Zero Arc; Chapter 6: Arfoire Released?! True Power Unleashed!
The onslaught of attacks Arfoire was given had completely worn her down unable to continue. Once that was all done the two girls changed back to normal and Uzume was going to beat up Arfoire who was still unable to move, however Neptune used her special notebook and Arfoire shrunk and got absorbed in the book and Neptune taped her in.
"I am unsure of how that notebook of hers works. But as long as that bad lady is sealed in that then I am alright with it." Jeff says to Adam and Xander, and the groups allowed Neptune and Jeff to travel along with them
"Bro is gonna be amazed when I tell him I met another version of himself. I wonder which dimension these two are from." Adam thinks to himself as they find the right pathway toward base
-Location; Main Base Area-
Once the group has gotten out of the cave they found the correct direction to the base Uzume and Xander were talking about. It looked like a campsite area. Though there are some of the others around the place as Xander goes to a tent placing some stuff away as the girls go off looking around and both Adam and Jeff stay with Xander.
"This is our main base area." Xander tells them
"Wow the place still looks alright compared to the other places we've been to." Adam says looking around the scenery. So Jeff learns about there being another version of him from a different dimension being able to use Fire Dragon slayer magic, and what everyone else can do. Jeff also explains about how he and Neptune traveling through dimensions, they travel with another called Crostie. However without her they wouldn't be able to do anything since she suddenly got away from them and have no idea where she is currently.
The girls were enjoying themselves while the guys go out and grab some stuff to have to eat. Adam was curious about Jeff's necklace that swirled with mysterious white and black energy swirling inside, although Jeff only told him that it is a special item that connects him with someone that can give him the power of light and shadow. Adam wonders who that someone could be but decided that it might be a personal thing.
After a while they return to the camp and Uzume cooked up some food for everyone and they get to the table they set up everything.
"Here's my fish and vegetable roast! I made a lot, so have as much as you'd like." Uzume says and the guys were starting already
"This looks great! I've always wanted to eat fish prepared this way." Nepgear says and starts taking some bites "It's delicious! It's not all overcooked and rubbery, either! You did great!" She compliments Uzume
"I'm glad you like it so much. Here, I have more so keep goin'." Uzume tells them
"I'll have some more!" Jeff and Xander say at the same time already finished with their first helping
"Hey, Uzume…? What are these shriveled purple-looking things on this skewer?" Neptune asks showing the eggplant
"That's an eggplant. Have you never even eaten any eggplant before?" Uzume asks
"I just happened to find some fresh and tasty-looking eggplants." Nepgear tells them
"Hmmm. So, this is eggplant. Down the hatch!" Neptune takes a bite of it and both Adam and Nepgear remembered that their Neptune hated eggplants, and wonder if this Neptune might hate them also
"So how does it taste?" Jeff asks her, her reaction switch from curiosity to disgusted by covering her mouth and spitting the piece out
"W-what is this food?! It's beyond disgusting! In fact, I'd say it's borderline dangerous!" Neptune asks completely disgusted from the eggplant
"As expected, I would think that this one would be similar to ours…" Adam said in his thoughts knowing Neptune hated eggplants
"Really? I thought they tasted pretty good." Uzume says
"No no no no no! I'd rather eat Umio before eating this freaky, blackish purple garbage!" Neptune tells her
"Hey we shouldn't eat the talking fish. I should say that you have to eat and being picky about food." Jeff tells her
"Whaaat? But this doesn't taste good at all. The texture's all squishy and gross too…" Neptune tells him
"I don't care, I am making sure you stay fit. Plus I gotta make sure you can handle yourself at certain times. I didn't tell my feelings to you just for exploring Neptune, now stop being picky and finish your meal." Jeff tells her and bites on his eggplant and Neptune groaned slightly
After finishing up Jeff went to the river and looking around the place as Adam and Xander are with the others interrogating Arfoire. He looked up at the sky seeing the distorted cracks thinking deep in his mind that something seems different. He looks down at the water of the river seeing his reflection and for a moment it was his until it changed to someone in a black cloak with a hood over their head also covering their face and suddenly time felt like stopping and Jeff was in a different scenery on top of a hill with flowers surrounded by pink clouds and the hooded person as sitting at the edge of the hill they were on.
"It might not be much of a scenery, but it is beautiful nothless don't you think?" the hooded person asks not looking back at Jeff and the voice being male. He picks up a flower and smells it. "Yup beauty is divine in it's own way."
"I assume you didn't bring me here for just the scenery around you am I right?" Jeff asks the mysterious person as he stands up "What is the real reason for doing so?" the person stayed silent for a moment then turned his body halfway and his head at Jeff
"The reason I brought you here is because something about the dimension you are in is off somehow, doesn't seem like your new friends know much about it. I just have this ominous feeling about it when both you and Neptune first arrived here. I can't fully explain why I feel like this… but I need you to investigate it once you got Croire back. I want you to protect her also, she has something that could bring destruction." he explains to Jeff who doesn't seem to understand why, but nods nonetheless anyway.
Reality returns to normal and goes back to the others not getting much info from Arfoire, and got connected with Neptune while their Jeff had to do some work while Histoire is recovering. So they would have to search for Crostie (aka Croire) so that Adam and Nepgear can have a way back home again. Later Nepgear has Jeff and Adam with her gathering eggplants, shiitake mushrooms, and fish to help the trio with their picky eating
"Ok I can understand you want to help them over their picky eating, however with Umio's statement I will agree with because it is what it is." Adam explains to her
"I just wanna be able to help everyone that's all, can't I just do this for their sake?" Nepgear asks and Adam sighs
"Fine, but I have a bad feeling about this really…" Adam says
"I wouldn't want to say something like that." Leon says flying to them "Now there is one reason to not say that, you might regret it later."
"You are probably right… let's just get set to find this Crostie person soon." Adam says and they return back to the camp.
After a while both Adam and Nepgear go into the tent to check what they could have for lunch currently. However the food they had to help with the others picky eating had strangely disappeared and a sudden bang was heard outside and went to check what happened. They see everyone gathered and looking at Arfoire who has escaped Neptune's specimen book.
"What the hell happened here?!" Adam asked completely shocked
"Haaa ha ha ha ha ha! Finally… Finally, I am free!" Arfoire says with a proud look on her face
"Her again?! But how did she escape big Nepsy's book?" Leon asks confused
"That woman is Arfoire?! I wasn't expecting that!" Jeff says surprised
"Right, both of them haven't seen her in her original form." Leon says remembering the two are not the ones they know
"Like Leon said… I thought she was trapped in Neptune's specimen book." Nepgear says confused
"Yeah! Even Crostie couldn't escape from that notebook…!" Neptune says while Arfoire a sly smirk
"Once I get serious, breaking such a seal becomes a trivial matter. Not only that, but you fools fed me and gave me the strength to do it." Arfoire explains to them "Why not ask your friends about it?"
"...rgh! Son of a bitch, you tricked me didn't you?!" Uzume curses at the witch
"It's the absolute worst to take advantage of other people's kindness!" Neptune yells out upset
"I would never have imagined such a heavenly voice would have belonged to the likes of you." Umio says displeased when the two start putting it together
"Oh my gosh… Is this the reason why the food you three hate suddenly disappeared, was because of…?" Adam asks them
"I'm real sorry…! This is all 'cause I hate those mushrooms…!" Uzume apologizes to them
"If I had simply endured and ate those freshwater fish, this would never have…" Umio says feeling ungrateful of what he did
"Hey, I didn't do anything wrong, okay?! What's at fault here are the eggplants!" Neptune says as Jeff flicks her forehead upset at her
"You just had to also jinx it right at the very moment." Leon tells Adam who facepalms in anger
"How foolish humans, CPUs, and fish men are! Haaaa ha ha ha ha ha!" Arfoire says pleased with their stupidity as Nepgear sighs
"Well, what's done is done. We'll just have to defeat you one more time!" Nepgear says
"Yeah, you're gonna pay up for what you've done!" Uzume yells out
"Hmph, I'm outnumbered in this situation. You think I would fight you straight on?" Arfoire asks knowing the chances against 7 fighters
"You asshole! You're running away?!" Uzume shouts at her
"Running? ...no. I am merely retreating for now, so that I can once again throw you all into despair!" Arfoire tells them and starts floating away "Spend what's left of your precious time carefully. Haaa ha ha ha ha!" She flies off to who knows where
"Dammit looks like she is gonna forge another army of monsters to attack now she knows our location." Xander says
"Your right, if we don't find where she went then we might not expect when she will strike." Leon says "use your dragon sense to find where she fled to."
"Oh yea, I almost forgot I can follow that scent of hers to her location! Let's hurry after her!" Xander tells the group and they make their way to the area where Arfoire went to. While on the way there Adam and Nepgear find a terminal that could have more info of the world's status or another entry about what could have happened to the girl mentioned before.
_ Month _ Day; I caught wind of some info that the organization is planning the assassination of _.
_ Month _Day; Can all we do is rely on the assassination? The Basilicom has decided to turn a blind eye.
_ Month _ Day; Is there no way to prevent the assassination? I'm mortified at my own powerlessness.
_ Month _ Day; _'s assassination failed. I feel relieved knowing that she remains safe.
"So it seems they were talking about wanting someone immediately eliminated from whatever the girl did… Oh looks like there is still more." Adam says reading the last bit of the entry they found
_ Month _ Day; _ returned to normal. However, _'s feelings of guilt eat away at her.
_ Month _ Day; _ wished for _. If that is her wish, I will grant it for her.
"Greetings, Gearsy, Adam. What are you looking upon with such serious expressions?" Umio asks them as he just arrived
"Umio! Please, take a look at this. I think I might have found why this world fell into this situation." Nepgear shows what they found and Umio reads the entries they got.
"I see… it is fragmented, but you can read most of what it contains." Umio says understanding there are broken pieces missing in the text "If we consider this along with the other entries, some person led everyone to the brink of destruction, regardless of "her" will."
"I can see that, too. This also says that she felt incredibly sad about it. Do you think she lost control of herself and went on a blind rampage?" Nepgear asks
"I would say she did, at one point she regained her sense and probably saw through her eyes without control of her body. That in turn wanted to end her life for all the suffering she has caused… But the only question remains… who is this girl these entries are talking about?" Adam asks very curious about the hidden secret about the entries
"This is merely conjecture, but Arfoire and the giant come to mind, as they have the similar point of bringing about destruction." Umio says
"So that means, this world really was destroyed by one of those two…?" Nepgear asks
"It's also probable that the other CPUs and GPUs aside from Uzume and Xander were killed by one of the two." Umio suggesting from the possibilities. "That would indeed explain the absence of both the other CPUs and GPUs."
"I am unsure if he is right about that… but it started talking about possibly about a CPU at the start… although I can't be exactly sure that is true… we need more answers to all of this…" Adam thought in his head
"...hmm. Thank you, both. They're only theories, but I've come to understand this world and its enemies." Umio tells them
"I'm glad we were to be of help. But if Arfoire does end up being the person who destroyed this world, can we win…?" Nepgear asks
"What're you getting all wimpy for, Gearsy? We're going to win." Uzume says who was there along with Xander and Leon
"Uzume?! How long have you been listening to us?" Nepgear asks surprised
"A while. I heard all of it. No matter what "her" identity is, we'll fight for those who are still livin' in this world now. ...right?" She says with a confident look on her face
"Yes, of course. Let's do whatever we can for the sake of this world!" Nepgear exclaims and the group continues onward and the two CPUs and Protectors felt the energy of a share crystal and followed the direction of where it could be. The group gets to the "Smash-Box Stadium" dungeon area (Totally think that it might reference Smash Bros.) They enter the place and the seven fighters take charge and attack any monsters that get in their way. Getting through the place was tricky until they open the door to the arena and on the platform was Arfoire.
"I've been waiting, children." Arfoire says expecting their arrival
"A-Arfoire?! Why are you here?!" Nepgear asks in shock
"We are talking about you, after all. I knew you'd be drawn here by the share crystal's power." She tells them which they understood the situation
"... I get it. Crystal clear. You set us up, didn't you?" Uzume asks now looking serious
"Correct. You're all too predictable. I figured using a silly crystal would draw you all out like moths to the flame." She says
"Well, I'm the one who found the thing, you know." said a familiar voice to both Nepgear and Adam
"No way… it couldn't be…" Adam says recognizing the voice
"Crostie?!" Neptune asks in shock and the person who she called Crostie is really Croire
"Well, if it ain't my old pals Neptune and Jeffrey. It's been a while, you havin' fun out here?" she asks them
"Of course not! We went through a ton of crap because of you! You left us behind and we got really lonely… no fun at all." Neptune replies to her
"Whoops, my bad. I couldn't help it, though. I got kinda excited, this type of world is so interesting and rare." Croire says
"I bet you would like this kind of place! After all the trouble you caused us years ago, and that we had to go to the island to learn about "her" past!" Adam shouts out
"Oh well ain't it Adam, so I bet you actually met my creator then yes?" Croire asks
"Creator? What does she mean Adam?" Nepgear asks
"The funny thing is, both Histoire and Croire were created by the two sisters… both made to record history, one of light, and the other of darkness." Adam explains
"What?! Is that really true?!" Nepgear asks in shock
"Yup, it is. However your history recorder has no memory about me because she only know about her creator and the sister. For me I travel between dimensions to add in something… exciting." Croire explains to them "After Aliara was sealed away I secretly took something of hers and did just what I would like to do."
"Yea well guess what, after our travels from their home we are well prepared for anything you come out with!" Adam says taking his stance
"Well I didn't expect such a story behind you, however I won't allow you to do such a thing!" Jeff says drawing his sword as the others get ready also. As they prepare for battle Arfoire decides to go into her true form which puts the surprise on both Adam and Nepgear knowing that form very well.
"Yipes! She's transformed!" Neptune shouts out not expecting it
"Don't think I'm the same as before, foolish CPUs and Protectors. Kneel before the brilliance of my true form!" Arfoire as True Deity of Sin says loudly
"She's got even worse taste than I thought…" Uzume says
"T-this form…" Nepgear says quietly scared although Uzume heard her
"Gearsy, you know this form?" she asks curious
"She looks exactly like the final form of the Deity of Sin… We've fought before in our world… The four-legged monster we fought earlier also looked like the Deity of Sin's first form." She explains "On top of that, with Croire on her side… the chances of us winning…"
"... Are quite slim, correct?" Umio asks slightly worried and she sadly nods
"Just when I finally found a way home, too…" Nepgear says sadly though Adam wasn't going to back down
-Play: Fairy Tail; Champion of Magic ost-
"I don't give a damn about what our odds are! We fought as much as we could! I am not going to give up until we finally stop this! Along with my devil slaying magic, I will erase every demon that is part of him!" Adam says as his body gets half covered along with his demon slayer tattoo appearing with his hair spiking upwards also removing his shirt "Cause now I'm gonna go all out with everything I got!"
"I'll fight along with you, so let's do this!" Xander says standing next to him as Uzume became Orange Heart, Arfoire flies towards them and swings her two-sided sword weapon at them as Xander uses his Dragon Slayer magic to form his arm into a sword and block the attack and Adam making a large sword to strike although she backed away before he could hit her and the two charge towards her and she uses magic to hit them, however she didn't expect Jeff and Neptune to attack from the sides. Orange Heart flies at her with a punch and then a small explosion doing some damage, then Xander launches his Iron club attack with Arfoire moving aside and flying at him, however Adam and Nepgear now as Purple Sister come at her which triggers the CPU and Protector couple move
"Ice and Blade Sword Dance!" they say together and Adam strikes Arfoire trying to block the attack with his Ice devil enhanced sword and Purple Sister flies striking Arfoire as multiple ice blades appear around her and Adam jumps around grabbing two of the ice swords and tossing them at Arfoire who breaks a few of them but doesn't expect Purple Sister to also grab and use them for attacking which made it difficult for Arfoire to focus on either of them going from one to the other.
"Whoa that was awesome!" Neptune says amazed of their teamwork
"We did our own special couple attack!" Purple Sister says happily
"Ice Devil's Zero Long Sword!" Adam strikes Arfoire with a heavy strike encasing her in ice and Xander drops towards her with his body completely made of iron with the Iron Dragon Scales making him incredibly durable, and he punches Arfoire breaking the ice around her and causing her to fly and crash into one side of the seating area and forcing her back to her regular form.
-End Music-
"... Why, why can't I win, even in this form?!" She says angrily and topples a bit trying to stand up straight. Uzume and Nepgear revert back to normal state however they look tired.
"... Heh, looks like… We've… won…" Uzume says weakly but proud of their win
"We actually… managed to win…" Nepgear says completely surprised
"Heh, I told you… that odds of winning didn't matter…" Adam says as his skin becomes normal and his hair goes back to how it was
"Still, that was pretty rough… and her change in power is way too drastic, you guys…" Neptune says admitting Arfoire was indeed fierce
"Now, Croire, will you join us? Arfoire has fallen, and this world will no longer be annihilated." Umio tells her
"Are you freakin' kiddin' me, fish brains? Damn, and I was so close to recording an apocalypse…" Croire curses herself, although Arfoire had something up her sleeve
"Not yet… it's not over yet!" Arfoire says and looking serious "Croire, give me that power! The powers of the CPU from another world!"
"Huh? How the hell do you know about that?" She asks confused
"Have you seriously forgotten alerting me of its existence?" Arfoire asks her
"Uhhh… I guess I did mention it… Oh, well. I could use some amusement, so I'll let you borrow this power." Croire says and in her small hand a small orb covered in a dark aura appears
"Is that the power of Tari's CPU?!" Nepgear asks now completely worried and frightened
"No… that's actually absorbed power from Aliara." Adam says also scared
-Flashback on the Island-
"Do you all remember Croire." Aliara asks the group which Jeff, Adam, and Selena nod their heads meeting her before. "You might not know this but the power she carries around was actually a fragment of my own power from when I was being controlled. Anyone who absorbs that power might lose control over themselves and cause something destructive like with Tari's CPU."
-End of Flashback-
"So she actually told you that, I'm surprised she even did. After what she did when fighting against her own sister." Croire says
"Hey Adam what's with that black orb with the aura?" Xander asks him
"Back long ago me and my bro thought that power she carried was part of an ancient CPU who ruled a nation called Tari in a place called Ultra Dimension. However when we and our friends ventured forth to an island home to two sisters. We were told that it was actually a fragment of the Goddess of Chaos' power!" Adam explains
"Is Arfoire actually going to use that power?!" Xander asks now worried
"Damn straight! Ooh, now it's gonna get real excitin' watching how this unfolds!" Croire says excited for some chaos to start happening as they try to stop it Arfoire put up a barrier to stop them and absorb the power from Croire.
"Haa ha ha ha ha ha! The power… the power flows within me!" Arfoire says with a black aura surrounding her entire body. "This power was meant for me to wield! Heh heh… ha ha… Ah ha ha ha ha!" She now has crazed look on her face "Now, brats, I'd like to see you try and resist this despair if you can!" In a bright flash of light and the roof breaking they could see above that she brought back the thing they destroyed before, but now revived.
"... No. This can't be…" Nepgear says seeing the Dark CPU revived, as she falls to her knees
"Are you freakin' serious…?" Uzume asks in disbelief
"After how much we tried against that thing…" Adam says with wide eyes and Xander looking up at it completely unexpecting this
"Woah! Man, you can really do it if you try, Arfoire! I'm getting real excited!" Croire says seeing the Dark CPU appear
"Haaa ha ha ha ha! More, more! SINK FURTHER INTO DESPAIR!" Arfoire shouts out
"Who the hell's gonna sink into despair?! I'll take down all of you nauseating villains, no matter how many times it takes!" Uzume says with boldness to continue fighting "Umio, will the amount of share crystals we have on hand be enough to fight her?"
"Ah… it's just not enough. We consumed most of our supply when sending both Nepsy and Jeff back to their world. The ones we have here will barely be enough for you to transform." Umio explains to her and sighs "Even if we were to use all of them, it would not be enough to overpower her."
"Then what can we do?! Are we just gonna die here?!" Neptune asks and Uzume just guns it hoping to grab the crystal Arfoire has but with her new power up she strikes Uzume causing her to fall down. Adam took the chance to use his magic to cover themselves and have them carry the wounded Uzume away from the building, hoping to get out of the place quickly
"Damn we need to hurry back to the base quickly before more trouble arrives!" Adam says as he and Nepgear carry Uzume back to baze
-End of Z Chapter 6-
Adam: Crap, with Uzume wounded, and Arfoire with a new power up. Do we even have a chance to face against that Dark CPU?!
Ultra Jeff: We can't give up now! Let's grab some herbs so we can heal Uzume. We have time, however it seems that Arfoire merged herself with that giant enemy and is making her way here!
Xander: Then we better be quick! We have a time limit and have to use the sharing field to fight it once again!
Jeff: It's not over yet!
Adam: bro?!
Jeff: I'm back and ready to kick some butt! Igniaus! Lend me your strength of the Fire Dragon King!
Next time; Ultimate showdown of Zero Dimension! Final Battle against Dark CPU Arfoire!
As I said before, go over to my page and vote on the Poll for the first of the four stories for the Hyperdimension Guardians G story part after the Prologue for it, since they are sorta different story parts. Also there will be a possibility for me to work on my SAO story while you are voting for the four stories.