A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated! (Like, exactly 1 month. Yikes. I hope that doesn't become the norm.)

Well, the next chapter is here now, so yay! I'm supper sorry for the late updates, but between Nationals and Summer School (NOT because of failing classes, I promise!) and events with the family and all my other stories, stuff is complicated. Oh well.

Anyways…. Enjoy!

The boys re-emerged in another dark place. This time there were storm clouds above them and lightning cracked the sky. Zim jumped back, shivering at the thought that it might start raining. He hadn't bathed in paste today because there was no rain in the forecast.

Dib looked back at him. "It's alright. If it starts raining..." Dib stopped as a sudden beeping noise started up. It was in this moment that Zim completely freaked out.

"MY LIFE CLOCK!" Zim spun around in circles, trying to get a good look at his PAK. "But, But! I STILL HAVE MY PAK ON!"

Dib grabbed Zim by the arm and Zim raised his gun, threatening to shoot his big head.

"What have you done to me, DIB?! I thought you needed me?!"

Dib waved his hands in denial. "Woah, hey, I didn't do anything! I have a clock in my vision too! It's not your life clock." Zim squinted at him and lowered his gun.

"I think I understand," Zim said. "The game is threatening to kill us if we do not complete the levels in time. We now have nine minutes and twenty seconds. Let's hurry."

Zim ran forward, pistols in hand, and Dib followed after him. They came to a fence much like the one at the cemetery, except this one has a large arched opening with metal gates swinging in the wind faintly. Beyond the gate, atop a tall hill, was a purple old mansion that looked rather haunted. Above the gate, white neon words suddenly appear, floating in contrast with the dark sky above.

"Level One" the sign reads. Underneath it had instructions. Zim was surprised that the Irken system was now addressing him. "Invader Zim," it says. "You and your slave must complete the game. Finish each level before the life clock runs out, and without letting your Health Points drop from 100 to zero."

Zim growled. "You are Irken technology, and I am an Irken Invader! I demand that you release us!" Zim ordered. More white words appeared.

"I apologize, Invader Zim. I cannot comply with your wishes. Each average Vampire Pig has 10 Health Points." Zim growled again.

"Irken Device! Do as Zim commands you! Stop ignoring me!" The words continued, not recognizing Zim.

"Each Level will have a Level Boss, and each will have more Health Points than previous. Complete the game to escape."

"Computer!" Zim commanded attention, but the white lettering disappeared.

"Hey! Release us! I command it!" Still, there was no response.

"Zim," Dib said. "We have to go. Time's running out. We have eight minutes."

Zim groaned. "Fine! Let's go, Dib-Filth!" Dib sighed at how irritated Zim had suddenly become.

'His temper can only make things worse,' Dib thought as they walked through a gate. Ten pigs appeared out of nowhere. Before Dib could even react, ten shots were fired and all ten pigs disappeared. Zim was looking furious, his gaze settled on the purple mansion. Another five pigs flew at them, all exploding as bullets shot through them, Zim's gaze never even leaving the mansion. 'I stand corrected,' Dib thought. He'd forgotten that Zim's temper only made him all the more deadly.

A few pigs tried to attack from behind, so Dib raised his sword and slashed at them. The first one he swung at didn't even slice because he hadn't used enough force, the pig's Health Bar only decreasing half way. He swung again harder, this time splitting the pig in two and having it disappear. His Pig Soul count went up as he sliced at more. It took force, but at least it was faster than beating them like in the last level, which Dib supposed had been level zero. Zim was still blowing through them, and they were already halfway to the mansion. Just as Dib thought this was going to be easy, there was a sudden 'click' sound that resonated multiple times.

Zim cursed, his guns clicking as he pulled the triggers. 'That's not good,' Dib thought. Zim dropped his guns and they disappeared before hitting the ground. He pulled out his PAK legs again and swung them at pigs, continuing to advance.

"Follow quickly, Dib-Stink! We don't have time anymore!" Dib nodded and rushed along too. The healing potion didn't appear to have restored Zim's energy fully, so Dib was left defending the rear with as much strength and speed as Dib could manage.

They approached the Mansion, only mere meters away from the splintered purple doors when the ground began to shake. A fist popped up from the dirt, breaking through the Earth and dragging along behind it the rest of a lumbering figure. It stood tall and sturdy, fat and powerful. Off of its back it reached and pulled a long blade that curved like the end of a scythe. Its stout pig face glared down at the two boys who stared high up at the towering hog.

Above the hog appeared more neon white lettering.

"Level One Boss: Hog Boss. Health points: 150."

Zim cursed in a foreign language, taking a few steps back. Dib stared up with his mouth hanging open like an idiot.

"Dib, move!" Zim ordered angrily. The hog raised its blade and Dib stumbled backwards onto the ground. He flinched as the blade made a downward decent on him.

Zim, in an attempt to save the Dib and thus preserve his own life, thrust two of his PAK legs into the chest of the hog. The hog's health bar crept down some, its HP points decreasing to 90/100, but the hog didn't even flinch as some of its green blood spewed from the wounds. Instead, it stopped its downward thrust of the sword towards Dib and turned to look at Zim. It stuck it's sword into the ground and grabbed one of each of Zim's metal appendages with its meaty hands. Zim screeched as it pulled. It swung the little alien and slammed him against one of the walls of the Mansion. A loud 'crack' sound could be heard, followed by a mellow 'thump' as Zim fell to the ground. Zim tried to stand, but soon found it too difficult. He fell back against the wall of the mansion, staring up as the Hog Boss as it picked up its sword and approached the alien.

Zim struggled, still unable to stand, and Dib panicked. Snapping out of his daze, Dib grabbed his sword and advanced. He sliced at the Hog Boss's knees from behind, slicing the back of the knee cap and making it fall forward to the ground. Its HP dropped to 75/100.

Dib took the advantage given to him by Zim, and continued to attack it from behind while it was down. Dib sliced at the back of its neck and down its back. It roared, its health dropping to 55 HP. It stood and raged, slicing around blindly with its sword. The tip of its blade barely reached Dib and sliced the teen's arm as he retreated slightly. Dib hissed at the pain and grabbed at his arm, crimson blood seeping out of the wound.

The Hog Boss advanced in rage and swung at Dib. Dib ducked underneath the blow and put an upwards thrust into its abdomen. As the hog's HP dropped below 40, a dark pink light glowed. The hog transformed, its tusks growing longer and its blade extending. A dark aura emitted from it as it took a new form, trying its hardest to defend from death.

Dib blocked with his sword as the hog attacked. He dodged as another high-speed slice came at him. More cuts found their way onto Dib's skin, but none fatal yet. Still, Dib was losing energy.

"ZIM!" Dib called out. Zim looked up from where he was leaning on the wall heavily. "We need to work together!" Dib said. Zim grimaced and pushed off the wall. As soon as the support was gone, the alien fell back to the floor.

'I guess he can't help me,' Dib thought. 'And the hog still has almost half its health!'

"Dib-Beast!" Zim yelled, regaining Dib's attention. "Lure the hog closer!" Dib did as he was told and ran to Zim's side. The hog followed, and Dib rolled back to the other side of the boss. It faced Dib, turning its back on Zim, and Zim jumped at the chance. He brought up his PAK legs and put the tips together in front of him. A blue light appeared at the tips, and before Dib knew what was going on, Zim shot a light blue beam. It zapped the hog, making it screech and flail. It dropped its blade, the sword disappearing before it could hit the ground. The Hog Boss's HP dropped to zero and the hog faded away. Dib sighed with relief. His Pig Soul count went up fifty as the Hog Boss died, and Dib assumed that Zim's count also went up.

"Let's hurry inside," Dib said, stopping by Zim to help the alien inside. The wooden doors swung open and creaked closed as they entered.

A/N: Well, I hope that was worth the wait! I'll update as soon as I can, I promise!

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