The Grand Crossover RP - Pathway to Origin [IC/PG-13/Moved to NCM for Finale]

Love of Ghibli · December 13, 2016

Team Dorian Prolguous

It looked as if the two strong members of the CC were actually trying to hold their own against the Avatar. However it looked like the beast was about to finally figure out a way to deal with them. Dorian couldn't let that happen. Of course this Yachiru character looked like she could be the key to unlocking some secret power in the soul reaper...but she would've done it by now if it was necessary. This means he would have to step and do...something. He bltized over to his manservant and whispered something in his what seemed to be unconscious ears. And then he flew off. If anything this new plan was flashy to say the least.

Inside the mind of Butlerok, certain members of the collective were trying to figure out just what Dorian was trying to accomplish. Of course Ragnarok and Butler could only laugh as even though the group's souls were synced they were the only two that knew where this plan was going.

Boy is just a little melodramatic with this one. Ragnarok stated

I must say my master has always had a flair and love for the dramatic. But why didn't we think of this? the butler replied.

Because it's garish and ostentatious. The better question is why would we even humor something this dumb? Gyoukuen retorted.

Because out of all of the seemingly overt and complex strategies we've discussed this one is actually simple enough to work. Genruyuusai responded to the disembodied spirit.

The Butlerok in the real plane took to his feet and then proceeded to fly straight up into the air with the thousands of mages. Butlerok then made a bow of compressed Black Blood and while it looked rather ornate he chuckled for a second as he looked on at the Avatar. He took aim straight towards the blank sky and as he did the rest of the mages and he shouted in concert

ZAUL AL-ADHRA!!

It looked like nothing fired at first but as seconds went by it was clear that a creature was fired and it got exponentially bigger exponentially quicker. Within a second looking down at the Avatar was a slightly duller but almost carbon copy of the entity known as Sliferok! The massive creature roared at the Avatar as it didn't have much of a brain but it was programmed with one objective. Rip the Avatar to shreds! It decided to bare down at the Avatar.

Butlerok looked on. This should work.

There was no way for Butlerok to actually think his vanilla Sliferok would be able to reach the Avatar, but what he hope was that it would get the Avatar's undivided attention. Butlerok looked from below the Avatar and he could see two lights coming from opposite directions converging on the Avatar like missiles. One was Rhadamanthys, with his cosmos raised almost to its peak, his fist clenched and cocked back and about to punch a hole through the beast. The other was Dorian who turned on his seventh sense and also flared his cosmos this time though he was wielding Hades' sword that Rhadamanthys (the acting Hades) gave him. While he may not have had the strength to take the Avatar down the sword of God should do the trick. If Sliferok works then the beast won't see these two assaults coming.

Maeriberii Haan · December 13, 2016

"Ah, it's a gravity field."

Kazuya felt that he was slowly getting pulled towards the monstrosity's direction, which at first confused him until he realized what really happened. It was a bit hard for him to go against the push, which was a pain. So far he was trying to figure out something to do on this battle. It annoyed him, but it was a pity that he was unable to figure out the way to properly use the capabilities of the Bel demons. It's not like he was willingly tapping into it in the first place. It's all thanks to Naoya breaking his COMP in the end. But it's really no use to think about that again, especially now. The others were already doing things now. The shady-looking group over there seemed to have buffed that menacing-looking swordsman nearby. And...ah, the development of it was interesting. Their assault failed to produce much impact, yet the Avatar's own attack was reflected back at it by the demi-god using a certain kid of artifact. As a follow-up, immediately after one of the shady-looking people shot up a gigantic red creature to the sky, while the other two went ahead to start attacking the Avatar with full force.

Kazuya shook his head. For now, no way he was able to reach their level of sheer power. But, in the end, it's fine. He wasn't the main character of this story. What was important for him now would be to help them in finishing this battle. That was what he had decided to do. He closed his eyes to help his mind focus, and a spell's image formed on his thought. Doing it without the help of a COMP was irritating, but as long as it's something that he has cracked, it shouldn't be a problem. Designating the targets as the people that were currently attacking the Avatar, he finished incantation as flower-like immaterial barriers formed around them.

"Shield All."

Until he figured out a better way to help, Kazuya was fine acting as support.

"Reimu...those black, goop-like substance on the Avatar, can't you notice it?"

"Haa? Who's talking to me?" Reimu opened her eyes as she felt her energy returning, and found that Yachiru was nearby, along with some of Yukari's earlier shady guests. She swore that she could hear a familiar voice calling to her earlier, but no one around her seemed to be talking to her. It's definitely not Yachiru's voice, that's for sure. She was sure it felt more boy-like. No...perhaps it might just be a girl too. It was definitely familiar though, and it bugged her to no end. Without any leads to where the voice came from though, Reimu ended up just getting up from her comfy resting place on the crater behind her, and approached Yachiru.

"Thanks for your help, Yachiru. We're so close...this is definitely the final stretch. Let's do our best and exterminate that thing!"

Even as she talked with her renewed vigor, Reimu could feel that she was slowly being pulled towards the Avatar. The others were now clearly trying to attack the Avatar as the giant creature seemingly attempt to either crush or distract it, Kratos deflecting an attack back towards the Avatar, and the pair of lights that were flashing in their attempt to strike the Avatar. Reimu herself felt the urge to box the Avatar again, but she immediately remembered how terrible of an idea it was. Looking at it now from her position, the Avatar was definitely possessing an odd structure. The black-goop thing didn't feel like it's attached to the Avatar properly. It felt like...dripping on it, an awkward attempt to simulate flesh and skin on the creature that was barely even alive to begin with. What are those, actually? Why did she have to pay attention to it? A strange feeling of heat came from her waist. Something was calling her, was it a call for help?

"The analysis of [ ] is ongoing. Unable to discern true nature for the time being. Please wait warmly until the analysis is over."

The familiar voice spoke once again, leaving Reimu even more baffled. Was she starting to be driven insane by the Avatar? She tried her best to not think about it much for now, although she started to have guesses about where did it come from. Without much option left other than recklessly charging and failing for the nth time, Reimu decided to stand her ground. Gripping on the warm Sword of Scarlet Perception, Reimu decide that it was best to wait for the upcoming attacks to be concluded before she do anything else.

"...I'm sorry Koishi, but...ah, sometime, even I need to do something utterly stupid too."

A gap opened on top of the giant creature that Butlerok had summoned, and Yukari came out from it, hovering slightly above the creature below her. Being hidden like earlier was not something that would benefit anyone. She was only endangering Koishi if she did that. She forced herself to put out as much as she could to open a gap this far, but even as she was tired now, Yukari had a smile on her face. The Key was on her right hand, and she was now in the open vicinity where the Avatar would easily notice her presence. Something as big as this creature had little chance of working against the Avatar, so Yukari decided that it was best to use it to help her in becoming a bait. A gap stayed open on her right side. In a worse case scenario, she had decided on who shall she pass the key onto, on her last moments if this ended up like that. This felt stupid, so stupid. Never before she actually felt that potentially sacrificing herself like this would be a reasonable choice.

"But...if it's for you, then I...I accept. This is something that I must do since a long time ago. As an older sister, it's my job to protect you, right?"

Stabilizing herself on top of the giant creature's head, Yukari made her presence known towards the Avatar.

Tesability Black · December 17, 2016

~Gemini's POV~

A grin befell Gemini's face upon seeing Koishi and the Key, glad to see that it was finally within his sight once more. He already knew how to reclaim it, but that would be something for another moment.

Glancing towards another after catching the sliver of a thought, something about the current lack of ability to properly use the capabilities of the 'Bel demons', Gemini thought for a moment as he focused on the one causing another to surround all with a strange form of shielding that instantly began corroding away from around him. "Hm, what's this about a COMP..." Creating another platform just under the passed-out mindmage in case the ground shattered once more, Gemini rose a hand towards the odd human before the demon summoner's aura flared out for a moment as some of it separated from behind him. Gemini pulled it towards him and began to work with it, magnifying the amount he had, shaping it, giving it function based of what he saw this was supposed to do.

Once done, he floated the crystalline COMP to Kazuya's hands, projecting a thought to him. "It would take some effort to break that, and you can recall and summon it as needed in addition, since it is now a part of your aura."

His good deed done for the moment, though he stood to benefit from it as well, he turned towards Neos...and came close to releasing a loud groan. "By the Distortion, why are you standing around?!"

"I haven't found an opening!"

Gemini's shoulders dropped at this statement in disbelief. "...if you're hoping for an invitation..." Gemini closed his eyes to focus on the floating thoughts of those around him while purposely avoiding the massive void that was the Avatar, catching thoughts of the 'goop' around it and how it seemed to not really be a part of it. Hm...

~Neos's POV~

"Arceus-dammit, why are you standing around?!"

"I haven't found an opening!" Neos had been watching the fight as it progressed, trying to figure out a way to get into the fight without messing with some of the other plans that had seemed to brew around him. The fact that Gemini seemed to be trying to rush him in was irking him as well.

However, he did feel the gravity well's effect, cheating slightly by hooking his own aura to the flooring below him, creating a magnetic effect of sorts that kept him staying put when he wasn't moving. It slowed him down, but if it meant not being forcibly made one with the Avatar, it was a price worth paying. And it gave him an idea...

Neos closed his eyes for a moment, bringing a hand to over his eyelids so that his thumb tip was on one 'lid and his middle finger tip was on the other. A bluish light glowed for a moment before he lowered his hand and opened his eyes to reveal the same glow coming through his irises and pupils. A variety of aura colors entered his view, each matching the shape of the ones projecting them. He focused in specific on the Avatar and the void that it was. Afraid to pull from the Avatar, Neos summoned a flicker of his own aura over his now-open hand like a flame, focusing on changing it more and more to force it into being the polar opposite of the maddened foe's aura. As he did this, however, the aura began to match that of something else, something small. He looked up above everyone to see someone poking out of a portal, holding something in their hands.

"...I wonder." Now having a focus to work from, Neos tried to match the aura in his hand with the aura from the strange device in the distance, only satisfied when he could not tell the difference between the two. The effort put into it left him prone to passing out, though he knew he couldn't afford to. With this, he condensed the aura into crystalline form, then condensed it further, until it was no larger than a bullet. Carefully backing up a few steps, the quarterstaff in his other hand began to change and morph, looking more and more like a typical sniper rifle. When one considered that he only had one shot at this, it made sense to use something that was made for precision.

Loading it into the crystalline rifle, Neos took aim at the large figure and fired. Even if the Avatar tried to let it move through it, it would explode in the middle of the area it was in...

The Warden · December 17, 2016

D͖̱o̐ṇ͚̿̓̔̾'̲̹̰̼ͪ̏̋̋t̨̙̙͔̬̩͚͐͗ͪͅ ̨̻̗̪̦̳l̵̙̺̮̳̰̉i̜̟̱̣̰̪͎̍͋̆̎k̀e͙̭.̶̘̪̤͉̟͎ͯͣ

Too many voices, too many things.

Ḓ̶͙̤̱̱̻͚́̌̔ͥ́̚o̡̻͎͎̗̘͈͛̀ͦ͗̆͛̅̈́̾͟ͅn̶̨͈̬̓̍ͦͦ'̵̫͙͎̭̿̍̏͠t̬̙̐ͪ͞ ̦̤̦̤̦̝͍̻̏͊͗̓ͩ̃̍͝l̥̙̟̝̯̪̝͚͗ͬ̒ͩ͡i͆̃ͪ̏̊͘͠҉̣̦͓k̪̒̔̒ͮͧ̏e͓̮͌͆ͨ̅ͫ̈́̆̑͟͜.͍̻̩͚͉̺͊

There was too much to focus on, too many THINGS!

Ḑ̵͓͈͓̝̩̜̺̱̱̭̹̙̪̞̩̩̞͕͂͆̎̂̀͋̅͗̋͊̎̋ͦ͛͊ͩ̏ͫ͘ỏ̶̆̐ͥ͏̗̦̞̹͞n̵̠̬͈̮̲͙͙̯̱͉̘̟̩̜̲̐̐̔ͣͣ͑͋ͫ̇͊̎͘͢ͅ'̵̧̛͙̮̞̰͔͍̫̤͙̜̮̯͓̽ͤ̓̊̔ͯ͒ͪ͗̂̅͋̐̿ͯ̆̄ͬ͜͝t̢̡̨̒͑̒͂̔ͣ͂͌ͬ͑̏́̚̚͏̞̼͎̟͓̻͙̲̬̙̪̜͎̰̲̬̙ ̡̰̗̟͕̟̭́ͨ͌ͭ͛͋̀ͣ̈́̇ͮ̏ͥl̛ͣͦͫͬ͂͌ͩ͊ͩ̓̋̍͡҉̲̠̳͖̰̫̪̬̙̙̣͓ḭ̴̸̧̳̤͇̑͂̆̊̆ͩ͋͌ͧ͒̐̐͐ͥ̆͑k̸͌͗̌̍ͭͧ̏̊̑̀͏̼̥̲͇̲̙͔ȩ̡̬̼̙̬̲̖͕̤̤͈̭̫̥̝ͫ͆ͤ͒̒͡!̧̓͒̈ͮ̽͗̕͡͏͓̣̼̥̰̺̣̪̤͚̣̫͇͓͞ͅ

It was impossible to focus on any one thing. Too much, too much. The Avatar's entire form shuddered, and then, came the scream.

D̩͎̯̯̜̮̹̲ͦ̒̇ͫ̉̕͜͢͡Ȏ̩͉͓̹͈͓͕̯̦ͥ͌ͫ̃͑̂̐̚̚͡͡Ņ̴͎̥̠͓̻͖ͬ̌́̿ͬ͒̅ͬ'̴͐͂̄̑͂̂̍̅ͦ̀҉҉̝͔̺̦̜̺̖̭͖̱̤̺̻̖̦͕̞̘T̢̞̻͍͉ͣͯ͑͂̋͐̓̉̇ͧ͆ͮ̋̈́ͪ͢ ̴̥̝̻̫̠̻̰͎̼ͪ͒̿ͧ̄̇̎̾̇͒̏ͥ͛̀̚͡L̵̡̖̻͙͕͉̜̣ͩ̊̑ͮ͗̆̃̆ͫ̇ͧ̅ͨ̕I̵͌̾ͥͣ͏̻̠̹̞̝̪̪̦͎͉͚̼ͅͅK̵̈ͭ́̉ͭͪ̇̀̕͞҉̬̫̱̣̭̤̙͍̰̦̩̳ͅE̵̝̬̲̲̜̞̺̜̥̖̞̞̠͎̭̟͖̲̤͂̂ͧ̇͞!ͩ̎̃ͯͤͨͮ̍̒̚͢͏̱̬̤̞̗̠̟̹!̴̸̡̡̯̻̩̦̀͆ͯ̿͂!̴̶̨̧͎͚͓̭̣͓̪̬͕͖͎̥͔̫ͩ͌͒ͨ͒̇

A piercing wave of psychic burst out of it in a sphere, striking everyone and every thing down, it even halted the fake Sliferok's own attack with the sheer force of its own angst. It was trembling, no, quaking with sheer rage. It was all too much, and it was done. The Key, that wretched key was above it, and now, it was time to destroy its holder.

K̦̳̞̮̮̩̞͊̅͂̓̊͛̆̊͡͡E̠̙̱͎̖̻͔̞̞͊́ͩ̏ͭͩ̀̕͠Y̶̸͕͍̼͓͚̙̙̱̼̟͉̹͉̗͕̳ͧͪͭͨ͟͜!̵̟͚͍̝̝͚̖̻͍͈̰͖͊̓ͨ̅́̇ͯͭ͒̈́̉̾͛ͬ͢͠!̢͎̪̙̦͇̮͔͓̅ͧͯ͊̓ͩ̾ͥ͆̌ͥ̎ͯ͛̍ͬ̅ͩ́̕͘͢!ͨͤ̂́҉҉͏̶͖̪̭̠͔̺̭̭̺̘̤̩͍̼͚̮̺̱̦͘

Launching out of its slimy coating, a mass of misshapen bones and organs zoomed straight past the stunned Kratos. Numerous wings and arms grew from the mess of twisted ribs, one of which punched Kratos away as it zoomed straight upwards, right for Yukari. Well, sort of upwards. The thing was moving at a blistering speed, and it kept making random turns and twists, making it hard to aim as the far lighter nightmare was hellbent on one thing: Destroying that damn Key.

V̷̝̩̦̻̼͙͇̺̬ͮͮ́ͯͣ̓̄ͦ̾̑̔͂̑ͣ͡͝a̵̧̮̟̬͖̟̯̙̦̗̟̥̲̞̒̌ͫ͂̂ͨ̒̚̚͝n͗̒͗͂̐̆̾͛ͦ̈́̀̊̄̏̓͛̄̓͏̶̣͚͕͇͇̦̜̭̯͉̣į̴̢̬̝̜̬̼͍͎̇ͫͪͦ̑̽̿ͣͧ͗̋̓̂̕͟ţ̟̬̣̯̣͓̝̪̓̎͛̓̓ͯ̃̋ͭ̐ͭ́ͯ̒̿͜y͐ͨ̾͋̓ͤ͏̷͚̭̣̟̼̬͉̣'̧̺̘̗͕͎̻͚̘̬̗͈̾ͤ͊̏́̽͗̽͑͗ͮ͑͋ͥ̂̆̀ş̛̛̭̖̗̗̮̝̙́ͬ̎̎͒̔ͥͧͬͭ̓̔ͣ̌̀͂͊ͤ̂́͘ ̸̨̛̠̣̟̘͎͇̦̱̹̳͍̰̥̰̑̈ͦ͛͛͊͒̃͗̓ͦͅE̡̓̆ͨͤ̔̄ͪ͑͐̍̈́͊̉̒̏ͧ͘͏̻̞̤̱͍̻̘̜̭͙̀͝ͅm̧͉̰̲̮͚̭̮̣̪̪͉͕̳̝̦̮ͭͭͣ͆̋ͧͅͅp̶̷̢̄͌̒̃̎͑͐̌ͧͥ̏͋͜҉̭͍̙͔t̸̠̫̩̣̹̗͍̦̝̯͇ͪͨ̽̋ͮ͝ͅi̶̋ͨͯ́́̎ͣ҉̷͝҉̣͙̬̪̣͇̻͓̹̰͉̙̦n̦̺͔̣̦̭̟̖̗̻̺̜̱͂̏ͮ̀ͥͥͭ̎̐ͧ̓͟͜͠ͅe̴̵̢͍̖̖͍̯̹̼͍̻̓͗ͭͩ̔̓̆̓̅̏͑͛͆ͅs̴̷̠̯͍͖̥͎̝̭̳̖ͯͩ̊̎̄̌͜͝ͅs̢̫̜̼̗̫̯̗̳͎̦͙̪͙̋̀̽̎̏̎ͤ́́̋͑͘͢͝!̛̙͇͇̖̗̟̮̖̬̼͛̒͂̋̿ͩ͗ͩͫ͌͘͝͠

There was nothing for a moment, and then... the fake Sliferok's head collapsed in on itself, its features crunching and smashing together, leaving a certain stunned boundary wanderer a little out in the open. And as much as she'd like to escape into a gap, it would be hard to enter and close them with that sickly pink wall of psychic energy blocking it.

K̨͕̺͖̻̟̼͕̓̄ͥ̄ͧ̀̽͒́͝ͅE̵̸̷̋ͬ̑͋̌ͣ̎̌͑̉͋͌̍ͩ͆͑̇̕҉͔̻̹͚̬̼͉̟̩̭Y̟̙̘̋̉̓ͤ͒̐ͨ̄̿̿̋̋͆̎͑͗͊̓̅̀́͢͠!͐̾̀̾̅̈ͯ́̈̚͢҉̮̬̗͚̦̳̬̗͖̮͔̬̩ͅ!̴̶̺͖͉̯̓ͯ͑̽̿ͭ̓ͬ̕̕͢!̴̛̛̏ͩ͂͑̚͘҉̦͚̥̭̫̙̱̘̘̪͚̣̫̦̹͕̦̹ͅ

It was coming for Yukari, and it wasn't going to let up now.

Dad · December 20, 2016

Yachiru

She had listened intently to Dorian. His words were true. Why hadn't she helped Kenpachi? She had the power to do so. But--

"It's not my decision to make," she whispered to herself, as Dorian took off. She smiled, thinking of all the good they could accomplish together. But if Kenpachi knew--now of all times--it would be bad. It would be bad for him, bad for Yachiru herself, and bad for everyone around him. She had to wait. Before Kenpachi could know everything there was to know, everything else had to fall in line.

It wasn't time for him to know. Not yet.

Kratos and Kenpachi

Kratos was flung away, battered by the Avatar now as he went spiraling towards the ground. Barely managing to break out of his spin, he crashed into the ground, embarrassed and temporarily out of commission. He wiped the blood from his forehead and mouth, spitting, and watching the Avatar charge after the Key. "Kenpachi!" he roared, trying to get his comrade's attention.

"I got it!" he called back, giving chase after the Avatar. The air around Kenpachi heated up, as he gained a burst of speed and launched himself forwards at the Avatar. It was moving incredibly fast, and Kenpachi was having a hard time keeping up. "Don't you ignore me, ya big bony bastard! Nozarashi!" Kenpachi targeted the Avatar's rear 'legs', taking Nozarashi in as close as he could muster, and swiping at the Avatar's bones.

Maeriberii Haan · December 20, 2016

“Who are you?”

“It's odd that you have forgotten about me. Didn't we start our journey here together?”

“You...ah, I remember now. A terrible fate had befell you, hadn't it? It's a shame, I wish to spend more time talking with you.”

“I know you won't just forget about me, Reimu. It is a shame to meet you again in this form, but...”

Yukari watched the Avatar closely as its sense seemed to be overloaded for the time being. The small gap on her side was still open, but her grip on the Key only had gotten stronger as second passed. It felt odd that she was getting herself ready to die now. She had a goal in mind for her future now, unlike the time she faced Koishi on Remembrance, so to accept the fact that her goal perhaps was unattainable for her and that she had to end her journey here felt contradictory to what she would do normally. But, even then, she wouldn't have any regret. However, if she had to sacrifice herself here, then she should at least make it meaning-

The beastly Avatar let out a mind-rapturing blast of psychic force with a primal roar that echoed through Prologuous. Yukari felt like her mind was breaking apart just by being in the brunt of it, and even as she braved herself through it, the roar made her lose a few seconds of crucial focus. The Avatar blasted through Kratos, and launched its void cloak towards the beast underneath Yukari, resulting into a macabre scene that could be described as the beast collapsing into itself before disappearing into the void. A mess of bones and organs, moving erratically and at ridiculously high speed. It was approaching Yukari, fully intent of tearing her apart for possessing the Key. She would not be able to have enough time to escape now, not with the barrier that had suddenly appeared around her. Facing the imminent doom before her...Yukari flashed a grin.

The magenta eye latching on Yukari's chest opened, and magical energy gathered around it in the split second of its activation. Words echoed from her as the form of attack began to take shape.

“Recollection: Pa'ir Al Hazard!”

“U...u...”

Koishi opened her eyes, trying her best to stomach the pain that still was lingering through her battered body. The last attempt for her to activate Recollection burned through what was left of her vitality like it was nothing. She tried to look around, but she could not find Yukari anywhere. Where was she? Koishi was sure that the youkai was nearby earlier. Even as a battle raged on around her, Koishi was barely able to hear anything. She was barely able to detect anything using any of her senses.

“...After all, I'm her sister.”

A familiar voice rang through Koishi's heart. It was a voice she thought to be unable to hear anymore now, but there was no mistaking it. It was none of her delusions now, and without any chance of mistaking what she just heard now, Koishi tried her best to get up. She had to reach out to her, she had to protect her. Losing her once was painful enough, but the thought of her sacrificing herself for her sake once more was unbearable.

Crawling away from the rock that she was on, Koishi looked up to the sky. Yukari was above, floating on top of a crimson beast. The Key of Origin was on her right hand. But...she wasn't alone. Someone else was with her, and both of them had decided that they were willing to sacrifice themselves with this move. Koishi was powerless, so powerless. Unable to reach where they were, unable to protect them...Koishi's body once more betrayed her, collapsing after just a few feet away from her starting position.

A burst of psychic attack tried to invade her mind, but Koishi closed her Eye temporarily to avoid it. Once she opened it again, the crimson beast that Yukari rode had disappeared. The Avatar moved towards the defenseless youkai in a ridiculous speed, and despite the shinigami that chased after it, Koishi wasn't sure that-

“Recollection: Pa'ir Al Hazard!”

The familiar voice rang through the air once more. An intense force of magic formed focusing on the Avatar that were moments away from tearing into Yukari, and it turned into an almighty pillar of wind that was seemingly intended to trap the Avatar, after Kenpachi had done his attack. The tornado's force also affected Yukari, who was so close to it, and the harsh wind threw her away in a circular way on the opposite direction of where the Avatar was going. Seeing the body being tossed away by the tornado towards her, Koishi mustered what she could gather and summoned her tentacles to form a safety net where the body could land safely.

“Yukari...how dare you...if she's with you, at least you can tell me. I don't understand you...I don't understand you even after all this time. I just...I just want to be with her again...with my sister...with Satori...just this one last time.”

"It would take some effort to break that, and you can recall and summon it as needed in addition, since it is now a part of your aura."

“Uh, thanks I guess.”

Even amidst the intense psychic burst, Kazuya focused his entire effort on tinkering with the “COMP”-like device the mysterious benefactor had given to him. It's honestly quite irritating that once again he relied on a mysterious benefactor's help, but this was not the time to complaint. The person carrying the key was at her most vulnerable now, and with the Avatar going right towards her, Kazuya felt that the key could perish at any moment. What he needed now...was speed.

“Demon summoning program, activate! Come forth, Cu Chullain!”

A figure wearing blue manifested from the summoning circle. Ireland's Prince of Light looked quite different from what Kazuya remembered during the last time he was summoned, with his shorter blue hair and lack of full armor, along with the red spear instead of silver. Though, that was not important. A tornado struck the Avatar as the swordsman in white did his attack, and the wind threw the key wielder away into a net made by...tentacles? With the key wielder secured, Kazuya felt that the only thing he need to do now was to attack. The tar covering the Avatar had disappeared, after all. Originally, he was planning to have Cu used the Phantasma Racial Skill to reach the key wielder as fast as possible and drag her away from danger, but right now it wasn't his biggest priority anymore. The COMP was imperfect, he wouldn't be able to maintain this Cu for long. Kazuya instructed him to aim his spear towards the Avatar.

“One strike shall be enough.” Cu crouched on all fours as he was getting ready, and took a sprint forward before leaping into the air. His red spear on his right hand, he aimed it right towards the Avatar before releasing it with a mighty throw like a javelin towards its target. Covered in crimson coating-like magical energy, the act of throwing it caused Cu to fade away in an instant.

“Deathbound: Soaring Spear that Strikes with Death!”

Even if the tornado didn't hold the Avatar, as it would be too weak to actually stay there and do long lasting effect on the Avatar, the spear carried a curse that would make it always hit its designated target. Soaring at a sound-breaking speed, the moment it reached the Avatar its tip split into several barbed edges that aimed to skewer it. It would strike multiple times in several points of the Avatar's body if it didn't protect itself against it, and perhaps the force behind the throw would be enough to deplete what was left of its life.

“You're still trying to play hero even in this condition, eh? I don't have much problem against it, but...ah, nevermind.”

“I would rather call this an attempt to repay the sacrifices of those that allowed me to stay here.”

A homing amulet soared through the air in its pursuit towards the Avatar. It was having a hard time keeping up with the erratic and fast abomination, but it was relentless in its desire to reach out towards its target. As the tornado formed before the amulet, it rode the spinning wind to achieve a lead from the Avatar, as if it had a mind on its own.

“It would surely start changing its movement's direction now. Can we still hit it?”

“We won't know until we try!”

The amulet turned around, and in almost an instant, it unraveled to reveal Reimu with the Sword of Hisou readied, after having used a body displacement technique with the amulet. The golden sword glowed faintly, enough for the inscription on it to be visible. Staring at the Avatar who would surely go after Yukari again now that she was able to escape into a different position, Reimu wasted no time to dash towards it. Forcing herself to repeatedly phase out of reality to achieve short bursts of speed, it would not be long until Reimu would be able to catch up to the Avatar. Trusting her instinct, she let the qi of the sword gather around it like a drill as she dived in right into the Avatar. This battle had to end, she shouldn't have any hesitation left. And only way for the battle to end would be if she strike it as close as possible. The temperament drill grew and grew in size as she was closer towards the Avatar's core.

"The analysis of Avatar Conflictuous is almost complete. Insufficient data to finish analysis, weakness could not properly translated into a sufficient countermeasure. Even then, this should be enough. Let's end this."

"That's what I want to hear from you! Let's go, Tempest of Heaven and Earth!"

Love of Ghibli · December 20, 2016

Team Dorian Prologuous

As the Avatar unleashed his psychic attack. It temporarily stopped Dorian and Rhadamanthys' advance. They both looked on as the massive Sliferok proceeded to implode on itself. What was more interesting was the efforts of all of the other members of this collaboration force. It seemed that people were starting to pull out all of the stops on this overbearing raid boss that they are now engaged with. At first it looked like they didn't know what to do. The Avatar seemed to be able to just shrug off all of the advances that were coming its way. It seemed as if someone was trying to trap the creature in some kind of wind barrier, that was cool.

However if we're going to use teamwork then it was time for more good guy bad guy combination attempt. Butlerok stretched out his hand and waved towards the corpse of Sliferok that was collapsing in on itself. The corpse exploded into a river of black blood that mixed itself into the tornado barrier and added some density to it in order to help keep the Avatar in one place.

Dorian and Rhadamanthys noticed that Kenpachi was going to swing down from one side with his Nozarashi so they decided to combine their efforts and fly directly at the massive target. They started to swirl around each other creating one massive drill of energy looking to pierce the Avatar through. Burn our Cosmos! Drill of the Underworld!

The Warden · December 20, 2016

Captured in the winds, the Avatar snarled loudly as he circled round and round in the despicable little barrier. Despite his lightweight form, the winds did nothing as they blew through his hollow form. It also became quickly aware that several attacks were also coming for it. Two large ones, and some kind of projectile. Wait.... Its senses were growing somewhat dulled by something strange around it. The winds darkened, thick with black blood, and the creature was having trouble sensing anything besides some strange, and comforting feeling. But, it couldn't wipe away that one, insufferable feeling. The one that filled the Avatar with pure hatred. The Key was close, it was nearly in its grasp. The holder was weak, they were failing. IT WON'T LET THEM GET AWAY!

D̶̴̨̙͉͔̬̦̙̟̿́̐͊ͯ̇͌̒ͦ́ͮͫ͌ͥ̇ͯ̓̚E̷̢̟͉̩͇ͤ̈̒̀́̀̚S̴̢̬̭̝̥̒̔ͫ͊̄̔ͬ̃̾͊̐̓ͨ̕͡͡Ṕ̷̤̝̤͓̝̰̻̖̖̗͉̰̭͙̤͈ͯ͌̋̓̽ͨ̾̚͘͢Ě̡̮̻̯̗̲̬̲͖͉̜̪̱͈̭͈ͩ̔̽ͦ͆ͤ̋̈́̍̚͠͠R͍̳̻̠̮̩̰̯̬̖̖̟̝̬̞̐͋̈͐̌́͡ͅÄ̶̘͓͓̰̘̙̩̈ͪ̍͋̍̚͠ͅṬ̸̷̫̰̱̣̖̟̠͉͚͓ͨ̃͋̉̐͆̑͗ͥ͆̅͗̊̚̚͡Ȩ̛̟̜͖͕ͤ̎ͪͧ̎̎̔̑́ͨ͆ͨͥ́ͧͤ̕ ̸̴͂̈̆̎ͥ͌̉ͯ͊ͧ́͏̞͓͎̝̘̜̫͡Ş̠̩̻͚̼͇̇ͣͯ̑́ͥ͑̈͗ͦ͊̌͒̊̚̚P̢̨̬̗̯̮̤͖̯̑̎̊ͨͯ̉̽̈ͩ̄̑ͤ̇̐́͒͑A̭͚̺͋̑̓͐́͟ͅÇ̷̡̠̝̬̥̜͕̉͒̍ͥE̷̦̯͉̫̖̪̜͙͉̲̱͔̟̜͆̑͒̌͋̋͌ͬ͌́̚

Curling into a perfect ring, a black vortex formed in the epicenter, drawing and sucking those pitiful, sad attacks into the empty void. The last gambit of Kazuya, the pitiful winds of Yukari, the sad black blood of Butlerok, and the unnoticeable attacks of Dorian and Rhadamanthys; all lost to the empty darkness. Unfurling itself, the Avatar looked around wildly, until it noticed its prize. There was Yukari in a web, all ready to be destroyed. "Don't you ignore me, ya big bony bastard! Nozarashi!"

Wait, what was tha-

SHING!

The Avatar floated, completely stunned as Kenpachi slashed through its spinal column and several of its lower ribs, bisecting the dreadful creature completely. It... it couldn't comprehend what was happening. Or why it was falling.

Both halves of the Avatar flew rapidly downwards, a slew of feathers and membranes chasing after it as its various limbs broke away. The beast struggled, desperately trying to grow new ones, but as they tried to bubble up they would just snap away and disintegrate. Reaching out for its other half, the Avatar's one good hand just couldn't reach its lower body in time before it faded away into darkness. But that was the least of its worries.

SPLORT!

Striking the ground at the base of the tree hard, the Avatar splattered on the ground, leaving behind one big and ugly black stain. Bubbling and churning, the creature desperately tried to bring itself back together. The Key was still there, it HAD to destroy it. It had to fulfill its DUTY! A single black bony arm wrenched itself free of the puddle. Gripping the ground tightly, it strained and creaked as it pulled its vaguely humanoid torso free. Only one lone red light was lit up in its skull, and that light was focused on Yukari, and Yukari alone.

K̴͙̣̰̦͔̝̥̼̤̗̝̭͉̣̩͇̍̾̌̄ͥ͞ȩ̧̛̼̘̟͔͕̜ͦ͗͗̑ͫ͗̌̌̂͛͛ͤ͜y̡̛̩̘̳̦̭͈̬̤̺͓͓̯͓̝͎̗ͤ̀͐̚̚ͅͅ.̸̢̱̜͙̠͎̭͔̘̲̹̫̘̻̮͖̩̉͒̈́́͌͊̓̋ͭ͛͆͊̿ͯͩ͠͝.̵̛̫͍͍͉͇͚͙̦͖̑͌̿ͭ̃͗̈́͐͌͑̿ͥ̄̑͘͡͞.̴̘̘͕̤̱͎̮̤̩̖̜̘̱͖̅ͬͨ̓̍ͭ̍̓ͪ̓ͫ̊̀͘͢͜ͅ.̗̥͔̻͍͇̳̼͚͎͕̝̼̱͓̬̤̈̔̂͂͛ͩͧ̕͡

Arm gripping the ground, the Avatar pathetically dragged its dripping torso along, leaving a slick trail of black in its wake. It was almost sad really, to see what amounts to an upper body and an arm try and keep going. Bones practically cracking as it looked up at Yukari, the Avatar raised its only arm, its torso slowly sinking back into the quagmire of its unstable body.

K̴͙̣̰̦͔̝̥̼̤̗̝̭͉̣̩͇̍̾̌̄ͥ͞ȩ̧̛̼̘̟͔͕̜ͦ͗͗̑ͫ͗̌̌̂͛͛ͤ͜y̡̛̩̘̳̦̭͈̬̤̺͓͓̯͓̝͎̗ͤ̀͐̚̚ͅͅ.̸̢̱̜͙̠͎̭͔̘̲̹̫̘̻̮͖̩̉͒̈́́͌͊̓̋ͭ͛͆͊̿ͯͩ͠͝.̵̛̫͍͍͉͇͚͙̦͖̑͌̿ͭ̃͗̈́͐͌͑̿ͥ̄̑͘͡͞.̴̘̘͕̤̱͎̮̤̩̖̜̘̱͖̅ͬͨ̓̍ͭ̍̓ͪ̓ͫ̊̀͘͢͜ͅ.̗̥͔̻͍͇̳̼͚͎͕̝̼̱͓̬̤̈̔̂͂͛ͩͧ̕͡

For what it was worth, the Avatar was done. Now, it was time to put it out of its misery.

Avatar Conflictous

1/10

ATK: 1
DEF: 0

SPEED: 0

Tesability Black · December 21, 2016

~Counter Corps - Neos's POV~

Neos lowered the rifle after the explosion, giving a growl upon seeing that it wound up missing entirely due to the thing's speed. He frowned upon seeing the others work together to finally put down the Avatar once and for all...or so it looked.

The being looked pathetic as it tried to move towards one particular being, hand raised to try and fail to grab the odd box that shown with an unusual aura. The faint whisper of the word 'key' floated to his ears, making him sigh. Seeing it like this, he didn't have the heart to deliver the---

"If you aren't going to do it, then move the f*ck over."

Neos turned behind him, seeing Gemini with a crazed demonic grin upon his face. "I have some payback to deliver."

Neos didn't exactly move when Gemini tried to push past him, but the dark duplicate did go around him to get closer to the Avatar. Rifle raised incase it did something treacherous...or give it a quick end should Gemini decide to take his time, Neos watched at the scene play out before him.

~??? - Gemini's POV~

A slight laugh as the Avatar tried oh-so-desperately to grab for something it wasn't getting, the idea of payback finally present for the earlier takeover this bastard had done. His darkened aura flared out visibly as he walked forward, seeing Neos looking at the thing in pity before scoffing.

"If you aren't going to do it, then move the f*ck over."

He tried pushing Neos to one side, though it didn't happen. Only for a second did Gemini wonder why before looking down at the glow under his feet. With that, he instead moved around his counterpart to approach the Avatar, hands raised and his aura flaring out much like a black flame. "No one, not even my counterpart does what you did earlier to me, bastard. Time for you to melt away."

Eyes glowing with dark-blue light, the corrosive aura spread itself over the Avatar's form, eroding the pathetic being away slowly and painfully. Or at least, that was his hope. To see the former Avatar toss and turn in pain, hear the screams and howls of agony as what remained of it slowly melted into a puddle. But, after whatever was the first reaction of the Avatar's to this treatment, it suddenly stopped after the sound of a 'bang'.

A gunshot.

Remembering that a certain someone had a form of gun in his hands, Gemini turned on one foot to face Neos, the blue crystalline rifle smoking from the front of the barrel. "Sorry, but even that doesn't deserve that kind of torture."

...

Fine, then, he could do something else. Looking towards Yukari, the angered look on his face from the realization that his chance at payback against one Gemini did not allow to fade into a grin as he kept his hands in his jacket pockets. "Also, I'd be careful with that box if I was you...I'm the only one that can get it to work."

In one pocket, a darkened aura was being shaped into a crystalline card before being swapped with Switcheroo with the card within the Key, and due to the nature of the Key, no light escaped from it. Only when he turned away from everyone else and passed Neos to move back towards the passed-out telepath did he allow himself a grin.

Dad · December 21, 2016

Prologous

It had begun to fall apart. The Avatar's form was slowly dissipating. Withering. Dying. After a long fought battle, they could finally see it through to the end. As it weakly crawled forwards despite being a shell of its former self, Kenpachi honed in for the kill. In the distance, a pink haired Yachiru stood on her tip toes, cheering for her best friend. "Go Kenny, go! G--aww," she moaned suddenly, now racing towards the scene of the Avatar.

Seeking vengeance for previous grievances suffered, Gemini swooped in on the Avatar, overpowering what remained of it, and shredding through its existence like fire to a moth, swallowing it. It groaned in agony, but alas Neos spared the creature, ending its life with a single shot from his rifle.

Kenpachi landed with a grunt, wiping the sweat from his brow as he observed the dying Avatar who's skull sank into a black bile. He sighed, nodding. He gave Neos a pat on the shoulder. "Well done," he said, thanking Neos and watching Gemini walk away. "I guess he really needed that. I think we all--"

"Kenny!"

Kenpachi raised his head, looking past Gemini at a pink blur. He was tackled to the ground by Yachiru, who was giggling giddily. "Kenny! You did it, you did it! The monster is dead!"

Kenpachi couldn't help but laugh as Yachiru hugged and held his neck tightly. "We did it, little lady. It took the combined strength of all of our friends, and even our enemies, to bring that thing down. And if it wasn't for them--"

"Kenny?" Yachiru said, sitting up.

"I know, I know. You helped a hell of a lot too. Along with Nozarashi here--"

"No! Kenny!" Yachiru said, pointing behind Kenpachi, at Neos' feet.

The Avatar lay on the ground of Prologuous, half-submerged in its black bile, a hole in its skull. And through that skull, a faint red light could be seen. With a slight shudder, the Avatar’s only arm started to move, and pick it back up. It would appear that in his haste, Neos had missed the creature’s vitals completely. It had still done something, but not destroy the creature completely, as could plainly be seen, the Avatar was still, if barely, alive. Bones creaking, its cracked skull looked upwards again, at the prize it longed for.

Kenpachi scrambled to his feet, and Yachiru placed her hand on the hilt of her Zanpaktou. Kenpachi glared down on her, but Yachiru was already drawing her sword. In dead silence, two creatures formed out of thin air, taking shape along side Yachiru.

The first was a tall creature, created out of pure bone, wearing a large black cloak. It's red eyes glared down at the Avatar as it groaned. It clearly resembled a Hollow, and yet, it fought with Yachiru, it's large, lengthy sword projecting high into the air. The second was a slightly smaller, but still large, pink furry creature stood on two stubby legs, another equally lengthy but power sword being wielded in its fat hands.

Kenpachi said nothing, but leaped at the Avatar's remains as Yachiru drew her blade back, and her Zanpaktou's spirits followed. Their combined reiatsu exploded around them, gold and pink auras lighting Prologous and fending away the darkness.

Yachiru swung her blade first, and a second large blade from her Zanpaktou spirit immediately followed it, cleaving the Avatar twice in rapid succession. The third strike came behind from Yachiru, a delayed attacked that pierced the Avatar for a third time. "Here's your invitation!" Yachiru barked.

Kenpachi crashed down on the Avatar, Nozarashi stabbing through the bile, and warping it into a contorted mess. "Your invitation to death!" Kenpachi finished. Nozarashi's time and space cutting powers found the Avatar's very source of existence, and began to erase it from any plane that it could live on. It softly spoke its final words, its voice slowly fading into silence. "I. . . didn't. . . ask. . .for. . .this . . . " The overwhelming force slowly erased the Avatar, a silent black light erupting from its final bit of life, going skywards and dispersing into nothing. The Avatar had been erased at last.

Pulling up Nozarashi, Kenpachi frowned.

"What's wrong, Kenny?" Yachiru asked, sealing her Zanpaktou and approaching him. The Zanpaktou spirits slowly vanished, and Yachiru hugged Kenpachi at his waist. He picked her up with one giant hand, and placed Yachiru on his shoulder.

"I don't want you to fight my battles," Kenpachi said, not tilting his head to look at Yachiru. She climbed onto his head, and poked him in his temple.

"Our battles," she teased.

Kenpachi cracked a smile. "Yeah. Our battles. But, I'm glad you did. You saved my ass again."

She tugged at his hair, pretending to steer Kenpachi around. "You're welcome!"

Love of Ghibli · December 21, 2016

Team Dorian Prologuous

It seemed all was lost as the combined attacks of the others were easily dispersed by the creatures "Desperate Space." The team let out a collective grimace, until it was clear that there was still hope. It came in the form of the shinigami. The team watched as Kenpachi struck down the Avatar and completely cut the beast in two. The shinigami did it! He actually slew the Avatar. As the massive beast fell into blackened puddles that stained the base of the tree the team simply looked on as they turned off all of their ultimates so to speak.

The rifts with the thousands of mages closed, the sword of Hades seemed to fade away once again and the third eye of the magi faded from Butlerok's head. It was safe to say that this battle was finally over. The team reconvened as they actually had a moment to take a breath after this onslaught.

Ha we did it! We won! Dorian exclaimed.

Though, in the end, all of our attacks were useless. It was that Kenpachi Zaraki and his blade that did everything. Rhadamanthys retorted.

Nope! You are not bringing down my hi! We gotz the "W!" I am claiming it now. WEEEEEE won. We the collective! Dorian quickly replied.

Besides, if you remember. Our initial plan was to distract the Avatar while Kenpachi cut the creature anyway. Butlerok added. You could say things simply went according to plan.

Dorian looked back at Rhadamanthys with a defiant smile and a thumbs up to show his spirits would not be down.

The team looked floated on as the shinigamis dealt the final blow. They landed next to them clapping their hands.

Well good job you guys! Dorian said trying to break the ice.

Hmph...Rhadamanthys said slightly jealous of his comparative uselessness.

For real, you did an excellent job. I must say if we were keeping tally it looks like the third boss battle of this elaborate game was taken out by a member of you Counter Corps. Butlerok followed.

Almost makes us wonder why us Divine even participate. Dorian added with a slight chuckle. Almost. So I guess the only question is now. What do we do with the all powerful Key thing? Dorian looks over at Yukari whom he still doesn't know how she came to posses the object.

Merci · December 22, 2016

Prologuous

Tick.

The rainbow aura surrounding the battlefield softened. The innumerable damage done to the arena of Prologuous started to repair itself, all of the panels and pieces flying out of the abyss to reassemble themselves, which was certainly no mean feat. Although the noise of the ticking and a tocking of a clock could be heard in the distant background, it sounded harmless rather than threatening now. In fact, it may have even been peaceful in a manner. The constant tension and frustration that had been filling the atmosphere appeared to be no more.

Tock.

Slowly and gently, yet oh so surely... Some time passed, in a treasurable silence. Every piece of their surroundings established itself back into place amidst rainbow energy, until at last everything was as it were before. Almost like that epic battle lasting three hours had not in fact took place. The characters waited, on-guard. Withholding their sense of elation in case of another trap.Still expecting yet another trick to come out and delay them. Preparing themselves for yet another stage of this seemingly impossible fight. Had they truly defeated the peculiar monster designed to never know failure? Through nothing but the sheer force of their will and the utmost determination to see it through, had they actually paved a way through the impossible to reach what was intended to be unattainable?

Tick.

And thus... nothing came.

Tock.

Avatar Conflictous was dead.

It was an earned victory that required the constant pressure of various members, from both sides, never ceasing to come up with new strategies whilst giving it their all. The almighty guardian had met them with greater force on both a physical and a mental level, and in that conflict, a few had even fallen. But thankfully, their sacrifices would not be in vain. For now. It must be said that this story is yet to be over...!

The tree at the centre of the arena started to resonate. Either it was sensing the absence of its guardian, or it was reacting in response to the presence of a certain key object. Tremors were spreading across the floor, particularly around the area where Gemini was standing. From the three pillars corresponding to the three Pathways, triad beams of energy were suddenly fired up into the sky, each one a matching colour; teal, crimson, gold.

Tick.

In reaction to all of this going on, the ancient embodiment of nature shook, and twisted, and turned, and distorted, growing much more massive; its bark creaking with such deafening intensity that it drowned out all other noise, even threatening to shatter the eardrums of everyone who had those. As the tree continued to fulfill its purpose, elevating the expanding broken clock up higher still with its various darkening branches, there was one unusual feeling that all could relate to... They had entered the Pathway to Origin a mere nine hours ago. So why it did feel like such an eternity to get to here—like long years rather than a long day?

Tock.

At the centre of the forsaken Avatar's arena, the ancient tree had ultimately grown to be far larger than ever thought possible, reaching high, high up above into the rainbow sky, intimidating and oppressive like a nightmarish version of Jack's Beanstalk. Towering above the Counter Corps and the Divine as well as casting a shadow on the entirety of Prologuous, it must have been at least an outstanding one thousand feet. Comparable to the height of the Empire State Building for those who were familiar with it. This tree happened to react to no external forces, being an immovable representation of Origin, but it did appear to contain some sort of consciousness, as its various branches would move to support those who needed help with climbing up. Beyond that, there was a certain life to it. It may have even been the same kind of entity as the Avatar.

On top of this massive wooden structure was the broken clock, now expanded to match the tree's new size as well as firmly attached to the top. Every few moments, its image would shimmer to reveal a golden afterimage beyond, making the implication clear. This clock was in fact a portal - perhaps having been one from the very beginning - and one must fly or climb all the way to the top in order to reach it. Before, it had been barely big enough for a small child, but now it was more than enough for even a spaceship like the And With Strange Aeons.

As one approached, they may soon identify that its hand could be seen to move forward, little by little, in perfect sync with a certain something; a detail that would've been hard to spot during the prior warzone.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock...

The incessant rhythm continued, even now, echoing throughout the contained world. It had been doing so since halfway through the battle with Avatar Conflictous, which had sent him into a minor panic. Whatever it was, it clearly hadn't been expected by the appointed guardian of this world, nor had the creepy hickory chant that came shortly after. If one were to think, why would the clock even be broken in the first place? After all, a malfunctioning artefact wasn't a very natural thing for the otherwise structure-like Pathway to Origin. It might've been symbolic, but was that even necessary beyond the three Pathways? Whatever the case, there was no sign of that ticking coming to an end anytime soon.

There were other pending questions as well. Where were their leaders, Protheus Maximus and Arturia Pendragon? Well, most likely no one would be complaining about the former, but it begged the question - considering his maniacal obsession, but also how the Key of Origin was here, having been stolen from him. If there were any sort of people holding him back, they had to be quite the spectacle. As for the latter-

Arturia Pendragon

Prologuous

Mere minutes after the emergence of the giant tree, the atmosphere changed, ever so slightly, as a shining aura walked along the bridge leading to the platform. Each of her gaunt footsteps made a short, glassy tap, and her outfit had noticeably changed again somewhat, taking on a more elegant, floral design. Although it hadn't been that long since the others had last seen her, particular with regards to Neos, it appeared that she had changed beyond merely her wardrobe. There was a subtle change in her aura, as well as her overall demeanour. Whatever she had experienced in the latter half of the Pathway to Remembrance must have had quite the impact on the otherwise impenetrable king. Noticeably, there was much less restraint in her movements; in its place power, emphasising her regality. The expression on her face, whilst still as ever, now projected coldness rather than warmth.

"I must sincerely apologize for my delay in arriving here... I am glad to see that all of my comrades are safe!" Arturia announced with a congratulatory voice, amplified by her power over the wind, so that it could be heard throughout all of Prologuous. She took a few sweeping looks throughout the arena, noting down everyone who was present - as well as everyone who was not. "Congratulations, Counter Corps! You have each done a splendid job! Not only in completing all three Pathways, which is truly amazing, but also in defeating Avatar Conflictous as well! With some extra help for the latter, I see." Exactly how she witnessed the battle was something she did not explain, waving it off nonchalantly. Also, quite clearly, she was biased against the Divine. She glanced to her side. "In particular. Yachiru and Kenpachi, you fought very valiantly, to the point that my own skills are put to shame. Even I would have been no match for Conflictous... I thank you both for clearing this obstacle!"

The knight disappeared as she walked, her body seeming to blend in with the air. Immediately afterwards, an unusually powerful gust flew across the battlefield before rematerializing into a solid shape directly besides Yukari. Arturia's control over Invisible Air had reached on a new level.According to the vision, it seemed that this girl was the one who currently had it on her, which was awfully unsurprising considering her reputation in the Throne. With her hand on the hilt on her sheathed blade, the composed yet daring glare she shot said it all: I know what you have. You know you have no hope against me.

The words that came out of her mouth were different, however, "Border of Phantasm, I see that you have chosen to participate in the Origin War? Congratulations on stealing the Key away from that man. I know not how you did it, but I will be certain to reward you in any way that the Throne can. That is the reason why you took it, no?"

Unsheathing her blade, it glowed a golden light it hadn't previously had. Greatly resembling a weapon she'd once possessed but long since lost, a weapon she'd somehow obtained again in the Pathways... Excalibur. She pointed it at the broken clock far above.

Arturia returned to her much louder voice, taking a step back from the youkai. "The Avatar was a powerful foe, but with it gone, we may now move on... Many of the things that it told you were downright strange lies, but truly, the next area is indeed called the Hallway of Origin. Therein lies the end of the Pathway to Origin, the resting place of the Door."

Where the Key ought to be taken through.

"Climb up the tree and enter through that clock, it should take you to the Hallway. Counter Corps, I shall await you up there!"

Where the endgame was going to be achieved.

"And those of you Divine or unaffiliated... Heh. Come at your own risk! Need I say more?"

There was an unusual confidence within her, even amongst the various others who were not loyal to her. Perhaps, with the elimination of the Avatar and some sense of what was happening with regards to Protheus, she had come to believe that no one was capable of standing in her way anymore.

The moment was fast approaching when she would have to explain the truth. The whole truth. This had already been accepted. The former Counter Guardian was prepared for any outcome. She allowed herself to think back to what had happened in Remembrance.

"Saber, you-"

And smiled.

I am indeed...the King of Britain...

As she approached the tree's base, she noticed that around it were the three pillars of the Pathways. They had since stopped shaking and retracted their beams; looking alright from a distance, but a quick examination revealed to her that each one appeared fragile, riddled with irreparable cracks. Death in particular looking as though it may crumble with a single touch. While those in Prologuous were not under threat, it was a clear sign that those who were still going through their journeys had very limited time left.

Not saying anything to draw attention to this, the king crouched...before bursting upwards into the sky without any hesitation in her movement, like a magical missile. As though in a hurry to reach the end, she did not stop to even glance at all the others present; avoiding Neos's gaze especially.

...

Does it even need to be said?

The next stage of this performance awaits.

Advance!

Top of the Prologuous Tree

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Once the tree had completed its transformation, an indistinguishable figure emerged from the clock in a manner like submerging from water. Then took a glance downwards; so far up as to appear as nothing more than a faint, far-off shadow, a blur of white and black.

"̳̗͚̦̣͍̐T͍͓̼̻͉̭͋̌̒͑̄ͧͥ͊̓h̫͍̮͓͉̬̙̿ͨ̑̏ͣe̞͔͔̩̬̻̥̼͋y̩̺̦͓̱͉͚̆ ̝̩̬̪̱͓͖̄ͨͫ̾h̙̦̜̗̾ͤ̌ȃ͉̼̞̺͌̒̃ͮ̚v͖̙̬̇̇̽͗e̮̗̞̙̯̥̖̝͓̅̂ͦ̚ ͖̯̰̞̝̲͌̈́ͧͣ͛ͦì̻͍̔̋͛̓̔̓̇ͤt̘̪̘̰̰̤̓ͪ͛͆̅̓̌.̟͎̜̻͈͑͌̒̊̍̾̽"̜͉̰̹̬̫̣̀̈́ͯ̒̄͐̂ͅ

Then, the shadow was gone.

It was so abrupt that, even if anyone had noticed it, they may have dismissed it as a part of their imagination.

Tesability Black · December 22, 2016

~Counter Corps - Jace's POV~

"I must sincerely apologize for my delay in arriving here... I am glad to see that all of my comrades are safe!"

This was the line that finally caused the mindmage to begin stirring into wakefulness, his head pounding from the aftermath of repeated psychic pulses even after he had passed out. He cringed at the volume before opening his eyes, finding them landing upon a blonde woman dressed in white that was the source of the loud voice.

"The Avatar was a powerful foe, but with it gone, we may now move on..."

Avatar? What Avatar?

It was then that Jace noticed the corrosive blackness upon the ground, finding himself scooting back away from it. "Many of the things that it told you were downright strange lies, but truly, the next area is indeed called the Hallway of Origin. Therein lies the end of the Pathway to Origin, the resting place of the Door."

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock...

Wait, is that ticking?

Jace looked up, away from the woman and towards the source of the faint sound, seeing a gigantic tree with a large broken clock near the top that flickered in a way he recognized. A portal?

It was then that he caught sight of a feat worthy of another as the woman in white literally jumped up in a single bound towards the top, prompting him to shake his head. "She expects us to climb that thing," he muttered to himself with a question on his voice before getting up onto his feet, re-summoning the illusion of his normal attire around himself minus the cloak and trying to climb up.

There was something slightly odd, however, about the climb. As if sensing his relative lack of strength, the tree seemed to subtly help him climb in ways mostly-unnoticeable from a distance, either by making better footholds for him or giving him thicker branches to grab onto.

And as he climbed, he had been made unaware of something added back to his person, something relatively thin...

Maeriberii Haan · December 23, 2016

“Hey, congrats on dealing the final blow to the Avatar, you two!”

After dusting herself for a bit once she landed, Reimu wasted little time to go towards Kenpachi and Yachiru as they finished off what remained of the guardian. She should’ve expected that it was yet another fakeout, but truthfully, she was just too happy right now about the fact that the ordeal was over to even think about it. Her intuition said that she shouldn’t worry about the avatar anymore anyway. The others should be there too anytime soon – Reimu can’t wait to share her happiness with the others too, especially Revy and Killua.

“You seem awfully happy. But..it’s fine to continue, it is really a moment to celebrate.”

Just shaking her head at what the Sword of Hisou had to say, Reimu approached Yachiru that was on Kenpachi’s shoulders first and attempted to shake her hand. If it was not for her helping Reimu’s recovery, she wouldn’t have been able to also participate in the final blows against the Avatar. It felt like years had passed since she and Killua hurriedly went past the final trial in Death while carrying the two people in front of them.

“Once again, thanks for earlier. It was…yeah, it’s pretty huge for me.” Reimu paused for a bit to reminiscence on what had happened so far, and her expression turned a bit sour momentarily. It seemed that the esteem issue she carried was still affecting her mind. Shifting from only Yachiru to both people in front of her, Reimu started speaking again.

“Aah, everyone had done their best for this, yet I felt like I hadn’t done any help in this fight! I think I only made it worse in that last segment too…” She paused again to think again on what she said, and her face reddened. It was improper to complain like this after a battle like that. Fixing her tone, she continued what she wanted to say. “But, that doesn’t matter. The Avatar’s gone, and we’ll reach Stage 6 soon! You two really has been doing a lot, we won’t be able to do this without all that. Yeah, everyone does a lot of work too.”

“Uhm…by the way…” Reimu was surprised when the sword she was holding spoke in a more open manner just as she finished with what she had to say to the two of them. She thought that the sword was talking directly to her all this time, but she apparently really did speak, and Kenpachi and Yachiru would be able to hear the sword. “What exactly was the relation between you two?”

“Oh, yeah. Thinking about it, that also made me curious. Was Kenpachi your father, Yachiru?”

But before she could get an answer in her attempt to have a friendly chat, the tree in the middle of Prologuous had grown into ridiculous size, and it was then followed by a familiar voice echoing from behind her.

Resting on top of the net that Koishi made for her, Yukari watched as the others finished up the Avatar with a smile on her face. It took her way too long to realize the person that had chosen to reside on her throughout her time in Prologuous, but in the end, both of them had reached a desirable agreement on what should they attain together. She was aware too that the odd abilities she was suddenly finding herself capable of was due to this person, and right now...

"Also, I'd be careful with that box if I was you...I'm the only one that can get it to work."

Yukari looked at Gemini in confusion. Was it because of how he was technically a part of these pathways? As her bond with that person had weakened after her attempt to recollect one of the extreme magics used by those mage congregate, Yukari was unable to properly discern what was going on inside of Gemini's mind, but still, what he said made her stay on her guard. She was still really weakened, but after a brief rest, she ought to be able to continue fighting...if they still need to.

But, fight what? Where should she even go now. Where should the key even be used? Was Gemini even right?

Yukari tossed those thoughts away as she saw that what was remaining of the Avatar's existence had been eliminated by Kenpachi. She needed to calm down. Now that the Avatar had disappeared, she was definitely risking herself and the Komeiji sisters by holding the key like this. She was nowhere as formidable as Arturia or Protheus - she knew for one that the likes of Kenpachi or Butlerok could just toss her aside like a mosquito if they so desire.

The key however, also provided her with a strong position if she utilized it correctly. The important thing, once again, was to not appear weak and-

"I must sincerely apologize for my delay in arriving here... I am glad to see that all of my comrades are safe!"

"..."

Yukari was quite surprised, even when in hindsight it would be expected to have one or both of the faction leaders to appear out of nowhere now. As Arturia, looking quite different than the last time she saw her, congratulated everyone on their efforts, Yukari came down from the safety net, and tried to have herself look somewhat more proper. Something about the King of Knights now was quite...terrifying. Her words were that of someone with utmost confidence of victory, something out of place unless she had a really good reason for it.

And then, Arturia shot her a glare. Appearing as confident as she could muster now, even that gave Yukari quite the chill. She knew that Arturia could just kill her right there if she wanted to, and secure the key for herself. The gap of power was too immense. She was even sure that the Counter Guardian would do just that, but it seemed that it was not the case for now.

"Border of Phantasm, I see that you have chosen to participate in the Origin War? Congratulations on stealing the Key away from that man. I know not how you did it, but I will be certain to reward you in any way that the Throne can. That is the reason why you took it, no?"

Yukari chose to be silent. Arturia's voice was not indicative of the glare she sent towards Yukari earlier, and it was quite clear that those nice words were simple formalities. Still with a somewhat tense look, Yukari simply smiled politely at the King as she then just noticed the presence of the giant tree that was once the modest tree on the center of the Prologuous. Arturia introduced it and the clock above as the entrance to the Hallway of Origin. Truly, the place where this story's climax would take place in. Arturia then lifted herself to reach the clock before everyone else, taunting those that weren't affiliated with her in a way that was unlike her in the meantime.

Seeing all that, Yukari just froze. The time...Arturia clearly only had one mission in this place. The truth. Everyone would know that by the time they reached the Hallway. Would they be ready?

Would they...would they even willingly follow Arturia's mission after knowing that fact.

Unable to say anything, Yukari only stared at the ticking clock in the distance, despair filling her expression.

As Yukari realized the sense of helplessness regarding this situation, the magenta-colored eye stalk on her heart slithered away from her, using its tentacles to move itself around the place in silence. It had only one thing in mind right now. Shifting through the people that was still reacting to Arturia's speech, the eyeball finally found its target. The foul entity named Gemini. One look at his mind, it was clear how rotten he was...perhaps not to the core, but the ugly part was like a suffocating smoke that made it hate staying for long in reading his heart. Once she was in range, the eyeball sent out its tentacles to latch on the odd entity. It didn't possess a mouth now, but it should be able to speak directly into the entity's mind.

"Greetings, Gemini. Let's not waste our time with idle banter. I know what you just did with the key. And so...I have but one simple wish. No matter what you do, do not reveal that you had performed Switcheroo on it to anyone for now. Especially not Arturia. I am too irritated in seeing what floating inside of your terrible mind, but trust me, I will know if you attempt to make this situation worse than it already is despite the fact we have won against the Avatar.

Why should you bother heeding me? If you want to spend the rest of your time as a vegetable that constantly relive your worst traumas, then you can just ignore what I said.

Say, was it fun playing with my sister back in Truth? She knew how to please you, didn't she? Ah, she grew so fast. I wonder if you would like to enjoy it again?"

In a way reading through what happened in Truth between Koishi and Gemini was something Satori wish she didn't do, but it was necessary to underscore her threat. Perhaps she was lacking her sister's Authority as a Moon Princess, and she wasn't capable of the level of Recollection that Koishi could perform either, but torturing someone's mind would be a piece of cake. Ah, hopefully Koishi didn't catch her while she's doing this. Satori wondered about how bad her sister would react if something like that happened.

“So, would you take the risk, Gemini?”

“Everyone…”

After a long period of silence, Yukari started speaking. Not aimed at anyone in particular, but she simply wished that someone would be willing to hear her. She had no other choice at this rate. She, Koishi, and Satori would be the priority target to be wiped out due to her possession of the Key. If she couldn’t reach out to anyone with this, going up there could be suicide. And she couldn’t let that be the fate that would befall Koishi.

“None of you…none of you would survive at the end of this. At the end of this road, there will be nothing. There is no chance for your worlds to be restored, not a chance if things are going on like this. No matter your side.

None of you…I am sure of it. None of you ever had a chance of having any other ending than oblivion by going here, just like what happened to your worlds. No matter who win this war between the two sides. No matter who possessed the key.

As long as Protheus and Arturia exists…”

Yukari stopped herself there. She was not in a position to make a speech. The wounds she accumulated were definitely taking its toll on her. She decided to force herself for a bit, to say a few more words. If she made enemies with this, it’s fine. It was the inevitable after all. If she missed the chance here, she could still at least make sure both Satori and Koishi survive on, to perhaps fight for what they really wished even if Yukari died. Whoever had the key shouldn’t matter.

“Arturia kept the fact about what happened to your worlds a secret until recently, right? She kept more things hidden regarding this mission. If I can’t convince you that you should at least be wary of her, then it is fine. Everything will be revealed soon either way, whether I’m right or not.”

Dad · December 23, 2016

Kratos

He watched from the ground, as Kenpachi and Yachiru struck down what remained of the Avatar. With a blank expression on his face, Kratos couldn't believe it was over. Inside, he was overjoyed that the Avatar was finally defeated. However, he felt as if he had failed. Finally able to stand, Kratos realized his right arm was out of its socket. He hadn't the strength to fix it at this time. He allowed to hang, gripping the arm tightly as he stared at the celebrating Kenpachi and Yachiru. They were eventually joined by more of the Counter Corps. Yukari. Reimu. And of course Gemini and Neos were there. He sighed softly to himself, turning around just in time to see Revy approaching him.

The Spartan Soldiers behind her slowly turned into dust, as Revy walked towards Kratos. "Hey, big guy. You okay? That was a nasty spin out," she said, carefully examining Kratos now.

He nodded. "My arm," he said turning his right shoulder to Revy.

"Out of the socket. Here, I can fix it. It's gonna hurt like hell, though."

Kratos nodded.

"On three, okay?"

Kratos scoffed. "Revy. I'm not a child. You cann--"

"Three!"

There was a crack and a pop and a groan from Kratos, but Revy managed to fix his arm. He rolled his shoulder slowly, thanking Revy with a hug. "Those two are really close, huh?" she said, looking at Kenpachi and Yachiru. She gave a chuckle, as Yachiru was placed on Kenpachi's shoulder. "They're kinda like father and daughter. He's so protective of her."

Kratos turned to Revy, silently.

"What?" she asked, still smiling.

He kissed her, and she put her head on his shoulder. "I am glad you're alive, Revy."

She thought back to how she nearly took her own life, when the Avatar separated them all for a short time, in darkness. " . . .yeah. I am too." They paced themselves, walking over towards Kenpachi and the others.

Killua

He plopped down onto his bottom next to Nero. Exhausted, Killua fell onto his back and outstretched his arms. The Avatar had been defeated, thanks to their combined efforts. He let out a cry of excitement, laughing as he kicked his legs. "We did it!" he finally exclaimed. He sighed with relief, his mind flashing back to Gon. "Where are you, dude? Did you survive the Pathways?" he thought to himself. He sat back up observing the rest of Prologous. Had Gon come through unbeknownst to him? One of those Rock, Scissors, Paper combinations could've really been important to their fight with the Avatar. Alas, Killua did not spot Gon.

He did however, spot a recovered Reimu. His head began to swim again, and he shook it rapidly. He slapped his face a few times, and took a deep breath. "Play it cool," he whispered to himself. He tried to keep himself from tearing through Prologous to reach Reimu and the others, so he casually jogged over, to 'congratulate Kenpachi and Yachiru'. Even if they weren't the reason he was actually there.

Kenpachi and Yachiru

He was secretly elated, and Kenpachi couldn't keep the smile off of his face. He grinned widely, as Yachiru hung from his outstretched right arm like an ape. She flipped over and over excitedly, giggling all the while. Kenpachi raised his arm up and down, turning Yachiru into a speedy pink yo-yo on his arm. "You dizzy yet?" he joked.

Yachiru kept swinging. "Nope!" she replied, still giggling. Kenpachi stopped Yachiru short of her next revolution, catching her in his opposing, gigantic hand. He plopped her back on his shoulder, as she swayed, almost drunkenly. She was still giggling, even as Reimu and the others joined them. "Reimu!" Yachiru said, trying to sit up straight, and still. She was seeing double because she was dizzy now. "Glad you're feeling better," she said with a goofy smile.

“Once again, thanks for earlier. It was…yeah, it’s pretty huge for me.”

Yachiru waved it off. "Really, it's nothiiiiiii--!" she began to scream as she tilted off of Kenpachi's shoulder. Suddenly she was captured by a light blue blur. Killua stood Yachiru on her feet as he intercepted her fall. "Careful there," he said, standing up straight.

"Killua!" Yachiru squealed, hugging him tightly.

"Oh! Heh. Nice job out there," he said, patting Yachiru on the head. She blushed, now turning in circles with Killua. She was basically forcing him to dance with her. As they turned, Killua spoke over his shoulder, and whenever possible, directly, to Reimu. "Glad. . . you're feeling. . . better. . . " he said, keeping pace with Yachiru's rapid doe-si-doe. Kenpachi intercepted their dance, and placed Yachiru back on his shoulder.

"Young lady, you're almost too excited," he laughed.

"Dance, Kenny! Dance!" she commanded, sitting on his shoulder.

Kenpachi folded his arms, and began to kick and spin in rhythmic fashion. "Hahahaha!" he laughed, going round and round with Yachiru.

“Aah, everyone had done their best for this, yet I felt like I hadn’t done any help in this fight! I think I only made it worse in that last segment too…”

Killua shook his head. "Your magic is pretty strong. I think if you hadn't buffered the lot of us, especially Kenpachi, we might not have gotten this far. So thanks," he said with a shy grin.

“But, that doesn’t matter. The Avatar’s gone, and we’ll reach Stage 6 soon! You two really has been doing a lot, we won’t be able to do this without all that. Yeah, everyone does a lot of work too.”

Killua nodded. "Good job you two. Really, good job to all of us. Even those guys," he said turning around to look off at Rhadamanthys and company.

"I agree," said a scruffy voice behind Killua. It was Kratos, accompanied by Revy. "We couldn't have done it without them."

"You mean the big, scary lookin' dudes? Who used all the exploding magic? They might be nuts, but yeah, I guess they helped," Revy said, nodding at Butlerok from afar.

Kratos chuckled. "Rhadamanthys and I have a history. We've still yet to settle our differences."

Revy turned to Kratos, then looked back at Dorian's crew. "Which one is he?"

"The one middle one."

"With the scales?"

"Are they scales? I am unsure."

"They sure look like scal--"

“Uhm…by the way…”

They all stopped, looking to Reimu, assuming she was the one who questioned them. How wrong they were.

“What exactly was the relation between you two?”

It was her sword that spoke. For a second, Kenpachi thought Reimu was a Soul Reaper and that she had developed a conscious Zanpaktou. But he answered the question anyway.

“Oh, yeah. Thinking about it, that also made me curious. Was Kenpachi your father, Yachiru?”

Kenpachi shook his head. "Nothing like that. We're best friends."

Yachiru nodded. "Kenny found me in Rugonkai. Around the same time he discovered his knack for fightin'!"

Kenpachi looked over his shoulder at Yachiru, grinning. "She saved my life. She gave me hope. Yachiru is the reason I keep fighting. I dunno what I would do without her." Yachiru hugged Kenpachi's neck tightly, and kissed him on the cheek. He patted her on head, just happy that she was still around. This made Killua, Kratos, and Revy smile.

Their celebration was short lived, however as Arthuria had finally returned. And with her, Prologous changed once more. The ground creaking and shaking as an impossibly large tree erupted from its center. And its peak, a clock--no. A portal. To the Hallway of Origin, as Arthuria would go on to explain.

"The Avatar was a powerful foe, but with it gone, we may now move on... Many of the things that it told you were downright strange lies, but truly, the next area is indeed called the Hallway of Origin. Therein lies the end of the Pathway to Origin, the resting place of the Door."

Kenpachi looked to Kratos and Killua. They nodded back to him.

"Climb up the tree and enter through that clock, it should take you to the Hallway. Counter Corps, I shall await you up there!"

Kenpachi let out a "hmph", under his breath. "She's got crazy timin'."

Yachiru punched him in the back of the head. "Kenny! Was that on purpose!?"

Kenpachi rubbed his head. "Hmm? Oh, I just got it! Timin'. Clock. Ha!"

Killua groaned, shaking his head. "We should probably get moving then. Right?"

Wrong.

“Everyone…”

It was Yukari's turn to speak.

“None of you…none of you would survive at the end of this. At the end of this road, there will be nothing. There is no chance for your worlds to be restored, not a chance if things are going on like this. No matter your side.

None of you…I am sure of it. None of you ever had a chance of having any other ending than oblivion by going here, just like what happened to your worlds. No matter who win this war between the two sides. No matter who possessed the key.

As long as Protheus and Arturia exists…”

Killua frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked, walking towards Yukari. " 'As long as Protheus and Arthuria exists'? It sounds to me like you're saying Arthuria and Protheus cooked this up just for the fun of it. Or worse, just to watch us fight." Kenpachi and the others carefully observed Killua. "I didn't come here to be put on display for someone's fun. So if you've got something to say," Killua said, standing face to face with Yukari now. "Please. Say it."

Kenpachi looked to Kratos, who returned his stare. "As long as they exist, huh?" Kenpachi started.

"It would seem that Protheus and Arthuria are gods of some kind. Have we been pawns all along?" Kratos' fist tightened at the thought of being toyed with all over again. Revy felt Kratos close his fist, then slid her fingers into his hand, forcing him to loosen his grip.

"If this is it," she started. "Then I want my last days to be with you," she said softly.

Kratos stared up at the portal, frowning. "I will not allow this to change my goals. We will see this through to the end. Come." Kratos wasted no time picking up Revy by her waist, and blindly racing forwards to the tree. With Hermes' boots to carry him, he ran straight upwards, branch to branch, and sped to the top.

As they stood atop the tree, Kratos sat Revy down, who straightened her hair. They looked down at the others, before turning to the portal. Hand in hand, Kratos and Revy stepped through to the Hallway of Origin first.

Maeriberii Haan · December 24, 2016

“For the fun of it…? No, they of course have their own reasoning. Protheus’ intent is always as clear as day, but Arturia…for one, at the very least she is still working towards the greater good. That, is at least something that I can be certain of. Ah, she had been more human than the last time I saw her too…she was more a machine than a god, if I could say anything about her back then.

Now…” Yukari took a deep breath, gathering what was left of her strength to continue speaking. She watched as Kratos and Revy left first to reach the clock figure above. Were her words ended up being taken in a way that would be detrimental to these people? “What exactly motivated you to partake in this war? The safety of the multiverse? The people you left behind, the worlds that had fallen victim to the Omni? Perhaps you have no choice but to participate, or perhaps you’re here for a certain personal gain?

You, of the Counter Corps, were supposedly gathered here into this Pathway to Origin for the sake of stopping Protheus. But after that, then what? Of course the rational answer would be using the Key to restore the damage done from this conflict – a reset button to make everything return to normal again.

But, who would use the Key? There could only be one person that would hold this key, and that person would decide the fate of all that is existent. To wield such a gigantic responsibility, do you think that there is anyone you would trust with that kind of power?”

Yukari turned around, still unaware that Satori didn’t reside on her heart anymore. Going forward to grab the still unconscious Koishi, she put the youkai girl on her shoulder. She was still holding the key, although she felt something was a bit off, something she dismissed as just her imagination. She stared at the distant clock above, and shook her head.

“I really wish I am wrong about Arturia. She…reminded me too much of myself.”

Without turning around, Yukari took off from the ground, flying to reach the Hallway. The final room before the Door itself. The end was near. As long as Koishi made it…she would be fine.

“Lady Arturia…you really are as amazing as I thought. You're right, this is the final stretch. With your help, I'll decide my own way now.”

Reimu could feel the Sword of Hisou shaking as Arturia spoke to everyone before inviting them all towards the Hallway of Origin. They’re so close to the end…so very close. The Key was in that Other Yukari’s hand. Reimu was sure she could convince her to cooperate. Reach the Door, wait there and defend it from Protheus and his allies, and then…everything would be over. Everything would be fine. Reimu looked at Yachiru and Kenpachi again, at the bond that tied them together. She looked at the love shared by Revy and Kratos, something she envied. At Killua’s determination. And even the sword she was holding…

“Kenpachi…Yachiru…I really wish I know how to create a bond like yours…I really envied what you two shared with each other. I wish I could...nevermind, I shouldn't talk about distant things like that.”

Ah, it seemed that she was still as sentimental as ever. Shaking her head at how the sword responded to what Kenpachi had to say and the heartwarming display he and Yachiru shared, Reimu prepared to take off after saying a bit more thing to everyone, but before she could do it, the other Yukari started speaking.

“…W-what…the hell are you saying, Yukari?”

"Oblivion, huh? No future, nothing awaits us at the end of the road? Ah..."

It was upsetting. The others seemed to react in different ways to what Yukari said. Kratos decided to go ahead immediately with Revy in tow. The rest started to be wary of what Yukari said. That made no sense. Why would Reimu just outright trust her regarding this? Yukari could still be wrong. She’s not omniscient. As Reimu was still trying to take what had been said, Yukari continued to speak.

“…So, Reimu. Do you think she’s right?”

“Of course not! She’s just…she definitely had no idea of what Arturia really is going to do. Everything will be fine with her, definitely!”

“Are you saying that because you are sure, or you’re just afraid that the path you’ve chosen now is wrong?”

Reimu huffed in anger in response to what the sword said, and started to float. The black sphere and her two yin-yang orbs circled her like satellites. She was sick of just standing here. Annoyed by what had the sword said, but she couldn’t also deny that it was also the case. Nevertheless, she couldn’t just stand here like this. If she went forward, she would be able to reach the truth on her own.

“Guys, I’m going first. I might need to knock some sense to a hag.”

“I don't know. There is a lot of reason to trust what Yukari said, Reimu. But...that aside...

Yachiru…I wish to talk to you more later. Truly…I wish to understand you. See you later.”

Still shaking head at what the sword said, Reimu took off from the ground, coming in like a missile towards the Clock above.

“This conflict really is nonsensical to the core. I wonder where Ayame is now? I hope she survives…”

Kazuya could only sigh as the blonde-haired girl finished what she said. It seemed that the situation became more and more complicated even after the Avatar’s down. It seemed that he might end up facing both sides of the conflict, one way or another. Despite the growing worry inside of him, it’s not like the first time he was in this kind of situation. He really still wished that he wasn’t alone in this, though. If only Atsuro was around…

Without anyone to really talk with for the time being, Kazuya tinkered with his “COMP” to summon a Culebre from the Compendium, and proceeded to ride the dragon to reach the clock.

“Are you willing to embrace your fate?”

“Why would I? I’ll decide my own fate instead. Although the fate of the entirety of Creation itself would not be decided by me, that doesn’t matter. I trust in them enough. I am merely an observer now, and I am satisfied with this role.

Nothing more needs to be said.”

With the barrier before her vanishing. Yakumo Yukari walked forward, slowly disappearing from view as she left the Pathway of Death that was on the verge of breaking down.

Phantom Roxas · December 26, 2016

The Pathway To Death - Richard Mason & Tsunugai Tamashi

Tsunugai stepped onto the bridge. There were no railings, no way to maintain his footing. Each step he took was steady, even as the whispers began to hush closer, almost reaching into his mind. ”What waits for you beyond the Door?” They were only distractions, they meant nothing to him.

hickory dickory dock

the mice ran up the clock

What was this? A children’s nursery rhyme? The Pathways must be truly desperate. These were not calls of temptation, not even an attempt to say that he would fail.

”So soon?” The voices spoke again. Laughter. The voices were laughing, hundreds, dozens… wait. There had been far too many voices before, more than he could possibly count, but he could recognize that they were growing fewer. As if to make up the difference, the laughter grew louder.

the clock struck one

The nursery rhyme continued. This voice, it sounded completely different from the other voices, but how, he could not explain. The laughter had been reduced to but a single voice, the moments between each laugh growing further and further apart. Tsunugai practically felt the silence more often than he would hear the laughter. The next time the laugh came, it carried a force with it. Pressure wrapped around his mind, and his foot slipped. Drawing his sword, the Paladin stabbed into the bridge, barely regaining his footing as the bridge began to shake.

”Who’s there?” Someone was calling to him, but it was perhaps the kindest voice he had along the entire Pathway.

”Richard.” He smiled, and the bridge seemed to have stabilized. He continue forward, and called to his comrade. ”It’s Tsunugai! Richard, thank goodness you’re here. Tell me, have you met with anyone else?”

Richard nodded. ”Yes. Arthur and his friends have entered the corridor, but I thought I should stay here for the moment, in case anyone else arrived. For a moment, I was worried you were one of the Divine.”

Tsunugai shook his head. ”No, Richard. No longer. My place is with the Counter Corps, and if our allies are still beyond us, then we should meet with them as soon as possible.” He knew what Richard meant, but he wanted to reassure Richard that an ally had arrived to aid him.

”Right. I’ve waited long enough, and with you here, we should… No…” Richard turned to face the corridor. At least, where he thought the corridor should be. The towering archways of solid stone were no longer in front of him. He scanned the area around him, trying to find the torches, but they had all been extinguished. He could just barely see Tsunugai’s face, and he could only think of a single word.

Run.

The word repeated itself over and over, and his body started to acknowledge it. Before his foot was even inches from the ground, a voice spoke to him. Richard and Tsunugai could hear, they could feel that same rhyming voice.

and then there were none

Richard and Tsunugai were floating. Falling. Had the floor been destroyed? Did it simply disappear? Or was it ever even there to begin with? The answer did not matter. They could not see one another. There was no wind rushing past them. All that awaited them was the darkness below.

For a brief time, it was like they were endlessly falling. As if the pathway had swallowed them whole, and they were being pulled into an infinite blackness. Then, slowly, Richard and Tsunugai began to feel heavier. Heavier, and heavier, until a powerful force gripped them, and their falling abruptly slowed. Richard noticed it first, the feeling beneath his feet. He was able to stand up straight. Then Tsunugai followed, still unable to make out anything other than Richard. The blackness around them felt overwhelming. A great amount of pressure was being exerted on their bodies, as if someone had turned up the gravity setting by ten.

When they moved, their footsteps were silent, as if they were walking on the softest of carpets. And now, within this blackness, came a soft, comforting breeze. It was subtle, like a spring evening beneath the clouds. But it was a silent wind, carrying with it an ominous presence.

Then, a shimmer. In all of this blackness, there was a very blindingly fast, but noticeable silver shimmer. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared, point blank in Richard’s face. The cool breeze touched Richard’s face again, and he felt something warm running down his cheek. Blood. His right cheek had been cut, by what could only be explained as a slash from the wind.

Another shimmer. This time, it occurred beside Tsunugai. He felt his left side become cut. It wasn’t a deep or long cut. Rather, it was short and simple. It was like a warning. A preparation strike, much like the one on Richard’s face. It disappeared once more, waiting for them to move.

Tsunugai stood with back against Richard’s. ”What do you think this is?”

”It’s fast, that’s for sure.”

”I can see that.” Tsunugai feigned a laugh, but the cold wind, the breeze that he had only moments ago wished for, was a seething hiss against his poor attempt.

”I’m not so sure we really can.” Richard turned his sword to parry another strike, but a series of cuts spiraled around his arm. His hands fumbled, but he grabbed onto the sword. The blade cut into his fingers and palm, but he could still hold it. Richard took up his fighting stance again, and turned to Tsunugai. ”Can we corner it?” His hands were trembling, and he looked up above him. Everyone was up there, waiting for them. He and Tsunugai needed to get out of here.

There was a low hum not far in front of Tsunugai, before he could reply. When it stopped, the hum seemed to echo and end in front of Richard, like something moved past them. Then, another shimmer. The shimmer was at Tsunugai’s right side, and Richard’s left. It held itself in mid-air for several moments, like a twinkling star. It stretched itself outwards, as two more star shaped shimmers appeared, totalling three.

Tsunugai could feel it coming. He watched carefully, and waited. As the shimmers vanished, he pushed Richard downwards, and they both ducked. A wave of wind blew harshly above them, and the shimmers were gone. This wasn’t a warning. This was a display of power. It was taunting them. Testing them.

“Corner me?” whispered a faint, masked voice. “Impossible. Someone of your caliber could not hope to reach me.”

”Who are you?” Tsunugai demanded. ”If you think yourself so above us, then come. Show us who we are supposed to be so afraid of.”

”Don’t taunt it,” said Richard. ”We cannot afford to waste time trying to speak with it. It won’t reason with us, and neither should we.” The color in Richard’s eyes vanished, showing nothing but a pale, shining white. His skin faded into a pale gray, and his hair began to share in the same white glow as his eyes. Even his ears began to change, the tips of them forming into points.

Richard had hoped to save this. He had only one final Pathway to reach after this. To become The Redeemer now… it was necessary. This was no enemy he could take lightly, not anyone he could defeat by holding back. This thing was fast, faster than would be humanly possible. But perhaps, thinking only so far as what was humanly possible was a mistake. He needed the power of lightning. He would become lightning itself.

The next shimmer appeared, but this time, Richard was ready. His hand bled on his sword, but Richard would endure. Even a wound as insignificant as this could remind him of how much was at stake. The elves, their world, his world, everyone’s world… Every world there ever was and would ever be. All of them called for a Redeemer, a hero to save them from their own undoing, to save them from the greed like that which drove those of the Divine to resign their homes to oblivion. And a hero is exactly what Richard Mason would be.

Richard dashed to Tsunugai. To the Paladin, Richard was just another shimmer, but Richard would protect him. If he took this battle on by himself, that monster, that thing would simply turn its sights to Tsunugai. Silver clashed against silver, but the winds still tore their way through Richard. Yet Richard pressed on. His sword carried the force of a lightning bolt, and with each strike, his sword’s power would multiply, carrying its own power, and compounding it tenfold, a hundredfold, even a thousandfold. Even before Richard would strike, lightning struck from above and even from below. Every step, every flick of his wrist, every movement would call down lightning upon lightning. His only hope was that Tsunugai would be safe from this storm, but even if every bolt of lightning seemed random, Richard was satisfied, certain that he would inevitably bring an end to his enemy.

The unprecedented additional element to Richard’s attacks drove his foe to fight defensively, as their ‘blades’ clashed. A wrong step from the enemy gave Richard an opening, and he could feel his own sword barely miss the target, but leave it caught by a lightning bolt. The blast left an unseen burn on its left side.

It backed away as quickly as it had approached, examining its own injury. Touching the wound, it softly whispered. “Interesting.”

Vanishing again in the dark, the enemy disappeared. Then, its humming made itself known again. A flash of light Richard would recognize, came soaring at him from the dark. A white hot bolt of lightning that was not his own was aimed at his head. However, the bolt hit against a blood-red gauntlet. Tsunugai’s raised his hand in front of Richard’s face, but the electricity was still visibly coursing around Tsunugai’s hand, his other hand grasping his injured side. ”Richard. I cannot claim to understand your power, but I do not even have to look at you to realize that you are not yourself. The recklessness of your movements… it is not enough to bring them down.”

His gauntlet pressed onto his wounded side, staining his hand with his own blood. Taking his sword with both counts, Tsunugai stepped away from Richard, watching for their enemy to make their next attack. The backs of his gauntlets each held a diamond, and along Tsunugai’s bloodstained hand, the blood began to drip along the gauntlet, as though it were being drawn to the diamond. When the blood touched the diamond, the diamond turned from a clear white to a blood red. Crystals began to sprout from the gauntlets, spreading up to his arms, and eventually surrounding his entire body. Tsunugai entire body was coated in diamonds seeped in red. ”Come, then. I will show you the power of my Blood Diamond.”

The winds struck against Tsunugai’s armor, but there was no sign that they had even cut him. Tsunugai steadied his sword, and even as the winds continued their assault, the Paladin ignored them. As he brought his sword downwards, the air shook backwards, repelling the winds. He could hear a Hmph, though whether his enemy was in pain or simply annoyed, he did not know. ”Richard! You were right, I think we can corner this. Call your storm, give it all you have! Draw it close, and I will finish this.”

”I won’t! If I do that, I’ll hit you, too! Don’t sacrifice yourself to stop this thing, Tsunugai. Don’t throw your life away!”

Tsunugai laughed once more, but this time, he didn’t have to pretend. ”I’ve already spent my whole life throwing it away, but I have no intention of doing that now. Not when the Door is still waiting. Besides, the Blood Diamond will protect me, no matter what. Whatever you must do, Richard, use all your power. I will endure.”

Tsunugai’s eyes stared forward. He was still watching for the entity, but the winds had subsided. They were preparing for something else. Richard would not waste this moment. He raised his sword, and a cloud of smoke swirled above them all. As he pointed his sword downwards, the cloud began to rumble, and when Richard stabbed beneath him, countless lightning bolts shot down continuously from the cloud, all arranged together like a ring. Richard stepped back, just barely stepping past the ring of lightning, and allowed the ring to compress inwards, every bolt striking closer and closer towards a center. Towards Tsunugai.

. . . .a fatal mistake.

There was another soft blow of wind. Much softer than before, like a light kiss on the cheek. Richard suddenly felt cold. A chill down his spine, like nothing he had experienced before. His control over the lightning rings began to fade, as they crackled and sparkled, before breaking into nothing, being absorbed into the darkness. Tsunugai looked to Richard, trying to speak, but found himself unable to breathe the words he was thinking. His mouth had gone dry, and he felt sick to his stomach. He hunched over, like a large weight was being pressed on his back.

He fell to a knee, only for a moment. Tsunugai forced himself to stand back up, his eyes darting back and forth as he looked for the shimmers. The soft wind. There was a signal before every strike! There had to be!

It spoke again. “I will commend you,” it said, its voice twisted behind the dimensions of darkness that held it together. “You’ve entertained me. At the very least.”

There. The glimmers! There was one--no. Two. Five? Ten? . . . one hundred? They came like a swarm of angry fire ants, their once small numbers turning into an overwhelming force that sought blood.

Richard wasn’t prepared to go down so quickly, however. He silently charged forwards, a glimmer of hope still in his eyes. In his heart. Tsunugai didn’t let him fight alone. They went side by side against their practically invisible foe, once more back to back. Those hundreds of thousands of shimmers now lit up the darkness like stars in the night, and they could see but a narrow outline of what appeared to be a man.

A human? Nothing this. . . powerful could be human. Its eyes were silver and empty, and around its shadow was an aura so dark, seeped in killing intent, that it gave off a feeling of unnatural calm. Neither good, nor evil. Simply, calm. As if it knew the outcome of this battle from the very beginning.

The shimmers came one at a time, Richard and Tsunugai parrying what ones they could. But they would find the continuous, endless onslaught of invisible strikes to be quite exhausting. Their speed slowed, and Richard was struck first. The tendons in his right arm were severed, and he was forced to wield his sword with one hand.

Tsunugai was hit next, his achilles heel shredded as he was forced to one knee, behind Richard. There was a brief delay between the next wave of attacks. Two at a time, the shimmers blinked. Richard’s chest was gashed and shredded. Tsunugai lost his left arm entirely, as it fell to ribbons. Ten. Ten at a time the glimmers vanished, and Tsunugai received a powerful gash through his side, tearing a chunk of flesh out of him entirely.

Richard lost a leg faster than he could blink, falling on his right knee. The glimmers slowly blinked out of existence, as, for the first time, Richard and Tsunugai could hear footsteps. They were loud, paced, and careful. It approached them at last, still cloaked in darkness. It lowered itself, until it was crouching, and looking Richard in the eyes.

It spoke to him. Words he--Richard--recognized. It mouthed something that made Tsunugai shiver behind Richard, as they both spoke in unison. “. . . you? How?”

It placed a cold hand on Richard’s cheek, holding up his head, as he felt something sharp sliding gently against neck, drawing the slightest trickle of blood. In one single strike, it raised a hand, and thrust it through Richard’s chest, and out of Tsunugai’s. They both looked down, slowly, then raised their heads up, with Richard looking that thing in its face.

“Sleep.”

It snatched its hand from their collective chest cavities, and allowed them to suffer in shock. It walked away, footsteps turning into soft, muddied sound, as it vanished in the shadow again.

Richard Mason. Tsunugai Tamashi. Two warriors, soldiers of the Counter Corps. They had been chosen as the sole survivors of their universes, to carry out a mission that no one else could.

Richard had finally attained all the power he could have asked for, but this man, human or elf, could not avenge his parents. His world was gone, and nothing he could do would change that.

Tsunugai saw his second chance at life before him. So close, and yet still so far. He did not deserve everyone’s faith. If someone else, anyone across all of Emeralda had made it to the Pathways, could they have reached the end? He was meant to restore light to his home. And yet, all he could see was darkness.

The Pathway to Death. Its name held true, neither of them could deny that. With what little strength they still had left, Richard and Tsunugai looked at each other. Even that proved to be too much, as their eyes would barely manage to stay open. Tsunugai could only just barely speak. ”For the Counter Corps.”

The Shadow Realm. The Desert Seth. The Periphery Sphere. If the Counter Corps could survive them all, if the Counter Corps could make it this far, then they could reach the Door of Origin. They had to. They knew it would be impossible to defeat that, but this war, the Counter Corps, the Divine, all of it should have been impossible, but the Counter Corps could still win. Richard and Tsunugai would hold onto their hope. Even as death claimed them, they would still have hope. Hope in those who were still pushing forward. Come what may, the Counter Corps would be victorious!

Reinforce · December 27, 2016

Chandra

Pathway of Remembrance

Chandra blinked a few times, finally falling out of her blind rage and into a moreso annoyed state than anything else. Gemini had sealed her off, and Jace had advanced on, key with him. If nothing else, she could be content with the fact that he still had the key, and it would reach whatever was past the pathways. Now though, was time to think, and figure out a way out of this barrier before the pathway shattered with her still inside.

Blind rage and hot fire hadn’t worked, but maybe focused fire would succeed where pure rage and chaos did not. With a quick focus, a burst of fire flew up, hitting the area around the opening for air, and slowly melting the ice around it. When it was melted enough to give her space, a burst of fire at her feet let her jet up into the sky briefly, flying through the hole and then redirecting her motion just enough to arc towards the staircase. Behind her, the barrier collapsed now that its purpose was fulfilled.

‘Are you satisfied with your past’?

“I am, my life as it has been is what made me who I am today, and I have accepted everything that has happened during it.”

With the barrier down, she stepped forward, and finally left the last of the pathways.

Shattered Prologuous

In front of her lay a shattered realm, darkness covering the area far below with the short hallway in front of her about the only bit of properly stable area around. Far ahead, she could see various other people climbing the tree, and with a shrug, summoned her phoenix once more to fly her across to the clock they were moving to.

Ending Location: Shattered Prologuous

Darcy

Shattered Prologuous

After her last attack had done nothing, Darcy had chosen to back out of the fight, turning invisible as she floated further up. Watching from above, she saw as the shell was finally broken, and the ground was shattered into a large number of fragments. The key showed up, and the avatar was finally slain, before the tree it had been guarding grew far larger and revealed a broken clock as the entrance further on. Below, Arturia had shown up again, speaking to those in the area before leaping up the tree. Shrugging at the implied threat, Darcy flew up quickly, reaching the top and passing through, still invisible all the while.

Ending Location: Hallway of Origin

Ayame

Shattered Prologuous

Like the dark witch, Ayame had stayed quiet and out of the way for the last little while after seening the lack effect her attacks had been. When the arena shattered around her, she took off, using her wings to take to the sky and avoid the floating fragments that others were using to stand and manoeuvre around. Once the avatar had fallen, their leader showed up, making a speech before directing them ahead, up the tree to the broken clock up above. Making good use of her recently gained flight, she ascended up next to the tree, aiming towards the portal on, idly wandering how Kazuya was doing through these events and if he’d made it to the tree.

Ending Location: Shattered Prologuous

Gαr · December 27, 2016

Team Ed

Their arrival on Death was met with tremors, ticking, whispering, and poetry, all persisting throughout the Pathway. “Let’s make this quick. This isn’t the first time I had a place collapse around me.”

“How do you know this place is going to collapse?”

“Oh, I just have a feeling.”

The tremors and noises accompanied them as the darkness grew dimmer until it was almost impossible to see. “I don’t think my magic can make a bright enough light to see.”

“Don’t worry. I know a way to see in the dark, but even if I didn’t, I’m still a pretty good navigator.”

The Pathway shook from another tremor. The distinct sound of cracking echoed around them. “Okay, that’s it. Gon, if you can see in the dark, get on my back. You’ll be my eyes.”

Ed knelt and Gon climbed on his back. “I also have really good hearing and smell.”

“That’s good to know.”

Elsa stepped forward. “Ed, what are planning?”

“Remember when I said I can fly?”

Ed couldn’t see her exasperated smile, but he knew it was there. Elsa wrapped her arms around him and he held her around her waist. “Take out anything that attacks us.”

“Got it.”

Gon used Gyo to see through the darkness. Ed rocketed off with black flames trailing after them, flying low to the ground. Gon directed him out of the way of any incoming obstacles. Ed had just met the kid and he had never flown blind before. This was the ultimate trust exercise.

Approaching the bridges, Gon directed Elsa in warding off the entities that came too close. The light of Elsa’s magic blasts briefly illuminated the entities. Elsa worried how Gon could stand seeing such horrible things. She had to wonder what else in the Pathway Gon could see but they couldn’t.

The stone building loomed in front of them. Gon tried increasing the amount of Nen in eyes. No matter what, he couldn’t see into the hallways of the fast approaching stone building. Not wanting to slow down, Gon steered Ed into one of the entrances.

Their clothes flapped ominously in the quiet, blue candle-lit hallway. Ed just blasted past their ultimate enemies who didn’t even have enough time to strike their starting poses. Ed continued down the hallway and into the lamp room. All the lamps flickered behind him as he shot past.

“Be prepared to shout an answer when we get to the end because I’m not stopping!”

The slope of the stairs hid the monolith from their view until it was almost too late. The question was asked and they answered. They screamed as they flew into the monolith…

…and stopped when they entered the White Room. They let out a collective sigh of relief. Ed continued at full speed but was approaching Prologuous a little too fast. He had to pull up. Hard. Ed grit his teeth as he felt his spine and legs compress inside him from the sudden deceleration. Gon and Elsa held on for dear life as they were almost launched from Ed.

Once on the ground, Gon’s Killua-radar immediately pinged and went after his best friend. Ed and Elsa walked after Gon when they saw he was heading towards a group of familiar faces.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been late to an afterparty.” Elsa nudged Ed playfully.

Ed wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave them a squeeze. As they walked, Ed picked something big had just went down judging from the way everyone looked battle worn. Elsa noticed that too, but she reached that conclusion from the speech being given and the tree with the big clock.

Gon was about to jump at Killua when he saw Killua getting in the face of someone. He stiffened and skidded to a halt.

Ed and Elsa walked into the group when Kratos leaped away. “Oh, c’mon, we’re not that late. You think Kratos is mad at me?”

Love of Ghibli · December 27, 2016

Team Dorian Prologuous

And so the victory was had and everyone started chatting it up. Out of nowhere though it was clear that the gate way to the final round was about to reveal itself. The team jumped back in shock similar to everyone else and looked on as the massive tree to the endless sky took shape. Then to have a massive broken clock take shape on the massive tree. It was clear that something big was about to go down.

This was when the arrival of the Counter Corps' leader had taken stage. Admittedly she looked very imposing! She looked a lot stronger than one thought she would be. Then again maybe she would have to be strong if she were to keep such destructive beings such as Kenpachi and Kratos in line. The team watched as she gracefully appeared and reappeared near them to give some grand speech about the tree and her goals from here on out.

"Congratulations, Counter Corps! You have each done a splendid job! Not only in completing all three Pathways, which is truly amazing, but also in defeating Avatar Conflictous as well! With some extra help for the latter, I see."

Dorian tilted his head and smirked at the leader. Really throwin' shade there are we? he muttered a little under his breath. As she went on it was clear that at the top was the hallway to the land of Origin or whatever. But it looked like it was time to move forward. Well it would've been if someone didn't have to give there opinion on the situation.

“Everyone…”

It was Yukari's turn to speak.

“None of you…none of you would survive at the end of this. At the end of this road, there will be nothing. There is no chance for your worlds to be restored, not a chance if things are going on like this. No matter your side.

None of you…I am sure of it. None of you ever had a chance of having any other ending than oblivion by going here, just like what happened to your worlds. No matter who win this war between the two sides. No matter who possessed the key.

As long as Protheus and Arturia exists…”

Oohh Dorian said quite jokingly. Someone's a doomsayer. But let's see where this goes. Dorian was clearly talking to just his team, but it was clear she was more informed than the others. Well she did somehow possess the Key which means she got if from Protheus somehow, which is no small feat. The problem was she wasn't giving any counter options. Should the group kill Arturia and Proteus. Kind of hard to do after this whole Avatar mess. Actually it was just hard to do. Should the group just stay in limbo...what was the other option here?

Luckily other members of the Counter Corps stepped forward to actually ask her about her words. Her response made team Dorian chuckle.

“I really wish I am wrong about Arturia. She…reminded me too much of myself.”

Butlerok and Rhadamanthys simply shook there heads and they grew there wings. Dorian merely scoffed. Look... he said out loud... you good guys really suffer from being on the good guy team sometimes. Like you said Proteus motive is clear as day and I'm almost sure he told us that he jokingly only wanted us as a tool to stop you guys from "delaying him." That being said the whole our home verses not existing is something I'm pretty sure he would of told us had he cared enough about us to actually tell us. No one likes him and the vast majority of us are out here for selfish reasons. You gotta keep moving forward because that's the only direction we got now.

Butlerok makes a three meter rod of Black Blood and sticks in the ground and then grows a pair of wings. Dorian smirks. If you wanna stay here and run from the final round then good luck to ya. We're going on ahead and there's enough of you good guys to "stop us" before the creation and foundation of the multiverse is in one of our hands. Dorian winked as he took flight with the other two. In mere seconds they made their way to the top of the tree.

Finally, Rhadamanthys grinned. So close to the goal.

Can't let our guard down now. Butlerok added.

Wonder what it looks like on the other side. Hope its not gaudy that would be a tad annoying wouldn't? Dorian said as all the three of them walked there way into Hallway of Origin.

Tesability Black · December 27, 2016

~Counter Corps - Neos's POV~

"Well done."

Neos's shoulder fell a little upon the hand planting itself upon it, causing him to turn his head towards the grizzled warrior. "I guess he really needed that. I think we all--" The exchange that soon followed brought a small smile to his face, before frowning and looking back towards Gemini, seeing him kick at whatever was left of the entrance with a resounding bang.

"No! Kenny!"

Though that had brought his attention back to them, jumping back slightly as a pair of one-handed blades manifested in his hands upon seeing the point of red. "Sh!t!"

~Counter Corps - Gemini's POV~

"Sh!t!"

Gemini stopped with his rage kicking before straightening himself up, slowly turning towards the source of the voice with a critical eye, watching as Neos hung back as the other two, the shrimp and the madman, continued to slice at the bastard that he was supposed to kill.

"...you bastard." Stomping hard back towards the lighter half, Gemini supon Neos in place before grabbing hold of his upper arms. "You f*cking stunned him to make me think he was dead, you f*cking a$$hole!"

"I didn't do jack and sh!t on purpose and you know it, Gem."

Tick.

Tock.

Gemini blinked upon hearing the sound of a ticking clock, and a second later, he saw Neos do the same, with both of them looking around for a moment to try and find where it was coming from.

As they looked, Gemini realized that Neos would seeing this place for the first time in its undamaged state as the stage began to slowly reset itself to the sound of the ticking clock. Gemini and Neos exchanged glances, nodded in unison before going back-to-back with each other to make sure that neither of them were caught off-guard.

Tick.

But nothing seemed to come among the inherent rainbow of this place.

Tock.

And the Avatar Conflictous did not rise again.

The tree at the centre of the arena started to resonate. Either it was sensing the absence of its guardian, or it was reacting in response to the presence of a certain key object. Tremors were spreading across the floor, particularly around the area where Gemini was standing. From the three pillars corresponding to the three Pathways, triad beams of energy were suddenly fired up into the sky, each one a matching colour; teal, crimson, gold.

Tick.

In reaction to all of this going on, the ancient embodiment of nature shook, and twisted, and turned, and distorted, growing much more massive; its bark creaking with such deafening intensity that it drowned out all other noise, even threatening to shatter the eardrums of everyone who had those...

Tock.

~Counter Corps - Neos's POV~

Neos watched as the tree climbed up in height and width, reminding him of almost like Pokemon evolution, but you could see what was happening underneath the glow that covered them.

"I must sincerely apologize for my delay in arriving here... I am glad to see that all of my comrades are safe!"

Neos managed to keep the stunned look off his face, steeling himself before turning towards the leader of the Counter Corps that was dressed in pure white.

Were this another life... Neos shook his head of that thought, knowing better than to dwell on such a thing. Even if it was a different life, it was unlikely that anything would happen...that and the coldness of her appearance was starting to get to him.

Neos noticed immediately that Arturia was avoiding his gaze, most-likely because of the events on Remembrance, seeing her disappear then reappear in almost a flash towards another, a form he recognized from Truth when Gemini was...welp, skipping that memory over.

The false human sighed to himself as he watched her talking to all as a whole...though the last words spoken didn't set right with him.

Where did that cockiness come from?

With that, he stretched out his arms, as if they were wings, before allowing the familiar glow to surround him before jumping into the air and taking the form of the aged Pidgeot, flapping his wings to gain speed and hopefully catch up to the Guardian.

He didn't need to look back for Gemini, bastard could find his own way up...wait, is that Jace? And is he actually climbing that thing?

~Counter Corps - Gemini's POV~

He found himself wrapped up by that thing that separated from the supposed Border of Phantasms, narrowing his eyes as it stared him down.

"Greetings, Gemini. Let's not waste our time with idle banter." A growl left his throat as these words floated into his head. "I know what you just did with the key. And so...I have but one simple wish. No matter what you do, do not reveal that you had performed Switcheroo on it to anyone for now. Especially not Arturia. I am too irritated in seeing what floating inside of your terrible mind, but trust me, I will know if you attempt to make this situation worse than it already is despite the fact we have won against the Avatar.

Why should you bother heeding me? If you want to spend the rest of your time as a vegetable that constantly relive your worst traumas, then you can just ignore what I said.

Say, was it fun playing with my sister back in Truth? She knew how to please you, didn't she? Ah, she grew so fast. I wonder if you would like to enjoy it again?"

Gemini literally bared fangs at the thing that had him wrapped up, revealing the four enlonged fanged in his mouth that managed to not keep him from completely closing his mouth. He definitely did not like that, did not want to deal with it and and would rather 'return the favor'...towards both Koishi and both of their puppeteers for that stunt.

“So, would you take the risk, Gemini?”

You are absolutely dense if you think I'm willing to let Arturia have the key, Gemini shot back in thought before shifting quickly enough to escape the grasp of his captor. With haste did he take the form of a Malamar before floating up towards the tree, seeing a familiar patch of blue against it, though he knew it was naught more than illusion...

~Counter Corps - Jace's POV~

As he climbed up the tree on his own power, slightly-glad that he wasn't wearing his cloak due to how it would have weighted him down, he couldn't help but think as he slowly and carefully rose higher.

One particular memory, however, kept reappearing, one he swore he didn't have before...

"Isamy!"

A voice echoed within the large throne room as the doors were slammed open, creating a headache-inducing sound as the doors connected with the wall. A copy of the girl entered the room with a fair bit of a rush to her steps, seeming to hold bridal-style someone dressed in almost all blue with an ornate cloak wrapped around the fairly-lithe form. This held person seemed almost pure-white from what little skin was exposed under the hood the carried being had over their head. The carried being tried weakly to move their hands, one gloved and one not, to the sides of their head to ease the new wave of pain from the loud bang.

As soon as they entered, the Herald of Chaos and Entropy got up from her throne with a small hint of nervousness, a mixed, uncertain yet hopeful look on her face.

Regarding the man in detail, the way he looked and everything, it all matched those odd memories she'd experienced while in the Vault, not too long ago. There was no reason to doubt it, was there? It wasn't as if anyone would randomly go out of their way to deceive her for no real reason.

So in other words, he was REAL. It hadn't just been some odd dream or vision that occurred back then in the Vault. She'd suspected that he might've been one of those core artifacts, but at the time, she wasn't sure whether to take it seriously since there was always a chance that she would be wrong. But as it turned out, her suspicions had indeed been correct. In any case, all her avatars acted mindlessly whenever they went about collecting essential artifacts, never paying attention to either their surroundings or their targets, so for her, this would be the first time she truly met him in person.

"Erm, Jace Beleren, right?" Isamy asked cautiously, unsure how exactly to address this man, especially since she would be a complete stranger to him. "Are... Are you okay? Can you stand? Or at least speak?"

At hearing the name, the hooded figure slowly turned his head toward her, his blue eyes reflecting a true lack of energy in them...as well as a slight bit of madness not native to him...

"I just found him on a nearby beach, don't know how he got there," the avatar copy responded before looking back toward the weakened man. "There's also an odd energy coming from him as well, not one in any of our databases."

The stranger in blue, whom Isamy identified as Jace Beleren, briefly closed his eyes before a weak echo of a male voice entered Isamy's head.

Where am I?

The original nodded, before beginning to walk down the steps that led to her throne. Her head tilted slightly as she continued to observe the figure, this time in slight confusion. Now that she was paying more attention, he was a bit different than how she remembered. The bits of memories that he'd left her weren't exactly clear, but could it be that he...?

Right, about that... Hold on, I'll explain everything in a moment, she responded telepathically, though unsure if it would reach him.

"Just put him down for now."

The copy responded by gently laying him out onto the floor before taking her leave.

"That'll be all. You may continue your progress now. Time waits for no one after all!"

Then, after taking a glance around and confirmed that no one else was around to abruptly interrupt, Isamy snapped her fingers, at which point a portal appeared above...and two wooden chairs fell, clattering onto the floor in a very loud, unsubtle way. With a sigh, she took one and put it upright in front of the man, then kneeled closely to him.

"Now then... You're fine with me speaking out loud, right? To answer your question, you are in my castle. I inherited this building from my father, along with a great many other things, but only started living here a year ago." She said, but after further examination of his condition, decided that she should get to the point.

More importantly, there's something I need to discuss. Something I'll need your help with... Erm, apologies, this must be a bit sudden. Do you have the strength to sit?"

He flinched when the clang from the chairs echoed in the room, though the most movement that came out of him was his fingers pulling into his hands for a brief second.

I...don't think so...I'm sorry... A note of guilt was in that message, as if he did not like to disappoint others if he could help it. Though, the fact that he was talking with his mind instead of his voice could make one wonder if it was less of a drain for him to do this, even though it was normally the other way around for most others.

However, his attention was definitely on her, for he did manage to at least look at her with eyes that had seen many forms of darkness throughout his travels.

Hmm.

As she knelt beside him, Isamy watched him silently for a moment, as if thinking to herself. Afterwards, once she was done, she nodded in understanding, having assumed a serious expression.

"That's fine." The girl spoke again, breaking the brief silence. "For now, you should just know this. Not too long ago before you were brought here, while out, I experienced a series of memories that weren't my own... About Ravnica and having telepathic powers, working for the Consortium, about a Tezzeret and an Emmara, and there's wandering too... Lots and lots of wandering, throughout the planes. I believe that they belong to you, Jace Beleren.

...

Although, I've only seen bits and pieces, and admittedly, they don't match with your current state. At this, she frowned slightly. Is it okay if I ask - what happened?"

At this point, Jace, though he still was upon the ground, closed his eyes once more...

Isamy would find herself floating in the middle of a large hall filled with all sorts of machinations that seemed almost like a mix of steampunk and magic blended into one. There was nine beings of various races sitting around the round metal table with himself as well as himself. Beside him was one person dressed in rather-bright attire that didn't fit with the styles of any of the other beings at the table. In fact, from what Isamy most-likely knew of this particular cluster of universes, it was possible this human-like being wasn't even from it. And they, plus the large dragon that almost filled the room, were all arguing with each other once again, which had Jace with his hands in his brown hair, gripping.

"Will they ever stop, Neos," he muttered to the bright stranger as he looked back toward him, catching sight of a pair of neon-green eyes with dark-green pupils under mildly-spiky, vivid-blue hair.

"All ten guilds want the ultimate advantage, man," was the response given to him, which he usually wouldn't tolerate from any of his other workers. "I got you this time if you do it again, though."

Letting out a heavy sigh, Jace leaned back into his chair as he felt a pair of deceptively-strong pair of hands on his shoulders before opening his own mind to the arguing ones and feeling all of them entering each other's thoughts through his own. One mind, however, had a more-destructive effect than the others, that of the dragons. When his awareness passed through the mindmage's own, an inferno of fire filled his mind to an intensity that would have decimated anyone else's mind as a silent scream left Jace's throat before he collapsed...

...the scene changed to another scene, a nighttime scene still partially clouded by the inferno of flame where he felt a comforting arm leave from his side for a moment as he slept, the flinching and echoes of his memories beginning to haunt him and occasionally escape from his thoughts as soon as it left.

"I'm sorry, dude," he recalled hearing before a different set of footsteps became heard...which was accompanied with a mind that did not seem to be there. Weakly did he open his eyes and turn to face what was present only to see the shimmer of a blade coming down toward his chest and his name being called out by a familiar voice before everything instantly faded to black...then to the sands of a beach with his thoughts still clouded by flame, though to a lesser degree, though his body felt as if it had been neglected for a decent amount of time.

He didn't seem to recall anything about being anywhere after that, though...

Once the vision had stop it gone away, leaving only the image of stop the dragon, in its place was a seething pain pain pain within Isamy's head, burning, it was burning didn't want to stop, stop it, it hurt it hurt inferno too much she could not bear this stop it she was going to die pain make it stop the pain everything in flames stop what was this force too terrible too terrible everything around her was on fire powerless powerless stop stop stop it make it stop stop please make it stop stop stop stop stop STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPP---

After forcefully cutting off the telepathic connection between them, the horrible pain in her head seemed to finally subside. She fell and leaned onto the chair she'd gotten earlier, taking a deep breath to clear her mind and recollect her thoughts.

"That was..."

It was clear that what she'd experienced just now was nothing more than a shadow, tiny fragments of its true intensity. Mere echoes of a truly destructive inferno of thoughts. She couldn't even begin to imagine how intense it would've been in person, and yet, he... The man lying before her now had endured the entire thing on his own. Let alone his current deteriorated condition, if he'd had to go through such a sickening experience, then how was he even alive...?!

"Jace Beleren, you..."

This was beyond her expectations. Frankly, Isamy was at a loss for words. The very feat of surviving such a thing far exceeded the scope of ordinary mortal men, and it was obvious that he'd only barely scraped past. Who knew if he'd ever be able to recover from such a thing? And here she was, having been hoping to ask him for assistance.

"I..."

Looking down at the mage on the ground with emotion, she found herself unable to muster the courage to say anything.

This...isn't...the first...time...I can...recover... A flinch, followed by the faintest of smiles unexpectedly emerged upon his pale face as if to try and ease the emotions of the girl nearby by as he weakly moved a hand up to place it upon one of hers. You...also think...loudly...

Isamy was still concerned as he held her hand in an attempt to reassure her, but also slightly embarrassed that he'd read her thoughts...although, if that were the case, then maybe she could take advantage of this connection and summarize what she had originally intended to tell him about.

If that's the case... Then pay attention, Jace Beleren. I am about to show you something I have never shown anyone else before.

Closing her eyes, she decided to focus on her own memories, showing him glimpses of the many experiences that she'd had to go through in a gentle way. She wasn't sure what he would think of them, but if he was anything like the man she knew, then he should be capable of understanding what her cause was for. He just had to.

Thus, in a gentle manner that wouldn't disturb his already-weak mind too much, she showed him visions of different worlds, all vastly different from the planes he was familiar with - scenery of conversations with important figures, arguments and protests, inspiring speeches that no one around her listened to. Scenery of battlefields, warriors fighting each other to the death, a girl fighting at first on one side but soon deciding to act to stop both after seeing all the bloodshed it was creating. Pointless fighting, pointless deaths. Every time, she was trying to save a person, or a town, or a country, or a world, and yet not once did she succeed.

It didn't matter what sort of approach she took, because the people around her would always find some sort of excuse to hurt each other.

The earliest memory she had, was of being a princess. She grew up in privilege, under the belief that the world beyond was just as marvelous as the castle that she lived in. That everyone in the world was as content as her subjects, who showered her with the utmost adoration. She was taught to be well-mannered and kind, the traits that would take her far in life. Every day was perfectly designed, and everywhere she went appeared to be an innocent paradise.

However...that fanciful fantasy was shattered when, in the thick of one gruesome night, she was assaulted and kidnapped by strangely-garbed warriors. They imprisoned her in a cramped cage, transporting her far, far away as a valuable hostage; to be either ransomed or sold, whichever was the higher bidder. Sheltered in royalty, she spent the few first days in a state of total shock, unable to comprehend this new reality that had been abruptly imposed upon her. They never harmed her physically as she was a precious hostage, but not an hour went by when they weren't taunting her, shouting at her, mocking her. She cried. She cried and she cried and she cried, wanting to wake up from this nightmare, and for a time it seemed like this would last an eternity. However, as time went on, her feelings changed into acceptance; and instead, she chose to hold onto hope. Not giving up. Trusting that her family would send help.

And as a matter of fact, they did. They employed the most expensive, most dangerous, most powerful man to do the job. He arrived like a quiet wind, and in an instant, all of her captors had vanished.

As a child, she recalled thinking back to them - if such capacity for evil can exist, how much worse is the world really out there for others?

Then she asked her saviour, "Please, wise sorcerer... I beg of you, teach me your ways!"

"Hmph." She recalled him scoffing at her at first, but then thinking. "What an intriguing little girl you are... Very well."

From then onwards, the sorcerer - who had the power to command very darkness - expanded her horizons. He took her under his wing, taking her to many worlds for his work. Ultimately upon his untimely death, all of his powers transferred to her - an event that caused her to undergo the transformation into an Omni...

Although, she never did know whether he died satisfied or not with his life, something which would forever bother her. As well as influence her later decision.

And so, she embarked on an impossible quest, helping people wherever she went, in the hopes that she could overturn fate and change people's hearts with her bare hands, trying to make her childhood dream a reality.

The dream that, one day, everyone can achieve their happy ending.

But...that was all it was. A dream. Years and years passed, failure after failure, and even without giving up, there was no sign of her dream on the horizon.

When all seemed lost, she stumbled upon an old document of her father's, curiously entitled the 'DATEA Files'. It was in there that she came to learn about a certain thing called the Door of Origin, with the power to rewrite all reality. There was a slimmer of hope, but even though it was within her grasp, reality opposed her by summoning forth a Counter Guardian to stop her in her tracks.

She knew then that she couldn't do this alone. That there was no way she could possibly win against such an unstoppable force of nature. With something like THAT in her way, the chances of getting the Key of Origin were very slim, and all that she'd already sacrificed to get this far seemed for naught. Thus, she needed help.

Desperately.

Eventually, after a chance encounter with a warrior who actually wished to ally with her cause, she came up with the idea of recruiting various warriors from across the multiverse, promising them a part of the Door's power if they were to assist her own dream, and then form a team to oppose the oncoming Counter Force...

...and that's why I'm here now, Jace Beleren.

Had she shown him too much? Or was it not enough? Even though she had indeed done this to summarize her plans, she'd ended up opening up a bit, juts a bit more than intended. Maybe she'd gone about this a little wrong. Maybe she'd made a mistake. Maybe he was going to think of her as the villain now. Really, it was even possible that she'd entirely misjudged his character this whole time, which would be a really bad mistake.

What... What is your answer? Isamy asked hesitantly. It doesn't have to be now, but when you recover... I, I mean, I'm sure there's something in the Vault that can help with that, so...

She trailed off for a bit, before finally deciding to finish her sentence, forcing a smile as she did so.

"So. Jace Beleren, are you willing to join the Divine?"

I understand...what it's like...to try and help...and wind up...with it...backfiring...I've lost...people...because of it... He responded before a twinkle of hope entered his eyes. If it means...I can...bring back...those dead...because of me...then I will...join...you...

And his hand fell as his body forced him to pass out, his current limit finally exceeded for the time being, but at least he was still breathing...

The worries and doubts she'd had washed away with that answer, Isamy smiled faintly, simply nodding in understanding.

With no longer any words needed to be said, she stood up and prepared a few avatars to carry him towards the Vault. And thus, he would soon be moved towards the sterile containment room, the same one which he would soon find himself waking up from weeks into the future...

"Goodnight," Isamy said, the last words he would hear before darkness overtook his consciousness.

Jace stopped climbing at the end of the memory, head lowered with forehead pressed against the bark. "I guess we're both fools in this Omniverse, Isamy." A moment later, a yelp left his throat as something pulled him back...then up?

How about not taking the slow path and get the f*ck up here, he heard in his head, flinching slightly. Gemini had him in his grasp, which meant he wasn't going to like this one bit...

Super Chaos Sonic · December 28, 2016

Nero - Keyblade War Master / The X-Blade's Wielder ~ Prologuous [[Final Stretch]]

It was a long grueling battle, one that Nero didn't know if he or many of the others were going to survive. However, with the combined efforts put out against the Avatar Conflictous, he was finally put down for good this time.

And while there was much rejoicing, Nero slowly descended on his Keyblade Glider and could only let out a small sigh. This was a being that even his understanding couldn't comprehend fully...but there was something he did know: he had a heart once...or perhaps still had it. Regardless, the actions that were displayed during his encounter with the Avatar definitely proved that this was the case...now whether he still had a heart or just remembered having one was irrelevant at this moment. The message was pushed through and he was reunited with Divine Remnant once more.

I suppose, I can only say thank you then for this reunion. Nero thought, landing on the ground as Divine Remnant returned to its Keyblade form as it and the X-Blade vanished from his hands, to be called later.

-BGM-

However...as he regrouped with the others, he heard the voice coming from atop of the tree...where a new portal opened up...

"The Avatar was a powerful foe, but with it gone, we may now move on... Many of the things that it told you were downright strange lies, but truly, the next area is indeed called the Hallway of Origin. Therein lies the end of the Pathway to Origin, the resting place of the Door. Climb up the tree and enter through that clock, it should take you to the Hallway. Counter Corps, I shall await you up there!"

The voice, it was Arturia. But something about the way she spoke....it seemed different than he could remember. But this portal...it was indeed the end goal, the final stretch. Nero felt both afraid and excited at the same time, but as fate would have it...someone spoke up before they could all get to the top. This person, of course, was Yukari.

“Everyone…None of you…none of you would survive at the end of this. At the end of this road, there will be nothing. There is no chance for your worlds to be restored, not a chance if things are going on like this. No matter your side. None of you…I am sure of it. None of you ever had a chance of having any other ending than oblivion by going here, just like what happened to your worlds. No matter who win this war between the two sides. No matter who possessed the key. As long as Protheus and Arturia exists…”

This, this was a revelation that had been dropped suddenly on the Keyblade Master. Oblivion being the end result either way? To this, Nero could only chuckle with a shake of his head. Oblivion? So in a sense...back into the darkness from whence I was called from at the very beginning then. he thought, only smiling. It seemed like fate just wouldn't let him fully return. But did he believe this himself? He and his heart were in agreement...oblivion wouldn't be the end. Only remained silent as Yukari continued.

“They of course have their own reasoning. Protheus’ intent is always as clear as day, but Arturia…for one, at the very least she is still working towards the greater good. That, is at least something that I can be certain of. Ah, she had been more human than the last time I saw her too…she was more a machine than a god, if I could say anything about her back then. Now…What exactly motivated you to partake in this war? The safety of the multiverse? The people you left behind, the worlds that had fallen victim to the Omni? Perhaps you have no choice but to participate, or perhaps you’re here for a certain personal gain?"

This portion of explanation actually got Nero to think for a few moments. Why WAS he chosen to partake in this world? Nero closed his eyes and began to think about the first day he was brought into this war...back when Emiya was at the helm of the Counter Corps...

"As you all know, the multiverse is collapsing due to the activities of Isamy Maximus, who intends to use the power of the Door of Origin to rewrite it into her own image."

Those words kept ringing in Nero's mind, before opening his eyes once more. That's right. But for my reasoning to be here...was it really to take part in this war? Or to be given a second chance at life? he thought, sighing greatly.

Then Yukari spoke once more...

"You, of the Counter Corps, were supposedly gathered here into this Pathway to Origin for the sake of stopping Protheus. But after that, then what? Of course the rational answer would be using the Key to restore the damage done from this conflict – a reset button to make everything return to normal again.

But, who would use the Key? There could only be one person that would hold this key, and that person would decide the fate of all that is existent. To wield such a gigantic responsibility, do you think that there is anyone you would trust with that kind of power?”

"You aren't wrong..." Nero finally spoke, sighing. "As in your right in regards to wielding such responsibility as that. In a sense, its similar to those chosen by the Keyblade. Within their hands and their hearts, they have the moral choice of either fighting for the light or seeping into the darkness. However...its a responsibility that is heavily weighed in the sense that, there cannot be light without darkness and no darkness without light. So a balance must be kept in order to make such a decision."

Nero paused, before shaking his head. "I'll be truthful, after coming this far...only to see that oblivion may very well be my ending, I can't get behind it. Even though I've come to terms with returning to oblivion, the Avatar Conflictous reunited me with the Divine Remnant I lost..." he said, calling forth his Keyblade to his hand once more. "If oblivion awaited at the end...why would I be reunited with my weapon? But...at the end of it, you are right. However, the only way we'll find answers to anything...is if we meet her within the Hallway to Origin."

And thus, the Keyblade Master slowly walked forward, walking past Yukari. "Every heart desires answers, no matter how grim they are. Such is their nature. And this situation is no different. Through this...you all have shown me that even though I died years ago...fate isn't always written in stone. Whatever adversity is before us...we'll do what we have...we'll fight." he smiled, before reaching the base of the tree, throwing Divine Remnant into the air and changing it into his Keyblade Glider, before hopping onto it.

Dad · February 21, 2017

Kenpachi, Yachiru, and Killua

Killua listened carefully to Yukari, but he wasn't satisfied with the answer he was given. He shook his head, and took a step back from Yukari. "That's a bunch of crap," he said finally. "I don't believe in fate. Because life isn't that simple." He turned back to face the clock bearing tree, watching Kratos and Revy walk through first. "They've got the right idea. We should move forwards. Standing here, waiting for the end, is as bad an idea as any."

Killua turned to give Prologous one last look, and his eyes fell upon a familiar group of faces. Ed, Elsa, and Gon had finally arrived. Without thinking, Killua rushed to his best friend's side, as he placed him in a headlock, and drilled his knuckles into Gon's large head of hair. "Let me do all the fighting alone, will ya!?" he joked, over come with joy again.

Meanwhile, Yukari's and Arthuria's words had marinated in his mind for long enough. He too was ready to move forward on their long, long journey. "Ready, Yachiru?"

She nodded, silently. He patted her on the head, reassuring Yachiru of their journey. "We've overcome death. Nothing can stop us now." But before he turned to leap away, Kenpachi's bumped directly into Ed, his own large shoulders nearly taking the boy off balance. He politely caught Ed, and stood him up straight.

"Ha! He lives!" Kenpachi celebrated, a gigantic pat on Ed's shoulder from his own hands. "Sorry to cut the reunion short, but we've still got work to do." Kenpachi turned back to the tree. He grinned, then looked to Ed. "And if Kratos doesn't kill ya," he said, tightening the sash on his Zanpaktou at his waist. "You and me should fight some time."

Yachiru gave Ed and Elsa a wave, before she was carried away by Kenpachi. In leaps and bounds, he climbed the tree, a mere fifty seconds to reach the top. Yachiru looked down behind Kenpachi, waving to all of the occupants below. "See you on the other side!" she called, likely not even to be heard from so far up. At her words, Kenpachi walked through to their final destination.

Gαr · March 13, 2017

Kenpachi almost knocked Ed over when he bumped into him, and he almost knocked him over when he gave him a pat on the back. "I look forward to not dying again when I catch up with Kratos. And I look forward to a fight between us." Ed gripped his sword and lifted its handle in agreement with Kenpachi. "I'm sure it will be legendary."

Elsa covered her mouth to stifle her amusement. Ed was being so politely manhandled by his much larger friend. It was quite the site. Slipping away from Ed, Elsa turned towards Gon. She saw the young boy being bullied by his white haired friend.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I got a little side tracked," Gon shouted in between laughs.

Killua stopped the noogie but kept Gon in the headlock when Elsa approached. "I'm guessing you are Killua, correct? Gon mentioned you."

Gon reached his arm up and clapped his hand on Killua's shoulder. "Yup, this is Killua."

Ed waved back to Kenpach and Yachiru. He returned to Elsa's side and saw Gon and Killua. "Ah, looks like you found your friend. Good. We should probably be heading to that tree-clock, clock-tree thing over there. And I'd rather not get separated from anyone else from now on, so lets try to stick together unless that portal forcibly separates us."

Gon popped his head out of Killua's grip. He dragged him behind Ed and Elsa as they walked. She created a platform for all of them to stand on at the base of the tree and lifted them to the top. They all stepped off the platform and through the Portal into the Hallway of Origin.

Maeriberii Haan · March 24, 2017

As Reimu flew towards the portal, a familiar gap presented itself before her. Her first guess of it being the earlier Yukari fell flat as she realized the intense power coming from inside of the gap. This was not the neutered, weakened Yukari from the other world. This was her own Yukari. As the youkai sage revealed herself, Reimu prepared herself into a fighting stance, holding the Sword of Hisou in the meantime.

“It has been a while, Reimu. You definitely still looking as determined as ever.”

“What do you want from me now, Yukari? Not satisfied with losing the last time we had our duel?”

“Right now? Nothing, I'm just paying you a friendly visit. I am simply here to affirm what you are fighting for now. You are still fighting for the goals of the Counter Corps, flawed as it is?”

“Of course! There isn’t any chance I will stray from that path. I believe that it is for the best interest of everyone, and I'll make sure it stays that way.”

“…Fufu, perhaps trusting you with the fate of Gensokyo really is the right choice. And I see that you have her with you now, Reimu. To think that she ends up like this somehow...it had been a while since I last saw her.” Reimu was confused a little bit when Yukari said that, but soon realized that she was referring to the sword she was holding. The soft glow from the weapon intensified for a moment as the weapon seemingly recognized who was talking to her. Reimu could feel it shook a bit on her hand, before the familiar voice came out from it.

“…Mother? Is that you? I…I’m sorry that I got myself into this situation…and I am sorry for betraying you and your order. But, I have something to fight for now. I have an actual reason to go forward now.

So, thank you for everything, but…I won’t let you obstruct us.”

“Fufu, that doesn’t sound very grateful of you still, Amato, yet I am satisfied with this path you take. Though, that name doesn’t fit you anymore, and neither does Tenco. I believe you will find a name for yourself sooner or later, however.” Yukari’s amused expression lasted for a while before she shifted into a more serious one. “Going through the pathways...I have realized what have I done wrong so far. I have decided that I am unfit to be in any way dealing with the Key or the Door now. Again and again, my lapse of judgment had proven to be my undoing, and for the sake of Gensokyo, I will not let myself take this risk.

So, both of you, I entrust our future to you.” She finished her words, seemingly satisfied at being able to say something really hard to admit.

“Not a problem! I will finish this incident, and I will create the biggest festival ever in my shrine! Finally a cause worthy of that!”

“I…will not disappoint you, Mother.”

Yukari was looking quite worried as Reimu proudly said her plans for the future, but when she felt that Reimu was noticing her expression, she covered her face with her fans and shifted her gaze into a menacing stare again. “However, this also means I will not lend my abilities no matter what. This is your battle, and you got the whole universe to prove that you are fitting to carry this weight. If I'm helping yo, itu wouldn't really improve your cause.

Though, with that said and done, I have said what I wanted to tell you two. Be safe.”

The Youkai sage disappeared into her gap again, before reappearing on the portal that would lead to the Hallway. Reimu went ahead and dashed faster towards that point in response, not feeling like losing to Yukari of all people at that time. The unlikely duo, heading towards the next stage. Reimu’s doubts on Arturia only grew as time passed, but Reimu was still convinced that at the very least she was still doing whatever she’s planning for the best interest of everyone. Even if she had to face her, knowing that would ease her soul for now. Moving around now felt harder and harder. Her right arm continued to reject her more, and her rest of her body seemed to slowly lose any ability to feel. Ah, she’s starting to feel more of the backlashes. But Reimu didn’t care much.

This was her last battle anyway. After this next stretch, everything would be over. So, no need to worry about anything.

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The Grand Crossover RP - Pathway to Origin [IC/PG-13/Moved to NCM for Finale]

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