my faker really hurt her that bad?" Exodus laughs. "Pathetic. She deserved everything dealt to her and more considering she committed the gravest sin a blade can commit." Exodus gains a more dark expression. "Muddying her core crystal with your filthy human blood."
Rex's hand tightens on his weapon and he begins to get a bit pissed at Exodus' words, but does not spit back. "We will just have to show you that you're wrong."
Exodus then looks over to Morag and senses the two core crystals she now possesses. "It would appear that you all committed the second worst sin of blades." Exodus points all his weapons at the group on the verge of firing them. "Stealing the lives of my children." Exodus sneers at Morag. "And to think I held respect for you. You couldn't even die an honorable death. I will tell you this 'Empress' their will be no honor this time."
"I made a mistake fighting you alone last time." Morag readies her weapons along with everyone else. "But this time, I brought backup."
"Well then let us see if that even matters." Exodus sends his hand forward. "Kill every human here. Do this to liberate your brothers and sisters." Exodus' army begins to charge forward in a mighty cry.
Morag sends her hand forward as well. "Defeat these foes for the sake of Elysium." The soldiers give their own battle cry as they charge forward as well.
As the battle begins Exodus teleports past Morag's army and begins running towards the core of the Temperantian titan.
"Shit! He's going straight for the core right off the bat. Everyone after him!" Rex yells out as he begins to run through the soldiers to catch up with Exodus. Everyone else does the same thing, but Poppi, Lila, and Morag all use their jets to fly towards Exodus to reach him as quickly as possible. The battle for Temperantia has begun!
to be continued...
Authors Notes: Here is another chapter done. This chapter was mainly for set up more than anything. I'm ok with how this chapter turned out. I think I could've made it better but this is ok. If anyone is wondering why Soosoo is back it's mainly because of the DLC which revealed that Soosoo is actually still alive. As for Tuplia I just wanted Soosoo to have a blade that was a bit cooler than Poppibuster (In terms of weapons which will be revealed later). I quite like the design of Rex's new arm, that was pretty nice. Also I am so happy to announce that with this chapter this fic has officially hit over 100K words. I'll be honest I didn't think I'd ever get to this point so I'm quite happy to land on this milestone. Hopefully we can hit the 200K milestone before the story ends. As for next chapter their is going to be a huge reveal next chapter that I have been wanting to unveil for nearly as long as I've been writing this entire story so get excited for that. Last announcement: The next chapter will probably take about three weeks to come out. I've got finals in college for the next two weeks so I have to prioritize that first before I can write chapter 39 so stay tuned for that. This is by far the longest authors notes I've ever done, so don't expect them to be nearly this long in the future. Anyways what did you all think of this chapter? Let me know. With that this is Exile Mansion signing off.