All rights are reserved to their respective owners. I own nothing in this piece of fiction except my OCs and the story itself.
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"You've been slackin' off, cowboy."
"?!"
Nebula found himself in an ethereal and cosmic void, surreal yet stimulating to the eyes.
Many stars lit up the space with comets and asteroids zooming by, creating a busy scene that still maintained extravagance.
Yet there was a being who sat atop a comet that was nearby, unnoticed by the adventurer.
"Over here." It beckoned, mockery leaking from its voice.
"What the-" The GPU twisted to see nothing but a passing meteorite.
Yet a hand made it to his shoulder.
A sudden chill ran through his spine, the hairs on Nebula's neck raising from sudden contact.
"Yer oughta know if someone's behind ya. Bad things happen when ya don't." It sounded something like the blue-haired meme lord but with a more guttural and broken manner of speech.
"Gah!" The young man meeped with shock before his eyes shifted to see the individual that had managed to sneak up on him, despite all of his sensory capabilities.
"Prancing around with a bunch of morons without any care, all to defeat some overhyped goddess. Yer an expert on wasting ya time." The voice told him.
Turning around, Nebula shifted his body away from the mysterious voice to observe the figure.
He was his height, his size, his eyes... And his face?!
Most of what he saw made him consider that he was staring into a warped mirror.
Differences from his own appearance included the man's messy alabaster hair that hung down to his shoulders.
Another was his clothes, that being a sleeveless skin-tight top with cargo joggers sporting many zippers and pockets.
Silver rings on his right hand with chains starting from each piece of jewelry wrapped around his forearm with the end of the chains sporting broken links.
A chrome earcuff on his left ear with a dark ragged cloak barely going down to his back that contained a starry pattern.
And a pair of legit Air Jayden 1s High Retro 85s that were a crisp black and white.
Wait a sec, he wanted those shoes when he was little, so why...?
Why did he have them?!
"Seem a lil' confused, doncha? It's ta be expected. After all, ya wouldn't know who I am from the start." It grinned, which was surprisingly annoying to Nebula despite the man looking eerily similar to him.
"Why do you talk like a bumpkin?" Nebula's face exercised scrutiny.
"Why not? I'm actually purdy intelligent, so throwin' you off with the accent is scintillatin'." The voice told him.
"...Accents aside, just who are you? And what's your deal with telling me I'm slacking off, huh?" Growing annoyed, the blue-haired protagonist folded his arms as he growled.
"One question is simple, the other one not so much. So I'll start with the easy one." It responded.
"Yer slackin' because last time I checked-"
It pointed to its chest, where a necklace that had a cluster of stars in a glass sphere yet only surrounded a moon was seen.
"I CAN ONLY BLOW UP A FUCKIN' MOON! THAT'S BARELY BIGGER THAN PLUTO'S IRRELEVANT ASS! HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH BEING SUCH A WEAKLING?!"
...
...
"W-What does that have to do with anything?" Discombobulated, Nebula struggled to understand the big picture.
"It has to do with all this potential ya got premium access to, and ya still suck ass. You basically bought a premium Nepflix subscription and don't use it!" The voice insulted.
"You can create miracles, I can create calamities. It also seems that ya have the power of a 'scary spirit' up yer sleeve. Be it as it may, your bloodline even consists of the ability to purge eldritch abominations. How are ya still a scrub with all of this free shit?" A raised brow poked at the meme lord's visage for an answer.
"I dunno! What's this about abominations and scary spirits? And you can cause WHAT?!" Questions rattled out of the Joestar's mouth like an M2 Browning.
"Finer details would be tellin', now. No use spillin' to someone who wouldn't even know how to eat the beans." Scoffed the being.
"Then how do I get this information out of you?" A reasonable question was asked.
"Oh, I don't know... GET STRONGER!? THAT'S THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT OF ME BRINGIN' YA HERE!" The being exploded in an irate exclamation.
"The basics were a freebie, but anything juicy costs an ass-kickin'." The terms were stated.
"In short, the stronger you get, the stronger I become. You're barely getting stronger, AND yer taking yer sweet ass time with a bunch of pussies around ya that 'cha don't even screw!"
"OI! Those lovely ladies are my friends, you jackass!" Fumed the blue-haired adventurer, a tick mark on his head.
"Haha! First time I've seen a guy friendzone himself. And besides, ya nailed one of those 'friends' already and slept in the bed with another! Ya can fool everyone else, but not me, fuckhead!" The voice cackled with a beast-like grin.
"And what's your deal with power? Not motivated enough to do it yourself?" Taunted the meme lord with a smirk.
"Look who's talkin' bout motivation! I'm not the one who got his ass beat by a lawyer, and resorted to cock slapping a space hooker!" Nebula's face fell with a devilish snigger from his pseudo-copy could be seen.
"Those were-"
"Exceptions? Don't give me that shit. Any day of the week you'd end up in the exact same spot." Pointing to the blue GPU, his smile lowered to a serious frown.
"Face it, Noobula. You're weak." He spat.
This declaration stirred something up from the deity, he couldn't help but feel irritated. Who's this random character he never saw before in the fanfiction, calling him a scrub no less?!
He could not let this slide.
"Then why don't you PROVE IT!" Rushing to the figure, he cocked back his fist and prepared to smash his skull in.
Yet he never arrived at that truth.
DOOM!
Instead, he was repelled by an enormous force of gravity, far more than anything he'd ever mustered until that point.
As the figure repelled him, a come hither motion with a single finger beckoned the god for another bout of failure.
VOOM!
But before an agitated Nebula lunged ahead, the man's hand opened with an attractive force causing the GPU's neck to be ripped forward, his boy forcibly following.
His breathing appendage found itself death-gripped by the man as he gave a smug expression, the snarling meme lord glaring with constricted eyes.
"Prove it, he said. Exceptions, he said." On the verge of laughter, the man maintained just enough pressure so that Nebula could get the least amount of oxygen necessary to live.
Nebula's pores started to hiss with steam before enclosing the two in a cloud of steam.
WHOOSH!
"?!"
Yet a pulse of the gravity used to repel was exuded, clearing his smoke in an instant, revealing the gun that he was pointing at the voice's forehead.
BANG!
Pressure released from Nebula's neck as he nursed the appendage, coughing violently with the pistol aimed at the mysterious man; his opponent's head reeling back alongside the blood gushing from his face.
"Forgot that 'cha had that pea-shooter." Looking ahead, a large wound that bore through his skull was present, brain matter visible.
Yet it restructured the bone, musculature, and layers of skin before closing completely as if Nebula had never shot him.
"H-How?!" Shock overtook the rational thought process of the GPU's brain.
"Wouldn't ya like ta know?~ But I'm satisfied ya managed to pull a fast one on me, so I'll end it here." Cupping his chin in interest, a raised brow accompanied by a snide smile faced the deity.
"You still got another question! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Nebula demanded, still aiming the gun at him.
"Right. I almost forgor. Since ya asked so kindly." Cue the sarcasm.
"I'm da shadow that lies within yer subconscious. The opposite of yer conscious superego. All that ya distance yourself from, I embody fully. Cunning, ruthlessness, brute strength, and the fawning of countless bitche-"
"Hey! You can't have any bitches, because I don't have any bitches. Last time I checked, there's no women inside here." Gesturing his free hand, only the cosmos greeted the two.
"..."
"..."
As if the cosmos wanted to taunt the pseudo-protagonist, a glowing blue lunar object floated past the two of them.
"Ah. A blue moon. Perhaps ya can be smart." The mysterious figure relented.
"Are all your words going to be insulting?" Nebula droned.
"It's the only way you'll learn." The voice responded snidely.
"Learn what?" The GPU's head tilted.
"Case an' point." Nodded the man with a curt smile.
"Go fuck yourself." Grimaced the deity.
"I thought 'cha stopped masturbating." A raised brow with a particular Rocc meme was plastered onto the aspect's face.
"That's it! I don't care who or what you are! You're nothing like me!" Comical anger arose in the meme lord's voice.
"Didn't 'cha just hear me say that, ya dumbass-..." The mysterious figure's face wrinkled before facing the readers with a deadpan expression.
"So from this day forward, I'll call you...!"
"ALUBEN!"
...
...
"...Yer very unoriginal, ya know that?" Another deadpan.
"And what are you gonna do about it?" Another challenge.
"Nothin'." Closing his eyes, the mental aspect relaxed.
"Nothing?" Suspicion and confusion dominated the GPU's emotions.
"After all..."
Aluben's ringed hand rose before each of the rings glowed cyan with dark orbs appearing and branding themselves on the knuckles of the mental aspect.
Clenching his fist, he lowered his frame before rushing ahead, the fabric of space rippling from his speed.
Nebula didn't even comprehend that his mental aspect was no longer in the same position until he noticed that he had no chest cavity.
Blood and bone floated around the GPU's body, his eyes whitening from the brain registering pain and damage. His body began shutting down all physical sensory only having the energy to slowly lurch forward with some of the red rum shifting out of his mouth and nose.
"...!"
"Yowai mon~." A teasing twinkle was the last thing Nebula heard before being hurled through space at incomprehensible speeds, the fleeting face of Aluben and the zipping lines of stars becoming vapid.
He felt himself being sent into someplace bright, and warm. Most likely a star from the warmth and heat he felt.
When all senses dulled to absolute numbness, the warmth stayed with him.
'So warm...'
...
..
..
!
Eyes snapping open, the blue-haired protagonist awoke in a cold sweat despite his warm conclusion. Hitched breaths and a hammering chest did little to change this intense state.
Nebula's eyes darting around, the GPU quickly looked for something that affirmed he was indeed awake. The scene shifted to a guest room in the Basilicom, spacey and neat with some ambient furniture and large windows.
The rays of sunlight that danced on his bare skin did the trick to calm his nerves; his breathing slowing down.
It reminded him of the same warmth he felt in his... dream?
No, much too violent for a dream. Encounter was a better term.
Aluben was far too powerful for what he was worth.
An overly aggressive personality was NOT something he wanted to deal with, and the adventurer had a feeling that it could be accredited to those goddess-forsaken VPUs.
How else does someone strong enough to kick his ass just randomly spawn in his head like it was scripted.
Wiping his face with his gravity, he let out an airy groan.
"The goddesses better make sure I'm set for the rest of my immortal life with this hassle." Grumbled the adventurer, the early morning mood settling in.
'7:30 AM.'
Looking at the clock, it was relatively early.
Rubbing his eyes, the blue-haired Joestar tried to move. Yet he found himself pressed under weight on both sides.
"My arms are stuck. Pins and needles?..." He looked to his left.
Compa peacefully slumbered, cozying up to his arm as it found itself in between her sizeable breasts. She wore a silky nightgown that barely covered her upper thighs with her nipples poking from the fabric.
She unconsciously moved about, clinging onto the GPU's arm while talking in her sleep.
"Neb-Neb, you're so rough~... Be more gentle with me, I bruise easily." She moaned, to the deity's surprise, his features slightly reddening at her words.
'How in the hell did Compa end up sleeping next to me... Again.' The GPU mentally guffawed, before shaking away his awe and looking to the next side.
Taleia in a pair of black lacy bra and panties, most likely Veronica's Affair. Wait a minute, she only wears that when she's going to-
...
The last time the adventurer checked, he was not a harem protagonist.
'...Called... It...' Aluben's voice echoed, to Nebula's chargin.
"Mhn~... Don't move so much, Nebby. Your body's so warm and hard~" Murmured the sleeping half-elf, a faint heat rising off her cheeks.
Something else was rising, and it was not the Shi*ld H*ro.
"I'm getting horny. I gotta do something, fast." A wry smile with hungry eyes struggled to maintain their inner urges.
'...DO THEM, NEBULA! DO THEM!...'
'NO, ALUBEN! I WILL NOT LET MY INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS WIN!'
- WARNING: LIME INCOMING! -
'N-NANI?! NARRATOR, NO!' A dramatic internal monologue to the author took place.
'Narrator, yes...' An evil laugh was heard from within the GPU's mind.
Nebula's head space was all but clear with the lust and temptation bubbling inside the god's body.
"Taleia's already been down that lane, so not really that big of a deal... But I-I can't corrupt Compa. She's so sweet and innocent." The GPU murmured to himself, just loudly enough for the elfing to twitch an ear before opening her eyes slightly.
'You know what they say; good girls always have a bad side...'
'This is Compa. She's never been interested in those kinds of things.' Nebula defended his nurse companion's honor.
'Compa was awfully interested in our staff of desire when had that full body check-up in Planeptune, no?' The mental aspect reminded the deity.
'Isn't that her job?' The Godly Progenitor Unit stated matter of factly.
'It's not her job description to feel sad when you told her no, now is it?' Aluben's tone could only be described as obnoxiously teasing.
'That's because she couldn't complete her check-up.' Nebula justified.
'Even when you slept next to her that same night, and spooned?' Aluben exposed the files.
A moment of silence was granted for the memetic divinity to think.
'Nope. Compa's my friend. I'd never do something to her, while she's unconscious no less.' Nebula remained steadfast with his ethics.
'... Then if you don't, I will.' The mental ego decided for the GPU, before he felt his bodily control leave his abilities.
'W-Wait!' The adventurer protested, to no avail.
Although harem anime logic dictated he was perpetually fucked any way he looked at it, considering who was in bed with him at the moment with their personalities, the only true threat would be someone entering the room from outside.
As of now, no such threat was near.
Yet the fact that his body was no longer his to control, Nebula knew he was screwed from all sides in any case.
Shifting his arm around the Nurse-in-Training's cleavage, Compa began to make all kinds of perverted noises.
She softly moaned, airy breaths of unconscious pleasure escaping her soft lips with her face deepening in color to a more pronounced shade of red.
Taking it a step further, the alter ego used the position of Nebula's hand to grab the inner thigh of the bubbly nurse. Slowly massaging the supple flesh, the congo pink-haired girl rubbed her thighs between his hand at a very excited pace.
"A-Ahn~..." The angelic voice of Compa made a delightful gasp to the GPU's arousal.
'Wait, is she enjoying it?!' An incredulous look on the Joestar's face started to emerge.
"Neb-Neb, stop teasing me... I want you to put it in already~" The girl groaned, holding his wrist with her own hand.
'I think you're taking this a little far-' The protagonist started to analyze the situation, the arousal still not where it needed to be for reckless abandon fueled by horniness to reign supreme in his mind.
'Don't be a pussy. I thought your name was Brave Heart?' Goaded Aluben.
'You're not gonna make me fall for that again-' Frowed the deity.
'No balls?' Cue a M*gamind meme.
Nebula's face hardened, the man unable to let a second affront stand on his character, despite having no control over it.
ドドドド!
Moving his body, the hand inched closer to Compa's form.
YANK!
"?!"
Yet his body was pulled back to the center, with an elfling wide awake accompanied by a lascivious smile. Her hair was untied, long straight hair trailing down her back.
"Where do you think you're going? You give Compa all your attention but leave me alone?~" She pouted, before nibbling his earlobe and humming into his ear.
The GPU's breath became heavy as the woman on his right robbed her hand on his chiseled chest.
"How you treated Compa made me all hot and bothered. So you're going to have to take responsibility. Fufufufu~" The elfling laughed, before planting several kisses down the man's neck in a risqué manner, moving her hand lower and lower down his chest.
"Don't you want to get freaky like how we used to?" She reminisced, holding onto something that reminded her of those times.
"I see you've grown since those times, too. I wonder if it'll still fit? Don't make me beg~" A lecherous smirk that was soon followed by the elfling biting her lip made the GPU awaken something deep within.
'Then something just snapped, something inside of me. I didn't care anymore.' Nebula's mind went blank.
'I didn't care about proving Aluben wrong, I didn't care about Compa's innocence.' Then his dong expanded.
'I didn't care if I lived. I didn't care about anything!' His hands moved down to each of the women's nether regions.
'And then... It happened.' His fingers entered two planes of Elysium.
"Hey, Dad. I need money to bet against Gris that you get no bitches-" Domio's voice projected through the doorway, having completely bypassed Nebula's distracted senses.
"AMBATUKUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!"
"OUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!~~~"
"!" A sharp gasp from the elfling was quickly covered by her mouth
The first thing the preteen witnessed was his foster father's immaculate yell, followed by a lustful shout that Compa made immediately after.
Taleia quickly took the covers and yanked the comforters over all three of them to shield Domio's eyes from the adult sights.
"HNNG!-"
The Nurse-In-Training still fidgeted, shivers running down her spine with the powerful sensation beginning to wake her up. The elfling had to death grip the GPU's hard drive to prevent him from making a mess.
This did the trick in making the deity as blue as his hair.
'Blueballed by our own son. For shame, Noobula...' Mocking chuckles were the last before Aluben fell silent.
"..." Domio's brain struggled to process the scene before him, an unreadable expression across his features.
"D-Domio. It's nice to see you this morning." Being the only one mentally capable of speech, Taleia struck a very awkward conversation.
"... Y-Yeah." Noticing his stuttering, the Loweean cleared his throat. "S-So, uh. Why is Compa and Nebula in bed with you?" A mildly suspicious glance made the elfing nervous.
"I'm here because I... Er... Got cold last night." Taleia barely maintained eye contact as she said that.
"And Compa?" Domio rose a brow.
"D-Domio?" Compa's eyes fluttered, trying to focus on the preteen despite the fog in her head. Yet the heat between her legs made her moan quietly.
"Are you sick, Compa? Wow, that's ironic." The warlock breathed through his nose. "Do you want me to get you something to drink? Some water?"
"N-NO!" Taleia jerked forward, yet she accidentally squeezed the USB, making Nebula suppress a pathetic cry. "Ahem, I mean there's no need for that, she already took her medicine. Just let her rest." The swordswoman tried to fabricate a story.
"Alright. But why are you two in bed with her if she's sick?"
Taking his hand out of Taleia's mystery dungeon, the woman bit her lip and closed her eyes with an embarrassed face upon exit before the male spoke.
"Because we wanted to be there for Compa. That's what friends are for..." The GPU wheezed, the elf still squeezing the SP out of his joystick.
"Ok. I'm going outside now. You guys want me to lock the door?" Domio inquired.
"Yes."/"YES!" Both Nebula and Taleia agreed, to which the warlock nodded before locking & closing the door.
With no one else interrupting, the two let out a sigh of relief.
"Hey, Tals. Can you stop strangling my controller like a python?" Nebula gave a pale expression.
"R-Right." Releasing the skin flute from its captivity, the adventurer also took this as an opportunity to cease Compa's finger blasting.
The ditzy girl at last could communicate, as she felt very lightheaded and majorly confused.
"Neb-Neb? What are you doing in my room?" She too was skeptical.
"This is my room." Nebula blankly responded.
"Yeah, it's his." Taleia agreed.
"It is?... Wait, Taleia? Why are two of us in his room!?" The implications made steam shoot out from the Maker's ears with comical saucers.
"I got lonely." The elf blurted. "Although I'm not quite keen on why you're here." The woman scratched her head.
"I'm not sure either. Maybe you sleepwalked." Shrugged the deity. "Last time I slept in your bed, you didn't do that."
'NEBULA, ARE YOU FUCKING RETARDED- Wait, never mind.' Aluben went to blow up on his other self, before realizing the partial validity of his own words, at Nebula's expense.
"The last time you what-" The half-elf reeled in confusion and slight jealousy.
"Nep Nep warned me about this! She said that if I wasn't careful, I'd be a part of some stinky Gary Stu's harem!"
Taleia visibly held back her laughter at that, as opposed to an agape Nebula.
'...Nep-Nep needs to shut the fuck up-up!' An adlib from the mental aspect.
'ALUBEN, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT! Compa would hate us if she knew what you said!' A furious response was given.
'I know ya don't care 'bout slander, but I'd like ta see that pudding brain say that to mah damn face!'
"Compa, I'm not a Gary Stu. I'm not even a Gary soup. And besides, I didn't do anything too crazy." Scratching the back of his head, the Joestar gave an awkward smile.
"Then why do my legs feel slimy?" Looking down, she tilted her head. There was a lot of liquid and smelt familiar, and weird.
"You just peed yourself." Nebula waved off, with Taleia appropriately putting a hand on her mouth in astonishment at the adventurer's reasoning.
'That's messed up. I see my influence is rubbing off on ya~' An entertained giggle, with NEbula's mobility reeturnign to him.
'LOOK WHO'S FUCKING TALKING!- THIS IS YOUR FAULT I HAVE TO LIE TO HER, YOU ASSHOLE!' The GPU reminded Aluben of the conditions that he set for his main conscious.
"I-I did!? But I-I haven't done that since elementary!" An embarrassed response had the Nurse-In-Training especially bashful.
"Don't sweat it. You just had too much to drink last night. We'll keep it a secret, right Tals?" The GPU winked, to which the swordswoman discreetly nodded before running with the story.
"Yeah. It's perfectly natural. Just take a shower and we'll go after you." The GPU was very understanding of the situation.
"T-Thank you for keeping this a secret, Neb-Neb. I really appreciate it. I'm gonna go now." The flustered nurse took to the bathroom immediately.
With the two alone, they blinked before looking at each other.
"You don't even know how lucky we were." Huffed the elf, disappointed that she had to lie her way out of consequences.
To be honest, considering who it was, the consequences would not be light in any case.
The GPU was not unaware, taking up the half-elf on that offer.
"Don't I? If it was AL or goddesses-forbid Gris that walked in on us... I'd never live it down." Sighed the GPU.
"I wanted this to be a special morning but I guess fate had other plans..." The half-elf rubbed her arm and looked away.
The half-elf felt Nebula's hand on top of hers, turning to see his fond smile.
"It's been a long time since we've been like this. Anything that you do with me, I'll always cherish it." He locked fingers with her, inching his face closer.
"Not like I didn't know that... Now gimme some sugar, ya himbo~." She smirked before closing the gap, locking lips with the man before they wrapped themselves in the covers, the flames of passion rekindling between the two.
...
...
...
"Vergo, pass me the salt." AL stuck out his hand, across the dining table.
"Just a minute... 'Ere yew go, AL." Using his aerokinesis, the time traveler floated the shaker to the martial artist.
"Ah... Now my eggs are saltier than a ranked match on League." Happy at the state of his breakfast, the man proceeded to pig out.
"Yes, that game." Gris eyerolled. "Honestly... Do people still play that game where you're from?" The assassin glanced at the blonde.
"..." An awkward glance to the left gave the hitman all the information he needed, resulting in a facepalm.
"What is this 'League' you speak of?" Kallen gazed at the fellow white-haired deity.
"You sweet summer child," Gris shook his head with a smirk so small, you needed a magnifying glass to see it. "Blessed are those who never suffer the tribulations of that torture device." His silver eyes locked with her sky-blue orbs.
"R-Really? I'm sorry I asked." The nun gained a sweat drop.
"Rarely enough, I forgive you." Seeing the nun in a more untainted light, Gris maintained a level of respect for her. A noticeable smile was met with a warm one from the sister.
"... Was Gris nice just now?" AL looked to the green CPU Candidate, an incredulous look on his face.
"Bloody 'ell. We should've made him sing sooner...!"
Whatever positivity was on the manslayer's face faded, a dark expression directed to the two males.
ゴゴゴゴ!
"You just HAD to call it out." AL gave a snide smirk to the blonde.
"W-Wot? Yew said it first, ya plonker!" A tick mark with comical anger was Vergo's response.
Whilst they argued, Kallen struck up another conversation with Gris.
"At first I thought you'd yell at me, yet you remained composed." The otherworldly woman assumed.
"Persecuting the ignorant is below me. Punishing the peanut gallery is a different matter." A side glance at the two fighters made them act inconspicuously before the nun giggled at their antics.
As their conversation persisted, another one arose.
"Nepgear, could you not eat with all those cogs by your table." Uni sweatdropped.
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Uni. It's just that these two have a nasty habit of getting lost so until I'm gonna keep my eye on them at all times!" The Planeptunian CPU Candidate took a bite of her toast while eyeballing the two pieces of metal.
"Just keep them in your inventory. I don't see the point of keeping them outside." The Lastation CPU Candidate slightly lowered her brows.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm-"
"CRUD!" Ram slammed the table with her fists, causing the bolts to fly in the air.
"Gah!" The gearhead's heart sank as her bolts fell.
Rolling her eyes, the twin-tailed goddess took her empty glass and caught both of the objects before putting them on the table.
A huff escaped the tsundere goddess as she flicked her hair. "I told you so. Now put them away!" Haughtily, the young goddess instructed her peer.
"Yes, Uni..." A slightly embarrassed Nepgear did what she was told.
Opposite the two senior CPU Candidates, Ram had slammed down the table to Rom's surprise.
"I totally forgot to prank everyone!" Lamented the pink CPU Candidate.
"That's what you slammed the table for!?" Uni squawked, unable to believe the petty reason.
"Uh, yeah! Totes bogus that we didn't do any of it. I mean, we did get to see that Lowee kid all flustered." Snorted the pink girl.
"It was kind of cute..." Giggled Rom, smiling as she did so.
"Wait, what?" Ram turned to her sister. "It's supposed to be funny, Rom!"
"Oh, s-sory sis." She shook her head with some pink on her cheeks.
"Don't tell me you actually like that boy. Boys are gross and weird." The pink goddess stuck out her tongue.
All males at the table immediately stopped and flatly stared at the CPU Candidate, who subsequently waved sheepishly before they focused on their conversations.
"Blanc told us not to be around them too long anyway." Ram rephrased.
"But Domio's not like the ones she talks about, right?" Rom was unsure of her sister's words for once.
"Sounds like someone might have a-" IF was about to bring up the topic of interest, only to be cut off.
"Nuh-uh! Rom's not interested in some kid. We're CPUs!" The pink CPU Candidate brushed off the Guild Agent, with the blue twin sister staying silent yet unsure.
"Harsh. Good thing the squirt's not here to hear this." A sympathetic look from the brunette Guild Agent surfaced as she mulled over the words.
"Wait... Didn't I send him to go get Compa? I wonder if she's alright." The Wind Walker of Gamindustri thought aloud.
"It has been a while. Perhaps we should check on our young sidekick?" Nisa put the option on the table.
"I'm not even sure he knows where Compa's room is. I'll go and-" IF's train of thought was once again interrupted.
"Have some faith in the kid. Besides, I don't want my food to get cold lookin' for him. I don't think you'd want yours to suffer the same fate either." Gust spoke before eating some bacon and eggs.
"... Aren't you a child?" MAGES. inquired.
"I'm a mature 35-year-old." Gust justified.
"..."
Choosing to not acknowledge the response, the Mad Magician retained her sanity for once.
"Leanbox's Basilicom is so grand... Even their dining hall is huge!" 5pb. gaped.
"One would not have thought so during the previous events that transpired here." Referencing the vampiric menace, Cave looked at the idol singer.
"Oh please, it's all over Chirper. It went on trending after Future Heart and I announced it." Pulling out her phone, Chika showed her the post.
"Yeesh. I didn't have time to check my socials before the show. Now that you mention it, it's really #1!" Scrolling, the girl sifted through her timeline.
With everyone having a nice breakfast, the pace of their journey had slowed down for a little while.
That being said, it wouldn't alleviate them of the hijinks. Domio had finally found himself back in the dining hall, going to get Compa that glass of water.
Walking past the table, some of the party noticed him, specifically IF.
"Hey, Domio. Have you seen Compa?" The Guild Agent called out to him.
"Yeah. She's in Nebula's room, sleeping next to him." Domio blurted out before understanding the words that escaped his mouth.
The hall went silent.
...
'Fuck.' The warlock internally cursed.
...
...
...
"I can explain." A shirtless, sweaty, blindsided blue GPU with messy hair leaned in front of his doorway with multiple hickeys.
"THE HELL YOU CAN!" IF fumed, eyeing the love marks before moving her gaze back to him.
Everyone had gathered around the blue male's room to confront him, a sulking Domio still facepalming in disappointment.
"THIS IS WAY WORSE THAN THE LAST TIME!" She accused.
"This happened before?!" Nepgear guffawed at the unexpected repeat.
"The last time you stabbed me over a misunderstanding." Nebula narrowed his eyes. He knew it was too good to be true, the harem hijinks landed him in a detestable situation like this.
He had the voice inside his head to thank for that.
"Average South L*ndon experience to be honest." Mused the blonde CPU Candidate.
"And I'll do it again." She dangerously eyed the deity. "If you did anything weird to Compa, I'll slice it off!" She threatened, all the males instinctively holding their crotches.
'Never again will I trust Aluben's advice for women.' Internally sighed the adventurer.
'You should be placing your trust on the awkward-situation-harem-protagonist trope not coming full circle.' Aluben responded with a drawl.
"How much do you think a deity's joystick would go for on the black market?" Gris looked to AL.
"Why would I know the answer to that question." Deadpanned the martial artist.
"Right, you and Nebula share a brain cell." The cleaner eye rolled to AL's offense.
"Nothing happened." Declared the pseudo-protagonist.
"Liar." The group unanimously chanted.
"You guys weren't even there! And Domio, you saw!" Nebula pointed at his foster son.
"Sorry, Dad. Peer pressure." Sweat dropped the warlock before clearing his throat.
"We won't get anywhere like this! And we're asking the wrong person." Uni stepped in. "Nebula, where's Compa?"
"She's taking a shower in my-" Nebula stopped himself.
The Guild Agent was giving him a death stare, as all other eyes were comical saucers.
...
"No. Nonono. Not because we-"
"I'LL CUT IT OFF!"
"NOT THE NO-NO SQUARE!"
Before IF attempted to amputate any vital appendages, she was promptly held back by Vergo and AL.
"Talk about overprotective," Gust commented.
"This IS Compa we're talking about, though. But Nebula doesn't seem like that kind of person..." Nisa looked at the struggling Maker pointing her Qatar at Nebula's nether regions with the god slowly stepping back.
"Waaaaaaaaait!" The aforementioned Nurse-In-Training got out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel to cease the commotion happening outside.
"Compa! Thank goodness you're here. Please tell us what's going on!" Nepgear pleaded.
"Oh! I took a nap in Neb-Neb's room. I just don't remember the exact details- But he didn't do anything, I swear!" Compa quickly cleared up, causing everyone to relax.
"You're lucky this time, Neb... But I've got my eye on you...!" IF made the appropriate hand gesture before being released. walking away with the nurse to her room.
The girls of the party started to disperse back to their friend groups, as the males were left by themselves.
"...Being a protagonist sure has its downsides." An exasperated expression emerged from the blue adventurer made its way from his lips.
"Look at this this way, the ladies can't keep their hands off you." AL joked, with several eye rolls at that upside.
"That's nice and all, but cost analysis doesn't paint that upside as an asset if this is the consequence." A deadpan from the blue GPU.
"Unfortunately, that's the law of equivalent exchange, Noobula." Gris put in his two cents. "You'll have to hit that speedbump plenty with women before you get good with them." A smug grin was flashed from the assassin.
"Aye. Those dating sims taught me that if it's one thing you'll never escape; it's grinding." Vergo raised a finger with a sagely tone.
"Virgin, you have no idea what the fuck you're talking about." Gris ribbed.
"Piss off, ya fockin' bellend." Spat the green CPU Candidate.
"Hey. Don't make fun of him. Or else you're makin' fun of me, too." Domio came to the defense of the blonde, pointing to himself with his thumb.
"Well, you're a child." AL pointed out.
"I'm younger than him!" Vergo gestured a hand to the warlock.
"... You are?" Nebula rose a brow. Similar reactions from the rest of the group were mirrored.
"In his timeline, Domio was not only an adult but a deity. Suffice it to say, he is indeed younger chronologically speaking." Vanns clarified.
"And I'm ten, from a biological perspective. Domio's like twelve around now." Vergo interjected.
"My birthday's a few days from now." The Loweean revealed.
"THIRTEEN! He can officially watch Morbius by himself and I'M getting flack for being a bloody-" THe blonde was interrupted.
"Because he looks thirteen, you developing dimwit." Grumbled the edge lord.
Huffing with the logic holding out after a few seconds of silence, the blonde relinquished resistance to the topic.
"Let's just go before we spend the whole day making fun of my sex life." Sucking his teeth, the time traveler started walking back to the dining table
"Lack thereof-" Discreetly coughed AL, with a taunting smirk under his fist. The others sans Domio snickered in the back with that quip.
"OI!" Vergo snapped with offense.
Moving on , the party had finished their breakfast and was now at the outskirts of the city, with the Candidates getting ready to leave for their respective nations.
Those native to Leanbox stayed behind, except for 5pb., who stuck with the other Makers.
"We'll be taking our leave, now." Uni bespoke, with Rom and Ram next to her while they stood with their backs behind the edge of the docks. The calm waves made for a refreshing atmosphere as the goddesses bid their farewells.
"It was fun while it lasted, but we have to go check on Lowee!" Ram announced with a smile.
"We'll be back soon! And maybe we can sing again, sometime." Rom said her piece while eyeing her child citizen with expecting eyes.
"S-Sure." Domio falling back into his stuttering, nodded his head with rosy cheeks, yet another bout of recognition from one of his goddesses.
"Hey, don't let that get to your head, you yucky boy." Bringing him back to earth, her sister chided the preteen.
"Yeah, kiddo. You might make Vergo look bad." Nebula chuckled, at his student's expense.
"Not cool, brev." Grunted the blonde.
"I really enjoyed the time we spent together, Nepgear." Uni gave a rare, genuine smile to the purple goddess.
"Me too, Uni." Another kind upturn of the lips was returned to the twin-tailed CPU Candidate. "Let's meet up soon!" The Planeptunian deity gushed.
"Yeah. Just don't get so excited about it. You sound like a little kid, y'know." She giggled at her fellow CPU Candidate's antics.
"Do I?" Adopting the look of a puppy, she tilted her head slightly with a pondering gaze.
"Yep. Take care, Nepgear."
PILLAR!
TRANSFORM!
With a final smile, the tsundere CPU Candidate transformed and flew into the skies.
"Bye-bye!~" Rom waved with a sweet tone.
"Cya!~" Ram waved, her voice also upbeat.
PILLARS!
TRANSFORM!
The Lowee twins followed suit, before returning to their icy wonderland.
With that, the others began walking away from the docks, and further inland.
"That was nice and all, but now that they're gone, we need to get back to business." IF reminded the party.
"Indeed. Justice waits for no one." Nisa nodded in agreement.
"Isn't that metaphor associated with time?" Gris rose a brow.
"Everyone has to pay for their crimes sometime." A surprisingly apt remark from Nisa made Gris contemplate the statement.
"T-The songs I could write about you guys, it's crazy! Can I join you on your adventures, Nepgear!" 5pb. was excited about being associated with the CPU Candidates and their song material potential.
"Sure. I don't see why not. I mean, we have all these people already." The purple goddess looked to the party's double-digit headcount.
"And what about me?" Kallen made her voice heard. "Shouldn't I tag along as well? It's not as if I have anywhere else to go." The nun proposed.
"But 5pb.'s a kickass bard. What would you be useful for?" Nebula questioned the sister's capabilities.
ゴゴゴゴ!
Brandishing two twin pistols, the nun was NOT out of options for combat. She even stuck a wicked pose, not unlike a certain legendary devil hunter.
"Gun nun. Only in Gaminustri would we have a freakin' gun nun." AL smiled after an exasperated sigh. "Badass enough for me, she's in." The martial artist opted.
Most of the party voiced their mutual agreement. After all, they never really rejected someone before.
"Alrighty!" Nebula garnered the attention of the others with a cherry shout. "Where to next?"
Almost as if there needed to be some contrived plot-progressing gimmick, Nepgear's N-Gear rang.
"Nepgear, are you there?" Histoire's voice could be heard from the device.
Yes, Histoire, it's me. What's the situation?" The CPU Candidate responded.
"Sorry for the intrusion, but there's a location I want you to visit before coming back home." The tome informed.
"It's an island located west off the coast of Planeptune that's currently being assaulted by ASIC." The Oracle of Planeptune finished.
"... Does that island even have a legitimate name?" IF inquired.
"Nope. Actually, I paid attention in geography class and seventy percent of those islands ain't got names." Nebula responded as IF gave him an interesting side glance.
"Why attack a random island? Opposed to a notable stronghold?" Nisa cupped her chin.
"I have an inkling that they may want to relocate their headquarters to our nation. If that turns out to be the case, we could potentially lose our shares once more." The blonde tome responded.
"Scummy villain tactics at it again." Gust summed up their motives in an alternative fashion.
"A local adventuress has been standing up against the invaders by herself. Please make an effort to assist her." Histoire added, before Nepgear replied.
"Sure thing, Histoire. Leave it to us!" She affirmed.
"Best of luck to you, Nepgear." The Oracle gave her piece before ending the call.
"To an unnamed island off the west coast of Planeptune!" Nisa heroically announced.
"When's the next Terraportaion trip?" Compa asked.
"Only one way to find out." IF looked to the Nurse-In-Training. "To the terminal, people!"
...
...
...
"What do you mean, no more ships?!" Vergo asked incredulously.
"The tourists that were from the concert had two-way tickets, so we're booked until next week. Apologies for any inconvenience." The clerk told the party.
Downtrodden, the time traveler walks back to the party.
"No luck, guys. No ships till next week." He moped.
"Well, that blows." Domio sighed.
"But how are we supposed to get to that island now?" 5pb. worriedly gazed at the party.
"Can you guys carry us?" Compa directed her looks to Nebula, Gris, AL, and Nepgear.
"What?! No way. Only got two arms." Nebula declined.
"I'm a god, not Amazoo Delivery." Gris refused.
"I don't think my biceps are big enough." Nepgear self-deprecated.
"Unless you're flame retardant, no bueno." AL shrugged.
"Even if they could carry you, we'd have to make sure no monsters attack, and nobody gets butterfingers thousands of feet above ground." Vergo contributed.
"Then how are we gonna get there?" Gust once again asked.
The party grew silent, with no immediate ideas coming to mind.
Until something that was in Domio's memory resurfaced not too long after.
"Hey, Gris." The preteen motioned.
"Hm?" The manslayer looked in his direction.
"Remember those boxes on your desk? With those symbols for different forms of transportation... I think?" The warlock recollected.
"... Right, those." Snapping his fingers in remembrance, the assassin took out his watch and fiddled with it.
"What are those?" Kallen was intrigued.
"WHAT ARE THOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE-"
IF gut-checked the hollering pyro-warrior, who choked on the air that left his lungs.
"They're terra-cubes. Suitable means of transportation across different terrains." The cleaner cycled through some symbols on his watch.
"So... You can just summon one of them. This entire time." IF narrowed her eyes at the assassin.
"..." Gris fell silent, not wanting to respond.
"Where were you all the other times we needed a ride!" Compa praised the edge lord, making him drop his unreadable expression in exchange for a very discreet upturn at being complimented.
"I don't take out multi-million Credit vehicles for strangers, Compa. Only special individuals are allowed to know about, let alone use, my tech." Replying to the nurse, the Lastationite prided himself on his collection of transport.
"But we're not strangers, we're fr-" Nebula's goofy reaction was met with a stern look.
"I need results, not friends. I'm not Noire, Nebula." Huffed the deity.
"And you don't tell acquaintances that you have a private plane on standby without initiation." Gris tapped the screen of his watch before a friendly beep echoed.
"So what was fighting against DIO and the VPUs?" AL folded his arms.
"Community service." Blurted the edge lord.
That remark got several bland looks.
"All things being equal, my ride should be arriving pretty soon. We need to head to the nearest clear area to ensure it doesn't land on anyone's property, or destroy it." Gris observed the location the ship would be landing at.
"And where would that be?" Nepgear asked the fellow deity. The assassin silently beckoned the group before they followed suit.
Somewhere near Loot Lake...
"Wait, that's the name of the lake?" Nebula looked at 5pb. whilst walking.
"Yes. Something about treasure diving for blue vats of energy." The singer told the blue GPU, a small smile on her face.
"Shield Pots." MAGES. described, cutting into the conversation. "I heard that they fetch a pretty good price on the market."
"You betcha! If I see one floating, I'm diving in that lake!" Gust filled with excitement for profit was starry-eyed.
"Can you even swim?" Domio questioned the brunette party member.
"... Gris could teach me." She quickly pinned the assassin into the conversation.
"As if." The Lastationite GPU told the alchemist. "I don't teach children swimming lessons. Sink or swim, Gust." A snide remark made the short girl pout.
"Ya big meanie." She glowered before punching the man in his knee, before twisting around and discreetly rubbing her hand in pain from the sheer solidity of the trained warrior's bones.
"This should be the spot." Ignoring the little girl, Gris stopped in his tracks.
"So what now? We just wait for the ship?" IF looked to the lancer, her hands on her hips.
"No, IF. The plot is not traveling at 90s internet speed." Gris looked at the Guild Agent. "Any minute now..." He looked up, putting his hand above his brows to peer into the sky.
"I don't think you should be looking into the sun, Gris. It's bad for your eyes!" Compa reminded the cleaner with a concerned look.
"I'm not looking at the-... Ah, there it is." Putting his hand down, his lips widened to an obnoxious snigger.
VRRR!
The sound of a high-powered, futuristic engine grew louder and louder until it descended from the skies and halted, hovering above the edge of the lake where the heroes stood.
The water rippled around its position before it slowly flew to the ground and seamlessly landed, the engine dying down before Gris stepped to the side.
Its door opened and lowered, creating a platform for the party members to enter.
"What a magical carriage!" Kallen was starstruck at the dropship appearance.
"It's actually impressive." Nepgear complimented, her eyes darting around the
It was sleek, yet reasonably large. Plated with several layers of titanium and adamantium alloys and vibranium coating which gave it a glistening look.
It boasted thrusters and propellers which gave the aircraft both vertical and horizontal flight with boosters to allow for exponential speeds during flight.
Various forms of offense, from machine guns to missiles, bombers, a laser cannon, and even... A tactical nuke?!
"How do you fit all of that on a ship?" Vergo gave a scrutinizing look to the vehicle.
"The real question is how much did it cost to make." Nebula snorted.
"A little over 5." Gris did a so-so hand gesture.
"Thousand?" Nisa inquired.
"Billion." Gris cheesed.
"-!" The heroine paled.
"Dude, Kei's totally gonna start checking in on your financial assets if you got multi-billion dollar rides flying about." The blue GPU spoke.
"Oh please, Lastation's Oracle couldn't trace my vehicles back to me if she tried. Only the third-party companies." He chuckled darkly. "Nevertheless, let's hop in ladies and gents." He brandished the doorway.
With a relatively quick pace, the party entered the ship with the door closing before them.
Its interior was rather cushy, with leather seats with a recliner for comfortable passage, a mini-fridge loaded with Nep Bull and Nep Bull EX with a counter for a microwave, sink, and drawers.
It even had a TV on the back of the seats!
The ship also sported a mini-medical bay, a rear window to observe the flank of the ship with a mounted laser cannon for security, and a communications corner to relay back to his base.
"Gris, do you mind paying for my college education?" Domio offhandedly asked, looking about with awe, looking through a window.
"No comment."
"So cool!~" Kallen walked about, inspecting all of the futuristic technology the interior comprised of.
"I'm still miffed you had a plane this whole time." IF took a seat on one of the chairs. "You have chargers here?" She looked to the edge lord.
"Check under the seat ahead of you." The cleaner pointed.
"Sweet!" Chimed the Guild Agent, a smirk gracing her lips. "You can be an ass Gris, but I guess everyone has their perks." The brunette Guild Agent admitted.
"I wonder if this thing has seat warmers?" Compa took her seat next to IF.
"Ahhh~..." An exasperated sigh was all the confirmation the others needed.
Nepgear sat in the front window seat, looking at the lake that the ship was adjacent to. Taking out her N-Gear, she fiddled about with it.
Vergo took it upon himself to sit next to the purple CPU Candidate, with the two being in a one-on-one situation for the first time.
"Hello, love." Beamed the blonde.
"Hi, Vergo." Smiled the goddess.
Nisa and 5pb. took to the other front seats, as did Domio and Gust.
"Have you ever thought about writing a song about justice?" Nisa looked to her idol seat buddy.
"Hmm... I-I never really thought about it." The idol honestly told her.
"You totally should! And make it about our triumph over ASIC!" A mighty cheer from the heroine made the singer ponder the idea.
"Well, Domio. Since Gris is being a jerk, I guess I can settle for sitting next to you." She looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Sure. Maybe you can teach me some alchemy. I'm always in the mood for some form of learning; especially for magic." The Loweean responded.
"So who's flyin'?" AL popped the question."
"I'll fly! My dad used to be a pilot and taught me a few things!" - Neb
"YOU SIT YOUR JOESTAR ARSE IN THE BACK! We're not crashing because of your bloodline." Vergo rose from his seat and pointed his finger, startling Nepgear.
"Goodness!" Blurted the CPU Candidate.
"That's my brother, Vergo!" - Nebula defended himself.
"And how does that help your case? Just means that plane crashes are hereditary." Gris folded his arms with a cross look.
"..." Nebula adopted the visage of a certain shocked turtle before slumping his shoulders.
"Get in the back." IF droned.
"Frickin' killjoys." Nebula frowned before sitting opposite Vergo and Nepgear, being joined by Kallen and AL.
"Don't worry, Nebula. I'll keep you company." The nun rubbed his shoulder with consolation.
"Can't believe you still have to take the fall for that?" AL turned to the divine warrior.
"Just shut up, man." Moped the GPU.
With that, the edge lord went to the cockpit before activating the thrusters fitted with an appropriate pilot hat.
VRRRR!...
Pressing a button, said aircraft rose from the ground, with the outside view becoming smaller and smaller before they comfortably hovered around the troposphere.
Entering the coordinates based on Histoire's description, the GPU then marked the position before flying to the location.
VOOM!
Landing on the coast of the westward island, the ship soon departed back to Gris' hideout with the party walking further inland.
Within the forest, the group searched for the adventures.
"There should be a town nearby, according to Histoire." Nepgear surmised. "That's where the girl we're looking for should reside as well." She continued.
Nisa narrowed her eyes, gazing at a human-like structure in the distance.
"Isn't that a town? I mean, there's a house over there." The superheroine pointed out.
"Oh! Let's head over there." Nepgear directed.
RUSTLE!
As they approached, a figure dropped from the trees.
"Not so fast!" A feminine voice shouted.
"Eek!" Yelped the idol singer.
Other members geared up for a fight, with items and glares being readied.
"No matter how many times you come back, you'll never get past me!"
It was revealed to be the redheaded adventurer Falcom, who brandished her sword at the party.
"Falcom." Nebula calmly said.
"Nebula?" Falcom ceased her otherwise aggressive demeanor.
"Histoire sent us here, so no need to go all 'YOU SHALL NOT PASS' on us." The GPU defused the situation.
"Yeah, we're here to help." IF reiterated.
"Ah, sorry about that just now. You're my reinforcements, then? Still, I'm shocked that they sent you.
How is your adventure going? Have any further issues?"
"You could say that..." The blue-haired deity scratched the back of his head with a sweat drop.
"The stories can wait, Falcom. Let's help defend the village!" Nepgear gained a determined look.
"Speaking of which, why are you defending Planeptune with all you have, Falcom?" Compa inquired.
"I was born here. That's why defending it is so important to me. I was just protecting this island from 'unwelcome guests' who randomly appeared." Falcom gave some exposition.
"Besides, if you hadn't arrived to help me out, it'd only be a matter of time before they occupied this whole place." She gained an unreadable expression.
"So where's ASIC?" Gris injected into the conversation.
"There's a place not far from here that they've been using as a sort of bastion. If we can cripple that location, they'll probably just give up on invading this island." A simple, yet effective game plan came from the redheaded swordswoman.
"Straight to the point. I like it." Gust nodded.
"Only problem is that I have to stay here to keep watch of the town," Falcom told the group. "Would you go there on my behalf?" She asked of the party.
"We sure can. As Neptune would say, you scratched our backs, so we'll scratch your itchy spots!" The purple CPU Candidates.
"..." Her line went with some awkward silence.
"Neptune needs to pay attention to some more sayings," Vergo spoke.
"Agreed." The group unanimously chanted.
Elsewhere...
"You and I might not be on the best terms but I'll admit it, this is pretty cool. Since these babies are based on the early designs of CFW Judge, they HAVE to be super strong!" Linda bubbled with excitement at the premise.
"That's right, dear sister. I just pulled some favors over at the robotics departments and they gave me the scraps without issue." Linette rubbed her finger under her nose with pride, her enamoring charisma shining through.
The sisters stood near the town opposite the heroes' current position. They both were hitching a ride on a titanic robot that was very familiar.
"How did you even manage to get them here so quickly?" Linda asked.
"I have Amazoo Prime shipping with same-day delivery," Linette revealed.
"...Really?" The green-haired ASIC sister was a bit underwhelmed by the answer.
"Also most of them can fly, so..." The elder sister looked to the side with a not-so-bright expression.
Three robots were beside the two members of the syndicate.
One had the appearance of a large robot, similar to that of a Tr*nsf*rmer.
Another was more animalistic yet anthropomorphic, akin to Mecha S*nic.
And a LARGE reptilian robot, definitely a reference to G*dzilla.
Without Judge's boisterous personality, they stood there with a pleasant silence in comparison to the CFW's loud and aggressive shouting.
SHUDDER...!
SHUDDER...!
SHUDDER...!
Although they were silent, the rumbling of the kaiju bot was all but discreet, causing fissures with each step.
"If we raze this city, my promotion's guaranteed!" Evily schemed the underling.
"Don't get your hopes too high, sister. We still have to get rid of that pesky adventuress first." Linette reminded her sister.
"Right. We're gonna tear this place apart!" Cackled the younger sister.
Meanwhile...
SHUDDER...!
"D-Does your island usually have this many earthquakes?!" 5pb warily spoke.
"No! They're on the move! You gotta hurry!" Falcom told the group of heroes.
Without further interruption, the party made its way to the outskirts of the village from the other side, soon being face-to-face with Underling and Linette.
"Underling!" Nepgear shouted.
"Long time no see, losers! I hope you're ready to kick the bucket!" Linda maniacally laughed from the robot lizard's shoulders.
"Eat shit and fall off your robot!" Gris shook his fist.
"Says the potty mouth." Linette snickered.
"I'd rather talk shit than be shit, bitch." A snide remark from Gris.
"Damn." Vergo, Nebula, and AL simultaneously recited.
"Language!" Kallen chastised the assassin.
"Shut up, you jackass!" Linette barked.
"I'm starting to get the feeling you hate their entire bloodline, Gris." The blue GPU told hin.
"All of those genetic disappointments are equally insufferable. I'm going to commit atrocities to their lineage once this whole ASIC spiel is over." Vowed the hired killer
"Say that to my face!" Linda growled.
"Even though we're enemies... Where did you even get the robots from?! They're so cool!" Nepgear gushed with starry eyes.
"I'm gatekeepin', ya babyface!" The underling flipped her off.
"Hey, that's mean..." A dejected Nepgear moaned.
"Gear! This is no time to be oogling the bad guys' tech!" IF gave the goddess a stern look.
"Apologies!" Shaking her head vigorously, the girl regained a focused gaze.
"Enough talk!" Linette shouted. "It's time we crushed these lames!"
"I was getting tired of hearing your stupid voices anyway." Nebula taunted the dastardly duo. "Let's do this!"
Technological Triple Threat
CFW Prototypes
ENGAGE!
Everyone scattered, designating themselves into a four-man assault group.
SMASH!-
SKID!
The hedgehog bot bull-rushed into the blue GPU, Nebula guarding with his figure skidding through the dirt.
"It's fast!" Kallen remarked, her eyes barely keeping up with the vast speed of the robot.
"Tch!"
DENT!
The adventurer spat, before clobbering the robot away. As it tumbled through the ground, it quickly jumped in the air before curling into a ball.
SPINDASH!
Vergo being its target, the bloke clasped his hands before-
"Rah!"
THOOM!
Spiking it into the ground, dirt and stone flew into the air with a large crater being formed from impact.
Twisting around from its position in the dirt, the hedgehog bot stuck out its arm, before its wrist opened up, revealing the tip of a missile.
"What?!-"
KA-BOOM!
A large explosion rocked the battlefield with the blonde bloke staggering. The ASIC robot took the opportunity to use the smoke as camouflage.
ZOOM!-
Using its foot thrusters, it made its way to the time traveler's flank before winding up a devastating hook to the unsuspecting CPU Candidate's spine.
-THRUST!
Its elbow roared with boosters for maximum output.
PHASE!-
-CLUTCH!
WOOSH!
Yet another stood in the way of the counterattack.
Gris, glowing with his temporal aura had managed to intercept the robot's fist with his hand. Shaking with resistance the robot wrestled for its metallic arm's freedom.
POW!
A sickening uppercut that caused circuitry to fly out of the robot's abdominal hull.
BZZZZZZZZZZZT!
His fist lit up with electricity, further damaging the internal composition of his adversary, who was unfortunately very susceptible to such an attack.
BAM!
Sending the animalistic robot into the air, it sprawled rapidly as oil dripped from its damage.
"Get your head out of the clouds, Virgin!"
WOOSH!
Gris barked, before pursuing their opponent with a mighty leap.
"Fockin' hell, ya edgy bastard!"
VOOSH!
Vergo was soon on the uptake, quickly following after the GPU.
Nebula made his way to Kallen, who observed the battle with an intent gaze.
"Wanna join them?" He asked the nun.
"As much as I would love to, I'm afraid I cannot fly." She solemnly responded.
"Don't worry about that." Snapping his fingers, Kallen slowly started to levitate.
"A-Ack!" The flustered nun quickly held down her dress, afraid that the man would accidentally get a sneak peek of her undergarments.
"You should be able to fly alongside me using myself as a gravitational force with enough leeway to allow you to move freely. Don't stray or you'll fall." Warned the GPU.
"Right." The nun shakily replied with her face returning to normal, still uneasy about their condition.
"Now what are we waiting for? If we don't hurry, those two are gonna rip that robot to scrap before we even get a chance to fight!
VOOM!
"Kyaaa!"
As the two approached, Vergo and Gris were hot on the robot's heels.
The hedgehog regained its balance before activating its thrusters and sticking out its other hand, which transformed into a gatling gun.
VRR...!
GRA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!
The two deities barrel rolled out of the way, with Nebula yanking the nun to his side before doing the same, the bullets eating away at the ground.
"Stupid piece of...!"
Choosing to aim at the most recent cause of damage, Gris snarled with the bullets quickly approaching his position.
SONIC BOOM!
Dramatically increasing his temporal aura's potency, he ripped through the skies with the bullets barely behind him.
Any clouds Gris tried to lose the robot passing behind were dispersed immediately, the sky lighting up with the stream of high-powered munitions blazing with glory.
While Gris kept the robot busy, Vergo charged a twinkle of energy that condensed SP into a singular point.
"Apex Torrent!"
The twinkle zipped through the air, unbeknownst to the robot until it made contact with its machine gun appendage.
EXPLOSION!
The attack not only managed to destroy one of its arms but also stunned the metallic threat with Nebula and Kallen quickly approaching.
"Since he likes firing so many bullets, why don't we give him a taste of his own medicine?" The blue deity sniggered, taking out his gun.
"Why don't we, indeed." Giggled the nun, before taking out and flicking her pistols and settling on the robotic hedgehog.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BANG-BANG!-BANG!
Kallen's successive shots collaborated with Nebula's powerful rounds to tear away at the plating of the robot with many shreds and wires flying from its frame, unable to recollect its bearings from constant damage.
Upon not being chased by high-powered artillery, Gris took out his trusty pistol.
"Who forgot to invite me to the gun show!?" He laughed, his pistol glowing with temporal energy.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
Enhanced bullets left several punctures with extensive damage being dealt to ASIC's prototype.
Although Vergo felt a twinge of jealousy for not having any firearms to join the impromptu Western shootout, he did have a 'fire-arm' of his own.
CHING!
Hand blackened with armament, oxygen combusted into a torrent of flames that soon drenched itself in the dark shade that the CPU Candidate's hand took form.
"Filibuster...!"
Nebula, Gris, and Kallen all eyed the blonde before looking back at the robot.
"Last shot, people!" Roared the adventurer.
THOOM!
Nebula put some SP into his gun, causing a pure black spare to be fired, tearing away the rocket arm and sucking it into itself before promptly disappearing.
"Eat lead, scrap head!"
BOOM!
Gris concentrated his temporal aura into his gun, causing the bullet to become a streak of energy upon fire, melting the shell yet having enough kinetic force to vaporize a leg.
"Fin!"
BANG! BANG!
Pulling both triggers, Kallen shot off the remaining appendage from the robot with a bullet for each joint, ripping off the leg before it exploded consequently.
That left a rushing Vergo, who drove his fist into the head of the prototype.
"WOLF!"
EXPLOSION!
All important circuitry and parts were eradicated within the initial explosion before the dark flames ate away at the rest of the metallic hedgehog's body. The surrounding area darkened for a moment before returning to its normal hue.
The four landed on the ground, watching the smoke cloud that used to be the robot.
"How was that for your first fight here, Kallen?" Nebula asked.
"It was simply marvelous!" Celebrated the nun.
"Good on ya, lass. But don't expect the tsundere here to compliment you." Vergo pointed his thumb to the Lastationite.
"...od ...ob." Murmured Gris.
"What was that?" A snide look on Nebula and Vergo made it all too clear what Gris was going to say.
"I said you two have brains like door knobs." He reiterated.
"Sure." Snorted the blue GPU.
"Well? Should we help the others?" Kallen inquired.
They look to the group dealing with Bootlegatron.
"FIRE IN THE HOLE!" AL's voice could be heard.
KA-BOOM!
"They're fine." Nodded the blue adventurer.
Said 'fine' group was currently going toe-to-toe with the large robot.
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BLAST!
Domio who had his icy blue eyes utilized his floating grimoire to send rapid-fire Artic Bolts at one of the joints of the ASIC prototype's legs.
STOMP!...
STOMP!...
STOMP!...
Whilst sliding on the ground, the robot had a hard time crushing him from the constant speed that he kept up.
SLIDE!
When the joint was completely encased in ice, Domio took a detour between the legs of the robot before sliding straight up with a lengthy vertical ramp.
Once ejecting from the structure, he outstretched his hand, a magic circle materializing before it.
"Blizzaga Burst!"
BLAST!
A beam of ice magic slammed into the face of the mech, blinding the robot as the surface area quickly spread to cover its eyes.
FWOOOSH!~
But not before it used its flamethrower hand to attempt to cook Domio alive.
FREEZE...!
Attempting to coat himself in his armor, the flames ate away at his armor and soon left his body exposed.
BLAZE!
"Grrgh!..." Several burns were being inflicted on the warlock's hands with the intense heat scathing his skin.
POMF!
Yet before the Loweean would have to identify as barbeque, the stand of AL came to his aid.
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAOROAROAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAOROAROAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAOROAROAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAOROAROAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAOROAROAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAOROAROAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAOAROAORAORAORAORA!"
Extinguishing the flames, the phantom began assaulting the transformer with numerous fists.
Domio landed on the ground, his arm decently burned with the blinded robot being bombarded by something it couldn't see, even if wasn't blinded.
WHAM!-
SMASH!-
CRASH!-
THWACK!-
AL whilst down by its feet, wailed on the frozen joint with his hands and feet engulfed in flames.
CLANK!
CRANK!
DENT!
CLANK!
Nisa also delivered fierce bloes from the other side of the leg, both of the humans harrowing ther fists into the steel like butter.
"Together!" The heroine shouted.
"HRAH!"
KA-BLAM!
Bootlegatron's leg erupted with a large explosion that destroyed it from the combined efforts of Nisa and AL.
Gust made her way to Domio, checking on his arm.
"That's a pretty nasty burn." The alchemist checked the wound. "Want some help?" She offered the preteen.
"... Is it gonna cost me?" Domio joked with a small smile.
"Be serious before I charge you for real." Deadpanned the loli.
Wordlessly sticking out his arm, the fellow brunette chanted her SP Skill.
"Healing Salve!"
GLOW!...
Domio's arm reverted to its undamaged state, with the boy moving it about.
"Cool. Thanks, Gust!" With his healed hand, he gave the alchemist a thumbs up.
"Now let's finish this thing off!" Cupping his hands horizontally, he held them to his sides.
GUST...!
The temperature dropped a few degrees with the circulation and accumulation of SP.
"Whenever you're ready, Domio!" She raised her spear to the air, intensifying the gust of energy with her magic spiking.
"Kältenkatastrophe!"
SMASH!-
-FREEZE!
Throwing his hands forward, a tremendous amount of SP rammed itself into the robot. AL and Nisa sidestepped from their path of descent to avoid being crushed.
"Einzelkampfer!"
DASH-
TUMBLE!~
Guts rushed forward, before tripping on a stone and rolling over herself.
SLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASHSLASH!
Yet she still managed to hit the toppled Bootlegatron several times before-
EXPLOSION!
"Kyaaaa!" The alchemist was launched into the air from the resulting blast that signaled its defeat.
Domio sensed an incoming object before sticking out his arms and catching the loli in place.
"Nice move." A sly grin from the warlock.
"Nice save." A lax smirk from the alchemist.
"Stop flirting over there, we still gotta watch the Nepgeardam beat up Mechagodzilla!" AL shouted from nearby.
"..." Domio promptly put the loli down, before clearing his through with a dusty pink on his face.
"If you get embarrassed, you prove him right." Gust gave the spellcaster a knowing look.
"R-Right. Wait, Nepgeardam...?" The Loweean gazed at the giant robot, with Underling and Linette realizing that the robot was from the bargain bin.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!"
The two sisters respectively screamed for dear life, with their robot being socked in the gut by its giant-sized opponent.
"Nepgeardam Punch!"
Nepgear's voice could be heard from the large, comical robot that oddly resembled the CPU Candidate, with some touches that only the hardware-loving goddess could add.
Rectangular head, shocked expression, lego-like hands, the whole shebang.
Within the robot, the purple CPU Candidate was joined by IF, Compa, 5pb. and MAGES.
Each Maker controlling a limb with Nepgear manning the head made for a setup reminiscent of a certain band of rangers.
"Nepgeardam Kick!" IF shouted.
BOOM!
The ASIC prototype buckled from the blow.
"Laser Eyes!"
PEW!
Compa screamed, with the giant-sized robot drilling plasma beams from its eyes into the metallic opponent, melting some of its hulls off.
"USE YOUR TAIL, YA STUPID ROBOT!" Screeched Underling.
"Not on my watch!" 5pb. roared.
The Nepgeardam intercepted the mecha kaiju swinging its tail before grabbing it.
SKID!...
Although it did manage to send the giant robot skidding, the manned machine came to a grinding halt before a bout of herculean strength was performed.
SWING!...
The robot was lifted off the ground by its tail!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Both sisters shouted, pale and shuddering from the shift of altitude.
...WHOOOOSH!
Nepgeardam began swinging the cyber reptile around and around, wind picking up and creating a small twister around them.
TOSS!
Its speed kept increasing until the two were a blur, before throwing the kaiju into the sky.
"Activate rocket boots!" Shouted MAGES.
BOOST!
Flying after the robot, Nepgeardam stuck out both arms whilst rapidly ascending into the heavens.
"Get ready everyone!" Nepgear braced.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
PUNCTURE!...
THOOOOOOM!
SHOCKWAVE!
The quintet shouted, before flying straight through the robot, causing it to dramatically explode with destructive shockwave.
"We're blasting off again!" Underling and Linette screamed, once again being knocked into the sky this time with her sibling.
Miniboss, mini-EXP.
VICTORY!
"Talk about theatrics." Nebula marveled, with the two groups on the ground conglomerating.
"Stupidest mech I've ever seen." Gris insulted, to the blonde's dismay.
"I think it's novel in its own cheeky way." Vergo defended. "I'd like to see you build one, you bloody jackass." Growled the time traveler.
"Pfft, as if that's a challenge-" The assassin was interrupted.
"Less arguing, more marveling!" Nisa shushed the two, before looking up at the group.
The Nepgeardam landed smoothly on the ground.
With the five pilots leaving through its tummy on a ramp, it blasted off into the sky heading back to Planeptune.
"That was so cool!"
"Justice prevails with such style!"
Domio and Nisa both praised the purple CPU Candidate for her efforts as she blushed and smiled bashfully at their compliments.
"Ah, shucks. It's just something that I made before this whole ASIC campaign took off." The goddess told the two.
"But now that those two are dealt with, let's head back to Falcom." IF told the group.
"Aye!" The party shouted.
A/N:
Happy New Year!... In February.
At least another chapter is completed!
Finally, I can say that we are NO LONGER in the Leanbox Arc. I'm pretty sure we've been in that Arc for eleven months at this point.
However, we can progress the main plot without too many bumps in the road, at least until we reach a pivotal moment in saving Gamindustri. But now that I've managed to regain a bit of the will to write, I figured I should give you guys another present.
So enjoy this chapter!
Some comments before I leave:
Feldragon - Yeah, appreciate the enthusiasm. Feel free to PM your discord anytime!
Ling ling lizard - Well, a little trolling must be done. But all's well that ends well, (With the exception of several soldiers deceased via confrontation with Gris) at least in most cases.
Leanbox does have prime Fortnite.
The conquest ending... While I don't really want the cast to suffer such a bleak fate on top of the extradimensional assholes they have to deal with, it's not entirely impossible for circumstances to fall in such a manner... But you'll have to keep reading to find that one out.
With that being said, thanks for commenting.
Don't be afraid to follow and favorite, every single one helps!
And reviews are greatly appreciated!
Arrivederci.
