*Camera turns on*
*In front of the camera is M3, Ice, and Alma. Gene can also be seen, but he's talking to M3 about something.*
M3: "So, you know what you need to do, right?"
Gene: "Yes boss, I'll go make sure to double check the studio...again."
*Gene leaves and M3 looks over to his co-commentators.*
M3: "Are you two ready?"
IceBite: "Yeah...I guess…"
Alma: *nods*
M3: "Good...Cause the camera's already on…" *Cues Ice to start the introduction*
IceBite: "Huh? Oh! Uhm… … …"
Alma: *sighs and chuckles* "Hello everybody, and welcome back…"
IceBite: *blushes a little* "Oh, uhm...yeah, that…"
M3: "We got a new chapter of Dimensional Awakening ready to go."
Alma: "Due to recent events, the usual commentators for this story are not available to commentate…"
M3: "So that's why me and Ice are doing the commentary...along with a new first timer, Miss Alma Fayth." *Points toward Alma.*
Alma: *nods* "I'm mainly here because IceBite's still recovering somewhat from the incident that caused the usual commentators to be unavailable...he's just not as bad as one of them is…"
M3: "And as much as we would like to talk about that in detail...We actually don't want to do that at this time."
M3: "Last time, DP Mitchell and ZS Connor in the story just got done clearing out the ruins above ground..."
Alma: "...Only to discover Chaos Forces in the innards of the ruins…"
M3: "Not to mention that someone is already fighting them…"
Alma: "That someone using Tau Technology…"
IceBite: *nods*
M3: "So...We'll see what happens next...as one of us starts the chapter."
IceBite: *nods, and starts the chapter*
*Chapter 10 starts.*
Chapter 10: Chaos Neverending
"...This many Chaos...here?!" Daniel squeaked. "It'll take too long for the Astral Knights to get here…Not to mention some of my other allies who might be able to take these guys…" He then noticed who was at the head. "And a CHAOS LORD...of COURSE! As if things weren't bad ENOUGH!"
Connor looked at the cultists, before whispering something over to Olivia.
"Wait...Are you sure that's...a good idea? I'm...not exactly prepared to use 'that'." Olivia answered back.
Connor whispered back again, this time for a bit longer before he grabbed out his Norfleet launcher and handed it to Olivia.
The dancer held onto the weapon as Connor suggested, but it was easy to see that she wasn't holding it very steady.
"Hey Daniel...You may want to get someone to help whoever's out there to move…" Connor said as he looked at that Tau battlesuit ahead of them.
"I shall handle it," stated Ash'pur, who returned to the rest of the group in his own Battlesuit. Those who looked at the two battlesuits would be able to find some odd resemblance between the two (barring the currently-fighting battlesuit's wartorn and ill-maintained appearance). "For this appears to be a fellow warrior of the Farsight Enclaves, if the color and emblems on the armor are any indication…" Then, the jets on Ash'pur's battlesuit activated, lifting him off the ledge, and propelling him towards the battle, where he already began to rain plasma fire on the enemy.
The battlesuit already in the thick of things seemed to freeze for a short period of time there, before continuing to engage the enemy.
While that went on, Connor pulled out a larger rocket launcher out of his storage. It was mainly green in color, except near the front. That was colored with red, white, and blue in a pattern looking like an American flag…
Except that the flag wasn't the normal one. It had 13 stars in a circle around a larger star. For those who knew that design, (that only being Connor and somewhat, Daniel), it was clear what the launcher was...The Red Glare.
Meanwhile, Ash'pur spotted the duo of Connor and Olivia getting launchers ready, and turned to his counterpart. "Fellow Fire Warrior, we must get moving! Our allies ready to strike as we speak!"
The other battlesuit nodded. "Alright…"
Ash'pur nodded back, but he thought, 'That sounded like a Gue'la...And why is his Battlesuit so ill-maintained?... … ...Unless… … …' Ash'pur's thoughts halted there, as he began leading his counterpart away from the battle…
With the area clear, Connor told Olivia, "Fire on my mark. 3...2...1…"
Olivia held her breath as she made sure to keep her body steady.
"FIRE!" Connor yelled. Olivia pulled the trigger on her launcher and felt the recoil push her back as the trio of rockets flew out.
The trio of slag rockets soar and exploded just short of their targets. The slag splashed and coated up every cultist in its range, along with a few marines.
Then Connor held the trigger on his launcher. Small red rockets shot out very fast as they collided with the slagged enemies. The explosions took out any cultist caught within them as the last rocket in the clip was fired out.
Once the smoke cleared, Connor expected everyone he hit to be dead and lying on the ground in pieces…
"RAH! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"
"INFECT AND FESTER!"
"WE SEEK PERFECTION IN WAR!"
"..."
What Connor wasn't counting on was the Chaos Space Marines.
"Oh come on! That would have killed anyone in typical Power Armor!" Connor complained.
"That ain't 'typical Power Armor'...not the kind you're thinking of…" Daniel replied, "Fully Sealed, thick Ceramite Plates, and strength augmentation that'd put Halo Power Armor to shame…There's a REASON Warhammer 40K is considered one of the most ridiculously overpowered franchises in existence…"
"I see your point...By the way, you do remember everyone else here doesn't know what you know…" Connor hinted out.
"Well, I was talking to you about that, anyways...either way, I don't have time to explain, since we need to deal with this threat now… … …" Daniel replied. He growled. "If only I left more than Tempestus Scions and Guardsmen aboard the Sumus…" he muttered to himself.
"What was that about scions and guards...and something about 'Sumus'?" Connor asked, not sure what he barely heard.
Daniel just waved him off. "Nothing that needs worried about...won't help us in this circumstance, anyways…" he replied.
"Then what is going to help us? Cause I see a bunch of chaotic soldiers over that need to be dealt with." Connor bluntly said back.
"Chaos soldiers...Chaos is a threat that isn't to be taken lightly...S-O-P for the Imperium when dealing with Chaos Threats is city-busting, if not continent-busting, weapons…" Daniel replied, "Needless to say, I don't prescribe to Imperial Standard Operating Procedures…"
"Then how about we kindly ask these 'fine soldiers' to go to the nearest city, which I'll then pull out my keys to a secret death laser and fire it on them...Oh wait, I forgot the keys...That I never had because no one here has access to something so powerful!" Connor sarcastically said.
"Uhm...yeah...sure…" Daniel replied, a tad nervously.
"... ...I swear… …" Connor holds back from saying more in that breath. "For the last time, IS there anything you or anyone else can do at this moment to deal with those guys over there? Cause if not, I'm probably going to waste every bit of ammo filling those armors full of lead and what else if it'll take them out…"
Daniel thought hard about what to do about this...before finally saying, "I have only two, MAYBE three, options I can think of...but the most sure-fire one requires us to draw these guys outside, and one only may or may not work...at the very least, it'd give us cannon fodder...the last one would only work if I were to take on the Chaos Lord in single combat, a near impossibility unless he's a Khornate… … …" Daniel watched as the Chaos Lord then fired Doombolts at them, which fortunately failed to reach them. "...Something JUST proven to NOT be the case…"
"Well, then I guess everything is up to your hands with whatever you option you use works out in the end...And by the way, good luck." Connor noted in response.
Daniel nodded. "Alright...Everyone, get back…" Daniel then advanced...before crossing his arms, clouds of black energy appearing around his hands.
Everyone did move back as instructed...
Then, Daniel whirled his arms around, turning them so they were pointed vertically, left arm pointed up, right arm pointed down.
Then...a black cloud, similar to the energy around Daniel's hands, appeared in front of him…before he brought up his arms, forming them into a V, before swiping them to the sides...which then caused the cloud to coalesce, forming into a large shape…
This shape...formed into a creature of pure blackness, with white sharp bones across its limbs. Its claws were in the same color, along with its white mask just barely covering the lower area of its pointed ears. That mask in its face also had red lines on it.
And then the creature stood up, showing it could tower over anyone smaller than it...Whatever 'it' was.
Ruby seemed a bit startled by the appearance of the creature, looking from it to Daniel and back again...before sighing. Sevon noticed this. "What's wrong, Ruby?"
Ruby shook her head. "Nothing...just hoped I'd never have to see those things again…"
Meanwhile, Daniel continued summoning creatures: some resembled Griffons, a couple resembled trailer-sized scorpions, and there was even a giant 4-eyed raven the size of a small plane. All of them were pitch black, with white bone armor with red designs on it. Finally, there were 5 creatures that resembled ghosts, which then went into piles of debris...before said debris turned pitch black, and formed into bodies for the creatures.
Connor kept to himself, reflecting on if his past connections could have helped here as he stared at these creatures...Before shaking that thought away as he stuck to the idea...that probably wasn't going to work.
Especially for the last one he was considering...
The most disturbing thing was that black energy was washing over Daniel, with a red glow coming from his eyes. The effect made him appear similar to the very creatures he summoned. "Attack! Attack!" he ordered, and a bunch of roars and shrieks sounded, followed by the beasts running forward into the Chaos Forces.
Their performance...wasn't entirely effective: they managed to mob a couple of Chaos Marines, tearing them apart, but once the others recovered, they began firing Bolter rounds into the horde. The werewolf-like beasts were torn apart, while the debris-possessing ones and the giant scorpions shrugged the rounds off.
Daniel readied to rush forward...only to be stopped by Zeratul. "Are you certain you want to do this?" the human-form Protoss asked.
Daniel nodded in reply. "I've practiced this…"
Zeratul bowed his head. "Very well...be careful…"
Then, under the cover of the attack, Daniel charged towards the Chaos Lord. "HEY!" he called.
The Chaos Lord turned. "YOU!" The Chaos Lord shouted, before aiming his Bolter at Daniel, who dodged the incoming attack.
"Time to end you!" Daniel called out...as he rose into the air...before being consumed by a crackling orb of red energy…
Then there was...what happened afterwards. From the orb came out dark floating arms of energy, along with a triangular-like torso of that same energy. Then came the head to go with the torso...and its ominous eyes of red, that had powerful energy continuously exit out as the process was finished.
"Thoughts in chaos...The Void burns..."
"Uh...What just...happened to Daniel?" Connor said aloud...hoping for a answer from anybody. He had a vague feeling of seeing something similar...to whatever he was looking at.
Zeratul answered, "Because of his...unique...nature, and a combination of his various powers, Daniel has learned the secret of changing back and forth between his normal form...and that of a Dark Archon…"
"So, he's a Dark Archon now? Uhm...I take it that means being in that form is a big deal…and not to be taken lightly?" Connor asked...in a unsure tone.
Zeratul nodded. "Correct...however, it is the fact he can turn back to normal that makes him a 'big deal'...most Dark Archons, not only require two Dark Templar, rather than one, to create, they are usually a permanent, and short-lived, transformation...Daniel is the exception to the rule…"
"Well...Desperate times call for desperate measures...If he has to use this form." Connor just said back, unable to say anything else. Though in a bit of a few seconds, his mind finally reestablished the connection to a forgotten memory.
A memory about a show where he seen Archons in action...albeit in a more humor-focused depiction. Internally, he recalled a few scenes from that show, but externally, he keep his demeanor the same neutral look he was sporting.
But if what he saw now in comparison to then, he would say what could happen next to be quite a show…
The Dark Archon charged forward, clashing with the smaller, but also-powerful Chaos Lord. The Chaos Lord sent out a call, and a group of Rubric Marines, spectral remnants of Thousand Sons Marines trapped in their armor, moved in.
Relabeling the Chaos Lord as a Sorcerer Lord, the Dark Archon unleashed a powerful psionic ability in the area, disrupting the Sorcerer Lord's connection to the Rubric Marines. Said Rubric Marines, no longer being controlled by the Sorcerer, froze, no longer a factor...for the moment. The Dark Archon then charged in, the Sorcerer Lord now relying on his own sorcery to fight back.
And so, the clash between Dark Archon and Chaos Sorcerer Lord began…
Meanwhile, back with the group, they were watching as the Chaos Forces battled with Daniel's Grimm.
"Uh...Ruby, I think overheard you say something about those creatures...You mind filling me on on what they are?" Connor asked as he watched.
Ruby thought for a moment, before replying, "They're called the Creatures of Grimm...they used to plague my homeworld...at least until Daniel and his companions arrived and defeated the being responsible for their organized attacks against us, before using his forces to scour Remnant clean of the Grimm...However, his Semblance, strangely, is the ability to create and control Grimm...something he did from time to time during the battle for my world… … ...never thought he'd use it again, though…"
"So...he can summon and control these Grimm? I...take it from what you said so far, that is also a big deal… … …" Connor retorted before going quiet.
"The only other individual that could was the person who tried to use them to destroy the people of Remnant…" Ruby replied, "But Daniel's usage of them was different...he managed to use them to avert MANY tragedies that would have occurred otherwise...Penny, Pyrrha, even my mother, all would have died if Daniel weren't involved...and the incident with my mother, Daniel was reborn into my world as a toddler, which he still was when he saved her! I mean, REALLY!" Ruby became excited near the end there.
"Sounds like an adventure full of so much heroics and what have you...With all of the things he was able to accomplish." Connor said in a annoyed tone. "And yet, here I am...With no real companions tagging along to show how much I did for other people…"
Ruby shrugged, and turned back to the fight...before seeing… "Uhm...we have a problem!" she called, unfolding Crescent Rose, while pointing towards… … ...a squad of incoming Chaos Space Marines, who escaped the skirmish with the Grimm, and were charging up towards them.
Connor quickly snapped out of his train of thought and pulled out his .50AE pistol and unleashed a massive (but ultimately frugal) rapid firing of bullets towards the charging Marines.
As they advanced, Connor made sure to keep Olivia safe as he kept firing, the bullets bouncing off their armor.
As they approached, they could see what was coming: one Chaos Marine's armor was pink, and he had a strange weapon that looked like it had a stylized speaker on the front, meaning they were probably sonic-based weapons; two were green, and bloated, even with breaches in the armor, which had intestines hanging out, wielding a gun and a pus-covered blade; the next three were red...and resembled the marine that Daniel took down while fighting Gangrel, and wielded chainsaw axes like he did, or chainsaw swords paired with guns; the last four resembled regular Space Marines, only with Chaos Markings, spikes, and horns on them, and wielded a variety of weapons.
Suffice to say, Connor wished he had a big powerful gun and multiples of said weapon for everyone behind him, to shoot back all of those Chaos Marines. Instead, he only made a barely noticeable dent in the Chaos Marine's armor he was focusing on with his gun after expelling countless ammo so far.
One of the red berserker marines charged ahead of his brethren, ready to strike. Connor saw that he was going to be the target...
...Until suddenly, a rainbow-colored laser beam shot forward, through the slit in the berserker's helmet, and into the head of the Chaos Marine. Said marine collapsed to the ground, his chainaxes clattering to the ground in front of him.
*Music Track: "Climax Time! Kamen Rider Black"*
Following where the beam came from revealed...a partially-blended-in female sniper, holding a rifle that looked to be made out of bone. Next to her was some kind of floating bike, with strange markings on it.
She barely moved before firing again, this time striking the sonic weapon Chaos Marine in the throat, then again at a weak point in the helmet.
Ruby smiled. "Maerana."
"Xenos Witch…" Reinhardzh groaned, before being kicked by Ruby.
"Who are you talking about? That sniper that just saved my hide?" Connor asked after catching his breath and looking back at Ruby.
"Maerana, an Eldar Ranger that joined Daniel in Reinhardzh's universe...you know, the grimdark one?" Ruby replied, "She apparently joined to satiate her desire for adventure, and was originally from...something called a 'Craftworld', one called…'Uthwe', I think?"
"Actually, it was 'Ulthwé'," Ash'pur corrected.
"I don't really need to know about how to pronounce it...More concerned about why she showed up now." Connor pointed out, showing how little he knew.
"She usually never directly travels with us, usually just exploring whatever world we arrive in, and only just meeting up in time to head on to the next universe…" Ruby finished. As she said this, Maerana continued sniping the Chaos Marines, who now focused on the Eldar. "Apparently, she once dabbled in many of the Eldar Paths, before finally becoming a Ranger, unable to find a place for herself in her home…"
"And so just like you and everyone else involved with Daniel...She tagged along, except just not with you guys directly." Connor offered as a summary in response.
"Right," Ruby replied, nodding. A moment later, another beam passed over their heads, striking one of the Plague Marines.
"Well...I feel about as pointless as fish out on dry land...And someone really should brought some popcorn." Connor quipped as he made sure to stay away from the fight between the sniper and marines.
Ruby nodded. "Yeah...kinda difficult just...standing here doing nothing…" Sevon came up next to Ruby, and patted her shoulder. The girl looked back at her husband, smiling gratefully.
Then, the group heard a roar...as Ash'pur and the other Battlesuit re-entered the fray.
*End Track*
Back with Daniel and the Chaos Lord, the Chaos Lord swung his staff at the Dark Archon, only to block the strike. Then, the two charged power at each other, which promptly exploded between them.
Both were knocked back by the explosion. Daniel, however, noticed his control was becoming strained...he had to either finish this now, risk de-transforming with the Chaos Lord still active...or feel the experience of himself dispersing until he was no more…because, when he turned into this form, he lost his 'enhanced durability' from his Greeed form...at least until he turned back into a human/Greeed thing…
But that wouldn't be enough to defeat a Chaos Lord...he needed SOMETHING to finish this fight...now!
… … ...And that's when the battlesuits re-entered the fray. Fusion Blasters blazed as the Chaos Lord was battered by the Battlesuits' main weapons. Seeing an opening, Daniel began charging a Chaotic Torrent attack...before striking at where the battlesuits focused their strikes. The attack shattered the Chaos Lord's Terminator Armor chestpiece, and scrambled his insides. The Chaos Lord froze...before falling backwards.
With a flash, Daniel finally allowed himself to return to human form, before turning around and smiling at the two Battlesuits. "...Finally…"
After the battle, Daniel had called for the Astral Knights to destroy any and all remains of the Chaos Forces: armor, weapons, gear, corpses, everything. As this was happening, the pilot of the new Battlesuit, revealed to be a young male human, was speaking with Ash'pur and Lenora… … …
...And he was their son…
Meanwhile, Daniel and Connor moved to the altar that Mark was defending from the Chaos Forces, which they were trying to reach, where they found…
...Naga's Tear, the relic that Daiki had been searching for before…
"... … ...This whole warband came down here, to where we could destroy them...the Risen gathered where they nearly clogged the hallways...for so small a thing…" Daniel said, holding the item in the palm of his hand.
Looking at the item Connor, just said, "I forgot...What did this thing do normally in Awakening, besides being something you can collect?"
"It gave you a permanent 2-point boost to all stats when used."
"You know, after seeing you change into a Dark Archon...I felt pretty much useless. Heck, I didn't really do much in the grand scheme of things." Connor noted in a self-deprecating tone.
"Well, you got rid of the cultists...sure the Chaos Space Marines survived, but… … ...well, didn't you slag them too?" Daniel shrugged.
"Yeah, I did… ...But I...get what you saying. It...just…" Connor paused. "As stupid as this sounds...I really wanted to fight those Chaos Marines and win…"
Daniel shrugged. "Normal Space Marines are made to be tough to beat...and Chaos Space Marines are stronger still...I've...simply had more experience taking them down…"
"Then maybe some experience and help for me will go a long way. Speaking of help, think it be a good idea to use that tear on me?" Connor asked at the end of his response.
Daniel shrugged. "Not just for me to decide…" he replied.
"I know...I was just sure making to ask for your thoughts first before I ask everyone else who's going to have a say on my request." Connor honestly acknowledged in response.
Daniel shrugged. "Alright…"
"... … ...Now, let's get out of here. I forgot to eat the morning meal earlier today and been starving till now." Connor just said aloud as he left the room with Daniel. "Oh...and you still owe me from that bet we had a while back in Ylisstol."
"...Which one again?"
"How did you forget about that?! I… You know, what? I'm leaving because you're crazy and forgetful." Connor said as he ditched Daniel and headed up for the surface.
Daniel watched him leave, before turning to the fourth wall. "...I'm not THAT bad, am I?"
YES...YOU ARE…
Daniel's face scrunched in irritation. "Fuck you!"
*Camera switches over.*
M3: "And that was the chapter. Any comments or observations about what happened in the chapter?
Alma: "... … ...Did he talk to the Fourth Wall...and the Fourth Wall talked back?"
M3: "I believe that did happen...That's one of DP Mitchell's quirks for the story and I'm sure Ice was the one who wrote that part."
IceBite: *shrugs*
M3: "Of course, that only exists in the story and not out here in reality."
Alma: "But...wasn't that world reality to them before they came here?"
M3: *Pauses* "It's complicated… Really complicated."
M3: *Awkward fake cough* "Moving on, I found ZS Connor's little plan of action with the Norfleet and Red Glare to be cool."
IceBite: "Except...Chaos Space Marines…"
M3: "Besides those 'chumps'...I also have to note the little bit with Olivia being able to actually help out with that plan. I think it says a lot about their relationship…"
Alma: "Certainly does…" *leans into IceBite*
M3: *Notices that, but just continues with* "And I think that's all we got to say. Anything else we want to say before the end?"
Alma: "Not that I can think of…"
IceBite: *shakes head*
M3: "Okay, then hopefully next time, we'll have the usual people doing the commentary. See you folks, later."
*M3 heads to the camera and turns it off.*