Cosmic Wars Omega: The Multiversal War across the Infinite Frontier

by Darth Necron

In the aftermath of the Secret Wars a path to the Multiverse was formed. Decedents of legendary warriors Ben Auro and Doug Fitter, Michael Auro and Astra Fitter, now must unite the likes of Rachet & Clank, Sam Porter, MegaMan Volnutt, 2B, Mark "Invincible" Greyson, Tanjiro Kamado, and the other last hero's of the universe to stop the Negaverse from conquering all other universes.

45. Chapter 297: Dead Reckoning

Chapter 297: Dead Reckoning of Those for Whom Tolerance Is Extinction.

As horrified as everyone was with how Corneria was in the last moments they saw it, it was even more horrifying for those left behind as the very sunlight was taken from them, aside from a few. One of the ones that had grim resignation instead of fear, was the man who long had fear beaten out of him, Kira.

After the Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam was destroyed when Mike killed Brandon and collapsed the space time anomaly he created, as Kira's mind snapped back to his seal, his mood was dire as he only felt more death around him. As he saw Castile and Samuel in front of him the former son of the Grand Master of the Enji sighed." So…all that and we did not advert the enemies plans?"

Castile felt the aura around him before he winced." No…it's not that we failed to stop this plan…it's that the enemy had many plans back to back. This…was all just a game to them."

Kira could not help but chuckle bitterly as he felt the planet shake." I suppose this is how it feels to be on the receiving end of a many layered plan. Confronting an enemy who's resources vastly outnumber you leaves you, few options. Well Max…after all this time I seem to be in your situation. What is the others plans?"

Castile sighed as he looked up." With Prince Auro's death many have been…paralyzed with grief. Even Ezan, James, Daigo and many of the others are starting to realize how much the odds are against us."

Kira sighed before he looked at the damage to the planet." It would seem that there are few paths for us all. But if they refuse to walk down any path, there will be nothing but oblivion."

Castle nodded before he took a heavy sigh." I know what path we must take; however grim it is. It's clear now after seeing what he's done to the other angels what this Sieg V-Day Elgan and his Infinite Victory and Conquest corporation won't be showing mercy. All of this was just a game to them. But even if resisting is futile, I won't let them break me. I can't do much to resist, but you might at least have a few more options."

Kira chuckled bitterly before retorting with a dry," So I left that good an impression on my probation, did I?"

More explosions were heard before the angels looked grimly at each other." Mostly. I'm not sure that what you did would have been enough for Ben and Lacus to free you, but the blunt truth is that you're the last one that can make a difference. You proved you still put your morals over base revenge, and I can only hope that won't change no matter how intense things get."

"I assure you, I'd rather be erased than be a willing pawn of such petty abominations. No matter what happens…I will never side with anarchists…because that's still one of the few things I have left, my beliefs."

Castile nodded as the rumbling got louder." It's because you showed the commitment to your beliefs that I'm willing to put my faith in your sincerity. While still not my ideal choice, we cannot afford to be blinded to reality a second longer. Just don't make me regret this Kira, don't make the innocent suffer even more than they already have. All right…Samuel…it's time to undue Muken."

Samuel nodded before chuckling bitterly." If nothing else…the fact is that there is no point for him to govern souls if we no longer have control over any of the afterlife. A Judge with nothing to judge has no purpose. So, huh?"

The shaking got even worst before a beam of energy burst right into the core of the planet. Castile winced before uttering," Damn…they already launched a new assault? And…so many so quickly. No…have to save what's left."

Kira saw Castile use his grace to cause the crystal around him to crack before he chuckled bitterly." Don't be too concerned…I'm already dead Castile." The angel just pushed harder before retorting with a dire," But you falling into enemy hands will cause even more to die Kira. I am not a hero.

But sometimes doing the right thing requires sacrifices…and unlike Makima, Abdiel and the other angels, despite what we wanted to believe I realize that there is no righteous path or true justice.

It's just people trying to do their best in a universe where it's far too easy to do your worst. You sinned Kira, but we to sinned thinking there was only one path for justice."

Kira snickered before muttering," That's because Cosmos…no…the One-Above-All made everyone see it that way…till he got bored of it. You know…before my brother died I loved God too much. And for that he betrayed me—punished me. Just as he's punished you. After all, how could God stand idly by while that man broke into your home and butchered your family in their beds?

There are only two rational answers, Castile—either, he's sadistic... or he simply doesn't care. No…worst…he cared in the worst way. Think about it: your "father" made everything, which means he made me who I am. God wanted the Devil! He wanted everyone to be the pawns and…to the end I won't be anyone's pawn. I will still stand on the, huh?"

He saw an energy beam come right down from above him. Samuel cursed before getting in the way of the energy blast. The inorganic angel chuckled bitterly as his arms started to melt." Tsc…I never thought I had such emotions still within me. Kira…your no saint…but with all the data I have on me…I prefer your judgment over are attackers. Don't…make me…look…a fool."

The half Maykr Celestial one was vaporized from the blast before Kira narrowed his eyes." That I will promise Samur Maykr."

Suddenly Homelander burst down below. The leader of the Seven looked around before he chuckled darkly." So this is what they were keeping locked up eh? Anything that can give these Bethal faggots power has to go so they have nothing but my foot up their ass! I, Mr-V day may want the planet intact till he arrives but I'm sure he would not mind busting up this toy! Party's over losers!"

Kira's eyes glowed before uttering," When were you under the impression this is over? This…is just getting started."

Homelander was shocked to see the giant crystal crack, before it suddenly exploded with enough force to knock Homelander into the wall hard enough to leave an impression. He blinked before he chuckled." That's your last bomb? Man you really are out of, huh?"

He felt a sudden surge in pressure cause him to have trouble moving before he saw a pillar of light above him, and realized it was coming from a humanoid shape, as Kira emerged, transformed.

He retained the third, pupil-free eye on his forehead from his attempted fusion with Zannacross.

His hair was now long enough to reach his black shoe and his face has gained symmetrical purple line patterns extending from the outer corner of each eye over his cheeks and temples.

He was clad in a form-fitting, white-hemmed black robe, with the section covering his pectorals, shoulders, and neck being white and marked with two short lines on either side at the bottom, two bands of white diagonally encircling his lower torso to meet at the front, and the bottom of the white hem expanding triangularly downward around his midsection; the Hōgyoku, now with four eight-sided purple crystals surrounding it in radial symmetry, floats in a void in the center of Kira's chest.

Clad in white and flaring outward at the biceps with eye-like designs that form flower-like epaulettes, Kira's arms were no longer connect to his body and instead floated next to his shoulders, filled with the same void that housed the Hōgyoku in his chest.

Behind Kira floated six wings, the left side being angel wings and the black wings resembling glass mirrors at the front and a blank white at the back; the upper two wings resemble thin and angular ovals, while the bottom four wings are shaped like sharp-edged eyes and feature large eye designs mirroring Kira 's own on the back.

Homelander saw Kira's cold look before his eye twitched." Who the hell are you?"

"Tell me…John." Kira uttered coldly." Who do you see as your father? Do you think you made him proud?"

Homelander blinked a bit before he snorted out," Hell yah! I'm going to rule the universe…I'm far more then Dr. Vogelbaum ever thought possible! But that has nothing to do with, huh?"

He saw a flash of light, before an old man walked out of it. The man looked at Homelander and smirked." I was too hard on you boy, but I just wanted you to be the best you could be, the strongest in the universe! And now you deserve what you were denied for so long."

Homelander's eyes twitched before he smirked." This some sort of reward?" He opened his arms as in preparing for a hug." I knew I was, GUH!"

The image of Jonah Vogelbaum flickered, before Homelander had his eye twitch. He felt lightheaded, before his head fell off. Dr. Vogelbaum turned to Kira before the many winged man had a sword that looked like his former Luminous Abjector blade at the head of his target." All too easy. This is the only reward a scum like you deserves. Haikai!"

Kira used the energy of the God of Destruction within him to extend his free hand and had a purple energy sphere go for Homelander. The of the Vought Clan 's headless body snarled out," YOU THINK YOU CAN PUNK ME? I DO WHATEVER I DAMN W…AHHH!"

The moment the energy sphere hit Homelander, the leader of the Seven's body was vaporized. Castile had endured all of this, and the archangel saw Kira's detached look before he sighed." I'm glad you were able to readjust so quickly after centuries of being sealed Kira, and it seems you can now read the thoughts of those around you after further evolving eh? Still…I'm afraid this is a premature victory. Even being killed, erased vie the power of a God of Destruction, won't end Homelander.

Cortical Stacks work by downloading the human consciousness, they were able to transmit it to a waiting body or "Sleeve" on a distant planet. This method of transmitting consciousness off-world means that as long as the server exists, he will come back no matter what."

Kira looked up, and could see the massive figure of Homelander bigger than a planet with Mekacity and Arasaka Tower above him before he grasped his blade tightly." Then he's nothing but a program of sorts? Then I'll erase his eyesore of a base to be done with it. Even if I can't destroy the whole infernal Infinite Victory and Conquest Corporation I can destroy that much."

As he slowly floated upwards a grim chuckle came out from below." My…I know full well how isolation can erode one's mind but I did not think it would make you outright foolish boy."

Kira at once looked at the ground, before Zannacross seeped out of the very darkness, still on the throne he was given.

Kira was caught off guard by looking at the Namekian before him before he narrowed his eyes." That disturbance I sensed earlier…so you really did make use of Xehamaru's return to revive yourself Chaos Zannacross Necron? You always been obsessed with revenge, but to reduce yourself to another dog of this Infinite Victory and Conquest Corporation reduces whatever status you once had. You think you can get revenge while I'm regaining my senses? I suppose I could use something of a warmup."

Zannacross chuckled bitterly as he looked down." Come now Kira…if I wanted revenge then why would I wait till you were unsealed to speak to you? The truth is that there was a time when I would want revenge for your betrayal, but the fact is that we are both not the same men we were when you tried to become me.

Furthermore, neither of us is foolish enough to dismiss the threat to both of us, and the entire universe. In your state...did you hear this "V-Day"'s speech to the universe?

Kira paused before he snickered darkly." For all of Auro's delusions I never thought I'd hear an even more arrogant tone from his mouth. Though…if he really just conquered the universe I suppose it's not confidence rooted in delusion."

"It's not." Zannacross answered bitterly." I could see it all, every planet with life in the universe was attacked at once. While the death toll was not quite as high as when I on a whim murdered half of all living beings, the statement is beyond clear, and that despite my doubts…this Sieg clearly has a bigger god complex then me."

"And yet you think a deadly alliance between us two will be enough to stop him?" Kira uttered flatly. Zannacross sighed as he looked at Castile." The Dark lords of the Sith brought a civilization to its knees in the past. Though…time would not be on are side so we will have to add a few more roles to this play.

But first…let us conduct the casting in a place without observers. Come, to the Schatten Bereich. Not quite hell, it's the shadow between the realities, a place I just created recently so we can conduct business without being interrupted."

Kira looked above and saw some Megazords fly over the hole before he nodded. He and Castile walked into the portal and emerged into the Schatten Bereich…and stood upon a large, ice-encrusted palace that seemed surrounded by an endless red ocean of blood.

As the portal of darkness closed Zannacross's eyes glowed red." Now then…for your partner for this operation. At the very least…it will be one you have worked with in the past. It's time to earn your redemption, Xehamaru!"

Kira raised an eyebrow as Zannacross slit his wrist, before a droplet of black blood came out of his body. It turned the remains of the Muken prison before Zannacross grasped his hand, and a burst of red energy blasted into it. It glowed for a few seconds, before suddenly Xehamaru burst out of the sphere.

The former head of Sithantos coughed out blood for a few moments before he looked at his hands and laughed madly." I…I can see again? Master…thank you for your mercy I knew you would understand!"

Zannacross leaned back on his throne before retorting with a dry," Don't thank me yet for giving you another act in this play. You have to earn your redemption or be erased trying. We are short on time so listen carefully. I revived you because your talent for espionage just might help enough to tip the scales however sightly."

"On the Enji? After what they did to me, to all of us then it will be my pleasure."

"Listen very carefully Xehamaru. You still have not realized how much has changed but you must learn fast. I understand that Damonus had you make everything be about the war between light and darkness, but the war has changed beyond what either of us thought was possible. Your desire for revenge on the Enji Knights is pointless, because they already been destroyed."

Xehamaru acted like he was about to shout before he paused. He raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat." And…this is not a good thing?"

"Not when someone else did what we desired. It's not that the Enji Knights and the angels' acts have been forgiven, but the blunt fact is that there's a even bigger force out there that's a bigger affront to us.

Answer me this Xehamaru. We hated the Enji because they defend those who we loath, the miserable sinners who's insatiable desires erode everything worthwhile yes?

We assumed that those like Weil Narche Zabi either needed the likes of us or the Enji to fight for them because they were too incompetent on their own.

But, what if, out of a stroke of the worst outcomes becoming possible, one sinner did manage to amass power that would make him wage war on light and darkness at once out of a desire to control everything?"

Xehamaru saw his master was serious before he paused." You mean as if the likes of Weil Zabi, or say Nute Gunray and the other former members of the Zeon Confederation could amass enough power to surpass you and Cosmos? Nonsense…I knew of Weil frantically building that Death Star, Space Station Ragnarök but even combining that with all of the depowered Halo Installations combined would not be enough!"

"Not in this universe perhaps." Zannacross uttered coolly." But…in others, that's not the same. I understand words can't truly make one comprehend what they have no understanding of but, then see for yourself, the reality of how things are."

Zannacross pressed a button before the throne he was on showed images around Corneria. Xehamaru saw that the Hollowed Bastion was toppled over after Homelander's assault, and was now a collapsed ruin.

Xehamaru then saw Outer Heaven, the Senate Chamber, and the rest of Corneria's landmarks in ruins before he saw the golden tower glowing in the wreckage of the senate chamber. He saw the tower towering over Corneria, and that the capital planet was in endless night before his eye twitched." What? What race did this?"

"You're asking the wrong question Xehamaru. The one you should be asking is what universe did this? You never did think much about other realms, did you?"

"I mean…of course I researched things such as Dark Aether, the Twilight Realm, the Sol Dimension Robotnik said he was in, and other Shadow Realms to further the cause but they all seemed like echoes of are universe, roots but not a branch. Your saying this is all from something like that?"

"No…something even bigger. There is a lot to explain, but the gist of it is that when you were gone, the acts of Ben Auro, Doug Fitter and more caused for more parallel dimensions to break out then anyone thought possible, and the most "extreme" one was the core of the" Dark multiverse"…the Negaverse. We may be of the darkness but, it's a place that is "excessive" even to devils.

There is still much that's not clear about it, other than its leader is the one currently invading our universe. Said leader has more identities than you have, but his most public one is Sieg V-Day Elgan, and he has the face of Ben Auro."

"What? I, I don't understand."

"To be blunt, I don't fully understand this farce either. That is where you come in. I need more information, and you're the only one who can get that information. I'm going to need you to use all of your talents to spy on are enemies."

Xehamaru widened his eyes before he looked at the images of the ruined Enji castle, and all the other planets concurred by the IV&C warships before he bowed." I am greatly honored you chose me for this task my Emperor. I want to see it through, but I must admit, clearly things have changed more then I imaged."

"I'm not foolish enough to depend entirely on you. For a mission like this, it will require the work of those that once worked as a team, is that not right Kira?"

Xehamaru widened his eyes and turned around to see Kira still floating behind him. Kira just sighed before uttering," I can see the logic enough to stomach the reality of the situation, as long as you can follow orders."

"Kira?" Xehamaru blurted out." So, you're still alive after all this time too? You really were the double agent?"

"Yes…and Damonus did not trust you were sane enough to keep up an act. After all this time, you're still a snake that crawled on the earth dreamt of soaring through the sky, knowing full well it was impossible.

Still, hoping beyond hope, it kept its eye on a baby bird that it nurtured in its own nest. Little realizing that bird was a hawk… ready to take the sky. Alas, the hawk can still make use of the snake. This is bigger than either of our ambitions, but I expect you to follow orders. The stakes are far bigger then in Irazous."

Xehamaru chuckled darkly before he let out a shrug." Well…seems we both did not really show are true selves to each other to the end eh "comrade?" Still…I know he was your brother but I acted because Shin's lost hurt me to. Ah but…there is so much I don't understand, but I still hate self-absorbed scum.

To ensure that those like the ones that wiped out my people don't rule over all…I'll do what I must. But is this the extent of our current unit? Any more formerly discarded cards being added to the "deck" like Damonus or Xemnas?"

"No." Zannacross uttered bluntly as he cracked his neck." You two by twist of fate managed to avoid the great purge, I don't have the power to just revive anyone who's soul was erased. But, you have at least one more among this unit. He's not a fighter but, he's done enough to be useful in this situation, is that not right Crowly?"

He then threw another flicker of blood, and after it glowed it transformed into Crowly. The bearded demon coughed before he looked around and chuckled bitterly." Hello, boys. You know…I did not really agree to any of this I just kind of got dragged into a storm of blood and suddenly now I'm the last line of defense."

Zannacross sighed before uttering," Would you prefer to have been devoured like the rest of those on Ormus by Sieg's upside down minion? Did you just want to scurry around like a rat or be able to make a difference?"

Crowly saw Xehamaru and Kira both look at him sharply before he chuckled." Damn your good. Look, you're right to be suspicious, but he's right, I'm your ally. The enemy of my enemy and all that. I need the Devil back in his stock. In fact, my delicate arse depends on it."

Xehamaru licked his lips before uttering," So you have worked with this IV&C to be able to in fact do something?"

"I made a few deals…and swiped the data on a man who thought he was going to move up on them. Muzan…the chump who's body you hijacked was trying to impress the " new boss" enough to get promoted. While all the hero's were trying their best to be heroic I was more focused on getting anything I could to get an edge. And well, I don't have this Sieg's weak spot but I have…a few things about where his boys are setting up shop at least."

"Then this was not a waste of time at least mister Crowly." Zannacross uttered bluntly." You will help Xehamaru get "up to speed" and then find any way to sabotage our enemies. It seems that this IV&C has "variants of people from our universe here at the moment, even the likes of Ganondorf. Who knows…you might even find your own variant among this "Night City" Xehamaru. I don't care how it's done…just fine a way to ensure the darkness is not overtaken by these abominations."

Xehamaru saw Crowly look uneasy before he cleared his throat." So…this Sieg…this corporation of his that seems to span universe's…they truly are…er…have come off as invincible then?"

"There power is greater than what we thought possible even to the likes of me, but they are not invincible." Zannacross sharply retorted." For all their power I seen how they still are bound by very mortal emotions. And I can speak from experience that godhood can't save you from making very human mistakes if the error is grave enough.

Their power may buffer them from most of their consequences, but not forever, not if you do your mission properly. If they were unstoppable all of this plotting would have been unneeded…and no matter how diminished I am at the moment, I will have all mortals answer for their arrogance and remind them of the wrath of the true darkness. He that is proud eats up himself: pride is his own glass, his own trumpet, his own chronicle. That…is the final mission of the Zannacross Empire."

Xehamaru saw Kira nod before he closed his eyes." Well…this is a way to truly be a master of the darkness if nothing else, and paint a whole new color. Well it's a make shift Neo Cobra unit but quality over quantity and all that yes?"

Kria saw Castile still looking around anxiously in the corner before he cleared his throat." We could afford to expand our ranks a little at least. Castile might be one of the few sane archangels left and you might need his talents to further improve your odds."

Crowly saw Castile look at him before he snorted." An archangel and a pair of demons…is this part of some sick joke?"

Zannacross eyed Castile before he shrugged." I remember you from the first Cosmic War Castile. You did not impress me then, but if you survived this long that's enough to impress me at this point of time."

Castile took a deep breath and looked at the sky." I'm an Angel of the Lord…but I don't know what that means anymore. I know that I still love this universe to do what I must to save it, and if the devil and his flock are the ones that can help keep it alive, then I'll do what I must. My 'people skills' are 'rusty but, I seen enough to be able to influence a few things."

"So be it." Zannacross uttered." You begin…this moment. It seems that this Sieg will return soon to celebrate his victory, we must have something that can make a difference by then."

Kira nodded before he eyed Zannacross carefully." And what will you be doing? Trying to find Fitter to regain your full power?

Zannacross looked at his hands before he chuckled bitterly." I am positive I would be able to outwit that simpleton but even that is not the primary issue. No…first I must do many things I thought I would never do.

I spent lifetimes sealed away as a giant eye; I may not be at" full power" but I have enough to do what I can to even the odds however small they may be. They think they can " monetize" death...but they will understand the hard way they only grasp the surface of " death."

Don't bother contacting me, I'll contact you. This may be a unlikely alliance, but this is not us "joining the light." Its beyond light or darkness, it's doing what must be done to survive."

Crowly nodded before he took out a drink." Well, if you're going to make an omelet, sometimes you have to break some spines. So you can change your face Doctor Snakes? You better learn to be able to make are targets think you are Muzan fast so we can pull this off…thankfully I got recordings to make this easy."

"Alright but first you need the "clearance"."

"What the hell are you, GUH!"

In a instant Xehaharmu had a snake come out of his sleeve and bite Crowly in the neck. A instant later the curse mark of the Necrocalcous crystals appeared before Xehamaru licked his lips." Just some insurance. I know the master vouched for you but...you are giving off the vibes of one who would walk off to whoever could give the best deal and it does not seem we have the luxary of trust for trust sake eh?"

Crowly saw the mark fade quickly before he groaned." Not taking any chances eh? I can respect that even if its to retro for my tastes. Just don't make it itch for kicks alright?

Alright gentlemen, I think we can hustle a "high functioning" chump called Mobius M. Mobius. Not all of these wankers are walking eldritch nightmares, some of them just are doing it for a raise. Just pay attention… patience isn't one of my virtues... well, I don't have any virtues... but if I did I'm sure patience wouldn't be one of them."

"Fine, but just one thing. Can someone explain how the bloody hell Auro's sidekick became the Devil?"

"It's a long story." Castile uttered grimly."

As the three exited the Schatten Bereich…Zannacross eyed Kira and sighed." Are enemies think they are the masters of everything, even thinking they can" Monetize" death to make all I stand for a farce.

But while they may have the power to mold entire realms to their perverted wishes, I still know more about death then such scum, and how to twist even the likes of these" Reaper Games" to my favor. So, I'll try and exert my influence without being detected. Then…I'll do what I must to give us better odds, and try and get my first son to trust me for the first time.

If he can reawaken the powers of the Beyonder…that will even the odds at least a little.

As for you Kira…I suppose even you have to readjust somewhat to the times."

Kira eyed the outside universe before he shrugged." I need to test my powers more…there's some things I must see with my own eyes before I can begin."

Zannacross saw Kira's coldness before he snickered." I'm not your father…I won't tell you to be careful. There is no path of ease for a long time, if ever. In no direction that we turn do we find ease or comfort. If we are honest and if we have the will to win we find only danger, hard work and iron resolution.

I don't have to threaten you anymore, we all know what depends on are success. Do what you must to steel yourself for the battles to come."

Kira waved his hand and had his own portal of darkness appear. He then appeared over the ruins of his former home, the ruins of the Enji castle. The headquarters of the Enji already had been closed to the public for some time but as he saw the wreckage of where he use to talk with his father and the other Masters he saw the Terror Megazord walking by, scanning for targets. as thin limbless dragons with face of the Joker being commanded by the Batman Who Laugh's Robins fly around and breath fire at anything that moved.

He saw the Megazord from the Negaverse looked much more like a demonic monster then a robot of justice and flash stepped in an instant to another location, the ruins of what use to be the" Valley of the End" that had the now broken statues of his father and former friend turned foe Jack Garland, and also saw Vought warships in the distance.

As he saw the ships did not seem to detect him he grasped his blade tightly as he saw the statue that had his father's face." Father…Shin…for all of our differences…I won't let this be what the legacy of the Enji Knights, if not justice itself amount to. I still will, oh?"

He heard a noise and took out his blade, before he heard whimpering and saw that a family was cowering under the ruins of the statue of his father before the father grasped his child carefully." Its ok Alex, it's like I said, some of the angels are still here left…we were not forgotten! It…it's going to be ok, he's here to save us. Right?"

Kira looked at his blade before he sighed." Do you know who I am?"

The father grasped his child tightly before uttering," You, you don't look like the ones attacking so, you're here to help right? Please, take us with you!"

"I'm not a healer…I can't take you to safety, there very well might not be any place safe in the universe."

"Please, just get us away from here, that's all I ask!"

Kira saw the Vought Pyramidas warship coming closer before he floated down to the family." There is no room for error…do you understand? You will do what I tell you to do or your error will lead to death. You will have to be ready for anything, it's not going to be "peaceful" for a long time."

"I understand. I'm not a fighter, but I'll do anything I can to keep my family alive. It's going to be ok Kelly."

The young girl looked at the now completely black sky before she whimpered." So, the angels did not leave us daddy? There's still hope?"

Kira took a deep breath before he offered his hand." The enemy has forced most of us off Corneria…but the light is not out yet, though it will be a brutal battle to prevent extinction...only total war remains."

"Thank you sir. My brother, he, he might still be alive on Katina."

Kira closed his eyes before he took a heavy sigh." I will be quickly checking the Lylat system to access the state of things…I can't promise anything, but I'll give it a look. I can read minds at the moment, if I hear his thoughts, I'll see what can be done while I'm there. And you are?"

The man took a deep breath as he noticed the devil wings on one of Kira's sides before he hugged his kid." Sam. So, if you're not a healer then you're a fighter, eh? So, is it still possible to win? "

"I said I would not ensure anything." Kira uttered somberly." But I will fight are invaders till the end. Those who have chosen the path of me and the others, will fight to the end. Some of us, fight even beyond death. But this fight will take everything everyone has to survive. Now, it's time to go."

Sam and Alex nodded before following Kira into the portal of darkness. As the only recently freed former Enji turned usurper of God turned reluctant savior quickly decided what to do with the ones he on a whim rescued, one of the ones he was thinking about was indeed trying to keep fighting even if he was" officially "dead, Mike.

---

Mike was trying to figure out how to save lives of his own at the moment, or at least their souls.

The curly haired man was still adjusting to seeing so many people he saw die be in front of him. But he was forced to get a grip on the situation as he saw that despite Bowser's attacks, Kaichi Susuki was wounded, but far from finished as the monstrous reaper cackled darkly." Heh, I got to admit ya almost swindled me with that move there! But I see your strategy like an open book yo! Grahahaha…still this is going to be one for the records that they play on the replays each damn year! But if you think you're going to win you better take a look at the board before declaring yourself the winner! I still see plenty of openings!"

Bowser roared in defiance before he slammed the ground with his tail." Yah well I see an opening all over your face! It takes a lot bigger than the likes of you to put the Koopa King down! RAHH!"

Mike saw Bowser and the Reaper slug each other before he looked at those around him that he saw die and let out a bigger chuckle." So, level with me guys…does anyone but the Reaper's ever win this game?"

Neku grasped his hand before uttering," Yah, if another Reaper wants you to win to screw over the Reaper he or she is pissed off with at the moment. More or less…if more Reaper's want someone to win, or their sponsors want someone to win then, things happen."

Mike looked around before he shrugged." So…I guess if your all still around you got some fans?"

Crunch punched a purple and red shark-type Noise that had come out of the ground before the bandicoot with a metal arm snickered." At least some of us seem to impress whoever the hell watch's these things…though sure seems like they just seeing us squirm."

Alphen nodded as he grasped the Blazing Sword tightly." They want to see us fight or they would just have purged us from the start, but it's become clear they won't ever let us win. Only those that the masters of this sick game approve of have gotten to return to life. But, if the rules are that we be enslaved forever…then we will make our own rules."

"Works for me but is this a plan or an idea at this point."

There is a plan." Alphen uttered." But we can't see it through here, under this monster's grip."

"Then it's time to give this asshole the boot!" Mike uttered as everyone slowly surrounded Suzuki. The goat like monster of a man saw he was being surrounded and snickered." You disc's know how to control the board, I give you that. Guess you're not vets for nothing. But surviving is one thing, winning is another! It must have taken you a lifetime to perfect that thick skull of your's turtle dude. But there's nothing a reaper can't crack!"

Suzuki had his right claw rotate like a drill before Bowser snarled back." If those freaks in the Underware like that Bonechill could not keep me down you won't make the king crack either!"

Bowser withdrew into his shell and whirled around before slamming into his target. Suzuki growled before veins popped out on his forehead." You discs can spin as hard as you want, your still pieces of the board!"

Lighting crackled around his antlers, before he charged up a sphere of energy. Just as Bowser looked tense, Mike got in front of the Koopa King's head before he powered up." Guess what man? Some of us change what pieces of the game we are!"

"Hey runt I don't need pawns to be my meat shields you, huh?"

To his shock Mike cast a barrier to absorb the incoming energy ball before the lanky man smirked." Thanks for the concern man, but this is no meat shield! I learned a few tricks since you were back on top! Compound…Fracture…Flash!"

Bowser was shocked to see Mike absorb the attack, and hurl it back as a massive green shaped crescent energy wave. Suzuki widened his eyes as he saw the attack come from him and tried to bat it back with his other claw, as the attack cut through his antler the Reaper roared before looking furiously at Mike." That's a slick trick newb…but you're not slick enough to down a reaper! Huh?"

Neku ran up before a pin on his vest glowed." Good thing it's not just his trick you're dealing with! We are sick of your game's asshole! Ice Riser!"

The vet of the Reaper's game made a few hand gestures before he used his psych art to have a large spike of ice erupt underneath his target's right foot. As Suzuki roared in pain Shiki's eyes glowed." I'm sick of being chased around by creeps like you! Show him what it's like to be chased Mr. Mew! Mr. Mew Kick!"

The black cat doll on her side glowed, before shooting out like a rocket to hit the other leg to cause Suzuki to stagger. He grunted out a bitter," No...I'm not losing to crazy discs like,"

Suddenly a wild voice yelling," SPOON!" Was heard before the soul of the Tick dive bombed into the reaper's head before the Tick yelled out," Hey, don't knock crazy. The Romans were crazy, and they got all the girls! After all...I have Cary Grant karma, because I always prevail! I might have to die sometimes to pull it off but still!"

This, plus attacks from Law, Crunch, and Dedede hit the reaper hard enough for Mike's attack to stagger and burst into his chest. Suzuki roared out in pain before laughing bitterly." These Reaper Games are always so damn loud! I like winning just to have all the voices drown out! You discs…form a more balanced edge then I thought. So…so the "fresh meat" really was a big deal eh? So they are prepping up the end game eh? Heh, then guess I'll peace out now then have to be the fall guy either way."

Mike winced before spitting out," What are they planning asshole!?"

"Hey…that was not the prize for the game don't be greedy newb. Do me a favor though. If you beat me, you better not lose to anyone else, eh? Hurts my cred if I lose to punks who got lucky. The boss man has not given us a break in a while anyway so, could use a time out.

The boss just wants to look good for his boss so bad he doesn't even care if we get erased. Once he was put in charge he acted like one poison disc yo. Once he told me my break's only when he meets his quota, I wanted to sweep him off the board with my own two hands! But looks like it's your show now. Your move white…make it count! Ngkh! Heheh! Bwahhahah! Looks like its…game over for me!"

The reaper exploded, vaporizing a chunk of the block with him. Neon White saw this before the masked man snickered." So that's the Twister's new team eh? I'm going to need a lot more ammo before I even think about pushing this."

He left before Seth also walked back tensely." Someone who could throw a Reaper's power back at his face hard enough to destroy him? Linne better know before Hyde rushes in and dooms us."

The man with the blades to flash stepped out of the area as Kei Kurono also walked back tensely." No…Kato better know about this. Got to get Reika alive again no matter who's in this game!"

Neku saw Mike land on the ground before he chuckled." Looks like you were a big shot if you could smash a Reaper's spell hard enough to take him down man. Nice one, we might make it to the next game after all."

Mike let out an uneasy chuckle before he looked at the sky." No problem dude. But um…as thanks maybe you can explain what is going on? All I really got before about this game was that the Reapers are playing a game, a very rigged game and somehow we are suppose to win it."

Neku nodded before he looked around." Sure, but not here. Shiki…tell Sanae the Café WildKat's about to need another glass because we are coming back."

As Mike raised an eyebrow Neku shrugged." Sanae Hanekoma is the self-described "hip café barista" of Café WildKat, are team's " base". Each team gets a base if they get enough points. He's a bit of a hipster prick but…he's not too bad of a cook."

Mike saw Bowser, Law, Crunch, and some of the others smirk before he shrugged." Hey I'd rather get the lowdown with a half decent drink so long as we have the time lead the way. Still, this game's empty enough so we can just run over there for a time out?"

"Not really, but we have a work around. One of our members has a warp network. Alright Fret, tell Shoka to get ready to meet us at the Expressway Underpass for some Telewarping. Let's hurry, they are not going to let us get away with downing a Reaper for long."

Mike nodded before following him, Alphen, and the others down a few streets and to the Underpass Neku was talking about. Under a tower they saw a red symbol, before a young woman with pale skin walked out. She had long straight black hair that was cut in a "princess-cut" that reached her waist and gray droopy eyes.

She wore a an oversized, hooded jacket that appeared to be themed after Mr. Mew, complete with cat ears and a tail. She saw Mike and just rolled her eyes." Are you kidding? More new Players? And here I thought I was done for the day. Still… you're tougher than you look. Like, suspiciously so."

Mike shrugged before he looked at himself." Well…I have been working on my image as of late miss…um."

"Name's Shoka Sakurane…but you're going to call me nothing if you don't move. Come on whatever you did is causing everyone to be more angsty then normal!"

Mike saw Neku run into the symbol, and saw Alphen nod before he ran in too. After a few moments of feeling weird mike emerged on what seemed to be a different part of the city. He saw a block with a giant tree in the middle of it. As Mike looked around he nearly jumped up as the tree opened up, before a middle-aged man with black hair slicked up at the front and a cowlick at the back walked up.

He wore circular black Lennon-lenses-style sunglasses, he wore a bartender's uniform consisting of a black vest over a white dress shirt which shows his forearms, a watch on his left wrist, black pants and black sandals. He looked at Mike before he just snickered." Looks like you really are having a lucky day " Phones.". Prince Auro…I'm sorry you had to be here, but I'm glad we found you first."

Mike paused before he looked at the new man carefully." Huh…wait…did you work with my parents or something?"

"What, me? Pfft... ... All right. I'll tell you a little. The name's Sanae Hanekoma. Born March 3, blood type A. I'm a Pisces and one hip café barista, mista. I call it "WildKat." Pretty hip, right? Always did love me some beans. I got to be such an addict, I started up my own café. I mean even in the Afterlife, got to keep sharp on the job.

I'm a big gambler. My favorite word: "windfall." "Natto" gets my tummy rumbling. As for my physical dimensions I'm."

"Ok I think we need to narrow things down a bit man. Want I want to know is if you were working for my folks how you end up here?"

"I'll just say I changed a lot of jobs over the years to keep working. Figured…be good to have someone on the inside. Think of me as a sort of... guardian. I watch the Game, to make sure shady types don't start bendin' the rules."

"Is that supposed to be a joke?"

"Did not say I'm a master of it when the bosses change the rules on the whim…but at least try and make it so that poor saps have a chance at making it past the first round. But, we should discuss the rest inside."

Mike saw no one was attacking and once more saw his allies looked supportive before he walked inside. He saw a bar much wider than he expected, looking like it was the size of half the city block, with elevators to go down further.

To the lanky haired man's shock he saw even more of those that he saw die, from Vaan and Ray to Rivet. Van was chugging a drink before he saw Mike and groaned." God damn it…don't tell me we all lost to the Claw's pals after all!"

Mike chuckled bitterly before he looked down." No…jury's out on the war but we won that battle, I made sure of it even if it may have broken the universe harder."

The Tick patted Mike on the back before giving a thumbs up." You did well chum. After a crisis of dimensional proportions, nothing beats frozen yogurt."

Mike saw the Tick get said frozen yogurt before he shrugged."So, everyone who died is in this thing?"

Rivet winced as the Lombax from another universe finished fixing something with her Hammer. "No…Kit and all the robots are not here. And…there use to be a lot more of us."

"Well what happened? I woke up in some house of Hope were some devil named Raphael said he wanted to throw me into the game to "Mix it up." All I really got is that this is not a game were fair play is taken that seriously."

"I'm afraid he's right." Alphen uttered bitterly." Every time there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, the tunnel promptly collapses."

Mike winced before looking around." No offense, I'm glad you guys are still in one piece but sounds like this kind of game is one where they want to get rid of anyone playing that" gets the joke."

Neku sighed before responding with," Because they want to keep seeing us squirm. And despite knowing it's a rigged game…giving up means just dying. They rig the game by taking anything said or done and making up a new rule to keep us from winning."

Shiki nodded before looking bitterly outside." We, we won a Reaper's game a while ago. I…I was chosen to be revived, but I protested, saying Neku changed more than I did and that he solved most of the riddles in that game.

But the head of the game, this creepy Kitaniji informed us that their wishes "don't mean a damn compared to the wishes of the Composer."

Neku tells her it's okay and they will meet once he completes his next Reapers' Game. Neku receives back his entry fee for the first week, his memories (although notably lacking the memories of his death), and was told that he must compete in the game again to be given another chance at life. He was then horrified to discover his new entry fee: was me."

As Mike looked shocked Neku eyed Mike carefully." You said you were rushed into the game? For us…to enter the Game, every Player must give up to the Conductor whatever is dearest to them in order to participate.

This entry fee can be physical, such as mementos or people, or more psychological or immaterial such as one's appearance, dreams, or memories.

These deeply personal Entry Fees take away what Players value most and force them to reexamine those values. Players are also provided with pins that allow them to use psychs, which can be used depending on the Imagination the player has, or the player's true intentions. More or less, this allows even "random joes" to have a shot."

Mike rolled his eyes before uttering," To let these assholes make more bets of course, even if it's cool you're not just screwed being cannon fodder. You're right, Raphael did not ask me to have an entry fee. Not sure if that means he's setting me up for something."

Law winced before he cracked his neck." Wait…my father lost a game and was forced to be a debtor for some Rapheal asshole!"

Mike winced before he looked down." Seems to be the guy who "gave me a spot" Law. Well…the fella was not even trying to pass himself as a good guy, just said he wanted to see the game stop being broken. Sounds like we have groups of evil battling it out for which school of evil is on top, and we are all just pieces on the damn board."

Alphen grimace before uttering," Earlier I had to fight Balseph, Vholran and all the other lords again as they formed their own team. It seemed the hosts were " greatly entertained" by the desires for revenge it seems. We started off in our own smaller Reaper Games and made it here to this bigger one.

The masters of this game at one point appeared before us mocking our desires to come back to life saying we would just wind up back here anyway, and that those we wanted to see so badly would be joining us soon enough. He, was not being clear on what that meant but few took that news well."

Mike turned pale as he uttered," Damn it…sounds like if I had to guess, they are acting like Sieg's coming back to clean house."

Bowser at once growled and crushed his cup before the Koopa King roared out," Wait…the guy who gave me and Dedede Game Over's? You guys have been lasting this whole time right? Then he just got lucky with that cheap shot!"

Mike sighed before uttering," It's not like that Bowser. The blunt truth is that we only lasted this long because Sieg had" bigger fish to fry." After you guys gave up everything so we could get away, Sieg casually followed us to the Time Nest, to kill the Supreme Kai of Time like it was nothing.

We only got off because he thought he killed us, but blasted us into another universe. Ezan told me he's been waging a war on the Multiverse, and he's about to return to are universe to gloat that he's won."

As even Bowser looked unrattled Law winced." Hey but…I remember you had guys that were fighting this guy right? They…they can still win right? I remember you guys helped us in the Crown Contest cause you needed something? Is..is it going to work?"

Mike nodded before he sighed." We in time did get the ship fixed Law. But, just as the Hagane was ready to go, are enemies at the time, the Viltrum clan attacked, and then the demon Muzan also attacked and stole the ship.

We went over to his planet and shut him down even when an old enemy of my dad came out of his body, but even that was just to distract us while even more enemies tricked my sister-in-law, Bria, and went to town on Corneria. That…that's how I died…shutting down Brandon Sampson before he could drag everyone with him. But, but I kept them alive in the process.

So, if Astra, Ezan, Tyson, and the others can meet up with the alliance then…then it was worth it. So…there still is a point in coming back to life guys! If nothing else, I'm not letting these pricks get the last laugh. So, if we are going to beat this game I need to know how rigged this game is. Is there a place where they hand out the "Extra Life" prize or something?"

Neku sighed before he shrugged." If there was a place we would have tried to attack it but it depends on each part of the game. So more or less…you have to play each game differently."

"So we just have to beat the rigged teams so hard that they can't even make a fuss about it? Well…it is what it is."

Neku paused before uttering," The other teams that are not part of the Reapers are not really in any better position than us. They are just fighting to not be erased either. Hell, some of the teams would work with us if they thought they had a better shot at getting out, right Rindo?"

Mike saw someone walk up to Neku. He was a teenage boy with side-swept blond hair with a prominent curl on top, pale brown eyes, and pale skin.

His orange pull-over hoodie was Jupiter of the Monkey brand, similar to Neku. His knee-length, half-sleeved jacket is black with a white accent. There are seven major patterns on his jacket; there were vertical and horizontal stripes on each side of the top part, checks and zebra on the middle part, and leopard and vertical stripes on the bottom part (the vertical stripes are more spaced on the bottom compared to the top).

The final seventh pattern was the plaid trimmings on the inside section and his cuffs. He wore light blue ripped jeans rolled up to the mid-calf and white sneakers. He wore white stud earrings. As Rindo saw everyone look at him he tensed up before looking down." Yah…most of these guys just want to get out of this hell. I mean…even some of the Reaper's seem to just want this to end. I mean that's why some of them joined us like Shoka."

Mike raised an eyebrow as he looked at the goth like woman who warped them over before Shoka sighed." Yah…I use to be a Reaper till I got over it. It was cool at first but the whole thing was that being a reaper was to get you something! The reapers could not leave till the game's over and this game just keeps going!

Only the sadists like Minamimoto or the hardcore suck ups don't mind doing the same thing over and over. So, I broke away. I think, even more would break way if they knew something could change even down here."

Mike grasped his fist before he nodded." Then we have to show everyone things can change. And then if we can get as many as possible to be in on it, we can turn the tables. I'm sure they will throw as many curveballs as they can but, we just have to want it more right?"

As some looked encouraged by Mike's resolve, Hanekoma snickered." Well before you can pull any of that off you should know that staying alive in this Shibuya boils down to one simple trick: Enjoy the moment with all you're might... whether it's gloomy, whether it's bright! Seriously…they dangle the" carrot" over everyone's faces and take every chance they have to pull it away so you really need to want it and not give up to get through this."

Mike chuckled before he looked at the pin he was given and shrugged." I was told this was a sucker's bet from the start. I was suppose to be nothing but a distraction in a mission that had no chance.

And well…I can't say we really turned the tide of a Multiversal war yet…the honest truth is all we done is just barely hung on and not even sure if that counts anymore if I'm dead.

Still…I'm still here, even if I'm a soul with a one percent chance of coming back to life who might just die as soon as I come back, I still want to live damn it! Even if this universe has been " hell" ever since I was born, it's still something I find value in! I'm not giving up on what I have, even if I'm already dead!"

Bowser, Alphen, and most of the others gave sighs of encouragement before Neku sighed." I admit…I don't think I valued my life till I lost it. With how messed up life was, I was introverted and unsociable with a dislike of humanity to the point where my parents said I was a misanthrope.

I disliked my home, because of the Timefall we had to spend most of the time in the bunker so I viewed it as an overpopulated noisy place, and wondered why my town needed so many people in it.

I had a hatred for loud and noisy people especially; I wore headphones to block the sounds of noisy people out and also presumably so other people would approach me less. Even when people approach me and talked to me, I rarely took them off.

I disliked interacting with others, feeling that people and friends only dragged me down…and were just illusions that would fade away the moment I took them seriously.

I mean like, for so long I was like who needs friends!? They just laugh and talk like idiots, and pretend to agree with you... So, you end up caring about them... exposing yourself... getting HURT... Screw it! We're better off without them! You want people getting in your way? Dragging you down? For so long I thought I was stronger being on my own.

I saw society and dealing with people as an annoyance that often tries to force its values on me, pestered me, and expected me to do things I did not want to do. and my ideal world was one where I was left alone.

But…then I died. I found myself in a reaper's Game and realized I was going to be erased unless I worked with others and, that's how I met Shiki. At first I told myself that I just wanted to win so I worked with her but, it forced me to accept the value of others. Though, I still made mistakes…I don't think Beat will forgive me."

Shiki sighed before patting him on the shoulder." Don't worry, you have changed Neku. Even if it took till you died…you grown from being isolated and abrasive into a compassionate, selfless and caring young man. I mean you got everyone here from different worlds to join the Wicked Twisters and now we are the most successful team in the history of the Reaper Games!"

Neku smiled before he nodded." Thanks. At least I'm not a spicy tuna roll right? Like I said, it was a drag at first. But you know what? If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away. The universe's full of people waiting for those moments, when we clash together and find something new. And, I'm fighting on the faith that there's still something out there."

"I get your vibe Neku." Mike uttered." I admit I was a bit more pro social life, hell I was almost the reverse of you Neku. I felt like I was invisible, unneeded, unwanted, so I tried to be as loud as I could to prove I was alive. I kind of thought my folks would bail me out no matter what, and I think, I got them all killed because of it.

I did not tell many around because morale was already in the gutter but I was not even sure why what point there was for me being alive. But…I made a purpose…and I at least saved some people.

There…there are still things I want to protect…people I want to get back to. That's why I'm going to break this damn game and get back to them!"

Alphen winced before uttering," So… Shionne is still alive then?"

Mike gave a thumbs up as he looked around." Yah…Rinwell, Kisara, and Dohalim are still alive last time I checked man. Astra and the rest of the crew were with them so…they will survive till we get through this, I know they will. So come on…we kept them waiting long enough right? Sounds like you guys already had a plan so let's give it a tune up so we hit the jackpot eh?"

His comrades old and new all looked confident as they began to go over how to turn things around. Despite the fact that he was having a meeting with dead people, little did he realize that despite being in the" living" his friends had even lower moral at the moment.

---

While Omni-Man, Dessler, and the rest of the refugees from all corners of the universe were true to their word and that the ruined space colony Xylem was a place not targeted by the IV&C forces yet, as it set in that it seemed that just about every planet and population in the universe was now occupied by the forces from the "Negaverse" the mood was more than a little grim.

After Astra and Tyson and a few others explained to Omni-man and the others just what happened into Corneria, everyone tried to see how much they could reach out, only to realize hardly anyone in the entire universe responded and even fewer could be reached out to without their enemies detecting them.

With most too stressed to eat or sleep everyone quickly gathered in the ruined space colony's command center as a "neutral" ground.

As Omni-Man saw Ezan, James, Daigo, Bria, and most of the Enji looking haunted he saw Mark and sighed." So, it's that bad son?"

"Invincible" saw his father looked sincere before he winced." Sounds like not only Corneria being sealed off from sunlight but the rest of the Lylat planets are being turned into a living hell…and every other Bethal planet that did not surrender is quickly getting picked apart."

Die-Hardman nodded before the masked man looked at a few monitors." It seems that Homelander and the rest are wasting no time making an example to the rest of the universe.

On planet Venom…a figure that looked like the legendary "batman" merged with a demonic version of the Flash is creating a Speed Force Storm that killed anyone that touched it in seconds.

On planet Zoness nanomachines are infecting people into "ideal employees." On Katina…a virus is being released. And on every world in the universe, large golden towers can be seen."

Images of the same giant golden tower-like devices were seen before the masked man winced." It's not clear what those towers are but…on every planet are being gathered into it."

"That's because, they are being used as batteries." Masaki uttered bitterly as he grasped the chair in front of him tightly." We…we seen this across the Multiverse. They bound people to it to use their emotions like despair as power. It's like the Faith Generators the Universal Church of Truth was using…only a lot more brutal. The pepole in the territory they own that have no use to them are mostly labeled as "impecunious" and make them indentured until they " pay there debts."

It sounds like, huh, the hell?"

To their shock an image of Corneria was shown, as the very continents were being rearranged Tyson widened his eyes." Are they destroying the planet?"

Ezan grit his teeth before he realized the capital planet's very continents were being rearranged to be the logo of the IV&C before he uttered," the very continents twisted and rearranged by their dark designs…remaking the entire world in his dark image. Its…the most extreme version of branding."

Astra spat on the ground before uttering a bitter," Remolding the very planet just to rub it in is being beyond petty."

Dessler chuckled bitterly before adding," It is a bit overkill, but I suppose it does make the point clear who controls the planet now."

Daigo could barely contain his anger as he punched the ground bitterly." Boss…I'm so sorry. You trusted me…but I let these monsters take over your home! I…I failed again." Bria winced before she put her hand on his arm." You did everything you were supposed to Daigo…it…it was my fault. If I."

"Don't get this pity party started Bria." Astra cut in sharply." We seriously don't have time for that. The ones really to blame are the ones moving the very planet around and all that matters is figuring out how to get it back."

"But…how?" Bria answered in a shaky tone." What…what forces do we even have left?"

Setsuna was in the room as well, and the Gundam pilot sighed before adding," Aside from the ships that escaped here…only a fraction of all of the Bethal military remain intact."

Raymond winced before uttering," Thanks for letting my dad come here. He got away, but Verguld was taken over. Hard to say it any other way other then we are out gunned and out of time."

Masaki took a deep breath before uttering," I know you guys are not going to like this but the fact is that you're going to start seeing things beyond your universe. The only way to fight back, is to fight on across the Multiverse at this point.

At the very least Sieg still seems to need this Prime Universe intact for his plans so…there might be something left in the end. I know it's not great but something is better than nothing right?"

Bria winced before uttering a bitter," Does this alliance have any plans at all on how to stop Sieg? All this time and Ezan was the only one who came back to this universe! If no one can compare to Sieg then what's the point?"

Ezan sighed before uttering," This whole time, the Alliance has been finding a way to match Sieg and the other" Six Dimensional Multi angled Eldritch Beings" power. But, they had to avoid being detected by the IV&C or it would all be over. At this point…it's now or never.

One way or another…the only way to save are universe is to unite with every other place in the Multiverse opposing Sieg. Masaki…at this point we have to risk contacting Calvin Ellis now and meeting up with them before we are found out."

The green haired man gave a solemn nod before petting his cats and uttering," Yah…it's all or nothing now. Alright Viletta lets,"

"Before he could finish alarms flared up, causing the green haired man to wince." Oh come on seriously?"

As those around him got into fighting stances Dessler looked at his own computer and winced." Wait…I don't think it's an attack. Its…a message."

Elena grasped Raymond's shoulder before nodding." He's right…while we should be on guard this seems more like a message being sent to everyone in the universe."

Omni-Man cracked his neck before he looked at Kregg and his son Oliver." We will keep a look out just in case."

As the Viltrumite went to keep a look out a message appeared…this time with another squid like woman, one that looked younger.

This woman giggled before making a dramatic gesture." Yo everyone, Squillia Shar Livia Naire here from Squid Five News to give you a "special" broadcast that everyone in the universe is taking part in! My "socials" are about to reach a zillion squid fans because I'm here to announce the party that will shake the universe, being held in Homelander's name!

I'm with Chairmen Dreck and the other "party committee members!"

She moved her camera over to the leader of the Blarg, who smirked as some of the Seven was behind him." Hello, citizens of…well…the universe. You are all on notice that you will shortly be up for review for the Infinite Victory and Justice's year-end "comp" meetings. You're lucky to be given "some" time to prepare. You may think you're not working for us, but the blunt truth is that every living being now works for us, and thus everyone's worth will be judged.

We are aware that some are still foolishly trying to escape your new arraignment, but it's futile. Even if you're not on territory controlled by are warships, you're going to find out quickly that there is nowhere in the universe to hide from us. Those of importance who think they can run away from their meeting will find the planet they ran from won't be there very soon.

You see our planet has become so polluted, overpopulated, and poisonous, that we are no longer able to dwell here, but I, Chairman Drek, have a solution. We are constructing a pristine new world using the choices of planetary components available. So, what does this mean to you, you might ask? Using highly sophisticated technology, which you couldn't possibly understand, we will be extracting a large portion of your planet and adding it to our new one thanks to Homelander's mercy.

Unfortunately, this change in mass will cause your planet to spin out of control and drift into the sun where it will explode into a flaming ball of gas, but, of course, sacrifices must be made. Thank you for your cooperation, or thank you for dying. Heh, I use to have to edit that last part out but we now control so much that I can spell it as it is.

It's up to you but you should know those of you with some worth still have a place if you can prove yourselves…right Lady Reina?"

Squillia turned her camera to a young petite woman with purple black short hair and having stockings and purple shoes along with a black shirt and shorts covered by a purple and black jacket.

She looked at everyone and smirked deviously." Listen up if you want you and your people to keep living. I, Reina Mishima…have worked really hard to keep my ancestor Heihachi's Mishima Zaibatsu's legacy, and company alive during the broken universe, and I have done well enough to gain the respect of the Vought clan! I'm giving the universe a chance at salvation as well under the will of your true master!

I speak now to all of humanity on behalf of the IV&C! For too long have the people of the universe relied on hero's and laws, transforming into a race of spineless weaklings. But your new rulers see that most of you are too frail and have forgotten what it means to fight.

Why should we blindly abide by the rules and social conventions invented by such cowards? Foolish humans! Open your eyes! I shall rewrite the rules of this irrational world. Only those who show the depths of their mettle have any place in the new universe we shall rule! Toward that end, I, with Homelander's blessing announce the opening of The King of Iron Fist Tournament!

Come to the tournament, if you count yourself among the strong! Seize glory in your own hands, achieve it with your fists! But be warned: those who fail to prove their might shall be wiped from the cosmos, along with their entire race. Come, humanity! Unleash the dogs of war!

All who do not come to the Arasaka Tower and the Corpo Plaza will be seen announcing your suicide, because that's what such an act will be seen as. Even death can not get you out of what your masters demand of you! At this moment the dead are having to perform their worth as well.

Yes, the Vought Clan and the IV&C have full control over everyone living and dead now, no one can escape us! At this moment those who thought they could slither away from their fate even in death are having to answer for themselves in the ongoing Reaper's Games…even Michael Auro!"

Everyone looked alarmed as Reina snapped her fingers, before the footage showed Mike's fights with Eeva, Carmine, and Suzuki, and cut out with the demonic reaper blasting Mike, Neku, and the others with lighting before Astra hissed out," No…Mike was sent there!?"

Bria could hardly contain herself as she fought back tears." No…after all you gave for us Mike…you were just rewarded with some perverted hell?"

Reina laughed before she made a dramatic gesture." The old rules are dead…now only those who appease the masters of the universe will be rewarded in life or death! The prize of the Reaper's Game is to come back to life, but only those who prove worthy of their superiors will be rewarded.

The others…can just prove their worth by how much they can squirm! Anyone with any sense to them better get ready for a trip to the capital of the universe. By the time that Mr-V day arrives…anyone that does not understand how things work will be crushed like the maggots they are! There is only the path of victory, or the path of domination!"

The message ended before James winced." Ben…Lacus…I failed you so utterly to let your son end up like this."

Astra spat on the ground before uttering," Who said we are just leaving him to rot!?"

Daigo winced before the former Digimon cleared his throat." Um…Astra just what are you getting at? I don't want to see Mike have to deal with that either but…right now the only way to get to where he is now is to die to!"

Tyson narrowed his eyes before the Black Panther threw in," Not entirely dude. They said that they were going to bring back whoever won their game at that damn Tower…which means they have a way to bring someone back from there!"

Ezan eyed the two carefully before throwing out an icy," I want to see Mike alive again to…but you realize it's a moot point trying to get him back to life if everyone dies before that can happen yes? That's taking place at where the IV&C's forces are centralized, right over Corneria! We just escaped from them with our lives!"

Astra narrowed her eyes before she shrugged." You must have gotten hit harder than I thought Ezan, never thought the" number one super elite" would turn down from a fight! Sieg's not there far as we know…just that punk ass Homelander and a few low-level toadies! You scared of him now?"

"Of course not…but at this point Sieg himself said he would be returning shortly. If we are here when he arrives in the universe we and the hope of the Multiverse are finished."

"Damn it you were the one who told me when we first met that defeating Sieg was not impossible!"

" I did, but only with means we don't have right now. This is more than just are pride, and sadly its more than even Mike and the others at the mercy of the Reaper's Games. Don't you realize that the fate of everyone left depends on what we do from here? One mistake…and everything is lost! I failed them too much to let one careless error lead to the end of everything!"

Astra saw Ezan looked strained before she sighed." I'm not going to act like what just happened must be stressful as hell but the cold hard truth is that it might be to late to save everyone. I know it was not my people so you might think I'm a jackass.

But hate me as much as you want but you got to make your stand. If you're to afraid to fight for what you care about then what the hell is left?"

"Don't...don't act like you understand when you only fought for your small group and never fought for a pepole, or a nation!" Ezan uttered as everyone realized he could hardly control his rage anymore." This is all because of what you and Doug set in motion in the first place! He ruined everything because of his pride! I won't be like him."

"I don't care how messed up you are right now...don't act like I'm his damn puppet! I can't speak for him, but I never wanted innocent folk getting massacred! But your the one who's eyes were blind if you did not see this coming! Sure...if my old man did not break heaven it would not have gone down as it did and maybe it would not have happened when you were alive...but this whole crap with what the Universal Church of Truth pulled showed it was always leading up to that kind of insanity. As long as you all kept pushing for paradise things were going to come crashing down. And now that it has at least things can start again."

"Start again? Nothing can start again if everyone's dead! This fanatical ideal made your family feel good at the sake of everything!"

Ezan and Astra looked like they were about to punch each other till the White Materia glowed, and Aries's spirit suddenly got in front of her husband. She had a pleading look before uttering," Please...please stop Ezan. I know your hurting but we can't hurt even more now. We have to do what we have to in order to not lose anymore."

The sliver haired man winced before he looked down." I...I understand. But...if those who see hurting as healing keep dragging everyone down with there insanity, then nothing will get better."

As Astra's eye twitched another woman's voice uttered," I don't know if Doug truley knew who was hurt or healed by his actions, but I did Ezan."

Everyone was shocked to see Aqua's soul suddenly come out of Gorr before James widened his eyes in shock." Aqua...you...you were alive this whole time to?"

"Not quite. From what I understand, Suguru Geto took my memories, my lingering will from my armor to further his own research. I admit, maybe the" true Aqua" felt differently. But, I, did not want to bring about mass death, and, I think Doug was willing to break the universe, but his end goal was not death but change."

James looked at his own transparent body before he sighed." I...know what its like to have a feeling of incompleteness."

Ezan sighed before responding with," Aqua...there's a point where one's actions does make one's feelings a moot point. You leaving with Doug broke Axel and many others. And helping him keep the conflict between his and are forces caused this conflict. If he did not lead to the rise of Homelander and the others to be empowered and cause are pepole to lose there sanity to a never ending siege, if he did not open a whole to the Multiverse...we would not be here right now."

"Maybe...but maybe Sieg would have arrived on his own and we would have been wiped out without a chance. I can't act like I know the answer, and I won't say we were blameless, but we can't be blind anymore.

I admit, I remember, Doug and I were running for so long that I...I almost forgot how to smile. But he never stopped smiling...laughing at the smallest victory. Even if some could argue he descended into insanity and thought only of the moment. To him a life in the moment made him happy.

I can't say that his view did not change over time. But...truthfully I remember Doug never once said he really wanted to kill Ben, Lacus, or any of you. Hurt him, troll him or break things he cared about is another story, but never to kill him. After all, he could not say he was sorry if he was dead.

He...he just wanted to see them apologize to him and admit he was right and they were wrong.

But as Doug became demonized more and more across the years he became more bitter and crazed, and he swore he would force everyone to wake up and admit that " a common man was the one who saw how things were and how they had to be."

He became more and more obsessed and I admit I took it for granted that he would not get more radical, that two faced schemers like Kenjaku would goad him to be more and more chaotic, if not outright evil. But, I can see now how with me gone his bitterness would only surge without me, and I'm sorry for realizing that only now.

For me...I thought I had nothing else in life to lose, but pepole clearly lost more and more because of what happened.

Everyone in this universe thought that they were safe, that things would get better if they just waited for things to return to " how they should be. Not just the people...but the dog waiting for his owner..the cat curled up in her nook... So much life.

There's no deeper sadness than discovering all that you knew is gone. The grief in this universe is too much to fathom. But I can't keep on wishing for the past.

In the end we just wanted change...and Doug did get so fixated on change that I think he forgot what it would even look like. But you have to realize things had to change."

Daigo winced before countering with," But at this point the only thing that's going to change is everyone being forced to serve these IV&C jerks or die!"

"I understand...we can only see what remains and change from there, and hope are hearts will be are guiding key."

Aries's soul went over to Aqua's soul and hugged her before the Centra uttered," I can't condone what you and Doug did, but I understand the burden you had and how pride can lead to so much pain.

Ezan...you don't have to forgive Doug or approve what he did. But...I will agree on Astra and Aqua with the fact that if we don't fight for what we care for then what's left?"

As Ezan looked conflicted Astra nodded."Look...Mike not being screwed over is something I feel worth fighting for so how is it not for you? I'm not talking about fighting Sieg…but if he's not back yet then this is are last chance to be able to fight back!"

James winced before uttering," The fact comes down to we weigh the fate of all are people's lives with are next actions Astra. If we fail to have escaped when we should have, then we damned this universe, and every other universe."

Bria took a deep breath before she cut in with a dire," Who said we all have to go? Both reaching the Alliance and rescuing Mike are important, so both should be done at once."

As others looked at her she closed her eyes." I can't do anything to help Mike now. But, the only thing I can think of that I can do is talk with this alliance, and beg them to help him.

I…I know I have no right…I'm a Queen who's selfish desires brought ruin to her people. I…I just hope they might see that it's not for my sake but for those I ruined that they might listen to me."

Masaki saw Bria was looking uneasy before he closed his eyes." The High Command have to make some tough calls…but they are not monsters Bria. Despite the risk they sent us to this universe to see how things looked. If, they see how things are…they will know what to do. But…the only way they will get a chance is if we give them time to do something…which means we better go real damn quick."

Bria widened her eyes before she wiped tears off of her eyes." You…you think they will help even now?"

Ryuusei looked at Masaki and nodded." They can't save this universe for you till Sieg is stopped. But…they can save some people in time…I don't know if we can save Mike before then though."

Ezan saw everyone was looking at him before he sighed." Then we will save him. While it's vital you make contact with the alliance, as long as you get there in one piece with the leadership then it's not vital that we are there with you. It…it might be better this way. If we attack they might assume you're still with us and get you better odds."

Tyson took a deep breath before he chuckled bitterly." So the only way to bail Mike out is to bail on are one way to escape eh?"

"Not…entirely." Ezan uttered. As everyone looked at him he shrugged." If the Vought and IV&C forces have moved most of their forces to the Lylat System…then the hole to the Multiverse, the one that Doug first created that Sieg entered…will be less guarded. We…can still escape to the Multiverse there."

Daigo shrugged before the human Digimon hybrid rubbed his head." But Ezan won't more bad guys be waiting for us through that portal?"

"Not if we plan it out right. Traveling through the Multiverse is different then what you might think. It…it will be difficult…but it's are only shot."

Astra snickered before she had a savage smile in her eyes." Glad you still got some fight left Ezan. No matter what…I'm not going to go out like a coward. But…if we pull it off so that it's not the end all of things then…a little less pressure yah know?

Bria…you're not surrounded by spies and groupies anymore so you're going to have to work your ass into overdrive to get these High Command guys to throw us a bone yah hear?"

Bria nodded before she tried to keep her face steady." I know. All I can do…is plead to everyone that we are worth fighting for."

Die-Hardman nodded before he bowed." I'll be at your side to the end my Queen. I can't fight on this level…so helping you is the best I can do."

As Jerry, George, and a few more nodded Mark looked around and shrugged." Alright so…just what are we doing next then? We just crash their party and hope we can hit them hard enough before they strike back with the big guns?"

Tyson cracked his neck before he looked around." We are not going totally blind are we? I know this is the enemy HQ but like, you really don't have any spies in that eyesore of a statue planet?"

Die-Hardman sighed before he looked down." Are network is all but ruined…and with the IV&C backing them most of are agents were found out and erased. The only ones that have maintained their cover, are deep cover agents Song So Mi more commonly known by her pseudonym Songbird, agent Joe Logan, and Solomon Reed. They might be able to get us a way in…but it would blow are cover. So this would be are last chance."

Jonny Sliverhands walked up before he snickered." Don't forget that Night City was my " digs" for a while, before Homelander made it his god damn planet's hair. With Alt's help…I know I can still get in touch with a few of my old " pals" like Kerry Eurodyne… Rogue Amendiares and a few others.

Heh…no matter what happens, Rouge will make sure her Afterlife nightclub keeps going to keep her rep as the best fixer. She did say that she had some new contacts called Lucy" Kushinada and David Martinez were hungry to make a name for themselves. Sneaking in the ones that Arasaka was looking for right under their noses might do it.

Yah…we might be able to pull it off if we try and land in Dogtown."

As some raised their eyebrows Jonny sighed." Dogtown is a sub-district of the Pacifica region of southern Night City. Before the Vought Clan completely became at war with the Bethal Kingdom…it was supposed to be a " tourist" spot but it was closed down real quick. Homelander and the rest just keeps the area walled off, but Colonel Kurt Hansen runs Dogtown. He defected from the Bethal Kingdom and as a reward he and his BARGHEST division rule it like their own private state.

If you hear "Dogtown" and automatically think "BARGHEST," chances are you won't die straight away. The organization founded by Kurt Hansen is more than just an ordinary Night City gang. No one else has managed the feat of carving an entire district out for themselves, kicking out the Vought guards completely and keeping it that way for nearly a decade.

It started small: Colonel Hansen's unit seized part of Pacifica at the end of the defection from the Bethal Kingdom and never laid down arms. Only six soldiers remain from that squad, and as Hansen's most trusted men they now sit at the top of the food chain.

The nascent BARGHEST quickly took similar folks under its wing: veterans who'd been forgotten by the megacorps, mercs without contracts, renegade gangsters from various parts of the city - you name it.

Hansen's organization also proved tempting to average Night City residents who, for various reasons, found themselves at the end of their ropes. Kurt Hansen gave them a gun, a salary, medical care via his ripper contacts and - perhaps most importantly - asked no questions in exchange for their absolute loyalty. For those at the very bottom, BARGHEST is a pretty good alternative to a life of petty crime - a career with a short life expectancy.

Anywhere else, under different leadership, the band of delinquents that make up BARGHEST would have collapsed like a house of cards or atrophied like a cyberpsycho's brain.

Hansen managed the impossible. Credit goes to his dominating presence, charisma and intelligence, but most of all presenting folks with a fresh start - one without hidden costs or corporate fine print, and a place where cops and undercover narcs get strung up from lampposts. For many, this vision was, is and will continue to be extremely tempting.

Hansen tows the line just enough to keep Homelander off his back, but takes" side deals" to have an edge over the rest of the city. In the end…it's just so he can run his small part of the city like how he wants. He does a crappy job, but he's beaten everyone in his territory down enough that no one lower than him has the will to fight.

He won't give a damn how many lives are on the line, but if he thinks he is getting a better" cut" then everyone then he might hand out some favors like let some extra people sneak into his part of the city.

After all…lets be real hear not much patriotism going on in the city, its either greed or fear so…if we can deliver something that will catch his eye…we got a shot. Good thing some of you are good at that thing…right Porters?"

Sam had just been eating a sandwich in the right corner of the room before the Porter realized everyone was looking at him before he groaned." Oh come on…seriously? Just because I can come back to life it does not mean you can just throw me to the wolves! With all this crazy crap I'm a sitting duck and they really will kill me!"

Fragile chuckled before she patted Sam on the shoulder." You're going to die anyway if you just sit around, eh? I'll deliver the package as well to give us more options ok? Besides…still have to find Higgs among everything."

Astra nodded before she grasped Gorr tightly." Yah…sounds like he's the reason Brandon was able to mess with Bria…so one way or another I'm making sure we have one last chat…and it is going to be his last! Alright…so we land in this Dogtown by tricking this asshole Hansen and then go to down on all of these assholes."

James adjusted his glasses before he cleared his throats." One thing though…how are we to even get close? I doubt that any ship not invited to this celebration of savagery will be able to get close without getting shot on site."

As everyone exchanged tense looks Dessler sighed before he snickered bitterly." A rather simple answer yes? Someone invited should be able to get in…like me. If they want an audience…then I'll give them one."

As some around him looked at him closely, the leader of the Garmillas clan shrugged." I never said I was a hero…but I did what I had to in order to keep my race alive. If this means entrusting my fate to this near suicidal plan…then so be it. I only request that Queen Bria takes Starsha Iscandar and a few other envoys. If the worst happens…then some of my people must survive."

Omni-Man saw the resolve in Dessler's eyes before he cracked his neck." You do what you must for your people Dessler, I can respect that. That's why it won't only be you putting you your neck.

I and my best men will help do what we can to pull this off. If nothing else I want to make sure that no matter what happens…I'm going to make Homelander eats his own heart before the end. But…as a show of good will Dessler, I'll give you your brother back for this. If nothing else Superian will be a good meat shield for me."

He motioned to his fellow Viltrumite's behind him before Oliver and Lucan threw Dessler's half-brother next to him. The Nahobino from the Garmaillas clan coughed a bit before he looked up and chuckled weakly." Hey bro! I knew you would get me out of their!"

Dessler sighed before retorting with a blunt," Don't thank me yet…we are about to dive into hell together."

As Superian winced Ezan nodded before he grasped his fist tightly." All right…it's not a flawless plan…but it's one that does have a path to victory. Still…everyone must realize how low the odds for survival are for this mission. If one thing goes wrong…if by a stroke of bad luck Sieg returns early…death is all but certain. Only those who know what's in store should go."

Sonic shrugged before he wagged his finger." You can count me in Ezan. No matter what I'm never stopping running!"

Amy giggled before she nodded." And I'll always be running next to you Sonic…even into the Doomsday Zone! After all…we outrun doom enough times that one more time can't hurt."

As Shadow, Knuckles, Tails, and the others from Mobius nodded Zero grasped his Z-Saber tightly." For X's sake…I'm not running from the mavericks who did that to him and the others."

Rattrap sighed before he looked up." I know we keep saying it but...this time we really are all going to die."

Dinobot shrugged before he grasped his blade tightly." At least we can choose to die with honor vermin. The question that once haunted my being has been answered: the future is not fixed and my choices are my own. And yet, how ironic. For I now find I have no choice at all. I am a warrior... Let the battle be joined. If there are any left to know about are struggle, tell are tale to those who ask. Tell it truly - the ill deeds, along with the good and let us be judged accordingly... The rest.. is silence..."

Tanjiro nodded as he tried to look composed." Your right...I'd rather fight to the end with honor then disgrace what everyone fought for. Mike…saved me and Nezuko no matter how bad the odds were. Without his kindness…I never would have saved my sister. I would not be able to live with myself if I just ran away so whatever I can do to help I'll do it!"

As Kaine and Nezuko nodded, Mark grasped his fist tightly before he threw in," He risked everything to free me from being a slave…so I have to do what I can to repay the favor and free him even if it's freeing him from a death he did not deserve!" As Eve squeezed her lover's hand fondly as Chole and Hutch nodded,

As Kaine and Nezuko nodded Tyson saw Shiki, Crash, and others nod before he grasped his fist." I let Mike down but I'll do whatever I can to make that up to him! Can't deny I'm hoping my so-called bro is somewhere there too. No matter how bad the odds are, if I can save at least some of my people from going down with this warped version of Wakanda that" Killmonger" has then I'm sure as hell going to do it!"

James saw everyone's resolve before he nodded." Even if our enemies have pushed the Enji, the Bethal Kingdom, and everything we cherished to the edge of extinction…we still are not dead yet. To the end…are actions define us…so we must do what we can to honor those who died defending us."

Ezan took a deep breath before he grasped the White Materia tightly." Dinobot...your right. To the end…the Enji will fight with honor. Master Myers and the other former masters formed the Enji to fight injustice, but are true enemy was not Zannacross or the demons, not in the most" pure sense. Are enemy was always power mistaken for justice...are enemy is the desperation that justifies atrocity.

The Enji Knights true enemy is the " jungle...the jungle that is the darkness of will itself,: the strangling cloud of fear and despair and anguish that this jungle brings with it. We must show even the most overwhelming enemies that even if we can't stop them right away, we never just surrender to them, no matter how powerful or brutal they are. As long as we can show the universe that the IV&C can be resisted. But we must plan this as carefully as we can."

"We will Ezan." Daigo uttered grimly." Wherever the boss is…and I know he's still somewhere…we will not just give up on everything he and Lacus stood for!"

Ezan briefly remembered his encounter with the Cognitive clone of his rival before he nodded grimly. Astra cracked her neck before a Devil May Care look." Homelander must be feeling really damn full of himself after blocking out the sun like a punk kid blocking a light.

But that means it's going to be even more enjoyable seeing his ego burst once and for all! I don't care how many copies he has he's a dead man walking. If nothing else lets plan this out so he can't weasel away from this."

Even the others like Omni-man, Billy Butcher, and Dessler agreed to this as everyone begun preparing their most desperate mission yet. Little did they know that Homelander was not feeling as on top of things as they figured…as we turn back to the demented leader of the Seven he was just starting to feel anything at all.

---

After Kira killed him, his backup Sleeve clone kicked in and he awoke in his personal suite in Corpo Plaza. Homelander attacked the planet's core before he told anyone, so everyone else had no idea what happened, leading to more than a little confusion.

As Homelander woke up he breathed tensely and vomited before he remembered the look Kira gave him before his eye twitched." What…what the hell was that? Damn them…they think they have an ace in their sleeves? How dare they think they can pull a fast one on me! They think this is over? This is just getting started! I'll tear this universe apart to make that freaky Enji pay! One death…will be repaid a million times over!"

As he got up a female voice suddenly uttered," So…you did die John?"

Homelander winced before he saw Queen Maeve was in the room. Homelander's eye twitched before hissing out," How dare you enter without my permission!"

"No one knew where you were! Some wondered if you got drunk and passed out after celebrating and were starting to ask questions, like all the agents from the IV&C so I checked here, and was right. So one of the Enji stuck around and killed you? I told you that."

In a flash Homelander tackled Maeve to the wall as his eyes glowed red." Don't say one more damn word. I was just taking a nap…understand? If Mr-V Day hears that I looked like a fool do you know how bad it's going to look right after his Upside down Fixer made it clear what happens to screw ups?"

"Yah…that does sound bad…for you." Maeve uttered bitterly as she took out her sword." But that might mean the Seven might get the leader they deserve."

"After all the kindness I showed you Maeve…this is how you repay me you stupid whore?"

"Mercy? You call vaporizing Elena mercy!?"

"I mean…since you were drunk enough to bang a chick then yah."

"I loved her!"

"Oh right…forgot you had that phase when you were all glitchy but the elite can't have deviant stuff stick around."

"Damn you! I put up with your crap for years but at last I'll be free of you!"

"I am not in the mood! I'm the one who decides who comes back from the dead Maeve!"

His eyes glowed before he unleashed an eye laser blast, till Maeve blocked the beams with her sword. As Homelander blocked the reflected blast with his hands Maeve got closer." But you're not the one on the top anymore John. And anyone's better than you! You had your chance!"

As she tried to kill the man she hated…a new female voice uttered," And you had yours Maggie Shaw…but the plan can't be derailed because of emotion…even yours."

Maeve turned around to see a woman with brown skin in a red Vought dress uniform walk in. Maeve noticed the woman's eyes were blank white before she winced." No Director Victoria Neuman…what are you doing?"

"What I have to for my own position Maeve…nothing personal."

Maeve noticed her nose was bleeding before her eyes widened." No…NO YOU…GUH!"

Her head suddenly exploded before she fell to the ground as a headless corpse. Neuman saw Homelander look like a wild animal before she nodded." We underestimated how resentful she was…my apologies."

Homelander's eye twitched before he wiped blood off his head." Neuman…what did you hear?"

"Nothing but screaming sir."

Homelander paused before he spat on Maeve's corpse." Yah…that's what it was. I was just coming back to prepare to celebrate when that ungrateful whore showed her true colors yah? I'm going out to make sure no one else asked questions….and I want my room free of her filthy blood before I return!"

"Of course sir. Clean his room at once."

A janitor stumbled into the room, looked around, gulped and took out a mop. Homelander saw the man was old, balding, and had scars all over his face before he raised a eyebrow." Old man Dean Sisu? I thought you were dead."

The janitor gulped before Neuman cleared her throat." "Dean" was working in the" Woods" part of Godolkin University for the past months.

After his error in the tower that dirtied Lady Stormfront's wall, he was restricted and only today just earned enough merits to return to cleaning the tower."

Homelander saw Dean's handshake as he cleared the blood before he snickered." Oh…so you legit been under a rock for the past few months eh?"

"It's my fault sir…I don't deserve to know about anything outside my life till I earn enough merits to take part in it."

"Glad you're a man who knows to own up to his failings unlike this whore old man. That's right…you were part of the crew botched that shipment from Urdak and lost all that Argent Energy right? And since you were just some piss poor small time pilot the only way to repay your debt was being a slave eh? You really have just been working on those merits nonstop eh?"

Dean kept mopping before he coughed again." I know I screwed up sir…but I intend to work hard to make up what I own. Long as I can get a honest deal then that's all I can ask for."

Homelander laughed cruelly as he put on his replacement uniform and shrugged." You missed all the fun since Mr.V-Day got here old man, but even poor grunts like you have some luck, because you got out just in time to see what happens to real losers. See up in the sky? All the losers who thought Ben Auro could ever save them are now all paying the price!"

Dean looked at Corneria in the sky and his eyes widened. Homelander laughed before adding," Somehow his son was still crawling around like a cockroach but he died just earlier today! Huh, why the hell are you sad about that!?"

Dean's eyes twitched before he sniffled." I'm…I'm just so happy that everyone at last sees who 's boss sir! Forgive me…my throat still hurts from the job so I can't come off as happy as I feel!"

Newmen sighed before she shrugged." He has managed to clean up all the messes Ally and the rest of the "Unstable Sups" make in the Woods. No matter how they lash out he keeps getting up."

Dean coughed some more before uttering," I just…still want what I'm own however small and can't stop till I get there."

Homelander laughed before uttering," That's an ideal Vought employee right there! It's enough to make me forgive you!"

"Thank you, GAHH!"

Homelander instantly shot a small eye laser through Dean's left arm. As the janitor cried in pain his attacker laughed." Almost enough old man. Don't worry, I like how you scream, so I only gave you a small hole that I'll even let be healed as long as you never forget your purpose. Here...I'm even in the mood to give you a constalation prize."

He threw a ring at Dean before Newmen raised a eyebrow." You feel he deserves such a reward?"

"Eh...those rings just create crap like seats right? A third rate gift is what a third rate man deserves eh?"

Dean bowed quickly before whimpering out," T...thank you for the honor sir!"

"Just make it clear your worth the attention eh old man? Clean up in time…and you can live to serve me more."

"There is no greater pleasure in life sir!" Dean weakly uttered as he worked harder to clean with one hand.

Homelander saw Dean looked frantic before he snickered." Always good to have a reliable punching bag. Alright, if Stormfront 's keeping things together it's time for this universe's ultimate party to start…one where everyone in the universe knows who's on top!"

Homelander flew off, but as he did he did not notice that hiding in the shadows of the top of the apartment one of the Batman Who Laughs" Robins" watched him from the shadows. After Homelander was gone the Robin pressed a button and only uttered a sadistic sounding," Crow."

Somewhere else in the planet the Batman Who Laughs heard his subject utterer a few more" Crows" before he snickered and responded with," Thank you my child…you did well. We will deal with that shortly."

He snicked and uttered," Oh John…I thought you learned by now the more you try and hide things from us the worst it gets? Well…I'll let Mr.V-Day decide just how to play out this joke, but the fact remains that this is clear that you're the only one that really has a future in the IV&C if you play your cards right…Black Noir."

He swerved around to see the man in black calmly looking at him before he snickered. The Batman from the Negaverse shrugged before he stood up." By now you saw what happened to Muzan, Walter, and well, everyone on Viltrum I would hope that you would realize we are not fond of pretenders.

So, are you a fraud like the others or are you going to live up to your former title, and be a good Soldier Boy?

After all…I enjoy the joke that you're the true leader of the Seven and let everyone think Homelander is for the attention, but any joke depends on how strong its punchline is, eh?"

Black Noir looked around, and took off his mask, revealing a stern older male face with a full brown beard and glowing green eyes. Black Noir, or Soldier Boy snickered bitterly before he shrugged." You can only give your kid so many chances before accepting he's just a god damn clown no matter how much you give him. It's a shame the others failed to raise him as I was busy, if I trained him personally I could've made him better. And not some weak, sniveling pussy, starved for attention. But there's no fixing that now.

But John's good for getting attention so he will do just that while I clean out all the trash from the universe before V-Day returns. Don't worry…I want this universe clean of scum just like him…and I care enough about it to work in the shadows to make sure the job gets done.

From the start…it was clear Ben Auro, Lacus Raystar and the rest of those Enji pussies were too weak to rule so I did what could be done to make sure all the pretenders got wiped out…and today seems like at last every last Hero is finding out the hard way what their justice is worth. I know the boss man had dibs but I just wish I could have saw him die."

The Batman Who Laughs laughed harder before he leaned back." Heavy is the head that wears the true crown eh? Mr-V Day hated Ben Auro for being such a unworthy counterpart…and was annoyed his death was too quick.

After all…Auro played the part of the hero like he had a rock in his shoe, it was far more fun to see what he had" Lurking back stage." He wanted to peel away all the drama and duty and see what the tabula rasa looked like…to make it clear he learned the wrong lesson from all of those tired parts.

Alas…his son will answer for the sins of the father. It will be an example the entire Multiverse will not forget. Do your part and you will have a place in the new order…fail and."

"I get the message." The former "Soldier boy" uttered coldly." Unlike Auro…I made it this far for seeing things how they are. Well…whatever hell he ended up…when we own everything, alive or dead he will see how much a failure he is. Now…to make sure my scion does not end up like him."

The Batman Who Laughs nodded before the two men in black went off to see things through.

---

As they did…the last of those who could still fight the Infinite Victory and Conquest went over things very carefully, knowing it was not just there last chance, but the last chance of the entire universe, and maybe even all other universe's to not be at Sieg's mercy they planned things as carefully as they could, but knew that they could only plan for so long before they had to act.

And so, over the still ruined Rubicon 3 Ezan, Astra, James, Daigo, Tyson, and the rest of the strike team were on the Flutter, which was going to be stored in the Deusura III in hopes that they would get to Night City and the rest of the planet shaped like Homelander undetected.

Meanwhile, Bria, Jerry, George, Die-Hardman and everyone who's strong suite was not fighting went with Masaki and the rest of the SRX team to meet with the Multiversal Rebel Alliance and hopefully convince them that the Prime Universe was not a lost cause.

Everyone saw the Hauge glow above the ruined Institute City,headquarters of the Rubicon Research Institute and the nexus of all Coral research on Rubicon 3 that It was built in Rubicon 3's Central Ice Field, above a large, subterranean reservoir of Coral that had been discovered underneath a glacier and below the Vascular Plant, an enormous machine designed to extract and store the Coral from the reservoir for study and distribution that towered over the city's center.

Ezan took a deep breath before he cleared his throat." Anything in the way?"

"Nothing as long as we don't just wait for an enemy to ambush us again." Masaki answered dryly. The green haired man sighed before he looked serious." Alright…last call. Anyone who's having second thoughts…better speak now or forever hold your peace. I'll try and do what I can but, I can't promise anything."

Astra cracked her neck before nodding." We know what we have to do and anyone still here is not running from a tough fight. Just make sure Bria gets to whoever she needs to beg to sweeten are odds eh?"

As Jerry, George and some of the others winced Bria nodded." I promise…I'm not running away anymore. Whatever it takes…I won't give up on my people!"

Die-Hardman nodded before adding," And I'll make sure to fill in whatever her majesty misses. Just focus on staying alive everyone…and may the force of light be with you."

Cid chuckled as he smoked a cigar." And I'll make sure these folks don't forget to tell about the little dog eh? Just stay alive Clive."

Clive nodded before he grasped his blade tightly." I'll do what I must Cid...we must fight for are freedom till the end."

Dohalim nodded as he looked at Kisara somberly." I'm sorry we leave you when things are at there most dire, but I must do what I can to keep the last of are pepole, if not the last of civilzation in the universe alive."

"Don't feel bad Dohalim." Shionne uttered somberly." This is all to save as many lives as possible. Trying to entice these alliance members to save us is more important then another fighter right now."

Rinwell winked before adding," Just make sure you give it your A Game with these guys eh?"

"I'll make sure of it." Kisara uttered. Seeing her nod just made Astra snickered before uttering," Might not be able to stay on the paragon path to pull this off. This is beyond light or darkness now…it's doing whatever it takes to survive. Just do what you have to guys…and guess we will catch up in another universe."

Barrel coughed before he chuckled bitterly." Despite all odds…I managed to live to see another universe. I guess that's a motherload of a treasure all right. But it won't mean anything if you guys don't see it with me…understand Roll?"

Roll nodded with grim resolve." Don't worry Barrel, we are fighting so that we can enjoy the treasure together. Right?"

"You got it." Masaki uttered as he gave a thumbs up. As the others from another universe gave grim nods Bria grasped her necklace tightly before uttering," Please…I know I don't have the right to ask anything at this point but…please do whatever you can to save Mike. I know I been a horrible sister in law…but it's because of that, that it has to end better then where we left it."

"Don't worry Bria." Tyson uttered grimly." Can't know for sure if your city, your planet or even your universe will be in one piece but, we will make it so we have a place of our own, one way or another."

"Thank you. Good luck everyone."

Masaki nodded before uttering," Alright…time to bust out the Crossgate at last folks!"

Like earlier in Corneria, the Hague had a cannon that looked like the Dimensionator charged up purple energy before the round device fired a beam.

The beam stopped in midair before it slowly started spreading. It turned blue before the Hague fired a few missiles that came together to form a cage around the energy. As the energy stabilized Masaki grasped his fist tightly." Take two's a go! Not going to get screwed over twice…punch it Bullet!"

The thrusters flared up before in the blink of an eye the Hauge rocketed into the portal. The Great Fox and the Neo-Highwind flew on its sides to escape with all the citizens that got on the ships so they had a chance to not be caught in the fighting.

After only a few seconds the Crossgate glowed and collapsed. Omni-Man saw this and snickered. "That's all it takes to travel from one universe to another? If Thragg was aware…things…would have went…very differently. But it's time for the future, not the past. Still, I am sorry you spent so much time trying to get to the Multiverse only to fail."

"We did not get the ideal outcome Nolen, but it was not a failure either."

Ezan uttered." The alliance will have the information it needs…that's more important than any of our power levels joining the cause or something like that. For now…we have to keep fighting…to the end. So, time to begin what may be the final mission of the Enji Knights."

Astra nodded before she uttered a sharp," If those guys want a party, they sure as hell are getting one that will bring down the house!"

Everyone got on their guard as the people that were there enemies only weeks ago prepared to be the ones that would get them to the near suicide mission as there comrades in the other airships awaited there command to later join them for their final attack.

---

As they did they did not realize they were not the only ones planning to raid " Night City". In the ruins of the former Sector X base near Corneria, Higgs casually landed on the ground.

The Homo Demens leader took a deep sigh before he shrugged." Man these Infinite Victory and Conquest assholes really are being total kill joys eh dude? No biggie. We can always tweak the rules a bit...right Thragg?"

The dethroned leader of the Viltrumite race casually walked out of the portal of darkness before he cracked his neck." On this we are in agreement clown. Well done getting us into their territory."

"Hey…we both hate these pricks so its win win right? Hope your punching arm's revved up because it seems Homelander really is getting everyone left in the universe coming here to put on a show for him."

"Then everyone can see who the true superior warrior is. He may have his tricks, but I have my children. Is everyone ready for the battle that will decide the fate of the true Viltrum race Ursaal?"

A young Viltrumite woman with purple skin walked out of the portal and nodded." Onann and the others are all ready father. No matter what…we will give everything to make sure the universe is how it should be!"

Thragg saw hundreds of purple skinned men and woman in Viltrum uniforms fly out before he smirked." Thanks for making me be aware of Thraxa Nolan, it proved key to my revenge. I'll reward you by making your death quick…quicker than Ezan Zeon at least! My children bring me the skulls of the traitors and I will reward you!"

Orann walked out, and saw the Zeo Emperor Zord in the distance before he winced." Father…it's the machine that destroyed are planet."

Thragg grasped his fist tightly as he looked at the ring on his finger as it glowed, while the same ring on all of his clone children did the same at the same moment." "I knew it would not just hide son. But that's why we brought firepower to take it, and the rest of this eyesore out in one blast…right Higgs? No matter how big there toys are, when we are not caught off guard we will make them all fall down! And when the current order breaks...ALL WILL KNEEL TO THRAGG! Ezan...Nolan...I'll show you what the true unity of the Viltruimte race is right before you die!"

The man in the golden skull mask snapped his fingers before a bigger Godbomb appeared next to him. He whistled before he shrugged." If you guys can get that bomb guarded long enough…the whole Lylat System will be saying adios because this one was the one for the end game. Astra…not sure why you're rejecting your old man's will but guess I'll have to finish the job, and be the human extinction entity that you were suppose to be.

You tried to save them but it's a done deal. Let the game resume…so that it's time to reset…the very order of society! Ben Auro…Sieg" V-Day" Elgan…two sides of the same coin to me if you're both trying to build order! Let all order fall till nothing but chaos remains!"

As they planned to unleash their vengeful outburst, only one of very few in the whole Lylat System was reacting to events with neither glee or dread, the janitor Dean.

---

With his life on the line Dean did not let having one working arm stop him and when his task was done, the guards motioned for him to return.

The janitor did, and with his he had no option to return to his room, a closet sized room that most of the "Indebted" were given to live. As he entered the room a computerized voice uttered," Task completed without error…ten merits reduced to your debt."

"Dean" saw a number go down before his hand twitched. He opened his shirt, and looked at the countless burnt marks and shards of metal all over his chest like dozens of puncture wounds that were deep in his skin.

He pressed a button on the screen before the same computer voice uttered," User is not authorized to news."

The wall in front of him became adds for products such as Vought-A-Burger and Jitter Bean café before his hands trembled, tears came down his eyes…and he unleashed a scream of pure despair.

He kept screaming till the janitor's face spasmed and he fell to the ground and coughed up blood. After he stopped coughing, he sobbed in despair.

He kept howling before the same computer voice uttered." Warning…subjects behavior will affect unit productivity, cease before more merits are lost. Also…you are now summoned to clean up inmate Sam Riordan's mess in cell D4."

Dean paused for a few moments, took a pill to repress the pain all over his body, and grasped the ring Homelander gave him. He grasped it tightly before sparks of energy glowed from the wounds in his body and seeped into the ring, and caused to turned blood red before he got back up to leave like a zombie, or a man so broken he felt like one.

Authors Notes: Welp…another big chapter but let's try and cover all the bases here.

The Schatten Bereich is from the Wandenreich in Bleach.

Squillia Shar Livia Naire is another enemy from Power Rangers Cosmic Fury.

Sanae Hanekoma is from the World Ends With You, and Rindo and Shoka Sakurane are from NEO the World Ends with you.

Songbird, Kurt Hansen and Solomon Reed are from the Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty DLC.

David Martinez and Lucyna "Lucy" Kushinada are from the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime.

Joe Logan is from the Ninja Kamui anime.

With Black Noir…I merged how he was in the comics and the show. He is mostly " Solder Boy" from the show and looks like Jensen Ackles, but was Black Noir all along as the true leader like in the comic, with a few changes.

Dean Sisu…I'll just say his face looks like the main lead from the Sisu movie…with a few changes…that's all I'll say for now.

Things are going to get hectic, some upcoming chapters will focus on Mike's side and Astra's side more to even things out but hope it comes off well. For now thanks for the reviews as always…hope you liked what you saw to leave another, and hopefully see you next time.