Kapitel 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.