Heroic New Era: Strive for Overture
Chapter 1: Gears of Guilt
Aboard the OSA Golden Blaze, a plethora of new members could be seen walking about, having joined during a recent side mission undertaken by Siege and Richard. This group included such members like Yumia Mokuno, Vixy Davis, their daughter Jesse Davis, and multiple extended family members such as Xing Dou, Xio Dou, as well as Asha and Meina. There was a run in with the Dimensional Heroes version of Sapphire, as well as a group consisting of Sephiroth, Kefla, Gogeta, Vergil, and a new version of Kiana Kaslana.
Siege could be seen walking into the cockpit area once more, where he noticed Richard speaking with Magina.
"Magina, I noticed that there is a disturbance with one of the other worlds." Richard stated. "I have been looking at it for a while using my own powers, and it seems that we might have to head down there to deal with the problem. I can't exactly know what the disturbance encompasses, but I say that it's an urgent matter."
"It's not as easy of a fix as you think it might be, Richard. I know of the world you speak of. It's a timeline shift. So answer me this. Have you heard of a video game called Guilty Gear Overture?" Magina would ask.
"Huh, that game isn't exactly popular compared to its mainstream ones." Richard nodded with a hand under his chin. "The events do have a major part in what later happened down the line, which I dub the 'Revelator Incident', that is the events of Guilty Gear Xrd. Still, what then?"
"Despite that, Richard And I play it quite often." Siege would say. "Why do you ask?"
"Let me follow up and ask the following: What about Guilty Gear Strive?" Magina would follow up.
"The newest one? Richard and I are getting a kick out of it. Quite a change from Overture's mechanics for sure." Siege remarked.
"Picture this: characters from Strive's timeline are being thrust into Overture's timeline and story because of this shift." Magina explained.
"...Huh." Richard responded back. "That's going to be an interesting take on the events."
"So how messed up are we talking for this timeline now?" Siege would ask.
"It seems like the world… allow me to put it this way with the merge. Overture and Strive are meshed, but battling down there has mechanics of Xrd 2 as well as other parts of the Overture system." Magina would simplify.
"So basically someone's enabled the ability to perform lethal moves on each other. What a joy." Siege deadpanned.
"And then there's the hack and slash part, and then the part about strategy and pushing the lines." Richard continued, before placing a hand on his forehead. "Hoo boy, let's also not have Ramlethal meet her predecessor before we manage to calm her down. We do not want two rampant homunculi against us."
"Indeed we do not. But perhaps Strive Ramlethal has already passed that sail long ago… that is my hope, anyways." Magina said.
"Yeah." Richard nodded back. "So who do you think should be taken along for this one? I'm supposing that a good number of us has what it takes to handle themselves down there."
"Well, let's start team synergy building with the new RWBY you all have acquired. I'm sure the Demon Overlord Ruby is itching to do battle by now. Reisen may also not be an ill choice." Magina suggested. "Perhaps multiple groups would be recommended… take Sienna with you as well, and perhaps Shallot, Caulifla, and Rutega. Richard, should you wish to make a team yourself, you can decide who you wish to take."
"Yeah, Reisen is a must, with her bond with Weiss." Richard answered back. "I'm taking the original team with me, the four of us stick together no matter what. Other than that, I'm going to get Heiwa and Popol with me. They may be fairly young, but they're passionate and they didn't earn their title as Fellow Overlords by not having potential. So these six will do for now. I'll get others in, if the situation turns bad."
"Solid choices. If I may add one final team to your mix, it may be wise to add some from the world you stopped the Killing Bites tournament in, no?" Magina would say.
"A good point. Little Koyomi should be in stable enough condition to join the fight. I dare say she would fare well with others. We'll take Hitomi, as well as Towa, Setsuna, Moroha, and Eruza. That should suffice for another team of six." Siege remarked. "If this story splits how I think with all the Strive characters added… four groups, each to their own character, should provide some insight on what's happening across the spread out world."
"Sure, just run the teams down for me one more time. It'll help later." Richard accepted.
"Alright, adding one more to the initial team, I have here…" Siege said as he listed off each team.
Team 1: Ruby (Disgaea), Weiss (Killing Bites), Blake (Telltale Series), Yang, Reisen (Killing Bites), Jesse Davis
Team 2: Siege, Sienna (Telltale Series), Shallot, Caulifla, Rutega
Team 3: Richard, Gus, Kaguya, Mokou, Popol (Disgaea), Heiwa (Disgaea)
Team 4: Koyomi, Hitomi, Towa, Setsuna, Moroha, Eruza
"Hm, thanks for that." Richard nodded back. "Now then, shall we get moving?"
"Let's do so." Siege said, as he went off to gather those he mentioned.
A few moments later, everyone was gathered as Magina appeared on screen once again.
"I suggest the teleporter again. Given the time period, technology like ours isn't fully advanced. Those from Strive might recognize it, but Overture won't." Magina said.
"Roger that, teleporter is ready and raring to go." Siege said.
"Let's separate each team to an important story plot character. I cannot guarantee they'll be going to Overture or Strive versions, but they'll at least be involved with pivotal characters." Magina said. "Team 1, you will rendezvous with Sol Badguy."
"We copy." Yang said as they loaded into the teleporter.
"Teleporter is powering up… and off you go!" Siege said as Team 1 was warped away.
"Team 2, Siege, you'll be meeting up with Dizzy." Magina commanded.
"Roger that Magina. Richard, beam us down." Siege said as he, Rutega's family, and Sienna, stood at the ready.
"Got that." Richard answered back, as he immediately activated the teleporter, as Siege's team was transported to their location.
"Team 3, Richard, I am not certain which Valentine of what timeline you'll be meeting, but be assured it's one of them." Magina would say to Richard's team.
"Hopefully it's not the predecessor." Richard remarked, as his team stepped onto the teleporter. "We're ready, let's get moving."
"Teleporting you now." Magina said as Richard's team was beamed away. "Alright, that leaves Team 4. You four will be meeting someone that will understand your more Feudal Japan attires and values. You'll be meeting up with a samurai named Baiken."
"I see. That's why you saved us for this samurai you're talking about." Towa said with a nod. "Ought to be interesting. Let's hope she isn't put off by the animal friends we have at our side."
"Hmph." Hitomi crossed her arms, as the group were teleported away.
As the groups teleported, Magina noticed that on Team 3's transport, a small glitch occurred, which caused Magina to sigh. "I just hope that doesn't mean bad things for them…"
Team 3's POV
Luckily, by luck of the draw, Team 3 only had a harsh landing in their location, as they all had sore bodies as they began to wake. Another luck of the draw was who they spawned near.
"...llo? Hello? Are you all okay?" The kind hearted voice of Strive's version of Ramlethal Valentine rang in the ears of Team 3. A stroke of luck had befallen Team 3 via the glitch. "Can I help you all in any way? That fall you took was from quite the height."
"Argh…" Popol groaned as his body ached, hearing Ramlethal's voice. "We're fine, we don't need aid… At least I don't think…"
"I insist, my family taught me that I must look out for others in times of need. At least That's what Dizzy said to me." Strive!Ramlethal said as she looked at the group in concern.
"That person you call Dizzy is a kind-hearted person." Richard answered back, as he helped Heiwa up, before then doing the same for Gus, as Kaguya and Mokou merely dusted themselves off.
He then began to look around the area, as they seemed to have found themselves inside a densely thick forest, with no signs, for now, of anything else in the area.
"She is… as far as where we are, I haven't the slightest clue." Ramlethal said. "I was transported here, and for a while… I was alone again. But perhaps with you all here, you can help me find my family again, and maybe even help me get home." Ramlethal asked.
"Of course. To be fair ourselves, we have no idea of where we are." Richard answered back, as he began to look around the area himself. "We might have to pave our path out of here."
Gus then noticed that there was the sound of approaching entities, as he began to snap his attention towards the directions of the sound.
"It seems that we might have company." Gus remarked, drawing his blade, as the rest of Richard's group did the same. Ramlethal, sensing danger herself, summoned her large broadswords.
"Lady, I suggest you put your weapon up, we are likely in hostile territory." Richard answered.
"Already done." Ramlethal said as her Swords were at her sides, as she glared towards the sounds of the enemy footprints.
"Come meet your end at the hands of Demon Overlords, fools!" Popol declared proudly.
"Hmhmhmhm… what a surprise this has become." A voice rang from the distance as a man shrouded in black walked into view, his eyes a sickening red color, but his appearance… looked like Siege, through and through. "Here I was, wanting to cause a bit of Chaos, and yet here I found the valiant Richard Liu and his group, wanting to save another shift in the worlds."
"You seem to know me, yet I don't seem to know you." Richard responded back. "Care to indulge my curiosity? Or not?"
"Hohoho… you see, you thought Sorthax killed off Siege in that other world, and brought you despair… BUT IT WAS ME! I am Cataclysm Siege! And I am here to bring you sorrow just as I did to your other self by ridding Siege from this world!" The man, now named Cataclysm Siege, cackled.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but me and Siege are a fair distance away from each other." Richard answered back. "But I'll do him a favor and deal with you while he deals with his part of this mess. You want my despair, come and try."
"Hah, boys, have at them!" Cataclysm Siege laughed, as a bunch of purple aura soldiers ran into the area, charging for the group. "I really must be going now! Ta-ta~!" The alternate Siege said as he dashed away from the fight.
"Hey, get back here!" Mokou growled, although the evil Siege already left the premises. "Rgh, well, good to know we have more problems than we think."
"It's better than getting a nasty surprise." Richard remarked, before he rushed towards the soldiers, as he began to strike them with his blades. "Help me clear the numbers out. If I know how he got those soldiers, I might have a way to help even the odds."
"On it." Ramlethal said, sending her blades into combat, slashing down soldier after soldier.
"Man, it's refreshing to finally stretch my arms out after being stuck inside for so long." Kaguya remarked, as she sliced through a group of soldiers with her naginata.
The group managed to make quick work of the soldiers, as Richard sensed a magical presence ahead of them, as they found that there were more soldiers, that seemed to be summoned from a towering structure that had a void-like sphere inside of it.
"Bingo, I guess this 'Cataclysm Siege' knows the rules here." Richard answered back.
"What is that…?" Gus remarked.
"That is a ghost. No, not the spectral entity, but instead a kind of unconscious souls that are basically incarnated by soul-sinkers." Richard explained. "To bypass some jargon, it's basically a gateway to summon troops through. So if he can make use of them to summon troops, so can we. We just need to affirm control over it."
"Like this?" Heiwa remarked, as she immediately burned the enemy soldiers away, as it left the ghost completely isolated, before Popol immediately began to assault the ghost, as it seemed to stop producing enemy soldiers.
"Exactly. For now, stopping their production is just the first step." Richard responded back. "There has been a master-ghost nearby, which is basically the main base for the enemy in this area."
"I believe I know where." Ramlethal remarked, as she pointed towards a large towering structure in the distance, as it seemed to be a dark pyre of flames.
"Good eye." Richard stated, before he then noticed that the master-ghost was protected by several elite corrupted soldiers, as they seemed to be clad in heavy-armour. "And it's protected by servants. Still, at this point of time, I believe he's toying with us at the moment. Which means that we just simply swoop in and take down his master-ghost quickly."
The group then rushed towards the master-ghost, as the enemy servants proved to be fairly formidable, although they were defeated with some ease, while Richard turned towards the master-ghost, destroying the magical barrier surrounding it, while Ramlethal immediately destroyed with a cross-slash of her great-sword, as the hostile presence in the area began to fade away.
"Well, that was certainly faster than I calculated!" Cataclysm Siege cackled, as he watched the group from atop the tree-tops. "This won't be the last time you see me, I'll come back and make sure to obliterate you all! Ta-ta~!" Cataclysm Siege called, fleeing the area fully.
"So he was toying with us… Rrgh, the thought infuriates me with no end." Heiwa snarled.
"Still, it does give us an objective for the time being." Richard responded back. "We should check if he left behind any other master-ghosts around the area. I doubt that the next one would be a simple sprint to the finish. Ramlethal, I ask that you follow us out of this forest."
"I will follow you. I have no one else to turn to at the moment. My top priority is to reunite with my family." Ramlethal stated.
"That'll do." Gus nodded.
The group then proceeded through the forest, before they managed to reach a more open area, which seemed to be filled with more ghosts, as well as another of Cataclysm Siege's master-ghosts, as it seemed to be creating more servants to protect it and attack the nearby ghosts.
Richard then got a better look at the area, before he then saw that there were ruins everywhere, and the corpses of some demonic beings, which made him realize where they landed.
"Well, guess I know where we are now. Hell's Forest." Richard remarked. "Not exactly the most dangerous place to be, but with all of the enemy servants and minions here, we're going to need to make a proper fight."
"What do we do? We can't possibly be able to fight this many, if their production means are this good." Kaguya asked Richard.
"That's exactly why we're going to turn the tables towards more even odds." Richard smirked, before he then gestured towards a pair of unactivated master-ghosts, which seemed to look like floating monoliths. "Ramlethal, I must ask that you take one of these. Assume control of it, and you'll see how we can even the odds here."
"Understood." Ramlethal answered back, as she immediately touched the unactivated master-ghost, as it transformed before her, turning into a large white castle, as what seemed to be pale-skinned clones of herself appeared, dressed in white armor, and wearing porcelain theater masks, which seemed to all be on the happy emotion, as they had large swords on them as well. "...What is this? Are these… clones?"
"They're your servants." Richard answered back. "Combat units that serve the purpose as the main offensive force against the enemy master-ghosts. They are capable of fighting like the rest of us, and are fairly potent in battle, although summoning them will take some mana." Richard answered back. "I suppose that you might have felt a slight drain when you claimed that master-ghost. Speaking of which, my turn."
Richard then pressed his hand against the other unclaimed master-ghost, as it turned into a large dragon statue that seemed to have a ruby pearl inside its maw, as it summoned a bunch of wolf tengu, which seemed to look like humans with white hair and red eyes, also bearing wolf-like ears and tails on them, and being dressed in white hakama or robes with red skirts, a red tokin on their heads, and large swords in one hand, a shield with a maple leaf symbol in the other.
"There, for the time being, we have our proper set-up." Richard remarked. "Now then, all that's left is to start our advance. Ramlethal, try and lead your servants to take some of the nearby ghosts. Leave blunting the enemy assault to us."
"I understand." Ramlethal answered back, before she then turned towards her servants, as she mentally commanded them, as they immediately set off to take the nearby ghosts, as they made short work of the enemy soldiers protecting it.
Meanwhile. Richard's group were moving to the front-line, as they were rushing down the approaching enemy, as Richard managed to take down an enemy servant, before Mokou grabbed one and rammed them right into the nearby wall, embedding them inside of it with a crater. Heiwa then used her brush to summon a fire-storm on the distant servants, as they were burned to a crisp.
The group's servants were also making good work, as they were assaulting the enemy ghosts while their masters were fighting, as they managed to take a few ghosts for themselves.
"It's done." One of the clones remarked, after the nearby ghosts were turned to allied control, surprising Ramlethal.
"They can talk?" Ramlethal asked Richard, who leaped back to where she was.
"Of course, they're not merely just dolls. They are sentient in their own way, even as magical constructs." Richard answered back. "So you can take comfort in the fact that they are fighting with their own will and desire. And that desire is to assist you."
"I see." Ramlethal answered back.
The group managed to bring their servants towards the enemy master-ghost, as the servants rushed down the enemy barrier as one single force, shattering it with their combined strength, before Popol then fired an ice-storm that caused the entire master-ghost to become ineffectively frozen, before Mokou shattered it with a powerful punch.
"Well, that's the problem here dealt with." Richard remarked. "We should get moving. There's no telling if we'll meet any of your friends along the way, Ramlethal… and they could perhaps use some aid from us."
Ramlethal nodded, as the group headed out of the forest, as they seemed to have passed some barrier, as they were teleported out of the area, their destination unknown for now.