As MIDI exits the Boiler Room, the commotion from outside draws MIDI to a window, allowing him to see the crowd. He also sees a police car slowly drive away...

---

---

While most of the crowd steps back, a few Picket Men don't seem to get the message.
Or else what?
Yeah really. We ain't causing any harm for looking at a human are we?
Especially one that's posing as...a...robot.
The three Picket Men look at one another wide eyed at once before drawing out their pickaxes, aiming them not at Dust but at each other.
How do I know you're the real Pick-28 and not some human or organic acting as ya?
Same Pick-29. If that is your real name.
I thought your name was Pick-27.
Picket Man 27 grips his pickaxe tighter.
It is.
Well it's not my fault we all almost look the same.
The crowd seems distraught and frightened but seem unaware at the Picket Men's revelations...

---

---

The Deep Digger hits the object, causing it to fly into the ceiling before crashing to the ground, making a metallic clang in the process. The glow starts to flicker in and out, radiating the cave.

You didn't know he was a cyborg?
That would make sense since we never told you...*hmph*
Also hold up.
Acorn approaches Andou.
You could of left that body this whole time?

Meanwhile onlookers gasp as the human comes out of the robot suit. Some opt to take pictures but are stopped by a singular Police Man.
Everyone return to your homes! Go on, get! Every last one of-
Are you sure chief?
The Police Man is silent for a while before walking away from the scene, allowing onlookers to slowly get closer and closer to the cyborg and his bacon on the go...

---

Upon reading through the manual, it seems that the boilers are operating at max efficiency. Slime drips from the ceiling and starts to pool up in a nearby open can. Without context or warning, a low-pitch gurgling sound echoes throughout the hospital.

A mirror appears just outside the Haunted Mansion.

Dr Woe:Hmm...nanotechnology...
The shards reveal to be 3 Crystal Shards!

---

---

Let's wait for Gyro to-
A loud crash was heard outside.
That can't be good.
Acorn runs out of the hospital and upon the sight of Taurus G stops.
What the...
Acorn kinda just stands there for a good minute before realizing the situation. Seeing this, he pulls out a small box that grows in size, revealing...Claim Chomper?
About time boss.
You got a S-Pellet in there right?
Yup! Tasted great.
You know that joke wasn't funny the first nor the twentieth time right?
Claim Chomper opens up and Acorn reaches in for an S-Pellet in case Andou needs it.

---

---

Concrete Man runs into the darkness with nothing to guide his way. Perhaps it was by luck that he never tripped...until he did, although not by running into a wall, but rather by tripping on an object. As Concrete falls, it seems that the object he tripped on was sent into the wall. Suddenly a bright light erupts from the object, blinding Concrete.

---

---

AU Bass received a knock on the door...

---

---

As Heat Man continues along his path, various buildings come into the distance. Small shops, alleyways, and homes can be seen on both sides. You can hear the distance sound of arguing and moving machinery. Just ahead at the end of the street lies the Security Department.

---

As Taurus turns to leave, he spots a light coming from a police car. Perhaps thinking nothing of it, he finds another room with windows, though these seem already open.

---

---

The Crystalime explodes in a ball of crystal smoke.

---

---

Three crystal shards can be spotted within the puddle.

---

---

Acorn had to adjust their eyes. What he swore was a simple room with a few chairs and a plant had now turned into a cave with various crystals aligned to the walls and ceiling of the room. Various Crystalimes seem to pay them no mind as they crawl about, leaving a pinkish trail. On the other side of the terraformed room lies a door broken open.
We can worry about these slimes later. We need to reunite with our comrades.

The katana sinks into Nuru's shoulder, causing him to drop one of the markers. Without even uttering a groan, he simply picks back up the marker and completes the door and shotgun. He then looks to his wrist.
2:10. Let's see if Dibalo can last that-WOAH!
Diablo's red Ki Blasts decimates the area around Nuru. Due to his wraith properties, it doesn't do damage but does leave him spooked.

Skeleton Jack equips the Shadow Core XL and immediately fires behind Beta Supremo. A helmeted man appears in the same spot.
How did-
Target damaged.
Whatever.
As Vangus prepares to shank Beta without his cover, he stops.
...
(Let's not get the big guy's attention just yet.)
Vangus then disappears once more before...
Two blades piece into Rhys, causing him severe damage and disables the last three actions he has performed. At the same time, a Particle Smoke Bomb clouds the area around Rhys resulting in the others to be unable to support him without first removing the smoke.

---

Particle Smoke Bomb: A reality manipulative device that creates a barrier to both vision and the psychical.

---

---

Now you've thrown away my one last chance of redeeming ourselves! Why! Even if I were to die, at least it was fighting for the right cause! Now we'll die at traitors!
...
DO YOU EVEN CARE!?
!

...I do care...
What a fool I was to-
If I remember correctly, this construct is operated by...the both of us right?
What does that have-
If we work together...me on the left, er right and you on the left, we can use this thing like a big machine, right?
I have no idea. I haven't done this with two Grey Matter before. ! If you dare think I'll help you, I'll have to remind you that-.
Don't you get it? I do care! I care alot! My friends and future friends are getting hurt, and there's nothing I can do in here! If we work together, we help to stop them! ...Isn't that what you want?
...If you know how to operate this thing, then do it now. Just remember I still have the ability to stop this thing in it's tracks if we so much as aim at our allies.
Then let's get to it!
Quin floats over to a console as Blade moves to the other. In a flash, a jungle of cords fall from the ceiling and begin to attach to one another.
I'm giving you this one last chance. I don't trust you.
...
[With that said, if I can get another chance...then I guess you should have one as well...I guess. [size-small](Where does Stellar come up with this garbage?)[/size-large]]{water}
:)

---

The Eleventh starts moving and starts to shoot lasers at Devil Rotom.

---

MIDI and Star feel themselves warming up...

The Crystalime becomes angry at MIDI and tries to Tackle him.

---

Damage Calculations: 8+11=19. 19-15= 4.
Dodge Calculations: 15-12=3/6=0.5. Star Man's |All Eyes on Me| kicked in! An extra favored roll was added to MIDI.
Results: The Crystalime jumped forward...and landed on the other side of the room.

---

---

---

As Taurus G opens the final window, what little smoke remained leaves the room. You can feel the room and yourself start to warm up.

---

---

As Heat Man wanders the town, he can feel the stare of eyes from the alleyways, though not at him but rather at what he's carrying. Meanwhile, various Picket Men chatter to one another in various groups. As you come near one, their tones are shushed but otherwise don't seem to notice you.

---

---

As Acorn and crew walk, a slight breeze causes some sand to rise from the ground only to settle back down. Cool blue lamp posts light your way and before long, the hospital comes into sight. Pink fluffy clouds wrap around the building like a snake, causing onlookers to gossip about it, stating it that could be a science project gone wrong or a chemical fire.


Without hesitation, Acorn grabs the door handle to the front door of the hospital and gives it a hard tug, bracing himself for the smoke to come flying out of the entryway...only for it to never come.

---

---

As the planks come off one by one, what sounds like something heavy dropping to the floor echoes from the darkness. Meanwhile, a small boom can be heard from what can only be the outpost.

Well...we could always walk.
For Gyro, I remember you telling me just outside the hospital what his name was. As for you...
Well it's two things really.
First, your model seems identical to this one model I saw in a book.
And two...
Gyro mentioned someone named Dust being good at using their surroundings. I guessed that, based upon your closeness as a group, that might of been you as you fired off a block made out of surrounding books. Course, this was a weak guess on it's own.

---

(Didn't skip you Mighty, just don't have enough time for the calculations as I have to go. Enemy HP at 12)

---

Worry not my potential assistant in training, you will be paid in both zenny and in knowledge of how wave technology could work.

If Blast can make holes, then that's all we need.
We just need to call Blast over to-
!
Forgot that Blast was over there. Alright, let's move out.
You, what's your name! Are you on-
Armored Talon.
Of course. Armored Talon, are you on standby here?
...What?
...You guarding this place, correct? The university I mean, not just the library.
Of course. I was designed for this place after all.
Just make sure when you come back that you wipe your feet on the doormat before entering the university!

As Acorn leaves the library, he turns his transceiver on.
MIDI, come in. All forces in the hospital, come in. Listen up. It's occured to me that our objective is to stop Regal, yes? Here's the plan. First warm up the hospital, then we explore the wreckage of the lab. Chances are that Regal may of left some clues and since we don't even have a lead, we need to leave no stone unturned.

---

---

Damage Calculations: 5+5=10. Bodge Buster rolled thrice times before landing an enemies favored roll, resulting in the attack to occur 3 times. 10-6=4.
Dodge Calculations: 12-15=-3. No extra die added.
Results: 12 damage was dealt to the first Crystalime, causing it to explode in a pink puff of gas.

---

As the second slime starts to loosen apart of itself to fire at MIDI, a rose comes into contact with it. The surprise of the rose scares the slime to the point that it splits[Split] itself away from the rose.

---

---

---

As you stare between the planks, you're met face to face with the darkness. You hear what sounds like rocks falling from inside, suggesting movement...or perhaps the simple passage of time.

Maybe that hospital's cursed or something. ...Backup's coming soon gentlemen. Just hold on.
Acorn turns off his transceiver.
Gyro, Dust. We've got trouble. The rest of the squad is trapped in a hospital that froze over. You guys have any exploring or flame-based tools on you?

---

---

Blast upon inspecting the puddle received a weapon chip!
|Weapon Chip: Crystal Spikes|
New Entry:
Weapon Chip. Weapon Chips allow you to learn new weapons. However, if a weapon chip does not match your Core, then you need to go to an Chipsmith in order to learn the move.

---

---

By the time Taurus finishes, all the smoke flies into the sky, causing a low fog to engulf the outside area of the hospital. Thankfully, it seems warm enough outside for the smoke to not leave crystals.

---

---

Damage Calculations: 5+5=10. Bodge Buster rolled four times before landing an enemies favored roll, resulting in the attack to occur frice. 10-6=4.
Dodge Calculations: 12-15=-3. No extra die added.
Results: Three of the four attacks hit the enemy! Crystalime A took 9 damage.

---

Crystalime A waits from Crystalime B to hop off before rolling [Roll] into MIDI.

---

---

---

---

As Concrete Man tiptoes among the cliffs, he sees in the distance a city. He also spots a cave entrance nearby, though it seems barricaded by a few rotting wooden planks.

A moment of silence comes from the other end before a response.
The same hospital as Regals, correct?

As Blast Man runs from the slime, 3 buster shots are fired.
Damage Calculation: 17+3=20. 20-9. 11.
Dodge Calculation: 9-16=-7. Enemy only has one dodge dice as a result of it being negative.
Results: All buster shots hit the target! 33 damage was dealt! Crystalime was destroyed surprisingly easily!

---

---

As the Crystalime explodes, a puddle is formed. There seems to be something in the middle. Meanwhile, the room starts to become clearer, allowing better sight.

---

---

As MIDI looks around for forms of warmth, he finds a instructions book for the boiler along with some crystalized wrenches. Something drips from the ceiling...only for the source of it to fall onto the ground!
Crystalime decided to drop in...with another Crystalime falling on top of it!
As Taurus G continues to punch the window, the room finally started to warm up! The heat caused Crystalime to melt! STA decreased! AGI increased!

---

---

After an long battle against a horde of Junk Golems, a exhausted Frostfire Man finds himself inside an old armory.
Vision's fading. Can't...can't-
Frostfire Man suddenly collapses.

---

---

Finally.
Acorn looks to the now cleaned library.
MIDI, come in. What's your status?

S.Jack takes a moment before responding:
Entity: Devil, has a higher chance of causing this unit's destruction compared to Doc Robot if unaccompanied. Following L.

---

Nuru tries to speak as his face is bashed repeatably.
Ow. How. Are. You. Doing. This?
As the ghostly fireballs strike Nuru, it processes to him that they actually did some damage. Seeing this, an idea strikes him as he sets his knockback resistance to two and is launched by the next fireball, flinging him out of danger from Mighty. Nuru suddenly received a power boost from Beta Man's pain.
You know what? I'm done. No more pulling punches for my own sick thirsts. Now you're gonna die.
Nuru pulls out the pen used earlier and breaks it in half. It's contents spill onto the floor in such a way that it piles into a figure.

GammaGhostVangus has entered the chat.

This early? You needed me this early?
More and more heroes keep appearing! How am I supposed to do anything about that?
Whatever. Just follow my lead.
Vangus pulls out two daggers before disappearing. Meanwhile Nuru pulls out two markers and starts to draw a door with one while a shotgun with the other.

---

*yawns* Another day, another waste of a dollar.

---

---

*yawns* You can say that again.

---

---

Could be worse. You could be up there.

---

---

Why? What's going on?

---

---

Oh you know. First Kilroy canceled your project to focus more on global efforts then the end of the world happened. You know fun-
"What?"
All at once, they ran to the nearest elevator while Stache simply looks with a invisible smirk on his face before walking over to Clover's terminal and views the progress on the engine.
This thing won't even be able to fly. Hmm...Unless I...
Stache starts to chuckle to himself before searching the folders for a name called Null.

As the gas enters MIDI, Dr. Woe starts to panic.
This gas isn't a freeze bomb! It's a crystal bomb! There are crystals lining the walls as I speak! You'll need to raise your temperature asap!

---

As Meddy restores Star, she can faintly hear the sound of sludge and metal moving. It seems to be coming from...above! Before she or anyone can react, down comes a pink blob from the ceiling. As it makes contact with the ground, a plop sound echoes.

---

---

---

As Heat Man walks away, the neon lights come online. Though most have faded away, the inn still seems to be working just fine. A Picket Man can be seen resting on a nearby bench while a Ratton sleeps next to him. You would think that, taking this in that the place would be quiet but alas, it seems that at night that city really lives.

---

---

As Glass counties to explore the room, a strange box tied to the wall starts spewing light before an image pops up.
What...what is this sorcery?
Do you consider yourself the strongest?
What...what kinda question is that?...
...Spirit. Is this a test of pride?
Do you consider yourself the strongest?
...Yes. So what?
What makes you the strongest? The ability to see into the future? The ability to bend others to your will? The ability to call upon the angels from above or the demons from below?
No. I don't need any gifts from the divine.
Without a special power, how can you consider yourself the strongest?
Pure skill and a worthy blade such as this.


Glass raises the Mani Katti into the air, only for the blade to fly out of his hand.
Hey! Put that down!
Interesting material. The edge appears to be strong enough to cut through the skin of a Gratuby while the core of it seems able to withstand direct hit from a spiked hammer.

The blade flies back to Glass. Without a thought, he quickly takes it and engages in a battle stance.

Tell me spirit. You're not a spirit of this blade are you? Are you a god?
No. Far from it. Like you, I worked night and day to get to where I was. And just like you, luck has lent me a gift most sacred.
What gift? If you wish to boast about some power from whatever god you worship then save it. I will not follow any deity that sits by idly nor anyone for that matter.
I do not represent any accursed gods nor devils. I represent thyself. You have been brought here because I wish to offer you something.
Not interested.
It's not some newfound power.

Glass looks up at the box with confusion.

Then what is it?
A land full of opportunity. A world that makes Sacare look like a little island. A world where some of the strongest of beings exist. A galaxy full of soldiers waiting for someone to follow to glory.
What's a galaxy?
It matters not. If you think you're the strongest through skill, then compared to that nation you come from, you'll find yourself lacking.

What do you get out of it?
Similar to how you sought a worthy weapon, I wish to retrieve a worthy weapon as well.
I'm no errand boy.
Indeed your not. That is why I offer you a true test of power for the both of us.
Us?
Our goals are aligned. The best bladesman versus the best axemen. And more than that, well both be able to slay gods by the end of this.
Interesting...
...So in exchange for sending me to a new world to retrieve your object, I'll become the best blade NOT through any magic but through experience.
Yes.
...Will I return to my land by the end of this?
If you so will it.
...Spirit, you have a deal.

The signpost. An interesting idea...
Nuru laughs as the spray and anvil passes through him before being enveloped by the multibeam.
Do none of you know how wraiths or evil spirits work? When I'm in this form, I'm impervious to all attacks. Course, I can't do much...except for this...
Nuru starts looking any nearby metal, causing them to float.
So long as I can build a body in time I will never die!
Nuru phases through the ground, leaving a red residue behind and slowly floats towards Beta Diablos. Meanwhile, it occurs to him that Eleventh has stopped firing...

Hmm...I'm been doing some research based on your temperature module and it seems that this gas might be more than just a coolant. Is it possible for you to take a sample?
......
Due to the poor condition of the window, parts of the window shatters, causing the gas to fly through. As the room starts to become more visible and warmer, something seems to have plugged the window. Upon closer inspection, it seems that crystals have overtaken the window.
......
Creaking metal can be heard above Star Man. As it stops, a drop of a cooling liquid falls onto him.

---

---

Acorn, Gyro, and Dust continue to clean up the library with Talon picking up pages and books.

---

---

As night finally overtakes the land, a lone outpost finds itself on its last legs.

---

Come in! Unknown hostiles have infiltrated the outpost! Come in!
Why isn't anyone answering?
Either they're blocking us or our technology's even worse than we thought.
What are we supposed to-
Before he can finish, the first robot places a finger near his mouth.
just act natural. I think they found us.
As they continue to chatter, both point their guns at the trapdoors leading into the cellar.
......
It takes a second for the robot to recollect what exactly happened. First a loud banging sound following by a bright light. Then excruciating pain.
Where...where am-
Is that the last of you?
No sir. We got cut off with three others. They said they were going to the rec room.
Good work conscript. At my command.
The Merc Joe does a salute before following him, barring no mind to his former comrade slumped to the ground.

Thanks for the backup.
Acorn turns to Talon with a stern expression.
For the last time, we're not here to wreck your...
Acorn then notices a book on the ground. He then looks around and sees a condensed block of books along with knocked over bookshelves and cut-up books.
...
Acorn then places his hand over his face as he begins to think.
...
Gyro and Dust, thank you once again for the assistance. If you want, you could help me clean up the library or you could continue to look around.
Talon looks up in shock.
You heard me. If we or at least if I help to clean this place up, will you stop attacking us?
The owl thinks for a couple seconds before...
...Fine.
There is one more thing. In exchange for protection, are you willing to join our group?
...Only if I can retain this place as my home.
Agreed.
Talon and Acorn then shake hands. Talon then gives Acorn and gang a couple S-Pellets.
Don't ask where I got those.
Acorn, Dust, and Gyro each gained 3x S-Pellets!

---

MIDI makes it to the door of the boiler room. However, it seems frozen shut.

---

As you go down, further down into the hospital, pink crystals can be seen along the walls. The smoke seems to block your vision, causing an feeling of uncertainty with every step. The sound of running water can be heard coming from everywhere yet the place feels drier than a desert. Without warning, a splash of some unknown freezing liquid falls onto Taurus.

---

---

As Armored Talon was caught off guard, he only receives one dodge number due to his skill!
With the roll of a dice...the attack hits!
15+7+2(See ability)=24. 24-7-2= 15!
Current HP: 15

Talon, as a result of the Dust Crush, gets sent straight into the Gyro Shred, giving him no time to dodge the attack!
9+3=12. 12-9=3. 3 times 4 equals 12. 12 damage was dealt to Armored Talon!
Due to the Dust Crush, Armored Talon's dive failed to deal any damage to Gyro as he was thrown off course.

---

Armored Talon

---

Three to one...I...I surrender! Just...let me keep at least 4 books of great importance before you wreck this library!
WINNER!

---

---

---