All rights are reserved to their respective owners. I own nothing in this piece of fiction except my FCs and the story itself.
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PIERCE!
A scratched-up lance stabbed itself out of the rubble.
Future Heart pulled himself out of the rough, before taking in the environment after nuking his country.
Not a building.
Not a soul.
The beautiful civilization of Leanbox's capital city was nothing more than a titanic crater containing a wasteland of desolation. Burnt rock and settled ash were all that remained after the supremely destructive attack released by the time traveler.
A pit stirred in the Leanboxian CPU Candidate's stomach as he took in his handiwork.
"They're all..." He couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.
The emotions that were suppressed before his attack flooded his brain with relentless pressure.
The anger.
The grief.
The pain.
Months upon months of what was suppressed by the third stage seeped into his psyche, his hand clutching his head with his eyes watering and irises contracting from the overwhelming sensation of anguish.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
His screams echoed through the wasteland, his vocal cords vibrating without end through the episode of traumatic release.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
Vert's death was burning itself into his retinas.
Screaming through his tears, Future Heart brought his burnt fist in front of him.
CLENCH!...
His grip grew tight enough to draw his blood, the physical harm going unnoticed.
"HOW COULD I HAVE DONE THIS!... I LET THEM DIE!"
The guilt grew unbearable.
"How..." He whispered.
'How could I have been so careless?...' His mind finished the sentence for him.
'These... MONSTERS have driven me... To raze my people for the sake of their extermination.' Opening his hand, the time traveler took in the wound he had inflicted on himself.
"S-So many l-lives s-s-sacrificed..." He croaked.
'How could I...' his teeth grinded, Future Heart's breath heaving in remorse.
'...how...'
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̷͕̙̍?̴̺̽͝H̵̙͋̇Ŏ̷͈Ẅ̴̱!̸̝̟̓?̶̧̽̈́H̵̭̱̐O̶͝ͅW̵̪͊!̷͍̦͂̎?̴̣̽H̵͈̳̆O̴͕̓W̴̘̕!̵͓̕?̶̡͚̄̎H̸͉̮̽̀Ö̶̺̭́͑W̵̧͈̓͛!̴̙̋̕?̶͖́H̸͚̾̕Ò̶̭͔́W̸̥̘̊͒!̵̻̍͒?̵͉͕̂̉H̸͉͠͝O̶̡̮̓W̷̡̩̋́!̴̟̑?̷͖̬͋̄H̸̻͠O̶̜͋W̸̙̦̄!̶̯̖̚̚?̷̹̟̈H̶̟̪̐Ö̵̻̥́W̵̠̟̓̃!̴͍͓̓?̸͉̾H̸͕͉͐Ò̶̹͙̎W̸̫̅!̸̛̹?̸̲̳̏̇Ḧ̶͖Ơ̴̟͖W̶͈̿́!̶̤͒͑?̷̩͇̍H̸͚̥́̀Ơ̴̰̬̚W̴͕̏!̸̣̀?̶̣̓H̸̺̜͝Ọ̴̝͒̈W̷͕̙͒̂!̴̪̰̃̚?̶͚̍̈́H̸̙̽̐Ö̴̫W̷̝͂̓!̴͉͕̕͠?̶͕̀Ḧ̷͉́̚Ȍ̶̺W̶̛͙͚̑!̶͙̩̉́?̸̥̍H̶̟̬͑O̷̙̅̉W̵̛̫̮̉!̷̹̙͑͝?̷̠̊͝H̷͙̀O̸̫̚͠Ẃ̷̮!̸̞͎̍?̶̗̝̒͝Ĥ̸̢́O̴̥͒Ẁ̴͓̓ͅ!̵̻̳̆?̴̜̎͠H̵̖̱͊͝Ō̶̲̕Ẁ̴̧!̸̧̲̽̓?̷̥̪̓͝H̷͔̀O̶̅ͅW̵̝̦͑̏!̶͓̄?̸̬̞͗̈́H̷̬̘̋Ô̷̳͜W̶̯̯̍!̶͙͉̽͗?̵̦̟̿͘H̶̪̉Ō̸͙͆W̸̠̿͗!̸͍̀̔?̸̖͉̆͠Ḧ̶̝́O̶͈̎̒Ẁ̴̡͈!̵̻̎?̶͔̑H̸̡͉͑̚Ọ̷̻̀͊W̸̳̹̿͝!̵̜͐̐͜?̴̼̘̀H̷̤͎̆̈́O̶̡̙͆͘W̵̢͖̎̃!̷̻̊̐?̸̨̼̽̒H̸̱̜͝Ô̴̗̼Ŵ̵̞̼́!̴̣̒?̸͖̂H̴͎̺͂̚O̴͚͝W̷̹̮̿́!̸̜́?̷̰͖́͛Ḧ̴̠́Ō̸̥͎W̶̲͚̒!̷̛͇?̷̣̠̿̿Ḧ̷͖́O̷̫̔W̸̪̔͝!̷̛͍̀?̵̝̐Ȟ̶̠̲̋O̷͍̙̒W̴̟̙̔͠!̵̺̔?̵̠̃̃H̵̲̎O̴̽ͅW̷̱͚̆!̴͛ͅ?̴́͜ͅH̶̰̏͠O̵̢̙̕̚W̴͖͒̕!̷̙̩͝?̶̱̆́H̶̘̺͒Ǒ̴̪̪W̷̠̝͋͝!̷̖͚̅͊?̴̀͘ͅH̴͇̎O̵̯̒̑Ẉ̵̬̏́!̴͎̈̊͜?̵̛̩Ḧ̸̘̬̅O̸̬͙̔̽Ŵ̷̱!̷͙̿?̴̮͉̕Ḩ̷̤̊Ȏ̴̭̀W̸̘͌!̵̠̈́?̸̲͉̔H̵̬̏͂O̴͉͐͒W̸͛̌͜!̷̩̪̀̃?̴͖͚̋̕H̴̲͌̀O̷̟̭̎W̴̧̺͑̚!̵̮̑?̴͔͑H̶̨̩͊̏O̴̝͒W̴̬͌͜!̶̪͊?̵̱͋͘H̵̪̪̒̎Ọ̸̄̚W̷͔͎̾!̷͇̊̾?̵̫̽͒H̵̨̹̾̈Ȯ̸͔̭W̶͚̅͝!̸̭͒͑ͅ?̸̡̈́̀H̵̪̝͂͆O̵̪̞͋W̶̖̒͑!̸̟͝?̵̧̗̓͆H̷͙͙́O̵͙̺͛Ẃ̴ͅ!̴̨͖̈́?̶̠̓͌Ḣ̸̨̲̐Ȍ̸͙W̵̭̄́!̷̡̼̓̍?̶̳̊̓H̸͖̺̀̄Ò̸̮͚͑W̵͚͋͝!̷̙̏?̷͙̪͐H̷̤́Ȏ̵͈̿W̴̛̝̎͜!̷̧̊?̶̤̦̇H̵̲̋̌O̸̜̒W̴̩̿̂!̵̲̣͘?̶̤͝ͅH̸̗̺̽Ŏ̷̯͔W̸̫͕̾!̷̨̊̉?̶͖̓H̵̼̞̏Õ̶̜Ẁ̵̲!̷̡͓̒?̶͓̐̈́H̵͙͎́́Ơ̶͍̓Ẉ̷̈́̕!̵̯͑̓?̶̳͓̓Ḧ̵̡̪́͌Ő̸͈̑W̵̹̉̒!̶̮̠̏̌?̶̞̦̈͋Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ḣ̴̻́O̷̺͝W̶̨͗!̷̼̄̾?̷̻͇̀Ȟ̶͚͍̅Ô̸̺Ẅ̴̦̣!̶̱̈́?̸͓̖̂H̷̱̯̒O̸̗͆̅W̴̱̻̚!̸͍̍?̷̲̰́̀H̴̪̋̎O̴̲̓̄W̷̳̣̚!̷͇̤̌̒?̸̡̼͛H̷̤͒O̶̹̩̓W̷͓̋̿!̴̧͆?̴̘͠
H̶͓̉̃͋O̶̦̦̝̞͍͐́W̴̡̳̜͉̃̃̄ͅ!̶̗͑͗͆͂́?̶̢̟̻͚̅̉H̶͓̉̃͋O̶̦̦̝̞͍͐́W̴̡̳̜͉̃̃̄ͅ!̶̗͑͗͆͂́?̶̢̟̻͚̅̉Ḩ̵͇̈́̍ͅO̷̡͕̅͑̌Ŵ̷̗͖͒̉̋!̸̢̤̞̗̑?̴̮̪̓ͅH̵͇̳̭̤͕̀͋̀͠͠Ọ̸̤̼̖̭̿͌W̸̗̅͐̅̿͘!̴͍͖̅͠?̵͇̥͕̱̇̅̅͌H̴̘̣̄͊̇O̴̝̓̓Ẅ̵̡̘̫̲́̾̑!̶̦̩̓?̶̖̟͖̤͇͑H̷̛̻̟̾͒̓̀Ǒ̸̩̪̺̝W̴̗̣͉̏̃!̴̧̟͕̑̀?̵̢̡̲̱̄͆̂͒H̸͙̉͝O̷̢͇̼̎͑̍̚W̴̙͉͕̙̅̂̐͊ͅ!̵̲͙͕͍̃̕?̶̥̻͖̺̺́̈́̓H̸̲̹̅O̴̝̘̽̄̀͜Ẉ̶̡̒͆̀̀!̴̻̺͓͆̿̾͘?̸̢̞͕̌̓̈́̓H̶̭̯̪̊͋̾͝͝O̶̖̥̺̤̥͘W̷̡͈̲͍̿̍!̴̼̌̄̚?̷̫̩͔͝H̶̰̹͛̊̄Ò̷̝̰̖̹͈W̵̛͚͈̯͑͑͆͘!̸̨͉̲̆̐̀ͅ?̸͙͉͘H̴̜̉́̀͆̕O̴̢͙͇̪̽W̸̬̹̏͋͑!̵̛̤̜͗̌̐?̸̖̠̞̺̘͐́͌H̵͙̿̌̄͑̇Ơ̸̢̡̦̭̤̇͒̊̎Ẃ̸͕̜͕̙͚͐̎̃̒!̴͈̺̖́͛̅̑͝?̴̛̳͊̔̀̿H̴͍͚́͆̎͘O̴̲̻͋͠Ẃ̸̞̎̀́͝!̴̮̹̠͓̋̔͝͝?̶̝̬́̏̕͝H̶̰͙̱̖̖̐̒̿͒͝Ŏ̴̢͖̗̫̰̇̐̽Ẉ̸̣͂!̷̡͊̓?̶̢̧̪̖̳̌̓Ḣ̷͕͍͈̀͜Ǫ̶̙͇̾̀W̸̜̝̎̀͊!̷͙̙̺͖͕̇̋?̴̤͇̽Ĥ̶͙̳̬̕O̵̪̰̕W̶̡̮̤͎͚͊͐̿͘͝!̴̝̽̃͠?̸̗̗̬̱͙̋̈́̃͝H̴͉̜͌̈́̊O̵̮̪͉̘̫̚͝Ẅ̷͖͆͛̐!̵͓̗̰̓̿̀?̴̢͔̪̦͛̓̇H̵͇͖̠̫̱͊O̶̲̹̰͗̈́͒W̷̯̜͈̜̓!̶̱͕͉̯̊̓͜͠?̵̧͎̙̩͎̓̏̆Ḣ̷̭̤̺̱̜̽̍̑̐O̸̠̼̦̪̽̿ͅW̴͓̲̜̞̲͂́!̷̠̜͔̲̓̓͝?̷̛̯̰̼̀͐͘Ḩ̸̳̀̕Ǫ̴̠͚̝̀̃́͘Ẅ̸̮́!̸̯̺̰̣͝ͅ?̷̭͂̀H̵̙̟̰͎͕̐̐̓̕O̵̰̓W̶̯͕͕͠!̸̞͇̞̃̎̂̑͠?̶̗̌̉Ḩ̵̤̿O̵̦̿̾͘͠Ẅ̸͇͚͍̫̥́͊!̸̥̳̭̖̒̎?̵̗͖̟͒͂̿̿͝Ḧ̸̯͕̪͂̏͌Ö̵̹̮̀́ͅW̴̝̫̤͑̂̀͜!̴̦̗͛̽̊͗͋?̴̬͍̦̦͈͂Ḣ̵̡̡̛͎Ó̶͇͒̊͐Ẁ̴̘̰̀̑!̸̦̣̞̥̳̑?̴̛̘̂̇͌H̵̥͔̮̋͜O̵̺̖̅W̸̡̻͓̞͘!̵͖̘́̇͠?̵̻͈̌͠Ḩ̵̮̫̾̈O̵̝͒Ẃ̴̢͙͉̞̝̽͛̋!̴͈̻͈̂͒̕͘͘?̶̧͎͓͊̿̀̌͝H̴͍͓̒̇Ô̴͈̼̇̊̀W̷̝̞͕̺̉͛!̶̰͎̬͌?̸̞̃́̀͋͘͜Ȟ̵͓̙͖̫̂̓̿͜O̵̲̘̳͎̓̀̍̓̐W̷̆͊͘͜!̵͉́̆̍͜͝?̴̣̙̩̤̋͒H̵̠̱̫̹͖̔̕͝O̷̡̭̝͈̱̎͝W̵̼͓̏͒!̵̛̹̮̤̄͊?̸̗̋̓͝H̷̜͙͔̍͌͂O̶̦͈̺̾̾̍̆W̵̡̤̬͈͖͂!̵̳̪̬͍̳̈́͛̂̈́̀?̴͚̺͔̪̈́̀̄̑͘ͅH̴̦̮̲̄Ô̸͚̺̺W̶̮͙̺̝͗̽̈̀!̸̡̩̜͙̓̄͌͘?̵̧̻̂͐̌H̸͎̖̽̊̽̒O̵̘̮͔̯̲̒̈́W̴̹̄!̷͈̀͌͜?̴̮̪͕͒H̴̝̪̗̐Ố̶̹̫̫͔̬W̸̧̓̏͜!̴̘̼̱̬͌͛ͅ?̵̞͗̃̀̕H̵̢͚͗̋Ǒ̵̢̗͊͘͠W̸̗̐!̸̳̮̫̰̭̐͆?̸͍̩́Ȟ̴͇̤͇͍̍̃͠ͅǪ̶̦͕̻̓͝W̶͔̱̘̎̽͋͐̾!̶̮͔̳͇̒̐́͌͒?̸̦̭́͋̀̂Ḥ̴̘̽͊́́̕Ơ̷͔̤̥̩̏̀̿W̸͚͗̅̈́!̶̀̌ͅ?̵̩͌Ḧ̵̹̝̺̠̲́̅͑͘O̶̠̯̞͘͝W̸̨̛̙͎̄̊͂̓!̴̜̊́͋̇?̵͙̼̂̄̊̈ͅḤ̸̠͕͒͋̿̃̕O̷̪͒̈́͝Ẅ̶̺̝͖̑!̸͍̖̩͋̒͆͘?̷͈̖͈̙͋̀̋͝Ḧ̷̨̝̗́͂͠ͅǑ̶̢͕͕̤͆͑͝ͅW̷̫̥̻͓̿!̶͕͖̿͌͜͝?̷̛̫͕̜͓̦̀Ḩ̸͍̓͝Ǒ̶̟̙̹̱̝̊͘W̶͔̾́́̎̈!̶̝̦̕?̷̻̟̪͖̓̒H̷̳͔͕̗͓̐̎Ò̶̗͂Ẅ̴̩̳͖̖̯̈́̕!̵̤̱͔̾?̵͚̦̌̽͑͌Ḣ̷̡͎͌̿O̴̩̼̳̽W̶̘̮̾!̷̡̺̥͌?̸̫͎͔̓̎̋͘H̷̻͂Ọ̵͋W̴͖͎̞͇̍!̴̥̊͊?̸̙̎̈̈̾͝H̴̨̨̼̩̲̾͂O̸̧͓̭̎͜W̸͔͓̝̔̆̇͝!̴̡̊̆̐͜?̵͈͎̝̳̬̋H̵̨̛̳̫̰̱͆̿̓O̴̼̰͈͈̖͋̀͘͝W̸͍͒!̷̮̃́?̴̡̤̰̎H̶̱̙͍̯̼̓͊O̵̫̬̥̤̞͘W̴̰͊!̴̛̲̼́̽̊?̵͕̹̣͛̈́̈́H̴͙̠̯̓́ͅO̵̞̥̻̓͠W̴̠̰̹̟̽̅͌!̶̨̨͓͚̳̊͒́̂?̵̣̳̙̘́́̋̐͐H̷̗̲̓̕Ŏ̴͇̗̖̖̈̌̐̚Ẁ̶̡̛͕̮͓̔͋!̵͖̦̣̗͇̆͆?̵̮̘̥̩̈́̅̈̀H̶̛͔͚͕O̵͚͙̜̖̽Ẃ̷̨̠̹̲͓͆͌͘!̶̖̘̎͜?̴̛̖̝͌̀͆͘H̶̛͓̱̮̏̓Ò̴̰̦͉̳̕͝W̵̦̞̒̇!̷̞̤̱̯̿̓͝?̷̭̞͛͂̍H̴̛̠͕̳́̀͛̾O̶̯͌̽͝W̷̢̩̞̫̓̿̊!̵̰̰͕̈͜?̴̧̗͓̮̲̈͛͑H̷͈̜̠͕͈͑̋̑̀̈́Ơ̵̠̍̿́̐Ŵ̴̙̜̪̺̜!̶̞̩̯͖͝ͅ?̵͚̼͌̕͠Ḩ̵̛͇̥̻̔̎O̶͔̤̹̥͒̒̃͒Ẉ̶̮̦̿͆̅̈́͝!̴̹̮̣̈́̇͗̿?̶̛͕̖̻̀̑͘H̵͕̫͖͚͇͑̇̕O̴̜͖͊̈͒͛̚͜W̴̙͙͖̪͒̓̐͠͠!̶̧͕̳̺͇̇̂̔?̵̳͙̕H̷̜̮͉͖̣̔̂̀͘͝Ó̵̞̭̱W̷̖͖̣̲͙̑̂̚͠!̷̗̙͉͔̀͗͘͘͠?̵͖̤͛Ḥ̵̩̦̒̓̏͊O̵̞̔̀W̶͚͉̤̼̒̆̚̕!̴͕̝̙͛̀̊̀̅?̵̲̅̔H̸̤̭͓̦̍Ọ̵̮͖̀̂̓̍̄W̸̜̦̔͘!̴̮̫̀͘͜?̵̜̣͓͐́̚͘Ḫ̵͓̋̾͛O̷̭̫̓͌W̴̝̺̙̅̔̀!̵̼̣͓̞̐́̚?̴̛͎̹͓̄͋̏ͅH̵̲͉̝̏̒̀Ȏ̵̹W̶̤͉̬̉̉́͋̕!̵̪͓̟̹̞͝?̸̱̜̓͂H̸̢̡̓̃͛̈́̍Ȏ̷̡̤W̴̙̪͈̑̅̎͘!̷̛̭͓͎͎̜̿?̵̜̐H̴̩͓̀͂Ỏ̴͈̖̪̃̈̀͑W̶̟̚!̴̛̜̼̼͍͐̄͐?̵̧͈̤̓̓̑͗Ḫ̴̽̌̊̕O̸̲̮͙͔̊W̸͇̼͔̌̅̉!̸̦̥̝̺̞͊͗̌͒?̶̫̎̐̆͝H̷͚̻͌̐O̶̤͉̘͇̝̐̋̄̿W̵̢̠̱̼̉͋̄!̷̳̪̯̜͒̆̋?̶̛̖̭̯̺H̵͍͒̈́O̷̻̩̎͜Ẅ̴̡͔́!̸̠̰̔͋̍͗̀?̷̥̒̏̆̈́͜Ḣ̴̦̮̖͓͆Ọ̷̞̘̐͑W̵̢̳̝̜͍̐!̸͈̼͑̈?̷̪̩̭͐̈́̎͠Ȟ̴̟̬̥̑̿Ǫ̷͖̫̈́̈́̀W̸̡̧͒͐̕͝!̴̣̻̫̦͋?̴̺͝H̶̥͕͚͌͊̑̀̍Ȯ̸̢̟̱͎W̵̛͎̾̎̈͝!̵͇̻̤͛͛ͅ?̵̨̧̡̩̂H̸̼̱͙̃̀̔͂̆O̷̯͉̞̦͇̿̚Ẅ̴̼̝̅̈́͝!̴̪͈̍̆ͅ?̷̼̈́́̐̀̏H̵̩̊Ơ̴̺̋W̴̦̦̲̫͒̀̌!̸̭͙̔̀?̷̦̬̞̰͗H̴̨͉̰̪͠O̵̢̤͔̲̭̅͑̄̈̚W̸̲̞̓̽̾͘!̶̥̪͖̔͌̀̕͝?̴̧̪̜̍̊H̴͎̙̫̹͇̅̓Ǒ̵̢̱͙͎̀̀̑W̴̺̙͋͘͠!̵͉̺̮̱͍̃̔̒?̴̮̦̅͆͗̿͘Ḧ̸͉́͊͜O̸̖̮̹̤̅W̷͕͈̩͇͆̐́̓͜!̶͎̝̗̙͖͆̓͠?̷͚͉̳̽̎̀̀Ḩ̴̡͍̥̚O̴͓̖̖̍̑̽̏̾W̷̜̲͂̆!̸̤̯͑͌͒̈?̷̹͎̙̓͆̍͘͠H̶̢̧̰̠̕Ȯ̸͎̻̩͋̓W̷̜̝͕͉̰͋͝!̶̩̻̍͛?̶̗͔̮͖̯̍̆͛͘H̴͍̺̜́Ǫ̵͎̙̌͛W̶̛̭̫͉̳̄̆͊͝!̸̬̺̰́͐̔͗?̸̢̠̳͉̠́̿Ḥ̴̙̜͔̐Ö̸̬̮͆̚W̷̢̢̘̒̑̑̂̍!̸͎͚̜̣̾͂̇͋?̸͍̳̎̌H̷̘̭̺̥̓̌̈́͒̕O̷͖̙̪̱̤͐͋̓̈́̕W̴͘ͅ!̶̻̞̻̄͛͊̆?̷̭̱͖̈́H̵̘̪͔͇̤̓̅̂͂͝O̶̺̥̜͋̅͆̇W̷̢̼̺̒͗͠!̴̨̢͇͉̋͊?̷̙̈́͆̐̅͗H̴͙̠͆͌͐̒Ŏ̵͎̭͕W̷͍̼̖̤̽̅͗͝!̸̪͛͋͛?̶̡̦̂̃̈́́͝H̷͕̠͚͂̀Ȯ̸͔̗̍Ẅ̵̗̋͌!̷̞̘̺̻͇̍̊͌͝?̴̣̂̍̇́͝H̷̱͕̼̉̔̄̀O̴͚̺̯̲̾̄W̴̧̨̧̳̲͂͑̄̕!̴̦̾̊̊͠?̶̫̃̏͐Ḩ̵͖̗̱̆̕͜Ǫ̴̜̎̽W̶̨̛̼̦̝͐!̶̲̟̪̼̇͐̈͝?̸͚̤̖̻͍̂́́͠H̵̲̓͋̍̚͠O̸͕̜̮͋̈́W̶̨̱̋̈́́̿͠!̴͖̭̞͔̅̐͌ͅ?̴͙̖̫̰̈͗H̸͔̣̦́̄͐̊͗O̷̪̗͓̅̒̓̍W̸̮͗̓!̴̺͕̙͈̘͛́̏̃̐?̸̞̙͇̅H̷̥̬͗͒ͅȎ̴͈̭W̷̫͙̊͛́̏ͅ!̵̥̿̕͠͝?̴̫͉̤͗̾̃̅̆'
...
..
.
'h-how...?!'
Future Heart's brain tormented him with the question.
For he did not possess the answer.
"How..."
He aimlessly wandered, his eyes glassy and dull.
"...Could I have the audacity to falter!"
STOMP!
For a brief instant, the gaze he possessed gained clarity.
"...They... They were all going to perish soon anyway." He told himself a fact that he would have rather drank hydrochloric acid than admit.
"Citadel is just... That powerful." Clenching his fists, his lance wrenched from the pressure as his other hand squelched with blood.
Admitting this about his sworn enemy felt agonizing, but it paled immeasurably to the deaths of all of his surviving citizens.
"But if I lament their deaths... Without that bastard's head at my feet...!"
The dull eyes regained life, yet were relegated to a deep sangria with the fervor of battle returning to Future Heart's spirit.
"Then their lives were forfeit for naught."
SWIRL...!
The air around the time traveler began to cycle around the CPU Candidate.
A vein rose on his forehead upon the mere thought of his people dying for nothing more than his desperation to defeat a VPU that couldn't even be achieved regardless of the sacrifice.
"AND I REFUSE TO LET THAT BE TRUE!"
BURST!
WHIRLWIND!
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
TREMORS!-
LIGHTNING!
THUNDER...!
Future Heart's temper was ignited by the mere implication of wasted life that he took under the duress of Citadel's might, and began to increase his energy in tandem.
The skies shuddered with equal resentment, thunder pounding down from the heavens.
Rods of lightning treated the ground asunder with animosity, striking with enough pressure to create intense earthquakes.
And lastly, his screaming ruptured the earth with several rocks and stones being uprooted from their resting places alongside the perpetual shaking of the floor as the CPU Candidate's power skyrocketed.
"My power is rising... IT'S OVERFLOWING!" Mimicking a certain legendary alien, he commented on his evergrowing energy.
SHINE!...
The completed ring radiated an ominous red, overpowering the natural light that his face gave which let him take on a shaded top half with only red dots where his eyes were exposed.
Not unlike a certain flat-chested CPU.
STEP!...
FLY!
Ascending into the sky, the time-traveling CPU Candidate focused on his sole directive.
No trace of fear energy could be felt within the nationwide crater that was once Leanbox.
"He's not dead... Where is he?" It irked Future Heart that someone so confident in his power, so callous in his demeanor, could have the stones to hide from him.
He'd drag him out of a cesspool if it meant executing that shitstain himself.
"SHOW YOURSELF, COWARD! I WILL SEARCH EVERY LAST CORNER OF GAMINDUSTRI UNTIL I FIND YOUR WORTHLESS EXISTENCE!"
SHOCKWAVE!...
The mere raising of his voice was enough to create a thunderous shockwave, his voice projecting for several kilometers in an instant and extending to the mainland.
"Watch your tone, boy."
"...!"
Future Heart rotated his body to face the VPU.
Citadel's body was heavily injured, yet he still flew with his arms crossed despite innumerable gashes, scrapes, burns, and lacerations on his body.
His dress shirt was obliterated, leaving only the cuffs, which were intensely burned. His pants feared no better, his knees and shins exposed with frayed and burned fabric virtually everywhere on the surface of the garment.
Yet there was something off about the way that the experienced VPU seemed...
"Do not speak to me as if you still hold any superiority. Savor your final moments of consciousness, for I will end your egregious being." Future Heart bared his teeth, clenching his molars in anticipation.
"Save your breath, CPU. For it will be your last." Citadel's personality began to resemble something formal.
...!
Closing his eyes, the VPU opened them. Black power signals, inverted to what Vergo's brandished were present in his eyes.
...DISTORT!
The fabric of the space around the two gods began to break down, the same thing that happened in the original instance of the Demigod Drive that Vergo's rendition of the VPU utilized.
Countless tears of different sizes sprouted from random areas in space, causing bleeds of fear energy to seep out of the cracks while breaking down the dimension's boundaries in the process.
Dark green eyes shifted to emerald as the black upside-down power signals became distinct, although his body remained human for the time being.
"So you've begun to take me seriously...!" Future Heart bespoke before poising his lance.
"..." Citadel dropped any will to respond.
A small frown formed on the CPU Candidate's face, locking in now that his opponent was too in the zone to even talk to him anymore.
ZOOM!
And with the Leanboxian going on the offensive, the final stretch of their fight is beginning.
BLOCK!
Raising his right arm, the VPU neutralized the incoming pierce of the time traveler's lance, but not without some of his blood trailing from the tip to where his arm currently made contact.
Citadel's eyes slightly opened at that.
STAB! STAB! STAB!-
WHOOSH! PALM! CLANG!
A few more strikes were aimed at the VPU's head, chest, and neck. But Future Heart's opponent craned his neck to dodge the first, slapped the lance out of the way for the second, and elbowed the final strike to the side.
Pointing his pen, the harbinger spoke.
"Hollow Point."
CLICK!-
VOOM!
Clicking the button, his SP skill activated as a MUCH larger blast was projected from the mechanical writing tool.
WHOOSH!
Within several dozen picoseconds, the beam was before Future Heart, who barely had enough time for his brain to comprehend th imminent threat.
WHOOM...!
The blast subsided, with Citadel putting away his pen with an obnoxious smoke cloud taking up the area where the time traveler was last seen.
"...Tch." The VPU snarled.
GUST!...
However, as the smoke was violently dispersed, Future Heart's visage was still present, and on top of that relatively unscathed apart from the smoking skin.
The air shimmered around his body spherically, signs that a barrier of wind was silently activated to mitigate the majority of what would have otherwise dealt massive damage.
EXPAND!-
SHOCKWAVE!
Dispersing the shield, it created a violent shockwave that caused the VPU to flinch from its unprecedented strength.
Citadel flinched, giving Future Heart the perfect opportunity.
PHASE!-
REAPPEAR!-
"RAH!"
-metal pipe falling sound effect!
Teleporting from raw velocity, the raven-haired CPU Candidate swung his lance not unlike a sledgehammer before it smashed into the side of his opponent's head with an obscenely boisterous reverberating clang.
"URGH!"
Citadel's body plummeted from impact, ripping through the atmosphere while sprawling uncontrollably from the vengeful CPU's latest attack.
VOOM!
Immediately pursuing his opponent, the time traveler nose-dived with no hesitation. He closed the gap between himself and the VPU in less than the blink of an eye.
SMASH!
A devastating left back fist was doled with extreme prejudice, blood flying out of the malevolent deity's mouth with visceral hatred evident in the temporally displaced CPU Candidate.
...CRASH!
Citadel's body landed in a forest on the outskirts of Leanbox, crashing through several trees that snapped from the force of his body driving through the earth.
Quickly getting up, he thought to himself.
'Demigod Drive is supposed to let me be dimensions above him! So why...?' Puzzled by the turn of events, the VPU had little time to ponder.
RUMBLE!...
For his foe was nearby.
Landing with reckless abandon, Vergo soon rose to his feet before his eyes locked onto the position of the VPU and rapidly sprinted to him with the sole intention of removing him from the simulated world.
Meters away from the VPU, he spun on his heel mid-rush.
"Rankyaku!"
SLICE!
Citadel threw himself onto the ground, narrowly dodging the roundhouse kick that screeched above him.
Groups of trees were chopped behind the grounded god, deforesting a staggering amount of trees as several myriads of trunks floated in the air from the kinetic energy of being uprooted.
Alternating to his other foot, he raised his divine appendage into the air, preparing for an axe kick.
CHING!-
Black coated his foot, a clear sign of Armament's activation before he brought down his leg with tremendous pressure.
CLICK!-
EJECT!
Pressing the pen on himself, Citadel utilized the coil mechanism within his weapon to generate enough energy to shove him out of the way.
THOOM!...
A large crater formed moments after the VPU evaded the powerful attack, and the nearby stumps were obliterated due to their proximity.
BLAST! BLAST! BLAST...!
BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!...
BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!
BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!-
Extending his wrist, the Leanboxian CPU Candidate fired share blasts at Citadel, their fire rate rapid in short bursts of three with each minuscule interval.
Each group got faster and shorter with their expulsion, a testament to Future Heart's increasing might with each passing moment.
KA-BLAM!
"Urgh!"
Citadel was struck by the first set of blasts, his body jarring at contact while being damaged significantly. The delectable sound of impact was made by a crisp explosion.
LEAP!-
Blasted onto his feet, the elder VPU ran up a rock before kicking off the side and flipping into the air as he dodged the second barrage.
KA-BOOM!
The rock was vaporized after enduring the explosive nature of Vergo's shared energy.
GRAB!-
In the air, Citadel called his pen before snatching it.
ZIP!
-¿?¿?¿?-
Writing a perfect circle before him, the VPU created a portal composed of fear energy.
BLOOP...!
Which removed the attack from the battlefield and rendered the blasts neutralized.
...EXPLOSION!
before they detonated at a different area in the distance.
Future Heart noticed that the VPU was beginning to find workarounds for his attacks, so he clenched his fist.
HALT!...
The blasts ceased their warpath to the malignant deity, just feet away from being hopelessly ineffective.
...ZOOM!
ABSORB!
Flipping their direction, the blasts returned to their caster with haste, before being absorbed into Future Heart's body.
AURA!
This simultaneously prevented wasting his stamina and temporarily empowered him due to the recycling of expended share energy. He was coated in a surge of green energy from his tactical decision.
VANISH!-
-REAPPEAR!
Closing the gap with unprecedented speed, Future Heart glared into the soul of his bitter adversary.
"...!"
ゴゴゴゴ!...
From that close distance, Citadel was able to see the shaking power signals within the eyes of Leanbox's CPU Candidate. The four arcs only seemed to exemplify the perfect hatred that the time traveler showcased.
VANISH!
Before disappearing without a word.
PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE!
PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE!
PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE!
PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE!
PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE! PHASE!
Only to reappear several dozen times, randomly appearing and disappearing while circling him with afterimages of raw agility.
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!STAB!
Lance strikes approached from every hour on the directional clock, giving Citadel virtually no time to react.
GUARD!-
Only raising and crossing his forearms and tucking his head, tightening his core and exhaling before the onslaught began.
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!PIERCE!
Wounds piled on the VPU's body with ferocity and relentless repetition, What was one lance in theory becoming thousands upon thousands of pierces in actuality.
The VPU's blood splayed onto Future Heart's frame, yet it did not bother him. It only served to invigorate the bloodlusted time traveler to continue his blitzing attacks on his enemy.
'His strikes are becoming dangerous! Has his strength truly caught up to my own?!' Bleeding from the mouth, Citadel continued thinking of an explanation for Vergo's staggering growth.
S-S-SHIFT!
The afterimages shifted into one position, revealing a motionless Future Heart. His glowing red eyes narrowed.
GLARE!
"Ghk!"
A burst of pressure hit the VPU, causing his body to recoil, blood flying out of the new wounds sustained alongside the old ones that started to dry.
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
Then a barrage of consecutive hits emerged as if the wind was starting to antagonize the mal-intentioned deity.
Which it was, thanks to Future Heart creating a wind-enhanced shockwave with KI to refine it as a focused pressure with his aerokinesis to create an extended-range assault.
'No... It's not because he's getting stronger that he's pestering me. Not only that. My power has significantly diminished throughout the events of this battle!'
REGENERATE!
injuries were sealed shut in moments, fear energy ebbing away at the cost of a portion of Citadel's remaining energy to bring back some of his lost vitality during the onslaught.
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
The blunt blows would make it difficult for Future Heart to tell, especially by not disposing of the blood that was present alongside the wounds created prior.
'He's been using my overconfidence the entire time to gain enough power to bridge our gap!'
"You...!" He uttered, through the rush of aerodynamic blows aimed at his entire body.
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK-BAK!
'Not only that but he's weakened me to the point that my Demigod Drive can only serve to make us comparable!'
"WILL NOT GET THE BEST OF ME!"
His temper getting the better of him caused the mocking and collected Citadel to explode in frustration at his condition.
FEAR SHOCKWAVE!-
Mirroring his emotions, his power flared in the form of a terrifying expanse of fear energy that caused Future Heart to cover his vision with an arm as a black burst of energy covered the forest.
R-R-RUMBLE!-
-ANNIHILATE!
All nearby objects were consumed by the highly destructive form of energy and quickly consumed by the ruthless explosion of fear that moved to consume the forestry of Leanbox in a matter of seconds.
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
SHOCKWAVE!
Realizing that doing nothing would let him end up like the remaining forest, Future Heart's lungs vibrated at intense levels with a shaking yet powerful scream, putting his Hellish Holler to good use.
CLASH!...
The expanding shockwave of darkness was halted as a green projection of share energy rose to contest it, both struggling to maintain superiority.
"BASTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD!"
"INSOLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENT!"
Screaming insults at each other in the middle of their clash was probably the most effective tactic since the actual contest was stuck in bitter gridlock at the moment.
Future Heart's energies had continued to climb at an unnerving rate, enough to cause someone like Citadel to do the battle equivalent of gamer-leaning to maintain his competitive spirit and not be gradually overwhelmed.
FISSURE!
The ground around them started to crack open, boulders and megaliths shredded from the ground and sent flying at voracious speeds.
ERUPT!
Mount Nokia's eruptive cycle was interfered with by the two deities clashing, inciting an eardrum-rattling eruption that lasted magma into the air, mixing the ash with the storm clouds.
THUNDER!
Lightning fell from the heavens in droves with the ash slowly descending in tandem, thunder rolling sporadically in the background alongside the volcano's activity moments after it ceased its first eruption.
EARTHQUAKE!
The vibrations of the fissures also began to mess with the tectonic plates under Leanbox, creating earthquakes that only seemed to intensify the magnitude of the already destructive fissures as several trees and rocks around the island began to fall into the large cracks and melted by the magma at the bottom.
...WAVES!
Even the coast was not left out of the violent turn of natural disasters, with waves crashing onto the shore with enough force to kick up sand from all angles. Even the waters out in the ocean raged in a ring surrounding the self-destructing island.
C-CLASH!
Future Heart and Citadel continued their screaming match, yet gridlocking only accomplished the systematic destruction of Leanbox through almost every natural disaster being summoned from the contest of their might.
The time traveler grew tired of the stagnation and decided to make another move.
REEL!
Holding his lance, he arched his arm back.
ABSORB!...
His green shockwave condensed into his weapon, causing it to glow a bright green. Citadel's blastwave was no longer restricted by Vergo's and began to exponentially expand as it closed in on the floating CPU Candidate.
THROW!
SHOCKWAVE!-
The lance easily broke the sound barrier scores of millions of times over, the solidity of his lance morphing into a stream of light from unadulterated velocity from the seeming teleportation it achieved after leaving the CPU's hands.
STAB!
The progression of the blastwave was halted, and now folding in on itself from the pressure of the apex of Future Heart's lance upon contact.
"JUST DIE ALREADYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
...PIERCE!
The fear-affinity blast was breached after the first words that Future Heart uttered created a Hellish Holler that added the extra oomph needed to overpower the resistance of Citadel's energy.
SHRED...!
SHRED!...
SHRED!
The lance tore through the layers of hear energy at a jagged pace before streamlining as it neared the VPU.
GUARD-
Citadel's eyes widened at the approaching weapon, trying to use his pen to guard yet moving too slow for the weapon's speed.
IMPALE!
"GAK!" The lance lodged itself into the elder VPU before its energy expanded.
SHINE!
The pitch black energy that radiated fear was soon green-shifted to the bright green share energy of the lance.
-DETONATE!-
DISTORT!
Cue the defeating explosion from the VPU's core after violently reacting with the shares, causing a distortive energy release.
Space around and within the blast became heavily unstable, fraying and shaking with unforeseen magnitude in the aftermath of the discharge.
Leanbox's island and sub-cities were all engulfed, vaporizing the landmass and the surrounding water with a dome of chaotic and conflicting energy that persisted for several seconds before dissipating further as harmless radiation.
WHOOSH...!
All that remained of the Leanboxian landmass was a patch of molten rock that was originally the seabed smoking with molten rock before being submerged by the rushing water.
HUFF!... HUFF!... HUFF!...
Future Heart took several deep breaths, the screaming momentarily tiring him.
INHALE...!
EXHALE!...
Just one deep breath was all the CPU Candidate needed to recompose himself, before surveying the area.
Water, water, and more water. That and the horizon with the stormy cirrocumulus clouds.
The mainland was still rather far, although he doubted Citadel would be able to make it there without him being aware.
SWIPE!-
CLUTCH!
And he was right.
The VPU attempted to assassinate him by using his pen to stab the CPU Candidate upside his temple. However, Observation combined with his aerokinetic sensory allowed him to perceive the incoming threat before interception occurred via grabbing his aggressor's wrist.
ELBOW!
"FUCK!"
Using his other hand, a blinding elbow struck the shirtless VPU in the ribcage, causing him to swear vehemently as the CPU Candidate let go, causing him to be ejected a few meters from him.
Incredibly burned, the injuries he healed prior were doled in equivalency to Citadel's frame with even more of his garments subjected to degradation in the aftermath of the explosion.
Wasted energy for the malevolent deity as massive damage was dealt in a bout of turnabout.
"Why are you so... insufferable!" The VPU barked.
Future Heart remained silent.
"This was supposed to be an easy assignment! You and your bitch of a sister were supposed to be dealt with ages ago... But why do you persist!" Citadel shouted.
"...!"
Hearing how Vert was referred only served to increase his already brimming fury.
"For countless millennia, I have existed. And for those ages, l have always accomplished my tasks without failure! All of my enemies have been slayed without pause or concern! But this... this gnat dares to persist!?"
THUNDER!
Citadel screamed, the storm raging around the two warriors.
Yet Vergo simply smiled at his plight.
"You... INSIGNIFICANT FUCK!" Did this not bode well for the VPU's psyche.
"Heh... Hehehe... Hehaha!" Giggles escaped the CPU Candidate's mouth, barely able to hold the euphoria he saw from the mental struggle of the VPU.
"HOW DARE YOU LAUGH AT MY MISFORTUNE!"
"Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA! HAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Future Heart continued to make fun of th frustration evident on Ctadel's face, the same way he did to him and his friends in the previous timeline.
"THIS IS NOT OVER!"
"GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
LIGHTNING!-
THUNDER!-
His shouts of offense only made Future Heart laugh harder, His eyes momentarily revealing shaking irises before returning to their red glow. His maniacal laughter echoed through the raging storm in the ocean.
"I'LL SHUT YOUR MOUTH MYSELF!"
RUSH!
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Despite what Citadel did, only sounds of mentally degrading laughter from Future Heart were heard. Even with the incoming threat of a VPU, the CPU Candidate was filled with spiteful joy after seeing the signs of the evil god's mask cracking under the pressure.
SHOCKWAVE!
Countering with an elbow, a crazed grin silenced the CPU Candidate's laughter with a shockwave powerful enough to push the water below them into a crater-like shape.
COUNTER!- COUNTER!-
COUNTER!- COUNTER!-
COUNTER!-COUNTER!-
COUNTER!- COUNTER!-
COUNTER!- COUNTER!-
Their bodies stayed in that frame, flickering in between existence as numerous shockwaves raged around the sea. Their emergence was random yet the evident destruction was equal with each wave.
COUNTER! COUNTER!
COUNTER! COUNTER!
COUNTER! COUNTER!
COUNTER! COUNTER!
COUNTER! COUNTER!
Time slowed to allow more precise movements to be observed, the two deities whisking by each other for a brief moment to send a grueling kick, punch, knee, elbow, or even headbutt before disengaging to repeat the process hundreds of times.
COUNTER!... COUNTER!...
COUNTER!... COUNTER!...
COUNTER!... COUNTER!...
COUNTER!... COUNTER!...
COUNTER!... COUNTER!...
Further decelerating, the two deities were now moving at observable speeds, despite being leagues above light in the normal passage of time. Each strike was met halfway with a giggle from Future Heart or a growl from Citadel before their limbs deflected each other's strikes.
JAB!-
DODGE!
HALVE!...
Citadel went for a piercing straight with a knife hand, only for the CPU Candidate to whisk his body to the side, a maddening grin on his lips. The sea parted in two from the evaded attack, the sea bed revealing itself for several kilometers.
SMACK!
BLAST!
"Ghrk!"
Slapping the VPU's hand away, the time traveler alternated wrists before flicking the one furthest away from Citadel right in his face before hitting him point blank with a green share blast.
"HA!" The brother of Vert laughed before continuing.
CHING!-
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
Armament was utilized once again with the arms of Future Heart shifting to black.
BAM!-WHAM!-THRASH!...
A sickening liver shot from the sole survivor of Leanbox's future reverberated on the VPU's entire body before a swiveling elbow in his adversary's temple. Finally, the successive combo ended with a high kick that rattled Citadel's brain upon contact with his chin.
"DAMN YOU, VERGO!"
"GAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
AXE HANDLE!
Slamming his fists onto the top of Citadel's head sent him plummeting with haste.
SPLASH!-
ZOOM!
Creating a giant splash in the water, rising several hundred meters in the air before the CPU Candidate quickly followed the submerged VPU.
WHOOSH!
Zipping through the water, Future Heart quickly caught up to Citadel.
HEADBUTT!-
Before slamming his forehead into the nose of the VPU, with a gargle of water being the response of pain.
LEFT HOOK!-
Followed up with a blitzing hook to the elder deity's jaw, causing his head to snap to the side.
LEFT ELBOW HOOK!
Making his fist recoil off the god's face before twisting his torso and driving the torque of his elbow into the harbinger's cheek.
RIGHT BACK FIST!
Pulling his arm back after it sailed through the VPU's face, he reeled back his closed hand with enough force to send the deity twirling from impact.
RIGHT CROSS!
And combined it with an Armament fist with his alternate arm that cross-punched the deity with crimson liquid jutting into the distance which made him spin faster.
LEFT ELBOW!
Before finishing the combo off with a surprise elbow that ceased his rotation, and made another stifling gurgle escape his mouth.
The glowing green eyes of Citadel hyper-fixated on Future Heart before attempting to counterattack for the humiliation of such a smooth combination.
PUNCH!-
JAB!-
CROSS!-
Future Heart's aerokinetic sensory was dampened due to the amount of water around the current arena, yet his Observation was far from sullied.
WHISH!-
WHOOSH!-
CLUTCH!...
This was why the first strike was carelessly avoided before the second hit was evaded from the CPU Candidate's body twisting and the final attack grabbed by the green time traveler's hand.
CRUNCH!
"GWARGH!" Blurting out in the water, bubbles of air that harbored a pain-filled scream rose from the VPU.
The CPU Candidate had broken the bones in Citadel's hand, no more difficult to him than crushing an egg.
YANK-
THOOM!
Hoisting his hand to his body, the time traveler outstretched his leg before front-kicking him in the solar plexus.
SHOCKWAVE!
With enough force to cause the water around them to scatter, creating a large cylindrical space around the two that could be seen from above sea level with a skyscraper's worth of height and a stadium's worth of diameter around them.
THUD!
The once proud and confident VPU found himself laid out on the ground, his body aching from the ass-whooping it received.
"URK!... Damn it...!" Citadel could only curse at his current situation.
"Haaa..." Meanwhile, Future Heart breathed not out of a need for oxygen but rather a weight being lifted off his shoulders.
"Hahaha... It just feels... so fantastic..." The raven-haired CPU softly spoke on the verge of a euphoric breakdown.
"I never thought I'd see the day I could kill you with my own hands. Hmhmhm..." Beginning to make his way to Citadel, he stuck his hand to the side.
WHOOSH!...
Using his aerokinesis, he kept the berth of space that he created with the thunderous kick he doled unto the VPU.
"Heheh. But... I can't keep myself from laughing, even when you're about to die. Hehe..." Walking at a deliberate pace, he took each step with jubilant conviction.
"Die? ME, DYING?! DON'T GIVE ME THAT STEAMING PILE OF SHIT!" Citadel wallowed, his voice showcasing vehement denial, yet a tinge of concern.
"Gahahaha!- Seeing you struggle is so magnificent! Yes, scream more! Just like what my people did when you cornered them!"
"FUCK YOU! YOU THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF JOKE, YOU MISERABLE PEON!" Trying to lift himself off the ground, the badly injured deity shouted with fervor.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, it is! A cruel joke at that, wouldn't you agree?! It's not so much a laughing matter when the rabbit has the gun, NOW IS IT!"
CHING!-
"You didn't feel this way when you were slaughtering my people! Innocent men, women, and children weren't privy to your concern!"
Future Heart's anger overpowered his jubilance, laughter dying as quickly as his citizens.
His arms quickly coated themselves in the dark enhancements of Armament.
CRACKLE!
"You didn't dare feel this way when you heartlessly killed my Oracle! Nor did that sudden concern rear its opportune head to spare her!" His eyes glowed brighter with disdain, as his hands crackled with green electricity.
IMMOLATE!
"And I know for certain you COULD NEVER have felt this way killing Vert! The only concern you harbored was the assurance of my suffering!" Clenching his fists, his hands were ignited in black flames due to the Armament's interference.
WHIRLWINDS!
"So I'll laugh from now, and long after your body has expired under my fury!" Shouting at the top of his lungs as he stood before the VPU, his arms were surrounded by mini twisters that served as a mixing bowl for all the aforementioned properties.
SLAM!
"GRKH!" Citadel guttered, the weight of his opponent's knee finding itself on his chest.
Raging winds, with swirls of black fire and green lightning carried on in the hands of the CPU Candidate before he cocked back his fist.
WHAM!
The VPU's had twisted to the left, blood splattering on the ground.
"This for all the people you murdered!"
BAM!
The next hit was an alternate with his other fist, making the god's head twist to the right with more blood spilled.
"This is for all the pain you've caused!"
SMASH!
Another alternate strike started to bloody the CPU Candidate's knuckles, the sound of divine flesh being softened becoming rhythmic.
"For all the families you've broken!"
THRASH!
That left punch was strong enough to send Citadel's head into the ground, a small crater forming behind his skull.
"For all-"
BIFF!
"The suffering-"
CRASH!
"-You put me through!"
DOUBLE AXE HANDLE!
"GAK!"
Two more punches further injured the VPU before an axe handle echoed through the cylindrical space.
SPLATTER!-
Blood spurted onto the face of Future Heart, yet he was entranced by the retribution of the VPU before him.
"Let me hear your screams!"
SLEDGEHAMMER!
"I want to hear you suffer!"
DOUBLE AXE HANDLE!
"I WANT YOU TO BEG FOR YOUR LIFE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
SMASH!
"SO I CAN WATCH THE FEAR YOU FORCED ON EVERYONE CONSUME YOU!"
BOOM!
Clasping his fists and smashing them into Citadel's head repeatedly, the CPU bathed in the blood of his enemy as soon enough only his piercing red eyes were distinguishable behind his bangs.
The rest of his face was either covered in shadow or blood.
"DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IIIIIIIIT! I CANNOT DIE LIKE THIS!" The VPU screeched, in between the moments of being bludgeoned by the CPU Candidate's hands.
CRASH!
"NOT BY A CPU! ANYTHING BUT THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR A CPU CANDIDATE!" Citadel scorned his circumstances, trying his best to withstand the torment.
DOUBLE AXE HANDLE!
"MORE, MORE! THOSE SOULS YOU'VE REAPED WON'T BE SATISFIED UNTIL YOU BREAK!"
THOOM!
A powerful sledgehammer caused the ground to rumble with energy.
"I AM A VPU! I AM A VIRAL PERNICIOUS UNIT CUT FROM A HIGHER CLOTH!"
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" Growing tired of his persistent bickering instead of his begging, the CPU Candidate took action.
THRASH!
"FUCK!"
TEAR!
"GKKKH!"
Future Heart axe handled the felled deity before grabbing the VPU by the neck and dashing his hand to the side, ripping the throat out of the god's body.
PUNCH!-
PUNCH!-
PUNCH!-
PUNCH!-
PUNCH!-
PUNCH!-
If he couldn't get the taut VPU to grovel, then he'd simply turn his face into gravel.
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
No more words were said from that point, only the ragged breathing of Future Heart and the pathetic gargles of Citadel were heard as knuckles were rammed into the VPU's malformed face.
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
At a point, the CPU Candidate's fists made more contact with the ocean floor than any remains of Citadel's skull.
PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!...
His eyes were blinded by the inhuman amounts of bloodshed that splayed from the VPU's corpse, yet he did not falter.
PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!... PUNCH!...
Even when his knuckles went numb, and the fear emanating off of Citadel's body subsided, he persevered.
... BEEP... BEEP... BEEP!
Only when Kars' watch made three shrill beeps, did Future Heart snap out of his borderline mechanical trance.
"... I did it." The CPU Candidate blurted.
Tears collected at the edges of his eyes.
"I d-did it...! I did it! I DID IT!" They soon trailed down his crimson-pasted cheeks.
"Hah... Hahaha... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Future Heart cackled, yet it lacked the malignancy and mockery associated with it.
The dopamine that rushed to his brain was overwhelming, all doubts and fears throughout the fight being dissolved by the euphoric sensation of triumphing over what could be considered the personification of the cruel indifference of the universe.
DARKEN...!
The cylindrical space soon faded into a black sea, with neon-green zeros and ones floating down all around the CPU Candidate, unbeknownst to him.
"I haven't felt like this since I beat the Dank Souls trilogy in one sitting!" He laughed before wiping the blood and tears from his eyes.
His smile slowly faded, taking in the new environment he was thrust into upon the alternate Citadel's demise.
"Well done, Vergo." Kars' voice could be heard from all angles. "To be honest, I didn't think you'd make it with how long you spent inside the spell." The alien continued.
"Wait, what?"
REVERT!
Returning to his human form, Vergo's hair returned to its natural golden blonde with the Red Ring of Death slowly ebbing into non-existence. His clothes were in tatters; shirtless, borderline shoeless, and jeans that survived the Console War.
"Urgh...!"
A wave of fatigue washed over the time traveler, taking all that he had not to collapse.
His body felt like it had partaken in several hours of anaerobic HIIT.
He checked the watch Kars game him.
'Time alive: 57 minutes.'
'Total deaths: 1,257,685.'
"I died over a million times?!" The blondie's jaw dropped.
"You spent roughly two years inside of this place since, before your third awakening of Red Ring of Death, you were mentally non-responsive for whatever reason." The Ultimate Life Form noted.
Vergo remained quiet about that, not wanting to open old wounds.
"The spell is being dispelled, you'll be out in a few seconds. Follow the white rabbit, if you will." The alien informed, to which the CPU Candidate from the future looked up.
"Alright. Wait was that a M*trix reference-"
BRIGHTEN...!
Before long, Vergo stood on the Green Box where Kars and he originally teleported.
"It's good to be back, mate." Both the CPU Candidate and the accent made a comeback.
"I assume you've attained a more adept mastery of RRoD?" Kars inquired.
"Of course." Vergo nodded before wracking his brain for all of the moments of his sister's suffering.
...GLOW!
His eyes soon regained a single arc around both pupils.
"Even in your human form, you can muster it. Colored me impressed." Kars nodded.
"Yeah... I'd rather not do it if I can help it." Vergo voiced his opinion on the matter.
"Activating it is beating my brain with a stick of trauma and that is terrible for my mental health considering everything else I've endured until this point." The time traveler admitted.
"I suppose I need you mentally coherent to learn Immortigon. Very well." Kars pondered the sentence before deciding to allow Vergo some agency on the discretion to use the skill.
"So how much time has passed out here?" Vergo asked the towering lifeform.
"An estimate of 9 hours if the position of the sun now compared to when it left to my discretion is accurate, and it is." The Ultimate Life Form scratched his back a little on that last part.
"That means that the others have already left for the Gamindustri Graveyard! We have to get there!" Vergo was ready to rush into the air, yet Kars interrupted him.
"Not so fast. You need to recover, and frankly, it is rather disrespectful to appear on the day of your sister's salvation dressed as a common vagrant." Kars pointed out his physical state.
"Oh." Vergo intelligently responded.
"Heal."
MAGIC CIRCLE!
SHINE...!
Utilizing a mid-tier healing spell, a green light shined below Vergo's feet in the form of a magic circle before his body was miraculously restored to the peak of its capabilities.
"Now for your clothes... Or rather lack thereof." The alien snorted.
"That snort came from the bloke who used to wear nothing but a bloody loincloth." Vergo did not let that gesture slide, pointing his finger with a raised brow and a half-smile accompanied by half-lidded eyes.
"And as you can see, I'm a changed lifeform." Flaunting his suit, he twirled on his feet before facing the CPU Candidate of Leanbox. "You just need to change in general." He retorted.
"Fine. But pray tell, how am I going to get in any clothes store looking like this? No one shops for shoes barefoot." Wiggling his toes that poked through his shoes, he pointed all five fingers at his metatarsals.
"Very well, the only place you can seek refuge for your clothes would be the Basilicom. Not like you have any Credits left over from your time jump." Kars rolled his eyes, taking heed to the deity's point.
MAGIC CIRCLE!
The two warriors were encompassed by a large magic circle once again, with Kars focusing his SP into the outlet.
"Greater Teleportation."
TELEPORT!
And with that, the two were gone in a flash.
TELEPORT!
As soon as they left, they appeared before the Basilicom, in the front courtyard.
Stepping out, the ragged CPU Candidate
The western architecture, the fountain in the courtyard, the shrubs, and even the unburnt grass made the scene all too nostalgic for the blonde time traveler.
"Hey, who let this hobo at the door?" A stern voice yelled.
"Ghk!" Guttered the green share deity.
Vergo flinched as comic saucers replaced his eyes, and his teeth grit in shock.
The guards were different in this timeline, not to mention that they were trying to keep him out rather than in the Basilicom.
Kars stayed put, yet he tilted his fedora to observe how Vergo would handle the situation while being far enough away to not be associated in case he choked.
"Get out of here, ya bum!" Another guard shouted. Two of them were situated by the front door, and neither of them seemed very keen on letting the CPU Candidate in.
A tick mark formed on the blonde deity's forehead.
'It's not like I chose to look like a vagrant, you-' He paused his train of thought.
They were still citizens of Leanbox, and they were doing their job. After what he went through in Kars' pocket dimension, it'd be very hypocritical to lash out at them.
A deep breath later, he walked up to the two guards.
"Salutations, hard-working guards. I apologize for the unsightly garments I adorn myself with, yet I have but one request of you." A sophisticated sentence escaped the man's throat.
This manner of speech took the guards aback, yet they didn't loosen up.
"...Are you some kind of beggar? You have a nice way of speaking, so go to the town square if you want people to throw you some Credits." The right guard suggested.
An eye twich from Vergo.
"Pfff." And some held back laughter from Kars.
"No, I want to get inside the Basilicom."
"... I think my friend pointed you in the wrong direction, the mental institution is on the other side of town." The right guard went to the length of pointing in the direction of the madhouse.
Another deep breath from Vergo.
"Look, you two. I need to get inside, so just let me pass and go back to the regular shift." The time traveler tried his hardest to be cordial.
"When that day comes, there'll be a male CPU." The left guard had little idea of how he tempted fate.
"And he'll be the CPU Candidate of Leanbox!" The right guard laughed before both security members guffawed at the prospect.
Vergo pinched the bridge of his nose, before shaking his head.
"Very well. If my citizens ask of me, ye shall receive." Vergo relinquished any decorum he'd maintain by attempting diplomacy.
It was time for some flexing.
FLOAT...!
Slowly ascending, the guards' laughter quickly ceased as their eyes widened. Smiles fell as the god ascended, his shadow becoming fainter and fainter from the ground.
"Behold a miraculous sight, my doubtful guards for I will allow you to experience the majesty of a CPU Candidate." Placing his arms by his sides and forearms parallel to the ground, he closed his eyes.
"Access..." He breathed, his voice soothing like a spring breeze.
PILLAR!
TRANSFORM!
A bright pillar of light with digital numbers shot up from in front of the Basilicom, causing the mouths of the guards to hit the ground with their weapons following suit from the shock.
GLOW!...
Letting the share energy cling to his body, he descended before landing gracefully.
DISSIPATE...!
The particles of light subsided, revealing a Future Heart in tatters.
Nevertheless a CPU.
...THUD!
The left guard fainted from the supernatural event.
"You... You... You... You..." The right guard, while conscious was not coherent enough to continue his sentence past the first line.
"Perhaps I... overdid it with the showboating." Future Heart sweat dropped.
"No, no. You did exactly what needed to be done. Now go and get changed, for we have 'big fish to fry' as your people phrase it." The Ultimate Life Form corrected, before doing a shoo gesture.
Moving ahead, the CPU Candidate opened the door, before entering the Basilicom entrance.
"H-Huh?" A doorwoman sputtered at the mobile marble statue of a man passing through.
"Ooh, that AC feels nice~." The Leanboxian CPU Candidate sighed.
"W-Who are you?!" A woman asked, the receptionist of the visitor section of the Basilicom.
Several murmurs could be heard by many Basilicom staff, wary of who was the newcomer that looked eerily like their goddess, yet so different.
"I... I am Leanbox's CPU Candidate. My name is Green Brother." He forced the epithet out of his mouth, still uncomfortable with using a title that was lost in the previous timeline, yet he already transformed so there was no reason to withhold it.
"Green... Brother?"
"Lady Vert doesn't have a sibling, let alone a brother!-"
"But she's been gone for so long..."
"Even so... He looks like a CPU, so could he really be lying?"
Confliction and doubt seeped into the staff, unsure of what to make of the situation at hand.
Future Heart gained a frown, having to see his people in confusion over their goddess and being justifiably cautious of his existence. He needed to get their favor quickly if he wanted to help the others.
"I am already linked with the Sharicite. Chika Hakozaki already knows of my existence and several members of the RRoD can confirm my status as the CPU Candidate." The time traveler listed some credentials.
"Name those operatives so that we can confirm your authenticity." The receptionist requested, a stern yet wary look dominated her face.
"Cave, Taleia, Mister Chief, Avery, Betty. Not to mention Moru, Poona, and Lady Wac; the Commanders." He listed several associates.
"... I-I'm going to make some calls. Have security monitor him until I get answers." The receptionist stuttered, not expecting the CPU before her to rattle off so many names of notable operatives.
Several Basilicom guards surrounded Future Heart, who did a quick headcount on the summoned personnel.
"It's a pleasure to know my sister has such hardworking guards." He complimented, flashing a small yet genuine smile at the work ethic of his citizens.
This got some eyebrow raises from the guards, as they were there to make sure he didn't do anything suspicious yet were praised for it.
"Please do hurry up. I don't have much time and Green Heart is in danger."
...?!
He told them, causing the people in the room to turn to him with fright.
"Lady Green Heart is in danger?!" The receptionist paled.
"Yes, now please contact one of them!" The CPU Candidate urged the lady. "And also a change of clothes would be nice."
REVERT!
Vergo appeared after the deactivation of HDD in his clothes' dilapidated state.
Several gasps echoed around the hall.
"His human form even resembles her! Quick call someone!" One of the maids shouted.
"It's ringing...!" The receptionist hurriedly responded.
...
...
...
"Out of all the clothes in the staff storage, this was the best?" Vergo checked his drip in the mirror situated in a guest room.
It was a premier butler's outfit, consisting of black trousers, a dark six-buttoned double-breasted tailcoat, and a gray undervest with white shirt cuffs and a forest green pratt knot tie brandishing the Leanboxian crest in small repeating patterns.
He also sported spotless white gloves, with Kars' pocket watch becoming a fob watch variant resting within the jacket's pocket. Even some shined derby dress shoes adorned his feet.
The maids explained that it was worn by the head butler in that one anime that Vert binged.
She just so happened to have one that fit him, although she complained that it was a tad big for the character. Then again, it fit Vergo nicely if he did say so himself.
"Kur*hitsuji, eh? Not bad, Vert."
KNOCK-KNOCK!
Pulling on the mouth of one of his gloves, someone knocked.
"Who's there?" The newly accepted CPU Candidate inquired.
"It's Cave." The redheaded specialist responded.
"Come inside, I'm already finished." Vergo gave her the necessary permission to enter the premises.
The RRoD operative entered before her neutral expression slightly shifted to that of discreet surprise at the change in Vergo's appearance.
"When Taleia told me you were the CPU Candidate, I'm beginning to see what she meant." An equally discreet compliment was given to the time traveler.
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment. But thanks for sticking up for me when they called you in, Cave. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day for someone like me." Vergo told the soldier.
"Nonsense. You are the CPU Candidate, Lord Vergo." Cave did not think of the matter as quaint while adding a playful tone to the time traveler's name.
"Besides, you have already cemented yourself as Leanbox's savior alongside its future ruler." She continued, bringing up the DIO incident.
"You're right." The blonde CPU Candidate nodded. "I just don't want the public being blindsided by this news before Vert herself is aware and accepting." He told the redhead.
"Do not fret. Even the Basilicom staff know better than to leak such groundbreaking information without Chika and Vert present. Leave the matter to Yvoire to keep it in Leanbox's best interest." The RRoD member assured him.
Just as finished, the Archbishop walked into the room.
"Your cloak, sire." He handed the CPU Candidate a dark cape.
Donning the garment, he hoisted the hood over his head as the garment fell to his calves.
"Many thanks, Yvoire." Vergo told the elderly man. "I'd rather not appear in the butler getup immediately..." The CPU Candidate blushed beneath his hood.
Cave noticed this and acted accordingly.
"Do not fret. You look quite handsome under that cloak of yours, Lord Vergo." Cave was now the third person to compliment him.
And the other two weren't even real!
"Please, now you're just blowing smoke up my arse." Even redder, the blonde CPU Candidate became bashful as he hid his face with his hand.
"Enough pleasantries. Your sister is in peril, my lord." The aged Archbishop steadied the embarrassed deity.
Quickly shaking the flushed expression off his face, the time traveler reaffirmed his priorities.
"Right." Vergo left the scene with the following the CPU Candidate as he left the guest room.
Several murmurs among the maids and janitors could be heard as he walked out.
"That's Lord Vergo!"
"He's really tall, isn't he..."
"Must be a Leanbox CPU thing."
"I wonder if he's free later?"
"I can't believe that Nepchan shitpost is legit!-"
Despite the gossipy nature of the Basilicom's personnel, he still felt something radiating from within as their words of recognition and interest circulated within him.
It was faint, yet the staff members' awe, reverence, and belief that he could bring back their CPU gave him a taste of what natural share energy was for the first time in what felt like an age ago.
Even under his hood, he couldn't help but smile at the sensation of appreciation.
Reaching outside, he saw Kars waiting for him next to the two incapacitated guards.
"What is the meaning of this!?" A shocked look flashed across the Archbishop's face.
"Nothing important enough to tell you, geezer." The Ultimate Life Form replied to the offended elder.
"Aren't you like a million million million years old?" The CPU Candidate rose a brow.
"Erm, ackshually- I'm closer to a million million million MILLON years old. Minus another sixty-eight sextillion." Kars snidely corrected.
"Just get the teleportation spell ready, ya cheeky bastard." Cracking his neck, he made his way to the alien.
"I bid you farewell and good luck, Lord Vergo." Cave waved.
"Just call me Vergo, lass. The lord epithet feels too formal for a relationship like ours." He sheepishly smiled.
"Are we just going to leave our guards here?!" Yvoire was still at a loss of words, only more agitated by Kars' nonchalance.
"That's just not my problem~"
MAGIC CIRCLE!
SHINE!...
The pillarman sang before a magic circle appeared underneath them.
"Hey, don't you leave!-" Yvoire yelled, the Archbishop still angry at the state of his employees.
TELEPORT!
A/N:
Welcome back, readers!
I'm happy to say the Vergo side arc has finally come to a close.
The next time you see this bloke, he'll definitely be relevant (I promise.)
The only question is, will the others survive long enough to see his utility?
Find out in the coming chapters of ON:IM!
Read and Review!
Arrivederci.