Hyperdimension Neptunia
Third Sister; Darkness
Chapter 17
The great treasure hunt
Lowee is a lovely fairy tale-like nation, with its snow covered streets and colorful buildings. It always appears as a shining vibrant place. But no nation is free of crime, especially at night.
On top of the tallest buildings we watch, heroes outside of the laws, our clothes fluttering in the wind as the moon shines upon us. To us, Death is an old home we returned from to finish our business. We lunge out to our prey below. We live in Lowee's shadows to vanquish the dark from inside.
Leaving a trail of silicon string behind, our first member traps the petty criminals on our way to our main target. No one sees him, for he already wrapped them up in his traps, leaving them hanging across the streets. Equipped with a sword and knight-like armor that has bulky parts around his shoulders, knees and wrists to shoot string. Green clothes underneath the armor and green robes over his armor. His mask looks like a knight helmet-vizor, we call him the Silicon knight.
As we reach the main building, our second member causes a commotion to get the attention of our target inside. An unlimited arsenal, he can copy any attack and technique, barraging the enemy relentlessly and learning everything they do, disabling their counter attacks. The moment they come in numbers, he disappears. His coat is dark purple-grey, his skin has turned ashen, his arms are made of pure metal. On his face he wears the mask resembling a wise monkey that can learn anything. The 'Claimer', Acclaim.
Acclaim enters the building from the front through smoke, Silicon Knight enters the building from above with his string, and our newest member enters the building from the back, whilst reinforces make their way to the building. The men and machines who came to back up their friends get obstructed by a wall of flame. Beyond the flame was a child wearing a long white robe and wide witch hat. When she raised her staff, it was already over, her powerful magic rendered the villains unconscious. The 'Lion' Theresa. She wears a lion mask and lately shapes her magical attacks in cat-like shapes and lion heads as she blasts people with great might.
Through the windows, many get thrown around in their offices, losing to my friends. Many secret agents and warriors stood guard in this building. But our newest member was overwhelmingly strong. She had techniques to blend with the shadows, yet she often chooses to fight with honesty, boldly plowing through the enemies with elegant and flowing movement of her arms and legs, despite that, once her Naginata is used, her brute strength penetrates steel. The winds unleashes by her slices floors and doors.
Her purple garb looking similar to a fancy Chinese dress and her silver accessories look as beautiful as the wearer herself. She is covered by the dragon mask on her face.
'Acquire' also known as 'The Dragon', Dragonette.
The roof of the building opens up. A last resort armed aircraft, probably given by Plagia-arts before they went under. Their leader must be inside. They thought they could flee, but I was waiting for them outside. Wearing nothing but black clothing, the top looking somewhat like a biker's outfit, below I wear a short skirt with black gather belts and thigh-highs. I have a simple spikey black mask. My feet leave a trail of blazing white light that shoots me up into the sky.
With my black curved blade, I gather light before shooting it at the vehicle, "UnionStar Light Slash!", with a flying blade of light, I cleave through the huge aircraft, blowing it up.
I am the leader. Some call me, 'the switcher'. Bios is my name.
With Light Step, I shoot myself through a window inside the target building. Our true objective was getting a hidden document to find the location of Computement-Corp's leader. A while back, the ninjas who we have befriended were willing to do us one favor, which was to infiltrate Computement-Corp's headquarters and deal with one of Tenchu's major benefactors. But they found the inside of their building abandoned not too long before they arrived. All they could retrieve were locations of both public and hidden infrastructure owned by them.
We were hoping to find out where and who the leader of Computement-Corp was. The ninjas told us there should be documents detailing their partnerships and members in one of the hidden buildings, but even in a few where there seemed to be some, we foundnd empty storage rooms and drawers. Currently, we are searching the final building.
"This is their last building, hope we find something good.", Sili-san says as we frantically search the executive office.
"They did leave a bunch of paper behind this time, the last few times they took all their papers with them before leaving.", Dragonette mentioned.
"And despite all fleeing", I say as I open drawers and look around, then I finish my sentence, "None have fled to a building owned by computement-corp."
"That is strange, isn't it? Where did they all go?", Sili-san asked.
"I found ways to track IP-addresses, device locations, and more from technology they couldn't take with them or shut off in time…Yet, I could not pinpoint any buildings owned by them that could house the number of executives and forces fled.", Acclaim says.
I could only think Avenir took them in. But they haven't left a trace behind, so we can't prove anything…
We gather together and look at the documents we've gathered.
"It would seem this is it. Their most important documentation.", Acclaim says.
"What if they took the documents with them on that aircraft outside?", Theresa asked us.
"When did she get in h-", Sili-san is immediately cut off by everyone but the girl herself by tiredly shouting, "Teleport!"
"Sir Silicon, I would like you to make the fact she can teleport a long term memory for this is the fifth time we had to explain…", Acclaim says.
"To answer your question, Sili-san had reached this floor before us and made sure to string up every drawer and shelf to force the executive to flee by himself. He even made sure to cut through his clothes wherever there were pockets.", Dragonette explains.
Sili-san looks displeased as he says, "I wish I could've captured him, but just like the others, they have an inner layer or binding protection. Some kind of magical tech or something. Cutting was the best I could do.", Sili-san says.
"No need to explain. We planned for this out of experience. We already knew he would be surrounded by too much security to begin with.", Dragonette says.
"But…Um…Can't they just use computers to store their information? And then send it over?", Theresa asked.
"Most companies in Lowee prefer using paper. Unlike Planeptune and Leanbox, we still use fax machines.", Sili-san says.
"To add to Sili-san's lecture, Lowee also is the only nation to employ teleportation specific documents. A lot of these documents receive stamps to link them together and easily teleport them to the correct location all at once. If lost, they could be teleported to their last place of transport.", Acclaim says.
"But why didn't they teleport these documents?", Theresa asks.
"Imagine one jaded guard getting disgruntled and betraying you by teleporting all the secret documents to the police. Would be a nightmare.", Sili-san says.
"My father knows of special seals so only specific people can teleport documents, but this requires an actual mage to perform. None of these documents have the seal…", Dragonette says.
Theresa looks closely. She does find one document with such a seal. With close observation, she concludes, "Magic does flow from it…Maybe the leak can be traced."
"Well, THERE is another reason they wouldn't.", Sili-san says.
"Hm…", I hum out loud as I notice one document with something interesting written.
"Computement-Corp's absorbtion into Justit Info B.V?", I read out loud.
Everyone looks at the document I have my eyes on.
"That may be important!", Sili-san shouts.
"My sister did mention she had a suspicion. But why fuse two companies under the same organization?", Dragonette says.
Before we can come up with answers, we see flashes of light through the windows.
"We are surrounded by law enforcement!", Acclaim warns.
"Sili-san, string up the documents. Theresa, prepare a large group teleportation." I give out orders.
"Time to flee!", Sili-san shouts.
We gather the documents and make it out of the buildings. We shake off Lowee's officers with our capable platforming skills. We are the Phantom Crusaders. Five shadows fly over the street to save Lowee from the villains hidden in darkness.
… …
A month before this event, we had returned home to our secret base. Now with Dragonette as our new member, we had to come up with a code name.
"Wouldn't 'Dragon' be good enough?", Sili-san asked.
"It's too simple. There are many with that codename already.", Dragonette objected.
From her calm and composed posture, she unfolded her arms and gave us a smile.
"Don't worry, I have a name.", Dragonette's words had our attention.
"Acquire! That is my name!", she said with pride.
We all looked at her with troubled eyes.
"Isn't that a bit too close to Acclaim?", Sili-san asks.
"Hey, listen! I thought about it hard okay! There aren't a lot of Chinese game makers that are publicly defunct! My name could have been spicy horse, would that be better?!", Dragonette loudly replied, pointing her finger at us, switching between us as she spoke.
She stands straight and goes further, "I was thinking maybe a Japanese name but…"
"What is a Japanese and Chinese?", Theresa asked.
"Stop, you're questioning the law of languages between the real world and the Hyperdimension.", Sili-san said.
Dragonette sighed before speaking, "Anyway, I was thinking Elf first bu-", she gets cut off again by Sili-san who reacts by jumping from his seat and shouting, "Isn't that the company that makes erog-", he then got silenced by a thrown chair.
"As I was saying, no name fit me more than Acquire. I have Acquired friends and a purpose!", Dragonette said, looking above her with her fist raised.
We all stared at her. I think we all had the mutual feelings of how lame that sentence was.
"Well, whatever. The name isn't as important, enemies will give you a new nicknames anyway", I said.
Specifically, I said so because I got the name 'The Switcher' which sounds awful too.
… …
Two months had passed since the ninja war. Within the first month, we desperately tried to catch the leader of Computement-Corp. In the end, we only found documents detailing the company being absorbed into Justit Info BV. Their plan would seem to hide the leader in Justit Info's HQ. We can't find their secret hideout, we don't even know where this 'Dream' person lives.
For the past month, we focused mostly on doing quests and monster hunting. Night by night, there is less crime to fight, so we had mostly been active during day time lately. For a month, we had been wondering how we could tackle a news station. Their main studio and HQ had no dirt to dig up. Their secrets must be well kept…Until…
One fateful day, we decided on a day off. All of us were in the city, doing our thing. Until all channels and magical hologram screens in the sky focused on one piece of news. Acclaim and even some of our ninja allies told me there was no information about this upcoming event, everything happened without even Lowee knowing. This young girl who was popularized as an idol news reporter appears on the screen as bouncy and energetic as she had been in the past.
But her announcement was far more grand than we could expect.
"Hey hey! Every listener in Planeptune, Leanbox, Lastation and my favorite, Lowee! We're coming in live today to announce the Grand Hunt! We of Justit Info BV declare all four nations ground for a hunt, sponsored by the guild. Whoever completes it gets to become S Rank hunters, for the four monsters are of the highest level…But the price is a treasure that can bring unlimited energy or make you stronger! Doesn't that sound interesting!", this girl excitedly announces a monster hunt on screen.
But that wasn't all, balloons and fireworks are flying everywhere. Music is played all over Lowee…No, this was played all over Gamindustri at the same time.
"Of course, aside from the guild, Justit Info BV will reward the adventurer that gathers all four sacred treasures held by these beasts greatly. That's right! It's also a competition! Form parties, but only one party can be rewarded! Fame, Wealth, Power, we can grant it all! This was Dream from Justit Info BV, I'll meet the heroes who gathered the treasures, okay?!", her speech ends with her getting close to the screen making a seductive face with her last sentence.
Dream…
The girl looks different from how Dragonette described her to me, other than her hair and eye color. She looks younger and doesn't sound nearly as mature. Perhaps there is a trick to it.
We've met up now. I see guards and officials running around in panic. This broadcast and event must not be legal. I even think I saw big sis flying away at high speed.
We gathered together between a tight alleyway, our only source of lights being the sun reflected off the snowy street outside.
"So, what is our conjecture?", Acclaim asked.
"That was definitely Dream, even if she looks, sounds, and acts younger.", Dragonette said.
"There must be a scheme behind it.", I had said.
Justit Info BV is the only organization left now, Avenir must be in need of something to turn the tables on us. Unlimited energy? Perhaps a machine to wage their domestic war.
"There is much panic…Among officers anyway.", Sili-san says.
"Adventures, monster hunters and treasure hunters are thrilled, though.", Dragonette says.
"They don't really need to be concerned with the law, them hunting won't be illegal even if the event is. Of course, my inner adventurer is excited too.", I tell her.
Theresa said, "Hm…Even Leader gets excited for these events."
Sili-san got a little close to Theresa and asked, "How do you feel about it."
"I'm worried about their plans…But I like it if Leader can have fun…Maybe I can enjoy hunting as well…", she meekly replied.
"It is all fair. Even many folks on the streets seem to look forward to seeing images of this event.", Acclaim said.
"Are they broadcasting it?", I asked Acclaim, I felt a bit worried.
"If interesting fights happen regarding the event, yes. Especially against the beasts.", Acclaim told me.
"Meaning we need to be masked up even during day time…", I mumbled looking down on the ground almost biting my thumb.
"We are participating?", Sili-san asked.
I was thinking about their plan first. They must've known what these treasures are beforehand.
"We definitely can't ignore it. It may be an opportunity to find their secret hideout on top of everything. But before that, what do any of you think the treasures are? Justit must be wanting them to make an even like this.", I tell them.
I saw them deep in thought. If they knew of these treasures beforehand, they must've been looking for them.
I pull out the gemstone I had collected to where the Golden Tower used to be in Lowee.
Everyone began to eye me.
I figured they were looking for this last time, there was a tower in each nation, all of them must've had the same fate so…
"So they are looking for four of these gems?", Sili-san asks.
"That is in line with their previous actions. Their usage of the ninja was to reach this gem as well.", Acclaim states. I raise the game as we all look at it.
"There is certainly some energy radiating off of it… Perhaps they can power something with this one alone. Four of them… Yeah. There must've been a reason why the Samurai protected this out of sheer instinct, even ignoring his only actual function.", I said.
"Then, it is settled.", Dragonette said.
Theresa pumped herself up declaring, "We can't let them get the rest!"
"And with that, our goal is clear. We collect them before anyone else so they won't fall into enemy hands! Someone must be around to bring the gems to their secret office, one of us will follow. Now our battle with the last organization before Avenir begins!", and with those words, we raise our fists, making ready for our next adventure.
The great monster hunt is closer to a treasure hunt. Leanbox, Lastation, and Planeptune should each have their own gem, and we must find them first. To make sure not one is taken, we'd have to split into groups. Justit Info BV must know we are going after the treasure as well. I can only assume this is a challenge for us as well. We won't lose.
We are the Phantom Crusaders.
Guild Rank: A
Bios: Level 91
Silicon Knight: Level 73
Acclaim: Level 79
Theresa: Level 68
Dragonette: Level 75.
Standing in the wilderness outside Lowee, we've come prepared with two sets of masks, one for exploring cities without being recognized as Phantom Crusaders, the other ones we use for our missions.
"It's going to be messy from here, huh?", Sili-san comments. We all look out as the sun sets, wind blowing over us.
"Everything here feels quiet and peaceful. But tomorrow, most hunters must've prepared for the hunt.", Dragonette says as she brushes her hair aside to not be bothered by the wind.
"We've got to be careful with our triple identity…", I say, almost lost in thought.
"I would've never imagined I'd be living a triple life…", Sili-san says.
"I've never thought I'd have a single life…", Theresa says before she giggles.
It kind of sounds sad, but seeing her happy now makes me feel fine.
"We only have our masks off in our base now, huh?", Dragonette says.
"I've more of a double life. No one would recognize me as normal with these arms.", Acclaim adds to the conversation.
"I think that, too, will blow over, Acclaim.", I tell him.
"So, leader…What is the plan?", Sili-san asked.
The difficult part. I prefer staying together. But we can't afford risking anyone getting to these monsters first.
"We make three teams. Theresa and Dragonette head over to Leanbox. Sili-san and Acclaim have Lastation as their destination. I believe each group complements the other's fighting style. I am strong on my own, not to sound condescending. With HDD on my side, I should be fine going to Planeptune. At night, we sneak into each nation and rest until dawn.", I give them step 1 of the plan.
"Where can we sleep, exactly? Won't they kick us out if they find out we snuck inside?", Theresa asks.
"This is your first time traveling, isn't it? We each have a card detailing our guild work, they work as identifies for INNs and Hotels. They don't ask many questions to adventurers, especially high ranking ones. You can easily find a room you can rent with them.", me telling them causes all of them to pick their cards out of their pockets.
"The difficult part comes after. We will likely have to get information in town about the hunt, its participants, and the likely location of the monsters. Our first search location should be where each tower us. They aren't hidden to the public, but they haven't exactly been written down on common maps either. The monsters themselves worry me, if the guild allows you a promotion to S rank, I doubt it is due to them being corrupted by SCJP, I think they have an idea of the monster's power. These monsters might equal a Goddess.", I explain to them.
"Even if we go all out, our chances of victory separated are slim, I see…", Acclaim says.
"I welcome the challenge! I will defeat one on my own if I have to.". Dragonette says.
"Yeah, that is impossible isn't it? Even Bios defeated you once transforming…", Sili-san says, he looks defeated.
"Hey! I have become much stronger since then!", Dragonette argues.
"I hate to say it, but Sili-san may be right. They could at least be equal to me, so even I have a tough time. These kinds of monsters are usually handled by at least two goddesses. I think we may have to look to weaken them or trap them so we can come together and kill them one by one…But hiding a found one from others would be hard…", I say.
"Is it feasible to take out much of the competition first to ascertain they won't get to them?", Acclaim asks.
"It's not a bad suggestion. But that only solves half of our problems. Justit will most likely have assassins, droids, and soldiers ready to take advantage of any situation.", I tell them.
The wind fills in for our silence. We look at each other. In the end, we all understand.
"There is no solution. We must take our stand against the beast until we find an opportunity to take them down.", Acclaim says.
"We basically have no choice but to do wars of attrition. Oh well.", Sili-san says sounding defeated.
Dragonette plays with her ear as she speak under her breath, "I'm pretty sure we can beat them anyway…."
"I think we all know what to do. If our mission seems impossible, meet me at Planeptune.", I tell them.
After everyone gave their nod, I shout, "Alright. Move out!"
We scurry around, spreading to our destinations. The trip to Planeptune is a rather simple one. Once the cover of night was ready, I simply pass through every forest and go around every lake to enter its border. Once I reach a city, I will take my rest at an INN.
The next day, I wake up in my pretty comfortable hotel room. Still feeling drowsy, I figure to turn the TV on inside the room. As expected of Planeptune, their hotel rooms have ultra-thin high spec TV screens. Even Big Sis doesn't have anything as thin as this. This is an anime? Big Sis says she watches shows like these from time-to-time…Who…Planeptune has so many TV features and channels…Crazy. …I kind of see the appeal. I don't really understand the story, this episode is clearly much further into the show…Let me switch to the news.
As one would expect, Justit has taken over most news channels. I see there was a fight within the main city. Some took advantage of Justit's coverage and declared duels on each other that had barely anything to do with the hunt. There is some footage of other hunters gathering and traveling outside… They switch to Lastation to show some finding more peaceful ways to compete with each other. In Lastation, it is mostly that holographic card game. Some of those same duels are held across the globe.
In Lowee, they make monsters fight each other or hold party games in real life amusement parks…The staff seems a little bothered in the background. Leanbox has some people holding car races…Oh, a fight above water? A fight underwater? Things are getting heated…Wait…
Is morning almost over?
I overslept! I must head out right now. I turn off the TV and head out. At the reception, I return the room's key. The kind receptionist asked me if I was joining the hunt.
"Of course. An A rank adventurer has no reason not to.", I tell her.
"Isn't it exciting…Well, it just means good business for me. Even so, I love seeing excited young adventurers.", she says.
I nod. I look over to some stand, it holds freshly baked bread and pastries.
"Can I have some of those?", I ask pointing at the sweet bread.
She gives me a small price to pay and after, I head off with some bread in my mouth and hands. Eating on the way to the main square, I see tv screens everywhere following the events closely. It seems Planeptune has actually worked to make their stations and news reporters follow this event closely.
I thought they may not be so bothered by the event's legality, but I do see plenty of soldiers running around looking for suspects…They even have some special drones flying around scanning people's identities…
*Bleeb Bloob VRRRRRMMM*
Ah yeah, I got scanned too…
"Identity vague…Card scanned. Adventurer Suno. A Rank. Heroic status.", it said before flying off.
It would never be able to scan me, they have no data on even my DNA anymore. But I am happy they only scanned the adventurer's card. I guess my status as adventurer cancels out my more suspicious aspects.
If I were suspicious, the drone would flash a red warning sign. It appears to have two. A little suspicious mainly has it put you on some list, the sound alarm version has Planeptune enforcers run your way immediately. I've only seen it once so far, however.
I roam around Planeptune. The many screens show fights in the event, but there are still many screens that show their usual program. I suppose Planeptune has good anti-hacking teams or something.
The futuristic city is somewhat difficult for me to truly understand. I can have fun with some things, but fundamentally, I lack the understanding of how anything here works. I see somewhere on some screen that Neptune and Nepgear have flown north-west from here, close to the ocean.
I see some random passerby and ask innocently, "Hey hey…Where did the Lady Goddess go? Did she just leave?"
"Well, young one, the goddesses have duties to uphold. For our peace, she's gone out to fight a large monster that approaches from the ocean. But worry not! Purple Heart is the main character! She can easily defeat it and will return.", he spoke to me like I am a child.
My appearance makes it pretty easy for people to speak I guess? They don't suspect me of anything…Although, Planeptunians are pretty eccentric to begin with…
I walk across some guy talking to an audience about some tower climbing thing. It seems Planeptune has made buildings with residents in it that are specifically made to be climbable.
"First one to reach the top gets a price!", he says. I am not really interested, but maybe there is some merit in the climb itself.
It would seem the many adventurers running around has them quickly join other activities before or after their hunting attempt.
I walk over and ask, "Can I join?"
"Oooh…I don't think children should climb dangerous tall buildings little miss.", he answers.
I show him my Guild card.
"Rank A?! Never mind. I'm certain a capable adventurer as you can handle yourself.", he says.
I could react smugly, but I am just going to jump up to the tower and begin the climb.
In the beginning, I just use the strength of my arms and legs to throw myself up every few meters. It is a bit more strenuous than simply climbing, but it is faster. Eventually, when there is no one to really watch me, I use reflection to get to the top in no time. Now I sit on top of the tower, cross legged on the edge. I take a good look around the city as a whole.
I reached the top of a tower this big, yet there are still plenty of buildings overshadowing me.
Planeptune is quite amazing. I hadn't observed it this closely when I was inside Planeptune Tower. Despite the large amount of skyscrapers, there are many wide open spaces, parks and a few residential areas with more normal looking houses. It is very livable, I thought it was very chaotic the first time I came here, but maybe I was dazzled by the amounts of technology. When it comes to useful information, I don't really see much special. A lot of drones are flying around, that is all I can really spot from up here.
This climb made me hungry…I am a bit in a mood for eating more than usual…Oh well.
Before anyone can reach on top, I use reflection from my hands to send me flying down, quite a distance away from here. I visit a snack bar next. I barely go to these, but I am in the mood for deep fried food. While finishing my fries, I overhear some folks talking about the event. A lot of adventurers visit convenience stores filled with short magazines describing myths and legends in short, many of them detailing locations of where one could possibly find something.
I take something to go and head to my next destination. Eating along the way, I hear many excited voices gossiping about the event.
"They say they've found Leanbox's monster!"
"But the team fighting was wiped out and no footage of it was seen right? That party was blown away, we don't even know its location."
"Scary as that sound, I am both proud and terrified to say that our monster seemingly can fly."
"It is spotted 38 times after all…But every camara only captures shadows as it defeats adventurers!"
"No adventurer lost, that beast just leaves every fight after landing a big blow."
"If you miss your monster in a hunt you lost, dumbass!"
So it would seem two monster have been challenged, at least the one more troublesome monster is here. Makes it easier for me. I can chase after things rather quickly, and I can fly on top of everything. But now I have to question whether I should try going to the golden tower at this point…
Either way, I reach the convenience store. After the clerk bid me welcome, I walked over to the magazine and small book section.
Finding info about the gold towers was very easy, they were the more popular articles after all.
It wasn't very clear on its location. Somewhere to the south?
"Young lady, are you perhaps interested in the golden towers?". The store clerk asks me.
I look at her and nod.
"Long ago, these towers came with the Gold Third. It used to be their power source, but after they weren't deemed needed by nature, they collapsed. The Planeptune one was especially bizarre, it broke part of the land off and floated towards the large island to the west. Once there, it collapsed, turning the island into a desert.", she tells me.
"I see…So it changed locations…", I said, sounding meek on purpose.
"It's not really been recorded in any magazine yet, it happened two years ago and many weren't willing to check out the desert. It's been said dangerous monsters live there now. Many magazines don't have this information yet. The place where the Golden Tower should've crashed is also blocked off by mist.", she tells me.
Looking at her attentively has her ask me, "Are you also an adventurer? Because if you are also part of the hunt, you should definitely check it out. The monster of Planeptune often flies out of the mist wall, it is the most likely spot to be found. isn't that strange? Perhaps it is its nest. But competition is a bit troublesome, many adventurers are headed that way now, perhaps they'll even camp there overnight.", she informs me further.
She's smiling all the way through, maybe she really enjoys these types of conversations.
"Thanks for the tip.", I reply kindly. Then I ask her, "Do you have donuts here?"
She points me to a set of small donuts.
I take some as I leave.
Gathering information while eating is the best…These donuts are nice and sweet…
I kind of forget my mission as I joyfully walk around Planeptune. My mood got heightened too much by the food I ate. I even played some random mini-games that are organized on the streets like…Holographic bowling. Holographic midget golf. And my favorite…Holographic baseball. It feels really weird swinging a holographic bat, You'd think they'd least supply physical ones.
However, during my walk in the main square, this peace quickly ended. Screams were aplenty, and they were quick reactions, for the citizens of Planeptune have become too familiar with these happenings. I turn around to see a huge rift in space just above some buildings. It opened up like some kind of gate. And around town, spatial holes summon monsters I have never seen before. Luckily, I am not the only one here, many adventurers are battle ready and quickly took up arms. But it was clear most of the ones inside towns are novices. Level thirty might be the highest any of them got. For small monsters and some medium sized ones, there were no troubles. Even large ones could be taken down by groups of adventurers. But the numbers were too high. Even worse, some attack skyscrapers, making glass and sometimes even large blocks of the buildings drop on citizens.
Neptune and Nepgear aren't here. I don't sense B-Sha, IF or Compa showing up. I can sense cameramen in the wind, so I have to find a proper spot to sneak my mask on to use my real strength. For now, I can only somewhat hide by using a bow and arrow.
Before I could use the bow and arrow, however, I first had to materialize the explosive axe. Just with this alone, I can use the magical flame engine to rotate at a speed that can create a tornado, clearing the debris falling on people. I can cast explosion onto larger blocks of the buildings, but that spreads out smaller debris. It's less likely to kill people, but may injure more.
Of course, I myself am the target of monsters. One floating golem with knight-like features and a spiky rock as its lower body came to me with two sword arms. I block its strike with the staff of my axe. It didn't feel very strong. Looking at it up close, it had tiny glowing yellow eyes through the slits of its helmet that is soldered into its chest, its fore arms were blades but the rest looked like mini towers with some kind of purple moss and roots growing out of it.
I bend my knees and jump under it with a spin as it misses me with its other arm. I hold my axe right over my face, the staff held vertically in front of me, from behind the monster, I mostly let the axe move into the monster with its engines which moves me back onto the ground with its pulling force, the axe's blade digging into the monster thanks to the added explosion. Now I better my grip on the axe, I jump over its shoulder as I turn left and push my arm to throw the monster over the street with the power of my exploding axe, it bumps into another monster and crashes against a building together.
I hope they don't charge me for collateral…
Something rolls over the air, it is practically a cannon ball heading my way, I stop it as I stick the staff and pommel stuck onto the ground, blocking it. I am pretty confident in my weapon's durability, I generated all of them with high quality materials. Smaller enemies jumped me from the opposite side and I knew my axe would be too slow to take out all of them. With rapid punches and side steps, I avoided their attacks and knocked them away from me.
Their size didn't indicate their strength, I'd say they'd be a threat if I were a few dozen levels lower. Each is stronger than an adventurer here at least.
The monster that flew into my axe had opened some kinds of ports, its freaky purple arms and legs come out of it, its head sticks out, revealing large black horns over its reptilian purple head with weird space-like warping eyes. From its mouth, it is about to release something hot. Figuring it to be a fire breath, I jump high into to air. I kick its head with my heel before grabbing my axe as I jump off its head. Its horns generated lightning and he was about to strike. The monster is rather weak, So I can tank the lightning, its minimal damage won't stop me from going down and pummeling the monster into paste as I land.
Another monster comes from behind me, but I already sensed it beforehand. I twist my foot right foot over my axe to pick it up and spin it from my left using the weight of my body, with the added engine, I easily smash it into the monster, knocking it back a little. Right after, I jump into the air and spin vertically to cleave the monster clean in halve with a powerful strike that shatters the street below me.
I am so sorry for the damages. This road looks expensive too…
The adventurers in front of me have seemed to beat most of the easy monster, they now have to deal with large sized ones and higher level small enemies.
To save the one almost getting hit by a big purple troll with boulders molded into it, I threw my axe after a few spins, the axe lifts the troll from its feet, stopping its attacks.
"Explosion!", I cast my spell onto the axe, which has it blow up and amplify the explosion spell to finish the troll off.
Now I use my bow and arrow to accurately impale monsters jumping at adventures with arrows. The weakest ones looked like purple bunnies, albeit, they were wider and their legs looked longer and thicker. Medium sized monsters were entering the fray, so I stormed them with arrows shouting, "Arrow Storm!"
Thousands of arrows go over the heads of the hunters, some pass by each individual and a few even flew between their limbs. The smaller monsters get taken out by a few arrows by themselves, the medium sized ones only stumble because of the ridiculous amounts of arrows shot into them. many survived, but were weakened.
"This is our chance!", one of the adventurers yelled.
They charge in with spears and swords, the ones with heavy weapons stay in the back to pounce on larger monsters that are occupied with fighting the ones with lighter weapons. The mages are on standby. A few monsters with arrows stuck in them jump with a curve onto some buildings before launching themselves at adventurers, but the arrows stuck in them had explosion magic embedded into them.
Now, I myself am not safe. There may be a lot more monsters up in their direction where the big gate is, but monsters spawn all around us and there were plenty behind me running my way, not to mention the few monsters that flanked me. Only a handful adventurers stayed behind, so each of us had to deal with multiple monsters. I jump around avoiding incoming attacks, especially a few tackles as I fire an arrow back with each jump. A few I kick in a multitude of direction before filling them with arrows.
Eventually, avian monsters occupied the sky, their feathers and fur overgrown, hiding their purple flesh and facial details. Once they open their mouth, they blast the adventurers below with dark magic. I myself had to dodge a few orbs of darkness.
A handful dive towards me, but that makes it easier for me to shoot them, or even get close and kick them onto the ground. I rapid fire arrows into the air, letting some explode in the middle of the wave of arrows, sending them flying everywhere. But a few got woven away by a larger size winged monster, its head looks odd. Its wings look barely feathered, on the other hand, its purple legs had black fathers on it instead. It unleashes heavy winds and waves of black lightning bolts.
As I hop to the side to dodge the wave of vertical lightning bolts, I shoot an arrow that spreads into multiple as they are set ablaze by light. I specifically hit the hands, feet, and head, as it seems it barely uses its wings to stay afloat and it rather manipulates gravity to fly. The okay damage isn't as important as it lacks of sustainability in the air. A bunch of armored men and women jumped above it shouting, "Don't underestimate the Dragoons!", and plunge it down onto the ground with spears.
The other bird monsters get assaulted by various magical spells from the mages that spread out to surround the monsters. except, there was another large monster in the air, and while magical attacks held it back, it was a much greater magic user with defense against spells. It looked bizarre, its head looked like a dandelion, its body like a black tree with purple vines coming out of it, and its hand looked like spiked golf balls. Its hand generate a lot of heat, and he shoots large orbs of flams with a fling of its arms. I have trouble dodging them, but the smoke was a good cover for me. Now I can hide myself and put on my mask fully.
Even if they recognize me as a Phantom Crusader now, they may not make the connection with my other identity.
I run to a different spot to make it seem like I came from somewhere else. Many more monsters spawned, a lot of them climbed the buildings, either ready to body slam someone or blasts them with an energy shot from their mouths.
"Light Step!", I shout shooting myself at one of them as they were about to jump on top of someone. In the middle of the air, I cut it in two with my blade bursting with light. I land onto a building, and quickly jump off while simultaneously blasting the few monsters on my left with a blade of light shouting, "UnionStar Light Slash!" My attack was too strong, windows shattered and the light illuminated the entire battlefield.
I got more attention than I wanted and caused a little more destruction, I thought the amount of monsters could absorb the whole impact…
Either way, I try to lower my output to a medium sized blade of light, "CombinationStar Light Slash!", I shout hitting the magician monster after dodging another fire ball. It didn't kill it however, but the mages around us took this opportunity to take it down with SP skills. Back on the ground, I am still attacked by many monsters, in fact, a large amount of them had spawned in just now. The adventurers around me had it rougher as well, I first spent some time saving them by quickly moving past them with Light Step and cutting their enemies.
But even I am a bit overwhelmed. My acrobatics help deal with the medium sized monsters, but they were much stronger than the ones that came before and were wielding weapons and armor, never mind their overall bodies were bulkier.
I heard one adventurer about to get hit by a large purple bear-like monster, so I shot a blade of light into its upper-half to kill it from afar, but this left my back open.
Already sensed an ultra-speed monster, really, there are multiple zooming around above us. It is jumping from one location to another, flying to the other location like a beam. Even If I see it coming, I am too late to react to one of them appearing behind me. Luckily, it was cut by someone else. The woman who cut it moved past me and cuts another monster nearby.
Wait, I recognize that sword.
"Yo…Bios, or Suno, I presume?", the voice belonged to Falcom.
I feel happy looking at her for a second, but I get interrupted by a monster from my right, I turn to it to block it with my sword. I kick its arm up, then I jump forward leaning my upper body lower to strike it with my blade flaring up with light, cannoning the monster away.
"What are you doing here?", I ask her.
"Well, I am an adventurer after all…", she strenuously says as she blocks a blade and tries to push back.
"Seven cut!", she shouts, delivering seven slashes with her legs shifting position as the monsters in front of her are cut apart.
"I won't pass up an event like this. I was taking a break here before going to Lowee, that was when this happened.", she says. Right after, we switch places to receive attacks from two monsters, with my shorter stature, it was easier to have the taller monster's attack pass over me and cut it, whilst Falcom had a much better technique against the monster that was about to ram into me. We rotate once more with a slash against two other monsters.
Back to back, we continue fighting as we spoke.
"I am following Planeptune's monster. I already had the first treasure before the event started.", I told Falcom.
"Darn it, and here I thought I could meat up with Marvy and a few friends to take down two monsters at once.", Falcom says half in jest as she cuts down another monster. I sometimes trip a monster over to Falcom for her to slay. Now I ask her, "What do you mean?"
"I assume you don't know, but the monster of Planeptune flew over to Lowee. It is a large bird, so it didn't do that with any trouble.", she tells me as she throws enemies to my right and left for me to blast with Light Slashes.
"This thing must be elusive having escaped 38 times, but He should return at some point, is it really a good idea to run over to Lowee?", I ask her.
"Well…", Falcom was stopped as a large golem approaches her. She puts a lot of strength into her thrust, the wind blowing from it could shove a human over, I jump right onto her blade, knowing multiple monsters were ready to attack her once. With my light weight, she could easily support me as I cut the monsters down, then she throws me into the air, allowing me to blast the monsters that ran up behind her.
After I land, she shouts, "Duck" I go lower as she does a spin slash, easily missing me and cutting all the monsters in half.
"There is no end to them…", she says leaning back a little, slowly raising her sword.
While more monsters slowly approach us, she tells me, "There are a lot of people waiting for it in the desert, but that would mean fighting all of them and surviving in that harsh area. It's a waste if there is a possibility of an easier battle in or close to Lowee."
"So you hope to intercept it?", I ask. She needn't answer, we both understand it was her plan.
We hear adventurers in trouble near the horde to my left or Falcom's right. Two large monsters are pushing through and they may kill someone if not stopped.
"Can you give me an opening?!", Falcom asks me.
I tell her to, "Jump!" She gets up in the air as I materialize a hammer.
"Tanzerin Trombe!", using this move could've brought attention to me, but with the chaotic battle and the fact that not everyone knows the Goddesses SP skills seems to save me that conundrum. Spinning around, I take out a few monsters or at least knock a lot of them back.
"Photon Blade!", Falcom shouts as she lands with a sword strike brimming with photon light, cutting a straight line towards the larger monster in the crowd, the adventurers had already moved out. The attack was enough to heavily damage the monster so the adventurers could dog pile it. In the meantime, I dodged a fire ball from another one of those weird magician monsters. I used the hammer to redirect it back to the monster, taking care of that one.
I sense the ultra-speed monster flying around to my right, so I shoot the hammer at it at light speed, when hit, I snap my fingers to have my explosion magic blow it up in full, killing it.
I draw my sword and dodge an attack from another monster as I place my right feet behind my left, I turn with my slash, at the same time, Falcom slams herself with her sword into a monster that was approaching me from the spot she vacated to save the hunters. I had to immediately jump over the pouncing of a four legged monster, then I kicked it down onto the ground before impaling it with my sword.
I quickly turn around to receive another attack with my blade, I had to let go with one hand to cast explosion magic at another speed demon zooming to my left, another adventurer finished it off as it fell on the ground. At the same time, Falcom was pushed back after her initial slash barely damaged an iron monster. She was pushed close to me. She did a feint at the monster to make it block an swipe from the left, but she instead moved her blade above her head and shouted, "Twain!", cutting the monster in two with a powerful slash. We are back to back once more after I killed one more monster.
"This is the largest invasion in Planeptune yet…What is going on?", I hear her say out loud.
"Falcom. I think I should return to Lowee. I can go back and forth quickly with flight. You should wait up the monster in Planeptune.", I tell her.
"Does that mean we are partying up?", she asks. We move around a bit more to bring monsters close to us with their attacks, avoiding them and cutting them in response.
"The treasures are not something meant for regular people. In the wrong hands, they can be dangerous. I trust you with them.", I tell her.
"I figured something was… up. Our last adven…ture! told me more than enough about… the event holder after all…", Falcom struggles to speak as she is fighting.
We had to separate to avoid a lightning strike. A monster different from the one who attacked us just now jumps from the street to some roof and then onto a building close to Falcom. I'd say it is a boss monster, albeit lower than our level. On my end, there is this weird electric spider monster occupying the side of another building. Even worse, a large claw can be seen holding the edge of the spatial rift. It widens it further as it exits out. This was a huge monster, it barely fit the streets.
Their boss, I presume. It looked like a dragon, its back was aggressively curved and its neck long, but its arms and legs were no less long as they were muscular.
"Bios, we must take care of these two quickly and concentrate on the big one. Can you shoot me over to that guy over there?", Falcom says as she points her sword at the monster standing on the side of the building.
"You got it!", I respond. Although, I am going to hold off on using reflection, in case the light speed travel would have her disoriented, I just burst my blade with light and let her jump on it before I swing it like a baseball bat.
The bursting power of my light magic shoots her off, it could hurt her a bit, but she's tough enough to handle that.
In the meantime, I have a spider that is willing to fry me with lighting. I constantly Light Step to the left and right as I run forward to avoid its lightning bolts. It kind of looks like it implanted its legs into the building, using its electricity as a source of power. Its back has an antenna.
Behind me, Falcom tries to smash the monster with her blade as she flew against it, doing minimal damage. She doesn't fall to the street, instead, the monster manipulates gravity, causing the building to be her ground instead. That is also how the monsters stays on the side of the building with only its feet whenever it wants to.
I got close to the building the spider monster is on, but it would seem it doesn't just use its lightning to strike me, but also uses some advanced magnetic magic that can lift a large amount of glass shards. It shatters windows and shoots thousands of glass shards my way. I evaporated them into dust with a somewhat large Light Slash. After that, I shoot myself onto the building with a burst of Light Step. I slam my hand through a window to hold onto the floor inside with my hand. I see it charging up electricity.
Before it could hit me, I use reflection off the hand holding onto the side of the building, I passed by one of its legs, which I cut with a flip, in the end, I reached the sky about ten meters above the monster. I take out my bow and arrow intending to shoot its somewhat fragile legs. However, it uses the magnetism to form a barrier of rubble and furniture from inside the building. It throws stone and objects at me whilst trying to protect itself, but I can jump on an off some of the rubble and shoot through the numerous gaps.
Whilst I am busy with that, the giant dragon below is plowing through the adventurers. Magicians are holding it back with a barrage of spells, some adventurers are relocating to mostly focus on attacking it from behind. But help has come! The soldiers donned in purple appeared and loudly proclaimed, "Men! Just because Purple Heart isn't here doesn't mean we can let these monstrosities make a mess of our home!"
The Planeptune officials had gathered with spears and a large arsenal of fire arms and cannons.
"Lady Purple Heart is out fighting for us! We will make sure she has a beautiful city to return to! Are we not her biggest fans?! EY?!, one other man rallied the rest. Their cannons fire off into the dragon and smaller monsters turn to Swiss cheese with their other guns and laser weapons. The spearmen charge in shouting, "For Purple Heart"
Amonst them, I also hear, "I love Nepgear!", and "UZUME IS UZUBAE", whatever that means.
Morale has returned, even if it is a struggle to hold back the dragon, all the smaller monsters are dying out.
I finally finished shooting at least two of its legs with arrows. After I let them explode, I dive down to cut apart one more legs. I do one flip and turn before using the heel of my foot to hold myself on the side of the building by placing it on one of its floors.
I see the spider releasing its grip on the building with its last leg, its joints are retracting and bending, I assume it is planning to tackle me at high voltage.
"Weapon Create, Explosion Axe!", I say as I recreate the explosive axe. My left foot on one of the only glass panes is bursting with light. I jump into the spider as it charges at me. I spin around like a top with the Axe's engine and cut through the spider. As it is falling off the building, I notice it still filled with electricity. So to make sure it dies, I blast it with light using my sword in the other hand.
In the meantime, Falcom had defeated her foe, using Magic Sword Socarian to blow up the footing of the dragon and disturb its gravity manipulation. As it fell towards the ground, she jumped on top of it and slammed into the chrome streets. I put my axe back in the inventory and walk her way. After we regrouped, we see most adventurers are standing by. The dragon has pulled through and the officials have run out of ammo.
"They have weakened it enough. It isn't too strong despite its size.", Falcom says.
I nod, then I tell her, "We should be able to hit it hard together."
I let my blade flare up with light. I highly focus on the sword, creating a concentrated stream of light. Falcom turns her blade into a Photon ray.
"Couple EXE Drive Skill!", we shout.
I place my sword to my left with both hands, its blade facing the dragon. Falcom mirrors me, our blades from a cross.
"Illumination Cross Slash!", We shout as we shoot a X shaped blade made of light and Photon, it increases in size as it traveled, eventually reaching the dragon and blowing it far back.
To our surprise, it had stood back up. We ready ourselves, thinking we may have underestimated it…But then again, our attack did severely scar it.
In the end, it goes back into the spatial rift. It uses its hand to close the portal. I suppose it is intelligent enough to know it was no match for us. But it all feels odd nonetheless.
"What was that?", I asked.
"I don't know for certain. But they have been a recent development in Planeptune. Neptune and Nepgear must be fighting one of those in the ocean. And B-sha against one in another city.", Falcom says.
Isn't this a national disaster?
At the very least, the damages are contained within one city block, and no one died. The Planeptune soldiers called a lot of healers in, and to our fortune, enough healers were around due to the event.
"I don't know how much you know, Bios, but this isn't the usual invasion. Spatial rends have summoned monsters a lot, but nowhere near to this scale. It was good we were here when it happened.", Falcom tells me.
I would love to help Planeptune, but we have our own problems in Lowee. I look around to see the damages, most are pretty delighted by our victory. Some are looking at Falcom, she must be somewhat well known.
It's not like I can think of a solution, this spatial invasion thing is out of my understanding. But, at the very least, many here are pretty dedicated to protect their nation. I guess the eccentric nature of the people in these cities help them stay optimistic.
But Planeptune must have a shadow too, each nation has a being like me after all. I've met the other three. It's hard to belief, then again, I only know of Lowee's shadows because the negative feelings of others have merged into me, otherwise I wouldn't really have thought about it.
"Hey…Isn't that form similar to what a Phantom Crusader would look like.", I hear some soldiers whispering. Before, they were organizing clean up and rescue.
"I think so. She uses light attacks, wasn't the leader described with such ability?"
"Yeah but um…Should we arrest her? She kind of helped us a lot here…"
"Our scout told us she was crucial to this fight, even before Falcom showed up."
"Idiot! We can't arrest him or her! Do you want Planeptune's shares to plummet?! Her good deeds are on camera!"
"Yeah but…Like…Lowee has communicated with us she is under arrest and…Well…"
"What's the charge? Vigilantism? That is low end on our crime list, in Planeptune."
"Honestly, it sounds like Lowee's problem. I don't see how she should be a criminal in Planeptune."
"Aren't they suspected to have done other crimes?"
"Well if it suspicion of crime, that is also Lowee's problem!"
"So we agree to ignore her then?"
"Yes!"
And so their conversation went.
I should be glad I am not a target here and now…But I should leave anyway, just to be safe.
"Falcom, it's a bit busy here for me. I'll head over to Lowee.", I tell her.
"Got it. I'll try and get some of the attention.", she replies.
As I take my leave, I see IF and Compa approaching.
"Are we too late?!", I hear IF as they stop running.
"The damages are terrible, desu!", Compa looks at the surroundings with sorrow.
"At least the monsters are gone. I guess that stupid event is worth something.", IF says.
"Oh! The hospital I work at is okay! That's great, desu!", Compa sounds relieved and relaxes her shoulders.
"While it doesn't seem bad, a lot of healers are busy. Compa, we shouldn't be idle either.", IF tells her.
"You got it, Desu! I will nurse everyone, desu!", Compa replies strongly.
"Oh…Isn't that Falcom? She may know something, I'll talk to her.", IF says before walking off.
Compa prepared a bunch of bandages and…A large syringe...I am glad I am not sick.
I put my mask to the side again. Looking around for an easier way to go north I noticed the big monorail system above. I decide to take a ride in one. It directly leads me to a path to Lowee's border, albeit, I plan to go off road as soon as I get there. I try to relax, I sit down exhaling, my eyes shut. I open them as the monorail starts moving, it is rather fast. I don't sense anyone else inside, I suppose no one wants to ride it after today's even. I can see a lot of Planeptune from inside, I look outside, sunlight greeting me.
I spot smoke in the distance, but nothing is happening in that direction at the moment. I suppose that must've been the other incident…Wait…That person on top of the building in all black. I don't think she sees me, but she turns her head, her eyes of black inverted power symbols.
Planeptune's devil? After a building obscured my vision, she's gone.
Could she be behind Planeptune's spatial invasions?
I sink into my seat. It's a good thing I made that deal. I could imagine the headache of Lowee also having constant spatial invasions. Not that I don't feel bad for Planeptune…
After a nice ride in the monorail, I finally head north, taking the grey mountain side away from the main road. I immediately get ambushed by two adventurers grinning at me maliciously.
"Well, well well, if it isn't a tiny adventurer.", one of them said.
This close to Planeptune's capital, there are plenty of people still around seeing this.
"What is your business with me?", I ask them.
"Well, it is quite simple. We are certain you are part of the hunt, no?", hunter B said.
"We make sure all the weak competition is dealt with. We gain EXP and maybe even some item drops from fighting fellow adventurers.", Hunter A elaborates.
These two are pathetic.
I sigh. Then I tell them, "Listen, five seconds shall pass, by then, you either leave me alone, or you're having an intimate relationship with the floor, whichever you prefer."
"Hoho! Big talk!", Hunter A says cracking his knuckles.
"And what is a small child like you going to do?", hunter B says.
Within five seconds, I made one faint with a gut punch, and the other I almost broke his neck with a sweep from my leg after a jump.
I cross my arms looking at them as the surrounding civilians wow at me. I can sense a camera, clearly, I am not their first victim.
I'd say they are around level 30, they shouldn't be this pathetic…
It seems fighting other adventurers at the moment is the norm, however.
Now, as to how they knew I was an adventurer, I notice they dropped a device.
What is this? Does it scan Guild cards? It is a radar but doesn't give much information.
I crush it before going my way.
I sprinted towards Lowee with constant Light Steps, but I wasn't the only one who heard about the monster having flown to Lowee. It was a race to get there, somewhat. More adventurers challenged me along the way. They were a bit stronger, even came up against some that were level 50. I found them less scummy, rather, they're competing for fun as much as they just want the treasure. Even so, I can easily evade their attacks, and even if they did hit me, their stats and physical training aren't to my level. Even my friends would easily defeat them. If it isn't the level gap, it is the training I put myself through, never mind giving my friends some of my training regimen.
Just below the mountains, I took a rest. I looked back at the defeated adventurers. No all of them are knocked out, but they take their loss well and simply rest for their next attempt. That spirit is probably why they are respected and are allowed to pick quests at the guild. I do feel a bit lonely now. All of them came at me as friends or were friendly rivals to each other. Maybe I should've just asked Falcom to come with me… Oh well.
I walk up the mountain path. I could maybe use a hang glider to hover close to Lowee before running into it. This road was even more lonely, every adventurer planning to take this road has been beat by me, most others took the main road or other ways. Surely, they would avoid the mountain path, because for most it would be slower. But when you can jump high and far and have some plan to hover away from above, it may actually be the fastest route.
I walk across the many rifts from up high as I take this road. It's lonely, but it is quite relaxing and the view is nice. At least there are no enemy attacks to slow me down…
I am surrounded by dozens of drones. They are clearly from SCJP…Or maybe just Avenir, I'm not sure who manufactures these machines now. They were quite diverse in shapes and sizes. These must be their cheaper units…Except for one with an ominous aura. Their designs are similar to the ones I fought in the Ninja Village, however.
A bunch of them launch waves of missiles, dozens of them fly all over the place just to curve around to my location. I use Light Step backwards to dodge the first few, it seems they are semi-tracking me. I get high in the air to avoid the next few, then I cast explosion towards the long and high platform to my right. I stab my blade into it and let my feet burst in light, from there, I run on the wall as missiles crash behind me. While running, I sense them aiming machineguns and missiles at me.
I use a shield from my inventory and jump, the exploding missiles send me up higher. Still under fire from bullets, I decide to cast reflection on my shield to send it crashing into them, and immediately blow it up in full with Explosion to create a smokescreen.
"Flame! Ice!", casting weak fire and ice magic over and over again, I create a mirage to hide myself.
"Temperature alteration detected. Switching to All-Detection mode", I hear.
I close in on them after landing, but sense they are accurately aiming for me. I hop to my left with Light Step, and before they can correct their aim, I blow up two machines with Light Slash.
Looking to the direction I jumped to, I see a droid who looks a lot more detailed, it has an ominous aura from the beginning. It might be a commanding unit. I dash towards it, striking it as my sword is surging with light, but it easily blocks me. Its body was coated in some type of barrier and it resisted light magic.
Another one designed to counter me?
I moved back, preparing to deflect his machine-gun fire, except, something else came out of the barrel of its left hand. Four shots looking like syringes flew to me like they were high-speed flies.
Their movements were unpredictable, like they were a form of gas instead. The syringes jab me.
A purple light shines from as they inject me…Not with any fluid? With energy? But.
I don't feel any different.
All machines had stopped, they weren't firing at me.
"Does not compute. No affect.", I hear from them.
I get it, anti-share energy. That machine is an anti-Goddess weapon.
That means it is likely weak to dark magic like that other droid I fought way back.
So I move forward as it kept shooting at me, I thought it may not be so strong. But suddenly, I see its legs flare up with light.
To my surprise, it mimicked my Light Step. It is a bit more clumsy and stiff with it than I, but it easily catches up to me and forces me to block its purple crystal blade that came out of its right arm.
"Darkness!", I shout, hitting it with dark magic, followed up by a quick slash shouting, "Shadow Drive!", these are the only two dark attacks I know.
However, as I did that, something changed. Its eyes glow a different light and my attacks had no effect.
What?!
I panic and back flip away as it now shoots crystals out of its arm. Every piece of ground hit by the crystal had its essence sucked out of it and made the crystal shard grow as large as me.
It stabbed its crystal blade into the ground and made ruptures that summons numerous large crystals from under the ground, some popped and shot shards my way.
Light Slash could break through some of the crystals, but they are tough together and resist magic, so for the most part, I began to flee. But I am surrounded, weapons go off all around me. I sense more figures coming my way.
Before I knew it, every attack had been stopped. The figures coming my way seemed to have protected me. Some type of drone flew above me to shield me from projectiles whilst a larger droid blocked the wave of crystals, slashing them apart with ease.
The light coming off the many lasers and rockets slightly blinded me, but now I see a droid walk past me.
A silver body with spikey armor under a rough brown poncho, moves towards the others nonchalantly.
"My name is TX 2080R, these enemies are mine.", a deep voice comes from the machine.
"TX 1650G, 1660G, begin your tasks.", it commanded two smaller machines, one flying drone and a wolf-like robot.
The wolf took in many incoming missile attacks, it was like it was holding the explosions in stasis before running into a bunch of other robots, it gathered the explosive energy it took upon itself and self-destructed, taking many machines with him. The drone, who had a small body with each part being spherical, its hand had three fingers, the lower body was practically an UFO design. It flew up, destroying the drones in the air with machine gun fire. The flying Mecha droids where a bit faster, but their attacks are blocked by some type of energy barrier the drone could emit. After a while, it smashes itself into the droids at the cost of itself.
With no mention of it, 2080R opens some ports on its back and between its joints revealing nitro engines. It flies towards some of the machines at high speed, I'd say he could even reach the speed of the fastest aircraft. With yellow flames almost looking like a cape, 2080R speeds through a storm of bullets and lasers, it pierces through one of the droids with ease. In no time, it flies to the nearby units slashing them apart. Its right hand turns into a cannon and blasts a droid, although it quickly fled into the sky as other enemies nearby the aforementioned droid unloaded a great amount of missiles his way.
2080R, Flew backwards before dashing to its left with the missiles curving to follow him. It then opened more ports to release a bunch of flares designed to negate missiles. If the missiles didn't blow up into the flares, they were disabled by the flare's interference. At the same time, 2080R Opened a bunch of places on the front of its body, it's full body launches dozens of its own highly powered missiles that laid waste to most robots on the ground. It looks at the ominous droid, which had been standing there observing 2080R without pause.
2080R dives down onto the ominous droid, attempting to strike it with a spiked looking blade that replaced its hand. The droid was capable of blocking the blade with its own crystal sword, but aside from pushing the droid by ten meters, it was a fruitless effort. The ominous droid unleashes some kind of purple energy that pushes 2080R back, which makes 2080R's next decision easy, he decides to fly backwards. Out of a canon, the ominous droid blasts a dark orb, which slowly turns into some kind of crystal mess that mesh purple crystals around it. 2080R's lights flare up, then he shatters the crystals that came for him with a sweep of his sword. Another droid came down on him with a sword, which he blocks with ease.
In order to easily bypass the attacking droid, 2080R dislodges his blade from his hand, he catches it with his other hand as he runs by the attacking droid, slicing its middle off with the blade.
2080R's left hand resurfaces as he shoos out another blade with a hilt on it, identical to the one he now holds in his right hand. He uses it to block another droid, which he then proceeds to stab until it ceases to function. Then he puts the two blades' hilts together to create a dual blade, though with its size, it looks more like a dual glaive now. He blocks two swords from opposite directions, he pushes the two attacking robots around with a rotation, the two machines stumble closer to each other before being cut apart by an upside-down spin-slash after 2080R had jumped.
It kicks one droid away before landing, then 2080R dances around every melee droid that comes at him. He blocks one attack with the middle of his hilt, then he slithers behind the attacking droid, turning the hilt around the machine's blade to push its sword down whilst simultaneously cutting through the attacking droid with its glaive, he immediately was in position to thrust his dual blade behind him to penetrate a droid behind him, directly hitting some kind of engine it runs at, I presume.
It's like he knows where every vital part of these droids are.
He quickly flies forward to kill the last melee droid with a stab. He immediately stops gunfire by spinning the dual blade around quickly. Two droids fly close to him to blast him with arm cannons, only for them to be penetrated by 2080R extending its dual blades at high speed. Whilst still extended, he does a spin-slash into a crouch to kill the last of the weak droids. Immediately, he retracts his dual glaive before blocking an incoming attack from the ominous droid, who had used the pseudo Light-Step to assault him with a strike.
Whilst it tries to push forward, 2080R detaches the dual blade, forcing the ominous droid to strike at nothing as 2080R moved to the side with a left turn, swiping at the ominous droid's neck. The ominous droid only gets sliced slightly, for it quickly moves away. Its crystal blade grows a tad bigger as an even eerier aura emanates from it.
2080R places the two blades between its hand and gauntlet, they attach to some mechanism that grants them some kind of energy. His swords glow purple and light-blue.
2080R dashes forward, cutting through whatever crystal attack the ominous droid throws at him. The droid fails at blocking 2080R's attack, for his two blades had a gap that the ominous droid's blade gets stuck between. 2080R uses his engines to push his blades further in, damaging the ominous droid. Actually, the ominous droid looks more damaged than it should.
Is he infusing both blades with light and dark magic? Something is off. Can that ominous droid switch between elemental resistances? Just like the droid is made to counter me, 2080R looks to be created to combat this droid, using both light and darkness to negate the elemental switching entirely, doing super effective damage regardless of what mode the droid is in.
The ominous droid suddenly unleashes a holy looking aura and does a full body explosive wave that sends 2080R back. The droid shoots an energy sphere of pure white light. 2080R generates a shield on its right hand and knocks the light away. 2080 Rimmediately sends a load of missiles at the droid, but it quickly shifts away with Light-Step just before the missiles could hit it, forcing them to fly into the ground. The ominous droid gets up in the air and does the Light-Step in mid-air, allowing him to fly towards 2080R at a higher speed.
Whilst Light Step is faster, 2080R's booster is fast enough on its own and his movement is a lot more robust. It flies out of the way, the droid can't stop itself in mid-air and is quite a distance removed from 2080R. It quickly dodges cannon fire from 2080R with Light Step, and then does another Light Step after one final canon shot to get to 2080R's altitude. 2080R avoids the canon fire, now he faces the droid head on. The two fly into each other, their blades creating a shockwave in mid-air as they collide.
The ominous droid uses Light Step to get higher, now left from 2080R. 2080 performs a canon shot whilst also flaring up its engines to lift off right after, closing in on the droid after it Light Steps away from the energy cannon fire, it was like 2080R predicted it would move closer to its front, and at the same altitude at that. 2080R came close, but barely misses his slash as The ominous Droid Light Steps away a bit lower to his right. 2080 can easily follow him it seems, flying right after him, even then, he thrusts as nothing as the droid uses Light Step once more to get back on the ground.
Even when 2080R came down, he could not land his strike on the ominous droid. Light Step after Light Step, the ominous droid copies my tactic of consecutives light steps around his opponent, slowly increasing its speed. This would normally confuse an enemy, but 2080R appears composed.
"Magnetic pattern detection unit, DLSS activate.", 2080R says.
Shortly after, The ominous droid makes his move and shoots himself towards 2080R.
As if he was sped up, he moved in a perfect position, almost looking like a mirror to the ominous droid. Lightning expels from the two droids as they came close, it kind of looks like it is caused by 2080R. His movement suddenly sped up, taking a stab from the ominous' droid's blade, in return, he penetrates his twin blades through the droid, clamping down on it to prevent it from escaping. The ominous droid struggles, but it is stuck, whereas 2080R doesn't even look bothered by the blade sticking inside its mid-riff, almost like it had calculated a perfect spot for it to go through that wouldn't damage important internals.
2080R left arm cannon expands, multiple plates are extended out of the frame as it charges up a great light. The ominous droid tries to protect itself with some kind of purple mist barrier.
But it doesn't seem to help him as 2080R aims the cannon at his head and blasts its face and shoulders off with short ranged a blue beam.
2080R takes the blade out of the droid's body and shoves it away.
2080R stands still, its robe swaying in the wind. Its head tilts back a little.
"Leader of the Phantom Crusaders, Switcher…", he says.
He knows my identity.
I walk forward and ask, "How do you know?"
"I have kept tabs on your friends. Rest assured, I have no intention of revealing anything to anyone. Every secret is kept by me.", he says.
"I haven's seen anyone like you around. Are you remote controlled?", I ask.
"This unit's name is 2080R, I confess, the real me is elsewhere.", so he says.
He fought with such fluent technique, it almost seems impossible for a remote controlled droid.
"Why help me?", I ask him.
"To pay for my sins.", he says.
He looks at the machines in front of him and says, "That unit, the Radion 6800, it is designed to fight Goddesses. It's using a replicated anti-share crystal as energy source. The replica fades away due to it being weak, but they've managed to have its content absorbed by the machine, allowing it to do attacks that hurt Goddesses. It was an advancement on the earlier 5800 build. After you destroyed that one, this is made wield both anti-share and share energy to avoid any countermeasure.", so he explains.
Clearly, the one behind this machine must be involved somehow. Can I really trust him?
"With so much information, I have to ask who you are and what your part in this story is.", I tell him.
He looks away from me. He simply warns me, "The fact that they have replica's means they've got an original anti-share crystal. Be careful."
Then he walks off. I don't bother to pursue, he can just fly away…He actually just disappears with camouflage…I can sense him though, so I guess he doesn't know all of my skills.
Still, this also implies some of my abilities have been studied enough to be copied, and 2080R is made to combat a droid with my said skills. He can absolutely not be trusted.
Unfortunately, I don't have the time to investigate, and robotics are beyond my expertise. I reach an edge of this mountain range that gives me a view on Lowee in the distance.
I just have to prepare a kite to fly over…
I finally reached Lowee, but clearly, this hunt is far from over.
To Be Continued…