Ch. 47: The King and Gus

[The sound of metal clanging can be heard from the 3rd floor.]

Come on, you bolt of lightning! NO ONE FEARS THE KING OF DEMONS!

Both float around while Viper bolts across the room, both swinging their blades at each other. Viper reemerges and stops the Kings' sword with her left claws.

Viper: The King of Demons? For someone your height? I doubt it.

[Viper strikes with her right hand, but Gus tangles it with one of his Yoyos]

Gus: You leave him alone, you jerk!

[Gus pulls her closer to him, and he summons his Illusion clones].

Gus: Go get her!

[All three begin to run forward, and attack from all sides. Viper fights back against all three. The clones seem to be overpowering her, but she wipes all three out with ease.]

Viper: Those things can do anything!

[Gus smirks]

Gus: You don't know the half of it!

[Viper notices that as soon as they disappear, the gyphs begin to glow]

Viper: What the hell?

[Fire glyphs explode out of nowhere, covering Viper in ash. Viper coughs but shakes it off].

Viper: You think you're pretty good, huh?

[The Viper warps into lightning and flies towards Gus. Gus summons his Yoyos and throws them forward. Both weapons set themselves ablaze in blue flame, smiling and laughing as they zoom across the room, stirring confusion for the Lightning bolt. It then splits into two, then three, and one heads to Gus.]

YOYOS RETRACT! says Gus.

[The yoyos return to him, and Gus swings his leg for a back kick, but he hits nothing.]

Gus: Wait, what?

[Viper murmurs behind him]

Viper: Keep an eye on everything, kid!

[Gus is paralyzed with fear because Viper is about to stab him in the eye]

Tick Tock Croc! KingDo what you want!

[The Tick Tock Croc Spirit appears from the King and saves Gus]

Gus: Thanks buddy!

King: "No problem!" I'd do anything for my minions! Tick Tock Croc, DEFEND YOUR KING!

[The croc begins to gnaw on the stone floor].

Fighting against tag teams is a pain in the ass!

[Viper transforms into lightning once more and comes up with a plan]

Gus: King! Keep her distracted!

[Gus summons more Illusion and Shadow clones]

Gus: Alright boys! Hit her with everything you've got!

[While the main Gus throws his Yoyos, the clones throw shuriken and Kunai with glyphs attached, and others spit out purple and blue flames and lightning.]

[Viper is outnumbered by the attacks being thrown at her, so she splits herself up into five bolts of lightning and still does nothing. However, three of them make their way towards the duo.

King: CROC! SWALLOW THEM ENTIRELY!

[Three bolts are eaten by the Croc, who protects King and Gus; two other brave reappear as two vipers.]

King: There are two of them!

[One of the Vipers takes out all of Gus's clones and illusions].

Gus: Aw, crap

[Both fight back as hard as they can just to keep up with Viper's speed. None of them let up. Gus draws a spell circle and summons more illusion clones]

Gus: And just for good measure, a power up!

[Gus makes signs with his hands and gives the Clones a boost]

Gus: NOW!

[All the Gus' launch their Everlasting Yoyos at Viper # 1, causing her to be confused. Viper # 1 takes a step back and Gus whispers behind her]

Gus: I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU!

[Gus wraps his yo-yo around her neck]

Gus says, "King Catch!"

[King and Croc push her back. King orders the croc to ram her into her clone. It does so, and both vipers merge back into one].

King: LET'S FINISH HER!

Gus: RIGHT!

[As Viper shakes off the dust, she is irritated by how much of a fight the witch and demon put she decides to end things quickly.

Unlock Iota Spirit, Viper!

[Time stops in an instant and she walks over to Gus first].

Gus: I'll deal with you first!

[Viper kicks Gus in the stomach, then walks over to King]

Viper: And now you.

[She slashes King's back]

Viper: Time is about to move.

[Time begins to move forward and Gus and King feel the pain of the attacks].

[Gus crashes to the ceiling and coughs blood, which drops onto the floor]

[King feels the slashes on his back like knives carving into his skin.]

Gus: *coughs twice* What the hell?!How did she do that?

[He then notices King struggling to get back up].

Gus: King!

[Viper drops from above]

Viper: Oh no you don't!

[Gus rolls out of the way and jumps towards his friend]

Viper: Iota!

[Gus is also slashed on the back].

Gus: GAGH!

[Gus screams in pain].

Gus: (How does she do that? If she keeps doing this, I might not make it to King in time.

[Gus throws his yoyo and wraps King with it.]

Gus: I've got you covered, buddy!

Viper: IOTA!

[Gus crashes into the ground with Viper's foot over him]

Gus: AH!

Viper: Honestly, Gus, was it? You've proven time and time again that illusion combined with Ninjutsu is really a sight to behold. But now I'm just going to get this over with because I'm starting to get bored.

[Gus widens his eyes and jumps back up, ruining Viper's balance. He then pulls King closer to him and attacks Viper.]

Iota! *groans* Viper!

[Viper starts to get annoyed and walks towards Gus and King and slashes Gus in the chest]

Viper: Time is about to move.

[Time shifts again, and Gus and King are thrown backwards, crashing into the wall]

Gus: Are you all right, King?

King: *cough* As if that could hurt me!

[Both struggle to get back up.]

Viper, it's time to end your life quickly and painlessly!Iota!

[Time stops and Viper walks over to Gus first].

Viper: Now you die for real!

[Viper raises her claws and cuts Gus; time moves, and blood is spilled in the air, but it wasn't Gus's blood]

Viper: GAH! WAIT WHAT?!

[Gus threw a Kunai at Viper's stomach]

Gus: Jackpot!

[Viper jumps backward and removes the Kunai from her stomach].

Viper: IOTA!

[Viper yells at Iota several times, and each time, King and Gus counter!Sometimes with blades, other times with their abilities.

Viper: Dammit, how are they doing this? Nobody can stop my IOTA attack unless they have a timer or clones!

[If you're wondering how Gus and King were able to counter, let's go back to the moment when Gus grabbed King]

Viper: IOTA!

[Before Viper can yell Iota, Gus summons Nue in the nick of time]

Gus: NUE! Take me to the Spirit Realm!

[Nue nods and does as he is told.]

Gus: Okay, time to figure out how she's able to do this!

[Gus then sees Viper moving around while time is stopped].

[And because Gus was touching King, King's spirit saw it too].

Gus: So that Iota thing has the ability to stop time.

King: If that's the case, then what do we do?

[Gus rubs his chin and notices that time only stops for ten seconds in his time].

Gus: I have an idea, but you'll have to grab onto me whenever she yells Iota.

King: What, why?

[Gus looks at her, observing her slow movement]

Gus: Time here moves faster than at her time stop, so we have a lot of time to plan our next moves as soon as we enter here. But you have to hold on to me when doing so.

[King groans]

Gus: Can you just swallow your pride and just roll with it?

King: GAH! FINE! Let's just get this over with!

[Gus and King laugh a little].

[And that's how Gus and King were able to counter. How does that make sense, you ask? I don't know, I'm just rolling with the punches.

[Viper hyperventilates]

Viper: IOTA!

[But this time it doesn't work]

Viper: What?!

Gus: From what I remember! Your Iota Fragment is said to only work when you're calm. And right now you're freaking out.

Even a time-traveling monster cannot defeat the true ruler of the Isles!

Gus: You're pushing it.

I FORGE MY OWN PATH, KING!

[Viper then begins to crawl back in fear].

Gus: What? Are you scared?

[Viper looks down]

Viper: I... I...

[When Viper raises her hands, Gus and King brace themselves.]

[She then kneels with her hands on the ground and begins to laugh]

I GIVE UP, VIPER!

[Gus and King are perplexed]

King: Weh?

Gus: Wait, what?

[Viper then begins to sound more cheerful].

Viper: You heard me! I said that I had given up!

[Viper gets on her feet, retracts her claws, and dusts herself off. She also laughs in the process.

Viper: HAHAHAHAH! You guys almost had me there for a second. You should have seen the looks on your faces. You were like, "RAGH!" And now you're like, huh? Man, it's so funny.

[Viper keeps laughing]

King: I am so confused.

Gus: Yeah, aren't you going to kill us?

Will Viper kill you? Why would I do that?

[Gus and King are taken aback]

Gus: Because you work for a company!

And you literally gave us wounds, King!

Viper: Pfft! Come on, they aren't that bad. Besides, why the hell would I follow that nutjob's orders? It's not like I actually work for him.

[King and Gus exchange glances]

King: So you don't work for one?

Viper: Nah, if anything, I'm more of a double agent, an undercover spy, a chick hiding in the shadows, if you catch my drift.

Gus: Wait, a double agent? For who? Shatter Squad?

Viper: Shatter Squad? No, no no. I work for another organization.I have yet to introduce myself. Hang on a sec.

[Viper uses her power to change in front of the kids; Gus and King cover their eyes; after a few seconds, it ends.]

Viper: That's much better. My name is Alice Jubilee. The Queen of Hearts, representing the House of S.W.O.R.D. It's nice to finally meet you guys.

King: I am still very confused.

[Gus and King look at her hot pink flesh and bright colored outfit, still lacking something to cover her legs, but at least she has a one-piece suit on. and still rocks the eyepatch.

Viper: Well, if you're confused! I'm going to tell you my story!It is a tale of sadness! Joy! And, if you catch my drift, rock hard awesomeness!

Gus: Yeah, I don't think we have time for...

It all started when I was born! I was a beautiful little girl, born weighing 6.29 pounds.

[As Viper becomes more dramatic, King sits down to listen, and Gus simply accepts it.]

I lived a beautiful and happy life with my parents, but by the time I was 3, they were killed and I was taken and experimented on by the people of Project Roundtable. They tortured me and forced me to kill. It actually became a daily habit, but it was sad! But after the project disbanded, I was 5 when the people from Oasis found me and took me in. Alas, I was found dead! Luckily, the people in Oasis gave me a cure for my death! They revived me with the Celestial Ceremony and turned me into the Serpent of S.W.O.R.D.

Gus: Okay, this story is great and all, but I want to ask...

[Gus is cut off.]

The time I spent with SWORD was the greatest, most anime-like lifestyle I've ever had. Until the day we were finally given our first mission, when I was sent to infiltrate Meta as an undercover agent, and I played the role of a young girl who had nothing and only lived to kill!

[Viper cries dramatically].

King: Uh? There there?

[Viper gets out of it and speaks in a more intelligent tone.]

But after all of that, I still report to my boss from time to time, and now that we've reached this point in our mission, It's time we carried out the final phase.

Gus: And that's helping us take down one?

[Viper laughs and then stops after a few seconds.]

Viper: Not just that, Ronin's final goal is not just to take down One, but to kill Luz Noceda.

King: Oh, okay.

Gus: Yeah, that sounds about right.

Two seconds later,

WAIT WHAT?! G and K:

Viper: I know, right? I mean, Luz is the type of girl I'm into, but she's two years too young for me. It would have been nice to get to know her better, but I'm still having difficulties.

Gus: No, no, what do you mean you're going to murder Luz?!

Viper: Oh, that. Yeah, once Luz has all the fragments back into her body, she'll be complete. Then we'll just take the Diamond of Reconstruction from her, she'll turn to dust, and bring the diamond back to our home base.

[Viper smiles broadly, while Gus and King back up and prepare their weapons]

Gus: If that's the case, we can't let you pass this door!

King: Yeah, you're nothing but crazy, sister!

[Viper is shocked].

But I thought we were best friends!

King: Wait, when did we confirm that?

[Tears begin to well up in her eyes, then she cries]

Viper: How could you say that after all the time we spent together? I Remember When We First Met! Oh, that was such a good day! I even made us friendship bracelets!

King and Gus are still confused.

King: Should we do something?

Gus: *groans* I can't believe I'm doing this.

[Gus places his hand on Viper's shoulder as she cries]

Gus: *annoyed* I'm sorry I said we weren't BFFs. King and I promise from this point on, King and I will be your best friends. However, we still won't let you through the door.

[Viper stops crying].

Viper: "You mean it?!

King: Yeah!

[Viper tightly squeezed both of them in a bear hug]

Viper: You guys are the best! I wonder what the other members will say once they get here!

Wait a minute, King.

Gus: Other members?

[Viper, let's go of them]

Oh yeah, there are five of us in S.W.O.R.D. Three of the members are on their way as we speak. And the fifth guy is probably upstairs fighting.

King: What do you mean, TANK?!

Viper: "No, not Tank." His name is Warlord. He's the second strongest member of the group. I'm the weakest, and the other three are so on.

Gus: Wait, if he's up there?! Willow's up there! We have to get going!

King: Sorry to cut this short, but we have to save our friend!

Viper: Okay! Just be cautious, and tell Warlord I said hello!

[Gus and King ascend the stairwell]

[By forfeit, Gus and King win on the third floor]

Gus: Willow! Please be okay!

[On the floor above them, Willow is seen lying down with her body all burned up. Warlord stands above her to deliver the final blow.

[End]