Clash of the Elements Part 3: Reality's Game Chapter 21, a mario fanfic

Chapter 21: The Battle for Geno's Existence

My descent into the deep, dark, damp cavern is quick and painless, helped greatly by the boosters attached to my feet. I shut them off, checking my armor's power levels on the visor the moment I land. "53%…Good." I murmured the number and with a thought I happily shut off the text and symbols that were abundant across the visor. That's the great thing about an armor made out of hardened electricity. After a period of inactivity the armor begins to actively fuel the wiring under the protective plates, which works to repair any damage done to me over a steady yet extended period of time. I'd just have to be careful not to harm myself until I reached the inner sanctum, otherwise I would be fighting Geno with a handicap.

"Better turn on my night vision…" I tap the side of my helmet, a pale-green glow filling my visor and allowing me to see through the confines of the cavern with ease. There was a tunnel that led deep into the temple, as expected. "Ok, so he probably didn't change things here…" Of course, I don't know if one should really call this cavern and tunnel part of the temple. Its more like an extended entrance if anything. Still, had to keep my guard up as I began to make me way through the tunnel. The only noise besides that coming from my foot touching the ground came from bits of water pattering against puddles on the ground. They each fell down at the same intervals, and I will honestly admit it started to get annoying by the time I reached the halfway point of the tunnel.

Still, I really couldn't speed myself up, or I'd likely run straight into a trap. I wondered how I was going to be challenged this time around, especially since Mr. Reality said he was going to change the puzzles he originally had planned in the temple. "Come on Mew, stay focused, you'll be able to get through this easily." I reassured myself of that fact as I neared the end of the tunnel. I was greeted by the luminous flames radiating off of a few torches, and arrive inside of a circular, citadel-like room. There are four doors spread around, three of which were sealed off with iron gates while another was covered by a rainbow aura shield.

The ceiling in the room was held up by seven perfectly carved pillars, whose appearance looked as sleek as the gates nearby. I instinctively take a look at the ground, noticing a runic symbols spread around in a large circle and that there are eight holes with a stone in pretty much each and every one of them, each one representing a different element from grass to fire. There are other lines carved into the ground that lead the colored lights radiating from the stones towards a hole in the center, where a glowing, pearly orb is being bombarded from all sides by the lights. "The puzzle is completed? That's strange, so why isn't the magic door dispelled?"

I kneeled down and looked at the circle, lifting my head up after noting its completed state. Actually, come to think about it…"Didn't the light from the pearly orb destroy the other seven stones before?" As I recalled back to those events, I found that I was correct in my assumption. "So why are they back now?" Whatever the reason, it was obvious they had a connection to the door, but I would have to work to figure out how to deal with the puzzle. "Lets look at this from above…" I stood up, bending my head forward to look down at the circle. "Ok, lets see here, what do the spheres all have in common…Besides being elements, of course."

After my sarcastic thought I leaned the backside of my right hand against my chin, resting my left arm against my body while humming to myself in deep thought. "Hmm…I obviously have to get the white light to enter the seven other holes, but that would require destroying the stones first. It can't be as simple as blowing them up or crushing them one at a time, I know that. Maybe it has to do with what order I collected the elemental stones?" I decided to test my theory, kneeling down once more and moving my right hand out towards the green stone. I picked it up out of the hole it was trapped in with relative ease, and watched as the green energy died out and turned the stone into a normal, grainy looking rock.

I could sense something wrong with the object in my grasp though, and as I focused at it for a few moments the lights from the circle brightened, splashing around in various directions until the beams turn away from the pearly stone and fire straight at me. With the many lasers bombarding my armor at random points I accidentally let go of the green stone, which crashed onto the ground and breaks apart into dust instantaneously. At that point the lasers swerve back to their original positions, leaving my armor smoking thanks to the energy burning into it. My helmet lets out a wild beeping noise, a red box flashing the words "CRITICAL! CRITICAL! ARMOR AT 50%!" I had taken a lot of damage, having lost a third of my then current armor capacity.

"Guess I can only afford one more mistake then…Though really, I shouldn't have to go that far. Let me think here, if it isn't based on order, then what could it be?" After the smoke had settled down I stood back up all the way and moved closer to the circle once more. I analyzed the stones, noticing that the green one had returned to its proper position in the span of time it took me to get back. "Hmm…Well, how are the elements all connected to one another? Simple!" I snapped my fingers as I quickly came up with the answer to my own question, making certain not to create a spark with that snap as I edged closer to the circle and kneeled down to it once more.

"Each element works to create a balance in the grand scheme of the universe, but at the same time if an element were to go rogue there is always something that is capable of beating it." I looked at the circle again, noticing that the orb representing 'Ice' was in a straight line between the pearly orb and the rainbow door. I snapped my fingers, realizing brilliantly that I had divulged the answer to the problem. "Of course, when light shines through prismatic glass it creates a rainbow. So logically, the same thing happens when light shines through ice! But…" That still left the question about what order I was supposed to remove the stones from the circle.

I had to make it so Ice was the last one remaining, and that the first orb I remove represents an element that can counter Ice. So I went in a backwards order. Ice can be countered by Earth, Lightning, and Fire. So going by Earth as the starting point, it would be in an order of "EarthGrassFireWaterLightning Wind…" Ice doesn't counter wind though, so that order didn't work, so after shaking my head I started at Fire. "FireWaterLightningWindEarthG rass…" Ice does indeed counter Grass, but there was something that was making me doubt that Fire was the first element I had to remove from the equation.

Call it a gut feeling if you would really, and considering the fact that I DIDN'T want to suffer anymore damage from here on out it was wise for me to listen to what my body was telling me and try thinking about the final element that counters Ice. "LightningWindEarthGrassFireW aterIce…" And it loops back around all over again. I snapped my fingers and realized just why Lightning is the first stone that should be removed. Both elements are capable of brightening an area to a ridiculous degree. Fire can do that, but sometimes not without harming the area around it. This solution makes sense too, considering I am in a cave which requires light to navigate through. "Boy, I hope that my certainty in this answer doesn't come back to bite me later…"

I reached for the yellow stone, pulling it out of its indent the same way I did the green one earlier. I closed my eyelids slightly out of instinct, expecting a backlash from the energy once more. I braced myself for a few seconds, but to my surprise my armor remained untouched and the stone disintegrated in my hands after losing its unearthly glow. I then picked up each stone in the sequence I lined out in my head, taking each one in the grasp of my alternating hands until all that remained was the one that represented Ice. At that point the pearly orb, freed from the restraint of the other six orbs, focuses all of its pure white energy towards the icy orb, pushing back the pale-blue energy that had been pulsating through the lane towards it until it wraps itself around the orb itself.

Carrying it into the air with nothing more than a whim, the pearly orb releases a massive excess of energy through the empty indents, briefly blinding me as it crashes against the edges and flies into the air in the form of a holy, wave-like cascade. When I open my eyes and my vision returns, the icy orb has risen so it is now level with the center of the rainbow barrier. The light is focused through the reflective surface, emerging from the other side in the form of a thin seven-ray rainbow beam that is just wide enough to connect fully with the door's width. It starts from the top of the door, moving downward like a scanner and burning away the seal bit by bit until it reaches the very bottom, at which point the icy sphere merely shatters without any precedence to this event, and the light mysteriously fades to nothingness until the orb that created it collapses upon itself.

It was a nice spectacle to watch as I kept myself kneeled on the ground for the entire period of which it unfolded, but when it was done I got on my feet and continued through the new door that had been opened for me. I knew what was coming up next, a massive drop that led to the room where the altar I needed was. It was the most familiar room for me not only in this temple, but throughout the entire journey I remembered as well. Well, I guess it was really hard to describe those memories now that I knew the truth. Heh, Alex Whiter went through those events instead of me, after all. If there is one thing I knew for certain though, it was that Alex truly did establish his bravery and determination during that crisis, and that was carried over to me when he cloned me.

I was really grateful for that in the end, since not only was that one of my more positive and relatable traits, but also the very reason that I've been able to trudge through every temple and battle, fighting against all the odds stacked against me as I move closer to the end goal. "Lets see what is in store for me this time around…" I pulled out my rifle and cocked the extended barrel over my shoulder. I eventually reached the edge of the stony walkway, which had collapsed under the combined weight of us heroes a long time ago. I had to be careful not to fall off the edge prematurely, since the ground grew steadily unstable as I leaned my weight forward.

"Nothing to do but leap in and descend…" I noted to myself with a shrug of the shoulders. Within seconds, I had leaped off the edge and my body began to fall downward, the entire weight of my armor pulled by the force of gravity as I could feel an air current rising past the lip of my visor and delivering a nice cool draft into my face. I couldn't descend too quickly though, or my bones would press against my muscles the moment I landed and thrust an uncontrollable amount of pain through my nervous system. So with a mere thought I activated the boosters on my feet. Bursts of hot air thrust out through the many holes, sparking into flames at a moment notice as the draft devolved into a light breeze.

However, a warning message appeared on my visor the moment I tried to sink into the tranquility of my descent. "ERROR! MALFUNCTION DETECTED IN THE BOOSTERS! EXIT THE AIR IMMEDIATELY!" That was foreboding to say the last, and it was a message I should've reacted to sooner. But alas, I did not, and as my boosters shut off I began to descend rapidly towards the bottom of the chasm once more. This was a grave situation, and not one that was easily rectified by repairs. If anything, it was easy to guess that this malfunction was all Mr. Reality's doing, just to add another challenge before I reached the end of the temple. In this form I was limited to only using my armor for flight, so I couldn't just use my own body's abilities to escape this situation.

An impact with the ground at this height, combined with the weight of my armor, would surely kill me. It would be a crappy way to go to say the least, but instead of wasting time worrying about that I looked around me for something I could use to save myself with. I couldn't grab any of the spikes considering the palm of my hand probably had the same impact as a one-ton boulder at this velocity. "Hmm…Lets think here." I said to myself, clearing my head of any other thoughts as I closed my eyelids and played a few scenarios out in my head. "I just need something to cushion the fall…Lessen the damage if you would…" Murmuring that quietly, I thrust my eyelids open with a spark of inspiration gleaming in the pupils and quickly aimed my rifle downward.

I charged up energy in the barrel, watching as the gauge on my visor slowly rose higher and higher with each passing second, getting closer to the maximum level it can reach as I noticed that the ground was only a ten second fall away from my body. "No time, have to shoot now!" I pressed the trigger, a massive beam of electricity bursting through the relatively small barrel with such force that it is any wonder that my arms weren't torn asunder by its existence. I gripped as hard as I could around my weapon as the beam struck the ground and pressed against it. This force counteracted gravity, slowing me down bit by bit until I was very close to the bottom of the chasm, at which point I had nothing to worry about anyways.

I let go of the trigger, letting the beam fizzle out so I could land in the center of the singed ring in the ground that my attack had created. "Whew…That was a close one." There was a bit of sarcasm in my relieved remark as I swiped my left hand across the part of my visor that is in front of my forehead. I kept my gun out, since I was nearing my destination and would soon be engaging Geno's Shadow in a battle. Would I be fighting a monstrosity like I did with Gemini, or just him in his normal appearance? Come to think about it, with everything else I've dealt with so far I hadn't really thought about how I'm going to deal with him.

Whatever form I face Geno's Shadow in, he'll definitely be embodying the Earth element. If I went by the logic of the series where the "Shadows" originated from…Well, actually, there never was an Earth element there. "Crap…" I thought to myself upon realizing that I wouldn't be able to go about that line of thinking. "Well what if I went by the Pokemon element chart?" In that case, my Lightning and Wind forms would be weak to Geno's Shadow, while my Water and Grass forms would have the best chance of dealing damage to it. Still, my current form has armor-piercing attacks, which is a great way to deal with the Earth element's high defenses.

I'll deal with it when the time comes, I know I will, but I do feel slightly more confident after standing around and thinking about things a little longer. I ran through the nearby tunnel, making my way into the final room of the temple in a matter of seconds. This expansive domain has walls littered with marble tiles, and giant torches near the top keep the room alit. In the very center of the room is an altar made entirely out of amber. Two concrete pillars lie off to the side of it. Finally, the ground is paved with rocks of the Sedimentary, Igneous, and Mineral families. But none of these sights grabbed my eye as much as what was going at the altar.

On his knees in front of it was a wooden, human-like doll who wore a blue cape and hat, the first article of clothing been kept on via a thin golden rope and the second one having a curled up piece of red paper. His four-fingered left fist is pressed against the ground, his right one held against his chest as he stares up at the being floating ominously on top of the altar. Bathed in a pale black aura is his "Shadow", who is twice the size of his physical body but without any of the emotion you would find in his demeanor. The "Shadow" truly looked like a marionette the way it was now, and as it gazed down at the real Geno with its blank, piercing yellow eyes it began to speak.

"Why do you resist the truth? Your irrational refutation baffles me to no end…" The Shadow's voice is deep and monotone, a big contrast to Geno's own calm and emotion filled voice. "Why…Shouldn't I resist your so-called 'truth'?" Geno responds, his voice carrying the tiredness of his own body. "Because I know you more than anyone else, I am you more than you are yourself. Deep down, you wish to rebel against the beings that are above you, because they are all encumbering, preventing you from being anything but a patsy under their control. But what you don't realize is that you are nothing, an existence without anything, a being without a purpose besides those cast upon you by others."

"And you are one to talk?" Geno calmly refutes the "Shadow's" words, using all of his energy to get on his feet and folding his arms in front of his chest to contrast the way his "Shadow" has his behind his back. "I heard what that alien has been doing, bringing out the other heroes' true selves to combat the Elemental Overlord. But he reached a dead end with me. I've always been true to myself, I have nothing to hide, not now, not ever. You only exist because he needed you to, you have no purpose in this world otherwise." "Is that so?" The Shadow stayed calm, only because that's the only thing it could do.

"You are nothing but a star inhabiting a black void you call a body, kept in there to give you the tantalizing illusion of freedom. Without it, you have no freedom, no existence, and nothing but the chains of your superiors tethering you to the physical-" "That's quite enough, you sharp-tongued Shadow." Geno interrupts his Shadow, surprising him and bringing him to silence instantly. "You can toss out your assumptions and judgments, digging deeper into my psyche under the belief that you'll find some sort of 'truth' to use against me. But I have nothing to hide, my true self is as visible as the clothes on my body. On the other hand, I have a few choice words to use against you. You are the only one who is truly a puppet here, and the moment that alien sees no further use for you you shall exist no longer. Meanwhile, even after my body withers away from its continuous use, my starry form shall continue to exist until there is nothing left. I don't care whether I'm being used or not, so long as I'm happy with what I'm doing to benefit the world, than that's all that matters. Face it Shadow, this is one instance where you simply aren't me no matter how you cut it."

The Shadow's eyes actually widen in angered surprise, as the black fog with the red speckles starts to rise around its body. "I see…Perhaps you are right about the fact that I'm not your true self. But know this…I still have a purpose, and that shall be fulfilled with the erasure of the Overlord's tripe existence!" The black fog spreads out wildly, covering the whole room in a matter of seconds while brushing Geno away through the air before he escapes the view of my eyes. It doesn't take long for the fog to disperse, instead replaced with an overwhelming pressure coming from the wall directly in front of me.

I lifted my head up and placed the reticule on my visor directly at the center of the monstrosity plastered to the wall by hundreds of rusted nails. Geno's Shadow had grown massive in size, its limbs having becoming detached from its body with strings hanging out from each of the hundreds of splinters spread across them. His clothes have been removed, replaced with chains that holds him against the wall. His head has been split in half, the left side flipped upside-down with the eye near the right side's mouth and vice versa. The eyes are motionless, but it felt intimidating knowing that each one was just as big as I was tall. Were it not for its bonds, the Shadow would fall and crush me and Geno with ease. With nothing left to say, I aim my weapon at the creature and watch as the same distortion from before.

I'll Face Myself -Reincarnation-: watch?v=N0KGRjTIa7I

A Puppet With No Other Use: "Shadow" Geno

The battlefield is exactly the same as before, only my body has been moved to the top of the altar, where I look straight up at the Shadow with my rifle cocked over my right shoulder. "I…Am a Shadow…The true self…" It said. "What meaning is there to both of our existences? What are we but shadows reflected off of those who have achieved greater glory in the eyes of the world…" The question was directed towards the both of us. "I know what I am. I'm me, but there really is no point in trying to figure out what you are…You'll be snuffed out eventually anyways." I replied coldly, to which the Shadow scoffs and proceeds to say "That is true, as it also is true that all lives will eventually meet the same cataclysmic end whether they wish for it to occur or not." "However, I am not going to let my existence be extinguished just because it furthers your immediate goal, Overlord. Only by terminating you and my physical body shall I find a satisfactory finale to my otherwise meaningless subsistence." "Well sorry to say, that's not going to happen." I responded bluntly. "That is for us both to decide, Overlord, not just you…"

"Shadow" Geno's HP: 3500/3500

Mewmaster's HP/SP: 600/300

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill

Elemental Form - "Water Sage"

I switch forms, but because I'm at full health already I don't waste my HP heal.

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Banish Serpent" (SP Cost: 35, SP: 265)

Elemental Form

I kneeled down and lash my trident against the ground, creating a puddle that I use as a focus point as I pull my body up and draw a long, squiggling serpent of water from within. When I pull the trident away in full force, the beast flies high into the sky, cutting itself off from the puddle with a tail before it arches its body towards "Shadow" Geno and dive bombs it with the velocity of a bat descending after its prey. It strikes the creature, exploding in a burst of water that all splatters against the ground. (DMG: 289 *Weakness Critical*, HP: 3,211)

The doll doesn't change its pose, but I can tell that it was dazed thanks to its pale yellow aura. I then proceed with a follow-up attack, only this time I have to leap into the air to harm the Shadow. (All-Out Attack DMG: 211, HP: 3,000)

"Shadow" Geno uses "Geno Boost", causing a red circle to surround the bottom of his massive body before it briefly flashes a pillar of energy around him. There is a burst of light followed by a sharp ripping sound in the air. ("Geno Boost" Buffed: Attack, Defense, Agility. Effective: Infinity)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Neptune's Torrent" (SP Cost: 55, SP: 210)

Elemental Form

I raise my arms above my head, swishing the hands in the air so they cross together. Immediately after this motion is performed two blades of water arch through the air, impaling themselves into the stomach of Geno's giant wooden body. As the trails gush about, they extend down towards the ground, puncturing through the ground to create a pseudo-arch. I then take my trident and fling it out into the center point of the body between both streams, causing it to spin around like a drill so it continuously drags in the streams of water to create a gigantic spiral torrent of water that pierces through Geno's body rampantly until it breaks through to the other side. After moving through the battlefield, the weapon returns to my hand and the streams die down. (DMG: 214 *Weakness Critical*, HP: 2,786)

For some reason though, despite being weak to my attack, "Shadow" Geno was able to brace himself and didn't become vulnerable to a follow-up attack. Most likely because of "Geno Boost"

"Shadow" Geno used "Geno Beam". The right hand rises up against the strain of the nails and spreads it fingers outward. A cannon compartment opens up in the center of the palm, from it coming a massive burst of star energy concentrated into the form of a beam. It blasts me from all sides, the cascade going on for a total of ten seconds before it ends and leaves a cloud of sparkles across the air for two seconds. (DMG: 147, HP: 453)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Banish Serpent" (SP Cost: 35, SP: 175)

Elemental Form

"Shadow" Geno blinked once and looked down at me. "I see you are resisting…You are truly determined to stay alive…But that determination will prove to be nothing but futile in the end…I will see to it that its snuffed out along with the essence of your soul."

"Shadow" Geno casts "Geno Whirl". The eyes on its head spin around rapidly as energy swirls together in front of the doll's chest. It glows brightly with a rainbow aura, jagged edges extended out of the circular disc until the entire form resembles a saw blade, at which point it is launched diagonally across the air at me. It slices right through the center of my body, a sharp pain ringing through my nervous system as I'm forced onto my knees with my teeth gritted to avoid releasing a blood-curling scream. (DMG: 452, HP: 1)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill

Elemental Form - Jungle Whipper

With my form changed, my HP is restored to maximum.

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Rosebud Cannon" (SP Cost: 17, SP: 158)

Elemental Form

I raised my left hand into the air, rose petal spawning from mid-air and swirling around my arm as if a gentle breeze was carrying them until the moment they start to stack against the skin on my hand, becoming a fully bloomed rose that glows brightly in the center. Within seconds a puffy shot of energy is launched out at the "Shadow". It bursts upon impact, sending an array of pollen that fades out in a matter of seconds. (DMG: 257 *Weakness Critical*, HP: 2,302)

"Shadow" Geno uses "Geno Beam" The right hand rises up against the strain of the nails and spreads it fingers outward. A cannon compartment opens up in the center of the palm, from it coming a massive burst of star energy concentrated into the form of a beam. It blasts me from all sides, the cascade going on for a total of ten seconds before it ends and leaves a cloud of sparkles across the air for two seconds. (DMG: 168, HP: 432)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Rosebud Cannon" (SP Cost: 17, SP: 141)

Elemental Form

I repeat the attack I performed last turn at a much faster pace, using it again simply because it is cost effective when it comes to my SP. (DMG: 257 *Weakness Critical*, HP: 2,045)

"Shadow" Geno used "Geno Flash". A black void formed in front of the "Shadow's" body, drawing forth a massive , dark-purple cannon from within that was already fully charged with a glowing red-yellow light within. The whole arena shook from the pressure exuding from the energy, and I could hear the very air being torn to shreds as the bullet was fired its way at me. It collided, exploding in a circular burst of energy that grew three spikes that spun around in a matter of seconds until it fully faded away. (DMG: 145, HP: 287)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Take Root" (SP Cost: 27, SP: 114)

Elemental Form

From my feet emerge roots that dig into the ground and start to feed me nutrients…Even though I'm standing on top of amber, oddly enough. This gives me a constant HP regen effect for five turns. (HP Regen: 55, HP: 342)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Vine Drill" (SP Cost: 34, SP: 80)

Elemental Form

I take vines from out of the ground and wrap them around my arm multiple tips, constricting them until they create a drilled tip at the front. The drill is twice as long as my arm but four times as thick, though I am able to keep it up as if it were as light as a feather. I leap into the air, charging straight at the "Shadow's" face and striking it with the full rotating force of my creation, sparks flying out continuous until my drill explodes upon puncturing the creature's thick skin. The blast knocks me backwards, but I merely flip and land gracefully on my feet. (DMG: 457 *Weakness Critical, Defense Ignored*, HP: 1,588) (HP Regen: 55, HP: 243)

"You think your victory has been sealed? This mere resistance will never amount to anything more than a tripe attempt at self-survival…." The "Shadow" says coldly to me. He then casts "Geno Blast". The sky rips open with light covered tears, as hundreds of pillars of light rain down endlessly around me. Many of them collide with my body though, randomly dealing differing amounts of damage that gets weaker with each hit. (DMG: 35+27+25+21+18+16+12= 154, HP: 89)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Vine Drill" (SP Cost: 34, SP: 46)

Elemental Form

I take vines from out of the ground and wrap them around my arm multiple tips, constricting them until they create a drilled tip at the front. The drill is twice as long as my arm but four times as thick, though I am able to keep it up as if it were as light as a feather. I leap into the air, charging straight at the "Shadow's" face and striking it with the full rotating force of my creation, sparks flying out continuous until my drill explodes upon puncturing the creature's thick skin. The blast knocks me backwards, but I merely flip and land gracefully on my feet. (DMG: 784 *Weakness Critical, Desperation Attack Activated, Defense Ignored*, HP: 804) (HP Regen: 55, HP: 144)

"I…Impossible…This much damage in one blow…Is that determination of yours…Truly the source of your strength?" The "Shadow" appeared dumbfounded, as his eyes started to boggle around and the limbs became limp from weakness. He then cast "Geno Whirl". The eyes on its head spin around rapidly as energy swirls together in front of the doll's chest. It glows brightly with a rainbow aura, jagged edges extended out of the circular disc until the entire form resembles a saw blade, at which point it is launched diagonally across the air at me. It slices right through the center of my body, a sharp pain ringing through my nervous system as I'm forced onto my knees with my teeth gritted to avoid releasing a blood-curling scream. (DMG: 143, HP: 1)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill

Elemental Form - "Wind Reaper"

I change forms and regain all of my health.

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Fog Veil" (SP Cost: 5, SP: 41)

Elemental Form

I shroud myself in a veil of fog, increasing my evasion greatly for three turns.

"Shadow" Geno uses "Geno Beam". After the usual light show, I manage to dodge the attack.

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill

Elemental Form

I rush at my opponent in mid-air and deliver a powerful arch slash with my scythe. (DMG: 97, HP: 707) ("Fog Veil" Two Turns Left)

"Shadow" Geno braces himself, sparking with a strange energy.

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill

Elemental Form

I perform another attack with my scythe, this time following up with two precision blows across the chest in the same swing. (DMG: 186 *Damage Critical*, HP: 521)

"Shadow" Geno cast "Geno Boost EX". A golden-rainbow streams of aura surrounds his body, pumping his stats up massively. (Attack Raised Immensely, Defense Raised Immensely, Agility Raised Immensely. Effect: Infinite Turns)

The increase in speed allows the "Shadow" to have another turn before mine. It casts "Geno Beam", hitting me with the usual beam attack. (DMG: 281, HP: 319).

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill

Elemental Form

I perform yet another attack with my scythe, doing the extra damage follow-up that comes from performing a critical. (DMG: 105 *Damage Critical*, HP: 416)

"Holy hell that really didn't do much damage…" I thought to myself as "Shadow" Geno once again casts "Geno Beam". (DMG: 304, HP: 15)

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill

Elemental Form - "Lightning Sniper"

With my HP restored I look up at the beast. I had been saving my SP for this last attack, wearing down his health so this would do enough damage to finish the "Shadow" off for good.

Analysis

Tactics

Guard

Attack

Skill - "Searing Raiden Bullet" (SP Cost: 41, SP: 0)

Elemental Form

I grasp my rifle in both hands, holding it downward like a sword with my eyelids closed and my focus entirely put into the weapon. I drain tons of voltage from my armor into the gun, streams of electricity pulsating to reveal my actions. I had to spent this turn charging though before I could unleash my attack.

"Shadow" Geno used "Geno Whirl". The eyes on its head spin around rapidly as energy swirls together in front of the doll's chest. It glows brightly with a rainbow aura, jagged edges extended out of the circular disc until the entire form resembles a saw blade, at which point it is launched diagonally across the air at me. It slices right through the center of my body, a sharp pain ringing through my nervous system. But I stay calm through the pain, not even flinching as my armor's sirens start to blare wildly. (DMG: 599, HP: 1)

I thrust my eyelids open, burning his intense determination as I raised my weapon into the air with it still gripped in both hands, only to rip them away in matter of seconds, breaking my connection with the weapon as it spins around wildly. With my arms spread out I watch as my weapon rises into the sky and draws in storm clouds from nowhere. It is only with the loud clap of my hands that thunder erupts from the air, and the lightning in the clouds drags my rifle into its grasp. I then use all of the remaining reserves in my armor to charge my right fist with electricity. Leaping out at the "Shadow", I snap my fingers, commanding the lightning to pull the trigger on my rifle after it has been repositioned at my enemy. The bullet fires, piercing right through the clouds with its size now as big as my own body. I pull my fist back, my limb dodging my own attack before thrusting itself outward to quickly strike the back of the bullet as it passes by. All of my energy is discharged into the projectile, increasing its size tenfold and boosting its speed to unimaginable lengths. The ensuing puncture and discharge across the "Shadow's" body happens so quickly that it wasn't hard to believe that it never happened at all. (DMG: 999, HP: 0)

All that happens is that "Shadow" Geno's eyelids shut tightly, his head leaning forward with a limp in his neck region.

Result:

EXP: 2000

Money: 300 Coins

Item: None

Once more the battlefield returns to normal, only with "Shadow" Geno back to its normal appearance, except his body is now lying flat on the ground. He creaks his head upward, looking at the cracked armor on my body and raising his right hand into the air in saddened disbelief. "To think that I would lose…But, I understand why now…I do not regret this…" With his emotionless eyes contrasting his weak tone of grief, the "Shadow" finishes his sentence as his body disintegrates "But please…Before this journey of yours ends…Please make certain that no one else is created without a purpose…By that man…." His body fades out of existence then and there, but I leave him one reassuring nod before that.

Now all that there was left to do was restored the temple. Seeing as my rifle was out of power and really wasn't capable of breaking anything by itself, I retracted the barrel and holstered it. I stepped back across the amber platform, raising my fist as I noticed a crack in it. I slammed it straight down, breaking through the barrier that kept the light-brown energy within. After the usual pattern has occurred, I'm once again back in my normal form, the room's vibrancy restored much to my delight. I turned around and noticed that Geno was trying his hardest to get his body back on its legs. I began to walk towards him, when suddenly the unexpected happened.

A massive tremor shook the room to its core, since now that everything was back to normal this room had to collapse with its original purpose now served. I hadn't even gotten off of the altar when it transpired, and with one foot in the air I was quickly caught off balance and flung to the ground, where the sharp edge of a rock thrusts itself into my left knee. It moves past the bone, digging deep into my nerves and delivering an unimaginable degree of pain the likes of which I had never felt before in my life. This time I couldn't hold back the tears that poured out of my ducts, and I let out a pain-drenched screech that was only beaten out in volume by the disturbances in the room's structure.

This was the worst possible time for this to happen, especially after I had pushed myself to get to this point. Even if I pulled my leg out of the rock, I wouldn't be able to get over to Geno and fly us out of here in time now. He was still lying down, unable to even raise his head to respond to my cries. The tiles on the ceiling began to collapse, falling around our bodies one by one. The Chronicler wasn't going to save us, he was probably unaware of these events unfolding. "I guess…This is…It…" I didn't want to say those words, but I had to face the harsh cold reality set before me. It is just a shame that after I made a vow to the "Shadow" to stop Mr. Reality this would happen.

Worst of all, I would never get a chance to apologize to my friends for my rude behavior. They would go the rest of their life never knowing how sorry I felt for what I had done. That's not even getting into the consequences of my failure on the world as a whole. I began to close my eyelids, watching as a few glowing sparkles fall down from above only to be drowned by the dust raised from the shattering of the marble tiles. I could've sworn I saw a circle of light expanding outward from the centerpoint between me and Geno, but I merely wrote it and the voices in my head as reassuring hallucinations as I collapsed unconscious…

Next Time: ?