Nearly a month after the encounter with the celestial Oblivia, Kunomiya had started rushing, knowing a threat like her could appear again, choosing to make some risky decisions.
SPECIAL THREAT ZERO, CLOUD SHALL BE UNSEALED FROM LIMBO. AIKO AND KAITO IZANA WILL BE SET THE TASK OF UNSEALING HIM, HEADING INTO THE REALM.
AZAZEL, GUARDIAN OF SYPHILIS SHALL ACCOMPANY THEM.
GIVEN THE CRISIS AT HAND, GREGOR HAS BEEN SELECTED TO TEMPORARILY AID THE TEAM WITH HIS EFFORTS AS AN ALLY OF THE ORGANIZATION.
FOLLOWING THE LATEST INCIDENT, KNOCKOUT HAS FALLEN INTO A DEEP COMA, LEAVING HIS CONDITION UNSTABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE. MEDICAL TEAMS ARE UN SURE WHEN OR IF HE WILL EVER REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS.
In recognition of his skills and potential, Crossbolt will officially be designated as an extended member of the organization.
IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SKILLS AND POTENTIAL, CROSSBOLT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN EXTENDED MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION.
IN THE ORGANIZATION BASE.
Kunomiya spoke. "Don't be afraid of the ST0. He may look scary, but if you just mention me, you'll be fine."
"I mean..he's Special Threat Zero..don't you think that means he's somebody dangerous..? One you don't think of unsealing..?" Aiko looked in fear.
"Your commander isn't exactly alive and the if the government chooses to do anything..I will stop them myself." Kunomiya looked as his hand glistened a bit.
"The limbo..what kind of place even is it..?" Kaito asked.
"It's like..the void. Your powers are pretty much forbidden there due to the phenomena to do with the Limbo."
"And what is that phenomena..?" Kaito looked.
"If you use your powers in the limbo..the void will consume it completely." Kunomiya looked.
There was a fiery slash in spacetime, Azazel walking out of the portal.
"Sorry I'm late, I had to get some training in." He spoke as he started stretching his arms.
Kunomiya looked, pointing. "Oh, yeah! Azazel knows the most about the realms, so he'll be the one to guide you. Just know you can't get lost in there or you might not be found."
"That sounds awfully creepy." Kaito said as his body shivered a little bit.
Kunomiya laughed a little as he looked through his things, summoning a box.
"These are the fragments of Cloud's power. You may return a few to him. Not all of them." He said as he gave the box to Azazel.
"Who even IS Cloud to you..?"
"Even if I told you, I wouldn't even know myself." Kunomiya sighed, walking to the safe room, where he was preparing to open up a distortion to the Limbo.
Aiko looked. "Let's go..!" She spoke as the 3 of them walked inside, the distortion closing already.
Kunomiya sighed. "Well, you're here sooner than I expected." He said as a silhouette suddenly emerged from the door.
"Gregor." Kunomiya looked back, staring at him.
Gregor smirked, tightening his tie as he walked in, his long trenchcoat flowing with each step he took.
"This team you're bringing together is pretty strong. I can feel all of their presences..but I managed to evade them all. They don't even know I'm in here right now." Gregor laughed.
"Your ability sensing presence and even nullifying your own…it's absurd.." Kunomiya looked in shock.
"One of my talents." Gregor spoke.
IN THE LIMBO.
Azazel had ultimately decided to lead the way, trying to locate the seal of Cloud.
"Kunomiya wasn't joking when he said this whole place was easy to get lost in.." Kaito spoke.
"It's hopefully not as scary as he said. This IS just the void, right..?" Aiko spoke as they slowly walked.
Azazel sighed, his wings glistening, providing a stronger light for everyone to see.
"I didn't even know you could do that!!" Aiko looked in shock.
Azazel looked back. "I forgot..I only showed it to Kazumi and Shiori..and they're still under healing right now."
Kaito stared, squinting as if he saw something.
"Is that the seal of Special Threat Zero..?" He said as he pointed in the direction.
Azazel looked with immense fear. "Yes..it is.." He said as he walked closer towards the seals.
But all of a sudden, Cloud appeared, walking up to them.
Azazel, Aiko and Kaito looked in complete shock, jumping back in fear.
"HOW- BUT- THE SEALS-" Aiko shouted, looking at the box.
Cloud looked at Aiko, looking around the limbo.
"The seals of fate can not hold me." He said softly yet aggressively.
Kaito spoke. "So you're Special Threat Zero..right..?"
Cloud showed his hand, revealing the 0 mark on his hand as he stared at them.
"You wish to speak to me. That is why you're here."
"Do not take me lightly." He continued.
Azazel spoke. "Of course not, sir. We were summoned here to unseal you."
"You? Unseal me?" Cloud looked, his eyes rolling.
"For what purpose." He asked, demandingly.
"The celestial known as Oblivia has awoken with an army. She plans on destroying the world." Aiko spoke.
"Oblivia. That one. She came to talk to me once. About becoming a celestial." Cloud started thinking.
"She told me..that I should join her forces."
"But I declined."
"She tried to kill me." He said as he pointed at the large scar he had.
"This seal stops all of my abilities. The limbo's phenomena is bad enough as it is." Cloud sighed.
"Well, Kunomiya allowed us to come here in the first place, so you should be grateful we're here."
"Kunomiya..I never hated that guy.." Cloud looked at the seals, staring at the box.
"That's a lot of blades." Cloud spoke.
"You seem way more talkative after you got into a conversation..like you've opened up to us." Aiko spoke.
Cloud looked at himself, staring at them and rolling his eyes.
Azazel looked as he opened the box.
"You definitely know what these do." He said as he stabbed the blades into each seal, exploding them with pressure, Cloud's energy starting to restore itself.
"For somebody with the title of Special Threat Zero..you're more humane than we thought." Kaito spoke.
Cloud suddenly felt multiple presences circling the 4 of them, knowing if he used any abilities, they'd slowly be eaten by the void.
He quickly grabbed the 3 of them, creating a rift as he arrived back in the living world.
WITH KENJI AND KAIRA
It had seemed that Kenji and Kaira had gone back to the location of the Primordial Shard, starting to train their own abilities against each other.
Surprisingly, Daa'va sat on a rock, watching them train.
Kenji quickly stood back. "We need to master this thing before we get tossed into a fight..!"
Kaira slid, looking at Kenji. "I know we will!" She said as she dashed at him, attempting to slash him, Kenji blocking it with his own blade, them both pushing it to their limit.
"DAMN YOU.." Kenji looked as he caused a burst of energy, Kaira starting to absorb it as a result of his reckless action, the clash ending as they both jumped back.
"I've been getting stronger, Kenji! You have to keep up with me!" She shouted as she jumped at him once again, Kenji focusing as he grabbed her arm, spinning her onto the ground with her own force.
"See, I didn't even need my-" He said before he quickly got sent flying by her foot.
Daa'va sighed. "He's not behaving the same as he was before."
Kenji stood up, picking up Kaira.
"Now, see, I don't know. How are we ready to fight a threat such as Oblivia..?"
"How am I ready.." He sighed.
Daa'va looked at the two of them, walking over.
"I can sense your troubles, Kenji. Your abilities are being blocked by your powerful emotions." Daa'va spoke.
"You've started to realize it too, haven't you, Kaira."
Kaira nodded. "I know that you're thinking beyond what you're asking."
"Kenji, tell me..what is power."
Kenji 's eyes widened. "Strength..is having power."
Daa'va sighed. "Kenji, you don't understand. Your definition of power is COMPLETELY wrong. Strength isn't having power at all."
"Then what is it..?!" Kenji looked, his head aching from not understanding.
"Strength is having the ability to help and protect others. Something you use to teach people. It's not something that defines you. Your power..Kenji..it's started devouring you."
"You're not you anymore. You are personifying your powers as yourself. That is why you can't use them anymore." Daa'va spoke.
"So, how do I stop this.." Kenji looked.
"You find yourself." Daa'va spoke as he touched Kenji on his forehead, his astral energy starting to invade, a persona of Daa'va forming a part of his soul.
Daa'va looked at Kaira. "Put yourself on his lap." He said as he sat Kenji on the ground, Kaira shifting into a blade, resting on Kenji's lap.
He closed his eyes, his aura fluctuating as it spread across the field.
IN KENJI'S SOUL WORLD.
Kenji's eyes slowly opened, looking at his own world.
"This is your world." Daa'va spoke.
"I remember this..It's when Aiko got harassed by the older years.." He said as he stood up, running out of the classroom, staring at them.
"LEAVE HER ALONEEE!!" He shouted as he leapt, slamming one in the head, knocking them down as he looked at the rest.
Daa'va looked from the corner.
"You chose to save her again." Daa'va looked.
"Why."
"Because..she was in trouble..and I can't let Aiko get hurt while I just stood there.." Kenji looked.
"Alright." Daa'va said as the scenario changed again, when the Emperor was fighting Kaira, causing her to get damaged badly.
Kenji's eyes widened. "She hurt..Kaira.." He said as his hair started flowing.
"You feel it..your power..not your old one..your NEW one." Daa'va spoke.
Kenji's eyes widened as the scenario started shifting again to Hura's reveal to be alive.
"DAMNIT!! I CAN'T MOVE!!" He said as he looked at Hura's face one more time, a tear shedding, his soul starting to feel a spark.
"Your power..you haven't awakened it yet. You need one last thing." Daa'va spoke as Kaira suddenly ran up to him, smiling as she transformed into a talisman, a bright light flashing.
THE LIVING WORLD, FEBRUARY 4TH, 7PM.
The sun started setting peacefully. Everybody had been busy with their own tasks, becoming stronger from their own experiences.
A wormhole had suddenly openee above the city.
Kunomiya looked at it from the base window, Gregor looking out at it as well.
"So, that's one funky rift.." Gregor sighed.
"That's a wormhole. Like something from a different timeline is breaching into ours.." Kunomiya stared out.
Gregor looked, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, we have a team of people. Send Azazel first."
Kunomiya started thinking. "To truly evaluate their strength..then we bring Aiko and Kaito-" He said as a pillar of darkness had suddenly appeared.
"You're kidding." Gregor laughed, walking out of the base.
Kunomiya sighed. "I'd trust him enough to not do anything stupid.." He looked, nervous.
ON ANOTHER ROOFTOP.
Cloud had suddenly appeared with Aiko, Kaito and Azazel.
"So, this is one of the problems.." He said, looking as the large amount of Nameless started pouring like a tsunami throughout the city.
"Those little creatures, they're called the Nameless. They're created and get stronger from a person's sadness. They say some Nameless used to be humans which felt so much sorrow that they became one of them." Aiko said.
"They're even able to transform into bigger forms - The Apex Nameless. There's multiple categories. Nethers, Wraiths, Sovereigns…and then there's the Void Striders."
"Who are the Void Striders..? They sound way more powerful than everybody else.." Kaito looked.
"And they are. I think they're sending this onslaught." Azazel spoke.
Aiko looked. "Defend the city. Cloud, you stay here and watch." She said as she jumped off the building, Kaito jumping off as well, Azazel flying into the sky.
Aiko's energy flowed as she started slicing through the tsunami, using her ice breath to freeze multiple at a time.
"Ice…Star…" She said as she started forming large icicles in the sky, crashing them down on all the Nameless.
Cloud examined her extroadinary ability and her potential.
"One able to use ice at such a powerful degree." He said as he looked down, relaxing while sitting.
Kaito's blade started turning blue, bleeding as lightning sparked everywhere, electrocuting masses of them. "These weather powers are getting interesting." He smirked as he started executing multiple Nameless.
Azazel flew into the sky, his dark hell wings starting to form projectiles around, his hands flowing with aura as he blasted them with Hell Energy. "These guys seem to be the result of somebody's summoning."
Aiko shouted. "BUT HOW CAN YOU SUMMON A NAMELESS..?"
Cloud sighed. "From your description..somebody would have to be containing them."
Kaito looked. "You know..you might be right.." He said as he slashed more, getting sent into the sky from a large amount of Nameless shooting him into the air.
Cloud stared, pointing his finger, the Nameless disappearing without anything happening.
Kaito looked in complete shock, looking over at Cloud's point. "What did you just do…?!"
"Point." He said as he looked down at the other Nameless.
Aiko had quickly flown up, Azazel following as they sat on the building again, Kaito zooming over.
"There's too much of them for just us 3 to eradicate." She spoke, completely tired.
"You did your best…"
"But it's my turn now." Cloud said as his his energy started flowing out of his hands.
"Connect the Light and the Dark. Erase. Fill the light. World with kindness, Luminary Flash." He said as he snapped his fingers, countless light pillars eradicating each Nameless one by one.
Everybody looked in complete shock, looking at Cloud, not realizing his abilities would be so deserving of the title of "Special Threat Zero".
Cloud looked up at the wormhole in the sky. "It looks like something's coming from that. I'll deal with that. You guys just stay back." He said as his tight cloak started flowing as he charged a purple orb in his hand.
A large humanoid the same size as them emerged, launching themselves immediately at Cloud.
"I learnt my techniques myself." He said as he fired the purple orb at them, jumping off the building.
Aiko, Kaito and Azazel all looked down. "We're staying FAR from this fight."
WITH CLOUD.
As he landed, he slowly got back up, staring at the humanoid figure.
"Tell me, what is your name…" Cloud stood up.
"GENESIISSSS…" The humanoid uttered with a distorted voice.
Cloud clapped his hands. "I'm not gonna lie..at first..I thought you had some kind of speech impediment." He said before a fire attack was launched at him.
"Pyrokinesis..That isn't your ability." He said as he drained the energy, speeding to Genesis, charging his fist and blasting his energy at Genesis.
Genesis quickly rolled back, launching lightning at Cloud, then growing multiple hands, launching multiple elements at once.
"You're weird." He said as there was an elemental explosion right infront of his face.
Genesis laughed. "I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SO WEAK!!!"
Genesis couldn't feel his presence anywhere..like he had just died out of the blue, but then it realized..where did that come from..
It's hand started bleeding, looking around, not seeing Cloud anywhere.
Genesis decided to start running, jumping on a building and flying up into the sky, Cloud staring right infront of it, his hand flaring with energy, using his hand to forcefully damage the soul.
"Your name is Genesis. That's pretty crazy." He said as he slammed his fist into it's face, slamming Genesis across the city.
Genesis quickly got up, their energy starting to go into a rampage, blasting Cloud with all of their energy at once.
Cloud looked from afar, sighing. "I knew you would do this." He said as he grabbed the blast with his hand, starting to walk as he started reducing the size of the blast.
"This is all of your energy..?" Cloud sighed as his hand started opening, draining all of the energy.
Genesis looked, reaching their full limit, reaching the end of their beam, passing out as Cloud absorbed all of the energy, staring down at Genesis.
"You know..I only used 2 attacks on you."
"I DON'T CARE!!" Genesis shouted as the wormhole started opening, getting more wider.
"Something big is coming. I can feel it."
A large eye emerged upon the wormhole, blasting Genesis with a powerful energy.
Cloud looked in confusion. "Something that powers up.." He sat, starting to think.
"Now, why would they hit you with a random laser in the sky…That doesn't make sense."
Kaito quickly jumped down, grabbing Cloud and flying into the sky.
"Sorry about this urgent stuff..but it seems the government isn't very happy about your unsealing..?"
"Then I'll fight them. Where are they." Cloud looked around.
"They're preparing their military forces. Just know that it's practically like a…300 v 1..?"
Kunomiya appeared. "Make that 300 vs 2."
Aiko and Azazel flew from the other building. "300 v 5, including Kaito."
"You know somebody that would be willing to do this..? Kenji…" Kunomiya spoke.
"Where even IS Kenji anyways..? Surely he'd know if a large wormhole appeared in the sky."
"He was last with Daa'va and Kaira. I think they went under some intense training.." Kaito spoke.
Cloud sighed. "Well, Genesis isn't a problem for us right now." He said as he heard tanks wheeling into the city, hearing the chopping of helicopters.
"They're right behind me, aren't they." He looked back, seeing the helicopters, guns being blasted at him, a barrier being put up.
Aiko jumped off the building, launching freezing projectiles of ice everywhere, starting to freeze over as she started doing parkour from building to building.
"These guys don't even have their o wn military..Isn't that embarassing.." She sighed as she started blasting the helicopters down with a large claw made of ice, zooming throughout the city.
Kaito sighed. "Why do we keep skydiving off tall buildings like it's easy for us to survive..?"
"Because it is." Azazel spoke as he jumped off the building.
Cloud looked at the helicopters, splitting them in half with 2 simple hand chops, his hands in his pockets.
"This is starting to get boring." He said as he located the ship the military had landed from, blasting it to oblivion, shooting the rest of the tanks.
Kunomiya looked. "Cloud! You sure that was an easy way..?"
"If you want to destroy something, you do it from the root." He sighed as he looked down at Genesis trying to sneak attack Aiko.
"Seems it's recovered energy again." Cloud rolled his eyes as he teleported down.
"Trying to hurt ones that have potential..when you have none of your own." Cloud took a deep breath, stopping Genesis with his hand.
"You're a worthless piece of trash. Suffer the consequences of your actions." He spoke as his hand reached their chest.
"Die." Cloud uttered, his words suddenly having a lot of power as he one inch punched them, their body starting to disappear.
"CURSE YOU….." Genesis shouted as their body faded away.
Everybody looked at Cloud's display of power, looking up into the wormhole.
"That seems to be a problem." Kunomiya looked from above.
"Thanks..Cloud.." She said as her body started emitting steam from her, taking deep breaths, only cold air releasing from her mouth.
"It's not safe for you here." Cloud said as he jumped back, protecting her from all angles.
Kunomiya shouted. "CLOUD!! DON'T OVERWORK YOURSELF!! YOU KNOW YOU HAVEN'T EVEN RETURNED TO A QUARTER OF YOUR POWER YET!!"
Cloud sighed. "STOP CARING SO MUCH!!"
The wormhole suddenly opened, a voice being heard by all.
"Dear Living World…I rule you all now. Within a few seconds..My Void Striders will devour this entire city..and then..the entire world…"
"Pray to Celestia…that you'll win…"
Everybody looked confused, staring at each other as the wormhole started glowing a dark colour as if a type of energy was charging.
"THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR ANY OF US TO GET OVER TO THE WORMHOLE..!!" Kaito shouted as they all heard a revving sound.
The bike flew past, the silhouette grabbing Aiko, pulling her onto the seat as it went soaring into the sky.
"No way.." Aiko looked, still tired.
Daa'va had sat on the bike, quickly charging his astral energy as he leapt into the sky to the wormhole, the bike slowly dropping from the sky.
But suddenly, a light swooped in, grabbing Aiko and soaring into the sky.
"Don't worry, Aiko. I will always be there to save you." Kenji spoke as he lifted her up, his wing constructs from Daa'va fading away as Kaira transformed into rocket boots, flying across the sky, allowing them both to land safely.
Daa'va quickly flowed all of his energy into his fist, slamming it into the wormhole and the large eye that remained. "You will not devour this world…"
"I have already eaten it." Daa'va smiled as he destroyed the Wormhole, destroying any chance of the Void Strider's trespassing.
Gregor looked from a different building from the rest of them. "The power of the World Eater..truly devastating." He smiled as he turned around, disappearing.
The rest looked as the wormhole disappeared, Daa'va's form starting to fade as he transformed back into a larva, Azazel dashing to pick him up as everybody descended.
Kenji landed, holding Aiko as he walked to the rest of them. "She's too tired to even operate. I think she needs some rest."
Kaito looked. "Don't worry. I'll take care of her." He said as he started flying back to base.
Azazel spoke. "I always wondered what relation they share."
Cloud started wondering. "It doesn't matter." He said as he opened a portal.
"Kunomiya, do your thing."
Kunomiya sighed, opening the location to the base, teleporting them all in the base, allowing them all to get rest for the next upcoming days.
2 DAYS LATER.
Kenji looked, sitting down. "You know..that rest was needed…but I wanna do something fun.."
"I received a call earlier..from a distant world. They seemed to be speaking some language, but I managed to translate it…"
Shiori spoke, now awake and healed from the coma she was in, walking into the room. "And what did the message say..?"
"They said..something about fighting them in their own kingdom." Kunomiya spoke.
"Don't you think it's a message from the one in the wormhole." Cloud spoke.
"The leader of the Void Strikers..? He's a pretty popular person throughout realms…"
"They call him Eight. They say he has the power to create souls and vessels with his own energy." Daa'va continued.
"They let a guy like that roam around..but seal me." Cloud sighed angrily.
"Well, you should be grateful I got you unsealed in the first place. I could've unsealed anybody else." Kunomiya sighed.
"Doesn't matter..I could've escaped the limbo my self." Cloud sighed as he sat down.
Gregor appeared from behind him. "I have some concept on their realm if you don't mind me explaining." He said as he walked to the center of all of them."
"It seems their world is known as Nul'Vareth, a world devoid of light. A place where souls are created..yet abandoned. I don't believe that Eight person you speak of is ACTUALLY capable of creating souls, but vessels..definitely." Gregor looked at Daa'va.
Daa'va spoke. "That does make sense, but who would make a soulless vessel..?"
Kunomiya spoke. "Now see, vessels don't exactly need a soul..It depends if they can form their own.."
Kaito suddenly shouted. "SOUL HUNTING!"
Everybody suddenly looked at Kaito, it starting to click in their heads.
"A fragment of the soul that adapts into a full soul..? No kind of genetic code messing with that..?" Gregor spoke.
Kaira suddenly walked in. "It's possible. That's how my body is."
Kenji looked over. "She's right.." He said as he transformed her into a talisman, previewing her soul.
"See, it's not full." Kenji sighed.
"So, what does it mean exactly. Like..she's not at her full power..?" Gregor looked.
Kaira nodded. "I am not at my full power."
"But I can sense your presence..you live on fragments, yet you're so powerful.." Cloud spoke, completely in awe.
"How long have I been sealed for..these newer generations are getting stronger and stronger by the years.."
"You can relax. You've only been sealed for..like..I don't remember." Kunomiya looked.
"I just realized..where is Crossbolt..?" Kenji asked.
"I sent him on a dimensional mission. He will come out stronger." Kunomiya spoke.
Kaira looked. "But he said himself..he has no powers..!"
"That doesn't matter. Anybody can arise beyond abilities." Kunomiya spoke.
WITH CROSSBOLT.
Crossbolt looked, walking down the rainy city, searching for the Arachni Ruins.
"Kunomiya told me they were around this vicinity.." He said as he pulled out his tracker.
"Yeah. Definitely around here." He said as he put it away again, walking down, looking at a place where it's said nobody should enter.
"Maybe that's what I'm looking for." Crossbolt looked as he suddenly felt a surge of energy, dodging a flying attack, looking at who launched it.
A wormhole opened, a Void Strider appearing.
"So you're the Crossbolt." The Void Strider stared.
"A nameless given a name, huh." He said as he pulled out his bow and arrow.
"It seems we're both after the Arachni Ruins. What is your purpose in there."
"Why should I tell you." He said as he threw an arrow, a huge explosion occuring in the Void Strider's face, Crossbolt appearing from all the smoke, punching the Void Strider in the face, flying up into the sky with his gauntlets, landing on a building.
"Man, these updates I got were amazing.." Crossbolt looked at his new arsenal.
The Void Strider looked at him, blasting him with a large amount of energy, destroying the building.
Crossbolt had jumped off prior, swinging around with his grappling hook, keeping a look on the Void Strider's location, keeping him away from the Arachni Ruins.
"He's clearly after the same thing I am." Crossbolt looked back, swinging back onto the ground, taking out his tanto as the Void Strider teleported to him, clashing with him.
"You know, you never told me your name." Crossbolt looked at him.
"Void Strider. Anark." He spoke, trying to slash Crossbolt but failing.
"You can't beat me in a clash that easily." Crossbolt said as he managed to speed under his blade, appearing right behind him, holding him tight.
"WELL, ANARK, YOU'RE DEFEATED!" Crossbolt shouted as he slammed him onto the ground, picking him up again and equipping his gauntlet.
"3…2…1..!!" Crossbolt shouted as he dropped Anark with his left hand, launching the fist charged with mass on his right, slamming Anark across the city.
"Defeated..by..the one who manipulates his body…is that his power..?"
Crossbolt walked up to him, staring him down.
"Nah."
"I have no power."
"Get in my way again..and you'll see how much more dirty I can do you.." Crossbolt said as he turned around, using his grappling hook to swing across the city.
IN THE ARACHNI RUINS.
Crossbolt started walking. "This place seems..strange." He said as he stared at all of the traps, dodging them all easily.
"They say the Spider Demon resides here.." Crossbolt looked as he started running down the ruins, putting on his shades, seeing where the soul remained.
"I'll have to find my way there." Crossbolt said as he eventually went through thousands of pathways.
"I won't give up..This is MY mission.."
He sat to regain his breath.
"I was given these abilities to find that person..So that's what I must do.." He said as he saw a golden light opening in the shape of a door.
"Heh. How lucky am I.." He said as he stood up, walking into the door, looking at the soul that remained, a vestige appearing infront of him.
"So you're the one sent to summon my power."
The vestige spoke.
"So you're who I was told about." Crossbolt looked as he adopted a position, preparing to fight.
They both stared each other down intently.
Crossbolt launched the first assault, using his boots to launch himself into the sky, firing multiple arrows at the vestige which blocked them all.
The vestige suddenly exerted a large amount of power, stretching across the ruins. Crossbolt remained unafraid in the face of death.
"Maybe it's time I get serious." The vestige said as they dashed, summoning a blade, slashing Crossbolt's arrow which he used as a blade itself.
"Your arrows have alot of durability.." The vestige said as they nearly went in for a second slash.
"Because of who they were made by." He said as he summoned his tanto which flowed with a powerful aura..but it seemed like..nothing.
The vestige suddenly clashed with the tanto, feeling it's immense power, nearly jumping back.
"That tanto..it flows differently from other swords."
The vestige spoke.
Crossbolt saw this as an opportunity, dashing to the vestige, landing a critical hit in the face, sending him flying back.
"So, what do you think of my power."
"What is your power."
"THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY!!" Crossbolt shouted as he ran up to the vestige using his tanto, slashing the vestige multiple times.
"You…are powerful…What is your name." The vestige spoke.
"It's Crossbolt." He spoke, jumping back.
The vestige stared. "Crossbolt..I see."
"You'll live in eternity without knowing my name." The vestige spoke as webs started flying all around the ruins, trapping Crossbolt.
"If you manage to survive this..I'll hear you out." The vestige slowly walked with his blade.
Crossbolt widened his eyes, realizing he couldn't move.
"Accept it." The vestige spoke, stabbing into his chest.
Crossbolt looked down at the blade, looking up at him.
"It didn't do anything."
"You're one interesting person, you know, Crossbolt. One that has no power, but the ability to land a slash on me." The vestige spoke as the webs around them slowly faded, taking the blade out.
The vestige then looked at his blade, sticking it into the ground.
"I'll explain my situation to you." Crossbolt spoke.
"I was sent on a mission to retrieve you to defeat the Void Striders. Recently, they planned on invading and destroying everything but failed in an attempt…We can't get strong fast enough, so that's why I'm here."
"The Void Striders, huh..So that's the thing I sensed in here alongside with you."
"Yeah."
"I'll let you know now.."
"My name is Chiro Hakahura." The vestige spoke as it's body started fading away.
"Take my blade with you." It spoke as it had half faded away.
Crossbolt walked over to it, picking it up and lifting it up, then looking over at the vestige.
"This gift..contains my essence and my body. Release me when the time is right." He said as he started flying into the object, the eye on it opened.
Crossbolt nodded as he took out the portal machine, ripping a hole in spacetime, walking back to the base.
BACK AT THE BASE.
Kunomiya was the last one awake, everybody already asleep in their rooms.
Crossbolt walked through the portal, holding the Pyramid of Chiro and his blade.
"You did it!" Kunomiya laughed.
"I did it." Crossbolt smiled.
"We should only open the top of the Pyramid when we really need him." He said as it started transforming into a large spider.
"Yeah." Chiro spoke as he climbed onto the ceiling, sticking on.
"I understand." Kunomiya yawned as he went to his own room.
"I assume you're sleeping there." Crossbolt looked up as he headed to his room, but Chiro was already fast asleep.
THE NEXT DAY.
It was the early afternoon. Everybody had learnt about the large spider sleeping on the ceiling, knowing he was a fighting chance against the Void Striders.
"Did they ever mention when they were going to attack..?" Gregor spoke.
"They want to stay anonymous. They think sneak attacks are the best thing they can do…because they know if we were on guard, they'd be defeated easily." Shiori spoke.
"You're right..but I can sense when they appear before they do visually. Anybody with good knowledge on the concept of presence could."
"Wormholes have an extremely strong presence that appear before visually." Daa'va continued.
Kazumi spoke. "So it's that easy..we could develop little radars around the city that could alert us."
"I can create those." Kunomiya spoke.
"That's perfect. How will it even work..?" Kaito wondered.
"Well, if we don't want to damage the city while fighting freely, we'll need a plan." Aiko spoke.
"Why don't we just find a way to block a wormhole spawning in the vicinity of the cities?" Crossbolt looked.
"Now see..that does actually kind of work..but do we have the energy for that..?" Shiori looked over.
"I do." The spider looked down at all of them.
"But I'm not at my full power. Ever since...."
"Ever since what?" Crossbolt wondered.
"I forgot." Chiro looked.
Crossbolt sighed.
"I can do it." Daa'va stood up.
"I can place the radar thingies..!" Kaira spoke.
"I'm down to help." Kenji spoke.
"Alright, so we'll set radars and a dimensional barrier which blocks realm teleportations. We'll need a filter, though." Gregor spoke.
"Easy." Cloud looked.
"I'm heading out for training." Kenji spoke as Kaira followed, exiting the base.
"They're very serious about this." Daa'va looked as they left.
"I can feel him getting stronger. When he saved me..I felt his power..It felt safe." Aiko looked.
"Eventually, he'll be able to save the world.." Kunomiya spoke.
HOURS LATER.
Majority of the group were either in the base or patrolling the city, eliminating Nameless.
"You know, we never thought about that "Eight" person.." Aiko thought.
"Well, we have a way stronger team than before."
Kaito spoke.
Daa'va was eliminating the Apex Nameless with them, until he felt a powerful presence.
"I sense it. It's..out of the city..but it feels..way stronger than before.." Daa'va said as he suddenly called Kunomiya.
"I can feel the presence of a powerful wormhole…I don't know what's coming out of it..but it seems pretty strong." Daa'va spoke to Kunomiya.
"Well, that's a problem." He said as he set off the radars, alerting every Organization member.
"The Void Striders are here." Cloud spoke through the phone.
"Let's prepare. Set everybody around stations." He said as the planet suddenly started tremoring, the signal cutting immediately.
WITH KENJI
Kenji looked up in the sky, staring at Kaira as he started running outside of the city.
"They're only allowed to attack at night.." Kenji prophesized as he started dashing through the forest.
"The world's shaking.." He thought while jumping past the trees with agility.
Kenji was suddenly bashed across the forest, getting sent flying into a tree.
"What the hell-" Kenji slowly opened his eyes, his forehead starting to bleed.
The Void Strider had appeared. "Weakling." He said as he slowly walked towards him.
Kenji stood up, charging a blast and launching it at the Void Strider, holding Kaira, teleporting to the Void Strider and kicking them in the head.
"You have no strength." The Void Strider said, applying gravity to Kenji, nearly crushing him.
Kaira raged, transforming into her human form, slamming her leg into the Void Strider, twisting around and slamming his fist into them, sending them back.
"You don't hurt Kenji..FOR AS LONG AS I EXIST." She said, her voice suddenly empowering itself as she nullified the gravity, picking up Kenji and speeding past, dashing away.
"Kenji..Are you okay..?" Kaira asked.
"I need..energy..just a bit.." Kenji groaned as the Void Strider followed them.
"YOU WON'T GET PAST ME…." The Void Strider shouted as they sped up to Kaira, about to kick her but was stopped by Kunomiya who suddenly appeared.
"You annoy me." He said as he blasted the Void Strider back into a tree.
"Kaira, head back to base. Fuyumi has been contacted, she'll be here soon." Kunomiya looked.
Kaira nodded, speeding across the forest.
Kunomiya was left with the Void Strider.
"Tell me your name, Void Strider."
"Void Strider Raige." He looked as he ran to Kunomiya.
"Your rage is embarrassing." He said as he used his palms to block Raige's attacks.
"Somebody with so much strength..is so weak." Kunomiya sighed as he punched Raige's gut, slamming them back once again.
"I'm not here to kill you. Just to distract you as long as I can." Kunomiya laughed as he got into a fighting position.
Raige looked angry, blasting multiple attacks at Kunomiya, the trees starting to get destroyed as he kept dodging the rapid attacks.
"Blast." Kunomiya sighed as he launched a blast once again, hitting Raige in the chest, slamming them in the chest.
"What even is your purpose." Kunomiya looked.
"To destroy. That is my one purpose." Raige said as he sighed.
Kunomiya sighed. "This is getting long. I've distracted you enough." He said as he dashed, slamming his fist into Raige's head, knocking him out.
"Status report. Void Strider Raige is out cold." Kunomiya said as he ran out of the forest.
WITH AIKO
"Void Strider Raige..They're able to get in..?!" Aiko looked in shock.
"We need to stay prepared.." Kaito wondered.
"I can feel the presence getting closer. On your left, Aiko."
Aiko grabbed her blade, blocking the Void Strider that appeared right next to her.
"So you're what a Void Strider looks like.."
"I am." The Void Strider spoke.
Aiko quickly took a breath of cold air, freezing the Strider's head as she jumped back, joining Kaito.
"I hope you know nothing can affect me." The Void Strider looked.
"I am Null. Nothing." It said as it teleported behind Aiko, about to grab her, it's hand getting pierced by Kaito.
"Oh well. A stab doesn't hurt me." Null said as he moved his finger, slamming Kaito away into a building.
Aiko looked over, trying to use her ice to freeze the battlefield, freezing Null for longer this time, Daa'va watching the fight.
Aiko quickly looked to care to Kaito, Daa'va quickly jumping into the fight, launching 3 punches on Null before sending him flying across the city.
"You have time. You can heal him." Daa'va looked back at Aiko, who nodded and used her ice and healed Kaito.
"This fight won't be easy if that's actually his ability." Daa'va sighed as he felt a hand on his shoulder, getting sent away from the two of them.
Aiko looked, stomping the ground, forming ice glaciers which broke instantly.
She then tried to throw shards of ice which never reached him.
Nothing could actually hit him.
Kaito looked as he took out his blade, pointing it at Null.
"Thunder." He said as the tip of his sword started emitting a powerful aura, sending it towards Null, but it ricocheted, the stray lightning bolt soaring.
"Damnitt.." He said as he slowly got up, holding his blade tight.
"You won't hurt…"
"I won't let you hurt…"
He quickly dashed, his eyes starting to spark a cold blue and yellow, speeding to Null in seconds, managing to land 6 kicks on him at once all around his body.
"A power able to hit me. IT DOESN'T EXIST!" Null laughed as he suddenly felt the lightning striking him across his joints.
Kaito's eyes thundered, slamming his leg on his head, causing debris to fly everywhere.
Null had looked burnt, staring at Kaito. "I'LL KILL YOU!!" He shouted as he ran towards him, feeling his body to slow down.
"Huh? What's that? I think I'm too fast to hear what you're saying." Kaito mocked him.
"NOW, AIKO!" He shouted as Aiko suddenly ran at him, blasting ice once again, but Null laughed, using astral projection and striking Aiko in the heart.
"If 2 people hit me at once..my abilities suddenly start to work again..I just learnt that.." Null smiled, staring at Aiko.
Kaito's body thundered with anger, teleporting straight to Null.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU HURT MY SISTER!!" Kaito shouted as he punched Null in the chest, moving faster than Null's ability, continuing to punch him until a hole started ripping through Null's chest.
"Isn't that sad. My soul's starting to die." Null sighed.
"I WILL MAKE SURE YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!" Kaito said as the ice started freezing over.
Null looked back, looking at what seemed to be Aiko's body still standing.
"You stabbed me..but my ice is faster than you'll ever be." Aiko laughed manically, stabbing her sword slowly, Null's back starting to freeze over.
"I'm alive..yet I'm not.."
"SO WHAT IS THAT MEANT TO MEAN." Null looked back as he started feeling cold.
"It's getting colder.." Null said slowly as his body started freezing over.
"Frozen." Aiko said as she touched Null's back, starting to crush his entire body.
Kaito looked at Aiko's form, a flower glistening as she stood in frozen flowing robes.
Daa'va slowly walked over.."Your powers have awakened.."
Aiko and Kaito smiled, looking back as they suddenly transformed.
"There's still more..I don't know how many..but the others can deal with them." Daa'va looked.
WITH CLOUD
Cloud walked to the outskirts of the city, staring up from the building.
"Here they come." Cloud stared up into the sky in annoyance, blasting the Strider with his finger, sending it towards them.
"You're so weird." The Strider descended as they both clashed fists.
"You can relax..I'm not able to use my full power…" Cloud looked as his hand started glowing, blasting them away.
"STOP BLASTING ME!! I DON'T THINK YOU'RE AWARE OF MY IMPORTANCE!! I AM VOID STRIDER LARALIX!" She said as she started pointing up into the sky, multiple lasers flaring everywhere.
Cloud looked up, rolling his eyes. "Laralix, huh.."
"I didn't know you guys had genders.."
"SHUT UP!!" She said as she launched blasts around everywhere.
"You get angry too fast." Cloud closed his eyes, opening them again as he locked eye contact with her.
"Why do you have to be such a nuisance..All my fights are boring." He said as he dashed up to her, slamming her into the ground, teleporting to her, stomping on her, holding a blast to her head.
"I'll make this quick-" Cloud said as his hands were suddenly held tight.
"I won't let you…ESCAPE!" Laralix shouted as multiple hands started escaping her body, trapping Cloud.
"So..this was all a trick, huh." He sighed.
"It sucks to fall into such an easy trap, doesn't it..!" Laralix smiled.
"You're getting on my nerves now." He said as he started forming blasts all around his head, allowing himself to suffer the explosions, managing to defeat Laralix.
Cloud soared into the sky, rubbing his thumbs together as he dropped a particle onto her body, creating an internal explosion.
"Funny." He said as he flew away.
"Calculating the spread out pressures..there's been 3 attacks so far..?" Cloud started thinking as he looked at the different wormholes in the sky.
"One..two..three..four. There's four." He pointed at each one.
WITH KAZUMI AND SHIORI.
Both of them circled the barriers, watching around, seeing battles occur all over the place.
"Don't you think that they created an aerial one..?" Kazumi looked.
"Probably..but they wouldn't know about our abilities, right.??" Shiori stared as she saw a light soaring across the sky, multiple orbs of energy flying towards them.
Kazumi quickly summoned his blade, slashing the orbs in half as they exploded behind all of them, soaring in the same direction.
Shiori quickly flew alongside him, the Void Strider appearing, grabbing her head and sending multiple blasts towards her, sending her flying on the ground.
Kazumi's sword suddenly redirected itself, teleporting behind the Strider, slashing them in the back.
"You're the one who's responsible for this." He said as he started launching spears into their back again, kicking them back, flying down and protecting Shiori.
The Void Strider looked down, sighing. "I let you hit me..because you're too weak." They looked, striking more blasts at Kazumi while he was airborne, a shield suddenly being put up.
"It's not nice to mess with light and dark. It would form an unbalance."
Azazel had appeared, blasting the Void Strider, sending them back in the sky.
"Once you get strong enough, aid me in the fight. I can't fight alone." Azazel spoke as he sped past them, locking eyes with the Void Strider.
"Tell me your name."
"They call me Seven." The Strider stared as they grabbed Azazel's clothes, tossing him into the sky and causing a large explosion.
"So persistent to fight, yet lost to a few blasts." He said as his arm suddenly got slashed by Kazumi, his energy thundering as he grabbed Seven's arm, nearly ripping it off out of pure rage.
Seven looked in shock, failing to dodge all the attacks that Kazumi sliced.
Azazel had transformed into his angel form, soaring to Seven and grabbing him, flying into a building, the aura reinforced in the bricks slamming against Seven's soul.
"WHAT IS THIS BUILDING MADE OUT OF…" He said as he felt his soul started feeling drained.
Azazel threw Seven into the sky, Kazumi flying into the sky, preparing to launch an arrow, Shiori charging her energy from afar from the halo.
Gregor stood next to her, enforcing his energy as a layer on her.
Seven laughed. "YOU THINK THESE ATTACKS COULD DO ANYTHING TO SOMEBODY AS POWERFUL AS ME?!"
Kazumi started charging with the arrow, launching it directly at Seven.
"THAT WON'T WORK ON ME!!" Seven suddenly looked to the right, Gregor touching the arrow in secret, hiding it's presence.
Seven looked. "Where-" He felt the arrow pierce him, but he couldn't even see it.
Seven started bleeding from his mouth, looking down at his chest, blood seeping.
"You'll pay for this..When the leader comes.."
Shiori's laser had fired, the light starting to encapsulate his body.
"Thanks, Gregor..!" She shouted.
Gregor suddenly appeared from the shadows, holding a gun, pointing it at Seven's head, shooting it, Seven's body shattering into glitter.
IN THE CENTRAL OF THE CITY.
A laugh exploded from the central of the city, the last wormhole opening, glistening a radiant black.
Everybody now felt it's presence, getting ready.
Kenji had jumped out of the base, fully healed, holding Kaira, zooming over to the central.
Kazumi and Shiori flew over to the central.
Aiko, Kaito and Daa'va all flew over to the central.
The hole started laughing even louder, Eight ascending from it.
"WELCOME, ORGANIZATION!!" They had all arrived, all attacking him at once.
Eight looked around. "Aww man, I don't see Cloud..!" He said as he ignored all the attacks, sending them all flying back.
Kenji looked. "This isn't winnable..He stopped ALL of our attacks without even trying.."
Kaito quickly looked, trying to punch him but failing, getting sent flying into the base.
Eight stared around. "None of you guys can even equalize to a fraction of my power." He uttered, laughing as his domain slowly stretched open, hands reaching to grab them all.
"You will all be stuck under my re-" He couldn't even finish his sentence, Cloud suddenly appearing, dropkicking him, clapping his hands and launching a blast of focused energy, damaging Eight.
Eight's domain was cancelled, looking at Cloud, throwing the rest into the sky, scattering them across the city.
"DESPITE EVERYTHING, IT'S STILL YOU..!!"
Cloud looked. "Eight. I'm not surprised that's the stupid ass name you're choosing now." He said as he started stretching.
"My full power isn't even close to returning. I can't beat your ass fully yet, so cut me some slack." He said as he dashed behind Eight.
Eight looked back, trying to retaliate but failed, getting sent flying.
"I WAS NEVER ABLE TO BEAT YOU, CLOUD…NOT YOU..OR YOUR GROUP…NONE OF THEM!!" Eight shouted.
Cloud looked. "THAT DOESN'T MATTER!" He said as he started walking to him angrily.
"YOU WERE NEVER ABLE TO BEAT US.."
"BECAUSE YOU NEVER GOT STRONGER."
"YOU LUSTED FOR POWER, BUT NEVER ACTUALLY USED THAT AS AMBITION TO GET STRONGER!"
He said as his energy started charging into his fist, slamming Eight, purple sparks flying everywhere.
Eight quickly rolled back, standing up, using his energy to plunge the whole city into darkness.
"I WILL SWALLOW THE WHOLE WORLD IF I HAVE TO!! JUST TO BE THE ONE ON TOP!!" Eight shouted, laughing as his sanity had descended beyond this point.
"Don't worry, guys…"
"This will be over soon.."
Cloud looked up at the building, revealing it to be CROSSBOLT.
He quickly took out his tanto, equipping his nullifying arrow, infusing them both into each other.
"Look, it worked!!" He looked up at Chiro, who was laying on his head.
"You've learnt alot. Now. You know what to do." The spider spoke.
Crossbolt nodded, jumping off the building, gliding down at immense speeds, running directly at Eight, the darkness not affecting him at all due to him having no powers.
"YOU'VE MESSED WITH THE ORGANIZATION, NOW YOU'LL PAY!!" He said as he went too fast for his body to handle, getting into the right position, landing a slash on Eight.
"That's all I needed..Time for the recessive." He said as he turned around, using his boots to launch himself towards Eight, slashing him again, then repeating that 5 more times, looking back, still holding the tanto.
Eight just stared. What was the point in that..? He was powerless. Like a comedy character in a mediocre arc..
He could hear his heart beat. What was he feeling? What was this. Rapid..but..he could hear it..
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" Eight roared, trying to launch an energy blast.
"You were heartless, so I gave you a heart."
"You were lifeless, so I gave you a life."
"You were nameless, so you gave yourself a name." Crossbolt stared at Eight.
"This fight is my strive against you. I hate you, but you don't deserve hate." He said as he walked towards him.
"I learnt alot from Chiro while waiting for this. He's taught me to be a better person, which is why he will defeat you now." He said as he pulled out the Pyramid.
"CHIRO HAKAHURA, RELEASE YOURSELF!" Crossbolt shouted as the sky piered a laser, the body being created.
Chiro's sword came flying across the sky, the light starting to disappear as his body came back.
"It's been a while since I've been in this body…"
"How long has it been, ARACHNE?!" He laughed as he started spinning his sword around.
Eight looked in complete shock, trying to blast the attack he was charging but it suddenly disappeared.
"WHAT THE HELL?! MY POWER..IT'S..GONE…" Eight started looking around as he tried moving, but he couldn't.
"Attempting to sink the entire world in your own darkness. You are weak." He said as he started walking over.
"Atone for your sins quietly, Eight." Chiro looked as he held his sword wrapped in bandages.
"This is your punishment." He said as he stabbed him in the chest.
"After your punishment..you shall be free." He took out the blade, Eight falling to the ground alongside the other Void Striders which faded away.
"Your own creations loved you. They served you until the end. All 5 of them." Chiro looked as Eight's body had fully faded away, the sun coming up.
Everybody looked from different parts of the city as the sun rose, all smiling as the damaged parts of the ground started being recovered.
9 HOURS LATER.
Everybody was in the base, enjoying their victory, taking time to heal up and rest.
"Cloud, do you wish to see your other friends..?" Kunomiya wondered.
"Not now. I'll see them later." He looked out the window.
Kaito and Kenji were both in the medbay, getting healed by Fuyumi, Aiko and Kaira.
"Our fights are getting harder and harder.." Kenji looked as his head started aching.
"They'll just get harder from here." Aiko spoke, taking a breath out.
"At least you're still alive. Everybody is alive, that's what matters."
???
So they defeated Eight. How shameful.
"Ma'am, you have been told about the threats from other universes..?" The attendant spoke.
I don't care. They won't come.
"But ma'am…they say the one known as..Crowned…he could have the power to defeat you..!"
Celestia is the only one who can defeat me. And even then. She has no power..
"Yes, ma'am. Whatever you say." The attendant kneeled.
The one who destroyed the World Eater..
The one who destroyed the Astral Sea.
IT WAS ALWAYS HER!! SHE DESTROYED MY FRIENDS…AND SHE'LL PAY FOR THAT..!
"Yes, ma'am. Should I prepare the army."
Prepare them all. That little mortal group don't know what's coming for them.
"Preparing them now."