Zone D -- The Foam

[Karl Jak]

Day 3 has concluded

It is not Day 4, Early Morning (12 am to 6 am) until 430 PM CDT on June 27th

[The Future Warrior]

At a full run, Graowr ran down the city streets. Narrow, with buildings looming over them in the heart of the city, out to less crowded and gloomy streets, and further still to the outlying reaches of it. Suburbs, some might have called it, she was pretty sure. But she didn't know how cities worked. Just that they were cities, and there were usually a lot of people there. This was a city in name and appearance only, and was lacking the one element it needed to really make it an actual city. Its residents. Population. Right now it was just a husk. And a damn creepy one, to boot. She was quite glad when the edges of it wavered into view, through the curtains of rain and fog.

Out of the puddle-strewn stone of the city, and into the waterlogged jungles to its south. The blue alien made a sour face as she charged back into it, not liking at all being back here again. But it couldn't be helped. This was where the items were landing, this time, so this is where she would be going, and that was all there was to it!

Dawn was close behind, keeping up easily enough despite her shorter, bluer companion's frantic pace. She had her tablet in one hand, only glancing at it to check their heading every now and then, when they had a clear bit of path. "Looks like...the one out in the water is just a bit further away. And scheduled to drop sooner. Doubt we could get there in time. Let's head for the closer one, it's still got a few hours before it drops."

"Gotcha!" Graowr nodded, and after Dawn pointed out which way to head she diverted her course, hopping over a stream of water and barreling through the tropical foliage. No slowing down, no stopping. She was on a mission.

Graowr and Dawn moving from C2 to D3

[Enel]

Just as we reach the beach, the tablet beeps. For now, my ambitions, and my fans, will have to wait.

Oh, great. New drops, and they’re due to drop very near us. That’s fantastic news. I look at the map.

Oh … great.

I turn to Batman. “Let’s take the eastern drop.”

Batman jabs at the tablet. “Hmm ... I think we should go for the other, closer one. It’s a wildcard. Might be useful. Might make all the difference. We’re still a long way off winning.”

I grit my teeth. I don’t want to say it. But he clearly sees it on my face, because he asks: “What? You don’t wanna get wet?”

I dip my toes in the water at the edge of the sand and feel a chill. God damn it. I don’t want to reveal my weakness to Batman. I don’t want him to have something he can use against me. He seems to read my mind.

“Listen, Enel. We need to work as a team. If there’s something you’re not telling me, I should know.”

I grimace. Then I come in close to Batman, and whisper in his ear. “I can’t swim.”

Batman looks to the water, then back to me. “The water’s not that deep. You could probably wade.”

I shake my head, looking around for cameras before continuing. “It’s not just that I can’t swim. If the water is knee deep or higher, I lose my strength. My powers cease to function. It’s … my Achilles’ heel.”

I look out at the water. Damn it, though, he’s right. I want that item. It could make all the difference.

Batman nods. “I could get the item, while you wait at shore? Or go for the other one?”

“And get ambushed?! Like hell! I’m coming with you to the item drop, Batman. You can’t stop me. We’ll just have to … make a raft.”

He tilts his head. “Better yet.”

There’s a lot of driftwood laying around, and I see Batman’s point. Somewhere around here there’s probably a piece big enough for me to float on. There are buildings, too – it looks like this place might have been a tourist facility at one point. We stroll up the beach, eyes open for anything we can use.

Batnel moving from D6 to D5.

[Dawnika Snow]

The raven-haired assassin, bogged through the dampy, muggy mud that laid between her and her prize. It wasn't exactly her mission to collect the items on the island, but it had occured to her that there was an opportunity to boot from collecting an artifact in this game. She had already acquired a piece of something from that god-child and wondered if she would be able to keep it if she found the other missing pieces after leaving the island. Plus, the longer she survived the island, the more chances she got to actually kill people. It was a win-win situation for sure.

The question she had to ask herself now was a troublesome one: Should she betray the blue alien girl she had allied with for this drop? Needless to say, Graowr appeared to be a strong combatant but she was also decent company, besides making them waste their time climbing a fucking mountain just to walk back down it. No; it was not yet time to ruin this so-called friendship. She would brood her frustration, keeping it welled inside for some time, then she would strike Graowr. Another head rolls and she gets more items. Again, win-win.

The two's footsteps squished the dirt into their boots. It made a disgustingly squishy sound with each heavy footfall, but in their hurry they didn't even notice it. Dawn had her rifle handy, as always, just in case they happened to meet any resistance along the way. Graowr was just...being Graowr: Spunky, unpredictable, somewhat annoying. She still wondered what her short-term ally was truly capable of in a real fight. The shark was one thing, but fighting another prime was a whole other league of battle. She would just have to wait and see, whether they fought together, or against each other.

D3 > D7

[Enel]

I manage to find a large, slightly curved panel of wood, about as large in diameter as I am tall. It looks like it was once the side of a boat. I’m pretty sure it’ll hold, but … I’m not happy about this. One slip, and I’ll drown. My life is in Batman’s hands.

Worst case scenario, though … I do have that. Hehehe. Batman doesn’t know about that. In that case, the water would be his demise.

Besides, I’m fairly certain that with strength of will, I could exert my powers through the sea despite being submerged. It’s not impossible. Just … difficult. If he were to let me drown, I’d make sure he died of a thousand volts.

While I mutter to myself, busily using a pocket knife reclaimed from one of the nearby shacks to cut off the jutting parts of the wooden ‘raft’, Batman emerges from one of the nearby tourist traps.

Oh, hell no.

“I’m not wearing that,” I say.

He brandishes the rubber ring at me. “It’s for safety. This way, if you fall off, you won’t go under.”

I grit my teeth. Then I snatch the rubber ring from him, and step into it, pulling it up to my waist. I feel thoroughly ridiculous. But Batman, to his credit, doesn’t laugh or even raise so much as a smile. This is one of those situations where I appreciate his dour temperament.

Batman takes a fibre rope and ties it around one part of the raft, dumps his bag into it, then pulls it behind him into the water. I watch him sink down to chest level. I shudder. Then he turns and looks at me.

No, God damn it. A God fears nothing. Not Jhen Mohran, not Omni … and not fucking water! I step into the hollow raft. “Go slow.”

“I will.”

“It might have holes in it. That’s all.”

He grunts and drags the raft forward, slowly, into the water. I feel it dip and then sink in, and for a moment I panic, as the water splashes me. It’s rocking from side to side, and I clutch onto the wood. If I die here, I’ll never live it down.

But I stay steady. Batman looks at me. “You alright?”

“Yes I’m alright!” I snap. “Now pull! We’re going to get that item drop, even if it kills me!”

Batman begins to wade through the water, stepping inbetween rocks and coral reef. The place is littered. It worst comes to worst, I’ll be able to jump across the various outcroppings, but one slip and I’m a goner.

It takes us almost an hour to reach a large, flattish rock that functions as a small island out here in the mess of stone, coral and flotsam. I jump up, being extremely careful not to slip as I daintily land on the rough but wet surface. I reach down and give Batman a hand up. He’s breathing heavy, and lays back next to me on the rock once he’s ashore. That heavy suit he’s wearing probably doesn’t help. For a mortal, he’s fit as fuck.

We sit in silence and watch the night sky, surrounded by the sound of ocean. I’ve never been so close to the blue ocean before. It’s not like the white ocean I live on, far above the clouds. It’s darker, scarier. I wonder what lurks beneath those ocean depths. It’s still close to midnight, and every wave makes me wonder what’s out there. I’ve never felt so vulnerable. And yet … I trust this man. We’ve come this far, and I don’t believe he would ever betray me. With him at my side, I feel … safer.

It’s a shame he’ll have to die before this is all over.

Batnel D5 to D9. Awaiting item drop.

[The Future Warrior]

While being back here, at the shore of the island was definitely not among Graowr's list of things she'd have preferred to be, If nothing else, though...at least they weren't headed out into the actual flooded area. That would have sucked. Being out there in all that water, with it being so rough (not to mention cold), on top of it being so dark from it being the middle of the night... Even she knew that was just a recipe for disaster. She was fairly certain that there was still a shark out there with a vendetta against her. Heading back out there would be something she did as a last resort. Or, well...it would be something she'd only do if there were more items out there. That was the whole point of this contest, after all. Grab the items!

...she still found it kind of strange they'd advertised and constantly mentioned it being a battle competition, though. The Colosseum was definitely a big thing and a far from insubstantial part of it, but the real draw and focus of it was on grabbing up the items dropped onto the island. Even if...people were apparently liable to ambush and fight each other for them down here on the island itself. All the fighting was supposed to be in the Colosseum, though! Didn't these people know the rules?! It was frustrating. It was incredibly frustrating.

But hey, she was actually doing pretty well! Only one fight so far, and in the Colosseum, no less. On top of that, she'd gathered a fair few items, and helped find a few more on top of them. She wasn't really sure how this thing was scored or judged, but from what she knew, she had to be doing at least okay in the grand scheme of things.

"Getting close, I think," Dawn spoke up, drawing the majin out of her thoughts. "Should be just up ahead, there. Maybe that clearing."

"Yeah! Less trees and jungle-stuff for it to get caught on or get lost, there!" Graowr agreed.

They both hurried up ahead, stopping at the clearing's edge to remain more or less sheltered by the trees, such as the offered any shelter. And they waited.

Graowr and Dawn moving from D7 to D8.
Standing by for item fall.

[The Future Warrior]

The few hours of waiting they had to endure were quiet and more than a little unpleasant. It was cold. It was dark. And it was wet. Graowr was able to keep herself occupied by messing about on the syntech tablet. Checking updates and getting herself updated on the goings-on of the island. Two entire zones were going to drop out of the running, turning into dead zones. She wasn't entirely sure what all that would entail, but with a name like 'dead zone' she could only assume it was nothing good. Especially if it was even a tiny portion as bad as what had happened to Garlic Jr. That was kind of a vague tale, and she hadn't really learned much about it, but it sounded pretty bad. She'd like to avoid that if possible.

What was more interesting to her, though, was the goings-on up in the Colosseum. Zedd's fight was still going on, and he was really giving it his all up there. Yeah, get 'em, Zedd! Another fight had started up, too, though. It was somebody she didn't recognize, and...Tony! Oh, wow, it was finally time to see what he could do! Well...kind of. She'd just be watching, and not actually participating, but still! Knock 'em flat, redcoat!

Still, even that could only take up so much time, and eventually she turned back to the dataverse, reading up on what she'd missed on twitter and such. Her brow furrowed, as she checked over an increasingly frustrating and flustering series of comments directed at her. About her swim out to the item waaaay out away from the island yesterday. Or...earlier today? It was hard to keep track of time, it was so out of whack. And she was so incredibly confused about all of the sudden interest and attention. "...I just don't get it."

Of course, all of that went out the window when the item drop came down. Spitting purple sparks, and trailing a bright purple parachute, it crashed down a little ways off of their prediction. At the edge of the jungle, toward the beach. They both scrambled for it, and though Dawn was faster it was the blue abomination's frantic scrambling and hopping through the trees and over obstacles that let her get to it first, quite literally crashing into the container and ripping it open to grab the contents. A small capsule. "Hey, another one of these! Awesome!"

"...what is it?" Dawn questioned, looking at it dubiously.

"It's a capsule! Press the little button on top and toss it, and it releases whatever's stored in it! Really handy for carrying stuff around." She tossed it up, catching it, and shoved it into her body along with the rest of her carried equipment. "We got it, now let's get going!" And without missing a beat, she was off and running, back the way they'd come. Dawn, much less eagerly, followed behind her.

Graowr and Dawn moving from D8 to D7

[Todd Ingram]

The night was long yet peaceful. As a wanted man Bruce learned to enjoy these moments of tranquility. Even in a strange place like this with a man he barely knows. The nostalgic feeling hit him once again. For the first time In this place the fearless vigilante felt calm. The harmonious sounds of the water kissing the sands of the shore, water splashing up against the rock upon which they were resting. One might almost forget the death and destruction going on around them.


None other than Enel was the first to break this moment of self-reflection. "Say Bats?"
"Hmm?"


"What was your world like before this?" It was the first time Enel was actually interested in anything other than his suspicion of his presumable bat-powers or his own divinity. Maybe he wasn't as self centered as Bruce initially thought.


The dark knight started to share his tale, "For the last five years, my world was under the rule of a tyrant. This ma-…"


"Shut up. Look!" The one time Bruce actually spoke got immediately interrupted. He looked up towards where Enel was pointing. A crate with a parachute was dropping from the sky. Finally the item they were waiting for had arrived. The object landed several meters from them, floating on the water. Batman turned his head towards Enel, who was giving him a certain look.


"Fine." The dark knight grunted. Going back into the cold water he forced his way to their prize. With the blades located upon his gauntlets Batman pried the crate upon and looked inside of it. He grabbed the item and made his way back to the God before handing it to him.


"Here, you know what it is?"


Enel examined it closely, "Hmm, Hmm, Yes. This will do nicely. Well done Batman!" The vigilante didn't look to pleased with the condescending tone, but then again, he was dealing with a mentally unstable person. Sometimes, you have to let these things slide for the greater good. From the corner of his field of vision, Batman noticed the raft they used to bring the water fearing god out here, drift away further and further. It was already out of reach to swim there, who knows what kind of traitorous current was hiding underneath that surface. His grappling gun would only damage the boat. He nudged his head towards the raft, notifying Enel of the misfortune.


"You got to be fucking kidding me?! Why weren't you paying attention?! How am I going to go back to the coast. I told you I can't swim you Id-…" The god's rant stopped as his head returned slowly towards facing batman. From dumb grin upon his face Batman knew enough, "You got to be kidding me."


A few moments later, the dark knight was pushing himself through the water, slowly gaining ground to return to the coast. On his shoulders, a barefooted god was squatting down, holding on the cowl's ears for dear life. Suddenly the Thundergod's balance was unparalleled with even Robin. Never before had the masked warrior felt so humiliated, "Not a word, to anyone." He spoke with a rough displeased tone, as they finally reached dry land.


[quote]
Moving Batman and Enel D9 to D5
[/qoute]

[Dawnika Snow]

The assassin wasn't fast enough to get ahold of the item before Graowr. She would have liked to grab hold of it first, claim some sort of 'dibs' on it should they merely just split up. Nevertheless, they had acquired one of the most important of the item drops in the game. They were supposted to get five of these certain drops, put them together and make an artifact of some sort to win Dante's Abyss officially. Could she actually do it? Did she really have a chance against aliens, trolls, gods and whatever the hell else plagues this island with their disturbing presence? Considering she had close hold of one of the items, there was a possiblity. The problem was, this was the fouth of five. That meant that three other people, different or the same person, were already carrying the items she needed to win. Perhaps when the last one dropped, she would use this Omnitwitter to call everyone to a certain area and brawl for the artifact. Try to outlast everyone else, then swoop in and steal the pieces? Sounded good enough in her head.

The duo mushed through the groggy mud, slipping through the wetness of the water-welled ground. She was a fan of bad weather, but not when she was covered up to the waist in mud and soggy as underwater bread.

"Fuck this stupid island." She cursed audibly, barely reaching the not-so-alien Graowr's ears(?)

"What was that?" She asked, craning her head around to look at Dawn, keeping her fluid motion as she walked.

"Nothing." She replied. "Just talking to myself. Are we back in the city yet? As much as I hate that city, I think I hate this muddy, flooded flatland more."

"I think were pretty close. You can see the buildings from here, just over that tree line." Graowr explained as she pointed to the area she was defining.

"Good." Was all the vigilante offered in return.

Dawn and Graowr, D7 > D3

[Todd Ingram]

"Finally! Dry land!" Enel proclaimed loudly. Next to him was a thoroughly soaked Batman, not at all amused. Grabbing his cloak he started to wring the water out of it. "That thing better be worth it." The dark knight referring to the item they recently acquired.


"Oh lighten up Bats, I'm sure it will. But for now, I'm done with the beach. It wasn't at all what I hoped it would be, not that you weren't swell company or anything like that."Enel snickered but was greeted by one of the Dark knights famous 'not-amused' look. Batman would have preferred to have his armor dry up a bit before they started moving, but his companion wouldn't have any of it. It was almost as if he had places to go. Immediately he started yet another hike. It almost felt like that was all they were doing, walking around, meeting up with people, walking around, item drop. Beside that one battle he had with those horrible fairy creatures it hadn't been as bad as Sarah claimed it would be.


After mere minutes Enel already unpacked his tablet again. If Bruce didn't know any better he'd say he was addicted to that thing. Every single time that piece of tech comes out he was so focused on the screen a plan could be crashing down and he wouldn't notice. In secret, he hoped the battery would die on that thing, then again, it was nice and quiet this way. Batman noticed how the tablets were used as a media source, sending out messages. He would've loved to have made contact with either Alfred or Sarah, but it was too dangerous, you never know who is watching. For now he would just continue his journey with Enel, but something in his gut was telling him this peaceful tracking over the island would end. He had to be ready for when that time came.

moving Batnel D5 to D6

[Enel]

More items, no resistance. I wonder if the rest of the island’s participants are even trying anymore. I mean we were right there, on a rock in the middle of the ocean. Are they even playing anymore?

During our time awaiting the item drop, I managed to catch us some fish – I say catch, I really mean “electrocute the water and then send Batman in to pick up the corpses”. We stop presently to cook some up. It’s morning, and I’m hankering for some breakfast.

With the fish on sticks, cooking away in front of a fire, I reach into my bag to see what provisions are left. I’ve still got a bit of crusty bread from the B safehouse, half of which I’d already used on ham and cheese sandwiches. I split it in two, offering one half to Batman, and we use it to soak up the dripping fat from the delicious fishes. Honestly, mortals would rather eat canned protein than enjoy the bounties of nature I offer to all. Un-saveable.

As I pat my belly and lean back, I hear some rustling in the trees. Shit! I got too relaxed and let my senses down. As Batman jumps to his feet, prepared to fight, I reach out with my mantra to see who’s there.

Then I chuckle, recognising the silhouettes. “Don’t worry Batman, it’s just our lady friends come to drop in.” I call out. “Over here, Graowr!”

The blue-skinned being bursts through the trees, eyes like saucers. “Is that fish!?” she gasps. I hear a stomach growl that could compete with mine own. “Awww, it’s all gone …”

The other woman emerges more hesitantly. I jerk my chin at her, grinning. “Hey sweetums. Why don’t you come sit down by the fire?”

She leans back against the tree instead.

I lean in to Batman, whispering. “You should go talk to her.”

“What?” he says, a look of mild impatience beginning to show through that shrouded exterior.

I shrug innocently. “You’re a man, she’s a woman. You might get along.”

“We should stay focused on the mission,” he growls.

“Pff, we’re winning anyway. Might as well pick up some more victories while we’re at it. Eh? Eh? Am I right?” I hold my hand up.

Graowr interjects. “Do you have any more food?! I’m staaarving.” She straightens up like someone had delivered her an electric shock. It wasn’t me. “Oh, er, uh, I mean. Your Godliness. Your highness, sir.”

I chuckle, leaning over to my knapsack and taking a couple more fish out of a plastic bag within it. I hand them over to Graowr. “My thanks for your help back there. A good God always rewards his followers.”

“Yaaaay thanks God Enel!” she exclaims, jumping for joy. Miss Grumpy rolls her eyes.

Batnel going D6 to D3 and reuniting with Grao-Dawn.

[Deadpool]

When Jak came to, he found himself laid out on a log. "Where are we?"

Deadpool sat on another log adjacent to Jak. He was hunched towards a small flame he had made, fiddling with a pistol. "Good morning, sleepy-head," he said. "And we're in a forest, or jungle--it's hard to tell."

Jak sat up and rubbed his head. "How'd we get here?"

You became bewildered, and attacked me," the mercenary replied. "I had to choice but to subdue you; afterwards, I carried you here."

"Where's my blaster?"

"Question after question--who's the annoying one now?" He pointed at Jak's feet, where the blaster and backpack leaned against the side of the log. "By the way, you should wear boxer-briefs, or something. I felt that elephant trunk you call a cock resting across my neck the entire way."

Deadpool refocused his attention on his pistol. He ran the cloth over each of the firearm's pieces, wiping away any gunk that may have accumulated since he last cleaned them; once he was done with a part, he reattached it to another clean piece.

Jak picked his bag up and took a look inside. He retrieved the tablet and placed it on his lap, but not before noticing one of his meals missing. "You take my food?"

Deadpool sighed. "I'm not that much of a douche . . . usually, he answered. Setting the pistol aside, he grabbed the hot meal he had cooked earlier. "Here, I made this for you. Figured you'd be hungry once you regained consciousness."

Jak leaned forward and took it from the mercenary's hands--salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley. "Thanks."

"No prob."

The eco warrior began to devour the meal. Gravy dripped ran down his mouth like little rivers and cheap steak debris flew out as he ate with his jaw loose.

Deadpool returned to cleaning his gun. "Enjoy the meal, he said. "Soon, the item drops, and who knows who'll show up to contest us."

Jak was enjoying his meal too much to pay attention to the mercenary's warning. "There's tons of flavor in this," he mumbled under a mouthful of food.

Deadpool smirked. "Thanks, he replied, "I made use of some of the salt I had available on my person."

He meant the salt from his sweaty genitals.

Jakpool: moved from C15 to D4; awaiting item drop.

[Jak Mar]

After Jak ate the “Karl tv treat” deadpool had made for him since he was hungry. He saw the item dropping from the sky and landing on the ground in front of them.

Jak bent down and opened the container.  “So this could be interesting after all.”

Deadpool bent down “What is it?”

Jak sighed “I’m not sure yet… hard to tell.”

“Can you handle it deadpool? It’s hard to tell when we’ll need it the most.” Jak nodded rather seriously.

He picked up his backpack and supplies and connected the strange modern blaster on his back again.

“We both need the points.”

As much as I don’t want to leave the safehouse, I’d say we get out of this place before someone discovers us.

“Great idea, Mar.”

just some talking a bit. Team Jakpool waits for item drop.

[Karl Jak]

End Day 4, Morning

Start Day 4, Afternoon

[Deadpool]

Jak sat on the log fiddling with their new item until the sun had reached its peak, stretching light over the entire island.

"Done playing with yourself?"  Deadpool asked. He was smirking.

The eco warrior glanced up at him; a green brow furrowed above his gogglers, which were now enclosing his eyes. "I'm trying to figure out what other pieces this thing takes."

"Well, do it some other time," Deadpool replied. "We shouldn't sit on our hands. Plus--" he held up his tablet "--while you've been staring at that thing with the dazzlement of an aboriginal looking at phone, Sugar Daddy Karl dropped a couple more items for his sugar babies."

The mention of an item reeled in the eco warrior's attention. "Where?" he inquired.

"There's the single-minded Jak I've grown to slightly like more than I did previously." The mercenary smiled, and pointed a finger in the direction he saw the pulsing dot on his map app. That way; not far. If we leave soon, we can get there before evening--whichever evening you want to go by."

Grabbing his bag and blaster, Jak raised from the log. "Let's get it," he said with a mixture of determination and confidence.

"Before we go," Deadpool said, "I need the new item from you."

Jak glared at the mercenary like a rich man would a beggar.

"If I were to get culled again into the colosseum, you'd be all alone," he said. "And given the ass-whipping I gave you, you wouldn't be able to fend of a strong group."

The mercenary knew Jak understood him. They had both entered numerous Dante's Abyss, and were not ignorant--every one of Karl's events eventually transformed into organized teamed Slaughterball.

Reluctantly, Jak handed Deadpool the item.

Jakpool moving from D4 to D3

[Handsome Jack]

My thoughts run wild... I can't stop them. Not only am I fixated on the fight we just had, but also on the fellow draped over my back. Before I met this man, I'd been perfectly happy being alone. After all, there was no one who was my equal in this world, or any other. Even in the time leading to that fight, I could have left at any time and not shed a tear. But now... we'd become brothers in battle. Our blood spilled together on those rocks and I found myself actually CARING for a human. And not in the way that a person would care for a pet, but in a true, deep way that only those who have gone through hell together can understand.

Coarse gravel crunches underfoot as we make our way onto a rocky outcrop. I wipe my good hand across my head-crest, smearing purplish congealed blood away from my eye and look out at the island. To my left, I can see the city in the distance, Drumph Tower glistening in the late evening sun. In front of us, an expanse of marsh-land forest dotted with a few huts and cottages that are all that remains of the previous beach-side resort. And to my right, the vast expanse of ocean. We're back.

From my back, I hear Sterling speak up as he also notices where we are, his eyes immediately locking onto the bar we had stopped at prior to our fateful battle.

“Think we can stop for a drink, buddy? I need something to wash the taste of that ass-whupping out of my mouth.”

I sigh, and nod sadly. “Yeah, pal... We can do that.”

I crack a grin and look over my shoulder at him, the stuffed bear in my eye socket drooping drearily, “But only if you ssave me ssome of that good Burgundy'ss Choicce sscotch. It'll getcha drunk!”

And so, with a tired chuckle shared between them, the bedraggled knight and his wounded steed make their way down from the mountains and towards a small glimmer of solace below.

Moving from E11 to D5 and waiting for the item drop.

[Deadpool]

After Jak handed Deadpool the item, they started their journey to the next drop.

The eco warrior surveyed their surroundings as they proceeded. His eyes were wide, absorbing the scenery. Tropical foliage glistened, and flashed vibrant colors while waving in the coastal breeze; farther out, sparse palm trees arched from the weight of the coconuts ripening underneath their leaves; a few birds gawked in the sky as they cut a path across the sun.

Meanwhile, mercenary occupied himself with his tablet. He was scrolling down OmniTwitter, using the hashtag 'Dante's Abyss', then 'DA17'. Enel still claimed the top spot in terms of trending tweets; following through with promises made to his fanbase, the self-proclaimed god's popularity had risen. It reminded Deadpool of those douchebag streamers on Twitch, except Enel had the luxury of Karl's cameras to do all of the production work.

Sly fuck, he told himself. He'd never admit it, but he envied the attention Enel was receiving.

He pulled his backpack from one shoulder, and stashed the tablet inside.

Fuck OmniTwitter. Who needed it? Not Deadpool. It turned people into sociopaths, anyway; Deadpool wasn't a sociopath. He would simply get fans the old fashioned way, by beating the living shit out of more popular characters—it worked with Wolverine.

But all in due time, he thought. For now, obtaining items was the main objective; if the popular primes are strong then they will be waiting for him at the finish line.

”Yo, Jak,” Deadpool said, ”how close we getting?”

Jak pulled his eyes from the scenery to look at his watch—sometime during their time waiting for the last item, he had synced it to the tablet. “Not that far,” he replied. “We're making good time.”

”Hey, when we find this item, don't be tinkering with it. We gotta haul ass to a place we can rest our head first. Then you can play with your third leg, for all I care.”

Jakfool from D3 to D1

[Gildarts]

Tch. So that was it. Karl got his show and Gildarts was a little spiteful for being the puppet, but overtaking that spite was the flowing accomplishment of both of them having a good fight. Dante had fought with true valiance but in the end, the King of Destruction had been willing to go all out to win.

Clattering to the ground in front of him was his chainsaw and his backpack, teleported from thin air. The scent of chemicals, like woman’s nail polish and spray tan, spilled inside the black knapsack. Guess Karl wanted his Chippendales bronze and bold. Gildarts sighed and looked around at his battered body. The sting of blood and sweat burned around his eye and Gildarts felt the grogginess of his concussion overcoming him and mixing with the scent of putrid chemicals the strongest prime had the urge to-

SPLOOOOOOSH!

Yuck.

The vile gushed from his throat and was chucked off to his side. He’d been leaning weakly against a wall for strength and evaluating the concussed shapes of his warped memories, but even leaning didn’t feel like enough to hold up his rusting bones and joints. The Fairy Tail wizard’s sight continued to blur and shake, colors of the dark room swarmed around him. Into darkness he plunged.

Ah-ah, can’t have you falling into a coma, you oaf. The voice in his mind hissed. Where is that hard-assed elf when I need him?

Gildarts was in no shape to go anywhere. He couldn’t even stay conscious. Curtains of black shaded over his eyes and mixed with colors of murky swamp water from his sporadic blinking. The wayward prime was finally too slow to wander. He heard the feet below him shuffling -his own- and then-

SLAP!

That shouldn’t have been able to happen, because she didn’t exist.

Quit slouching. You have items to grab. Mal said like a tyrannical mother who was ruling over a colony, making Gildarts the primary taxpayer.

Hm? Where did that voice come fr-from? Gildarts felt his mind choke.

I’ve been here the entire time, you dope. I need you to stand and start walking… Or swimming. Whatever it takes. I won’t hear the excuse of you being tired. Fatigue is weakness, and aren’t you the strongest prime?

Gil moves from SHD to D14 i guess

[Gildarts]

Gildarts woke up again to find his head submerged in water, he gasped out of shock when his lungs sought to explode within him, or die silently like an ill creature starved of food. He gasped loud and the entire mosh of his hair erupted from the water in a splattering hairflip. The prime looked around and shook his head while his hands and feet waded through the water.

This can’tt be good for my wounds… He thought and noticed the Malefactor didn’t quip back.

“Humph,” he grunted under his breath and with his two rather heavy appendages he noticed he had a rough kind of time swimming through the flooded marshes. It was saltwater that smelt like fart-mud. He’d heard that the mud could be taken into a mask and used in skincare, and that people spent a pretty penny on this kind of stuff. Gildarts was  interested in preserving his youth but not enough to take a face full of dirt if he could help it.

Annnd he couldn’t seem to help it. Gildarts waded to the shoreline, his drain body aching, and his abiotic boot stuck to the mud, slipped out of its boot, and caused him to go face first into the mudbank. This wasn’t far from a Predator moment, but Gildarts did somehow resemble the legendary victor in that fight, now that the entire front of his body was covered in thick, camouflaging mud.

Gildarts didn’t notice about his boot squishing off, because he couldn’t feel it, so shiny silver toes, very much robotic in appearance, wiggled out around the freedom and the light of day that the polished metal had barely ever seen.

The aloof prime didn’t bother wiping his face of the mud, he just continued to walk on, determined he was exactly where he was supposed to be when it finally occurred to him…

Hey, where is Illidan and that kid?

Gildarts moves from D14to D10

[Gildarts]

The king of destruction didn’t expect this to be a fake shoreline, another pseudo-island or whatever but when he’d breached just over the marshy moor he saw that there was a lot more water he’d have to wade through.
 
Gildarts groaned and swept his muddy hand through his sludge coated hair. “S-seriously?”
 
Ugh you are still speaking in that stutter? It makes you appear weak and foolish, quit it, you concussed imbecile.
 
What a jerk! Gildarts thought back to her, though stumbling with effort as he did so, Malefactor, you’re cruel. I-I can’t help it if my brain glitches from head trauma I received from battle, something you can’t ever do. If you could tone it down a notch, I feel a bit hungover and your loud voice sounds like dreadful opera music.
 
Grrrr…. she seethed, Gildarts you ought to respect me, I remember when you fought against Volvalgia and accepted my help, I fought with you then, did I not? I’m a ticking time bomb inside your mind, dangerous, deadly, horrific, destructive, all the sweet liberties you deny yourself. Don’t you care, Clive, that we could take over the entire Omniverse? [i]Together we would be unstoppable, more powerful than Camelot and Coruscant combined. All you have to do is give in, and I can give you exactly what you need… When we get back…[/i]
 
“Yer a d-demon,” Gildarts slurred, she was so similar to Lucifer himself, from the stories he had heard about in the Omniverse about the mythical heaven and hell, and the place where we humans lurked, the in-between. Of course, everyone had their own story of religion, their own God, Gods, or beliefs of none at all. Gildarts had but a small grasp on what his large reality should look like, what his life was for. He’d died and woke up again the next day like it was some sort of dream.
 
And then there was Omni.
 
What did it all mean?
 
Gildarts fished through his bag and grabbed himself a drink.
 

D10 to D6 Gildarts drinks x4 elixirs, restoring his SP to 9/11