In three months, we had all of Leanbox's forces on a full routine.The Soldiers and I were on the front lines. Killing and arresting ASIC scum, and helping civilians. Guild Agents on intelligence runs, and doing quests for Shares. Chika and the Basilicom doing the paperwork.

Now, the streets have truly become a warzone. We took down most of the human decorations the Locusts put up. We have sandbags in the streets. Sniping positions inside buildings and on rooftops. Makeshift hospitals for civilians and soldiers. We also have the bodies to fill all those positions.

I have been in Gamindustri for a year at this point. The other three nations have bent over to the ASIC without their sisters. Leaving us to be the only line of defense. I'm used to it, but I have others at my side this time.

Yet, as I whittled down the Locusts's numbers. The leader of the Locusts decided to man up and fight me. It didn't go the way it should've been.

Cole threw a Shock Grenade over sandbags. It landed in a swarm of Locusts, and the gang members flew in many directions. A good few dying, but many surviving. Cole had the soldiers move in to detain any survivors. Cole approached a squirming survivor.

He kicked and screamed the second Cole put her hand on him. The Locust's abdomen swelled and his skin stretched. His face turning red and puffy as blood leaked from his orifices. His legs tore at his jeans as he ballooned up. More men began to suffer a similar fate. The screaming became strangled gasps.

The soldiers all began to move behind cover. Cole didn't follow, she merely stepped near the cover to look at the swelling and struggling men.They shouldn't be surviving this, something is purposefully dragging this painful display out.

The gasps became gags and their eyes rolled up. Foam bubbled at the mouths of the still live men.Then, they exploded into red, buzzing mist. It's not mist, it's blood covered bugs. All of them swarmed together, becoming a sort of bug tornado.

Then, they flew at Cole and the soldiers. They immediately threw incindiary grenades in the pathway of the bugs. The grenades exploded. Shrapnel tearing apart some of them, the force of the discharge crushing others, the rest caught on fire and began to burn to death.

The first swarm was dead. Then, from behind distant rooftops, two more swarms appeared. "Open fire!" A soldier cried out and Cole fired her Sticky Rockets at the swarms. The split missiles caught and exploded inside the swarms.

Yet at as the smoke from the explosions cleared. Cole saw more swarms zoom past her, she was all of a sudden on a roof. The swarm of bugs coalesced into a seven foot tall man. He wore black, bulky armor. He is bald, with crimson eyes. On his hip is a large machine gun. The machine gun had a chainsaw as a bayonet.

Cole saw the Leanbox symbol on the man's armor. "Who are you? And why are you doing this?" Cole asked, her voice becoming a growl as her anger builds. "Nice to meet you Lady Cole. I'm Coalition, and I lead the Locusts. A bunch of brainless savages, but they do their job," Coalition answered, and gave a deep laugh.

"You bastard," Cole snarled and shot a Megawatt Hammer. A chain of green explosions and dust covered the rooftop. Coalition blindfired the machine gun. Cole put up a Polarity Shield. Stopping the bullets, but Cole knew this wouldn't last forever.

She jumped away, to the next rooftop as the smoke cleared. Coalition's heavy boots clanked as he followed Cole. Cole used her Static Thrusters to stick the landing. She quickly drained an Arfoire Chip she got out of her delivery backpack. Coalition jumped straight towards Cole, his chainsaw revving.

Cole rolled to the side, and entered Precision Mode, firing a Precision Bolt at Coalition's head. He reeled in pain, and fired the machine gun. Peppering Cole with bullet wounds. Coalition threw his gun at Cole, forcing her to use an Electromagnetic Shockwave to throw it away.

Cole got an armored fist to her temple for her troubles. She stumbled back and took an knee to the gut. Then an elbow to the neck. Cole fell on all fours, bleeding and bruised. Cole put down a Shock Grenade, and the blast threw Coalition off his feet and away from Cole. Bad news, explosions work both ways. So Cole rolled across the rooftops, and off them.

She executed a Thunder Drop. Then drained a nearby neon sign. Cole scrambled to her feet as Coalition let loose a volley of machine gun fire. She jumped onto a car as a trail of bullets followed closely behind. She jumped off the car, body trailing with green electricity.

Cole landed on a powerline.Then let loose a hail of Sticky Rockets. Coalition was caught in the many electric explosions. She absorbed power as she grinded across the powerlines. She jumped off the powerlines and did a Thunder Drop right next to Coalition. Sending him flying once again. He crashed through a water tower. Causing some flooding into the streets, and made the rooftop hazardous for Cole.

Bugs holding his machine gun handed Coalition his weapon. His armor had green sparks flickering across his body. He pointed it at Cole and fired. She charged up and took the shots.

Cole called down a Lightning Storm. The green lightning bolts struck Coalition, over and over. Until Cole used her entire reserve of energy. Then she collapsed onto her knees. She nearly passed out, but a kick to her jaw snapped her awake.

Coalition was breathing heavily. His once pale skin was blackened and burnt from the lightning. His armor smoking and his machine gun, a bunch of fused slag. Cole braced herself as punch after punch landed on her. He picked Cole up by the neck. Then tossed her up into the air. He grabbed Cole's ankles and slammed her face first.

Then he spun Cole around by the ankles. Then after gaining momentum, he threw Cole away like garbage. Before he could chase after Cole. A chain wrapped around Coalition's waist. Then he got a fistful of neon pink light. Cole fell through the air. Then, a swarm of bats surrounded Cole, and she passed out.

When she woke up, Cole was on a couch, blanket over her. FoB stood over her with a concerned look. "You're awake!" FoB cried out and hugged Cole. "Where am I?" Cole asked, and FoB explained that Cole was in her apartment.

Cole gripped the blanket as she recalled her fight with Coalition. She lost, lost badly. She hasn't lost an important fight in so long. The Beast's face flashed through Cole's mind. Empire City died because Cole failed to kill The Beast on their first fight and an untold number of people were massacred in an instant.

Cole had the chance to stop the Locusts, and she failed. 'That bastard was holding back. He was testing me,' Cole snarled in her mind. Coalition got cocky and was burnt to a crisp. Yet, the next time they meet, Coalition won't be fooling around. Especially given the fact Cole almost killed him.

"Tris-, I mean, Cole, hey, because of you, so many people are still alive. You know what he can do, and you'll win next time. I'm sure of it," FoB sat next to Cole and gave her a one armed hug. "Now those people are in danger. I don't have the time to train with the Locusts always up my ass. I'm stuck," Cole admitted and FoB smacked Cole upside the head.

"Hey, even though I don't have faith in the CPUs. I have faith in you, look Cole. You have the entire nation at your disposal. Leanbox's soldiers are arresting and killing way more Locust mooks than you on a good day. So take the time to heal and get stronger, alright?" Festival of Blood said and Cole grumbled. "I can't just leave everyone like that," She muttered.

"You aren't abandoning us, you're taking the time to get stronger. So rest up Cole, you can't bear the world on your shoulders," Festival of Blood advised. Cole gritted her teeth and sighed. "Fine, I gotta report to Chika anyway," Cole stood up and fell onto her knees. FoB brought Cole a flashlight, which she drained to heal herself up.

Cole opened Festival of Blood's window and looked back. "Thanks, I promise to keep your sisters safe," Cole promised and Festival of Blood looked away. "I'm adopted Cole, I took the name Festival of Blood in order to fit in," Festival of Blood admitted and Cole fully stepped off and looked at her.

"Like you, I hid my real name. It's Chimamire, and only you can call me that. Alright?" She asked. Cole didn't know why she was being trusted with this personal information. Yet, Festival of Blood, or Chimamire, is Cole's only friend. "When I get back, i'll tell you about who I am," Cole said and Festival of Blood nodded.

Cole jumped out the window, and began making her way to the Basilicom. She needs to learn more about the power of a CPU.

When I entered the Basilicom. I was bombarded by guards, Festival of Blood's sisters, and other staff members. I went upstairs to see Chika. She was disappointed that I came back. She's still holding a grudge that I 'replaced' her as Vert's sister.

Being a little sister, I can hear Zeke laughing at my situation. Still, I'm not one to talk about holding grudges. I told her about my encounter with Coalition and she paled. Like I was a ghost that appeared in her face.

I also told her that I need to get stronger. Chika and I went to the lower levels of the Basilicom. We entered a large room, and I saw a green disc in chains. Turrets hidden in the shadows at every angle. Surveillance cameras with no blindspots.

Chika said this was something called The Mascot, and she says that it's one of two ways to make me stronger.