A/N: This will be the last chapter featuring the Ulrich and his allies in Sector 5.
A map appears, floating before the survivors. After the battle with the monsters, the cadets hide in a broken building, with an unforgettable memory of facing monsters that proved to be a far greater threat than many things they've encountered, including for Ulrich.
Jeremie explains the predicted location of where the core of Sector 5 is located in.
"Are you certain the core is situated there?", Ulrich asked with his arms crossed.
"Positive... uh... 83% positive.", Jeremie said.
"I do not trust that.", Yumi said.
"you must, we have no choice.", Ulrich said. He widens his eyesight over everyone. "Whether it's reliable or not, part of being a soldier or a warrior is to take risks, even if it costs lives. That's where we go now.".
"Who in brightest lights of Lyoko put you in charge?", William said with an annoyed look, walking toward Ulrich.
"William please-", Yumi couldn't tell him to stop because William went past her, closing in on Ulrich.
"I hate a boss when he gets us killed.", William said.
"Then what kind of cadet are you? Your future is becoming a soldier, a soldier puts his life on the line, not jump down someone's throat over a mission. Unless you're no cadet, and you're trying to impress someone.", Ulrich said, emotionless.
"Maybe, so what, you jealous?", William said in a provoking manner.
"Relationships are meaningless if you're a dead man in the job.", Ulrich said.
"You're still a cadet, why haven't you become a soldier. If I recall, to take the role of a soldier or a warrior, you must be in the top 10 best cadets. They went away with their lives, died, why haven't you?", William said.
Ulrich did not answer the question. He calmly turns away.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!", William shouted as he firmly grabbed Ulrich's shoulder.
Ulrich removed William's hand, and threw William down on the floor. William grunted, and tried to get up, but Ulrich's foot presses him on the floor. "We're in a warzone, I advise you don't waste our time. XANA has an army of monsters searching us all over Sector 5, by darkness period, we'll all cease to live.", he said. He finally relinquishes pressing on William, letting him move.
"XANA?", Odd said in confusion.
"XANA? I heard the name mentioned a few times from the warriors.",
Ulrich leaves the building. "Jeremie, you lead the way.", he ordered.
"Yes... sir!", Jeremie responded as he passes Ulrich, and leaves the building.
The rest follow him.
They were on their way to the location. Around 4 to 6 minutes of stroll, no monsters are caught in sight, which surprised the group. Monsters poured over Sector 5, and they had an definite opportunity to attack them.
"It's really quiet.", Odd said, spreading his awareness in their surroundings.
"Too quiet.", Herb agreed. He has an impression something might jump and scare them. "we should return.".
"We're 70 metres far, it's too late to turn back.", Yumi said.
"Yumi's right.", Maya agreed.
They've all reached the location. To their surprise, Jeremie is right, they've finally found the core of Sector 5.
"Wow, we actually made it!", Yumi exclaimed in joy.
"This is... not... right...", Ulrich said, sensing a disturbing presence nearby.
The ground suddenly shook.
I was right, Herb thought. He knew there was a trap.
Everyone saw the core of Sector 5 change colour. The entire place is getting reddish, the skies pour crimson lightning all around Sector 5, even the skies are turned dark red.
"This is not good.", Nicholas said.
From the ground, 25 Krabs popped out in front of the group, 30 Bloks rose and circled the group, and a hundred Kankrelats stood in front of the Bloks and the Krabs directing their focus at the group. This was a trap. Then there was laughter looming over them.
"I know I laugh a lot, but this laugh sounds way more weirder than mine.", Odd said.
"We finally meet at last."
The voice came from behind the Krabs. Everyone noticed the Krabs are moving aside as though making way for someone to come toward the group. The group got a good view of their enemy. It wore a helmet, an armor, and covered its body with dark robes. His chest and the top of his helmet showed the symbol of an eye.
"An Omega Lord?", Jeremie exclaimed in shock. Jeremie has heard about the Omega Lords, they are the ancient enemies of legendary warriors of the good that are not extinct. These Omega Lords have existed all around Lyoko. He isn't certain if it is an Omega Lord even though the dark robes gives Jeremie a feeling he is.
A strong feeling fired into Ulrich's body, making him tremble in fear. His expression shows fear staring at the dark figure. This is where it originates the disturbing presence Ulrich sensed. "No... it's...", Ulrich said in a feared tone. "...XANA.". Everyone glanced Ulrich with intense shock in their eyes before examining the dark figure.
XANA smiled, grateful he did not need to introduce himself since Ulrich spoiled the surprise.
XANA is a name the warriors have feared. They may not have faced him, but they heard the things he did and they comprehended his power is on a whole another level.
"At least the big boss showed up, saved us the trouble.", William said. He dash toward XANA.
"William, no!", Ulrich said. William didn't listen. Either he is brave or foolish to challenge XANA.
William strikes his giant blade at XANA. XANA quickly catches the sword. William is shocked. Nobody would survive from a heavy strike of his giant sword, seems XANA is the exception. XANA threw William away, making him land near the Bloks.
The Bloks ready to fire William. Maya notices, and uses her creativity powers to generate a small dome around William. The lasers could not touch William as the dome is protecting William from the Bloks' attacks.
The rest of the group scattered, and fought the Bloks. Only Sissi, Nicholas and Herb didn't partake the fight with XANA's monsters. Sissi thought she could use Ulrich as her shield, only to realise Ulrich is engaging XANA.
XANA smiled, expected Ulrich to fight him as he intended. "The boy is mine.", he said. "kill his friends.". The Krabs understood and moved away.
He saw the Krabs moving away which is a good thing. Ulrich does not need to fight XANA and Krabs simultaneously. There's no telling how powerful XANA is.
XANA steadily pulls his crimson blade out. His blade collides with Ulrich's two sabers. A shockwave emerges between them. The shockwave was so big it caused everyone to fly away. Ulrich and XANA exchanged multiple strikes with their blades. It's an even fight as none of them have overpowered the other. No matter how many times Ulrich tried to strike hard at XANA, XANA strikes back. For the first time, Ulrich fights with everything he's got in the tank, and he's even putting a dent on XANA. Ulrich brings his heaviest strike at XANA once again, only to see XANA landed a hard blow on Ulrich's abdomen which made Ulrich fly backwards.
Ulrich was still standing, but his belief he could defeat XANA fades. He realises XANA hasn't displayed his full power.
"You fight like a rookie with sloppy strikes.", XANA commented. "I observed the way you fought my monsters. You are calm, meticulous and smart. Against me, you throw them in the trash. What's wrong, scared?". He smiled.
Ulrich refused to answer, although his body trembles extremely. He grips his sabers tightly, and narrow his focus at XANA. Why did my fighting style change?, he thought. It never happened to him before. Perhaps the fear of facing XANA is the cause. Ulrich threw himself toward XANA, striking numerous blows with him, which XANA returned with his own strikes.
His best efforts are to no avail, Ulrich breaks off the fight by using his super-speed ability. XANA saw that Ulrich had super-sprinted away, but he knew he wasn't cowardice. Ulrich will come. And he was right as XANA threw his fist at behind, striking Ulrich who attempted to hit XANA from behind. Ulrich stumbled away, but he continued super-sprinting around XANA. Ulrich charges at XANA with his blade steady. XANA shields himself from Ulrich's speedy attack with his blade.
Ulrich backs away. "TRIPLICATE!", Ulrich shouting his technique as two duplicates surround XANA. XANA is unfazed and not shocked. The duplicates and Ulrich attack XANA simultaneously. Even with this technique, Ulrich is surprised XANA manages to fight all three Ulrichs at the same time. The blades are swinging at him, and XANA deflects them all. Nevertheless, the triple Ulrichs persisted fighting XANA.
XANA kicked one Ulrich away making him fall. He struck the second Ulrich's blades out of his hands before impaling that Ulrich's chest. That duplicate's body out of existence. XANA saw the third Ulrich attempting to stab XANA. XANA dodged, and sliced Ulrich's wrist, then he sliced Ulrich's head. That duplicate faded out of existence. The two duplicates are gone, allowing XANA to see the real Ulrich. XANA uses his telekinesis to push Ulrich metres away.
Being pushed away, Ulrich rolled backwards prior to getting on his crouched position. He super-sprinted at XANA, hitting XANA again and again with his sabers. The same result occurs, XANA blocks all of Ulrich's trikes. Since the fight bored him, XANA grabs Ulrich's wrist, and tosses him away.
During the Ulrich and XANA's intense fight, the entire group have been defeated by XANA's monsters. Yumi, Maya, Odd, William, they tried their hardest to slay all the monsters. The numbers are too high for them, and it overwhelmed the group. XANA's monsters surround them. The group are weak. They helpless watch as Ulrich continues to attack XANA with his super-sprint ability but gets hit by XANA. Not even Ulrich can beat XANA.
Ulrich falls on the floor again. He squints over his allies, they've all been defeated. This battle proves XANA has already won this battle.
"Surrender, Ulrich. Your allies have been defeated, the inhabitants of Sector 5 have been mercilessly killed. You are no match for my power." XANA said.
"No, I won't give up. I've sacrificed everything to stay alive for my lost comrades, for the people I look out for, and for my true goal!", Ulrich said.
"Persistent.", XANA commented.
Ulrich stood up to his feet.
Ulrich's allies helplessly watch Ulrich advance the battle with XANA.
"TRIANGULATE!", Ulrich called out. Two clones emerged from Ulrich with each connected by a yellow trail.
XANA perceives this ability to be a combination of his Super-sprint and Triplicate abilities. There is a silhouette Ulrich running between the three Ulrichs.
Everyone sees Ulrich's triangulate ability.
"Triangulate?", William said.
"Ulrich's best technique.", Jeremie said. "this technique charges up Ulrich's energy to maximum power while he disorientates his opponent.".
"You don't say.", Odd said.
They observe how XANA would deal with Ulrich's triangulate ability. XANA doesn't seem to do anything. Great shock came when XANA decided to rest his legs on the ground.
"Why is he sitting there?", William exclaimed.
Despite the perplexation of XANA sitting relaxed, Ulrich carried on with the super-sprint ability. Once he had enough energy, Ulrich fired a full-powered blast at XANA with his hands. The blast has hit XANA, the latter could not avoid this blast.
Everyone saw the attack undoubtedly hit XANA. Jeremie himself knew the dangerousness of Ulrich's greatest technique. It can eradicate anyone, even beings that have proven to beat Ulrich on numerous occasions. This technique had to work, there's no other technique within the group that can destroy XANA.
Ulrich hopes his Triangulate ability was able to remove XANA out of existence. Sadly for him, his results are downhill as a dark hand emerges grabbing Ulrich's mouth. Ulrich discerned XANA coming out of the blast, unscathed. It was impossible. The blast should've harmed XANA but it didn't.
The group became terrifyingly shocked. What could an indestructible monster?
Ulrich tried to break XANA's grasp over his mouth, but to no avail. He was too strong, and knowingly unbreakable.
"Did you really think that technique could work on me?" XANA said. Ulrich's frustrated look is more visible, which satisfied XANA. XANA knows Ulrich can't think of any method to kill him. He has perceived XANA cannot be beaten. " That technique was nothing more than a childish talent. Disorient your enemies, and attack them from behind. You do not understand your potential, do you Ulrich?".
Ulrich is confused. What is XANA talking about?
"I could've had you all killed. I wanted Ulrich to see the sad truth that he will not be Lyoko's savior, he will be its failure.", XANA said. Strands of XANA shroud Ulrich's body as though submerging Ulrich into the darkness. "Once I possess you, unlocking your true potential, there is no one in Lyoko that can defeat me.".
He experiences intense agony from XANA's process of possession. Ulrich tried to push XANA away. It was useless, he wasting his strength. His strength fades swiftly due to XANA attempting to take over Ulrich's body.
The group, including Sissi who is usually scared, tried to stop XANA, only to suffer numerous lasers fired at their legs, arms, head and back. They are unable to move, and forced to helplessly watch their greatest asset turn into their doomsday.
"Goodbye... Ulrich!", XANA said, smiling. Before XANA would transform into dark mist and blend with Ulrich's body, pink light suddenly illuminates Sector 5. The light surprised and made XANA have a puzzled look. He had not foreseen the group's capability of projecting pink light. This pink fired an enormous beam that caused XANA to fall backwards, thus shattering the chance to possess Ulrich.
Ulrich is finally free, but he is wearied. He faints to the floor, losing conscious.
The Bloks, the Krabs and the Kankrelats moved to stand near XANA, seeing that the pink light is a threat to XANA. Every monster fired lasers at the pink light. A pink shield suddenly generated, blocking all the lasers.
The pink light was so bright with its spread expanding it caused Jeremie and his friends to straight away lose conscious.
XANA attempts to fly toward the light. A beam is fired at XANA again. XANA fell backward, but this time he manages to land on his feet. He then notices the Ulrich and his allies are getting immersed into the light. He gestures his monsters to fire at them. It did not matter. They were already gone. The light finally fades, and XANA was forced to accept he failed to capture the group, and he failed to possess Ulrich.
A/N: The pink light that saved Ulrich and his allies is the same pink orb who stalked on Ulrich for years.
I hope you enjoyed the fight between XANA and Ulrich. The idea of XANA's appearance was an inspiration from Darth Revan, a Star Wars character. I liked the idea of Sith Lords from Star Wars wearing black robes. It makes them menacing.
Another Star Wars inspiration is the name Sith Lords. If you read this chapter, Jeremie mentioned Omega Lords. The idea was inspired by the name Sith Lords. I won't go into further detail of what they are, but they will be involved in the story.
Thank you for reading this chapter.