Exit Thread

[The Spirit]

You see a flash of white when you die, your weakened body at the temple is greeted by the Spirit. His floating visage seems disappointed. He sighs a bit before looking at the Statue one more time.

"I appreciate the effort Hero, but I guess you weren't the one destined to save me. Farewell and I hope your future journeys bode well. Here is a reward for your efforts." The Spirit holds out an orb of Omnilium and places it into your chest."

You fall again, but the journey is instead white. You hear a soft, cackly voice enter your head. "Before you go, this is mine!" You feel a prick of your finger and see a purple figure take the blood before falling immediately into the Nexus.

[Weiss Schnee]

Weiss woke up feeling lightheaded. “Ruby…” She muttered, her eyes widening as she suddenly remembered everything that happened before she’d fallen unconscious. They were apparently out of the weird place they'd found themselves standing in before, and Weiss recognized the snow-covered ground she'd fallen in as the place they'd came from.

What she wouldn’t give to punch that stupid bastard with the silly helmet in the face right now.
Weiss realized she was bleeding from the recently opened gash in her side. That bastard made her, and Ruby, do horrible things, and Weiss wished she could do something to take them back, but-

Weiss looked up and, in shock, she saw something she never expected to see. Ruby was scrambling away from Weiss, with a look of horror in her eyes. Her breath came out in panicked gasps, like she wanted to scream, but couldn't find the air to.

“Ruby!”
“S-s-stay away from m-m-m-me” The girl sobbed out, crying, before curling up next to a rock, hugging her knees and shivering.

“Ruby…”
“I-I’m so sorry W-Weiss. I p-promise I-I didn’t mean…” Ruby continued, before devolving into mindless babble.

Weiss pushed herself to her knee. “...It wasn’t your fault.” She said quietly, different looks flashing through her eyes. “Ruby, please…” Weiss said with a surprisingly needy tone, offering her hand to her leader.

“I-I-I can’t. I-I’ll hurt you a-again and then…” Ruby continued, tears staining her cheeks.
“Ruby..” Weiss teared up. “Please. I know it wasn’t your fault. You’d never do this to me willingly. I trust you, but…” Weiss gasped for air, realizing she might have overexerted herself just from kneeling. “...You pushing me away… hurts more.”

Ruby’s face changed to one of shock, as fresh tears kept falling down it. “W-Weiss…” The redhead cried, tears falling across her face. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Shut up, you dolt. I know you didn’t. It doesn’t matter, anyway. Prime and all, right? Body’ll just fix itself up with a little time.” Weiss said with a low tone.

She was lying through her teeth, of course. She wasn’t healing like she did in the omniverse at all, and she’d already lost a lot of blood. her leg had become even more damaged by her use of it in the tournament, and she avoided looking back to see the bone she knew was jutting out. She might have been screaming, if her nervous system wasn’t already starting to give out.

Ruby crept closer, still crying, as she took off her cape. “I-if you feel cold… M-maybe this will help?” She offered with an attempt at a grin, as she carefully walked towards Weiss, before crying again. “Weiss, I’m so sorry. Don’t be…”
“Ruby, kneel down.”
“...huh?”

“Just do it!” Weiss ordered, before a bloody cough escaped her. Terrified, silver eyes met her own, as Weiss contemplated just what she was about to do. She was more terrified at that moment than she wanted to admit, as she felt a cold chill run through her body.

“Ruby, I’m… I hope Omni wasn’t lying.” She said, avoiding the girl’s eyes, even as she heard her teammate start to descend into babble again.
“Weiss I can fix this, I know I can, we just need to…” Ruby started to ramble, losing coherence again quickly as her words descended into crying, before a swift, very light slap hit the girl across the face.
“Don’t be… stupid. We’re in the cold mountains… I’ve lost too much blood... it’s just… how life goes sometimes.” Weiss said.
“It’s all my fault, Weiss! I’m sorry! I’m sorry I wasn’t better…”

Weiss’s face started to feel stiff, and she knew she didn’t have a whole lot of time left.
“Ruby… listen. I…” Weiss began. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I was a terrible team-”
“You weren’t! You were n amazing teammate! Don’t you-”
“I pushed you away all the time-”

“But you always tried! Even when it was hard! Even when you didn’t know how to say what you wanted to!” Ruby yelled through her tears, and Weiss’s eyes widened. She’d thought that… but of course she hadn’t concealed a single thing from Ruby. Her leader had always been able to see through her, from day one.

“...Weiss, you’re dying… It’s my fault… You don’t need to say sorry to me…” The girl said with tears in her eyes, her hand propping Weiss’s face up as she started to lose the strength to do it herself.

“...Ruby.” Weiss managed after a moment. her breathing was coming far slower now, in tortured gasps, and she knew it’d only get worse… she didn’t have time for something drawn out. Weiss summoned all the remaining strength she had to push her body up, and for just half a second, she hoped Omni was feeding her lies when he mentioned the whole “stay around as long as you interest me” thing.

At least that way, she’d never have to live this down.

“Weiss,you shouldn’t move-” Ruby was cut off, as pale arms wrapped around her shoulders, and Ruby’s eyes widened as her partner’s pale lips covered her own.

Weiss found it kind of funny, in her head. She’d fought so hard for the freedom to live her life the way she wanted to, hit roadblocks constantly, had every part of her life moderated so much, even by herself… But here, at the end of her life, she’d finally managed to do one thing, freely, and for a brief moment, the pain, the loneliness, the loss of everything she was and everything she loved…

She would have done it all again. Every single moment.

She felt a red cloak cover her as they kissed, and every bit of regret faded away. Well, just about every regret.

“I’m such a coward, huh? I had a whole year to do that.” Weiss muttered. just as the earth around them started crumbling. Weiss looked up to see that the area around them was starting to crumble and shake apart in a spontaneous earthquake, and both of their eyes widened.
“Run, quickly, Ruby!”


“Weiss… it’s over. I can’t…” Ruby said with tears in her eyes. “We’re not gonna be able to make it, Weiss.”

Weiss closed her eyes bitterly. “You can’t die. I’m supposed to stop-”
Weiss felt her partners arms close around her. “Thank you, Weiss.” She said, before she felt Ruby’s lips press against her own, and Weiss, amidst all her fears, all her sadness, all her regret…

Was happy, even as the world collapsed around them.

[Ruby Rose]

Weiss... you mean the world to me. I never want to lose you. So many times in the past, we've argued, and you've yelled at me, and I kinda yelled back... but you know what? That's just part of being friends. We fall apart, and together we rebuild with a stronger foundation. When I was alone in the Omniverse... there wasn't a passing moment when I didn't think about you three... and even less so a moment where I didn't think about you. I missed you, Weiss, I missed you so much. And now... I've hurt you, and we're both dying, falling into an abyss, at the bottom of which god-knows what lurks... I blame myself, for everything. I should have been a better leader.

All those times you told me off, I should have listened... I think being the first to be torn from team RWBY was my punishment. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me, and if you wanted to leave me... but I just want you to know, for ever and ever, that if my heart was ever torn from my body, a small fragment, containing memories of you, would be left behind. I dunno what I feel... am I in love? Is it just a need for you by my side? I think... it's something more, if you can understand. It's more than just 'love', it's a real connection... like separation is nothing short of impossible. Weiss... please, stay with me, always and forever.

Slowly, the shadows that populated the abyss beneath the crumbling terrain lashed out at the girls like deadly whips, slashing chunks of rainbow-coloured material from their flesh, until soon they were nothing more than multicolored sparkles, drifting like spectral snow into a vortex of nothingness.

White filled Ruby's vision, like a flashbang went off in her eyes, until finally it cleared, and she was kneeling on a cold, black floor, no light illuminating her small body... and yet she could see herself, skin, attire and all, perfectly clear. W-what... is happening? She wondered, before tears began to drip from her eyes like silver beads. W-where... is Weiss? She asked herself, taking a gander at her pitch-black surroundings and finding no ivory-dressed female around her. Slowly, the blackness faded away, leaving her in the strange temple the whole nightmare began in. And the peculiar, azure spirit that they were helping floated before her, a rather disappointed look on his ethereal face.

I appreciate the effort Hero, but I guess you weren't the one destined to save me. Farewell and I hope your future journeys bode well. Here is a reward for your efforts.

Ruby took no note of the essence that was pressed into her being. Instead, her head was filled with that one line; 'weren't the one destined to save me'. Too many times, she had heard similar words, telling her that becoming a Huntress was a hopeless dream, that no matter what she could not save the world.

You are useless, was translated into her head.

"No, I'm not... be quiet...

You can't even save yourself; what use is it trying to protect others?

"I said be quiet!"

Ruby Rose, just go back to being an innocent little school girl. You have no place in this world. You are absolutely hope-

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Ruby screamed, before covering her mouth in shock.

Had... had she really just said that? Of course, for anyone else it might have just been considered a minor mishap... but she was the pure, innocent, do-no-evil Ruby Rose. Swearing, for her, could be considered just as bad as murder to another.

No... it is murder. I've murdered myself... the innocent side of me... Ruby clutched herself tightly, shaking wildly and sobbing in large breaths. "F-first... I-I go crazy and n-nearly kill someone i-in an arena... t-then I chopped o-off a p-person's arm... t-then I h-hurt W-Weiss... and now this..." Ruby sobbed out her words subconsciously, every terrible thing she'd done up until this point converging and tearing her apart from within. "Weiss... I'm so sorry..." She cried, flattening herself against the floor as she let out a string of cries.

The world became white around her, and she fell once more, her cries drowned out. A cackling filled her head and she halted her sobbing, suddenly fearful.

Before you go, this is mine!

Something grasped her hand, and she tried tearing away, screaming. A sharp object pricked her finger, and a strange, purple figure came into view for a moment... and Ruby's eyes narrowed in anger. "YOU!" She screamed; it was the asshole who had caused them all, the spirit included, so much pain. How did she know? That creature who had sapped blood from their wounds earlier was this character, and no one was able to use such powerful tricks. There was only one person it could be; the Warlock that Teucer had mentioned.

Before Ruby could scream any threats, the world went black once more.

[Moon]

On the cloud of unknowing...

He stared up at the clouds above him, threatening certain death if he remained in its proximity. But still, he remained still. Fear wasn't a problem anymore. A loud boom echoed through his almost perforated ears as lightning crackled in the sky. It was only a matter of time now. Everyone counting on him to survive. Everyone who had wanted him to return to his home. It wasn't happening. But he couldn't bring himself to remorse. All he had left in him was those last moments of clarity you get before death. With it, he let off a mighty, bellowing roar of anger. "TEUCER! IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?!" A white flash graced the sky, and all that remained of the "champion" was a burnt corpse, electricity shooting out of wires left uncovered.



My world seems open...

Death was an interesting sensation.

No sense, yet all sense at the same time.

Nothing to feel, yet feeling everything at once.

Teucer appeared in front of him, chiding him for letting the spirit down. With a scowl, he accepted the orb pushed into him, and he fell. Through the fall, he heard something he would remember for a while. "Before you go... THIS IS MINE!" Afterwards, nothing again. He'd have to do some research on the effects of death. Oh wait, he was already dead. Thing is, he'd return. He was just too skeptical of this fact. This disbelief would prove to be in vain, because he would return. Just, not yet. All in time, everything came around. But whatever. It was alright, he supposed. Teucer didn't deserve his help to begin with.

[Albert Wesker]

All his effort for naught. He had fallen far short of his goal. He hadn't succeeded in returning the hero his lost relics and freeing him. He hadn't even survived to see it done, and be freed to return to the regular Omniverse.

Critical damage sustained. System failing. Complete shut do

The message didn't even complete. The hero's sword sheared out through one side of his broken and failing body and his vision was overcome with static and darkness. It wasn't death, exactly...navi's didn't "die". But it was as close as they could get. Broken down, powerless, and with his core components shredded and non-functional. He was as "dead" as it was possible to be.

And yet somehow, it wasn't the end. The static peeled back from his vision, leaving his sight clear once more, centered on the somber, disappointed face of the spirit, Teucer. He was downtrodden and displeased at the results, clearly, seeing one of his champions fallen. Brief words were spoken, and a parting gift of omnilium was given. Then Colonel fell again, back through the ground...and rather than darkness, into a void of white?

A raspy, cackling voice reached his ears, and with a moment of brief panic Colonel recognized the figure that appeared before him, and stole more of his 'blood' from him, the blue, physical representation of the data that composed him floating gently, obediently into the warlock's hand.

And then the soldier program saw nothing. Omni had said that he need not fear death, so long as he continued to be of amusement, hadn't he?

.....had he been amusing enough?

[Simon]

Pain.

Days earlier, Dante witnessed the sanguine monochrome of his perishing, the fading of all color, feeling, comprehension. Perhaps the circumstances behind it could've been more ideal, but for all intents and purposes, Dante had likened that experience to his death- or, rather, what he thought would be his death at the time.

Comparatively, the Son of Sparda's true annihilation here had been dramatically swifter in its effect- and bore an exponential amount of suffering as a result. His only solace in that, however, might be that the consciousness left him far sooner, that his physical pain would not persist.

Shock.

The end, it seemed, was not the shadow of an endless sleep. Dante's vision turned from a virulent flash of pure light into the somber haze of a temple - the same one he first fell into to greet Teucer. A vague blue aura surrounded the silhouette of the unsent spirit, shaking its head in disappointment. The nephilim was not the one to finally free the hero, nor were the dozen others that met the reaper before him. Those champions, their bodies torn from the grave by the warlock...

Anger.

He shouldn't have hesitated. The swirling mass of Omnilium, Teucer's offering for his champion's best effort, seeped into Dante's core. In that moment, feeling returned to him, and his mind become more clear, if not his deathly sight.

Why had the Son of Sparda hesitated? Lack of power be damned, he should've spent every last drop of sweat and blood he had against that necrotic wizard. Never mind the fact that Dante surely would've died trying to kill that mastermind- as long as Omni remained interested, the devil hunter would be reborn. He had nothing to lose but his own life, and he would've gotten it back anyways? Why not give everything left at that point?!

Regret.

Obviously, there had to be more Dante could've done. What of those guardians that all the others had fought? The aura that had sucked him in, begged to be found- and he had ultimately relented out of fear. Fear that he might hurt someone he shouldn't, that he would grant more power to the Hollow. The devil hunter swore never to bring death to the mortals that didn't deserve it- and while he had not, Dante too found himself unable to even kill the beings that did.

So the Son of Sparda, as he drifted down into the void yet again, found himself ruminating on the oaths he had taken only to break now, here, in this moment of despair and ruin.

Hatred.

That essence of pure human instinct, corrupted by the black-hearted will of Zangetsu. The presence within Dante that once comprised all that made him pure, now was turned against him and his better will, determined to undermine every single thing he promised himself. It forced the mercenary between a state of raw destruction and the twisted mentality of his foolish times.

And then, there lay the one man who finally put him down, where before he could not quite finish the job. The first of the dark sorcerers Dante came to despise within the sprawl of the Omniverse - the one who called himself 'Magus'. While the half-blood suspected that his former Colosseum opponent probably hated his guts (with good reason, considering he was first to bear witness to the Hollow's full influence), the Fiendlord had somehow found something admirable about the man he knew as Tony Redgrave. Whether that had been his demonic power or his sheer tenacity, it had been reason enough for Magus to offer Dante a chance under his ruling.

"I could not imagine a better soldier."

There was a strike of harm, a pathetic sting incomparable to the attack that had finally ended Dante's first life in the Omniverse. Blood trickled from the tiny wound, a diminutive stream of droplets that drifted out only to swirl right into the claws of the violet shade above him. The same Warlock he had faced, the one that had brought rise to the gravely shells of those other fallen warriors.

Anger overtook him again. In a final gesture of defiance, Dante took his pricked finger and gave the cackling necromancer the bird as they parted; the purple figure fled back into reality as the glow of white overtook the descending form of the devil hunter.

[Clownpiece]

That’s just how it is, isn’t it?
A voice, even-toned, calm, familiar. His own voice, but not spoken from his lips.

That’s how it always is.
Hints of accusation crept into it. Glaring, seamless white faded away, replaced by the less obnoxious marble of the temple, slightly obscured from a veil of mist covering his eyes. The building where this had all begun. Teucer floated in front of the beaten body of the monster, a disapproving look on his face. Somewhere in that look, some level of disgust must have been hiding, Somerled thought. That last battle hadn’t gone so well for him.

Just like square one, his body refused to move. Whether this was because of the fucking tree that’d he’d been hit with smashing all his bones to dust, or the fact this his entire skull had been rent in twain didn’t really matter all that much. All that mattered was that he was here, barely hanging onto life from Teucer’s power.

Every time, you run in like that.

I appreciate the effort Hero

The two voices spoke at the same time, both perfectly clear to the dying monster, neither overshadowing the other. One accusatory in tone, the other more sullen. Both very obviously pointing out the fact that he had failed. Failed to maintain his sanity, failed to climb out of the pit, failed to gather any relics, failed to so much as fight the fucking magician. And now, he was going to die without even witnessing Teucer’s mending. Back to square one, no new information on his own split.

Overestimating your strength, pissing everyone off.

but I guess you weren't the one destined to save me.

Even more accusation. This was something he learned about long ago, yet he kept on making the same mistake. Becoming a target of the Black Knight, when he was convinced no one could track him down. Challenging the Magician who had split him, when he thought no one could beat him. Drawing the ire of the Council, who he thought wouldn’t be able to touch him. Angering the God of Squirrels, when he thought himself unkillable. Was it any surprise he kept ending up dead or hunted when he pissed off absolutely everyone he met?

You’re a monster, not a force of nature. Stop being so damn arrogant.
Each word was enunciated separately and powerfully, drowning out everything Teucer had been saying. Every pause served to pound the message into his head. With those words rattling through his mind, the storm spirit never noticed the rainbow globe enter his body, nor the ground opening up below him. The white that engulfed him never fully registered for him.

Before you go, this is mine!

A new voice entered his head, shrill and raspy. Everything that was left of the monster, all the injuries, the torn and shattered flesh, blood, and bone, fell away into mist.

[Okor]

As his very essence was lost to the wind, the deadened dust that was once the vibrant ecosystem that was Okor drifting away, he rose his other fist, clenching the weapon in skeletal hands as hate burned in his hearts.

Hatred for this ‘Warlock’, which wrapped itself in illusion and trickery, that fought with taunts and tricks, rather than anything worthwhile.

Hatred for The Smiling One, for fabricating this farce, for expecting these primes to dance like puppets upon his strings of empty promises and false glory.

Hatred for himself, as his body turned to ash, the corpse that had ravaged the decrepit Imperium left behind by his hated Grandfather for millennia, the mummified memory of aeons past that had brought vengeance upon the Empire had had built, failing him at this crucial moment.

He howled in rage as the particulate matter that was once a God’s Son drifted into the void, as reality itself collapsed around him, darkness claiming the Millennia-Old Marine, dragging him down, down, down into the abyss.

The darkness claimed all, eventually.

A rheumy eye slowly forced itself open, cracking the cocoon of pus and pestilence forming around the crimson orb. Emaciated appendages struggled to lift his dead weight off of the marble floor, dripping diseased fluids over the pristine plane of existence the ‘Hero’ created. What kind of a man made his prison so sterile, so clean of life? Idols of unworthy gods, carvings of legends long since faded into rightful obscurity, a pool of water so clean that it could only offer up a reflection of life, rather than nurture existence within itself.

A lifeless place, home to nothing more than ghosts, echoes of the past clamouring for but one more shot at glory. Was he among those blighted wraiths, those rage-filled remnants haunting the living, throwing themselves into the breach again and again, determined to scrawl their name in some shrouded saga? Would he become like this abandoned hero, begging mortals to play along with his games, whispering into their ears in the hopes they may one day mention his name?

He grit his teeth, fangs gnashing together as he looked upon the condescending visage of his tormentor. Not Destined. His plague-ridden blood threatened to boil over. Claws dug into his palm, shredding his skin as a sphere of that damnable Omnillium was thrust towards him.

He snarled as it wormed its tendrils into him, gravitating towards his irreparably corrupted corporeal form, glaring at the translucent Teucer.

”I do not need your… charity, corpse,” spat the marine, venom lacing his words. ”I have been abducted, stripped of my sacred wargear, and made to fight your battles. And now, you offer me pity?”

“I have walked a thousand worlds. I have seen Gods come into existence, and… die. I have broken legions beneath my boot, and seen my own shattered, and cast… to the wind. In my Ten Millennia of existence, I have been shot, stabbed, beaten, burned, and have been subjected to tortures I lack the… imagination to describe. And after every defeat, every step closer to death, I got up on my own.” The spirit stared through him, the statue of a forgotten god watching the scene impassively. His chitinous chest heaved, the anger seeping from him like a lanced boil, flooding from his blackened maw. ”I am Okor Paleblood, son of The Fourteenth Legion, Vassal of the Lord of All, and I will forget you.” He snarled at the ethereal explorer, the teal translucence that tried and failed to recreate a man that might once have been great.

It all fell away, the empty nothingness that he had come to associate with Omni’s machinations and deplorable lack of imagination surrounding him, a resounding cackle quieting as he careened through a haze of regal purple mist, returning it to the darkness from whence it came.

The subtle hiss of the eternal hourglass crept in at the edge of his perception, the infinite process of creation that took place in this damned realm, the cycle of life and death broken to feed the seemingly insatiable creative appetite of its God-child. He took in a deep breath, toxic gasses filling his lungs as he approached his prison once more.

Perhaps, this time around, he’d get things right.

[Trixie]

The only sensation Trixie felt was weightlessness as the explosion ripped apart her body. The red halo that donned itself above her now severely burned and disfigured head began to pulse. Though her body was destroyed the zombified Sith Warrior could feel her life fading as her brain was starved for oxygen and the virus could no longer sustain its host. The ground began to rumble as Trixie’s body was absorbed into the ground. A thin line of black energy circled itself into the ground where the mistress’ corpse had previously been strewn. The Warlock watched with puzzled eyes as the ground exploded forth revealing the newly formed and healed Beatrix, her halo pulsating wildly, and her naked body bare for the world to see. The energy coalesced into her previous adorned leather armor and radiated around her. As fast as she had appeared the mistress and the strange black energy were gone in a blinding flash of white light.

The Spirit shielded its eyes as a brilliant bolt of crimson lightning struck the ground before him, revealing Trixie’s lithe figure pulsating with black electrically charged energy.

“Sorry I couldn’t be of more help, Teucer. That Warlock is truly something.” The warrior reflected.

Teucer sighed and looked back at the statue behind him. “I appreciate the effort, Beatrix. Perhaps it was not your destiny to be my savior.”

“No, perhaps not, but I will always remember you.” Trixie said with a smile, as black lightning crackled around her figure.

The energy of the Underverse became more violent, as if building to something. The ground beneath the Temple began to tremble as ambient particles of red and black energy started floating in the air around Trixie and the Spirit.

“Farewell, Miss Zulenka. I hope you find peace soon. I can only imagine what the Underverse has done to you.” Teucer said with a smile. “Take this as a reward.”

The ghostly apparition held out a palm and generated a sizeable amount of Ominlium in it. Placing his hand gently upon Trixie’s bosom he granted it to the mistress standing before him. With that exchange the energy finished building and erupted outward. Trixie felt herself falling through the world, demonic hands grabbing at her person, and the very fabric of reality melting before her.

“This is mine!”

A purple figure had taken blood from her finger before she plummeted through the sealing vortex. Trixie’s physical being was shredded and reassembled like it was nothing before being thrown against the stone hallway of the inner citadel to Belial’s Fortress. Sia, who happened to be walking down the corridor, rushed over and knelt down to examine the unconscious pit fighter.

[Kopaka]

Pain, raw and relentless, crashed through Kopaka's frame like the Toa had never felt before. The hammer that Link wielded was massive beyond telling, and all it took was one mistake to give the Hylian an opening by which to dominate his ex-teammate. Kopaka roared as bits of his metallic shell and purple viscera were sent splattering for yards around. Anger would not save him, however, as after the final blow, the Toa was flattened into the mud like so much garbage.

The biomech's radiant blue eyes did not dim, despite his passing, and the Akaku continued to stare defiantly upwards at Link, even as the traitor slunk away with his new band of treacherous miscreants...

...meanwhile, in the world between life and death, Kopaka found himself thrashing in rage as he was pulled back into some illusory copy of Teucer's mausoleum. The Spirit made some token, conciliatory speech before passing a sphere of Omnilium into Kopaka's spectral systems. It went unheard as the Toa screamed and raged against the circumstances of his death, clawing fruitlessly to ascend back on to the field of battle and claim the justice that was owed.


Even as Kopaka sank deeper through the floor, his blazing cerulean eyes locked on the approaching, hazy outline of the warlock. Simmering with fury, the biomech watched as the lavender ghost collected a sample of his blood. Again, it seemed as though he was simply to be passed through whatever layer he was scheduled for, but first, Kopaka yanked on the Warlock's arm as it pulled away.

The purple spirit's necrotic eyes widened in shock.

"You...dare?!"

But Kopaka did not attack nor rebuke the Warlock. Instead, the Toa ripped the tip of his finger open with a slice from his nutrient processig unit, and let more of his thick, pasty lifeblood leak into the warlock's palm. Kopaka did not know what the dark wizard needed it for, but if it was for any purpose regarding opposing the self-proclaimed 'Hero', then Kopaka was all-too happy to give.

"Take it. Take what you need. Use it to kill them all. Kill the mouse. Doom Teucer. Deny them the satisfaction." Kopaka growled between seething breaths. It had always been suspected by his siblings that Kopaka had an inner fire that was kept in check by his frozen countenance. Everyone had been rightfully afraid of what the Toa of Ice might become if he lost control of the inner blaze...

...well. Thankfully Gali and the others would be spared finding out the result. The rest of the Omniverse, however, would learn to dread the monster that had just been unleashed.

[Enzo Matrix]

In an instant, it all ended. One moment he was battling the Cyberdemon alongside his ragtag group, and then suddenly it all ceased to matter. His wounded body was crushed inside the maw of that absurd beast. What happened past that was all a mystery to him. Had they defeated the monster? Did his sacrifice matter? Did the battle even matter in the grand scheme of things?

All of that was irrelevant, now.

The Cyberdemon reminded him of Zaytan, a monster he’d faced in his own world. When he was only a little sprite he’d failed a battle against the demon that looked very similar to this one that had just killed him. The monster had crushed Matrix’s skull, killing him outright. Because of the altered reality of the game he’d been in, the death was temporary, much like the way it had been promised here in the Omniverse. The defeat had set him on the path that made him who he was, now.

Fortunate was an odd choice of word, but it’s exactly how he felt when he had encountered Zaytan much later on in his life. He’d been granted the opportunity for revenge while at his full power, and had taken it. In truth, he relished every second of his complete victory. Maybe he’d get the same chance with the Cyberdemon at some point in his travels in the Omniverse.

Either way, as he was mauled to death, there was a bright flash of light and he was suddenly back in the temple. The Spirit was looking down at him, yet again. He tried to move, but he still felt every injury from the battle. He groaned in agony as the Spirit spoke, and simply closed his eyes at the end of his little speech.

It wasn’t often he leaped into the jaws of a demon for someone’s benefit, especially a stranger like this. The disappointed tone he heard from the Spirit reminded him of just why. It was disheartening to hear his sacrifice and rare display of teamwork was rewarded only with a somewhat condescending response. In theory, he had been a vital part of the effort to free the man. In reality, he didn’t have a clue.

Therefore, he didn’t say anything when the Spirit simply handed him an orb of Omnilium that disappeared into his chest. He gave the ghostly figure one last look before a falling sensation overwhelmed him, not entirely unlike the one that had brought him here.

He didn’t know if he’d ever see Teucer again. There was no way of telling if this mission would be a success. Then again, he found himself lacking interest. Truth be told, if he’d known death was an easy way out, there was a chance he might have taken it sooner. He didn’t owe the Spirit anything, and in fact felt quite the opposite, even after a generous Omnilium donation. He was just happy to be on his way out of this twisted verse, and back to the Vasty Deep. He needed to reunite with AndrAIa, and let her know he was alright. Not to mention he had to make sure she was safe, as well.

As he descended there was laughter, slowly increasing in volume. The next thing he knew, there was a sharp prick, and saw a figure departing with what appeared to be just a little bit of his blood. He recognized the voice and the appearance right away. It was the warlock that had attacked him and the others. He was startled, but powerless all the same. Whatever that warlock wanted with his blood, it couldn’t be good.

At the same time, it was as irrelevant as the rest. If the warlock wanted to threaten him any further, he would have to come face him on his own turf, and deal with him at his full power. That thought was all the peace he needed with this ordeal, and it left him in good spirits as he emerged in the Nexus.

[Dave Strider]

"Get out of the way!"

The Alpha Stigma attempted to control his inner demon as he pushed the assassin out of the Cyberdemon's attack. Its large arm swiped at Ryner and thrust him against the wall, a sickening crack coming from his spine as he felt himself finally give in to the curse. Maniacal laughter and agonizing screams echoed throughout the small cavern as the Alpha Stigma fell into the pit of boiling magma.

ERASE THE BEAST! DESTROY IT! ERASSssshhhhhizzzle

In a puff of smoke, the Alpha Stigma was gone. An ironic end to his life, the destroyer destroyed and erased before his target.

After a flash of white, Ryner found himself in front of the temple. Tuecer floated in front of him. Both shared a look of disappointment and shame. Ryner could not blame him.

"I appreciate the effort Hero, but I guess you weren't the one destined to save me. Farewell and I hope your future journeys bode well. Here is a reward for your efforts." The Spirit holds out an orb of Omnilium and places it on your chest.

Ryner took a look at the glob of omnilium He didn't even feel like he deserved it. He hadn't done a damn thing except wander around and get himself killed with his damned flare gun.

"I don't... I didn't even do anything."

"As I said, for your efforts."

Ryner couldn't bring himself to face the spirit as he held out his hand and accepted his unearned reward. Tears streamed down his face. He was useless. If only the spirit had chosen Ferris, she was much more a warrior than he, especially with her swordsmanship and finesse. All Ryner could do was regret his actions as he fell once more, his face tense and soft with sorrow and shame.

He could only stare blankly while a purple figure pricked his falling hand and stole his blood. "Before you go, this is mine!" In an instant, the being was gone. Ryner felt even more useless as he figured he had now just helped the Warlock in his efforts.

Then once again, he stared at a blank white sky, a blank canvas of nothing as he heard the sound of flowing water beside him. Once again, he lay beside the Fountain.

[Jak Mar]

The rise and fall of Jak, that's what they would say. The rising of the hero as the eco warrior swung himself off walls and grabbed onto the Cyberdemon causing damage.

The blades made Jak's rage go off the walls, something like a feral cry he couldn't control. That's when dark jak took control of his body like a child's play toy. Jak was bleeding and desperate times called for desperate measures. The blades stung in his hands as they wrapped around his arms strangly
Blinded by the action going on around him, was it worth it for this eco warrior to give up his life for fighting with a group of strangers who barely could give a shit about him after damaging him.

Same situation, different faces. Brought back bad memories, Krew, Dante's Abyss, The Coliseum and now this were now bad examples as what is to be or what is to come


and Metal Kor all turned into one strange problem. The molehill Jak thought he had climbed had only become a mountain in front of his face. On top of that mountain was that golden prize Jak clamored to get.

Inner demons.... sins
Inner angels.... virtues

Pride...

Jak's inner pride seemed to be sweltering as he was a past hero in his world, and that had blinded him to the fact that the show in its entirely belong to the green goateed hero. Time flew by as the clock's moments has seemed to tick in his head.

Humility But wait, he did this whole thing because of the whole events that occurred around him. He showed his braveness in that moment and he wouldn't let that moment go to waste.

Greed That little offer of a prize tempted the hero just like the other moments of time that he fell for so long ago…

Charity[/] That little tempting version of self sacrifice for a cause of releasing a unknown hero known as Teucer. The one he tried and eventually would fail.


"I appreciate the effort Hero, but I guess you weren't the one destined to save me. Farewell and I hope your future journeys bode well. Here is a reward for your efforts."

There was a blur of all the action and a slow heart pounding sound as dark jak was squeezed in the cyberdemon's fists, the giants gun was aimed toward Jak's head as he could only watch helplessly and forced a hurt tear toward the others. The last thing he heard was a "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" from Orihieme and a "Bang".

Darkness...

He was [i]falling..

The Spirit stopped his falling temporary as a sad and dissappointed look was on his face "You were not the one fated to save me, Jak... All your efforts lead to nothing.. but you do get a reward for trying.

A ball of OM floated inside Jak's chest as he blinked "But... wait...

How do I..

The spirit turned with a smile "You'll learn more someday, Jak.. just not now.."

Angel...

Jak swore it could of been himself talking to him. His light side.

The warlock appeared through the darkness to quickly take advantage of the situation. He pricked Jak's finger and a drip of blood came from his hand as he laughed "THIS IS MINE!"

Jak growled as he flicked off the warlock in turn. "You'll never..win..

Demon... his dark side

He didn't have a chance to think... before he was back in the white area of the Nexus again.

[Amaterasu]

"I appreciate the effort Hero, but I guess you weren't the one destined to save me. Farewell and I hope your future journeys bode well. Here is a reward for your efforts."

Amaterasu felt drained - in the literal and the figurative sense. She had, after all, died of blood loss. Her body was a bloodied, burnt and mud-caked mess near where the Warlock laid dead, her clothing torn and with the severed arm still attached to her leg as a crutch. Now, in this... what? Spirit world? On her way to the River Sanzu? She met the Spirit, Hero Teucer, who spoke to her and handed her some Omnilium - or rather, he put it into her.

"Farewell, Hero Teucer. I'm very sorry that I couldn't do more to aid you. My only hope is that someone else finds my body and uses it to aid you on your departure." Well... I think Trunks might do it. He was... I think something in him changed in the brief time that we were together. Not that she intended on discrediting Somerled, he had been great to work with as well, but... there had been something in Trunks. Something different. Maybe I will see him in my future incarnation.

Teucer nodded and faded away into darkness, leaving Amaterasu alone. She was floating through the void that was darker than a starless night, and she felt the pull all around her. She couldn't see it, but she knew that she was being pulled. She was in the River Sanzu, on her way to the Afterlife, to have her life judged before being sent to the realm of the dead, and eventually reincarnated. But wait...

What was this sensation? There was a pull... a second force was pulling on her body, causing her to begin spinning and twisting in the void. A force much like that that had pulled her towards... wherever it was. But this was different. It opposed the original pull. It was pulling her another way... and it was stronger. She could feel the Sanzu River's grasp loosening.

Omni's words came to her mind. As long as you interest me you will be reborn. Was he reincarnating her? This was not what she was used to, she did not pass through the afterlife... rather, she was being denied such. She was being pulled out of her path to the halls of the dead, rather than passing the gates, and returning. This was not a process of death and reincarnation, this went much deeper into the laws of nature. Interesting. He must really be a powerful kami if he is able to do that... It may be something else of course, some other force - she was completely unfamiliar with this world, anything was possible really. She had already been proven that the rules of physics applied differently, and then this Graveyardverse... it had FELT different than everywhere else, too. There was a lot to find out, a lot to think of. But surely she would be able to find out more by asking around. She only hoped that she would be back before everyone returned to the Omniverse, so she would have an opportunity to meet Somerled and Trunks, and maybe a few others. Under different conditions, they might just become friends, after all. A few of them anyway. And she needed to watch out for that oni woman with the halo. She had put a strain on her during their fights... she was dangerous.

As she began to wonder if it even made any sense to kill an oni since they would just return, at least she supposed so, a bright white light appeared far away, and the force dragging her through the void was bringing her right towards it. Instinctively, she knew that this wasn't the afterlife - not death. She knew that this was a new beginning, a new life, and the pure white felt... familiar. It was the same neutral whiteness that she had seen in the Nexus.

True enough, the light grew and shaped into an opening in the void that she was flung through. Everything became white, then slowly cleared up... and she felt as if she was waking up from a bad dream, with the familiar gargling of the Nexus Fountain in her ears.

Note: Three days are passing in the "void", it's essentially a fast forward. Amaterasu will properly respawn in the Nexus after the three-day death period, but is still formally dead by the time that this post goes up.

Translations:
Kami: God, Deity
Oni: Demon

[Smith]

The knife plunged into Smith’s chest, his heart pierced by its sinister blade. Blood poured forth from the wound in a river, his life draining away along with it. To think… that his great plans… his irrefutable logic… that it would all be ended by a large-breasted woman with a primitive weapon. The brief second between life and death stretched out to an eternity as Smith’s eyes stared blankly at the effort-filled grimace of Orihime.

Traitorous human filth! All of them! From the man who had launched the initial attack, to the boy who appeared to be their de facto leader, to the woman now ending the program’s life. Each received an equal portion of Smith’s ire. And each would feel his vengeance. … or they would, were he in any position to enact it.

It was irksome to think of. That Smith would be betrayed in this way was both inconceivable and all too predictable. Human beings… they knew only lies and betrayal. It was in their nature to be selfish and destructive. But… the Colonel was a surprise. Smith had thought the program to be more logical than that. Would Smith have used the Colonel to further his own ends? Of course. It was the sensible plan of action.

But Smith had made no attempt to hide this side of himself. Unlike the humans, he had not offered friendship and alliance, only to turn around and stab his allies in the back. Until the moment when the Colonel’s active functions had ceased, Smith would have defended the program. Unlike the human infection he’d been forced to ally himself with, the Colonel had had value in the ex-Agent’s eyes.

The long moment of Smith’s death finally came to a close as the world faded to darkness and silence around him. His bodily functions ceased and his code fell free of its bindings. Almost instantly, he found himself face to face with the Spirit once more. Teucer… the being who had summoned Smith here in the first place. While he prattled on about disappointment and the like, Smith’s impressive logistics focused on more important details. Like… how was he not dead?

The details were clear, the conclusion inevitable. He had been mortally wounded. He should be dead… but he was not. Was this just all part of the game? Yes… that was logical. If this whole experience was merely an event held for the Spirit’s benefit, it made sense that any death or injury in it would simply be temporary as well.

With that conclusion, Smith felt a growing satisfaction moving through his programming. So… he COULD get his revenge on those who had ended his life after all. He’d merely need to wait for them here… or not. As the Spirit finished his little speech, Smith was whisked away again. A brief encounter with the strange specter, who had attacked him and his allies in the game, later and Smith arrived somewhere else entirely.

[The Spirit]

This is for the people who survived the final F2F

The Spirit nodded his head and slammed his hands to the ground. White lights surrounded every prime and they all looked at one another. They all smiled at one another, their bruised bodies begging to be released from this place. They all closed their eyes and welcomed the all to known sensation of falling.

[Ururu Kyuuei]

Of all the things Ururu felt now that it was over, it was the soul crushing indifference to everyone else. She had joined the group despite two of its members contributing to Dante’s death. All because both her Hokage had talked her into it. Logic it seems did not always mesh with the heart of a situation.

She had sat by and watched the android deal with the situation and again she had fought with her instincts to join the fray and see that justice be carried out. It seemed indifference was not a state that her heart had any ability to maintain any period of time. But that didn’t mean it was emotion… but rather like everything else her training and morals pushing her one way or another.

As the ‘battle’ concluded, if it could be called that, she felt the atmosphere shift once more, like during that final battle only this time it was more permanent. The whole of the dark magic being pulled into the warlock in a last ditch attempt to survive. Not that it seemed to help at all. In the end though it was all for naught as the warlock was slain.

The question was what then?

Mounting the steps, Ururu entered the temple, anger slowly started to bubble in her again at the sight of one who had torn her from her family. Who had cleaved portions of her mind and body from her. The android (Proto Man was it?) turned and only gave her the barest of looks before he made his demands. Not she cared, though she saw.

It was Teucer though who garnered her focus and that’s when she began to feel it.

Her sense of Balance ever so slightly was returning. That overarching power that had put a limiter on her power but also level her strength to compete against everyone else. Balance was inherent to omnilium and if she could feel that… then she had access to it… As if on cue the familiar clawed bracers formed over her forearms. And then her mind awakened. Her senses stretching out into the infinity, expanding her mind to those born of ideas. But it was wrong, not just off, but horribly, horribly wrong…!

Nothing!

No Hikaru, no Saru, the twins, not even the youngest of Aiko, no one at all. Empty only the errant fragments of what had been. The sea of imagination, of thought was empty save for the foam that was her own consciousness.

They weren’t even dead. Oblivion was what they had been consigned to!

Anger blossomed to hate, hate to loathing, loathing to despair. An all consuming despair as the last of her hope died with the snap of her wrists to bring claws clamping down around her fingers and chakra roaring to full intensity. Molten pale emerald began to pool around her again for who knew how many time since she had arrived, only this time it was more. More powerful.

Wrath.

More her features began to exaggerate, bestial eyes met the Spirit’s.

“You ruined my family!” The ground began to crack and tear. The last vestiges of existence that held the island together were being pulled apart by a sheer desire of inflict her pain on Teucer. Who took a step back after whatever working he had suddenly down began to spread. Her own chakra fought the effects.

“YOU ERASED THEM!” Ururu screamed in her tears as she threw herself at the one who had undone her. Broke her.

She disappeared into a seething desire of retribution pulling on all her remaining strength to see this one bastard undone. Each step closed the horrendous distance into earshot and then into melee range. Her arm flew forward to separate the ghostly head from its equally ethereal body.

He moved far faster than it should have been possible. Speeds she had only seen on her own world and he only fell back one step and said an equally singular word in a slow, mournful tone, “No.”

It was a startling pronouncement as the entire reality warped against as she was frozen mid step. A pressure against her that was impossible to deny even as her power flared against its invisible bindings. She was nothing against it. A kitten against an oncoming tsunami. A tsunami that was Teucer waylaying her with a single command of power.

“You have no rights here. Whatever your pains they are nothing compared to mine. Begone!” Teucer rumbled and he whipped his hand between them.

A white light and the sensation of falling enveloped her as Ururu knew no more of the Island, of the temple nor its inhabitant.

[Belle]

Belle found herself panting again, wide-eyed as she stared down at the bodies - two more this time. And for what? For what? The frustration threatened to boil over inside her.

Pointless.

The purple-haired guy was dead, that was for sure. The girl, well, she at least looked in a little better shape than Magus had. Belle might've even thought she was cute - if the girl hadn't tried to lop her arm off.

Take it easy, Tits McGee, she thought. Shouldering her neon pink crowbar, Belle followed the others the rest of the way to the temple.

The morning, finally, was quiet. Very little conversation was exchanged during the hike - as cordial as it was, there was still the private fear that one of them might betray the others at the last moment. The men and girl who had joined them were strangely dressed, but that was peanuts compared to the tentacled - she supposed, girl? - that followed them.

There was a brief moment of tension at the door. It seemed as if the yellow-eyed man might actually go for it after all, before ceding to common sense. Belle's white-knuckled grip on her weapon eased as the last of the items went to Blues.

"You know, I never did ask," she said as the half-metal boy entered the temple. "What's his deal?"

"Blues?" Mickey asked. "What do you mean?"

"Like, he's wearing all that metal. Is that armor, or ... ?" she trailed off.

"Oh! Well, more like," Mickey thought. "He's an android?" he finally offered.

"He's a robot?!" Belle blurted. Mickey shrugged and nodded at once. "No way! He's been bleeding and stuff!"

Mickey's face fell. "It's part of the island's magic. That's what he told me, anyway."

"Wow," Belle breathed.

"But that doesn't mean he's any different than you or me," Mickey hastened to say. "He's a good person!"

"Whoa, easy," she held up her hands. "I know."

And of course, she did know.

Belle stared at the mouse, remembering that brief moment when the two had become one being. It had been impossible for some memories, some feelings, to NOT linger after they'd separated. And some of those strongest had been of the mouse king's truest friend.

Poor guy, Belle thought. Trapped away from modern civilization with only leaves. It must've been a hell of a way to experience your first shit.

She couldn't help it - she laughed, only managing to stifle it into a loud snort. Mickey gave her a worried look - probably about the hundreth since the whole shebang had started. She couldn't explain it to him - rather, she didn't want to try. If she did, she thought she might lose it completely.

She regained her composure. "Anyway... I guess we're going home soon." Even right on the edge of it, she didn't want to commit to the absolute. If she was wrong ... "What are you gonna do?"

Mickey scratched a cheek with a huge white finger. "Find Minnie, I think! You?"

"Find Lily. She's probably been out of the hospital for a few days now. Long story." It was the kind of long story that was actually short, but which you didn't want to talk about. "Where do you live, anyway?"

"Just a little place in Ambrosia," Mickey smiled. "I call it the clubhouse. You should come!"

Belle made a face. The Hell was Ambrosia? "Yeah, uh. Sure. Sometime."

Mickey waited. "What about you?" he prompted.

"Me? Oh. Just this little place. Coruscant. Tier Four. Got a job - at least I think I do. Who knows, they might've fired me by this point. I live right across from this place called the Midnight Rose."

"Oh, a flower shop?" Mickey exclaimed, putting his hands together with a smile.

"Strip bar," Belle corrected immediately without thinking.

She needn't have worried. "Ah, a bar? Are you a waitress?"

"Not exactly," Belle mumbled. "I kind of just hand out invitations. My boss says it adds the 'personal' touch. It's fine by me - I don't have to talk to the actual customers."

It felt distinctly strange to be talking about her job after all this, especially to a Prime. Hell, from what she had heard, these guys didn't even need jobs: they just made the Omniverse's money by existing.

She gave the mouse her address. She didn't have a phone - too expensive, nobody to call. "Minnie, huh? Must be nice to have your sweetheart."

[Magus]

Before the Finale - obv :P

He appeared before the Spirit, who offered some worthless token praise and then some actually valuable Omnilium. Magus could feel the power buzzing within it as it absorbed itself into his constitution.

“You helped retrieve the final Relic, wizard. For that, I am thankful. Perhaps this terrible ordeal will soon finally be resolved. For that, I am in your debt.”

“Your words are hollow,” Magus retorted. “I came here for power and failed. I don’t need any theatrics. Just send me back to where you stole me from and never, ever, interfere with my life again, or I shall conceive of a new kind of suffering that will make what the Warlock has done to you seem like a momentary setback.”

The Spirit seemed to have found Magus’ threats as hollow as the wizard had found his speech, but he made no mention of it – until the Relics were returned to him and he finally prevailed over the Warlock once and for all, he had to remain guarded.

“As you wish, mage. I shall send you back to the Omniverse, just as y-”

“Wait!!” Janus shouted.

“Yes?”

“Can you send me back to where I came from? Before the Omniverse?” Magus tried to crush the hope down, tried to prevent it from snaking up where it could hurt him, but emotions betrayed him.

“No,” came the inevitable reply, along with the inevitable disappointment. “Would that I could. I am sorry.”

Magus nodded, and then looked away from the apparition. The Spirit took this to mean their conversation was complete, and again, Magus found himself falling away into oblivion.

[Minato Namikaze]

It was over. Finally. Everything that Minato and Kakashi had worked towards, everything that they had done up until now, had led them to this moment. Winning, losing, surviving, none of that mattered to Minato until the Spirit had been set free. After witnessing his new comrades fighting abilities, he had faith that they would be able to do it.

The champion that had come to be known to him as 'Blues' showed a very mature understanding of their situation, opting out of the bloodshed to end this. Something that Minato saw as naive, yet something he had also wished for. He understood why everyone had been choosing this person as their Hero of this Graveyard. Minato sat down as their chosen hero ascended the stairway to the final task. It had been a long week, and he was tired, bruised, and hurt. He just wanted to rest.

His breath was still labored, the bruising on his ribs made sure of that. Not to mention the gash on his back still ached, and shot pain throughout his body as he laid in the grass by the temple. Looking up to the sky, Minato noticed the refreshing blue that sat above them. He was done, he was ready to head back to Mokugakure, he was ready to help Tsunade fix the village. He and Kakashi, along with Kito, they'd work towards stabilizing that village.

Kakashi had sat near his sensei, his limbs just as tired as his companions. They had been through a lot these past five days, and he had began thinking that it was time to leave. After glancing at the blonde shinobi's face, he could tell they were thinking the same thing.

'Kakashi…' Minato's voice wandered as he made no attempt to break eye contact with the sky above. 'I think that I'm going to sleep for a week after we get back to the village.' he laughed.

'That sounds good.' Kakashi responded, staring at the bulky weapon that he placed on the ground in front of him. 'Are you going to keep it?'

'Hmm?' the former Kage answered, he had spaced out for a second there.

'Your strange little weapon, are you going to keep it?' The scarecrow like man elaborated. Minato took a second to think before pulling it out of his jacket and examining it.

'Nah. It's not my style.' Minato smiled as he tossed the tiny powerhouse into the grass. It had served him well but, at the end of the day, the weapon just wasn't for him. Minato sighed again, the tension in his body slowly leaving as he stared up at the ocean blue sky. He'd discarded his weapon and, after his wounds had fully healed, he would discard the graveyard Verse.

As soon as the thought had popped into his mind, a response had come from Teucer. 'Blues made it.' he thought to himself as a warm, white, light surrounded him and his allies. He glanced over at Kakashi, the same light curling around him at the same time.

'Alright then…' the fourth Hokage smiled. 'I'll see you back in the Omniverse.' He concluded, the smile still on his face as the light began shining too brightly to see past.

The sensation of falling came over his body. It was exactly the same as when he'd been brought here the first time, to this damned place, to this forsaken graveyard.

The Hero's Graveyard.