Disclaimer:I do not own Danball Senki, the concept and its characters, they all belong to their respective owners. All I own is my OC and nothing else. I also made up some LBXs and attack moves but I make no claim on it because the idea still belongs to their respective owners, just to let you guys know.
Special thanks to: Aquila Aqua, KalalaLove, Shoko-Chan and Microtoa for the follow and favorites!
And now for the reviews!
Guest 1: Thanks for the comment! Sorry it took a while to post up my thanks but being the first, I can't thank you enough for the review you gave me.
Aquila Aqua: Yes this will be a Jin x Oc pairing since he happens to be my favorite character in the whole series (especially when he makes his appearance in WARS).
Guest 2: Sorry about not having too much Ban scenes. I understand he's your favorite but it is a Jin x Oc pairing. But I will do what I can to make sure he has more screen time too
Chapter IV: Major Crisis! The Box Formation Ambush
-Third Person POV-
"It seems the troublesome pests have arrived." A hooded man manically smiles as he stares at the two LBXs on the deck and the other two swimming under the ship. To think that they'd come traipsing into his little playground as if they have the upper hand.
"Such a shame, and here I thought they were smart enough to see the trap." He only chuckled evilly to himself as he started typing a few codes into the PC. An explosion erupted from the ship's side and a huge Draconic Droid flew out from the smoke and landed in front of the two LBXs. He could already see the shocked expression on their faces and laughed to himself with glee.
"It looks like Nidhogg has finally gnawed its way out. It is time for the gods to fall, Rei." He murmured as he stared at the frantic expression on Rei's face.
Project Ragnarok has begun.
-Rei's POV-
"What on earth-," I stared in both awe and fear at the huge looming Droid before us. Huge black wings unfurled itself and its long slender neck stretched out to reveal sinister red eyes. A huge roar emitted from its mouth causing us to cover our ears from the ear splitting roar.
"Frequency waves, huh. Be careful, Rei." Jin tensed and made Triton rush for a full blown attack from its weapon. The Droid registered his move and its long tail flicked out, grabbed the weapon and slammed Triton to the deck of the ship.
"Triton!" I shouted and threw Hel Verse's spear to distract the Droid from coming after Triton. Red eyes now directed at me, I made Hel Verse run for the fallen spear while dodging the tail that tried to ram itself at my LBX. This speed and precision… Such an amazing customization! Cyber Lance really lives up to its name. But an LBX can only go so far as its wielder can, that it why no matter what I have to prove to them that I can wield Hel Verse and use it to a hundred…no, to use it to two hundred percent of its capacity. It shouldn't be 'just good' it should be more than that. If I can surpass that then no doubt we can defeat this Droid.
"Are you okay, Jin?" I asked when Triton finally got up and dodged one of the Droid's wings.
"Somehow. The Droid's damaged some parts but it's not enough to put me down." Jin answered as we both dodged a laser that came out of its mouth. I managed to summon an attack function but frowned when the Droid came out of the smoke unscathed.
"Man this thing's tough!" I huffed and winced when Hel Verse was sent slamming onto a nearby metal wall. If this keeps up no doubt we're going to lose, I just hope Jessica and Yuuya have at least managed to get the hostages out to the rescue raft.
'T...p!' Yuuya's voice shouted from the intercom. T...p? What on earth is he trying to say?
"Yuuya, we can't understand you! The frequency waves from the Droid is jamming the intercom." Jin shouted as Triton dodged an oncoming laser and managed a failed hit on the Droid's hard body. Another static responded from the intercom before the sound of doors slamming and multiple explosions echoed in the background.
"Jessica!? Yuuya!?" I shouted over and over but no response came from the other line. What's going on in there? I wanted to run so much to their aid but I knew doing so would be useless. The Droid's our top priority right now, I just hope they can pull it off even without our help.
'…Trap! There's…passengers…empty…LBXs…surrounded…us!' Jessica responded before another series of explosions responded from the background. Trap? Passengers? Empty? Surrounded? My eyes went wide and turned to Jin who had an angry look on his face now.
*Clap* *Clap*
The sound of hands clapping made us turn to the Droid who was now poised on the railing, its red eyes shining with an ominous glow. My eyes narrowed into thin slits as I controlled the urge to rush at the Droid right now and beat it to a pulp. I could see Jin tense from the screen and then worriedly turned to Yuuya and Jessica's now static screen.
"I commend you for having survived this long." That deep and sinister voice cackled as the Droid raised its head, ready for another laser attack.
"Though it is quite upsetting that you have fallen for such an obvious trap. I guess you really are just children- naïve and ignorant to the truth of this collapsing society."
"Trap? So Jessica's message-," I tried to say and the voice laughed darkly at our distraught faces.
"Yes, this ship is completely empty. It was all a trap to finally put you into your graves, though I will do the utmost priority to leave you… barely alive, Rei." The voice said. So then it means they plan to sink this ship along with all of us? But what did he mean by barely alive?
"Even if you do destroy our LBXs, we will continue to fight and put an end to you!" Jin countered and the voice laughed even more loudly and manically than before.
"Hahaha! Really now? Can you do so? You see, I know all your moves. Even the slightest twitch of the eye or the movement of mouth- I can tell. In fact, since I'm in a good mood, I'll let you in on a little secret." Secret? What is he spouting now? And what did he mean when he said that he could see all that we did? Did this mean that there's a mole in NICS!? If so, then we have to tell the Secretary quickly before Liberator gets the upper hand.
"Ah, such a priceless face you children are making. That's why I decided to leave a gift for you! You see, any more strain your LBX gets will trigger an electric trap attached to your control pods. Get your LBX destroyed and you'll feel like you've been zapped by lightning! Of course, I took utmost care into making sure that any attempts to ask for outside help will get you a one-way ticket to the grave."
"You sneaky cowards!" I growled but was received by only a sound of a click, indicating that the connection had been severed.
"I'm sorry." My eyes went wide and turned to Jin who I saw was gripping the handle tightly.
"Why on earth would you be apologizing? You've done nothing wrong." I replied and then watched as he lowered his head, his expression now unreadable.
"I should have been more focused on the situation rather than keeping an eye on you like the Secretary had said. Ban reminded me after our showdown that I might have pushed you too hard and scared you. He also reminded me that we started out like you before and it was only right that instead of forcing you to realize it alone… we had to help you realize it as a team. I'm sorry for not believing in you… if I had, then none of this would have happened." Jin apologized again and I couldn't help but stare at him wide-eyed in surprise. Somehow the frightening image I had of him dissipated and in replace of that image, I see a trembling kid like me, worried at the plight of his friends. I wasn't looking down on him but rather, I felt as if for the first time since I met up with them, I finally got a glimpse of the more human side of my friends.
"Fighting such a battle since you were all ten or maybe eleven… I realize how strong you all are. It's not wrong to judge me because in all honesty, I had been too complacent and thought of this as nothing more but a walk in the park. Being strong isn't about getting a powerful LBX or training to be the best… being strong is about using those not to your own benefit but for those who you treasure and love. I forgive you, Jin… in fact I should be the one apologizing for getting scared…" I smiled and then turned to the enemy with determination blooming in my heart.
"That's why I don't want to be afraid anymore, even if Liberator hurts me or if it looks like there's no hope then I'll make one! Defeating this Droid will be proof of that, I'll show Liberator what a champion of Artemis can do. Right, Jin." I look back to him and I see his surprised face turn into a soft smile before nodding in agreement. We heard the Droid roar and we turn to the direction of the huge metallic beast, its red eyes looking more ominous than ever.
"Let the real battle begin!"
*Clang*
The spear on Hel Verse's hand went spinning before impaling itself on the floor behind the Droid's huge body. Triton tried to get a hit but before it could do so, the Droid slammed its wing onto Triton with a force that made a dent on the wall.
"Any response from Jessica and Yuuya?" Jin asked and I shook my head. We've been holding our ground for who knows how long hoping Jessica and Yuuya made out safely and aid us. Unfortunately, their screen was still in static, making us worry on what happened to them.
"Wha-," I was cut-off when the ground beneath our LBXs gave way and sent all of them falling to the lower floor. Luckily, no major damage was sustained to them but that luck soon ran out when we saw Jeanne D and Liu Bei surround by an alarming number of rogue LBXs. Liu Bei already lost its right arm and was doing its best to protect Jeanne D who had now lost a left leg.
"Jin? Rei? Is that you!?" I could hear Jessica's voice shout worriedly and my I sighed in relief when I saw Jessica and Yuuya's faces on the screen next to me.
"Thank goodness! With what Liberator told us, we thought something bad might've happened." Yuuya added in relief and frowned. Those cowards, even Jessica and Yuuya were in this predicament too. I have to save them quick before the electric-,
*Roar*
And to my chagrin, the Droid flew up and blocked our view of Jeanne D and Liu Bei. I became too hopeful but it was quite obvious that a fall like that wouldn't be enough to destroy it.
"I'm worried about Jessica and Yuuya. The strain on their LBXs is far too much."
"Then we'll have to beat this Droid fast and jump to their aid." Jin replied and then had Triton summon Ocean Blast that slammed onto the Droid and a few LBXs that tried to take advantage of Liu Bei from behind.
"How hard is that skin, anyways!?" Jessica grunted when a shot from her Jeanne D missed. I summoned Thunder Crash and aimed it at the Droid but it didn't seem to work as the Droid still stood, the ground instead littered with LBXs who've been zapped by the attack.
"The attacks not working, it's only affecting those around it." Yuuya panicked and I saw from my peripheral view, that they were getting cornered, all three groups of LBXs blocking any form of escape. It was an open shot for all the rogue LBXs, with Jessica and Yuuya in an open field like that. I wanted to jump there but the huge Droid was blocking any means of getting there.
"These pile of plastic gloves are useless, there's no way we can escape!" Jessica shouted and started shooting on LBXs that got too close, but with a damaged leg, the accuracy was a bit off and instead of a clear shot, majority only got grazes or minor hits.
'Think, Rei. How can you save them!?' I thought desperately when I saw them getting cornered like that, an open field with them in the center, the LBXs all closing in. Every time Jessica and Yuuya tried to attack, they would miss due to the balance being off. I could destroy some of the LBX with Thunder Crash but I wouldn't make it in time since the attack would only hit a few of them.
"Ah, such a priceless face you children are making. That's why I decided to leave a gift for you! You see, any more strain your LBX gets will trigger an electric trap attached to your control pods. Get your LBX destroyed and you'll feel like you've been zapped by lightning! Of course, I took utmost care into making sure that any attempts to ask for outside help will get you a one-way ticket to the grave." Liberator's threat made me clench my teeth in anger and worry. If Jessica and Yuuya got hurt then I'd never forgive myself for it.
*Drip*
I could hear a droplet of water echoing from within the ship and my eyes went wide and I turned to Jin with a determined look on my face. I'm sure this plan will work or they wouldn't call the Tactician Empress for nothing.
"Jin, sorry about this!" I shouted and grabbed Triton and made Hel Verse jump onto the very center where and Jessica and Yuuya's LBXs stood.
"Are you mad!? Why on earth are you both here?" Jessica panicked when she saw that all of us were now cornered by the Droid and the rogue LBXs.
"I have a plan but I need all of us gathered here for it to work."
"Let's hear it then. I have faith that it'll work." Jin said but I shake my head.
"Sorry, I wouldn't want to risk Liberator hearing about this. I learned on the long run to trust you guys so I hope you can trust in me too. If this plan fails then I'll be shouldering the burden." I say and before anyone could react I jump into the oncoming LBXs and hack and slash the most I could manage until the C Gauge on my CCM was full.
*Roar*
The Droid blocked my view to my comrades and I clench my fist tightly as I ran under it, wincing when a few cracks started forming on Hel Verse's head gear. I'll make sure to beat all of them before my LBX gives way.
"Jin, use Ocean Blast on the sky!" I shouted and Jin summoned his attack function and aimed it upwards, causing the whole field to be drenched in water. Twirling the spear and impaling it on the ground, I felt an immense power building up in me as I stared at the LBXs now running for us.
"Defense Function!"
DEFENSE FUNCTION: AEGIS
Aegis began to glow in a bluish light that engulfed all of us. Using this chance I summoned Thunder Crash on the ground, the electric current electrocuting all the LBXs. Explosion from left and right resounded until the smoke cleared up and only the Droid stood before us.
"Amazing…" Yuuya breathed in awe after the smoke cleared up. I huffed tiredly and grinned.
"That was the plan after all. Since my Thunder Crash would have no effect on a mass army. I figured water would help. Hence the reason why I had Jin summon Ocean Blast."
"You were reckless but thanks for saving us." Jessica pouted but the relief in her eyes made me smile.
"Sorry."
"How are you, Rei? I saw your eyes flicker a darker shade a while ago. To summon that much function at the same time with enough power… you tried using the Overload didn't you?" Jin asked me worriedly and I nodded tiredly, doing my best to stay awake. I guess the toll might have been too much. If I can at least stay alert for the next few minutes then-
Before we could register what was happening, something black flew fast and slammed Triton, Jeanne D and Liu Bei all to the ground, several shouts of agony followed and I turned to see before my eyes, my friends all unconscious, several wisps of electric currents still surrounding their bodies. My eyes went wide with horror and I turned angrily to the Droid standing before me. Tears streamed my face and I could feel myself being energized by the anger at what they had done to my friends.
"You! I will defeat you!" I shouted and Hel Verse rapidly appeared behind the Droid and aimed for the head. A long tail lashed out and grabbed Hel Verse by the leg and threw it to the ground. Cracks on Hel Verse's body got deeper but I didn't care, killing this beast who harmed them is what mattered. But before I could even stand a huge metallic claw impaled Hel Verse to the ground. The sound of cracking wood echoing around us.
'Game Over… Rei.' I could imagine that voice smiling as the Droid crushed Hel Verse.
"AHHHHHH!" I shouted in pain when a strong current of electricity coursed through my body. I slumped to the seat, my eyes watching hazily as the Droid was about to obliterate our LBXs.
The last thing I heard was the sound of explosions and several voices before I lost consciousness.
I groaned and opened my eyes to see a white ceiling. Where am I? I winced as I tried to get up and I saw my hand covered in bandages, a long tube attached from my arm to the IV drip next to me.
"Rei!? Thank goodness you've woken up!" I turned to the familiar voice and saw Ran along with Ban and Hiro walking up to me, all with relieved look on their faces. Memories on the ship came back to me and my eyes went wide in alarm as I fumbled out of my bed.
"Woah, calm down, Rei." Ban tried to stop me and I turned to him worriedly.
"Jin and the-," I mustered to say and felt a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder and I turned to find Jin, Jessica and Yuuya behind me. I felt tears well up and I hugged Jessica tightly and cried in relief.
"Hey, hey why the waterworks?" Jessica asked worriedly and I tried to say between sobs how I was so glad they were alright and how incompetent I felt at not saving them. My plan was perfect but the Droid beat me first. And here I was telling them they could trust in me and that I would carry the burden of failure. I never imagined that my plan would fail and at the cost of getting my friends hurt.
"You're getting worked up over something like that? Sure we have to thank Ban, Hiro and Ran for coming to our rescue but if it hadn't been for you then they'd never have made it in time to save us." Jessica chuckled and I frowned. Didn't they see that they were almost near the brink of death because of me? How could they thank me for it?
"And we do owe you our lives, Rei. If it hadn't been for your quick thinking then Jessica-san and I would have still been unconscious." Yuuya thanked me and I sniffled making Yuuya panic.
"Hey, you're making her cry again, Yuuya." Hiro sighed as Yuuya continued apologizing. I felt my mouth twitch and then laughter bubbled out of my mouth. Was crying while laughing at the same time make me insane? I didn't know, but what I know is how caring and forgiving they were to me and it made me happy and thankful for meeting such people.
"I see you've woken up." Cobra greeted and we all turned to him as he walked in along with Ami, Kazuya and Professor Yamano.
"Dad? What are you doing here?" Ban tilted his head questioningly as Professor Yamano turned to me making me squirm. The creator of the LBX himself, I did meet him once during that time in Artemis but it didn't end that well since I rejected to go with them. Seeing him the second time made me nervous since I am standing before a very renowned man whom I had just rejected any form of help from.
"Sorry for the sudden arrival but I came here to repair your LBXs after that fight with Nidhogg."
"Nidhogg? That was the name of the Droid?" I asked and Professor Yamano nodded.
"As the legend of Norse Mythology goes, Nidhogg is a dragon trapped under the Yggdrasil. On the day of Ragnarok it will make its way out only to fall back into the deep abyss. A powerful yet fleeting monstrosity, a befitting name for that Droid." Professor Yamano narrated.
"But if hadn't been for your quick thinking then all of you would've been on comatose from that electrocution. Ban and the others made it in time before the Droid could do anymore damage so I still can salvage and repair all of your LBXs." Professor Yamano assured us and then turned around to make his way back to his lab.
"Did he come here just for that, Ban-san?" Hiro asked and Ban only shrugged.
"I don't know, dad always had this way of keeping things until the time was right."
"Oh, that reminds me, a mission just came up. Rogue LBXs have been terrorizing around Egypt and request for back-up has been put up. The Secretary plans on sending Hiro, Ran, Kazuya and Ami on the mission." Cobra announced. Another mission? I guess here in NICS there's never a time you can stop to catch a breath, with Liberator lurking in every corner it's no wonder everyone has to be on their toes. Even the news of the mole in NICS sent the whole building into a frenzy.
"I guess its mission time again. It'd be a new experience working with you guys." Ami smiled as she turned to Hiro and Ran. Hiro pumped his fist excitedly while shouting that this was the work of a hero while Ran just laughed embarrassingly while apologizing for Hiro's weird antics.
"Well, Ban I guess it's see you in a while then. Take care and rest up okay, everyone." Kazuya waved good-bye as all of them filed out of the room for another mission sent by Secretary Kaios.
"It is a rare occasion but why aren't you going with them, Ban?" Jessica added in and I could see Ban frown at her question.
"Well, it happened during the mission. We got ambushed along the way and Odin MkII got badly damaged. Hiro and Ran kept apologizing about it but I assured them it was alright, I didn't want to get them caught up in the blast too." Ban narrated. I guess even the tough ones had it rough, and here I was moping at how incompetent I was.
"I see, but it is reassuring to know Liberator didn't use any tricks on you." Jin replied and Ban nodded, his eyes a betraying that hint of worry from the idea.
"Okay, enough about the dark and gloomy things. Since all of us are on a break, how's about we go around town for a little sightseeing? I feel so cramped up in here with all the mission its making me itch for some little fun time." Jessica cut in with an upbeat voice as she stretched her body and turned to me for an approval.
"Eh!? But shouldn't we be resting right now? I don't think Rei might be up to this." Yuuya butted in as he turned to me worriedly.
"Aw, come on Yuuya, don't be such a mother hen. I bet Rei's itching for a little walk around the town, right?" Jessica nudged Yuuya playfully and turned back to me making me laugh embarrassingly.
"I guess it is alright for a little rest outside…"
"Great! Get yourself changed and we'll meet you in the lobby at two." Jessica smiled happily as she half-dragged Yuuya and Ban out with Jin following suit, knowing full well what he'd look like if he said no.
"Wait you're including me too?" Ban shouted in realization as the door to the room closed behind them.
"Sorry I'm late!" I huffed tiredly when I met up with them in the lobby. I explained to them at how I had to talk to my parents first and how dad was so angry and mom just sighing in the background. Though it didn't really end badly but dad just gave me some very long rules about staying safe hence the reason why I was so late.
"Well, can't say I blame you. Dad was the same too when he found out about it." Jessica assured me as we all walked out of the headquarters.
"So, Jessica where are heading to?" Ban asked and Jessica grinned as she pulled out a sheet that showed a mall that just opened somewhere nearby.
"I hear they sell delicious pastries on the upper floors! Been a while since I last had a slice of lemon pie."
"Oh, they have a LBX convention being held on the ground floor too." Yuuya added in when Jessica handed him the pamphlet.
"Any that might've piqued your interest, Rei?" Jessica asked me as she handed the pamphlet to me. I scanned the following contents and then my eyes twinkled when I saw an ice scream store open on the fifth floor.
"Oh, I definitely would love to go here!" I smiled happily and Jessica snickered before turning to Jin who seemed deep in thought.
"What about you, Jin? Any place you want to try?"
"Anywhere works, except for a cosplay convention." Jin only said and Jessica nodded in agreement before recounting to me the events that had transpired that day, much to Yuuya's complete embarrassment.
"Where here guys! We can split up if you guys want and then meet up here in two hours?" Jessica proposed and everyone agreed, Jessica being the first to make a run for it to the upper floors.
"I guess some things never change, if you need us will be on the lower floors to watch the convention." Ban sighed at Jessica's figure before waving a 'see ya' as he walked with Yuuya to the lower floors.
"Hm? You're not going with them, Jin?" I asked when I noticed Jin was still standing next to me. Odd, if what Ban and Hiro said was true then wouldn't it have been obvious for a renowned LBX player like Jin to go with Ban and Yuuya? I mean I love LBXs too but I hold ice cream at the top of my most favorite things.
"I'm not really in the mood for any cake right now. It'd be nice to watch the LBX convention but seeing as that would mean you'll be walking alone, I can't afford that." Jin explained which made me turn a light shade of pink. I understand that he was doing it because of the large target on my back but saying such things can make people have double meanings about what he had just said.
"We-well, if that's the case, how about I treat you to some ice cream? My treat." I try to push those awkward words away and mustered a little chat. No use thinking about such things right now, I've only just met the guy… actually ever since that mission, I saw Jin in a different light and somehow, that fear I developed after fighting him turned into awe at how strong he was. I guess as a fellow LBX player, I have much to learn from Jin, Ban and the others.
"I wouldn't mind for something a little refreshing once in a while." He only shrugged and I took this as an opportunity to lead him to the ice cream shop on the fifth floor.
Yes, been a while since the last update but fear not, this story is not dead! A little break after the mission and what do I see? Rei and Jin going somewhere huh? Do I see a little bit of fluff here?
Rei: *bushes* I didn't plan on this to happen! You're the author so you made me do it.
Jin: *poker face* Is there really an issue here? I see nothing wrong with going out with you to eat ice cream
Rei: …
Me: I guess some men are just that oblivious…
Well anyways, R&R guys!
-xXGemini14Xx-