Note: This chapter may be a little shorter and not as battle-heavy, but it's for the progression of the plot.

I'm not sure when I'll get this posted, but we're getting close to the end of this arc! Thanks to the best creative consultants on Discord, I'm dividing this series into seasons, but I'll alert everyone when an arc/saga begins and ends. From my estimates, we're somewhere like 3 or 4 episodes in, at the most. Granted, I won't be writing the chapters paced like that anymore, but taking the content and fitting it into the typical time slot, I'd say we've got at least 3 or 4 worth of content.

With that said, here we go onto the next Robot Master!

Facing the Pharaoh

This particular chamber was dark, yet Mega Man could tell that the stones appeared to be made of stone, with strange shapes and figures etched into the surface of the bricks. It took the Blue Bomber a moment, yet he eventually recognized them as hieroglyphics. It didn't take him long to piece together just who he would be facing.

"So, you've come," a low, smooth voice spoke, the pitch and tone signifying a sense of refinement and high status.

Suddenly, the room was lit up with a radiant light, as if the sun itself had begun shining throughout the room, Mega Man was able to feel the heat. Once the light had died down, he saw a bright, glowing sphere embedded in the ceiling. Upon studying it further, the Blue Bomber saw that the source of light very much resembled Bright Man's bulb, but there was a difference between the two. Bright Man was powered by electricity while this light felt akin to genuine sunlight. If it wasn't for the situation, the cerulean android would've been tempted to catch some rays.

On the opposite side of the ornately decorated chamber stood a tall, imposing figure dressed in a red cape and a black and gold nemes serving as his helmet. "It would be fitting that I would be one of the last you face."

Mega Man smirked. "Phaoroh Man," he began. "You're looking fancy."

The golden, green, and black android narrowed his eyes. "It's not wise to insult your executioner," he growled. "But, in a sense, you're right. As haughty as Ring Man can be, appearances have a degree of importance. I am Cossack's greatest creation, after all."

Haughty? Look who's talking. Mega thought yet decided not to verbalize that. Then, he realized something. "Wait a minute," he said. "There are eight warp points, yet you're only number seven."

Despite his previous talk of appearances, Pharaoh Man couldn't help but express his puzzlement. "And?"

"And," Mega Man continued. "That means there's one I'll have to face after you."

The finely-dressed Robot Master realized what he meant. "Ah, him," he then said. "You've yet to meet him, I see."

Mega raised a brow. "Him?"

"Cossack's newest creation," Pharaoh Man stated. "Just recently built, and constructed especially for battle."

The Blue Bomber smiled. "Sounds like he means business."

"Oh, he does," the Robot Master said. "But," he then threw off his cape, revealing his sleek, powerful form. "You shall not reach him," then, to Mega's shock, the other machine was enveloped in surging, violet, and magenta energy, and then, he began to rise off of the ground. Staring down at his opponent, Pharaoh Man crossed his arms. "This chamber shall be your tomb!"

Mine

"All right, I think I've worked out all the kinks," Roll informed her "patient", who was still rolling her eyes. "You can do that, which shows I know what I'm doing."

"All right, you're not bad for someone who isn't a licensed professional," Natsenka said. "But still," she paused, her eye twitching when Roll hit a small wire. "Watch it!"

"Oops. Sorry," the blonde apologized. "Anyway, continue." she then resumed her work.

"Well, you're not bad," the redhead resumed speaking. "Still, you put yourself in danger back there," she said. "You could've very well been hit by Elec Man's attack. And, given your design, it would've probably had a worse effect on you than it did me."

Roll huffed. "So, you're saying you think I'm weak?"

"I'm saying that your body is not designed for combat purposes," Natsenka answered. "Your…personality or drive means nothing if your outer shell can't withstand it."

The housekeeping robot furrowed her brows. "You know, I'm the one operating on you at the moment…" she warned.

"I'm not insulting you, I'm saying this for your own good," Natsenka responded. "Don't you realize that you're putting yourself in danger by just staying here?"

Roll was taken aback. "What?"

"Like it or not, it isn't safe for you here," the darker-skinned robot said. "You…" she bit her lip, struggling to even say it. "You could…get yourself hurt."

The other female-designated machine's blue eyes widened, then her expression turned cocky. "Oh, so you're worried about me, is that it?"

Natsenka's nose wrinkled and she huffed. "N-No, that's not it at all," she answered. "I'm merely following protocol regarding the treatment of civilians, human and mechanical alike."

"Which means you're worried about me," Roll smirked.

"Whether I am or not is irrelevant," Natsenka retorted, trying to keep the heat in her body from rising. "You…" she began but found herself unable to conjure up words.

"I what?" Roll asked.

The redhead sighed, hissing a curse in Russian. "You clearly have no sense or regard for your own safety," the agent told her caretaker. "But, even so, had you not stepped in, then…" her eyes shifted. "It's possible that…Elec Man could've terminated me. In a small way, I owe you my life."

The red and yellow jumpsuit-wearing robot was taken aback by the agent's words. "Oh, uh…well, sure," she said, continuing with her operation. "It's the least I can do," she then went silent, going on and finishing up her work. "And…done!" she proclaimed, the small space in Natsenka's forehead closing up again, not even visible anymore. The Russian agent lifted herself up to a sitting position. "How do you feel?" Roll questioned.

"Well, my head doesn't feel like it's splitting open anymore," Natsenka answered. "Although…I think Elec Man's abilities have left me deprived of a good deal of energy."

"Oh, that's all?" Roll asked. "That can be fixed easily. Hey, Eddie!" she called out to the smaller green robot. "Toss us an energy can, would you?" Eddie opened his top and a small can was shot out, which Roll promptly caught in her hand. "Here," she said, pulling up the cap and creating a drinking hole. "This'll fix you right up."

Natsenka eyed the drink curiously. "Are you certain?" she asked. "I somehow fail to see how a simple drink can ease my weakened state."

"Trust me, Mega's gotten out of hundreds of scrapes thanks to these things," the blonde assured her. "Here," she handed the can over, to which Natsenka took it. But, before she could drink its contents, both she and Roll heard footsteps approaching. "What the…?!"

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" a familiar voice mockingly questioned, Roll knowing well who was addressing her. Before her, Natsenka, and Eddie stood two Robot Masters she was more than well-acquainted with, the machines glaring down at her, yet they seemed pleasantly surprised to have found someone down in the mine. "Looks like these two are 'cutting' in where they don't belong." Cut Man remarked, crossing his arms. Even if his mouth didn't have much movement, the corners of his puppet-like mouth curled slightly upward, partially resembling a smile.

"Yeah," Cut Man's companion added, his larger frame towering over all of the others. He then cracked his knuckles, his blocky lower lip of blue lightly flapping as he spoke. "Maybe a little rearranging of their circuits would do them some good," he said. "And by that, I mean," he then lifted his fists up, ready to smash them on the ground. "Smashing them all to smithereens!"

Citadel

Floating? How was he floating?

Mega Man didn't get much time to reflect on this sudden and strange new feature as Pharaoh Man produced his buster and fired a blast of hot, radiant energy of pure heat in the Blue Bomber's direction, having the high ground over his opponent. While this shot missed, that didn't stop the airborne Robot Master, continuing to unleash fiery energy in the azure android's direction.

"Whoa!" Mega Man shouted, barely dodging a blast that had gotten just a little too close for comfort. "Toasty!"

All right, the Blue Bomber thought. He had fought Pharaoh Man before, specifically when Wily had taken over all the electrical appliances in the city and invaded City Hall. The last time, he had managed to use the Robot Master's weapon to his advantage, but if he tried that option, he had to get close enough to make direct contact. And that meant getting past the Egyptian-based machine's incoming attacks.

Producing two rings from Ring Man's still-copied ability, Mega Man began beating back the concentrated solar flares, the light from above them continuing to beat down on the both of them. Perhaps he could reflect the attack back at the floating Robot Master? It was worth a shot, and if it got him closer to allowing him to complete his strategy, then he'd go through with it! Yet, just as the shots he beat back were heading toward Pharaoh Man, the golden, green, and white android was enveloped in a semi-transparent barrier of violet energy, a singular eye situated in the center of the protective sphere that had manifested

"Huh?!" Mega Man exclaimed, blue eyes widening in shock while Pharaoh's optics looked on with satisfaction

"Impressed?" Pharaoh Man inquired. "A new feature installed by Dr. Cossack himself," he explained

Mega Man smirked. "Does to go to compliment your obvious huge ego?" he asked. "And here I thought Ring Man was full of himself."

"Unlike him, I have taken precautions," Pharaoh Man answered, the center of his chest beginning to glow, a phenomenon Mega Man had never seen before. "And here, in my arena, I am practically immortal!"

Mine

Natsenka hissed and was about to make a move, but was pushed back by her current caretaker. "What are you doing?!" the agent questioned, bewildered by the other robot's actions

"Stay here!" Roll commanded, gesturing to an open space in the rock wall of the mine. It wasn't enough to cause a collapse, but it was small enough for someone to fit inside. "You're in no condition to be throwing any punches!"

"Neither are you!" Natsenka retorted, about to go after her, but she fell to her knees, her body still suffering from the effects of Elec Man's attack. She was about to go to the ground, but Eddie supported her with his body, guiding her over to the space in the wall. "Roll, don't…" the redhead protested, practically begging the blonde to not go on her own.

"Eddie, watch over her for me, ok?" Roll asked the smaller creation of Dr. Light

"Yep!" Eddie answered

"And what are you going to do?" the Russian questioned

"I'll…try and distract them!" Roll answered

"How?"

The blonde paled. "I'll…think of something

"But-"

Natsenka got nothing more out, Eddie pushing her into the hole, and he followed soon after. Roll ducked and hid in another nearby tunnel, listening in for their incoming pursuers. A short time later, Cut and Guts Man turned the corner. "Where is that other bot?" the red android questioned his larger companion, who had responded with a shrug of his shoulders. "Hm," he then began to wonder, his improved programming allowing for a higher level of thinking. His large eyes began surveying the environment around him, the mine appearing empty and devoid of any life safe for themselves. Suddenly, the scissor-headed Robot Master felt something perch itself atop his dome. "H-Hey!" Cut Man protested the bird that had landed flapping his wings in panic at the other robot's sudden movement. Cut Man waved his hands over his Rolling Cutter to try and dislodge what was there

"Huh?" Guts Man looked over, confused as to what Cut Man was causing such a commotion about. He then realized that Reggae had returned to them. "Oh, it's you," the larger Robot Master said. "Where have you been

"Looking for you!" Reggae answered with a squawking voice. "Dumb dumbs went all over the place! Reggae couldn't find!"

"Hey! We're not dumb dumbs!" Guts Man shouted, raising his fists as if he were going to engage in a boxing match with the bird. "We're plenty smart now!"

"Ha ha! Yeah, right!" the blackbird chortled. "Guys can't even find other birdie!"

"Oh yeah," Cut Man said, remembering Beat. "Where is that guy

Reggae then paled, realizing that he too didn't realize where his blue self-appointed rival had gone. Last he knew, he tracked Mega Man's sister and the agent down and alerted Cut and Guts Man of how they were heading their way, but last he knew, Beat was still dealing with Elec and Ice

"Reporting for duty, sir!"

All three turned to see a snowsuit-wearing machine and a black, red, and gold conductor of electricity had arrived at the scene, although one of them was covered in what appeared to be frozen green chips.

"What happened to you?" Guts Man questioned, both mockingly, but also out of genuine curiosity.

Elec Man glared daggers in Ice Man's direction. "We would've terminated the intruders, but someone seemed to have forgotten how to aim properly."

"How many times do I have to ask for forgiveness?!" Ice Man protested. Then he shrank back. "Oh, um, if I may ask, sir?"

"Stop it," Elec Man growled. "Or I may just have to warm my systems up by frying you." he then held up a single digit, a spark of electricity coming to his fingertip.

A short distance away, a figure hid in the shadows, witnessing what was going on, as well as how the four Robot Masters gathered around the space where the Russian agent and Light's energy dispenser were hidden away. Just a few more steps, and they would surely…!

"Uh, I don't really like being shocked, sir," Ice Man whimpered, eyes widening as he continued to stare at Elec Man's growing spark. Was he seriously considering electrocuting his own comrade?

"Hey!"

All four Robot Masters and one robot bird turned around, spotting a shape not too far away, partially visible in the dim lighting that provided at least some form of guidance in the otherwise dark and shadowy tunnels. In the light stood a familiar face, one that they had previously thought to be lost, out in the open, as if she were trying to get their attention.

"Hm," Elec Man hummed, his attention being drawn from Ice Man. "So, one of you finally decided to show yourselves," he said. "Where's your red-haired friend?"

"Somewhere you'll never find her," Roll answered. "But instead of worrying about her," she then turned on her heels and began running. "You should worry about catching me!"

"Hey, wait!" Cut Man called out, yet Roll was long gone. He then turned to Elec Man, the Robot Master currently the one serving under Proto Man. "So, what do we do?"

"What do you mean, you dolt?" the mostly dark-colored robot scoffed. "Go after her! We can't let her potentially reach the hostage!"

"Oh, right!" Guts Man declared, realizing just how much trouble they'd all be in if they allowed that blue dweeb's sister to free their prisoner. "After her!"

"Ahem," Elec Man cleared his throat. "You two check that tunnel," he ordered Cut and Guts Man, gesturing to a stretching corridor to the left, the same that Roll had previously hidden in. "You inspect the one ahead," he told Reggae, who looked at the tunnel in front of them. "Ice Man and I shall search elsewhere."

"Ok, fine," Guts Man said, going along with Cut Man.

"Pompous jerk," the red Robot Master hissed under his breath, yet he nonetheless obeyed and went with the larger android to look for one of the two intruders.

Although this wasn't kept quiet enough, especially given Cut Man yelped when he felt a shock on his posterior. Not wanting to suffer under Elec Man's wrath, the other machine went off, Guts Man following. "Now," Elec Man said, turning his attention to Ice Man. "Time to exterminate some pests with some electro-shock treatment."

"Ready to Search and Destroy sir!" Ice Man answered.

Elec Man raised a brow. "Are you certain about that?"

"Um…I think so?"

The darker Robot Master rolled his eyes. "Just come on."

There was just one problem with her plan. She had no idea where she was going.

True, while Roll had gone down the tunnels to distract those four goons and prevent them from finding Natsenka, the blonde couldn't deny that she was essentially running blind. Just where was she now? She had to stop for a moment if not just to get a rough idea of just how far she had gone, and even more, which direction should she go? She took a few steps forward, yet as she made her way forward, her red boot hit a pebble that bounced across the ground, creating a small amount of noise.

Roll panicked in her mind, knowing well that she was heard by someone from the sounds she heard but a short distance away. But, instead of one of Wily's bots, she heard a feminine, young voice.

"Hm? Is that one of you?"

Huh? Who was that? Roll listened in, noticing that while the voice was speaking English, speaking in a heavily accented voice. Specifically Russian. Russian, Roll thought. Russian…?!

"Well, come on and let me see you. I'm bored and need someone to talk to."

From the sound of it, the speaker sounded more annoyed than frightened, as if any sense of fear had worn off and was replaced with irritation and anger. And, if Roll was right by her estimates, the source lay just around the corner.

And, indeed, turning the corner, she was proven right.

Note: All right, the next chapter or two might break the formula a little bit, but I promise, it's for pacing purposes, as I feel that things will have a bigger impact if they are timed correctly.

Sorry if this was a little shorter than usual, yet I hope you enjoyed it! Please give your input, and I hope to see you next time!