Gundam Build Divers: Rise of the Crimson Seraphs
Chapter 2: Destiny's Advent
Staring at the massive player hub in front of him the young man couldn't help feeling nervous, being inexperienced when it came to online games meant he didn't really know what to do. Watching as several players ran up and greeted each other he was surprised that in some ways it mirrored real life, whenever he got to visit his friends the young man was overjoyed and these players looked to be just as excited.
"Xepher Reinheart eh, man that's an old name so what do you think of the gather hub?" A voice he recognized as his best friend questioned as he walked up smiling, back in the real world his appearance was slightly different from his avatar's. Both versions of his friend were tall, slender young men with dark brown hair, but in this world it was a little bit shorter than real life. Despite all of the changes it was obviously him, dressed in a long black overcoat and what appeared to be a swallow-tailed coat the young man's friend couldn't help laughing.
"Quite the look you've chosen James of the dawn." Xepher explained as both men laughed at his joke, despite being huge Gundam fan's they enjoyed other mecha series as well. Realizing that he'd yet to see what his own avatar looked like he ran over to a nearby window, studying his reflection the young man was quite satisfied with how it turned out. Dark blue hair which stopped at his neck and yellow eyes stared back at him, dressed in a red t-shirt which had a mech he loved on it, semi-torn dark blue jeans, finger-less leather gloves and a white hoodie that right now was being used as just as a jacket right now it was exactly what he'd chosen.
"Actually on here my user name is Vincent, it's better if we don't use real names unless absolutely necessary." Jamey explained as the young man frowned at his blunder, it made since they didn't really like using real names in the game.
"Well now that's an interesting look, are you supposed to be a reference to another mecha Character?" A voice he recognized as the female shopkeeper questioned as she walked up grinning. Back in the real world she'd been very attractive but in this online world she was practically a goddess, she'd chosen to keep her red hair and dark green eyes but her outfit was completely different. Dressed in a yellow and red bodysuit that accentuated her curves it looked very tight, at first the young man couldn't help staring but quickly looked away when she gave him a playful smile.
"Damn girl that's hugging you in all the right places." A new voice the young man didn't recognize explained before giving a sharp whistle. Blonde hair and dark green eyes he resembled the punk from several different anime, dressed in a shirt that read pilots get trim and baggy jeans he looked at the girl with desire in his eyes. All of this seemed pretty unusual since it was an online game but for all he knew it was common place, brushing him off the young woman shoved past him while motioning for them to follow until he blocked their path.
"Dude take a hint get lost, she's giving us a tutorial so just mind your own business." Vincent explained as the guy stared at him.
Grinning he pulled up a screen making it large enough for everyone present to see it. Raising a finger he tapped it against the screen where a number kept blinking, knowing that it must have some purpose the young man followed his example opening his own command screen.
"OMG you losers are only level 1 and you're back talking me that's hilarious, maybe if you beg really nicely I won't trash your pathetic mobile suits but probably not." the punk explained laughing at both of them, much as they wanted to shut him up it was pretty obvious neither of them could do so right now. Shoving his friend aside the punk started approaching the young lady, growling at seeing his friend get pushed aside the newer player rushed forward. Drawing his fist back the young man released his anger slugging the prick in his stupid face.
"I don't care if you're a higher rank than me, anyone who insults my friends deserves an ass kicking." Xepher growled as the punk recovered before glaring in his direction, grabbing at his side the guy opened another window and clicked something. Seconds later a red message popped up on the young man's screen, opening it he could see the letters duel flashing in bright red letters.
"Don't accept that message, dueling a new player before they've completed their startup missions is against the rules." Cassandra growled as the man stuck his tongue out, redirecting his gaze onto the new player he couldn't believe how pathetic the noob was right now. Reaching up the young man was about to click accept when a hand stopped him, looking at the owner he couldn't believe the sight in front of him.
"She's right it's against the rules, besides real pilots don't challenge rookies so if you're really set on a fight then I will be your opponent." A tall, slender man with blonde hair wearing a silver mask grumbled staring at the punk kid. Clicking on his own screen the guy sent a red letter which matched the other guy's, staring at the guy's numbers it read three hundred.
"What you think just because you're cosplaying as Zechs I'm supposed to be afraid of you?" the punk growled as he clicked the accept button, watching as both screens confirmed the other had accepted it was kind of exciting. Much as the new player wanted to compete he knew sometimes you could learn more from watching, seconds later a new command appeared on his screen. Clicking the accept button he was suddenly in a different room which appeared to be some kind of hangar, gazing upon the giant machine in front of him it was like something from a dream.
"Sorry about interrupting your first login, as my way of apologizing I thought you might enjoy seeing my custom Gunpla." the masked player explained as the new player continued staring at his machine. Tallgeese was a pretty cool unit but he'd made it even cooler by outfitting it with the Strike Freedom's backpack and what appeared to be the Unicorn's shield, upon closer inspection he realized the machine was also outfitted with the Crossbone Unit 1 Full Cloth's Muramasa Blaster.
"I can't believe we're actually getting to see Tallgeese White Flash in action, you Silver Phoenix guys are ranked number one for a good reason." Vincent explained as the young woman next to him nodded in agreement, the new player wasn't entirely sure what his friend meant but the machine was beyond cool. Watching as the pilot walked up to it he smiled before clicking a new option, seconds later he'd disappeared and the machine lit up.
"Dude we better get a front row seat." Xepher explained as the machine walked onto the nearby catapult. Watching the machine it was everything the young man hoped it would be, glancing over at the young woman he noticed she looked a bit concerned. Based on his model's appearance this was going to be an epic battle, as he watched the machine power up a rather loud timer started counting down.
"Come on you guys let's find a better view." Vincent explained rushing forward leaving them behind, giving him a little wink the young lady rushed after him. Watching them he couldn't help feeling a rush of excitement, maybe it was the dream of seeing a mobile suit battle but right now the fears and worries of reality seemed very far away. Clenching his fist the young man rushed after them eager to see a real battle, passing through some kind of gate he found himself in what appeared to be a giant arena.
"Over here it's about to get started." Cassandra explained to join her before realizing that wasn't her name, looking at his screen the girl's avatar was named Sarenthia. Clearly somebody must have liked them because a private box was sitting empty in front of the young man, sitting down he could see the white mobile suit as it entered the arena. Moments later a yellow Rick-Dias entered the arena, watching as both machines flew around he guessed they were probably warming up before their fight.
"Well it's not the beginners course we had in mind but you can still learn from it." Vincent explained as they both sat down alongside him, knowing that it was going to be an epic battle he couldn't wait for it to actually get started. Watching as the machine's both signaled they were ready a holographic image of a beautiful pink haired woman filled the arena, evidently she must have been somebody important because everyone started cheering.
"Attention everyone we're about to get our battle underway, this match is between the captain of the number 1 ranked group on the North American server Mercucio Valentine, and his opponent piloting the yellow Rick-Dias is part of the number ranked number 3 group SaberWolf Titan Raysphere." the pink haired woman explained as the young man chuckled. Anyone who'd chose such an idiotic name deserved a equally humiliating loss, knowing it was the captain of the number 1 ranked group in North America he'd be facing the guy was probably sweating bullets.
"Remember this if you wish to become a true ace you must fight every battle with all your heart." Mercucio explained as the audience began cheering, being powerful was one thing but admiration was very different. Glancing over at his friends the young man couldn't help smiling, both of them looked excited although the young woman still looked a bit worried. Suddenly there was a bright flash which filled the corner of his eye, realizing that it was a beam rifle being discharged he almost yelled at the white mobile suit. Moving with an impressive speed the captain brought his shield up, glad that a cheap attack didn't work on him it was sill upsetting.
"What the *%&( is that idiot doing, attacking before the staring bell is against the rules." Sarenthia growled as the young man's frustration rose, even if it wasn't against the rules only cowards attacked before their opponent was ready. Watching as the crowed started booing it was pretty clear they didn't like it either, if he'd been in charge that guy would've been disqualified immediately.
"Attention pilot the battle isn't officially underway yet, if you preform another false start your account will be flagged." the pink haired woman explained as the crowd resumed booing the opposing pilot. As if to make it clear he didn't care about their opinion he raised the beam rifle once more, making a firing gesture without actually shooting the young man could feel his anger reaching a boiling point. When the battle finally got started he prayed it would be a crushing defeat, seconds later the bell rang signaling the official start.
Dashing forward the mobile suits clashed against each other, beam sabers were struggling against their opponent looking for the advantage. Realizing the battle wasn't going to be over quickly the punk broke off, grabbing his machine's beam rifle he started firing with less than precise accuracy. Blocking each sot with his beam saber it was pretty clear why the guy was ranked number 1, grabbing his own beam rifle he fired two quick shots. Realizing that his beam rifle was actually the unicorn's beam magnum even a newer player understood it was dangerous, dogging both shots the punk switched back to his beam saber and rushed in closing the distance.
"Stop holding back and use the Dragoons." Titan growled as he pressed the attack, watching the battle it would've been easy to incorrectly assume the punk was winning.
Captain or not the white mobile suit wasn't really putting up much of a fight right now, sliding back a couple of feet the white machine looked unable to fight back.
"Annoying cowards like you aren't worthy of my Gunpla's full power." Mercucio growled in reply before standing in front of his opponent, giving the opponent a come at me gesture it was a fairly obvious trap. Sure enough the moron rushed in sword drawn, bringing his sword down across the shield it bounced off. Confused by the shield's resistance he moved into another strike, just like the first one it bounced off the shield aggravating the opponent. Grabbing at his beam rifle the punk decided it was better if he focused on ranged combat, before he could get a shot off the white mobile suit closed in on him and sliced the rifle in half.
"Way to go captain, kick his cheating ass." Sarenthis explained as the newer player looked over at her, suddenly it clicked they had matching last names.
Suddenly the girl's concern made perfect sense, everyone else may been watching the captain but in her eyes it was an older sibling or maybe a cousin. Being an older sibling himself the young man understood how important supporting your family was, directing his gaze back onto the fight it was pretty clear momentum was swinging in the captain's favor. Moving with almost unfathomable speed it was a challenge just to make his eyes keep up, every attack only drove home the vast difference in skill level.
Pressing his advantage the white mobile suit continued raining down impressive looking blows, before long it was pretty obvious his challenger was incapable of answering his onslaught. Dashing out of CQC range the punk reached into his side and pulled out a backup rifle, before he could get a single blast off the white mobile suit closed in and sliced their right arm off.
Boosting upwards the opponent was doing anything he could to delay his inevitable loss, reaching a hand out the captain's beam weapon materialized in his grip. Raising the powerful gun he fired a single blast, watching as it slammed into the opposing mobile suit the machine shuddered a little then exploded.
"Dude that was freaking epic, getting to see a captain in action proved they're amazing." Vincent explained as the young man's friend didn't even respond, looking over at him the newer player was visibly shaking. At first he worried that his friend might be experiencing a panic attack, during the worst moments of his life the young man's anxiety would sometimes get the better of him. Suddenly the young man began laughing, raising a hand into the sky he clenched it shut their eyes focused on the white machine.
"I want...no...I need to fight him." Xepher explained his voice becoming a yell. Grabbing onto the railing in front of him the young man contemplated leaping over it, before he could do so the arena began dissolving. Moments later they were back inside the captain's hangar, walking up to his audience the captain smiled before waving at his cousin. Staring at the white mobile suit the new player was transfixed by it, one day he'd build a model that surpassed it no matter how long it took.