Alright, in this chapter, I put in a bit of CielxZero Romance.
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Sub Arcadia
Damn it, there's too many of them. Zero's saber ran through another pantheon but two more took it's place. At this rate, I'll never be able to get out of here. There has to be a faster way.
Zero destroyed the two pantheons with a charged buster shot, but a tripod enemy sneaked up on him from behind and attacked. Five more pantheons approached and started attacking Zero.
What's that strange door? The pantheons launched another volley of attacks that Zero jumped through. I think it's one of those portals to Cyberspace that Omega's presence created. Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice.
Zero went through the door and escapes the mechaniloids. Zero destroys the mechaniloid that he found once he enters Cyberspace and moves on. Other than the strange colors here, I almost wouldn't be able to tell the difference between here and Sub Arcadia.
Zero rides a moving platform through an area he's already visited and notices something. Strange, I could've sworn that door wasn't there before, I should go and investigate. Zero walks into the door and finds a teleporter, he goes in and investigates.
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There's nothing here, guess I should just go and head back. Zero turned and a kunai struck him in the back. He turned to see a familiar black and white reploid.
"Phantom!!?"
"Well, Zero, I never thought I'd see you again in this world. Thanks to Omega, the portal to Cyberspace has been opened."
"I already defeated you. How are you here?"
"This is a shadow of the real world, where reploids and Cyber-elves live. After you defeated me, I became a soul in this world, drifting in Cyberspace, this place, where all data flows to in the end. Here, I have learned the truth, about you, Omega, and the Dark Elf."
"What's your point, Phantom?"
"You don't have what it takes to be a hero. You fight blindly without knowing the truth. Once you fight Omega, your resolve will fail in the end. I can't stand to look at you; it is time for your death, at my hands."
Phantom threw a shuriken at Zero, which he managed to jump over. Phantom quickly followed up by dashing and slashing Zero as he lands. He's a lot faster than before.
Zero fired a charged Z-Buster shot, but Phantom disappears before it makes contact. What? Where is he? Phantom appears above Zero and throws a bunch of kunai, hitting Zero as he tries to run.
"You disgust me; I don't remember how I ever managed to lose to a false hero like you." Phantom moves forward, katana in hand. He was about to strike when Zero grabs his arm, interrupting his attack.
"If you don't remember, then allow me to refresh your memories." Zero swings his Z-Saber in an arc, hitting Phantom who was immobilized by Zero's grip. "I've beat you before and I'll do it again."
"We'll see if you have what it takes to back up those words." Phantom escapes Zero's grip and jumps into the air, launching what seems to be a large shuriken in Zero's direction.
That shouldn't be too hard to dodge. Zero dashed to beneath the shuriken, but felt something stab him in the back. He turns and sees kunai flying out from the metal clump.
Damn it, that wasn't a shuriken at all, it was just a bunch of kunai bunched together. Zero was hit by another kunai as he attempts to dodge. Phantom jumps down and Zero does an upward saber attack, only to have Phantom disappear again.
Why can't I hit him? Phantom appears floating in mid air and he puts his two hands together, creating four clones of himself. Which one is real?
The now frustrated Zero hits one of the five Phantoms. It later turns out to be an illusion; a pantheon comes out and explodes, damaging Zero. Phantom throws another dispersive shuriken, having it scatter and attacking Zero.
"So, this is the legendary reploid hero at his best, pathetic." Zero stands up again. "I'll have to admit you have a lot of perseverance, but it takes more than that to defeat me."
"What!?" Zero launches a blast from his Z-Buster, catching Phantom off guard. He then follows up with his Z-Saber combo, but was stopped on the final slash by Phantom's katana.
"Don't count me out yet, Phantom, I'm just getting started."
Phantom jumps out of the way and throws a giant shuriken at Zero. Zero manages to dash under, and Phantom jumps up and lands on the shuriken.
Phantom's shuriken started going left and right, heading upwards as he throws kunai at Zero. All the attacks were dodged, and at the end, Phantom jumps down and does a downward stab in Zero's direction.
Zero counters by using an uppercut with his saber, and manages to land a hit on Phantom.
"Looks like you still have some fight left in you." I'm getting use to his attacks, I should be able to keep up with his movements now.
Phantom dashes at Zero with his katana in hand, Zero counters by firing a Z-Buster. Phantom disappears and creates four more clones. Zero waited for a while to observe the pattern.
One of them seems to be more solid than the other ones, that should be it. Zero let out a charged Z-Saber attack and found that he attacked the real Phantom.
Phantom quickly retaliated by throwing another dispersive shuriken, hitting Zero. Phantom then went down, slashing Zero with his katana.
Before Phantom retreats, Zero took the chance to slice him with his Z-Saber, followed by a charged shot from his Z-Buster.
"This battle is almost over," Phantom got out his katana. "This final strike will determine the outcome."
"I'm ready when you are." Zero got out his Z-Saber and prepared for Phantom's attack. The two of them charged at each other.
Phantom swings his katana in a full arc, touching Zero's shoulder and preparing to go in deeper. Zero let out a fully charged Recoil Rod on the ground, taking to the air and getting behind Phantom.
Zero let loose a downward stab, hitting Phantom, and then unleashes an uppercut.
Phantom is now on the ground gasping. "You truly did have the soul of a hero. Go… cross blades with Omega and show me the power that defeated Master X. Show me what that body can do. Will you flinch once you discover the truth? Do you have what it takes… to be a hero? Only you can decide that.
Phantom disappears in a puff of smoke, leaving Zero to think about what he just said. "What exactly did he mean by that body?"
Zero saw the teleporter reappear and left the area to continue the hunt for Omega and Dr. Weil again.
Zero exited Cyberspace and found the door. He opened it to find Dr. Weil over there.
"My, my, how gallant you are, Zero, to come here by yourself. However, I've already finished my business here. All the reploids are under my control now; you do realize that I can wipe out all humans right now if I wanted to, don't you?"
"Weil!" Zero slashed with his Z-Saber, but Weil already teleported out. "Operators, prepare to transfer me back. Weil is gone now."
"Alright, preparing for transfer," Zero teleported out in a flash.
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Resistance Base
Zero entered the room to find Forte and the Guardians fully repaired from their fight. Forte slightly raised his eyebrows at Zero's injuries.
"What took yah?"
"Let's just say I had a visit from an old friend." Ciel looked worriedly at Zero's injuries.
"You should go and get your repairs checked for now. X has gone out to find information on where Weil might be right now." Zero walks out of the command room as the other reploids waited.
Those wounds look like the handiwork of Phantom, I guess it could just be a coincidence. Harpuia pondered and headed back to his room. Later, the other reploids each went to their respective rooms.
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Zero's Room
Zero looks at his ceiling as he thinks back to what Phantom says. "Show me what that body can do" what exactly did mean by that? When he called me a false hero, there seems to be some emphasis on the word false.
Zero sighs, There's something strange going on, Omega must be more than meets the eyes after what Phantom said.
Zero was lost in his thought and didn't notice a certain person entering his room. Ciel put her hands on Zero's shoulder and Zero realizes she was there.
"Zero, what exactly happened back there?" Ciel looks at Zero with her blue eyes and he didn't see any reason to not tell her.
"I went to Cyberspace and had a fight with Phantom. I'm just thinking over some of the things he said." Zero looked at Ciel to see her reaction.
"I'm sure whatever Phantom says doesn't matter. If it really troubles you, I'm sure the meaning will come sooner or later. Besides, you should know that you're not alone, you have everyone at the Resistance to support you, and you have me."
Zero looked at Ciel for a moment and found a small lump in his throat as he tries to say something. "Ciel… I…" He didn't know when he realized it, but he was in love with Ciel. He struggled for a moment, "loveyou."
"What was that?" Ciel didn't seem to have heard him and Zero takes a deep breath and prepares to speak again.
"I said," Zero pauses to a moment. "I love you."
Ciel just stares at Zero for a moment as Zero turns his face to the wall. Why did I have to say that? She probably thinks that I'm really weird now or something. Well, it did seem like the best moment to tell her.
Zero felt Ciel's hands on his head and she turned it. Ciel brought her lips closer to Zero's and kissed him.
Zero was slightly shocked that his affections were returned, and inside, he was having a party. Ciel broke the kiss.
"I love you too, Zero." Ciel looks at Zero. "Be careful, okay?" Zero just smiles and the two of them just sat there.
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Harpuia's Room
"Ha, it looks like I win the bet, Fefnir, Zero was the one who made the first move." Fefnir grumbled and gave Leviathan a hundred E-Crystals.
"Why do you guys have to do this in my room?" Harpuia watched the two Guardians looking at the peek hole they made.
"You're the one who lives next to Zero, besides, it's not like we could go to Forte's room and drill a hole in his wall." Fefnir continues to look at the scene.
"Well, I think that's about as far as they go for today." Harpuia rose an eyebrow at Leviathan's statement.
"What exactly were you expecting?"
"That they would cuddle or something," Leviathan takes a look at the wall. "Oh wait they are."
Fefnir sighs as they cuddle. "Well, guess I owe you a hundred E-Crystals as well, Harpuia."
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Forte's Room
Forte and X observe a video of Zero's room. Forte recently put one there when X convinced him that he might learn some of Zero's training secrets.
"Why exactly are you here, X?" Forte looks at X as they watch Zero and Ciel together.
"I want to see how the relationship goes. Is it a crime to take an interest in your friend's love life?" X turns his attention to Forte. "Besides, what are you doing watching them."
"I'm simply observing how love works; it might be useful information sometimes. Besides, I'm interested in my little brother's relationships."
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