The Future of Legaia - Official Thread

[Zup]

"War Cage II. I'd like to test out the Berserker."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

Sise-Neg ended the communication just a few seconds after Zalan ended his own. The Mafia boss walked up to the window behind his desk, peering out over what he perceived to be a part of his very own kingdom. The Zalan Mafia was extremely feared throughout the Sebucus Islands, moreso than any other region in the world.

They were even feared more than Ratayu's army.

"The tunnel's opening as we speak," the Mafia boss said. He looked over his shoulder at Sise-Neg. "I trust you're expecting this battle to go better than the one at Sol..."

"Of course," replied the lord of Ratayu, admiring the blade on his Chaos Breaker. He chuckled and pushed aside the robes on his left side, drawing the Cyber Seru Sword. "It'll be a massacre."

Zalan glanced over to the far corner of the room. He smiled, observing the beauty of the sword leaning against the wall.

The Astral Sword.

* * *

Wendy was indeed sitting on the beach, on the rocks to the side beside the wall bordering Rim Elm. She had her knees bent up to her chest to lay her chin on, and wasn't moving much.

Uthma sighed before approaching, as he was uncomfortable in this sort of situation. How would he go about this? Was Raive still too touchy a subject? The mercenary shook the thoughts from his head and simply sat down next to the girl, not saying anything.

The silence was incredibly awkward for the both of them.

"Are you gonna say anything?" Wendy haphazardly asked, no emotion in her voice. She didn't even turn to look at him.

Uthma felt it was better that way.

"Uh, yeah...Um...You okay?"

"I'm fine."

Uthma might as well have been twiddling his thumbs at that point. He would have, too, except he didn't like to touch his Zenoir arm. It scared him quite a bit.

"So...Sise-Neg and Zalan were spotted..."

"And?"

This caught Uthma a bit off guard, as he wasn't entirely sure how to proceed. "And, um...I was wondering if you were ready to-"

"I don't think you should fight, Uthma."

"Why not?"

Wendy suddenly burst in emotion. Her knees were removed from her chest and she turned to her companion, anger in her voice. "Uthma you had your arm cut off! Sir Z struggles with breathing! Zalan has the Astral Sword! Raive is dead! We can't beat them! What's the point?!?"

Uthma turned his head to the side, his tongue pushing into his cheek. His Zenoir fist was clenched and tapping against his shin. As he continued to say nothing, Wendy jumped to her feet and ran off into Rim Elm.

The mercenary slowly stood back up, staring at the ocean before him. He took a deep breath before turning around and heading straight for the gate of Rim Elm.

He was going to the Zalan Mafia Tower.

Alone.

* * *

"So what's the plan?" Mr. Virus asked, strolling beside Redhollow. The trip had been almost completely in silence, but as they were approaching the tower, conversation broke out.

Redhollow glanced at the tower in the distance. "We're gonna storm in there and chop some heads off."

"Sounds good to me."

"Of course it does...So..."

Mr. Virus looked down to his companion. "What?'

The ninja shrugged. "Sise-Neg's got Damien's sword."

Memories of the fight at Sol started to flood Mr. Virus's mind. The only real issues he had with the event were that he was unsuccessful in killing Sise-Neg. It didn't sit well with him. "Well then we'll just take it back."

"Right..."

The two continued to advance towards the Zalan Mafia Tower when they were forced to stop and hide behind some trees. Some of the Zalan Mafia had set up camp outside and were keeping guard.

"What are they doing out here?" Virus asked.

Redhollow shrugged again. "Hm...Looks like they're preparing for war."

"One man versus one hundred. They don't stand a chance."

The ninja turned to Virus and narrowed his eyes. "Two men."

"Whatever, shorty."

----- REDHOLLOW DECISION ------
A) Sneak past the Zalan Mafia. The tower is likely empty, and you'll be able to get to Sise-Neg and Zalan easier
B) Wait for the Zalan Mafia to make a move. They're likely to head out to the other side of the tower to face off against whatever force they're camping out for
C) Burst into the camp and attack. Killing them now will lighten your enemy load for when you storm the tower

[Redhollowlives999]

C)

"One man versus one hundred. They don't stand a chance."

I laughed at Dv's arrogance.

[Lonewulf]

C

[Rammerrush]

C

[deadly virus]

C

is there really a choice?

[Redhollowlives999]

Why doesn't virus get a vote?

[Zup]

Uthma sprinted down the road. He had made great time since he had left Rim Elm; he could see the Biron University only a few miles in the distance. At first it was awkward to run with the Zenoir arm, but he was able to adjust without much trouble. Of course, the odd looks he received from passerby pierced through his skin, and there wasn't even time in his run to become accustomed to that beast.

Nevertheless, he ran on, determined to bring Sise-Neg and Zalan to an end.

* * *

Sir Z coughed as he walked the perimeter of his tent in the Hunter's Spring camp, clutching at his chest with every painful spasm. He glanced over to his armor, trapping dust on its shiny skin, and felt a twinge of hurt. He was a fighter - he always was and always would be - but this was the most powerful defeat in his entire life as a warrior. Not only had he failed to slay his opponents, he was also robbed of his beloved Astral Sword, permanently wounded, and forced to end his combat career.

He dropped down onto his bed, his head sitting in his hands.

It was then that a messenger entered the tent, giving word that Lady Ailee was marching out to declare battle against Sise-Neg and Zalan, the Hunters and Drake Castle army beside her.

The warrior within him urged him to stand to his feet and strap the armor onto his mutilated torso. He cared not for his fate at this point.

"Live by the sword, die by the sword," he told himself as he stared into the reflection of his eyes in the mirror. His decision was sealed and absolute. He slipped his helmet on and made his way to the rest of the camp, commanding a Hunter to grab him a sword from the armory.

* * *

"Did you hear that?" a Zalan thug asked his companion, glancing over his shoulder. "Thought I heard something in the bushes."

His partner shrugged, looking to where the initiator of the conversation was looking. "I don't see anything."

"Behind you," muttered Redhollow.

The Zalan Mafia thugs whipped around as quickly as they could, but the scythe blade cutting them across the throats put an end to their actions. The ninja flicked the blood from his shining weapon, rolling his shoulder to assist in his warming up.

Not too far to his left, Mr. Virus was busting open a Zalan thug's skull with his shovel. Up...down....up...down...up...down...over and over again. The ninja smirked before dashing off to eviscerate some now-armed Zalan fighters.

* * *

"Oh, hey Wendy!" said Elena with a cheerful grin on her face as the red haired girl entered K73SK's lab. "Uthma just left to talk to you."

"I know," replied the girl, not bothering to look Elena in the face. Her gaze shifted over to K's back, as the Cyber Seru programmer was fumbling through a bin for a tool to assist in whatever project he was currently working on. "We already talked."

"Oh...You're okay, right?"

Wendy finally looked the girl in the eye. "Y-yeah...Why wouldn't I be?"

"You know why," said K73SK, his attention never diverting from his tool search.

The red haired girl shook her head, contemplating leaving the lab entirely. She fought the urge, and sat in a stool across from Elena, lazily patting her thigh with her hand to at least be doing something.

Elena was quick to break the silence. "Do you need to talk?"

Wendy sighed, but that was the extent of the projection of her upset state. "No, it's fine...Well...we can talk about other stuff I guess."

"Like what?"

"Ow! Dammit!" muttered K, flicking his hand out to the side a few times.

"What happened?" asked Elena.

The Cyber Seru programmer flapped his left hand haphazardly. "Just burned my hand. Nothing big."

"What are you doing anyway?" Wendy questioned.

At last the old man turned to the girls, smiling. "Can't tell you girls just yet."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not even close to being finished. Hey, where's Uthma? I need to check something on...on his arm."

Wendy shrugged, not feeling comfortable with discussing Uthma. "I don't know. I...stormed off after we talked. I thought he might be here with you guys."

K73SK and Elena exchanged similar, worried glances. No verbal communications had to be made, as Elena nodded and ran out of the lab in search of the mercenary.

Don't do anything stupid, kid...

* * *

The sudden attack on the Zalan Mafia camp was an incredible success for Redhollow and Mr. Virus. The Zalan thugs had no idea it was coming, and their forces were decimated. Most of them were killed right on the spot, their bodies covered in cuts, stab wounds, and crushed flesh and bone. The few survivors managed to flee into the surrounding forest, dropping their weapons in order to escape faster.

"That went well," said Redhollow, removing his sword from his most recent kill. He wiped the blade on the grass beside him, cleaning it off for future use.

"The the the the the did you expect?"

The ninja returned the sword to his side and directed his gaze straight at the looming colossus before them that was the Zalan Mafia Tower. He looked to Virus, and nodded to him, strolling right into the building, kicking the door wide open.

* * *

Ian dusted himself off as he dropped into the sewer system below Ratayu. The stench of the sewers was atrocious to his nostrils, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He drew his sword and slashed at the ladder beside him, cutting off his escape route.

He knew he had to mentally be devoted to his current mission; removing his easy way out was going to help him accomplish that.

Satisfied with his work, Ian began to navigate through the sewers, avoiding touching the filth all around him, climbing up pipes, and scaring off rats and stray dogs.

Within a few minutes he reached an intersection of sorts. The maps he had observed before coming down here came to mind, and he recalled that the path to his right lead down to Jeremi whilst the path to his left lead to Octam.

But that was not what stopped him. His ears picked up a vibration that gradually grew louder and louder. He looked over his back, narrowing his eyes to zoom in on whatever the source of the noise was.

His eyes widened at the sight of the incoming Berserker.

------ IAN DECISION -------
A) Run
B) Stand your ground and fight
C) Hide and let the Berserker pass by

[Lonewulf]

B.

[Redhollowlives999]

C)
Then let him follow the beast.

[Rammerrush]

C