The next morning, Zeno, Gunolt and Atari informed Xiao and Moniqa of what they saw. Durning that time, Copen did the same with Lola and Nori.
"So, that's what Joule messaged me about." Moniqa laughed.
Zeno looked at Moniqa like she lost her mind and Atari hung her head in shame.
"Here Lily, I found this comic called the Zodiac Starforce. It's about a group of girls based on the zodiac signs who fight monsters while trying to pose as normal students." Xiao informed as he handed Atari the first issue.
Atari sat on the couch as Zeno grabbed sodas for everyone out of the fridge. The guys were talking in the living room so Atari sat at the kitchen table with Joule while Moniqa was standing near the counter.
"Your room is so cute Lily." Moniqa commented.
"I kept telling Zeno to save the money and that I didn't need anything. But he kept insisting on getting things for me. I think it's safe to say he went on a shopping spree." Atari added.
"He left Gal gun at GV's apartment. It was really good, do you think he could hook me up with the sequel?" Joule queried.
"I don't know if he has it, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind you asking." Moniqa answered.
Joule went into the living room to ask. Atari and Moniqa sat in silence for a minute or two.
"Did anybody tell you, a-about what Demerzel said?" Moniqa questioned.
"N-no, w-what did he say?" Atari pondered.
"He said you have some power or powers we don't know about. That you're more powerful than we know. You're also one of the sumeragi's high priority targets." Moniqa explained.
"Uh, w-who's Demerzel? What happened to defeating Asimov?" Atari wondered.
"After QUILL's disbanding, we figured out Asimov took too much damage after the fight with GV. It forced him to turn to the Sumeragi for help. Since Asimov's body took substantial damage, he was turned into an AI and his body was swapped for pure electricity. He thought they could help him achieve his goal of eradicating humankind." Moniqa elucidated.
"I'm sorry about that, GV and Zeno told me how you felt about him." Atari remarked.
Moniqa put her head down and blushed. Atari went to talk with Joule and see if she wanted to read the Zodiac Starforce comic with her. Joule happily accepted and layed down with their heads together and Atari held the book.
"Mind if I join?" Lumen asked.
"Uh, you may have to sit in the chair." Joule muttered.
So, Lumen floated above the two so she could see. Moniqa felt curious as to where Atari and Joule went. After finding them, Moniqa felt relieved. She sat in the chair and watched the two have their fun.
Slowly but surely, Moniqa noticed the girls getting sleepy. Lumen disappeared as Atari's arrms went limp and dropped the comic. Moniqa coered the two with a plush white faux fur glanket with fleece on the opposite side draped on the chair. She smiled upon exiting the room and quietly closing the door.
Zeno walked up to Moniqa who made a shush gesture. Zeno was curious as to why she did that. Moniqa opened the door slightly and Zeno got his answer.
"Does anyone know what happened to Joule? I've looked everywhere but I can't seem to find her." Gunvolt wondered.
"Her and Lily are taking a nap right now." Zeno responded.
"They fell asleep reading the comic." Moniqa stated.
"Did they think it was boring?" Xiao muttered.
"Not at all, they just got comfortable." Moniqa assured.
Xiao gave a sigh of relief. The boys decided to watch Mega Man. Xiao read a comic he bought while Moniqa was left to her thoughs at the kitchen table. She came to realize the man she admired was nothing more than a childish, stubborn, ignorant, prideful, arrogant, deceitful, hateful and so many other things you could make a decently thick book with.
"Ya good over there Moniqa?" Zeno queried.
Moniqa felt a tear slippiing so she wiped it away and nodded with a fake smile on her face.
"I still remember being shocked for GV's first mission. I guess we should'e been more suspicious of him when he said to, well, delete the core." Moniqa reminisced.
The four were glad Joule wasn't in the room to hear.
"Anyone want to try some ramune flavored konpeito?" Zeno asked.
Everyone agreed. Fifty minutes later, Moniqa knew everyone's views on the fight. Including Atari's which was told by Zeno. Moniqa and Xiao went home while Gunvolt stayed behind since Joule was still asleep.
The girls woke up around 11 since they took a nap around 8. Gunvolt went back to his apartment with Joule as soon as she woke up. Atari sat on the couch with her comic book while Zeno watched TV. There was a building threatning to destroy the peace, but they would deal with that later.
The next morning, everyone ate then went to the Grave Pillar. Looking up revealed it'd take a lot to get to the top.
"We'd better start with the first room." Copen advised.
After walking a lengthy hall, they located the room containing the first of 6 Grave Keepers they were soon to come across. The Grave keepers had part of a 6 part passcode to activate an elevator to reach the Mother Computer. Upon entering the room, the area was found to be similar in structure to the inside of a volcano.
"Are you sure you'll be okay boss? Humans tend to do bad in these temperatures." Lola worried.
"You don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine." Copen assured.
Everyone was concerned about the android enemies they came across. But soon came to realize they were just robots based on the human Sumeragi soldiers. Suddenly, Atari heard a rumbling.
"What was that?" Zeno wondered as he turned around.
"Um, magma is underground lava right?" Atari pondered.
"Yeah, why do you- ack! Run! There's a lava flow coming straight for us!" Lola screamed as she zoomed ahead of the team.
Everyone scurried like ants from rising flood waters. Luckily, no one was injured.
"I've been analyzing their structure and the enemies so far look like they were based on the human Sumeragi soldiers." Lola stated.
"I noticed it too. The Mother Computer must have taken the robots concept design from them." Copen added.
Things were going smoothly again until 5 minutes later when the magma returned. When everyone was safe, the group was deciding a break was overdue.
"Why, why is there magma chasing us!" Lola fumed.
"It seems they're very determined to deter intruders." Copen noticed.
"When we're done here, I'll make sure to appreciate the cold a little more." Atari joked.
"Good thing I paid this months rent already. I have a feeling we're gonna be here a while." Gunvolt commented.
"I'm curious as to why they decided to build this place in a desert of all possible locations." Copen doubted.
"Maybe they didn't want anyone interfering with their construction work." Atari guessed.
"Well, break time's over, back ta work." Zeno spoke.
One final time before reaching their end goal, the magma made a comeback. For the last encounter, everyone was safe.
"That, is, the last time, I EVER, decide, to go near, a, volcano." Lumen angrily declared.
"We shouldn't be seeing anymore of it. Our target's dead ahead." Copen informed.
So, they all entered the room and came across the first Grave Keeper. His face resembled a skull, and his body looked rather muscular. He also sported a cloth going down his upper legs which included a belt with skulls on the sides. He also had a long salamander-like tail.
"Why are you here intruders?" Dacite interrogated.
"To take down the threat of the Grave Keepers and the Mother Computer." Copen responded.
"No matter, I shall dispose of you soon enough." Dacite rambled as he set his body aflame.
He began to throw flaming arrows with red fire at the group. Copen and Gunvolt dodged them while Zeno shot and splintered one arrow with his Ga2044 ORSO. Unfortunately, that didn't stop Zeno from getting burnt. Dacite jumped into the air and threw landmines on the ground at even intervals. As he landed and ran through the mines, Dacite made them explode. Dacite then flipped in the air, apparently attempting to drop attack Gunvolt who luckily prevaded the attack. Dacite sent a blazing fist aimed a an unsuspecting Zeno who used the barrel of his Ga2044 ORSO to shove the arm away. it was difficult for the boys to lock on and Atari was having trouble as well. Especially since she didn't have an offensive Special Skill yet. Dacite's special attack caused him to be ulnerable as he said his chant. Copen used the opportunity to initiate Shred Storm, which left Dacite with 1/6 of his 3rd health bar. Using Dragon Sphere and Crashvolt simultaneously brought an end to Dacite.