UNITY FORCE MISSIONS: HORIZON ZERO DAWN

CHAPTER 11: Maker's End

ARC III: Sobeck

DISCLAIMER: All characters in the story are not owned by me, save for my OCs.

The start of Arc III! Our heroes have defeated HEPHAESTUS (for now) and rescued Akiha Ikebukuro, albeit at the cost of Maya's well-being, forcing her to be hospitalised. But all hope is not lost, as Nanoha Takamachi and Fate Testarossa Harlaown later join in with Zoro's group, this time to stop the Eclipse and find out about the mysterious woman in the hologram Olin Delverson has found. But their mission only gets even stranger, as they chase mysterious riddles...

~~~0-0-0~~~

[South of Maker's End, Earth-1355]

Two days after Cauldron EPSILON's destruction, as well as HEPHAESTUS's defeat and Akiha Ikebukuro's rescue by the Unity Force, the rest of the Unity Force group including Aloy, Zoro Roronoa, and Trafalgar D. Water Law are later joined in by Nanoha Takamachi and Fate Testarossa Harlaown regarding their current mission: locating Maker's End and find more answers regarding Aloy's connection to a mysterious woman, whom they thought was Aloy's own mother, a fact that has confused the group for days.

However, their main teammate Maya Tendo was sent to Unity Force Academy's infirmaries, who is currently treated for her brain damage due to accumulating massive electric shock, after defeating HEPHAESTUS, leaving the group uncertain about her condition, until Nanoha and Fate decided to join in with the group's mission.

Akiha, on the other hand, is on a pickle, as her injuries are far more serious, almost to the point that she is on the brink of certain death, largely due to being stuck with no necessities inside the Cauldron for 15 days. But her rescue was vital in defeating HEPHAESTUS, as well as the rescue of a benevolent AI known as CYAN. Outside of all things, however, Layla instantly recognised Akiha being a member of 346PRO idol group.

Meliodas, Asta, and Noelle Silva, on the other hand, are later revealed to be at an encampment, known as Shattered Kiln Bandit Camp, which was occupied by bandits. The bandits were quickly defeated, as they were proven to be unmatched against the trio, before they inform Zoro to use it as a temporary camp for their planned mission to Maker's End.

Currently, as night falls, the rest of the group have been trekking their way into Maker's End for the last 15 hours, but strange mysteries suddenly spiral out of control, when Aloy now starts to wonder why her mother is in another location so far from the Nora Sacred Lands, and who is she? What is her connection?

"How's Asta and his group holding up?" Trafalgar asked Zoro.

"They've already set up a temporary base for us before we plan our visit to Maker's End." Zoro replied, as he looks at his tablet.

"Good work." Trafalgar said briefly. "We're almost close to that place, but it's still unknown how close we are."

With Aloy...

"Maker's End. Not much farther now. Olin said he found an image of the woman I resemble on an ancient device. If she's my mother, why would there be traces of her all the way out here - so far from Nora land? I don't get it. Who is she?" Aloy pondered, as she wonders about it.

"You said you don't have a mother and you were an outcast, yet you were related by this unknown woman?" Nanoha questioned in confusion.

Aloy only nods her head with Nanoha asking about her past as an outcast, with her late surrogate father Rost taking care of her. Fate then later understood what the Nora Outcast went through, as it reminded of her time of being abused by her mother, prior to meeting Nanoha, only Aloy endured scorning for the past 19 years.

"Wow, nineteen years of being scorned..." Fate uttered. "Your tribe seems to be far more cruel, when it comes to these 'outcasts' like you." She added, as she looks at Aloy, who never cared for the tribe's own religion. "But now, it dawned on you that you have a mother, all of a sudden." She asked the Nora.

However, Aloy later shakes her head at the last part. "At least that's what I think. I don't even have an actual father, nor a mother." She reminded. "That is, until I found out I was 99.47% exact match to this person who I assumed to be my 'mother' from a place beyond the Nora lands." She stated.

"This is probably the biggest mystery that we have to deal with." Zoro said.

"But that can't be..." Nanoha said in seriousness and scepticism. "Those numbers don't just pop out of nowhere. Aloy-san must be related to someone, but it's the identity that we know nothing about."

"It's going to be more than just an identity." Trafalgar stated.

When all of a sudden, a male voice appears from out of nowhere, within Aloy's Focus, before they proceed to listen into it, thinking that it might be important. It was the same mysterious caller that they encountered during their attack of the Eclipse on Rockwreath, one of their machine excavation sites.

"Her name is Elisabet Sobeck." The mysterious caller suddenly revealed.

Annoyed, Aloy threatens to shut down her Focus, but instead relented.

"You - spying through my Focus again!" Aloy exclaimed, not pleased of being spied upon. "Well - go on. What do you know about her?" She added in inquiry.

"Stay on your present course and before long, you'll know her as well as I do. Maybe better." The mysterious caller said cautiously. "But be wary, you and Unity Force. Maker's End is crawling with Eclipse troops. To help you deal with them, I've left some useful equipment just outside the ruins. Your Focus will show the location." He continued.

The call then ended, leaving the rest bewildered.

"Who is he, and how does he know these things?" Aloy added.

"Not to mention, how does he know us?" Zoro questioned. "That bastard knows a great amount of deal on how we operate." He uttered in a displeasing manner.

"A spy, that is." Trafalgar uttered wryly.

"But most importantly of all... 'Elisabet Sobeck,' he said. What kind of name is that?" Aloy questioned.

"Aloy-san, I think that's an Old World name, at least here, and a modern one like most people in Unity Force do." Nanoha responded.

"You mean the Old Ones have these kinds of names, just like most of the Unity Force?" Aloy questioned.

"Sounds like it. This mystery is bigger than anyone else can imagine." Fate answered.

"Don't worry, though, Aloy-san. We're going to find out who she is." Nanoha said reassuringly, as she pats Aloy's shoulder. "Right, Raising Heart?" She asked her Intelligent Device.

"Right, master." Raising Heart responded.

"Thanks, I suppose." Aloy replied.

"HEPHAESTUS and now this..." Zoro gestured.

"This world has gone mad." Trafalgar added.

Afterwards, the Unity Force group later moved onward, as they reached the now-empty camp of Shattered Kiln, which was once occupied by the bandits, where it has now been converted into a temporary base of operations for the Unity Force group in this world, while keeping in contact with Erend, who is still in Meridian.

"Oi! We're here!" Asta called out from above, at one of the walkways. "It's a bummer there were no ruined houses in here, since it's raining in here." He added, who only pouted.

Joining in with Asta, the group later see Meliodas and Noelle at one of the large tents that the bandits formerly used while looking at a campfire. They later proceed to sit down, before proceeding their mission briefing about what they have discovered, as well as their plans to break into Maker's End and find out more.

The camp itself is currently settled beside a ruin of an Old World building, which is Provo Temple of what was once Utah, but only a half of it is to be seen. Despite the rudimentary nature of the base, the trio would later refurbish it into a working base using whatever resources they can find, including tree stumps for a chair, as well as a wooden table, and a tent. However, a part of Provo Temple ruins was converted into a living quarters for the group, thanks to Asta and Meliodas's efforts.

"I guess it's better than nothing." Nanoha giggled, as she looks around.

"It's rudimentary, but it's useful." Fate described.

"Those bandits, seriously..." Asta coolly gestured, as he sits down at a tree stump. "What is with their obsession with these modern-looking buildings being used as a camp?"

"I'd say messed-up is the right term." Meliodas stated, as he pondered. "Those guys were holding hostages up, so I did the honours of butchering them." He grinned maliciously.

Noelle can only sigh. "That's because you went too far." She uttered.

"Regardless, at least we have a base of our own, rather than settling in Meridian, so we can plan on stopping the Eclipse and stop this Helis, like what Olin-san said, as he is the leader of this cult." Zoro said, as he, Trafalgar, Aloy, Nanoha, and Fate sat down at a tree trunk that they can find, which is canopied.

The camp itself is close to Maker's End, which is northwest of them, but after Asta and Noelle's recon they realise that Behemoths and Longlegs are guarding the ruin's entrance for intruders, so they must act accordingly and not cause unintended attention.

But before that, however, Nanoha suddenly asks who Helis is.

"But who is this Helis?" Nanoha asked.

While not much is known about Helis, as of late, Aloy then explains to both Nanoha and Fate that Helis, through Olin's revelation, is the leader of the Eclipse, and was responsible for the Proving Massacre. "He was the one who killed Rost, but Rost would save me from an inevitable fate of getting killed by him, at the cost of his life." She said with a tinge of sadness from her tone, as she remembered her mentor and surrogate father getting killed by the Eclipse leader, as well as her near-death experience at the hands of Helis. She goes into additionally saying as to how his death significantly moved her, as she was able to forge a path of her own after being anointed a Seeker, as means to save her tribe and possibly the world.

The conversation alone was heavy for Nanoha, and slightly for Fate. Initially, they heard Aloy's painful life as an outcast, a very touchy matter, as well as her being a subject of scorn for almost two decades by the Nora tribe, but not until this very moment that they knew about the death of her only familial figure.

"Not only that, but Vala and Bast... They were killed during the Proving Massacre." Aloy said quietly, albeit with a pinch of troubled emotions, as she tries to reveal more of it.

However, Nanoha would later reassure the clearly troubled Nora outcast.

"Aloy..." Nanoha said quietly. "I know it's a bit painful to talk about it, but you have the Unity Force on your side." She added, before all of a sudden, the rest listened to her.

Noelle, Meliodas, and Asta then sat down as they listen to her.

"You never told us about this." Noelle replied.

"That's because it's a touchy subject for her." Zoro answered, remembering the time he asked her about it.

"I mean your tribe is full of nutcases." Meliodas simply mocked in disgust. "Casting you out just because you're motherless is pretty much uncool." He added with malice.

"I'm pretty sure that there's more to it." Fate suddenly stated.

Aloy then looks up, as she looks at the rest in reassurance. "But at the same time, Rost's sacrifice gave me hope, including what he said to me once." She added, as she proceeds to use her Focus to conjure a hologram of Rost, causing the rest of them to look. "'The strength to stand alone, is the strength to make a stand. To serve a purpose greater than yourself.' Was what Rost told me once before the Proving." She ended, as she turns her Focus off.

"I mean..." Asta stated, echoing his past as an orphan. "At least appreciate it, you know?!" He suddenly burst out in a comical way, causing Aloy to be surprised.

"He's right." Nanoha stated, as she giggled. "Aloy, speaking of which, maybe we can talk to your tribe, if we have the time." He stated, as he looks around. "But that will wait, until we stop this Eclipse cult."

"I agree." Aloy responded.

After much inquiry regarding Helis, as well as telling her past to both the TSAB members, Zoro later focuses his attention on what both Asta and Noelle found during their reconnaissance in the abandoned ruin.

"With that being said, did both of you find anything?" Zoro asked Asta and Noelle.

"Good news, we know where this Maker's End is." Noelle replied in reassurance. "Which is where we have to start." She added, as she glances from afar.

"And the bad?" Fate asked Noelle.

Asta later places his Demon-Slayer Sword beside him, as he proceeds to talk.

"Remember those Behemoths and Longlegs you told us about?" Asta sarcastically questioned.

"Of course. We fought those things during our venture into the Cut." Zoro simply answered.

"They're mostly guarding the place, and there's two of them each, if stealth didn't work out." Asta replied. "We also found these Corrupted Machines lurking around west of the ruin."

"But any presence of Eclipse?" Zoro asked.

"Lots of them. It looks like the Eclipse are using the ruin to dig these ancient machines, like those Corruptors." Noelle replied. "It's another one of their machine excavation sites, just like in Rockwreath." She added.

"Not to mention, there's a lot of them." Asta added.

"Those guys must be real busy." Meliodas quipped.

"But what are they doing in a ruin, excavating machines?" Fate questioned at the oddity of such behaviour, as she pondered. "It's kind of weird. Not to mention, wicked."

"Judging by what we just fought at the ruins of a stadium in Devil's Grief, it seems that they're starting an army." Zoro coldly stated.

"So they are exhuming these machines..." Fate pondered. "And they're raising an army?" She asked solemnly.

Aloy, remembering the Corruptor attacking on Mother's Watch, then proceeds to respond. "Not a long time ago, one of the ancient machines, a Corruptor, broke into Mother's Watch, which I knew it was the Eclipse's doing, since they were responsible for the Proving Massacre." She added, thinking of the Eclipse's prospect of awakening an army. "But the worse comes yet, since I'm targeted, just because I look liked this 'Sobeck' woman." She added on, surprising Nanoha and Fate.

"Oh my..." Nanoha said, with her tone different from the previous. "This threat seems to be graver, but judging what Aloy said to us, it seems that we have to deal with them, before it will spell trouble."

"I guess things are starting to add up." Zoro stated, as he formulates a plan. "If that's the case, then we have to proceed shutting down their excavation operations, before it will be a disaster for this world." He ended, before looking at the rest of the group.

"We've already shut down one, so it's a good start." Trafalgar replied.

"Dealing with a crazy cult and now their own army." Asta gestured in annoyance. "Well, this is just great." He stated.

"We'll handle it." Nanoha said.

A few minutes later, Zoro decide to the rest of the group that he, Aloy, Trafalgar, Fate, and Nanoha will proceed to Maker's End and foil the next of the Eclipse's machine excavation operation.

"So you guys are going there?" Meliodas asked Zoro.

"We'll be in touch with you once we find something of interest there." Nanoha stated, as she and the rest go.

"I'm pretty sure that there is more to this, so we don't know what to expect." Trafalgar added.

"But first, we have to know who this 'Sobeck' is, as well as that caller." Aloy reminded, wanting to know more, before she takes out her Striker Bow.

Leaving the base, the Unity Force group later proceed to reach a snowy pathway filled with trees that leads to the entrance of the ruin. Just like what Asta mentioned to them, they spotted two regular Behemoths and Longlegs patrolling in and around, guarding for any intruders who attempt to enter inside the ruin.

Thinking of what to do, Zoro's group later decide to plan their attack, as they proceed to hide at a giant rock not far from the patrolling machines.

"Those are the machines that you told us about?" Nanoha asked Aloy.

"Behemoths." Aloy replied, as she looks at Nanoha. "These machines attack by throwing boulders with their force loaders. Except the one we faced earlier was a Daemonic variant, made by HEPHAESTUS, and these ones are not." She added further.

"There's two, and we can deal with them." Fate stated, as she takes out Bardiche.

"And Longlegs, as well." Aloy added. "They can be a real nuisance."

"Let's go." Trafalgar declared.

With that, the rest of them later leave the rock, as they proceed to target the patrolling machines. Instantly, however, their presence is immediately known without hesitation, as the Behemoths suddenly charge towards the group, where the hulking machines are later joined in by the two Longlegs.

[PLAY MUSIC: Horizon Zero Dawn OST - Force Multiplication]

Aloy fires a warning shot towards one of the Longlegs, instantly alerting them, as she proceeds to load three Hardpoint Arrows and aim it into the machine's Concussion Sac. The arrows' power alone caused the sac to be punctured and later exploded, releasing a burst of compressed air around them, which also staggered the other machines beside it, killing the machine.

"Here goes!" Aloy declared, as the rest of her group prepare themselves.

"Let's deal with these machines!" Nanoha declared, as she looks at the machine. "Cross Fire Shoot!" She utters furthermore, as several magical spheres appeared, which is fired towards the Longleg, instantly destroying it, as it also damaged the adjacent Behemoth.

Zoro then proceeds to swing his sword. "Yakkodori!" He later unleashes a crescent moon-like projectile of compressed air towards the Behemoth with great speed, causing the machine to be effortlessly destroyed, before it even unleashed an attack from its force loader.

Then, one of the few remaining Behemoths used its force loader, levitating off a massive boulder from the ground with such force and fires it towards the group, as it stomped its legs to the ground.

But before that would hit the group, Fate later orders her own Device, Bardiche, to activate a barrier, before obliging.

"Bardiche! Activate barrier!" Fate declared.

"Yes, Sir!" Bardiche replied in agreement.

"Defenser!" She uttered, before a yellow-coloured magical barrier appears, which protects them from the impact of the boulder, as it also shattered the boulder, as well.

While the battle happens, two regular Scrappers suddenly appear on the scene, as it senses machine parts from the broken machines that the group destroyed, which in this case are the Longlegs and the Behemoth. Non-hesitatingly, it proceeds to attack the group.

"It sent a backup!" Nanoha declared.

"They're detecting machine parts with dead machines, that's why." Aloy added, as she fires off a shot towards the Behemoth to distract the machine.

The two Scrappers both charged, as they attacked the group, before arming their own circular grinder mouths.

"Hey! Come get me!" Aloy shouted at one of the Scrappers, causing it to target Aloy.

Effortlessly, Aloy would later slide underneath the lunging Scrapper, before she uses Fire Arrows, as she rapidly fires several of them towards the Scrapper, causing severe build-up of fire around its chassis, before she proceeds to stab it with her spear to put it out of its misery.

Trafalgar, on the other hand, suddenly dashed through the other Scrapper. "Radio Knife!" He uttered, as he would then proceed to slice the machine off with his Kikoku, causing them to be sliced completely.

"Now, Nanoha!" Zoro called, with Nanoha nodding.

"Raising Heart! Activate Bombardment Spell!" Nanoha ordered, as she sets her sight on the machine.

"Yes, Master!" Raising Heart replied.

Nanoha then aims her Device. "Impact Cannon!" A mana-like cannonball is fired towards the Behemoth, at instantaneous speeds, where it hits the machine's midsection. This caused significant damage, as the Impact Cannon's blow caused the machine to be hurled towards a rock to its left, destroying the machine.

"I guess that's over for now." Fate stated.

"Not for now." Aloy adamantly stated. "It's only the beginning."

Leaving the machine carcasses alone, the group proceed to journey further into Maker's End, where snow later proceeds to fall down, as they soon realise that it is now midnight, with darkness slowly enveloping. The haunting sight of the ancient buildings in front of them, which looms as a shadow over the snowy environment, gives a frightening air to anyone who attempts to enter.

But one particular tall tower can be seen above, which is much taller than any other building that stands in all the tribes that the group have encountered. It is all surrounded by other buildings of ancient nature, presumably a futuristic style of architecture, except that they have been covered by snow, and all of them have rusted for centuries.

"This is Maker's End?" Nanoha asked Aloy.

"At least that's what Olin told us." Aloy remarked.

"This place seems to be in the future, but it's just a shadow of its former self, anyways." Fate described, as she looks around. "Asta said that the Eclipse are here, so we should find an encampment to proceed." She added.

"Does that mean my mother is here?" Aloy asked the group. "This doesn't make any sense. If she was here, then she would be an outcast the moment she comes back to Mother's Watch." She added in suspicion.

"That's one question we still have to try answering." Zoro said, as he and the rest of his team later arrive at a campfire, before seeing a cache of supplies, which was presumably left by the caller.

Aloy simply scavenges for the contents of the cache, before finding a new weapon inside: a Ropecaster.

As the name suggests, a Ropecaster is used to immobilise machines through its rope ammunition resembling of a harpoon, which renders them open for vulnerabilities. Like all weapons of this world, it is also primitive in nature, possibly based on a ballista, save for its cross-looking frame.

"What is that?" Zoro asked.

"Ropecaster." Aloy simply responded. "Might be useful to stop machines from attacking." She added. "But why would he give it out for free like candy?"

Then, from out of nowhere, the mysterious caller butts into the conversation.

"Because I want you to succeed. Good hunting. We'll talk later." The mysterious caller ended.

"Wait! Damn him!" Aloy said in annoyance.

"That guy is a jerkass, and he is starting to be annoying." Zoro snickered.

"We have more problems to deal with." Trafalgar replied.

Forgetting the moment, the rest of the group later proceed to venture deeper into the ruins, while cautiously looking for any sightings of Eclipse and their machine army.

"All these ruins. What did the Old Ones do here?" Aloy pondered.

"Managerial stuff or something." Trafalgar replied.

As Asta suspected earlier, they later hide at one of the trees, where they see an Eclipse encampment from afar, complete with a Corrupted Watcher roaming around.

"Eclipse camp." Aloy uttered. "The Eclipse and corrupted machines - cooperating. One happy family." She uttered, as she looks at the Corrupted Watcher.

"They'll be taking their time off when they see us." Zoro said in an uncaring manner.

As expected, the rest of the group later confronted the Eclipse and their machines, as they proceed to preemptively break into the camp, in an attempt to waylay their excavation operation.

However, the Eclipse guards are not pleased when they see the Unity Force arriving with stern looks in their faces, with one of them immediately signalling the alarm, before few Eclipse cultists and Corrupted Watchers appear on the scene, in an attempt to stop the group from breaking into the camp.

Despite their efforts, they were easily dealt with in an effortless manner, with Aloy fighting off against the Corrupted Watchers and subsequently eliminating it, and with Zoro and Trafalgar killing off the Eclipse Cultists, before Nanoha and Fate later eliminate the remaining cultists in the outer Eclipse camp.

With nothing else to lose, the rest of the group ventured further into another area of Maker's End, only this time it is guarded with more Eclipse troops, as well as Corrupted Machines and a Corruptor.

"In the name of the Time-Space Administrative Bureau and the Unity Force, you are all ordered to surrender." Nanoha declared in a serious manner, as she takes out her Raising Heart.

Shocked, the Eclipse immediately arm themselves upon seeing the Unity Force.

"Shit! It's the Nora outcast and the Unity Force! It's the same bastards who ruined our operation in Rockwreath!" One of the Eclipse snipers exclaimed in fury. "They're going after our excavation operations!"

"Well then, are you just going to stand there and do nothing?! Signal the alarm, and don't let them reach the main camp!" One of the cultists bellowed, as he ordered the Cultist Sniper to do so.

As expected, the alarm is triggered, causing several Cultist Snipers, Cultist Thugs, and an Elite Cultist Dredger to appear at the scene, as well as the same Corrupted Machines and a Corruptor.

"Whatever you're planning now, Benoit, Black Matter, and Helis wouldn't be pleased." The Elite Cultist Dredger warned. "You've dismantled our excavation operation on Rockwreath, and foiled our plans one too many, so we're going to prune your corpses into the sun, once we deal with the rest of you."

Zoro takes out his Enma, as he looks at the cultist. "So you're now working as a puppet for Benoit and Black Matter, huh?" He added. "In that case..."

"You don't know who you're messing with! Well then, surround these so-called heroes!" Another Cultist Sniper declared.

Zoro's group prepare themselves as they clash against the Eclipse.

"Kaen!" Zoro shouted, as he wields his Enma in his left hand with his right hand gripping his left wrist for support (or vice-versa), Zoro jumps high up into the air and slashes several Eclipse cultists. After slashing them, the cultists then burst into flames from where they were slashed.

"A Corrupter… that might prove a challenge." Aloy said, as she fires several Fire arrows toward it. "I'll deal with this."

"Bardiche, activate Scythe Form!" Fate commanded.

"Yes, Sir!" Bardiche then obliged.

As a result, Bardiche's axe head flips up 90 degrees and a golden curved mana blade springs from the gap, causing the Device to resemble a scythe.

"Scythe Slash!" Fate then shouted, as she charged towards several Eclipse cultists, as well as a Corrupted Watcher, killing the cultists, as well as destroying the machine into half.

The Cultist Dredger could only look in disbelief.

"You useless fools. We're being thinned out here!" The Cultist Dredger exclaimed, before loading his Blast Sling with three timed explosive grenades. "Take this, you bastards." He added, before lobbing it towards the group. Immediately, however, Trafalgar uses Radio Knife towards the cultist, instantly killing him.

However, the timed explosive grenades tick rapidly, causing Trafalgar to quickly move back.

"Raising Heart, activate a Defence Spell!" Nanoha ordered.

"Yes, Master!" Raising Heart obliged.

"Wide Area Protection!" Nanoha shouted, as a frontal barrier surrounds the group, thus blocking the explosive attack that came from the now-deceased Dredger.

Aloy later dodges several of the Corruptor's tail strikes, before proceeding to fire several ropes via her Ropecaster, as she binds the aggressive machine into the ground.

Weakening the machine further through Fire arrows, Aloy stabs the Corruptor with her spear through its chest, before it was completely shut down.

"So that was the so-called 'Corruptor' you spoke of?" Nanoha asked the Nora Huntress.

"Except they're deadly and quick." Aloy stated. "But that means we're getting close into another part of the ruin." She stated.

Walking away from the now-empty camp, the Unity Force group later proceed to trek through the ruin deeper, before they suddenly heard an explosion.

"An explosion." Aloy stated.

"What's going on?" Nanoha asked.

"I don't know, but we're getting close to the explosions."

"Let's be mindful." Zoro ordered. "We don't know what the worse could happen, but we're on the right track."

Heading through a pathway with two torches on it, the group later come across another pathway within the ruin, where this time it leads into another part of the ruin.

Venturing further, Zoro's group heard another explosion, but this time it was slightly louder than the previous. They later jump down, before they later heard a third explosion, as well as the sound of a machine.

"What is that?" Zoro asked, as he sees a new machine from afar.

"Another one of those ancient machines. Deathbringers. This one can pack a punch." Aloy warned the group of the new machine.

A Deathbringer is a large and very powerful mobile weapons platform, comparable in size to the largest contemporary combat machines. Unlike the other machines or even the other machines from its own machine line known as Chariot, Deathbringers have no resemblance to any fauna. A Deathbringer's means of ambulation consists of six stout legs, each with a vertical piston at the end. Each leg is equipped with a stabiliser. The legs are connected radially to a circular swivel that allows the head, which is laterally wider than the span of the legs, to turn 360 degrees. The head carries several formidable weapons: a flamethrower, a grenade launcher, a gun turret, a heavy cannon turret, a swarm missile launcher and a repeater cannon turret. The head also houses heat vents, cooling rods, and the machine's core. Tough armour plating covers the entire chassis. Two optical sensors are located centrally at the front of the head, in a vertical location, on each side of the CPU's housing.

"Those things look a lot more intimidating. We never faced something like that in our own world." Fate stated, as she examines the machine.

"I see an Eclipse cultist preparing it. Presumably an officer." Nanoha observed. "As well as their main camp in this ruin."

"Damn. Their 'excavation operation' is more than this." Zoro stated, as he looks at the machine.

With the Eclipse...

"Rotate turret!" The Eclipse Officer ordered. "And fire!" He continued, before the machine prepares its weapons.

Suddenly, Anders Benoit arrives at the ruin through a portal with his Intruder vehicle, as he talks to the Eclipse Officer about the success of the machine's exhumation.

"Status?" Benoit asked.

"All weapons operational! We have a Deathbringer exhumed and ready, Mr. Benoit." The Eclipse Officer responded. "It's fully operational, and it is enough to halt any intruders in here, including the Unity Force."

"Excellent work." Benoit stated. "Whenever you see the Unity Force, kill them for their interference." He ordered coldly, who is displeased of even mentioning the hero group, remembering some of the U.F. heroes' encounter in New Meridian in another Earth.

"We're working on it." The Eclipse Officer replied.

Benoit then disappears from the portal, where he rides back from his Intruder.

Back with Aloy's group...

"Is that Benoit?" Nanoha asked.

"Yes." Zoro replied. "He's working with the Anti-Multiverse Corps, but why is he here?"

"He's probably working with the Eclipse for an unknown amount of time. Probably bolstering them." Aloy replied.

"We have to deal with them accordingly." Trafalgar stated.

Aloy then observes further at the Deathbringer.

"We never get into that tower unless we destroy that thing first." Aloy commented, as she looks at the tall tower.

"Then we have to fight our way out of that thing." Fate replied.

[PLAY MUSIC: Prancing Bull - Trocadero]

After much planning...

"Now!" Zoro shouted.

The Unity Force charge through the main Eclipse camp within Maker's End.

"OPEN FIRE! It's the Unity Force!" The Eclipse Officer commanded, as the Deathbringer proceeds to fire a salvo of rockets towards the group, as well as a flurry of bullets from its machine guns.

At the same time, several Eclipse Snipers from their vantage points started firing their arrows into the group, but they quickly dodged it, as Nanoha summons Wide Area Protection from Raising Heart, thus protecting the group from the Deathbringer's barrage of attacks.

"They're not going to put up a fight on this one with us altogether!" Zoro uttered, as he arms his Enma.

Suddenly, the Eclipse Officer's Focus stopped working.

"My Focus - it's stopped working!" The Eclipse Officer exclaimed.

"I've disabled his Focus. The rest is up to all of you." The mysterious caller suddenly said from Aloy's Focus.

Ignoring the caller, the Unity Force later fight off against the army of Eclipse cultists guarding the ruin, as well as the Deathbringer, with the hero group intent on foiling their machine excavation operations within Maker's End.

"Kill them!" The Eclipse Officer ordered.

The Deathbringer later ups its efforts to unleash its reckoning by firing more and more rockets towards the group, as Aloy proceeds to fire several Fire arrows towards the giant machine, in an attempt to overheat its chassis.

Then, several Cultist Thugs and Cultist Punishers have arrived at the scene, alerted by the current events transpiring in front of them. Fate then aims her hand in front of the charging cultists, as it generates a high-speed penetration bolt from her palms, which gets bigger and bigger at every second. "Thunder Bullet!" Fate then shouts, as she unleashes the said attack, causing an explosion that sends most of the cultists flying into the wall.

Zoro then proceeds to jumps high above. "Kaen!" He called, as he then proceeds to slash several cultists, where the resulting attack caused the targeted cultists to be burnt.

Trafalgar then imbues both of his hands with greenish electricity, before he unleashes it towards a Cultist Punisher, shocking him violently, before unleashing a sickening blow into the electrocuted cultist's head with his left hand. The blow alone resulted in him careening against other cultists, causing a chain reaction.

"Nothing but weaklings." Trafalgar scoffed at the Eclipse's pathetic firepower.

"Cross Fire Shot!" Nanoha shouted, as she fires several spheres into the Cultist Snipers within the wooden walkways, instantly dispatching them. "We only have the officer and the Deathbringer left!"

Aloy would then proceed to unleash an overheating process into the Deathbringer by firing a few more Fire Arrows, before it pops out its cooling rods, giving the Nora Huntress a significant advantage, as she fires several of its cooling rods in a rapid fashion via Hardpoint Arrows from her Striker Bow, thus destroying the machine completely.

With the Cultist Snipers and Cultist Punishers all eliminated, as well as the Deathbringer's destruction, the Eclipse Officer was the only one left within the site.

"Damn it!" The Eclipse Officer, in utter shock, attempts to flee, only for Trafalgar to quickly knock him out cold completely with his fist.

"Not going anywhere." Trafalgar calmly stated.

With their operation foiled, the Unity Force later proceed to skim through the area to find anything of interest, as well as examining the Deathbringer and the Eclipse's purpose to use it for something else sinister.

"Never knew these cultists would now resort into scavenging a war machine bigger than that Corruptor." Nanoha examined, as she looks at the machine corpse.

"They're now raising an army." Aloy added in solemnity. "Corruptors, Deathbringers, and Corrupted Machines... All part of their master plan to unleash a war beyond what the Red Raids could do." She added. "But why? Are they plotting some kind of revenge against Avad?" She pondered.

"What are you talking about, Aloy?" Fate questioned at Aloy's theory.

"The Eclipse... Remember I told you and Nanoha about the Red Raids?" Aloy asked Nanoha.

"Yeah, you told us about that, but what does this have to do with the machine?" Nanoha replied.

"I'm starting to think that there is more to this. The Shadow Carja... The Carja Civil War..." Aloy then continued on, as she pondered furthermore of the prospect. "The Eclipse... They're allies with the Shadow Carja, like what Olin said to us besides both of you, a few days ago." She added.

"So this is all a part of a bigger conspiracy..." Nanoha said, as she looks around.

"That Eclipse officer had a Focus. Let's see what's on it. Let's see what you have to say." Aloy replied, as she finds the said Focus within the deceased Cultist's ear.

"Is that some kind of device?" Nanoha questioned.

"It's a Focus, and it looks like it has a message." Aloy said. "This must be important."

However, the Focus in question has red light on its LED indicator, instead of the blue light that Aloy has in her own Focus, which she finds it highly unusual.

Disregarding the red light blinking on it, Aloy then proceeds her own Focus to initiate a data channel between her and the Eclipse Officer's Focus.

Immediately, strange things begin to happen when Aloy links the Eclipse Officer's Focus, as ominous red corruption surrounds within the holographic light, which shocks some of the group.

"What… what is this?" Aloy questioned.

"Oh my god... What is that?" Fate questioned, as she looks around the corrupted hologram light.

"Something off is going on." Nanoha added.

All of a sudden, a highly grating, loud voice appears within the Eclipse Officer's Focus, clearly angry of what it just witnesses in front of it, including the death of the Eclipse troops.

Based on Olin's information regarding the "devil" that the Shadow Carja have been worshipping, it fits the description of none other than HADES, which is presumed to be an AI of rogue nature like HEPHAESTUS, but unknown from whence it came from in the first place and how it went rogue, as well.

"The Entity… lives? Unacceptable… Unacceptable… Unacceptable…" HADES said in a highly evil voice, if not almost grating to the point that it felt malevolent to them.

"Goddamn." Zoro stated, as he pondered what Olin had mentioned about the Shadow Carja "worshipping" the so-called "devil" of the tribe. "This seems to be more of an AI that went rogue, just like HEPHAESTUS."

"And the Eclipse and this Shadow Carja are worshipping it as if some kind of their own god?" Nanoha questioned at the rather bizarre prospect of the tribe worshipping an AI, posing as a deity.

Suddenly...

"Get rid of it, Aloy!" Fate immediately shouted, as she sees the Officer's Focus from Aloy's hand, producing what appeared to be electrical shock, which is assumed to be a self-defence mechanism.

"What?" Aloy said, as she looks at the Focus. "Are you kidding me?!" She added.

Unfortunately, before Aloy can gather more information regarding HADES and its machinations, the Officer's Focus then abruptly goes into a power surge, as she got shocked by it, prompting her to toss it. She immediately discards the rigged Focus into the snowy ground, but not before another effect happens: the Focus explodes for a very mysterious reason, causing Aloy to flinch.

"What?" Zoro said, as he looks at where the Focus originally was.

"Did that thing just explode?" Trafalgar questioned in disbelief at the strange event.

"Things are just getting more and more unusual by the moment." Nanoha uttered in disdain, now completely confused of the current happenings around her.

"What the hell was that? HADES?" Aloy pondered. "Hey! Mysterious stranger! Did you see that?! No answer, huh? Figures." She attempts to call the mysterious caller, but to no avail.

"This is just fascinating." Zoro grumbled in sarcasm.

"Things just keep getting stranger." Aloy added. "We need to find a way inside the tower." She continued on.

With nothing else to lose, Zoro's Unity Force group later proceed to find a cave in to the entrance of the mysterious tall tower, before they found one, but it was too small for the rest of the group to enter.

"Yakkodori!" Zoro then decides to swing his sword, as a crescent-like projectile hits towards the rock, thus destroying the rocks blocking the path completely, as it reveals a hidden passageway and a room, as well. "Talk about being creative." He quipped, with Nanoha giggling.

Entering the newly-created entrance that Zoro created, the group later arrive at a mysterious door within an unknown building, whom Aloy remembered it as a genetic-locked door that required an identiscan, much like the other door in All-Mother Mountain.

"One of these again." Aloy reminded.

"Of all the doors we have seen, this has to be the most bizarre." Trafalgar quipped.

"It's the same one I encountered in All-Mother Mountain." Aloy revealed. "And I feared that it won't open for me." She added in disbelief, remembering her attempt to enter the All-Mother Mountain in failure.

Like the usual process in All-Mother Mountain, the identiscan door later flashes a red light towards Aloy, the moment she steps right in front of it. It then shows the same hologram of a DNA and the face of the mysterious woman, as well as the 99.47% number.

"Hold for identiscan." The synthetic voice talked.

"What's happening, Nanoha?" Fate asked her best friend.

"It looks like the door is scanning her genetic blueprint as a key." Nanoha deduced. "Like I suspected, she is 99.47% related to this unknown woman." She added.

"That's impossible." Fate whispered to Nanoha. "But the only person who had that DNA value is a clone, just like Vivio... That means Aloy is a clone of this unknown person?" She added.

"I think, but we're not sure, since she's a complicated case." Nanoha answered.

Annoyed, Aloy would later leave the door, fearing that it wouldn't open for her, much like in All-Mother Mountain, when all of a sudden...

"Aloy, it's opening." Nanoha stated, as she looks at the genetic-locked door opening, as the red light turned blue.

"Whoa! What the hell?" Zoro exclaimed.

"Genetic profile confirmed. Entry authorised. Greetings, Dr. Sobeck. Please, step inside." The synthetic voice reminded.

"Dr. Sobeck?" Fate questioned.

"How can she open those doors is a mystery." Nanoha answered.

"We're only having more questions than answers, at this moment." Zoro uttered. "Now, let's go."

They later enter inside the mysterious facility in front of them.

[Faro Automated Solutions, Earth-1355]

With the gene-locked door closing behind them, the Unity Force group later enter inside of the unknown facility, which is known as Faro Automated Solutions, where they are greeted by futuristic-looking architecture in front of them, as well as holographs everywhere, indicating that the technology inside remained intact.

However, most of the place is deeply buried in sand and hardened rock, as well as with stalactites and stalagmites growing in other parts of the ruin.

"This place... It doesn't resemble to any other places we encountered outside, including Meridian." Zoro stated. "This is even more futuristic than the Unity Force Academy's classrooms." He described.

Then, the same synthetic voice plays, as the rest of the group headed down into the ruin, before descending down into the only passageway, which what was once an elevator shaft. "Dr. Sobeck, you are. Three hundred and fifty five thousand, five hundred and ten days overdue for your meeting with Mr. Faro. Please proceed to the 35th floor."

"Wait. Three hundred and fifty thousand? That's hundreds of years ago..." Aloy said in disbelief upon hearing the shocking amount of days have passed. "What's going on?!"

"That's 974 years..." Nanoha stated.

"I can't believe that most of the technology inside this place are still working after nine centuries." Fate described.

Trekking through the mysterious building further, the rest of the group later come across the main hall, where they encounter a statue of Deathbringer, which is assumed to be shown for display.

"Deathbringer... That's the same machine that we just dealt with earlier." Nanoha added.

"Or a statue of one, anyway… A machine built to kill. And they honoured it…?" Aloy said, as she looks at the statue of the said war machine.

"No. It's some kind of a display." Nanoha observed.

Entering through another passageway to the left of the Deathbringer statue, the group later come across another part of the facility, as well as with the synthetic voice playing upon their entry inside.

"Welcome to Faro Automated Solutions, where all the problems of tomorrow are being solved… today! With over 25,000 human employees based in nations and corporate holdings across the globe, Faro leads the world in every sector of self sustaining, fully-automated technology. From revolutionary consumer products close to home, like the Faro Focus to the dynamic Chariot line of peacekeeping robots halting bloodshed in conflict zones across the globe. Faro remains committed to making the future smarter, brighter, safer… and always surprising. Faro Automated Solutions… for every problem of life, a smart solution." The synthetic voice greeted.

Surprised by the turn of events, the Unity Force group now know what the place's name is, as well as the building's one main purpose: a corporation responsible for the creation of the so-called 'Chariot' line of peacekeeping war machines, as well as the Focus.

"Faro Automated Solutions...?" Aloy asked at the building's name. "So they made the Focus?" She then thought, as she ponders about the Focus's creation of origin.

"Judging by it, yes." Nanoha replied.

"But 25,000 people living here? That's bigger than a tribe."

"It's probably bigger than the combined tribes here in this world. At least a part of it." Zoro added.

"So they made machines and devices. I guess such things were common in their world." Aloy added.

"Kind of surprising that not even a single person uses that device of yours above the surface, Aloy." Fate commented.

Aloy and the rest continued onward, as they come across another area of Faro Automated Solutions, before they see another entrance that leads to the stairway from afar.

"What was this place? What were they doing here?" Aloy wondered.

Then the mysterious caller suddenly calls into Aloy's Focus, again.

"It was a 'corporation'. A group of people, not unlike a tribe. And they made machines." The unknown caller responded to Aloy's inquiry.

"Yeah? Go on." Aloy replied.

"I have uploaded some data files to your Focus. They'll help you understand." The unknown caller said, before cutting off.

"Like every time... He has to butt in on us for absolutely no reason." Zoro grumbled, as he only gets annoyed with the unknown caller.

"He probably knows more about it." Fate stated. "So this Faro Automated Solutions is just another corporation..."

"Except we only know little about this place, save for it being a factory for some war machines." Trafalgar bluntly added.

"Maybe we can check all these files that he gave to me later on." Aloy added.

Leaving the empty and barren area of the corporate building, the rest of the Unity Force go upstairs, before Aloy comes across a data log, which she promptly scans it with her Focus.

"What does this one say?" Aloy pondered.

The audio log then played for the group to listen, which has a transcript that has the speaker's name: Ted Faro.

FROM: Ted Faro
TO: FAS All
SUBJECT: R&D/Lab Retooling

Ted Faro: Now I know this must seem like a bizarre change in direction. I mean, we're Faro Automated Solutions, right? #1 robotics firm in the world. Why would we clear our production slate to fabricate human-operated vehicles and weapons systems - the relics of the past? All I can say at this juncture is... trust me. We will be exploiting a massive, uh... growth opportunity by retooling and reallocating capacity according to my plan. So I will need revised projections of mass fabrication velocity across every pipeline within 36 hours...

The recording then finished, leaving the rest of the Unity Force group baffled at what they have just heard regarding either this "Ted Faro" person or the contents of the recording itself regarding the proposed mass fabrication of these war machines, similar to the Corruptor and the Deathbringer.

"So they were making machines, but then they stopped, to make… other kinds of weapons? Why?" Aloy pondered.

"Probably to profit more on whatever kind of wars they had fought in the distant past, which would be a reckless move to begin with." Nanoha stated.

"Now those machines have fallen into the Eclipse's hands." Trafalgar bluntly added.

"Maybe we might find more answers inside this ruin." Fate reminded.

Leaving the current area, the group then arrive beside the broken stairway that leads to a cave-in, before reaching through what seems to be the upper floor of the main hall, where Aloy went first to investigate.

Suddenly, however, as Aloy approaches the said walkway, it suddenly crumbles apart, due to it being completely exposed to the elements for centuries.

"Whoa!" Aloy exclaimed, as she fell down, before a loud metallic noise can be heard, which is produced by the crumbling metallic walkway.

"Aloy!" Nanoha exclaimed, as she runs through the scene where Aloy fell down. "Are you okay there?!"

To their relief, Aloy is safe, as she proceeds to reply.

"Yes, I'm fine!" Aloy responded, who is one floor below. "I guess..." She trailed.

"Thankfully..." Nanoha said in relief. "That was close... Who knows what would happen to you if you fell down!" She exclaimed in worry.

"I'll be coming there, don't worry." Aloy replied. "I found a ramp. Maybe I can use it to reach the rest of you there." She stated.

A few moments later, Aloy later rendezvouses with the rest of her teammates, where they see an entrance from afar, but no such pathway is to be seen to approach it easily. Zoro, Nanoha, and Fate would easily approach the said entrance, while Aloy would locate handholds on her own to rendezvous with the rest of the group.

With the Nora Huntress looking for handholds and ladders, she later finds it, before proceeding to climb all of them, until she approached at the said pathway, as well as greeting with the rest of them.

"I guess that was it." Aloly simply stated. "What the hell was that?"

Upon entering the other room, the group decide to investigate the room a little more, where they later come across another one of the elevator shafts beside them. But before from doing so, they head into another room, which is revealed to be a presentation room, where they are greeted by three hologram modules around them.

"What is this?" Aloy asked, before placing her hand into the green outline within the module.

A voice played, followed by what looked like a hologram of a machine model that is different from the machines that none of them have seen. The rest soon watched at the hologram, as it catches their interest.

"The BOR7 'Horus': Imagine your complete engagement ecosystem comprehensively managed by a high-speed learning machine network. Whether your need is to replace battlefield losses or intensify force projection, the Horus's onboard manufacturing capabilities mean you'll never get stuck waiting for the next arms delivery. Simply redefine your force parameters and the Horus will fabricate additional units to fill the ranks for an affordable per-unit licensing fee. Meanwhile, the biomass conversion systems of other Chariot line models allow them to keep the Horus fuelled, repaired, and ready extending its operating tolerances beyond that of any competing Titan-class platform. That's the Horus advantage. Always regulating, always ready. The future of automated warfare, made real today."

The recording then ended.

"The Metal Devil. So these were Faro machines, too. 'Manufacturing capabilities.' They could make more of themselves? Then how would you ever stop them?" Aloy pondered.

"That sounds very ominous, even for a recording about a war machine." Nanoha stated.

"No..." Aloy added. "But there's more to it. The Metal Devil in All-Mother Mountain... Was this what Teersa mentioned in the past about this Metal Devil that attacked in All-Mother Mountain, but the mountain protected against this thing? But it's just a machine." She said, as she voiced Teersa's ridiculous claim about the Metal Devil.

"It's a good thing that they don't awaken one of these monstrosities." Trafalgar muttered. "But to be on the safe side, we don't put our high hopes on that one." He added.

"I don't think they can, not until they have the means to do so." Nanoha said with some scepticism.

Pressing another holographic button inside, another holographic recording then plays, as the group watched.

"The FSP5 'Khopesh' provides a one-size-fits-all solution to main battle force capability. Metamaterial construction delivers unmatched recoil dampening, allowing you to field any weapon package that conforms to your budget needs and conflict-resolution profile. Patented biomass conversion systems allow extended emergency operations with minimal environmental impact. Multilinear target processing provides simultaneous real-time threat analysis and legal review for autonomous domestic operations - or control can be slaved to the swarm's neural network for weapons-free force application. Either way, when it's time to call out the big guns, it's time to call Khopesh."

In the same fashion as the first recording, the second recording later ended.

"This has to be the so-called 'Deathbringer' that we just fought outside." Zoro stated.

"So this was the heavy hitter. 'Main battle force,' indeed." Aloy stated.

"But the Eclipse are exhuming it, which is really bad news." Fate added in suspicion.

Aloy then proceeds to press the last holographic button, where a holographic recording then plays, as the group watches it, as well.

"The ACA3 'Scarab' combines conventional and information warfare capabilities in one package. Designed for high speed, all terrain reconnaissance, it boasts the world's highest survivability rating of any scout-class autonomous agent. Maybe it's the Scarab's emergency biomass conversion systems that ensure it always makes it back to base, even if fuel supply lines have been interdicted. Or maybe it's the Scarab's ability to slave enemy robots to its own network. Now that's force multiplication. Add a prehensile manipulator arm that can handle a host a functions from 360-degree less-lethal riot management to surgical repairs of allied Chariot line models, and you've got the workhorse of any cutting edge peacekeeping fleet."

The final recording then ends.

"What the hell is this all about?" Zoro gestured, completely stumped by what he just witnessed.

After hearing all the recordings regarding the so-called 'Chariot' line of war machines, similar to the ones they encountered earlier from outside of the facility under Eclipse's control, the group cannot comprehend what they have just discovered regarding Faro Automated Solutions.

"The Corruptor… 'Slave enemy robots to its own network.' Sounds like it's talking about how it corrupts machines…" Aloy pondered.

"Let me get this straight..." Fate pondered after hearing all the holographic recordings. "This Metal Devil... Corruptor... Deathbringer... All part of this one 'Chariot' line of war machines made by the same corporation..." She added.

"Instead of making things easier, this is making even cloudier." Trafalgar added.

"But we're now on the right path." Aloy added. "Maybe we can find Ted Faro's office, like what that voice said, which is on the 35th floor." She stated, before looking at the group. "We should go now." She added.

Leaving the presentation room, the rest of the Unity Force group proceed to head through the elevator shaft that Aloy has just found. It was the only path to the 35th floor of Faro Automated Solutions, as all of it were either destroyed by the vicious snowy weather or no longer functional for centuries.

The process went largely the same, as the group traversed through the ruined floors of the building, while overseeing the skeletal husks of the other buildings buried in snow from above.

During their climb, Aloy finds another datapoint lying around, which is titled "Regarding the Rumours". Judging by the ominous title, its contents are also ominous.

"What is this?" Aloy asked, before playing the audio log.

"Ted Faro: …that began when they engaged in unauthorised offensive operations against robots and human personnel of the Hartz-Timor Energy Combine. Now I wish that I could relate that the crisis has been… exaggerated. But… it's not. The peacekeepers have not responded to stand-down codes, and… by all signs they appear to be replicating at a… precipitous rate. Now what I can promise you, can absolutely assure you, is that I am already devoting every possible resource towards reaching… a speedy conclusion to this issue. So when you hear the bad talk about us, against this company, in the days, maybe weeks to come… just bear in mind that we will get past this that a day's coming when none of this will matter-"

"Peacekeepers? That's what they called their machines? They were built for war, not peace." Aloy suspiciously remarked.

"'Replicating at a precipitous rate...' That doesn't sound right." Fate added.

"Whatever happened to these 'peacekeepers' was bad news." Nanoha uttered, as she felt that this Faro is bad news.

"I'm pretty sure we're getting close to the 35th floor, which I can see it." Zoro stated.

Continuing onward, the group later ascended further into the remaining several floors of the ruined FAS tower, until they reach the highest floor above, which is the office of Ted Faro, or at least it was, as it was partially covered in snow.

"This has to be Faro's office, by the looks of it." Nanoha observed.

Finding a still-working module beside the meeting table, Aloy then proceeds to interact with it through her Focus, before a voice appears.

"All data has been erased from this device. Do you wish to deploy Alpha privileges to recover purged data?" The synthetic voice inquired.

"Yes, I do." Aloy obliged.

"A data file has been recovered." The synthetic voice responded, before a hologram of a man and a woman appear on the left side of the table.

"Talk about hiding a damning evidence." Zoro uttered.

The man in the hologram is middle-aged, with a brushed-up hair. He is seen wearing a slightly futuristic outfit that consists of a blue long-sleeved shirt, blue pants, and shoes. This is Ted Faro.

The woman in the hologram is also middle-aged, but slightly younger than Faro. She has a near-striking resemblance to Aloy, albeit with a short hair and green eyes. She wears an outfit consisting of a blue shirt on the inside, grey futurustic-looking blouse, as well as grey pants and black shoes. This is Elisabet Sobeck.

Intent on listening to the holographic recording, the Unity Force group proceed to watch it.

Time of Record: 31 Oct 2064

Ted Faro: Elisabet! Good to… it's been years.

Elisabet Sobeck: Where's your legal team, Ted?

Ted Faro: No need! I dropped all eighteen lawsuits the moment you landed! I assume your data confirms this?

Elisabet Sobeck: All right. This promises to be interesting.

Ted Faro: Perhaps we could have lunch brought in, get reacquainted…?

Elisabet Sobeck: I know you, Ted. You've screwed something up - something big - or you wouldn't have eaten the crow to get me here. So spit it out!

Ted Faro: There's a glitch in the Chariot line.

Elisabet Sobeck: Your killer robots?

Ted Faro: Peacekeepers, yes. Those.

Elisabet Sobeck: So shut them down.

Ted Faro: Obviously, Lis, we would if we could. They're not responding.

Elisabet Sobeck: Are telling me a swarm has gone rogue, Ted?

Ted Faro: It's worse than that.

Elisabet Sobeck: Show me the data, then. And I'll take that lunch - alone.

The recording then ended.

"Oh my god." Fate uttered. "A glitch from these machines? And Faro did this?" She questioned in disbelief.

"I knew for the moment that this Faro just tries his hardest to hide it." Zoro uttered, not surprised at the moment.

"This is plain and simple recklessness." Nanoha said with tranquil fury.

"But Ted Faro brought Elisabet Sobeck here? But if they hated each other." Aloy said in scepticism.

"Another datafile has been recovered." The synthetic voice responded, before another hologram of Sobeck and Faro appears in front of them. This time, it was much worse and it revealed Faro's folly.

Time of Record: 1 Nov 2064

Elisabet Sobeck: This isn't a "glitch," it's a catastrophe.

Ted Faro: Fully aware. It's bad.

Elisabet Sobeck: "Bad?"

Ted Faro: Jesus, Lis…

Elisabet Sobeck: It's not "bad," Ted. It's apocalyptic. You built a line of killer robots -

Ted Faro: Peacekeepers!

Elisabet Sobeck: - that consume biomass as fuel -

Ted Faro: In emergencies!

Elisabet Sobeck: - and you made them capable of self-replication.

Ted Faro: Limited self-manufacture. Controlled.

Elisabet Sobeck: Not anymore. The glitch severed chain-of-command. The only nation this swarm answers to now is itself.

Ted Faro: You think - ?!

Elisabet Sobeck: Everything else is just - food. And at the rate it's replicating, Ted, it will strip the Earth bare in fifteen months. We're not talking fall of civilisation, we're talking Extinction!

Ted Faro: I get it, Lis! So how do I stop it while it's contained?

Elisabet Sobeck: It's not contained, it can't be!

Ted Faro: You know what I mean!

Elisabet Sobeck: Right. Before the truth gets out, you mean.

Ted Faro: Lis, I will do anything you say! Keep working it, and whatever you recommend, I'll do!

Elisabet Sobeck: I'm going to hold you to that, Ted.

The second recording then ended, driving the rest of the group in disbelief, more so than what they discovered in the first recording.

"The Faro robots threatened all life on Earth? But somehow she defeated them! The world of the Old Ones fell, but life went on - or we wouldn't be here." Aloy uttered.

"Are you fucking kidding?!" Zoro uttered in utter annoyance, before looking at Aloy. "Were you not listening to what Sobeck just said?"

"I was, but it didn't make sense how this world survived, let alone these machines being defeated by her!" Aloy countered.

"Ugh... This is just impossible to explain." Zoro remarked.

"This scumbag." Trafalgar uttered, referring to Faro. "How can he be this dumb?" He questioned.

"This is just worse..." Nanoha stated blankly.

"Not to mention, these 'Old Ones' had to face these monstrosities, one way or the other, with no chance of survival." Fate grimly stated.

"A final data file has been recovered." The synthetic voice said, before a final recording of Faro and Sobeck is shown, as the rest of the group watch it.

Time of Record: 3 Nov 2064

Ted Faro: "Project: Zero Dawn?" Jesus, Lis! There has to be another way.

Elisabet Sobeck: If there were a nicer way to fix your mess, I would have proposed it.

Ted Faro: But this? This?! When I asked you to find a cure, I didn't expect it to be worse than the disease!

Elisabet Sobeck: It's not, Ted. It may be grim, but it's our only chance. Now sign the proposal.

Ted Faro: Sign it? I can't sign that!

Elisabet Sobeck: Yes, you can.

Ted Faro: That? Lis, I cannot in good conscience sign that!

Elisabet Sobeck: You've got a choice, Ted-

Ted Faro: I know!

Elisabet Sobeck: I am speaking to you from a VTOL en route to U.S. Robot Command! In fifteen minutes, I meet with General Herres and the rest of the Joint Chiefs!

Ted Faro: …What? Are you crazy?!

Elisabet Sobeck: Now your choice is what I tell them. Sign, and I'll tell them the wealthiest corporation on Earth has guaranteed the funds necessary to build Zero Dawn exactly as I've designed it. Or don't sign- and I will make sure they and everyone else on this planet knows the real cause of the glitch.

Ted Faro: Jesus, Lis! You don't have to threaten me. I'll sign.

Elisabet Sobeck: Look on the bright side, Ted. From here on out you get to do what you've always been good at. Footing the bill while others get their hands dirty.

Ted Faro: God forgive me.

The final recording ended.

"What made her solution so terrible? What did she do to stop the robots?" Aloy pondered.

"So this Project: Zero Dawn was the only way to stop these machines..." Fate added.

"I don't think it's terrible, Aloy." Nanoha stated. "But probably it's just a starting point of something bigger."

"Executive access detected. Express lift opened." The synthetic voice said, as the elevator door opens.

Approaching through the elevator shaft, Aloy is suddenly greeted with questions regarding Sobeck being unlikely alive, as she was dead for centuries.

"This doesn't add up! Sobeck couldn't have been my mother - she lived ages ago! All of this searching, and I'm still no closer!" Aloy whined.

Then, the mysterious caller butts again into the conversation.

"That's your reaction to everything you just learned? To whine like a spoiled child?" The mysterious caller said in a sarcastically demeaning way.

"This guy is seriously a jerk..." Zoro grumbled in annoyance, as he sighed.

"You should really try talking that way to me, face to face!" Aloy exclaimed.

"As you wish." The mysterious caller then shows up his face, revealing to be none other than Sylens.

"Who the hell is that?" Zoro asked.

"Do you really have no idea how monumental are the discoveries you just made, Aloy? I expected more of you." Sylens stated, before looking at the Unity Force. "And Unity Force... You people are the extraordinary kind." He stated.

"So you have a face. Got a name to go with it?" Aloy asked.

"Before that, how do you even know us?" Zoro exclaimed, not pleased of Sylens' intrusion.

Sylens, completely annoyed, later proceeds to respond.

"Of all the questions you could ask right now - that's the one you choose? I've spent decades searching the ruins of the Old Ones, trying to solve the mystery of what happened to them. For years I've suspected that Faro robots destroyed their civilisation… but could never confirm it! In minutes, you uncover more ancient knowledge than I have in a lifetime… and what you want to know - is my name?! Sylens. That's my name. Now why don't you try asking another question - something less trivial." Sylens berated, before introducing himself.

"What a jerk." Trafalgar quipped.

Aloy then proceeds to speak. "All right 'Sylens'… you've made your point. I came to these ruins hoping to learn more about this 'Elisabet Sobeck.' And I have, but I still don't understand my connection to her. Or why the Eclipse is trying to kill me or who HADES is. No answers… just one question after another."

"Exactly. Which is why it's time to expand your frame of inquiry. Only then will you see just how big your problems really are." Sylens responded.

"What exactly are you talking about?"

"You've chased a personal riddle into a crowd of larger mysteries. The common thread is your connection to Elisabet Sobeck."

"But what is that connection? She couldn't have been my mother if she lived centuries ago!"

"Connection to Elisabet Sobeck?" Nanoha pondered. "What are you talking about, Sylens?" She inquired. "It's honestly impossible to tell if you're playing tricks on us or not, but there is no way Aloy is even connected to Sobeck."

"We don't know the connection yet. The only way to find out is to keep going, to keep making discoveries. Thanks to the rest of you and Aloy, we've only just now learned that Faro robots once threatened to end life on earth." Sylens answered.

Nanoha then begins to absorb Sylens' response. "So these Faro robots ended life on Earth..."

"Obviously. So what did Elisabet do? How did she stop the robots before all was lost?" Sylens asked.

"What was "Project: Zero Dawn?" Aloy asked.

"Exactly the question. Now, are you ready to go get the answer?"

"Of course we are."

"Then why are you still standing here?"

Zoro, wanting to know more about Sylens knowing the Unity Force, as well, proceeds to ask.

"First and foremost, Sylens, or whoever you are, how do you even know the Unity Force?" Zoro questioned the mysterious man. "This is rather ludicrous to begin with, so we want to know."

"When Aloy went to the other world by rather mysterious means, far from this one, I expected such a surprise, outside within my reach, while I spied on her Focus." Sylens revealed, with the rest of the group disliking the "spying" aspect, especially Aloy. "That a rumoured group of 'heroes' exist to protect this 'multiverse' and another worlds from all forms of destruction. This is beyond what the Faro robots did."

"That doesn't explain the fact that you spied on us." Zoro replied.

"Thanks to this newfound knowledge, I have been studying the Unity Force, and how it will benefit in the long run. But enough of that, as it is wasting time." Sylens responded.

"Seriously..." Trafalgar sighed in disbelief at Sylens' attitude.

After that, Aloy then proceeds to ask Sylens as to how he even spied on her Focus.

Sylens then goes into explaining that overriding Faro Focuses is likened to overriding Machines, where communication was only heard through other Focuses. It was done through years of experience and experimentation, and how he was able to piece it altogether and improved upon it to talk to be able to hear others within the Focus's holographic light.

Then, they proceed to conclude the window of inquiries, as they proceed to focus on finding what Zero Dawn is.

"Elisabet told Ted Faro she was headed for a place called U.S. Robot Command to tell people about Zero Dawn." Aloy answered.

"The place still exists - as a ruin. The Oseram call it the 'Grave-Hoard.'" Sylens responding.

"'Grave-Hoard'? Cheery name." Aloy quipped.

"You'll find it in the eastern mountains, buried under the tangled coils of a Metal Devil - B.O.R.-7 Horus, rather, as we're learning to call them. I'll contact you when you get there." Sylens responded, before cutting off.

"Eastern mountains..." Zoro pondered. "That's close to the Cut." He added.

"Yes, I think I know where it is." Aloy responded.

"So that's where we are going next." Nanoha added.

"Seems to be, yes." Fate answered.

"I can't wait. Someday we'll meet in person and your manners had better be improved." Aloy stated, as she remarked regarding Sylens' attitude. "U.S. Robot Command next. To learn the secrets of Zero Dawn…"

"We're teleporting back to our base and inform the rest about this" Zoro stated, as he begins pushing buttons into his tablet, before creating a portal that points to their base camp."

Leaving the frozen ruin, the Unity Force then arrive back at Shattered Kiln, eagerly preparing for their next mission and that is finding more about Zero Dawn and Elisabet Sobeck.

~~~0-0-0~~~

The characters that appear in this chapter (in order):

Ted Faro and Elisabet Sobeck from Horizon Zero Dawn

~~~0-0-0~~~

[Shattered Kiln, Earth-1355]

After finding out the identities of both Ted Faro and more importantly, Elisabet Sobeck, as well as the disturbing end of the Old Ones from the so-called "glitch", the Unity Force group later arrived at their base camp to brief in on their discovery, with their plans to reach the Grave-Hoard and find out more about Sobeck and Zero Dawn.

They see Asta, Noelle Silva, and Meliodas appearing, as they proceed to sit down.

"How was the venture to that Maker's End?" Asta asked the group.

"Crazy." Fate stated. "Not to mention, it was something too difficult for us to explain."

"Full of lunatics, who were digging for something else." Trafalgar quipped.

"At least we know who that mysterious caller is, and its Sylens." Zoro added, as he sighed.

"Sylens?" Meliodas asked.

"He's just extremely insufferable to begin with. Can't have a nice time without him going full jerkass mode." Zoro replied in utter annoyance.

"Why?" Noelle asked.

"One second and he butts into someone's conversation." Trafalgar stated. "Then later, he berates us, no reason to begin with, for asking questions. Not to mention, he is plain insufferable." He continued.

"He's a sociopath, just by the looks of it." Meliodas quipped.

"Wow... That's some experience you have..." Asta mused.

"And anything else you find?" Noelle questioned.

Nanoha then elaborates, before saying in a serious tone. "I don't know what to think of, after seeing the fate of these so-called 'Old Ones'."

"The ancients of this world had to deal with a fate worse than death, because of this Faro's folly. Judging by what we found, it was a mass-extinction event." Fate continued, thinking of the prospect as to how Faro's robots caused a mass-extinction event in the past.

"It's just shocking to find out that one moron caused all of this." Zoro uttered in a caustic manner.

"What?" That mentioning of mass-extinction event alone was enough for Meliodas's blood to boil.

"But at the same time, this Sobeck tried her hardest to convince Faro to bill this 'Zero Dawn' project." Fate added.

"Unbelievable!" Meliodas exclaimed, as he punched a wooden fence. "So this Faro asshole caused all of it?! If I were to see his face, I'd smash him to pieces for nearly destroying this world!" He uttered in a furious way, scaring the rest of the sans Nanoha, Fate, Zoro, and Trafalgar.

"Dude!" Asta exclaimed.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Nanoha called out, in a way to reassure Meliodas. "We also have problems with him. All of us, so we're equal." She added soothingly, as she attempts to calm the Sin of Wrath down.

"Please, calm down." Trafalgar admonished.

"This venting isn't helping." Zoro bluntly pointed out. "We still don't know the full picture of Faro's folly, yet." He added.

"Honestly, that's going to be hard to stomach." Asta replied.

"Elisabet Sobeck... Ted Faro... All of this is just news that have been buried for centuries." Fate added.

"But who's this Ted Faro?" Asta asked.

"Judging by what the datapoint Sylens gave to me, he's presumably the owner of this 'corporation', Faro Automated Solutions." Aloy replied.

"So he's just a usual CEO of this ruin that you guys entered." Asta quipped, with Aloy nodding.

"And stopping a bunch of lunatic cultists." Trafalgar quietly stated of his experience there.

"However, this Sobeck had one solution: Project: Zero Dawn, but we don't know what that was made for, and where it was, at all." Aloy stated. "All Sobeck said was that she was going next to U.S. Robot Command to talk about it, and this place is close to the pathway to the Cut."

"The Grave-Hoard, you mean?" They suddenly heard a voice.

From there, they see Erend arriving, who seems to know about the Grave-Hoard.

"It's unexpected for you to arrive here, Erend-san." Zoro stated, as he sees Erend down in front of the campfire.

"Ah, I'm here for some of those 'pale lager' that Remon girl brought here earlier." Erend stated. "Also, sorry if Maya has been hospitalised. You people still had that experience in that Thunder's Drum place." He added in sudden apology.

"She's currently fine now, but all she needs is some rest." Nanoha reassured.

"That was one heck of an experience, you know?!" Asta exclaimed, as he remembered all of it. "Fighting off against a robot fire bear was on a different level!"

"But more importantly, do you know what this Grave-Hoard is?" Zoro asked Erend.

"Grave-Hoard..." Erend pondered, as he begins to explain. "It's another one of those ruins by the Old Ones, close to the only way to the Banuk lands, where few Oseram delvers tried to venture through it, but the way in was blocked by rocks." He stated. "Why?" He suddenly asked.

"We have to go there and find out more what goes on, including the Old Ones." Aloy answered. "It's a complicated thing, but we now know what goes on."

"But the way there is closed." Erend added in refusal.

"Don't worry. We'll find a way." Nanoha reassured.

~~~0-0-0~~~

A/N: This story is inspired by the ideas of someoneStupED and XP4Universe.

On the next chapter of UF Missions: Horizon Zero Dawn: After meeting the mysterious man known as Sylens, as well as seeing the bigger picture of the Old Ones and their rather tragic fate, the Unity Force have plans to visit the U.S. Robot Command ruin, now known as Grave-Hoard by the Oseram, and find out more what Project: Zero Dawn is.