Dimension Zeta: The Prequel

by TheLadyRedHeart

20 years before the events of Dimension Zeta, as Aila is born into this world of responsibility, a surprising threat starts a war that will alter the course of history forever.

5. End of Innocence

CLANG!

Two training weapons bashed together as Boken and Tarou had a mock battle in the Morkom training room. Tarou had grabbed a spear, the closest thing to his naginata, while Boken, of course, used a normal sword. The two fought furiously, the previous battle on their minds.

Arc had been injured enough to receive care, to which he'd gone to Tetri to use Chena's healing pods, where Ema was currently resting. Of course, his injuries weren't so severe he needed to be put to sleep, but still needed some help, just in case Arun attacked again.

CLANG!

Neither one let up, throwing every ounce of themselves into the fight. When an attack landed, it stung, but they kept going, each of them motivated to take Arun and Keisha down.

"Ah!" Boken cried out as a strike hit his arm and he dropped his weapon. Tarou lunged for a finishing attack, but Boken knew exactly what he was trying to do, and ducked underneath the attack, grabbing his weapon and thrusting up into Tarou's chest, striking the boy, fake killing him. Tarou groaned as Boken got up.

"I know your moves well, Tarou." The boy said as she swung his sword around. "Gonna have to try harder than that." The boy looked up at the clock. "I won't have too much more time, though."

"Why? Got a date?" Tarou said with a hint of annoyance, but Boken simply shook his head.

"I've got someone coming to the Basilicom today. He's gonna be my apprentice." Tarou raised an eyebrow.

"Apprentice?"

"Yeah, he's a really young kid that's already showing himself to be a prodigy at inventing things. I sponsored him for a program he was in and he ended up getting first place, so I asked to take him under my wing."

"Wow, big day for the kid, I'm guessing."

"Oh yeah, he was excited, bouncing all over the place." Boken said with a laugh. "He's got a lot of energy, for sure, and I just…saw that passion in his eyes. He's gonna do great."

"Tarou." Red suddenly said as she emerged from the large training closet, holding a weapon that was as close to a sickle as she could find, a curved training blade. "It's weird because you and Arc have so many weird training weapons but still don't have an actual sickle, or even a naginata even though that's your weapon."

"I know." He said, and readied his weapon for another round.

"So who's next?" Red asked, and Tarou shook his head.

"I want both of you to come at me." He said as he raised his weapon and pointed it at both of them. Red and Boken looked at each other and then back at him.

"Really?"

"You think you can take both of us?"

"Absolutely." Tarou responded with a smirk. "Come on!" Red and Boken looked at each other once more, and then shrugged, before Red suddenly lunged. Tarou raised his weapon and connected it against hers. Boken rushed to his side, and Tarou shoved Red away as he brought the spear to block Boken. Red moved towards him again, and, though it made Tarou reel back, he kicked her away as he shoved Boken back the same way he'd done to Red, and lunged at him. Their blades whizzed as they attempted to strike each other, with Red coming in to attack Tarou's behind, but he swung himself around so Red ended up hitting Boken instead, giving Tarou the chance to strike them both in a single hit and knock them back, laughing.

"Gonna have to try harder than that~" Tarou mocked as he smirked at Boken. But the boy simply smirked back.

"Yeah, or else you'll get your ass kicked by that girl again~" Tarou's nostrils flared as he went into for another attack, swinging down with full force. Boken blocked it with one hand while grabbing the staff of the spear with the other, and nodding to Red. The girl rushed forward and thrust her blade at Tarou's chest. He tried to pull his weapon away to block, but Boken held it securely, so she managed to strike him, and he lost once again.

"Dammit." He said as Boken released the spear.

"You were the one that wanted to take both of us on at once." He said, and Tarou sneered. "Let's go again." Red and Boken nodded, but before they could start, another voice spoke.

"Hey, Red?" The girl looked over to see Aila gesturing for her to come over.

"You guys continue without me, alright?" She said, and they nodded as they resumed fighting. Red walked over to her sister. "Yeah, what is it?"

"I was…wondering if we could talk, now that it's…calmed down a bit?" She asked.

"About what?" Red asked, a little concerned by the serious look on Aila's face, though the girl didn't speak for a while.

"Remember…when Ema got hurt?" She asked.

"Yeah?" Red said, having an idea of where this was going.

"When you…were with her, did you-" Red suddenly clasped a hand over her mouth.

"It was nothing." She said, and Aila tried to speak, but Red just pushed her further. "Look…even if it was something, it's not something that matters, okay? So just…leave it, alright?" Aila didn't speak for a moment, but then suddenly, Red felt something slimy on her hand, and she cried out as she retracted her hand, as Aila had licked it.

"I can't just leave it!" Aila said as she shoved Red's hand away. "What was that? Did you…heal her?"

"So what if I did? It was by accident, a fluke. It doesn't matter, because it's not gonna happen again. I…don't think I want it to."

"Why wouldn't you want to? If you could heal, that would be so helpful, especially in a time like this! Don't you want to try-" Aila started, but Red's eyes almost seemed to glow as they met Aila's.

"POWERS ONLY LEAD TO SUFFERING AND DEATH! I WILL NOT END UP LIKE HER!" Red cried, tears welling in her eyes as her body trembled from memories she didn't want. Aila stared at her, her confusion now replaced with concern. She was about to ask what that meant when Tarou and Boken, who'd heard Red about something, turned to her.

"Red? You okay?" Tarou asked. Red straightened up, and sighed, wiping away her growing tears.

"I'm gonna go visit Arc." She said, and dropped the training weapon as she stormed towards the door. Aila quickly followed after her, leaving Tarou and Boken alone. The two gave each other a look before slowly returning to their training.

"Red, I'm sorry…I didn't-"

"You didn't know. It's fine." Red said as she transformed. "Just…leave it alone, okay? Powers aren't worth it. Trust me." She took off, and Aila transformed as well before flying off with her.

As they flew off, a small girl stepped from the shadows, smiling. "Healing powers, huh? Interesting. Not as interesting as if it was something like 'my eyes make people turn to stone if I look at them wrong', but still…interesting."

---

Red and Aila landed on the balcony of the Basilicom, and transformed back into their human forms as they walked inside.

"Red! Aila!" Chena said as she looked up once they entered. Sitting next to her was Arc, bare chested, the various cuts and gashes he'd sustained from the battle with Arun visible with stitches and bandages, as well as pulsing white electrodes were placed near the wounds, connected to a portable healing pod, pumping spare share energy mixed with chemicals and other items into his body to heal him.

"Hello, you two." Arc said with a wave.

"How are you feeling?" Aila said as she and Red walked over to him.

"Have been better, but I think I'll be ready for the next fight. I think I only need a day to be fully recovered, right Chena?" He asked, and she confirmed with a nod.

"Chena…" Red said, and the other CPU's face immediately fell as she knew exactly what she was going to ask. "We could really-"

"No." Chena said, though her face almost said differently.

"Please. I know you don't your HDD much, but you're really strong, and we could use your help." Red asked, and Chena bit her lip.

"I-I don't-"

"Chenaaaaa!" A tiny voice suddenly squeaked as someone ran out of the hallway and barreled towards Chena, the small child nearly falling over as she leapt into Chena's arms. "I did it! I got everything cleaned up!"

"Good girl!" Chena said as she patted Eva's head, and the girl blushed and smiled happily. "After dinner, you get to have one extra cookie, alright?"

"YAYYYYY!" Eva cried as she waved her arms around, and, finally noticing other people were there, she suddenly became shy, and turned to Chena, giving everyone else a side eye.

"See, I, um…" Chena cleared her throat. "I have to take care of Eva, so I can't."

"That's bullshiiiii-" Red started, but stopped when she saw Chena's incredibly harsh glare, while Eva gave her a strange look. "-iiiiitake! Yes, that's what I meant to say." Chena sighed.

"I'm sorry, but…I don't want to." Chena said, though the hesitation on her face was evident.

"Why?"

"It's none of your business, Red. Please stop." She asked, and even though it looked like Red wanted to keep going, Arc held up a hand.

"How's it going with you all?" He asked, and Red sighed as she crossed her arms.

"Boken and Tarou are training so they can be ready. Tarou even tried to fight both of us at once." Arc laughed.

"I guess losing to that girl really hit him, huh? Especially since she isn't a CPU." He said as he snatched a cookie off the plate in front of him, though, once he saw Eva staring longingly at it, he smiled and, after getting a nod from Chena, he handed it to her instead, and watched as she began eating it. "He'll be fine, don't worry about him."

"I'm not. I'm worried about all of us." She said, and Arc sighed, then turned to her.

"There's no need to be. Everything will turn out fine." He said, and turned to Aila next, giving her a reassuring smile. "I promise." Just that was enough to make both Red and Aila relax a little. "Now then…you two should get back to getting ready. We don't know when Arun will strike next."

"Right." Red said, and stole one last glance at Chena before the two of them walked out the balcony, transformed, and flew off once again, leaving the two CPUs alone.

"Lying to them isn't good, you know." Chena said.

"Whatever can get them through whatever comes next." Arc said, glancing at his wounds. "Did you slow it down?"

"Yeah. You won't recover in a day, but it won't take long." Chena said, watching as his wounds almost seemed to…throb. "Arun is…scary. Even just him scratching you can lead to…this. A living, feeding darkness, inside your body. You were lucky it didn't reach your brain, you know."

"Eh, I've dealt with worse." Arc said, and Chena laughed.

"I know." She said as she patted Eva's head as she continued to eat her cookie. "You know…" she hesitated. "Actually, nevermind."

"Nope, you don't get to do that. Tell me." Arc said. Chena sighed.

"I…used to think we were invincible. That…nothing could happen to us, as long as we had each other." She smiled sadly. "Then…Alli…" Chena felt Arc grip her hand.

"I know." He said. "We aren't invincible. But we don't need to be. Part of enjoying life is knowing that one day, it might end." He said. "That's why we have to try and live with as few regrets as possible." Chena sighed again.

"Easy for you to say." She said.

"Not really."

His words surprised her, and she looked over at him. "What?"

"Tarou. If…if I died before I was able to teach him all the lessons I want to teach him…that would be my biggest regret." Arc said, looking off into the distance at nothing in particular. "He is…the best thing in my life, and…I just want him to be as good of a CPU as I feel I was."

"I…see." Chena said, and looked down sadly, only to feel Arc squeeze her hand again.

"Don't worry. You'll get someone." He assured her. "Either…a sibling…or something else. I'm sure of it."

"Hopefully." She said, and suddenly, Eva got down and walked over to Arc, surprising both CPUs. She then began to hit his leg.

"YOU'RE MAKING HER SAD! STOP IT!" Eva cried. Arc and Chena laughed.

"No, no, Eva. I'm fine." Chena said, and with a single hand, Arc was able to pick the girl up and set her on his lap.

"I'm sorry for making her sad." He said. "Sometimes, it's hard not to be. But it's fine to be sad sometimes, it's part of what makes us human, and it helps us get better."

"Being sad…makes you better?" Eva asked, now no longer angry, just curious.

"Yes. I know it sounds weird, but being sad, allowing yourself to feel sad…it'll help you feel better later, okay?" He said, and Eva gave this some thought, even going so far as to dramatically put her hand on her chin and hum. After a few moments, she smiled.

"Okay!" She said, and once again shocking both CPUs, she crawled over and sat down in the guy's lap, and grabbed another cookie before Chena could say anything, beginning to eat it. After the moment of shock passed, both of them laughed.

"Well done." Chena said. "You…seem like you'd be good with kids." She said.

"Yeah? You think?" He asked as he now patted the girl's head.

"Yeah." She said.

"Well I think I'll need to end this war and find someone first before I can worry about that." He said with a hearty laugh.

"So there's no one in mind?" She asked.

"At the moment, no. Though…even though Tarou is my brother, he feels more like my son at times." He said with another laugh.

"Well…once this war is over, there's plenty of time, isn't there?" She asked.

"Right. And I'm sure you'll find a guy eventually." He said, and Chena blushed, before clearing her throat and looking away.

"N-not…a guy…" Chena said, and Arc blinked before his eyes went wide.

"Oh! Ohhhh." He said, and then smiled wide. "Well, either way, you'll find someone. I just know it." Chena couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you." She said, then thought it over, smirking as she looked over at where Red and Aila had left. "Well then…maybe you'll end up an uncle instead." Arc raised an eyebrow for a moment, then realized, and laughed.

"Hopefully!" He said.

After that, the two continued on in casual conversation for a while, just like old times, each of them smiling and enjoying the company of their sibling.

Even if it would be for the last time.

---

"BITCH!"

The word was met with a knife toss that Yurei only barely avoided, the air in front of her face whistling. "What the-?!"

"You didn't do jack shit, you lazy traitor!" Keisha shouted as she lunged at Yurei, flinging her knives at the girl's face. She dodged out of the way as she leapt back.

"You're the one who tried to get me to kill the most powerful CPU!" Yurei cried back. Of course, as soon as Arun had left to check on the monster army he was assembling, Keisha had started attacking. Why had the girl expected anything different?

"Yeah because I thought you'd be able to handle it with how you were able to get me, but instead you ran like a damn coward!" Keisha cried.

"Well I'm sorry I didn't want to die! And it's like you can really equate to ARC of all people!" Yurei shouted. Keisha cried out and lunged at Yurei, her knives flying at her. Yurei moved out of the way of one, but wrapped her thread around the other, and yanked it, dragging Keisha into a position where she could drive her knee into the girl's stomach. Keisha groaned as Yurei then slammed her fist into the girl's face, trying to muster up as much strength as she could into the attack, and in doing so, the girl was launched into the opposite wall as she groaned in pain.

"Fucking bitch!" She cried as she pried herself from the wall. "I won't let you ruin my chance to do my duty!" She started running straight at the now confused girl.

"Duty?" She questioned aloud, before shaking her head and starting to run to meet her, her thread following her. The two met and, surprisingly to Yurei, Keisha started using her fists.

One swung towards her face, which she dodged, but the other struck her in the chest, and sent her back a bit, allowing for Keisha to pull out a knife and stab towards her stomach, which Yurei managed to grab, though it cut her hand a bit. She threw it out of the way as she lunged her upper body up and slammed her face into Keisha's, making the girl stumble, before Yurei landed a kick into her stomach, then a knee to her face.

"I'll kill you!" Keisha shouted as her knife flew at Yurei.

"Not if I kill you first!" Yurei shouted, fed up with this girl as her thread shot towards her.

"Enough."

Both the thread and knife stopped mere inches from Arun as the man stepped between them. Both of them jumped in surprise, as he'd seemingly appeared out of nowhere, having come from the shadows. "What the hell are you two doing?"

"I was just-"

"She was-"

"Stop." He said, and turned to look at Keisha first. She had a hand on her stomach, and her nose was bruised. He then turned to Yurei, who almost didn't seem injured at all. He snarled. "Yurei." She jumped.

"Y-yeah?"

"Control your strength. Even if she is strong, she's still mortal, a human." Keisha smirked at Yurei, who flared with anger.

"But she was the one who-"

"Stop." His voice, despite being low, was also somehow booming, and made Yurei recoil.

"Okay…"

"Enough of this fighting. I want you both to be ready for today." He said, and both girls looked confused.

"Ready for what?" Keisha asked, and Arun finally smiled.

"Ready to turn the tide of this war." He said, and looked between the two girls. "Because today…we kill Arc, and then…" His smile widened, "everybody else…will crumble~"

---

Red returned to find Tarou and Boken fighting as usual, though it was obvious Boken was the better fighter in this matchup, even just from watching for a minute.

Tarou had the strength to outmatch him, but he was too predictable for someone like Boken, who trained with Tarou enough to know how moves, and how they were similar to Arc and Gorudo's. Tarou swung for an attack, Boken was able to match it, and then counterattack, rinse, repeat. Tarou was able to get a few lucky hits, but Boken won out most of the time, and left Tarou feeling exhausted and defeated. "I told you, you have to try harder." Boken said, and Tarou groaned as he pulled himself to his feet. "I know your moves too well. Though, that's mostly a me issue, on the enemies, it'll work really well."

"Yeah, but will it work on her?" He asked, and wiped his mouth. "I swear, she's more like a demon than an actual person." He said. "Let's go again."

"Alright." Boken said with a shrug. Both he and Red could tell he had a singular goal in mind, and he wasn't going to stop until he could achieve it. They both stepped back, and they resumed fighting, though it seemed to lead to the same result. Tarou tried some stuff that seemed different from his normal attacks, but it still was too similar to what Boken was used to, so he was still able to fight back easily, and after less than a minute, knock Tarou's weapon out of his hands, and, after sweeping his feet out from under him, had his sword pointed at his chest. Tarou groaned as Boken held out his hand, and pulled the boy back to his feet. "Like I said, it's good, just…not against me."

"Yeah, yeah." He said as he got up, and looked over at Red. His face brightened and he walked over to her. "How was he?"

"Recovering, says he'll need at least a day, though." Red said, and Tarou frowned.

"We might not have that." He said, unaware of how right he was going to be.

"Well, we're back now, so mind if we train with you?" Red said, gesturing to Aila. Tarou put a hand to his chin.

"Considering how different her fighting style is to ours, it might be odd." He said, but shrugged. "Oh well, sure, she needs the training, too." Red nodded and the CPU picked up the training weapon she'd used before. As she started walking towards them, she turned to Aila.

"Go find something." She instructed. Aila nodded and ran into the storage room as the mock battle began. This time, it was a free for all, and all three were going to give it their hardest.

As they began battling, Red started a conversation. "Hey guys? Can I ask you something?"

"Of course." Boken said, deflecting Red's attack, and dodging Tarou's.

"Just don't let it distract you too much~" Tarou teased as he managed to hit Red's side.

"Are we…going to stay friends?"

The question actually made the two of them pause. "What?" Boken asked.

"I just…when I went to go see Chena and Arc, they seemed so…friendly." She said. "I know it's because they're siblings and all, but…I just…hope whatever happens, we can stay friends."

"Well, duh. I'm not sure there's much that could even tear us apart like that." Tarou said as he lunged at Red, almost managing to get her before she struck back, and nearly knocked him off his feet.

"We have no idea what the future holds though. We don't know where this war will take us." Red said with uncertainty. "What if…it tears us apart?" Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up to see Boken.

"Red, you're worrying too much." The boy said. "We'll stand by your side, no matter what, okay?" His eyes met Red's, and after a moment, she couldn't help but blush.

"Th-thank you." She said, and the boy gave her a wide smile. Suddenly, Tarou butted in and nearly shoved the other boy aside as he smirked at her.

"Pluuuusss…you owe me another date~! And…something else~" Tarou said, and Boken glowered as Red laughed. Tarou gave the other boy a look back, almost as if he was challenging him.

Meanwhile, as the three returned to their training, a girl in the shadows angrily bit her fingernails as she watched.

"I didn't really find anything." Aila said as she returned soon after. "So I'm not really sure what-"

BOOOM!

"Fuck." Tarou said as they all immediately rushed outside, having a good idea of what that had been. What they hadn't been prepared for was that as soon as they'd gotten outside…there was a mass of darkness approaching the capitol.

Monsters of all shapes and sizes, flying, swimming through the air, crawling and walking across the ground. The horde was immense.

"Call for backup. Now." Tarou instructed Aila. She nodded and ran back inside. "Arc too!" He shouted after her.

"But he's-"

"I know, but we need him now." Tarou said as he transformed and pointed his weapon at the horde. "We need…everyone."

---

"Oh no." Arc said as he got up, startling Chena.

"What is it?" She asked, seeing him looking at his device.

"Arun's attacking…and the army is massive. Tarou thinks he might have summoned every monster in Lenderia. I've got to get there." He moved to go, but Chena grabbed his arm.

"But your recovery-!"

"I'll be fine. Once the battle is over, I'll come right back." He promised. Chena thought it over, before she shook her head.

"You stay and watch Eva. I'll go." Chena said as she stood up, but Arc laid a hand on her shoulder and forced her back down.

"No. I can do this." He said, and began to remove the electrodes. "They need me, now more than ever."

"But-"

"No buts." He stopped her, and grabbed the shirt and armor he'd left lying on the floor nearby, putting them on. "I'll be fine. A little darkness never stopped me from doing what is right. My nation is under attack, and as its CPU, it is my duty and my responsibility to keep it safe." Chena still looked like she wanted to argue, but she didn't. Instead, she sighed.

"Please…come back to me alive." She said, and he laughed.

"Don't count me out just yet! Have some faith!" Arc said as he walked over, and leaned down, kissing her forehead softly. Chena giggled. "What?" He asked.

"Isn't the older sibling supposed to be the one to do the 'kiss the forehead' thing?" She asked, and he laughed again.

"To be honest it's hard to see you as the older sister sometimes." He said, and walked towards the door, transforming. He stopped and looked back at her, one last time. "I love you, Chena."

"Love you too, Arc." She said back, and he took off. Despite his reassurances, Chena had a sinking feeling.

A feeling that something very bad was going to happen.

---

"DAMN IT!" Red Heart shouted as she attempted to push through the crowd, only for a strange creature to burst from underground. It appeared to be a massive ten fingered hand adorned with rings and a bracelet, and it crawled towards her in a horrifying manner as she sliced at it, only for it to flick her away with surprising strength. She flew back and struck once more, and it took all her strength to cut through just one. Thankfully Tarou flew up next to her and helped to chop through enough for the monster to fall down. Red then noticed a shining jewel in the middle of its back. She flew up and straight towards her, her blade ready. The monster attempted to strike her away but she dodged around it, and plunged her blade into the gem's surface. It melded like putty, but still cracked like glass, and as it shattered, the monster somehow screamed before disappearing into an inky black darkness. Red Heart and Tarou then lunged back into the fray to weaken the horde further.

Koji, now Maroon Heart, had also arrived and was helping with the crowd as well, blasting a massive, monstrous, flying eel out of the air before focusing wider attacks on a bunch of smaller monsters.

Then a baby appeared.

It was monstrous and large, its jaw unhinged, and its mouth a seemingly endless pit. It made the kind of noises you'd expect from a baby, which only made the monster more creepy. It crawled towards Maroon Heart, and he fired bolts at it, only for them to get sucked into its mouth, and it roared as it attempted to swallow him as well, though thankfully he was able to get away. He fired at its back instead but it almost seemed to absorb the attacks instead. It turned back to him and screamed again, and lunged at him. He just barely got out of the way, though some of its saliva got on him, and started to melt through his clothes. He shuddered in disgust, and examined the monster. Its eyes followed him as it prepared to strike again. He gave it some thought before he charged two balls of energy in either hand, and thrust them towards its eyes. It didn't react fast enough, and it screamed as they were struck. With that, the monster's skin seemed to flash and turn pale. Maroon Heart rushed towards it and slammed his hands against its rough, slimy skin, and blasted into it. He tore a massive hole straight through it, and it gave one last haunting cry before collapsing.

Brown Heart cut through enemies like butter, dodging and weaving and slicing like a small force of nature himself. He got struck and cut a few times, but nothing major, and cut swathes of the crowd in half, watching as they collapsed and vanished. Then, as he turned to make another move, he was hit, square in the chest, hard enough to send him flying against a tree and then falling down. Other monsters quickly tried to swarm him, but he got up and swung his blade around himself, cutting them all in half. He looked up to see what had hit him.

He was disgusted by what he saw: a massive monster with dozens of rat heads, all rolled into a ball, save for one protruding arm of bone and muscle. Blood dripped from it as it swung at him again, and he dodged out of the way as it hit the tree so hard it became uprooted, and crushed several advancing monsters.

"The hell are you?" Brown Heart cried as he lunged at the monster, dodging its arm again and cutting a chunk out of the ball of rats. He looked back, only to see it grow back and advance, rolling towards him with dozens of mouths full of hundreds of teeth gnashing. He ducked down and held up his blade, causing it to bounce straight through it, cutting it in half. He slid away and leapt up, and turned…only to see it pulling itself back together. "Dammit!" He cried, and it once again rolled towards him, its arm swinging.

He attempted to cut the arm off in one attack, but his blade just became lodged in its muscle, and he was nearly bitten a dozen times over. He had to leap back as it laughed, then screamed at him. He flew up into the air, and then dived at it, feet first. Its arm rushed up to meet him, but he sliced it open with his backup blade, and rushed past. His feet connected with the blade and helped push it with enough force to sever the limb. That apparently was also the monster's weak point, as right after, it screamed one last time before collapsing, and disappearing into darkness. Brown Heart sighed, thoroughly grossed out.

Cobalt Heart blasted onto the battlefield and immediately powered up his blade with electricity and cut a full circle around himself, sending the electricity in a wave around himself and wiping out dozens of enemies in a second. He winced just a little as he felt the darkness pulse inside of him, the armor obscuring it from anyone. He looked around, searching for Arun, hoping that if he could find him, and defeat him, this battle could end faster.

Instead, a blade nearly became lodged in his neck.

He turned to see Keisha rushing towards him, and leaping. He raised an arm to block the two knives slicing down at him, only for her to use it as leverage to leap behind him, and jab a blade into his side. He cried out, turning fast and smacking her across the face, sending her back into a tree. Though even as she got up, she was laughing, her eyes wild.

She lunged again, only to then dive and slid underneath him, slicing at his ankles. He managed to grab her however, and slam her into the ground. She cried out, but sliced one knife against his arm, and the other became launched at his face. He moved his head aside, only for the knife to be pulled back and cut his cheek. Growling, he grabbed her tightly, and tossed her up into the air, as hard as he could. He then flew up after her, readying his weapon with electricity. As he caught up to her, he could see the very, very brief look of fear in her eyes before he slammed his blade against her, blasting her with lightning, and sending her rocketing back towards the ground. She connected with the dirt, and created a small crater.

He went back down, only to have Keisha leap back to her feet, injured but alive, which shocked the CPU. How could she have possibly survived that? She smirked at him, and he only barely had time to register a presence behind him before he ducked out of the way of five claws nearly penetrating his back. He flew back, and growled as Dark Heart sneered at him, every eye on his body pointing at him.

"Hello~" he said in that terrible, echoed voice. He and Keisha lunged as one, and both struck his armor with such intensity he felt his body vibrate as the metal itself bent, and he flew back. He stopped himself in midair, and charged up his weapon once again, pointing it at Dark Heart and blasting.

Dark Heart moved easily out of the way, and seemingly vanished, only to reappear behind Cobalt Heart, and strike him, shoving him back towards the ground. As he was halfway down, Keisha's knife thread wrapped around his arm, and he looked to see her yank him at the same time Dark Heart struck him again, launching him into the ground the same way he'd done to Keisha before. He grunted, and felt Dark Heart slam into his back with his feet, denting the armor further, before he grabbed Cobalt Heart's head and with his claws and yanked it back, exposing his neck. Keisha ran up, ready to slice it open.

"I thought you'd be harder to kill than this~" Dark Heart whispered, and Cobalt Heart screamed as a pulse of electricity erupted from his body, which disoriented his two attackers enough for him to get back up, and slice across Dark Heart's chest. The CPU cried out as inky darkness flowed from the wound, and he retaliated by slicing across Cobalt Heart's shoulder blade, shattering it into pieces. Keisha then sliced his arm, and he nearly dropped his weapon. Cobalt Heart swung at Keisha, only to find Dark Heart, and his blade passing through him. Dark Heart lunged, and his claws scraped across both skin and flesh as he hit his chest, causing another smaller piece to come detached from the breastplate.

Cobalt Heart leapt back to put his two enemies back in front, but Dark Heart simply appeared behind him again and screeched, hurting Cobalt Heart's ears and distracting him enough for him to grab the armor off his back and tear it to ribbons. The effort pulled Cobalt Heart back again, and Keisha's knife shot towards his front as Dark Heart's claws went towards his back.

Only for both of them to be shot in the chest.

Keisha's knife scraped off his armor as Dark Heart struck his arm instead. Cobalt Heart ducked out of the way, readying his weapon again as he looked up to see a familiar face landing next to him. "Well, well, well."

"Shut it." Rainbow Heart said as she pointed her weapon at Dark Heart and, without any hesitation, started to rapid fire. The CPU screamed in pain as wound after wound opened in his chest. "Go."

"I'm not-" Cobalt Heart started, only to feel dizzy and nauseous once he tried to stand. The darkness pulsed painfully through his veins. He could feel it was creeping towards his heart already.

"I SAID GO, YOU MORON!" Rainbow Heart cried.

"But how-"

"I explained the situation to Eva's parents and since I've been watching her a lot lately they let me have the rest of the day off so I could help, NOW IS THIS REALLY THE TIME?!" She quickly explained as, without even looking, she pointed the weapon at Keisha and fired a single shot at her arm, stopping the knife that had been heading towards her. "I brought a portable healing pod, NOW GO!"

"I…" Cobalt Heart said, then smiled. "Okay." He said, and rushed off to where she'd gestured. Dark Heart struggled to get up from the flurry of attacks, but only managed to get to his feet before he was sent back down, screaming. His wounds healed, only to be torn open again as a pool of darkness emerged around him. Every time Keisha attempted to make a stand either, Rainbow Heart briefly turned her attack to her instead, and it stopped her in her tracks.

With a single gun, she had them pinned. But it wouldn't last forever.

Cobalt Heart rushed past Red Heart and Aila, who were destroying some of the lesser monsters with ease, and Red Heart watched him leave, noticing how…he almost looked like he was limping.

After what felt like a long time, her gun finally overheated, and she had to stop. Almost immediately as she did so, Dark Heart pulled himself to his feet, and glared at Rainbow Heart, panting. Keisha also finally took a step forward. Staring them down, she sheathed her weapon, and Dark Heart laughed.

"What? That's it? You used a pistol that acts like a machine gun, and when you're done, you just…stand there?" He said, his wounds still closing, the puddle around his body having become massive. "Well then-" He started, before a whip lashed across his face and he stumbled back.

"Nope." Rainbow Heart said as she flicked the whip across the ground. "I brought a back up, just in case. Just for you." She said, and without hesitation, she turned and whipped Keisha across the chest, slicing open both clothed and skin as the girl cried out. Dark Heart growled and lunged at her, but she effortlessly dodged and grabbed him by the neck, and rammed her fist, still holding the weapon, into his face before tossing him back like a doll. "Cease." She said.

"BITCH!" Keisha cried as she thrust both knives out and started running. Rainbow Heart grabbed one as the other went around her arm with the whip. Keisha's fist went towards her face, and connected…but Rainbow Heart didn't move. She took the attack, and sighed. Keisha felt…fear.

"My turn."

Rainbow Heart reared back and slammed her fist into Keisha's face. The breaking of her nose was audible as she screamed in pain, launching back several feet away.

Dark Heart got up and attempted to sneak around her, disappearing into the shadows and reappearing behind her. He thrust his claws at her throat, but she reached behind herself and grabbed him by the neck instead, and squeezed as she turned her head, their eyes meeting. Her crystalline-looking iridescent eyes twinkled as she scoffed, and slammed him into the ground, the dirt and rock cracking for several feet in every direction, before tossing him away again.

Keisha, blood dripping from her nose, lunged at her back, only to get yet another backhand from a CPU. She cried out in mostly annoyance this time as she went flying.

Dark Heart ran towards her once again, and seemingly moved to do a normal attack with his claws, aiming for her arm. She dodged out of the way again, but he surprised her by instead sinking his claws into her chest. She cried out in pain as she could feel darkness seep from the tips and into her bloodstream, and she felt dizzy. She stumbled back as she ripped him off of herself and tossed him aside, falling to one knee as she felt like vomiting. Dark Heart picked himself up and debated something as he looked at her. He felt pain throughout his body as he stared.

"You're not my target…but I will come back for you." He said, before turning and running off to where he thought he saw Cobalt Heart going. Rainbow Heart turned to look for Keisha, but the girl was gone.

Indeed, she'd gone to confront someone. A girl standing amongst the monsters, but out of the way, twirling a thread around her finger as she sighed.

"HEY!"

She turned to see a bruised and battered Keisha walking towards her, and she couldn't help but smirk. "Oh my…"

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Keisha cried at Yurei as she stopped in front of her.

"Nothing." Yurei said.

"Yeah I can tell! Why the fuck-"

"I'm not going to kill myself for you two." Yurei spat, and Keisha was surprised by the bluntness. Indeed, Yurei initially wanted to help Arun…for her own personal reasons. But not like this. She couldn't. She couldn't go along with this. "This cause is not worth dying over." Yurei said as she turned her head and continued fiddling with her thread. She wouldn't kill for him…unless she had to.

"Fuck you."

Yurei felt something strike her head, and she collapsed to the ground, the only thing registering through her body before passing out being shock. Keisha stood over her, and spat on her.

"The only reason I don't kill you is because he likes you." Keisha said before she turned and walked back towards the fray.

"Where is he?" Dark Heart asked the red-haired siblings as they stood in front of him, weapons pointed.

"As if we're gonna tell you." Red Heart said, and Dark Heart growled.

"Look. I'm already starting to get sick of this, so I'd really like to not waste anymore time." He said, and turned to Aila. He smirked and rushed towards her, grabbing her by the neck with one hand as his other knocked her weapon out of her hand.

"No!" Red Heart screamed, and prepared to attack before Dark Heart squeezed, and Aila groaned. She clawed at his hand as his claws drew blood.

"I'd be careful if I were you." He said with a smirk. "You know what I'm capable of. I can easily snap her neck with a single flick of my wrist. So tell me…WHERE IS HE?!" He bellowed. Red Heart's eyes moved between him and Aila. Aila was doing her best to shake her head. She didn't want to be saved if it meant Arc could be killed.

But Red couldn't do it.

"H-he went to a healing pod, that way!" Red Heart pointed. "NOW LET HER GO!" Dark Heart smirked and dropped the girl unceremoniously, leaving her to gasp and cough as Red Heart rushed over to her, and Dark Heart took off in the direction Red Heart told him.

"Wh-what…?" Aila asked, and stood up. Panic filled her entire body as she watched Dark Heart, and she frowned. "Like…hell I'm just gonna let you go!" Aila said as she took off after him with surprising speed.

"A-AILA! W-WAIT!" Red Heart cried as she tried to follow…

Only to have intense pain shot through her body.

She collapsed to the floor as her side exploded in pain. She felt dizzy, and sick, and looked to see what looked like a bullet hole in her side. She looked around frantically to see where it might've come from, but found no one. It hurt, it hurt so bad. But she couldn't let Aila run after him. She couldn't. She moved. Every little movement, every breath hurt. Thoughts filled her mind. Who shot her? Why? It didn't matter. She needed to get to Aila. So even though every step hurt like a knife being lodged in her side, she followed.

All while a girl watched from the Basilicom balcony.

"Dammit!" Maya cried as she watched the girl limp off. She'd missed, and she'd only been able to procure a single bullet. She'd wasted her opportunity. Though…seeing how doing anything now seemed to bring the girl extreme pain brought a smile to Maya's face. "Next time…next time."

She slinked back into the Basilicom, smirking.

As Dark Heart advanced, now able to see the glow of the healing pod, Brown Heart and Tarou suddenly leapt in front of him.

"We aren't letting you through!" Brown Heart said.

"I won't let you hurt my brother!" Tarou cried. Dark Heart just groaned and flicked his hands. Dark tendrils shot from the ground and the two were just barely able to keep themselves from getting skewered, though Brown Heart was struck in the arm. He winced and stepped back, and Tarou rushed towards Dark Heart. He swung and swung, but the other CPU easily moved out of the way before slamming his fist into Tarou's gut, knocking the wind out of him before he then stabbed his claws into her stomach and tossed him. Even after he hit the ground, Tarou attempted to get up, watching as Brown Heart advanced next, only to get swept back by a wave of darkness as Dark Heart walked past. "N-No!" Tarou cried, trying to get up, but it hurt too much to do so. "B-Boken! Please!"

The other boy got up again and swung towards Dark Heart. Without even looking, the more experienced CPU moved around him and sliced his back open, then kicked him directly in the open wound. Despite his scream of pain, Brown Heart turned and tried to fight back, but Dark Heart grabbed him by the collar and flung him aside.

Brown Heart did not get back up.

"NOOOO! ARC!" Tarou cried. He finally got to his feet, and tried to run, but Dark Heart turned and slapped him, cutting his cheek in the process as he fell back down. Snarling at him, Dark Heart finally advanced towards Cobalt Heart, but even now, Tarou crawled towards his brother.

The CPU didn't see him coming, and Dark Heart smashed violently through the pod before attempted to slice the CPU. Cobalt Heart cried out as he jumped back, feeling the darkness pulse once more. It was tickling his heart now, and every beat brought it closer.

"I see my poison works wonderfully." Dark Heart said with a smile.

"Indeed. Quite brutal." Cobalt Heart said as he prepared for the attack. He could barely move. His body ached. He felt sick. He wouldn't be able to fight like this. He could only die.

Neither of them had noticed the girl running towards them.

"Oh well. There's been enough talking, wouldn't you agree?" Dark Heart said as his claws lengthened, and he raised his arm. "Goodbye."

"NO!"

"NO!"

Two different voices, one male and one female cried out as Aila leapt between Cobalt Heart and Dark Heart. Cobalt Heart's eyes went wide as he saw the girl prepare to give her life for him.

But he wouldn't let her.

"I'm sorry." He said in a single, breathless moment, as he grabbed Aila and thrust her behind him, turning to face her…

As a hand protruded through his chest.

Everything seemed to stop.

Tarou and Aila stared in horrified shock, neither of them able to fully process what they were seeing.

Cobalt Heart, whose failing body transformed back into Arc, gasped. He looked down, slowly, very slowly, to see his own heart, tinted black at the edges, in Dark Heart's clawed and bloody hand. The boy had completely stabbed through his chest, and snagged his heart along the way.

"No…" Aila said as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"A-Aila…" Arc said.

"No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no…" Aila repeated to herself as she grabbed the sides of her head.

"L-listen…to me…" he said, hoping his words would reach her. "You have…so much…potential…" The words hurt, but he had to get them out. "You can…be strong. So strong. Strong enough…to make a difference. So do it."

"No…no, no I can't." She said, and he smiled. He felt joy just knowing she heard him.

"You can. You'll be…incredible." He said, and, with the little strength he had left, he turned to his brother, who was still staring in shock, even as the tears poured down his cheeks. "Tarou…" he coughed, and unbearable pain shot through him. His vision began to blur and fade. "I'm…sorry. I wasn't…strong enough…"

"A-Arc…b-big brother…" Tarou said weakly as he reached for him.

"Just…promise me…one…thing…" he said as he collapsed to the ground. He fell onto his back, looking up at the sky. It was a beautiful mixture of colors, thanks to the setting sun. It was…so pretty. He turned to Tarou. "Promise…me…"

"Arc…"

"Be…good…okay…?" Arc mustered one last smile before he finally went still, and his body relaxed, a single last breath leaving his lips, and then…he was gone, with Tarou's face being the last thing his brain understood before going dark.

"Arc…ARC! ARCCCCC!!" Tarou shouted, and continued crawling towards it. Once he made it, he held his brother tightly. "No no no…please no, Arc, please answer me. Please, say something. I can't…I can't do this alone, please. Please…" His voice trailed off into sobs while Dark Heart simply stared, wide-eyed, at the heart in his hands.

"What…have I done…?" He asked. Nobody spoke for several seconds, as Aila and Tarou simply sobbed while staring at the body.

Red finally arrived, and collapsed next to Tarou. Aila was too stunned by the events of the last minute that she didn't notice Red's injury. The CPU crawled to Arc, and put her hands on his chest.

"Arc…no, please…" she gasped. She tried to summon it. Summon her power. Fuck whatever had happened in this past, she needed this, and she needed it now! He needed it! He needed her help!

But nothing came. No matter how hard she tried, there was nothing. Nothing at all. When she actually needed it, wanted it…it wouldn't happen.

She was useless.

Then someone began laughing.

"Hehehehe…"

It started off small at first.

"Hehehehehe…hahahahaha…AHHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

It began to increase in volume.

"HAHAHAHAHA! AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!"

They looked to see Keisha, standing atop a small hill. The monster army surrounded her, the setting sun framing her in its light, blood still dripping from her nose as she laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

Just like she said she would.

---

Arun stopped immediately after that. It wasn't really understood why at first. He called of his army and Keisha, who was, of course, completely pissed off that he had given up, and stormed off before anyone could capture her. Arun assured everyone she was likely heading back to Lenderia, and he'd deal with her later.

But first, they had to deal with him.

A meeting was held soon after, to which Arun was essentially on trial, with him sitting in a chair away from the table facing everyone. Once everyone was in place, the 'trial' began. Koji read off a list of the crimes he had committed, to which Arun didn't speak, and barely emoted at all. Once he was done, Koji sighed.

"Normally, this kind of action would've been punished with execution." He said, and glanced over at the seat next to his, where a familiar face finally was able to look back at him. Ema nodded to him, and he sighed as he turned back to Arun. "But, we will not do that."

"What?" Tarou said, sitting up straight.

"Due to the fact you surrendered immediately after…Arc's death…" The air became tense, and Koji sighed, "…I knew my brother, and he would never have wanted me to sentence a surrendered man to death."

"WHAT?!" Tarou shouted as he stood up.

"Sit down." Koji commanded. "I'm not done." He said. Tarou stared hard at him, trying to read him, but he did eventually sit back down, and glared at Arun. The air around him crackled with warmth. "Arun…" Koji continued. "Before we do anything else, do you have anything to say." Arun looked down at his clasped hands.

"I'm sorry." He said with little hesitation, and almost everyone went wide-eyed. None of them could recall ever hearing those words come out of him, at least not in a sarcastic way. "Truly. I…it was a bad idea, to start this war." He laughed. "Though, to be honest, it wasn't really my idea."

"Arun, you-" Koji started.

"I'm not shifting blame, Koji." Arun said. "It was Keisha's idea, but my fault for going through with it, completely." His hands…began to tremble, ever so slightly.

"Why did you go along with the idea?" Koji asked quietly.

"I…thought it would be fun." Suddenly, someone slammed their hands on the desk.

"YOU THOUGHT KILLING MY BROTHER WOULD BE FUN?!" Tarou screamed. "YOU LITTLE-"

"TAROU! SIT DOWN!" Koji commanded, and the boy angrily sat, the crackling around him growing stronger as he continued to glare daggers at Arun.

"I…I'm sorry." He said. "I thought it would be fun, yes. Maybe my endless boredom could finally be quenched. And it was fun, but…" His trembling grew stronger, and his voice cracked as he spoke. "As soon as I…pulled…out his heart…" Nobody could believe it. Arun, the darkest of the dark, the embodiment of evil and horror, was…crying. "It felt…so wrong…so twisted, even for me. And hearing those words…" he looked to Aila, who reflexively flinched from his gaze. Even just looking at Arun made her feel sick, and she closed her eyes and looked away, "…it made me realize what I had done. And now…I can't take it back…ever." He put his hands up to his face as the tears fell down his cheeks. "I'm…so sorry…"

Koji looked over at Tarou to judge his response, but he found that the boy's face hadn't changed at all. He was still ready to end Arun's life, right then and there. The boy sighed, and turned back to Arun.

"Your consequences for your actions are as follows." The boy said, and cleared his throat as he read off his paper. "Keisha is to be banished from this continent, permanently. If she is ever seen from here on out after being deported, she will be captured and executed. If you are seen helping her in any way, or even talking to her, you will be executed." He looked up to see Arun nodding, even as he continued to silently cry. "Yurei."

"Y-yes?" The girl said, holding an ice pack on her head from where Keisha had struck her.

"You are banished from Lenderia soil. If you are ever seen in the nation, you will both be punished." Koji said. Yurei and Arun gave each other a look before Yurei looked down sadly. Koji continued. "Lastly, Arun, you will be confined to your Basilicom for the next five years. If you are seen by anyone leaving your tower, your punishment will be extended further, and if it continues, you will be removed from your post entirely." Koji paused. "That is all."

"WHAT?!?!"

Again, Tarou shouted as he stood up so fast his chair fell over. "Tarou-" Koji started.

"THAT'S IT?! He killed a CPU, my brother, and that's it?!" He shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "HE DESERVES DEATH!"

"This is my decision, Tarou." Koji said.

"AND YOU LET YOU DECIDE?!" Tarou shouted.

"YOUR BROTHER DID!" Koji screamed back. The room was silent for several seconds, as that seemed to throw Tarou off, but once he had recovered-

"He almost killed Ema, too." The boy said coldly. Koji winced, and he looked over at Ema, who grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She was still a little pale, and had bags under her eyes, but-

"But he didn't." He said. She was alive, and that's all that mattered. Tarou grinded his teeth so hard it looked like they were going to shatter.

"I don't accept this." He said.

"That is not for you to decide, Tarou, and trust me, if you try to kill Arun, you will also be punished." Koji warned.

"I'd like to see you try to stop me." Tarou said.

"Oh I'd be happy to-"

"ENOUGH!"

A third voice made both of them quiet as Chena stood up. Both of their faces immediately softened a bit as they saw her…crying. Her body trembled as she struggled to keep herself from completely losing it. "He's…gone. Yes, it was Arun's fault. Yes, he deserves punishment, and in any other case, I would also be advocating for his complete destruction." Tarou was surprised. Chena hated violence, and yet she was saying this? Her watery gaze met his, and she sniffled. "But Koji is right. Arc wouldn't have wanted us to murder someone who has surrendered, even after what he had done."

"You don't know that-"

"TAROU! HE WAS MY BROTHER TOO!" Chena screamed, her voice cracking, since she rarely ever did such a thing. "And I knew him for a LOT longer than YOU." That finally shut Tarou up, and Chena let out a deep, shaky breath. "Arun, you will accept your punishment. If you break it, then trust me, I will happily enjoy gunning you down until you are nothing but bits."

"I…understand." Arun said. Satisfied, Chena sat down, but Tarou remained standing. The look of fury was still evident on his face. Koji straightened.

"This meeting is over. The funeral is tomorrow." He turned to Tarou. "After that, you must prepare to take your place as the new CPU of Morkom…if you wish to take that place, that is."

"Yes. I will." Tarou said, his gripped knuckles white. Koji nodded, and walked away from the table into a separate room, where Arc's body was currently being kept. Everyone else soon left after, until it was just Arun, Yurei, and Tarou. The boy still trembled in place.

"Tarou, I-"

"Don't." Tarou said. He didn't look at the man. "I will kill you one day. That…is a promise." With that, he too left, leaving Yurei and Arun alone. Neither of them spoke for a while.

"Arun, I-"

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this." Arun said. "I know…why you joined me." Yurei suddenly straightened, her face red.

"Y-you do?!"

"Yeah. I know you care about me, for some reason. You wanted to help, even though you didn't really know what you were getting into." Arun said. Yurei thought it over for a bit, and relaxed. His tone indicated he hadn't yet realized just how much she cared about him.

"Yeah, but-"

"And now we can never see each other again, and it's all my-"

"No, we can."

Arun frowned, and looked up at Yurei. "What?"

"Once you've served your five years…we can see each other again." She said.

"But, he said-"

"He said I can't visit you. But…you can visit me." She said, feeling her blush return. "I-if you want." Arun stared at her for a bit, and then, a small smile appeared on his face.

"I will. Wait for me, okay?" He said, and finally stood. His tears were finally dry, and he cleared his throat, straightened his tie, and walked off to his teleporter, ready to start serving his sentence. Once he was gone, she sighed.

"I'll wait forever for you, Arun."

---

The funeral was somber. Even though it was supposed to be seen as a celebration of Arc's life…no one could get over it.

Arun came, but stayed out of everyone's sight, which everyone appreciated.

Except…for one person.

Tarou didn't speak for the entire thing. Not when people were mingling and crying. Not when everyone sat down. Not when everyone was given a chance to look at him one more time before he was buried (to which Tarou declined). Not when people came up and gave speeches about their favorite memories with Arc (to which he also declined to say anything). Not when Chena finally lost it, and nearly collapsed from tears when she was only halfway through her own speech. Red and Aila had to come collect her and practically tear her away when she ran up to hug her brother's body. He still didn't even when he saw Aila take and hold his brother's glasses tightly in her hand.

No, Tarou didn't say anything.

All he could feel was rage.

It was unfair.

Everything was unfair.

This shouldn't have happened.

His brother shouldn't have died.

It was all his fault.

His fault his fault his fault his fault his fault his fault his fault his fault his fault…

Arun would die.

He swore it.

Arc was buried with little fanfare as every CPU threw several flowers onto his coffin as it was lowered into the ground. Tarou stayed back, his hands clasped together tightly as he stewed in his anger

Everything became a blur until he was back home. Back in his now empty home. He was a candidate without a CPU. He felt without a purpose, without a goal. Running a nation? How was he supposed to do that? Without his brother. Without all the lessons he still had yet to teach?

How?

He pondered this as he sat down on his bed in silence. His anger had mostly faded, replaced with emptiness, like a cold lump in his chest. Maybe his heart, now solid, yet still beating.

Bump, bump, bump, bump.

Like the knocking on his door. "Tarou?"

The boy didn't answer, and so the girl let herself in. She sat down next to him, and placed her hand on his. Neither of them spoke for a while as Tarou felt tears building in his eyes.

"What do I do?" He asked softly, quietly, barely above a whisper.

"You do what he wanted. Become CPU." She said.

"I can't…"

"You can. With my help." She said, and grabbed his face, turning it to hers. "Let…me help."

"How?"

"However I can." She said, and, without hesitation, she kissed him. His eyes went wide as he felt her soft lips against his own. Any walls he had left came down, and they kissed, passionately. They embraced as they did so, with Maya practically climbing onto his lap as they did. Neither of them knew how much time had passed before Maya pulled away, both of them gasping for air. "Tarou…"

"Maya…"

"What if…we do it ourselves?" She whispered into his ear, and he gave her a look of confusion. "We do what Arun did."

"What do you mean?"

"We build an army. One even stronger than his." She explained. "Think about it. He deserves to die for what he's done, but if we take him on alone, we will definitely lose."

"Right…"

"So let's build an army. One that can stand up to anyone who gets in our way." She said, and kissed his cheek. "Maybe…we can expand."

"Expand?" He asked, feeling like he was in a trance.

"If we get bigger, we can expand our army. You can gain shares. Get stronger. Maybe…you can even get your own candidates." Tarou stiffened. "You can train them, the same way Arc trained you…train them for war."

"Is that…really a good idea?" He asked.

"Do you want to watch in five years when Arun is allowed free to whatever he damn well wants, knowing that he killed the greatest CPU to ever live?" She paused. "Well…other than you, obviously." She smiled as she saw the anger return to his face.

"He needs to pay." He said, almost sounding like he was convincing himself. Maya giggled. She loved him…but he was too easy.

"Then we will make him pay. It'll likely take years, maybe decades of planning…but we can do it, you and me."

"You and me." He said, and smiled wide. "Of course." She smiled even wider. Now was the time.

"You want to know…something else?" She said. "Red is also at fault." Tarou frowned.

"What?"

"Did you know…Red has healing powers?" His eyes went wide.

"She does?" He asked.

"Yes. I heard them myself." She said. Time to close the trap. "She wasn't able to use it on Arc. You saw her, right? The way she grabbed his chest. She was trying to heal him…but she was too scared."

"She was?" He asked. Maya nodded. Of course, she knew that in the state Arc was in, even if Red could control it, she probably wouldn't have been able to do anything, but Tarou didn't need to know that. "Also…she gave up his location to Arun." His face contorted, finally back to full rage.

"What?!"

"Yeah…he threatened her, and she told him where Arc went when he left to heal. It's because of Red that Arun found him." She could see the rage building, more and more. The fire in his eyes…

It was so hot.

"I think I'm the only one you can really trust, Tarou." She said as she rubbed his chest. He gulped.

"Yes. You are." He said. He could practically feel his cold heart shattering. Red…the woman he had loved…betrayed him and his brother like this.

He would never forgive her.

"So, what do you say?" She asked. Tarou looked at her, and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"I want to make them pay." He said, and Maya smiled before they kissed again, falling back onto the bed as they kissed passionately, Tarou unleashing all his hatred into the embrace, as Maya did the same, only with her burning love for Tarou.

The boy…that was finally all hers.

---

Years later, Yurei was sitting peacefully in her bedroom, reading a book. It was a book she'd been meaning to read for a while.

But of course, just when she'd finally found the time to do it.

CRASH!

"KEISHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Yurei screamed as Arun burst into her room, a giant wine bottle in his hands. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he stumbled into the room and collapsed onto the girl's bed. She leaned back in reflex. The boy had been finally freed from his home imprisonment for a couple weeks now, and he'd done as he said he would, visited her every few days, but this-

"KEISSHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Hearing that damn girl's name again made Yurei frown. "Arun? What are you-"

"I MISS HERRRRR!" Arun slurred his words as he flipped himself over, spilling some wine onto the bed as he crawled towards Arun. His hand grabbed her knee, and she yelped, her face turning red at his cold touch. "I miss her face, her boobs, her body, her lips, her voice, WAHHHHHHH!"

"W-well don't come crying to me about it!" Yurei shouted as she yanked him up. He looked up at bed, looking like a sniveling baby. His gaze was unfocused, yet he looked her up and down.

"You look…pretty. Is that a new dress?" He asked. Yurei blinked, and suddenly remembered she was wearing a nightgown. A thin one. And nothing else. Her blush turned intense as she screamed and rammed her fist into his face, sending him careening off the bed as she covered herself up with her blanket. "Owie."

"Wh-wh-what do you want me to do about it?!?!" She screamed at him.

"Can you like…pretend to be here? I'm dying for some lovinnn…" he said as he crawled back up and laid next to her, his head on the pillow. He laughed. "Soft…"

"P-pretend to be like her?" She asked. "What do you—AHHH!" She screeched as he grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"I want to make love to her. So please…be her and I can make love to you, to her, yeah?" He asked. Yep. That settled it. This was the most embarrassed and hot she'd ever felt in her life. As she stared at him, unsure how to respond. She felt herself withering at his touch. Despite being cold, he felt so good. He began to lean in, his eyes closing and his lips puckering. She felt dizzy. This could be her moment, perhaps to get everything she ever wanted, right here, right now. She felt herself leaning in, too, her own eyes closing as she moved closer. Their lips were about to touch.

Then she smelled the wine on his breath.

"N-NO!" She shouted and pushed him away. Her heart raced. "I-I can't! Not when you're like this." He stared at her for a while, then scoffed.

"Fine. I'll just go jerk off, then." Yurei somehow felt even hotter now. "Oh, Keisha…I miss you…" he said as he stumbled out of the room, and then out of the Basilicom. Once he was gone, she took a deep, shaky breath, and hugged her knees.

"One day." She promised herself. "One day."

---

The boy opened his eyes. It took a few seconds for everything to come into focus, but once it did, he sat up.

He was in a circular room covered in lights and wires. The boy was dressed in what looked like little more than a bed sheet wrapped into a toga. He felt a little disoriented, feeling like he had memory loss, as he knew things, but knew nothing about himself. He felt something warm behind him, and he turned. Between two funnel shaped protrusions coming from the ceiling and the floor sat…a crystal. Or rather, floated. It looked like a power symbol, set within the air, slowly rotating. The boy felt…drawn to it. He stood up, his legs wobbling. Even without knowing anything else, he felt like this thing was…important to him.

It was his.

He reached out to touch it-

"Finally."

A voice startled him, and he turned around to see a blue-haired boy walking through a door towards him. His expression was hard to read, looking like a mix between excited and apprehensive. He walked up to the boy, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hello. My name is Tarou. I am your older brother."

"H-huh?" The boy asked. Tarou examined his clothes and shook his head.

"Come, you need better clothes, first off. Then we'll find out what weapon suits you best." He said.

"Wait, I'm confused…" the boy said. Tarou sighed.

"Well, we've been expanding pretty aggressively lately, both in land, shares, and economy, so to compensate, the total share energy of the nation finally coalesced and created you, my younger brother, the first CPU Candidate to serve under me." He said. "And as for me…I am Tarou…CPU Blue Heart of Morkom."

"I…see." The boy said, still a little confused.

"Trust me, it'll make sense as we go. First things first, your clothes." He said, and turned, only to then turn back. "Actually, something else first. Your name."

"I-I don't remember." The boy said. "Or I'm just…not sure? I don't know…" Tarou shook his head.

"No no…I have to give one to you. And I've been thinking it over for quite a while." He said, and smiled.

"So, who am I?" The boy asked. Tarou placed his hands on his shoulders.

"You…my new brother…are to be Janpu…CPU Candidate Blue Brother of the Nation of Morkom." He smiled. "Now…clothes!" He said, and finally turned around, walking back through the door. And after one last glance at the crystal…

Janpu followed.

---

"Boken has a new candidate."

Tarou was sent into a coughing fit as he choked on his cereal. He looked up at Maya, who was checking the news on the TV. Tarou hardly ever paid attention to it, so he usually looked to her for that. Danga and Janpu, who were sitting next to him, looked just as shocked.

"That coward doesn't deserve one." Tarou said as he got back to eating.

"No, he doesn't." Maya said as she turned to the three of them. "That means, we need to get more aggressive."

"Aren't we pretty aggressive already? Any further and that might make people start to get angry with us." Danga said as she ate her toast.

"Whatever it takes." Maya said. "Right, Tarou?" She asked, and she was surprised to see…hesitancy on his face.

"Right." He said, and continued eating.

"Our citizens will forgive us in time once we have eradicated the other useless CPUs, and usher in a new age of peace and prosperity." Maya said. "If…that's still what you want."

"I do." Tarou said coldly.

"Good." Maya said. "Then we continue training tomorrow." She turned to Danga. "How's your sniper training going?"

"I can hit every target with a headshot if it's within 500 feet." She said.

"Good. We start shotguns tomorrow." Maya said.

"Yes, ma'am." Danga said, and Maya turned back to Tarou, who didn't return her gaze.

---

The girl opened her eyes, and felt immediately blinded by the bright lights lining the room.

The small girl covered her eyes to shield them as she sat herself up. Her body felt light, as if she wasn't fully there. However, that feeling quickly faded as she felt a small gasp leave her lips. Her eyes slowly adjusted, and she blinked a few times. She pulled herself to her feet, her thin legs shaking as she steadied herself against a wall.

Except that it wasn't a wall. It was a funnel shaped protrusion coming from the floor. And floating atop it was a power symbol shaped crystal, which twinkled and rotated in the air. The girl's eyes grew wide as they became transfixed on the crystal. Her hand lifted up, and reached towards it.

"Hey-"

She heard a voice, just as she touched the crystal. Instantly, power flooded her body as images crashed through her brain. A sea of red and blue, voices singing in a chorus. She wasn't able to discern everything, but she could see colors. So many colors. The red and blue faded to a dull shade, then to black as the girl heard a laugh echoing through her brain. It sounded sinister and evil, and filled her with unexplainable dread that threatened to consume her. Then, a bright light cut through the darkness, and a hand reached for her. Finally, there was that voice again. A gentle one, one where she could actually make out the words.

"Will you be my friend?"

The girl fell back into someone's arms as she was yanked away from the crystal. She gasped as the power escaped her, and she felt tired. She tried to steady her breathing as she looked up.

And she saw him.

"Are you alright?" He asked. His face was handsome. His blue hair looked majestic in the shining light above him, and his voice…it was smooth and buttery, and made the girl instantly feel safe. She felt her cheeks redden, and she gulped.

"I-I…um…" her voice was soft and quiet. It felt odd, but she didn't really give it much thought. "Wh-who…?"

"Am I?" He finished for her. "I'm your new brother, or rather, you're my new sister." He said. "I am Tarou, the ruler of this nation, and you…are Moku, my youngest sibling."

"Moku?" The girl asked.

"Yes. Beautiful name, isn't it?" He asked. "Just like you." Moku's face turned hot again as he helped her to her feet. "You know, all of your siblings have tried to touch the crystal before, but you are the first who actually did."

"I am?" She asked.

"Yes." He answered, and looked her up and down. "You seem alright, though." Moku looked down at herself. She seemed to be wearing a thin nightgown. She looked back up at Tarou, her brother, and blushed again. "How about you accompany me, so we can get you new clothes, introduce you to your siblings, and get started on your training."

"Training?" She asked, and he nodded.

"Yes. For you…will be one of my generals." He said. "A general of the greatest army in the world." Moku nodded, and with that, she was led upstairs. Into her new life.

But as she did so, she couldn't help but look back one last time, at the crystal.

Wondering who the voice could've belonged to.

---

"What's wrong?" Maya asked as she watched Tarou get up from the bed. Despite her concern, she felt happy to see the boy's handsome ass for a moment as he slipped on his boxers. "We've still got some time before the others wake up."

"I want to be ready." He answered, looking back at the naked girl in his bed, the one he had pledged himself to in private all those years ago.

"It's not that, is it?" She asked. She knew him too well, and he knew it. He sighed.

"It's not important." He said.

"Bullshit. Whatever it is, I can tell it's been weighing on your mind for weeks now, ever since Moku was created." At her name, he winced, and Maya sat up, her upper half became exposed as the blanket fell. "What is it? You know you can tell me anything." He hesitated, and after a few moments, let out a deep sigh.

"It's just…what if…it happens again?"

"If what happens again?" She asked.

"Death."

The word hung heavy in the air as he turned to her.

"What do you-"

"I feel attached to them." He said, and she frowned. "That wasn't supposed to happen. They were supposed to be my generals, and then they could be my siblings after the fight, but…" he sighed. "Moku…she's…sweet. She's kind. She adores me, I can tell." He frowned. "And that's the problem."

"Tarou…" Maya got up and walked over to him, but he tried to push her away.

"If I lost someone again…I don't know what I'd do." He said. "I wasn't supposed to get attached again…but I have. To all of them." He sighed. "What do I do?"

"You continue on." Maya said without hesitation, and wrapped her arms around the boy. "We won't lose anyone. We'll win. I know we will."

"How-"

"Because look at us! You've spent 18 years training up these kids! And your army! Even now, it's already the most powerful force in the world! Even Boken's army would fall to it, I'm sure!" She said with confidence, but Tarou still didn't seem convinced. "You can do this. We can do this. Together." She said, and the boy didn't speak for several moments. Once he did however, he sighed.

"Thank you, Maya." He said, and finally embraced her back. As they hugged, he held her head tightly to himself. "Together…we won't lose anyone."

And she smiled. "No…we won't."

---

The battlefield was still as Tarou walked up to the hill just above the capital. His army stood behind him as he stared down at the opposing army building, and the man leading the charge. His first victim in this war.

Boken.

The pathetic man was giving a speech, even. Tarou scoffed. He was ready to crush him, even if Maya wouldn't be around to see it. She'd apologized profusely for having to leave for a few weeks to go to the nearby continent of Moor, but assured him to start the battle without her anyway. He was hesitant to do so, but wanted to honor her wishes.

And he was ready to shut this man up permanently.

"Now, men and women of Bios...today we fight, and today we will win!" Boken said. The CPU grabbed his blade's handle as he took slow steps off the stage and began walking past his army towards the front to lead the charge. He could see Tarou's own army standing up at the top of the hill, ready to advance to meet his own. Despite his army's victory cry that continued as he walked, he had still felt a chill upon his body, and could hear his footsteps audible beneath him. However when he got to the front, in one swift motion, Boken pulled his blade free from his sheath, and raised the tip towards the sky. "ADVANCE! FOR BIOS!!!" Boken commanded and swung his blade forwards. As his massive army ran forwards with a deafening cry he steeled himself, gripped his sword tightly, whispered to himself "Come and get me, Tarou..." and ran forwards.

Tarou smiled as he watched the army rush towards him. His weapon cackled with electricity as he lifted it up towards the groups of men and women. Within an instant, bolts of bright blue electricity erupted from the blade towards the army. It blasted through several people, instantly killing them as it arced through the crowd. After the moment passed, and the dozens of people already dead dropped to the ground, the rest of the army continued, though with less confidence.

"This…you know this is gonna be a rough fight, right?" Mojin said as he stood next to his best friend.

"Yes, I'm well aware." Boken responded with confidence "But we are also the strongest army in the world! We cannot allow Tarou any liberty to do with our city and people as he pleases!" Boken continued, unfazed by a section of his army already cut open, instead, it gave him an opening to launch his own attack. Boken suddenly stopped from his sprint as his blade glowed and shot a multitude of red, energy bolts, colored after his newly wed towards the massive army.

Seeing the army fall before him put a smile on the CPU's face as he readied his blade once more, and as the army attempted to surround him, he struck. He became a blur of silver and blue as his blade cut through the army's armor like it was nothing, felling multiple people in single swings. It was all for show, of course, but it was a show the man enjoyed immensely.

Boken continued firing his own bolts while the two armies collided and the bloodbath ensued. Yet, though Boken lost sight of Tarou for just a moment, he still witnessed anyone who tried to approach him had fallen quickly and fruitlessly. Boken finally lowered his blade, and it was clear to Mojin he was to engage himself in close proximity, but as Mojin raised his weapon himself, the CPU said a simple, yet effective "No." which was sure to surprise Mojin for a moment and cause him to look over. "I can't have you engage Tarou with me, Mojin."

"Hey, no, I'm not letting you charge in there by yourself-"

"Don't be a fool, Mojin!!!" Boken cut his friend off with a glare so intimidating Mojin took a step back. "You see how Tarou fights, and I can't have you die an untimely and unnecessary death! Our people still need a leader!!!" Boken continued. With only the screams of both armies near the two, Boken's stern gaze turned soft, and a smile appeared upon his face as he faced back forwards. "Don't worry, I won't die today. I still have much, and someone to live for now." And before Mojin could respond, Boken ran forwards himself once again, to face the force ahead, to face Tarou.

Seeing the CPU approaching him, Tarou smiled even wider as he swept away the remaining soldiers around him like a wave of water, leaving nothing standing between them. "If it isn't the golden boy himself~" Tarou teased as he pointed his blade at the man. "Congrats on your engagement, I promise I didn't mean to attack on such a special day." He lied through his teeth.

"Welcome back, Tarou!" Boken responded, as he cut down another of Tarou's men in a singular swipe. He then stopped directly across from Tarou, and smiled again "Had I known you would return to us today, I'd have thrown another party following my engagement!" The CPU joked but then his smile as fast as it came, and he pointed his blade at Tarou. "I don't suppose you're willing to explain why you disappeared and returned in such a crude manner?"

"Well…if you want me to be honest…" Tarou paused to blast a bolt of electricity at someone who tried to sneak up behind him, "…this was a long time coming."

Boken narrowed his eyes "What the hell does that mean..."

Tarou's smile instantly disappeared as he stared into Boken's eyes. "You know why, you bastard."

Boken stood idle for a moment, but as realization hit him, the night had felt colder, and his expression turned sad in unison "It's about Arc, isn't it?" A brief silence existed between the two CPUs, but his determination ignited once more as he looked back at his former friend. "But! You of all people should also know then, that he wouldn't want you to do this! What are you after!? Why after 20 years?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" He asked as his eyes narrowed. "Retribution." Suddenly, a bright blue bolt erupted from his blade towards the man.

Boken was about to respond, but as the hairs on his arms and legs stood upwards, he quickly placed his blade horizontally in front of himself protectively. The CPU was right to act on instinct, because he'd shielded himself just in time yet still slid backwards a few feet from the sheer force of the attack. Boken quickly swung to the side, and the electricity discharged from his weapon a moment afterwards. "It seems you've made your choice." Boken said slowly, in an evident and genuine sad tone; but a second after he'd finished talking, he was now in front of Tarou blade raised to slash across his chest. It was clear from his weapon's positioning that Boken wasn't in any mindset to kill.

Tarou laughed at the lack of intent, and easily parried his blade, stabbing his own towards the boy's chest in response, his intent clear as day.

Boken twisted his body quickly to the side as Tarou's naginata made a small cut on his outfit in response. The CPU spun quickly to reposition, not allowing an opening as their weapons clashed again. Boken cringed at the fury and enjoyment of battle in Tarou's eyes; it was clear his opponent had no intention of relent. After they'd been separated for long, it was clear much had changed. But… he was still confused. Why did Tarou want to kill him? "Arc wouldn't want this, Tarou." Boken repeated. "He wouldn't had wanted two of his friends to be kill—"

"YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT HE WANTED!" Tarou shouted as he broke from the clash and whirled his blade to stab it toward Boken, catching him in the shoulder as the man moved the dodge, causing blood to start flowing.

"GAH!!!" Boken cried in pain as the energy infused upon his weapon flickered momentarily, before becoming a constant once more but slightly less prominent. The CPU grit his teeth to steel himself, looked back at Tarou, and grabbed the naginata with his hand on the unwounded side of his body as his opponent attempted to pull backwards. "I may not have your answer, but I too have people to live for, to fight for! For their sake," Boken stated, and was quickly enveloped in a bright light. When it faded, the CPU now stood in his HDD, an extra blade now on the opposite side of his weapon's handle "I will not be defeated!!!" Brown Heart shouted. In one swift motion, he released Tarou's naginata and swung his new dual-edged weapon. Though Tarou was quick to move back, the attack still left a prominent cut on his chest.

"Gahhh!" Tarou cried out, looking back at him, and smirking, even as he bled. "So…you need your HDD to defeat me, huh? So much for your status as the invincible warrior~!" The boy lunged again, becoming a whirlwind of lightning and steel as he slammed into Brown Heart once more.

Brown Heart refused to let Tarou's taunt affect him, and instead stood his ground as the two warriors clashed once more. But it didn't last long, as with his blade on the side meant specifically for breaking guards and stalemates such as this, the CPU struck Tarou's weapon, and naturally moved his own blade by extension. The conqueror was forced off balance for a moment, but it was all that Brown Heart needed; he swiped once again, and landed yet another wound upon his opponent, followed by a kick to knock him backwards. "I know what Arc taught you, and you cannot defeat me! Yield!!! Are you in such a hurry to go see your brother!?"

"You…how dare you mock me?!" Tarou growled, the air around him cackling and cracking with energy. "You say you know anything about my brother you're one of the reasons he'd dead?!" The air flashed, and bright bolts of electricity fired from his hand and blade, rocketing towards the boy as Tarou shouted in pure rage.

Now Brown Heart was truly confused. He didn't have an idea what Tarou meant by that, as of course, it wasn't him who killed Arc, and he'd tried his best during that terrible battle. But he couldn't stand idle to ponder. Brown Heart quickly moved to the side as the brunt of the attack missed him, but due to that moment of thought, he didn't move quick enough. The force of the electricity was still enough to scorch the sleeve of Brown Heart's clothes in the direction of the blast. After the CPU found his footing again, he grabbed the burnt part of his outfit and tore it off, then shouted back "I did not kill him!!! You were next to Arc when he died; what purpose are you blaming me for!!!"

"It was you! You and your wretched fiancée! You two couldn't help him when he needed you!" Tarou shouted, thrusting his blade out as it clanged loudly against Brown Heart's own. As they traded blows, he continued. "It doesn't matter if you didn't deal the blow that ended him, you paved the way!"

Tarou's words struck Brown Heart nearly as hard as the conqueror's weapon, and the CPU had nothing to say in refute. His arms and legs suddenly felt weak, and though he protected himself by parrying most of his opponent's attacks, he couldn't block them all in this moment of weakness. As wounds formed across Brown Heart's body, so did his weapon's infused energy in response which grew weaker. Yet even still, he'd made his choice to face his former comrade in battle, and Tarou would certainly go after Red next. He couldn't let this continue, no matter what! Unexpectedly in midst of the conqueror's assault, Brown Heart suddenly regained his strength and used it to immediately turn the blade's tip towards Tarou's midsection and fire another bolt of energy in close proximity as the conqueror was mid-swing. This naturally blew him backwards, but because he was also wounded, the attack wasn't strong enough to prove deadly, though still injured Tarou greatly. "…You're right." Brown Heart finally said quietly in response. "I wasn't strong enough, neither Red nor I, to save someone we cared about…but that's precisely why I must repent for my past weakness, by stopping you here! We will not lose you to aimless vengeance, Tarou!!!"

Tarou straightened up as he stared at Boken. He knew that in this state, with him in human form and his enemy in HDD, there was a chance he'd lose. But he wasn't gonna let that happen. He smirked at the man. "How does it feel knowing today will be your last day alive?" He asked as he was suddenly wrapped in an explosion of blue light, so bright that it temporarily blinded Brown Heart. When the light faded, Blue Heart pointed his weapon at his enemy, a second blade added to the other end now. Lightning flicked across his body, which was now covered in a thin, blue armor suit, with a dramatic dark blue cape draped over his shoulders. A bright gleaming crown rested upon his head as his eyes glowed blue like a machine. He smiled widely at his enemy, showing jagged teeth as the electricity whirled around his weapon. "Any last words?"

Despite witnessing the spectacle that was Tarou's HDD now facing him, Brown Heart stood unyieldingly. He wanted to answer once more that he didn't want to fight to the death, that there was some mistake, but all he could say was "Tarou, you…" before the rest of the words died in his throat. The only possibility they could have any semblance of a talk was only if he could defeat him; and so be it. Brown Heart closed his eyes. Because he knew all of Tarou's attacks from their past together, and by extension how to counter them, the CPU believed the chance of his opponent's victory was minimal; but he couldn't get complacent as one mistake was to cost him the battle. This will take everything the CPU of Bios got, and so as Brown Heart opened his eyes, he bent his knees ready for combat, and said "I'd wished we had met under different circumstances…there will be much to speak of, and I will not be dying here today!!!"

Done with talking, Blue Heart lunged, slamming his blade against Brown Heart's, electricity riding down over it and careening over Brown Heart to strike him in the chest.

The CPU narrowed his eyes in focus and continued his stand firmly, but no longer still. He harshly tugged upon his weapon and moved simultaneously, only narrowly avoiding the ensuing swipe but importantly also stopping their momentary clash. Brown Heart knew he couldn't allow Tarou's weapon to make extended contact with his own specifically due to his opponent's electricity. In response, Brown Heart swung his own dual-edged blade in return, but as Blue Heart held his naginata protectively; Brown Heart's swing suddenly stopped just before contact as the tip faced the conqueror. The CPU of Bios then shot a new bolt of energy aimed at Blue Heart's chest in close proximity.

Blue Heart smirked as he easily dodged it, and swung his blade up, slicing through his arm, though unfortunately for him, it was the man's non dominant one.

Brown Heart cried out again from the pain and took a quick step back from shock and disorientation. It didn't last long though, as the CPU gave a small growl and ran forwards to clash with Blue Heart's weapon on his own accord. The man decided to keep at a very close distance such that only their proficiency with their respective weapons could be tested in this fight, contrary to his own thoughts of disallowing extended contact. Fortunately though, he knew Tarou's attacks well despite having little time to react. Brown Heart quickly knocked Blue Heart's naginata at its side in an attempt to catch him off guard and balance once again.

Blue Heart knew that if he kept fighting the way they were, he had a high chance of losing. They'd fought together many times, and Boken knew almost everything he could do. As his naginata was thrust aside, Blue Heart leapt back to protect himself and bring his guard back up. He needed a different plan, or else they would keep going like this. It was then that it hit him, and he smiled. Blue Heart started going for a whirling attack, spinning around as he thrust his blade out, something he'd done hundreds of times before, except this time, he took a different approach, and, just as he'd someone else do many times before, halfway through, he stopped the whirl, turned his blade to the left to draw Brown Heart's attention away, before thrusting the right side towards his chest.

Brown Heart instinctively raised his own weapon in preparation to guard himself, but was very surprised by Blue Heart's sudden change in attack. The CPU wasted no time and jumped backwards to get out of Blue Heart's reach, but unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough. The attack had left an albeit small cut upon his chest; indeed, Brown Heart had not seen that attack before from him. However, he thought nothing more than Blue Heart had understandably trained himself since he'd disappeared, and thus had new attack patterns Brown Heart was not aware of. The CPU couldn't let his mind wander, and tried to dispose of any exterior thoughts, yet...he was still unsettled, though he didn't understand why.

The man went in for another strike, this time whirling around like before, except halfway through he broke out of it, leapt to the left, and stabbed to the right, his blade entering Brown Heart's leg.

"AHHHHGH!" Brown Heart shouted. As pain erupted throughout his wounded leg, the CPU immediately crumpled, but used his unwounded leg, and the butt of his weapon stabbed into the ground beside him as support as he knelt.

Blue Heart didn't let up his attack, swiping his weapon across Brown Heart's arm, slicing it open before smacking him in the face with his handle, knocking the CPU to the ground.

But the boy refused to give up. Though he was disoriented, he rolled to the side and, with swiftness, returned to his previous position once again. However, this time he didn't stay idle; The CPU raised his weapon, ignoring the pain from his arm's wound, and placed the tip at Blue Heart's midsection as the conqueror was mid-swing in his next attack. Three balls of energy shot, and landed in quick succession at his opponent, and as now was his opponent's turn to be disoriented if not shocked for a moment, the CPU willed his body to rise, and with a swing, created a large wound across his chest.

Blue Heart stumbled back, and glared at Brown Heart, before the glare became a smirk. The air suddenly flashed blue around then, cackling with power and electricity. Blue Heart raised his weapon and hand, and in a split second, large bolts of lightning shot from both of them, and struck the other boy directly in the chest.

Brown Heart raised his weapon like previously to try and block Tarou's attack, but in his weakened state, so did that affect the energy upon his weapon. As Brown Heart held firm, and was shoved back several feet, the electricity eventually overpowered him, and his weapon clattered to the side before it returned to its regular state. As Brown Heart got pushed a few more feet from the conqueror's shock, he began to lean backwards, but with the last of his strength, instead willed his body forwards, which sent Brown Heart now onto both knees. The CPU's HDD had disappeared, and what was left was now a heavily wounded individual, who remained silent at first.

Blue Heart's smirk faded, into a scowl of disappointment as he walked over to the man, and pointed his blade at his chest, the air around him still crackling. "I'll let you speak your last words."

Boken continued to remain silent, as Blue Heart believed he had none, but as the conqueror raised his weapon, ready to strike down his former friend, the CPU finally spoke "I'm sorry, Tarou." It was simple, yet it was enough to make his opponent freeze up for a second, as Boken continued. "I'm sorry that we couldn't protect Arc for you, that we failed you back then...and that I failed you today...I hope you find your answer at the end of this..."

Blue Heart lost his composure for only a moment. He took a deep breath, smirked, and whispered. "I'm going to kill Red." And with that declaration, he pierced Boken's heart with the weapon, ending his life almost instantly. He swiftly removed the blade from his chest as Boken crumpled, his army freezing at the sight of their leader falling.

As Blue Heart said his final words to him, time seemed to slow down as the naginata flew towards him. Boken thought to himself. "You've grown so strong, Tarou...Red, please survive. Heh...wasn't much of a husband, was I..."

As he died, Blue Heart stared at the looming capital, and the pathetic army around him, and smirked.

"One down…many more to go." He said as he stalked towards the capital.

---

A little while later, Gorudo had fallen. Once considered one of the greatest CPUs, one of the original after the First Goddess had died, and now…he had been defeated.

Of course, getting ganged up on by four different CPU candidates certainly was a hard fought battle, and he was happy to see several cuts and bruises across their faces, even as they pointed their weapons at him.

"Well…end it." He said. Blood oozed from his wounds onto the ground. Fires burned around him as the bodies of his people lay on the street. They'd ransacked his nation, tore it apart. He was all that was left of those who hadn't fled to safety. And now he was done. "Kill me."

"Oh we'd love to~!" Moku said. "Buuuut, Tarou said not to. He wanted to be the one to end you."

"Heh…of course." Gorudo said, and, speak of the devil, Tarou strode in. His footsteps were loud on the pavement, the fires crackling as his siblings parted for him.

"Well done, you four. You did excellently." He said as his weapon was unsheathed and pointed at Gorudo.

"How far you've fallen." Gorudo said to the boy, and spat. "Your brother would be ashamed."

Tarou rammed his foot into the man's face, knocking him onto his back with a loud groan. He slammed his foot on his chest and pointed the naginata at his face. "Any last words?"

"Yes…why me?" He asked, and Tarou scoffed.

"You were his best friend, and his brother. Yet you weren't anywhere near his side when he died." Tarou explained.

"And it was something I regret to this day." He said.

"Regret doesn't make up for it." Tarou said as the weapon poked Gorudo's nose, making it bleed. "You will die, just like him." He was surprised when the man began to laugh. "What?"

"Hopefully…I will get to see him, then." He said. "I'm sure he'll be upset to find out what you've done." Tarou gritted his teeth as he thought back to Arc's last words, words that echoed in his mind every day.

A promise he was never able to fulfill.

"Goodbye, Tarou. I'm sorry things turned out this way. Truly, I am." Gorudo said, and closed his eyes. "I hope…things turn out better. One day. Goodbye…brother."

Tarou only hesitated a moment before driving the weapon through Gorudo's skull.

None of his candidates spoke for a long time after that, watching as Tarou's shoulders and chest moved up and down, up and down.

"Tarou?" Moku asked, and finally, Tarou removed the blade from Gorudo, and turned, not looking at any of them.

"We kill Red next." He said, and with that, he walked off.

His fate…sealed.