Chapter 13: This is Reckless!

Disclaimer: I own nothing; this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

'Thoughts'

"Active skill name or magic spell"

'Active skill name or magic spell in thought'

"Activation phrase"

'Activation Phrase in thoughts'

"Speech"

*action*

Time*

Noise*

(Location)

[Skill Name] - Passive or Active - AP cost: or none

Description: Info on skill

[Item Type]: [Type]

[Name]: [Item Name]

Durability: 100%/100%

Quality: Poor - Common - Uncommon - Epic - Legendary - Ascendant

Grade: E-/EX

Value: [System Point]/(Cannot be sold to [Persona System])

Description: Info on [Item Name]

[Extra Info]: [Extra Info]

Chapter 13: This is Reckless!

Days?: I Choose You!

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Entrance)

"So...what's the plan?" I whisper to Izaya, as all of us standing on a roof while doing a stakeout to record the guards' patterns on where they patrol and at what time.

"Well, neither you or Shigure know how to hack into the terminal to unlock a few doors for us." Izaya glance at both Shigure and me for a brief moment, then back to his scroll.

"And you happen to know how to hack?" I ask in a sarcastic tone, which Izaya didn't look like it fazed him at all.

"Me? Nope." Izaya look at me with a mocking smile, then take out a small [USB Flash Drive], "But, I did pay for someone to create a program to do it for me. I just need to plug it in a nearby terminal and we can unlock all those doors, that could also be our escape route if this whole thing blows." Izaya answer my question.

"Well, okay then." I give up on how Izaya gets his things and decided it wasn't worth it.

A dangerous glint appears within my eyes, as I gaze below me and begin to think up a few backup plans already.

Taking a moment to stop planning when Shigure passes me a [Energy Bar] to snack on for the night. "Thanks, Shigure." I gave my thanks to Shigure, and give her a smile of my own when I see a small smile on her face.

Unwrapping the [Energy Bar], then take a bite of it. 'Taste like strawberry.' I chew a few times to taste the [Energy Bar] before I take another bite.

After thinking for a while, I decided to purchase the [Basic Knife Mastery] to see if all the training I went through with Shigure affects it or not.

Ding*

You have purchased [Basic Knife Mastery].

[Host's Currency]: 25600 System Point - 1400 System Points = 24200 System Points

Ding*

[Basic Knife Mastery] - Passive - AP cost: None

Description: Giving the user the knowledge about how to use [Knife] type weapons and a small instinct for the user to adapt to any [Knife] type weapons.

The requirement to take the [Mastery Rank Test] to advance from [Basic Knife Mastery] to [Trainee Knife Mastery] is to finish the [Training Methods].

Training Methods:

Stab something with a [Knife]: (0/100)

Cut something with a [Knife]: (0/100)

Perform a proper maintenance on a [Knife]: (0/100)

I frown when I notice that I still have to do the [Training Methods], but at the bright side. The knowledge comes with the [Skill] actually pretty good since it includes on how deep a cut I could make and with the help of my [Basic Detection Mastery]. The knowledge also includes on finding the target's weak point for me to stab or cut, to deal the maximum amount of damage.

Slowly, as I begin to think more ways to combine all my [Skill] into my own fighting style while finishing my [Energy Bar].

'It's too bad I don't trust Izaya that much with my secret of the [Persona System]. At least with Shigure's semblance, she could act like she holds all our stuff.' I crush the wrapper into a small ball and toss it to the trash can below me.

Another thing I feel confused about is the [Persona System]'s [Reward System]. Yesterday, I already gone through many battles, I think, but no notification appear to tell me I reward with more [System Point].

So, with Shigure help last night. Both of us are trying to figure out what the trigger to start what the [Persona System] count as a battle.

However, the few theories we came up with is that I need to face an enemy in open battle at the beginning, without having to sneak attack them at the very start.

Another one is that both sides need to see each other without attacking each other for a certain time. Which should be in the range of 1 second to maybe 2 or 3 minutes before the [Persona System] count it as a battle.

Also, another requirement that Shigure and I figure out, that count as a battle is killing. Because both Shigure and I tried to recreate the battle, but sadly, the [Persona System] doesn't count it as a battle. Meaning, that's a kill is a requirement to be counted as a battle for the [Persona System].

"So...when are we going?" I ask Izaya while keeping my eyes at the enemy's base entrance.

"In a few minutes. We're just waiting on a few people to leave the place, then we could go in." Izaya said in a bored tone, continuing to look at his scroll.

few minutes later*

After waiting for like 5 minutes or so, Izaya finally tells us that it is time for us to hijack an Air Bus and maybe kidnap one of the pilots, much to Izaya pointing out that none of us is an expert in piloting an Air Bus. Which is true, making it very important for all of us to find a good pilot.

Pretty much a stealth, hijack, capture mission and mobile defense mission. Maybe an infiltrate mission as well, depending on what else we find in this base.

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Fake Front Entrance)

As we walk quietly as possible without making too much noise and once a while looks around just in case someone is nearby.

Which happen to be very often that Shigure had to use one of her homemade [Sleeping Powder] on them, then place on one of the front desks and we put them in a position like they sleeping on the job. Technically true, since Shigure force them to sleep.

"How many did you make those [Sleeping Powder]?" Izaya asks Shigure in a quiet voice, as I continue looking for the [Key Card] on the sleeping person. Shigure just puts to sleep, and this one we had to hide behind a trash can because there no way we putting another person next to a different one.

"Around...3...or 4...dozens." Shigure replied back, as she helps me by putting a recycle can next to the trash can in order to hide the sleeping person from plain sight at least.

"Huh. Mind giving me some after we hijack ourselves an Air Bus?" Izaya looks eager to use Shigure's [Sleeping Powder] on a few people he knows.

Shigure pause for a moment to think about, then nodded at Izaya, "Bring me...materials...later." Izaya agree on straight away and felt it a good trade.

Plus, having Shigure as our medic in our group is a big plus in Izaya's book once he realizes how much he gained from inviting us to his group every time we reveal something that gets him excited.

"Hey, guys. I found the [Key Card]." I whisper to Shigure and Izaya while waving the [Key Card], which will give us access to the Underground Base.

"Are you sure it's a new one, not a used one? Remember, we need the that hasn't been used yet or it rejects our entry and would alert the people underground." Izaya remind me, that the Olympians really made some traps against intruders.

One of those traps is the very [Key Card] itself, where there only one use in it or else it become useless until they either get a new replacement or get someone to put another access code in it.

"Should be." I completely forgot about the whole 1 access code per [Key Card] usage and the look on Izaya's face he doesn't find this amusing.

"Check if the red blinker on the [Key Card] is blinking or not." Izaya asks me to check the [Key Card] as he continues looking something on his scroll.

"It's blinking. Well, look like we got ourselves an access code." I smirk at Izaya, who just roll his eyes at me.

"Yeah, your luck is just plain unfair when it come to these things." Izaya mumble to himself, which Shigure heard him and quietly nod her head in an agreement at Izaya's statement.

"Ah. It stops." I thought out loud, causing Izaya to turn his head towards my direction, almost snapping his neck with how fast he turned his head at the moment he heard what I just said.

"What do you mean by it stop?!" Izaya hisses out loud, but not loud enough to draw in unwanted people.

"The red blinker. It stops blinking and gone dark." I prove it to Izaya by passing him the [Key Card], where Izaya snatches it out of my right in a hurry to check if it really stops or not.

"How's this possible? It shouldn't turn off like this and the access code inside it hasn't been used yet. What's going on?" Izaya begins to think out loud in a quiet voice, showing that he very nervous right now.

"There...people...coming nearby." Shigure warns us, breaking Izaya from his small panic moment and give us enough time to hide somewhere.

"Come on, Izaya. I know another method we could use to get to the Underground Base." I drag Izaya before he could use one of those dangerous plans of his and don't feel like having to face an army just yet.

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Fake Front Entrance: Cafeteria)

Just barely a second later, and we may end up being discovered by a patrol guard and it's only thanks to Shigure's warning that we made it. Lucky, I lead us to this place's Cafeteria.

"Why did you lead us to the Cafeteria? Are you hungry or something?" Izaya looks at me with a confused look since he curious about this method of mine to enter the Underground Base.

"Well, remember how I told you about not being able to find a [Key Card] yesterday to enter their Underground Base?" I remind Izaya the fact, that I had to find my own way to enter the enemy's Underground Base without having to use their [Key Card].

"Yeah, and then you hang up before I could tell you about one of my backup plans on getting in." Izaya replied without thinking much about, but I could hear the disappointment in his tone that I didn't do one of his so called backup plans.

"Let just say, I found a different entry and the look on the enemies' faces was funny when they were shocked that I manage to bypass their security." I grin in happiness, that my first [Persona] is [Amakusa Shirou Tokisada].

[Revelation]:

Passive Effect: A [Personal Skill] equivalent to "instinct". Instinct is a sixth sense regarding battles, but "Revelation" accommodates all matters related to the achievement of a goal (for instance, choosing the most suitable path while traveling). Because there is no basis (so he thinks), it cannot be explained well to others.

Type: Passive

Target: Self

Rank: Tier 10

Cost: None

'Yup, I love having [Revelation].' I thought to myself, as out of the rest of my [Persona]'s [Skill Set]. [Revelation] is my favorite one.

"Uh huh." Izaya just give me a deadpan, "So, where this hidden passage of yours?"

I roll my eyes at Izaya and didn't feel like answering his question, as I lead us to the Kitchen and towards the Kitchen's Backroom.

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Fake Front Entrance: Cafeteria: Kitchen: Backroom)

Just right as we about to enter the Kitchen to find the Backroom I used before, but much to our surprise. As there is someone already in the Kitchen and by the uniform they're wearing is same as the one outside patrolling the area.

Which some of them we already had put to sleep and Shigure begin to do it once more as she takes out a small white bag, where Shigure pour some white powder on her right hand and quietly open the edge of the Kitchen's Front Door.

Shigure blow softly to scatter the [Sleeping Powder] towards the person inside the Kitchen while we stay outside until we heard the familiar sound of something falling on the ground.

However, much to our shock, instead of hearing them falling down on the ground unconscious. They burst out of the Kitchen's Front Door.

On pure instinct alone, I use aura enhance in order to get enough strength and speed for me to do a sweep kick, causing them to instantly lose their balance and fall forward on the floor.

Not giving them a chance to react, I continue spinning to my right and smashed against the back of their head with my right elbow. With a single blow, I know them out cold.

"Okay." I took in a deep breath, "We're putting an add on our tactic against future enemies. Since it looks like this guy isn't a civilian grunt and look like they had the experience of being affected by something similar to [Sleeping Powder]."

Shigure looks sad that her [Sleeping Powder] won't be much more effective than usual now.

"Cheer up, Shigure. This just means you have to improve your [Sleeping Powder]'s recipe to make it more effective." I pat the top of Shigure's head to cheer her up, as she silently nods at me with a small smile on her face.

"Wait." Izaya looks at us with a surprised look on his face, "By recipe. Do you mean, Shigure created her own recipe for [Sleeping Powder]?" The surprise in Izaya's tone told us enough that this is something amazing.

Shigure just nods once more to answer Izaya's question.

"I thought you were following someone's recipe, but to have your own version and know what to improve it without having to find a better version of the recipe is a very good thing. Okay, the first thing we're going to do once we get to the 59th Floor Area. Is for me to get more materials for you to work with." Izaya said in a serious tone, making this a big deal to him.

"Is it that big of a deal? I know I have my own personal recipes for a few things, but I use lots of references to make them." I look at Izaya, with a confused look and Shigure silently nodded in agreement with me while we drag the unconscious person to a nearby table and position them to look like they sleeping.

"Of course! It's a big deal!" Izaya shouted in a whisper level, "Even if you got the recipe for something. They don't include the measure of the materials or the age of the materials. Along with other stuff that created these recipes. Having your own should give you enough research notes to tell which materials are in good condition for being used or give you enough information to know when it is the right time to use it." Izaya looks like he about to strangle me for not telling him about having our own personal recipe.

Then again, most of my so called recipes for medicine or food, are just references from everything I know from anime to real life stuff and go throw many trails and errors to make them work in this world's law or reality.

"Do you keep notes on everything, to the point of the size of the stuff you used to make your medicine pills?" I whisper to Shigure, as we head back inside the Kitchen and head towards the Backroom I used yesterday.

"Some...time...only...with one...that...I haven't...used before." Shigure replied back.

"Going to need to get lots of stuff later." Izaya grumbles to himself, as he follows my lead.

Just a few steps towards the back of the Kitchen, where we face a gray color wall and there isn't any sign on the wall to show any hidden room.

Izaya glance at me, with a questioning look, as if he asking me where this so called Backroom because all he see is a wall. A clean wall, but still a wall.

Instead of answering his unspoken question, I use aura enhance once more to increase my physical strength as I push the wall, causing it to move backward in a shape of a door.

"There's an actual hidden passage." Izaya said in disbelief, quietly following along.

Once both Izaya and Shigure enter the Backroom, I push the wall/door back since there is no handling at all and the four corners are mostly attached with metal bars. So the only way is to push it hard enough for the Hidden Path to open, and to close it, push it back from the other side. Making this a one way entry.

"How did you find a hidden passage? I thought you were joking yesterday and just found another [Key Card] to gain access to the Underground Base." Izaya look at me, to see if there anything on me would tell him how I found a hidden passage, when the information he gathers doesn't include every single hidden passage like this one.

"By pure luck and I was hungry at the time, so I just kinda wander around the Kitchen for a while." I said half the truth while keeping my [Persona]'s [Skill] to myself. Though, Shigure already knows about it already and I'm still finding out what else my [Persona]'s [Skill Set] would give me later in the future once I increase the [Persona's Rank].

"Is your semblance fall under the category base on luck?" Izaya asks me, with curiosity in his voice.

"No. Why you ask?" I look at Izaya, with a raised eyebrow.

"Just wondering if you were part of a family that has luck base semblance. Anyway, do you know the direction to the Underground Base's Hangar?" Izaya glance at his scroll, and both Shigure and I could see that Izaya was looking at a map on his scroll.

"Yeah. Yesterday I went past it on my way to escape from this place." I answer Izaya's question and begin to lead us towards the Underground Base's Old Entrance.

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Underground Base: Old Entrance)

I walk over to the middle of the room and see a metal handle. Grabbing it with my right hand and pull, revealing it to be a trapdoor with a ladder leading to the Underground Base.

"You know. I think after we get to the 59th Floor Area. Some people would pay to know about this hidden passage of yours for the right price." Izaya grin at the thought of how much chaos he going to cause by letting Olympians' enemies invade one of their Branch Base, even if it isn't one of the Main Bases.

"Make sure to charge them lots of Lien or [Crystalline Dust]. If possible get as much as [Crystalline Dust] for this information." I said to Izaya in a serious tone, causing Izaya to take a single step back away from me when he notices my eye color changed to blue a second.

"Uh...sure. I...uh will try to get us lots of [Crystalline Dust], but maybe a bit more Lien, since we need funding for our travels." Izaya said softly, but notice my eyes glowing blue when he mention more about Lien than [Crystalline Dust], "But of course, I'll try to get more [Crystalline Dust] out of my buyers. I just need more Lien in order to pay some of my sources. You know how it is." Izaya raises both hands to show he mean well.

I look at Izaya for a single second, then slowly nod at him, causing Izaya to sigh in relief and finally connect the dots when it comes with [Crystalline Dust] and me.

"Now, how about we grab one of those pilots to drive the Air Bus for us." I said to Izaya, who eagerly nod in my direction to get away from the topic related to [Dust].

"Be...careful...there...are...still...patrol..." Shigure reminds us the fact, that there still guards near this area, even if it an Old Entrance to their Underground Base.

Looking at the corner, we could see a few guards just a few blocks away with the hallways' light still on, along with them carrying around with [Assault Rifle].

"How good are you in a long range fight?" I ask Izaya out of nowhere, causing him to look at me with a blank expression.

"Why are you asking me that?" Izaya didn't answer my question, but instead return a question of his own.

"Because I'm mostly a close to mid range fighter. Shigure over here hasn't even begun her long range skills yet." I answer Izaya's question by explaining that neither Shigure or I are long range fighter, but actually that is a lie.

Both Shigure and I know that I could use my [Magic] as a long range attack, since there is no range limit but my own limit eyesight range.

However, we still need our own trump cards and the fewer people know, the better. Even if we keep it a secret from Izaya, not that we don't trust him. It's just that it hasn't even been a month since we ally ourselves with Izaya and neither did he tell us some of his trump cards to share. So neither Shigure and I have to either until then.

"You do realize I only use my [Flick Blade] right?" Izaya looks at me as if I just asked a stupid question, which I guess is true knowing Izaya, even if he different from his canon part, but there is some similar characterize between the two.

"Sorry." Izaya could tell I wasn't really that sorry, "After all, you didn't spar against either Shigure or me once yet."

Izaya look at me as if I was crazy for saying that, "Are you crazy? Never mind, you are. As for the reason why I never bother joining your daily sparring matches against each other. It's because I'm busy making sure we don't get killed and actually get the fund to support us."

I stare at Izaya, waiting to see if this really his answer and not something he uses as an excuse.

"What? It's true. Well, if you want another reason. Here one, I may like a fight now and then as much as the next person. Doesn't mean I want to keep doing it every single day. Also, I'm pretty sure I would end up getting shot at somewhere that would be very painful for me and getting cut so many times by Shigure. I wouldn't even notice by then." Izaya nod to himself, knowing that this should be enough to satisfy us.

"You don't use aura enhance?" I ask Izaya, since this is what Shigure and I mostly use all the time during our spars, but mostly Shigure than me because of my low aura reserve.

"Heh. Now that is a joke. Compare to others, I rather use it at the last minute to get out danger than using it to help me attack. Save me lots of aura during fights. Fine if it makes you guys feel better. I'll spar against either of you two later. Now, can we get back to our objective?" Izaya looks like he about to blow fuse with all this useless talking when we could have stolen an Air Bus, and even found the right pilot for our use right about now.

"Alright. Sorry for wasting our precious time when I wanted to know if among us could make a better outcome in some situation like now." I said Izaya in a sarcastic tone, then use aura enhance just enough for me to run straight towards the closest patrol guard in the middle of the hallways in a matter of seconds.

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Underground Base: Hallways)

Right before Izaya could say anything else, I've already appeared in front of the patrol guard and take out my [Evoker]. Aiming directly at their surprised face and cast [Bufu] through it, which drain my aura worth of 24% [E-: Aura Unit Level] and in just an instant for [Bufu] to be converted into a [Magic Bullet].

Right before they could even shout there an intruder in the base. I've already fired off my first [Magic Bullet] directly into their face, covering it with an ice spike, double the size of their head.

With another quick shot towards both of their hands before they could even shoot around randomly, but enough to cause a racket to draw in the other patrol guards to this area.

Next, I fire one last [Bufu] at their feet, rooting them in place before they could try to run around and in the hope of knocking me over with his body.

All this took me only around 2 to 4 seconds, with an extra few seconds to reach to this spot from where Shigure and Izaya are.

Bringing out my scroll to check my aura meter and found out I'm already in the yellow zone, with just 4 [Magic Bullet].

Then again, the [Magic Bullet] cost me an extra 20% of the [Magic] I used to convert into a [Magic Bullet].

'Just 2 or 3 more shots and I would have just a barely any leftover aura.' I thought to myself, as I feel the urge to increase my aura reserve even more if I wanted to use my [Evoker] more than just an [Item] used for summoning [Persona].

Not a second later, Shigure and Izaya arrive next to me. Both look at me with a shocked looks that I rushed in without a plan.

"What was that?!" Izaya shouted in a whisper level tone and pointed at the half living patrol guard.

"Well, we do need a [Key Card] to gain access to the Hangar or a room that contain a terminal." I answer Izaya's question.

Izaya pause for a moment in order to comprehend what I just said, then slowly nod at me and begin to search through the frozen patrol guard's body to find a [Key Card].

"Poor...thing." Shigure whispers mostly to herself while she stares at the ruin [Assault Rifle], that's been destroyed by my [Magic Bullet: Bufu].

I place a hand on Shigure's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Shigure. I had to stop them before they could start pulling the trigger."

Shigure just shook her head at me, "It's...alright...I understand." Then Shigure started helping Izaya out.

few minutes later*

"Okay, on this map of mine. We're just a few blocks away from a nearby terminal. I don't know if this [Key Card]'s access code would expire or not, but let hurry before it do." Izaya begins to lead us towards a nearby terminal after we found the [Key Card] and it contains an access code.

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Underground Base: Unknown Random Computer Lab)

"Huh." I look around the room and see around at least dozen or so of desktop computers.

"Which one?" Shigure is having a hard time seeing which one we should use right now, with all them being the same models.

"It's the one in the front of the room. Come on." Izaya didn't waste any more time and quickly walk towards the single desktop computer in the front of the other computer.

"Shigure you stay with Izaya and watch over him. I'll stay here and guard the entrance just in case." I said to Shigure, switching my [Evoker] with my [Colt M1911A1 Pistol] and load it with [Earth Dust Round] for armor penetration.

"Alright." Shigure reply to me, then follow after Izaya and leaving me at the opposite of the room to guard.

"Hey, Izaya how long would it take? And I forget or wasn't listening at the time, but why do we need to hack into the Olympians' database again?" I ask Izaya just loud enough for him to hear me, but not enough to draw in the patrol guards to us.

"Just a few minutes and the reason to hack into their system is to give us access to open a few doors. Sure, we could just head out to the Hangar right now in the hope there is a pilot on board already, but I want to double check just to make sure which Air Bus is being used to travel to the 59th Floor Area. Since the plan in the book, I've reread more than once before coming here. Doesn't include which Air Bus is being used and I have no clue how many Air Bus is currently still here at the moment." Izaya started explaining to me while not taking his eyes off the monitor and doesn't look like he annoyed by being asked once again.

"Also, if possible I want to grab one of their Air Bus that include living space, along with other stuff. This way we have our own personal transportation and a place to stay as our Main Base. I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to stay in a base that isn't mobile and our stuff would either be destroyed from being stolen from the enemy or they're being used against us after being taken from us. Making us lose years worth of stuff we gather over our travel." Izaya finish explaining one of his reasons why he hacking into the enemy's database.

'I don't know about Izaya, but I'm keeping almost all mine and Shigure stuff in my [Inventory] right now. I wonder how long until Izaya figure out I have a pocket dimensional space to hold stuff.' I wonder the way Izaya would act once he knows about this, along with Shigure's semblance.

20 minutes later*

"Okay, done. I downloaded all the files onto my scroll." Izaya speaks out loud, causing Shigure to almost hitting him the back of his head and as for me, I almost shot him when he speaks out of the blue.

"Man, Izaya. You surprise the heck out of me." I said to Izaya and lower my [Pistol] while Shigure quietly put her [Nodachi] away, without Izaya noticing he almost got attacked by her.

"How did I surprise you by just speaking out loud? You don't see Shigure being surprised?" Izaya pointed at Shigure, with her blank expression.

"Never mind. Just tell us if you found out if the Air Bus is still here or not." I said to Izaya dryly, 'Of course, you won't see Shigure being surprised. Because your back is turned towards her and look like she about to cut you in half.' I kept my face a deadpan, not revealing what I truly think.

"Good news, they didn't leave yet." Izaya replied with a proud voice, but lost it when he continues speaking, "However, the guy I paid for to create the program for me to hack into the Olympians' database caused them to notice us. I'm already kicked out of their system and they're trying to track us down."

Both Shigure and I look at awkward Izaya, who tried to look like this is a funny thing when our lives are in danger more than it is right now.

"Let's hurry then." Without wasting any time, we started running towards the Hangar.

few minutes later*

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Athena's Branch Base: Underground Base: Hangar)

Along the way to the Hangar of this Underground Base, whenever we meet with one of the patrol guards. Either Shigure and I would knock them out as fast as possible, and if needed, I would usually fire off an [Earth Dust Round] to destroy their weapons, then knock them out afterward.

Of course, there was one time where we meet up with one of the patrol guards in a group of three.

The first thing we did was, for me to destroy their weapons with [Earth Dust Round], but one of them had a [Shotgun] of some kind that survives the shot while the other two's [Assault Rifle] are destroyed.

Luckily, Shigure throws a few of her [Throwing Knives] to jam the enemy's [Shotgun], much to her regret and painful experience worse than killing. By damaging a weapon, even if the [Shotgun] belongs to an enemy. She could have taken it from them for her own usage, but was too far and less time for her to take the [Shotgun] while it's in good condition.

Her love of weapons is much more potent than a few kills of the living, which she dismissed as a weapon is more important than the living but a selected few she care for.

To cheer Shigure up as fast as possible because we're in a hurry. I disarmed the next portal guard of their [Shotgun] and gave it to Shigure, which instantly cheer her up after the loss of the previous one.

'If Shigure and Ruby ever meet one of the other. I bet it's mostly Ruby speaking the whole time and Shigure just giving a few words of input to the topic of their conversation, that could be some kind of weapon.' I thought dryly, at the mental image of the meeting between the two.

Shaking my head, as I focus on the task before me. I look around the Hangar and see a dozen of Air Bus. Also, they're still big as I remember and much bigger with our current ages. So, it much bigger compares to the view of the older people to us.

"So, Izaya. Which one is it?" I ask Izaya while we're hiding behind a few crates near the walls. As there countless numbers of enemies around the Hangar, bringing different crates to each Air Bus.

"Hmm." Izaya glance down at his scroll, "From what I'm looking at it. The Air Bus we should be taking already have a pilot. But, what I don't get is the fact that this Air Bus is what we needed. A mobile base, but they are using it to deliver some [Dust]."

When Izaya mention [Dust], I turn towards Izaya and look at him with a serious stare.

Izaya pause for a moment, when he notice something staring at me and slowly look at the source and realize it just me.

"Did I say [Dust]?" Izaya said slowly, with beads of sweat going down his forehead, "I meant [Crystalline Dust] and lots of it." Izaya hope this should be enough to motivate me to steal the Air Bus, with my greed for [Crystalline Dust].

Shigure just lets out a sigh, knowing that Izaya is using my urge to take all those [Crystalline Dust] in order to make me want to help him steal the Air Bus more than ever.

"Who...is...the pilot?" Shigure asks Izaya, as she tries to change the topic before it gets out of hand.

Izaya had a victory grin on his face, when he hooks me into getting the chosen Air Bus he wanted and answer Shigure's question without trouble, "Someone named Ziarre Mapiya."

"Is that someone important?" I ask Izaya just in case, while stopping myself from ruin this whole thing by charging straight towards the Air Bus being filled with crates of [Crystalline Dust].

"Of course..." Izaya stops for a moment and reread the pilot's name, to see if it's the right one, "Yeah. Uh, yeah this is someone important and this may get a bit harder than I thought."

Looking at the grim look on Izaya's face, show that we may have to give up on this plan of ours and use one of the backup plans Izaya came up with.

"I think I may need to use my [Persona] sooner than I thought." I whisper to Shigure as quiet as possible without letting Izaya hear me.

Shigure frowns a little, knowing how much I wanted to hide my [Persona], even if they could change the tide of the battle instantly if I use them at the right time and right moment.

'Well. Seeing there going be crates filled with [Crystalline Dust]. I may as well do it.' I thought with determine, as I bring up my [Persona System] to purchase a few things.

Ding*

Would you like to [Upgrade] [Rhetera]?

[Yes] or [No]?

With a mental click on yes, and replacing with familiar new options.

Ding*

You have 3 options to choose from for the next [Upgrade].

[Control]: Tier 3 - Increase the density of [Earth]

[Power]: Tier 2 - Increase the power of [Earth]

[Target]: Tier 2 - Switching single target area to all lock on multiple target areas

[Price]: 2700 System Points x 3 = 8100 System Points

'Going with the next [Tier] in [Upgrade: Control].' I've already thought it over and wanted control first before going with the other two [Upgrade] options.

Ding*

Host's [Rhetera] have upgraded to [Tier 2: Control].

[Host's Currency]: 24200 System Point - 8100 System Points = 16100 System Points

Ding*

[Nadtera]:

Active Effect: An average control/manipulation over [Earth]'s size, shape, and its density.

Type: Active

Target: Area

Rank: Tier 3: Control (Require using [Upgrade] to enter next Rank)

Cost: [E-]: 16% Aura Unit Level per use and 1% per second

A few seconds of dealing with a headache that just a little worst compare to the previous one when I upgraded for the first time for [Rhetera].

I blink a few times, to comprehend my new [Earth Magic: Nadtera]. The [Tier 3: Control], and discover the increased size of the [Magic] up to the radius of the height of a mature bear when they stand up and down to the size of a baseball.

Along with the increased size of my [Earth Magic]. There is the density control from the [Upgrade] I just purchased. I could compress the [Earth] enough to be hard as steel.

But, the downside of this [Nadtera] is that the cost to cast is still the same as the previous [Earth Magic: Rhetera], even if I wanted to decrease the size of the [Magic].

'I wonder...' I begin to test one of my theories to see if it works this time, with the next [Upgrade: Tier 3: Control].

But, before I could even begin my testing, Shigure stops me by holding onto my right hand. Just right the very moment I was about to place it on the ground, to help me use [Nadtera].

I look at Shigure and wonder why she stops me, as she shook her head to stop me from doing whatever I was about to do. But, she knows I discarded the idea of summoning my [Persona], though. So that was a relief at her end, because she didn't want people to find out about my [Persona] right now, when we're still too weak at this moment.

'Seriously? I just wasted [8100 System Points] and you won't let me use it?' Of course, if I speak this out loud towards Shigure, it would cause her to be upset and I rather not end up getting stabbed with random pointy sharp objects just to stop me.

"And that is why Ziarre Mapiya will be the best pilot we could get if we could make her agree to join our side." Izaya said to both Shigure and me, as he finishes explaining to us about wanting to get Ziarre to join our side.

Sadly, I didn't pay attention at all and Shigure was too busy picking a name at first, for the Air Bus we about to take, then stop me from casting [Nadtera]. But, mostly stopping me from causing any damage to the Air Bus.

Once, she learns about how to modify the Air Bus into a mobile air weapon of massive destruction afterward, then she would learn how to pilot it.

Izaya waited for our response to his explanation, but only got blank looks from both of us as our response.

Izaya's left eye started to twitch, "You two didn't pay a single thing I said, am I right?" I could see Izaya holding his [Flick Blade] and wanted to stab us so badly right now. The only things that stop him from doing so, is the current place we're in and neither Shigure or myself would let him stab us anyway.

"You wanted to capture or get Ziarre Mapiya to join our side as our personal pilot?" I repeated the last thing I heard what Izaya just said a second ago.

"Why do I even bother to explain my plan to you guys when no one is listening at all." Izaya said mostly himself, with a deadpan expression and put away his [Flick Blade].

"Because sometimes we would be listening?" I offer, with Shigure is nodding next to me to show she is listening right now.

"Then, should I repeat my plan once more?" Izaya raises an eyebrow at our direction, but instead of letting Izaya repeat his plan again. I had other thoughts.

"I got a better idea. Just follow my plan." I grin at Izaya, who just stare at me with a bored expression and waiting for my so called plan, "This is how we're going to do it."

30 minutes later*

(Mistral: Mistral City: 79th Floor Area: Air Bus: Pilot Room)

"See! My plan worked." I said to the fearful Izaya holding onto his seat with all his strength.

Next to him is the pilot that we kidnapped, Ziarre Mapiya, who is forced to pilot the stolen Air Bus we chose to take for our usage and with me holding my [Pistol] against her head in a threatening manner.

Ziarre Mapiya happens to be a bluehead girl and brown color eyes, with the appearance of a young woman or an older teen about to enter into adulthood. So, maybe close to 20 or younger. Wearing a white shirt, black pants, and over her shirt is a brown coat. To finish off her outfit is a matching color pair of brown shoe.

Who currently is freaking out, with a gun next to her head just only a finger away from blowing her head in a bloody mess. Since she doesn't have her aura unlocked at all and is crying in silence. As tears going down her cheeks while asking in her mind on why a group of kids decided to steal an Air Bus, along with herself as well. Life wasn't fair to her.

As for Shigure, she is on the opposite side of Izaya looking out the window, where other Airships are chasing after us as we speak.

"What plan?! All you did was wait for Ziarre to enter the Air Bus, then afterward wait for all the people to put all the crates filled with [Dust] into the Air Bus. We were almost caught when more people enter the place like they are trying to find someone or more like a group of people, which happen to be us! And then, you charge right in, using your [Earth] based semblance to create a bunch of [Earth Pillar] to block the enemies from stopping us entry to the Air Bus we're currently on. And if that wasn't enough, you threaten to shoot Ziarre in her left eye if she does not pilot this Air Bus out of here." Izaya growl at me, like he about to pounce on me, with the intent of ripping me to pieces with his bare hand.

"But, we got our Air Bus filled with [Dust]." I look at Izaya with a bright smile, "And we got our pilot you wanted."

Izaya snarl at me, but stay in his seat and increase his grip when Ziarre suddenly did a sharp few turns to dodge the [Missile] almost hitting us.

Luckily, I'm standing behind Ziarre and holding the back of her seat with one head, with aura enhance to support me while Shigure looks like she having the best day of her life.

'Good thing, over the week I manage to empty my aura reserve 5 more times through the usage of [Training Dummy], with all the stuff going on tonight.' I pause for a moment.

'Well, more it beats the crap out of me, with enough force to empty the rest of my aura reserve and knock me out unconscious. I'm just glad Shigure was around those times or I wouldn't be waking up after a whole night of rest.' I could feel the phantom pain still from the beating I went through with the idea of having the [Training Dummy] on just a bit above the setting to break my aura shield, along with draining my aura reserve all the way.

'Making my current aura reserve [E-: Aura Unit Level: 210%/223%?]. I seriously need to find a way to measure my aura reserve without having to use [Dia] or another [Magic] as a measuring tool.' I know for sure I pass [E-: Aura Unit Level] by now.

I look at the teary Ziarre and feel a little annoyed that a grown woman, maybe a teen still, but still a little annoyed with all the crying. Sure, I'm threatening her life to get us out of here. But hey, my life is on the line too, so I just have to encourage her to do best as she could to get us out of here.

With that thought, I fake a cough a little, causing Ziarre to jump a little and improve her maneuver of the Air Bus. Dodging a new set of [Missile] from coming near us.

"Why did my first day on the job have to be so dangerous?!" Ziarre cried out in tears while doing her very best to escape from her former ally and now enemies, now that her former comrades think she a spy and mark as a traitor from this point on. Plus, being the first day on the job isn't helping her case of being a traitor to the Olympians.

"Uh, blame fate?" I offer Ziarre something to blame at, but the sound of her whimper told me this wasn't the correct words to say to cheer her up. Plus, having a [Pistol] against her head isn't helping much at all.

"If we survive after this. I am so going to stab you in the gut until I'm satisfied!" Izaya shout at me, that filled with rage.

'I regret nothing. Not even when I'm threatening someone's life.' I thought dryly, 'After all, later in the future, I have to threaten more people and maybe in force, those threaten just to get the enemies to back off.' I will do anything to protect those I care about, even if one of them is my so called parents just to protect Pyrrha and Shigure, 'Maybe Izaya as well. I don't know.'