[Some hours later…]
Back at the city center. The night came on Leanbox, a large crowd is amassed around the stage, there is also armed people around it, observing the masses, there is also sentinels in the top of some buildings and occasionally some green colored bits that fly around in the area
The Leanbox concert
Behind the stage, there the group gathered: 5Pb. The idol of course. Nepgear and her friends and finally the oracle…
"You don't need to worry of this time 5Pb. There is security everywhere."
"Bethesda even placed a force field."
Bethesda who is currently activating the force field trough a laptop "The chance of something happening are pretty low if you want to know." He says
"I feel like it will be totally fine! I have to go now, I'm the opening act! See ya after!" 5Pb. Says and head in the stage
"That's funny. Her shyness vanished." Compa comments
"She does that often when she get on the scene." Chika responds
"But... Are you sure that the audience will like the first group? I mean its pretty much full of neck beards." IF says
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." Chika responds proudly
Bethesda walks to IF and whispers to her "She don't, she based the group choice on her and Vert preferences."
"…Oh."
"So when we have to go?" Nepgear asks
"When I will tell ya." Chika responds
"Ugh! Not like if I wanted to perform anyway." Uni says
"But by the way… Where's the Lowee candidates?" Chika says
"Did you told them about it?" Bethesda asks
"I did! It wouldn't be that hard for them to understand that we had to meet up here!" Chika responds
On the stage, suddenly a column of smoke appears in the middle of it and when it disappear, the Idol replaces it and advances towards the crowd who cheers seeing 5Pb., she takes the mic in front of her looking at the people, she recognize few faces among them
People who include Cave and Obsidian, even if it will be difficult to Cave to at the same time enjoy the concert and stay focused on making sure that anyone don't try something stupid… But there is also two other people in the audience…
"My first concert… I'm so excited… Aren't you Ram?" Rom says
"Duh! We're gonna brag all about this to Mina when we go home!" Ram responds
And so the Idol speaks up…
"Hey, everyone! So we are having fun yet?!"
The audience cheers even louder
[Meanwhile.]
GAMINDUSTRI GRAVEYARD
ASIC HEADQUARTERS
Magic is observing a live stream of 5Pb. Concert, she's not actually watching for entertainment, she have her phone right next to her
"So what I should do with it?" A voice says form the phone
"Wait."
[Back at the concert.]
"Hearing that make me so happy! But before I sing my next song, let's make a special promise! I'm able to put concerts and sing for you because of the CPU's watching over us all. If you really love my music, you'll love the CPU's too, right? Don't be fooled by anyone else!"
"UUUHHHHHH! CPU's kick ass!" The crowd cheers
"Goodness… the concert hall is shaking form their cheers..." Nepgear comments
"That's my wifey!" RED says
"This plan is gonna be a big happy success!" Compa says
And the siren of Leanbox starts singing her first song
"Just as planed. But the real treat is still to come. This next move will end ASIC's plans for good…" Chika says with a way too satisfied face
"You should tell her." IF says to Bethesda
"Even if I did it would change nothing, w are forced to see her going into full delusion." Bethesda responds
Back on the stage, 5Pb. Speaks up "Okay that's it for me! Next up is a very special guess. Leanbox's sexy boys band… Juniper!"
Two handsome man shows up on the stage, one with a long blond hair, another one with a short brown one. They takes the place of 5Bp. Who starts to leaves the scene…
"Oh hi, everyone. We're Juniper. We're here to sweep you sexy sillypants off your feet! Of course, we don't care if it's girls or boys. Nobody is immune to our charms, Hehe~!" the blond one say
"Its called equal opportunity, so we'll give both boys and girls all our lovin'!"
The crowd stopped cheering
"Damn. So that's what you meant?" IF says
"To be honest, I already told her when I got back at the Basilicom, but she didn't want to listen. Putting a gay boys band in a concert full of male weeb's was a bad idea." Bethesda says
"Its like putting a male OC as a main character in a fanfiction of a franchise full of female characters!" Compa says
"That's total-" Bethesda cuts himself after realizing what Compa just said
"THE HELL?! GET OFF THE STAGE!" a man in the public yells
"Who the hell wants to listen to some lame boys band in this day and age?!" Another one says and then throws a can
The can bonce off the force field, other objects were thrown and also blocked. 5Pb who was about to go to the backstage turns back in a frightened expression, the pupils of her eyes changed into a triangle wave
"If giving my love to the CPU's means supporting these guys I'm outta here." Another man says while he start to leave
"Uh? Uh! Wh-What? -um What we are gonna do? I never expected this..." 5Pb. Says as she starts to sweat
The blond guy start to love the attention "I feel boys passionate, fiery stares!" he says
"Yeah brah, they gotta be envious of our bods and spiky host hair. Beauty is a crime. Their envy acts as an encouragement for me. It's the fate of all gorgeous male idols." The brown one responds
5Pb. Runs to Juniper "Are you guys delusional!? P-Please hurry up and get out off the stage for the time being…!"
5Pb timidly push them out of the scene, Juniper complies and goes away while hearing the unhappy audience
"My perfect plan failed? What could have possibly went wrong? Idols are all the rage..." Chika says in delusion
"I told you this would go wrong." Bethesda says to Chika
"You should have expected that." IF adds
Chika Pull herself together and turns to the two candidates "You two! You will have to start your act sooner than planed! Get on the scene!" She says
"Uh! Okay…" Nepgear responds
"Dammit, what was that idea of getting male idols here in a public full of virgins." Uni comments
"We need to find the Lowee candidate now!"
"I'm going to help you with that."
Chika and Bethesda leave the backstage and observe around the crowd
"Try to find to small kids with that many people." Chika says "Can you use your skill to locate them."
B.A.T.S
Bethesda use his skill as a scanner, the problem is that there is a lot of people, he don't have other choice than having to select people by people until he manage to find them in front of the stage, in middle of the crowd. After that he disable the B.A.T.S
"They are over there!"
"Here? I see no one there."
"They are hidden by the weebs."
"How we get them?"
Cave walks to them "You are searching someone?" Cave says
"Cave! You shown up at the right moment. In that direction there is two small, one with blue clothes and another one with pink ones. They are the Lowee candidate bring them over to us."
"Aight, I'm on it." Cave says
Cave moves swiftly trough the crowd and reach the two small girls, she casually grabs them and carry them under her arms
"Let us go you pedo! Or i will kick your butt!" Ram yells
She quickly get back to Chika and Bethesda while holding the two Candidate
"Hello... Miss Chika." Rom says seeing the oracle
"Here you are! Get on the scene you will have to sing with the other Candidates."
"They also candidates?" Ram ask "Sure, but can you drop us now?!"
After Cave let them go on the stage, the twins joins the two others candidates…
"Did they forgot that they have to sing?" Chika asks
"Possible." Cave responds
"I guess you are the Lowee candidates." Nepgear says
"Exactly, we are here to save the day, and also get the shares!" Ram says
Rom is hiding behind Ram
"So everyone is here..." Uni says "Hey!" She says to 5Pb.
"Uh?! The candidates?!" 5Pb. says
"Hey, look at that! There is cute girls now!" A guy of the Audiance says while pointing out the candidates
"Leave the situation to us 5Pb.! We will do as planed."
"This had better work. I'm going to have some choice words with you if I end up looking stupid, Nepgear."
"Its gonna be easy by how rad we are! let's kick butts, Rom!"
"I'm embarrassed... but... I'm gonna do my best." Rom says while clenching her fists
Nepgear take the microphone "U-U-um hello everyone! I have an announcement to make!"
The audience retake their attention to the scene, they look at the candidates and they start arguing
"Who are those chicks?"
"I have never seen them on any idol forum I frequent, not like they are gonna make any difference now!"
"Hang on, look carefully fellow weeb, these chicks are kinda cute in a Moe way. But who are they?"
Nepgear notice the man who asked"Um… Hi I'm Nepgear, the CPU Candidate of Planeptune." She says
Uni takes a step forward "I'm Uni form Lastation, y-you better stop leering at me or I'll never forgive you!" She introduce herself to the public
Rom and Ram steps in front of the two older Candidates "Howdy, everyone! I'm Ram and this is my twin sister, Rom. It's super cool to meet you!" Ram introduce herself as well. not Rom, she's too embarrassed
"CPU Candidates? That mean… they are imoutos! Damn that make them super cute!" A guy of the audience says
"Yeah look at this! Tsundere, Polar opposites twins and the next girl door!" Another one comments
"These girls are so much tempting than some crusty old deity!" Another one says
"U-Um, please watch us as we sing and dance for you. We aren't pros, but I hope you can enjoy it!" Nepear says
And the Candidates start their musical performance on the stage, they sing as they repeated individually, they lack a bit of coordination but still manage to put some good dance move… Good for something that was improvised
[Meanwhile at the Gamindustri graveyard]
Magic is still watching the performance of the Candidate putting her hand on her chin "They are going a way to good. If I do nothing than they might take assure the position on Leanbox and make any revolt a way harder, but I still have a trump card." she thinks and then she get the phone to her mouth
"Warechu, the time as come. Execute order Z80."
"It will be done Lady."
The rodent put his small phone aside, he get the green mascot and walk over the edge of the stone platform he is standing over, he look at the lava lake under it and then throws the mascot into it
[Back at the concert.]
The audience is fully silent after the CPU candidate finished their performance the ambiance is pretty tense for everyone here
On the stage
"Wh-What the heck, Nepgear? They are stone silent. How are you going to fix this?"
"Huh? Are these dummies stupid? I mean, how cute are me and Rom?"
"Are we... not cute enough?"
And in the backstage
"Did that work?" Chika asks
"I hope so." Compa responds
IF nods "Maybe that will save the day." She says
"Its still better than letting those dudes performing." Bethesda says
"No shit." IF responds
And then the Audience verdict...
"CPU candidates are so Moe!"
"Eh, it was good enough for a first performance."
"I prefer Arfoire."
"CPU! CPU! CPU!" A group of people chants
Even if the Candidate did their best on the scene, the public reaction is pretty mixed, but mostly positive, apparently there was a guy who screamed that he wanted to fuck Rom. The man in question quickly got arrested
"I think we did fine, but a lot like us Uni!" Nepgear says
"But I hear your name more than mine. I must have been too far back or something." Uni responds
"Argh! Why they don't all love us, for the other ones, put your faith in Lowee!" Ram says
"Please believe in us… we need it..."
"Thanks you for coming today! I hope you'll continue to support us as we grow! Thanks again!
A part of the public cheers the CPU's candidates, others stay neutral but for sure they are is not longer hostiles, there still some work to do but at least it wasn't a failure.
THE LEANBOX CONCERT
STATUS: PARTIAL SUCCESS
[The day after the concert…]
LEANBOX
BASILICOM MEETING ROOM
09H00
The people who participated in the concert are gathered in the meting room of the Basilicom, which of course includes our protagonist
"Well done, girls. Everyone seemed quite enamored with you. Naturally, my plan was a success." Chika says
"If they didn't step up, pretty sure you'd be quelling a mass otaku riot right now." IF comments
"Eh, what they would have done anyway? Burning down some posters of the CPU's?" Bethesda adds to the comments
"Are you sure about the succeeds tough? Even after the Candidates avoided a riot some still seemed to not be convinced." Cave says
"...Maybe another concert can solve it." Chika says
"Don't count on me to do something like that again… but i feel that we good load of shares, so it wasn't a total waste. Back to Lastation I go!" Uni says
Uni start to leave the room
"We should go home too, Rom. Mina is gonna be so proud, she might buy us a new game!" Ram says to her twin sister
Rom and Ram also starts to leaves the room while laughing
"Oh… Everyone going home?"
"Stop making that pouty face. It's not like I want to but… I have my own things to do. Bye." Uni says to Nepgear before finally leaving the room
"Goodbye." Rom simply says before joining Ram
"Here they go again." Nepgear says with a sad expression
"Aww, don't let it get you down. You'll see them again, I'm sure of it."
"Well that isn't it but we got a Mascot to find." IF says
"Oh! I almost forgot about it… Bethesda do you know where's the Underverse?" Chika says
"Yeah, but it was a long time I didn't get here." Bethesda responds
"The mascot is located there, very deep in the station 6."
"What is that? A virtual dungeon?" Nepgear asks
"No. I will explain on the way. And we better get going if we don't want that the ASIC find it first." Bethesda says
Bethesda leaves the room, Nepgear, Compa, IF and RED shortly follows, in that order. There is only Chika and Cave left in the room
"Is this fine, Chika? They gathered shares form ASIC, but Leanbox's shares are at an all-time low."
"Better than letting the ASIC have them. And once my darling Vert returns, she'll get them overnight."
The group of makers and the candidate head outside of the Basilicom
"Hey!" A girl says
5Pb. Runs up to them, Obsidian walks after her
"Oh, 5Pb."
"Good... we caught you before you left. Um, your performance on the concert was really inspiring! Watching you on the stage was really inspiring! Watching you four on the stage was really exciting!"
"Goodness, we are nothing compared to you..." Nepgear responds
"Don't say that. I was helpless to stop them form going berserk… I'm ashamed… B-But I don't want to feel like that again, so… please take me with you!" 5Pb. Explains further
"Welcome to the club! 5Pb." RED says
"Calm down RED." IF says
"Yet you should let her come, she got pretty good powers."
"Like what?"
"You will see by yourself."
"We have to go to the mascot so we are not leaving Leanbox now." Nepgear says
"The mascot?" Obsidian asks
"Yeah its in the Underverse." Bethesda says
"The Underverse uh? Its at the opposite of the island, but I can take you there. in a few hours especially since Bethesda lost his driving license." Obsidian says
"We know that." IF says
"How many places there is in your vehicle?"
"Five."
"And we are Seven..."
"Nepgear can transform and fly next to us so you can remove one."
"I think that someone still will have to go in the trunk." Obsidian says
"Not like we have a choice. Who will go in?"
"I know the where the Underverse is so I have to stay in the front seat."
"I have to drive." Obsidian says
"But me and iffy can also drive." Compa says
"The thing is that my car is not a normal one."
"Oh yeah? And what's so unusual about it?" IF asks in suspicion
"Its nuclear powered."
"N-Nuclear?" Nepgear asks in fascination
"Oh yeah… we modified the car when we had free time to make it fit fission cells." Bethesda explains
"Wow!" Nepgear says
"Isn't a bit dangerous?" Compa asks
"Not at all, but it doesn't work the same way that a normal car do." Obsidian explains
"So… how we solve this?"
"Rock Paper Scissors this is! The ultimate problem solver! 1Vs1vs1 with my wifeys." Red says
"Okay..." IF says "I bet that she's the kind of person to always put rock." she thinks
"Good ol'rock nothing beat that." Red thinks
[Later.]
The gang walk to the car parked in the streets, Obsidian opens the trunk, luckily its almost empty, there is only a long briefcase, RED get inside of it and lays down while leaving a dissatisfied expression and the trunk get closed, the others get on the car normally, Nepgear transforms into Purple Sister, Obsidian starts the car and rolls out, Purple Sister follows them in the air, they then leave the city
"So… Can you tell us more about the Underverse?" Compa asks
"It used to be a geothermal plant for Leanbox, it used the thermal energy of the volcano to convert it into electricity, and it spreed it trough Leanbox but it got partially abandoned." Bethesda explains
"Why? It seemed to be a very efficient way to generate electricity." Purple Sister says
"During an excavation to add another part of the station, they discovered a cavern that lead to the magma chamber, they also discovered a special fauna in that area, a very hostile one. The cave system got blocked until one day a monster managed to break out and reach the 4th station and destroyed it, not a lot of people died since they managed to evacuate but it caused the permanent blockade of the level. The only entrance to the 4th station is heavily guarded to avoid any further disasters."
"Stations? How it is organized?" Compa asks
"There is main station at the surface, under it there is others stations, they work like floors, the station that was being excavated was the 6th one who was located to the core of the volcano, its not really known how the monster managed to break trough it."
"What does the monster looks like?" RED asks
"According to some survivors it looked like wyvern or a leviathan with magma and lava covered on it."
"...And when the Mascot was placed there?" IF asks
"I don't really know it ended here, maybe Vert thought that placing it here would be a good idea since the fauna was pretty hostile to everyone." Bethesda says
"That make sense to me." Purple sister responds
"Yeah, if you need to see it you just have to fight a horde of monsters." IF says
"We better be cautious... in case." 5Pb says
"…By the way... you still got your anti-material rifle?" Bethesda says
"Its in the trunk, why are you asking?" Obsidian responds
"You don't think that it would useful against a monster that can itself with magma?"
"Now that you say about it..."
"It wouldn't melt the bullet?" Compa ask
"Yeah but the kinetic energy should be largely enough to still punch in it hard." Bethesda Explains
"Especially since it takes some time to fully melt a metal."
"..."
"...So let's see what there is on the radio." Obsidian says while reaching the car radio
He turn it on and changes the frequency, he quickly switches trough.
"Tired of these F****** mosquitos?! Get the-"
"The Basilicom got some weapons stol-"
"...And now an old tune form the..."
"Wait! Wait! Wait! What did they were saying?" IF says
"It's just a news broadcast." Obsidian responds
"It was talking about weapons getting stolen in the Basilicom."
"Okay if you insist."
Obsidian changes the frequency back to the new broadcast
"So what's your opinion on the turn of this event?" A woman says
"I think that we shouldn't jump into quick conclusion..." A man says
"Ah shit, we missed it." IF says
"Hey… I recognize that voice..." Bethesda says
"Who this is?" 5Pb. asks
"…The guards might have been bribed, otherwise I don't know how the guns thieves got away." The man contnues
"I think this is Bungie. I wonder what's he's doing since he left the army." Bethesda says
"He must have became a journalist visibily." Compa says
"I doubt it."
"Bribes has become more and more frequent since the two last years. Probably due to the bad economic situation here."
"Can you explain further?"
"Um… Due to that it caused a decreases of budget in the state, which leaded to lower salaries. Which probably contributed to the rise of the corruption."
"I think they are just gonna say some obvious things, can you switch back to the old music?" Bethesda asks
Obsidian changes the frequency back to the old music radio, its playing Jingle Jangle Jingle
[Later.]
The car park in a parking of the underverse, the makers exits the car, Purple sisters lands and turns back to Nepgear
"Look like we arrived. I wonder what kind of machinery there is inside..." Nepgear says
"No time for that Gear." IF says
Obsidian opens the trunk of the car and grab the mallet, RED coughs while exiting
"Finally! I can see the light!" RED exclaims in happiness
"So, you can't use magic?" Compa asks to Obsidian
"Of course no. I'm the part of the few makers that can't use it for goddess-know-why." Obsdian says while opening the mallet and pulling out the anti-material rifle out of it "But… Well its mustn't be the first time you see a magic less maker, take Bethesda for example.
"About that… I-i apparently can use magic if i absorb souls form dragons or other creatures familiar like wyverns."
"...That's outrageous, That's unfair."
"Life is unfair in general. But maybe you have a similar condition."
Obsidian sighs "Maybe."
And so the Makers head inside of the structure
"Do they know our coming?" Nepgear asks
"If Chika told us to get here then that mean they must have warned the staff in advance." Bethesda responds
A man in fancy suit accompanied by two guards armed with guns similar looking to XM8's walks to them
"Greetings. You are the Planeptune Candidate?" He address to Nepgear
"Uhm, yes." The candidate responds
"Okay and I suppose that the people who are with you are your group. I am the site director of the Underverse. The elevator is over there, it don't go further to the station 4, once there you will have to go trough the armored gate guarded by robots, we aleready opened it, once there you will have to find stair cases that go to the 5th and finally the core."
"…Can you repeat please?"
[Some repetition later.]
"So, you know where you have to go now?"
"Yes."
"Okay, good luck."
Nepgear and the makers goes to the elevator, they do as the director told so not much to tell about it, they get to the core, the 6th floor trough some stairs cases, the first thing they see is a band with written on it "DANGER! KEEP OUT!" over a door
"Very reassuring." 5Pb. Says
"Well guess this is here." IF says
"Be cautious tough, if that area got abandoned than there is no clim..." Obsdian says
Tough Obsidian don't have the time to finish due to RED opening the door, they can feel a wave of heat going trough it
"Wow! It's scorching!" she says
Bethesda whistle "It hot here." he says and he remove his lab coat and make it disappear with magic
"As it seem." Obsidian does the same, which allow to see his checkered with black and white shirt "Do she always do it?" He asks about RED
"Yes." Everyone says simultaneously
The makers passes trough the door Compa and RED removed their arms sleeves on the way, there is a corridor similar looking to the previous ones at the end of it there is an empty space
"That's it?" Compa asks
"Look." IF responds
On their right there is a hole trough the room which lead to the volcano interior; a gigantic cavern with stones formations serving as platforms and the floor is lava, there is also stalactites and stalagmites a bit everywhere
"I wonder how an ecosystem can live here." Nepgear comments
"Well… Life find a way." Bethesda responds
Clack clack
After some walk and some random fights against some small monsters of the area, they reach another part of the volcano core, some distant clacking sounds can be heard yet not one really pays attention to it
"Someone got some water?" RED asks while panting
"Wai-Wait isn't that a pedestal over there?" 5Pb. asks
"Yeah it must be it!"
The group walks to the platform where the pedestal is…
"Wait… Th-the mascot isn't here!" Compa remarks
Clack
...Effectively, unlike at Lowee there is no mascot on it
"We must have made a mistake? Maybe is not here but more in deep?" IF says
"That's not possible, we are aleready in the deepest part." Bethesda says
Nepgear notice a note on the ground next to the pedestal, she's picks it up
"Uh..." Nepgear says
"A paper?" RED says
"..." Nepgear reads in silence
"What's wrong Gearsy?" Compa asks
Nepgear starts shaking "We are too late..." She responds
Compa looks at the paper "Its a message form mister mouse."
"Mister mouse?" Obsidian asks
"That rat?" IF says
"Isn't that the famous rodent that caused you problems at Lastation?" Bethesda asks
"Yeah, its him." RED says
"Can I see it?" Bethesda asks
Compa hand over the letter to Bethesda, he read it, his widens
"Its… Its… Its very badly wirtten! Its even worse then my wirting." Bethesda says
"Even worse than the author of the fanfic?" RED asks
"Wow, wow not that bad."
"Its written: This is a message for the idiots that wanted to get the Mascots, you are already too late, I destroyed it by throwing it into the lava, but it didn't fully melt it so i also made a new friend to take care of it and he will also take care of you dumbasses! (Expect you Compa). Totally something that mister mouse would say." explains Compa
CLACK CLACK
The Clacking get louder...
"Wh-what kind of friends he's talking about?" 5PB asks
CLACKCLACKCLACK
"What's that sound?" Compa asks
"Maybe the volcanic activity?" 5Pb. says
"No, volcanoes don't do these kind of sounds." Obsdian responds
"Yeah, this sound like Clackings..." IF says
"Nothing normal then… A monster?" Nepgear says
"Probably." Obsidian responds
CLACK CLACK
IF get her pair of quatars "...Get your weapons ready." IF says
Everyone get their weapons and wait on guard and then suddenly... 4 lizards like monsters monsters emerges form the ground, they are quadrupeds and have a long but relatively thin body, they also have some kind of beak, they starts clacking...
"What is that?"
"It must be some kind of Leviathans like monster."
… Very soon after a way bigger one appears by jumping out of the lava, its also seem to have some kind of magma armor, its around 2,5 meter long and his legs have the size of a human...
CLACK CLACK
It clacks its beak exactly two times…
TO BE CONTINUED...
And the second part of the chapter 6 is done, the next chapter is going to be the finale of the volume.
I decided to make this chapter longer to make a better transition to the finale (even if it make more words than the first part.)
The ASIC managing to destroy the mascot is one of the consequences of Linda getting captured, since here Linda can't take the place of Chika and capturing her, which leaded to Linda getting tracked down to the Underverse and Chika getting recued. Since it was Chika for thanking Nepgear of saving her to give her away the location of the mascot and finding it before Warechu destroy it.
Due to that it doesen't happen and Warechu destroyed it. (Also due to Magic being more logical than in the game, because seriously the reason why they didn't do it before is never explained.)
The Lava monster is based on the agnaktor form Monster Hunter, hesitated beetween other monsters form the series before chosing this one, i will explain further this choice in the next chapter.