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Enter The Arena As Your Avatar -- The Spinoff!

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ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#388701: Jul 18th 2024 at 7:19:53 PM

It didn’t take long. The scent only intensified as Milo trekked further into the forest, the bushes and pine branches only continuing to grow thicker around him, closer and closer together, until they suddenly dispersed. He stood at the edge of the clearing. The trail of blood ended at half a man lying face-down in the middle of the clearing, a centerpiece for the gruesome scene.

Everywhere were corpses. Each one was violently torn to shreds, arms and legs and heads ripped off their torsos and dispersed across the bloodstained earth. Crows picked at the remains, stealing strips of flesh from freshly spilled entrails. Whatever had done this couldn’t be far. On the opposite side of the glade was a ruined wagon, smashed mainly to bits. It was upturned and decorated in blood, its contents spilled out around it: barrels and crates with broken glasses, from which puddles of wine seeped. Just in front of it was the corpse of the horse which had pulled it, but curiously enough, the steed hadn’t been ripped apart like the other corpses. In fact, it showed little sign of any real damage, save for the thick pile of bramble around it, thorns digging into its skin.

If Milo crossed the clearing to this wagon, he’d be met with a startling screech. A juvenile wyvern, no longer than a lion and not nearly so brawny, crawled from behind the upside-down wagon. It was a sea blue color, though when it spread its wings in an effort at intimidation, they shone a lighter shade of azure. The wyvern hissed and screamed, flapping its wings, loosing thin plumes of fire into the air…but, notably, not at Milo.

Edited by ISZATSO on Jul 18th 2024 at 10:28:07 AM

With great power…you know the rest.
josh6243 Betty "Blast Hornet" Blanctorche Doppler from Digital Realm Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Betty "Blast Hornet" Blanctorche Doppler
#388702: Jul 18th 2024 at 7:21:46 PM

Albaz- Kaiju Mission

Albaz appreciates the gesture from Malzeno and responds, "   Thank you, Sir Malzeno.   "

Despite the armed soldiers getting knocked over by the shockwave, Albaz unsheathes an icy metallic blade and wields it like a knife in case more soldiers show up.

ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#388703: Jul 18th 2024 at 10:35:10 PM

"Have you come to issue the terms of surrender?" Aelun called to the party being escorted forth by his knights. Even in this starless night, where the moon was hidden by storm clouds and the heavens wept, the whites of his armor gleamed. They were covered in places by black cloth, and from his shoulders hung a black cape with the blood-red sigil of a dragon emblazoned upon it, but there were large swathes of his armor that were undeniably resplendent. Even though they had been spattered with blood. His sword was in its sheath, the drakehead pommel snarling. He lifted his hands to his helm and removed it as the enemy leadership were brought to a stop before him, letting tangles of sweat-matted silver hair flow out. His face was shiny and he breathed deeply, but they were victorious breaths.

Nearby, Luin sat upon Deluge’s back, watching. She glared silently at the barbarians. The woman had initially been hesitant to send her tames off to war, of course, but that had changed the moment she saw the carnage the enemy soldiers had wrought on the border villages of Aelun’s kingdom. Women dragged from their homes and beaten in the streets, men slaughtered in dishonor, children either stolen or burned. They were just farmers. She looked over those who had come to speak for the defeated army, wearing scant hides and furs and wielding violent weapons. Monsters disguised as men, dressed as animals.

Their chieftain, indicated by the crown of bones he wore, snarled at Aelun. It was customary among the savages to cast their weapons at the feet of the man they surrendered to. Their weapons remained sheathed. Aelun sighed and rolled his eyes. "Come on, now. Throw your weapons down and you may yet return to your shitty huts and go back to beating your shitty women. So long as you swear that from here on, the only children you throw on the grill are yours."

"Perhaps we may," their leader snarled a bloody smile. "If you sweeten the deal, and throw that wench of yours in!" He guffawed, as though it were the funniest thing he’d ever said, and his lessers joined in. Luin squinted in disgust.

Aelun responded with a smirk. "Could you repeat that? I couldn’t quite hear you."

"Gleefully." He hissed. "I said—" The chief silenced himself instantly. The laughter of the men behind him died in their mouths, and a foul stench arose from one. Behind the king, a silhouette stuck between the storming heavens and the bloodied earth moved. What had previously blended into the faint shape of the distant mountains proved itself much closer than they’d thought, and as it leaned in, the dragon took form. Its size felt almost unreal, and the growl that escaped its maw shook the very soil underfoot. A momentary puff of fire lit the night better than any torch ever could.

"You would do well not to insult her in my presence. She is, after all, soon to be your Queen, whether you uncivilized wretches like it or not." Aelun reminded his foes with a tone of voice that brought a smile to Luin. "Stubbornness won’t get you anywhere. If pride for yourself prevents you from surrendering, think at least of your men."

"Our men will fight to the last. We are raiders, and we find atonement only in death!" He cried pridefully, and his subordinates roared with him.

"Very well." Aelun examined the helm in his hand. The tone of his voice suggested he’d been waiting for that answer…or perhaps was even hopeful of it. He fitted it to his head once more and turned away, throwing a hand up in parting as he walked from the field, towards the black beast. Knowing what was coming, Luin drove her spurs into Deluge’s wings and flew away. Aelun offered the barbarians a final comfort as Daeros lowered his house-sized head to the ground and parted his gargantuan jaws, an orange glow creeping down his throat. "You are atoned."

The night grew brighter than day.

In the sunlight, some hours later, Luin could better see the aftermath of the battle. Shrouded in the darkness of night and with their roars filling the air, the barbarian horde had seemed almost a formidable foe. Now, Luin saw that nothing could be further from the truth. They were less an army, so much as they were a mere raiding party of thirty or forty something men, whose corpses now littered the battlefield. In comparison, Aelun’s men were hardly wounded. One picked arrows out of his dragon’s unfolded wing, and another applied gauze to his slashed leg, but other than that there was hardly anything to note, and not a single casualty on their side.

Luin cut through the encampment. Some soldiers greeted her and some pretended they hadn’t even noticed her, but it was still better than the endless cries of "foreigner!" and "wilderqueen!" and other such nicknames she’d been subjected to when first she had arrived in the kingdom. They’re starting to get used to me, she thought with a smile. No doubt her involvement in the battle had done massive favors toward her image in the eyes of the soldiers. One man even stopped cleaning his blade to compliment how she’d fought last night.

The woman soon reached the command tent. Within, Aelun was in the midst of discussing strategy with his lieutenants. They were hunched over a map on the table, moving little wooden tokens like game pieces. "We’ll split our men at the Rush, cut into enemy territory…" The king, donned in a more regal and comfortable attire than his armor, looked up with the others as Luin entered. He cleared his throat. "Excuse me a moment, gentlemen. We’ll reconvene." Murmuring, his top men cleared out, leaving the tent only to Luin and Aelun after a few moments. She waited for the last to leave before she spoke.

"You didn’t have to dismiss them." She wrapped her arms around him, and he returned the gesture. "I could’ve waited."

"I couldn’t." He smirked.

"They didn’t seem particularly happy I interrupted them,"

"They’ll live. We’ve time to waste anyhow, after my…our victory yesterday."

Luin slowly broke away, looking over the map. "What’s this about cutting into enemy territory? I thought we were only going to deal with the raiders."

"That was before I discovered who exactly we defeated last night." Aelun stood by her side, standing over the table. "Erikk Magnarson, brother of Ulfgar Magnarson. King of the barbarians. So, we’re gonna make the best of this gift that played itself into our lap: we’re gonna march into their home, and dump his charred brother’s corpse on that whoreson’s doorstep. Maybe that’ll convince him to find someone else to raid." His grin was filled with malice for his foes.

"Or maybe it’ll only strengthen his resolve. What you mean to do…there’s a fine line between a display of strength and a declaration of war, and your plan is just a single drop of blood away from crossing it."

"See? This is why I love you. You’re the only one who’d say this to me, rather than blindly agreeing." Aelun swept away from the table and moved to a bookshelf standing against the canvas wall of the tent. He ran a finger along the tomes, tilting each one momentarily out to glance at the cover as he searched.

"Not the only reason, I’d hope." Luin followed, watching his hands closely. What’s he looking for..?

"Of course not. There are fewer stars in the sky than there are reasons I love you. That is merely one."

Luin was rendered speechless, so she smiled like an idiot. But then the charm wore off, and she was reminded of the matter at hand: "That still doesn’t change what I said."

"You’re right, that they’ll take it as an invitation to war. War is their culture, after all. It’s their identity…the only part of their identity." Aelun sneered contemptuously. "But I’d like to think they have some degree of intelligence as well, however rare among their sort. Surely, there is one among them who realizes they don’t stand a chance. All the bravado and courage in the world won’t protect you from dragonfire. Ah, here it is." The king drew a dusty old book from the shelf. He blew it off before handing it to Luin: it was a thick tome, with a faded red page and bold text that read: THE ANCIENT AND AGGRESSIVE BORDER WARS OF THE DRAGON & BARBARIAN KINGS: A HISTORY

"I’m afraid you’ll not find it a very riveting read. It’s a very one-sided conflict." Aelun snarked.

"Why…are you giving me this?"

"To truly appreciate the final line of a saga, you must know what came before. The conflict at the ever-changing borders between our land and theirs is one that dates back to the first Dragon King, and one that shall not plague the minds of our children with worry. For I intend to end it in my lifetime. Whether by peace…or fire."

Edited by ISZATSO on Jul 18th 2024 at 1:38:22 PM

With great power…you know the rest.
TheTropingAlliancer Kheshig, the Nonsense Man from Inside a PriPara (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Raising My Lily Rank With You
Kheshig, the Nonsense Man
#388704: Jul 19th 2024 at 7:41:01 AM

Adventures In-Sanity

Save

  • Adventures In-Sanity - Eastern Grass

Stage: Eastern Grass - Po Lam Station - Plain Old Beginnings

|Honey|

We’re aware that 7 days may not be enough to explore the entire overlayed city, and there are places we’re not too familiar with either (that being the areas covered by Trackslide Hills and “Volcanic” Industrial).

|Kass|

[We would therefore probably focus on the areas we’re relatively more familiar with, covering 4 of the 6 biomes.]

The transport to the chosen areas are also within an hour.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_7090_3.jpeg

“Pyra” screenshots the level map and traces a blue circle over the Area of Exploration.

|Honey|

Even within this area we have a smaller, so called zone of confidence.

That would be the green circle. They then project it so the Rollers can also see where they may be going and suggest locations they are interested in.

(note that this map does not reflect the actual geography because it’s stylised for ease of understanding)

I’m also assuming they’re moving towards the train station as they discuss as to not block the way.

While the place is a bit new to the Squad and maybe the Bros (neither have really been in highly urban areas outside of Armycoast Town), they also feel at ease with the phenomenon and that they blend in well amongst the other beings here.

A pretty unique being that I just made up for AIS are turtle-like beings with floor tiles as its shell where they disguise themselves among actual floor tiles. When stepped on, they just make their tile-shell rise slightly. Avoiding them via noticing which tiles have slightly thicker borders makes for simple fun when just walking around.

The Squad seems to prefer stepping on them instead as it gives them slightly more height to see further.

Du-Du-Wa-Do-It, Arena Katsudou
BoniniBanana Fortunate Sun I from real Since: Aug, 2021 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
Fortunate Sun I
#388705: Jul 19th 2024 at 9:24:25 AM

Emma

"Yada yada, leave me be newly identified corn-fucker I'll kill you later too."

She puts her attention elsewhere with Eve playing the hero, Gensui's mention of nanomachines immediately catch her eye, alongside her general feature set. A bunch of things catch her attention but the mention of a certain business card by Jack reminds her of something. She rummages through her pockets.

"Business card? Jack... Oh, it's you!"

Emma inspects the card further and it really is him, but why does she have it?

"...Who are you??"

Especially considering Jack and Gensui share similar backstories to each other, and how hers differs completely, it only piles up the confusion.

"I didn't even come from the apocalypse like both of you, just the suburbs."

Now that Jack mentions it, she realizes she hasn't really eaten anything from The Arena.


Alt Arena

"Take 's with ya', I'm'na save it for later when I need it"

Alda hands Flint a set of baggies, anyone with an acute eye can probably notice they contain crystalline and powdery concoctions. It looks pretty innocuous but with the big guy's hesitance of even trying to get near that whilst Edmund and the party are exploring deeper. He just snatches the bags and pockets it. Once they reach the subway however,

"Looks like a good place for a wiff, it'll remind me of those street boys I used to beat up and arrest, lil' did they know I was into that shit too— Gimme!"

"No."

She grumbles and growls, and nearly lashes out at Flint for not providing her, till he firmly shakes her head to focus on the dissection being performed on this new variant or species found within the infestation. The man grabs her shoulder and steps forward, unleashing buckshot against that weird thing that came out of the "womb."

real
RainbyPlays fae being from yes Since: Nov, 2019 Relationship Status: Hiding
fae being
#388706: Jul 19th 2024 at 10:12:30 AM

Forest

Sheesh... What could've done so much damage..?

Milo took in the gruesome sight with a hint of detachment- he was used to corpses. He came from a ruined world, after all. As he got to the wagon, the wyvern came screeching out. Instinct told him to fire...

...but the analytical part of his brain told him to observe. To look for what could be wrong- what could be causing this beast to act up in such a manner. He closes his eyes. Listening, sensing... Letting his other senses perceive what his eyes could not.

Something must be close. But what..?

His feet shifted, ready to act on a moment's notice.

Storm Over Estarole

"That's one down!"

Both Artemis and Croque grin. Gurren Lagann kicks into motion, speeding towards the main fight.

"Let's do this! Mirage System... Engage!!"

Onyx-black wings appear on Gurren, and it takes off into the air, green light shining from the area where the wings meet. There's still the very big issue of the fact that the giant fucking ship could take notice, though...

...though that's a risk they're both willing to take.

"Try this on for size!"

The mecha moves to grab its glasses in one hand, parts of the wings forming into a similar shape in the other.

"Double Boomerang!!"

Both Croque and Artemis yell out in unison as Gurren Lagann hurls both boomerangs out at the Madagascar, aiming to disable the giant fucking AA guns on it.

Confluence of Fates

Ow, Dark Type. Not so much Psychic, though, but still, ow. Metagross isn't standing... Wait, wasn't Rayne taking cover under his own 'mon?

"Wh-"

The explosion sends both Rayne and Metagross flying, both nearly crashing into some spikes if not for something suddenly catching them with Psychic.

"...here we go again. Get them out of here, Starlight. I can handle it from here."

From somewhere on one of the spires, an Espeon scampers off, taking the fatally injured Rayne and Metagross with it.

Stepping into view instead is... ...someone.

A Pokeball appears in his hand.

"With me, Glimmer."

He tosses it, and an Absol appears.

???'s Code: Mega is reacting with Glimmer!

Absol lets out a howl as it Mega Evolves, becoming Mega Absol.

"Future Sight."

Glimmer foresaw an attack!

Future Sight Proc- in 2 turns

The man stands there, staring... Watching. Observing. This is an enemy he hasn't seen before, so he'll need to be careful.

"Hmm..."

He looks down at his hand for a moment before sighing and shaking his head. He glances up at Terapagos and gives the flying turtle a straight-faced thumbs up.

Centralis

Homelander

[] stares at the ensuing aggression and tilts her head, looking down at her hands like 'hey could I do something like that?'

She slowly walks forward, seemingly curious about these people- with no seeming regard for her own safety.

Emma

"Yeeeeah... that's how these things go, huh?"

Gensui chuckles softly, stretching her arms over her head before her eyes seem to whirr and focus further away.

"By the way, blue hair and pronouns: your mortal enemy, God's answer to an isekai protag, the friendly neighborhood Spider Man, and the crooks-of-the-week are all over bothering the Super-Dick. So that angle's covered."

Her vision refocuses closer, and she digs a cigarette from somewhere on her armor and lights it up with a flame from her fingertip. Looking closer, it seems to be some sort of bionic- a literal finger-implanted lighter. Of course, her air-filtration system automatically filters most of the actually harmful stuff, but... she's gotta smoke some of the time, dammit.

"Also- memory issues? Have you both tried getting smacked upside the head a bit less?"

Gensui has a cheeky-ass grin on her face before taking a drag of her cig and blowing the smoke into the air.

"S'worked pretty good for me so far."

She's silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Man... I used to live in a city before the whole Cataclysm happened... Now with all the zombies and eldritch beings and what-have-you, everyone tends to avoid 'em. Or scavenges at night."

Edited by RainbyPlays on Jul 19th 2024 at 1:14:52 PM

aeiou: the second
KiriK The Grey Pilgrim from across time and space Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
The Grey Pilgrim
#388707: Jul 19th 2024 at 12:58:59 PM

Pica-Verse

Previous

Lab

"Wolf, distract Nacho's counterpart!"

In the meantime, Altina flies at Warrior!Emi with a divekick to the face.

Concert

"...I dunno if I have the right currency."

Sora sighs and steps away from the vendor, out of earshot of the security.

"Well, we could always try to teleport in."


Makai

Previous

A split-second before the eye beams strike, Peppino does a flex, then he strikes them with his palm, reflecting the attack back at Akuma Shogun with a Hit Spark, accompanied by an audible "POW!" that sounds like it's being shouted by a disembodied voice.


Drought

Pizza has more-or-less exited the scene, assume Lumina is off doing whatever is required of her

Lupin catches the Ultra Ball and steps down from Groudon before bonking it on the head, sucking it inside. Shakes once, clicks.

"Heehee."

He tosses the ball back in the jeep (not sending Groudon out of course), then turns his attention to Luna and shrugs.

"Sorry, I got nothing. Dunno where we could find a Psychic-type, either. It was just an idea."

He kneels down in front of the Rabright. "Why don't you go looking for a solution on your own? Sticking around me is bound to get you into more trouble sooner or later."


Game

Krampus's Post

"At least we were here for you," Charlie says to Freddy.

She then looks around as the world around them begins to break down, responding to Jax.

"Yeah, but what happens to us if the game crashes?"

Emma hugs herself in fear.

Delilah falls to her knees, hands gripping her head. "It's over... It's over...! No, no, no, no, NO!"

Exacerbating the situation, her powers start acting out, visibly tearing holes in space with a blank white void—the Backyard—on the other side, as the density of sheer reality-defining information in her surroundings increases to a level that crushes physical existence into nothing.


Confluence of Fates

While Soulstealer is attacking Metagross, Reyna rolls around to behind it.

She twirls her Insect Glaive, her Kinsect attaching itself to the end of it as she powers it up with all three gathered extracts, then takes a great big swing, sending the Kinsect hurtling forth with the mighty Awakened Kinsect Attack. On impact, it'll deal five strong hits that leave alternating clouds of orange explosive and green healing powder.

Whether that succeeds or fails, Reyna will slingshot herself in with a Wirebug to retrieve the Kinsect, throwing out an extra slash in the meantime that'll bounce herself up into the air if it hits.


Vampire Duel

Slayer's arms get restrained at his sides for a moment, only for him to break free as a whirlwind of bats surrounds himself and the Flandres. The bats contain the explosion from Flan's blast, but also try to drag the clones away while Slayer himself recovers and attempts a regrab.

If he gets it again, he'll waste no time in taking another vicious bite...

    after which 

drinking Flandre's blood will cause him to de-age to a pretty boy with a goatee.

   "Get more vitamin D,"    he taunts, spreading his arms, before he raises up his right hand, engulfed in spirit fire. He disperses the flames and gets a serious look with a clench of his fist, then rears back while Flandre is still reeling from the bite and throws a Megaton Punch at her gut. On impact, both combatants will freeze in place as purple energy builds up around Slayer's fist, before it finally releases in a blast that sends her flying all the way around the orbital circumference of Beerus's planet, coming crashing back into the ground from behind him.


Vs. Mugen Zero

Mugen Zero uses a Buster shot to cancel out Metal Sonic's Plasma Pulse Attack. He rapidly fires his Buster to blow away the debris controlled by Uzi, but the sword attacks knock him off-balance, letting Trio and X land their big fucking collision attacks.

   "You all mock me,"    Zero growls. He punches the ground again, this time using Rekkoha, conjuring pillars of energy all around him that descend from the sky and slam into the ground. The beams disperse Trio's Thunder Wool clouds before he can pull off his second attack.

While Rekkoha may be harder to avoid than any other ranged attack Sanji might have been anticipating, on the plus side, Mugen Zero also dashes at him, attempting a sliding slash that gets him punished for it, letting Sanji combo him into the air. He uses a Sub Tank to heal himself before he lands.

Iris flips, dashes, and flash steps around the Rekkoha beams. She waits until Zero is close to the ground, then slams her sword down, launching a ground-splitting energy shockwave at him that gets larger and taller the further it goes.

X creates a plasma barrier around himself to protect him from the Rekkoha, while firing some basic but powerful Buster shots at Zero.


Space Fortress Gravitas Throne Room

"Actually, I can't see into the dimension behind the door. I also won't automatically know if you coming out alive means you won, since Culex spares his defeated enemies."

Oh. Well, okay.

"Regardless, I have faith that things will work out as far as gathering a team. They have a tendency to do so."

Edited by KiriK on Jul 19th 2024 at 3:37:01 AM

"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
ThatBlindGamer from Earth (Green Sprout) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#388708: Jul 19th 2024 at 1:08:11 PM

Drought

Luna lowers her ears at this. After all he's done for her, they're parting ways for now. She looks at Lupin desperately.

|But, where am I supposed to go? You're the first human that tried to help me when my life was in danger. And, you and the others defeated that Groudon as well. I don't understand why I have to leave you... I won't cause you trouble, won't I?|

Luna was still young. She doesn't understand that Lupin is a thief who is wanted around the world over.

ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#388709: Jul 19th 2024 at 1:27:35 PM

"Ethan, you know these guys?" Libby murmured as their new enemies appeared.

Liam drew his staff and took his position near Te and Ta, glaring resolutely at the foes despite his faint and wavering courage. He was far from intent on allowing the strangers to take him; Ethan was the newest of their class, sure, but he was one of them nonetheless, and they had to stick together. "Uh—what he said!" He’d taken Libby’s advice a month ago into practice. He was long past the point where his Vril would flare into being, if ever it would. So he’d taken other lessons in his free time, mastering the art of his own weaponry and tools in replacement of the Vril-honing practices his peers took. Of course, mastery required years for all but the most gifted of prodigies, and he’d had mere months. Liam was still far from exhibiting any tangible results, and this was what ran through his mind as he gripped the staff tightly. He saw Yuki’s fireball race towards the first of several foes and gritted his teeth, for how could he ever hope to operate on the same level as someone like her?

It was due to this lack of experience that he knew it was smarter not to approach, but to hang back and let them come. When the first came within range of the human barricade he and a pair of the triplets had built around Ethan, Liam thrust his staff at their throat.

Elsewhere, Libby hissed a series of profanities as she hopped up onto a stall’s wooden roof. She glared at the most notable of their foes, in the metal armor, but sniffed the air again and looked down at the others. It’s too late. "Guys, we might wanna make it quick! I smell of a group of…around twenty, heading straight for us!" She shouted, panicked. "They know we’re here now!"

The walls of Khemri stood strong, despite the many thousands of years they’d seen. Their color made them seem an extension of the desert itself, and might have even been mistaken for a natural formation had it not been for the very man-made towers and battlements built atop it.

Not that Joseph knew any of this, though. The first time, he hadn’t been allowed to get near enough for a good view of the walls before he was chased off by a hail of arrows, and this time he was taking cover behind a man who’d just transformed into a chainsaw monster.

Joseph cast a skeptical glance at his battle before casting it aside, following behind Denji and keeping his head low.

But when Denji arrived at the top of the battlements, he found no victims to sate his alter ego’s appetite for crimson nectar. Arrows were buried in the terrain stretching before the walls, of course; embedded in the stones or the dry bushes sprouting from an inhospitable land, but atop the walls themselves…nothing. Not a soul or soulless creature to be found.

Joseph, who’d hitched a ride by grabbing onto the back of Chainsaw Man’s shirt just as he leapt, drew his gun and looked warily around the scene. "Maybe they heard you yelling and decided to haul ass, eh?" He suggested, only half joking, but quickly ascertained that wasn’t the cause. The metal ground quivers lined up all along the parapet were empty, picked clean of ammunition. "They packed it up and left, took their time with it too. Didn’t leave a single arrow. But why? Clearly, someone gave those undead fucks the order to move out." He lowered the gun’s barrel and looked now to the expansive city which stretched wide before them, at the tall monument and the mighty temple at its center.

"Whatever they were guarding, and whatever I’m meant to find, I bet it’s in there." Joseph pointed at the temple, before looking back at Denji. "What’re you here for anyways? Doubt you just felt like taking a stroll through the desert." Though it’d be the least perplexing thing about this guy.

Edited by ISZATSO on Jul 19th 2024 at 4:47:22 AM

With great power…you know the rest.
RainbyPlays fae being from yes Since: Nov, 2019 Relationship Status: Hiding
fae being
#388710: Jul 19th 2024 at 1:43:41 PM

Dust And Bone

Fire, paper, staff, and sword. The Sylvans hadn't expected these so-called savages to use magic.

Yuki's fireball struck one of the swordsmen- immolating him instantly as he fell to the ground, dead. The planes cause deep wounds on the others, though...

...they don't seem to have blood?

Something's up.

Liam's staff struck the closest one- the leader of the bunch -and sends them flying back...

Innate Skill: True Sylvan Magic- Luminous Arrows

...before Ethan thrusts his staff forward, the tip exploding into a swarm of light arrows that strike true against the remaining Slyvans that live.

"...good riddance."

The forms crumble to dust, leaving the souls that had been forcefully bound to them to drift away. They were nothing but constructs...

So you have fight in you, boy... Interesting. You may be worthy of my family's name yet.

Get out of my head, you goddamned horrid excuse of a father. Next time, if you want to fight me, don't send your damned constructs.

Ethan's eyes open, and he looks up at Libby.

"Straight for us? Which direction?"

The ground underneath everyone's feet rose as Ethan lifted it, creating a platform for them to stand on against the oncoming foe.

aeiou: the second
IchigoMontoya (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#388711: Jul 19th 2024 at 2:53:33 PM

"Hey, I meant it when I said 'nice shot!' Yeesh, learn to take a friggin' comp-"

Before Nicole finish the rest of her sentence, Zero has already unleashed multiple energy pillars via Rekkoha. She takes flight once more and begins weaving about through the air, snapping off the occasional retaliatory Arcane Beam before a few Rekkoha beams manage to successfully blast her to the ground.

"Alright... Guess it's time I kicked things up a couple notches, too," she mutters while climbing back to her feet.

DevilPsyco from The Underworld (pretty deep down in the ground) Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
#388712: Jul 19th 2024 at 3:24:11 PM

Game

Inside

The castle begins to crumble more and more around them, pillars and ornaments crashing into the ground and spreading more glitched data around, which eats right through the game environment like acid. The holes in space created by Delilah's powers going haywire only speed up the matter, as glitched data spreads out of the sides of the holes whenever they appear on anything solid.

When some of the holes start appearing on the ceiling and roof of the castle, something outside takes notice.

Something that's flying.

Something enormous...

-

Evan snaps out of whatever trance he was in and starts to panic too. Shadow Bonnie straight up disappears, though that may be a side effect of the battle ending. Still, that's one option completely lost to them now.

"Oh no, I-I don't wanna disappear forever!", he cries. Gregory tries his best to stay calm so that he can try to help the others, but in the end he's a kid too, and as such he completely loses his cool not long after Emma, Delilah and Evan.

"This can't be happening, not after everything!"

Jax and Charlie are the only ones still remotely calm. But that may not last very long either when the hallway in front of the group collapses. Even if they did have the time to run back outside, now they can't even continue forward.

Is this really the end?

...

Suddenly an enormous dark blue hand bursts through the ceiling near where one of Delilah's portals is spreading glitched data, startling Evan and Gregory out of their panic. They stare as another enormous hand claws its way in a little further, after which the two hands move in opposite directions to full-on tear away the ceiling, creating a massive hole.

They'll now be able to see what exactly's out there, and it's undoubtedly not anything any of them would have expected to see. A giant angelic creature that almost looks mechanical in some areas of its body.

It peers down at the group, leaving the two young boys frozen in fear.

"Be not afraid... for your savior has arrived!", a voice says, coming not from the angelic being, but from close to its location.

Wait, that voice is...

"... Noah!?", Gregory asks. Noah's form manifests on the angelic being's shoulder.

"There's time to gawk at my splendid last-minute rescue later.", he says, though still smirks smugly. "Get on Shinato's hand so that we can get out of here."

Shinato lowers one of its massive hands, and when I say massive, I mean that even Bedman? looks tiny in comparison. All of them will be able to stand on this singular hand.

Evan quickly hurries onto it. Gregory does the same, but if Delilah is still not in a state to immediately move, he'll pull on her arm to get her attention and try to help her get onto Shinato's hand.

Escape!

Once the whole group is standing on Shinato's hand, it'll slightly cover them with the other, holding it above them. Likely to protect them from potential falling debris and to prevent them from falling off due to the wind that flying up will cause.

After that it starts to fly upwards as fast as possible, dodging falling glitch data and even parts of the digital sky that have come loose and start falling.

Between that and the ground beneath them shifting and quaking, the castle and forest slowly beginning to collapse and sink into the digital earth, it really looks like they're escaping an actual apocalypse.

"Right after you guys went inside, I drew the final card necessary to summon my boss monster.", Noah says, still on Shinato's shoulder. "I made short work of those three minions and I'd been trying to find a way inside ever since. I didn't get the chance to do so until those portals started popping up."

"Well... thanks for saving us. I guess you're a good guy after all.", Gregory says. Noah just hums, sounding smugly pleased. ... he's not going to mention how he was about to just try to bail without them once he saw the game world starting to break apart.

"But how will we be able to get back out?", Evan asks.

"Simple. With Dead King Freddy gone, I'm back in control of the code he took with him. It's not much, but it should be just enough to create a way out."

Gregory looks to the side, towards the snowy region, which has nearly completely collapsed in on itself. He can't help but feel awful for Lolbit. Without their sacrifice, the group wouldn't have made it past Dead King Freddy. And now Lolbit's remaining data is going down with the ship. But even if they had the time to go towards Lolbit's robotic remains and pick them up, they wouldn't be able to help them.

Beneath them, the town and the mountains get destroyed as well. There's little to no land left down there. Instead there's a sea of corrupted, malevolent data. Were this a horror movie, one would expect some kind of giant monstrous Dead King Freddy to suddenly appear from within and try to drag them back down. Thankfully no such thing happens. But the world is still growing too unstable nonetheless, and everything is starting to collapse all around them.

One of Delilah's portals will start to form above them (even if she's already calmed down at this point, the game is too messed up to restabilize).

"That's what I was waiting for. Get ready, you lot. We're about to transcend!", Noah grins as an astral-like limb now portrudes out of Shinato, pointing upwards and launching a beam at the portal, altering its data and with it, its destination. Once the portal forms, it shows the hotel's living room.

Evan closes his eyes and even puts his hands on them, while Gregory braces himself.

Shinato enters the portal with everyone, and...

Chime of freedom

Outside

Upon seeing the portal form on the television, Roxy and Freddy quickly try to grab Cassie and Grape, while Monty tries to grab Fallen Sunny and Chica tries to grab Sam, but he's already up and running on his own.

Mike, Cassidy and Bonnie back off too, and everyone who got grabbed will be pulled back immediately to get them away from the television, and it'll be just in time too, because Jax, Charlie, Emma, Delilah, Bedman?, Evan, Gregory and even Noah himself will suddenly be launched out of the television and crash into the couch. Thankfully Shinato itself didn't come through, despawning once they were out of cyberspace, because otherwise everyone in the room would have been crushed due to its size.

There's a silence for a bit, but Cassidy is the one to break it.

"You're back... YOU'RE BACK!", she happily cheers. Evan and Gregory are still too dazed to really comprehend it, but the others, especially Mike, are already cheering in relief.

Well, aside from Grape, though that's because he's trying to get Glamrock Freddy's arms off of himself, not wanting to be held by the robot. Otherwise he's just as happy as everyone else here that the others got out safely.

Sam, too, isn't cheering. Not because he's not happy, but because he seems to be using the opportunity to just flat-out leave.

In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
Bolded1 Fate, guide me from behind you!!!!!!!! Since: Mar, 2015
Fate, guide me
#388713: Jul 19th 2024 at 3:41:27 PM

DNC

Kana smiles slightly, but doesn't comment any more, her stare growing colder as she advances in the water. Heeding Ladwin's advice, she take two big stomps into the water, then continue to stomp her way across it, splashing the water with her arms while swinging them left and right, mimicking like she's trying to walk when she isn't. She figures it's to make the bait seem less obvious.

She couldn't help but feel slightly miffled at the idea of spoiling water with blood and guts, but at the same time, those beasts-

-Those beasts didn't give her time to monologue in her mind.

Appearing around her with a blast of water, Kana isn't surprised, because she's been able to use her senses to track their movements. What surprise her is their strength - she can resist them, but Kana isn't able to cleanly overpower them either, grunting as she flexes her arms up. If she hadn't been prepared... Well, she wouldn't have drowned but she'd have been taken away from her teammates at a bad time for all of them.

Still, Kana was prepared in more ways than just making herself as movable as a mountain. Her flesh become like swirling water and stone as her head transforms into her dragon form's, transforming into a grey orb in the jaw of a eyeless dragon with grey plates on its head, deer antlers and a long neck. And from that very orb, a sharp spike come from, attempting to impale the Drowner facing her in the head.

Should she achieve that, or even if she fails, Kana then swings her head to the left, attempting to slice into the head of her next foe. She doesn't need to make it a fatal strike - so long as it get weakened, she roars and lift her arm up, attempting to grab a hold of the rotten flesh as she swings her arm in a full overhead circle to bring it down upon her third would-be captor, trying to essentially smash one on top of the other, with her fist a veritable hammer.

She can't help her allies too directly yet even if she succeed - but assuming she does, Kana try to grab one of the monstrous beasts to hold it down for Taye.

Arena - Somewhere

Loki of the Godworld has had suffered a pretty nasty "death" back there. With quote marks because he could never truly die due to his nature. That, and Gor had acknowledged that he had managed to acquaint himself well given what he was facing. Hence, he was still alive and kicking, a fact he was grateful for. If only because displeasing Gor was a worse fate than any of the deaths that the group facing him could have given him.

And he knew that this fate was in store for him. It was inevitable. Not with his nature, not with what he had done to it.

Hence, Loki found himself haunting a random bit of the Arena, having scattered a large circle of cherry petals around an area about 12 kilometers wide. There, he found himself easing his boredom, sitting cross-legged and high in the sky as he manipulated the world at his feet, freezing the world at his feet, then melting the ice, then evaporating the subsequent water, then transforming the vapor into frogs that exploded into blood upon impacting the ground, with the blood morphing itself into pretty flowers.

All under Loki's stoic gaze, his face resting on his left fist.

Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitter
shroobot3000 Witch of Scarlet Dreams from Behind you Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Witch of Scarlet Dreams
#388714: Jul 19th 2024 at 4:41:32 PM

Vampire Duel

"I burn in the sun, idiot-" Flandre begins only to ouch owie get punched very hard. She lands in a mini-crater and seems down for the count. Until Clones One and Two land next to her and she grabs both, shattering them and draining the energy back into herself as a pick-me-up. She stands up, licking some blood around her mouth.

"My, my. You hit almost as hard as that Lunarian princess did." she says, advancing towards him. "How about I show you what I hit her with?"

Night Lord "Dracula Cradle"

Flandre uses a hefty chunk of her remaining energy to envelop herself in a scarlet aura before jumping up. She then blasts some of it behind her and flies at Slayer at a ridiculous speed, aiming to slam into him like a vampiric bullet and cause a violent, explosive reaction with her aura. Astute onlookers might notice it flare purple ever so briefly.

   "Don't tell her I told you this but she lost that fight."    Dai whispers to Whis.


Vs Mugen Zero

   "Pathetic."    Trio says to Zero as he deals with the Rekkoha by summoning a barrier to act as an umbrella, a trick unique to his Dark Man based repair. He follows up by enveloping his right fist in Evil Energy, before sending a punch shaped projectile to smash into Zero.


Confluence of Fates

Soulstealer regards the newcomers with disdain, giving Reyna the opportunity to do her thing. The Elder Dragon snarls angrily and attempts to swat her like a fly with a claw swipe. He then refocuses on Terapagos and this weird looking guy who just showed up, taking off briefly and charging up before doing a sweep with an energy beam again, this time ala-Rathalos.

"That was a pointless encounter with a pointless person."
IchigoMontoya (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#388715: Jul 19th 2024 at 4:43:38 PM

Blackreach, G.E.M. Base

Thor, Loki, and Sylvie are sitting outside of the entrance to G.E.M.'s headquarters and playing a game of cards amongst themselves. That is, until Sylvie notices whatever's going on in the distance.

"That kind of stuff doesn't normally happen around here, does it?" she inquires.

Loki packs up the deck of cards the Asgardians were using.

"My, my, is it that time already? It seems the bizarre oddities have arrived ahead of schedule."

Thor allows an exasperated sigh to escape his throat.

"Great. As if we didn't have enough to contend with already..."

With that, each of the trio stands up before heading towards whichever part of Blackreach the weirdness was localized in.

KiriK The Grey Pilgrim from across time and space Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
The Grey Pilgrim
#388716: Jul 19th 2024 at 4:45:45 PM

Confluence of Fates

It is VERY IMPORTANT that Reyna gets a chance to follow up before her allies hit the powder and set it off, which is why she scrambles to do so (by which I mean me, scrambling to post first).

She uses an air-dash to dodge the claw swipe, then sends her Kinsect back up at Soulstealer. Then she spins her Insect Glaive, and the Kinsect starts flying around wildly enough to whip up winds that pull the powder clouds in toward Soulstealer before setting all the powder off at once in a powerful combined explosion, the greatest single-hit damage the Insect Glaive is capable of!

As a bonus, because of the green powder mixed in, any allies who get close enough to the blast will be healed greatly.

Edited by KiriK on Jul 19th 2024 at 6:47:40 AM

"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
Bolded1 Fate, guide me from behind you!!!!!!!! Since: Mar, 2015
Fate, guide me
#388717: Jul 19th 2024 at 4:55:41 PM

Blackreach

Loki doesn't really do much this round. He notices that the trio he's preparing for are heading their way, and he shift the scenery to something less dangerous looking, building up a large golden tower in the middle of the area. Beams of light shine from the tip of it, and Loki is left to sit on a throne at said top, a smile on his features.

Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitter
Bolded1 Fate, guide me from behind you!!!!!!!! Since: Mar, 2015
Fate, guide me
#388718: Jul 19th 2024 at 5:20:29 PM

Denji time

Jumping into danger while carrying an old alcoholic dude (or, well, having the old alcoholic dude jumping on his shirt) wasn't as intense as jumping into danger with a hot babe clinging on to his neck, but Denji... Well, at the same time, he'd be worried about her, he thinks, so he doesn't know if he'd be happy. But either way, Denji is regretful that the moment wasn't done with a pretty woman at least.

This kind of override his greater problem. That is, that his chainsaws mostly cut into stone instead of flesh, with Denji making a spectacle out of tearing apart a big hunk of stone, but not the defenders who stood on it. Because they were gone, which made Denji blink. But, not having Joseph's experience and sharp mind, he has to wait for the older man to make a suggestion before he nod up and down.

   MAYBE    He says, leaning to the side, mulling over his ideas in deep gravitas.    1.    He hold up a finger, absent-mindedly getting the tip of a chainsaw distressingly close to Joseph's face.    THEY LEFT TO GO EAT SOMETHING NICE AND WE ATTACKED WHILE THEY WEREN'T READY   

   OR MAYBE YOU HALLUCINATED THE ARROWS BECAUSE OF THE HEAT AND ANGER JUICE!    Having shared his ideas with Joseph, Denji think about the ones Joseph proposed. Hmm, this did seem suspicious!    WELL IF THEY FLED WE CAN JUST CATCH THEM!    The conclusion he offered was said bluntly but either way to Denji, they had to move. Turning around, he start running to the nearest stairs, only stopping to turn around when Joseph asks him what he's doing out here.

This could be a great time to explain the GGG problem ocurring elsewhere and see if Jospeh knew anyone who could help with it. And besides, Denji's motives were noble. Surely he'd understand if-

   ZOMBIE INVASION!   

Having said his piece, Denji start heading deeper into the fortress, his chainsaws roaring across the halls as he try to lure the archers to fight him.

   WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?!!!   

Decepticon-Con

Oh, the great Soundwave would visit too then? Skysmurder make a note for later, eyeing the screen and her computer.

   Starscream doesn't know respect. This mean he doesn't know how to invoke it as well,    she says, trying to make her motives clear.    I will agree it was a mistake to introduce you to him like that. I shall be more careful about this - I had forgotten his... eccentric behavior when around people he mistrust a bit more than usual.    She make a bowing motion, but her optics are set high. And Deathswheel is nearby, as if to warn her should Deathsaurus try something.

   ... Did he really try to kill Meg-Lord Megatron in your world? I always thought that this was, erm, filthy Autobot propaganda. The idea that Decepticons are anything less than united behind their firm leader, I mean.    Deatshwheel says, tilting her head to the side.

   Hm...    Skysmurder roll her optics.

Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitter
IchigoMontoya (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#388719: Jul 19th 2024 at 5:42:32 PM

Once they've arrived, all three Asgardians look up at the tower to see just who was responsible for the strange occurrences.

"You cannot be bloody serious."

"Is that really who I think it is? I thought you said you'd dealt with that arsehole."

"Unless this is a dream either of us has yet to awaken from, somehow, the weaselly cur returned."

After flying Loki and Sylvie up to the tower, Thor wordlessly stomps towards Myth!Loki while thunder audibly booms and rumbles in the sky above ground, wearing a hateful glare capable of chilling even the hardiest Frost Giant's blood on his face. Clearly in no mood whatsoever to exchange barbs, let alone listen to whatever snide remark the sniveling coward had no doubt prepared for this inevitable encounter, he swiftly thrusts out an arm and unleashes an absolutely gargantuan blast of lightning at his old foe from point-blank range. Provided his attack connects, Thor capitalizes on the assault by attempting to launch Mjolnir directly onto Myth!Loki's chest in order to keep him pinned to the ground beneath the legendary hammer.

Assuming his brother's opening salvo was successful, Loki moves to furiously kick Myth!Loki right where it hurts before pointing Nightbane straight at his old enemy's throat, the sword's ebon blade crackling with dark energy.

"Well, well, if it isn't Odin's little puppet and Set's pet. What an unpleasant surprise," he remarks, grinning nastily. "I wonder if long-vanquished foes somehow returning has become a worrying trend as of late."

Thor stalks forward like a wolf ready to pounce upon its prey, his eyes glowing electric blue as he brings his axe Stormbringer to bear. At the same time, Sylvie marches up to Myth!Loki and aims her own sword at his face.

"You were right, Loki. He does look like a malformed troll up close," she chimes in.

Edited by IchigoMontoya on Jul 19th 2024 at 5:43:26 AM

SymeSynth The Magician (Rule of Seven) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
The Magician
#388720: Jul 19th 2024 at 6:59:30 PM

"I am Alderoth Karras, Ninth Summoner of Eriseelie," is the dark-haired man's quick reply to Severus' inquiry, his gaze otherwise settled on the forest. It certainly doesn't mean that he is oblivious, instead continuing on.

"It might also be something sinister, but I doubt it at this point. While this area is certainly questionable, it has been otherwise inert."

This time, when the second newcomer approaches the scene, Alderoth does not turn. For a moment, it's almost as if he doesn't really even seem to properly acknowledge the vampire's presence.

At least, until he speaks.

"...And, no, this isn't my doing. It would be interesting to see if I could wield it, but—"

If Milo's nose is sensitive enough, he may be able to pick up on a few details of note: namely, that the forest patch smells almost sterile. The other elephant in the room is that Alderoth doesn't smell quite human, scent layered with something distinctly magical.

When the sisters make their appearance, however, Alderoth finally turns, albeit only with a twist of his head in their direction. He does narrow his single eye at the oni's proposal, but he makes no comment aside from a vague look of disdain.

"I don't believe that any one of us has any true answers as to why this has happened."


From Eve's vantage point, she may be able to take note of a particular detail: the fact whatever this corruption is, it isn't quite contained to just the forest, extending well into the Arena's skies, almost as if an entire section of the Arena was cut out and infected with... whatever this is. Otherwise, there are no signs of activity, nor any indications that it might grow, and that is probably for the best.

Creator of the Avatar Arena and its Discord server.
DevilPsyco from The Underworld (pretty deep down in the ground) Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
#388721: Jul 19th 2024 at 7:08:33 PM

Confluence of Fates

So after Soulstealer basically got nuked by the attack (even if it wasn't noted to be), the newly empowered Terapagos creates another barrier to block most of the damage from the sweeping beam attack.

Expecting for Soulstealer to try to close in to steal more of its Terastal energy though, Terapagos will attempt to make the first move by charging at Soulstealer, then shattering its own barrier to have the now sharp fragments rain down on Soulstealer. It's aiming for the beast's eyes most of all.

Regardless of how effective it may be, Reyna's attack would go through first.

In the year 202X, all is devastation... Soon, any last shred of hope had by the saintliest optimist shall die and decay.
IchigoMontoya (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#388722: Jul 19th 2024 at 9:24:24 PM

Severus strokes his chin in a thoughtful manner after Alderoth introduces himself.

"I could have sworn we've met before. Regardless, my name is Severus," he replies. "Perhaps by working together, Alderoth, we could get to the root of... whatever in the Void we're dealing with here. Although, I'm not entirely certain what you could do with this strange power even if you were able to wield it."

He raises an eyebrow at Milo.

"This certainly wasn't our doing, I assure you," he says. "Is something the matter? You seem... unsettled."

BombonBombin Nightmare lord from Across time and space Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: In love with love
Nightmare lord
#388723: Jul 19th 2024 at 9:48:27 PM

OOC Note for Kirik (Drought): since my characters more or less left the main scene to work at the well, you can skip me, too.


AIS

The Rollers are reading the map.

Wow... How big...

Why everything is in Chinese?

"Dunno... I left my Chinese studies at first level: too many characters to remember..."

Oh! I wanna go to Disney World!

Sorry Luna, but that's outta the circles...

Suggest something better, then.

I'm between Quarry Bay and HKN... What that stands for?

"I want to go to the University."

I knew you would say that, Nina.

"What do you think, guys?"


Dust & Bowls

The Triplets watch the constructs turn into dust.

Ta: Just mere constructs... I think they set us a trap.

Ti: Probably... More foes are coming!

As they hop on the platform Ethan made, Te asks:

I think we should search for a better shelter.


Tropique

Sorry for not introducing us before. I am Zas.

Can.

And Duri, nice to meet you.

And we are known as the Zascanduri sisters, elven artists from Danciland.

And if there aren't answers, we should look for them.

Duri sniffs a faint magic scent, altough she can't pinpoint its source. She also doesn't mention about it: probably her sisters smelled it already.

Tell us, Alderoth, when did the disturbance started?


Pica-Verse

Lab

Nacho is the orange one, right? Got it. Here, feather head!

The Hunter shots a burst of water directly at the eyes of Warrior!Nacho, blinding him temporarily, while the Wolf goes to bite Warrior!Belén's leg.

Meanwhile, Warrior!Emi leaps a single step backwards, and counters the divekick with a thrust of his spear.

...

Concert

...Teleport us? Mamma mia, why did you say nothing about it?

Please, teleport us inside. If Goyo is there, probably is near their dressing rooms.

Three freaking ghosts!
ISZATSO The Web-Slinger from Queens Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
The Web-Slinger
#388724: Jul 19th 2024 at 10:35:57 PM

     Alt-Arena Act 1, Part 3, Post 4 

Flint’s shotgun spread shredded through the creature’s shoulder, leaving a mess of Infestation and bone behind. At the same time, Croque’s knife sunk almost easily into the creature’s head, cutting through a skull not yet fully formed, but even as the attack struck where its brain should’ve been, it continued its assault.

Croque’s sudden interjection into the brawl thankfully gave M16 an opportunity to fall back, though the obvious result of this was it turning its attention to her instead. It was pushed a couple steps back by the initial impact, before righting its footing, reaching to grab hold of Croque, and making an effort to chuck her halfway across the station. M16’s bullet blew apart the back of its head, flames licking to life to devour the remainder. But even still, it kept going. Thankfully, in came Belemicho with the timely assist, activating his plasmablade and cleaving through the creature’s waist with it. As the monster’s legs slumped limply to the platform floor, liquid leaking from it and pooling around, the upper half fell to the ground and began crawling. It dragged itself in M16’s direction before Joshua smashed his titanic foot down onto the monster’s back. There was a grand cracking as its spine was snapped, and its ribcage was crushed.

The punishment was simply too great, and the creature went still at last.

Julia was incredibly wary as she approached. She kept a healthy distance as she leaned her foot out and nudged the Infested’s side. It was motionless. She shuffled a step closer and kicked it this time, with a similar outcome, before deducing that these results were satisfactory. Once Joshua had removed his foot from the monster, the woman reached down and—with a hand protected by a translucent hardlight “glove”—grabbed the creature by the arm. She flipped it over. By now, the bullet-induced immolation courtesy of M16 had sizzled out, having decimated the back of its head but leaving the face largely untouched.

That’s just it. There was no face. No eyes, no mouths, no nose, not even so much as a hint that such features were being developed in the womb. There were no protrusions nor depressions, the front of the monster’s head was nothing less than smooth. The rest of its body was deathly pale, lithe and lacking in any sort of hair or, like the face, features. Its long and slender fingers ended in claws. It was built like a human, but much too thin and too tall to be one. Julia procured a boxy metal device connected to a needle and slid it into the corpse’s nape. A blue visor materialized over her eyes and she eyed the information displayed on the invisible hud. Her expression took the form of surprise, then disbelief, and at last, confusion.

"It says…this thing has human DNA. The untouched parts, at least; the parts that the Infestation didn’t fuck up. But that’s not all…it’s practically identical to the gene sequence of one of the officers who was here a few hours ago."

"Thought they all made it out?" Julian asked, arms crossed. He glanced to Edmund for clarity, but the old man was evidently just as lost as the rest of them. "You saying one of those cops…is somebody else? Something else?"

"No," Julia shook her head. "The tissue’s very new. Whatever this thing was only created after the officers left. I don’t think that man was replaced. I think he was cloned.

"What the hell do they need clones for!" Edmund demanded, as though Julia had the answers they all seeked.

"No clue." She sighed, and the visor flickered away as the woman stood. "But I can wager a guess."

Irina offered some insight of her own: "Some Infested were known to show…higher levels of intelligence. During the war." She added the last part on, as though she’d forgotten this was information from millennia ago, rather than the present era. "But the scientists also thought they followed a hive mind. So who knows. We certainly didn’t."

"We still don’t.." Julian grumbled.

"Leave the body here." Julia suggested, looking down at it. "I wanna take it with us, do some more research. In…an isolated environment, of course." She clarified, noticing the concerned and pointed glares her family was giving.

"We should hurry. And keep an eye out for any more of those pods. If they made one clone, they made thirty." Edmund advised. "Train we’re looking for went down…this tunnel." He pointed rightward. "If Jane’s down here, she’s somewhere that way." He hopped down from the platform and leading the way. His flashlight clicked on, splitting the darkness from its shelter in his shirt’s breast pocket. Before them was only darkness with his halo of light illuminating the tracks and various maintenance doors on either side. Dust was heavy in the space between the light and the earth, specks falling like snow. Edmund coughed. Julian hung back and did a double-take at Alda’s choice in concession. He balked at the baggie, before trying to write it off coolly: "Whatever helps you fight best.."

But Julia had seen his initial reaction from a few paces away, and stifled her giggle. The brother she knew so well, though obscured by this soldier who was a stranger to her, was not quite gone. Beside her, Irina huffed her frustration. "Can’t even see my fucking feet.."

Not all were nearly so blind in the dark as her or Edmund, though. Julia, as well as the others in their group with night-vision amenities, saw it before the others: a good distance ahead, stopped in the middle of the tunnel, was a lone subway car. The other segments were nowhere to be seen save this one, deathly quiet and still.

"Up ahead," whispered Julia. "There’s…a single heat signature. Small. Be cautious." And cautious they were, taking their positions as ordained by Edmund, at the rear door of the subway car when they arrived at last. Joshua was placed nearest to the entrance, due to his size and strength marking him as the most capable of handling whatever threat might engage them in close quarters. Near them were Max, Belemicho, and Julian, Croque and M16 placed directly in front of Alda past Joshua, and just behind them, Julia in a support position with Irina guarding her. They all stood ready, for the moment of truth, the moment of entry. Flint and Edmund were the breach duo. As Edmund swung the subway door open, Flint would swing around the corner with his shotgun at the ready and Edmund directly following…only to sigh when he laid eyes on the source of the heat signature. He sat cowering in the far end of the subway, quivering in fear under a seat, with eyes wide like a doe’s.

"Shit, Julia. That “heat signature” of yours is just a kid."

Edited by ISZATSO on Jul 19th 2024 at 1:55:26 PM

With great power…you know the rest.
josh6243 Betty "Blast Hornet" Blanctorche Doppler from Digital Realm Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Betty "Blast Hornet" Blanctorche Doppler
#388725: Jul 20th 2024 at 12:52:32 AM

Vanilla Cream Sherbet - Drought

Vanilla is left awestruck at how that small ball could suck Groudon with little effort.

The yeti-elf exclaims, "Amazing! Can you tell me where you bought it?"

Akuma Shogun - Makai

The reflected eye beams pierce right through Akuma Shogun's armor, causing the baddie to cough up blood behind his mask.

"   Let's see if you can handle this! Not many can resist it! The Hell's Nine-Point Seal!   "

The badly-beaten Akuma Shogun rushes at Peppino and attempts to put him in a rather convoluted chain of grapples.

Buffaloman and Black Hole have already pinned Sneagator and The Ninja to the mat in the meantime. They watch as Peppino faces his potential doom.

Buffaloman laughs, "It's over for you, chef. Just give us the free pizzas."

Black Hole adds, "We've got the most heretical toppings ordered just to make you suffer."


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