Neptunia Second Generation: Silent Gale
Prologue- Prelude of Renewed Hope
21XX
Gamindustri faces a dire crisis.
Criminal activity has run rampant throughout all the nations. Shops both big and small closing their doors, Creators being left overworked and starving, NPC's becoming despondent and aloof, all as the ever-looming presence of Death hangs above like a noose.
Nevertheless, the CPU Goddesses refuse to submit to despair and continued to fight on, even in the face of uncertainty. Gamindustri had long since severed it's ties to the lawless, chaotic realm of the Graveyard long ago...
And yet-
3 Years ago, in the Gamindustri Graveyard...
(Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 OST- Decisive Battle)
"Hmph..." A woman with neon-pink haired spoke, flourishing her scythe in front of the Goddesses before her. "Is that all?"
The four CPU Goddesses stood ragged and out of breath, their divine forms slumped over in exhaustion. Even after many hours of battle, no matter how hard they fought, their opponent stood tall and dauntless as she warded all their blows, not a single one of their attacks even so much as leaving a scratch on her.
"You damn bitch!" White Heart shouted in a rage as both she and Green Heart charged at Magic, the former flying overhead and the latter rushing to her left "Take this!"
Without even batting an eye, Magic blocked both attacks with ease and with a twirl, slashed both goddesses back a fair distance before firing bright-pink tendrils of dark magic from her open hand. White Heart chocked and gasped as the tendrils grabbed her by her wrists and throat before she was quickly pulled towards Magic, her scythe reeled back ready to deliver the finishing blow. Seeing certain defeat rapidly approaching, White Heart could only yell out "DAMN YOU!" before she was ultimately cut down, her strength and share energy leaving her body as she fell behind the CFW.
"Prepare yourself!" Seeing what looked to be an opening, Green Heart rapidly advanced above Magic as she was in mid-swing, swiping at her with her spear.
"Too Slow!" Magic easily saw through the green CPU's attack and quick dodged the attack before delivering a kick to Green Hearts sternum, making her cough out loud as she was sent flying into the air. Before she could recover, Magic appeared in front of her near instantaneously, a ball of chaotic black and pink energy aimed point-blank at her chest. "Begone!" On her command, Magic blasted Green Heart clear across the field, sending her crashing into a nearby pillar with a gasp before fainting, falling to the ground below.
"Noire, on me!" Purple Heart called out to her fellow CPU, Black Heart responding with "Let's do this!" as they both charged toward the ASIC priestess.
Not even phased, Magic deftly dodged an overhead slash and then stab from Black Heart before countering with an upward swing of her scythe as she spotted Purple Heart coming at her from her right. Just barely blocking Purple Hearts strike, the two CPU's worked in tandem as they put Magic on the defensive, pelting her with a barrage of slashes and blows before kicking the CFW back a few feet away.
"Got you!/You're done!" Both CPU's called out as they charged share energy into their respective blades and fired an X-shaped beam slash towards their adversary.
"..." Remaining resolute as she charged cackling pink energy into her off-hand, Magic thrusted her open palm forward forming a bright pink energy shield in front of her, causing both CPU's to gape in shock as the CFW blocked their combined attack with frightening ease.
Before they could react, Magic fired a massive pink shock-wave with a wave of her scythe at Black Heart, sending the Lastation CPU flying backwards as she screamed in pain. "Noire!" Purple Heart cried out before Magic immediately darted towards her and grabbed her by her throat, lifting her up above her head as the Planeptune CPU struggled to break free from the CFW's grasp.
With an almost disappointed sigh, Magic looked to Purple Heart with apathy in her singular yellow eye. "Is this really the extent of your power? ... How futile." With the purple goddess firmly in her clutches, small orbs of hot-pink energy gathered and coalesce into Magic's body, slowly building up inside her before it all exploded outwards in a bright pink flash, the Purple Goddess' shrieks of agony were drowned out by the blast.
"N-Neptune..." Off in the distance, Purple Sister could only look on in hopeless terror as she sees her beloved older sister engulfed in the explosion. Even now, she still couldn't believe what she had just witnessed; Neptune, her sister, as well as the other CPU Goddesses of Gamindustri, all brought low in a matter of moments. ("No way... T-This can't be real... This has to be a dream...!")
Alas, this was no dream... rather, for the CPU Candidate, this was nothing short of a living nightmare. One that she won't wake up from for years to come.
As soon as the dust settles, Purple Sister was met with the imposing figured of Magic floating right toward her, her entire form emanating power and malevolence as Purple Heart could be seen along with the other CPU's laying motionless behind her. Both her heart and soul begged her to run, screaming to her to flee for her life, but no matter how hard she tried, her body remained stiff in fear as the CFW silently approached.
*SHING*
"Ahh!" Purple Sister flinched as Magic brought the blade of her scythe dangerously close to her neck. She dared to look the CFW in the eye, her form shrouded in black and pink energy as the latter looked to the young Candidate in silent contempt. "N-No..." Purple Sister shook her head, tears threatening to spill out at any moment "P-Please, stop this...!" she begged as the ASIC priestess raised her blade behind her head, primed for the kill.
"At this rate... Gamindustri is doomed!" The Purple Candidate yelled out in vain, her desperate cries echoed throughout the Gamindustri Graveyard as everything fades to black.
(Music Fades)
(Nier Replicant/Gestalt OST: Snow in Summer)
...
Ever since the advent of ASIC -the Arfoire Syndicate of International Crime- morals and humanity have all but vanished from the public. As of now, over 80% of humankind, Men, Women and children alike, have turned their faith from the CPU's, to instead worship their most dangerous foe; the Deity of Sin, Arfoire.
Try as they might, the CPU's and all of their allies were ultimately too powerless to make a difference, as all of Gamindustri fell to misery and decay. Those who tire of living in such a corrupt world are doomed to wander the Gamindustri Graveyard for all eternity.
...
... However-
Even in Gamindustri's darkest of hours, no matter how frail it may be, Hope endures still... as it carries forth a quiet, gentle breeze through the Graveyard.
3 Years Later...
Gamindustri Graveyard/Graveyard's Edge/Mid-Afternoon
An impure, decrepit landmass hangs within the skies of Gamindustri, it's mere presence casting a long, dark shadow across the continent. This grim necropolis is the eternal resting place for the lost and obsolete, as well as a home for both the wicked and the fallen, be they be human, monster, or even CPU. The skies above radiate a ghastly, blood-red aura as the clouds roar endlessly with thunder and lightning. The land itself was barren and rotted, with defunct buildings and electronics scattered about and the rivers flow with a yellow, acid-like substance. At the center of it all stood a mighty, wretched tower which consisted almost entirely of massive pipes, wires and television screens, with the pipes themselves spread out everywhere, appearing not unlike roots to a massive tree.
If Celestia above were to be the heavens of Gamindustri, then this wasteland would be nothing short of hell for all who dare gazed upon it.
Within the outskirts of the graveyard, upon one of the many pipes that stick outside of the landmass itself, a small hooded figure could be seen walking along the center. Appearing no smaller than a young child of 12 years, clad in a cloak of green, the figures mantle softly drifts in the wind, with every step it took nary making a sound as the childs plain, brown shoes silently clicked upon the pipes surface.
The youth soon comes to a stop, just as the pipe in front of it curved straight downwards. Looking down over the edge, the figure could see the ashen earth below, being at least half-a-kilometer drop from its current position, more than enough to kill a normal person on impact. The child then looked back up towards the burial grounds before it, scanning the horizon as if in search of something... or someone.
The figures gaze soon fell upon a clearing a fair distance away as a faint warmth reaches its chest. Gently raising its hand under its cloak and over where its heart should be, the youth took a deep breath to calm its nerves as bangs of blonde hair peak our from under its hood. With its destination set, the figure took several steps back before taking a three-point runners stance, the tips of its fingers lightly touching the ground while positioning one foot in front of the other.
(Music Fades)
Then, without a moments hesitation, the youth dashed forward with the wind behind its back as it leaped over the edge of the pipe, straight into the uncharted, hostile landmass. The figures cloak flapped and fluttered, its ears ringing at the howling wind as it rapidly fell towards the ground below, it's direction steady and true, as if flying like and arrow. Seeing the ground quickly approaching, the child extended its arm outward away from his body, its hand glowing in a pale-green light as data particles clustered into its palm. Grasping the cluster in its hand, the light extended in both directions as it soon materialized into a physical shape; a solid green Bo Staff thinly lined with silver.
Wasting no time, the figure took the pole-arm in both hands and began to swiftly rotate it counter-clockwise over its head like a helicopter, bringing its knees close to its chest as it decelerated its descent, lightly hanging in the air as it floated towards the land below. Once at a safe distance between it and stable ground, the figure ceased its staffs rotation and touched ground in a three-point landing. Pushing itself up as it dismisses its staff in a flash of light, the child took a moment to look at its immediate surroundings.
(Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 Ost- Stir The Darkness)
Destroyed consoles, busted controllers, handhelds torn in half, TV screens utterly smashed. Mountains of junk and rubble as far as the eye can see, with the path before him cracked and uneven. Seemingly unfazed by the desolation around it, the figure dashed forward, breaking out into a run as it head straight into the unknown, the skies above crackled with thunder and lightning.
Carrying itself lightly with each step, moving swift as the wind as it maneuvers past and around the debris, never once breaking stride. From a distance, it could see an expansive gorge dead ahead, with various obstacles and hazards strewn around and a deep pool of yellow acid far below, not unlike one would see in a platformer. Keeping its composure, the child dashed forward and leap over the pit and onto a floating platform. Upon contact, the youth could already feel it giving way as it jumped towards the next platform, the previous one crumbling into dust not a moment too soon. Jumping from platform to platform, some smaller than the last, others moved from left to right, the process continued to repeat itself as it made its way over the pit, soon seeing a massive gap between it and the next set of platforms. Thinking on its feet, it leapt off the platform and towards a nearby decommissioned jumbo-tron hanging amongst the mountain of debris.
Careful with its footing, the youth wall-ran across the jumbo-tron before leaping towards a rusted pipe above. Grabbing a hold with both hands and vaulting over once before swinging off the pipe, back-flipping onto the platform before continuing forward. Once again jumping off one platform to the next, the child soon came across a series of wires and cables hanging about like vines. Without so much as a thought, the child jumped off the last platform and firmly grasped one of the wires, the forward momentum carrying it as it proceeded to swing from one to another like Ta***n.
Quickly running out of vines to swing on, the child spots various pipes and railings hanging precariously over the pit below. Swinging high up off the last wire in a spin, the youth summoned its staff, placing it on the grooves of its feet with careful balance and proceeded to grind on one of the railings. Small sparks flew off between its staff and the railing as it zipped onward, remaining vigilant with its balance as it navigated through the series of pipes and rails, occasionally jumping from one to the other.
Quickly reaching the end of the line, the child sees what seems to be a stretch of land levitating suspiciously above the pit. Taking the chance, the youth jumped off the last remaining rail and landed softly before breaking out into a sprint, the land itself almost immediately crumbling under his feet. Racing on ahead as the ground breaks apart under it, the figure could see it's destination dead ahead, the only thing separating it from solid ground is one massive stretch of the gorge, requiring a daring leap of faith to cross.
Remaining undaunted, even in the face of certain doom, the childs form faintly glowed as air currents quickly gather around it. With one final push with the winds behind its back, the child sprinted full-tilt nearly at the speed of sound as it ran toward the edge of the walkway. Coming to a crouch at the ledge, a bright green glyph formed beneath its feet before it sprung forward, soaring fast and high as it flown through the air. After what seemed like an eternity, the child finally reached the other side of the gorge as it skids to a stop, what remained of the walkway fell into the chasm below.
(Music Fades)
Catching its breath as it quickly breathed in and out through its nose, the child gathered its barrings as it dusted itself off. Steadying its breath, the youth took a moment to take a better look around the sizable clearing. Signs of a battle long since fought were marked all over; scorch marks, slash marks and even a small crater to the right. Soon after, the childs gaze fell upon a rather harrowing sight.
(Hyperdimension Neptunia The Animation OST: Gravity Loss)
From across the clearing, strung up in cords amongst a pile of defunct consoles were the five missing CPU's. In order from left to right, there was Purple Heart, Purple Sister, Green Heart, Black Heart, and White Heart. All bound close together, their bodysuits and processor units were torn and damaged as their bodies were left dangling in the air. The cords and cables that bind them clinging to each of their bodies airtight, if rather lewdly.
Five Goddesses... all soundly defeated, and left to rot as they barely cling to life.
ASIC's intent was made clear for all to see. Such a display is meant as an ominous warning for those who would dare defy the will of Arfoire.
"..."
Though remaining stoic and silent in the face of such cruelty, a pit began to form in the childs stomach. From under its hood, the youths sapphire eyes could be seen quivering, sadness peering through its vision as it sees what has become of Gamindustri's protectors. With a deep breath, the child slowly and cautiously made its way towards the fallen Goddesses.
The child stops just short a few feet away from them, their forms barely even moving as their eyes flutter in and out of consciousness. The youth turns to look at one of them in particular: Green Heart. The cables that hold her have her arms tied behind her back, her legs wrapped together, and coil around her ample bosom salaciously.
The child found its own breath hitched, a look of sorrow and longing could be seen through its eyes as tears run down its cheeks whilst gazing upon her. It's mouth moves to form words, but not a single sound past through its lips. Wiping away its tears with its sleeve, the child steps forward gently, reaching its hand out towards the goddess of Leanbox.
"EEP!"
"...!?"
"Sheesh, don't startle me like that."
"A-A-A voice! I think I heard someones voice!"
"You did? Where!? Which direction did it come from!?"
"I think it was that way..."
"That way? Gotcha! Let's get a move on, Compa!"
"W-Wait! Please wait for me! Don't leave me all alone, Iffy!"
Two voices called out not too far away, both female. Footsteps can be heard rapidly approaching the CPU Goddesses position. In a panic, the youth backed away from the Goddesses and quickly hid. Jumping over to a garbage pile a considerable distance away and slamming its small back against it, the child held its breath, keeping itself perfectly quiet as the footsteps quickly grew closer and closer.
"There they are. Yo, Nep!" One of the voices called out, her tone gruff and tomboyish.
"Oh no! Nep-Nep! Ge-Ge!" The other cried, her tone softer and more high-pitched.
"Ugh... Iffy? Compa?" The child could vaguely hear one of the CPU's call to them.
Quietly gulping, the youth cautiously peaked out from its hiding spot, scouting out to see who's there. There, right in front of the captured CPU's stood two young woman with long hair, looking to the bound CPU's in distress. One a brunette with a leafy bow and a large blue jacket, the other is peach-colored with a black hairband and a wool sweater and matching arm-warmers.
"This is horrible..." The one with peach-colored hair, Compa if the youth heard right, spoke with tears in her eyes "Who could've done this to them?"
"ASIC's really done it this time. Keep them all here like scarecrows." The brunette, Iffy, scowled as she stepped up to Purple Heart and called out "Nep. Nep, wake up!"
"..." Purple Heart barely even reacted to her voice.
"It's no good. She's and the others are out cold." Iffy sighed before looking to the cords and cables that hold them in place. "Man, what the hell are up with these tentacle cord things!?"
From out of nowhere, the youth could hear another voice talking to the pair, this one soft yet graceful "Please, do not attempt to force them free by hand IF... you will likely be ensnared yourselves." the voice then addressed to Compa "Compa, use the Sharicite and free them from their bindings."
(Music Stops)
"...!" The youths ears perked up upon hearing the word "Sharicite". Keeping its own breath steady, the child leans in a little further as Compa could be seen digging through her hip-purse.
"Hmm..." Her brows scrunched up nervously "I know I kept it near the bottom next to the bandages..."
"I can't allow you to do that, worms!"
"...!?"
"...!?"
"...!?"
(Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 OST: Suspense Game)
All of a sudden, a gargantuan mass came plummeting down from the sky, right behind the pair. The shock-wave it created on impact sent them flying as Compa fell screaming on her back while IF barely managed to regain her footing. From behind its hiding spot, the child looked on in mounting horror as to what caused the tremor... or rather, who?
Towering before them is a massive, mechanical, armored like being colored black and neon blue, adorned with skulls, crosses and buttons. He has massive, horn-like protrusions on his shoulders, a pair of sharp, demonic wings, four thrusters with directional pads in place of legs with a moving black gear in between them, and is wielding an enormous two-bladed halberd.
There was no mistaking who this was. If this hellish landscape was a cemetery... then he would be its grave-keeper.
[Criminal of the Free World: Judge The Invincible]
"Oh great!" IF bemoaned, her katars at the ready "We just had to run into one of the CFW's!"
"Hahaha... Hahahahaha!" Judge laughed maniacally "Fools! To travel all this way, you'd either have to be fearless or crazier than even me!" He shamelessly admitted "Nevertheless, welcome to the graveyard! For three long years I've waited for an opponent to come, and that's three years too damn long!" Judge opened his left hand and summoned ghostly blue flames into his palm as he thrusted his halberd at the pair menacingly "So, you better entertain me as much as you can... Cause you're never gonna leave this place alive!"
"Tch! We'll just see about that, lunkhead..." If turns her gaze toward her companion "Compa, I'll handle him! You hurry and get the CPU's out of there!"
"R-Right!" Compa scrambled to her feet and fled back to the captive CPU's as IF charged on ahead, meeting the CFW head-on.
While all of that transpired, the child watched on as the brunette fought bravely against the titanic threat. She nimbly dodge Judge's halberd and magic with ease, yet struggled to even scratch his bulky frame. Even from a glance, the child knew she had no chance of winning against the CFW... IF herself likely knows this too. Even so, she continued to fight on, giving her friend precious time to release the CPU's from their prison.
Compa hastily drew out the Sharicite from her purse and gently cupped it in her hands, holding it out to the CPU's, Purple Sister specifically "Please... Please let this work!"
The Sharicite shined brilliantly as it light washed over Purple Sisters body, waking her from her deep sleep. "Mmm... Urrgh... " Her eyes slowly opened, the power symbols gleaming through her light blue orbs as the cords gradually loosened and released her.
"Ge-Ge!" Compa cheered as she gently pulled Purple Sister out from the pile. "Oh, thank goodness your awake!"
"C-Compa...?" Purple Sister moaned, her mind still foggy from her slumber "I... What was I...?"
"Shssssh, Save your strength." Compa hushed as she gently rubbed the Candidates back. "Now, let's free Nep-Nep and the other-!"
*WHAM!*
"Gaaaaah!"
Just as Compa moved to free the other CPU Goddesses, IF could be heard screaming in pain as her body bounced and skid across the dirt, stopping just short of her and Purple Sister. "IF!?/Iffy!"
"Weak... So miserably weak and frail!" Judge growled as he clenched his fist before throwing it aside "C'mon! Make this fight more interesting for me! C'MON!"
"IF! Are you okay!?" Purple Sister exclaimed as Compa brought the brunette to her feet.
"Gear!?" IF turned to face the Planeptune Candidate, relieved as she scratched her cheek embarrassed "Heh... sorry you had to wake up like this, seeing me getting pummeled." Her gazed hardened as she turned to Judge "Be careful, this guy's freakishly tough! None of my attacks could even so much as dent him!"
"I'll help out, too!" Compa proclaimed, stepping away from IF as she readies her abnormally large syringe "We need to buy some time so everyone can wake up and regain their strength!"
(Music Fades)
"I..." Purple Sister hesitated briefly before shaking her head "I'll fight too!"
(Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 OST: The Four Felons)
She throws her right hand out, summoning her gunblade in a flash of light and with a flick of her wrist set it to Blade-Mode as she swiftly flew towards the grim felon. Quickly closing in, the purple Candidate swung down unto Judge, who just simply blocked her attack with almost no effort. The blade end of Purple Sisters weapon scraped along the length of the halberd as she struggle to even make him budge, let alone break his guard.
"Oooh, a Candidate I see!" Judge sneered, his bloodlust began to boil as he batted away Purple Sister "Now we're talkin'! Show me what you can do!" Then proceeded to fire a volley of blue fireballs at her from his open hand.
Seeing the volley heading her way, Purple Sister switches her weapon to Gunner-Mode as she skids to a stop, pointing her weapon towards the ghostly fire as share energy begins to gather in the barrel of her gunblade. "Multiple Beam Launcher!" Calling her attack, she fired a massive lilac beam from her gunblade, extinguishing the fireballs on contact as the beam darted straight towards the bulky CFW. However, Judge merely stood still as the beam made contact with his chest, only somewhat grunting as he tanked the attack with ease much to Purple Sisters dread.
"Ha!" Judge laughed "That all ya got!?"
"La Delphanius!"
Summoning a pale blue glyph beneath Judge, IF casts her spell as the grim felon was engulfed in a pillar of light. Unfortunately, with a swing of his halberd, Judge dispelled IF's attack with frightening ease, causing her to gap in shock. In turn, Compa tried firing a laser of her own from her syringe, but the CFW casually blocked that with his hand before channeling more ghost flames into it "You bugs had yer turn, now stay outta this!" The flames trailed through the air from his hand as it quickly made it's way past the purple candidate and towards her rescuers. IF and Compa attempted to brace themselves, only to be left confused when the ghost flames went around them.
"W-What the- Hey!"
"Eeep!"
That confused soon turned to anxiety as they quickly found themselves trapped in a ring of the ghostly blue fire. "IF! Compa!" Purple Sister called out in worry as she heard Judge cackling behind her.
"Hehehehe! Now that they're out the way..." The Planeptune goddess turned to him as Judge hoisted his halberd onto his shoulder "I'll get to enjoy this a little more... Now-" He lifts his halberd and jabs it straight at Purple Sister "If you're done being scared, then QUIT SCREWING AROUND AND SHOW ME WHAT YOUR MADE OF, CPU CANDIDATE!"
"...!" Purple Sisters eyes quivered on his provocations. Here she was, having just woken up after who knows how long, and already she was faced with insurmountable odds. Her enemy was fully-armed and ready for battle, and she barely even put a scratch on him. Things couldn't be anymore hopeless.
... However-
"I...!" She shuts her eyes for but a moment before snapping them back open, the flames of resolve burning within. "I mustn't retreat! I have to keep going!"
Even in the face of death, she chooses to fight on!
"Haaaaaaa!" With what remaining share energy she had coursing through her veins, Purple Sister flew straight at the grim felon anew at the speed of sound.
Quickly shifting his halberd to block the attack, Judge was taken aback as the force of Purple Sisters strike caused him to tense up, sparks flying between their weapons as she actually managed to push him back, at least somewhat "OOOOHOHO! Now that's more like it! I actually felt that!" Excited for the battle to come, Judge met his opponent head on "Don't disappoint me now!"
Letting out a shout in response, Purple Sister broke out of the clash and struck the CFW twice before sending him into the air with an uppercut slash "Blaster, Full-Power!" then firing several blasts from her gunblade, each one hitting its mark as the grim felon laughed to himself. Before he could land back down, the purple Candidate charged forward with her gunblade, stabbing Judge in the chest and pumping him with more blasts point-blank as she pushed him back sending him crashing unto a junk pile behind him.
With her opponent pinned down, Purple Sister dislodged her weapon and back-flipped away at a considerable distance. Landing gracefully on her feet, she pointed her gunblade at him, one hand keeping the other steady as she turns the limiter off, charging it far beyond the safety limits "CELESTIAL SEVERANCE!" She then fires a gargantuan particle beam, lines of code and data run across as it was sent hurdling towards her opponent.
"OHH SHIT!" Judge yelled out as he was quickly enveloped into the particle beam, everything else behind him being vaporized down to the last atom.
(Music Fades)
"Haa... Haa... Haa... Haa..." Purple Heart panted, sweat running down her head as she staggered onto her left knee exhausted "I... I did it... Hahaha..."
"Way to go, Ge-Ge!" Compa cheered, the ghost flames that surround her and IF barely beginning to die down.
"Phew..." IF sighed in relief "Had me going for a sec there... And here I thou-"
"...Is that all? Is this really the extent of your power?"
"...!?"
Everyone froze in place, their blood running cold in fear as they hear the distinct and disappointed baritone of the grim felon. None more so than Purple Sister as she hears those... familiar words.
(Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 OST- Premonition of Battle/Rough Flash)
Through the smoke and dust from her attack, neon-blue lights flared through as Judge's silhouette became clearer and clearer. The moment he is revealed, much to the groups terror, the CFW floated out looking no worse for wear, just barely even scuffed up as he sneered "Keh! Weaklings! You all bore me!"
Purple Sisters breath became erratic, her entire form shaking in fear "M-My EXE Drive... It didn't even do a thing to him!"
"This isn't good..." IF sweated "Compa, how are Nep and the others!? Have they come to yet!?"
Compa looked to the other bound CPU's, there bodies barely even budged an inch "N-No... They're not waking up at all!" She whimpered in fear, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she took out the Sharicite, its shine now barely even a glimmer "And the Sharicite is almost out of power!"
"This is terrible..." Histoire's voice rang out in distress. "Even after all our efforts these past few years... it still wasn't enough."
"You serious!? Ugh! Damnit, to think we've come this far just to fail!" IF grit her teeth in frustration. "There had to be something we can do!"
"THAT SOMETHING IS NOTHIIIIIIING!" Judge roared out, his voice letting out a shock-wave that staggered everyone off their feet "Nothing is more cumbersome than dealing with weaklings like you! You failed to give me the challenge I seek... and now you will pay for it with your lives!" He grasped his halberd in both hands, ghostly blue flames ran along the length and gathered at the tip, soon forming into a spectral scythe around the halberd.
"...!?" Purple sister quaked in despair, shaking her head back and forth as Judge slowly made his way towards them. In her eyes, the image of Magic was super-imposed onto the grim felon as he reeled his weapon back behind his head, the phantom of his leader doing the same. "N-No, no no no...!"
"Oh, yes yes YES!" Judge taunts the Candidate. "IT'S JUDGEMENT TI-!"
(Music Stops)
*WOOOOSH!* *CRACK*
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
"Huh!?"
"What the-!?"
"Goodness!"
Before anyone could even blink, a green and silver staff was sent whizzing past them at blinding speed, piercing right through Judge's right eye as he howled in pain, causing the flames on his halberd to dissipate in the process. "OOOOHOHOHOW! SUNUVABITCH! OH, THAT HURTS!"
"W-Wait!" IF looked all around her to see where that staff came from "Is anyone else here!? Who-!?"
(Nier Replicant/Gestalt OST- Emil Karma)
Without warning, the small figure in a green cloak rushed past everyone making a beeline towards the grim felon as he thrashed around in pain. Quickly closing in, the youth summoned a green glyph below its feet as power air-currents sent it flying high into the air above the CFW. With a wave of its hand, the child summoned three magic glyphs behind him in a triangle formation before thrusting its hands out toward Judge, the glyphs firing what looks to be spears made of wind. The spears flew out and struck the grim felon on his neck, his left pit and his right wrist, causing him to flinch and drop his halberd. In the process, the staff dislodge itself from his eye and with a wave of its hand, a strong gust of wind picked up the staff and sent it twirling towards the child as it skillfully grabbed it upon return and then twirled it counter-clockwise to slow its descent.
"W-Wow..." Purple Sisters whispered, here eyes widened in surprise as the figures feet gently touched the ground. Just moments ago, they couldn't even make a dent to the CFW, and yet whoever this was came along and managed to knock him off-balance.
"Who is that?" Compa questioned as she and IF got to their feet.
"Wait, hold on!" IF exclaimed as she got a better look at who just saved them from an abrupt game over "I-Is that a kid!?"
"What!?" Histoires voice rang out in shock "A Child!? Here of all places!?"
Before anyone could inquire further, the youth in the green cloak turned its head to the group before pointing its staff to them, then to the direction where IF and Compa came from.
"Are... Are you trying to tell us to run?" The figure nodded to Purple Sisters question. "Wait, what about- *Gasp* Look out!"
"...!?"
Snapping its attention behind it, the youth saw a massive orb of ghost flame was sent hurdling towards it. Without hesitation, the child promptly spun its staff clock-wise in front of it, the air around it quickly forming into a wind tunnel that was sent to intercept the on-coming fireball. Upon contact, the fireball broke apart as trails of the ghostly blue flame was sent to either side of the wind tunnel, out of reach from the group of four.
Ceasing its spin, the child got into a low-stance as its gaze fell upon Judge, his remaining eye glaring at the child with a murderous rage as he clenched his fists in a fury, ghost flames danced from his fingertips. "GRRRRRR! YOU LITTLE SHIT!" He barked "I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL YOU CAME FROM, BUT IF YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT, THEN YOU ARE DEAD WRONG!" With a mighty roar, the CFW charges on ahead, reeling his fist back as he closed in on his prey. "I"LL CRUSH YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS!"
Seeing the massive CFW barring down on them, the girls jumped out of the way of Judge's charge while the child jumped over his giant fist just as it came crashing down onto the ground. While in mid-air, the child launched another spear of wind at Judges undamaged eye, only for him to instinctively block the attack with his other arm, then quickly retaliate with a lightning-quick jab. In response the youth carefully parried the CFW's enormous fist, using the momentum of the swing to push itself away from Judge as it fired more wind spears at the grim felons exposed cables, with Judge quickly batting the spears away before they could make contact. Rolling onto the ground before springing back onto its feet, the child turned away from Judge and dashed away with the CFW on hot pursuit, leading him away from the purple Candidate and her rescuers.
The party watched on as the mysterious youth led Judge further and further away from them, nimbly dodging and weaving around his furious onslaught of fists and ghostly flames. ("Not how I imagine we'd get bailed out of this, but beggars can't be choosers...") IF mused, seeing the golden opportunity before them as she turns to Compa and Purple Sister "Quick, lets make a break for it while Judge is distracted!"
"W-What!?" The two snapped their gaze to the brunette in horror as Compa yelled "What are you saying, Iffy!?"
"You're not suggesting we leave them behind, are you!?" Purple Sister questioned, the look in her eyes making IF wince. "We still need to get Neptune and the other CPU's out of here too!"
"Look, I know how heartless that sounds, but we're running out of options right now!" IF exclaimed, trying to convince herself more than anything else "The Sharicite's running low on power and none of us are in any shape to fight anymore!"
"Still-!" Compa tried to argue in tears.
"Wait..." Purple Sisters eyes widen as an idea begins to form in her head "If we use what's left of the Sharicite's power-"
*CRASH!* *BOOM!*
The child skid to a stop as it dodged another one of Judge's assaults, panting in exhaustion "Haa...Haa...Haa..." its breath becoming more ragged as the CFW pulled back, the ghostly blue flames running along the horns on his shoulders and gathering between the tips to form another giant fireball that's slowly growing bigger and bigger.
"Damned Brat...!" As soon as the fireball became almost the size of Judge himself, he launched it high above into the air before screaming "QUIT BUZZING AROUND!" On command, the massive fireball burst and scattered into a storm of smaller fireballs, every last one of them homing into the child.
Taking a deep breath, the youth kicked off the dirt and frantically ran away from the in-coming fireballs. It ducked, hopped, slid and vaulted over several of them, with the rest still on hot pursuit of their target. Quickly coming up to what looked to be stone remains of a building, the child dashed forward then jumped onto the wall before kicking off into a back-flip, narrowly dodging the rest of the fireballs as they all destroyed what little remained.
"GOTCHA!" Seeing an opening, Judge rushed right to the child with deceptive speed and delivered a straight right punch towards its exposed form. Quickly seeing the attack as he fell, the child desperately twisted its body to the left, the CFW's fist just barely missing its small frame. "Hehe!" Seeing that his faint worked, Judge quickly waved his entire arm right into the youths path, the latter having no time to even think as the grim felons backhand collided with its body.
With the sickening crunch of its bones cracking on impact, the girls gasped in shock and fright as they saw the child being sent flying straight into a wall of trash, its back crashing into what used to be a flatscreen TV before falling down and crumpling onto the ground.
"Hehehe!" The CFW darkly chuckled, his hunger for battle now somewhat satiated as he gazes at the child, who futilely tried to will its now battered body to move. "You might've been an annoying pest, but ya got spunk all the same kid! You actually managed to entertain me a bit... but-!" He raised a hand near his face, the ghostly blue flames cackling through his fingers as he clenched it into a fist, his singular eye flaring all the while. "This is where you die!"
("It's now or never!") Purple Sister quickly turned to Compa "Compa, quick! The Sharicite!"
"Fweh!?" Compa squeaked out before Purple Sister snatched the Sharicite from her and flew straight to Judge's position "Ge-Ge!?"
"Gear, no! What are you doing!?" IF screamed as the purple Candidate held the Sharicite close to her chest, empowering it with what little share energy she had left.
"Please, let this be enough...!" Just as Judge was about ready to end the childs life, Purple Sister threw herself between him and the child, holding the Sharicite defensively in front of her as Judges fist came crashing down!
"Hrrrrrrrah!"
"Yaaaaah!"
*SHATTER!* *FLASH!*
"AGGGGHHHH!" Judge reeled back and covered his remaining eye as Purple Sister used the Sharicite as an impromptu flash grenade, blinding him completely "My eye! Goddammit, again!?"
"Holy crap, that actually worked!" IF cheered, very impressed with the Candidates quick thinking. "Way to go, Gear!"
"Good... Just barely... made it... Ugh..." Purple Sister panted, the last of her strength leaving her body as she collapsed right next to the fallen child.
"Ge-Ge!?" Compa and IF rushed on over to the pair, Compa checking on Purple Sister and IF on the child "Ge-Ge, stay with us!"
"It's no use Compa. They're both knocked out..." IF uttered as she carefully scooped up the child in her arms "Heck, I'm surprised this kids still breathing after that last punch."
"Unforgivable!" The pair flinched as they heard Judge screaming nearby "I swear, the second my retinal systems are back online, I'll tear you all to pieces!"
"IF! Compa! Evacuate Immediately!" Histoire's voice called out "Nothing more can be done now! Take Nepgear and the child and flee!"
"Copy that, Histoire!" IF answered, gently carrying the child in her arms "I've got the kid, Compa! Grab Gear and lets get out of her!"
"Y-Yes! On it, Iffy!" With practiced movements, Compa quickly picked up Purple Sister, hoisting her up on her shoulder as she and IF quickly fled the scene, the loud roars of the raging CFW echoed throughout the graveyard as the group ran further and further away.
(Music Fades)
"... Looks like we managed to lose him." IF sighed, barely even winded as the injured child was still safe in her arms. "Compa, you alright?"
"Haa... Haa... Haa... I'm okay... sort of..." Compa panted, her body hunching over to catch her breath as Purple Sisters unconscious form hangs limply from her shoulder. "Phew, Ge-Ge is a lot heavier than she looks!"
IF could only shake her head in dismay "Even after all that, Gear was the only one we managed to rescue... Not to mention..."
Compa continued "Ge-Ge ended up using the last of the Sharicites power to save the little one..." She looked down disheartened "There's no way we can help Nep-Nep and the others now..."
"Yeah..." IF concurred as she looked down to the child "And if it weren't for the kid here, we would've been strung up with them... or worse."
"Please, do not be too hard on yourselves." Histoire's calm voice chimed in "The fact that you two were able to save Nepgear is an accomplishment in itself... The child coming to your aid when they did is also worthy of praise. We should counts our blessings while we can."
"*Sigh* Yeah, you're right Histoire." If nodded in agreement. "So, what's our next move?"
"Return back to Planeptune so Nepgear could rest and recover her strength... We also need to learn what exactly transpired three years ago, even if the memories will be painful for her to recall."
"Mmm..." Compa nodded, her gaze falling to the injured child in IF's arms "We also need to tend to the little ones wounds... They ended up getting really hurt from that battle."
"No doubt about that... That said-" IF gingerly shifted the child in her arms so to not incur anymore injuries "Let's have a look and see who exactly this mystery person is..." She reaches for the childs hood and carefully pulled it back, revealing-
"W-Wha-!? This is..."
"It's a boy!"
True to Compa's words, the face of the one that helped them escape was that of a young boy. His straight, neck-length blonde hair flowing freely from his hood with his fringe just above his eyes and a set of bangs hanging below his cheeks. His blue eyes were shut tight as he grimaced in pain, with blood trailing down from the side of his head.
-Prologue End-
