Hope's Peak Academy

(Winry)

Winry was creeping through the school, quiet as usual but lent a bone-chilling quality due to what lurked in the halls. She kept her wrench handy, slowing her breathing to keep herself calm.

Some howls in the hall but distant. They're a long way away.

She made her way down stairs to the lowest floor, where the generator waited. She walked through the hallway of the lower floor when something happened. A bubble appeared in the hall in front of her, startling her. She looked inside and saw Ruby in there, unable to recognize her. The bubble popped, dropping the unconscious Ruby to the ground.

Winry said, "What the...?"

Ruby slowly came to, shaking her head. She said, "Y-Yang?" while slowly standing up.

Winry's eyes widened. "You're Yang's sister: Ruby!"

Ruby looked around her environment, saying, "Who...who are you? Where am I?"

Winry introduced herself. "I'm Winry. You're at Hope's Peak Academy."

Ruby said, "Oh THIS is Hope's Peak."

She regained her footing.

Winry said, "How did you get here?"

Ruby said, "I...think it was a Gem bubble. Pearl and Garnet can make bubbles to move people places. I guess they're gonna do that for everyone in Abraxas."

Winry said, "Wait. They can't send people back. This place has become way too dangerous"

Ruby asked, "Why?"

Before Winry could answer, a tendril shot through her right shoulder. A deep guttural horn like growl sounded behind her in the darkness, pulling her back. Ruby shouted, "Winry!"

Ruby drew her scythe and raced after her.

She came across Winry being held by a super tall necromorph, a skull with most of its flesh melted off served as its head. It had three fingered hands, the fingers stretched to the size of its forearms. The torso was punctured full of holes, stretched downward to give it a near 9 foot frame. It raised its claw up high to slash at Winry while Ruby drew her scythe, firing off a round and blowing off its hand. She jumped forward, swinging the scythe downward to cut the tendril connected to Winry then kicking it away. She proceeded to shoot the stumbling creature. The creature fell apart, arms, legs, and head splitting apart. Small tendrils sprouted from the connecting joints.

The pieces began to skitter away, crawling along the walls before vanishing into the darkness.

Ruby ran to Winry, holding her shoulder, bleeding. Ruby said, "Hang on." She gripped her black sleeve, tearing it off to form a makeshift bandage, and began wrapping it around her armpit and over her neck to cover her shoulder. As she wrapped it she asked, "What...was that?!"

Winry said, "They're called necromorphs. Its...a long story. I'm still a little lost on what they...are exactly. But they're a part of that Imperator's plan. If...they've already shown up here it won't be long before they...start attacking in Abraxas..."

Ruby pulled her bandage taut, putting pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding.

Winry said, "I'm trying to repair the generator. This place is sealed up tight, and there's no way of opening the door or getting a signal out until we get power."

Ruby said, "Lead the way. I'll keep us covered."

Ruby brandished her scythe while Winry got to her feet. The two began making their way to the generators.

Hope's Peak Academy

(Kirigiri)

Kirigiri stumbled through the halls, alert for any oncoming danger. She quietly called out for Naegi, unaware something was watching her and waiting...

South Wall

(Bismuth, Uraraka, Zuko, Usopp, Bakugo)

Bismuth witnessed the battle between the Steven and the three super powered warriors, explosive waves shaking the ground and buildings around them.

Uraraka looked up at Izuku, blushing.

Zuko was quick to notice, chuckling, which Uraraka noticed.

Usopp said, "Does...anyone else...feel that?"

Bismuth said, "Feel what?"

Usopp said, "I don't know...something..."

His eyes widened and yelled, "Something's happening!"

Bakugo said, "No shit something's happening. We're in the something, long nose!"

Usopp yelled, "No you idiot! Something else is coming!"

Bakugo yelled back, "SOME ACTUAL SPECIFICS would be...nice..."

Bakugo's attention was turned to a corpse that began to twitch.

Zuko said, "Oh no...it's..."

Bismuth finished, "Starting..."

The corpse began to growl shaking and convulsing as it's eyes sprang open. It's hands exploded open as blades of bone shot outward. It stood up, darting its eyes all around, turning to look at the group. It let out a howl, rushing them. Bakugo let out an explosion, knocking it back as its skin scorched. Bakugo said, "Call it in rainbow hair...NOW!"

Bismuth pressed her earpiece and said, "Guys! Your timetable moved up! Steven's gotta go down now and the Marker's gotta go down not a second later! Phase 2 has already started! Necromorphs are starting to show up!"

The necromorph charged again as Zuko shot a stream of flame at it, burning it as it pushed against the flame before falling dead into a pile of cinder. He shuddered with his outstretched hand trembling, saying, "That...was a necromorph?"

Bismuth said, "We gotta find the others. Something tells me these things won't discriminate between us or the Imperator's forces. Come on!"

North Wall

(John-117, Isaac, Franky, Aoyama)

The four heard the broadcast. Aoyama's face turned blue and Franky patted him on the shoulder. An act which may very well of shattered his shoulders if Franky put even a fraction of extra force into the pat.

Isaac pressed his fingers to respond and said, "This is the most important element everyone. Cut them off at the limbs. Legs and arms. Shooting them in the head or body won't do anything!"

Plasma bolts fired from a nearby building, forcing the group into cover again. They hid by low piles of rubble, Franky staying high tanking the bolts. Sangheili approached slowly, forming a wall keeping them from advancing. John said, "Aoyama, Franky. Keep me covered. I'm gonna draw their fire."

John loaded his rifle, jumping out of cover and rushing into the fray. Leaping side to side he evaded the bolts as he made his approach. Two Sangheili unsheathed energy swords and charged him at once. Aoyama fired a blast from his belly striking one of them and knocking them into a wall. John threw his hand out grabbing the arm of the other sword wielding Sangheili. He used his gun hand and unleashed a torrent of bullets into its stomach, overloading his shield. When it burst he slid under its arm and kicked back, knocking the Sangheili to the ground.

Isaac looked the opposite direction. They were coming. A collection of necromorph slashers, bone blades protruding from their palms and small arms erupted from their exposed entrails.

Aoyama's pale face grew paler seeing the horrors approaching.

Isaac said, "Keep your eyes forward kid. They're mine."

Isaac tapped a button on his shoulder, a small piece ejecting and unfolding into a flat pistol like weapon, three lights shining in a line. It was his plasma cutter. One slasher necromorph swung its arm towards him. He lined up the lights against its shoulder and fired, severing the limb in a single shot. He clicked a second trigger, rotating the lights to a horizontal line. He aimed and fired into its knee, dropping it to the ground as its leg exploded apart. He held his left hand outward, a blue light blasting forward and hitting another slasher. This light enveloped the necromorph, slowing its movement. This gave Isaac time to shoot off both of its arms. He reached that hand out again, and a sphere of energy surrounded his hand, shooting a beam that drew a blade towards him, almost like telekinesis. With one flick of his hand the blade launched forward, impaling one slasher to a nearby wall.

John kept fighting through the Sangheili, supported by firepower from Franky. A howl echoed around them as the ground continued to shake from corpsers. The howl was not theirs however. Franky activated his eye cybernetic, zooming in on a strange figure hanging on the edge of a building. The silhouette was gorilla-like in shape. Bone armor was formed around its fists and it had an almost skull like head. Two spiky tendrils protruded from its cheeks, moving and twitching like an insect's antennae. Its hind legs were broken down like inverted horse hind legs. This was another necromorph variant, known as a brute. The necromorph brute howled while beating its chest with its free hand. Franky realized it was eyeing him, retracting his guns and preparing for an all out brawl

The brute dove at him tackling him to the floor. The two rolled along the ground, with the brute ending up on top of Franky, repeatedly and rapidly pounding him into the ground. Franky readied his right hand and yelled, "Franky Strong Right!". His fist launched from his arm with rocket like propulsion, smashing against the brute and sending it flying back.

Elsewhere in Abraxas

Raam came crashing into the ground, Sanji following close behind. Raam stood up, bruised with his teeth broken and bloody, but he still stood. Sanji smiled and said, "You're a tough bastard, aren't ya?"

Raam growled. He said, "That...would be accurate...as I am...the mightiest warrior...of the Imperatorius."

Sanji sighed. Turning his head down to reach for a cigarette in his pocket, he said, "You're just another in a long line of pompous arrogant warlords. We've fried bigger fish than you." Sanji placed the cigarette in his mouth then began using a lighter from his pocket to try and light the cigarette.

Raam saw Sanji more focused on preparing and lighting his cigarette than fighting him. He yelled, "You dare...!"

He charged swinging his fist down on Sanji. Sanji didn't even need to look back as he ducked, swinging one foot out to connect with Raam's stomach, while still lighting his cigarette. With only his legs, Sanji delivered rapid blows to Raam's abs and head, before knocking him back with a powerful roundhouse kick. At this time, he successfully lit the cigarette, taking a small puff. Raam stood up again, slower this time, preparing to charge again.

The wall beside them exploded, and Sundowner was seen flying past them through the new hole in the wall. His scissor blade was at the ready. A stream of fire shot through the hole pushing Sanji and Raam back as it glazed past a ducking Sundowner. Jinbe charged through the hole and engaged Sundowner close quarters. Armament haki emerged over his arms, allowing him to parry the scissor blade Sundowner used. The clash ended with Sundowner closing his blades around Jinbe. Jinbe grabbed the two blades, holding them in place and keeping Sundowner still. Jinbe yelled, "Shoto! Now!"

Todoroki created a wave of ice from his right side, freezing the ground beneath Sundowner and holding him in place. A wall of ice formed around behind Sundowner as well. Jinbe fell back as he released the blade, it cutting into empty air as Sundowner spotted Todoroki. Raam rushed towards Jinbe and Sanji, feral and angry. A bright beam of fire shot forth from Todoroki once again, so hot and pure, and it struck the ice behind Sundowner. Just as Raam closed in on Jinbe, the heat of the fire against the ice caused a massive explosion. Jinbe rolled back, holding himself against the hole in the wall to cover Todoroki. Sundowner and Raam were consumed by the blast of fire and ice, as Sanji leapt back as far as he could to escape the explosive force.

When the blast subsided, Sundowner and Raam were gone. Todoroki panted from the effort as Jinbe shook off the soot from the blast. "Well done.", he said.

Sanji said, "You could've warned me you were gonna do that!"

Jinbe said, "Had I warned you, they would've overheard, and jeopardized the plan."

Another chilling howl echoed around them, an almost human like guttural yell. Another massive necromorph dropped from above. A three legged beast. Two long claws emerged from each of its elongated front arms, while a collection of flesh hanging from its torso for support. It's distorted mouth ejected a long tendril with a spike on the end. This was a tripod. Todoroki stood in shock at the deformed beast before him. With a single swipe, he was sent into a wall by the creature, knocked unconscious. Jinbe threw a punch to send a wave through the beast, but nothing came of it. Jinbe was thrown by this, before the creature knocked him back as well.

Jinbe recovered, sliding on his sandals as he shouted, "That's impossible!"

Sanji jumped through the air, attempting to gain distance as he said, "What happened Jinbe? Why didn't your move work?!"

Jinbe said, "My fish-man karate affects the water in a person's bodyThese bodies have been left rotting for years for whatever this plan is. They're just dried up husks by now."

Sanji sighed and said, "I'll draw its attention! Get that kid out of here!"

Sanji began running as the tripod gave chase. Jinbe tended to Todoroki, dragging him into the building.

Abraxas streets

(Goku, Izuku, and Luffy vs. Steven)

The three had received Bismuth's broadcast. Steven just chuckled, looking around as he said, "That's right...It's started hasn't it? I still can keep fighting for days while you barely have enough strength to fight now." He slowly turned his head back to the trio saying, "How do you think this will end?"

Luffy said, "It ends when we've kicked your ass."

Steven smiled and said, "Fine then."

Steven straightened his hands as the armor around them hissed steam, clicking into itself and off of his arms. His eyes turned a darker shade as his pupils dilated. And his arms exploded into massive draconic limbs, with spikes protruding out of his elbows. His arms now resembled his monster form.

The three charged, Izuku taking the lead, while Luffy lagged back. Goku fired a beam of energy which Steven easily deflected with his enhanced arms, sending it back to Goku and knocking him back. Luffy blew into his thumb, blowing up his rubber arm to a gigantic size. With a dosing of armament haki, he shouted, "Gum Gum! ELEPHANT GUN!". Throwing his haki coated gigantic arm forward. Steven caught it, enlarging his own arm to envelop Luffy's arm, and swinging him over head to slam into the ground behind him. Izuku was batted away with a mighty swing. The three prepared to charge again, but this time Steven had been preparing something. A subtle glow in his arm spikes was growing brighter and brighter. With one almighty roar, a sonic wave erupted from him, pinning the three to the walls with intense pressure.

Goku was Steven's next target. With a jump he landed a blow in his stomach. In the air, Steven created a set of shields underneath his feet, holding him in front of Goku in mid air. A set of spiked bubbles formed around his fists and he began laying into Goku, with multiple rapid blows in the face and stomach. He delivered an uppercut, exposing Goku's midsection, then with a twist, speared Goku in the chest with his elbow spikes.

Goku spat out blood as he fell to the ground. Luffy and Izuku, still pinned to the wall, screamed out "GOKUUUUU!"

The waves of pressure subsided, releasing Luffy and Izuku. Luffy shot out and expanded his hand, grabbing Goku before he crashed into the floor, and retracted it back towards them so they could tend to Goku.

Metaverse

(Phantom Thieves, Aang, Brook, Jiro, Sato, Asui, Tokoyami)

The group was still pinned by the shadows, helplessly watching as Shadow Steven tended to the cognitive Marker. Jiro's arms were held together, able to reach her finger to her wrist mounted MP3 device. She called back to a conversation she had the night before the battle.

The night before the battle

Hope's Peak Academy

Garnet and Pearl approached Jiro. Garnet said, "So they tell me your ability is to play music."

Jiro said, "That's one way to put it. These things on my wrist let me play sounds. I connect them to my earphone jacks to play my heartbeat. Usually at a frequency that knocks you out."

Pearl said, "Well, we have something for you."

Pearl tapped her gem, and a small CD player emerged from the gem. It had an audio jack able to connect to her wrist speaker.

Pearl then explained, "I've heard that music can reach certain parts of the subconscious. This...is a couple of Steven's favorite songs. We want you to go to the Metaverse, and if things get dicey, maybe this will help."

Jiro plugged her earphone jack into the CD player and began listening to the music. She smiled. "I like it. Seems a little cheesy, but if it can help I'll do it."

Metaverse

Present

Jiro pressed her wrist player, sending the sounds of her connected CD player.

A few pop guitar riffs filled the air, bouncing rhythmically as a drum beat came in. A female singer began:

I can't help it if I make scene

Stepping out of my hot pink limousine

I'm turning heads and I'm stopping traffic

When I pose they scream and when they talk they laugh

The beat picked up.

Steven was frozen as the song hit his ears. One of the shadows holding down Ren loosened its grip. His arm was freed, and with great speed he drew his gun, firing at the shadows holding down Aang. Aang slapped the ground, creating a gust of wind that shook the other shadows. Tokoyami called out, "DARK SHADOW!", and Dark Shadow emerged from his stomach and began attacking the shadows. Brook jumped up and rushed Shadow Steven calling out a hearty YOHOHOHOHO before swinging at him. Steven barely evaded it by ducking back, distracted by the music. He threw his hand out, letting out a gust of wind that sent Brook flying back. Tokoyami sent Dark Shadow immediately after, putting Shadow Steven on the defensive. The shadow yelled out, "Where did you get that music?!"

Jiro smiled and said, "Don't like that do you?"

A shadow prepared to tackle her but was shot up by Yusuke. He called out, "Protect Earphone Jack! GOEMON!"

He called out Goemon, unleashing a storm of ice upon a swarm of shadows. Joker said, "Keep an eye out for Connie!"

The song continued as Shadow Steven was placed on the back foot and the rest of the group attacked the shadows.

Abraxas Streets

(Goku, Luffy, and Izuku vs. Steven)

Steven stood stiffly, keeping his gaze on the three, Luffy and Izuku tending to a wounded Goku. He began to walk away, but stopped. At first he felt as though he was ready to join the rest of the fight, but a song from deep within his heart gave him pause. Suddenly he was stunned by a bolt of lightning. Azula's warcry filled the air as she dove down from above, tackling Steven. Their tussle ended with her standing over him, letting off a concentrated stream of fire directly at his face.

A tendril dug it's way from his back into the ground, before shooting up beside Azula and pulling her arm back. It then wrapped its way around her neck and hoisted her into the sky. Steven rose back up the tendril keeping Azula restrained. His face was horrifically burned, and healing very slowly.

Izuku noticed this and said, "Azula. She dried him out. I don't think he can produce more spit to heal himself!"

Luffy placed Goku on the ground. He said, "Now's our chance!"