"Man, Mr. Shino was right. Any stimuli Atari gets, so does that Octima." Zeno whispered to himself.
For the rest of the day, they played video games and watched shows. That night, at 2:27, Atari was back in S-FIT's basement. There wasn't much light this time. Only enough to see 1 foot in front of you and shadows.
This time, Gunvolt was the first person in the group to know Atari was missing. He grabbed the watch, put on his uniform and left. While walking downstairs, Gunvolt called Zeno. Then he woke up and went running.
Moniqa awoke with a serious case of bed hair when Zeno called her. Copen was already awake and contemplating sleep. However, the idea got removed from his mind once Gunvolt informed him of the current situation. Thirty five minutes later, Zeno reached the basement.
During this time, Atari felt someone's presence nearby. She turned around and saw Zed. Then, he showed up in front of Zeno by teleporting. The self claimed "Adonis" grabbed Atari's left hand and ran.
This time, he slept on the floor while Atari slept on the couch. Nobody knew Zeno had retrieved Atari, so Gunvolt payed Zeno a visit at 9:45. Zeno heard knocking on the entry door while making blueberry oatmeal. He asked Atari to keep an eye on the stove while he answered the door.
"GV's here." Zeno notified.
Atari happily walked into the living room. Then, another knock was heard. Zeno looked through the peephole and saw Zed standing on the opposite side of the door with Layla. That's when a black portal with white dots and a purple outline appeared. It seemingly absorbed Gunvolt, Atari and Zeno. Somehow, they were all at Firmament again.
"Uh, I'm confused. Weren't we all just here?" Zeno remembered.
Suddenly, Atari floated to the center of the room. Two Glaives were on either side of the Adept they previously killed. Nova absorbed both the Glaives and Atari. The battlefield turned into a platform.
"This power is for the protection of the nation and its people! My righteousness shall crush the wicked!" Nova stated.
The fight started when Nova summoned four fiery pillars. The pillars appeared again before Gunvolt used Astrasphere it removed the barrier around the purple-white orb on Nova's chest. At the same time, three giant orbs descended from above. The first orb split into four smaller orbs going in horizontal and vertical directions.
Following that, the second orb split into diagonal directions. And the last orb did the same as the first. Kurohyō slashed its claw again to create a wave of purple energy that grew in height as it moved across the platform. The pillars appeared again before Yatagarasu generated wind.
It was a merciless gale of hurricane force. The orbs and pillar attack were used again in that order. Nova's literal side arms went missing to be used in his next attack. His lower right black hand was open and generated a pulse beam from the center.
His white hand did this on the left before his other pair of hands came down as fists. Those fists made waves of green energy. The claw, orb, pillar and second orb attack were used before Nova tried something new. The mechs shot lasers from their "mouths".
Kurohyō was the first to do so, followed by Yagatarasu. Once the second wind attack was over, Gunvolt used Astrasphere as a second volley of orbs was unleashed. The wind and orb attacks were used again, followed by Mind Melder. Gunvolt used Voltaic Chains and defeated Nova.
The portal opened again so the four could return home. It took a couple of hours to finish the fight. Everyone returned back by 12:08.
"I don't get it. How, in the flamin' heck did he live? Or, wait, that was just another copy right?" Zeno rambled.
"Zonda relied on both a Glaive and Grimoire to transform. Maybe we didn't kill her the first time. And she created a copy of Nova." Gunvolt supposed.
While he was making lunch, Zeno tried getting Atari to properly pronounce "spaghetti bolognese". She enjoyed it very much.
"Some people consider it to be a vegan pasta." Zeno stated.
"Vegan? What's that?" Atari questioned.
"It's when people only eat plant based food so ther's no meat." Zeno explained.
"That's sad." Atari sighed.
Meanwhile, Xiao, Moniqa and Copen we analyzing data at the sanatorium.
"I still don't get it. What does Zed need Atari for?" Moniqa pondered.
"I'm just as clueless as you are." Xiao agreed.
"I don't understand, why do you think Atari keeps getting kidnaped?" Gunvolt asked.
"There's no way he needs her for an evil scheme. Sumeragi's supposed to be the only one doing that." Zeno droned.
"If only there was a way to constantly keep an eye on her." Gunvolt hoped.
The rest of that day was uneventful. Little did anyone know what would happen that night. Zed kidnapped Atari using a teleporting feather. She was taken to his personal Septima research facility.
Once she awoke, Atari saw that she was in a glass tube with a height of seven feet with a four foot width. Atari saw Zed 8 feet away talking to somebody. It was the little girl with the rabbit ears. Atari had her legs folded under her with her arms at her sides.
She had her forehead originally pressed against the glass, looking down. She slowed her breathing so they'd think she was asleep. Regardless, this didn't fool Zed who tapped on the glass. Atari shot up and accidentally looked him in the eyes.
The poor girl looked down quickly. Zed gave an order to have the cylinder lifted.
"Fell free to have a look around the facility." Zed suggested.
Layla left with Zed. Atari looked around the room for a little while. She eventually caught sight of a hallway. Curiousity got the best of her and saw some blue in the hall. Atari ran around the corner and only saw Zed.
"Oh, is something wrong?" Zed wondered.
"N-no. I just thought I saw someone wearing blue." Atari answered.
That's when Serpentine knocked on the back of Atari's head with her staff. Around 11:05 that morning, Atari finally woke up, with sore spot on the back of her head. Zeno was really worried about why she wasn't up and about sooner.
"Finally! I thought you'd never wake up. How'd ya sleep?" Zeno commented.
"I didn't." Atari informed as she ate an omlette with sausage octopi swimming in a sea of ketchup.
"Huh? Why not?" Zeno wondered.
Atari wanted to tell him, but thought he'd think her crazy. But, she also knew that Zeno wouldn't try to hurt her. So, the truth it was. Though it was nearly impossible to tell who was having a harder time. While Atari went to grab her book after the discussion, Zeno was calling Copen.
"Yeah, that's what she said. Uh huh, just come over whenever you can. Oh, and bring Mytyl if possible. I think Lily could use a friend right about now." Zeno stated before hanging up.
Later on, about 1:09, Copen stopped by with his sister. She played with Atari for a while so Copen and Zeno could talk completely undisturbed. Their conversation went on until 5:45. Once the visitors left, Zeno was too tired to make dinner.
At that very moment, Gunvolt called the house phone. After ending the call, Zeno swore Atari knew he was tired. Gunvolt was cooking dinner and thought he accidentally made too much. Atari and Zeno happily agreed to visit.
Around 7:27 is when dinner was finished. Joule helped was the veggies wile Atari peeled them. Gunvolt helped Joule make the recipe she'd been practicing.
"Wow, this salmon in shoyu sauce is amazing!" Zeno complimented.
"Joule made it, she's been practicing for months." Gunvolt notified.
"I know it's not much. But do you want to borrow my Mega Man DVD's? It's the least I can do to say thank you. Lily and I finished catching up." Zeno offered.
Joule nodded eagerly.
"I guess it's settled then, I'll bring them by tomorrow." Zeno guaranteed.
He and Atari happily left. The two slept well that night. Unfortunately, Atari didn't get to rest for long. Because when she awoke at 3:35, Atari found herself in at the top of a sand covered UTU Media Tower. Atari saw Zed who noticed her out the corner of his vision. That's when he used Legitima Futura. Atari was mortified and passed out. After the attack, Zeno, Gunvolt, Copen, Lola and Lumen showed up.
"You seem awfully calm. Just what do you hope to achieve after going through all this trouble?' Copen questioned.
"You came at the right time. We just finished bringing 'her' over from the Futures Institute of Technology." Zed stated.
"The Futures Institute of Technology? That's where Lily was sealed away." Gunvolt remembered.
"indeed. The location was revealed thanks to my associates removing the Binding Brands. You seem to be under the impression that Atari is the only Primal Dragon... However, she was not the only one who was sealed away in that facility. There was a secret room hidden by a powerful barrier. We needed to remove the Binding Brands in order to break that seal. You all really should have been more suspicious of Sumeragi.' Zedinformed.
"You're saying there's another Primal Dragon?" Gunvolt wondered.
"Precisely... She's on the top floor, right above here. It's only fair that I take you to see her. Layla, wait here a moment. I'll be right back." Zed spoke.
Layla nodded before Zed brought the others to the top floor.
"What the-?' Gunvolt gasped.
Staring at Zed was the dragon Atari was holding before. It was floating a foot from her left side, seemingly protecting her.
"This little one is 'Moebius'. The ruler of the Primal Dragons." Zed notified.
"The ruler?" Zeno pondered.
"Unlike you who was born an Adept, he and Atari were born Primal Dragons. No, something beyond Primal Dragons and Septimas. He has attained an 'Octima'. She really is the Child of Hope for us Adepts." Zed claimed.
"An 'Octima'?" Copen asked.
"She is also capable of receiving visions. Moebius's 'Astral Order' ability allows him to see innumerable fates and choose one of his liking. In other words, he has the power to determine the future. For now, his power is at minimal levels.
He can turn Atari's thoughts, discussions and dreams into real events. The Octima allows him to manipulate probability to bend fate towards any possible future. This impacts every sqsuare inch of our world. Should this little one wish for a fate of chaos and disorder, just what would become of this world?
And should he suddenly awaken, Dragon Radiation would be released across the world, transforming countless Adepts into Primal Dragons. In either case, the world would be on the path to total chaos and destruction. That power could never be entrusted to Sumeragi, let alone a mere girl... Which is why we will take control of the situation before his power fully awakens. That is ATEMS's goal.
Recently, we tested to see if Layla's Djinn was capable of influencing Moebius in his sleeping state and control the Astral Order. Even with Moebius and Atari under our control, we won't be able to prevent Primal Dragons from awakening en masse. However... We will be able to guide this little one into using his Astral Order to create a more ideal world, even if only slightly." Zed explained.
That's when Gunvolt had a flashback to when he met Joule. Once it was over, he realized something.
"Your words are no different from Sumeragi's old rants! We'll never let you use Moebius or Atari to bend the world to your will!" Gunvolt protested.
"Don't you dare compare us to that lot. We merely wish to work with Moebius and Atari to guide the world along its proper path." Zed answered.
"I hear what you're saying, but in the end your 'ideal world' is one with you as its ruler. You can make it sound as noble and righteous as you want, but the future of the entire world should not be determined by one man's ego. Even if you make an 'ideal world' with Moebius and Atari, it won't be a world where anyone but you gets a say in those ideals!" Copen denied.
"I take it you won't be cooperating then? I honestly never expected you to truly understand our mission. You will understand once you bask in the light of our glorius future. After all, it is a king's duty to enlighten his subjects! You're welcone to try and stop me if you wish. Besides... You're the ones responsible for defending this nation's Seventh's users, are you not? Come then, let us battle. The future hangs in the balance!" Zed dared.
Zed's first move was to fly to the left of the room. Fiery flowers appearing over where he flew. They dissapated once he returned to his original position. He fired Lux Ballista on the left and right of the room.
As his second gauge was activated, Zed summoned swords to fall from the right of the room while he was on the left. This attack was done the opposite way as well. Once the final gauge was activated, there was nothing stopping Zed from using Legitima Futura again. Gunvolt used Voltaic Chains while Copen fired two Greed Snatcher Bullits.
Zed found himself defeated soon after.
"Is this... really it?" Zed pondered.
"Your ideals are too extreme. Since you've only seen our country from the outside, you may not realize this, but... Japan is more than just its bad parts. QUILL has supported this natioin's Adepts for years. When something goes wrong, if we work together, talk it out, and really think it through, we can find a solution.
Sometimes they make mistakes, and there have been plenty of failures, but we have always been able to get through them in the end. With enough time, I'm sure we can even do something about Moebius and Atari." Copen informed.
"Well, it is pretty bad that we're just finding out about Moebius now." Zeno remarked.
"True... But part of that was a failure on our side to recognize the signs. I'll rip the top brass a new one when we get back. For now, we have to do something about Moebius and Atari. We can talk about it sometime later, alright? It's never too late to talk, even after a fight." Copen assured.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Sumeragi has it out for me at the moment. So I'm afraid I'll have to leave now." Zed stated before leaving.
Suddenly, the tower started to shake as massive chunks of sand began to fall. Zeno grabbed Atari who was holding Moebius in her sleep. Once she woke up, Atari was surprised to see everyone. Gunvolt, Xiao Moniqa, Zeno, Copen, Lola, Joule and Mytyl were all present. Atari sat up holding Moebius.
"One thing's for sure now. I'm getting every single security measure available! Black market or otherwise!" Zeno announced.
"They don't sell security measures on the black Market, Zeno. That's the whole reason for it." Copen reminded.
"Eh, you get the idea." Zeno retorted.
"Some things never change." Moniqa sighed.
"What happened?" Atari asked.
"I'll tell you later." Moniqa supposed.
For the rest of the day, Atari begged Moniqa to tell her what happened every five minutes. After dealing with ATEMS, QUILL was disbanded permanently. Luckily, Atari was never in trouble again. She even found out how to use the Octima. It was a wonderful end to her journey.