Xeph was a bit surprised at Ragna’s new ability; the Zone memory. The technology her had left to his rival was meant simply to allow Ragna to tap into his own power as Eternal, but it seemed he had found a way to tap into other hidden powers. Xeph smiled beneath his visor even as Ragna;s Eternal Edge sliced through the air toward his exposed back. Metal met metal, but not that of Xeph’s armor. No, the dagger had hit another blade that had leapt from its sheath at the warrior’s side in defense of its master. With a screech, the blade flew through the air on its own and swung madly at Ragna. The warrior in white was able to avoid the attack easily enough, the sword’s wild movements were a hard thing to read. The dark knight raised his hand to which the blade stopped in mid air flying to Xeph’s hand like a loyal attack dog harkening its master’s call. “Zanvat, my new blade, and a rather useful companion compared to my previous sword. Although it is quite a glutton; always seeking to devour more life force then it can contain. Still…â€
Xeph turned and swung the demon sword releasing a volley of curved energy at Ragna. What commenced next was a dance of swordsmen whose skills were the stuff of legends. Though Xeph’s possessed a greater breadth of skill and power accompanied by a superior blade, Ragna’s mobility through the Zone memory allowed him to compete against his foe. What more it was clear that, though Ragna could not remember everything, his body was getting “Back into the grove†of fighting his old rival. With enough time the eternal knight might even be able to surpass Xeph, though time was something he did not have. It would start becoming clear to Ragna that with every clash of their blades he was becoming strangely weaker and weaker. What Xeph spoke of before was indeed true; Zanvat was a life eater, and he was stealing bits and pieces of Ragna’s life force with every exchange of blows. With Xeph looming ever closer and the Zanvat glowing with an ominous, red light, it was clear this battle would soon come to an end. “Ragna…I hoped our battle would rekindle something of your past self. Indeed you are regaining your lost power, but your mentality is still too human. What is it about those weaker then you that compels you to be more like them?â€
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Kotone shivered in Sakaki’s arms, finally murmuring to the woman she barely knew. “J-Just take me home…please…†With that said she managed to stand though she kept her face hidden as best she could and stayed close to Sakaki. Her next words made it clear she wasn’t just scarred of people seeing her, but of something else as well. “Why does this keep happening to me? What the hell am I?†As if in reaction to these words, the eclipse stone inside of Tamoe reacted to something within both Kotone and Sakaki. Sakaki felt it too and began to shake harder. “No, not now…not with Sakaki here…†It was then that the Alter ring appeared around Kotone’s waste and seemed to envoke the belts of the other two women. Alice would see this, but the beetle undead would feel it from within his card. One would see familiar, another would be unknown, but definitely fantasian, and third would be something foreign to him. It was the light from Kotone’s belt; a power like a fantasians, yet not fantasian in origin. Whatever Kotone’s power was, it wasn’t like those of the other’s present, yet it was resonating with them. As quickly as the strange, golden belt had appeared, it had vanished and Kotone calmed down, even if only a little. “Thank God….I have to get out of here before it comes back. If I change again I won’t be able to stop myself/ I don’t want to hurt anyone else.â€
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Ryuuya was more then surprised by the sudden appearance of a stranger with the very thing the group sought after. Still, it was one less thing for the four to worry about. The notion of being left alone with Helios, however, wasn’t exactly a welcomed thought. Then again, it would give the curious man a chance to find out more about fantasia and why he and his family had been targeted. More importantly, he might find a precious clue as to who was responsible. “Guess it will give me and Helios a chance to get to know each other better. We could always go hunt for that undead powered rider you met up with.†Turning to Helios as he made the suggestion, Ryuuya wasn’t sure how exactly to approach the lupine fantasian. “Or…you know, whatever you’re in the mood for.â€
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Takuya was still blushing from Kaori’s comment even as she mentioned the old equipment in the storage room. The words “Fantasian technology†more then caught Takuya by surprise. “Y-You’re sure it’s from your world? I mean grandpa was always collecting weird stuff; said it was part of an investigation he was doing, but he never mentioned fantasia.†Takuya looked around; he had never paid close attention to the strange items in the room, and had never realized how different it was until Kaori pointed it out to him. “I thought it was just scrap metal, or leftovers from a theme park rider. You don’t think my Grandpa was investigating the fantasians back then, do you? I mean why would be have been, how would he have even found out about you guys?†Takuya’s confusion was turning slowly to a calm excitement. His grandfather had been looking into something connected to fantasia, and now it seemed Takuya would soon be following in his foot steps. As Kaori looked through the parts, she would eventually find a number of incomplete blue prints for small automatons that had a number of practical applications. It seemed they could even be used as tools designed for various purposes. The truly striking thing about the “Memory Gadgetsâ€, as they were called, was that they seemed to have their programming stored in a device that looked strikingly similar to a gaia memory. The designs had no names or organizations printed on them, so figuring out who made them would be a challenge. “My grandpa never kept very good records; he was always worried about paper trails leading back to his clients. Maybe if I talked to his old friends…but those guys are pretty paranoid and hard boiled themselves.†Takuya thought quietly for a moment before being struck by an epiphany that caused him to stand up, as if surprised by what he himself had remembered. “I remember mom once mentioning someone names Sakuya…she said it was shameful for a man his age to be involved with a woman that young. If they were together, maybe she knew some thing about what he was working on. Oh what was her last name…†While Takuya racked his brain for the answer, Fang would finally find a name of her own upon the very last blue print: Kusanagi.
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Ingram stood before the woman who bore a power too close to the monster called Xeph for Ingram to just let walk away. The way she spoke and carried herself was similar to the dark knight, but this girl bore a bit more anger, and something else that Ingram could not quite identify. Indeed, facing such a woman in battle would, no doubt, be a challenge if her Kivat companion was more then just for show. Still, the dark warrior turned knight was not yet ready to back down from this exchange and prepared himself for anything. The woman’s demand for the location of “they†was vague, but was most likely either meant to refer to Ingram’s former allies in Aesir’s forces, or his current companions; the Kamen Rider Knights. With determination and valor still strong in his heart, Ingram spoke to the woman with a calm, but powerful voice. “If you seek Xeph and his comrades, then we have that in common. If they are your enemies, then we have more in common then you might think. If you seek the Royals or the knights as their foe, then I will not allow you to find them, and I will end you here. Know this; I am an enemy to Aesir, to Xeph, and to all those that would harm the innocence of this, or any other world. I am Ingram; a servant of darkness no longer, I now stand with the true knights of fantasia as the warrior called Kuuga.†With his piece said, Ingram awaited the stranger’s answer, but in no way let down his guard. Part of the warrior hoped she was a potential ally for the cause, but much of him feared she would too much like the entity whose vile power seemed to be a part of her being. Her answer should reveal something to Ingram, or so he hoped.
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While Reiko was investigating the clamor, Joan was left to her thoughts, though she kept alert in case Reiko needed her help. She pondered everything that was happening and how in less then a week her life had changed forever. She thought of Reiko, whose scarred body was proof of a harder life then Joan had ever had to live. Yet even with all she had been through, Reiko had managed to find happiness, love, and even some level of peace. Reiko may have had a moment of regret and sorrow, but she was able to shrug it off and regain her joy and hope. Joan recalled the last few days and all the decisions she had made: becoming Kani, fighting evil, inviting Reiko and Cisne into her life, getting involved in events that had led her to her current state. The strangest thing was that while she was confused, even scared, Joan felt no regret for her decisions over the past few days. That small detail seemed to comfort the stressed girl greatly and she had a calmer air about her by the time her friend had returned. Reiko’s explanation of the events that took place across the hall that involved a once comatose girl suddenly and rapidly recovering sparked no small amount of curiosity in Joan. Still, Reiko had done the right thing by strong arming the hospital staff into transferring the girl to there room. Hopefully it was just a wonderful coincidence, but if it was somehow related to fantasia then the duo were better off keeping a close eye on this mysterious girl. Though Reiko was ready to listen to whatever Joan had to say, the tired woman smiled and moved over to allow Reiko back her place. “Thank you Reiko…but I think I am alright now…I’ll head back to my room…after a little nap…†Joan intended to go back to her own room, but before she could gather the strength she had fallen asleep in Reiko’s bed. Joan had been through a rough day, though she knew what Reiko had been through was far worse. As she slipped into her dreams, she couldn’t help but wonder from where Reiko drew such strength.
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