It has six months since the recent chapter but long story short:life happened so I could not focus on the story since I was so busy. But that being said, here is the new chapter ready to go and I hope you guys will enjoy.

*Same Disclaimer as before.*

Nanoha and the others have been running for what seemed like hours after leaving Chrono, Yuuno and Zafira alone to fight the drones halting their progress toward their destination. Speaking of which, it was coming closer in range with each step as they continued their run and at this moment, they finally reached the main door. The group just stares at the door in awe leaving Shiro to comment.

"Wow, compared to back at the ship from what we saw on the screen, the place looks way bigger."

Hitoshi whistled in response as Nanoha now with a determined look, turns to the others and told them. "All right everyone this is it. Once we step foot here, be ready for anything so be on guard." Hayate and Rein both smile, Fate nodded, Hitoshi gave out a rouge ish grin and Shiro, after looking at his sword, looked back at Nanoha also nodding. With the ok from the others in mind, the white devil walked to the door and began to open it, allowing the others to follow suit ready to start the first floor. However, all they saw was a staircase and a huge open room with pillars. They each believe that the other rooms might be the same but were still on guard. Even once they saw the lone person standing in the middle of the room.

"Why hello there honored guests!" Anna spoke to the group with a fake bow as if to mock them. She looks up at the group and smiles leading Fate to tell the woman. "I can only assume that you are the first line of defense."

The drill haired woman still smiled leaving Nanoha to confirm what the lighting mage was saying. "She has to be. Otherwise, it would be way too easy an attack on their base."

"And the white devil hits the nail on the head! No wonder you are an Ace. But I guess now is not the time for small talk. Time to do what we do best." Then Anna summons her dagger and with a single throw in mid air, catches it and stares at the group in front of her in a grin only Hitoshi and Hayate know well. She was ready to fight them. The group was about to prepare to fight the dagger wielder, but Hayate raised her arm in front of Nanoha, Fate and Shiro telling the three this.

"Wait, guys let me handle Anna while you go on ahead." The three were shocked by the news that Hayate would want to fight Anna, especially since what happened the first time she fought her. Then to make them even more surprised, Hitoshi steps next to Hayate and readies his fists, prepared to fight Anna as well. Nanoha looks at Hitoshi and asks him. "Wait Hitoshi you too?"

The man responded by glaring at the crazy girl and told the three. "Hell yeah I am staying. This girl needs to be put down and what better duo then me and Hayate." He turns to Hayate and smiles. "Besides, I am doing this for payback and last I checked, you may need some back up." The brunette could only look at Hitoshi's eyes and saw the fire burning deep inside, stating that he will fight Anna with her. With that, she graps her staff and readies herself.

Fate questions the two one last time. "Are you two sure about this? Not to doubt you both but..."

"We can handle her Fate. Just you watch, when we are done with her, we'll run and meet up with you guys later."

Hayate grins and spoke to the group. "Plus, this way we can cover more ground if we split up so go on." as her and her partner were about ready to fight Anna. The blond mage looks to Shiro and Nanoha and with a nod, the three ran past Anna and began their run up the stairs. However, Shiro spoke to Hayate. "Keep an eye on Hitoshi, Hayate!"

The long haired man growled a bit as the mistress giggles a bit while scratching her head. "I think that should be the other way around, Shiro but I will try." And with that, the three disappears leaving only the three mages alone. Anna sighs and stares at the two in front of her as she pouts a bit. "Well, that sucks. I was hoping to fight all five of you at once. Would have made fighting a lot more fun." Then as she raises her dagger, Anna rushes at the two and said with a eerie tone.

"Oh well, guess I get to play with an Ace and a newbie mage. Don't bore me this time!"

Meanwhile, the three mages were still running up the stairs, not even attempting to look back. All they did was move on up and the trek went on for a while. Shiro was still thinking about Hayate and Hitoshi more so the latter because this was Hitoshi's first fight with Burning Sun and he just got his device activated. Then he shook his head and proceeded running with Nanoha and Fate. After a few minutes, they reached another door much like the first door. It was shut like the first one and one of them was about to open it with Nanoha about to open it like before.

However a cold chill was in the air and the door was slashed opened and out came Drav, who had his eyes on one target. Shiro raised his sword in defense and blocked the attack causing him to be pushed back a bit. He saw that the mage's eyes this time was full of nothing but the urge of fight, wanting to beat the mage who beat him back on Earth.

"Shiro!" Nanoha yelled leaving her and Fate to get ready to give him a hand only Shiro spoke back to the white devil. "Don't worry about me. Drav seems to only be focused on me at the moment. And he seems to be in a bad mood so go on without me."

Fate stared at the mages locking weapons as Nanoha points out. "But Shiro, you sure?"

"I am sure that I can win this time." the swordmage spoke while glaring at his opponent in the eyes. "I promise that I will take the training you gave me and beat Drav. I beat him once and I can do it again. Now hurry!"

Nanoha and Fate just stared some more at the two and noticed that they were not moving an inch so the auburn haired woman sighed and turned to her best friend. "We should let Shiro handle Drav. Meanwhile we will go on to the next floor. Let's go Fate!"

"Right Nanoha." spoke Fate and the two were ready to leave but not before Nanoha said with a smile as she ran. "Shiro, good luck and don't get hurt too badly."

"Loud and clear, Nanoha!" And with that, the white devil ran up the stairs as Fate follows behind her. But in a brief second, she turns around and told Shiro using telephony.

'Be careful, Shi-chan.' The act made Shiro blush a bit leaving Fate the chance to catch up with Nanoha. But she also blushed a tad making herself question why did she do that in the first place? The swordmage was also very confused about the act Fate had done and thought to himself. 'What made her say that to me? Plus why would she...Right Vivio knew about it thanks to Hitoshi and she obliviously told Fate. Damn it. But...why did it felt right?'

His heart was beating a good amount, causing more confusion in his brain. But now was not the time as he and Drav was still in a clash of weapons. Drav chuckles at the young mage and spoke up. "You know I am shocked that you chose to keep fighting. Considering what happened last time. But here you are, throwing yourself into this world."

Then Shiro broke the clash and stared at his opponent readying himself. "Sorry to disappoint you Drav but I am not stopping until Ixia is brought down. Even if it means fighting you again. So I hope you are ready for another beating."

To bring the point home that this will be their final fight, Drav readies himself and with a battle hungry smirk, ran to him while yelling. "No no no Shiro, I will crush you where you stand like a pathetic dog you are!" as the two began their fight.

While leaving Hayate, Hitoshi and Shiro behind, Nanoha and Fate were successful in reaching the last door, leading to the second to last room in the span of a few seconds. The two decided to open the door together and took their first step into the room although something felt odd. The room was completely pitch back and they could not see anything. Nanoha was able to light their way in the dark until the lights turned on, revealing nothing but drones around them.

"Drones," Nanoha spoke while readying Raising Heart. "Tons of them. These may have been waiting for anyone pass this point as a last defense line. But something about these drones look different."

The lighting mage carefully looks at the drones and notices that they had a style and personal design to them rather then the tough types that were send after them on Earth or the ones that Jail used. They did look humanoid but felt that they were made for a special purpose. She responded back. "You're right." allowing her to ready herself if they started working. However the question was when?

"To answer your question, these are not drones, but machines." spoke a voice in the air. Sounds of footsteps echo in the air and the girls look to where the sound was coming from, their answer was in the form of a man walking towards them as well as the drones, now called machines who were still inactive. The man was revealed to be Saika, staring at the two mages and spoke this:

"System on."

Then each are activated one by one, eyes glowing a purple color and staring directly at Nanoha and Fate. The two proceeded to ready Raising Heart and Bardiche to defend and fight them if needed including Saika. The creamy brown haired man sighed and told the two women with a sad tone. "I am sorry it has come to this. But the bureau leaves me no choice."

He starts by raising his right arm, revealing a crimson watch and said through it, "Defense protocol on!" as each of the machines are now ready to fight the two mages. "Be on guard Nanoha!" yelled Fate while Nanoha prepared herself as she spoke to her best friend, "Same with you Fate. Ixia should be past Saika!" And with that, the drones flew to the two mages, ready to crush them right there.

Unknown to any of the combatants, Ixia was sitting in his throne room but this time, he had screens around him, each one with the fights showcasing on each floor as well as data on each of the mages fighting against his men. He only lies in wait, blankly peering at the screens as he begins his analysis to ready the new plan.

So yes this chapter will start up the fights while the next one will lead into both the fights as well as the aftermath of each. I will try my best with the Saika, Drav and Anna fights to the best of my ability so I hope you guys can understand. Plus, I have some things in mind for Ixia's men but you will have to wait until the chapter is out. Again, if there are any mistakes or things that I can fix or improve on, please let me know and a special shoutout to Zoarak13, who gave me some insight to remove some adverbs. I am currently working on that for past chapters as well as any other things I can fix or add in. Thanks you guys and be seeing you for the next chapter!