The power inside you bubbled around your body as potential facets could be filled with it. You funnelled it into Sharpshooter as the gang around you grimaced at the large closed-off bridge, talking about how they would need something called a 'Water Wing'.
Sharpshooter: 1031
Level 45
Learned 'Big Shot'.
Big Shot: Empty the entire clip of a gun to do max damage. A gun that does D2 does a flat 2 damage, a gun that does D10 does a flat 10. Bonuses don't affect damage when used. Guns used by this ability all go into cooldown +2 turns. Only useable as Sharpshooter.
Fast Recharge learned!
Fast Recharge: Spend NP to remove a turn of cooldown of a gun. 1 NP = 1 turn.
Banked EXP: 10
Your power to shoot things in the face with a big gun grew every day.
"Eraqus, Zelos said we're heading back to Meltokio, he said he knows a secret passage back into the city. Are you coming?" Lloyd said as he walked over to you.
"Uh... nice hat," he said, noticing the costume change. You touched it.
"It is fetching or so I presume since everyone stares at it, but I'll join you for a bit, but I have other matters I will need to attend to soon. As much as I find my time here interesting, I do not wish to have a certain cookie worry too much about me." you agreed bluntly. You gestured to Sheena not standing too far away.
"I need to speak to her before I go, you can listen but it might not be clear," you offered. Lloyd just grinned.
"Be nice not to be left out of a secret conversation for once!" he agreed. He yelled for Genis to come over and listen which drew Raine, Zelos, and that weird broken girl, Presea.
Sheena flushed a little as you thrust towards her and she bowed her head slightly.
"Eraqus, your lightning spell was... impressive," she managed finally. You nodded slightly.
"Thank you. Your own aquatic abilities were also something to behold. I assume that was one of the spirits you're capable of channelling?" you returned the compliment. Lloyd sniggered behind a gloved hand.
"She overpowered it because she had never summoned in a rich mana environment," he teased. Sheena turned bright red and she had figurative steam coming out her ears.
"Summoning is a very fine art and if you can't manage the mana input then things get dangerous! I could have flooded this side of the bridge if Undine hadn't taken over personally!" Sheena harrumphed, not quite disagreeing with Lloyd's statement.
"Then, perhaps it is best for you to learn how to better channel these spirits in such an environment and often if you master the opposing element, it should increase your mastery further. Volt should be next, for the Rehairds and your own growth," you began smoothly and Sheena paled but managed a nod.
"In fact, they are ancient beings in themselves, they may know more about what caused this state of the worlds. It would be prudent to seek them all out if you can," you added. This would give time for Tenebrae to find Origin's host and Sheena to collect spirits. If all else fails, then the spirits could empower Ratatosk at a later date.
"It sounds like you won't be coming with us to Zelos' secret entrance into the city, is this to do with your portal like power using Dark Mana to cross boundaries?" Raine asked curiously.
"To an extent yes. You could say this Broken Bakery is a sort of accidental detour on my travels," you said dryly. The things a wrong turn could cause. Would you ever arrive at your fabled Albuquerque?
"Then we shall see you soon, we must depart before the Papal knights awaken," Raine suggested to the others.
"Farewell, my collection tin of amusing treats," you nodded and with some focus, you used Ginnungagap as a mirror to bounce yourself out of these worlds and into the cosmos.
This time, you emerged as a silver toon boy in large gloves overlooking a sunny island. Outset Island looked wonderful with postcard seas and beaches. It was a paradise if you'd ever visited one. It didn't take you long to find the grinning blond woman you had rescued. Cindy was...
"Grams, sit down, I'll get the herbs for the soup!" Cindy laughed brightly, not yet seeing you. You shifted to warrior for the moment to get the disguise of a helmet. Her Heart had recovered, no... it had healed over better. Stronger.
"You certainly seem livelier than I last saw you," you said and Cindy spun with surprise. She froze and then engulfed you in a friendship manoeuvre. She was talented it seemed.
"Eraqus! Oh, you weird little man, where have you been?!" she pulled back to grin.
"Oh, you know. Here and there. I met interesting people on a series of adventures and misadventures," you said before cocking your head.
"At the very least, I got more cool hats out of it," you added. Cindy smiled then pulled you up the hill until you overlooked the village.
"Eraqus... thank you for everything but I wanna be selfish. Let me stay here. The island is so small but there's no meaningless living, it has a real community and the Sword Master is thinking about training me! I love it here... more than my home," she finished quietly as gulls cried overhead.
"Ok then. If that's what your Heart is telling you... If that is what you wish. I was curious about what to do with you, given I dropped you here out of the blue, but if you've found a home here, how can I tell you no?" you said easily and Cindy let loose a massive sigh of relief.
"I was so not looking to going back to Racoon city," she admitted then put her hands on her hips.
"But this gal isn't done serving. I'm going to build a boat and go around selling Gram's soup. The world needs to have a try and I heard there's a dragon on one of these islands!" she squealed in delight. She seemed utterly content. Her Heart beating louder and louder until the red glow shined brightly to your senses.
Cindy N-Link levelled up by 2 times!
+1 to travelling with Dark Corridors when transporting someone.
Limit Command unlocked for the Alchemist Class.
Cindy would be good. She insisted she had everything she needed for the moment. You offered her a token friendship combat move and she returned it, utterly revealing you inexperienced at the art. You were about to ask for a tour when something inside yanked.
A pull for help.
It was a deep thing from Aqua.
You told Cindy that you had to go.
"I'm afraid I must go now. My sad muffin needs me," you promised and moved through a Portal as you came out on a strangely growing world Somewhere between a single location and a slowly appearing city.
You appeared on a set of stone steps overlooking an empty arena.
"Where is Zack?!" Aqua demanded furiously as a man made of smoke and fire, light up a cigar before her.
"Aqua? Is there something wrong?" you said and Aqua shook her head.
"No more lies. Where is he?" she repeated the question. The man rolled his eyes.
"Yeesh, you lot are all so intense. I said, now listen carefully, his soul is downstairs. Gonno, blamo, deader than the sales on seat tickets in this joint," the strange god repeated extremely calm despite having a Keyblade pointed at him. Then he grinned, rows of needle teeth gleaming.
"Butttttttt… I do have a special game if you wanna throw your hat in the ring to maybe get the sucker out of the hole?" he tempted.
"Aqua, I don't think it is wise to trust this man. Stranger danger, and with sharp fangs being no fainter," you said and Aqua swallowed hard but she nodded.
"I know. He has no proof that he has Zack's soul," she finally agreed in disgust. Hades cupped a hand to his ear.
"What... do I hear... requirement of proof? What?!" he pretended to be offended then smiled darkly as he gathered truly powerful energy in one hand. Smoke rose from the ground as a see-through ghost of a young sleeping man with shocking black hair in some pauldron uniform appeared, held by the scruff of his neck. Aqua stiffened and Hades dropped the man who vanished in the plume of smoke once more.
"A little 3 on 3 sounds good, right?" Hades asked casually as he threw a fireball to the gate where Stitch was forced to jump from his hiding spot and land nearby, yelling in his weird alien tongue for a moment.
"Let's see," he tapped his chin.
"Strong woman with an attitude, an empty shell of a puppet, and a little spitball that looks stronger than it looks," Hades pointed to Aqua, you, and Stitch in order. Stitch pointed all his weapons, antenna and arms fulled extended.
"I got the perfect foes for ya. Winner takes all. Hacky-Zack's soul for yours. A Keyblader's soul would be nice after the last year," Hades gloated as he burst into blue flame, opening the gate behind him which you could see three unique portals opening up. Three figures moved forward at Hades' beckoning.
He stopped speaking as a spear flew past Hades and a woman crashed into the ground before him.
"ENOUGH OF THE TALKING, SMOKES! YOU GOT A FOE! BRING IT ON! You promised me my friends locations, so bring it!" the blue woman screamed, punching the stone arena at the corner and cracking it with her fist.
"I, UNDYNE, WILL BE THE ONLY BLUE WARRIOR LEFT STANDING!" she screamed at Aqua who looked pissed.
The next foe showed a rather interesting lineup. Blue warrior vs Blue muffin. Empty shell vs... this thing. A black cat doll that stumbled forward awkwardly of its own accord.
The last foe for Stitch was... a weird one. A yellow thing of similar stature and size but bright yellow.
"Hey, cuz... fancy seeing you here," the cousin of Stitch waved, a sandwich in one hand. Around his neck was a black collar that had a dangerous glowing gem. Your scan went into overdrive.
Undyne the Heroine.
HP: 1000
A passionate warrior and chef that will refuse to break apart even if her heart is breaking.
Mr Mew
Lost Murderous Doll.
HP: 50
A doll infused with psyche energy. Without its master, it barely has enough to move about. Its claws can attack the soul.
Reuben the Dude.
800 HP
His sandwiches are the best around. Doesn't like fighting but has the skills of a much deadlier being.
It was interesting that despite Hades' clear urge to win, he wanted a show beyond anything else. Why else would this cat doll be your foe? And weirdly, the thing didn't even seem to register to your senses properly. Not a shell... not a Heartless... something more immaterial but as deadly.