Flashback: 15 years ago.
A young Blair was helping around the house. She was sweeping while her parents were taking care of the newborn: Raven. "Hey, mom…" Blair spoke to her mom, who glanced her way. "I saw something strange today…"
"What was it, dear?" Blair's mother asked.
"You know how there aren't many androids around here? Well…maybe not in our neck of the woods, but still." Blair said, sweeping away. "When I was out playing earlier with Hannah, we saw an android. It was being bullied by some of the kids from the big city over."
"Oh no, that's terrible…" Blair's mother frowned. "What did you two do?"
"…Hannah was shocked. She couldn't believe those other kids." Blair said, stopping her sweeping for a moment. "I was just standing there. But I saw the android's face. Even though its expression didn't change…it looked sad. So I shouted 'HEY! What do you think you're doing?! Back off or I'll kick you!' at them. Those kids got so startled they ran off."
Blair's mother let out a slight laugh. "That sounds like you. But what did I say about threatening people with violence?"
"Not too…" Blair kicked the ground a bit. "But asking nicely wasn't working! The android asked for them to stop but they didn't. It thanked me for the help."
"So, what was so strange about that?" Blair asked. "It sounds like you did the right thing to me."
"Well…I've never seen an android before in person." Blair said, walking over to her mother and holding out her pinky finger so baby Raven could grab it. "I didn't know what they were like…that they could feel sad or happy. We don't deal with them…so I wasn't sure why I felt the need to help them."
Blair's mother smiled gently at her daughter. "It just means you have a good heart, Blair. You saw someone suffering and rushed to their aid. I feel proud that you understand the weight of life."
"The…weight of life?" Blair blinked. She was only eight years old so she didn't entirely understand what her mother was talking about.
"The cosmos is a big place." Blair's mother said while gazing upwards at the ceiling. "Everyone and everything has feelings, be it positive or negative. Humans, androids, and everything in between…they have feelings, things they want to do, things they don't want to do. It all boils down to heart. Their lives are just as important as our own. They make up the cosmos. So…when you grow up, I hope you keep helping people who are suffering like that."
Blair scratched her cheek. Honestly, she didn't get all of that…but it sounded important. It boiled down to the fact that there were people just like her out there. If she were hurting, she'd want someone to help her. So…she had to extend that same kindness out there if the time ever called for it. "Okay…!"
End Flashback.
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If they weren't already in a bad situation, things were made much worse. Prometheus and Pandora watched in the background as the androids closed in on the Resistance. Shiki and the others were fending them off, but… "What's the matter?!" Prometheus asked with his usual heinous cackle. "You were so fired up a moment ago? They're just androids!"
"You're a monster!" Rebecca exclaimed. She had no choice but to use the Happy Blasters and fire off as many Ether bullets as she could at the encroaching swarm of enemies. The Skeleton Androids they could handle…but throwing the native androids from Delta Ridge into the mix!? They couldn't kill those androids. That would go against everything they believed in! Liberating a planet from Ziggy's influence didn't mean saving the humans that were enslaved, but also freeing the captive androids from the negative influence. They wouldn't accomplish anything just taking down every android in their path!
"Pino! Can't you EMP this?!" Weisz asked, but Pino shook her head.
"I'm sorry, as I said, I cannot…" Pino frowned. "The power of the Black Moon blocks EMP signatures. I'm sorry…"
"It's not your fault…" Weisz shook his head. The androids were attacking again and the group couldn't afford to not defend themselves. A Delta Ridge android jumped at Weisz and he punched at it to knock it down and away. Despite how much force he put into it, the android just got back up. "Shit…"
"Unfortunately, these androids aren't shedding any tears." Laguna waved his hand to the side, sending a tidal wave of water towards a group comprised of skeleton and Delta Ridge droids to knock them back. "I don't know how we're going to hold out against them like this."
Jinn and Kleene attacked together, using their wind to block back as many androids as they could. It was a precarious situation, because they were trying to deal as much damage as they could to the Delta Ridge androids without destroying them. Unfortunately, this meant their attacks against the Skeleton army weren't enough, which allowed them to keep bouncing back. It was a truly foul strategy. "We're slowly running out of options and time here." Jinn said while gritting his teeth.
"We can't kill those androids, though…" Kleene frowned.
Shiki clenched his hand into fist, glaring in Prometheus' direction. "Hermit. Is there anything we can do to stop this!?"
"I don't know…" Hermit was on her laptop, trying to figure out a way to sever the link from the Delta Ridge androids to take them out of the fight. "The Black Moon Star's power over them is making their circuitry go haywire. They're not built for this kind of output! If it continues, they'll explode!"
"What!?" Everyone glanced back.
"We don't…want this fight…" One of the androids said weakly. It was their last bit of willpower before they were back under being controlled. Blair heard this.
"And despite that, Prometheus is sending them against us…" Tristan grit his teeth. Were there no limits to how far Prometheus would go to erase the Resistance!? Tristan held his hands out then slammed them onto the ground. "Steel Ether Creation: Fortress Walls!" Numerous, thick steel walls appeared in front of the Resistance, briefly separating them from the android onslaught to buy them some time. "…I don't know how long this will last, but we have time to think."
"What are our options!?" Homura questioned. "If the battle persists this way, we won't last. But we have to defend ourselves." They were stuck in disadvantageous loop.
"Isn't it obvious?" G said. "We have no choice but to fight."
"G's right. We have to destroy every android that comes our way." Casey crossed his arms.
"We can't do that…" Shiki shook his head. He refused to be the cause of death of anymore androids that didn't deserve it. Android life was important, he couldn't… "Didn't you hear them!? They don't want this fight. We're here to free them!"
"Maybe you are, but we're not." Casey replied. "Believe it or not, I understand where you're coming from. I don't want to kill androids if I don't have to, but we're running out of options and time. If this continues, we're all dead. And I'm not dying until I get to the Black Moon and find Mother. I won't be dragged down by you lot and your morals either. You either fight, or don't. How can one of the most dangerous people in the cosmos be this naïve?"
"It's not naïve." Shiki replied with a tighter fist. He understood that Casey wasn't disregarding android life, but prioritizing his own crew over everyone else. That wasn't the incorrect option, but Shiki and his crew were here to save everyone. They couldn't compromise on their beliefs…
"Sorry guys…but I have to agree with the boss here…" Percival shook her head slowly. "We gotta fight. Right, Ano…?"
"Yeah…" Ano nodded slowly. "There's no way to stop these androids without taking them down. We don't have the time to identify which faction they belong to. We have to destroy their cores if we want to stop them. No amount of damage besides that is going to stop them. You saw it, didn't you?"
Lowell had to cut the head clean off of an android just a little while ago to get it to stop attacking. But even then, the body kept pursuing him despite that. "Nothing stops these things…nothing but death."
"Is that really our only option?" Medi frowned. "Sister, can't you bring them back even after they're injured."
Sister wanted to say yes, but she remembered what Witch told her once before. "…They wouldn't even be the same android." Sister hated this feeling. She had the power, but it could never seem to save someone when it counted.
Lluvi glanced behind her at the Resistance Base. She could see that the people inside were getting increasingly worried. "Whatever we're planning to do, we have to do it now!" There was an explosion in front of the steel walls Tristan created, causing everyone to turn.
"What was that?" Tristan asked. Another explosion followed…then another. It was strange. These explosions weren't causing much damage to the defensive wall, but they just kept happening.
"If you are wondering what those explosions are…that is the result of the Delta Ridge Androids hitting your defensive barrier." Pandora explained.
"What!?"
"They will continue to march until it shatters…or until there are none left." Pandora stated. "You are free to hole up in that defensive wall if you wish. It makes no difference to us."
"Tristan, lower the wall!" Shiki asked. If this kept up…
Tristan understood the situation. Another dirty tactic forcing them from their defensive position by throwing sacrificial androids their way. "Damn it!" Left with no options, Tristan had to lower the wall.
"Help….us…
"We don't…want to die…"
"Too much…power…" The Delta Ridge androids were weakly crying out for help. They had no control over their bodies. They just wanted it to stop.
Blair clenched her hand into a fist, listening to these androids beg and plead for some kind of help. "It all boils down to the heart. Their lives are just as important as our own." The words of her mother echoed in her head. The crew of the Eden's Zero couldn't fight at full power because of the suffering of the androids, while the Eclipse Ark was ready to destroy them all so they could live another day. Neither side was wrong…it was all about survival. Blair knew survival more than anyone. Those two years of hell.
"Here they come…" Homura had her sword at the ready.
"If we have no choice…" Hermit hated this. But their options were extremely limited. "But…" If they didn't fight, everything they'd try to accomplish so far would be for nothing.
Blair started to walk forward. Something about her was different. Rebecca and Homura picked up on this. "Blair? What are you doing?" Rebecca asked.
"Don't go in there alone." Sister said. "If you're going to try and take the burden off everyone, that's only going to make your mental state worse!"
"…Am I that transparent?" Blair let out a dry scoff. "I'll take care of this. You all just sit back."
"That's an army. You can't take that on your own." G said. "What are you trying to prove?"
"Nothing." Blair said. "This whole situation is annoying the hell out of me, so I'm going to end it. So stand back or I'll eat you." With that threat, an aura began to exude out of her body, which began to eat at the Ether around them. This was her way of forcing everyone to stand back, or else they'd be at the mercy of her appetite.
"Blair…" Kleene wasn't sure what that meant. Nobody knew what Blair was trying to do. It seemed like she was going to take the burden of killing every android in sight so nobody else would have to.
Blair stared at the androids marching forward. Her Therion claw lit up in a black and green aura and she glared past them, staring right at Prometheus. Without a word, she sprinted forward with her claw reared back, charging directly into the horde. "Blair, wait!" Shiki was going to follow her, but could feel his ether drain the moment he took a step forward, and Rebecca had to pull him back,
"HAH!" Blair used her claw to slash a number of androids in one fell swoop, taking them down instantly. The androids collapsed to the ground, the black aura from them fading, and Blair continued her assault, running straight ahead while using her Therion arm to attack them. Despite the numbers, Blair was swift enough to dodge their attacks and attack them, leaving android bodies in her wake.
"Blair, wait!" Rebecca called out to Blair.
"Wait…." Hermit said. "Something's different…"
"Different? Different how?" Weisz asked.
"Kyahaha-huh?" Prometheus blinked as Blair charged straight through the android army, taking down androids on both factions. The black aura around them faded every time Blair made contact with them. "Wait, what's going on here? The power of the Black Moon Star should keep them going! Why are they stopped?!"
"This…isn't right. They should be able to withstand any amount of damage with that power." Pandora's stoic expression twitched into a concerned frown.
A larger skeleton army android dropped in front of Blair, towering over her. Empowered by the Black Moon Star, it threw its titan fist in her direction. Blair held her Therion arm out to stop it in its tracks, crushing its arm in her grip. "Get the hell out of my way!" She reared her arm back and threw the android off to the side like it were nothing, continuing on her rampage. "If you think this is hell, then I'm just getting started!"
"What the…" Lowell gulped. "What's with this chick?" This was the first time they've seen Blair in serious action. With the reveal the ether she consumes from people can be used, on top of this…she was a completely different monster than they expected.
"Ano, what's going on with those androids?" Casey asked. "Did she destroy their cores?"
"N-No, she didn't…!" Ano shook his head.
"Blair is…using her Therion powers to suck the ether and the power of the Black Moon out of the androids!" Hermit exclaimed.
"She's not killing them…" Shiki blinked. That's what it looked like at first glance, but it ran so much deeper than that. She was putting them out of commission.
"She's taking away enough ether so most of their functions stop working, but they're still alive. She's essentially just knocking everything out…" Hermit surmised. "But why is she…"
Prometheus was beginning to panic, but it was masked by a smile. "This human…is not something that Lord Ziggy told us would be present."
"This is no human." Pandora gripped her staff. "This woman is nothing short of a monster."
They watched as Blair completely cleared through the hundreds of androids that were sent their way. It didn't matter if they were friend or foe when she incapicated them like this. She was standing atop a pile of unconscious robots, panting heavily. As a result from all the ether she consumed, her Therion arm grew a bit in size temporarily as she digested it all. "Still hungry…" She snarled. The effect of her Ether Drain was starting to spread, as nearby grass and trees began to wither away and die.
"She's a walking disaster." Casey narrowed his eyes. "What kind of monster is she?" He looked directly at the Eden's Zero crew. Sure, Blair was powerful. But he noticed nature beginning to die around her.
"I already told you." Shiki returned the look to Casey. "She's our crewmate."
"Hey, you two." Blair looked up at Prometheus and Pandora. "You're Ziggy bots, aren't you? So, tell me. Do you know what fear is?"
"Hah?" Prometheus quirked a brow.
"It's what you made those androids experience just a few moments ago. But don't worry. I'll make you understand." Blair said while shifting her stance, suddenly lunging towards Prometheus with her Therion claw. He blocked her strike with his scythe, but the fact he was sent flying after that hit said a lot.
"Prometheus!" Pandora was shocked at Blair's power and used her scepter to fire a volley of elemental blasts in her direction. "This will not stand."
Blair was dodging the blasts easily, leaping up into the air while pulled her leg back. "Tearing Thorn!" She swung her leg at Pandora, who she hit directly. Pandora was sent into the ground, but she quickly recovered. The moment Blair touched down to the ground; Prometheus was attacking her with his scythe. Her gauntlet blade shot out to clash with the hit and sparks flew. Pandora attempted to come at her from behind and struck her with her scepter, causing Blair to slide back. She growled before engaging the both of them in a two on one fight.
"She's taking them on alone!?" Homura gasped. "We must aid her!"
"STAY BACK!" Blair screamed. The range of her innate Ether Drain was spreading the more she fought. The decaying grass expanding closer and closer towards the Resistance base.
"…! I get it." Sister said while staring at Blair. "She's trying to finish this in one fell swoop…"
"This whole war!? She's only one person, she's insane." Percival actually looked awake. "Why can't we help?"
"Because she'll drain our Ether if we get too close." Casey surmised. "Granted, it's spreading faster and faster the more energy she puts out. So we're going to get caught in it anyway…"
"Blair can beat them." Rebecca said with a firm nod. "Come on, Blair! Finish this for us!"
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Geno was back into a corner by the Goldstones. Due to still suffering the psychological blow of walking in on Sarisse's dead body, he wasn't able to fight at his best. Normally he could hold the three Goldstones off for a little ben when he was transformed, but he didn't have the fighting spirit within him. As such, the three on one fight was completely one-sided. "Ngh…"
"Well well!" Athena smiled. Geno still put up a fight, but this wasn't looking good for the infamous Blue Bomber. "Looks like we finally have you right where we want you, you masked annoyance."
"Don't feel so bad. Today's the day everything ends for you all." Max said while twirling his gun around. "Getting rid of you has been one of the hardest things we've had to do, so take pride in that. Out of respect, we'll let you keep the helmet on. Knowing you as the Blue Bomber over whoever you are just seems right."
"Ngh…" Geno couldn't fight them like this.
"We'll make this quick, just like I did for the leader of the Resistance." Kamara said while stepping forward. This really looked like it was the end for the Blue Bomber. The Goldstones were closing in for the finishing blow, but that's when it happened. They all suddenly felt weak. "W-What…?"
"Huh?" Athena could barely keep herself standing. She collapsed and placed a hand on her head. "What's going on…I feel so weak…?"
"W-What kinda trick..?" Max was at a loss. They didn't know this, but this was Blair's Ether Drain in effect. It was spreading so fast, it even reached them and they were a little ways away from the battlefield. But as far as the Goldstones were concerned, this could have been a trick from the Blue Bomber.
"We can take 'em out now!" Mega exclaimed.
"C-Can't…" Geno shook his head. He then used this chance to flee before his body collapsed. He was already on the verge of falling over. If he was caught in the Ether Drain, he would have no strength left at all to stand.
"Damn it! We can't let him get away!" Max said this, but his body wasn't listening to him. It felt far too exhausted and weak to move. "W-What the hell is this…?"
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Blair clashed with both Prometheus and Pandora, glaring at the two androids. She pushed Pandora back, spinning around with her searing blade. "Scarlet Inferno!" The blade was ignited in crimson/green/black flames, empowered by Blair's current state of power. She managed to slash Prometheus and he grunted in pain.
"GYAHAHAHA!" Prometheus slid back and laughed the pain away. "A human like you…Ziggy never said something like you existed here! How interesting!" Prometheus held his hands up, purple flames appearing in the shape of skulls forming. "Skull Flare!" He threw these flames forward, and Blair began to dodge them. Large explosions of fire followed suit. One of these skulls did hit Blair directly and she slide back covered in burns. "Tell me, is that the best you can do!?"
Blair emerged from the flames with her arm extended. She intended to grab Prometheus and crush his skull, but she was intercepted with a blast from Pandora. This struck Blair and it was a continuous attack as well. "I will not allow you to harm Prometheus."
Blair let out a snarl before extending her Therion arm out to consume the blasts and feed herself. This allowed her to move unchallenged, much to Pandora's surprise. Lightning crackled along Blair's sword as she lunged ahead. "Banishing Thunder!" A powerful flash of black lightning occurred as she slashed Pandora, knocking the female android back with a heavy hit.
"She got her!" Kleene cheered. Problem was, the effects of Blair's innate Therion powers started to spread to them too. So she felt more than just a little tired. "Ngh…"
"Agh…" Pandora grimaced. "Ether Seal!" She could still fight back. She intended to lock Blair's ether to prevent her from attacking. A strange white binding appeared around Blair that kept her stuck for a little while.
"KYAHAHAH!" Prometheus' scythe let up with purple fire and he swung it over and over at Blair. Numerous crescent blades of fire exploded against her over and over. Only after a few minutes did he stop, peering into the smoke. "Come on!? Is that all you got?!" The smoke began to clear, and Blair was seen slowly walking forward. "Oh, you're still alive!?"
"No…" Pandora's eyes went wide. "She's not supposed to be able to move. Ether Seal completely stops the movement of any being with Ether inside of their body."
"I ate it." Blair said. She emerged from the smoke, covered in wounds, blood dripping from various wounds. "If you're only why I'm still alive, then you don't understand a damn thing." She held her Therion arm up, and all the ether she consumed and continued to consume caused it to grow in size. "Treating those lives you threw away as nothing more than a means to an end…I'm not a hero or anything of the sort, but that sort of thing just pisses me off." She glanced at the other, noticing how they were starting to fall to the ground. No more time to waste. She ran forward, thrusting her gigantic fist towards the android duo. "SO I'll DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU'VE BUILT! VENOM STRIKE!" A blow of this size was one Prometheus wanted to challenge. Blair truly sought to end the war on Delta Ridge right here and now. Everyone watched with bated breath, but that blow never came. Something crashed down on top of Blair before it could, forcing her to tumble back.
"Now now…I can't let you get too ahead of yourself." The one responsible? The Golden Knight Gear from before. It finally made a reappearance after dueling with the Eden's Zero in space. "It's far too soon to end things."
"What the…That thing again?" Weisz growled.
"Hey! We were just getting to the best part!" Prometheus was also upset, despite the assist. "This is the most fun I've had in a long time!"
"This woman is going to kill everything if this keeps up." The Golden Knight Gear pointed out. "Just being near her now is rapidly draining my supply. Fleeing is the best option. This woman's will to survive and kill you is too high to settle things properly here."
"I concur…" Pandora nodded, panting a bit from her injuries. "This battle has taken an unexpected turn. We must report to Lord Ziggy."
"….Tch." Prometheus scoffed. "Fine. Looks like you get to live for a while, girlie. You and your friends."
"Do you think I'm letting you get away!?" Blair shouted.
"You're free to pursue. But do you think your friends can last?" The Golden Knight Gear pointed to the others. Realizing that they couldn't hold out for much longer, Blair calmed down a bit, which caused her power to recede. "Maybe you're not so cold after all."
Blair now had to hold her Therion arm, grimacing from the drawback. "I'll kill you…"
"Won't that be a day?" The Golden Knight Gear said, before treating with Prometheus and Pandora. The defensive battle was won largely thanks to Blair's efforts.
Blair closed one eye…then both…and then she completely collapsed forward. Rebecca and the others quickly ran over to Blair once they were able to do so. "Hang on, Blair…!" Rebecca said, just barely managing to catch Blair before she hit the ground. "I gotcha…" Blair was completely out cold, but Rebecca had a slight smile on her face the whole time. "…I really don't get you. But you saved so many lives today for one reason or another. Thank you."