Hyperdimension Standard Time: [9:00] September 1st 20XX
Location: [Lowee]
Although it took a fair amount of time, we've finally made it to Lowee's capital. While I didn't notice at the time, Miyo had uploaded a skill to my gauntlet called Energy Drain when she gave it back to me that apparently drains power from a directed target and temporarily gives it to me as a small boost of strength. I don't know much about this skill and it has no description so I can't find out how specific this thing is capable of being and I haven't had the opportunity to test this in battle yet so I can only make assumptions. One tiny irritant I have about this new gauntlet is that it can't create skills the way it did before the upgrade. So while I still have Lambent Blast and Dark Saber, I can't get any others the way I'm accustomed to. Miyo said that the method has changed from the previous sensory recognition system to one where I could freely create skills via inputting a set number of parameters and it then randomizes and creates the skill based on what I desire it to be, so I guess that can be considered an upgrade, but the differing system is a bit complicated to use and I'm a little fearful that I'll make skills I can't do. Ophelia's system atleast ensured that the skills I would acquire would be things I'd be able to fully handle.
Back on August sixth, (I'm relieved that this world's calendar is the same as the one on Earth, or perhaps it's translated because of the gauntlet, either way, I'm just relieved since I don't need to worry about getting dates mixed up) while I was doing morning training, I sent an update report to Histoire and she told me that she contacted Lowee's Oracle to have her assist me as much as she can. She told me that, while she left out the matter of my secret mission, the Oracle for the nation: Mina Nishizawa would provide me with as much assistance as she can. What gives me a degree of relief is that Nepgear and the others reported that they are staying in Lastation until they build up Shares with Mamoru, Shino, and Yuuki's assistance, them all being told of how I'm a traitor to the CPUs like I planned, though I am a little despondent being called that, but I have no choice but to play up the charade for now since Nepgear and the others won't accept me back easily, if at all. They all estimated that it'd roughly take half a month to a month to complete all the necessary quests to build Lastation's shares to a stable level and then another month to reach Lowee, so the three of us can really take our time to find the Mascot of this land. That gives me roughly two months to find this one and find my way to Leanbox. I actually questioned Miyo about why there's no land-based transportation in this world outside cities, and all I got was a shrug, which slightly irks me.
Chirper Events:
Lily Rank 3 - Karen, Miyo, Izumi
"Hey Karen, ya know, I've been wanting to ask you something for a little while now."
"What would that be Miyo?" I ask, wondering what Miyo wants to ask me since she's never pushed me for information before.
"What is your world like?"
"My world?" I put my fist on my chin as I try to remember it since I've been more focused on helping the CPUs "Er, I can't remember right now. I haven't thought it in a long while."
"Fair enough. When you remember, just tell me."
"Will do. But since you asked me, I have the right to ask you about your worlds."
"True. But I can't give you a good answer sadly. I did tell you I've been stuck here a decade. I just turned sixteen a month ago, so since I was a kid when I ended up here, I didn't exactly have the greatest perception of my world then. The few things I can remember is that my world is named Isnia and my people are hyper-advanced, though we still are stumped by many things despite how good our technology is; this whole dimensional thing is one of them. I was working in my own lab when a portal of some kind opened and drew me in."
"I see. Mind if I ask about that armor I've seen you in?" I ask the girl, having seen her armor on occasion, mostly from when I had done my early morning training sessions.
"That armor? I got it as a baby which would grow with me for my first ten years, though I've had to extensively modify it over the years when I got to this world since the initial effects wore off years ago. Thankfully, the clothing here handles that purpose for the most part, though I've had to phase out a few. Okay Izumi, it's your turn to cough up your story to our new party member."
"Alrighty, anything for you Miyo~" Izumi responds with a flirtatious smile, making Miyo sigh in disbelief before looking toward me "I'm from a world called Elbance which is choked full of mana, which allows us Elbians to use magic, which is not like the kind of magic here. I could also fly back in my world because of that mana, but now that flight ability is null and void. While I'm still technically a child at fourteen, I did have a little talent with healing magic but I think I messed up a magic spell and it brought me here. Miyo was the first person I met in this world and it was like love at first sight."
"Correction, you tackled me out of nowhere and took my first kiss. You're the deluded whackjob who insists that we're in love. It certainly didn't help a whole lot since I was ten and you were eight at the time. Remind me why I went out of my way to be your friend because of what you did." Miyo interrupts with a sheepish blush, and I blush in turn, though a part of me can't help but be disgusted when Miyo brought up the age matter, and although she used a rather harsh choice of words at the end, it didn't sound angry at all.
It looks like Izumi is currently fourteen based on the information I have. Miyo was six when she got here, and Izumi was eight. Aye, these two are just kids taken away from their families at a young age, too young. I atleast am eighteen so I'm a full adult and I'm a little too used to this kind of situation.
"You're mean Miyo, you know you love me." I have no idea if Izumi is kidding or not with this but I am praying that she is merely joking around "Anyway, wow old are you Karen? We've actually never learned your age." Izumi asks me rather casually.
"I'm eighteen." I answer with a simple nod.
"Oh, I knew I felt a real motherly vibe from you Karen." Izumi says with a happy tone, though I groan very strongly.
"What's wrong? Izumi complimented you, and be glad it's not one of her usual flirtatious remarks, she has thousands, trust me."
"I just don't like being called a mother is all. I only recently became an adult and there's no way I'm going to be a parent any time soon."
"Oh, fair enough Karen. Izumi, let's cut her a little shack, okay?"
"Okay."
Back to story
"We've made it faster than I thought. Izumi and I need to go meet with our client, so feel free to walk about the city."
"Actually, I need to meet with the Oracle. It's part of my job to be honest."
"Oh, you're meeting with her too? That's convenient. Let's go then."
Miyo and Izumi had actually changed from their different clothes to their normal clothing, without the enchantments, before they entered the city since they said that they don't want to hide behind mirror images, so I decide to follow suite even though it feels weird wearing these clothes since I haven't since June after I looked at the time and date with my gauntlet.
"Wow, it's been nearly three months already." I mumble in my head, recognizing the date as I look at my gauntlet.
I walk with my party to the Basilicom and when we enter, when we see two young girls with brown hair, one wearing a pink coat and the other wearing a blue coat, run in our direction.
"We really got her this time Rom!" The girl in pink says with a mischievous smile.
"I'm...scared." The girl in blue says quietly as she covers her face.
Izumi silently walks toward the two girls, while Miyo and I walk casually
"Rom, Ram, are you two causing trouble again?" Izumi asks in a mischievous tone as she catches the pair in a bear hug.
"Eh?" The girl in pink yelps in surprise, apparently not knowing Izumi was there "Oh! Miss Izumi! Miss Miyo! I'm glad you two are back!"
"I'm...glad you're back...Miss Izumi...Miss Miyo."
"Glad to see you too, you pranksters!" Izumi says in a very upbeat tone as she playfully rubs their heads.
"If you ask, Izumi thinks of the twins as her little sisters and spares them what happens to people like you or me." Miyo whispers to me and I nod in turn from what she had told me.
"Mind giving me an introduction Miyo, Izumi?" I ask a little nervously, wanting to know the girls' names.
"Oh, right. The girl in pink is named Ram. Her sister here is named Rom." Miyo says with a gentle smile.
"Ram's a bit of a prankster and is very playful. Rom on the other hand, she's a quiet sort, but she's polite atleast." Izumi says, giggling a little bit.
At this point, a blue haired adult woman begins running toward us, though she's covering her ears for some reason; perhaps because of the prank that the twins pulled.
"Rom! Ram! I need you two to return to your rooms, we have...guests...coming." The woman says in a mildly panicked tone before looking toward us "Oh, Izumi, Miyo, you're back. Are you ready to begin work?" The woman says, regaining her composure.
"Of course Miss Mina." Miyo says with an energetic smile, though it fades rather fast "Actually, may I ask what this job is about? You didn't exactly say much about it."
"Let me address this formally. The job I am offering to you and Izumi is the role of caretaker to Rom and Ram in addition to myself. Ever since you four met a year and a half ago, Rom and Ram always ask me when you two will return to play with them. Even though I know about your background with your associates, you had little loyalty to them correct?"
"Pretty much. We do have our own needs and our past employer paid for our work. But I wish to ask Miss Mina, considering our lives prior to this, what exactly will this position offer us?" Miyo inquires.
"In an economic stance, you'll be considered live-in servants. As my own person however, you'll be like family to us."
"mmm; Miss Mina, is there a time limit on how long we can accept or deny the job?" Miyo asks with a mild groan, apparently thinking my mission against ASIC may take priority over this job here considering the time we've spent getting her and talking about the situation.
"You don't want to stay with us Miss Miyo?" Ram asks with a mild pout, since I guess that she and her sister really wanted Miyo and Izumi to stay here.
"It's not that Ram, it's just that our new party member: Karen, she's fighting against ASIC and well."
"I see now, you wish to stay with her to defeat ASIC correct?" Mina says as she pushes her glasses up.
"Yeah, besides we have our own bone to pick with ASIC." Miyo responds with a tone which appears to be calm anger.
"Karen, I apologize if I'm asking a personal question, but I'm sensing an unusual aura about you. Is there a reason for this?" Mina asks me.
"I will answer that question Mina. My name is Caelus, and I merged my consciousness with Karen's in order to save both our lives." I'm surprised that Caelus spoke up when she wanted to keep low, but I imagine that since we're around people loyal to the Console Patron Units, she feels comfortable enough revealing herself.
"Caelus? You're alive? I'm surprised. I would like to humbly request your aid in rescuing our nation's CPU." Despite what Mina had said, she does not look surprised in the slightest, though Miyo, Izumi, Ram, and Rom are.
"And you will have it. I am not not going to stand aside and let ASIC win, not when I've committed so many resources trying to defeat them. Although I am incapable of fighting them myself, I have selected Karen Koizumi as my avatar."
"Hold up. Karen, why didn't you tell us you're a CPU?!" Miyo asks me in a tone that's mixed with surprise and curiosity.
"Technically I'm not a CPU, yet." I say to Miyo rather casually, with a tone saying that I'll explain later, before looking toward Mina "Putting that aside; Oracle Mina, I actually came here to fight against ASIC, however, I need to find out where the Mascot Character is for this nation to do that."
"Unfortunately, I don't know where to find the Mascot Character exactly, but Histoire has told me that Mascot Characters are in dungeons, so I've compiled a list of the dungeons here in Lowee." Mina says as she pulls out a scroll from inside her robe and gives it to me "Here you go."
"Thank you. I suppose I should get going."
"Wait, it'll take you a long time if you go now. Let me give you full access to Lowee's fast-travel network so you can quickly find the Mascot character for this land. Normally you need to visit the various places on your own, but we can grant top-priority access if the need demands it and your fight against ASIC warrants this. And as long as you're staying here in Lowee, I offer you residence here in this Basilicom."
"I am deeply honored by your kindness." I respond with a sincere bow to Mina's generosity.
"She may be right to be honest Karen. Let's take Mina's offer and thoroughly research the dungeons from here in the Basilicom. Let's go have some fun Ram, Rom." Miyo says to me before running elsewhere with Izumi, Ram, and Rom, leaving me and Mina in the main chamber, with me seeing her sigh deeply in relief.
"I'm a little thankful that those two will be around to help me deal with Ram and Rom, atleast for a little while. As sweet as those two can be and as loyal I am to Blanc, they're a handful; though Miyo and Izumi are able to keep them calm thankfully." Mina says with a calm looking smile "Feel free to explore the Basilicom. I have some work I need to do, but I wish to speak more with you when time permits."
"I'd like that Oracle." I smile in return, seeing Mina walk off to a different part of the Basilicom, and with her gone, I walk to one of the pews and I sit down and lean back, looking up toward the ceramic glass windows, noting it's extremely beautiful design, almost identical to those of churches in my world. I take a very deep breath as I stare at the windows "It's been a long while since I've had a chance to relax like this. It's been nothing but training in the morning, walking all day, and sleeping at night." I say out loud, though my tone is a little quiet since I don't want to disturb anyone who may be nearby.
Hyperdimension Standard Time: [10:30] September 1st 20XX
Almost immediately, I feel a gentle tug on my arm and when I look to see, I see the girl in blue standing next to me
"You're...Rom right?" I ask, wanting to make sure this is the same girl, with my answer being a simple nod "Is there something you want Rom?"
"Do you...want to play a game...with us?" Rom softly asks me, but her tone is so quiet I barely heard her.
"Um, maybe later Rom. I need a little time to recover my energy. I went through rigorous sword training this morning, so I'm a little tired."
"Oh. Okay." Rom quietly says as she walks away to where I guess the others are.
When Rom left, I look up to the windows again, hoping that the exquisite design can help soothe some of the tension I still have about this situation, particularly concerning my friends. I wonder if Mamoru ever felt like this during Aincrad since Akihiko forced him to work as his agent for most of our time there. If Mamoru hadn't used the system controls to force the door open, we would've been forced to kill him back then, and I just know that would've hurt, if not utterly destroy, Haruka. I can only dread the possibility that they'll actually go through with the plan to kill me.
"Aye, I've never really felt this off-guard before. You would think that the shock of this would've faded by now, but I can't help but feel like there's a weight on my heart."
"Sometimes you have to make tough choices Karen, you must know that right?"
"Geez, I can't even have my own private thoughts anymore? Geez, talk about an invasion of privacy Caelus." I say in my mind, making it clear that I don't like her reading my thoughts.
"I can't help it Karen. It's like you said when we spoke with the Lastation Mascot: We're one and the same now. While I'm keeping a small wall over my own memories, I can see your own memories very fluently."
"Wait, if that's true, can you search my memories for what I was doing before coming here to Gamindustri? I've forgotten."
"What kind of tactician forgets about her own operations? Very well, give me a minute." Caelus actually had the gall to mock me about how my memory has been a little sketchy when it comes to details about Earth. I can only guess that my death from the Graveyard made me forget. I am so tempted to lash out against her, but I need to be a bigger person here "Hm, according to what I can gather from your memories, you were in some place called Gun Gale Online. You were trying to find someone called Death Gun."
"GGO...Death Gun. I think I remember having to deal with something like that. I'll write that down, but it's likely that I won't have to deal with that at all." I say as I write the details in a note-taking app, wanting to remember this for later.
"Look, I can't exactly stop myself from reading your thoughts since it just happens now, but I'll try to compromise: I'll try to keep quiet when you want to have a private moment. That's the best I can do considering the action I made."
"Right. You forced this on me and according to what you said, it's impossible to reverse this." I say with a mildly despondent tone as I reflect on what happened. As thankful as I am that I was saved from death, some of the side-effects are not things I like much.
"Okay, now you're just pouting. Based on your memory, you rarely act like this, so buck up."
I feel Caelus going to sleep at this point, so I decide to pull out the scroll and investigate the dungeons here in Lowee. I see that there are four dungeons in this nation: Atari Marsh, Iris Field, the World Maze, and a place called Lowee Global Expo. Based on this scroll, the last dungeon is in the east half of Lowee, and the others are western bound. Once I look through it, I put the scroll back in my inventory. I think I may try sneaking away when I regain my strength because I don't want to bother Miyo and Izumi since Rom and Ram really seem to like them, so I plan on doing this solo. While I could figuratively find this Mascot within a day or two if I work non-stop, I want to work at a leisurely pace and leave Lowee when Nepgear and the others depart from Lastation. While they waste their time coming here, we'll bypass them entirely and use the time to find Leanbox's Mascot.
"But wait. They could deem Lowee's mascot lost to them and go to Leanbox. That would endanger this nation. I'll need to work on quests to build Lowee's shares if that's the case. Unless I mess up big time, I'll atleast get one Mascot and that'll force one final battle between me and the others."
After thinking about this, I take Celeste's sheathe out from my inventory, draw the sword, and simply stare at the shiny luster of the blade
"I wish things could be as simple as this sword. It'd be so much easier."
Hyperdimension Standard Time: [12:00] September 1st 20XX
Location: [Lowee Global Expo]
After I regained my strength, I snuck out to this dungeon and notice the place swarming with monsters. As strong as I've gotten, I doubt I'll last against this many considering that I'm only wearing conventional clothing, but I can't back away after I've come so far. Caelus clearly knew since she decided to speak up again.
"You don't need to worry Karen. Celeste's magic enchantment comes in layers. It's default power when wielded by her true owner is full mastery of the sword, the next ability comes after being in close proximity of the blade and has engaged in battle. It grants a set of armor that changes depending on the mind of the beholder. It's not something that changes freely, more like: It has a different look per person. Ignoring the fact that you are only the second person to ever use Celeste, I did make the enchantment to work that way. I'm rambling, but look, just focus on spawning your armor and it'll protect you."
I follow Caelus' instructions and I see some sort of beam spawn above me and it slumps down to my feet and I feel the armor assemble on my person as it descends. I notice that the nearby walls have a shiny glass which is letting me see what this thing looks like and it's remarkably well-done.
"Holy cow. Is there anything that this world is incapable of doing?!" I exclaim in shock, noticing that my voice sounds muffled from the helmet.
"This world is full of wonders and miracles Karen. While there obviously are limits, just about anything you think you can do, you can."
"Heh, thanks."
I draw Celeste as I notice five cube like monsters rapidly approaching me
"Remember that the monsters no longer see you as an ASIC agent, so they will try to kill you in battle."
"Got it."
The monsters quickly surround me and rapidly attack me, giving me no opportunities to attack since they are attacking me in too perfect a sequence and that is forcing me on defense. These things must be trying to wear me down so I'll be easy prey to their attacks, and while it'll take time because of all the training I've been doing in addition to the armor, it'll happen at some point. Right when I notice two of them beginning to attack after I blocked an attack, they all get destroyed with well-timed rifle rounds based on the sounds I heard before they vanished into pixels. I quickly look back to see Izumi and Miyo rapidly rushing toward me; Miyo holding a rather unique, and massive, carbine rifle and Izumi holding her staff, with it being as massive as Miyo's rifle. They both are wearing armor and considering that I can tell what Izumi is wearing: a pink bionic suit with white trims and a dark pink visor with what appears to be a futuristic kind of ribbon keeping her hair in pigtails. As a result I can tell that the white juggernaut is Miyo.
"Karen, why didn't you tell us you were coming out here?! Do you trust us that little?" Miyo demands with a calm kind of fury as she strongly slaps me and that can be rather terrifying based on the experiences I've seen in the last five years. I gotta say, although I'm still wearing my armor, that slap hurt like mad.
"It's not like that. I didn't want to interrupt you two from being with Rom and Ram; you two were hired to help watch over them, not help me with fighting ASIC."
"Karen, that is one thing and this is another! We're a party and party members don't do stuff like this. Besides, we told Mina that we wouldn't be taking the job right now. As much as we like the twins, we do have priorities and taking down ASIC is more important here. We'll spend time with them while we're here in Lowee in addition to us doing quests to build shares."
"I...Sorry guys. I didn't want to bother you all, so I wanted to come on my own." I say with a quiet tone, and even though Miyo is younger than me by a few years, she certainly does have what it takes to talk me down, and I won't deny: I am stubborn when I need or want to be.
"Since we've already come all this way, let's search this dungeon and see if the Mascot is here. Let's go Karen, Izumi." Miyo says rather calmly, and I honestly think that she's vented all of the anger out of her system based on her tone.
We continue through the dungeon, fighting the various monsters in the area and the three of us encounter another girl fighting monsters on her own. Her weapons of choice is extremely unorthodox, even by fantasy standards, as I see her using a kendama, a yo-yo, a frisbee, and a pachinko (I am kinda wondering why this world's population appears to be fully female since I haven't seen any guys in this world aside from Katsuo, Kazuto, and Mamoru, ignoring the fact that they came with me from my world. Are all of the males brought here from other worlds maybe? This is a mystery I'm not sure if I want to find out about. Also, I am seriously wondering why this girl is using weapons that are this unorthodox, though when I remember Compa's syringe, I tremble in fear as I've seen her use it a few times.) I glance at the girl and she is rather short, has red hair with the left side having a half-ribbon style being held together by an actual black colored ribbon with yellow beads attached to it. Although I can't see her front, it looks like she's wearing Chinese attire and it looks like she has a metallic dragon with a gold coating wrapped around her waist and the head being next to her own head.
"Oh dear goddess, no. Just no. It had to be RED." Miyo groans in irritation, making me a little confused, especially since I see Izumi slightly tremble, the last person I expected to tremble when it came to encountering girls.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't like that girl much. She's like me, but too much of an extremist." Izumi simply mutters in my direction with a small frown, really making me confused now.
"But, you're-"
"Look, I'm not an extremist. I don't go all the way like that girl, I just like the thrill of the hunt, I don't want to capture my prey." Apparently Izumi knew what I was going to ask and easily responded.
"But what about Miyo said?"
"I was younger and I was having adverse effects from a lack of mana flowing through my veins. I couldn't control myself at the time, so I was a bit stir-crazy, but I've managed to adapt." Izumi explains to me with a nervous chuckle as I guess she recalls that particular time in her life.
"Miyo, you could've told me that earlier, I was fearful that Izumi would've jumped me."
"Sorry about that. Let's hope that we can just ignore her." Miyo says with a mild apology, before trying to walk around the girl without being seen, which doesn't work sadly as this girl: RED heard Miyo and she dashes toward us.
"Wifey three and four, good to see you two again!" The girl says with an extremely giddy tone, though her tone is extremely familiar, making me remember something from Earth.
"Huh? Yui? What are you doing in this world?" I subconsciously ask, as I recognize the girl's voice, though all three stare at me when I said this.*
"Eh? Who's Yui?" RED asks, tilting her head slightly. Izumi and Miyo simply shrug at my mention of the name, figuring that I'm speaking of a person I know but they don't.
"Er, just someone I know. You just sound like her is all."
"Oh, okay then Wifey five!"
"W-Wifey five?!" I exclaim in utter horror, looking toward Miyo and Izumi to get some kind of help, though any hope of help got shot down as they look away, apparently leaving me to my fate.
"RED, why are you even here?" Miyo inquires with a semi-hidden frown.
"Oh right. Madam Histoire sent me here to Lowee to help someone named Karen. I was told she'd be in an Loweean dungeon so I scoured over all trying to find this person. I thoroughly searched Atari Marsh and Iris Field and got nothing. This was my next stop."
"Histoire sent you to help me?" I ask in surprise. I never anticipated Histoire sending someone to help me like this. I planned on me doing this on my own, no help whatsoever, but lady luck seems to like me even though I'm backstabbing my friends as far as they know. Miyo and Izumi agreed to work with me at Brave's request to avoid their 'termination' and this RED was apparently sent by Histoire to aid me. I suddenly have a flashback to when Yuuki said that Kazuma and Ophelia had sent her to help me and my friends but she lied, having found a way to use the portal Ophelia made to get to our estate in Alfheim.
"You're Karen? Sweetness! This is very good! I find myself a new wifey and I am reunited with Wifeys three and four."
While a part of me wants to believe she's being honest about being sent by Histoire, I need to make certain, so I decide to contact Histoire myself for confirmation and I switch to a thought-only frequency "Histoire, you there?"
"Is there something you wish to ask me Karen?"
"Yeah, this girl RED said that you sent her to help me, is that true?"
"That's right. I hired her to help you find the Mascot Characters. But be aware that if you get even one Mascot, it'll force a battle between your group and Nepgear's. I know that you said you wanted this private but Ophelia caught on to our plan, but she swore to keep this a secret even though she wasn't too fond of the idea. She did say that she expected this kind of thing out of you however."
"Heh, that doesn't surprise me too much. I've known Ophelia for years and I just imagine that she's able to read me like a book. Anyway, I got what I need. Thanks Histoire."
"It is my pleasure. Is there anything else you need to talk about?"
"Actually yeah. I need Nepgear's group diverted a little if possible."
"I cannot, in good conscience, do such a thing. if you work fast, you can build Lowee's shares and hurry to Leanbox. They will be going that way no matter what."
"Got it. I'll proceed as fast as the wind."
I end the call and then remember what RED said about visiting the other dungeons "Wait, you said you went to Atari Marsh and Iris Field, right?" I ask RED, getting an instant nod in response "Did you see any large rock formations deep within the dungeons?"
"No. I didn't see any; why do you ask Wifey?"
"So the Mascot is either here in this dungeon or in World Maze. Pretty damn convenient." I mumble in my mind, relieved that a good part of my search here in Lowee has been reduced big time. That doesn't exactly mean I get to spend less time here since I need to still build up Lowee's shares "It's part of the job you were hired for RED."
"Ah, I see now. Wifey three, four, and five; let's proceed with the operation!" RED exclaims happily, dashing ahead into the dungeon.
"Er, shouldn't we be trying to stop her?" I ask with a mild mumble, trying to gain sense of the situation again.
"Eh, let her do what she wants. The one compliment I'll give is that she's much stronger than she looks." Izumi groans as she slowly follows suite.
"If it's not clear already, Izumi doesn't like RED. While I can never believe myself when I say it; I prefer dealing with Izumi than RED since Izumi keeps the cap at teasing; RED has no cap."
Hyperdimension Standard Time: [16:00] September 1st 20XX
Location: [Lowee Global Expo]
I believe we've finally reached the exit since I see a giant dragon creature and considering the other monsters I've seen here, this one is not your average monster.
"Oh crap, crap, crap! Why is there a Guardragon here?! We need to get out of here!" RED, Izumi, and Miyo all exclaim in utter horror. Apparently there's something utterly scary about this monster, though I don't see it.
"What's wrong?"
"Karen, Izumi and I fought one of these with Brave, Judge, Trick, and Magic once, roughly two years ago. We were barely able to weaken it and it badly damaged Brave and Judge, in addition to us being pretty badly hurt. Magic and Trick actually stayed behind to ensure we evacuated a village full of people that worshipped them. When they made it back; the two of them were so badly hurt I'm amazed they were able to walk at all. We need to...Wait, this is the same one!" Miyo explains with a degree of panic before exclaiming the last part, any semblance of calm serenity in her being gone as she stares at the monster.
"How can you tell?" I ask as I take up a defensive stance with Celeste drawn.
"Look at its wings. That same monster actually ripped off Magic's and uses it for itself."
"Wait, my beloved wifeys work for the Arfoire Syndicate of International Crime?"
"This is not the time RED!" Izumi shouts with a tone that borders both anger and extreme fear.
"You guys are overreacting too much." I sigh as I charge, believing that no monster is intelligent enough to beat me. The only two reasons I had trouble with the Ancient Dragons at the start was how I had no idea how combat worked in this world at the time and I didn't have the physique to handle combat beyond a point. I've become much stronger since then.
"Karen no! Izumi, get a barrier around her!" Miyo shouts, with Izumi quickly casting the spell as I see a sort of transparency cover my armor, which I guess is the barrier spell.
I quickly see the monster move with the speed of an avalanche and swiftly slashes against me and the slash sends me flying past Miyo, Izumi, and RED. I'm surprised that the monster's slash was able to instantly destroy the barrier and shattered parts of my armor as I feel the strong slash against my skin.
"WAH!" I shout as I get sent flying like a ragdoll, landing rather harshly against a wall "Oww...that hurt even with armor on. I… I feel weak." I say with my voice becoming weaker and weaker by the second.
"Karen, that was just stupid! They warned you that the monster that extremely powerful but you charge in anyway?! What kind of tactician are you?!"
"Urg...not the time Caelus…" I groan to her in my mind, my voice being very reticent. I quickly notice Miyo, Izumi, and RED surround me.
"Izumi, use an Eject Button, fast!" Miyo exclaims, shooting the monster multiple times with her carbine trying to slow the monster down since I see the monster momentarily stop each time even though the guard gauge barely took a dent.
Izumi swiftly throws the button toward the ground and a magic circle appears underneath us when the device shattered; enveloping us all in light just in time as the monster took a swing at us. When the light fades, I find ourselves outside the Basilicom in Lowee thankfully, though it's getting tough for me to maintain consciousness though I know I can feel something spreading through my body.
"Okay, we need to hurry and find Gust. She surely can treat you Karen. Izumi, help me carry her."
A/N: If you're wondering why Karen said this, it's rather simple. RED's seiyuu (japanese term for voice actor) is Kanae Ito, who plays Yui in Sword Art Online.