Theory#16: ATEMS equals control over atoms.
Zed is known as the leader of the antagonist group ATEMS in ASG3. His Septima, Golden Trillions, is known to have some dominion over entire atoms. The name of his team may be a reference to his power over both the Adepts he leads and his capability to weild atoms. While Gunvolt can only manipulate electrons rather than whole atoms.
"Uh huh, so you really think you hold power over pretty much everything then?" Kirin yawned.
"Everyone holds power over atoms to a certain degree. Like the coffee mug you are holding, take that for example. You can break it, melt it in a kiln, freeze it, place it in a vat of liquid nitrogen. There are many things you can do to manipulate the shape of its structure. Just like a person, depending on the conditions they are exposed to. They will have no choice but to either adapt, or break under the impending consequences of their actions." Zed lectured.
Black Badge had his feet up while snoring at his desk. Kirin looked at him and could only shake her head in disgust.
"You really think you have dominion over everything and everyone? Is it because you're the prince of a foreign country and just practicing to fit the role?" Kirin remarked.
"For a priestess, you certainly don't uphold the friendly and forgiving manner one usually finds amongst people of that class. Perhaps your time working for Sumeragi has finally gotten to you." Zed retorted.
Sistina entered the room holding a clipboard and happily humming. Until she looked up, prompting her to gasp and hold her cheeks, dropping the clipboard and pen in the process. Apollo, Shiron and Cayman stood there in shock. Apollo was the first one to act, standing between the soon to be combatants.
"Do you really think you can attempt to defile Prince Zed without any repercussions?" Sistina scoffed.
"I think your employer is hot headed, has a temper and a superiority complex is all." Kirin admitted.
"You aren't helping the situation either, Kirin. By doing this, you're risking our capability to make a negotiation." Apollo warned.
"It's not my fault this guy is so arrogant that he can't hear anything over his own voice." Kirin huffed.
"Time out you two." Cayman cautioned.
Zed shrugged his shoulders before walking off and whistling to engage in cheerful banter with his secretary. Kirin could only grit her teeth and ball up her fists.
"Not even Nova was this annoying." Kirin scowled.
"The real annoyance usually doesn't start until BB wakes up. I'm really surprised that you're acting this way. Usually he's the illogical one." Apollo groaned.
Said Geist Adept was snoozing away with a magazine as a blanket. Shiron placed another one over his face.
"You've faced a whole lot of Adepts, GV. What's the most annoying one you faced?" Kirin questioned.
Gunvolt put a paw under his chin in contemplation.
"Definitely Teseo, the way he talked and acted was like that of an immature child. I'd have to say that even Copen acted better honestly." Gunvolt confirmed.
"Is it too late to kill him?" Kirin pondered while pointing to Zed.
"You should've thought about that before." Gunvolt reminded.
"I simply believe that it is not within our best interests to resort to this. I mean, attempting to work with Adepts of inferior Septimas and status. Surely that is to warrant some cause for concern. Not to mention they withhold their Septimal technology from other countries, such a thing should certainly be considered a crime." Sistina whispered.
"I wish we knew what Image Pulse could take him down the quickest. I know! What about the one for Copen? You said his Greed Snatcher Bullits were capable of killing an Adept with a single shot." Kirin reminded.
Gunvolt shook his head, his ponytail tail twisting and turning as he did so.
"It actually takes two shots to eliminate someone. Asimov shot me twice with it at Firmament. Copen did the same thing with Elise. Some of my equipment did a better job protecting me during battles against those rounds than others." Gunvolt elucidated.
"If only Sumeragi had the capability to replicate something like that for the soldiers here. Working out in the field sure is tough work." Kirin complained.
"The Prevasion chain and other items I used were actually based on Sumeragi's knowledge of Septima enhancements. I don't know how much you know about Glaives. Do you know how they work to increase an Adepts Septima?" Gunvolt added.
"They can do that? I just thought they could only seal the unstable Septima of Adepts until they could be safely dealt with at another time." Kirin doubted.
"Glaives were originally used to seal the Septimas of Adepts working for Sumeragi. Anyone that had one needed to ask for permission to use it. It usually included an explantion of where they were, why they needed to use it, how they were going to use their Septima, when they planned on using it and who was using the Glaive. If they were trusted enough, some could unlock their Glaives without prior authorization.
Nova and Merak could use their Septimas to some degree while being sealed under a Glaive. Nova was so strong that he needed three, and that still wasn't enough. He was still capable of using his Glaives. He fused with Joule and his three Glaives after the first time I defeated him." Gunvolt responded.
"That makes me really glad he didn't do that the last time we fought him. I'm confused, how bad was Project Muse again anyways?" Kirin spoke.
"It was horrible, you remember the machine we saw there?" Gunvolt confirmed.
"What about it?" Kirin questioned.
"Joule was forced into that machine. She was forced to use her Muse Septima in that machine to summon Lumen. The so called concerts and music promos for September Record they used were really just so they could track Adepts using her songs. It turns out that Septima originally belonged to Copen's sister Mytyl.
It was implanted into Joule after Mytyl couldn't retain the Septima. It was too strong for her but not for Joule. I had to rescue her for it to stop." Gunvolt elaborated.
"Copen said something about her. Apparently Mytyl's brain was placed into a machine so Project Muse could still continue. With the new Image Pulse of Lumen, it looks like Sumeragi is still going to get their way with it. But they won't get away with it once I report back to Shadow Yakumo." Kirin announced.