Running toward the next room the now group of 5 were closer to their destination.
“Next room...one calm Rhythm.” So the next room is her...that means if they pass this room the next one...they are close!
“So all we have to do is pass this next enemy and we can get where Alice is?”
“...Yes...There are...two Rhythms farther than the one close to us.” Confirmed the blonde-haired teen. There is one person they haven't faced.
“So she is next...Kula Rowan.” The first and only time he met Rusher and Kula the orange-haired small teen had needles that paralyzed her opponents. Not to mention that she is the holder of a legendary piece...
“Our pieces...” they stopped when they saw their pieces glowing intensively. There can only be one thing...a legendary piece owner is nearby. The brown-haired boy knows who it is, the others don't...so.
“Guys we have to be careful. Remember the time we were in L'Cier Arts & Jewelry?”
“How can we forget? We were inside of a maze for hours.” Frederick cannot forget them trying to answer mathematical questions just to get out of the said maze.
“Well, I met the one who created the maze. She is not someone you will expect in appearance. Anyways, she has this needles that if you get hit they have a paralysis effect.” The brown-haired boy explained. So their next opponent has that kind of weapon. That seems very dangerous because if they fight in a place where there is no cover they will have to dodge them and depending on the speed she throws those needles it could become difficult for them.
“I'll...create a cover.” The blonde-haired small teen told her leader. Yeah, with Genre they might have some sort of upper hand.
“If that is the case, all we have to do is reach her before she even tries to throw any of them. How hard can that be?” Harry was not concerned at all. His Lightning Flash form gave him enough confidence...a lot more than he carries to not be worried about that girl's needles.
“Still, we will have to be careful. Even if Genre can protect us with her walls we will not be 100% safe. Remember last time?” Aeris reminded the others of what happened a few minutes ago with Grew's weapon. If a sentient yanyuedao could go under Genre's barrier then their next opponent might think of an alternative to reach them.
“Yeah, I can see her finding a way to do so...that girl...she is very smart.” Perhaps the smartest opponent he has ever faced. Who knew that one of the most difficult opponents that the brown-haired teen would have faced was a 12-year-old girl.
“Let's keep going once we reach the room we will...” Frederick couldn't finish his sentence since something sprang from below them. Instinctively, the teens back out from the platform that sprang from below. This, however, separated them into two groups.
“Guys!!” Richard yelled as he and Aeris were on the other side...the side that had the room.
“We're fine.” Reassured the black-haired elf archer as he touches the wall.
“Do you think she knew we were coming?” The pink-haired girl said.
“Probably...She had these monitors surrounding her.” So she has...the pink-haired girl's wonders...if since the beginning they knew they were here. Those monitors might have been anywhere in those rooms or even in the hallways before said rooms. The brown-haired childhood friend of hers is correct...This is one smart opponent. By cutting their group in half and taking their wall they can't defend themselves from the needles that the brown-haired boy warned them about.
“Stand back! I am cutting this thing in half!!” Harry said. This wall in front of them will not stop them in the least! Who does she think this opponent is facing!?
“Oh, I cannot allow you to do that.” Said, someone.
“What?”
“Who is there?!” Where did that voice come from? Wondered Frederick and Harry. From their left, a monitor appeared showing the 12 years-old orange-haired small teen.
“Kula.” From the other side, Richard and Aeris were seeing a monitor above them that showed them the orange-haired girl.
“We meet again Owner of the legendary piece The Diamond Dragonite, Richard Kurosagi.”
“That is...Kula?” Aeris took a closer look she was holding something around her hair. It was a square ornament...and it was glowing. That must be her legendary piece and from the looks of hers and her childhood friend's legendary pieces glowing more instinctively, she must be correct.
“Oh! Of course, how can I forget, Introductions are in order. I am Kula Rowan the daughter of the now-deceased genius Professor Listo Rowan not to mention...the daughter of the man who created Project M.I.S.T.” She is the daughter of the one who created the M.I.S.T.?!
“I don't give a rat ass about who you are and what your background story is. We just need to pass you for us to reach our goal, right?”
“Goal? Ah, you mean your mission of saving Alice Hishikawa. Sorry to disappoint you but...that will never happen.”
“We'll see about that.”
“Yes...we shall...” Kula's legendary piece glowed even higher before it became smaller. The shape didn't change but something in the center appeared it was a small black swirl and in the middle of that swirl a small white dwarf who can also be called a degenerate dwarf a stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter.
“What the...?!” Harry had to hold back and keep himself balanced as the wall moved and twirled around.
“Guys? Guys?!”
“Is no use Richard Kurosagi, my legendary piece can create mazes, remember. These, however, are different...our last encounter my legendary piece was dormant. This time...It is at is full power.” Kula has found a way to awaken her legendary piece. It took her hours but she finally managed it to do it. With this, her legendary piece can create mazes at any part that her monitors are. Meaning this HQ...is now Kula's puzzle playground.
“If you think that my puzzles were difficult the last time we met...you have no idea what is about to happen if you get them wrong,” Kula told as these words echoed all over the hallways as many monitors appeared from left, right, above and below...they are in her world now...this will be very difficult to pass.
()
Adel had to think fast in order to get back to the shallow area of the room. Luckily, Aeris had buffed her speed before leaving to the next room so getting back before the hole she was in gets filled with water again will not be difficult. The yanyuedao went after her in a boomerang motion in which the short-haired teen sidestepped before jumping high and with her newfound speed ran. It was as if there was a platform where she was running but Adel was just running through the water. Yuma would've been proud of it since Ninja's sometimes were able to do so...somehow she feel disgusted for thinking about it. Adel was never a fan of ninjas, she thinks of them as nothing but cowardly individuals. Hiding in the shadows and striking opponents with ambushes to stealthily kill them...do they not have any honor?! Why can't they face their enemies face-to-face? Also, serving anyone so long as they pay a certain amount of money? Serving anyone? They are like hired gunmen!!
*Clang*
Blocking the yanyuedao the short brown-haired teen sank a bit. Luckily, the distance she has run was good enough to not cover her completely still fighting with half your body submerged in water will not help in this situation. Backing the yanyuedao away for a bit, Adel slowly but surely jumped out of the water distancing herself from where her current position was the sentient weapon followed her and clashed with the katana sending the brown-haired girl higher in the air.
Adel swung her sword and a line with a static effect appeared. Then something happened, when it hit the yanyuedao it stood still before it fell. That was strange...why would it stop in its tracks like that? Well, in any case, she has to return to the shallow and then help Sexan Arifer. So she turns mid-air and dived to the direction where she assumed will be shallow enough for her to not have half her body submerged.
On the shallow side of the room, the splashes of water rose said water particles before two weapons seemingly cut the droplet of water and clashed. Sexan Arifer and Grew have not touched each other since they began their fight. Sexan has to admit, his opponent was a great spears man adjusting his stance to fit his defense and offense. An opponent that in Omega the brown-haired boy will appreciate and would fight day in and night out. Unfortunately, this is not Omega but the real world so by the end of it one of them will be alive while the other will perhaps not see the daylight ever again.
“Your speed is quite...unique. So, this is what an Omega player is capable of doing in that game of yours.” Grew complimented. Perhaps he should be careful of them...they already have killed Min & Mol so he should use all of his abilities to his advantage.
“Hmm?” Ah, he sees...yes he will be careful.
“Your friend is no slouch neither. Her having an attack to paralyze my yanyuedao quite surprising indeed.” Sexan was taken back by this.
“Oh, you are wondering how I know this? Well, I could tell you but...” He positions himself into a Full Iron Gate.
“That would be stupid now, wouldn't it?” he dashed before striking with one trust with such speed that Sexan had little time to react before Grew delivered the first strike of the fight with a devastating kick to the stomach making the brown-haired boy fly and roll in the water splashing as he bounced twice on the floor. Not hesitating Grew proceed to go on the offense with rapid trust toward the direction of where Sexan landed with the brown-haired teenage boy rolling out of each, and every one of them.
Using both of his hand Sexan impulse himself to a point where he could block the incoming upward trust from his opponent before revealing his metal wings before catching Grew's spear with one of his fu tao before trying to slash Grew with the other. However, the medium spiky blonde-haired young adult went below the ground dragging Sexan and him hitting the shallow water.
“Uff!” The boy got a full chunk of water on his face before a hand took his neck. Sexan struggles to get free from Grew's grip. As his oxygen slowly was starting to be drained the boy desperately struggled, desperation and fear of drowning were downing on him. Grew knew it...this game will be over soon...or it would've been if out one last dish effort Sexan uses both fu tao and sliced the floor below before he yelled something...the floor turned mossy before something started eating on Grew's arm. After a few bites Grew had no choice but to release his grip from him. Sexan cough before taking deep breaths so all the air he lost came back to his lung.
“That...was...close.” What the brown-haired teen did was summon his moss mites, small green mites that are created by his fu tao by slicing a solid area this one usually is solid rocks or even soil. The mites will attack anything that is deemed a danger to their master and will bite said enemies. Like piranhas in a river, their teeth are as sharp as those carnivorous fishes.
Sexan didn't have time to recover as a spear ran through him from below.
“Gah!” coughing blood and then being thrown to the side, Grew re-emerged from the water, bleeding hand and spear held in said hand.
“You are one troublesome kid I will give you that.” He looks at his arm filled with bite marks from the moss-mites before flicking them away.
“Tch...” Clutching his abdomen the brown-haired boy winced at the pain. He needs to be careful...this isn't Omega where it will automatically close after a few seconds. Luckily for him, his false piece got him covered.
“Oh!” Grew is impressed. So...he can also regenerate and close wounds. It seems like he will have to kill him in one attack. He also has to be careful because...
*Splash*
That girl is also his opponent...hmm, he can still sense the yanyuedao meaning that the weapon is not dead. Hmm...seems it is still in one place meaning that the short-haired female must have a paralyzing ability. No matter if worse comes he could let it go. Like the waves...
“Are you alright, Sexan?” Asked Adel seeing the brown-haired boy clutching his abdomen.
“I'll...be fine...I just need time.” Sexan replied. His piece glowed before it slow down before the light disappears.
('Was he able to regenerate?') Adel thought. That can be useful in a long battle such as this. Thou she wonders how much Capacity Power he needs to activate this healing ability.
*Rumble*
*Rumble*
“What the?!” The floor shook before the whole room was encased into a black box. These walls were familiar to Adel!
“I figure you might need some help.” Where did that voice come from!
“Oh, thanks, Kula...Yeah, I might need one of your mazes for a bit.” Kula?! They look at the direction where the now smirking Grew was looking. There was a giant monitor projecting someone. Adel can assume the girl was around 12-13 years of age similar to Emuna in age. She had orange hair and on her ponytail was a glowing ornament. It was very small but there was a swirl around the center and in the center of the said swirl was something white. I think she heard Aeris once said that to be a white dwarf if she remembers correctly. Seems like the swirl and the white dwarf didn't affect the orange-haired girl's hair since her ponytail end strands kept going down. So she was the one responsible for the maze when they were at the jewelry/museum store. A legendary piece owner.
“Seems it will take time for...the yanyuedao to recover...I would've loved to face an opponent that has the same effect as my needles but...I think I will have two interesting people to study.” Two? But there were 5 of them that escaped toward the exit when she stayed to fight and help Sexan!!
“Humph, leave it to you to do them like that.”
“What do you do to them?!” Sexan asked.
“That's for me to know...and for you to never find out...” Her voice echoed inside the room before the monitor disappears and a maze labyrinth is created.
“Now then how about we play a game...Hide and Seek...and let me tell you...” He goes to a wall and enters it.
“I'm good at this game...” Both teens join up and back each other.
“Careful...He can pass through objects and from the looks of it he can appear from anywhere that has a solid ground.” Warned Sexan.
“Like a ghost...This is going to be troublesome.”
“Yeah...” From above them, Grew was ready to strike before they both dodged it. However, just as fast as he struck he sunk to the floor below. Again from below Adel, Grew appeared leaving little chance to react nicking her on her chest. Sexan tried to get his leg with his fu tao but Grew was faster than he previously was and sank again on the labyrinth maze's wall.
“Hmm, this will be boring if I am the only one who has fun. Oh! I see...yeah that will be a good idea. It will not be fair if I am the only one having fun.” From the walls, something sprung and impaled Adel from the back.
“Adel!”
“GAH!” Luckily for the short brown-haired German girl, it didn't hit any vital organs. Thou, unlike her partner this wound will not recover so easily. It doesn't help that the yanyuedao is wiggling before it got out of her back and back to the ground before the handle could be cut in half by one of Sexan's fu tao.
“Damn it.” She was careless, she always despite being a powerhouse been more defensive and waiting for the right time to counter-attack instead of full-on attacking with pure power.
“Shit.” Sexan had to dodge the yanyuedao and Grew's attacks before both the sentient weapon and Grew went back in.
“Are you not entertained!!?” Asked Grew from one of the walls. There has to be a way to drag him out and kill him before he goes back into the walls otherwise...
()
In a separate room Harry, Frederick, and Genre were looking at the walls.
“What are these?”
“Is a maze...This might be the same as the one we were back in Paris.”
“So you been here before?” Harry asked the elf archer who nodded in response.
“Is a lot more different than that Mr. Santos.” From a big monitor, Kula appeared in front of them.
“You...”
“Don't mind me I am just interested in how you get out of it...seems like your friends are starting to look around too. I suggest you do the same...not if you want that thing to hit 0.” Kula told before a countdown appeared where she was.
“We better hurry. I don't want to know what will happen if that countdown hit zero.” Frederick said. Knowing the orange-haired girl they could get crushed by these walls or fall into a hole. Legendary piece owners can be very unpredictable with this. Hmm, this maze looks like an ancient structure like those out of a sci-fi movie. There has to be something.
“Frederick...Harry...here.” Genre signal to a gold gear.
“A gear?”
“Why would you...?”
“Look closely...” Told the blonde-haired girl to the three-times world champion. Frederick looks closer and saw it. Harry, however, couldn't even figure what Genre noticed.
“I see...”
“Well, what the hell is it?!” Frederick sighed. He might be the strongest in this group right now but he is blind as a bat when it comes to small details.
“Genre is there anything that I need to be concern about?” asked the elf archer to the owner of the Sharp of Sinfonia.
“...No...there is no Rhythm in the gear.” Good, so there are no surprises there.
“Alright...” Frederick took one of his arrows and slowly descended it to the gear. The tip of the arrowhead like a key Frederick twisted it before a part of the gear started to move upwards.
“There!” The gear in the center had a cylinder opening like a scroll. Taking the cylinder out they saw a paper.
“You know you should look at the small details more thoroughly,” Frederick said with a grin in which Harry responded with a...
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Humph!”
“Is...a riddle.”
“A riddle...?”
“Yes...it says: “If Gauss is the prince of Mathematicians...then I am the King of them...who am I?”.” King of Mathematicians? What...
“What kind of riddle is that?!”
“A mathematician one.”
“Why?!”
“Legendary Piece...”
“So the questions haven't changed is just they are done in riddles. I don't want to know what will happen if we get them wrong.” Last time it reset the entire maze but now this one is a lot different. Getting it wrong might end them somewhere they don't want to be or worse.
“5 minutes...” they don't have enough time!
()
“During my life, I was a mathematician first, a natural philosopher second, and a metaphysician third...Who am I?” A mathematician first? That could apply to every mathematician. Hmm...if this maze is like the other they can't get this wrong or else they will be moved somewhere else. Although...why do Richard and Aeris feel like this will not be the only consequence of getting this wrong? What makes it worse is that they have a time limit unlike their previous encounter with this legendary piece that the time limit was not a factor.
“It could be anyone. Hmm...Who could it be?”
“We have to think of an answer quickly or who knows what will happen if that timer hit zero.” The pink-haired teen couldn't agree more. However, that can also be applied if they get it wrong too. Hmm...Who was it that prioritized being a mathematician before being a philosopher second, & a metaphysician third? Hmm?! Maybe...
“Maybe...I can...”
“Aeris?” She looks at her legendary piece. If there is anyone that knows the answer to it, it would be the Rubik's Cube of Knowledge, right? All she has to do is...
Her legendary piece started to move and decipher itself before it opened itself. Each of the individual smaller cubes was spinning at a fast pace and in the middle, there was a small transparent orb.
“Whoa!” Richard was dragged in with the pink-haired teen to a place different than the one they were in. This one seems to be like a huge library with books and letters flying all over the place. The books flew above the brown-haired teen and his pink-haired childhood friend toward some bookshelves.
“Huh? Aeris?” The pink-haired girl seemed to be in some sort of trance before some books took her toward a bookshelf. Roaming through the bookshelf, the pink-haired girl found the answer that they were seeking before both teens went back to the HQ.
“Whoa, that was kind of a trip.”
“Eh?!” Aeris was confused about what the brown-haired boy meant but...she somehow knew the answer to the riddle now.
“I...I think I know the answer.” The brown-haired boy wasn't going to question it since he was there when those books guided her to the bookshelf with the answer. Perhaps he will mention it after she writes the answer. The question is: Where do they write the answer?! Or do they just mention it?!
“Oh! Well, do we write it on a paper or just simply answer it?”
“Um, do I look like I know the answers?”
“...You...got a point...Huh?” The brown-haired look and find a marker with a small whiteboard.
“Maybe in here.”
“Yeah...Maybe.” Well, it is worth a shot and they only have...10 seconds!?
“Quick give me the board!!”
“AH! RIGHT!” The brown-haired boy quickly tossed the board toward Aeris.
5...
“Rene...”
4...
“D...”
3...
“Es...”
2...
“Cartes.”
1...
…
*Ding*
The place turned green indicating that the answer: Rene Descartes was correct.
“Phew...that was a close one.”
“...Y-Yeah.” Aeris was glad that they answered the question before the timer hit 0.
“Not bad...” That voice...
“Kula...”
“You two are quite the interesting bunch...Especially you, owner of the legendary piece the Rubik's Cube of Knowledge. Did you sent yourself with Richard Kurosagi to the Biblioteca?” Biblio...
“What?”
“It seems you both don't have any knowledge of it. It is a pity, it would've been much more interesting if you did. It will not be fun explaining it to you too.”
“You seem very knowledgeable about my legendary piece.” The pink-haired girl pointed out. Kula just curled her lips upwards.
“I should...as a matter of fact, I know about every legendary piece including...those.”
“Those?!” Just then a door appeared from behind and in front. The obvious choice was to move forward, correct?
“I'll be awaiting you...although, It will be a lot later...this is just the beginning.” For the orange-haired girl, they are just rat inside a maze. She will just observe them...as they struggle to come out of her Awakened Square Root of Puzzles.
()
“Humph, so much for dangerous consequences.” If that was all the time limit did if they didn't answer the questions...then bring it! He will destroy every single one of them.
“Still, where are we now?” The elf archer asked. Fighting this Mechs wasn't the consequence he was expecting...still bad but not as bad as he thought it would be. However, he feels like they moved somewhere else now.
“No Rhythm...On any choice.” Genre could sense any Rhythm beyond both doors meaning that they must be in another room secluded from other people.
“If that's the case.” Harry was stopped by the blonde-haired teen before he swung his Buster Sword.
“Don't...”
“...Tch...” For some reason he just stopped...is for the best if she can't sense anyone in any of the entrance it would be dangerous to use raw force to open this maze...it would also be a waste of Capacity Power.
“Still...is a good thing we got Genre on our side from the weapons those Mechanical robots had we might have ended with a few bullets on our body.”
“...” Genre turned the volume of her headphones up. She...is not used to being praised by other people other than Team Alpha...
“Well...what do we do then Rhythm girl...” And there goes her small embarrassment.
“...Back door...”
“Huh?”
“Let's take the back door.” She signals to the door behind them.
“Oh! You think is the right way, Genre?” The elf archer said.
“...Possibly...”
“Humph!” Harry just sheathed his huge sword before all of them proceed to the door behind them and open it. Whatever is on the other side of the door...they'll be ready for it.
()
Oh, they are making progress. These results are quite interesting. So long as Aeris Russo is with Richard Kurosagi they'll probably know all the answers thanks to the pink-haired teen's legendary piece. However, those 3 have to be careful...this was just the first mistake like in exams you can make one mistake and you will be fine in the test. However, you start making more mistakes and getting more wrong answers...and it will be very difficult for you to pass with an average grade. The more wrong answers this 3 get...the more dangerous the stakes will be. This was just a slap in the wrist compared to others who have entered this maze. From her history search the power of an awakened Square Root Of Puzzles allows the user to create any labyrinth of their choosing and put hints on the answers of the questions these are asked in riddles that you find on sheets of papers hidden in the room. The hints are also hidden, it could be in candles, a photo even carved in an area where is invisible at first glance. It is worse since now awakened there is a 10-minute time limit on each puzzle. If the people inside answers it correctly by writing it on any sheet in the room with anything they will have the choice of 2 doors: Proceed to the front or backtrack. Backtracking can get you out if you are lucky but the chances of that happening are lower than winning the Power Ball. 1 in 300,457,000 chances of actually making progress by using the backdoor. So this won't do...at least on Kurosagi and Russo's part. She will have to be ready for them since they are getting closer, her legendary piece can atone to that.
“Legendary Pieces...they are quite interesting.” Only a matter of time before...
()
Disadvantage...that's one word to describe the situation that both brown-haired teens had facing the bespectacled male and his sentient weapon. Trying their best to keep and predict their every move was like waiting for a perfect run in a video game it didn't help that their enemies can pass through walls like they were a ghost. However...It seems that there was a small second where Grew would leave himself vulnerable. This was observed by Adel herself when he went to attack her again since she is the one with a wound on her chest. She has an idea of what to do too...thou it will take a small amount of time to do so since she needs a clear mind.
“Sexan...can you give me a few seconds.”
“Have something in mind?”
“...Yes...it seems a split second is all it takes to defeat him.” A split second?
“...I got it. I'll give you that split second. Although, that weapon will be hard to block for it.”
“I'm sorry to put you through it.”
“No is okay...we came here for a goal, correct?” Adel looked at the smiling boy. She can see that the boy was very determined to save Alice...perhaps too determined. Mentioning it would be foolish as she does not need her ally getting distracted by minor things...that includes herself. Still, it is something that should be on her mind once all of this is over and their mission is completed.
“Right.”
“It would be more entertaining if there were more of you. Oh Well, I am getting bored with this and it seems that my Yanyuedao is too. So how about I finish this quickly that way I can take care of your other friends.”
“Don't count us out yet!” Sexan said as he saw Grew coming from the north and blocked his spear backing him away before jumping out of the yanyuedao that went to the floor below. Going forward and attacking with slashes from his fu tao Grew just dodged them easily before blocking the boy's fu tao with his spear. The yanyuedao peek from the ground before trusting itself toward Sexan who had to dodge but lose one of his fu tao that was hooked on Grew's spear. Grew simply tossed the fu tao out of the way before both he and the yanyuedao ganged up on the brown-haired boy.
Adel has sat down in a meditating position. It will take a lot of effort to concentrate a lot of her Capacity Power into this attack. To do so she must go beyond her Neutral Zone yes...it has to give her that split second to get Grew there...clear your mind...channel your body with that amount of Capacity Power...just like her master Keinshin told her to. Almost there...done. Now, all that needs to happen is...
Sexan has been dodging the rapid stabs from both Grew's spear and the yanyuedao with his very own lightning speed before flying away as much as he could in this enclose labyrinth as possible. This forced the bespectacled blonde-haired male to submerged to the ground just like the yanyuedao. Hmm? Should he go after him from above or from the side? That was the question of the blonde-haired male or perhaps...attack her. The options were simple but chasing after an opponent in the air will make him be more opened if not worse than someone grounded. He makes the decision...he has chosen the female that was just sitting there meditating...whatever attack she had planned it will not do any good against an opponent that can appear anywhere in this labyrinth. She is done...
“You're opened...” Open? What is she talking about? Even if she knew that he was coming after her, what can she possibly do?!
“What...?” What did she...wait where's...!? He saw the yanyuedao stuck solid on the floor.
“What did you do?” Adel stood up the atmosphere...it was different...even the brown-haired girl seemed different not in appearance but her expression. It was very calmed...no fear of dying...even with that wound, she was calmer. A wound like that would get some sort of reaction and it did. Previously, he could tell that she was getting a bit desperate but now...is not there, it was gone and...even more...He can't get out of the ground!!
“Zone Stornierung...”
“What?”
“It is for the best that you do not know.” Adel calmly said. Her Zone: Cancellation also known in her language of Germany as Zone: Stornierung is a technique that by concentrating some of the Capacity Power of a player inside he/her body can create a zone where any ability and technique used is canceled out this is including the user itself with the only exception being this technique. This is why if you are going to use it you must do so against 1 or two enemies since the only thing you will be relying on is your physical strength which luckily for her...she has plenty of. Sexan's metal wings do not count as they are a part of his attire and not an ability nor a technique itself. There is a chance that he could still defeat her since he is a core not to mention there are still ways to get out of the zone. First is the amount of time. The time limit is 1 minute for now if she can master the technique it would last longer maybe ten times longer. The second...
“This ends here...” Just as swift as snapping fingers Adel slashed through both Grew and the yanyuedao before sheathing her katana.
“Schlussstreik.” And just like that not only did the yanyuedao was cut in half but a very deep cut appeared from shoulder and across the chest of Grew.
“Grah!!” Grew screamed as blood splatter around the floor and the blonde-haired male fell to the floor.
()
“Twins...?” The secretary of Leos said.
“Yes...Two twins that went missing on the beach of California a few years ago. Their names were Grew L'eau and Manon L'eau. While Grew aimed to be the world's greatest surfer, Manon was a prodigy hacker. I think you will remember her by her nickname “Princesse Des Nombres”.” At the mention of the said name, it clicked on Inès. She remembers having met someone with the said name before on a private meeting to recruit future white hat hackers. She was exceptionally skilled in being able to crack S class files with ease. SS class may take time but she would be able to crack them down. With a little bit of training from her and other white hat hackers that blonde-haired prodigy girl would've been able to take on SS or even SSS ranked black hat hacker level threats.
“Her? ...I see...it is no wonder why she wouldn't pick up her messages.”
“They are very good at hiding stuff from people alright,” Xino said. Hmm, twins...He wonders, why Manon is not on the profiles of LeGrace? If she was alive as the rest of them she would've at least be mentioned...but no only Grew. The question is...is she dead...? or...
“Here is the strange thing, although some traces were found of Grew, and from the classified information from Majestic 12, there were no mentions of Manon, is as if she completely disappeared from the face of the earth.”
“How is that even possible?” One does not simply disappear out of existence like that! Unless you got snapped out of it or completely obliterated by any type of explosive there is no way that a body would just simply vanish.
“Unless the M.I.S.T. Was involved.”
“Xino.” Hmm, that is the only explanation that the father of Richard Kurosagi can come up with. No traces of a body...the twin male still alive as of now...if there is one thing that they know is that the M.I.S.T. Changes people. Xino will not be surprised if it is not the same.
“What if, follow me on this even if it sounds ridiculous. But what if, there was a deal between Grew and the M.I.S.T. To spare the life or soul of Manon.”
“...That does sound ridiculous.” Leos said. “But...not that ridiculous.”
“If that is the case, then that means that the M.I.S.T. Made a deal with Grew. In exchange for her to keep on living.”
“He must give in to the M.I.S.T.”
“Hmm...if what you say is true Xino Kurosagi...that means that miss Manon must have become something more than human...a sentient being,” Troy said.
“Or a weapon,” Xino told the private detective. Troy being here was a lot of help. The private detective along with Diane and Sherri on his side have come here as soon as Leos gave him a call and telling Troy about knowing the whereabouts of LeDutch. With the help of Sherri, the white hack hackers were able to get some private files from Majestic 12. It contained info on their latest mission one of them involved their encounter with a certain group that their children were facing right now.
“Hmm...this has become a very difficult case to solve. Even more, it concerns me how you let your children get involved in this.”
“Nah, don't worry they'll be fine Troy!” Leos said with big confidence. The president has fate in them. If there is anyone that can defeat LeGrace and save Alice Hishikawa from LeGrace and LeDutch is his son, Sexan and Team Omega.
“Hmm...if you say so.” he was about to take a smoke before Inès swiftly took the cigarette away from him.
“Please refrain from smoking in the office Mr. Troy.” Inès strictly told him before he sighed.
“I see you are as strict as I remember you Inès.” But Xino's suggestion...a weapon...what could that girl possibly become that his brother will risk his life for her? All of this wouldn't have been a problematic case...if Majestic 12 and the previous superior was not involved in that execution order...one more case that is still not closed...and from the looks of it...there might not be a way that it will be.
()
“Is it over?” Sexan said as he descended from the air.
“Yeah...” Adel took a very deep breath before cringing a bit in pain.
“You alright?” Concerned the brown-haired boy grabbed her shoulder.
“Yeah...This should be the least of our concerns. We need to get out of here.” She is right. They are still stuck in this labyrinth. And that girl in the monitor she...
“Good luck with that.” Speaking of...!
“You.”
“You seem to have your hands full...Oh!” Kula saw the body of Grew bleeding on the ground and over to the other side, the yanyuedao broken.
“I see...very interesting, you manage to find a way to take Grew down.” For someone who has lost one of her comrades, she seemed pretty calm.
“Just you wait, we'll get out of here, and when we do...”
“I wouldn't count on it...no I do not think you will be able to live through it.”
“What are you talking about!?”
“I agree...” What?!
“Impossible...” Adel exhaled as she saw Grew slowly standing up with a huge gash on his body. He was still bleeding...how is he even able to move! Let alone be talking!?
“I will take care of this Kula...no...we will take care of this Kula.” The orange-haired girl looked at Grew before her lips curled up...so they were going to get serious huh? She would be a bit concerned if it wasn't for Alice Hishikawa.
“Very Well...I will leave it to you Grew...Manon.” Manon? Just then the earth shook as the yanyuedao united once again as a whole and it quickly sinks to the floor below.
“Come back to life...My Twin...” Grew with now the M.I.S.T. Surrounding him broke the floor below him as his lower body was revealed and he rose his hand. From below the yanyuedao appeared.
“Manon!” Again that name what...just then from above behind them 15 arrows rain above them. Their reaction was quick but they wonder where did those arrows come from.
“Behind you...” Sexan had to block something. It was a bow. Thou, this one was shaped like a blade. The string was colored golden while the wood had keyboards. No, the weapon was not the only thing surprising...Grew was here?! But...he was there two...! What is going on?!
“Clavier X!” Pressing the x keyboard on the lower left side of the bow, arrows magically appeared where the blade was and they shot catching the brown-haired boy body.
“Gah!”
“Clavier Y!” Pressing the Y button located on top of the blade. The blade vibrated before Grew swung it to Sexan unleashing a jet stream. Like a bullet, the boy crashed to the ground.
“Sexan!” Adel had to block the yanyuedao from Grew.
('So fast.') Adel looks at his eyes...they were different...she can tell...He was aiming to kill her.
“Position: Dragon!” Grew swung his yanyuedao before a giant spirit dragon appeared. It had a bluish colored with red eyes before this one screech and went toward Adel. Adel blocks it but it was like she was going against a huge wave. Struggling Adel tried her best but...her wound re-opening was too much...she took the blow. The dragon bit her in the abdomen before lifting the brown-haired teenage samurai girl to the air and then slammed hard by the dragon itself creating a giant splash.
()
“There is a reason why Grew is overprotective of the yanyuedao Alice Hishikawa...the yanyuedao is the source of the body and soul of Grew's most price possession...His very pride. His second Evolution allows him to see her again. However, he couldn't freely do so...but thanks to you...He can see her again...His twin sister.”
()
“How can you see with these glasses? I will never know.” Said one of the Grew in a very feminine voice while taking the glasses off.
“Well, one of us was born with eyesight 20/20,” Grew said as his gash wound started to disappear thanks to the M.I.S.T.
“Humph...Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“Don't worry...now we don't have to worry about it consuming us.”
“True...that girl. I can feel it inside me. Her blood is fighting it...and winning.”
“Shall we take care of this...Sister.”
“Of course...” The female Grew took something out of the hair. A hair-pin as the hair grew or in this case was free from the hairpin the hair reached the waist.
“Thou I envy your opponent...she is...”
“Oh! Is my little twin sister uncomfortable with my opponent having a huge...”
“Finish that word and our opponent will be the least of your worries.”
“O...OK!” There was a moment of silence before they look at each other and smile.
“Is good to see you again with flesh...Grew.”
“Is good that I can permanently see you too...Manon.” Grew and Manon L'eau also known as the “Water Twins”. Grew lost her during the M.I.S.T. Incident...or so it would've happened if he didn't make a deal with said mist. In exchange for Grew's body, Manon's soul, and her body was encased on the yanyuedao held in his hand. If Grew ever wanted to see his sister in the flesh he could...however he could only do so for a few minutes before the effects of the M.I.S.T. Kicked in. In a sense...the yanyuedao is Manon the weapon that Manon has...is also her. That is right...Manon is...the ultimate Sentient Weapon. This is the fearsome Truth of Grew...A man who loved his sister so much...that he gave his own body to a dangerous project just to save her.
“Now let us create waves and hack together...like we did on those happy years.”
“Yes...brother.”