Enter The Arena As Your Avatar -- The Spinoff!

Lourent

Kratos wasn't fond of the desert, but he wasn't too bothered by it. He carried the leviathan axe and the blades of chaos upon his back. His son, Atreus, was nowhere to be found, strangely enough. The god continued his walk forward, a low grumble exiting his mouth as he was drawn into thought.

Lourent

Dante crashes into the ground in front of Kratos. He transforms into his Sin Devil Trigger state and unleashes a barrage of sword-projectiles on his currently unseen opponent (not Kratos).

Edited by KiriK on Oct 22nd 2020 at 6:41:39 AM

Lourent

Vergil cuts through the projectiles with the Yamato, changing to the Beowulf before activating his own Sin Devil Trigger, doing a diving kick towards Dante, covered by his own Summoned Swords.

Edited by DefRevenge24601 on Oct 22nd 2020 at 4:49:46 AM

Kratos rolls backward, watching for a few moments as the pair unleashed their attacks. While the two were focused on each other, the God of War decided to intervene. He rushes toward the distance between the two in a blur, shooting one hand out to grab Vergil by his leg, and the other to grab Dante by his throat.

If he was successful, he would raise Dante into the air, and slam Vergil into the ground.

Not expecting to be interrupted, Dante gets got. He doesn't struggle against Kratos, as if merely humoring his attempts to subdue the brothers.

   "Hey, what the hell's your problem!?"   

While Shadow Konngara is fully focused on Skippy, trying to overwhelm his defenses, Pilly's PSI Flash impacts. Although she seems to have no eyes to blind, it... seems to do something anyways, as the sword flinches and gets caught by Pietro's chains. She has no time to heal herself again like she did last time - Pseudo and Skippy's attacks barrel into her, provoking an unholy screech...

Moments later, when the dust settles, the group can see Shadow Konngara lying at the foot of what remains of her throne pedestal. The sword has snapped in two, blood inexplicably leaking out of the fractured blade. More importantly, though, the eye in the pommel is finally open. Instead of being yellow and evil like Shadow Konngara's eyes, it's identical to Konngara's own, and tears of blood are dripping from it.

Elegy And Forgiveness

   "So, this is how it ends,"    the sword says.    "I thought I could act as the arbiter of life and death with strength alone... but in the end... I was too weak to even accomplish that. I have... truly failed."   

A shroud of shadows surrounds her, and she reverts to her regular form. She is sitting in the traditional seppuku position, her Treasure - the vajra - still sticking out of her guts.

   "The justice of the strong goes both ways. And now, it is my time to face it. She who lived by the sword, must die by the sword."    She closes her eyes.    "Put an end to my unnatural existence. Those I have slaughtered for nothing would expect nothing less."   

Edited by Arachnos on Oct 22nd 2020 at 12:03:22 PM

"No."

Skippy dispels his arsenal and offers Shadow Konngara a hand.

"Return to yourself. If the real Konngara will accept you... then she should, right?"

"And if we kill you, she will also die."

Edited by KiriK on Oct 22nd 2020 at 7:03:34 AM

Lourent

Vergil actually also humors the grab, simply going along with the ride.

Vergil: "This is a matter that you have no business in. I suggest you move on, traveler, for your own sake."

Edited by DefRevenge24601 on Oct 22nd 2020 at 5:07:10 AM

Pilly and Pseudo land as the screech rings out, the former in a more stable way than the latter. Once they see Shadow Konngara on the ground, Pilly immediately turns to her brother, looking worried about him. But Pseudo's focus isn't on himself right now, so he walks over to Shadow Konngara.

"Pseu-", Pilly starts to call out, but then just goes silent before, after a moment of pondering, walking after him.

Then, just as Skippy offers Shadow Konngara a hand, so does Pseudo.

"I know exactly what it feels like when your whole view on everything comes crashing down. I have experienced it twice now.", he says as Pilly now stands besides him.

"I have said it before, and I will say it again, for the rest of my life if I have to. You deserve forgiveness. I was unworthy of forgiveness, I too had lives on my conscience. But I was given a second chance, by you."

Pseudo then shows a real rarity: a genuine and warm smile.

"Allow yourself to be given a second chance as well. Allow Konngara to accept you as part of herself."

Pilly, while not saying anything, shows a kind smile to Shadow Konngara as well, supporting Pseudo's and Skippy's words by reaching out with her own hand as well.

Edited by DevilPsyco on Oct 22nd 2020 at 2:16:45 PM

Kratos grunts and it seems for a moment that's the only verbal confirmation he heard them they got. The God of War stood there for a moment, before his deep and rumbly voice spoke up

"Stop this fighting, it is no game, and it serves no purpose."

   "I agree,"    remarks Dante.    "We've done this dance more times than you or I can remember, Vergil. You're not proving a point if you lose."   

Lourent

Vergil:    "That may be true, brother, but this dance is different. This time, I'm fighting for the heroes, the ones who supposedly save the day. And your greed has sided you with the ones willing to commit omnicide."   

Pietro drops out of his Chaos Form, breathing heavily.

"Is it just me... or could all of this have been avoided if-"

Wanda cuts her brother off by raising a hand, and she approaches Shadow Konngara as well.

"Look... Pietro and I have been on the wrong side before. We have. But we were given a second chance, too," she says. "So just let us bring you to Konngara, okay? It's not too late for you to redeem yourself."

The God grunts,

"There is no peace in death or vengeance, stop walking this path of needless anguish. You are brothers, there is no bond more sacred."

Kratos releases the pair from his grip, but continues to stand between the two. He looks at Dante, his piercing gaze reflected nothing but mild anger. Although it seemed that was his normal expression.

Dante huffs and reverts back to his normal form. "Missing the real problem, big guy, but I like your attitude. There's a war, and we're on opposite sides of it. Vergil thinks I'm doing something real nasty over on my end, but I'm just being myself."

Lourent

Vergil returns to his base form as well, switching back to the Yamato and sheathing it.

Vergil: "You threw away what you stood for for your greed. The only reason why I'm here is to show you that."

Vergil scoffs.

Vergil: "You fought for what you believed in with passion, Dante. This fight was cold in comparison."

   "And why shouldn't she die alongside me?!"    Shadow Konngara snaps at 42.    "I'm her, remember? All of my feelings are also hers and so are all of my crimes! Neither of us deserves to live! So why... why..."   

She grits her teeth and starts crying again.

   "Why are you all so kind?! This isn't right! You don't even know me! The real me! You haven't seen the villages engulfed in flames, the children crying at the sight of their parents burning alive... and all for what? No... all you've seen is this... figment. This lost soul who should not have been here in the first place... who escaped her rightful punishment in Hell!   

She taps her crimson horn, and it becomes apparent that it looks strangely metallic instead of organic. And the blood still dripping from its base...    "Do you see that? You think that's a horn? It's a blade! It's the blade that killed me! The one that should have put an end to my misguided crusades... except it didn't! Do you understand now? I'm not even real! I'm not a human being, nor a yasha, nor even really an oni... I'm just a revenant who deluded itself into thinking it still had unfinished business on Earth, when it should have stayed in Hell to pay the price of its crimes! None of what I've done here even matters, because none of this would have happened if I had truly paid my penance instead of stubbornly thinking that it... all of it... was some kind of... divine test of faith!"   

Her bloodstained, trembling hand clutches the handle of her vajra blade.

   "The Cycle demands me back. I must return to Hell and pay the fair price of my sins before I can be reincarnated. Perhaps one day... in another life... we may see each other again."   

Edited by Arachnos on Oct 22nd 2020 at 12:47:55 PM

"No!" Skippy steps forward and kneels down to Shadow Konngara.

"I believe that you did all those things. I understand the pain you've brought to others. But death is escape, and you need to atone. I don't think I... or the guy next to me... would be able to take it if you died. We might as well die too!"

He pulls out the χ-blade again. "... I think I would die. This is forged from our hearts... and if a piece of it were to be lost, and it broke..."

He shakes his head. "At the same time, the piece of your heart that went into this χ-blade was a fragment of its light! There has to be some good in you if it's true!"

Edited by KiriK on Oct 22nd 2020 at 7:53:30 AM

"You are correct, I do not know. What I do know is that you looked at a defenseless, pathetic wreck of an enemy who had, moments before, attempted to kill you through his creations, and saw a chance for redemption in him while he too deserved death. An enemy who chose to have his sins burned away, grasp his second chance, and decided to find a way to turn his life around while atoning for the things that had come before. Someone whose hands were not clean either. Someone who had taken lives in the name of the Pig King's twisted experiments. You showed him mercy because you believed there was good in him. To say you are wretched is a lie."

Pseudo kneels down and looks her right in the eyes with his own, showing a tint of blue in them.

"If this is how you truly feel, then don't die. Live and atone, like I have. Do good to the people who fell and allow them to rest not through your demise, but through an effort to make up for your past. If you believe your sins are too great for that..."

His eyes flicker for a moment. It doesn't really do anything, but it should indicate to Shadow Konngara what he's implying.

"Perhaps I can help relieve you of them. If you'll let me."

Edited by DevilPsyco on Oct 22nd 2020 at 2:59:43 PM

"My brother and I willingly joined forces with Ultron. I nearly tore the Avengers apart. We... nearly helped him exterminate humankind," Wanda says to Shadow Konngara. "But look where we are now. If they think we deserved a second chance, why can't we say the same for you?"

She places a hand on her shoulder.

"It doesn't matter what you did, or what you were. You've fought to protect this world from all kinds of threats. Thor even told me about the time you two battled alongside each other to stop something called Void Termina. You want to know what I think, Konngara? I think you've redeemed yourself a long time ago."

Pietro merely watches the situation play out as he nurses his wounds.

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Oct 22nd 2020 at 6:18:15 AM

Kratos stands there, thinking for a few moments. He really isn't quite sure what to say, a thoughtful expression on his face. He rests a hand on Dante's shoulder,

"War, you can get lost in it. It will twist you into something you are not. I can assure you the ones who control you, whatever army or place you may come from, they care not for you or your brother. They only care for victory, and they will sacrifice anyone and anything for it. Are you truly willing to slay your brother? For powers above you that care not for family, or anything but their own motives?"

Dante dispels his sword. "Ask him that. He's the one with the grudge, I just planned to rough him up."

Lourent

Vergil: "Foolish as always. I threw away my grudge, brother. I finally saw the error of my ways, and yet here you are still. I'll spare you this time, Dante. Next time we meet, I'll fight until you see the error of your ways... or die stubborn."

He simply walks away, vaguely in the direction of Intrigue, and puts an earpiece in his ear; he's not talking yet, but at least Samus can get in contact with him now.

Edited by DefRevenge24601 on Oct 22nd 2020 at 6:41:55 AM

Kratos steps backward, the situation defused, at least for now. He grunted, and waited until Vergil was far enough away to not hear him, and he spoke back up again.

"That question goes as much for you as it does for him, war is not worth the loss of your kin. If you two clash again, and you find yourself with the upper hand, give him mercy. The insight of a stranger shouldn't be taken with a grain of salt, heed my words."

Dante sighs and nods. "Yeah... you're right. After all, there's someone from our world who can't afford to lose him. This whole war... it'll just be a footnote in our lives when all's said and done."

He starts walking away. "Name's Dante, by the way. Maybe we'll see each other again some day, maybe not."