Disclaim: I don't own Elsword nor its character as well as Valkyria Chronicles' characters, except my OC. I'm just an author who loves playing game and release my imagination.
Main Character:
Elsword – Rune Master
Mio – Narrator
Kazuki – Soul Reaper
Lily - ?
Elsword(DK) – Knight Emperor
Lu(DK) - Timoria
Rossetta Anatasia (Rossa) – Shocktrooper
Chapter 6: Escape
A morning came to Rebellion, though it's not the same morning to Team 7 and Team Elrios like it used to be.
After the event of Kazuki's betrayal, both teams were on the verge of disband. Welkin had ordered a searching party to find Eve or anything left. Sadly, they could only find her weapon, a Nasod Spear. She was assumed MIA. Welkin had given both team a day off to ensure their mental, especially Elsword.
It can't be help. Elsword cherished Eve the most. After finding the contract of Empire in Team 7's camp, Elsword lost his calm, if not killing, and gave the leader of team 7 a hard punch once he saw him. The pain of betrayal by his friend and comrade was too much, losing Eve by him, beyond his limit.
For now, everything stayed calm. Elsword's room was quiet with the soft snore from the girls. Mio was cuddling his neck, sleeping soundly as her slender hand was touching his chest. Rossa had her head on his shoulder and slept peacefully, though her sense was sharp like on battlefield. When she heard Elsword groan, her eyes snapped open by instinct. Mio woke up too by Rossa's sudden gasp.
"Elsword?"
The red haired man grozzily woke up after having a nightmare. Both saw the painful look when he looked around to find the girl he was looking for.
But she wasn't here.
"It's not a dream, is it?"
He sighed in desperate.
"Elsword, I'm here." Mio hugged his neck to comfort his pain "We lose Eve to Empire, but we can take her back. We will save her."
"Mio…"
"She's right, Elsword. We can rescue her. Don't be so depressed."
Elsword stayed silent, having Mio sitting on his leg while Rossa hugged his arm on both side. Elsword sighed again, though a small flame of hope ignited inside him.
"Thank you Rossa, Mio."
Hearing this, Mio smiled in relief and hugged his head close to her chest.
"We are here for you."
Elsword said nothing and buried his head in her cleverage, though much to Rossa's embarrassment. Rossa blushed when seeing this and hesitated.
"A…ah…"
Thanksfully, Elsword didn't notice her. He removed himself from Mio's chest and needed a quick shower. That left both girls on the bed. Rossa flinched upon seeing Mio smirked deviously.
"Well, well… seem like Miss Rossa here was too bold to stay in Elsword's room."
"Ah… Ah… I…"
Rossa was embarassed. She didn't know what got her. All she wished was comforting his mind from his lost girl, but turn out she slept with him.
"I don't mind having you in family, Rossa, but I'm not sure if Eve will like it or not."
Hearing, the female gunner couldn't hide the disappointed face, but it was lit up with hope as Mio spoke "I will try to persuade her."
"Thank you, Mio." Rossa hugged her.
- Welkin's Office -
The head of military stared at the folder for a long time and sighed. He never expected that Kazuki would go that far to betray Elsword and got Eve captured by Empire. Base on what had happened, Kazuki would face the court for treason and the punishment for his crime could be his death. But yet, there had to be a reason he would do that, as he trusted Kazuki wouldn't do without a reason.
Kazuki Yuuki
Despite the bad reputation the Empire preceeded you, there's one thing that I need you.
Envy is now in our hand. Rest assure she won't be harm, only if you do as I tell you.
Give us the Former Valkyrur and I can be sure she will be safe to your hand.
Inside the case is a gun with a liquid Ragnite injection, shoot it at Former Queen and she will be disable due to energy collision.
Your choice.
Dark Knight.
He watched the record from the drone Mio controlled and found the syringe shot was coming from Kazuki. He's behind the last truck with Lily and shot her down after Eve destroyed Gaia Mine with her final strike.
At first, he was shocked, that Eve could cause this much destruction to it. If she had this much capability, then why didn't she do it from the beginning to the Empire? Though he understood one thing that she was El user, away from her homeland. She regained little energy from a foreign continent that she became exhausted fast.
As for Kazuki, he recollected Kazuki's personal information and remembered Kazuki had a girl named Envy, his former teammate and now a Valkyrur. However, Envy is the enemy of Gaia and Rebellion. They could use this trick to threat Kazuki to hand over Eve while Envy was unharmed even though Kazuki didn't do that. Yet, Kazuki never made his choice without thinking twice. So why?
And who's this Dark Knight?
*Knock knock*
The sound of door knocking made Welkin break this thought and called "Come in."
Mio walked inside with her file in her hand.
"You done what I told you?"
"Yes." Mio nodded and handed it to him.
"Where's Elsword?" He asked since he was very concerned of his health and emotion.
"He's staying with Rossa to make sure he didn't do anything stupid."
"Good." Welkin nodded in approval "But why Rossa? You can stay with him too, since this file is not important anyway."
"I wish so, but then the file you need may help us in searching Eve." Mio smirked "But don't you think we should make a little push for her?"
Welkin nodded and understood what she meant.
He opened the file and read the content. The map clearly viewed the great kingdom of Empire. It was with well-defense wall built with AT Cannons, Bunkers and AA sites. Inside was a full working military and great number of soldiers and tanks were created for the war. He let out a sweatdrop in nervous, seeing how much the Empire put in this.
What he noticed was the sight of the large factory. He thought of many posibility of any weapon they had in there but the one thing that Mio noted in there.
"Eltron."
"Yes, they could be rebuilding Eltron and probably having Eve in there. Though, base on my information, I doubt those scientists there couldn't do anything to her unless someone else from Elrios. I can't tell who this Dark Knight is but I feel he's a big threat to us right now. He may be an El User like us."
Welkin nodded "I believe your suspicion is right. But right now the war is coming, with the resources we got from Gaia Ragnite Mine, we can withstand them. But if Eltron joins in, we can't be sure."
If what they said about Eltrion is true, Gaia may stand no chance.
The doors opened again along with the sweet smell of newly baked breads that cleared out the tension in the room. Mio sniffed some times to indicate the source of the delicious smell and turned around to find Welkin's wife, Alicia, stand near the entrance. Gone were her uniform suit and replaced with a casual clothes with her basket of hot breads.
"You done, Alicia-chan?"
"Um, I made some fresh breads for everyone to cheer up. I made some for Elsword-san, too."
Rossa was sitting on the couch in Elsword's room while reading the small note that she wrote and noted down in combat. She listed down any of day that she challenged Elsword and made a tick on Elsword column for his win. A disappointed look arrpeared on her face as she had to make a scratch for today, since Elsword was not in good condition to go. She sighed.
But she understood the feeling of losing someone precious to him.
Rossa closed her note and put it in her pocket, then went to find Elsword who was sitting on his bed, hands clasping as chanting. What Mio told her, Elsword was gathering and recreated his lost El power. A strange feeling emitted from Elsword. It kinda…. Warm… but not much, like he still contained a negative emotion in him.
She sat on her knee near the bed while staring at his face. She couldn't help but seeing how much of a handsome man in his wild red hair. At first time she met him, it was rare to see someone with red hair color. It looked cool. For some reason, she didn't feel bore of seeing his face.
She didn't notice Elsword had done meditating and met his crimson eyes.
"Rossa?"
"Eh?"
"What are you doing?"
Immediately, she got up and waved her hands in panic.
"I-It's not what you think! Kya!"
Elsword just stared at her unusual attitude and chuckled when Rossa stumbled and fell on the floor. He jumped off bed and went help her up just in time Mio went home with a small bag of breads from Alicia that Rossa regconized.
"How's your feeling now, Elsword?"
"A bit better. What are you carrying?"
"Ah, this… is Alicia's breads. She just made some for us."
At the mentioning of breads, both Elsword and Rossa's stomaches growled. They stared at each other and blushed in embarrassment. Mio giggled at both of them and gave them their food. Elsword smelt the delicious bread that's still hot and bit it down, unable to resist it.
"And I have good new for you."
Elsword and Rossa stared at pink haired Nasod.
"We located Eve."
That made both's eyes widen.
"Really?!"
"Yes, but saving her is almost impossible."
"How's impossible?"
"She was imprisoned behide the well defense wall. We have yet to contact her through our link. My guess is that she is under static for inner reconstruction due to Ragnite syringe. Our only choice is war, we will jump on the wall as fast as we could and disable the defense. We can stop it from attacking the front line and have them break down the base."
"Not a bad tactic."
"But the problem is… we need something to distract them from noticing us. With war rages on, we can't hide ourselves from their sight."
Elsword and Rossa nodded in understanding. Just then, the TV then showed the weather forecast. Mio watched it and suddenly yelled out.
"THAT'S IT!"
Inside the prison, the former hunter was meditating with Lily lying on his lap, taking a nap. Since he made a betrayal call to Eve, he stayed silent as if he was waiting for something.
"You have done well, Hunter."
A deep voice spoke up as the light dimmed and sparked. The guards surrounding the prison slowly fell asleep as the cameras shut down to avoid revealing the uninvited guests. Kazuki looked up to see the hooded men. If looking closely through it, he saw the familiar red haired knight that had punched him yesterday, though his eyes were different. Beside him was the blue starred eye girl that stared at them with devious smirk.
Kazuki was no fool. The man before him was not Elsword. He was another one, a mysterious knight and the one called Dark Knight.
"I assume you have done our previous request."
"Yes." Kazuki nodded as he patted Lily's head who let out a lovely smile "You will do as you promise, right? You will save Lily and her and let us live as we want, right?"
"I can't prove my words to earn your trust but I can assure you we will keep our promise."
Elsword(DK) held the lock on the prison and twisted it, breaking it and opened the door for both of them to step out. Kazuki and Lily stepped out, only to be stopped as Elsword(DK) handed him the dagger he needed the most.
Valkyrur Dagger.
"Is it yours?"
Kazuki nodded and took it from him with appreciation.
"I need this to face her."
"Oh so… She will be on the front line. That means Team Elrios and 7 will face her."
"Team Elrios too? So that bastard pushed them on the same place as my team too, huh?"
"Yes, and when they meet her, we shall interfere. But first, can you leave this place? It seems the security here has alarmed the whole base."
"I understand."
Elsword handed him dual D.E and a light MK20 for Lily.
"I have delayed the signal to main base so I suggest you make haste. You only have this chance only."
Without further ado, both of then rushed to the door.
"Will they be alright?" Lu(DK) asked.
"What do you think why we are here?"
Gear:
Kazuki: Dual D.E – Valkyrur Dagger – Flashbang(4) when picking up from the guards.
Lily: MK20 handgun – Frag Grenade.
Supporters: Elsword(DK) - Lu
Intel: Valkyrur Dagger – A mysterious dagger is told to be crafted from the blood of the Valkyrur and metal pieces of their weapons. Its power and defense are not the same as Valkyrur's main weapons. However, it is designed to enhance flexibility and speed for non-Valkyria user.
Note: Elsword(DK) and Lu will not join in the battle unless they deemed danger to Kazuki and Lily.
"Warning! Warning! Prisoners have escaped! Security, move into your position! I repeat, move into your position!"
Kazuki hid behind the wall as gun shots were heard from the right alley. They have been alarmed and trying to hold him and Lily down for reinforcement. Kazuki waited till they ran out of ammo and reloaded and went out, putting a few shots on them. He stood among them and attempted to disarm their weapon and put them out cold.
"Lily, let's go."
He picked up a few flashbangs for safety and headed to the elevator. However, the moment the door opened, they faced heavy assaults from security. Elevator was not an option now. Kazuki noticed the door to the emergency stairs.
Lily nodded at his intention and tossed a flashbang at elevator which removed their vision and hearing temporary. Hearing their scream, they rushed past and entered the stairs, ran upward to the ground.
The prison was built underground in order to minimize prisoner's chance to escapse outside. It consisted of 7 floors, each floors contained its own level of danger. The deeper the prison was, the more dangeous the prisoners were. Kazuki had been sent to the 7th one by Welkin's order. He knew Kazuki was not just an oridnary soldier. He had measured his capability and knew he could handle a small army on his own. Worse, he was almost on level with Envy, the Valkyrur.
The prison had its zigzag design. Only a short stair that connect two floors on one side and had to run to the other side for upper stair, plus, forcing the prisoners gave up their hope to escape, not to mention the sentries positioned along the way. The only way to go straight up was elevator but it was disabled during the alarm.
As he reached G6, he banged through the door and was caught unguarded by sentry gun as it unloaded chain of bullets at him and Lily.
They were saved by Elsword(DK), who jumped through a strange portal before him. Swinging his sword as dark mist appeared, blocking bullets. Kazuki took this chance and shot at it, disabled.
"This prison is a pain." Elsword(DK) commented "Only in but not easy to go out, especially the whole facility is emitting Ragnite."
"Thanks for saving our ass." Kazuki appreciated.
"Just make it quick, the sun will set soon." He reminded "Try not to be delayed too long or you will miss your last chance."
Kazuki and Lily ran as fast as they could, with Elsword(DK) and Lu ran after. They spotted more and more guards on the way. The Hunter had no choice but tossing another flashbang and shooting at their arms and legs. It may not kill them but it will disarm their weapon and injure them to stop their movement.
They jumped over those bodies and struggled to destroy another sentry. Kazuki and Lily proceeded through all 4 floors, though the security was getting more and more dangerous. They had to need Elsword(DK)'s help sometimes.
Just when they almost reached the stairs to the first floor. Another alarm went off.
"Activate Peacekeeper!"
"Peacekeeper?!"
A large door set near the stairs slid up. The heavy steps could be heard from that as they saw giant mechanic leg stepped out. Kazuki's eyes widened in shock before he pushed Lily behind the wall. They had to cover their heads when a chain of bullets was shooting at them.
"What the hell is that thing? I never see it before!" Lily screamed out in surprise as well "You know this, Kazuki?!"
"No!"
They couldn't get their head to peek as it still shot at them. Based on what kind of weapon it used, Kazuki could tell it was a minigun packed with heavy bullets that can make the wall crack up.
At this point, they really needed Elsword(DK)'s help.
"Elsword, I need yout help!"
"Ho… I thought you are a lone wolf to deal with it."
An echo voice spoke as they heard the Peacekeeper let out warning.
"Warning, core damage. Unable to sustain. Secondary core activate. Burst activate."
A shockwave burst out that forced Elsword(DK) and Lu backward. Elsword(DK) ran forward and slid below just before the minigun ran its bullets. Kicking it up, Kazuki followed Elsword(DK) and used his Valkyrur Dagger to cut its minigun off of its arm, disabled them. The Peacekeeper let out sounds of error and attempted to punched Elsword(DK) floating back and hit Kazuki.
"Don't you DARE Hitting my mate!"
Another echo voice spoke up, but filled with anger. A small shadow jumped out and punched the robot with giant claw, knocking it backward. Lu dashed forward and continuosly punched it as pieces of metal were fallen from it, revealing the small core inside it. Lily tossed a Frag Grenade to her who caught and put it in the core after pulling the pin. She jumped off of it and took cover with others, then a high explosion went off, destroying Peacekeeper.
"Warning… Secondary… core… damaged… shutting…. do….wn….."
They looked at it and found it 'dead'.
"Let's go."
They went for the last stairs and headed to the exit. Just then…
"Lily!"
The silver haired girl fell down, her strength slowly faded away as her breath became heavier.
"Lily! What's wrong! Lily!"
"Stand aside, Kazuki." Elsword(DK) spoke and checked on her "Damn, she almost reaches her limit. Her energy is unstable."
"What? I though she can control her body."
"That, but something else colliding her body." He spoke and took out blue syringe and injected her.
"What is it?!"
"Relax, I give her painkiller and part of it to sustain her body. If not, she will be in danger."
"…"
"Let's go."
They stepped out of the prison and relief that the reinforcement hadn't arrived yet.
But someone else appeared.
"Rossa?"
"Taichou!"
The member of team 7 was shocked to see her leader escaped prison along with Lily.
"What are you doing here, Rossa?"
"I come to visit you, but why are you out here? I thought you was imprison."
"I was, but then, I'm not anymore." He spoke coldly, though he felt hurt. He had to cut any connection to team 7 or Rebellion "I have my jobs to finish rather than staying in that room."
Rossa was hurt by Kazuki's attitude. She never expected him to speak like that to his former teammate. Her body was shaking in fear. She saw two cloaked men stepping close to Kazuki and Lily. If looking carefully, she found the familiar face of crimson haired knight and strange starred eyes. They were the ones helping Kazuki and Lily escaping the prison. Worse of all, she saw the symbol of Empire.
Something clicked her mind.
'They try to get him back?!'
"No time for chit chat. We have to leave-" Elsword(DK) was about to take both of them through portal but he felt danger and dodged away from bullets. Kazuki was caught surprise by this and found Rossa holding her handgun and shooting at Elsword(DK). She then aimed at Kazuki, a tear leaked out in betrayal and hurt.
"After all this time… you decided to betray us, to Rebellion?!"
"… Yes… I have nothing left to do in here."
"What about us?! Team 7?! What about Alicia and Welkin?! What will they think of you?! They put their trust on you that you would throw them all away?! They wouldn't think you would betray Eve on purpose! You were forced!"
"No, Rossa… I did it with my consciousness. And for trust, they are wasting their time."
That did it.
"KONO YARO!"
Kazuki and the rest dodged her shot. Lily raised her gun to shoot at her but hesitated a bit. She was still considered her as her friend, but Kazuki charged in and disarmed her gun, kicked her down and aimed back. He had a good look on her teary face from crying that made the Hunter hesiatate. Being in Team 7 developed his trust and faith in them too much and moved his feeling.
He lowered the gun and tossed it near her.
"Stay out of my way, Rossa."
He turned around, ignoring the sound of crying. Nodding at Elsword(DK), he's ready to go, not wanna hear her crying. The cloaked knight nodded back and created the small portal before they went through it, leaving Rossa. The alarm went off but it was too late.
The Hunter had escaped.
Welkin received the alarm from the prison and sent to reinforcement but what they found was what remain of prison, wounds everywhere, though what he found it curious was the prisoners were still in prison. Rossa was found lying on the ground and delivered to hospital. The doctor said she had some bruises on her face but that were taken care of and she needed some time to recover, but the pain of betrayal would never be healed.
Elsword came to visit her with a small package of fruit. He saw her brown eyes staring out through window peacefully, her brown long hair was loose that reached her back. It may not look as beautiful as Eve's but it's still a charm to him.
He knocked on the door to get her attention, which he did. Rossa turned around and saw Elsword.
"Elsword…"
Her voice was empty. He could see that before as she experienced her first painful betrayal.
"Rossa, you good?"
She just nodded. Elsword didn't like that. The crimson knight went and sat beside her why putting fruit on the table.
"I don't understand…"
He heard her mutter.
"Why he would betray us…"
Elsword just silently while peeling apple. He cut it into pieces and laid it on dish before he spoke up.
"Neither do I understand him…"
He reached her hand and held it. The Female Gunner flinched but remained calm.
"But when we meet him again, I will be sure to give him a good punch for making you hurt."
Rossa let out a small smile, feeling a bit relief. She's glad to have him to confort. She placed another hand on his, appreciating, though their moment was cut short when a woman with the same hair color like Rossa's, tied in two buns entered. The woman caught Elsword holding Rossa's hand and begin irritated.
"What the hell are you doing to my daughter?!"
"Ha?" Elsword was confused who was that and why she entered Rossa's room until the said girl called in shock.
"Mama?"
"MaMa?!"
Looking at both of them, Elsword can see the resembles of two females, but Elsword didn't expect her mother would come too, and at wrong time. They both withdrew their hands, Rossa blushed and tried to deny what her mother was thinking.
"Who are you, young man? And what's your relationship with my daughter?"
Elsword decided not to make the woman angry further and reply "Name's Elsword Sieghart, Rank Sergent and Leader of Team Elrios. And relationship? I'm just your daughter's comrade."
"Elsword Sieghart… I never heard that kind of name before." The woman pondered, still glaring at Elsword.
"Forgive my mom, she was being overprotective. Her name is Rosie Stark."
"Oh… eh… Hi Stark-san…"
Rosie looked around and found some fruit were cut for Rossa, thinking something else.
"So you care for my daughter?"
"Yah, she's my friend so I have to take care of her." Elsword nodded, but that made Rossa upset a little. It couldn't help because she didn't want to let her mom know what happened between them "Ah… anyway. I got a call from Welkin-san, so I will take my leave, Ja ne, Rossa."
"Ah- wait!" but too late, he's already out, leaving her with her mom, who was staring intensified at Rossa. The poor girl began sweating and prayed for her safety.
Yuu: Done the next chapter, and confused with assignment here. Everything's done except... *glare at Laby who try to reach forbidden book on the top bookshelf* Haiz... And thanks Mr. X for the comment on my status, but after the viewers accept that... there would be some... lemon juice for her...
Laby: Lemon Juice? where? *Look around* Laby wants some juice!
Yuu: ah... here *Give her glass of iced lemon juice*
Laby: Thank you, Yuu-chan~
Yuu: Not that i mean, but oh well. and to the viewers, Read and... Review... please... *sense some danger from Elf Lady*