Alright, thanks for reviewing, guys. Anyways, here's the next chapter:
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Teleporter Circuit
"DIE!" Forte flies in the air and fires lightning at Zero. Zero gets hit multiple times, but stands up right after. "Why won't you stay down!?"
Forte charges up his buster and shoots a stream of lightning at Zero from the air. Zero gets hit and the shot pierces the hole in his shoulder. Zero falls down to the ground as electricity starts flowing out of his wound.
Forte deactivates his jet and lands on the ground. "Well, Zero, are you going to stay down peacefully as I destroy you?"
"I won't die here! If I can fight, then I can win!" Zero puts his hands on the ground as he lifts himself up. Forte appears behind him, but Zero manages to dash out of the way as he swings his saber.
"Stop prolonging the inevitable!" Forte jumps at Zero with his twin sabers as Zero brings his Z-Saber up. Forte disappears before they clash and slashes at Zero from behind.
He's too fast! I can't get any hits in. Zero stands up and waits for Forte to make his move. I need to do something quick! Forte appears in front of Zero and slashes at the Z-Saber in his right hand.
Zero tosses Z-Saber into the air and punches at Forte with his fist, stunning him momentarily. Zero jumps up and grabs his Z-Saber, sending a downward thrust at Forte, damaging him in the wings.
"You'll pay for that! This shouldn't happen. I'm stronger than you!" Forte transforms his hand into his dual blades and dashes at Zero. Zero ducks and swipes at Forte with his Z-Saber, but Forte jumps into the air and launches a charged blast down, hitting Zero to the ground.
I can't lose here… Forte grabs Zero by the neck and tosses him into the air. Forte jumps above Zero and slashes with his saber, knocking Zero to the wall.
Forte transforms his hands back to normal as it starts to glow a dark violet color. He runs at Zero and prepares to finish him off.
If I get hit, I'm done for! Zero pushes off the wall just as Forte's fist hits it and spins around in the air with his Z-Saber. Forte disappears before the saber could connect. He's still too fast. I need to catch him off guard.
"DIE, ZERO!" Forte appears in front of Zero and attempts to punch him. I can't move! Zero looks down to find his legs stuck in ice. Forte's fist connects with Zero's stomach and sends him flying back, destroying the ice.
Is this really my limit? Forte's hand transforms into a buster. No! Everyone has worked far too long and hard for it all to end here! Forte fires, but Zero brings his Z-Saber up to stop the blast.
Just a little bit more power! Forte fires again, pushing Zero back a bit more, but Zero still has the Z-Saber against the blasts. Forte's arms transform into blades as he starts to charge at Zero.
"It ends now!" Zero swings his Z-Saber, sending Forte's attack back at him, damaging him in the chest and shoulder. "You didn't even have enough power to push back the first attack. How did you manage to deflect two!?"
"I won't be defeated! I am the strongest!" Forte raises his arm into the air as light starts to surround him. After he finishes, his armor is completely repaired as he flies into the air. What!? This is going to be a lot harder than I first thought.
Forte transforms his hands into two machine guns as he aims down in Zero's direction. He starts shooting very rapidly and hits Zero countless times in all parts of his body. Zero gets sent down to the ground as Forte transforms his arms into blades.
Forte slashes at Zero multiple times before standing up. "Stay down this time, Zero!" Forte walks away and prepares to leave. Is this really the end for me? I can't move anymore. I guess in the end, it is impossible to change the world.
Zero thinks back to everyone he knows. Cerveau, Alouette, X, Craft, Neige, Leviathan, Harpuia, Fefnir, and Ciel. All of you believed that I could stop Ragnarok, but at the end, I couldn't even get on. I'm sorry.
Zero closes his eyes and hears Forte's footsteps as he walks away.
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"Zero… Don't give up." Zero looks to see himself in darkness. He looks down on the ground to find himself hovering in mid-air. Zero looks in front of him to find a reploid with brown hair.
"Who are you?" Just then, the figure gets surrounded by a white light as the two Baby-Elves appear. "Mother Elf!?"
"Everyone's counting on you, Zero. Don't you remember what you promised Ciel?" Ciel…
"I remember now… I won't be destroyed, no matter who stands in my way!"
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"What!?" Forte turns and jumps up as a large blast grazes him. "What are you!? How can you still be alive?"
"I've promised Ciel that I won't be defeated no matter what. I intend to keep that promise!" Zero jumps up and slashes at Forte, but Forte jumps out of the way.
"You aren't even repaired yet! How are you still able to move!? What are your limits!?" Forte lowers his buster and fires at Zero, but Zero disappears.
Zero reappears in front of Forte and sends a punch at him. Forte manages to put up his arms in the way, but still gets pushed back.
Zero follows up by launching a wave through his saber, damaging Forte's arms. "As long as there are people I must protect, I can ignore my limits!" Zero lands on the ground as Forte lands as well. "I will defeat you!"
Zero gets out his Z-Saber and starts attacking as Forte gets his blades. Forte manages to parry most of Zero's slashes, but one of the attacks gets through and cuts him in the chest.
"I've had enough of you!" Forte slams his hand onto the ground, sending waves of energy fanning out. "I'm sure you recognize that attack, Zero. It's one of Omega's, or should I say yours?"
Zero recovers from the attack and fires a charged shot from his Z-Buster. Forte manages to block that out with a shot of his own and the two of them meet. Their fists connect as waves of energy start to destroy everything in the room.
At least I can match his strength now. What!? Forte transforms his other arm into a saber and slashes at Zero. Forte's fist connects with Zero's chest as Zero gets sent flying through the air.
"I'll end this fight right here!" Forte flies into the air as his arms merge into the head of a wolf. "GOSPEL ANNIHALATION!"
It's too big! I need to counter it! Zero's fist starts to glow as he brings it down to the ground. "RAKUHOUHA!" Purple mixes with white as light fills the room. When the light clears, both reploids are in their normal form.
Did I do it? Zero's right hand is almost burnt off from maintaining the attack and his body is in very bad condition as electricity courses through his body.
A huge gash appears in Forte's body as he collapses onto the ground. "Why are you stronger than me!? I've copied everything from your blueprints that would have given you an advantage. I even have some of Omega's power. What is it about your reploid programming that makes you stronger than me!?"
Zero falls to his knees as he answers Forte's question. "It has nothing to do with how I was built. If we're talking about that, you'd be the stronger one. It is because I have someone to protect, and I fight for that someone. That's where true strength comes from."
"That's ridiculous! It makes absolutely no difference in battle."
"Does it, Forte? I've proven it to you in our fight, and I'm sure you've seen it proven countless times before."
Proven before… Is that why I couldn't beat Rockman? No, that can't be it. It doesn't make any sense. Forte turns to Zero, and Zero seems to say something.
"Please, Forte, join the Resistance. I'm sure that Ciel can reprogram you and make you…" Forte puts his hands on the ground and pushes himself upwards.
"Even if what you said before is true, it doesn't change a thing! No matter what you do, there will always be evil. Peace between reploids and humans are impossible! I don't plan on joining you in chasing a hopeless dream!" Forte stands up and warps out of the room.
"Fine, I'll prove to you that dream isn't hopeless." Zero coughs out a bit of blood as he gets his communicator. The effects of that battle are starting to sink in, I'm in worse condition than I thought.
"Operator… Transfer me… back." Zero warps out of the room back to the Resistance Trailer to prepare for the final battle.
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Resistance Trailer
"Welcome back, Zero…" The light clears and Ciel gets a clear look at Zero's condition. "What happened to you!?"
"I ran into Forte." Zero turns to the operator. "Is it possible to reach Ragnarok now?"
"Yes, the security has been disabled. You can go in anytime you wish."
"Alright, then transfer…" Zero is stopped by Ciel as she looks at him with a worried expression.
"Zero, you can't go to the Ragnarok Core now. Who knows what you'll find. Please, Zero, take a break and get repaired first. We still have a bit more time."
"But…"
"You can't do anything in your current condition and you know it." Zero gives up and goes to his room to get repairs as Ciel follows.
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"Zero…"
"What is it?" Ciel hugs Zero after he asks the question, catching him off guard.
"I was so worried about you. Please, Zero, don't push yourself like that. I don't know what the Resistance… what I would do without you."
Zero hugs Ciel back and kisses her while in that position, lasting for about ten minutes. "I have to do this, Ciel. I still remember the promise I made to you, I will get out of Ragnarok alive."
"Thank you, Zero…"
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I know that Zero's taking a lot of time to get on Ragnarok, so let's just say that it's falling at a very slow pace right now. The next battle will be the first part of the final battle.