A horrid stench ruined the air around it. It was sickly dry, almost like swallowing tiny pebbles when breathing in. The sky above was a rotting green, a vast color of decay, glowing a mortified and eerie overcast over the terrain. Loose tendrils of mist wove through the air, thick and cloying, smelling of hot tar and sulfur. The Precipice was shrouded in a perpetual twilight, hell on earth finally here. The heart of this forsaken land had been buckled under sheer gloom, plucked as an impromptu string of despair.
Twisting trees covered the landscape, overgrown in grotesque and puke-invoking abominations. The soil underneath was flat yet unsettlingly void, each footfall echoing with a resonant emptiness that suggested a vast, unseen chasm below.
Dead grass laid in brittle patches, the fulfilling vibrant green now dulled into a lifeless brown. Each blade, thin and fragile, crumbled underfoot like ashes. In between the withered remnants were twisted roots, digging and stabbing into the ground underneath. Their forms were gnarled and contorted as if they had struggled in vain to escape the corruption around them.
Rocks jutted from the earth, their surfaces rough and pitted, marred by old age. Some were covered in a thin layer of slime, glistening faintly in the sickly light, others bore deep, pitted scars like monstrous claws.
In the distance, rising from the fog lied a malignant growth, taking the shape of boisterous and ragged towers. Constructed from blackened stone, this particularly intimidating structure's walls were wrapped around in a dark ivy. It pulsated like seams, creeping and curling around the jagged wall's edges. Narrow and curved windows like stabbing eyes added to the decrepit and haunting appearance of this place, pieces of glass stained and cracked.
Each tower was capped with roofs that represented spikey points, some appearing to have crumbled away entirely. The skeletal framework had been exposed, though somehow it still stood tall.
Frequently wandering on the top walls, passageways and surrounding vicinity of this fortress were dozens of abstract and horrifyingly mauled fusion creatures. Below them, the main massive iron monstrosity of a gate had been rusted and covered in deep gouges. It hung slightly ajar, creaking ominously with the faintest gust of wind. Chains hung from the surrounding walls hooked up to a shifting mechanism, daunting an entrance to the darkness within.
This large structure exuded an aura of despair, a place where not only did earth die, but hope died.
Deep within the looming halls, corrupt whispers echoed. The dimensions shifted as if there were no force of gravity, bits and pieces of stone calmly hovering across the anti-gravity grasp centered in this place. The walls from within squished in the sick, organic texture of green fusion creating a near-living fortress. The hum of machinery combined with the squelching walls came to life, creating a biofusion of machine and creature. Everywhere, the influence of the fusion was evident. Pods of green slime hung from the ceilings, occasionally bursting to release new monstrosities into the fray. Pools of the same fluid collected in depressions on the floor, bubbling and churning as if with a life of their own. Occasionally, a loose limb or wet tendril flopping around in the acidic soup.
Occasionally, the outline of a fusion figure overlooked these operations and the health of the walls. The entire place had been swarming with more creatures, once original and familiar forms now twisted into nightmarish reflections.
At the heart of this fortress lied a cavernous, dominating throne room. Surrounded by twisted spikes and barbed vines, puke-green light radiated from the jagged black rock throne lying in the center. Banners of green stood stiff, made from solidified fusion just for a twisted metaphor. At the far end, behind the throne, a massive, quaking portal shimmered, its surface swirling with chaotic energy, a gateway to some unseen location.
Lord Fuse had been sprawled out over his throne, his humanoid figure having been manipulated and stretched into a living blanket. He had no limbs, no bones, rather created as a solidified tarp that covered over the chair. His body throbbed delicately like a living lava lamp, tendrils of his form extended outward and clutching tightly onto the arms of his throne and the floor around him. His eyes flared an electrifying red, scanning the room, looking quite dissatisfied. Each subtle movement of his form sent ripples through the gelatinous substance, pulsating lights frequently traveling from his brain sacks and into the ground underneath him like glow sticks.
Another figure was making his way forward toward the throne with a wide smile on his face, almost smug. He had completely disregarded Lord Fuse's disgruntled look, nearly a living embodiment of the word 'pride'. His hands were tucked behind his back, a draping black cloak dragging on the ground behind him. Rested atop his head was a sickening flame of green, more like a living shadow than a legitimate man. A pair of squinty red eyes blinked just once, fixating on the immensely powerful figure in front of him.
"Lore Fussse? You have requessted my presence?"
His voice hissed, echoing in the wide chamber.
Fuse lifted his head, transforming part of his mass into a neck so that he was somewhat noticeable.
" DEMONGO, MY MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT."
Fusion Demongo bowed, then lifted himself back up.
" EVEN AS EARTH CLAIMS, YOU HAVE NEVER KNOWN DEFEAT. I MUST ASK A FAVOR FROM YOU."
Without much defiance, the demon bowed once again, "Anything for you, my mastaaaa."
A grin crept across Lord Fuse's face. His body slowly took shape, melting into the chair like hot cheese and reshaping itself into a humanoid figure, " MY LOYAL SUBJECTS OF THE DARKLANDS HAVE FAILED ME. THIS WAR HAS GONE ON FOR LONG ENOUGH AND AT LAST," A hand raised up into the air, clutching itself tightly under a cracked-rocky skin. " WE SHALL BEGIN OUR FULL ASSAULT OF EARTH'S REMAINING FORCES."
Demongo cackled in slight delight, clasping his hands together while his smile nearly pinched the edges of his bubbly cheeks, "Of courssse! I am most honored to accompany you and your needs, my mastaaa."
A low hum of satisfaction escaped Fuse, a sickened joy befalling the demon below him, " SHOULD EVERYTHING FALL ACCORDINGLY, YOU WILL BE RELEASED WITH A LEGION OF MY MOST POWERFUL CREATURES TO SIEGE THEIR OUTPOSTS ONE BY ONE. YOU WILL MARCH UNTIL EVERY LIVING ENTITY IN THIS LAND HAS JOINED OUR CAUSE, EVEN THE INFAMOUS HUMAN WHO NAMES HIMSELF AS…"
Lord Fuse grit his jagged teeth in anger.
" SAMURAI JACK."
Fusion Demongo's eyes widened, panic ensuing within his very core under the mutterance of the name. Fuse's radiating presence under the hivemind influenced him subtly, provoking him to cower slightly. "M-My lord, what mussst I make of him?"
Lord Fuse leaned in, his thick and rocky fingers digging into the chair underneath him.
" YOUR LEGION SHALL TEAR HIM LIMB FROM LIMB. ONCE THE TIME IS RIGHT, YOU WILL TRANSFORM HIM INTO AN OBEDIENT PATRON. HE HAS DELAYED THIS ASSAULT FOR FAR TOO LONG."
Demongo trembled, rubbing his hands together anxiously and bowed. To approach a man like Samurai Jack was no easy feat, as the memories of the true Demongo had taken place. Fuse didn't know yet, somehow. He had been beaten before, only once. He found his weakness, even as a puppeteer of perhaps thousands of essences. Once sent out to defeat the Samurai on behalf of the great evil Aku himself, he was on the verge of victory until he exploited him at the very end.
"As you wish, my mastaaa."
Fuse furrowed an eyebrow, lifting a hand to scratch the edge of his chin, " I SENSE HESITANCE WITHIN YOU, MY MINION. WHAT TROUBLES YOU?"
"You wish to know, my lord?"
The ruler nodded his head, clutching his hands together and curling the fingers in between.
Fusion Demongo replied, "I have known defeat, only once. The samurai has defeated my counterpart before; I fear he knows my weakness."
" MUST YOU COWER?" Fuse sighed. " YOU HAVE THWARTED YOUR COUNTERPART, MY MINION. YOUR POWERS HAVE DOUBLED, A FORCE TRULY TO BE RECKONED WITH AND A WORTHY SUCCESSOR FOR MY HORDES.
He leaned in slightly, reaching out a hand and gently began to pat Demongo on the head.
The fusion crumbled a little bit, wincing at his massive hand nearly flattening him.
" EVEN SO, YOU POSSESS THE ESSENCE OF SOME OF EARTH'S BRAVEST WARRIORS. DO NOT WORRY, MY MINION."
"Lord Fuse."
A third, raspy voice made itself known from the edges of the throne room, cutting through the oppressive silence like a blade. He squinted his red eyes, sitting up straight and folding his arms over his chest. The curiosity in his gaze was clear; who would dare interrupt his conversation?
Joining their conversation, the most noticeable trait were a pair of twitching bug-eyes, the nerve failure wracking this new fusion's form. Long, greasy black hair draped over part of his face, partially obscuring his ugliness. When he lifted his chin, the green light revealed a hue of fusion buzz that seemed to pulse with a life of its own, looking at the gaze in front of him with a blend of madness.
His body was a rugged patchwork of muscle, metal and alien biology. One arm, grotesquely muscular and metal, twitched and jerked as he moved, almost barely under his control. The other arm was a horrifying blend of organic and inorganic, cross-bred from sinewy fusion tissue and a rocky crimson alien's tough exoskeleton. His back was exposed with twisted flesh and jagged spikes that jutted out haphazardly. The only semblance of clothing he wore was a pair of slightly tattered grey khaki shorts, hanging loosely from his hips and doing little to cover his form.
" SPEAK, MINION. "
The figure bowed, folding his two muscular arms behind his back while the other deformed ones remained stiff, "A fusion like no other has trodden on our ground with no intention other than to speak directly to you. He is not in our collective but a stray, who claims to be from a distant world."
"I'm curious," Fusion Demongo side-eyed the figure beside him, taking a step to the side and turning to look back. "A fusion that isn't a part of the hivemind?"
" YOU MAY ALLOW THE BRAZEN FOOL TO ENTER," Fuse snarled, waving his arm. " I AM A BENEVOLENT RULER."
The figure bowed, then turned to look at Demongo.
"What curious interloper has visited, Kevin?"
Fusion Kevin shrugged dumbfoundedly, taking a couple of steps back and made a gesture from the darkness of the room's entrance.
Lord Fuse took a deep breath, watery and boiling. His exhale caused him to melt, coating his entire throne in more fusion essence as he anticipated this arrival.
Fusion Demongo slightly cowered, fearing the next few moments for this unknown figure.
The sounds of metal clamping into the ground ringed in the room and only grew louder by the second. At first, it was distant, until each pressing step seemed to slam itself into the rock underneath. His form was an unsettling blend of man and machine, with a body entirely made out of an alien, armored substance that pulsed with a sickly green glow in between an inky black coating. His skin, if it could still be called that, was a dark, metallic black, giving him the appearance of a living, breathing suit of armor. His neck was encircled by a black metal collar, connecting his head to his body. It was simplistic yet ominous, serving as both a symbol of his enslavement to the fusion force and a practical tool.
Tilting his head up slightly, fizzing green skin gleamed in the illumination of the room. A pair of menacing neon red eyes scanned between the three figures before him, a metal hand wiping away the unkempt wavy brown hair. Much like everyone else in the room, he seemed to move on his own as a solid yet fluid mass kept in a perpetual state of readiness.
"My lord."
Sloop!
A hand reached up and grasped onto his hair, tugging at it tightly. Within seconds, the head of this fusion popped out of the collar like a greasy slot. It was held up in the air, then cradled into a muscular arm like a fresh babe from out of the womb. Still, somehow, his eyes remained focused. A dozen centipede-like legs formed out of his chin and neck, lifting himself slightly in the arm's grasp.
"I bring you a message from someone none other than yourself, as I know you would not pause for anyone else."
Fusion Niles was a terrifying sight to behold, a perversion of his former self that was showcased into a horrifying capability. He stood ready, the malice in his eyes indicating he was eager to unleash devastation on anyone who opposed him.
" SOMEONE NONE OTHER THAN MYSELF? ELABORATE."
He fell to one knee, "I am a messenger, one who has traveled from the future. My lord, Fuse, has requested that I speak with you urgently."
" THE FUTURE?" Lord Fuse questioned. His curiosity piqued as he leaned forward, folding his hands together. " WHAT OF IT?"
Niles replied, "It has taken some time, though we have succeeded. Earth has joined us and the power of our forces has been doubled. I have come to inform you of what you must do in order to succeed, as an agent of this planet has returned from the future to stop you."
" HOW UNFORTUNATE," Lord Fuse shook his head. " THESE CREATURES HYPERFIXATE ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF 'MORALS' AND 'HONOR', YET REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THEY ARE PREY. DO TELL."
The fusion placed his head back on his neck, the dozens of tiny legs locking it back into place. He extended his arms and posed for all three of them. Letting out a sigh, he continued, "Observe. I am a man. A soldier of earth who proudly identifies himself as the 'Iron Warrior' has fled to this world with an important book, holding all of the secrets to genociding our kind. I have been sent here for two reasons: the first is to inform you of this, and the second is to ensure he is killed before that happens. Once this is done, I will return home. I am here, simply because my predecessors have failed to begin with."
Lord Fuse chuckled a couple of times, rubbing at his chin with pure bliss on his face, " IT DELIGHTS ME TO HEAR THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL EVEN IN OTHER TIMELINES. I WOULD ERADICATE ENTIRE UNIVERSES TO MEET A CREATURE LIKE MYSELF, A PERFECT SPECIMEN."
"My mastaaa, may I inform him of our plan?" Fusion Demongo smiled.
The alien warlord nodded, making a gesture.
"I am to enact as one of Lord Fuse's top generalsss. Perhapsss I may be of assistance to you, Iron Warrior?"
Fusion Niles turned to look over at Demongo, "I would love that. My counterpart has breathed too long as a pitiful specimen; his expiration is overdue."
" LET THIS BE A TEST OF SKILL, SO CALLED 'IRON WARRIOR'," Lord Fuse taunted, nonchalantly waving a hand. " YOU SHALL ASSIST MY MINION IN HIS INVASION OF THE DARKLANDS. FROM THERE, YOU WILL MARCH ONWARD AND HUNT HIM DOWN. I ALREADY HAVE SENT SEVERAL LOYAL SUBJECTS TO SPY ON THEIR NOTORIOUS SECTOR. PERHAPS THEY MAY BE OF HELP?"
The metal man bowed once again, shaking his head in agreement, "I am grateful for any assistance you may offer, my lord. Once it is done, I shall be out of your way and ensure your victory."
"I will be preparing an assault on their ship in the Forsaken Valley, as my mastaaa has requested. Would you care to join me?" Fusion Demongo asked.
The fusion warrior bowed, "I'd be delighted. The more heartache I cause him, the more satisfaction and power I gain."
"What of me, my lord?" Fusion Kevin buzzed. "Am I to go with them?"
Lord Fuse held up a rejecting hand, " NO, YOU WILL NOT. YOU SHALL COMMAND OVER THE DEFENSES ONCE WE SWEEP THIS LAND. THEN, THE GREAT MARCH ACROSS THE OCEAN WILL BEGIN."
He fell to one knee and bowed his head in servitude before standing right back up, "Yes, my lord."
"Excellent, then from there I must depart from your troop and-"
Lord Fuse smacked the bottom of his fist into his chair like a gavel, interrupting Fusion Niles as his eyes widened. Nearly popping out from his oozing skull, the hot gaze didn't cease. A fear shot through the fusion's body, feeling an ominous threat lingering over him.
" YOU WILL NOT. A GRAVE REALIZATION HAS BEFALLEN OVER ME; COME FORWARD."
He took a couple of steps closer, now in between his massive and cruddy feet. The fusion stared right back up at him with a near-equal boldness, his hands clutching at his sides imitating his usual heroic pose.
" THE IRON WARRIOR. DOES HE ADORN HIMSELF IN RED AND WHITE?" Fuse firmly asked.
Fusion Niles affirmed, "He does."
" THEN HE HAS ALREADY MADE HIMSELF KNOWN IN MY DOMAIN," he answered. " THE INVASION OF THEIR FORTRESS IN THE WILDS HAS FAILED. HE WAS A FIGHTER ON THEIR SIDE, A CUNNING ONE AT THAT."
From the view of the many creatures who had been obliterated in that fight, Fuse sat his head back on the rest of the throne and allowed those memories to be replayed. The faint colors of red and white were prevalent, feeling the pain and suffering of his hundreds of children being slaughtered in sheer minutes. His frustration only grew by the second, feeling the dark obscurity of death play as an example in his mind over and over again. Each death of a creature he created was felt by him, like a string being disconnected in the back of his mind.
"May I offer a suggestion, my lord?" Fusion Kevin requested.
A singular eye peeked open, indicating his attention.
His metallic hand raised itself into the air and started gesturing as he spoke, "When they are victorious with their destruction of the forces of earth here in the Darklands, perhaps they can march the wilds fortress and starve it out? I am certain there are near hundreds of our children hidden in plain sight."
" THEY. WERE. BURNED," he responded sharply. " LEFT TO MELT."
Fusion Demongo shook his head, "Our forcesss will do fine without them; leave it to me."
A sigh of relief escaped the warlord, rubbing part of his head and face with a hand. His legs had spread out on the edge of the throne, his hand gripping onto his face in slight despair. No matter how insignificant a creature could be, they were a part of him. He felt like he could've wept.
"You know of my purpose," Fusion Niles began, holding his hands behind his back. "You know of my plan. You must understand that I will have to depart from this world once the warrior has been slain. My lord can allow only allow me to manifest in this world for so long."
Fuse took a deep breath, " I UNDERSTAND, MESSENGER. AS A TOKEN OF MY GOOD FAITH, I WILL ESCORT YOU ONTO THE MAINLAND ONCE THE SIEGE IS OVER. FROM THERE, YOU MAY DEPART IF YOU WISH. KNOW THAT SHOULD YOU FALL, THIS BURDEN WILL FALL BACK ONTO ME. I WILL BE GREATLY DISAPPOINTED."
"I understand, Lord Fuse," the fusion lowered his head. "I have been created simply for the intention of his murder. I am aware of their tactics and may assist in the planning for the siege."
Demongo tilted his head to the side, raising an eyebrow at his bold statement, "You are a fighter, are you not? If you assist in the siege, surely you will be found on the frontlines, no?"
Niles turned his head to look over at the demon, clicking his tongue in response, "I have to live, whatever the cost. Additionally, I'm equipped with some of earth's most desperate strategies. I agree with you, my lord, they truly are pathetic creatures. They steep themselves to the lowest of the low in this universe to survive, not simply out of strength but out of desperation. If I remember correctly, the Iron Warrior is the same."
" I ASK OF YOU, FUSION WARRIOR, WHO IS THIS SOLDIER OF EARTH?"
Slowly he spoke, "His name is Niles Robinson, under the agent name of 'Arachnid'. The Powerpuff Girls have done their best to train him in the ways of going beyond something human, something powerful much like them. He is madly in love with one of them and lets his guard down around the people he loves, as is the way of humanity: drawn by passion."
Lord Fuse took in his words very carefully. The forces of earth had proven to be nearly one of the most complicated races in the universe; in comparison to the many other planets he had swept into his mass, humanity could adapt. Even under the harshest conditions, the strongest of them managed to survive even against all odds. It was a rare trait, even more so rare solely for the fact that their entire civilization was built based on the implications they created. The complexity of mankind as a whole was a marvel to be studied, an even much more tiring species to combat. So many of them had unique powers, characteristics and traits which made them individual in every way. Their ability to think independently, create and explore was something he envied very much.
" HUMANITY IS DRAWN BY MANY THINGS. IN ORDER TO ENSURE HIS DEMISE, I WILL ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR MISSION. YOU WILL INFORM ME OF WHO THEY MIGHT BE, AND I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NECESSARY ALLIES."
Niles held a hand over his chest, nodding, "Yes, my lord."
With one last wave of his hand lazily he spoke, " THE THREE OF YOU SHALL DEPART FROM MY HALL AND SEE TO YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES. I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED. GLORY TO MY NAME."
"Glory to you, my mastaaa!" Fusion Demongo rallied.
"Praise Lord Fuse." Fusion Kevin nodded with a smile.
"From one lord to another," Fusion Niles smiled. "Thank you."
Lord Fuse's body began to tremble away, dissolving into a mass of green goop like before. He situated himself comfortably, reconnecting to his network of thousands of creatures and shut his eyes. Almost like going into a deep sleep, he became one with the throne like a supercomputer and had gone mute.
Kevin split away from the group, leaving the two of them to leave his colossal castle.
Together they strode through the twisted halls, their footsteps echoing against the living walls. An oppressive atmosphere seemed to retreat in their presence, almost as if the castle slightly shrunk with their sheer power. Emerging into the open expanse outside, past the front gates, Fusion Demongo and Niles were exposed to the landscape of the desolate and eerie flatlands around them.
Demongo halted, lifting a skeletal hand to the sky. He turned his head back, his eyes flaring with an unholy light. In a higher-pitched, mocking tone he cheered, "Stand back, and observe: my full, unrelenting power!"
A maniacal, ear-piercing laugh echoed across the land. His voice resonated with an ancient and malevolent language as both of his hands tore into the skulls planted on his chest. Necrotic energy crackled, forbidden magic from the very depths of his being. What was summoned in his hand was none other than a gooey, bouncy green skull with a pair of red eyes fixated in the sockets. He reeled his arm back and chucked it forward, watching it bounce on the bare ground beneath them.
Crack! Chik!
Breaking through the goo were cracks of light, shining like a suffocated lamp. This light grew the more it shattered, the immense power inside taking shape. It coalesced after a few seconds and the phantom of a vaguely humanoid shape began to rise from the ground itself. Slowly, the figure was more defined, a flowing cape unraveling underneath. A fiery sparked on the head, then long and slender limbs. A pair of pale red eyes opened as the ghostly emerald specter made its grand and dramatic arrival. The essence of Demongo had been summoned, not as an imposing form of the original demon but as a poltergeist alternate.
Even though he was slightly smaller, the clone possessed his same menacing presence. Every feature was an almost perfect replica, from the sharp angles of his shadowy face to the elongated, clawed fingers. Muffled like under a mute, it let out a sinister chuckle as it started making its way forward.
The two Demongos exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. They were united in purpose, their combined strength amplifying the already formidable fusion forces at their command.
"You have captured the essence of the actual Demongo?" Fusion Niles watched with grim satisfaction. Dominant confidence fell over him as he beamed, "With your power doubled, you will be, without a doubt, one of Fuse's finest generals."
Together both the fusion and essence of Demongo said, "Thisss is only just the beginning!"
In perfect parallel, both of them raised their hands to the other. The other grasped onto the skulls planted on their chests, ripping apart spectral and magical skulls from out of their chests. The ground trembled as a handful of skulls turned into a few dozen, rising in numbers into the almost hundreds. Together they moved like clockwork, constantly spewing out handfuls and handfuls of skulls at a time. With each point of impact, the soil erupted into a violet upheaval, birthing another monster to add to their army. The rate of their necromantic creation was exponential, duplicating the size of their army within minutes.
The monsters that emerged were a grotesque variety, Fusion Demongo's hivemind combined with his raw power twisting their original forms. Some were hulking brutes, towering masses of muscle and flesh while others grew enormous claws and teeth. Others were sleek and agile, born with elongated limbs and barbed tails that whipped through the air. Modern-day animals, robots, and even some people were redesigned into unspeakable fusion horrors. It didn't matter how different they looked, they all agreed on one thing: each creature born had the signature of Lord Fuse. Green veins and fusion energy pulsed from within, though were mindless just under the command of the puppeteer. They were puppets, served with one purpose: to conquer.
As the monstrous horde continued to grow, some of the castle's creatures who were tasked with joining in this assault began to form in their separate bundle. The rising army let out roars and screeches, a cacophony of sheer chaos. By now, the land was simply just uninhabitable. Any nutrients in the dirt left were sucked up by these monsters, aiding in the process of their vile creation.
"Messenger of the distant world, are you ready for.. the grand finale?" Fusion Demongo turned to look at the super soldier beside him, malevolence in his wide smile.
Fusion Niles crossed his fleshy arms, "By all means, please impress me."
He nodded, turning back to the army, and dove into the deepest, darkest pits of his magic essence within.
Three familiar figures emerged, their forms not twisted but wreathed in sickly green flames.
First came the ghostly essence of Major Glory, flickering in and out. His chiseled features were recognizable, though anger dominated in his red eyes. The emblem on his chest was gone, now a negative and cruel flame simply for Demongo's enjoyment.
Next to him rose the essence of Krunk, a towering behemoth of raw power. He retained his intimidating bulk, though his expression was just rage and despair. The corrupted titan readied himself to unleash his fury, letting out a primal warcry at his arrival.
Third, came the specter of Vanhallen, lifting a levitating and gothic metal guitar into the air. His long hair flowed like a shadow, beginning a tune of discordant and cartoonishly evil melodies.
A bundle of skulls landed behind them, cracking open even more figures.
One by one, the members of the Justice Friends who had fallen prior too came into shape. The bright colors of their super-suits were disrespectfully replaced with shades of green, fit in Lord Fuse's preference.
The first was White Tiger, his sleek and feline form having him constantly on the move. He leaped up from the ground and stood up straight, placing two hands on his hips. He tilted his head, letting out a snarl toward the main three, and rested a clawed hand on Vanhallen's shoulder.
Up next, a brilliantly shining mech flexed his muscles. His body twitched, his gold armor sparking with sudden electricity until he struck a pose. Living Bullet followed in his aerodynamic form, surrounded by a green flame. A low, intimidating chuckle echoed from his helmet's muffled mouth until he remained silent, smacking his fists together.
Beside him, a man in feudalist era Japanese armor glowed with an eerie light. He raised a katana into the air, coating the blade itself in fire. His disciplined stance identified him as the one and only Sam-R-I, a red glow coming from within his helmet. Respectfully he bowed, sheathing his sword and planted his hand on its butt.
Crawling out from the skull came a literal man of fire dressed in nothing but an orange sarong and two wristbands, raising his fists into the air and letting out a battle cry from underneath his massive tiki mask. Tiki Torch pounded his chest several times and cried out, "This world will BURN!"
Lastly, a slim and tall woman dramatically rose from her skull. She wore a pink and red dress, clutching a pair of red gloved hands on her hips. A pointy witch's hat blew in the breeze of her conjuration, smiling with a glint of anticipation. The green flame surrounding her had been met with pink energy as she harnessed magic energy, wiping herself off rather elegantly. Miss Spell was the last to join them, turning to Demongo and giving a polite courtesy.
"You have captured the Justice Friends?" Fusion Niles asked in slight awe. "You have outdone yourself, my demonic friend."
Demongo replied, "I did not, but my counterpart did!"
With the snap of his fingers, the corrupted Justice Friends began the march out of the Precipice. Leading the way, Major Glory's essence put the heel into every step. To his left and his right, his allies served as the literal front line. Staring at this display, one could wonder: how would it be even possible to bring them down? The march was rhythmic, almost hypnotic. It was heard from all across the countryside, the rallies, cries and twisted laughs of the monsters almost singing with the rhythm. The dead grass and rocks crunched underfoot, the green fog rolling reluctantly for their passage.
Every single one of them had one place in mind, fixated on its demise: The Forsaken Valley.
Fusion Demongo followed at a distance, his eyes never leaving his army. For his duplicate, it had joined the ranks among them safely nestled in between perhaps a hundred monsters. Dark pride billowed inside him as the march began toward their destination.
For now, Niles acted as an escort for Demongo. He remained by his side closely, tightly holding his arms at his sides while following along to the beat.
As his eyes wandered over to his escort, the demon spoke out loud, "Once we have overtaken that ship, and crossed the sea, there is no telling how far we will go. I will become the most powerful soul collector.. In the world!"
A hand curled itself up into a fist, shutting his glowing eyes and began to holler in his maniacal laugh.
"Aheheh..ahaha! AHAHA! AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
6/2/24
Hello! Thank you for coming back! Ah yes, fusion disposition.
I have been meaning to get around to this chapter and figured I'd branch on what's going on with the other side. For a majority of this story, it's on earth's side, though we rarely ever get to see Fuse's side. As for our poor hero, it seems he is going to be taking on a lot more than he initially thought. Nevertheless, time marches on.
Since this is one of the timelines where earth has a disadvantage, not only in game did Major Glory lose his powers but a large handful of the Justice Friends did. For context, in case anyone is confused, the Justice Friends are an equivalent of a superhero league in the Cartoon Network universe. In the show Samurai Jack, Demongo is a soul-collector. He can trap the essences of fallen warriors or steal them to give himself more power.
For reference, Kevin was a reference to the Ben 10 character (though it being his twisted evil form), White Tiger, Living Bullet, Sam-R-I, Tiki Torch and Miss Spell are from the Justice Friends as well.
Hopefully this sets up for the next chapter by the time we get back to this, though for now I hope you enjoyed. We're about to get to a war bit for this arc.