"You? Stop us?" Weisz quirked a brow at Percival's bold declaration. This woman looked so lazy and only did the bare minimum back at Delta Ridge. Because of that, they had a really hard time grasping what she was capable of. She could really be strong, or she was just blowing a lot of hot air in their faces.

"Uh huh." Percival nodded. "I'm not gonna let you guys into the Temple. That shard is ours...and then we'll come for the one you have too. It would actually just be soooo much easier if you just handed it over. Please?"

"Are you serious?" Jinn shook his head. "That's not going to happen. What does your Captain even want the shard for anyway?"

"He just wants to see Mother and make a simple wish. What's so bad about that?" Percival shrugged her shoulders. "Oh...wait. It's not my business to tell you that. But it's nothing bad. I wanna help him, so that means fighting you, simple as that."

"It appears as is fighting is the only way forward." Homura said.

"Why do you guys even want it?" Percival tilted her head.

"We're trying to stop anyone else from misusing the Black Moon Star." Shiki explained. "We don't have to fight! There are other people who are collecting the shards. They have two already, and there's no doubt they're coming here for the third! If we work together, maybe we can..."

"You expect me to buy that?" Percival's gaze narrowed slightly. "Whatever problems come our way, the Eclipse Ark will handle it. That includes handling you, too."

"She's not budging..." Geno said from within Shiki's phone.

"I cannot blame her." Homura's blade was at the ready. With all the plant vines surrounding the entrance, there was only one option to move forward. "Warrior Maid Single Sword Attack: Dragon Flash!" She leapt over Percival and slashed at the vines barricading the entrance. However, her eyes widened in surprise as there was no damage dealt to the vines. She landed on the ground in shock. "What?!"

"Homura's sword didn't cut it!?" Weisz's eyes were also wide in shock.

"What? You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" Percival smiled a bit. "I know I look a little lazy and loopy, but I'm pretty proud of my strength. I just didn't need to show off much at Delta Ridge."

"Hermit!" Geno instantly contacted Hermit while he could. "You seeing this? This chick's vines are thick!"

"Yeah, I see it..." Hermit was quickly trying to think of a countermeasure. If putting the weed whacker on them was no good, they'd have to try something else. "Okay, I've got it. If slicing them doesn't work, try burning them!"

That was Weisz's cue. With his Arsenal Armor on, he pointed his hand towards Percival. "Fair warning, it's about to get hot!"

"Huh?" Percival blinked, and suddenly, she found herself diving to the ground.

"Atlas Flame!" Weisz's arm turned into a flamethrower, releasing a large burst of flame that began to burn the vines Percival created.

"Oh, that's not good..." Percival gulped, watching her wall of vines burn to nothing.

"Go!" Weisz told the others. "I'll deal with this one!"

"Got it!" Shiki nodded as he, Homura, Geno, and Jinn rushed into the Temple of the Ancients. Right after they did, the vines regrew and sealed the door, much to everyone's surprise. The plan did work, but Percival's power was also more than they expected.

"Damn..." Percival sighed. So much for trying to stop everyone in one shot. "That's fine, I guess. The others are inside, so if I can't stop all of you, I'm sure they will." She turned her attention to Weisz. "You really wanna do this?"

"I admit, I'd much rather be taking a cute girl on a date rather than fighting one." Weisz said while sliding into a stance. "But as it stands right now, I am the hero, Arsenal! So anyone who dares to stand in my crew's way, will be struck down by the mighty hammer of justice!"

Percival, however, had no idea what Weisz was talking about. Numerous question marks comically popped around her head. "Well...okay. I don't really intend on losing either. I have a reputation to uphold."

.

.

"Weisz will be fine." Shiki said as his group rushed ahead into the temple. It was a large building and the corridors were just as huge. As they stepped into one room, it was a circular one with old statutes scattered about. Because of the Temple's age, it was showing plenty of signs of wear and tear. But that wasn't important. What was important was the person standing in the middle of the room: Lluvi Palmero. She stood with her arms crossed.

"Another one!" Jinn slid to a halt.

"The barrier woman..." Homura stated.

"So, you got past Percy, huh?" Lluvi closed her eyes for a second. "I suppose it was a bit much to expect her to fend all of you off. But she got one, so we'll take it." She held her hand out, gesturing to the exit on the far end of the room. In front of it was a barrier of her own making. "Unfortunately for you, this is where your trip ends. You can hand over the Shard in your ship and we can all be on our way."

"No chance!" Shiki shook his head. Clearly, the crew of the Eclipse Ark were all very loyal to Casey. It just didn't seem like they'd ever cooperate again, now that they were working on their own agendas.

"Good luck getting forward then." Lluvi shrugged. "My barriers are no joke."

Shiki then flew over Lluvi and towards the barrier, gripping it with his bare hands. "Hng...!" His Ether Gear activated, using Satan's Gravity to aid him in tearing the barrier asunder. The barrier was strong, so it was indeed a process.

"What...?" Lluvi's eyes were wide. Was Shiki attempting to pry it open with his bare hands?! "Hey, what do you think you're doing!?" She went to lunge at Shiki, but she found herself having to avoid an attack from Jinn. A blast of wind nearly struck her, but she flipped to avoid it. Right as she did, Shiki was able to showcase why he was among one of the Galactica, and tore the barrier open. It wasn't going to last long though. "Tch!"

"I'll handle this one! You guys go ahead!" Jinn said. Homura and Shiki nodded, proceeding deeper into the temple.

Lluvi shrugged her shoulders. "Well...G did tell me that might not work against Shiki. But that's fine. Stopping at least one of you works for me too."

"If you're going to stay in our way, I'll have to knock you down." Jinn said as the wind swirled around his body.

"Funny. You took the words out of my mouth." Lluvi said while assuming her fighting stance, two fingers at the ready from each hand.

.

.

Now it was just Homura and Shiki, with Geno still hidden away as a secret weapon. They were having to leap across some old, broken pathways to advance ahead. "Do you think every member of the crew is here?"

"Nah." Omega said. "I bet their tech guy is back at the ship. Still, they got here before we did and they really scoped this place out."

"We have to hurry." Shiki said. If Casey got a hold of that Shard, there was no doubt he would use its power to get the upperhand on them. They also had to make sure they grabbed it before the Galactic Fleet undoubtedly arrived. At that moment, a wave of water and ice washed over Shiki and Homura, constricting them and freezing them in place. "Huh?"

"A sneak attack!?" Homura struggled to move.

"Gotcha." That was Lowell, who dropped down from the broken ceiling, the Vorpal Blade in hand. "Why don't you two just stay right there? It doesn't matter if we can't stop all of you at once. As long as we can stop you, that's all that matters."

"Lowell..." Homura looked towards him. "Shiki. I can handle this one."

"Right." Shiki nodded.

"What do you mean handle me? That's some solid ice right there!" Lowell said, and yet...he found himself going on the defensive already. He was right to do so, because Shiki's gravity shattered the ice around them, freeing himself and Homura. The moment they were free, Shiki flew past Lowell. He couldn't focus on that, because he found himself clashing swords with Homura, sparks flying.

"You have one thing mistaken!" Homura said while leaping back from Lowell. "You are not the ones stopping us! We are the ones stopping you!"

"Yeah, I knew you'd say something like that." Lowell kept the Vorpal blade at the ready. "This works for me. I was hoping for the chance to clash blades with you."

"I wish they were under better circumstances, alas, it cannot be helped." Homura narrowed her eyes. "Be it known, that as the Sword of Eden's, I will strike you down."

The opposing swordsman held his blade up in turn. "As the Blade of the Eclipse Ark, I won't bend or break to any other sword."

.

.

Now it was just Shiki. The Eclipse Ark was dwindling the people he brought, but there was still one secret weapon he had left. There was one more room to walk through, but the moment he did, he felt an opposing force of gravity. It almost took him by surprise due to how strong it was. "Huh?"

Standing across from him was G, arms crossed. "This is about what we expected, Demon King." G said. As far as he knew, it was just Shiki. "I know how strong you are, so it makes sense that your crew would send you forward, hoping to clash with our captain. But I'm not gonna let that happen." He wasn't going to let Shiki have a chance to react, shooting forward while slamming his fist into Shiki's stomach, sending him soaring into the ceiling.

"Gah!" Shiki grunted from the impact, but he was able to shake it off. The large man was coming in for a second hit, and Shiki was able to push off in time. "Magimech Attack: Gravity Windmill!" He ducked G's next punch, spinning his legs around to slam into the opposition's neck, sending him hurtling towards the ground.

G was able to flip, his God's Gravity allowing him stick the landing easily. "Not bad, Demon King! But your arms are too short to box with a god!" He extended his hand out, shifting Shiki's center of gravity to pull him closer. G was truly not allowing Shiki to advance and intended to take him down here and now. "Gravity God's Heavy Smash!"

"Magimech Attack: Gravity Fist!" Shiki twisted his body, using this momentum to his advantage. His fist clashed with G's own, a powerful shockwave blowing the two of them back. Shiki slid along the ground, only to see G still pursuing him.

But then, Geno emerged from Shiki's phone in a bolt of cyan lightning. "Iron Knuckle!" He surprised G with his appearance, slamming his fist into G's chest with enough force to send him flying backwards.

"What the-!?" G was not expecting this and he managed to stop himself before he hit the wall. "That Blue Bomber from Delta Ridge!? What the hell are you doing here?!"

"I'm a member of the Eden's Zero now." Geno said proudly. "If you didn't cut and run so quickly, you might've been able to see this coming."

"Shit..." G grunted, now watching as Shiki ran past him. He tried to stop him, but Geno appeared in front of him. "Damn...!"

"If anything, you're the lucky ones." Geno said while charging his Mega Buster. "We had something to take care of, so we had to cut out numbers. That being said...everyone in this temple is still more than enough to take care of you all."

.

.

It had been a little while, but Blair finally calmed down after having the emotional moment with her family. With a deep, relieved sigh, she turned to the crew. "What are you all standing around there for?" She asked while tilting her head. Her voice didn't have that gruff tone anymore. It was a bit more lighthearted, which surprised everyone.

"What do you mean?" Rebecca blinked.

"I'm taking you all with me." Blair said while walking towards the front door.

"Where are we going?" Cynthia tilted her head. "Back to the others?"

"Not yet." Blair shook her head, pushing the doors open. The excitement she was displaying was so strong, it almost felt foreign to the crew of the Eden's Zero. Blair...happy? Cheerful? It was a little off-putting since they weren't used to it, but they realized this was a good thing as well. "I'm taking you hunting with me! We're going to serve a feast!"