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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
High School DxD, New, BorN, Hero and other products related to the DxD Series are all owned by Ichiei Ishibumi, Miyama-Zero, Fujimi Shobo and TNK.
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WARNING: The 'Broken Trickster DxD' part in this chapter contain major characters' deaths. I am sorry that it's happening and… I can only say that it's just the other dimension, not the 'main' one.
Chapter 57: Intermezzo
"Why are you here?"
Yujiro Hanma showed a toothy grin at his son, the question adding more to the amusement generated by this endearingly new situation that was granted by Rizevim.
The mad man might have appeared to him like a pathetic maggot, his physical strength well-hidden within his 'magical' potential, but then the Devil decided to bestow him with a new 'opportunity' to have some fun.
And with fellow strong monsters all with him? Why would Yujiro deny himself such a perfect way to return back to the scene?
The world had long grown dull and stagnated, only a handful of fighters managed to gain part of his interest nowadays and… the Ogre was terribly bored.
With the early retirement, he had hoped to gain some… clarity over a life without fighting.
Yet… that was laughable at best. A childish notion that entertained his mind just moments after drawing with Baki, a notion that was urged by the lack of serious competition after his son's attempt.
There were no humans that could compare to him, nobody that could give him the bliss of massacre once more with his bare hands.
Thus the most annoying period of his life began.
A life where 'serious' challenges were put off as he tried to break away from the lifestyle he was born into. The life of a monster among men.
Nothing satisfied him, nothing gave him the same thrill only battles could and… he started to grow restless.
Training hardly satisfied. The wood cracked, the iron broke and the steel bent without hesitation, rendering any attempt to recreate a proper warrior to train against quite hopeless.
Yujiro was a man of action, a man that needed to 'pressure' a little his hands, his legs, his feet, his fist.
He was born to fight, he was groomed to fight, he was bathed by the fight itself.
"This… is a funny place." The Ogre finally replied with a calm tone, his attention mostly taken by the immensity that was this massive, 'new' world all around him.
Who would have thought that mythological beasts and monsters were a real thing? That there were beings that went beyond the limits imposed upon humans and turned into impossible individuals.
And so the Hanma Patriarch felt… giddy about it. To be granted new challenges worth of his attention, to be lured in this mighty path and…
His son was also there and he looked much stronger than their last encounter.
What could a father and a warrior ask more from life?
"I heard that your woman and her mother survived what happened in Tokyo." Yujiro finally commented, his words lingering for a while before he continued. "I'm glad."
A scowl was restrained in Baki's face, denying him the same laid-back nature the brat had developed in the last few years. A proper man of battle, someone capable of becoming his true replacement when the world would demand a new 'Strongest Man' to fill up after his death.
Words were also being kept inside within the boy's lips, an attempt to deny a note of defiance… while giving a silent one instead.
Slightly infuriating in a normal circumstance, but the situation was far from normal.
A threat, a fish bigger than anything Yujiro could ever try to match in terms of power. Death was a natural element for men, an unknown factor that none could challenge nor avoid as it loomed over all of them.
Yet Azrael wasn't Death Itself, but rather a harbinger of the dreadful demise of all. He was tangible, beatable to a certain point and something that gave hope to the two leaders of the groups.
Hoitsu… He could see why his son would follow him, why he would swear fealty to this individual.
The boy, his age close to Baki's, ruled his posture in a charming but authoritarian tone, something that would technically enrage the old Hanma as it would make him a primal opponent… but he didn't attack nor planned to.
There was no arrogance in his posture, only appropriate confidence.
It sent him chills down his spine, matching sight with the young man. The raw power hidden behind those eyes… it was exciting as unnerving.
His blood was boiling in intrigue, begging for some real challenge and… Yujiro restrained himself just this time.
While he would have indulged in his usual needs, the predicament would hardly favor him for several instances, mostly because people could have mistaken his 'craving' as something a little more 'planned'.
Something that could be 'forgiven' to a certain extent, but fighting people that could easily break him apart? He had to train harder from now on and... maybe the presence of Baki would put an end to this minor torture he was dealing with.
The Ogre just needed to wait and then, maybe, he could have the brat fighting against him.
Not a serious fight, they were no longer determined to either preserve or deny the title of 'Strongest Man', but rather a Father-Son spar.
His grin widened, causing the young Hanma to tense at the sudden change of expression, no matter how small it might have been for many.
"You got yourself some interesting friends too." The older Hanma commented once more, this time his grin turning in a small smile as he glanced around the table, causing some to shiver in response.
"Yes. Those are my friends." Baki replied with the same calm tone, reminding the parent that his child was indeed protective of his 'friends'.
Yujiro's eyes were once more on him, delighted by the snappy comeback. "Oh? And did you have fun?"
"Plenty." The dry response, meant to be perceived as a slap was taken with a mirthful stride. It was just like back then when they last fought and… his entire body itched for a fight after so long!
"That's good to know."
This sure looked to become a very… amusing predicament for sure.
Kahlua ignored glancing at her father, Issa looking as calm as he would usually appear as he matched glares with her other daughter.
Akua was confused and her confusion was quickly turned in anger at the prospect that the only parent she was left with would now betray them… like Gyokuro.
It's been a month now since they had to deal with a traitorous mother, the oldest daughter was rightfully concerned about her sister's state of mind at this predicament.
Father should have been back home to deal with the pretenders and with the men that once worked with Fairy Tale and the woman that tried and failed to become her mother.
Only an individual could be considered as such, someone that had the most of her respect even beyond death and that Akua hoped had found some happiness on the other side.
"You shouldn't be here, father," She finally pointed out, her tone painfully cold. A strange reaction, having been at ease for so long has left her unable to properly face these tense situations with the same cool mind as just the previous month.
Was she getting too soft? Should she request from Hoitsu some time to spend alone to hone her personality back to an acceptable level? Would it even be alright by the young man's standards?
"In a normal scenario, no. I shouldn't have been here." The Vampire patriarch agreed, showing some strange hesitation to continue to answer. "But something incredibly dangerous has just risen from the grave and… we all need to cooperate right now." He admitted, letting out a tired sight.
The Black Deva was surprised by the bluntness of her father's voice, intrigued by what could have motivated the man to pursue an alliance with Rizevim of all people.
"Why?" She pressed on, her lips dripping some of the curiosity in her words much to her dismay and Issa's surprise.
"There is a… terrible threat preparing to strike." The Shuzen confided quietly, blinking for a moment and then he continued. "A threat more dangerous than Alucard and his subjects. Something… older and far more sinister that could seriously destroy everything."
The girl blinked, trying to make sense of the cryptic tone her father had now adopted, more similar to his usual self. "Is that the angel? Azrael-"
"Azrael is but the emissary of something worse." He interrupted with a strong voice. "Lucifer might be a name feared for apparently no reason, but it was his unique power and last prophecy that got every being from Hell, Heaven, and Earth to be wary of this figure."
"A… A prophecy?" Kahlua finally spoke, seemingly recovering from the shock.
The blonde had long started to gain control over her emotions and while the current results were good to know about, the possibility of having her face another frenzy was…
Unacceptable.
"It is considered a prophecy by those that survived the conflict but it's more known as a 'promise' from the first Devil before he perished in the Great War, a promise made by spite and absolute domination," Issa replied, not even bothering hiding his little fear at what was going on.
A prophecy? There were numerous kinds of prophecies and… this one mattered the most?
Why would Azrael even want to have Lucifer reborn? Wasn't the Devil representing the very semblance of Rebellion against Heaven?
"There is more..." The dark-haired girl deduced. "Father, we have to know-"
"And I will be happy to give you more information." The man interrupted once more, a small smile plastered on his face. "I had long thought about bringing Moka and the others to this… situation, but I decided against it because I knew that they would have gotten endangered and after what happened back with Alucard… we can't risk their lives."
The former nodded at the decision, approving the line of thought and exposing the idea behind it.
If the rest of the family was to join, then so would the friends her sisters gained over their time at the Yokai Gakuen, further bringing inexperienced or weak elements that could be either hurt or killed.
And that regret wasn't something that the oldest of the Shuzen siblings could truly accept to herself.
Moka and the rest of her sisters were enjoying peace after so much time of tension and dangers, it was time to… make Akashiya proud after her last disappearance.
A promise of keeping all of them safe, to never let any threat ever come close to them and…
Akua was the oldest sibling and thus… she was to shoulder the proper burdens to protect her family.
It was her duty, it was her honor and… it was her wish!
A wish that was blessed by her very soul, something that could make up for the horrible deeds she committed against Moka and Kokoa.
A nod came from Kahlua, surprising the other two vampires.
"I'm going to… redeem myself after what happened back with t-that man." The girl muttered, eyes steeling in a strong glance. "I'm going to help."
"It will be a dangerous path-" Issa tried to warn his child, but the girl wasn't done yet.
"T-That I want to walk willingly, Papa." She interrupted with a sterner tone, eyes twitching in annoyance. "Akua-nee, Hoitsu, Kunou, Koneko and… the others! They all were there to help the poor people in Tokyo and… and I did so little."
She closed her eyes, tears flooding for a moment while a sob escaped her lips. "I want to fight, I want to protect them. I want to protect everyone… e-even if I have to kill Azrael with my bare-hands!"
Mob's eyes were fixed on the clear form of one Keiji Mogami.
The man's body looked… tangible. It certainly didn't seem the confusing mess of shadows that he had to face when the spirit had tried to steal Minori Asajiri's body and… commit murders.
A powerful Esper before dying, Mogami was the sole being that managed to survive the full wrath of the '?' Form, close to matching it before he got blasted away from both Mob's and Minori's mindscapes.
He looked… normal. A plain-looking dark-haired man with untreated face-hair and a tired look in his eyes… yet he looked almost happy to be there.
An odd sight for sure.
"Mob-kun, do you know him?" Teru was the first one that asked about the figure, possibly recognizing the hidden power inside the man but failing to recognize him.
15%
Only Dimple and Shigeo within the group knew about Mogami, maybe also Shu but the boy seemed to be mostly… tense. The orange-haired youth was boring his eyes onto the older Esper, trying to understand the limits of his powers as… he felt as strong, if not stronger than his father.
"I think you wish to understand why I'm here, Shigeo-kun." The Esper mused quietly, staring at the ceiling. "And I will be quite honest and say that it has to do with someone that could erase everything with a mere snap of fingers."
S-So blunt, the boy thought quietly as his eyes widened just a little. There was someone that strong? A-And everything? Did it mean that his parents, Ritsu, sensei, and the others were all going to die?
27%
"And I would ask that you restrain yourself right now, just as everyone else is doing while our leaders speak." The man continued to talk, pointing out the fact the teen was starting to feel… nervous. "I understand your shock and your worries, but if you cause any situation here, the threat could hardly be beaten. We need everyone in this large group to join up against Azrael."
30%
An improvement, the increase has slowed down a little. Mogami carefully noticed, trying to mask his features to not reveal his intrigue and interest in being given a second chance to live.
While as a malignant spirit he could invade strong being's consciousnesses, the extreme limitation that was placed on his powers rendered him unable to properly fight material beings in a normal instance.
When Rizevim approached him, trying to recruit him in that ridiculous group of his, part of him wanted to shred the bastard for even trying to annoy him with this crap.
'The world could end because of some 'Lucifer' dude trying to reset it altogether'? What a bunch of silly notions!
He did try to probe and invade the Devil's mind, curious about the man's mental defenses and…
Mogami was let in. A normal host wouldn't normally be able to properly pull a spirit within their mind and the sight he was gifted with was the worst thing he had ever seen.
An endless cycle. There was an endless cycle that ensured the continuation of life at the cost of proliferating hate and other negative emotions within the timeline.
Concepts that weren't known to the spirit started to flood his mind and soon he was given a clear sight of what was going to happen if Lucifer was given the chance of being resurrected.
A full reboot. No more life and the complete erasure of the entire dimension.
Tabula Rasa, the nothingness devouring what was still alive in the discarded timeline.
The recently-gained interest in keeping humanity safe where he could was what got Mogami to truly trust the smiling Devil and he was suddenly rewarded with a real rebirth.
His body was slightly stronger, the devilish side of his new material presence also reinforcing his psychic powers to a degree that got him… to an equal level of the youth before him.
Mob had grown too, his powers increasing once more and… he was impressed by the progress made after so much time had passed since he had last seen the boy.
The shy teen seemed to have some more control over his potential, something that helped in avoiding explosive escalations in situations like this one.
Diplomacy was important in this particular case and Shigeo knew better than attacking first. Something that also helped the man in deciding how to interact with the very inspiration that rekindled his neutrality regarding mankind.
"Alas, I think I have to say something important..." Mogami commented dully, before slowly bowing towards Mob. "I think I've to apologize for having harmed you and your friend back then, Shigeo-kun."
The boy blinked surprised plastered on his face as the man appeared quite… genuine.
31%
"He… he is not a spirit anymore, Mob-kun." Dimple pointed out, breaking away from his cowering state as he finally realized that the former enemy wasn't seeking to inflict them any pain.
But how could one stop being a spirit? There was only death after abandoning that meta-physical state.
Yet Mogami's hand was now ruffling his hair, causing his eyes to widen even more.
"You know, you are indeed glowing when you are flaring your power." The man mused quietly, sporting a small smile. "Just like Lilith said… you do have some pretty lights."
Pretty lights?
Shigeo's mind was quickly reminded of the fact it was Ophis that began calling like that.
A little blush spread on his face and…
29%
He tried to regain some more control. Hoitsu-senpai had told him about the importance of those talks and thus… he will do that for the order. N-Nothing else.
Meanwhile, the man noticed the embarrassment-induced red tint in the boy's cheek and he remembered that the young Esper did have a love interest back when he first fought him… but she was nowhere nearby.
Could it be that… the boy got a new love interest?
Who could it be and… why did it happen at the mentioning of 'Pretty Lights'?
Fragment of a Broken Cycle: Tertium Adventus Apocalypsis
Timeline: (Broken Trickster DxD)
Kuoh Town was a… desolate city.
Gone was the noises of people living happily all around, the mirthful presence of children either walking to school and playing by the local park, the cars moving through the streets…
It was an empty wasteland abandoned by those that survived that infamous day, one that now sported a… large crater were once was Kuoh Academy and the nearby city block.
Memories of the aftermath of that disaster flashed momentarily, dragging me to a stop as I decided to walk around rather than flying.
I didn't need to get the attention of those monitoring the area, lest they would get some more fodders to increase my inglorious kill streak.
And albeit my main objective was hell itself, I still had to find something incredibly important before leaving, an object that was entrusted to me days after my… first mission.
It was important, it couldn't be lost.
Wandering through the ghost town was the best way to remind me of the peaceful sight it once had before I unleashed it.
I should have been more careful- but it also rekindled the hope of breaking through the monotonous cycle of hatred Azrael perpetrated with Lucifer.
Horrible deeds, so horrible that I could see them walking around. Students, I could remember every face. I blamed Azrael's soul cursing me with the perfect images of the people I had killed in that awakening.
I should have been more careful- but now the strings were cut and the chance of a new path was bestowed to me!
I managed to reach back where I once lived, the mansion looking as abandoned as were the other houses around the district… but my keen eyes were quick to pick up the numerous powerful magical traps set all around the perimeter of the building.
A minor annoyance as those traps were of the explosive kind and thus some quick athletic actions were required from my part to avoid being blown to smithereens. I wriggled my way through the small courtyard, stopping a moment to deal with a nasty complex seal that secured the entire door.
Breaking it took me a few minutes, but I managed to get in safely and… I was greeted with a silent and dark lounge.
Memories hit the strongest the moment I took the first step in that creaky wooden floor. My eyes twitched as tears swelled up forcing me to stop a moment to regain some control over myself.
I-I can't stop.
I nodded and slowly took another step before-
Something hit me on the back, I tried to turn around with my eyes wide open and trying to catch my aggressor and… I saw green hair before I was forced unconscious.
Issei had looked nervous, I knew that something was off about today.
I could feel Rias' energy reacting negatively with… some unknown patterns.
Two strong ones, maybe those were Grayfia and Sirzechs?
No, it was too early for them to appear. I might have been detached from the school's life quite recently, but I knew that it was too early for Raiser to do a move now of all times.
It was someone else, my instincts screaming for me to push the pace up and see what was going on.
I was feeling like crap after two full days spent mourning, spent resting and trying to get myself up.
Something rumbled within myself, tuned with my anger, but I was sure it was my Magic reacting strongly to my emotional distress.
I-I could have saved them- To think that the Khaos Brigade could move that quickly to-
N-No, I had to focus on the present right now.
I reached Kuoh Academy, my sensor ability pinpointing the two energies staying by the roof and, knowing that time was essential, I decided to make use of the Silver Lining and climb the wall.
Easier said than done, the task ended up leaving me with aching shoulders as my strength was… missing.
I jumped over the small metallic gates that covered the roof and landed calmly while trying to figure out what was going on.
Eyes going wide suddenly, I barely dodged an electrical attack from… Yubelluna?
The queen of the Phenex bastard frowned at my quick dodge, surprised by my reflexed and…
I saw Diodora. The Asmodeus was staring at Asia's face until I showed up, a small pout adorning his face as I prepared to the worst day of my life.
How did Raiser get Asia? How did he-
My blood turned cold as I finally got a full sight over the roof, panic subsiding just a moment as I found myself staring at…
Rias, Akeno, Kiba and… Koneko.
My stance faltered just a moment at seeing the silver-haired girl, the Rook flinching at my hurt look but not daring to meet my stare.
This was my only mistake.
I gasped as a fist slammed through my stomach, my eyes turning to the smiling bastard and… I felt a coppery taste filling my mouth.
"To think I would find a stray magician and… such a familiar one too." He tilted his head, showing morbid amusement at my suffering. "Using that string spell, am I talking to the trash that condemned Tokyo?"
M-Motherfucker!
Anger continued to swell even more at the pain, at the sense of betrayal, at the panicked look on Asia's face and… I saw a silver blur-
That was stabbed by one of Diodora's Knights.
Koneko's eyes went wide in sudden shock at the pain, the sword stabbing through her upper chest and… she fell on the ground, starting to bleed profusely. She didn't get up, she didn't get up.
"Oh ho~? Another child falling victim of the cursed magician?" The Asmodeus commented mirthfully. "One could say that your life is indeed tragic. To lose everything so quickly."
A laugh followed after that, one that struck all the sane chords I had left in my poor tired soul.
I felt something snap viciously and soon… I had 'clarity'.
The laugh was interrupted by a gasp from the Devil, backing away from me as he stared at his hands… now missing two fingers.
I crunched hard and I felt energy increase within my body, my core close to exploding in raw power as I noticed every single member of Diodora's peerage…
But those weren't important.
I slowly limped towards the bleeding girl and crouched beside her, turning her around and giving myself a full sight over the wound.
The blood… it was dark-purplish. Poison.
"S-Senpai-"
"Don't speak, Ko-chan." I tried to apply basic healing spells on the wound, trying to get it to close and to purge the poisonous content out of her body.
"I-I'm sorry- I sh-shouldn't have."
"It's not your time, Ko-chan, j-just hold on." Her hands grasped at mine, pulling them away from her chest and stopping the spells.
"Y-You were the- the best." She coughed blood, her hold weakening and then… her eyes lost focus. Her hands fell lifeless out of mine and I felt an icy storm brew in my chest.
NONONONONONONONONONONONONOOOOOOOOOO!
I felt both Diodora's and Raiser's Knights rushing behind me, ready to hit me but…
It was too late for them all. There wouldn't have been mercy for no one.
I swung around with my arm slamming onto all of them, energy coating the limb as it cut through blades and flesh. The Knights were all cleaved in half, shock painted in Raiser's members while Diodora's sported only mild-surprise.
How pitiful…
The rest of the two peerages jumped in action, all failing to even come close to kill me.
Burned, cut, shattered and broken. There was no hesitation as I felt like I was hit blank dummies, my morality completely gone as I continued to massacre the helpless fools.
So pathetic!
Finally, the group was reduced to a scared Diodora, Raiser, Asia, Rias, and Akeno.
Both Devil girls looked absolutely terrified, while a horrified look was stuck in the blonde's face.
"H-Hoitsu?"
I blinked back to reality as I discovered the murder in the making. My hands were covered in blood that wasn't mine.
I blinked again, this time focusing on Asia and… nodded. "P-Phenex, release the girl. NOW!"
Raiser was pale, not only was his peerage was dead… but I-I killed Ravel too.
The once-arrogant bastard nodded shakily, letting go of the human girl and… I started to fight back the impulse of continuing the rampage.
Koneko is dead.
B-But Asia-
Like it happened to Kunou.
I- I can't-
Are you going to let the monsters go away to sow more deaths?
"H-Hoitsu-nii, l-let me help." The former nun crouched down to help me.
I was… on my knees? Wh-When did it happen?
I could feel Twilight Healing, the effects pushing away the demonic presence drilling inside of me, painfully trying to break free from my control and…
A moment I was staring at a pair of cerulean eyes… and then she fell on the floor as a lance had pierced through her thighs.
I stood quiet, eyes fixed on Asia's corpse as she softly lulled away from life itself, away from the pain that afflicted her.
Heaven was her best bet. She was too kind to not have that…
"S-She is mine! MINE! You can't just take he-"
Diodora couldn't finish the sentence, his head rolling off his head without hesitation as I felt the dam shattering without mercy.
"Why- Why everything here has to die… like this? Why when I try to make things better, I get this shitty outcome. Why are you even here, you fucking bastard?! WHY DID YOU TWO HELP KONEKO!?"
Rias didn't reply, a red sphere manifesting in her palms as I narrowed my unholy sight over her.
"Death is your sweet wish? FINE BY ME!"
The Power of Destruction tried to reach for me, the aim was a bit off but it would have been quick and accurate enough to kill me…
In a normal situation.
Instead of letting the energy hit me, I decided to grace it with my own.
The anger that until now had been growing and growing… finally peaked, the zenith flashing brightly as I felt a powerful release.
KA-BOOM!
I was blinded by the light, but the explosion was powerful enough to rip apart the entire school, destroy the nearby district and…
I roared hungrily and painfully.
I AM FREE!
"So that is… why you became like this?" Ajuka asked softly, my fist having gone through his abdomen as the Satan tried and failed to pull away.
I blinked, shocked at what has just happened and… by how things had turned out while I was 'distracted'.
"W-What- WHY?!"
The green-haired Devil coughed. "I… I needed to know." He replied tiredly. "T-There was something that was missing- something was off from Sirzechs' words and… now I know why."
He chuckled, stopping mere instants after initiating that action to cough again. "Y-You were- You are the victim."
I blinked, keeping quiet as the man continued to speak.
"You- You plan to storm Hell… Y-you want to get to it, aren't you?"
My eyes widened a bit and I nodded slowly. "It's the only way-"
"To save everything." He sighed, tiredly after interrupting me. "To think that… we were stuck in that loop… for Gods' know how much…"
His hands moved to drop two small objects in my free palm. "O-One is the seal to reach t-the Underworld. The other i-is what you wanted in this house… I think."
I blinked, glancing at the two objects. One was a piece of paper with a complex magical rune and the other was… a red-tinted lucky charm.
I stared a little longer at the small object.
*The legacy of a mother and a daughter.
My attention shifted moments later as I heard a loud thud surprising me as… I found the Beelzebub now fallen on the floor, his body… lifeless as blood continued to spurt out of his large wound.
I closed my palm, squeezing comfortably both objects. A large green-colored magical seal appeared underneath me and I was teleported away from my house, away from the insanity that has just happened.
Blinking, I frowned at the massive gates before me.
It was… Hell. It was closed off, guards patrolling around while flying and failing to take notice of me.
My eyes were fixed on the gates as I walked towards them, my mind sticking to a simple but important thought.
Time for a break-in… and let us end this story once and for all.
AN
I had to write the death of four of the characters I love the most from this show…
I am sad but also… happy for what I got out of it.
I wanted to have BT!Hoitsu to have some real reasons, this timeline being the cruelest of them all.
The Lucky Charm will have an important role when he will reappear after the last bit of Fragment of a Broken Past.
See? Fluff and Drama, I can… do both.
Lastly, if you reckon, I didn't put Sapphire and the 'Castlevania crew' input. That is going to happen next chapter.
EDIT: Yesterday I forgot to check for grammar errors and I decided to see how things were- let's just say that now there should be less... problems reading this chapter.
Future milestone 1: 900 Followers and Favorites.
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REVIEW Q&A!
Arclight001: I think, including Maria (I don't know if that would be wise of me tho), there are now Four Chibis.
XxxxxadisxxxXX: The sad thing of this review is that the specific chapter was done with Grammarly, so yes, I think I am not the one wrong here, bud.
Darkmaster10000000: I bet this whole chapter was scarier than that.
Scrumblenut: There is a genuine threat within the real world, a 'canon' one and… then there is a train-wreck coming in hot!
SoSlimShady: If you kept reading for a while, you would have learned that I stopped with the X-overs. Too bad, I guess.