"Damn, where could she possibly have gone?!" Rhod was on the verge of ripping his hair out. That might have been a bit easier considering the Gormott people tended to grow a lot of it to grab onto, but didn't change the fact he couldn't find someone to give them what he believed was critical information.

"It's more than likely she's on the flight deck, of we haven't seen her go past here-" Kouki started. "Nim, what are you doing?"

"Shush, I'm trying to talk to- oh no, he ran off..." Nim leaned over the railings. "Come back..."

"Let's get a move on. Kouki, you stand guard here and if Maria comes past, get her attention. Nim, you're with me. Be on the lookout."

"Affirmative."

"Let's go! I hope she's on the flight deck, I like it there."

Rhod marched up the stairs, looking around. Unknown to him, there was someone watching.

Kouki watched as a man in blue walked past, followed by a blade. He couldn't help but feel something strange about him, or at least those weapons he was holding. Dual shortswords, a rarity indeed. And the blade that was after him... there was something about their presence that chilled his core.

Metaphorically speaking, anyhow. He was an ice user.

"I just can't see her anywhere..." Rhod had checked the entirety of the flight deck. No sign of Maria. He'd even asked around. He'd even had Nim try to catch the attention of the wildlife, but as it turned out, she could only communicate to phonexes. "Do we have enough money to book a trip to Uraya? And where is Garfont?"

"I'm not sure... hey, do we really need to go after this guy?"

"You have got a point. It's Maria's job. But I'll be honest, the Praetor asked, so I'm going to try and get it done regardless. You don't just ignore a holy decree, even if you're not from the religion. Besides, I need to get stronger and gather allies for my ultimate goal. I haven't forgotten, I'm going to have my revenge."

"Oh, I don't like this fixture on revenge you have. It's going to get you hurt."

"..." Rhod was about to bite back with a remark about Liam, but his all-too-recent split with Maria halted him. "Okay. Change of subject. What about that third combat skill you have? Grasped it yet?"

"Synthesis Lore!" Nim clapped her hands together and bounced around. "It's on the tip of my tongue!"

"So... no?"

"No. I feel like I should know something."

"Synthesis... Lore? Lore, like stories?" Mused Rhod. "Crazy idea here. Nim, tell me a story."

"Um..."

"First thing that comes to mind." Rhod leaned forwards, curious to see if his idea would work.

"Okay, so once, the spirits of the earth lived undisturbed. But there was terrible power in the titans below, that they were supposed to contain- and they knew they couldn't because it kept building up. So the spirits of fire helped the spirits of the earth release some of that power from the titan by letting them form a volcano! But then one day, the titan was in danger. So the spirits of the earth empowered the volcano, and made a massive eruption to drive away the danger!" She looked confused for a second. "How did I..."

"I have no idea. Cool story though." Shrugged Rhod. "Tell me more sometime."

"Hey, I feel a change! Yes, I know what I can do now!" Nim put her hands on her hips and looked up proudly. "I increase the damage of fusion combos. And I know all about blade combos."

"Oh, fusion combos again? Alright, I can work with that."

"Yep."

"I hate to interrupt the chat, you two, but I think I may have left a few things unresolved in the previous script."

Rhod spun, scrambling to get his Knuckles on. "Akhos! You... you're here!?"

"In the flesh." Akhos pushed up his glasses, and spread out his arms, twirling each of his new blades once. "How do you like the new props? You could say they're almost too realistic."

"Don't try anything here, Akhos." Rhod looked around. The guard already had their attention on Akhos, but they weren't running over. "This is a crowded place. You'd never get out. And you'd be recognised all over Alrest."

"Ehehe!" Snickered his blade.

Rhod automatically scowled. "Augh, that... that is one grating voice. Good thing I don't have to deal with it."

"Aw, look at that. I'll just have to be extra sure to do the talking from now on, eheh!" Obrona sauntered up to the side of Akhos.

"You're really going to make a scene here? I'll take you right back to the Praetorium, and I'll have you answer for your crime." Rhod held up his fists. "Surrender now."

"You see, we ACTUALLY want to make a nice little scene here!" Explained Obrona. "'Cause it's time we tipped our hand. Gotta get the script rolling!"

"The world is about to know the name... Torna." Akhos stepped forwards, deliberately.

The blade flashed forwards. Rhod moved to block, as fast as he could. It sparked against his weapon, and he brought his free hand into an uppercut, hoping to drive back Akhos. But with apparent ease, Akhos twisted, and stabbed at him, his ether barrier taking a bad hit, and then started swinging, as the guard ran over.

"Halt! Halt this fight!" Shouted one of the guards, before Obrona grabbed them off the floor.

"Ooooh. Lookit, everyone! Someone thinks they can interrupt us! Let me make a point!" Obrona pitched the nopon cleanly off the flight deck, like a volleyball. "Ehehehe! Someone's going to be sleeping with aaall the fishies!"

"Eagle eye! Go, quick!"

"Akhos! You'll pay for that!" Rhod drew back, and then sprung up into the air, bringing a hand down in an Art. "Haiyah!" Akhos parried, and let his blades flow like water, transitioning into a slice at Rhod's stomach, and then a quick upwards stroke, then a two-handed blow at both of Rhod's arms, but Rhod was fighting back. He punched as hard as he could, trying not to miss, and he managed to get a hit in, chaining that into a savage blow from his Pain-Gain art. His barrier restored itself, and Rhod kept attacking as fast as he could.

"That's your cue!" Akhos tossed his blades back to Obrona, who snatched them from the air and flew straight for Rhod.

Rhod flinched, and tried to block as Obrona tried to shred him, and then Nim ran past, crossing her arms and bringing up a much better barrier, before her driver could end up disembowelled. Rhod pushed through, and managed to get one good hit on Akhos' smug face.

Those twinblades flashed to and fro again, and Rhod stumbled back. Akhos booted him in the chest and he fell over, dangerously close to the edge of the deck. Nim was about to lunge out, and then Obrona popped up behind her and pulled, and she really did fall over the edge, grabbing onto the railing as hard as she could. Obrona dove over, and started trying to yank her off, while the phonexes on her back snapped, trying to bite the attacking blade.

"Watch closely, folks. And remember- This is what's coming to anyone that gets in the way of Torna!" Akhos lifted one of his blades, preparing to stab it into Rhod's back.

"Akhos, watch out!" Warned Obrona, stopping her attempts to pull Nim off the ship.

It was perfect cinematic timing, although Akhos wouldn't have appreciated that for once.

He turned around as a shield-hammer fell straight onto his face, with an absolutely furious Indoline behind it. "In the name of the architect, I will crush your face!" Akhos moved back, and Maria quickly flourished her hammer, jabbing the butt of the handle into him and then rolling the head over to follow through. He couldn't block something of that size, darting out of the way.

More guards were running over, Rhod could see that as he got up and hauled Nim off the edge, while Maria stood in front of him.

"Obrona, let's not have too many extras." Akhos glanced back at the oncoming guards.

"I have just the trick, Akhos! Cruel... world." Obrona generated some kind of red light.

"Ah! The ether!" Nim shrunk back.

Maria looked at her hammerhead's crystal face shrinking. "No, I was warned about this!"

There was a wave of red explosions around the deck, stopping the guards getting closer. "Now, to finish you both." Akhos charged.

Rhod looked down at his knuckles, as they failed to turn on. His ether barrier was seriously weakened too. Maria waved her hammer at Akhos, but suddenly she wasn't in control of the fight anymore, and was rapidly becoming overwhelmed.

"Eat deck-scrapings, you lint-ridden purse!" Rhod moved in, determined to counterattack.

Without any ether to fuel their weapons, both were unable to hurt Akhos. But Rhod's desperation was giving Maria what it took to block, even as the blades nearly pierced her barrier, while Nim and Sanzang fought to draw in more fuel for their weapons.

Rhod saw the sharp edges of his weapons starting to flicker. He moved in close, and started punching as fast as he could, giving Maria a few precious seconds to charge up an art. She rushed past, and then drove a heel into the deck, and swung her whole body around fast, counterbalancing herself with the hammer.

"Blunt Whirlwind!" She slammed Akhos again and again, and then stepped back and out of her attack before bringing the hammer down in a devastating blow, forcing Akhos dangerously close to the edge of the deck he'd ruined.

Akhos was past the point of banter, flipping up into the air and stabbing at both Rhod and Maria, before landing behind them and going straight for Nim and Sanzang. They both dodged out of the way of his attempts to hit their cores, but Rhod nearly blew a blood vessel in anger at seeing those two attacked. "Nim, fight back!" He threw the knuckles to her, and they clamped onto her hands without a second's pause. Nim shouted a shrill battle cry and proceeded to grapple with Akhos for a few moments, gripping his shoulder and throwing him around before finally letting go and scooting behind the two drivers.

"Start a fusion combo!" She encouraged. "Use your Break!"

Rhod drew in his fist, closing in on Akhos with a vengeance. "Throughput Straight!" He slugged him in the chest.

"Earth Break!" Announced Sanzang.

"Righteous Assault!" Maria followed up, and dropped her hammer's head onto the deck, before pushing off it to deliver the mother of all drop-kicks to Akhos, sending him to the floor, and without missing a beat she landed on her feet and smacked him with the hammer once before she threw her hammer back. "Combine the elements!"

"Earth Topple!" Sanzang took hold of the hammer, and a giant circle appeared around the handle, before he lobbed it at Akhos, and to Rhod's surprise the deck simply exploded with earth and fire, shooting up everywhere. "Volcano, Topple!"

Akhos got to his feet, shaken. One of his twinblades had snapped in half. "Perhaps this was a brash idea." He said simply, as though he wasn't one solid hit away from his ether barrier breaking and allowing him to be incinerated where he stood.

"Submit now, thief!" Maria intoned, as Obrona flitted down to Akhos' shoulder.

"I think not. I've still made quite the impression on all of you here, so now I'll take my leave." Akhos grinned. "Exit stage... Back!" He dived off the edge of the deck.

"What the-" Rhod ran over, and le"aned down. The only person in the clouds was the unfortunate Nopon Obrona had thrown down there.

"Where did he go!?" Shouted Maria.

"Maria, now is not the time. These people will want an explanation." Sanzang took her shoulder, and turned his driver around.

"Nim, you're okay? I saw him attack you." Said Rhod, as Maria went to talk to the people on the deck.

Nim patted herself down. "Got stabbed once. No biggie."

"Stabbed?! Where?! Show me, I-I'll get a medic to-" Rhod slapped himself. "Blade. Of course. Forgot again."

"Hey, where's Kouki?" Asked Nim.

Rhod realised his other blade hadn't turned up at all during the fight. "Architect, I hope he's okay!" He turned and headed out to see Maria finishing her explanation to the guards.

"Rhod, Nim, I need your aid for a moment." Said Maria.

Rhod nearly walked past. But managed to stop himself. "What's the matter?"

"These Nopon are insisting we pay for deck repairs, or fix the deck ourselves." Maria explained. "But we have to search the area! If he gets away, then-"

"You may go." Interrupted a voice.

Rhod turned to see a lady. "Hm?"

The lady turned to the nopon on the decks. "Chairman Bana has already received a full report of the incident, and he will be moving out a repair crew to fix this immediately. By spending the money to fix this deck quickly and properly then he will turn a better profit than the shoddy job these two may do."

"Understood, ma'am." Said the guards, waddling off.

"Halt! And he wants this so-called 'Torna' criminalised. They're clearly a threat to us." Finished the attendant, leaving as fast as she'd appeared.

Rhod and Maria were left alone.

"Wow. They've only announced themselves for a few minutes, and already wanted criminals. Everyone knows Bana's got the whole system under his thumb, but there are times that's not so bad..." Murmured Rhod. He spotted a waiting blade. "Ah, Kouki! I was worried about you for a moment!"

"Apologies." Kouki bowed. "I could not get near the ether drained area. I simply did not have the power to survive in that lack of ether."

"..." Rhod shrugged. "Let's just hope that doesn't become a problem later."

"So, Maria. We need to go to Garfont Village."

"Garfont..." Maria steepled her hands. "That's in... Uraya, I believe? Because that's where that armour was made?"

"Most designs are only made in one place, apart from Ardainian military uniform." Reasoned Rhod. "If Garfont's where that one guy I saw had his armour made, than I bet Akhos had his armour made there too. Maybe we can trace where he's been, or who he's travelling with. Or at least find out something about him!"

"Very well. We've found no hints here. And it's as though Akhos vanished into thin air when he jumped off the deck."

"I know."

"Alright then. I will travel to Uraya, and seek out Garfont."

"With me? I do still want to try and catch this wad of spoiled parchment."

"...Fine. But Architect, give me patience, because if you give me strength I'll kill him." Said Maria, looking up.

"I'm not that bad."

"Ah, Malos. How did I do?" Akhos bowed.

"Well, I was hoping for some heads to roll, but you made our point well enough. Once Patroka pulls a few strings, this whole thing ought to blow out of proportion. Get people scared of Torna."

"You're forgetting something." Said Jin. "Those two from the praetorium are still on the search. Let's silence them now, before they can become a problem."

"It's okay, they're heading to Uraya because they're stupid as shit." Malos grinned, and very nearly chuckled. "Seriously, some random backwater village making armour that matches the quality of the Aegis?! But Mikhail is out there testing his prototype with that Nopon, so I'll have one of them join up. Should let us play this however we want."

A titan ship had departed the trade guild, heading out for Uraya's capital, Fonsa Myma.

Nim was glaring at Rhod. "You know you hurt Kouki's feelings back there."

"What? Really? I din't say anything much..."

"It's true! I'm sure I can see it in the way he walks!" Nim hopped around a bit, and went around the corner, before grabbing the large beast by the scruff of his neck. "See! He's been all slumped ever since you just brushed him off!"

"Erm, what's this about, Master Rhod? I'm sorry if I've somehow misconducted."

Rhod shook his head. "No! Just Nim thought I'd upset you by... well..."

"No. I'm simply feeling a little shaky. I am not a very powerful blade, my apologies." Kouki bowed.

"Not your fault." Rhod dismissed the problem. "Hey, did you manage to get a good look at Akhos from where you were though? Help us figure out anything?"

"I bet he's an Ardainian!" Interrupted Nim.

"Hm? Why?"

"Because I don't think any other people could be capable of this evil! Haven't you seen how they are? He must be an Ardainian!"

"I don't like them either." Rhod shrugged. "Actually, I can't think of anything that suggests he wasn't. Urayans tend to have a sort of tough rocky skin, and us Gormotti... well." He brushed a hand over his ears and face. "We get this freaking sweet beard, like ten minutes into puberty."

"Let's go tell Maria. Maybe she'll investigate Mor Ardain for us?"

"You don't want to go there, Huh?"

"Nope. I bet it's going to be some kind of... hell."

"It's alright, lady Nim." Assured Kouki. "I believe I can handle that titan. Even hearing the name, I feel... some slight connection. Perhaps the land of my previous driver?"

"I hope it wasn't, what if you were used for evil?" Nim crouched down. "Hmm, but you don't look evil at all. And you're still natural and stuff."

"...What are you three talking about?" Asked Maria.

"Well... wanna join the Mor Ardain hate club?" Offered Rhod semi-sarcastically. "Showed up and took over Torigoth, damaged Nim's nature. Or Kouki in the fan club. He sees to feel a connection."

"It's not good to hate a whole nation. Perhaps they have done some things to your hometown but I believe they treated you all well, and they didn't have to. Likewise, they're not known for excessive destruction of nature at all." Maria frowned. "In fact, they're some of the most respectable people on Alrest at times. You certainly shouldn't hate them."

"Okay, you can go join Kouki in the fan club. Anyhow, we think Akhos might be a Mor Ardainian, judging by his looks, so we should check there after we've done Uraya."

"...Very well. But mark my words, you will not insult a country while you stand in it! Or I'll be the one to beat you for the embarrassment you cause!"

Fonsa Myma port was a far cry from Indol or Argentum.

For starters, they'd just sailed into a gap between the 'shell' of this particular titan and its body.

"We are inside the titan. We literally just went INTO the titan, guys." Rhod looked around from the edge of the ship, at the cavelike interior of the country. "We basically just walked into something's mouth? What if we get eaten!"

"Master Rhod, it would be a more accurate assessment to say we... entered up the other end." Kouki said, sitting behind.

Rhod blinked slowly. "Kouki, up until this point I've only wanted the ability to make Nim stop talking at will."

"Apologies."

"Look at all these colours! And look at the walls! Look how beautiful the nature is here! This is something I want to protect." Nim bounced around next to Rhod, drinking in a view of the Urayan titan for the first time.

"Indeed, Uraya is renowned for it's natural beauty and fine artists. Indol has many a hymn about these lands blessed by such bounty. But also, some cautious teachings about where overindulgence and greed can take a heart."

The titan docked, coming in from the cloud sea onto crystal-clear water.

Rhod looked around. "What weird stone this place is made of." The pathway was cobbled from rocks in bluish shades. "Gosh. This place just makes me feel... soothed."

Nim tilted her head over. "Are you okay? You're acting like someone's been waving catnip at you!"

Rhod frowned. "Doesn't work on Gormotti. Our biology is far more human than feline. I studied it."

"Regardless of how you feel, we ought to stay at the inn today, and set out for Garfont tomorrow." Maria said, drawing attention and authority from her voice alone. "We'd best find some directions there. Come." She strode into the town as if it wasn't foreign.

They were passing through when Rhod stopped. "Maria, did you see that poster?"

"Poster?" Maria turned, seeing a pillar with a huge sheet of paper plastered over it, painted by hand with expert skill. Even the paper itself looked like more than your average paper. And it showed two soldiers shaking hands. One in black, the other gray.

It read: 'Mor Ardainian negotiations scheduled for one week's time! Peace is coming!' Followed by a small print of 'So please don't make a fuss about the extra guards.'

"That seems like a lie to me. Is peace even possible?" Said Nim. "I'm, uh, not good at politics."

"The chance of peace is slim, it's true. But any ruling body is obligated to lie at times." Said Maria simply. "Above all else, they must allow their citizens to live good lives, and at this point, they've fully prepared for the war, so all they can do is wish for it to be averted."

"At least it'll get delayed. But still. Rubs me the wrong way. How can there still be a need for war if they just got Torigoth?" Rhod eyed up the poster.

"Watch your tongue." Warned Maria. "Now, let's move on."

They went through the town. While Maria and Rhod lead the way, the three blades trailed behind.

"What do you guys think? I don't really like the Ardainians at all, but... I don't want to fight them. They're so scary."

"Maria asked you not to think of them as evil, Nim." Said Sanzang. "I fully agree with her. Their army is made of innocent people desperate to survive in this shrinking world- as is the Urayan army. It is a war of need, not greed. We can only pray The Architect delivers us from peril as he did before."

"Please, you must look at things from their way. It's time for them to leave their titan, because that titan will die soon." Added Kouki.

"I can't. I just can't." Nim shook her head. "What they do to titans, and what they're doing to nature, and... and... I just can't find any sympathy."

"..." Kouki sighed. "To think, that unique blades were meant to have the deeper personalities."

"Most regrettable." Said Sanzang. "You must reflect on this, Nim. As an agent of the preatorium, while I am but the lowest of servants to the Architect, I command you to think on this."

"W-well! I'm trying! But they stand for everything I'm against! What do you want me to do, hug it out? They're a threat to Mother nature!"

"...Like talking to a wall." Kouki said dismissively. Cold as his element.

The sun set, and rose. Rhod sat up in the inn. He'd fallen asleep grateful for the bed, but now he was itching. "Something smells weird. Sanzang, bud, open a window?"

"Oh, you're up!" Said Nim cheerfully.

Rhod scooted off the bed and hit the floor with a thump. "This is the boys room!" He hissed, from the floor.

"So?" Nim leaned across the bed. "It's time to go. Maria told me to go wake you up."

"We're going already?" Rhod shuffled off the floor. "...It's barely dawn."

"It's a good idea for people that naturally need light to work at their best!" Said Nim. "Make the most of the day and all that! Sun's great! And Sunny. Well, he's great at eating, anyway." She reached up and tickled the odd creature under the chin.

"Fine, fine. Guess we'd better get going." Rhod had slept in his clothes. As always. He got up from the floor, and stumbled outside.

Maria was standing there like she didn't even need the sleep. "It's around three days travel from one end of Uraya to the other. This journey will have more than its fair share of monsters, so are you absolutely prepared?"

"Can I get another three hours sleep?"

"No."

"Ugh. Alright, let's go."

As two people and three blades walked out of the gates of Fonsa Myma, and started to walk through the fields of the capital, they were being watched, from atop the great stone staircase leading down to the waters.

"Alright, Muimui. I have a visual." A man in black armor put down some binoculars.

"Mr. Mikhail, you are sure this is a good idea?"

"It's necessary, and it takes a job off Akhos' hands. Take Xiaxia, and test it as extensively as possible. It's stronger than the blade bots I have planned, but that's not cost-effective in the long run. Alright, activating it..." He reached over to a very compact metal object, and hit a hidden button.

Two large, thin wings unfolded, and a body lit up with ether lights. A mechanised voice called out. 'Ether furnace operating at 20% capacity. Antedescent Xiaxia, online.'

"This is administrator Mikhail. Run the Blade subroutine with Muimui as your driver. Do not refer to him by name at any point."

'Subroutine running...' A yellow gem set into the chest started to glow. 'Driver identified.'

"Okay, Muimui. Remember this is a prototype artificial blade, so expect bugs, expect malfunctions, and above all else, dont's take it into a city or it'll turn a lot of heads. Once you've got anough data, take it to our Mor Ardain base."

"Muimui understand. Will gather data!" The professor was wearing all black. "And will stay secret! Drivers not know it professor Muimui under mask!" He pulled a tiny black balaclava over his face. "From this moment... am Nopon assassin!"

"Right, right. Anyway, you go join up with them. I'll provide some entertainment once you lot reach Garfont." Mikhail patted the top of his creation. "Alright, back to work on the Marsenes! Say hey to all the girls for me, prof."

"Nopon assassin is go!" Muimui grabbed the feet of Xiaxia. "Fly, my artificial blade!"

'Acknowledged.' Thrusters ignited on the wings, and lifted both from the floor.

Author's notes: Say what you will about how much my story interests you, I would at least like to think I can do things you wouldn't expect.

So, I got the Poppibuster DLC, and man, Soosoo is a badass. He got shot in the face, and just built an extra eye, and then and entire nopon skell. And somehow found time to bury the NSFW folio (Lol).

Antedescent Xiaxia can be fought at level 99 in Mor Ardain's Old Factory, where you fought Rosa, after reaching the First Low Orbit station. I always personally thought it weird the mass-produced blade bots would have a unique, so... story time, eh?