Author's Note: Hi, first chapter for August.
Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.
Several minutes ago...
B RS was about to hop over when she felt Dragon Slayer grip her arm, the pressure breaking the bones and muscles in her arm, "Wait, Shooter..."
B RS tried to remove Dragon Slayer's hand from her arm, the grip breaking her bicep as Dragon Slayer stared her down. B RS turned around and met Dragon Slayer's eyes, wondering what was so important when she saw the woman's lips purse to a grim line. That was enough proof to state that what she needed to tell her was important, that everything else wasn't a priority now. Removing her hand from the railing, B RS felt the grip weaken until Dragon Slayer removed her hand, flexing the fingers before taking a couple of steps back. Judging from just the grip alone, B RS didn't doubt the older Anomaly's ability to stop her if she tried to escape, that was too much of a risk to take.
"What now?" B RS inquired.
"Despite your adamant attitude to leave, you can't," Dragon Slayer told her, her voice grim, "The situation's been changing before any of us could take any immediate action"
B RS frowned, "It doesn't matter to me..."
"That's where you're wrong, your involvement in this is the crucial part," Dragon Slayer said, "Leaving now might delay the impossible, but it certainly won't stop it"
"You don't get it, do you?" B RS said, narrowing her eyes.
Dragon Slayer knew B RS was shifting the topic, "Clarify, because it doesn't sound like we're talking about the same thing"
"I'm not the same as before, I get that, but what I did to them is starting to haunt me," B RS explained to her, "And this whole 'being connected to the Spirit Eater' thing, that just doesn't prove anything other than me being nothing more than a destroyer"
"Tch, you're merely assuming that everyone's just playing the pity act," Dragon Slayer mumbled, "How naïve..."
B RS looked back towards the railing, "It's better I leave so nothing happens"
"You're a fool thinking like that when you haven't come to grips with who you are," Dragon Slayer growled out, "That isn't Shooter talking, that's the human side speaking from what she knows, and that truly irritates me"
B RS felt Dragon Slayer approaching her quickly and tried to get away, but Dragon Slayer grabbed her hood before lifting her and slamming her to the floor. Grabbing her right arm, Dragon Slayer sat on B RS's back and yank at the arm while hitting the space next to the white-haired girl's head. B RS stared at the small crater as Dragon Slayer removed her hand from the crater, the gauntlet holding no dents in its structure, as if constructed from metals unknown in the Otherworld. Before B RS could go deeper in thought, she felt an aura and looked back at Dragon Slayer who just glared at her with her amber eyes glowing gold. There was something about the eyes that unnerved B RS to no end, and it was the emotion that flowed through them, or rather the lack thereof.
"Listen to me very carefully Shooter, I don't care about what you think, I merely want to see the justified cause that will lead to the end," Dragon Slayer explained to her, her hair becoming wet from the falling rain, "But that can't happen if you persist to ignore the truth in front of you: that you are incomplete with that massive mental block in your head"
B RS just stared at Dragon Slayer as she continued, "I saw what happened to you, and it looked like your entire existence was trying to deny what you saw, meaning that someone set that up and who better to set it up than the person you fought to protect"
"No, you're lyin- gah!" B RS shouted before her arm got twisted.
"I don't lie, and when I do, it normally means the truth is right in front of you and you're too damn blind to see it," Dragon Slayer said, getting off of B RS, "Either way, you can't deny that part of you, but that isn't the part you should come to terms with"
"Wh-what..?" B RS let out, her arm healing.
Dragon Slayer raised her left hand, bringing up four fingers, "There are four parts to you, but of that four, only three is you and two of that three can make you complete"
"And you're saying the part that I should come to terms with is..?" B RS said, getting up from the floor.
"Your past, as you won't understand the third part to you without becoming whole with your past," Dragon Slayer said, looking up at the sky, "No one can understand an insane other self, but maybe you're a different case..."
"You're insane..." B RS mumbled, but it reached Dragon Slayer's ears.
"Well, I was insane, but only to reach my level of sanity," Dragon Slayer stated before staring at B RS, "Perhaps that is the course of action needed"
B RS watched Dragon Slayer near her, a small smirk upon her face as she continued, "It seems you gave me an idea; how about a deal, one that you can't refuse no matter as this isn't something you can deny?"
"What are you talking about?" B RS inquired.
"You help me and I help you, a fair trade-off," Dragon Slayer stated, nearing B RS, "After all, with Mato connected to you now, I highly doubt anything could go wrong..."
There was something in Dragon Slayer's voice that didn't sit right with her, but B RS ignored all that when she heard Mato's name, "Wait..!"
Dragon Slayer reached out behind B RS head, her fingers ready to snap, "Besides, you just have to remember this..."
Dragon Slayer whispered in B RS's ear before she snapped her fingers, causing B RS to collapse to the floor, holding her head as she silently screamed in pain. Images started to flooded her head as she felt Mato before the connection felt like a distant thing. Her eyes darted everywhere, briefly catching a sight of her white hair turning black as her vision started to blur. She felt heavy, like something was taking control and it was a familiar feeling, but it also felt like a fleeting memory. B RS watched Dragon Slayer walk away through her blurred eyes as the color shifted in them, the iris changing from blue to a deep purple with a red pupil.
Dragon Slayer looked back at the withering B RS before she continued walking, "Let's see if you can regain control by yourself this time, Shooter..."
Present...
Geshumaru leaned back against a pillar as I.B RS launched another hail of beams, each one trying to destroy the pillars that she and her partner hid up against. Geshumaru tightened her grip on the cleaver like sword, remembering how they traded main weapons while dropping down to floor way below. She felt uneasy given who they were facing against, but she also couldn't help but wonder if she would have become this if Dragon Slayer didn't stop her. The malicious aura around the floor that emanated from I.B RS was suffocating, like she's inside a pool of grief and destruction, drowning within it. Geshumaru looked to her left, watching her partner flex its body as it tried to firmly adjust to Dragon Slayer's adjustments.
"You afraid..?" Her partner asked.
After receiving a nod from Geshumaru, the robot sighed, blue smoke coming out of its mouthpiece, "I am too..."
"I thought machines can't feel emotions?" Geshumaru tried to joke.
The machine suppressed a mechanical chuckle, "We don't, and I highly doubt it's the best time to joke"
"I know, but I can't help it, it feels like I'm going to die any second if I head out there and fight against her," Geshumaru said, looking out a bit before avoiding more beams, "Guess this is karma in the worst way possible"
The machine tightened its grip on the katana, "Geshumaru, seize the opportunity..."
I.B RS watched the machine charged towards her before it skid on the floor, slicing through the air with the katana as it released a stream of energy. Blocking the stream with her Insane Cannon Lance, I.B RS watched Geshumaru dash towards her, trying to slash at her. I.B RS jumped and twisted as she parried Geshumaru's attack while avoiding the stream, landing several meters away as she raised her weapon again. Geshumaru and her partner scattered as another hail of beams came at them, running up the pillars before they jumped off, slashing at the air as waves of energy neared I.B RS. their attacks hit her, but didn't do any damage as she fired a supercharged beam at them.
Geshumaru and her partner move aside as the beam past them, her eyes widening at the beam, "That's too damn familiar..!"
"Given how Shooter is an Anomaly, I won't deny her having new abilities," Her partner said as it landed on the floor, "But you're right, it seems this version on Shooter has new abilities in her repertoire"
"I don't like that," Geshumaru said as she kept her eyes on I.B RS, waiting for the moment to attack.
Despite the difference between the fights, Geshumaru couldn't help but compare I.B RS to the Spirit Eater, if only in terms of their firepower. That beam that she fired reminded Geshumaru of the same beam that eradicated her before she wound up in Naomi's body, albeit in a smaller form than the giant six meter beam. Geshumaru felt another tremor, but didn't let that distract her as I.B RS looked back and forth between her and her robot, wondering which one to attack first. Geshumaru launched herself forward, drawing I.B RS's attention away from her partner as the cleaver-like sword connected with the Insane Cannon Lance. While I.B RS focused on Geshumaru, the machine dashed towards her and grabbed her from the back before tossing her towards a wall, causing her to slam into it.
"That won't stop her," The robot mused.
"Yeah, this is was too similar to the Spirit Eater," Geshumaru mumbled, feeling the same aura when Dragon Slayer appeared several minutes ago, "Damn it, where is this aura coming from..?"
"I don't think we need to look further," The robot stated, looking towards the hexagonal tower.
Geshumaru looked at the object and saw a faint pulse of energy as another tremor occurred, catching her off guard as I.B RS wrapped a chain around her ankle and tossed her towards a wall. The tremors stopped as the robot looked at I.B RS, but failed to defend itself as she kicked it towards the wall as well, her back cracking as bones realigned themselves. Geshumaru pulled herself off the wall and stared at I.B RS as the violet-eyed girl cocked her head to the side. There was the sense that I.B RS was analyzing her, but that didn't stop her from grabbing her katana from her partner and gripping it in her left hand. I.B RS's right hand flexed before a modified version of the Black Blade appeared.
"Well, come on?!" Geshumaru shouted.
I.B RS did nothing, prompting Geshumaru to speak again, "What are you waiting for, come and try to kil-"
"You're different..." I.B RS said, her voice low and monotone.
"Different, what is she saying..?" Geshumaru thought as she readied herself, "I don't get you..."
I.B RS's eyes narrowed, "You're like her, she wouldn't suffer for me... will you..?"
Geshumaru got caught off-guard by the question, but corrected herself as she blocked a slash from I.B RS, who was at her within seconds of the question.
B RS hopped from one roof to another as she blasted at B RS, who was trying to near her while deflecting any shots that came her way, both of their flames ignited around their left eye. The fight was forcing them to rush through the dilapidated city, using whatever was standing as either a platform or cover, and given how the water below them would end their lives, they knew there weren't a lot of options. Landing on the roof, B RS aimed again before firing, trying to shoot down her past self as she got closer, avoiding each beam without letting a single one touch her. Sensing no other option, B RS let her Rock Cannon disappear as she brought out her Black Blade, countering B RS's as they locked blades before pushing off. They stared at each other warily before dashing, locking blades before they started trading blows with one another, sparks appearing as they tried to land a direct hit.
"I get that you're angry at me, but what did I do to deserve this?!" B RS inquired, pushing off.
[You're not normal, you're destroying everything..!]
"I don't get it, what did I do..?" B RS silently wondered as she blocked another slash from B RS.
Their Black Blades keep connecting, slice after slice as they neared the edge of the rooftop, B RS keeping the pressure on her counterpart while trying to cut her open. Looking behind her, B RS saw a platform being suspended by several chains and flipped backwards, propelling herself towards the platform. Judging by its appearance, it looked like it was originally a part of the submerged road, but she snapped back to reality as her past self locked her Rock Cannon to the ground and adjusted it, the weapon transforming into its machine gun mode. Clicking her tongue, B RS jumped off the platform as it got blasted by hundreds of bullets, the shell casing dropping into the rapids below. Eying the building her past self was still stationed on, B RS brought out her Rock Cannon and fired at the building, watching it collapse into the rapids as she landed on a building.
"That should buy me some time..." B RS muttered as she took off, heading to higher elevations to get a better look of the city.
She couldn't believe her mind chose this image to form around, nor could she comprehend the area's appearance since, despite it being better that standing on water with a black sky up above, it still looked bleak. That was the most troubling thing about being here, something was going on out there in the Otherworld and she's being hunted down here in her mind. Two problems that she had to solve, but only one could take priority and given how Dragon Slayer told her she needed to find "inner peace," she just knew she couldn't join the fight until the issue with her existence gets resolved. That in itself is another problem, how was she to become whole when her past self wants her dead, it's impossible for them to come to terms. B RS dropped down, landing on a building that's bent sideways as the rooftop collided into a different building, creating a hole to get through.
"Dragon Slayer, I'm still not getting what you want from me," B RS mumbled as she raked her hand through her hair, "It isn't like I could ask her to stop killing me and make peace, it doesn't work that way..."
The words that Dragon Slayer whispered into her ear made her cringe slightly, "Even that idea sounds impossible..."
B RS felt tremors coming from a few hundred meters away from where she stood and looked off towards the distance, watching smoke rising into the air. She wondered if there were more than just her past self and her here inside the mind-scape until she remembered that Mato connected with her. She wanted to take off towards the area of the blast site, but there was something holding her back, a sense of apprehension. She saw faint purple sparks coming from that area as a feeling of dread set itself in within her, something she fears won't go away that easily if she wanted it too. She felt an attack coming down upon her and rolled away, looking back to see the beam break through the building as B RS landed on the roof, glaring at her as her blue flame burned brightly.
[You shouldn't have done that..!]
"Wait," B RS exclaimed as her past self neared her, "There's something going on her and Mato's probably in the crossfire..!"
[Mato... why the hell did you..?!]
B RS jumped to the side as another blast from B RS's own Rock Cannon came at her, causing the Anomaly to stare at her, "Are you really that hellbent on killing me?"
"After all the damage you caused to me, yes..!" B RS muttered, catching her counterpart off guard as she blasted her off the building.
B RS could believe that her past self spoke through her mouth, despite it becoming more common somehow as she communicated with her friends. B RS paused her thoughts and grabbed a dangling chain, halting her fall as she looked off and saw the purple sparks, the fear within her boiling. The purple sparks felt too familiar to figure out, and a brief look into her memories showed her why it was too familiar. Grunting for a moment, she started swinging while holding the chain link, waiting for the moment to let go and propel herself towards the blast site. Once she reached the peak of the swing, she let go and sent herself flying, which caught her past self's attention as she headed east, towards the sparks and smoke.
Mato felt a bit different when she synced up with B RS, but it certainly wasn't related to the change in clothes as she now wore B RS's outfit. No, it was more related to the feeling in the pit of her stomach as she stared at I.B RS, her purple eyes showing a hint of emotion as she neared her, Insane Cannon Lance drawn. When she opened her eyes and looked around the city, she was afraid that she somehow screwed up, and that feeling didn't get any better when they met each other by chance. Even if I.B RS was B RS, there was nothing between them nor anything that would show that she actually cares about Mato. So, she kept on running as she tried to avoid any attacks that came at her, ducking behind any object that she could use as a barricade for a moment while she catch her breath.
"Why does this happen to me?" Mato panted, hiding within an office space as I.B RS tried to find her.
Peeking out from a desk, Mato watched I.B RS look around, smashing anything in her way as she tried to spot her target, willing to make her suffer as much as she had. Pulling back, Mato held her breath as I.B RS left the room, blasting a hole in the building as she went to a different area. Letting out a silent breath, Mato got out from under the desk and got up slowly, looking around the decimated room. The difference between both their encounters is that the first time, Mato had to fight against her. Now, she had noting to use against the juggernaut, which is disconcerting to a degree, but that also allowed the small hint of hope that she isn't alone.
She heard something get blasted from where she woke up and, despite it being too faint for her to make out, thought that she wasn't alone with I.B RS. If so, she could help but wonder who it was, going down the list until she stopped at B RS, which seemed likely. The only thing that was dampening that hope was I.B RS's appearance, but even when she was running, she still heard others fighting a bit far from her. Walking out of the room, she looked both ways before going to her left, walking down the hallway as it became a bit more steep, forcing her to grab a doorknob before she dropped. The door opened and Mato pulled herself up into the room as she laid on the floor, feeling gravity take over as she got up.
"This feels way too weird, I'm not going to get used to this," Mato grumbled as she looked around the room.
There were mirrors all around the room, very different from the office area she was hiding out in while I.B RS was hunting her down. Walking through the area, Mato saw no difference in the mirrors as she watched her reflection on them, turning parallel to her as she faced one. Through the mirror, she watched herself as she raised a hand and let it rest on the mirror's surface before bringing it up to her left cheek. The hand slowly went up to her left eye, covering it as she looked closely at her right eye, watching it shift. The image in the mirror started to shift as she dropped her hand, watching it change from her to B RS and back, continuing it before the imaged changed into I.B RS.
"No..." Mato mumbled as she back away.
[That's you...]
Mato heard the voice and started gripping her head, "No, stop it..!"
[You can't deny it, she's a part of you... the side that you have yet to embrace...]
"Cut it out..!" Mato shouted, hearing a distinct male tone in the voice.
[Why do you deny her, she's torn...]
"She isn't me," Mato grunted, dropping to her knees, "She's not me!"
[... We will see, child...]
All of the mirrors in the room shattered, surprising Mato as the mirror that had I.B RS as her reflection got shattered by said being, who rushed at her and grabbed her throat. Mato struggled for a breath, but found the grip around her neck tightening as she tried to fight against the stronger being. Looking from side to side, she noticed a piece of glass and took it in her right hand, tightening her grip on the shard before she stabbed I.B RS's left eye. The grip slackened and Mato broke free, coughing as she got up and started running, ignoring I.B RS's frustrated screams. Mato ran through the hall, feeling the building shift as she suddenly broke through a window and landed on the surface of the building, which collapsed before being supported by the roof of another.
Getting up, she started running as she watched a figure near her from the distance, noticing two blue sparks before a giant explosion occurred in the air. Her dampened mood shifted slight until she felt a tremor, I.B RS breaking through the building while gripping the shard in her right hand. I.B RS's grip on the shard tightened before it shattered, becoming specks of dust as Mato slowly backed away. Mato didn't know what else to do and started running, hearing the quick footsteps of her other self's twisted form. All she could do now is just run away and hope that whoever was fighting in the distance would spot the carnage and come rescue her, because she's afraid that if no one spotted it, she's good as dead.
Dragon Slayer backed away, examining the cuts and scuff marks on her jacket, "I'm slightly impressed, but is that all you could do... Irino Saya?"
Taking a couple of steps back, Saya groaned internally as she controlled Gold Saw's body, the two of them trading times between their fight with Dragon Slayer, who looked like she could go on forever. It wasn't a matter of stamina, they could go on forever too if possible, but it was a matter of their strategies falling apart as they tried to play two steps ahead of Dragon Slayer. The amber-eyed other self certainly wasn't normal by any means, even though she's an Anomaly, which made the issue more troubling. It felt as if Dragon Slayer was holding back on them, but that could be her experience in fighting that's taking over instead of her real power, which could be a destructive force. The crater in front of them was enough proof for them to see that she's holding back, and doing a good job at keeping them in line.
"It's no fun if you don't give your all, just succumb to the moment and let the will to fight take control," Dragon Slayer told them, her voice in sync with the hollowness inside her.
Saya growled as she dashed forward, locking blades with Dragon Slayer, "Shut it..!"
"There's only a few seconds before reflexes kick in and take control," Dragon Slayer noted as her eyes glowed, "Think you can keep up?"
The aura around them changed and Dragon Slayer picked up the speed of her attacks, forcing Saya to react faster than normal, which was problematic since Saya could only do so much. For her, it wasn't limitations as an other self, but the limits of how much a mere human can do. Her reaction time differs from Dragon Slayer, and that should say the entire story, but it doesn't as long as Dragon Slayer kept up her assault. Dragon Slayer watch Saya block the attacks until she stopped for a second, which caused a backlash from her opponent. Dragon Slayer watch the attacks pick up pace before she parried one, just to wound up with a swift cut from the side of her hip to her left shoulder-blade.
Backing away as the wound quickly healed, Dragon Slayer arched an eyebrow, "Nice to see some retaliation... Black Gold Saw"
"Your attack patterns shift," Gold Saw stated, walking back and forth, "You're reading my eyes to see which one is in control..."
"And to figure out your next move, because you're think how to beat me," Dragon Slayer finished, sighing as she straightened herself out, "A shame, the only one who knows how to beat me is the person you're fighting against, isn't it sad?"
"Don't believe you've just won..." Gold Saw grumbled as she slashed at the air.
Within seconds, Dragon Slayer was close to her, slashing at the same space Gold Saw did as a rip in reality appeared, only to get distorted by another one. Grabbing Gold Saw by the collar, Dragon Slayer dragged them inside as they clashed blades, falling through the never-ending abyss. The stream of colors passed by them as they locked blades before trading punches, hitting each other in the face or ribs before slashing at the air again. They dropped through another rip as Dragon Slayer landed on the walkway before dashing. Gold Saw tried to straighten herself out, but felt Dragon Slayer's sword pierce through her gut before she got flipped around and kicked off, her blood dripping as she hit the walkway.
Getting up, Gold Saw eyed Dragon Slayer, watching her flick her wrist as the blood on the sword flew off, "You're good..."
"I rather not receive compliments from my enemy, it ruins the fight," Dragon Slayer stated.
"What's the point in all this..?" Gold Saw inquired.
Dragon Slayer arched an eyebrow before disappearing from sight, forcing Gold Saw to look around for her as there's no way to predict her next move. Feeling something above her, Gold Saw rolled away from her spot and looked up, seeing nothing. Looking at the chains, she noticed one set was missing before felt her arms get tied together, Dragon Slayer appearing from underneath the walkway. Jumping above Gold Saw, Dragon Slayer lifted her off the platform before slamming her, her body stuck for a moment. Gold Saw stared up and watched Dragon Slayer fall with her sword pointed down, and a feeling of searing hot metal pierced through her gut as the sword went through her and within the walkway.
Dragon Slayer bent down so they locked eyes, Gold Saw trying to ignore the pain, "The point behind all this lies beyond that hexagonal tower, deep within the Otherworld"
"So why fight us, why make B RS go insane?" Gold Saw inquired.
"Betrayal may seem like my goal, but there more to it," Dragon Slayer stated, "Saya, you're a smart girl, you can piece this together"
Gold Saw's eyes flickered before they widened slightly, "You're..."
"That's right, and Shooter going insane is a part of that, albeit, one that I hope is temporary," Dragon Slayer said as she walked towards the edge, looking down.
She could see the faint signs of blue and purple clashing with each other as Saya spoke, "You're trying to kill up, just so you can kill one thing...?"
"In a way of speaking, yes, but my object is to kill only one being," Dragon Slayer told Saya, looking back at her, "So you and your friends won't die"
Saya frowned, "Then why is this sword through me- Gold Saw..?"
"If I wanted to kill you, I would have wrung Gold Saw's neck, or focus that reality rip in your gut," Dragon Slayer deadpanned, frowning as her eyes stopped glowing, "Me holding back or betraying any of you isn't a massive concern, since me and Shooter were operating from the shadows"
"Wh-what?!" Saya nearly shouted.
"I told her something she needs to work with me, that we can kill two birds with one stone," Dragon Slayer explained, "I also told her something that's more personal towards her, but it relates to this situation"
"So you conspired behind our backs?" Saya inquired, growing irritated by her actions.
"If it's any conciliation, she was unaware before I explained to her while breaking a mental barrier in the back of her head," Dragon Slayer said, "I only had several minutes to think of this, not a lot of time if you ask me"
Saya groaned, staring up at the ceiling, "So you manipulated us..."
"To a degree, but it shouldn't matter, our side of the issue has ended," Dragon Slayer said, sitting down on the edge, "My maids will disarm and restrain your friends over there, and Geshumaru will continue her bout with Shooter until it all breaks"
"Until what breaks..?" Gold Saw asked, taking control instead of Saya.
Dragon Slayer only looked back at Gold Saw, a smirk on her face and emotion within her eyes.
Underworld Vulcan released a volley of bullets, not batting an eye as she watched STR block them while Chariot waited behind her for the opportunity to attack. Feeling her weapon overheating, Vulcan stopped firing and watched Chariot come towards her, sword drawn as her slash got blocked by Vulcan's cache of bullets. Using momentum from lifting her cache, Vulcan spun around before she kicked Chariot across the face before blasting the floor apart, avoiding STR's assault. Vulcan planted her cache into the walkway before swinging herself up and landing on the floor, her rotary cannon firing again as STR brought her Ogre Arm's together. Vulcan narrowed her eyes before yanking on the tube, forcing her cache to rip through the floor as she charged forward.
STR watched Vulcan grip her rotary cannon before ducking, narrowly avoiding the bayonet attachment as Vulcan swung at her, her body turning with the weapon. Vulcan allowed the momentum of her attack to spin her around, giving her the chance to kick STR in the side before stopping, the bayonet attachment planting itself in the floor. Seeing Chariot charge towards her, Vulcan placed her right foot on the hilt of the attachment before pulling her cannon away from it, firing at the charging other self. STR countered by firing at the on-coming attack, neutralizing Vulcan's attack as Chariot waited for her time to attack. Vulcan stopped firing and hoisted the rotary cannon on her back before removing the bayonet from the floor, dashing towards them despite the weight of her weapon.
Chariot went in front of STR and locked blades with Vulcan, glaring at her, "You're not getting through..!"
"Neither are you..." Vulcan deadpanned before kicking Chariot in the gut.
Chariot slammed into STR and they toppled to the floor, Vulcan backing away as she removed her rotary cannon from her back, hearing the faint hiss coming from her weapon. Chariot got up, eying Vulcan as she felt the internal damage done from the kick healed up, wondering if the girl was about as strong as STR is. It wasn't like she had any weapon that could do massive damage like STR's Ogre Arms, but the force she put into the kick caused some of her organs to implode upon themselves, and didn't feel good for either her or Kagari. Vulcan eyed them before looking around the area, trying to create a plan to end their little bout before things escalated to a different level. The goal is to stop them, not to kill and Vulcan wants to follow her mistress' orders, otherwise the retaliation would be a fate that she didn't want to suffer from.
STR got up, glaring at Vulcan as she dashed towards her, her Ogre Arms ripping apart the floor as she took the rubble and tossed them at Vulcan. Without wasting another second, Vulcan started shooting down the in-coming projectiles before trying to defend herself from STR's attack, shielding herself with her rotary cannon as STR tried to punch her. Vulcan felt herself moving back with each punch STR delivered, her heels digging in to the flooring as she tried to stand her ground and find an opening. Narrowing her eyes, Vulcan shot the floor and lifted her rotary cannon, smacking STR in the chin as she he backed away and avoided the attacks Chariot launched at her, backing away while staring at a far out pillar. Yellow eyes locked with pink as Chariot pushed through and managed to cut Vulcan before the pink-haired other self dashed towards the railing and jumped off towards a pillar, avoiding stray bullets that came from I.B RS.
STR walked up to Chariot, her Ogre Arms adjusting as they changed to their machine gun mode, "What is she doing..?"
"I'm not sure," Chariot stated, watching Vulcan latch to the pillar.
Vulcan grabbed her cache and planted it deep within the pillar, dropping down while removing the strap from around her shoulders. Turning her body around, Vulcan watched STR raise her Ogre Arms and fire at her, trying to dig some bullets inside her body. Narrowing her eyes, Vulcan grabbed a etched support for the pillar, letting herself dangle on it as she hoisted her rotary cannon and started firing. STR and Chariot moved aside as a shot pierced through the wall behind them before feeling the floor shake. They looked at Vulcan, who was firing around their area, shooting down the pillars, floors, and ceilings, hitting area that would support where they were standing.
STR looked up and was about to shoot at the ceiling when Vulcan shot at her, sending her crashing against the wall as the ceiling fell apart, caving STR and Chariot in. The sector fell to the level below, their bodies covered in rubble as they lied there, unconscious from Vulcan tactical strike all around the small area they were at. Vulcan moved back to the pillar and climbed up the tube, reaching the cache and removing it before shooting behind her, propelling her body forward towards the unconscious other selves. Hoisting the rotary cannon on her back, Vulcan pulled them out of the rubble and picked them up, jumping down while wondering how Maid Gunner was faring against Dead Master. Despite the difference between their style in fighting, she had no doubts about Maid Gunner's ability to take down the scythe-wielding other self, but there's a certain chemistry between them and that could cause problems.
Looking up, Vulcan saw Maid Gunner and Dead Master walking around, their bodies tense as they kept their eyes locked on each other, waiting for one of them to make a move. Maid Gunner moved her finger to the trigger before she dashed towards Dead Master, launching a flurry of kicks, each one blocked by Dead Master as she twirled her Dead Scythe to block each attack. Maid Gunner moved back, twirling once as she aim her sniper rifle at Dead Master and fired, a pink beam streaming from the muzzle. Dead Master narrowed her eyes before cutting the beam in half and attacking, a diagonal slash to Maid Gunner, who stopped it with her boot, pushing off. Maid Gunner caught herself and bent down, firing at Dead Master who charged forward, twirling her scythe around as the blade ripped the beams apart.
Maid Gunner rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding Dead Master's strike, "Impressive, you seem more direct with your attacks"
"I suppose I should thank you, but this seems to negate that possibility," Dead Master stated as she dashed towards Maid Gunner.
They started trading blows, each attack canceling out the other as Dead Master tried to push forward and kick Maid Gunner in the gut. Maid Gunner twisted her body and flipped back before moving forward and punching Dead Master in the face. Dead Master staggered for a moment, which caused Maid Gunner to grab her leg and force her to the floor, gaining the chance to beat Dead Master to submission. Before she could seize her opportunity, Dead Master kicked her in the gut, managing to dig her heels in with the attack before getting up and punching Maid Gunner in the temple. Maid Gunner stumbled back before regaining her senses, blocking another punch from Dead Master by seizing her arm before kneeing her in the gut, knocking the air out of the other self.
Maid Gunner took a couple of steps back, staring at Dead Master, "Just stop this, absolutes aren't beaten easily like you're trying to do"
"You're making it seem like it's impossible..." Dead Master muttered, getting up slowly.
"It isn't, but it's certainly not a goal that anyone can think they can reach," Maid Gunner stated.
Dead Master stared at her, her green eyes glowing slightly, "Then I guess me and Yomi will just have to prove you wrong"
Picking up her Dead Scythe, Dead Master dashed towards Maid Gunner and started slashing away, the air growing thick with faint green wisps appeared. Maid Gunner's eyes widened in shock of the wisps, which allowed Dead Master the opportunity to knock her back with a kick before slashing her up to the air. Jumping up, Dead Master grabbed Maid Gunner by the ankle and tossed her down to a walkway, her body slamming against the path. Dead Master dropped to the floor and walked to Maid Gunner, positioning herself on top of the other self as she leveled her Dead Scythe to the pink-eyed other self's neck. Yomi could feel the adrenaline rushing throughout her body, throughout Dead Master's body as they arced the scythe, ready to swing it full burst.
"I told you, I just needed to prove you wrong," Dead Master and Yomi harmonized before they swung.
Maid Gunner felt a surge of power in the air and the sense of danger caused her reflexes to react, prompting her to lift herself off the walkway and grab the shaft of the scythe as she locked eyes with Dead Master. Before Dead Master could react, Maid Gunner launched a swift elbow to her jaw while gripping the scythe, twisting her body until the weapon snapped in two. Turning the rest of her body, Maid Gunner focused her strength to her attack before sliding her elbow out, causing Dead Master to fly across the walkway until she slammed against the double-doors. Looking at the blade half of the Dead Scythe, Maid Gunner tossed it over the walkway and headed towards a slumped Dead Master, her eyes fluttering as she watched Maid Gunner walk towards her. Before her vision went black, she saw Maid Gunner stare down at her as she reached out, her right hand grabbing her dress before dragging her along the floor.
B RS neared the sparks she saw several minutes ago as she blocked B RS's slash with her Black Blade and ax, knocking her back before she landed on a rooftop, looking at the area before her. If she thought the area she woke up at was desolate, this area made it seem tame compared to what she was seeing around her. Buildings were falling apart, toppling into others or falling to the rapids down below. The platforms positioned around were still bound by chains, but it looked like it could collapse at any given moment. Whatever was going on outside in the Otherworld is influencing the situation in her head, and with every minute lost, the problem becomes more complicated, with the chances to correct it falling.
"Great, just when I had enough to deal with..." B RS thought, irritated.
Another explosion caught her eye and B RS turned towards it, watching the purple sparks before an explosion accompanied it, surprising her. She didn't want to think about the implications behind the color behind the sparks, but that alone told her everything. Feeling a presence behind her, B RS ducked to avoid the slash that would have ripped apart her midsection before rolling away from another attack. Getting back up, she eyed her past self before glancing at the building where the explosions were coming from, trying to think of a way to get there without being led away. It was a task that may look easy, but she couldn't concern herself with that issue, she had to understand what was going on her and the reason behind it.
Twirling her weapons, B RS glared at her past self, "Well, I guess there's no easy way out..."
[You should know that yourself...]
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I can accept it," B RS said, readying herself, "Last chance to stop"
[Forget it..!]
B RS narrowed her eyes, "Your choice"
B RS dashed forward, slashing at B RS's, their blades clashing as they tried to find an opening within their attacks. Grunting to herself, B RS locked their weapons before she kicked her past self in the gut, managing to get some time to rush towards the side-ways building. Running past her past self, B RS launched herself from the rooftop to a line of chains that connected to an unstable platform. She started running along the chains as B RS started firing at her with her Rock Cannon, the shots nearly connecting as B RS avoided them before leaping to the unstable platform. Skidding on it, B RS brought out her Rock Cannon and started firing at her target, the beams being destroyed by the same weapon her counterpart was shooting from.
B RS backed away as her past self landed on the platform, which started to cave in and break apart, causing the two girls to fall towards the building below. Once they were near each other, B RS started trading punches and kicks with B RS, each one of the attacks landing in a specific spot, but that didn't stop them from fighting as they neared the building. Pulling away, B RS noticed two figures on the building, an armored being shooting at a younger girl down below. As they neared, B RS's eyes widened as she recognized one of them before she focused and flipped herself mid-air before landing on the building between both figures. Mato looked up, scuffed and beaten slightly as she watched B RS get up and bring her Rock Cannon out, aiming at I.B RS with her flame burning around her left eye.
"I guess the past really knows how to haunt me," B RS mumbled as she looked back at Mato, "You alright?"
Mato nodded, watching B RS look back at I.B RS as she continued, "Good, get away from here..."
Mato was about to say something before she noticed B RS nearing them, her eyes finding Mato before they widened in shock, prompting B RS to look back at Mato, "Go, get out of here now!"
[Mato is...]
Mato started running and B RS was about to go after her before she got blocked by B RS, "I don't think so..."
I.B RS narrowed her eyes at the both of them, barring her teeth before she brought out her Insane Cannon Lance and started shooting at both of them. Both B RS's moved away, avoiding the beams before they fired back, trying to stand their own ground. They stopped firing as the smoke cleared, revealing that their attack did nothing to the juggernaut before them. B RS felt her body shiver for a moment before she dodged a double assault from both versions of her, avoiding every stab that I.B RS tried to get while dodging the shots B RS launched at her. Letting her Rock Cannon disappear and bringing out her Black Blade and ax, B RS struck down another stab before roundhouse kicking I.B RS away, allowing her to dash towards her past self.
"Enough..!" B RS shouted before she knocked her past self to her knees.
Moving away, B RS looked back and forth between both B RS and I.B RS, each of her weapons pointed at the other as they got up and stared at each other. Their eyes met each other, the emotions within them differentiating between each version of B RS. Looking past them for a moment, she saw Mato disappear to another building, allowing her to focus on the two before her as they focused each of their weapons on the other. The sense of fear started crawling up B RS's spine, but she couldn't see it in them, it was almost non-existent within them given their origins. Then, a lone thought crossed through B RS's mind, that her only best weapon against them was her own memories caused another set of fear to settle within, the fear that she might not win against them.
Banishing the thoughts from her head, B RS calmed herself as she looked back and forth, "I can't doubt myself, there's no time for that..."
[How annoying... but that won't stop me from killing you...]
"Heh, and what makes you so sure," B RS muttered, glancing back at I.B RS before focusing her attention on B RS, "You're just like me, only difference is that you have no heart..."
[You..!]
B RS watched her past self charge towards her as well as I.B RS, forcing her to block both of their attacks as she tried to break away and get some time to think. I.B RS was upon her them moment she did, trying to smash her into the building until B RS knocked her aside. Taking the moment at hand, B RS attacked B RS and knocked her away, letting her ax disappear before bringing her Rock Cannon out and firing at her. Her assault got cut off as I.B RS started shooting wildly, forcing her to get away as her past self disappeared inside the building. Rushing forward, B RS jumped down and broke through the window, running through a different building as she tried to break I.B RS's trail for a moment.
Time was ticking, and every chance she got at fixing things was disappearing; she needs to put an end to it all...
Author's Note: Damn, this really caused my brain to find inspiration since I got so many fights in this chapter, it's insane (no pun intended). I really can't say much in regards to this chapter, but it feels good finishing it. So, two fights are remaining after this chapter, and I got things in store for the next chapter and the chapter after that. Looks like I need someone to light a fire up my ass to help me with that (Kouhai, this would mean you). Well, take care and please review, I'll see you all next time.