"The Grand Finals will commence in an hour. In the meantime please enjoy the stores, food court, and other arcade games in The Omega Arcade Station. I repeat, The Grand Finals will commence in an hour. In the meantime please enjoy the stores, food court, and other arcade games in The Omega Arcade Station." The M.C. Said with a smile.
"Man, nothing more than a few slices of pizza after watching an awesome match," Richard said taking a bite of his Pepperoni pizza.
"Who would've thought that we will make it this far, right?" Alice said and everyone nodded in agreement. If it was another time this will be most likely impossible. But here they are; childhood friends vs childhood friend in the Grand Finals.
"Yeah."
"Let's give it our all and give them a Grand Finals they will never forget okay?" Alice told her childhood friend with a smile.
"Hm," Aeris responded with a smile.
"I will like to thank all the participants that give it their all in this tournament but most importantly everyone that has supported Omega since the Beginning." The crowd shows their appreciation by cheering on the president. "16 of our best team from France gave us hard-fought and memorable matches. I'm proud to say that anyone could've represented France and they would've given us more memories. However, there can only be one team that can represent France in the annual Omega Team World Tournament. There is an opportunity for those who couldn't win this tournament tho as there is still the participant that will represent us in the Singles side. But that is for another day, this is it...Who is ready for the Grand Finals!!!?" Leos hyped the crowd. "Good! Oh, I almost forgot. After this match, there is a special announcement I will like to speak regarding the future of this game." Leos told the crowd. The crowd wonders: what this important announcement might be? Lahaska Knows...And she cannot wait for this "Announcement" to be broadcast worldwide to expose this man for the liar that he is.
"Go! Richard Dear!" Heidi screamed. Lahaska left to go outside. She must get ready for her plan to come into motion.
()
Outside, Darcell Lahaska's ornament glowed indicating that it was almost time.
"Be patient Pentagon Of Manipulation the game is about to begin shortly."
"I am curious about what is this plan of yours?" Lahaska rapidly looks behind her to see none other than Emuna. "We finally meet each other...Owner of The Pentagon Of Manipulation."
"You're...Emuna Chariot." The black-haired girl knows well who this girl is...She also knows about her butler too. Emuna was no dummy either it that's why she and her butler were keeping a distance between each other. The Pentagon Of Manipulation glowed and in response The Coffin of The Soulless glowed and opened up to release the puppet sealed inside.
"It seems our legendary pieces can't help but show each other off." The white-haired girl look at her legendary piece.
"So, what are you doing here?" Lahaska was now being careful. They might be outside of Omega which gives her a huge advantage over the white-haired girl. However, the same cannot go for Chariot's butler. That man was no ordinary butler but...
"Hmm, I just here to tell you this. Do you think you can get away with what you're doing? Just because your sister is..." That got Lahaska angry and with it, the Pentagon intensified.
"Shut up! He deserves to be brought to justice! Because of Him, my Sister is dead!! What do you know about being looked down upon because you're not good enough to be like your sister! My sister always was there for me when I needed her the most and HE TOOK HER AWAY FROM ME!!!"
"Milady."
"Hm." Emuna felt sorry for her. The Pentagon...It has taken over her anger, she no longer can be reasoned nor convince to stop this. The only way to stop this black hat hacker is to defeat her and the Pentagon Of Manipulation on their own game.
"I do not care if you're the owner of The Coffin Of The Soulless or that your butler is the Sage Du Temps I will destroy anyone who stands in my way of sending that Man straight to Hell!" One of the edges of the Pentagon Of Manipulation breaks before taking over a random bystander. "This is my power, And with it, I will take over anything and everything until Leos Kishima admits that he is a murder and that he will spend the rest of his life rotting in Jail!" Lahaska laughed hysterically. She has lost it. All those years of being looked down upon by her family, her sister's death. But thanks to the Pentagon Of Manipulation that was hidden away inside a room that was forbidden to enter inside her families' main house she was able to take control of her life. She took over her parents and use them as puppets to get everything that she wanted. Her branch would do anything out of fear of being brainwashed like her parents were. She always played with them...like puppets. But she was not satisfied no...There was something missing. As long as Leos Kishima was running around freely in this world, she will never be satisfied!
()
"We will commence the Grand Finals, please everyone enter one of the teleporters." Team Alpha and Omega entered each of them into a teleporter. Team Omega's teleporters turned blue while Team Alpha's became red. "Are you all ready?" They all nodded. "The stage for this final battle will be...S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City!" S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City, huh? That was where they first fought Emuna and where their first encounter with the black hat hacker happened.
"Good Luck!" Richard heard Aeris say.
"Entering Omega...Now!"
()
Landing in S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City Richard, Frederick, and Alice all got together to think about how are they going to approach this.
"Okay, so what do we do?" Richard asked his friends.
"Hmm. Well, If we can go in order, I say that we need to have a good match-up first. Core vs Core, Powerhouse vs. Powerhouse and Sniper vs Scouter." Frederick stated. Richard facing Aeris was an easy one as the pink-haired girl will be a very troublesome opponent for both Alice and himself. The brown-haired boy also had his White Dragon Strike Fang to counter the pink-haired girl's Purification Orb. Alice matches up with Adel is perfect as they are like the reason with Aeris against Richard the same class. Not to mention it will not be a good match-up for Alice if she is pitted against a scouter as fast as Yuma. Lastly, his match-up with Yuma is a very decent one that can go either way as the kunoichi has to get close to him and him being a sniper long-distance battles are his friend. They're aware that they could get buffed by Aeris since she is a supporter as default but as long as they kept their distance and stall for time they could get the match even again.
"So, you're saying we should split them up as soon as we find them?"
"Pretty much Alice. We're in the Grand Finals after all. Neither of us can split ourselves up early. If we do it will give the other team the advantage." Frederick stated.
"Well, I guess we will have to stick together until then." Stated the brown-haired boy. As much as he wants to go and scout to find Aeris and fight her his friend was right, Fighting the pink-haired girl 1 on 1 is better than fighting her 3 vs 1. Especially, since she is a supporter.
()
Their journey of finding them without splitting up was not only planned by them but Team Alpha also thought of it too. Adel was the one who suggested that they stuck together as they would be at a disadvantage if Yuma goes to scout and ends up getting ambushed by the three teens. Aeris being the leader accepted this fact and decided to keep themselves together. She also thought that it will be wise to preserve the buffs from now until they meet or are close to meeting Team Omega.
()
The match using this method was a bit slow since by now there would be at least a clash between scouters. It's understandable why the teams are being careful this time. This is one of the most important matches in their Omega career. However, it didn't mean that some were displeased by this and they let the M.C. and the President know it.
"Seems that they're letting everyone knows," Leos told his secretary.
"Sir..."
"Hmm?" Leos then realize Inès's concerns. "You do not have to worry about it. Is my decision to do this."
"But...We have established that the incident wasn't your fault! Why must you obey the demands of the black hat hacker?!" His blond secretary asked. It was outrageous how someone will threaten the president of Omega Corp just because that hacker thought that it will bring justice to a person that wanted to protect everyone from a chaotic disaster that could've resulted in thousands of deaths. Even more this black hat hacker was none other than...
"And we have established that if she would believe it? That answer came very clear. In any case, we must get ready for any attacks from her. Tell our team to get ready."
"...Yes Sir."
"Oh looks like you're in a big pickle, my friend." That voice...Both adults turned around to see a group of three people.
"Oh if it isn't my good old friends. How you been doing...Xino Kurosagi, Gina Chedid, Mario Santos or should I call you General now?" He said to each individual.
"I have been fine, thanks for giving me a chance to come back home thou." Said the brown-haired adult to his friend.
"Hey, I'm a very generous man."
"So you are still finding ways to recruit and create groups of anti-virus through these tournaments, huh? I will not lie I am a bit angry, to say the least, that you're putting our kids in danger by doing so." The buffed buzz-cut black-haired general told Leos with a stern look that will make any other soldier cower in fear.
"Well, It was about to happen eventually. Your son is with two owners of the legendary pieces so, even if I didn't do this tournament they would've been involved anyway. We are always trying to stop gray and black hat hackers, after all, It just the process was sped thanks to our little black hat hacker friend." The president of Omega explained to the buffed general.
"You do have a point," Xino told his friend.
"Xino."
"Hmm, Oh yes. I guess they will find out that we're security programs now, won't they?" The brown eyes man told his wife.
"No, not that! I was wondering...Where is Ayame?" There was an awkward pause between the adults.
"Eh?" Was the only response that Xino could give to Gina.
"Um, Gina. Ayame said she can't visit here until winter break." Santos told Gina.
"Eh?!" She was disappointed. It was always fun to hear from her. Even more, her granddaughter was in the Grand Finals right now.
"Ahem, in any case. Sir, we have prepared the white hat hackers to defend Omega." Inès informed the black-haired president.
"Alright. You guys know what to do, right?"
"Who do you think you're talking too?" Xino responded with a big grin.
()
Meanwhile, In Omega, The long-awaited Grand Finals was just about to get started.
"Guys, I sense something." The brown-haired boy told his friends.
"Do you think it's them?" Frederick said. He knows that it has to be Team Alpha but, you can never be sure after they were involved in two incidents involving a black hat hacker, which maybe is the same one that attacks them the first time.
"We're the only one here so of course, it has to be them, Frederick," Alice stated.
"I know that! I just wanted to make sure since you know..."
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"Oh, yeah...right the black hat hacker." Alice understood the concern of the black-haired elf archer but she trusts in the president that everything will go smoothly and the match will not have a similar or even worse virus.
"We need to get ready, Man I'm getting excited!"
"Of course you are." Alice deadpanned. Her childhood friend can only think of battles at this time. Hmm...maybe... "Ah, Richard."
"Hmm, what is it?" Asked the core of Team Omega.
"After all of this is over...Um, How about...Er...we go...watch a movie?" A tint of red plastered on the face of the dark-skinned red-haired teen. She knows that this is not really the right time to ask this but, She musters the courage to ask the boy out something that she has been unable to do for years!
"Er, sure. We can go together! We can also invite Aeris and the others!" Said the clueless boy not taking the hint that his childhood friend wanted to be only her and himself.
"Er, right! Aeris and everyone else! How silly of me to forget about them. I'm sorry for not including you too, Frederick." The elf archer was no idiot. He knew that Alice was asking his friend out. However, The brown-haired boy is way too clueless in these situations to even take the hint. You have to blatantly confess to his face in order for him to take the hint!
"Oh, don't worry about it, Alice," Frederick responded. The awkward conversation didn't last for long as Richard had to block someone. The person who turned out to be Aeris in her scouter class pushes Richard and separates him very far away from his friend.
"Richard!" The others had to block attacks that were coming their way from shurikens to katana.
()
Team Alpha has taken the upper hand as they decided that Aeris should use her Core Shift early in order to take Team Omega off guard. This was out of their elements as they plan things differently by analyzing their opponents during the battle. However, It does not hurt being aggressive once in a while it has caught their opponent's off guard so...
"Now let's get this actual Grand Finals fight started, shall we?" The brown-haired German girl said before pushing Alice away from Frederick. Frederick was going to aim at Adel but had to dodge Yuma's projectiles.
"You haven't forgotten about me, did you?" The kunoichi asked the elf archer.
"Oh don't worry I didn't," Frederick said as she shoots one of his arrows toward the fast ninja.
Richard now being able to adjust himself now was on the defense and counter-attacking. Aeris using her staff was maneuvering so good that if Son Goku the legendary Monkey King was here, he will be very proud of the pink-haired girl.
"This is awesome! I really wasn't expecting you to use your Core Shift this early." The boy cannot contain his excitement. Even if this means he will have the core shift advantage he cannot count the now "Angel Of Omega" out. Richard tries to sneak in a stab or two in his attack but Aeris anticipated all of them and parry them accordingly before she kicks the boy in the gut staggering him.
"It is out of our element but this is the Grand Finals, correct? We have to do unexpected things in order to win."
"Can't argue with that." Responded the brown-haired boy. Vanishing using his speed the brown-haired boy returned the kick to Aeris who ended up breaking a window of a building. Richard proceeds to enter the said building.
As the pink-haired girl recovers she has to quickly raise her staff to block the boy's attacks. She struggles a bit before she can back him off and get up quickly only to defend herself as the boy uses his speed to keep the pressure on. Using the little strength that she had she pushes the boy off her before using her speed. Richard follows suit The two teens clashed with the only visibility being the sounds of their weapons and the sparks that they were creating. The M.C. outside was stating how unbelievable the two teens' speed was. Even Team Omega's parents with the exception of Alice's, of courses were quite impressed by them.
The two got outside from another exit and into an alley where they use their speed to parkour their way to two buildings while clashing with each other in perfect symmetry before appearing.
"Man, This is really fun!" The brown-haired boy was excited. This is what he expected from the Grand Finals regardless of whether it was his rival Harry of his current opponent Aeris.
"Yeah." This feeling inside her. It was...very strange. This must be the thrill of finding a strong rival that can match her on every blow despite her buffs. He really truly someone she...
"Ah, before we continue. I wanted to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"Well, I was thinking of going to a movie so I was wondering if you will like to go?"
"Eh?" Aeris responded.
"Eh?" M.C. responded.
"Eh?" Team Omega's Parent's and Leos responded.
"EEHHHHHHH?!" The crowd responded.
"Oh, my! What is this? Did we hear Richard Kurosagi ask Aeris Russo on a date right now? What a turn of events!"
"W-Why, Richard Dear? Is a joke right? Tell me It's a joke, JACK!" Heidi shakes Jack violently.
"Why...am...I...getting...shaken...?!!" Craig felt sorry for his partner.
"You know if Ayane was here she will be jumping for joy," Leos said referring to Alice's mother.
"I...Won't be sure." Xino responded.
()
"Eh...w-w-wait R-Richard, I am not properly...This is too sudden...Um, W-we're childhood friends and I mean..."
"Well, Alice was okay with this..."
"Eh?" Alice was okay with it? But...
"If...If...that's the case?" Aeris was extremely nervous she really wasn't expecting her childhood friend to go on a d...d...d....d...She wildly blushes. "Ah, get it together!"
"Er...so you don't want to go?" Richard said tilting his head.
"Y-Yes! I will like too."
"Great, now that is clear all I have to do is invite Heidi and Emuna along with Craig, Jack, and Even Emuna's butler Irogan and we'll have a really cool aftermath party for the winner," Richard stated.
"Eh?" Aeris said quizzically.
"Eh?"
"HUH?!"
"Aw, and here I thought that this was like one of those scenes in a romance/adventure manga!" A teenage girl said disappointed while other high school girls agreed. What a letdown.
"See, told you there had to be a reason," Xino said and Gina sighed.
"My, boys are always clueless."
"Did you say something honey?"
"Oh, nothing dear," Gina told her husband before turning with a face of disappointment
('Yes, they never change.')
()
Alice has heard what the M.C. Said until the explanation of only being a celebration for the winner must to the M.C. and Romance Fangirls disappointment. Alice went from having a red aura to sighing in relief after hearing the whole story as to why her childhood friend was "asking" Aeris out.
"Are you okay?" That snapped the red-haired girl back to reality.
"Eh? Yes, I am fine. Nothing to worry about." Alice chuckled nervously making Adel sweatdrop.
"If that is the case," Alice blocks Adel's attack. "Shall we continue our battle, then?" Alice backs the samurai woman off with her strength. For being in such heavy armor she can move pretty fast, it must be because of Aeris supporting abilities. However, if they stick to the plan of stalling for time and fight them head-on once their buffs expire their chances to win will increase to a 50-50 instead of a now 35-50. The two powerhouse blows were strong enough to create small seismic around their area. Alice swings her pole to the left but Adel jumps out of the way and landed on a car. Her position had to change quickly as The red-haired girl leaped in the air and slam her pole resulting in bending the roof of the car.
"Extend!" Without wasting time Alice split her pole and tries to snare the brown-haired samurai who had to dodge quickly. It almost caught her off guard as she forgot this little detail for a brief moment but nevertheless she positioned herself in a neutral position. Adel let out a rare smile escape her lips. This battle is indeed worthy of a Grand Finals and she is thankful to Aeris for persistently reaching for her and the others.
()
Back to Aeris and Richard's battle, the pink-haired girl was quite disappointed but then realize one thing. She should have seen this coming a mile away after all he is her childhood friend.
('He hasn't changed.') She thought with a very gloomy face.
"Is something wrong, Aeris?"
"Eh?! Ah, no everything is fine! I am looking forward to the celebration party!" Aeris quickly answered thou deep inside she still had a gloomy atmosphere. "Anyway, let's continue." Using her staff she leaps in the air.
"Whoa, awesome!" The brown-haired boy said excitedly before getting ready to block her attack.
"Extend!"
"Huh?!" Richard said before he quickly dodges the larger pole that could have sent him 12 floors to the ground. "Okay, I didn't expect that." He then ducks the longer staff before going at an alarming speed because of Aeris' quick stabbings.
"Hya!!" The pink-haired girl slammed her pole to the roof before it starts cracking.
"That's not goooodaaaaaahhhhhh!" The boy screamed as the rooftop broke before adjusting in the air and jumping from pebble to pebble and landing on the previous floor. He looks around and sees Aeris awaiting him with her pole on her side. The more this fight extends itself the more excited the brown-haired boy becomes. "This...Is Awesome!!!!!!"
()
Meanwhile, A battle of Shurikens and Arrows invaded the streets of S.K.Y..H.I.G.H. City. The elf archer has kept this game on his terms but he knows that the ninja will eventually use one of her ninjutsu techniques to get close to him. He imagines that the one that she uses on Harry's unit was on the mind of the black-haired girl. If that was the case, then he was ready to use one of his special arrows. Hmm, if she did get close then he will have to use that arrow. When was the last time he uses that one? A year ago? It could be even further than that. Oh well, he rolls into a car as three shurikens get stuck there.
"You must have thought this through," Yuma said figuring out what the elf archer has been doing for the past 2 minutes.
"Oh, whatever do you mean?" Yuma chuckled.
"Don't pretend you guys already know about Aeris default class. However, do you think by stalling for time would change the result of this battle?"
"Oh, that! Well, I wouldn't say it will, but if we can manage to put it at an even level, then it will be up to our skills and not up to our cores." Frederick mentioned. It was true with the buff of speed as he presumes his opponent had, the elf archer will have less chance than if the buff wasn't there. Plus, knowing Richard buffs or no buffs he will find a way to defeat them but that will also let him be opened to an attack from their core thus ending this battle and their opportunity to go to the Omega World Tournament.
"I see," Frederick reacted quickly and blocked both kunais with his bow. "In that case, We'll just have to use our abilities at full then," Yuma told Frederick. The elf archer backs her off before shooting a gray arrow. The arrows stick to the ground before a cloud of smoke surrounds the area. Yuma shielded herself and ups her guard before the smoke-screen clears and the boy was gone. "Clever," Yuma said as she goes to find the black-haired elf.
()
Outside of Omega, Irogan was protecting Emuna from the now innocent bystanders that were possessed by the Pentagon Of Manipulation. The tall butler sidesteps to easily avoid a punch from a tall muscular male before chopping the back of their neck knocking him out cold. He then took down a skinny one by blocking his hand and flipping him with a judo flip.
"There is no end to them," Emuna said clicking her tongue. That girl is still with that deranged smile on her face and the Pentagon was glowing crazily. Her legendary piece wasn't specialized to fight outside of Omega. However, if they manage to keep her away from any computer device then she won't be able to hack through Omega.
"Hmm? Do you actually think that I'm just like any other black hat hacker?" Lahaska stated before taking a purple C.C. out. "Just because I am not near a computer doesn't mean that I can't hack through the system." With just the click of a button, Lahaska's next phase was about to begin...
As the virus activates so was Emuna's legendary piece and so was the voices of many things.
('Left behind.')
('Unfair.')
('I hate everything.')
('Abandon') The voices were too much for the small girl that she tries to try and shut them up but to no avail.
"Milady!" Irogan decided to retreat and carry Emuna inside the OAS as he knew right now that they were fighting a losing battle.
"It hurts." He has never seen the white-haired girl look so vulnerable. However, being her butler he must take priority in making sure that she is safe. After all, that is what he promised her parents before their unfortunate fate.
()
The battles in Omega were getting more excited as the crowd was on the edge of their seats as any attack could spell doom to any of the two teams. The M.C. was even getting more excited by the minute stating that this must be the "Greatest Grand Finals Ever" also that she wasn't surprised that it involved last year's Omega Singles World Champion. This, however, will be short-lived in a couple of seconds.
()
Building to Building the two cores fought off as they try to break the guard of the other. Richard as excited as he was, was thinking of a way to defeat the pink-haired girl. When was the right time to use the White Dragon Strike Fang? How will he execute it? What is the limit if he misses or doesn't get the job done? These questions were circling around the brown-haired boy. Aeris, on the other hand, was deciding when will be the right time to use her Magical Class and her Heaven's Gift? How much Capacité D'Alimentation Would be left? And How will it happen if she doesn't defeat Richard if her friends/teammates are defeated? Their trail of thoughts would've continued but something happened outside.
"Hehe, Let the games begin." Lahaska's legendary piece started to glow which consequently made all the legendary pieces glow intensively.
"Huh?" Richard said as his Diamond Dragonite glowed.
"This is..." Aeris Rubix Of Knowledge starts moving on its own and trying to complete itself like all previous time.
"Eh?!" Alice Ragging Sphere glowed brightly before it made a shrill sound.
"The Hexagon Of Fate." Xino looks at it.
"Sir..."
"It seems that our final encounter with our Black Hat Hacker friend is about to begin."
"Craig...What is..." Heidi notices that the people weren't cheering anymore, in fact, they seem to be in a trance. Even her friends were. The purple-haired girl was scared. A person pointed up to where Leos was.
"Murderer..." He utters.
"Murderer..." A female said louder.
"MURDERER!" Yelled some people. As they repeat these words They knew that only one person was capable of this.
"Leos..." The president sighed.
"It seems that...Lahaska, no the Pentagon Of Manipulation is through playing games."
()
Images of the people appeared in big monitors that could be seen on the streets of S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City.
"What is going on?" Richard asked himself as there were people pointing at the president calling him a murderer. Why did the people saying that? Did the president do something unforgivable in the past!?
"Hyaa!"
"Aeris!" Richard yelled.
'Warning! Warning! Level S Virus Detected, Please Call all personnel and Anti-virus Groups. I repeat, Level S Virus Detected, Please Call all personnel and Anti-virus Groups.' Level S? He has heard of this level of Virus it is the highest recorded level that a virus can reach. This level is so dangerous that it is recommended that the game will be in a complete lockdown. If players are inside then they will get an anti-virus group to get them out.
"Richard..." Just then a dark aura surrounded the pink-haired girl, not only her but Adel and Yuma were in the same aura and in pain.
"What's going on?" Frederick asked himself as Alice was getting scared by the minute. After a while, the big aura exploded in a flood that went to the skies and darkened. Richard and the others shielded their eyes. After it cleared Team Alpha looked different, their eyes were glowing red while the aura surrounding them was pitch black. Their eyes were lifeless as a doll.
"Aeris?"
"Core Shift: Magical, Heaven's Gift." Aeris monotone before her wings appeared. Instead of the beautiful white angel wings, they were black. Aeris summons her Light Sword and quickly goes after the boy who was sent flying into a building. Usually, this will not happen but whatever was taking over Aeris it was hacking her attributes as her strength was in a status that can only be reached if you're a powerhouse class. The brown-haired boy cough before blocking The pink-haired attack quickly. The stoic now Angel didn't hesitate before her hand glowed a sinister black color. With no way out Richard can only watch as his friend could be minutes away from blasting him out of Omega. No, If this was because of the virus...then this could mean that he will...Just before anything else could happen someone held the hand of the pink-haired girl and redirected the blast outside where it went to another building and destroy it effortlessly. The boy could only gasp as the person that stops the blast was none other than...
"You...DAD?!" Here he was with Masamune in hand clad in black opened up shirt and white pants, and black boots holding a yin-yang necklace on his neck. The brown-haired adult turns and smiles at his son.
"Is been a while, hasn't it? My son."