"Who are *you*?" A younger Annie, two years prior asked, glaring at the young version of Ace while Captain Avery stood between the both of them, awkwardly smiling.
"I'm Aaron but everyone calls me Ace. Cos' not to brag but I'm pretty strong," He replied, a smile plastered on his face through every word. A smile that got on her nerves. "I'm just kidding. The reason is a secret for now. But I am pretty tough, though."
"He-he, he'll be taking you around the Heart Base. He's also one of your new team mates," Avery said, trying to bring the two together but the girl was obviously reluctant. 'Wow, this is gonna be a bit tough.'
"And those are the stairs that lead to our living quarters." Ace pointed as they strolled.
She arched an eyebrow. "Why is it partly destroyed?"
"Oh, they're not destroyed. They were built that way. You see those ropes up there." Ace acted, climbing up the stairs before taking a leap and hanging on to one of the ropes. "That's how we get around. The Heart Founder, also known as the General made it like it is so we soldiers always keep our instincts sharp. That's why walking around here feels like a task."
"Tell me about it. Hey, let me try this *task*." Annie jumped straight away without even getting to the point she needed to jump, almost missing the rope by a hairline.
"Careful," Ace said. She landed on the higher floor and glared at his eyes, hers looked like they were lit up in flames.
"What? Do I look like someone you need to worry about?"
"No, I just-"
"You think I need some strong guy to take care of me just because I'm a Noble." She was visibly still livid from his earlier statement. "Well, newsflash for you, *Ace*." She tapped her hand passive-aggressively on his chest. "I can take care of myself." Just as she said so, with the most horrible timing in the universe, a figure jumped over her head and nicked her hat. Even though the person was extremely fast, Ace had partially caught a glimpse.
They must have been a younger soldier just like them although they were a bit older and taller. He himself had never seen a soldier like that throughout his time at the Heart. But there was no time to think about it as it looked like Annie was going to blow a fuse. "He took my hat. Why did he do that? I don't even *know* him."
She spoke whilst gritting her teeth. "We need to work together," The Energy Fighter said, hardening his fist before he chased after them.
"There you go again. Please help me."
"It's not because I'm trying to take care of you or anything. It's because that guy's at a higher level and from what I've learned, some soldiers can be bullies. We gotta do this together."
Annie rolled her eyes. 'This guy..."
As they chased after him, a large boulder made of energy appeared in front of them and rolled towards them as an obstacle.
"We're gonna get squished!"
"Not if I have anything to say about it. Burrow!" She shot the condensed fire blast at the centre of the boulder but it didn't stop.
"Remember," Ace grabbed her hand and a surge of energy flooded her entire body, giving her a pleasant sizzling sensation. "We do this together."
"Right... Right!"
"Hyahh!" He struck his Nii Blade the same time she emitted another borrow and they successfully destroyed it. "We did it!"
They reached the rooftop where the boy was standing, taunting them. "I think this looks pretty good on me."
The duo charged at him while he threw the hat into the air which seemingly floated above them. Ace lunged forward with a punch but the boy tilted to the side and pushed his back with his hand, pushing him close to the edge.
"Ace!" Annie slid under the soldier and grabbed Ace by the arm before he fell off. After ensuring he was okay, she turned to the boy. "Hey, that was dangerous! He could've gotten really hurt." She pulled her whip from her side, grappling onto his legs and flinging him into the air.
The Energy Fighter leaped into the air, ready to support her as he dished a big smack to the boy's head, knocking him a few feet away. But after that, he became invisible. Subsequently, Annie's hat ceased floating and she was right there to catch it.
"Did he leave?" She asked and he nodded with his hand out in a fist.
"We worked pretty well together, don't you think?"
"Yeah, yeah, fine. But I'll only admit it if you stop all this *together* crap. It's making me nauseous."
"Fine." Ace relented and she smiled, showing her dimples.
"You bet we do." They fistbumped. After that, they made their way back into the building.
"So, your aesthetic is..."
"Traditional magician," Annie answered, giving a goofy courtesy and receiving a chuckle from him. "What about you?" She gave him a quick survey. "Hyperactive muscle-head?"
"Let's just call it my cover. My real aesthetic is the wise leader who takes on too much." She gave him a playful nudge on the shoulder before placing an arm around his shoulder, prompting him to beam in delight.
"So... where can a gal get lunch around here?"
"Oh, I'll show you this cool place out in the village."
* *
A larger explosion than ever occurred in the underground cave. So large that it generated terrible gusts of wind and rocks flew out in every direction. The Vice Captains stood before them and raised a large wall mixed with hardened sand and solid earth. It went on for two more minutes before dying down.
The Vices slowly dropped their blockades, now seeing that parts of the cave walls had crumbled, revealing another section of the underground.
"Whoa! That was a lot!" Two individuals with their backs against each other panted with injuries all over but they were more or less okay.
"Annie, Ace!" Their squad members were the first to rush over. Sky as well before the Vice Captains and then the rest of the expedition team.
"Are you guys ~alright? You're injured left and ~right."
"Yeah, I mean... you just defeated a Taikon Beast mid-evolution." The Vice Captains were both worried but the two friends just chuckled, saying they were fine.
"Huh? Well, I guess there wouldn't be a Spirit Stone left behind if you killed the Beast while it was levelling up." Ally deduced. "Well, you two need treatment for your wounds. You should-"
"Everyone, look!" A Researcher pointed at the newly revealed part of the cave and they were stupefied.
* * *
The Humanoid figure above Raten and Sara extended their hand, revealing coal-black arms with visible veins of lava around it. A dark red ball formed in its hand which it lunged at the former."
Raten pulled out his sword. "No, don't-" He slashed it in half, failing to hear the other's warning as a huge explosion occurred, the power blasting him away.
The Humanoid figure landed in front of them as the blonde rushed to Raten. Now, she could clearly recognize the Beast.
Head to toe, the beast possessed a hard coal-like surface as it's skin with big, bright red eyes that looked like they contained lava. It stood with a pretty bulky chest with its face being diamond shaped.
"Magmaton..." She said under her breath before Raten had gotten up and felt his chest. There was a searing pain there.
"Shit and it's at the High Orange to boot." Metal surrounded him like a tsunami, gyrating around his body with great force, so much so that the blonde took a step back. The Magmaton marched to them, unfazed.
The spinning ended and now Raten's whole body was covered in a metal layer.