Work Text:
Fair fight
Empty, silent, lifeless, yet the atmosphere was turbulent and nauseating.
Tyrant Zero was very familiar with this place. Better to say he has gotten used to it.
A pitch-black darkness enveloped the area. A faint red light flickered, mingled with the faint scent of rust and the breath of Deus Machina in the air. A bone-chilling cold gripped the pale white armor, intricately engraved with crimson patterns. His frame remembered every detail, even though he himself could not maintain his consciousness.
Immense destructive power was sealed away. Though not bound, he could not move as he wished. The name, signifying greatness, “tyrant,” had become something merely a label, a meaningless inscription he didn't even care about.
What does a name matter if it's meant to be imprisoned in the depths of this abyss?
What purpose does existence serve if his freedom is restricted?
Does God love everyone equally? What a cruel irony.
Perhaps because Deus Machina loves everyone equally that it hasn't gotten rid of him yet.
The longer Deus Machina bound him to the other's beloved world, the more the vengeful hatred flowing within this frame grew.
Turning every act of patience into a curse.
Transform every lament into hatred.
Changed every sound in his trance to leaving only memories of torment.
You have bound me to this world.
You have bound me to the world you created.
Imprison me in eternal sorrow.
Seal me away until I lose my very being.
Abandoned me to my slumber in selfishness.
And you still expect me to forgive you?
How could I do?
You don't want me to get angry at all?
Do I have no right to hate you?
Behold, both you and everything you have created.
I will destroy it completely, leaving not even a trace.
.
..
...
“..w…”
….
“...wake..”
......
“Wake up, Zero.”
The bullet train’s red optics opened almost instantly at the sound of the resonant voice calling out to him, awakening his consciousness to full functionality. The resentment that had been buried in the dark trance of his processor moments ago seemed to vanish. He flicked his optics slightly to adjust the sensors to receive the soft sunlight shining through the train’s front grille.
The chirping of birds and the sound of the sea breeze against his voice receptor created an unsettling feeling—not because it was annoying, but because of its unfamiliarity. Tyrant Zero couldn’t even remember the last time he felt the presence of life around him, or perhaps that day never existed in the first place.
The azure sky, tinged with golden streaks of dawn, was dotted with white clouds, providing a backdrop to the lush green foliage of the forest that surrounded them, shielding them from human view. On the other side, a pristine white sand beach was covered with gently rippling waves, the horizon cutting across the blue ocean. This serene natural scene evoked a turbulent feeling within him.
Tyrant Zero once again shut his optics, shaking off the unease that was beginning to spread in his chest.
He don't like it.
Both a feeling of tightness in the chest and a dull ache in the head.
At least he’s free now.
“I didn't expect you to be a sleepy bot.”
Tyrant Zero opened his eyes again. His red optics narrowed slightly. The first thing he saw was a pale, almost translucent face adorned with wing-like appendages on either side of its voice receiver. Those blue optics were as clear as the sea, yet as cold as ice crystals—beautiful and ferocious, as if inviting a gaze but ready to sever a neck if one were careless. He stared at him as if scrutinizing something he couldn’t understand.
Savannard was like looking at him as a machine that he wanted to take apart every single part to examine it thoroughly and satisfy his curiosity.
Tyrant Zero was accustomed to nervous, apprehensive, and fearful gazes. Every bots should see him as a menace and a creeping catastrophe. Anything but those eyes of interest and admiration. No one should look at him like that at all.
What a strange person.
“...The magnetic field here is making me dizzy. My system must not be used on this planet.” To say it was actually causing his system to be chaotic. Things had been bad ever since he was suddenly awakened from his long slumber. Tyrant Zero initially thought his system would adapt to his usual usage habits, but he was terribly mistaken.
Traveling here at the speed of light forced him to enter a prolonged state of deep recharge to rest his systems from excessive use. While he no longer has to be in a state of constant stillness like hibernation, he still cannot move freely.
That's why he needs allies.
“Hmm, the magnetic field here is just as intense as on Machina. Probably because it’s a planet capable of giving birth to life,” Savannard agreed with that statement, although he held some skepticism about Tyrant Zero’s words. He didn’t question him further, simply listening and processing the information. After a moment, he asked, “You weren’t injured during the journey, were you?”
Tyrant Zero dimmed his optics. “...?”
“You seem to be recovering unusually slowly considering the time it's taking,” Savannard said in a calm and straightforward tone. The silver bot’s expression and demeanor remained unchanged, as if discussing the weather, yet there was a hint of concern that confused Tyrant Zero. “From what I can see externally, I don't see any damage to you. I assumed there might be something wrong with you internally. If we don't fix it now, it could become a long-term problem.”
Tyrant Zero had only just noticed that the other bot was kneeling on one knee to speak to him, and that hand...
When did it get placed on him? No, how could Savannard be this close and he's not feeling anything strange?
Tyrant Zero let out a low chuckle. “I'm just old.”
Seeing Savannard frown his optics in confusion, he continued.
“Don’t worry, there's no big damage. No need to pay attention.” Tyrant Zero was unfazed by his system at the moment. He knew his own frame better than anyone. It might not be functioning at its full potential yet, but after this, destroying an entire forest would be as easy as snapping his fingers. “I just need time.”
“Those cardbots, including the Star Guardians, are busy dealing with a Wildbot. I’ve fought plenty of Wildbots, but I’ve never seen this one before. If my eyes aren’t mistaken, it looks like a dragon, just like you,” Savannard said calmly, recalling the information he had gathered. His blue optics glanced down at Tyrant Zero again. “You have more than enough time.”
Tyrant Zero snorted after listening to it.
A dragon? There's only one dragon on Machina, and that's him.
The rest, if it's not because Machina is playing a prank, then it's probably because some insane person is looking for trouble.
“Anything else I need to know?”
“Right now, the group of star guardians, the wildbots, consists of six members, not counting the other cardbots scattered across this planet. Most importantly, there’s the human child with the Metal Breath; that’s likely their heart,” Savannard raised his hand to shield their armour from the sunlight. “We shouldn’t act rashly.”
The warm, humid sea air of this planet almost made Tyrant Zero feel disgusted. He wasn't used to it at all, neither the heat nor the blinding light that was now piercing his optics.
However, the bot that woke him up didn't seem to think so.
Savannard glanced up at the sunlight. His blue optics gleamed with childlike satisfaction and excitement, as if his armor could photosynthesize for energy like the green organic matter of Earth. “Soon, the vehicles on this planet will be operational. Let's get out of the way. I don't want to draw attention to ourselves.”
Savannard probably meant the owner of the railroad tracks beneath his wheels.
The White Armor Tyrant didn't even care. He wasn't here to befriend anyone in the first place. The sooner he ignited chaos, the sooner his desires would be fulfilled, and remaining passive now was like prolonging the illness.
An incurable fever.
“Van'er, you've misunderstood something.”
“What do you mean by ‘something’?” Savannard shifted his optics back to meet his gaze, his crimson palm resting on the bullet train’s white armor as if it were an automatic reaction.
Tyrant Zero glanced at Savannard’s hand, unable to understand why the younger bots were so easy to touch.
He was too lazy to care. The touch wasn't bad. “I didn't come here to play. I don't care if anyone sees me or not. If my presence strikes fear into them, then so be it.”
Tyrant Zero’s voice was flat, deep, and chilling; he wasn't joking.
Initially, Tyrant Zero had no intention of interacting with any bots on this planet. He had no intention of compromising and no desire to get involved with anyone. The only thing on his mind was hunting down whoever possessed the last artifact of Deus Machina and destroying it completely, ending this vicious cycle once and for all. Any bot that got in his way would be sent to the god they loved so dearly, especially that tiny star that his mother planet had carefully nurtured while he was slumber.
But Savannard was just... different.
If anyone approached him, he would instinctively know, like a bot with highly sensitive security sensors. However, the presence of the silver warrior in front of him went undetected by his sensors.
It was as if the Savannard had simply blended into its surrounding nature.
It's strange, interesting, and wondrous.
“I knew,” Savannard glanced at Tyrant Zero for a moment before his gaze shifted to the azure water reflecting the morning sun. White foam gently lapping against the shore. “I’m not exactly happy to see the cardbots and those humans either.”
Tyrant Zero raised an eyebrow slightly, just slightly. His optics were still as cold as ever, but the silence that hung in the air clearly indicated that he was listening.
“I like this world.” Savannard’s red fingertips pressed lightly against the white armor, soft and deliberate. He traced his fingertips along the red and black patterns lingeringly, just enough for a catching breath to be heard, before withdrawing his hand. If it weren't a face mask, a slight smile from the silver warrior would have been visible. “The nature of this planet may not be quite the same as Machina, but the energy field here is almost identical. I feel peaceful when I'm here, but I dislike the chaos that the creatures on this planet create.”
Tyrant Zero didn't say anything.
“I bet if your plan succeeds, this place will be leveled to the ground.” Savannard's blue optics sharpened as he met the red optics.
“If you’re well-mannered enough, try persuading them to submit, Van’er,” Tyrant Zero almost sneered at the sight of those fierce, warrior eyes. “Although that doesn’t mean I won’t destroy this place. I’m better at wreaking havoc than maintaining it, especially not trying to preserve something alive.”
“I will stand by you until those cardbots are all subdued,” Savannard interrupted calmly, unafraid of Tyrant Zero’s implied meaning. He understood perfectly without needing to think twice. His composed demeanor, befitting his warrior reputation, remained unwavering even in the face of a tyrant. “As for after that, I will decide what to do with you.”
Tyrant Zero smirked the moment he heard that sentence in its entirety.
In any case, he's a wildbot.
And wildbots always enjoy straightforward, audacious challenges like this.
Would herbivores really want to oppress such a mythical creature? If Tyrant Zero didn't see this as a rare and uplifting event, then what else could he see it as?
Fair enough, he would wait and see how the imposing warrior before him would fare when defeated by him.
วาบ!
Savannard paused briefly upon seeing a streak of light on the bullet train ahead. It was a sign of transformation back into its robot form. He frowned slightly, having just reprimanded the other bot for revealing itself, but a part of him knew he couldn’t stop a bot as stubborn and willful as Tyrant Zero. The warrior bot took a small step back to get out of the other’s transformation radius.
Savannard isn’t a small bot; his height is more than enough to rival other top-tier, large bots.
Even so, the shadow of Tyrant Zero still loomed over on his silver armor.
The tyrant’s leaning forward was like a warning signal to Savannard that his interlocutor was not yet beginning to wage war against him. But whenever that thought came, Tyrant Zero would be nothing like the others opponents he had previously dealt with.
Although, Savannard doesn’t believe that a bot this powerful has no weaknesses.
กึก
A hand, like a claw, cupped Savannard’s chin, tilting his face up to meet those ruby gleaming optics. “A warrior with nothing to protect, what can he be but an ordinary bot? Choose wisely, Van'er. You still have a chance.”
The pair of crimson optics flashed sharp in response to the words.
“And you do know this opportunity won’t last forever.”
Savannard didn't try to swat away the hand. He didn’t avert his gaze from those sharp, dagger-like eyes. Instead, he faced them directly, meeting Tyrant Zero’s gaze with a cold stare. A feeling of an invisible hand squeezing his heart began to spread through his chest as he saw the deep emotion in those optics—possessiveness, a desire to own, and a profound longing. The bot before him didn't even try to hide those aura.
Savannard simply smiled and turned his face away.
“A warrior who protects a tyrant is no different from a rebel.”
“Once Metal Breath is destroyed, no one will be able to set the rules of this world anymore,” Tyrant Zero traced his finger along Savannard white cheekplate. “Anyone who dares to brand you, I will destroy them.”
หมับ
Savannard raised his hand and grasped Tyrant Zero’s wrist, not tightly or forcefully, but loosely, more like a caress than a grip. “I have my own beliefs, too. Seeing you act as you please like this displeases me.”
“How endearing,” Tyrant Zero said softly. “I happen to have no morals to uphold.”
The further distance between them decreased, causing Savannard to pause.
“Nothing in this world is permanent. You cling to things that don’t exist, one day you'll ask yourself what you did all that for. Besides…” A low, hoarse whisper clearly against Savannard's voice receptor. “If what you cling to so much were truly important, you wouldn't have associated with a bot like me in the first place. I see it in your optics, Van'er. What do you want from me?”
Of course, a powerful weapon.
Savannard didn't consider himself inferior to anyone in terms of potential, intelligence, and abilities, including the three weapon cards that were his secret weapons. However, ever since encountering Tyrant Zero, the mysterious dragon bot of unknown origin, his curiosity had only grown. Tyrant Zero’s mechanisms were unlike any bot he had ever encountered; his parts seemed tough and durable, and his intense energy was captivating, not to mention his striking appearance.
And all of that was a compliment.
Asking what he wants from Tyrant Zero?
Savannard replied without even thinking, “I want you (the weapon).”
Tyrant Zero froze. His red optics widened. His fingertips, which had been tracing the white face mask, stiffened instantly. He hadn't even anticipated that answer.
He didn't expect it to come out from Savannard so bluntly like this at all.
“...What did you say?”
“I told you I want you,” Savannard shifted his hand to cover Tyrant Zero’s hand, his fingertips tracing the sharp steel surface before deliberately intertwining their hands under the anxious gaze of the tyrant before him.
Just as Tyrant Zero was about to pull his hand back in panic, Savannard grabbed his hand firmly instead.
“Don’t be so shy. My tribe likes straightforwardness. They say what they like and what they’re interested in. So, I’m not good at putting on airs and being formal like you. I’m not criticizing you, though,” Savannard said in the same tone, but the optics gleamed in a way that further unsettled Tyrant Zero. “As an ally, I expect you to do the same.”
“...Does your tribe usually do things like this?”
“Doing what exactly?”
“Touching”
“Yes, because it's a way of showing love and closeness.” Savannard squeezed Tyrant Zero’s hand gently. “A show of trust.”
Tyrant Zero understands nothing.
After a moment of silence, stunned and speechless, Tyrant Zero sighed. “Alright... if that’s what you say.”
Savannard simply watched his embarrassed expression with satisfaction.
His fourth weapon card is so cute.
END