All rights are reserved to their respective owners. I own nothing in this piece of fiction except my FCs and the story itself.
"GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"!?" The party's faces warped into shock. They then turned to the source of the laughter, which had nothing to do with Citadel.
"You should see the look on your stupid fucking faces! This is comedy gold! Hahahahaha!"
Hysterical laughter emanating from the younger Viral Pernicious Unit, Xero had his hand in his brother's popcorn box as he sat comfortably on his floating plastic chair.
"XERO?!" The collective cast minus Citadel shouted, their faces transforming into various expressions of confusion, shock, and indignation.
"You've been fine the whole time?!" Noire shouted angrily at the bodily-abled VPU.
"Nope, I just got my ability to speak a couple seconds ago but it was worth keeping quiet just to spite you scrubs!" He confided in the feeling of superiority as he heckled the Gamindustriman party.
"You're not allowed to use that insult! You had to third party!" Neptune pointed her finger accusingly at the edgy Viral Pernicious Unit.
"Yeah, you big cheater!" Ram joined the lilac CPU in her berating comments with a look of indignation on her features.
"Cry harder, pussies. Stay mad about the fact that I get to sit on my ass and watch you get yours handed to you on a silver platter!" An infuriating grin was spread on his lips as Xero flashed a taunting grin.
"Tough talk from the loser who needed big brother to save him." IF shot back, a stern look on her features yet showing a hint of mirth at the jab.
"Tch." That did the trick in removing the smile on the venom-eyed VPU's face, replaced with annoyance at the Guild Agent.
"Yeah, Gris would've turned you to atoms if it weren't for Citadel!" Gust vied for the GPU's performance, further angering the insufferably edgy VPU.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" The Negadimension deity screamed, causing the brunette alchemist alongside the less strong-willed party members to jolt in fright.
"AIN'T NOBODY TURNING ME INTO SHIT! Not that Lamestation GPU, not that Shitbox CPU Candidate, not that rotting Noobula, and not ANY OF YOU LOW-LEVELED DUMBASSES!"
Xero's emotions of anger flared at the attention his most recent near-loss received.
"If you're so adamant in your opinion, why don't you prove it?..."
Everyone turned their heads to Citadel, who implored his brother to put his money where his mouth was.
"Huh?" Blanc was confused at the older VPU's statement. "Why would you say that? You're gonna let him take over after what Gris did to him?" It confused the intelligent CPU from a tactical perspective.
"Because I believe two things." He began walking to his chair, the group having no interest in blocking his path as he traversed the floor
"One: That Xero has amply recovered to the point that he can get off my damn chair and do his job." The first point was stated with some annoyance, as the VPU in question looked away awkwardly.
"And two: His final chance to succeed in his mission without being severely penalized is dependent on whether he can kill you in the next twenty minutes."
TOSS!
Levitating to the VPU, he grabbed him by what remained of his undervest before yeeting the edge lord off his seat, while he sat down with a sigh.
"Jackass!" Xero yelled angrily before landing with a wobbly crouch.
"Well, at least we don't have to fight the scary VPU." Compa breathed in relief as the elder VPU once again settled on his plastic chair with a bored expression, steam and smoke coming off from the smoldering bits of his clothes.
"And this guy kind of lost his scare factor after so many people beat him up already." 5pb. pointed out as the face that Xero wore was replaced with the imagery of several CPUs/GPUs fighting and/or winning against him.
Xero got to his feet, stretching his muscles to test if he regained the motor functions to fight at full capacity.
"Yeah, although I wish I could forget what he showed me..." Rom shuddered at the horrid images that were seared into her mind, trying her best not to think about them.
"Wait, what did he show you?" Blanc turned to her younger sister with an ascending tone, suspicious and concerned greatly considering the VPU's track record.
"So many people... So much pain... No one to save any of them..." The remorseful CPU Candidate sniffled, Ram coming to her side to give a warm embrace.
"Hey, what the hell did you show my sister, asshole!" Growing aggravated at the sorry state of Rom, Blanc faced the stretching destroyer deity with a piping-hot question.
"The same thing I'll give to you and your shitty little friends." Standing tall, Xero cracked his knuckles.
"Murder. Despair. Anguish. Torment. Agony. Hopelessness. Desperation. Suffering. Torture. Woe. Distress. Misery. Trauma." Emphasizing the last word, he spread his hands to his sides as if he were presenting to the class.
"Rom has bore witness to the excruciating ends of my past victims. Fitting since you all count as my next victims." Shrugging, a content smirk appeared on the VPU's face.
"You're not transformed anymore, so what's to say that won't happen to you instead!" Blanc was beginning to resent the very image of the man before her, especially after hearing what Rom had to endure while she was unaware.
"Heh, brainwaves as nonexistent as your chest. And here I thought you were the smart one." Xero wasted no time insulting the CPU's characteristics which got her riled up without a hitch.
"When I get my hands on you, I'LL-" Her infamous red eye appeared, the words that her enemy spoke setting her fuse with lightning speeds.
"Blanc!" Vert called, causing the shortest Loweean patron goddess to snap out of interrupted her rage-filled tirade. "Don't let his words get to you. Stay focused." The Leanboxian CPU talked down her fellow Console Patron Unit.
"R-Right. You're still talking a lot of shit for someone who's way weaker now." Back on track, the northern CPU pressed him on his current state.
"You talk like I need HDD to kick your asses." Xero rolled his eyes.
"The humans in our group couldn't even fathom my power as I am now, and your sisters couldn't even handle me with my Demigod Drive." He remarked, as said Makers and CPU Candidates were a mixed bag of faces from depression to frustration.
"HDD was simply rubbing salt in the wound for all of you until your 'Gimme-a-Break Progenitor Units' showed up with Turbo Virgin over there." Growling, the Lastationite GPU and future CPU beamed proudly at their scuffed names.
"But now one of them is D to the E to the A to the D, and the other two are too pooped to do shit! And it's not like the rest of you got any stronger. At least my brother would've killed you all relatively quickly, but I'm gonna make sure you all suffer before you die."
...FEAR AURA...!
Xero's murky fear energy slowly ebbed from his body, not as potently as before but still very present compared to his opponents.
"So what does this mean for us?" Nepgear, still concerned about their odds of victory asked with some apprehension in her voice.
"That we're still screwed?" Uni shared the sentiment, considering what the black-haired Viral Pernicious Unit put everyone through.
"It just means that he's weaker for now but by VPU standards, that doesn't mean very much. Considering his regeneration being stunted by Gris' share energy, it might also play into the level of power he can exert." AL clarified in a case of exhibiting battle intelligence.
"So he's not only weakened but most likely isn't able to use HDD?" Noire's brain clicked with what the fiery martial artist implied.
"Then there's still a glimmer of hope for the allies of justice!" Nisa shouted triumphantly.
"Hey, HEY! No hope! None! Screw your hopeful ambitions!" Xero did an X symbol with his hands, chiding the Heroine of Gamindustri.
"What about Kars?" Domio scratched his head. "He's not dead and he's still strong enough to curb stomp you like **E wrestler." The warlock reminded both the VPU and the party.
"So my brother can kill him and all of you after? You'd technically win, but at what cost cripple." Cockily pointing his thumb to his singed sibling, the older VPU responded.
"Tick-tock, Xero. Hurry it up, already." He reminded the edgy counterpart.
"You think we can get him to yap the clock to zero-" The defector attempted to make a joke, yet was cut off.
PHASE!
"I'll set your BPM to zero, you scrawny shit."
-ゴゴゴゴ!-
Appearing before the ASIC defector with his reduced speed, it was still enough to mimic teleportation in the eyes of the shell-shocked human overtook with fear.
"keemstar scream dot mp3!"
SWING!-
Going for a jab, the VPU figured that such a lazy attack was enough to annihilate the former ASIC member's being.
-GRAB!...
A hand grabbed the blitzing fist, stopping it as the two hands shook vigorously before the ASIC defector's colorless face.
"Not so fast, Xero IQ!" AL grabbed the fist of the Viral Pernicious Unit, struggling to keep his power at bay. "You can only scare us when you're strong, so take your bullying ways to the complaints department!"
"Vulcan KNUCKLE!-"
BOOM!
"Ghk!"
Xero felt his face burn, and his nose twist painfully to the side as he was sent back several meters from the SP Skill's spontaneous appearance.
"This is our chance!" Nepgear shouted, steadying her sword. "If we don't take it now, he'll destroy us! Get ready, everyone!" The lilac CPU Candidate prepared to enter the heat of battle.
"I'm gonna fill you up with lead!" Uni took out a spare rifle and held it by her hip.
"You'll really be a dummy by the time I'm done with you!" Ram shouted before preparing her new staff.
"You'll pay...!" Rom without a weapon due to its destruction, settled for the more difficult unarmed magic.
The CPU Candidates followed her lead, prepared to fight the destructive VPU. Nepgear's words filled them with courage despite their past experiences.
"I'm gonna Nep you up, jerkface!" Neptune grabbed her sword.
"Prepare to face the power of a CPU!" Noire poised her rapier.
"Bring it on, jackass!" Blanc readied her hammer.
"This will spell the end for you!" Vert pointed her spear.
The four CPUs of Gamindustri readied themselves, speaking their words before their weapons would continue the conversation.
"I'll send you to hell!" IF roared, equipping her Qatars in her Flame Awakening form.
"I won't let you tip the scale of justice!" Nisa got into an injustice-fighting stance.
"This will be our swan song!" 5pb got her guitar ready and played the role of the bard.
"Let's see how this goes." MAGES. remained composed, readying herself to use magic.
"Gust won't lose!" Gust was prepared to be as useful as she could in the upcoming fight.
Even the Makers steeled their nerves to face a threat that could rival most of ASIC's might with a minority of one.
Compa stayed behind, however, watching over Nebula and Kallen's bodies. Without her syringe, she felt naked in the pivotal resistance.
"You won't take anyone else's arms OR lives!" Domio pointed with his one good arm, before summoning his grimoire.
"Might as well get the blood pumping. Let's see how strong a VPU really is...!" Accelerator prepared to engage, his vector shield activated.
She even glanced at the superhuman males, who were rising to action alongside AL. To her other side, we were the CPU derivative males.
"Just because I can't transform doesn't mean I won't kick your nasty arse!" Vergo scowled before getting into a stance.
"Thank your stars for your brother, else you'd be dead you weakling." Gris stayed disrespectful before adopting his deadly martial stance.
The Nurse-In-Training observed her friends' determination but was unable to replicate it herself.
'I want to help them, but I can't do anything right now...'
She couldn't fight Xero. Her Syringe was broken into a million pieces, alongside her body the last time he got his hands on her.
'And I couldn't even save Nebula... Some Nurse-In-Training I am...'
She also couldn't bring back the GPU from his declining condition, relegated to watching over his degrading body alongside the nun.
'But still, I have to do my best even if it's just a little!...'
Compa simply knelt next to the two, her faith in her friends at an all-time high yet her utility at an all-time low.
"You can do it, everyone!" The bubbly nurse cheered on her friends.
TWIST!
Pulling his nose back into place, the Viral Pernicious Unit grunted before shooting a seething glare at the party that opposed him.
"Fine, then. I'M GONNA SEND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO THE DEEPEST PIT IN HELL!"
DASH!
Xero screamed before he sprinted to the nearest target.
"Catastrophic Countdown"
Xero, The Ruthless (Weakened)
RACE AGAINST THE HANDS OF TIME!
That so just happened to be IF.
-CLANG!...
"Holy-" Blocking the edgy VPU's strike with her Qatars, she felt her muscles shake intensely resisting the perpetual pressure of the otherworldly strength that her aggressor provided.
LAUNCH!
-SKID...!
Sliding his knuckles on the flat side of her blades, he elbowed the Guild Agent's guard with enough force to break it, causing her to slide back with her arms spread to her sides.
IF nearly fell back before she managed to regain her footing with the deceleration of her body.
"!-"
WOOSH!
Narrowly dodging a spinning roundhouse kick, the blonde Maker grunted as she went low before seeing a spot to capitalize on the overextended VPU.
"Yah!"
STAB-
-VANISH!...
Yet her Qatar sliced through the air as Xero evaded the attack with a burst of speed that rendered him invisible.
SMASH!
"OOF!" The Windwalker of Gamindustri guttered as the venom-eyed VPU materialized with an elbow drop to the top of her head, effectively making IF eat dirt with a loud crash.
Recoiling off the ground, the Guild Agent scowled with a bleeding face before yelling out.
"Take this! Demonic Inferno!"
FWOOSH!
Her Qatar ignited with flames as it rushed through the air, aiming for a vital of Xero. The VPU didn't show any signs of fear or concern, rather his face bent into one of sadistic glee.
-CHOMP!-
"What the hell?!" IF was taken aback at the action she witnessed her opponent commit.
The unhinged Viral Pernicious Unit managed to crunch his teeth down on her Qatar that was flaming mind you, completely shattering it alongside inhaling the flames as he breathed in.
"HAHAHAHA!" Cackling maniacally, flames flared through Xero's nose and mouth giving the semi-disarmed Guild Agent a disturbing image before his counterattack.
SWIPE!-
EXTEND!
Springing forth a chain from his arm, the VPU willed it to wrap itself around IF's neck as her eyes widened worriedly, desperately trying to free herself from the near-suffocating grip. He yanked his hand to the side, pulling the Guild Agent in his direction.
BASH!
"GUH!" IF shouted painfully as the VPU backfired her with the same hand he used to draw her in, sending the transformed blonde Maker sprawling wildly into the wayside.
SLAM!...
She landed with a nasty thud, as she struggled to move her aching body from the ground, her clothes and hair returning to their usual colors of blue and brown respectively.
"Iffy/IF!" Compa, Nepgear, and Neptune screamed in fright for their friend's safety, before the VPU confronted the Planeptunian sisters with haste.
-APPEAR!
RUSH!...
"Sup, purple pussies! Get ready to get FUCKED UP!" Xero landed on the ground from the elevated position he appeared from before sprinting to the two CPUs of the land of Purple Progress.
"Look out, Neptune!" Nepgear saw the incoming VPU target her beloved sister, moving to the pudding-loving goddess' side as fast as her legs could carry her along the ground.
SLASH!
"Tch!" The VPU spat, his chained forearm blocking the sword strike as sparks flew from the deities' contest of wills.
"Thanks, Nep Jr.!" Neptune chirped before getting to the side of the edgy interdimensional invader, preparing to use one of her moves.
"Cross Combination!"
RUSH!-
CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!
Kicking off the ground, the Protagonist of Protagonists slashed at the insufferable Viral Pernicious Unit, who disengaged from Nepgear's sword to block each strike with his chain wraps as more sparks flew from each hit.
LEAP!...
"Get nepped!"
SLASH!-
Jumping in the air, Neptune shouted before bringing down her blade with conviction amid her zany catchphrase.
"Foul Vibration!"
BOOM!
"Nepuuuuuuuuuu!-"
A weakened variation of Xero's SP Skill was cast, causing an explosion of fear to erupt right under the purple CPU, making her fly high into the air while flailing sporadically.
"NEPTUNE!" Nepgear shouted before the VPU closed the gap between himself and the concerned CPU Candidate of Planeptune.
"Think fast!"
WHIP!
"Kyaa!" The younger sister screamed after Xero extended his chain to smack the junior CPU with savage brutality, her body corkscrewing rapidly from the force of his blow.
POW!
"GHK!" Gut-checking Nepgear after perfectly timing his punch, the purple CPU Candidate felt something ominous from the VPU's fist after saliva flew from her mouth.
"Antithesis."
KA-BOOM!
"AAAACK!"
A bomb of fear energy that Xero placed with his punch detonated from within Nepgear's abdomen, sending her tumbling with a shout of anguish before another came to challenge the VPU.
"Nepgear! Grr...! You'll pay for that, jerk! Venom Shot!" Uni aimed her gun at the abhorrent deity before pulling the trigger.
SNATCH!
Sticking out his hand while looking at Nepgear's tumbling form, the egregious VPU caught the round mid-air before facing the gun-toting CPU Candidate.
"Make me, Uni-" Another cut off the Viral Pernicious Unit's words.
"Justiiiiiiiice~ Uppercut!" A voice bellowed from below the interdimensional menace causing him to look down in surprise.
"?!"
-SHWOOSH!
Nisa's fist barely missed the mug of the very-punchable VPU, who swiveled his body out of the way with a rare expression of nervousness.
"Just my nuts, bitch!"
KICK!-KICK!-
THOOM!...
Xero moved with haste, kicking the shin of the heroic Maker before moving onto her kneecap and double dropkicking her in her barely palpable chest with a resounding shockwave.
"GWAK!" Nisa flew back before bouncing off the ground several times, skidding near IF.
"EX Multi Buster!"
-PEW!-
A green beam rushed from the CPU Candidate's rifle, blitzing in the VPU's direction while he was distracted.
Or so she thought.
STROLL...
"You should install A*mL*bs." Xero notified teasingly as he moved just slow enough to dodge the beam by a breath as it whisked past him into the horizon, at Uni's annoyed expense.
"C'mere, you damn bastard!" Blanc made her way to the villainous VPU, her sisters following closely behind her.
"Yeah, get 'em Blanc!" Ram cheered for her big sister.
"You got this, sis!" Confidence returning to her, Rom also supported her sister.
CLASH!-
-BOOM!
The CPU of Lowee swung her hammer, as Xero swung his chained shin before the two impacted, causing a shockwave to expand from the two deities' boisterous contact.
Disengaging, Blanc skidded back a tiny margin before rushing the VPU with her hammer overhead.
"GRAH!"
CRASH!
Jumping back, the VPU dodged a powerful strike that split the ground between them as he gained an excited look on his features. "Careful, toots. You just might PULL SOMETHING!"
WOOSH!-
Stretching out his hand, the chain wrapped around his forearm extended, approaching the short CPU with raging velocity.
"PISS OFF!"
-SHOCKWAVE!
Swinging her hammer, the Loweean CPU deflected the attack with a heavy-handed swing as the links of malignant metal flew to the side harmlessly as she took the opportunity to move closer to her opponent.
Rom and Ram followed behind their sister, the three goddesses keeping their focus as they persevered through the dangerous fight.
"Diabolical Douser!" Pointing his hand at the three CPUs, Xero roared as his SP skill activated with a malevolent expression.
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!-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!
A myriad of fear-powered blasts spread from the vile VPU's hand, closing in on the gaining goddesses.
"I got this!" Ram shouted, running next to her oldest sister.
"E-Force Blizzard!"
FLASH FREEZE!
The blasts were completely encased within the mountain of ice that Ram summoned before them, halting the attacks from progressing any further.
DIM!...
"What the fuck?!" Xero gawked, his energy being subdued by a child of all people.
Soon, they started to disappear outright, making the VPU's face wrenched into offended shock.
SHATTER!
With no attacks left to subdue, the ice formation broke into a million pieces, leaving a surprised Blanc, amazed Rom, and infuriated Xero.
"Hah! How do you like them apples!" Ram taunted Xero, who grew a dark expression at the words thrown his way.
"That was amazing, Ram!" Rom complimented her sister.
"Looks like you've really grown, haven't you?" Blanc acknowledged her youngest sister's power, which made her smile widely at the praise.
PHASE!-
"The flowers on your grave are gonna grow too, you pink little shit!"
VOOM!...
Appearing behind the three, Xero prepared an attack with fear energy, his hand crackling with the insidious source of power. Rom and Ram were caught off-guard with faces that were filled with instant trepidation.
"GETTER RAVINE!"
CRASH!
Xero felt his head smashed onto the ground by the tremendous force of Blanc's hammer, the ground below him fissuring from the collision, creating a mini-earthquake from the impact alone.
"Not on my watch, jackass!" The eldest CPU of Lowee shouted, getting ready to smash the ill-tempered VPU into the ground a second time.
...GRAB!
"?!" Blanc recoiled, feeling something grab her leg as she looked down to see the hand of the pounded Viral Pernicious Unit holding her ankle with a vice grip.
"THEN GET YOUR WATCH FIXED!" Xero screamed defiantly.
SMASH!
Getting to a knee, the Viral Pernicious Unit swiveled upright before dragging the CPU to the side, knocking her into Ram with a loud thud.
"Kyaaa!" Rom squeaked in shocking pain.
"Agh!" Blanc guttered in anguish before they both were sent to the wayside.
"Ram! Blanc!" Rom stood there, weaponless and scared out of her wits now that she was the only one left without any means to truly defend herself from a man capable of so many heinous things.
Standing to his feet, Xero stared down the miniature CPU Candidate compared to his towering height.
"Wanna see something cool...?" Extending his hand, the VPU planned for a repeat of what occurred previously
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Rom fell onto her backside, wailing at the top of her lungs with tears trailing from the corners of her eyes with the traumatizing images starting to cloud her vision.
"Aritc Bolt!"
POW!
"Son of a bitch!" Xero's face was suddenly covered in ice, causing his hand to move away and claw at the ice obstructing his vision.
Ripping the pesky element of ice off his face, he saw a magic circle in front of his vision with a hand holding what appeared to be a glowing rune, as a familiar voice shouted.
"BLIZZAGA BURST!"
-VOOOM!-
Out of the magical circle, a roaring beam of ice mag swallowed the VPU as he was pushed away by the amplified spell, being caught off-guard just long enough to suffer the consequences.
"KILL YOURSELF, DOMIO!..." Screaming bloody murder, Xero was carried away by the huge beam of ice that sailed across the battlefield.
"Good riddance. Are you okay, Rom?" Turning to the sobbing CPU Candidate, the panting warlock extended his hand to the middle child of Loweean divinity.
"Y-Yes... Thank you, Domio." Wiping her eyes, Rom was pulled up by the native Loweean as he smiled at her. "After what he did to you the first time, I couldn't let that happen again." He shook his head, a displeased look on his face.
"But what about Ram and Blanc?" The blue CPU Candidate of Lowee looked to where her sisters were punted. "Will they be okay?" After her safety, the safety of her family was a top priority.
"I wish I knew." The warlock admitted. "But we should probably help out the others before Xero does them in." He pointed, as the two youths peered to where Domio blasted the VPU.
BOOM!...
The ice beam finally destabilized the VPU's body, causing a large formation of ice to consume him within a sizeable blast radius. Once the dust settled, the interdimensional menace was stuck in a pile of ice.
...SHATTER!
"PESKY OVERGROWN SPERM!"
Yet the Viral Pernicious Unit's strength was still formidable. He managed to break out of the SP Skill with only furious manpower.
DASH!...
DASH!...
Two more figures approached the dastardly VPU, intent on challenging his might with what they had.
'These CPU bitches are starting to annoy me...!' Xero narrowed his eyes, preparing to fend off some more pesky Console Patron Units.
Noire with agility and Vert with grace both ran on opposite sides of the VPU as he swiveled his body around to keep tabs on their positions as they encircled him.
"You'll regret coming here!" Noire stowed her doubts.
-SPRING!
"I won't be merciful!" Vert steeled her will.
-LEAP!
Both CPUs pincered the VPU from each direction as their weapons were poised on the interdimensional menace's frame, moments away from unleashing their attacks.
"Tornado Sword!"
SLASH!
Noire's rapier glowed a kaleidoscope of colors before she laterally slashed at Xero's body, screaming her SP Skill moments away from hitting the VPU's frame with extreme prejudice.
CLASH!
The Lastationite CPU's sword and Negadimensional VPU's forearm chains brazenly clashed, sparks flying in all directions as they stayed locked in the confrontational contest.
"FUCK OFF ME!" Xero screamed, to Noire's surprise.
-SHOVE!
Stiff arming the twin-tailed CPU, he used to momentum of his action to send him to the incoming CPU of Leanbox, who had her skill ready to utilize against the antagonistic VPU.
"Sylhet Spear!"
SPEAR!
A magic circle appeared next to the approaching CPU of Leanbox before an earthen spear rushed from the circle and made a beeline for Xero's position.
-SMASH!
"?!" Vert's face contorted into shock given the VPU's reaction to her attack.
Xero managed to counterclockwise heel kick the spear tip of the summoned attack with enough force to completely shatter the SP Skill's structure entirely as he closed the gap between himself and Vert.
"Devastation!"
BLAST!
The Leanboxian CPU barely had enough time to raise her spear defensively before a large black beam consumed her form, a counterattack from the VPU edge lord with more kick than his previous stunt.
"VERT!" Noire shouted with concern, after seeing her take the devastating attack head-on. 'Damnit, if we still had the shares that Gris gave us for HDD, this would be a piece of cake!...' The crimson-eyed goddess lamented before charging in once more.
SPRING!
Soaring into the air, the twin-tailed CPU brought down her rapier upon the VPU's visage as he turned to face her incoming attack.
"Volcano Dive!-"
PHASE!...
Noire's attack missed, her flaming rapier harmlessly sailing through the air.
-POW!
"GWAK!" Lastation's CPU guttered painfully, the VPU drop-kicking her in the sternum with unprecedented force.
BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!
Repeatedly striking the CPU's body with a flurry of piston kicks, Xero motioned with his hands in an upward fashion.
SUMMON!-
-BASH!
"Gah!" Noire felt her head crash into something hard, turning out to be one of the VPU's summonable chains from below as she spun vertically.
THWACK!
"Damnation!"
BLAST!
"Gyaaaaaaah!" The tsundere CPU painfully bellowed as her body was overridden with fearsome energy.
Punching the goddess in the face, he finished the combo with an SP Skill that named the entire ordeal as a crimson blast of fear energy consumed the CPU of Lastation who screamed painfully before being overwhelmed by the destructive force.
"NOIRE! You're gonna pay for that, you bastard!" Uni screamed in terror before her face hardened while aiming her rifle at the VPU's position.
AIM!...
"...Huh?"
She blinked, before seeing that Xero was no longer present in her crosshairs.
...PAT!
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned around to witness the dreadful Viral Pernicious Unit standing behind her with a demented look as his hand gripped her shoulder.
"I left my wallet with my fucks to give at home. Chaotic Overdrive." Horror subsequently gripped the CPU Candidate of Lastation's heart as she heard what sounded like a technique escape the VPU's lips
-EXPLODE!-
"KYAAAAAAAAAA!"
Before her body faced the full brunt of the fearsome discharge of energy, dealing immense damage to the immediate environment let alone the mini-tsun's body. As the attack subsided, Uni's downed and smoldering form could be seen meters from Xero's current position.
"Uni! It's now or never, you guys!" 5pb. took out her guitar.
"Be careful, he's someone to be reckoned with." MAGES.
"Gust will do her best!" The petite alchemist puffed her chest.
The three Makers stood before the VPU, who diverted his attention from the downed CPU Candidate to the trio of mortals.
"Look at the widdle humans thinking that they can stand up to a god."
FEARSOME AURA!
Activating his fear energy as a cloak of energy, the reddish hue of energy surrounded Xero's body before he glared at the faces of his potential combatants.
MAGES. appeared to be the most composed, yet her hands jittered making the VPU aware of her increased trepidation.
5pb.'s boat appeared rockier, sweat beading by her forehead and cheeks as her grip on her guitar became tight with the slight wobbling of her legs.
COLLAPSE!
Gust was the soul who crumpled under the immense killing intent that resided within Xero's fear energy, his eyes darting to her figure before blasting off from his location.
-CRASH!...
"GWOH!" The littlest maker squawked in agonizing pain.
MAGES. and 5bp. flinched before looking to their adjacent sides, realizing the Viral Pernicious Unit slide tackled the short alchemist. Her body rocketed into the distance, violently tumbling as the first Maker had been dispatched in the blink of an eye.
"Restriction!"
ENSNARE!
"Ack!" 5pb.'s guitar fell on the ground, dispersing into pixels.
"Tch!" MAGES.'s staff did the same, leaving both Makers in a precarious situation.
Both cousins were captured by the insidious chains that Xero summoned as he turned around with a crazed gleam in his eyes.
"I like my women in bondage." The younger brother of Citadel admitted, causing the chained ladies to shift uncomfortably.
"But I also like my enemies in carnage!" Collecting energy within his body, another SP Skill was on the horizon.
Annihilation!"
-DANMAKU!-
From his body, the VPU expunged a torrent of blasts in every direction standing only a few feet away from the two Makers, as their faces warped into terrified shock as the blasts encroached.
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! 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! 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!
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEARGH!" MAGES. wailed, her body convulsing with each blast.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" 5pb. screeched, unable to endure the harrowing attacks.
Both blue-haired Makers screamed with despair, pain overwhelming their bodies as they were bombarded by the seemingly countless blasts that were ejected from Xero's body.
"!..."
"!..."
After a bit, the Makers' screams died down as the VPU dispersed his chains and blasts causing the cousins to fall to the ground akin to a sack of potatoes. Their vitals were barely present as they lay there motionless.
"Anyone else?!" Xero roared, feeling his blood pumping after taking down so many opponents in rapid succession.
-BEAM!
EVADE!
A wave of plasma whisked past the edgy destroyer god's head as he turned his body to the side, dodging the blast completely. Accelerator ran with a narrowed glare as he closed the gap before going for a vector swipe.
WHIFF!
Yet due to the VPU's superior speed, he simply dodged the attack with a half-lidded stare.
STRIKE-
-REFLECT!
"?!" When the black-haired VPU went to counterattack, his hand was suddenly deflected with the equivalent force he put into his blow causing surprise to scribble itself on his face.
Dashing away, the esper had used all three of his vector charges in a single exchange. He couldn't attack nor endure, which left him in an extremely vulnerable position.
"So you got a forcefield? BLOCK THIS!"
RUSH!
Jumping from his location, the VPU reached forward with a hand coated and crackling with fear energy, ready to disrupt the shield's defenses with his unconventional energy source.
-CRASH!...
But before he could reach the defenseless esper, a large blue sword of share energy dropped from the sky both combatants were interrupted.
"32-bit Mega Blade!"
Landing next to the esper, the Protagonist of Protagonists made her presence known. "No need to thank me, I'm just doin' my job." Rolling his eyes, the esper silently accepted the help that the smug CPU of Planeptune inadvertently offered.
DISTORTIONS!
Forcing his hand through the glowing blue blade, the interaction between share and fear energy created a sizable distortion through space as the opposing powers destabilized.
"I'm gonna make sure you don't interrupt my combo string a second time, you purple brat!"
VANISH!-
-APPEAR!
Closing the distance with a high-speed movement, Xero reappeared to the side of the two party members before winding up a punch.
'Shit, I'm still not ready!...' Accelerator threw up his hands in an attempt to block.
BLOCK!
Neptune scooted in between the esper and the incoming fist as she blocked it with the flat side of her blade.
"Victory Slash!"
CLANG! CLANG!...
The pudding-loving goddess' blade collided with the chained forearms of the VPU as sparks flew from the blocked hits, Xero's face becoming focused on the incoming attacks.
"Critical Edge!"
SWOOSH!
SLASH!
Moving on to another SP Skill, the CPU of Planeptune sliced at the Viral Pernicious Unit's body. He dodged the two consecutive slashes with mild difficulty as his eyes observed the impressions of Neptune's body.
RUSH!-
Putting her strength into her legs, the upbeat CPU zoomed to Xero's position with her katana as she prepared to slice through the interdimensional menace's body.
SLASH!
Xero felt his side spew with blood, Neptune's sword gliding through his torso as she executed her attack without a hitch from the VPU.
"Booyah!" The Protagonist of Protagonists celebrated, finally landing a clean hit on the malignant VPU.
-GRAB!
TOSS!...
Her celebration morphed into trepidation as something grabbed her hoodie, before yanking her to the ground as she slid on the graveyard dirt.
-STOMP!-
CRACK!...
"Ooogh!" Neptune wheezed as the combat boot of Xero forced the air out of the CPU's lungs, as he stood over her downed body. The force he stomped her with was enough for spider cracks to form under her figure.
CHARGE!...
"I'm gonna turn your BONES into pudding, you living joke!" Pointing his hand at the purple CPU, the edgy VPU prepared to blast the zany Console Patron Unit into oblivion.
BIFF!
-SHOCKWAVE!
A sharp pain registered in the VPU's back as he was launched off of the meme-making CPU, a shockwave expanding from his previous position.
"Now we're even." Accelerator told the CPU as she weakly gave a thumbs up, laying there to recover her breath as he sprinted behind the Viral Pernicious Unit.
Dashing, the esper noticed the fallen forms of the other party members. Even some CPUs and CPU Candidates were in the mix as they groaned with substantially more injuries than before.
'This guy's a monster, even when running on empty...!-' The vector manipulator was taken out of his thoughts as he noticed an approaching figure.
-APPEAR!
"DIE!"
BLAAAAAAAAST!
Xero stuck out his hand, as a gargantuan blast of fear energy rushed from his palm.
REFLECT!
The beam was diverted due to the esper's vector shield, but that meant that two out of his three charges had been utilized, leaving him with one more chance to repel the VPU.
LUNGE!
Using the distraction of his executed attack, Accelerator dashed through the fearsome blast before reaching for his face within the chaotic exchange.
'All I need is one touch!...' Cranking his vector properties to the utmost, the scientific esper planned to reduce the VU's visage to that of gory modern art.
...DISAPPEAR!
Yet his reach for Xero's head was for naught, the Viral Pernicious Unit having moved away faster than the esper's eyes could perceive.
CLUTCH!
"?!" Looking behind himself, Accelerator saw that the vile VPU hand grabbed his shin with a deviously dark expression.
"Where's your shield, you albino CORPSE!"
-SMASH!
"GYAAAAAGH!"
The vector-manipulating esper felt his body be yanked over Xero's head before slamming roughly onto the ground, causing the rocks to fly in every direction. His eyes grew white from the pain as the VPU's strength proved immense.
PELT!
Xero dispatched the calculative esper as he sent him spinning through the air, before hitting the ground in a vertical flipping fashion and coming to a stop half-buried into the ground.
"Consider that problem solved." Turning to the remaining fighters, he realized it consisted of those who had posed a threat to him while he was stronger.
Now, they were brought down several octaves before his still worrisome power.
IGNITE!...
"You're not going to get away with this." AL stepped into the fray, his pupils igniting into flames as his hair flared bright orange with Blazing Inferno making its comeback.
CHING!...
"For all the people you've mercilessly murdered. I will end you!" Armament coating his arms, Vergo stepped forward with a look of murderous determination.
STANCE!...
"It's just you and us. I hope you'll remember our faces when you burn for all eternity." Gris sniggered darkly as he released Tōki from his body while walking forward.
PULSE...!
"We won't back down! Not when we're so close to victory!" Domio walked beside his elders, as his hair briefly flashed stark white before reverting to its faded brown hue.
Ram nervously stepped next to Domio, almost walking directly behind him as the VPU that defeated the CPUs stood there somewhat damaged but still very dangerous.
"Don't be scared, Rom." The early teen told his Loweean patron goddess, noticing her apprehension. "That's exactly what he wants. We have to keep pushing!" He gave the best pep-talk he could muster in the moments before the final assault began.
"But he's so powerful... Even Blanc and Ram..." The CPU Candidate of Lowee shivered.
"Then go by Compa's side if you believe you lack the resolve to fight for your friends." Gris spat, as the two youths flinched from the GPU's harsh words. "You'll be deadweight if you fight as you are now." The brutal truth struck a chord in the sullen Rom's heart.
"But I... I don't want to!" Ram felt something from within, suddenly finding the resolve despite her horrifying opponent. "I want to help you guys beat that bad guy!..." Her brows furrowed, with her irises flashed pink with glowing white power signals.
...
..
.
'CPU Candidate of Lowee... Use our strength to aid your dire cause...'
.
...
...
...TRANSFORM!
A pillar of light expanded from the CPU Candidate's body, the voice of the Mascots echoing in her mind.
The four male party turned in Rom's direction, with Xero giving an interested raise of his brow to the event that unfurled.
As the light subsided, White Sister Rom appeared with slight differences. Her stomach area was now fitted with a see-through material as the designs of the accents of her gloves and boots had been altered slightly.
Other than those minute changes, the share energy that coursed off her body radiated positivity to the scowl of the battle-damaged VPU.
"Blegh. The power of friendship in the flesh." He resisted the urge to vomit before his opponents.
"And it's gonna beat you black and blue!" Rom gained some confidence as she shouted at the callous VPU, the other combatants following her lead.
"That's the spirit, kiddo!" AL gained a smile as he appreciated the confident words from the otherwise passive CPU Candidate.
"Sometimes negative reinforcement brings about positive results." Gris looked at the transformed Rom before glaring back to Xero.
"If y'all are ready to die, then just TRY ME ALREADY!"
VOOSH!...
Growing impatient, the volume of the VPU skyrocketed enough to cause a gust of wind to blast itself omnidirectional.
-RUSH!
"Then eat this!" AL was the first to enter the fray of battle, coming into close-range distance of the aggressive VPU.
-EMBLAZE!
"Vulcan Barrage!" The fists of the martial artist combusted into flame before a battalion of fiery punches approached the Viral Pernicious Unit's body as he stood there.
...DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE! DODGE!
Yet Xero's body swiveled out of AL's trajectory with each flaming blow, as an irritating smile slowly crept onto the interdimensional menace's face.
BASH!
"MISSED-" Headbutting the fighter in the nose, Xero shouted with a maniacal smile on his lips.
CRASH!
"ME-" Grabbing the man by his face, the VPU slammed his head to the ground as a pained gasp escaped AL's mouth.
-EXPLODE!
"MOTHER-" Detonating a fear mine on the visage of his opponent's face, the body of AL dangled with an abnormal level of morbidity as he regained the ability to flail wildly soon after.
-KA-BOOM!-
"FUCKERRRRRRRRR!" Raising AL's head over his body, Xero detonated another fear attack from his palm, triggering a powerful explosion that catapulted the flaming martial artist away.
"AL!" Domio, Rom, and Vergo shouted with concern.
"Not good. You two catch AL's body! Vergo, with me!" Gris shouted before the time traveler once again paired up with the divine assassin.
As the kids went for the sprawling martial artist, the two CPU derivatives rushed the malignant VPU.
BFFT!
"GUAK!" Xero's face wrenched in pain, feeling the fist of Gris indent itself in his stomach after blitzing through time to close the gap without the slightest hope of perception.
"THUNDEROUS COMBINATION!"
-STATIC SHOCKWAVES!-
Vergo with his blackened fists vibrated them as fast as he possibly could, generating green electricity before unloading into the evil god's frame with little resistance thanks to Gris' previous attack.
-TIME STOP BARRAGE!-
Joining the vengeful time-traveling CPU Candidate, Gris began punching Xero's body with unparalleled speed, giving his strikes the illusion of instantaneousness thanks to his temporal stasis ability.
To the VPU, it seemed that Gris' hits were a wall of pain that only poured in the longer his attack went on. And that opened the road to Vergo's brutalizing blows that stung with every connection.
"DIE, YOU EDGY BASTAAAAAAAAAAARD!"
DOUBLE PUNCH!-
-SHOCKWAVE!-
"URAWK!..."
Both CPU and GPU screamed before punching the VPU square in the face with perpendicular fists. This blitzing blow echoed with a massive shockwave, sending Xero sliding through the ground.
"We got him!" Rom shouted as the two deities turned around to see the youths bring the disoriented fiery fighter, who looked barely on his feet.
"Looks like... You two got that asshat too..." A bloodied and moderately burned-in-the-face AL joined the conversation, comparing the two events.
Xero held his face in pain, before letting his hands fall at his sides, remaining without motion. Suddenly, his clothes and hair started to stand on its ends, signaling the advent of something unfortunate.
...CHILL!
Domio's eyes widened in shock upon receiving a bone-chilling premonition course through his body.
"SCATTER!" The teenager shouted before the rest of the remaining party members did just that.
SMASH!
Slamming his arms to his sides, the force propelled his body upright with a face full of pained ire.
"THAT FUCKING HUUUUUUUUUUURT!"
SHINE!...
-FWOOSH!-
Xero screeched murderously, his yellow irises becoming crimson with upside-down power signals. His aura forced itself from his body in a disastrous display of power as the earth beneath him was forcefully torn.
His hair gained red highlights as he stood, breathing heavily.
"More power... I want to CRUSH these lowly PESTS!"
...ABSORB!
The pain.
...ABSORB!...
The terror.
...ABSORB!...
The anger.
...ABSORB!...
The nervousness.
ABSORB!...
Negativity from the past battles since the VPUs' arrival was accumulating within the body of Xero, further bolstering his strength. The effects of Gris' shares and electricity waned, leaving him stronger than ever with the boons of regeneration and transformation at his disposal.
After absorbing what could be taken in, the fear-based deity locked eyes with his nearest target.
V-V-VANISH!
Before his visage materialized wobbly, disappearing with a gust of wind.
-THOOM!
"...!" Domio felt his stomach cave in, as a punch that felt like solid agony made contact with his body forcefully enough to cause an indentation on his back. Even a cry of anguish could not be made as he let go of AL, too stunned to do anything but twitch in torment.
HOOK!-
-SMASH!-
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" After being hooked into a high-speed corkscrewing motion, Domio's ribs were subject to a gruesome knee, with all the collective pain being expressed in a blood-curdling scream with AL and Rom watching with morbid horror written on their faces.
BOOM!
-CRASH!
Adding salt to the flesh wound, Xero elbowed the teenager on the other side of his ribcage, fracturing both sides as he smashed into the ground shivering in pain as he silently coughed blood, unable to think clearly, let alone scream from the overwhelming pain.
"Four." The VPU uttered before turning to the two, focusing on the already injured AL.
SHIELD!
White Sister Ram attempted to halt the VPU's progression by summoning a magical shield from her wandless magic. Ice affinity by nature, since it was what the CPU Candidate specialized in, as a crystalline barrier protected the two remaining party members.
...SHATTER!
Yet through brute force, Xero walked through the constructed barrier as if he passed through a gas station sliding door, spooking the Loweean CPU Candidate.
"Leave me, Rom! Run away!" AL told the young girl as he used the remainder of his strength to stand on his own two feet, placing himself in front of the junior goddess.
"But Mister AL, what about you?!" The blue-haired CPU Candidate shouted fretfully.
FWAASH!
"I'll try to hold him off!-" The martial artist's words were earnest as he covered himself in his armor of flames, yet his opponent's tenacity was ruthless.
-KRA-KOOM!-
"!" Feeling the thunderous axe handle atop his head, it was enough to knock the warrior to the ground, out of his armor AND Blazing Inferno state within a single strike.
Rom could only watch with angst as the VPU stuck out his hands, preparing a follow-up attack.
"Devastation!"
-BLAAAAAAAAST!-
The resulting black energy beam hit AL's body, creating a crevice that flared the demented VPU's energy like a volcanic eruption of negative energy, causing Rom to step back fearfully.
AL's screams were drowned out by the chaotic aftermath of the attack, putting his survival into question. Xero floated effortlessly through his attack, staring down the CPU Candidate as he spoke.
"Three."
Stepping back, White Sister Rom decided the best thing to do was run for the hills.
All of the previous bravado she felt with her transformed state's re-emergence was sucked out of her mind with the presence of such a terrifying person behind her.
APPEAR!...
Rom's escape came to a skidding halt, with Xero appearing before her with his pungent stench of fear ruminating around his body.
"No one is left to help you, brat." Xero's hand reached out to the CPU Candidate's face, preparing to overload her brain with morbid memories.
PHASE!-
-IGNITE!
"Says who!" Vergo appeared beside the Viral Pernicious Unit, before attempting to rock his face with his Armament-enhanced fists covered in flames with his Ignition Incision skill.
BFFT!-
-RUSH!
Silently, Gris appeared on the other side of Xero, prepared to unleash a technique of his deadly martial art of two thousand years with his temporal proficiency.
BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-SLAM!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-BASH!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-BASH!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-BASH!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-BASH!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-SLAM!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-SLAM!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-SLAM!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-SLAM!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-BASH!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-BASH!-BOOM!-SMASH!-POW!-CRASH!-THRASH!-BASH!
Their attacks landed, yet Xero's body didn't flinch. His attention was set on the vulnerable CPU Candidate, shown by the locked glare on her.
-GRAB!
-GRAB!
"-?!" Both CPU and GPU warriors' eyes widened as the VPU grabbed them by the faces, his movements escaping their peripherals entirely.
-SHOCKWAVE!-
Their heads were brought together with skull-cracking force, the two gods' eyes going blank from the impact. Bodies going limp, the energy left to fight had dissipated from the powerful double skull bash.
THOOM!...
"Two."
Gris' body was kicked squarely in the solar plexus, causing him to sprawl into the wayside.
-CRASH!...
"One."
Meanwhile, Vergo's figure was uppercut with the VPU's free hand as his body twirled rapidly into the sky.
After watching this outrageous display of strength, Rom shook like a leaf in the middle of a storm.
How could she possibly run away from someone like that!? He already managed to stop her, yet she still wanted to run away with everything she had!
No...
No!
She couldn't run! What about her sisters? Ram and Blanc were still somewhere hurting, and she couldn't leave the monster before her to get to them!
And Nepgear and the others were also down for the count! Compa was left, but she couldn't fight anymore...!
Rom needed to do something!
"I won't let you take me down!" Rom pointed her hands at the VPU, taking however small of a stand she could against the behemoth of negativity before her.
A bemused smile formed on Xero's face as he humored the thought.
"Kuh... Kehehe... GAHAHAHA! Take me down, if you can. Show your friends what you can do!" Goading the CPU Candidate under the pretense of encouragement, the Viral Pernicious Unit grinned with ill-intent.
"Northern Cross!"
...SMASH!
A blue cross of magical energy fell from the sky, landing on Xero's person as it reacted with mana discharge. Still smiling through the attack, he beamed at the blue CPU Candidate, causing her to up the ante.
"Southern Cross!"
After her words, A pink cross of magical proportions slammed itself onto the blue cross as the magical damage piled on, with the callous VPU still smiling throughout the attack.
"Is THIS what your sisters suffered for? What Nebula DIED for!" Yelling through the attack, Xero cackled wildly at the display of power that Rom managed to muster.
"For some snot-nosed transforming baby to sell at the last minute!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "Unable to keep his composure, his laughing grew boisterous as a look of frustration appeared on Rom's features.
"HEY! She's not a baby, you big dummy" A familiar voice pierced through the fight.
"WHAT?!" Xero's laughing ceased in a moment of shock.
"R-Ram?! Rom's face also mimicked the VPU's turning into that of joyful surprise, sniffling at the sight of her twin sister.
"I'm back, Rom." White Sister Ram gave her sister a bright smile. "I heard the Mascots in my head and next thing I knew, I went HDD!" Similar to Rom's processor, her accents had changed with a translucent fabric that showed off her mid-riff.
"I'm... so happy you're okay." Her eyes became watery with tears as Rom felt an immutable jubilee well up from inside.
"Now let's get this dirtbag!" Ram shouted as she pointed her nerfing staff at the unflinching VPU.
"Okay!" Rom nodded before the two commenced their Coupling Skill.
POWER UP!...
It began with a peck to the pink-haired CPU Candidate's forehead, empowering with an intense magical aura surrounding her petite form.
"You're in our way!"
MAGIC CIRCLE!
A pink magic circle appeared before the youngest CPU Candidate of Lowee, as she winded up her staff like a baseball bat.
BASH!
Smashing her staff into the magic circle, a pink sphere with magical circles stamped around its surface flew from the circle to Xero's location.
...
..
.
-KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!-
The resulting explosion rocked the immediate vicinity, as a mushroom-shaped cloud shot up from the blast site, Xero's surprised face was the last thing the twins saw before the EXE Drive made contact with Rom's previous skill, creating the enourmous explosion.
"Yeeek!" Compa shielded her eyes as the dust flew past her and the two downed party members by her feet.
As the rushing winds subsided, she lowered her arms to witness a large puff of smoke rising into the sky.
"I hope that did the trick! I don't wanna be here any longer after all we've been through..." The Nurse-In-Training felt hopeful after she saw Ram fly off to reunite with her sister, leading up to the big boom.
"You... Can say that again." Limping, Neptune trudged her feet to the bubbly nurse's side.
"Nep-Nep!" A cheery Compa shouted in surprise, before getting up to aid the CPU of Planeptune.
"That Xero douchebag packs a nasty punch. My body feels like I got trampled like a stampede of Horsebirds." Sitting beside Compa with the Maker's help, the pudding-loving goddess let out a pained sigh.
"At least you're okay, Nep-Nep." The shaken nurse gave a rueful look to the fallen GPU.
"I'm surprised the twins had enough shares left to go HDD." The lilac goddess remarked. "Maybe the plot armor on that jerk finally fell at last, eh?" Joking even in the time of greatest peril, the CPU's sense of humor never faltered.
"The twins will tell us when they come back." Compa had some faith in the twins of Lowee after their dramatic climax.
.
..
...
-THUD!
"GAK!" Covered in his ice armor, the adoptive son of Nebula skidded before the two Planeptunian girls as their faces morphed to surprise.
"Domio?!" The Nurse-In-Training called, not expecting the boy to fly through the horizon to their position.
SHATTER!...
Domio's armor broke into mist, revealing his roughed-up visage as the broken ribs and gnarly wound to his cheek were visible. Several scratches from slamming into the ground could be seen as he got to his knees albeit wobbly.
"Forget about me..." He breathed, putting up a hand to prevent Compa from attempting to assist him. "Rom and Ram are...!" He tried to finish his sentence, yet he felt something rise from his throat.
"...BLEGH!"
The all too familiar hue of crimson flew from his mouth, the damage to his ribcage spiking as both girls moved closer as he exhibited his dire state of being.
"R-Rom and R-Ram... A-A-Are...!" He needed to finish his message but felt the disastrous blows take their toll on him, wheezing his words.
"Are right here."
ゴゴゴゴ!
The three felt the temperature drop as Xero's voice was heard nearby.
Looking ahead to where the VPU stood, he held the reverted twins by the back of their coats as they dangled helplessly. Their clothes were torn and their skin was littered with blemishes, bruises, and cuts.
Eyes watery from pain, the face of defeat was forcefully stamped on both their juvenile visages.
"I was wondering which one I should kill first. Could you three help me decide which brat bites the bullet?" Xero inquired as the two Planeptunians were momentarily stunned by the abhorrent imagery.
"Let us go, you big bully!" Ram struggled, yet all she accomplished was kicking about her legs and swinging her arms.
"I'm leaning towards Ram, but I think Rom would give me more fear energy. What do you three think?" A raised brow was shown to the trio of party members.
"Put them down!" Neptune shouted at the VPU.
"Don't do this!" Compa practically begged the Viral Pernicious Unit.
"Geh dich ficken!" (Go fuck yourself!) Domio held nothing back against the Very Perturbing Asshole before them.
"...Who am I kidding? I'll kill both of them at the same time!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Rom and Ram screamed, wanting anything but that to be the fate that awaited them.
"Not on my watch!"
DASH!
Neptune tried to run at the VPU with a defiant shout, yet their distance implied that she'd be too late by the time her body reached Xero's location.
"PLEASE DON'T DO IT!" Compa closed her eyes, unable to watch what would transpire if the edgy otherworlder had his way.
"Grr...!" Domio knew he was no longer in a position to challenge the VPU, kneeling with grievous injuries.
So in a bid of desperation, he cried out with his eyes squinted shut.
.
..
...
"NEBULAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
...
..
.
Crying out for his father, the warlock swallowed whatever feelings of pride and logic he had in his mind before wailing for his deceased dad.
VANISH!
As his voice strained, one of the motionless bodies disappeared.
"GOODBYE KIDDIES, HELLO DESPAIR!-" Xero maniacally grinned, preparing to smash the bodies of the twins into mush.
-ZOOM!
"HOW IN THE FUCK?!"
Rom and Ram's bodies were taken from the VPU's grip without his knowledge, not until several seconds later did he realize that he'd been spectacularly outstripped in speed.
This caused Neptune to stop her advance, realizing that the Loweean twins were no longer in danger. Her eyes became that of comical circles, seeing that they mysteriously disappeared.
POW!-
-SHOCKWAVE!
"GHK!" A sharp sensation of pain sent the Viral Pernicious Unit sliding back, holding the part of his chest that was struck. Still being able to feel riveting pain in the state he was in set off alarm bells in his head, looking around frantically for what could have hit him.
"H-Huh!?" Rom blinked rapidly, seeing she was no longer dangling several feet off the ground and now next to Compa. "When did we?!..." Ram shared the same sentiment as she sat beside her sister without the slightest clue how.
"Rom! Ram! You're both safe!" The Nurse-In-Training was brought back into the loop abruptly, seeing the twins she begged to be spared now next to her.
Those words made Domio open his eyes, concluding that not all had been lost.
Before the three youths and newbie nurse, stood the figure of a man he had had thought long dead beside Neptune.
"That's...!" Rom put her hands by her mouth hiding the jaw-dropping expression her lips made.
"He saved us!" Ram's eyes widened, a look of brightening amazement on her face.
"I knew you'd come back...!" Eyes welling up, Domio could not help but sniffle before wincing from the pain.
"This is bullsit!" Xero hand went from his chest before falling to his side, the VPU's face losing its malice to bring about astonishment.
"No neppin' way...!" Even as the Protagonist of Protagonists had to admit, seeing something like this was surreal as it was uncanny.
"Hey there, Xero. It's been a while, huh?..."
A/N:
CHAPTER COMPLETE!
Another piece of the puzzle for you readers! I'm pretty sure with how this one ended, you can tell that the next chapter's gonna be the last one for the arc.
With that being said, I felt bad for the cast while writing this segment of the Goddess Awakening arc since I'd have to abuse my entire roster being canon or OC just to show how powerful a VPU can be when they choose to try for once.
Or not, if you're Citadel or something.
But if you've been paying attention to the last couple of arcs, then you know what's to come next chapter.
Now for some comments:
Feldragon: Seeing someone getting their just desserts always feels that way, doesn't it?
Don't forget to fav, follow, and review! It helps me with feedback and motivation!
Arrivederci!