Previously on Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED…
"He… he has done it." The Handmaiden of Fate could only close her eyes and clasped her palms, bringing them close to her chest. "You have been hurt inside of you. I can feel the pain you have to bear." Slowly, a drop of tear flowed down her cheek and fell onto her garb, as she brought her palms closer. "Lone Wolf… please do something. His heart needs someone to sooth right now…"
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Mriya gasped. Her heart went crazy, as if she had felt a pain. Unable to contain her emotion, she fell upon her knees and cupped her face, bitterly crying. "Chrono…"
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Dizzy was startled and stared up at the sky. "What… what happened? Why does my heart feel uneasy?" she whispered and clenched her battle robe.
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Lone Wolf NEO parried Mark 2's uppercut and counterattacked with a blue Psych Burst. He jumped away from the red-garbed warrior and turned to the open sky of Kiev. "It's him…" he grumbled and looked back at Mark 2. "Why did it happen in times like this…? Damn, I knew I should've done something about him."
x-x-x-x-x
Guilty Gear
Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED
Written and conceived by: Lone Wolf NEO
Lone Wolf NEO does not own any of all the games or anime or manga featured in this story, but he owns the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate if readers do not plagiaries everything inside this story without his knowledge.
Chronological Note: Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED takes place scarcely half a year after Guilty Gear versus SNK 2: Battle Revolution, and currently runs roughly in parallel with Guilty Gear: The World Within and Without written and owned by Sheo Darren.
Featured music in this chapter is The Irony of Chaste and Drumhead Pulsation (Guilty Gear Isuka) and Fatal Fight #2 (Xenosaga II).
Chapter 28
The One Arc Part 8
Vortex Infinium 3rd Stage
They were cornered. The two blonde fighters of Guilty Gear and Mark of the Wolves universe were outnumbered, and the Robo-Kys were advancing en masse. They were trapped in a tight backstreet and were pinned down from everywhere. They were not alone; their beloved wives were in the same situation as theirs, albeit at other location.
"Now what?" Rock asked, as they kept an eye on the red-garbed robots.
"We're outnumbered, and these robots are too many," Ky answered and clenched the hilt of Thunderseal.
"I know that already!" Rock shouted.
"Then do you have any suggestion, Mister Howard?" Ky asked.
A Robo-Ky pounced, discouraging Rock with his digitized battle cry. The already-angered Rock glared at the attacking robot. "SHUT UP!!" A Reppuken slammed the Robo-Ky's body and sent the robot crashing on the steel container. The son of Geese Howard rose and faced the remaining Mark II group and intensified the gale in his hand. "Alright, I'm getting really pissed off at all off you. COME ON!"
"BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH! ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!"
Rock screamed a loud battle cry and slammed the gale-infested palms onto the ground. A gigantic Raising Storm was released, knocked off all of the robots and levelled the two building blocks at either side. The remaining Robo-Kys jumped away from the falling bricks, and Ky had to Fortress Block the debris. "Hey, watch it!" the knight scolded.
"Don't mind that!" Rock shouted and ran down the now-empty street. "Anyway, we must get those twos. They might need our help right away."
"Lead the way, Rock!" Ky replied and followed him.
"YOU STUPID BLONDES CANNOT RUN AWAY!" the Robo-Kys screamed and fired rocket punches. Ky snapped in annoyance and counteracted the projectiles with a giant Sacred Edge. Both the rockets and the overdrives collided and exploded, knocking the airborne robots out of range.
"CHASE THEM! DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!" With that announced, the horde began chasing Ky and Rock around the streets, like a pack of hungry lions set out to hunt their preys.
"We can't keep on like this!" Ky screamed and ran back toward the Robo-Kys. Rock tried to stop him, yet the holy knight was already in his Ride The Lighting before he could do anything.
"YOU INSOLENT HUMAN CANNOT COMPARE WITH US! TAKE THIS!" The Robo-Ky fired a Stun Edge at Ky; it was deflected and Robo-Ky got ticked off with it. "YOU INFIDEL!" he roared and fired a Tyrant Rave Beta at the holy knight. Both overdrives collided yet Ky was not knocked off.
"Who's the infidel one??!" Ky shouted and knocked the Robo-Ky with the lightning overdrive. He immediately roman cancelled it into an aerial Vapour Thrust, further sending the robot midair. The remaining Robo-Kys pounced at the former IPF officer and tried to land their Ky-Maku Homerun counterpart of the uppercut. Their combined powers failed to knock him out of range and they were, instead, blown away by the raw power of the Thunderseal. Ky landed on a rooftop and waited, as the Robo-Kys regained balance and charged toward him for the second time. He lifted Thunderseal into the open air and brought it down.
"Seikishidan Ougi!"
In an instant his body was glowing in lighting blue, coupled with electric sparks flying around his body. Both the red-garbed robots and Rock were pushed back by the sudden power outburst and were almost knocked out of range. Ky faced the invaders and fired endless salvoes of Stun Edge Charge Attacks at them. Most of them jumped away, and Ky hastened to summon Sacred Edges to strike upon them.
Ky halted and positioned the Thunderseal in an en garde position. "In the name of God, I, Knight of the Holy Orders Ky Kiske, challenge thee in a duel!"
"YOU SHALL NOT WIN!"
(Battle music: The Irony of Chaste)
"ATTACK!"
The Mark II's fired multiple rocket punches at Ky. The knight in his Kakusei form reacted and counterattacked with Sacred Edges, destroying all the projectiles midair. The robots were ticked off and charged at Ky, trying to land their Hou'ou Kyaku. Ky cancelled the imitated overdrives with an Aegis High, knocking all the robots off his way.
"RIDE THE LIGHTNING!"
A gigantic lightning orb was fired from the Thunderseal and engulfed the knocked off Robo-Kys. Ky didn't stop there and fired another Ride the Lightning, this time followed by a knockdown. Most of the robots were electrocuted, and the escaping robots were immediately by Rock's Shinkuu Nage throw. Another Sacred Edge was summoned, and the rest of the robots were no more.
"This battle is far from over!" an escaping Mark II shouted from the top of a building. The two blonde fighters watched at the escape, which was already activating its Gamma Ray cannon. Ky tried to pounce at the robot, not noticing another bunch of escaping Mark II that emerged behind him, aiming their rocket punches.
"Shinkuu Missile!"
A vacuum projectile emerged from nowhere and hit the ambushers, knocking them off course. The attacking Robo-Kys were surprised as more of the similar attacks pounded him from everywhere, hitting every part of their body with its intense vacuum entity. Some escaped, only to meet their fate in a giant shadow claws. Rock watched around for the unexpected helpers and saw a group of people walking down the ruins.
"Aren't you…?"
"The AEGIS Squad," formally Nazo spoke and corrected his sunglasses, "looks like we've arrived at the right time. Are you alright, Howard-san?"
Rock sweatdropped. "How did you know my name?"
"Yuuki-san told us to assist Lone Wolf-san," Ayane told him. She looked upward and saw Ky chopping off the Gamma Ray Mark II's head. "Eh? I thought we could give him a hand or two."
"We have no time to lose here, Ayane," Nazo uttered and glanced at Rock. "Can you take us to Lone Wolf NEO, Howard-san?"
x-x
"IYAA! DAME!!" A blue Psych Burst knocked the advancing Mark II off from her, and Hotaru counterattacked with a strong Hakki Shou. The Mark II-in-command was sent flying toward a dustbin and crashed, but somehow it managed to fire a rocket punch at the Futaba firefly.
"Hotaru-chan!" Dizzy jumped forward in a desperate act to rescue the petite girl from being victimized by the rocket.
"STUN-EDGE!" A fast-flying electric blade cut its way toward the rocket punch and sliced it to half. The attacking Mark II was ticked off and glared at the interferer; the person was similar to him, except for the blue-white garb and the green face.
"It's you," coldly Mark II uttered.
"So? Expecting-your-own-relative-to-be-friendly?" teasingly RB5001 asked and holstered the Thunderseal on its shoulder.
"You bastard…!" Mark II growled and fired Power Geyser at RB5001. The robot grinned and jumped over the overdrive. He floated midair and tossed several blades at the Mark II, pinning the robot down to the ground. "Cheater! You aren't supposed to learn new techniques! Where on earth did you acquire that!?" Mark II demanded and opened fire at RB5001.
"Heh." RB5001 made a somersault and landed back on the ground. He withdrew several more blades from his sleeves and opened an unusual battle stance. "We, Robo-Ky-Mark-1, had-been-restored-and-upgraded-to-meet-the-latest-battle-demand. We-owe-Master-Lone-Wolf-and-Mistress-Ciel-for-bringing-us-back-to-live."
"You are defunct!" the Mark II screamed and ordered several of its team-mates to strike upon RB5001. RB5001 stared at the nearest target and tossed several blades at it. The attacking Robo-Ky dropped on the ground, body pierced with knifes and blades, much to the remaining units' dismay. "You're just a piece of rustic metal! Your skill is inferior to us!"
"Unit-RB5001-requesting-backup." Almost instantaneously, several Robo-Ky Mark 1s jumped from nearby building and landed beside RB5001. "Take-these-two-ladies-to-safety. Protect-them-from-any-threats." He, then, glanced at Dizzy and Hotaru. "Ladies, be-glad-to-be-escorted-by-my-comrades."
"What about you, Robo-san?" anxiously Hotaru asked.
RB5001 replied with a thumb up and nodded at the remaining Mark 1s. "Yes, sir!" the Robo-Kys answered and escorted the girls to safety. He turned to face Mark II and the rest of the red-garbed warriors.
"Ah! It doesn't matter! Mark 1 or no Mark 1, Mark II will still prevail! GET HIM!!!" The robots leaped upon, trying to pounce at RB5001.
(Battle music: Fatal Fight #2)
"You-know," RB5001 spoke and lowered his stance, "it-is-who-who-doesn't-want-to-learn! HIERO!" Instantly, a stream of blades were fired upon the attacking Mark II's, as RB5001 was suddenly airborne and aimed the attack at his red garb counterparts. Most of them evaded and launched themselves toward RB5001. The Mark 1 unit reached the Thunderseal and went for a Ride The Lightning rampage, hitting every Mark II with the overdrive.
"Damn it! He's just a defunct unit! Don't get intimidated!" the Mark II yelled. The remaining robot acknowledged and fired their rocket punches. Nimbly RB5001 evaded the projectiles and counterattacked with his airborne Stun Edges. "This cannot be! USE THE GAMMA RAY! FIRE AT WILL! DON'T LEAVE ANY TRACE OF THAT DEFUNCT UNIT!"
"Hey, red-garbed fools!"
The Mark II turned around and received a punch on his face. At the same time, a gigantic pink whale appeared from nowhere and hit the unfortunate Mark II, sending the commanding robot back to the ground. Its subordinates watched at the newcomers and gasped in utter shock.
"I will have my revenge on Yamada-san!"
"And for my little sister!"
Saying that, both May and Iori tossed endless streams of Yamibarai at the Mark II's. The robots were pushed back and forced to block every projectile the two fighters offered. RB watched at the unexpected reinforcement and landed next to him. "So-unexpected-to-see-this-duo-at-this-place," he uttered.
"Let's kick those Mark II's ass right away!" May exclaimed and tossed another Yamibarai at the robots.
"You're forgetting us, May!" The three of them looked at the direction of the caller and saw Bridget and Malin running toward them. The Mark II robots saw the newcomers as well and fired Gamma Ray at them. "You loser robots cannot fight us! KICK STARTS MY HEART!"
"MIZUCHI!"
The attacking robots were pummelled by both attacks and were knocked out. Iori pounced at the remaining robots and shredded them with endless combo attacks of his, while May provided support with Iruka-san loops. RB5001 watched at them and could only shake head in amazement. "Looks-like-human-power-is-still-reliable-in-today's-world," he uttered and took a seat on a nearby boulder. "Maybe… maybe-I-can-get-the-chance-to-learn-about-these-human-warriors."
"Hey! Don't just sit there! Give us a hand!" Iori shouted and plunged a Mark II's head into the ground.
Lazily RB5001 stood up and walked toward them, tapping his head as if communicating with someone. "Requesting-reinforcement." Another Robo-Ky group appeared from the buildings and stood behind RB5001. "Help-these-human-warriors. They-might-need-our-assistance."
"Yes, sir!"
"BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH! ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!" RB5001 and the remaining warriors looked at the open sky and saw a battalion of Mark II coming down to the earth.
"Oh, great. When we thought we'd sacked these bolt craps," Iori cursed.
"They never learn their lesson, do they?" Malin asked.
"Not-anymore," RB5001 answered and withdrew another bunch of blades from his sleeves. "Allow-us-to-display-what-have-we-learned-from-Mistress-Ciel. HIERO!"
(Battle music: Drumhead Pulsation)
At the same times the blades pierced one of the Mark II's, the Robo-Ky Mark 1 squad pounced at the invaders, with RB5001 taking the lead. "Aim-for-the-closest-enemy! Don't-waste-your-time-acting-heroic! Don't-pull-back-unless-when-needed! Understood?" RB5001 shouted.
"Sir, yes-sir!" the robots replied and jumped into the battlefield.
x-x-x-x-x
Meanwhile…
Neither Mark 2 nor Lone Wolf NEO was saying anything. Both of them were already worn out after endless hours of duels. Machine oil dropped off Mark 2's face sweat-esque, while Lone Wolf was on his knees, panting breathlessly.
"LOOKS LIKE OUR BATTLE HAS WEDGED WITH NO RESULTS SHOWING UP," Mark 2 spoke and corrected his red garb.
"It's you who dragged this duel too far," the author replied and tried to stand up. "I have no time to waste upon you. This war must end the way it should be."
Mark 2 chuckled and plunged the Thunderseal on the ground. "I NOTICED THAT. TO END THIS WAR IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS, HOWEVER; I MERELY STARTED THE WORK, AND IT'S UP TO YOU HUMANS TO FINISH IT."
"Stop mocking me!" The author sprung at Mark 2, aiming for his head. The robot grinned and seized the author's trench coat, tossing him to the open air. "Shoot! I totally forgot!" he cried and crashed on the ground.
"PREDICTABLE," Mark 2 spoke and ignited a gale orb from his palm. "THAT WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTING FROM YOU. I EXPECT AN AUTHOR WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING TO BE ABLE TO… FORGET ABOUT THAT. I'M GOING TO FINISH YOU OFF."
"Shut up!" Lone Wolf shouted and pounced at Mark 2.
"ANOTHER FUTILE EFFORT. PREDICTABLE!" Again, he was reversed by the throw and was brought to the open air. Mark 2 tossed the already-intensified gale orb at the author; it hit and razed the trench coat. The robot lowered his stance and pounced at the screaming Lone Wolf. "TRUE LIGHTNING PHOENIX GALE KICK!" The author became the victim of the imitated overdrive and was sent back to the ground. "CHE. ONLY AN OVERDRIVE AND YOU'RE ALREADY BUSTED? LOOK AT YOU; IS THIS THE INFAMOUS LONE WOLF NEO WE'VE BEEN HEARING OFF?"
Lone Wolf hastened on his feet. His face was covered in blood; his trench coat was badly torn, exposing the inner cloth of his. The arm which was holding the NEO Dagger was trembling in injury. "Don't… underestimate us… robot…"
Mark 2 shook his head and pulled the Thunderseal from the ground. "I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A STUBBORN HUMAN LIKE YOU CAN MANAGE THIS WORLD. TOO BAD, I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO THE ASNWER ANYWAY. YOU ARE…"
"Out of the way!" A rain of bullets was sprayed upon Mark 2. The robot foresaw the attack and deflected the bullets with the gale orb. He jumped out to safety and watched in intrigue, as a mobile unit and a battle tank appeared from the dust. Lone Wolf watched at the newcomers and blinked in surprise, before he grinned.
"Don't tell me it's Yuuki's work behind this," he spoke and fell onto his knees. "Damn… I'm worn out…"
"We need medical backup!" Fio shouted from onboard the Metal Slug. "Jo! Get him and bring him out of here!"
Jo jumped out of Jango and helped Lone Wolf to stand up. "Don't move around too much; we'll take you to the medical team."
"HAH! THIS IS ALL TOO PATHETIC!" Mark 2 shouted from the lamppost, glowering down at the three warriors. "I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU HUMAN! FOR THAT, LET ME INTRODUDE TO YOU MY BIG BUDDY!" The ground trembled violently, as a figure the size of 7-storey building descended from the sky and landed behind Mark 2. Lone Wolf, Jo and Fio watched at the newcomer and had a shocked expression pasted upon their face. Mark 2 laughed and pointed at them, his golden eyes sparkling in triumph. "THOSE SHOCKED FACE OF YOURS HAVE SURELY ENTERTAINED ME A WHILE AGO. G-ROBO-KY, DESTROY THEM!"
The gigantic Robo-Ky stared down at its target. Its golden eyes sparkled and it pulled out Thunderseal from its sheath. "GIANT ROBO-KY WANTS TO PLAY. GIANT ROBO-KY LOVES TO PLAY." The robot fired rocket punches at them; Jo jumped away from attacking range while tightly holding Lone Wolf; Fio rushed back to Metal Slug and fired cannon at Giant Robo-Ky. The robot frowned in dismay tried to stomp the battle tank. "GIANT ROBO-KY IS MAD. GIANT ROBO-KY WANTS TO PLAY, BUT YOU MAKE GIANT ROBO-KY ANGRY."
"Fio, get out of there!" Jo shouted. The mercenary soldier drove out of danger and approached her partner. The angel of hell stared at Lone Wolf. "What are we going to do, Lone Wolf NEO?"
"Damn it! I never realize this would have to happen…!" the author cursed and glanced at Mark 2. "Damn it…!"
Mark 2 laughed again. "YOU ARE OWNED, LONE WOLF. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN WIN THIS BATTLE, EVEN IF I HAVE LOST ALL OF MY SUBORDINATES. THIS GIANT ROBO-KY WILL WIPE OUT EVERYTHING STANDING ON ITS WAY, AND IT NEVER KNOWS ANYONE. YOU, ESPECIALLY, ARE JUST A PECK OF DUST IN ITS EYES."
"Says who?" Jo shouted and fired her .45s at Giant Robo-Ky. Fio opened fire as well, aiming Metal Slug's cannon and machineguns at the robots. Giant Robo-Ky fired a laser from its eyes and hit the ground, knocking both Jango and Metal Slug off its sight.
"YOUR FUTILE EFFORT IS USELESS, HUMAN! YOU CANNOT STOP GIANT ROBO-KY, AND YOU CAN NEVER STOP US! MARK II WILL PREVAIL!" Mark 2 exclaimed between his laughs.
"Mark II will not prevail!" and nine light blades appeared from the sky, almost hitting Mark 2. The red-garbed robot evaded and landed on another lamppost. He watched at the direction of the attack and gasped in shock and angry. Lone Wolf NEO, as well as Jo and Fio watched above and were surprised.
"It's a bird!" Fio exclaimed.
"No, it's a plane," Jo insisted.
"No!" Lone Wolf answered. "It's the renegade unit! Robo-Ky!"
The said unit landed on the ground and retracted his mobile 'copter into his body. Robo-Ky took a glance at the Lone Wolf and waved at him. "Yo. Omatase."
"Damn it, Robo-Ky! You could've helped us earlier," Lone Wolf shouted. "What's taking you so long?"
Robo-Ky could only grin. "Sorry, my internal navigation was knocked out. I had to rely on my instinct to find this place," he spoke.
Sumomo popped out of Robo-Ky's shoulder and danced. "AIIIIII! Robo-Ky will win this war, because Robo-Ky is now a warrior! AIIIII!!"
"Sumomo, go inside," Robo-Ky ordered. "It's too dangerous to stay out."
"AIII! Wakarimashita desu!" Sumomo replied and went back into the shoulder-mounted pod.
Mark 2 screamed in anger and wildly swung his fists. "THIS CANNOT BE! I, ROBO-KY MARK 2, CANNOT ACCEPT THIS FACT! G-ROBO-KY, DESTROY THEM! DESTROY THEM ALL!"
Giant Robo-Ky stared at Robo-Ky. "GIANT ROBO-KY WANTS TO PLAY. GIANT ROBO-KY WANTS A FRIEND TO PLAY WITH."
"Sorry, big freak," Robo-Ky uttered and opened a kamae stance, "but my sparring partner isn't you." With that said he pounced at Mark 2 and landed a kamae attack onto the PWAB unit, completely ignoring the giant robot. Mark 2 counterattacked with a Psych Burst and landed a Raimei Dan; to his surprise, the electric kick missed. "HITEN MITSURUGI RYUU! RYUUKANSEN!" The Thunderseal nihontou hit and knocked Mark 2 off.
"G-ROBO-KY!!!!" Giant Robo-Ky responded and turned around, aiming its eye laser at Robo-Ky. Before it could launch the attack, he was tossed to the open air and crashed at the area out of the city. Mark 2 watched at the event and screamed in anger. "YOU!!!! I THOUGHT YOU WERE…"
"Dead?" The man in white/red hakama answered and shook his head. "I can't believe I had been defeated by a mere robot. But the strongest man in the world cannot and will not easily die. I'm destined to roam this world for eternity."
"Geese!" Lone Wolf pronounced the name in surprise. The Hakkoyukuseiken warrior glanced at the lone wolf of author's universe and grinned. "How the heck did you…?"
"A woman saved me from my death," he uttered and corrected his hakama, "and this woman says that she knows you very much. Heh, don't ask me whether I understand it or not, but I'm back. Is that enough already?"
Lone Wolf could only smile. "Yeah… it is."
"GIANT ROBO-KY IS MAD NOW," Giant Robo-Ky spoke as it walked back toward the scene. "GIANT ROBO-KY WILL DESTROY ANYONE WHO MAKES GIANT ROBO-KY ANGRY."
"Che, a mere robot cannot do anything to me," Geese uttered and charged toward Giant Robo-Ky. "HISHOU NICHIRIN ZAN!"
"Come on, girls! We've gotta help Geese!" Lone Wolf shouted and headed toward Giant Robo-Ky. Jo nodded in acknowledgement and followed the author from the behind, while Fio stayed behind and fired at Giant Robo-Ky.
Mark 2 screamed in anger and pounced at the people when Robo-Ky intercepted him. "Your opponent is me, Mark 2. Now, let us begin this final duel," Robo-Ky spoke and opened his battou stance.
"YOU…" Mark 2 cursed and opened his battle stance, "YOU SHALL FACE THE WRATH OF THE MARK II!"