Well, this is one surprise. The reason for being is because I got more than one person asking for updates and I can't really leave you all hanging. So that is why this fic got an update. And even more good news is that my old fics will now be part of the rotation.
And here we got some stuff that I have been thinking about for a long time on this fic. Funny that some stuff doesn't get written out until years later. What are you going to do about it?
Also during writing this, I found out that BFMV covered Radioactive from Imagine Dragons. What do you know?
I changed also things up compared to the original canon. It made things easier to write out. There was no reason to drag some things out.
Also because I could get my mind on different things given what the world has gotten into.
During writing this, we got into some really scary crap this week.
This is not going to end well. This is not going to end well for so many people. I hope that things will get resolved. But I fear for it.
Opening song for the second season.
Castle of Glass of Linkin Park.
Started on 19/02/2022
Ended on 24/02/2022
Kizuna could hear the cell door open. He, Mattheus, and Ichika had been placed into it ever since they got captured. The boys had nothing much else to do but sit thereafter they got captured. They heard the lines of the lady.
'Princess of the Vatlantis Empire, Ainess Synclavia.' Whoever that girl was, she clearly know Aine. All of their machines have been shut down. Their clothes were still destroyed and Mattheus had given up his sweater for Ichika who was shivering. He used his own Nanites but he couldn't break out of this mess.
He could patch up some wounds of himself. But they weren't in a good spot.
They were neck-deep in shit.
The door opened and the three guys turned to see one of the hostile pilots.
"Get out. All three of you." Ichika and Mattheus walked up to Kizuna and they took him under the arms and dragged him out.
Mattheus wasn't good enough to patch the wound completely but it was at least something that Mattheus could do.
Their warden was one of the ladies of Quantum. Some elite guard. Her blonde hair was in a bog style that had braids on the end. She had a pretty face but the patch on the right eye marred it. Not that either guy cared.
None of them made a wrong move.
"Oi, Clayda. I want to ask." She ignored the Eros Pilot.
"Hey, I am ask-" it was cut off by Ichika sinking a fist in Kizuna's stomach.
"Kizuna, shut up!" The harsh whisper came quickly.
"She doesn't like us. Therefore, it's best to shut our mouths." Ichika said as the lady was walking in front of them while Mattheus and Ichika dragged him out of the room. The lady had a triumphant smirk on her face.
"Thank you, White Knight." Ichika had no idea how close she was to the truth.
"I don't care what his rank was on Lemuria but here, you are lower than front savages." Mattheus tapped on Ichika and mouthed to wait.
The Hunter walked upright in front of her.
"Go fuck yourself six ways into Sunday, stupid cunt." His face betrayed no emotion. Mattheus could be fearless when he needed to be. He didn't like this one bit but Clayda must have gotten orders that none of the boys were to be harmed.
The three boys continued to walk through a hall. When they got out, Kizuna could look up. they gulped when they saw the number of magic weapons. It was nearly impossible to guess how many weapons were going in one line to the castle. The boys watched them march by.
In his head, Mattheus was signing a song.
'Are you on the square? Are you on the level? Are you ready to swear right here, right now before the Devil?' Square hammer was a perfect tune for what he was seeing.
The vehicles weren't much different from the machines. The boys looked up to see a golden palanquin standing in the center of the parade. A triangular pyramid of stairs that was nearly ten meters in the sky. A statue that appeared like a goddess stood before it. Below them, they could see guards glaring up to the statue.
"Well, I guess that we are no longer on earth anymore," Mattheus said. They were captured before any of them could make a break for it. They were now prisoners of war and brought into the place.
The three looked down to see some ramp that was stretching out. The car that was placed on the ground had a strange design. A magical weapon combined with an automobile. The large car was pulled by something that looked like a magical horse. They didn't have one clue what it was until they got a push from Clayda.
It was a good thing that Mattheus and Ichika had a good grip on Kizuna otherwise, they would have fallen down on the floor.
"Don't be standing around? Get down and enter the prisoner transport!" Mattheus shot one venomous glare back and he swore on his life that he would put a bullet in her skull for that.
It wouldn't make a point if they protested or not. Their weapons were shut down, they were hungry, tired, cold, and practically naked.
They got inside the car. Mattheus let Kizuna go and guided him in. Ichika was the last one.
The car looked like a mirror but inside, it was made of glass. So they could spy from the outside but not on the inside.
The three guys were relieved to see they weren't alone.
Himekawa, Yurishia, Sylvia, and Scarlet were all inside. All four girls were glad to see the four boys as they laid eyes on them.
"Kizuna!" Yurishia gave him one hug.
"Yeah, we're fine as well, thanks for asking." Mattheus's dark humor shined through. The three other girls also looked up at them. They were happy to see the others but they were much like the boys. Wounded, badly clothed and so much more.
It was a good thing that Mattheus was too tired to care about their state of undress otherwise, his eyes would be wandering and that was something he didn't need. He sat down with Ichika. None of them was actually awake during this trip.
Their eyes went outside to see the place. They were captured. And they were now transported to the pyramid. What was waiting for them there?
Sylvia and Hayuru looked both annoyed as Scarlet also joined in the hug.
The youngest was getting jealous so Silvia was right behind them.
"That is enough! Are you three unaware of what situation we are in? This is serious!"
Hayuru was following behind them. The demonic entity drove the girls off while it also gave the two guys to sit down.
"What kind of situation is this? Where are we? What is going on? I am not going to." Mattheus heard the rant of Hayuru and decided to act up.
The slap on the face calmed her down. The others looked shocked to see the Hunter acting like that.
"Calm down. Nothing good will come from being like this. Keep your head on a swivel. Keep calm. Relax." Mattheus' voice calmed them all down.
"Scarlet, where are the others?" Ichika was the first to ask the Master.
"They're also captured. Most likely, they're also on a transport." Scarlet answered while the males sat down.
"For now, we can see them as safe. To a degree." Kizuna said. He looked to the group. They were in a bad spot.
"So for a recap," Ichika said while he leaned against the wall.
"We are all captured, we are in this fucking AU, Vatlantis. And for some reason, our weapons have been shut down." The girls turned to Mattheus who raised his hands.
"I can use my Nanites to a degree." The Hunter revealed.
"Not enough to break us out." He followed up. They were just sitting down.
This was getting worse. The girl that claimed to be Aine's little sister was the one that took them down. They were taken by surprise as they were tired and thought they had just achieved victory.
"Are we going to forget what that girl said?" Yurishia asked the group.
"Princess of the Vatlantis Empire, Ainess Synclavia," Ichika repeated the lines as they were hammered in his head.
"That would mean that Aine is the princess of the AU. Of this place. I guess." Yurishia answered the question.
Kizuna sighed as he remembered what Aine told him. She began to remember her forgotten past. Aine didn't know where they came from and she got no log of her. Not unlike Mattheus and Ichika who at least had an explanation of what they were.
"Captain! Please look at that." Sylvia pointed at the front of the parade. From the deck of the battle
Kizuna could feel his heart swell. The girl was Aine, no doubt about it. But unlike the member of Amaterasu. This Aine was looking like a princess. She was surrounded by several Knights.
The white dress fluttered elegantly in the wind. A golden tiara took the place of a headset. The beauty could have mistaken Kizuna for a fairy princess in the middle of a movie.
The others were looking at her and they had their breaths held.
"Ahaha, she looks like Aine. She really looks the same. But the atmosphere is different. She has to be someone else. After all, that can't be Aine." Kizuna was shaking his head.
"No, that is Aine." He would never mistake her for someone else.
Aine was leading the imperial guard and Mattheus's blood boiled as he saw Zelshione. The girl that was their teammate was sitting on the throne. The car finally began to move as they were taken to a gigantic black wall.
"It seems that we are heading towards the other side of that wall. Is the place we are going to heaven or hell? I wonder what kind of experience we will be subjected to?"
"Yurishia, can you not! We are terrified as it is." Mattheus asked as he could feel his heart hammering in his chest. Ichika shared his worries. Would they ever see their loved ones again?
The largeness of the towering black wall was enough to overwhelm them. Again, Mattheus wished that his boss was here.
"The gate opened!" Sylvia shouted as they were right.
The vanguard of the parade reached the wall. Like magic or technology, more likely, the door opened. Besides ripping sounds, the voices of many people could be heard.
"What commotion is this?" Himekawa's voice was betraying how she was feeling. Horrified and scared to see what was coming next.
The palanquin and magic weapons in the front became a part of the shadow. When they finally were boarding inside the gate, the surroundings became dark. It had a feeling of a tunnel. But unlike a tunnel, they couldn't see the exit of the tunnel.
It took a while before they got light again.
"So at last, we are inside the wall now." Kizuna's throat gulped audibly and they were also nervous.
But Mattheus would rather have the silence of the darkness than the screaming outside and it was more like explosions were going off.
Mattheus felt like they hadn't just traveled through an AU but that they were in a time machine.
The city more looked like an old European city. It brought back memories of Durbuy that he and Joel visited only a thousand times bigger. But unlike that charming village, this place was built of the same rock as the wall. The afternoon had barely set in but it looked like it was midnight.
It wasn't just all dark and black though. Beautiful lines of power colored the city. It proved the words of Nayuta. This world had an energy crisis and they solved it by invading earth. Looks like they weren't that different from normal humans.
Images of letters were shown on the walls. None of them could read it but were more than likely welcome messages directed to the leading actor. Aine.
Several mechanical blimps were floating in the sky, raining down particles and fragments of light created from magic power. Those radiances gave them the feeling of a dream kingdom.
At the two sides of the street, where the parade was going, they could see humans as far the eye could see. But what stroke Mattheus was they were only women. No men so far he could see.
Or feel.
It was clear though they were weeping with joy. They could feel how the AU people were feeling for the parade. Welcome.
Despite not understanding the words on the wall, they could hear the lines shouted at them.
"Your highness Ainess! We're happy to welcome you home!" "You are really safe Ainess-sama!" "Ainess-sama-, Ainess-sama! Banzai!" "Welcome home, your highness Ainessss!"
The blessings that were raised without pause were accompanied by the raining down fragments of light and explosive sounds from the sky without pause. And then, without realizing it, the flow of the march made their filling stirred up even reluctantly.
"Amazing." Sylvia's heart was speaking through her tongue.
Kizuna shared her shock as he was looking at the AU.
The place was well organized. It was clear that whoever made this knew what they were doing. Shops were stalled outside. Yet, they couldn't see the merchandise as the crowd blocked their view.
"Only women are here," Mattheus said as they looked outside.
"I thought so too." Himekawa agreed with him.
"This is for a reason." The Hunter said.
Even in war, you still had young boys and old men who watched the home front. And those weren't here. There were no males in this place. Mattheus was sure of it.
"Nevertheless, isn't this a great welcoming? What in the world is this?" Scarlet made a cramped smile.
Ichika scoffed when he heard her talk.
"I think this isn't for us. At least, it's fortunate that they can't see us. I think we wouldn't be treated as kind as Aine."
Their eyes went to the front of the parade. They could see Aine. The entire pyramid was moving but none of them could see the front.
Kizuna guessed that she was likely to be sitting. Had she betrayed them? Or was she simply swept away by what happened? They hadn't even seen her face since it all happened. They would only have to wait and see what would happen next.
It took a while before they were brought into the room of the throne. Ichika could barely believe the scale of the building. It was huge and he could barely believe the scaling of the roof.
The Masters joined them inside of this room.
There, they were brought in chains, forced to kneel in front of the throne room. There sat a small girl. They all realized who that girl was. The one that greeted Aine was her older sister.
The lady was wearing something outrageous. She had pink-colored hair with eyes matching the curtain. She wasn't as tall as Aine. Ichika found that Joel's words rang in his head.
'I thought the Infinite Stratos outfit was skimpy' this was so much worse. A few white and gold accessories that barely hid anything. Now, he had time to look around, Ichika could see that many women were dressed in a way that would make him wonder if shame was something to be invented here.
"Kneel, Lemurians. For you are in the presence of her Highness, Grace-sama." All had to obey this order. In front of them, stood the lady. And Aine was brought right in front of her.
"Nee-sama. It's a great pleasure to see you again. We will have much to discuss in private." The girl embraced Aine. The former pilot of Amaterasu was taken aback by her actions.
"I won't forgive you. No, I won't let Nee-sama go for a second time. I will put Nee-sama in my treasure box and lock it up in the depths of the royal palace! There is no way that I'll let Nee-sama get out for a second time!" The pilots looked surprised and horrified by the actions.
"But that will be for later. As for you, Lemurians." The group had their heads pressed on the pavement.
"I will see to all of you are treated as correct." Her eyes glared at the males. There was a hate in Grace's body that could be felt, despite the distance.
"Would the male, called Mattheus, stand up?" The Hunter was shocked to hear his name. He would obey though. Standing up, he faced the sisters.
"I'm Mattheus." He said nothing else.
"Your presence is required somewhere else. As for the rest of you, Lemurians. Take them away. We will decide later for your fates." Turning to his friends, Mattheus mouthed 'I'll be fine.'
Ichika dragged Kizuna away. With one last look over his shoulder, Ichika felt scared. He wanted Mattheus around. The Hunter would be their stalwart friend. He would keep their heads straight. They were taken to the prisons. It would be their staying there. The prison was made out of a gouged-up lump of crystal.
It would sap their energy and they couldn't get away. Not that Ichika would try to get out. Kizuna could barely walk and they had nowhere to go. Ichika wished that Mattheus was around. He would know how to stay calm.
He wasn't alone though.
Ichika and Kizuna would share their room.
The Knight looked over the wounds of Kizuna and made sure that he would heal. He trained himself. The kata's of his sisters while he also did sit-ups and push-ups.
He trained alone for a while.
"What do we do now?" Kizuna asked him when he woke up.
"We train. Until we figure out a way out of here. For now, we have to wait. But we won't sit still."
They would train and fight with each other.
They wouldn't let their muscles go to waste. The food they got was weird but nutritious. And while they were scorned, neither of them cared about it.
They could only wait until they found a way out of their predicament. They often talked when they were done fighting.
Their knowledge extended to the point that Aine was a princess here, that they were safe, their friends, sans Mattheus, were safe and that they were treated decently. Not much and they would just train.
It also bonded them like brothers. Kizuna was now finally accepted as a brother of Ichika and Mattheus. He would never let that bond go to waste.
Scene skip
Mattheus noticed a peculiar thing when he was taken away by the guards. They treated him in a better fashion than the previous ones.
"We were asked to blindfold you. We will escort you now. Do not worry." The gentle tone prepared Mattheus for it. His hands weren't tied again so he could easily keep up. The ladies had tied a rope to his middle and one walked behind him to turn him on the shoulders. While his eyes were closed, he could smell the outside air.
"Mind the gap." Was said before he was taken in a carriage. He would keep his mouth shut until they drove off. He wished that he could listen to music in the meantime. He could feel a woman in front of him and one next to him.
"How long before I can take this off?" Mattheus asked when he lost track of time.
"We will be arriving shortly. We ask you to keep the blindfold on. Our mistress demanded it."
'Mistress? So it's not that Grace.' Mattheus thought when he heard the name. He wondered who else would be leading. Not that Zelshione either. The way that those ladies spoke was with respect. He was treated better than before. His mind went to Kizuna, Yurishia, Hayuru, Sylvia, Ichika, Scarlet and the Masters.
To his friends.
When the carriage stopped, Mattheus could feel the ladies leaving and the door to his right open.
"We will help you out. Please mind your step." The same way that he was walked out of the palace was the same as before.
This time, the house smelled differently. Wood filled his nostrils and meat was grilled. His stomach grumbled. It reminded him that he hadn't eaten a single thing since they were captured. His worry was replaced by his hunger.
He was halted before a door.
"Freya-sama. We have brought him in." Mattheus felt his mouth open. He heard the name again. Freya.
"Yes, thank you. Get him in my room." Mattheus heard the voice before. He thought back on the time he infiltrated the ship and shut it down.
"Seat him and leave."
"Mistress, you can not."
"Leave, I said." Mattheus was sure that he began to like this lady. "Do I have to repeat myself?"
"No mistress." The other women left the place as he could hear it. The mistress, this Freya, was not a normal lady. When he heard her speak again, Mattheus believed that he was dreaming.
"Jij beweert dus Mattheus Adjzof te zijn" [You claim to be Mattheus Adjzof.] It took Mattheus a few moments before his brain processed that this Freya spoke Flemish.
"Heb ik net een alien Vlaams horen spreken? [Did I just hear an alien talk Flemish?] The Hunter replied as he was trying to process what he just heard.
He heard a giggle that he didn't expect to hear.
"Dat heb je goed gehoord. Maar je hebt mijn vraag niet beantwoord. Ben jij Mattheus Adjzof?" [You heard well. But you didn't answer my question. Are you Mattheus Adjzof?]
Mattheus's brain tried to wreck itself when it was thinking about where he heard the voice before. It wasn't on the ship alone. No, he heard the voice before. Years ago. But its brain wouldn't allow itself to reach a conclusion. A conclusion that was impossible by its very design.
"Ik ben Mattheus Adjzof. Ik weet niet wie ik anders moet zijn. [I'm Mattheus Adjzof. I don't know who else I would be.]
"Dat is onmogelijk. Mijn kleine broertje is jaren geleden omgekomen. [That is impossible. My little brother died years ago.] The lady spoke again and Mattheus could barely believe it. Little brother?
"Wel, het is een lang verhaal hoe ik hier techt kwam. Maar mag ik raden? Ik hoorde de naam Freya. Jij bent Freya Adjzof. [It's a long story how I got here. But may I make a guess? I heard the name Freya. You are Freya Adjzof.]
Mattheus wasn't sure why he said that but when he heard her talk and heard her speak the last name, his brain came up with the impossible conclusion.
"Jij hebt gelijk. Doe je blinddoek af. [You are right. Take off your blindfold.]
The Hunter obeyed her order. When Mattheus opened his eyes, his mouth landed on the floor. Before him stood the spitting likeness of his baby sister if she ever had the opportunity to grow up.
The woman before him had long hair, the same color as his with a face that made his eyes tear. He could see how similar she was. Her eyes and face were nearly identical to his sister's. Her body was dressed more modestly compared to what he had seen.
A hoodie that covered most of her body, much like Mattheus's own wardrobe. A pair of jeans or this world's equivalent was worn underneath it. Her body was well developed. She was just a few centimeters shorter than him.
She didn't look completely like his own sister. It was a mix of a Rule 63 of Mattheus and parts of his baby sister. She looked right into his eyes and her mouth wanted to make out with the floor. Much like his.
"Jij bent echt Mattheus Adjzof. Je ziet er uit als mijn broer als hij het geluk had om volwassen te worden. [You really are Mattheus Adjzof. You look like my brother if he had the chance to grow up.]
Mattheus walked to her, he was trying to process what he saw.
"En jij ziet eruit als mijn zus. [And you look like my sister.]
Freya couldn't process it. Nothing could prove her right. Yet, the example of Mattheus, her brother stood before her. She looked like she was ready to cry.
"Mattheus, ik geloof dit niet. Jij bent dood. Jij moet dood zijn. [Mattheus, I don't believe this. You are dead. You should be dead.]
"Ik ben omgekomen in de Antwerp Expo, een goeie tien jaar geleden. [I died in the Antwerp Expo, about a decade ago.]
Freya was shocked when she heard the time and place. She couldn't rely on her voice. So she nodded.
"Dat is waar mijn zus het leven liet. Samen met Joel's ouders. Het verbaast me ook niet. Ik ben niet van dit universium. [That's where my sister died. Together with Joel's parents. It doesn't surprise me though. I'm not from this universe.]
Freya looked back at him. So she asked him a very important question.
"Jij komt van een ander universium. [You're from another universe.]
Mattheus nodded to her.
"Ja, ik denk dat in dit universium onze rollen omgedraaid waren. Ik ben jouw tegenpool van een ander universium. [Yes, I believe that in this universe our roles were reversed. I'm your counterpart.]
"Ik geloof niet in die onzin. Dat is gestoord. [I don't believe in that bullcrap. It's insanity.]
Mattheus scoffed when he heard those lines.
"Freya, kijk eens rond je. We leven in een wereld waar machines vechten. Alternatieve universiums zijn niet zo veraf. Als je bewijs wilt, ik kan je vertellen wat ik gebruik. Ik gebruik geen Magic Armor of Heart Hybrid. Noem het wat je wil. [Freya, look around you. We live in a world where machines are fighting. Alternative universe aren't that far away. If you want proof, I can tell you what I use. It's not Magic Armor or Heart Hybrid. You can call it what you want.]
Freya raised an eyebrow. He made sense when he explained that.
"Wat gebruik je dan?" [What do you use in that case?]
Mattheus grinned when he heard her speak.
"Da's een lang verhaal." [That's a long story.]
Freya shared the same grin. The only thing that needed to confirm they were siblings. Somehow.
Their heart knew that.
"Jij gaat nergens naar toe." [You're not going anywhere.]
"Mij best, maar ik wil graag dat jij ook jouw verhaal vertelt. Iets zegt me dat je behoorlijk druk bezig bent geweest op deze planeet. Kleine zus." [Fine by me but I want you to tell me your story. Something tells me that you've been busy on this planet. Little sis.]
"Da's eerlijk. Kleine broer." [Fair. Little brother.]
Despite all things that happened, Mattheus looked at her. Her mannerisms, her way of talking, her behavior. She was Freya Adjzof. She was his sister. They might not share the same life. The same womb. But they were siblings.
And the two shared their story.
Scene skip
Ichika and Kizuna were brought back to their cells after the events that happened. The place was nice despite all things.
It was separated from the castle. If Ichika had to describe it, half-sphere domes were lined up orderly. Inside, the gouged-up lump of crystal were several ways to prevent them from leaving beside the obvious ones.
Several layers of formula were imprinted so that magical power was tapped out. Ichika and Kizuna were roommates at this point. They had no clue where the others were. Ichika was worried sick about Mattheus. The older man would keep a cool head and tell them what they should do.
Especially because Kizuna was out cold. The wounds were healing but Ichika knew that without Mattheus, it wouldn't be easy.
They got well fed and it was warm inside. When Ichika asked for medical help, it was given to him. A doctor came by and checked him up. Of course, with a huge amount of protection. Not that Ichika would try anything. He knew better than that.
They did lose track of time and space. With no light coming in, or clock they couldn't say what time it was.
Ichika wondered about the others. The Masters. The rest of Amaterasu. When Kizuna finally got through, the two talked about their situation. When Kizuna feared about the home they left, Ichika reassured him that they were safe.
His girls were still there and his sister was there as well.
"Kizuna, we got two choices now. We stay here and get our bodies to develop into nothing or we take the chance to train." The Eros pilot looked back at Ichika and he got an extended hand.
"I and Mattheus called you brother in Tokyo. And you are one of us now. You are a brother of mine. Keep your head up." Kizuna nodded to Ichika.
The two trained their bodies. They sparred in matches, Ichika learned Kizuna techniques. They also practiced other things like push-ups. When both could no longer move, they moved in their beds. Every day, they fell asleep exhausted. It was the only way to avoid going insane. The worry they had.
In their head, both had different worries.
Ichika was worried sick about his sister, his girls. The ones he left behind.
Another worry was Mattheus. He hadn't seen his big brother ever since he was taken away. He only hoped he was alright. If their own treatment was anything to go by, Mattheus was safe. But where was he?
Meanwhile, Kizuna thought about Aine. Silver hair and red eyes came into his dreams. Aine was a princess in this world. The Empress. He hadn't seen her ever since that time in the palace. She couldn't do much else.
He wanted to have hope that she would help him. But nothing could say that she would.
The waiting game was driving both men mad but they couldn't do much else.
There was one message that they received. A guard came by while both were training. Soaked with sweat and bruised to a good degree, both had foregone upper clothing.
Then he heard a voice.
"Ichika, Ichika." The Knight walked up to the door.
"I have a message to relay. Your brother is safe. But for the safety of both of you, he's not coming over. You'll see him soon." Then she walked away. It left Ichika with more questions than answers. He trusted Mattheus though.
Kizuna looked back at him while Ichika turned back to the younger brother.
"He's safe. That's all I need to know." The half-truth was believed as full. But the ache in his heart was nearly gone. Mattheus was still alive.
Little did either know that their time in the cells would be coming to an end soon enough.
Scene skip
Freya Adjzof had seen a lot of impossible shit in her life. It was of course something that she grew used to in her life. But when she heard Mattheus Adjzof talk, it was shocking her.
Mattheus Adjzof.
Not her baby brother.
But a Mattheus Adjzof nonetheless.
"And that's about all. We fought in Tokyo, captured and you should know all that there is to tell. Zus." Both had switched to the language of the land and left Flemish behind. It was a lot easier given the terms. Freya had been shocked.
Mattheus had a well-filled life before his 25th birthday.
"This will take a while to process. So that explains some things. Like how you sneaked in our place."
"My boss says that you should never underestimate stealth. Places impossible to invade by an army can be done by one silent assassin." Freya wasn't sour on the sneak-in. It had humiliated Zelshione and Quantum.
"There you have my story. Now, your turn, Freya."
She looked harshly back.
"I lived a life different from yours. When the disaster" both had referred to the incident "happened, I was kidnapped. I proved to have an awesome aptitude for the HHG, I became a leader. Queen of the Valkyries."
"Ironic," Mattheus answered and Freya nodded to that.
"You're telling me, brother." She said it before thinking but Mattheus waved her off.
"No worries. Continue."
"The Valkyries are a legion, made up by several Pilots. Race, ethnicity, background. None of that matters. They're very good. I have no clue why they were installed. Only that they're holy warriors. Protecting Vatlantis."
"And for the last decade or so, you have been leading them." Freya nodded.
"I haven't set foot in my home. I defend this world against invaders. But we were pressed to join in the fight against the Lemurians. You gave them hell though." Mattheus nodded to that.
"Doctor Hida had asked for that specifically. And when I heard your name." Mattheus couldn't fault her for that. She thought that her brother was alive despite all things.
"I would have done the same in your shoes. If I was in this situation." Meanwhile, he saw the women passing by when he went to relieve himself. Or when they got food. They treated him with a certain amount of respect. Most likely, because of the wishes of their leader.
But Mattheus understood the difference between being forced to treat a prisoner decently and genuine respect. These women showed him the latter. So Mattheus did the same to them.
"Speaking of Nayuta. Remember that I put a bullet in her skull next time I see her." Looking at his sister, Freya shared the same bloodthirsty grin.
"Get in line." She replied.
"Not worried about your Valkyries." Freya shook her head.
"Most of them despise her as much as I do. But we can't do anything against her." Mattheus understood. He was happy though. Despite all things.
"Mattheus, I'll have to ask you to stay here. Believe me, you are better here than anywhere near the capital. If we have to go there, you'll be escorted."
"Any reason why we are going there?" The Hunter asked.
"Yes, this place might be advanced in technology but they got the same practices as our ancestors. Gladiator fights are still being held." Freya had the same contempt for him.
"Very well. I'll need to ask you for a big favor, Freya. I want someone to relay a message to Ichika." The Queen of the Valkyries raised an eyebrow.
"Ichika is captured. I want him to know I'm safe." Freya understood immediately. She could do things that were out of touch for most. And she heard the story of Ichika. It was little wonder why Mattheus was so fond of him.
"I do hope that I see your Infinite Stratos in action though. It must be a fantastic machine." The Hunter laughed when he heard those lines.
"Believe me, you think I am special. I hope that my boss finds out where I am. Because I have seen that man fight. Kerlongsj might be a Devil but he can do miracles."
And Mattheus meant those words. He hoped that Kerlongsj wouldn't kill him or Joel for activating his program.
Scene skip
After a day where Ichika and Kizuna had a good training, both had been sleeping peacefully. They were going through the days of this training.
Unfortunately, this wouldn't be a day where they could sleep in.
"Get up." The door of their cell was flung open. Before either could react, Kizuna was dragged from his bed by three guards
"Kizuna!" Ichika wanted to help his friend but was pushed back by two other guards. Luckily, Kizuna quickly got up on his feet.
"Come with us." Ichika wanted to follow again but was held back.
"You'll come to another side." Ichika wanted to break free. To help his friend. But he knew that there was nothing they could do.
There was some relief as the rest of Amaterasu and the Masters were also guided along. When they were taken in a cart, Ichika could feel glee in the air. It was like they were going to a concert. Or something like that.
Or a sports event. When Ichika's eyes were signaling, he felt his heart drop.
An arena, like the Colosseum of which Mattheus told him so much about. He could see the sights of people fighting there with swords. Magic power was shining through. People were passing through it like it didn't matter to them.
Ichika and the girls were taken along as well. They were guarded by prisoners and guided through the place. They had seats assigned and Ichika's eyes found Mattheus sitting at the opposite sight.
The Knight wanted to shout, wave but he knew that wasn't an option. Mattheus sat back and just like them he was surrounded by women.
Ichika could guess why the audience would be pumped. It was something like gladiator fights. Kizuna would fight another person with Magic Armor. And while it was like sand, Ichika could guess that they were protected by the Magic in the air.
Huge floating windows were above the field, much like a concert that would play the sight next to them.
It was the beginning of a grim festival.
Aine was sitting on a throne, overlooking the Colosseum and the people inside.
"What's this commotion?"
"This is one of the events to celebrate Ainess-sama's return. Magic Knights with pride in their strength will devote all of it as an attraction. With both Ainess-sama and Grace-sama in the audience, I have a treasure card."
Aine frowned as the silverette watched over the field.
"Making people fight as an attraction. That is not a good hobby."
"However, Nee-sama. Didn't you say that in Lemuria, it's a similar attraction like this, that made people fight each other? Like boxing or wrestling?"
The two thrones were lined up. Aine sat at the right side and on the left, Grace had her seat. Grace didn't share her sister's foul mood. In fact, she was looking forward to this.
"Ainess-sama. The objective of this match is not for killing. Until the end, it has the object of pitting each other's skill, it doesn't mean that one side will die. The people fighting here are not just enemies or prisoners. Clayda and Lunora are members from Quantum who found their origins here."
Zelshione pointed at the blonde who had an eye patch and a blue-haired woman. The four Quantum stood still behind Zelshione.
Clayda was the girl who led away Kizuna from the cell in the battleship into the prisoner transport. Right now she was not in her imperial guard uniform, but she was wearing a battle outfit that clung tightly to her body. She wore a no sleeve short vest with a vertical line in it. Together with that was a hot pants with the size that was abnormally little. And then on her back, she was armed with a thin sharp sword that looked like a crescent moon.
The other one, Lunora, was a female with elegance and beauty like a daughter from a good family rather than a swordswoman. However, the atmosphere her body was clad in seemed bizarre somehow. She put on the white shirt of the imperial guard and a see-through camisole under it. At her lower body, there were only panty that was tied with strings at the left and right sides and tights until above her knee, her appearance looked like she was coming outside in the middle of changing her clothes. Her look was really inflammatory, but she wasn't merely sexy but also caused a bizarre pressure towards those watching her.
The cause for that was the large gashes carved on her beautiful face and body.
There was a diagonal painful-looking scar from her forehead until her cheek that seemed to be coming from a sword cut. The wounds were not only on her face. There was a large scar along the valley of her breast that was like a vertical stitch. Similar scars were also carved on her neck and abdomen, and her legs and arms. It made one wonder just how many life and death battles she had acted in this Colosseum. Aine felt a shudder in her back just from imagining it.
"I grew to desire them no matter what while watching them fight many times. They were scouted by Zelshione truly." Grace was staring at the proud Zelshione who took the praise gratefully.
"I feel obliged by the praise from your highness." Zelshione had a flair for theatrics. Aine didn't guess that from her.
"The other two aren't from the Colosseum?"
"Elma is a native-born from the imperial guard."
Elma had long wavy white hair and her ears were somewhat bestial. The combat uniform was a feminine dress, frills on the side and parts of her skin were revealed. It made Aine wonder if she was wearing anything else.
Elma pinched her skirt and bowed to Aine.
"It's lovely to be in your presence, your highness."
"Yes. Take care of me, Elma. The remaining one is." A girl with flaming red hair.
"Ramza is her name. There is a little special circumstance." Before more could be said, music began to flow in the Colosseum.
"It'll begin, Nee-sama." Grace was happy to see that.
One of the gates opened and white smoke blew out. Inside stood a familiar figure. Light brown skin and it was not hiding a splendid body. Her short-cut blonde hair and white costume hid the body but it suited the brown skin.
"Gravel. Why is she?" It would be impossible to forget her.
"Ainess-sama, Gravel is under suspicion of the crime of treason. Right now, she is being entrusted by me and she is under investigation."
"Treason?"
Aine stared at the figure of Gravel who was walking through it. Ichika had his eyes on her as well. Much like the rest. He couldn't phantom why she would be there.
His worry grew when Kizuna walked into the Colosseum.
Every girl that knew him had their mouth fallen open.
His pilot suit had been removed and he was given something that was just on the top and bottom. He was walking while he looked straight ahead.
"What's the meaning of this?" Aine turned to Zelshione. It was like the guard had no idea what Aine was asking of her.
"The meaning?"
"Why is Kizuna over there?! Don't tell me you are planning to make him fight?"
"Of course. There is no other meaning for someone to stand on the battlefield."
Aine's expression turned from shock to hardened.
"Is something the matter?"
"Stop this match right now! Zelshione! I told you to treat everyone with respect. This is not."
Zelshione kept Aine back with a wheedling voice.
"Please rest assured, Ainess-sama. This is just entertainment. You know, entertainment."
"You call this entrainment."
"Yes. This is the unveiling of the Black Armor. This is to let the people of Vatlantis know about him. Ainess-sama also wished for them to live as members of Vatlantis."
"Even so. This is too rushed. If they die, it will come to nothing.
"Kizuna is a really strong Magic Knight. I think he doesn't compare unfavorably with Gravel. Rather, Kizuna has defeated Gravel once hasn't he? Then there is nothing to fear. Besides, this Zelshione who has actually fought him gives his strength my stamp of approval."
Grace too had her eyes shining from deep interest, she chuckled 'fufu' after hearing that.
"Hohou, I'll look forward to this then. Moreover, the opponent is that beast with tanned skin."
Aine realized that nothing more could be said. Her sister. Her guard. They were all in this. They hoped that Kizuna would die.
'In this state, Kizuna will never win.'
Aine could feel her heart beating. Kizuna was staring at Gravel. He didn't even have a single hard feeling for her.
He even felt pity for her.
"Gravel. It's been a while. What are you doing here?"
Gravel's eyes were down. It was like she was broken.
"Kizuna. Your name, right? I am not the same. I am like you. A captive. Humiliated. Even lower than you."
Kizuna couldn't feel any hard feelings from her.
"So how will this go?"
"One of us will die. The other will live." Kizuna gulped when he heard that.
"The loser dies. The winner gets his freedom." The Eros Pilot asked. Gravel sneered on the words.
"I wouldn't hold those words in high regard. I was told the same thing. You'll be here as a fighter. As nothing but a slave!"
"Not a fate that I would like to have," Kizuna muttered.
"This body is smeared with humiliation. I don't feel precious of something in my life. But if my life can become useful. I will do that."
"Zoros!"
The orange light enveloped Gravel's body. It created magic armor.
"Eros!" Kizuna called his own HHG. In response, a pink particle equipped his body. But for some reason, blue and brown joined in the fray.
As if already estimating the timing, fireworks were launched all at once around the Colosseum. Fierce explosive sounds thundered, beads of light fell from the sky, amidst all that, cheers that resembled screaming welled up from the audience who reached the peaked of their excitement.
The gong of the battle rang.
Three line particle cannons were floating behind Zoros in wing shape. Twelve cannon muzzles in total from the four wings were directed at Kizuna. While they were just the common equipment, it was Zoros's main equipment that possessed powerful destructive power. The street of office buildings of Ataraxia was cruelly returned to ashes after receiving the volley from them. Gertrude of Masters had her Heart Hybrid Gear destroyed after receiving bombardment from close range. And then she became heavily wounded to the degree that all the bones in her body broke and she wandered between the boundary of life and death.
The fire was aimed at him from Gravel. The particle cannons fired at him and it was like the flames came through. Avoiding was something he got used to.
He relied on his skills. But it wasn't just his. Kizuna could feel his body move.
Amaterasu looked at him.
"Is it me or is captain copying Ichika?" Sylvia asked and the Knight nodded.
"He is. But this isn't normal."
The Eros pilot could fight back like this.
Gravel activated her thruster and she chased after him. She kept some distance between them to use her canon.
Kizuna wouldn't get through her. She took a huge and wide single-edged word buried into it. The sword part elongated even more ahead from the gun muzzle and its length was even taller than Gravel's height. There was a trigger in the hilt and an ammo cylinder at the gun barrel. By changing the bullet that was inserted into the cylinder, it could be added with a special attack.
Gravel thrusted herself right at Kizuna. The Eros Pilot could only stand back.
Kizuna breathed in the energy. He began to focus. He could feel the power of something else.
"Inhale! Revive! Let my branches spring to life!"
The Yukihira matched Gravel's sword.
"And if the past was rough. I know the world is enough!" In his left hand, Kizuna deployed a Chasseur pistol.
He wouldn't need a Heart Hybrid. He could fight like this.
"What is?"
"A bond that I have. A feeling that won't go away." Gravel was forced back by Kizuna.
"Gravel. I don't want this fight." Gravel just stood back as she watched Kizuna fight.
"I can't summon my Corruption Armament [Sword Gatling]. For that, I need energy for that." Kizuna thought back on his own powers.
"You were in that same prison as me?" Gravel figured out immediately like her.
"Yes, that place drains you of magic powers. The power I had in Okinawa. I can't do that here."
'So she is like me. Drained of energy. Even if I can summon Yukihira. I can't slash my way through the shields.'
Gravel directed her sword back at him.
"Kizuna. Even if you have a way to fight. I will not stop. I'll live. I have something to accomplish. I hate to live in disgrace but I can't die here!"
"Can I ask you? What do you fight for?" Her bitter expression made Kizuna wonder if he salted the wound.
"Two things. My homeland and my people."
"That is not Vatlantis."
"Correct. A small country in the corner of this continent. It has lost the battle with Vatlantis."
'So Vatlantis united all those countries. No, not united. Conquered.'
"However, I thought that if a just government and administration are carried out, it will be fine even like this. There are not only bad things from being under the umbrella of a large empire. Being obsessed with independence and uselessly prolonging the fight will hurt the people…but, Vatlantis is not a country that one can have expectations to."
Kizuna let her talk.
"The Genesis is not working normally, this world is heading to its collapse. Nevertheless, this country continues to skirmish with the surrounding countries, and the senior statesmen are only obsessed with the power struggle in the imperial castle. Even the forceful invasion to your Lemuria, is far off from righteousness."
'They really don't differ from us. Bad ones. Good ones. She is just like me.'
"It is why I have to escape from her. Return to my home. Call the neighboring countries. To fly the banner of my revolution."
Kizuna looked at her and heard her talk. They weren't that different.
"I got an idea. I can recover your power for you." Her mouth dropped open.
"And we can both escape." Ichika heard him talk. What did this guy have in mind?
"No, you can't. It's impossible. What are you scheming? You are just trying to agitate me?"
Kizuna smirked back at her.
"I can do it! We need to combine our strengths! We will save those we care about!"
The will to fight disappeared from Gravel's eyes.
"It's impossible. You can't do that. How are you? A miracle worker?" Kizuna closed the gap with her. He dissolved his weapons.
"Yes."
Kizuna straightened his knees and leaped at her legs. Hugging her thighs, pulling her down. Gravel was beneath him now.
"Kizuna, you cowar." His hands found her large breasts. It was easy enough to control her without hurting her.
The brown girl was blocking her mouth with her hand. Her body had betrayed her. Or was it coming back?
"Kizuna? Are you trying to?"
He brought his face to her eyes. Their noses' tips were touching each other. His eyes were serious.
"You want to know how I got those weapons? This is the miracle."
"What are you?"
Kizuna began to touch her. His mind didn't wonder about much things. Her body was amazing. Much like that of a normal girl.
Gravel could feel her head swimming. The pleasure was overwhelming. The audience however was looking at the show with a mixed reception.
Zelshione found it amazing.
"You have done it. You really made this enjoyable. I'm really pleased here, black magic armor Kizuna!"
Aine's mouth had stayed open but she knew what he was doing.
'Kizuna is planning a Climax Hybrid. I don't stop this. Kizuna will go on. I can't protect him. He will come back. As my enemy.'
Mattheus leaned into Freya's ear. Her head got as red as a tomato. She didn't stop Kizuna though. Burying her head in the crook of her brother.
"Oh, this isn't good. Please tell me when it is over." Meanwhile, Mattheus was laughing.
"You mad bastard! This is insane! Don't fuck this up!"
Not everyone agreed on the sight though.
"What are you starting in front of the public? This?!"
The scream burst out Himekawa's wrath aura.
Scarlet couldn't tear her eyes away from it.
"This is already something else. As expected from the Japanese. This level of perversion is unreachable."
"I feel admiration for Captain's mental power but this is."
Yurishia winked at Scarlet who was knitting her eyebrows. Sylvia found it better to shut her mouth.
Meanwhile, Ichika just shook his head.
Perversion might just save the world.
Kizuna was busy on her while he worked her over. She allowed Kizuna in this. Her mind was melting from the pleasure.
"All of a sudden. This place. I feel bad. Believe in me, please. If you let me inside of your heart, I promise. I'll save you. And with this, we save each other."
Gravel could feel the earnest tone. This male. This Kizuna. This soldier. It made her feel dearness that couldn't expressed in words.
He was protecting her. Gravel wanted to entrust everything to him. Her cheeks were dyed pink. Her expression became loose.
Gravel gave one inviting smile.
"You can do. As you please."
That voice and expression were enough to drive him crazy.
The breasts in front of him were too enticing.
He sucked on the nipple. It showed pinkness on the tanned skin. He wanted more of her. He could see the shape of her.
He pinched the other one while the sweet moans of Gravel filled the air. Then his open hand traveled to her mouth. Her tongue was exploring his fingers. And the particles flew in. Her orange particles joined in and the screams became louder.
His fingers went down to the place. He could see how wet Gravel had become. He wanted more of this and there was no stopping him now. His fingers danced around the opening of the suit. And Gravel wouldn't stop.
She could see the standing member of Kizuna.
"This is new."
"Fine." Two could play that game. The more she touched his member, the more he entered her. Kizuna found more to tease. They were getting on the Heart Hybrid. More and more particles flew around her.
Before he could say more, Gravel decided to do something else. She hoisted herself up at Kizuna and pressed her groin at his. It created a pleasurable pressure on her.
Her waist shook back and forth. The honey of Gravel was on his and Kizuna couldn't deny it. It felt awesome.
He had weeks of the spent up press. The rubbing ended up with Kizuna's dick touching her soft warm spot.
They had reached their limit.
Climax pierced through Gravel's body, convulsing her. Lights lit up the place.
"The magic power is returning."
The endlessly overflowing magic power snapped apart the magic power restraining bracelets that were wrapped on Kizuna and Gravel's arm.
"Strength is gushing out inexhaustibly…this kind of miracle"
Kizuna answered Gravel's gaze that seemed to look for an answer.
"This is Climax Hybrid. The mixing of two people's hearts and love. This is exactly the true ability of Heart Hybrid Gear!"
"Gravel! We are escaping!"
"Yes."
Gravel manifested a magic circle at the space before her eyes and inserted her hand into it. And then from inside the magic circle, she pulled out a gigantic gunsword. That was different from the normal equipment. Several gun turrets were linked in a ring shape, the Sword Gatling.
"Here we go!"
She fired the Sword Gatling towards the sky. Bullets with destructive power that were more than equal with Bullet were fired rapidly with terrific speed. Furthermore, it was added with the power-up from Climax Hybrid.
The Life Saver of the Colosseum which was that firm was broken apart. Screams were raised from the audience who were watching the success of the Climax Hybrid in surprise.
"Kizuna, what should we do after this?"
Gravel asked with a tone that sounded completely like she was talking with her war buddy.
"I'll accomplish my mission. Gravel too, accomplish your own mission."
She nodded to him.
"Got it. Don't die!"
"Same to you!"
Gravel flew off in the distance. The Eros pilot turned to the audience.
"I'll come back to you. I'll save you. That is my promise!" The rest of his friends knew that.
And with that, as luck would have it, Kizuna could see an entrance opening.
"Hold onto that!"
He flew off in the Entrance while holding back the tears.
Never thought this would get an update again. But I got many asking for this.
As this ties on Stories Told, I got enough time to think about what I do next time. Either, I'll make a new chapter in July or rewrite the story. Those are the things I think about. Not sure and I got time enough for that as I work on the next circle. Your call in that regard. Let me know via reviews or pm.
Speaking of circle, this will take a while to update. On the next circle, Stories Told or its rewrite will be out in July, after that, En Route and I plan to update that in December. So when will this fic again be updated?
Good question. If I go rough on it all, next year March. And I don't intend to change my plans for that.
If you complain that is so long, it's what it is.
I thank you all for reading and hope to see you on other fics.
Saluut.