Author's Note: My muse is back from vacation, now I'm a happy Mister House.
Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.
B RS looked out the hallway and checked both ways before moving on, keeping her guard up in the possibility that she fights against B RS or I.B RS. She couldn't fault Dragon Slayer for setting this up for her, but whatever is going on out in reality is affecting her mind-scape as well, causing the words that Dragon Slayer told her to ring in her head. Narrowing her eyes, B RS started sprinting through the hallways, watching the walls collapse upon themselves as the building fell apart, dropping to the deep rapids below. Reaching another window, B RS broke through it, ignoring the glass shards as she leaned back in mid-air to avoid the swing I.B RS delivered. Using her momentum, B RS flipped back while bringing out her Rock Cannon, firing at I.B RS once she landed and got a steady foot on the falling building.
B RS watched the juggernaut let herself get hit as she rushed towards her, her Insane Cannon Lance drawn as she tried to pierce through her prey before feeling someone near her. Looking to her left, I.B RS didn't expect the kick B RS delivered, stumbling for a bit while trying to corrected her distorted balance. Within that time, B RS turned and started fighting against the white-haired version of her, cutting down her shots as she neared. Realizing the distance was closing between them, B RS let her Rock Cannon disappear and brought out her Black Blade, their swords clashing with each other as they launched their own attacks. B RS backed away a bit as she countered her past self's attacks, trying to focus on the fight before while watching I.B RS's rigid movements, silently wondering when she will strike again.
"Damn it, I don't have time for this..!" B RS grumbled internally before pushing away, looking back and forth between her two counterparts.
B RS frowned before dashing off, I.B RS trailing behind her as they neared B RS, their eyes reflecting the feeling of dread that rested within B RS. Bringing out her ax, she blocked both of their attacks before countering them, sparks flying off as the three of them attacked each other. They developed an unnatural sequence between their fighting; one of their attacks gets avoided by someone until it hits the third person, or they force each other in a deadlock until someone finds an opening to abuse for their own gain. B RS avoided a stab from I.B RS before ducking under, the sword the would have beheaded her swinging across, giving her the chance to knock them away. Focusing her power, blue smoke covered her ax and formed its scythe-like appearance before she swung, sending B RS and I.B RS in opposite directions.
Getting up, B RS twirled the weapon around with both of her hands before the shaft rested against her neck, ready to swing again once they start attacking. A flurry of violet bullets headed her way and B RS spun around before she slashed up diagonally, a blue wave of energy hitting I.B RS. Before she could ease her guard, B RS was up close, her punch moving her back a bit before she followed up with a kick to her mid-section. As she was about to land another hit, I.B RS grabbed her by the arm and smashed B RS around before tossing her aside, the urge to kill someone rising as she looked back at B RS. I.B RS brought her Insane Blade Claw out and started slashing at B RS, forcing the white-haired Anomaly to defend herself, partially hoping her past self gets up and attack I.B RS to keep her occupied.
Before she could even see the chance occur, I.B RS punched her in the gut before she grabbed her by the ankles and sent her flying, her body like a rag-doll that held no value to anyone. I.B RS brought out her Insane Cannon Lance, ready to fire and rip her apart, but B RS intervened, preventing the attack from occurring. Flying through the air, B RS looked down, noting the rapids she was above before she felt her body drop, the rapids nearing as she tried to find something to hold. Spotting a chain link that's attached to a platform, B RS brought out her Rock Cannon and blasted the link off, grabbing it as she fell into the rapids. The moment she entered the deep water, she felt it cutting her as she slammed against the wall of a building, the submerged part still intact as it slowly sank deeper within.
Looking at the building she was up against, B RS looked at the intact windows and started kicking them, trying to break the glass so she could get inside and escape from the water. Her kicks were barely putting a crack, so she pushed herself off and aimed her Rock Cannon, lifting it with difficulty due to the increased pressure within the water. Ignoring the small comparison between the real world and the water she was in now, she fired her Rock Cannon and slipped inside, letting the water push her through the submerged hallway. Aiming up, she fired the ceiling and pushed herself off a wall, going up as she blasted more ceilings before she broke out of the water. Pulling herself up into the room, B RS coughed as the cuts around her body started healing, looking down at the hole she made as the water flowed into the room slowly.
"That was bad, but I did manage to get out," B RS said to herself, "I'm never trying that again..."
Getting up, B RS looked around the room, noting the pictures tacked to the walls, "What are these?"
B RS walked up to one and took it from the wall, pulling it up close so she could look at the picture more closely. She let the picture drop and plucked another one from the wall, looking closely at it, staring at the printed version of her fighting against Chariot way before she got killed. She let the picture drop to the floor and took more from the walls, looking at the captured memories of her life as she felt a slight realization come to her. Letting the pictures drop, she looked around the room and pulled out specific pictures, ones that involved the juggernaut that sent her to the rapids. B RS looked at the photos, trying to understand I.B RS's methods and actions as Dragon Slayer's words rang inside her, giving way to a level of clarity she hasn't found in a long time.
"Well, I guess I won't get what I want from this," B RS said, dropping the photos to the floor, "But I did get something better; you were right, Dragon Slayer"
Aiming her Rock Cannon, B RS blasted the entire room, destroying everything before jumping out of the collapsing building, her body hitting the side of it and sliding down. B RS dug her heel in to the wall, trying to slow herself down before she pushed herself off, landing on a rooftop as she watched her past self head towards her. Looking to her left, she saw I.B RS rush towards her from below, her Insane Cannon Lance pointed right at her. Letting her Rock Cannon disappear, B RS brought out her Black Blade and ax as B RS arrive, trying to strike at her from above. Blocking the attack, B RS pushed her off before moving around the hail of bullets that I.B RS fired at her, her coat ripping apart as she leaped towards the monster before her.
Geshumaru pushed away, eying I.B RS as the juggernaut stopped moving for a moment, trying to understand why the attacks were coming less frequent that before. It wasn't that the armored girl's attacks were becoming less destructive, quite the opposite, but it was like she was fighting against someone or something that wasn't around the area. Whenever that happened, Geshumaru would try to attack, only to get shot down and forced to defend herself from a barrage, which would lead to their fight resuming. Looking at her partner, she watch it readjust its arms before picking the katana up, ready to fight again after the system shutdown it got from getting tossed to a wall. With her partner active, the fight would be easily managed, but their victory is still far from their grasp due to I.B RS's strength and resilience.
"It's hopeless if you continue fighting like you can beat her," Dragon Slayer told Geshumaru from up above.
Geshumaru gritted her teeth and dashed forward, blocking I.B RS's counter-assault while trying to find a fault in her attack patterns that she could exploit. Flipping back, Geshumaru jumped up and kicked I.B RS in the head, watching her partner rush in and grab the juggernaut by the arm. The robot slammed I.B RS all around before tossing her up to the air, leaving Geshumaru the opportunity to strike. Geshumaru ran up behind her partner and hopped on to it before shooting herself up towards I.B RS, the giant cleaver-like broadsword leaving a trail of blue fire. Geshumaru swung, the sword blazing as the flames touched I.B RS before they disappeared, Geshumaru's focus destroyed as she saw I.B RS dislocate her right arm just so she could block the attack.
"Th... there's no way..." Geshumaru mumbled before she pushed back.
I.B RS flipped herself in the air while relocating her right arm, a violet flame dancing around her left eye as she brought her Insane Cannon Lance and aimed it at Geshumaru. Geshumaru could hear the faint hiss of the rotary inside the weapon as she raised the broadsword as a shield, ready to protect herself from the up-coming barrage. A few seconds pass until the hiss stopped abruptly, causing the blue-eyed Anomaly to look pass the sword, watching I.B RS hit the far wall before dropping to the floor of a circular hallway. Geshumaru dropped next to her partner and looked up at the hallway, her surprise giving way to confusion as she tried to make sense of what's going on. There was a chance for I.B RS to just fire at her, but instead of taking the shot, she just let herself drop to the hallway for no clear reason, which unnerved Geshumaru.
"Well, any idea on what's occurring..?" Her partner inquired, curiosity showing itself in the robot's tone.
"No, but I'm sure Dragon Slayer know too well about all this," Geshumaru said before looking up at Dragon Slayer, "Just what is this, I thought this was a one-sided fight?"
Dragon Slayer flipped around and let herself hand upside-down, "What, I can't risk spoilers, even for you, just fight her for all I care"
"You don't care, which is the problem," Geshumaru stated, narrowing her eyes, "I don't know what you're planning with Shooter going insane, doesn't this affect you in any way?"
"Elaborate," Dragon Slayer told Geshumaru, blinking.
"You have a rule for yourself that you follow completely: 'never have an other self go insane'," Geshumaru told her, "Why would you cause Shooter to go insane, if your main goal is something else..?"
"It's all tied together, sadly," Dragon Slayer stated, "I'm not going to say much, but Shooter going insane is probably the best thing for her given her circumstances"
"But that doesn't..." Geshumaru started before she thought about what Dragon Slayer just said, "Wait, are you saying there's more to this than..?"
Dragon Slayer smirked, "Betrayal becomes confusing when the person who everyone thinks is your ally is actually focusing on her agenda, but for Shooter, she a mere exception in all this..."
Geshumaru gritted her teeth as she heard movement coming from where I.B RS landed, "When this is over..."
Dragon Slayer pulled herself up as she heard rapid fire coming from below, narrowly avoiding a stray shot from I.B RS's Insane Cannon Lance. She saw Gold Saw glare at her, but ignored the glare as she watched Underworld Vulcan come up to her, dragging the unconscious bodies of STR and Chariot. She frowned slightly, noting the damage around the unconscious other selves before getting up from the floor. Feeling a slight tremor, Dragon Slayer forced herself to hold back the urge to look at the hexagonal tower, feeling the malicious aura it was emanating. She didn't want to listen to the small clock that resided in the back of her head, but she knew time was ticking, and sooner than she had expected.
"About a rough 15 minutes remaining," Dragon Slayer thought to herself, "As if things weren't troubling enough..."
Hearing something stick itself to the walkway right next to her, Dragon Slayer looked to her left, only to see the blade part for a scythe.
Watching I.B RS draw back, B RS directed her attention to her past self, blocking the downward slash before kicking B RS in the gut. They both landed on the building, but felt themselves drift down as it started tilting up, forcing them to push-off and find another place to fight on. The moment they landed, they took off, firing at each other with their own Rock Cannon, the blasts shattering portions of the dilapidated city's buildings. B RS duck under another shot before jumping over some support beams which managed to rip themselves from the building's structure, making sure she didn't break her pace. She locked eyes with her past self before she jumped off the building, landing on a floating platform as her Rock Cannon shifted to its machine gun form, pointed up at the sky above.
"Come on..." B RS mumbled, narrowing her eyes.
Within an instantaneous second, B RS leaped from the building they were running along, giving B RS perfect view of her as she started firing, the bullets flying through the air. B RS tried to adjust her body in mid-air, but the bullets ripped through her body, Blue-tinted black blood pouring out of the wounds. As she slowly fell, she saw B RS jump towards her and watched her swing her Rock Cannon, the weapon hitting her and sending her body into a building. Smashing through the window, B RS broke through multiple walls before her body came to a stop, pipes and drywall lodged in her back. She tried to get up, but B RS was upon her in an instant, forcing her back down with a kick and aiming her Rock Cannon directly at her face.
[Guh..!]
"You try to escape, I'll blast your legs off," B RS told her, not mincing her words.
[Damn you...]
"You know, I thought you might hate me for being different, for being an Anomaly, but it isn't that," B RS told her, "You hate me because I'm not you, that I'm the side of you that exist for a different reason"
[What..?]
B RS lowered her Rock Cannon, but kept her guard up, "Mato didn't just bring me back, she tried to create me from the same reason, but I'm not what she wants, because Dragon Slayer told me the truth: I make myself"
[You're something that shouldn't live..!]
B RS kicked her past self in the gut, "I'm something that lives because you stand on such a tangible pride and vision, which caused you to lose to Geshumaru; I fought to find my place in all this while trying to find my memories, only to realize that there isn't anyone who could trust me, but I know I'll fight for what I believe is right"
[That makes you nothing..!]
"It makes me stronger than you, which is why you won't beat me," B RS stated, growling a bit, "Screw pride, screw reasons, exist for your own life"
[This... Dragon Slayer doesn't...]
"She knows it all, and she knows that without you on my side, I'm nothing," B RS stated, letting her Rock Cannon disappear, "You and me are two halves of a whole, and that juggernaut that's trying to kill us is a byproduct of Mato's despair"
B RS was about to say something until B RS's words struck her like when Chariot drilled into her gut with that contraption of hers. She didn't go insane just for any reason, Mato connected with her and watched her kill Dead Master, which caused an emotional rift inside the girl. All three of them came from Mato, but only two of them were given a clear existence, which left the Anomaly before her with nothing as far as she knows. She died, she couldn't beat Geshumaru, something that the other her managed to do against, not only the robot, but the girl as well. Emotions were unnatural to her, but if she was to feel any, she was she would feel resignation.
"Mato created me to protect her friends by making sure their other selves weren't killed, but it's clear that I had more than that to do," B RS said while taking a couple of steps back, "There wasn't a clear goal for me, and there still isn't any, but I know I have to protect what I can"
[You can't, there's always another way, and better choice...]
"And what better choice is there, you?" B RS inquired, irritated, "You died trying to beat a machine that's almost unbeatable for any other self; I'm here because Mato needs me, and no matter how much I don't want to accept this, I need you"
[Impossible..!]
"Dragon Slayer said that only two of me will form a complete Black Rock Shooter," B RS stated, raising two fingers, "I'm one piece to it, and you're the other, and if we don't come to terms and accept each other for what we are, then that juggernaut out there will kill us, Mato, and everything that makes people who they are..!"
[... There's nothing to gain from this...]
"We won't know until we find out," B RS said, holding out her right hand.
B RS analyzed the hand, looking at it like it was some foreign object before reaching out slowly, grabbing it with her right hand. She watch her hand turn transparent as faint glowing blue specks floated up to the air. She felt her existence melding with something else as she slowly disappeared, her blue eyes never leaving her counterpart's. She didn't know why, but it looked so dark, and yet the feeling they gave was warm, something that didn't match up in any way. It was like saying goodbye to someone, but it wasn't the end for her, not in the way B RS was telling her how it will be for them.
The blue specks disappeared along with B RS, as everything in the room fell into darkness except for one blue flame.
Maid Gunner reached the walkway were everyone except for the three fighting below are at, dragging a chained-up, unconscious Dead Master beside her. She looked around, from Vulcan with the semi-conscious captives, to a nailed down Gold Saw, directly to Dragon Slayer who pulled the broken fragment of the Dead Scythe, analyzing it with her amber-eyes. Dragon Slayer slowly turned to Maid Gunner before she looked down at Dead Master, as if she was trying to connect the pieces behind what happened up above. Maid Gunner stopped walking and let Dead Master drop to the floor next to Gold Saw, figuring that will be the least of her concerns at the moment. Dragon Slayer turned around, her body directed towards the hexagonal tower as she raised the blade to eye-level.
"Was it really necessary to nearly break her jaw and ruin such a wonderfully crafted weapon?" Dragon Slayer inquired.
Maid Gunner, forced down a frown, "She was about to kill me, I couldn't allow her the opportunity"
"A shame, if she beheaded you, I would be more than grateful to attach it and bring you back," Dragon Slayer stated, "Then again, I can't work with life and death like magic, too complicated"
"Mistress..." Maid Gunner started before Dragon Slayer raised a hand.
"Apparently, both of you forgot that you aren't to beat them half to death," Dragon Slayer told them, "Granted, I'm a hypocrite given how my match with Gold Saw ended, but the truth is that when I give an order and place specific directions in that order, I expect it followed down to the letter"
"She fought with an unnatural skill that is... similar to an Anomaly ," Maid Gunner stated.
"Well of course she would, Yomi snapped and Dead Master is dangerous as any necromancers," Dragon Slayer told Maid Gunner, turning around to look at her, "Remember, they swapped bodies and I practically broke the poor human by having her 'kill' me and get chased down by a chimera, too much for a frail girl like her"
Maid Gunner couldn't forget about that, their escape came with problems, but they were easily resolved thanks to both sides helping each other along with Dragon Slayer's manipulation tossed in. If Dead Master didn't help her, she would have been dead with no chance of Dragon Slayer rescuing her. Everything that Dragon Slayer works for always had an ulterior motive, but those motives never shown themselves while she plays the role of the hero or the villain. Maid Gunner knows better than anyone that Dragon Slayer will never say what anyone wants to hear from her unless it is necessary, a piece that makes her plans well versed in deception. Even so, she is also meticulous about her plans, making sure that nothing is missing or goes against it, because if there is, that's when she shows who she can become.
"Mistress, is it possible that all this is just..." Maid Gunner stopped herself when she saw Dragon Slayer's eyes narrow.
"Damning everything is something I'm against, but sometimes, it's best to play around with that possibility when everyone is at risk," Dragon Slayer told her, her eyes flashing gold for a moment, "This moment forced my hand a bit to play with two things and planning them out within minutes, which I do not like doing"
"Is that what you're doing with B RS?" STR inquired.
Dragon Slayer looked at her, "Partially, she has a piece in all this, but the end is far from beginning, and I plan to make it that way"
Chariot blinked a bit before looking at Dragon Slayer, "So you can save everyone and be the hero, don't make me laugh..!"
"If I wanted to save everyone, all this wouldn't happen," Dragon Slayer deadpanned, "On the opposite side of things, if I wanted to, I would have ordered them to kill you all and Gold Saw here wouldn't have a sword through her gut, but right where her neck is"
Gold Saw looked at her, "You held back..?"
"Why would I kill you now when there's nothing to gain nor when you're threatening the Otherworld," Dragon Slayer said, her voice drenched with venom, "You're all pawns in this little... game, and at the end of this game, a new one will start, one that determines our fate"
Maid Gunner didn't say anything as Dragon Slayer looked at her, "Furthermore, I expect more from you and Vulcan, especially since this is a task that can't-"
Dragon Slayer stopped speaking as her eyes widened slightly, her body going rigid for a moment as she turned to look at the hexagonal tower. All but Dead Master looked at her in curiosity, wondering what it was that got her surprised until they felt it. Despite it being small they could feel the heavy, malicious aura that was streaming from the tower Dragon Slayer was staring at, causing them to understand why Dragon Slayer reacted the way she did. Within a second, they felt another aura, but this one wasn't as small or malicious, it was destructive and the feeling it gave was akin to fear and anger. Dragon Slayer turned around, her eyes glowing, and stared at Maid Gunner and Underworld Vulcan with no expression.
"Head outside and reinforce the chains," Dragon Slayer ordered.
When she saw them hesitate for a second, Dragon Slayer became furious, "Go now or I will rip out your souls, make you homunculus, and beat you like little toys until you realize how excruciating pain can become..!"
Maid Gunner and Underworld Vulcan left instantly, Dragon Slayer's rage speaking volumes unlike what she said to them in her semi-blind state of mind. Looking at Gold Saw, she made her way towards the pinned other self and removed her sword from her, eliciting a sharp hiss from the horned woman as Dragon Slayer swung her sword around, the blood flying everywhere. With a simple flick of her wrist, the chains that bound STR, Chariot, and Dead Master broke, freeing them from their shackles. She turned back towards the tower and raised her sword, her eyes glowing with intensity that would make a wildfire seem like a little light from a match. Feeling the aura again, Dragon Slayer narrowed her eyes as the tower shifted slightly, one of the six sides sliding down to the ground.
"Damn you..." Dragon Slayer muttered, glaring at the tower.
Mato looked around before running, trying to get as far away from the area where the three B RS' were at, fighting against each other. Everything that was going on here wasn't making any sense to her, not to mention, two primary things trying to make her break for some reason. The voice tried that in the room full of mirrors, but I.B RS was the thing that scared her the most out of everything. It's like revisiting an old nightmare over and over, letting it destroy you from the inside out. Now that she thought about it, seeing another B RS was weird and it scared her a bit, but the more she thought about it, the more she couldn't get it. Mato couldn't help but think that something big is happening, and she in the crossfire of it.
Hopping to a nearby building, Mato moved towards a wall and slid down to the floor, "Why..?"
[You can't escape the inevitable..!]
Mato gripped her head, feeling a burning sensation all around her head, "Go away!"
[You try to escape from your mistakes, but they will come back...]
"You're lying, stop..!" Mato shouted.
[Don't deny what you did, you caused their pain, you can never fix what's been damaged..!]
The wall behind Mato broke and she felt a hand grab her throat, her body being lifted up to the air as I.B RS stepped out, her purple eyes glowing with disdain. Mato could feel the grip around her throat tighten slowly as I.B RS tries to crush her windpipe. The pain around her head was getting worse, the burning making a more prominent appearance by making it feel like her brain was ripping itself to shreds. Mato tried to claw at I.B RS, but her head started to feel lighter as black spots appeared within her vision. Blinking a bit, Mato felt faint and couldn't make a single coherent thought as her vision started fading slowly, her eyes now fluttering.
[I.B RS is the means to your end, and nothing will correct it, accept your fate...]
Mato felt herself drifting away until she heard something hit I.B RS, sending the juggernaut back into the building and letting go of Mato from her death grip. Coughing, Mato looked up and saw a white-striped blue jacket with a white star on the back, figuring that it belongs to B RS's past self, but there was something off about her presence. It was like she was still the B RS that she knew since she came back, and seeing the ax that she was gripping in her right hand was proving that slightly. Rolling her shoulders, B RS examined her form for a brief second before looking back at I.B RS, pushing aside her new, and yet old appearance aside. Watching I.B RS get up, B RS steeled herself and let the ax disappear, bringing out her Rock Cannon and having it leveled at the juggernaut before her.
"Mato, go hide somewhere, now," B RS told her.
"But-" Mato started until B RS looked back at her.
"I don't have time to deal with anything you say," B RS told her, "Just run..!"
Mato flinched slightly at B RS's tone, but got up and ran, getting away from I.B RS's line of sight as the juggernaut got up from the rubble, glaring at B RS. The juggernaut took a couple of steps forward before breaking out in to a dash towards B RS, her Insane Cannon Lance drawn. Narrowing her eyes, B RS turned to the right and swung her Rock Cannon up, hitting I.B RS in the jaw and sending her through the ceilings of the building they were in. Spreading her legs, B RS jumped up and used each broken part of the ceilings to get higher, reaching I.B RS within seconds of the hit. They broke through the building and wounds up outside, B RS firing her Rock Cannon at I.B RS, while I.B RS fired random volleys of beams at her, their flames burning around their left eyes with fervent intensity.
"Come on!" B RS shouted.
Geshumaru skid back before getting up slowly, her right arm dripping with pure red blood as she stared at I.B RS, who looked like she's irritated at something. If she wanted to, Geshumaru would try to look at everything and try to form the 'bigger' picture like Dragon Slayer would do, but she doesn't have the time for it. Her partner jumped back towards her after a failed ambush, scratches and dents visible on its body as it slowly got up. Geshumaru was about to dash forward when she got stopped by her partner's hand, figuring it was aware of the damage she suffered. Regardless of any special treatment her powers now have on the body, it's still human by origin and anymore damage to her would be life threatening, and that would be her greatest fatal mistake.
"I get it, but it isn't like I can't do anything..." Geshumaru told her robot.
The robot shook its head, "I know, but the situation isn't turning in our favor"
Geshumaru was about to say something when she saw something fall to the ground, a set of chains attached to the tower falling along with one side of the hexagonal tower falling within the hole. Geshumaru's eyes widened as she looked up, watching the chains shake a bit as another tremor started, shaking the ground and sending her to the floor. Knowing that she couldn't fight again, Geshumaru jumped towards a wall before pushing off and heading towards the chains, trying to reinforce them before another drops. The robot directed its attention to I.B RS and charged at her, blue flames trailing after the katana as it swung at her. I.B RS grabbed the katana and gripped it before yanking at it, pulling the robot towards her.
"You are nothing..." I.B RS said before raising her Insane Cannon Lance.
The robot couldn't react as I.B RS drilled a hole in its chest with her Insane Cannon Lance, letting the machine drop to the floor as she looked at Geshumaru, who saw the scene. Narrowing her eyes, I.B RS jumped up and rushed towards Geshumaru, who leaped from a chain to one above her. Landing on top of a chain link, I.B RS started firing all around, trying to rip Geshumaru apart through the sets of chains all around them. Geshumaru kept on dashing away from the onslaught, helplessly watching the chains break as she tried to avoid the purple beams that are nearing her. Leaping from the next chain, Geshumaru looked back before looking forward, watching I.B RS jump towards her, firing another volley towards the blue-eyed girl.
Geshumaru raised the broadsword as a shield, but felt some of the scattered beam rip through her skin, "Gah..!"
Geshumaru hit the floor, landing next to her partner as she heard multiple chains falling to the floor as more sides of the tower dropped. I.B RS noticed the sides falling into the ground and moved towards the circular hallway, a sense of paranoia running through her. She saw her left arm twitch and closed her eyes, figuring B RS is still fighting against her within her mind. While this was occurring, Geshumaru got up and grabbed a hold of her partner before creating a rift and falling through it, dropping off next to Dragon Slayer. She looked up and watched Gold Saw eye the machine as she looked around, only to have her eyes lock on Dragon Slayer's back, the amber-eyed Anomaly preoccupied with the falling tower.
"What's wrong with it?" STR asked, catching Geshumaru's attention.
"Uh, he got ripped right through," Geshumaru stated, "There's a repair room several floors up in a different area, take him there and I can fix him"
STR nodded and picked the machine up, holding it with both hands as Geshumaru told them where to go. Gold Saw picked up Dead Master and rushed off with STR and Chariot, looking back at Geshumaru and Dragon Slayer as they headed up through another walkway. Geshumaru walked up to Dragon Slayer, who hasn't looked away from the tower, her eyes glowing with a sense of what's to come. Geshumaru watched Dragon Slayer spread out her arms close her eyes, the malicious aura returning and surrounding the both of them. She didn't have to think about what she was going to say next, Dragon Slayer made each word clear when she caused all this to happen.
"It's your fault..." Geshumaru said, annoyed.
"I did all this to help two sides, the rest of you we're just pawns, albeit, unknowing ones," Dragon Slayer told her, opening her eyes slowly, "But does that really matter in the grand scheme of things?"
"You're damning the world for your own vendetta..!" Geshumaru shouted.
"And you tried to kill Shooter without proper justification, I'm merely correcting a problem that shouldn't exist," Dragon Slayer stated.
Geshumaru narrowed her eyes as the sides entered the ground, "Shooter going insane goes against your morals, what's the point in all this?!"
"If I can't fight, Shooter will take my place," Dragon Slayer told Geshumaru, sighing, "Her going insane is a minor inconvenience, but a necessary one for her to develop and become whole..."
"You lost yourself," Geshumaru muttered, looking away.
Dragon Slayer didn't listen to her as she watch the floor down below open up, "Well, looks like we lose Shooter..."
A mechanical roar ripped through the cylindrical tower as various purple beams rushed up, destroying parts of the architecture as vibrations shook the area. A stray beam rushed towards Dragon Slayer, but she sliced it in half, the separated beams brushing by her and hitting the wall behind them. They watched as the vibrations shook the foundations to their core, a silhouette of something large coming towards them. Dragon Slayer looked at Geshumaru and the non-verbal command reached the girl as she sliced in the air before disappearing through a rift, avoiding an unwanted confrontation. Dragon Slayer held back a smile as she looked at the creature before her, the mechanical monster that can rip the world apart.
Dragon Slayer looked at the black armored, remembering when it was once sleek and shined with perfection, the armor now worn, but jagged and just as strong as it once was. The three rings were now adorned with spikes, twisting and turning every was they could as energy flowed through the neck. What was once its arms were nothing more than wings designed with internal weapons to launch full-scale destruction upon one singular area it chooses to destroy. It's head was also different, appearing like the head of the dragon she slain so long ago, broken and fix with various parts. The biggest difference was the erratic purple energy that flowed through the machines body, signifying the drastic change in its appearance and existence.
Dragon Slayer gripped her sword with both hands, narrowing her eyes, "Hello, Spirit Eater..."
B RS and I.B RS broke through a building as they attacked each other, B RS firing at her in rapid succession as they jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Jumping towards the next one, B RS swapped her Rock Cannon with her Black Blade and charged towards I.B RS, causing them to clash weapons as B RS went on the offensive. Despite being unable to show it, I.B RS couldn't understand how B RS was fighting back at her level, it was unethical and yet, it was happening. At first, she thought that she killed the other B RS, but as the fight went on, the juggernaut realized there is no other B RS and that's when she knew the fight was different from before. Jumping back, I.B RS started firing at B RS, only to see the blue-eyed Anomaly push through, ignoring the beams that were cutting through her body.
"Try again..!" B RS told her before punching I.B RS in the face.
I.B RS turned to B RS, ready to punch her when said girl slashed at her, causing the juggernaut to jump back and swap her Insane Cannon Lance with her Insane Blade Claw, figuring the fight was tilting against her. They clashed blades with each other, their attacks causing sparks to fly around as B RS tried to break through and stab her counterpart. Backing away, B RS started thinking of ways to take down the juggernaut, figuring that she could do whatever if she focused I.B RS charge towards her snapped B RS back to reality as she focused her power, a blue phantom image of her Black Blade appearing as she countered I.B RS's attack. B RS swung around, shouting as the phantom blade phased through the juggernaut, catching the purple-eyed version of her off-guard.
"What..." I.B RS muttered, watching B RS kick her in the gut.
Narrowing her eyes, I.B RS let her sword drop as she punched B RS across the face before slamming her knee in her gut. They started trading punches and kicks, their attacks doing varying damage to both ends as they lost themselves within the fight's rhythm. As they kept trading blows with each other, Mato rushed up to the area before stopping several meters before them, watching B RS get pushed back a bit as I.B RS launched a series of punches. B RS tried to retaliate, but I.B RS grabbed her jacket and slammed her body around, black blood mixed with red coming out of B RS's mouth. I.B RS tossed B RS aside as she caught a sight of Mato, her purple eyes narrowing as she brought out her Insane Cannon Lance.
Mato flinched and tried to run, but she couldn't move from where she was standing, her body out of her control. I.B RS glared at her, ready to fire when she felt a blade pierce through her ribcage, B RS stabbing through the spine with her Black Blade. Narrowing her eyes, B RS lifted I.B RS off the building and slammed her down the opposite direction, ripping her sword out as she glared at Mato before looking back at her counterpart. Letting her Black Blade disappear, B RS brought out her Rock Cannon before trying to bring out another one, blue electricity ripping her skin apart as the weapon formed. I.B RS got up and saw B RS charge both cannons before she fired, the dual beams hitting I.B RS and sending her flying across the building as windows shattered from the blast of both weapons.
B RS dropped the weapons and gripped her right arm, the strain of the second Rock Cannon taking effect, "Tch, bad idea, but it did help..."
"Rock!" Mato called out as she rushed towards her.
B RS looked at Mato and narrowed her eyes, "Didn't I tell you to go hide?"
Mato flinched at her tone, but pushed it aside, "I... I thought you were going to..."
"Yeah, well I'm not dying anytime soon, but that thing is one tough bitch," B RS said as she watch I.B RS get up, "I need to end this"
Mato watch her walk forward, B RS's lasts words striking her, "Don't kill, it doesn't help..!"
B RS stopped before she whirled around, her eyes glowing, "And what makes you think there's another choice Mato?!"
Mato couldn't say anything as B RS's words struck her like lightning, her knees buckling as she watched B RS charge towards I.B RS with her Black Blade drawn. Those words caused Mato to wonder if that was the same B RS that she knew since the start of the Geshumaru situation, since she didn't react like that before. It caused her to remember the brief moments she had with the old B RS, who was short and straight-forward with her responses. It couldn't be possible that she changed back, but that wouldn't explain her seeing B RS's past self. She just couldn't understand it, but watching B RS fight against I.B RS shows that she's still the same person, at least, that's what Mato hoped for.
B RS dodged a slash at her neck before striking forward, their blades clashing with each other before I.B RS pulled back and pointed her Insane Cannon Lance at her. Multiple beams came running from the weapon towards B RS, who slashed her way through before kick I.B RS on the head, knocking her off-balance. Turning her Black Blade, B RS sliced up, severing her right arm as it fell to the ground along with the weapon. I.B RS turned around and sent chains towards B RS, who leaps around them before twisting her body, swapping her Black Blade with her Rock Cannon. She fired at the chains, destroying them before rushing up to I.B RS and punching her square in the face.
Backing away, I.B RS glared at her and was about to rush forward when her legs got sliced off, B RS cutting the off with her Black Blade while I.B RS tried to regain her balance. Falling against the building, I.B RS dragged her body towards her Insane Cannon Lance, using her left are to pull herself toward the massive weapon. Before she could even get a hold on the weapon, B RS stomped on her left arm before picking up the Insane Cannon Lance, removing the arm still latched inside. B RS kicked I.B RS, flipping her around as she leveled her counterpart's weapon towards her face, the tip of the blade nearly touching her nose. I.B RS's eyes widened as she gritted her teeth, fangs slightly visible as all she could do is glare at the person eying her like she's nothing more than trash.
"Look at you, you're stronger than anyone else and yet, I beaten you," B RS said, her eyes bearing no emotion, "My despair, my ruin, my darkness..."
Mato watched as B RS launched a volley of beams at I.B RS point-blank, shouting, "Stop!"
B RS kept on firing, watching the beams rip apart I.B RS's form until she had enough, I.B RS twitching before her. B RS didn't expect it to satisfy her, and it didn't, but watching I.B RS react the way she is now gave her a sense of peace. A part of her past that ripped apart who she was settling itself as just a dark moment, one that she got through by fighting against Mato, and losing. Even so, the fact that I.B RS even exists as a part of her is like leaving a bitter taste in your mouth, it's unsettling like hell. Removing her arm from the weapon, B RS hoisted with both arms, ready to impale the Insane Cannon Lance through her, just to end the nightmare.
"Stop it, that's enough!" Mato cried.
"In the end, I guess it turned out well for me..." B RS said before impaling I.B RS.
The weapon buried itself deep inside I.B RS gut, purple-tint black blood pouring out as she tried to remove the Insane Cannon Lance from her gut with her left arm. Turning around, B RS walked away, leaving I.B RS alone to struggle with her imprisonment by her own weapon, a fate that couldn't be anymore fitting. Mato looked at B RS as she neared her, feeling a bit afraid for her life as she watched the display of violence that her other self delivered. B RS stopped next to Mato, looking down at her with mixed emotions flowing through her body, unsure how to feel about the girl she wants to help, but who also unknowingly damned her. Before she could say anything, a roar echoed throughout the mind-scape, shaking everything as B RS realized what it meant for both her and Dragon Slayer.
"Damn it, I'm late," B RS cursed before looking at Mato again, "Mato, I got no time to explain, but you have to help me..!"
Mato shook her head slightly, forcing B RS to sigh heavily, "The Otherworld's at risk, and if we don't go back and help, everyone in the real world, your world, will get affected, so stop whining and buckle down..!"
Mato didn't do anything until another roar reverberated throughout the area, the buildings collapsing from the affects of what's going on in the Otherworld. Looking at B RS, Mato forced down whatever insecurity she was feeling and raised a shaking hand, B RS grabbing it without hesitation. The world around them contorted and turned white until they felt themselves forced down by an unknown weight. Letting the feeling push them, they started to hear noises, the sounds of weapons firing catching their attention. B RS gritted her teeth and forced the sensation to push them even further, hoping that they can stop whatever is going on out there with Dragon Slayer.
Dragon Slayer evaded multiple beams and bullets, the attacks spreading out to shoot down whatever choices she had remaining. Pointing her sword at a barrage of bullets, the bullets got surrounded by an invisible ball of gravity, the pieces of metal twisting upon themselves before exploding. Jumping around, Dragon Slayer leaped inside the circular hallway and started running through it, the beams slowly trailing up upon her. Jumping out of the hallway, Dragon Slayer neared the Spirit Eater until it used its tail to smack her away, the bladed end cutting through her. Dragon Slayer was about to pull herself out of the wall when the tail started spinning, moving around ever so slightly before drilling itself into Dragon Slayer's gut.
"Gah..!" Dragon Slayer let out, blood dripping from her wound and mouth.
[Dragon... Slay... er..]
"Well, isn't this interesting development," Dragon Slayer started, "I created you with the sole intention of protecting the Otherworld, and yet, you link up with Shooter just to destroy it..."
[Shooter... not necessary, savior.. kept me... alive, world... deserves oblivion...]
"Ha, oblivion, don't make me laugh, you're the one facing oblivion and believe me, it will be a damnable experience," Dragon Slayer said as she silently thought to herself, "Savior, then that means there's a missing variable in all this..."
[You.. know oblivion, so you must die..!]
The Spirit Eater opened its mouth, a core of energy resting inside its mouth as the air grew thin within the cylindrical tower. The energy core started glowing as the rampant energy that flowed through the machine charged it, the three spiked, gear-like wheels spinning rapidly. Dragon Slayer closed her eyes, appearing as if she's resigning her fate while she hears the faint sound of movement. Before the Spirit Eater could fire, it got shot up from its back to the base of its neck, causing the charge-up to get disrupted. Roaring, the Spirit Eater looked around before hearing the sounds of armor dropping, forcing it to look up to its left.
"You're late... Shooter..." Dragon Slayer muttered.
More armor dropped to the floor as B RS stepped near the railing, her eyes changing from purple to blue as she aimed her Rock Cannon at the Spirit Eater. Her boots clacked against the floor before she jumped over the railing, her jacket forming around her in mid-air as she fired at the Spirit Eater, the machine roaring as she did so. As she kept falling, she fired at multiple spot where the Spirit Eater latched to for support, causing the machine to drop along with her into the abyss. Dragon Slayer quickly punched a hole in the wall and grabbed its edge while tapping the other side, archaic markings glowing as one section of the tower closed off, separating them from her. Smirking, Dragon Slayer let go and fell to the floor, her blood slowly seeping out as she looked up to the endless sky that was slowly clearing up.
"Sorry Shooter, but you're on your own," Dragon Slayer muttered, "Hm... this is truly... my sweetest vengeance..."
Dragon Slayer laughed quietly to herself as she heard the faint voices of Maid Gunner and Underworld Vulcan nearing her.
Author's Note: Goddamn did this take a lot out of me. I had a general idea where this chapter would go, but no idea how to type it out. It only took one trip to the basement with an old laptop and listening to PTP to get my muse running. Smile my sheep, I'm back and this story might end in two chapter, not entirely sure, but the next chapter is going to be good. Also, check out Tachibana Wish's forums and post (also, please get my ask me thread running).
Please review while I go celebrate about my muse returning.