Author's Note
I am so stressed from work! Everyday hav been nothing but assignments! My hand hurts from all the drawing I have to do! So I took a tiny break once in a while to write. I have been putting this chapter off, it's probably the longest time I've put off. Sorry, you all have been waiting haven't you? But I didn't forget about this story. So don't worry, I don't plan on leaving you hanging.
Leanbox, Gamindustri
Place: Basilicom
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 8:24 A.M
"Sister Vert!"
The door to Vert's room suddenly slammed open and the oracle of Leanbox entered the room to find the goddess sitting on the floor sleeping with her TV on and a controller in her hands. The oracle quickly went to the CPU's side and shook her awake.
"Sister Vert! This is urgent!"
"C-Chika, please! Stop, I'm awake!" Vert announced.
"Terribly sorry, my dearest." Chika stopped and stepped back as Vert got off the floor.
"Seems like I've fallen asleep while playing games last night." She yawned and stretched as she rubbed her eyes.
"Sister Vert, we have a problem," said the green-haired oracle.
"Problem?" Very stood up straight as she got serious. "What is it?"
"Y-You should come see for yourself." Chika sadly voided.
Vert was pretty confused. Chika have never acted in such dismay before. The goddess let her oracle guide her out of her room to the source of the problem. Vert had predicted that this might have something to do with the Citizen's group, but she didn't predict this. When coming out of the basilicom, Vert was presented with a large group of Lowee citizens who looked exhausted and bruised. The citizens of Leanbox have formed a crowd around them with worried looks. This scene was causing a small panic for her people.
"Chika, what is going on?" Vert demanded.
"Please, allow me to explain," said a blue-haired girl, stepping up from the crowd.
"You are… I believe you are Blanc's oracle, no?" asked the goddess.
Mina nodded and she fixed her glasses. "Indeed I am. I shall ex-"
"V-Vert…"
Vert's eyes widened at the condition of Rom and Ram. "Rom! Ram! What happened to you!?"
Both Rom and Ram had hollow puffy eyes. Their cheeks were red and cracked, covered in dirt. It looked as if they had cried all night. Whatever happened, Vert can assume it was very serious.
The two candidates began to tear up again. They ran to the older goddess and cried. Vert lowered herself, and wrapped her arms around the candidates, hoping to give them some comfort.
"It's okay, everything is okay now," whispered Vert. "Where is Blanc?"
Hearing Blanc's name caused the candidates to cry even harder. Vert noticed that Mina had tears in her eyes. Glancing to the people of Lowee, Vert could see them lowering their heads as their tears silently fell. Something was very wrong.
"Mina, where is Blanc? I'd like to speak with her," said Vert.
"L-Lady… Lady Blanc is…" Mina bit her lip and turned to the crowd. "Please bring her forward.
Two beaten up Lowee soldiers came forward with what seems to be a makeshift stretcher from blankets and branches. On the stretcher was a body wrapped up in white bandages from head to toe. Vert couldn't recognize who the person was.
"Who is that? Why are they wrapped up like a mummy?" Vert questioned.
"T-This…" Mina took a deep breath and answered, "This is Lady Blanc."
Vert's eyes widened as she gasped, "What!?"
The mood in the crowd shifted as the people silently cried. Some covered their mouths and others covered their eyes, but they all had tears falling. Rom and Ram pressed themselves closer to Vert as they wailed.
"We did everything we could to rescue Lady Blanc, but with our city in flames, we don't have the medical to help her," claimed Mina.
Vert turned to her oracle and ordered, "Chika, guide these two gentlemen to the hospital in the basilicom. Get our best doctors we have to treat Blanc. Then order some of our staff to fix up a place to house these people. They must have gone through a lot."
"But with this many people, I'm not sure if we can-!"
"You will find a way to shelter these people! I refuse to kick these people out of Leanbox to the wild where monsters could hunt them. Set up a refugee camp in a park or something but I am putting them under my divine protection as of now, understand?!"
"Yes, Lady Vert." Chika saluted and turned to ask the Lowee soldiers that were carrying Blanc to follow her.
Vert slowly stood up, but the two candidates didn't let her go. She didn't mind, knowing that Rom and Ram must have been scared. She looked at Mina and asked, "Is it alright if we leave the people out here for awhile until we have a place for them?"
Mina bowed her head as she said, "You are generous enough to help our goddess, we are all in your debt. I'm sure it's hard to have the entire population of Lowee to be in your nation, I am truly grateful for you letting us in."
"Of course, Blanc would be quite upset if I turned you away, but I'd like for you to explain as to what has happened."
"Most definitely."
Vert looked down and patted both Rom and Ram's head. "Girls, you must be tired. You did an amazing job leading your people here. I'm sure Blanc is very proud of you two."
Rom glanced up and whimpered, "B-Blanc protected us…"
Ram looked up and voiced, "W-We couldn't do anything…" She clenched onto Vert's green dress and grumbled, "I hate how useless I was. I-I… I just stood there and watched… I couldn't… I couldn't-!"
"Hush there, it's okay," Vert assured. "I'm sure Blanc understood."
"W-We're CPUs too and we…" Rom sniffled. "We couldn't help our big sister…"
Vert gently smiled. She activated her HDD, catching the candidates off guard. With this much strength, Green Heart was able to pick up the girls in each arm. "Dry those tears of yours," said Green Heart. "Blanc would worry if you keep crying like this. You don't want her to worry, right?"
Ram sniffled and wiped her eyes as she shook her head. "No…"
"Then smile. Blanc would want that from you two."
Rom forced out a smile, "O-Okay…"
"There's no need to force yourself to be happy, young ones. I know seeing your sister in that condition was heartbreaking, but you must have faith in her."
The two candidates nodded their heads. They knew Green Heart wanted to cheer them up, but their hearts were still hurting from the fact their sister ended up like that.
"I'm gonna bring you two to one of the guest rooms, so rest up. Mina, please meet me in my office after you have talked to your people."
Mina bowed her head. "Yes, Lady Vert."
Green Heart carried the candidates into the basilicom. She may be calm, but deep inside, she was panicking. If something could beat Blanc to that extent, then she'll have to buff up her military to fight off whatever it was that went against the white CPU. After her conversation with Lowee's oracle, she'll have to inform Noire as well.
Lastation, Gamindustri
Place: Northern Border
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 9:53 A.M
"I come back to see how it's going and an entire nation was ruined. Man that's amazing!"
"Why, thank you, Croire. I'm glad that you are able to see my achievements and record them down," said Rei.
"So what's next?" Croire asked. "I'm itching to record more of your schemes."
Rei smirked as she stood on the border between Lowee and Lastation. She had planned to go after the CPU Candidates of Lowee, but she decided to go after the big fish first. With White Heart out of the way, the citizens of Lowee are free to do what they want. Her next plan was to get Black Heart.
Seeing that Black Heart was also powerful, she needed to weaken her somehow. So why not attack her nation like she did with Lowee. It did wonders in her battle against the white goddess. If she could get the people of Lastation to lose faith in the black CPU, then it would be easy to kill.
"Hey. You gonna tell me your plan or are you gonna continue to just creepily smile like a psychopath?"
"Patients Croire, I'm forming my next plan as we speak." She smirked as her eyes stared off into the Land of Black Regality.
Leanbox, Gamindustri
Place: Basilicom
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 10:11 A.M
After putting Rom and Ram to bed, Vert made her way back to her office where Mina was already waiting with Chika. The poor oracle was sitting on the sofa with a green blanket around her shoulders and a cup of warm tea in her hands. Chika has been by her side comforting her until Vert's arrival.
Vert sat down across from Mina and Chika, getting ready for the report. "Please explain what happen in Lowee."
Mina placed down her cup on the glass table and twiddled her fingers. "It happened two nights ago, when Lady Blanc, Rom and Ram were all still in Planeptune. The attack came out of nowhere, we were all unprepared."
"Two nights ago? You traveled here from two nights ago!?" Vert asked.
"Yes. It was hard to travel on foot in a large group, but we were all able to make it out of Lowee alive. It was hard, with the entire nation being attacked."
"Do you know what the attacker was?" Chika asked. "For Lady Blanc to be that injured it has to be a really powerful monster."
Mina shook her head and corrected, "It wasn't a monster. It was another CPU."
"What?!" Chika gasped.
Vert narrowed her eyes, "Another CPU? I've never heard of a fifth CPU on Gamindustri."
"She has been with us all this time, but we never expected her to be a goddess," said Mina, who had her eyes down.
"Who is this goddess you speak of?" Vert asked.
Mina looked up and stared into Vert's blue eyes. "It's Rei Ryght."
Vert's eyes widened as disbelief came over her. "Rei Ryghts…?"
"That's impossible!" Chika exclaimed. "There is no possible way for that heretic to be a goddess! Who in their right mind would put their faith in someone like her!"
"The Citizens group," stated the goddess. "It would make sense if it were the members of the Citizens group. That would also explain how Blanc could end up like this. Only another CPU could have the power to leave another goddess at the doors of death."
"Yes. When Lady Blanc was defeated, Rei then came after Rom and Ram. Those two wouldn't leave until they saved Lady Blanc. The people began to put their faith back in the goddesses, so Rom and Ram were able to access their HDD again."
"Again?" Vert questioned. "Did the people lose faith in them?"
Mina nodded. "Yes. Rei used her battle against White Heart to deter the people's faith in White Heart. The shares dropped so low that Rom and Ram lost their transformation as goddesses."
"So that's how Blanc was defeated. She didn't have enough shares to go on," concluded the green goddess.
"Yes. Being weak already from the rapid decline in shares, Lady Blanc still stood against Rei and met her end. It was heartbreaking for the twins. So after Lady Blanc's defeat, Rom and Ram held off Rei, while the people and I carried Lady Blanc away. We barely managed to escape," explained Mina.
"It surprises me that those two were able to handle Rei after what happened to Lady Blanc," voiced Chika.
"Rom and Ram focused on their defense rather than their offense. Rei continued to throw attacks, but their magic barrier was able to hold. Once we secured Lady Blanc, we all ran with our tails between our legs. We were lucky enough that she didn't chase after us. I guess we weren't worth her time, but she continued to destroy the nation by setting the minor villages and towns to flames. The entire population of Lowee had to flee."
"Letting the people go after going through the trouble of defeating Blanc. I assume she's going after the big fish," said Vert. "Her next attack would either be against me or Noire."
Chika stood up and announced, "I shall send a notice to our military to strengthen the borders. I won't let Rei Ryghts take a single step on Leanbox."
Vert agreed, "Please do. With Lowee's populace added, we have more people to protect."
"Yes, Lady Vert!" Chika bowed and hurriedly left the office.
Vert turned back to Mina and asked, "I know this is hard. Recalling those memories…"
The oracle slowly shook her head. "No. I don't want the same faith that happened to Lowee happen to others."
"Then are you able to describe Rei's abilities as a goddess? How she looked? Her use of weapons?"
"Rei Ryghts wasn't the same when she was in her human form. She became more aggressive in her goddess form. More so than White Heart." Mina reached into her pocket and pulled out a floating crystal in the shape of a power button.
Vert gasped seeing the dim lighting from the crystal. It was pitch black, no wonder Blanc wasn't healing properly. "Is that…"
"Lowee's Share Crystal," Mina said.
"It's so dull…" Vert murmured with horror.
"After escaping Rei, the people's faith began to diminish even though they wished for Lady Blanc's recovery."
"Please tell me more about Rei Ryghts as a goddess."
"Yes, I'll tell you as much as I can…" Mina pulled the Share Crystal close to her chest and stated, "so that Rei Ryghts can be stopped."
Planeptune, Gamindustri
Place: Basilicom
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 1:39 P.M
Noire and Histoire worked in Neptune's office until they had gotten a call from Leanbox. They have been informed of the situation Lowee has gotten into. They were shocked to hear that Rei Ryghts was the one behind the defeat of Blanc. They couldn't believe the information Vert had just told them.
"Rei Ryghts is a goddess!? Noire exclaimed. "You sure this isn't a mistake?"
"Hard to believe, yes, but that's what Lowee's oracle told me. Blanc is currently in no condition to speak or move. I'm quite worried for her."
"How are her shares?" Histoire asked.
"Low," Vert answered. "Very low. Even though her people are wishing for Blanc's revival, her Share Crystal is very dim."
"The people of Lowee must be shaken. They are in shock that they don't know what or who to put their faith in. Even if they believed in Blanc, their hearts weren't in it. They are in disbelief and sorrow. Give them a few days or weeks until they have settled. Then they should be able to direct their faith fully towards Blanc. That will help her heal."
"I do hope you are right, Histoire. Blanc doesn't look very good. I have checked up on her condition and her body is completely burnt from head to toe. It's a gruesome sight. I couldn't imagine how Rom or Ram felt when they saw their sister like that," said Vert.
"Speaking of Rom and Ram, how are they?" Noire questioned.
"They are asleep in one of the guest rooms," answered the green CPU. "They have been crying for most of the night. They haven't slept and that goes for their oracle and their people."
"We're gonna have to do something about this," announced Noire. "Rei is still out there, so we can't let our guard down. If she is planning on getting rid of CPUs from this world, then she might come for one of us next."
"Yes, my thoughts exactly. I have already built up more security around my boulders. I now have both my people and Blanc's people to worry about."
"Will your nation be alright, holding that many people? Shall I send some supplies over?" Noire asked.
"No, it is alright. I've got it covered."
"Alright, but if you ever need help, please give me a call."
Vert smiled, "Thank you, Noire, though…" Her smile quickly dropped as a concerned look took over her expression, "Will Uni be alright? You are currently in Planeptune, so isn't Lastation an easy target right now?"
Noire's face turned pale when Vert mentioned her nation and sister. "Why would Rei go after Lastation if I'm in Planeptune. Wouldn't she just come directly for me?"
"From Mina's story, Rei attacked Lowee when Blanc was coming back from Planeptune," said Vert. "That gave Blanc the disadvantage when her shares dropped. I just don't want the same fate happening to you."
"Thanks for your concern, but I'll be fine. Uni will contact me if anything goes wrong."
"Please do be safe. I don't need another one of my friends falling," said Vert.
"Stay safe too, Vert," Noire returned. She ended the call with Leanbox's CPU and slumped back against the chair.
"This has really gone out of hand," said Histoire.
"It has…" Noire's eyebrows furrowed as anxiety played at her heart. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her screen back up and began to call her younger sister. She patiently waited, but no one answered. Noire bit her lower lip and tried again.
"Worried about Uni?" Histoire asked.
"Of course." Noire groaned when Uni didn't answer again. "I really hope what Vert said isn't true. I don't need Uni becoming a victim to Rei. She's only been in this world for a year."
"Shall we try contacting your oracle instead," Histoire suggested.
Noire went with the tome's suggestion and pulled out her phone from her inventory. She clicked on her oracle's number and placed the phone near her ear, hearing the ring.
Lastation, Gamindustri
Place: Basilicom
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 2:03 P.M
Black Sister stood on the basilicom's balcony and aimed her gun at the other blue CPU in the sky. She fired many times, but the other goddess always deflected her bullets.
Black Sister clicked her tongue in frustration as the city of Lastation was lit to flames by showers of lightning bolts. She narrowed her green eyes as she fired her rifle once again, only to miss.
"I can't bring her down!" Black Sister growled.
"Lady Uni! Our military has evacuated the people from the city," announced the oracle.
"Thanks, Kei! Now, you get out of here too!" Black Sister summoned out her black wings, getting ready to fly. "I'll try to kick that nasty goddess out of Lastation."
"Lady Uni, she is much too strong! You won't stand a chance!"
"Then what do you want me to do!" Black Sister snapped. "I can't abandon my sister's nation! I can't let her down!"
"You know Lady Noire wouldn't want you risking your life," stated Kei.
"But-!"
Black Sister's counter was interrupted by a loud ring. Kei pulled out her phone to see that it was a call from her goddess. She quickly answered, needing her help at this time.
"Lady Noire! How happy am I to hear from you! We are in dire need of help! Lastation is-"
"Kei, calm down," voiced Noire. "I didn't want to believe it, but I guess Rei did attack Lastation next."
"You seem like you know what's going on, Lady Noire."
"I do, but I'll explain later. Give me a status report on the conditions of Lastation right now," Noire ordered.
"We've already evacuated the citizens from the city. Currently our enemy is raining lightning onto our city, setting the trees and buildings to flames."
"Tch, we have no choice but to leave. I'm sending Planeptune carriers to evacuate everyone from the nation."
"Are you giving the orders to abandon our home base?" Kei asked.
"...I am," Noire sternly stated.
Kei turned to Black Sister and announced, "I have permission from the goddess to evacuate from the nation!"
"What!?" Black Sister shrieked. "Give me that!" She grabbed onto Kei's home and spoke through. "Sis! Are you really giving us orders to abandon our home!?"
"Yes, Uni. I am."
"But Noire! I can do this! I can force her out! Please!" Black Sister pleaded.
"I won't let you. I don't want you getting hurt. And think of our people. A nation can always be fixed but once a life is lost, we can't fix that. I don't want to lose you, Uni."
Black Sister gritted her teeth. "B-But…"
"Please, Uni. Please understand that a CPU needs to know when they have lost and that their opponent is out of your league."
Black Sister hated this. She hated how she couldn't protect her own home. "Kei! Send out the order to evacuate everyone from the nation. No one will be left behind in this city!"
Kei saluted. "Yes, Lady Uni!" The oracle left the office to give the orders to the rest of the military.
"I'm proud of you, Uni," Noire said through the phone.
Black Sister didn't say anything back as she canceled the call. She looked towards the goddess in the sky who was laughing and glowered. She swore to take back Lastation with Noire when the time comes, but now she has to escape from her own home. What irony is this!?
Planeptune, Gamindustri
Place: Basilicom
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 2:36 P.M
Noire slumped back against her cushioned chair and huffed. She had just gotten off her call with Kei and Uni. She felt a bitter taste in the back of her throat at the thought of abandoning her nation. All her hard work was being burned down to the ground by Rei Ryghts. She so badly wanted to rush over to Lastation and fight for her nation, but she knew what would happen. She will be beaten. If White Heart wasn't able to stop her then Noire wouldn't either. Not without a plan. With every second that ticked by, Noire could feel her shares dropping. This was terrible.
"Noire," Histoire called out. "I have just sent five Planeptune rescue carriers to Lastation borders."
"Thank you, Histoire."
"I have also told Lenna to organize the refugee camp for your citizens in Haneda City like you asked."
"Thank you for that too. I want to keep my citizens out of harm's way," said Noire. "And also, increase the security around the nation's borders. With Lastation down, it's predictable to see which CPU Rei is after next."
Histoire nodded. Planeptune will likely be the next place for battle."
"I didn't want to bring any trouble to Planeptune, but it seems like I did anyway. I'm so sorry, Histoire."
"Please, I do not blame you for this," said the fairy. "For now, we need to warn the people for what's to come."
"It's also best to evacuate the people from Planeptune city as well."
"I will do that as well."
Noire sighed as she could feel a headache coming in. She then jerked when she felt a certain weight on her head. She reached up to feel nothing, but the pressure was still there. It was like a soft pat that told her everything was gonna be alright. With confusion plastered on her face Noire looked around. There was a soft presence near her. A presence that was alien, yet familiar. It always stayed by the corner of the office, but now it felt like it was right next to her.
Histoire noticed how Noire was acting and asked, "Noire, are you alright?"
"Umm…" Noire wasn't even sure herself. "We're the only ones in this office, right?"
Histoire scanned around the room and nodded, "Yes, I believe so. Is something the matter?"
Noire frowned as her eyes glanced around. "It's just… whenever I'm in this room, I feel like I'm never alone. There's a presence here… It feels familiar, but not at the same time. I can't explain it…"
"Maybe it's just your imagination."
Noire slowly nodded, "I have been paranoid lately, mostly due to stress…"
"A good rest would help, but that seems quite impossible at the moment," Histoire said, unfortunately.
"I can't rest when there's a monster out there that destroyed my nation and almost killed my friend," claimed the black goddess.
She stood up as she took a deep breath and collected herself. A flame was lit in her red eyes as her anger from earlier began to boil under her skin. It was time to get revenge for Blanc, Lowee and Lastation. Rei Ryghts was gonna pay for what she did!
Leanbox, Gamindustri
Place: Basilicom
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 2:59 P.M
Vert walked out to the balcony and faced her oracle. She had gotten a call from Noire saying that the attack will happen in Planeptune. She was requested as backup and Vert easily accepted. She won't let another friend fall.
"I leave Leanbox to you, Chika."
"Please come back safe, Sister Vert."
Vert smiled and activated her HDD. She summoned her wings and flew towards the Planeptune as fast as her body could take her.
Planeptune, Gamindustri
Place: Eastern Border
Date: August 28, 2019
Time: 3:09 P.M
After the citizens of Lastation were picked up, Black Sister left Kei in charge. The candidate decided to fly straight to Planeptune City. She had a feeling that something big was going to happen and she wasn't gonna sit and do nothing. If something was going to threaten her sister, she was gonna be there by her side, helping.
I'm coming, sis!
Author's Note
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It might take awhile until I can write chapter 15, so you'll have to wait again. I only have three weeks of school left, so my schedule should go back to normal. I didn't think quarantine life could get so busy for art students.
Anyway, I'll see you loveable readers in the next update. Whenever that comes out.
-Shiena
