Also, since its come up repeatedly, the 'Company & Elden Ring' segments are there for a reason and will have their role to play before the end.
Things will become a bit clearer pretty soon and the keen eyed amongst you who've also delved in Elden' lore might get an idea as to what I have in mind...
Days until Boros arrives: 7
Days until the end of the world: 37
Close.
So close!
Just a few more minutes and then…
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and steadied her heartbeat, even if her heart wished to jump in joy at the familiar scent caressing her nostrils.
For a few seats over, an oblivious Fubuki groaned at the bug's antics down below.
Biting her lip, she clenched her arms, scrunching up her pink dress, the soft fabric threatening to tear under her grip and causing the geisha looking weakling seated next to her to squirm in discomfort. No doubt, fearing reprisal from the old hag, what with the hag's inability to harm her or, for that matter, not even daring to try.
How amusing, a monster that cares about clothes… she bit back a snort and continued to sit with her back straight. Ostensibly awed, taking in the rest of the stadium, and definitely not longing to jump and wrap her arms around the President, to feel her familiar heat…
She sighed, thankful for the wide-brimmed pink hat and the heart-shaped sunglasses. For with them, the odds of someone recognizing her, what with her hair being tied up in a bun and tucked beneath said hat…well, the odds were low to say the least.
As long as she didn't draw attention that is.
Following Fubuki's gaze and arching an eyebrow, she had to grudgingly concede that the bug, if nothing else, certainly had balls, after all, most heroes wouldn't be caught dead doing that.
A few minutes earlier:
"Err, sir?"
Metal Bat, wincing, rubbing his ear and popping his eardrums by opening his jaw wide, turned his head towards Sneck, the taller A-ranked hero, looking at him with some nervousness.
The man as sharply dressed as ever. What with his very well cared for spiky black hair, his clean-shaven face and his form fitting dark green suit, made out of some monster he'd killed, coupled with a tie, dark pants and polished shoes.
Just wait until I hit my growth spurt! Then you'll see! It a coming! Any day now! Aaaany day now…
"What do you mean she still hasn't shown up!" wincing and popping his ears again, he turned his whole body instead of merely his head and looked at the nervous A-ranker. The fact that by doing so, Metal Bat also ensured that his back faced his girlfriend merely a coincidence. Yes. Definitely!
And it had little to do with the fact that Nisha, half a dozen meters behind him and all but shouting at her sister made his ears ring. No sir!
Speaking off, Metal Bat could almost see said sister shrugging her shoulders in his mind's eye as she spoke.
"I'm merely informing you of the facts, sister dearest. You know how Kuku is. Don't shoot the messenger, as the saying goes."
Nisha growled.
"Shut it, you bookworm," she said with a growl. Before sighing. "…yeah, you're probably right."
The alarm continued to ring.
But the girl, wrapped in piles upon piles of blankets like a moth unwilling to escape its cocoon, continued to let out cute snores.
That is, until—
The room's door slammed open and the tiny bubble of drool inflating and deflating from the girl's lips popped.
"Up! Up!"
"Mmh…-ive more minutes…dechi…"
But the short newcomer would not be deterred, and coming to a stop next to the bed, grasped the mattress and flicked it upwards.
"I said up! Dechi! Up, you lazy child."
"Eep!" the startled, and now quite awake young woman flayed with panic in the air for but a moment before crashing back down on the mattress, forgetting apparently that she could fly.
"Seriously, oh daughter of mine, when will you grow up and stop sleeping till noon?" the tiny woman shook her head and crossed her arms. "You'll be Queen one day, you know? And a Queen needs to have a working sense of time as well as know how to cook, dechi!"
Kuku continued to rub her aching butt.
"Ehehehe…"
"Oh…what am I going to do with you…"
Metal Bat shook his head, putting the twins out of his mind, and focused back on the A-ranker.
"What is it, Sneck?"
The man licked his lips and inclined his head in the direction of the rookie.
"Is…is…" he paused. "That is the famous Zero, yes?"
Bat could understand the man's surprise and confusion. After all, in the brief time they'd known one another, the Rookie kept pulling surprise after surprise out of his butt.
To tell the truth, by this point, Metal Bat had grown inured to it all, just taking it in stride as it came.
The Rookie can throw down with Demon level monsters one day and then, if the man's own accounts could be trusted, probable Dragon ones the next? Sure.
The man has about a gazillion different abilities, or rather ways of shaping up and using that Ki of his? Uh, huh.
And now he can split himself up in something like a dozen copies? Sure, why not?
Metal Bat shrugged. "I know that the Rookie is a bit of an acquired taste but he's a good bean, so, even though cloning himself is new, don't worry about it. He's on our side, after all."
Sneck nodded, the tension starting to leave him before he blinked and frantically shook his head. "Wait, you mean to tell me that's not something he could do before?"
Metal Bat opened his mouth, but before he could speak—
"Nope! That came as a surprise to me as well!" a cheerful voice and they both turned towards the newcomer. "For he sure couldn't do that a couple days prior!" the man with unkempt hair, clad in a white qi said with a wry grin.
Metal Bat squinted. "You're…" he tapped his weapon against his shoulder. "You're Bang's disciple, right?"
The youth nodded, bowing slightly.
"That's right! I'm Charanko, pleased to make your acquittance, sirs." The youth said.
They nodded before Sneck paused and shook his head again.
"No! That's not what's important, although the fact the man has suddenly pulled yet another ability out of his rear is surprising. Why is he doing that!" the man cried, pointing with one trembling finger at Yuha who—
Tatsumaki, hovering, and only barely paying attention to the cars, trucks, and other ruined objects laying about and intended to be used as a warm-up by her, kept her eyes pinned on her boyfriend.
Her cheeks flaming even as an unconscious smile spread across her lips.
Once again, her Idiot filling her with unfamiliar feelings and sensations, like the butterflies doing flips in her stomach right now.
She'd be sure to thoroughly reward him later for his stunt.
And soon enough…well, let's just say that her surprise, the one born out of Yuha's gift to her, neared completion.
The strongest esper had the strangest and utterly baseless idea that her Idiot would thoroughly like it.
Just a hunch.
What with the man's desire for her to be his…mommy.
She smirked as she pointed with a finger and a group of trucks compressed themselves into a tiny metal ball before, with a tiny flex of her will, they turned into beautiful metal statues.
Her smirk had little to do with what she'd just done.
If you want me to…'step' on you, then I will, my Idiot~
Lily had to admit.
She raised her black baton with her right arm, cocking her hip to the side.
"Give me a T!" she shouted and Yuha…all ten of him, raised their pink pom pom's into the air just like they'd practiced.
"Give me an A!"
Playing the role of the coach, directing Yuha, feeling everyone's eyes on them, causing her heartbeat to speed up and her smile to hold only the tiniest hints of nervous energy…
"Tatsumaki!"
Or the fact that Yuha stood there so boldly, the man dressed in such a provocatively short white skirt and a red form fitting sleeveless top that exposed the man's belly…
"Give me an F!"
Lily shuddered and licked her lips as they continued through their practiced performance while behind and all around them a cheery, silly song, composed and performed by Yuha himself some few days prior, continued to play in the background.
"Fubuki!"
Lily liked to think that she heard her mistress' surprised and flattered gasp throughout the crowd's cheers. Courtesy of her ki enhanced senses. Still, the sight of so many Yuhas…Trying, and mostly succeeding, she kept her depraved giggle at a low enough level so as to not be picked up by her suit's microphone.
"Give me an L!" one of the Yuha's shouted and Lily blinked.
Wait, we didn't practice anything like that…
And as the group of Yuha's continued, Lily's cheeks felt hot enough to cook steak.
"Lily!"
Still, as the silly song, continued to play, Lily had to admit that the man, aside from being an ever-full bag of surprises, had a better singing voice than she ever expected him to. She wondered what a 'barbie' was, though.
Stupid sexy Yuha…
Still, the silly smile on her face revealed her true feelings on the matter and she'd be sure to snog him senseless later on as thanks for his gesture.
Seeing Lily's smile at his impromptu addition, a soft smile spread across Yuha's own cheeks.
Just for that alone, as well as the joy and giggles his silliness, hopefully, caused his other two girlfriends? That alone made all of his frustration and shame as he'd practiced the past couple of days' worth it.
Finished with their routine, Yuha took a deep bow, hearing the crowd clap, cheer and laugh as he did, his clones rejoining him one by one.
He did not mind.
Let them laugh at him if they so wished. His girls happiness mattered far more.
Standing, and giving a wave, whole once more, he turned around and made to start climbing the stands, taking a couple of steps before—
"Hey there, dearie~"
A somewhat familiar voice made him frown and turn with scrunched eyebrows. Where had he heard it before—
Watching her agent approach the bug, she stood, and also started making her way towards the duo.
"Excuse me," she said with a demure tone, passing by the President.
Fubuki blinked as the stranger passed her by, leaning back some to make it easier for the woman to do so before frowning.
That voice sounded familiar…
Behind her, figures shifted in their seats.
She all but jumped down the steps, taking them two at a time, a skip in her step and a giddy smile of anticipation on her lips, while her fingers anxiously twitched.
Just a few seconds more. A few seconds and then I will no longer have to fear, no longer have to doubt! Just a few more seconds!
For Zero's growth these past few weeks had all but confirmed her hunch.
The man had irrevocably shattered his limiter.
In fact, those last few days, her ability to chart the man's future being nearly as difficult as attempting to do the same with the bitch.
Despite taking multiple shots of her booster at that and having Orochi share energy with her.
If she waited a couple days more…
She shuddered before she blinked, her heart beating madly in her ears, and she jumped.
Yuha blinked with surprise, before an elated smile spread across his face.
"Granny G!" he cried, leaning in to hug the woman, the surprised grandma gasping before patting him back. "It's been so long!" he said, jubilant smile on his lips as he leaned back, holding the woman's weathered soft hands. "Where have you been?" he asked, frowning. "I heard that you were—"
A hand tapped on his shoulder and Yuha, letting go of the old lady, turned his head with a blink, finding a woman smirking back at him.
A woman wearing a hat like the one worn by Fate's Carmilla.
A familiar woman, whom, with her free arm, removed her glasses, revealing a pair of shining green eyes while strands of blue hair could be seen peaking underneath her hat.
"Psykos—" he mumbled, before a withered arm, an arm stronger than it had any right to be grasped his head, the surprise causing him to follow its pulling motion, while the limb's twin, slammed something onto his face.
His last image being that of a squiggling black starfish wrapping its tentacles around his face, coupled with a psychic lance, courtesy of Psykos, spearing through his mind, making him grunt.
Darkness took him, the last sound reaching his ears being that of Psykos laughing.
She laughed, letting go of the mutant's shoulder, her breath coming in short, panting gasps, sweat dripping freely down her body.
For the sheer effort it took to pierce through the relaxed man's defenses to help her creation do its job…
Why, if the man had been prepared or had just a few extra days to grow stronger still…
But it no longer mattered, and as screams erupted around the stadium, courtesy of some of the weaklings and the scum she'd brought along to keep the heroes busy, Psykos' smile turned cruel.
Yes. With this, she'd be revealing part of her hand early.
But, after today? It wouldn't matter.
After all, with the unlimited man out of the picture, as well as the bitch and Metal Bat as well?
Well, the heroes association, and humanity itself, would fall soon enough.
Still laughing, she removed her hat, shaking her head and letting her hair fly free.
"You!"
Craning her neck upwards, she flashed a lackadaisical smile towards the approaching bitch.
"Ah~ah!" she said, waving a finger. "Careful now~" she cooed, grabbing the immobile smiling man by his shoulder, while Granny G tensed next to her, the near Dragon level monster ready to fight. "As he is now…why—" she raised her other arm, forming it into a blade, coating it in green energy and bringing it to a halt but an inch from the man's neck, drawing a thin line of blood. "An accident could happen and we wouldn't want that, right?"
Tatsumaki growled, and clenched her fists before her hair rose alongside her anger.
"If you think—"
A female scream caused the bitch to tense and Psykos to smile.
For above and behind her, Do-s and Plasma alongside the twins had done their part, immobilizing Fubuki.
"Oh, I've no doubt you could overcome me and save him if it came down to a contest of strength, but, can you save both your beloved and your sister? While also protecting the crowd? Mmh~?"
Tatsumaki froze and glared murder at her.
Yes…Feel the weakness that everyone else feels all the time you overpowered brat!
No, she did not intend to harm her President. But, the bitch didn't need to know that, did she?
No. She did not.
And thus, after so long, Psykos would have her revenge. Revenge, and afterwards there'd be no one who could stop her from saving the earth!
"I…I can't keep doing this," the brunette beauty murmured, shoulders slumped and she smiled, reaching out with a hand, grasping the girl's own and giving it an affectionate squeeze.
"Worry not, dear. Just a few more days! The projections show that in a few days he'll be done and then we—"
The office's door banged open and a familiar and most unwelcome figure swaggered over towards her.
"What do you want—"
Only for the woman to slam down a paper atop of Marika's desk.
Marika glanced from the smug looking woman to the paper, taking in its content's in an instant with her superhuman senses, and to her great horror, finding everything to be in order. Procedures observed. Number of people supporting the idiot's claim etc etc.
"No…"
"Yes~" Ranni crowed with a smug look, crossing her arms.
Marika groaned and massaged her nose.
"You stupid nerd, did they not give you enough wedgies growing up or something?" she asked, glaring at the woman. "Do you have any idea what this," she waved the paper in the air. "Stunt of yours will do? The shitstorm it will cause?"
"Hmf! All I'm hearing is loser talk!"
She growled. "We'll be sniffing Lucifer's balls for months you goddamn nerd! We'll be audited to hell and back due to this! Hell, they might even bring in the damn Reaper," she growled, watching as Ranni blinked and paled. "But then again, you'd probably like that wouldn't you?"
The witch's mouth opened and closed.
"Didn't think about that did you?"
"S-shut up!" she said and spun around. "You're exaggerating, probably due to fear! I expect to see you in the ring in seven days!"
Sailor Mars, standing ram-rod straight, exhaled as the witch left and, after taking the paper from her, looked at her with wide eyes.
"W-what are you going to do?"
Raising an arm, she massaged her nose and sighed. "What else? Beat the nerd black and blue, that's what. It's not like I have a choice with so many signatories."
"But the terms…"
Waving her arm, she rolled her eyes. "Oh they're harsh, yes. But the nerd won't kill me or you, even if she wins. She seeks to humiliate me no doubt. And let me tell you, I'll enjoy repeatedly spanking her after I win."