Book 5: The Blaster Master
Chapter 10: Assault Within the Mutant Meteor
Inside the Mutant Meteor
(Play BGM: The Grotesque Labyrinth (Area 8) from Blaster Master Zero OST)
Once the strike team arrived inside of the mutant meteor, they were speechless at what they saw. The landscape is filled with purple organic substances with some of them moving like a heartbeat.
"What the gacking heck are we looking at right now?" Gunvolt asked as the group looked at their surroundings.
"The inside of the mutant meteor, obviously." Geiz answered. "But why do I feel like we're inside a mutant's body?"
"Sure looks like it considering some of those purple substances are moving." Jason answered back. "Eve, is this your first time looking at a place like this?"
"Mhm." Eve replied. "Still, this looks pretty bad."
"I agree." Vent replied.
"Though I was kind of expecting the inside of the meteor to be… rocky, I think?" Aile commented.
"The Bronya thinks that this is how the Mutant Lord created this meteor, which is why its insides looked just like this." Bronya assumed.
"Ugh… when this is over, I really must take a long shower… along with getting myself sanitized." Cecilia said with disgust.
"Yeah, maybe we should too." Shirabe agreed.
"Well there's no point turning back now. We have to keep moving forward until we reach the Mutant Lord." Houki stated.
"Houki's right, so let's start moving." Jason agreed as the vehicles began moving, heading for the lower levels where they avoid spiked ceilings and destroyed more mutants.
But then they encountered green jelly blocks with some of them housing a floating mutant inside. In response, they quickly destroyed the blocks and the mutants before heading into the next area.
Once there, SOPHIA'S Receiver began ringing. "Huh, well that's weird. SOPHIA'S picking up a signal. Call me crazy, but I think it's a map data." Eve informed while looking at SOPHIA'S console.
"...You must be joking." Cecilia spoke with disbelief. "Why would there be a signal even inside a living meteor?"
"Well, Eve's not joking. I've checked Rairyu's Receiver and there is indeed a signal." Copen confirmed.
"Unbelievable…"
"I would suggest not to dwell upon it too much." Adam advised.
"Adam's right." Shirabe agreed. "On the bright side, at least by obtaining the map data, we'll be able to find out where the Mutant Lord is located."
"Hmm… I guess you do have a point there." Cecilia noted.
"Anyway, where's the signal coming from?" Jason asked.
Eve checked the receiver again. "I think we need to keep moving straight ahead. When the signal rings faster, I'll let you know."
"Gotcha. Let's keep moving." Geiz replied as the vehicles resumed moving, clearing out more mutants and jumping onto platforms until they reach the next area.
From there, the vehicles dived into green water that's thankfully not acidic and swam towards the next area as they cleared out underwater mutants and avoiding the ceiling spikes.
While the strike team is traversing through the next area, clearing out more mutants and avoiding traps and obstacles, Jason began to ponder about something. "From what looks like its digestive fluids, it seems like its cells are starting to regenerate. It's turning itself into a menace to deal with a foreign substance... which happens to be us."
"Eve, can I ask you about something?" Gunvolt spoke up.
"Sure thing, GV. What is it?"
"The mutant meteor itself are white blood cells, and it's probably treating us like a virus, right?"
"Actually, it's the opposite. The mutant itself is a virus that has nested itself into the earth…"
"I see…" Gunvolt noted.
"And it's going to keep spreading until the Mutant Lord and the meteor are destroyed." Copen stated.
"We will win this, no matter what. And we'll all do it together." Geiz added in a determined tone.
"...Thanks, guys." Eve smiled. "You're right, we can win this, together. And maybe when this is all over, I'd like to see the other worlds."
"Me too. I'm interested to see what the other worlds are like." Jason added.
"You'll get your chance soon… after we win, of course." Geiz replied.
When they arrived at the next area, SOPHIA's Receiver began ringing rapidly. "Guys, we're close to what we're looking for." Eve informed after looking at the MA's console.
"But it looks like there's a fork in the road." Jason observed the routes on the monitor consisting of the upper route and the lower route.
"So which way should we go?" Houki asked.
"According to the signal… it's coming from the upper route." Eve checked the Receiver.
"In that case, one team will check out the signal while the rest of us will wait here." Geiz said.
"Sounds fair." Vent agreed.
"I think my team will go and check out the signal this time." Jason decided. "But I'm gonna need Samus' help again, if she's ready to fight that is."
"No problem, Jason. I've had my rest and am ready to get back into the field." Samus replied before disembarking Rairyu and boarded SOPHIA with Adam joining her.
"Best of luck out there." Shirabe said to Jason's team.
"We'll be back soon, so sit tight, everyone." Cecilia replied before SOPHIA leaped onto the upper route and drove ahead.
As SOPHIA drove ahead, it began clearing out more ground and flying mutants, leaping across spikes, and destroying red stars with the Cannon Shot, until they reached the next area with the domain entrance on the other side.
"There's the domain entrance." Jason noticed said entrance on the MA's monitor. Afterwards, he drove the MA, hovering over and landing next to the entrance. "Now who's coming along with me this time?"
"I think I'll sit this one out. I need to reserve my energy for our fight against the Mutant Lord." Houki decided.
"I'll also stay with Houki this time." Cecilia added.
"Well Jason, looks like it's just you, me and Adam exploring that domain." Samusdeduced.
"Sure seems like it." Eve added. "Don't worry, Houki and Cecilia will keep me safe."
"That's what I'm counting on." Jason replied, putting on his helmet before he, Samus and Adam disembarked from the MA after Jason gave Fred to Eve. "Be back in a minute! And take good care of Fred!" Afterwards, the three entered the domain.
Inside SOPHIA, Houki took a deep breath. "Hah… Ichika is never going to believe what we've been through in this world."
"Agreed." Cecilia added. "The same goes for his older sister, Chifuyu."
"You know, I was kind of wondering what Chifuyu is like." Eve pondered.
"Hmm… since we're going to be here for a while… sure, we'll tell you all about Chifuyu-sensei." Houki offered. "Sounds good?"
"That's fine with me." Eve smiled "Also, what's a sensei?"
"It means 'teacher' in Japanese."
"Ah, right. Got it."
"Chifuyu Orimura is our homeroom teacher in our class at IS Academy." Cecilia explained. "She's also the Former IS representative of Japan and the winner of the first international IS tournament called the Mondo Grosso."
"Wow…" Eve remarked with awe. "Who would've thought Ichika would be related to a very skilled IS pilot, let alone being your homeroom teacher. Must've been fate."
"Fate, huh…" Houki whispered.
"Speaking of fate…" Cecilia glanced at the croaking frog drone sitting on Eve's lap. "I was wondering why Jason was chosen to become SOPHIA'S pilot?"
"Hmm… now that you mention it…" Eve glanced at Fred. "I'm not sure. Though maybe it's because Jason was the one who found him first."
"Or maybe Fred was looking for help since you were not responding." Houki assumed with her hand on her chin.
Eve thought about Houki's assumption while looking at Fred. "Is that why you chose him to become a MetaFighter, Fred?"
"MetaFighter?" Houki and Cecilia repeated.
"Ah, that's the name of someone who pilots a Metal Attacker."
"Oh."
"Well, Jason did mention that he's a robotics engineer specialist and a member of the EDF. Maybe that's the reason why Fred chose him." Houki recalled.
"I see…" Eve noted before looking at Fred with a smile. "Then he made the right choice after all. Thanks, Fred."
"Ribbit." Fred croaked.
Moments of waiting later, they saw Jason, Samus and Adam on the monitor exiting from the domain… without using the wormhole this time. "Ah, welcome back, guys!" Eve said to the three while Fred croaked and leaped onto her shoulder.
"Wait a minute." Cecilia blinked. "I thought you're going to use that wormhole to escape the domain."
"Apparently not this time for this domain. We felt like we went through a full circle just to get the dang map data." Jason explained. "Because when we blew up a cracked wall at the area where we found the map data and went inside, only to find out that we're back where we started."
"That's… odd…" Houki blinked before shaking her head. "No matter, at least you got the map data."
"That we did." Samus confirmed as Jason revealed the map data chip on his hand.
"Now it's time to rejoin the others. We need to hurry or the Mutant Lord will plan something behind our backs." Adam stated.
"Got it." Eve replied, opening the cockpit which allowed the three to enter the MA before closing. Afterwards, the MA drove off while Eve began installing the map data onto the MA and the Zikan Phones.
"Ah, here they come now!" Shirabe saw SOPHIA arriving from the Time Mazine's monitor.
"Hi guys! Still can't believe there's a map data in a place like this though." Jason remarked, appearing on the comms screen with Gunvolt on another screen.
"I've already downloaded the map data onto SOPHIA." Eve informed while typing a few keys. "Gimme a moment to share it with you guys."
A minute later, the layout of the mutant meteor was shown on the navigation screen, with the other Zikan Phones also having the map data. "So there's mutant guardians inside the meteor as well, along with one Mutant Lord." Geiz observed the three mutant icons on the map.
"And it looks like one of them is close by." Shirabe glanced at the mutant icon on the right of their current location.
"So where's the Mutant Lord?" Gunvolt asked.
In response, Bronya pointed at the mutant icon on the bottom of the map which is slightly larger than the other two. "He's right over here."
"So that's where he is." Copen frowned.
"Should we go straight for the Mutant Lord or go after the mutant guardians first?" Houki asked.
"I think we should deal with the guardians first. I don't want any unexpected surprises on the way out." Samus suggested.
"I'd better go with Samus' suggestion for this one." Vent said.
"Alright, then it's decided. We'll go after the mutant guardians first, starting with the one near us." Geiz declared.
"Okay, time to move out." Jason declared with the comms screens off before the vehicles took the lower route which should lead them towards the mutant guardian.
As the strike team traversed through the next area, clearing out more mutants, destroying jelly blocks and avoiding spike traps, they found a recharge station at the end. After using it, they went to the next area where they saw a lot of green jelly blocks along with more mutants, turrets and spikes.
After clearing the way, they reached a platform where they saw an opening above them. "Okay, the domain should be up there, but it's too small for the MAs to fit right in." Eve informed after looking at SOPHIA's main monitor.
"Looks like some of us will have to get out of the vehicles and fly into that opening." Geiz deduced.
"Then it looks like it's up to me and Houki to explore that domain." Cecilia said.
"I can join in too with my jet boosters." Copen added.
"I can also join in the party since I can use my Space Jump ability to reach higher places, but I think you guys already chose to volunteer first. Three's a crowd, as they say." Samus said.
"Okay, then we'll wait here until you three come back." Jason said before Houki, Cecilia and Copen disembarked from the vehicles with the former two donning their IS frames again.
"Watch yourselves up there!" Aile said to the three, flying right into the opening above.
Once there, they saw a lot of green jelly blocks with some of them having mutants inside. "Well, time for some demolition. Go nuts, guys!" Lola said from inside Copen's relic pendant.
Copen aimed his Divider and X-Baton Blaster at the blocks with his bits circling around his guns with the Blazing Ballista Ex-Weapon armed, while Houki and Cecilia followed his lead with their weapons ready. And in quick succession, everything was obliterated with explosive arrows, lasers and slash-waves until the way to the next area is wide open.
"Alright, the way is clear." Copen said as the group holstered their weapons. "Let's move." He then flew towards the next area with the IS girls following behind. From there, they avoided the spikes and the star spike and went inside the domain.
Once inside though, the area was pitch black. "Eh? Why is this area dark all of a sudden?" Houki questioned as she and Cecilia looked around.
"Hold still and don't move. I'll fix this real quick." Copen complied, pulling out a Flash Bomb and throwing it. "Cover your eyes!" He shouted before everyone closed their eyes, just in time for the bomb to detonate, letting out a flash of light that lit up the area, and also revealed large blue mutant slimes that we're stunned by the flash.
"Mutant slimes?!" Lola exclaimed as everyone opened their eyes.
"Not anymore!" Copen retaliated by firing his Blazing Ballista at the slimes, causing them to explode upon impact. However, more slimes took their place as they slowly approached the group. "Tch… of course they would multiply…" He scowled.
"Leave this part to us!" Houki complied, firing lasers at the slimes from her katanas, with Cecilia providing support with her beam rifle. Soon after, the slimes were eliminated as they lowered their weapons.
"Ugh… fighting slimes in real life is a lot different compared to video games." Cecilia remarked.
"At least they're not the elemental slimes Gunvolt and Geiz fought in Teyvat." Copen said.
"Wait… elemental slimes?" Houki repeated.
"Yup, seven types in fact." Lola confirmed. "Though according to them, the Cryo and Geo slimes are the most annoying ones because of their respective elemental armour. You're gonna need something explosive or a heavy weapon like a claymore to break those armours first."
"I see." Cecilia noted. "Also, what's Teyvat?"
"Another world but in a fantasy style, with some elements from Earth. One example being the nation of Liyue looking like ancient China." Copen explained.
"No way." Houki gasped.
"You'll see what I mean when we take you to that world. Though be wary of the Fatui since they're known for stealing technology."
"They can do that?!" Cecilia gasped.
"Yup, GV and Geiz saw it for themselves with the Fatui having metal suits, pyro rifles and cryo guns. Like, what the heck?!" Lola confirmed.
"I see…" Houki noted with a frown.
"However Houki, you're free to use your katanas." Copen stated. "Not sure about Cecilia's rifle despite the Fatui having their own guns."
"Better leave that decision to Zeo, Gaius or Akira. Gotta play our cards right." Lola added.
"Fair enough." Cecilia nodded. "Anyway, where's the mutant guardian?"
In response, Copen took out his Zikan Phone to check the domain layout. "According to this, the guardian should be right over there." He pointed at the mutant icon north of their current position.
"Thank goodness we're able to get a map… despite being found on the inside of a living meteor." Houki remarked while Copen put away his phone.
"Let's… not think about that too much and move along." Cecilia sweatdropped before the group began taking the northern route.
The group took the northwest route and then the northeast route to reach the desired location, while dealing with more slime mutants and hostile drones along with avoiding the spike traps. Eventually, they reached the recharge platform where they immediately used it before heading inside the guardian room up north.
Once inside, the group prepared their weapons as the doors behind them closed. "Why do I get the strange feeling that this is gonna be an enemy rush full of mutant slimes?" Lola pondered.
"Considering how many mutant slimes we had to deal with while reaching this spot, most likely." Cecilia replied.
"No matter, we'll stop them either way." Houki stated.
"Alright, here we go, everyone!" Copen declared.
=WARNING=
THE LAIR OF
=CELL REJECTION=
And like clockwork, groups of mutant slimes began appearing in the room. "Yup! Called it!" Lola said.
"Sometimes, I hate it when you're right." Cecilia sighed, now deploying her laser drones from her IS and then commanded them to attack the slimes while she fired her beam rifle.
"Doesn't matter if they can multiply. We'll exterminate them all!" Copen declared, arming his Blazing Ballista Ex-Weapon with his support bits circling around his Divider and X-Baton Blaster, and then fired at the slimes.
"Copen's right! Leave none alive!" Houki also declared and began unleashing lasers and slash-waves from her katanas.
As time passed, the three kept fighting the slimes despite its ability to multiply into more slimes, but eventually, the slimes were eliminated at last.
"Lola, status report." Copen requested.
"One sec, Ix." Lola complied, using her scan ability on the room. "Nope, that's all of them. We're good now."
"Finally…" Cecilia sighed with relief as the group dispersed their weapons with her drones returning to her IS frame.
"I hope we didn't take too long fighting this slime horde." Houki said.
"I think we're busy dealing with the slimes instead of keeping track of the time." Copen answered, until he noticed a familiar green object in the center of the room and approached it. "Another LIFE-UP." He observed after picking up the object.
"Huh. Was expecting a new function for the MAs." Lola remarked.
"I think the MAs already gotten most of its functions unlocked, so we won't be seeing any more blue or yellow data chips." Copen stated, putting away the LIFE-UP and taking out his Zikan Phone Blaster Mode and fired a wormhole in front of him. "Now let's head back to the others." Afterwards, Copen and the IS girls quickly went inside the wormhole.
Soon after, the wormhole appeared in front of the vehicles and out came Copen and the IS girls while the wormhole vanished behind them.
"Welcome back, you three." Gunvolt greeted from inside Rairyu. "So, what did you get this time?"
"Another LIFE-UP." Copen answered, showing said object on his hand.
"Though we had to deal with a mutant slime horde first." Houki added.
"Ugh… I just hope those slimes didn't touch my hair in the process." Cecilia said with disgust.
"Feel free to take a nice long shower once we're done with the mission." Geiz replied from inside the Time Mazine.
"Anyway, we'd better get moving." Jason declared from inside SOPHIA. "Houki, care to give that LIFE-UP to Eve for me?"
"No problem." Houki complied, taking the LIFE-UP from Copen and boarded SOPHIA with Cecilia following behind after the girls dispersed their IS frames while Copen boarded Rairyu. Afterwards, the vehicles resumed their deep traversal of the mutant meteor.
As time goes by while Eve is installing the LIFE-UP onto the MAs and Jason's suit, the group traversed deeper into the meteor, clearing out more mutants and hostile drones and avoiding the mine and spike traps, with one of the areas requiring the use of the Dive Gear. Minutes later, they finally arrive at the path split, one below the cliff and one across it.
"Guys, I think we're getting really close to the end." Eve informed, looking at the map navigation screen.
"And it looks like the Mutant Lord is on the bottom path." Vent observed the bottom path from Rairyu's main screen.
"Though there's also the issue of the mutant guardian on the other path." Aile reminded, looking at the path across.
"Well Geiz, it's your call. What's our next move?" Jason asked.
"Hmm…" Geiz pondered for a moment, until he made the decision. "Okay, here's what we'll do. One team will deal with the mutant guardian while everyone else will clear a path towards the Mutant Lord. Sounds fair?"
"Alright./Seems fair./Good enough for me." The group replied.
"Ah, Geiz? Is it alright if Vent and I handle the mutant guardian?" Aile requested. "We never did get to explore a domain yet."
"...Oh yeah, you're right." Geiz realized. "Okay then, the domains all yours to explore. Which means GV's team will take the path across."
"Sure sounds like it." Gunvolt replied. "Alright, we're heading out. Good luck clearing the path to the Mutant Lord."
"And try not to go fight the Mutant Lord without us." Joule added.
"Do not worry, we will wait for you." Bronya assured.
"Stay safe, guys." Shirabe added before Rairyu hovered across the gap, landed on the other side and drove into the next area. The other vehicles then jumped down the gap and began clearing the path by eliminating any mutant in sight.
Back with Rairyu, they found the domain entrance on the other side of the spike pit along with a ceiling turret above, which was quickly destroyed by the MA's homing missiles. Afterwards, the MA hovered across the spike pit and landed next to the domain entrance.
"Alright, that's our stop." Vent said as he and Aile disembarked from Rairyu.
"Take caution, you two. The mutant guardian hiding inside is not an enemy rush like the last domain." Adam warned.
"We're not sure what kind of mutant you'll be fighting inside, so stay sharp." Samus added.
"Understood./We'll be careful." Vent and Aile noted before entering the domain with their ZX-Busters ready.
Once inside, the MegaMen were immediately met with a group of mutant slimes quickly approaching them.
"Mutant slimes already?!" Aile exclaimed before they fired charged buster shots at the slimes.
Moments later, the slimes were exterminated, allowing the two to catch their breath. "Well… some welcome wagon this turned out to be." Vent remarked.
"To be fair, we're inside enemy territory, so attacks such as this are expected." Model Z pointed out.
"I know, but I never expected it to happen so soon. Aile, let's check the domain map real quick."
"Got it." Aile complied, using her Zikan Phone to check the domain layout. "Huh, well this is odd."
"Odd?" Vent repeated.
"This domain is just one straight linear path with no extra areas." Aile explained, showing the map to Vent.
"Huh, you're right. What are the odds." Vent remarked as Aile put away her phone.
"At least with this layout, we can clear this domain a lot sooner." Model X stated.
"Good point." Aile noted. "Well then, let's get going." Afterwards, the two resumed their trek into the domain.
Time passed by as the MegaMen rushed through the domain, clearing out the slime mutants and hostile drones along the way. Surprisingly, they didn't encounter any spike or water pits during their exploration. Eventually, they arrived at the recharge platform room and used it before entering the last room.
And inside, they saw a hexagonal green cell with a pink nucleus, surrounded by eight round red cells circling around it. "Is that… living mutant blood cells?!" Aile exclaimed before shuddering. "Eww…".
"A mutant guardian is a mutant guardian, Aile. We need to exterminate it." Vent stated, switching to his ZX-Sabers. "Though we need to get rid of the red cells first before going after the green one."
Aile sighed, preparing her ZX-Busters. "Guess we have no other choice, Alright, let's do this!"
=WARNING=
THE LAIR OF
=ANTIBODY CELL=
(Play BGM: Encounter (Boss 1) from Blaster Master Zero OST)
The green mutant cell and its circling red cells began to rush at the two, prompting them to jump away in opposite directions before Aile fired charge shots at the red cells. She was able to destroy at least two red cells, but the remaining cells were still able to protect the main cell.
"Tch… those things are really good at protecting the main cell." Aile muttered.
"Just keep destroying the red cells before going after the main cell!" Vent advised, unleashing slash-waves with his ZX-Sabers at the red cells and was able to slice off two more red cells.
Soon after, Vent and Aile were able to destroy the remaining red cells with charged shots and slash-waves without any trouble, leaving the main cell vulnerable. "Vent, time for that ZX-Saber combo we did against the Homunculus!" Aile shouted, switching to her ZX-Sabers and combined them into a double-saber.
"Okay!" Vent complied, combining his ZX-Sabers into a double-saber before the two launched their double-sabers like boomerangs at the mutant cell, leaving two large cuts on it before the weapons returned to their respective senders. Then the two combined their weapons into a quad-boomerang before Vent launched it towards the mutant cell, leaving one more large vertical cut before it flew back to Vent as he split the weapons back to the double-sabers and gave one back to Aile.
"Did we get it?" Aile asked, until they saw the mutant cell summoned the red cells again.
"Apparently not, but the main cell looks badly damaged." Vent replied, looking at the bleeding green cell. "One more powerful blow should finish it for good."
"Eh?" Aile blinked as the mutant cells moved towards the wall and began to spread out in a vertical row with the green cell at the center. "What's it doing now?"
"Careful, you two! It's trying a different tactic!" Model X cautioned.
"Then let's try something else!" Vent responded by splitting up his sabers and combined them into a larger ZX-Saber called the ZX-Buster Sword, which is the size of a greatsword. "Aile, time to try out your ZX-Twin Busters!"
"Right!" Aile complied, splitting her sabers, switching to her ZX-Busters again, combined them into her ZX-Twin Busters and took aim at the green cell while charging the weapon. "Target, locked on!"
"I'll wait for your signal! The moment you fire, I'll combine with your attack!" Vent advised while preparing his thrusting stance.
"Got it!" Aile nodded as they waited for the cells' movements.
And then, the red cells began to rush towards the MegaMan with the green cell following afterwards, prompting Aile to fire her fully-charged buster shot. This signalled Vent to dash towards the buster shot, leaped forward and thrust his buster sword ahead. "You're… finished!" Vent yelled as the combined attack pierced through the rushing red cells and eventually the main green cell as he landed a few steps behind it. "And here's one more for good measure!" And then he followed up with one large horizontal slash-wave, slicing the mutant cell in half before they exploded. With the mutant guardian destroyed, the MegaMen holstered their weapons and regrouped.
(BGM End)
"Wow. Those upgrades to our gear really showed results." Aile remarked.
"We have to give credit to Fleuve for those upgrades. Never thought he'd made our Biometals more powerful than before." Vent added.
"Yeah. Though I still miss having Model H, F, L and P. Those forms are great in different situations."
"We'll eventually get those Biometals back the moment we find a way back to our world." Model Z stated.
"Mm." Vent and Aile nodded, until they saw something at the center of the room. They walked to the center and saw that it was a grey key.
"A key? What's this doing here?" Aile questioned as Vent picked up the item.
"I don't know, but I think this might be our only way to reach the Mutant Lord." Vent assumed, putting away the key.
"I see. I guess that means the others saw the locked door leading towards the Mutant Lord." Aile noted, taking out her Zikan Phone Blaster Mode and fired a wormhole in front of her. "Right then, let's head back and give this key to the others."
Vent nodded as the two dashed into the wormhole.
Back with the other two teams, they've already finished clearing up the path by destroying any mutant and drone in sight, and are now waiting at the locked door with a keyhole beside it.
"I still can't believe there's a locked door in a place like this." Cecilia remarked, looking at said door on SOPHIA's main screen.
"Well, most video games tend to have doors such as this, even in the final levels." Bronya stated.
"Gotta give credit to the Mutant Lord, he knows how to set up security." Geiz remarked.
"As for where the key is, I'm guessing the mutant guardian is in possession of it." Jason assumed.
"So it's all up to Vent and Aile to defeat that guardian and grab the key." Eve added.
"I just hope those two can handle it." Houki said.
"Don't worry, they'll be fine. They did tell me about their accomplishments back at Guardian Base." Samus assured.
"Ah! I see Rairyu coming this way!" Shirabe informed, noticing the arriving blue MA as it stopped in front of the vehicles.
"I take it that you guys saw the locked door while you're clearing the path?" Gunvolt guessed.
"Yup, pretty much." Geiz confirmed. "Vent, Aile, got the key in hand?"
In response, Aile disembarked from Rairyu and approached the keyhole. "Yup, got it right here." She took out said key, inserted into the keyhole and turned it, causing the door to open. "Alright, let's go!" She quickly boarded Rairyu before the vehicles drove through the opened area.
And what they saw inside was a lot of green blocks and red star spikes. "Tch, we don't have time for this." Copen muttered. "GV, Jason, go nuts with the Cannon Shot."
"Roger!" The two complied, arming the MAs with the Cannon Shot and fired explosive shells at the obstacles until there was nothing left. Afterwards, the three vehicles moved on ahead until they found the last domain entrance at the end of the area and up a cliff. The vehicles then used their hovering to land next to the entrance.
"This is it, everyone. The moment of truth." Jason said as the group stared at the domain entrance.
"The Mutant Lord is definitely waiting inside." Eve added.
"Yeah." Geiz noted. "However, some of us need to stay and guard the vehicles while the rest of us confront the Mutant Lord. And I'm one of those people who's going in there to kick his ass."
"I'm going too. He's been infecting my planet for far too long." Jason decided.
"I'm going as well. He wants to go after my Metal Attacker, he's going to have to go through me first." Gunvolt also decided.
"And I'll be with you every step of the way, GV." Joule added.
"I'm going with you guys too." Houki decided. "If the Mutant Lord does have that Gjallarhorn fragment, then we're going to make sure we take it away from him."
"Any other volunteers want to go and fight the Mutant Lord?" Geiz asked the others.
"...I'll go with you guys." Vent volunteered after a few moments of pondering.
"I will go as well." Shirabe also volunteered. "I get the feeling that the Mutant Lord might have another form. But I have an ace up my sleeve for that."
"An ace, huh?" Cecilia repeated. "I wonder what that could be?"
"Oh, you'll find out if you chose to come with us."
"Hm, sounds tempting. But I think I'll stay and guard the vehicles in case those mutants try something behind our backs."
"The Bronya will stay as well." Bronya decided.
"I'll also stay with them." Copen also decided.
"Leave Rairyu's controls to me and Ix, GV. We'll keep it safe." Lola added.
"Thanks. I'm counting on you both." Gunvolt replied.
"Samus, wanna come along with us?" Jason asked.
"...I think I'll say behind this time to protect the others and the vehicles." Samus decided. "Besides, I think you guys can beat the Mutant Lord without my help."
"Very well." Geiz noted. "In that case, you're free to use my Time Mazine."
"Gotcha."
Soon after, everyone got out of the vehicles except Eve and Copen as the two are taking over the MAs' controls, while Samus and Adam boarded the Time Mazine and took control of it.
Jason was about to get out of SOPHIA, but noticed an uneasy look on Eve's face when he looked at her. "Eve, is something wrong?"
"...Promise me that you and the others will come back safely, okay?"
"Hey, no more doom-and-gloom faces now. We'll win this fight, and we'll head back to base where our friends are waiting." Jason assured with a smile.
"Jason…" Eve whispered before smiling. "Yeah, you're right. You and your friends can defeat the Mutant Lord. And don't worry about me, the others will keep me company."
"Good." Jason nodded, putting on his helmet as he gave one more look at Eve and Fred (sitting on Eve's shoulder). "Alright, I'm off. And take care of Fred while I'm gone." He joined Geiz and the others while Eve closed the cockpit. "Ready to do this, guys?"
"Ret-2-Go, Jason." Geiz answered with a thumbs up with the others nodding.
"Good. Now let's Ragna-Rock and Roll!" Jason declared as the group rushed inside the domain.
"Go get 'em, guys!" Aile cheered the group entering the domain before turning to the others. "Alright, we better start setting up traps for the other mutants that dare to go after us."
"Leave that part to me." Cecilia complied, donning her IS in a flash of light. "Blue Tears already has the turrets and Ignition Bombs on its arsenal."
"Good. I have some on my hand as well, so I'll join you." Aile nodded.
"The Bronya also has some on hand, as does Bunny. We're ready to assist." Bronya also added with Bunny appearing behind her.
"Then let's get started." Cecilia declared as she, Aile, Bronya and Bunny moved ahead to deploy the turrets and bombs while everyone else stood guard.
Inside the last domain, the Mutant Lord was sitting on his throne with his eyes closed, now sensing the arrival of the human invaders. He looked like a knight in red armour, a helmet with long yellow horns, shoulder pauldrons each with a curved spike, and upward pointed toes.
He opened his glowing red eyes and stood up from his throne as it dissolved into the floor. He turned to the wall behind it and picked up what's inside the wall; a small glowing fragment. He stared at the fragment for a moment before shoving it inside his body, causing him to glow briefly. He then turned to the entrance and let out a loud roar, now awaiting the arrival of the human invaders, and he will not let them interfere with the invasion.
Guardian Base, Command Center
Meanwhile back inside the Guardian Base, Prairie and the operators are observing the monitors for any sign of the mutants that are planning to attack the airship.
*BOOM!*
That is until they heard a large explosion coming from far away. "Ma'am! Did you hear that?!" Tulip asked.
"Loud and clear. The mutants must've sprung the trap." Prairie nodded with a serious look. "It has begun." She then pushed a button on her console and contacted the ones on the field. "Everyone, the mutants are coming! Begin defensive procedures!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Hm?" Gardenia saw her console suddenly beginning to ring. "Incoming transmission from Commander Mitsuba!"
"Mitsuba's calling? At a time like this?" Prairie questioned. "Patch her through!"
"Right!" The operator complied before pushing a button, causing a holo-screen to appear and showed Mitsuba calling from EDF HQ.
"Hello, Prairie." Mitsuba greeted. "Am I interrupting something important?"
"Not really." Prairie shook her head. "However, the mutants have begun their advance onto our base after hearing a recent explosion from afar."
"I see…" Mitsuba frowned. "Then it won't be long till another mutant army begins to knock on our door. Luckily, the defences are in place and our troops are ready to fight till the end."
"That's good to know you came prepared."
"Anyway, the reason I contacted you is because Gilliam is heading your way using his Gespenst Type-RV to support your base defence."
"He's coming to our aid?" Prairie responded in surprise.
"That's right. Don't worry though, the Sainklaus siblings, Edge and Az, are watching over the defences."
"Edge and Az Sainklaus?"
"Mhm." Mitsuba nodded. "Those two were born with extraordinary combat abilities and were part of the EDF Academy before being transferred to a combat unit. When these siblings work together, they'll get the job done."
"I see. Hope I get to meet them soon."
"You will someday. Anyway, I need to watch over the base in case the mutants arrive. Best of luck, Prairie."
"You too, Mitsuba." Prairie nodded before ending the transmission. "Marguerite, are the airship's weapons online?"
"Primed and ready, ma'am!" The operator nodded.
"Alright, prepare to steel yourselves! We need to hold out until the strike team defeats the Mutant Lord!" Prairie declared with her hand forward.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Inside the Mutant Meteor
Meanwhile inside the domain, Jason and his team arrived at the recharge platform after traversing through multiple rooms of the domain.
"Finally, we reached the end." Houki (now wearing Akatsubaki) sighed with relief.
"I think I lost count on how many rooms we've gone through to get here." Joule remarked.
"Not to mention the amount of mutants and drones we've eliminated." Gunvolt added.
"I get the feeling the Mutant Lord is trying to tire us out so he can easily kill us when we reach him." Vent said.
"Unfortunately for him, we've been through tougher battles before." Shirabe stated.
"Well team, this is it. The Mutant Lord is just up ahead." Geiz said as the group stared at the entrance to the throne room.
"Okay… let's do this." Jason declared as the group used the recharge platform before entering the room.
Once inside, they saw the Mutant Lord waiting on the other side of the room with his eyes closed. "So we meet at last, Mutant Lord." Geiz spoke to him while preparing his Zikan Zax Ono Mode.
"We've taken down all of your guardians, and now you're next in line." Gunvolt energized his right hand.
"What you've done to this planet is unforgivable. We're ending this, here and now!" Houki said with her katanas ready.
"For all of the innocent living beings you've infected, we'll make sure to avenge them!" Shirabe said with her razor yo-yos ready.
"I hope you're ready, Mutant Lord, because we will show no mercy to a being like you!" Vent said with his ZX-Sabers ready.
"You've been infecting my planet for far too long. We will win this battle for Eve, Fred, SOPHIA, my friends, and Earth!" Jason declared with his Blaster Rifle set to Wave Shot and aimed at the Mutant Lord, who opened his glowing red eyes and prepared a pair of electric whips on his hands before letting out a loud roar to the group. "Now come and get us!"
=WARNING=
THE LAIR OF
"THE GALAXY MASTER"
=MUTANT LORD=
(Play BGM: Boss Theme from MegaMan X5 OST)
The battle begins as the Mutant Lord swung his whips at the group, prompting them to jump backwards while Houki fired lasers from her katanas and Gunvolt firing charged bolt shots from his Dart Leader, tagging the mutant on contact. This allowed Gunvolt to launch azure bolts at the tagged mutant, causing damage to its body.
This made the Mutant Lord angry as it lashed out onto Gunvolt and Houki, prompting them to evade the whips. Houki unleashed slash-waves in retaliation with Shirabe and Vent providing support with their own slash-waves along with Jason firing his rifle, but the mutant twirled his whips in front of him to block the attacks.
"Okay, so much for ranged combat." Geiz muttered before rushing towards the mutant with his Zikan Zax ready while slotting the Faiz Ridewatch onto the weapon, causing the blade to glow photon red.
=FINISH TIME! FAIZ!=
=ZAKKURI CUTTING!=
The Mutant Lord swung his whip to the side, only for Geiz to slide under the whips and the mutant while slicing its legs before standing up straight and turned to the mutant.
The Mutant Lord growled as he flung his whips towards Geiz in retaliation, only for Gunvolt to intercept it as the whips wrapped around Gunvolt's body and began electrocuting him, but the mutant was shocked that the electrocution did nothing on the adept. "Did you forget who I am?" Gunvolt smirked, grabbing the whips and electrocuted the mutant with his Septima before spinning him around as he was lifted off the ground before being flung towards the wall.
Afterwards, Geiz sliced off the whips to free the adept. "Nice one, GV."
"If I see any electro-based attack coming, I'll gladly take the blow and shrug it off no problem." Gunvolt replied.
The Mutant Lord growled as he recovered before materializing another pair of whips and performed a rapid spin attack, prompting the group to stay away from the spin attack. In response, Vent rushed towards the mutant and leaped right above it before the whips could touch him. He then combined his sabers into the ZX-Buster Sword and delivered a sword crash right onto the mutant's head, stopping its attack as it roared in pain. "Guys, restrain the Mutant Lord!" Vent shouted to the group while still hanging on.
"Legion!" Geiz summoned the Arrow Legion using his Legatus and ordered a chain bind onto the Mutant Lord. After the Legion flew around the mutant, it was bound by astral chains, restricting its movements. "Shirabe!"
"Hai!" Shirabe complied as she dashed towards the mutant, flung her yo-yos at the mutant and dashed around it several times before stopping besides Geiz as her pink yo-yo strings entangled the mutant.
Beta Style: Prison Thread Dance
"Jason, GV, call in a bombardment strike before the Mutant Lord breaks free!" Geiz shouted.
"Right!" Jason and Gunvolt nodded with the former contacting Eve using his helmet's comms link and the latter contacting Copen using his Zikan Phone. "Calling for a bombardment strike now!"
"Roger that, Jason!" Eve replied.
"Loud and clear, GV! Start setting up the markers!" Copen also replied.
Jason and Gunvolt used the Blaster Rifle and Zikan Phone respectively to set markers onto the Mutant Lord as it struggled to break free from the Legion's astral chains and Shirabe's yo-yo strings.
"All targets marked!" Eve informed.
"Fire on your signal!" Copen added.
"FIRE!" Jason and Gunvolt yelled, signalling Eve and Copen to fire bombardment missiles from the MAs' main cannon. Vent pulled out his ZX-Buster Sword from the mutant's head and leaped away, just in time for the missiles to strike the mutant multiple times. The team regrouped and watched the mutant being bombarded by missiles until it stopped. But then Geiz switched his Zikan Zax to Yumi Mode and with the Faiz Ridewatch still attached to the slot, he took aim at the mutant being bombarded as a red photon arrow was created.
=FINISH TIME! FAIZ!=
"Jason, gimme a hand with this!" Geiz requested.
"No problem!" Jason complied, charging his Blaster Rifle to full-power and aimed at the same direction.
=GIWA GIWA SHOOT!=
"Eat this!" Geiz and Jason yelled, firing a combined photon arrow and wave shot right at the mutant, causing an even bigger explosion to occur on impact as the two lowered their weapons for a moment.
(BGM End)
"Did we get him?" Houki asked.
"As much as I wanted to say 'yes', but I'm getting the feeling that it's not over yet." Shirabe answered.
"Hate to say it, but Shirabe has a point there." Vent agreed.
"Hm?" Gunvolt (after putting away his phone) noticed something appearing once the dust clouds dispersed, making his eyes widen. "What… the…"
"What in the world am I looking at…?" Jason questioned, also feeling the same way.
"If I were to guess… we're looking at the Mutant Lord's true form." Geiz answered with a frown as the group looked at the new figure appearing.
It was a red fiery aura resembling a humanoid with a head, torso and arms.
The group felt tense when looking at the fiery mutant. "This aura… it's a lot more intense than before!" Joule remarked.
"This pressure… this is the Mutant Lord's true power?!" Houki exclaimed.
"Can we even win…?" Shirabe asked with unease, but shook her head and stared at the being with a determined look. "No, I shouldn't be afraid. We have to win this!"
"Right." Gunvolt nodded before staring at the being with the same look. "Doesn't matter if it's showing its true form, we'll defeat it no matter what!"
"Heh, well said." Geiz smirked, until his Zikan Phone began to ring, causing him to answer it, only for his eyes to widen in shock at what he saw. "Guys, remember what I said about the Mutant Lord having possessed a Gjallarhorn fragment?"
"Wait… don't tell me…!" Jason's eyes widened in realization.
"Yup." Geiz confirmed with a nod, pointing the phone in front of the mutant, causing the ringing to go faster. "The Mutant Lord has the fragment inside of him!"
"WHAT?!" The group exclaimed.
"If we're going to get that fragment out of that mutant, we gotta wear it down first. Until then, time to go all out!" Geiz stated.
"GV, time for the Faust Robe! No more holding back!" Joule advised.
"Way ahead of you!" Gunvolt complied, pulling out his azure relic necklace hanging around his neck. "Oversurge… Faust Robe!" And in a flash of azure blue light, Gunvolt donned his Faust Robe and pulled out his Armed Gear from the holster on the back of his waist.
"Whoa…!/I didn't know you could do that!" Jason and Houki remarked with awe after witnessing Gunvolt's Faust Robe.
"I'll only use this in case of situations such as this! Get ready for Round 2, everyone!" Gunvolt stated.
"Right!" The group nodded, turning their sights on the mutant.
"Eve, everyone, we're going to be here for a little while longer." Jason thought with his Blaster Rifle ready. "But I promise you… we WILL win this battle!"
"Jason? Jason, what's going on over there?!" Eve tried to contact him using SOPHIA's communications, but to no avail as the signal was jammed.
"Any luck?" Copen asked from SOPHIA's comms screen.
"Nothing." Eve shook her head. "Something's jamming the comms."
"Most likely from the Mutant Lord, trying to halt our interference." Adam assumed from another comms screen.
"Considering the bombardment strike earlier, I can understand why." Lola recalled.
"I guess all we can do now is to pray for their success." Samus said.
"In the meantime, we still need to keep watch of any mutants approaching near our location." Adam stated.
"Very well." Eve nodded. "At least Cecilia, Bronya and Aile already finished setting up the traps and the turrets. Though I really hope Jason and the others won't take too long fighting the Mutant Lord." But then, Eve noticed something appearing on SOPHIA's database. "Hm? Is that… a new kind of mutant?" She read the new mutant info, until her eyes widened in horror. "That can't be…! It's stronger than the Mutant Lord?!"
"Eve? What's going on over there?" Copen asked.
"SOPHIA's database suddenly revealed a new type of mutant, and it's far stronger than the Mutant Lord!"
"Wha… Could y… rep… wh…" Copen's comms screen was suddenly losing signal until it was shut down. The same goes for Samus' screen.
"Copen? Samus? Can you read me? Hello?" Eve tried to restart the comms line, but to no avail. "What's going on with the comms? Fred and I better get out of here first." She tried to open the cockpit, but gasped in shock when the cockpit didn't open. "Huh?! I can't get out?! Hello?! Guys?! Can someone get me and Fred out of here?!" She yelled while banging the windows.
Luckily, Cecilia, Aile and Bronya heard Eve's cry for help. "Eve?! What's going on over there?!" Aile asked.
"I-I don't know! Something's wrong with SOPHIA and I can't get the cockpit to open! Get me and Fred out of here first!" Eve shouted.
"Stay calm! We'll get you out!" Cecilia replied as she approached the red MA. "Kya!" …until the energy shield suddenly became active, pushing her away.
"Cecilia?!" Aile exclaimed.
"I-I'm fine! But why is SOPHIA's energy shield active?" Cecilia replied, shaking off her stunned state.
"I didn't touch anything, I swear!"
"...I think the Bronya knows what's happening to SOPHIA III; it's being hijacked!" Bronya realized with a frown.
"Hijacked?!" Cecilia and Aile exclaimed, until their eyes widen when the MA's cannon was aimed directly at them and fully charged.
"Look out!" Bronya gasped and quickly commanded Bunny to go in front of them and created multiple forcefields to protect them.
The MA fired an explosive shell at the group, bracing for the impact, but the Time Mazine and Rairyu quickly went in front of the group and took the explosive impact with their energy shields active. The explosion covered the area with dust until it dispersed moments later, allowing the group to look again.
"Are you girls alright?" Samus asked the group.
"Yeah, we're fine. Thanks for the save." Aile replied.
"The Bronya was hoping Bunny would protect us with the forcefields, but the Bronya appreciates your support for taking the impact." Bronya said as the forcefields dispersed.
"Just being cautious. It's either that or shooting down the shell." Copen replied.
"More importantly, did you say that SOPHIA was hijacked?!" Lola asked, earning a nod from Bronya. "Then how the heck did we fail to get a reading on that?!"
"I believe I know why." Adam answered. "While the MAs were firing the bombardment missiles, something small was able to sneak into SOPHIA and began hijacking its systems. It may also have an ability to hide its energy readings from us."
"Did the Mutant Lord plan for this somehow?" Aile pondered.
"Wait a sec… where's SOPHIA?" Samus asked.
The group turned to where SOPHIA is at and gasped in shock that the MA is already long gone. "Damn it! It fired that Cannon Shot at us in order to escape from our grasp!" Copen muttered.
"Not only that, Eve and Fred are still in there!" Cecilia exclaimed before pulling out her Zikan Phone and contacted Eve, but all she got was static noises. "I can't contact or send her a message!"
"Tch! The mutants are jamming our communications!" Aile muttered as Cecilia put away her phone.
"Those clever bastards… they were waiting for the right moment to isolate us!" Samus muttered.
*BOOM!*
And then the group took notice of the explosions and turret fire at a distance. "The mutants are coming this way!" Bronya informed.
"What do we do now?!" Cecilia asked with worry in her voice.
Aile closed her eyes to think of an option before opening her eyes with a determined look and her ZX-Busters ready. "As much as I want to find SOPHIA, we need to focus on our survival first. Not only that, Jason's team are still fighting the Mutant Lord. Only thing we can do now is pray that they succeed so that the mutants will stop coming."
"Understood." Bronya nodded with her X-Baton Blaster ready and Bunny arming her arm cannon. "The Bronya will fight to the last."
Cecilia was feeling uneasy at first, but then steeled her resolve and prepared her beam rifle with her drones deployed. "Very well. I did not come here to die today. Me and my friends have so much to do once this mission is over. That said, I will fight!"
"I'm not letting those mutant bastards hijack Rairyu! We will destroy every last one of them coming our way!" Copen stated as Rairyu aimed at the mutants ahead.
"And I'll be right with you guys till the end!" Lola added.
"I've survived worse during my bounty hunting travels, so this is nothing to me!" Samus stated.
"I will support my Lady as always. Keep fighting and never give up." Adam added.
Aile smiled at their resolve before glancing at the domain entrance. "Jason, Vent, everyone, don't worry about us. Just keep on fighting the Mutant Lord and win." She thought before turning to the mutants in the distance with a determined look. "Until then, we're gonna be busy for a while. And when it's all over, we're going to get Fred and Eve back."
Chapter 10: Assault Within the Mutant Meteor
END
Author's Note: Well… things got turned for the worse. For those who played Blaster Master Zero, you already knew who captured Eve and hijacked SOPHIA III, only this time, Fred was taken as well. This leaves Aile's remaining members to fend off the mutant assault while Jason's team fight against the Mutant Lord's true form.
Not only that, the ones back at base are preparing their defenses against the approaching mutants. However, Gilliam Yeager is on his way to the Guardian Base piloting his Gespenst Type-RV to assist with the defense. I also mentioned Edge and Az Sainklaus, the two main characters from Super Robot Wars 30. We'll be meeting them later on in the future.
So what will happen in the next chapter? Only time will tell. Until then, stay safe and see you next time!
