Reading Key:
Speaking - "I shall defeat you with the power of friendship! And this gun I found!"
Thinking - 'I am the Mega Man version of a power ranger!'
Voice of the world - [Query: Are you a boy, or are you a girl?]
Transformed and/or shouting voice - "I'm a boy! And why did you just reference Pokemon!?"
Disclaimer: I do not own; Fairy tail, Mega Man or any other works of fiction mentioned in this fanfic. If I did I wouldn't be writing bad fanfics in the first place.
Scene Change: Crocus, Magic Knight's Tavern Entrance, Year x767 (Ten minutes later)
Rep P.O.V
The entrance to the tavern wasn't really what I was expecting. I was sorta thinking it might be something more regal since it's known for being available and even cheap for the magic knights as a whole due to the discount they give to both the magic knights and registered guild mages. But it actually looks a little rundown, not old and about to fall apart but worn from time and basically looks like any other bar or tavern you could go to.
The wood that makes up the tavern, was chipped but still holding up strong. Obvious uses of reinforcement magic and even some runes running along the walls showing that it isn't because of the wood being exceptional or anything like that to keep it all up. Kinda ingenious to be honest if HUD's scans are to be believed, using reinforcement magic like that and making a rune cluster to absorb ambient magic energy to allow the spell to remain active indefinitely.
Either whoever designed this place is a genius or this is a technique that was passed down from a genius, especially since given the strength of the reinforcements it can withstand a buster shot from me as I am. Though if I charged the shot it would probably bring the whole place down in an instant.
Either way, it's something to admire.
Walking inside, the decor was plain though that isn't exactly the best way to describe the place. It would actually be better to say that the place was minimalistic, the only real color inside here coming from the people enjoying their drinks and the drinks themselves. Nothing else really makes much of a stand out, though that isn't to say the place is dreary or gloomy, on the contrary it's almost like I was back in the Fairy Tail guild hall again.
Even if the fighting and laughter seemed a bit less warm than the guild, could just be my personal bias though. They do seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves and having fun.
Walking over to the barcounter, the barkeep tending to an obviously clean glass, I noticed the man I came here looking for. Or I guess like this I should call him a kid since he looks like he's still in his mid teen years, young and doesn't have that scar on his face. He isn't confident either, in fact he seems nervous about something. Inexperience does do that to a guy, especially since he's underaged and in a bar of all things. Kinda feel bad for what I'm about to do to him.
After sitting down next to him I pulled out the job sheet and laid it on the counter. This guy is making me work for this so might as well have some fun, especially since with how coincidental it is that the literal only unnatured lacrima in Crocus is being held back from me.
"You Arcadios?" I said quietly while looking ahead at the drinks displayed behind the counter, making sure to use Zero's tone of voice. Causing the young Arcadios to jump slightly and give out a light noise in surprise before turning to me.
As soon as that happened, I noticed that the place wasn't as lively as before. Now there was a slight tension in the air as everyone looked at us. To be more specific, they looked at me.
"Y-yes, I am" He managed to stutter out as he tried to recollect himself. "Are you the mage who accepted the job I had been ordered to place with Fairy Tail?"
"Rep Lloyd," I said while nodding and turning to look at him, making sure to use Zero's memories to give my best glare. "And you have given me quite the run around here. Why did we have to meet here in a bar of all places instead of the headquarters or any official site?"
As soon as I finished asking that, the bar was no longer just tense but also dead silent. Arcadios turning pale and sweating bullets, panic obvious in his expression. The people around us were equally as panicked too, though not as pale due to me aiming my glare at Arcadios, it was obvious I scared them all enough to make them all dead sober.
"I-I apologize," He said while bowing his head, still sweating profusely. "I had been ordered not to bring the mage that accepted the job to any official site. Please forgive me."
"Fine, since you were ordered to do it." I said unable to hold back a smirk but maintaining my glare, before speaking in a light upbeat tone. "By the way,"
"Yes?" He said, lifting his head and looking me in the eyes with a stiff expression, appearing unable to decide if I really forgive him or not.
"Make sure the council knows not to spy on me." I said while subtly switching to Model Z, something possible thanks to all my practice with my transformations and mentally commanding HUD to do a peripheral scan to make my eyes glow red.
"I don't appreciate them holding a pair of unborn children hostage to force me to do work for them." I growled out to emphasize just what kind of monstrous thing they're doing. "A little convenient that they made the only thing that can save them the reward for a job aye?"
As soon as I finished that, Arcadios looked like his whole world shattered around him with that same sound ringing out as people dropped their bottles and kegs. Even the bartender froze up in disbelief at the notion that government officials, the bosses of the people inside this bar, would do such a thing. It would be horrifying for anyone to be honest.
"They what?" Arcadios whispered out, his voice shaky and unsure still. "They wouldn't do such a thing would they?"
"I wouldn't put it past them, the old men on the council." I said no longer growling but still forcing the words out, remembering how the arrogant old men on the council in canon were. Along with having the memories of first hand accounts from every biometal that I've used thus far dealing with those kinds of people, both in the games and off screen. Even Fafnir had to do it a few times.
They more than likely want to force me under their thumbs, try to control me as some sort of attack dog or to make their soliders stronger. It does make sense given that I seem to have underestimated how well known I am, they more than likely want to try to monopolize me and force me to train others the same way I did the mages in Fairy Tail.
"Powerhungry vultures like them have a tendency to do monstrous things like that and not bat an eye if it means maintaining their own agenda." I finished before looking around the room, everyone looking at us with varying degrees of shock at what I said or disgust pointed directly at Arcadios. A few of them eyeing Arcadios from behind him with pity, those being experienced looking veterans and a knight that appears well decorated and high ranked. I was right, this job was a damn setup.
And at the center of it all, it seems like Arcadios was unaware of being used as the scapegoat for this. Could this be the start for him being used as the 'bad guy' role in espionage missions? I would hope not because he looks completely unprepared for that kind of lifestyle.
"You don't seem like you have any idea what's going on," I said, HUD sending a notification that the scan picked up some interesting data from the building we're in and is currently trying to incorporate it into my core systems via Zero's algorithm. The process causing my eyes to stop glowing and according to a beam of info, locking me out of Model X.
"More than likely, the council is trying to make you seem like the one responsible. Make you the lightning rod for all of Fairy Tail's hatred." I finished while shaking my head to keep my emotions in check from the shock of the lockout, making sure to make the action look natural in the conversation.
As soon as I said that, the people all looking at Arcadios like something to scrape off the bottom of your shoe, they all stopped and stared at me again. Some in confusion, others in comprehension, the older looking knights looking grateful and the higher ranked looking knight has a pensive expression for the most part. I can't tell what is on the latter's mind.
"Just give me the specifics of the job," I said knowing that inexperience would cause him to flounder with everything that was just dropped on him. "You don't have to think too deeply right now, just give me the details and I'll get it done. We can worry about the rest when the job's finished."
"R-right, here." He said producing a small packet and handing it to me. "This should hold everything you need to know. Just defeat the man detailed inside and await extraction by the magic knights."
Opening it up I read through it using the recreated Gale Force Reading spell I got from analyzing a pair of the glasses a while back. The report was about a very familiar person named Zero; ironic. He's a dark mage who loves to harm and kill people for no reason other than he can. This looked a little fishy to me, since the report is pretty detailed. Almost like they knew this guy even before he became a dark mage.
It isn't even just his magic that's listed, it goes into his physical capabilities as well. A few of which actually surpass me in many aspects. His strength is beyond me without the newly updated Model X, though his reaction speed I can work around. Nothing too impressive there, but if his stamina is anything to go by, turning this into a battle of attrition will result in my defeat.
So model F is out from the get go, I can't fight him using Model F since that mode relies on heavy armor and even heavier firepower. With this fight I need to leverage my speed advantage as much as possible so it would be better to rely on Model H first. Maybe even Model Z if his durability stats are listed accurately.
"This guy is powerful, he defeated an entire platoon of magic knights, " Arcadios said, his voice shaky both from the revelation of what the council has tried to do to him and fear of the man in the profile. "All of them are stronger and more experienced than even most of the average B-class mages out there."
That would be about as strong as Macao and Wakaba were when we first started training together. If this guy was strong enough to do that, then this will be an uphill battle. Despite me growing stronger exponentially ever since I got here, I know for a fact that this isn't a guaranteed win here. Despite my 'reputation' this guy seems too dangerous to just leave to someone who has a few rumours about him running around so why would the council choose me of all people-?
Desperation, they want to take advantage of my desperation to defeat this guy as soon as possible so that I can get that lacrima. It's common knowledge that emotions power up magic power, both good and bad which is the reason why 'the power of friendship' is a thing here. Friendship, romance, familial ties, these are major sources of emotions both positive and negative. And those corrupt bastards know that I'm desperate here, that I want to save Bruno and Jane's children more than anything right now.
The thought of it made me tighten my fist as I felt a biometal fragment react, its energy almost pouring out visceraly. I couldn't exactly tell why, but the rest were almost shaking inside the storage unit. Shaking from anger? From fear? I don't know.
But still, those bastards on the council, just how low can you sink? To be so callous with lives like that, to just use human lives, that which must be protected even at the highest cost. Even if it means my cyber elf gets destroyed at the very seams of its code.
Well, they wanted a monster to beat this monster. I'll give them one.
Ignoring a strangely 'loud' notification from HUD, I placed the file down gently to make sure it isn't damaged. And turned to Arcadios, both him and everyone in the bar looking strange. This time instead of them being terrified in a comical manner similar to the way a gag would be played in your typical anime, they look genuinly scared for their lives. And if my expression reflects the way I'm feeling right now, they're justifiably afraid.
"I'll be waiting at the extraction point with the target, Zero will be subdued. I'll show him the power of the real Zero." I said, getting up and walking out of the bar which for some reason began to glow a dull red glow, one that seemed more dead than the vibrancy that Model Z usually has.
"Don't keep me waiting, you won't like what happens if you do." I could keep my voice even only due to drawing on the memories contained within the biometal allowing me to keep my expression even.
As I walked out I let the armor from the biometal remanifest itself and dashed out of the city, though the armor felt strangely light. My helmet didn't have my hair tied under it like usual, instead letting it fly in the wind from me moving far faster than usual.
The energy I usually draw on being far more potent than the norm, both my ethernano and the energy of the biometal. Taking a cursory look at it, Model Z's outfit is looking just like Zero's outfit from the Zero era instead of the outfit that is only reminiscent of it like Model Z from the Zx era usually does.
Am I drawing on Zero's original power, is that what's happening? Either way, having this kind of power is just what I needed to beat that man. Though I won't kill him no matter how much I want to, it's against the laws of Fiore to kill despite the transgressions of that monster. Besides, it goes against my programming to do so anyways.
Either way, this power will be useful to take the target down fast. Maybe then I can save Jane's children, human lives cannot be allowed to be snuffed out by something like this.
By mavericks like him.
Scene Change: Same time and place (Five minutes before Rep was given the profile.)
Arcadios P.O.V
This guy, he's as terrifying as the rumours say. Terrifying, yet awe inspiring at the same time.
When I was given the command to wait for Rep Lloyd of all people to pick up a job from the magic knights I was overjoyed. The mage who not only taught all of Fairy Tail's, one of the top guilds in the country's, top mages sans Gildarts, but also is singlehandedly responsible for having eradicated more than seventy percent of all of Fiore's banditry. I didn't think that a mid-ranking knight like me could be given such an honor. I hadn't even been in the force for more than a year by this point.
But that joy at meeting such a hero, it went away faster than a town district containing a Fairy Tail mage fight. Rep was angry, no that was an understatement.
He was murderous.
At first, his anger was light. Or rather that is to say, he didn't leak out any truely malicious intent when his magic presence projected itself. All magic knights are trained to sense that sort of intent as part of our basic training. And any mage worth their salt could sense it just as well. But that changed as the conversation progressed. He got angrier and angrier.
And then he told me about what the council did. What they're still doing.
How could they do that? Aren't they supposed to be the leaders of our country, the people who keep the peace through law and accountability? They are supposed to be the men and women who serve the country as a whole just as much as the royal family and the upper echelons of the magic knights!
Yet they would willingly hold a pair of unborn children hostage like this. I didn't know what to think, but I still had a job to do. Something that Rep was quick to remind me of when he told me to give him the job details. When I did he read through it rapidly some of the symbols on the profile seemingly flying off the pages, the signs of Gale Force glasses, appearing when he did. How? I didn't even see him put a pair of gale force glasses on, is he able to cast holder-type magic without the item? Amazing, just as I expected.
And then his expression began to change as he processed the information about the subject. Zero, the man who slaughtered so many good men and women just because he could. That monster.
Though what did Rep mean by "showing him the power of the real zero?" was he referring to his magic?
Getting up I ran out of the bar at full tilt my plated armor feeling even heavier than usual. As I ran out it still seemed like Rep's malice and killing intent leaked out of the bar, that eerie red light and his glare will be in my nightmares for months, at least. I am not going to be the one who gets on his bad side. I need to get those extraction knights together right away.
I don't know what he'll do to me if I don't. Those eyes, that killing intent. It's no wonder the bandits that he brought in are even scared of their own shadow. If that's what they saw when he caught them, I can definitely say I would be too.
I can only say I'm glad that despite his killing intent that he is still on the side of good.
I hope.
A/N:
I was seriously motivated to get this chapter done and had it in the works half finished for a few days already. I was only touching up on the previous chapter and fixing any errors before I uploaded it. As for the reason why I uploaded so soon; I managed to order a commission from Alex-Keller for the story. My favorite Deviantart Artist, been following him since he did that one piece for Parcasious' story: Holy Man of the Church Creek the artwork was named; You Promised.
It was part of what got me hooked on fanfiction in the first place.
And I finally ordered a commission from him! I am going to use that as the new cover from now on. Won't be eating dinner for about a month because of it but totally worth it. Also worth the sleep deprivation from getting this chapter done, was sleeping about two hours later than my normal schedule for this week thank goodness I've got holiday this tomorrow. Needed to get this chapter done before he could finish the commission so I could upload a chapter instead of just updating and get people's hopes up for no reason.
And just in case; I know I'm using the term for mavericks wrong here. Mavericks being reploids who have gone against their own programming and turned violent. I just used it here to emphasize something for Rep's current viewpoint, can't exactly elaborate at the moment cause spoilers if you haven't already figured it out. If you can't figure it out I'm gonna guess you aren't much of a Megaman fan since I made the title make that pretty dang obvious.
Anyways on to answer some questions:
Time king zi-o, ok so glad you managed to see the misunderstanding. As for who managed to reach S-rank either I did too good a job leaving the pieces too far apart. Or I did a horrible job and it can't be put together. Either way, unless you put it together yourself I'm not gonna tell who reached S-class because of spoilers.
And IryuKarama, how the heck you managed to theorize out multiple spoilers I have no idea. Though the changes to the biometal isn't only aesthetic, Model X is genuinly stronger and more powerful. For Rep gaining techniques and different charge shots from Zero and X respectively, can't say cause spoilers, you'll see how that plays out. As for the whole "Worrying about Rep not being himself" thing, I think you can tell what I am trying to do with that.
As for not having any ideas for the Guardians, without getting into spoiler territory I'll just say don't look at them but at the Fairy Tail cast since this is still a crossover. So don't count the influences of Fiore out just yet.
As always, thanks for reading. And if you have any questions or see any grammar and spelling errors please let me know in a review or DM.