Frank and Vincent had traveled through a long corridor inside the cavern and Frank led Vincent to the rest point before the boss. “Okay, Vincent, we need to get our frames fixed before we face the boss. Sit down beside me. Take a break for a minute.” Vincent sat his Jakqoo down next to Predator. Once he did so, a circular load screen appeared in front of him. Frank then asks Vincent, “So, Vincent, why the hostility?” Frank’s question caught Vincent by surprise. He was unsure how to answer the team captain. So he just chose a simple one, “No particular reason.”
Frank scoffs, “I’ve had my share of team troubles, and believe me. I can tell that you have a problem with me. So fess up. Out with it. Spill. What’s wrong? Why the hostility?” Vincent sighs, “Can I be honest with you?” Frank nods, “Sure, I’m all ears.” Vincent stares in frustration at Frank, “Fine, I’ll tell you. I don’t like you. Things were okay when it was just the three of us. Then you just had to butt in and ruin everything.” Frank faked being heartbroken, “You don’t like me? But, everyone likes me. Just ask anyone.”
Vincent felt irritated by Frank’s response, “Now, you’re just being annoying.” Frank laughs and apologizes, “Sorry about that, man. I just couldn’t help myself. Your response was just so cliché.” Vincent was frustrated by Frank’s behavior, “This is what I mean. You’re not someone we can depend on.” While they waited for their frames to finish repairing, Frank comforted Vincent, “Listen, I’m not trying to disrupt the rhythm you’ve got going on with Anna and Justin. And you can’t say that I’m in the way because I was already here before you came along. Now, if you really want to win, then you’ve got to follow my orders, especially here. I’m the one who’s most familiar with this stage.”
Vincent reluctantly agrees to Frank’s request, especially when he heard a beeping. “Alright, repairs are done. Let’s go take on the big guy.” Predator stood up and waited for Jakqoo V. Vincent knew he needed Frank’s cooperation. He needed to be able to work with the guy as a team, but he still finds him untrustworthy, especially after their first encounter. He had never lost so badly before. He felt the same way when Mister Myers took him to town with RexCalibur. But with Mister Myers, Vincent was confident that his faculty advisor did not mean any harm by it. He was a good teacher. But Frank was different. He did not know him well enough to accept him.
The two of them marched through the mouth of the cave and exited. They had arrived at the top of the mountain and the winds howled around them. The blizzard around them blocked their vision outside of the area of battle. It was like a large circular arena with the ground covered in ice and snow. It did not take long for Vincent to hear a loud roar coming from down the mountain. “RRRRAAAAAWWWWWRRRRR!” It was then that he heard a different type of roar. It was the roaring of thrusters. Then Vincent spots a path that led down the side of the mountain and two frames had made their way through it and onto the circular area. Vincent could clearly see it was Rosenkavalier and Mantaraia, Vincent then excitedly spoke through his communications channel, “Anna, Justin, you’re here.”
The moment Anna and Justin arrived at the boss’ battle area, they heard a chime sound. A bright light rose up from behind them and all around the battle area. Seeing this scene for the first time, Vincent panics, “What’s going on? What just happened? Justin was the one to provide Vincent with an answer, “It’s a barrier. It means we can’t leave unless we defeat the boss.” Frank then chimes in, “Or if the big guy destroys us.” Justin nodded in agreement, “Or if the boss defeats us, which results in a mission failure.” Vincent turns around and heads to the mouth of the cave where he exited but upon trying to pass through it, Vincent found his path of retreat barred by an invisible wall.
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Vincent punches the wall, but it had zero effect. All he got was his punch being bounced off and a clinking sound like when two cups collide when toasting each other. “RRRRAAAAAWWWWRRRRR!” The group heard another loud roar. The only difference is it came from above. The roar was heard once again when a large figure descended from the dark clouds and flew through the spine-chilling cold blizzard. When it floated right above the battle area, Vincent finally saw how massive the boss was. It was a large humanoid dragon. On its torso were four arms, and instead of legs, it had a single large stalky tail. Upon its shoulders was the head of a dragon. It menacingly stared at the four frames that had intruded upon its territory.
The dragon roared once again and on Vincent’s screen, he could see a health bar at the bottom with the name ‘Frost Drake’ written beside it. The Frost Drake bent forwards and small spikes were shot out from its back. Vincent then received an alert. Anna then spoke to him, “Get moving Vincent! The boss is firing its missiles.” Through the screen, Vincent could see small sparks burning from the boss’ back. They flew up and targeted the battle area. Seeing that Vincent just stood there, Predator grabbed the Jakqoo V and tossed it aside. Away from the missile's assumed trajectory. Frank called Vincent, “Vincent, wake up. You need to help us fight this thing.”
After the missiles hit the ground, most of them exploded on impact, while a few of them remained stuck to the icy floor. After successfully dodging the attack, Predator walks up to the petrified Jakqoo V and punches it in the face. The hit sent the frame tumbling to the floor. After having his cockpit rattled, Vincent finally woke up from his stupor, “What the heck was that for?” Frank then answers the surprised Vincent, “You were standing there quietly like a sitting duck. What is wrong with you? Do you want to fail the mission? Do you want to let your team down? I ask you again, do you want to let the team down? Can you carry us all the way to nationals?”
“Frank”, Anna wanted to stop Frank but Justin stopped Anna, “Anna, don’t. Vincent needs to hear this. He needs to ask himself those questions. He can’t always be all gung ho about this.” Anna reluctantly agrees, “You’re right. I guess I’ve been putting it off. I was too stubborn to acknowledge the problem because I was desperate to get members.”
Anna then spoke to Vincent, “Vincent, I know it’s your first time facing against a titan. I know it’s a bit overwhelming. But this will be how things will be from this point on. I’ve watched the team face a titan or two from previous competitions. Our opponents will just get harder from here. You need to use this battle as a stepping stone for our next battle.” It took a while for Vincent to calm down. He breathed heavily, “I’m sorry guys. Frank, I’m sorry. I guess I deserved that punch for being such a jerk to you.” Frank sneers, “You’re learning, that’s good enough for the moment. For now, let’s just focus on taking down the big guy.” The four frames then turned to face the large titanic figure of the Frost Drake towering above them.