Snow White and I decided to take a break and rest up at the camp area that was stationed just before the entrance of the Ruined Temple. Snow White sat outside and looked at the night sky then felt me place my coat around her shoulders. She looked up at me and smiled. She watched as I sat down beside her.
"The Lost Members...Are they connected to you in any way?" I asked.
"They are in a way. Seven of them wield a piece of the Pendant of Elements. Rigel and Fiorello definitely wield a Shard...as for Agni, he isn't even evil. He's a go with the flow type of guy. His real name is Nagi...but he went under a different alias when he was defeated by Rigel and taken prisoner for the Goddess.." Snow White explained.
"What really defines The Lost..?" I asked and looked out into the distance.
"A person who has Lost their way due to sin. Agni lost his way the same way Rigel and Fiorello lost their way, Lust, but Agni is special as his Lust isn't even lust. It's more of Deep Passion." Snow White said and smiled.
"When we fought, I didn't sense a single bit of hatred from his heart. He even gave me this Skill Sigil for defeating him. I know I'm going to run into him in the near future...and I know one day we will have to kill each other, but something in me tells me he's a good person deep down." I said.
Snow White smiled and leaned against me. "Y'know...when I first met you, I thought you would be some cold...lone wolf type of guy...but you're pretty outgoing and empathetic even with certain enemies as well..~"
"I can say the same for you with your icy presence...but you're nothing like how I thought you'd be..." I said and looked at Snow White.
Snow White looked at me and smiled. "When this is all over...we should celebrate..~"
I nodded and held her hand. "We should..."
Snow White watched as I leaned into her. We closed our eyes and gently shared a kiss for the night.
...
...
...
[Life Force -100]
[Life Force: 46,100]
The next day arrived and I crawled out of the tent then noticed Snow White looking at the red wall in the near distance. I walked toward her and stood next to her. She looked at me then looked back at the walls.
"Right there...That is where we defeat Rigel and get that pass." Snow White said.
"What's the story between you and Rigel..?" I asked and looked at Snow White.
"When I was revived, he was an enemy of mine because he was causing trouble for the innocent. I tried to kill him, but he got away. He's also someone who works closely with my mother...he's the actual Huntsman that my mother sent out to kill me. I plan to finish things with him.." Snow White said.
"You will get your chance, but one step at a time..." I said.
"Right..." Snow White said and nodded.
The two of us got prepared for the day then made our way to the Ruined Temple of Titans. As we traversed there we had to defeat a few Deviants along the way then once we reached the entrance, everything was a bit cold.
"You finally made it! I was wondering when you two would actually show up!" Rigel said and landed on the ground. He stood up straight and chuckled softly. "I have a little surprise for you, Snow White."
Snow White watched Rigel then noticed one of the seven pieces appear in his hand. She glared and took hold of the handle of her claymore. "The Piece of Shadows..."
"With this Piece...I hold dominion over the Element of Darkness and the Nightmare Deviants that come with. So not only do I have Spatial and Demonic Abilities, but also Darkness..? The chances of you actually defeating me and killing me are little to none." Rigel said and made the piece disappear.
"That piece doesn't belong to you...Nor does it belong to any Lost Member! Rigel! I'll destroy you and all the others who stand in my way! Then after I kill you all, I will kill my mother for what she's done to me..." Snow White said and got into her battle stance.
Rigel chuckled and summoned his rifles. "Really now, let's see how strong you truly are then!"
I walked forward and summoned my Dark Energy Blade. "Let's go."
Snow White dashed toward Rigel and slashed at him, but he dodged the slash then fired multiple bullets at her. Snow White used the blade of her claymore to block the bullets then launched waves of icy energy at him. Rigel dodged them then released a repulsive force of energy to knock Snow White away.
A clone of me caught Snow White then I dashed forward. Rigel smirked and dashed toward me. He made one of his rifles disappear then summoned his double bladed katana and slashed at me. We clashed multiple times before he manipulated the space around us and inverted my gravity. I grunted as I began you float upwards.
"You're in my domain..." Rigel laughed and pulled me toward him at high speeds.
Snow White intercepted and tried to kick Rigel, but her leg slowed down then fully stopped before it even could reach him. "What..?"
"It's Unreachability! Get away from him!" I warned.
Snow White tried to move away, but was now stuck. She grunted as she struggled to get away then groaned loudly as she was blown away by a powerful repulsive force. She slammed into a broken wall and fell to the ground.
Rigel laughed and gripped my neck then rose me up. "The Joker...I have been waiting for this moment...I have been waiting for this moment to finally kill you!"
[Promotion Possible!]
[Joker Gauge MAX!]
[Life Force -9,000]
[Life Force: 37,100]
The Ace Card shined brightly then a laugh was heard. Rigel looked around then noticed a pillar of darkness crash down then an upside down Ace Symbol shined on the pillar of energy.
Joker laughed then dashed toward Rigel and kicked him away. Rigel coughed blood and dropped me. Joker launched him away then helped me up. He smirked and his eyes shined. He turned into energy particles and fused with me. An upside down Ace Symbol shined on my chest then dark energy shot up and surged powerfully around my body.
Snow White stood up slowly and noticed my dark aura. "Leo..."
"This is what TRUE Madness looks like! The Reverse Ace Unit, the True Chaos Unit! I am Joker, The Ragnarok of Wonderland!" I laughed and got into my stance then red lightning crackled around my body.
Rigel laughed and his eye patch snapped revealing his left eye which had a crosshair design around his pupil. "This battle is already heating up! I'm up against THE Joker now! I have to try...and try I must! Snow White! Joker! Show me your true power!"
Snow White's heart thumped hard and her claymore shined then began to emit purple aura. She bellowed then began to transform into her Awakened Form. Her eyes shined red and her Ace Symbol shined a blood red.
"Let us dance!" Rigel laughed and took aim at the sky the fired three large purple bullets at the sky then dashed toward us.
Snow White dashed toward Rigel and swiftly slashed at him, but he dodged each slash then went for the attack. Snow White dodged him and stomped on the ground then bellowed as she slashed at him. He blocked the attack and grunted. He pinned her shadow to the ground and a barrage of raining bullets crashed down at Snow White.
I dashed toward her and pushed her out of the way then kicked Rigel away. I formed a barrier around myself to block the bullets and laughed. "Now you shall see...what TRUE power looks like!"
I promoted myself to a Queen then the Queen Symbol shined on my chest. I held my hand out toward Snow White then promoted her the a Queen as well. Snow White felt her abilities heighten to new levels and smirked.
Rigel chuckled and smirked at us. He dashed toward us and locked onto me then fired five gray bullets at me. I dodged the bullets and released a repulsive force of energy, blowing the bullets away then noticed them home into me once again.
"You can't escape my Perfect Vision!" Rigel laughed.
He extended his shadow to touch mine and I was trapped. The bullets headed straight toward me, but Snow White threw her claymore, blocking the bullets then warped toward her claymore and slashed at Rigel. He dodged her strike and tried to manipulate the space around Snow White, but nothing happened.
"What..?" Rigel asked in shock.
"What's the matter...? Can't use your abilities anymore..?" I asked and laughed.
"What did you do..?! How is my power not working anymore?!" Rigel asked.
"The power of a Queen...I am at the PEAK of my power. I've adapted to your combat style...I have adapted to my surroundings. I've adapted so well to it, I was able to Nullify your abilities..." I chuckled.
"Telling you my ability doesn't make any difference, because you can't stop it as you aren't and will never be a higher rank than me. Even if you upgrade from a Bishop to a Queen Rank, you can't become a rank higher than a Joker.." I continued.
Snow White walked toward Rigel and her eyes shined. "Leo...is the strongest and although my pride won't let me personally admit that, it is the truth. Denying this fact will only lead into certain death, not that it matters anymore. Finally...I get to kill you..."
I watched Rigel and noticed his smirk. My Preflex activated then I looked up and noticed a second wave of bullets crashing down. I grunted and dashed forward and tackled Snow White out of the way then groaned as an invisible bullet went through my leg. More invisible bullets struck my body then I fell to my knees.
Snow White looked surprised and watched as I fell to my knees. "Leo!"
Rigel spread his demon wings and shadow energy circled his body. "You think you've had me beaten?! Fools! FOOLISH! You can't truly defeat me! You should know this Snow White!"
I grunted softly as I slowly stood up. "Pain..."
Rigel watched as I stood up and grunted. "What the—"
My wounds allowed me to grow stronger and I chuckled. I roared and my body emitted red aura and I became empowered. "You forget I am the Joker! I am a Wild Card and that means I can copy ANYTHING I want!"
'He copied Kaguya's ability and she's not even here...now I can see why Cheshur doesn't like Leo...' Snow White thought to herself.
Rigel fired another bullet at me, but a spatial rift opened and the bullet went inside. Rigel grunted and took a step back. "No...NO! This shouldn't be happening! Just what are you?!"
I walked forward and laughed. "I am the Madness of Wonderland...The Ragnarok that causes Destruction. The entity known for Discord. I...am...Jok—"
I groaned and reverted back to normal then fell to my knees. I panted and held my head. "What the—What happened..?"
"If you would've stayed just a bit longer...you would have lost your way.." Joker said.
Rigel watched me and smirked. He pointed his rifle at me then chuckled. "Well...it seems you have a time limit. Interesting to know..."
Snow White was about to move, but was pinned to her position. She couldn't move anymore. "No! We can't end it like this!"'
I couldn't stand up due to exhaustion and closed my eyes.
"Any last words...Joker..?" Rigel asked and smirked.
"Yeah...Just two..." I said then my clone disappeared.
Rigel looked surprised and noticed magic circle form beneath him then one above him.
"Calamity Discharge!" I roared then struck Rigel with a powerful bolt of dark lightning.
Rigel groaned loudly in pain then my attack ended. He fell to his knees then he disappeared. All that remained was a silver card on the ground. Snow White was free and looked at me in the sky.
"Heh...I love fooling people into letting down their guard." Joker said.
I looked at Snow White and smiled. I nodded at her then she smiled and returned my gesture.
[Challenge Complete: Defeated The Sharpshooter]
[Reward: Wonder EXP +13000]
"In the midst of chaos, a true all seeing eye delivers the best outcome and solution. Time is essence and without essence there is no time to waste..."