Hello everyone, and today, our heroes are heading to Tranquility Falls, where they'll being testing Akano's power.

Tranquility Falls (1402)

A rift opens, with Dragnarok, Coco, Aku Aku, Lani-Loli, and Akano jumping out.

Bandicoot was about to get out, by the rift closes on him, trapping him for a second before spiting him out, causing the orange hero to crash face first into a nearby gong, making it ring loudly.

The sound makes Dragnarok and Coco cover their ears while Lani-Loli and Aku Aku cringe. Akano, however, doesn't even flinch.

"So where's the next mask?" Coco asked as Bandicoot walks up to the group in a daze.

"Not here." Lani-Loli said as floats backwards down the path, not noticing a figure in green emerging from the wall behind him. "If these chucklenuts weren't punching holes in reality, we could open our own rifts. For now we're stuck taking the long route. But I sense another rift around here somewhere..." The Mask of Phase turns around, coming face-to-face with N. Brio. "Ahhhhh!"

"Friends! I have a fun little game for you to play!" N. Brio stated while holding up a purple potion. "I've got a reward for the clever bandicoots and dragon who can reach my testing grounds... but you'll have to defeat my deadly diabolical creations along the way! Muahahahaha!"

He then throws the potion at his feet, causing a cloud of purple smoke to erupt. Once it fades, N. Brio was gone.

"Who was that guy?" Dragnarok asked, never seeing this character before.

"That's Nitrus Brio, or N. Brio for short." Aku Aku answered.

"That's the guy who helped Cortex create you guys?!" Dragnarok asked the bandicoot in a shocked tone. "Your description clearly wasn't exaggerated enough."

"Well, we better find him." Coco said.

Akano then suddenly attaches himself to Bandcoot's back, giving him dark purple armor.

"Use my power... Gain Dark Matter Spin..." The Mask of Dark Matter said.

"What he's saying is that while you are using his power, you can perform the Dark Matter Spin." Lani-Loli explained. "The spin will allow you to glide, break tough objects, and deflect magical attacks."

"Now we're cooking!" Dragnarok smirked, carrying Coco over a gap while Bandicoot uses Akano's power to glide across.

Gliding over more gaps, they soon came across a green potion laying on the ground, which let out some green gas, which took the form of N. Brio's head.

"Sooo, it's been a while. Whatcha been up to?" The mad doctor asked. "Oh, me? Mostly the same... mixing potions, brewing potions, drinking potions, t-t-testing potions... The usual. I see you made a new, inter dimensional friend. I wonder what kind of effect my potions will have on him."

"Yeah... Not thirsty." Dragnarok said as the gas dispels.

Continuing on, gliding over more gabs and jump across lily pads, with some being monster in disguise. (As while as finding another VHS Tape), our heroes quicking found another potion at the gate of a village.

"This dimension was quite p-p-peaceful when I arrived. Unfortunately my p-p-potions had some... murderous effects on the inhabitants." N. Brio said with a sigh. "All the better to t-t-test you with... muahahaha!"

Angered by this, Dragnarok smashes the potion.

"We now have another reason to get this chucklenut out of here!" Lani-Loli said.

With that in mind, our heroes continued through the village, where they came across circle-shaped gate.

Suddenly, a green potion was thrown into the center of the gate, causing it open, revealing a living Stone Lion with glowing green eyes.

?!

Ignore that, our heroes focused on the Stone Lion, which was growling at them.

It the lunges at them with surprising speed. Bandicoot, on reflex, activated the Dark Matter Spin, which sends the Stone Lion flying into a wall, causing it to crumble into gravel.

"What was that?" Dragnarok as he looks at the gravel.

"It seems one of N. Brio's potions brought the statue to life, as I sense some magic from it." Aku Aku said. "No doubt there are more of them. Best use Akano's power to defeat them."

Taking note of that, the group continue through the village, fighting more Stone Lions and a few lanterns that spat bolts of green magic at them.

They soon reached the outer rim of the village, where another message potion was waiting for them.

"Hmm... that's what I've always liked about you! So dedicated to science." N. Brio said. "Not like the natives here, unwilling to cooperate with even a simple d-d-deadly test."

Ignoring him, our heroes glide down to a river, where then jumped across some more lily pads, leading them to the entrance of a tower that was attached to a dam, where another message potion waits.

"I wish I didn't have to resort to live tests for my experiments, but, you know... omelets, eggs." N. Brio said with a slightly regretful tone. "Super powered potions, marsupia—uhh, I mean... other animals."

Climbing to the top of the tower, the group found the land the dam was making.

Jumping and gliding across more lily pads and small islands, while using the Dark Matter Spin to defeat living lanterns and Stone Lion, our heroes soon reached a gate with a well next to it.

That's when Akano detaches himself from Bandicoot's back.

"Tired... Must rest..." He muttered.

The group walks through the gate, only to suddenly be trapped in a net and suspended in the air.

"Gotcha!" A voice shouted as two figure walked out of a nearby bush.

It was this dimension's version of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

The Ladybug was wearing a red kimono with black spots and had a bun hairstyle.

The Cat Noir didn't lived up to the Noir, as he was wearing jade green samurai armor.

"No doubt these guys are working for that strange man." The Ladybug said.

"I can see why you would think that, but we're not working with N. Brio!" Coco stated.

"N. Brio? Who names themself after a fetus?" The Cat Noir asked with a perturbed look.

"No idea. Anyway, we're here to stop him." Dragnarok said. "You may have noticed the weird rifts, right?"

"He's causing those too?" The alternate duo shouted.

"Well, he's working for the ones responsible, and we're to stop them." Coco said. "Look, if you let us down, we can help you get rid of N. Brio and undo the damage he has caused."

The two stared at the entangled group from a bit before nodding.

"Fine. But if you double-cross us, you'll regret it." The Ladybug said before cutting the group down.

"Noted." Dragnarok said as he gets back onto his feet. "Anyway, I'm Dragnarok, and these are my friends Bandicoot, Coco, Aku Aku, Lani-Loli, and Akano."

"Greetings. I am Spiritbug, and this is my comrade Neko Jade." Spiritbug greeted.

"Nice to meet ya." Coco said before looking ahead, seeing a temple builded into the side of mountain as nightfall came. "Anyway, we best get going."

With their new allies in tow, our heroes headed towards the temple.

On the path there, a message potion springs to life.

"Ah, look at us, just like the old days..." N. Brio said. "Working together against those who keep us down and humiliate us by forcing us to pick out our own birthday card and sign them from him! I-I-I-I-I mean... he could have at least paid half!"

"You worked for him?!" Spiritbug shouted as the message ends.

"It was one of those the enemy of my enemy is my friend kind of situations." Coco explained. "Bandicoot was dealing with another mad scientist, and he and N. Brio had bad blood between them, so N. Brio offered to help us. A lesser of two evils."

"A lesser of two evils is still evil." Spiritbug said before signing. "Still, it was temporary, right?"

"Yeah, he just like to think of us as friends, for some weird reason." Coco said with a shrug.

Dragnarok then spotted something heading right towards them.

"Hit the dirt!" He shouted as pulls the others down onto the ground as a glowing green stone eastern dragon flies overhead.

"It seem N. Brio brought some dragon statues to life as well." Aku Aku said our heroes get back onto their feet. "It's perhaps best to avoid them, as I don't think even Akano's power can destroy them."

The group continue along the path, avoiding the dragons until they reached one of the temple's walls, where another message potion was waiting for them.

"I can't say I see the appeal of all that jumping you do... but perhaps I don't have the right body for it. ...Yet." N. Brio said.

Ignoring him, our heroes scalded along the wall, where they soon found a small alcove with a statue and a gong.

Suddenly, green magic enters the statue, bring it to life. It then starts ranging the gong, which releases powerful soundwaves.

"Well, this makes our job harder." Neko Jade said.

"Rested enough... Can lend power again..." Akano said as he attaches himself to Coco's back, giving her armor.

With Akano's help, our heroes were able to glide around the temples walls, while avoiding more gong ringers, dragons, and a few stone lions (With Dragnarok finding yet another VHS tape).

Halfway through their climb, they came across another message potion.

"Sometimes I think you're my only f-f-friends. And then I realize... no, that's right." N. Brio said.

Ignoring him, our heroes continued their journey.

After a while, they soon reached the top of the temple's tallest tower, where a giant Sakura tree was waiting.

"Tired... Must rest..." Akano muttered as he detaches himself from Coco.

However, the group didn't hear him, as they were too bust looking at the tree.

"Pretty..." Coco muttered in awe.

"Indeed. It's nice to see that some things weren't ruined by N. Brio." Neko Jade said.

Bandicoot walked to the tree and took out his phone, wanting to take a selfie with the tree.

As he tired to find the right pose, bumps into the tree, causing it shake a bit.

Falling out of the branches was a blue gem, which landed in Bandicoot's right front pocket.

However, no one noticed this.

Once Bandicoot got his selfie, his foot bumps into something. Looking down, he saw that it was a message potion, which then activates.

"Any guesses on your r-r-reward? I'll give you a hint: it's something you've had before! Muahahahaha!" N. Brio said.

"Something you've seen before? What does that mean?" Spiritbug asked.

"I don't know, but I have feeling we're going to find out very soon." Drangarok said. Looking behind the tree, our heroes saw a path letting to a village that rested on the mountain. "Let's get going."

Entering the village, they quickly saw a green spirit patrolling the aera.

"The madman's potions are even summoning dark spirits?!" Spiritbug shouted before taking out a Ofuda. "Begone!" The bug themed hero then slaps the Ofuda on the spirit, causing it to fade with a screech.

"Impressive." Dragnarok said in a impressed tone.

Continuing on, the gang, after running along a few wall and banishing another spirit encounter another message potion.

"Once I perfect my p-p-potion I'll be strong enough to defeat anyone! Even C-C-C-Corte—ahahahahahaha! I just need to test my might against... a formidable foe." N. Brio said.

"So he wants a fight, huh?" Neko Jade asked. "Well then, we'll give him one!"

"Huh... I was kind of expecting you to make a pun." Dragnarok said in slight surprise.

"I don't do puns, and even if I did, not is not the time." Neko Jade said, crossing his arms. "Anyway, let's get going."

"A Cat Noir who doesn't do puns?" Dragnarok asked himself in shock. "Well, there had to be one."

Jumping across lily pads to cross a lake, our heroes found a shocking sight.

There were floating buildings, waterfalls flowing upwards, and giant flying fish.

"What are in those potions?!" Dragnarok shouted.

"I don't know, but we need to stop N. Brio before he causes more damage!" Coco declared.

"Let me help..." Akano said as he attaches himself to Dragnarok's back, giving him armor.

Pressing on, our heroes climbed and glided across various floating buildings, all while dealing with spirits, sentry lamps, and stone dragon heads breathing fire at them. (With Dragnarok picking up another VHS tape along the way.)

They soon found a bridge, and on it was a giant statue.

Green magic then enter the statue, bring it to life.

But before it can do anything, the bridge it was standing on collapses, sending the statue falling.

?!

Pressing on, our heroes found another message potion.

"We make a good team. If you survive my trial — uhhh... if you enjoy your reward — we will... make... an even better team. Uh-huh. Yes, heh." N. Brio said.

Ignoring him, the gang pressed on, gliding across more floating buildings, while avoiding more green dragons, stone lions, stone dragon heads, spirits, and sentry lamps.

Halfway through, Akano detaches himself from Dragnarok.

"Must rest..." The Mask of Dark Matter muttered.

"Allow me." Lani-Loli said as he attaches himself to Coco.

Continuing on, our heroes, using Lani-Loli's power to make floating platforms tangible and hazards intangible, soon reached another message potion.

"Yes, hurry! Your reward is just up ahead!" N. Brio shouted with a excited tone.

"Let's not keep the man waiting." Dragnarok said.

"Yeah, but without my power." Lani-loli said, detaching himself from Coco. "I need some rest, but Akano is ready again."

"Indeed..." Akano said as he attaches himself to Bandicoot.

Pressing, the gang soon found a floating gong, and standing in front of it, was N. Brio.

"Muhahahahaha! Oh good, you've arrived! And now for your reward!" N. Brio shouted. "Just stay put while I test this." He then started throwing purple potions which, upon hitting the ground, releases shockwaves. "Hold still!" He then throws a green potion, which releases a living green glob of goo. "For science!" Bandicoot, recognizing the creature, jumps on it, killing it while also causing it to spray goo at N. Brio. "Not the face!"

Dragnarok tries to fly at the scientist, only to slam into an invisible barrier.

"N. Brio seems to have encased himself in a barrier, and only his creations can go in or out." Aku Aku said.

"Solid guess." N. Brio muttered before taking out another purple potion. "Now then, I just need to know if this is lethal!" After throwing the more purple potions, he then throws to green ones. "Fly, my gelatinous puppets!" However, Bandicoot and Coco quickly jumped on the living goo, spraying N. Brio again. "Fiddlesticks!"

"Hey, how about giving us a challenge?" Dragnarok taunted.

"Careful for what you wish for." N. Brio replied before throwing a dull blue potion, causing the world to look inverted. "Enjoy your trip!" He then starts throwing more purple potions. "This one has extra b-bo-b-botulinum!" While put off by the inverted view, our heroes still dodged the shockwaves. N. Brio then throws three green potions. "Yes, ooze your way to victory!" But just like last time, our heroes jump on the goo, spraying the scientist. "Why don't people take me seriously?"

Having enough, N. Brio then gulps down a green potion and a purple potion, causing him to spaz out for a bit before transforming into a green, hulking monster.

"What the-?!" Spiritbug shouted as Monster N. Brio jumps from his perch, roaring at the heroes before charging at them, slamming his fists into the ground releasing small, green shockwaves.

After a while, the creature got tired. Seeing an opening, Bandicoot, using Akano's power, uses the Dark Matter Spin to knock Monster N. Brio off the platform.

Only for the beast to jump back with a angry roar. He then charges at them again, this time, he occasionally slams both fists at the same time, releasing a bigger shockwave.

But like before, Monster N. Brio soon becomes tired, allowing Bandicoot to knock him off the platform again.

A dull blue potion was suddenly thrown onto the platform, inverting the world as Monster N. Brio jumps back on.

But despite the invert effects, our heroes managed to avoid the beast's attacks long enough until he got tired again, allowing Bandicoot to knock him off.

Monster N. Brio screams as he plummets off the side of the arena, landing on a stone platform. A green beaker falls and lands on top of him, shattering and covering him in its contents.

Our heroes stare down at him for a moment before turning and walking away triumphantly, only to flinch and whirl around in surprise as something rises up from the darkness behind them. N. Brio lands near the edge of the arena, now in the form of a pterodactyl.

"And now for my final t-t-test. Taste my reptilian wrath!" The transformed scientist declared, only to flinch and groan, folding his wings over his stomach. "...my cloaca... Bwaa!?" N. Brio opens his wings and flinches back, revealing a freshly laid egg on the floor between his legs. He then flies away, whimpering and groaning in embarrassment. Coco, Dragnarok, and the others stares after Brio in shock, only for Bandicoot to run behind them and triumphantly hold up the egg.

"Bah-bada-bah!" The orange hero cheered.

Aku Aku then flies to Spiritbug and Neko Jade before summoning a yellow potion.

"This will undo all the damage." He said.

"Thank you." Spiritbug said, taking the potion before she and Neko Jade bowed, which the others politely return.

"Let's get out of here." Coco said as she grabs Bandicoot by the arm and drags him out of the arena as he still clings on to the egg. The two then enter a rift that just open nearby.

"See you on the flip side." Dragnarok said before he, Aku Aku, Lani-Loli, and Akano enter the rift.

As this was happening, a rift opens outside a village, and popping out was Nix.

"Okay, so where am I now?" He muttered before looking around. "...Am I in Japan?"

Getting a move on, Nix makes his way through the village, jumping across lily pads while avoiding various enemies.

"I've suddenly have this weird carving for pocky now..." The hybrid mutant muttered to himself.

Avoiding more enemies, Nix soon found himself under a bridge.

"Man, this place is weird." Nix muttered to himself, leaning on one of the bridge's supports.

However, he leans a little too hard, causing the support to break.

Suddenly, a statue falls through the bridge. Nix didn't have time to comment on this, as a rift opens behind hi and sucks him in.

And that's that!

See you all next time when our heroes find the next Mask!