AN Well, time to kick it off. Machina Numen-Imperator vs. Epsilon, Belli Inter Titanus. Place your bets folks, its time to fight! But first, the challenge must issued. That, and I am a sucker for two fighters boasting of their feats before a battle.

Sly 5:

Return of the Thievious Racconus

Ch18 OPERATION PHEONIX

Part 5

Belli Inter Titanus Begins NOW!

Shadow's POV: When I felt the wire snap, I knew I only had a few seconds to spare to get Sly in and button up. So, I took the quickest solution, hitting him at full power and getting inside. Sure, he is probably unconscious, but he can't help me now. The blast finally caught up with me, blowing the SRW off of its restraints and trough the hole to the surface of the fortress. I had to act fast. Knowing Li, see already has one of her SRA Project Units online and coming after me.

"Lets see, unbutton helmet, it will do me no good in here." I reached up and unfastened my combat helmet, letting my brown short cut hair loose. Hopefully, I would have it on before Sly realized. "Next, secure Sly." Don't want him banging around in here, and the combat pack in the back has straps. "Next, stand by systems up, the optics should be good at least." The hatch we came though light up, and several holo displays sprang to life. "Still in the fireball, 30secs til exit." Good time for a 9800tn mech. "Now, the key." I said as I summoned the SE Guitar. Sly and Li still have no clue as to its true purpose. Getting it in tune, right as we came crashing down, I slammed forward against the restraints. Looking at the display, I could see Li, the Epsilon marked unit before me. Not good. Quick, the notes! My voice changed once more, accompanying the surge of power.

"Don't wanna know why,

everybody ready,

lets get it on!"

Third Person POV: The soot covered mech began to react, with Li pulling back in shock. Nothing she had done yet had caused any reaction. The orb in the center of it began to glow, a blinding green light that seemed to overwhelm the sun. Beams of light radiated out from the gaps in the armor, as arcs of pure energy crackled and sparked across the plating. The eye visor, originally a dull green, was overwhelmed by the new light, and turned a brilliant emerald. The machine began to rise, steadying itself with its sole arm till is stood on both feet. More changes were visible.

The shoulder spikes, once plain gold, now radiated the same light as the sphere, as green flames, much like those Shadow seemed to be able to summon. As the light bean to recede, the flames and sphere only seemed to grow brighter. Now, the machine stood proud and tall, despite its unfinished look.

Shadow's POV:Taking advantage of my oldest gift, my mind began to process all the necessary information I would need, time seeming to slow down around me as my hyper analytical mind began to work. Muttering to myself, "Armor integrity, 79% hull coverage, SE field enhancing durability. DOMINION Feild unfinished, left arm gone, neurological feedback system uninstalled, 1:1 System operational, Hamerspace Link nonfunctional. Thrusters only capable of 23% output, reactor link only capable of minimal level. Golden Wings unavailable. Crossover System unfinished. Z-summon, available

Armament available: 2 MPtype Beam sabers, 2 SE Swords, 40 launchers of various types. Arm Buster, Rocket Smash, 3M, Z, Deity Wrath, all available.

My foe: SRA Project Unit-01b CODENAME: Epsilon. 250Ft, 7000tn, top speed, unknown, armament melee and heavy bombardment type. Appearance: Similar to an oversized bipedal crab. Long spindly legs, heavily armored body, long clawed arms and no head, only optics. Tow large cannons positioned at 10 and 2 o'clock positions, along with some kinda missile system. Cannons appear to be about 40cm class, shell and energy type. Large Anti-Ship sword in right hand, held back in a hard point before the claw.

Only options for survival: All out attack."

The display before me presented my last challenge, the Judgment System, the final check of its wielder. A simple password yes, but one only I even knew existed. For there was now prompt, nor even a set answer. Just a single, totally illogical system to turn on, all via voice. "BGM select, on stand by." And with that the mech was mine. Now, for the battle before battle. "Coms, up, direct breakthrough hail."

Li's POV: I was startled by the mech getting up, and backed away. Within 5 seconds, I had my second shock. Shadow had just broken into my com.

"So Li, been awhile since we last had a good fight, eh?"

"Shadow, how else could that hunk of scrap work. You and your habit to break all the rules..."

"Well, I did kinda need this back."

"So, I did have what I thought... and that means-"

"Hit it right on the head you crazy octopi. Though I think we should drop the disguises for battle. Maintaining them takes so much concentration, wouldn't you agree?"

I had to agree. It was so easy to hide who I really was. The disguise peeled away like dead skin from a sunburn, leaving me at the controls. "So, what will it take to get you to surrender? Your outmatched, unfinished, and underpowered, while Epsilon is at full capacity. You probably wasted whatever you could scrounge up just to stand."

"A simple folly, your observations. Your errors are based on lack of information, and I will now correct them. I have the key, the power, and the source."

"Then..."

"I wish you a speedy trip to the afterlife. If you could die."

"Well, let us do this in the only way to start a fight. I know you have to much honor in you for that Shadow. A battle of words, then a battle of boast. Then we unleashed all the hounds of war and hell til only one still breathes."

Shadow's POV: "Very we Li." My voice became yet another new one, similar to my second, more midway between the two." My name is Shadow. I am the nightmare that hounds the souls of evil, the horrifying monster of justice that knows no mercy. I am the avenging angel that seeks to right that which you have wronged at all costs. Am I a brave hearted hero, or a black hearted evil? I am all of those and more. I am that which haunts the shadows that you seek to rule, the Shadow that strikes at its foes! I am the monster that I have made myself!

And this is my mount! Behold, the ultimate weapon of justice, Supreme Robotic Warmachine Unit-01, Machina Numen-Imperator, the ultimate instrument of my wrath! Forged of metal of unparalleled strength! Armed with the most powerful of my creations! It is the weapon that will see to your demise and be your guide to the darkest pits that await you!"

Li's POV: Well, he sure did put a lot into that one. Time for mine. " My name is Li-Chan. What am I? Am I light to counter the Shadow, kindness to his wrath and rage? No, I am the second side to the grime coin of the truth of wars. For while the good may seem evil in its ways, I am the hideous monster that it becomes a monster to fight. So what am I? I am the madness that lurks in all hearts, given flesh to manipulate with, muscle to move with, and a mind to consume all the insanity that I am. I am the Shadow that encompasses the darkest reaches. I am the evil that lurks in all souls, brought out into the light, blinded and burned by it and lashing out at all who oppose me.

And this is my mount! Synthetic Robotic Armament Epsilon, the first of many foes! The claws that shall crush my foes fores, and the cannons to crush spirits and the missiles to devastate, this is the tool of my wrath!"

Both of us cried out at the same time "We are the monsters here to battle. We are the duelist of this fight. I accept your challenge to this war to the death!"

Shadow's POV: Only one thing was left to do, complete the Judgment Systems check as I readied the 1:1 Control System. "Background Music Select System, Men of Destiny, English Vocal Version"

The War of Titans begins

Next chapter!

AN Sorry guys, I really wanted this to be the fight, but like most of my writings, the pre-fight banter began and this became about the page length of my regular chapters. I promise, next chapter is solid combat (and a few tech explanations as necessary). All hate and flames at this set-up of mine will be used as fuel to power an army of giant evil robots. This is Fanus, signing of!