September 11 2025, Reibai Research Facilities, Planet Reibai
Touka finds herself completely lost eventually coming out from the rooftop where she ends up taking a gaze at the massive size of Windu lake. "Wow... This is actually impressive." Touka remarks as she notices that the sun is setting showing what seems to be a mix of a pinkish and blue sky as what seems to be one of two moons in the sky. "Still, where the hell am I?!"
"Oh it's Touka-chan!" A voice rang out surprising Touka. "Iroha? You're still alive?!" The pink haired girl smiles gently at her junior. "Yeah, its been a while hasn't it? Ever since Ui died and the war started." Iroha and Touka looked at the massive lake and reminisced of old times. The days when they, Nemu, and Ui Tamaki who was Iroha's younger sister were in the hospital fooling around and dreaming about a better world. And how during the war Iroha was believed to be dead. Leading Ui to die from despair. The only reason why Touka and Nemu lived was because the duo was shortlisted for experimental treatment. Iroha holds her arms above her head and remarks. "So if you're here then i'm guessing that you're responsible for Nemu and I still being alive today." Iroha nods her head in denial and says. "No it wasn't me." Touka looks at her old friend with confusion. To which Iroha replied. "There's something I want to show you."
The duo enter a hidden room where they find the preserved corpses of high ranking members of young Puella Magi. With their soul gems being sealed off in a vault. "What are those?" Touka looks in confusion. Iroha sighs calmly and begins her explanation. "Apparently they are all magical girl coordinators. A group of criminals and allies of the Incubators. During then war the Puella Magi community was split between followers of the Goddess and followers of the Calamity. With the more dangerous followers of calamity being either killed or sealed away for experimentation. And its this experimentation that led to this."
Iroha shows the data of an armband like device which is designed to seal and manipulate soul gems. "A binding band. The plan is to either depower the magical girls or use these to prevent them from witching out." Touka looks in awe at the technology and begins using the nearby console to read the data files. "This is amazing!" Touka remarks as she looks over designs for the rest of the RRF research files which include the Mahou driver system and avatar technology. "This is far beyond anything humanity is currently capable of. Methods for physical and mental enhancements, cheap renewable energy systems, a method to transfer physical matter thru large distances instantly..."
As Iroha continued geeking out at the data. Iroha puts her hand at her juniors shoulder and states. "There's even more." At the mention of that Iroha looked back in amazement.
Chapter 24: Deck of wild cards
Arc... Gattai... Systems designed to surpass Gods and devils. Originally the Arc system was meant to stand alone as the key to defeating the Great Calamity. But an act of betrayal made this impossible. instead. By combining using forms known as machines multiple drivers could evolve and become a more powerful giant. This traitor due to their actions has had their name stripped from history and speaking about them is a taboo topic around the populace. In order to compensate the art of Gattai was developed.
It is now the year 8932 of the second history. And thanks to this advancements made many years ago. The galaxy is heading towards a period of revolution. A new era is dawning. But what this new era entails is still unclear.
December 20 2034 The final battle of the "Magical girl war."
IFS theme
Ost: Ghosts and glass, Halo reach OST
Led by the four heavenly king spaceships, the Hakubi, Akatsuki, and Satoshi. Alongside the main ship the larger Mikazuki. Fleets of Ginko Balboa ships, giant Reibai built spacecraft crewed by clones shelled the Incubator home world in unison. The earth cracked and the sky burned as the Incubators and their magical girl holdouts are blown up without mercy using particle cannons designed to literally burn and destroy the dark matter that composes magic energy causing great pain and destruction to magical beings. These weapons known as mana breaker cannons and the fleet which would one day be known and be the foundation of the IFS burial fleet. Ruthlessly glassed the entire planet with any enemy unlucky to be in the world being killed. And any fleeing ships being ruthlessly shot down without mercy and quarter. All the while the Halo series soundtrack blares over the destroyed world from loudspeakers in the ship for the purpose of drama and to rub the wound further.
Kagami Ichijin and Kagemusha enter the bridge of the Mikazuki all the while being congratulated by the crew of the ship on finally achieving their victory. With both Reibai presenting themselves to the generals with the corpse of Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname broken, powerless, and in chains. The former legend still showing the bloody wounds caused by Kagemusha's attack. And forcibly wired into life support equivalent that kept her alive and conscious all the way thru.
"Congratulations Master Ichijin. Karo Kagemusha." A grinning Barragan speaks out while looking at the battered former Goddess placing his decayed zombie hands all over Madoka while Mami looks away in disgust and Ash remarking. "We're gonna have a lot of fun cutting you up." As he sharpens his tentacles in anticipation. "Also I must thank you for the soundtrack Master Ichijin, Karo Kagemusha." The masked apprentice remarks that it was worth figuring out Siri and setting up a playlist that he calls "Music to raze and pillage Mikitihara with."
During that time Kyoko was at the medical ward of the ship. A massive hospital placed inside the deck of a craft thru inter dimensional manipulation of boundaries. A technological innovation that was originally built for the four heavenly king ships that would eventually spread to the rest of the universe. The redhead looks at her companion who is now unconscious and bandaged up. And curses the current situation. "I can't believe I fell for it!" Kyoko mourns as medical drones take readings and scans on the bluenette. One of the robots remarks that its time to scrap the girl. Something that enraged Kyoko as she lunges at the robot in a fury as the two begin to fight it out until a group of Guardsmen separate the duo by force. "You little shits! You're just going to dispose of Sayaka?!" With Jango now a commander slapping Kyoko in the face stating. "Now that the war is going to end and Madoka and the Calamity Homun have been dealt with. We are now being ordered to deal with the rest of their associates." "What?! That's not what Mami said!" Jango then said. "She lied." Much to Kyoko's shock and horror. "Mami Tomoe made a deal with high command. In order to spare the witch Charlotte. She will become a soldier and you are going to be killed off."
Jango then pulled a Beretta 9mm pistol on the unconscious Sayaka. And while Kyoko tried to protect her. The rest of the troopers beat the Puella Magi senseless and handcuffed her. And then got both of her knees shot at. Causing Kyoko to collapse as Jango shot Sayaka in the heart before somehow the magical girl's vitals surged back to life much to the amazement everyone around her. As the other Guardsmen point guns at Sayaka, she awakens with a look of visible confusion. "Kyoko-chan? What's going on?" Kyoko pushes her way to Sayaka and explains what happened only for Sayaka's response to shock everyone in the room.
"Kyoko, who is this Madoka?" "Your childhood best friend!" Kyoko responded seemingly in the verge of tears. While the bluenette looks on confused stating. "What do you mean? You're my childhood best friend. I mean you were the one who stuck by me after Hitomi and Kyouske got together." Everyone just looks at the situation stunned with the medical robots confirming that she really is telling the truth. Jango tells one of the other troopers to head to the bridge and report the situation. While he stayed to look after the duo.
Sayaka Miki
Cosmic plaything
Theme of Sayaka
Symposium Magarum: Puella Magi Madoka Magica
As Kyoko keeps trying to get Sayaka to remember what happened. Only for Sayaka to look at the redhead as a weirdo. Ashtamangala watches over it all in from cameras in another part of the ship alongside Kagami and are taking notes of the situation. "Okay let me get this straight Miss Kagami." Remarked the golden robot. "You and your apprentice beat that zombie girl so hard that she now believes that she is back in the witch labyrinth." Kagami corrects Ash stating that Puella Magi are lichs not zombies and states that it seems that way. Ash merely sighs and retorts. "I thought this nonsense only happened in cartoons." As the machine downed a can of beer somehow despite having no visible mouth and later flattening it with his head.
Kagami meanwhile muses internally on how Sayaka could still be alive. Only for the duo to be interrupted by both Mami and Barragan who suggest a plan on how they should deal with the situation.
Jul 7 s.h. 8932: Inside the Satoshi, above the skies of Mobius
Kyoko Sakura was all by herself in the Satoshi's conference room. Reminiscing about the past as she sat alone in the darkness. She gets a call from Mami Tomoe herself much to the redhead's surprise. "Mami Tomoe? Isn't it Pantheon's job to handle your calls?" Mami not amused at the slightest towards Kyoko's snide insult simply states. "Redips is dead." "The fuck?!" Kyoko replies as things become dead serious. "That's not all. Rebels infiltrated the capital district and the slaves are revolting." Kyoko comments. "I always did say that those Trunka Lunka's were stupid. But that's not possible. Even if the rebels got anywhere near Center they would be shot down by the planetary defense fleet. And even if they got past that. The entire reason why you stay in the capital is because you're that overpowered." Mami angry at the reminder states. "It seems that they had a way to transport a strike team and used it to sneak in." "And what do I have to do with all of this sempai?" Kyoko remarks with nonchalance.
Mami then ordered with an emotionless and seething tone. "Kill Professor Kagemusha." Kyoko just looks at Mami straight in the face and states. "You're kidding? You expect me to believe that man survived going inside a black hole?" The duo remembering how the incident 20 years ago ended. While Reibai was being destroyed by the Calamity Homun. Mami and Barragan were finishing their coup. Slaying all the senators and imposing a junta led by the pair. Kagemusha assaulted the planet in order to get revenge on Barragan and even though he destroyed the entire defense fleet at the time he was stopped by Mami. Whose fight ended after she tossed him into a literal black hole in order to make sure he died.
Mami then shows the video where Kagemusha dared Mami to go after her. After the video finished she downloaded data on Gimme Shelter and its location. Kyoko was skeptical as people tend to die when they are spaghettified by the massive gravitational force of a black hole. Mami didn't care and simply ordered her to go there and kill the masked man for this outrage before cutting off the transmission. After a moment of silence sighs internally and complains about her boss. "No wonder Nagisa dumped her ass..." Before getting another call. This time from the Sakura orphanage. Kyoko picks up the call and talks to a young green haired woman in a nun habit. Yuma Chitose, or to be more precise a distant descendant of said Puella Magi. As said family has long collaborated alongside Kyoko handling an orphanage she created on the side after the war.
"Nee-san! How long are you and Sayaka going to be in space?" Yuma complained as she tries to hold back the gaggle of children who are trying to get a turn in the phone. Causing the typically bitter magical girl to crack a smile. "Sorry Yuma, I have to deal with some work related issues. But after we are done i'll talk to the boss and ask for time off. Yuma looks down and remarks. "Fine... But you better promise!" "Sure, pinky swear and everything." Kyoko replied as she turns the data feed off and leaves to inform everyone else of their marching orders. Still she cannot help but smile as she looks back and remembers the orphans she takes care of now. "Maybe being in the IFS isn't so bad... I don't need to worry about food and housing. And i've managed to get my life in order... And it's still better than what they do to the girls who refused..."
Meanwhile the rest of the crew is busy dealing with their breakfast. The three younger members of the space marine unit are all sitting in a table waiting for food. While Sayaka is busy in the kitchen cooking. Holly Cascade, the youngest of the group at 15 is a brash hotheaded human with wild bright orange hair tied up in a horsetail with a green ribbon and a tendency to wear suits and tie with pink on them. Momoe Tarou at 17 is the middle child of the trio. Being friends with Holly since the academy. She is a mature ojou with long loose blue hair and an expensive fashion sense that makes her seem older than she really is. Unlike Holly, Momoe is calm and somewhat melancholic. With the two being known as the shark idol duo because of the animals their avatar forms use and the fact that on their off time the two attempt to become actual pop idols. With Momoe being very insistent on said goal and even making some crazy schemes.
Holly "Blood" Cascade
Momoe "Jaws" Tarou
The shark idol duo
Theme of the shark duo
Horizontal oath: Cardfight Vanguard if, Ed 2
Then there's the third member and sole guy. Tomio Gordon, a large imposing and muscular Alzak. A race of obsidian scaled lizard people. He is actually 77 years old and unlike the idol duo has been a part of the unit for many years. Being the sole constant for 50 years now. Alzak are naturally long lived so Tonio is still considered a young adult by their standards. Having a peak musculature and rugged appearance due to a daily weightlifting routine. And although he is a clever detective. Being the most put together of the five. He is still treated mostly as the muscle of the group. Which the seven foot tall lizard has plenty of. He prefers to not wear a shirt. Only having an orange jacket and pants. And even now he is shirtless. Pumping iron with one arm and using the other to read the news. And said iron being a 300 pound barbell that would require both arms and considerable effort for a human to lift.
Tomio "Strong" Gordon
The strongarm detective
Strong's theme
Kizuna: Yu-gi-oh 5D's, Op 1
"Really Hol?" "Yeah i'm serious Momoe!" The idol duo meanwhile is engaged in a discussion. While Holly is being passionate about the topic. Momoe is bored and indifferent to the situation while her companion prattles on. "Apparently people that are introduced in the same chapter end up getting killed off!" "And where did you get this information Holly?" "The conspirators united website on the dark web!" Momoe simply facepalms herself and sighs in disappointment. Meanwhile Sayaka brought in an entire cart of food and started placing it on the table. "Everyone, food is served." Sayaka commented with a proud smile on her face. "So? So? What do you think? I've gotten pretty good haven't I?" Everyone ignores Sayaka as they swarm over the food devouring everything much to Sayaka's chagrin.
Kyoko then enters the room remarking. "Oh, there you all are." Only to be glomped by a crying Sayaka who complains about the others eating habits. Kyoko then looks at the group and tells them to leave something for her as she joins the feeding frenzy. Leaving the remaining magical girl in tears as she silently watches as everyone else focuses on the food. Everyone else then asks for seconds causing Sayaka to leave in a slump back to the kitchen.
After it was all over the four marines are licking their chops with satisfaction. "You know, this was good and all. But the takioyaki was way too salty." Tomio remarks. Sayaka who is huddled in a corner of despair merely states. "Oh. Don't mind that. It's merely the saltiness of my tears." Kyoko then gets up at remembers that she came to the group to tell everyone about their current mission.
After explaining the mission directive the group heads to the craft's bridge. The ship being on autopilot as the group head to Empire city. A massive metropolitan city located in Northamer that was rebuilt from the ruins of a ruined city in the Eastern coasts. As the ship lands on Port Enga. An island that was converted into a massive spaceport which was known for its legendary statue of tyranny. A worn down and half restored giant bronze statue with half of its head lost and its right arm being replaced by a cheap plastic arm holding an assault rifle to the sky. With Kyoko looking on at the city and thinking about the situation.
"Thinking about the past again Kyoko?" Sayaka asks as she walks to her partners side. "Do you still don't remember?" Kyoko asks to Sayaka who really doesn't get the question. "Never mind... Still, to think that he survived. The clones should have all died out. Yet he still continues to live. Like a damned zombie." Kyoko muses. Meanwhile Holly and Momoe are looking around the many duty free shops around the port. While Tomio is busy taking pictures of the area. "Seriously, everyone else is so carefree." Kyoko complains as Sayaka drags the stubborn redhead to where everyone else is.
After the space marine group finishes restocking and resupplying the Satoshi. Sayaka, Kyoko, Holly, and Momoe head down to Casino park one of the four sections surrounding the central city known as the Central city district. A massive skyscraper laden cityscape connected and surrounded by large tunnels and a rapid transit train system. With Casino park being located in the south while Port Enga is part of the western district known as the Emerald town. A coastal town with access to beaches and fisheries. Casino park is a neon lit wonderland famous for being an entertainment district. Within Casino Park there is an area known as Night Babylon where the seedier elements congregate. The western area is known as Holy summit. An area that is full of ruins and barren grasslands that are all at the feet of Holy summit mountain. A massive snow capped mountain that soars as high as the clouds. And the northern part is known as Monople. A highly technological city even for Northamerian standards known for being an IT hub for the United Federation. With Megalo station a large railway station that is the southernmost point of a massive railway network that crisscrosses the northern wilds. A massive resource depot with large forests, snowy tundras, and mine dotted mountains.
Tomio stayed behind in the Satoshi. Serving as both mission control and as an emergency backup due to Kyoko's orders. With the obsidian lizard doing reps while waiting for news while watching Disney's Star Wars: Return of the money pit. Which is literally three hours of a shirtless Adam Driver shoveling 100 million dollars into an open fire. It's arguably the best Star Wars movie that Disney made. Tomio remarks. "Now that's peak performance." As he looks at Adam Driver's six pack.
Unknown to the group is that they were being spied upon since landing. As a mysterious man whose face was covered with bandages and wearing a sky blue hakama with large prayer beads was tracking them down. Oddly enough remaining unnoticed despite his large size and strange appearance. Using magic to remain unperceived across the populace.
Club Rouge, Night Babylon
Ost: Main theme, Metal Gear Solid 2
"I was born on a battlefield. Raised on a battlefield. Gunfire, sirens, and screams... They were my lullabies... Hunted like dogs, day after day... Driven from our ragged shelters... That... was my life. Each morning I wake up... and find a few more of my family and friends dead beside me. I'd stare at the morning sun... And pray to make it through the day. The governments of the world turned a blind eye to our misery. But then... he appeared. My hero... Saladin... he took me away from all that..."
"Sir... Maybe you have had enough to drink."
"I'll tell you when I had enough! Also i'm a woman!"
That's how the conversation went between a drunken Dire and the bartender of Club Rogue who thinks to himself. "What kind of a woman sounds like Snake from Metal gear?" Then heads to another customer next to Dire who is drunk and downing one bottle of brandy after the next. "So miss what will it be?" The bartender asked Kyoko Sakura who remarks. "Are you sure you don't need to see my identification?" The gruff elderly man simply laughed off the suggestion remarking. "You're not from around here are you little girl? This is the underground sector. A hive of scum and villainy. It's even rumored that an Eggman base was placed nearby."
"And where may that base be I wonder?" Kyoko asked the bartender as she slipped in a 100 moolah bill. The bartender took the bill and stated. "Look for the gray dome that looks like Eggman's face. You won't miss it." "Seriously?" Kyoko replied to which the bartender commented. "You really aren't from around here huh? Eggman is a total narcissist. He even had multiple space stations with his face on them. Goofy giant mustache and all." Kyoko simply nods and leaves to join the others. All the while wondering what the hell is going on."
As Kyoko remembered the intel that Mami sent. This Eggman guy was considered a local problem by the IFS. And since Mobius was located in the middle of the preservation zone. Far away from the capital or any important areas. The supposed mad scientist was ignored by the government at large. Mainly because he keeps losing to some blue hedgehog. As Kyoko watched a group of aliens pass her by she very much looks on confused. Even after all this time the girl cannot really get used to a world like this. And then Sayaka snaps her out of her trance.
"Hey Kyoko-chan have you found any info?" Kyoko composes herself and apologizes. Going to the others to manage their info.
"So basically, this Gimme Shelter place is a giant dome in the middle of a red light district. And nobody really seems to care that a terrorist group built a secret base underneath a giant metropolitan city?" "That's about it Momoe-chan." Holly remarks as her compatriot slams her head on the table to the shock of the others. "I don't suppose we can just make the local cops do this?" Holly reminds the group. "You do understand that the Mobians hate us right? It's the reason why that Commander guy had us patrolling in the first place."
As the group converse about locating Gimme shelter. Dire is looking at the group in a drunken haze. "Hmm... Those girls look familiar." The bartender asks if Dire is fine to which the latter just shrugs it off. After a few moments the blight finally realizes that they are the enemy and sprints up and towards the group much to the bartender shock. "What about payment?!" Dire replies "Put it on the company tab!" The bartender screamed "Again?" As Dire rushed to meet the girls who were leaving the bar at the time.
Dire runs past the magical girl space marines. Before crashing into a wall and running back towards the group much to the surprise and concern of said magical girls. And screams threats to the group. "Hey you! You're her enemy! Skullraisers appear!" Only for her minions to not show up after several moments. And then gets a tag team punch to the face by Kyoko and Sayaka before the group goes off on their way. And afterwards wakes up to see the large bandaged monk trying to finish Dire off with a butcher's knife. After some awkwardness Dandy tries to hide the knife and claims that he can explain. Only for the Blight to be more concerned about the fact that she can no longer summon minions. With things only getting worse when the visage of an angry Touka Satomi appears to the duo and begins to tear into her creation/underling.
"You fool! How dare you show your face without any results!" Dire twiddles her fingers stating that all of the other Blights haven't been exactly successful either only to get pelted by Touka's fireballs. "That's besides the point! And besides what is with this bill?! 500,000 Moolah on alcoholic drinks from Club Rouge?! How in the hell am I supposed to pay for this?!" "We're bad guys! We're not supposed to pay for stuff!" Dire retorts only to get another fireball this one straight to the face. "Silence! Either you kill those magical girls or I will kill you! Now get to it!" Dire gets up and flees while a content and smug Touka vanishes from sight.
Meanwhile the ignored mysterious man watched it all. Commenting to nobody around him. "What a bunch of freaks!"
Gimme shelter
As both the space marines and Dire enter the facility thru different means. Kagemusha and Monika watch over the situation from Gimme shelter's central lab. While Monika shows visible concern about the situation. Kagemusha chuckles in amusement about what is happening. "I see we have some uninvited guests here. And here I am without housewarming gifts. Let's change that." Kagemusha pushes a button that activates a silent alarm all through the facility. Putting both the Sumeragi troopers on alert as well as activating a compliment of abandoned badniks who head to intercept. "It's a good thing Eggman doesn't recycle. Because it let's me scavenge some neat toys. Kagemusha then activates the repurposed Egg mobile and begins taking off.
Monika concerned wonders. "Is this really what you want? I know we have been planning this for millennia but..." "Monika while I understand that you have doubts about this. There isn't anything to worry about. Once Project Elpis is achieved. We will achieve our dreams at long last. Yes the utopia we have been searching for since we threw off the yoke of our wretched oppressors! The final vengeance against the incubators!" "But if that happens you will die!" Monika replies in desperation. To which the Professor begins to laugh maniacally. A Kefka-esque laugh of such lunacy that it is like something one hears in an insane asylum. "Yessss! I will finally be free! Free from HER shackles!" Then the professor's voice changes to a legion like tone as the shadows of countless dead appear behind him. "We will finally be free! Free from our curse! Free from the calamity!" As Kagemusha leaves with the Eggmobile in tow.
Monika merely steels her resolve and leaves using a portal. Thinking to herself. "There is no other choice then..."
Ost: Tower of the Gods, Legend of Zelda Wind Waker.
Meanwhile inside the facility the Marine's squadron was searching every room with tactical precision. Tearing thru most of the old animal type badniks with great ease with their guns or magical long range attacks that manage to easily outrange a bunch of Motobugs, Buzz Bombers, and Caterkillers. It wasn't until they reached the main assembly line that they faced problems. As they were sniped by Guard Robo's a series of gray colored E-1000 units designed to be used as battle droids and sold for cash. With the E-1000 line being a mass produced variant of E-102 Gamma in its original design. As the group too cover and fired back. Sumeragi troopers shut down the lights and ambushed the group during the chaos. Stealthily going for close range attacks and forcing all four members to transform using their drivers.
Holly transforms into Blood. A pink with white accents armored cheerleader/tiger shark form that takes to the sky with a Kusarigama with blades shaped like shark fins. Tossing her Kusamegama into the robot snipers. Slicing them apart one by one. With Momoe transforming into Jaws. Who had a similar purple suit with Hammerhead shark motifs. Only with a pair of small hammers called the lockjaw gavels and a hammer shaped visor. Who uses her twin hammers to cover Blood. Batting off Sumeragi troopers and the occasional plasma blast that tried to take her out. Using her hammers to deflect blasts back into their opponents. Sayaka and Kyoko transformed into Knight and Lancer respectively. Knight being a blue armor plated variant of her original costume based of a swordfish. And Lancer being a form fitting red biker suit with armored gauntlets and bracers. Kyoko uses her spear transforming it into a giant drill that breaks thru the line and into other areas. With Sayaka following and Holly and Momoe holding the horde back.
Dire meanwhile was trying to sneak around the chaos. Amused that the IFS was being stopped by mere mooks. As Dire snuck around the vents she began hearing the music of a shamishen which started making the Blight groggy for a moment before seemingly snapping out of it and heading towards a arena. Eventually dropping down from the roof and headed into the center of the rectangular arena. Before noticing that she got struck in the back by a sword causing Dire to fall on her knees. The pain snapping her out of the spell as the music stopped.
Dire draws her giant rifle and begins shooting at her assailant which vanishes into mist only to be struck again. Dire shoots again only to miss. And the fight continues the same way for a while until Dire in desperation tosses a flash bang into the ground and tries to head to the high ground. Only to notice that she is in the arena once again. And the mysterious figure stabs Dire in the stomach drawing blood. Swearing inwardly the cornered Blight begins to fire wildly at all directions using up every gun in her arsenal until she spends several moments trying to fire a handgun with an empty clip at the air. Only stopping after realizing for an instant that she was cut in half, dying in the process. With the haunting melody of the shamishen playing around the void.
A moment later the figure of Himeko Kurusugawa. In her administrator disguise of Himiko the sun stops playing music and puts down her driver which takes the form of the shamishen and was playing the music. Before praying for the deceased Dire who is now melting away as her life force leaves her intact corpse. Kaon who is behind her looks at the defeated Blight and its quite surprised that her companion managed to defeat it alone. "I'm surprised Himeko. I didn't think you could pull it off. Still what happened?" Himiko takes of her mask and explains. "Secret technique: Illusionary manipulation. A technique that alters the chemistry of the brain itself and causes a state of false death on an opponent." "So that creature isn't really dead, just unconscious?" "Like I said its a state of false death. Enough to release the necessary data. But not enough to cause a permanent death. It's similar to how voodoo priests create zombies. Not that nonsense you see in movies. But how it works in real life. As the magic alters the body and puts it in a near death stasis that will wear off in three days." "So what now? Do we just leave the guy?" Chikane comments as she pokes the corpse. "Chikane-chan." Himeko replies. "That's a girl." Chikane suddenly stops poking and states. "What?"
Later on Blood and Jaws finished fighting off the robot hordes. When the duo heard loud footsteps coming from the distance. A pair of Egg Knights, giant purple and heavily armored versions of the regular Egg Pawn with giant war hammers in hand marched towards the two girls who readied themselves for battle. "More of this guys?" Blood complains as she tosses her kusarigama at them only for it to bounce off the knights reinforced armor. "Not good!" Blood comments while Jaws tries to encourage her partner. "Stay strong Holly! After all this is the only way we can get back to our senpai! Now, Water style! Shark infested ocean!" Jaws then slams her hammers into the ground summoning a deluge of water and ravenous sharks that bite into the robots as the water tries to wash them away. Only for the knights to power thru the attack much to everyone's shock.
Then the Knights stop and step aside. Revealing the bandage faced man walk towards the group. "I cannot let you thru." The man said in a raspy tone. As if finding it difficult to even breathe. Blood tosses another kusarigama at the man only for him to catch it with his bare right hand and crush the blade with his sheer strength shocking his opponents. Holly demanded that the man introduce himself. Only to be surprised when he did.
"I am the Dandy, Lepard Arach. And I see that you have decided to hold the line, Holly, Momoe."
Lepard "Dandy" Arach
Aesthetic ascetic monk
Dandy's theme
The hot wind is blowing: Metal gear rising revengance
"How do I know? You girls must be thinking. It's quite simple. I have being spying on your actions ever since you entered this city. Also do not worry about your superiors. Unlike you two, my master wants them to live." Blood uses the water to summon more sharks to attack Dandy. Only for the man to obliterate them with his mere aura. Leaving a visible crater on the metal flow beneath him as the water is evaporated into steam. And destroying the Egg Knights in the process. Momoe visibly afraid suggests that the two should retreat this time. Only for Holly to ignore her and rush straight into battle yelling. "You're just a feeble old man! How can you hope to stand against the elite of the IFS?!" Then the bandages covering Dandy's body then spring to life and bind Holly. Leaving both her arms and legs immobile as a pair of stag beetle jaws burst from the monk's bandage face. Alongside a massive grin full of sharp jagged teeth. Holly can only scream in horror at the revelation and would have been eaten alive if Momoe didn't move to grab the first kusarigama to slice apart the bandages and rescue her teammate. Momoe then screams. "What the hell are you?!" Causing Dandy to apologize and then transform before their eyes into a giant muscular insect humanoid monster. With large clawed arms and legs, glowing red compound eyes, large pincers in the face that guard a jaw full of teeth that drips acidic saliva, and large feathery antenna akin to a moth, and a backpack with four spikes jutting out.
"DID HE JUST TURN INTO A MOTHERFUCKING KAIJIN?!" Momoe screamed in horror as Dandy now bigger than both of them and even larger and wider than the Egg knights they previously fought. Walked towards the girls and said. "Well what do you think?" Blood is freaking out but Jaws reassures her partner. "Don't worry Holly. Judging by the creatures size and mass. We should easily be able to outmaneuver him and defeat him with teamwork." Only for the insect kaijin to flash step behind the girls and punch them with such force that they are slammed into the nearby wall. With Blood taking the brunt of the damage. "Well guess who's wrong!" Jaws could only state that there was always room for error before Dandy blitzes the pair and kicks them around the room like a hackysack before tossing the two thru a steel wall.
"Holly? Holly?! Are you still alive." Momoe pleads toward her partner who tried to get up and groan. "Ugh, What was the number of the bitch that ran me over?" Before getting crushed underneath the monster who states. "20!" Before Holly groans out. "Thank you..." Before collapsing from her injuries. Leaving Momoe alone with Dandy. Who after backing up for a few moments draws her gavels and attacks with them using her strikes to fire off pressurized water blasts at the giant insect. Actually dealing damage to her opponent and causing him to back off from Holly. Momoe using her visor scans Dandy and finding his weak points. She strikes them before summoning sharks to bite and bind him. Dragging him down underwater until Dandy's humanoid form burst out from the kaijin form like it was a cocoon. Sacrificing the monster body and launching more bandage balls at Momoe that explode on contact and fire off more binds at her. An enraged Momoe brute forces her way out of the binds and smacks Dandy who tries to block the attack with his right arm. But Jaws gavels shatter the kaijin's arm causing him to bleed on her and fire off a strange mist into the magical girls face. Getting even angrier Momoe beats Dandy over and over again for a good minute. Shattering his body and causing more blood and gas to burst out of his body.
As Momoe prepares to finish off Dandy screaming for him to die. The girl's body suddenly stops moving as she drops her weapons and to detransform against her will. All the while Dandy transforms into his monster form. Healing his body as good as new and rising from the floor with a smirk. "How?" Momoe complains as she collapses into the floor. "Isn't it obvious girl? It's poison. My DNA is based off numerous insects and arthropods. Which causes my blood to have a potent neurotoxin that I can release when injured." "That's impossible! The driver system makes its user immune to poisons when transformed." "Indeed an avatar form is capable of surviving even in the vacuum of space. Unaffected by cold, heat, or radiation. But who did you think created the system to begin with?" Momoe realizes what is happening and looks at Holly who has also been demorphed and poisoned while unconscious. "We Reibai created your precious technology. So who's to say we couldn't counter it if we wanted to?" Dandy's back spikes then sprouted into four spider legs that fire silk streams at both Jaws and Blood. As Jaws is bound up into a cocoon she tries to break out of it to no avail. "It's no use girl. Pound for pound a spider's silk is stronger than steel. My master was always quite proud of this ability. As he could create powerful armor with the materials." "Dammit! Dammit!" Momoe cursed while thinking. "At this rate i'll have no choice. I'm sorry Holly, but I have to use that spell." Then she yelled. "Sacrifice! All devouring fish technique!" Upon saying it, Momoe's body swelled up like a balloon and she started vomiting countless piranha's that both ate the webs and Dandy. But as a cost eat her body as well. As the ravenous fish reach Dandy the screen fades to black. All the while the kaijin smiles confidently as if everything has been planned out.
Meanwhile in the deepest depths of Gimme Shelter. Sayaka and Kyoko sense as their companions have been taken down. Kyoko complains over the fact that Tomio hasn't come to back them up. To which Sayaka reminds her partner about the possibility that communications have been jammed. With Kyoko being incredulous about it. Believing that a local problem like Eggman could never be able to mess with the IFS encryption systems.
"I see that even two millennia of experience still hasn't done anything to tame your conceit. Kyoko Sakura."
Kyoko and Sayaka stop as their advance as an all too familiar figure teleports in front of them. The masked man that had troubled them for so long, Professor Kagemusha.
Ost: X the Legend: Remastered tracks Rockman Zero Idea
"I see Mami didn't have the time or the guts to face me in person. And to think that I allowed Iroha to cause problems even though it would hinder the plan. Just so I could get her to come here." Kagemusha boasts only for Kyoko to sever the Professor's head clean off with her extended spear. With a blow with so much power that it left a visible gash on the wall as the spear tip was inbedded in the metal. Causing Kyoko to struggle to yank it off. "And did anyone tell you that you talk too much?!"
A new head simply bursts out of Kagemusha's severed neck. As the masked mean resumed his speech not even being inconvenienced. "What a rude child. I see your madman cultist of a father failed to teach you proper manners towards evil monologuing." Kyoko screamed out in shock. "Impossible! I cut your fucking head clean off!" "Oh but how do you think I managed to survive the black hole Mami Tomoe chucked me into?" Quickly putting two and two together Kyoko pulls out her strongest attack as she summoned a giant spear that opens up and begins charging up an incredible amount of power. "So you can regenerate huh? Well complete atomization will put a stop to that!" Kyoko then fires off a miniature sun that explodes and consumes the entire room. It's sheer destructive force managing to fire a pillar of energy that pierces through the entire facility. And blasts a hole into the sky that accidentally destroys an entire commercial plane, completelt vaporizing the entire vessel and everyone inside and going into space. With the blast leaving orbit and going off into the abyss of the stars.
"Jesus Christ Kyoko!" Sayaka screams as the two magical girls drops their barriers. "We're you trying to kill us both as well?!" Kyoko simply replies. "At least that man is dead. There's no way he could survive that." Only for Kagemusha to respawn from nothing completely unharmed much to the horror of the magical girls who witnessed it. Sayaka screams out in a panic. "Who? What are you?!" Kagemusha merely laughs as a pair of glowing eyes. One gold, one purple show from behind his visor as he quotes. "A person becomes naive if their too kind. Careless if they're too bold. And no matter how hard you try to protect others, there is no gratitude. Those who cannot comprehend those things aren't fit to become a magical girl. Does that ring any bells? Oh yes, it wouldn't otherwise you wouldn't be here right now."
Sayaka remains silent until Kyoko bursts into a fit of insane laughter. Sayaka tries to calm down Kyoko only to be rebuffed. "Are you alright Kyoko-chan? You look like your having a mental breakdown." Kyoko finishes laughing and coldly orders. "Let's go Sayaka. If we can stop her movements We can win." Sayaka looks on confused as Kyoko uses her barriers to bind Kagemusha before going in for a kill shot. Using her spear to skewer Kagemusha attempting to destroy his heart. Only for Kagemusha to counter it by producing a new heart and healing in mere moments. Kyoko continues her onslaught only for it to go nowhere and the redhead to be left an exhausted mess. Kneeling and panting on the ground. "Are you alright Kyoko Sakura? Maybe you should do some cardio or something." Kagemusha snarks as Kyoko erupts in a burning fury. "I AM A WARRIOR! I WILL NOT BE TREATED AS A FUCKING PUNCHLINE LIKE SAYAKA AND MAMI ARE!" Sayaka tsukkomis back with. "You do understand that the punchline is right behind you right?"
Kyoko dramatically leaps back and raises her spear upward and forward. Charging it with energy until it began glowing blood red. And actually begins calling out her attack for once. "Atone for your sins! Gaeee Bolllllg!" Kyoko then throws her spear so fast that it vanishes. Only to reappear skewering Kagemusha in an explosion of force and blood that it destroys the binds and causes his body to fly around the room until it crashes past a wall and into the nearby sewers. Kyoko then collapses from exhaustion as Sayaka desperately tries to heal her. "Holy shit! I can't believe Kyoko actually used Gae Bolg on that guy! A strike that ignores cause and effect to always pierce thru the heart no matter what. Such a technique could even kill Mami if done correctly." "Hey Kyoko are you alright?" Sayaka spoke out loud as even with healing her right arm was completely limp and immobile.
Then from the destruction a familiar voiced stated. "So that was your Gay bulge? Too bad it couldn't penetrate my raw ass..." As Kagemusha walks up to the group with a giant hole where his chest should be. But otherwise perfectly fine. Sayaka goes forward and readies her blades in the hopes of protecting Kyoko. Using colossal speed to try and disorient her foe and then striking at weak spots. Only for Kagemusha to stand still and state. "Is that all you got Sardine?" Sayaka speeds up even more and boasts. "Don't underestimate me! I will protect her!" Then Sayaka begins her attack, Lunging herself thru countless angles. Attacks with speed that can't be seen with the naked eye and force that shatters the earth itself. Which the Professor dodges with pitiable ease before thrusting his palm forward and grasping Sayaka from the sky. Crushing her face in the process, rising her into the air, and slamming her into the ground. "You always were second rate, sardine."
Kyoko the tries to fight Kagemusha to respawning her spear and lunging it at the latter in desperation which the masked man easily blocks and parries with his blaster. "Really? Where's the hunger little twat?!" Kyoko fuming in rage splits apart her spear and uses the weighted ball in the spear to tangle her foes legs and overwhelm her opponent. Before transforming her spear into a giant pincer to crush Kagemusha who merely states. "It's time... Chaos control!" Vanishing the instant before the attack connects. And reappearing above the duo atop the Eggmobile he stole. Sayaka who had just recovered and saw all of it asked in confusion what happened. To which Kyoko says. "Time manipulation... She didn't use super speed or teleported. She simply froze time. Isn't that right Homura Akemi?" Kyoko then looks at Kagemusha who merely replies. "While you're right about the time manipulation. After all the Ichijin clan of Reibai was one of the few groups allowed to study time travel after the magical girl war. I'm afraid I am not the Calamity Homun."
"Cut the crap you little turd! Why? Why did you betray Madoka?! Betray all of us?!" Kyoko screams out clearly hurt over the past. "Quiet you fool!" Kagemusha screams out. The first time he visibly gets angry at anything so far. "That weakling betrayed me! After all my struggles! All my work! All my sorrow! Everything was for naught! Even now people are still dying due to the incubators and their sick little games! While my brilliance is demonized and weaponized by imbeciles who only care for immediate power and pleasure! Someone had to do something! Otherwise mankind would have laid waste to the stars! Just like they did to their planet! This Mobius, this universe itself! It's proof of concept that I was right! And that the idiots who called me a fool were wrong! That we Reibai will crush the heavens and create a universe by man! Of man! And for man! So, tell me Kyoko? WHO'S. LAUGHING. NOW.
Kyoko simply sighs in disappointment and calmly responds to the rant with. "You are an idiot." To which Kagemusha replies. "I AM THE MESSIAH! I saved the universe from your stupidity! From your selfishness! And I will do what neither Madoka or Homura or God himself could achieve! An eternal paradise! A universe of peace! Prosperity! AND Security! All through my POWAAAAH!" As Kagemusha fires off lightning at the magical girl duo. Causing them to cripple over in pain and agony as their bodies fried and burned. "POWAH! UNLIMITED POWAH!" Kagemusha screamed as he cranked up the intensity of the lightning causing the duo to rise to the air and get tossed into the sewers. Where the water conducted the lightning increasing its strength until both girls passed out and were washed away by the currents. Their bodies lost to the flow.
"Flawless victory." Kagemusha boasts as Chikane, Himeko, and Lepard teleport to him carrying the defeated and unconscious Dire, Blood, and Jaws. "I see all of you managed to defeat the others." Chikane replied. "It was easy thanks to Himeko." Dandy adds. "Indeed, her genjutsu managed to disable that girls self destruct technique long enough for me to finish her off." Himeko then remarks. "And I see you went overboard. Again..."
Dandy then looks at the prisoners all tied up in silk cocoons and asks. "And what about them?" Kagemusha merely says. "Lock up the agents in the lunar tower. That should keep them from interfering until Project Elpis is finished. As for the Blight. Thr Calamitous ones stole and reverse engineered our tech. So it's only fair that we do the same." Chikane looks at the cocoons and remarks. "I feel sorry for that guy. He's going to get turned into the Professor's bitch now." "Chikane-chan, I believe that all the Blights are girls." "Himeko... I refuse to believe that." Kagemusha the remarks. "Anyways we're done here so head back to base. I'll deal with the cleanup."
The trio leaves While Kagemusha flies up the hole that Kyoko's explosion made. As he reached to the sky above. He finds that the local police are already starting to surround the area. Looking at his left arm he comments. "Yes with Chaos control I have surpassed Madoka. All that is left is the completion of the Pandora driver. Reality will be mine to correct as I see fit. And the Reibai's revenge will be complete. Sayaka, Kyoko, enjoy your last days together. For soon all of this will have been nothing more than a bad dream. Yes this world will change. Not thru the use of miracles and magic. But the power of humanity and science."
Kagemusha then drops a small ball of energy that upon contact with the ground consumes what's left of Gimme Shelter. Leaving nothing more than a massive crater below before leaving as well.
Meanwhile Sayaka and Kyoko are washed out of the sewers and dumped in a local waste station where Carlos Cottora ends up finding them by sheer happenstance. He looks at his surroundings and then goes to help the injured duo.
At that time Tomio Gordon is given some bad news by Barragan himself. "I apologize sir. I'm afraid that I cannot gain access to the others. It seems that the combat zone has a jamming field. But that is impossible. Especially for a planet in the ass end of nowhere like this." "Never mind Tomio. Besides it would probably be better for us if they never came back." "What do you mean sir?" "Exactly what I meant Mr. Gordon. Those girls have outlived their usefulness. Now we have a perfect excuse to crack down on the outward regions of the IFS and secure complete control of the galaxy." Gordon doubtful that they are dead warns his boss about their stubbornness. To which the old zombie smiles and remarks. "Then make sure that they are dead. After all I am the only one allowed to control life and death after all." "Are you really planning to do it?" "Gordon my boy. I have been planning to rule the universe. Ever since the magical girl war began. It's the reason why I killed the senate. Including your parents. Gordon, never forget that your life belongs to me." Barragan cuts off communications leaving Tomio alone who punches the console in a fit of rage. "Oh don't worry old man. I'll keep that in mind. And one day I will personally choke the life out of your feeble bones."
Inside the core of the Green Pandora tower
Monika teleports into a room hidden away from the rest of the tower and looks at the contents of the interior. A large engine that is powered by a small green glowing gem. Contained inside a shrine like structure that channel great power into a glowing green beam that rises to the roof above in its center. As Monika opens the container and takes the gem. Placing inside a large suitcase that contains another six gems of varying colors. Causing the engine to shut down and auxiliary power systems to boot up in the tower.
"The seven Chaos emeralds. This is the only way to save him..." Monika remarks sorrowfully as she leaves the room. Teleporting away with nobody the wiser.
To be continued...
That's it for this chapter, if you like what you see. Feel free to subscribe, comment, and interact. We enjoy hearing from you the reader!
This chapter introduces Sayaka and Kyoko who have been alive ever since the magical girl war and with the Earth and their homes being destroyed and everyone they knew being long dead are spending their lives under the IFS thumb. And while Sayaka due to trauma induced amnesia believes in their goal alongside the younger members of their new unit of space marines. Kyoko chides under her new life being well aware that she and Sayaka are constantly threatened with death in order to keep them in line. Holly and Momoe and their driver designs were inspired by the Symphogear gears. With Jaws especially being inspired by the original Senshou Jing.
The group itself is inspired by the main characters of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger. With Sayaka and Kyoko being expies of the Gouraijer duo. The younger trio and their respective themes are meant to show that they are the hero antagonist faction. Enforcers of a dystopian status quo. While Kyoko and Sayaka use their old themes because the other Madoka characters all use their original theme songs as a rule.
Kyoko being the owner of an orphanage and Sayaka's violin hobby were inspired by old comments involving what would the magical girls do if they never met Kyubey. In which it was stated that Kyoko would have rebuilt the church and turned it into an orphanage. She is just doing it on another planet since both Mikitihara and nearby Kazimono and Kamihara were annihilated during the start of the magical girl war.
Center's status as the capital of the IFS was intended as a monument of humiliation and defeat towards the incubators. As the entire acumonopilis was built on top of the destroyed Incuba and the corpses of countless enemies who were ruthlessly slaughtered by vengeful aliens. It's like the Hoover dam only that it was intentionally built using the corpses of the dead as a foundation. With the capital district being placed on top of the land where calamity castle used to stand in. As a symbol of burying the past and creating a new future.
The statue of tyranny its an homage to the final boss of TMNT Shredder's revenge. And may be the actual statue of liberty. With Empire city being a reconstructed New York city after centuries of abandonment and decay.
Dandy originally was designed as an effeminate being with a monster form similar to Zarbon. But was later redesigned in a later draft to be inspired heavily by Mikihisa Aaskura and Shaman king in general. Both to make him distinct from other masked men in the fic. Which is why he wears bandages and small glasses to conceal himself. And because such a motif feats the Reibai who were heavily inspired by Japanese aesthetics.
The Moolah is the IFS official currency and the standard around its territories. It's similar to the American dollar bill. So 50,000 M, means that Dire owes the equivalent of half a million dollars in drinks.