Chapter 13: Trial No. 3
System: "Trial No. 3. Theme: Capture the Relic!"
Rules: "Across the city are Four Relics, Defeat the enemies to capture their relics! Time Remaining: 7:59:59"
The system's information is displayed on the status screen of everyone. The clock had struck zero, no longer did they have the luxury of preparation, now it was time for action.
The teams were all set, weapons repaired, items stocked, and minds resolved. They were about as ready as they could get with five days of prep time and training.
Nova and the two Rubys pulled up the map. It seemed that the four relics, marked by exclamation points, were spread out to the four main cardinal directions across the city, just like how the teams initially arrived.
There was something very peculiar about the details of capture however, under each relic it stated specific capture requirements, as in, specific people had to go to specific relics. Just like the previous trials, it only told them what they needed to do to complete it, no other details were given. It was as if the system didn't want them to strategize on the spot...
North Relic Capture Requirements: Nova Flareheart + At least one(1) Ruby Rose
South Relic Capture Requirements: Nitro Zephyr + At least one(1) Blake Belladonna
West Relic Capture Requirements: Luna Flareheart
EastCapture Requirements: At least one(1) Weiss Schnee
"What's with these weird requirements? Couldn't we just split into our respective teams and go?" Yang Prime asked scratching her head.
Blake analyzed it carefully, "I… think it's because there are four relics and only three teams, so instead of letting us decide, it's making the choice for us while giving us some legroom?"
The other Blake smiled, "Wishful thinking, I doubt the system is doing us a favour, it's more likely this has some other meaning. Either way, we're splitting into teams of three."
Nova glanced at his Ruby, "Well I guess if we're both needed for one then, my Ruby will go with me… one spot open."
Hex rubbed her chin, "This is going to sound stupid but hear me out…" She raised a hand and everyone looked at her, "If the system says 'at least one' then it means bare minimum right?"
They all nodded.
"Then… wouldn't it increase our chances if both went? Like what if the North relic needs something to do with the Silver Eyes and Nova's dragon fire? Two Silver Eyes users would be more effective right?"
Realization dawned on their faces, Hex was making a lot of sense. Even if it didn't turn out to be the case, it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Then… Ruby and other Ruby will be going with me…" Nova looked uneasy, "Well, at least it won't be that confusing."
"Don't even pretend like you are unable to tell us apart, you can literally sense me," Ruby-13 rolled her eyes at him.
Weiss-13 looked at them, "Then how about me, other me and one of the Yangs?"
Yang Prime raised her hand, "I'll go with you guys."
The Blakes nodded, and the prime spoke, "So… me, Nitro and other me if we're keeping the pattern."
"I guess that leaves us?" Hex looked at her girlfriend.
Yang-13 flexed her muscles, "Been a while since we got to partner up on a mission, I guess we're going with Luna."
The trios split off in their respective directions, navigating the concrete maze until they arrived at their destinations. They didn't need to strategize anymore, there was nothing else to consider.
-South City Zone-
The fastest team to arrive was the Blake pair and Nitro, ending at the south side of the city. The smell of salty sea air and the crashing of waves echoed as the grey streets opened into a wide open port. Lengthy boardwalks ran across the perimeter of the docks while several piers stuck out into the ocean but no ships were in sight. As dusk approached, the setting sun cast myriads of hues across the horizon, bathing the sky in colours of autumn leaves and light pink.
"Okay… this should be the destination but where's the relic and/or the enemy?" Nitro looked around scratching his head.
As he spoke a sudden wave of vicious cold ripped through the air, replacing the warmth of the setting sun and sending chills throughout their bodies. The evening shadows seemed to coil and writhe as if they were alive, snaking and dancing across the ground as they stretched further than the object they were connected to.
"What's happening? Blake, is this you?" Nitro looked at his Blake.
The Universe-13 Faunus shook her head, "No… it's something else…"
Shadows continued to gather en masse, coagulating onto a single point until the most bizarre sight occurred. All of the shadows cast by the western setting sun were no longer under their objects. As if they had been forcibly taken, the shadows were now concentrated on a single point.
Without warning they erupted in a thick plume of dark energy as black lightning shot out like fireworks, dancing across the boardwalk and forcing the trio to dodge out of the way of the strikes.
"W-What's going on?!" Blake Prime exclaimed as she landed on a nearby wooden crate.
As the energy dissipated, a lone figure in a black cloak remained sitting on the railing that bordered the dock just in front of them. Aside from his long black coat, he wore a similarly coloured undershirt, leather gloves and fancy dress shoes. His hair was rather fluffy and wild despite his edgy attire. He stood about 5ft 6, rather short in comparison to the others. He looked no older than they were.
Above his head, they noticed: 'Entity J, Lvl ? Expected Threat Level: Extreme, Current Threat Level: High'.
"Good morning, Nitro and…" he addressed in an exaggerated voice, "Oh… two cats? I must have had too many drinks because I'm seeing double."
Blake-13 was on guard, "Who are you?"
"It's not even morning! It's the afternoon!" Nitro complained, pointing out the flaw in the person's introduction.
The person stopped and gave a light bow, "Morning, Afternoon, Night, time is inconsequential," he said rather dramatically, "Honestly I'm hurt, you don't know me?"
Blake Prime eyed him wearily, she could sense something dangerous about him, "Should we know you?"
The man snapped his fingers and went 'AHA!'. "Tsk tsk, silly me. I forgot not every dimension has us. My bad, my bad," he amended, "My name is Jett, but you can just call me… Jett."
Nitro blanched, "… Do you have a screw loose?"
The person now known as Jett made a mock hurt expression, "Oh… I have a screw loose? You were the one who thought the best way to save my life was force-feeding me a magic dumpling with your mouth!" Jett quickly made a bashful expression, placing a hand over his mouth and blushing, "And it was my first kiss too!"
Nitro shivered, "Listen, buddy, I have no idea who you are and you're making absolutely zero sense!"
Jett smirked, "Cents?! I don't even get paid!"
Blake-13 grimaced, "Oh… oh god no…"
Jett began to cackle like a madman, "YES! Now, I think you guys are here for this?" he took out what looked like a chess piece, a black rook. "Honestly calling a chess piece a relic… typical…"
"Ugh, I can't take this guy anymore, it's time to get this over with," Blake Prime groaned as she launched the first attack, catapulting off her crate with Gambol Shroud in hand, slinging her ribbon at Jett.
Jett had a strange glint in his eye, "Wrong, Kitty cat," he swiftly caught the ribbon mid-air and yanked hard, pulling Blake toward him.
She tried to react by aiming her blade at him while coming down but the moment it was about to make impact a black blade made entirely of shadow erupted from the ground and blocked her attack.
"It's time… for you to get a watch!" With one swift motion, he grabbed Blake by the collar and tossed her back onto the crate, shattering the wooden box.
-Western City Zone-
On the western side of the city, Luna, Hex and Yang-13 got what seemed like the ruins of a pantheon. White stone debris lay scattered across a green forest floor just outside the city, several destroyed pillars were in rows supporting a roof that was no longer there.
At the very center of the pantheon was a large stone throne that was shattered, half of the backrest was broken off and mixed with the other piles of debris. Sitting on that throne was the most daunting sight.
A gargantuan man, about ten feet tall wearing heavily plated armour to the point where not a single piece of his body was shown, not even his eyes could be seen behind the mask. He was of a large muscular frame, covering the grand throne entirely as if it was made for him.
He was quietly reading a book which was comically small in his massive hands.
"Hmm, quite interesting, if I marinate it using a stronger herb mix then I would get a more robust flavour… outstanding, Tai truly was a master chef…" he mumbled in a deep but smooth voice, turning the pages.
Luna stopped short of approaching the massive giant, was he reading… a cookbook?!
Like the monsters they'd encountered outside the maze, Luna noticed above his head read: 'Entity A, Lvl ? Expected Threat Level: Extreme, Current Threat Level: High'.
As he heard them approaching, "Ah, guests," he said without looking up, "Tell me, do you all think a low heat is better to achieve meat tenderness? Or a medium flame? I mean it obviously depends on the meat as well but…"
"Um… sir? Are you the one guarding our relic?" Luna asked gently, wishing not to engage in a fight with such an imposing figure.
He continued to read without looking up, "Yes, you mean this?" he held up a black knight chess piece, "Such a dull thing to be called a relic. Do these entities above not know that beings such as I have much more important things to be doing?"
"Um… like what?" Luna tried to make conversation.
"Like figuring out what to cook for dinner tonight, your nutrition is of the utmost importance Miss Luna, of course, aside from your safety." He said casually.
Luna faltered, "W-Wait, my nutrition?! I'm sorry… I'm confused…"
"Of course, nothing is more important than serving you Miss Luna, then… perhaps judging by the fact that you do not know me, and the environment I find myself in, this must be another one of his tasks. Well, it matters not." He said in a very polite and respectful tone as he opened the book to Luna and showed her a strawberry food cake.
"Does this look appropriate for a desert?" he asked earnestly.
Hex and Yang looked at each other, they'd kept quiet and let Luna handle things but this was getting curious.
"Um… not to be rude giant sir, but the system says we must defeat you and obtain the relic…" Yang-13 said awkwardly.
The giant man made a confused noise before sighing, "I see, well… then, have a go at it." He got up from the chair and stood tall, "Defeat me."
"Um… giant man sir… is there some catch to it?" Hex looked nervously.
"Percival," he said politely, "My name is Percival A. Lannseax, and there is no catch. If you wish to defeat me then give it your best shot."
Yang-13 scratched her head, "Do we just… go…?"
"Yes, sure why not," he said almost uninterested, "Yang, Hex you may give your best attempt."
Luna tilted her head in confusion, "What about me?"
"You, Miss Luna," he got serious looking at her, "May do whatever you wish. I am at your service."
Yang-13 had enough waiting, "Ugh let's just go…" she charged up her Aura and flew in at blinding speeds, surprising Percival as the blonde was already in his close quarters before he had time to think. Her fist collided with his armour and the yellow Aura exploded out with immense force shattering the pillars and shaking the earth. Dust and smoke were sent flying, debris was knocked back.
After the dust settled, Percival was left standing there, the fist not even making a dent in his armour.
"Well done Yang, I see this universe's Yang is quite powerful. Still, you'll have to do better than that." He said without a hint of animosity.
Just as he spoke a pair of golden swords slashed downward onto Yang. She barely dodged it due to her expanding Aura senses just in time to catch them spawning out of nowhere.
As she dodged back she saw what attacked her. It was two large, transparent, golden, sword-wielding… slimes?
"Oh boy… this is going to be weird…" Hex said looking at the now three very large beings.