Ace's Bizarre Adventure (Private)

[Planet Illysia]

Albert was alright quite angry from being wing slapped a ton of times, so he did not receive the news well.

Ace just groaned. "Shiet. Ain't that a pain in the ass." He pulled out his gun and took a seat outside.

Albert created a literal fan for himself out of hardlight and made it spin through telekinesis. It alleviated some of the heat, at least.

[New Castillan Empire]

Albert was alright quite angry from being wing slapped a ton of times, so he did not receive the news well.

Ace just groaned. "Shiet. Ain't that a pain in the ass." He pulled out his gun and took a seat outside.

Albert created a literal fan for himself out of hardlight and made it spin through telekinesis. It alleviated some of the heat, at least.

"Well, lucky for me, my species can produce a sort of thin slime that acts as both a coolant and sunscreen!" Salazar said, as he suddenly became oily in appearance, disgusting many in the group as he did so, even though it was no different from sweat.

"Alright, I'm just to go check up on the kinetic self-charging batteries, something must've happened there..." Quickfist said as she attempted to check under the hood.

Moments later, surrounding the whole group, while they were distracted, were around 20 soldiers that seemed to have been from the Ottoman Caliphate, all aiming their jezail rifles with bayonets at the end, Ikhal herself coming forward to where the group was and drawing a scimitar-like lightsaber, pointing it to them.

"Well, now... isn't this convenient timing. You were the ones who defeated my Thalmor comrade, no?" The girl said in a thick Turkish accent.

"Oh, for the love of Virgen María, it's been less than 12 hours since you last attacked us, damnit, and it's hot as fuck out here, too! Can you just, like, try to kill us on a colder day?" Salazar groaned.

"Silence, you disgusting giant cockroach!" Ikhal yelled at Salazar as he back down a little, the rest of the group in a combat stance and readying/aiming their weaponry. "Now... I feel as if I should be making myself just a liiiitle bit more clearer than my earlier companion. In fact, let me sweeten the deal for you; all I want is Ace, Guido and maybe the one in the stupid-looking techy raincoat. The rest of you are all free to get captured by someone else for now."

"You really sure you want to take us on, cabron? I assure you, we've dealt well for ourselves in these sorts of situations. I mean, removing kebab might as well be my middle name." Quickfist said.

"That means move it or lose it, flower-power." Guido said, aiming his bow at her as the other members faced the soldiers.

"How moronic of you to assume that I'll back down from an oppurtunity like this. Even as a woman, I am still a proud Ottoman, and if there is something I need to do in order to help my mission to help the state crush you filthy Christian plague rats, then I will not back down, even if I lose my arms and legs doing so. So, what is it going to be, infidels?" The Turk said, the tip of her lightsaber about 3 inches away from Ace's face while facing the general group and glancing at each of the members.

[Planet Illysia]

"You aren't fit to do more then lick my boots, you roaches!" Albert shouted.

Ace growled and narrowed his eyes. "You'll find yerself in a FUBAR ditch real quick, bitch!" the Outlaw hissed.

The tension in the air hung for just a moment until the team mage ignited it.

"Psyche Wave!" casted Albert, performing a powerful telekinetic wave on the enemy. Immediately, Ace performed a giant backflip and landed on the trailer. He opened fire on Ikhal. Albert put up a hardlight shield. It looked like exceptionally pure, highly luminous white crystals.

[New Castillan Empire]

"You aren't fit to do more then lick my boots, you roaches!" Albert shouted.

Ace growled and narrowed his eyes. "You'll find yerself in a FUBAR ditch real quick, bitch!" the Outlaw hissed.

The tension in the air hung for just a moment until the team mage ignited it.

"Psyche Wave!" casted Albert, performing a powerful telekinetic wave on the enemy. Immediately, Ace performed a giant backflip and landed on the trailer. He opened fire on Ikhal. Albert put up a hardlight shield. It looked like exceptionally pure, highly luminous white crystals.

As the rest of the Ottoman army was blown back by Albert’s telekinetic attack and being knocked down, Ikhal was knocked back too, although unlike the rest of her soldiers, managed to get back on her feet almost immediately, springing back up as she quickly drew her shorter sabre and deflected the plasma shot back at him.

Immediately after, the rest of the Turks went to assume positions and fire, but before they could do so, Guido and Klawguttah had already started opening fire and taking out a number of them, Zorro even grabbing three throwing knives and taking out each of them in one toss that was set at an arc. Albert casted thunderbolts and, surprisingly, took to melee in throwing a pair of flying roundhouse kicks that took out their two respective victims.

Ace, meanwhile, had avoided the shot that came back to him.

As a number of the Ottomans were locked in hand to hand combat, Ikhal looked up and readied to strike, holding the short sword in its’ sheath and smirked at Ace. “You have quite the impressive skills there, sadiqi. You would have made the perfect adversary for the Caliphate. After all, from what I’ve heard, you are quite the pain back in your own world. Are you sure you don’t want to give up now? I’d absolutely regret killing a man of both combat and monetary potential like yourself.”

Ace laughed, his shoulders bouncing up and down with it. He’d look down at her and smirk. “You ain't got it in you to do it. I'd love to see how much you can deflect with that toy sword'a yours.” he boasted.

Ikhal scoffed for a moment before giving a smug look. “Aşağı tükürsen sakal, yukarı tükürsen bıyık.” She said as she ran over infront of an Ottoman soldier, who was aiming at Ace, jumping on the soldier’s head and knocking him over as she lept high in the air before drawing her short sword and held it like an ice pick with both hands as she went to stab him. The outlaw darted to the side and attempted to quickly roundhouse the Turkish woman, but she had blocked Ace’s roundhouse with her forearm and drew her scimitar from her back as she went to slice downwards.

Ace quickly dodged to the side, though he began to lose ground. His fists were kept up though his gun was held behind his robot arm protectively.

“That’s just the thing with you Illysian people, is it not? You are strong, brave, but utterly stupid.” Ikhal snarled as she circled Ace while spinning her sword around.

“Talkin’ awful lotta shit fer’ someone who probably don’t even got hair!” Ace performed a giant backflip and landed on the distant end of the van they were atop. Ace quickly aimed his pistol and fired a shot.

The Turk growled as she rolled away from the shot and quickly ran across the side of the van, taking out her own sparklock revolver of a custom Ottoman design and firing at him, which did not meet its target who dodged narrowly, before throwing a crescent shaped blade out of her sleeved wrist and missing him on purpose after she climbed up the back of the van and rolled forward, holding the blade like a katana as she sprung up.

“This ain't a meadow! Quit prancin’! Raaaagh!” Ace took her head-on in a remarkable burst of speed, unloading his magazine on her as she deflected the bullets with her short-sword, which provided cover for him as he grabbed her with his mighty mechanical arm in a clear sort of attempt to slam her down, Ikhal yelping in pain as she was driven into the roof of the van. He pointed his gun down at her, preparing to execute his opponent.

Luckily, one of the Ottoman troops had gotten a visual on the combat above and fired a shot at Ace, whose robot arm and body armor was saturated by the shot. He was thrown almost off the van. He sat on the edge of the van's roof, taking a moment to recover.

Getting up from her little imprint on the van’s roof, Ikhal had gotten up suddenly and grunted as she rolled her shoulder around in its’ joint, making a cracking noise as she picked her scimitar back up and chuckled as she walked over to him. “You know, What you can learn from a story like this you’re never better of alone. To be honest, you may have the honor of being one of my very best matches. Too bad this honor is going to be posthumous.” She said as she raised he sword upwards in an attempt to perform an execution, only for it to be delayed as a crossbow bolt came past her, as a Sangrelfa woman dressed in oddly royal-looking regalia along with some white gloves with knuckle protectors made of ruby and a pair of golden sandals with Chinese symbols (specifically 病人多长命)painted in red on her white toenails, appeared on the top of the van, as she pointed a pistol-crossbow at the woman.

“Hey!” Shouted the woman as she looked at her with an intense glare. ‘I’m not usually one for violence, but I would highly suggest leaving our comrade here be before I turn your head-banging Turk-roach ass into a fucking doener kebab!

Ace gave a determined nod to the newcomer. He pounded the roof of the van with his human fist, actually denting it, and stood tall once more. He grit his teeth in a mixture of anger and pain, and glared.

“Aman allahım… It can’t possibly be you… I thought you were done after… what?” Ikhal said in shock, pointing the sword at them both, then making a face of rage. “SOLDIERS, ATTACK THEM!”

“Soldiers? What soldiers, amiga? Look around you, amigo!” Guido said, hopping up and holding his bow as he presented the lovely sight to Ikhal of all her troops fallen in combat, which made Ikhal even more angrier as she turned around with a face that definitely was a sign of bloodlust.

“You god-forbidden magical skank!” She said as she charged at her with the sword, only to be met with a crossbow bolt through her right shoulder blade, which carried a sort of tranqulising substance on the tip of the bolt, which was enough to send her staggering off the roof of the fan and onto the floor.

“Well, that fixes things a fair bit.” The angelic girl scoffed as she turned to the crew.

“Good to have you back, Goldenheart.” Quickfist said, hopping up as she shook her hand.

“Thanks, you too.” Goldenheart said with glee. “And who are the two new guys?”

[Planet Illysia]

Ace hooked his thumbs under his belt and fell down on his butt on top of the van. He, through panting and deep breathing to alleviate the pain he was in, spoke. "Name's Ace Vega. I'm an outlaw from Illysia. Don't know how I found myself with his lovely bunch'a chumps." teased Ace, giving a bit of a cackle. "Doin' vigilante work since I'm under royal pro-tec-shun."

Albert, standing tall on the ground below scoffed and glared briefly at the outlaw. "And I'm a security agent from the same planet, sent here to babysit him by a former employer." Albert dissipated his dark form and aura and adjusted his visor dramatically. "My name is Albert Lacard."

"Ain't that fancy soundin'. Glad to have you watchin' over me, yer' fuckin' highness." hissed Ace, who only received an eyeroll and a groan in response.

[New Castillan Empire]

Ace hooked his thumbs under his belt and fell down on his butt on top of the van. He, through panting and deep breathing to alleviate the pain he was in, spoke. "Name's Ace Vega. I'm an outlaw from Illysia. Don't know how I found myself with his lovely bunch'a chumps." teased Ace, giving a bit of a cackle. "Doin' vigilante work since I'm under royal pro-tec-shun."

Albert, standing tall on the ground below scoffed and glared briefly at the outlaw. "And I'm a security agent from the same planet, sent here to babysit him by a former employer." Albert dissipated his dark form and aura and adjusted his visor dramatically. "My name is Albert Lacard."

"Ain't that fancy soundin'. Glad to have you watchin' over me, yer' fuckin' highness." hissed Ace, who only received an eyeroll and a groan in response.

"You two must really love each other, huh?" Goldenheart sighed as she giggled a little. "Seriously, though, you two should just get along. You're under the same hat right now, as far as I'm concerned, so it's best you keep your petty conflict quiet. After all, I may have bigger news for the lot of you..."

"Bigger news? Like, what?" Salazar asked

"Bigger news as in one of our former comrades may have been captured by one of our other little adversaries who we're dealing with." Goldenheart. "And he's not alone, either."

"God damnit... it's like a matryoshka doll of bullshit... whoever is asshole is who wants to capture you, Ace, he REALLY wants you." Guido commented.

"And, I mean, that's all nice and fucked up, but, to be frank, I'm not sure how we're supposed to get any further in this god-forbidden heat with our van as functional as a grandfather's prostate!" Zorro yelled in anger as he hyperventilated, which to then Quickfist replied by calling out "Hey!" and holding up some sort of of hourglass-like device which she deactivated.

"Looks like Turkey Club Sandwich here had more than a few gadgets up her sleeve." Quickfist said as she walked over with the device. "EMP Grenade. Don't know how it didn't affect the rest of us, though. Van's mechanisms must've tanked the whole thing."

The van suddenly started hovering again as all the van's electronics re-activated, Guido laughing and thanking god enthusiastically as he ran inside and turned up the air conditioning to maximum, sinking into one of the couches as he did and grabbing a beer from the ice box. "Dios mio, I hope these things are still cold..."

Quickfist went to get in, then looked at Goldenheart for a moment. "Hey, amiga, nice to have you back and all, but just remember, I want to have my glory too, so don't upstage me when we're on the field, si?"

"Oh, I can't guarantee anything." The blood elf healer said as she looked at a banana-flesh coloured ball of light in her hand as she and the rest of the crew walked into the van. "But I'll try my hardest to patch you all up when I can. After all, that armor isn't going to hold on forever."

[Planet Illysia]

Ace only raised an eyebrow in response to Goldenheart, though Albert scoffed and immediately walked away into the van.

Ace sighed. "I've brought a bit of a mess with me, yeah. Ain't sure why the hell so many folk are out here tryna blow my spleen out. Doubt my bounty could even be redeemed at this point." Ace complained as he massaged his wound.

"So she EMP'd us. Knew she was a pain in the ass from the first moments of our fight. And you fuckin' stole my kill." Ace hissed. He'd slowly stand up, eyes locked on the unconscious Ikhal. His hand gripped his gun real tight.

[New Castillan Empire]

Ace only raised an eyebrow in response to Goldenheart, though Albert scoffed and immediately walked away into the van.

Ace sighed. "I've brought a bit of a mess with me, yeah. Ain't sure why the hell so many folk are out here tryna blow my spleen out. Doubt my bounty could even be redeemed at this point." Ace complained as he massaged his wound.

"So she EMP'd us. Knew she was a pain in the ass from the first moments of our fight. And you fuckin' stole my kill." Ace hissed. He'd slowly stand up, eyes locked on the unconscious Ikhal. His hand gripped his gun real tight.

"Well, I'm not sure 'stealing your kill' is the exact word we're searching for here. I'd rather say 'saving you from being cut into bacon by a Turkish woman with a sword'. I'll do whatever it takes to save a comrade's life, even if the methods are unorthodox. Besides, she's not dead, she's merely sleeping. She'll wake up in a few hours, I bet." Goldenheart said as she threw a couple bottles of water next to Ikhal, but didn't hesitate to give her some 'extra hydration' by cruelly spitting on her face.

"But this doesn't mean I like her. No, she's a complete bitch, but everyone can be worthy of life, I believe. But if the pulse goes or something happens... oh well. Anyways, let's get back inside so I can patch you up." She said as she walked back in the van.

[Planet Illysia]

"Well, I'm not sure 'stealing your kill' is the exact word we're searching for here. I'd rather say 'saving you from being cut into bacon by a Turkish woman with a sword'. I'll do whatever it takes to save a comrade's life, even if the methods are unorthodox. Besides, she's not dead, she's merely sleeping. She'll wake up in a few hours, I bet." Goldenheart said as she threw a couple bottles of water next to Ikhal, but didn't hesitate to give her some 'extra hydration' by cruelly spitting on her face.

"But this doesn't mean I like her. No, she's a complete bitch, but everyone can be worthy of life, I believe. But if the pulse goes or something happens... oh well. Anyways, let's get back inside so I can patch you up." She said as she walked back in the van.

"Didn't need your help." hissed the outlaw. "Now...about 'worthy of life'..." He walked towards Ikhal and pointed his gun at her.

---

Somewhere, in a distant alleyway...

There was a scene. Bodies of thugs lie around in droves. Some shot, some slashed down or littered with knife wounds, and several seemed to have tremendous contusions on their head. A brick wall next to the scene had a crater in it.

"Do you think we went too far, boss?" asked Dreyse, whose energy machetes were giving off a great steam. Bianca, steaming shotgun in hand, giggled at this.

Kenji shook his head and sat down on a busted-up couch. "Of course not. Let's talk business, now..." mumbled the superhuman thug.

"Of course." stoically stated Claude, who sat down next to Kenji. Dreyse and Bianca sat on another couch across from them. The former attempted to put his arm around the latter, but this advance was rejected. Dreyse rolled his eyes and put his feet up on a crate. "...So, when are we even getting our quarry?"

"We wait... the more of our allies who die, the larger share of the money we receive." Kenji said. He'd cross his arms and slouch. "I hear Ikhal's already went up..."

Bianca got up in Kenji's space and made a pouty face. "Don't tell me that you would let us die so you could make more money, boss~!" She found herself promptly flung back into her seat by a mere limp shove from said boss. The couch almost tipped over from the impact.

He clenched a fist. "Don't be stupid. That's a dirt-cheap move..." Kenji hissed.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Dreyse launched himself at Kenji, swinging his machete in a blind rage. Claude swiftly moved and parried. Seeing that Kenji had not even appeared slightly bothered by this, Dreyse opted to sit back down, stunned.

[New Castillan Empire]

"Well, I'm not sure 'stealing your kill' is the exact word we're searching for here. I'd rather say 'saving you from being cut into bacon by a Turkish woman with a sword'. I'll do whatever it takes to save a comrade's life, even if the methods are unorthodox. Besides, she's not dead, she's merely sleeping. She'll wake up in a few hours, I bet." Goldenheart said as she threw a couple bottles of water next to Ikhal, but didn't hesitate to give her some 'extra hydration' by cruelly spitting on her face.

"But this doesn't mean I like her. No, she's a complete bitch, but everyone can be worthy of life, I believe. But if the pulse goes or something happens... oh well. Anyways, let's get back inside so I can patch you up." She said as she walked back in the van.

"Didn't need your help." hissed the outlaw. "Now...about 'worthy of life'..." He walked towards Ikhal and pointed his gun at her.

---

Somewhere, in a distant alleyway...

There was a scene. Bodies of thugs lie around in droves. Some shot, some slashed down or littered with knife wounds, and several seemed to have tremendous contusions on their head. A brick wall next to the scene had a crater in it.

"Do you think we went too far, boss?" asked Dreyse, whose energy machetes were giving off a great steam. Bianca, steaming shotgun in hand, giggled at this.

Kenji shook his head and sat down on a busted-up couch. "Of course not. Let's talk business, now..." mumbled the superhuman thug.

"Of course." stoically stated Claude, who sat down next to Kenji. Dreyse and Bianca sat on another couch across from them. The former attempted to put his arm around the latter, but this advance was rejected. Dreyse rolled his eyes and put his feet up on a crate. "...So, when are we even getting our quarry?"

"We wait... the more of our allies who die, the larger share of the money we receive." Kenji said. He'd cross his arms and slouch. "I hear Ikhal's already went up..."

Bianca got up in Kenji's space and made a pouty face. "Don't tell me that you would let us die so you could make more money, boss~!" She found herself promptly flung back into her seat by a mere limp shove from said boss. The couch almost tipped over from the impact.

He clenched a fist. "Don't be stupid. That's a dirt-cheap move..." Kenji hissed.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Dreyse launched himself at Kenji, swinging his machete in a blind rage. Claude swiftly moved and parried. Seeing that Kenji had not even appeared slightly bothered by this, Dreyse opted to sit back down, stunned.

"That doesn't mean you get a free lease on killing her, pendejo! Last time I read up, she was from the Ottoman Caliphate, so killing her is probably going to thrust us into a geopolitical skullfuck, si? Er... besides, that, er... the water's laced with cyanide!" Goldenheart said. "Now, get back in here so I can fix up that gash on you."

"Just let him do his thing to that head-banging Turk. It'll be one less problem for us." Salazar said, walking back inside as he went into his cocoon on the van ceiling with a dirty magazine in hand, sealing the silk cocoon shut for obvious reasons.

[Planet Illysia]

Ace quickly executed Ikhal. "Don't know how things are where you're from, but I ain't from there." Ace mumbled. He clutched his wound and walked off of the van and entered a moment after. Inside, Albert was busy reading a holobook on...physics, or something like that. He seemed highly invested in it, and was trying to model something in it out of hardlight.

[New Castillan Empire]

Ace quickly executed Ikhal. "Don't know how things are where you're from, but I ain't from there." Ace mumbled. He clutched his wound and walked off of the van and entered a moment after. Inside, Albert was busy reading a holobook on...physics, or something like that. He seemed highly invested in it, and was trying to model something in it out of hardlight.

Goldenheart was a bit shocked at this revelation of Ace killing Ikhal for a moment, but nonetheless cleared her breath and stood still a bit awkwardly.

"Don't worry, amiga, he's Illysian. You really can't expect any less from him. At least he gets the job done." Zorro whispered to her, the blood elf nodding in agreement, as Ace had finally entered the van and it took off to their destination back in Guadalajara.

As Ace would walk in, Goldenheart would hold up her little orb of light in her hand. "You know, you're lucky I am kind to you after seeing that. Alot of other people like me would refuse to have anything to do with you, but I personally find that everyone can redeem themselves if they are given the chance, which is why I always uphold niceness... in most cases. Now hold still, this might tickle a bit..." She said as she raised the orb and her eyes turned yellow as they gazed at Ace, the wound healing within around 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, in that alleyway, a few moments later...
As Kenji and his group were bickering in the alleyway, suddenly a ringtone erupted from the holographic device nearby. If they answered it, it'd be that of Bendicion, the figure having a shadow over his face and his mask resting on his desk.

"I am sorry to interrupt your pointless quarrel, gentlemen, but I must inform you that one of our entrusted generals, Ikhal Effendi Apek, had been recently been taken down and killed off by Ace and his little bout of shit lords, including Goldenheart, the healer who I'd recently thought we were cured of after her bout in Novo Brazil. No doubt, still, she was known to have escaped after her recent little encounter with Captain Diablo, unlike her close comrade, who we still have under capture. She knows of this hostage situation, which is why I entrust that she will inform the occupants and thus walk into our little trap.

Anyways, bedtime stories asside, I've arranged a few things for you all. Dreyse, you will temporarily assume control of Ikhal's army while we are still on the hunt for these fools. I'll handle all complaints the Ottoman government has personally. As for you, Bianca, Diablo says he requires you alongside his army at the far end of his ship, the Davy Jones' Helm, in order to assist with this new ambush. As for the rest of you, I need you two to report back to the warehouse as soon as possible... I have a special assignment for you." The boss said before signing off.

[Planet Illysia]

Goldenheart was a bit shocked at this revelation of Ace killing Ikhal for a moment, but nonetheless cleared her breath and stood still a bit awkwardly.

"Don't worry, amiga, he's Illysian. You really can't expect any less from him. At least he gets the job done." Zorro whispered to her, the blood elf nodding in agreement, as Ace had finally entered the van and it took off to their destination back in Guadalajara.

As Ace would walk in, Goldenheart would hold up her little orb of light in her hand. "You know, you're lucky I am kind to you after seeing that. Alot of other people like me would refuse to have anything to do with you, but I personally find that everyone can redeem themselves if they are given the chance, which is why I always uphold niceness... in most cases. Now hold still, this might tickle a bit..." She said as she raised the orb and her eyes turned yellow as they gazed at Ace, the wound healing within around 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, in that alleyway, a few moments later...
As Kenji and his group were bickering in the alleyway, suddenly a [urlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4hm9nkv7cQ]ringtone[/url] erupted from the holographic device nearby. If they answered it, it'd be that of Bendicion, the figure having a shadow over his face and his mask resting on his desk.

"I am sorry to interrupt your pointless quarrel, gentlemen, but I must inform you that one of our entrusted generals, Ikhal Effendi Apek, had been recently been taken down and killed off by Ace and his little bout of shit lords, including Goldenheart, the healer who I'd recently thought we were cured of after her bout in Novo Brazil. No doubt, still, she was known to have escaped after her recent little encounter with Captain Diablo, unlike her close comrade, who we still have under capture. She knows of this hostage situation, which is why I entrust that she will inform the occupants and thus walk into our little trap.

Anyways, bedtime stories asside, I've arranged a few things for you all. Dreyse, you will temporarily assume control of Ikhal's army while we are still on the hunt for these fools. I'll handle all complaints the Ottoman government has personally. As for you, Bianca, Diablo says he requires you alongside his army at the far end of his ship, the Davy Jones' Helm, in order to assist with this new ambush. As for the rest of you, I need you two to report back to the warehouse as soon as possible... I have a special assignment for you." The boss said before signing off.

"Tch." Ace wasn't in a thankful mood and lumbered off. He sat down, reclined, and pulled his hat down over his eyes to take a nap.

"What manner of healing tech did you just employ?" Albert inquired with an expression of curious interest.

---

Kenji was silent. "I can't say I like how much my chain of command is being ground into the dirt..." He rolled his eyes and stretched his arms out over the top of the couch, and then looked at his crew. "Alright, do what he says." The mercenary stood up and popped his neck; his powerful muscles sounded like cracking earth and stone as they did.

Bianca sighed. "With that old roach. Fantastic-" Her complaints were cut short.

"Hell yeah! My own army. Suck my left nut, you-" Dreyse began, but a glare from Kenji shut him up. "I mean, uh, good luck, guys."

The remaining three mercenaries stood up, and Kenji terminated the transmission. They exchanged glances and then a couple nods. Suddenly, Kenji and Claude leaped off into the air and began leaping from building to building. Dreyse and Bianca looked at each other.

"Listen, Bianca...er..."

"I don't give good-luck kisses." She tilted a hip and crossed her arms.

"No, that's not it. Just...eh, kick that old fart's ass." Dreyse said, scratching the back of his head. The two began to walk together. Something Dreyse said afterwards shocked Bianca to some degree, and she nodded. After a short chat, the two split off and rocketed off into the air, leaping from building to building.

[New Castillan Empire]

Goldenheart was a bit shocked at this revelation of Ace killing Ikhal for a moment, but nonetheless cleared her breath and stood still a bit awkwardly.

"Don't worry, amiga, he's Illysian. You really can't expect any less from him. At least he gets the job done." Zorro whispered to her, the blood elf nodding in agreement, as Ace had finally entered the van and it took off to their destination back in Guadalajara.

As Ace would walk in, Goldenheart would hold up her little orb of light in her hand. "You know, you're lucky I am kind to you after seeing that. Alot of other people like me would refuse to have anything to do with you, but I personally find that everyone can redeem themselves if they are given the chance, which is why I always uphold niceness... in most cases. Now hold still, this might tickle a bit..." She said as she raised the orb and her eyes turned yellow as they gazed at Ace, the wound healing within around 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, in that alleyway, a few moments later...
As Kenji and his group were bickering in the alleyway, suddenly a [urlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4hm9nkv7cQ]ringtone[/url] erupted from the holographic device nearby. If they answered it, it'd be that of Bendicion, the figure having a shadow over his face and his mask resting on his desk.

"I am sorry to interrupt your pointless quarrel, gentlemen, but I must inform you that one of our entrusted generals, Ikhal Effendi Apek, had been recently been taken down and killed off by Ace and his little bout of shit lords, including Goldenheart, the healer who I'd recently thought we were cured of after her bout in Novo Brazil. No doubt, still, she was known to have escaped after her recent little encounter with Captain Diablo, unlike her close comrade, who we still have under capture. She knows of this hostage situation, which is why I entrust that she will inform the occupants and thus walk into our little trap.

Anyways, bedtime stories asside, I've arranged a few things for you all. Dreyse, you will temporarily assume control of Ikhal's army while we are still on the hunt for these fools. I'll handle all complaints the Ottoman government has personally. As for you, Bianca, Diablo says he requires you alongside his army at the far end of his ship, the Davy Jones' Helm, in order to assist with this new ambush. As for the rest of you, I need you two to report back to the warehouse as soon as possible... I have a special assignment for you." The boss said before signing off.

"Tch." Ace wasn't in a thankful mood and lumbered off. He sat down, reclined, and pulled his hat down over his eyes to take a nap.

"What manner of healing tech did you just employ?" Albert inquired with an expression of curious interest.

---

Kenji was silent. "I can't say I like how much my chain of command is being ground into the dirt..." He rolled his eyes and stretched his arms out over the top of the couch, and then looked at his crew. "Alright, do what he says." The mercenary stood up and popped his neck; his powerful muscles sounded like cracking earth and stone as they did.

Bianca sighed. "With that old roach. Fantastic-" Her complaints were cut short.

"Hell yeah! My own army. Suck my left nut, you-" Dreyse began, but a glare from Kenji shut him up. "I mean, uh, good luck, guys."

The remaining three mercenaries stood up, and Kenji terminated the transmission. They exchanged glances and then a couple nods. Suddenly, Kenji and Claude leaped off into the air and began leaping from building to building. Dreyse and Bianca looked at each other.

"Listen, Bianca...er..."

"I don't give good-luck kisses." She tilted a hip and crossed her arms.

"No, that's not it. Just...eh, kick that old fart's ass." Dreyse said, scratching the back of his head. The two began to walk together. Something Dreyse said afterwards shocked Bianca to some degree, and she nodded. After a short chat, the two split off and rocketed off into the air, leaping from building to building.

"How ungrateful and rude, this man is..." Goldenheart commented as she turned to answer Albert.

"Well, I don't employ any healing technologies, per say. My kind has had the advantage of having a few of us being able to utilise certain kinds of actual magic. I, of course, came from one of those lucky lines, embedded with the gift of being blessed with the power of healing and nature." Goldenheart commented as she looked at her magic orb a little longer. "Of course, this requires our most serene faith in the goddess Elune, which obviously the Christian Castillan public is not happy about and thus pressures us to lose our touch with magic and adhere to their faith. Infact, our current pope, Catherine, is a blood elf of the Elunists, who could've very well followed in our path if it were not for Christianity being so prevalent."

"I could very well ask the same question to you; what are your magical roots?" The healer said as she made her orb go away, having split-second glances at Klawguttah occasionally, out of what appeared to be paranoia.

[Planet Illysia]

"Hmm." Albert leaned back and crossed his legs. "I," he began as he started to take his cloak off, revealing his super-FT ninja-battle-suit underneath, "dabble in the realms of harnessed electronic energy and hardened luminous form." He clenched a fist, and a spark of electricity arc from his elbow to his wrist within a blink's span. His hand opened, and butterflies of hard-light fluttered out and dissolved.

"I am --would you say-- a mage, I suppose. I...would even have the pointy hat, but I'm...sure that would bear to do little aside from making me the butt of idiotic humor." said the mage with a hint of snootiness that gave way to a slight sullenness.

[New Castillan Empire]

"Hmm." Albert leaned back and crossed his legs. "I," he began as he started to take his cloak off, revealing his super-FT ninja-battle-suit underneath, "dabble in the realms of harnessed electronic energy and hardened luminous form." He clenched a fist, and a spark of electricity arc from his elbow to his wrist within a blink's span. His hand opened, and butterflies of hard-light fluttered out and dissolved.

"I am --would you say-- a mage, I suppose. I...would even have the pointy hat, but I'm...sure that would bear to do little aside from making me the butt of idiotic humor." said the mage with a hint of snootiness that gave way to a slight sullenness.

Goldenheart giggled a little at the thought of Albert wearing a wizard hat and shouting 'Abracadabra' as he did his hardlight 'magic', which was mainly funny consider how somber and hardened he looked most of the time, before going to back to a happy, yet professional attitude.

"It is most certainly interesting how your hardlight technology can recreate magic so well. I could only how hard it'd be to master it though... would be majorly cumbersome if you don't get it right, I'd say." the blood elf said as she blushed a little. "I could only imagine only a man such as yourself would be able to do this sort of thing well."

[Planet Illysia]

Goldenheart giggled a little at the thought of Albert wearing a wizard hat and shouting 'Abracadabra' as he did his hardlight 'magic', which was mainly funny consider how somber and hardened he looked most of the time, before going to back to a happy, yet professional attitude.

"It is most certainly interesting how your hardlight technology can recreate magic so well. I could only how hard it'd be to master it though... would be majorly cumbersome if you don't get it right, I'd say." the blood elf said as she blushed a little. "I could only imagine only a man such as yourself would be able to do this sort of thing well."

Albert's eyes widened somewhat. He put his book away. "W...well, yes, it required great practice, indeed. However... now that I am a master of it, it serves to be incredibly utilitarian." He began forming a hardlight model of the solar system in his hands. "I use my two powers in tandem--" A bolt of electricity formed between each of the planets, which soon aligned. "-- like so, to create essentially a most malleable thunder magic."

[New Castillan Empire]

Goldenheart giggled a little at the thought of Albert wearing a wizard hat and shouting 'Abracadabra' as he did his hardlight 'magic', which was mainly funny consider how somber and hardened he looked most of the time, before going to back to a happy, yet professional attitude.

"It is most certainly interesting how your hardlight technology can recreate magic so well. I could only how hard it'd be to master it though... would be majorly cumbersome if you don't get it right, I'd say." the blood elf said as she blushed a little. "I could only imagine only a man such as yourself would be able to do this sort of thing well."

Albert's eyes widened somewhat. He put his book away. "W...well, yes, it required great practice, indeed. However... now that I am a master of it, it serves to be incredibly utilitarian." He began forming a hardlight model of the solar system in his hands. "I use my two powers in tandem--" A bolt of electricity formed between each of the planets, which soon aligned. "-- like so, to create essentially a most malleable thunder magic."

"Wow... it is beautiful how much is capable with such technologies... any other surviving mages from Vasco would surely be jealous that a common man can replicate what made their own kind so unique." Goldenheart said in amazement to Albert.

Suddenly, a medium-sized scorpion scuttled across the carpet and up the table, sitting down and staring at Goldenheart, near where Guido was resting his feet. The archer soon took notice of the bug and grabbed a newspaper to swat it, crushing the poor thing to a mangle of limbs, exokeleton and liquids. "Jodidos escorpiones..." Guido mumbled as she went back to sitting down, Goldenheart half-laughing whilst cringing at the sight of the animal being destroyed. Even if it was a scorpion, it was a part of nature, which the blood elf was very close to religiously, due to her power of healing being tied to natural life.

"...you know, I'd imagine you'd have alot of destructive potential with your powers, if I am not wrong. They are surely very pretty to look at, but I'd see you using your powers more in combat, as it would be a part of your job. My powers work the exact opposite way; they cannot hurt anyone. Maybe some trauma for basically dying and then being brought back to life, but otherwise they are absolutely harmless. Infact, in the case life is taken away..." She said as she looked at the scorpion and then pointed at it while staring intensely, a white ball of light forming in the palm of her hand which then traveled through a beam up her finger and then striking the scorpion, the creature slowly being put back together piece by piece before she ceased as the scorpion was back to normal. Goldenheart then laid her palm of her hand open on the table, to which the scorpion promptly climbed upon, the elf lifting her and petting it with a single finger, turning back to Albert as she did do.

"...I can bring it back. It takes alot of power and strength to do so for a normal man, though. Insects and small animals up to cats and dogs are no problem though." The blood elf said, smiling as she laid it back onto the table as it scuttled along, only to be met with Salazar clawing a bit of silk out of his cocoon and then sticking his head out before he quickly snatched the scorpion up with his tongue like a frog and ate it, burping out a cloud of dark green that would be made of scorpion venom. "Spicy." Salazar commented before yawning and making the rest of the way out of his cocoon before heading into the shower room.

Goldenheart giggled a little at Salazar eating the scorpion, as odd as it seemed for her, and looked back to Albert. "Si... anyways, being embued with the power of healing and life, I am endowed to protect mother nature whether I can, but if it is merely the cycle of life where it is for feeding the carnivore, then I will not interfere."

[Planet Illysia]

"I am not a common man." Albert boasted in a snooty manner. He kept his legs crossed, though he bobbed the leg on top. "Regardless, I do regret my inability to heal. Perhaps I could take inspiration from your technique."

He watched Salazar eat the bug and scoffed. "How primitive! There is actual food within this vehicle, is there not?" the Mage reprimanded.

[New Castillan Empire]

"I am not a common man." Albert boasted in a snooty manner. He kept his legs crossed, though he bobbed the leg on top. "Regardless, I do regret my inability to heal. Perhaps I could take inspiration from your technique."

He watched Salazar eat the bug and scoffed. "How primitive! There is actual food within this vehicle, is there not?" the Mage reprimanded.

"Well, you can try, but it's only prevalent in blood elves. Even then, you have to adhere you utmost faith to the goddess Elune and follow her ways. No humans I know of can utilise our magic." Goldenheart explained


"Well, there is, but I just like eating insects. I mean, it's prevalent in my culture too! Besides, scorpions taste delicious! Ever tried one fried? Absolute delicacy in the Lepidopterran world." Salazar said.

"Yeah, don't take it from the giant bug. Besides, I'm actually vegan myself, anyways, so any meat at all is a no-no for me." Goldenheart stated

[Planet Illysia]

Meanwhile...

Diablo's Ship
A curvaceous figure landed, one foot behind the other, on the bow of Captain Diablo's ship. Spotting said Captain, the figure began to catwalk forwards. It was, unmistakably, Bianca, shotgun held in hand by the barrel.

"Alright, you lech. Let's get some work done."

Tatters of Ikhal's group
The remnants of Ikhal's forces were suddenly interrupted by the sound of metal banging together.

"Listen up, you miserable pack of failures!" Dreyse said, standing above them, his deactivated machete's hilts touching over his head. "My name is Dreyse of the Funeral Wreaths, and, by the orders of Bendicion, you're going to do whatever the hell I say! We're going to kill ourselves one Ace Vega, and then this'll be all over with!"

The Warehouse
Kenji and Claude entered.

"Knock knock." Kenji said, reaching up and knocking on the side of Claude's helmet. Claude did not react or speak. "We're here." continued the thug. They approached.

"This better be something important..."

[New Castillan Empire]

Diablo's Ship, the Viperfish
The Captain turned around as some members of his crew beside him also took notice, giving a few hoots, wolf whistles and a few fllirty comments in Spanish.

"Yarr, if it ain't the siren sent abroad herself, then I must be drunk to see such beauty like this!" The Captain said as he had a hearty laugh. "But in all seriousness, let's get ye on the low-down of things, at least in a professional term. Now, the plan be simple as this; we have one of his ole' comrades hostage, and th' big one knows fer' a fact that Acey and his little band of misfits be lookin' for him. Once we get him down 'ere and find him tryin' to break out friend out, we break the hardtack and surround the scallywags so they'll know to surrender! We may not have the power, but we have the numbers. Oh, and there's you, too."

Tatters of Ikhal's group
As the soldiers all were still sitting down, they looked on to the man who was yelling at them in his funny yabancı tongue which they couldn't understand. One soldier sitting on a crate near the campfire looked at his comrade in confusion.

"Ma hdha aljahim aldhy yaquluh hdha al'ajnabi?" The soldier asked as he was replied with a shrug.

After an awkward moment of silence, one man with a Suriyestani armpatch and a steel sword in a hip sheath front stood up and cleared his throat. "Ma hu sadiquna alghabiu huna , Darisiun min 'Akalil Aljinazat , kan maenaa liaqul , hu 'anah sayakun zaeimana baed suqut 'Aykhal , wa'ana alrajul , Ayis , yjb 'an yasqut bsret mae darbat min alsyf , wabialttali jalb alquat 'iilaa alkhilafat aleithmania!" The man announced as the rest of the soldiers then exclaimed in joy as they finally understood what he meant, as the soldier himself turned around.

"Forgive me, my friend. None of us but I can speak English. My name is Farhaan al-Kassem, 5th Syrian Rifles, on a covert transfer mission with our former leader Ikhal." Farhaan said as he bowed.

The Warehouse
"Come in, my friends. With all haste, may I add. Time is at the essence." Bendicion said, as inside he'd be sitting down with his mask on, and two guards beside him.

[Planet Illysia]

Diablo's Ship, the Viperfish
Bianca flipped her shotgun around and began holding it like a police nightstick. She sharply leaned on one hip, situating her hand on the higher hip, and narrowed her eyes. "Classy, real classy." She'd scoff. "Alright, well..." She'd pick at her fingernails in a blatantly dismissive manner. "I'll make sure you fools don't screw this one up, then."

Tatters of Ikhal's group
Dreyse would fling his arm down, pointing at Farhaan with one of two deactivated machetes. "From now one, you're my translator. A squad commander, too. I'm going to figure out how to bring organization back to this shattered mess you guys used to call a fighting force." He hissed. He twirled his machete hilts and holstered them, then crossed his arms. He'd leap down from his high spot, landing harmlessly and approaching. "Time for a head count! One, two, three..."

The Warehouse
"Well." Kenji slid his hands into his coat pockets. "Get on with it, then." He groaned.

Claude nodded, giving a deep, gruff voiced 'hmph' and his traditionally disturbing trademark facial expression.

[New Castillan Empire]

Diablo's Ship, the Viperfish
"Yarr, rest assured, we won't. Infact, it it weren't for the circumstances, we'd leave ye tossed out of this mission, but it seems we'll have to do as partners for now." Diablo said. "Besides, you're a fine ol' wench, and a tough one, rest assured."

Tatters of Ikhal's group
"Hold on, hold on, hold on my eager comrade, before you start, let's make things slightly easier around here, shall we?" The Syrian man insisted as her put his palm up before facing the crew and commanding them to grab their arms and stand to attention, the soldiers promptly doing so as they grabbed their rifles and held them to their shoulders as they stood still.

"Tashkil, adhhb!" The Arab commanded as the troops then lined up into 3 rows of 10, numbering them at 30, all standing still as they held their position.

The Warehouse
"Very well, then." Bendicion said as he stubbed out a cigar. "Let's get to the point here, because I don't exactly feel like wasting any time here, especially when time is running out like water leaking from a plastic barrel on the dispenser. Now... we have recently recieved inside information on an upcoming transport of at least 50 billion reals the extremely rare, valuable and useful material of Nostrumium, one of the toughest metals that our former Earth had to offer. Only trouble is, the Nostrumium travels with a motorcade full of mercenaries hired from an external force of professionals from Sistema Uno. An exploding car on the highway will force them to use the secondary route, giving us an ambush opportunity. We've got a shipping container waiting and some heavy smoke will keep the eye in the sky from figuring out where the Nostrumium goes. I'm sending you a few men of my own to back you up on this mission, but trusting that you have the capabilities to give Ace a nice whooping, I am also going to test your capabilities by putting you at the bulk of it all, but don't worry, I'll be there to give you further instruction if there's a status update or if you need copy on the next part of the mission." Bendicion said.

"This may seem like a suicide mission to any other man, but I entrust you are not any other men. You are fierce, strong, and a force to be reckoned with. And I assure you, I have our other friends preoccupied, so you don't have to worry about them getting in on this. Besides, the fifty billion we encompass from this heist will be forced into your paychecks after we have him in our clutches. Now, are we at a deal, or are there some terms you wish to list?

[Planet Illysia]

Bianca put her hands up and shook her head. "That's not what I meant, but okay." She'd clutch her arm in an almost sheepish manner. "Whatever. Hurry up with the details, old man."

---

"Thirty. Hmm...Ace has ten shots. So would it be best, then, to divide you each into three groups of ten? Yeah. Alright, Farhaan, you..."

Dreyse ended up dividing them up like he said, and appointed squad leaders.

---

"Alright... Assuming you won't shill my share of the score down, it all sounds good..." Kenji shrugged. "Claude here and I... should be able to deal with that, just fine. Isn't that right?"

Claude spoke for the first time. His voice was highly monotonous and deep. "Yes." was his simple answer.