"Every Legacy Has A Beginning..."

 

A long time ago, The world was at war against a powerful army.

"For the Kingdom!"

"Charge."

Warriors fought bravely against the evil that threatened the world. The legendary black dragon Seifer and his army of Dragonoid.

*Screech*

Thousands fell to the might and power of this human/dragons and their leader. Scorched with the flames and succumbing to their wounds it seems that the Kingdom of France would have succumbed in darkness like most of the others...That is until a bright light shined. The ferocious dragon looked toward the light to see one of his kind, a traitor in the black dragon's eyes. The legendary dragon of light...Omega. But, the dragon wasn't alone riding it was a girl with her dangling around her neck a diamond shaped necklace glowing. This was the legendary piece the Diamond Dragonite. She was not alone with the dragon thou, alongside her were three more riding their own mythical creature. A Griffin, a phoenix and lastly, a Zilant.

"We almost there."

"Right, let's end this once and for all."

"Master Seifer, what is your command?"

"Hmm, Take Grudo, Atascosa, and Lucy to the skies. Leave the rest to the grounds, Omega would not allow that girl to go on a suicide mission." Just as he predicted they were not alone as the rest of their comrades little by little appeared. These were the legendary piece holders. The battle was intense said to have lasted almost a full day. In the end, overcoming the odds the children manage to defeat the army. Seifer's Generals one by one fell to the owners of the legendary pieces. However, even with their strengths, they were no match for the black dragon as he killed their mythical creatures and wounded all of them.

"Foolish children have you not listen to the legends of thy strength?! Even if you are the chosen ones I am still more powerful than all of you."

"That may be. But..."

"If one us manage to have all of our pieces..."

"Then that person can defeat you!" With the legendary pieces glowing each of the children gave the pieces to their leader.

"Now Kurosagi!"

('This power I feel it. Everyone's strength...I will not let them down!')

"What is this?!"

"The power of our bond. One thing I am grateful for your revival is that I got to know a lot of friends and...I got to know what is precious to me. Is over Seifer! Omega let's strike him down!" With a mighty screech, the blue dragon unleashes a final attack. With both flames clashing The leader cast a spell that will ultimately seal the dragon into an eternal prison. With this victory, the world could finally see light. Deciding that the world would be in danger again if the legendary pieces got into the wrong hands Kurosagi decided to scatter them around the world on places that no human will dare to look for them.

"What now?"

"I don't know Zen. But, We can now live in peace."

"Hmm, hey I just thought of something, how about we create our own branches that way our legacies will be remembered!"

"Vodafio."

"I don't mind that Idea."

"Me neither sound like fun! *Giggle*"

"...*nod*"

"Well for once one of your stupid ideas works."

"I feel offended" Laughter was heard from the group.

and thus the 11 branch families were born. A couple of years later Kurosagi decided to become the sole guardian of the pieces.

This was the story of Seifer and the 12 children that save the world. Hundreds of years passed and each generation of the family reunited to fight a common enemy. Every generation a similar enemy as dangerous as Seifer appeared and each time he or she was defeated. However, not every generation had a good owner thus some have some sort of corruption in it. While some had little to none as they were purified by monks or priestesses that owned the legendary pieces others were tainted with evil. We're now in the era of technology, the future some call it. There's an old quote "History repeats itself". If recurrence of history has happened before...then there is no surprise that it may happen again but this time on a different battlefield and circumstances. Welcome to the year 2036...The year that started the online wars and the year that changed the owner's lives forever. 

2: Chapter 1: Enter Team Omega

"The Start of A New Legacy...!"

"RELEASE!" Alice's pole split again almost catching the woman off guard and narrowly taking the hood off. Alice using the other half attacked again only to be blocked but this time the woman in the robe was flying from the impact. Richard ran fast and then try to take her down but despite that, the woman created a second sword this one made of ice to block his dagger.

"You're kidding! IS THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN'T DO?!" Richard said in disbelief. How are they facing such a powerful core? Man and all of this just to show his rival who was better. What a way to be welcomed back to the game.

(Earlier today Lycée High, France April 11th, 2036)

A 16-year-old boy walks to school. That boy had short brown curtained hair with two spiked locks on the top of his hair that were both going left and right while his skin was very peachy. His eyes were an ocean blue as for the way he was dressed consisted of: black long pants, with a white shirt covered by a blue jacket. His name was Richard Kurosagi.

As Richard was walking through the gates of Lycée, someone called him from behind.

"Richard!" Richard turns to the voice to see a girl running toward him.

"Oh, hey Alice!" Richard greeted her with his usual grin. Alice Hishikawa a beautiful Japanese girl with light brown skin. Her long red hair that cascaded until it reached her upper part of her forearm was tied with a silver Ponytail holder and trimmed into a hime-cut hairstyle. She was a year younger than Richard and about two inches less tall. Her body slim but well figure was very mesmerizing to most of the boys in this school. Her light green eyes could be mistaken to be that of emerald as for her dress it consisted of a short black skirt a little below her knees, a red shirt that has a white kitten with the Kanji words Precious Kitty which, is almost hidden by her dark red jacket and black shoes. She also wears a black necklace that hung a fake ruby stone the size of a small pearl.

"Oh, you still have that too, huh?" Alice tilted her head confuse before realizing what he meant when he pulled something out of his pocket. The thing in his hand was a white necklace with a fake diamond-shaped sapphire dangling in it.

"Oh! Yeah, I never leave without it." She told him while looking at her pearl-shaped ruby.

"It's been almost three years now, right?" Alice nodded.

"Yeah...I wonder where she is right now?"

"Well, wherever she is...I'm sure she is making more friends," Richard replied with an enthusiastic grin. Alice nodded again before remembering what she was going to say to him.

"Oh yeah! By the way Richard-kun, I heard there were going to reopen Omega in the Omega Arcade Station today," she stated to the brown-haired boy.

"Yeah, I heard it too. I was planning to go after school, actually." Richard informed her. Lycée High School commonly known as LHS was a very prestigious school that held some of the brightest students in all France. It was constructed of four buildings that were a bit distant from each other.

The first one was the classroom building, which had different types of room. From labs to theaters the big building was recognizable because of its color which was brown.

The second the cafeteria was a very wide mess hall that was painted in sky blue.

Finally, the third dorm, which had two floors was designed for students from around France that were too far from the school to stay allowing them to save money for having to take the Hoover bus every day resulting in very exhausting students.

"That's good! Um...maybe we should go together... And, well maybe..." Alice felt a bit nervous. A tint of red appearing on her cheek. Alice and Richard had been childhood friends ever since the brown-haired boy saved her from bullies when she was around 6. Ever since that day, Alice has had a crush that eventually became more than just a puppy one. Before she could even finish what she was about to say to Richard however someone spoke to them...

"Hey, Guys!" They turn to the voice to see a boy.

"Huh?"

"Frederick." Alice greeted the boy. Frederick Santos, Bron in Guadalajara, Mexico, and raised here in Paris was a boy of the same age as Richard. The boy had spiky medium black hair while his skin was leaning toward peach unlike Richard's who was already peach. He was an inch less tall and was a bit more built-in muscles than the brown-haired boy a trait that his father has and still does as he was a former military lieutenant. He has brown eyes and was dressed in blue short pants below his knees, brown shirt, brown shoes, and the school's blue jacket.

"Huh? Oh, you still have your necklaces?" Frederick asked seeing both of them holding them.

"Yeah. We did make a promise to hold them until we met again." Alice replied to him.

"That's good, you three were great friends back then...although she was a bit older than you guys if I can recall." He then ponders a bit before snapping his fingers. "Oh yeah, you heard the news, right?" Frederick asked them with a hint of excitement.

"Yeah, I was going with Alice after we finish school today," Richard answered.

"Great then I'll accompany you two." Frederick smiled.

"Sounds good after all we have been friends ever since elementary." Richard and Alice met Frederick during their third year of elementary school and ever since then have been together.

"You okay with it Alice?" Alice quickly snapped back to reality since she was just a bit disappointed that she couldn't tell the brown-haired boy what she had in mind.

"Eh? Er, Yeah...sure." Alice said before giving a deep sigh. This was an issue that the long red-haired had ever since she has tried to reciprocate her feelings to the brown-haired boy, If no one interfered she either let her fears get the best of her by just stating a random topic or whenever Richard got very close...she fainted. 

('And just when I finally mustered to...') Her trail of thoughts was cut off by the sound of the bell indicating that classes were about to start so they decided to go to their first period: Math.

()

 

The group went to Math class where Frederick sat two chairs away from Alice and Richard like in every class they took while Alice sat to the right next to Richard. Classes passed fast and it became Lunch break.

The three of them always sat together at the lunch table. They were rectangular crystal tables meaning 350 students could sit inside while the others could just take their lunch and eat it outside where they were bleachers and some extra tables with umbrellas to shade them from the burning ultra-violets of the sun. The place looked like a giant buffet restaurant. It had a different variety of food; from burgers to even Sushi. Right now the group of three teens was on the east cornered table that was three tables close to the exit door.

"I heard Omega has the same levels so not much changed I'm guessing some of the guardians must be the only new changes." Frederick started to say to Richard.

"Oh, then I guess if it is a modified version of the same game I guess I will beat you like the last 10 times we played last year." Richard pointed out to Frederick while drinking his soda.

In 2031, the station's grand opening released a game called Omega. The game rules are basically to purify the cores of each level by destroying the corrupted ones, which are then, replaced by new and clean ones.

There are 8 levels in the game and each of them has a medal with a guardian who protects the core, whoever collects all 8 medals and reach the sky tower they will enter the final stage which consists in a fight against Seifer an evil warrior whose only goal is to destroy the levels and turn the Omega world into complete darkness all you have to do to end the game was to defeat him.

That was basically the story mode of the game for those who were new and not ready for the competitive side. That competitive sides were team battles and one on one competition, which would give the players a chance to battle one another to see who the better team or competitor is. Individual battles were put for only one-on-one battles, the player who took the other down won. As for the team battles, each year was different. Originally the first year that Omega introduced the team battle consisted of only 4 players in each group. You need four classes in order to compete.

The first one was the speedster or scout. This player uses his speed to scout the area stealthy in order to inform his teammates, this way their teammates will devise strategies in order to outsmart the opponent and win.

The second class was the Powerhouse. This class is the team's attacker and like the name stated the most powerful in terms of offense on the team, this person would battle the other powerhouse player or the leader of the team. This was very important because the powerhouse is one of the only two classes that could break through strong defenses.

The third class was named Wall or Defender. This class's purpose was to defend the teammates from attacks from the adversaries using strong shields or even his/her own body. Due to being a defender, this class has the highest amount of defense and health in the game with the last class reaching over 1400 hit points.

The last class and the most important was The Core. This player was the leader of the group. Its ability is quite special since it can become one of the classes making it the only dual-class in the game...the only weakness that the core has from the others is that once it is defeated the game is automatically over. Also, the ability Core Shift can only be used twice per battle making the core a very important piece similar to the scout. However, over the year two new classes were added to the game.

The first one was the Sniper, and as the name states, it is the class given to those who have long-range weapons.

The final one added was Supporter. This player would support the team using a variety of creations and illusions that allow his teammates to blend in the environment and catch the opponent off guard. It also might be a healer but those are very rare in the world of Omega Since the only class with that ability is the Elf Archers. Richard was so good at the game that he always defeated the other competitors. He was so good that he won last year's world tournament before they had to shut it down for their yearly maintenance.

"I let you win." Frederick retorted a bit.

"Yeah, right I kicked your butt a lot." Richard taking the bite out of his lunch that was a meat sandwich stated.

"Even so Frederick, Richard is too good for the game after all he is the current Omega champion not to mention he also has won every tournament that our school put in." Alice pointed out as she nibbled on her fruit salad.

"Yeah too bad the loser had to end up getting beat in the semifinals." said someone arrogantly that they very well recognize.

"Oh, it's you." Richard bit annoyed looks in disgust at his rival who's smirks at his words.

"Harry Kishima," Alice told which angered Richard's rival.

"That's Mr. Harrison to you!!" he yelled at her offended that someone with such low class has the audacity to called him by his full name.

"Hey, you don't have to yell at her." Richard retorted back with a glare. Harry Kishima also is known as Master Harrison by everyone else was not only a famous Omega player, but his father Leos Kishima owns the Omega Arcade Station the home of Omega. He is also a 3-time world tournament champion of Omega winning them all in a row making him the undefeated champion and he would've continued to be so if it wasn't for last year's tournament when Richard defeated him ruining his chance of being the undefeated champion for the 4th straight year. 

He was the same age as him the same height and weighed around one to two pounds more than him. He has medium-short black hair that was spiked to the sides due to the amount of gel he put in his hair leaving it a bit like a small slicked porcupine, dark brown eyes, while his skin was a bit paler than Richard's. The boy was always dressed in style because of his family's fortune. He is currently wearing a black shirt, red pants, and black shoes, along with black colored shades while holding the blue jacket on his left shoulder.

"You couldn't beat the best," Harry stated with overconfidence to his brown-haired rival.

"Yes, he could. After all, he beat you in the finals of last year's world tournament." Frederick pointed out.

"He got lucky that time!" Harry sneered and glared in anger.

"Suure he did," Alice replied.

"Heh, let see how that attitude change when I take this loser out. After the maintenance, the rankings were upped and now there's a new class put into the game. So it will be easier to wipe the floor with you," Harry stated while pointing his index finger at Richard with a smirk.

"Oh yeah, we'll see Harry," Richard replied before said rival scoffed at his remark.

"Later Losers the Harrison doesn't talk to people that are beneath his class." with that Harry put his glasses and left them to eat, and by eating is eat the food his family's chef serve him he would not eat the food that the losers that he was talking to were eating. No, caviar or lobster will do.

"Can you believe that guy?" Alice annoyed growled.

"Yeah, but at least we know what to expect," Richard replied taking a sip of his Molten Cola.

"I guess so. Although, I wonder what he meant by the new ranking?" That is where Frederick went to his PDA which was a small black oval that could be easily put in your own pants or jean pockets.

"Let see...here it is." Frederick shows the site to his friends. 

"According to this...they say that they're two new levels of ranking and one new class: Magical. It says here that this class will specialize in magical circles that will provide elements to the other members of the team such as fire, ice, lighting, etc." Frederick explained.

"That's awesome!"

"So are we still heading there, Rick?"

"Of course" Richard Drank some of the Molten Cola 

"After all its been a long time since I have face Harry and this is my chance to show him that it wasn't luck that made me the last champion of Omega." Finished drinking the soda he felt refresh as he kicked the can that went in the trashcan which automatically opened when the soda can approach.

()

 

After finishing their remaining classes the group of three walks toward the streets of Paris. The city of Paris has changed the Eiffel Tower the classic symbolizing tower was the only structure that remains unchanged in this city in commemoration of their past achievements. The futuristic Paris now has many different company skyscraper buildings inside the city, which is not too far from the school just three blocks from it the cars were running on the streets while others were hovering on the street while some the most expensive ones were flying above the sunny skies of the city. The sky was a beautiful blue as the clear white clouds were gently moving slowly. 

"That was a great run." Richard takes a deep breath exhausted from all the run since the OAS was four blocks away from where they were.

"Yeah, you said it," Alice said while panting.

"I guess... we need to run some more since we need to pass the gym exams." Frederick pointed out.

"Well, at least Jet is not much of a problem for now," Richard said knowing how his gym teacher is he swears that the guy was more than just a commander chief of the F.M.D. which stands for France Military Defenders the name given to the strongest military forces of all France, fortunately, the school is in Bordeaux and not Paris otherwise I think they'll skip this class considering the rumors about that school.

They all look at the station...The Omega Arcade Station or OAS for short is a building that not only holds the Paris Express, which is the biggest train station in France but it also holds fast foods and a lot of different games with the main game being Omega.

"Well?" Richard looked at his friends before they nod. They went in. The place was crowded with people from 13 years to even some adults. On the 42-inch flat-screen T.V. of each fast food court, they were announcing trailers for new games, products, and movies.

"Just as big as I remember it! I hope Pinher is still here...Man I love his pizzas!" Richard said with energy.

"Well we will have time but we have to hear the ceremony speech first." Frederick reminded them.

"I can't wait. Hey, Richard, I was wondering, if, um, after we finish playing in Omega, you..." before Alice finish, Richard yelled loudly with excitement...

"Let's go, guys!" Richard runs excitedly.

"Right behind you Rick!" Frederick follows and Alice sighs.

"Hey wait up guys!" she followed behind them.

"Hello and welcome to the reopening of our most famous game in the station Omega!" The President of the Omega Arcade Station Leos Kishima said and everyone Cheers. Leos is Harry Kishima's father and the owner of Omega the biggest online virtual game in the world, in which they are millions of those games worldwide not to mention all the subscribers that Leos have, which are exactly 2,400,304,938. He is distinguished as a 40-year-old man, dressed in a gray business suit. His eyes and hair color are the same as Harry's. "As you see we were close because of some strange difficulties but we're back and better than ever so without further ado let's reopen this famous entertainer and let the battle begin" Leos announced as Everyone Cheer again.

"I can't wait I'm getting Goosebumps by just standing here," Richard said impatiently if there is something Richard hated was waiting in line.

"Whoa calm down Rick," Frederick said to ease him but Richard simply was too excited to even listen to his friend.

"Alright let get it on!" Richard raised his hand in excitement making Frederick jumped back a little.

"You better leave him like this you know how he is. He'll never stop until he fights an opponent. Besides..." Alice stares at Richard and smiles. "This is not the first time he has fought in this world." Frederick nods in agreement.

"Okay next." A holographic girl said. This girl was about 15 years old and had pink bunny ears. She was dressed in a white skirt and blue blouse and has a golden bow attached to her back that was long enough to almost touch the ground.

"Finally is our turn!" Richard said excitedly as they reach it.

"Names Please." The holographic bunny girl said with excitement.

"Richard Kurosagi."

"Alice Hishikawa."

"Frederick Santos."

"Okay now next please tell me the name of your team and who is going to be your core and your class."

"Oh, Er...Well..." Richard said a bit unsure. They have never teamed up before so this is the first time they actually going to be a team together as in all three of them.

"How about the Loser team that names fit you, dolts, great." someone suggested. As they turn, they see none other than Harry with his trademark smirk.

"Harry!" Richard said.

"See you inside Omega, Losers. The Master it's going to show you how it's done," Harry said as he went to one of the teleporters. The teleporter also is known as téléporteur were big round circles colored in different colors. they were a total of 24 teleporters and have a total of 8 different colors one for each group of 8 if they were facing in a three on three battle. Once you stepped in one you were given an assigned color with your teams they were: blue, red, purple, green, yellow, orange, black, and white. Once assigned transparent tubes appeared from above and you were engulfed in a bright light that would teleport you inside the world of Omega. Once you were defeated, you would be teleported back and the transparent tube would disappear.

"I know of a name for our team," Alice said snapping her fingers after thinking for a while.

"Really?!" Alice nodded.

"Just tell me your classes and I'll do the rest, Okay?" Alice asked them and they tell her.

"Mine is scouter, you got to love speed," Richard told her.

"I prefer long-range though so put me on sniper."

"Sniper, and scouter...got it! Just stay here I'll be right back." Alice told the boys before she starts talking to the bunny girl who in turn introduced herself as the M.C. of this year. As the talk between the two females (one holographic and one real) continues Frederick looks through the teleporters to find one that was distinct to the others...

"Hey, Richard have you ever notice the teleporter in the middle on the upper deck," Frederick said as he and Richard look at the transparent tube that had a glowing white circle.

"Yeah what about it?" Richard said not losing his eyes on the teleporter in front of them.

"Well, it has been like that for a while. Don't you think it is strange?" Frederick informed him.

"Well...maybe it's someone really skillful after all we aren't the only ones that had played this game before," Richard said in which Frederick nods in agreement but not before staring at the circle with a thoughtful look. Alice arrives with a big smile on her face.

"Alright guys you're ready?" she asks them.

"Boy do we!" Richard said excitedly.

"Alright then let's go," Alice said as she goes to the small silver staircase and runs to the left corner where she stood and a blue circle appeared. The others followed and their teleporters became blue also.

"Is everyone ready?!" everyone nods when the M.C. asked. "Alright, the level is...Icicle World! The requirements are three classes that's including the core..."

"Oh great the Ice one." (Man, I hate that one.) Richard thought bitterly. He hated this level the most. Despite being a scouter he was not very good at slippery places, not to mention he has little balance sometimes in this slippery level.

"Entering Omega...Now!!" The tubes quickly appeared and the three teenagers were engulfed in a bright yellow light after a few seconds all players were not on earth anymore.

"Alright is go time!" Richard said as he lands on the level's icy floor. It was dusk as the aurora in the sky could be seen clearly. Some igloo homes were surrounding the snowy and freezing field with an old-style market on the right. If they were playing, the game people will be residing in the homes and a marketer would be selling food but since they are playing a team battle there is no one around with the exception of the players. Richard appeared as a young traveler with white clothes and light brown old-style shoes his weapon was a blade similar to a Kris dagger, which he holds in his back tied with a white cloth band as the blade is hidden in a brown leather scab.

"Rick any spots I can take?" Frederick appeared as an elf with green pants, a green shirt, black shoes, and a black mask covering his eyes with a bow and arrows. The bow was covered in green moss and it seemed to have been used for three hundred years but despite it, the bow worked as if it was brand new.

"Yeah, a mountain on the east not so far from where you're standing," Richard said through the intercom. The devices are almost invisible to the naked eye only being a 1cm clipped silver earplug with a strong sound in order for the ear to hear.

"Huh?" Richard appears beside him in a blur making Frederick jump and fall on his back.

"Hi!" Richard said to him.

"GAH!! Don't do that!!" Frederick yelled. He almost forgot how ridiculous Richard's speed is inside Omega.

"Guys? Where are you?" Alice asked through her intercom.

"We're near an ice mountain...er, wait I'll tell you the coordinates," Richard told her as he gave the red-haired girl the coordinates. "I also found some people heading west. Well gotta run, Bye!!" Richard said as he ran so fast that he left snow-dust where he was standing making Frederick caught a bit.

"Wait!" But it was too late the brown-haired boy was gone. Frederick sighed.

"Don't worry he will be fine. So...you want me to go where you are or..."

"No, No is fine is better if we split up and cover more ground. I'm heading to where our speedy scouter told me was a clear view of the environment." Frederick said to her.

"Okay, good luck...Now then...Where should I go?" Alice looks at her surrounding which pretty much is a desolated wasteland...or ice land in this case. Alice appeared as a beautiful maiden priestess dressed in a red on the top and white on the lower part feudal priestess dress along with a red bead necklace. Her weapon was a red pole that split in two revealing a chain that attached both parts, which she used to snare her opponents.

"I think it is time to show these losers what a real team works. Ready?" Harry said looking at his teammates, which were robots.

"Yes, Master." Harry is a warrior dressed in brown clothes and brown boots while his weapon is a buster sword. In addition, his teammates are two robots colored gray along with red eyes. They were a bit taller than Harry being two inches taller to be exact. One of them was armed with a silver laser gun and the other with a dark blue battle-ax.

()

 

"Hmm, I wonder where everyone went now?" Richard said a bit confused while looking at the vast wasteland of ice.

"Rick was right. This should be a good spot." Frederick said looking for people on top of the Ice Mountain that Richard spotted for him.

"Where did everybody go?" Alice keeps looking, finding no one in her search.

"Team Valid'S core has been defeated, Team Valid is eliminated...Team Navine Powerhouse has been defeated, Team Navine's Scout has been defeated, Team Navine's Core has been defeated...Team Navine is eliminated." Alice hears through her intercom.

"Well...at least that's one powerhouse out of the way. Uh~, why did I chose that class anyway?!" Alice questioned herself before she shook her head. "No, I have to be strong! My teammates might need someone to break a strong wall." Alice said now knowing the reason why she chose that class if they faced one of the team's wall they would have been pretty much in a jam since the only three classes that can defeat it are: Powerhouse with its raw power, Scout with its speed and a little luck, and last but not least the core which could turn into any of the aforementioned. "Well, moping and whining won't help us win this match plus...I want to see Richard-kun kicks Harry's butt." Alice continues her long search.

()

 

Richard still searches but to no avail.

"Man, where did everyone go?!" Richard was disappointed, his first-team match and so far not a single scout, powerhouse, wall, sniper, heck not even a supporter! At least that would give him a warm-up or something! As he continues to look he spotted someone. It was a mysterious woman dressed in a brown robe covering her face but you can still tell it was female due to it's slender and mature body.

"Finally!" Richard shouts as the mysterious woman sees him and tries to flee from him. "Ah! Wait!" he starts running after her.

Frederick's is looking for an opponent when he sees Richard. "Hmm, is that Richard? Well, it looks like he found someone." Frederick said looking at Richard chasing the woman all over the sector.

"Hey Wait up." The Mysterious woman stops but then surprises Richard by summoning a Zweihänder and slashing making a line that cut through the ice. Richard using his speed dodged the attack easily before taking out his Kris dagger and getting into a defensive stance.

"Caught me by surprise there," Richard said before the woman unleashes another slash that lifts a chunk of ice. Richard dodge the slash before he sees the chunk of ice being hurled his way. Him using his Kris dagger got ready to slash the ice but being a scouter he might not be able to...Luckily he is not any ordinary scouter.

"Core Shift: Powerhouse!" Richard felt his speed decrease but his strength increases tenfold and with a grunt slashed through the ice leaving small particles flying to the ground. The woman took this opportunity to do an overhead slash with the giant sword only for the boy to stop the sword with his dagger.

"As much as I hate lowering my speed...It seems I really need to in order to defeat you!!" The woman didn't respond instead she just pointed to the ground behind him and then a spike of ice was formed. Richard with his newfound strength backs her off before the woman skewed him with the spiked ice and rolls out of harm's way. After rolling he looks up to see something extraordinary...and at the same time dangerous.

"Whoa...So, this is what a magical is capable off." Right in front of him were a lot of small spikes made of ice being held by a strange light aura and the one commanding them all with one hand was the mysterious woman.

("Guess I have no choice but to shift back, that is if I don't want to be a kebab.") The woman prepared her attack and with a push of her hand hurled all of the spikes toward him. "Core Shift: SCOUT!!" Richard shouted before feeling his speed coming back before he rapidly dodges and slashes through some of them. Before he could dispose of the last of them the woman enters the fray and he had no choice but to dodge and block the sword of the woman before using his speed to try and do some max damage on the woman but to no avail. Richard seeing the spike stop in motion saw that the woman motioned to the sky before the spikes came raining down on him giving him only the choice to slash, and dodge the ones he couldn't. This was pretty much a game of cat and mouse with him being the mouse. ("Gotta think quickly.") He gasped as the woman just appeared in front of him at a speed he could only have.

"Core Shift...Scout." That surprised Richard for this woman wasn't a magical class but a...

"You're a..." Before the woman could do anything she kicked Richard in the stomach and use the momentum to dodge the incoming arrows from the west in slow motion.

"Are you okay buddy?" Richard saw Frederick coming his way.

"Frederick." Richard stood up before Frederick look toward the woman with the Zweihänder.

"Looks like we have ourselves a core."

"You were watching?" Frederick nodded.

"Sorry buddy but you're important to lose if you leave we're gone." He had a point if a team's core is defeated that is the same as all of them failing. The core is the heart of everything if it falls...so does everything else.

"So any ideas to take out these ice queen?" Richard asked his elf buddy as the girl charge at them. Richard blocks the girl's attack but the girl despite being a core overpowers him and backs him off before she starts running in circles dodging Frederick's arrows. Arrow after arrow the elf archer threw as many as he could but the robed core woman used her scout speed to dodge them and charge at him giving the boy little time to only block with his mossy bow.

("Whoa, she's way too strong for being a scout core.") Frederick thought surprised by the immense strength of the woman who with a hard push sent Frederick flying.

"Frederick!" Richard went after the woman who simply dodges Richard's slash before blocking creating sparks with each collision. The woman saw an opening before using her left arm and grabbing Richard before proceeding to spin him a bit and throwing him to the incoming Frederick who just recovered from being sent flying and landing on a pile of snow only to be thrown again there.

"Hehe, Hi." Richard sheepishly said before getting off him. The two then looked towards the woman who had already had spiked balls of ice ready to throw toward them. "That...can't be good." Frederick looks at him incredulously.

"YOU THINK?!" The woman then commanded the spiked balls toward them before Fredrick uses his bow and arrows to neutralize some of them while dodging sideways and with backflips. Meanwhile, Richard was using his speed to go through and slash them in order to get closer to the woman who seemed to be waiting for him before blocking his sword which drags her a bit back unleashing some snow-dust as the sound of ice screeched through the section they were battling.

"Not bad." Complimented the woman. "But..." Richard and herself were surrounded by spiked balls. "Not good enough." Richard had no choice but to use his speed to disappear before the rapid spike balls could take him. The crushing sound of ice hitting ice was heard as shards of them fall to the ground. Richard looks around not seeing their core opponent.

"OK? Where she go?" Richard hears the sound of ice molding to see that she was above him with a long Ice spike the size of a tower. "I...don't think I can stop that," Richard said as Frederick look to see the spike. The woman looks below her for a few seconds contemplating whether or not she would throw it at them before deciding to plunge the tower.

"This is going to hurt a lot," Frederick commented but before their fates could be sealed someone appeared in front of them.

"HAAAAA!!!" Alice using her massive strength courtesy of her class used her pole to hit the spike tower and shattering it into million pieces.

"Whoa!" Richard said amazed but then again he did slash something big...Okay, not as big as this but still it was big!

"Are you both alright?!" Alice concerned asked.

"We are thanks to you," Frederick replied. Alice looks at the falling shards that were spiking themselves through the area before the woman lands in the one nearest to them.

"O...Kay. Care to explain who is our mysterious woman?" Alice asked the boys.

"You're asking the wrong people. This is actually the first time I have seen her." Frederick told her.

"Me too." The woman observed the three of them ready to strike any given moment.

"So...any ideas on how to take her out?" Richard asked.

"How many shifts have you both use?" Frederick asked.

"Well, I used up all of them and it seems so did she since she use a core shift to turn into a scout and since she is throwing spikes, boulders, and now towers...I think she shifted back to magical." Richard explained. He would not lie, this is the most fun opponent he has ever fought against...and the strongest nevertheless she is awesome!!!! The woman after looking at her three opponents decided to descend and land with a loud crash lifting a huge chunk of snow before proceeding to mold the snow into spiked icicles unleashing it on the three teens. Alice being the powerhouse of the team spin her pole deflecting any incoming icicle spears that came to their ways crushing them into small shards. The woman uses this opportunity to control some of the spikes embedded in the snow and throw them at them. Richard uses one of them and climbs it before using his speed to walk to the end of it before jumping to another coming his way. He was inches there but a third one was going to spike him.

"Richard!" Alice pointed to the third spike before shouting... "RELEASE!!" The pole split revealing a chain. The released half of the pole goes toward the brown-haired boy before snatching him and dragged him at the last second before the spike landed on the second one and cuts it in half.

"Whoa!! A...LICE!!!" Richard screamed before she releases him after a few spins and sends him flying high before the boy descends at full speed toward the mysterious woman who had time to block the incoming arrows that Frederick was unleashing with a wall of ice before blocking Richard's dagger with her Zweihänder creating a big crater that in the process created icicle spears.

"You're...quite strong." The woman once again complimented.

"Thanks, you too. What's your name?" Richard asked the only answer he received from her was her backing him away and unleashing the same slash that she used on him the first time. Richard sidestepped out of the way before using his speed to try to take her off guard but to no avail since she stopped him by parrying his dagger before kicking him away in order to dodge Alice pole.

"No one hurts my friends," Alice told her before getting into a stance and charging toward the woman who blocked her pole with her sword.

("What is this pole made off?") The woman asked herself since it felt like the pole would break in half regardless of how many time she blocked and attack her.

"RELEASE!" Alice's pole split again almost catching the woman off guard and narrowly taking the hood off. Alice using the other half attacked again only to be blocked but this time the woman in the robe was flying from the impact. Richard ran fast and then try to take her down but despite that, the woman created a second sword this one made of ice to block his dagger.

"You're kidding! IS THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN'T DO?!" Richard said in disbelief. The woman just decided to back Alice away since she dotted her as the powerhouse before spiking her Zweihänder and grabbing the chain from Alice's pole before pulling with all her strength and sending the red-haired priestess flying.

"WAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Alice screamed as she shortly after landed on the snow with a puff sound. The woman then blocked Richard who was coming toward her with his Kris dagger. From side steps to ducking the fight rose on before Frederick joined the fray and unleash a full load of arrows which made the two of them dodge some but resume the battle.

"Hey, Frederick! You might want to minimize the number of arrows buddy!" Richard said while dodging a swing from the woman before this one uses her free hand to uppercut him before jumping and kicking him miles away from her with him crashing into one of the nearby icicles. With two out of three down the woman set her gaze on the third member before slashing through some arrows and dodging them with great speed and elegance. Like dancing in a ball the woman dodges every single arrow before rapidly slashing the remaining ones in half.

"You're done?" Her answer was her arm wrapped in a familiar chain. She looks behind to see Alice.

"Nope." She answered.

"We're just getting started," Richard said as he shakes his head to get some of the ice that was stuck in his head. The woman just gazes toward the brown-haired boy before she sighed.

"I see...it seems that I have no choice in this matter...Dragonite Diamond...Ragging Sphere." The woman said confusing the three teens.

"Um...What?" Richard tilted his head in confusion.

"But...before I depart...I would like to give you a parting gift." The woman stated before her eyes glowed red paralyzing the two boys.

"What?" Frederick stated unable to move.

"I can't move!"

"Guys!" The woman gaze on the red-haired girl who in that instant froze.

"My, you have grown...I wish we could talk more but..." the woman whispered before with a swift swing of her sword cuts the chain in half. "Hmm, still fragile on the chain side...Well, I'm sure it'll become as hard as titanium one day." the woman flexed her hand to at least pump some blood in her veins. "Now then..." She starts walking toward the unmoving brown-haired boy before touching his cheek. "You're just the spit image of him."

"Him...?" Richard was a bit confused. What in the world was this woman talking about?

"Maybe you can..." The glowing eyes closed before the woman touched Richard's forehead. "TRANSFUSION!!" A giant white Pentagon appeared with them in the center before a ray of light is shot into the sky. The light was so bright that the three teens had to shut their eyes. When the light finally faded Richard opened his eyes before realizing one thing.

"Huh?" Richard looks around and then up and even in the snow, he even starts digging with his hand before giving up because it was freaking freezing...and stupid.

"What are you doing?" Frederick looks at him.

"Oh! Er...well...you wouldn't happen to know where our core enemy went, would you?" Richard sheepishly said to him and he received silence from both of his friends instead. "I...thought so," Richard said before looking at the sky wondering, what in the real world or Omega happen?!

 

"Who was that woman?!"

3: Chapter 2: The Legend of the 12 Pieces (Part I)

"A Legend Among Legends..."

 

Richard, Alice, and Frederick were in a very confusing situation.

"So...I take it our little core magician pulled a tricked of her sleeve and puffed her way out of here." Richard jokingly said.

"I wouldn't say puffed. More like flashed." Frederick stated.

"But who was she? And why did she said transfusion when she approached Richard-kun." Alice said with concern before attaching her pole back with a clicking sound.

"Whoever she was she is gone now...question is...where?" Frederick asked as they look at the desolated wasteland.

"AW, MAN!! WE'RE BACK WHERE WE STARTED!!" Richard screamed as his echo repeated the last part.

"Well, fuming won't get us nowhere so...let's look for more people? If...there are any left." Alice said to a steamed but teary Richard who then shook his head and nodded. ("He took it well and fast.") Alice sweat-dropped.

"So...where do we start?" Richard asked as they look at the wasteland of ice...filled with icicle spears before one falls to the snowy ground.

()

 

Inside the Omega Corp., a very large building with over 80 floors Leos Kishima was sitting on his hovering chair made of titanium drinking his afternoon coffee. Being the owner of the largest, and most successful corporation the man is very busy and does not have time to observe the players that play his game...However, there were specifically two individuals that have caught his attention.

"Sir." Leos turned to see his blonde, blue eyes bespectacled secretary who was wearing a buttoned white shirt and a gray skirt that matches her gray sandals. The woman had a strict look and looked a bit older than Leos himself maybe a year or two.

"Hmm? Ah, Inès! Is there anything that you will like to say?" Asked the dark brown eyes owner while taking his attention away from the monitor.

"Yes. Here are your documents from last week's sales. Also, these are your schedules for tomorrow and the next day." Leos look at them and grimace a bit.

"Very heavy schedule." He sighed which wasn't unnoticed by the bespectacled woman.

"Is there a problem sir?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm just thinking, you know between running the biggest company in the world and the greatest game in the world while making sure that the maintenance is up, and running...it made me realize how much time I have wanted to interact with my two creatures." Leos explained to his secretary while running a hand through his hair.

"Sacrifices must be made in order to make the world safe." He sighed.

"It is true...so true." He looks at the monitor and then back toward Inès. "Inès tell me...do you believe in legends?" The bespectacled girl narrowed her eyes toward her employer, when she saw how serious the man was she adjusted her glasses.

"I wouldn't say I don't believe in them but I have heard of a lot of them." Leos chuckles.

"Really? Then let me ask you a question...have you ever heard of The Legendary Pieces?" Leos asked with a big grin on his face.

()

 

Richard and the group decided to be together just in case something like that mysterious woman appeared again. However...Let's say someone was getting impatient.

"ARRGH! WHERE DID EVERYONE GO!!?" The echo of Richard's yelling could be heard through the desolated wasteland of snow and ice.

"That's strange we have been walking for hours and we haven't found nothing," Frederick said before he hears a buzzing sound. "Hey, do you guys hear that?" Richard and Alice look at him confused.

"I don't hear anything." Richard answers.

"There it is again! What is that sound!?" Alice looks toward the north and squinted her eyes a bit before seeing something red and bright.

"What's that?"

"What's what?" Richard said confused at Alice's question before this one's eyes widened.

"GET DOWN!!" Alice pushes Richard down before a missile-like sound came their way. If it wasn't for Alice quick reflexes, Richard's head would've been rolling...well if it was very real the important point here...They would've lost the game.

"What was that?!" Frederick said before he sees something aiming at them. "There!!" Frederick unloads an arrow before this one hits the incoming laser resulting in an explosion that rose heavy dust of snow. Causing Alice and Richard to shield their eyes. After the dust settles someone was in front of them...or...someones!

"Well, Well, Well...what do we have here."

"What the?"

"No way!" Alice said in disbelief.

"Harry...YOU CHEATER!!" Frederick said as he saw the arrogant kid with two robots.

"What? The rules never say that I can't recruit my own personal team. So if we see it by the book...this is all fair."

"He does have a point," Richard said standing up. Omega rules say that if the player has some allies that are not human, then said a player must register the humanoids first before starting every game...so long as those humanoids have a specific role. Being the son of the owner of Omega Harry can easily sign any of these robots so long as they have only one class. Richard looks toward the robot responsible for the shots so that means it must be Harry's sniper. To Harry's right was another one with a battle-ax so he assumes he must be the powerhouse. Then...If Harry is the core, what other class did he choose? ("Then again his only ambition is to be the most powerful so 9 out of 10 he definitely must be a powerhouse also. Wow...talk about imbalance.") Richard thought.

"Well then...How about I send you losers back to earth." Harry said with a smirk as he unsheathes his giant buster sword that Richard has known so well for the last 12 months.

()

 

"Yes, I have heard of them, sir. It was said that thousands of years ago 12 children were given twelve pieces each with a different color and shape. It is said that each piece possessed a unique power that cannot be obtained even in your game. With the 12 pieces, the owners also possessed unique pets. From dragons to Griffins, as for their abilities, one had the ability to manipulate time and memories, another the ability to transform into a dragon itself. There was another one that allowed the wielder to tame it's inner rage and adopted into energy to allow it to do incredible feats of strength. I remember even one that could manipulate the souls of people...a very frightening ability. However during the war of Ragnarok to stop the dark dragon known as Seifer the other 11 children gave their pieces to the one who leads them. Acquiring the power of God and thus defeating Seifer and his army. If I remember correctly your game has a similar factor but it uses medals instead of the twelve pieces. You said it yourself that it was because you as a kid loved that story and thus tried to recreate it in the game." Inès explained to her boss who nodded in agreement.

"Yes, very good. It is true the twelve pieces if they are held by one individual, said individual would possess the power of God himself."

"But the legend seems a bit off. It is said in the end the child who possessed the pieces scattered them all over the world in order to prevent evil from getting their grasp on them. However by doing so the child became the sole guardian of the pieces and left the other children, those 11 children were then become the 11 branch families."

"Ah! Very studious. Do you remember their names?" His secretary ponders for a moment before nodding.

"They say they were named: Kurosagi, Hishikawa, Kishima, Russo, Lahaska, Chariot, Lynn, L'Drem, Grimm, Hinote, Le Grace, and Rowan." She told him.

"Ah yes...those are the names alright. Now then do you remember the pieces' names?"

"I'm afraid I only know about four: The Dragonite Diamond, The Raging Sphere, The Rubix Of Knowledge, and The Pentagon of Manipulation." Leos sighed in disappointment.

"And here I thought that my precious secretary knew it all." Inès rose an eyebrow. "Well you got four out of twelve so I guess you are the closest to the story...At least closer than mine."

"If I may ask, What are you talking about, sir?" Leos gave her a grin.

"Oh, Inès if only you knew how big our world is and yet, how small it is becoming." He told her before he took something out of his table. In his hand, there was a topaz Hexagon stone attached to a light yellow necklace. Inès eyes went wide in realization.

"Sir...is...that?"

"It seems the time for the children of the legend to reunite is drawing near," Leos said as the topaz Hexagon vibrate and glows.

()

 

The sound of metal against metal was heard in the empty desolated wasteland of ice as Richard battled Harry. Harry swung his sword high and Richard ducked before trying to use his Kris dagger to nick the arrogant boy who use his experience and back-steps away from the scout/core boy. Harry then lift a chunk of ice by impaling his sword hard on the ground before with a big grunt swings his sword like a bat and sent said a chunk of ice toward the brown-haired rival of his. Richard using his speed uses his momentum and jumps high enough to avoid the ice by literally a hair. Richard landed on the ice and then slipped landing on his butt.

"Ouch. I really hate this place." Richard said before he blocks Harry's sword creating a crater in the ice.

"Heh, like I thought...Your victory against me was nothing but a fluke."

"Oh don't count me out...YET!" Richard sweep Harry who loses his balance but just before Richard could slash Harry he uses his speed to dodge an incoming laser. Richard appeared. "Er, Frederick buddy you might want to take this fight somewhere else it kind of almost got me blasted to the next new moon," Richard stated to him.

"Yeah...Now tell him that!" Frederick said as he threw an arrow toward the robot unit with the laser gun who dodged the arrow and then charge another bullet before firing making both the elf boy and his traveling companion sidestep each other. Richard seeing Harry standing up decide to use his speed to at least put him on the defenses, Which he did successfully allow him to use the momentum of his speed to drag Harry a bit further away from the others taking with him a lot of snow. With a mighty scream, Richard backs Harry away and sends him flying to one of the ice mountains making the black-haired rich boy crash to it creating a crater in it.

"Well...that went well," Richard said before he dodges a red x line coming toward him at 50 miles per hour. "Or...maybe not," he said as he looks the line going further resulting in the x line leaving a trail of destruction behind.

"You'll pay for that!" Harry said with a glare.

"Sorry, how about I treat you to a pizza when I beat you. I'm sure Pinher will give you a discount...Hmm, come to think of it I always get one...so does that mean with Harry we can have...You need to come with us! Together we will conquer the pizza world!!" Richard said while laughing like a mad scientist while imaginary lighting appears behind him. Richard would say something else but he had to block the x line that was coming his way before tilting his Kris dagger to the side so the x line went to the east. "I'll take that as a no." Richard backflipped away from the incoming slam from Harry who created a crater that made some of the ice cracks. Richard saw the crack and didn't like where this was going. Harry looking at the crack smirked.

"Tell me loser do you like your shower cold?" Harry asked before slamming the sword as hard as he could to the ground resulting in the ice cracking and them standing in separated chunks of ice.

"Actually; I like them warm and cozy." Harry makes a big jump to Richard's direction before both of them try to balance each other out.

"Well, then I hope you like it with a little bit of blood!!" Harry swing his sword and Richard blocks it creating a spark followed by the clunking sound of steel meeting steel.

"Sorry, but I don't like them bloody neither." He backs Harry off and uses his speed. Harry tired of the boys speed making a fool of him had enough.

"Fine! You want to play catch?! I'LL SHOW YOU! CORE SHIFT: SCOUT!" Harry's buster sword transforms into a very slender broadsword and he could feel his strength decreasing must to his disgust but then he felt the speed of himself increasing new highs that he wouldn't experience as a powerhouse. With an evil grin, he used his newfound speed to dodge Richard's upcoming slash with ease surprising the brown-haired boy himself. "This game of cat and mouse...ends now!!" Harry told Richard as he swings his sword with rather ease.

()

 

"Sir...Are you sure that's...?"

"It is no illusion my dear Inès. What you see here is the authentic Piece, not a fake one. Yeah, it is true that ten years ago a company tried to manufacture pieces that tried to be at least 1/8 of what this pieces can do but...some of them end up being failures and therefore the fake pieces were thrown away never to be mention by any crewmember or employee that worked in them. This Inès is the answer to the problems of mankind. This right here is the one thing that could save the world if evil is reborn again. Do not be alarm Inès I have only been able to use this piece once...So far while the piece accepted me as it's owner, it has yet to accept me as his master."

"How...?" Leos chuckled.

"Is a funny story actually...a funny story that involves an old friend of mine...and four children," Leos said as he looks at the monitor to see Richard and then Alice who had the necklace dangling on her neck.

()

 

Alice and Frederick were getting tired, unlike their opponents who hadn't broken a sweat...or oil in their situation.

"This...is...getting us...nowhere..." Huffed Frederick catching his breath.

"You said it. look at them they look like they can go for days....weeks even!!" Alice looks at the now approaching bots.

"You should give up." The unit with the laser gun said.

"It is futile to resist."

"Any ideas would be appreciated, Frederick." The red-haired priestess backs away a bit. Frederick let the gears in his head work and look at their surrounding.

"You wouldn't like it if I told you."

"As if being roasted with lasers or slice in half is much more suitable," Alice replied.

"Okay but don't complain about it...Slam your pole as hard as you can to the ground."

"What?!"

"Just do it!!" Alice hesitated doing that would cause a crack on the ice that would eventually expand resulting in them being separated into chunks of ice. They had no choice though is either that to separate the two units or become mincemeat.

"OH! Alright!!" Alice obliged after hesitating before she slams her pole with all her strength "Haa!!" As Alice pole hit the ground and earthquake was created followed by the sound of ice breaking before said ice split itself into pieces of ice some of them flying through the air. Frederick uses this opportunity to jump from piece to piece that was flying in the air and then shoot three arrows in which the robots dodge but almost lose their balance and plunge themselves into the cold water. The unit with the laser tries to shoot the elf archer who jumps from ice to ice as each laser misses its mark resulting in the laser hitting nothing but ice instead.

"Release!!" Alice yelled as her pole separates attached to a newly reformed chain. The upper half of the pole hits the gun out of the unit resulting in it going to the edge of one of the chunks of ice that was floating in the water. The unit with the battle-ax steps in the way of the disarmed unit and cuts the four incoming arrows with ease. Alice swings her pole so the chain can snare the battle-ax from the unit but this one dodge doing a side flip. The disarmed unit uses this opportunity to run and take the laser gun, shooting just in time to destroy two incoming arrows that were aiming to its head before shooting the elf archer who landed on one of the floating chunks of ice and start dodging them while unleashing an offense of his own. Alice after her pole reattached itself was dodging and rolling out of the way of the attacks that the unit was unleashing on her. Despite them, both being powerhouses, Alice's slender body gave her the advantage since she was a bit faster than her opponent. The red-haired girl blocked the ax before kicking the hunk of metal in the body...that kind of became a mistake for her as she backs him off after grimacing. "Okay...BAAAD idea." she blocks the incoming attack before pointing the pole toward the chest of her adversaries. "RELEASE!" The pole split and hits the unit square in the chest sending it flying toward another floating chunk of ice resulting in that place to split into two more and the unit to land on the water with a loud splash. "Hope you can swim!" Alice's premature celebration was cut short as the unit rises from the water and lands two blocks away from her. "Okay...you can."

"You must be eliminated...Master's orders."

"Hate to break it to you but, your master would become disappointed!" The red-haired girl swings her pole as the chain is sent toward the unit.

()

 

"Is this why you're watching the match between your son and his rival?" The bespectacled secretary asked the brown-haired man before this one nods in confirmation.

"That's precisely correct Inès. You see the ones fighting my son, to be more accurate two of the opponents are two of the children chosen to hold one of the pieces." Leos explained.

"No disrespect sir. But how are you able to tell they are? They don't seem like the type of heroes that are described in the legends." Leos chuckled at that.

"True. But...looks can be deceiving my dear secretary of mine. You see those kids...they are two of the children that I told you about. Here let show you their profiled names." Leos started typing on his keyboard that was just like the holographic screen and after a short loading time, the profiles of a certain brown-haired boy and a red-haired girl appeared on the screen.

"This is...?!" The bespectacled woman looks at the names of the two children and is surprised to see that they had the last names of one of the eleven branches plus the one who left the children behind.

"Is it a coincidence? Or maybe just a theory? Or...maybe...this is destiny." Leos smiled as he looks to the screen. "I think the only way to know if they are chosen is to test them...am I correct? Well, you can say this little fight right here might be the start of many tests to come for our young group. If they happen to lose any match until my special announcement then I will conclude that I was mistaking of them being the chosen ones. However...if my theory becomes true and/or they manage to become an undefeated team by the end of this month...Then we should be ready for an incoming war...my precious secretary."

()

 

Richard was blocking Harry's broadsword with the tip of his Kris dagger. The struggle continued until Richard finally uses his legs to flip Harry out of his way. The spiked black-haired boy rolled out of the way but then made an abrupt stop before he could throw himself into the cold water.

"That was reeeally close!!" Richard said as he stood up and met Harry's face. ("Still this is the most fun I have ever had in months!!") The brown-haired boy was excited, it has been a few months since the maintenance and he really was very desperate to come back to the game. Harry charges toward him with his newfound speed and Richard dodged Harry's incoming slash. Left, Right, Left, Left, Block, and Parry. Those were the sequence that Richard used to counter every move that his rival dished with him. Richard decided that going defensive was getting him nowhere so he decided to dodge and then block Harry's next blow before kicking him with his left leg. Harry is sent flying a few feet before clutching his left ribs. Richard chose this opportunity to go on the offense and now Harry was the one on the ropes. Richard uses his speed to attack him from all angles but the black-haired boy having experience in battle inside the game and against his scout opponent block each and every attack enlightening more sparks and clunking sounds in the area. Harry knew that he was at a disadvantage uses his scout speed to back away and jump to one of the floating ice chunks and continue to do so just to re-group and re-think strategy. Richard seeing his opponent retreat gave chase and went to another chunk of ice jumping from edge to edge. Both of them went on the offense and clash each time and use the momentum of each one to go back to another floating ice chunk in order to follow up with another clash. After 6 consecutive clashes, they clash one last time before having a power struggle while being in motion jumping each time they saw the edge. The power struggle continued before Harry wins it and backs Richard on the edge of the ice. Richard flailed his arms in order to balance himself before he looks up and see Harry leaping in the air and crashing toward him with his broadsword resulting in both players going to the water with a loud splashing sound. Richard after being submerged in it looks around for Harry but it was a bit dark. Using his instincts Richard tilted his Kris dagger to his right clashing with Harry's sword. Using his strength Harry pushes Richard up and uses his speed to follow him out of the water. Richard who was sent flying out of the water turns around and slashes one of the ice chunk splitting it in half and allowing him to escape to the surface. After Richard reaches the surface and lands back to the icy floor he starts to shiver uncontrollably due to the cold. "And this...is why I hate this place." He said to himself while shivering not long before he hears a crashing sound and looking to see a damped Harry glaring at him.

"As much as I like having speed...I hate being unable to take you loser down with this class...Besides, it fits you better than me." Harry told Richard.

"Geez, thanks...I guess."

"Core Shift: Powerhouse!" Harry's sword transforms back to normal. "Now then...How about we end this little game of cat and mouse." Harry smirked to his rival while pointing his huge buster sword toward the brown-haired boy.

On the other side of the field, the battle raged on between the priestess, the elf archer, and the two units. The roles were switched now as the unit with the laser shot a barrage of laser which, Alice deflects by spinning her pole like a helicopter before deciding to dodge and deflect them by swinging her pole left to right. Frederick, on the other hand, was throwing arrows at the unit with the ax, who was slicing them with ease. Frederick was thinking of using one of them...the problem is which one would be very effective against them? As he contemplates on what to do Alice backs off and re-group with the elf archer.

"They never take a break! Then again they're robots."

"Hey, do you think you can get an opening for me that may result in both of them standing in one spot?" Alice looks at him confused.

"This isn't another one of your crazy ideas, right?"

"No trust me this one will work."

"Yeah."

"Good, here's the plan," Frederick whispers his plan, and Alice nods.

"That one I can work with."

"What was wrong with my other idea?" Frederick frowned.

"Oh, nothing...Just that the only upside we had was giving one of the units a wash." Alice responded.

"I see...I think I know in which sequence I can throw them now...Thanks." Alice looks at him like the elf archer was crazy.

"You're...welcome?" They see the machines approaching them.

"Okay get ready." Alice grips her pole. "Now!!" Frederick threw two arrows in which the one with the laser destroys easily. Given the distraction, Alice Release the chain and leaps into the air before said pole reattached itself before the red-haired powerhouse of the team slams her pole toward the ax unit who blocks creating another spiked crater. Debris of Ice lift into the air before Alice jumps away and Frederick's arrows came to the robots' way. Luckily for the unit, its partner was near and shot a large beam to destroy all 4 arrows...Unluckily for the two of them, this is the moment that Frederick was waiting for.

"Hook...Line, and Sink. Or better yet. Freeze, Electrocute, and Explode." Frederick said as he already unloads three arrows. Unlike his normal ones, these three had different colors: Icy blue, light yellow, and dark red. "Hope you enjoy the fireworks!!" Those were Frederick's last words before all three arrows were shot a few feet in front of the units. Confused the units try to charge toward their human opponents only to be surprised by being unable to move. The reason for it was simple. Frederick's icy blue arrow has the ability to freeze the area that it lands which was the result of the unit's feet being stuck on solid ice. "Is been a blast you two." Frederick salute before a crackling sound was heard and both of the robots were electrocuted the most who took damage was the one with the ax who was still wet from being submerged in the cold water before another sound was heard this time was a beeping sound. It was the red arrow and before they knew it a large explosion was created from it. Alice had to cover her eyes just like Frederick to shield themselves from the heavy dust of snow that threatened to blind them if they had their eyes open. When the dust settled Alice, and Frederick open their eyes to see an ocean of fire in front of them.

"Did...Did you get them?" Alice asked unsure if the two units were defeated. To the surprise of both the red-haired and her companion, the two machines emerged from the inferno but they weren't in top conditions. The one with the ax had only one arm that was holding said ax firmly while almost half its faces were gone. The other the one with the laser was limping on one leg while the one that was holding the laser rifle was dangling by one wire it also had lost a lot of his lower body.

"No way," Frederick said.

"T-THEY'RE STILL ALIVE!?" Alice in fear said.

"M...Must...eliminate...target..."The unit with the ax said.

"M...Master's...order...must...eliminate...eliminate...e...li...mi...nate!" The one with the laser said before its eyes turned off before the one with the ax follows and the two metal warriors fall to the ground with a loud crash lifting the snow a bit.

"Team Master's Powerhouse and Long Range have been eliminated." The M.C. said before both units disappear leaving only red fireflies behind. Alice and Frederick flop in the snow exhausted since the battle took most of their energy away.

"Finally," Frederick said relief that his arrows weren't in vain.

"Y...Yeah." Alice said glad that those things were gone for good...now the only opponent left was...

"We should get going, even if we defeated them if Rick is defeated by Harry we still lose the game," Harry informed her before she nodded.

"Right." They dashed to the northeast.

"To be able to defeat Unit 00, and Unit 01," Inès said quite impress by Alice and Frederick's fight.

"Yes...quite." She looked to her employer who has a look of amusement on his face.

"You seem to be amused by this, sir."

"Hmm? Oh, my apologies I just can't contain myself when I see people giving me a fight that I can enjoy. Alice Hishikawa is quite the competitor, not to mention this boy Frederick Santos that was quite smart of him to unleash those three arrows in combination. Of course, that would be in vain if their core Richard Kurosagi is eliminated by my son." Leos said as he looks at the piece that he had in hand that glowed brightly. "So...you too want the owner of the Dragonite Diamond to win, huh?" Leos whispered before observing the monitor anticipating to see a great climax...and hoping Richard Kurosagi can prove him if he is chosen to hold the piece.

"A Legacy Starting to be reborn..."

4: Chapter 3: The Legend Of The 12 Pieces (Part II)

"Harry's Units Down! Only the Core Remains...!"

"Master Harrison's Powerhouse and Sniper has been defeated." Harry heard those words and he was not pleased.

"Tch, bunch of useless metal."

"Is only you now Harry." Harry looks at his opponent and huffed.

"Don't get so full of yourself loser, If I take care of you then the game is over. I don't need those things to hold me down."

"What?" Richard said irritated. If there's something he hates is people who have no appreciation for his/her allies...even if those allies are androids.

"Now then let's finish this game so I can show everyone that you winning the tournament against me last year was nothing more than a fluke." Harry charges toward Richard who took a defensive stance. If Harry kept himself as a scout Richard would've chosen to fight him head-on but now Harry back to his powerful self he has to think of a way to bypass his defenses. Harry was a bit slower than him in powerhouse but he still could go toe to toe against a scout that was why he won the tournament 3 straight years...He was trained for situations like this. Harry started with an overhead slash that resulted in being block by Richard's dagger before the brown-haired boy retaliated with one of his own.

Harry back stepped and then retaliates with an upward slash that Richard back-flipped using a handstand. Richard again using his speed surrounds Harry and tries to at least land a hit on the black-haired boy but this one with the experience that he had as a champion block every single slash successfully. Harry raised his sword high and unleash a slash that transforms into an X which, made Richard use his speed to the max to get out of the way. That didn't end there because Harry starts unleashing line after line of X's in order to destroy some of the environment thus limiting the movements of his speedy opponent.

Richard aware of the black-haired boy's plan went around and started to zigzag left to right in order to get close to Harry before jumping out of the way of one of the X's and slashing Harry who had to stop his offense in order to block the brown-haired boy's attack leaving the boy in mid-air. This gave Harry the perfect opportunity to uses his strength and send him flying to the left side in which, the brown-haired boy had to roll to the ground to avoid further damage. This, however, left him vulnerable to Harry's attack and he was going for the kill this time

"This ends here loser. Oh well, It was good while it lasted." Harry smirked but before he could unleash one of his X's he had to dodge 5 incoming arrows one of them landing where he was standing while the others landed a few feet where he was currently standing. "Well, Well, Well...looks like the cavalry of losers has arrived." As in on cue Frederick and Alice appeared beside Richard who was still on the ground.

"Richard-kun!" Alice approaches the brown-haired boy who shook his head to try and calm this headache that was threatening to appear. "Are you okay?" She asked in concern.

"Yeah...just a headache is all. By the way, thanks for the save Frederick." Richard answered to Alice and thanked his spiky-haired elf archer friend.

"No problem Rick." They all looked toward their opponent who was holding his buster sword over his left shoulder.

"You know I was going to finish you up right now, but it wouldn't be as fun as taking this team apart one by one. I guess I get to have that wish now." Harry said very confidently.

"Sorry to disappoint you Harry, but your desires will have to wait because we're going to win this one." Harry laughed.

"That's rich, you and what army? This one?" Harry signaled to the brown-haired boy's companions who glared at him.

"Are you ready guys?" They nodded. "Okay...HERE...WE...GO!!" Richard went first using his speed which was blocked by Harry's strength. Harry using his strength move Richard out of the way so he could slash away the arrows that were coming his way before sidestepping to his left since Alice slammed her pole hard to the ground. Alice then tilted her pole to the left to try and hit Harry but this one blocked with his sword although, that came to be a mistake because he underestimates Alice's powerhouse strength and she sent him flying. Harry to keep from getting into a disadvantage slammed his sword to the ground so he could stop in his track only for him to get kicked by Richard in the chest sending him reeling to the ground. Luckily experience was a factor in this and Harry rolled to minimize the damage before blocking what it could have been a finishing blow to him by the brown-haired boy.

"Release!" Alice's pole split while the chain went after Harry. Harry backs off Richard and then deflected the upper half of the pole. Alice swung to the right so the chain could snare Harry but the black-haired boy went and dodge the chain before cutting it with an upper slash. Harry dodged the next incoming arrows before unleashing an X slash toward the one responsible who rolled out of harm's way.

"Whoa..." Frederick said amazed by the result of Harry's slash before starting to dodge the x lines that Harry was doing. He wasn't the only one who was dodging Alice having only her lower half of the pole had to dodge in order to retrieve the other half, the reason being that the chain would not regenerate until it is reattached to the lower half. Richard using his speed dodged them easily the difficult part was that Harry's experience in Omega bested his and one mistake may cost them the game.

("Come on there has to be a way to take him out.") As Richard thought of a way to defeat his rival a small headache started to bother him.

"...S...E...H...E...H...E..M....E...C....A...A...H...M...E..." Richard closes his eyes in pain as the whispers continue to invade his mind.

"What...? Who is this?" The brown-haired boy was confused. All he could hear was letters by the static but he could tell that the voice came from a female. That distraction allowed Harry the opportunity to try and finish the game once and for all.

"Goodbye loser! Master Slash!!" The X line became much larger than the ones Harry previously created and this one was colored red and going even faster. Richard had no time to react due to his slight headache but before the attack could land on the brown-haired scout...Frederick pushed him out of the way and took the blow.

"FREDERICK!!!" Alice screamed as the X kept going and the announcer's words followed after the explosion.

"Team Omega's Sniper has been defeated."

"Omega?" Harry said confused before realizing something and started to laugh. "Are you serious!! You losers chose to name your team that!! You three are no way near their level, you don't even have a supporter, to begin with!"

"S-So?! At least we have one more class than you!" Alice said to him. Although the black-haired boy had a point, there was no way that they are similar to the original Omega, after all, it was created by her grandmother, Richard's father, Frederick's father, and three more members. They had all the current classes with the exception of the new magical but with her grandmother's ability, they might as well had that class too!

"Humph, You really think that I wouldn't have more than two units ready to battle? No, I already have my complete set of units. In other words, I have a sniper, a scout, a powerhouse, a wall, a magical, and a supporter ready for any battle that I encounter. The only reason I didn't choose to have a scout in this battle because...it wasn't necessary to find you losers, knowing the idiot core that you guys have I would have found you anyway."

"Hey!!" Richard yelled. Although, Alice hates to admit it the spiked black-haired boy was correct. Their leader...has a tendency to fight against anyone he deemed a fun opponent...which meant everyone...Which means, they were easy targets for every single player.

("Come to think of it...I should've re-think putting Richard-kun as the core.") Alice thought before shaking her head. ("No! He is good...He wouldn't if he didn't win the tournament, right?") Even so...

"You're right. Maybe we are easy targets." Richard felt dejected when Alice said those words that he hung his head in defeat. "But..." Richard lifted his head to hear Alice. "I believe in our core...Just like we had believed in him for years! The difference between him and you is that he can win...And he can do it by having fun. He doesn't need the media to show why he is great and all! As long as he has his friends...Richard-kun can do anything. That's why I believe we can do everything. Sure we might still be short a wall, a supporter, and a magical but that doesn't matter because we will find a way to win and go to the Omega World Tournament!" Alice said determine.

"Alice," Richard whispered and then got just as determined as her. "She's right! We will find a way just like I did the last time we faced! Get ready Harry, because I will show you that what happen the last time wasn't a fluke as you said it will." Harry narrowed his eyes unimpressed by them.

"I can't wait to crush those illusions of you two...THEY ARE STARTING TO PISS ME OFF!!" Harry threw an X line and Richard and Alice separate themselves.

"Let's do this Alice!!"

"Right!!"

()

 

"They seem to have the same charisma as them," Inès spoke.

"Yes...they do." A grin started to appear on the owner of Omega's face. "It seems that this would be an interesting two and a half weeks don't you agreed my precious secretary." Inès rolled her eyes in annoyance but nevertheless nodded.

()

 

Alice and Richard decided to go separate ways in order to flank the Heavy sword user. Harry would have none of that deciding to separate them to take them down one on one he once again makes a crack on the ground that creates a tremor before said place split into pieces leaving a lot of water to roam around. He then leaps toward the one that had Alice and starts his assault on her only for it to be blocked by Alice's pole and backing him away before she spins her pole and trusted forward hitting him square in the lower abdomen reeling him backward. Alice then decided to try and snare him with her chain pole but Harry deflected and followed up with a mid kick to the left rib of the red-haired girl who had to take it resulting in her writhing in pain and landing on the icy slippery ground. As Harry was about to plunge the sword into the heart of the priestess Richard came to the rescue by using his speed to give him enough momentum and strength to not only parry the sword away resulting in it spiking itself a few inches from Alice's right ribs but he knees him in the chin reeling him back

"Are you alright, Alice?" Alice nodded before writing a bit because of the kick that she received from Harry.

"Maybe a little." Alice honestly said after Richard saw her writhe in pain.

"We need to stop him somehow," Richard said to her before someone whispered.

'use it.'

"Huh?" Richard said confused.

"What?" Alice looks at him with a bit of concern.

"Oh, nothing I thought you said something and..." This has been a weird day. First, they fight a mysterious woman, then said woman created a white pentagon that resulted in a ray of light appearing blinding them. Next thing they know she was gone, and now he is hearing voices inside his head? Either he's losing it or the adrenaline of the game is making him have theses weird illusions.

"Here he comes!!" Alice said before she reattached her pole and gets ready to fight Harry who is charging toward them. Both dodged the vertical slash that he tried to do before him blocking Richard's Kris dagger with his buster sword and surprisingly blocking Alice's pole with his free hand emitting a gasp from the red-haired girl. Harry backs Richard off a bit with his strength before with said strength he spins Alice who had a grip on the pole and throwing her toward the brown-haired boy who was going after Harry in order to take him out resulting in the boy crashing with her.

"Ow, Talk about a collision," Richard said as Alice groaned before the brown-haired boy takes her bridal style and uses his speed to dodge the incoming X line. Harry continues his assault unleashing Master Slash after Master Slash resulting in Richard going on the defense since he had Alice in his arms. The only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of ice getting crushed and disintegrated and the swooshing sound of the wind that Richard left from his movements of dodging the Xs.

"Richard launch me in the air!"

"What?! Are you crazy!?" Richard said in disbelief.

"Trust me!!"

"Okay, if you say so." Richard using his speed boosted himself in the air and then threw Alice in the air before he goes down and uses his speed to dodge Harry's, Master Slash. Harry was distracted by his rival speed that he forgot about the Red-Haired girl that was in the air before it dawned on him and at the last second blocked the pole that almost could've taken his head off resulting in the ice getting crushed and Harry barely standing on the icy floor. The black spiked haired boy was inches away from going to take another shower this time courtesy of the red-haired beauty but refused before using the last of his strength to backs her away in which Alice backs-flipped to a safety block of ice. With swooshing sounds, Richard went on and attack his opponent who dodged left, right, and even ducked the speedy scout attacks. Evade, Block, side-stepping, and ducking were how this fight went for several seconds before Richard got an opening and nicked Harry's cheek eliciting a bit of blood on the cut. Harry angry kicked Richard so hard that the brown-haired boy coughed saliva before being sent to the block that Alice was.

"Richard!" But before she could help him she used her pole to block an incoming Master Slash.

"Alice!!" Richard tried to move but the pain was unbearable.

"Just give it up already, she's as good as gone." Harry confidently said which earned a glare from Richard. Alice was struggling to keep the slash from overwhelming her but despite her being a powerhouse she didn't have enough strength to deflect Harry's all-powerful move...That is until her pearl glowed red. A red aura mysteriously surrounded Alice before said aura disappeared.

"What?! Impossible!" Harry said as he saw his signature move being deflected through the air by Alice. Afterward, Alice fell in fatigue unable to move from the amount of strength she had to put on the effort of deflecting the attack.

"Alice!" Richard quickly went to her aid. "Are you, alright?! Hey!!" Richard checked and saw that she was asleep. He sighed in relief knowing that she was alright...However, this meant that if she didn't get up on after ten seconds she would be...

"Due to the opponent being incapable of moving after 10 seconds...Team Omega's Powerhouse is removed from the game." With the official announcement from the bunny girl, Alice's body was transformed into blue fireflies meaning that Alice was sent back.

()

 

On Earth, Alice slowly was opening her eyes after hearing a whispering voice.

"Alice!" Alice groaned.

"W...What, Happened?" the red-haired asked confused as to why she was on earth.

"You were fighting along with Richard against Harry before you were caught by one of Harry slashes...The only difference was that I got disintegrated by, you...Well, you deflected it."

"Oh." That still didn't explain why she was here?

"After your deflection you kind of passes out and couldn't get up after 10 seconds, meaning that you were incapable of battling anymore," Frederick explained seeing Alice confused stare.

"Okay." They look at the monitor where Richard and Harry were the only ones left. Alice still had a question...Where did that extra strength come from? She knew that she wouldn't be able to deflect that attack, she was stalling the inevitable but then something inside her burst and she founded this new strength allowing her to overpower the attack and send it to the air. However, that effort alone drained all of her energy, and the next thing she knew she was right here. ("Then again there's still abilities for every class in Omega that we still don't know we have...maybe this is one of them.") Unknown to the red-haired that wouldn't be the case.

()

 

Back on the battlefield, It was only Richard and Harry. After a few seconds of silence, Harry scoffed.

"Good riddance, That annoying tomato was getting on my nerves. She is lucky that I didn't crush her like the putrid tomato that she was." That angers the brown-haired boy who gripped his dagger hard.

"You don't care, do you?" He said through his teeth.

"Hmm?"

"You don't care what happens to your teammates, you don't care what happens to your opponents. The only thing you care about is YOURSELF!!?" Harry scoffed at that.

"And why should I care about them? In this game, the last man standing is the one who takes all the fame and glory! Besides, I can always replace those scraps of metal with new and better ones!" That did it.

"YOU'RE WRONG!! YOUR TEAMMATES THEY GIVE IT THEIR ALL! IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY WERE HUMANS OR NOT THEY STILL ARE YOUR STRENGTH! ONE PERSON ALONE CANNOT ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING THEY NEED THEIR FRIENDS...THEIR COMPANIONS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSIONS!"

'Use It.'

"Heh, You still think about those things?! In this world, only the strong survive and the weak perish! This game is the same if you cannot defeat the strongest then you shouldn't even bother being here! That's why I will show the world that you're nothing but an insect. In fact; I'LL START RIGHT NOW!" Harry said as he unleashes another Master Slash.

'Use it. Show him...Show him the true way.' As the slash was almost there Richard position himself and then...Slashed the attack in half. Both halves passed him before leaving two big lines on the icy floor.

"What?!" Harry said in disbelief as his most powerful attack has been easily destroyed. Deflected he could understand a bit, even if that red-haired got lucky...But DESTROYED?

"I will show you...That your friends and teammates can make the difference in this game!!" Richard said as he looks at him. Richard's eyes changed to those of the Omega symbol which is an O broken p at the side with edges subsequently turned outward.

"This is new," Leos said now very amused.

"Are those?!" Inès said with surprised eyes.

"Yes...The Eyes that can copy the information of every ability in Omega by seeing the move once. The Eyes of Omega. It will explain why she uses the transfusion spell."

"Her?"

"Oh, yes I forgot to mention to you Inès. As I was watching this match I saw these kids fighting a mysterious woman. The woman easily fought them and could've defeated them but she didn't instead she created the Pentagon of transfusion allowing her to transfer one ability to a player." Leos explained to her.

"But sir...isn't that technique illegal to any player who uses it? If that's the case then we must..."

"No Inès. That would not be necessary."

"Why sir?! This person could be a hacker, if that happens she could be controlling this person right now!"

"No the anti-viruses would've been called if that was the case. This my dear Inès is the work of only one person...Besides." He smirked. "We wouldn't want our little wager to be disrupted now, do we?"

()

 

'Use it...Show him...Help her...Help everyone!' Richard heard this whispers over and over again. He was confused about what they meant but there was one thing he will do and that is kicking his rival to the next world.

"Here I come, Harry!" The brown-haired boy with now newfound determination charged toward him.

"Have you forgotten? Even with your speed you still...!!" Harry's words were silenced when Richard disappeared in a swooshing sound. "What?!" He looks around. "Where is he?!" Unlike the last time, he couldn't sense where the brown-haired scout would attack next. This allows Richard to be able to uppercut the black-haired in the chin, followed by a perfectly timed kick to the stomach and an upper slash across the face that elicited blood to splash on the icy snowy ground all of this in the pace of just 1.2 seconds.

"This is the power that I have received from my friends...and with it, I WILL DEFEAT YOU ONCE AGAIN!!" Richard disappeared again and this time kicked Harry in the back sending him rolling to the snowy floor before in swooshing sound appeared in front and knee him in the ribs making the black-haired boy spin and crash to the floor.

("This can't be happening?! He is weak!! These blows can only be dealt by a powerhouse!! How is he able to have the speed of the scout and the power of a powerhouse?!") He glares toward the boy who was approaching. "There's no way...THERE'S NO WAY THAT I WILL LOSE TO A LOSER LIKE YOU!!!" Harry said as his sword glows red. "I'M THE STRONGEST, I AM THE THREE-TIME OMEGA WORLD CHAMPION! THERE'S NO WAY THAT A WEAK, PATHETIC, USELESS SCOUT LOSER LIKE YOU CAN DEFEAT ME!!!" Harry said before he unleashes a gigantic Master Slash that was as twice as the original. Richard looks at the slash that is coming his way.

'Attack: Master Slash, Power level: average, How to perform: Charge your Capacity Energy inside of your weapon, recommended a sword, or a dagger and slash in a horizontal way. Modifications to this attack confirmed. Way to counter and shorten the performance but up the strength found.' This was all going on in Richard's mind. He had no idea who or what it was telling him this but he did as the thing told him and then got ready to counter-attack.

"SAY GOODBYE LOSER!!" Harry screamed before laughing. However, that laugh would be shut as he saw that his attack was stopped once again by the brown-haired boy but this time it was because Richard has unleashed diagonal white slash made of energy that not only cut the slash in half it was coming the black-haired boy's way at a speed that only a scout would unleash.

"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!! AHHHHHHH!!!" Those were Harry's final words before he was engulfed in the line and then was sent miles away by the time the slash hit one of the mountains and exploded Harry was long gone.

"Team Master's Core has been defeated...Team Master has been eliminated...Game over. Results: Team Omega Wins!" Those were the words that were heard on earth.

"We...won," Frederick said before realizing what happened.

"WE WON!!!" Alice was in disbelief but then it was replaced with happiness.

"WE DID IT!!!" They both look at each other and then celebrated by holding hands while skipping.

"WE WON! WE WON! WE WON!!!" As they were celebrating the two remaining teleporters flashed and out of them came Harry and Richard.

"Hey, guys," Richard said and he was tackled by the red-haired girl who was very excited that they won. "HEY ALICE!"

"WE DID IT!!" She hugs Richard tightly before realizing what she was doing and backs away. "Er...I mean...Um..." Alice said while fidgeting with her fingers. Luckily for her, Frederick unintentionally came for the save.

"That was awesome Rick! I actually didn't know you could do that!"

"Er...Actually Frederick...I actually didn't know myself."

"Huh?" Both Alice and Frederick said confused.

"I just kind of listened to my mind...It felt strange it was as if I was studying Harry's attack and then devised a countermeasure in order to destroy it." Richard explained.

"Well...however you did it, it was wicked and it seems your scout class increased ranks I mean you were fast before but even Harry couldn't track you out and he has a lot of experience fighting your speed." Frederick pointed out.

"Well, in any case, this is our first win as Team Omega!" Alice said excitedly.

"That was your surprise to us right?"

"Yep." the red-haired smiled.

"Well if we're going to be as good as them then we better pick up the pace and start recruiting people we need at least three more classes: Wall, Supporter, and Magical," Frederick said to his companions who nodded in agreement. "Anyway, Rick do you know what you will call that last attack of yours?"

"Huh?"

"You know that white line that destroyed Harry's attack."

"Oh...Well...Hmm." Richard pondered. That white strike looked like the fangs of a dragon unstoppable and strong. Not to mention that the attack came from modifications of the slash that he saw so the best name for it will be. "I guess I should call it...White Dragon Strike Fang or WDSF for short." Richard concluded.

"White Dragon Strike Fang...I like it!!"

"I'm glad you do, now then..." He looks toward the one place that will satisfy his hunger once he finishes a great game in Omega. "LET'S GET SOMETHING TO EAT!!" Richard said with a big grin.

()

 

In the office, Leos was looking at the conclusion of the match and couldn't help to be very amused by it.

"Very impressive." he looks toward Inès. "I think this team would be interesting to see in the future won't you agreed, Inès?" Leos asked his secretary who adjusted her glasses.

"Indeed, but Sir if I may ask if they are really the children of the legend. Why wouldn't you tell them that they are?"

"If I did do you think they'll believe it?" Leos said making a good point. The book The Legendary Pieces was an old story that was told to the branch families the reason why she knows that is because her grandfather is part of one of the children branch families. Even she couldn't believe that the story was true but after witnessing this match and her boss' piece glowing it seems that the old legend...was 100% truth to the core. "But you're correct, I will tell them...but in due time, until then let's just observe and enjoy what this new Team Omega is capable of who knows...Maybe they will become as good as they were." Leos said with an amusing smile while looking at the monitors of Omega where Richard and the others were heading to the one place Richard loves...PIZZA PALACE.

"Team Omega Is Reborn...!"

5: Chapter 4: Wild Rivalry

"A Rivalry for...!"

It was a Saturday in the afternoon and Team Omega was enjoying the food in pizza palace. And by that It meant...

"This is the best pizza in the world!" Richard said as he devoured another slice of pizza.

"That makes it...?" Frederick deadpanned.

"I believe number 14," Alice told when she sees the now empty tray.

"HAHAHA! I'm glad that you still like my pizzas Richard my boy!" Said a man vigorously with a satisfactory grin. This man was Nick Pincher the owner of Pizza Palace one of the great pizza franchises in the world. Pincher is a born Italian raced his first 5 years there before moving to Paris where he has lived the rest of his life. He was 34 years old. He was dressed in a white Pizza chef suit, black pants, and boots, his eyes were light brown and his hair was very short almost bald gray. A very happy and vigorous man, that's how people describe him.

"Your pizzas are always amazing Pinher," Richard said as another one this one a large pepperoni pizza was put on the tray. Richard's eyes sparkle before he takes one and eats it.

"15." Both Alice and Frederick counted and the gray-haired man laughed.

()

"So where do you think they are Heidi?" Asked a man to the girl on his left. He was 19 years old and very built. He has black hair, which is tied into a short ponytail and blue eyes. He is dressed in a white martial art outfit. The girl is dressed in cowboy shoes a pink skirt Red thigh shirt that shows her belly button, and a handkerchief from the color of her skirt. She was the same age as Alice an inch less tall than the red-haired girl but weighted eight more pounds yet her body didn't seem to match her weight since she had slightly more curves than Alice. She has long purple hair that is tied in a long ponytail and emerald eyes.

"I think I know where Craig." The girl answered in a Texan accent before pointing to the pizza palace establishment. The place's logo was The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

"Of course if there is any place they will be is the place where their leader loves the most," Craig said to her with a smile.

"To think they would make a team right now, even more, defeat Harry Kishima's team." A boy on the girl's left side said. He is 17 and a bit slim. He has short black hair, brown eyes, and is wearing a long sleeve jacket and blue pants with black boots to match.

"What do you expect Jack...they have a really great cowboy that can ride any wild horse." The girl named Heidi giggled. "I suppose I can snare him from that old priestess. After all...he is all mine."

Richard was going for his 17th pizza of the day before he had to cover his mouth because he sneezed.

"Is something wrong, Rick?" Frederick said a bit confused by the sudden sneeze.

"No. Is nothing Frederick. It is just that I thought someone was talking about me." All of a sudden Alice felt a shiver down the spine.

("What is this sudden feeling of dread?")

"Hey, you over there."

"Huh?" They simultaneously said and turn to see a girl they recognized. Now Alice knows this sudden feeling of dread. Right in front of them was none other than her purple-haired rival Heidi Kitami. And by Rival, she means a rival for the brown-haired' affection. Ever since the single match that Heidi had against him, and the finals against Harry the purple-haired girl began to had a crush on their leader. This put Alice in a very dire situation since Heidi, unlike other girls who see the brown-haired boy attractive was the most persistent person she had ever met. This resulted in many arguments and then she left for her hometown of Texas. Now she has returned.

"You seem to have fun in the rodeo." The purple-haired girl smiled at Richard.

"Oh hey, Heidi." Richard smiled back. Richard has always thought of Heidi as a good friend. Ever since his fun battle with her, she had been very approachable even giving him advice on how to become a better scout to how a scout can defeat a powerhouse. What the brown-haired boy doesn't know is that the purple-haired girl is actually in love with him just like a certain red-haired girl of his group.

"Oh...great. Is you." Alice said annoyed by seeing Heidi. She doesn't like her because Heidi is always trying to flirt with Richard which always ends up with them arguing over who will stay with him.

"Oh...Hello, Alice. Still trying to hook up with Richard dear." Heidi said to her with a smirk. Everyone in Lycée High knew that Alice has a crush on Richard except the brown-haired boy himself since he is...well clueless and oblivious about it.

"I don't...he's...He's just a friend!!" Alice hesitantly answered while blushing which made the brown-haired boy tilted his head confused. This made Heidi's smirk grow.

"Well then. Richard dear, if you like we can watch something after your done eating." Heidi tries to approach the brown-haired boy as she usually does but Alice stood between them.

"No! He would not date you. Just because your father is the owner of Hikami Ranch...doesn't mean that you can have whatever you want." Alice stated. Hikami's Ranch is one of the most famous ranch resorts in the world and his father has thousands of those resorts worldwide.

"Um, Alice? I don't think she was referring to it..." The oblivious brown-haired boy tried to interject but he was completely ignored by the two girls.

"Well how about we make a bet, then?" Heidi proposed to the red-haired light brown-skinned girl.

"I'm hearing." Heidi puts a finger on her lower lip pondering what would be a good proposal so the red-haired would agree to it.

"Um, girls I don't..."

"Oh, nothing just that the winner can date Richard dear," Heidi suggested with a big smirk.

"Er...Girls...?" Richard said but again Alice interrupts him this time.

"Your own!" Alice bluntly said to the purple-haired rival. Richard felt like the third wheel here, so he just hanged his head down before sighing in defeat and just let them solve this on their own.

"Alright, then I guess we will see you in Omega then?"

"Oh, I'll be there...cowgirl," Alice said with a smile. Heidi gets mad at the comment. The reason is that even if she does look like a cowgirl she considered that as an insult to her weight.

"What did you call me you Old priestess!!?" Heidi said mad. Alice gets mad at Heidi's blunt answer. Even if Alice was about 3 weeks older than Heidi that didn't mean she could be called old not to mention her Omega priestess outfit is from the feudal era.

"O...Old P...Priestess!?" Alice quivered in anger, as she gets ready to strike the purple-haired girl's pretty face although Heidi wasn't going to let that happen because she was ready to do the same.

"Girls, Girls." Richard tries to interfere but for his "luck", he gets a punch to the face by both of the girls.

"Oh my god, Richard are you okay? I'm sorry!!" Alice rushed to him as he falls flat on the ground.

"This is going to be one these days, Huh?" Frederick said.

"Yep," Craig said to Frederick.

"So I assume Heidi is creating a team like we are doing, right?" Craig nodded.

"Yes. The name is Craig Veramonte I just got here because I heard how great Paris was...I wasn't disappointed. I might start studying in one of the few universities that they have here." Craig stated.

"Glad to hear that, Frederick Santos." Frederick introduced himself. "The one on the ground is Richard Kurosagi and the one fighting with your I assume core is Alice Hishikawa." Frederick pointed at the spiral-eyed Richard before pointing at the red-haired who is having an argument and blaming Heidi who retaliates by blaming her back for Richard's unfortunate fate.

"Jack Valentine...Wait did you say Richard Kurosagi? As in the previous Omega's Singles Champion?" Jack introduce then asked.

"That's him alright."

"Interesting...Well, then I hope we have a great battle together." Black with a short ponytail haired teen said to the sniper of Team Omega who nodded and shook his hand.

After the incident. Team Omega along with Heidi's team went to the teleporters, which glowed, yellow. The announcer appeared ready to send everyone to Omega.

()

"Okay are all teams ready?" The announcer asked everyone and they nod. "Okay level location Western Omega. Requirements for this battle three classes min." Richard's cheeks were swollen from the punch of the two girls as his and his teammate's circle glowed blue.

"How did I get into this mess?" Richard said to himself while rubbing his right cheek.

"Let's just hope we don't stand in their wrath in Omega remember Alice is our powerhouse," Frederick stated.

"Yeah, I don't want to have an early exit if she accidentally hits me with her pole."

"If you do then we all lose." Richard sighed.

"I know."

"Entering Omega...Now!!" All circles glowed before they engulfed the players sending them to Omega.

()

Richard, Alice, and Frederick land on Western Omega. Western Omega is an old west town with a bar sheriff tavern and few other places like old west hotels. It was very sunny and the sand dust was sometimes a problem meaning you could easily get lost if you went far away to the deserted site. It also has a railroad track not too far from the town. Team Omega appeared to be on the north side of the welcoming entrance and Alice was really mad.

"Alright!! When I find that cowgirl I'll show her a thing or two!!!"

"Um, Alice we should be focusing on the other teams and..." Richard said but before he could say anything else, Alice gave him a glare that looked as if a fierce dragon was ready to burst from its cave and destroy anything that stood in its way. "Never mind." he yelped before he shrunk into a chibi version of himself intimidated by the scary glare.

"Anyway, it is better if you start scouting Richard that way we can cover more ground." Frederick pointed out.

"Yeah let's hope they don't find each other before I do." They both look at Alice who is still yelling her anger aloud.

"I'll tear her apart!!" They sighed.

()

Meanwhile, on the west side of western Omega Heidi's teammates, Craig and Jack have the same issues that Richard and Frederick had with Alice. Craig was dressed in a black belt karate outfit. From the looks of it, Craig was their powerhouse. Jack was dressed in a black tuxedo with a white shirt underneath said tuxedo, Black pants, and black shoes to match. He also has a pair of knives in his tuxedo pocket along with a white rose attached to the front left side of his tuxedo meaning that he was Heidi's sniper. Finally, their core the purple-haired girl was dressed in a brown cowboy leather jacket, purple blouse, brown leather pants, and brown leather cowboy boots along with a stylish brown leather cowboy hat. Her weapon that is attached to her left side of her waist is a light brown cowboy rope that looked like a horsewhip.

"That old priestess!! How dare she call me a cowgirl when I get my hands on her...!!" Heidi said in a fit of rage.

"Uh, Heidi you should start scouting for..." Craig said before he receives a glare from her. Craig just sweatdropped.

"You better leave her Craig you don't want her to vent her rage on you now, do we?" Jack wisely said to Craig if there was something he didn't want to deal with more than anyone in the world was a rampaging purple-haired girl who happens to be their leader.

"I guess I can agree but we need her calm she is our scout meaning..."

"I know." Jack nodded in acknowledgment a scout needs to be calm and concentrated in order to be able to focus on the coordinates that way they can clearly inform, or warn their partners of danger.

"Team NCXS Core is defeated...Team NCSX is eliminated."

"Looks like they have started," Jack said.

"Then we should too," Craig informed adjusting his black belt before looking at three boys with weapons in their hands. However, the boys' attention was on the beautiful purple-haired girl.

"Hey, guys look at that cutie!"

"Don't worry we'll go easy on you." The other boy who had a rapier said to Heidi. The purple-haired girl calmed herself down. She will unleash her wrath on Alice Hishikawa later, right now...Her teammates need a focused scout.

"So what do you...?" The boy with the rapier got snag by the rope whip before she snares him with said rope. Then with amazing speed, the purple-haired girl just ran dragging him to the sandy floor before jumping high in the air and slamming him hard on the floor before stomping on his back hard. The purple-haired then gracefully landed on the other side after some flips in the air where her teammates were currently looking amazed.

"Team Elegante's scout is eliminated." The other two teens were stunned in twelve seconds the purple-haired girl just defeated their fastest player meaning that she was also...

"Craig, Jack I'm scouting ahead." She then looks at her teammates with a polite smile. "Can you please take care of them, for me? I have...unfinished business to attend too, don't worry I will find Richard dear, and Frederick." with that the purple-haired girl just disappeared with a swooshing sound.

"Well, you heard her," Jack said as he shook the shock of their leader single handling their scout. Craig cracked his knuckles.

"D-Don't underestimate us." One of the remaining boys said having a large red sword with a gold handle before charging toward the unarmed. As he swung his sword the big man just blocked with only his right arm that had an invisible field cast on it.

"W-What?!"

"You must be surprised, you really thought I was a Powerhouse, am I correct? Well, you could've been right...if not for what you're seeing right now. You see I'm...A Wall." Craig said before unleashing a powerful kick, despite being a wall due to his psychical body the kick was still powerful.

"Larry!!" The other boy was distracted that he didn't see a rain of knives coming his way until it was too late.

"You know, you shouldn't have let your guard down," Jack said as he twirled with a knife on his hand. "You really chose the wrong day to mess with our core," Jack said before he reveals that behind that knife they were two more.

"Team Elegante Core was defeated...Team Elegante is eliminated."

"Wow, business is starting to pick up."

"Richard are you there?"

"Loud and clear Frederick."

"How's your side buddy?"

"Well, I have passed a group that was heading your way a couple of seconds ago so you better be careful."

"Copy that."

"Is Alice...?" He heard Frederick sigh before something loud that made him fall face-first into the dirt screamed.

"LET ME AT EM!!!" Alice screamed.

"Should I..."

"No Frederick, just...be careful." Richard sighed before scouting.

()

Meanwhile in Kishima's Corp. Leos was watching once again a match instead of doing his work.

"Sir have you...?" Inès asked before she saw the pile of papers laying on the desk and her boss watching something in the monitors. "AHEM!" this caught Leos' attention from a now scowling Inès.

"Oh! Inès I didn't see you there, what brings you here?" Inès sighed before adjusting her glasses.

"Sir may I need to remind you that the papers for the updates are due to today...in two hours." She said signaling to the full stack of papers in front of him.

"Oh...that, well can you re-schedule them for a bit later?" Inès raises an eyebrow before she goes to his desk. As she approached she sees that her boss was watching a match with Team Omega in it.

"Sir I know that you must... "test" them but could you please do it after your done with work," Inès informed him before she signals to the pile.

"I promise you once this fight is over I will quadruple my efforts to finish this," Leos promised before Inès sighed again. Ever since the discovery of two of the twelve pieces her boss has been looking at this team like a hawk. The question in her mind though is: How did her boss manage to have one of the twelve legendary pieces and what specifically can that piece do...maybe she should find if there's a copyleft of that story maybe her father still has it somewhere. Until then she will have to remind the black-haired his due up papers.

()

So far four of the six teams were retired so there was only Team Omega and Heidi's Team left.

"Anything on your side, Rick?"

"No nothing...Hmm, do you think they had a scout? I mean that guy that was with her you know the one with the long sleeves."

"Hmm...It could be, I mean Jack seems to be the type to be of speed."

"Wait you know the guy?!" Richard said surprise.

"Oh, yeah they introduce themselves to us...you know when you were down for the count."

"IT WAS HER FAULT!"

"Right..." Frederick deadpanned knowing full well that the red-haired was as much at fault as the female opponent of the group.

"Well, I...WHOA!" Richard said as he dodges an incoming barrage of knives coming his way with his speed.

"Rick! What happened?!"

"Er...I think I found two out of our three opponents." Richard said as he saw Craig and Jack who was juggling two knives in symmetry.

"Where?!"

"Right in front of me." the brown-haired boy responded before he uses his speed to dodge the knives and attack Craig who simply blocked his dagger sword with an invisible wall before trying to strike with a devastating kick only for Richard to jump out of the way and use his speed to back away from them. "Frederick, they don't have a powerhouse!"

"Huh?"

"There's a guy with a black belt, at first I thought he was a powerhouse I used my speed to my advantage but it turns out he isn't...he is a wall."

"If one of them is a wall then that means..." Before Frederick could say anything else something snares Alice.

"What...?! HYAHHHHH!!!" Alice screamed as someone drags Alice away from Frederick.

"ALICE!!" He then out of the corner of his eye saw a pint of purple that he could only recognize from someone. "Rick, Their scout was never Jack...It was Heidi!!"

"Heidi?!" Richard said...so all this time they were deceiving them, no wonder he couldn't find her.

"I'm on my way to your location where are you?"

"What about Alice?!"

"Heidi got her, even I couldn't react fast enough to at least try to stop her movements."

"Great well I'm at the center north of the bar in the town," Richard informed him.

"Got it! I'm on my way." The static faded.

"Alice...hope you're okay."

()

Alice was struggling to get away from the rope that snags her and her anger flared as she knew who was the only person that could have this rope.

"LET...ME...GO YOU, COWGIRL!!" Alice yelled.

"GLADLY YOU OLD PRIESTESS!!" Heidi responded before she throws her violently making Alice spin like a rag doll before abruptly stopping on the hot sand. Alice gets up with spiral eyes before she shook her head and glared toward her opponent who was smirking. "Hello, you dirty old priestess."

"I'll show you dirt you...! RELEASE!!" Alice's pole splits and the red-haired swings to her left to try and snare the purple-haired Texan girl. However, the core leader uses her scout speed to dodge that with ease by jumping gracefully into the air and then landing on top of a barrel.

"Your age is catching up with you." Heidi taunted.

"WE'RE ONLY THREE WEEKS APART!!"

"Humph." Heidi disappears and then reappears behind her before whipping Alice in the back following it with a speedy kick to the left ribs to the red-haired girl who hissed in pain as she's reeled to the right. "Aw, did that hurt?" The purple-haired mocked and her only response was a glare from Alice.

"Shut up." Heidi laughed.

"This will be the easiest bet I have ever win in my life."

"DON'T COUNT ME OUT YET!!" Alice tries to snare Heidi but the fast Texan scout proves to be too fast for the red-haired powerhouse of the team.

"This is way to easy, maybe I should replace you in that group, I would say join but then I will have to see your ugly face every day."

"You talk...way too much cowgirl." That seems to anger the purple-haired a bit.

"I can't wait to tear you to pieces for that you old priestess."

()

Despite having difficulty Richard was having the time of his life. The charismatic brown-haired boy was stalling for time as well as distracting them just in case Frederick his sniper could take at least one of them undetected...not to mention that if he is defeated then is game over for his team. Even if that's the easiest way out of whatever he was put through he wasn't going to do it because that would disappoint his friends and it would be an insult to not only his opponents but every player in Omega. With that in mind, Richard used his scout speed and wait for the right moment to Core Shift into a powerhouse that way he could defeat Heidi's team Wall. Each time he tried to get through their sniper, the wall always seems to block with a barrier of his own or bravely take the hit. Since he was a wall not only it did little damage despite the scout having the highest percentage to give max damage in order to balance its lack of strength but it gave him an opening to counterattack something that Richard had to be careful every time the scenario happened. The brown-haired boy dodged yet another close call from the wall by sidestepping to the left to dodge a well-induced aura thrust from Craig. Jack took this opportunity to reload his hand with more knives before throwing two more to the speedy scout who with swooshing sound dodged the knives.

"This...is taking forever. Come on Frederick I don't think I can keep this up forever buddy." Richard said.

"Just hang in there buddy I'm almost there."

"Hey, Craig, if we take him out, is game over, right?"

"I believe so Jack. But don't underestimate him...after all, he was last year's Omega's Single Champion." Craig reminded the tuxedo knives, juggler.

"Looks like I'll have to burn my Core Shift sooner than I expected," Richard said to himself. Just when Jack was going to throw his knives again the tall muscular man of the team sensed someone and the next thing that happened he stopped two incoming arrows with both hands that were going directly to Jack's head.

"Whoa...that was close. Thanks, Craig." Jack thanked their wall.

"As I said before..." Craig looks to see the elf archer with an arrow ready to be launch toward them. "Don't underestimate them. You take care of the sniper...I'll take on Kurosagi."

"Are you sure? He is their core remember if he Core Shift into a powerhouse even your Aura barriers would fail to stop his attacks." Jack said unsure to leave the wall unprotected.

"Don't worry. Just make sure to defeat him...I'll stall for you if I must."

"Alright if you say so," Jack told his black belt buddy before switching places.

("So...Jack is their sniper. This should be fun.") Frederick thought as the knives juggler approach him.

"I never thought I will fight a fellow sniper."

"Likewise." Jack nodded before he quickly launches one knife quickly in which Frederick rolled out of harm's way before launching an arrow. Jack using his other knife threw it and both weapons hit with a clanking sound before spiking in the dirt. The two of them dodge, duck, shoot, and block each other's weapons very well making both teenagers have a great feeling inside them. Could this be the adrenaline of facing someone with the same class? If so...they would give it their all.

()

On the other side of the battle, The brown-haired boy and his strong wall opponent continue to take its toll. Richard tries to twist his arm downward to hit the black belt man but this one using his wall abilities blocks it easily with his palm before trying to deliver a kick. Richard ducked the kick and went for a sweep that got his opponent off his feet and landing on the ground. Craig wisely rolled out of the way of the incoming dagger that would've plunged on his chest before standing up.

"You're indeed a worthy opponent, Richard Kurosagi," Craig informed him.

"Thanks. Same goes for you...Er..."

"Craig Veramonte." Craig introduces himself. "I must say when Heidi told us about you when you entered the Omega World Tournament Jack and I was curious about how your skills were."

"By Jack, you mean Mr. Tuxedo?" Craig nodded.

"Yes. Your skills are quite unique and watching the videos of your previous battles in Omega we were quite impressed by how agile you were compared to now. However, I as Team Rodeo's wall I cannot allow you to go near our core." Craig stated.

("Believe me, right now...If I wanted to look for her...I would end up getting the receiving end of a pole or...whatever Heidi has as a weapon.") Richard thought a bit dreadfully. "Well as the core and leader of Team Omega I cannot let my friends down!" Richard felt something familiar inside him it was just like when he faced Harry a few days ago. ("This is the same feeling I had before I used the move that defeated Harry.") Richard thought he only had one shot and in order to take down a wall, someone needs to sacrifice his speed for power.

"I have only one shot at this."

()

Heidi has had the upper hand as her speed has proven to be far more superior than Alice's newfound strength, although this is due to the fact that Alice rarely played the game, and most of the time she was more of a supporter than a powerhouse. Not to mention that Heidi has had more experience despite them being of the same age to make matters worse she is a scout, a class that is superior to powerhouses even if you had a lot of experience you still will have difficulties defeating them. To be more specifically she had only a 12% chance of winning in this battle.

"You should give up by now...This is really pitiful." Heidi told her red-haired rival who was wincing a bit. Alice has been hit by the rope whip from her right shoulder to her back. In actuality, she was kind of surprised that she wasn't taken out already.

"No...way." The red-haired replied as she glares toward the purple-haired girl who huffed and was ready to attack her once more.

"Fine. Just don't complain when I get to date Richard dear." Heidi uses her speed to try to snare and throw Alice into the air just like she did against her previous opponent.

"He will not!" Alice grabs Heidi's rope whip with her right hand.

"What?!" Heidi tries to tug the rope away from Alice but the red-haired powerhouse got a good grip on it.

"Let's see how you like to be thrown!" The red-haired girl with her strength threw the purple-haired straight into a pile of barrels breaking them as soon as she landed hard on them. After Heidi got out of it the purple-haired girl rolled sideways just in time to avoid Alice's pole. Alice tilts her pole catching Heidi square in the stomach making the purple-haired girl gasp for air while sending her some feet away from the red-haired girl's position.

"You...You'll pay for that!" The purple-haired girl sneered after coughing and gasping air to her lungs...she was actually surprised that she didn't have any trouble breathing considering that a blow like that would've broken at least a couple of ribs. Shaking her head out of those thoughts Heidi went offensive and used her speed to her advantage. Dodging Alice's pole elegantly she paid the red-haired back with a mid-kick right to the midsection followed up with a hit in the lower part of Alice's jaw with the butt of her rope whip reeling the red-haired back. Alice splits her pole again and tries to snare Heidi which she does. However, Heidi uses her speed to drag Alice away before this one puts her feet solidly to the sandy ground and tries to stop the purple-haired girl from gaining any momentum. Heidi tries to drag Alice any further but knew this wouldn't last long and decided to go after her and try to use her kicks in order to hit her. Alice dodged each of them but maintain her grip on her pole knowing that if she even let go of it she would be in a world of trouble. Duck, left, right, duck jump, block with your left leg, retaliate with your right...movement after movement the two girls battled out in the desolated ghost town. Suddenly both girls heard the sound of the wind blowing hard and the next thing that happened got both girls to back up and Alice to release her grip on Heidi.

"A sandstorm?" Alice said surprised to see one of the many phenomena of Omega coming to life. With the sandstorm at her advantage, Heidi uses her speed to hide in it. Alice growled in frustration knowing that at this rate she will never defeat the purple-haired Texan and if that happens... ("There's no way I will lose to her!!") the red orb starts to glow.

()

"Hmm, Interesting." Leos was quite impressed, to say the least. From just this battle Alice orb started to glow. ("It seems that one of the pieces will awaken soon.") he looks at his Hexagon piece. ("Oh, do you want to be reunited with it? Hexagon of Fate.") The only response he got from the piece was a seemingly buzzing sound followed by a gleam.

()

Meanwhile, on the other side of the map, the boys were having the fight of their carers.

("Man facing walls are really a pain.") "Whoa!" Richard managed to dodge a roundhouse kick from Craig. "For being a wall he sure moves pretty quick."

("As expected of him. He is very agile and fast...But...")

("I need to finish this here.") Richard was ready to finish this in one swing. If all goes well the attack that he unleashed on Harry will surface and the result could be the same...He just hope it is enough to stop Craig's high defense and defeat him...he only has one shot. As Craig tries to unleash and left thrust Richard backs off and then uses his speed to have a semi-momentum jump surprising Craig. "This is it; Core Shift: Powerhouse." 'Target Class: Wall. Ways of Victory...found, perform WDSF in a diagonal way while augmenting the capacity energy in the slash by 15%.' This was going to Richard's mind before he performed his now signature move. "WDSF!" Richard swung his dagger sword diagonally while listening to the voice and augmented the strength of his attack. Craig tries to block it with his bare hands but even with his strong barrier, he was unable to stop it before his barrier broke.

("Damn!") Craig said before he was engulfed in the brilliant light line and said line went farther away before crashing into one of the taverns.

"Team Rodeos Wall has been eliminated."

("That's not good.") Jack said knowing that they are now in big trouble.

()

Elsewhere Heidi heard the announcement.

"That can't be good, if I don't finish this old priestess soon I won't be able to..." She has the advantage over Alice so if she uses the sandstorm she will be able to finish this fight and if that happens...

("Where could she be?") Alice asked herself the sandstorm didn't help her at all and then this humming sound was annoying her. "Ugh, what is that sound is so ANNOYING!!" It didn't help that the sound became stronger and it was giving the red-haired teen a headache...What the Miko like player didn't know is that her pendant is, in fact, one of the legendary pieces and its ability is slowly awakening inside her.

()

"Sir, what is that sound?" Inès asked her boss.

"Hmm? Oh, that...well is just the effects of The ragging sphere. You see rage is an emotion that we all have to show frustration, hate, or even annoyance to something or someone. The sphere creates a sound that not only annoys the user but awakes their inner rage...it is similar to that American comic superhero that becomes stronger whenever he gets angrier."

"You mean the incredible..."

"Yeah, that's the one!!"

"So the sphere..."

"Is provoking little Alice on purpose in order for her to unleash her inner rage...well I feel sorry for the opponent that is facing her right now." Leos was in deep thought while explaining the ability of The Ragging Sphere. If the Ragging Sphere was responding along with the Hexagon of Fate...Why haven't The Dragonite Diamond done the same? It was still sleeping. This is a very intriguing mystery that he was about to find out and the only way to do it is by creating this upcoming event...the event that will reunite all of the owners of these pieces that are currently living here in France...At least the ones he has found and gave the invitation to come. ("This will be very interesting indeed.")

()

The annoying sound was getting worse and worse and Alice was getting tired of it. All of a sudden a strange red aura was covering the Miko like female player.

("Now is my chance!") Heidi was getting ready to attack Alice while she was blinded by the sandstorm. She uses her scouting speed to her advantage. "Gotcha!" The purple-haired girl tries to hit Alice with her rope whip but then the red-haired girl stopped the attack with her right arm. "Wha...?"

"You're annoying," Alice said a bit pissed...The sound wasn't stopping and she was reaching her limit.

("How did she...?") She had the advantage there was no way that the powerhouse girl has the speed to stop this nor even the senses for that matter. "Let go, you old priestess."

"JUST SHUT UP!! That Shrill noise you make...ANNOYS ME!!" Alice with all her strength took not only the rope whip but the purple-haired girl and then slam her near some barrels destroying them on impact.

"That hurt," Heidi complained before dodging a very powerful pole slam. The attack was so powerful that it made a small magnitude and the results were wood splinters all over the place. Heidi didn't even have time to react to the next attack and was hit by the swing of Alice pole on the left side. The blow was very powerful that it made Heidi skit twice before stopping face first in the dirt. Heidi coughs a bit before glaring at the red-haired girl. "You'll pay for that, you old priestess!" Alice all she heard was a shrill sound with a similar annoying chipmunk voice...which made her even more annoyed.

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP ALREADY!!" Alice extended her pole but Heidi at the last second dodged it with her speed and then used her Core Shift to go Powerhouse. Her Rope transformed into a black nine-tailed spiked version of her rope but on the other side of the handle, it was a silver blade long enough to be a dagger itself. With the blade, she deflected the chain that was coming her way before swinging the spiked whip which the red-haired priestess dodged making a whishing sound as it landed in the sand. Alice tries to punch the purple-haired girl but missed allowing Heidi to deliver a slash on her that made a minor cut on her right arm.

"How do you like that?!" The purple-haired taunted just before her answer was deliberate to her courtesy of a fast headbutt in her nose by Alice who did something that made Heidi ballistic. As Heidi clutches her nose she sees that it was bleeding and it hurt like hell, but that was not the important thing there...the important thing was.

"You...YOU OLD PRIESTESS!! LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID TO MY FACE!!" Alice, on the other hand, was mad because the more Heidi talked, screamed, or yelled the more annoying the sound was becoming.

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP ALREADY, YOU COWGIRL!!" Alice swings her pole hard unleashing a wave of sand. Heidi having no choice, used her last Core Shift to go back to a scout and got out of the way fast before snaring Alice. Despite being snare Alice struggles to get free and after a few tries knowing that she was going to pull off Heidi used her speed to do the same thing that she did to the scouter from the other team and slammed Alice as hard as she could to the sand below.

"I...I did it." However, her celebration was premature as Alice snared her with her chained pole. "Just...What the hell are you?!" Heidi asked a bit frightened, she just took a slam like that as if it was just a mere bouncing landing...What is giving her this motivation to beat her? Is it Richard? Is it the power of love?! In reality...It was neither Alice just wants...

"Just go away already...YOU ANNOYING SOUND!!!" And with that Alice slammed Heidi to the ground so hard that it created a big hole in the ground followed by an earthquake.

"Team Rodeo's Core is eliminated...Game Over." As soon as those words came out the sound was no more and the sphere stopped shrilling and glowing. Hearing this Alice just gave a sigh of happiness.

"Peace...At last." With that, the adrenaline died down and now she was feeling all the pain including the last one. "Ow, Hurts, Hurts, HURTS!!" those were her last words before everyone was teleported back.

()

"Well, that was fun." Richard concluded while stretching."

"Too bad I didn't get to finish my match with Jack here," Frederick said...It was actually a back and forward match, even more, Jack managed to dodge his explosive arrow. Jack, on the other hand, demonstrated why he was a great Sniper the way he threw those knives was a reason that Frederick will put him in his top 10 opponents that he has ever faced.

"Yeah, I would like to have a rematch though," Jack responded it could've gone either way and when he heard that Heidi was defeated he was a bit disappointed but nevertheless...he had fun.

"Same here I have to admit you have proven yourself to be a very tough opponent to defeat Richard Kurosagi."

"You're not bad yourself, Craig, it is the first time I fought a Wall one on one and I'm glad I was able to pull it off." Craig nodded in agreement a Core must overcome the odds even if they're stacked against him/her and this was a test that the brown-haired boy passed with flying color. They could have talked some more if it wasn't for...

"You cheater!!"

"Huh?" The boys look at the now arguing girls.

"What is it this time?" Richard sighed and shook his head.

"Huh? How did I cheat? I beat you fair and square!" Alice argued back.

"How were you able to survive my attack, it even unfazed you!"

"That's...Wait what attack?" Alice couldn't remember anything but the shrill sound and the way the match ended...She didn't even realize that during the fight, she was cut and slammed very hard which usually would have depleted her points to 0 but the results showed that she had 80 points left in her plenty to fight another opponent and maybe win.

"What do you mean what attack?! I slammed you completely to the ground!" Heidi was flustered not only she lost to her rival but now she will not have a chance to have a date with her one true love.

"You did? I don't remember that."

"ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF ME?!"

"Huh? I don't...it just."

"Just knock it off you two," Richard said to them.

"Richard."

"Richard Dear!" Heidi quickly hugged Richard with fake tears.

"H-HEY What do you think you're doing?!" Alice asked.

"Um...Heidi."

"You still will go out with me, right?"

"Huh?!" Richard was very confused.

"Hey, what happened to that..."

"DEALS OFF! Besides, you cheated so that doesn't count."

"THAT'S..."

"Girls!" The other boys sighed.

"Should we help him?" Jack asked.

"And lure those ragging girls to us? I think not!" Frederick stated.

"I agreed...As a leader, he must overcome all odds...Including feuds with fangirls." Craig sagely said.

"Richard!"

"GET OFF HIM!" Richard sighed.

("Why me?") And so the feud between the two girls that are in love with the same guy rages on!!

 

"Having A Rival is one thing but having one rival for the love of someone..."

6: Chapter 5: Hunt or Be Hunted

"The Perfect Prey for the Hunter..."

 

Another day of school and the three teenagers were talking before classes could start.

"Man it'll be fun to know what exciting opponent we will be facing in Omega today!" Richard said very happily.

"The bigger question is...If you're going to pass History class this year?" Frederick pointed out and Richard deadpanned.

"Frederick is right Richard, you haven't been the optimal person when it comes to remembering paintings and what France did in the war," Alice told him.

"Well, I don't see how you two..." Before he could go further Alice and Frederick showed how much they knew about History in France.

"In 1968 Stone tools were discovered at Chilhac and Lézignan-la-Cèbe in 2009 indicate that early humans were present in France at least 1.8 million years ago. Neanderthals were present in Europe from about 400,000 BC, but died out about 30,000 years ago, possibly out-competed by the modern humans during a period of cold weather. The earliest modern humans – Homo sapiens – entered Europe by 43,000 years ago (the Upper Palaeolithic). The cave paintings of Lascaux and Gargas (Gargas in the Hautes-Pyrénées) as well as the Carnac stones are remains of the local prehistoric activity." Frederick stated.

"In 486, Clovis I, leader of the Salian Franks, defeated Syagrius at Soissons and subsequently united most of northern and central Gaul under his rule. Clovis then recorded a succession of victories against other Germanic tribes such as the Alamanni at Tolbiac. In 496, pagan Clovis adopted Catholicism. This gave him greater legitimacy and power over his Christian subjects and granted him clerical support against the Arian Visigoths. He defeated Alaric II at Vouillé in 507 and annexed Aquitaine, and thus Toulouse, into his Frankish kingdom." Alice said while Frederick nodded in agreement...Meanwhile, Richard was...well...

"SHOW OFFS!" Crying like a child. He would have sulked more if the History Teacher Mr. Fleur didn't come out to make a special announcement.

"Quiet everyone. Now today we have a newly transferred student. She has come all the way from the United States to learn the history and customs of our country some more." At this every student was wondering and asking who this girl might be and what persona she has to how cute and develop she was...the last part was mostly the boys.

"Ah, here she is." As the students turned to the door two faces were full of surprise and one was paled because the person that steps into that door was none other than.

"Hello, My name is Heidi Kitami. I'm the daughter of the owner of Hikami Ranch Montana Hikami." She flashes a cute smile. "Please take care of me."

"Whooa!"

"What a cutie!"

"Her hairstyle is great!"

"Look at that body!"

"Please take a seat Miss Hikami." Heidi nodded before going to the seat in the left of Richard.

"Um, excuse me? Can I sit here...Please?!" Heidi said with pleading puppy eyes.

("She is so cuteee!") "N-N-NO Problem!" The boy who sat there said before quickly moving to the chair behind without any hesitation. Heidi happily sat in the chair before sticking her tongue to her rivaled red-haired teen. Alice in response gave her a menacing glare. In the midst of things was Richard who not only felt the tension but sighed knowing that from this day onward his life was about to change for the better or worse...Most likely the worse.

()

Meanwhile, in Ice Omega, some players were cornered with no way to go.

"Ah. What the?" a boy said before he got stuck in the heart with a machete before dissipating into fireflies.

"Team Aquarius' Supporter has been eliminated"

"W-W-What are you people?" cowered the last survivor of its team to a person who has a native African with a mask that is painted in black and has dark red feathers around it. the man easily towered the boy by eight inches and had a native spear with the point made of a well cutting stone.

"We are hunters." the masked man said before he struck the person with his native spear thus ending their "hunt".

"Team Aquarius' Core has been eliminated. Winners Team Hunters." The announcer said and three red-colored and a purple-colored circle glowed before four players appeared.

"Crickey mate. Still easy targets, hey Shaq shouldn't there be a harder target to hunt?" asked a man to his partner a bit disappointed that the match didn't last very long. He was a very tall 27 years old man with blue eyes, blonde short-medium hair and he was dressed in a blue shirt, short black pants, a red short squared jacket, and black boots wearing a dark brown Australian hat. the man was very fit despite his weight.

"We'll find the perfect targets to hunt Crocodile," Shaq answered him. Shaq was three years older than Crocodile. he was from Africa, unlike Crocodile who comes from Australia. He is two inches taller than Crocodile himself and he was very slim weighing thirty pounds less than Crocodile himself. He has brown eyes and skin, very short almost bald black hair, and is dressed in an olive green Dashiki shirt and matching pants along with an olive green hat and black shoes.

"Well Geisha is been thinking of using her techniques on some of them but they end up being defeated easily."

"Do not worry Crocodile we will find the perfect target. If my hunch is correct they should come to us soon." Shaq said confident that the perfect target will come and when that happens...the real hunting will begin.

()

Inside Lycée it was lunch break and things couldn't get any worse for the brown-haired boy.

"Say "Ahh" Richard dear," Heidi said as she lifts a fork full of meat.

"Er...I can eat on my on Heidi." Richard nervously said with a sweatdropped.

"Hey. How long are you going to be here?" Alice said annoyed that her rival is "feeding" Richard.

"Aw, but I don't have many friends!" Heidi pouted. Alice pointed to the huddled group of boys that were at all sides of the group. Some with menacing glares toward the brown-haired boy, others with tears.

"That's not what they're thinking. Why don't you start making friends with them!"

"But...they're so scary!" Heidi faked nervousness.

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT SORRY EXCUSE OF AN ANSWER!!"

"Calm down Alice I'm sure Heidi will find friends...eventually," Frederick said though he doubts it a bit considering that the purple-haired girl is focused on getting the brown-haired boy into more trouble. Before Alice responded toward the purple-haired girl the sound of all of their C.C. rang.

"Huh?" Richard reaches for his C.C. and opened before a holographic message appeared.

"A message?" Frederick said as he opened his C.C.

"I wonder who it is?" Alice asked as Heidi curiously looked at Richard's C.C. As they opened it and press the message a holographic version of Leos appeared.

'If you have received this message then I will the first to congratulate you on being chosen for the upcoming event. For those who have this message with them, you have been given a free pass for this year's Omega Representation Tournament that is coming next month. I have given the message to twelve teams...twelve special teams with unique abilities for a chance at greatness...A chance to represent France in the OWTT. For those who are confused with the short terminology, those letters mean the Omega World Team Tournament that will be held in the last week of November. The whereabouts of this year's World Tournament will be announced right after all the Representation Tournaments comes to an end. So aim high and do not waste this opportunity that might come once in a lifetime. Farewell and good luck to you all my warriors.' With that, the hologram dissipated.

"A tournament?" Frederick said.

"And we're chosen?" Alice couldn't believe it neither they have only had four matches since creating the team and they're already qualified to a tournament with a high prize...an entrant to the World Tournament?

"Richard don't you think this is..." But before Frederick could go any further the fire in Richard ignited the whole cafeteria.

"ALRIGHT!!!! This is awesome! We're in a tournament! AH! We have to train harder! I should master my White Dragon Strike Fang! No, No, No! I should master my Core Shift and be..." While the brown-haired leader kept his constant ranting the other two just sweatdropped.

"Glad you're excited about it." Both said to him but they were ignored by their leader.

"But anyway. Why would he gave us a free pass to a tournament that is a month away from starting?" Alice asked looking at the message.

"I don't know but if we're in it...we might as well give it our all." Alice nodded. Though it looks a bit strange that they were chosen by their record, It might be their only chance to even get to the world tournament.

"Alright then is settle!"

"I'm so happy for you Richard, dear," Heidi said by hugging him.

"Hey! Get off him!" Life for the brown-haired boy couldn't be more lively.

()

In Omega Corp the owner of it was working hard on everything.

"Let see...Oh, right there." Leos said as he carefully put something inside a cube. The door of the office opens to reveal Inès.

"Sir have you..." But before the bespectacled secretary could finish she sees her boss putting another cube inside something. "Sir..."

"Yes, Inès?" Leos asked with a grin.

"What...are you doing?" She sweatdropped as she sees her boss just randomly putting cubes of...sugar on different Mugs filled with coffee.

"Oh, these? Just an experiment." Inès coughed before deadpanning.

"There are more important things than this "experiments" you're making. Even though I hate to ask, what is the experiment?"

"Oh yeah, I guess I should be finishing the schedules for my announced tournament. Plus the new maintenance for the update in Barcelona...Hmm, I wonder how she's doing there?"

"Please finish your work. We're behind schedule as it is." The blonde-haired woman told her boss who pouted.

"You're no fun." There was a moment of silence before Leos sighed and then looked at the monitor of his holo-computer. "I have been working on it. By the way the coffee experiment I mean it, I'm just testing the theory of how many limits can the Neo Genex can take before going black." The Neo Genex was a big powered generator cube that was installed in Omega Corp. so that every Omega game in the world could be active without the worried of spending too much light energy. "Suppose that some people like their coffee bitter, but others liked them sweeter. Well, some people like it just right...However, what is just the right amount of sugar needed to make it not bitter nor sweet? Some say 3 teaspoon others 2 but in reality...no one knows because everyone doesn't have the same taste buds. It is the same situation with the Neo Genex...Some places generate more energy than others...The question is...What is the amount of energy needed so each game has an equal amount without the risk of the Genex itself going overload and eventually...dying down. If that happens...don't you think that would be a big problem? Inès?" Leos explained. The blonde girl was no idiot she knows exactly why he asked that. It was...

"Is it because of her? If so...it wasn't anyone's fault. Things happen sir...they cannot be changed no matter how many times they are tested." Leos looked at the monitor and then at the 4 mugs.

"Yes...I suppose you're right. But...would she believe anything that we say?" Leos told his secretary. "Will she believe that it is not my fault? My fault that her big sister..." He could've gone further if Ines didn't put a hand on his shoulder.

"It wasn't your fault sir. In fact; if it wasn't for you and her the Neo Genex would have created a catastrophic meltdown that would've been worse than what happened in 2011 in Fukushima," she remembered very well the outcome was an INES level 7...Funny how her name abbreviated means International Nuclear Event Scale. However, if the incident did happen the Ines level would've been level 7 also...or even worse level 8: Disaster or level 9: Major Chaos. Luckily the meltdown was avoided but at the cost of someone's life. It was one of Leos' assistant and she was also...

"You're right, the past is the past but for now let's focus on the important thing and that is to unite them all."

"Unite them?"

"Oh yes, I forgot to mention. Team Omega isn't the only team that will participate in my special tournament." Leos grinned knowing full well that he was one step closer to gathering the pieces together.

()

School was over and the group plus Heidi was walking toward The Omega Arcade Station.

"Nothing but a good match in Omega to fend off your frustrations from classes," Richard said while stretching himself.

"Yeah although you would be better if you don't fall asleep during history class," Frederick said.

"I can't help it! I hate History!" Heidi wraps her arms around his shoulder.

"Is okay Richard dear I will teach you," Heidi said before Alice intervenes by prying Heidi off the brown-haired boy.

"He doesn't need your company, thank you very much! And why are you following us?! Aren't you suppose to go home?"

"And leave him with an old priestess like you? Please, you don't even know how to satisfy someone." Heidi flicked her hair to the side. That earned a thick mark on Alice's forehead.

"Oh, and a cowgirl like you do?" Alice retorted earning a tick mark on the side of Heidi's forehead.

"Do you want to pick a fight with me?"

"I'll be glad to comply!" Alice and Heidi glared toward each other releasing their auras one purple (Heidi's) and one dark red (Alice's).

"Er, girls calm down." Richard tried to ease the tension but failed...miserably. Frederick sighed before they entered the Station. Upon entering the crowd was huddled in a circle. Curious the group went to investigate to find the group of people surrounding three people.

"I wonder why they are here?" One of the people said.

"Did you see them in their last battle?"

"No wonder he was the first world champion."

"Wow, there so much crowd here," Alice said looking at the crowd of people.

"Tell me about it," Richard answered completely ignoring Heidi wrapping her arms around his right shoulder. Frederick got closer to see a glimpse of who the crowd was so interested in.

"No way!"

"What? What's wrong Frederick?"

"Guys he is here!" The group tilted their heads in confusion before Frederick continued. "Omega's first world champion Shaq!"

"Wait for Shaq! The Omega Hunter!" Heidi exclaimed as Frederick nodded. Shaq Paldemore also was known as the Omega Hunter was well known worldwide as not only Omega's first singles champion but also for being one of the most stealthy hunters in the world. His nickname was because using his experience as a professional hunter he hunted his adversaries with precise patience like a feline ready to trap it's prey.

"What he is doing here though?" Their answer was the big T.V. screen appearing and in it was none other than Leos Kishima.

"Oh, it is so good that everyone is gathered here."

"Huh?" everyone looks at the big screen.

"President Leos?" Shaq said.

"So that's the boss of the company, eh?" Crocodile look toward the screen. Geisha was just fixated on it.

"As you may well know. We will have our annual Omega Representation Tournament next month. In other words, in 4 weeks eight of our best teams in France will face each other for the right to participate in the biggest tournament in the world the Omega World Tournament. Of course, the tournament for the singles tournament will be held one week after this one so if you can't make it to this one don't be discouraged you will still have a chance for the single one. Now then how about we have a...teaser of what to expect this year shall we? As you know our first world tournament champion Shaq Pauldemore is here and he is not alone. He has brought his group to enjoy the game here. So how about it Shaq and company...? Would you like to show your skill and also show them why you are our first Omega world champion?" Leos said while looking specifically at the African native veteran. Who just grinned and closed his eyes.

"How can I refuse? After all, I'm still looking for my perfect prey."

"And you shall get it. Because I have the perfect opponent for you. He is a champion like yourself and he created a team this year. Now, where are they...Ah, there they are!" Leos said before he points toward someone. When the spotlight shined it did toward Team Omega. It took them three seconds plus a blink to register to them that they were chosen to be Shaq's next (prey) opponents.

"EH?!"

"Well, what do you say Team Omega? Richard Kurosagi? Would you let this opportunity of a lifetime pass? Or would you step up to your game and show the world why you're the next generation of Omega?" Leos said before grinning. "Take your time I have all day." The group huddles up to decide what to do.

"So what do we do now? We can't back out!" Richard said as his adrenaline for a great challenge was boiling deep inside him. The brown-haired boy had dreamed of the day where he would face one of Omega's best competitors and that day might be today.

"But the odds are stack against us. I mean don't get me wrong Rick, you're a great scouter but we're talking about a six years Scout veteran here! His status and speed might be through the roof." Frederick pointed out.

"He's right and even if the other two don't have much experience in Omega than him they might know already how to play the game in a way that is compatible with Shaq!" Alice added.

"Well, I think you should take them down to pay." Said Heidi surprising them. "What?"

"To hear that from you...are you sick or something?" Alice said.

"HEY!" Heidi yelled with a vein on the back of her head.

"Heidi is right." The other two look at Richard. "We were invited to this tournament so we might as well see who are we facing when we make it to the World Tournament."

"You make it sound like we will make it," Alice said. She is not being negative about it but she is being realistic about their chances of winning it all and represent France they are not the only ones invited. They're 7 more teams and she bets that all 7 are season veterans ready to show them that they deserve the tickets more than them.

"Because we will! Come on guys we made this team! We were picked to participate in a regional tournament with the prize being able to represent France in the grandest tournament of them all! Even if the odds are against us...Even if the probability of winning is less than one percent! We have to give it our best!" Richard said with a grin. "So how about it?!"

"So what's it going to be?" Richard turned toward the owner of Omega and grinned.

"We accept." This made Leos smile.

"Good. Well then let's get this show on the road! My lovely announcer..."

"Y-Yes! Please proceed to the empty spots. Okay, Location...Arrow Forest, the minimum requirement for this battle three classes. All set...Entering Omega!"

()

Among entering the group landed inside a forest. This forest was full of life, from trees to birds that flew by. The grass cut so it could not get in the way of competitors however, the trees were full of life that they could hide skill people, and right now they were against one of the most experienced Omega Warrior.

"This is so awesome no matter how many times I see it!!"

"Yeah, but we need to watch each other's back, Rick. Knowing Shaq and his group they must be in the hiding already."

"Frederick is right, we are already at a disadvantage. They could be everywhere....even here right now!"

"Well, we can't stand and do nothing guys. We need to find them before they send their scout to find us!" If they weren't found yet. The brown-haired boy was thinking about what to do against Shaq. The man was heavily experienced and he never faced him before...However, that made his competitive blood boil even more! Man, he is getting very excited. "Huh?"

"What is it, Richard?"

"Did you guys hear that?" Frederick tilted his head confuse.

"Hear what?" Just then, Richard's instincts kicked in and he carried Alice before yelling to Frederick to get out of the way. At first, Frederick was confused before seeing something flying. That something was a gray grenade and as soon as it landed it exploded taking a few of the nearby trees.

()

Somewhere nearby a tree someone with a native mask was looking at the group patiently.

"Let the hunt...begin."

()

"Urm..." That was the groan of the red-haired girl.

"Is everyone alright?!" Richard asked.

"Yeah...what was that?" Frederick asked.

"I think that was a grenade."

"A grenade? That means they're..." But before he could say anything Frederick shot an arrow at the trees.

"Did you get him...her...whatever it is!" Richard said confuse. It took a few minutes for the answer to come to them.

"Wah!!"

"Richard-kun!" Alice yelled as someone dragged the brown-haired boy away from them at a speed just as incredible as their core friend. Just then two sets of grenades were flying in all directions and the two remaining members separated to get away from the upcoming explosion. However, that gave a chance for someone to attack Frederick.

"Urah!" Frederick blocked an incoming Machete with his bow. Luckily the bow's material was strong to block steel blades otherwise it would realistically break the bow in half.

"Impressive, that's some hard material that you got in that bow, Mate!" He backs Frederick far away before pursuing the flying elf archer.

"This is bad." Alice had to dodge another grenade. "Urgh, this is getting annoying!" Alice annoyed said. Although she was worried about her friends she had to focus on the person responsible for separating them in the first place.

()

Richard was being dragged by the collar of his shirt by the mysterious person that dragged him away from his friends and teammates.

"Damn it let go!!" As Richard struggled to get free that person decided that they were far enough from the two groups and threw him to one of the trees. "Ahhh!" Richard flailed his arms before adjusting himself to touch the tree with his feet and not hit it with his body. As soon as he hits the tree he saw the face of the culprit or to be more precise the mask. He could tell that he was a male by his physique. He was holding a native hunting spear like the ones a tribe will use in order to defend themselves from wild animals and other threats. He was very tall. The one thing that made Richard know this man's identity was the skin color. While the others had a more peach and semi-pale skin the first-ever Omega champion had dark skin similar to Alice's. All of this was processed in the brown-haired boy's mind while descending from the tree and landing on the grassy floor of the forest.

"This should be quite far enough so no one can interfere with our fight," Shaq said before taking his mask off. "From the look on your face, you don't seem surprised."

"Well to tell you the truth I kind of figured it was you as soon as I stopped myself from breaking my back in that tree." Shaq chuckled.

"He was right, you are the perfect prey. I haven't had the pleasure of facing a World champion before although my reason is that I have never seen them as great preys."

"And I'm different from them in..?"

"For instance, you see your friends as comrades who aid you in battle and not just a group of people that aspire for one goal. No, you Richard Kurosagi are a one of a kind."

"I'm honored?" Richard said with a questioned look.

"By now you know the difference in our capacity levels, don't you?"

"I will be a liar if I didn't. The way you dragged me out of my friends and getting as far away from the groups in a matter of seconds is quite impressive on its own." The brown-haired boy stated. Shaq was on another different level than any scout that he has faced before. He can easily tell that the man was a true veteran of the game.

"I appreciate the praise. Now shall we get this fight started?" As soon as he said that he blocked the brown-haired fast slash with his spear.

"Thought you never ask!"

"Aren't we impatient..."

"More like excited!" Richard backed Shaq off before using his speed to walk up a tree.

"Humph, yes this will be a great prey to hunt down," Shaq said as he prepares himself for the biggest hunt of his entire career.

()

Inside Omega Corp, Leos Kishima was enjoying a good cup of coffee while watching the match between first-year champion Shaq Pauldemore and last year's Omega Champion Richard Kurosagi.

"Sir, I know that you created this match but..."

"Hmm? What is it Inès?" He asked the blonde secretary.

"You have a lot of work undone." She said as she gave him a pile of papers.

"Hah, Really? And just when this fight was getting good!" Leos sighed and then look at the pile. Leos sighed one more time he wanted to see this match so badly.

Inside the Forest, the sparks were flying from the different trees as Richard and Shaq's weapon clash upon each other while the two Omega warriors pace from tree to tree with their incredible speed. Shaq tries an upper stab only to Richard to parry the spear and retaliate with his own slash but failing to hit due to the speed of The Hunter of Omega. Richard blocks the following stab before backing away to another tree.

"Man, this is going to be tougher than I thought." Said the brown-haired boy to himself. He goes down with Shaq following him suit.

"Can I ask you something, Kurosagi?" Shaq asked.

"Yeah sure."

"You were the last singles champion. Why did you decide to become part of a team? When I was the champion I defended my title against the world before as you see created this team with my former colleagues from college. But you...you're the first one to ever win the title and not defend it this year. So I ask again as a fellow Omega Champion: Why are you not defending your title as the best singles warrior in the world?"

"Oh, that! Well...It's not like I am not thrilled to do so, on the contrary, I will be excited to defend my title against newcomers and previous competitors. It's just that...I always want to have fun with my friends!"

"Have fun?"

"Yep, Fighting alone is challenging and fun but before I fought in singles competition I fought in a team match with Alice, against Frederick, since that day I always thought that maybe...just maybe we can have fun together as a team and who knows become the best team in the world."

"Why didn't you?"

"Alice...well she was, hmm how should I say it...I guess not good with people? No, I think she was a bit inexperienced with Omega back then. Frederick was okay but we couldn't rely on him always."

"But here you're leading a team."

"Yeah but is not me who decided that! It was my friends."

"Are you upset that they decided that?!"

"What?! No! No! It's just that...I don't want people to say "Oh look is the past Omega Champion. Huh? Who are those two with him?" Then the other person saying: "Meh, they must be just his teammates, I bet they were desperate to find a partner" and that's not it! I want people to see the team as a whole and not as only me!" Richard told the African native.

"Hmm...I see. Yes, it seems that I was correct, you're definitely a special one indeed. One who looks after it's teammates so they can be treated as equal. A true leader should be thinking that always. When I lost my tittle I thought about what to do after. It was on one of my trips to Australia that I reunited with Crocodile and Geisha. We talked about the old times before Crocodile suggested that we made a team. At first, I was surprised since I didn't know they were also playing this game. It's funny how the world works, correct?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean...I wonder if she learned about us already."

"Hmm?"

"Oh sorry just talking to myself now then shall we continue?" Richard told him.

"Yes."

"Okay, Let's get Round two started!" They both vanish.

()

Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, the red-haired Japanese teen and her friend were fighting Shaq's former colleagues. While Alice was busy dodging grenades from a concealed Geisha, Frederick was blocking and trying to get some distance from the Australian hunter Crocodile.

"This is not good," Frederick said to himself dodging another slash from Crocodile's machete.

"Come on Mate! Don't make this boring!" Crocodile said as he exerts more pressure on the black-haired boy.

"Where are you?" Alice said before dodging another grenade. She growled in frustration before looking at the direction where it was thrown. She would've asked for help from her friend but he looks very busy with the Australian hunter. "Ugh, this is getting annoying!" Said the red-haired dark-skinned Before she swatted the grenade to the other side before said grenade detonated.

*Boom*

The trees were now nothing but splitters and ashes as the fire starts to spread all over the forest.

Frederick, on the other hand, was now shooting arrows to Crocodile who surprisingly deflected all of them with its giant machete even slicing one in half.

"Come on Mate! You can do better than this!" said the Australian before moving at great speed despite his size. Frederick is thinking however in how to defeat his opponent. He knew how the true question is can he make sure his opponent doesn't notice the effect of one of his special arrows.

"I hope this works!" Frederick said as he shoots the arrow. Time slows down as the arrow travels from one side to the other towards Crocodile who deflected it to the ground as said arrow spiked itself into the solid earth soil.

"It's that all? Maybe we should end this now." Crocodile said before seeing Frederick smile. Confused Crocodile asked... "What are ya smiling about, mate!?"

"Oh, it is just that is funny you said "End this now" because I was thinking the same thing right now." As soon as the black spiky-haired boy said that a beeping sound was heard from the Australian's feet as he looks he sees what the beeping was. The arrow that he deflected from Frederick had a red-colored light on the tail of the arrow and in a few seconds, the next thing that followed was an explosion.

()

Far away the earth shook making Richard stumble a bit.

"Whoa, what was that?" The brown-haired boy asked himself before blocking the incoming spear. "Okay, got to focus. Haa!" He screamed as he backs Shaq off and uses his speed to try and get into the African native's defense, however, Shaq being the veteran that he is parry Richard's dagger and grabbed Richard by his shirt before slamming him into a tree. "Ow! Okay, bad idea." Richard then sidestepped to the left before disappearing and re-appearing on the other side. Shaq pulled his spear out of the tree.

"It seems our comrade's battles are at its ends." Shaq pointed out in which Richard will have to agree to be honest. He was a bit worried that one of his friends might be already in the real world. If that's the case then he really needs to defeat the African native as soon as possible before he gets into a 2 on one or even worse 3 vs 1. It will also be good because once he defeats Shaq then the game will be over as he is the core of the group and whenever the core is defeated so is the team. To Richard's relief he heard the announcer say these words:

"Team Hunter's Powerhouse has been defeated."

"Maybe we should do the same."

"Sure, although I have a question for you."

"Yes, what is it?" Shaq was curious about what the brown-haired boy was going to ask. Is it about his purpose of wanting to fight him? Maybe is about the tournament? Whatever it is...

"Are they going to make other tournaments like this around the world? No that's really stupid of course they would. I think what I am trying to say is will we see each other again in the Omega World Tournament?"

"Hmm...we might. That's, of course, depends on how we perform in our respective tournaments." Shaq confirmed.

"That's awesome! Man, I can't wait for what new opponents We will face!" The brown-haired boy said excitedly. They're so many different opponents in the world and he cannot wait until he met and battle them in the world tournament. However, in order to do that they must win the upcoming tournament and who knows what opponent will participate in it. One thing is for sure, Harry will definitely be there. He wouldn't be his rival if he didn't but for now... "But right, now." The brown-haired boy used his speed to appear behind Shaq who uses his speed to dodge the incoming slash. The native leader of Team Hunter tried to counter with a stab from his spear but Richard uses his speed to stay out of harm's way. The two of them weren't going to give the momentum to their opponent as it was apparently much to the surprise or thrill of the 1st ever Omega World Singles Champion that one false step will lead to their team's defeat. Shaq was fine doing this as his stamina despite his age was similar to any teenage boy currently at this age. Eventually, the African native thought that the boy will tire up from this dodge and catch game, and when he leaves an opening...he will strike.

Richard, on the other hand, wasn't getting tired at all, in fact, his stamina was at a max peak, most likely because his opponent was a former champion and as the current champion he always finds it fun fighting new and strong opponents. The brown-haired boy was wondering whether or not to use his White Dragon Strike Fang. It was his only out now but he needed to get an opening from him.

()

Geisha had to re-group after the explosion that occurred nearby. After hearing that Crocodile was defeated she need it to find a better spot to set up. This is the weakness of being a supporter you might give the advantage for your teammates but this class cannot fight one on one against most of the classes except the new magician class. Sooner or later she will have to...

"Now where is she?" Asked the red-haired opponent that she was hiding from. If she manages to defeat her then she will have an easier time with the other opponent, knowing him...He must be on his way toward the red-haired girl's location. She needs to...Geisha decided to use her main weapon, A very bright blood red combat knife with a ring-shaped handle. The sound of clicking was heard from the ring showing a tube on the bottom side the size of a peashooter. In the middle of said ring was a button that most likely was the trigger. Now, all Geisha had to do was make sure that the content that was inside the peashooter like tube from her weapon hits her target. "Hey come out now and fight!" She should end this now since if Shaq is eliminated then the game will be over.

Alice heard the noises coming from the nearby trees and decided to unleash the chain that hides and connects each half of the pole surprising the supporter of Team Hunter dragging her down one of the trees.

"I got you now!" Yelled the red-haired priestess. Geisha thinking fast tilted her knife and aimed the tube at Alice's neck before pressing the button. From the tube, a small needle escaped and stung Alice's neck. "Ow." Said Alice before loosening the grip of the chain from Geisha who use this opportunity to escape the chain completely. Alice reached her neck and peeled off the small needle of her neck. However, the next thing that happens made Alice world dizzy. Alice questioned herself what was happening before Geisha spoke.

"Are you feeling the effects? It will be impossible for a supporter to defeat a powerhouse normally. But, My weapon neutralizes the disadvantage that a supporter normally has against said class. The needle contains a poison that will slowly drain your health points not only that but your movements become slow. So even if you manage to defeat me here by a miracle our leader will not have a 3 to 1 disadvantage." That was Geisha's explanation to the red-haired teen.

(Damn.) Alice's vision was becoming a bit blurry meaning the poison was already taking effect on her.

"Nothing personal but in order to become the best team in the world you must find different ways of defeating your opponent especially the ones you're weak against." The supporter of Team Hunter said. Before Geisha could deliver what it seems to be the final blow on her, The mature woman sidestepped to the left dodging an incoming arrow that spiked itself on a tree.

"Are you alright, Alice?" Alice's response was covering her mouth in an attempt to stop the content of her stomach from going out. The poison was at a point that it made her nauseous and she can barely see who the enemy was in front of her anymore.

"Watch Out!" Alice Push Frederick out of the way before another needle was impaled in her neck. This was enough to knock The powerhouse of Team Omega out before she transformed into fireflies.

"Team Omega's Powerhouse has been eliminated."

"Damn," Frederick said as he shook himself before he dodged. He doesn't know why but his body and mind were yelling at him to move out of the way since Alice seemed to warn him about something. That did not stop Geisha who went and pushed the button again making Frederick retreat to one of the trees. The sound of wood being hit by an object confirmed Frederick that whatever happened to Alice had something to do with the weapon that the mature hunter women had. He unloads an arrow before carefully peeking to see Geisha approaching.

"There's no escape. Sooner rather than later you will come out, boy. If you do not...Hmm maybe it will not matter as once Shaq defeats Last year's champion this game will be over." She does have a point. The only reason that he came here for was so they could defeat Shaq together. Despite how skillful Richard is he might not stand a lot of chance against the first-ever Omega World Champion alone. That is why he must finish this fast before the words "Team Omega's Core was eliminated" can be heard through the intercom.

"Here goes!" The elf archer boy unleashes released an arrow from his bow making Geisha dodge to the right and shoot one of her needles. A duck and cover is not the type of match Frederick wanted right now. He must take care of her if he is going to help his friend. The best he can do is to make sure that he gives all the time that the brown-haired boy needs to finish this match. He can only hope it will be enough.

()

The Klinks and Swoosh sound were heard throughout the forest as Shaq and Richard continue to try to get the upper hand. A swing from the Brown-haired boy forced the first-ever Omega World Champion to back away and use his speed to get some distance.

"Core Shift! Powerhouse!" Shaq said as his spear transformed into a wider metallic spear. Its head was shaped like a cone while the back had an arrow shape form. The center had a handle that will make the maneuvering of the weapon easier for the user.

"That's awesome. Although why would he do that?" Richard questioned himself. Most of the time Scout vs Scout would be good! Heck, he expected the Core Shift to be Defender as they can easily defeat Scouts. Why would the first time Omega champion shift his class into one who has a major disadvantage against Scouts normally?! In any case...Using his speed the brown-haired boy went after the brown-skinned African hunter but to his surprise, Shaq easily dodged his swift slash from his Kris dagger before this one did a swift swing with it's newly transformed spear which the brown-haired barely dodged.

"Are you surprise Kurosagi? Did you think that just because I change my class to powerhouse using my Core Shift that you would have an advantage against me?"

"To be honest I thought so." Was the reply of the brown-haired boy who proceeds to dodge each and every swift swing. It didn't make any difference if the African native changes his class from a Scout to Powerhouse. He right now was attacked as he was still a scout itself. Being the first-ever world champion must have made him train his classes to a point that it does not matter if the African native goes as a supporter. That made the brown-haired fired up! "But I guess this is why this game is fun!" Richard's diamond necklace glowed a bit before it faded however this was not unnoticed by a certain owner of this game.

()

"Oh!" said Leos as he saw his Hexagon stone glow before it dissipated. "Well, this is very interesting indeed!" The owner of Omega smiled. This tournament will be a very good place to reunite some of the 11 children of the branch families. On the other hand, Leos secretary Inès was thinking. What is her boss's real goal? There has to be a motive to put the first and the last Omega World Champion to battle. It's as if he's trying to test the brown-haired boy and his two other teammates. For now, all she can do is watch this match with her boss.

()

Outside Omega, Alice's Necklace glowed for a bit before it dissipated.

"Eh?... That was strange." Alice said as she looks at the necklace but nevertheless kept looking at the match on the big monitor.

()

Somewhere in Paris inside a room was a girl was on her bed knitting a doll. She was small and has long white hair that cascade through her body as the front of her hair covered her left eye, which was gray while the doll's hair was colored blond and was as long as her creator. She has an emotionless yet mischievous expression on her face. she was dressed like her doll the exception that her doll has short black heels while she has black boots. Her lips are painted in deep black while her doll's lips were colored light red. On her left hand, she had a bracelet that holds a black coffin and on her neck a silver cross. It is surprising how this girl was 13 years of age considering her small petite doll-like body. As she worked she stops for a second when the black coffin bracelet started to glow before dissipating.

"Hmm, interesting." Said the girl.

"My Lady." The girl stops her work to look toward the door to see her butler. He was 40 years old with short white hair and goatee. The butler was dressed in a white buttoned shirt, black pants, black boots, and a black vest. He was very tall towering the petite girl by a foot and a half and he seemed to have a slim body. He has a gold monocle on his left eye and carries a silver watch on his left pocket hanging freely from it but attached by a golden chain that is attached to his pocket.

"Irogan, is there something that you want to inform me?" The old butler took his monocle off and from his pocket, he cleaned said monocle with a white sheet before putting it back to his left eye.

"Yes, it seems that an invitation was given to you by the father of your childhood friend."

"Oh really?" Now that got the girl's interest. What would Leos want with her now?

"...Yes. It seems that a tournament is being held and he wants you to participate in it."

"Participate?" Now, why would he invite her to a tournament of the game?

"This letter might answer your questions." He hands over the letter and she read it.

"I see...Interesting indeed." Her lips curled upwards before she looks at her doll and put it on her ear. "Ah, yes Magdalene I think so too. Hmm, what's that? Do you want to participate too? I do not mind at all it seems that is the goal of Leos after all."

"My lady. Is it time?" The butler asked. She handed the invitation to Irogan before finishing knitting Magdalene and getting off her big queen size bed.

"It seems that way Irogan. Leos seems to think so too. I will not be surprised if they start to make their move once we start to gather together in this tournament. From the way he is inviting me to this tournament and the way he wrote the letter, he seems to think that as soon as the tournament starts or when it is at its climax they will do something." The girl said to him.

"I see. The invitation also said that you must at least fight one of the teams listed here."

"Hmm..." She looks at the list. There were a lot of names in there but not too many caught her interest. There was one team that caught her eye and that was Team Alpha a team that formed three months ago in Russia and have been the hot talk in Paris. The team consisted of 4 girls led by Aeris Russo daughter of a former Omega Pro player Senna Russo. Right now Aeris' mother is working as a communicator from one of the big malls in Russia which holds the 3rd biggest Omega game, the second being this one here in Paris and the largest being in America. Maybe she can pick...Just then she saw a very intriguing name. "Irogan?"

"Yes My Lady?"

"Who...is this Team Omega?" Irogan looks at the name.

"Ah, Yes! I believe that's the new team that has been talked about. It consists of 3 members. Two males and one female. I believe last year's Omega World Champion is leading them?"

"Oh?!" This got the white-haired girl's attention. She has seen the boy battle before. She has to admit he has good potential also that aura of his was incredible. However, his true potential hasn't been unlocked yet as he still lacks the energy to use even a special move or ability. With Him being the core he at least has the ability to shift into any class however the risk of being eliminated means the whole team loses the match similar to a power plant. Remove its core and it will not function at all unless there's an emergency one and in this game there's none. "If that is the case...I think I have my choice!" her lips went upward as she said that. It has been a while since she has made her presence known in the world of Omega plus going outside once in a while won't hurt a bit. "Irogan, is there a possible way that I can attend Lycée High?"

"...I see. I will seek to it that the arrangement for you to attend is accepted."

"Hmm, see that you do."

()

Richard felt something inside him. He took it as adrenaline as he was having a fun match with the first-ever Omega World Champion. Shaq had the same feeling only this one of having the perfect prey. He hasn't had this much of a challenge ever since "they" arrived. It is no surprise to him that the boy in front of him is following their footsteps. That is why he must test him if he got what it takes to lead this team to higher grounds.

"Shall we finish this hunting game, Richard Kurosagi?"

"Well, as much as I don't want this fun game to end I guess we must, right?"

"Seems we are in an agreement, well then..." Shaq starts concentrating before a bright yellow aura surrounds him. "Haaaaaaah!!" Shaq let out a battle scream before the ground shook.

"Awesome," Richard whispered.

"Now then..." With this new aura, Shaq went on a speed that made the brown-haired boy instantly raise his dagger up to block the spear. This, however, was short-lived as the African native former champion used his newfound strength to overpower the teen resulting in Richard flying toward the trees breaking one of them in half.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" were the grunts of pain from the last year's champion as he tries to recover. However, it was not meant to be as he had to react even faster to the upcoming attack from Shaq who was already instantly on the offensive. The brown-haired boy tries to use his speed to an advantage but Shaq's power-up has given him equal speed.

"You won't escape me easily this time." The African native said before this one lunge himself into the brown-haired boy who barely escapes the attack and only gut grazed in the left shoulder.

"Good thing this is a game. Otherwise, this will sting for weeks." Richard said even thou it still stung in the game it will not transfer to the real world thanks to the safety program. He will have to defeat Shaq now but he wonders what can he do to let the first time Omega singles champion guard off for a split second before he unleashes his new finishing technique. Well, he will have to think while fighting because Shaq continued the pressure. Sidestep left, duck, sidestep right, sidestep left, attack, block, block, sidestep right, attack. This was one of the many patterns that this fight was following x5 speed the normal human. Richard was now figuring out each move of Shaq and was now ready to counter-attack. After a few attempts by Shaq the African native try to swipe Richard but to his surprise the brown-haired boy anticipated this move and caught the spear with his free hand.

"What?" was the surprise response from him.

"It was difficult to figure out your pattern but I manage to do it," Richard said as his dagger glowed brightly. "Sorry but this game is over Shaq!" with his dagger charged up before unleashing his attack. "White Dragon Strike Fang!" Richard swung his sword. Shaq didn't have enough time and took a slash that quickly transformed into a white line that sends him flying.

"Huahhh!!" screamed the African native who kept going until it crashed on one of the trees before a huge explosion occurred.

()

Meanwhile, Frederick and Geisha stopped their battle when the ground shakes.

"What the?" Frederick said before he heard the announcer's voice.

"Team Hunter's core has been defeated, Team Hunter has been eliminated. Result: Team Omega Wins!" And with that, they were all transported back to reality.

Outside the remaining players appeared from the teleporters.

"Phew, that was a ride," Richard said sighing.

"Way to go, Richard!" Alice said happily that they won.

"It was indeed a very good one."

"Oh Shaq." the six people involved looked at each other.

"That was a great match I say, mate. I was really surprised about your arrows boy."

"Thanks your hunting instincts were a bit unpredictable."

"I see great things from this group. Just like a group we face back a week ago." Geisha said.

"Ah, yes. Her group was formidable. Hmm, perhaps she will come here."

"Another group?"

"Yes, she seemed excited to come back to this city said it has been a while."

"Well, whoever she is I can't wait to face her!" Richard said with excited fire in his eyes. The other two sighed but expected this reaction for him. New people equals new opponents for the brown-haired boy and they, of course, will be going for the ride with him.

()

As the conversation with Team Omega and Team Hunter continued. Somewhere in Paris, a 16-year-old long pink-haired Caucasian teen with light purple eyes looked at her necklace. The necklace had a small silver Rubix cube. The Rubix cube a few minutes ago started to move on its own. It wasn't the first time though as She called her parents the previous time who replied that they will investigate as soon as they have free time. Her mother works in Omega as one of the operators of the game in Russia while her father works as a scientist in the same country. She was given this cube during her 13th Birthday as a gift. She solved it within 2 days afterward but every time she went to sleep the cube was in a different place than she put it. She found it strange but shrugged it off as her nanny moving it herself. But now it happened again but this time on its own. The Rubix of Knowledge...this was one of the rumored 12 pieces.

"Aeris." The pink-haired beauty looked to her right to see one of her teammates. The girl was the same age but a few inches taller than her. Her hair was very short and was colored brown. Her eyes a mystical blue sea color her face very serious and noble. She was dressed in a black and white dirndl with long white socks and black short heels.

"Adel."

"Is something wrong? You were watching the Rubix of Knowledge react."

"Um, no. is just..."

"...Hmm, I see. Do you think the stories that we were told be true?"

"About how the 12 children fought against the Dragon Seifer? Come now, that's just a fairytale. None of that is true."

"So you say but it does not explain why you space out or have this...dreams about the past. Plus the fact that Genre mentioned that she heard a different rhythm when her piece glowed." Aeris sighed. Maybe she just wants to deny it but it kind of scares her that having the Rubix of Knowledge meant having the history of previous holders and their experiences. Genre had the Sharp of Sinfonia which allowed her to read the heart rhythm of the people around her. She has used this to master her skills as their wall by using different genres of music. The more hardcore the rhythm the more violent the walls become and the softer the song the more fluent her defenses become.

"But..."

"In any case let us go we will have to study in this city's high school."

"Ah, yes! We must! I think the name is Lycée High. I just hope that they are there as well."

"You mean your childhood friends?" Aeris nodded. She is very excited to see Richard and Alice after three years. Those three years, were a bit difficult but she manages to pull through thanks to her new friends/teammates. Aeris and her group have been talked about for months as Team Alpha the best team that consists of 4 different countries: Russia, Japan, the U.S.A., and Germany. While they could go to any of the representative tournaments Aeris was given an invitation from Kishima Corp. to participate in France's tournament. As the core of the group, it was her decision of whether to accept or decline the offer.

"Is everyone ready?" The two turn around to see two teens. The one on the left was a teen that seems to be hailing from America who was around 4"10 which was about four inches smaller than Aeris and around 6 on Adel. She had a bob cut hairstyle only a bit longer than the usual bob cut hair and it was colored blonde. Her eyes were blue. Her figure was a bit loli and was dressed in a red blouse and dark blue skirt. She wore long black socks and black sneakers with the soles colored white. She wore headphones with the ear-pads colored black while the rest of the headphone was colored platinum. On her neck a necklace with a transparent Sharp symbol use in music notes. She seemed to be a year younger than them. The one on the right was older than them and she was an Asian, Japanese to be more precise. She was slightly taller than Adel by two inches. Her hair was semi-long and black tied in a fishtail style, while her eyes were brown. She was dressed in a white long sleeves shirt and black jeans. She wore white sandals.

"Yuma. Genre." Genre nodded then proceeded to listen to the music she was hearing a note from her banging her head up and down was an indication from the girls that she was listening to a metal song right now.

"We are. Aeris seems to have been worried about the Rubix." Adel said.

"Hmm, well we can't do much about that. We still don't know anything and her parents haven't given the news about it. We can only assume on the stories that we were told when we were little kids." Yuma answered before Genre turned the volume of her headphones down.

"Tournament...we might find the answers there." She might be right, maybe the owner knows something about this. Until then they will have to wait, so until that time. Aeris will have to be patient and hope she can reunite with her childhood friends.

 

"Some of The Legendary Pieces have responded to the call. The start of something big is upon us..."

 

7: Chapter 6: The Doll Master

"Maîtresse de poupées..."

It was another weekend in the Omega Arcade Station Richard, Alice and Frederick came out of the movies as they saw "House of Dolls".

"Well, that was good!!" Richard stretches very happy to have watched a horror movie.

"Yeah, it was but." Frederick agreed with him before he looked toward Alice who is as white as a ghost. "I think we should've reconsidered."

"D-D-Dolls, E-Everywhere." Alice stammered in fear while trembling in the process. She hated horror movies but Richard said it would help her have courage so she decided to give it a try. She regrets it now as the movie was with something that she fears the most.

"Oh, come on Alice is just a movie; you know that dolls can't walk on their own," Richard assured her.

"I-I know it-it just that, too many dolls in a house." Alice trembled.

"I think it was a bad idea to bring her," Frederick whispered to Richard, which tilted his head in confusion.

"Huh? What are you talking about? If we're going to watch a premiere we might as well watch it together." Richard answered cluelessly.

"Yeah but..." Frederick looks at the scared and trembling red-haired Japanese girl. "Even some people have limits." Richard thought that Frederick had a point rapidly spoke.

"Um, well say how about we go to Omega that way you will get better and have fun!!" Richard smile at Alice and puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Um...Y-yeah, okay," Alice said unsure, I mean Richard was right there was no way that dolls could walk on their own, the problem was that this phobia started because when she was a child she visited a mansion of an old friend of her mother. She then went to a room full of dolls and she started to become scared because of the way the dolls were aligned. She felt as if the dolls were looking at her very soul. Hence why she never goes near dolls made of wax or any other dolls that are human-like. She still goes near cute animal dolls but human-like ones? That's out of the question!

"Alright then let's go!!!" Richard eagerly runs to the Arcade section. Frederick sighed, how can someone like him have no fear over horror movies, Frederick got startled in some parts but Richard...he doesn't tremble, startle, or even flinch nothing he just sees it as someone that is reading a light novel or a story on the internet and can't wait for the next issue or chapter to be finished and published. Some nerves of steel his friend has.

()

Meanwhile, outside the Omega Arcade Station, a white-haired girl and her butler were walking toward the entrance.

"Is been a while since I enter this place." she smiled though no one could tell if it was out of happiness considering that her emotionless doll-like eyes never show her real emotions. "Of course that's what I would have said if I was older." She and her butler entered The Arcade Station.

Richard, Frederick, and Alice are inside Icicle World and they are almost done with their opponents.

"Haaaa!!" Richard screamed as he swung his Kris dagger sword to slash a boy with a sword that had a curved angle and the boy dissipates into fireflies.

"Team Sendai's scout has been eliminated."

"You're wide open!!" Another boy said from behind the brown-haired boy. As he was about to hit Richard with a hammer he's snared by Alice's chain.

"So did you!!" Alice screams and slammed the last boy down thus ending the game.

"Team Sendai's core has been defeated. Team Sendai's been eliminated...Game Over. Results: Team Omega wins!"

"That was a reliever now I feel better about my doll issues." Alice stretches and smiles as they are all engulfed by a blue light sending them back to the real world.

"That was fun!!" Richard said more excited than before.

"Yeah." Frederick agreed.

"So Alice how do you feel? I'm really sorry if I drag you to see the movie." Richard asked her before apologizing.

"Eh? Oh No! Is, is okay Richard I-I would have been bored for the next two and a half hours if you didn't." Alice said while blushing.

"Listen how about next time you choose the next movie, okay?" Richard suggested and she nods with a smile.

"Okay!!"

"What kinds of movies can a loser as you could possibly choose? Oh let me guess something like romance or drama I presume." said someone they knew and hated. They turn to see the arrogant three times Omega World Champion Harry Kishima with his usual smirk.

"Harry."

"What do you want?" The red-haired dark skin female of the group asked the arrogant former 3 times champ.

"Humph, is not what I want is what you'll get, you see I just heard that someone wanted competition just like you so I decided, hey why not arrange a match between you and this opponent?" Harry simply said but the group wasn't buying any of it. The son of the owner of Omega Corps. Will never forgive the people that defeated them. He will try and find a way to humiliate them this shouldn't be an exception.

"Don't give us that we know you wouldn't do something unless it is for your very own benefits." Answered Alice.

"Heh, your run will run out sooner or later losers, and when that happens I will be there sitting on a first-row seat."

"Oh." Harry heard the voice. He turns around only to be greeted by the sight of the white-haired girl and her butler...of course who should forget about her third companion.

"D-D-D-Doll!" Alice hides behind Richard.

"Ah, Miss Emuna Chariot. It seems you accepted the invitation that my father sent you." Harry greeted her. Emuna Chariot and The Kishima's more specifically Harry's little sister hung out and played with the white-haired girl all the time. It has been 5 years since then so to see the white-haired girl again the sole young owner of the Chariot State here was a rare occasion indeed.

"It is nice to see you have rarely change Harry Kishima. Hmm, has your sister been well?"

"Yes, as we speak she is being taught by the best teachers that our family can afford. Alas, she will not be free until late this summer probably the second month."

"Hmm, I see...Hmm?" Emuna said before leaning toward her doll. The doll had a white Lolita outfit and long blonde hime cut hair and fading blue eyes. Her porcelain face had a neutral frown with black heels to match its beauty. However, Alice Pediophobia prevented her from even locking eyes toward the mysterious white-haired girl. "Really? I am sure she must have a reason to hide."

"Er, excuse me but..."

"Ah, my apologies I should introduce myself. My name is Emuna Chariot I am the owner of Chariot State."

"Chariot State? Oh yeah, I heard of that, that's the mansion that creates millions of dolls. It is said that people will pay a lot of money for them to get the best porcelain dolls in France." Frederick has heard of the state. So she is the owner, she seems way too young for owning such a huge mansion.

"Fufu, Yes. Although it is true right now as we speak I am in my week off."

"Milady."

"Ah yes I must apologize again Irogan, this is my butler..." The white-haired said introducing her butler who put his right hand on his chest and slightly bowed his head.

"It is an honor to meet you all, I am Irogan Horloge."

"Is nice meeting you."

"Likewise."

"Hmm, do you want to say something Regalia?" The white-haired girl puts the doll on her ear before nodding. "Oh, you're right. Harry, Regalia wanted to be sure that your father knows about our arrival and the arranged match." Harry looked at her bewildered when he just asked that, thinking that this girl was somewhat delusional. He wonders how his little sister became friends with such a strange girl.

"Er, sure."

"Good. By the way..." Her attention went to the hiding teenage girl. "It seems that we have a Pediophobic person."

"Ep!"

"Fufu, do not worry Regalia is harmless, at least in the real world she is. In any case, I have heard of you being the new upcoming team. Team Omega I presume?"

"Yep, that's us!" Richard answered. Emuna noticed that Alice had a black necklace that hung a fake ruby stone the size of a small pearl.

(Is that...Hmm, interesting so this is why you're gathering everyone, Leos.) "Well, then shall we not waste any more time?"

"You're the opponent Harry was talking about?!" Frederick asked the white-haired girl.

"Yes, I may not seem like it but I am a very experienced Omega player."

"Really? Awesome, let's go! I really like seeing and facing new opponents!" Charismatically exclaimed the brown-haired leader of Team Omega.

"Fufufu, very well. Irogan if you must." The white-haired girl handed Regalia over to her butler."

"Of course, Milady."

As they walk away toward the game, Alice kept her distance away from the doll until she was sure it was far away for her to be comfortable.

()

Meanwhile on Omega Corp. Leos was just enjoying his lunch along with his coffee. He was very comfortable...maybe more comfortable than he should be because a light cough caught his attention. He turns around to see the bespectacled blonde secretary Inès with a scowl on her face.

"Oh Inès, is there something wrong?" asked the owner.

"Sir...have you been working on the upcoming maintenance?"

"Hmm, oh yes! I just wanted to relax a bit." answered the father of Harry.

"Have you been watching the activities in the Omega Arcade Station?"

"Um...Yes?" Inès sighed.

"Sir I just received a call that the codes that they received for testing the new upgrades for the walls and Magicals were not working. I even message you too."

"Really?!" Said the surprised Leos before getting up from the comfortable new couch that was brought to his office just a few hours ago and went to his computer check his message and behold right there the screen said: Welcome Mr. Kishima you have, 19 unread messages. He clicks and a list appeared and as she said Inès message was the most recent one...from 4 hours ago! "Well, I'll be you are correct. Huh? there's one from 9 hours ago about the next scheduled event from the U.K. too."

"Sir..."

"Yes?"

"Please, take these situations a bit more seriously. Ever since Team Omega has defeated your son and the first Omega Single's champion's team, Team Hunters you have been non-stop been watching their matches."

"But...I am taking my work seriously...I think." Inès let out a sight slightly of frustration toward her boss. He needs to be serious about these types of work. Recently there have been reports of hackers trying to invade the games. Luckily their anti-virus programs that are scattered all over the world have been doing a good job restraining and deleting said viruses. So far they haven't targeted the big ones like the one in America, Japan or even here in France. However, one needs to be sure that they do not leave any openings to hackers especially ones that can bypass the firewalls and can fight off the anti-viruses.

()

Ready to have their match Team Omega and Emuna are getting ready to be transported to the wonderful world of Omega.

"Are both competitors ready?" The bunny girl MC said to them.

"We're ready!" the charismatic leader of Team Omega said.

"You may transport us MC," Emuna said and besides her was her doll looking as lifeless as a doll should be.

"Good luck My lady," Irogan told the white-haired girl.

"Alright, The level for this fight will be...S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City!" S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City short for Station of Kross & Heroes, International Gears High City, is the modern stage of Omega and the one that resembles most of the major cities of the world. It is known as "The city that always evolves" as the city looks slightly different every time. It is because of this that this is everyone's favorite Omega stage. "Get ready! Entering Omega...Now!" They got sent to the city. The city's new look as they land; has a giant gear in the center rotating and going up and down from a scale made of silver. Below them, there were speed train rails before said bullet train colored white passed. There was more skyscraper than the last time they saw. There were around 50 the last time they played at this stage now they are around 100 with previous one seeming to have added 10 more floors. About 30% of the skyscrapers were made of solid stone while the rest was a combination of steel and glass. Aside from the giant gear, the city seems to be encased in a bubble as outside there were different pods that were inside of tubes that could be used to enter the city. The outside is remarkable as the scenery of trees was seen from the distance most likely a forest as lights shined on it, this one is most likely where the water source might come from. It also was the night too so the moon and the stars made the scenery more fantastic. While the streets were lighted by the lights from the buildings and poles.

"Is still lives to its quote "the city that always evolves"," Frederick stated.

"So where do you think we should start looking to find our opponent," Richard asked.

"Hmm, I'll say stick together, for now, we still don't know anything about our opponent's ability other than the fact that she is a core. Although didn't you find strange that her butler put the doll that she was carrying the majority of the time with her on one of the teleporters?"

"Oh yeah, I wonder why he did that?" Questioned the brown-haired boy.

"Can we please just get this over? I have a bad feeling about fighting against this girl." Alice said. She had this shaking feeling that the white-haired girl was a strange one especially when she said that her doll was harmless in the real world. Does that mean the reason that creepy doll was sent here was because...

"Okay, I guess we should go then." They proceed to enter the building that was closest to the Gear. Unbeknown to them someone was watching them from one of the crystal buildings stuck in the center window looking intensively with it's cold almost dead blue eyes.

()

Upon entering the building the group realizes one thing. Since this is a match and not story mode the place looked like an abandoned building. Not a single NPC was in here not to even welcome them in this building. They look at the logo of this building that they know is a company. It has a huge golden dragon with a person clad in silver armor and a sword on his left-hand riding said dragon. The company's name was called "The Dragon Tamer Enterprise"

"Sometimes I forget that in matches they're no NPC in the buildings only inside the bullet trains and below where the homes are," Frederick mentioned.

"Yeah, it is as if we just got transported to a ghost city. Usually, even at night, there will be some people walking in this part of the city and even working on some of them." Richard follows Frederick's words. Alice had a chill down her spine this whole time. She was getting close to the brown-haired boy in a sense of protection. In a sense, some people will see this as pathetic especially to powerhouses who have to have nerves of steel and even uses their pure power to fight even the most intimidating of enemies.

"Hey, Richard can you scout the building quickly to see if there are enemies inside?"

"On it Frederick." With a whoosh sound, the brown-haired boy went ahead and scout the place.

"Hmm? Hey, are you okay Alice?" asked the black-haired boy to the cute red-haired miko.

"Um, er, yeah. It just...I feel like, we're being watched." Alice answered before she felt another chill.

"Hmm..." Frederick looks around even the ceiling but couldn't see anything around them. "Well, I don't see anything around us so..." As soon as Frederick said that the brown-haired boy arrived after his quick exploration of the building.

"Seems is all clear."

"Hmm, well no one said it would be easy to find 1 player in a big city. I guess we better get going." in a matter of seconds while it looks like it was normal speed it was actually Richard's perspective. Someone clad in white lolita dress with blonde hime cut hair and cold blue eyes dragged Frederick off to one of the nearby windows where his body crashed.

"Frederick!"

"Hyaaa!" was the scream of Alice.

"Alice?!"

"D-D-D-DOLLS!!" Trembling the red-haired girl pointed to the ceiling. The brown-haired boy looks to see about 80 dolls with different hair colors from red, blue, purple, black, and orange, different hairstyles: from braids, ponytails, loose, and even hime cut hairstyle. Every doll had a different lolita dress from blue to yellow. However, one doll seems to be different than the others. This doll had short amber hair with red eyes. In her hand, she had a Vel. The point of the Vel was silver while the handle was made of crystal.

"Whoa."

"It is outstanding, isn't it?" The voice of the white-haired girl resonated around the building. As many dolls separated to open a path Emuna descended slowly thanks to the help of the dolls. She looked exactly the same the only change was the fact that she held a sword made of strings. Some of those strings glowed a faint blue.

"Um, Just to be sure, this is you doing it legally, right?" Richard asked. Emuna let out a chuckle.

"Fufu, I can assure you Kurosagi this is all my ability at work. Regalia being put in the teleporter is also legal as she counts as my teammate. In order for her to be at full strength, she must enter the teleporter. Alas, even now Magdalene cannot tap her full potential." Emuna explained.

"Master, they seem to have the same..."

"Ah, yes Magdalene they do, it seems that is just a matter of time before they make their move."

"They?" Richard said a bit confused.

"It is nothing you should be worried about Kurosagi. Now then show me how strong you and your teammates are?" The dolls start to approach the two teens. Alice has already closed her eyes in fear not wanting to see them. Richard, on the other hand, knowing that he wouldn't be able to fight off this many "people" decided to grab Alice and use his speed to retreat to a safe place. "And here I was eager to face the holder of the Dragonite Diamond head-on," Emuna said a tad bit disappointed but at the same time understandable. Only a fool will try to fight an army of heavy weapon dolls and their master without thinking or creating a form of strategy. Even thou, she has seen that the red-haired teen hasn't tapped into the sphere. She can see the problem, to be more specific problems with it: 1. The red-haired girl seems to be more pacifistic than the previous holders who had a bit of a short temper making it easier for them to tap into the Ragging Sphere. 2. Fear, if that girl doesn't overcome this Pediophobia then she won't be able to wake her anger. While rage is a dangerous emotion to control, it is the most needed ingredient in order to gain infinite strength from the sphere.

()

Richard knew that they were in a safe place puts Alice down.

"This should be safe." He can feel the trembling of his companion. He never knew how much severe is this fear of dolls that Alice has. Alice has latch out to his arm in an instinctive attempt to feel protected.

"DON'T LET GO!"

"Alice...Hey, everything will be okay. Listen I know that this is difficult for you, but you have to face this fear head-on."

"No..."

"Alice, look at me." The red-haired girl slowly opens her eyes to see the brown-haired boy with a smile. "There's nothing to fear you have me and Frederick to back you up. No matter what we can do everything even overcome our fears. Hey, you want to know something I actually had a fear myself. I was afraid of letting people down. But Dad always said "It is okay son, in your life, you will have times where you will let some people down. Is life and it will always serve as a learning experience to grow up." I think what I am trying to say is that if you can't face them yourself then let others lend you a hand so you can overcome obstacles."

"Richard..." Alice trembling slowly subsided. He was right, right now they need her in order to battle Emuna. If Emuna is the core and considering that she can call upon dolls she can assume that the white-haired girl's main focus is that of a wall. And what has the advantage against walls? Powerhouses. Yeah, scouts have a decent match-up against them but scouts do less damage, therefore, have a very long time taking down the walls by that time either the walls will beat them or the other teams will reach to help them take care of the scouter. Powerhouse, on the other hand, is built to break walls no matter how strong they are and she is one of them. So without her Richard and Frederick will have a difficult time defeating Emuna and her dolls. Alice mustered some courage and simply nodded in understanding.

"Alright, well even if I said that they're still a matter of what to do against Emuna, not to mention we need to find Frederick."

"I...I think if I can manage to make a crack in her wall of dolls you can use your speed to take her. I mean...aren't walls slower than scouters? Even if she seems light as a feather the cons of walls is a slight decrease in speed and attack to up defenses."

"I guess, can you handle it thou?"

"I-I'll manage."

"Okay."

"Richard..."

"Hmm?"

"...Thank you." The charismatic boy smiled at her.

"No problem that's what childhood friends do!"

"Hm."

Emuna has been walking with her dolls behind her. Magdalene beside her tries to talk with her master.

"Master, about the Dragonite Diamond user and The Ragging Sphere user..."

"What about them Magdalene?"

"Are these connected to the story that master was told as a young child?"

"...Yes. The Legend of the 12 heroes was more than a folk story, it is a prophecy that was foretold to everyone that was chosen to get these pieces." She said before taking her coffin piece in her hand. "These pieces the Coffin of the Soulless is the reason why I could hear the voices of millions of dolls. Their loneliness, their sadness, even their happiness, and anger. There is no emotion that I cannot read not only you girls but from every doll, puppet, and even mannequin in this world. It was very difficult at first to shut down everyone's voices until I can listen to the people that I needed to hear."

"I am sorry Master, it must have been difficult to burden you with our needs." Emuna shook her head.

"Do not worry about that, having you girls as my companions have helped me understand a lot. It even helped me in my loneliness."

"Master..." The conversation could've gone a bit longer but Emuna's back up dolls had to block an incoming line. This gives Magdalene time to carry Emuna out of the way before the line crashes to the windows and keeps going.

"That was very rude of you...Kurosagi." from the trajectory that the attack came from was the brown-haired boy and his childhood friend. Alice despite her fear slowly creeping out, she took a deep breath before facing them head-on.

"I kind of don't like playing hide and seek that much. Hiding is kind of boring. Now tag? That's a different story."

"I see. It seems that your friend is trying to overcome her fear. Good, then this fight is not over yet." Emuna said.

"Oh believe me is not over. This is just the beginning!" Richard said as he gets ready to perhaps have one of the greatest fights in his entire Omega career.

 

"Richard Is Excited to Fight a Strong Opponent...!"

8: Chapter 7: The Hacker

"Can They Overcome The Odds...?!"

After Frederick was launched by someone he couldn't recognize, the masked elf groaned after getting up.

"Man, what just...?" His instincts kicked in as he had to sidestep to the right before rolling to get more distance before taking his aiming position. From the corner of his eyes, he saw a pale woman. Her hair a hime-cut blonde hairstyle while her eyes were a faded blue as if she was very lifeless. Her dress was a white Gothic outfit and black heels with socks to match. In hand, she had a sword with chainsaw teeth around it. Her face was a neutral frown. (Who is she?) Thought the boy. Hmm, come to think of it, her resemblance looked like...

"I need you to be kept away from my Master."

"Your master?" Questioned Frederick. He was confused by this, it took him a few minutes for the gears to move and click in. This woman...SHE IS THE DOLL! "You're...Emuna's doll!"

"You're correct. I am Regalia I am the first doll that my master met. I was a gift given by my master from her parents when she was only 5." This has been a week, first Harry can have robots as his teammates, then they fought a group with the first Omega World Champion in it. Now he is fighting an inanimate object that comes to life inside Omega? What's next?! Is he going to fight a dog that turns into a half-human/half-demon dog?!

"I...really need a rest after this." Rest will have to wait because he had to dodge a charging Regalia. The masked elf retaliated quickly by loading an arrow on his bow and shooting it straight to the head of the doll. Regalia using her speed as a scout dodged it cleanly. Regalia uses her speed before leaping in the air and trying to slash Frederick. The sword starts to make a chainsaw sound while she was descending. Luckily Frederick's reactions were quick and dodged the sword. "Whoa." he sees the damage that could've been inflicted on him. ("Good thing I manage to dodge that.") thought the black-haired boy. If he ever going to defeat the blonde doll he will have to have the reactions of a cat.

()

Richard and Alice were ready to take on Emuna and the army of dolls. Alice was still afraid of them that she have mustered the courage to face her fears on thanks to the brown-haired boy's encouragement. Emuna, on the other hand, was thinking of multiple things. One of them has to do with the pieces that all three of them have in their possession. If Linnet's father Leos Kishima invited her to the tournament, then it meant that he most likely was gathering the owners of each piece. Why? For what purpose? Of the 12 pieces, one of the most intimidating ones is the Pentagram of Manipulation, a piece with the ability to control the minds of people. If that piece gets into the wrong hands they can use this piece to hacked and control people inside this game unless they're protected with an anti-virus program. She assumed that he does have such a program, so, for now, she will have to focus on this fight. Speaking of it that gets the second thing in her mind. How much do they know about their pieces? From the looks of it, they seem unaware of the power that they have dangling around their necks. For example, Alice Hishikawa if she knew about the Ragging Sphere she will not have Pediophobia as that will burden the owner of that piece and be able to do incredible feats of strength. Not to mention that there's a distinguishing aura between being active and not. If active the aura of the user will be dark red, so far she sees nothing of the sort with the red-haired dark skin Japanese teen. Then there's Kurosagi, he doesn't seem to be aware that the owner of the Dragonite Diamond has the ability to transform into one due to the fact that the owner has dragon blood in him. This means that Kurosagi must have a slight tint of dragon's blood inside him. There's also the fact that neither of the pieces was responding to hers. She has read the stories that the owners could know the whereabouts of each other because the pieces responded to each other whereas it is from glowing or from the sound vibrations.

("This is indeed interesting.") she nevertheless prepared herself from the brown-haired boy's attacks. "Magdalene take care of Miss Hishikawa. Use your sniping abilities and the fact that she still fears you to your advantage." The white-haired girl told her doll.

"Yes..." With that reply the brown-haired boy wasting no time use his speed to charge towards Emuna. Despite being a wall Emuna was quite fast and her speed matches almost that of a scouter, the two of them clashed with their weapons with a strange hollow clang. Emuna backs him away and using her sword commanded some of the dolls to go after him. Richard looks to see that most of the dolls had arm cannons ready to shoot him out of the game.

"You're kidding." Using his speed he dodges the shots before he sees some going after him. He dodges one with a rapier follows by another one with a battle-ax before slashing them both. The dolls just dissipate into papers. The boy didn't have enough time to rest as Emuna called upon 8 more dolls these ones with bows. Not only now he has to dodge cannon shots but now arrows?!

"Richard!" Alice said before gasping when Magdalene appeared.

"I am your opponent." The red eyes doll said equipped with a crossbow in hand before kicking the red-haired girl. Alice sent flying crashed into the wall breaking it. The red-haired groaned in pain before she had to deflect an arrow coming her way.

"R-Release!" Alice hesitantly said before unleashing the chain that connected both halves of her pole. Magdalene dodges the half that was coming towards her.

"Is that all?" The doll said emotionless toward the red-haired girl. Magdalene proceeded to kick Alice once again before shooting her crossbow hitting the red-haired in her left arm. "I assume you're a powerhouse? If so, then the way you're now you won't be able to protect your allies. Especially if you fear people like us." People, she says? She is a doll?! An inanimate object. She knows that some can talk but they're sound recorded. This one, however, is alive and walking even talking! The more Alice thinks about it the more creep out she is. However, this doll has a point...if she doesn't fight against her fear and defeat it in battle then she won't be able to help Richard against Emuna who she assumes has more dolls ready to pounce on the brown-haired boy and even more Frederick. They haven't seen him ever since he got sent flying out of the building and into the streets of the city. She is worried that if he is defeated then that other person which she assumes is another doll will come to aid this one. She has to think fast. "Any last words." Alice uses this opportunity to swing with both hands despite having an arrow stuck into her left arm. Magdalene had to dodge from that wild swing. Alice winced from the pain of swinging despite her injuries but with this opening decided to retreat toward the window breaking it before running somewhere. She just hopes that the doll doesn't go after the brown-haired boy otherwise she will feel bad about abandoning her friend to face an army of these dolls. Magdalene, on the other hand, was not going to aid Emuna despite wanting to. Her master has instructed her to fight and defeat the red-haired teen. She has faith that her master will defeat the brown-haired boy resulting in their victory. With this victory, they will be noticed as a threat to this tournament and therefore be the favorites to win it.

()

Frederick has been used to fighting fast opponents like his opponent. However, that did not mean that he has an easy or average match against them. A fight between a scout vs a sniper is 50-50 and it depends on the distance between them. If they fight most of the fight long distance then eventually the sniper will win against the scout. However, if a scout tightens the distance between each other then the advantage goes to the scout since they specialize mostly in close combats and speed. Despite scouts having the lowest damage output, their strings of attacks make up for the lack of damage they can do to the opponents.

("I got to do something to get our distance wider. Otherwise, I will be in a real pickle here.") that was the thought process from the black-haired boy as he keeps shooting arrows to keep Regalia distance in check. Regalia, however, knew that as soon as her distance became farther from the boy she will be at a huge disadvantage and it would be difficult to tighten the distance again.

"I can see in your eyes that you want some distance between us. However, that will not be possible as you can see I can keep my distance as close as possible with my speed." Regalia told Frederick as she attacks him once again. This time Frederick had to block with his hard bow. The sword strikes and tries to saw the wood but the sturdy bow would not budge. Deciding that it is useless Regalia decided to back Frederick away but as soon as possible keep herself close to him giving him no room to breathe or even load an arrow. The black-haired boy has to think of something quickly. He cannot keep blocking forever as eventually the white-haired pale doll will find an opening in his defenses and then strike him and considering that is a sword with the power of a chainsaw he can bet that he might not survive the following strike.

("This isn't good, I have to think of something quickly otherwise...") The masked black-haired boy thought and decide to get his brain gear functioning before his team has less of a chance to defeat their foes.

()

Meanwhile, The brown-haired boy has been on the defensive side for almost all the matches. Emuna seems to have an infinite amount of dolls that she could call upon to block any advances that the boy tried to do towards her. He has to admit this level of pressure he has never experienced it before...and that's what makes it very awesome!

"Oh? You seem to enjoy our little game Kurosagi. Is it that exciting to be pressured and cornered with no way to bypass someone's defenses?" The white-haired asked him.

"Yeah. I really haven't been this excited for a while. Don't get me wrong I always have fun when I enter Omega. However, I haven't had a true fight like this ever since Harry and I faced each other in the finals of last year's World Tournament." He said truthfully. He and Harry had a great match in last year's finals. When Richard won it was considered a huge upset since Harry was on the verge of a 3 peat. He also fought other people who were just as strong and determined as he was. However, while those people became friendly rivals Harry was his one and true rival. Like Yin and Yang, they're both the polar opposite of each other.

"I see. I am wondering, have you heard of "The Legend of The 12 Pieces"?"

"The Legend of...Oh yeah! I heard of it. Dad always told me the story, Hmm, it was about 12 children with different pieces...?" Richard said before trailing off. It has been about 7 years since he heard that story so his memory is a bit foggy about the complete story. He does know that there was a cool one that can transform into a dragon. Dragons are his favorite mythical creature and that's saying something cause the brown-haired boy hates History class but that's the only subject that got his attention.

"You're correct. However, there's more to it than just that. It happened 3,500 years ago the 12 children were represented by 12 family branches. The 12 pieces were given by each of the chosen children after one of the tests given by each branch. Some may vary from living in the wilderness alone for 5 years or entering the dragon's den and being judged by a true living dragon. Another test was that of someone being thrown inside of a cave with no food, no water, and no ropes for safety. Did I mention that the cave is filled with tight spaces, cliffs, and wolves? I could mention the other 9 tests but we would be here all day."

"Yeah, sorry but I am not good at lessons in history."

"Fufu, I see. Well then let me explain it as short as possible. Each child after passing their test was given their pieces. Each piece had a different shape or form each with its unique skills and abilities."

"I really don't know why you're telling me this."

"Oh it is quite simple that is because..." The white-haired girl would've continued if it wasn't for the next set of words.

'Warning! Warning! Medium Level Virus detected: Proceeding to prepare anti-virus program.'

"What?" The brown-haired boy said. Suddenly the environment started to change. Cables started to come from below and start to coil slowly on said building. The windows started to crack before some shattered.)

()

Outside Frederick and Regalia stopped their fight as soon as they heard the message before the sky became pitch black and cables started to appear from the ground. The cables started to slowly coil on the buildings and even some try to coil on them to no avail as Regalia easily cut through them. Frederick dodged the cables that try to lash and coil to him like anacondas before shooting arrows to them getting them stuck into the ground to a strange hissing sound.

("What is going on.")

"We must head back to our groups now. It's very dangerous here." Regalia told the black-haired boy who agreed with her. This place was getting dangerous and the environment wasn't helping it either. The best they can do is regroup and see how to solve this. This is the first time that a virus has appeared in the middle of a game, even more, why haven't they been teleported out of the game yet? Has the virus already enter their profiles and now is preventing the computer from reading their binary codes so it can use the command to teleport each player out of Omega so they can solve the dilemma? If so then they must find the source of the problem quickly before it becomes more complicated.

()

The brown-haired boy and his opponent were now helping each other repel the cables that have started to invade the insides of the building. Emuna used her dolls along with her string sword to cut through them while the brown-haired boy using his speed dodged the cables before cutting through them in fast swift motions. However, the more cables they cut it seems to make them multiply.

"Is there no end to this?!" Richard asked himself. Just then a pair of arrows impaled some of the cables who tried to sneak up on the brown-haired boy.

"Richard!" The boy turns to see the red-haired girl along with one of Emuna's dolls who was holding a crossbow.

"Alice!"

"Master."

"Magdalene. It seems that someone wasn't to entertain with our battle."

"What is happening?" Alice asked. Alice was still a bit afraid of the dolls that it was slowly subsiding since the warning of a virus invading the game. Magdalene saved Alice from being dragged by one of the cables. Alice returned the favor by spiking her pole on one of the cables which made a loud hissing sound. Hearing that made her realize that there are scarier things than living dolls in a game.

"It seems that we have ourselves a...hacker."

"A Hacker? Like one of those people who uses bugs and exploits to find cracks in the program system?" Richard told before Alice looks at him incredulously. "What?"

"You, since when do you know a lot about programs? You barely pay attention to history!"

"I don't like History class! Besides I have to know about these things you never know when they come in handy." The brown-haired responded.

"You're correct Kurosagi it seems that we're against a black hat hacker."

"Black Hat?"

"She means we're against someone who has malicious intentions. They are 3 types of hackers. The first one is the white hacker, these ones are just inside the company to help said company from other hackers invading their systems by countering the threat by exploiting the system themselves without harming any data nor corrupting it. You can say they're the loyal soldiers in an army." Richard explained.

"The second ones are the Grey hats. While these don't serve a threat they use bugs and exploits to either prank companies or other players. They're just hacking for fun."

"Oh! Like trolls?!" Alice asked Magdalene.

"...Yes."

"Um, what was that delay respond right now?" Alice asks the red eyes doll.

"To clarify it for her Hishikawa, yes they are trolls who are just doing it for fun, they're neither good nor bad. However, they are blamed because people think they're the third class of hackers."

"The one who is responsible for this virus, right?" Emuna nodded in response.

"Black hats are deemed as the most dangerous of hackers as they use bugs and exploits for their very own gain, the gain of other companies that are trying to sabotage a rival company just so they can move up in the ranks nor other fellow hackers that can use the information they get from their fellow hacker to use as a bribe to get what they want."

"But why would anyone do this? Especially to a game that we love?" Alice said feeling sad.

"There are many reasons for them to do so...But it seems that this one has a goal in mind."

"Which is...?" Richard said.

"Revenge." Revenge? Why would someone want revenge on the game? Or is it...?!

"Guys!"

"Frederick!"

"Master."

"Regalia, How is the environment outside?"

"Not good. The sky is pitch black, not to mention that the place is in total blackout. It seems that a medium-level threat is going to become a high-level threat."

"Hmm, if that happens then that means that they will show up."

"They?"

"Kurosagi, Hishikawa, and Santos too. There's something that I must reveal to all of you." Emuna said showing a bracelet with a black coffin that she held in her left hand.

"Er...Okay, you have a coffin necklace. Neat, But that is not such a big revelation. The way you said it was looking as if you were going to reveal the secrets of the world." Richard said.

"It is. Now let me explain it to you. You know that I asked you about "The Legend Of The 12 Pieces", correct?"

"Yeah..."

"Your necklace."

"Huh?" The brown-haired boy and the red-haired girl said before taking their necklaces into their hands. "You mean these things, what about it?"

"These are not ordinary necklaces you see. Let me ask you have you ever felt something strange happen to you when you were given these necklaces? Like a sudden burst of anger, or the feeling of transforming into something?" Emuna asked. Now that the white-haired mention it Alice doesn't remember her fight against Heidi that much with the exception that in the middle of the fight she hears a very annoying voice shrilling and screeching in her ear. There was also the time that her necklace glowed for a few seconds before it dissipated. Her trail of thoughts, however, were interrupted by the appearance of cables hissing at them.

"Master this place is not safe anymore."

"You're right Regalia, let us retreat somewhere safe."

"But where? We were outside and we had to fight our way to get inside this building!" Frederick pointed out.

"There's a place."

"Huh?"

"While we were heading to this building I saw the gear in the center of the city not being taken over by the virus."

"Why there?"

"Hmm...I see it seems that this virus is still in mid-level if we manage to get there we might be able to access the mainframe."

"The mainframe is in there?"

"Yes."

"How do you know this?!" Frederick said quite impressed by the knowledge of the white-haired girl.

"Fufufu, There are a lot of Revelations left for me to tell all of you about. But for now, we must reach the mainframe before the virus evolves into a high-level threat." Emuna said and they have to agree if this is the mid-level of a virus they cannot imagine what will it look like if this virus reaches its maximum level.

()

Meanwhile, somewhere in Paris in a dark room only lightened by a gleam of the computer light. Someone was typing away at a rapid pace, before clicking. That person looks to see the profiles of players before clicking on their profiles. While this was happening on another computer there were video images of Emuna, Richard, Alice, Regalia, Frederick, Magdalene, and an army of 60 dolls all fighting their way toward the big gear in the city. The person zoomed in and adjusted the resolution of the video to see that the brown-haired boy and the red-haired girl held necklaces while the white-haired girl held a bracelet on her left hand. each of them had a different shape. Emuna's bracelet held a black coffin, while Richard held a fake diamond sapphire-colored necklace, and Alice held a red ruby stone the size of a pearl.

"I see, so they are like me," Said the person in a female voice. The person looks at its desk to reveal a dark purple necklace with a black pentagon.

"Maybe I should play with them a little just like he played with my sister." said the person with a bit of disgust before the Pentagon started to glow a devilish blood red.

"Oh? Do you want to play too, Pentagon of Manipulation? Hmm, well then maybe we should start our little game then." The person looks at the profiles before giving an evil smile. "Richard Kurosagi, Alice Hishikawa, Emuna Chariot, just like the stories, huh? Leos Kishima." Said the person before giving a cute giggle and continuing the job that it was trying to accomplish: Hack this forsaken game that made this person's life miserable and to show the president of Omega Corp what happens when he uses that person's sister to his very own gain.

()

On Omega Corp., White hackers that worked within the company to help solve problems such as this have been trying to deal with the problem. So far they have successfully been able to stop the virus from spreading any further than "The City that never evolves" S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. which was the good news. The bad news was that they could not decipher the lock from the players that were inside said city who were having a battle currently. It seems that they were dealing with an A rank black hacker this was dangerous as they might harm and corrupt systems and profiles. What makes them more dangerous is the fact that they don't care much if a player is inside of the game or even come to harm because of the virus.

"Virus has been neutralized in section 4." said one of the white hackers. This one was a boy 18 years of age with blue hair covered mostly by in his white hoodie. He also had long white pants while His eyes were bright yellow while his face was very neutral about the situation. He has been working with the company for 2 years now and was already deemed a prodigy hacker by many of his teammates.

"Sections 5 & 6 have been neutralized, proceeding to help in on section 7 & 3." Said a female. She was 4 years older than the boy who neutralized the virus in section 4. She had medium length blonde hair tied in a braid and green eyes. Her dress was also a white hoodie with a short white skirt. She had been loyal to Omega Corp. since she graduated with a degree in programming and technology. Unlike the boy, this woman has a very cold yet suiting style. She has had her share of battles against Rank A black hackers but it seems that this one was the most difficult of them all.

"Scanning for hidden spyware on section 3." Said another female. This one had magenta long hair that was tied in a ponytail with a blue band. Her eyes were purple and she was dressed like the blonde woman that she was with. This female was 3 years younger than her and has worked on this company no longer than a year and a half. Thou during that year and a half she has gained the attention of the higher-ups especially Leos'.

"Scan completed on section 2 after its clearance, no virus nor spy-ware found." Said a girl. This one seems to be the youngest of them all. Just like the blue-haired boy she has been deemed a prodigy, however, it was not by her teammates. No this time it was from Leos himself. Her hair was short teal while her eyes were sky green. Her face seems like she was very charismatic and cheerful but since this was a very dangerous situation she was very focused.

As the 4 of them were doing their best to maintain the level of the virus at medium, the automatic door slides open before Inès entered the room.

"Viper, A.V. Gamma, Bulldog, and Nort Anna. How're the procedures going?" Asked the bespectacled secretary of Leos to the group.

"Miss Inès, so far we have secured sections 2, and 4-6. As we speak Viper is making sure no spy-ware has escaped our defenses in sector 3. After its deemed clear we will work on sections 1, 7, and 8." Said the long blonde-haired woman.

"I see...A.V. Gamma, do you think you can investigate the source of the virus? If this hacker is close by we might be able to capture it."

"No, as of now there are no clues to the whereabouts of our Ranked A black hacker. It seems that they have hidden their location pretty well. Even with the help of Viper, Bulldog, and Nort Anna, we cannot find the hacker." A.V. Gamma told her.

"Tch, this is not good. We still have competitors inside of the game. Still, why would they target this specific game?" She asked herself. Is it to gain the attention of Leos'. Even so, if they wanted the president's attention they could've gone after smaller cities. Why this place? Even the game in the U.S.A. would've been a better choice. Whoever he or she may be they must put a stop to this before someone gets hurt for real.

()

The city of S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. has been completely taken over by the cables. The night that was a beautiful scenery has been replaced by the void of the pitch-black sky. Despite this, Team Omega and Emuna along with her army of dolls have fought their way in order to reach their goal: The Gear in the heart of the city where the mainframe lies. Some of the dolls were given light so they can see where they were going.

"We're almost there!" Frederick said while running. Emuna has commanded the dolls to make a shield to protect them from assaults from all directions from the cables, excluding the ground above which they have prepared for it also if they anticipate them to adapt and use that as an advantage.

"Man, this place is creepier with the moon being blocked completely." Said the brown-haired boy.

"We must reach the Gear quickly. It seems like the cables are absorbing the electricity of the city. If so, then it won't be long before it reaches max level." Emuna told the group before the group stops. Suddenly an earthquake started to occur and up came a giant cable in the form of a giant worm.

"Well, whoever did this must have loved the Tremor series." Is been like 15 years since the tremors series ended the last installment was Tremors 7: The End Is Here! In 2021. The Wormroid even roared at them before going underground.

"Regalia, Magdalene! Below!" Emuna commanded before she commanded 30 other dolls to point to the ground. The arms of the dolls were replaced by arm cannons and a heat infrared scanner appeared on their foreheads before it descended like glasses.

"Whoa." the brown-haired boy was impressed by this.

"Tch," Emuna commanded some of her dolls to take them off the ground by creating a pillar of them to prevent this thing from eating them. The dolls' cannons start charging before a red laser was released from them. The pitch dark sky was lighted by the red blood light that the laser was released.

"Did you get it?!" Alice asked. After a few seconds, the Wormroid appeared screeching before it slithers wildly at them. Regalia and Magdalene aimed toward the opened mouth of the monster before shooting at it. It had little to no effect so they all had to move out of the way quickly.

"Tch, Core Shift: Scouter!" Emuna said before her sword became thinner while her dress added demon wings to her back. The dolls also got wings and they use this to fly away. Regalia took Frederick away while Richard using his default core class: Scouter took Alice and used his speed to dodge the incoming Wormroid.

"That was close." The brown-haired boy looks to see the Wormroid going back to the ground.'We need to reach the gear fast.') Richard thought.

"Um...thank you," Alice said to the brown-haired boy. She was blushing because she is being carried like a princess from those fairy tails that she and Aeris read when they were kids...Aeris, she wonders if she ever going to come back to France. It will be nice to meet her again and even maybe go to the same school. Still...she has been very curious about the white-haired girl's comments about the necklace that were given to them by their parents. Her necklace was given to her by her mother when she reached 10, she said that her grandmother had that necklace before she decided to leave to work in a company. When the red-haired girl asked where it was her mother simply went silent for a minute before assuring her that she promised her grandmother not to tell but she can be sure that it will be a surprise when she returns home. That was 6 years ago tho. Even more, her mother has been acting even more strange ever since she mentioned that she was in the same school as Richard's. She gave her a smile but it seemed forced she even said: "That's great of you." She even declined to go to school during days where parents visiting because she was busy with work. Alice decided not to go any further as she understands that it is very important that her mother keeps the company in the positives. But, for once she wishes that she could at least visit the school so she could meet Richard and his parents. Gina was the nicest person she has ever met and Xino Kurosagi Richard's father...She can see the resemblance between the two boys from a mile away. She knows what Richard's father does for a living too. He is an assistant in a big company that is partners with Leos the owner of Omega Corp. Chances are that he might come to the Representation Tournament just to see how his son will perform. Her mother, however, she doesn't know if she ever will be able to make it to the tournament.

"No problem." If it wasn't for the fact that they were all in real danger, Richard would be saying he was having fun fighting a creature like this. No wonder that guy what was his name...hmm Bart Burnman...Burn Gunner, Whatever he will remember later. "In any case, we can't stay on the ground for much longer."

"But we can't fly!" Alice pointed out.

"Then we will have to borrow some wings," Richard said as two dolls descended meaning that Emuna must have commanded them to take them thinking the same as the brown-haired boy. If they stay on the ground any longer they might become Snakeroid food and who knows what happens if they do.

()

The black hacker has been observing their every move and she was having a lot of fun. The Pentagram of Manipulation seems to be appreciative of the girl's work as it glows while making a shrilled sound. Easily manipulating the scripts to join the cables of the city to create her latest beauty she observes as the new ground worm being, followed the group of children and dolls to the heart of the city.

"Now this is something that is deemed fun. Hmm, I should be careful thou we don't want our fun to end so abruptly, right Pentagram of Manipulation?" The legendary piece responded with a shrill sound as if it was approving her work. "Now then, I wonder if this got the attention of Leos?" Only time will tell if the owner of Omega Corp. will respond to this virus evolving slowly on sector 8.

()

Meanwhile, The owner of Omega Corp. has been quite aware of the situation. And from the looks of it, he seems relaxed to say the least. Usually, some of the higher-ups would be slightly panicking thou they will not show it. Him he just drank his coffee and observed the situation as it is. He had a suspicion that someone will eventually hack sector 8, in fact, he already knew that someone would! He even knows who the culprit of said hack is. It was inevitable too, after all, she is trying to take revenge on him for the incident of her older sister. Ever since that day, this girl has nothing but hatred toward the owner of the best virtual game in the world. His legendary piece was now glowing meaning that it was responding to one of the pieces. The Hexagon of fate a legendary piece that allows the user to see distant into the future. However, this distance is limited to 2 weeks and it also only works on the one that the Hexagon deemed its owner giving the said person the option of changing his fate or accepting it. It is the main reason why he knew about this attack and the person responsible for it. He doesn't fault the girl for doing so. His best course of action is to let things work out until the fateful day of the tournament. While he saw that not all the pieces will be there he knew that 7 out of the 12 will be present this is including his Hexagon of Fate. He still didn't deem the situations that will transpire this next 2 weeks to be very threatening thou he is aware that this might not be the first and only A rank black hacker that will invade this game and threatens his players. For now, he will just have to assure the safety of the players...also the media since they will be all over the place. He sighed at the thought of that, those people will do anything even exaggerate their news just to get people to buzz around them.

"Sir." The owner of Omega's thoughts was interrupted by his secretary.

"Oh, Inès, how are our white hackers doing?"

"So far they have clear almost every section with the exception of 1 and of course the 8 sectors."

"I see..."

"Sir, Who do you think planned this, is it one of our rival companies?"

"No, no. If my speculations are correct I'll say that the culprit is doing this own it's own," answered Leos.

"Should we suspend the tournaments for next week? It would be wise to do so. What if this black hacker tries to do this during the tournament?"

"That would not be necessary."

"But sir!"

"Inès. We cannot take the fun away from the people that enjoyed playing in Omega. Even more because of these people from all over the world can meet and interact with each other without the need to go to the country of each other. As a matter of fact, in order for something like this to not happen again, I will personally call the higher ranks."

"Sir, you don't mean to call Team False and Team True! If so then you're telling me that the threat could become worse."

"Not really I am just doing it because you seem very worried about the situation," Leos replied before sighing. "Look I know your concern, you want everyone to have a safe game, however, as long as there are black hackers in this world that dream can never become true. Also, I am sure that they would solve this."

"They, you mean the players that are stuck inside Sector 8?!" The bespectacled secretary asked confused. Why the president will have high fate in four children? Unless there is something that she doesn't know about them she is not sure if they would be able to solve this.

"I sense doubt in you. It is understandable how about I reveal something so you can be at ease. Team Omega's opponent was none other than Emuna Chariot."

"Emuna Chariot? Isn't she the heir to the Chariot Mansion?"

"Yep, the very one she also has a unique title, she is known as the "Puppet Queen"."

()

While in the air the group of children and dolls have to dodge the surprising big leaps of the Wormroid. The massive worm made out of the cables of the city has not let go of chasing its prey plus its speed was very quick underground. However, despite this, the group was almost there.

"There it is!" Said, Richard. Before they could go there the cable worm blocked their path but this time it stood up and it became even bigger.

"You have got to be kidding me," Frederick said as the massive Wormroid screech at them.

"What do we do?" Alice said.

"Only one thing to do, We have to fight!" The brown-haired boy answered before suddenly his diamond necklace shine.

"Eh?" Alice felt something warm before she sees that her necklace was shining.

"Oh." Emuna looks at her bracelet that shined too before the coffin opened to reveal a small doll with strings in it so it wouldn't fall out of the coffin.

"Interesting, this never happened before." It was the first time since she was given the Coffin of Soulless that said item has opened. She then heard the voice of someone.

'Help...me...'

"That voice..." She looks to see the worm has yet to make its move. Was the worm...trying to communicate with her.

'Is inside me...please...help!' Inside it...does it means the virus? Maybe...

"Ok on three! One, Two, Thr...!"

"Wait!" The white-haired girl yelled.

"Master?" Regalia said confused it stops the others too.

"What is it Emuna?"

"Let me speak to it."

"Huh?"

"I heard its voice."

"The voice? But that thing...."

"The legendary piece," Alice said realizing because of their necklaces glowing now. She then notices a doll with strings dangling outside of the now opened coffin.

"The Coffin of Soulless. Master when did it opened?! It has never done it before!"

"Yes, Perhaps, it is because there are two other pieces close together. We have yet to reveal all the secrets of these pieces yet." Emuna said before looking at the cable.

("You...who infected you with this virus?")

'Do...not...know...it...hurts...it...its eating....me...I...can't...control...it...anymore...'

("Then would you let us pass? We may be able to destroy the virus if we use the mainframe.")

'The mainframe...can...it...cure...me?'

("Yes...I can guarantee that if I manage to reach the mainframe, I can use it to neutralize the virus. With that done I am sure that Leos white hackers will do the rest.") Answered the white-haired teen.

'...Hurry...then...I...cannot...control...myself...hurry....save...me!' Save it? If that's the case then she must be talking with Sector 8! Did the sector itself use this worm to communicate with her? If so then...

"Let's go!"

"But the worm!"

"It will let us pass."

"Huh?"

"Are you sure about this?" Alice said with a bit of doubt in her voice.

"Do not worry I can assure you of this," said Emuna as she safely passed over the worm. The worm did nothing to stop her, soon everyone followed suit and it was only one of the dolls and Richard left. The Wormroid suddenly started to screech.

"What?!"

"What' going on?!" Frederick asked.

'I cannot...xxx....xxkillxxx...xxxkilll!!!!!!!!!!!'

"Oh no. We must get inside quickly!"

"But Richard is...!"

"I am sure he will find a way, let's go!" Emuna urged them before they follow suit but not before the red-haired girl looks behind and took a final look at where the boy might be.

("Richard...Be careful.")

For the brown-haired boy, this case couldn't get any worse.

"No choice then, I guess we will have to fight it, don't we." All he got was complete silence from the doll. "Right, you can't talk if your master isn't nearby, right?" The doll responded by dodging the mouth of the Wormroid. "Don't know why you have a grudge against me but I will gladly fight you!" Richard said as his Diamond Dragonite glowed.

Inside the gear, the group has reached the mainframe.

"There it is," Emuna said before going toward it.

"How long will it take you Emuna?"

"Hmm, it is hard to say, depending on the level that this virus is in here it might take more or less around 15-20 minutes to delete the malware and virus from this sector."

"That will take forever! By that time Richard will be..!"

"I can assure you that it will not happen Hishikawa, My doll will make sure of it and besides...," Emuna said before she looks at her bracelet glowing. "It seems that the legendary pieces are on our side."

"You say Legendary Pieces, do you mean to tell me that the necklace that Alice and Richard have are the actual pieces that are told in the story?!" Frederick asked a bit hard to believe for him that his friends and the white-haired girl posses powerful items that could give them unique abilities.

"I understand if it is hard to believe Mister Santos, but it is true. These pieces are as real as they can be. Why do you think I am able to communicate with dolls Regalia and Magdalene outside of Omega, even more, I was able to communicate with the Wormroid hence why he allowed us to pass with ease. However, he seems to have lost his will due to the virus." Emuna started typing scripts and binary codes to try and neutralize the virus to a point that it will be easy for the White hackers in Omega Corp to finish it off. She just needs to do it before the brown-haired boy and her doll becomes the sector's next food.

()

Back in the darkroom, the mysterious female has seen that they have reached the mainframe and it might be a matter of time before their game comes to an end. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

"It was fun while it lasted, that's too bad that in about a few minutes I presume 20-30 minutes our little game will come to an end. Oh well, as long as you're satisfied Pentagon Of Manipulation." The Pentagon glowed before dissipating meaning that it was done playing around and its thirst for fun has temporally come to an end. Now she just has to watch as they take care of her virus. This virus was child's play compared to the future one that she will unleash later on. She still has the invite from Leos himself. Was that man a fool? He just handed over the keys to his game to her! Well, no matter she will have fun with this tournament and even use the Pentagon Of Manipulation to create a low group of Black Hacker to fight for her. "Just you wait, Leos, I will have my revenge for letting my sister die in this Forsaken Game!!!" The person said with hatred as she looks to see the end of their little game.

 

"Another Owner Of A Legendary Piece...?!"

9: Chapter 8: End Of The Line

"Fighting For Survival...!"

Richard and the doll were continuing to maneuver themselves in the air. As the doll making that the brown-haired boy didn't plummet to his death in a way, Richard was trying to devise a plan to stop this thing from even trying to get close to his friends inside the Gear. The doll decided to switch from grabbing on Richard tightly to getting him to grab its shoulders while said doll proceeded to shoot from its arm cannons. It did little to no effect, in fact, it seems to get the Wormroid mad! At least they got its attention.

"Man this is really tough I can't attack it long-range unless I can use White Dragon Strike Fang, and I really don't know how to properly charge it up." It was true, the only way that he has been able to do so is when he heard a voice in his head telling him information about how to strike each attack and the procedures of countering the classes and attacks of his opponent. But so far he hasn't had any luck unlocking our even hearing said voice! Who was that voice anyway? The doll continues its assault on the Wormroid, she has a duty to protect the teenage boy from danger. Her master seems to have entrusted that duty to her and she will not fail to fulfill her mission. "Whoa, Slowdown a bit will you?!" cried the brown-haired boy to no avail. The Wormroid screeched at them before opening its mouth and sending small cables to them.

"..."

"Okay, now I know that it is based on those worms," Richard said as he recalls saying that they looked like the Graboids from the movie Tremors and those small cables that are going directly at them confirm it. The small cables let small screeches at them before one of them pass them by. The doll outmaneuvers them thanks to their master's scouter trait before shooting at them in retaliation. Richard slashes some of them as best as he could while maintaining himself holding on for dear life. While some attacks failed some prove to be very effective on the small creatures cutting them in half or even where their heads should be. "Had enough?!" The response was the screeching of the worm.

()

On Omega Corp. The white hackers have cleared all sectors with the exception of one: Sector 8. It was the most difficult one as it was where the source of the virus originated from.

"Commencing infiltration of Sector 8." Said A.V. Gamma. The 4 white hackers started to work on stopping the virus right away. Hmm, it seems that the core is inside something that is moving rigorously on Sector 8, and from the looks on their scans, it was very huge.

"I have never seen anything like this," Bulldog said as he looks at the scanner. When he starts cracking the codes with the scripts to give him access inside the virus, the image of the Wormroid popped up making him back away from his seat. So this was the huge thing that was running around Sector 8, Hmm, the scripts were corrupted and the binary numbers...The message was very dark. Kill? Is it following the players that were inside the game? If so then they have not much time to waste. Knowing that he and his group are on a limited time he starts solving and recovering as much data as possible using new scripts and binary commands. Hmm, some of the data_cast_api have been programmed to false, also their Virus scanner has also been turned off. Scanning even further the bios for some of the structures of the city are corrupted beyond repair so they will have to delete and restore them. It is a good thing that they have backup files of every single detail and updates from the game in a very secure complicated password file. Only a Rank SSS Black Hacker will be able to crack to that file and he hasn't seen nor has heard of someone reaching that level of threat yet. In any case, with this file, they don't have to re-create and rebuild each and every detailed structure from Sector 8 that will result in them spending almost 2-3 weeks to do and restore into the game. With this file, it will only take about 12-18 hours which is nothing, especially with the tournament only about a week away from today. Damn, the body is all a mess for being a Rank A black hat hacker this person is really good at corrupting and destroying files with ease.

"Accessing the city's corrupted data." Viper continues to write away and deletes corrupted data that she deemed non-salvageable.

"Hmm?" Bulldog look at some data. It was under the corrupted file Y_O_U_A_J_3. As he opened that file he saw a file that wasn't corrupted which he found strange, it was C_L_C_L_E_2102 He clicks on it twice and saw a lot of binary codes. In it, a message said: "We cannot forget what we originally created. However, we can appreciate what we have in our future. It is okay to listen to everyone, and with this, it will..." but before he could read any further his computer alerted him of a virus entering inside.

'Alert! Alert! Unidentified virus detected...Level threat...Unknown!'

"What the...?" Bulldog started scripting command codes to prevent this unknown threat from destroying his computer. Was this the hacker? That will not make any sense as this file was inside the game and the date it was created seemed to be over 10 years old. So who left it there? Did that person expect someone to see the message? Could it have been President Leos himself? If so, Why? So many questions that he has.

'Warning!'

"Tch." For now, he would have to ignore these questions, right now he must get back control of this situation.

()

The group inside the mainframe was just watching Emuna writing non-stop on it. They presumably think she is using this to resolve the dilemma they are currently in. However, that did not ease the concerns of a certain red-haired teen. Alice was worried about their leader as he is right now along with one of Emuna's dolls fending off the Giant Worm so it doesn't focus on them. She has a feeling that the creature would've focused on them since they were going ahead to the mainframe. Still, she was getting a bit anxious about it. Frederick noticed the anxiety of the red-haired girl and try to calm her down.

"Is going to be okay Alice. Rick will not get beaten very easily. He is our leader after all." Said the black-haired boy as he puts a hand on her shoulder. Alice responded with a sigh before speaking.

"I know, but..."

"Mister Santos is right, Miss Hishikawa. Kurosagi seems to be someone that will fight to protect those who he deemed as friends. I also am concern about one of our doll prioress, However, we trust her to protect the young boy as the servants of our master we will not let anyone be at harm." Regalia told her. To be told that by a doll...she either is grateful or a bit petrified. Nevertheless, she is grateful that even her worst fears can show concern toward others. She also seems to trust the brown-haired boy to be well.

"I..." Alice shook her head. "You're right, he is our leader after all," Alice told with new renewed confidence in her leadership. Regalia nodded in acknowledgment before turning to see her master.

"Master, has any progress been fulfilled?"

"Hmm, yes. However, it seems that It would not be at the promised time?" The white-haired girl sighed. She seems to have no choice but to use her final Core Shift but what could it be useful for them? As a scout her dolls have wings making them be very fast aerial threats to the enemies. Wall is the default structure. Powerhouse is only situational while sniper is rarely even used so it could go also in the situational category. The only class lefts are supportive which will only make them not very good on the offensive side and the new one Magical and she herself doesn't even know what it will do to her dolls! She would risk it if the risks weren't very high but this could be a mistake and right now, they cannot afford any! If she has to choose safely she will have to go on the supportive, her dolls will retain their wings but the speed will be a bit slower, however, they would be able to use different kinds of distractions and illusions. Not to mentions her dolls with the exception of Regalia and Magdalene who are special dolls will become wider making them look more like airships than dolls. Also, this depends on the timing if she uses it now while they are in the middle of dodging attacks from the Wormroid, then they will lose momentum and presumably their lives. Either way is a big risk and she is debating now if she should do it.

"Master..." Tch...no choice she will have to go the safest route since she really knows what will happen and it has fewer risks. She still detests it but they will have to do this if they will have a chance to get out of here alive.

"Core Shift: Supporter!" Emuna's wings disappear and her String sword becomes the size of a kitchen knife. Her dress becomes a bit shorter giving her more mobility. As she stated before Regalia and Magdalene remained unchanged. She began focusing more on the bios and scripted files. "With this, I'm sure that they will be able to fight more easily." Said the white-haired girl before proceeding to enter more command codes as her quest to save a sector continues.

()

Meanwhile, Richard and his soulless companion were gliding over the worm when the doll noticed itself changing.

"Whoa, what is happening?" Questioned the boy as he saw the doll transform and become wider. "O...kay, now you have become a ship? This day gets weirder and weirder," He then looks toward the worm who has been the bane of their existence. "Still...I guess this will give me time to fight better. So...!" Richard now gaining a wider space to move took his Kris Dagger out. "Core Shift: Powerhouse!" With this, his slashes will do more damage at the cost of his speed, not that it matters considering space is not very wide to required him to use his speed to dodge. He might need this strength for this situation more than his speed. Doing this, however, gave him the ability to hear the voice.

'...L...Pie...Mis...Dangerous...' He didn't understand the Gibberish with the exception of dangerous. Dangerous? Is the voice talking about the situation? Or is it another kind of danger? Man, thinking this much can really give you a headache sometimes. Especially, in this particular situation of a giant worm trying to eat you and the ship/doll that you're riding.

"Alright then, let's do this!" With that, the Doll charged toward the worm while evading the worm's attacks. Once again the Wormroid opened its mouth and release small cables. Richard now anticipating this held on the evasiveness and prepare his Kris Dagger. Left, Right, above, and sometimes in diagonal sides, the brown-haired boy cut through the menacing small cables. The doll doing her share of work proceeded to create an illusion of 10 of them. Confused by this, the Wormroid try to take them all by doing a vertical bite. Some of them were caught but the others escaped and flew up before descending at incredible speed. The Wormroid opened its mouth and released acid which surprised the two of them but nevertheless, dodged it. Some of the illusions took the acid and dissipated, Richard seeing the distance wildly jumped off the doll before plunging his Kris Dagger into the head. The Wormroid screeches before trying to pry the brown-haired boy off of him.

"..." The doll silently looked at the situation before flying over and releasing two shots toward the right lower side of the Wormroid damaging it temporally.

"Whoa! Easy there boy," Richard said holding on for dear life. The Wormroid then decided to open its mouth and release more small cables before these ones appeared hovering on top of its head and screeched at the boy. "Hehe, Hi." The cables go after him which makes Richard pry the dagger off the massive head before dodging and slashing toward the small cables. As the Wormroid tries again to shakes Richard off he stabs the body of the Wormroid keeping him from falling to his death. The remaining worms charge toward him but they were blown away by the cannon shots of the doll.

"..."

"Hey! Thanks!" The boy thanked the soulless doll before proceeding to hold on to the monster. "There's got to be a way to stop you!" Richard said before he starts to think of a plan to stop said Worm. It has a very strong defensive armor and the only attack he hasn't done is his White Dragon Strike Fang although he doesn't know where to exactly hit it to have an effect on the worm. And the voice he heard it once but he hasn't heard it again. The brown-haired mentally sighed, man how can't this be very simple? Then again if it was so simple then it wouldn't be very fun. ('Hm, if only I had explosives, this would've been solved already. But then again, it would come back since this city is full of wires and cables.') He closed his eyes to think even further. Maybe if he can concentrate hard enough he might get a reaction from that voice. Urgh, his eyes are burning. They didn't hurt but they kind of stung as if he put drops in his eyes to cure his conjunctivitis. Then it happened as if the voice heard his calls it responded in his head.

'Analyzing...it is required to have your eyes opened during scanning.' Richard confused but nevertheless, listened to the voice. He opened his eyes to reveal that he had them with the Omega Symbol. The brown-haired boy looked at the creature who was still violently trying to shake him off. '...Scanning...Please wait..........Analysis Completed. New creature found...Identified as XWR-820 Ground Worm, analyzing structure...Done, the body contains wires and electric cables from S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City, it is recommended that you charge and unleash a slash not much bigger than 4 feet of the center-front of its body. The result will make an opening that will give time to unleash another one no more than 4.3 feet thus opening a wound big enough to damage XWR-820.' So its weak spot is in the front, even more, it was on the lower level. Two slashes 1 4 feet and the other 4.3? Is it telling him to unleash not 1 but 2 White Dragon Strike Fangs on it? But how will he be able to do that?! Wait, he feels something different in his body. Richard then holds his Kris Dagger and sees that it is glowing.

('This is?!') The brown-haired boy exclaimed in his mind. He doesn't know how he did this again but now that he knows how to hurt this XWR-820 Ground Worm as that voice called it he can defeat it. "Alright! Time to go to work!" He said as his necklace glowed in delightfulness.

()

Meanwhile, back in Omega Corp. Leos' Hexagon of Fate started glowing as if it was excited to see someone soon.

"Hmm? Oh, what's this? Did one of the pieces woke up from it slumber Hexagon of Fate?" It kept glowing. "Hmm, I see well then it seems that they will get out of this mess pretty soon." The president said. He is aware of the situation they are in but until the black hacker doesn't show up in the tournament, then they will not resolve this situation completely. The best that they can do is continue to promote this tournament until the day of its arrival. People from all over Paris will see this event so they better be prepared to give them a show that they will never forget.

()

After a few minutes of landing from the plane that got them to Paris, Both Genre and Aeris' legendary pieces started to glow. While Genre's Sharp of Sinfonia hummed creating a song that only Genre can hear, Aeris Rubix of Knowledge was more noticeable as it started to wildly move itself to different positions before it glowed blue.

"The Rubix," Adel said as she watches the Rubix glow.

"Not only that but Genre's Sharp is responding too!" Yuma pointed out.

"Do you think it is responding to something?"

"I...I don't know." Concern the pink-haired owner of the Rubix Of Knowledge observe her legendary piece before touching it. The Cube opens before a projection appears. From it, a lot of dates appeared from the year 2015 to the year 2029.

"What are those?" More curious than ever Aeris touched the date of September 29th, 2019 in it, she saw some images from the last owner of the cube. It involved that owner looking at some documents about an attack by some hackers on a satellite from about 2 weeks ago. The name of the group happens to be called Level Seven T.V. a name previously used by a group back in the '90s. Their goal was to use the satellite to get information on the secret project known as M.I.S.T. in order to sell said info to the highest bidders. ('This is...the previous owner's history!')

"Aeris."

"Huh?" Aeris see the group looking in concern.

"Your rhythm....it stopped for a second."

"Stopped?" Said the pink-haired girl confused by her friend's statement.

"Genre is right. You were in a trance after you touched your Rubix of knowledge." Yuma told the pink-haired girl.

"I was?" Then that meant that only she saw that event. There so many questions that she has. What was that M.I.S.T. project? And why did Level Seven T.V. wanted to do with the information? Maybe all of these answers will be revealed once she reaches this tournament...or maybe she is wrong. Only one way to find out! "...I will explain it to you girls later right now I want to reach the house we're staying and take a long bath."

"Alright, then let us not waste time then," Adel told the group. She also wants to know why her friend was in a trance after the Rubix was touched by Aeris. It seems there are still a lot of secrets yet to be revealed about the legendary pieces.

()

Richard was ready to do what he was told. As the boy concentrates his Kris Dagger starts to glow indicating that he can perform his new White Dragon Strike Fang. The doll seems to sense this and went to give a lift to the boy. As it was reaching the brown-haired boy jumped off the worm and landed on the doll before this one flew away.

"Hey, we need to go lower and closer to the worm! I have a plan on how to stop it!" The doll was a bit confused before obeying and tries to get up close. The Wormroid was having none of that as he unleashed more cables from its mouth. The doll tries to outmaneuver them but due to the fact that she is no longer a scouter, some of them reached out. Richard thinking fast swung his dagger. This resulted in him releasing a White Dragon Strike Fang that took out some of them.

"Whoa!" The brown-haired boy said in amazement as his Kris Dagger began to glow again along with his necklace.

"..." The doll used her hands to create a cannon and shoot at the worm before creating illusions. The Wormroid slam its head toward the illusions before the real ones went down.

"There it is!" Richard sees the center of the body. "Okay here goes nothing!" The brown-haired boy swings his sword to unleash his White Dragon Strike Fang. This one goes straight to the center and it was like the voice in his head said 4 feet. The slash struck and it opened a wound. The Wormroid roared it seems in agony, which was a first for the brown-haired boy to see. "It hurts him!" Wasting no time he prepares another one before he hears the voice again.

'Warning...Running low on Capacité d'alimentation, it is wisely recommended to not unleash more than 3 White Dragon Strike Fangs per stay.' So this is the last White Dragon Strike Fang that he can unleash. Capacité d'alimentation or in English Capacity Power is the source of energy that Omega Warriors use to do special abilities. This condensed energy surrounds the world of Omega also giving it life and without it, the world will die. When you're low on it, you will be warned to not use any more abilities. If by any chance you disobey the warnings you will be unable to use any abilities for 3 logs in days.

"I guess I can't miss this one, huh?" Well, the pressure is on he only has one shot at this so he better make it count. "HERE...WE...GO!!" The brown-haired boy charged it up and aim at the hole in the center of the Wormroid's body. "Now take this! White Dragon Strike Fang!" Richard unleashes the white line slash. This one was a little bit bigger than the usual one but about .3 cm bigger which was exactly as the voice told him. The Wormroid tried to cover its wound with the cables from its mouth but this WDSF was stronger than the previous one destroying the worms instantly and hitting its mark. A loud screech was heard through the city. And it was audible by the group that was inside the mainframe.

"Argh, that's so loud!" Frederick said covering his elf ears. He wasn't the only one as the others cover their ears. Emuna thou despite this commanded one of her dolls this one seemingly oblivious to the sound or deaf to cover her ears for a second before the computer made a beeping sound.

'Virus threat eliminated, proceeding to unleash antibodies to the system and deleting corrupted data.' Good now with this, S.K.Y.H.I.G.H. City will be free from the black hacker's virus.

As the Worm screeched the brown-haired boy had to cover his ears while the doll was flying out of danger albeit wobbly because the screech was hurting her ears.

"W-Whoa!" The brown-haired boy had to brace for impact as he had to jump off and roll as the doll landed badly to the floor and proceeded to cover her ears in a fetal position. "I don't blame her...Urgh! Ah! It's too loud!" Richard said as he has to cover his ears again. The screech lasted a full minute before it stopped. Confuse the brown-haired boy looked up to see that the worm was shining. "Huh?" The Wormroid started to regenerate but instead of continuing to attack them it let out a sighed of relief before it went down and bury itself into the ground. Soon the pitch-black sky disappeared and the moonlight replaced it, along with the lights of the city. The cables that were following them before started to go underground while they shined with a very joyful gold color indicating that they were all purified and the virus was no longer in control.

'Thank You.' Said the voice to Emuna as their legendary pieces stopped shining.

"Is it over?" Frederick asked. Emuna looks toward them and smile.

"Yes, is over?"

()

Meanwhile in Omega Corp. The system appeared and stated that the virus was no longer in the program. Just to make sure the white hackers made a scanner to make sure that it is 100% gone. Whoever the person that was inside is, they must be good at dealing with viruses and black hackers. A.V. Gamma wonders if she will ever meet this person. That will have to wait for another day since their work is not done. They have to make sure that Sector 8 is 100% free.

Richard look at the beautiful sky and sighed.

"Glad that we're back to normal."

"Richard!" The brown-haired boy looks at the distance to see Alice, Frederick, Emuna, and her two dolls walking towards him.

"Hey, Guys!"

"You Okay, buddy?!"

"Yeah, thou, my ears will need a check-up, I think I might be almost deaf," Richard told his friend.

"Tell me about it." They look toward their opponent.

"Oh Alice, you're not scared of them anymore?"

"Huh? Oh, I...I guess." Alice said looking at the dolls. Huh? She doesn't seem to be scare nor have anxiety toward them. Are her fears gone?! If so then...

"It seems that our match was interrupted by an unfortunate incident," Emuna said to them.

"Yeah. We can continue the match thou." The other two look at him incredulously. They fought off a very dangerous virus, almost got eaten by a worm made of cables, and he still wants to fight the white-haired girl and her seemingly endless supply of dolls!

"Are you kidding!? After all, we been through you still want to fight her! We almost became worm food!" Alice said baffled by her childhood friend's obsession for competing. However, those words earned a chuckle from the white-haired girl.

"As much as I would love to do that, I will have to decline. However, I would like to tell you a bit about the legendary pieces."

"Oh yeah," Richard said as he looks at his necklace. Alice looks at her's too. She wonders what are this thing's powers.

"I assume that you all know about how the 12 children fought an evil dragon and his army in order to save the world from being engulf in eternal darkness." They all nodded.

"Yeah, I believe that the dragon is named Seifer?"

"That is correct. Seifer wanted nothing more than to destroy the world and recreated in pitch-black darkness. The humans that were fortunate or should I say unfortunately to survive will serve as his slaves for all eternity. Luckily, the twelve chosen children put a stop to this. Each child was represented by a branch. I am one of them I belong to the Chariot branch they were able to communicate with inanimate objects such as trees, the rivers, even the plants themselves."

"That will explain how you can communicate with your dolls."

"Correct Frederick." She shows her bracelet. "This is the Coffin of The Soulless it allows me to communicate with my dolls in and outside of Omega."

"So that's why you were always putting your doll in your ear," Alice said realizing that the white-haired girl wasn't being weird and creepy, she was actually listening to the voice of her doll.

"Regalia was telling me about you being afraid of her, that's why I knew about it. In any case, I will cut to the chase. You two, are part of two branches Kurosagi, Hishikawa."

"We..."

"Are? Does that mean..."

"Yes...There is a possibility that we might meet the rest of the branches one day." The rest of the branches that meant they will meet 9 more that are like them. Wait! That means that their best friend...Is she also part of it? Is she part of a clan that holds a legendary piece?!

"Master, the virus."

"Yes, it seems that whoever had created it, wants to get the attention of the president."

"But why?!" Frederick asked. Who will want to have the attention of Harry's father?

"Whoever it is, it must also know that we are owners of the legendary pieces which means that there is a possibility that our Black Hacker friend might be in possession of one too." If her theory is correct then this will not be the last time that they will have this issue. They must be prepared for that day but for now, they have to focus on one thing and that is the Omega Representation Tournament.

()

The Pentagon Of Manipulation has seized to glow.

"Oh, are you satisfy Pentagon of Manipulation? Well, I am too. However, I will not stop until He pays for what he did to my sister." She looked at the monitor. "The Whole World will know what happens when the truth comes out of the president of the Omega Corp. being a murder." She glares at the monitor. "Leos Kishima, I will have my revenge for my sister, or I don't deserve to be part of the Lahaska Branch!" The girl said before shutting down her computer and brainstorming her next move: Entering the Omega Representation Tournament. That will be The End of The Line for the entire Kishima Branch and the beginning of the resurface of the Lahaska Branch.

 

"A Legendary Piece Owner Driven by Revenge..."

10: Intermission: An Old Friend and The Pentagon Of Manipulation

"Old Childhood Friends Reunite..."

 

A few days have passed since Team Omega escaped the wrath of a black hacker. Now Emuna was in their class. They don't know how the 13-year-old managed to be allowed to enter high-school but here she is, doll in hand. Alice has gotten used to her Pediophobia to a point that she can carry Regalia or Magdalene depending on what doll Emuna carries on her. That's another thing how is it that the teachers haven't confiscated the doll, even more, the people in school had steered away from the white-haired girl...It is kind of sad.

"Hmm? I see, yes they seem to be afraid of us." Emuna said to her doll.

"Shouldn't we go and you know interact with her," Richard told them.

"But what should we say to her?!" Frederick asked. The red-haired girl decided that someone needs to speak with Emuna.

"Heidi, why don't you talk to her?" The brown-haired asked.

"But...She is creepy didn't you saw her talking to that doll?!" The purple-haired girl told before she grabbed Richard's shoulder. This prompted Alice to pry her off and start an argument. The brown-haired boy sighed, so much for interacting with Emuna.

"Hmm?" The white-haired girl looks at her bracelet before the coffin sparkle slightly. Someone was coming here and from the looks of it, it seems that is another Legendary Piece OO

Walking the halls of Lycée High were the owner of the Rubix of Knowledge and the owner of the Sharp of Sinfonia along with their two friends. Aeris has been nervous ever since she arrived and transferred here with her friends/teammates. She was going to finally meet her two childhood friends again, it has been almost 3 years since they saw each other. She wonders, how Alice is doing? She was the only female that became friends with her. Other girls would just ignore her because she was different. They had a lot of fun together thou something bothered her, even now it does. The necklace on the red-haired girl's neck...the descriptions about the legendary piece were similar. Could Alice be also carrying a legendary piece...The Ragging Sphere?

"Aeris."

"Huh?" Aeris' thoughts were interrupted by Adel's voice.

"We're here." The short brown-haired girl pointed out. Aeris looks at the door and butterflies start to steer her stomach. This is it, in this room her childhood friends might be inside. She will be able to see Richard again...Has he changed? Or is he the charismatic boy that she always admired. Why is she so nervous to open the door and find out if her friends will recognize her or not? It has only passed 3 years! it's not like they can forget this quickly!

"She has been standing there for a full minute," Yuma stated.

"...Nerves." Genre pointed out one of the reasons why their pink-haired friend and leader hasn't open the door yet.

"Aeris, maybe I should..."

"NO! I-I mean, I'll do it, Adel." The pink-haired teen gulped to calm her nerves and opened the door. What she saw next was something that she was not expecting to see on her first day of being in Lycée High.

"Urgh! I told you to get off him!!" The red-haired girl told her love rival, Heidi, as she tries to pry her off of the brown-haired teen's shoulder.

"Why?! So you could do it yourself!" That earned a blush from Alice.

"I-I will never do that!"

"Then what was that hesitation? Hmmm?!"

"That was..." Frederick sighed. The usual thing that happens every day ever since Heidi transferred here. Nothing new to see. However, what was just your typical day in the life of Team Omega...and Heidi it was not typical for the pink-haired girl.

"Aeris?" Yuma looks at her friend and leader confused.

"Her Rhythm beat...is increasing." Genre told the other two. Before Adel could ask the owner of the Sharp of Sinfonia to be more specific Aeris yelled at the group in front of them.

"JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" That got the attention of the group including Emuna who was now amused as she saw a Rubix Cube dangling on the pink-haired girl's neck.

('So this is the owner of the Rubix Of Knowledge.')

"Huh?!" Richard looks to see none other than his childhood friend.

"Aeris!" Both teens exclaimed as they saw their childhood friend with a scowl on her face.

()

After explaining to the pink-haired girl both groups including now Emuna and Heidi were sitting in a circle group.

"So she is yours and the old priestess' childhood friend?" Heidi asked. Alice got a tick mark on her forehead showing that she was not too happy about the old priestess comment.

"Yes, guys this is Aeris Russo she was a childhood friend of ours before she moved back to her homeland of Russia to study in middle school." Richard introduced them to her.

"Hello I am Aeris Russo and as he said I was their childhood friend before my parents took jobs in Russia so I had to move with them and continue my studies there."

"I see, well it is nice to meet you I am Frederick Santos thou how come I never met you?"

"Oh, I can explain that Frederick. Aeris was homeschooled so she rarely came outside. Our families have a close relationship with hers so that's how we met." Alice chimed in.

"Not to mention that we were invited to all their parties."

"Yeah, but..."

"Is okay Alice, even if the other girls treated me differently I was glad to meet a friend like you." Alice smiled at that. "Oh! These are my friends that I met days after I moved to Russia!"

"Hello, I am Adel Möller I am from Germany it is nice to meet you all." The brown-haired teen introduced herself.

"Likewise, Fredrick Santos I have been friends with Alice and Rick since elementary school."

"Genre...The United States." The small blonde stoic girl said.

"I'm Yuma Ishitzu I am from Japan it is a pleasure to meet you all." The Japanese girl said with a bow.

"Japan? I am from Tokyo! Where are you from?"

"Kyoto." A conversation between the two Japanese girls ensued before it went from French to Japanese. The group some not understanding what they were saying while others could let the two of them interact with each other more.

"Oh yeah, these are my friends, Frederick introduced himself already so, This is Heidi Kitami."

"Heidi Kitami...Aren't you the daughter of the owner of Hikami Ranch?" The pink-haired girl said. The name came after their great-grandmother Valencia Hikami who was the previous owner married Harves Kitami. In order to show how much he loved her, he named the Ranch after her.

"Yes, the very one." Heidi would've boasted more until she heard something in Japanese that made her mad. "Oh, care to repeat that sentence again!?"

"Oh, you understood that? So your last name was not just for show after all."

"You!"

"Anyway, she is Emuna Chariot, she is the sole owner of the Chariot Mansion."

"A pleasure to meet you all." The white-haired girl said before her ears perked. "Hmm, what's that you want to meet them too? Very well, this is Regalia my first created doll she also said that it is nice to meet you all." Emuna proceeded to wave the small doll's hand as if the doll was actually waving hello to them.

"Err...sure it is nice to meet you too." Aeris with a sweat-drop uneasily waved her hand in return.

"So what are you doing here?"

"Oh! We are going to start classes here beginning today!"

"Oh, that explains..." Richard stopped before actually realizing what the pink-haired said. "Eh?!"

"You are transferring here?" Alice said now paying attention to her childhood friend.

"Yes, we decided to stay here for now. We're not sure how long but we can assure you that we will stay longer than one year in this school." Adel explained.

"I see." Frederick seems to understand the situation a bit.

"Not to mention that we were invited to a special tournament."

"A special tournament? Wait you mean the Omega Representation tournament?" Richard asked.

"Yes, that's the very one."

"That's awesome that means we're going to meet there too!!"

"You were also invited?!" Richard nodded to the pink-haired girl in response. So she will be in a possible scenario where her team might be facing them.

"We got the invitation two weeks ago from the president himself, well Richard did but since all three of us are a team is as if we were all invited anyway," Fredrick explained to the group of girls.

"Hmm, interesting well then we will be looking forward to our possible future encounter."

"Oh don't worry you'll see us there!" The brown-haired boy was ecstatic, to say the least.

"What about you?" Adel's attention changed to the white-haired girl.

"You do not need to be concerned, I will be there as well after all we are going to be there for an even bigger reason."

"I have been meaning to ask you this but...that bracelet."

"Oh, this Miss Adel? Do you know anything about it?"

"...Her Rhythm...it's mysterious." Genre said before gripping her Sharp.

"Oh! Can you read my beat? It is not surprising after all you're the owner of one... Legendary Piece, Sharp of Sinfonia." That got the attention of the girls.

"You..."

"How...!?"

"Fufu, you asked about my bracelet earlier, no? Well, this is also a legendary piece too. It reacted earlier so I assume that a legendary piece was nearby, I never thought that they'll be two of them here. Well, to be more precise there's 5 of them in this room."

"5?"

"Richard, Alice those necklaces are they...?"

"Er, I am not sure but if Emuna says they are...I guess they do?" Richard said unsurely. The legendary pieces were a folklore story after all. There's no evidence that the necklace they are wearing were the real things...then again it will explain why his diamond was constantly glowing during the incident. Urgh, it is so confusing to think of this.

"What are you all talking about?" Heidi said feeling completely out of place. Legendary Pieces? Not only was the white-haired girl very creepy but she's a wacko who makes stories?!

"Let me ask you this, do you know what the legendary piece's purpose is?" Emuna asked.

"I heard that they were used to keep the balance between good and evil at bay. Seifer the legendary dark purple dragon saw those pieces as a threat so he created his own army to match the strength of each owner of the twelve pieces. Eventually, 1 person used the combined power of the 12 pieces with the granted permission of each child to become as powerful as God in order to stop Seifer once and for all." Adel told her. She had heard the stories countless times, that used the 12 pieces. Each hero has their very own statue spread across the world as a tribute to their heroic deeds. Now they are 5 pieces in the same room. After being friends with Aeris for nearly three years she has constantly seen the Rubix Of Knowledge react. Genre while being a bit more distant has mention how the Rhythm of each of their hearts had a different beat.

"That is very true. However, not anyone can have the legendary pieces those who are from the branch are allowed to carry them. For example, my Coffin of Soulless can only be held by the Chariot branch, The Diamond Dragonite can only be used by members of the Kurosagi branch, The Russo's can only see and learn about past history with the Rubix Of Knowledge. The Lynn which I assume is your last name Miss Genre can sense the heartbeats of the people meaning that they know the emotions of each individual. Then there's Alice, The Ragging Sphere considered to be the 3rd most dangerous piece as it will give the owner incredible strength at the cost of their sanity. If the person from the Hishikawa branch loses control the piece will keep creating a sound that will not calm the person until either is satisfy, said person faints from exhaustion or the worst-case scenario...that person dies." That got Alice paled. Is her necklace this dangerous? And why is hers the 3rd most dangerous? Are there two more pieces that can create more chaos than hers?!

"Emuna do you know every piece?" The brown-haired boy asked.

"Sadly I do not Richard Kurosagi. No one knows all the names of the pieces nor what they can do at their fullest potential. I might know about how dangerous some of them are and the basics of what they can do, but even I do not know everything. A good example was in our battle. During the time where we were trying to destroy the virus from a black hacker my piece opened. In it was a doll in strings this, however, was minor to what I was capable to do."

"You mean how you said you were able to communicate with the sector?" Emuna had explained the situation afterward to the group it is still confusing to this day how an entire level could communicate with a human. He has heard of spirit communication but an entire Environment speaking to a normal human being was...ridiculous?

"Correct."

"You said black hackers right now," Adel told the white-haired girl.

"Yes. Have you had any experience in encountering one?" Emuna was curious after seeing Adel's way of saying "black hackers". It seems that the brown-haired girl must have her fair share of encounters.

"We all have." This was the response of Genre who has now turned down her music so low that she could now hear the conversation more clearly.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Although, they were only low-rank black hackers."

"I see."

"Back to the subject at hand. You said Alice's piece was the third most dangerous piece. Who are the other 2." It took a few seconds of silence before the white-haired spoke.

"Is just a theory but I think that our black hacker friend was the holder of a legendary piece and if that was the case, then this person must have a very powerful one. If my theory is correct, however, then we must be careful because the owner might be the one with the Legendary piece known as The Pentagon Of Manipulation."

"The...Pentagon of...Manipulation?" Just those words are enough to spread fear in Alice. The name itself tells how dangerous this piece is in the wrong hands.

"This legendary piece unlike the ones we hold have a mind of its own. It won't stop until it is satisfied. As the name says by just breaking one of its edges it has the ability to control the mind of nearby people. At its fullest, it can take control of multiple people without the need to break any of its edges."

"It can do all of that and is considered just the second most dangerous piece?!" Frederick said surprise. Manipulating the mind of people is one of the scariest things that the black-haired boy has heard of. How can another piece surpass this level of danger!? If the owner of the person wants he or she can pretty much take control of that person, rob a bank, release them from their bind, and be blamed for something that the person that was in control had no clue he did do those things!

"It has its limitations thou. The Pentagon can only manipulate the mind of a person sleeping, however even awake if there are more persons in the area than the number of minds it can control then it will not work. Also, if that person is kind and strong-minded then it will also negate the effects of the Pentagon." Even with those limitations, the white-haired girl cannot lie that she is concerned about her theory. If the owner of the Pentagon is truly their Black Hacker friend...then Leos inviting them must mean that he has seen how much the threat of said piece on the loose can do.

()

Meanwhile, in Omega Corp., Leos Kishima has been in a long thought process. In 3 days most of the owners of the 12 pieces will be in one place. The Diamond Dragonite, The Ragging Sphere, The Rubix Of Knowledge, The Sharp Of Sinfonia, The Coffin Of The Soulless, and Last but not least...One of the most dangerous pieces of them all...The Pentagon Of Manipulation. His legendary piece, The Hexagon of Fate, of course, will also be there. Having 7 of the twelve pieces in one place will be a hard task. Luckily, None including his Hexagon of Fate are fully awakened so there won't be any problems inside the game nor the tournament...Well, the exception of the owner of The Pentagon Of Fate. As his thoughts went further the door opens to reveal his secretary.

"Ah, Inès! So, have the preparations for the tournament been completed?" The bespectacled woman started walking and didn't answer right away. That was an instant red flag for him. Inès was always quick to respond and the way she is moving was even odder. After a few seconds the bespectacled secretary talk but in a different deep voice.

"Sorry but think again."

"...So you went as far as to used my precious secretary...Black Hat Hacker."

"FUFUFU, As expected of the owner of the Hexagon of Fate. You knew I will come here right away, didn't you?"

"What can I say I have my share of people trying to take me down," Leos answered before proceeding to take a serious tone. "What is it that you want my Black Hat Hacker friend."

"Black Hat Hacker seems like a very offensive way to address me."

"Then what should I call you then?"

"Sigma should be fine."

"Very well, Sigma. What are you here?"

"Straight to the point. Good, then this conversation shouldn't take long. As you witness with my powers I can easily take control of anyone including your precious secretary here. Despite showing a strong face it seems that she still a very weak and frail human girl."

"I can see that. If you're telling me this then you must know that I know that this is because of your legendary piece, correct?"

"I will get right to the point then. I want you to admit to the rest of the world at the end of the Omega representation tournament that you Leos Kishima, owner of the famous Omega Corp. and co-creator of the game Omega that you have lie to the public for too long. You're not the hero that many of us think that you're, no...you are not only a liar but...you're also a murder!" The voice said with spitefulness.

"...Murder you say...If you tell me this then you must know about the incident that happened 10 years ago was..."

"Shut up I do not want to hear the lies of a murder! She was precious to me, you have no idea how much my life was ruined because of you. Now...Now I will have my revenge, if they know how much of a false hero you are then I can move on with my life. If you do not obey then I will unleash a virus stronger than my previous one to your game. If you think taking over one sector of your game is bad then you are underestimating the power of a black hacker, Especially one who has a legendary piece." That person has a point. Leos sighed, he knew that talking to her would not work, she's...blinded by her rage and even more, the Pentagon of Manipulation has turned that anger into full-blooded hatred. It is the reason why this piece was very dangerous it can turn on the owner pretty quickly just to satisfy its needs.

"If that's the case...then alright, you win. However, if I do this then you must promise to never do anything to Omega. This game...it was not for me but for the people in the world. This game is not only a game but a way for Countries to talk and debate without the need for exhausting trips. This game shows how much we have evolved and how much hard work pays off. So, that is why I must tell you that if I admit my wrongs then you must not by any chance put other's lives at stake." Sigma thought about this for a minute before responding.

"Hmm...very well, as long as you suffer the pain I have then I am satisfied. But be warned, if you by any chance try to track or run away...I will not hesitate to unleash this virus and I promise you that I will make your life an even bigger hell!"

"If that's the case then is a deal."

"I will be witnessing your downfall, Mr. Kishima...Farewell." with that Inès faints to the floor. Leos already knew that all of this was going to happen. The negotiation, and what the hacker wanted. Sigma, huh? So she has chosen the name of the class that her sister had. He just hopes that by the end of all of this...that she will forgive him. Almost everyone has with the exception of the most important one. Now, she holds the most dangerous piece next to...

"This is a pain." He looks at his secretary before carrying her to a nearby sofa. "I guess I have a lot of work to do." He said to himself. He is sure he will find a way to patch up things with her or someone will. For now, he will have to be sure to keep an eye for the owner of the Pentagon Of Manipulation...Lahaska.

 

"The New Threat...the holder of the second most dangerous piece."

11: Chapter 9: The Day Is Finally Here! The Omega Representation Tournament Begins!

"The President is giving a speech...!"

 

The day has arrived. People from the city of Paris has gathered in the Omega Arcade Station to witness which team will represent France in the Omega World Tournament. All teams including Team Alpha, Team Omega, and Emuna with her dolls Regalia and Magdalene who was held by her Butler Irogan were all gathered around the stage.

"Welcome everyone to the third annual Omega Representation Tournament Team Edition! As you may know, 16 of the most talented young teams will fight in a one-round elimination style tournament to determine who will represent France in the upcoming Omega World Tournament that will be held this year in Japan this fall." As Leos continue his speech a certain brown-haired boy yawned. Richard wasn't to keen on speeches, in fact, he can become quite impatient, especially when it comes to Omega.

"Man, When are we going to fight!?"

"Be patient Rick, besides we can't start the tournament yet. Alice is still not here." Frederick pointed out.

"Yeah, Where is she? Didn't we discuss that we would be here early, I mean the tournament can start at any minute now!"

"I am sure they will not start your match until she comes here. Although, it will be good if she gets here on time. You don't want to forfeit your match because of not having the minimal requirement." Aeris told him. It's a good thing that her team is formed of 4 members just in these kinds of cases. She assumes the white-haired girl has the same option...Then again she has those two dolls. From what she was told the dolls can be put inside the teleporters and then come to life in Omega in human size. She just hopes that she doesn't fight her early otherwise...

"She is correct Richard Kurosagi, just have patience I can assure you that Miss Hishikawa will come," Emuna said with confidence. Richard couldn't tell if she was very serious or just joking because...she sure as hell didn't show any emotion that he could tell otherwise! But...Man, where could she be? He hopes she just overslept and nothing happened to her.

()

It was the worst-case scenario for Alice...She had overslept. Why did she have to oversleep on the day of the tournament? Mu! She shouldn't have played all day on Haruka Wars...But, She was on a roll! And her online friends insisted on her staying a bit late! Who is she to denied that!

"Ah, man I'm so late!" Alice said panicking as she ran as fast as she could. She was so focused on getting to the OAS in time that she didn't notice that someone appeared until they both bumped into each other. Alice fell before she touched her bottom. "Ow, that hurts."

"You can say that again." Came from the person she bumped into. The person that the red-haired girl bumped into was a teen about her age. She seemed a bit shorter than her too by a few inches. She was a very beautiful teen too with long black hair that was a bit spiky and wild. Her eyes were an orange sun. Her figure was very thin with long legs. The girl was dressed in a white shirt with a black skull design on the front and blue jeans. Looking down she wore black with white on the bottom sneakers. Further inspection revealed that on her neck she had a big golden sun that dangled on a silver chain.

"Oh! I am sooo sorry, I was in a hurry and..."

"Is okay, I should have paid attention to the road too. I was in a hurry I mean my teammates are waiting in the OAS."

"Your teammates? You're going to OAS too?!" Alice asked.

"Yeah, are you going too?"

"Yes, I am in the Omega Representation Tournament."

"Really? Huh, then it must be lucky that we crossed paths. Say do you want to go together since we're going the same way."

"Yes! Ah, I am sorry I didn't introduce myself I am Alice Hishikawa."

"Hishikawa, huh? Well is nice to meet you I'm Darcell Lahaska."

"Lahaska? Are you from here?"

"Yep, I'm 100% French blood. Thou, it is strange to see someone from Japan here. Do you live here by any chance?"

"Yes, wait what are we doing!? We have to get going!" The red-haired girl tailed it out of there in a poof of smoke.

"Hey! Wait Up!" Lahaska followed suit. She will definitely like to become friends with the red-haired girl. But she was right there are more important things than standing here to chat. There's a tournament she must win!

()

As Leos was almost finished with his speech, There were several people observing the brown-haired boy.

"Is that him?" Asked someone with a purple punk mohawk.

"Yes, that's him."

"So, what do we do boss?" asked another one with buzzcut hair colored brown to their leader who had a red mohawk. Their uniforms had a red snake with a dart on top. The name of the group was Team Blitz they were known as the biker gang. While normally Omega you're allowed to use any vehicles in team battles or single tournaments, however, was strictly forbidden.

"We will wait. We will face him, I am sure of it."

()

On the other side, there was Harry. He was listening to his father's speech but he hasn't lost his sight on his rival. This was his revenge for humiliating him back then in their first team encounter and for the past year. These people are nothing but mere obstacles in order for him to have one goal and that is...to defeat Richard Kurosagi.

"So now that we know the rules, shall we reveal the brackets for today?" Leos said as a big hologram with the brackets appeared on top of him. The 16 groups of competitor's names were split into two brackets: Group A and Group B. In Group A there were as follow:

Group A:

Team Sparrow vs. Team Experienced

Team Master vs. Team C.J.K.

Team Alpha vs. Team Singularity

Team Zone vs. Team Doll House

Group B:

Team Omega vs. Team Blitz

Team Exo vs. Team Tarot

Team New Gen vs Team Shredders

Team Giga vs Team Lowstone

"Alright! We get to play first in our bracket!" The brown-haired boy was excited. Team Blitz, huh? He never heard of them before but he bets they're pretty strong which means he will have a fun match!

"That's good and all but Alice has still..."

"Hey!" Speaking of the devil, the red-haired Japanese girl arrived just in time to see their schedule match. A few more minutes and she will have no idea if they were going first or second.

"There you are, where were you?"

"Sorry but I kind of overslept." Alice apologized with a gesture. "But I'm here so we can go to the match as soon as they call us."

"That's great!" Richard told her.

"Seems we are in the same bracket, huh Alice?"

"Huh?" The two boys look to see a girl they never saw before.

"Oh! Lahaska you made it!"

"Yup! So are they your teammates?"

"Yes! These are Richard and Frederick, Guys this is Darcell Lahaska she is also going to be competing in this tournament." Alice introduced them to the black-haired girl.

"Nice meeting you," Frederick said.

"Likewise."

"That's awesome, Can't wait to see what you and your teammates can do!" The boy sure had a lot of charisma Lahaska gives him that.

"Speaking of them, where are they?" Alice asked.

"I'm sure I will find them eventually, besides my match will be third so most likely it will be in the afternoon so I have time to find them before we're called," Lahaska reassured them.

"I guess you're right." The red-haired said and she will not lie she was a bit disappointed, she was looking forward to meeting the black-haired girl's friends the more people she knows the better. Besides, conversing with Lahaska is a lot more different than talking with the other girls in the class. Don't get her wrong she loves having conversations with Yuma, Adel doesn't interact with her much, Genre and Emuna are in their very own separate world (One is listening to music on her headphones and the other is having conversations with her dolls.), Aeris is just as popular with the boys as she is with the other girls in the class and let's not talk about the cowgirl! That little...

"Anyway, I need to find them. Well, I guess we will see each other in the finals of the bracket hopefully." the black-haired girl told the group.

"Okay, good luck Lahaska!" Lahaska nodded before leaving. While the black-haired girl was walking she looks to the left to see Leos. So...he did show up.

('Good You better have shown your face, you murder. I will make you pay for what you did!') Her thoughts of hatred toward the president of Omega Corp. circled her mind. Her sun slightly shined as if it was approving that the president indeed needed to pay. Leos, on the other hand, knew that Lahaska was here. His Hexagon of Fate has foretold that they would meet in these circumstances. If he knows any better she will only be interested in facing Kurosagi from the way she was interacting with him and his friends. It was the main reason why the brackets were meant to be this way, to begin with after all.

"Team Omega, Team Blitz from Group B and Team Sparrow and Team Experienced from Group A, please come to the teleporters. Team Omega, Team Blitz from Group B and Team Sparrow and Team Experienced from Group A, please come to the teleporters." Was the voiced of the M.C. through the intercom.

"Alright is our turn!" the brown-haired boy said with excitement.

"Hey, Frederick is there any information about our opponents?" Asked the red-haired girl as Frederick takes his PDA out to check.

"Hmm, let me see, Team Blitz...Here they are! According to this, they are very famous riders in the world of Omega. They seem to be some sort of biker gang that steers trouble wherever they are sent to. Thou, we don't need to worry about them riding vehicles since they are illegal during tournaments or any battles that do not involve free roam mode." Frederick explained. "Although even if they don't have the vehicles we have to be careful as they seem to be a very aggressive team that loves to put pressure early game."

"Hmm, that seems to be quite troublesome."

"Emuna."

"Frederick is right, you be careful you really don't want to have an early exit," Aeris stated. She wants to fight them in Omega thou her team will have to win the entire group A bracket in order to face Richard, Alice, and Frederick and even then they must win their group bracket.

"Don't worry we won't lose, Hey let's promise to meet in the finals!"

"Yeah."

"Good luck Richard dear!" Heidi told the brown-haired boy. Alice just ignored her rival's flirting of the brown-haired boy. Right now is not the time to get overwork because of the cowgirl's antic.

"So we get to fight them first." The Leader of Team Blitz said.

"What should we do boss?"

"We'll do what we always do, wreak havoc in Omega."

"YES!"

"Are all competitors ready!? Okay, the stage that is selected for this first round is...Western Omega requirements only 3 per group 1 must be a core. Let the first round of the Omega Representation Tournament Begin! Entering Omega...NOW!" Team Omega teleporters turn blue while Team Blitz turn red before they are all teleported to the world of Omega.

()

Team Omega lands near the rails of the train in Western Omega. They sidestep once they hear the sound of the train.

"Whoa!" The train passes them by.

"Talk about a rough start." Frederick pointed out. So there will be occasions where they will land in a dangerous situation as such, huh? They need to be careful then. They could lose the match without even interacting with their opponents at all.

"Hey, what is that?" The brown-haired boy pointed at 3 incoming things coming at a good speed. Frederick with his keen eyes squinted a bit before seeing 3 motorcycles coming their way. Riding them was Team Blitz.

"Motorcycles?!"

"But I thought you said that it was illegal to get them during tournaments!" Alice reminded the black-haired boy of what he said earlier.

"You can't." Was the simple answer of the elf archer. They are cheating and not in a Harry way which was legal in the standards of the rules. They were true ones...Why haven't they been warned or disqualified already?

()

Meanwhile, The President and his secretary were observing the match and they have indeed witnessed that Team Blitz...are not following the rules accordingly. In fact, everyone did which resulted in the public plus competitors to boo them.

"Team Blitz have broken rule number 19 of the Omega battle: No vehicles allowed during a match or tournament. It can only be used on free roam mode. Sir, shall we...?"

"Hmm, No let them do this." That surprise his secretary but then understood clearly.

"This isn't one of your tests to see what the owners of the legendary pieces are capable of is there?" Inès asked her boss. She has been told of the situation as to why the tournament was created this year. She can't believe that most of the owners of the legendary pieces were in this tournament alone. The Diamond Dragonite, The Ragging Sphere, The Rubix Of Knowledge, The Sharp Of Sinfonia, The Coffin Of The Soulless, and...The Pentagon Of Manipulation. She did not forget the Hexagon that her boss has that makes it 7 legendary pieces. When she woke up in the office of Leos the father of Harry Kishima explained that she was brainwashed by the Pentagon of Manipulation the second most dangerous legendary piece. She would call security as the person is here among the innocent bystanders that are here to enjoy watching this tournament but Leos told her that it will not be wise as the owner could just use the piece to manipulate the cops and turn them against them. In order to stop this owner, they must wait until the finals. Leos said he has a plan to stop the owner of the said piece from ruining the fun for everyone...it was his responsibility after all.

"Oh Inès, you know me too well." For now, she will just listen to her boss after all...he is the owner of a legendary piece.

()

"Hey boss what do we do with them?" a man with biker durag wrapped on his head asks the Mohawk biker.

"Do what you want Seth, Just leave Kurosagi to me." Said the leader of Team Blitz.

"We'll do boss!" Said the other member as they roam around Richard, Frederick, and Alice.

"This is going to be a problem." Just as he said that the brown-haired boy was wrapped by a chain and dragged away from the group. "Waaaahhhhh!"

"Richard!" Alice had to dodge a lead pipe coming from Luke.

"Haha, Let's get this show on the road, shall we!?" The two bikers revved up and charged at the two members of Team Omega.

()

Outside chaos ensued and big boos were drowning the Station. The M.C. was getting nervous and wanted to stop the fight but...

"M.C. Continue the fight."

"But...Sir!" She was on the verge of tears. She has never seen such a crowd that was this upset before.

"Do not worry Team Blitz will have its proper punishment once this match is over regardless of the winner," Leos assured her. With that, she nodded and proceeded to continue the match plus calming the crowd down.

()

Richard was just being driven and drag what it seems to everywhere in Omega he lost his Kriss Dagger when he was grabbed by the leader of Omega.

"Are we having fun Kurosagi!" Asked The Mohawk biker as he accelerates faster.

('Darn it I need to do something?') The brown-haired tried to struggle but to no avail.

()

On the other side, Alice and Frederick are having a hard time, they have been taken a lot of damage but they haven't even given them damage. The bikes have given Team Blitz an advantage as Alice couldn't grab them without being dragged herself despite being a powerhouse and they were very fast that Frederick's arrows seemed to slow to hit them.

"This is way too easy hey, Seth let's just end this so we can go back to Luke!" his partner said to him.

"You got it, Johnny!"

"At this rate will never get them," Frederick said before he gets an idea. He gets his blue arrow and pointed at the tire of Seth's bike.

"Come on baby don't fail me now." Fredrick shots his freezing arrow and it hit his mark and almost instantly it froze the motorcycle.

"What?!" Seth jumped off but right into Alice Pole hitting him very hard wrapping him and hitting Johnny as hard as she could eliminating him in the process. Seth survived but was now grounded allowing Frederick the opportunity to point an arrow this one the explosive one blowing him back to Earth.

"Team Blitz Scouter has been defeated! Team Blitz Wall has been defeated!" that got the crowd cheering. For the people it was justice.

()

A that was happening outside, inside the game, Richard was still being dragged all over the place.

('I got to get out of this situation fast!') The brown-haired boy thought as he continues to stumble on the dirt. If only he had his Kris Dagger right now...

('D...Ne...Use it')

"Huh?" There is that voice again. What is it telling him to use? "Ugh, darn it. I think sand caught in my eyes!" he would rub his eyes but they were tied up right now. Wait, this happened before it was when the voice was clearer! Hmm, maybe if he focuses he can clearly hear it. So he did and then the voice gave him an idea.

"You know I have played with you long enough time to claim my victory after the humiliation that I got from your father! I would have my revenge on him but his son should be enough!" Luke told feeling victorious but then something surprising happened, he was chained. "What!?" He looks at the source to see it was the brown-haired boy but there was something different about him. His eyes. His sclera became black while his pupils had the omega symbol colored orange.

('Target acquired: Copied Team Blitz Leader Luke's weapon: Chain Splicer. It allows the opponent to chain the opponent before releasing a lethal spike from it. Recommended steer away from the weapon if caught proceed to create a copy from it and force the opponent to release you.') Was the voice response to what was happening.

"What in the world are you!?" Luke was intimidated, to say the least before releasing his grip from the boy who did the same.

"Looks like we're in a stalemate." The brown-haired boy said to his opponent.

"Tch, whatever Once I defeat you this game will be over, you lose!"

"Sorry but I ain't losing here!" Richard dodges the chain.

"How? You lost your dagger way back when we first met! 1 Hit and is all over for you!" Luke gloated. He has a point tho he forgets one thing, he is not fighting alone.

"Richard!"

"Alice!"

"Catch!" Alice with all her strength, she threw the Kris Dagger which was caught by the brown-haired boy.

"Core Shift: Scouter!" The brown-haired boy said surprising Luke who then tries to get him in the chain. He wonders when did the boy changed his core and to what class! Then it hit him it was back then! A few minutes after being dragged he must have changed his core to Wall in order to sustain all the damage. But he will not lose not when revenge is...! The boy disappeared before he appears behind him.

"...How..." Before he knew it he had two slashes across his body.

"This ends here." The brown-haired boy had his Kris Dagger charged meaning only one thing...

"DAMN YOU!!!" Luke tries to get him but he was too slow and was taken out by the line that was coming towards him.

"White Dragon Strike Fang!"

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Luke disintegrated before fireflies replaced his body.

"Team Blitz Core is defeated, Team Blitz has been eliminated. Final Results: Team Omega Advances to the 2nd round!!" The Bunny M.C. said as people cheers. The groups appeared after the match was over back to the real world.

"Alright, we did it!" Frederick said with delight. It was a difficult match and despite the illegal move from Team Blitz they manage to pull through.

"What do you mean they advanced!" Team Omega pays their attention to the arguing Luke who was in the face of the poor holographic bunny M.C.

"But...You use vehicles in Omega which according to rule 19 is strictly forbidden!" The M.C. Explained.

"Then what about him?! He cheated there was no way that he could've gotten a weapon more specifically a copy of mine when his weapon was long lost!"

"Well...that is true...but...he did get it back." The Bunny M.C. tries to reason and find a way to make it sound legit. "That might also be an ability of his, they're many that can do this in Omega!" Luke was having none of it.

"Why you little..." He would've to chew at her more until someone stepped in.

"Is there a problem? Miss M.C., Luke." The president himself Leos Kishima with his secretary Inès came down in order to congratulate the winners on their hard-fought victory.

"Yes! As I told your useless M.C. that guy cheated! There was no way that he could've had a chain!"

"Hmm, I see...Is this true Richard Kurosagi?" He asked the brown-haired boy. He didn't even need an answer as he knows what the Omega Eyes do exactly, but just to be convincing he will let Richard give his very own explanation.

"Well...yeah while it is true that I did not have a chain in hand, my new ability allowed me to copy a weapon of any kind if I ever lose my Kris Dagger, it is very convenient," Richard said to the president. Hmm, that's good enough even if the boy was in his very own mind half-lying half-truthful this was convincing enough for him to let it pass as the boy's ability and not a certain someone's who used a move that is forbidden in the game. But he will keep that little secret to himself and his secretary seems to be thinking the same.

"I see, then, in that case, I do not see anything wrong. Therefore, the decision stands. Congratulations Team Omega you advance to the second round!"

"What?!"

"Ah, yes I almost forgot, security!" Just then a lot of buffed security guards some could be confused as club bouncers appeared and surrounded Team Blitz.

"What the?!"

"You accused them of cheating and yet you cheated by not following Rule #19: No Vehicles on tournaments or battles. Only permitted in free-roaming mode."

"But...!"

"Consider yourself lucky, you will only be banned from hmm, let see all upcoming tournaments for the next 4 years."

"WHAT!?"

"Now security, could you lead them to the door?" The bouncers took all three bikers and forcefully escorted them.

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO US! DO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE, I WILL GET MY REVENGE YOU HEAR! THIS IS NOT THE LAST YOU SEEN OF MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

"Wow is he loud," Yuma said covering her ears while the other girls agreed. Luckily for Genre, she was listening to a hard rock song while the yelling was happening so she turned the volume almost at max.

"Good riddance that's what he gets for trying to get Richard Dear disqualified. Hmph, Cheater! Bleh!!" Heidi said before sticking her tongue and putting one of her fingers in her right eye. Jack and Craig only sighed at the childish behavior of their core but nevertheless agreed about Team Blitz getting their just desert.

"Hmm, you really are just like them."

"Huh?" Richard was confused by this and so were his teammates. Who is he talking about?

"Well, I will be looking forward to the next round. Hopefully, I will see more from your kids. Is there anything you want to add before we leave Inès?" Inès adjusted her glasses before shaking her head.

"No, I think you have said most of what I would say. Congratulations Team Omega, You truly are an incredible team."

"Well then, let us continue with the tournament shall we?" Leos told his secretary before leaving them.

"Wow, he is even nicer than Harry. How are they father and son, again?" Alice asked.

"The world works in mysterious ways I guess," Frederick told her.

"Well, at least we advance that awesome, right?" They couldn't agree more now is just a matter of who their next opponent will be.

()

Meanwhile, some people were talking about the match.

"That team is awesome they are like a reincarnation of the old Omega Team." one person said.

"Yeah hey do you think Harry and Richard will face each other again?" his friend asked.

"Totally dude, they are the 2 best teams in this tournament." They weren't the only ones impressed. Lahaska was quite impressed with the performance of Team Omega. While Alice didn't show the power of the Ragging Sphere, The brown-haired boy showed her something just as important as the boy's legendary piece.

('Interesting so he has the eyes that can copy any ability. The legendary eyes of the child that held all 12 legendary pieces, the Omega Eyes. Now this tournament just have become more interesting.') Thought the black-haired girl. The Pentagon Of Manipulation glowed.

"Hmm, what is this, Pentagon of Manipulation? You can't wait to face them?! Well, I am too, after all, they're needed for my plan to work." She told her disguised necklace before she walks out of the stands since the name of her team can be called at any moment.

('Let's meet in the finals of this Bracket, Alice...Richard Kurosagi.') She let out a quiet giggle before proceeding to use her Pentagon Of Manipulation to create her "New" Team.

 

"Lahaska begins her plan...!"

12: Chapter 10: The Master and The Wild Girl

"Heidi's and Aeris' Team has been called...!"

"Team Alpha and Team Singularity from group A and Team New Gen and Team Shredders from Group B, please come to the teleporters. I repeat, Team Alpha and Team Singularity from Group A and Team New Gen and Team Shredders from Group B, please come to the teleporters."

"Is our turn now," Adel said.

"Yeah." The pink-haired girl won't lie she was a bit nervous. This is going to be the first time her childhood friends are going to see her perform in Omega.

"Good Luck, you too Lahaska!" Alice told the black-haired girl.

"Don't worry I won't lose this early, unlike a certain someone." They look to see a very dejected Heidi.

"Wow, she is taking that loss hard."

"Well, she was looking forward to this as much as Richard." Aeris pointed out.

"Yeah, Hey! At least she gave Harry a run for his money." Richard told everyone and they agreed. Alice was quite impressed by her rival's battle with the son of the owner of this game. Her wild unorthodox attacks surprised the rival of the brown-haired boy and she almost won too. She remembers how the match went...

Early in the day...

"Man, nothing better to do than to celebrate by eating pizza here!" The brown-haired boy said as he shoves a pizza in his mouth.

"18." Both his teammates said counting how many pizzas have fell victim to the brown-haired seemingly bottomless black hole.

"I'm proud of you Richard dear!" Heidi hugged the boy which prompted Alice to pry her off but to no avail.

"Aeris are you alright?" Yuma asked as she saw the pink-haired girl clench her fist.

"Huh? Er, yeah I am fine!" Aeris responded quickly. She doesn't know why but seeing Heidi hug the brown-haired boy gets her mad for some reason.

"Your Rhythm...Is increasing." Genre said. From the sound coming from her headphones as she took them off for a brief second, it seems that she was hearing a ballad song.

"So this is where you spend time together?" The group looks behind them to see none other than Darcell Lahaska. She was not alone tho. On her right, there was a big and tall muscular man. He seems about 4 to 5 years older than her with black long hair tied in a ponytail and green eyes. He was dressed in a white with a dragon design shirt and blue cargo pants, along with black boots. On her left, there was another male this one thinner and older than her by just a year. His red tuxedo suit made him look like a businessman. His hair was short black while his eyes were as blue as the sky above them.

"Lahaska! Huh? Who are they? Are they your teammates?" The red-haired girl asked.

"Yes. Let me introduce them to you. This tall guy is Barry and the one that looks like he's here for a business meeting instead of a fight is Alan. We had also our replacement Sindel but unfortunately, she couldn't come since she was booked this week." Lahaska introduced them and told the reason why their fourth teammate couldn't come.

"Hmm, that is indeed unfortunate." Emuna chimed in.

"Emuna!"

"Hello, young Masters and Mistresses." Irogan took a bow.

"Oh, Irogan hello."

"You finish your match already?!" Richard said both surprised and disappointed. Surprised on how fast the white-haired small girl defeated her opponent and disappointed because he couldn't see the match. His stomach has priorities after all.

"Yes, it was an easy task once Regalia found their core." The white-haired girl explained.

"Do you...know each other." Lahaska interrupted.

"Oh! Lahaska this is Emuna Chariot she is the owner of The Chariot Mansion!"

"Chariot, huh? Well is nice meeting you." The black-haired girl extended her hand. it's as if a big legendary piece reunion was scheduled here. Lahaska has seen what the white-haired girl is capable of, meaning she has to be very careful of her.

"Hmm, likewise...Oh, you want to shake hands with her too? Very well." After shaking the hand of the black-haired girl Emuna took the tiny hand of Regalia and put it on Lahaska's before making the doll "shake" the hand of the black-haired girl awkwardly.

"Er...yeah nice meeting you." The sweat-drop of everyone with the exception of the brown-haired leader of Omega was clear.

"Well, that was a bit, awkward," Barry said.

"Hey, that's rude Barry, She is still a very young girl," Alan whispered.

"Anyway, Richard dear, are you going to watch our match?" Heidi asked with seemingly a pleading voice.

"Of course! I wouldn't miss it you're against Harry after all."

"Yeah, thou be careful his robots are...unique to say the least." It was true who knows what the black-haired rival of their leader has up his sleeves. After all, he did say last time that he has all the classes for each match-up if needed.

"Don't worry we won't go down that easily, right Jack."

"Yep," Jack replied to Craig.

"Well good luck," Aeris told them and just as if the M.C. Was hearing them she chimed in to deliver the message.

"Team Master and Team C.J.K. from Group A and Team Priests and Priestess and Team Tarot from Group B, please come to the teleporters. I repeat, Team Master and Team C.J.K. from Group A and Team Priests and Priestess and Team Tarot from Group B, please come to the teleporters." The M.C. Informed.

"That's us." Craig stood up before Jack followed suit.

"Team C.J.K. What does that stand for?!"

"Craig, Jack, and Kitami. It's easy to roll out of your tongue than our names." The red-haired girl won't argue with that.

"Anyway, I'll see you in the next round Richard, dear!"

"Yeah, Yeah! Just leave already!" Alice pushes the purple-haired off of Richard who glared at her in return. This battle would have continued but she got to go get ready.

"You're lucky this time old priestess."

"Stop...calling...me...OLD!"

"Is everyone ready?" Everyone nodded as they stepped into their circles and they turn into two colors, Team C.J.K Was purple while Harry's was Black. "Alright, Just like every battle in round one the stage will be Western Omega. Get ready! Entering Omega...NOW!"

()

Team C.J.K. Landed at the town near the sheriff's house.

"We'll have to be very careful, remember what Frederick said Harry Kishima must already have a counter team against us." Craig reminded the group.

"I know, He isn't a 3 times Omega Singles Champion for nothing," Heidi said. She knows how powerful the black-haired boy is even alone she cannot imagine himself with a group of A.I. backing him up.

"Well, we don't have to find out." Jack pointed in front of them. There he was with his robots Harry Kishima. It seems that he has settled with his powerhouse Robot the one with the ax and a new one. This one had a huge shield in hand that covered its entire body. It was obvious that it was a wall.

"Well, Well, Well. Talk about convenience, that's good because I really didn't want to waste time looking for you losers."

"Oh yeah! We'll see who will be the loser after I kick your butt!" Heidi told the brown-haired boy who scoffed in return.

"I like to see you try."

"Then watch me!" The purple-haired girl went as fast as she could to try and catch Harry off guard. This, of course, didn't work reason being that battling his rival and other Scouters have given him the experience to fight on par with them without the need to Core Shift himself into one to match their speed.

"Gasping? Do you think it will be easy just because I am a powerhouse and you're a Scouter? Sadly for you, I am already used to your silly speed!" Harry power out backing Heidi very far.

"Heidi!" Craig had to block the ax of the robot but despite it took significant damage due to the raw power of the powerhouse class. Jack threw his cards only to them to be easily deflected by the big shield of the new unit.

"You're in the way of Master." The new unit told them.

"Therefore, you must be eliminated." Unit 00 swung his ax this time Craig sidestep out of the way of the mighty swing.

"This is going to be tougher than I thought."

()

Outside Team Omega, Team New Gen, Team Alpha, and Team Doll House were watching this match intensively.

"So Harry went Powerhouse, Wall, Powerhouse. That seems a bit imbalanced." Adel pointed out.

"That's Harry for you, he really wants to show that he doesn't need the other classes as he is the core." Richard pointed out.

"That's a little bit arrogant, don't you think?" Aeris said.

"No surprise here. He is always been like this since last year, heck even before then." Alice told the pink-haired girl.

"Still..."

"What is it, Rick?"

"Look at the distance he has between him and Heidi." Frederick looks closer and sees what the boy is looking at.

"His distance is similar to how he approaches you!"

"Yeah, Even he knows that one mistake against a scouter could be fatal. In other words, despite being the arrogant jerk that he is, he is giving Heidi respect as a scouter." Richard has to admit he was quite surprised by this. He has heard that Harry looks down on Scouters for being weak and annoying bugs. However, right here he seems to see that Heidi is the biggest threat to his team and as a 4-year veteran he is hiding it very well.

"Giving respect...That's seems so weird when it comes to him." Alice told the brown-haired boy who agreed but nevertheless was very observant of the match. Maybe this match won't be a landslide as the black-haired rival of his thought it would be.

()

Craig and Jack were struggling against their counterparts.

"Hey, Craig maybe we should switch partners." Panting Craig has to admit to this.

"I agreed, but we need to separate them their symmetry with each other is remarkable."

"Makes you wonder if This is not Harry's first year as a team in Omega, does it?" Craig nodded at Jack's comment. They both get ready to execute their plan.

"Won't matter..." Unit 00 told them.

"You will not defeat us even if you switch places."

"We'll see about that. Underestimating your opponent is a mistake that you shouldn't be doing." Craig stated as he attacks the new unit. His fist and the big shield collide and make a loud sound. It had a neutral effect, didn't hurt Craig didn't break the unit's shield. The wall of C.J.K. rolled out of the way before karate chopping the new unit who blocked again but this time the wall of Craig used more pressure by engulfing his hand in chi.

()

On the other side, Jack was having an easier time against Unit 00 since he could get past his defenses.

"Where's that big talk of not being able to defeat you, huh?" Jack taunted as he threw more of his deadly cards. Unit 00 simply cut through them. The powerhouse robot proceeded to slash the ground creating a wave of sand. "Whoa that's new." he dodged the slash that was disguised to thru the sand. It nicked him a bit in the arm before holding it for a few seconds.

"You should keep that tongue to yourself." The unit simply said. Jack look to see blood before his wound regenerated.

"I guess you still have a trick up your sleeves. Well then allow me to do one of mine!" The sniper of C.J.K. Created more cards but this time started to shuffle them at a fast pace. Confuse by this behavior Unit 00 went to attack but Jack released the cards he was shuffling. The cards created a tornado that formed more cards.

"W-What?!" The unit surprise was caught off guard and blown away by said cards. The cards flew in the air before piercing through the metal for a couple of minutes.

"Do you like that I call it "Shuffling Tornado"." The Sniper said before Unit 00 landed in the ground twitching with lots of cut on him. He was also leaking oil while the scene looked like someone mutilated an animal and left it there for people to see. Unable to respond for ten seconds the Unit was automatically eliminated from the contest.

"Team Master's Powerhouse has been defeated." Much to the surprise of many was the response of the M.C. stating that.

"Huh? Maybe the purple-haired one has a chance after all." Lahaska said quite surprised. Then again this was a battle between non-legendary piece users so...

"Come on you stupid cowgirl, kick his butt," Alice said surprising herself. Never, ever in a million years, she will cheer Heidi but...this is the only exception as she hates Harry more than her.

()

Meanwhile, Heidi was having difficulties bypassing Harry's defenses despite him being a powerhouse.

"Ready to give up already? This is getting dull you know." Harry mocked the purple-haired girl.

"Not a chance!" Harry dodged every single one of her whips attacks much to her annoyance. Right now Harry was toying with her. This was a very high message to those fools who will try to get in his way of interfering on his route to revenge on the group that handed him his first and only loss.

"This is so pathetic, I have a better fight vs that annoying tomato than against an eggplant as yourself." That got on the nerves of Heidi.

"Egg...Plant?! I'll show you who is an eggplant! Core Shift: Powerhouse!" Heidi giving up some of her speed gained a new weapon. This one was a golden tin sword just as big as Alice's pole.

"A golden sword? Now, what are you going to do now that you're a snail, Eggplant?" Much to the surprise of the black-haired boy his mocking almost cost him the match as he dodges in time the point of the sword that seemed to have extended. The only thing that he got was a scar on his right cheek with a trickle of blood going down his cheek.

"How's that?!" Harry's surprise was replaced by a grin.

"Well, Well, Well! It seems you have this hidden in you. Well, it doesn't matter because that still will not make a difference!" Harry swung his sword and using her newfound strength Heidi blocked it and matches the black-haired boy's strength.

"Team Master's Powerhouse has been defeated." Tch, It seems he will have to wrap this match quickly since that piece of metal junk has failed him again!

"You don't seem happy. Did you think this match was going to be easy?!' The purple-haired girl uses her newfound power to back off the black-haired boy.

"Don't get cocky you eggplant," Harry responded while swinging his sword. Both swords make a heavy clank sound. The power struggle didn't last that long before Harry overtook Heidi. Heidi knowing she will lose back off before extending her sword. Harry learning from last time sidestep out of the way. Seeing this Heidi responded with kicking the black-haired boy's gut. This mad woman! He could've just easily countered that kick and taken her out right here and there! This woman is wild, but he will not lose to this wild eggplant. No, he will get what he wants and that is a match vs. Team Omega!

"This is for keep calling me eggplant you arrogant bastard!" Using her sword as a trampoline, Heidi leaps into the air and proceeded to attack from above with her extended sword. Harry not knowing what this wild eggplant will do decided that enough was enough. He didn't want to use this against these weak losers but he has no choice in the matter. There is no way that he will be humiliated again!

"Core Shift: Scouter!" Losing his powers but gaining speed the black-haired boy easily dodges every single one of the attacks that Heidi delivered. Landing on her feet and thinking fast Heidi knowing that she will be at a huge disadvantage now, shifted back to her default scouter to at least match his speed thus losing her sword but gaining her rope whip. They block and dodge for several minutes giving the fans outside a match they could enjoy.

"Come on you Cowgirl!" Alice said cheering her rival on. Then she heard words that might become the outcome of the battle.

"Team C.J.K. Wall has been defeated. Team C.J.K. Sniper has been defeated." The new unit to the surprise of everyone has single handily defeated both of the purple-haired partners.

"That...can't be good."

()

Meanwhile, Leos has been observing this match and was quite impressed by the purple-haired girl.

"Wow, she is really good! And she isn't even an owner of a legendary piece. Then again my son isn't too but still..." The owner of Omega said praising the girl in the process.

"Sir, I have been wondering...It has been a few days since the black hat hacker hasn't attacked. Is it safe that we are having these matches without security?" She was talking about the white hackers that helped out in the last incident.

"Oh, don't worry I made a few calls earlier in the week after our little black hat hacker friend invaded our game," Leos reassured her.

"Some calls?"

"Yes. You may know them, they were participants in our first team world tournament."

"Sir there were many participants in the first-ever world tournament."

"Ah! You're right! Well, I guess that's going to be a surprise after all." The bespectacled secretary just sighed but nevertheless; was more at ease at hearing the news before continuing to watch this incredible match.

()

"Team C.J.K. Wall has been defeated, Team C.J.K. Sniper has been defeated." So his new unit wasn't a piece of junk. He will make sure that he gets a better upgrade later as a reward for doing something right.

"Hmm?" So Omega decided to up the stakes. A giant sandstorm came toward them clouding their vision. Despite this, they did their best to be on the lookout for each other's attacks.

"Ha!" Heidi uses her whip to try and snag the black-haired boy but this one dodged. Using his speed Harry did a barrage of fast stabs but Heidi dodges them all gracefully. Dodging the last one Heidi ran fast and circled the black-haired boy. Harry decided to concentrate on the whereabouts of the purple-haired girl and begin to charge up his sword to end this charade once and for all.

"You're finished! Master Slash!" Harry unleashes his powerful X attack. Heidi surprised by this couldn't dodge in time and took the blow completely.

"Hyaaah!"

"Humph, good riddance." However, to the surprise of everyone that thought was over including Harry and Alice themselves, this was not the real Heidi but an illusion clone. "What?!" Harry said as he was snagged by the rope whip of the purple-haired girl.

"I told you to not underestimate me!" Heidi slammed Harry to the ground as hard as she could sending the boy packing back to Earth.

"She did it!!" Alice said happily that her rival won.

"I...I did it." Heidi said. However, to her surprise and to anyone else the match wasn't over because...

"Team Master's Sniper has been defeated."

"What?" Those were the last words from the purple-haired girl as a sword ran through her body.

"I will give you credit, you almost had me there. However, thanks to my unit that you destroyed I was able to use this new class." Harry said as he has now a black mage cape along with an even thinner version of his Buster Sword. This was Harry's magical class. "Too bad, oh well it was fun while it lasted."

('Darn It.') were the last words that Heidi thought before she was released from the sword and she dropped to the ground. Unable, to get up she was deemed unable to continue.

"Due to the opponent being incapable of moving after 10 seconds...Team C.J.K. Core has been defeated, Team C.J.K. Has been eliminated. Final Results: Team Master advances to the second round." And that's how the match between the master and the wild girl occurred.

()

Back to the present, the brown-haired boy tries to cheer her up.

"Hey don't feel down Heidi. At least you showed Harry to never underestimate you again. I am sure next time you will beat him." Heidi looks at the boy before tears start streaming like a waterfall.

"Oh Richard, Dear! Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" She took this an opportunity to lash at him. Alice twitched because she knew that her rival was just doing this to take advantage of the boy's naiveness. She will let it slide this time because she gave them a match to remember. Speaking of matches she wonders what Aeris and her team can do? Well, only one way to find out.

"Is everyone ready!?" Both teams nodded. "Okay let the first final matches of the first round in the Omega Representation Tournament begin! Entering Omega...NOW!" Well, all she can do is wish the pink-haired girl luck on her battle and hope they can meet in the finals.

 

"Team Alpha Enters Omega...!"