Ch8
Enzan looked at Blues' recovery process on the screen. After everything he is still barely recovered. His navi still managed to defeat his opponents with ease, yet now was the final test. He had used every program at his disposal to heal him even using some experimental programs.
Hikari Netto you and your navi will meet your ends. He sat back in his chair and clenched his fists as he watched the video of Slur taking down her opponents. To think that a civilian navi can do so much. We can do better I know we can.
He had to admit she was stronger than he anticipated but still he wasn't going to underestimate her because no matter how good she was Blues was still stronger. We trained hard and worked harder. We can finally pull off the Program Advance, I'll show this brat the fruits of our work. I'll show him the strength of an official net battler.
"Enzan-sama shall we continue training?" Blues asked.
"In a little bit," he muttered as he sat back in his chair. "Blues tomorrow we are going to win this."
His navi looked at him and said nothing, sometimes he wished he didn't give him that visor. Blues only nodded and bowed, "I will do as you wish Enzan-sama."
"Hikari Netto and his navi are but amateurs," he said as he looked at the computer screen. "They got lucky last time that's all."
Blues remained silent and only nodded. You have been with me forever Blues. You are the closest thing I have to a friend and partner. Looking at his navi he a small part of his head was nagging him to be careful, after all Blues got hurt badly last time.
"We trained for this," he said dispelling those negative thoughts from his head. "Blues I know we can do this. We will win this tournament and show them and the world what we are capable of."
Blues bowed. "As you wish Enzan-sama."
When this is all done you can rest. I promise we'll rest until you are fully recovered. He typed on the keyboard and looked at the various videos of Slur's fights. "They won't be easy to defeat but I trust you. I know you won't let me down."
"I will never sir," Blue said. "I shall be cautious. I have a feeling Slur and her operator haven't used their full potential yet."
"That's what I'm afraid of," he said as he sat back in his chair and watched some more clips. "It is like she hasn't even broken a sweat this entire match." A part of him was giddy at that prospect, he would take her down one way or another to show who the strongest navi is. Yet a part of him was nagging him to be careful and telling him he was underestimating her.
"Don't worry sir I'll defeat her," Blues said firmly. "She may be strong but we trained a lot, I know we can do this."
He nodded. "I know you can Blues. We both can do this, I won't let them win. I'll show them our strength. Come on lets train some more." His navi bowed as he closed the windows and opened the training simulator.
Come on you can do it. Netto watched intently as the program advance began to take effect. Come on.
He gripped his PET tightly as the light above Slur's head grew stronger. His navi brought her arms down but the light flickered and it quickly vanished before it hit its target. "Well it was worth a try," he sighed.
"Sorry Netto-kun," Slur said avoiding his gaze.
He shook his head. "It's alright you are doing your best. Besides this attack isn't everything I know we can win this battle."
As much as he reassured her that it was no big deal he could tell something was on her mind. Something was bothering her and he didn't know what it was.
Slur looked up at him and nodded. "I will do my best to win. Our opponents are still licking their wounds from the last beating I gave Blues."
Smiling at his navi he laughed. "Yeah I know. It's pretty sad he forces Blues to fight while injured but we shouldn't let our guard down."
"I won't," Slur said firmly.
"I'm glad you are confident," he said. "I still feel nervous going up against this guy, he is an official net battler and a member of the net police. But I won't be intimidated by him."
Shaking his head he looked at Slur and smiled at his navi. "We've come a long way. We fought a lot of tough and tricky opponents and I know we will have more adventures ahead of us. I hope we win; I know we can but I'm will be even more glad for all of the future adventures we will have together."
Slur looked at him and gazed into his eyes. He didn't know what she was thinking, she was a private navi not that he minded. "Thank you Netto-kun. Your words mean a lot to me," she said with a smile. "I'll win this fight and then we will go on as many other adventures as you like."
He nodded smiling at his navi. "When we are done we should do something you like. We should go on vacation or something."
His navi shrugged her shoulders. "Sounds nice. I don't have anything in particular that I want but I would go anywhere you desire."
"Sounds like a plan," he said. "Slur thank you for being my friend."
His navi looked at him, she didn't say anything her stare was relatively calm but she nodded. "Lets go we should get ready for the match."
"Oh right," he said looking at the time. "Lets go."
After quickly getting ready he headed to the arena. His heart raced in his chest as he entered the stadium. The blinding lights and the cheering from the stadium made his hands clam up. "Oh ok we got this," he said taking a deep breath.
Looking across the arena he saw Enzan approach his face as stoic as he remembered. Alright lets do this. Enzan gave him a cold look as they both approached the arena.
"Alright net battlers this is the final battle of the N1 Grand Prix!" The announcer said. "Alright net battlers lets begin the match!"
"Plug in Slur!" He yelled.
"Plug in Blues!" Enzan said.
Their navis appeared in the cyber stadium. "Lets go Slur. Battle routine set!"
"Execute!" He and Slur said at once.
Insolent fool. Slur blocked Blues' attacks with her swords. The red navi wasn't as fast as before but she had to admire his bravado even if it was futile.
She blocked his strikes with her swords. Sparks flew throughout the arena as the two did combat. This will be a cake walk. Moving in closer she kicked Blues sending him flying across the arena. The only reason I won't end it in a flash is because Netto worked hard to get here.
This battle was important to her operator, she knew how much he trained and prepared for it. I'll give him the respect of a victory well earned.
"Come on Blues get up!" Enzan shouted. "Sword slot in!" Blues got up his legs shaking a bit as a sword appeared on his arm.
"Lets go Slur! Vulcan slot in!" Netto said.
She fired the blaster at Blues who avoided the attacks and inched closer to her. You're fast I'll give you that. If I were a normal navi you might have a chance.
"Air shot slot in!" Netto said as Blues appeared in front of her.
She fired the blaster at point blank range knocking Blues back a few steps but the red navi was undeterred.
"It looks like he is just warming up," Netto said as he took out a few battle chips. "Lets be careful. Sword slot in."
Using the cyber sword she blocked Blues' attacks as he tried to get an opening. "Don't think I'll just let you in that easily," she taunted.
Blues frowned at her and continued his onslaught. "Wide sword slot in!" Enzan yelled. "Lets show them our power Blues!"
"Like hell would we lose to you! Wide Slot in!" Netto yelled.
Using the two swords on her hands she and Blues engaged in close quarter combat. Like maggot like you could dare stand against me? She smirked looking into the red navi's visor his expression was emotionless but it didn't matter soon he would lose.
Quickening her speed she managed to land a few hits on his arm before kicking him again sending him flying till he hit the wall.
"Blues get up!" Enzan barked. "Lets ends this with what we trained. Long Sword slot in!" The two swords on Blues' arm glowed as he raised them in the air.
"Slur lets do this," Netto said softly. "We practiced for a long time I know we can pull it off."
She looked at her operator and nodded. "Lets do this Netto-kun."
"Long Sword slot in!" Netto said.
She felt the familiar presence of the program advance as raised her arms in the air. She and Blues stared at each other as pillars of energy were raised above each of them. Come I can't fail this simple attack. Her pride as Duo's messenger was on the line, if she couldn't do this simple thing and this maggot did she doubted she could look her lord in the eyes again.
"Program Advance!" She and Blues yelled as they brought their arms down. Except just as she did the light from hers flickered before completely being engulfed by Blues' attack.
Damn it! She swore in frustration as she heard Netto call her name in fear. Snapping her fingers she summoned some chords to block the attack, her blood boiling as her arms shook. I failed. I still could not get in sync with him. Her body shook in a mixture of rage and sorrow. Why was she having such trouble with this basic attack?
She clenched her fists in frustration as the smoke dissipated. "Slur!" Netto shouted his voice full of panicked fear. "Slur!"
Turning around she saw her operator by the side of the arena his face wide with panic. "Oh my God Slur are you ok?"
She smiled at him to hide the frustration inside of her. "I am Netto-kun. Forgive me for not doing it well."
"It's alright," Netto said softly smiling at him with a teary gaze. "All that matters is that you are safe."
She felt something stir inside of her looking at her operator. Instead of wanting to win or prove himself, Hikari Netto wanted to know how she was. For a moment the smile on her face was genuine. "Thank you," she said softly. Thank you for caring about me.
Netto nodded. "Come on lets win this. Look Blues is on his last leg."
She nodded and turned around to see Blues the red navi was shaking as he stared at her. "How could you withstand that attack?" Blues asked in surprise.
"Blues finish her now while she is weakened!" Enzan ordered his face betraying panic.
"Lets go win this tournament!" Netto said.
"Roger that," she said summoning a pair of swords in her hand.
She charged at the red navi, this time she wasn't playing around. In one slash she cut off one arm then another. Blues let out a scream of pain but before he or his operator could react she summoned spears from the ground to pierce the navi.
Blues let out a scream, his operator began yelling incoherently but this battle was now over. With a snap of her fingers the spears retracted and Blues fell to the ground defeated.
"E-Enzan-sama forgive me," Blues muttered.
The crowd cheered. "Hikari Netto and Slur are the victors. They have won the N1 Grand Prix!"
"We did it!" Netto cheered.
"Blues," Enzan said tears falling down his face. "How-"
The area began to rumble as she felt a powerful presence approach her. "Slur watch out!" Netto shouted.
She turned around as what looked like a floating sarcophagus emerged from the ground. "Foolish humans. I am Pharaohman and have come to claim my realm, all shall bow before me!"
The navi then fired a beam of light. It hit Blues just as the red navi tried to get up. "Blues deleted," the PET said.
"Blues!" Enzan screamed.
She let out a laugh as she watched the boy's face tear up. Serves you right for daring to stand in my way.
"Slur look out!" Netto yelled as the attack came at her.
She was too busy gloating to notice the new navi fired a blast at her. She thought this navi was some regular navi and that the attack wouldn't be of any consequence. However, when it made contact with her she realized that this attack was going to hurt. She let out a scream as she felt Netto log forcibly log her out and her vision went dark.