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Add watched from the sidelines as Chung tossed the Shadow Walker up in the air, juggling it with a barrage of shots from his cannon. It was dead before it hit the ground.

The Tactical Trooper raced forward, and Add followed silently. So far, Add had watched Chung defeat the usual mobs and a hammer-wielding knight in the search for his father, who had appeared briefly then run away. Chung had no idea that the Mastermind was following him, and Add wanted to keep it that way.

The door ahead didn't open, and Chung's shoulders heaved in a sigh. Add turned around, searching for any monsters that Chung might have missed, and spotted a not-quite-dead Shadow Linker.

“Trash,” Add muttered, and his Dynamos flew downward into an attacking position.

One kick from Add later, the Linker was dead, and Chung was racing onwards. Add jumped onto his Dynamos and quickly followed, still sticking to the shadows.

The next passage was cleared quickly, there being no real challenges. Chung's artillery quickly wiped out the demons that blocked his way, while Add quietly ran cleanup. This went on for a couple more hallways, until Chung raced into a circular room that seemed like a dead end. A gigantic empty robe stood in the middle of the room.

Add slipped in behind Chung, hovering far above the Tactical Trooper's head and watching as the robe came to life. Is this another one of those trial guardians?

Chung yelled, firing a shot up into the air and signaling numerous rockets to rain on the guardian. He then raced in to attack, swinging his cannon with ease.

Add settled down to watch, becoming more and more tense as the fight wore on. The two seemed to be evenly matched at first, but the guardian slowly started overcoming Chung's cannon blasts with spikes of dark blue magic. Chung was repeatedly thrown back, doing less and less damage to the guardian.

Finally, as Chung attempted (and failed) to struggle to his feet one last time, Add couldn't take it anymore. Someone he cared about – even if that someone was as foolish as Chung – was not going to get hurt while he could do something about it. He stepped out from the shadows, summoning his drone factory.

“Shooting Chaser!”

Immediately, the four drones latched onto the guardian, leeching its health. Add's Dynamo flew towards Chung, nudging and shoving the Tactical Trooper towards their master.

Chung stumbled when he was nearly in front of Add, but the Dynamo caught him. Then Add was helping him, coaxing the blond boy away from the magic-wielding guardian.

Chung blinked up at Add blearily. “Aah.... Add.....”

“Shut up,” Add told him sternly, and dug out a complete recovery potion. He handed the small bottle to Chung, who stared uncomprehendingly at it.

“Add....”

“Drink it, fool,” Add snapped as the drones attached to the guardian folded up and disappeared. The guardian immediately floated toward Add, who shoved Chung behind him and prepared to fight.

The guardian created a sphere of magic, sending it floating at Add. Add easily evaded it, dispelling Shooting Chaser and summoning Ultimate Fury.

The three drones of Ultimate Fury floated behind Add, locking on to the guardian and draining health. Add went on the attack, using his imperfect Nasod Armor to punch and kick the guardian away from the dazed Chung.

Cornering the guardian up against the edge of the platform, Add continued to attack, summoning different installations to help him. The guardian was helpless against the furious genius.

Finally, with one last contemptuous blast of electricity, the Mastermind finished off his opponent. Chung had been watching from the sidelines during the entire thing, the unopened blue bottle still clutched in his hand. He couldn't quite process what was going on – Add? Add was mad.... Add saved me.... Why am I not fighting? I should fight. He had tried to move forward, but somehow ended up on the floor. What is this bottle for?

As Add walked back from the empty robe, Chung looked up at him confusedly. “Your eye is glowing,” he said weakly.

“You didn't drink that potion, did you?” Add's tone was still snappish. Chung shook his head, and Add sighed. “You need to.”

“What.... Drink? Yours....”

Add made a tch sound in annoyance, and three Dynamos flew down to uncap the bottle and bring it to Chung's lips. Despite Add's harsh demeanor, his weapons' touches were gentle as they guided Chung to down the liquid.

The first swallow cleared Chung's mind, allowing him to realize what was going on. He obediently drank the rest, feeling the cuts and bruises on his body heal over and disappear.

When the bottle was empty, Add's Dynamos flew back to fill in the empty spots at Add's waist. He watched as the Tactical Trooper struggled up, using his cannon for balance.

“Add?”

Blue eyes met magenta in a brief contest, then Chung leaned forward and embraced Add.

“I'm.... I'm sorry, so sorry....”

Add was frozen for a moment, then one of his Dynamos nudged him and he tentatively put his own arms around Chung.

“Kek, sorry for what?”

“I shouldn't have come here without you.” Chung's words seemed loud to Add, since the Tactical Trooper's mouth was right next to Add's ear. “I nearly died, and.... How did you find me?”

“I didn't stalk your party for three years for nothing,” Add said quietly. “You never noticed me following you; you were too fixated on fighting, keke.”

Chung's body went limp in Add's arms, and Add staggered with the unexpected weight. He recovered quickly, though, his Dynamo quickly flying to help him hold Chung up.

“I just.... Father.... I need to save Father....” Chung's body slumped more, no matter what position Add sent his Dynamos into, and Add lowered the Tactical Trooper to the floor. He knelt beside the younger boy.

“I'll help.”

Chung looked disbelievingly at Add. “You? I thought.... I thought you couldn't care less!”

Add rolled his eyes. “I can't stand by and watch you get yourself killed. My pathetic human emotions won't allow it.”

That elicited a laugh from Chung. “The Mastermind has emotions?” he mocked. “I'm shocked.”

“Shush,” Add growled, standing back up and dusting off his pants where they had touched the floor. His Dynamo hovered around him, quivering in anticipation.

Chung's heart was slightly lighter as he picked up his cannon again, reloading it and leading the way further into the temple. He was going to find his father. He was going to save Helputt, and he would do it with Add fighting by his side.