Chapter 298: Phantom Liberty For Those Who Want to Die Another Day Beyond the Thunderdome.

With the Infinite Victory and Conquest corporation bearing down its power on the entire universe, only those working for them managed to not feel something like terror or despair at the moment, and even those officially working for them frequently feeling pressure to keep being on there new "Masters" good side, even up to the Reapers taking part in the Reaper's games.

After Mike and the Wicked Twisters erased Suzuki and the round ended, Tanzo Kubo gathered all the other Reapers before him during the Intermission. In a white bar like chamber the Executor looked around and sneered." Hey, what the hell guys? Some of you look like you're sleepwalking out there when you should be fighting like your lives're on the line. Figuratively speakin', seein' as you're already dead... Nyeheh!"

Kariya and Uzuki looked at each other before Kariya let out an uneasy chuckle." Hey boss man we sure want to wrack the points but take it down a notch before you pop a blood vessel. I don't see a problem. This is our week off, after all. I mean it's suppose to be till you pulled overtime on us. "

Kubo snickered before he shrugged." I get you all have not gone top side much as of late but there's no time for breaks. Are boss has a new boss, and this boss don't care who's living or dead, he want's to see everyone's worth, and I'm not going to look like a chump because of some slackers!"

Kariya shrugged before he leaned back." C'mon just think about it logically eh? Days off are like love letters from the higher-ups. We can't go full blast back-to-back. We'd never make it. I mean Suzuki lost because if was overworked."

"He lost because he was weak Candyman!" Kubo hissed out." You all have to step it up or be left behind."

Sho Minamoto snickered before the Reaper with dark hair licked his lips." Damn right! The game was zetta dull for a while! I was seeking a little flair!? Give it some edge! You brain-dead binomials are pathetic if you can't keep up! Heh heh heh... Zetta fun times. Time for a little quiz: what's the probability of you two surviving the Game? One zeptopercent - if that. Still… something isn't FOILing out right... Did a variable get switched? Seriously…the one who broke Suzuki was not in the list!"

As the other reapers nodded Raphael walked up with a chuckle." That's on me. I decided to throw in a wild card to "spice up the game." But what's the problem? I thought most of you would be eager to be the one who erased the last of the Auro bloodline."

Uzuki heard this and sighed before she shrugged." Seriously? Pfft. The Prince is so yesterday. I'm into the indie scene now! I mean, maybe the angels hid his soul till we took over all of the Afterlife, but unlike his father he's a major nobody, right?"

Kitaniji snickered before he readjusted his sunglasses." I dig why you're misinformed Uzuki, but things changed yah hear? Just before he died, Michale Auro ascended to a power level that made him on par with the rest of his family."

He snapped his fingers before an image showed Mike transforming into his Super Saiyan like form to overwhelm Brandon. The Reapers saw Brandon form a Space-Time Anomaly, and Mike and the others go inside it before Uzuki raised an eyebrow." Hey wait…what happened after that?"

Raphael cleared his throat before answering with a wry," The lad managed to take down his rival, but doing the deed caused the pocket dimension to collapse on him. Since I did not want to miss out on having a lead, I drove his soul here first as my wildcard. So is that not a worthy turn to make this game even more…" special?"

"Is the sum of the angles in a rhombus 360?" Minamoto hissed out with a wild look in his eyes." I'll factorize these fools in one millisecond flat! After all the level of energy that broke Suzuki was not nearly as high."

"Or maybe Suzuki did not require him to go all out eh?" Karyia retorted flatly. The reaper with a lollipop spat out said candy before he narrowed his eyes." Seriously…as much as I would love seeing you get owned, a full powered Auro player is going to be quite the hassle."

Kubo sneered before grasped his hand tightly." Nyeheh. Maybe youse missed the memo but that ain't the tone to take with your elders candyman! If you're freaking out the moment I ramp up the game you're never going to make it. Besides…it seems it took a legit miracle for the drop out to be on par with his folks and he's run out of those! He might have leftovers or something but he's no ace."

Karyia sighed before he closed his eyes." And what if he can?"

Kitaniji smirked before he widened his coat." Then you should take my "insurance."

He took out a handful of pins that all looked like black and red skulls before his grin widened." These Outlet Pins or O-Pins will enhance your power further. We made them under the Gatito brand of Vought.

To right the countless wrongs of our day, we shine this light of true redemption, that this place may become paradise. What a wonderful world such would be yes? With this…long as you're not fools you should be able to handle any player. Just put on a show you here?"

Karyia took the pin and looked around tensely." I don't know...something about this stinks."

Uzuki shrugged before he took his O-Pin." Oh, c'mon, live a little! Secret weapons? Unchained power? Sign me up!"

"Uh-huh. Ever wonder why they keep the chains ON?"

"I guess... it must take a toll."

The blond woman reaper Mitsuki Konishi giggled as she took a O-Pin and smirked." Maybe...but we are at the point where its all or nothing. One person's success is built on another's sacrifice…I don't presume to know the higher up's true intentions. But I intend to outlive this chaos."

Minamoto grasped his own O-Pin and had a wild look in his eye." I can respect that. You want to boost your chances of survival, right? Then you either multiply, or face deletion. No matter what they are, I'll factorize these fools in one millisecond flat!"

Uzuki rolled her eyes before uttering," Is the number-cruncher really trying to become the next Composer? If so, you should work on your delivery. Less math, for starters! Seriously…we still don't know where the Wicked Twisters are!"

Kitaniji readjusted his glasses before he threw in a chilly," That can't help them…we control this game and the only way they get anywhere is if they keep playing. This Neku Sakuraba indeed has been quite the wildcard turning things around but, he's made his "Beat" become quite clear. If we dangle what he wants then he's going to bite…so go on and lay the bait so we can get this show on the road."

Minamoto looked revved up as he howled out," Sounds good to me. That elephantine ellipsoid must be trying to bore me to death with such a simple problem. I'll leave the calculations to you zeptograms. Find where your vectors achieve absolute convergence. Listen up, zeptograms! You wanna be a part of the remainder? Then follow my lead!"

Minamoto took off with the other Reapers leaving with a bit more reservation. Raphael snickered before he glanced at Kubo." Well now Mister Executor it does seem like you just might succeed in making this Reaper's Game the most intense one since its foundation."

Kubo snickered as he looked at the more traditional devil before him." It's do or die Ralph…we either impress the new owners or get shut down. Though with how you threw that curve-ball into the game sounds like you're betting on a upheaval eh? Think I don't see you trying to make sure you get your bet?"

"I'm just ensuring the game has a conclusion. After all Kubo…drama indeed makes things fun but if a game never ends no one gets to collect eh?"

"I told you all its building to something yah hear me? Look, the fact is that we all thought being a demon tormenting lost souls had job security like no other, but the very fabric of reality is going to change soon yah hear me? Now under the new boss even judging the dead has been monetize, and is expected to be profitable eh? We got to show we can adapt or we will be thrown out with the rest of what V-Day sees as obsolete yah hear me?

So that's why more then anything, you think this Auro punk's strong enough to break the game eh?"

"Maybe…maybe not but now things are not predictable eh? Making the last Auro suffer does seem like a way to cap off the game eh? With how things are set up I'm rather sure no matter how high he raises his power level victory will never be in his grasp yes?"

Kubo snickered darkly before he nodded." Got that right. And I admit…much as I don't love curve-balls...I do love being able to make for one brutal show." He heard a growl before he turned around and snickered." After all…never thought I'd be able to let are best guard dog have a good fight. Hear that mutt? You're going to get to take things seriously for once!"

The ground suddenly trembled even harder before Kubo snickered." Ah…you can sense him even down there eh?"

He waved his hand before the bar monitor changed screens, to show an armored figure clad entirely in black and red armor, with a skull like mask with a x shaped visor covering its face bound by red chains, the same figure that beat the will to live out of Gabriel Celeste in the earlier game.

Kubo only saw the figure's eye through its mask and while the look was of pure blood lust Kubo's grin only widened." What's the look for mutt? Nyeheh! You can sense him eh? Well he's are special guest, the star of the show!

And I'm gonna give 'im the real VIP treatment, of course. So don't yap about it, it's not up to a vote on if you're doing your job!

After all…in the end this all kind of started with what you did eh "Terror of Death"?

You reap what you sow, so make a good show about it at least and maybe you will get an extra bone!"

The chained figure caused another tremor with his outburst before he looked down." Mike looks like we I, both were unable to rise above our human existence in the end. Heh…there's nothing more pathetic than a pet who's been abandoned by his master…or his family. Lacking the strength of the wild, he merely exposes his pitiful form to the world and waits to die. But we are both already dead.

So…show me…what marks dead beasts can leave upon the universe!"

As the chained figure keeps howling with rage Mike could feel the terror where he was, but did not know the source of it and just stayed on guard for ambushes.

After we left off with Mike's group before, they started their plan by moving out again, this time traveling to a clock tower.

Mike, Neku, and some of the others saw the tower looked isolated before Mike looked around and raised an eyebrow." So…that's like, a replica of Big Ben from Earth Prime's London right? Did not ace my history tests but I do remember that London was not part of Japan."

Neku shrugged as he looked around." I think this part's suppose to be a theme park…some of the Reaper's really ham it up when they play games. But there's more then Noise here based on what some of the guys have seen. And if it is a Noise, it might be one with enough points for us to make it to the next stage of the game so worth a look right?"

"No kidding." A gruff voice uttered." If I had a god complex, I'd store my crap in here to! Too bad its completely empty."

Mike and his group turned around to see Neon White on a roof top. Another more muscular man with a yellow mask was seen behind him before the man with the more goat like mask laughed." He it's not completely empty bro! There was all the cool graffiti!"

White sighed before he looked back." It was not graffiti Yellow! I told you, it said "here lies the book of death. If thy choice is perdition then taketh this book, and with it the Book of life unto dawn of the final day upon which the "Inkhorn of god" shawl be revealed to thee."

The man named Yellow groaned as he looked back at the tower." I told yah White I don't get medieval crap!"

White facepalmed before he sighed." It was are ticket out of here Yellow!"

Mike looked around before he shrugged." I been having to do a crash course on this whole thing, but this book was supposed to be a way we could come back to life right?"

"One way." Neku answered." But only in rules that this current game is not following. Though, they are leaving the impression it was still here to trap Players."

White snickered before he cocked his gun." Great…came all the way just for the reapers to troll us. Well, not coming up empty on this."

The man named Yellow chuckled as he took out his gun." C"mon bro don't say that! I don't care if we did not find anything! I'm having a blast! Its dope we get a chance to do all the crazy stuff we did in life! And best of all…we don't have to worry about cops here!"

White sighed before he looked up in the sky." Yellow…I bean meaning to ask…what precisely did we do when we were alive?"

"I don't know man, that's why we have to win to remember!"

Mike raised an eyebrow before he looked around." You guys got hit so hard you lost your memories? This contest really does seem brutal."

White paused before he sighed." Well…only one way to get to the bottom of this so let's just do this."

Mike put out a hand before he let out an uneasy chuckle." I mean, is it really the only way? We all know these assholes are having us run around like rats man."

"Sorry if you got roped into this dude but those Reapers made it really clear there's only one way out of this maze."

"True enough but what if we made our own way out?"

"Are you drunk? I followed a plan when drunk once and I think that's how I died."

"Nah I'm sober man. It's just…the Reapers want us to play there game right? If we make them think we are working together just before the" finale" we can turn things around!"

White paused before he looked down." Well…would be nice to not be conned again but this better be able to work."

As Mike was about to explain himself a gruff voice from behind the masked men snickered in disgust." You were really going to work with them? White…have you really forgotten? I'm a bit hurt! I ought to punish you for such an offense, because it just won't due to let a offense slide! You kept me waiting long enough!"

From the shadows a new figure burst out and Yellow pushed White out of the way before he got impaled by a spear. Everyone saw that the attacker was a bulky man with green pants with a more demonic mask over his face. He had a blazing green halo over his head, and was looking blood thirsty as White yelled out," YELLOW! Green, why!?"

The man named Neon Green snickered before cracking his neck." My my…looks like I got a little carried away. I guess seeing traitors makes my blood boil."

White shook Yellow before he winced." YELLOW! Say something! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE GREEN!?"

"What I had to do to make sure the Neon team was not weighed down by fickle fools. Don't be so upset White…The fool chose to leap in front of my blade If you were going to take such a farce of a "peace offering" then you deserved to die…again! They never would work with us White!"

Mike shrugged as he got into a fighting stance." Well if you have that attitude a deal does seem like it's not in the cards jackass!"

"I don't know if you're real or not "Mike Auro" but I won't let anyone get in the way of my plans. White…you derailed my plans in life so don't derail my will in death to!"

Mike had his aura flare up before he got into a fighting stance." I'm just going to say this once asshole…got to be flexible if you want to go anywhere."

Neon Green laughed as he pointed a gun at Mike." You're rolling the dice on hope boy? Have you not wakened up to what this place is? This is not a place of hope, its one of rage and if you don't get with the program you're going to be devoured before the game even reach's the final round! You don't know how long I hungered to cross swords with a "legend" boy, don't let me down

The clock tower suddenly made a loud gong noise before a new figure walked out of the door. He looked like he was an old, short man with a large head wearing traditional Japanese clothing. He was balding and had enlarged earlobes. His expression was a scowl. The man looked stoic before Mike winced." So…that guy another "Base leader?"

The old man grinned before spiting out," Nuraaarihyooon, Nuraaarihyooon!"

Neku winced before he grasped his fist tightly." Get ready Mike…that looks like a man but I'm feeling Noise vibes from him! Guess at least we were on the right track. Yah…it's the Nurarihyon 100 point type Noise!"

The human like noise jumped down from the ledge, changed into a child, then a few moments later it jumped into a naked adult woman. It jumped into the river, which was packed with fish like Noise, and ran on top of them, smiling eerily before White moaned." Damn it I'm in no mood for games."

He shot the Nurarihyon in the head, but its head flinched before regenerated completely and morphed into a giant bald naked man.

Green just laughed before a sphere of green energy surrounded him and he floated above the Noise as his aura seemed to seep into the Nuraihyon." Hahaha…this Reaper's Game is a game of rage boy! Hope is just something to be devoured! White…I was starting to think you forgot what your talent is but it's not thinking! If you don't enjoy the game you will never make it."

White pointed his gun at Green before snapping back with a bitter," Damn it Green do you ever want to get out of here or do you just want to keep killing?"

"I know what I am White, unlike you. Are "sponsors" love to dangle the bait over our heads but it's clear the real prize is being good here! There's no point coming back to life when we can just rule here where we are meant to be!"

"And you're worried we are going to ruin your extended vacation in "paradise" eh?" Mike uttered bitterly." Well some of us have places to be."

Neku grasped a pin in his hand before an aura formed around him." You can puff all you want, you're not getting us to back down. Pyrokinesis!"

The leader of the Wicked Twisters unleashed a pillar of fire that caused the Nuraihyon to yell in pain and Green to have his aura barrier grow to protect him before the man in green snickered." Are you sure you're not also a assassin? You seem to have more of a killer in you then White here!"

"I just want to get my people out of here in one piece…and won't let psychopaths like you stop us! I won't let anyone else be lost to, huh?"

Mike and a few others were about to attack before chains burst out to grasp both Mike and Neku's arms before an aggressive male voice cut in with," Yo only a psychopath would be able to say that with a straight face Phones! You been running for a long ass while but its time you get ready to hurt so get ready to bleed yo!"

A man landed on the ground to the right with a thud. He wore a a black hooded jacket with a white crossbones design, and a white shirt with a chain necklace underneath. He also wore a chain bracelet on his left wrist. The inside of his jacket was bright red. His pants are baggy and solid black, and his shoes were red and black.

Neku saw the man had a skateboard attacked to his back, and black wings coming out of his shoulders before he winced." No…wait…is that you Beat? I thought…I thought you died! You, you're ok?"

The man named Beat snickered before he cracked his neck." Oh I'm better than ok!"

"You…you got wings?"

"Pretty badass, huh? Proves I'm a Reaper, yo.

"A Reaper... You really joined them?"

Mike looked between Beat and Neku before he raised an eyebrow. "Hey, wait you did not say you knew a Reaper man this changes things!"

Beat had a stone-cold look in his eyes before his aura cracked the ground around him." He ain't no friend a' mine…not after he got my sister double killed! Ryme…I saw her be erased before my eyes! It was your fault…you made us think we were going to win!"

"Beat I did not know they screwed with us! I been so much more cautious since then. But you have to know how sorry I am!"

"You think I'm here for some lame ass apology? I only came here to erase you punks before some Noise did!"

"What? You don't really-

"Yo, you hear what I said? Bring it!"

Beat prepared to bash Neku with his skateboard, till Neku had a wall of ice erupt to freeze the new Reaper's arm. Beat winced before veins appeared on his forehead." Pfft! That it? Your psychs is limp, yo! I was hopin' for a real fight, man. Guess you're a fraud in every way!"

He broke the ice but before he could reach Neku, Mike blocked him with a kick. As Beat's eyes twitched Mike sighed." I may be new here but if you're just going to be a pawn of the reapers nothing will get better!"

"Maybe…but at least I won't be a damn fool! Beggin' won't work, yo so just take the beat-down and at least you won't waste even more time!"

"No…there is a way out of this!"

Beat saw Mike's resolve and grit his teeth." You even more messed up then Neku man? The way things are going down even if you do win you would just be back here anyway! The whole universe is under my boss's boss's thumb!"

"Then we just got to go somewhere else!"

"What you playing at punk?"

"Look, I get it too big for you to get but there's other Universe's out there, and some are not down being enslaved by the bosses of your boss, this" Negaverse." If we get to them there's still a shot."

"Yah but you can't get to them if your dead eh?"

"Hey I may have skipped a few steps but I wanted to get your attention Beat. I'm just saying that if we can get past this there is options. But first got to be real with us is there a way out of here or not?"

Beat winced before he looked down." Oh there is a way out, I saw my bosses use it to go back to the" RG" Er…the "Real universe" and here, the Underground or UG". But only they can open the door."

"So…in other words we need to be in the "room where it happens" to have a shot, and the only way to do that is to play the game to get them to open the door right?"

Beat widened his eyes before he looked down." That would be the only way to pull it off."

"So tell me Beat." Mike uttered with grim resolve." I get Neku let you down, I been there. But do you think the other Reapers are going to live up to their promises or do you think if we pull a fast one on them we will be able to pull things off? "

Beat looked conflicted before everyone heard a snarl. The Nuraihyon then transformed into a black behemoth before Neon Green laughed." You can't run from fate White! These fools are just wasting your time so embrace what we are and get a good rush out of it!"

Beat narrowed his eyes before uttering," Cut it out try hard…not all of us are doing this for a rush!"

Green snickered before he grasped his hand tightly." You're doing this because you lost something reaper? If you play the game long enough any feeling can be found."

The massive Noise turned into a giant woman that laughed in a deranged manner before Beat had his eye twitch." Forget your place Player? Don't tell me what I want! All yo' asses is grass!"

Beat punched the giant woman into Green and hit them hard enough to collide into the clock tower. Beat had his aura flare up before uttering," Get in my way and get shredded, yo!" He unleashed a barrage of arrow-like projectiles that formed a design similar to that of the Cosmic Pull pin on his chest. It unleashed an explosion that blasted caused the Clock Tower to blow up.

He saw Neon Green get blown into the sky before he shrugged." That place reeked anyway. So now…guess the Twister Reapers just got enough points to make the next round."

Neku widened his eyes before he gulped." Beat…that mean you forgave me?"

"I'm not doing this for you I'm doing this for Rhyme yah hear me Phones!? But if this is some trick I'm erasing you all as payback yah hear me?"

White glanced at Yellow before he grasped his gun tightly." Same here…I'm in this mess because I took someone's word and as crazy as Green is I still know him more then I know you."

Mike put up his hand before he sighed." No offense guys but what do you have to lose? They plan to make us run around in their maze before we drop. At least, at least we can make a stand."

White paused before he looked at the sky." And you're sure when you get through there will be someone that makes sure we have an exit?"

Mike paused before he snickered." I can't make any calls unless there's some afterlife phone laying around but, if I know my friends, they don't just roll over, even now. So, let's try not to keep them waiting too long, eh?"

White rubbed his head before he groaned." Ok seriously though do you have a plan other than crossing your fingers?"

Mike paused before he eyed Beat carefully." Oh, there's something planned for the finale Neon Man…I'm just not really keen on divulging it to those that might get in the way of the plan yah hear?"

Beat saw Mike's eyes before he snickered." I can see why you could take down that tool Suzuki dude. Fine…if you're making a" big play" I'll make more points either way if you all make a big " thing" other than just running around like rats."

Neku winced before he looked down." Beat I."

"Yo, enough wid the huff, man! Tha's weak! Don't you start blubberin' on me now. I pave my own roads, yo. I'll see what road looks better as things are winding down, but you better haul it."

Beat snickered before he took off. Mike saw he went off before he looked in the sky, and saw a list of "fallen players" flash by before he shrugged." Well…could have gone worst. Even if we don't have the leader of the Neon team on board, long as we can get a few players on all sides we can still get it to work."

White sighed as he looked at Yellow's body dissolving." If Green keeps acting like this after he got away from that then soon he will only be leading his damn mask. I guess if that Reaper is just going to blab about this to the other reapers, then your plan might be sinking fast man."

Neku sighed before he shrugged." Beat…is a prideful guy, and his sister Rhyme meant everything to him. I, I was reckless and it cost him everything. We, just better hope he cares more about rescuing his sister then getting back on me."

Mike saw Neku looked down before he nodded." Hey man I know where you been…I got my brother, and maybe my entire family killed because I made a bad call. I messed up so big that I have to get back to life because giving up my life a dozen times would just be enough to make up for it.

Even if your both souls now at least you and Beat can still make up. My brother Richard, my parents, and Max, I don't think I'll ever get that chance now. But, got to do what I can."

Neku saw the grief in Mike's eyes before he nodded." I get how you feel Mike. But, you really think just by seeing you playing in the Reaper Games your friends that are still alive would know what to do?"

Mike patted Neku on the back before he nodded." I know you were not there Neku but these guys have made the impossible possible more than a few times now. I know they will think of something. So, let's see if we can contact that Hyde Kido and Kei Kurono on the other teams can be won over to and just maybe for once things will stay on course."

White saw Neku and Mike prepare to leave before he chuckled bitterly." As above...So below. At least I don't feel like a tool here."

The masked man followed the Wicked Twisters out to the next phase of their operation and as they did, Mike's hopes were correct as his friends still among the living were on the verge of risking everything to defy the invincibility of the Infinite Victory and Conquest Corporation.

At the moment, the Neu Deusura and what was left of the Great Garmillas Imperial Astro Fleet had just exited Hyperspace and emerged in the Lylat System. It emerged near Corneria airspace, and was surrounded by thousands of ships, from people all over the universe that were heading to where they were summoned to not be destroyed.

As the flagship of the Garmillas clan approached the Homelander-like structure big enough to have the capital of the broken Bethal Kingdom in its palm some mecha approached it.

It was black and green with a ring around it with many weapons, and other machines were behind it as its pilot flew right above the Neu Desura." This is Snail… deputy commander of the Arquebus Corporation's elite combat unit the Vespers, and the one the Vought clan put in charge of this region of space. If you don't state your intention my AAP07A: ARQUEBUS BALTEUS and all the forces under command will label you as a hostile to be destroyed."

Dessler saw that dozens of mecha, and the very flag ship of the Gatlantis Empire, the massive White Comet like" Ark of Destruction", and the A-Ruol warship was approaching before Dessler gave a bow." I come to beg for forgiveness from Homelander.

I admit, when we were first attacked, I was confused about the situation, but it's become clear who the master of the universe is so I come to beg for the survival of the Garlmias people."

The pilot Snail snickered before he turned around." What you think V.I Freud? The boss think this "Lord" begged fast enough?"

There was silence for a few moments before another man, the pilot named Freud sighed." As much as I would love to ram my LOCKSMITH's blade through this man's heart…I just got word that Ragnayael Dynharish wants to speak to them. Just be warned, I have a very itchy trigger finger."

Dessler nodded…before the hologram of the leader of the UND faction of the IV&C to appear, Ragnayael Dynharish. The red skinned man snickered before he widened his hands." So...the great Garmillas clan has come to face reality? That took shorter time then the data indicated. I suppose even you want to still live eh?

But that's an act only caring for oneself, an act unthinkable for a true employee of the IV&C. We have no concept of father or son…only of those who are productive, or a waste of resources. Everything else is a waste of resources. You think you have some worth?"

Dessler smirked before he shrugged." Well, I have managed to rule very effectively. If I can just present my case then I think I can make that clear."

"By your standards maybe but not ours! It's only because you might have some potential that you're not being fired on, but you will have to wait your turn. For your defiance you don't get to take part in the celebration and will wait here till it's time for your evaluation."

Dessler saw ships all over the region of space before he frowned." So, everyone in the universe is to pay tribute here? Is this to take weeks?"

"Of course not. Only those worthy enough will be dealt with in person…everyone else will be "evaluated" virtually. Just be ready for your turn or prepare to die."

"Very well. But can I at least send the gifts I had as a tribute? Two shipments of wine, one for the Godolkin University, and the other for the Black Sapphire in the Dogtown section."

Ragnayael paused before he sighed." It does seem that Homelander, Stormfront and some of the others enjoy that Baleras Wine. So be it. But your agents will be monitored."

"Very well…the porters will deploy shortly."

Dessler had two transport ships leave, and one of them was a heavily modified Flutter. To everyone's relief after some moments when the ship was scanned, they were allowed into Night city.

Tyson, Raymond, Mark, and a few of the others were in the crate heading for the Dogtown section Raymond winced." Man…feels like they are just letting us walk into our own graves here."

Tyson, once more putting up a look like his Drebin identity shrugged." No offense but they are making it clear that they have a claw on everyone's throat, that they are the predator and everyone else is their prey.

Not saying we can let are guard down for a moment, but Homelander and a lot of these assholes already think they won. Sure as hell got to keep our guard up but, if we play it cool, we can be on their throat's before they realize what's going down. For Mike's sake…it's going to work."

Everyone remained on guard, but was allowed to land on Homelander's moon sized head. They were sent to the Dogtown section and saw they were approaching four independent towers connected to the ground and top floors through elevators, and to each tower via bridges. The unfinished hotel stood at a height of 415m (1360 ft) and has 99 floors, with a total of 2792 rooms.

Mark saw the Hotel before he raised an eyebrow." Is this where the guests are supposed to sleep?"

Johnny Sliverhand snickered before he cracked his neck." Not quite" Prince." It is the headquarters of Barghest.

After the Vought Unification War, Kurt Hansen laid claim to the unfinished hotel and transformed it into his new base of operations."

"He never finished the hotel?"

"Nah…keeps people's guard down. This mad dog has kept all the other dogs off his back so don't relax till this is over."

The ship was guided to a cargo bay, and the makeshift crew were greeted by Kurt Hansen himself, a bald milltary man with cybernetic parts all over his body.

The head of the " Dogtown section" of Night City looked at Sam as everyone else posed as his aides before he snickered." So this is the envoy that one of the great " Clan heads" sends eh?"

Sam looked around and gave off a shrug that tried to look as indiffrent as possible." I don't make the plans sir, I just send the packages."

This caused Kurt to snicker." Guess so. Well, guess the mighty really have fallen. Whateverhelped offload the wine. As they looked around and realized they were in the "enemy base" Sam looked around after having gotten everyone in before he sighed." How the hell am I still involved in this?"

Johnny snickered before he patted the porter on the back." Guess it's a good thing you do so little no one remembers you eh Sam? Well…this is going to be one hell of a homecoming."

Tyson looked around and saw men that looked angry, but not looking at them before he shrugged." Alright…anyone got an idea on where are "pal" is hanging out? Only so far we can wad in the pool before we are in the deep end. Just as they walked past a hanger a gun came out of a slot before a calm voice uttered," Your already drowning fool."

Before anyone could move the same voice uttered," Don't turn around, eyes on the cargo. What are you holding?"

Tyson took a deep breath before he closed his eyes." Got this token…mean anything to you?"

He had a Bethal coin slide out of his sleeve, before the same voice responded with," It does…but I need more info."

Johnny snickered before he looked around." Keeps his cards close this one."

The same voice uttered," Who sent you?"

"Queen"

"I don't know any Queen, and neither do you. Just get your asses in here quick to help with the "cargo."

The window quickly closed and Tyson looked at his group before they nodded and went in the door. They saw a closet, and walked up to it. After a moment they saw a sewer hole, and went down it.

Once they went down the hole closed, they saw they were in a wider room, and saw before them a man with tall, dark and masculine individual with black skin, with short hair, goatee with a connected mustache (a circle beard), and visible cyber-ware in his temples and neck.

He wore a long, dark leather jacket with a red lining inside and a shirt underneath. He wore a long necklace with a circular pendant and had a cold look.

He looked at everyone and just muttered a blunt," Is she safe?"

Tyson nodded before he took a deep breath." Last time we checked…and we came here to make sure that's the case. Before I tell yah anymore, who is asking?"

The man before him sighed." Solomon Reed…a man of honor, a patriot, a comrade."

Sonic was hiding behind a hologram disguise Ratchet gave him, but lowered it and snickered as he looked at Knuckles." Man I almost thought that guy was you knuckle head he sounds just like you!"

Knuckles raised an eyebrow before uttering," You lose to many rings Sonic this guy sounds nothing like me!"

"Heh, maybe after a few drinks."

Shadow rolled his eyes before spitting out," Calm down faker, if they hear us everything's over before it begun."

Solomon glanced at Shadow before he glanced at Johnny." I heard Johnny Sliverhand was resourceful, did not think he would have a black hedgehog stunt double."

Shadow raised an eyebrow before he glanced at Johnny." I thought you were a professional agent that made Rouge look like an amateur so how can you make such a bad call? I don't nearly sound that old."

"Old?" Johnny spat out bitterly." I thought your centuries old at this point?"

"But an Ultimate life-form is not nearly as short a lifespan as a…robotically enhanced half time rockstar half time merc."

Johnny was ready to let Shadow have it before Tyson put up his hand." We can argue over who sounds like who when we are not on the verge of being wiped out ok guys? Reed…nothing personal but time's not on are side so are you up to speed?"

Reed saw Sonic's group looking angry at each other before he sighed." Enough to know this is far from an ideal situation, but we work with what we got. Apologizes for the precautions…I only ever risk so much these days. Sometimes it's safer to shove a Malorian between a choom's ribs even if he's on your side."

Sonic raised an eyebrow before uttering," What's a choom? A robot? "

Johnny sighed before retorting with," Its Night City slang…I'll fill you in later."

Reed looked around before uttering," Clear some of you are not in my "biz" but if you want this to succeed you have to do everything I say you hear me? Die-Hardman said this is all to save Prince Auro and sabotage the enemy. That really possible?"

Tyson nodded before chuckling bitterly." Not going to lie, it's the longest of long-shots Reed. But to be blunt…its either that or just begging for mercy."

"If that's the case then so be it. But I need to know just want you intend to do before I can help you."

"Fair enough. We know Mike is taking part in a Reaper's Game right now. The prize is coming back to life but if he wins he would come back under Homelander's foot, or worst. We need a distraction to hijack the process so he comes back in a way that he's not screwed."

"So…you mean Arasaka Tower…there headquarters?"

"Yah, to be more precise the underground quantum server that revives the dead."

"And…what's your exit plan?"

"Might be better if you don't know the details yet but the short story is, reinforcements will cause a distraction, one way or another."

"Based on where you are, that reinforcement better be a god."

"We will worry about that later, first we have to pull this off so can you help us or not?"

"I can…but again…we have no room for error here. You're going to have to convince one of the few souls in the whole universe that can change things, Hanako Arasaka."

Tyson raised an eyebrow before he cleared his throat." Wait…you mean one of the family members of the Arasaka Corporation? AKA one of the top folks leading this whole universe wide attack?"

"Yes, on the first part but…there's more going on then what the public has been aware of. Hanako Arasaka is the third child and only daughter of her father Saburo. Hanako is a skilled, self-taught Netrunner and the head of the Kiji Faction of the Arasaka Corporation.

She was fiercely loyal to her father, but the issue is that her father is no longer alive. The fact that her brother Yorinobu murdered his father take charge of the company."

Jonny snorted out bitterly as he looked down." A lot must have changed since I remember she was blaming me for her old man's death!"

Reed shrugged before replying with a detached," Part of what I was doing this whole time was working with a disgraced bodyguard of her father, Goro Takemura, to expose the truth to her.

It took some very careful moves during the at the dashi float parade in Japantown during Aratama-matsuri festival…but we were able to debrief her in the abandoned apartment building in the Vista del Rey section.

She…wanted payback but did not have the means. Now…might be the time. She is hear now, taking part in the events on the gambling at this casino. To be honest…most feel money is not going to matter much but its all a show for who still has worth, and that means guards are down.

My agent Songbird is up there right now. With her help we can have a way to distract the defenses of Arasaka Tower. If she can get you the Bartmoss Memorial ICEbreaker it might help. After that, it's on your side planning to figure out a way past their defenses, and Homelander, and all the other forces from his new allies that keep growing each day."

Mark shrugged before he looked down." Well, an army of vengeful Viltrumite's should be enough of a distraction."

As Reed looked shocked Johnny took off his glasses." Tell me Reed, is Rogue Amendiares in this party?"

"She is."

"Great…time for her to pay back a debt she owns me. She can rally enough locals to help swarm the tower. If we can get Alt hooked in…we might just be able to pull this off."

Reed looked at everyone before he narrowed his eyes." You do realize what you're up against yes? Homelander, Stormfront, and all of the major Vought sups are around the tower, along with many others from this Infinite Victory and Conquest corporation. I have not gathered enough data to know much but I know that you all here, even with Omni-Man and all the surviving Viltrumite warriors alive are not enough."

Tyson shrugged as he looked down." That's why this is just half of the plan man. Ezan Zeon is leading the others at, and you trust him right?"

Reed paused before he nodded bitterly." I know he's the most elite of us still living, but even he can't pull this off on his own. So, get ready as I and my cohort Alena "Alex" Xenakis set things up and prepare to act like you been a regular at the Black Sapphire.

If Kurt Hansen thinks for a second something's off and alerts Homelander or one of the others, it's all over."

Tyson saw Sam look pale before he shrugged." Well, I don't hear any explosions of sense any power levels coming down on us so seems like the group that went to Godolkin University seem to be keeping it together so far. As revved up as Astra is, between James, Ezan, and the others in her group hopefully they can keep her on track. I want to make these assholes pay to but, got to play this cool."

"That's an understatement." Reed uttered sharply." From what I gather are entire universe may depend on this mission, so we have to act on logic, not emotion to have a chance."

Sonic wagged his finger before he smirked." That's not really my thing but I'll hang low till its go time."
"If you don't have what we need for this why are you even here?"

"Because I can run fast, fast enough to bail some of you out of this falls apart!"

As Knuckles nodded Reed resisted the urge to facepalm." I just hope this other team's foundation is solid. Alright, throw on your new threads for the next phase of the operation, and plaster on your best fake smiles because a party awaits...the last party for this universe."

The group nodded as they prepared to make their way up the Black Sapphire without alerting the countless beings that would kill them on sight.

As they did, the others also had begun their infiltration of Mekacity or "Night City."

Fragile was able to get her group up to the front gates of Godolkin University. Fragile saw some Vought guards and just tipped her umbrella." Fragile from Fragile Express here with a premium delivery! As always its handled with love."

As the guards looked at each other the porter shrugged." Did you not want enough wine for the Godolkin University dorms?"

As the guards looked at Fragile carefully a female voice cried out," Oh hell yes! Just in time!"

A woman with blond hair to her back in a university uniform ran out before she smirked." Cate Dunlap…"Guardian of Godolkin" here to pick up the order. Daddies right…making sure the entire university has a good time will ensure we prove we belong in the new era!"

Fragile saw Cate's zeal before she smiled." Are you in charge of the activities today Miss Dunlap? My…client just wants to know how to distribute it. It effects are pay and all."

"Oh, for that…talk to that grouchy coach Endeavor…he's the one in charge of security during the event. Um…he's in the stadium at the moment."

Everyone saw the stadium to the right and went in. They saw a sports stadium that seemed normal, other than the fact that there was blood all over the field, and people picking up body parts.

In the center of the field was an angry man yelling at others, a man who had fire on his head and seemed indifferent to it. He was a tall, sturdily-built man with a very muscular physique. He had short crimson hair, which he wore spiked up around his head, and sharp turquoise eyes.

He was dressed in a tight, navy turquoise bodysuit, with flames streaming across his chest, upper torso, arms, and most prominently, his shoulders. He used his flames as a makeshift mask around his eyes, and his tall boots appeared to be either made of fire themselves or constantly left alight, as only their soles and laces were visible around the flames.

He sported white bracers on his lower arms, styled in a cage pattern, and a blue belt with a pouch on either side.

The man saw Fragile and those with her walking in before he grit his teeth." Hey…watch the lawn I already have enough to clean up after all the try outs today!"

"My apologies Coach Endeavor but you are Enji Todoroki yes?"

"Are you blind it's on my name tag!"

"True but it's just we were sent hear to talk about the wine for tonight's events, and also talk to you about those who share your name for the in depth planning."

Endeavor winced before he looked at those behind Fragile, and saw they all had caps covering their faces before he grit his teeth." Is that it? Alright, then come with me to my office…quickly."

Everyone followed Endeavor, and while some looked at them, they saw Endeavor look angry and backed off. After only a few minutes they entered an office before Endeavor looked around, took a deep breath, and pressed a button. The windows then were covered by blinds before he nodded." Alright…the room is as secure as its going to get. So…you're the last of the Enji eh?"

Astra threw off her cap, rubbed the black hair she was using as a wig, and took a large breath before she snickered." More like someone on their side at the moment hot head. But, if you're looking for the other Enji then just look here."

The blond woman pressed a button on one of the boxes, before the hologram image of Ezan appeared. Endeavor looked shocked before he grit his teeth." Sir Ezan…you really are alive?"

"For the moment. One moment."

There was a flash before Ezan used his Amenotejikara spell to switch places with the cargo box. As the sliver haired man landed on the ground vie his space–time spell Endeavor stood back." So…the rumors were true after all."

"I could say the same about you Endeavor." Ezan uttered sorely." There has been a lot going on, but hearing that you joined the Vought Clan."

"I beg for your forgiveness." Endeavor uttered with dismay as he got on his knees." My heart was always loyal to the Enji and the Bethal Kingdom. But when Homelander came to are world faster than we expected…I had to vow loyalty to the Vought clan so he would spare my family.

Even if I had to become nothing more than their dog and stand by as he killed my comrades like Shota Aizawa…at least being here in this revolting Godolkin University let me keep seeing my family here and protect them as much as I could!"

Ezan saw Astra about to bark out a revolted remark before he put his hand up to stop her." I understand how the times demand we make horrible choices to survive, but if you truly are sorry then you have to redeem yourself now.

You been in this University long enough to have some access and help us get to where we need to be correct?"

Endeavor took a deep breath before he stood back up and nodded." I sure as hell can't defy Homelander or the Seven…but I can help you get through some of the lower-level stuff without heads turning. So, it's true what Reed told me in the transmission…and you're trying to bring back Prince Auro from the dead?"

Astra spat on the ground before she retorted with a driven." You bet your ass we are. We might not be able to win with this…but we have to show everyone we have not lost either…because it really is all or nothing now. Still…you better explain how the hell us coming to this eyesore of a dorm is supposed to help us do that."

"It's because people from here are about to fight to prove their worth, or die."

Tanjiro was one of the ones in the group, and he took off his cap and blinked in shock." Wait…but this university is primary the school of those who follow this Homelander right? Why would he make his own students fight to the death?"

Endeavor grasped his fist hard enough for fire to come out of it before he uttered a bitter," He's saying it's this Infinite Victory and Conquest Corporation that demands to see who is truly worth being part of them, but the truth is that he just about always saw this entire school as a place to groom his foot soldiers."

Wolverine walked by and looked at one of the monitors, showing a black skinned male who's tag said Andre Anderson use his apparent control over magnetism to have the ground around him shoot up to block a laser being fired at him from a Asian looking woman who's tag said Jordan Li before he snarled in disgust." Xaiver would have found this "Godolkin University" to be a mockery of everything he and the X-men stood for bub."

Endeavor glanced at the mutant warrior before he shrugged." The Wolverine still lives eh? I won't deny that this place is made to help Vought over anyone, but the current dean Indira Shetty has done a hell of a job convincing folks all over the universe that getting into "God U" is the best thing that could happen to their kid. But it's the complete opposite of places like the Enji or the school Charles Xaiver used to run back in the day…or are own former U.A. High School.

See… the education at God U is eerily similar to the Division I college sports programs that serve as the gateway to professional sports careers in worlds like Earth Prime and so many others.

The young supes are constantly pitted against each other, put under pressure and build up their brands on the side, all in the hopes of being one of the few to eventually get drafted into a Vought superhero strike team. And just like in college sports, there's no shortage of scandals, from students getting killed or maimed to the university covering up the crimes of their stars.

Their training leads up to the annual "Vought Hero Draft," where once a year, the best and brightest young supes compete for Vought International contracts to protect Vought planets, or kill their enemies.

The Vought Hero Draft already causes students to try and sabotage each other, but now that it's for the sake of who is worthy of this "V-Day" prick's attention and who's a disgrace, well, the mess on the field is the least gruesome thing I had to clean up today.

As revolting as the whole thing is, today it's what is going to help you all. Because it's been so cutthroat, there are many openings to be filled to take part in the culling games…this "King of Iron Fist Tournament "that's about to kick off in the section labeled the" Thunderdome". And so, if there are replacements then they are not going to pay attention too much. That's you're opening."

James raised an eyebrow." But are they really just going to let someone they don't know take part in their grand "game"?"

They will if it comes from the right source. If someone recommends a candidate they won't ask questions, at least not fast enough to stop this."

"You really have that much pull eh?" Astra snorted out before her response is, "Not me." Endeavor grimly retorted." But I can get you to someone that will. The caretaker of those in the Woods."

"The hell? We are betting everything on the backing of the Gardner of this joke of a school?"

"It's not that simple. The woods are underground medical facility where Vought International conducts human experiments on Supes, typically students from the university who are mentally ill or unstable.

Nicknamed after the pictures of forests plastered on the facility's cell room walls, it is located beneath Godolkin University. They use to hide it but, at this point they are showing that the law means nothing to them and now are upfront of it, threatening to stuff any" failure" in there.

At the moment, its mostly where unstable failures are held, either to be researched, or to be stored till they are executed. Most who run it are amoral, aside from one, the member of the Vought Family Abigail or" Abby" Vought."

"Wait you seriously want us to bet everyone on one of the family members of the psychopaths that caused Homelander in the first place? Hell I never even heard of her. What is she so crazy that they lock her away because they are afraid of her?"

"Sort of...but its not because they are afraid of her...but embarrassed of her."

As everyone looked confused Endeavor sighed."That's, because she's the black sheep of the family. Abby Vought is the granddaughter of Frederick Vought, the inventor of Compound V. She did not have the personality traits that most in her family had, and frankly was not very competent. The kind way that most publicly say is that she thinks differently, the blunt way to say it is that she is mentally impaired.

She was infused with Compound V to "improve" her and it enhanced her senses so she was not completely a invalid, and turned her from just being fat to someone who had elastic, blubbery skin that allowed her to be virtually immovable.

Truthfully, she is put in charge of those in the Woods mostly because they want to give the impression that every member of the Vought Clan is on top, even if it's on top of the dregs. Still, they will take her recommendation on face value mostly because most don't even want to deal with the" Trash" other than to dispose of them.

And it will be easier this way because she wants to keep her friends alive. To be honest this was also to keep my sons from fighting. Dabi…he's itching to fight to prove he's " on top." But one way or another he will start something that he would never be able to stop. I'm sorry it's not fool proof but, this was the best I could come up with."

Astra saw Endeavor looking ashamed before she rolled her eyes." Eh don't stroke out about it, we pulled through worst plans. So, we just have to convince this grandma to put us on the list?"

Endeavor steeled himself before he nodded." She's not quite a grandma, her aging stopped long ago so it's more like a middle-aged woman. But yes, convince her that she won't have to have her "friends" fight and it should be straight forward. From there you will be shipped to the Thunderdome castle, a floating island run by Homare Nishitani III and then, it's up to you all."

Astra snickered before she cracked her neck." Well I'll start the party and then we will see who can really last the longest!"

Ezan nodded as he looked outside." A lot of us are rather well known. At the very least Astra is not classified as a Bethal agent so, she will kick things off."

"Very well." Endeavor uttered." Then follow me and act like you been here before."

Everyone put on their disguises as they followed Endeavor out of the stadium. They kept a low profile as they followed him to the university's park before most spread out to avoid getting attention as they looked at Astra.

While they thought he was going to take her into the park, till he went up to a tool shed and put his id on a shelf. The shelf glowed for a few moments and slid down, before the floor around the shed collapsed to reveal a staircase.

Endeavor saw everyone and nodded." Alright, one slip up can ruin everything from here so, most of you wait out here while I take her in."

The group braced themselves before Astra followed Endeavor into the underground medical facility. It looked like a mundane office building, till Astra heard a explosion. While the blond woman at once went for her sword Endeavor muttered," calm down, that's just the inmates fighting each other for another" test."

Astra felt various magical energies around each other before she saw the guards looking at her and nodded. Endeavor saw the guards before a woman walked up. This woman with tan skin and silver hair in a grey and dark blue outfit looked at Endeavor with annoyance." What is it now Endeavor?"

He nodded before glancing behind him. " I know it was not on the timetable Warden Sigma Fisher…but we got the new playmate for Abby's "class." So open up before she gets impatient."

The guards heard screaming in the distance before Warden Fisher snickered."Doctor Bastion is conducting an experiment but if you want to get in that mess it's on you."

They opened the doors after seeing Astra did not seem hostile, and let them in. They went through a tunnel that closed midway to lock them off before they went to a wide round room where a black woman with dreadlocks for her hair a prison outfit was lashing out at a blond-haired woman with a whip made out of her blood and hit her into the wall.

The blond woman just lets out an unhinged cry before she suddenly grew to the size of a giant.

The curly haired man just had his eyes glow as he looked at a large black sphere next to him and snarled out," Let's see you put this on your damn Fun Sized with Little Cricket Vtube blog Emma!"

He kicked the large ball, and the giant woman got hit in the face. As she fell down she yelled out," I'm going to spit you out for that Marie!"

She went to pick up the sphere, before it rippled, and smashed her in the face. It suddenly rolled out like an armadillo, revealing the sphere was a woman, a huge, obese woman with a large chin and round gnome like nose dressed in a messy Vought " gym couch" outfit.

She had shaggy black hair to her shoulders and a very wide mouth with full lips and wide large, round teeth before she spat out a smile and said," Bizz…wrong game Emma! You lost dodge ball so take your lumps! We are having cabbage again after all tonight!"

The woman gave an amused laugh before Warden Fisher walked up and cleared her throat." "Professor Vought…" Bastion was trying to get some test results that are not finished yet."

This Abby just snickered before she belched." Eh I was not paying attention so I like this game better!"

Fisher glanced at Endeavor and Astra before she sighed." It seems like something's required are attention, if they came down here it must be important since well no one, eh never mind. What is it Endeavor?"

The man with fire around his face took a deep breath before he nodded to Astra." Mistress Vought I,"

"Eh come on Enji we are pals don't call me that you can call me Abby!"

Endeavor saw the Warden the guards still looked on guard before he nodded." Thank you…Abby. I'm sorry to interfere with your gym class but, we don't have much time. I came here because this woman seems ideal to be the replacement pick form the Woods as the tribute for the cullings in the thunderdome."

Abby saw Astra beneath the cap she had on before she raised an eyebrow." Oh? Who are you? Why are you being sent here?"

As Endeavor winced Astra snickered before she spat on the ground." The name's Pam…and they sent me here because they said my strength makes me "unstable"."

"Oh? So you think your stronger then me?"

"Ah well…I think it's a fair shot."

"Ok then lets fine out!"

Abby suddenly blew an incredible amount of air into her body, and Astra inflated her muscular structure before distributing the air throughout her body, with emphasis on her upper half.

Astra was not sure if this was a joke till she saw Abby's arm glow red, and suddenly her fist drew back into her enlarged forearm…and making it look like the barrel of an actual cannon…before she slugged Astra.

The blond woman had to move fast to parry the punch, and she cursed as the impact blew everyone else off their feet and caused a shock-wave.

The blond woman realized she broke a sweat before she chuckled as she saw Abby just looked excited." Damn…that's one hell of a solid punch!"

"And you look cool blocking it!" Abby threw out." If she's strong enough to block my serious punch then let's have her go!"

The guards got back up before Warden Fisher cleared her throat." All due respect but, Marie Moreau was selected to be the new pick."

"No way! Homelander was just mad that Marie laughed at him and wants to see her die! But this is my school. It does not matter who else is the boss in the whole universe in my space it's my say! If Pam wants to fight, she should go. Otherwise I'll fight!"

The guards looked at each other before Warden Fisher sighed with disgust." No no…we will go with the newb. We are running out of time and its…faster this way. Guess a fight is what they are looking for and not an execution. Just get ready soon."

Abby pumped her fists in the air before she grinned." Alright pizza night is on! You can have one to when you get back Pam!"

Astra saw the woman looked sincere before she put the cap she had back on." Thanks for the offer but this whole thing sounds like it might go on a long time. They…did not tell you what this is all about Abby?"

Abby rolled her eyes before she turned around." Stormfront kept saying something that was going to decide our destiny was about to happen but that stuff's always so boring and makes me hungry.

They don't like that I don't care about that stuff so they keep me here but the joke's on them that stuff's all lame anyway and I get to play with my pals here instead of all that stuff! But they said some stuffy guy was going to be real mad if we did not prove are selves so I had to pick someone, but if you want to go then that's even better!"

Astra smirked before she nodded." Oh I'm a gal that does not back down from a fight alright. The more hardcore they make it the more hardcore I want to win! No matter what they have planned…I'm not backing down!"

"Great then let's start before they all get angry again! Take her to the thing Cam!"

Endeavor saw the staff looked like they were just happy to make the deadline before he nodded." Alright "Pam", we will be preparing to transfer you to the Thunderdome shortly. If you want to eat or anything else do it now. I'm not sure when the fighting will end, or if they will allow it to end."

Astra saw Abby pat a detached Emma on the back before she cracked her knuckles." That's fine by me…I already been fighting my whole life so stepping it up is no problem. Sounds like the folks around here could use a little equalizing since it seems they were just about to be shoved off to the trash. I'll start the party, but someone else is going to have to open the door so Tyson, you guys better be ready because we are only going to get one shot."

The warden saw Astra deep in thought before Fisher eyed her cautiously." Alright you better get ready, Homelander, Stormfront, and the rest will tolerate no delays to the celebration so follow me. Oh yes, and someone clean up this mess! It was Dean's shift yes? Where the hell is that fossil?"

The door to the right slide open, before the same janitor that cleaned up Maeve's death in Homelander's room stumbled in. He coughed a bit before he gave out a weary sigh." Apologizes Warren…Sam had another outburst that knocked me out."

"You think that's an excuse? It's your fault for being too slow…there will be more merits off your account. For someone so worthless you should really be trying harder."

Abby laughed as she glanced at the janitor." Ah don't worry you can make it up at the pizza party tonight Dean cause it's going to be wild! And I'm glad your around because of your eyes."

"What are you talking about...he just has the eyes of any broken old man."

"Nah...he has the eyes of a kind person."

"My...lady...that's because he does not have the authority to be aggressive here. In the grand scheme of things that really does not matter to e,"

Abby slammed her foot down hard enough to shake the entire area before she yelled out," I don't care what anyone else thinks that's what matters to me and I won't budge on it!"

"Ugh...whatever gets you to go along with things more smoothly I suppose."

As Abby did a " Happy Happy Joy dance" as a result, Astra saw the janitor looked broken...like he was just running on fumes, but's her attention was diverted as music suddenly started playing, The Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley as a new man walked into the room, a grim tall man with fair skin, blue eyes and white hair with a goatee. He wore a black latex bodysuit with a pinkish-purple triangle around its neck The man smirked as Astra looked at her before he widened his hands." Nifty bop eh? So your the one?"

Astra shrugged before cracking her neck." Depending on who's asking."

"Heh...your going to need that sass to last the day girl. I'm Director Bastion...Head of Vought Operation: Zero Tolerance. So come on and sit tight so we can get this started."

"Depends on what you think your sticking into me."

"Now now I'm just helping you get ready for the show...I would never dare deny Homelander his show. Yes...I've had to be... bad lately, but heat, like music, it soften things. Softens follicles, hmmm... opens pores, makes the flesh pliable. This way, once I have to get to work it goes smooth as butter. So long as you stay still. So long as you don't resist. Simply listen and obey. See? You were born for this."

She saw Bastion motion her down the hall and went over to Endeavor to prepare as Abby went on to tell Dean about what she did.

As Astra prepared to give everything to save Mike, her comrades were moving as fast as they could without revealing themselves.

Back at the Black Sapphire, after very careful instructions Reed was able to get Tyson's group into the main event of the hotel. Ratchet's Holographic disguise devices allowed Sonic and the others to pose as deliverymen long enough to get in without detection.

Johnny was one of the ones looking around before the group saw a woman walk up to them. She looked like a Korean woman, with a height of approximately 5'4-5. Her hair color was magenta with orange highlights.

She had brown eyes with red eye shadow. She was seen wearing a unique EMP Threading cyberware pattern on her face.

She was dressed in a custom colored netrunner suit with red to black ombré from top to bottom, and a custom new variant of the denim jacket without two belts on her left sleeve.

The jacket was gray-to-black gradient with a patch, four pins, one of which has the Samurai logo, and had a skeletal rib cage decal on the back. Her accessory of choice wasa belt with studs to support her cyberdeck. To finish the outfit, she wore untied high-tops shoes.

As she walked up Tyson cleared his throat." Chill lady we already showed the bouncer we were on the list."

"I'm not the bouncer, I'm the Songbird. And…you're the ones that were invited from the Cassel twins yes?"

Tyson looked behind him and saw Reed, who had used his own transformation gear to change his appearance to that of a white skinned red-haired man as his comrade agent Alex looked like his twin.

Alex smirked before she wagged her finger." Yah…these are all Auroe Cassel's invites. I plan to win so big on the Roulette that I need a porter to carry out all the cash!"

The woman named Songbird looked around before she nodded." Very well…then let's go begin the game with lady Hanako in her room eh? Follow me."

Tyson and the others saw Reed nod before they followed her to the right of the wide chamber as a light show went on. After a few tense minutes they arrived to see an Asian man with a mustache and cybernetic implants guarding a door. Songbird paused before she gestured to those around her." This is Goro Takemura…body guard of Hanako. These are the guests the lady really wants to see eh?"

The bodyguard eyed everyone before he sighed." To make the right decisions with imperfect knowledge... that is how you become those on the top."

Tyson snickered before uttering," So you think you hit the jackpot because you hitched on the right train and did not look back eh?"

"I sense that you judge me. And yet you have no right to. I assure you, I did not take the easy path.

"Sayin' you got no dirt on your hands?

"There are no clean hands. But it is important how they become dirty. What matters is that you might decide who will be alive by the end of the night. Follow me."

Takemura looked around and made a few hand gestures. The doors opened before inside was an elegant Asian woman with her black hair in a bun, a sleeveless white dress, and gold bands around her hands.

Various cybernetic ninja were surrounding her. Takemura bowed before uttering," Hanako-sama... These are the ones I spoke of. The ones that will decide all are fates."

The woman named Hanako took a deep breath before she closed her eyes." Just a few days ago I thought meeting with you all would have been madness. But I was forced to realize that my brother killed my father, and plans to" offer" me up to Homelander…is that not right agent Reed?"

Reed turned off his disguise before he nodded." I assure you the footage was authentic, but if you need even more proof, this man was a direct witness."

Jonny Sliverhand snickered as he walked up." Figures it takes till the night before mass genocide before anyone listens to what a" Has been part time terrorist" has to say. Yah, I was there that night at Konpeki Plaza, I saw Saburo Arasaka die. He wasn't poisoned. That's a lie your brother made up and spread. Yorinobu is the murderer."

Takemura nodded before he grasped his fist tightly." Hanako-sama! Sliverhand is living proof of the terrible crime your brother committed! We can confirm every word he speaks if only you will help him."

Hanako sighed before she nodded." All the board members knew. Not one soul even slightly interested in the matter believed the poisoning. Details were disparate, inconsistent."

Johnny grit his teeth before hissing out," You knew but didn't do a thing about it. Why? Suddenly sprout conscience just yesterday?

"My father had flaws - I know this, I harbor no illusions about it. When a foe needed removal, my father ordered it without a thought of mercy. A way of being Yorinobu could not abide. But to my father, ends ever justified means. Saburo Arasaka has always valued just one thing - do you know what it is?

"Ties that bind.

"Yes, family. I was to be its heart to uphold life, ensure continuity, stability, never to oppose it.

"Huh, guess Yorinobu's instructions were a little different.

"Yorinobu raised his hand against our other. He killed my father because he thought he would rule as a god among side Homelander…and now he wants to remove me as " proof of his devotion."

Tyson grasped his hand before nodding," I kind of went through the same thing with my own brother. N'Jadaka wants to remake Wakanda into his own demented nightmare…but sounds like the only way all of us can stop are siblings and everyone else that sold us out is if you help us. So…can you?"

"Yes." Hanako uttered bluntly." I will help you get to Arasaka Tower in the hopes that you can kill Homelander and the rest before they can kill me."

Mark winced before the half Viltrumite half human looked around." Not sure if you heard the full message but, can you help us bring our friend, Mike Auro back from the dead? Is it true that from this tower they revive the winners of the Reaper Games?"

Hanako paused before she nodded." I have no control over that, but I have seen it before. A Dr. Progen is the current head of the resurrection process does it with the Progenitor device at the top of the tower.

At the bottom of the tower, the underground quantum server that runs on Maso energy can revive any soul even if they did not have a Cortical Stack. It takes data from any soul in the afterlife and prints them out like a 3D printer.

You must secure the tower if you want to revive your friend. All I can do, is get you there before they realize you arrived. Yorinobu will soon call a meeting of the board. Representatives of all factions are expected to attend the "ceremony". "

Johnny snickered as he removed his shades." Want me to throw Yorinobu under the bus in front of the Vought clan's top brass? Call me crazy, but that sounds like god damn suicide."

Tyson shrugged before he grasped his hand tightly." Maybe man, but it's the best plan we got. With Omni-Man and the others distracting them, we just got to hit them all over and keep them divided long enough to make it work."

Johnny took a long sigh before he shrugged." Well, it is kind of my thing to never fade away. Just not jolly about doing all the work without any of the risk."

Hanako stood up before she pointed at her bodyguards." I'm not a "fighter" but I can keep my brother's attention away from you long enough to strike. Besides, Takemura and the agents I trust will give you guidance in the tower. They all have personal reasons to see this through."

She pointed at the dark-haired man to her left with muscular and well-built physique, reddish-orange eyes and a stubble of beard before clearing her throat." Higan seeks vengeance on his former Master Yamaji after he killed his family to try and tie up all" Lose ends."

She pointed to a cybernetic ninja clad in black to her right and nodded." "Shadow" here from a member of another ninja clan dedicated to the Eternal Dragon seeks vengeance on Dr. Progen after he betrayed the clan to desperately revive his daughter. "

The woman then glanced at the sightly darker colored samurai next to him before she shrugged." this is GR-74, or, GR_074, commonly known as "The Ghostrunner, though those that found him gave him the name Jack, and he wants revenge for what happened to him in Dharma Tower when he was betrayed by Mara the Keymaster and Vought agent Madhu the Dismantler."

She then looked at a tan man in a green outfit with a metal arm and right eye before she nodded." Captain Dolph Laserhawk was a cybernetically enhanced super soldier created experimented by Vought agents. He defected to become an unwilling member of a special unit called The Ghosts."

She then glanced at a man looking like a sliver samurai before she cleared her throat," And we have here the Moonrider who also seeks revenge after being betrayed by Homelander."

She pointed to a woman with black hair in a tank top and jeans before then saying," Elle is a Replicant with the code name of "Black Lotus" She was made by Niander Wallace, Jr, CEO of the replicant manufacturing company, Wallace Corporation, in order to assassinate his father, and did not like being disposed like trash."

She pointed to a teenager of Latino descent in the corner near the entrance. He had light brown eyes and dark brown hair that he wore in a quaffed hairstyle, with the sides shaved and had a mostly cybernetic body who cracked his neck as the others looked at him." David Martinez's lover Lucy was kidnapped by a corporate fixer named Faraday who betrayed David to secure favor with the Vought clan…and is now also in the tower. So as you can see, they all have personal reasons for your success."

Johnny looked around before he sighed." I know just how it feels being back-stabbed by these assholes but no offense, but anyone can spit out a sob story. I'll call in a favor to make sure I have people I can trust in on this…that's why I'll bring Rogue.

She's not rusted through just yet. Plus, she owes me. I'll convince her. After all, we know a thing or two about ops like this. We'll blast our way into 'Saka Tower just like we did back in the day. It's our only chance."

Hanako saw the bitterness in the man's eyes before she shrugged." I did see her on the guest list for this party. If that will make you feel more content, then do as you will but time is short."

Sonic wagged his finger before he smirked." Don't worry, speed is my game so we are getting this done as fast as possible!"

Hanako eyed Sonic before raising an eyebrow." Is your pet supposed to distract them?"

As Amy giggled and Sonic facepalmed Tyson snickered." Anyone who's paying attention knows this is one hell of a long shot. That's why we are throwing a ton of plans at the wall and hope at least one of them sticks. But we are rapidly getting to the point of no return so we really need to know that this can work and we are not being trolled."

Songbird sighed before she took out a small device." Are lives are on the line to, but if you need some sort of proof this Quantum Tuner has the simulated data to show we can bypass there defenses if you can keep us alive long enough to get through there cyberware defenses."

Tyson saw data come out of the device before he shrugged." Numbers are one thing…results are another. Can you tell us what's about to happen? One way or another we will find out real fast."

Hanako saw how grave everyone looked before she nodded." Homelander is about to begin his "victory ceremony." I don't know the precise details…but everyone in the universe is going to be judged and just about everyone that was not loyal to Homelander or useful to him will be killed.

I know that the head of this Infinite Victory and Conquest Corporation will be here soon…and then everything will change. My brother met him once, and it was like he was brainwashed with how he treated him like God. There's not much time, things are about to move very quickly."

Tyson took out a Vibranium Kuni out of his suit and nodded." Good thing I prepared to move light-speed fast if that's what it takes to see this through. Alright…we still got time before are prey realizes they are being hunted. Got to make it count. So lets get ready for one hell of a show."

Sonic, Johnny, Ratchet, Mark, Reed, and the others in the chamber nodded before getting ready for a plan that might decide the fate of the universe, if not the Multiverse.

While most were trying to push back the tension they were feeling, Astra was one of the few feeling excited, because she was so hungry for a fight she had to use all of her will power to not "go to town" on everyone around her.

Despite how angry she was, she repressed her desires long enough to follow Endeavor and Warden Fisher's instructions to be the new" Offering" over the previous pick from" Gen V" , and got on a shuttle.

She saw that the shuttle was heading to a full-scale replica of Osaka Castle built on the bed of a large container ship before she raised an eyebrow." Damn…all that talk about Arasaka Tower and it's a lot smaller than I thought."

Endeavor was still on the shuttle with her and sighed." Don't be a fool, they would not let such" throw away trash" anywhere near the elite. This is where the Vought Clan holds its games. An adult amusement park that is owned and operated by Homare Nishitani III of the Kijin Clan.

The appeal of the Castle is its promise of absolute freedom. People often travel there to explore their taboo sexual fantasies. The ship is also populated by slave laborers who are regularly abused by the guests of the castle. These are usually victims of crippling debt who travel to the Castle for one last attempt to make money through high stakes gambling.

The main attraction of the Castle is the Coliseum, which is what you're here for. Oh yes, and you need to wear this to not be shot on site."

Astra was thrown a keychain of a red tiger before she shrugged and put it on her jeans." Thanks I guess. Just point me at who's ass to kick so we can get started."

"Just don't look to excited…most think they are going to die and you're trying to keep cover a little while longer right?"

"Oh right."

The shuttle landed, and they were greeted by more Vought guards, and a young man with a lean build, that had black hair that parted on the left side, with his bangs brushed over the right side of his forehead. He wore black nail polish on his fingernails and toenails.

He was dressed in a teal blue suit with azure floral patterns and a Kijin Clan pin on the left coat lapel, as well as a silver-buckle, white leather belt, and white, cap-toe, oxford dress shoes. Underneath, he wore a yellow-orange dress shirt unbuttoned at the top, and a gold chain around his neck.

The man saw Astra before he smirked." Right on time. I was worried when I heard there was a change in the menu but this catch looks a bit less malnourished then those pigs in the Woods. Still, who rounded up this stray?"

Endeavor nodded before he looked around." I was doing my rounds around Corpo Plaza Sir Homare Nishitani III it was one of the refugees trying to get in here as it became clear that this is the true capital of the universe…this woman was able to block a serious punch from Mistress Abigale…so she is a survivor."

Homare looked at Astra before he licked his lips." That's good…the show might go on a bit longer. Are you ready to fight for your life girl?"

"I been fighting for my life since I was born."

"That's the spirit! But you have to impress the judges so let's get this show on the road! Shishido, guide the contestant's to the stage eh?"

Endeavor nodded before uttering," Best of luck Pam."

The woman wearing a cap spat on the ground before she followed Homare and a man in a demon mask into the floating island. For a few moments she saw various casino like areas to her side, but she was quickly escorted to an elevator.

The man with the mask, who was clad in attire consisting of a black and yellow baroque print hooded puffer jacket with a knitted hem and cuffs worn over a thick gold chain, a dark grey tank top or T-shirt and black leather pants that also wore a dark grey leather belt with a tarnished gold buckle featuring on ornate dragon design and burnished brown snakeskin monk-strap dress shoes snickered." Hope you made peace with your life, it's the last moment you're ever going to get."

Astra gave the man named Shishido a look harsh enough to make him flinch before she smirked." Funny…I was going to say the same thing about you."

The Equalizer walked down the new hallway, and saw herself in a wide dome like arena. Several other people were walking into the dome from doors in different directions, and Astra heard a slamming sound as she saw none other than Reina sitting on a throne in a glass window above the dome.

The woman looked at the contestants like a person might look at ants before crushing them before she leaned forward." Alright…let's get this party started. What do you think "Regal Businessman"? Think the suckers here can pull off a show good enough to impress the boss? One way or another this will not be a bad night for us JP!"

She glanced to the left at the elderly but well-built man at her site. His outfit consisted of a pair of orange dress pants with a matching waistcoat, along with a frilled short-sleeved shirt with a blue gem in the center. This JP looked at Astra and the others entering the dome before he stroked his beard." One way or another…there will be entertainment at hand. Who is entertained remains to be seen."

He saw some of the others looking at a belt floating at the top of the dome before he smirked." An unimpressive belt eh? No intrinsic material value…nor artistic value for that matter. The true value of a champion's belt…is found in the person recognized to be worthy of wearing it.

Surely you must agree if you're hear before us eh?

Ah, my apologizes, my name is Johan Petrovic… manager of financial matters of the Vought clan and leader of the Amnesia department. I will be handing the belt to the winner of this display. Let's hope there is someone left to get it, right Sindel?"

He glanced to the other throne on the right, were a middle-aged woman who appeared to be Asian that had long gray hair with a black streak young down her hair snickered as she took a drink from her glass using her hair." Oh, there are going to be a lot of screams tonight, eh Hilda?"

She glanced at the woman on the throne on the other side of the room, a young, slim woman with very long blonde hair that goes down to her ankles, and she had heterochromia, her right eye is red and her left eye was grey.

She wore a white and black dress, black stockings and white high-heeled shoes. The one named Hilda looked ecstatic at the people below her's fear." What's to scream about? You should feel honored. After all, you get to be the sacrifice that will catalyze my Re-birth.

I promise not to let my newfound powers go to waste. How does it feel to be forced to crawl through the dirt like that maggots? People looking down on you, mocking you, trampling over you... You must feel like a worm... Even if the outcome was obvious, nothing feels better than victory...

Just looking down on losers writhing on the ground. Ahh... It's so addictive! AHAHAHA! I can't get enough of watching bottom-feeders like yourself struggle to stay alive! No stopping now. Dance for me, puppets! Let's get the show started already eh Ms. Y?"

She glanced at the last of the woman in the thrones, a young Caucasian woman with fair skin and white hair sat on the throne. She wore a short black dress, white gloves and heeled furry boots.

She' was armed with a rapier, and looked down with disgust." You thought you maggots could escape? I'm Ms. Y…and you will learn not to mess with us as you die! We are heirs to empires…and queens to scum like you! But first a word from the man who made this all happen, right brother?"

A man next to her throne, a young Caucasian man with fair skin and Dark Sandy Blonde hair smirked. He wore black pants and shoes, a grey shirt with a black tie and a long white coat and he clapped his hands before the one named Mr.Y had a unhinged look." Its time…for the countdown to the death of all unworthy ones to begin! Let it be told from the voice of god himself!"

He pressed a button before a screen appeared in the roof of the chamber, showing Homelander. He was sitting on a throne with Stormfront on one side, and a younger Vought agent, a red-haired woman in a tight red and blue outfit on Homelander's side.

The official leader of the Seven looked manic on his throne as Black Noir was behind him to the left with his arms crossed, and A-Train was to the right looking anxious.

Homelander waved to everyone before he laughed." Everyone…you should count your blessings even being allowed to see this day, because it's the day that will change everything! I'm a man of great power, and great mercy.

I even allowed my follower Firecracker to be at my side after she helped expose that traitorous slut Maeve? Right dear?"

The new member of the Seven giggled before she flicked her hair back." This is a biblical war. Good versus evil…or more like the strong versus the weak And I'm declaring hunting' season on every last fool still not embracing the one true master of the universe!"

Homelander nodded before he grasped his fist tightly." This universe is currently corrupt beyond repair so we gotta save it from itself! It's not going to be easy. We'll have to do some terrible things for the greater good. It's time to no longer be celebrities or champions of are people, but wrathful gods! So anyone that wants to prove their loyalty to me better prepare to show a little wrath! But the first one to kick things off is the last pretender who thought he was my peer. Yah… Marcus Milton…or the Eternal known as Hyperion, the Nahobino of the Mazone clan!"

The view around Homelander widened to show the man known as Hyperion enter. He was a man in black and golden armor with a cape with the symbol of his clan on the chest of his armor.

Hyperon was escorted by Adam Smasher, Ganondorf, Lord Drakkon, N'Jadaka, and a few others, and as he entered Homelander's eyes glowed red." Thought you were such a big shot and that your Squadron Supreme rip offs of the Seven and your Children of the Sun cult were better than mine, eh? Well who's superior now?"

Hyperon heard booing from all around him and winced." I won't deny that I was much of what I believe in fall to ash. I saw nearly everything perish, yes. That much is true. But it didn't claim me. I remained apart from it. I am its opposing force.

I am the Sun-and I have no use for death. I lived by an often-referenced maxim, "Truth without compromise, thought without error, all things for the betterment of the whole". For the sake of what remains of my people, I put myself at your mercy in exchange for, GUH!"

In an instant Homelander unleashed an energy blast that blew a chunk off of Hyperion's knees. As the other Nahobino grasped his burnt limb his attacker arose with a look of pure hate." WHAT MERCY!? You have nothing left to bargain with…NONE OF YOU DO! All that's left is to suffer. I'm going to take my time with you to make it hurt Marcus…then I'm going to keep killing nonstop!

Billions…trillions…I'm going to kill everyone I don't like in the universe till Mr.V-Day gets here to give him a proper tribute, and prove I'm worthy! If anyone else wants to prove they are worthy, then start killing because the culling starts NOW!"

As the screen showed Homelander blast Hyperion again and again Reina snickered before she and the other "Judges" leaned back on their thrones." Well you heard the man.

Welcome to another edition of Thunderdome! Listen on! Listen on! This is the truth of it. Fighting leads to killing, and killing gets to warring. And that was damn near the death of us all. But we've learned by the dust of them all. And right now, we got many men and woman with a gut full of fear. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...dying time's here! To start off we have the ball cracker. Death on foot. You know him. You love him! He's Blaster!"

A tall man in a suit of armor marched in with a roar before Reina snickered." Yes...let the Platinum Hell Rumble elimination game begin! But that's just the first one of my sponsors! Let's see… Antonov would you kick things off for the Vought clan in the name of the Vought streaming network?"

Astra heard a clank noise before the ground in the center of the arena opened, and a bulky man with a crew-cut set of blond hair, a cigar in his mouth, dressed in white pants appeared.

The belt from the ceiling fell and he caught it in his hand before he smirked." Congrats on being on the stage of gods! BUT! You're either going to get heaven or hell from here! Lady and gentleman fighters... The champion's belt is here. Come and get it! The King of Fighters... begins now! You're going to have to face the fangs of the elite, right sponsor of Vought-doption center Gai Amon?"

Another man arose from another hole in the ground next to Antonov's right. He was a man of above average height with youthful skin. His medium-length brown hair was styled in a curtain cut, and his attire consisted of a gray overcoat and pants, and a black button-up shirt and dress shoes. For accessories, he wore a black belt with a silver buckle and the Amon Clan's signature aviator sunglasses.

Gai looked around before he snickered." The essential nature of living creatures is to tear each other down. One cannot live without taking another's life. In fact, it's the core of our very being. We of the Amon Clan see our mission as the pursuit and mastery of this vocation. If you're not as devoted as I am, your going to be ripped apart! Is that not right..."Sponsor of Toys-For-Vought"...A.K.I.?"

A woman seeped out of a panel in the floor in between the two men. She had pale white skin and wore a stylized, open-backed cheongsam in black and skintight black pants. Both featured red trim and appear to be made of snakeskin.

She had uniquely-shaped white hair based on a traditional Japanese straw hat called a "kasa" (related to the word "umbrella" in Japanese), which was seen as an assassin's symbol.

She had a beauty mark under her lips. Her eyes are cardinal red, as seen in her teaser trailer. She wore lipstick of the same shade. She sported a pair of slim metal gauntlets with a claw on each finger, which were worn over her long, sharp nails that were coated with poison.

She casually licked her lips before hissing out, Today, poison's on the menu…and you're the main course! Right sponsor from the Vought land theme park, Geras?"

A new man emerged out of the floor, he had dark skin, glowing blue eyes, no hair on his head - some kind of energy that also was present on his chest and on his back - and has a toned physique. His whole body seemed to be attached by pieces, as if he was assembled like a puzzle.

He wore a white and black form-fitting futuristic armor with gold trimmings before he looked around and had his eyes glow." Duty is my highest calling… I have died a thousand deaths to prepare for this battle. My defeat is impossible. Death is all that awaits you all, is that not so sponsor of Vought-A-Burger...Orin the Red?"

A new woman giggled darkly as she emerged out of the ground. She had pale blue-grey skin with swirling, smoke-like plumes of red undulating across it. Her eyes were dull grey, contoured by dark eyeliner, giving her an intimidating look.

Her straw-colored, braided hair fell to the backs of her knees in a fastening reminiscent of a flail. Her armor was bright blood-red, rigid and rough like chitin. She adorned her head with an ornate silver tiara with the centerpiece shaped in the form of a person supplicant, a single crimson gem giving her appearance some color.

She licked her two unique blades, the short-sword called Crimson Mischief and the dagger known as the Blade of the First Blood, before hissing out," Duties, duties, duties. Patrolling and saluting and following and bowing and scraping and yes, sir, no, sir, rip and cut your throat, sir. But at last its time for fun! Be it Balders Gate or this Night City, all that matters is who I have to kill. But…it does look like a fine catch today! Yes, I itch to peel you, to split your skin, to see your skull shine in the light, little tyrant. Lucky for you, I harvested a whole family of living-flesh in Rivington at Highsun.

They will sate my blade-thirst tonight. But tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, my blades will thirst again. Abobo...Big Blag...help tenderize the meat for me and I'll give you a treat."

As a black shirtless, tall, and bald strongman to her left and a giant anthropomorphic rat walked up among her sides Ms Y giggled as she leaned back on her throne." That's right…it's the appetizer before the main course! DJ K-Washi…set the tune would you as I send in my family robot?"

A man behind her, a tall, long-haired man wearing a futuristic suit, with his face fully covered by a helmet nodded before his helmet glowed and he floated into the ring, playing a deranged techo tune as he did.

As he started his beat, a robotic skeleton looking like the ancestor of Ms Y...Mr X...walked out.

As those around Astra got anxious Reina's sadistic look intensified." That's right…to set ourselves out from the rest lets show Homelander a Mishima Zaibatsu style gladiator game! Now…time to feast Ogre… Azazel!"

A sphere of darkness shot down from the dome as it took the shape of a tall, muscular male human, with dark green skin. It had long auburn hair and glowing orange eyes. It is adorned with various pieces of old Aztec jewelry and a large golden headpiece. It carried a buckler shield strapped to its arm, that is said to be the fabled Stone of The Sun, the Aztec Calendar.

As the Ogre landed with a thud, a roar was heard before a large bipedal creature with red eyes and gray skin which was glowing purple landed on the ground with a larger thud.

It had a pointed snout with an overbite, sharp teeth, and large ridged horns extending from the back of its head. Its hands had five clawed digits and it had bird-like feet. Its curved spikes on its back and a long, segmented tail that possessed an array of crystalline purple spikes along its top and bottom.

Its spikes on its forearms and hips which sharp crystalline structures have formed around. It had symmetrical golden designs on each of its shoulders and there was a glowing purple orb inside its chest.

As the Azazel beast roared Hilda laughed cruelly." Aw…hope you were not expecting to win this show! This is just a toast to our victory. But if you die in a fun enough way we will make sure to let anyone foolish to have faith in you know what a mistake that was before tonight's fun is over! Ugh, where did they gather these scum from again?"

JP eyed Astra carefully before he rubbed his beard." The reports from this one says they just found her running around in the street."

He glanced to the right of the disguised woman and saw a black woman with green hair in a yellow jacket with floating hands of energy holding paint cans before he shrugged." That one is known as the "Dreaming Brilliance" artist known as Isla, an extremely energetically defiant graffiti artist who thought her art was good enough for her to escape her judgment, a fantasy that's about to be bitterly erased from her mind."

He glanced to Astra's left and saw a tall, muscular, and athletic woman, with blonde hair shaved on the sides and a long braid, green eyes, and a slightly tanned complexion.

She also wore a Vought Special Forces police uniform, albeit a black Kevlar vest with a white insignia over a navy-blue tank top, navy blue cargo pants with a utility belt and black knee pads, black gloves with metallic knuckles, and black tactical boots.

JP saw her defiant look and snickered." Ah yes and this woman is Estel Aguirre, a former special forces officer from Oak City who thought she could make a difference after being disgusted with her fellow officers. She, is about to learn how wrong she was."

Mr.X saw a humanoid Brown Pitbull Boxer-human mix that had a white chest and paws welding a giant Ax growl at him before he snickered," Ah and we have oh...Deego Aegis one of the last living members of the doggy Quan race eh? Try and make your race going extinct be good for ratings eh dude?"

Hilda saw Maki Zenin, one of the Enji, only with her hair cut short and her face burnt before she snickered." Oh how precious, that's Maki Zenin of the Zenin clan eh? She and her twin sister were loyal to the Enji, but her family begged for are favor and offered there own children up as a offering, only for her twin sister Mai to take her own life and give Maki a "heavenly restricted body" that allowed her to kill her own spiteful clan. Such passion...such fury...its only fitting that such a being of hate be allowed to vent that rage for all its worth eh?"

As Hilda laughed at Maki's furious look on the opposite side of Astra was a man in a blue outfit with a cardboard box on his head that had a dark aura around him that was snarling like a feral animal, causing JP to laugh." Ah and I know this one personally.

He's Bosch Waraya from the dying world of Nayshall. He so badly wants to free his world but this "Cardboard Combatant" Learned the hard way that being strong enough to defeat the likes of the Canary Crate Gang only means he's worth enough for his death to be a show.

Now then…one way or another…it's time to see some blood."

Astra saw A.K.I slither up to Astra as she licked her claw." You should feel honored…my art is death! Which poison should I use on you?"

Astra saw the Mr X robot, Blaster, Orin the Red, Geras, Amon, and a few others start to surround her and the others before she shrugged." I don't know…what you want shoved down your throat?"

A.K.I winded her eyes before she smirked." Think you're a fast one eh little mouse? But you can't run away from your fate, yes Azazel?"

The giant beast behind her roared before its eyes glowed. "I am Azazel, Rectifier of All Things. You offerings…won't escape!"

It roared, before pink crystals suddenly burst up to bound all of the contestants legs. As some of the other fighters screamed Astra just rolled her eyes. "So that's how its going to be eh?"

Azazel just roared as it stomped at Astra." Mankind bound me, thinking they could escape subjugation. Willfully and selfishly, they have reduced the universe to tatters! Now the sinners must atone."

Astra looked down before she grit her teeth." Maybe…but I'm only atoning for what I deserve, not this joke! I waited long enough to show you how pissed off I am with all of you! Its ON!"

The child of Doug Fitter unleashed a shock-wave of power that was powerful enough to blow Azazel back midair just as it charged to devour its target. Everyone in the room was shocked as Astra's hat blew off, and her true blond hair was shown.

Reina widened her eyes before uttering," What…what the hell is that? Wait…is that Astra Fitter? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? KILL THAT WHORE!"

The Ogre got back up, looked at Astra, and became enraged." You…must…MUST KILL!"

The demon hunched over to an extent before transforming. It resembled more a monster than a human, with a large frame, dark brown fur, a monstrous face, a tail, wings, horns and snakes in place of a right arm. Astra glanced at the transformed foe, and cracked her neck. In an instant Ogre punched her, but she blocked the blow.

As she did, the snakes on its right limb constricted her before Orin left out a deranged snarl." Your murder should have been exquisite, a crypt-born effigy to greet the one beyond Baael's bleeding dawn for the universe! But now it will be nothing! I... wanted... to be...the Chosen... Sarevok... told me... she... must be... my... offering!"

The Netherstone on her neck glowed before she transformed into a giant half bug half lizard monster and roared out," Bhaal's Edict!"

Blood red chains emerged to bind Astra before the transformed Orin attacked her other side.

A.K.I giggled in a deranged manner. "So you're noteworthy eh? You will still erode to dust because my art is death! Prepare yourself... Bathe in my masterwork! Claws of Ya Zi!"

Astra saw the woman enemy form a bubble of poison, and saw the others like Gears, Amon, the Mister X robot, Big Blag, Orin, and Azazel coming at her from all sides before the marks of the Demi-Fiend appeared on her body." I'm sick of playing all your damn crappy games!"

She had Gorr appear out of her shadow, before she grasped the God-Butcher blade tightly and in the blink of an eye sliced Azazel, Oger, Gears, Orin, A.K.I, and more. Ms Y winced before she got up." No…she…she was supposed to be dead right?"

The " Judges" were not the only ones reacting in shock. Homelander, along with Firecracker and Stormfront were blasting Hyperion before Homelander snickered at the man's defiance." You think this means anything? I won you pussy, I don't have to worry about anything but the fun getting stale you piece of,"

An alarm went off as Black Noir cleared his throat. Homelander winced and turned to the right, to see Astra thrashing all of her opponents before a chill went down his spine." Wait what? This a joke? I, I saw them die!"

The Batman Who Laughs snickered bitterly as he walked up." It seems once more you were not able to grasp the situation properly John. We are taking full control from here…because it's far from clear how much you been…compromised."

Homelander winced before he looked at Corneria in the sky and winced." You want to make some last stand? THEN GET IT ON YOU COCKSUCKERS!"

As Homelander looked around, he failed to notice James floating above a near by 8th floor of the Megabuilding H10 in Little China, Watson from were Arasaka tower could be see in the distance, with Ramathel next to him.

The Holocron saw the former Black Swan's tense face and nodded." Its ok, its now or never."

Ramathel saw James start to glow before she tensed up." James are you sure you can pull this off in your…state?"

The former member of Squad 7 closed his eyes before the aura around him grew more and more intense." I have to make it work, it's as simple as that. Are allies have the shields set up so they will be protected, we must act before that changes.

Master Myers…Ben…Father…Master Jellal…Uncle Magnus…I wonder which one of you would approve of this. I swore I would never descend into the depths that Magneto took…but destiny can be cruel, it has been cruel.

This is the city of those who took everything from us, and everyone's either an enemy or bound to the enemy to a worst fate if I do nothing, I have to tell myself that.

In spite of humanity's hypocrisies and insults, I devoted everything for a better path. They have exhausted my patience. But I do hope those that live through this understand that even now, what's about to happen, this is me, being reasonable. To all my fellow Enji, I wonder how many broken bones will it take to pave for the future Cosmos wished?

Where we simper and beg for tolerance and coexistence? I'm sorry, that dream is dead. Now, whatever it takes, I'll do what I must for a future where my kind will not live as slaves, no matter the cost. At this point it's clear that Gods abandoned those who believed in them…but Mike, I will not.

Ultima Magnetic Shock-wave!"

Ramathel grasped his hand, before together they slammed right into Mekacity. This created a shock-wave that was like an EMP that swept across the entire construct shaped like Homelander. With nearly the entire structure being a morphed city, the majority of the electrical devices on the planet shut down.

Homelander saw all the lights go off before his eye twitched." Alright…WHO TRIPPED OVER THE PLUG!?"

The Batman Who Laughs stopped laughing as he cracked his neck." I'm hearing from Bastion…and it seems that the work of an Omega Level Mutant's magnetic shock-wave just shot down the majority of all systems. Backups are kicking in but…we are at a disadvantage."

He was not the only one who saw that, and at the moment Ezan had ditched his disguise before his Rinne-Sharingan eyes flared up." Phase one of the operation has succeeded. Now Nolan!"

A instant later Omni-Man, and all the Viltrumite warriors that went with him broke out of the gords they were hiding themselves in. The official leader of the Viltrumite race looked around before he narrowed his eyes." You destroyed are planet…so before this is over you will understand are fury!"

Ragnayael Dynharish was one of the many who saw the countless mustached men fly high in the sky before the UND's Commander of Fleets grit his teeth." What…the Viltrumite's were smuggled in?

You savages think you can change your fate now? If you knew how powerful my Zero Fleet is now you would have begged for mercy but savages only understand one thing! The moment you stop is the moment you reach your demise! Tell the fleet to prepare a full force attack! FIRE ALL CANNONS!"

The A-Ruol fired its massive black partium defeater beam cannon, but in an instant Omni-Man burst at the beam, and charged through it. It only took him moments to rocket through the entire commander battleship, and as he emerged on the other side he saw the explosions burst out and cracked his neck." My race was humbled yes, but we not nearly the fools you are. You were never worthy my time till you got in my face."

Raganayael struggled to keep on his feet before his eyes twitched." You think I'm afraid of you!? I never back down! I'll never retreat in my life! No matter how strong you are, you're just a pack of dying dogs defying the Masters of the universe! All ships fire on, huh?"

He saw all the ships loyal to Dressel lock on to him before the leader of the Garmillas clan snickered." Oh, it's not just him that refuse to roll over and die."

His ship vaporized Raganayael, and as the Superian flew out of the ship and also started attacking, ships belonging to all of the races still left in the universe appeared, along side the Eden Zero and the Yamato.

A-Train saw Homelander's jaw was dropped before he winced." So we got…the Heavy Metal and Ferronis forces from the Poseidal clan, The Aura Battlers from Byston Well… the Republic of Great Zogilia…what's left of the Krogan, the Chiss, the Bothans, the Judoon, the Romulans, and the remains of the Bethal forces all attacking.

You know I knew having everyone in the universe come here at once might be a problem."

"Then why was it your idea asshole?"

Homelander hissed back, causing the other member of the Seven to wince." Like hell are you pinning this on me!"

The caped man was cut off by a explosion as Lucan and Anissa dove right through the head shaped planet and just let out a mad laugh before uttering," So everyone that's left in the universe thinks they can make the difference? They are going to learn the hard way that it does not matter if its everyone else in the universe when that's small time compared to what I have now!"

Homelander had the screen turn back on to see Astra was trashing everyone around her before veins appeared on his forehead." That damn whore just won't quit eh? Fine…it's going to be fun breaking her. Everyone…EVERYONE GET HER!"

The Batman Who Laughs cleared his throat before adding," If she wants an audience with the Master…then she will get one. Break her, but at this point death is reserved for Mister V-Day. But she's clearly not alone, so come to me my dark knights, the hunt begins earlier than expected."

Homelander had his eyes glow before uttering," Time for everyone to see who the number one warrior in the whole damn universe is, GUH!"

Omni-Man suddenly tackled into him and smashed him through a few buildings before he could respond. As Homelander rebound to glare at his attacker the mustached man glared at him." John…you're not a warrior…just a pathetic bully. I'm going to make you eat your own heart."

You just don't get it, you think you can kill me?"

"I don't care how many times I have to punch your face in you will die!"

"You alone don't have the, GUH!"

The Superian suddenly smashed his fist into Homelander before he shouted out," He's not alone asshole I'm getting my payback in to!"

Homelander saw Hyperion also fly up before his eye twitched." What is this? Don't tell me your all suddenly pals now!"

"Of course not." Omni-Man spat back." But we all hate you so much more then anything else right now."

Homelander saw the others nod before he laughed madly." You think I care how many losers hate me? That's right…bring all the posers so I can set the record straight! I'm more than any of you!"

Black Noir saw Homelander in the distance…before an aura started to form around him. He glanced at Astra fighting in the monitor before the true leader of the Seven saw the Batman Who Laughs and nodded." Enough…the games end tonight."

While rage was exploding all over the area, Astra's was the one burning most intensely as she caused the entire floating castle to be cracked from her rage. She saw the remains of those around her before she looked at those above her and gave them the middle finger." Guess what? That…was just the warmup.

Somehow you made the whole Crown Contest "Bob" had look like a kid themed circus compared to this crap. You all really thought you were untouchable eh? Well your going to get a whole lot of bad touching unless you all beg for mercy!"

Reina had her eye twitch as a dark aura suddenly formed around her." Astra Fitter…your one to talk. You got the planet you were blown on blasted to pieces, and you just come crawling here thinking you can get out? You think you're special because you can turn into a demon?

Let me fill you in on something…you may be the devil's spawn but you're not the only devil woman around!" Dark lighting crackled around her fist before she stood up." Heihachi…my ancestor…on my life…I swear…I"ll show this universe who the true worthy one is!"

Astra raised an eyebrow as the woman unleashed her own devil gene. She gained purplish skin, gray armor on her body with spikes, bat-like wings with red mixed with it, having heels, and her hair had become a replica of her ancestor but with actual devil horns on it.

Reina laughed madly as her wings extended." You're not the only gal who can become a demon Astra! Your just some bumkin…I'm from a family of winners who's legacy lasted centuries! It's only natural that nature takes its course!

Divine Dominance of Annihilation!"

Reina had energy crackle around her right fist before she unleashed a knife-hand strike in the blink of an eye, that Astra still blocked with her hand. She saw Reina's shock before she raised Gorr high." Yah…that's why your, huh?"

She was about to slice Reina down, till hair lashed at her like a whip to grasp the hand. Sindel then came down looking viciously at the intruder." You will know who the queen is and who is the peasant before this is over!"

Astra winced as the other "Judge" unleashed an ear shattering scream. Astra had to fortify her magical energy to endure as she saw a wounded Homare Nishitani next to her stagger up before the scream caused his skin rips off of his body till a skeleton covered in flesh remained.

As Astra fell to her knees JP glowed with purple energy and warped to Astra's side before he jabbed her with his cane and hissed out," Care to figure out how this ends? In ruin! Zaprét Interdiction!"

And jabbed purple Psycho Powered energy into his target while hissing out," Congrats…you made a scene. But now what? What does this victory represent to you? Justice? Strength? The end of something? Or the beginning? Now what? None of this means anything at all compared to the power backing us! "

Astra resisted the purple energy trying to consume her body, and prepared to lash back before blades of darkness shot into her limbs. She saw Hilda float down before the woman had her aura flare up." Oh, my! I was not expecting such a fine young woman like yourself to show up. I love the energetic ones. This makes tormenting you all the more fun!

But surely now you see the cosmic difference in our strength, little "Equalizer? A random, worthless bit of history is all you are... From now on, it's MY time!

Infinite Darkness!"

A storm of various types of blades of light and dark energy barraged Astra as Ms Y had her throne transform into a squid like robot that had its tentacles glow with green energy." That's right…we are the winners and WINNERS TAKE ALL!"

Her and her brother fired lasers from their throne mecha, but Astra saw this and narrowed her eyes before she punched the ground, and had a spike come out of her shadow to impale Sindel right in her throat. As she suddenly gasped Astra cut the hair binding her off and hissed out," I'm canceling your show…all of it!"

Her aura surged before JP, Reina, Hilda, and Ms Y all look horrified before their target gave a wicked smirk." You think your winners when you're just Boot lickers tagging along the assholes who did the real work? If you thought just kissing up to the top assholes was enough to get you away with anything then I have one hell of a wake up call for you! Tsc... but it will be quick cause my hit list is to big today to waste time on you!"

Reina struggled to keep her fist going as her eyes glowed red." No…we are both devils, an elite like me can't, GUH!"

Now that she was not distracted Astra grasped the other devil woman's fist tight enough to cause bones to crack before Astra looked at Reina hard enough to turn pale." You're just a gal that injected devil genes into yah, I'm a Mazoku class Demi-fiend, and I'm here to burn this whole circus down!"

She then smashed Reina and JP into Hilda, till they all crashed into Mr and Miss Y just as their throne prepared to fire its laser. As it was knocked over Astra grasped her blade tightly she narrowed her eyes." If your so hardcore about the little guy being crushed then its your turn! Meidō Zangetsuha!"

The blond woman swiftly hurled a projectile that her targets realized acted like a black hole just as they were sucked in. The Equlizder only spat in there direction as they screamed and were sucked in and just spat on the ground." If I did not need to free Mike I would have sucked this whole damn fake planet into that spell.

Too late for regrets now…no matter how bad the odds are I'm going to see this through or die trying! Time counts and keeps countin', and w finding the trick of what's been and lost ain't no easy ride.

But that's our trek, we gotta' travel it no matter how hopeless anyone else says it is. And there ain't nobody knows where it's gonna' lead. Still in all, every night we does the tell, so that we 'member who we was and where we came from..."

The other "contestants" had managed to take cover admis Astra's rampage and the blond woman saw how horrified they looked before her stance soften." Might not be many safe places left in the universe but either fight or hide so only the right people get what they deserve. Hey, Fragile…do your thing and get the non-fighters to the ships eh?"

Fragile then appeared, but before she could warp those in need away a crude voice from above laughed madly and responded with," And here I thought you were not thinking straight anymore girl! Glad you still understand what needs to be done, even if you gotten confused on who deserves what!"

Astra narrowed her eyes and swerved around to see that Higgs was casually sitting on the hole in the roof before the man in the golden mask casually waved." Sounds like you been busy their girl…almost don't recognize you."

"You were talking something about sense Higgs?" Astra spat out bitterly." If you had any you would not just show up but thanks for saving me the trouble of finding your sorry ass! You…you used me to cause Corneria, and frankly every planet of the Bethal kingdom to get massacured."

"Sure did, and I have to thank you for it. You gave me everything I needed, Astra. A complete chiral network. Spread all across universe, connecting all them precious little knots. I've got the whole universe in the palm of my hand."

"Well then, it's time I repay you for using me! Damn it, you really were the one that got Bria in touch with the Universal Church of Truth eh? Mike, and so many others died because of you!"

"Honey Geto do something to your mind? When was that an surprise? The whole thing I been doing, is to screw over all the idiots still praying for "harmony." Those Bethal idiots got just what your old man always wanted, for them to squirm for never giving up on paradise!"

"What he wanted, and what I wanted is not the same thing! I did not want all those people to die!"

"That's rich! I mean don't you realize what you are by now Astra? You're an Extinction Entity…the one that's going to finish the job your old man started! Five. We've had five mass extinctions across the universe each caused by an Extinction Entity. And now it's time for lucky number six.

I'm not talking 'bout the death of a few dozen species, no. This...THIS is the granddaddy of them all. BT antimatter voiding out across the whole universe as we know it. Time to embrace your role as an ender.

The great work is nearly complete. Every knot is joined. Soon I will merge them and all mankind's Beaches into a single shore. And then will come an extinction like no other. More massive than any before it. The last. This is my purpose."

"I wanted to make people free, not kill them all you asshole! You really think you can defeat Sieg?"

"Nah...but if I blow up are Prime Univeres...then he won't win either. At least I'll get the last laugh."

Astra pointed Gorr at Higgs before she grit her teeth." Maybe you think this is the best that we can do, but I'm not settling for the ultimate" Double KO" till the very end! You just gone crazy dying over and over Higgs…but even a repatriate like you won't come back if I absorb your soul.

I let you run around because I had bigger fish to fry…but you caused so much pain. This is not what me or the old man wanted. After all…he sure as hell did not want the universe to be nothing!"

"No…but he wanted everyone to give up on the joke that is civilization! After this…no one will ever dare and try and back order again!"

"Higgs whatever you think you're doing you can stop before or after I kick your ass unless you're stupid enough to think you can stop me!"

The man in the mask looked down before he snickered darkly." Don't you get it? You can speed this up, or slow it down, but you cannot stop what we've started. Even if you beat me, you can't save her.

Cause all this? This is a done deal. No matter who is on top by the end of the day, anyone that can see anything has lost faith in everything! There is no faith in order anymore, the only thing that people believe in is chaos? And if you think I'm just nuts, then what you think of this eh?"

The water around the damaged floating castle started to ripple, before moaning could be heard. Countless BT's burst out of the water, before swirling around Higgs like a wave of skulls. Higgs just laughed as they started to form a colossal humanoid BT before he merged with where its heart would be." Got to thank your pals for shutting down this " Night City's" barrier.

Now everyone can feel the despair of the damned as I gather all the BT's across the universe into me! Despair…hatred…that's all that's left in this broken universe! You can speed this up, or slow it down, but you cannot stop what we've started. Even if you beat me, you can't save her. Cause all this? This is a done deal."

The Catcher Titan got bigger and bigger as Higgs laughed in an even more deranged tone." Extinction is a foregone conclusion. You should see the view from up here. Astra see if you can stop this thing. It's DOOMSDAY GIRL! Dammit! Feels good, don't it!? Let the game resume!"

Astra had her aura flare up before she rolled up." That's it? I have taken down a lot bigger things than you Higgs! If that's all you have then you really are just going to be a particle of god when I'm done with you!"

The ground started to shake before Higgs snickered." Oh…I got more than a few things going gal don't you worry. I'm sure you can punch me...but if you hit me that hard you might blow up the planet with me!"

His BT's body rippled, before Astra saw countless God bombs formed around his body. As Higgs laughed madly Astra winced in disgust." So that's your big deal? Becoming a giant Suicided Bomber?"

"I never said I had a fighter's pride...the only thing that matters to me is finishing what I started!"

"Damn it...don't tell me you joined those assholes."

"Don't you get it…I don't have sides! Blowing up the captials of the Bethal Kingdom AND the Vought clan AND wipping out most of the major powers left in the universe would be what we always wanted...and destroy all order! Besides...you use to know that teams was just a waste of time but looks like being with all those Bethal idiots caused them to get in your head! They are all about to die…and you really want to die with them?"

Astra looked down before she grasped her fist tightly." Somethings are worth risking your life for, I realized that."

"Tsc…the old man sure as hell did not tell you to stick to such hero crap like that!"

"He was not my only parent damn it!"

Higgs saw Astra's grim resolve before he let out a mad laugh." So…that was true eh? Whatever Geto tried doing let you in touch with something Aqua left behind? Guess that makes sense…was before my time but sounds like Aqua did not have the resolve to see things through so makes sense if you picked up her wishy-washy resolve! But I'm a true believer…I'll see this universe burn before I let anyone loyal to order remain on top!"

"Higgs…life is more than just ideas damn it! You may have given everything to the idea but you have no one…you live with god damn shadows!"

"I don't need anyone! I live for the cause. If you're living for people, then you're setting yourself to fail harder than your old man did before he betrayed the Enji!"

"I did use to think like that…but I realized that no matter the risk if you're living for yourself and yourself alone your already dead. Dad seemed more dead than alive because of this, and no matter what I'm not going down that path. And if you're trying to keep me on that path Higgs Monaghan…I'm going to kick your ass till you stay dead!"

"Heh…well I know you will try, so let's settle who truly is following your old man's path the best way once and for all! You ready to end this? Before the end of everything? One more ending before the end… One last game over. I am the particle of God… COME ON!"

Higgs had attacks come at Astra at all sides, and the blond woman took one deep breath as she prepared to show Higgs how wrong he was once and for all. As she did, even though she was fighting a giant shadow, with how chaotic things had gotten most were too distracted to notice.

At the moment most in the city were watching Homelander's fight with the other" supermen." At the moment Homelander and Superian exchanged eye beams before Omni-Man smashed Homelander through a building.

While his target burst at him only a second later, Omni-Man saw his opponent's enraged look and snickered." What's the matter…are you going to cry that your big day is ruined? You can't hide behind your slaves anymore…its over!"

Homelander prepared to fire another eye laser, only for Billy Butcher to burst up and smash him with a crowbar. As Homelander was hit hard enough to spit out blood before he blinked and hissed out," Seriously? Even a rat like you is coming out of the hole you were hiding in?"

"I been plotting my whole life mate...but if its all going scourged earth...then at least I'll get my piece before the party's over!"

Homelander caught Billy's follow up blow, and saw Omni-man and Superian coming for him before his's eyes glowed and he yelled out," STOP!"

He yelled with such fury that it unleashed a defining shockwave, and Nolan was even more effected by it because of the Viltrumite weakness to noise. Homelander saw his target was affected and instantly slammed him to the ground, he then blasted Hyperion and Supereon with rapid eye blasts before he let out a deranged laugh." No matter what you do none of you can kill me! It does not matter how angry you get…it will never be enough to stop me!"

He fired a massive eye laser blast, but before it could reach Omni-Man, Ezan, already in his Divine Joutei state flash stepped in front of the blast and struck it with his Nu-Epyon. The blast was absorbed by the katana before the super elite warrior gave Homelander a death glare." You think their rage is not enough? Try mine! I'll make you wish for death before I'm done with you! Susanoo…Reflection Slash!"

Homelander's eye twitched as he saw Ezan prepare to unleash his counterattack, but as he dashed back to try and get out of the way he saw Shinryudramon coming for him as the Mega Digimon screamed out," You're not getting away after what you did to my home! GIGA DRILL BREAKER!"

Ben's Digimon partner slammed Homelander in the chest with his drill, causing the head of the seven to scream in pain and smash him right into Ezan, who furthered the combo before slashing Homelander hard enough to slice into his spine.

As Homelander landed with a thud he coughed up blood before he laughed bitterly." You think this can kill me? I'm backed by the true master of the universe…nothing you do can stop this…NOTHING!"

Ezan grasped his fist tightly before he gritted out," Challenge accepted. You think you can get away what you done to the universe? Think again…I have the means to make your life an unending torment that may be to cruel for a formal opponent, but is fitting for a scum like you!"

Homelander saw Ezan try and cast a genjutsu and winced before he yelled with enough force to make Ezan grasp his ears. Homelander had his eye twitch and tried to fire another eye laser blast, only for Shinryudramon and everyone with him to fire all their energy blasts at him.

While it seemed like the champion of the Vought clan was going to be overwhelmed, everyone was shocked to see Black Noir suddenly dive down in front of the incoming projectiles, and just stood there, before all the blasts were absorbed by his body.

The masked man narrowed his eyes before hissing out," This is the last time I bail you out of your mistakes boy."

His aura surged with enough force to shake the entire city before all the projectiles were suddenly unleashed as a barrage of dark and green energy blasts that shot out in all directions.

The blasts vaporized many of the buildings in one shot, and even blasted away many of the spaceships above before Ezan realized he had to struggle to slash apart the blast shot in his direction and eyed the true leader of the Seven carefully." Is that…radiation coming out of his aura? He's like a living reactor…is this Black Noir's true power?"

Omni-Man spat bitterly before he saw the cold look from the new arrival." So it's true…he really let Homelander be the face but was the true one calling the shots."

Billy Butcher also saw Black Noir before he spat out a bitter," So…then it was true…this asshole was the reason I lost Becca to?"

Black Noir had pillars of energy erupt all around him before he cracked his neck." Now that this is the end…I can show my true wrath and it won't matter no more who sees it. You can throw as big a hissy fit as you want "heroes" but the writing's on the wall on who truly is the masters of the universe."

Before Ezan, Omni-Man, Billy, or the others could respond a new male voice uttered," All to true…and it's me!"

To the right Thragg, and his entire army of Thraxan/Viltrumite hybrid children. Ezan saw Thragg's confident look and spat out a frustrated," So you did have a backup clone? Damn it…now of all times!"

"I'm glad you're still alive Ezan Zeon." Thragg uttered bitterly." I can make all who wronged me pay in one fell swoop!"

Omni-Man saw the army of purple warriors behind his former leader and winced." No…so you did overtake Thraxan to make a quick army of followers? You will never be seen as the leader of are race after this!"

"Maybe not the traitors…but it will be a new Viltrum for a new era!"

Mark saw this and rolled his eyes." How many times do we have to teach you the same damn lesson old man? We don't have time for this…nothing's changed since you last attacked so you're going to go down for real no matter how many slaves you cloned."

"Oh…a lot has changed "Invincible." Thragg spat out with contempt." Did you really think so little of me that you thought I would blindly charge back for revenge without changing anything? You think I'm so simple minded that an army of cannon folder is all I would have done to prepare? No, I did not come with quantity, but quality!"

Ezan was about to say something till he saw a ring on Thragg's hand, and that the hundreds of followers next to him all had the same rings before he widened his eyes." Wait…are those all… Metamo-Rings? Wait that means…no!"

"Yes!" Thragg uttered bitterly." I been watching all that's unfolded…and used all of my resources to come up with a solution, and I found one! If the Viltrumite race will not fight as an army, the will fight as one being, or more like fuse to become god, the new god! Onann… Ursaal…everyone! Fufill the reason you exist, and fade away to be what your meant to be, my ascension to godhood!"

His clone children all pressed there Metamo-Rings before Urasall raised an eyebrow." Wait…give are lives? But I thought, AHH!"

It was already too late, and the hundreds of Thraxan/Viltrumite hybrids all were slammed into Thragg's body. The madman screamed with enough fury to shatter all the glass around him, till he unleashed an explosion that knocked everyone back. As Ezan and the others got back up for a moment they wondered if Thragg blew himself up, only to see Thragg's body had now turned golden.

Ezan winced as he eyed Thragg carefully and spat out a bitter," No…he…he fused all of them into his body just to raise his power? Some of the Namekians in the Multiversal Rebel Alliance, Saonel and Pilina, told me how they had to fuse with their entire universe's population to defeat agents of the IV&C, but I never seen it used so savagely."

Omni-Man's eye twitched with disgust as he yelled out," You would have our entire race be sacrificed for your glory Thragg?"

"Of course!" His former leader shouted out viciously." If those foolish Sayians could produce a " Super Saiyan God" out of some ritual from only a few, then a even bigger ritual from a superor race will produce a superior god!"

We are a race of power…and the endgame was always to become the most powerful of them all...even if it means the entire Viltrumite race becoming one to fufill its true destiny, my destiny! You made a fool out of me on Corneria but now…now unlike your halfwit of a boy I am truly Invincible, and as "Uber Thragg" I will take my place as the master of the universe!"

"That will be the last delusion you ever make." Ezan uttered bitterly." Your more cunning than the metadata indicated…but even this won't save you…if you thought merely raising your power level would be enough, you will die for real knowing how wrong you are!"

As Ezan, Mark, and the others braced themselves for Thragg's mad last stand the only one who was not tense was the Batman Who Laughs and other long-time followers of Sieg. The Batman from the Negaverse saw everyone above him and clapped his hands." Well now…this almost makes this fun.

Nice try Thragg…but even this is not enough to compare to a Sixth-Dimensional being. You came so close...but fusing your entire race together still does not compare to merging with everyone in a universe. But hey, at least with this stunt you might live long enough to realize that personally.

Yes…you of the universe could have seen Mr.V-Day's glory…but now…now you will only see his wrath!"

Authors Notes: Well, we got a lot to go over today so let's get started. Neon yellow and Green are from Neon White.

Beat is from The World Ends With you…I moved things around a bit with the order of the plot of World and NEO to change events around for Beat's time as a Reaper for the timing.

The Nurarihyon demon is from Gantz.

Snail and V.I Freud are from Armored Core 6.

Takemura and Hanako Arasaka are from Cyberpunk 2077…I'm trying to mix together plot elements from the main game, the Phantom Liberty DLC and the Edgerunner anime all together to make things gel better so hopefully that will work out.

"Blaster" is from Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome.

Abobo is from Double Dragon

Big Blag is from Battletoads

Homare Nishitani III, Shishido, Gai Amon, and the castle are from Yakuza/ Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Cybershadow and Dr. Progen are from the Cyber Shadow indie game.

Moonrider is from the Megaman X like indie game Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider

Jack is from the" Ghostrunner" series.

Elle is from Blade Runner: Black Lotus

Dolph Laserhawk and "Warden" Sigma Fisher are from Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix

Baston is from X-men, the X-Men 97 version.

Hyperon is from Marvel Comics, most known as the leader of the Squadron Supreme.

Endeavor is from My Hero Academia.

Firecracker is from the Boys, while Marie Moreau, Emma Meyer, Cate Dunlap, and the Godolkin University and the "Woods" are all from the Gen V spin off.

A.K.I., JP, and Bosch are from Street Fighter 6

Estel Aguirre, DJ K-Washi, and Mr Y are from Streets of Rage 4

The Oger and Azazel are from Tekken 3 and 6.

Sindel is from Mortal Kombat 3, Geras is from Mortal Kombat 11

Antonov is from King of Fighters 14 and Isla is from King of Fighters 15

Deego Aegis is form Rouge Galaxcy.

Orin the Red is from Balder's Gate 3.

"Uber Thragg" is made up but I'm inspired by the Metamo-Rings used in the Dragon Ball Fusion game

Lastly "Abby" is a made-up creation, I know she seems like a contrast to the tone of those from the Boys and Gen V but I suppose her feeling more like a One Piece creation was the point of her.

I know there was a lot going on today but wanted to have various groups to show just how many were gathered to "win Sieg and Homelader's favor."

Hope it gave the desired effect. Was busy with grad finals but should hopefully be able to pick up the pace a bit. Thanks for the reviews as always, hope you like what you saw enough to leave more reviews and till then that's all folks.