Chapter Text
The Kingdom of Uraya was quite interesting. Unlike the other nations, their Titan tends to spend most of its time submerged within the Cloud Sea, occasionally resurfacing for air. As such, the people who called this nation home opted to live within the beast. The only other Titan of a similar nature was Genbu, the Titan of the nation of Tantal. Now without proper context, one would think that would be a terrible idea and would cause everyone inside the Titan to be digested and that the inside would be all fleshy and gross. However, that couldn't be further from the truth.
There was vegetation and fresh water as far as the eye can see within the Urayan Titan. No signs of flesh to give the impression of being in someone's stomach, just steep rock walls that stretched all the way towards the Titan's back. There was even wildlife roaming around the wetlands and highlands, oblivious to the fact that they were within another living creature. It wasn't even dark inside as Uraya's back was translucent, allowing sunlight to filter through. Titans were truly mysterious creatures. It was hard to believe that any of this was possible, but this was just a fact of life for the people of Alrest. As for what the Titans actually eat to regain energy, they are living creatures after all, the working theory is that the continental class Titans fed off of the Cloud Sea due to its mysterious composition, while the much smaller ones like Azurda had both that option and to eat like any normal creature.
But what was probably the highlight of coming to Uraya were the saffronnia trees. They can only be found here in this Titan and they were a spectacle to behold, especially when at full-bloom. You see, saffronnia trees bioluminescent red leaves and flowers. Now that alone may not sound too impressive, but once those trees reach full blooms, those same leaves get caught in the wind (best not to ask how that works while inside a Titan) and just dance in the air, creating a dazzling spectacle.
And today just so happens to be in the middle of the season where the saffronnias are in full-bloom, providing quite the eye candy for the wandering mercenaries. Even Mythra found herself in awe of the sparkling lights floating in the breeze, though she wouldn't admit it out loud. This was probably the first time she had ever seen such natural beauty.
Addam did awaken her in Olethro, which was located on the tail of the Urayan Titan, during the Aegis War, but the two of them didn't spend much time in the kingdom as they soon were off to hunt down the rampaging Malos and T-elos. Interestingly enough, the fourth prince of Torna did promise to take Mythra back to Uraya to see the saffronnias in full bloom (which she was secretly excited for after seeing pictures of it in a book), but the aftermath of the Aegis War ended up throwing a wrench in those plans. That was because after the defeat of Malos and T-elos, as well as the destruction of the Tornan Titan, Addam chose to seal Mythra away. The last memory she had of the man was him voicing his regret over not being able to keep his promise to her.
Mythra didn't hold it against her original Driver. After Torna was destroyed, she wasn't exactly in the best mental state, especially after seeing the dead body of Milton, a young Gormotti boy that had accompanied them on their travels. It was her fault that he died. Milton was no Driver, he didn't possess the aptitude for it, so everyone thought it was best that he and his friend Mikhail would stay in Auresco, the Tornan capital, while they left to confront Malos at the Titan's core. They thought it was too dangerous to bring them along, especially since Malos's partner had no honor whatsoever. It was the female Aegis that convinced the boys to listen and stay behind. She and Milton always butted heads, the young boy not even caring that she was one of the strongest Blades in existence. The arguments varied depending on the circumstances. Sometimes it was over something Mythra did in battle (which was usually reckless), or some rather trivial stuff. Still, it was thanks to Milton that she started to form real connections with her friends. Even now, she could remember that hopeful look Milton gave her when she and the others left Auresco that fateful day.
Originally when Mythra awakened, she kept herself distant from everyone, even her own Driver. She was a weapon of the Architect, a being of mass destruction. She didn't think that she deserved the same things other people had. Jin actually called her out for that when they first met, saying that she was lacking in compassion. She couldn't really fault him for that, since she purposely walled herself off from everyone. Not to mention that she would casually flex her power as an Aegis, even over a petty insult, not even considering the safety of those around her. That behavior really bit her in the ass when she and the others fought Brighid in Torigoth. The town had been burned to the ground by bandits, its inhabitants slain without mercy. The Flame Jewel thought that they were the culprits behind it and fought to apprehend them. Initially, Mythra was going easy on the Fire Blade, but when Brighid insulted her for her crude fighting style, she got so pissed off she resorted to using Siren's particle cannon, despite Addam's pleas for her to stop since Milton and Mikhail were with them. In that moment, she didn't care about them. She just wanted to defeat Brighid, by any means necessary. If it wasn't for Haze, Lora's other Blade, and her power to seal the powers of other Blades, Mythra might have ended up hurting her own friends in her blind fury.
Of course, once things had calmed down and she was properly scolded by her comrades, even she knew that was a stupid thing to do. Perhaps that moment was what seeded in the thought that she didn't deserve to exist in this world. Like Malos, Mythra largely did whatever she wanted, not really thinking too much about the consequences. The only reason why she even agreed to fight the male Aegis was because that's what Addam wanted to do, so she assisted him out of her obligation as his Blade. It wasn't until near the end of the Aegis War where she consciously chose to oppose him because she felt it was the right thing to do, and it was thanks to the time she spent with Milton, Jin and the others that she came to that conclusion.
Addam once told her that she was unpolished. It happened after the Paragon of Torna called her out for her lack of compassion. Addam wanted to clarify what Jin meant, that was because she was newly awakened (it had only been a year since that day in Olethro), she was still coarse. Blades lose their memories when they return to their cores. However, the feelings and experiences they have become ingrained in them, allowing them to become more and more human. Of course, as an Aegis, Mythra wouldn't return to her core if her Driver died, but the point still stands. By interacting with people, whether they be humans or Blades, she can become more human herself, instead of just being a weapon.
During her adventure in Torna, Mythra slowly came to believe that even someone like her could live a life like that. That she could live among the people, make real connections, and laugh. That wish was what motivated her to convince Milton to stay behind, for he was her first real friend. She wanted to protect him. She thought he would be safe in the capital, tasking him with looking after Mikhail.
How wrong she was.
Halfway through the final fight with Malos and T-elos, the male Aegis had his Siren fire its particle cannon at Auresco, devastating it in an instant, all so that he could draw out more of his counterpart's power. Everyone just watched in horror as they could picture the screams of terror from citizens there. So many people, whether they be man, woman, child or elderly were killed in the blink of an eye. However, the person who took it the hardest was Mythra herself.
She had convinced Milton to stay behind. She put him in the line of fire. She put her friend in grave danger and possibly killed him. Devastated over the unknown fate of the young Gormotti, Mythra tapped into a power she didn't know she had. This sudden surge of power completely incapacitated Addam and Mythra lost control of herself. The most she could remember afterward was fighting Malos alone, with each Aegis taking direct control of their Sirens. She fought with all her might, nothing restraining her anymore, all to crush her so-called "partner". She didn't even care that each of her attacks were devastating Torna. Eventually, she released an attack so devastating, it destroyed Malos's Siren, plunging it and him into the depths of the Cloud Sea, seemingly killing him, screaming his counterpart's name in blind fury. T-elos was defeated at the same time by Addam's other Blade, with the Dark Blade also falling into the Cloud Sea.
However, that same attack destroyed the Tornan Titan's core, killing the once mighty creature. The next thing Mythra knew, she was on a flying transport that was evacuating the now sinking Titan. There, she learned that Emperor Hugo, the Driver of Brighid and Aegaeon, was dead, sacrificing himself to shield Addam, his longtime friend, from the explosion of the Titan's core. From that ship's balcony, Mythra watched in horror as the dying Tornan Titan began sinking beneath the Cloud Sea. It was all her fault. Not only did she kill it, but she destroyed the homes of countless people, and probably condemned many others to their deaths if they couldn't evacuate.
Then she saw the thing that devastated her the most. Cradled in the arms of an injured Mikhail, was the burned corpse of a Gormotti boy. Milton had died protecting Mikhail, something he wouldn't have had to do if Mythra just took the boys with her. In her grief, she tried to reach out and touch the Gormotti's cheek, but the surviving boy pulled Milton's body away from her. She could never forget the look in his eyes as he stared at her in that moment. Hatred, bitterness, and fear. He blamed her for the death of his friend and rightfully feared her.
After that, something broke within the Aegis. The wish to live alongside humans and protect them was plunged from her mind. A weapon like her didn't deserve such luxury, such happiness. It was naïve of her to think otherwise. At that moment, she wanted to disappear, to leave this world so that her power could never hurt anyone else.
Perhaps things would have been better if there was a different version of her, a weaker one, a better one. In her despair, Mythra sought to create an alternate self to take her place as the Aegis, one that didn't run the risk of burning the world like she did. This version of her would be her ideal self, based off of everything her friends told her she lacked. An Aegis who was humble, kind, a good chef, and most importantly, a mere shadow to what she really is. That would be how she will atone for her sins. But in her darkest hour, even that mercy was denied to her. Her core responded to her will, her body engulfed with crimson light, but once the light died down, nothing about her had changed. Her appearance remained the same, her personality unaltered, not even her Blade Weapon was changed. She was still Mythra, the destroyer of Torna.
Perhaps that was her father's doing, the will of the divine Architect. He wouldn't allow her to essentially flee from her sin. She would have no choice but to bear this burden alone. The days afterward were a blur to her. She didn't talk to anyone or eat anything, no matter how much her stomach grumbled. She just kept herself locked inside her room, not even letting Addam in. Eventually she was sealed away in that ship and sent to the Cloud Sea's bed. For five hundred years, she dreamed of standing on hill with the lone tree, gazing down at the greenery of Elysium.
She had no one to talk to, no one to confide in. All she had were the painful memories of the atrocities she committed, forever tormenting her. It was such a lonely existence. Addam told her that this slumber was only temporary, that someone would one day reawaken her and give her the peace she so rightfully deserved. But Mythra didn't want to wake up. If she wasn't allowed to pass her Aegis duties onto someone else, than she would rather remain in this dreamworld, forever tortured by her memories. That was all she deserved.
And then it finally happened. Someone had reawakened her, five hundred years later. How cruel fate was to have her next Driver look almost exactly like Addam. In fact he could even pose as his son if the two were to be put in the same room. At first, Mythra just went along with things after her reawakening. As Xander's Blade, she decided to dedicate herself to keep him safe, acting like her old self to hide her pain and suffering. She didn't want to burden him with her problems. They weren't any of his concern. She was just a weapon at the end of the day, and weapons listen to their masters. But she did have one wish, one wish that she desperately wanted granted. To go to Elysium, the place of her birth. Perhaps if she goes there and meets with her father, she can get the answers she seeks.
However, even she didn't fully account for how attached she would become with her new Driver. Xander reminded her so much of Addam that it threatened to tear down the walls she built around her heart. It was funny how similar his past was to Marth, the Demon King of Aincrad, and yet they came to very different paths. Marth became cold and cynical to the world, preferring to protect only those close to him. He wouldn't think twice of fighting the entire world if it meant keeping his loved ones safe, even if his actions cause him to be hated as a monster. But Xander was the opposite. Despite the cruel hand fate dealt him, the young Driver still retained a kind heart, helping those in need. He took in people with no homes, never questioning them about their pasts or anything, and together they formed the Origo Mercenaries, to ensure that other people wouldn't have to suffer what they did. That's the true reason Xander created the company. It wasn't just to survive in this cruel world, but he did admit that the reason was kinda naïve. Mythra found herself laughing when he finally told her, much to his embarrassment.
Unlike most Drivers, he didn't treat Blades like weapons, but like living beings. It was hard not for Mythra to find herself growing fond of him. Sure there was that whole tension between him and Marth, but that was mostly the latter's fault since he really gave off the wrong impression to the Alrestians. Despite that slight hiccup in her Driver's behavior, she started wondering if she really could live alongside humans again. And right when she started thinking that, Xander died before her eyes, killed by a madman looking to free a dark god that wasn't even in its prison. Once again, she started regressing to the mentality that this world would be better off without her. If it wasn't for Klaus reminding her of what she could do, she might not have reacted in time to save both Xander and Kos-Mos.
And now she was shouldering the burden of sustaining her Driver's life, sacrificing her own immortality as the price. Addam mentioned something about saffronnias representing rebirth, but not life after death. No, it meant new beginnings. Perhaps this was a sign for her to treat this awakening as a fresh start. It was a nice thought and brought some small comfort, but ultimately she was still unsure if she deserved such kindness, to be Xander's Blade.
After all, when she resurrected him, she swore to protect him with all her being, and yet she hasn't fulfilled that oath. Not once has she used her full power as an Aegis. On several missions, she could have ended the battle in an instant by calling upon Siren, her remaining Artifice. Yet every time she even thinks about the Artifice, she freezes in her tracks, fearing that she might lose control again. She told Minoth that she'll only use Siren as a last resort, but could she even bring herself to do even that? Can she bring herself to use the same power that sent an entire nation to the Cloud Sea's bed?
"You alright, Mythra?" Xander asked in concern, noticing her downtrodden expression.
"Huh? I-is something wrong?" she replied hastily as she noticed her Driver beside her, trying to hide her hesitation. She spent so long thinking in her head that she accidentally dropped her mask. She didn't want him to see her in that state. How embarrassing.
"No, you were just really quiet all of a sudden. I came over to check on you and you looked sad for a second. Are you feeling okay?"
It was times like this Mythra really noticed the similarities between Xander and Addam. Addam always watched over her, like father towards his own daughter. But with Xander, she didn't quite know what their relationship was. Friends, maybe? Weird. Why did that sudden thought make her feel more depressed than before? She mentally shrugged it off, forcing herself to give her Driver her usual smirk.
"It's nothing," she lied. "I was just thinking about how much time has passed since I was last here. A lot can change in five hundred years." She hoped that would be enough to assure her Driver.
"That is true. You told me you didn't spend much time in Uraya after you awakened, but even so, that doesn't make it immune to the flow of time. Was there any place you wanted to visit while we are here?"
Now that was an interesting thought. Just her and Xander hanging out together, admiring the sights and talking about random things. Wait, why would it just be the two of them? Wouldn't Kos-Mos be there too, as with the other Origo Mercenaries? Strange thought process aside, it wouldn't hurt to do much exploring here before they set off for the World Tree, and luckily she had just the place in mind.
"Yeah, the Olethro Ruins. That's the place Addam awakened me. I'm sure its fallen apart during the last five hundred years, but I wouldn't mind checking it out again. Could be fun."
"Olethro, huh? I've heard of that place. My mother used to tell me about it when she read me stories about Addam. Alright then. It's a date. We'll go tomorrow after we visit Cole."
Mythra's face suddenly went bright red. "A-a date?! Wh-what are you talking about?"
Xander tilted his head in confusion as if she said something odd. "It's just a figure of speech. I'm sure Kos-Mos and the others want to go see the ruins as well. That's not a problem, is it?"
She quickly managed to calm down. Obviously Xander didn't mean anything about it. They were just friends after all. Yep, just friends. Still, why did she find herself feeling disappointed by that? What the hell is wrong with her?
"Nope! It's fine. Perfect even. I can show off how awesome I am to everyone there. I can't wait for tomorrow."
The Driver and Blade shared a laugh together. Oh how it felt good to do so. It almost made her forget about the dark thoughts she had just moments ago.
It wasn't much longer until the Origo Mercenaries reached the Titan's blowhole. As Xander expected, the weird energy source was actually from another Titan. It was a small one, probably big enough to hold a small boat. It actually looked like an adolescent version of the Urayan Titan, which was interesting. But how did it cause that strange energy output? It certainly wasn't old age. This Titan still looked relatively young. Could it have been an accident? No, that didn't feel right either. Upon further inspection, there looked to be serious wounds on the Titan's stomach and side. Which meant that…
A loud screech filled the air, putting the mercenaries on-guard. That sound only meant one thing. Prepare for battle.
It wasn't long before a Queen Arachno appeared on the summit, but it wasn't alone. Right by it's side…was a Blade! That's right, humans weren't the only ones that can resonate with core crystals. Monsters can too. Typically that only happened by accident, like if the monster happens to step on the core crystal and just so happen to have the aptitude to resonate with it. If the resonance worked, then it would make the monster even more dangerous since they now have a Blade at their command.
This wouldn't be the first time Xander had encountered such a foe, but this was the first time he saw a monster command a Blade with a unique appearance. Typically monsters only had the regular common Blades. That meant that either the Arachno got really lucky, influenced the Blade's appearance through resonance, or the more likely scenario, killed the Blade's previous Driver (which would most likely a human) and just so happened to resonate with its core.
Still, he had never seen a Blade like this one before. It truly looked like a monster. The Blade had thick black skin which almost looked like armor with light blue outlines, a muscular upper body, two curved antenna on its head, spiked arms, to even what looked like exhaust channels on its shoulder. On its chest was a blue core crystal, signaling that it was indeed a Blade. Perhaps it was the second option after all. He couldn't imagine any human Driver influencing a Blade's appearance that much during resonance.
"Looks like we found the culprit behind the strange energy," Nia said casually as she and the other mercenaries readied their weapons.
"Looks like it," Jin replied. "Leave the enemy Blade to me. The rest of you focus on the Arachno."
"Sounds like a plan," Xander agreed, readying the Aegis Sword. He'll have Kos-Mos wielding her own Blade Weapon for this fight since he wants to try something with Mythra. "Now let's go!"
The Paragon of Torna rushed towards his target with blinding speed, hoping to separate the Blade from its Driver. It was a good tactic as it would make both enemies easier to handle. After all, nothing would stop the Blade from transferring its power to its Driver, whether they were human or beast.
The enemy Blade responded in kind by summoning a black megalance before charging at Jin. It was surprisingly speedy despite its massive frame, but still not on the Ice Blade's level. Meanwhile Xander and the others took on the Arachno. As usual, Ethan and Poppi held its attention, blocking its attacks while attacking from the front. Xander and Kos-Mos would attack from the sides, while Nia focused on healing and occasionally getting some strikes in.
The Arachno's exoskeleton was surprisingly tough, likely a result of its resonance with its Blade. That tough exterior made it tricky to land good strikes even with the Aegis Sword, at least with regular attacks. Once Xander and them started to use their Arts, they started making more of a dent in the monster's armor. During the battle, he dared take a peek at Jin's progress, and to no surprise, he was holding his own against the enemy Blade.
Judging from its attacks, it seemed that the Blade was an Earth element, not a bad match up against Jin. Its main strategy seemed to just be brute force since there was no real rhythm or sense to its attacks. It just swung around its lance and occasionally fired earthen projectiles hoping to hit its opponent. Unfortunately, such tactics were doomed to fail against the Paragon of Torna. While still lacking a true Driver to call upon his full power, Jin was a veteran fighter and extremely nimble. If anyone can get a read on this Blade's attacks and safely land counters, it would be him (not counting Mythra's Foresight of course). Eventually the battle reached a point where the Arachno wasn't getting enough power from its Blade as the latter had to dedicate more energy to hold back Jin. That gave Xander just the opening he needed to finish this.
"Ready, Mythra?"
The Aegis gave him a firm nod, knowing exactly what he was thinking as a golden aura flared to life around them, signaling that their resonance was at its peak. "You bet!" she said confidently. "I've been waiting for this. Let's show this thing what a real Driver and Blade can do!"
Wielding the Aegis Sword with both hands, Xander delivered three powerful slashes on the Arachno's side, with each strike leaving a nasty gash behind and causing the monster to screech in pain. Next, Xander jumped into the air and performed a spinning overhead slash on the monster's backside, creating a small explosion of golden light that burned its carapace. The Arachno still wasn't dead yet though as it stubbornly turned towards the pair and lunged at them. Unfortunately, its attempts to kill them will be in vain as the duo weren't done yet.
In one fluid motion, Xander tossed the Aegis Sword into the air, prompting Mythra to jump up at catch it with ease. As she descended back to the ground, she struck the Arachno's head with a full-powered downward slash before following it up with a spin attack. This was an extremely powerful Art that can only be used when the Driver and Blade act as one. The technique and name depended on the Blade and their element, but the result is always the same. A devastating attack that will leave your enemies helpless. Mythra's version of this joint Art was called Hadron Impact, which she had previously used with Addam during the Aegis War.
Needless to say, the Arachno couldn't handle it any longer and succumbed to its wounds, letting out one final screech in defiance. Once he determined that it was truly dead, Xander turned his attention to Jin and the Earth Blade, the latter of which was dissolving into ether particles due to the death of its Driver. Interestingly enough, the monstrous Blade looked at him and smiled. Was it…relieved?
"Thank…you," it said gruffly, surprising the mercenaries. "Finally…I am…free…" The Blade reverted into an inactive core crystal afterward.
"No way," Ethan said slowly, still unable to process it. "That Blade… It spoke."
"Indeed," Dromarch answered. "It would appear that that Blade was more intelligent than its appearance suggested. A classic judging a book by its cover."
Nia lowered her head in shame. "That Blade. It, no he, must have been waiting for humans to come and fight his Driver. He could have killed it at any time, but that ran the risk of being awakened by another monster. He must have wanted to ensure that his core crystal was inherited by someone who would truly make use of his power, like a proper Driver would."
"Looks that way," Jin said in agreement as he scooped up the inactive core crystal and gave it to his leader. "At least he won't have to remember being the Blade of a monster when he reawakens."
When a Blade returns to its core, it can't be reawakened right away. After a few days, the crystal will regain its light, allowing a new Driver to awaken the Blade inside. Xander wondered what he should do with this core crystal. Typically, the Origo Mercenaries handed whatever cores they retrieved in such encounters to the nation's military. None of them really liked strengthening the military, especially in such a tense time, but it was better than just leaving the cores out in the wild where anyone can snatch them.
What should he do with this core though? He could just picture the horror a newbie Driver would have if they ever awakened this Blade. Perhaps it might be better to hold onto this one for now, at least until he finds someone, he feels is suitable for the Blade. He owed him that much at least as the victor.
"Well then," he spoke up, pocketing the darkened core in his coat. He turned his attention to the wounded Titan, which also dying from its wounds and dissolving into ether. "Time to finish what we started."
The other mercenaries watched as Xander inspected the Titan, returning to them after it fully faded away. However, when he returned, there was something in his hand. It was another core crystal, but this one was glowing blue, meaning it was ready to be awakened.
"Where'd you get that, Xander?" Ethan questioned.
"From the Titan. That's where they come from. My mother told me about it when I was a kid. She said that she would tell me the full story once I got older, but…" He paused for a moment and shook his head. "Anyway, as you can see, this one's all ready to go. Humans and Titans die, but Blades keep living on, as long as their crystals are intact. Over course, every time their Driver dies, they return to their core and forget everything. It's a never-ending cycle. An eternal history."
Nia let out a giggle. "Where'd you get that? A fortune cookie?" she said snarkily, getting a laugh out of everyone.
Xander scratched his head sheepishly. "I guess that did sound a little corny. Anyway, we're done here so let's head back to Fonsa Myma."
The others agreed and the mercenaries began making their way back to the Urayan capital. As they walked, Xander noticed that Mythra had fallen silent again. He could tell that something was bothering her. Was it because she can't return to her core like other Blades, meaning she'll never lose her memories?
On one hand, living forever sounded interesting, but it would quickly become a lonely existence. After all, you watch your friends and loved ones die around you while you remain unchanged. It's kinda sad if you think about it. He couldn't help but wonder how Marth feels about the whole thing, since he was immortal as a demon, watching his friends leave him behind while he stays the same.
Just how did Mythra feel…being alive for five hundred years and seeing that most of her old friends are dead?
The trek back to Fonsa Myma was going largely uneventful as the glowing embers of twilight illuminated the land. It was a pretty sight combined with the saffronnia trees. Mythra found herself feeling glad that she came, finally fulfilling the promise that Addam made to her all those ages ago, in a weird roundabout way. They still had about an hour or two of walking to do before they reach the city. In fact she could see it off in the distance.
To help pass the time, Mythra was chatting with Xander and Kos-Mos, discussing new strategies on how to best utilize their combined power. It was actually pretty fun for her, especially since she just experienced the fruits of her labor in that last battle. Looks like all that special training she and her Driver did has paid off. Now she wanted to see much further she could take it. Anything was a better alternative than using Siren again.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The legendary Aegis and her Driver! Looks like all those rumors we heard were true."
The group came to a sudden halt as they heard the male voice. Before they could even question it, three cloaked figures suddenly emerged behind a conveniently placed boulder. Actually, was that boulder even here the last time they passed through? Eh, not important right now. Anyway, it was hard to get a read on two of the figures in their cloaks, but the figure on the left was pretty unusual. The figure seemed to be hovering rather than properly standing, and were those wings sticking out of its cloak?!
Mythra could already tell this was gonna be annoying. Whoever these people were, they were quite clearly obstructing their path, taking full advantage of the narrow cliff to try to block their advance.
"Who are you?" Xander asked cautiously.
The figure in the middle chuckled, trying way too hard to sound menacing. The voice sounded masculine so it was clearly a guy, probably the ringleader too. "That's quite the heavy burden you have there, pipsqueak," he said theatrically. "You sure you're up for it? How about you see sense, step aside and let the big boys take charge?" As if he were putting on a performance, the man dramatically pointed his finger at the Aegis Driver, with the figure on his right mirroring his every move. "C'mon then. Yield the merchandise!"
Xander could only tilt his head in confusion. "Uh, merchandise? Do you mean Mythra?"
"Yes, obviously! What else would I be talking about? So come on then. Hand her over like a good boy and no one will get hurt."
Why did this stranger's attitude remind Mythra of the antics Addam used to do when they traveled together? It made it hard for her to take the man seriously when he was trying to come off as intimidating. Of course it would take more than that scare someone like her and her own Driver, especially since the latter has a very over protective Blade. Speaking of which…
"You didn't answer Xander's original question," Kos-Mos spoke up, her eyes narrowing as she stood ready to defend her Driver, her Gravity Shell activating. "Who are you? You have five seconds to answer before I blast you off the cliff. Five…four…"
That seemed to have gotten a reaction out of the strangers' as the cloaked man swung his hands out wildly, trying to stop the crazy android. It was pretty funny to see, actually. It was fun seeing Kos-Mos in protector mode.
"Wait, wait, wait!" the man said quickly. "There's no need for that. Once we take our cloaks off, it'll all be clear. I guarantee you'll all be quivering in your boots."
"Doubt it," Mythra said dismissively, finding a blade of grass more interesting than what was going on right now.
"Yes, I concur," the other Light Blade replied. "Who you are matters little to me. I will still not allow you to harm Xander in anyway."
"Wow, this guy got Mythra and Kos-Mos to agree on something," the Gormotti Driver commented, to which both Dromarch and Jin wordlessly nodded in agreement.
The cloaked man let out an annoyed grumble. "Geez, tough crowd here. Anyway, behold!" He and his companions threw off their cloaks, revealing what they looked like underneath.
The first thing that Mythra noticed was that the man's companions were actually Blades. The one on his left was slim girl with messy short green hair, her eyes obscured by the glare of her round glasses. Her outfit was steampunk themed with an open blouse that had a popped collar, as well clear lightbulbs for shoulders and a small hat. She also had pointed ears and a bulb tail. On her chest was her core crystal, which resembled that of an electric board with a triangle cut out of it.
The next Blade was more interesting though. It was a woman that appeared to be fused together with a dragon-like mech. The woman herself had pale skin as well as pastel purple hair and eyes and wore a black bodysuit. As for the mech itself, it was black, consisting of a static dragon head, a second pair of arms, razor-sharp wings, pointed feet, a large ether cannon and twin tails. Her core crystal resembled that of an asymmetrical pentagon. She was probably the largest Blade Mythra's ever seen, factoring in that mech of course.
As for the weird man, he was obviously their Driver. He was pretty tall, probably an inch or two over Xander, probably around twenty-five years old. He had a muscular build and short spikey dark gray hair. His outfit consisted of a long black coat that he keeps open to expose his bare chest, as well as armor on his knees and shoulders. He also wore black fingerless gloves that covered his forearms and dark leather boots. His eye color seemed to be gray but he also wore a black eyepatch over his right eye. Strapped to his back was a large electric blue greatsword.
Xander suddenly gasped, causing the man to smirk in anticipation. "Wait, are you…" the Aegis Driver started to say.
"You know this weirdo, Xander?" Nia questioned, looking at her leader expectantly.
Surprisingly, the silverette just shook his head. "Nope. No clue."
That clearly wasn't what the man was expecting to hear as both he and the Blade on his left slumped over comically. "Oh, come on!" he cried out in outrage. "Do you seriously not recognize me?! Kos-Mos, surely you remember me, right?"
The android simply shook her head. "I have no records of you in my database. This is our first meeting."
Now the man collapsed on the dirt, which got a giggle out of Mythra. She was enjoying this now. "You too?! Is ten years all it takes to forget about me? Fine then. Guess I'll have to reintroduce myself to jog your memory." He quickly jumped back up on his feet, brushed off the dirt from his coat, and took a few bold steps forward. "The name's Zeke von Genbu! Bringer of Chaos! I am mostly known as Zeke, but I also answer to the Zekenator!"
The man known as Zeke then gestured over to the steampunk Blade. "Behold! My first Blade, Pandoria!" The greenette crossed her arms while looking smug. It seemed like she enjoyed this kind of thing. He then gestured to the woman by his right, who was just hovering there, not saying or doing anything. "And now for my second Blade. The fearsome Herald!" After that, Zeke then drew his weapon and promptly swung around a few times to show it off. "This is my sword. The Purple Lightning Dreamsmasher! If you want a taste, then come and get it!" He said that last sentence while taking on a fighting stance, the sword activating by extending out electric blue edges.
Honestly Mythra couldn't help but burst out laughing. That was the most ridiculous name for a sword she ever heard, and she heard Addam come up with a few dumb ones before. Was this guy trying to be Addam 2.0 or something?
This Driver seemed to be looking for a fight, but he does realize that he's outnumbered right? Were his two Blades really powerful enough to contend with the Aegis, the Paragon of Torna, AND Kos-Mos? Somehow, Mythra doubted this was the case. This guy was clearly over his head. She could easily throttle him if her Driver gave the word, so she decided to leave the final decision to him.
"Nah, we're good," Xander said dismissively.
Or they could do that too. The Origo Mercenaries began walking past the bizarre trio. As much as Mythra would love to put the older Driver in his place, who was she to go against her Driver? Besides, it was quite amusing to see Zeke's exasperated face as everyone gave him the cold shoulder. Sadly for the mercenaries, Zeke didn't seem like the type to give up as he and his Blades suddenly zoomed right past them and blocked their path yet again.
"Ugh," Nia groaned in annoyance. "I'm getting tired of this guy already."
Zeke looked pretty frustrated. This was really not going the way he intended. "Do you lowlives think you can lick the four of us?"
"Four?" Jin questioned before doing a quick head count. "I only see three. Seems like you lost someone."
Surprisingly, Zeke just chuckled at that. "Not exactly. Behold our beloved mascot! Turters, reveal yourself!" He then reached into the inside of his coat to grab something. However, after a few moments he started panicking as he couldn't find what he was looking for, prompting him to start looking around him. "Turters? Turters, where are you, boy? Turters!"
Okay, this was getting sad to watch. Just what was this guy? Mythra then noticed some movement by her feet. She glanced down and saw none other than a little green turtle slowly making its way towards her. It was honestly kind of cute, so she scooped it up in her palm, which it comfortably fit in.
"So what are you doing out here, all alone?" she said softly, catching both Xander and Kos-Mos's attention.
"Turters!" Suddenly in a flash, Zeke appeared before the Aegis, his face filled with rage. It actually caused Mythra to freeze up for a second. Maybe she underestimated this guy. That burst of speed was incredible. She let down her guard and now he's free to grab her.
"Handling a man's turtle!" Zeke said bitterly before snatching the turtle in Mythra's hands and scurrying back to his Blades. Once he was back with his partners, both he and Pandoria looked pretty relieved to see their pet safe and sound. Meanwhile Herald looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
Okay, never mind. This guy's a complete dunce. He could have just grabbed the Aegis while she was distracted, but instead he went for his turtle. Any tension that existed between the two groups was pretty much gone now. Although, even if he did manage to grab her at that moment, there's no way a Driver would be able to hold her. She is a legendary Blade after all.
"Uh, he does realize he had a clear shot to capture Mythra right?" Ethan spoke up nervously.
"What an idiot," Nia said in annoyance.
"Hear hear," Poppi added.
Seems like Zeke finally noticed his little blunder, returning his gaze back to the mercenaries while pocketing Turters in his coat. "Gah. Wh-whatever. She'll be mine soon enough. If you don't want me to take her, then come at me! And don't hold back!" He said that last part while getting into the same fighting stance as before, trying to look as imposing as possible.
"Is this guy for real?" the Gormotti Driver asked in exasperation.
"Detecting hostility from enemy Driver and Blades," Kos-Mos said emotionlessly. "What are your orders, Xander?"
The Aegis Driver let out a groan, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Looks like we aren't getting out of this without a fight. Alright then. Let's show this weirdo what happens when you mess with the Origo Mercenaries."
The other mercenaries acknowledged their leader's order and readied their weapons. Mythra herself took her place right beside her Driver, flashing the Bringer of Chaos a confident smirk.
"Well this should be fun," she thought to herself. "How tough can this goofball be?"
To be continued
And now the mighty Zeke has finally made his debut! I wanted to put their battle in here but I ended up overwriting the first third of the chapter with Mythra long monologue. Would you believe that it was originally just going to be a short tangent regarding the Aegis War then just move on to other stuff, like maybe a skirmish or two? I certainly didn't anticipate it becoming so depressing. Eh, at least I got to reveal what happened in the aftermath of the Aegis War and explain why Pyra's nonexistent in this universe (well at least partially explain, there's still one part I haven't fully shown, and it's why the transformation failed, which will be revealed later on in the story). I was actually thinking of cutting the Wulfric fight so that I could do Zeke's but I kept it in for the worldbuilding thing. Still, I'm looking forward to writing more of Zeke. He's always a blast to see on screen with that eccentric personality of his. In my original Bonds story, he was replaced by an OC named Jason. Like I mentioned before, that story was meant to go in a completely different direction so I'm glad that in this version properly have Zeke in the story. And just like Rachel, he's starting out with two Blades, the second one being the ether cannon user Herald.
Why did I pick Herald to be Zeke's second Blade? Simple, they're both from Tantal, and she's canonically pretty strong. Also, she's got a cool design. It just felt right giving her to Zeke. Heck, part of why I gave Rachel Kasandra was because you get her in Mor Ardain, also Morag is probably the best Driver for her (which isn't saying much given that shield hammers SUCK in XC2).
Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. See you guys next time!