Well, there will be a very surprising twist at the end of this chapter that's not in the game. Everyone read and review!

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Ragnarok Core

Zero stands in the outside of the Ragnarok Core next to the hole made by his attack. "Agh! I can't stop the descent!"

"Zero! Ragnarok is reaching critical speed! If it goes any faster, I won't be able to get you back!"

"Hehehe, this isn't over yet!" Weil floats up from the hole in the wall with his helmet destroyed and a badly damaged body.

"Weil!"

"Hehehe… Bwahahaha! I told you… I can't die! Nobody can stop Ragnarok now!"

"Z-Zero! There's no time! Get back here!" Ciel's voice starts to become unclear from the speed of Ragnarok's descent.

"No, there is no way. If I destroy Weil's core, the explosion will take Ragnarok out with it… If Ragnarok is blown apart, it no longer poses a threat!"

"But what about you?"

"Bwahahaha! Are you even capable of it!? The reploid hero… Protecting justice and humanity! I am one of those humans you were sworn to protect! Do you have it in you to defeat me!?"

Several cords start to plug into Weil's back. A huge flash blinds Zero momentarily and Weil becomes a much larger monstrous version. What is that!? He's barely human anymore. Weil's head is in the center of the monstrosity with two horns. One huge horn protects Weil and the other one above his head.

"I've completely merged with Ragnarok! Let's see you try to take me down now. You have ten minutes until Ragnarok crashes into Earth, if you're lucky, you might still be alive to see the world end."

"I never cared about justice, and I don't recall every calling myself a hero… I always only fought for the people I believe in. I won't hesitate… If an enemy appears in front of me, I will destroy it!"

"Zero! Zero!" Ciel calls out his name through the communicator.

"Ciel… Believe in me!"

"Zeroooo!!!" The communicator loses its signal as Ciel calls Zero's name. Zero turns to face Weil and draws his blue Z-Saber. Something's stopping me from transforming in this form. I'll have to just defeat Weil like this!

Zero charges at Weil and fires his Z-Buster, but Weil's barrier/horn completely stops the attack. I need to find a way to get through his guard! Time is running out. Weil lowers his barrier as spikes start to come out of it.

Weil aims at Zero and fires. Zero manages to jump over the attack and slash at Weil. The attack reaches the end and moves back to Weil. Weil puts up his barrier as he waits for Zero to make a move.

I can't do anything with that guard up, I need to wait for another chance. Weil forms a strong current of wind and sucks Zero closer to him. Zero tries to dash out of the way, but Weil launches a light purple rotating crystal. The crystal fires four spike projectiles in a cross patter, one of them hitting Zero. The crystal fires another set of spikes, this time in an x pattern, piercing Zero in the leg.

"You've got nine minutes left, Zero. It seems that you won't have the pleasure of seeing the world end." Zero stands up and faces Weil.

"The world won't end. I won't let it end!" Zero feels himself being pulled towards Weil again and manages to avoid contact with Weil's guard. Weil lowers the guard and launches a large orange beam right above Zero. Weil lowers the beam, slamming Zero onto the ground. He follows up with another beam going upwards, hitting Zero again.

"Is that the best you can do?" Zero stands up again as he coughs out blood from his mouth. I only managed to hit him once! Only nine more minutes left, I have to defeat him!

Weil raises his guard again as Zero gets up. Weil lowers his guard as Zero gets closer. Weil launches three large red spheres at Zero. Zero lets out a charged saber at Weil, attacking the spheres as well. The three spheres split into three smaller spheres each and hit Zero on every part of his body.

Weil puts his guard back up and pierces Zero's arm in the process, knocking him up into the air and back down. This isn't good. I'm getting damaged too much. There has to be some way to win!

"Hehehe, eight minutes left, Zero. It doesn't look like you or anyone else will be able to escape the wrath of Ragnarok!" Two green portals appear and two bombsects come out. Wait, I can use those to get through Weil's guard… Zero destroys one bombsect with his Z-Saber and grabs onto the other one with his Z-Knuckle.

Zero throws the newly acquired bomb over Weil's shield, exploding on Weil. "GRAGH! I'll make you pay for that, Zero!" A blue sphere appears above Zero and fires a number of blue orbs on the ground. Zero manages to dodge the attack as Weil lowers his guard.

Weil starts charging up and launches an orange blast in the air. He lowers it as Zero dashes, avoiding the attack. Weil stops and charges again. Zero fires a charged Z-Buster shot, sending an ice javelin at Weil. Weil gets hit multiple times and then launches the blast at ground level. Zero manages to jump and grab onto Weil's upper horn to avoid the attack while firing his Z-Buster at Weil.

I think I should be able to keep this up. I just have to be careful not to get caught off guard. Weil lowers his guard and fires three crimson spheres at Zero. Zero dashes in front of Weil and slashes him with the spheres. He executes a blazing uppercut attack to destroy the smaller nine balls and damage Weil again.

Just a bit more… Weil brings his guard up, piercing Zero's armor on the way. Ugh! My movements have been cut by that attack. My right leg can barely move.

"Nice try, Zero. You've gotten better, but time is running out. Seven minutes." Weil charges up and lowers his horn, firing the orange blast. Zero barely manages to duck and avoid the attack. Weil fires again, this time hitting Zero and sending him back.

I can't keep up like this for long. I need to take him down! Weil lowers his guard as spikes come out of it. He fires it at Zero and pierces him. Zero fires an ice javelin at Weil and manages to avoid the attack as it comes back.

Two green portals appear and two bombsects come out again. Zero manages to destroy one of the centipede mechaniloid with his Z-Saber and grab another one with the Z-Knuckle. He throws the bomb at Weil, going over the guard and damaging him.

"I'll destroy you now, Zero! I've had about enough of you!" Weil lowers his guards and green hexagonal webs start to appear everywhere. Zero manages to cut one but another one appears in his location and ensnares him. I can't move!

The web moves Zero to the center of the screen as Weil starts charging up his beam. "It's all over now, Zero!" I can't lose like this… The blast makes impact with Zero as Weil chuckles. "Hehehe, the legendary hero is no more…"

"What!?" The blast clears to show a dark purple aura. "What is this darkness!?" The aura clears to show Zero with a black armor. "Is this… the ultimate form of the original Zero!?"

"I won't live you get out of this place alive, Weil!" Weil lowers his horn and green hexagonal webs start to appear everywhere again. Zero grabs another saber and starts jumping towards Weil while slashing in mid air.

Zero destroys any web close by and slashes at Weil before moving back. Weil raises his guard again, but Zero teleports out of the way. "You've got six minutes left, Zero. You can't defeat, even with that form!"

Zero charges up electricity through his right arm and launches a long blue saber, piercing through Weil's guard and hitting him. "What!?"

"Your guard won't protect from my attacks anymore!" Weil lowers the guard and fires the laser again. Zero teleports upwards and dives down with a freezing saber attack, damaging Weil.

"Give up, Weil, you've been defeated." Weil charges up for another blast, but Zero dashes and slashes at Weil before jumping up and hanging onto the upper horn. Zero fires a couple of rounds from his Z-Buster before jumping down.

"Hehehe… I've still got one surprise left." Weil starts to chant something as a white light appears in front of him.

"It's over now!" Zero runs towards Weil as the white light solidifies. Zero stops right away and freezes completely. "Ciel!?"

"Please, Zero, stop Ragnarok."

"What is this, Weil!?" Weil just chuckles at Zero's confusion. "This isn't Ciel, it's just another trick."

"It may be a trick, Zero, but this clone has the same personality, voice, and characteristics. It's a perfect clone. Can you kill this Ciel, even if it is a clone!?" Zero grabs onto his Z-Saber but drops it when he looks into Ciel's eyes.

-----Flashback-----

Zero's saber pierces through Iris as she coughs out blood. "IRIS!"

"Zero, I wanted to live in a world where reploids could live in peace… I'm sorry… Zero." Iris closes her eyes as Zero tries to shake her.

"IRIS!" Tears come out of Zero's eyes as the brown reploid doesn't respond. "This won't happen again. I won't kill someone that I care for…"

-----End Flashback-----

"Well, Zero, what are you going to do now? Are you going to go through her to get to me?" I can't do this… Even if she isn't Ciel, I can't kill her… "Hehehe, that's what I thought."

Weil fires a beam at Zero, knocking him down. Zero's armor transforms back to the way it was at the beginning of the first fight with Weil. I can't fight him like this. I've already spent all my energy… Ciel…

Zero looks at the clone and draws his blade. "I'm sorry, but I have to do this!" Zero charges at the clone, but Weil pierces him with his guard before he could bring his blade down.

"What's the matter, Zero? Can't you put your heart into killing someone who looks like someone you care for?" Weil laughs evilly as Zero tries to get up. "You've got six minutes left, Zero. I'll just finish you off right now, pity you won't be able to see everyone you care for die!"

Weil summons three crimson spheres at Zero. Zero tries to get up, but the Ciel clone grabs onto his Z-Saber and pierces his shoulder to the floor, forcing him down. This is nothing like Ciel.

The three crimson spheres close in on Zero as he braces for impact. "GOSPEL BLAST!" A purple beam rips through the spheres and the Ciel clone, saving Zero.

"Forte!? What are you doing here!?"

"Surprised to see me recovered from our battle, huh? You're pathetic, Zero. You couldn't even bring yourself to destroy a worthless copy. You didn't have any trouble destroying Copy X." Forte gets out his buster as he looks at Weil. "Go home, Zero. This one's mine."

"I have a score to settle with him!"

"I said go back! You're in no condition to fight him." Zero tries to stand back up as Forte chuckles. "If that's how you really feel, then I guess I have no choice."

"ARGGH!!!" Zero could barely tell what hit him as Forte's saber rips through his armor, almost shutting him down completely. "Why… Forte?" Zero faints from the exhaustion as Forte points his buster at him.

"You're not needed here, Zero. Disappear." A white light comes out of Forte's buster, surrounding Zero. The white light fades, leaving no trace of Zero.

"Well, looks like someone else wants to play the hero." Weil chuckles as he looks at the black robot. "What's your reason for being here?"

"That's easy, if I defeat you, then I'll prove that I'm stronger than Zero and X. Now, Weil, let's begin."

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So, how many of you guys saw that coming? Zero's such a softie, isn't he? Anyways, there will be one more chapter and an epilogue before I start the sequel in the ZX universe.