Enter The Arena As Your Avatar -- The Spinoff!

"Uh huh, a likely story... Cinke's lab is pretty top secret, by the way, not to mention built like a damn fortress," Pietro replies, folding his arms. "Call me insane, but I honestly don't think you'll need to worry about Galeem or Dharkon sending puppets to loot her armory, then using said weapons on you, big man."

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 23rd 2019 at 2:13:34 AM

Haha, yes it is !

Thanos's smile doesn't vanish and he lean his fist on the Cosmic Gauntlet, grinning.

But am I talking about Galeem and Dharkon when I say that they could be used against me ? he says. I've seen troubling conspirations in my organization after all.

But troubles aside, I am one to verify rather than hope. Galeem and Dharkon decimated the arena because of a lack of proper care by many of the Arenagoers. I will not make the same mistakes as those idiots.

—

Huh, Mr Stark Yeah kid, don't worry. Let's just move to greener fields. he says.

Edited by Bolded1 on Feb 23rd 2019 at 11:15:07 AM

He nods and flies through the entrance back to the Arena, landing in the Floating City. He looks around.

"Huh, I didn't expect it to connect to the floating city of all places."

Dark Realm, entrance to the Arena

In the Dark Realm, everything appears to be calm again for the moment. Yet, on the middle island connecting the three paths, something odd happens.

A small, grey bubble pops out of the ground, despite there being no water, grey or otherwise, on it.

"So... you think someone in your own ranks is planning to overthrow you? I'm guessing it's either the scary-looking guy in black who carries a spear around," Pietro says. "Or that Squidward-looking alien priest with psychic powers. Sorry, their names aren't coming to mind right now."

Thanos actually laughs. Not even an Evil Laugh or a smug laugh, just the laugh that someone would make after hearing a good joke. He even makes a wiping motion with his finger.

No. They would follow me into death.

"Well... that rules out the other two lieutenants, not to mention your foot soldiers don't seem especially ambitious," Pietro replies. "So, then it's gotta be that weird ball-shaped clown... thing, Marx. I've got this weird hunch that he's not being 100% honest with us about his real goals, y'know?"

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 24th 2019 at 10:57:54 AM

A few more bubbles pop up, and a small puddle of something grey begins to slowly form on the island.

For a while, that's all that happens.

I have the means to interrogate him. Though if you do wish to be relieved of any stress, you may accompany me in my quest to discover his allegiance.

Why, you may perhaps witness a close up victim of the... Snap, as your kind calls it. An unimpressive name, but then again, you named your planet Earth.

"As tempting as watching you question him sounds, I've had a really long day today and just wanna rest for a while. Have fun learning who's side he's really on, though."

Pietro walks over to a chair near Cinke, then all but collapses into it.

Floating City

Speaking of Marx◊, the little bugger is standing near the entrance to the Dark Realm, seemingly pondering on if he should enter it now or wait a little while longer. He hadn't heard any updates on reaching Dharkon, so he figures he's not running out of time to try to take his power yet.

After a good while of nothing, a freaking eye suddenly appears within the puddle, looking around franctically before the being that eye belongs to surges up from inside the pool, remaining submerged from the lower half... or so it seems at least.

He shakes and gasps, eye wide open in shock and looking around in fear and confusion. He remains completely silent as he slowly looks down at his trembling hands, one of them missing a finger or two.

Thoughts rampantly run through his head, so fast and chaotic that he can barely make sense of them.

I can see I can hear I can feel I can move I don't understand What's going on Where am I What is this How am I

He clasps his head, his hair moving away a little to reveal he's missing his other eye, and screams, the loudest and most important thought of all the ones in his head given sound.

"WHY AM I BACK!?"

Thanos vanishes, though he grins eerily before doing so, to Cinke's displeasure.

—

He appears near Marx, without a sound.

Hello.

Marx jumps in fright.

"Oh jeez! Don't do that, are ya tryin' to kill me?", he asks once he sees Thanos.

Masc, hyperventilating a little, tries to calm down.

"C-calm down Claus... calm down... what happened... what's the last thing I remember happening? ... we became one person again, yeah, then... then... agh, nothing! Both parts of me should be a singular Claus again with a merged consciousness, so why am I here!?"

He looks around franctically.

"A-and what even is this place!? This doesn't feel like the same world I was in before, I... what do I do? ... help! Help, I have to look for help!"

He looks down at the puddle to see his reflection.

"I look like this again... nobody is going to want to help me when I look like this. They'll probably attack me. Willow probably isn't here, neither is Shadow..."

Still trying to calm down, he sighs.

"Right, right... don't freak out... remember that one illusion trick you learnt by watching those two Mirages. Um... um... how'd it go again? Ah..."

He starts to glow, then his appearance changes into that of a boy who mostly looks like Claus, but the differences are notable too.

"Right, this'll do for now. Until I've found help and explained my situation.", he says. "Never thought I'd be using my 'Ethan' disguise again, but here I am..."

He looks around as he starts to walk off.

"Now to find people in... this place."

"That guy really gives me the goddamn creeps sometimes," Pietro mutters before looking over to Cinke.

"So doc, think you could patch me up before I head back out?"

That would be an enchanting outcome. he sees, as his eyes glow, spreading a white "shockwave" that'll attempt to thoroughly read Marx's mind, with Thanos's mental might quite consequent.

—

No,I'll just leave you die ! Ha, follow me.

She leads Pietro to the infirmary.

He'll be able to start reading some thoughts, but Marx suddenly looks to be in pain.

"Ow, ow, OW! What are you doing!?", he says, shaking his head rapidly, which scrambles his thoughts a little and makes it harder to read through his mind.

Knowing Marx and how sneaky he is, he probably just felt that Thanos is reading his mind, then tried to stop him in a way that's not too suspicious.

Sighing and shaking his head in response to Cinke's... unorthodox sense of humor, Pietro nonetheless rises from the chair before following her to the laboratory's infirmary.

It'll be much worse if you intend to hide your thoughts. he says. There are... suspicions about you within the group. About your allegiance. It may be wise to allow me to verify your thoughts and explain your innocence to the group.

He smiles, his eyes softly glowing.

Or perhaps you will want to prove yourself to us ?

Marx pauses, then smiles, though there's a hint of nervousness that Thanos surely won't miss.

"My allegiance? B-but I've been helping you fight all this time, what could I be hiding from you? I mean, there's people here fighting because they have to cooperate, but I was the first one to volunteer, right? Why would people in the group think I'm not on your side?"

Your demeanor is shifty... and beside, they might think that your eagerness to help is but a ploy, destined to disguise your true mission and purpose.

You should probably talk to those people if you intend to clear your name. I will watch you from afar, and do not think that distance will prevent a swift obliteration.

His nervousness becomes more visible.

"And... j-just to clarify, what do you think my true mission is then?"

Please no please no please no please no please no-

Betray us. For your sake or Dharkon... why, perhaps even Galeem's.

Tread lightly.

He leaves.

He blinks in confusion after Thanos leaves.

Wait... does he think I'm in leagues with... where did he get THAT idea from!?

He then looks a little wary.

Wait, he spoke of multiple people... how many of them think of me this way, and why? I've never acted suspicious to that point. I'll get to the bottom of this somehow. I can't risk my plans being ruined over something like this.

He then hops away.

Edited by DevilPsyco on Feb 23rd 2019 at 1:22:00 PM

Northpointe Beach

Two gray-haired individuals are clashing on the waterfront. One is obviously the Draconian, Glali Nik,◊ but the other may be a bit less identifiable.

It's Blu-J, token 100% human of Callis' sector of the Time Patrol... well, aside from having the personality of an average pure-blooded Saiyan and that one time he used Ultra Instinct.

Nik's eyes are glowing yellow and bright cyan-scaled dragon wings have sprouted from her back. Every impact makes a shockwave.

Blu-J is clearly struggling to keep up, but he sports the fierce gaze of determination.

The silver-haired fighters' fists collide and they both go spinning away from each other, landing feet-first on the shore and immediately retaking their battle stances.

Oca bawoops in, looking around.

"Huh, Blu-J?"

He puts off doing any sort thing in favor of spectating with Hetap.

Primordia, Northpointe Beach

Who should come across Nik's scuffle with Blu-J than a certain Arcane half-dragon?

"Oh, you've gotta be friggin' kidding me..."

Hurrying over to the clash as quickly as possible, she fires an Arcane Blast over both of their heads to catch their attention.

"Alright, break it up! Nik, just who the hell's this dude and why were you two fighting?"

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Feb 24th 2019 at 8:43:20 AM