Azure and Crimson

Chapter 4: Legion and Nemesis


After their encounter with one of the Neo Time Jackers and the defeat of the Rhino Orphnoch he summoned with the Time Veil, our heroes are now walking in a new level as they exit the elevator. However, everyone felt that something doesn't feel right with this area. It felt...uneasy and...full of dread.

"I'm feeling something I can't quantify. Is it...dread?" Lola examined the new area as the heroes kept walking forward.

"Hmm...could it be a bug on your system, Lola?" Copen asked.

"I don't think it's a bug, Copen." Gunvolt corrected. "I'm starting to feel a determined rush of Septima here. Wait, no. It's more like... human emotions?"

"There's something really wrong about this place." Joule said.

"I agree, Joule." Serena nodded. "This place is making me feel uneasy..."

"I think it's safe to say we're very close to Zonda and Mytyl." Geiz stated.

"Anyway, do not let your guard down for a second. Anything can happen here because of Eden or that Neo Time Jacker." Zi-O advised as everyone nodded in response.

"Got it, not a good idea to be reckless either." Kanade said.

After a few moments of walking with no Eden troops along the way, they eventually reached a route split, one for the door below and one for the door in front.

"Hmm...should we split up to find any routes to the next level?" Kanade suggested.

"Let me and Copen contact Xiao and Nori, just in case." Gunvolt replied as he and Copen contacted the navigators. Thankfully the signal is still ok, but it might not work for long when they go deeper inside The Garden.

"Could you find out which correct path we should take, or should we split up instead?" Gunvolt contacted the navigators.

"Like me and Nori said earlier, we don't have enough data on what's inside The Garden. Looks like you're all gonna have to split up instead." Xiao replied.

"Though we were able to detect some kind of weird electrical energy from beyond the front door, I think Gunvolt should take the front door while Copen will take the bottom door." Nori added.

"You should bring two teammates with you for support, just in case."

"Got it, thanks for the info, guys. Over and out." Copen said as he and Gunvolt ended the call. "Well there you have it, team. While I take the bottom route, Gunvolt will take the front route. Any volunteers on who's going with who?"

After a few moments of discussions on who's going with who, they made their decision.

"Alright then, me and Kanade will go with you, GV. While Geiz and Serena will go with Copen." Zi-O declared.

"Got it, though how are we gonna be able to regroup?" Gunvolt asked.

"Ah, not to worry, everyone. The two routes should converge to the main route a few areas ahead, so we should be able to regroup there." Lola replied.

"That's good to know, thanks Lola."

"No problem!"

"Alright then, we're going first. Gunvolt, Joule, Zi-O, Kanade, be careful on your route." Geiz wished Gunvolt's team well as he and his team walked towards the bottom route.

"Copen, Lola, Geiz, Serena, same goes for you all as well. See you on the main route ahead." Zi-O wished Copen's team well as he and his team walked towards the front route.


Copen's Route

Copen, Serena and Geiz dropped down from the bottom route door and landed onto a platform. As they looked ahead, they saw that the route is under construction, with bottomless pits and death spikes from above the ceilings.

"Hmm...this route is gonna be tricky to traverse with those large pits." Geiz muttered.

"Lola, you came prepared for this situation?" Copen asked.

"Yup!" Lola replied. "I tweaked your auxiliary camera to +3 control, Copen. It should be easier for you to see what's ahead."

"Got it, thanks Lola. Alright Geiz, Serena, follow my lead and watch your step. I'll be able to traverse the area with my Bullit Dash and my hovering."

"Got it, though these footholds are very precarious." Serena said as she looked at the obstacles ahead. "It's a good thing my Symphogear allows me to jump high and fly for a bit."

"For me, well I can only jump high and not fly." Geiz admitted, but then he pulled out a grappling hook. "Luckily I still have some of Gunvolt's chain from earlier and turned it to a grappling hook."

"Heh, nice way to improvise, Geiz." Copen smirked. "Though did you asked Gunvolt's permission first?"

"He said that I can keep it, since he can always create more anyway. But enough talk, let's do some platforming."

Copen began to use his boosters and hovering to quickly navigate through the platforms as Lola floated right beside him. Serena used her wings on her Symphogear armor to fly across the area. And Geiz used his grappling hook to swing across the platforms. The three did encounter some Eden troops and drones along the way, but they were quickly eliminated.

"Looks like this route is still under construction." Copen muttered while he was boost dashing. "Idiots can't even build a secret base right..."

"Either that, or they're doing this on purpose to make us fall on bottomless pits." Geiz quipped while he was jumping and swinging. "And I HATE bottomless pits, right next to death spikes!"

"P-please don't say that out loud, Geiz..." Serena felt scared while she was flying.

"Ah, s-sorry about that, Serena. Didn't mean to scare you like that."

"Heh, and you're supposed to be the older brother, Geiz." Copen smirked.

"Shut it."

After a few minutes of traversing through the bottom route, they are able to make it to the door leading towards the main route.

"Finally, we made it back to the main route." Serena sighed in relief. "Let's hope Gunvolt's team are able to handle their route."

Copen, Serena and Geiz then went through the door, hoping that Gunvolt's team made it out of their route with not much trouble.


Gunvolt's Route

As Gunvolt, Kanade and Zi-O entered their front door route, they saw a large defensive barrier that's control locked along with two control panels located in different areas of the level.

"Hmm...looks like the barrier won't open unless we activate the two control panels." Zi-O examined the barrier and the control panels.

"Two control panels? Heh, I've missed stuff like this." Gunvolt smirked. "Leave this to me, I can open this thing up, no sweat. I'll just have to tag both control panels at once, and then zap 'em so the barrier will open."

"Ok then, GV. Do your stuff!" Kanade grinned.

Gunvolt then tagged the two control panels and then used his Flashfield to electrocute the panels and open the barrier. While the barrier is opened, the three heroes quickly ran inside and into the next area as the barrier behind them closed shut. In the next area of the route, they saw two more control panels, but they were linked with two defensive barriers.

"Linked defensive barriers, huh? Might be some kind of puzzle." Joule examined the control panels and barriers.

"Reminds me of some of the puzzles I saw on TV and video games." Kanade said. "Though to be honest...I kinda suck at puzzles..."

"Better leave the puzzle solving to me and GV then, Kanade." Zi-O sighed.

Thanks to Zi-O's knowledge on puzzle games, Gunvolt was able to open the barriers as the heroes quickly ran inside past the barrier and into the next area. As for the next area they are entering, it was a hard version of the previous area. This time, it's four control panels and four defensive barriers, with some more Eden troops added to the mix.

"W-what the heck?!" Joule exclaimed at the sight of the next puzzle.

"Oh boy, this...looks complicated..." Gunvolt muttered with a sweatdrop.

"I am REALLY gonna be stuck here if I tackle that puzzle alone." Kanade added with a sweatdrop.

"Let's think about how each panel relates to the barriers. There has to be a way to open them." Zi-O suggested as he and Gunvolt began to think about how to solve the next puzzle, while Kanade decided to vent out her stress on the puzzle by destroying the Eden troops. Well at least their job will be easier and Kanade can calm down for a bit. After a few moments, Zi-O and Gunvolt were able to figure out the puzzle as everyone quickly ran inside past the barrier leading to the next room. Fortunately, that was the last puzzle they needed to tackle as they reached the door leading to the main route.

"Finally, we made it! After this mission, remind me to never play puzzle games for a few weeks." Kanade exclaimed with relief as the three heroes went inside the door and into the main route where they can regroup with Copen's team.

"Make me wonder if they have an easier time on their route instead of ours." Zi-O quipped.

"I'm sure they'll be fine." Gunvolt replied. "Come on, let's go."


Rendezvous Point

Copen, Serena and Geiz are now looking around the area as they waited for Gunvolt's team to arrive. And just like that, Gunvolt, Kanade and Zi-O dropped down from the ceiling and landed behind Copen's team as they just turned around to see them arriving.

"Glad you guys made it in one piece." Geiz smiled from inside his helmet. "So, how'd it go?"

"We did alright, Geiz." Gunvolt replied. "Though do NOT invite Kanade to play some puzzle games for a few weeks."

"I never want to go through that goddamn route ever again..." Kanade deadpanned.

"Oh, well that sucks." Geiz said. "For us, we had to do some platforming across bottomless pits."

"If they are gonna make a secret base, they could've at least finish construction first..." Copen muttered.

"Oh, well that wasn't so bad." Zi-O said.

"They...also added death spikes for good measure." Serena added to Geiz's sentence.

"...Never mind. That's even worse."

"I'd rather take bottomless pits and death spikes over puzzles." Kanade muttered as everyone sweatdropped at her comment.

"Ahem, I think we should keep moving. Let's not keep Mytyl waiting." Copen said.

"Ah right, sorry about that. Let's go!" Zi-O replied as everyone moved on towards the next area, until they reached the next level of the fortress. Unfortunately, they were met with an ambush made by more Eden troops.

"Intruders on Level 4! Security, converge and destroy!" An Eden soldier reported as he and the rest of his troops began their attack.

"Sorry fellas, but we're in a hurry here! So, get lost!" Zi-O exclaimed as he and the other heroes brandished their weapons and began eliminating the Eden ambush. After a while, the ambush was eliminated as the heroes quickly ran to the next area that has a long stairway with large blue crystals hanging on the ceiling, leading towards Level 5 of The Garden. As they went to the next room on top of the stairway, the heroes were met with another Eden ambush.

"The intruders are on Level 5 now?! Stop them, no matter the cost!" Another Eden soldier exclaimed as he and the other troops began firing their guns at the heroes. The heroes quickly blocked their attacks, rushed towards the troops and began decimating them quickly. The ambush was quickly taken care of as a dying Eden soldier muttered his last words, "Z-Zonda...please forgive us... I pass the burden... to you..."

The heroes were silent at what happened, why are these soldiers throwing away their lives because of some misguided paradise? There's no time for regret however, as the heroes then ran towards another long stairway that leads them to Level 6 of the fortress. As they went to the next area on top of the stairway, they were once again met with yet another Eden ambush. These Eden troops are really getting persistent for their loyalty to Zonda.

"Please stop this! We don't want to hurt anymore soldiers! Stand down now!" Serena begged the Eden troops to stop fighting, but they were too stubborn to listen to reason.

"We know we cannot stop you, but if we even weaken you... then the price of our lives is one we will gladly pay!" An Eden soldier replied as he and the other troops began their attack.

"You. Stupid! IDIOTS!" Kanade snapped as she then pointed her spear above and created a gigantic fireball above her, jumped high and stabbed her spear onto the fireball as it unleashed a devastating flame beam towards the Eden ambush.

SUPERGIANT∞FLARE

The flame beam completely decimated the entire Eden ambush in a glorious blaze of fire. One of the dying Eden soldiers muttered, "All we have done... we did for our utopia..."

After the flames subsided, Kanade landed on the floor and started panting as she was exhausted from unleashing one of her strongest attacks. The other heroes were in shock and awe at Kanade's Symphogear power.

"...Remind me to NEVER piss her off like that." Zi-O said as Geiz, Gunvolt and Copen nodded in response. As for Serena, she quickly ran towards Kanade and helped her stand up.

"Kanade?...Are you alright?" Serena asked with worry.

"Hah...hah...sorry you had to see me like that, Serena. I'm fine though." Kanade replied as she was still exhausted. "It's just...they are throwing away their lives for this stupid false paradise."

"Yeah...is this what war feels like?"

"I'm afraid so, they are fighting for what they believe in, even if it's a lie."

Serena began to shed a few tears from her eyes as Kanade wipes them away with her fingers.

"Don't worry, Serena. We will get though this together. We need to keep moving forward towards a better future, for all of us." Kanade smiled.

"You're right, thank you so much, Kanade." Serena smiled back as she and Kanade embraced each other with a hug. The other heroes can't help but smile at their bond. They were right about one thing, they all need to keep moving forward towards a better future and not make the same mistakes as Eden did.

"Kanade, Serena, you girls ready to go?" Copen asked as the girls nodded in response.

"Let's go, Serena. We got a mission to finish." Kanade grinned.

"Yes Kanade, I'm right behind you." Serena replied with a smile as the heroes then ran towards the next area of the level.

"Greek myth tells of Orpheus." Gunvolt thought. "His wife was killed by a snake. So he went to Hades and won her back... with a catch. He couldn't look at her until they left Hades. And yet, he couldn't help himself. He looked, and he lost her. Looking at Kanade and Serena right now made me realize one thing, I will keep moving forward and never turn back."

"Kanade, Serena, I hope you'll reunite with your loved ones someday." Copen thought. "Maybe you girls, Gunvolt, Zeo and Gaius are correct after all. Once we save Mytyl, destroy Eden and defeat Zonda, it's time I take a different path towards a better future, not as an Adept Slayer, but as a Luminous Avenger."

After a few minutes of running towards the next level of the fortress, Lola sensed something weird on her scanner.

"Uh everyone? I'm getting a huge energy reading coming straight ahead, and I can't tell what it is." Lola reported.

"Is it Septima from an Adept?" Copen asked as Lola shook her head in response.

"I...don't think this energy reading is coming from an Adept, Boss."

"Then...what is it?" Serena asked curiously.

"Well standing around won't solve anything, let's go find out what it is." Kanade declared.

"Yeah, you're right, Kanade. Let's go, but be on your guard." Zi-O said as everyone nodded in response.

The heroes ran towards the location of the energy signal until Geiz stopped moving as he noticed some weird objects on the floor.

"Hold on, everyone. I see something on the floor." Geiz said as he got closer to the objects.

The other heroes went towards Geiz's position as he began examining the objects. After Geiz finished the examination, his eyes widened from inside the helmet as he knows what those objects are. Zi-O also felt the same way as Geiz when he saw the objects. The first one was a small white and grey metal-like suitcase with a blue triangle in the middle. The second one was a small silver and grey arm gauntlet that had some kind of handcuff. And last one was a small baton that can actually change forms into a blaster and a large gladius.

"Geiz? Are you feeling okay?" Copen asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Geiz replied. "It's just that...I know these objects from before, and they are DEFINITELY not from this world."

"What?!" Everyone exclaimed in shock, minus Zi-O since he also knew about those objects from somewhere else.

"Yeah, and I think I figured out what that energy reading is just ahead. And it's NOT good..."

"Though who left these in the first place?" Gunvolt asked, until everyone heard a loud roar along with some lasers and gunshots. They saw that it was coming from the same location as that large energy reading.

"Is Eden fighting someone or something right now?" Gunvolt said.

"Sounds like it, but we better take a look." Zi-O replied. "Geiz, we need to...wait, what are you doing?"

Everyone saw Geiz equipping the baton on his right hip, equipped the gauntlet on his left wrist and holding the small case on his left hand.

"It's better not to leave them here." Geiz answered. "I do not want anyone else to find these, especially Eden."

"Good point, Geiz." Copen nodded. "Who knows what Eden will do with them."

"Exactly, now let's go!"

The heroes quickly ran towards the energy signal, and when they reached the area, they were shocked as what is happening in front of them. The Eden troops are fighting a large, bulky robot that bears a vague resemblance to a bird. It is red with purple highlights, stands on two short legs, and has multiple cannons and guns attached to its sides. It also has a pair of horn-like rails attached to its head. The robot then fired drill missiles from its legs and completely decimated the Eden troops.

"Is that...a Plasma Legion?" Gunvolt said as everyone looked at the large robot.

"Wait, you mean you fought one of these before, Gunvolt?" Copen asked as Gunvolt nodded in response.

"Yeah, I fought one during my mission at the Seraph battleship. Though it looks like it made some upgrades since my last fight with it."

"What's a Plasma Legion?" Kanade asked.

"It was an automated war machine made by Sumeragi." Gunvolt explained. "Xiao told me it was a prototype though it looks like Eden somehow managed to finish it. But...why is it attacking the Eden troops right now?"

"What color of the lights the Plasma Legion had the first time you fought it, GV?" Zi-O asked.

"It was blue. Why?"

"Well...there's your answer. Someone not from Eden is controlling that robot."

"What?!" Everyone exclaimed at Zi-O's answer.

"Then, who's controlling it?" Serena asked.

"Look behind the robot." Zi-O replied as he pointed at the one behind the Plasma Legion.

The heroes saw the one behind the Plasma Legion a floating humanoid with highly ridged and textured black skin, glowing red eyes, and wearing a red-accented, black and grey armor-like plating covering its lower arms and legs, chest, back, shoulders, and head. It was holding a large axe on its right hand while his left hand was stretched forward towards the Plasma Legion, controlling it with a red aura. It also has a black plate on its forehead and has three extensions from its hips, resembling skirt armor. The word 'POLICE' is written on the skirt-like extensions and the upper part of its axe, 'NEURON' on its left shoulder, and 'SV-01' on the lower part of the axe, the handle of the axe, its lower arms, legs, and chestpiece. In the center of its chest is a triangular cavity with a dark red glowing core.

"What the gacking hell is that?!" Gunvolt exclaimed at the sight of the humanoid.

"I'm not sure, I've never seen anything like that before!" Copen added.

"That goes for me and Serena too!" Kanade added while Serena nodded in response.

"Geiz...is that...a Legion?" Zi-O asked while in shock.

"Correction, it's a Nemesis. More specifically...an Axe Nemesis!" Geiz corrected.

"Legion?" Kanade and Serena repeated.

"Nemesis?" Gunvolt and Copen also repeated.

"Wait, you know what that thing is?!" Lola exclaimed.

"Well...playing video games can make you know a lot of stuff, even if it's fiction." Geiz admitted while Zi-O added with a nod.

"If the multiverse is real, then so is that thing." Zi-O added.

"Though I never thought it would infect the Plasma Legion like that and make it go berserk."

The Plasma Legion and the Axe Nemesis then both looked towards the heroes and make ready their weapons. The heroes prepared their battle stances in response.

"So who should we take down first? The robot or that humanoid?" Gunvolt asked.

"Personally, I'd rather take down the humanoid first. He should be simple to take down." Kanade suggested, until the Axe Nemesis created a red barrier around itself. "Oh, come on! It can summon a barrier too?!"

"Is any one of us good at breaking barriers?!" Geiz asked. "I know that my Zikan Zax can do the job!"

"Hmm...I think one of my EX Weapons can break some barriers!" Copen replied.

"Good enough for me! Me and Copen will deal with the Axe Nemesis! Everyone else, take out that Plasma Legion!"

"Roger that!" The other heroes nodded in response.

"Alright then, it's go time!" Zi-O declared as he, Gunvolt, Kanade and Serena rush into battle against the Plasma Legion, while Geiz and Copen rushed towards the Axe Nemesis.

The Axe Nemesis slammed the floor with his axe creating a large shockwave towards Geiz and Copen. They jumped high to avoid the attack and then Copen did a Bullit Dash onto the Axe Nemesis as it was then tagged. Then Copen unleashed one of his barrier breaking EX Weapons, the Prism Break as the attack bits created a large prism in front of Copen and collided with the barrier, shattering both it and the prism while the prism shards damaged the Axe Nemesis.

"Nice job breaking that barrier, now let's do some damage!" Geiz said as he rushed towards the Axe Nemesis with his Zikan Zax ready.

"Understood!" Copen replied as he began firing his gun while his attack bits fired homing lasers, both attacked aimed towards the Axe Legion.

Meanwhile, the Plasma Legion fired large drill missiles from its legs, some flying towards the four heroes while some drilled onto the floor and detonated after a few seconds. The heroes are able to dodge the attacks carefully, then Gunvolt fired his gun and tagged the barrier created by the robot and then used his Flashfield to electrocute the barrier until it was broken.

"The barrier is down, now strike hard and fast!" Gunvolt ordered while he was still using his Flashfield onto the tagged robot and fired his gun.

"Got it!" The heroes replied as Zi-O fired his Zikan Gilade Gun Mode, at the head of the robot, damaging it in the process.

Kanade unleashed a large red tornado towards the robot, damaging it and making it stumble for a bit.

LAST∞METEOR

Serena then threw her knife in the air above the Plasma Legion, before it stopped and quickly descended, striking the target with a strong impact.

XANA†TEARS

The robot then retaliated by charging the cannon inside its mouth to shoot a blue plasma ball towards the heroes. They managed to dodge the plasma ball as it impacts the ground instead, but then the ball splits into four smaller balls that travelled along the ground. They were able to dodge by jumping over the small energy balls and then they counterattacked with slashes, bullets and electricity. The Plasma Legion stumbled back after the assault and then retaliated by flipping down the rails from its shoulders and then fired a massive energy blast towards the heroes.

"Incoming energy laser!" Gunvolt yelled as he and the other heroes jumped away from the laser's path as it tore through the ground and the walls.

"Is it just me, or is this Plasma Legion a lot stronger from last time?!" Zi-O exclaimed as he was catching his breath from dodging its attacks.

"Could it be because of Eden?" Serena guessed.

"Or was it because of that red humanoid?" Kanade added.

"I think it's probably both." Joule answered.

"If we're gonna have a chance against that Plasma Legion, Geiz and Copen better bring down that Axe Nemesis ASAP!" Zi-O exclaimed.

"Hope they won't take too long!" Gunvolt added. "We can't hold it off forever!"

Meanwhile back to Geiz and Copen's fight against the Axe Nemesis, all of them are at a stalemate. The Axe Nemesis swung his axe at Geiz as he try to dodge and block its axe blows while countering back with axe strikes with his Zikan Zax while he was still holding that small briefcase. Copen used his Prism Break EX Weapon to break the barriers the Axe Nemesis keeps creating, but he can't do this forever as his weapon energy is starting to run out and there is no time to recharge.

Geiz and Copen then jumped back a few steps away from the Axe Nemesis as it roars its battle cry.

"This is getting nowhere, that thing is tough..." Copen said while exhausted from attacking and dodging.

"I agree, we can't keep doing this forever, especially when it keeps creating barriers." Geiz replied.

"I'm gonna run out of weapon energy soon. And why are you still holding on to that case, Geiz?!" Lola exclaimed. "I dunno if it will do much!"

Geiz thought for a moment and looked at the small case he was holding. "Hmm...I wonder..." He then looked towards Copen and said, "Copen, I think it's time I use this thing. Hold off the Axe Nemesis for just a while longer!"

"Alright Geiz, I hope you know what you're doing!" Copen nodded. "Lola, let's buy him some time!"

"Right behind you, Boss!" Lola replied as she and Copen rushed towards the Axe Nemesis to distract it.

Geiz then took a deep breath and nodded at the case. He then placed the case on his upper wrist as the case opened itself and attached to his wrist. It became some kind of device with an AI on it.

"Please insert new ID." The AI from the device spoke in a monotone voice.

"Eh? Um...My name is Gaius Cornell. Age: 22. Blood type: A" Geiz answered.

"Analysing...New ID confirmed. Legatus Access Granted. Welcome, Gaius Cornell."

"Set Legatus to MODE-C."

"MODE-C: Ready"

Geiz grinned from inside his helmet as he finally knows what do to next. But first, he needed to weaken the Axe Nemesis just a bit more so that he can put his plan into motion. He then prepared his Zikan Axe and then brandished the baton from his right hip and set the baton to Gladius Mode, which looks like a dark grey greatsword and blue energy lines across the sides of the blade.

"Right then, let's go capture a Legion!" Geiz thought to himself as he rushed towards the Axe Nemesis while it was attacking Copen. Copen tried to Bullit Dash onto the Axe Nemesis but then it swung his axe at Copen as he took a hard hit to the chest and sent him flying a few steps and landed hard onto the ground. Copen slowly tried to stand up as the Axe Nemesis slowly floated towards him. As the Axe Nemesis is about to struck the final blow with an overhead strike, the attack was blocked by Geiz using his Zikan Zax and the Gladius greatsword.

"Sorry Copen! Was I late?" Geiz asked while blocking the attack.

"Heh, took you long enough, Geiz!" Copen replied with a smirk.

"Time for me to finish the fight!" Geiz declared as he pushed back the Axe Nemesis and performed a cross slash with both of his weapons onto its chest, pushing it back even more while damaging it. He then took out the Faiz Ridewatch, turned the dial and inserted the watch onto the Zikan Zax.

FINISH TIME! FAIZ!

With the Zikan Zax charged up with Red Photon energy, Geiz then rushed towards the Axe Nemesis and performed an overhead strike with both his axe and greatsword.

ZAKKURI CUTTING!

The Axe Nemesis tried to block the attack with its barrier, but it was no use as the barrier was broken though and pushed back the Axe Nemesis, leaving behind a Faiz symbol. Then Geiz performed a side slash with both of his weapons onto its chest and sent it tumbling a few steps back onto the floor, dropping its large axe in the process. With the Axe Nemesis weakened, Geiz unequipped his weapons and activated the now named Legatus device on his left wrist as it opened up and prepared a capture ring. Geiz then launched the blue capture ring as it flew towards the Axe Nemesis and trapped it inside the ring. It was struggling to escape, but after a few moments a glowing blue collar was materialized and attached to its neck, stopping its movements. Also there was a long glowing blue chain that was materialized and connected from the collar on the Nemesis to the cuff gauntlet on Geiz's left arm. The Axe Nemesis eyes were changed to blue, the skin was changed to blue, the plate on its forehead is also changed to blue, and the color of its armor was now changed to a green accented, white and grey color.

"Now then, get over here!" Geiz commanded as he pulled the chain with his arm as the humanoid floated right beside him. It was now under his control. "Welcome to the team, Axe Legion!" Geiz said to his new partner. With the Legion now on Geiz's command, he walked towards Copen and offered a hand. Copen grabbed Geiz's hand as he slowly stood up and feeling a bit exhausted.

"Thanks for the help." Copen said.

"Anytime, Copen." Geiz replied.

"Btw, I didn't know that baton can turn into a greatsword."

"This isn't just a normal baton, it's an X-Baton."

"So...that thing is on our side now?" Lola asked while looking at the Legion. "It's not gonna attack us again, right?"

"Don't worry, I got the Axe Legion under control." Geiz replied.

"But I thought it was called the Axe Nemesis."

"That was before I captured it with the Legatus." Geiz pointed at the Legatus on his wrist. "With this device, I can capture and control the Legion by my own will."

"So this thing is a Legion now?" Copen asked as Geiz nodded in response.

The Axe Legion then tapped on Geiz's shoulder and gestured its head towards the other heroes and the Plasma Legion. There was some unfinished business to take care of.

"Oh right, forgot about them." Geiz said as he looked at the other heroes still fighting the Plasma Legion. "Let's finish up this fight!"

"Got it!" Copen replied as he, Lola, Geiz and the Axe Legion rushed towards the other heroes. The other heroes were doing ok for a while, until the Plasma Legion began to perform its trump card, The Aero Runner. The robot detached itself into two parts, a flying jet and a battletank, and then both the jet and the tank began charging towards the heroes.

"I didn't know it could do that!" Kanade exclaimed as she looked at the jet and the tank.

"Everyone watch out and don't get hit!" Serena also exclaimed.

The jet and the battletank quickly rushed towards the heroes as the machines tried to ram into them. The heroes quickly dodged them, but they were starting to get exhausted for fighting too long. The jet was just about to ram into Gunvolt and Zi-O, until it was intercepted by Copen using his Twintail Bunker EX Weapon by drilling on the jet's head.

"Sorry I'm late, the Axe Nemesis is taken care of!" Copen exclaimed as he used his EX Weapon to push back the jet until it was staggered and fell to the ground. Meanwhile the battletank was about to run over the exhausted Kanade and Serena, until its movements were halted by a glowing blue chain.

"Hey! Over here!" Geiz said as the girls turned their attention towards him as he was pulling the blue chain.

"Geiz, you made it!" Kanade grinned.

"But why are you holding a blue chain?" Serena asked. Geiz gestured his head towards the one holding the other end of the chain. As the girls looked who it is, they were shocked to see the same humanoid pulling the other end of the chain to prevent the battletank from ramming the girls.

"Meet my new partner, the Axe Legion!" Geiz declared as he and the Legion used the chain to launch the battletank into the air like a slingshot. "Let 'em have it, ladies!" Geiz exclaimed as the girls nodded in response.

Kanade and Serena fully charged up their weapons and then threw them towards the launched battletank, striking it with a large impact.

SAGITARIUS∞ARROW

GNOME†TRIAL

The attacks struck the battletank hard as it fell into the ground with a hard impact and unable to move.

"Axe Legion, finish it off!" Geiz commanded the Legion by flinging his chain towards the battletank and then the Legion flew into the air and stabbed the top of the tank with his large axe, piercing through the armor. The Legion then pulled the axe away from the tank as the axe also left behind some kind of blue time bomb that looks like the axe the Legion was holding. After a few seconds, the bomb detonated, destroying the battletank in a large explosion. Kanade, Serena and Geiz were in awe at the Axe Legion's power.

Kanade then spoke, "Wow, that could've been us if that humanoid-"

"Ahem, Legion." Geiz corrected.

"...Okay, that Legion was still our enemy. Though how did you manage to control it?"

"You can thank the Legatus for that." Geiz answered as he pointed at the device on his left wrist.

"So that's a Legatus, huh? Wait, that looked like the small case you were holding earlier! When did it turn into that?!"

"Video game knowledge. I'll explain when this mission is over."

"Alright, if you say so."

The Axe Legion then floated towards the three heroes as the Legion nodded towards Geiz for finishing the task.

"Nice job, now go get some rest. You've earned it." Geiz said as the Axe Legion disappeared into the Legatus and the device closed itself.

"Amazing..." Serena was in awe at the Legatus device.

Geiz nodded and said, "With the Axe Legion on our side, it's gonna make our fight against Eden a lot easier."

"Yep." Kanade nodded. "I wonder if there are more of these? Could we make more?"

"Hmm...I'm not sure."

"Maybe we can ask Einstein later so she can figure out how?" Serena suggested.

"I guess it's worth a shot." Geiz replied. "Now let's go see how the others are doing."

The girls nodded as everyone rushed towards the other heroes still fighting the other part of the Plasma Legion. However, the fight is about to be over as the jet is still struggling to fly after Copen's counterattack.

"You boys up for a Finish Time?" Zi-O asked Gunvolt and Copen.

"I thought you'd never ask." Gunvolt smirked as Zi-O pushed the button on the Ridewatch, slammed the tilt button on the belt and gave it a 360 spin.

FINISH TIME!

As Zi-O prepared to jump to perform his Rider Kick, floating letters that spelled 'Kick' in kakatana surrounded the jet.

"I'll go first! Shred Storm!" Copen commanded the bits as they attacked the jet in blinding speeds while sending it to the air, and finishing off with a final three line slash.

"Next up...Luxcalibur!" Gunvolt jumped high into the air and threw a large electric blade towards the jet, striking it and leaving the sword on it.

"And finally...!" Zi-O jumped high onto Gunvolt's hands with his feet as he then launched Zi-O like a springboard high into the air.

TIME BREAK!

Zi-O then thrust his right leg forward with the surrounding kakatanas merging into one, colliding onto his right boot, and then striking Gunvolt's Luxcalibur onto the jet and caused a large electrical explosion, destroying the jet as Zi-O then landed below the explosion with his feet.

Gunvolt and Copen smirked at Zi-O for a job well done and walked towards him.

"Now THAT, is teamwork." Zi-O smirked as he was standing up. After a while, all the heroes regrouped at the stairway entrance leading towards the next level of The Garden.

"It was a hard fight, but we won. And we got a new ally to help us out; the Axe Legion." Geiz said.

"I see, so what happened to the Axe Nemesis?" Gunvolt asked.

"Geiz used a device called the Legatus to capture the Nemesis and turned it into a Legion." Copen pointed at the Legatus on Geiz's left wrist.

"So that's how. Wait, is that...?"

"The small case Geiz was holding earlier? Well, it turned into that when he equipped it."

"Ah, that explains it. Thank god you found and kept it before Eden did."

"Yeah, imagine if Eden got a hold of it, along with the Legion." Kanade added as everyone shuddered at the thought of Eden using them. That would be very bad indeed. And then suddenly...

"Gyaaah!" Lola and Joule screamed in pain.

"Huh? Lola, what's wrong?!" Copen asked with worry as everyone turned their attention to Lola and Joule.

"Joule? You ok?!" Gunvolt added with worry.

"So much...human feelings...!" Joule said while still in pain and clutching her forehead with her right hand.

"The Septima Shards...they are reacting to something! Zonda and Mytyl have to be close by!" Lola added while doing the same thing Joule is feeling.

"Then...that means..." Serena began as she and the other heroes looked towards the end of the stairway.

"...They are right at the next level, huh?" Kanade finished.

"Let's finish this." Zi-O declared as everyone ran up the stairway and towards the next level of the Garden.

"I know the shards react to Zonda..." Copen thought while he was running. "But why do they react to Mytyl? It's like when Lola first took human form...I guess we'll find out when we confront them. Hang on just a little longer, Mytyl. I'm...no...WE are coming!"

"Prepare yourself, Zonda. We're coming for you...!" Gunvolt thought while also running.

And so the stage is set as our heroes are closing in to their final battle against Zonda, but there is still one final trial they must finish before facing her; The revived Seven Eden Adepts. Though why is there a Legatus, the X-Baton and the Axe Nemesis in Gunvolt's world in the first place? They clearly do not belong in this world, so why are they appearing here? As always...Only time will tell...


Chapter 4: Legion and Nemesis

END

Author's Note: I decided to add something from Astral Chain to make things interesting, consider that a glimpse of a future story someday since there hasn't been an Astral Chain fanfic yet. Besides, Astral Chain is a really damn good game too.