And SapphireLibra3 has returned! (Hold the applause, please.) School has been a real trip, but no longer! Not only am I done for the term, but I'm not taking classes this summer, leaving more time to write! Here we go!

Nightmare

A red light landed on the Wave Road above where Luna and Xerox Transed In, and Zero materialized. She ran forward a bit, and was shocked to see the amount of viruses. It was way more than usual.

"Xerox, this is crazy!" Zero said looking around.

"Maybe we should have checked the area out first with the Visualizer," Xerox said.

"Probably, but I'm not too sure if it would have made a difference," Zero's Hunter VG went off, showing Pat's picture. She pressed her finger on the picture and opened a link, "Pat?"

"Luna, you already Transed In?" Pat asked, shocked to see Zero.

"Yeah, I did. Where are you guys?" Zero asked.

"Bud, Zack, and I stepped out of the cafeteria for a second, and as far as I know Solo is still in one of the classrooms."

"There are a ton of viruses on the Wave Road right now, and they're causing a massive panic in the cafeteria. Do you think you and Bud can Trans In and take care of things out here?"

"Um sure, but what about you?"

"I'm going into the sprinkler system to take care of the leader."

Pat was shocked hearing that, but he understood that Zero was the best person for the job, "Alright," he said, "But be careful." he closed the link, and Zero ran towards the sprinkler's Cyber Core entrance.

As she ran, three Mettaur Viruses appeared in her way.

"Damn it!" she shouted activating a Battle Card, "I don't have time for this!" her arm turned into a Wide Sword and she rushed as the Mettaur Viruses. The Wide Sword was a strong Battle Card, and it was great against multiple opponents, so Zero deleted the Mettaurs instantly. Right when she made it to the Sprinkler System, someone charged past her knocking her to the side. Zero looked and saw Lynx poised to pounce again.

"I'm so happy to see you again, Zero!" Lynx said over enthusiastically.

"Lynx, I don't have time to play with you!" Zero said in an annoyed tone, "I have to get into that sprinker!"

"That's fine Zero, it isn't my mission to stop you," Lynx stated in a strange tone.

"What is it then?"

"To stall you until Centarus Flame is ready!" Lynx then rushed up to Zero and began slashing at her with her claws. Zero returned Lynx's slashes with her own, all the while getting more and more aggrivated.

Zero and Lynx jumped away from each other. Zero looking at Lynx in anger, but Lynx smiling. Was she enjoying this?

"Lynx, seriously! If I don't get in that sprinkler, a lot of people are going to get hurt!" Zero tried to reason.

"No meow, they'll be safe, see?" Lynx pointed down to the cafeteria. What Zero saw was kind of strange. The people were panicing, but none of them were getting hurt. None of the viruses were attacking the people or anything.

"What's going on?" Zero asked.

"We're not the bad guys, Zero. We're just trying to get what we need," Lynx stated, confusing Zero even more.

"What you need?" she asked. At that moment Zero saw something even stranger. They looked like red crystals, and they were forming all around the Wave Road, "What in the world?" Zero asked. Suddenly Zero felt sort of heavy. She fell to her knees, making Lynx look at her seriously, strangely.

"I'd get out of here if I were you," she said crossing her arms, "I don't think you're used to the effects of the virus."

Zero looked at Lynx in shock, "Wait, virus?" that's when Zero realized what she was looking at. These red crystals were that thing Bud, Pat, Zack, and Solo were telling her about, the Nightmare Virus.

Zero then saw something that scared her. The crystals were flying into the sprinkler system!

Zero forced herself up and was running to the sprinkler system.

"What are you doing?" Lynx asked. Zero stopped as she spoke.

"Even if my life is in jeopardy, I have to make sure the man inside the sprinkler is alright."

"Why meow, you don't have any connection to him, nor do you have a reason."

"It's not about reasons. If I have the chance to help someone, then I'm going to take it, that's just my way," Zero then ran into the sprinkler system. Lynx was about to run after Zero, but was stopped when her Hunter VG went off. She looked and saw High Max contacting her.

"Lynx, you have been ordered to stand your ground," High Max stated.

"But Zero just-"

"If Zero wishes to delete herself getting involved with us then so be it," High Max said forcing Lynx to stop, "You're orders were to stall Zero until Centarus Flame made contact with the virus. If he is able to handle being the vessel then fine, if not then Zero shall be deleted."

Lynx looked at the sprinkler for a second, nodded, and then Transed Out.

Zero transed into the sprinkler Cyber Core and looked around. The temperature was rising to an unbearable level.

"Xerox, why is it s hot?" Zero asked.

"Centarus Flame's probably raising the temperature. He is a fire type."

"But so is Taurus Fire, and he doesn't do this. At least not at this level," Zero and Xerox then heard a scream further in. Zero ran in he direction of the scream and saw Centarus Flame surrounded by those red crystals.

The crystals then flew inside Centarus Flame, making the flame around him to rise. Zero activated her Z-Saber and braced herself.

"Xerox, what happened to him?" Zero asked.

"Remember what Pat was saying? That virus makes EM Beings go insane!"

Centarus Flame slammed his lance on the ground creating a tidal wave of fire. Zero acctivated a Barrier Battle Card to defend herself.

"What in the world?" Zero asked looking at Centarus Flame in shock. Was he really that strong?

"Remember, the virus raises the EM Being's power to an uncontrolled level! This isn't really his power!"

Zero's Hunter VG went off showing Bud's picture.

"Luna, we took care of the viruses on the Wave Road. Where are you?" Bud asked.

"Xerox and I are inside the sprinker's Cyber Core! Ryan's the Neo Arcadia operaive, and he's been infected by the Nightmare Virus!"

"What? Luna, Trans Out now! If you don't then-"

"If I Trans Out then Ryan is going to do a lot more damage! I have to fight!"

"Luna, being that close to the Nightmare Virus is dangerous, even for Zero! If you get infected then-"

"I'll be alright! Trust me Bud!"

"Luna-" Zero turned off her Hunter VG and looked at Centarus Flame.

"Are you sure about this kid?" Xerox asked.

"We're the only ones who might stand a chance against Ryan right now! Xerox, let's go!"

"If you're sure about this, then I guess I'm with you," Xerox said making Zero smile.

"Thanks Xerox," Zero said looking up at Centarus Flame, who looked plainly insane at the moment. She activated her Z-Saber and got in a fighting stance shouting...

"Wave Battle! Action!"