"Do you want power?", the being who was clad in darkness asked him.
Hiro, being confused and in an uncanny state wasn't able to answer. Instead he asked him, "Who are you?"
Meanwhile, the ten MECHA pilots, from number 1 to number 10 were fighting against the DUQUOIS in a chaotic state. No.1 was constantly shooting at the tentacles which came towards him. No.4 who was freed from the tentacles by No.7 was trying to free the others who were caught up within the tentacles.
No.2, being arrogant, took out a lance. The pilot inside it but his lips out of discontentment of the situation.
"Why must this happen?", he wondered.
Michael or No.1, the captain of the group ordered, "Everyone come into formation."
He gave the orders without considering the situation.
"Fuck off...", No.7 replied, who was the process of freeing the remaining two who were caught up with the tentacles.
"Huh,..", Michael was shocked at his words and was going to reply in harsh tone within the SPE but he was distracted. The creepers which were a part of the DUQUOIS took the chance and held the legs of No.1.
"Wha---?!---"
He was then immobilized in one position. The tentacles came at him and wrapped the whole body of the MECHA. He was immobile and couldn't do anything. Michael from the inside, tried moving the control sticks to move the MECHA. The MECHA was slightly able to struggle which in turn only resulted in the tentacles' grip get tighter.
"Damn, if only it weren't for the commoner...", Michael uttered in dismay over the situation which was heard by the other pilots through the SPE. Michael didn't notice that spoke without thinking.
"Don't blame the commoner!", No.7, who had heard his dismay replied in a pissed tone. It scared shit of the teammates when No.7 got angry. He continued, "If the commoner... No, Hiro, was still here. He could have saved us all."
No.7 went ahead and freed the remaining two members who were caught up with the tentacles while saying those words. Michael's ego was hurt and told No.7, "That commoner being an extra was the problem to our plan."
"No it wasn't.", No.7 shot the upcoming tentacles onto him while covering for No.4.
"Captain, if we had involved Hiro in the plan from the first itself. We would've survived atleast."
"Do you mean that we cannot survive?", No.1 asked No.7.
"Do you think we can survive?", No.7 answered back with a question. He took out the magazine and replaced it with another one to his rifle. He was near to the end of his ammo, "Shit, I am close to finishing my ammo."
"Captain, let me tell you one thing. Don't be so cocky."
"Who are you to tell me that!"
"Then, who are you to be against Hiro joining our mission."
The teammates who were hearing to their conversation, were annoyed with the arrogance of the captain.
"You're right. Captain, this is your fault.", No.4, taking No.7's side told him.
"But I...", Michael couldn't utter a word.
No.8 and No.9 grouped up together. The both took care of each other's backs and started shooting the tentacles. No.7 ran towards the captain, just to see him covered in tentacles.
He saw that No.1 was covered by the tentacles from top to bottom, except for the head. He was shocked. He aimed at the tentacles with the rifle. It was the last magazine he had. He aimed at the tentacles.
"Who are you?", Hiro asked the person who was clad in darkness.
The person came forward, showing himself. Hiro was terrified upon looking at his appearance and took a few steps backward out of irrational fear. The person who stepped forward was covered in dark aura, with somewhat of the facial and physical features of a human. He had glowing red eyes with sharp hands and fingers. He stepped forward towards Hiro as the latter stepped back.
"Who are you?", Hiro asked him with a terrified expression.
Looking at Hiro terrified, the latter laughed and spoke with his creepy and scary voice, "Me,.... Just call me 'Demon'.".
He then asked Hiro, "Do you want power?"
"Huh..?"
"I think I don't need to repeat myself do I?"
Hiro was bewildered upon his looks and voice. He couldn't help but ask, "Just who are you?" while his heart was beating out of fear.
"I just told you, who I am.", Demon replied.
"No, what I mean is about you as whole and an identity.",
"Ohh, you meant in that way. I guess you are wondering about how I am related to you also. Am I right?", He asked Hiro.
"Yes", Hiro replied.
"But, before that let me ask you.", He said and continued, "Why do those Noblemen always hate without a reason?"
"What do you..."
"Don't ignore my question. Why do they hate you?"
"Well...."
Hiro was speechless and the demon looking at him said, "Isn't it because you are a commoner?"
Hiro felt discomfit at his words and looked down. He felt that the demon himself had insulted him.
"That is just irrational hatred...", He spoke to Hiro.
Hiro was surprised at his words but couldn't utter anything.
"Don't you feel like killing them."
"Why shouldn't you kill them?"
"Why should they treat you like that?"
Demon continued to taunt Hiro with his words.
"What are you implying?", Hiro asked him.
"Nothing. All I want to say is whether you would risk your life to save those noble pieces of shit."
Hiro felt a strong impact on his mind upon listening to the demon's words. Hiro was left speechless. He wondered about the reason he kept on fighting the RIORS regardless of the ostracization which he and other commoners and peasants faced in the hands of the nobles.
"It hurts right?"
"Why do you still want to protect them?"
"Why can't just let them perish?"
"Just let them all die."
"Those scum have no right to live."
His internal voice was coinciding with the demon's taunts and words.
"Do you still want to protect them?"
"What is your reason for fighting?"
"Reason for fighting...."
The sentence echoed throughout his head.
"My reason for fighting...", Hiro uttered slowly and thought to himself, "What is my reason for fighting."
"Why is that pig here?"
"How could a peasant scum like him become a MECHA pilot?"
"This isn't a place for mutts like you."
"You commoner, you are nothing more than a thing for Nobility."
Hiro remembered the most common of the words in which Nobility used to verbally abuse him back when had begun studying the academy and later working as a MECHA pilot.
"Big brother...", He heard a voice which sounded like Haruna. He looked at the direction where the voice had come from. He saw his siblings, Alma, Yuki, Raj and Robert there. He remembered his reason for fighting, "Yeah, I have my reason to fight!"
It was a small illusion, he could see. He never forgot about his reason to keep on fighting. It was for the promise he made to Robert and also to protect the people he cared for.
He looked at the demon and told him, "I have my reason to fight."
"Ohh.....", the demon let out due to Hiro.
"Very well then, I will grant you power upon my discretion. But it all depends on whether you agree or not."
The demon decided to grant Hiro power on his choice himself. All that was left was to agree to the demon's choice of granting him power.
"....."
At that time, No.7 aimed his rifle towards the tentacles. He pulled the trigger leading to the bullets being expelled from the gun and striking the tentacles. The tentacles were torn due to the impact from the bullets. No.7 took the odds and jumped down to the MECHA, taking out a knife. He was able to succeed in tearing the tentacles and freed No.1 from the tentacles.
No.1 took this plausibility and got out from the grasp of the tentacles. He started running away from the spot and asked No.7 to run away along with him.
"No.7, let's get the hell out of here with other teammates."
"Yeah let's get out, along with Hiro.", he replied and continued, "Let us check the area for him. If you can't do it I will only do it."
No.7 took spare ammo from No.1 and started to search for Hiro and tried freeing him. No.1 who was there also tried supporting the teammates who were caught. No.6 and No.2 were then caught in tentacles in different regions within the factory. But they were lucky enough to be freed with the help of No.7.
No.1 went ahead and tried cleaning the creepers which were underground. The team was doing well in trying to complete their mission. While, it just seemed like it.
Soon, the DUQUOIS was somewhat enraged at No.1 constantly killing the creepers on the ground, which caused a subtle amount of pain to the DUQUOIS. It got into fury.
The single eye the DUQUOIS turned black due to its rage. Various spots opened up, in a circular pattern upon its skin. It let out a scream which was so loud that it could heard all around the perimeter of the factory. The pilots within the MECHA blocked their ears with their hands to not hear its screams.
The circles which opened up on its screen started glowing after the scream. The circles elevated towards a single point keeping a small circular space open. That part started glowing, forming a small spherical structure which was levitating at the near end. At the moment it reached the brightest, small shockwaves from the place. The energy which was concentrated was shot in the multiple direction at high velocities in which it spawned from in a linear moment. The shockwaves which travelled in multiple directions, some of them hit the MECHA while some hit random places within the factory.
The MECHA which were hit by the shockwaves had their armors penetrated. It caused No.6, No.4 and No.9 to become immobile but the pilot inside them was safe, with some injury. Then, a single beam which hit the tank which stored petroleum caused a great impact within the zone, making it blast. The blast covered about 30% of the zone and within the blast No.5, No.2, No.8 and No.5 were caught. It caused their MECHA to take a significant amount of damage.
Seven out of the ten MECHA pilots were caught up within the blast. The only ones who were still active were No.1, No.3 and No.7. They were all out of hopes. They couldn't expect a miracle to come and save them at the right time.
"Damn it.."
"Why must this happen to us only..."
They in the depths of despair at that point. The DUQUOIS tentacles started to move in an eccentric manner. Then, the circular spots on its skin started to slowly elongate and form hollow conical structures with an open end. Energy was being concentrated at the ends of the conical structures as electric charges were constantly moving within it and near the circumference of the spheres. It was glowing without and was about to launch without any sort of problem.
"Everybody, duck.", they were told to do so by a similar they recognized and followed the words, ducking down.
Then, out of nowhere came a beam of energy being red in colour slashing through the DUQUOIS in 180°. That beam tore through the skin of the DUQUOIS, dealing a considerable amount of damage to the DUQUOIS. The remaining who saw this were shocked to see that the DUQUOIS was damaged. The DUQUOIS screeched in pain, due to the beam.
The beam caused the DUQUOIS to get into a further state of rage. It pupils which were yellow contracted further, only making it a further slave to instinct. The teammates were slightly relieved that they had a chance of surviving.
The teammates along with the DUQUOIS looked at the direction to see where the beam had come from. The teammates were shocked to look at the beam except for No.7 and No.4 who were surprised to see where the beam had come from. They could see and red-tinted MECHA which had a different frame and pattern from them. No.7 and No.4 were pleasantly surprised to see where the beam had come, while the rest were in shock.
Yes, the beam had come from Vernier who stood there looking at them. While, a small cannon emerged from its left shoulder which shot out the beam. Within the cockpit of the MECHA, appeared eyes which were glowing red. It was Hiro's eyes which were glowing like that. His eyes burning red in colour without distinction.
"I won't let you kill anyone here. Because, I will be the one to kill you."