Exceed...
Jennifer: " is everything alright, Ryan?"
She followed after him and when she reached there. She could see the land extending in front of them.
Jennifer: " we're saved. We can get out!"
She screamed to the others following right behind her. They all exchanged relived smiles as they heard that and continued climbing up before they set foot outside the labyrinth. Ran stretched up with a broad grin.
Ran: " nothing is like the air of outside."
Ryan landed back on his back, admiring the extended starry night sky above him with the Milky Way Galaxy decorating it brightly.
Ryan: " the sky is so beautiful tonight."
Jennifer: " figured you would say that."
She sat by his side, relishing the moment of their freedom.
Odin: " still, we have to get back."
Jeanne d'Arc : " we can inform Touko of our whereabout. Maybe she could help."
Hiro: " I'm on it."
He said reaching for his CCM and calling the pinkette.
Everyone else let a breath they were holding for so long. Now they were safe. Or so they thought. They didn't notice the red eyes staring down at them from above the very mountain they had just escaped, scanning them...
Knight's finger traced the rim of his glass as the pictures of the surviving players was send to him. He giggled and shook his head.
Knight: " I knew Ryuuichi wouldn't be able to carry the work. He can't be trusted with the bright future Leviathan is opting for."
His white LBX, standing slightly next to him spoke up.
Charis: " so you're going to take things into your own hands aren't you?"
Knight smirked.
Knight: " yep, both them... And CIS's head as well."
He said pulling another picture of a car winding its path through the highway at a high speed...
Elie was sweating heavily and painting non stop. Her vision was blurred up and her face all red.
Ban's hand rested on her forehead and he frowned slightly at how hot it was.
As Jin walked over to her, covering her with his jacket, he caught Ban's frown.
Ban: " she has a fever..."
He whispered, wishing there was a way he could have brought her back quickly. But she was very tired and wouldn't possibly withstand the long journey back to the highway. Nor was Sayaka, who seemed in much more pain than ever.
Jin: " all we can do is wait. Touko informed the others back, it won't take long before they send a helicopter here."
Ban: " though will she be able to hold on?"
Her panting was getting faster and her face redder.
Zenon: " you wouldn't happen to have brought any more medicines with you?"
Jennifer and Ryan shook their heads.
Ryan: " we were in a hurry."
Jennifer: " we're sorry."
Ban: " it's no one fault... No one but me..."
Jin: " no, it's indeed our fault too."
Ban: " Jin?"
Jin: " we should have been better prepared for that. We've all forgotten just how weak she is."
A moment of silence lingered over them as his words sank in. The silence was shuttered by Minerva and Achilles D9.
Minerva & Achilles D9 : " watch out!"
They shouted all together, shoving their players away as something dropped from the sky.
Everyone ducked down as the debris and dust flange over their heads by the impact. And when they stood up again, they could see a huge hole with dust rising from its middle. Two red dots gleamed within the rising pole of fume before the thing put it down with one flip of it large metallic wings, revealing a very thin robot half a human size with black armor. It was engulfed in a red aura as it stared down at them.
Hiro: " that's..."
Sayaka: " don't tell me... Another Killer Droid!"
Ruri: " no! This is different!..."
Just one look at it made Ruri's eyes widen in fear. The thing in front of them was build from loath and hatred. It was meant to kill humans, not LBXs. Just looking at its red eyes made her shiver in horror and take a step backwards as she felt the intimating vibes it was giving.
Everyone else in fact did the same, feeling threatened by its very existence, they chose to put a distance . The LBXs however dashed to protect their partners.
Ranger: " it's very large!"
Odin: " it will be hard to fight it!"
Achilles D9: " but still, we're not letting it harm Hiro and the others!"
He gripped tightly to his swords.
Minerva: " you're afraid."
Achilles D9: " so are you."
Zenon: " we all are, but still, there is a reason we've rushed ahead you know."
Valkyrie: " it's to protect our partners!"
Ruri: " Valkyrie..."
The robot's eyes gleamed for a moment before it roared loudly.
Beargguy : " hear we go!"...
Their car had just reached the bridge on its way back to the city. Garshield saliently sitting in the back, apparently having accepted his fate. Touko sat besides the driver, lost in thoughts, clearly worried about the friends she had left behind.
Her bodyguard, who was driving, took a glimpse at the side mirror and his eyes narrowed before the car speeded. It seemed the sudden boost had waken up the pinkette because she turned back to him with a quizzical look.
" We're been followed."
Touko: " eh?"
She took a look at the mirror beside her and her eyes widened. She could see the form of the large robot, following them airborne.
Her bodyguard tried to shake it off but couldn't. Eventually, the unit's eyes glowed before the beam rifles on its wings shot at the car speeding between the other vehicles. Touko had to duck down as the car zoomed from side to side to avoid being hit. Others by their sides couldn't do so and it soon grew to panic, still, her bodyguard speeded even more.
Touko's head shot out of the window as to look at their attacker properly. The robot didn't let go of them, chasing after them persistently and once again shooting rays of laser at them. The whole car shook at the impact of the beam hitting the ground nearby.
Queen: " Touko!"
The pinkette nodded before he LBX flew out the window, landing on the top of the car. She held up her gun and tried shooting their enemy, yet it was nimble and easily avoided her blasts with swift twirls. The laser rifles extended, revealing missiles hidden underneath them.
The large robot shot them and it aimed to their car. Queen tried to shoot them down before they would reach, but her attempt ended in vain. One of the missiles exploded just in front of her, knocking her back she was barely clinging to the roof of the vehicle. Others landed directly next to the car's wheels, shaking them even more.
Their surrounding was in chaos, the cars that got hit exploded and fire was raging up by their side. Another wave of missiles was all it took for their car to finally give and askew away, getting smacked down on the grown on its side. Touko's eyelids twitched before she blinked her eyes wide open. She took in her surrounding, their car was flipped on its side, one of her men was pulling an injured Garshield from the back while the other had thrown his weight on her, protecting her with that.
Her eyes widened at her bodyguard's deadly injured body before she realized herself of his firm grip.
Touko: " You! Why did you do that! You're badly injured!"
" I told you... Touko-sama... Protecting you... Is my duty..."
He said with a hoarse breathy voice before he was out. Touko's eyes widened in horror. She gritted her teeth furiously before she stood to her feet with a loud scream. Her blue eyes landed on the robot floating overhead and they flared with rage.
Touko: " Damn you! LEVIATHAN!"
Her eyes were brighter than the fire surrounding her as she held out her CCM. Queen pulled herself from under the car and flew in front of her player protectively.
The large machine unleashed its missiles once more, but Touko didn't tremble back, standing firmly in her spot.
Touko: " Hissatsu Function!"
" Attack Function: Grace Missiles!"
Queen's missiles intercepted those of the enemy. As the dust cleared, Touko's confidence shone through her shimmering eyes.
Touko: " I'm not letting you harm any other person! I'm not afraid of you!"
Queen switched her gun to Aquarius Laser and started raining her beams on the other aircraft, though it was still able to avoid it with ease. But it suddenly was shot from another side much to her surprise.
Touko's head snapped to the other side of the way and she could see Yagami and his crew holding up their CCMs. General and the rest were stationed on top of the high poles of the bridge, shooting at the machine as it swiftly evaded their attack.
Touko: " Yagami- san!"
Yagami: " your father expected something like this will happen so he send us to support you!"
Mano: " not that we can be much of help though, but we can ease it a bit for you!"
Her Deqoo Ace hardly avoided been shot by the enemy's laser as it flung to the side.
Queen: " Touko!"
She yelled at her through her shots.
Queen: " it's as much as we can do keeping it busy! We need a way to destroy it!"
Hisui: " easy to say!"
Touko turned her head around as she tried to think of something and her eyes fell on the thrown side mirror on the ground.
Touko: " that's it!"
She rushed through the fire to the broken piece and calculated her plan once more.
Touko: " that should work. As for now..."
Her eyes landed on the machine fighting in the air. She waited a bit longer until it was in her aim.
Touko: " Now! Rainbow Loop!"
With a flash of all seven colors of spectrum, the broken piece kicked by Touko soared in the air and smacked against the robot, knocking it slightly back.
Touko: " Queen! Sever the cord by your side!"
Queen pointed the laser at the cord and shot. The metal rope melted under the heat and snapped, soaring upward by the force applied on it for years and slamming hard against the machine, sending it down to the river underneath it.
Touko heaved a breath as she walked to the ledge of the bridge, watching upon the robot as it sank to the deep...
Minerva was hit hard across the chest and pushed backwards.
Hiro: " Achilles!"
Achilles D9 managed to grab her before she would ram into anything.
Achilles D9: " You alright!"
Minerva: " it got my motor!"
She groaned as she no more could move. Achilles D9 flew her back to her player who was relieved to see her in one piece.
Ban: " it's tough!"
He grinded his teeth as the machine swerved away from Odin's lance and blocked Zenon's onslaught before it threw him on Ranger who was waiting for the best moment to shoot.
Ruri: " I can't spot any visible weakness."
Sayaka's eyes were already dull, typing with both hands on her CCM with a great speed. Jeanne d'Arc, Zeon and Astray were the only ones so far who could put so much a fight against it. Achilles D9 joined them, spinning in the air and unleashing one of his swords at the machine to which it sidestepped.
Hiro: " now!"
Achilles picked up speed as Hiro's eyes flashed with yellow. He aimed to slash at the large robot's torso, but was fended off by the missiles. He flew away as they chased after him, twirling and carting in the air so he could shake them off. He managed to ram them into the mountain. Unfortunately that led to pieces of rocks coming cascading down towards the humans.
Jin: " get away!"
They stumbled back with Odin and Achilles D9 protecting their backs.
" Attack Function: Sword Bit!"
" Attack Function: Gungnir!"
Their attach functions managed to keep the larger rocks away from their players.
Hiro: " Achilles !"
The blue unit dashed ahead once more, grabbing its lost sword and surprising the enemy from behind, he directed a series of slashes at its back. He continued slashing at it in hope of inflecting some damage, however, he could no more harness enough energy to do so.
With a swing of the large robot's wing, Achilles was thrown back to the ground.
Beargguy : " Bear Punch!"
Beargguy tried to get its attention as it saw it making for the sprawled Achilles. But it seemed it was not of any effect. It just made it angrier as it unleashed its Laser beams randomly. Ribbons of red beams waved around as the machine tried taking down the LBXs who kept struggling.
Valkyrie: " this is dangerous! Our players could get hurt!"
The humans were huddled behind a high rock in hope of keeping away of the attack. But even the rock began to crack as it was hit multiple times.
Ken: " we have to do something!"
Suddenly there was a strong wind hitting against their faces, and as they looked up, they could see a light approaching them, which appeared to be the awaited helicopter.
Ran: " we're saved!"
However, the rampaging of the robot and its random attacks made it hard for the helicopter to approach the place, let alone landing.
Jin clicked his tongue as peeked from behind the boulder, a plan being formulated at the back of his mind. When he was satisfied with it, he turned back to everyone.
Jin: " I will go out there and avert its attention with Zenon. You head as quick as possible to the helicopter and get in. Use your LBXs to cover you up against its random attacks..."
They all had to duck as a wave of missiles hit the rock wall, sending more debris down.
Hiro: " but, what will happen to you, Jin-san!"
Jin peeked once again at the robot.
Jin: " I will be fine, I will get away after you guys fly off. Keep your LBXs by your side until you've reached a safe distance. Then our LBXs can fend it off together."
Jennifer: " why should it be you, let us help!"
Jin: " I have to do it because Zenon retained the least damage so far, he should be able to hold off."
Jennifer was horrified when hearing him.
Jennifer: " are you crazy!?"
Ban: " that way you'll be the only one in danger!"
Jin turned two confident eyes to the brunette. They stared through each and everyone of them they could not speak back.
Jin: " that's what I have to do. Now is my turn to protect all of you."
Ban: " Jin..."
The man gave a small smirk before he stood to his feet, waiting for the moment to dash out from his hiding spot.
Jin: " on my signal, you run to the helicopter."
Jennifer: " wai-"
But oncr the robot was focusing away for a second, he rushed to the other end of the field.
Jin: " Zenon!"
Zenon landed in front of his player, all ready to fight.
Jin: " Hissatsu Function!"
" Attack Function: Break Geyser!"
As the large robot was hit hard by the geyser of energy, it span around to face Jin and Zenon and then zoomed their way.
Jin: " now!"
He yelled at his friends who dashed from behind the boulder and to the helicopter. Seeing the robot fighting away and the humans rushing his way, the pilot of the helicopter lowered it down so they can get in quickly. Their LBXs, as planned, kept watching over their back.
Reaching the chopper, Ban, Ken and Hiro helped the rest up quickly, while Ran got on it and pulled them up. As she was pulling up Hiro, they were caught by an uprise of dust from where Jin was standing.
Ban: " Jin !"
Jennifer: " Papa!"
The dust cleared, revealing the black and white haired male with a few scratches and nickers.
Jin: " go!"
He ordered, not over looking back at thel. Ran narrowed her eyes and pulled Hiro up into the helicopter and then Ken.
Ran: " Ban!"
She extended her hand to the brunette, he was about to reach it but looked back when he heard a crash. Zenon was pushed to the wall and more rocks were cascading down its way.
Ran: " Ban! Hurry up!"
Ryan: " Ban-san!"
He looked back at Ran, balled his hand into a fist as he clicked his tongue and rushed back to his friend.
Ran: " Ban!"
As missiles came their way this time, the pilot rose his helicopter away to avoid them and flew away from the area.
Ryan: " Dad!"
The rest of LBXs focused on protecting them against awry beams and missiles.
Ban rushed back to his friend, followed by Odin.
Jin: " Ban-kun!"
He was surprised when the brunette skidded to a stop by his side and pulled out his CCM.
Odin rushed off and took the enemy by surprise, pushing it away from Zenon.
Zenon: " Odin!"
Jin: " why did you come back!"
Ban's determination didn't waver as he spoke calmly.
Ban: " I'm doing what I have to do too. Fighting with you till the very end!"
He looked back at his friend with a broad smile. Jin's reaction was widening his eyes in surprise.
Zenon: " you will regret coming back."
Odin: " I would regret not doing so!"
Ban: " you know you don't have to do everything on your own, Jin."
It took Jin a moment before he returned the smile.
Jin: " Ban-kun... Thank you..."
[~Insert Song: Beat hit!]
They were suddenly taken aback by a burst of blue light that erupted from their CCMs. As they held them up, they shone even brighter as hologram screens manifested with both their LBXs' blueprints and the word ' Jogress '.
Both Zenon and Odin where engulfed in orange and purple lights before they shot upwards, spiralling and merging into a bright white light.
Jin and Ban stared stupefied at what was happening. The others watching from the chopper were in even more awe.
Green visors shone through the bright white light. And when it faded, it revealed a new unit they had never seen before. Slightly larger than an LBX, his purple and grey armor shimmered under the light of the moon and its visors glimmered bright green.
Everyone had their jaws dropped to the ground upon seeing it, especially Jennifer and Ryan.
Jennifer: " nee Ryan, isn't that..."
His green eyes were sparkling in awe by that moment.
Ryan: " it's, that we've seen once. Their strongest fusion..."
Ban: " ... Exceed..."
He read out loud the name printed on the new blueprints that replaced that of Zenon and Odin.
Exceed's eyes glowed as he dashed towards the enemy unit that was approaching.
Jin: " too fast!"
He could hardly see him move. The purple LBX blocked the larger machine with his bare hands.
Ban: " strong!"
His visors glowed once more as he performed an overhead flip, sending the robot straight ramming into the rock wall, creating a huge crater.
Exceed reached for both his swords and zoomed towards the enemy. The other aircraft managed to unleash its missiles at him, but he used his swords to cut through them all and flew past them as they exploded.
The enemy roared furiously as it flew upwards just before Exceed's sword fell down on it. Exceed then flew after it. It unleashed its Laser beams but Exceed was able to dodge them with ease as if it was a pushover. As he closed to his target, he yelled out.
Exceed: " Ban! Give me a Hissatsu!"
Ban snapped of his trance and grabbed to his CCM.
Ban: " Hissatsu Function!"
" Attack Function: Lightning Blade!"
Exceed was wrapped with lightning before he directed them to his swords and soared above the larger unit. He brought down his lightening swords and slashed at it, and for a moment, everyone thought they saw lightning hitting it.
The machine fell to the ground and crushed hardly. But it wasn't enough to stop it. It stood back and looked over at Ban and Jin. Its visors blinked red as it unleashed more missiles at them.
Exceed though was faster than them, he quickly was back to the ground and deflected them swiftly away from his players.
The enemy's unit tried pulling back when it was overpowered.
Exceed: " oh no you won't!"
He dashed once again, cleaving at the robot's right wing. It was startled and shot its beams again but they didn't hit thanks to Exceed's speed.
Everyone followed slightly stunned by Exceed's abilities as it swapped attacks with the robot that threatened them with ease.
Ken: " what's... That..."
Ran: " any mechanic's words, Ruri?"
Ruri's eyes refused to be pulled from the battle raging down.
Ruri: " I... I can't explain it... But that LBX is flawless... It's like if... If it took both Odin and Zenon's strength and combined them together... No... Maybe even exceeded them... It's truly... The definition of invincible..."
The larger aircraft managed to put a distance between them finally and started charging a sphere of energy in front of it. The red ball of light growing larger in its hands before it was unleashed upon Exceed who brought up his swords in defense.
Dust rose up around it, covering Exceed's sight. All of them held their breath. That was a heavy blow that cracked the ground underneath it.
Shortly, Exceed's form appeared through the dust, not so much as scratched or even nicked.
Achilles D9: " impossible!"
Jeanne d'Arc : " what's that LBX!?"
Exceed: " Jin!"
The red eyes narrowed as Jin typed on his CCM.
Jin: " Hissatsu Function!"
" Attack Function: Hell Breaker!"
Exceed held up his two swords before merging them into one large blade. Both his visors and the swords crystal glimmered before he held it overhead. The large blade was wrapped in blue fire before he swung it, scuffing the ground with his move. Three rows of blue fire rose from the ground and in the direction of their target before they ended with a burst that engulfed it as they converged.
Exceed turned around, assured of his enemy's destruction, his eyes glowing as the other machine exploded on the sight.
Their faces was washed over with relief as they saw the torn pieces of the robot falling to the ground, burned and starched.
Jin and Ban let out a breath they didn't know they were holding and they swapped smiles and nods before they looked back at the purple and grey LBX, standing proudly victorious underneath the first rays of sun...
