[LoweGear]

Warera ga shimei! Warera ga iji! Warera ga chikara!
[Our Duty! Our Will! Our Strength!]

Imakoso! Yaiba to nashite yatsu wo kiru!!
[Now is the time to forge them into a blade and cut them down!]

Originally Posted by Nightengale

UPDATE TIME! Zest vs Isdera Part I.

Spoiler for Side Isdera AFTER Part I-2 : Two Old Knights:

~Side Isdera AFTER I Verse 4 : Futari no Furui Kishi~

Agito’s body levitating moved, in the direction where Zest suddenly ran off to earlier, just as she and him both sensed Lutecia’s presence, and Garyuu’s... She was in trouble. Biting her nails, Agito flew as fast as she could, despite being not as rough and fast as Zest’s extreme burst of speed...

She was extremely worried. If it was any other time, worrying about Danna wouldn’t be so troublesome, but it was only a day ever since his fight with that red knight, Vita. Even though he’s recovered slightly after some sleep and her medicine, he was only at 80%... at best.

As she saw Lutecia tending to Garyuu, she fastened her pace, just as the winds around her roughened, as she looked at the direction Lutecia was staring her worrying eyes into...

Trees being torn apart, a small crater within the center of the bewildering forest of greens in the night, as a small tornado formed itself in the center of that crater, within that small gust of dissipating golden tornado of raw magic by Zest and genuine formed gale of gust by Isdera’s magic...

Even with the deafening sounds of winds playing the the leaves shooting upwards with the spiraling night gale, a sound dwarves that, as Agito saw Zest’s spear and the other knight’s sword smashing against one another...

Isdera felt a pressuring power pushing his sword downwards from the larger, more overwhelming knight in front of him, as holding the sheathe of his sword, he drew it from his side as he slammed the spear sideways...

Stepping his left leg forward, Isdera took that moment, as he held his sword strongly as he leaped forwards, like a fierce tiger towards his prey with an overhead slash...

“Danna!”

Agito’s worrying voice reached, but there was no response... there was no need to, as holding his spear sideways, that slash was parried by the center of the spear’s rod as Zest held on... Isdera’s blade and weight pressed down on him, a gust of wind in both directions fleeting Isdera and Zest... as his legs sunk deeper into the ground, as his grip weakened, feeling his body’s weakened response... His body’s strength was weakening with each second, and in comparison to the young knight in front of him...

All he could do is rely on his experience as a Striker.

As he felt his spear slowly being overwhelmed by the pressure, he quickly let go of his gauntlet arm to hit the sword sideways, as Isdera’s strength was pushed back by the sideway attack from his fist, as the both of them leaped back for their distance...

They looked at each one’s eyes... neither moved for a moment, knowing that it was a decisive moment...

As the tornado continued blowing, creating a ring with them as the center, an unsuspecting leaf flew into the circle from the walls of the typhoon...

It was less than a second. The leaf blocked their eye-contact, but they felt the glint of each other’s eyes behind that wall of green, as the sounds of their weapons was enough proof.

[Explosion.]

A simultaneous sound of loading cartridges, the sound of steam being released in the air, and the clink of metal falling to the ground...

That was the signal.

Rushing forward, each step’s a sound to a closer resonance, a battle’s sonata playing as it started with a thrust, the edges of their blades hitting each other, the sharp peak slamming into one another, the screeching sound of metal grinding one another in molecular levels enhanced, as they put all their strength into it...

Like an repulse of energy, the blades was simultaneously pushed back together, an equal test of power. They slammed their blades again, and soon, that test of strength became a dance of blades.

It was a unorthodox dance of swords. Heavy bladed weapons of Belka, one a double handed sword and another, a heavy polearm spear... were hitting each other with high speed thrust, the masters of those weapons making those weapons look like a parry of rapiers hitting one another at an inhuman speed.

Twirling gust of wind. The old, and the ancient, spear and sword at hand, the knight's bullet fires rapidly.

Each strike closes in to break, with no thought of stopping, each blow fast and precise. Exchange of thrust so fast afterimages felt blurred. The attacks continued for both, raging. That rage is only a repitition, each strike sharp, lacking in power, but not of precision and speed.

Agito's eyes felt tired... 30 times? 50? 100? She couldn't tell... No, I doubt anyone could. It was like trying to count rains with human eyes, as the heavy rains of sword and spear pours, like a waterfall. No... like a vacuum of blades of steel. Like a thrust of light, flying lights of weapons.

"Swish. Clang. Kling. Klang. Clang!"

Steels clanging against one another, clashes like an orchestra, sparks expanding, but without any sense of heat as their battle, was vacuum-like. Amidst an tornado of magic, their exchange only served to increase that rotation, as their battle sucked in the air of surroundings.

It was like a wall telling "come in, and die in pieces."

Over a hundred blows, over and over... yet each time was the same as the last. There was no victor, no loser... just lights of an equal battle, like fireworks...It was...mesmerizing.

Agito and Lutecia could only watch, as the shadows of the 2 knights were enveloped inside that whirlwind of power, a representative of their overwhelming pressure... Agito felt a shiver as she felt a striking sense of nostalgia...

“Where...had I...seen this...before?”

Slowly, she felt the pressure of their surroundings lessened, as the air shrouding them became less and less concentrated, as the gust of wind became centralized on the dual knights.

Everything was coming about. The end of the dance of the blades as the winds of magic played its tune of climax...

A last strike of blades. That was the end just the winds holding their invisible ring was at its limits...

Their bodies unmoved, Isdera’s sword shifted to his left, Zest’s spear to the right, their muscles tensed, as they ended their charade of lancing exchange, as every power drew into this strike... their grips tightened as their eyes focused.

And once again, a sound of loading cartridges.

Which swing of the blade was first, what happened, how it started, Lutecia and Agito didn’t know. All they could see was their cage of gale breaking apart and a flash of light blinding, as they were shot by gust of winds slamming their skin, but holding their position... they waited...as the winds cleared...

Both were standing, but their breathing ragged, clearly exhausted as Isdera stood with his blade held to the ground just as Zest too... held his spear as its weight on the ground supported the old knight. The end of the dance was a draw again...

“COUGH! COUGH!! COUGH!!!”

Red. A puddle of red as one knee dropped to the ground, the other still afoot...

Zest was coughing blood once again, as his body took its toll.

“Danna!”

Agito’s cries of anxiety, worry... as the two knights started at one another... Isdera’s sword was unmoved, but Zest’s eyes did not lose its determination, as Isdera felt a burning passion that did not dwindle within that knight.

Agito, enraged, shot a barrage of fireballs off to Isdera.

“I won’t allow you to harm Danna further!!!”

Lutecia followed suit.

“Inzects.”

Once again, the attacks were futile, as the blades slashed the Inzects and the fireballs apart, dissipating their flames...

“I’ve once faced a knight with a flame akin to yours, Ancient Unison Device... but one more powerful and vivid. Your fire is strong as well, but it is not one which is meant to destroy, but one to support a stronger flame. A flame of a Lord.”

Agito was angered, taking his advice as mockery but she ignored that, as taking advantage of his unresponsive situation, went to tend to Zest, who was already standing up, holding his spear once again, ready to continue his battle.

“Danna, let me help-“

“No, Agito... stand back with Lutecia. I’m sorry, but you won’t be much of a help against him...”

“If that’s the case, then Unison should-“

“That is not good as well... With my body’s current condition, I won’t be able to use your flames effectively. Besides, if we unison now...the next time, I probably cannot...”

“Danna...”

Agito’s concern... to be concerned..that was the only thing she could do.

“Come, Ancient Belkan Knight.” Once again, the knights readied their blades, their battle far from over. Isdera sheathed his sword once again, as he accepted Zest’s nod of the battle, his legs pressing their weights on the ground, ready to draw and attack...

“Belka-Mikami-Ryuu.”

His grip reaffirmed his place on his blade, a single cartridge shooting into the air.

“Yamato! Orochi! ISSEN!”

His blade drawn, a gust of wind shot out from his sheathe of the sword, as small spirals of tornadoes shot itself out in gales of eight, from all fronts, as the eight lashed out towards Zest, like a snake of 8 striking to their prey.

Was it the end of the battle?

~Zest~

Strange... before my eyes, I can see shadows of snakes, trying to destroy me, consume me... The winds hitting my body, I feel the pain rushing through the veins... I suppose it's proof that I am still alive.

I am not afraid of death. I have many regrets in my life, many things I couldn't protect, but in the end, I am but a dead man living on borrowed time, a life that is holding on to the small flame of a dying candle.

However, even for someone like me, I still something I must do. I still have people I must protect their future!

Lutecia... Alphino's daughter.

Alphino. You'll probably hate me... Not only was I a failure as your captain, leading to your death, making your daughter alone... My stupidity dragged your innocent daughter into this mess... There is nothing I can say or do to atone for my past, but all I can do now... is to protect her. Until she can smile, until there are wings that are willing to shelter her loneliness... I must continue this struggle.

Agito...

Countless times I had asked myself... Was it a mistake? Was I wrong to listen to Lutecia's request to take her along? If only she was left there... could she had been picked up by the TSAB? Having a good knight as a Lord, living peacefully and happily, not this ragged life we're struggling through? Or would she be just another victim elsewhere? I don't know... it's impossible to tell.

However, to have many regrets does not mean to live my life pursuing those regrets to my end.

That is why I cannot die. Not yet! Not until I've finished what I should, and end my life not as Failed Relic Weapon Zest... but as Zest Gruntgieze.

WATASHI JISHIN NO SEIGI NO TSURUGI NARI!

Dakara...

[Glänzend Freilassung.] [Full Drive Start.]

"DANNA!!!!!"

This will probably be my last Full Drive.

"Ikuzo...tomo."

[Verstanden.][Understood.]

Part III will be the end of the befriending fight, and Part IV will be... it's resolution so to speak.

This AWESOME duel is almost like a well-choreographed Rurouni Kenshin battle, complete with bullet time

Though why did I suddenly imagine either one of the knights going "nai nai nai nai nai nai nai nai!" in their speed slashing rampage? The relationship between Agito and Zest though continues to impress

Originally Posted by Nightengale

LOL.

I showed my friend (( a better writer than me )) my Saga der Saga yesterday, and you know what was his first comment was through MSN few hours ago?

"Are you sure you didn't rip this off Gurren-Lagann?"

Originally Posted by Nightengale

Well, I can relate to his thoughts.

Spoiler for G-L/Saga der Saga:

Saga : young orphan without family name turned General of Vauxhall Belka Knights
Simon : Digger orphan turned Commander-in-chief/GARlock

Null's A.I : Found in a library, together with Saga for as long they could remember, ending up become his Armed Device's A.I and later the memory core for his Unison Device.
Core Drill : became the essence and physical embodiment of G-L and Simon.
Boota: Together with Simon a long time, from a mole => aide even if for just a while.

Zerstroritter : A diverse bunch of loyal-to-Saga knights, who died in the last stand for his sake.
Gurren-Dan : Similar.

Reinforce/Tiara : Saga's enemy, falling in love with him, married, tragic end.
Nia : Similar, but without the 'final boss' part. And more happy than tragic.

Dream WorldS : Viral's dream + Kamina/Null's intervention combination. Not to mention the whole G-L breaking through the skies was similar to how Saga's wing sprouted in Unison to break the dream world.

Saga vs Signum/Vita = Simon vs Genome. (( not comparably epic of course ))

G-L's Final Cascade : Saga's Cascade through the Diabolic End. He said it felt like the Final Battle + Gurren-Dan's sacrifice combined in one.

Wanderer's End. Only difference is that Simon lives.

Though I agree that G-L isn't about the robots, nor is my piece about the final boss. I'd like to think my story's appeal is more on the Romeo-and-Juliet-ish romance-in-a-war along with it's emotional conflicts and battles that surround it.

Originally Posted by Keroko

*shakes head* I swear, they must be reading this forum...

Anyway, huge mechas wasn't what made Gurren-Lagann epic either. Would you have enjoyed it even half as much without Kamina? Or Simon? Without the unhealthy amounts of GAR and hotblooded courage?

Mecha battles were simply the icing on the cake.

Same logic aplies to Saga, in my humble opinion.

So Gainax also has spies in here from the time SAGA of Saga was completed?

I agree with Keroko though. You can actually recreate Gurren Lagann's EPICNESS without the mecha, since it's the characters who made them so.

Originally Posted by FlameSparkZ

Who knows...

Spoiler for omg...:

Tiriel: *binds Yui and approaches her, whispering in her ear* "**** **** ***, **** *** *****."

The rest is too dangerous to be shown...yet


My thoughts exactly

Originally Posted by FlameSparkZ

EDIT: I should have asked this a long time ago, but...
What is GAR?
*runs*

Originally Posted by LimitedEternal

As I understand it, someone tried to say they'd turn gay for someone and mistyped "gar." And thus the meme started.

Just think of it as the hyperbolic epitome of badass.

*points to Limited Eternal's post for short version*

GAR is basically a 4chan meme describing a person who is the epitome of manliness, often displaying the values of macho hotblood, courage, and overall awesomeness.

Originally though, the term was created when someone tried to type "I'm gay for Archer". Unfortunately, he mistyped, and it became "I'm gar for Archer", and from their the meme mushroomed. Thus the original connotation was that the character was so manly that you could become gay for him Of course, that verb aspect of the meme has long since been replaced by a more objective adjective, which simply describes all super-manly characters as "GAR".

Originally Posted by Tk3997

Yeah my approach to what I watch is pretty haphazard, I tend not to really follow anything besides follow ups to shows I've watched before from the start and instead just wait to see what generates buzz before I try it, helps save me shifting through the real crap. That said Gundam is normally a fairly real robot show, so I'll probably check that out since I like that genre.

Good safe approach there. Although the hazard is that you'll more than likely miss the under-exposed yet just as awesome gems that are overshadowed by the more hyped-up series.

Originally Posted by Tk3997

I don't know what TC-type means... but thanks I think.

I think he means "Tom Clancy" type Yes, you're being compared to the master military writer himself

Originally Posted by Tk3997

I think people sometimes overestimate just how much combat really effects people, it has an effect to be sure, but If anything battle will tend to make people more cynical and sarcastic.

Like in this video.

Spoiler for Soldiers (Foul langauge):

My favorite lines are.
In regards to colored smoke grenades:
“They should throw that stuff at some little kids… with their gas mask on.”

And right after getting hit by a roadside bomb:
“Oh yeah… that was super.”
“I guess we’re done for today.”

XD

After a few years in the frontlines, people really do get blaise to such things... even having an improvised explosive device detonated on them They've been in so many close calls so much that they don't mind anymore. (like reading about Lebanese soldiers who don't even blink even when artillery shells land almost beside them)

Another notable line:

"It's like a gay pride parade out there."

Originally Posted by Tk3997

See me I’ve liked Mecha for a long time, but only in the real robot genre for the most part most super robots never did much for me. Macross, FMP, Patlabor, and Battletech (SOME of the Gundam stuff though it can get nearly as bad as SR at times) that kind of stuff is my bread and butter.

That style kind of carries over into my writing as well world altering duels and big huge bosses and stuff isn’t really my style. A big final battle? Sure, but all the heroes against some 15 story monster with the fate of the world in the balance...? Eh no so much. My style is more subdued and down to earth then fantastical. Like real robot shows do with mecha I tend to treat magic as just another tool, another source of power just like fission or electricity not very romantic, but that’s just how I am. I also shy away from the really whacky stuff like the power of love, song, and crap like that and try to approach magical combat from a tactical or military perspective (again like RR shows) where in one on one duels and the power of love don’t win wars or end conflicts.

That has its advantages and weakness on the one hand it tends to keep my writing from being actively stupid, crackish, or generally off the deep end, but it also can sometimes make it a little bland IMO. I trust myself to do humor, parody, and action pretty well, but any kind of really emotional stuff like serious romance? Na I do it when I need to but I don't feel I do it well and it tends to come out as stiff and overly thought out, like it was written by a psychologist IMO.

Reminds me of the Super Mahou and Real Mahou discussions we had in this thread back then, similar to the difference between Super Robots and Reals You'd be very much in the Real Mahou lane, with the most of us here going the Super Mahou lane

Originally Posted by FlameSparkZ

Meanwhile, here

Spoiler for Jump:

Koji's gonna get glomped Lucky him though, having such a cute Maren going for him

Originally Posted by FlameSparkZ

EDIT:
Heh, just heard the SS03

Spoiler for SS03:

I didn't quite understand what they say but, Zest said something about Number 6 to 12 (not sure if it's up to 12)

Lutecia compares Cinque to Zest.


Track 4 -Cinque did wake up soon after the attack, but she says that she's still 'a mess' and recovering.
Yeah! Fits what I wrote

It seems some of the Numbers, the oldest and Nove are clones, while the others are born from manipulated DNA.
It seems Otto and Deed have the same DNA as base, hence why they're always together

And lol at Nove: "Wherever Cinque-nee is, is where I want to be."
The same goes for Deed about otto.
Wendi, is pretty much with all the sisters included.

And Quattro teases Cinque about being flatchested, KILL QUATTRO!!!
Cinque retalites saying that breasts have nothing to do with what they do (or something like that ).

Quattro takes Cinque for another treatment (getting a new body? )


Track 5 - Zest putting his undead hands on Lutecia!! Kill!!!

lol, it seems it was Lutecia who got Agito her name, because she doesn't remember it.
Only got to Agito in the 37th try
Heh, looks like Agito did their chores

Agito says the same thing Signum says in episode 26 "fushigi to kokoto atatakai" I assume this is proof enough, huh?


Track 6 - Teana mentions Cross Mirage's Mode 3, it seems it's a mode for long range attacks (rifle? )
Teana goes tsun-tsun on Subaru XD

Track 7 - Futari no Tsubasa, nice song

Track 8 - Rein speaks of a dream, where she is Rein I

Track 10 - Yuuno theorizes that according to the prophecy, there's high chance the Cradle will be involved.

Track 11 - Rein asks Vita about the first Reinforce.

Track 13 - Nanoha and Fate talking about their Limit Break and how dangerous it is

Track 14 - Then Fate meets up with Erio and Caro, and Caro explains about her Boots and Cartrige boosts, and the dangers of magic overload.

Track 15 - NanohaxYuuno WIN!

Track 17 - Rein dreams again.
A memory/dream when Hayate was younger is shown to her, and Reinforce I is with them?
It seems the original Reinforce left a message for the next Reinforce.

Track 19 - Rein singing =

Looking forward to Sound Stage 04

Shame I have to rely on translations to appreciate the Sound Stages... but those parts with the Numbers look like lots of WINRAR

Originally Posted by USB500

How old is Irui in the first place?

Sure, go ahead.

Not sure exactly... but I guess she's at least older than many of the other OG characters, considering her nature

Originally Posted by USB500

Time for reposts, I guess.

Spoiler for length:

JACKSON ARMSTRONG

Nickname: Grandpa; Wind Talker; Child of Thunder; Sword That Cleaves Evil
Age: 55
Birthday: 22nd July
Hair colour: dark grey
Eye colour: sapphire
Height: 188cm
Weight: 82kg
Affiliation: TSAB
Position / rank in TSAB: General Inspector (retired); Wind Talker (active).
Home world: Earth (nationality: American)
Device: Forneus
Device type: Intelligent Device
Device appearance: halberd; Colossal Sword
Magic system: Mid-Childa
Magic element: lightning
Magic symbol: circle
Magic colour: dark grey
Partner: Leonidas, Annabelle
Appearance: Armstrong is never seen without his Barrier Jacket for the most of time.
Personality: a caring, understanding old man, General Armstrong always resorts to diplomacy as a mean to solve problems; only when everything else fails will he use full strength (although he seldom does so prior to his retirement). As a father, he cares of whoever he treats as his own children, adoptive or blood-related.
Style: in his younger years, Armstrong was among the few Aces whose technique could counter-balance Belkan magic system. His expertise in lightning-based magic gave him the moniker “Child of Thunder”, and he was respected by friends and foes whenever he went.
In his earlier years, Armstrong was known as “Sword That Cleaves Evil” due to his extensive swordsmanship and philosophical beliefs that all evils would have to be smitten with Forneus in Colossal Blade form. It was also his preferred method to finish off enemies, particularly AMF robots that were abound during the era.
Possible voice actor: Kenichi Ono (Sanger Zonvolt, Super Robot Wars Original Generations)
Quote:

• “Waga na wa Jackson Armstrong. Aku o tatsu tsurugi nari!”
• “Forneus, KENZAN!”

His ID:

BACKGROUND

Armstrong has an interesting background. His grandfather was America’s leading multi-linguist and cryptographer, who had spent his entire life studying the languages of the Native American tribes, especially the Navajo tribe. Both his father and mother were archaeologists and had studied various cultures worldwide, and they were famous for their studies on Mayan and Incas civilizations.

Back in the 1950s when the Cold Was starting to heat up, Armstrong and his family move to Egypt as his father becomes the vice curator of the Cairo Archaeological Museum. His interest in archaeological and studies leads him to local archaeological expeditions around Egypt but the turmoil in the Middle East becomes an obstacle for his inspiring dream. Unable to continue his outdoor activities, Armstrong spends his time in scientific studies of language, learning languages of the Middle East (Arabic, Persian, and Hebrew); he becomes the youngest person to sit the chair of National American Linguistic Society’s vice-president chair. His passion for cultural studies makes him leaving the position and he takes himself in a world tour, studying and analyzing every culture he comes across.

Armstrong’s involvement with the Time-Space Administrative Bureau becomes apparent when he is selected by a group of TSAB officers who is seeking for translator for their field studies in Navajo culture. Due to his talent, Armstrong becomes popular among space travellers who wish to study Terran cultures; incidentally the Navajo people recognize his role (they had an established relationship with his family for 125 years) and even give him the moniker “Wind Talker”.

On his 15th birthday Armstrong joins TSAB and appointed to the bureau’s cryptography division, at the time working under the Infinite Library (40 years later, he remains the bureau’s longest-serving officer). His natural-born talents as both linguist and code talker leads him to the bureau’s first extensive cultural studies programme; moreover, Armstrong is found to be a proficient learner, being able to gain knowledge of languages from all known administered worlds and perfecting his linguistic skills in short time. Today, he remains the only TSAB officer with knowledge of over 100 spoken languages.

Armstrong’s potency as a mage was, however, previously unknown even after his enlistment in the TSAB as a 1st Lieutenant (he admits during an interview with Space Magazine that he became aware of his power five years after the admission). Even so, he displayed amazing magic prowess and his traits as a mage became apparent during an archaeological expedition to Narulia (42nd Administered World) when he single-handedly defended the expedition’s base camp from Narulian local tribe, although it was his diplomatic skill rather than brute force that saved the day.

After returning to the TSAB with success (the expedition had unearthed archaeological data on the planet’s lost dynasty known as the Chronomancer; it is safe to assume that Chronomancer and, later, Chronograph, would later become Armstrong’s lifetime obsession), Armstrong undertook the bureau’s evaluation tests and passed with flying colours. He was also trusted by the admirals to take over the administration of the cryptography division, and was responsible for assigning the designation 271st Special Operation Unit to the division. Later on, together with five original members from the Navajo tribe that formed The Windtalkers, Armstrong travels across all administered worlds on mission to search and recruit as many members from different planetary cultures as he can; his aim is to have his division a distinctive multicultural identity eliminate cultural difference obvious among the bureau’s officers at the time. (Today, 271st Special Operation Unit is still accepting applications from would-be Windtalkers.)

Armstrong’s major challenge as a Wind Talker comes after he achieves success in decoding Narulia’s secret language of the Minamikaze Tribe and studying the Lost Logia his team had unearthed from Narulia’s archaeology sites 20 years earlier. He learns of the tragic tale of Bayu and Nagalintar, and the enigmatic myths behind the planet’s long-lost Chronomancer Dynasty. His investigations lead him into the encounter with the young Hikki Kokurabuji, whom he finds to inherit the bloodlines of Minamikaze and Chronomancer. He puts his cultural studies on hold as to concentrate on observing the boy, and even establishes the bureau’s auxiliary unit (which later becomes Bougainvillea Brigade) to help him with the investigation. He is the first person to unlock the dynasty’s closely-guarded secret, as he points to the fact that Chronomancer Dynasty was the expert in Time-manipulating magic.

After Hikki leaves Bougainvillea Brigade, Armstrong mobilizes his division into full force and sets them on the mission to persuade Hikki to join the bureau. He even discovers some disturbing aspects about the young monk (namely, his Linker Core) and because of this he mobilizes his task force in haste, fearing that each second wasted will only lead to the boy’s untimely demise.

When the task force is engaged in battle with the berserk Hikki, who is under control of the Lost Logia (Unison Device Halcyon), Armstrong enters the battle and assists the TSAB Aces; he is motivated by the loss of his son who died in a rockslide in Switzerland, and Hikki strongly resembles him in term of determination. Although never actually involved in the duel between the Aces and Halcyon, he himself provides valuable information on the Unison Device.

After successfully ending the Chronomancer Crisis with the help of Lost Property Riot Force 6, Armstrong retires from service and appoints Hikki, now a Tactical Instructor, as his successor. He returns to his hometown in Arizona and lives with his Navajo family. The retirement is temporary, however, as the TSAB still seeks for his service, and Armstrong agrees to return to the bureau as senior advisor.

Armstrong is married to Maria Gato, Spain’s leading linguist and blessed with two children from the marriage. His oldest son, Alexander Gato, unfortunately died when a rockslide in Swiss countryside struck his family-in-law’s mansion; his daughter, Annabelle, was the only survivor in the natural disaster that also destroyed the entire village, and was adopted by Armstrong soon after.

POWER

Armstrong is a lightning mage and uses lightning-based magic in long- and medium-range combats. He is unique for being the only known mage to have perfected the “device-free” technique; it refers to the ability to cast spells without the aids of Devices in any and all circumstances.

As a combat-hardened veteran, Armstrong has been known to fight mages and knights with all kinds of magic systems. Even in his golden years, his strength is comparable to that of Nanoha, Fate and Hayate, currently the TSAB’s strongest aces; prior to events in StrikerS he frequently fights them in mock-up battle. Although he is classified as an AAA+-rank mage, Armstrong’s actual strength is kept confidential for security reason.

There are circulating rumours that Armstrong’s strength exceeds the three Aces’ power level. Given his experience in battlefield, and his excellence as lightning mage, it may have basis. Furthermore, his reputation in his earlier years as “The Sword That Smites Evil” further strengthens the rumour, although he personally admits his power is nothing.

Armstrong’s Intelligent Device is Forneus. It takes the form of a halberd (when deployed from Sealed Form), and has ribbons tied under its pointed blades. Forneus has female voice, speaks in English and addresses him as “sir”.

• Sealed Form: Forneus assumes the form of a locket.
• Open the Seal: Armstrong’s incantation to activate Forneus, and usually his Barrier Jacket is activated as well. The transformation was intended to be performed with long phrases, but Armstrong saw it unnecessary and replaced it with his own chant. His trademark quote is “DaiForneus, Kenzan!”
• Invoke Form: Forneus takes the distinguishable form of a halberd. It is used for firing projectiles/energy beams (Bombardier Mode) and in melee combats (Striker Mode).
• Limiter Release: this is Armstrong’s command to unlock Forneus’ Overdrive Form.
• Overdrive Form: Forneus’ strongest and most powerful form.
• Jewel Seed Seal: used to seal the Jewel Seeds so they will not fuse with anything. Armstrong uses this ability many times throughout his archaeological expeditions.
• Area Search: this ability extends Armstrong’s magical inner-senses, helping him to find anomalies in an area.
• Colossal Sword: even more powerful than Overdrive Form, it was accessible during Armstrong’s golden years as The Sword That Smites Evil.

DEFENSIVE ABILITIES

• Barrier Jacket: Armstrong’s Jacket is a dark grey/red knight-styled dress, with black armoured gloves and armoured boots. It hasn’t changed much for 30 years.
• Thunder Dome: Armstrong’s first spell, and Forneus’ auto-guard magic. It can guard in every direction but is easily penetrable.
• Round Shield: a powerful shield that can endure a prolonged attack. Unlike other barrier-type spells, it can only guard from one direction.
• Thunder Feather: this ability grants Armstrong with the ability to fly and it increases his speed. If Thunder Feather is used in conjunction with a melee attack, the resulting explosion is technically called a Thunder Impact.
• Reactive Blow: it refers to the ability to nullify an attack by detonating the outer layer of Barrier Jacket.
• Lightning Bind: a strong binding-type magic that prevents target from moving.
• Bind Break: this ability, when used, attempts to deactivate a binding spell, and the time required to perform this depends on the complexity of the target magic.
• Frequency Discharge: this ability has the properties of jamming a device, therefore preventing opponents from using their abilities. This is one of the two abilities that do not require a Device (Sacred Edge is the second ability).
• **Plasma Wall: accessible only through Overdrive From, Armstrong first recycles all residue magic and combines it with any available magic stored in Forneus. Then he unleashes the compressed energy to form an electrified barrier that can be used to encage a target or protect friendly units.

OFFENSIVE ABILITIES

• Crescent Slash: Armstrong’s melee attack, consisting of a lightning crescent blade fired from Forneus in Striker Mode. It has the power to neutralize other projectiles, and the blade itself can be thrown.
• Crescent Scythe: this ability enhances Crescent Slash to penetrate barrier-type magic.
• Stun Edge: Armstrong’s basic ranged attack, fired from a small collection of lightning spheres. It is fast and can turn on command should it miss.
• Sacred Edge: a variation of Stun Edge, this spell stockpiles several spheres and unleashes a huge lightning arrow at target. Armstrong can perform this attack without Forneus’ aid, and its short execution time makes it almost impossible to predict.
• Voltage Shooter: Armstrong’s siege-type attack, analogous to Nanoha’s Divine Buster and Fate’s Thunder Smasher.
• Plasma Storm: this is Armstrong’s area-of-affect thunderstorm and has the properties of jamming other Devices.
• **Dragon Hammer: accessible only in Overdrive Form, this ability is designed to destroy force fields, binding magic spells (in case Bind Break fails), illusions and barriers. This is the strongest melee next to Divine Voltage Infinite Razor.
• **Heavenly Judgment: a stronger variation of Plasma Storm where thunderstorms are summoned and commanded to strike at all opponents in target areas. It is accessible only after Forneus’ Overdrive Form is unlocked.
• **Ride the Lightning: Armstrong braces himself and charges at opponent in lightning sphere, leaving electrical residue behind in trails. Then he collides with the opponent and leaves him/her stunned in vicious electric circuits. On some occasions, Ride the Lightning also serves as reactive protection spell.
• **Divine Voltage: the most powerful “Breaker”-type ability so far, on par with Nanoha’s Starlight Breaker Exceed, Fate’s Plasma Zamber, Hayate’s Ragnarok and Hikki’s Squall Breaker Unlimited Discharge. This ability requires the collection and recycling of residual magical energy left over by previous attacks in combat airspace for a new attack. Overdrive Forneus assumes the shape of a gigantic thunder blade many times its original size, analogous to Fate’s Bardiche Assault in its Zamber Form. There are two attack modes of Divine Voltage:

• Infinite Razor: Armstrong strikes the extended “sword of light” onto any target regardless of its distance.
• Thunderbird: Overdrive Forneus shoots overcharged lightning bolt onto target.

COLOSSAL SWORD

This form was only available during the “Aku o Tatsu Tsurugi” saga when Armstrong, along with a colleague named Maxim, was assigned to the non-administered world Excelia following a rebel uprising. It was thought that Colossal Blade Forneus bore many similarities to the legendary Zankantou, possessed by the strongest knight in the history of the Belkan Empire, and added with the fact that many of the attacks mirrored the legendary knight’s.

Divine Voltage, Colossal Burst of Heavenly Cloud
Armstrong uses the Forneus in its base form with a swift swipe in the air that creates a strong wind to cut the enemy.

Divine Voltage, Spinning Blade of Evening Sky
Armstrong uses the plasma generator to enlarge the Forneus into a larger katana-like blade, which is then swung as if it were a boomerang.

Divine Voltage, Rising Thunder of Destiny
Armstrong enlarges the Forneus into a large broadsword. He, then, uses it to perform a series of slashes before ends it with a clean, vertical cut.

Divine Voltage, Blade of a Shining Cloud
Also known as Colossal Storm, Armstrong enlarges the Forneus to such a point that it’s almost too large for his arms to even handle. He lifts the weapon high overhead and proceeds to take to the sky. Then he drops down with a single bisecting slash as a finishing blade.

Divine Voltage, Infinite Hurricane Blade
A variation of Infinite Razor & Ride the Lightning, this attack is available only after Maxim agrees to assist him in battle. Maxim activates Trombe and transforms it into Pferde Mode, allowing Armstrong to ride on it (Maxim himself fuses with the Device during the sequence). Riding towards the enemy as a samurai on horseback, Armstrong then strikes with Forneus in high-speed horizontal slash, dragging it across the battlefield. Then he spins Forneus very rapidly to generate a whirlwind that carries the bisected enemy up into the air before adding a final horizontal slash upon the enemy. This combination attack is very flashy, often borderline-ridiculous but very powerful.

Why am I doing this? It's because for Diary of Wind Talker's Halloween Special, our main star is going to be the Gentleman himself!

Nice repost, along with some added information... but wait a minute...

Did you just read my mind on Maxim there?!?!?!?!?!?! Your description of his unison with his device is spot-on to what I'm actually thinking

And... that Legendary Knight wielding the Zankantou on which Forneus was derived wouldn't happen to look like this would it?

Spoiler for Final Drive:

Originally Posted by Dream_Traveller

Also, about that idea I mentioned earlier, if Kamina were ever to meet the Numbers...

Spoiler for Eheh...:

The conglomeration of cyborgs stared in incredulity at the blue-haired, tattooed man in front of them. He was holding a sword by his side in a gesture of defiance, and wore a devilish grin on his face, his eyes obscured by stylized glasses.

Confused by the mere appearance of the figure, a pall of silence fell over the opposing sides before Nove took a step forward and snarled.

"Who the hell are you?"

The man's grin widened, and he responded with a bellow.

"OioioiOIOIOI! You all sure have guts, don't ya! Breaking and entering, causing a ruckus, and now you have the audacity to ask for my name!" His tone was filled to the brim with pride and determination. "Very well! Listen carefully now, for if not, you may regret it!"

He raised his right hand, pointing his blade at the group of female warriors before him. "I am one who will pierce the heavens themselves!", he cried. "A man with a strong soul and back, ah, a tenacious demon!"

His phrases were still filled with the same determination, being uttered by him in increasingly loud shouts. All the while, the Numbers shared puzzled glances with one another, just wondering who this crazy person was.

Suddenly, he assumed a combat stance, still smirking, and said to the cyborgs:

"I...am the Divine Lord!

KAMINA-SAMA!"

This is random indeed...



*Runs.*

LORD KAMINA IS ALIVE!!!!

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

Quote for truth on Akeno




YOUR LORD KAOS COMMANDS YOU TO THINK DIRTY!!!!

Spoiler for Winning Image:

...If ever I needed more convincing to watch Seto no Hanayome