Heroic New Era: Strive for Overture
Chapter 6: Old Foes Revived for a New Cause
As they walked into the area, they suddenly found a figure collapsed in one of the passages… as Elphelt recognized her immediately.
"Jack-O!?" Elphelt yelled as she rushed over, trying to wake her up. "But… how did she…? Why was she…?"
"The more important question isn't why she's down here. Why is she knocked out when there isn't anyone that I know of from those megalomaniacs guarding this place… unless… he has more people than what we originally gave him credit for." Haohmaru commented.
Richard then looked up, as he noticed something, seeing that there was a thin line of energy in the air, which Richard and Dr Paradigm noticed, as both of them were left without words, with concerned expressions.
"...You've got to be kidding me…" Richard remarked. "...Traces of a gate here…? But that's bullshit… it doesn't work that way… Valentine never opened one… or perhaps…"
"...No, I was stopped right at the moment I tried to open the gate." Valentine denied. "Siege and the others came in, and they managed to convince me to stop, after fighting me. It was then that the enemies sprung onto us, and managed to imprison all of us like this."
"Then who could…?" Charlotte was about to ask, when a figure soon began to flutter into view, well, more or less float, as a man with red hair, dressed in clothes resembling the Emblian Empire, with a wicked smile on his face, greeted the group.
"Why hello, weary travellers. What brings you down here of all places?" The man asked. "Aren't you all a bit too far from where you need to be?"
"...Who is this guy…?" Elphelt asked, getting bad vibes from just looking at him.
"...You're not Asuka." Richard stated. "...But I definitely know that you managed to find a way to break the way open… I can literally smell the power from you from here, a power dedicated to severance and barriers… I can piece together how you managed to get in the Backyard, and come back with nary a scratch… a god you are, hm?"
"...Weeeeellll…." The man remarked, rubbing his two pronged staff against his chin. "God doesn't quite fit the description bill. You see… I'm Elm. A retainer to the great and mighty Lady Embla. And normally, I would only have the power to close gates, not open them… hehe… heeheehee! But… thanks to the rash actions of the opposing country of Askr, I was able to slaughter Askr's retainer with my bare hands! And with it… I achieved her powers to open gates wherever I please!" Elm laughed as he floated up higher in the air. "Glorious, isn't it!? And I slew the other gate keeper of this area, which shall allow me to open even MORE gates! To even MORE world's! I'll soon be able to have connections all over the Multiverse!"
"That's if we let you have the Cube." Richard remarked, drawing his blade. "Not happening. I hope you enjoy your short-lived rise to power, because one way or another, you're going to fall down hard. I might not know you, but when I'm driven to deal with a situation… you better hope that you last long enough, because once I'm through, Paradigm and I are ridding that Cube once and for all."
"Hrmph. Always to the point are you? Alas, this is such an improper battlefield for this. Come, come come! There is a better arena for us further down the path." Elm would say, transforming into a giant red bat, before dashing down the path.
"...Are you sure that it's wise to let this creature determine our path… Our priority is-" Dr Paradigm started.
"...Not if he can mess with the gate itself." Richard stated. "If he can close and open it at will, we're only going to get it open AFTER we beat him to a pulp, and no diversions are going to work here. He's not going to fall for it, and the quicker we beat him… the more time we have to avert a universal… if not multiversal debug mode in their hands."
Richard then dashed right after Elm, as the rest of the group had no other choice but to follow.
"What about Jack-O!?" Elphelt would yell, before sighing. "Alright… I'm coming!" She yelled, while bringing Jack-O right along with her, as Elm had three portals up and running to act as defense.
"Ha! I'm afraid I won't be the one to have the honor of doing you all in. However, I will leave each of you with nice parting gifts! The Heroes I have summoned come directly from the Curse Directive! Heroes we've helped to realize their true potentials! Behold!" Elm exclaimed.
The first portal produced 4 characters, all dressed in the same armor… What came to the dread of Richard was that it was all Bronquian armor. Emperor Gulcasa, and not just the duo Artwaltz sisters, but all three. Aegina, Luciana, and Yggdra herself, all bearing Bronquia's colors.
"Heehee! I see the look on your face, Richard. Please, their world isn't doomed. It's a glorious spectacle of a true Era that the world has always wished for! Gulcasa here managed to get his hands on the poor Yggdra, while holding off her army by his lonesome! And instead of addressing her himself, he allowed a nice little family reunion! That spark alone was enough to convince Yggdra she was on the wrong side! She even convinced some of her allies on the other side to join them! It's such a glorious landscape, the new world these four have come from, and a world where all four of these before you are more powerful than you could ever realize!" Elm cackled.
Richard fell silent, as he shook his head. "...Perhaps it's a world better than the machinations of the divine…" He answered back with a steely tone to his voice. "...But Gulcasa's way is wrong, no matter how it is put. I know that their world is not doomed, but I cannot accept violence as a means to enforce a world order."
"You dare speak blasphemy on the methods of the Emperor!?" Luciana spat at Richard.
"It may be violent, but it provides results!" Aegina reasoned.
"I was like you, Richard. I believed it was wrong… but we must come to the facts. Violence… is the only way peace can ever be realized." Yggdra said with a sympathetic look in her eyes at first. "Even you cannot deny it. Violence is inevitable. Whether we want it or not."
"...Richard… do you know these people? You speak of them, as if they are familiar to you." Dr Paradigm asked Richard.
"...I recognised them from a tale in the past. I cannot divulge much, but I understand their side of the matter." Richard responded back, before turning back to the Bronquian warriors. "You might not be wrong, Princess Artwaltz…. I will not be a hypocrite and say that I have solved the situation as peacefully as it can be done, because yes, sometimes, the violence is necessary. However, there is a difference between the necessary bloodshed, and the unneeded. Perhaps you mellowed out, Emperor Gulcasa, perhaps Yggdra might have changed your views, however slightly it might be, but that isn't why you're here. You're here to stop us from taking down Elm. Before we draw our blades… What do you owe him, royals of Bronquia?"
"I owe Elm everything. He shattered the curse within my bloodstream. You claim that we rule with Violence. Far from the case. Violence is only reserved for those who defy our Empire." Gulcasa stated plainly. "Elm helped us unlock our true potential. He led us to the corruption of the divine above. We fixed the corrupted system up there as well, we have completed so much with the help of Elm…"
"Without Elm… I dare say we sisters would not have been reunited." Luciana stated. "For it was he that guided Gulcasa straight to Yggdra every time. And every time, he helped us in battle, until at long last, we captured our dear sister."
"It was a heartfelt reunion. It was best we met when we did, and not on the field of battle, lest our blades clash, and our blood spill…" Aegina reasoned.
"I owe Elm so much for helping me realize my true potential. For reuniting me with my brethren, and for showing me just how Bronquia has struggled. He even Forged me my own set of Bronquian armor, with a Holy sword of their own creation." Yggdra said, drawing a great sword and stabbing it down, as it was a black sword with a red and black hilt, with flames licking around it. "This, is named Bronquia's Hope. A sword that carves our path towards a greater future, whenever violence must come into play. We owe so much to Elm."
"Heehee! See, Richard? They're indebted to me! They'll do whatever it takes to see my end of things through! Surely you won't want to kill them. Not when their world is so peaceful as it is." Elm cackled.
"Tch. If we have to kill them, we will." Haohmaru said with anger in his eyes. "Good or not, if they're working for this… they're evil in our eyes, and I won't spare my blade of their blood!"
"What a mess we have here… They sound genuine, and yet they are designated as your enemy as a result of all of this. How are you going to deal with this then?" Izuna remarked with a hand under his chin. "I wouldn't want to be on the hot-seat as you are."
"Either way, even if we don't kill them, we have to get them out of our way. That god you're against has a damn point, a fight's inevitable." Sol growled.
"...So I see, that's how it is. Then I can take solace knowing that I'm not fighting people with a reasonless ambition." Richard remarked, taking a deep breath. "...I won't deny what you have done, and your words have proven me right that you have changed for the better, Emperor Gulcasa. In fact, the present that you watch over is a future that many have desired, and yet failed to achieve. However, I am not threatening that future fighting you all. I am merely safeguarding my own future, and the future of those under me. I have no reason to fight you out of animosity, so I won't fight like that. I'm only fighting to prove my way, that there are still things that I have to protect, by defeating Elm and opening the way forward. I won't ask you to move aside, instead, I will ask you to fight with your own beliefs, as I will with mine. In the end, this fight only ends with either my path halted or continued. And I have far too much at stake to halt myself. So say what you will about me, but I will fight you all, no matter what lies ahead of me."
(Gotta go, sorry.)
"...Your words… they churn my heart, noble one." Gulcasa said, the four Bronquian warriors showing hesitation. "We must fight… that is what Elm wants… But if We had the choice… could we potentially have been friends? Could we ever become allies? Questions like these weigh on me as we prepare to raise our blades as Elm prepares to summon our next allies…" Gulcasa added, as they drew their blades. "...If you spare us all, we offer an invitation to you, Richard. Come, see our land. See the glorious landscape we have made. We may never be allies, but perhaps… we can at least be honorable rivals, equal in understanding that we wish neither side to die in our fights."
"You are so noble with your words, Sir Richard." Luciana stated. "Your words cut through our beliefs and into our emotions… we cannot help but believe we could have been allies. That you could have provided us something like Elm did. Even so… we must complete this task for Elm. So we must fight, as painful as it is. Hold nothing back, but let us mutually agree. Blood will be spilt, but no corpses shall be on the hands of either end."
"I agree with my sister." Aegina solemnly nodded. "Let us share a first honorable rival duel, of honor and glory, worthy to be seen as one of the greatest duels to grace history books!"
"You remind me so much of the virtues I have, even before I was a Bronquian Princess." Yggdra said as she raised her greatsword. "Sir Richard, should you grace us to come to our land, we will treat you as a noble among nobles. Now fight us. Let it be a grand duel! With no corpses gracing this battlefield."
"It seems that our impressions of each other has improved by this exchange of words." Richard stated, before he then drew his weapons. "Very well, everyone, let us fight this battle, and let the victor decide what shall come next. Haohmaru, I ask that you show some restraint. You're free to hold nothing back, but if they yield, let them. It is the best that we can offer them if they would fight with honor."
"Heh, this reminds of some battles that I have heard tales of in my youth." Baiken remarked, as she raised her blade. "Alright then, royalty from another land, come and face us. I will show you how I pave my own way."
"Oh so eager! And such a touching friendship! However, I still have two more portals open, and there are others on the other side waiting to join the fight! I can't keep them waiting!" Elm cackled as he opened up the second portal, as a very familiar portal opened up, revealing a bald headed man that was an eye-sore not just for how much he appeared in storylines, but his character as well. Although this one seemed different in a few ways, as he took in a breath of air, and smirked.
"Aaaaah… smells like… war!" The man, who was Sundowner, said with a wide grin on his face. "War never smelled better… Especially moments before it begins!"
"This guy just reeks of an eye-sore…" Charlotte commented.
"He clearly has no sense of fashion." Elphelt sighed.
"Got any information on that fellow there, Richard?" Haohmaru asked, eyes now on Sundowner.
"Let's just say he's one of the people I have a displeasure knowing about." Richard responded back. "I heard that a few of our teammates met him once when dealing with the entire mess about Trachard, Inc. He's known for being a war criminal with a scroll's worth of war crimes. Unlike the Bronquian noble, he will die, so there's that consolation."
"Such bruteness…" Luciana commented, looking at one of her "partners" for this battle.
"Come on. I may be a war criminal, I may be jumpstarting war economies where I can, but I've got more strength than any of you combined!" Sundowner cackled.
"Oh yeah!? Let's just see about that!" Haohmaru yelled as he charged and slashed… before the part where he attacked, Sundowner's neck, hardened up with blackened veins. "...What in the…!?"
"Get a load of the nanomachine work. Little parting gift I robbed straight from Armstrong. Turns out this little gremlin who brought me here gave me a lot of progress. He helped me take out all of Maverick, including Jack! And to top it off, he gave me a little extra boost as well." Sundowner smiled. "Now, the war economy is making America billions… no, TRILLIONS of dollars in profit!" He smiled, before hardening his fist and punching Haohmaru, sending the samurai soaring through the air. "I'm giving America what it's wanted all along. World supremacy! Where not just us, but every country understands our liberties, our freedoms, the whole reason our constitution was made! That we have the freedom to talk how we want, do what we want, and not have the government on our ass 24/7!"
"So a nation of strength." Richard dryly stated. "Well, a standing ovation for this bright leader. If you got your nation, you can do whatever you like, but you're not getting more fingers in the metaphorical pie if I can help it. Unlike the nobles I was having a good conversation with, you are an issue to me. So let me tell you this, Sundowner: Shut up and put those blades of yours where your mouth is. I have nothing more to say to you."
"Huh… This is getting more and more out of hand. So this being really isn't pulling back anything…" Sol remarked. "And if he's got a third portal, what's going to come out of that one? Any ideas, kid?"
Richard merely remained silent in response, as if expecting Elm to pull some more people out using the third portal to another realm.
"Why keep you all in suspense!? Heehee… come on out!" He exclaimed, opening the third portal… as a womanly figure would walk out of it, dress black and green in color, with poise to her stride as she walked into view, looking around the area.
"Well… this is looking rather exciting." The woman said with a grin. "I won't waste time getting formalities out of the way. I, am Hela. The goddess of death, brother of Thor and Loki, and also their killers. Killers of all my bloodline as a matter of fact, and rightful Queen of Asgard."
"...So the goddess of the dead comes out to join this fight…?" Richard remarked. "...I got to say, Elm, you have quite the variety here, I have to admit. Pulling Hela out of that kind of world, you really don't intend to make this easy, don't you. So, what do you intend to do here, Hela? Are you expecting to claim someone's soul as a trophy of your conquest?"
"A tempting thought but no. I'm much rather interested to see if Elm can help those copies of You and that soldier up there rid this world altogether. A very entertaining thought for sure. But, I suppose you are going to wish to stop me, as you all take your positions to battle." Hela said, before looking at all the Bronquian warriors. "...Elm, why are they here."
"Lucretia said they would be useful for this battle. Even if they share more of her values than mine. Anyways! Here are the combatants, now I must be off, so go at them! Heeheehee! Just call me if you need a quick getaway~!" Elm cackled before teleporting away.
"Very well." Hela said, as she summoned her helmet. "Let's begin." She said, summoning blades.
"Agreed." Sundowner smirked as he threw off his coat, revealing the same old explosive plating he always used, before drawing his scissor swords.
"I'm not entirely sure how I feel fighting alongside these fiends…" Gulcasa grimaced, before looking forward. "But we have our orders."
"What's our strategy, Richard?" Charlotte asked as everyone prepared for combat.
"The main dangers are Hela and Sundowner, as much as I will admit that Gulcasa and his band is not to be underestimated either." Richard answered back. "Sol, Izuna, Dr Paradigm, I must ask that you handle Hela. She may be powerful, but she is exactly the kind of opponent that Sol is tailored against. As for Haohmaru, Ukyo, Baiken and Charlotte, please handle Sundowner, I'm sure that you'll be able to break through his nano-machine armor. It can be broken, even though it will take a battle of attrition."
"Then that leaves you and little Elphelt with…" Dr Paradigm remarked.
"...That's right, it's an unfavorable match-up in terms of numbers, but it's only right that I fight them, with Elphelt as support." Richard responded back. "I can handle myself, and they are not as immediate of a threat as Sundowner and Hela are. Believe me when I say this."
"...Fine, we'll take down that death goddess." Sol stated. "...Besides, I'm intrigued to see what makes her so much of a threat. I doubt that she's going to merely just curse us, with that blade of hers."
"I refuse to grace an unfair advantage." Gulcasa said at hearing Richard's words. "Luciana, Aegina, you two will battle first. Should you be defeated, Yggdra and I will follow behind in combat."
"An honorable improvise. As you wish, Emperor." Luciana said as she and Aegina walked forward.
Suddenly, a large master-ghost appeared behind the three forces.
"Hey! Isn't that the master-ghost thingy!? If we shatter that, don't we just win?" Haohmaru asked while blocking an attack from Sundowner.
"That's right, but have fun trying to do that while everyone is gunning for us." Richard stated. "And don't forget that we need to protect our own master-ghosts. We're not the only ones fighting after all."
Sol looked around, as Richard's point was proven, as the sole Master-ghost was spewing a mess of enemies that were after the group, as Hel's undead servants and Sundowner's cyborgs were joining the fray, as the Bronquian officers that also appeared seemed to be defending the master-ghost without any gap in their formation, even with the allied servants clashing against them.
Sol then dodged a swing from Hel, as he launched a fire-pillar at Hel, that forced the undead goddess to move back, as Izuna used his own blade to clash with the undead goddess, as the youkai managed to keep her at pace.
"It's a shame that I have to fight someone like you. A goddess of death with such a divine physique is rarely heard about after all. But I ain't no chicken breast, so I'm not going to go easy on you, goddess." Izuna remarked, before he then hopped back, as he summoned a large expanding barrier that forced Hela back, giving some distance between them.
"You flatter me. Flattery will not grant you anything except a rank in my army if I am generous." Hela said as she shot a bullet hell of blades at the trio.
While that battle was ongoing, the Samurai Shodown group was making easy work of Sundowner, having already dismantled the metal plating as Sundowner had his scissor blades attached to his right arm now for attacks. Sundowner growled before getting an idea, as he hopped over to a pillar in the corner, and hefting it out of place with ease, as he carelessly swung it. Those battling Hela, and Hela herself, had no clue of the attack, as they were all nailed with it, as the SamSho crew barely managed to dodge, whilst Elphelt, Richard, Luciana, and Aegina also got slammed right into a wall, with Gulcasa and Yggdra barely avoiding it, as Sundowner swung back the other way for a second attack to the SamSho crew, who barely avoided it again, before Hela caught it, and made the rock pillar explode.
"Next time, watch where you're swinging!" Hela spat.
"Heh, sorry!" Sundowner apologized before leaping back to action.
"Aaagh… that's gonna leave a mark…" Elphelt groaned as she got unstuck from the wall, falling to her knees.
"Damn careless brute…" Luciana growled as she dropped to her knees.
"How are you faring Sir Richard…?" Aegina asked as she barely stayed upright.
"Pfeh, how predictable." Richard answered back, dusting himself off. "Well, since this affected all of us, I'm willing to put a blind eye to it for now. Besides… our focus is entirely on this battle."
Richard then immediately rushed down Aegina, as the two of them began to clash blades rapidly, as Aegina was able to angle her blade to effectively block the rapid swings that Richard was throwing with both of his blades.
"Your sword prowess is impeccable. A true master of your craft, I dare say." Aegina said as she found an opening and slipped some stabs and slashes past Richard's guard, as they did damage Richard slightly.
"That's true, I never did slack on my training, for any of my specialties." Richard remarked, before he then parried Aegina's rapier down, before then striking several times in succession, finishing off with a kick that made distance between them, as Richard unleashing a swiping cleave that Aegina ducked under.
Their clash was fierce, sparks flying from the exchanging of their blades, as Luciana and Elphelt finally had stable footing in order to continue. The battle on all three fronts was at a stalemate, as Yggdra and Gulcasa noticed this once Aegina and Luciana were brought to a point of yielding.
"I fear that Elm's sinister plot will only go through the longer this battle draws on like this…" Yggdra stated, before looking to Gulcasa, who nodded. "Sir Richard, while we would love to be honored to face you, this madness must end now! You two must destroy the master-ghost… and for that to happen instantly…"
"You want us to unleash that caliber of an attack on you two!?" Elphelt exclaimed in shock. "Are… you two sure you can take that?"
"For justice, we will endure! Hold nothing back and strike us!" Gulcasa yelled as he and Yggdra charged.
"...Alright, you asked for this. Follow my lead, Richard!" Elphelt said as she prepared to strike for the beginning of a Team Insta Kill.
"Got it, got it." Richard remarked, as he sent both Aegina and Luciana back with a spread of earth pillars, before he then stepped onto them, as he took to the air, as magic circles began to rapidly manifest around him.
"Alright, remember who you're hitting!" Elphelt exclaimed as she would hit Yggdra and Gulcasa with both ends of her large gun, before twirling a bullet in the air and loading it in. "Here it comes! Magnum Splitter!" Elphelt exclaimed as the bullet shot through the air, blowing up near Gulcasa and Yggdra to send them into the air, easy targets for Richard.
Instant Kill Gauge: Charged, Give them hell!
BGM: Instant Kill Theme - Guilty Gear Xrd 2nd Rev OST
"Here goes!" Richard remarked, before he then immediately fired a salvo of silver-blue lasers, as they pummeled Gulcasa and Yggdra from all sides, as the attack was pushing them towards the master-ghost. He then immediately coalesced the magic circles onto both of his blades, as it caused them to glow white, as he then began to throttle down towards the Bronquian duo.
Elphelt would throw in her part as she winked, tossing in another bullet as she took careful aim, and fired a round that had swords etched into the bullet. As Richard slashed down on Gulcasa and Yggdra, he slashed the bullet, which unleashed a flurry of slashes on Gulcasa and Yggdra, the last slash having a huge streak as well as explosive force, sending the two into their own master-ghost, which crumpled from the impact.
DESTROYED!
Elphelt twirled her gun before holstering it back to her person. "Nice job, Richard!" Elphelt complimented with a wink and smile.
"That's good to hear." Richard rubbed the back of his head. "I always did like girls who pack a bit of punch in their arsenal with such a cute appearance."
This comment at the end made Elphelt blush madly and hide her face.
Richard Elphelt
WIN
Hela and Sundowner soon heard the master-ghost behind them crumple, opening the way to the Cube. "God damnit! I knew those Bronquian assholes couldn't hold the line for shit!" Sundowner cursed.
"Fall back to the objective. We can't let them ruin this!" Hela said as she and Sundowner ran right for the Cube, while Gulcasa and Yggdra got unburied from the rubble with help from Elphelt.
"You two okay?" Elphelt would ask, still slightly blushing from Richard's comment to her.
"We are fine… Elm is truly a cruel person if this is where he wants this to go…" Gulcasa grumbled. "Why did we ever believe he was on our side…"
"Because I gave him the orders." A voice called out, as two portals opened up, as two Emblian Princesses could be seen walking out. One older in appearance, the other younger but very much recognizable, even with the sword at her side.
"Lady Lucretia…! Princess Veronica…! Please forgive us, we-!" Yggdra was about to apologize when Lucretia held up her hand.
"Do not apologize. You've done as I requested." Lucretia said, before looking at Richard with a gentle smile. "You are Richard, yes?"
"That's right." Richard nodded back with a calm expression.
"Elm may boast himself as such, but he is no leader of the Curse Directive. That falls to me. I am Princess Lucretia of the country of Embla. This, is my loving sister, Veronica." Lucretia said, looking to Veronica who smiled.
"It is an honor." Veronica said with a small bow.
"Out with it lady. What do you want with us?" Haohmaru asked, getting impatient and wanting to chase after them to get to the Cube.
"I wish for no trouble. I merely wish to speak to your leader for a couple moments. If Richard can spare time to chat, my dear Veronica is more than capable of leading all of you towards the Cube. Attack it with your very beings. If the enemies that are here snatch it… it will spell doom for the very world we stand on." Lucretia warned.
"That's a valid option. But destroying it isn't as easily as just physically eradicating it." Richard answered back.
"You think me ignorant? I'm fully aware that there must be proper skillsets and even magical prowess to dismantle it." Lucretia stated. "But no doubt you'll have resistance from our enemies. Which is why having my dear Veronica leading your forces will allow them to fight the defense forces while I talk with you. Then we join the fight, and can properly dismantle the Cube."
"Thank you for the aid then." Richard nodded back. "We should head back to where I found that rift, it should be easy to break through it, now that we have no danger to worry about."
"Alright. We'll head that way, dear Richard. Lead on." Lucretia said, as Veronica walked to lead on the rest.
"Alright, everyone! Push forward, let's be rid of the defenders!" Veronica stated with a firm tone, showing she was a natural leader in the case, even if she knew next to no one.
"I trust you." Charlotte said to Veronica. "You've got experience as a leader, and no doubt look like you can handle yourself."
"As long as I get to fight that scissor blade prick again I'm fine with anything." Haohmaru said with a smirk. "Lead on, little girl!"
As everyone rushed ahead, the Bronquian soldiers were ready to follow, when Lucretia stopped them. "No. You all have fought enough. Save your strength for our next mission."
"Next mission?" Luciana asked.
"It is something I am going to discuss with Richard as we move back to the rift. Lead on, Richard." Lucretia stated, as she and the Bronquian soldiers followed Richard back to the rift. "Oh, and do me a small favor. Get Lady Magina on the line please."
"Right. It's best that this situation gets explained to her ASAP." Richard stated, before he then opened the channel to Magina. "Lady Magina, I have someone who needs to speak with you."
"Go on…" Magina said, as the conversation continued between them both, as the others moved on,