OMNIVERSUS
CHAPTER 18: NEVER KNOWN DEFEAT
As both LMSH and Malenia have a stand-off, the former wondered why he was confident in taking her out as if he had already done this a hundred times before, while the latter wondered why this foolish mortal had the audacity to face her so readily, which will not matter once she ends him in a flash. Both of them waited for one of them to make a move.
"This is crazy," Krel said, confused by the fact that this seemingly half-naked man is taking on a powerful adversary without hesitation. He's the king of Akiridion-5, filled with knowledge incomparable to humans and technology that is far superior to anything, yet he can't even take this lady down.
Ruby groaned, "I can still fight."
"No, you stay still. You're not fully recovered, Ruby," Callum said while holding the empty flask of Crimson Tears before turning his attention to the stand-off. "Can that man really beat her?"
"Unsure, but there is a 91 percent chance he could," Uncle Bob answered, which surprised everyone with the high possibility. "Do not rely on the numbers. Variables can be changed. Whatever god you worship, I recommend praying now to them."
LMSH made a first move by running toward her and making the first slash, but Malenia dodged it instantly by sidestepping behind him, though Malenia didn't expect it when LMSH turned around quickly and slashed her multiple times, which surprised everyone that he managed to land several hits on her. His Uchigatana and Rivers of Blood swords were effective against her.
Malenia moved with a dancer's grace, each step a prelude to the swift, sweeping arcs of her blade. Her sword, an extension of her will, cut through the air with precision that was almost surgical. The elegance of her movements belied the deadly intent behind each strike, as she anticipated and countered her opponent's moves with an almost prescient awareness.
Yet LMSH swiftly dodged all of them as if he were reading her movement. No matter how much Malenia swings her blade gracefully, she couldn't hit LMSH once. Nobody could keep up with her, not even those Warriors she recently faced, and they possessed powerful abilities, yet this half-naked mortal was avoiding her every slash. She couldn't heal herself if she couldn't inflict him with the Scarlet Rot.
LMSH jumped toward Malenia and began to slash her multiple times the moment she stopped swinging her blade, which made Malenia jump backward to give herself some space. Malenia could see that this Warrior is different, as he doesn't go after her immediately. She could see the patience within the mortal, which is something the majority of the Warriors lack, even Radahn.
Malenia performed three rapid slashes, with the fourth one being delayed, which was dodged by LMSH yet again. She then leaps into the air and thrusts forward with her blade, but LMSH dodges effortlessly before slashing her swords at again, much to her deep annoyance and confusion on why she couldn't land a single hit for the past few seconds since they fight.
Malenia then steps back and pulls back her hand before lunging forward and grabbing LMSH, but LMSH tilts his head slightly, causing Malenia to miss and stab the Uchigatana through her stomach. He then pulled out and began slashing her without stopping, though he barely dodged a spin-kick from her, which would've healed her in doing so.
LMSH proceeded to attack her again, but Malenia stepped back to avoid his blades. She could see that this mortal was formidable. She wondered if this person was a Tarnished, noticing that the blades he was wielding felt familiar from her homeworld, yet she could sense that the person himself didn't belong in her world. She was utterly confused and bewildered, but nonetheless, it didn't matter.
Malenia holds back her blade and swings it forward, leaping up into the air and then performing a downward slash, but LMSH dodged all of that effortlessly before swinging his blade in return. She dodged some of his slashes, as LMSH also delayed his attacks due to her beginning to dodge them. She was enduring the pain inflicted on her, as she couldn't afford to look weak in front of a mortal. Her dignity as a demigoddess cannot be shaken.
"Holy moly. He's actually fighting that woman on equal terms." Callum was impressed by the skills of the half-naked, jar-wearing man. From his perspective, both of them are moving so fast that he can barely track them.
"Equal terms!? He's not being hit at all! I don't see any blood coming from him! "Krel pointed out the absurdity that this man hasn't been hit once throughout the fight. He could only see the blood spilling from Malenia. "How is he doing this? Even skilled and powerful fighters always get hit. It's as if he..."
"Memorize her skills and movements? It is a sufficient answer." Uncle Bob agreed with the theory, as there is no way for a regular human to keep up with the powerful adversary. "The possibility of winning rose from 91 percent to 96 percent. As long as none of us intervene, he could win against her."
"Really? Then we're just going to sit back while waiting for that… person to finish her off?" Ruby doesn't feel like staying still, especially if there's a possibility that this woman is the one who killed all those people earlier. "We have to do something!"
"Negative. By intervening in the fight, there's an 82 percent chance that our adversary will win. You cannot break his concentration." Uncle Bob recommended for Ruby to stand down and not interfere with the fight as there's a chance LSMH will lose his concentration and lose to Malenia.
"He's right, Ruby. We better stay still." Callum agreed, as none of them could keep up with Malenia, so it's unwise to fight her when there's someone who can fight her effortlessly. "We'll help if that person is in trouble, but right now, just rest for a moment."
Malenia, frustrated with the constant dodge by this mortal and slowly losing her life by any second, leaps into the air and hovers for a period, which LMSH already anticipated, before performing many rapid slashes that cover the area around her. She performs four bursts of slashes, homing in on LMSH with each burst. It was her infamous Waterfowl Dance.
It was too fast for anyone to see, yet LMSH rolled through the attacks and ran away, as dodging is impossible in close proximity. Everyone, including Malenia herself, was shocked by the unexpected reflexes. LMSH didn't take a single hit of damage throughout those rapid slashes that were too impossible to see and dodge.
When Malenia began groaning in pain quietly, she swung her blade one last time, but LMSH parried it and forcibly dropped it on the ground. She kneeled on the ground as a result, as she could feel her life fading away due to all the wounds she sustained throughout the fight. She could see that LMSH's two swords had some kind of effect on her.
As Malenia desperately tried to grab her weapon due to her determination to keep living for her brother's sake, LMSH stepped on her weapon and stabbed through her chest with both swords. He then pulled them out as Malenia dropped dead on the ground, feeling familiar with this scenario. It was like something had yet to happen.
"You actually did it." Krel was in disbelief that this terrifying foe, who absolutely demolished him and his allies, was easily defeated by a man wearing nothing, a loincloth, and a jar on his head. "How did you do that? How did you keep up with her? "
"Uh, I don't know. Her fighting style was oddly familiar to me, so I just trusted my instinct and avoided being hit." LMSH doesn't know the answer himself. He was confident in facing the powerful demigoddess, but he doesn't understand why he was confident. He was thrust upon this world five weeks ago and has been since moving around looking for one specific foe, which was Malenia.
"Who was that woman? It looked like the two of you were acquainted with each other," Callum asked curiously. "You were dodging all of her attacks as if you already knew about them. Are you two enemies or something?"
"I'm not sure about that either. She indeed looked familiar, but something is blocking my mind from knowing her," LMSH answered, feeling a slight headache in trying to recall who the demigoddess was he fought. "One moment I was just helping a host out to defeat a difficult boss in a hardcore game. The same hardcore game I can't recall."
Callum raised his eyebrow in confusion. "What's a video game? "
"Nothing important," Krel answered, turning his attention to Subject Delta, who was simply sitting down and staring at the seemingly deceased demigoddess. "What are we going to do with him?"
"You were the one who talked with him!" Rose reminded him before glaring at Subject Delta, suspicious of him due to his intimidating presence and unyielding strength. "Is he going to join us or something? Because I vote nope!"
All of a sudden, Subject Delta stood up without warning, which put everyone in a fighting stance, particularly Ruby, who was ready for a rematch since Malenia is dead. They then notice that he was staring directly at Malenia, which makes LMSH realize that it isn't over yet.
"What's going on with them?" Rose asked in confusion why Delta and Klein stared at Malenia, who remained lying dead on the ground.
Uncle Bob turned around to analyze the vitality of the fallen demigoddess. Although he remained emotionless, he was alerted by the fact that there was still a heartbeat from the adversary. It wasn't the end of the fight yet. It was probably just the beginning.
"She is still alive." Uncle Bob announced the bad news, much to the group's despair. "What is going on, Klein Tsuboi?"
"I don't know how to say this because my memory is a bit fuzzy." LMSH answered with an unsure tone, gripping the blades tightly and preparing for the second phase as if it's natural for him. "But I guess she's going to Phase 2."
"Phase 2!? As in the second round of a boss fight!? Man, I hate when that happens!" Krel expressed his annoyance at the second phase of a boss fight in various video games because the first phase was already hard enough. He wanted to beat the crap out of game developers because of this, but Eli convinced him not to.
"I really need some context here." Callum needed to know what a 'video game' is as he felt let out, considering Uncle Bob and Ruby also knew about it. He's speculating that Subject Delta also knows about it.
A glowing, flower-like cocoon covered Malenia's presumed corpse, causing everyone to take a stance. The flower then bloomed majestically, as the appearance of Malenia had completely changed, and it was intimidating yet beautiful. She was devoid of clothing, being exposed and unarmored, with the exception of her intricate golden armament on the right arm. And her wings, now unfurled, span majestically behind her, a testament to her elevated status as a goddess.
"The scarlet bloom flowers once more," Malenia said in a quiet yet chilling tone.
"What in the world is that?" Callum asked in confusion. He felt in awe at the majestic sight, as if it were something ethereal.
"She has become a goddess. The Goddess of Rot," LMSH answered, which made everyone stare at him in horror, hoping he was just joking, but he wasn't. "I don't know how I know this, but every time her ability known as Scarlet Rot blooms three times, she ascends into godhood. No longer a demigod."
"What!? She was a demigod before!? No wonder she was tough!" Rose complained, finally knowing that this woman was dangerous due to her divine lineage. She didn't think there would be other gods beside the God of Light and the God of Darkness, but considering she's in another world, she's wondering how many powerful gods there are.
"Can you defeat her?" Uncle Bob asked LMSH, as his analysis showed that all of them combined wouldn't be able to beat her.
"Perhaps. I feel confident about it." LMSH gripped his katanas tightly to prepare to dodge and strike the Goddess of Rot. "You guys should make a run for it. She won't be the only dangerous opponent here. Other adversaries may have been attracted here due to the commotion."
"Affirmative." Uncle Bob agreed.
Before all of them could leave, however, a bunch of butterflies that emitted from the wings of the goddess blocked their way. They turned around to see Malenia slowly ascending into the air in an intimidating manner, despite her lack of clothes.
"You will witness true horror," Malenia declared soothingly as red tendrils began to cover. "Now, rot!"
"Everyone! Dodge forward once she gets close!" LMSH ordered everyone upon being familiar with the moveset, which confused everyone but nonetheless followed it.
As Malenia dove towards everyone in a flash, all of them dodged immediately. Ruby used her semblance to escape quickly; Callum used a wind spell to push him; Delta didn't dodge but tanked the powerful dive due to his durability; Uncle Bob barely dodged due to his heavy weight; and Krel escaped with her hoverboard and went to the farmhouse. Delta is the only one who is pinned down by Malenia due to trying to attack Malenia.
"Crap! Get out of there, big guy!" LMSH knew that if Malenia unleashed the Scarlet Rot, then Delta would be inflicted by it.
The moment Malenia unleashed a flower bloom and released a cloud of Scarlet Rot, Delta used his telekinesis to lunch Malenia in the air and activate her deadly attack there instead. He then fired electricity at her, but the flower blooming around her made the electricity dissipate as she landed back on the ground.
When the flower dissipated, LMSH began to slice her multiple times. Uncle Bob and Ruby shot her from a distance while carefully not hitting LMSH by accident. Callum prepared to sprout wings on her arms in case Malenia would fly or target him. After LMSH sliced her, he backed up immediately when Malenia performed a spin-kick.
Malenia ignored LMSH due to being a major threat and instead targeted other Warriors as she should've done so earlier, much to LMSH's frustration. She flew toward Uncle Bob and Ruby to execute her infamous Waterfowl Dance. She saw that the little red riding hood was about to escape using her strange magic, but Ruby was too late as she was caught by the dance, causing many scars all over her body.
"Oh n-!" Rose attempted to block the Waterfowl Dance with Crescent Rose at rapid speed, but she was too slow.
Once Ruby fell to the ground in excruciating pain, Malenia continuously did the dance to Uncle Bob, who was unable to dodge all of the swift slices, yet she was confused that this emotionless warrior wasn't feeling any pain and her blade was unable to pierce his skin deeply. She stepped back, wondering what kind of creature he truly was, as there was no way he was a mortal.
Malenia was then blasted away by a strong gust of wind out of nowhere before hovering in the air to recover. She glared at Callum, whose arms were transformed into wings. She has never heard this type of magic before, but it doesn't matter. She flew toward him in a blink of an eye before piercing him through the heart, which horrified everyone.
Callum groaned, "Crap."
"Seriously! Just leave her to me!" LMSH ordered everyone to leave the fight to him before throwing two Tears of Crimson Flasks at the dying Ruby and Callum to recover quickly. He did a sword limbo dodge when Malenia attempted to slice off his head the moment he took steps.
He then stepped back to give himself some space after that. It was going to be more annoying than he initially thought. He knows that he can defeat her easily, but something tells him that it's different this time and that he must be cautious. After barely dodging her weapon just now, he understands. Malenia is going to be much more unpredictable than the one he knew, even though he doesn't remember her.
Before Malenia could attack Uncle Bob, who continuously shoots at her with the shotgun, Subject Delta grabbed her in the air and slammed her on the ground effortlessly due to his brute strength. He then used the power drill on her chest, but Malenia recovered instantly and grabbed the drill calmly, which caused the drill to stop spinning around. Malenia then slashed at Delta, which sent him flying into the farmhouse.
"Look behind you, you lunatic!" Rose declared, now recovered from the wounds thanks to the potion.
Ruby then used her petal burst to reach Malenia instantly and sliced her multiple times at rapid pace with her scythe. Malenia was hit by some of the attacks before parrying them and slicing Ruby in return to regenerate her wounds. She then leaps into the air and plunges her blade near Ruby, creating an explosion of rot and launching the teenage Huntress away with more wounds.
Callum groaned before looking at Delta standing in front of him, who was infuriated. He then cast a rune while Malenia was spacing out, "Fulminis!"
Malenia dodged instinctively when two lightning bolts from Callum and Subject Delta. She leaps in the air to perform a sweeping attack on Callum, but Callum manages to dodge it. She then followed it up with a thrust, but Delta was too durable for a thrust to send him flying. He then used his telekinesis to send her flying before commanding a swarm of bees near the garden to attack her.
"Aspiro Frigus!" Callum casts a spell that restrains Malenia in ice while she's being swarmed by bees, which gives him goosebumps at the thought of experiencing that.
Of course, Malenia broke out of the ice easily and killed the swarm of bees with her scarlet rot. She was then sliced multiple times by LMSH, deflecting her blade before she could use it. She then hovered back to give herself space, but was shot in the stomach and the left side of her shoulder by Uncle Bob. She couldn't react in time due to focusing on other Warriors.
Subject Delta used his telekinesis to force her back down on the ground before snapping his fingers to burst her into flames, though Malenia quickly put it out with the Scarlet Rot. She was then punched in the stomach and face by Uncle Bob, whose punches felt akin to those of a Fire Giant. She could hear her ribs and parts of her skull cracking with each impact. She recovered instantly and stabbed Uncle Bob to regenerate her wounds until she remembered that this unknown, emotionless creature doesn't have a life force to siphon.
"Angustiae Lautus!" Callum conjured a miniature whirlwind to sweep Malenia's blade away from her, but the grip she had on her blade was too strong.
Malenia flew toward Callum to slice off his head, but Subject Delta shot her with a barrage of bullets with a machine gun before she could, causing her to panic as she began dying from all the critical hits. She then flew toward Delta when the machine gun ran out of ammo, but Ruby rammed her with the Petal Burst Semblance. Ruby then stabbed her on the knee before she was kicked into the garden.
Malenia, who is frustrated with the barrage of attacks, hovers in the air with a pool of Scarlet Rot. She unleashed phantoms of herself, delivering quick slices on each of the Warriors except for LMSH, who dodged every phantom's attack. LMSH then dodged when Malenia dive toward him. All of the Warriors were down, except for Uncle Bob, who is fine due to a lack of pain receptors and fatigue.
"Are they alright!?" LMSH asked before giving more flasks to heal the injured warriors.
Uncle Bob analyzed the health status of the three Warriors and said, "They will live."
LMSH and Uncle Bob noticed that Malenia was beginning to slow down. All the bullet wounds inflicted by Subject Delta and the injury on the knee inflicted by Ruby Rose remain as long as she doesn't siphon any of their life force. Malenia then proceeded to be shot in the back by Krel with a serrator, causing her to kneel on one knee.
"I thought you would continue to hide." Uncle Bob pointed out the fact that Krel has been hiding in the farmhouse for the entirety of the fight, which was a logical choice for someone who can't fight properly even if they're labeled as a warrior.
"I just needed to find the right moment to attack. My apologies if my tactical retreat seemed cowardly." Krel responded sarcastically while continuing to aim his serrator at the Goddess of Rot. "Not so much a deity now. Even King Arthur puts up a good fight."
"Don't do that." LMSH suggested Krel not provoke a literal goddess. "Wait! King Arthur is real in your universe!? That's awesome!"
On the other hand, Malenia hovered in the air while all of them were distracted as red tendrils began to surround her again. LMSH and Krel dodged immediately the moment she dived toward Uncle Bob, spawning a giant flower. Once the floor blooms and releases a cloud of the Scarlet Rot, the synthetic skin of Uncle Bob begins to peel away at a rapid pace, slowly exposing the alloy endoskeleton.
"This feels really familiar," LMSH pointed out before attempting to decapitate the goddess after giving a respectful bow until he was shot by an unknown adversary. "Guh!"
All of them rushed toward LMSH to see if he was alright. They were quite surprised that he was slightly fine, as the bullet just hit his shoulder perfectly. They then turn to the one who shot their half-naked ally. They saw two people emerging from a bunch of ravens circling around them before they flew away.
"Why did that god request to bring that woman!? We don't need one more useless ally!" Mileena expressed her mild annoyance at recruiting another warrior for the cause before pointing at the defeated Malenia. "Look at her! She's useless!"
"Do not judge a book by its cover, princess. Odin knows how powerful she is. It is just unfortunate that she underestimated her enemies. A fatal flaw in combat," HUNK explained to his partner while wielding the God Killer weapon, which he and Mileena acquired successfully.
"Who the heck are you!?" Krel asked suspiciously while aiming his serrator at two adversaries.
"Th-The-Th-They are dang-da-dange-dangerous," Uncle Bob concluded with his analysis while his voice modulator was malfunctioning due to the Scarlet Rot tearing most of the synthetic skin.
"You don't need to be an AI to know that." Ruby pointed out the fact that LMSH was shot in the shoulder while gripping her Crescent Rose tightly due to the danger these two warriors possessed.
"We do not have time to answer irrelevant people's questions," HUNK answered coldly while aiming the God Killer weapon at Malenia. "Mileena, bring her here. If she refuses, then knock her out."
Mileena growled, "I don't need an Earthrealmer to tell me that!"
Malenia groaned before glaring at Mileena and saying, "I shall not be a slave to mortals."
"You have no choice, goddess. You either aid us in your mission to win this tournament or you will perish by this weapon." HUNK threatened the Goddess of Rot with the God Killer, which Malenia felt something burning within due to the close proximity of the weapon. "And the leaders we temporarily served are of godly origins. You are not serving any mortals; rest assured."
"Is that so?" Malenia contemplated the decision but ultimately had no choice but to accept it due to her predicament and how easy it is to get information about this world by conversing with a deity. " Then bring me unto thy god, and I shall decide whether to help him or to fordo him."
"You're not going anywhere! Fulminis!" Callum cast the lightning spell at both Mileena and HUNK to prevent them from taking a dangerous individual like Malenia.
HUNK went in front of Mileena and Malenia, raising the God Killer, which transformed into a shield and absorbed the lightning. "It is very convenient."
"...what?" Callum expressed his confusion.
"Oh, is the little mage surprised?" Mileena mocked Callum. "You are outmatched, boy. Turn around, and we'll spare your life."
"We'd be stupid for that if we just let you go! You're planning something sinister, and we'll stop you!" Rose declared while spinning her Crescent Rose.
HUNK sighed in annoyance while the God Killer glowed. "Just call the ravens and bring the goddess back to our base, princess. I'll have to deal with some threats first."
When the ravens began circling around Mileena and Malenia, HUNK was caught off guard when LMSH rushed toward the encircling ravens out of nowhere. He tried to stop the crazy, half-naked, jar-headed Tarnished, but it was too late. All three of them disappeared and went back to the base.
HUNK groaned in annoyance. "Today's mission was supposed to be efficient, but it's always the variables that intervene."
Krel shot his serrator, but HUNK dodged the blast casually. "Where did they go, wannabe Nazi!?"
"I am not obliged to answer your question," HUNK answered before the God Killer transformed into two pistols to suit his fighting style. He will have to neutralize these threats quickly; otherwise, the mission will be compromised.
"So be it," Uncle Bob said.
Ruby Rose dashed toward HUNK with a petal burst to slice him, but HUNK blocked the scythe causally with both pistols before kicking Ruby, which sent her flying into the garden, much to everyone's shock.
"What is that strength? Is he not human?" Krel expressed his disbelief when an ordinary human stopped a superhuman with godlike strength.
"I have confirmed that he is indeed human," Uncle Bob answered after his voice modulator repaired itself before firing his shotgun, which HUNK dodged all of the bullets effortlessly. "But it seems that something is making him powerful."
After Uncle Bob finished the conversation, HUNK ran toward him in a blink of an eye and delivered a knee kick, sending the Terminator away. He then dodged a lightning blast from Callum, attempting to shoot him in the head, but Subject Delta blocked the bullets. He then gave himself some space when Krel attempted to shoot him with the serrator.
HUNK then shot Krel on the legs, which was successful as Prince of Akiridion-5 screamed in agony. He then dodged multiple bullets from Subject Delta, who was using the Rivet Gun, before shooting back at him with a much more powerful force, sending the Big Daddy into the farmhouse. He was then sent flying by a powerful gust of wind, but recovered himself by transforming the God Killer into a broadsword to stick into the ground.
"You are wasting my time and yours." HUNK expressed his calm annoyance toward these pesky Warriors. "Last warning, back off."
"And leave you to do who knows what? I don't think so!" Callum refused to heed the warning before casting another rune. "Fulgur Mortifer!"
It was a much more powerful and devastating lightning bolt. HUNK didn't feel threatened, however, as the power of God Killer was much more dangerous than some children's magic tricks. He simply shoots at the lightning, causing the lightning to create a fork pathway and avoiding hitting him in the middle.
"Is that a-?" HUNK transformed the God Killer into a great shield immediately when Subject Delta returned back to the battle with a machine gun, as the barrage of bullets were gunning down on him.
Uncle Bob managed to get closer to HUNK while he was distracted. He punched HUNK multiple times, each impact meant to kill a human easily, but HUNK was sturdy and didn't feel any of those impacts. HUNK began to parry and swiftly dodge the Terminator's punches and grapples before kicking him in the chest, sending him flying into the trees.
As Subject Delta was about to snap his fingers to incinerate HUNK, Callum cast a spell to make the Big Daddy's plasmid attack more powerful.
"Aspiro!" Callum cast a strong breath of wind.
When the wind made contact with the flames, it formed a firestorm and successfully struck HUNK. HUNK could only sigh in disappointment, as these people have yet to learn that they're doing nothing while he's on fire. He hates nothing more than soldiers failing to realize their capabilities. He dissipated the flames around him by using the God Killer to absorb them.
"Nothing is working!" Callum doesn't understand how this adversary is much more powerful than Malenia. He and his friends had a chance against the goddess, but against someone who doesn't seem to have special abilities other than the mysterious artifact, it proved difficult.
"I guess that's what they call inconsistent power levels!" Krel groaned while enduring the wound in his legs. "This world must've done something to make the weak stronger and the strong weaker!"
"You are half-right, but without the God Killer, I never stood a chance against you." HUNK confirmed Krel's suspicion but denied that it was any stronger than all of them without the God Killer. "And this is why you must realize your upbringing. You are far too weak to handle the weapon. You are certainly unprepared for the war and the invasion."
"War? Invasion? What are you talking about!?" Callum demanded an answer while preparing to unleash another spell.
"That is classified. You will know soon enough," HUNK answered.
As he was about to leave, Ruby came out of nowhere and attempted to slice his head off multiple times, but HUNK parried all of them before shooting the teenage Huntress on the side of the stomach. He also blocked Delta's power drill with the God Killer before throwing him over and slamming him on the ground.
"Attack me once more, and there will be a bullet to each of everyone's heads." HUNK warned them to stay down, as everyone eventually did due to how powerful he was with the God Killer. "Mission successful. Returning to base."
A bunch of ravens then encircled around HUNK before disappearing completely. Everyone released a breath of relief as they survived an insane night of brutal combat. None of them moved for an hour, and everyone stayed quiet in the dead sound of the night. They were processing a lot of things that happened. They were thrust into this world and faced powerful enemies they'd never encountered before. They wondered what was going on.
Krel stood up painfully while the wound on his leg began to open further. "This is why I don't like fighting in the front lines. I'm a genius, not a fighter."
"Here." Callum throws the Tears of Crimson Flask. "There's only a little bit of the potion left, so I don't think it would heal the wound."
"Thanks." Krel drank the potion before putting the empty bottle in his pocket for future uses. "What just happened tonight?"
Ruby groaned due to the bullet wound on the side of her stomach. "A god and a soldier appeared. That's what happened. They were much more dangerous than the Grimm."
"Oh crap, I'm sorry! All the potions were used up!" Callum felt bad for being unable to save a bit of a healing potion for Ruby.
Ruby shook her head in reassurance. "It's fine. Once my aura returns, I'll heal. I didn't expect my aura to break by one hit from that darn goddess."
"It appears that they recruited the Goddess of Rot for a secret organization. And it seems that they are preparing for a war." Uncle Bob concluded the reason after placing the pieces of information together from the soldier.
"Perhaps a war will reign over the territory." Callum guessed the possibility. "Did the diary from the little girl say anything, Krel?"
"I still haven't read the diary further," Krel answered. He doesn't even know if the diary is intact due to the fight. "If there is indeed a war, what are we going to do?"
"We'll probably have to fight if we're caught in the crossfire," Ruby answered while groaning in pain before noticing that someone was missing. "Hey, where is that giant hunk of metal?"
"Oh, he left when that dark and brooding soldier left. He didn't seem to want to stick around. He was probably looking for someone," Callum answered.
There were then monstrous roars and battle cries in the distance. The fact that all of them could hear it means that other Warriors are close by. The Warriors must've indeed been attracted to their fight. If they are still in one place, they're going to be obliterated, and they're still recovering from the fight.
"I suggest we keep moving," Uncle Bob said while putting away his shotgun.
Krel rode his hoverboard without hesitation and said, "You don't have to tell me twice! Let's find a safe place! For real this time!"
"We should gather some rations before we leave, though." Ruby suggested getting some vegetables and fruits from the garden before other Warriors steal them.
"I'll do it!" Callum sprouted wings, flying toward the garden to retrieve food for their journey despite his body breaking down from the tiredness.
Unknown Location
Ever since the infiltration of two superheroes and a dhampir, Odin and his company have moved to a different location to avoid being hunted down by the Goddess of Wisdom before the war. Jack the Ripper and Poison Ivy came back from their mission an hour ago, while Mileena arrived at the base a few minutes ago with Malenia, who was slowly recovering from her wounds.
"Is she really a goddess? How could she be in that condition? Did some little brats beat her up or something?" Fistrick mocked the Goddess of Rot for proclaiming herself as a goddess when she couldn't even beat some kids.
"Do not fleer me, mortal. I am warning thee." Malenia warned Fistrick about angering her. For every minute she's with these people, the more she wants to kill them and the half-naked Tarnished that is currently imprisoned.
"Big talk for someone like you. I'm not sure why Odin wanted you. Your strength is to be laughed at." Poison Ivy joined in with the mockery, much to the goddess' inner anger.
As Malenia was about to unsheathe her blade, HUNK activated the God Killer for a brief moment, which gave her an uncomfortable sensation. Due to the warning, Malenia calmed her actions, for it is unwise to fight the one who wields a weapon that can kill gods. She, herself, would've left by now if she hadn't become the Goddess of Rot. The God Killer weapon was proven to be troublesome.
"Where is Odin?" HUNK asked.
"I was having a conversation with the Demon's Son. He was nowhere to be found when those brats invaded and saved those poor innocent souls," Jack the Ripper answered while twirling with his knife. "That poor kid is probably being reprimanded for allowing those Warriors to invade. He was on the lookout after all."
"Aside from recruiting this so-called goddess, it was a mistake to recruit that child assassin. Me and his daddy go way back after all. Before the tyrannical Man of Steel," Poison Ivy expressed her annoyance at recruiting a member of the Regime. "He's unstable and unreliable. I genuinely don't understand his usefulness to Superman. Is it because he's the son of Batman?"
"Don't speak of the old man's name from your mouth, Ivy." The voice of the Demon's Son warned the Queen of the Green; otherwise, he'd slice her mouth off. "Superman has been a better father than Batman could ever have."
The man wears a highly stylized suit that is both tactical and reminiscent of the classic superhero costume. It features a sleek, armored look with red accents on the chest, gauntlets, and boots. The suit is predominantly black, with a gold utility belt and a long, tattered yellow cape.
His name is Damien Wayne, known as Nightwing and formerly known as Robin. He is the son of Batman and the grandson of Ra's al Ghul. He was the sidekick of Batman until the event in Metropolis changed everything, switching sides to Superman, who shared his idea that criminals need to be killed for their crimes to prevent another Joker, and that is real-sense justice from his perspective.
"Whatever your current relationship with the Bat, you and him are still the same in destroying the Green." Poison Ivy continues to anger Damien due to her hatred toward heroes and humans in general. "So-called righteous heroes are nothing more than ecoterrorists."
Damien prepared to unsheathe his blade. "You have grown far more arrogant now that Superman isn't here. You would crawl back in fear when he brought you to justice!"
"Like I'm afraid of your bodyguard," Poison Ivy insulted the tyrannical Man of Steel.
As Damien was about to unsheathe his blade, a knife went past him, nearly leaving a scar on his nose. He looked at Jack the Ripper, who warned him that he wouldn't miss the next shot. He eventually calmed down when Odin made his appearance, vowing within him that he'd kill these villains once the god usurped that goddess' status as ruler.
"I assume you have everything that I requested." Odin asked with a visible scratch mark on his cheek as it regenerates quickly. "Or were you just picking fights like animals wherever you go?"
"Calm down, old man. It was easy." Poison Ivy hands over the paper artifact, Chief's Troops, to Odin. "Some kids had this paper and didn't utilize the army properly. I didn't even need to step in as Jack the Ripper killed the kid effortlessly."
"He was being arrogant. I almost lost my temper." Jack the Ripper explained the reason while sharpening his knives, which infuriated Damien for killing an innocent child.
HUNK showed Odin the God Killer, "This object was also easy to attain. We found it in a tomb, where it was on a skeleton's hand. The skeleton was wearing militaristic orange-and-black battle armor."
'Deathstroke? Is it a different version of him?' Damien questioned whether the multiverse was real.
"Good. Not only is that weapon useful against that childish god, but it's also useful against the person I retrieved while you were all gone," Odin said before signaling HUNK to give it to Jack the Ripper. "Give it to him. Unlike all of you, he lacks the skills and special abilities to be a true warrior."
"That's very insulting," Jack the Ripper said, gripping the handle of his knife tightly in silent anger.
Damien observed the body language of the serial killer: "Are you sure it's wise to hand something so powerful to a deranged murderer?"
"It takes one to know one, huh?" Poison Ivy insulted Damien, much to his annoyance.
"This is getting intense! But why specifically him, other than being useless?" Fistrick asked curiously as Jack the Ripper glared at him with murderous intent. "HUNK is already efficient with it."
"I need HUNK to lead a special army of Night Creatures, and a psychopathic human is a perfect candidate to watch over a weapon I obtained," Odin answered, which made everyone wonder what the 'weapon' was that needed to be watched over before turning his attention to Malenia. "Before that, I assume you're Malenia. Judging by your appearance, you have ascended into godhood. Goddess of Rot, I presume?"
"Greetings, Odin. I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella." Malenia introduced herself calmly, with a hint of annoyance in her tone. "Wherefore didst thou seek me? Thou didst interrupt my fray with those Warriors. I would have vanquished them with the stroke of my blade."
"The arrogance she shows is as arrogant as Kotal." Mileena expressed her annoyance as it reminded her of the Osh-Tekk who stole the throne of Outworld. "She doesn't know her place."
"She is nonetheless formidable, princess," HUNK warned her via a whisper. "Think before you act because Odin won't protect you. You also show arrogance with the way you speak."
"I know of your capabilities, Malenia. Back when I was a Ruler of the Viridescent Area, I was given 'files' about potential dangerous Warriors that would threaten my rule, and you were one of them." Odin answered the goddess' question. "I need your aid in usurping that child god that took over my throne unfairly, and I promise to give you information, such as the cure for the Rot."
Malenia was surprised upon hearing, "Thou knowest the cure for the Rot? That is not possible. I have searched for a cure for the longest time for myself and my brother, but it hath all been for naught. It is not possible. The Scarlet Rot shall forever be part of us. I have already accepted my fate, and so hath my brother."
"Ah, but you weren't a Ruler, were you? I know some certain artifacts that could cure some diseases, and I know their last known location, but you must work with me in return until I overtake that deity." Odin corrected her, saying that being a former Ruler has many advantages, though Malenia remained cautious as he could be telling a lie or only one-half of the story.
"If what thou hast spoken is true, then I shall collaborate with thee to cure my brother of the Crimson Rot." Malenia accepted the offer reluctantly. "It is too late for me to attain the remedy now... if such a thing doth exist. But take heed of my words, for I have sworn to slay thee if thou dost deceive me."
"That won't be necessary when I speak nothing but the truth," Odin reassured her, confusing Malenia about whether he was telling the truth or a lie. "Now that's out of the way, when are we ready to attack Sumeru City? The sooner I access the Akashic Terminal, the sooner my plans for invading other continents will make our victory swift."
"Weren't thou about to reveal the 'weapon' thou hast retrieved?" Malenia reminded him. "Show us this potent weapon of which thou dost boast. I desire to test it myself to ascertain its true might."
"The lady is right. I'm curious to see this weapon!" Fistrick exclaimed enthusiastically, though he also had a chill deep within his spine for some unknown reason.
"Fine! Fine! You're like little children, but I recommend you not fight it," Odin said, signaling others to follow him. "You might not want to trigger a powerful being within his device to end this continent now, should you?"
"That sounds awfully familiar," Fistrick pointed out.
As all of them followed Odin, they were led to a prison covered in shadows. They heard a child crying inside the prison, wondering who it was. When Odin turned on the lights, a child was lying on the ground, crying in despair while covered in blood. He was wearing clothes consisting of a black-striped, white shirt with short sleeves, military green cargo pants with side pockets with a black belt hidden under his shirt, and black and white sneakers with black stripes. He wore a familiar device on his left wrist, but it had a different appearance, notably that the dial wasn't an hourglass but had three claw marks instead.
His name is Ben Tennyson, the forced wielder of the malevolent sentient device known as the Carnitrix. Odin captured him with little to no difficulty by incapacitating the device with Bifrost temporarily.
"Hold on a sec. Is that Tennyson!?" Fistrick pointed out, noticing that this child bears similarities to Ben Tennyson, whom he faced earlier. "What the heck is this!?"
"A weapon," Odin answered while strengthening the Bifrost, as it was slowly dissipating to prevent the sentient watch from transforming the child into a murderous alien. "It seems that he's a variation of the hero you faced earlier, Fistrick. His watch, however, is different. He has no control over his transformations, as they murder anyone on sight. All he could do was watch."
"You're sick!" Damien expressed his disgust at allowing this child to continue suffering. "Why didn't you remove the device!? And if you can't, why can't you put him out of his misery!?"
"You think I haven't tried removing it? It was difficult. I assume the original device was also the same. And if I tried to kill him, then he would transform into a powerful being. I can sense a deity within that watch. A much more powerful yet malevolent deity than I or anyone in this room combined." Odin explained the chilling reason why, which brought a chill down in all of their spines. "It's fortunate that I managed to shut up the device with Bifrost, but it's a temporary measure."
"That is why you ordered me and the princess to retrieve the God Killer." HUSK connected the dots in a calm demeanor, approving that this child could be a powerful weapon to win this tournament. "You need a weapon that could contain the murderous intent of these aliens, especially the deity you mentioned, instilling fear into them and, in return, making them your servants. You have thought about this."
"Yes, and with the God Killer on the ripper's hand, we essentially have the weapon that can turn the tides of this tournament. The other Warriors and Rulers won't see it coming," Odin said, slightly smirking that he could finally control this powerful, unstable device.
"Please… kill… me. I… don't want to… be a monster…" Ben, who heard everything, begged to kill him as the Carnitrix was screaming inside his mind to release it from the Bifrost. "Please…"
"I wot of cruelty. I have dealt cruelty during the Shattering or upon any Tarnished who dare oppose thee and harm thine brother; this manner of cruelty is yond too much." Malenia felt uncomfortable witnessing a child begging to end him, even though she has no concern for these types of things.
"I agreed!" Mileena is no stranger to seeing child soldiers, as they're quite common in the Outworld, but this child wasn't a warrior but just a pathetic Earthrealmer who wanted the pain to end. "Using a child as a weapon!? Are you sure this would even work!?"
"It will work. Everything is going according to plan. The Viridescent Area will be conquered," Odin answered confidently, as his plans never failed him before. "No one can stop our council now."
Fistrick stared at the crying child. 'I may hate Tennyson for foiling my plans, but this child… this version of him… is just too much. I could only feel pity for him rather than anger. I should've expected this much cruelty from Odin.'
Damien clenched his knuckles in pure anger. 'Using a civilian child to conquer a continent is unacceptable! If I wasn't working to get me back home, I would've slit your neck by now!'
"Well," Jack the Ripper said while swinging the Godslayer, which turned into a dagger, proficiently. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow. I have one more thing to prepare for myself. That goddess is cunning. Her intelligence, despite being young from my perspective, is outlandish. It makes me feel inferior." Odin expressed his frustration that he doesn't have the same intelligence as the child god that bested him. "I don't know her full capabilities. I have to make sure that tomorrow goes according to plan and that none of you will mess it up like my idiotic son."
"Quite an excessive god you are," Poison Ivy says before the throne plant she's sitting on carries her somewhere. "Then I will be in my area, training my babies for the war."
"Sure. Whatever. The rest of you go do your own thing." Odin shooed them away from the prison before turning his attention back to young Ben. "You will be my ultimate trump card against not just the Viridescent Area but all other continents."
"Please, I don't want to… hurt people." Ben begged Odin to end his misery while feeling his bones cracking and skin igniting due to the Carnitrix's attempt to transform him into murderous aliens, but he couldn't due to the Bifrost preventing it temporarily. This torturous process made him want to see his grandfather and cousin and apologize to them in the afterlife for the things he did, even though it wasn't his fault.
Odin sighed. "I'm afraid you have to tomorrow, so endure the pain. Think of happy thoughts, as mortals would call them. I need that device to win this war, and I can't have you killed yet. Maybe I will put you out of your misery once I have conquered other continents. Excellent deal, isn't it?"
Ben groaned in excruciating pain as his bones dislocated and relocated themselves while crying tears of flames and his body attempted to turn into a cannonball. "No…! Stop me…!"
"See you tomorrow, child." Odin then walked away, leaving the boy to endure the agonizing pain of the Carnitrix with a calm and satisfying expression on his face. "Time to end your reign, goddess of wisdom, you little sh*t."
Subject Delta, after the fight with Malenia, was resting underneath a tree to recover from the fight. He doesn't understand what's going on with this world, but that isn't his concern right now. He has to find Eleanor. He didn't know he was alive, but it gave him a second chance to be with his daughter. He would be glad if Eleanor wasn't transported into this world, but if she was, then he needs to be there for her.
He watched as harmless animals, such as deer and rabbits, passed by. This made him realize how beautiful the surface world is. He has never seen it before. He died before he could. The greenery around him, the clean pool, and the vibrant atmosphere felt like a dream. Living in Rapture is nothing compared to the surface. He wished that Eleanor was with him to enjoy this.
"Um, excuse me. Are you alright?" A voice of a girl asked.
Upon hearing that, Delta got up immediately and assumed his fighting stance, which spooked the woman as well. Delta calmed down upon seeing that the woman didn't mean any harm. The young woman has blue eyes, fair skin, and long, bright orange hair that she has tied up into a long ponytail. She wore a simple brown fur coat.
The woman released a breath of relief while her body was having a hard time stopping shaking. "Thank goodness you aren't a Magic Beast or a dangerous person. I thought I was going to die here. My name is Lee Joohee. What's your name?"
Delta couldn't speak, as all Big Daddies are unable to, so he drew the delta Δ symbol on the ground, hoping she knew what it meant. He doesn't want to bother writing it down, especially when there's no pen and paper.
"Delta? Your name is Delta. " Joohee asked for confirmation, to which Delta nodded in response. "I see. I'm sorry if I'm a bit terrified. I'm still mentally recovering from… nevermind. And all of a sudden, I was transported here yesterday. Do you know what happened?"
Delta shook his head while sitting back down, knowing that this woman wasn't a threat. He doesn't see any weapons on her, though, given that there are probably many Warriors who don't use any weapons. But he is confident that this woman is harmless for now.
"I see." Joohee then looked at the Power Drill closely, wondering if this man was an ordinary human. "You look like a Hunter. Are you perhaps a Hunter? Are you with the Hunters Association?"
Delta shook his head again. He doesn't know what this Hunters Association is supposed to be. He wondered if they're supposed to be hunters or something. He then wondered if the woman was in Rapture, but he doubted that given that her clothing doesn't match the aesthetics that women wear in the underwater city.
"So you're not a Hunter. It makes sense. The people I saw from a distance were different. Their abilities were unique and odd," Joohee pointed out. She wished that this world was just a gate, but after exploring a bit, it's a bit different than a gate. "So why are you here? Are you resting?"
Delta nodded, as he needed to heal. He doesn't have any consumables or First Aid Kits that will make him heal faster. He only has his weapons. He also needs to recharge to use his abilities, as there are threats around the corner.
Lee Joohee walked toward Delta cautiously, noticing that he was injured from a fight due to his heavy breathing. "You're injured. Let me help."
Joohee aimed her palms at Delta, much to his confusion, as green light emitted around it. A few seconds later, Subject Delta was completely healed, which surprised him because she has healing properties. Joohee smiled after healing the Big Daddy, as she knows that he isn't the type to harm anyone unless provoked. She has to show him good will.
"You're the first person I've healed since Sung…" Joohee silenced herself upon mentioning the person whom she had a crush on and was always worried about due to being an E-Rank Hunter before. Deep in her thoughts, she wondered how Sung Jin-Woo is doing now that he's a capable Hunter.
Subject Delta stood up, expressing his gratitude with weird hand gestures, which made Joohee laugh due to the fact that a person with an intimidating appearance is doing something like that. She hopes to be an ally with him because there are dangerous enemies everywhere. She was lucky to avoid them, but she'll definitely be caught sometime later. She needed protection, as she's only a healer, not a fighter.
"So… what are we going to do now?" Joohee asked curiously.
Subject Delta signaled his stomach, meaning they had to hunt for food first. He couldn't grab any food from the farm earlier because he was busy getting away from those Warriors, especially when he harmed two of them due to a misunderstanding. He didn't want to face them, especially when his mission didn't align with theirs.
"Hunting food. Then I suggested we hunt deep within the forest," Joohee suggested. "I was trapped in the forest for three days, but there were so many animals. I managed to catch and eat rabbits for those three days."
Subject Delta nodded. In truth, Delta doesn't actually need to eat for a few days due to his modified biology, but now that he has an ally that will heal him whenever he fights an enemy, he has to hunt animals for her. He doesn't want his new partner to starve to death. He'll treat her like a Little Sister, though Eleanor will forever be the little girl in his heart.
Deep within the forest, Subject Delta began hunting for food, though not too much that might cause the extinction of wildlife. Lee Johee was amazed by the Big Daddy's efficiency in hunting, wondering what kind of life he lived in. Judging by his suit, she theorized that he might be a diver or something.
"That's quite a pile." Joohee pointed out the pile of rabbits and deer. "That would be enough to sustain us for weeks. I'm fortunate not to be a heavy eater."
Lee Joohee noticed that Subject Delta wasn't replying to her with random gestures. She saw him looking around the forest cautiously, as if there were going to be an enemy attack. She walked toward him immediately to avoid being attacked without any protection. The fact that Delta was still expecting an enemy attack means that they're close by.
Lee Joohee looked up to see enemies on top of trees or hanging on trees after hearing leaves shuffling above. "Are those… apes?"
There were several demonic beasts with the appearance of apes on the trees. They were at least nine feet in height. Their eyes were glowing red, signaling their malevolent status. They were quite agile with the way they jumped from one tree to another, and they had thick front arms, showcasing their pure strength. These weren't ordinary apes. They were demonic beasts known as Giant Blue Armed Apes.
The surrounding apes briefly flashed an image on Lee Joohee's psyche of the S-Rank Dungeon Incident, which made her entirely frozen momentarily as she doesn't want to be reminded of that traumatizing incident in this situation. Delta noticed this, wondering what kind of life she lived for her to be terrified of confronting enemies, before turning his attention to the demonic beasts. He took out his Rivet Gun and prepared to activate the Power Drill.
One demonic ape roared at the two of them as two demonic apes then jumped toward them. Delta dodged the two apes' attacks before piercing one through the heart with the Power Drill, which was difficult due to their tough skin, before shooting the other with the Rivet Gun, which didn't have much effect. The ape who roared jumped toward Delta, but Delta used telekinesis to stop it in midair before throwing it across the forest with difficulty.
"There are so many of them," Lee Joohee said while her legs were shaking, which is something she attempted to stop and regain her composure to help Delta with her abilities.
Delta snapped his fingers to ignite the flames on one of the demonic apes until he was slammed into the ground by another demonic ape behind him. When the demonic ape was about to strike him with both arms, he froze in time before another ape attempted to stomp on him. He was then lifted up in the air by another ape and thrown into a tree.
"Oh no…" Lee Joohee was surrounded by the Giant Blue Armed Apes once Delta was further from her. They were targeting her because she was weak. A hindrance in battle, which is something she has experienced after surviving the incident.
Delta managed to recover and drill two demonic apes through their chests with his full might before he was punched by another ape into the ground. He unleashed electricity, which only flung the ape a few feet away from him. He took out a frag grenade, which caused a miniature explosion on three apes, but they remained unaffected.
"Let me heal you." Lee Joohee, who finally collected herself, healed Delta. Not because he has major injuries but because he does not feel any annoyance from discomfort or minor injuries. "I should also buff you. It'll help."
Delta wondered what that meant as yellow light emitted from her hand. He suddenly felt faster as he managed to dodge a demonic ape's attack and drill through the heart effortlessly. He ducked from two demonic apes' attacks before running toward them in almost a blink of an eye and unleashing electricity on their faces.
When the rest of the giant Blue Armed Apes were about to jump from the trees, they were called off by their leader. The leader of this pack was much bigger than the rest, with at least thirteen feet in height and blue fur compared to others' black fur. The leader walked toward Subject Delta cautiously, wondering how this mortal is withstanding his subordinates' attacks when he isn't even a 1-Star Bronze, meaning he's not a cultivator.
The leader of the Giant Blue Armed Apes did an intimidation display to terrify Delta and Lee Joohee, though it was only effective on the latter while the former remained standing, ready to execute him. Lee Johee boosts Delta again with haste after having a feeling that the Big Daddy won't be able to kill the ape properly.
The ape leader roared before appearing in front of Delta as if he were teleporting, but Delta managed to dodge, along with Lee Joohee, albeit barely. Without giving a moment to rest, Delta dove into the ape's punches before being smacked by them a second later through two trees. The sheer speed of this demonic beast was no joke.
"He's almost as fast as Kang Taeshik." Lee Joohee noticed the similarities with the speed as she snapped back to reality when the ape leader looked at her. "Oh crap!"
Delta arrived in time to block the attack headfirst and almost went flying upward if he didn't grip the ground. He then used telekinesis to push him five feet away due to the heavy size of this beast. He then summoned a swarm of bees on the ape's face, but only found annoyance and ran toward Delta and Lee Joohee, who were standing still until it went through them. It was a hologram meant to serve as a decoy.
The ape leader then noticed that something was wrong, as it looked only to find his deceased brethren on the trees with a drill hole in their chests. It then dodged the dead body of its kin before looking back at Delta, who was standing on the tree with an unresponsive stance. This action caused the ape leader to roar in uncontrollable anger.
As the ape leader jumped toward Delta, three spears pierced through its stomach, much to its confusion as it fell down due to losing momentum. It looked back to see Lee Joohee, the one who fired the Spear Gun given by Delta. It roared at her before Delta jumped down and stomped his head. As the ape leader tried to escape, Delta simply crushed its head, killing it instantly.
"Are you alright?" Lee Joohee expressed her worry before healing him immediately.
Delta looked at the pile of rabbits and deer, signaling to peel the skin off and the meat. A few minutes later, Lee Joohee finished peeling the skin and meat, though there was still a lot of meat from the deer, which was honestly a waste. But she guesses that predators will have a nice feast with it. She then looked at all the deceased Giant Blue Armed Apes, wondering what to do with them.
"Are we just going to leave them there? There may be dangerous people who will pick up our trail," Lee Joohee asked, but Delta signals that it's fine because he'll take on anyone, which doesn't really reassure the healer Hunter considering Delta was almost having a hard time against those demonic apes. "O-Okay then…"
The two of them decided to leave the forest, as there's probably more dangerous animals lurking everywhere, leaving the corpses of the Giant Blue apes in the trees and on the ground. After the two of them left a few minutes ago, a humongous ape akin to a silverback gorilla appeared after smelling the scent of apes nearby. He stands about 25 feet in height, though he is 35 feet in height when standing up briefly.
His name is King Kong, the King of Skull Island. King Kong was surprised and shocked to see unusual demonic ape corpses everywhere, wondering what happened before releasing a monstrous roar to send a message to the Warriors who mess with his temporary turf in the forest. Tracking the scent of two Warriors, he began following them.
CHAPTER 18 ENDED
Characters
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
Krel Tarron - Tales of Arcadia
Uncle Bob / T-800 - The Terminator
Ruby Rose - RWBY
Callum - The Dragon Prince
Subject Delta - BioShock
Klein Tsuboi / Let Me Solo Her - Elden Ring x RL Dimension
Malenia - Elden Ring
CAMEO CHARACTERS:
Odin Borrson - God of War
Fistrick - Ben 10
Pamela Isley / Poison Ivy - Injustice
Jack the Ripper - RL Dimension
HUNK - Resident Evil
Mileena - Mortal Kombat
CHARACTERS THAT APPEARED:
Damien Wayne / Nightwing: He is one of the major antagonists in the Injustice franchise. He is the estranged son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. He killed Dick Grayson, the previous Nightwing, by accident, which led to his betrayal after he ceased being Batman's son. After being visited by Dick, who became Ghostman and was forgiven for his unintentional murder, he became the new Nightwing. He then joined Superman's Regime, believing that justice is served by executing heinous criminals.
(After he was arrested again at the end of Injustice 2, he was transported into Battle World with his uniform on. He encountered Poison Ivy, who was already working with Odin, and attempted to kill her but was stopped by Odin, who struck a deal with him. Damien accepts if it means going back home and freeing Superman, though he will one day kill these villains first before leaving.)
Ben Tennyson: He is the main protagonist of the fan-made alternate universe Analog Ben, also colloquially known as The Carnitrix, based on the Ben 10 franchise by TikTok user, Canibal099. He is a 10-year-old whose life took a drastic and tragic turn compared to his prime counterpart. In his universe, he wields a malevolent, bloodthirsty, and sentient watch known as the Carnitrix instead of the Omnitrix, which was created by Azmuth to eliminate all life in the universe excluding the Galvan race. He couldn't do anything as he watched his murderous alien transformations murder anyone in their sight.
(As the Carnitrix was about to force Ben to transform into Alien X, Ben was transported to Battle World, which led the Carnitrix to deactivate the transformation. In this new world, Ben attempted to get away from Residents who were trying to help and ended up killing them in a blink of an eye when he was forcibly transformed into XLR8. He was confronted and captured by Odin due to immobilizing the malevolent device with Bifrost.)
Lee Joohee: She is a supporting character in the fantasy manhwa and light novel series, Solo Leveling. She was a hunter who accompanied Sung Jinwoo in Song Chi-Yul's hunter party during the Double Dungeon Arc. Her team's plan to investigate a mystery cave that leads to a strange dungeon goes tragically wrong, and the magic beasts inside wipe out the group. After surviving the crisis with Jinwoo and a few others, she was left with a protracted trauma from which she was unable to fully heal. As a result, she retired from hunting after surviving a dungeon where she met the sadistic hunter, Kang Tae-Shik, once more.
(After the events of Jeju Island, Joohee was about to head home to rest until she was transported to Battle World. She landed on a beach. She explored the area while actively avoiding meeting people as she doesn't know how dangerous they are. She managed to survive by hunting animals until paranoia of being alone in this odd world reached, which led to search for an ally leading to her meeting with Subject Delta.)
Giant Blue Armed Apes: They are intelligent demonic beasts from the fantasy manhua, Tales of Demons and Gods. They are 2-Star Rank in cultivation, with the leader being a 5-Star. They hunt in packs and are agile with thick front arms. They have a particular weakness for Purple Haze Grass, as it's highly toxic to them.
(A couple of these types of demonic beasts were transported to Battle World and spread around to hunt Warriors and Residents.)
King Kong: He is the titular deuteragonist of Peter Jackson's 2005 live-action remake adaptation of King Kong. He is the last of the prehistoric Megaprimatus Kong, enormous gorillas that once inhabited Skull Island. Revered by a derelict human tribe living among the island's ancient ruins, Kong led a solitary existence amidst violent colossal beasts. His reign ended in 1933, when a film crew captured him and brought him to New York City for a Broadway show. Kong broke free, wreaked havoc, and met his demise atop the Empire State Building.
(After his death on top of the Empire State Building, he was resurrected and transported to Battle World. He couldn't cross over the ocean to get back home to Skull Island, not knowing that Battle World isn't Earth. He decided to set his territory in the forest.)