"Either avenging Akira was not to do with Ruthless at all, or...." He face darkened. "Somehow, Ruthless isn't dead."
He glanced back up at the endless Mechs kneeling before him - surprised, wondering how he did that - , and stood up, walking past them. "So this place in the Glitch is called the Nexus...and to leave I have to die here? Hurts like hell though." Nova's mind fixated on the memory of his last death in this place. "That monster...I'm not strong enough to fight it yet, so I guess this will have to do." Approaching one of the kneeling robots, he ripped it's blade of an arm right from it's socket.
"Just gotta die...simple.....right?" The blade hovered beside his neck. Yes, he had died and felt the pain of dying more than once, but he had never done it to himself. The hesitation lingered, for much longer than he had expected. Then, Nova chucked the blade to the ground.
"Akira's crazy, handling pain so willingly. Just imagine if he had the power to return by death." He pursued his trek. He was better off trying to find an easier way to die. His thoughts drew to a halt when he looked towards another glitch that he could see in the distance.
"...?"
However he didn't have time to think about it, as he was sent gliding across the floor from a large attack incoming from his side. Immediately, he knew. That thing was here again.
The massive metallic physique towered over him, yet again. It spoke. "You keep coming back. You're not welcome here. Die." It thrusted an arm down, and crushed Nova into a pile of red.
***
He took a deep inhale as he opened his eyes, sweating profusely and upon glancing at Shawn, he sighed.
"What's up, you want to take more from the pool?"
"No-, no it's nothing."
"...Hm." Shawn responded, with an instigating tone. "You're a strange one, Nova Matsui."
"Don't. Just Nova. The name Matsui is no longer connected to me."
"Is that so? If we're changing names all of a sudden, stop referring to me with my real name."
"Yeah? What do you want me to call you?"
There was a moment of silence, where both parties had time to think of an alias.
"Call me Sheru in public."
"What?"
"SH-awn E. RU-shton. Only members from the Rogue Corps would actually be able to identify me from that. And they are all dead."
"It sounds...formal."
"If you've got a problem with it, call me whatever when we're alone like this."
"Deal. Speaking of, what actually happened during that Civil War?"
"Asking personal things now? We're not close, Nova. Merely co-workers." He seemed to close himself off with a rude manner.
"Then why do you listen my every order?"
"...I've been built that way."
***
A man in a Navy blue army uniform was scolding a young man wearing a black face mask. "You! Sheru! Why the hell are you back?!? I told you only to return when you can retrieve any useful information from DF's Headquarters! You'll sleep in the cabin tonight!"
"The defences were-"
"I don't give a damn! This is the final straw..."
***
Sheru recollected himself in front of Nova and cleared his throat. "Like I said, I'll get back to you about Eli in a couple of days." With that, he took his leave, shuddering from the sudden recollection of memories.
'Now...the task at hand...' Nova held his fingers to his chin for a stroke. 'Hm?'
[ DEATH PENALTY ]
[ Upon failing a quest, the host will be transported to the Neo Nexus Plane, receiving a temporary penalty after dying. ]
'Neo? Death penalty?' He sighs. "But what exactly...is it...?"
"What exactly is what?" Akira entered the room, stomach grumbling, in need of a snack.
"Nothing, don't sweat it."
Glancing at Nova from the kitchen, he opened the fridge. "Y'know, you confuse me, Nova. Like, what are your intentions?"
"My intentions... I guess... I want to grow stronger."
'More precisely, develop this system to be the strongest.'
"You already defeated my sister, doesn't that make you strong already?" Akira laughed.
"Speaking of, wanna follow me for some errands?"
***
The duo took a stroll through the market; Nova was in search for a specific item. It hustled with activity, several rows of stalls lit up like firelights.
"Akira...about Two..." Nova cleared his throat, before Akira reached for the back of his neck.
"She'll be fine. She always has been against Ruthia. And now that she's gone...Things will turn out for the better."
"...First, let's grab a bite, and we'll head to Casina Mango."
The boy narrowed his eyes: What does Nova want to talk to Marcel about?
***
DING!
As the elevator reached the top floor of the towering block of building, they stepped out towards the desk in the office, at which Marcel sat somehow menacingly with a warm welcome.
"Gentlemen! Welcome, my esteemed VIP and my beholden guest. What can I do for you?"
His voice deep yet mellow, he rose to shake their hands.
"What do you know about claiming property?", said Nova, while Akira crossed his arms, listening intently.
"Ah, I see...You're looking for a place?"
"Taking a place."
He slid a thin sheet of paper across the desk, and the burly man's eyes widened.
"That's-!"
"My house?" Akira cut in. "Can we even claim that? I mean, Ruthia is dead, but like..."
"The house is big, large enough for my plans. And...I want to check a couple things out. We need to return to the place. Do you mind coming along, Marcel?"
Grinning from ear to ear in response, he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. "This sounds like it's going to be fun."