JoJo stared at Yolanda with her arms crossed, “Team Warmaster. You came pretty late to the party. You weren’t even around when they announced the matches for the semi-finals. So, last year’s qualifier winners are that confident in themselves?” Yolanda looks away from JoJo who was glaring at her, “It’s nothing like that. Our new guy here got held up. We came in late because of him.” Yolanda grumbled, “I can’t believe we’re changing our lineup at the last minute.” Yolanda’s friend defended himself, “Come one, Yolanda. Don’t put everything on me.” Both JoJo and Yolanda snapped at him, “Stay out of this.” Yolanda unwraps the packaging for her burger and takes a bite. With her mouthful, she says, “Aren’t the one who’s taking us lightly? You’ve got a battle against us after this and you’re out dating a guy.” JoJo blushed, “Wha.. what? No way. I wouldn’t call this a date.” Not too far away, JoJo’s teammates and coach commented when they peeked out from behind the wall divide, “No, it’s definitely a date.” Yolanda clicked her tongue, “Tch. Ahh, I can’t believe our opponents for the semi-finals are so free that they can go around dating.” JoJo snapped, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Yolanda glared at JoJo, “If you’re so free that you can go on a date, then that just means even you don’t think that you can present us with a challenge.” JoJo howled at Yolanda, “Excuse me?” After listening to the two girls' banter, Vincent interrupted, “Hey, don’t you dare look on down on JoJo.” JoJo turns to look at Vincent as he continued, “She is super serious about W.A.R.F.R.A.M.E Battles. Even though I’ve only fought against her once. I can already tell how passionate she is about this game. After exchanging blows with her, my fists heard her feelings. She’s the real deal.”

Yolanda looked at Vincent weirdly, “What the heck are you talking about?” Vincent got up from his seat, “I’m just saying, don’t underestimate JoJo or her resolve.” Vincent then looks at JoJo, “JoJo, I hope to clash against you again in the finals. I don’t care if these guys are last year’s champions or whatever. Promise me you won’t lose to these guys.” When Vincent said this, JoJo blushed. “Of course. I definitely won’t lose. I promise on my shield that I won’t lose.” Vincent smiled and gave her a thumbs-up, “Then it’s a promise.” JoJo smiled and nodded, “It’s a promise.”

As Vincent was leaving, Yolanda’s friend called out to him, “Hey newbie. You’re a part of Silver Vanguard, right?” Vincent turns around, “Yeah, why do you ask?” “I saw your battle. Your fighting style reeks of a newb. Besides, I can tell that you’re more familiar with close-quarters combat than those mid and long-range ones. If I’m right then it should be Busho Jujutsu!” Vincent was surprised, “How do you know that?” The guy sneers, “It won’t work on me though. Well, this is just me blathering on. But you’ll be facing us in the finals, not your girlfriend, Vincent.” JoJo blushed when Yolanda’s friend said this. When he stated that Vincent will face his team instead of JoJo’s in the finals, Vincent’s expression darkened, “Who are you?” He sneers and turns to Vincent, “Me? You can call me Sands. Bart Sands.”

Upon returning to the arena, JoJo spots Vincent in the bleachers with his team, Vincent cups his hands around his mouth and shouts, “JoJo, I’ll be waiting at the finals.” JoJo raises her base reader and smiles, “You got that right. I’m keeping my promise. With this shield, I won’t lose.” The tournament announcer then said, “We will now continue with the second match of the Massey Qualifiers Semi-finals. St. Agatha’s Team Song of Victory versus Mason High’s Team Warmaster.” Upon entering the cockpits, the mechanical voice spoke, “Warframe Battle, Combat mode. Start-up! Please set base readers.” Vincent and his team weren’t the only ones paying attention to the match, the reserve member of Team Warmaster was also watching attentively. The mechanical voice continued, “Beginning display. Field selected: Lunar Surface.” The 3-D image of the frames appeared above the console. “Begin Battle,” said the mechanical voice.

The J-Gareth bent its knees and buckled. JoJo had her fist over her chest and she tightened her fist. JoJo mumbles, “I’m going to win this. I promised him.” JoJo took a deep breath, “J-Gareth, Joana Johnson, and her two friends. Launch!” The other two members of Song of Victory commented, “JoJo! Did you just abbreviate us?” “Don’t just label us as two friends” Sparks flew as the catapult, launched the frame out of the tunnel. When it exited with the other two Angel-type frames, they appeared and flew over the moon’s surface with the Earth visible in the background.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Mister Myers paid close attention to the frames used by Team Warmaster, “So, they’re using different frames than before. Changing their machines, that’s an intriguing move.” Anna commented, “A modified Nike and a modified Sky Raider.” Justin on the other hand paid attention to the last unit, “That frame. It’s using the Leonidas as a base.” The Warrior-base frame looked nothing like the original. The parts were made to be slightly bulkier to enhance its armor. It also has more speed with the help of the backpack. Frank looks at Justin, “Justin, do you recognize it?” Justin nodded, “Yeah. I recognized it the moment it entered the battlefield. That Leonidas was modified with custom designs. There’s no doubt about it. The one who made that frame is my old teammate, Alex Morse. This is his signature style”

Yolanda contacted her captain, Mark. “So how does it handle? The Leomightas, I mean.” Mark grins, “It handles like a charm. So much so that I can’t help but want to let loose with it.” Light particles collected at the top of the backpack before they were unleashed in a powerful beam attack. JoJo was alerted and looked at her screen as she zoomed in, “That’s a lot of energy gathering together. No way! They have a quantum particle cannon!?” The moment the cannon was fired, one of the Angel-type frames was unable to escape the line of fire and was immediately destroyed. JoJo screamed, “MIA!” The Leomightas then began firing its rifle at the J-Gareth. Watching what had just happened, Justin exclaimed, “Only a single shot!?” Anna chimed in, “What the hell is with that thing’s capabilities. It’s too high spec.” JoJo screams, “How dare you!” The J-Gareth charges in with its halberd. The Nike threw away its rifle and brings out the two large swords on its back and blocks the J-Gareth.

Sparks flew as the two frames clashed. JoJo screams, “Get out of my way!” Yolanda sneers, “As I expected, this is all you’re capable of.” JoJo howled, “What did you say?” Yolanda adds, “I thought you were tougher than this. You even had free time to go on a date. I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed.” JoJo was enraged even further, “That has nothing to do with this” Yolanda smirks, “What was it again, ‘After exchanging blows with her, my fists heard her feelings." JoJo howled in rage. The two frames kept exchanging blows, one right after the other. The J-Gareth then kicked the Nike away and unleashed a barrage of missiles. “I may have gone a little too far,” said Yolanda as she was trying hard to avoid the attack. “No kidding,” commented Bart as he shot down several of the missiles targeting Yolanda. After destroying the missiles, the Sky Raider flew around the J-Gareth and headed for the second Angel-type frame. It aims its crossbow at the bird-like frame and fires. “Don’t you dare look down at me!” Unfortunately, the Sky Raider easily avoids the attack.

The Angel draws out its glaive, ready for close combat. “Miss me, miss me, now I’m going to break you.” The Sky Raider stopped right in front of the Angel and extended its feet and talons and grabs the Angel-type's arm, forcing it to let go of its weapon. “My arm!” Pulling the hand back behind the Angel while at the same time exerting enough force to crush the hand, before breaking it off and tossing the frame aside. “Don’t be upset. This is just a game, after all.” The two cannons on the Sky Raider’s back fired and easily destroys the Angel-type frame. JoJo screamed, “Kat!” Seeing the scene, Vincent stood up, “That was martial arts. It was the art of disarmament. That guy can use Martial Arts.” Vincent then recalled the words Bart spoke to him, “It won’t work on me though. Busho Jujutsu!” Vincent then committed the name to memory, “Bart Sands.”

The Nike continued its attack on the J-Gareth with some support from the Sky Raider. They had forced JoJo to be on the defensive. Bart whistles, “Not bad. That shield can really take a beating.” JoJo was panting when she heard Mark’s voice, “Yes. That is a very good shield. As expected of Sam Johnson’s sister. But what if I have a sword that can break it.” The Leomightas drew its dual beam swords and attacked. When JoJo blocked the attack, it easily cuts through her shield. JoJo was completely stunned, “My shield!” JoJo distanced herself from the Leomightas and fired her missiles. The Leomightas easily shoots them down before cutting off the J-Gareth’s arm and cleaves the second shield in two along with the rest of the frame. JoJo was in shock, “My shield, actually broke.” Tears welled up in her eyes, “I’m sorry Vincent. It looks like I can’t keep my promise.” Vincent stared at the screen in shock as the result of the battle was announced, “Winner, Team Warmaster!” Vincent screamed, “JOJO!”