Heroic New Era: Strive for Overture
Chapter 2: Meeting The Wandering Samurai/An Unwelcome Sight
Team 4's POV
"Well, this seems very familiar." Towa remarked, her team finding themselves in a samurai-esque setting. "Establishing contact, Team 3? Come in Team 3, I can see you via radar. You guys Alright? Magina informed us there was a glitch in your transport."
"I'm fine, we managed to bump into the right Valentine." Richard answered back. "We've seem to be an area that we don't recognise, and there seems to be some sort of spatial disturbance that's connecting the areas together."
"Good. We've arrived at what appears to be a samurai's abode. I've yet to establish contact with Teams 1 and 2, however…" Towa remarked.
"Hopefully they haven't bumped into the same trouble as we have." Richard answered back. "We've encountered hostels that don't seem to have any connection with this world. I recommend as soon as you get in contact with Siege or RWBY, you tell them that first-hand, so that they don't get surprised."
"Tch, I doubt that this would be that terrible of a thing." Hitomi scoffed with crossed arms. "Besides, I've seen what you have to deal with day by day. I'm pretty sure that you guys got your ends handled."
"Thanks for that vote of confidence." Richard stated with a slight sigh. "Anyways, be careful, and make sure whoever you find, keep them safe and protected."
"That's a 10-4!" Moroha said with energy in her tone, as Towa chuckled.
"We'll attempt to reach Teams 1 and 2 while we're at it. Or, actually, we'll attempt to reach Team 1. See if you can contact Team 2, Richard." Towa suggested.
"Not going to be contacting anyone for a while, we have company!" Setsuna said, pointing out a figure walking toward them.
"Gotta go Richard. Keep safe." Towa said as she hung up, as the group was about to take battle stances when Towa raised her hand. "Weapons down, at ease. It's one figure. Something tells me it's not our enemy."
"How can you be sure? I can sense a immense pressure from them…" Koyomi answered back.
The figure then came close enough to be in view, as it seemed to be Baiken from the Strive timeline, as she seemed to be fairly indifferent, despite being in what remains in the region.
"Given her current look, I guarantee she's not of this world." Towa said, as she approached Baiken slowly. "Salutations, where might you be heading, miss?"
"I'm right where I am" Baiken responded back, tilting her neck slightly. "Besides, knock it off with the formal crap. I'm not some shining hero. I'm just someone who's got a matter to settle."
"Fair enough. Simply wanted to be a bit more polite." Towa shrugged. "So you have a matter to settle. Care to let us in on what that matter might be?"
"Better you don't try to find it out yet. You brats shouldn't get yourselves involved in my personal war. Besides, you seem to look like you're from this place." Baiken stated, as her tone softened slightly. "Seems that there is more that survived this entire cataclysm than I thought. Guess I should take it as some miracle."
"Sorry to burst your assumption, but we're not from here." Moroha stated plain and simply. "In fact, this world isn't even ours. We're just here because some bullshit time shenanigans are gonna flip this world for multiple loops unless we stop it."
"Heh, so you take it among yourselves to deal with that?' Baiken snorted, as Koyomi nodded in agreement. "Guess you're not the kind of young people who are sheltered in peace. You all look like you've been through some form of hell or something."
"As much as we wish to deny such things, that assumption is correct." Setsuna declared, before more ominous laughter entered the area, a figure moving in via shadows, as one of Cataclysm Siege's subordinates, Naraku, entered the area with a smile on his face.
"The offspring of that accursed yokai… and her group of friends. This is too rich to pass up an opportunity to end the bloodline." Naraku said with a devious look on his face.
"Well, well, if it ain't the high and mighty demon that Inuyasha cut up years ago. Back from the dead, you unsightly cockroach." Towa said with distaste in her tone.
"You know this guy?" Baiken asked the group with a raised eye-brow.
"Yep. Really dials the 'asshole villain' scale up to 11, this guy. Tried killing my father over and over again, wanted the Shikon Jewel, I don't remember the whole story but bottom line was he was a massive dickhead." Moroha bluntly stated.
"And you have just as unsightly of a mouth as your father. I shall cleanse that now." Naraku stated, as suddenly, master-ghosts and regular ghosts popped up, with some already occupied by Naraku. "Prepare yourselves, if you dare to face me."
"Oh great, how is this gonna work!?" Towa exclaimed as she saw the master-ghosts and ghosts pop up, immediately contacting Richard. "Kay, Richard, we need a 411 right now. We got these tower thingies that just popped up in our area. Oh, we're facing Naraku too, by the way."
"Of course you would be." Richard answered back. "Good thing I had myself on standby. So listen…"
Richard then began to detail them about the idea of ghosts and master-ghosts, as the group intently listened to his words, as did Baiken, who did have some interest in who the mysterious person on the other side of the line was.
"...And that's about it." Richard responded back.
"So what, just go around smashing the enemies, take their ghost-things, and then create some of our own servants to get right up to Naraku and his master-ghost, and then smash his shit in?" Eruza crudely summarized the entire situation.
"Yeah. Just one more thing to note: Don't even try to use your full power to eradicate Naraku right now." Richard responded back. "You see, master-ghosts have the little nagging problem of the fact that they hold and protect the soul of the one in control. As long as it remains, Naraku will come back from defeat over and over again. Only advantage of beating him down is that it takes time for him to come back, and his defeat does weaken the master-ghost's barrier for easier control." of them."
"So you're saying that he's still a goddamn cockroach!?" Towa cursed. "Oh son of a…"
"Welp, I see this as a good thing. Just means that we get to bash his face in more and more!" Moroha said with a hearty laugh.
"Unfortunately, 'bashing his face in' will only help us a bit, considering he'll still come back. But if it does give us slight advantage, it could be wise for a couple of us to face him in attempts to defeat him, so others can take the master-ghost." Setsuna reasoned.
"In that case, no better place to start than taking these two unclaimed master-ghosts beside myself and Ms. Samurai over here, right?" Towa would ask Richard.
"That's right. Baiken knows the lay of this land well." Richard answered back. "She's likely also adept with the usage of the ghosts and servants as well. So do your best to support her."
"Wait a damn minute, how do you know my name?" Baiken growled.
"That's because you're not exactly hard to find out about, Baiken." Richard turned his attention to the time-displaced woman. "Trust me on this, we all want the same thing. In fact, you might very well possibly find what you're after, because a hint for you, you're backwards in time."
"...Guess that explains it then." Baiken stated, before she then turned to the group. "Oi, if you're going to help, make sure that your nemesis doesn't come down knocking on my end of this battle. I'll get that master-ghost open for attack soon, but I doubt that your foe would likely play fair."
"You've got it." Koyomi nodded back.
Baiken didn't respond back, as she went over towards one of the unclaimed master-ghosts, as it turned into a pagoda temple, as servants of her make appeared, being Sengoku-era generals bearing red and white colors, as well the insignia of burning flames along parts of their armor.
~BGM: ROKUMON - Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 OST~
"Go." Baiken simply ordered, as her servants immediately began to attack the nearby ghosts, swatting away the corrupt yokai that Naraku was sending to intercept the efforts.
Towa would turn the other master-ghost into a statue of a Dog-Yokai, summoning multiple dog Demon warriors. "Help Baiken's servants." Towa commanded them, as Towa's servants dashed in with Baiken's servants, both forces being enough to make easy work of the yokai Naraku was sending.
"Now, let's make sure Naraku stays out of Baiken's way." Moroha said, as they pushed forward on the battlefield.
Naraku would move to intercept the soldiers commanded by Towa and Baiken, but Towa was ready for a move like this.
"SORYUHA!" Towa yelled, blasting Naraku with an Azure Dragon Wave. "Not today, cockroach!"
"Cursed…!" Naraku growled as he was sent flying back. "Begone!" He yelled, retaliating with dark energy shockwaves to deter the group.
Hitomi immediately leapt over a series of the shockwaves, before she moved in range of Naraku, as she began to tear into him with her claws, as they seemed to have an effect on the evil yokai, before she then blasted him back with a powerful swing.
"You dare lay hands on me…!?" Naraku cursed as he formed dark energy spears in midair, sending them shooting for Hitomi, as Moroha would intercept them with arrows. "Annoying mortal pests…!"
"Nighty-night, buddy!" Moroha said as she activated a super move, turning into Beniyasha momentarily as she roared, unleashing a full powered Iron Reaver Soul Stealer, followed by a Crimson Dragon Wave, which would be enough to K.O. Naraku early on.
"Blasted…! This isn't…!" Naraku croaked as he collapsed, and the first ghost was claimed by Baiken.
"Just one more ghost and then the master-ghost! With Naraku down for a bit, let's not waste this opportunity!" Towa suggested.
"If this is what he's capable of, I'm not impressed." Baiken remarked, as she throttled towards the last remaining uncontrolled ghost, as she immediately wrenched it into her control with a few powerful blows.
"Ya know, he's actually a lot stronger than this… is he just toying with us?" Moroha pondered aloud.
"Perhaps he is. In which case it's most unamusing." Setsuna remarked.
"The master-ghost awaits! Let's-!" Towa was about to finish when Naraku laughed.
"Fools. I only delayed the inevitable. Behold, your doom has come!" Naraku exclaimed, as a new figure teleported into view.
"Well now, I see you've brought me to a handful of mortals that need to learn their place." A familiar voice rang in the area, as Goku Black was before them all, laughing. "Mortals, sinners! Prepare to face divine judgement!" Goku Black exclaimed, turning Super Saiyan Rosé instantly.
"Uhm… Richard? Black clothing dude with pink hair, who is he?" Moroha would contact Richard. "Oh, and he also acts like a god."
"Hm… My best guess, Goku Black going Super Saiyan Rose." Richard responded back. "Well, seems that things are getting a tad tight on your side. I think if Naraku has been holding back, he's expecting Goku Black to wipe the field clean. You might want to try and stop that, because I doubt Goku Black is going to waste any time smashing this entire field with all kinds of brutal attacks."
"You're kidding..!" Eruza growled with frustration.
"Afraid not, take a look!" Towa said with worry as Goku Black was already charging up.
"Ka… me… ha… me…!" Goku Black exclaimed as his power soared.
"...Richard… ideas…!?" Moroha exclaimed as Richard clearly heard him charging the attack.
"Good advice for you? To quote a certain doctor. Beat him. Beat him down NOW." Richard answered back with a urgent tone.
Instant Kill Gauge: Charged, Give them hell!
"Woo! Okay, rush of adrenaline is coming through! This feels odd but I think it could help!" Towa exclaimed.
"Adrenaline…? Richard, isn't that the Instant… Kill… thingy from that one game you and Siege play?" Popol would ask from Richard's end.
"Yep, and no better time. Use it. Don't let Goku Black use his move first, Towa." Richard confirmed.
"Alright, here goes!" Towa exclaimed as she dashed towards Black and activated her move, slashing him once as it was enough to interrupt him.
"What…!?" Black exclaimed.
~BGM - Baiken Instant Kill - Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 OST~
Towa would transform into her full yokai state, as she slashed Goku Black rapidly with her claws before sending him skyward as she drew her blade.
"Eat… THIS! SOTO NO SORYUHAAAAAA!" Towa yelled as she send her Twin Azure Dragon Wave at Goku Black, as he looked on in shock as both Dragons swallowed him, causing a massive explosion.
DESTROYED
Towa would revert to her usual half human, half yokai form, panting as she smirked.
"That's a wrap with that…" Towa smiled, as the attack even claimed the master-ghost due to it's power.
VICTORY
"...I...Impossible!" Naraku stuttered.
"These mortals are too strong for their own good…" Black grunted as he held his chest in pain. "We concede for now, but you will face your divine judgment soon enough!" Black said as he and Naraku fled.
"Whoo… that… that was a bit too close." Towa remarked with sweat rolling down her forehead.
"Yeah, can agree with that." Eruza sighed as well.
"Well then, I suppose that this has been a fairly intriguing fight." Baiken stated. "Walking back in the lands of my old homeland, and winning a fight on it, it brings memories, both bad and good back to mind."
"You seem like someone who is quite connected to this land… I don't want to push too far into your memories, considering your scars and missing arm tell enough of that story." Towa stated as she looked at Baiken. "Just so you know, I share that feeling of scars in a familiar battlefield." Towa said, pulling her shirt to the side some, revealing a scar on her neck.
"Heh, on the same boat, are we?" Baike cracked a thin smile. "...Well, I ain't getting anywhere sitting around here. Let's go and find out what your friend said that I'd be looking for."
"As well as find what we're looking for. The cause of all this." Towa stated as they moved forward.
Team 2's POV
"Damnit… come on, come on!" Siege exclaimed as he was trying to get comms back online, finally getting some signal. "A-ha!"
"Took you long enough." Sienna remarked with a smirk, as they had wound up in a wide open landscape, not entirely sure of where they were thanks to the dark lighting of the area.
"There… alright, let's establish contact with Team 3… oh, he's calling me." Siege said as he tapped his communicator. "Richard, it's Siege, I'm getting your signal. You there?"
"Yeah, I am. Towa's team got along fine, despite some hiccups." Richard answered back. " As for myself, we grouped up with Ramlethal, and she seems to be fairly helpful."
"Good. I have no two shits of a clue where we are. It's dark here. But it is wide open, considering the area…" Siege stated as he looked around.
"Darkness ain't going to do much to help narrow the places down." Richard responded back. "Keep looking, while I rack my head some more."
"That's affirmative." Siege said, as he kept looking around the area before noticing a blue haired woman who appeared to be lost. Strive's version of Dizzy. "Richard, I think I found someone!"
"I'll approach her." Sienna said. "After all I can see a bit better in the dark than the rest of you." She added, before walking up to the woman. "Hello! Miss? Are you lost?" Sienna would ask the woman.
"Ah… Are you…" Dizzy remarked, as she then corrected herself. "Do you know where we are?"
"I'm afraid not. It's far too dark in the area for me to tell. My friends are over this way, however. We can keep you safe from anything that may be out here. I'm Sienna, what's your name?" Sienna would ask.
"It's… It's Dizzy." Dizzy introduced herself. "I'm looking for my son, who ended up getting lost in this place. I can't even tell if he's anywhere around here. I'm so very worried about him."
"We'll help you find him." Siege said, while the group approached, as, thankfully, the sun was beginning to rise in the area. "One of the parties with us stumbled into someone you may know. Ramlethal Valentine, is she close to you?"
"Of course, she's a family friend." Dizzy nodded back. "We met together, after what happened at the G4 Summit. I'm shocked to hear about what happened over there during that chaotic time."
"In any case she's fine and well. We can at least let her know you're okay. She considers you as family after all." Shallot said with a smile.
"...Guys…" Rutega said as her senses flared, as Caulifla and Shallot suddenly felt it too.
"...Yeah… something's on it's way…" Caulifla grit her teeth.
"And something tells me it isn't gonna be easy to deal with…" Shallot growled.
"Son of a… just what we need. Dizzy, keep a safe distance, while we take this threat!" Siege declared as the sun finally arose in the area: A wide spanning desert, with no places for cover or shelter from attacks.
"Lovely, wide open with no sign of cover. This is gonna be interesting." Sienna sighed as they turned to the source of power.
They heard the sound of clapping from a distance away, as they turned towards the source, as they seem to see that there was someone sitting on one of the taller dunes in the desert, as the rising sun covered them for a moment.
However, as soon as the figure rose, and slid right down the dune, they found that the figure was slowly approaching them, stopping just right before them, as the sunlight illuminated the figure, which Siege immediately recognised.
"...Richard? Wait, no, who the hell are you!?" Siege exclaimed.
The figure merely rose their hand towards the pair of glasses on their face, as he took them off, revealing that they were tinted glasses with circular lenses, as the figure was exactly Richard, although his skin seemed to be completely gray, and there were yellow markings along his bare chest, and the only thing he was wearing was a black coat that loosely hung from his body, with the words 'CHAOS OR DEATH' in yellow letters across the back, a pair of black jeans, and fingerless gloves.
"Well, ain't you an astute one." The look-a-like remarked with a smirk on his lips. "I should have expected that I'd find one of you around here at the moment. And no, I'm not talking about your little band, Siege, I'm talking about one of those who find themselves unfortunately displaced from their time."
"...Just who the hell are you. You look nothing like the Richard I know in the least bit, only sharing his figure… You're obviously something left here by someone else… Surely you're not… but it would make sense. Do you answer to Happy Chaos as your 'creator' or 'master'?" Siege would ask.
"Oho, answering that question would be telling." The look-a-like answered back, before flexing his neck around. "But I can tell you this, I am indeed of the same make as Happy Chaos, although there is a little different factor added inside of me, which may spoil a few things for you. You'll figure it out eventually, you always do with that inquisitive mind of yours. Fact is, how many hints will it take for you to piece the relevant truths together, hm?"
"How about you stop flapping your gums and let us kick your ass already!" Shallot yelled as he was clearly ticked off about this guy's toying attitude.
"You Saiyans, can't even take a joke or two without going off. It started with King Vegeta and Bardock, and it carries down to almost every single being of the race." The look-a-like responded back. "But I concur, I didn't come here just to talk like nothing. I've come here to take that Gear off your hands. After all, she's going to be a pretty good 'damsel-in-distress' when I get the others on your side."
"What the hell do you want with Dizzy!?" Caulifla exclaimed, the Saiyan family immediately forming a wall between the Richard look-a-like and Dizzy.
"Why, it's simple, using her will actually help to push this story along." The look-a-like grinned widely, showing many of his teeth. "It would be truly boring if I let you go along unopposed, and what's a little spice to the story here and there? Let me introduce myself, before we start this little war of ours. My name is Entropic Chaos. Or as I might like to hear, 'Echo' for a shortening."
He then teleported back, using a distorted version of Richard's sukimas, before he then snapped his fingers, as a formation of ghosts were created all across the desert, as master-ghosts spawned near both sides.
"Try and win this fight. It would be disappointing if the heroes of this little story can't even win the opening fight." Echo chuckled, before he then flicked his finger towards his master-ghost, as it turned into a portal to the void itself.
"Fine, we'll play this game of yours, if only to kick your ass! Dizzy, take that other master-ghost." Siege said as he touched the one near him, as it formed into a large structure of a Holy Vanguard angel, as angelic warriors with shields and swords spawned to the field. "You have only one command! Push onwards and break through as many enemy ranks as possible! Don't retreat! Never surrender!" Siege yelled, as the Holy Vanguard warriors, both men and women, pounded their shields and roared, rushing into battle.
Dizzy nodded, as her master-ghost turned into a silver statue that has a pair of feathered wings, one black and one white, as what seemed to be draconic lizard warriors appeared into battle, covered in hardened leather armour, as they slowly moved towards the nearby ghosts.
"Excellent, excellent!" Echo laughed, clapping his hands, as his master-ghost began to produce bunny-headed soldiers that were armed with claymores, as they rushed towards the ghosts nearby, slowly making his own claim across the battlefield. "This is how the opening rounds should go!'
The two forces began to clash each other, as the numerical superiority of Siege's and Dizzy's forces were slowly pushing Echo's forces back, as the Saiyans were already in the middle of the fray, beating down servants left and right, allowing the allied troops to take more and more ghosts.
"Oh dear, you seem to making far better progress than I anticipated." Echo answered back. "But a good foe never leaves a fight without a few trump-cards of his own."
He then flexed his fingers, as he created several portals that began to attack the back-line of the allied ghosts, forcing the Saiyans to move back and deal with them before more damage could be done, while Echo took to the fray himself, raining elemental destruction with summoned magic circles, turning the odds back to an even fight.
"Damnit!" Shallot growled as he saw this.
"Shallot! Rutega! Move to fight Echo, we can level out the damages!" Sienna called back.
"I'll go too. You three got it?" Caulifla would ask.
"Hey, if need be we have our own trump cards. Now give that sickening impostor his just dues!" Siege exclaimed, as the family nodded, as Rutega dashed to Echo, landing a hefty blow to his cheek to send him flying back.
"Eyes over here! You got us to deal with now, buddy!" Rutega exclaimed.
"Of course. How could I decline a request for a challenge." Echo answered back, as he flexed his arms, even adopting a fighting stance himself. "I can't wait to see how the Saiyans of this world fight."
The three saiyans immediately fought with Echo, who seemed to be tanking their blows with ease, although the attacks were indeed forcing him to focus on them, as they evaded several blows from Chaos, which actually distorted the area around the fight, due to the force behind his attacks. Meanwhile, Dizzy's and Siege's servants were clearing out the area around them.
"I'm really feeling it right now!" Echo exclaimed with a mad expression of glee on his face. "To exist in these interesting times, oh, the Chinese are real masters of predicting the future!"
"This guy is off his rockers!" Shallot exclaimed. "Anyone got plans to take him out!?" Shallot followed up, as Rutega noticed one of the ghosts being captured.
"...Mom, Dad. I'll fight Echo. You two push towards that second ghost!" Rutega said.
"What? But-!" Caulifla was about to argue.
"Once that second ghost falls, I can try a move that Usalia and Majorita have been trying to do with me for a while now: ease of transport to the location of someone else in our bond, to unleash a surprise finishing blow to whatever enemy we face." Rutega said. "If it works out, not only will we be able to blast the hell out of Echo, but also win his master ghost!"
"If you've got a plan then do it! Don't die on us!" Shallot ordered as he and Caulifla joined the main push.
"So the child leaves the work to her parents. What a display of such courage and selflessness." Echo remarked. "I should not disrespect you by taking you any less seriously than I am right now. In fact, I should ramp it up a little!"
Echo then began to emit an aura of his own, as it seemed to be green, as Echo's agility increased by several magnitudes, to the degree that Rutega was reaching a dead-lock in terms of attacks with her opponent.
'Damnit. Come on, guys… come on…!' Rutega thought to herself as her eyes continuously darted towards the second ghost, as she was at deadlock with Echo right now… but any further increase and she would be at a disadvantage, as she continuously checked again and again, to see if the second ghost was in allied control.
Sure enough, on one of her checks, she saw the ghost enter allied control, just as she took a shot from Echo, sending her flying backwards, as she skidded to a stop, gritting her teeth. "Damn… not a bad shot! You've got my blood pumping!" Rutega said with a small smile.
"Well, there's more where that's coming from!" Echo remarked, as he immediately warp-striked right into Rutega, as the blow sent her flying back towards the allied master-ghosts, although Rutega righted herself before she could get near any one of them, before having to deal with another one of Echo's rapid assaults.
Rutega smirked, as she suddenly shoved Echo off her with a blow, as she powered up. "It's time I brought this to a close!" Rutega said as she dashed to Echo, and landed the first strike of her Instant Kill attack, as she started it off transforming into Ascended Instinct, her golden aura flaring as she bashed Echo rapidly, before sending him sky high, then slamming her fists into him, as he landed near his own master-ghost, as Rutega began charging an attack.
"Usalia… Majorita… any time now…!" Rutega said as she was charging up a new attack, a mesh between Final Flash and Wild Cannon, awaiting help from her bonded demon friends.
Sure enough, the bonded demons immediately appeared beside Rutega in spiritual form, as Usalia summoned her Prinny Mount, as it began to charge energy, while Majorita summoned a massive zombie that began to charge a laser, as Echo noticed the attack coming.
"Oh, this is going to hurt..." Echo remarked, his smirk drooping slightly.
"FINAL CANNON!" Rutega yelled, firing a massive golden beam downwards, as the zombie and Usalia's Prinny fired at the same time, the three beams shooting right into Echo, causing a massive explosion that nearly obliterated his master-ghost, but in the end took hold of it, as Rutega looked towards Usalia and Majorita.
DESTROYED
"Sorry… still working on it, plip." Usalia remarked, considering both were only in spiritual form.
"Hey, we're getting closer, you guys helped out a lot!" Rutega remarked, giving both a thumbs up as their spiritual forms faded back to where they were.
VICTORY
Echo seemed to be nothing but a pile of limbs, before said limbs levitated into the air, before they then reformed into his entire body, as the clothing even returned as well, as Echo stretched it out.
"Argh, now that was one hell of an attack." Echo remarked, very casual despite the near-obliteration of his entire body. "Suppose that for now, because of that flashing victory of yours, you can go off and look for more answers. But don't get too complacent, I'll be back for more soon enough, and it's only going to get more complex. So you better find your friends, or learn some new tricks."
Echo then snapped his fingers, before he then walked through a distorted sukima, disappearing away.
"It's… over?" Dizzy remarked with some worry.
"No. Far from it." Siege said. "As far as this battle is concerned? It is over." Siege said, noticing forests in the distance. "...Say didn't Richard mention he was in a forested area?"
"Come to think of it, he did." Shallot said. "But what are the odds that the forest over there is the same one he was talking about?"
Suspicions would suddenly be answered as Ramlethal popped her head out from that very forest, looking around. "...Odd. Richard, this forest leads to a desert opening…"
"Really? Let me check." Richard remarked, as he then immediately walked out of the forest area. "So we passed through some sort of warp gate in getting here. That expedites the matter. Now then, we are getting closer to another team… how close, we'll have to see."
"Wait, I think I see Siege's team over there!" Kaguya exclaimed, rushing out, as she waved her arms out. "Hey! Over here!"
"Hey! It's Richard's team!" Siege exclaimed, as Ramlethal saw Dizzy from the forest clearing.
"...That's…!" Ramlethal said, and before saying another word, she was dashing towards Dizzy.
"Ramlethal…!?" Dizzy exclaimed. "You're here as well!?"
"It's a good thing that we are. Hello, Dizzy. I suppose that it would be a good thing that you have more allies to work alongside, for a way out of this mess?" Richard stated with a warm tone.
"Y-yes." Dizzy responded back, before she then stopped for a moment, as if something was talking to her. "Necro seems to be wary about you…"
"Can't be helped. I'm not exactly something that is considered 'natural'. But he can trust me, we're all on the same side here." Richard shook his head.
Ramlethal, as all this was happening, was clutching onto Dizzy in a hug. "...Family…" She said as she hugged Dizzy. "We have to find the rest of them… right…?"
"Of course." Gus responded back. "Right now, the only team we can't confirm the status of, is the first one. By process of elimination, that leaves only Sin Kiske out of the displaced people."
"My son!?" Dizzy exclaimed with horror, her timidness all gone in an instant."Where is he right now!?"
"It's not going to be easy to tell right now. But from what we heard, your kid is more than capable of holding his own." Mokou answered back.
"Besides, I might have a good idea where he might be…" Kaguya responded back with a pondering expression.