"I'm not about to be defeated here!" Normal Text
"Check out this awesome move!" Bold/Ultimate Text
"This sanctuary... Is but a vision! Break!" Thinking Text
"Rules are made to be broken!" Comms/Radio/Audio/Message Text
"Wha-Huh?!" Kira's eyes opened as he found himself... floating in some unknown space, "Where am I-AHHH!"
Before his eyes... he saw a huge broken but still functional humanoid robot head with one eye. Or rather... an Aeon. This is Nous, an Aeon representing the Erudition.
The red eye began to glow as the Aeon looked at Kira... and it began to scan the boy, who yelped.
The scanning soon stopped.
"Hmmm, the Ultimate Coordinator." Nous mused at the sight of Kira, who flinched in return.
"N-Nous... C-Can I ask why I'm here?" Kira stuttered but he managed to speak to the Aeon. And he cursed himself for calling the Aeon just "Nous" with no almighty or such.
Nous just looked at the boy and explained, "You're healing. More specifically your consciousness after you used your Evolved SEED Factor against your fight with the Commander of the Silvermane Guards."
Okay, that caught Kira's interest. Evolved SEED Factor? What?
"Evolved SEED Factor...?" Kira repeated with a confused look, what does Nous mean by that?
Nous then made the unknown space shift into something else as both Kira and Nous found themselves in... a technological space.
Then a clip of Kira's fight against Bronya appeared before him. Okay, he already knows what the SEED Factor does and the sight of his dim eyes didn't surprise him... Until he gasped. Are those... tachyon in his eyes?
"What the...? GAH!" Kira suddenly gasped as he clutched his head in pain.
"The Evolved SEED Factor has given you an increase of speed and power, but at the same time... It gives your mind unbearable headaches. Not even your Coordinator genes can help it." Nous stated as its eye glowed and the headache on Kira soothed, "There. I helped calm your headache, but I suggest you not to use that again for the time being."
"W-Wait!" Kira called the Aeon out, "Is there a way for me to get over the headaches? Or rather, just use the regular SEED factor, instead?"
"The Evolved SEED factor is permanent, but the overcoming of the side effects or the use of the normal SEED factor is possible."
"But how?!" Kira asked, then gold particles formed in front of him as... a golden envelope appeared, "An... envelope?" He grabbed the envelope in the end.
"If you have the chance, give that envelope to the Master Diviner at the Xianzhou Luofu." Nous instructed the Coordinator, "She can help you."
Nous then began to glow as if they were about to leave, but Kira had to call them out for one or two more questions!
"Wait!" Kira called them out.
"What is it, Ultimate Coordinator?" Nous asked him as the glowing stopped.
"Can you... fix my weapon? I know Herta follows the Path of Erudition, and I have a feeling you know her... and she will kill me if she knows that I broke my weapon." Kira sheepishly asked as he cursed himself on why he had to request an Aeon to fix his weapon. That is literally... a possible death wish! More than Herta killing him for breaking his Greatsword!
Nous just looked at him, intrigued at his request. The red eye glowed as the broken shards of Kira's greatsword emerged from nowhere as they began to fuse into one. Into Kira's greatsword, now fixed.
"Your request has been granted. I even made your greatsword to withstand the power of the Evolved SEED Factor." Nous said as Kira just grabbed his sword, now happy that Herta wouldn't kill him, "Anything else?"
Kira began to think of any more stuff he could ask for the Aeon before they left... And there is one.
"What... about my friends? My old friends, I mean!"
"Your friends... from the other universe?" If Nous has eyebrows, they could raise a brow as they are intrigued at Kira, "I can't tell you where they are, but I can tell you that some of them are present on the planet that you and the Nameless are at. And expect someone or two... unexpected to be there."
"Wait... some of them are here in Jarilo-VI?!" Kira blinked as his vision was blinded by a glow.
And since Kira is now gone... Nous began to muse.
"So... what is your reason for transporting him and his friends into this universe..." Nous turned themselves around to see someone in their home space, "And your reason for intruding yourself and the Ultimate Coordinator into my home... Herrscher of Finality."
Said Herrscher in question just smiled at the Aeon.
"Is it wrong for me to let you heal my lover?" Kiana asked with a tilt of her head, "And there is a reason why I transported the Captain in here."
Captain. So it seems the Herrscher of Finality knows Kira all too well.
"So... you met him?"
"Soon!" Kiana cheered, "He will meet me soon. Or rather, he will meet my past self soon. When? Hmph, only time will find out. Buh-bye, Nous!"
Creating a rift in space with a slash of her sword, Kiana went in and left, leaving Nous knowing the answer to why Kiana transported Kira and his friends into this universe.
"Gah!" Kira's eyes shot open as he immediately sat up and reached out to nothing. Wait, actually... where is he?
As he observed his surroundings, he noticed that he was in an infirmary of some sort. I mean, there are people here resting on beds... And Stelle, March, and the Bronya girl he fought are present-Wait a second...
"Oh, it looks like you're awake." Kira looked back in the direction of the voice to see... Hoo, mama.
"U-Uhhh... W- Who are you?" Kira stuttered at the sight of this mysterious mommy- I mean stranger standing before him.
Natasha smiled and soon introduced herself, "I'm Natasha, a doctor, and you are here in my clinic alongside your friends and the Overworld girl."
"Overworld girl... Oh, you mean Bronya? Wait... actually... Where's the rest of my friends and who... put us here?"
"Well..." Natasha started as she and Kira heard the sound of footsteps as they looked back to see..., "I believe you and your friends crossed paths with him."
Kira just looked at him, he doesn't have the best impression of the motherfucker since he ditched them so...
"Fuck off, Sampo."
"My friend! I just saved you guys! By Sampo! By me!" Sampo introduced himself as he spread his arms in fashion and bowed then he immediately stood up and barked at Kira, "And this is how I got thanks?! You are welcome!" Then he began to remember something when he was there. More specifically... his fight against Bronya, "Oh, and I watched your fight against that girl. Very smooth~! Now I know who to not mess with-"
"Sampo." Natasha said.
"Yes, sorry." Sampo coughed and nodded.
"Didn't you ditch us like a pussy-" Kira had to use his mouth, he is not holding back anymore ever since the man ditched them back then.
"Woah, woah! Watch your mouth!" Sampo immediately cut the boy off as he raised his arms and blushed in embarrassment, "I did what I had to, but I don't leave those I considered as friends!"
"Yeah, I don't think me and the others consider you as our friend after you ran away like a little bitch." Stelle has successfully tainted the pure and forgiving Kira Yamato.
"Please don't call me that."
"No, I think I'm going to call you that." Kira said that with finality. Deciding to change the subject, Kira looked at Natasha, "Speaking of calling, you saw a girl with black hair here? She's one of my friends."
"Oh, she left not too long ago. I believe the black-haired one's name is Dan Heng... She woke up first and then left." Natasha recalled and told the boy, "And that makes you the second to wake up. Is that all?"
"Uhh... Y-Yes! That is all!" Kira paused for a bit as he thought of more questions that needed asking, "I think... Wait no, where am I anyway? Am I still in... Belobog? Or someplace else?"
"Well, my friend!" Sampo started, "You are in the Underworld! More specifically Boulder Town."
"Oh, Boulder Town..." Kira seemed to relax in the town he and his friends were in... Wait a second, did he say Underworld? "Wait, Underworld?"
Kira hopped out of the bed as he opened the door that led to the outside... and he couldn't help but let his mouth agape. The sky... It's rocks. He's literally in the Underground.
"Woah..." Kira couldn't help but be in awe. He can't see the sky from here! "So an underground town is here..."
"Welcome to Boulder Town." Natasha said as she stood beside Kira, "One of the towns here in the Underground."
"And again!" And there's Sampo... "You guys are welcome that I dragged you guys all by myself here. If you guys are unconscious back at the Overworld, you guys would be free food for the monsters! So I deserve a PROPER thanks!"
Kira just looked at the man for a second and... he's got a point. Surprisingly so... Fuck.
"...Fine." Kira sighed as he looked back to Sampo with a reluctant look, "Thanks."
"You are welcome, my friend!"
"I still don't consider you as one after what you did." Damn, Stelle influenced him a little too much, "Speaking of which... I wonder where Dan Heng is at... You said that she woke up before me, right Natasha?"
"Yep." Natasha nodded at him, "I believe she said that she'll familiarize herself in Boulder Town and ask for some information I believe."
"I see... Thank you." Kira nodded at Natasha, "Looks like I don't need to find her after all."
"Well, if you don't plan to, that means you trust her to be safe?" Natasha asked Kira, who once again nodded at her, "I see... she must've been strong."
"Yeah." Kira agreed that Dan Heng was faster and stronger than him.
"Well, to pass the time, you can roam Boulder Town to familiarize yourself." Sampo suggested, "I can be your tour guide-"
"No thank you." Kira immediately said, "But thanks for the suggestion of familiarizing myself in this town."
"For that, I'll charge extra-"
"No need for that." Natasha intervened as she bonked Sampo's head, thank God, "We have a lot of talking about, Sampo. And I don't want you to charge someone for something so small like that."
"But Natashaaa~"
"Natasha... Thank you so much!" Kira bowed at Natasha, who smiled at him.
"It's fine, Mister..."
"Oh! I'm Kira. Kira Yamato." Kira immediately told her his name. Damn, she introduced herself to him and he didn't tell her his name in return? Damn Kira, "I'm going now. Thank you for taking care of myself and my friends!"
"You're welcome, Kira." Natasha just nodded at him as she watched Kira leave. With him gone, Natasha looked at Sampo, "Now you and I have business."
"Meep." Sampo just croaked from that as he was dragged back inside by Natasha.
Kira familiarized himself in Boulder Town quite enough, the town was decently huge, but not too small as per taste. He also met this small group of children called "The Moles", a group of troublemakers. If Kira heard correctly, they sneak out of Boulder Town to visit the fragmentum-claimed Rivet Town and Orphanage, frequently landing them in hot water with the gang's primary rival, the "witch" Natasha. His encounter with them? They challenged him to a game of hide-and-seek.
And he became their honorary member shortly after he found them all, with Hook giving him (Or rather Kira suggesting Hook) the title "The Travelling Hermit". It suits him because he is traveling on a train where he lives to find his friends.
Speaking of friends... he kinda made a new one. And she's a tsundere. And She (Or in her eyes He) (Accidentally) bumped into him (her).
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
"S-Sorry!" Kira quickly apologized as he looked back to the person he bumped into. Wait, Kira, what the hell? I thought you were tainted? Why are you accepting that it's your fault-
"I was just familiarized and mesmerized by how wonderful the Underworld is." Kira said as Seele just looked at him.
"Mesmerizing...? Are you from the Overworld?"
"Well..." Kira began, "Long story you see..."
"So, a criminal?"
"We were framed by the Supreme Guardian."
"Uh-huh. That's what they all say. As much as I want to believe that." Seele sarcastically said with a scoff as she just glowered at him, still suspicious of Kira, "I've got an eye on you."
Kira just sweated, feeling a bit intimidated by Seele, as he quickly nodded, "S-Sure!"
Seele continued to track her eyes on Kira's body as she asked him, "What's your name?"
"K-Kira..." Kira introduced himself with a stutter, "Kira... Yamato."
"Seele." Seele replied, "I've still got my eye on you."
"Y-You said it."
...
...
...
...
"Come with me." Seele sighed as she turned around, and that surprised Kira.
"Huh? What?"
Seele stopped as she turned around, "You said that you're familiarizing yourself in Boulder Town, right? Come on, I'm currently in patrol anyways."
"Oh. Uhh... T-Thanks." Kira stuttered as he and Seele began to walk.
"Don't mention it."
"And that over there is the Goethe Grand Hotel." Seele said as she and Kira were walking and Seele pointed at the said hotel a few meters away from them.
"Thanks for the small tour, Seele." Kira thanked the girl as he smiled.
"Again, don't mention it." Seele smiled back as the two kept on walking... and Seele managed to break the silence, "So you and your friends came from beyond the sky, huh?"
"Well yes, but in search of a Stellaron. We have to seal it. It's what causes the never-ending snowstorm up top."
"And because of that, the Supreme Guardian "framed" you and your friends, and you were rescued by Sampo of all people?"
"That's the gist of it."
"Still can't believe that Sampo rescued you guys."
"I can't believe it as well. My first impression of him wasn't that good, and it became worse after he ran away like a scared-ass bitch from the Silvermane Guards, leaving me and my friends to deal with them."
"Pfft, HAHA!" Seele laughed as she smacked Kira's shoulder, who winced, "Oh brother, you have no idea how many enemies Sampo has made. He pissed off the Captain of the Silvermane Guards."
"Well, he got four new ones." Kira added with a slight chuckle.
Before their chat could go any further, Seele heard some commotion coming from... the top of a wall.
"Hmm..." Seele started as she looked at Kira, "You can either stay here or follow me, Kira. Hup!" Soon she began to jump up by the walls.
Kira just watched her jumping up as he looked for any alternate ways to go up since he couldn't jump up walls like a ninja. It's not in his physiology, but he can do that if he knows how. Seeing that there was a flight of stairs, Kira ran towards the stairs as he ran up.
Once Kira reached up top... He was greeted by Seele glaring at some armed men running away from her... with Sampo, his friends, and Bronya with her.
"Spineless thugs!" Seele growled.
"Miss Seele! Phew, it's a good thing you showed up when you did. My heartfelt thanks~" Sampo, of course, thanked Seele, "These vagrants have got some nerve looking for trouble in Wildfire terri-"
"Shut it Sampo." Seele doesn't want to hear Sampo's excuse, "This has "you" written all over it. Wildfire has countless issues on its plate right now. We don't need a side order of Koski."
Sampo did as he was told as he smiled at Seele and nodded at her either in acknowledgment or fear.
Eh, maybe the latter.
"Guys?" The Astral Express crew looked behind them to see... Kira!
"Kira!" March shouted in joy as she lounged at Kira, who panicked as his face was in between her bosom, "Thank Aeons you're alright!"
"M-MMPH! MMPPH!" Kira panicked as he tried to tell March on what she's doing to him.
"March!" Dan Heng and Stelle barked at their pink-haired riva-I mean friend.
"Oh my~" Sampo raised a brow, "Looks like the kid hit the jackpo-OW!"
"Shut the fuck up, Sampo!" Seele barked at him as she retracted the butt end of her scythe and her face is blushing. Alongside Bronya's. Normally, Bronya would use this chance to escape but... She is too shocked to process what's going on.
"What?" March looked at them with a confused look until she looked back and saw Kira on the ground, released from March's grasp, gasping for air with a blush on his face, "You alright, Kira?"
"You...!" Kira growled, "Did you have to put my face in between your breasts?!"
March just looked at him for a second... until a cat smirk appeared on her face. Damn it, she knew what she was doing.
"But you like it don't yo-OW!"
"Go to horny jail, March!" Kira bonked March's head with Stelle's bat. Mommy Stelle is proud that she tainted the once innocent and forgiving boy into now.
"Good job, Kira." Stelle praised her friend as she raised a thumbs up, with Dan Heng nodding with Stelle at the process.
"Anyways..." Seele started as she tried to get rid of the blush on her face, then she looked at Bronya, "I hear a Silvermane Guard is paying the Underworld a visit... is that you?"
"You kidnapped me and brought me to the underground. What is the meaning of this?" Bronya had to ask... Fucking rich people.
Of course Seele scoffed, she should've expected this coming from someone in the Overworld, so she crossed her arms, "Hmph, listen to her. "What is the meaning of this?" ...She still thinks she's an Overworld princess. Do you know what's become of us down here while you live the easy life? Did you even consider the fate of the Underworlders?"
"The Silvermane Guards aren't "living the easy life." We are constantly engaged with the enemy — defending Belobog from the scourge of attacking monsters... and protecting all those above and below the surface."
"Hah, do you even hear yourself? You? Protect the underground?" Seele mocked, "Redeploying every Guard to the surface, sealing off the only passageway... Protecting the so-called Architects, more like it."
"The Madam Guardian has her reasons..."
"Hmph. Enough talk, you're coming with me. Chief Oleg and Captain wants to see you, and they've got more than a few questions."
And of course... Sampo had to butt in.
"Perfect, Miss Seele! We were just on our way to pay Chief Oleg a visit ourselves. Room for a few more?"
"Fully booked." Seele looked back at Sampo... then she saw the Astral Express crew, "And you three are Kira's friends?"
"Yep!" Stelle nodded at her, "How did you two meet?"
"Bumped into me when I'm on patrol, Kira said he was familiarizing himself in Boulder Town so I had him come with me." Seele explained, "Had to give him a small tour myself to places he's never familiarized himself yet."
"Y'know, Seele, I would charge extra for that if I were yo-OW!" Sampo cried out when he was hit by the butt end of Seele's scythe.
"Shut up, Sampo." Seele scolded Sampo, then she looked back at the Astral Express, "Speaking off, you guys are gonna visit Chief Oleg and Captain?"
"Well it's like this: The chief's in the market for specific talent — an urgent request." Sampo explained as he recovered from the assault Seele did to him, "So, I'm taking them to see him..." Then he looked at Kira, "If you want to join, I'll charge extra-AAHH! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE POINTING THAT THING!" The barrel of Kira's greatsword gun hybrid was on Sampo's face as it began to charge.
"Kira, calm down." Dan Heng tried to calm the boy, "As much as it amuses me, we need him for Chief Oleg."
Kira complied with a grumble as he hid his weapon. Sampo looked at Dan Heng as he mouthed "Thank you" to the girl, who rolled her eyes and subtly gave Sampo a middle finger... as she crossed her arms.
"Also how is your greatsword fixed?" Stelle asked as Kira whispered to her an "I'll explain later" comment.
"Y-Yes!" March nodded, "We're looking for a Stellaron — it's the source of all the disasters here. If we find it, we can—"
"Ahaha — ahem!" Sampo immediately intervenes, "I would recommend you not recite your story to everyone you meet. Miss Seele won't understand it anyway, so let's save it for the chief, huh?"
"You're right, I don't understand it, and I don't plan on passing the message on either. Wildfire's encountered trouble at the Great Mine — both the chief and captain are busy. If you really want to find them, come look for me at the mine entrance. I'm leaving." Seele turned around as she was about to leave, but not before looking at Kira, "See you later, Kira. Take care."
There, she left.
Leaving the boy with the girls and Sampo.
"So that's what happened..." Dan Heng took note once Kira told them how his weapon got fixed. It's all because of his visit with Nous.
"To think that power-up of yours could be a double-edged sword..." Stelle muttered, "At least there's a solution to that."
"Yeah... to visit the Xianzhou." Dan Heng muttered as her expression darkened.
"And not only that, one of your friends is also here!" March added with a cheerful tone,m and it doubles as a way to change the subject because of Dan Heng and the Xianzhou, then her expression faltered, "But... can we really trust Nous?"
"I'm... not sure." Dan Heng admitted as her expression returned back to normal, "But I think we should listen to Kira for this."
"I..." Kira started, unsure if what Nous said to him was true, "I don't know. But it doesn't hurt, right? But for now, let's go for the mission in hand. Finding one of my friends can wait."
"Are you sure?" Dan Heng asked.
"Totally." Kira nodded at Dan Heng, his decision made final, "The Stellaron is what caused the never-ending snowstorm. Let's do that first before we find where one of my friends is. Or rather we can find them while we're at it. Belobog or the Underworld is the only place humans live after all."
Finding his logic to be valid, the girls nodded at him.
"Well, I can live with that." Stelle said with a stretch of her body, "Two birds with one stone? That's a good one."
"Speaking of two birds..." March started as they looked at Sampo and Bronya from their direction, "What are we gonna do about them?"
Sampo either tries to flirt or persuade Bronya while the girl herself is unfazed at the criminal's attempts as she yawns. Her eyes landed on the sight of the group that she was about to arrest as her gaze furrowed.
"...I will arrest you under the supreme guardian's decree. Nothing has changed." Bronya declared.
RF2: And that's a wrap! Yeah, this chapter is shorter but it's better than nothing! Except for no action...MY BAD! So, Kira has not only met Nous, but also met (Mommy?)Natasha and Seele! And not only that, his Evolved SEED factor has a side effect, but they'll have to (obviously) visit the Xianzhou Luofu for that side effect to be gone. So Kira won't use the Evolved SEED factor for a while now, sorry! Okay, now for the elephant in the room...KIANA! Yeah, it was Kiana who transported Kira into the Amber Era, and yes, the omake in chapter 3 is going to be canon now. Anyways! What do you guys think? Good? Shit? Leave it in the comments! This is RF2 signing off! See you!
Edit 12-18-23: Just did some minor edits.
