Hey guys it's been a while hasn't it? I hope you guys didn't miss me too much! Anyways sorry for the long wait, life has been pretty hectic. I'm actually on a flight right now typing this up on my way back from Europe. So I hope it'll be worth it. Be on the lookout for a one shot I'm halfway done with that I promised I'd make. It'll explore the idea that Nia landed with Rex and Mythra/Pyra after the fight at the cliffs and see how the group feels about Nia's confession. Quick reminder since it's been so long: Angel is a OC created by Keybladeknight39 with Kamen Rider Ex-Aids powers. He isn't going to be a detractor away from our good old boy Rex, but he will play an important role in the story. Also as a sidenote, after this chapter there will be a few intermission chapters that will be very...well fluffy to say the least. Anyways without further ado, enjoy!
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"I still can't believe they built all of this in such a short amount of time." Rex thought as he lounged around in his room. After spending the day with Noir and a very affectionate Blanche he felt drained. He also wouldn't admit it, but he actually liked this place. For people who threatened to kill him they definitely treated him like he was very welcome. They all seemed to know him and treated him with the same respect they gave to Shiro. Rex thought about all the different people he met, but when he thought of the people, a memory flashed his mind. The little girl at Fonsett. Rex shivered at the thought. That little girl lying on the ground with blood everywhere and a slash across her chest. He still felt a twang of guilt rush his heart and mind as he thought of it. Suddenly, he heard a harsh knock at his door and jumped up.
"Rex, I'm coming in." A stern voice echoed.
"R-right…" Rex knew who it was and wasn't sure if he could face him right now.
Shiro opened the door and walked in, this time without his gear. With a black shirt and white pants on he walked into Rex's room and pulled a chair out from the desk next to the boys bed. With a grunt he looked like he was thinking for a moment, but then began to speak.
"I know we met under...unsavory circumstances, but I thought we should talk about the future." Shiro began.
Rex's conscious overtook him though and he had to know.
"Uh, Dad, before that I have a question or two that I'd like to ask. That okay?" Rex said looking up at his father as he sat up on his bed.
"Yes…" Shiro gave a simple answer accompanied by a nod.
"Why...Why did you try to kill me? I mean, first the attack when we first arrived in Elysium and then the attack at Fonsett where your people almost...killed a little girl all because of me? Just...why would you or any of you do that?" Rex said gripping his hands together.
"Hm, well, first I suppose I must apologize on behalf of my people for their attempt to take your life. However, your mistaken at the fact they were trying to kill you. They simply were trying to take the core away from you and any resistance you put up was taken as a threat. They also were not in their own minds as Noir and Blanche had taken over their bodies as a result of letting them use their power. Their driver is me, but for some reason they can partner up with anyone." Shiro carefully explained. A lot of it didn't make any sense to Rex, but he suspected Shiro really didn't have a reason to lie. "I would assume it is because of my blade eater nature."
"What do you mean?" Rex asked while he narrowed his eyes at the mention of Noir and Blanche.
"Noir and Blanche have a natural hatred towards the core as well as the true Aegis. Their powers are affected by their own emotions which leads them to be unable to control themselves. In order to regain control they need energy, which means they use up the life of their wielders. Right now the only one exempt from this rule seems to be me. Everyone else can only use either of them maybe 3 or 4 times. 5 if they're lucky. Anymore than that results in death." Shiro said matter of factly.
"So, you just...let it happen? You let your own people put themselves at risk?" Rex asked getting slightly upset.
"I can understand your resentment, however…" Shiro paused. "Are you really able to judge? We know what happened with Torna. The people they killed...the people that died because of the war...If you had been able to stop them at first you could have stopped all of this. Before you there was Addam. He recognized the true terror and power of the Aegis and sealed it away. Humanity was never meant for such power."
"You don't understand, I promised to take someone to Elysium and I did. I shouldn't have to kill just to accomplish something. Life isn't just something you can throw away like it's nothing. Why do you treat Noir, Blanche, and your own people as just tools?!" Rex clenched his fists.
"Noir and Blanche aren't the true Aegis' and their very existence is a mistake. They're just a fail safe. As for you...a supposed hero with no drive to win and the indecisiveness to not make decisions for those he proclaims to protect is worthless. I thought you could have been better yet it seems I was wrong. You couldn't understand. Humanity is a destructive and corruptible force. If left alone it will simply destroy Elysium. Blades are used by humans to do this. Blades are our equals, but they are treated as tools by the rest of society. Therefore by decreasing the population and creating a central group we could repopulate and create a world where blades and humans live together without conflict. We are too different forces yet we have the same goal. I will ask you once again...will you join me son?" Shiro said with a stern voice yet it softened at the end. Rex just couldn't get a read on this guy. "Even you can notice the ether reliance blades have is weakening with humans. The architect is separating this reliance because we are meant to live as equals. Elysium is giving us the opportunity to start anew."
"I...I...I ca-" Before Rex could answer a explosion was heard off in the distance and shook the building. A guard ran into the room.
"S-S-Sir! We're being attacked from all sides!" The man fumbled with his words as a worried blade behind him was holding his hand. It seemed to be just a common blade, but the gesture was warm enough.
"How did they find this place, let alone break the barrier surrounding it? Hmph. Son, this discussion will be postponed. I'll deal with this and then I'll return. Blanche! Noir!" Shiro yelled as from the shadows Blanche and Noir appeared. "We're moving out!"
Suddenly, the two blades summoned both their swords and Shiro summoned his giant battle axe.
"Rex, you are not allowed to leave this room. I shall leave guards at the door should you need anything."
Noir gave Rex a nod and Blanche winked at him. As the trio left the guard bowed to Rex and left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Too many things are happening at once today…" Rex laid back in his bed until a thought crossed his mind.
'Wait a minute...it could be them!'
Almost instantaneously Rex sprang up from his bed and put his street clothes back on. He didn't have his salvaging suit or his equipment so he was stuck with his wits alone.
'WAIT!'
He didn't have anything. That meant….
"Oh no no no no! Where did I put them?! They were inside my suit jacket! The maids didn't take them so that means they got lost before I got taken." Rex began to freak out. "Aw man I hope Mythra, Pyra, or Nia don't find them…"
*Flashback*
"So chum...are you sure about this?" Zeke asked his friend. The pair were now in a shop as Pandy had left to go find her own dress. Rex was being fitted for a tux as Zeke tried out a number of...exciting outfits.
"Well, I can't just act like it didn't happen, but I can't exactly blame them either. They were just trying to protect me. I acted like a kid again…" Rex sighed. "I just...don't know how to face them y'know?"
"I understand chum. I had the same problem when I proposed to Pandy!" Zeke said proudly. "I went all out for the night and somehow it ended up going horribly. We went swimming and I wore a bowtie, but somehow it got caught underwater and nearly choked me out! Then we went for a walk outside of Tantal, but the snow below me collapsed. After that I tried to make dinner, but somehow I almost burnt down the house. It could not take the might of Zeke! Eventually, I popped the question and I almost dropped the ring off the balcony. However, the Zekenator used his skills to expertly catch the ring in hand!"
"If falling off the balcony because you broke the railing counts as skill then I wouldn't have said yes." Pandoria echoed from behind the two friends.
"Aw Pandy come on! Why must you hurt the Zekenator so?!" Zeke said as he picked out yet another weird outfit.
"Yeah yeah my prince, now stop pestering Rex. I picked out a suit for you over here." Pandy said with a pat on the shoulder and a sigh.
"Right...anyways chum, what I'm trying to say is do what will make you happy. Why wait when you can do whatever you want! You're young so live your life and do what you want to." Zeke gave him a pat on the back and Pandoria finally dragged him out of the room.
Rex sighed and looked in the mirror. He looked pretty damn good in a tux. He had slicked back his hair and the tux he was wearing was a pretty normal one, but it was sophisticated. Rex honestly liked how he looked. It was weird to dress in formal clothes, but it was nice.
"Alright, on to the reception." Rex said as he began to walk out. He had no clue as to where Pandoria or Zeke went so he decided to just head on over to the palace. On his way out though something caught his eye. Well, three things caught his eye. Over in the corner of the store was a glass case with three separate rings in them. One was gold with a emerald on top, one was silver with a ruby on top, and the other was gold with a diamond on top. Rex didn't know why, but something caught his eye about them.
'Wait a minute...this could be the chance I was waiting for!'
Rex shuffled past the people in the shop hoping nobody would recognize him. He was officially known as the hero of Alrest after all. Though, in his attire, he definitely thought people wouldn't recognize him as easily. He reached the glass case and asked the attendant how much each ring was together.
"That would come around too...1.5 million gold for all three." The attendant said as she finished her mental math.
"Wh- 1.5 million!? Isn't that a bit much?" Rex said shocked at the price of the three. He could probably salvage up rings for cheaper. He had killed enough damn unique monsters just to get cool stuff and for all the money he had. Sure salvaging left him with quite a bit money at the end of their adventure. Just a little over 10 million at this point. The main problem was keeping them in the green. They had to worry about food, equipment, and even housing after they left Mor Ardain. Corrine had even picked them out a spot in Fonsett where they could have the biggest house. A room for Tora, Morag, and Zeke to stay in when they visited and then there was the master bedroom, which Corrine told his blades they would share his bed with the young hero. Either way Rex needed to conserve money. He almost walked away when he remembered something Morag told him. He would be paid for his heroics while also being known as the hero. Rex ,of course, declined as he took Pyra and Mythra to Elysium first and foremost. He just happened to get dragged into something bigger along the way. Now? He might retract that statement and use that money for the house.
"Actually...I'll take them…" Rex sighed and pushed a large sack of money towards the cashier with a nervous smile.
"Great!" The cashier bagged the three rings. "Do you want to write a special note as a gift for the lucky lady? Or rather "ladies"?"
Rex blushed furiously and chuckled. He didn't know what to do, but he quickly wrote a note for each of the girls and took a deep breath.
"Thanks…" Rex said as he took the bag and walked out of the shop in his suit. "Now onto the reception…"
*End Flashback*
"Right I gotta get out of here...Lapis?" Rex said as he put his hands on his hips. "Lapis? Oh...right...she's not here."
Rex looked at the tattoo on his hand.
"Lapis…why can't you get to me?" Rex muttered as he decided to think about where he was going. He decided he would have to get out of his room without being noticed and he had just the idea to do it.
"ARGH MY STOMACH!" Rex yelled loudly as he shut the lights off in the room. The guard rushed into the room.
"Master Rex!?" The young man yelled as he bursted through the door. "Are you oka-ACK!"
Rex hit him over the head with a chair and the guard fell to the ground. The common blade just stared at him and just kind of acted like she hadn't seen anything as she went to sit by her master.
"Uh...sorry!" Rex said as he ran out from the room and into the hallway. Through the giant glass walls that kept the hallway together he saw something he wasn't expecting. A giant blue aura was covering the entire town as it looked like two sides were battling it out.
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"Uh Morag?!" Angel yelled out. Angel and Tora had just disabled the barrier around the town, which quickly attracted a bunch of monsters. "There's a lot of monsters here!"
"This is unnatural…" Morag said as she spun around in a circle to blast away the monsters around her. "Sure we've caused a lot of noise, but they shouldn't be attracted to us this intensely!"
Angel was punching and throwing the weird monsters that were running around them. It seemed they had an unnatural order of operation. A weird assortment of Ignas, Elwyns, and weird frog creatures were attacking them from all sides. A monster was coming up behind Angel, but Zeke blasted it away.
"Thanks Zeke!" Angel yelled as he kicked away another bunnit running at him. Meanwhile, Nia was fighting off multiple arduns that had been awakened by all of the noise. There was a stampede running about and the crew was dodging left and right. Tora saved Nia by blocking with his drill shield and pushing them back with Poppi.
"Tora think this hard!" Tora yelled as Poppi shifted into Poppi QTpi.
"Masterpon the left!" Poppi yelled aloud.
"I got it!" Angel smashed into an Ardun which sent it off course. "Hey guys...doesn't it seem like these things are being controlled?"
"A little…" Morag said as they all went back to back. "All that matters is if the girls get into the main building and get Rex!"
"Righto Morag! Let's hold them off for now so we can rescue the damsel!" Zeke said with a grin as Pandoria smiled.
"I gotta say Angel, I was a bit put off by that form, but the agility and power you have in it is impressive." Morag said as she watched the boy fight the enemies.
"Heh, thanks!" Angel called before attacking again in his chibi like form. "I've been practicing a bit!"
"How do you think the plan is going Morag!?" Zeke called out as he slammed his sword into the side of an enemy.
*Flashback*
Now outside the town the rest of the crew was now coming up with their plan after the trek to find Rex.
"Here's the plan. Angel and Tora will cause the barrier to disrupt, which will by us 'll attack from the front and cause an explosion. We aren't sure who or what we're going up against besides that man with the axe and blades. The only thing we know for sure is that we are going to have to work together to beat him. However, if we all focus on distraction it will problematic. Therefore, Lapis, Pyra, and Mythra will head into the main building and retrieve Rex." Morag went over the plan right outside of where Rex was. The town was huge for only a short amount of time, but it had its flaws. It looked like the most constructed building was the giant one right in the middle so Morag guessed it was there where Rex was. There was also a number of hazards such as explosive or corrosive material along the outside which was a huge oversight. The group was suited up and ready for battle, especially Pyra, Mythra, and Nia.
"WAIT WHAT!?" Nia protested. "How come I don't get to get the idiot?!"
"Dromarch is simply too large. While you could go into your blade form, that would be a huge disadvantage because it's our trump card without Rex." Morag explained. "They don't know about your powers yet so that's a huge factor in our victory."
"Trust me little kitten, Morag is a specialist at this! Let her work her magic!" Zeke said slapping Nia's back as she yelled back at him.
"So when do we get to do this?" Mythra said over the pair. "I'm getting impatient."
"Once we cause a distraction you'll head in and get Rex. Lapis, have you figured out if that man is here?"
"I cannot sense him. I only feel my Master's presence. Something is stopping me from contacting him." Lapis said with a deadpan. "I can aid you in your distraction before I go to get Master."
"Right. So Zeke, Nia, Tora, and Angel on m...e?" Morag looked in bewilderment as she saw a giant light encompass Angel.
"Henshin!" Angel struck a pose and his armor formed on him. He looked completely different than before, (look up Kamen Rider Ex-Aid level 1 if you're curious, I wasn't too sure how to describe his suit.) "Looks like everything works the same as it does in my world…"
"Uh w-what the hell is that?!" Zeke said a bit surprised.
"That's...new?" Brighid spoke up with a hint of curiosity.
"Uh...is that your blade?" Tora asked moving his head to the side.
"Well...sure. I guess it'd be more of a armor type thing, but I'll explain later." Angel said. "Let's go save your friend!"
"Right then. Everyone ready?" Morag said as everyone took out their weapons.
"I will cause an explosion and then you guys can go after that." Lapis said as she held her hand out. Blue energy began to pour out of the mark on her arm similar to Rex's. Lapis targeted one of the barrels filled with flammable material and focused her energy on it. "Now!"
A giant explosion of blue and red occurred and it shook the ground beneath the group. However, almost instantaneously monsters from all sides began to attack as the ground rumbled from the explosion. A blue wave of energy was flowing throughout the air as the monsters began to slow down and begin to become docile.
"What's happening?" Pyra asked as she went back to back with Mythra.
"I am the core. I have control over most minor monsters." Lapis grinned a bit. "A little better than the Aegis, right?"
"W-What did you say?" Mythra had a tick mark appear on her head. "Do you want to fight?"
"Mythra...now is now the time." Pyra said as she looked towards the hole in the barrier.
"Everyone. Once I leave this area the enemies will return to their enraged state. You'll have to fend for yourselves until Master returns." Lapis began. The group nodded and the three girls took off with Lapis floating behind them and the two Aegises running.
*End Flashback*
"Either way…" Zeke slammed his sword against another. "We need to keep this up a little longer!"
"C'mon girls...don't mess this up!" Nia yelled as her and Dromarch went on the offensive once again. However, before they could get a chance to even think further, the mobs stopped in their places.
"Uh, what just happened?" Angel called out as he transformed back to normal to check on everything that happened. However, Dromarch quickly grabbed Angel and threw him out of the way before dodging a giant red sword himself.
"W-What was that?!" Angel yelled out. "Thanks for the save Dromarch!"
"Well look at this…" A young girl formed in front of them. She looked to be Lapis' height, but had the inverted colors of her. She had black hair with red eyes while one of the glowed bronze. She was wearing a red and gold kimono that was a bit unkempt. To go even further from the opposite of Lapis...she was flat as a board. "I knew Rex's friends came, but this is just sad."
"Who are you?!" Morag said as the monsters around them cleared out before the girl walked up to them and the red swords began to gather around her in a circle.
"Your worst nightmare." She said as she flicked her wrist which sent the swords flying towards the gang. Angel quickly recovered and activated another form of his power.
"Such a cliche!" Angel said before getting ready to fight. "Let's turn up the difficulty a bit! Dai Henshin!" He called out before turning into a regular sized version of his suit.
"Another form!?" Morag called out before Angel just nodded.
"Let's show this girl who's she messing with!" Angel said as he got ready for a fight while the rest of the got ready behind him.
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"This place...is huge!" Rex said panting as he ran around the building. He had been running for a long time and was just going in circles. "Where is the damn exit!?"
Rex eventually, came across a door with a bright light behind it. It seemed like it was a perfectly normal door aside from the fact that 'administrator only' was written on the door with a scanner for a hand. Rex thought that this kind of tech looked similar to the stuff in the world tree, but put it out of his mind for now as he placed his hand on the scanner.
"Reading. Reading. Authorization Granted. Welcome Master Rex. The substitute is 98% complete."
"M-My what?" Rex said a bit unnerved. "That's a bit weird…"
Rex walked into the room and inside it was completely trashed. There were papers strewn about, but something felt like it was calling to Rex. He could hear a slow murmur from behind the dark wall in front of him. As he got closer the room around him seemed to get lighter and his body was drawn to something behind the curtain in front of him. Rex moved it slowly and his eyes went wide as he saw what was in front of him. A giant cylinder of water was being filtered , but that wasn't what was freaking Rex out. In the tube there was something much more grim...a girl. A girl Lapis' size with long black hair and a soft face. The girl was naked which made Rex blush a bit, but more importantly, he knew he needed to get the girl out of there. She looked like she was asleep. Rex frantically searched for a button before finding a nameplate that had a seven letter word on it.
'Scarlet'
"Scarlet huh?" Rex said to himself. However, when he said the name the building shook. Rex quickly jumped backwards and put his hands up defensively before the water began to drain and a voice appeared over the overhead speaker.
"Creation complete. Core transfer process complete. Releasing subject Scarlet."
The water fully drained as the tube opened up and the girl fell out while Rex caught her. She fell on top of him as he began to blush once he realized she was naked.
"U-U-U-Um S-Scarlet!?" Rex said as the girl began to stir. Her bright red eyes fluttered open as she looked up to Rex. Scarlet developed a bright blush as she looked at Rex before leaning into him.
"You...you are Rex aren't you?" Scarlet asked as she tightened her hold on him. Her blush continued to deepen as she looked up at the boy who was holding her. Rex replied, but his voice accidentally squeaked a bit.
"U-Uh yes!" Rex said as he blushed back. The girl began to breathe harder as she looked at him. "Are you okay?"
"Okay?" Scarlet said to herself. "My memories are a bit fuzzy...but I feel something deep within me."
'Why do I have a bad feeling about this?!'
"W-What is it?" Rex asked mentally cursing himself.
"Power. My master Shiro...gave me life didn't he?" The girl asked as Rex nodded slightly. "He used his own DNA to create me. I can feel the connection between his, yours, and my ether."
"Wait...are you telling me you're artificial?" Rex asked as he grew slightly more serious. "He made you in here?"
"Yes...yes he did." Scarlet said before grinning slightly. "Do you know what he used to create me?"
"Um, n-no?" Rex said a bit unsure. The grin the girl had was a bit unsettling and the fact that she was technically Rex's sister was even freakier.
"I was a regular blade before this experiment. Shiro's blade to be precise, but now I'm so much more. He enhanced me with both elements of the Aegises as well as his DNA, but what makes this so much more...invigorating, is the fact that I can feel immense power growing throughout me. This power...it's straight from the core of Elysium." Scarlet said as Rex shoved her off and dodged to the left. A sword was impaled right where he had been and he began to sweat a bit at the murderous grin on the girl's face. "You know what that means right? I've inherited the wills and power of an Aegis, a blade eater, and the essence of Elysium itself!"
"Okay...this girl is crazy!" Rex said as he dodged another sword. "Scarlet you don't have to do this! This isn't you, it's the power talking!"
"Oh please, save it. I'm simply responding to the command my master has given me." Scarlet grinned. "To kill you!"
"W-what!?" Rex dodged another blade before being grazed on the shoulder by another one. "So he planned to kill me all along!?"
"Precisely!" Scarlet grinned as she held her hand up and stood up as the sheet fell from her. Water dripped off of her small body and her black hair stuck to her. She was a tiny thing and was pale, but the murderous vibe she was giving off filled the room with tension. As she held her hand up towards Rex, five swords were floating above her waiting to kill Rex. Scarlet pushed the hair out of her eyes and her right eye began to switch from red to a bronze color. "Oh please Rex...it's what blades and the cores were made to do. Shiro as well. You act like we're to blame, but you're more alike than you believe. The architect made us to fight."
"That's a sad way to look at life then!" Rex said as the girl pushed her hand out more, sending the swords flying towards him. Rex side stepped and dodged one, but had to drop to the ground to avoid another. He quickly rolled out of the way before another impaled the ground again. Then Rex did what he thought he knew how to do well. Live to fight another day. Once the last sword came at him, Rex sprinted for the exit. He bursted out of the curtains only to see a battle raging on from outside the window. The people of this town and the blades versus the monsters and his friends. He just barely spotted Morag and Brighid's dancing flames as well as a pink and green clad person punching and kicking an Ardun.
'Gotta get there!'
"Not so fast Rex!" Scarlet yelled behind him as she began to chase. "Do you really think you can get away from me?!"
"Yes!" Rex said as he dodged another sword sent flying his way. He glanced back to see the other four swords coming at him fast. However, another sword nearly cleaved him in half as he fell to the ground with a giant gash in his shirt.
"Okay maybe not!" Rex said as he turned a corner and immediately rammed into something hard yet oddly soft and wet. He stumbled backwards a bit before opening his eyes.
"Did you forget I have half of the core's power?" Scarlet said as she grinned at Rex sadistically. "I think it's about time we end this game of cat and mouse."
Rex was about to turn and run before he felt a blunt object slam into his back. He flew backwards and broke through a construction wall that was being set up for a new addition to the mansion.
"Ohoho, ow!" Rex groaned. "This is way worse than Aion…"
"Ooooh Rex!~" Scarlet called out. "You should know your ether is easy to detect because of Lapis."
"L-Lapis…" Rex said as he stood up. "Alright listen here you crazy bi-!"
Once again Rex went flying across the ground from the blunt side of one of Scarlet's floating swords. He laid on the ground as he felt blood trickle down his head. His vision became blurry as he looked at his hand. That's when the idea came to him.
'If everyone is here...then that must mean Lapis is here...it's worth a shot!'
"Heh...I suppose that was a bit out of character." Rex groaned as he slowly got to his feet as he stumbled a bit. "You may hit like Poppi, but you have nothing on all the times Mythra has hit me."
Scarlet merely sighed as she looked at the pitiful state Rex was in.
"Without your friends or even a weapon you're pretty useless huh?" Scarlet merely giggled a bit before getting serious once again. "You know, i'm beginning to grow bored of this. Shiro was always watching you from afar when he could you know. Always dragging around his trusty blade Scarlet. He did always promise me he'd give me the power to get revenge for how blade's are treated. It was going well until someone decided to become a lovesick puppy and take his girlfriends to Elysium. Now we have to kill all of the people who are unworthy to be in Shiro's ideal world...no, Addam's ideal world!"
"You...y-you're insane…" Rex said as he looked for anything he could use as a weapon. "I thought you ever pretty cute back there too, your personality sure took a 180."
"From what I've seen and been told you're a stickler for the girls who seem so innocent and helpless. You're pretty naive." Scarlet just grinned. "Last chance Rex. Either give us Lapis or I'll kill you and sap the power out of you and her myself."
"Rule number 87 of the salvagers code…" Rex began as he smiled. "Never underestimate the challenge in front of you! I know you're here Lapis so let's beat her together and show them not to mess with us!"
"Such an idiot…" Scarlet sighed as she raised her hand and closed her fist, signaling the swords to shoot towards Rex. Rex just faced the challenge head on and grabbed a pipe that broke off from the wall he was thrown through. He dodged the first sword, hit away the second, and dodged the third one.
'Only two left then I can make a break for an attack to her!'
Rex saw the fourth one coming, but before he could hit it out of the way he saw the fifth one coming from his right...as well as one, two, and three coming at him from his flank.
'N-No! I can't die here...Mythra, Nia, and Pyra are waiting for me! Even Lapis, Blanche, and Noir too. Lapis! Please come to me!'
Rex just tried to block his most vital parts of his body with the pipe he had before shutting his eyes for his inevitable death at the hands of Scarlet.
'Master!"
"NO!" Scarlet yelled out as she tried to pierce Rex with all of her blades before the entity got to him.
Rex opened his eyes to see a white haired girl crying and holding her arms out to him as she was in the air. Rex's eyes went wide as he looked at her before she phased into his tattoo. He felt a surge of power rush through him as his eyes shone blue, rendering the swords around him to fall to the ground.
"T-That's impossible!" Scarlet yelled. "You shouldn't be able to make a connection!"
"Lapis…" Rex mumbled as he felt the smaller girl wrap her arms around his neck. Rex felt a wave of warmth wash over him as he looked at Scarlet with a renewed determination before his blue eyes flashed again. "Sorry to worry you partner!"
"I missed you Master…" Lapis said as she materialized behind him while holding his shoulders. "That girl...she holds the other half of my power in her as well as your kins ether."
"Yeah...that's Scarlet. We have a...rocky relationship to say the least." Rex joked as Lapis smiled a bit before giggling. "So these guys are the reason you aren't able to get back right?"
"Correct. It seems Mythra, Pyra, and I came at the right time." Lapis said as she eyed up Scarlet.
"Where are they now?" Rex asked as Scarlet yelled something to nobody in particular.
"It seems they are still lost in the mansion. It is quite the spacious area. I myself couldn't find you due to the appearance of Scarlet. However, when you called out my name I came as fast as I could." Lapis said before looking back at her master. "I believe it is time I show you the extent of my power when we are connected.
"Let's do it!" Rex said as Lapis dematerialized and began to power up Rex as he felt his wounds begin to close and his strength return to him. He could feel the energy rising up in him as he felt his will be steeled. Rex's tattooed hand began to burn up as he looked down to it while Scarlet merely watched in amusement after getting over her outburst.
"So what!? Now you both are together! That won't change your death! That failure can't even form a weapon!" Scarlet yelled as the swords around her began to float back up and they circled around Rex while images of blue armor were flashing throughout his mind.
'Lapis...what is this?' Rex asked as he mentally saw Lapis searching for something using her core powers.
'Scarlet is not wrong about me not being able to create a weapon for you, but I have quite the opposite. While my power is limited this is the best i can give you. Now, show her our power Master!' Lapis replied quickly as Rex just accepted it. The right sleeve where his tattoo was burned off as Rex felt blue flames completely engulf his right arm.
"W-woah!" Rex shook his arm trying to get the fire off until he realized what was happening. He calmed himself down and took a stance. Two blue aura circles appeared in front of him and two hilts of two different swords appeared from both of the circles. They had the tattoos insignia on them and Rex instantly recognized both swords.
"I know I've said this before about power ups...but I could get used to this!" Rex yelled as grabbed both swords and pulled them out of their respective crests before his right arm began to shine before taking the form a blue gauntlet with a gold outline on it. It had a green orb right on the top of the hand with weird golden inscriptions around it and all up his arm. It ran up his arm all the way to his shoulder and it looked like he had a giant claw. He could feel the power radiate off of it. He looked at Scarlet with a grin before looking down at the swords. One was from a feisty light blade while the other was from a cute fire blade. He grinned as he put the fire blade on his shoulder while in his left hand and used the light blade in his gauntlet hand to taunt Scarlet. He made a come at me gesture before Scarlet grinned and sent her swords flying towards him at all different angles.
'Thanks Pyra and Mythra!'
"Die!" Scarlet yelled as she commanded her swords. Rex simply looked at her and the two blades in his hands.
"DOUBLE ROLLING SMASH!" Rex roared as his eyes shone blue and energy poured out of his gauntlet and swords. He spun faster than he ever had before while creating a whirlwind of fire and light energy as he sent it barreling towards the swords. They knocked them all off course before hitting a wide eyed Scarlet and sending her flying backwards towards the opening from when she threw Rex into a wall.
"W-what is this Lapis?" Rex asked as he stared at his arm. "It's amazing!"
"This is my power. I cannot make a blade, but I can make armor for you." Lapis smiled lightly at her partners praise.
"Think we got her?" Rex said as he shifted uneasily before seeing a blast of red energy come flying towards him. He quickly dodged, but realized that was a mistake after seeing the beam tear through the mansion and eventually parts of the town. "Stop! What are you doing!? You'll kill the villagers!"
"Not. My. Concern." Scarlet said visibly ticked off. Rex grunted as he charged her at a speed he didn't know he could do before. He ran up to her and kneed her in the gut before sending her flying back. Scarlet quickly recoiled before sending another blast of red ether towards Rex, but he quickly dispatched it with a quick slash.
"Also maybe put some clothes on!" Rex complained as he charged the girl. He dodged another blast of energy before running up to Scarlet and going in for an attack before phasing through her and striking her in the back. Scarlet grunted as she stumbled forward before Rex grabbed her arm and slammed her against the wall of the building. It seemed like he had gotten more powerful, cleverer, and even his reaction time had soared. Before he could think about anything else, Scarlet stood up and her eyes lit up a bronze gold, not just her right eye this time.
"I've had ENOUGH!" Scarlet yelled, but stopped when she flinched before looking spaced out. She quickly grit her teeth before yelling in frustration before disappearing in a bright red light and phasing through the wall just like Lapis. Rex sunk to one knee before taking a deep breath.
"W-What the hell just happened Lapis?" Rex said as his gauntlet deactivated and his eyes returned to normal. "Who was she?"
"Before we had met I was taken from the center of Elysium by Shiro, but he had a odd blade with him aside from the two corrupted Aegises. She looked exactly like Scarlet, but her power was unique. She could sap the ether away from her opponents and add it to herself. They had restrained me in order to try and get my power, but only managed to sap the other half of my ether. It looked like it was too much for a regular blade to take, but Shiro just threw her over his shoulder and took her back when she passed out. I managed to get away using my powers, but because she has the other half of my power, I need you to return me there." Lapis tried to explain to a lost Rex.
"Between this and everything my dad told me...this is getting a bit much, eh?" Rex smirked a bit before getting up. I suppose we should go find Mythra and Pyra…" Rex said as he holstered their blades on his back before they both began to disappear on his back into fire and light particles. "That can't be good. Come on Lapis!"
Lapis used the same crest as before as Rex pulled out the sword Isaac had made for him and strapped that to his back. With his gear in place, Rex took off to find the two most important people in his life. However, he was soon cut off by a blast of purple ether before he quickly dodged back into the room. He looked to his right to see where it came from and his eyes widened.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" Rex cried out as he looked at the walking tank in front of him.
"I thought I told you to stay in your room." Shiro said as he walked with his axe at his side and with a very obvious frown on his face. Needless to say...he was pissed.
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"Pyra! The left!" Mythra called out before dodging a blast of ice while Pyra blocked a blast of darkness. After Lapis seemingly left them to go to Rex, the pair were met with Blanche and Noir who immediately began to fight them. They had been trading insults and blows the entire time they had been fighting. They were in a larger area meant for training new recruits into the village. The area was filled with scuff marks, fire, and ice.
"Come on you two can't be that weak!" Noir yelled as she blasted back Pyra while Mythra hit Blanche back and stood next to her sister in a defensive stance.
"Shut it you cow!" Mythra yelled back before Noir collided swords with her while Blanche began to send ice towards the sisters. Pyra covered Noir and the ice with a gush of fire before Mythra socked Noir with her fist after sword bashing her.
"Argh!" Noir grunted before looking back up to them. She smirked a bit before staring them down. "You know I gotta ask...how far did you two ever go with Rex?"
"W-What?" Pyra said quizzically before Mythra just growled at her.
"None of your business tramp!" Mythra yelled holding her sword up. "What's your point!?"
"Oh I don't know...maybe just the fact that we have probably gone further with Rex than you…" Noir just smirked. Sure it wasn't true...but Mythra and Pyra would have to call their bluff or accept it. Either way it would cause a bit of emotional disturbance.
"Oh shut it! Rex doesn't have the guts to do that!" Mythra yelled back while Pyra tried to protest Mythra's characterization of Rex.
"Mythra! He's getting better!" Pyra said with a faint blush before Blanche stepped up.
"Ohoho~ you have no idea how Rexy has changed...especially when it matters most." Blanche said as she grinned. "Pyra dear, I don't know why you ever restrained yourself to your fate. I am the part of you that is kept hidden from others...shouldn't you try to just accept it?"
"Heh, you ain't wrong about that. I think Rex enjoys the forward approach a little more. I think sometimes you actually hurt his feelings a bit Miss Tsun." Noir said as she looked at Mythra. "You should know he enjoys my approach much more. We did spend the day with him after all."
"I said SHUT IT!" Mythra sent a wave of light towards the pair before Noir smirked and ducked under it before going into shadows and appearing below Mythra and uppercutting her and then kicking her backwards before Blanche took her opportunity with Pyra as she hit her back towards the same direction Mythra went.
"You're so weak without Rex here!" Noir complained. "It seems when you have your little morale booster here you get stronger. Y'know guys, ever think of treating him like a man and he wouldn't be so timid? I mean you both treat him like a delicate little angel."
"Noir... " Blanche placed a hand on her shoulder before whispering something in her ear. "Scarlet is out. Rex contested her in a fight, but Shiro is engaging him now. It seems our little artificial core was sent to fight the rest of his friends."
"What?! You have got to be kidding me, he'll kill him!" Noir growled as she turned back towards her opponents. "Look you two! I don't give a shit about either of you, but Rex is my main priority here!"
"Tch, you're seriously going to spout off that nonsense now?" Mythra said as she stood up and spat to her side. "You don't give a damn about Rex! You're just two clones out of line!"
"Heh, maybe, but that doesn't stop the fact that were better!" Noir grinned before Pyra yelled back.
"Then why are we fighting!? If we both have the same person to protect, why are we trying to kill each other!?" Pyra yelled out to Noir and Blanche.
"Because me and our driver can agree on one thing and one thing alone. Rex is the only human worthy of this god forsaken place." Noir said as she narrowed her eyes. "Not only is he Shiro's son, but he is the best of the humans existing in this world. We solely want to take him with us."
"Cut the shit!" Mythra yelled back at Noir. "You and me both know that Shiro doesn't give two shits about Rex! He only cares about core and the power he holds because of us!"
"What he is doing isn't any better than what Torna and Amalthus tried to do!" Pyra pleaded. "You're just being further corrupted because of Shiro's will! He's lying to you to get you on his side!"
"You don't think we know that?" Blanche said with a grin. "You forget my dear...we are the parts you two kept hidden with in you. We are the feelings you can't show to the world. We are the exact opposites of both of you. We're evil incarnate, yet you still try to persuade us with meaningless words?"
"God you're a freak!" Mythra yelled out. "Sometimes you have a full on murder boner for Rex and sometimes you're you fawn over him like it's the only thing in the world!"
"Well, lust is my primary attribute aside from ice. Isn't that right Pyra?" Blanche said aloud before Mythra just deadpanned at Pyra.
"Really sis?" Mythra facepalmed as Pyra became flustered.
"B-But t-they're our opposites which means it's the farthest thing from me!" Pyra tried, but now not only Mythra stared at her with a deadpan, but so did Noir and Blanche.
"Wow." Noir and Blanche said at the same time. "You're really in denial huh?"
"I-I-I am no-!" Pyra protested with a huge blush before being cut off by a huge crash that broke the wall to their left of them. Out came a clash of blue and purple before the four girls guarded themselves with their respective powers. Once the rubble and dust flew by the quadrio were met with a sight they didn't expect. Rex was punching Shiro with a armored fist while on top of him while Shiro was guarding against his son. Shiro flew backwards before Rex rushed him with his sword and Shiro raised his axe to attack before him and Rex clashed blades together and began to yell at each other.
"Rex! How can you be so blind to the corruptiona around you!? We could've ruled this new world together! If you would just give me the rest of the core I could make a world free of evil!" Shiro said as he slammed his knee into Rex's side, which he sword bashed Shiro knocking him back before dodging the attack. The two were at a stalemate right now, but it was quite obvious Rex was worse for wear. He was bleeding in multiple places while panting heavily.
"That's a lie! The only way to get the core's power out of me is by killing me!" Rex roared with pain evident in his eyes due to the realization. "You just want to destroy the world because of what happened with mom!"
"ENOUGH!" Shiro yelled as he slammed his axe into Rex. Not being able to dodge, Rex tried to block the incoming attack with his sword, but the axe broke through it and sent Rex flying towards the wall. He hit the ground before rolling a few times before regaining his composure. It was then he heard four feminine voices call out his name.
""""REX!?"""" The voices yelled out before he looked up to see the four girls who were obsessed with him.
"Blanche, Noir, Pyra, and Mythra!? What are you guys doing!?" Rex said a bit frantically before dodging another attack from Shiro who just yelled at him.
'Master focus!' Lapis called out to him before Rex refocused back on the fight.
'Right I'll deal with them later! Lapis we're fighting a losing battle here, last time we did this...Vandham didn't make it. Think you can get us out of here?' Rex said in his mind as he clashed weapons with Shiro again before dodging backwards and sending a blue arc of energy towards the taller man. He simply slashed it aside before his eyes glowed purple.
'I set a waypoint back in the Mor Ardain castle! If you give me a minute I should be able to teleport everyone back to that spot!' Lapis said with a bit of haste in her voice. 'To do it I'm going to have to cut my connection with you for now. You'll be on your own until I can come back and teleport you last.'
'Alright...let's do that!' Rex narrowed his eyes. 'Start with everyone outside. I'll have Mythra and Pyra help me out here.'
'Right Master!' Lapis disconnected herself from Rex as his gauntlet disappeared and his eyes returned to normal. He looked towards Pyra and Mythra and grinned at the sight of the two women he loves the most looking at him with shocked faces.
"Pyra! Mythra!" Rex yelled as he dodged an attack from Shiro as he rolled away and held out his hands while running towards his girlfriends. "Come!"
The two blades looked to each other in agreement as they ran towards their driver.
"Don't let them make a connection!" Shiro yelled out as he threw his axe towards Rex. Rex noticed the oncoming attack and before it could hit him he jumped towards Pyra and Mythra, tackling them as the axe flew over their heads.
"R-Rex!" Mythra and Pyra both said in unison as they held him tighter than they ever had before. They both kissed his cheek as they were leaving him without air from the hug. They both have never been more happy to see their boy.
"G-Guys...I c-can't breathe!" Rex said as the pair let him go with bashful expressions on their face. Rex's instincts quickly warned him as he pushed the two to the side before rolling to the left to dodge an ice and darkness blast.
"Nothing personal Rex!" Noir called out with a hint of reluctance in her eyes before firing off another blast towards them. Rex looked towards Mythra and Pyra as they summoned their swords again.
"I got an idea girls!" Rex yelled as he looked to them before Shiro regained his axe from when he missed. "Give me both of your swords and make a connection with me!"
"W-What!?" Pyra said. "Rex that'll cause an overload of ether into your system!"
"Just trust me please!" Rex pleaded as all three of them dodged blasts from Blanche and Noir. Rex's blades looked to each before consenting and threw their swords to Rex. He quickly took them and they formed two different ether lines with Rex. "Heh, now come on!"
"Fool." Shiro said coldly as he put his axe back on his back. "Noir! Blanche!"
"Righto boss!" Noir said as Blanche just nodded. They both gave Shiro their own swords before forming their own ether connecting. However, their ether seemed much darker than Pyra and Mythra's.
"Shall we finish this?" Shiro said, but before he could charge Rex, his red tattoo on his left arm began to glow on his bicep.
'That's just like mine!' Rex said in his head as he anticipated the moves. A crest similar to Lapis' but red appeared by Shiro's ear.
"Shiro, Lapis is teleporting them out of here!" Rex could hear Scarlet's voice. "I've injured a few, but there's this one kid with pink and green armor that keeps getting in the way!"
"Hmph, no problem. The core can take as many of them as she wants, but I'll kill my opponents before they get a chance to leave." Shiro said as he dismissed the crest. "I'll give you one last chance Rex. Give up the Aegises. Give up the core. Give up your power. I can make you into a blade eater to keep you alive. You'd be unstoppable!"
"You're in over your head dad...no Shiro!" Rex yelled back as he felt the bond between Pyra, Mythra, and him strengthen. "LET'S END THIS!"
"Fool." Shiro said with a somber expression before he held up both swords. "FATAL ATTRACTION!"
Immediately Rex hit the floor along with Pyra and Mythra.
"Argh! W-What!? He isn't using his axe!" Rex said with a dumbfounded expression as Shiro walked up to him.
"Now you see the power of a blade eater. I've given you chance after chance. Now it's over." Shiro lifted his swords to kill Rex before the boy just looked up and grinned as he strained grabbed Mythra and Pyra close.
"I-If there is one t-thing I'm good at…" Rex strained due to the pressure on him. Noir and Blanche stared at him in disbelief to see he was still resisting. "It's running."
Then a blue light flashed and all three of the people below him had disappeared.
"W-What!?" Noir said as Shiro's sword hit the ground and cracked it. Scarlet appeared behind them and looked embarrassed and angry.
"I tried...but they got away Shiro…" Scarlet said as she looked towards the ground. Shiro just stared at the place where his son was as he was breathing heavily. For the first time since his wife died...Shiro lost his cool.
"GOD DAMMIT!" Shiro slammed his axe on the ground as he looked at the destruction to his village and began to roar out in anger.
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