[IC] The War of the Three

[The 42nd Gecko]

Artoria, Master of the Maniacal Menagerie

Artoria, first and foremost, wanted to run away and cry. But she couldn't.

Eos had just deflected her attacks one after another without even breaking her focus or exhausting herself. When she finally launched a serious attack, there was no way Artoria could have defended against it without the power of Henrietta's silver eyes. The silver eyes she couldn't copy. Between all the powers she couldn't copy and those of which she could only make pale imitations, like Taura's... She was coming to a very unhappy discovery. Could she only copy the form, the shape, the style of a power, not really its true power? If so, was she was a flawed creation that would never realize her dream, or get Hohenheim to recognize her?

But she couldn't mope now! Two beautiful girls were right here and needed her protection! The haughty and sultry Mephila, with such grace and refinement, even within a hardened shell! The flighty and passionate Henrietta, who knew exactly what she wanted and would stop at nothing to make it her own. They had even let her hug them without instantly killing her! This time. The destruction of such beauty could not be permitted.

"Hmph! Well, you're not the only one to have friendships or whatever! However dysfunctional they may be, I'm still gonna stand against you because Henrietta's right! We're demons because we do what we want! I'd want to run away if I was by myself, but I want to fight you because I want to stand in somewhat close proximity to Henrietta and Mephila! So, uh.. Yeah! Take that... Demon.. Power? Friendship?
Or something?" Artoria said, kinda losing momentum the further and further she got into her lame speech.

Then Eos wordlessly attacked with point blank serious bullets. This was a fast attack, with almost no space or time to react. But against Alexi, Ira's speed had proved enough to parry a sword blow at near the speed of light. Ira was fast enough, and Artoria would be too. Shoving Mephila to the ground and away at an angle, she send them under the bullets, as she herself was pushed above the bullets, pulling up her legs in a curl as she narrowly dodged. She raised a fist, crackling with demonic flame to counterattack, and opened her mouth to respond to Hohenheim when:

".... OOOF!" Artoria was interrupted as the handle of an axe slammed into her, barely catching it with one free hand and an accidentally interposed elbow, and being launched backwards at high speed given her aerial position at the moment. Looking behind her to see if she was going to slam into anything, she noticed she was going to smack into a flying robot dinosaur. It went by the name Unit-T, but Artoria didn't know that. With a quick ear swap, she located the body piloting it with precision, sensing the very potential to become a cute animal girl. And she knew just the animal for this pilot! Unless, of course, they weren't actually suited to what they were piloting. That would be awkward. Ira's wings widening, Artoria turned herself about and increased her velocity, as Taura's shape was worn again. She'd swing forth Fran's Love Tap, the inordinately heavy axe, and Unit-T would find itself with the force of Taura's throw pushing her right into the strength of Taura (and Fran, and Ira) swinging an axe to split through her battered armor with demonic corruption and bucket loads of physical force. But if the Unit-T's shell finally cracked, its pilot would not be harmed, but instead, improved, being dino-fied.

~~

One odd thing Henrietta would discover was that, in fact, her nails in the form, were copies of the power of her Cheater's blade. Her angry flailing had actually destroyed the floor underneath her, piercing through Shizuka's barriers as easily as they had once pierced through Miyu's, as the Cheater's Blade was wont to do. This would send Henrietta falling through the floor to dodge Eos' bullets, but set her face to face with Shizuka again.

@Lmpkio@KoL@floodtalon@Lucius Cypher@Ryonara I think that's everyone?

[Lmpkio]

"Mephila" Baal Asmodeus

@Ryonara@Kol@floodtalon@The 42nd Gecko@Lucius Cypher

As soon as it was queued by Mephilia, Fran came bursting into the scene as she throws an axe straight towards Eos' face. In retaliation, Eos goes completely overboard as she fires light-based bullets at the opponents. Using her newfound speed to her advantage, the Knight was able to dodge a wave of bullets with relative ease, unaware of the incredible powers they possessed, but then gets pushed by Artoria as an added measure to escape them. Mephilia clammers to the ground as she growls towards the doggie girl in annoyance. Just after getting up, as if she's ready to pounce, a mech crashed into the scene as it shatters Artoria's ice stalagmite and skids to a halt at one of the ruined walls. She quickly turns to glance the figure of Taura disappear, but regardless she pays no attention to her current battle at hand. This is her final straw. She'll most likely die fighting, but if she can last for long enough, she may gain some respect from the High Queen herself.

The Queen soon commands that all the other units are to assist Eos in battle, to kill the demons and leave no survivors. That was enough for Mephilia to make herself go wild and loose. As soon as she orders that objective, she attempts to slice apart Eos with a variety of various attacks right in her face, finishing as she lands over a catwalk five stories above the factory floor. It was time to pick up the heat!

The black fire around her began to sizzle as they twisted and turned, with one strand curling up into a ball as it makes a single construct. A pistol. A single pistol which fires unquenchable black flames. Accuracy should be put more on point in this stage. So when Eos was occupied with Fran, Mephilia doesn't hesitate to issue a rapid fire streaks of black fire towards the Queen as she flips in the air.

---

Unit-T

TEP HQ - COLLAB POST WITH @TheWindel & @Kol

As the Director turned to face her in that same, grizzled manner, so too did Harley's expression not change from the light smirk she wore. "I'm what's left. Or maybe I'm all there ever was," she said with a shrug.

Karizawa was about to reply to her statement, until he heard laughter coming from the screens. In one swift notion, Taura grabs Unit-T's hand that was on her horn and chucks the mech towards the Foundry, right into Eos' battle with the demons. The mech crashed into the giant ice stalagmite, shattering it into bits as it slowly grinds to a halt. Inside, Tina is taken back by the surprise throw and took some time to recuperate before attempting to get up. Once getting up, instead of immediately going against the demons, she stood still a few good meters away. She rubs her head as she contacts the HQ.

"A-Awaiting orders, Karizawa-sama." she says with a stutter as she waits for a response.

"Oh, look at that. Still got some fight left in her," Harley mused, crossing her arms and watching the screens. "Leave it to humans to be so callous as to send children fighting in a war. Look how eager she is to take more orders too! What'd you use? Drugs? Subtle hypnotism? Gotta be something to keep her in check, am I right?"

The Director on the other side of the comlink simply frowns as he watches the events take place. The drones watched Taura back into the ether where she came from, disappearing from the battlefield. Karizawa stands up from his seat as he quickly picks up the comlink to communicate with the pilot.

"Stand by for further orders." Director Karizawa mutters as he places it down, sighing as he looks at the screens for a second before turning to Harley. His face was already more displeased than it already was. While technically Unit-T won that battle, it wasn't exactly a real victory. It was clear that Taura had much more raw power and strength to go about the battle. If she unleashed her full might against the mech, a mech having not been testing against enemies of that caliber before, Unit-T wouldn't have stood a chance. It needs more upgrades and weapons capable of fighting these "Divine-Warriors". However, at the same time he gained a sneak peak at what these characters can do. He then turns to Harley, looking down at her with an authoritarian scowl.

"I don't know what you want," he responds as he eyes the girl coldly, "And I don't know how you got into this facility, but what we've made here will change the course of this war. If you get in the way of our research, we will not hesitate to~"

But just before he can finish, he was suddenly interrupted by one of the operators.

"Sir." the voice called out. Karizawa turns to see the male operator looking rather pale in the lips as he clicks on a button, "You need to see this..."

The screens flicked and flashed until a single image came on screen. From the northern parts of the forest, not more than 5 miles away, a trail of fiery orange can be seen gashing through the trees. Birds flue from the trees, with the faint echoes of disturbed animals, as their was an obvious panic coming from that area. But as the drones zoomed in for a closer look, they are suddenly able to see blue fire coming from the head of the trail, where the thing was making its continual path straight towards the foundry. Everyone at this point are looking at the screens in complete silence. A tree can be seen flying behind the trail, covered in the blue fire and landed roughly 20 meters from where it was uprooted. Something big was coming...

And it looks PISSED.

"Well. Doesn't that look PISSED," Harley said, more than eager to break the group out of their petrified silence. "See, this is why you don't go around stealing other people's work. The original comes back and is all, rawwr, rooooar, grrnn! Or something like that. Oh but mister Director, you haven't even gotten to the good bits of interrogating me, haven't you?" The mismatched girl tsked and slid forward to sit atop one of the control panels, crossing her legs and eyeing Karizawa. "But I mean, it's kind of hard to ask me things when you have a giant cranky dinosaur....oh, and let's not even begin to discuss the implications."

Harley titled her head and leaned forward just a little. The smirk she wore was just itching to blurb out some long lost secrets, some ancient arcane knowledge that humanity would kill to obtain. "Now what would the High Queen think if she found out about your little science games down here?"

Karizawa needed no other clues to figure out what it was. Sweat dropped from his head as he becomes completely pale and anxious out of his mind. Out of all the characters he expected to rampage towards the foundry, only a handful expected that it would attract HER. Taurua may be one thing to battle against, but Unit-T is certainly not ready to combat against what's coming. With that, all eyes were on the Director, all awaiting for further orders. A deafening silence filled the room as Karizawa finally makes his decision.

"Evacuate the Foundry." he commands with an obvious tenseness to his voice.

With that, the alarms began to blare rapidly as all the staff members rushed to get the rest of their research back onto the underground railroad. Scientists loaded boxed filled with both useless and classified information, while operators began shutting down the computers. What was once a calm and professional HQ mission overseer, became a crowd of chaos and panic. With that, the Director took no second guesses into contacting Tina as he desperately grasps the comlink.

Meanwhile, Unit-T was going under the orders of Eos, as she attempts to commence the battle against the last demons on the battlefield. It was then when Artoria attempted to swing the axe towards her direction in an attempt to immediately corrupt Tina's mech. The force was able to push Unit-T back at about the same strength as Taura's, yet she still stood. If she could tank an explosion coming from arguably one of the strongest opponents on the battlefield, she can definitely tank this hit. But as Tina prepares to counterattack, Karizawa calls.

"Tina. It's time to go. Make your way to Sector T-14 and prepare to be extracted back to higher ground." he calls out to the pilot in an orderly manner, while still being obviously panicked.

Tina hears the order from her side as she then looks from her comlink and back to the battle that was going on at hand. Eos said to help fight, yet Karizawa, her personal superior, tells her to run. She began to groan in a slightly panicked way before responding.

"But what about~?"

"NOW." commands Karizawa sternly as if he's about to loose a nerve, "Disregard Eos' order and evacuate the facility - that's an order!"

A few seconds later, Tina simply nods and complies with his orders.

"Yes sir."

With that, Unit-T faces away from the battlefield and launches into the sky. It would then make its way towards the provided sector it needs to be, leaving the chaotic battle that took place below.

While everyone inside HQ were running for the trains, Karizawa simply stays in place as he observes the chaos in front of him. Then he turns to Harley, his scowl already much more prominent than ever, and points to her aggressively.

"You're involved with HER... aren't you?"

"Hey."

A hand lashed forth and grappled with the front of Karizawa's shirt. It didn't take rocket science to figure out it was Harley holding him in place. What was once a gleaming smirk now turned to a frown and something else in her mismatched eyes. "If you're gonna ignore me, you best have the courtesy of making up a good reason. Otherwise Director, you might find yourself making enemies of the wrong kind of people." As she spoke, her words were almost buffeted by a heavy wind and she eventually closed her mouth; after all, the outside noise would no doubt render anything else she said moot.

Through some method both her and the Director had moved to the outside, a good climb above the battle between Eos and the Demons. Harley seemed to be unaffected by the fact that they were hanging in the air but gravity would very much still be real for Karizawa. "Oh no, I think my fingers are slipping," Harley said, almost dropping Karizawa to the ground. "It'd really suck if the Director for your special project was found to be a little flat in his leadership."

Karizawa now finds himself at the mercy of Harley's wrath as he hangs on the literal gravity of life and death. If he falls, then TEP is no longer relevant. He was initially startled by this sudden change of events, but regardless he continues to try and stay calm. Or simply as calm as his nerves already are. He looks at the girl's mismatched eyes as he simply sighs to catch his breath.

"Fine, fine." he sigh as calmly as he can, despite some shaking in his voice, "I'm here now... at your mercy, no doubt. I'll heel to your words as long as you answer my question... Just what do you want from us?"

To those words, Harley stared for a few moments. Her expression, one of neutrality and unreadable, slowly returned to the initial smirk of which she greeted the TEP staff. "Hmm, probably nothing. You've already gone and woken the beast and I didn't even have to tell you to. It's like you just did it yourself! So really, if we wanna be technical...there's nothing stopping me from just dropping you like a rock." Her hand slipped a little, and Harley looked down at the random appearance of Hohenheim on the battlefield.

"....but I think I'm gonna let you screw yourselves over a bit more for the time being. All I want is some entertainment. Think you can provide that for a cute little girl like me Director~?" she said.

Karizawa growls as he mentally spits on these words.

"You don't understand." he remarks with a sneer, "This thing, this "monster" is the key to all of this. The key in ending this god forsaken war. We've studied it from the ancient scrolls left by ancestors thousands of years ago - we know it's purpose. As long as IT lives... this War will never be over. With the creation of Unit-T, being forged from the most advanced and powerful technological advances of our time, we the people of the Machina Of Man will finally put an end to all the fighting! When it dies, we will enter a new era of peace... and prosperity for all to enjoy, not just the Machina. Everyone will benefit from it! This War doesn't have to remain eternal, my dear. You want this war to be over just as much as I do, right? For I will stop at nothing to see to it that the world will finally achieve TOTAL peace."

"Whoah, whoah, easy there! You're gonna talk my ear with your motivational speech," Harley said, moving her hands about to dangle the man further above the depths of oblivion. "Who ever said I wanted this war to stop? Besides, who knows if your ancestors weren't just cloud cuckoolanders who didn't know what they were writing-oh wait! That's right! I know." Harley moved her arm away from her, still gripping the Director harshly. "Well, you can go along with thinking that. I think I'll just keep watching from the sidelines. Oh...and I think I'll spoil your fun by letting this catch wind by the High Queen."

Before much debate about that could be made, Harley let go of his shirt, watching him plummet below. "Nice chatting with you Director," she snickered. Karizawa would fall, and fall, before seemingly reappearing back in his seat within the TEP base. Given some of the looks the other staff members gave to him, it was evident that he had only be in the sky for a moment. Or maybe it was all an illusion? Maybe, maybe. After all, Harley wasn't going to give him an answer.

The Director groans as he holds his head from partaking in such a sick joke, the sirens still blaring in the building. Regardless of how real or not real the encounter was, it was clear that this girl wasn't just your ordinary figure. At first, it seems as if she's part of Heaven, possibly upon the council of the Laguna, but alas she seems to know far too much. She knows things, lots of things. She knows about IT. She knows EVERYTHING about IT. Yet all in all, she's purposely keeping these closely guarded secrets out of his reach. He needs to find out who this girl is. She is now a threat towards the entire project and now with the High Queen about to catch the whispers of this project, things have just gotten much more intense. He looks up to see almost everyone gone, save for the few still slacking boxes and other material back to the main HQ... down in another secret location. How long will it be until that one gets uncovered, he wonders to himself. Already does Eos have some knowledge about it's existence, but doesn't know the real meat and bones of it. How long will this be hidden until Eos takes this project, one he has been working on for almost his entire adult life, away from him?

"Director Karizawa! Director are you coming?!"

His thoughts would be briefly interrupted as the voice of his head assistant, Tobayashi shouts from the other side of the room that leads to the rest of the Secret Facilities. He simply shakes his head, collects his work, and quickly heads towards the entrance. But before he reaches the frame, he stops, as if he remembers something. He then goes back and into a small door in the very left of the building. He reaches a tar-black safe/door-esque box and dials the code on the pad beside the handle. Then it begins to unwrap itself under the various other locks and restrictions until revealing a little remote with a red button on top. Karizawa yanks the controller and runs back to Tobayashi. As he speeds by her, he didn't forget to ask her something special.

"Doctor Tobayashi." he says as they both walk up the stairs towards the train, "I need you to make me an appointment with someone. Someone important."

"Whom may it be, Director?"

The director glares at her unintentionally, the lamp-lights overhead gleaming off his glasses.

"Get me in contact with Hohenheim."

The scientist simply nods, but before going she notices the controller that the Director was holding. Instantly she realized what it was.

"A-Are you going to~?"

"It's only a matter of time before Eos knows the full picture." he interrupts as he preps his finger on the trigger, "This girl has connections that seem to defy logic. She's no ordinary angel, let alone if she is even one. The High Queen already knows little about this project of ours, but now that it'll be most likely leaked by the girl, all evidence of this location must be terminated in order to keep it as secret as possible. "

Soon everyone was onboard the train and with a loud "chunk", it finally begins to move. Once it reached a short distance away from the secret facilities, a loud explosion rocked the entire underground as a flash of light obliterates the entire facility. It didn't matter that all the other secret facilities here, that were researching on their own topics, got destroyed in the blast. Some of them were also able to get their stuff out, while those unattended were whipped for good. As the train continues to scurry down the black tunnel towards Sector-T-14, Karizawa looks back one last time at the ruined cavern behind him, as he plans for the next step in his project against this titanic threat.

*Unit-T and Karizawa's TEP Organization have left the battlefield*

[Gardevoiran]

Lillian

As the loud sirens of KC-00032 blared, Lillian was preparing the mech in order for her to run out and support Eos. Unfortunately, the sirens blared, and that meant only one thing. Evacuation. Even though they had direct orders to not leave their posts, the scientists were rushing out in order to save their skins. None of them bothered to drop by the mech bay in order to see if anyone was alive and unaware, and Lillian was a bit pissed about that.

That was an understatement. Lillian climbed into the mech with the Chemical Hose while muttering obscenities to herself. "Motherfuckin' dumbass scientists. Leavin' me fer' dead. Fuck 'em in th' ear." Once she was inside, the glass of the mech suit closed, keeping Lillian safe as she prepared herself to get out of the facility as quickly as she could. She wasn't about to risk her life for a fight she struggled in. When she was in, however...

> Hello, new user. Why are you inside of this suit?
"FUCK! Oh... wait. Are y'sentient?"
> I am not 'sentient'. I am Epsilon, the personal assistant for this suit, installed by the previous owner of this suit.
"Lillian. Would say it's nice t'meet ya, but this place is about t'blow up."
> I can route the most efficient way out of here. Would you like me to do so?
"Fuck yeah!"

The suit began moving on it's own as it crashed through the wall of the facility, running as fast as it could towards the edge of the 'battlefield'. It continued the run until it handed all controls back over to Lillian when they were a safe distance away from the explosion, which went off immediately once they got to their destination.

"... methinks we're gonna be friends."
> I am yours now, since the previous user had abandoned me.
"Well... let's hang around right 'ere. We'll get involved if we gotta."
> Order received.

[The 42nd Gecko]

Artoria, Master of the Maniacal Menagerie

After her attack missed, Artoria fell back down to a catwalk on the factory about near the others, still shouldering Love Tap.

"Umm... Are all your friends running even though you've asked for their help? Um.. If you don't mind me asking, if they're not your friends, why exactly are you defending them? Did someone scary tell you to? A promise or something?" Artoria asked Eos, pausing her aggression for a moment, kind of confused seeing all the Machina run away in their moment of triumph. Eos would almost certainly defeat them all, with or without her factions help, but it was symbolic and all, yeah?

@KoL

[Gardevoiran]

Kermette

^{Dead as soon as she entered.}

In a moment of odd silence, Artoria's cleavage would be found with one of the other combatants of Hell bursting out of it, with this combatant being none other than The Frog, however he was transformed due to the nature of Artoria's powers. Regardless, Kermette began to speak as soon as she tasted that smoggy air. "IT'S SHOWTI- No it isn't, IT'S A BAD TIME!"

The Frog awkwardly looked around at everyone before realizing that she should probably not be here, nor could she seemingly do much in the fight right now. Naturally, Kermette climbed back into the crevasse known as Artoria's tits and back inside of her all the same.

A gunshot sound could be heard from everyone around, however faint it may have been due to how well soundproofed Artoria's body was.

[The 42nd Gecko]

Artoria, Master of the Maniacal Menagerie

"Uh...." Artoria seemed mildly stunned by what had just somehow happened.

[KoL]

Ciel

"Well, I'm glad if what I've said gave you motivation," Ciel said to Hibiki as she observed the developments inside of KC-00032 with a great deal of interest, though her the Star Magus seemed downcast as she looked at Eos and the blade she wielded. It was almost as if Ciel were struck with a mix of pity and nostalgia.

"You see, different from most, my duty here isn't to fight. I'm a curator, the one who should keep the flame burning. The Machina's was all but quenched. I thought that by presenting you with a challenge worth of praise, I would help rekindle it. However, your Queen did all she could to try and light it again, and... it worked. Nevertheless," just as Ciel spoke, masses of troops/scientists and others began to evacuate KC-00032, beckoned by a mass panic that overruled even the hope Eos had momentarily instilled on them —all hope was lost, in a very literal way, "it seems like she burned too bright and now she's determined o keep on going, even if her own flame is the one about to be extinguished. There's something there that forces her to keep on moving, even if all that's left is disappointment for those she thought that she was protecting."

Eos

Eos was completely appalled at what happened once she thought that she could finally secure victory for her subjects, leading them by the hand instead of from inside an ice cold tomb. Almost all of the remaining Machina were... fleeing? Who, or better why had they done it? They just defeated the Bull of Heavens and they had to do was to finish cleaning the remaining demons who still insisted to keep fighting. So, why now? Did she fail them for so long and so much that her subjects couldn't trust on Eos' ability to being them victory once more?

"Ghh!" Eos groaned before momentarily falling to her knees. Not because of the shots fired by Mephilus, which were deflected by an automatic reaction. It was exertion from fighting at this level for so long, backlash from using powers that she knew that were far above her level. Yet, she wasn't done yet, she couldn't back off now. Even if no one else had faith in her, Eos couldn't back off now. She still had someone important... she still had Bastion to fight for. Yet, "She wouldn't want to know that I used this... her power while taken by grief and rage. It may be different for everyone else, but I'm sure that the only thing Bastion wants is to see everyone happy. That's why she... doesn't kills just for the sake of it," the android thought while unsteadily coming back to her feet. And it wasn't only Bastion, there were others like Hibiki and Shizuka who Eos could rely in. Even if most of them betrayed her, she could still have allies to be by her side.

"That's... none of your concern!" Eos lashed back in response to Artoria's idiotic questions. "However, I have to give my praise to the Alchemist. I she tried to create the most annoying being in the Nexus, she succeeded by far with you."

Hohenheim, who still observed the battle, couldn't contain her grin at Eos' spiteful remark. She didn't say anything, though. The Alchemist was content to merely watch the show, without intefering in any way shape or form. That said, Hohenheim's face frowned into a scowl of disgust when a certain backyard scientist thought that whatever is it he did was worth of the Alchemist of Genesis' attention. She would probably give him the chance to speak later, but it'd better be something more important than questions about the conceited overfed lizard he was so obsessed with. Otherwise, Karizawa would find that Hohenheim is a far less pleasant conversation partner than even Harley.

While the Alchemist's attention waned, Eos had already disappeared once more and appeared right behind Mephilus, pointing her weapon at the small of his back in a way that would leave no room for dodge from either blade or bullet, if she decided to attack. "Because your motormouth ally made remember something important, I'll give you all one last chance to go. If you fall here there'll be no coming back, it'll be as if none of you ever existed," Eos said in a voice devoid of any emotions, as machine-like as she looked. "I'll give you three seconds to decide upon your fate. Use them well," the android added, before she began to count, "One..."

[Lmpkio]

"Mephila" Baal Asmodeus

@Kol@floodtalon@The 42nd Gecko@Lucius Cypher

As Mephilia continued to push the fight as much as she can, she suddenly sees the High Queen mysteriously fall to her knees in pain. At first, she considered that it must've been due to the black flame bullets, only to be shortly corrected as they were reflected almost immediately back. Perhaps it was due to her powers taking an extreme affect on her? Honestly, who would know. And the Knight didn't seem to care. Yet as she began to issue another attack towards her, she realizes that Eos seemed to have disappeared out of thin air. Where did she go? Did she retreat? Did she go for higher ground?

Yet as Mephilia began scouring the battlefield for her in furious angst, she suddenly feels something behind her back. With a faint startled yelp, she freezes in place. Then, she heard the voice of the High Queen... an emotionally-deprived High Queen that is. The Queen gave her and her allies one last chance to get out of the foundry in three seconds, or they will face a permanent death right on this very battlefield. At first, Mephilia thought that Eos was trying to intimidate them. Surely only the Angel Of Death, or perhaps other higher-powered deities, have that amount of power to by-pass the Nexus' respawn. She chuckles nervously, trying to sound tough, but as Eos began counting...

"One..."

A tingle of fear jittered down her back. She looks around at the other allies in the vicinity.

"Two..."

It was then when the Knight made her choice, just before Eos would say three. With a defeated sigh, her blackest flames suddenly became extinguished and raises her arms towards her.

"OKAY OKAY!" she yells in an annoyed tone, "We're leaving, jeez!"

With that, she turns to the rest of her allies.

"Pack your shit up, we're leaving!"

As she turns to leave the foundry, she sees Henrietta still throwing a tantrum on the floor. This muthafucka wasn't even participating in the fight at all? She only made a disgusting face of disapproval as she simply picks her up, not even bothering to put her out of her blubbering conscious.

"Shut the fuck up, you fucking piece-of-shit cry baby..." she mutters to her as she signals Artoria to follow her.

They would fly out of the ruined foundry in a defeated pose as they eventually made their way out to a safe location away from Eos' anti-magic-teleportation field. Once outside, Mephilia activates a portal, throwing Henrietta head-first into the portal first. But before she leaves, she takes one last look at the battlefield. Then, without saying a word, the Hell Knight leaves the battlefield. Lucille will not be pleased that they lost the battle, but then again, she and the others did most of the work. Fault the others who didn't do their job as effectively to turn the tide of the battle. But they'll get their revenge one way or another... just not today.

*Mephilius and Henrietta have left the battle*

[The 42nd Gecko]

Artoria, Master of the Maniacal Menagerie

"Wait! Wait, I think I see one! I think it's one of yours. She won't get here in time, but hey, she's trying!" Artoria looked out a window created by one of the many attacks that had landed upon KC-00032, spying Hibiki making her way back to help Eos. "Now we can have a big... Oh, wait, nope, all the other demons left. Mkay, that's cool. I still got Hohenheim's eyes on me, that's more than enough!" She turned back to face Eos and saw she had scared away all the other demons.

"Any-anyway!" It was uncertain whether Artoria was scared more of her allies leaving, or having Hohenheim's attention after desiring it for so long. Her heart was beating fast, too fast, having regenerated her powers so many times, she herself was just as much on the brink as Eos was. All these powers she had stole.. And it didn't seem to matter. Taura, Henrietta, Ira, Mephila, all these powers were held back by the fact they were attached to her own heart, it seemed to Artoria. "If my body, if Hohenheim's hand is all that matters, Hohenheim can just make another me if she wants one and this existence doesn't matter! If my will is what matters, then these forms and weapons don't matter, and I can exceed my limits and prove my Manifest Destiny!" Artoria dropped Love Tap, letting it fall into the abyss of the chasm. Taura's body was replaced with her own innate wolf form.

"So don't fall down on me, I wanna take you on at your full strength! I think you'd make a wonderful selkie, or maybe a polar bear, they're cuddly. Any opinions?" Artoria smiled her little one-fanged grin.

"Let's battle!" Artoria jumped from her perch, one last attack, her dominant claw pulled back and crackling with her own energies of Manifest Destiny's reality altering will, to transform Eos into a cute animal girl.

@KoL@Ryonara

[KoL]

Ciel

After seeing that the battle was finally coming to a close, Ciel too decided to leave the battlefield. After all, the rules said that she couldn't be here after giving up on fighting. However, before she left for good, the Star Magus dismissed the starlit sky she had summoned, allowing the sun to shine down upon KC-00032 once more. A fitting ending, in Ciel's thought.

"Now, that I think about it," Ciel said to herself before teleporting away, "if I had been hurt, would Leyona take care of me when went back home? Fufufu~ Maybe I'll take this into consideration the next time I come to play."

Eos

"" "Will this ever end?" Eos let out an exasperated sigh as all the other enemies left the battle except of course for Hell's number one idiot. "You know nothing about what reality is really like," Eos said as Artoria lunged at her. "Nevertheless, you'll never learn the answers you seek," the High Queen said, emotionlessly pulling the trigger just as Artoria's fist was about to crash on her.

The next thing Artoria would notice was nothing. The total and complete nothingness of being wiped from existence. Even the memories of her in the minds of others, or any form of records of her existence ceased to be. Only the leaders of the Triumvirate and the beings above them would remember of her existence, for everyone else only a void that couldn't be filled was left.

A fate far worse than mere death, just as Eos promised. But one that could have been easily avoided, if Artoria hadn't jumped on Eos' blade.

Back at KC-00032, Eos lost her own consciousness, plummeting back to the factory floor, just as she shot Artoria. That had been a dangerous gamble with her own existence on the line, but Eos finally did it. She fought for what she believed and gave it her all. She didn't even had to stain Bastion with blood. "I think that I can sleep now, can't I?" Eos said as the silvery shine of her eyes flickered off and the blade in her hand shattered, becoming a tiny million pieces. The only remainder of its being the blade's hilt, which was held firmly in Eos' grasp.

[Lmpkio]

Mephilus Baal Asmodeus

@floodtalon@The 42nd Gecko

Shortly after exiting the portal back to Hell, Mephillia would feel her entire body began to vibrate as she is suddenly turned back to his own self again. The female form he took from Artoria simply vanished, yet he doesn't even remembering being turned into it. Nor does he remember about Artoria. He just remembered fighting Eos with Henrietta and Fran, that was it. Unaware to his knowledge, he would fail to realize that Artoria has been blasted out from existence. He and everyone else who encountered her or had been involved in transforming into a furry had forgotten about her completely.

The Hell Knight simply coughs as he looks at himself again, with his armor, lance, and shield still with him. His rage from being Mephilia has been extinguished and is back to his regular self. He leaves Henrietta, or now back to being Henry, on the ground as he reports back to Lucille about what happened. Only that he won't mention about the dog-girl in any of it.

---

???

The Battle For KC-00032 has finally finished. The ruins of the foundry can be seen smoking from the debris, dust, and molten slag lying on the ground. The Machina won against the combined forces of both Heaven and Hell, but even then, the Foundry is in an extremely critical state. Will it be rebuilt and reused by the Machina? No one knows. Perhaps Eos has a plan to do something with it, but only she knows what to do with it for certain. And while everyone has basically left the battle...

There was one being who has just arrived.

Coming from the northern forest, thunderous steps can be heard from a mile away, along with the cracking of trees, the crackling of flaring flames, and the panicked cries of the animals living in the forest. In fact, the flames weren't simply a fiery orange, but it also had flames that were of a light-glowing-blue. It was an unusual form of fire indeed, one that must've come from whatever is trudging through. It all comes the same being that Karizawa's team had detected before evacuating the base. And there's a good reason that they did.

The being was somehow attracted to the battlefield for one reason over another, as if she was rudely awakened from her slumber. Was it the battle that simply disrupted her sleep and caused her to investigate? No. Not quite. There was something else here that many wouldn't notice. As she approaches the exit of the burning forest, her nose twitches as she senses several distinct smells that immediately catch her attention. At first, she smells nothing but the burned bodies of what died here, only to then pick up the smell that belonged to Taura. She growls disgustingly as her tail flails around slowly behind her. She takes a few steps closer, her feet making cracks on the ground, and sniffs again. Then she smells it. That familiar scent. Her growl becomes more guttural as she realizes who it belonged to...

She smells HERSELF somewhere amidst in the Foundry.

A tall tree falls to the ground as it finally reveals the figure lurking from within the trees. She was a tall figure, with tanned-skin, black ash-like colored hair, and ragged clothes sported with bumps akin to scales, but not quite scales. She also sports several joints of spines down her back, jagged in shape as if they were the peaks of mountains. Their tips were glowing in that same blue color, igniting any of the trees that were unfortunate enough to brush against them. And then came a long reptilian tail, which has three rows of tiny spines and had thick black skin covering it. This being is unlike anything that the Nexus has seen before...

Her head looks up at the scene, revealing two gleaming yellow eyes, as they squint with a purposeful grimace.

Then... came a terrible sound that ripples throughout the barren battlefield, spreading fear and terror to those still there.

Titanica has risen from her slumber... and her wrath will be felt across the Nexus.

[KoL]

Back at Hyperion, after the battle at KC-00032 was done. Eos was recovering herself from the severe overexertion of the fight. However, there were many issues that the High Queen couldn't leave on anyone else's hands and that she must deal with now, even as weakened as she currently is. The first of such issues being a group of rogue individuals whose actions almost caused the Machina to lose the battle of KC-00032.

"Bring them in," Eos said to the royal guards, ordering Karizawa and his group to be brought before her presence. Eos' cold stare was going to be the first sight they would be met with as soon as they entered the High Queen's cold chambers. The doors got locked behind them in an ominous way as Eos took her place at Mankind's Throne. "Explain yourselves and maybe I'll spare you of a fate worse than death," was all that Eos said before she fell silent, waiting for Karizawa and his lackeys to say anything in their defense. A good set of eyes would be able to discern Hohenheim's diminutive form sitting cross-legged in a corner of the barely lit room. The smirk on her face making it sure that she was interested in what would come out of this judgment.

Karizawa was brought into the room, along with several of his top scientists, including Dr. Tobayashi, as well as the pilot of Unit-T itself, Tina. All in all, there were ten scientists in the room, plus the pilot. They were neutral in expression, bearing no smiles, yet every single one was unbearably nervous. Some can be seen faintly shaking, but not enough to bring significant notice towards them. The Director can see the High Queen Eos stare coldly at them as they took their seats. Even Hohenheim was there, the exact person Karizawa wants to meet. Only thing is, he wanted to talk to her alone. Perhaps another time then... if there is one. Once everyone was lined up by the wall, standing up, did Eos demand them to explain themselves. The Director clears his throat as he begins to speak first on the matter.

"I believe we are all here regarding the recent... events, regarding KC-00032." he begins as he adjusts his glasses, "Um... Well, you suppose we ran because of cowardliness over something regarding the current battlefield. Well... in a sense, you would be correct. However, the threat, excuse me - threats -, that we detected, were something far more dangerous then the demons that were fought upon the foundry base."

"So," Eos said looking at Karizawa's eyes, "What you are saying is that not only did you detect a threat looming about the battlefield that supposedly wasn't aware of and didn't warn your Queen or any of your allies, but also that you didn't believe in my capacity to protect you? And that these reasons are excuse enough for your acts of treason like turning your back on me in the middle of the battle?"

"Is that right?"

Karizawa shakes his head.

"The thing is, these aren't simply your average threats. From my understanding, think of them like that bull-girl that was sent out by Ciel, only significantly stronger. And another thing. The one we detected heading to the base wasn't the only thing we detected... we saw someone else right in the middle of our facility."

He then walks towards a holo-projector and turns it on, revealing a slide-show of several security footage from both the base and what the drones took. There was a picture of the main command facility, and in the middle while everyone was evacuating the facility, was the mismatched girl. The footage paused after awhile and zoomed in on the features of the girl. Karizawa turns to them as he explains.

"This girl somehow got into the base without us knowing." he continues explaining, "She may not look like much, but it appears she has a strong case of magic backing her up."

The security footage would stutter as it would reveal Harley making a large windstorm inside the building, disappearing just before the footage was off.

"She was even able to teleport me off the ground in a location above the foundry and after dropping me, I found myself back in the facility as if nothing happened."

He then looks at Hohenheim.

"I would like some answers regarding who or what that girl is." he asks while adjusting his glasses, "Is that possible?"

"I see. It seems like—" Eos began speaking only to find herself interrupted by Hohenheim raising her voice from the back of the room.

"I see that you are terribly mistaken, though this is perfectly understandable when they let conceited amateurs like you play scientist," Hohenheim said, barely able to control her impulse to roll on the floor laughing. "That overfed lizard is stronger than the Bull of Heavens? You seriously don't know anything, do you?" the Alchemist laughed hard, taking a moment to recover her breath before continuing. "It'll be a pleasure to illuminate your diminutive intellect. I can't answer anything regarding the girl you are asking about, but you can always try to piece it together. Hahaha!"

Karizawa was simply silent as he frowns such the childish nature regarding Hohenheim. Now he remembers why it can be such a bitch to get anything from her. Regardless, he already had the thing pieced together during the event.

"I've already done that." he states with serenity.

The holo-projector than shows the picture of the fiery-blue trail taken by the drones and the close up picture of the mismatched girl.

"It's no doubt that these two are related." he continues to explain, "She knows something more regarding towards her... as well as other possible secrets. But other than that, you're right Hohenheim, I don't know anything more about her. That's why I'm asking you for any information regarding her, or even that "Bull of Heavens" person. I suppose you know of them at least?"

"Well, well, well, is it not better to ask things politely?" Hohenheim said with a patronizing voice, shaking her head as if she were scolding a small child. "Where should I begin? Let's just say that they are beings of a superior order of existence. You can call them for their actual name by the way, Vassals, though who they serve is one thing I cannot say. There are rules even I must obey, if you want to know more only the girl you are asking about I can tell you. Her name's Harley, by the way."

"Now. Let me open your mind to one thing," Hohenheim opened her hand to reveal a pair of dice, though, sharp eyes would find their structure to be alien to the minds of men, something of a superior dimension. "That lizard you are so obsessed with isn't the stronger of them, of us, by far. Nor is she involved with Harley other than being the same kind of being. If you want to know the truth, Taura, the Bull of Heavens, is the physically strongest. Actually, no, to say that her strength is infinite would be much better. Absolute power, that's her gift. Everyone has one, just like the Snake of the World is the master of space, and I hold all knowledge that there's. So, no... your lizard isn't stronger than the dumb bull you 'defeated' before you chose to ran away," the Alchemist seemed to take a great deal of pleasure on listening to her own voice, just like always, but even so she made a pause. After all, she needed to be sure that Karizawa's so called brain was getting all she was saying right.

"Did you get everything until now?" Hohenheim asked, before looking at Eos, "Because you'll still need a good reason to convince the angry robot in front of you to not throw you out of the Nexus when you say that you got all the answers you need."

Karizawa nods at the alchemist perfectly. This actually explains a good deal of information regarding what he encountered in the foundry, but at the same time it also arose more questions at the same time. How many Vassals are there? What do they all hold? What gift does SHE have in regards to this? There were questions still needing to be answered, but of course he won't get them until he convinces Eos to break off some mercy towards him.

"We will discuss more of this later, thank you." the Director politely acknowledges as he turns to Eos, "As for the reason regarding our evacuation~"

It was just then when Tobayashi interrupted Karizawa to speak on his behalf.

"We feared that the being coming towards the foundry was going to jeopardize the project, yet the Director strictly told the pilot, Tina, to continue fighting in Unit-T before further notice." the scientist begins her explanation. Tina looks up at Tobayashi with her big blue eyes and her mouth open. Even she was already feeling nervous. Tobayashi began to continue saying, "Director Karizawa ordered her to stay and fight until Your Majesty's protocol was lifted. However, this was Tina's first battle, hence she was flustered on what to do after her battle with Taura that she panicked and her inner-impulse forced her to retreat."

Tina was already beginning to tear up, as she tries wipes the tears off her face and begins to whimper. Tobayashi picks up the little girl and hugs her lovingly in her arms.

"She's only a child, Eos!" she cries out herself, "She was excellent during the practice runs, but was flustered by the intense action of the real battle that going on, to the point where she didn't stop to rationally realize what she was doing! We didn't all mean to retreat so cowardly, Queen Eos! Please, forgive us! We will make sure this event will never happen again! We swear it! All of us, we swear it."

A heavy sigh escaped Eos' lips. If it were just that scientist she would have cast him into the void a long time ago. After all, it looked like he was never going to truly get a grasp of his place in this world, but looking at the girl's expression made her reconsider, even if not even a single sliver of emotion could be read on the android's face.

"If you allow me to intrude one last time," Hohenheim said from her seat. "As a mother myself, I can say that I understand it. A child such as that has no way of growing up right if she's raised by a person that has no notion of the huge pile of crap he has been digging around. Yes, because if you keep using that Lizard's power of Nether, or researching it without consideration, you'll be the one to usher the Ragnarok you seek to avoid. Either way, the final word is yours since you are their queen," the Alchemist sighed dramatically before adding one last remark. "I wonder what a certain Eel, or your own mismatched-eyed friend, will think if she knows that you are about to throw a child into the Abyss for the crime of existing? It'll be a hell of an experiment, hehehe!"

"They have nothing to do with this," Eos replied showing some observable signs of irritation for the first time since this session began. Not long after that she addressed the group before her once more. "I'll be lenient this time. Not for your leader, mind you. If it were for his explanations you all would be doomed a long time ago. He's someone that needs to know his place, and that he'll. But, as a Queen, I can't simply be the one to condemn without being the one to guide."

"I'll spare you. However, there's a condition. From now on you are to be put under the command of my appointed officers. You are obliged to report yourself back to the Meido sisters and accept any orders from them as if they were my words," Eos straightened herself and took her gaze from Tina and back to Karizawa before continuing, "You have been warned. I'll not repeat myself."

"If there's nothing else you would like to add, you are dismissed now. I'll arrange lodgings and appropriate facilities for you at Hyperion," Eos said, passing down her judgment.

The scientists all saluted and said their thanks to Eos as they excused themselves from the room and left. The trial was finally finished.

And, just as they left, the High Queen went back to her other task, the first of which was to give the due recognition to those who fought to the best of their ability. "Call Krieg and the Meido Sisters. It's about time I reward them properly."

[Gardevoiran]

Lillian

~ Intermission ~

"I dunno how these gearheads in Hyperion build things like ya'. They've earned m'admiration."

Lillian was at her home in Hyperion (which was a relatively decent size, considering her paycheck), tinkering around in the garage with her newly acquired mech. She didn't know what in the hell she was doing, but she thankfully had Epsilon powered on and reading off a set of instructions to her. Right now she was simply trying to run a fair amount of system diagnostics on Epsilon, and whoever that 'J' guy was made it incredibly hard to run diagnostics. He was at least kind enough to leave instructions.

"Alright Epsilon, what's the next step?"
> There should be a small slot, located between the waist and cockpit. Insert a flat screwdriver into it, and apply pressure.
"Okay... done!"
> RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THIS SUIT UNTIL DIAGNOSTICS ARE COMPLETED.

Lillian jutted out from where she was, landing on her ass in the middle of her garage. This was frustrating, but she finally managed to do something with this suit. It took her nearly an hour to figure out how to remove the back plate, even more to depressurize the hatch. She was pretty sure that Epsilon could pressurize it again, though. There were tons of buttons in there that she didn't immediately understand, but she hopefully would when she learned how to use it.

She didn't care about that right now. What she did care about, though, was that she needed a drink. Thankfully, her alchemy station was in the garage, and she knew a few concoctions that she could easily mix and result in her thirst being quenched. Alas, she went over to her station and began mixing some of the ingredients she had on standby, creating a small potion that she quickly drank. It was a standard potion of healing, but it simply tasted better than your average one. The diagnostics ran by Epsilon finished as Lillian placed her bottle in a nearby sink.

> I have returned.
"Anythin' I should be worried about?"
> I need lubrication in several areas, but nothing otherwise.
"Sweet Jesus."

Lillian was relieved that it worked so well. She felt like she needed to make it up to Eos after last battle (although she knew that nothing was able to be done about it), and Epsilon would help her with that.

> I have a question, Lillian.
"Ask away."
> Why are you here and not out celebrating over the victory. It seems like something you should be doing.
"... I hate people."

---

The Frog

~ Intermission ~
@Lmpkio

In an instant, the Frog popped back into the world, although he was in front of Hell's castle. He forgot how he got there, but he knew that it had something to do with the last battle. He just didn't know how. The Frog had felt like something was different about the world too, like something was missing from his life, but he couldn't figure out what.

The Frog began walking through the halls of Hell, trying to remember if something was actually missing or if he was going bonkers. It could be either option, honestly, but the Frog didn't want it to be the latter option. He did see Mephilus as he was walking through, though, and he eagerly hopped over to him and began to speak.

"Mephilus, do you feel like something is missing?"
_{Frog will never remember that Artoria had existed, but he will feel an odd absence.}

---

Bonesword

~ Intermission ~

Journal Entry XX/XX/XX

In a fit of what I want to call 'Drunken Rage' but I can't, I had created a number of accidental venus flytraps on my lawn. I received another letter in the mail today about how my equipment guy up in Hyperion had to hold off on making my shield because he had to go to serve on a jury today. Dammit Eos! I may fight for you in protection of your people, but dammit I need a shield! I can't run into battle and do jack-squat unless I have something to defend myself with!

Sometimes I still wonder why I like to fight for these people. I always get food thrown at me by passerby when I'm simply trying to go to the bar and get a kamikaze. I understand that people are on edge about demons and angels, but those twins that fight for Eos don't get any crap. It irritates me, but also intrigues me. Maybe I can talk to one of them and see how they do it?

I'm still considering whether I should be in our next battle or not. I'd love to go and shove my sword directly into the hearts of a few demons, especially that cheating Victoire, but I don't think I necessarily want to leave what I'm preparing behind. I'm still surprised the people of Abby's village allowed me to keep my pet project there. Stumpy and the other constructs I left should be able to defend the village while I'm away, while still being able to grow it and advance towards a large-enough size to actually help forward the Machina's cause, but I'm unsure.

I just gotta make sure this stays underneath the radar. I'd be questioned heavily if anyone found out, and if the court got me I'd be screwed.

End of Entry

[Lucius Cypher]

ENDIAN-01

Endian didn't remember much of what happened after she ejected. But after awakening in Hyperion, she didn't need a play-by-play to figure out that her escape attempt failed. The Grafdakka mech was sitting in his docking bay, telling Endian that he was completely obliterated. Whether or not her enemies died with her, Endian wasn't sure. She wasn't even sure if they had won that battle. Still something felt... Good. Touching her chest Endian felt more fulfilled than usual. It was a strange feeling; she's never felt like this before, not even in the midst of battle where she normally finds herself. It was as if she understood, just a bit more, about herself.

As Endian quickly went back to work on repairing the Grafdakka and looking into potential upgrades she received a message from the High Queen. The Krieg inside of Endian thought it was strange to see the High Queen contact him considering that he was so far a failure in battle, stripped of his rank by Hibiki, but fortunately Endian's personality seemed to calm Krieg's own fury to a more manageable paranoia. Endian knew she had to answer this call, but she wasn't sure why Eos wanted to speak to her. Hopefully it wouldn't be more punishments for her failures in battle. Endian felt like she was doing the best she could, given the circumstances she finds herself in. "What is this doubt? Why am I so concerned all of the sudden?" Endian asked herself as she prepared to head to Eos's palace.

Endian arrived at Eos's palace, carrying the Black Box that contained Krieg. Though Krieg could have simply possessed Endian-01 and left his box back at the factory, she felt it was customary for Endian-01, or whoever would serve as Krieg's "Servant", to safeguard his box at all time. Though Endian made a note that she'd have to find a way to slim Krieg's Black Box to fit inside of her body. Either way Endian waited until Eos's current audience was finished. Once the flood of scientist left Endian entered Eos's chambers, bowing to her queen. "Endian-01 has arrived. This unit currently serves as the vassal and voice of Krieg. How may I serve you, my queen?"

@KoL

---

Francisca Labrys Seax Luxuria

Fran didn't remember much aside from the intense pain she was in. One moment Fran launched a sneak attack against Eos, next thing she knew she was buried underneath tons of molten slag. At least it was a quick death. Fran awoke in hell, in her room, sitting on Rufus's former throne. She tried her best to remember what exactly happened but she was drawing up blanks. She wasn't even sure if she was in a battle; Fran just remembered a lot of pain and somehow ending up in her room. Usually that meant she died at some point and respawn. She'd have to find the others and get more information. Or... She could just go find someone to screw with until the next battle. That seemed like something more up her alley.

Yet as Fran went to the palace looking for trouble, she couldn't help but vaguely remember a pretty face. Some sort of dog-girl who, as far as Fran could remember, was quite pretty and powerful... But than again there were many like that here in the Nexus. Fran simply chalked it down as another one-nightstand that she had in the pass and was simply feeling nostalgic about. Hitching a ride on the back of a slave caravan Fran headed towards the Palace of Hell to see what was going on, perhaps even find a new lover tonight.

[Ryonara]

Hibiki & Shizuka

And so the battle was won. Ciel left the battle despite having Hibiki in a bad spot, though her allies were ready to gun Ciel down on her orders. Shizuka had lashed out at the demons before they left, but failed to do any additional damage. She was, however, present to see Artoria die by Eos’s blade. To Shizuka the attack didn’t seem anything unique beyond Eos stabbing Artoria, but shortly after Shizuka completely forgot about the demon girl’s existence. Not that she knew much about it before she arrived anyways.

With the demons and angels successfully repelled the two sisters did their best to check the safety of the factory. Many of the scientists tried to leave the factory when the coast was clear, despite Eos’s orders to stay and fight. Hibiki made sure these scientists didn’t get far and rounded them up. She understood their fears, but was angry at their lack of faith in their queen. She had promised to protect them, how could so do that if they run from her? However Hibiki would not cast judgement on them. That was for Eos to decide. Shizuka went through the factory to clear out any demonic influences left, cutting down compromised scientists and soldiers who still carried demonic taint on them. Even though she was missing an arm Shizuka simply bandaged her stump and continued her duties single-handedly.

Eventually the two sisters reunited, and immediately a sense of guilt it Hibiki. She felt disappointed that despite her best efforts, she failed to do any real damage against the angelic forces outside. In fact up to the last moment, she was practically held hostage by Ceil thanks to Ceil’s powerful magics. Whereas Shizuka successfully managed to fend off some of the demon’s strongest fighters, merely losing her arm in the process. Sure Queen Eos scared them off in the end, but Shizuka was able to hold her ground long enough for Eos to arrive. Shizuka sensed this doubt in her sister and went up to her, patting her head. ”We did our best. Sometimes that’s all we need to do. Let’s go home, Hibiki.”

Once the situation at KC-00032 was settled, including returning the Alpha and Beta Suit (as well as finding the Gamma Suit), the mecha maids returned to Hyperion. Not much was spoken between the two sisters that their telepathy with each other didn’t pick up. Hibiki still felt an intense amount of doubt in her abilities while Shizuka remained emotionally stoic. She felt that she simply did her duty, nothing more, nothing less. Hibiki felt like she didn’t do enough. Once at Hyperion Shizuka told her sister that she’ll need to see a specialist to get her arm replaced.

”Replaced? Shizuka, we could just regenerate your arm. It’ll be easy to do here.”

”No… It’s fine. I think I’ll get a replacement. As a reminder that… Sometimes we need to make sacrifices..”

Shizuka looked down at Hibiki’s prosthetic leg. Covered with her stocking, no one would’ve noticed her leg was mechanical by sight or sound. But Shizuka knew about it, and Hibiki never bothered to get her real leg healed back either. Partly out of utility (She had a few weapons hidden in her leg now), partly as a reminder of what Hibiki had to do back at Rutharia: Sacrifice. The two sisters parted ways to their own destinations.

Hibiki went back to their apartment to rest. Taking the train back to her neighborhood Hibiki noticed a package at her front door. It was from her parents living at one of the Machina’s remote colonies. Her parents were too old to fight, but still provided to the Machina through labor. Their father in particular was an excellent mech pilot and used his skills to mine materials for the Machina. Their mother, much like the maids themselves, was a highly skilled housekeeper as well as an engineer. The package they sent contained a cake and a letter wondering how the two were doing.

Taking the package inside Hibiki read the letter. Her parents were living happily and had only heard recently about the sister’s promotion. When the two had joined the Machina Military, they would have never imagined that Hibiki and Shizuka would become commanders. They didn’t know much about the battles the two fought (Such information was generally confidential for civilians), but they seemed to think that Hibiki and Shizuka alone were winning the Machina’s wars. This only made Hibiki chuckle knowing that they haven’t really won many of their recent battles, and Shizuka has done more work than Hibiki had. Hibiki also realized that her mother actually bothered to write a letter of all things, instead of sending something like an email or just calling them. Though Hibiki supposed that it was just something nice to send along with the cake.

The rest of the letter described her parent’s life at the colony. They lived comfortably and haven’t heard any information or sightings of enemy forces, so much that they worry their soldiers were going to go soft. Hibiki’s father is getting on with the years and slowly growing senile, so much to the point that when he’s inside his mech he thinks he’s fifty years younger and could go into battle himself. However outside of his mech he still needs his wheelchair to move around. Hibiki’s mother has been working on a few new vintage cars as well, and wants to send one to Shizuka. The rest of the letter then went on about personal things about neighbors, the price of groceries, and other mundane stuff. Hibiki read through it and felt a tinge homesick. While the life as a soldier and general was exciting, something about just being able to go home and raise a family appealed to Hibiki. She wondered if she could retire, but quickly dismissed it knowing that she was far too young to think about something like that. And besides, you don’t retire in the Nexus.

Meanwhile Shizuka went to see someone to replace her arm. There was a specialist her sister went to when she had to replace her leg. They were part of the Machina Military, so their stuff was highgrade. And thanks to Shizuka’s rank as a commander, she’d be getting the job done at a huge discount. The place Shizuka went do was simply called Sector Seven, appropriately located within the Seventh District of Hyperion. Sector Seven was a technological research department that also studied magic, often combining the two for the Machina. It was one of the reasons that Hibiki recommended it to Shizuka to ensure that whatever cybernetics that Shizuka gets, it wouldn’t interfere with her magical incantations.

Once inside Shizuka went up to the receptionist and gave the Receptionist her credentials. Shizuka wanted to make an appointment about getting a mechanical prosthesis for her war wound. The receptionist would make sure that Shizuka has top priority, however right now their primary doctor was occupied. From the shouting in the back room, it also seemed like their primary doctor was very angry at something. This concerned Shizuka, but the receptionist reassured her that the doctor was always like that, but very professional. Shizuka should have her first check up within a few days, and will be fitted with a prosthesis within a week.

In the meantime, Shizuka was given proper medical treatment to ensure her arm wasn’t infected and will heal properly. As Shizuka laid there being operated on, she thought about Hibiki. Ever since they were given the title of commander, Hibiki has been taking the battles much more personally. Shizuka always fought seriously, but she never really changed her mindset as a soldier. Fight hard, don’t die, protect Hibiki, follow orders. After the battle at Hohenheim’s tower, Shizuka removed the restrictions she placed on herself to ensure her alliance with the Machina. She’s been using more of her angelic powers as well as the Machina weapons. She has grown stronger, if only a little. But Shizuka still felt incomplete.

These past few days with Hibiki has been stressful to Shizuka. Her new found independence was both a boon and a bane, as Shizuka has been able to think for herself more, but now can see Hibiki’s own struggles more clearly. Truthfully, Shizuka wasn’t even aware of how hard Hibiki was struggling even before Hohenheim. She had always just assumed that Hibiki was always cheerful and ready to charge into problems head on. But now more detached from her sister, Shizuka could see that Hibiki puts up a strong facade not only for Shizuka’s sake, but for the sake of the other Machina soldiers too. It was very little wonder why Shizuka and Hibiki had a bit of a falling out due to Hibiki’s controlling tendencies.

At this point Shizuka wasn’t sure what to do. Shizuka was stronger now but she wanted to help Hibiki. But she wasn’t going to do that by willingly making herself weaker just so she could rely on Hibiki more. But simply training isn’t going to be enough. Frankly, Shizuka and Hibiki had just about all the training they’d need. No, what Hibiki needed was to be stronger herself. As Shizuka said before, teamwork and training was nice, but Hibiki needed to do more than just rely on others. She needed to be reliable too. And now Shizuka was wondering what she could do to help Hibiki become stronger, instead of just pointing out how weak Hibiki really is.

Before either sisters could do much else they received a message. They needed to attend an audience with the High Queen Eos. Shizuka just finished her operation and Hibiki just got out of the shower, and once the two were dressed in their uniforms they went straight to Eos’s palace. Hibiki hopped into her car while Shizuka created wings, and they both sped to the palace as soon as possible. They arrived nearly at the same time. When they both were outside of Eos’s door they took a quick moment to clean each other up, straightening out creases, picking dirt and dust off their uniform, and trying to look presentable. Hibiki did a quick hem job on Shizuka’s sleeve to account for her missing arm. Once finished the two sisters entered Queen Eos’s court.

As the twins walked in, for some odd reason Endian was there too. Apparently Krieg had taken over Endian and while neither sister said anything about it, it bothered Hibiki. Krieg, and by extension the various forms he took, haven’t exactly done well in battle. Hibiki personally hoped he was only here to get punished by Queen Eos but said nothing about it. They lined up next to Endian and gave their queen a proper curtsy.

”Greetings my queen. Hibiki Meido, your humble maid, has arrived. To what do I owe this great pleasure?”

”Hello High Queen Eos. Shizuka Meido is here to serve you. I hope you are well, I must thank you for saving me at our last battle. I would not have lasted a moment longer if you had not come to my rescue.”

@Kol

[TheWendil]

The Imperator of Heaven wasn’t quite sure how to feel about this whole situation. While yes, their forces had lost, it was through puzzling means. In the end, the only one still left on the battlefield to face the High Queen had been Ciel to her knowledge. The rest of the Angels seemed to have just…disappeared. Torag was probably conducting research of his own somewhere while the others were no doubt bolstering similar actions. Supposedly.

As she mused on these thoughts, her hand lowered down her throne to scratch the ear of the sleeping Beastkin that had reported this battle’s progress to her. She had been the one to inform her of Arotoria’s existence…right before even the Beastkin had forgetten her existence. Indeed, this battle had yielded many an interesting result, both the wolf girl’s erasure from reality and the rise of a new beast.

Although she hadn’t witnessed Titanica, she no doubt sensed it and that much concerned her. She doubted Ciel would give her direct answers for privacy reasons; besides, Ciel had no real allegiance to Heaven. No, if she wanted to know about this force, she needed to consult with the two who had given her guidance earlier. “Send me Iona and Juno,” she called out to her guards, watching as they moved away to do just that. As she did so, the Imperator suddenly blinked in sharp surprise. “I sense…where has Hildr gone?”

Back in Hell, all who had returned would find themselves a good distance away from the Throne Room. By no means was it any tampering on Lucille’s part, but rather the slime girl called Luci for…obvious reasons. The doors to the Throne Room were locked shut with only the queen’s daughter to stand watch and guard. Judging by the sound of heavy objects being thrown and smashed apart, this was probably a good thing.

Of course, Hell’s defeat needed to be reported eventually. But only the bravest or most idiotic would dare to try and approach the Queen of Hell at the moment. Perhaps passing the news onto Luci would save face? At the very least, it would save anyone from having their heads bashed open repeatedly.

[Lonewolf685]

Luci

Hell was in something of a state of turmoil, more so then usual that is to say. Oh not from the defeat, that was more of a bloodied nose then a crippling defeat and in a war as old as what her momma told her, that was just bound to happen. Like when Momma and Poppa fought. Momma was going to crush Poppa's head like a melon a few times over, but that didn't mean Poppa wasn't going to turn things around and show the Queen of Hell who wore the trousers in the bed room.

"Oh that sounded expensive!" The Slime squeaked with a glance behind her towards the throne room door as her parent went on a veritable rampage in her own seat of authority. One could imagine the frightful headway they'd have made today if Lucille put that energy to use on the battlefield, but the slime girl wasn't going to begrudge her Momma a moment's anger. A hard edge came over the child's gaze and her transperant mass boiled in a flare of anger over the loss of their Puppy lady.

She didn't even remember having a pet, let alone a lady that was a puppy! But when her Momma leaped off that throne screaming to the bowels of Hell over the loss of a demon even Lucille could give a damn about, the loli slime knew that a grave injustice had been committed to them. Oh if she got her hands on a Machina there would be a reckoning, even if it was Eos herself!

"That big meanie erased our Puppy! We were going to feed her, and cuddle her, and let her sleep at the foot of my bed, and now I can't remember her. Hmph!" With a wet kick against the door she started stomping around, mirroring the rampage inside with noticeably less collateral damage and more arm flailing with the destructive capacity of Tina outside Unit-T.

---

???

The Throne Room doors unlocked with far less theatrics then when it sealed and parted wide to admit the entrance of a largely unknown garbed in black and white.

"Please forgive my tardiness, your majesty. Converting my body to Machina standards took longer then estimated. Fufu, those darling nanites certainly take their time in being...thorough." There was an instant that the smile stretched across her features was decidedly inappropriate for the present company, though she was quick to school herself and stroll down the expanse of the throne room. She passed Karizawa and his team without a second glance, though perhaps she simply missed them with the superfluous eye patch blocking her peripheral vision, though her revealed oculus gave the other summed Machina a look of approval as they passed one another. Coming to a halt beside Hohenheim of all people, she produced an archaic communication device from within her garments and flipped it open for her thumb to blur across a series of keys. Satisfied with her text, she sent the information directly to Eos before folding her arms behind her back and turning to the assembled Machina.

"Anywho, as we had no interaction back in Arcadia I doubt you'd remember me. Was rather pre-occupied with dealing with family matters and deposing a sovereign down in Hell, but that is irrelevant at the moment. Congratulations are in order order for Units Endian, Hibiki, and Shizuka, as you've all been selected to receive specialized equipment for exemplary service. Feel free to offer your thanks to Queen Eos, Hohenheim, and myself for our joint contributions to the project."

"Though please hold your applause," The bizarre woman said with hands raised as though to placate the roaring applause that wasn't ever going to occur. "as what we are offering is highly experimental, but rest assured if you all prove capable for what we are providing,

You may just survive what's to come.

@TheWindel@KoL@Ryonara@Lucius Cypher@Lmpkio

[Lmpkio]

Mephilus Baal Asmodeus

@Banana@TheWindel

Mephlius wanted to stop by Lucille to report on the battlefield, but after hearing angry noises and things shattering on the other side of the shut door to the throne, he quickly reconsidered without hesitation. Looks like someone beat him to the punch, or she simply sensed it on her own and pretty much went berserk in there. Either way, now is certainly not the time to go in there. He simply walks away in a brisk manner, forgetting what was in their entirely.

As he continues walking down a hallway, he encounters Kermette, now back into his original form as Kermit. He asks him if he felt like something is missing. Missing? Mephilius had to think a bit as he looks up at the ceiling and sighing. He shakes his head.

"I don't know to be honest," he replies with his hands out, "Maybe there is something we're missing. But you know, I can't put my finger on it."

With that, Mephilius simply continues walking down the hall, leaving the conversation entirely.

Once he entered the main living space, he finds the ice demon Ghelgath sitting on a coach looking all bored as he bounces a ball to and from a wall. As soon as the Hell Knight entered, Ghelgath simply turned around to him and raises his eyebrows.

"Ah, you guys are finally back." he says boringly as he continues throwing the ball again at the wall, "How was the battle?"

Mephilius simply rolls his eyes as he places his shield and lance on a table.

"What do you think?" he asks as he crosses his arms.

Ghelgath simply tsked at that notion.

"You lost didn't you?"

The Hell Knight simply nods.

"Yeah we did." he blurts out without a single thought.

He then decides to take a seat in another chair as he crosses his hands together and slumps.

"Say... I thought you were 'going to do work' during that battle." he then says to the ice lich curiously, "Why didn't you come?"

Ghelgath stopped to look at the Knight.

"It was tempting... but I figured I should take one battle day off. I'll participate in the next one."

Mephilius simply nods as he looks down at the floor for a few seconds. He then looks back at the lich.

"Say... do you feel like something's missing?" he simply asks, much like how Kermit previously asked him.

Ghelgath turns his head back slightly.

"Waddya mean?"

"Uhhhh, I don't know. Like, I think there was supposably one character missing here? Who was it again?"

Ghelgath simply shrugs.

"Who knows? I don't remember anything."

The Knight nods silently, as an awkward silence fills the room before Mephilius says his "laters", and heads back to his castle.

---

Karizawa

Karizawa and the rest of the scientists leave the meeting room as they take the elevator down to the first floor. As they decended, Tobayashi was the first to break the silence.

"You should thank me for saving your butt this time." she barks out at him.

"Yes, I do thank you full heartedly." Karizawa replies as he waves his hand, "Thanks to you, we're able to still keep the secrecy of our project in tact."

There was a slight pause in between it as the Director takes a breather.

"Still, you and the other scientists were right about one thing."

Tobayashi looks at her superior curiously.

"What might that be?"

"You know what it is."

It took the female scientist a moment to realize what it was.

"Ah, right." she replies while nodding, "But it was simply a theory really. We really didn't know if it was possible I-I mean, we didn't test it out prior."

"Regardless, it was a risk we took and the theory was correct. It's time that we bring an upgrade to Unit-T's arsenal and armor. If Titanica was to encounter it, there is no doubt that she'll go berserk on it."

Tina simply holds Tobayashi's hand as she simply listens to their conversation.

"Agreed. She's already on her feet, several months yearly as a matter of fact. We need to stop her before it happens again."

Karizawa simply nods as they make it to the ground floor. As they approach their shuttle, Tina spots a cart selling ice cream by a corner. The pilot recalls the Director's promise and begins tugging at his sleeve.

"Karizawa-sama?" she asks innocently as she points to the car, "Can I get some ice cream?"

Karizawa looks to see the ice cream stand and pauses. He remembers his promise and nods.

"Yes you can, Tina."

Tina's face lights up with a smile as she drags the Director to get a nice scoop of strawberry-rosewater ice cream on a cone before finally departing to the shuttle.

[KoL]

Somewhere in hell, a certain vampire rested in her dark palace circled by nothing but the deadly roses she cherished so much. "I can't believe it," Victoire said to herself, sinking her claws at her throne's arm, "even when I guarantee their victory, I still come out at a loss." The smallish vampire gazed bitterly at her hand, missing the ring which was so important to her and remembering that, even when she won she still lost.

"Will this ever end?" Victoire asked herself. However, her monologue was interrupted by an untimely intrusion of an individual whose appearance looked quite similar to Victoire's own kind. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?" the Blood Countess asked, angry at the interruption.

"Oh please, do not mind me. If you want to continue the self-loathing monologue feel free to do so," the girl said as she walked into Victoire's throne room nonchalantly, stopping to pick one of the Blood Countess' roses and admire its fragrance. "However, if you want to make a more useful contribution as one of our kind, I have a suggestion that might interest you."

"I don't have time to waste on intruders like you. If you like my Demon Roses so much, I'll let you have an intimate feel of their embrace," Victoire said as her patience ran thin before commanding her roses to tear apart the intruder.

"Oh my, where's my education?" the other vampire said. "I'm Helena. But I guess that you can call me queen. After all, I'm the most powerful of our kind," Helena said, finally identifying herself while stopping Victoire's attack with a single hand.

Victoire's eyes almost fell off her face as she saw the girl stop her attack with the same easy as one swats of a fly. "Lies!" she yelled. "I have never heard anything about a Queen, much less about you," Victoire said, with irritation noticeable in her voice. "Explain what you want here—"

"Shh, shh, my child. Did your mother never teach you to not speak out of your turn?" Helena said in a patronizing voice, pretty much mocking Victoire's outburst. "If you really want to know, all I want of you is that you raise a special kind of rose to me. After all, my own castle is so devoid of life. It could very well use some new decorations..." Helena opened her hand, showing that the rose she picked a while earleier had changed from its usual crimson, to an alluring blue hue.

One could only imagine what Helena had in mind.

At the Elysian Paradise of Celestia, many events seemed to be taking place. A general unrest could be felt permeating the many halls and aisles of the heavenly palace. One of the reasons for such was the news of the sound defeat they suffered at KC-00032, especially when it looked like most of those who left for that battle never returned. Not only that, but most of the Heavens' best combatants just disappeared out of the blue, retired to whatever corner of the Nexus they originally came from. The future didn't bode well for the holy hosts of the Divine Imperator, not at all.

"Sincerely, it's almost like everything is conspiring to leave those harpies be the only ones doing the fight around here," Diana said to herself as she walked around the corridors while drying of her hair, after getting off of a public bathing pool. "I think it's not just this place. The Nexus as a whole have seen better days. I wonder if this mean that something big is about to happen?"

A sigh escaped Diana's lips as she stopped by a nearby balcony and gazed at the sky aimlessly. "If only I could see Bastion once more," Diana said to no one in particular.

All the while, the clouds danced in the skies above.

While Iona was being her ever dutiful self, searching the Nexus and beyond for clues on what the recent events meant, Juno was ordered to stay behind band make sure that no more disturbances could either enter or leave the world of endless warfare. This naturally meant that she was the one to reply to Deva's summons.

"Did you call us?" Juno said as she walked into the Divine Imperator's audience chamber. Her eyes were downcast as if the Snake of the World had a great burden resting on her shoulders. Even her voice was more composed than Juno's usual self, as was evident when she said "Iona is searching out the truth. Meanwhile, I have to keep anyone from trespassing the boundary."

"I feel something bad, something that makes me want to protect Celly and the others more than ever," Juno said solemnly before making a pause and turning her head to the side as if she were trying to see the very horizon beyond the walls of Deva's palace. "Do you know what it is?" she asked, after turning her face back to Deva.

Back at the seat of Mankind's power, Eos observed stoically as those she called for arrived in her audience chamber. Not long after Hibiki, Shizuka and Krieg, a collaborator that Eos wasn't counting on at first came in to deliver some very special equipment to those before her.

"Before anything else, I would like to thank you for your role in KC-00032's defense. It was only thanks to the efforts of troops like you that we could preserve that which belongs to us," Eos said as soon as everyone was in their rightful place. "As proof of my appreciation for your efforts, I shall grant you a few rewards, so that you can keep on serving our purpose for the troubled times that are about to come."

"First, Krieg will have his Eyes unsealed. While it's too early to trust your capacity as a commander, this power shall help you fight on par with the Nexus' best." Just as Eos spoke, Krieg —and thus Endian— would be able to feel the power of his former Golden Eyes being unsealed, the surge of powerful energy coursing through its circuitry. "The Meido Sisters shall be granted a special gift, shared by their very soul. Each of you will have one Silver Eye. Alone your powers shall be weak. However, when together, they'll rival even those that I posses. There's no doubt that you'll use this power well. Additionally, I have placed Dr. Karizawa's TEP project under your jurisdiction. He shall report to you, and you shall make sure that his objectives match those of the Machina."

"While this is the end of the gifts I have offered out of my own power, our newest collaborator shall explain the detail of a very unique project. With this you'll have the edge you'll need in future battles," Eos said, gesturing for their newest ally yo step forward and explain what she had in mind.

"Is there anything you would like to say?" The High Queen asked.

[Gardevoiran]

---

The Frog

~ Intermission ~
@Lonewolf685

Kermit was a bit unsettled by Mephilus' reaction. Him being unsure didn't provide any real answers to if Kermit was going insane or not. That being said, maybe Lucille would know something about it. The Frog ran towards the throne room of Hell, but saw that it was blocked by Luci and it could clearly be heard that Lucille... well... it'd be best to leave her alone for the time being. Not that the Frog would, anyway, rather he was interested in what Luci mentioned. A puppy, to be precise. It sounded familiar, but it couldn't be thought of by Kermit at all. What was it?

"Miss Luci, if you don't mind me asking, what is this about a puppy? I think we're missing something, but I can't figure out what it is."