Chapter 4: Fateful Encounter
Hello again, i'm here with chapter 4, you guys might find it a little too long but well it's here so i hope you enjoy it and as usual, I dont own Maplestory or any other franchise that appears in this fanfiction.
[Within the Interdimensional Portals]
Omni has conjured a specially made mana shield to protect the others from getting their very existence wiped from passing through said portal.
"Maaan, how long till we get there Onii~~. I'm booored." Ace whined
"Now now, this isn't exactly a trip to a bathroom, so it is only natural for it to take at least 30 minutes, just be a little patient, my dear Ace." Omni assured Ace.
Before Ace could continue whining, Viper berates him. "It's only been 10 minutes, besides, this isn't a field trip, cut that slack and get serious, any form of sloppiness could be fatal."
"Man, harsh aren't you, chill out a little Vipes, ha-ha." Ace replies in his usual flippant manner.
"Ha-ha, sometimes never change, your just like how I remembered you from when we met a year ago, always the one to take things lightly, but I guess that's what defines you huh." Omni chimed in cheerfully. As he was about to add on… "!" Omni seemed to have detected something and his worries were reflected on his face.
"It would appear something is attempting to breach this barrier, which is odd by itself that there would be anything else other than us out here, but why would it try to penetrate this shield?"
"Could it have been the doings of the Black Mage? To thwart our plans?" Viper inquires with a grim look on his face.
"I'm afraid it isn't, this…being does not carry any traces of the Black Mage on him, at least through his aura anyhow." Omni answered with a perturbed look.
Ace then has a fiery smile appear on his face as he exclaims eagerly. "Oh yeah! This means it's clobberin' time; I was getting bored just sitting around doing a bunch o' nothing."
"While I would love to refute what you had just said, regrettably, I have to agree with you that this situation does indeed call for us to stand ready for…"
"For battle" An unknown voice mocks Viper and successfully draws the attention of the four. They instantly turn their heads to see who that mockery originated from. It belonged to a strange being with purple skin, with a muscular and lean figure while wielding a glowing mace; however, an eye catching thing regarding this strange invader would be his face. It was in a t-shape, with no facial features at all save the mouth.
Omni seemed to be in disbelief and shaken by this mysterious visitor's sudden presence, with sweat trickling down his face. "Impossible, there is still a force outside that is attempting to penetrate the barrier, how can you just slip in unnoticed…what are you?"
The mysterious purple being merely chuckled, "You need not know who I am, though I suppose I should enlighten you as such seeing as how you are perplexed as to how I infiltrated your puny shield." And he gave a smug grin, "All I will say is, I grasp time better, my quivering friend, and it was merely time for your barrier to end, and soon it shall be all of you as well!"
As soon as he finished his statement, he made a dash for the still shaken Omni, and as he is about to land a crushing blow to him with his mace, he is interrupted by a sudden wave of lightning.
"Hey pally, I don't know who you are! But if you think you can just waltz in and crap all over us, you're wrong!" Ace roared at the being with a menacing look on his face, his gauntlets now sparkling with green light.
Brought back to reality, Omni thanked Ace, "My thanks friend, I would like to join in the fray. But unfortunately I need to repel this unknown force still outside, so I'll have to sit this one out, but be careful, he isn't just a walk in the park."
"Don't worry about us Omni; we can handle this, just focus on holding the barrier." Viper instructed as he turned to join the fight.
"This is my fight Vipes, don't interfere, you too Jacky." As he says this, Ace infuses his gauntlets with the lightning element by drawing upon the powers of the lightning elemental itself, and begins his frenzy assault on the purple being.
Ace constantly remains on the attack and consistently dishes out thunderous blows, only to have the strange being come out unharmed and mocking him, which serves to only further provoke Ace and gaud him into unleashing more power. As the battle ensued, Ace's attacks were to no avail, leading to more frustration building up and finally he snapped.
"That's enough!" He hollered with rage, and begins powering up; his energy levels spiking to the point the entire barrier seemed to be crumbling apart.
The enigmatic being seemed to be alarmed and nervously said, "Hey, cool it there, you have enough power to obliterate everyone present."
"Whooooaaaaaa!"
Viper then leapt and delivered a hard punch to Ace, "Thud!"
"What do you think you're doing, idiot! You may be able to win this fight if you go all out, but what of the consequences? Think of the bigger picture, moron!" Viper roared
Ace stays speechless for a moment before a wide grin flashes across his face, "Heh, thanks bud, don't know what I'd be without you, though i wasn't trying to do what your thought i was." He turns to the being and approaches him with a determined look on his face while proclaiming, "Right now, I wish you'd be laying down where you stand lifeless, caused by my hands, but as it seems, I have something more important to care for than killing you."
"Hoh? What would that be?" The purple life form mused.
"Like working with my friends for a greater cause." Ace smirked, and in a flash, he zipped over to the being, leaving behind a trail of electricity, catching him off guard.
"!" The being fell back and Ace added on, "Lemme guess, I'm betting you assumed these babies I'm wearing only augment my strength, well here's something purple zoid, I can also utilize them to boost my speed as close to light speed." With that, Ace went for a low kick at lightning speed, at that moment however, when it seemed as if the attack had connected, the being's mace glowed and it managed to evade it by leaping upwards.
"!" Everyone was stunned; to be able to dodge an attack at light speed would require insane reflexes of the gods themselves.
"Gahaha, you thought I would get hit by that, well too bad, you lost the element of surprise with that first strike, though you did manage to surprise me, I'll give you that." The strange being mocked whilst in mid-air.
Ace did not snap back at it, contrary to what it had thought, which confounded the being to no end. "You know, as annoying as it is, you sure are right about stuff, but you are wrong though, the surprise element still isn't lost."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Who knows, but hey, as much as I'd like to be the Ace in the hole and follow traditions this time, there are exceptions for a Jack in the hole." Ace gave a triumphant smile.
The being turned around to come face to face to Jack, who had shapeshifted and assumed the form of a mechanized gorilla and had his fists together raised overhead ready for a grand slam.
"Well, I certainly did not…"
"WHAM!" and Jack sent the being spiraling down, straight into an ice cage made with the innate abilities of the Aran, by Viper.
"Ugh, my head..." the being groaned in pain as he held his head. Soon, he realized his predicament; he was trapped in an icicle wall surrounded by Viper, Ace and Jack, who had returned to his original form.
"I believe you are woefully outmatched this time, it'd be best for both sides if you surrender now." Jack proclaims nonchalantly.
"Yeah purple head! You're not so invincible after all huh."
"That's enough Ace, now then, time to start talking, who are you, and why are you attacking us." Viper demanded with a harsh demeanor.
"Hahaha, well I guess I should reward you all for managing to get one on me, well my name is Dark Terror, also known as the Faceless Void. I hail from Claszureme. I have sensed a large shift in the timezones and found that the timelines have been polluted, so greatly altered that history of worlds itself have changed completed."
"And what has it got to do with your assault on us, Dark Terror." Viper pressed on.
"Gahaha, you really hope for me to believe that you lot are the good guys trying to save the universe?"
"I don't hope, I only expect. Regardless, it appears there has been a misunderstanding, that said, how did you get in here, through the barrier." Viper said dryly.
"Make a guess why would you." Dark Terror mused.
"I don't have time for games, Dark Terror, you'd better cooperate well." Viper pressured with a hiss.
"Ah ah ahhh, intimidation won't work on me my impatient friend."
"Hey! That's enough out of you, you got beaten, so just work with us, or you'll regret it."Aced bellowed.
"I have to return those words of wisdom you said to me moments ago though, you are wrong about one thing. I haven't lost, I merely admitted to the fact that I was impressed that you lot of evildoers have managed to trap me."
"That's enough you! You're done." Ace shouted as he approaches it.
"You presume too much." Dark Terror's body begins to emanate a purple aura that soon envelops a certain radius around it.
"!" "Get back!" Viper yelled as soon as the aura appeared, but it was too late, the purple aura had already engulfed both Ace and Jack and in its aftermath, left a seemingly petrified Ace and Jack.
"Gahaha, you did well in avoiding my 'Chronosphere', however, that is but a mere fraction of my true powers, once I activate my mace, the range multiplies, and even your friend won't be spared then, it will truly mark the end of your evil. And to add insult to death, you will never know the true depths of my powers." Dark Terror laughed triumphantly.
Viper remained indifferent to Dark Terror's dismay, he had expected a more exaggerated reaction out of him, yet Viper went completely beyond its expectations. This frightened it, the fact that Viper could remain calm despite their impending doom.
Finally, Viper spoke up, breaking the tense atmosphere, "Chronosphere huh, on first glance, many would think it to be but an area of effect type of petrification, however, it is very likely an ability that completely freezes time itself in that area, leaving only you to freely move, the mace should serve to not only amplify the radius, but increase your physical capabilities, am I wrong?"
Dark Terror was stupefied; it was utterly dumbfounded as to how Viper had such honed mental strength along with a perceptive mind, to the point of even determining the true nature of 'Chronosphere'.
"Well it seems I'm not judging from your reactions, well its checkmate for you. Give it up and release them." Viper demanded.
"Don't get cocky evil doer, even if you know my abilities like the back of your hands, you still can't stop me, I still have my cosmic mace."Dark Terror anxiously retorted.
Flashing another mace in his grasp, Viper smirked with confidence and continued with sarcasm, "Oh, when you speak of mace, do you mean the one I snatched from you earlier, or the one I substituted that's currently in your possessions."
"You! When did you get that!"It panicked.
"It's not that hard, comes with my job, anyways, it's a big giveaway of your abilities, I know what you did with Ace awhile back. Your mace probably allows you to either slow down or reverse time, probably slowing down if you piece it together, with it you managed to dodge even Ace's light speed kick with ease, yet at the same time make it seem as though you were invulnerable, pretty foolish trick if you ask me. That also probably explains how you managed to fool Omni into thinking that there is still something outside."
It was then, when Jack slammed Dark Terror down, it was actually hurt by the attack, despite Jack being weaker than Ace, which proved Viper's theory. Realizing it's folly, it so much wanted to kick itself where it hurt.
Still, Dark Terror was unwilling to concede to Viper, and in an act of desperation, denied all of Viper's words. "You are bluffing! Even if what you said is true, the mace would have allowed me to prevent you from snatching it."
"Oh, you still think I'm bluffing huh, well why don't you see for yourself, go ahead, try your enhanced Chronosphere. While you are at it, Omni, I trust you have heard our conversation, it's okay to provide me aid." Viper taunted.
"You! You…"Dark Terror grew even more nervous.
"Go ahead, do it, why, you scared of using your own powers, unless it isn't as omnipotent as you claim it is?" Viper further pressured him and moved forward as Dark Terror retreated slowly.
No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't find any sign or proof that Viper was lying, Viper's steely eyes that seemed to contain an indomitable will; his body posture that was brimming with confidence, without any sign of faltering; his fiery smile that seemed to burn right through anything.
No matter what it did, Viper just seemed to be the epitome of confidence, to the extent that it terrified Dark Terror. Along with the fact that Omni was going to join in the fight further stressed out it's mental capacity, it all seemed to be torturing every fiber of it's being, pushing it to breaking point; as if it would be engulfed by its fear, it was madness. Without a doubt, Dark Terror was experiencing true fear, he who had always dominated others with ease, was actually frightened by a man with no exceptional combat abilities; him being the first person to suspect his abilities. It was paranoid of any move taken by Viper, be it even breathing, all took it's toll on its mind.
Finally, the fear won out, it could not take it any longer. "I surrender, you win. You were right, my ability does have it's limitations, mainly being the time limit, cooldown and my physical capabilities...i'm not exactly strong." It hastily stated as it admitted defeat.
Soon after dispelling the effects of Chronosphere and explaining everything to it, Dark Terror meekly apologized for jumping the gun and not hearing them out. "My sincere apologies, I was too concerned with the altering of the timelines that it blinded me so."
"Pfft, but you don't even have eyes to begin with." Ace joked and everyone had a good laugh.
Omni remarked, "But you all really should have been there to witness the ultimate showdown, Viper was simply spectacular, he made a grown alien grovel before him haha."
"Well…let's not mention that shall we, anyways, I can be of use to you, I can serve as your guide through the portal or tell you more about a time zone if you so wish, so please, allow me to aid you in your cause."
"Why certainly, we always welcome talents, even the weirdest ones." Viper smirked.
"By the way, um Viper, do you mind returning me my cosmic mace, I cannot roam around the Interdimensional Pathway freely." Dark Terror requested sheepishly.
"What are you talking about, it's always with you isn't it?"
"Huh, but you said you...wait…was that all…just…A BLUFF!?"Dark Terror could not believe it. "But you were so convincing with all that stern and all that, now you tell me it's a dud?"
"It was a tactical feint, and it worked, we managed to solve our issues and understand your strengths and weaknesses, so isn't all well."Viper grinned.
"Damned, I cannot believe I fell…"
"Crash!"
Viper, alarmed by this, hollered, "Omni, what's wrong?"
"This journey is indeed an arduous one…this trip is ill-fated, for us to run into an alien being who mistakes us as evil and now this…sigh…"Omni said with a heavy feeling. As Viper was about to pressure for an answer, Omni swiftly added on, "We have encountered a cosmic typhoon, one that has anything but an astronomical chance of happening and I don't know how long it would last."
"Ah, this type of storms, they typically last for at least a day, if I'm not mistaken." Dark Terror added on.
"Are you freaking kidding me! I've never been this lucky on the lottery!" Ace grumbled.
"I think the odds would be better with the lottery then encountering this, my friend." Omni sighed.
Viper ponders over it a moment and suddenly breaks the ice. "Omni, is there any energy signature of the miasmas in close vicinity?"
"Hold on a moment…Yes, there is, and it is close to manifesting a physical form now, but going there would take us way off course."
"Good enough for me." Viper then turns to Dark Terror and inquires, "Can you bring us there?"
"Definitely, such a meager feat is well within my reach." Dark Terror replied with pride.
"Excellent, Ace and Jack, I need you two to go and settle the distortion, I have something to discuss with Omni."
"Sure thing boss, well let's go Darky, Jacko." Replied Ace with his typical cheerfulness."
"My name is not Darky!"
"…Okay…"
Dark Terror murmurs something to his mace and encloses the three in a purple aura that allows them to travel through the pathway and they set off to a new world with their new comrade.
And thats that for chapter 4, pretty much got the intro finish and it's finally get into the main action. Do look forward to Chapter 5 and as usual please feedback on this chapter, especially the fight scene since it's my first time doing a fight scene and all that. Thank you. signing out, fm