A Raccoon Carrying a Gunbai - [Chapter 3]

───────༻𑁍༺────────

ADAM'S POV (aka MADARA)

A few moments later, it was just March, Stelle, and me. Dan Heng had bolted off to find Arlan and get him out of trouble.

(March) : "Ah, it's the Antimatter Legion!" March exclaimed, spotting the familiar enemies creeping closer. "So these crazy jerks made it all the way here... Watch this!"

-With a swift motion, she pulled out her bow, eyes narrowed in focus.

There were three Antimatter Legion: one Baryon and two Voidranger Reapers.

(March) : The arrow struck true and hit the Baryon, causing it to fall and disappeared. "Yes! One down!" March shouted, feeling confident.

(Madara) : "Stelle, you and I both attack. March, keep firing!" I called out as I dashed toward the other two Legionnaires. The adrenaline pumped through me; the thrill of battle was like a rush.

(Stelle) : "Wait for me!" Stelle shouted, trying to keep pace, but she was slower than me.

I faced the Reaper, one of the menacing Legionnaires. It lunged at me with its sharp blade, but I was ready.

With a swift move, I blocked its attack with my Gunbai, feeling the impact reverberate through my arm.

(Madara) : "Get out of my way!" I growled, then activated the Gunbai's ability. A burst of energy shot out, overwhelming the Reaper. It staggered back before collapsing in defeat.

(March) : "Nice move!" March cheered from behind. I could hear the twang of her arrows flying through the air, hitting the last Reaper.

(Stelle) : Stelle finally caught up. "Did you seriously just take that thing down by pushing it?" She asked, a mix of awe and disbelief in her eyes as she bonked the last enemy on the head with her bat, destroying it.

Stelle wiped the sweat from her brow as we surveyed the aftermath of the battle.

(March) : "You both are stronger than you look… Seems to be quite the fighter. And especially you, Madara," she said, grinning with that spark of mischief in her eyes.

(Madara) : "What's that supposed to mean?" I shot back, putting my Gunbai on his back.

(March) : "Just saying—who knew you had that much power packed into those moves? You went full-on Ninja out there! You have such high agility!" March chuckled, nudging Madara with her elbow. "I'm kind of impressed."

(Madara) : I folded my arms, a smirk creeping onto my face. "Thanks for the compliment, but let's focus on the task at hand."

(March) : March bounced on her heels, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Right, right! Let's go!" She shot ahead, practically dragging them along with her energy.

I shook my head, amusement flickering in my chest. It was hard not to smile at her energy; she had a way of making even the most serious missions feel like an adventure.

(March) : She turned around. "Come on, Stelle and Madara! We don't have all day!"

(Madara) : I rolled my eyes but quickened my pace, catching up to her. "If we're going to do this, we need a solid plan. You can't just rush in with all that energy without thinking."

(March) : She laughed, waving him off. "Plans are great and all, but sometimes you just have to dive in! You're too serious, you know that?"

(Madara) : "Seriousness keeps us alive," I replied, raising an eyebrow.

(March) : "Yeah, until you turn into a statue," she teased, sticking her tongue out.

(Madara) : "Alright, fine. A little spontaneity won't hurt… As long as you listen when I say 'stop.'"

(March) : "Deal!" March clasped her hands together.

(Madara) : With a light shake of my head, I couldn't help but follow her lead.

(Madara) : "Just remember," I said, my tone lightening, "if things get dicey, you follow my lead."

(March) : She grinned, looking back at him over her shoulder. "Wouldn't have it any other way!"

With that, they pressed onward into whatever awaited them, the weight of the mission lightened by her optimistic spirit.

As we finally reached the elevator in the central area, I couldn't help but reflect on the chaos we had just navigated.

I effortlessly dealt with the enemies that popped up, mesmerizing both March and Stelle everytime when I do so.

Meanwhile, March was bent over the panel, focusing intently, all wires and blinking lights.

(Stelle) : Stelle stood there, eyeing my Gunbai with a mix of curiosity and hesitation. "Do you think I'd be able to use it?" She asked, her eyes wide with interest.

(Madara) : I chuckled softly, handing the Gunbai to her. "Yeah, you can. It's not that heavy. Just… The force you have to handle might be a different story." She gave me her bat as I saw the way her eyes lit up when she held it, gripping it like she was ready to take on the world.

(Stelle) : She lifted it, wobbling a bit under its weight and testing its balance. "It's definitely cool. I mean, you make it look easy."

(Madara) : I nodded. "Just remember: it's not just about strength. You have to think. Feel the balance. If you rush in without a plan, it's gonna backfire." I wasn't trying to dampen her excitement; I just wanted her to understand how to use it without getting pushed back.

With a thoughtful expression, Stelle adjusted her grip. I could see her mind racing, plotting her next move.

(Stelle) : She was strong, but this was different from what she was used to. "I'll practice. Maybe I'll master it in no time."

(Madara) : I made a small smile. "You will. Just don't expect me to go easy on you when you do."

(March) : "Ah, I knew it..." March exhaled dramatically. The heavy weight of disappointment settled in her bones as she inspected the panel.

(Stelle) : Stelle swung the Gunbai left and right in a playful manner. "It's broken?"

(March) : March shrugged, a hint of defiance in her tone. "But it wasn't me! The Antimatter Legion must've broken it!" She shook her head, the thought of Dan Heng flitting through her mind. "Too bad Dan Heng's not here. He's like a walking encyclopedia. He knows a ton of complicated stuff—maybe even elevator repair..."

(Dan Heng) : Just then, a voice interrupted her. "I don't know that one." Dan Heng appeared as if he'd materialized out of thin air, eyebrows raised in slight confusion.

(Dan Heng) : "Whoa!" March jolted back, surprised. Her eyes widened as she took him in. "Why are you here? And how did you get here before us?"

(Dan Heng) : "I took another route to the upper level and caught sight of you guys from up there," Dan Heng replied to March's question, his tone casual despite the gravity of the situation. "Arlan is in the control room. He's injured, but it's nothing too serious."

(March) : March's eyes lit up at the news. "You found him! Do you think he'll know how to fix this elevator?" She asked, her excitement bubbling through.

(Dan Heng) : He shrugged. "Well, considering he's the head of security, I'd say he should have a pretty good idea. Just… Don't swing that thing around while he's working on the elevator."

(Stelle) : She feigned innocence, trying to hide the Gunbai behind her back. "Me? Never!"

(March) : "Let's go talk to him, then!" March exclaimed, already starting to move.

The urgency in her voice matched the rapid pace of her heart. They needed answers, and fast.

As they stepped into the monitoring room, Arlan looked up from his console, surprise flickering across his features.

(Arlan) : "Hey… You're all together?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

(March) : She grinned. "Yep, we're from the Astral Express~"

(Arlan) : "Oh… Did Madam Herta send you to help?" Arlan replied, looking a bit hopeful.

(Dan Heng) : He shook his head left and right. "It's just a coincidence. We came here to deliver the rare relic Herta trusted us to find… We didn't intend to arrive during an invasion."

After chatting for a while and figuring out the elevator system, it became clear that March had kept the access card which she forgot that she had, much to Dan Heng and Arlan's disappointment.

-Still something is better than nothing.

(Dan Heng) : He crossed his arms, a slight frown tugging at his lips. "So we have to go to the highest floor just to use the elevator?"

(Arlan) : He sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, thanks to our forgetful friend here." He shot a playful glare at March, who was fidgeting with her access card and avoiding eye contact.

(March) : "Hey! It's not my fault it slipped my mind!" March protested, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I thought we could just take any elevator…"

(Dan Heng) : He raised an eyebrow. "Clearly not."

(Arlan) : "Well, at least we know where we need to go now. Let's just get this over with."

(Madara) : I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms as I shot a glance at Arlan. "So, why's the elevator so far away?" I asked, eyebrow raised.

Stelle was swinging my Gunbai back and forth like it was the most natural thing in the world, trying to adapt to its weight.

I didn't mind the noise, though; it kept things lively, and I could use some distraction. (< ADHD be like. - Author.)

(Arlan) : He sighed, putting his hands on his hips, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Because I mustn't give the Legion any chance to reach the master control zone by the elevator. I must ensure the safety of the station's staff." He paused, locking eyes with Madara for a moment, which surprised him because he has never seen such unique eyes before.

(March) : She pouted, her brows furrowing as she crossed her arms. "Huh? You're not coming with us?" She looked at Arlan, her expression a mix of concern and disbelief.

(Arlan) : "My leg is injured... I'd only slow you down. I'll stay here and shut down the elevator once you've made it to the master control zone." He gave a slight nod, trying to sound convincing, but March wasn't buying it.

(Dan Heng) : He stepped closer, folding his arms. "You won't slow us down. And you should be able to shut down the elevators from the master control zone, right?"

(March) : She jumped on the opportunity. "Exactly! Stelle, Madara, and I made it here safely, and now we've also got Dan Heng. We're more than enough to protect you~" She flashed a bright smile, hoping to lighten the mood.

(March) : "Let us worry about the Antimatter Legion. You just follow us and keep yourself alive," she said, trying to sound more confident.

(Stelle) : She raised her thumb while carrying the Gunbai on her shoulder. "You can use me as a crutch!" She said, her voice light even with the weight of danger hanging around them.

(March) : She chuckled, appreciating her help. "Aren't you a nice kid?" She replied, shaking her head in mock disbelief.

He couldn't help but feel grateful for their support—even if he was more of a liability than help.

(Arlan) : "...Thank you," he murmured, not quite sure how to express the weight of his appreciation.

(Madara) : As I walked toward Arlan, a playful smile crept onto my face. "Well, you don't need to worry about your leg injury anymore," I said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

In an instant, Arlan's eyes widened, and his expression shifted from worry to pure disbelief.

I could see him processing the sudden warmth spreading through his body; it was like sunlight breaking through a heavy cloud.

(Arlan) : "What the—" He stammered, testing out his leg. He took a few steps, and the surprise melted into pure joy as he realized he could walk normally again. "You can heal?"

(Stelle) : Stelle, who'd been swinging Gunbai around, immediately perked up. "Whoa! That's amazing!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and I could tell she was already brainstorming ways to test this newfound ability. "Maybe you can sprout wings next!" Okay, I didn't expect that.

(March) : She chuckled, clearly impressed. "Looks like you're not just a liability anymore," she quipped, nudging Arlan with a playful elbow. "You might actually keep up with us now!"

(Dan Heng) : Standing a bit off to the side, he raised an eyebrow. "That's... Impressive," he said coolly, though there was a hint of curiosity in his voice. "But we should be cautious. You should keep your energy for future injuries."

(Arlan) : He was still visibly recovering from the shock. "I—I didn't expect this at all." His face lit up with a mix of astonishment and gratitude as he absorbed the magnitude of what had just happened.

(Madara) : "If you can walk now, we can really get out of here without any problems."

I couldn't help but grin as I witnessed the transformation happening in Arlan.

This was more than a healing moment; it was a turning point. I just hoped I wouldn't regret it when Herta asks me questions.

────────⋆•♡•⋆─────────

[PATCH NOTES v0.1]

1) I'll skip some details from now on. I'll also add Timeskip.

[Author's Note]

• Just to let you know, Healing DOES exist in HSR, but Healing Jutsus are capable of healing physical disabilities. (Not like Arlan has one.)

- ᗜ ˬ ᗜ