All rights are reserved to their respective owners. I own nothing in this piece of fiction except my FCs and the story itself.
"Get ready for round two, ya bastard."
Vergo's irises gained a slight red glow from the quarter that illuminated the colors of the deathly ring.
"V-Vergo?..." A certain green-haired self-proclaimed sister of Vert meekly spoke.
Before he thought about charging the VPU, the time traveler twisted to the location where he last heard his Oracle.
Chika's expression was that of surprise, witnessing the once feeble and shut-in CPU Candidate managing to push back such an overwhelming threat with enough force to cause him to tumble.
Vert, on the other hand, managed to come through with one eye wincing. Yet she was able to witness the moment that Vergo sent Citadel back.
Moving to them, the green-haired CPU Candidate stayed close to his precious people if something ended up happening to them.
"Are you two ok?" Vergo queried, looking at them with his altered irises.
"Your eyes...! What happened to them?!" Chika asked frantically, pointing at the blonde's face as she did so.
"My eyes...?" The CPU Candidate of Leanbox raised a brow at the perspicacious observation.
"Yes, Vergo. You've seemed to have gained a red arc on both of them." Sitting up, Green Heart pointed it out to her brother.
That description made a pang within the time traveler's mind.
It meant that he had finally unlocked the first stage of the Red Ring of Death.
It also explained why he felt as if someone had squeezed lemon juice into his eyes when he was pinned earlier.
"It's happening..." He muttered to himself, before extending his hand to pull the nearest glass shard to him with his wind.
Looking at his reflection, he saw it for himself.
The eerie gaze that the glowing red arcs within his irises gave him made it appear as if something was intrinsically wrong for him to end up in such a state.
It was one of the reasons why the Leanboxian CPU before Vert had sealed the technique before she was created, as Kars explained prior.
"It appears gouging out your eyes will be added to the list of war crimes."
TOSS!
Upon hearing Citadel's voice, almost on instinct, Vergo threw the glass shard at the dastardly harbinger of destruction.
SNATCH!
Yet with millennia upon millennia under his belt, Vergo might as well have thrown a wad of gum at the VPU.
"Where did you learn something like that? Not even your pathetic excuse for a sister could muster a trick of that nature." Disgruntled and impatient, the elder deity pressed for an answer.
"Like I'd ever tell you." Snarled the CPU Candidate. "And don't you dare talk shit about Vert!" His voice raised with bubbling fury.
"Then come. Show me what a CPU Candidate can do!" Citadel motioned with a come-hither, before smiling darkly.
SHINE...!
Green radiated from the time traveler's body, his aura becoming condensed around his frame before slowly emanating from his figure.
BLAST!
The battle resumed with a large blast of share energy that spiraled to the spot that the tall VPU stood upon, which didn't move an inch despite the fast-approaching attack.
SWERVE!
"Hm?" Citadel looked to the direction the blast turned at the last moment, not quite expecting it to veer off to the left instead of a head-on collision.
SWING!-
"What?!"
Vergo had managed to silence his movement by creating a vacuum around his entire body before inverting the effect to his lance, creating a gust of wind to push it to his target.
Which happened to be Citadel's head.
DUCK!
Said target lowered his noggin to narrowly dodge an attack that would have otherwise knocked him back.
GRAB!
"Ngh!-"
SWING!-
He then held Vergo by the foot before swinging him into the nearest wall, an audible gutter arising out of the grabbed deity.
CRASH!
Which was smashed to pieces when the god's body crashed into it.
WHISK!
...GLOW!
Taking out his pen, Citadel drew a straight horizontal line in front of him, before it glowed a bright, eerie red.
SLICE!
This caused all the buildings in the block to be severed with dust and debris shooting out from the point of separation.
"T-Tch!" The CPU Candidate of Leanbox grunted in shock, his face sweating from the tension.
Future Heart barely evaded the lethal attack by staying down just a tad bit longer than he should've, which ended up working in his favor by the fact the ceiling moved further and further from him.
Kipping up, the green-haired CPU Candidate made it back onto his feet.
"Oh, you survived." Citadel sighed. "This will be fun." A wicked grin spread on the face of Future Heart's opponent.
"Don't get too cocky!"
VANISH!...
Vergo shouted before he disappeared with his colors blurring out of existence.
"Like you're in any position to tell me that."
PHASE!...
Rolling his eyes, the experienced VPU soon followed suit with the blitzing speeds that the CPU Candidate decided to adopt.
...WHOOOOSH!
The streets quickly increased in speed, becoming melting colors with buildings flickering in and out of existence whisking by.
CLING-CLANG-CLANG!
Within this rapid velocity, Citadel and Future Heart swung their respective weapons with flying sparks and repetitive clashes that signified a tussling struggle.
STAB! STAB! STAB!
STAB! STAB! STAB!
STAB! STAB! STAB!
Thrusting his lance consecutively, the bloke only managed to strike the air with the sounds of agitation as Citadel casually bobbed out of the way of each attempt at his health.
"My turn."
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
Future Heart sporadically swung his lance in a manner to block the strikes, feeling his weapon dent and fold under the pressure of such precise yet powerful strikes that were sent from the VPU adversary.
KICK!
The Leanboxian CPU Candidate took advantage of the unguarded lower portion of Citadel's body while simultaneously utilizing his own noticeable height difference to target the VPU's knee.
SKID!-
ELBOW!
This caused him to flinch and scrape the side of his lance instead of denting it, which gave the time traveler the perfect opportunity to smash his elbow into the overconfident god's face with his free hand.
THWACK!
"Argh!"
And smacking the ribs of the VPU with the side of his lance, an audible thud from the impact.
"Apex Torrent!"
SHINE...!
Gathering a mix of KI and share energy, Future Heart concentrated the combination of esoteric energies into his hand before shoving it into Citadel's face whilst he was hit-stunned.
KA-BOOM!
Sending him vertically spiraling into the road from a bright green explosion detonating right in the kisser.
E-E-E-E-EXPLOSIONS!
Citadel's body sprawled across the road, crashing into multiple cars that also exploded upon impact which only added to the damage he received.
STOMP!-
RUSH!...
Dropping from the air, Future Heart took to the ground as he sprinted ahead to meet his opponent.
VOOM!
Citadel's pen shot to his location from the distance, Vergo only noticing the object a couple of inches from his face.
GASH!
Lurching his head to the side, it left a deep gash from the wound it gave him with blood immediately trailing from the line left across his face.
CLUTCH!-
Yet what the time traveler didn't expect was for Citadel to appear not even in moments, but rather instantly appearing behind him to catch his own pen.
STAB!
"Ghk!"
Before swinging his hand in an arch to drive the ball-point into the side of Future Heart's head in one swift motion, effectively killing him without as much as a peep.
BEEP!
Returning to his sixth life, Future Heart snarled at being caught off guard in such a simplistic manner before taking a detour from the straight path.
HOP!-
DASH!
He was placed in the state of running on the road but decided to leap onto the side of the buildings to his left and dash across the perpendicular surface.
VOOM-
CATCH!
The pen made its way back to the green-haired deity in an attempt to nail him in the head, yet with preparation on his side, the former Green Brother grabbed the pen by its shaft.
SWIVEL!
"How the-"
Citadel soundlessly appeared from behind to grab his pen to assassinate Future Heart, yet what he didn't expect was the godling to be waiting for him, with his own weapon no less.
STAB!
CLICK!-
"Why you!" His jugular was punctured by the vengeful deity via turning around and using the motion to counter-stab his neck, Future Heart clicking the pen point to drive it home that he carried nothing but disdain for his kind.
PULL-
KICK!
Yanking the pen to his body, the maneuver gave the CPU Candidate the perfect opening to drive the sole of his foot into the sternum of the VPU.
THOOM!
Kicking off the side of a balcony, Future Heart matched the speed with which he sent Citadel flying before posing his lance for a chain attack.
By that time, however, Citadel ripped out the pen from his neck with visible irritation before slightly floating off of the wall while making sure his feet were parallel to the walls maintaining his speed.
SCRIBBLE!...
Quickly drawing two machine guns, the glowing lines solidified into high-tech weaponry.
"HEAVY MACHINE GUN!" Referencing a certain metallic mollusk, Citadel smiled as the barrels rolled quickly.
GRATATATATATATATATATATATATA-
GRATATATATATATATATATATATATA-
Fear energy bullets barraged from the muzzles of the machineguns, heading to Future Heart's position
SHATTER!
Shoulder bashing into the window below him, the time traveler avoided the first onslaught of bullets with quick thinking.
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
"Shite!"
WHOOSH!...
Yet had to repeatedly bulldoze through several walls to keep his velocity. This was quickly mitigated by a wind barrier that tanked the process for him.
GRATATATATATATATATATATATATA-
The bullets unified into a single stream that was shot from behind the flying CPU Candidate, piercing through the walls and destroying everything behind him as brick and plaster were ripped to nothingness.
GLOW...!
Focusing his shares into his processors, he prepared himself for a boost in speed to pull off something that would effectively save his hide.
ZOOM!
The sudden acceleration expanded his field of vision briefly before his body adjusted to the increase in agility.
Waiting until he was right next to Citadel from the views he'd briefly seen from the windows, Future Heart decided to make his move.
SMASH!
Crashing through the brick walls, the CPU Candidate burst through with his lance twirling with energy.
"Stormy Ratnapura!"
STAB-STAB-STAB-STAB!-
Commencing his flanking assault, Future Heart used the air around his lance to propel his attack alongside his divine strength.
...!
Yet instead of drawing blood, or at least shredding fabric, Citadel's body simply acted as if it had no boundary of resistance for Vergo to pierce.
WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH!
"How! How are you- !?"
BLUR...!
'No way! An afterimage!' The green-haired deity mentally shit himself.
The VPU's figure began to shudder before defocusing, revealing itself to be an afterimage of such speed that it mimicked someone moving completely still until it was attacked.
WHIZZ!
His wind alerted him of an incoming attack, and as his purple and red eyes shifted, they spotted the side of a dress shoe locking in on the CPU Candidate's face.
CHING!-
POW!
SHOCKWAVE!
The force that Future Heart sustained was powerful enough to create a vertical shockwave that expanded several stories in the air with a deafening roar due to the impact.
ZOOM!
The time traveler's eyes whitened out from the utter brutality of the blow, despite the side of his face that was struck being covered in Armament Haki right before he was hit.
OBLITERATE!-
OBLITERATE!-
OBLITERATE!...
The body of Future Heart collided with several buildings, destroying them completely in the process as he tumbled from the breakneck momentum.
Elsewhere, Green Heart had regained enough stamina to stand, although visibly more banged up than previously.
"I think I've recovered enough stamina to reenter the battle..." Green Heart stood on her own two feet, twirling her spear.
"I'm glad you're alright." Chika smiled. "But we have to defeat this guy somehow! It feels like we're fighting brick a wall sometimes." The Oracle of Leanbox let out a tired breath.
"Not to mention that he's killed most of Leanbox's population, dramatically decreasing my shares." The CPU noted. "Those scoundrels are truly the worst." The Leanboxian CPU frowned.
"And your brother might be next on that list." Standing next to them, Citadel had a smug look on his very punchable face at the moment.
"You...!" Chika held her spear, her grip shaking in a mixture of anger and fear from just who was standing before her.
"Wait for it." Raising a finger of interruption, the VPU held it there fo a few seconds before putting it down.
OBLITERATE!...
OBLITERATE!
OBLITERATE!-
"GWAH!"
SKID...!
Future Heart destroyed a couple of more buildings before tumbling to a stop, next to the VPU, CPU, and Oracle.
"Vergo!" Both ladies screamed at the image of the floored CPU Candidate.
Properly messed up now, the time traveler received many scratches and bruises from the buildings, not to mention a nasty mark given to him on the face.
"And that was payback for my face, you green piece of shit." Citadel spat, indignace on his face.
Getting on a knee, he placed a fist on the ground to balance his fatigued body. The injuries and lack of energy started to cancel out the surge he felt from RRoD's first amp.
STEP-
STOMP!
Before he could get up, he felt a heel touch the back of his skull before his head buried itself into the ground, stone and concrete flying into the air.
Chika and Green Heart audibly gasped, before growing extremely agitated looks on their faces.
"Get away from him!"
RUSH!
the CPU of Leanbox charged ahead.
"You won't get away with this!"
DASH!
The Oracle of Leanbox threatened.
"No I won't, and yes I will." Citadel pointed as he answered each respective question before equipping his pen.
PARRY!
"Guh!"
Spinning his pen within his fingers, the rotation managed to send the CPU stumbling to the right.
SLAP!-
SMACK!
"Ack!"
And for the next aggressor, Citadel smacked the flat side of the blade to let momentum swing Chika toward him before smacking her in the face with his other hand while switching his pen hand.
"Stop... It...!" Pushing his head from the ground, the CPU Candidate of Leanbox jarred back and forth wrestling against the pressure of the VPU's foot.
"Still have enough strength to resist, hm? Then this will surely crush that spirit of yours." Looking down at the pathetic state of Future Heart, Citadel turned back to the two ladies who he had deflected.
Green Heart went in with a series of targeted spear strikes, first going for his temple.
WHIFF!-
WHOOSH!-
WHIFF!-
Which was effortlessly avoided. Next was his shoulder as she quickly pulled back and trusted ahead at his right-
WHOOSH!-
WHIFF!-
WHOOSH!-
That bore no fruit after that was directly for his heart, a bold move by the CPU of Leanbox against someone like him.
GUST!-
WHISH!-
WHOOSH!-
Yet she could only draw wind instead of blood when it came to landing a hit on the fearsome VPU. Her depleted shares and his advantage in stats weren't more clear as she tried to hit him.
"Leanbox is a formidable nation, they said," Citadel recalled the claims he had heard of the pride and passion of the patron CPUs present.
WHOOSH!
Another dodge.
"Leanbox has one of the best naval and ground forces, they said!"
GRAB!
Not even bothering to face Chika, he not only predicted where the spear would pierce but grabbed it out of the air, a faint gasp being heard in the background from the Oracle.
"Leanbox had a competent Oracle, they said." A dark glare accompanied by a glower in Chika's direction made her pause in shock.
"CHIKA, GET OUT OF HERE!" Future Heart, remembering his earlier tone, realized that the VPU was planning to do something truly despicable.
YANK!-
SWING! SWING! SWING!
Ripping the spear out of her hand, Citadel twirled it around in his hand.
"Not if I have anything to say about it!-" Green Heart shouted, preparing to utilize an EXE Drive.
"BEGONE, THOT!"
CLICK!-
-SLAM!
Yet Citadel interrupted the entire execution with the button of his pen, pressing it against the CPU's forehead not unlike a professional boxer's heavy jab.
Future Heart could only watch in horror at th sight of his precious people being overpowered by the nonchalant VPU.
PIERCE!...
Worst of all, Chika's spear shot through her own chest at Citadel's discretion with the crimson liquid spurting from the grievous wound she sustained.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
A bloodcurdling scream escaped from the CPU Candidate's lips, his heart breaking at the sight he was forced to endure.
"G-Ghk... I... I..." Chika's speech was greatly impaired, with the blood starting to fill her lungs from the wound's location on her body.
Her eyes were white from the shock and pain of receiving such a painful injury that was very much fatal.
"Ms. Hakozaki, it's been a pleasure."
STAB!-
Citadel pushed the weapon further into her torso, causing the Oracle to lurch forward from thre sudden movement.
"But you've officially been... retired."
SCRIBBLE...!
Writing the words 'DIE' on the forehead of the Oracle of Leanbox, the elder VPU twisted his pean between his fingers in a gesture of handiwork before the unforgivable occurred.
KA-BOOM!-
SPLATTER!
Chika Hakozaki exploded into a million bloody pieces, forevermore meeting her gruesome end.
"..." It was surreal to Future Heart although having been victim to an attack like that himself. He'd never expect watching someone else, especially his Oracle subjected to it to feel so mortifying.
Her blood splattered onto the two deities nearby, Future Heart and Citadel becoming drenched in the red substance to the former's abhorrent shock and the latter's meager dismay.
Green Heart recovered from the attack, only to no longer see her precious Oracle.
"Chika?..." She looked around frantically, searching for the green-haired advisor, yet her body was nowhere to be found.
"What have you done..." The time traveler meekly asked, feeling nauseous at the blood of his Oracle splattered all over his body.
"My job. The real question you should be asking is why couldn't you save her?" the tone of a taunt was masterfully laced in between his lines whilst addressing the godling.
"Where is she?!" Green Heart screeched before looking at the VPU with ire, which soon fell like a stone upon seeing the blood that covered him.
CLATTER...!
Citadel picked up and threw the Oracle of Leanbox's spear on the ground in front of the CPU of Leanbox, her eyes shrinking from the morbid implications being confirmed.
"You tell me." He sniggered.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU GET AWAY WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
ZOOM!
This was enough to set the goddess off as she bull-rushed the VPU, falling into his hands all too easily.
KICK!
BLOCK!-
Citadel moved the foot he had on Future Heart to resist the initial surge of wrath that fueled Green Heart, sending a donkey kick to her.
She managed to block, yet felt her entire body shudder from the impact.
"Chika...!" Freed from the oppressing foot of the VPU, the CPU Candidate felt his own feelings burn inside of his heart.
"I let you die... How could I...!?"
The sounds of battle began to tune themselves out as the stinging pain returned to his irises, even more intense than what he previously encountered.
"URAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
TWISTER...!
The air around the CPU Candidate violently swirled around the deity to the point that he was surrounded by a grey twister of wind.
It proved to amplify the sound of his voice, pushing Citadel off balance for the event transpiring behind him as Green Heart lowered her spear momentarily.
"WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
RUMBLE...!
RUMBLE...!
Earthshaking strength and spilling emotions radiated from within the twister, before a bright red light peeked through the twister in cracks of beams.
SHINE!
Blinding red light expanded from within before the twister dispelled in a large gust.
Within Future Heart's eyes were another red arc, on the bottom left side of each side, creating a semi-circular ring.
His energy now flared, increasing by another magnitude from what he could estimate in his invigorated state.
The time traveler's green aura was now a faint constant, the slim aura constantly circulating his body.
"Let's kick his arse, Vert!" Future Heart screamed, before summoning his lance in his hand.
"This song and dance? Don't you two know that it will end the same every time?" Folding his arms, the VPU rolled his eyes.
"Not after we run our weapons through your repugnant coil!" Green Heart aimed her spear.
"... I'll humor you two. I'll only use my legs." He folded his hands behind his back, before darkly grinning at the handicap he placed upon himself.
"That'll be the biggest mistake of your life!"
APPROACH...!
Both CPUs shouted before pinching him, rushing ahead with their processors glowing with power.
"Why don't you prove it!" Goading them with an obnoxious shout, the VPU stood there with his breathing distance between his sides quickly closing.
JUMP!-
SPLIT KICK!
Yet he counted on it, jumping into the air before using his pen as a platform to push himself off of with one hand while hitting the splits to repurpose as a double kick.
BLOCK!-
DODGE!
Green Heart yet again raised her spear to absorb the attack's kinetic force into her spear, whilst Future Heart outright twisted on his heel to spin out of its path.
"RAH!"
SHOCKWAVE!
A Hellish Holler escaped the time traveler's lips, sending the VPU flying a short distance away before he regained his bearing.
APPEAR!-
"!"
Citadel twisted around after his godling adversary pulled off the feat of appearing behind him from a display of increased velocity.
"Stormy Ratnapura!"
STABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTABSTAB!
Future Heart's thrusts with his lance were rapid to the point that it appeared that he possessed hundreds of lances in one hand, all shoved in the direction of the elder harbinger of destruction.
BLEED!
Even someone like Citadel couldn't mask his surprise, and more so leave unscathed with his body being inflicted with numerous scrapes and stabs that caused the deity to have his blood shed an unnumbered amount of times.
"Ignition Incision!"
FWOOSH!
Using his lance as opposed to his fingers, the CPU Candidate let his flames spiral around his lance before aiming for the chest of his target.
TOSS!-
INFERNO!
Sacrificing his blazer, the VPU took it off and threw it in one smooth motion right before the garment was consumed by a spinning torrent of flame.
Citadel snarled at the CPU Candidate forcing him to resort to a measure such as that, yet his face morphed to alertness as Green Heart was upon him.
She used the skirmish between her brother to pince the VPU undetected, before executing an attack of her own.
"Rainy Ratnapura!"
THRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUSTTHRUST!
The CPU of Leanbox unloaded her assault of consecutive spear thrusts, the attack resembling dozens upon dozens of spears being sent Citadel's way, this time from the other side.
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!- DEFLECT!-
Using his pen, his hand materialized into lines of speed, sparks flying with the strikes of Green Heart tediously blocked, signs of effort beginning to show on the VPU's face.
"Whirlwind Zephyr!"
SWIRL!
A shout from behind made the malignant deity turn around just in time to witness Future Heart beelining to him with his lance covered in a spiral of winds.
VANISH!
Instantaneously moving out of the way, the VPU evaded the attack while simultaneously forcing Future Heart to cease his SP Skill lest he run his lance through his sister.
Green Heart's eyes darted around to locate the non-existing VPU before her eyes widened upon tracking his location.
"Behind you!" The CPU of Leanbox yelled to her unaware brother.
That soon changed, with Future Heart's state adapting to the sudden shift in battle, with his eyes narrowing to entail a visual cue of that intuition.
SLAM!
A merciless heel kick to the back of Vergo's head let out a sickening crack.
Green Heart could only gasp in horror at the implications of such a disturbing sound, figuring that her brother's skull had been split open like a watermelon.
CHING!...
Yet instead of blood or screams, the shrill ping of Armament permeated the air.
"Nice try, dickhead." A growl escaped Future Heart's throat before his hair completely faded to black, the color of his transformed green morphing to a rigid onyx.
His Observation allowed him to sense the incoming strike, permitting the time traveler to come up with the crafty countermeasure in th wheat of the moment.
"You should also mind your heel, what should've been my occipital is now your calcaneus." A grin slowly formed on the lips of the CPU Candidate before twisting around.
GRAB!
And grabbing ahold of the compromised leg of the VPU, to Citadel's silent shock.
"NOW, VERT!"
TOSS!
Swinging him around three times over, the CPU Candidate of Leanbox let go of the taken-aback VPU, sending him to his prepared sister.
"Kinestra Slash!"
SLICE...!
SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!
SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!
SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!
SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!
SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!
SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!
Green Heart executed one of her stronger SP Skills, causing a blitzing storm of slashes to erupt from within the destroyer deity as blood finally started to be shed properly from the once unstoppable force.
"Aero!"
WHOOSH!
Flying above the flinched VPU, Future Heart stuck out his hand before shouting out his spell, sending a powerful blast of wind pressure to punt his divine opponent to the ground.
CRASH!-
CROSS!
Recoiling from the ground, Citadel received a hook from the blue, courtesy of the CPU Candidate of Leanbox who capitalized on the still disoriented state of the enemy VPU.
"Aero: Fulgur!"
BZZZT!
THRUST!-
BOOM!...
Coating his lance in electricity, he ran the weapon through Citadel's side, the ground around the lance tip exploding from the subsequent pressure that was released upon the attack's landing.
"Ghk!-"
"Limelight!"
THUNDER BLAST!
Quickly gathering KI and share energy, Future Heart shoved his hand forward before a gargantuan beam of green energy shot out of his palm, dark green static dancing around it as the VPU was devoured by the sheer destructive might of the skill.
EXPLOSION!-
Because the density of the formal VPU's body was so prevalent, instead of being carried away as most would from an attack of that magnitude, the Limelight exploded upon contact with a fierce, defeating roar.
ZOOM!...
...ZOOM!
Reaching within the smoke clouds with blinding speed, Future Heart channeled more shares into his spear with the purple and green swirls of the lance spinning, glowing with power.
Finding where Citadel himself corkscrewed in the air from the attack's knockback, his target was soon locked.
"Cyclonic Breakthrough!"
PIERCE!
SCATTER!-
SWIRL!...
"GAK!"
Once again impaled by the time traveler's lance, it scattered all the smoke and dust that shrouded the area before creating a large gust of wind from the pressure of Future Heart's lance that surrounded the two.
KICK!
"Aeroaga Superiorem!"
SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-
SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-
SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-SLICE!-BLAST!-SLASH!-CRASH!-
"GAAAAARGH!"
Using his foot to stave the VPU off of his lance, the CPU Candidate pointed his spear directly in front of him before releasing a danmaku of wind blades and spells from the tip of his lance, the blood of the harbinger flying into the air as hundreds of spells collided with the VPU.
Stuck in a combo chain of attacks and skills, infuriation permanently marred the now steady-minded Citadel, unable to independently move due to the situation he found himself in.
FLAMING FIST!-
CHING!...
BAM!
Rushing ahead, Future Heart coated itself in black with the effect extending to his lance as he used his weapon arm to sock Cutadel in the chest with a black flaming fist.
TWIRL!
CLENCH...!
Twirling his lance to aim his fist ahead with that same hand, the CPU Candidate of Leanbox's arm soon shouted whilst placing his other arm on his bicep.
"Are you okay?" The raven-haired CPU Candidate shouted, letting confusion momentarily flash across the VPU's face.
"Filibuster Wolf!"
FWOOSH!-
CRASH!...
A black surge of flames erupted from the time traveler's fist, creating an inferno of obsidian fire that quickly spread throughout the entire vicinity of the current street where the two battled.
In the aftermath, a large ring of black flames persisted, with the smoke rising from the mass of fires created by the hectic finale to Future Heart's relentless string of SP Skills.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..." Future Heart heaved, fatigue setting in already.
Holding his lance, the armament effect faded from his arm, revealing the burns that he sustained the last time he used such a move making a comeback.
"Again?... Looks like I'll have to deal with this at some point." The time traveler grew disgruntled at the sight of his wounded arm, a dull pain pulsating from it before he held his limb with his free hand.
...DROP...!
A raindrop splattered on the ground.
...DROP!...
...DROP! DROP! DROP!-
RAINFALL!
Soon, the skies let loose; a downpour of rain started to fall on the city of Leanbox.
DAMPEN...!
This weather phenomenon soon drenched the CPU Candidate, not bothering to use his forcefield, but instead letting the soothing warmth of the rain drench his beaten body.
"Did it rain like this... When I wasn't there to protect them?..." The CPU Candidate softly asked himself, thinking back to the destroyed ruins of Leanbox.
"Vergo?" Green Heart beckoned, as she descended next to her brother.
"What seems to be the matter? You were doing brilliantly, yet you paused." She noticed the indescribable look on his face, which prompted her to show some concern.
"I... Just had something on my mind, is all. Don't worry about me, sis." A small smile etched itself onto the black-haired time traveler.
"Very well." She smiled back at the CPU Candidate, a warm feeling in his chest that he had not felt for a long, long time making itself known.
"Very well, indeed."
"Bloody fucken' 'ell, do you die?!" Future Heart shouted, sick of his opponent somehow getting back up each time.
RUMBLE...!
COLLAPSE...!
The ground that the CPUs stood on started to become unstable, violently shaking with the buildings that somehow survived the battle cracking if structurally integral, and collapsing if not.
DARKEN!
The entire area suddenly drowned in a sea of black, consuming all light in its wake.
FADE...!
Before dissipating, the feeling of dread and horror rolled in waves from where Citadel was last seen after he had been blasted by Future Heart.
Walking from the rubble, the shirtless VPU's injuries were pronounced to the world, a multitude of cuts, scratches, and burns of various degrees and severity.
His remaining clothes fared no better. Torn and damaged by the onslaught of attacks from both CPUs, even his shoes lost their shine, marred beyond recognition.
Yet despite the damage he accumulated, he did not seem in pain by the slightest.
Rather...
GLOW...
His pupils temporarily sported black glowing upside-down power signals, before returning to his regular pupils within his red eyes.
"Countless worlds subjugated by our will, yet two sorry CPUs believe they can stand up to us!"
LIGHTNING!
Citadel shouted, something besides insufferable smug or cold dismissal prevalent in his voice. Lightning struck in the background to emphasize his point.
"Throughout this battle, you two have grown tedious to deal with. Not even your human companions were this irritating...!" He snarled, the anger spreading on his features.
"Not those soldiers, not Chika, not even S-Sha!" Citadel swatted his hands to the side, the rain drenching his body.
"S-Sha?!" Future Heart repeated. "You killed S-Sha?!" It sounded wrong to say, yet from the infuriating tone of the VPU's voice, it had to be true.
"She wasn't very interested in surviving, be it as it may." A small smile to make fun of the deceased woman before it turned back into a scowl.
"But no matter! Before these clouds clear, you two will be burning in hell!"
FEAR ENERGY!
WHOOSH!...
A pillar of fear energy erupted from the feet of Citadel, his energy skyrocketing with the professional demeanor finally shredding away, prepared to exert everything he had to ensure their painful demise.
A powerful gust of wind expanded from his aura, causing the CPUs to shield themselves from such a strong gust of wind.
"Let us begin."
SHRED!
Citadel's movements were destructive to the point that the ground beneath him melted from his raw agility, magma forming behind his body.
Grabbing both of the heads of the Leanbox CPUs, their purple eyes widened with hands suddenly digging their fingers into their faces before being dragged through the air.
SMASH!-
Burying their skulls into the Green Box several blocks away, both deities of the island nation blanked out from the extreme force exerted on their bodies as the VPU released his grip.
KICK!
KICK!
Rotating himself to face the CPUs, he stuck out his legs, striking both of them in the head with his feet as a double kick was executed in succession.
Crashing through the landmark, the two deities tumbled through the ground before stopping apart from each other with a stinging pain reverberating in their heads.
"G-Gah!"
Future Heart blinked several times before forcing himself up with his winds, shaking his head that was swimming in pain before staggering to his feet.
CRASH!...
Stabbing his lance into the ground, he felt the blood trickle down his forehead, the fingernail marks of the elder VPU piercing deep.
"He concussed me in one attack... Me and... VERT!"
SPRINT!-
Pushing himself off of the ground, he haphazardly sprinted to where he felt the terrifying presence of his hated adversary.
STAGGER!...
The fear energy that stemmed from his forehead wound was worse than he thought since the feeling of bleeding was all over his head with the weakening effects of fear energy to boot.
CLASP!
GLOW...!
Quickly using his share energy to cleanse the wound, he wiped the blood off of his forehead to prevent it from seeping into his eyes, complicating his already problematic state.
"Wait... It feels as if they're... No... Anywhere but there...!" Future Heart fretted, his pace increasing alongside his worry.
He made it closer and closer to the Basilicom until arriving right at the front, what used to be a beautiful garden reduced to a burning mess, barely dampened by the rain.
Standing there in the middle of the courtyard was a silent Citadel with Green Heart dangling, her head in the hand of the much taller VPU.
The scene before him paralyzed him in shock, the two not even noticing his arrival as they continued their conversation.
"You pitiful CPUs cling on to the scraps of hope, yet struggle for naught. Do you not understand your situation? Whether you like it or not, the VPUs always win in the end! For that is the cruel indifference of the universe personified!"
LIGHTNING!
THUNDER!
Raising her head to the heavens, almost taunting the world's natural order with this act, the VPU spoke with conviction and animosity while holding Green Heart's head.
"This will do you in."
BLAST!
Aiming his pen point over his shoulder, Citadel struck at the Basilicom by clicking his pen with a fine laser shooting out of the tip instantly.
KA-BOOM!
This caused the building to explode fiercely with flaming bricks, glass, and charred wood flying in all directions.
REVERT!...
THUD!
He then dropped the CPU, Vert crumpling to her knees with her spear stabbing itself into the ground beside her. after de-transforming on the spot.
The CPU of Leanbox's eyes was constricted with shock before she looked at her hands with confusion and disturbance.
"What did you do?!" She screeched looking back at the VPU with a twisted face of terror and shock.
"I blew up your Sharicite. The entity responsible for the source of your dwindling power is no more, Vert." The villainous VPU told the crumpled goddess.
"Even if it somehow managed to survive, the concentration of my fear energy will snuff it out right before you die. Either way, this is now your final hour, Lady Vert." Citadel smiled, knowing that his victory was all but certain.
"Now what will you do, knowing that your nation will fall into oblivion in mere moments? Hmhmhmhmhm... HAHAHAHAHAAAA!"
Vert grabbed her spear and tried to slash at the VPU, who started to laugh at her pitiful state.
ELBOW!
THUD!-
CLATTER...!
Before she was sent to the ground with a sickening elbow to the temple, her spear clattering to Vergo's feet with her body indenting itself in the floor.
The sound of the spear snapped the time traveler from his stupor and started to twitch uncontrollably.
"STOP! S-STOP, PLEASE!" In a twist, Future Heart dropped to his knees and begged the VPU to cease his action.
"Stop?..." Citadel was surprised by the shift of emotion, before looking down at the floored CPU, realizing that she had much more of an emotional significance to the CPU Candidate.
A wicked grin etched itself onto the VPU's face.
"STOP!? I DON'T THINK SO!" A maniacal expression came across Citadel's face.
CRACK!
"AHHHHHH!" A blood-curdling scream emitted from the blonde goddess as she felt the foot of her aggressor break a few bones, pushing her further into the ground.
"I BEG OF YOU, STOOOOOP!" Warmth gathered around the eyelids of the time traveler, unable to stomach such a scene.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
A shrill cry escaped Vert as more and more fractures were dealt upon her frail frame, the dark bruises being created with each broken bone.
"DAMN YOU!..." Tears flowed, the grinding teeth of Future Heart combined with frustrated sniffles painting a sorry sight compared to what he entered the simulation with.
CRACK!...
CRACK!...
CRACK!...
"AGHHHH!"
"Leave her be! I'll... I'll switch places! I'll do anything, JUST LEAVE HER ALONE!" Negotiating with terrorists was a new low the raven-haired CPU Candidate entered as he felt helpless in the situation he was in.
CRACK!...
CRACK!...
CRACK!...
"URK!"
"Why are you doing this? WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS!" Holding his lance handle, he used it as a prop, failing to muster the strength to kneel on his own legs.
CRACK!...
CRACK!...
CRACK!...
"NO MORE!..."
"...!" Closing his eyes, the pained screams of Vert bounced around his ears as he silently sobbed to himself, knowing deep down that he no longer possessed the spirit to press on.
"Why, you ask?"
BOOM!
"BLEGH!"
Citadel repeated his question, driving his foot into the CPU's stomach which forced her to eject lunch from her system.
"It's simple. What you're doing right now is why." He paused.
"W-What?" Future Heart sniffed.
"That despair you feel. The hopelessness, the bitterness. To see someone fight so hard to lose steam right at the very end, struggling to release tension in the face of an insurmountable wall- THAT is why we do what we do. The satisfaction of your remission from fighting back; the moment you accept your fate." Citadel broke it down as he broke Vert's bones.
"The realization that evil has won."
CLUTCH!
Grabbing his sister by the collar, Citadel pulled Vert up from the ground, her body battered and thrashed from his foot alone.
Bones stuck out from some places in her body, countless injuries marred her body with barely open eyes, the welcoming darkness only a few steps away from the CPU of Leanbox.
Her hair was frazzled and covered in dirt, the once regal clothes of Vert were torn and bloodied beyond recognition. Her blue eyes had grown glassy, barely able to register the scenery around her as she stared into the wayside.
Vert's breathing had slowed to a dreadful crawl, her body under pressure to even muster a couple of breaths per minute.
The CPU of Leanbox was in critical condition, suffice it to say.
"Leanbox's guardian goddess; It's CPU. Reduced to a helpless ragdoll incapable of independent thought or bodily function." The dastardly VPU described his opponent's state.
"Where is your defiance, Vert! The bravado you had to protect your people- The resolve you had to defeat me; Where has the tenacity gone?" He inquired, to no answer from the blonde CPU.
"..." Silence from the half-dead goddess.
Future Heart could only watch in mute anguish, unable to move past the emotional turmoil he felt watching the scene of his sister's demise.
"If one has nothing to say, then that should infer that you have nothing left to get off of your chest, no?" A diabolical smile pushed to the corners of his lips as he raised his pen.
Those words indicated a fate for Vert that Future Heart would not in a billion billion billion years would ever want to imagine, let alone witness.
Yet he was powerless to stop Citadel in his state.
WHISK!
One swift motion committed the unthinkable.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The withering flames of Vert's life force brightened if only to bellow in abject torment from the bounty of her chest being inhumanely removed, a spine-chilling scream echoing through the Basilicom ruins.
SPURT!...
Blood.
SQUELCH!
Breasts.
"...!"
And the brutality of it all.
Future Heart's eyes dulled, his once bright purple orbs dimming to a faded version of themselves, the white power signals dim in appearance.
This core memory he was in the process of unwillingly registering was about as dark as the hair on his head.
"It is time to end the CPUs of Leanbox's bloodline."
TOSS!
SPLAT...!
Citadel made up his mind, throwing Future Heart's mutilated sister before him, her body making a loathsome sound of shifting bone and splattering blood when it hit the floor.
Her blue eyes faded completely, a glassy reflection instead of a soul that looked back at him was all the time traveler saw.
The raven-haired CPU Candidate didn't even notice the VPU walking up to him, too focused on the corpse of his sister in front of him to react accordingly.
CHARGE...!
"This has been entertaining, but now the curtain falls." Charging the tip of his pen, a concentration of energy focused in front of his compact weapon.
Yet those words passed into one ear of Future Heart, and out of the other.
"Perish."
BLAST!
His body writhed in pain from the attack, yet his nerves screaming at him to move, defend, evade, cry out, and do anything were passively ignored by the emotionally despondent CPU Candidate.
Both of the CPUs met their end, yet the time traveler's demise proved to be as quiet and stagnant as he was broken and traumatized.
BEEP!
Another death.
CHARGE...!
Future Heart didn't even react to the beeping of his watch, only realizing he had died upon hearing the gathering of energy in Citadel's pen.
Slowly moving himself to Vert's body, he shakily held her as he pulled her corpse from the ground.
SQUEEZE...
And he hugged the warm corpse of his sister.
"I'm sorry, Vert. I'm so, so sorry." He croaked.
BLAST!
BEEP!
From that point, the deaths began to pile up on the time traveler.
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!
Unable to muster any will to fight, his mind had been ruined by the actions and injustices he had to endure from the VPU.
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!
Able to only think about holding Vert in his arms, a luxury he did not have back in his original timeline for each death he collected.
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!
Be it as it may, Future Heart dreadfully felt an indescribable emptiness.
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!
His brain no longer wanted to win, fight, or live. It only yearned to embrace his sister in his final moments each time he was confronted with death.
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!
CHARGE...!
HUG!...
BLAST!-
BEEP!...
BEEP!...
BEEP!...
BEEP!...
BEEP!...
...
BEEP!...
...
BEEP!...
...
BEEP!...
...
BEEP!...
...
...
BEEP!...
...
...
BEEP!...
...
...
BEEP!...
...
...
...
Time lost meaning for the CPU Candidate, his watch's beeping slowly drifting away from the auditory sensory of his brain, only the sharp flashes of pain before reliving a numbing moment in his history.
It seemed no matter how far he pressed on, he'd only sacrifice more than he could afford to give.
Which was why it felt like had nothing inside, for everything had already been offered.
Only to equate to naught.
GLOW...!
But after an indeterminant amount of time, a different pain emerged with the previous emptiness subsiding.
"...Grk!"
The third segment of RRoD's development was activated. The upper left arc of Future Heart's purple irises glowed the unnerving red that the bottom half persisted.
"Perish."
BLAST!-
BOOM!...
His pen beam annihilated the area Citadel aimed at, causing a shuddering explosion that rocked the floor.
Yet his eyes narrowed. The VPU turned to see the CPU Candidate standing with his back turned, unscathed by the attack.
VANISH!...
...REAPPEAR!
Holding his sister in his arms, he quickly disappears before reappearing with bangs covering his eyes while empty-handed.
"I'll find her body." Citadel's eyes flashed to their inverted power signals, flexing the strength he had hidden even in that very moment.
A taunting smile returned to his lips.
"Not before I bury yours."
LIGHTNING!
THUNDER!
ドドドド !...
The simple emotionless sentence from the time traveler carried far more weight, cinematically enhanced by the rain, thunder, and lightning.
His three arcs of RRoD glowed through his darkened face as he stood with his wet hair.
That sole line of dialogue caused a snarl to spring forth from the VPU before Future Heart's hair rose with the aid of his aerokinesis.
Dull purple eyes with fierce glowing power signals. All combined with the chilling arcs of RRoD sent a piercing glare to the elder VPU.
"Let's finish this." Cracking his knuckles, any sense of individuality was replaced by the sole purpose of killing the person before him.
CHING!...
His fists soon glowed white before fading into the reflective black of his Armament.
"I couldn't agree more!"
RUSH!-
Citadel grinned before sprinting to the CPU Candidate. The time traveler silently coiled back his fist as the fight resumed.
THOOM!...
Knuckles collided with a shockwave, Future Heart and the VPU both going for a right straight, blowing most of the remaining debris into the air.
KICK!-
SWIVEL KICK!
Going for a roundhouse, the elder VPU soon found his opponent going low before spinning his body around, knocking his planted foot off the ground.
PALM!-
SPIN!-
BOOM!
Using the opportunity to his advantage the raven-haired CPU Candidate pushed himself off the ground with one hand before rapidly corkscrewing as he pulled in his knees before delivering a nasty double heel kick.
TUMBLE!-
Citadel sprawled through the air gracelessly before planting his feet on a wall to stop his momentum.
Looking up, he saw the emotionless eyes of Future Heart with his fist reeled for another daunting blow.
GUARD!-
SHOCKWAVE!
Even though the VPU blocked, the impact was enough to send him billowing through several blocks with a shockwave that caused the floor the upturn in intensity.
"Khh!" The stinging sensation of pain ebbed on Citadel's forearms, unexpecting such a sensation to come from the crybaby he tormented moments before.
PHASE!-
CRASH!
"Tch!"
Reappearing in a position right before Citadel would arrive, Future Heart contorted his body to spin with enough torque to execute a 540 kick to the side of the formal harbinger of destruction.
His body spun comparable to a rip-stick in the air, wildly rotating with no sign of stopping from the immense force of the blow.
ZOOM!-
SHOCKWAVE!
Speeding into the frame, Future Heart laterally dropkicked the VPU with enough force to create another thundering shockwave that sent him through another few blocks worth of buildings.
At this point, Citadel's features were seething with irritation whilst his body sailed through the streets with agitation at his current situation.
APPEAR!
The CPU Candidate made himself known with a sudden appearance before speaking.
"Thunderous Combination."
"OH, NO YOU DON'T!" Citadel defiantly shouted, coming to terms that this would be a battle hard fought.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!...
Future Heart's hook was blocked with the VPU's forearm before his cross followed the same fate with Citadel's alternating arm while the rib kick was met with the shirtless deity's elbow.
CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH!
Blitzing punches were exchanged between the two gods, with each connection causing a reverberating pressure to emit from their blows, shaking the ground with each hit.
CRASH!...
EXPLODE!...
TREMOR!...
Future Heart and Citadel contested as they threw punch after punch with their fists, shredding through the buildings with reckless abandon as to what was torn up in the process.
CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH-CLASH!
Kicks were added to the mix, each limb of the respective deities phasing in and out of existence to counter their adversaries.
RUMBLE!...
RUMBLE!...
RUMBLE!...
The tremendous force only crept higher and higher with each combatant starting to ascend not by their flight, but through the magnitude of their strikes alone. The ground only cratered in response to this with the gritted teeth of Citadel meeting the expressionless Future Heart's cold stare.
SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE! SHOCKWAVE!
The knuckles of the formal VPU and the cold-blooded CPU Candidate peeled with blood as their blows grew vigorous enough to create extraordinary clashes of pressure in the air of Leanbox, blood flying off their fists without the slightest notice.
CLAP!
THUNDERCLAP!
"Argh!"
A silent Thunderclap managed to stagger the brawling VPU, the immense wind pressure sending him within arm's reach of the CPU Candidate.
BZZZZZT!-
SHOCKWAVE!
Paired with a Static Slap, that extended the hit-stun that Future Heart established alongside earning a dull expression from the VPU.
STATIC...!
THOOM!-
"GAK!"
THOOM!-
"GAK!"
THOOM!
"GAK!"
"Static Striker."
A lightning fist to the gut so powerful that it had to be replayed from three different angles, it also gave the liberty of seeing the whitened-out eyes of Citadel through each rendition before he rocketed to the city of Leanbox with a mix of blood and saliva escaping his mouth.
CRASH!-
BOUNCE!
THUD!
SKID...!
Colliding with the Green Box's top, the formal VPU tumbled and skated until he skidded to a stop.
"Shit... He's still growing stronger! And my body's starting to wear down. I should've finished him while he was weak and I was fresh!" Getting to his feet, the VPU regretted the course that the battle took.
"The consequences of your inaction. You have only yourself to blame." The time traveler descended from the air before smoothly landing a couple of feet away from the VPU.
"Don't patronize me! You of all people should be begging for mercy that I would withhold!" Pushing himself off of the ground, the VPU stood up with indignation.
"Beg. I begged before, and nothing came to fruition. Why should I take anything that leaves your mouth sincerely if that is the case?" The monotone voice of Future Heart stated.
"Don't get smart with me, brat! I'll kill you here and now!"
FEAR ENERGY!
The burst of fear energy exploded from the body of Citadel, bright enough to be visible from the outskirts of Leanbox as a tall pillar that flared with malignant energy.
"NOW YOU DIE!"
ZOOM!
Citadel's eyes flickered with inverted power signals intermittently, before lunging ahead with vigor.
SUMMON!-
CHING!...
Future Heart outstretched his hand before his lance suddenly equipped itself with his hand. It soon coated itself in the dark shade of his Armament before he readied his weapon.
FWASH!
CLANG!-
Lighting his lance aflame, the middle portion was swung before it was met by Citadel's penpoint, causing molten sparks to fly from their clash.
BZZZT!
CLING!-
Switching its affinity for lightning, the CPU Candidate mirrored the direction of his next swing before clashing with Citadel's pen point for the second time.
ELECTROCUTE!
"Tch!"
Using the metallic point of the pen, it raced up the VPU's arm before causing it to convulse painfully.
FWOOSH!-
PAK!
Alternating to increasing the wind pressure around the lance, the time traveler threw his lance with such speed that it outright smacked the pen right out of Citadel's hand, the VPU's fingers stinging from the sensation.
KICK!-
GRAB!
Persisting, the villainous deity went for a high kick to the side of Future Heart's head, yet he grabbed the VPU's shin without much effort, causing a gutter of shock from the elder harbinger.
STOMP!-
"Gah!"
Returning the favor, Future Heart drove his foot into the crotch of the VPU, causing him to gain comic saucers as he wailed in agony at the callous nutshot that he received.
HEEL KICK!
"Unf!"
TUMBLE...!
While still holding Citadel's foot, he swiveled around before heel-kicking the dastardly god in the cheek as he let go, causing him to roll a short distance away.
Rolling next to his pen, the VPU quickly picked it up before aiming it at the CPU Candidate, who slowly walked to him without emotion or intention to spare his life.
"JUST DIE ALREADY!"
BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!
Starting to lose his composure, the VPU rapidly clicked the button of his pen forcing a spiel of blasts to fire out from the tip of the weapon.
Smoke grew in a large cloud on the top of the Green Box, from the multitude of energetic attacks that Citadel threw at Future Heart in a desperate effort to fell the problematic CPU Candidate.
...WHOOSH!
Yet the smokescreen cleared, revealing an unscathed Future Heart, who stood before a mortified VPU.
"Your chances of victory dwindled from the instant the first arc appeared." The time traveler told the interdimensional threat.
"They fell further after the second arc awakened."
RAISE!...
SUCK...!
Sticking his hand up in the air, a vacuum was created in the center of the area above his palm.
CONCENTRATE...!
Several elementary particles began colluding within the separated space from the rest of natural existence, seeping through the vacuous space created.
CONCENTRATE...!
Back when he was fighting DIO, this would have been a breeze with Nebula's help. But although increasingly more difficult, his jumps in power could bridge the lack of help to pull off the EXE Drive.
CHARGE...!
KI was added into the mix, with millions upon millions of hydrogen atoms that were esoterically combined to create the isotopes of deuterium and tritium from injecting share energy's properties.
"The third arc was to render my mind immune to whatever psychological plots to incapacitate me that you could muster."
CLENCH...
Closing his gloved fist, the CPU Candidate compressed all of the qualities within the vacuum into his clutches. A miniaturized thermonuclear weapon was now in his hands.
"!" Citadel recoiled as the immense concentration of power disappeared once it was closed within Future Heart's grip.
"This attack will spell the end for Leanbox. But it is worth the sacrifice if it means you are wiped off the face of the planet." Slowly reaching his hand back, the time traveler leaned back to put himself in the best stance to pelt the WMD.
"HA!" The elder VPU laughed. "You'd really destroy your own country just to kill me?! You don't have the balls!" Continuing to laugh, Cidatel attempted to call his bluff.
"..."
Yet Future Heart remained silent, and let his pocket population cleanser do the talking.
TOSS!
"N-No!..." The laughter of the VPU dropped, once he registered what was to come.
"Hydrogenii Felis." Remorselessly spouting the name of the EXE Drive, Future Heart's dull eyes narrowed, emotion peeking through just enough to get the message across.
He wanted Citadel dead.
"Are you insane!" The sphere quickly closed the gap with the shaking VPU.
"Are you scared?..." A barely noticeable smile formed on the face of the time traveler.
COLLIDE!-
KA-BOOOOOOOOM!
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The sphere of insane potential made contact with the VPU's body, before quickly expanding through the screams that were filled with genuine pain.
Music to Future Heart's ears.
The explosion quickly spread from the portion of the Green Box, making its way further and further out in an omnidirectional blast thanks to the properties of KI's explosiveness.
Everything caught in the vicinity of the blast radius found itself annihilated in the esoteric hydrogen bomb, Citadel's screams persisting through the deafening roar of destruction.
GLOW...!
"...It's about damn time you suffered."
The fourth arc illuminated, completing the Red Ring of Death's evolution within the irises of Future Heart as the explosion spread to his location before being blinded by the tremendous aftermath.
A/N:
Chapter complete!
It looks like the karmic retribution is finally starting to catch up to one of the VPUs! Vergo's relentless struggle is paying off with the screams and cries of his people being reflected in the malignant deity's wails of suffering!
At this rate, he might finish the job! Can Future Heart finish what Green Heart started? Find out in the coming chapters of Omnidimension Neptunia!
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Arrivederci!