Chapter 91
"No! Leona, Vil this is Azul You can't get too close to Ortho, and by extension the Underworld. It's too dangerous, Riddle's hair has gone white and he's lost consciousness." Azul shouted into the radio as he went back to the steering wheel and drove them away from Idia.
"What? What's going on Azul?" Vil asked.
"The closer you get to them the more of our life they can siphon off they make us grow old." Azul explained. "We've exhausted our Thunder Spear battery and our magical reserves. Our blot tolerance is at its limit. We have to blow out now the rest is up to you all."
"You catch all that?" Leona asked looking up from the radio in his hand.
"Yeah, I suspect another reason Riddle passed out is because he exhausted his magic using the Thunder Spear." Jamil guessed.
"Meanwhile, the cephalo punk kept a little power back even when firing off their last blast what a tightwad though is this case it was the right call. If he hadn't done that both him and the ginger brat would probably be plungin headfirst into the Underworld." Leona theorized.
"I mean this is Azul we're talking about. He probably knew Riddle would exhaust his reserves the moment they decide to stay down there. Riddle may be the top if our class but he's also a notorious live wire. There's no stopping him once he's set off." Jamil remained him.
"That said they brought us enough time I was able to sand most of the minions in the area. Now we can focus on the big guy." Leona remarked.
"The staff that were here have gone to the emergency hatch in sector one. But I'm wondering how smart it was for everyone to just leave this place." Jamil said as he began to steer the Chariot down towards the Gate.
"They were going at a snail pace no way they would be shut the hatch before Idia and Ortho got here if the goal us to stop them from getting out of Tartarus then it makes no difference which sector we do it in not to mention it's a lot harder to use King's roar with all those slowpokes getting in the way." Leona grumbled.
The shaking began again.
"Ortho's started climbing again, if this fight drags on too long all our life will get drained they key here will be knowing when to retreated." Jamil pointed out.
"Hah, you're thinking about retreating before the fight's even started. That's why you're a jack of all trades but master of none." Leona chuckled.
This remark this annoyed Jamil and Leona could see it.
"Lions give their all even when they're hunting rabbits we're gonna turn their dreams to sand right here right now." Leona stated as he glared down at Ortho and Idia.
"Yes sir." Jamil said as they got as close as they could to Ortho. Idia stood his Ortho's hand again and glare back at them.
"Huh? This time we've got a tank and melee DOS combo still no match for us of course we've got attack and regen buffs going off at every turn," Idia chuckled.
They began their battle.
"Hrah!" Leona and Jamil shouted as they fired the last blast they could of their Thunder Spear.
Ortho screamed as he fell back down to the gate. "Augh!"
"Ortho!" Idia gasped, then he suddenly was covered in red flames. "You absolute peons! You did it again! You're gonna pay for that!" Idia snapped then went down to Ortho.
"Tch, didn't finish the job." Leona grumbled.
"At least that should stop them for awhile." Jamil huffed.
"My blot accumulation's through the roof must be all the blot shootin up from the Underworld like some blasted geyser we're getting outta here." Leona said.
Jamil took the hint and started to steer them up.
"Hey Vil and the nerd herd in the control room do you copy?" Leona asked into the radio.
"I'm here, I take it despite your bravado you didn't manage to strike them down after all?" Vil asked sounding as snarky as ever.
"Heh, you know how it is if I didn't give a certain prima donna some time in the spotlight he'd never let me hear the end of it." Leona snarked back.
"My, how considerate of you." Vil remarked.
"Are you done touching up your make up?" Leona asked.
"I'd have been happy managing to reapply my lip gloss but I even had time to perfect my hair thanks to you two. Just leave the finale to me. You boys kick back in the wings and wait until the curtain call." Vil said.
"Now that's a good idea, we're already making our dramatic exit now, the stage is yours." Leona explained.
"Just sit tight." Jamil said as he pushed the Chariot faster.
Down at the gate Idia knelt beside the massive Ortho. "Ortho, Ortho you okay?" He asked.
"Mh, I'm alright Idy, still electrified though I can barely move." Ortho answered as lighting still sparked off him.
"I always thought the Thunder Spears were just pieces of junk gathering dust in storage but man those stupid things pack a punch." Idia grumbled.
"I can control any Styx made technomantic weapons but not ancient magical artifacts. Guess they found a loophole with those spears. Not to mention they charged them with their own magical power to increase their potency." Ortho remarked.
"Tch, this is why I can't stand brutal force button mashers." Idia complained.
"Yeah, yeah well, two can play at that game. Don't worry this body's got a heavy power build besides I'll never lose as long as I'm with you." Ortho said as he began to slowly move again.
"We're almost to the exit think you can stick it out?" Idia asked.
"Absolutely and all our friends say they can keep going too." Ortho answered as the Phantoms began to talk again. "Outside so close, outside, finally so happy so happy."
"St-stones." Grim growled on Ortho's shoulder.
"Let's go Ortho." Idia ordered as he began to make their way back up the shaft.
"I'm with you all the way Idy." Ortho cheered as he began to climb again, shaking the tower.
"They've started climbing up the wall again, including Grim." Odette gulped as she looked down the shaft.
"The Thunder Spear is 80% charged. We redirected all the technomantic energy we had, but we still couldn't reach 100%." A staff member explained as he handed the spear back to Vil.
"This is more then enough thank you." Vil said as they got onto the Chariot.
"There will be a battle here shortly you all must flee to safety." Rook remained them.
"Alright you all stay safe too." The staff member said.
"Let's review our objectives. First get the Phantomized Ortho away from Idia and break him out of his over-blot. Next rescue Grim. Then we send the Phantoms that fused with Ortho back down into the Underworld. And lastly restore the Cerberus system and reseal Tartarus and the Underworld." Vil explained as he ticked each task off on his fingers.
"We're gonna be fine. We managed to get Vil back to normal after he over-blotted and we still performed at SDC. We can handle this too." Epel boasted.
"Well spoken for a spudling." Vil chuckled.
"I except no less from Monsieur Pommette. Our preparations are in order then. Control is there any hope of restoring Cerberus on your end?" Rook asked into the radio.
"Not much of one, the Cerberus system controls Tartarus and the Underworld. It normally uses DNA authentication from a member of the Shroud family to shut down and reboot. But a Shroud started this whole mess. We've repeatedly tried to use the control codes we have in case of an emergency. But Ortho's overridden them all the system's not accepting any commands from the outside. Believe me we've been trying everything we could think of." The staff member answered.
"Then all we can do is make them clean up their own mess. Alright Leave Idia and Ortho to us." Vil said with a flourish as they left in the chariot with Epel driving.
"Understood, we'll keep doing what we can on this end." Control replied.
"Do you think Idia will do as we say once he's back to normal?" Epel asked.
"If he doesn't we'll just make him the NRC way." Vil retorted.
"What way is that?" Epel asked.
"Have you forgotten what happened on the day of your orientation spudling? At NRC, the rule is that the weak obey the strong, Loser don't get to have a say. If we win Idia will have to do what we want whether he likes it or not." Vil answered.
"What happened?" Odette asked.
"I'll tell you later." Epel muttered.
"Ah the law of the jungle, our school's traditions are so beautifully straightforward." Rook remarked happily.
The shaking began to get worse.
Shaking
"Here they come. You guys focus on offense." Epel said.
"I'm surprised at your handling of this." Rook confessed.
"I drive the farm buggies back home when we need to haul stuff around. I'm used to driving things with no roof." Epel explained.
"Alright listen up, we're the last line of defense." Vil remained them.
"Oui, if we wish to return to our normal lives, this is one battle we can't lose." Rook confirmed.
"And we're the only ones who can save Grim. Keep your chin up Odette." Epel added as he threw a smile over his shoulder at her.
"Yeah!" Odette agreed nodding. 'I've got to support them like they're supporting me. We have to win this.' Odette thought.
"Now is the time for us to show the spirit of the oldest and most beautiful dorm at NRC. Let's give them a taste of Pomefiore tenacity. Here it goes!" Vil rallied.
"Idy, look there! Last up we've got a party with thanks and a ranged DPS you know it's a final boss party comp when they're running double tanks." Ortho pointed out as he looked up at the approaching Chariot.
"Man you guys are really stubborn huh? We're so close to getting out we can't stop the ball at the eleventh hour." Idia said as the red flames surrounded him again. "Why do you guys have to constantly stand in the our way? Are you wannabe heroes or something talk about cringe." He was back in Ortho's hand again.
"You know, I've always wanted to be cast as a hero just once. But there are no heros or villains here. You and I are just classmates who are both fighting to have our own way. And whoever's left standing wins the right to make their dreams come true. Come let's give this everything we have. This time I'll be the one who stays on stage til the very end." Vil announced.
They finally begin they battle. Odette convinced Epel to join the battle while she kept the Chariot afloat.
"Hrah!" They shouted as the three of them blasted Ortho and Idia with an 80% blast from the Thunder Spear.
A thunder clap echoed throughout the tower and could be heard outside of it followed by complete silence.
"We were so close." Ortho whispered as he he began to slowly fall back towards the gate as his body began to dissipate.
"Guh, Ortho." Idia groaned as his armor shattered and he returned to normal.
The tower now began to fill with the sound of crashing and breaking sounds.
"I'll get us as close as I can! Odette! Grab Grim and pull him outta there!" Epel shouted as he grabbed the steering wheel.
"GRIM!" Odette shouted over the noise as she reached out for him, leaning over the edge of the chariot.
"Urgh," Grim groaned sounding as if he was just waking up. as he opened his eyes. He looks normal again. "That voice, my hench- human." He began to slip into Ortho's body.
"Idy, I guess I never got to be your hero." Ortho whispered.
"Ortho I'm not leaving you this time." Idia cried out as he let him fall back into Ortho's body.
"Idy,... big brother." Ortho cried.
"No! Idia and Grim are about to fall into the Underworld with Ortho!" Vil called out as a light flashed and then filled the shaft. "You're not going anywhere!"
"Vil, what in tarnation are you doing don't tell me." Epel called out as he shielded his eyes with his arm.
"Wait! Vil!" Rook called out.
"VIL!" Odette yelled as she reached out for him.
Thanks for reading and sticking around, I hope enjoyed it.