Disclaim: I don't own Elsword nor its characters, except my OCs.
Elsword - Rune Master (Age: 22)
Eve - Code: Sariel (With part of Code: Ultimate's weapon)
Kazuki Yuuki – Soul Reaper (Hidden as Assassin) (Age: 21)
Lily – Unknown Spirit (18)
Sakura – Former Hunter / Current Supporter (22)
Yuu: Before we get to the story, i got a question from a viewer.
Guest: They will be the next ones in the new story. I need to create some background, plus the relationship among them as there's multiple routes. it could be a harem route too but I'm fine with any of them.
Chapter 6: Valkyria
The Hall of Audience went silence upon hearing the truth. To hear the Eltrion fallen in the grasp of other was the shocking new to them. He turned to face the Queen of Nasod and pointed his finger at her, saying with hatred.
"From that day, my urge to revenge was growing bigger. Every time I see them, I hardly held back to kill them. I seek nothing but their death, including you, former Valkyrur."
Elsword frowned "To what evidence do you have to accuse her that she's the Valkyrur?"
"You must be Elsword Sieghart." Kazuki stated "You have been staying with her for long time. Haven't you noticed her strange act?"
He hated to admit it, but Kazuki's right. He did notice a few strange acts from Eve. She may hide something from him. Still, he denied that Eve was Valkyrur.
"Eve's not Valkyrur. She's the Queen of Nasod and Code: Sariel. She had nothing relating to this."
"Speak as you want, but it will not change the fact that she's one of them. Sooner or later, they will come and take her away for their plan." Kazuki said.
Raven, who stayed quiet to hear the meeting, asked "Can you tell me more about this Valkyrur? Why are you hating them?"
"… Valkyria is the term of the power appearing thousands years ago, the power that can shatter any defense with just one shot. Our army can put a scratch on them, not even once." Kazuki explained "Those who wield Valkyria will be call 'Valkyrur'. The City couldn't do anything to kill them and was fallen by their hands. Worse, they can go on par with Eltrion and defeated it. Now Eltrion is under their command and planning to conquer the remains of the world." He gripped his hand and continued "The only way to defeat them is the one with Valkyria power. In other word, it's you, Queen of Nasod."
He paused to let them take the information before saying "Why do you think they sent their force to attack Altera? Out of boredom? No! They learned that there's another Valkyria outside the City, the Creator of the Sky. They fear that you will join our side and destroy their intention."
"…" Eve couldn't say or protest his word. Every word he said is true.
"What do you want us to do?" Elsword asked.
- ? -
"So they failed, didn't they?" The man said with a deep frown upon hearing the report.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Your army has been eliminated, not a single one alive. However, I managed to find something." His professor told as he showed him the hologram. It's the record from the battleship which caught the sight of the Red Magician. The camera also got the sight of other presence beside him, a hooded man. The man immediately recognized him and growled.
"They made a move already."
"But this confirms our suspicion that 'she' is the Valkyrur."
"… It seems like I have to push the battle sooner than I thought." The man told "Tell those man that we will begin the assault next week."
"It shall be done."
- Altera Island -
At night, Eve were doing the same thing on Valkyria Code after she transferred them back to the new computer. She managed to crack the security layer and gained full access to the code, which means she can use it as addition power for her own code, but instead, she stored it in a spare data chip. She turned the computer off and was about to call it a day when she heard someone knocking on the door. With a quick enter, she saw the door slide open and found the certain Red Magician entering.
"Yo, I'm not interrupting something, am I?" He said, waving his hand.
"No, I'm just done my work. What is it?" She shook her head. Elsword stepped inside and leaned his back to the wall near to Eve. His eyes were on her for a moment before he looked away. Eve saw him hesitating in asking her something and waited until he spoke out.
"Do you have to do this? Do you trust his words?"
As she expected, he was still thinking about her decision. She frowned at him before replying "Elsword, if what he said was false, I would refuse it right away. Yet, I detected no lie in his voice."
"You know that there's no turning back once you go there? Who will lead Altera if you are not here?"
"I have Apple to take care of my place when I'm not in charge. Besides, I know what I have to do."
A sigh came out from Elsword.
"Well then, I guess I can't change your mind." He spoke, scratching his head.
"The same to you, dummy." Eve said with a death glare toward him "it's pointless to change mine or your decision. You are too eager to go to the other continent."
"Tee-Hee." Elsword chuckled.
"…" Eve just smiled at him for a short moment until her face returned to the usual cool face. She lowered her head to stare at her hands, a thought popped up in her mind about herself. Valkyria… Is she the one Kazuki talked about? She couldn't tell who she is. Could she be friend, or foe?
"Oi, Eve." Elsword called, interrupting her chain of thoughts "About what he said about you, you should forget it. I don't think you are what he said. Eve is Eve, right?"
Hearing this, her body seemed to relieve a little. But oh how she wished he should drop that smile because it always made her face heat up. She looked away with a 'huff', which only made him chuckle.
"Well, I'm gonna go back to my room. It's almost midnight." Elsword said, look at the clock.
Of course he couldn't make a step toward the door as he felt his hand grabbed by Eve. He stopped and turned around to stare at her. The first thing he felt was her soft slender hand holding his. It has been years since he last held her hand. It's still soft as before. He looked at her as he waited for Eve to speak.
"Can you stay with me? Just this night." Was her request. Elsword knew that he wouldn't leave this place without a good slap if he refused. Besides, who would deny to sleep with a cute girl like Eve?
Without any word, he put both his arm behind her back and legs before lifting her up, earning a squeal 'Yelp!' from Eve. She would slap him for his insolent act toward the Queen but it's Elsword she's talking. He always does that every time she passed out from overworking. So she let it slide and cuddled into his chest.
Meanwhile, Kazuki was inside the Actual Base as he put each bullet into mag' for his gun. He remembered his request to the Queen of Nasod.
"The more you stay here, the sooner the Empire will send out their Valkyrur to get you, Dead or Alive. She will cause more destruction than just a merely invasion just now, and no one, I mean No One, will stop her. You must go with me, help The Rebellion to overthrow the king."
Once he said it out, he got a lot of complaints from the Queen's guards. They refused to let the Queen with the one that almost got her killed. However, her words had calmed them down and said she will decide this a week later. He had asked Sakura to investigate this invasion. The whole continent was surrounded by a huge EMP storm to isolate it from outside. It's not impossible to cross the storm but it will require a massive counter EMP. For that, he had Sakura inventing the grenade to break a hold through the storm. However, she only created a few of it as well as destroying the blueprint of it. The power of the grenade could paralyze all the electronic gear as well as the shockwave that will damage the internal organic of human body. It's not the weapon used in war, completely against it.
Also, Sakura suspected that Valkyrur could be the reason they can get bypass the EMP. This proved the danger of Valkyria more and more.
He reloaded the gun and put it in the holster.
"It's gonna be troublesome."
Today it's his turn to do the guard shift. Despite the automatic security guard on, they have yet to make sure they are safe in the foreign world without information. Usually, Lily would be with him, but she's busy training with her new body. She was so excited to be reborn as a human again, though Sakura didn't consider it as one. Her new body was still the prototype. She would expect the fault in the body's function.
He crossed the forest and jumped on of the branch of the trees. With his hood on, he can blend himself in the environment, entering stealth mode. He leaned on the tree as he stared at the blue moon.
He recalled his encounter with Elsword, the Red Magician. During his stay in the Elrios, Sakura had collected the information of him, Leader of El Search Party, A strongest magician user and a hero. He uses a great sword, which was designed to drive the flame burning through the handle. That enhances his ability in using flame better. Plus, his secondary weapon is rune. There's no limit on how the rune can be used. If Sakura was right, he may become an unpredictable opponent to him and to Empire.
"Kazuki, you there?"
The communication turned on all of sudden as he heard the voice of HQ on the other side.
"Ha, Hunter here!"
"Now now, Kazuki. Just call me the name. I'm not in the duty for now."
"… Gunther…"
"Not as I expect but better."
He sighed.
"So what is it, Gunther?"
"How do you feel? Living on the foreign world would be hard to you, right?" Gunther asked in concern.
"I'm good. I'm not the one who would go and die easily." Kazuki chuckled "I'm on the guard shift today but I don't think they would pass this area."
A small giggle came from the Gunther woman.
"Right, I forgot."
A sigh escaped from the Hunter's mouth.
"How's the situation on the other side?"
"The Empire suddenly went quiet, but I don't like it. They are up to something." Gunther said "You?"
"I have yet to receive the answer from the Former Valkyria. She's still thinking about it in one week, though I doubt we will wait till that day." Kazuki said "However, if she goes, he will too."
"He?"
"The Red Magician."
Immediately, she recognized the title of the infamous Red Magician. She heard rumor of a wandering knight with exceptional skill in magic. She didn't expect he would be with Former Valkyria too.
"It will push our intention to invite her sooner than before."
"We have to wait, Gunther."
Both stayed connected till Kazuki heard the bushes moving. He stopped talking and took out his dagger as he approached the source. He took a look closer to find out a small white rabbit behind which was running away from him.
"Something wrong, Kazuki?"
"Nothing, just some animal running by." Kazuki spoke "I will contact later."
He disconnected the communication and took out his gun. Raising his weapon, he shot out at the branches out of sudden. As he expected, another uninvited guest was nearby.
"I knew you would come here."
"Hn, I expect no less from you."
Standing before her was a blue-haired women. She was spotted with a crimson battle shirt with sleeves and gray dress with garter bell. On both her shoulders were covered in the silver plates which had the symbol of the Empire. Her red eyes stared at him with a wicked smirk.
"The Empire has his plan to capture Former Valkyria. Stand down, Hunter, or I won't guarantee your life will be in one piece."
"Like I would do that." He narrowed his eyes in denial "I have no longer served the Empire, nor obeying. I'm with the Rebellion now." He attached a knife on his gun and pointed at her "And I won't let a single Empire standing on my way, Envy."
The woman known as Envy closed her eyes, still keep her smirk on her lips, and said "Still the same Kazuki I knew. It's a shame that we have to be like this." She called out her spiral sword and pointed back "I hope you are ready."
"No holding back."
*Clang!*
Both struck each other with their weapon colliding. Envy jumped back to avoid the gunfire aiming at her belly and returned with her own firearm, the Valkyria power. She charged the power at the sword and shot at him. The Hunter dodged them and reflected the last shot with his dagger, much to her expectation, and dashed forward, engaging their weapon again.
"You still use that dagger?"
"I have to finish this war with this weapon." He growled "To finish what it started."
Kazuki knocked her sword aside and shot her. Due to her Valkyria power, those shots couldn't pierce the blue aura protecting her, but they're strong enough to make a strong force, knocking her back. He took his chance to reload his gun and threw a smoking grenade to temporarily blind her in the smoke.
"You should know that your attacks won't work on me." Envy told "It's useless."
"It's always worth to try." His voice echoed around her. She looked around to find him among the smoke. Kazuki then jumped out of the smoke and charged forward with his dagger. Envy spotted him but she barely blocked his dagger as he dodged below her sword and made a fresh cut through the aura before he hid himself in the smoke again.
"Hidden Strike always works, Envy."
"Damn it."
Envy looked around again. She had to reflect his attack, especially his dagger. It's one of the most dangerous weapons to Valkyria. She knew it clearly. It can make a cut without being interfered by the Valkyria's shield. She waited till the smoke cleared and blocked his dagger before slashing, releasing wave of power at him.
"Payback for what you did."
"Heh!" Kazuki stood up, wiped the blood on his mouth and smirked "This is nothing."
"Just stop it, Envy! You don't have to do this!" Kazuki tried to persuade her "The Empire has caused nothing but pain to the Rebellion and its village."
"There's no point in changing my mine." She coldly said "If I disobey my command,"
She dashed close to him and whispered
"They will destroy my hometown."
"?!"
Kazuki was caught off guard and barely blocked her sword, thus he was knocked back. He couldn't stand up on time and got kicked. This knocked him out cold. She looked at him one last time, biting her lower lip in frustration before she left for the target.
- Altera Island –
Despite the great atmosphere the room is, Elsword couldn't sleep. He was standing on the balcony before Eve's room. He could see over view of the Altera kingdom and felt the cold wind blowing his face gently. He looked at Eve who was sleeping soundly. He couldn't help but chuckling at her face. She's so cute when sleeping. He didn't want to wake her up so he jumped off the balcony, using his rune below his foot to reduce the falling and landed on the ground.
"Ha… How troublesome…"
"Just what do you think where you are going?"
A voice startled Elsword from his back. He turned around and saw the white Nasod Knight, standing with his cross-sword.
"Oberon?" He said.
"Yes. Now tell we what are you doing in the middle of the night?" Oberon asked with caution, eyes on him.
"I couldn't sleep." Elsword answered "Have trouble sleeping."
"Ho? Since you are here? Why don't you accompany me on doing guard shift?" Oberon asked and hid his swords in dimension. Elsword was amazed that the Nasod Technology had made this far to access the other dimension. Both stayed quiet while walking on the main street.
The kingdom fell into silence as the villagers were into their sleep. The remain light shining faintly is the street light. Elsword looked above the sky to see countless stars covering the night, shining beautifully. A sight that made him relax.
"Lord Elsword." He heard Oberon called "I can't shake the feeling that something happened between you and the Queen. If I'm correct, you jumped from the Queen's room out here, right?"
"Yes. What about it?" Elsword admitted. He saw Oberon tensed up a little.
"Mio told me how close you two are." He said "But please restrain from too close in the public. We don't want any rumor going around the kingdom, do we?" / "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
Oberon had yet to know if things will go normally between him and Eve. He was told both Elsword and Eve had traveled for years and they understood each other better than others. Oberon just sighed and move forward, though his eyes stuck on those runes Elsword was making. He didn't know its meaning nor what it is, but it's not his concern as long as Elsword didn't cause trouble to the kingdom.
However, trouble comes.
*Boom!*
"?!"
A high explosion.
"What the hell?!" Elsword shattered the runes and looked around.
"Naosd 2-2, 2-3, 2-4! What is going on-" Oberon contacted the guards on all three entrances as he assumed the explosion must be from one of them.
"Oberon! This is Nasod 2-3! We're Engaging Hostile! What The Hell?! Our Attacks Can't Hit Her! Back Off! Back- bzzzzttt*Radio distorted and shut down*"
"2-3! 2-3 Come in! Damn it!"
Elsword called out his sword and asked "Oberon, where's the 2-3 at?"
"They are at the Southwest Entrance. What are you going to do?"
"Stop the invader, of course." Elsword told and rushed toward the destination.
However, what trouble him from the inside is that how the invaders attacked the entrance without any alert from the defense outside. He suspected that the new wave of invaders must be more advanced that they can sneak in and destroyed the barrier.
He arrived at the Southwest Gate and saw the horrified scene, all of the Nasod Guards were shred into pieces, beyond repair. There's still oil leaking from their bodies.
He then caught a female with blue long hair. She stood there, the blue flame burning around her but it didn't touch her. Elsword could feel the large killer intent from her stare as she watched him.
"Ho… Another one? You seem promising than those weakling." The woman spoke with her devious smirk.
"You must be the Valkyrur that Kazuki mentioned." Elsword said, hard to believe that he witnessed the one who use Valkyria power. A wild smirk appeared on his face "I never thought I could see you sooner than I thought."
"I see that he told you all before I came here." She said, pointing the sword at him "Then you knew our intention. Surrender the Former Valkyrur, then I will spare your life and this pathetic island."
"Right… How about piss off?" He denied and swung his sword in challenge.
"Don't get to cocky, kid. You are out of league!" She charged forward and swung her sword.
Elsword raised up and blocked her strike. His eyes widened in shock as he felt a marvelous force coming from her, stronger than him. He had to trigger his sword to withstand her attack or he will fall. She threw you back and attempted to cast Plasma Bullet at him. Elsword tried to reflect. However, those bullets were so strong that it reflected his sword, forcing him lose his balance. He stood up and blocked her sword once again. He gripped both his hands on his sword and pushed her back.
"Not bad, kid." She smirked.
Elsword roared and pushed her in the air as he shot out Wind Blades at her, who destroyed the vital one. He threw rune tags below her and chanted Splash Explosion, triggering the tags. They exploded at the same time the Valkyrur landed. However, she gained no damage.
"Seems like my rune can't hit you." Elsword spoke and entered his defense.
"It's the power of the Valkyria, kid." She said "While I have this power, nothing can damage me, not even you."
"We will see about that."
Elsword grinned and clasped his hands, chanted Rising Slash where she was standing and attacked. While she was dodging, he gripped his sword and ignited the flame inside before he ran forward. With each shout of "One! Two! Crazy!" He slashed her, releasing the flame which extended his range. If his sword can't hit her, then his flame can. He made a Wild Air Slash knocked her up in the air. He chased after her using the rune steps while he dodged her plasma shot. He couldn't risk reflecting her shot or his sword would be broken due to being overwhelmed by her power. Once he was on the same height as her, he smirked
"Let's see if this can break through your shield. Don't Look Down!"
He swung his sword and stabbed her, igniting his flame with Wild Sword Fire. They fell on the high speed and *Boom!* collided on the ground with another explosion. This one woke up all the civilians nearly as each building lit up. Elsword jumped back, watching the Valkyrur rose up from the crater.
"Impressive, kid." She grinned, wiped the red liquid on her lips and commended "Not even he can match ruthlessness of your."
"What you saw is just a fraction of my power." He replied, making the same grin "I can tell you withstand my attack so get up! We're not done yet!"
"Hm…" the smirk still on her lips as she stood up as if nothing happened to her "I would love to try and kill you right now, Red Magician." She saw a group of Nasod advanced as well as the Former Valkyria among them, all gear up "But it seems I'm out of time." She swung her spiral sword as a blue flame tornado consumed her and shattered, revealing no sight of the blue hair woman.
"My name is Envy. Remember the name who will kill you in one day."
That was the last message he could hear from the woman. He looked where the woman used to be before he turned around to see an angry Queen of Nasod.
"W-Wait Eve, Your look is so scary." Elsword sweat-dropped and tried to calm the wrath(?) of the Nasod.
*Flop!*
Without any warning, she slapped him, thus knocking him out cold.
"Take him back to my room. I will decide his punishment later." She fumed and ordered her guards who obeyed in fear "Leaving me alone to fight? Stupid, dummy, reckless idiot." Eve looked at the scene ordered her guards to clean up the mess, telling the medical to retrieve their cores and installed in another bodies.
But after this event, she knew that the Empire is moving out to eliminate her, the threat to the Altera Island. She had to decide soon.
- 7:00 AM –
"Let see… A broken arm, 2 broken ribs, and fever. I know you are reckless, but you are too dummy to get yourself like this."
Standing beside Elsword, who was under recovery, was Eve in her nurse outfit. His condition left him unable to move. As for the fever, Elsword had to hold back his nosebleed upon seeing her revealing clothes. This had to be Mio's idea. But he couldn't say he didn't enjoy this, but it's too much for a patient like him, especially her personal patient. If he didn't die from broken bones, he could die from blood lost. He swore he saw a flash of evil smirk from her.
Eve took the thermometer from Elsword's mouth and checked his temperature. It didn't change.
"I see no change in your temperature, yet your face is red. How strange…"
'It's because of what you wear.' Elsword said in his mind.
"Well then, since you are injured. I expect no reckless action from you, or I will make you stay in this room with more damages on your body." She made her threat clearly by pointing a sharp thing (Injection needle). Elsword sweat-dropped and nodded rapidly. He waited till Eve put the needle down before he let out a sigh in relief. Fighting against Valkyrur is bad enough, but facing the Queen's Wrath is another problem.
Eve sat down near Elsword and touched his cheek. Her eyes showed relief and calm yet mixed with worry and sorrow.
"Just when will you stop being reckless?" She murmured.
"You know that I won't be myself if I stop that." He grinned. Of course Elsword would always go for the fight. If she saw him back down, that's not Elsword she knew. But every time she saw him got injured like this, she felt annoyed and… scared.
"At least retrain yourself from rushing into danger." She frowned, having the urge to slap him "Speaking of danger, I saw the security feed of your fight against Valkyria. She's become a big threat to the kingdom. Just as the Hunter said."
"Ya…" Elsword nodded "She's tough knight. One man army. She destroyed the barrier without being detected. With her Valkyria, she's almost impossible to defeat." A small groan escaped his mouth as he moved his body a little "She's after you."
An uncomfortable silence consumed the room. Both witnessed the power of Valkyria. She feared that what Kazuki said would become true.
"Elsword… After you're done healing. We must find the Hunter again."
"Ho… So you made your decision…" staring at her eyes, he already knew her answer and grinned.
"Yes… It's time we move…"
Yuu: ^^ll … Almost done for the Act 1. Still collecting the ideas for the Act 2. If late, the story could be postponed for a few months.
Note: Notice something familiar from Elsword? But he uses Rune instead of a gun, and some of his skills are quite similar (old skills and his sword included). Also, i hope you recognize which "Gunther" and "Valkyria" are from. But i made it less details that it didn't become a crossover story.
Anyway, Read n Review, please OwO/