Chapter Thirty Five- Heart Break

"Man, makes me wish those pies did somethin' other than make me spaz out…." Ralph snorted as he stood aside Felix, both men on edge for Gene's next move "So what do we do?"

"Just keep him busy…" Felix whispered looking down at himself as he glitched and glowed "I dunno how long this is gonna last or even if this WORKS from tha looks of it-!"

Gene growled as he glared down at the two below him, wanting nothing more than to stomp both of them out.

"Just do what ya promised, Ralphie. Kick his butt a lil."

The Wrecker smirked "Even in tha face of death, ya still can't swear can't ya?"

"Givin' ya ooone last chance here, Gene." Felix asked, trying to cox Gene to calmness "We don't wanna hurt ya. We just want things ta go back ta normal, ya know. Back ta how things were before-!"

"Drop it, JR." Gene rumbled, pointing down at the Hero "I think it's clear that I'm too BIG to sit through one of your patronizing lectures."

Felix gave the Mayor a sly grin, flicking the brim of his hat "Ya gots a point, Genie. Ya've shown us that you'd rather play things tha BIG BOY WAY!"

The glorious ring of Felix's hammer sounded as the man jumped into the air, the rainbow trail following him as he glitched forward.

"Whoa, this is actually kinda COOL." Felix chuckled to himself as he watched the glitch effect of his super form.

"You can't hit me with that stupid thing!" Gene spat "Ya know what's gonna happen!"

"Who said I was gonna hit ya with MY hammer?"

Excuse me?

If only Gene had seen the smirk on Calhoun's face, he would have known what was in store for him as Felix came prepared not with his hammer-!

"YAAAAAAAA!"

But with one of Calhoun's blasters!

"GAH!" Gene cried as he felt the powerful shots hit his skin. They may not have been anything powerful to cause great damage but they were what they needed; a distraction to knock Gene off his feet and make him easier to contain.

"Guess those lessons were payin' off." Ralph said, impressed to see the slim repairman firing away.

"Just gonna ask ya once." Lucy said as she looked over at Calhoun "Where do ya PUT those things?"

"Why don't ya ask Nel?" the Marine said as she looked on "Its tha same physics she uses ta hide cards when we play poker."

Nel scowled at the Marine before hitting her back "You said you wouldn't tell anyone!"

No questions were answered that moment as Calhoun rushed to join the fight "Stay down guys! We're gonna need a three player co-op for this!"

Back in the battle, Felix was keeping his eyes on Gene but his thoughts on just how long the pie-power up would work.

"I've got at least another ten seconds-!" he thought to himself, aiming at Gene again "Oooh, I just wish I could have-!"

"GOTCHA NOW!"

"AACK!"

Gene knew that if he were to obtain his much beloinged targets he would have to suffer a few hits and with a good jump he grabbed Felix in his hands, landing hard and clumsily on his feet.

"Don't ya know it's not safe to play with guns?!" the Nicelander cackled as he took the weapon and crushed it between his fingers "Whoops! Hope your wife didn't have a deposit on that!"

DOON DOON DOON-!

"Aw, GREAT!" Felix hissed through his teeth "Tha power-up is wearin-!"

There was a strange warping sound as another glitch hit the small hero's body but unlike the others, while it did not HURT it did indeed feel rather ODD.

"What tha-?"

"Huuh?"

Felix could feel the familiar sensation of his power-up hitting him but he had thought that it wore off in time. Instead however, he began to glitch and flicker once more, his body producing two faded reflections of himself OUTSIDE of Gene's clutches.

"What in tha name of Litwak's nana?!"

DA-DA-DA-DA-*GLITCH!*-DIIIIIING!

Felix's body acted on reflexes and he felt himself JUMP up-!

"HO HAAAA!"

Right out of Gene's hand only to land on the ground, the reflections following him.

"Um, mind explain' ta me why I know how TWO EXTRA hubbies?" Calhoun found herself smiling to herself, Felix looking at his clones.

"Not a clue…but tha more, tha merrier!"

"We're not done here YET!" Gene roared as the battle waged on. The three dashed out of the way leaving the giant to contend with who to go after first.

"Hehe, tha best PART of bein' SMAAALL!" Calhoun sang at the fuming behemoth, reaching into her aresenal "Is I can still muff you UUUUP!"

With a good toss she three more of her electric shockers at the man, the devices subjected Gene to another round of painful shocks.

"Urgh, where are you getting these stupid things from?!"

"Ah-ah-ah. 'S an Easter Egg for another game, GENE."

Having learned from his previous mistake Gene braced the shock and quickly went into take them off, once again crushing the tiny devices in his hand.

"Fool me once shame on you. You're not doing it again!"

"Then let us have some fun!" came THREE voices. Gene turned, seeing all three of the glitch Felixes ready to swing-!

"Batter up, Ralph!"

"HEADS UP!"

Felix knew he could not use his hammer.

He knew that his gun had been destroyed.

So why not do what he did best in ANOTHER way?

Armed with a large rod, Felix wielded the thing like a bat and with each object that Ralph pitched his way-

"Ca-CRACK!"

It was aimed up at Gene not once, but THREE times!

"Well, I can say I'm impressed!" Ralph laughed, having a lot more fun than he thought "Ya think once this is over we can find a way ta make ANOTHER bonus stage?"

"Just keep it steady, brother!" all three Felix clones said "I don't know how long this is gonna last."

"Then heads up! We're gonna need all three of way for this!" grunted the Wrecker as he reached into the dump, looking for the biggest objects he could find "One!"

A couch was thrown!

"Two!"

The main Felix took a swing!

"THREE!"

Gene was hit!

"Again!" said Ralph, giving the Nicelander nary a time to blink as he and Felix quickly reloaded and shot their impromptu payload at him but even then that would only hold him back for a while.

"UUURGH! Ya wanna play like that?!" Gene growled "Okay! Let's play ROUGH!"

Gene JUMPED up and slammed his body onto the ground, the entire lot quaking!

"WHOA!" Ralph gasped as he was knocked off his feet "Watch it Gene! You're gonna break the game in half if ya keep that up!"

"Oh ho ho! Shall we give it a try then?!" the Mayor cackled evilly, his hand looming over the Wrecker.

"I don't think so, SIR!"

"I don't think so, SIR!"

"I DON'T THINK SO, SIR!"

All three of the glitch Felix's rushed in and gave the Mayor a good triple-whalloop on his face, the hero's increased speed as the points continued to add up.

"I don't know if I should feel GOOD that this is happening or if I should feel bad that they're all fighting…" gulped Meg as she and the other Nicelanders watched from afar.

Mary wrung her hands together, the guilt on her heavier than ever.

"I don't want ANYONE to be hurt but this is the only way!"

Her throat tightened as she watched her fiancé taking so many hits; it was WORSE than any amount of throwing he had gone through but what more could she do?

"Darn it!"

Once more, Gene went at the two like a giant cat but the smaller characters proved to be the faster, both darting away in opposite directions away from Gene's grasp. Felix flipped himself up a few stories out of Gene's reach, resting upon the sill of a window.

"I told ya, ya keep fightin' WE FIGHT BACK!" the repairman called down, his doubles echoing his words.

"Then I guess I'LL be the one to fix that this time!" Gene growled as he reached up for Felix but his fingers were only inches away before he felt a massive blow on the back of his head.

"OOW!"

Everyone looked to the side, Ralph standing near the brick pile and holding one of the many bulldozers above his head.

"What? I don't get any attention? For SHAME!"

Gene's entire face flashed red as he turned his focus on Ralph "How many times do I have to SMASH you to keep you D-?!"

"Right here, Big Genie! I know ya wanna get me!" teased Calhoun as she waved her arms about "Ho-HOO!"

Gene's head was starting to hurt the more the others moved but it was only adding to his anger. He knew they were toying with him and if he were in his better mind he would have ignored them.

But he was FAR from a better mind.

He was far from his OWN mind.

"You're just as annoyin' as your HUSBAND!" Gene roared but once more his size proved to be a hindrance. Calhoun saw her chance.

"Always wanted ta do this…."

With tiny jumps and graceful skips, Calhoun jumped on Gene's nose-

"OOH!"

Bounced and somersaulted off his back-

"Hey!"

"Treeee-YA!"

And threw one more electrical orb right at his backside.

ZRRRRRT!

"NYAAAAAURGH!"

Calhoun joined her husband on the balcony, laughing up a storm as she watched Gene bat the device off his body.

"PFFT-HAHAHA! Ya can't get mad at me for that! I was tryin' ta aim for YOUR back but I guess Mary WAS right! That thing is too big ta miss!"

"DON'T BRING ME INTO THIS, TAMERA JEAN CALHOUN!" Mary called from afar.

"You say that as if I can't REACH you two." Came a rumble from Gene's chest as he once more tried to grab at his prey.

*BAM!*

"AUUURGH!"

Another bulldozer crashed at the giant's feet, Ralph having more to his arsenal.

"Ya know we have more'a these things so I can keep this up ALL day." Ralph laughed. Gene recovered quickly and picked up the smashed vehicle only to lob it back at the Wrecker but he jumped out of the way in time.

"Oh, so close yet so, SO far Genie-Boy." Ralph purred, clicking his tongue "You're not takin' too keen ta bein' this big are ya?"

"You're diggin' your own grave, RALPH!"

Ralph smirked, feeling as if the tables were finally turning in his favors.

"Lemme give ya some advice, Gene. It takes more than a few days being five stories tall ta get tha whole 'WRECKIN' lifestyle together!"

Ralph threw but Gene blocked, stomping closer and closer.

"I mean, as much as ya complain 'bout it, you're perfectly suited for your job! It suits ya SOOO much better than this!"

"I can take the risks…" Gene growled, raising a fist "Sides, I think I'm startin' to LIKE THIIIIS!"

Gene once more mimicked Ralph's famous fist drive, his larger size and greater strength causing such a tremor that Ralph was tossed up into the air.

"YEEP!" the Wrecker squeaked out as his feet danced in the air "After all'a this, I think I should be USED to fly-GWAAARK!"

"HA!"

Gene gave a mighty swipe with his hand and batted Ralph right towards Calhoun and Felix.

"Whoa! WHOA! DOWN DOWN DO-!"

There was a large crash between the three and they were sent back down to the sidewalk below, the trio laying in a tangled mass together.

"G-Glad this pattern of me landin' on things is continuin'…" Calhoun moaned.

"Okay, this is it!"

Still a might dazed, the heroes looked up only to see Gene glowering towards them.

"You've had your fun! Now it's!"

*BONK!*

"BO."

"H-Hey, Gene!"

Who was that?

All four looked, shock in their eyes when they saw-

Nicelander Meg?

What was she doing?!

"Meggy?!" Felix yelped, getting up, accidentally kicking Ralph in the face in the process "What are ya-?!"

"Y-Yeah, Genie!" the little Nicelander called again, the heroes able to see her fear through the anger on her face "W-Why don't you leave them alone?!"

"MEEEEGAN?" Gene droned on, his heavy footsteps coming towards her "Megaaaaan? Why are YOOOU out?"

Meg didn't move, she refused to move but her little feet were shaking in her heels.

"Meg! MEG, RUN!" shouted Felix "Run before he-!"

"GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENE!"

A second voice took ahold of Gene's attention, the man looking to his right to see Kal waving towards him.

"Yeah. Yeah, over here!" the man cried out, sweating bullets.

"Rrrrgh, I'll get to you Kal!" Gene snapped "Just as soon as I-!"

*BING!*

Gene had turned to grab Meg but the woman darted off out of sight.

"Huh?"

"Too slow, oh NOOO!" shouted Kal "But you might have a chance to get me!"

Gene started gunning for his neighbor "And I W-!"

"YO, MEGA STUFF!"

Nel?

"Huh?!"

Nel began spinning on her toes, gesturing towards Gene "Aw, what's wrong? Mad because I won't let you near my fridge anymore?!"

"RRRRUGH! PRUNELLA!"

"Oy! Ya know better callin' her by that name, Genie-Pie!"

"Geeene!"

"Hey, Gene!"

"MAAAAYOR!"

One after another the Nicelanders began popping up all over the place around Gene, the man finding himself surrounded by the high pitched voices.

"What are those pie-munchers doin'? Calhoun asked as she managed to get back on her feet.

They knew that out of everyone in the game, they had the smallest chances of fighting Gene hand-to-hand but there was a reason for their actions.

"Urgh! So many of them!" the giant growled, feeling dizzy as he didn't know who to go to first "Will you stop!?"

"Get me first, Gene!" cried Lucy as she ran one way.

"No, me first!" called Don as he ran the other.

Gene reached for Don first but then Roy darted in the opposite direction and then Deanna rushed around him and then Pearl and then Carlos and then-!

"C-Can't concentrate!" Gene said sickly "Ungh, just-!"

"BOO!"

"NYAAAAUGH!"

A bright pink FLASH popped from behind a bush and caused the giant such a fright that he tripped on his own feet and fall HARD upon his rump, the back of his head slamming against the side of the main apartment building. Gene was stunned, slumping forward as all he could see her tiny, chubby people coming at him from all directions.

"Miss Mary?!" gasped Felix once he saw the woman rushing from the bush "Jamminay, why'd ya-!"

"Can you sedate him now?" the woman called back to the trio of heroes, making a quick and cautious glance towards her fiancé.

"Um, I don't know if I have that on me!" Calhoun called back.

"Well, hurry up and do something!" Mary scampered, feeling so many shades of awful for what she had just done "We need to-!"

An unearthly growl came from above as the Mayor began to come to.

"Y-You think that's funny guys?!"

"Wuh-oh…" gulped Nolan "Me thinks we're going to-!"

Before Nolan had a chance to answer he and his fellow Nicelanders found themselves wrangled up in the cloth from the outside awning much to the horror of those below him.

"GENE!" Mary screamed

"Gotcha now!" growled the Mayor as he held the trapped group "You thought it was so funny turning against me now, huh?!"

"Gene, let them down! PLEASE!" Mary begged "Don't get mad at them! I-!"

"DROP 'EM, GENE!" Ralph shouted as he rushed up to the man and gave him a good slug in the face.

"UURGH!"

The makeshift bag sailed to the ground, the Nicelanders screaming but to their lucky pixels Calhoun and Felix swooped in just in time.

"Steady now!" Calhoun said as she and her husband rushed the group off to safety, the woman taking Mary by her arm along the way "Thanks for the lil distraction, but I think we can handle it now!"

"What was all of this about leavin' tha lil guys alone?!" Ralph growled as he gave Gene another punch "Now ya go after tha other Nicelanders?! What were ya gonna do with 'em?!"

"How about THIS?!"

With a raised hand, Gene SMACKED Ralph with such force that he FLEW through the lower level of the apartment, going from one to the other.

"Jeeze, how many hits can Gene give out?" Calhoun gasped, finally unraveling the knot from the fabric to set the Nicelanders free.

Glass crashed everywhere as Ralph finally landed with a thud on the ground, moaning as he waited for his senses to catch up with him.

"Y-Yeah. Candybug? Eat your heart out…"

*Plop*

Ralph looked down, noticing something gooey dripping from his head.

"Blueberries?"

He looked back at his path, seeing the Ralph-shaped hole cutting clear through the community kitchen and the fridge as well, resulting in the man being covered from head to toe in-

"PIES!"

Indeed.

"Well, better covered in pie than in GLASS." Ralph mumbled to himself unaware that someone was sneaking up behind him.

"RAAAALPH."

"DAH!"

The Wrecker jumped, Gene lurking his way over with his maddened grin "Eh-heh-heh-heh."

Ralph knew better, he KNEW nothing good was to come from this but the Mayor had made certain he corned the Wrecker, boxing him in between himself and the brick pile. Even as silly as he looked covered in pie drippings Ralph kept his guard up, fist up and ready to punch again.

"H-Heh, nice punch ya gave me there, Big Guy. I-I'll admit THAT much."

Gene just smiled.

Ralph rubbed his nose arrogantly "Ya done already?"

Gene puffed out a laugh as he glared at Ralph, slowly moving closer "'Member when ya asked if I was still hungry?"

Hungry?

Ralph was covered in pie.

Ralph LOOKED like pie.

PIE?

UH-OH.

The Wrecker feverishly began to wipe the pie off of himself, stepping back away from Gene "Oh-HO! Don't ya dare! DON'T YA EVEN THINK ABOUT IT-!"

"Haha! But you look so GOOD!"

"Gene! GEEEE-AAAUGH!"

Ralph found himself bound in Gene's clutches once more and without wasting a breath-!

"OORPMH!"

"AAAAAAUUURG-*!" Ralph's scream was cut off as he was shoved HEAD LONG into Gene's mouth, the Nicelanders teeth clamping down on his leg which still hung out.

"Oh, GOOD LORD!" cried Calhoun as she and the others lay witness to what was happening.

"I told ya, I TOLD YA!" Nel shouted "I TOLD all of ya he'd eat us one day but aw nah! Ya didn't believe me! Why didn't you believe me?!"

"YAAAAAAAAAAURGH!" Ralph screamed as he found himself trapped, trying to pull his leg free "Wait! WAIT! Why am I tryin' ta pull my leg in?!"

He let out another scream as he scrambled forward.

"Let me out! NOOOOW!"

"Urgh, yourf BITTER!" the Nicelander growled, poking Ralph's leg into his mouth but as he did so, the Wrecker's arms shot out as he gripped the air for freedom "BLURTH!"

Inside, Ralph was surrounded by a nightmare of sharp teeth and once he saw that no amount of kicking or punching was going to get him free-

"UUURRF! STOP FIGHTIN'!" Gene said as he continued to force his mouth down but Ralph managed to get a grip and prey the maw open, crying out.

"Jump, Ralph! JUMP!" Calhoun called up "Ya can take tha fall ya moron!"

"Is this what I get for threatenin' Billy?!" Ralph wept, still struggling against Gene as his arms and legs shook "Oh gamin' lords in heaven, ya know I wasn't gonna eat him! Ya know I wasn't gonna-!"

Gene snarled again as he used his tongue to trip Ralph back, the man losing his balance as things once again went dark.

"OH GOD! OH GOD OH GAAAAAAAAA-!"

*CHOMP!*

And with a final swallow, down Ralph went into the Nicelander's gullet.

And EVERYONE in the arcade let out a collective cry of horror.

From Street Fighter.

From House of the Dead.

From Sugar Rush.

"Sweet jeally-beans in a basket!" Snowanna cried out, the others still screaming "He actually ATE him!"

"Oh my goodness, oh my GOOODNEEEES!" Mary shrieked, her hands going to the sides of her head "I-! I did NOT just witness that!"

"*OOORP!*" Gene burped, wiping his mouth before putting his hands on his stomach in satisfaction "One down! A lot more to go!"

"Guuuys, he's lookin' at us like a mega nugget meal!" shouted Lucy, ducking in fear.

Calhoun grabbed Felix and tore off as fast as she could "Then make him run for his dinner, guys! SCRAM!"

"No complaints there."

"C'MERE ALL OF YOU!" roared Gene, no longer caring WHO he got as long as he got someone in his hands "This'll teach you to try to pull a move like that on me!"

"BWHOA!" Felix cried as he leapt out of the way in time "Aw, what do I do, what I do?!"

The repairman could only block out so much horror that was POSSIBLY happening to Ralph at the moment but how in the world was he going to get him out?

"I can't glitch through like Vanellope-!" the man thought to himself, trying to come up with a plan on the fly "Tha only thing I got is this stupid ever-lastin' Super form an'-!"

DUH.

Even if Gene could block…

There was still something he could do!

The entire yard was littered with debris, debris he could use for this plan!

"Yo, Gene!"

Gene turned his focus on the rainbow-flashing Hero, allowing a few of the Nicelanders to get away. With the giant's attention now on him Felix had but seconds to time everything.

"Yeah, yeah. This way."

The Mayor stomped closer and closer "What is it Felix?! Are you THAT impatient!?"

"N-Not as impatient as ya when it comes ta scarfin' down a meal, right?!"

He had to say something to top it, something to REALLY make Gene angry or at least angrier than he already was.

"R-Right?! J-J-jackenape!"

Roy peered up at Calhoun, the two of them hiding behind a tree.

"Is that the best he can do?"

"Ya know Felix. He's not tha type for swearin'."

"Urgh, my mouth feels so dirty." Felix moaned but he returned his focus on Gene.

Maybe you'd like to join Ralph? After all, you had no problem ditching us when you wanted all that sweet praise!"

There was a pile of old mattress not too far from where the hero stood. He inched closer, closer-

Time it right, Felix! Time it right!

"What is he doing?" whispered Pearl.

"Um, some sort of highly thought out strategy?" Carlos replied.

Felix hopped one way and Gene followed. He went another way and Gene repeated the action.

"Can ya tell which me is ME?" Felix smiled arms out as his glitching reflections did the same "C'mon Gene. Ya wanna get us, don't cha?"

Gene was gunning down on the man, ready to catch him in his clutches but it was just as Felix had planned, it was EXACTLY what he wanted.

"Perfect angle, Genie!" Felix called up "Now get ready!"

Using his pie-charged speed, Felix REEVED himself up and threw himself into the pile of mattresses, the perfect combination of speed and bounce sent Felix SAILING upwards-!

"Wo-HOOOOO!"

RIGHT into the middle of Gene's massive stomach.

"BWOOOOOOUUUURRPH!"

Felix was certain he felt himself going nearly five feet into the wall of bulk but had punched Gene with enough force, enough weight-!

"Uurf-OORP!"

That he finally BURPED UP Ralph, the man sailing towards the lawn just as Felix was ricocheted backed, both men landing next to each other.

"That….was DISGUSTING." Deanna said, the others nodding in agreement.

"Ralph, you're ALIVE!" Felix cheered brightly, not at all noticing the blank look his friend had, the Wrecker laying still on his back but that didn't keep him from hugging him, no matter how slimy it was "Oh! I thought I had seen tha last of ya!"

Ralph twitched, his eyes blinked off, his frown grew deeper.

"I saw horrors….that no man should ever see."

"BLLLLAURGH!"

Ralph shot up, grabbing onto Felix in fear as the two men notice Gene standing some distance away, coughing up the remains of East Niceland.

"Brother?"

"Y-Yeah, Ralph?"

"I think you've REALLY pissed him off now. Yup, mmh-hmm, YUH!"

Indeed, for even as sick as he felt Gene's anger had hit a whole new level. He knew that people were watching and he could only imagine what they were thinking as they witnessed the Nicelander figuratively expelling his guts after such a hit.

He panted, looking down at the pile of glitch covered bricks and building material.

"F-Freakin-! *Urp* Freakin' CHEATERS!"

"Whoa, how can ya call us cheaters?! Ya freakin' ATE ME!"

Felix held out a hand, pushing his friend back as he confronted the panting giant.

"O-Okay Gene…." Felix said, his tone soft but cautious "Th-that was tha last attack, ya hear?"

Gene continued to wheeze but he moved back slightly, giving Felix an angry look. The man's hand felt around the grass, trying to find ANYTHING he could grab onto.

"Do-Do-Don't even come near me!"

"Nuh-uh, freeze Mister! It already hurt enough that I had ta cannon-ball ya like that-!"

"I SAID DON'T COME NEAR ME!" Gene roared, gripping onto one of the thrown bulldozers and bringing it down upon the repairman.

"FELIX!" Calhoun shouted, watching the dust rise from the ground "DARN IT! I knew he couldn't be trusted that soon!"

Luckily for both Felix and Ralph, the effects of the Super Pier were still on and the empowered repairman was able to jump out of the way in time! He was still sailing through the air as he caught glimpse of Gene, the giant looking none too pleased when he saw that he had missed.

"I told you-!"

Felix have Gene a triple hit!

"Tha choice of yours, Sir!"

There was a triple kick!

"I just wanna help ya! I don't wanna fight anymore! But if ya wanna end this tha hard way-!"

*DOM-DOM-DOM!*

The repairman suddenly felt the energy leave his body, the golden color leeching from his hair.

"Oh NO!" he gasped, his body falling to the ground, the power up finally over "No! NO! Please just a lil longer! Just a lil more-!"

Gene cackled evilly and with a new opportunity opened, he SMACKED Felix into the grass!

"Felix!" Calhoun cried out as she rushed towards her husband grabbing him just as Gene smashed his hands down.

"Oh-!"

"Hang on, Honey-Glows." The Marine grunted as she continued gunning forward, the woman wishing there were better places to hide but with her husband unable to go anywhere she had little to no choice.

"Tammy, just LEAVE!" Felix cried out "Ya can still get out!"

"An' leave ya?! No way! I'm stickin' this ta tha end boy an' there's no way ya can-!"

A massive bolder crashed behind the two, Calhoun dropping her husband as both rolled back in opposite directions.

"Unnngh…."

His body aching Felix managed to sit up only to see his wife laying some distance away.

"Tammy!"

"F-Felix?"

"Tammy, MOVE!"

Calhoun glanced forward to see the figure of her panicked husband but then a shadow fell.

"….No."

"TAMERA!"

The Marine knew she couldn't jump up in time, she knew that she was trapped.

She braced, braced for the inevitable.

"CALHOUN! WATCH-!"

The woman felt herself hit with a large shove, her body flying out of the way just as Gene's fist PLOWED into the ground.

*BOOM!*

Calhoun opened her eyes, noticing Ralph's arm showing out from under Gene's fist but unlike previous times it showed no signs of fighting back.

"WRECK-IT!"

Gene raised his fist, Ralph laying hurt and broken in the deep crater. The man could only let out a few painful notes, his hands and feet twitching.

Never in his life had he taken a blow so hard, his entire body crushed.

But above him stood Gene, the Nicelander leering down at him with a maddened smile, pupils down to pin-points and a cruel cackle in his voice.

"How's that feel, Ralph?! HOW DOES IT FEEL?!"

*WHAM!*

Another massive punch!

"THINK YA GOT IT NOW!?"

The Nicelander continued to throttle Ralph, each punch more painful than the next and giving the wrecker little time to move or BREATHE!

"Gene, stop! STOP!" cried Mary in horror to what she was witnessing "STOP BEFORE YOU KILL HIM!"

"He'll be fine, Mary!" the man cackled, driving his fist back onto the defenseless man "You'll know he'll be just fine!"

*WHAM!*

"G-Gene…"Ralph gasped, his fingers weakly reaching out towards the maddened Nicelander "Y-You have to-"

*WHAM!*

"He'll come back…" Gene snarled "He'll come back! AND THEN I CAN BEAT HIM SOME MORE!"

"AURGH! That's IT!" roared Calhoun, dashing off towards the apartments "Mouse an' Vanellope have had enough time! We can't keep going on like this!"

Mary and the others watched as the marine took off but the Nicelander in pink began to follow suit, ting to keep up as best she could.

"Yougn landy?! YOUNG LADY?! Where are you going?!"

"This ends NOW!"

Realizing that Calhoun was heading towards the apartments rather than going towards Ralph, Mary soon figured out what the Marine was planning on doing.

She was heading for the penthouse.

"No…" Mary said, her voice empty "No! No, you promised you wouldn't reset him! You PROMISED!"

Calhoun kicked in the door and began to rush up the stairs "Mary, stay back! You can't-!"

"No, just-!"

"I SAID STAY-!"

*G-G-GLITCH!*

Whether she knew what she was doing or not, Mary jumped forward with a glitch, landing upon Calhoun as they both tumbled into the apartment building.

"Young lady, I said NO!"

"Mary, let go me!" the woman fought "I-I know why ya don't want this ta happen! I know he means a lot but look at what he's doin'! He's CRAZY! He's a MONSTER!"

"So you agree with it?!" Mary cried "You thought that Gene was a monster all this time too?!"

"N-No! I never thought that!" Calhoun panted as she stood up, holding the glitching woman in her hands. The look on her face was tearing her up, the fury and heart-break rolling down the Nicelander's cheeks in the form of tears.

"Mary, we can't wait any longer."

"I thought-" Mary choked, her head going down "I thought-!"

*BOOM!*

Another punch hit the ground, the apartment starting to come down around the two. The ceiling started to crumble, the walls caving in.

"Tamera!" Mary gasped "WATCH OU-!"

*G-GLITCH!*

"Whoa!"

Again, Calhoun was glitched out of place before the ceiling came down upon her but as she looked to check on the Nicelander.

"Miss Mary!"

The Nicelander looked worn, tired, her body glitching badly.

She wasn't used to this, her code could not handle the corruption.

"Ma'am!" the Marine breathed out in worry, tucking the woman in her arms.

Despite her promise, despite knowing the terrible outcome of it all Calhoun knew what she had to do.

She had to reset the Mayor.

"D-Don't….Please-!"

The stairs were covered with debris, a massive hole leading to the upper stories of the building.

Calhoun reached for her utility belt, pulling out her grappling hook. She shot the device in the air, taking bother herself and Mary upwards.

Upwards towards the penthouse.

Towards the code room.

"GEEEEEENE!" shouted Felix "GEEEEEEEENE!"

The Repairman got no reply, looking over every which way to get a view of Ralph but the man was so deep in the ground he couldn't see him. The man in blue scuttled on his feet, trying to figure out what to do now that Ralph was out of commission and his wife was gone.

"Ung, what to do? What to-?!"

Punch after punch Gene continued to throttle Ralph, not even caring if the man were dead or not. He just NEEDED to get all this anger out!

"Have anything ELSE you wanna say?" the man cackled, feeling exhausted as he gave one more punch, any cries from Ralph unheard. And then…

He stopped.

Still breathing hard Gene moved his hand out of the way, revealing that Ralph was still there but he was unresponsive, his eyes shut and his limbs still. The mayor looked down upon the tiny creature, his finger poking him like a curious child.

No movements.

Was it finally over?

The Mayor attempted to laugh again but he coughed hoarsely, feeling sickness coming over him "Y-Yeah. N-Not so fun bein' the lil guy…."

After so many years, after so many long and painful years, Gene felt as if he had finally gotten it. Gotten the revenge that he had desired for so long.

But…

*GLITCH!*

"UNGH!"

The man fell to his knees, clutching his head and shaking it.

Something was wrong.

*GLITCH!*

Where was the anger going?

"W-What did I-?!"

Didn't he want revenge?

He looked down, eyes going to Ralph once more.

Had he done that?

"R-Ralph?!"

*GLITCH!*

This wasn't right! Nothing was making sense!

*GLITCH!*

HE didn't mean to do this! He didn't WANT to do this! He-!

*GLITCH!*

"Uuungh! Make it stop!" gene wailed "MAKE IT STOP!"

"Gene?!"

*GLITCH!*

The Mayor turned back, Felix standing before him angrily, a splintered umbrella stand in his hands. Despite looking tough enough, the Mayor could see Felix shaking in fear at the sight of him.

"G-got your attention?" Felix gulped "GOOD!"

Gene growled "You haven't figured it out yet?"

"My head is as hard as Ralph's, sir."

"That sounds nice." Gene loomed over towards the smaller man "That means it will be just as fun to smash you-!"

BINGO.

Felix saw his opening as Gene made a grab for him, the repairman taking a deep breath and STABBING the sharp end of the pole right into Gene's hand.

"NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAURGH!"

Gene cried out in pain, retreating his hand and jumping back as Felix rolled out of the way.

"NOW!"

Too much in pain from the stabbing, Gene didn't notice the little Nicelanders running as fast as they could towards the crater, their hands reaching for Ralph….

"AN' UP!"

And CARRYING him away from the Mayor.

"Hurry, HURRY!" said Lucy, holding tight onto Ralph's arm "He's still much too close for comfort!"

"Uhhn, guys?"

The Nicelanders hurried to the back of the building, placing Ralph down as gently as they could and to their great delight, the man was alive!

"Oh, thank the PROGRAMMERS!" panted Meg, smiling with a few tears in her eyes as she hugged Ralph around his neck "You're alive, you're ALIVE!"

"Ungh, I guess that's a GOOD thing?"

"WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Everyone shook and ducked as Gene got back on his feet, growling in anger once he saw that there wasn't a trace of his neighbors to be found. Ralph grabbed ahold of the Nicelanders, pulling them back as best he could from the man's eyes but even he knew it wouldn't be long before the giant would find them and hurt them.

He couldn't let that happen.

"Guys, when I let ya go, I want ya ta go back into the woods and don't come out till all of this is over, ya hear me?!"

"But…but what about YOU!?" asked Lucy "We just can-t!"

"Don't worry about me!" the Wrecker ordered "Just get to safety! NOW!"

"W-wait!" shouted Roy "Is that Felix?!"

Ralph turned, seeing Felix dashing off as fast as he could towards the other entrance of the apartments, moving out just fast enough to evade the eyes of Gene.

"What in tha arcade is he doin'-?!"

Felix shoot up the stairs, remembering that his wife and Mary had gone in earlier but even with the time that had passed, neither of them had come out. The man growled in anger, knowing all too well the ONLY reason why Calhoun would make such a move.

"Please, don't be too late, please don't be too-!"

It was quite the hop, skip, and jump through the blocked staircase but he made it, finally arriving at the penthouse doors. He kicked them in, watching in awe as Mary tried with all her might to pull Calhoun away from the code room, tears streaming down her eyes.

"Miss Mary, please! Tha more ya fight, tha worse off you'll become as well!"

Mary was glitching worse than before, falling to her hands as she struggled to breathe.

"B-But if you erase Gene-!"

Calhoun didn't want to do it, she knew the outcome of it but in order to save the game, in order to save everyone she cared for…

"M-Ma'am, please forgive me!"

"Tammy, don't do it!"

Calhoun looked over, stunned to see her husband running towards her "Felix?!"

The man rushed in and TACKLED his wife to the ground, rushing over to the code panel and blocking it with his body.

"No! I won't allow this!"

"But the game-! Ralph-! This whole place is gonna go up if-!"

"An' what about tha warnin' Mouse gave us!" the repairman said "If ya go in there while there's a glitch?! You'll be VAPORIZED!"

Calhoun looked back and forth between the code room doors and her husband, options running out.

She was used to dealing with dangerous situations, she was used to running on the edge but everything was stacked against her. There were no options left, no way out!

"Then what can we do?" the woman asked, not realizing that the room was growing darker "WHAT CAN WE-!"

KA-BOOOOM!

A building shaking EXPLOSION rocked the entire area, Mary crying out in terror as Gene's MASSIVE hand punched the windows and reached in to the penthouse.

"OH MY GOD!"

The entire room shook as Gene threw his hand about, the three inside trying to move out of the way before they were smashed.

"Get back, get back!" Calhoun cried but she fell over as the couch was shoved near her.

"Tamer-AAAH!"

Before Mary could take a step she was knocked out, one of the tables toppling over her. Felix saw both women on the floor, rushing over to help them but in his panic he did not see the trouble he had opened himself up for.

"D-Don't move! DON'T-AUUURGH!"

"FELIX!"

Gene's hand came down upon the repairman, gripping him tightly as he began to pull away, Calhoun screamed in horror as she watched her husband being taken away from her.

"No! Not again, NOT AGAIN!"

"U-URGH! TAMERA!" Felix shouted, reaching out his free arm towards his wife. The two reached out, Calhoun trying to grab her husband's hand but-!

"F-FELIX!"

Fingertips touched but in one heartbeat they were ripped away from each other, Felix look on in horror as he was pulled further and further away from his beloved!

That was it.

Gene had crossed the line.

"That is IT!" Calhoun roared as she jumped over the rubble and hit the side of one of the hidden panel walls, revealing many more Hero's Duty guns ready for action. Not a beat was wasted as the Marine chose the biggest gun in her arsenal, picking Mary up over her shoulder and rushing back down the stairs.

"Gene wants to play Donkey Kong, does he-?!"

Felix was beside himself in complete terror as he was pulled from the penthouse, Gene's grip around him so hard that he could not free his arms, his legs making feeble kicks as he was held dizzying heights above the ground.

"Oh no, oh no no no no!"

"TRAITOR!"

Felix screamed again as he looked up at Gene, the Nicelander having climbed his way up to the penthouse.

"I knew you were a TRAITOOOOOR!"

"Gene, just listen to me-!"

Gene growled as he pulled himself up, finally making his way to the very top of the building, landing on Ralph's perch.

"I am done listening! I am DONE cowering to your rules!"

By now no one in the arcade could look away. It didn't matter where you were, someone had a view of the battle going on and with the way things had turned it was becoming terribly clear that Gene had finally pushed everyone to his mercy.

The wind blew through Felix hair as he looked down, a gust blowing his hat off and carrying it down to the ground.

This could not be happening.

This was IMPOSSIBLE.

"How could you do this to me?" Gene said in a low voice, his pressure around Felix increasing "How could you turn on me like that?! I thought I was your friend!"

"Y-Ya ARE my friend, Gene! Ya are!"

"THEN WHY WOULD YA DID YA STAB ME?! WHY DID YA FIGHT ME?!"

"Gene, please! Ya hafta believe me! We were only tryin' ta help ya! I never wanted things ta go this far!"

"And yet you ran to the code room! I'm not stupid! I know you wanted to erase me! You wanted me DELETE like everyone here!"

Felix felt the air being squeezed out of him, his bones creaking painful "Gene! I-I can't breathe! STOP!"

Down below, Calhoun finally made her way back to the lawn, her gun and Mary still in her clutches. Ralph and the other Nicelanders surrounded the woman but their hope faded when they saw Mary unconscious in her arms.

"Sarge, what happened?! How did Mary-?!"

Calhoun said not a word as she shoved the Nicelander in the Wrecker's arm, setting her gun up and aiming right at Gene.

"GENE! PUT HIM DOWN!"

Gene looked down, seeing the tiny form of Calhoun looking up at him but at the moment that was ALL he could see.

That and her GUN.

His mood darkened, the sight of the weapon only proving his point in his mind.

"You think you're so strong with that gun, Sargent!" Gene called down, holding Felix over the edge of the building in a threatening manner "Is that all you can do?! Shoot, shoot, shoot! Can't come up here and fight me hand to hand!"

"I ain't got time ta play games with ya, Nicelander Gene!" Calhoun threatened, aiming the gun as it charged "Ya have till tha count of FIVE ta drop Felix or-!"

"OR WHAT?! You're gonna lock me up?! I've already been dragged back and forth through thsis arcade for thirty years! What more can you do to make it worse!"

"Gene, stop this!" Ralph called up, holding Mary in his arms "How many times do we gotta tell ya?! We never wanted ta hurt ya!"

"YOU CALLED ME A MONSTER!"

"Gene, the only person who thinks you're a monster is YOU!"Ralph panted.

"R-Ralph's right!" Felix gasped, his chest aching "Think about what you're doin'! Think about Mary! Think about anythin' but THIS!"

Gene shook Felix violently "You turned your back on me, Felix! You turned you back on me and you just want me to ignore it!? IGNORE IT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN DONE TO US?!"

"ONE!"

"Sarge, no!"

Gene applied more pressure around Felix, the man crying out.

"AUUUURGH!"

"TWO!"

"S-So that's how it is now, isn't it?" the Mayor managed to say, the strength leaving his voice "N-Now I know what side you're on…"

"I-I haven't picked ANY sides, Gene!" gasped Felix "I-I only tried to-!"

"THREE!"

The Nicelander roughly took Felix by one arm and then the other, pulling him either way slowly.

"AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURGH!"

"You can't choose WHAT side you're on?!" Gene growled, pulling even hard "Fine! After this, there will be plenty of you to cover EVERYTHING!"

"FIVE!"

BAM.

That's all that was heard in that moment.

Just a loud, ear piercing explosion as the heated barrel of Calhoun's gun went off, a massive ball of light firing from the weapon and sailing towards Gene. Ralph could do nothing look on helplessly, unable to move as they watched the blast head right towards Felix and Gene.

The Mayor was far too busy thinking about pulling Gene apart to see the light but once it was just a hair away from him-

*BOOOM!*

"AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURGH!"

The man cried out as a great EXPLISION collided with his body, the blast hitting him RIGHT in his chest. He threw his hands up, Felix tumbling from his hold only to land with a hard thud a foot away from the edge of the building but things were not over. Things had not settled.

"Gene?!"

The Nicelander's words were cut off as he swayed backwards, his feet leaving the edge as he sailed down, down, down, all the way down-

"EVERYONE COVER!"

KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

All the way down to the ground below.

The entire arcade shook as Gene hit the ground, the game glitching as the earth pitted around him. Ralph grabbed Calhoun and held her down, protecting her from the tremor as it broke windows, cracked bricks, and even knocked a trees out of the ground.

Dust arose.

And then silence.

There was no sound.

No breathing.

Just silence.

Up above the building finally settled, the low moan of the foundation fading away as Felix took his first looks over, seeing Gene laying unresponsive on the ground. His eyes widened, fingers gripping the side of the ledge; this could not be happening.

"Tammy…what did ya do?!"

Judging by the smoking hole coming from Gene's chest, she had got him with her best shot.

Even she could not believe what she had done, getting up on uneasy legs as she saw the massive form before her. Only moments before she was certain she was ready to take him out but as he lay there before her, eyes closed, body still it hit her what she had just done.

She had shot a Nicelander.

This was not one of her bugs or a virus.

She had shot a NICELANDER.

She gulped, dropping the gun at her feet as she froze in place, her own actions startling her.

"C-Cripes!"

"Is….is he alive?" Ralph asked. Calhoun could only shake her head. The man may have been in once piece but there was no sign of life; not a heartbeat, not a movement.

Had she actually done it?

Was he-?

Felix ran as fast as he could down the stairs and onto the lawn, gasping once he saw Gene, the sheer size of him becoming all the more apparent.

"No…Ya didn't kill him, did ya?!"

"H-Honey, I don't know! I don't know!"

The others gathered around their fallen leader, cautious but curious. They had to know if he were still alive, if he were still there.

Ba-bump….

Did his chest move?

Ba-Bump.

Gene?

Is he okay?!

Can he hear us?

Why did you shoot him, Tammy?!

It was the only thing I could do!

What are we going to do?!

Do you think he'll ever wake up?!

So many voices, so many cries, so many-!

"AH!"

There was a glitch and Gene awoke with a start, his heart racing and his vision becoming clear. His body felt heavy and at firs he feared he would not be able to move it but sensation returned, his muscles could once again function. The others jumped back, his hands moving around dangerously.

"Gene!"

The Nicelander coughed loudly, feeling his airways blocked with smoke, tasting blood in his mouth.

He was alive.

"W-what-?! Wh-what happened?!"

Ralph and the others took notice in the man's voice, his eyes. Both had shifted, his eyes returning to their normal blue color and his voice, while still VERY deep, sounded more like himself. He forced himself into a sitting position, trying to get a good view of everything.

"R-Ralph?! Felix?! Mary?!" he cried out "M-Mary where are you!? Where-!?"

A terrible, immense pain shot through the man, his chest feeling as if someone had shot at it. He looked down, the remains of the blast evident and while it had not gone too deep into his body it left a horrible wound, the pain rushing through him.

"H-how-? How did this happen?! What-?!"

He then looked, realizing that his body looked quite different than what he was familiar with. He cried out, his hand held out before him.

"Wh-?! What happened to me?! Why do I look like this?! Why do I look like a MONSTER?!"

Monster?

His eyes shot open, suddenly remembering what had happen.

EVERYTHING came flooding back in that moment.

The way he had attacked the crowd, the way he had gone after the others when they had tried to calm him down.

He remembered fighting Calhoun.

He remembered fighting the Nicelanders.

He remembered fighting RALPH.

He looked to his side, feeling a sense of relief coming over him as she saw that Ralph was indeed still standing but who was that in his hands?

"M-Mary?"

The man's eyes went down to the crowd, seeing Ralph staggering amongst the Nicelanders with Mary in his arms.

She didn't move, not even once, so many marks of the battle all over her little body.

Had he done that to her?

Had he hurt in such a way?

No.

But…but she wasn't in the crowd, he was certain of it! When he climbed the building he didn't see her with the other Nicelanders so that must have meant-!

That must have meant….

She was in the apartments.

When he attacked the apartments, she was with Felix and Calhoun.

She was in there when he attacked.

He…HE was the one who hurt her.

She was hurt because of HIM.

It was never supposed to happen like this. Mary wasn't supposed to get hurt! Gene only wanted to protect her! He only wanted to help her!

But as she lay in Ralph's arms the truth was far too great to ignore.

She was hurt.

And it was HIS fault.

"Oh god…." The man said, his voice starting to break "Oh, GOD what have I done?!"

"Gene?"

Ralph stepped forward, hoping to calm the man down.

"It's okay, Big Guy. It's okay."

"N-No!" Gene stammered "L-Look at this! Look at everything that I've done!"

"Y-Yes, but you're back now!" Ralph pleaded "Stay right here, please! We can help you if-!"

"Don't-! Don't look at me!" Gene croaked, covering his face as he slid back "Don't look at me!"

"Sir!"

Gene continued to back away from the characters below, almost as if he were more scared of THEM than they were of him.

"Stop staring!" the Mayor wept "Oh lord-! Just-!"

"Mr. Mayor, stop!" Calhoun said, waving her arms to get his attention "I-I'm sorry I acted out like that so there's no need to-!"

Gene clumsily got to his feet, trying to hide his massive frame but as large as he had become it was impossible.

"I've done too much, I've done too much!" the man cried "I hurt her…I HURT HER!"

Gene glitched in fear, looking down upon the others. He had hurt them so much so what was the point of returning? He couldn't face them, not after what he had done. He had let his game down, he had let his LOVE down.

After everything that had happened, he didn't want to be seen by anyone.

Not even Mary.

"Mmmm…."

Everyone looked down, noticing that Mary was coming to.

"H-Honey?"

She could see the man's figure, she could see him backing away.

"H-Honey, what's wrong?"

She was alive!

But…

No, no it still wasn't right! He couldn't face her!

Gene looked down at the woman in pain, tears falling from his eyes the more he thought about how much he had destroyed her world, how he had caused so much pain to her.

Even in all the years that the two had been together, NOTHING could match up this catastrophe. All the run-ins, all the insults and the fights; they were NOTHING compared to the way Gene had hurt her.

Or how he FELT he had hurt her.

Mary realized how worried Gene looked but she was still too dizzy to stand on her own. She reached for him, her tiny hand wanting nothing more than to touch his own, to comfort him.

"H-Honey, it-it's alright."

He couldn't say anything.

The only thing he could was run.

And that's exactly what he did.

Gene took off as fast as his legs could carry him, not carrying if he was injured in so many places.

"Gene, come back!" shouted Felix, his hands cupped over his mouth as he called to his friend but his heavy footsteps faded, the Mayor disappearing into the deep woods.

"Honey! Come back!" Mary called as she fumbled her way from Ralph's hold, trying to run to the forest "No! Please come back to me, honey! Come ba-!"

*GLITCH!*

She cried out in pain, falling to her knees much as the others did. Soon, Calhoun was the only one left standing, Ralph, Felix and the other Nicelanders keeled over in pain around her. She had never seen such a reacting in her life, quickly running over to her small husband and picking him up in her arms.

"Hang in there with me, soilder! I know ya don't wanna quit!"

Felix clutched himself in pain, breathing heavy and shaking with every glitch that hit him. Despite what he was feeling, seeing his wife so distraught and worried was much more painful than any glitch. He quickly reached out and took her hand, holding it as tightly as he could.

"I-I-I-I-I'm n-n-n-n-101011010-101010-1111-01-!"

It was only getting worse, each passing second sending the game ever closer to its inevitable meltdown. Calhoun was powerless to help, the game glitching all around her and the characters below her unable to escape.

But she couldn't leave their sides, not when they needed her.

"C'mon Mouse, Nelly! Where are ya?!"

Further into the woods, Gene continued to push himself to run. He just had to get away from the others, he couldn't let them catch him! But the glitching…

The glitching was just so terrible, it was just a struggle to take a step. The man was left to drag himself the rest of the way, his heavy body pulling on the forest floor as he finally found his way back to the clearing where he had first retreated.

The trees and sky above flashed and glitched, the horrid sound of screeching and screaming code all around but Gene fought through it, the sounds and memories swirling in his mind, dragging him further into madness.

"Oh god!" the man cried, flipping himself on his side, finding not an ounce of strength left in his body "Stop, stop, stop PLEASE! I just want it to end! I WANT IT TO END!"

He continued to cry, the images of his former friends and neighbors running and suffering became of him flashing through his eyes.

Everyone was right.

He was a monster.

And like the monster he was, he was going to drag everyone into a miserable end once the memory of the game finally burned from within.

He thought of everyone, each and every one of the Nicelanders, the years they had spent together, everything they had done.

He thought of Mary.

Her smile, her voice, her kisses, her hugs.

Her love.

If there was anything the man needed at the moment, it was her love. Her tenacity. Thought it all, she had remained by his side but what was the point of it all? Gene had done absolutely nothing to protect her or even help her.

He had just made things WORSE for her.

"Please…" he begged "If it means getting deleted, please let her be alright! PLEASE!"

The man placed his left hand to his face, trying to block the light from his eyes but then he felt it.

A bit of cold.

He opened an eye wearily, seeing his engagement ring still wrapped around his finger. It seemed that thought it all, the strip of metal was the only thing that had not received a mark on it but realizing that only made Gene feel worse. He groaned in pain, more tears coming from his eyes as his clutched his hand, so many painful thoughts and images coming to his mind.

He couldn't do it.

He couldn't go on.

It wasn't fair to everyone in the arcade and it ESEPCAILLY wasn't fair toward Mary.

"I-I'm sorry, honey." the man choked, sniffing sadly "From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry…"

He glitched again, feeling as if his body were starting to separate from the planes of the game. Without hesitation, Gene took hold of the ring with his finger and unlike the previous times…

He removed it.