All rights are reserved to their respective owners. I own nothing in this piece of fiction except my FCs and the story itself.
"Hey there, Xero. It's been a while, huh?..."
...
..
.
Nebula, who stood with his body atrophied, skinnier than what a healthy man would be regarded as, began a conversation with the villainous Xero. Despite his frail stature, he boasted an aura of newfound confidence.
No wounds could be seen on his flesh, yet the stains of bloodshed remained on his torn clothes as he stood with a mirth that seemed otherworldly. Even the positive sensation of shares within his body could not be sensed.
His voice fluctuated, sounding normal with one word before sounding as if something else spoke through his body at another word. It was certainly a wonky experience for everyone involved.
Yet the most striking feature of Nebula's appearance was his eyes.
Cyan as they usually were in his human state, yet he boasted power signals that were privy to his Hard Drive Divinity form. Even stranger, they shifted from the radiant white of the CPUs to the abyssal black of the VPUs periodically, shifting back and forth as he stood without movement.
Truly abnormal for the pseudo-protagonist.
"No way." Even though reality showed Xero the image of a post-hunger strike Nebula standing before him, his pride in his abilities refused to let him believe that the GPU stood before him.
"Way." The adventurous meme lord responded, a small smile on his face.
"Are you for real right now?!" Neptune, who stood next to the blue share-deity looked at him as if he'd grown a second head.
"I'm for real real, Neptune." Giving her a smile that seemed more offputting than reassuring due to the perpetual widened eyes the Guardian Progenitor Unit boasted, he turned back to the terrorizing VPU.
The CPU of Planeptune truly had nothing to scrape up an explanation for what should be a dead man standing beside her, appearing as if he'd snorted a factory's worth of angel dust.
"I'm still alive and kicking!"
...GLOW!
The blue skies that hovered above began shifting to a resplendent amber, as the characters present sans the revived GPU blocked their eyes momentarily. Clouds of a golden complexion condensed, giving way to a heavenly display in the otherwise grim Gamindsutri Graveyard sky.
"Even now... Celestia above celebrates my return... Would you like to know how it came to be?" Nebula's pupils dilated, as he communicated with the destructive dimensional invader.
"Yeah, 'cause I ain't buyin' it!" Xero spat, not wanting to believe that the plot favored the blue shitposter before him.
"Well... When you cut me down, my soul was sent to a place where time and space had no meaning within that accursed sword of yours." Referring to the blade that Xero brought, the VPU's eyes widened.
"A star that existed within that space tried to devour me... Little did that twinkling ball of gas know I had other plans and absorbed a tremendous amount of ITS energy alongside the area itself." Spreading his hands to simulate the scale he consumed from the plane of existence, Nebula's face wrenched into an unhinged grin.
'Soul Edge!...' Xero mentally exclaimed. '...That means he was able to persist within Astral Chaos without becoming fused into its star!' Realizing the gravity of his feat, the Viral Pernicious Unit started to become wary of the power his previously fallen adversary possessed.
"Then something materialized, straight out of an INFERNO... Yet even that entity was no match for my amalgamated strength..." Closing his eyes, Nebula reminisced about the battle.
'Even Inferno was defeated? Tch, this bastard resembling a smurfer.' Narrowing his eyes, the edgy VPU was becoming disdainful of his growing level of power according to the memer's tale.
"After that, I met with another version of myself projected from my mindscape due to the chaotic nature of that place. He's the reason my voice sounds so disorienting." Pointing to his head, the flux in his voice became more discernable after the GPU pointed it out.
"He's also the reason the CPUs can't sense my shares neither you, Xero." Folding his arms, Nebula gave a smug face to the VPU.
"What?!" Rom and Ram shouted as the Protagonist of Protagonists known as Neptune outright gawked.
"Did you sacrifice your shares or something?" Compa asked the GPU as he stood there, unsure of how a CPU or GPU could even exist without shares in their system.
"Maybe he had to use them to come back to life?..." Domio coughed, knitting his brows in thought.
"...We can't do that, can we?" Ram turned to Rom, who shrugged none the wiser.
"What in the overpowered original character?! Whaddya mean ya ain't got no shares!" The lilac goddess snapped at the GPU with a shocked expression.
"Then are you some kind of CPU zombie?" A sweat drop at the possibility that Nebula could be a re-animated ghoul bounced around in the pudding brain of Neptune.
Meanwhile, Citadel narrowed his eyes from his plastic chair.
'Nothing can indeed be sensed from Nebula, but he hasn't given up his ability to use share energy.' Giving the scene that played out in front of him a piercing gaze, the gears and cogs in the elder VPU's brain turned for an explanation.
...!
'There's no way. He COULDN'T have!'
Dark brows furrowing as his eyelids widened, Citadel through his vast years of experience figured out what Nebula alluded to with his words, but was stunned that someone who was the target of Xero's mission could do so.
"I gained the possession of fear energy, and by combining it with my shares, I pulled it off!" Nebula announced excitedly, altering the cadence of his words.
"Instead of being ripped apart by antagonistic energies, not only did I erase my presence, but I also managed to gain access to both FAITH AND FEAR!" His proclamation managed to stun all who gazed upon him, even the veteran Citadel and unbiased Kars who floated above.
"So those energies flowing through your body must have affected that brain of yours." Xero ribbed the Guardian Progenitor Unit with a snort. "No wonder you look and act fried." Making fun of the anorexic GPU's mannerisms, the destructive god let out a dry laugh.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Smiling, Nebula responded in kind to the VPU's insult.
"This high I feel is no ordinary euphoria..." Looking down, a bright grin graced his features.
"SAIKOU NI HIGH TE YATSU DA!" (THIS IS THE GREATEST HIGH!) Looking into the aerial ethos screaming with jubilant zeal written on his face, Nebula grabbed his head before waving his arms to the side, laughing intensely.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA...!"
...SHIFT!...
Tears formed from the corners of Nebula's eyes before they floated off his ducts and into the air. The unyielding mania echoed throughout the battlefield as the golden rays of light shone down on the travesty that was the Gamindustri Graveyard.
His laugh soon became consumed by the alternate cadence, the blue GPU's hair turning stark alabaster through his fit of enlightened laughter. His shrunken muscles returned to their filled physique as the borderline insane laughter died down.
"My goal of touching the grass of enlightenment is complete!" Aluben's influence declared, before pointing to Xero.
"The sun, the warmth, the joy I wish to share can only be felt through vigorous battle!" A crazed look on the alter ego's face matched the tenacity to brawl.
"Battle, eh?" Xero looked at the altered GPU before noticing something in the distance.
It was the hilt and broken blade of Soul Edge that AL destroyed, stuck in the ground half of the sword that it used to be.
'...It'll work.'
EXTEND!...
-GRAPPLE!
"In that case..." Pointing his palm, the chain around Xero's arm rushed before wrapping its links around the handle of the sword.
-RETRACT!
...SPIN!
Before retrieving the weapon fragment and spinning it with threatening velocity that generated a current of wind around the stagnant VPU.
"I'm gonna enjoy ripping your high ass outta the sky!-" A demented look of anticipation made its way to the dimensional nuisance's face.
SWING!
"-And dragging you six feet under the earth!" Before he cemented his will, preparing to resume the fight against the Gamindustriman faction. Tugging his arms, the Viral Pernicious Unit sent the improvised weapon flying in his opponent's direction.
...VANISH!
"!?" Before Aluben's presence was lost to everyone who was in the middle of the battlefield.
"Monochrome: Repel."
Turning around, Xero saw the upside-down GPU with his Blazar gangster aimed at him as a white sphere that was almost blinding to look at floated just a couple of centimeters from his handgun's muzzle.
A white hole was created with the help of share energy inverting the values that a black hole would have been manifested with, all before the VPU turned his back away from Aluben.
-BOOM!
"GHKKKK!-"
The projectile crossed the distance without a discernable trace from its speed, before smashing into the Viral Pernicious Unit with enough force to lift him off his feet and crack multiple bones.
EXPLOSION!
When the white hole traveled enough away from the vicinity of the non-combatants, it exploded in a white dome of energy before subsiding shortly thereafter.
Turning himself right-side up, the GPU looked at the remaining members that were able to move, somewhat.
"Oi." The elevated Guardian Progenitor Unit called the immediate group.
"Listen up, because I wanna enjoy this. You two will gather the bodies of our friends and bring them to Compa." The alter ego gave the meme lord the chance to speak, turning to the CPU twins of Lowee as he spoke with an overly bright face.
"But what about that Xero? He's gonna beat us up if he sees us!" Ram brought up the VPU.
"The same Xero I shot a couple of seconds ago? Sure, sure. Just do your part and I'll make sure he's hurting too much to do anything to your body parts." Rolling his eyes with a wide grin, he looked back to the twins.
"Okay. Let's go get Blanc first, Ram!" Rom felt herself regain some initiative as she looked at her twin sister.
"You betcha. Make sure you break some of that dummy's bones!" Ram shouted as the two CPU Candidates of Lowee went off in the direction of their older sister.
"Sure thing, Ram. Compa, patch up Domio and let him help the twins. This will be a little taxing on you, but I know you can do it." Nebula assured the Nurse-In-Training, closing his eyes as he smiled which momentarily obscured the unhinged nature of his gesture.
"Yessy!" Compa promptly responded, seeing her chance to be useful before her. "Do your best, Neb-Neb!" She excitedly cheered for the mentally ascended GPU.
"Good girl. Do you understand as well, my son?" Looking at the smiling Domio, Nebula returned the stare with an expecting grin.
"Verstanden, vater!" (Undestood, father!) Domio mock-saluted, to the amusement of his adoptive guardian.
"Guter junge." (Good boy.) The GPU nodded before turning to the Protagonist of Protagonists.
"One last thing before I get my get back. Neptune, I want to make a truce between our positions as protagonists.' Nebula's smile faltered slightly, morphing into a curl of the lips.
"Say what? You wanna do that now of all times?!" The sentence took aback Neptune as Nebula resisted the urge to laugh and continue.
"Xero's still reeling from that white hole. We have a little more time left, so make these seconds count. Do you want to tag along with me or not, Protagonist of Protagonists?" The enlightened pseudo-protagonist inquired playfully.
"Oho? You're finally realizing your place in the meta-hierarchy I see." A snide expression appeared on the CPU of Planeptune's face, her eyes and smile not so different from the visage of a Yukkuri.
"Mhm. I'd say we're about equals. I'll be the main hero if you're the main heroine. That way, we don't have to fight over main character status, Capeesh?" Offering his hand to seal the agreement, he blinked in waiting for the CPU of Planeptune.
Neptune initially hesitated, unsure if she'd be comfortable sharing the prestige of protagonist with the pseudo-protagonist before her. Yet seeing the lengths he'd go to for the slightest chance of victory via coming back from the dead and helping her sister up until that point...
Would it really be that bad?
"Ah, what the heck. It's not like I can do anything against that guy by myself. Deal." The CPU of Planeptune took the enlightened GPU's hand, shaking it in a sign of agreement.
...PILLAR!
TRANSFORM!
As she took the Guardian Progenitor Unit's hand, her body was consumed in the trademark light that all CPUs worth their salt could summon for a transformation. The brilliant light subsided, and Purple Heart stood in Neptune's place shaking the Nebula's hand.
Her appearance was identical to her usual transformed state, except for a highlight of glowing lilac hair that graced the front of her leftmost bang, becoming a distinguishable trait throughout her hairstyle.
"I transformed?" Looking at herself in surprise, the meme lord released her hand. 'Yet something feels different about this one.' The CPU of Planeptune mentally took note.
"That conversation in your human state was just for you to make contact with me so I could give you enough shares to transform." Scratching the back of his head with a cheeky grin, the sentiment was shared as a small smile graced the goddess' lips.
"I see. This works out in our favor then. Are you ready to face our foe?" The serious CPU of Planeptune summoned her greatsword before turning to the last place they saw Xero blast off to.
"I was revived ready." The influence of Aluben returned to the GPU's voice, sensing the battle's impending resumption. His crazed look intensified, to the point that one of his eyelids twitched with anticipation.
...ZOOM!
The chained Soul Edge fragment rushed to Nebula's location with the rustling of metal signaling its rapid approach.
"Watch out!" Purple Heart shouted, her heightened senses picking up the fast-approaching sword piece aimed at the enlightened meme lord's head.
-HALT!...
Yet its path was halted a full meter away from the flesh of the GPU, as he stood with the same wonky smile before turning to Purple Heart with a manic smile. Nebula's Baro Barrier had been strengthened to the extent that even a fear-based weapon was victim to the repulsive gravity that it exuded without a hitch.
"What's with ya expression?" A playful tone escaped Aluben's voice, the CPU of Planeptune blinking owlishly at the complete stop that Xero's improvised weapon made.
"He's pretty weak, after all." Emphasizing the lack of strength with a shrug caused the goddess of Planeptune to gaze upon the high GPU with a lingering face of disbelief.
-PHASE!
"I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT WEAKNESS IS!" Fully intending to make his opponent eat the dirt with his words as an appetizer, Xero materialized before the two as a seething glare was sent the GPU's way.
Repel's contact significantly damaged his clothes and body, his body still in the process of regenerating the damage done that transpired several minutes ago by the conversations the blue meme lord had with the other party members.
-SHOCKWAVES!-...
Putting his strength to use, the Viral Pernicious Unit dropkicked the pommel of Soul Edge, as it struggled to move even a picometer closer to Nebula's body. Shockwaves of distortion reverberated around the broken sword tip as it reacted to the superior manifestation of a share-based ability.
Purple Heart felt this intense disruption through her being due to both her proximity and the nature of the clashing energies in comparison to her own. It made the hairs on her neck rise in the abnormal sensation of warring supernatural forces,
"You sure will, Xero."
CHARGE...!
Pointing his Blazar at the dropkicking VPU, the weapon conjured a black dot before its muzzle as it was regulated by a sinister energy source the VPU knew all too well.
"Monochrome: Devour."
BLAST!
The black hole devoid of light that absorbed all color was fired, Xero's body being dragged unceremoniously through the air with a roaring echo from the GPU's hand cannon.
ABSORB!...
While it dragged the edgy otherworlder through the air, Xero could feel his body being sucked into the SP Skill's singularity.
'This fucker really can use fear energy! This stupid black hole is as dense as he is!' The brutalist edge lord internally acknowledged with volumes of begrudging within his thoughts.
EXPAND!
After a short time, the black hole inverted its function, forcing the matter it absorbed to be ejected in a dramatic explosion, sending the VPU corkscrewing to the ground.
...PAUSE!
Yet his body was prevented from hitting the ground, being suspended in the air inches away from a painful impact. Confusion washed over Xero's features as to how an attack that smarted so much didn't even let him hit the ground.
-TELEPORT!
-SMASH!-
"UMMMMMMMF!" The half-transformed Xero felt his head mercilessly slammed into the ground, half-buried upon collision with the ground. Rocks flew into the air as his skull rattled with the pain of a foreign object placed on the back of his skull.
"Chaos Control. See, Nep? He sure showed us!" Another jovial grin with a side of delirium was flashed to the CPU of Planeptune, who had teleported with him due to her proximity to the GPU.
His foot on the back of the VPU's skull, he awaited a response from the Planeptunian goddess.
"Uh... Yes, he did." Unable to even think of a believable alternative or a witty remark to the absolute blindsiding that the ravenous VPU received, Purple Heart agreed with the loony-looking Nebula.
Although the Guardian Progenitor Unit meant well, the CPU couldn't shake off the unnerving sensation of being gazed into as she stared into the manic shade-switching pupils that were so similar yet completely different from her own.
"GET OFF OF ME!"
-EXPAND!-
A Chaotic Overdrive exploded from the screaming Viral Pernicious Unit.
Engulfing both CPU and GPU, the two benevolent units were quickly absorbed into the blast radius before the destructive attack subsided as fast as it had appeared.
Panting, Xero's body crackled with fearful feedback after he released a large chunk of his recovering energy to create some space between himself and the CPU/GPU duo.
STOMP!
"GHMMF!" Shouting in a mixture of agony and anger, the edgy VPU took another mouthful of scorched dirt, with Nebula's unmoved foot pressing hard against the rear of his skull.
"You're not in a position to be giving orders." Aluben's voice escaped the meme lord's body, a hand in front of Purple Heart with the damage of the terrain barely scooting around her.
Said CPU was shocked at the display of resilience that the GPU displayed despite remaining in his human state, completely unscathed from an attack that wouldn't left her in a disadvantaged position.
"If you'd do the honors, Neptune. I'd rather not let my main heroine reach A*ua status during this fight's course." A teasing grin with a snide tone left the unearthly voice originating from the adventurer's lips.
"Just so you know, I take offense to that! Alrighty then...!" Steadying her blade upon the comparison with a useless water goddess, Planeptune's goddess in charge raised her greatsword overhead ass her body faced the VPU.
"Attraction."
YANK!-
Sticking his hand to the VPU's position, the enlightened Guardian Progenitor Unit clenched his fist, inadvertently dragging Xero out of the floor to Purple Heart's direction as a setup.
"VICTORY SLASH!"
SLICE! SLICE!
-EXPLODE!...
An X-shaped shape arose from the double slash through Xero's body, before he was taken by the concurrent explosion that sent him tumbling through the air as Purple Heart executed her EXE Drive.
The VPU's body sprawled for a few seconds before stopping himself mid-air at a sideway angle, his body stinging hotly from the attacks that the CPU doled onto his body moments prior.
'That... hurt?' Miffed that the purple goddess struck him with an attack that he could register as pain, Xero felt a wave of humiliating realization that he was no longer the aggressor in the situation before even the likes of the CPUs.
"Osoroshī Bakuhatsu!"
BLAST!...
Using the fear energy coursing through his body, Aluben fired a blast of fearsome KI at the paused Viral Pernicious Unit with a black sphere with an orange highlight, racing to the otherworlder's location.
ZOOM!
Perceiving the incoming attack, Xero's body was covered in his fearsome aura before rushing to the side, flying out of the trajectory of the incoming attack.
-TELEPORT!-
"Jūryoku Hadōken!"
"-OH FUCK!"
With the green flash of Chaos Control lighting up in front of him, two cupped hands were ushered into the screaming VPU's face. A pale blue light blinded the VPU's vision, followed by a powerful torrent of hallowed KI.
BLAST!-
Spiraling in the opposite direction that the VPU flew away from, his body flailed wildly right into the original attack, colliding awkwardly with the polarizing energy source with the trails of share energy still flying off his body.
-KA-BOOM!-
DISTORTIONS!
Thereafter the malignant blast created a distorting shockwave that reverberated several times from the destructive attack's detonation, causing Xero to corkscrew rapidly out of the radius of the dissipating energy.
"Neptune Break!"
SLASH!
Flying into Xero's direction, Purple Heart slashed her sword into the VPU's side, causing blood to fly from the wound in a blitzing spurt before she twirled around and activated her processor to thrust her body toward the evil deity for a second strike.
The edgy god's eyes snapped open in pain, before locking onto the purple CPU's location, preparing to react to her approaching figure.
CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!-CLANG!...
The chained forearms of Xero made sparks fly as he guarded against each slice that Planeptune's CPU landed on his body, barely resisting the force of the goddess as his body couldn't withstand Nebula and contend with Purple Heart simultaneously.
"The final strike!"
-ZOOM!
Purple Heart rushed in from an aerial angle, preparing to execute the final combination of her EXE Drive, her sword edge glowing with power as the distance between herself and the VPU closed rapidly.
'Planepturd's goddess needs to get benched if I want to retain enough strength to deal with Nebula.' Deciding his next step, he took his chained fragment and concentrated fear energy into its length.
DARKEN!-
"Ebon Pike!"
SWING!
The CPU's eyes darted to the side, witnessing the incoming black chain as her adversary's sword fragment quickly closed the gap.
GUARD!
-REDIRECT!
"!?" Both CPU and VPU were flabbergasted at the sudden jar.
Yet as the transformed goddess blocked, the direction of the chain was abruptly jarred out of her way.
GRAB!-
-STAB!
"BLEAGK!" Guttering in pain, the Viral Pernicious Unit felt his pecs rupture violently, before his sword fragment was lodged into his chest cavity, courtesy of the Aluben-influenced meme lord having grabbed his attack out of the sky before clutching the handle.
"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"
STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB!
Blood spurted ludicrously from the innumerable holes created in the VPU's torso, Aluben roaring a hardened battle cry as he channeled his inner roadman to shank the otherworldly deity with extreme prejudice, overpowering the vile god's regenerative qualities with his stab's velocity.
-STAB!
SWIVEL!-
"Osoroshī Tatsumaki Zankukyaku!"
DARK TWISTER!
Sticking the broken Soul Edge into the jugular of the VPU, Aluben spun around with haste to the point of creating a spiraling storm of wind, before yelling out his technique as the malevolent opponent was scooped up into the terrifying attack.
THOOM!
Before swiftly kicking the edge lord out of the attack, dispelling the twister of terror as the body of Xero propelled to Purple Heart's position.
"Thank you, Nebula!"
SLICE!-
Giving her gratitude to the enlightened GPU, the Protagonist of Protagonists rushed through the VPU with the beginning of her final combo.
SLASH!-
Before reaching the ground to spring into another sword slice, connecting with enough force to create another sizeable gash through the VPU's body, as his frame was still trying to regenerate.
PIERCE!
-THOOOOOOOOOM!...
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Before finally ending the combination with a downward piercing slash, that caused a pillar of energy to consume the two deities in a bright purple discharge of share energy.
-FLOAT!
...TELEPORT!
Flying out of the subsiding EXE Drive, Purple Heart observed the pillar's evaporation before she floated to a halt, not seeing any movement from the VPU as Nebula soon teleported next to her.
"You're starting to live up to your sister's praises." Nebula's voice poked through as he spoke to the fellow share deity.
"I could say the same about you living in general." Purple Heart returned with a confident smirk.
"Touché, Lady Purple Heart. Banshō Ten'in!" Acknowledging the increased brain activity in Neptune's transformed state, Aluben made his comeback by stretching his hand and yelling his next SP Skill.
PULL!
-CRASH!
Out of his buried spot, Xero was ravished by the gravitational force of Nebula's Attraction revved to a dangerous high, the VPU's body morbidly tugged through the air.
"Celestial Guillotine."
-GRAVITY SLICE!-
Changing the gesture of his extended hand into vertically pointed fingers, the resulting Repulsion that left his hand was compressed to the width of a theoretical particle; the graviton.
...SEVER!
"-!?" Xero's eyes widened upon registering his altered state.
Coupled with the peripherally instantaneous speed that it traveled, Xero was whole in one frame and his body suddenly bisected with a mathematically perfect divide in the next.
SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!-SLICE!
Dozens of slashes were ushered after the first Celestial Guillotine landed, with Aluben tilting the memelord's hand ever so slightly with each execution until the VPU was cut down into a display of paper-thin chunks.
Purple Heart watched with awe at another ruthless display of Aluben's might that could cut even a divine entity down to a bite-sized nuisance, thanking the author that whatever resided in Nebula's body was on their side.
"Shinra Tensei...!"
REPEL!
-SPLATTER!
The mighty, concentrated blast of gravity rushed toward the sliced Xero, destroying any chunks that floated before the wave of a gravitationally destructive path. The technique left another bloody mist in its aftermath, and Xero's voice could not scream again because his destroyed vocals prevented him.
"...Hahaha! Bested by someone like this?! Pathetic. I've dealt with more resilient COCKROACHES!" After a moment of silence, the fear aspect couldn't hold in his amusement at how easily the VPU was taken down a second time.
Purple Heart looked at Nebula's laughing face and saw his genuine jubilation upon incapacitating the VPU. The corners of his mouth were wide, and maniacal laughter continued to escape his maw as the CPU awkwardly stared.
...REGENERATE!
That was until the sound of Xero's forceful rejuvenation grabbed the attention of both CPU and GPU. Heaving with slight exhaustion, the Viral Pernicious Unit was once again unarmed, his sword destroyed by the Celestial Guillotine barrage.
"What kind of attack was that! Did dying give you admin commands or something?!" Xero indignantly shouted, unable to find any rationality behind the insane jump in the brutality and effectiveness of his opponent's techniques.
"No, but just know that I'm not weak like that blue bastard... I will kill you."
ゴゴゴゴ!
The sudden killing intent from Aluben's words was enough to make both Purple Heart and Xero pale, sweating bullets as the alter ego voiced his will to slaughter the VPU before him.
"BULLSHIT!"
SURGE!
Red and black exploded from the VPU's body, his fear energy spiking with the sway of his wrath fueling its intensity as Xero cursed harshly at the current situation he found himself in.
"I REFUSE TO BELIEVE YOU'RE STRONGER! THIS IS NOT HAPPENIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!"
WOOOOSH!...
Purple Heart raised her sword, guarding against the raging winds that rushed past in all directions as Xero screamed bloody murder in denial of the reality that faced him.
Meanwhile, Aluben stood there without a care in the world, bemused by the cracks in the edgy Viral Pernicious Unit's mental state showing itself.
"Then deny this."
TOSS!
Flicking his hand across, an object raced into the chest of the VPU, causing him to stagger before the evil invader looked down to process what had just impacted him.
"Chibaku Tensei!"
DRAG!-
"HAX! I CALL FUCKING HAX!-" Xero's eyes widened, feeling the immense pressure of the singularity in his torso forcibly pull him into the air.
CRASH!-
CRASH!-
CRASH!-
CRASH!-
CRASH!-
Several large rocks slammed into his body, including his face which shut up his tangent about cheating before the small mound of boulders grew exponentially as the seconds passed.
...!
Until a large island-sized sphere of earth floated a kilometer above the Gamindustri Graveyard, signifying the completion of the technique.
"Baro Box!" Clasping his hands together, the GPU roared his next move.
COMPRESS!
The spherical skill was soon crunched into a cube, becoming even tighter within its confines, as Xero's body was squished even further by the gravitational pressure ramping up further.
Moving his hands to his sides, he stuck out his Blazar at the box of earth, turning to Purple Heart.
"Wanna see something cool?" Nebula's voice beckoned the Console Patron Unit of Planeptune. The purple goddess quirked an eyebrow in response with the white-haired meme lord returning to the mindset of battle.
SHINE!...
DARKEN!...
"Take the share and fear energies, then disregard the natural boundaries that separate such antitheses to create a paradoxical composition of ultimate potency." The adventurous GPU explained as Monochrome: Repel and Monochrome: Consume both manifested as they orbited around each other in front of the gun's muzzle.
FUSE!
"Imaginary Punchline: No Reaction."
-THOOM!-
Pulling the trigger forced the two orbiting energies to smash together, as an equal division of power resembling a yin-yang orb blasted from in front of the pistol with a distortive shockwave.
-FLASH!...
The collision of the stack with the Baro Box was reactive to the point that a blinding light expanded throughout the entire graveyard, causing the goddess of Planeptune to shield her eyes as Compa flinched before following suit.
Even Citadel's eyes squinted from the sudden jump in exposure, as Kars who floated above turned his head to the side with the light expanding to quickly for him to manipulate his pupils to see what transpired.
...
..
.
"Urgh..." Holding his head, Vergo groaned as he felt a harsh light around him keeping his eyes closed through the sensation of overwhelming radiation.
Getting to his feet, he held what felt like a moist section of his head, telling of a serious head injury. Grimacing at the implication, he moved on to more pressing matters.
"This light's really annoying..." The domineering effect of the rays forced the time-traveling CPU Candidate to use his KI sensing capabilities alongside the abundance of wind that surrounded him to map out an internal legend of where he stood.
From what the CPU Candidate of Leanbox gathered, Xero's energy could not be sensed at all. This was definitely concerning for the blondie, yet he picked up on Purple Heart's presence standing on her lonesome.
Compa and Domio were close in proximity, while Rom and Ram were sensed moving about the battlefield while shifting about the other minuscule energies that Vergo could only pin as their downed comrades.
'Xero's... Gone?... But how?' The thought of the fearmongering warrior meeting his end seemed alien to the godling. He tried opening his eyes to see if this was true in the visual peripheral, but the searing light forced his eyes shut.
Citadel was still present, which made no sense to the CPU Candidate as he'd spring into action if anything had a real threat of devastating his brother as what happened with Gris.
Walking to where the Nurse-In-Training and the Loweean warlock were located seemed endless without the visual aid, relying solely on his esoteric sensing to guide his body through the searing light.
"...Neptune?"
But before long, Purple Heart's signature appeared on his mental radar. Transformed and all from the influx of shares that he picked up due to the nature of her reacting shares.
As he moved closer to the somehow transformed goddess, the blonde felt the light decrease in intensity as he approached the CPU of Planeptune. His eyes slowly acclimated to the dimming exposure of the environment, and his eyelids gave way to his pupils.
When the light became bearable, Vergo opened his eyes to see Purple Heart standing with a stern expression that slowly gave way to stupefaction.
"Aunt Neptune?... What are you looking aaaaa..." Confusion swept down the CPU Candidate's face before staring in the same direction his senior CPU did, with his sentence drawling out of astonishment.
LEVITATE...!
"I'm sorry, everyone. But I'm not even angry anymore." Returning to his manic yet familiar inflection, the enlightened GPU floated off the ground with his arms and legs hanging behind him. A gentle smile and half-lidded eyes graced his face.
"Well, I am. Fuck you."
Blood Void, having instinctively transformed to withstand the otherwise fatal attack, stood with half of his upper body annihilated without a trace. His eyes were faded, inverse power symbols barely dark enough to be visible with blood dripping from his exposed wound.
BFFT!-
"Do you guys have any ibuprofen? I have a headache." Gris, whose head was stained a deep dried crimson as he bled from the sickening headbutt he received involuntarily, inquired comedically upon his return to the living.
"... Who gave Nebula nitrous oxide?" Scrunching his face with the lack of information upon arriving to the scene, his eyes shifted down to see the crippled Xero.
"And gave Xero fentanyl?" Before he soon shifted his eyes to the two share deities, who were too taken up by the imagery of what Gris probably lacked the mental capacity to perceive due to the head injury.
"The world just feels so, so based right now." Nebula continued, before floating upright as he raised his finger to the sky as his other pointed to himself.
"In Celestia above and on Gamindustri below, I am the most honored Gary Stu. I shall dispel the suffering that fills this fanfiction."
"WHAT! AWW HELL NAW!" Blood Void who visibly wretched at the words that escaped Nebula's mouth vehemently disagreed with the claim that the honored one decreed. His facial expression mimicked that of a certain old man who was known for such an outrageous reaction.
"Gary Stu?! I'll take paracetamol even, just somebody PLEASE give me some medication. This head injury is fucking with me if that just came out Noobula's mouth." Holding his head, the edgy GPU was starting to question reality.
"Can't you regenerate?" Vergo inquired, semi-annoyed.
"You'd think I'd be asking if I COULD?" The albino assassin snapped.
"Fair point." The Leanboxian time traveler conceded. "Although, I'll tolerate that obnoxious title if Xero gets his arse expanded like a domain." Shrugging nonchalantly, the green time traveler remarked.
"I thought we were sharing the main character role! You can't just call yourself a Gary Stu." Purple Heart opposed the very idea of becoming so vastly overshadowed by the overbearing title of something so obnoxious.
"Worry not, Neptune. Being the embodiment of a narrative miracle is nothing short of an honor. I'll show you all right now." His cyan eyes peered down at the present deities before he made two 'OK' signs with his hands pressed next to each other.
"Ryōiki Tenkai: Mugen Mīmuzu."
EXPANSION!
The world around the CPUs, GPUs, and VPU spontaneously shifted to a grassy field with pristine blue skies. Serene, the nature of the actual biome was a far cry from the outside world, a mix of heavenly intervention and a hellish landscape.
Whatever stakes were on the line felt as if they slowly melted, leaving the present party members with a feeling of calmness from viewing such a nostalgic scene, that they could find on any relatively old desktop wallpaper.
"What is this place?" Purple Heart inquired, looking around to see no trace of her other friends. There were just the people present and a seemingly endless field of mesmerizing grassy hills.
"I was joking, but now I'm glad we got much higher."
"So high, Oh oh oh!~ oh oh oh oh~" Gris uncharacteristically sang due to his untreated head injury, in tune with a certain internet meme.
...FLOAT!
"W-What the hell?!" The VPU's body suddenly floated as the song permeated through the domain. "Why am I flying right now? Put me down, damnit!" The VPU demanded.
"In my domain, humor reigns supreme. All are incapable of direct violence within this space; only comedy can solve our problems." After giving a basic explanation of his domain, Nebula quickly gave a rundown to all present.
"So we need memes to defeat Xero?" Purple Heart stuck her greatsword into the ground, having a rough understanding of what the GPU shared with the present group of deities.
"This is such a Nebula thing to do." Rolling his eyes, Vergo couldn't help but snort at the thought of a non-violent path to victory utilizing internet humor. "Welp, it's his domain after all." Relinquishing any opposition, the blondie rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I'll go first. Chat, is this real?" The albino GPU stared to no one in particular,
Muji470: Yeah man this is real asf.
imwa2fresh4u: As real as your mother's ashes.
Feldragon: About as real as invisible coke.
Guest: Really pathetic, just like your pp.
"Hey, who said that last one!?" Ticked off, the cross face of Lastation's GPU shouted as Blood Void quickly put something away.
"I saw him put his phone away!" Purple Heart pointed at the VPU's pocket. "He left that message on the chat logs!" The CPU easily identified the culprit.
"Mods, crush his skull." Swirling his finger around before forming a fist, the enlightened GPU wore a knowing expression.
DENT!
"UMMF!" The transformed VPU's head was indented, forming a sucked-in mound where his face used to be with his hands frantically grasping at his altered head.
"Pfft!" Purple Heart could not help but chuckle at the sight before her, putting a hand in front of her mouth.
"Haha!" Vergo on the other hand cackled boisterously at the suffering of a VPU.
"Mods, cast testicular torsion on this fool." Gris continued his spite-filled comedy act.
-SCRUNCH!-
"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMF!"
The agonizing sound of family jewels being resold at an affordable price echoed with the Viral Pernicious Unit falling to his arms and knees in suffering.
"Mods, give him an atomic wedgie." Vergo darkly smiled, rubbing his hands maliciously.
YANK!
"MMF!-
STRETCH!
The tighty-whities of Blood Void were tugged to their utmost limit, before pulling themselves over his head in a humiliating fashion, as he fell to the side unable to reach the exact spot where the band of his underwear resided.
"Moderators, force him to fart uncontrollably without the smell." The CPU of Planeptune although serious, deep down could not hold herself from partaking in the tomfoolery that was Nebula's domain.
REVERB FART!
REVERB FART!
REVERB FART!
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The farts that escaped the riding wedgie in Blood Viud's pants reverberated with a bass-boosting effect, causing Gris and Vergo to cackle scandalously akin to rabid hyenas.
"Stayin' still, eyes closed~... Let the world just pass me by~..." Nebula sang melodically as the protagonistic CPU joined in on laughing with the two share deities at the VPU's expense.
"Pain pills,"
POP!~
"FINALLY!" Gris celebrated with a bottle of ibuprofen appearing next to him before he grabbed the medication and downed the contents without a second thought.
"Nice clothes~"
FWOOSH!~
"Peng, mate." Seeing his refurbished clothes, the blonde CPU Candidate snapped his fingers into a pointing index at the singing GPU.
"If I fall, I think I'll fly!~"
"Oh my." Purple Heart saw the white-haired GPU fall from his floated position coming face to face before winking as he ascended with a volley of flips to his previous location in the blue sky.
"Touch me, Midas!~ Make me part of your design~" Posing spontaneously, the male GPU mimicked the posture of a certain Joestar with a battle tendency, not unlike himself.
"None to guide us, I feel fear for the VERY LAST TIIIIIIIIIIIIME!~"
SHINE!...
Singing his heart out, Nebula's voice was replaced with Aluben's as the darker persona chimed in as both voices overlapped. The blue skies of the W*ind*ws *P background turned golden, just like the outside of the domain expansion.
"Lay still, restless, losing sleep while I lose my mind!~"
"Lay still, restless, losing sleep while I lose my mind!~"
Both singers created an odd harmony as they joined, with Nebula circling his index finger around his head to convey his questionable mental state.
"All thrill, no stress, all my muses left behind."
"Left behiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind~!"
Aluben took the singing role, as he smiled widely at the suffering that Blood Void endured for the sake of comedic effect within his alter ego's domain rules.
"World is below! So high up, I'm near-divine~"
"I'm up so hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh!~"
Spreading his arms and legs out, a cry of jubilee escaped the sing-song voice of the GPU before he looked down at the others, to complete the bit he began with his alter ego.
"Lean in~" "Let go!~"
"I feel fear for the very last time~..."
SUBSIDE!...
Both personalities sing separately before joining for a disembodied duet. Their spiel of the song ends, and the Domain Expansion disappears leaving reality a part of the space once more.
DESCEND!...
Landing gracefully, the GPU stood beside the other two CPUs and GPU, with the four looking at the disfigured and embarrassed Viral Pernicious Unit.
"At this point, anyone with HDD can put him in the forever box." Gris cracked his neck as the pain from the nasty head trauma completely nullified. "Who wants the honor?" He inquired thoughtfully.
"I thought an Imaginary Punchline would've done it from its flashiness," Purple Heart admitted, picking her sword up from the ground.
"Flashbang, more like-" Vergo gave A side glance to the white-haired meme lord before the CPU of Planeptune continued.
"-But the reality of the situation is that while incapacitated, our opponent is very much alive." Walking to the weakened Viral Pernicious Unit, the goddess gripped her sword with the intent to finish off the enemy as a determined look flashed on her face.
"The only way you're gonna beat the Gary Stu allegations is if you let Neptune steal your kill." Returning to his previous personality after the meds kicked in, a snigger graced his lips as Purple Heart closed the gap between herself and the VPU.
"I already did my part while you took a dirt nap." Nebula threw back as a growl escaped the edgy GPU's mouth, unable to refute the fact that was slapped across his face.
"Begone, VPU! 32-bit Mega Blade!"
SUMMON!
Pointing her greatsword into the sky, the share-constructed cyan sword materialized before plummeting with enough speed to render itself fatal to the unaware VPU, his pathetic state thanks to the expanded domain.
-PARRY!
"Time's up."
With the tip of his ballpoint pen, Citadel slowed the momentum of the 32-bit Mega Blide to a complete standstill the moment he appeared in front of Purple Heart while standing over his brother's downed form.
"How did you...!?" Purple Heart was struck from left field with the arrival of the elder VPU.
"Fucken' 'ell!" Vergo swore with a reprehensible expression.
"Aw shit, here we go again." Memeing the situation, Nebula folded his arms.
"I don't have enough shares for this." Gris sighed as he got ready to engage.
Ignoring the reactions from the share deities, the experienced VPU gazed upward at the sword he was currently halting from executing his fallen brother.
DISPEL!
The SP Skill was instantly dissipated from a stern glare the formal Viral Pernicious Unit unleashed, putting only a drop in the ocean's worth of fear energy to eradicate the technique's existence.
"This is the SECOND time he's done this." The albino assassin grumbled aloud. "Remember how this went last time, Nebula?" The Lastationite GPU recalled as the enlightened meme lord shook his head.
"This time and last time aren't the same. We have more people and most importantly, more power. If we can just finish off Xero, it'll be good enough." Pointing his Blazar at the downed Blood Void, before using a technique.
"Monochrome-"
-WHISK!
"...!"
Having instantaneously moved once more, Citadel's pen had drawn something on Nebula's shoulder without his knowledge until the Planeptunian GPU realized that his body could not move.
"None of that. Although you call yourself a Gary-Stu... It pales to the narrative of a villain-sue. You insignificant fuck."
CLICK!-
-BOOM!
Pushing the spring of his pen on Nebula's body was enough to send him crashing into the ground as his eyes widened in painful shock. A scowl formed at the VPU's mouth before he turned to Vergo.
"What the hell did you!-"
-WHISK!
Under the same bind as Nebula, the time-traveling blonde felt every muscle in his body freeze up losing the ability to even speak as he could only move his eyes.
BFFT!
-BLOCK!
Timestop blitzing to the flank of the VPU, Gris attempted to strike the elder VPU from the back of his head yet a forearm impeded his shin's path.
"Neptune, kill him before he-" Yelling to the CPU of Planeptune, Gris tried to get the goddess to finish the job while he distracted Citadel.
-WHISH!
Yet he too was prevented from saying another word, under the same silencing and inhibiting state as his divine brethren.
"Dual Edge!-"
CLANG!...
Bringing down her sword for a deciding strike, the elder VPU appeared with a flash of colors before materializing as his pen point deflected the sword with enough force for sparks to fly.
SCRIBBLE!-
-SMASH!
Writing the word 'DULL' on Purple Heart's sword immediately after parrying it before going in for the offense. The divine swordswoman attempted to counter but only managed to create an awkward clunk with her blade due to the VPU's status effect.
WHISK!...
Writing the word 'STAGNATE' on her forehead before it faded, the CPU of Planeptune was subject to the same motionless fate as the trio of share gods, with all four share-based deities unable to oppose the elder VPU.
"...Tch. This is the caliber of CPU and GPU that defeated you." Turning to his begotten brother, the older Viral pernicious Unit couldn't help but frown while holding back a scowl.
...RISE...!
Picking up the disfigured VPU by his underwear, the older brother of Xero started to levitate as he flew into the golden sky while looking down on the paralyzed party members.
"Rejoice, denizens of Gamindustri. You have managed to stave the efforts of my brother to purge your miserable existences." The volume of Citadel's voice was projected at a volume that the entire Gamidustri Graveyard could overhear.
"Huh? Why do I hear Citadel's voice?" Compa grew concerned amid her confusion, looking around spontaneously as she tended to the unconscious party members that Rom, Ram, and Domio had brought over the course of Nebula and Purple Heart's skirmish.
They had all been lined up with the best of Compa's bandaging and medical knowledge to their aid, as the small group awaited their awakenings and the enlightened one's return.
"Up there!" Rom pointed to the floating VPU before her sister chimed in with a weird expression.
"What the heck is he carrying?" Ram seemed off-put by the deformed figure in the formidable god's hand.
"That's Xero... With an atomic wedgie, and a crushed skull while farting?" Domio identified with a mix of confusion and slight humor.
"Bahahahaha!" Ram started to cackle boisterously at the warlock's description.
"H-Hehehehe...!" Even the quieter Rom could not help herself from joining her sister as both twins laughed at the VPU's expense.
"But I will not stand for his humiliation, for it shames all of VPU kind. Therefore a parting gift is in order." Citadel continued as he pointed his hand skyward.
CHARGE!...
A black dot of fear energy was created over his raised pointer finger before it multiplied in size within a moment's notice. The golden sky that came from Nebula's arrival was replaced with a grey and unforgiving hue as the orb of fear energy exponentially magnified despite the lack of effort on Citadel's face.
'What the hell is up with his power? He could've done this the entire time!' Kars, who floated not too far away from the VPU was blindsided at the speed that the attack was conjured with.
Easily matching the floating landmass in size, the sphere of destruction hovered over the Gamindsutri Graveyard before he spoke.
"I bid you all, alongside this graveyard farewell. The resulting explosion will wipe out all life on Gamindustri from the explosive yield, eradicating the planet's surface in the process."
-¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?-
Using his pen, he created a portal before sliding halfway into the rip within space-time. with a dark expression on his face as he looked down at the Gamindustri Graveyard for the last time.
"Begone, inferior creatures. In the end, your plot armor meant nothing."
DISAPPEAR!
...FALL!
Completely entering the portal, the two VPUs were gone as the attack slowly descended upon the Gamindustri Graveyard.
"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEE!" The defector, who'd been silently observing the entire time screamed out the only logical conclusion that his poor brain could muster in the heat of incoming annihilation.
"We've won, but at what cost?" Falling to his knees, the ASIC defector felt the urge to sob at the bleak fate that awaited everyone on the island, especially the group around him.
"No! There has to be a way!" Ram refused to roll over and accept their demise. "Rom, can you think of anything?" She looked to her sister for any ideas.
"Nuh-uh. What about you, Miss Compa?" The child CPU Candidate looked to the Nurse-In-Training, who was equally frightened by the incoming death ball.
"Nope, I don't think there's anything I can do. Dom-Dom?" She looked at the Loweean warlock, who was visibly sweating alongside the rest of the conscious group with the impending arrival of the descending fear nuke.
"Uhh... I think we're cooked in all honesty." The teenage ice warlock admitted. Even if he did muster his strength, something like THAT in the sky would dwarf the lone boy's efforts ad infinitum.
Most of the other party members were knocked out, unable to aid in suggestions or manpower. The warlock had no idea where his adoptive father or any of the other GPU/CPUs were. Even if he spent the group's time looking for them, the falling attack might make contact with the landmass before any of them were found.
"We can't just wait and die! What about that other guy that Vergo and Gris fought with? He isn't here with the others." The defector frantically brought up, unwilling to be obliterated.
"Kars..." Domio muttered before a lightbulb lit up in his head. "Kars! KARS! KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARS!" Screaming the Ultimate Life Form's name as if it was the last thing he'd ever shout, the teenage warlock wasted no time in stretching his vocal cords to the max.
TELEPORT!
"WHAT!" In a flash of magical light, the Pillarman appeared with an annoyed shout after his name was hollered with enough volume to echo throughout the Gamindustri Graveyard.
No longer in his insectoid armored state, the semi-formally clad alien had a visible tick mark on his fedora-wearing head.
"Can you stop that thing in the sky?" Domio pointed, to where Citade'ls parting gift was located, approaching slowly.
"I was pondering my probability before you started wailing my name like a banshee." The alien life form revealed as the Loweean superhuman awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"Well, can you?" Compa asked Kars, a hopeful look in his eyes. Her gaze was returned with a calculated look that did not harbor any of the bright sentiment within the bubbly nurse.
"Fuck no. That guy squashed my head like a tomato, are you out of your mind?" The abrupt answer popped the nurse's hopes like a balloon, visibly deflating at the expletive that left the Ultimate Life Form's mouth.
"Language!" Ram pointed at the alien with an angry pout. "Just because we're gonna die doesn't mean you get to say the f-word." Huffing, the pink CPU Candidate turned away childishly.
"Sure. I can teleport everyone out of here, but that won't stop the explosion from wiping out all life on Gamindustri." Kars contributed. "That attack isn't going to fall anytime soon, but when it does eventually land, it'll kill every single organism without question." The alien warrior explained as they all gazed upon the black sphere of destructive fear.
"Then find my dad, Neptune, Vergo, and Gris so we can get out of here and think of something!" The warlock appealed to the Ultimate Life Form's making of a decision.
"It wouldn't work. I know their exact locations, but whatever Citadel wrote on them may interfere with the teleportation's coordinates due to his fear energy's potency." The alien told the small conscious party.
"So we're supposed to leave them behind?!" Rom did not like the thought of abandoning any of her friends, but she wasn't fond of being blown up either.
"Do you want to die alongside them instead?" A dark expression emanated from the Ultimate Life Form as he gave the older twin a grim alternative.
"..." Rom fell silent, not seeing a way that everyone could survive, or at the very least get far away enough to plan something. Compa, Ram, and the defector shared the sentiment as the ambiance of the incoming sphere of ruin passed through their settlement.
"We'll come back for them," Domio said, making up his mind. Nepgear, Vert, and AL might not like it, but we can't afford to stay here with the sky falling on us." Looking at the group, the warlock made his decision clear.
"Very well."
MAGIC CIRCLE!
The Ultimate Life Form prepared to cast the spell by creating a large magical circle under all individuals present.
"Greater Teleportation."
TELEPORT!
In a bright flash, the remaining party members both conscious and unconscious were teleported far away from the descending doom sphere of Citadel's creation.
Meanwhile, the four deities remained motionless as the wind blew in tandem with the incoming fear structure. Not even their hair flapped under the wind, signifying that even the minute matter that comprised the share deities' bodies was affected by the elder VPU.
"..."
'Hey, anyone there?' Nebula's voice was projected mentally to the small group of CPUs and GPUs.
'...Present.' Vergo telepathically blurted, sharing a connection.
'No, it's just your imagination.' Gris sarcastically commented, alerting the meme lord of his presence.
"How are you communicating with us right now?" Purple Heart was unaware of how the white-haired Planeptunian GPU mentally communicated with the three shared deities.
'It's a trick you can do with the proper training of KI, the natural life force that flows through every living organism. But I don't have the time to get into nitty-gritty details, we need to find a way to move our bodies and stop that thing Citadel airdropped on us.' The honored male GPU summarized before moving on to more pressing matters.
'Didn't you call yourself the honored Gary-Stu? Someone like you should have something to work with.' Purple Heart reminded the enlightened pseudo-protagonist.
'Considering the past events, that title is now hyperbole until further notice.' Gris disproved the mere mention of that epithet in correlation to Nebula's performance since his regaining consciousness.
'Enough, Gris. Any ideas, Neb?' Vergo was the one to get the conversation back on track as the meme lord remained silent.
'Sure. It'll render Nebula unable to use any esoteric energies for a while, though.' Aluben's voice joined the conversation, as the medium they communicated with didn't require a middleman, such as a physical vessel.
'Who are you?!' The three share divinities internally yelled in sync, as the alter ego cackled at their shock.
'Who else? The reason that this dumbass is alive? Officially it's Aluben, but don't think for a second I came up with that lazy ass name.' The fear aspect of Nebula introduced himself.
'Yeah, yeah. Just tell us the plan already you asshole.' For the first time since his energetic awakening, the enlightened GPU sounded undeniably annoyed.
'I'll use your shares to subsidize the creation of a theoretical opposite of fear energy; inverse energy.'
'Isn't share energy the opposite of fear energy?' Vergo questioned the alter ego's logic. 'In nature, it's obvious that the medium of miracles and the substance of nightmares are at odds.' The bloke further elaborated.
'While you may be correct on paper, are you correct in practice considering the track record of all that possess share energy against the VPUs?' Aluben responded, causing the time traveler to grow silent. 'If share energy directly countered fear energy, we wouldn't be in this situation now would we?' The alter ego further pushed his point.
'So you're going to reverse engineer fear energy? What will that accomplish?' Gris inquired with scrutiny upon hearing the alternate personality of the GPU.
'It should cancel out Citadel's fear energy on the principle of its composition rather than overpowering it through quantity as you all have been doing up until this point.'Aluben elaborated.
'What's the purpose of the share energy, then?' Purple Heart grew intrigued at the mechanics of the alter ego's plan.
'Just to add an extra layer of encryption to my plan. If I am correct in my theory, it will simply destabilize Citadel's bind instantly. If incorrect, which I severely doubt,' The fear aspect partially glazed, 'Our freedom will be that of a slow yet guaranteed process of overwhelming energies, following the natural structure of fear energy's fundamentals.' He finished explaining to the CPU of Purple Progress.
'Then what are we waiting for? Do it!' Nebula ushered his fearsome alternate.
-DISTORTIONS!-
From Nebula's body, a series of distortive events spread out through the area, as the bodies of the CPUs and GPUs shook violently from the reversed polarity of Nebula's fear energy.
-SHOCKWAVE!
A potent shockwave of inverted fear energy was released with a distortive crescendo, and the gods and goddesses jarred suddenly at the sudden freedom they obtained through the fear aspect's plan.
REVERT!...
True to Aluben's words, the ever-changing power signals in Nebula's eyes faded, leaving the cyan irises and regular pupils that consisted of a human, or a GPU in their human state. Yet his hair stayed alabaster in its visible tint, signifying the ascended state that he achieved upon his revival as the meme lord inspected himself.
"We're out!" Nebula triumphantly yelled, double fist-pumping into the air with a joyous expression on his features.
"But we're not out of the woods yet." Purple Heart gazed at the heavens, alluding to the incoming sphere of fear made manifest. "That thing is still threatening to extinguish us all, " the transformed CPU reminded the group.
"But you're the only one that can use HDD right now," Vergo told the goddess of Planeptune, stretching his shoulder. "So how can we stop that rooster head's blast if the rest of us can't even transform?"
...SHINE!
From the meme lord's pocket, a bright line of soothing energy radiated from his inventory manifested through his torn pants pocket. Curious, the GPU dug his hand into it before fishing out his Sharicite.
"The Sharicite? What in Noire's cosplay collection could make it react in this goddess-forsaken place?" Gris rose an extremely skeptical brow at the rock's unprecedented shine. If said Lastation CPU was present, she would glow as brightly red as the enlightened GPU's share crystal.
...SHINE!
"...Nebula? Are you there?" A feminine voice projected itself from the Sharicite, familiar to no one but the white-haired Planeptunian.
"Uranus?" Equally unsure as to how the voice he heard only in Celestia made itself known through the small shard in the GPU's hands, the alabaster-haired meme lord responded.
"It worked!" The celestial goddess cheered. "I sensed your share energy depleted so I assumed you..." She trailed off, her tone becoming melancholic as the sentence carried on before halting at the implication.
"He did die," Gris confirmed, causing the goddess to gasp in frightful astonishment. "But he also came back, so it's not as impactful as you think." Shrugging, a sigh that relinquished all doubts was heard from the share crystal.
"Thank goodness. But after it dropped, it fell abnormal for a time before depleting once more. Are you sure you're alright, Nebula?" Uranus indicated the question to the adventurer specifically, wanting to hear his voice confirm his status.
"For now," Nebula responded. "But I'm not sure if that's gonna be the case for long since a giant ball of destruction is gonna fall on Gamindustri and take us all out."
"WHAT!?" That got the astral goddess' attention, causing her voice to scream through whatever method the share crystal used to project her voice, making all who were present wince in pain.
"You heard right, lass. And only one of us has the shares to transform, so we've put ourselves in quite a dodgy situation." Vergo expanded while looking up with a pale face.
"Can you help us, Uranus? We have no choice but to request your assistance." Purple Heart asked the celestial goddess for aid, not seeing how the four could pull a desperate victory given their current state.
"I'm not quite sure. From Nebula's explanation, this connection is no more useful than an interdimensional phone call." The previous goddess of Planeptune admitted, causing the CPU of Planeptune to knit her brows.
"So you're saying that your presence is no more of an achievement than an interdimensional tin phone?!" Gris snapped with a tick mark with comical eyes on his face at the audacity of the lack of utility that Uranus brought with her.
"Excuse you! The Primordial Share Crystal hasn't generated enough energy for me to regain my corporeal form! You act as if I want to be useless!" The astral CPU
"Wait... That's it!" Nebula barged into the flow of conversation, causing the other three CPU derivatives to look his way. "I got it!" Emphasizing his eureka moment, the adventurer slapped his fist into his open palm.
"What is it, Nebula?" The transformed Protagonist of Protagonists inquired with attentive focus.
"We can use the Primordial Share Crystal's connection with Uranus' Sharicite to supercharge her crystal with direct contact. Then we take the consequent discharge that carries over to my Sharicite through its connection to hers to overclock our shares!" The meme lord quickly explained.
"That window we have while overclocked will give us enough power to destroy that attack!" Pointing dramatically to the falling orb of destruction, the pseudo-protagonist's spiel was complete.
"How do you know the Primordial Share Crystal has enough share energy to challenge, let alone destroy Citadel's fear energy?" Gris was cautiously optimistic about Nebula's crack shot idea, choosing to iron out the kinks of the seemingly solid suggestion.
"It has been here for as long as the concept of a CPU was known throughout Gamindustri. Added to the fact that it is responsible for the conditions that facilitate Celestia's existence, it is a safe assumption to believe it possesses a transfinite amount of share energy." Uranus gave some exposition to the small party of GPUs and CPUs.
"Very well. I implore you to prepare the Sharicite, Uranus." Purple Heart told her unbeknownst predecessor goddess with a confident visage and tone.
FLOAT!...
Wordlessly, Nebula extended the Sharicite to the center of the group as it floated due to his gravitational abilities.
"If the Primordial Share Crystal truly possesses that much share energy, then Uranus shouldn't make contact with it for long before we're overwhelmed by the incomprehensible quantity," Vergo noted aloud, utilizing his knowledge from the future Nebula's book on share theory.
"While we are divine, we aren't all-powerful." The time traveler spoke in a warning tone. "So we should charge at the bomb as soon as the shares enter our systems." Raising a finger, the time-traveler wagged it before poking skyward.
"So an EXE Drive. We'll use our strongest ranged attacks and blast it out of the sky completely without risking direct contact." Gris devised the plan of attack after Vergo's distinction.
"Sharicite is in position."
HUM...!
Uranus' voice was heard on the other side, alongside the hallowed resonance of the Primordial Share Crystal.
"Everyone put your hands on the Sharicite!" Nebula directed as the other three CPU derivatives followed his command.
"Now, Uranus!" The pseudo-protagonist shouted, and a melodic pang echoed through the floating Sharicite as contact was made.
REACT!
The Sharicite radiated with a fierce light that caused the four present GPUs and CPUs to wince at the sudden spike in intensity. Then, the vicinity was flooded with the ethereal light of Celestia's most potent share crystal.
-TRANSFORM!...
...
..
.
"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
Brave Heart's silhouette was present in the standard powering-up pose alongside a powerful screech, glowing a bright royal blue that completely saturated any features besides the outline of his body and white shapes for his eyes.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"
Future Heart's lime green silhouette of furious screaming was next to the Planeptunian GPU as his white eyes were slightly wider and the immense amount of shares coursed through his being.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Purple Heart shouted with renewed tenacity, her royal purple silhouette gripping a fist as she struggled to contain the insurmountable shares within her body, her white eyes squinting with effort.
"HEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
Edge Heart's black silhouette held his forearms parallel to the ground with his elbows tucked into his sides as he yelled with power, his white eyes narrowed as the edge lord locked in from the surge of shares.
Granted, the four deities' presence alone was enough to render the environment a monochromatic shade consisting of the ground that they stood on reflecting a white tint, as the background faded to an eigengrau gray with Citadel's sphere maintaining its abysmal black shade.
"Imashikanai, min'na!" (It's now or never, everyone!) Gris roared, hyped up to the extent that the universal language would not suffice. Yet all who were present understood, drawing their respective weapons.
-CHARGE!-...
"Baron...!" Placing his hand in a horizontal cupped fashion, the Planeptunian GPU channeled the tremendous amount of share energy into his palms as a singularity was formed in the space between his fingers that warped the fabric of space around it.
"Overwhelming...!" Raising his great scythe, Edge Heart's meter was overcharged several times over as voltage flew off of the metallic edges of his raised weapon. The blade had been prepared to discharge the moment it was summoned.
"Whirlwind...!" Reeling his lance, Future Heart's weapon glowed a bright array of green and purple with the colors spinning rapidly from the excited composition of shares. Generating its own wind current, the godling awaited the call to fire amid his shaking arm.
"Celestial...!" Pointing her greatsword skyward, Purple Heart's sword glowed an astoundingly potent lilac, as the energy that flowed through the weapon caused the CPU's hand to shake as she struggled to maintain her position.
'NOW!' The time traveler signaled.
"-CANNON!"
-BLAST!
"MAELSTROM!"
-SLICE!
"HURRICANE!"
-HURL!
"SLICE!"
-SLASH!
A ground-shaking beam of gravitational energy, with a destructive axis of lightning and an overwhelming purple arc of energy smashed into each other, before creating a propulsive construct of share energy that ushered the lance that left a sonic boom as it left the CPU Candidate's hands.
The rotation of Edge Heart's EXE Drive served to further the torque of the only solid EXE Drive, with Brave Heart's stream of gravitational energy providing perpetual acceleration as Purple Heart's EXE Drive guided the weapon to the epicenter of the black mass of fear energy plummeting from the heavens.
-CLASH!-
The resulting collision in the sky created a violent distortive event that reverberated throughout the Gamindustri Graveyard and expanded throughout the skies of Gamindsutri.
REVERT!-
"!?-"
-STABILIZE!...
As it washed over the gods and goddess, their forms reverted to base before their HDD reactivated for the duration of the shockwave's presence. A startled expression washed across each GPU and CPU's face before the spike from their shares' return snapped them back to reality.
RATTLE!... RATTLE!... RATTLE!...
The brashly combined EXE Drive persisted in its efforts to suppress the speck of Citadel's energy that threatened the world yet it only managed to halt the fear energy sphere.
"We need more power!" Purple Heart shouted, seeing the halted process of both attacks, stagnating in the air.
"But our bodies can't handle any more of the Primordial Share Crystal's energy!" Vergo brought up their current condition to the CPU's disdain.
-AIM!
"Static Shells!"
BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!
Edge Heart used more of his overwhelming shares to fire off several dozens of supercharged lightning shots at the sphere, in an attempt to aid the combination EXE Drive.
RIPPLE...!
Yet the blasts only served to be consumed by the sphere, creating lasting ripples of white on the sea of black that that doomsday bomb absorbed.
"Shit! Nothing besides that EXE Drive is going to prove useful!" The sophisticated transformed GPU cursed after his attempt at V*g*ta's Technique™ failed.
"Then it seems like we're gonna be Under a lot of PRESSUREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
-BULK!
-BLAST!-
Using the standard version of Under Pressure, Nebula's contribution to the combined EXE Drive rampantly burgeoned with the sudden growth in his musculature and share output.
Adding that to the equation caused Vergo's lance to create a sinking vacuum within Citadel's attack. The time traveler's weapon disappeared after venturing deeper inside the monolithic mass of fear energy.
.
..
...
...INVERT!
"It worked?!" The four share deities were astounded at the sight.
...RESONANCE!...
The black mass of fear quickly shifted its palette to a searing white to the shock of the CPUs and GPUs below. The grey sky soon lightened to a brightening shade before the incoming sphere's noise was replaced with a peaceful chime.
...R-R-R-RUMBLE!
Before the ground fissured dangerously, with the state of the converted fear sphere above reaching critical mass.
"IT'S GONNA BLOW!" Future Heart shouted as he alongside the other share deities wobbled.
"There's no way we can fly away in time!" Purple Heart knew that the speed of their processors wouldn't allow for flight capable of escaping the monstrosity above them.
"...!" Strong contemplation lingered on the Lastationite GPU's face before a golden idea flashed across his silhouetted face. "Nebula, the Chaos Dorito!" Edge Heart shouted in hurried realization.
"Right!" Disengaging with the blast, Brave Heart fished the green chip into his hand, the transformed meme lord clenched it before yelling the esteemed words.
"Chaos... CONTROL!" The signature green light for the chaotic chip's ability appeared around the small group as they all reached to make contact with the teleporting GPU, disappearing right before-
-TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION!-
A/N:
Chapter complete!
It's longer than the previous string of chapters but it was well worth it to finally put a close onto the Goddess Awakening Arc.
There were many twists and turns, but in the end, it was left with a dramatic climax in classic Omnidimension Neptunia fashion. From the reveal of just how Nebula came back to the living, to the references, to the brutal competence of Citadel to the daring escape at the very finale, this chapter was filled with nothing but tension.
With that being said, that doesn't mean that this story's over yet! We've only crossed the halfway point for this fic, and there's still more to come! So stay tuned for the next arc!
Now for the comments!
Muji470 - I hope I answered your question there, Muji. Figured that she should get some screentime after her connection to the Primordial Share Crystal alongside the previous generation of CPUs be put to good use
Feld - The multiverse IS a vast place! I haven't even begun to show you the expanses that are in store for the story, let alone the franchise of fics succeeding this one! But Citadel can make it look like child's play for a reason. A very concerning reason at that, so stay tuned for incoming chapters.
Alright, everyone. Hope you had a good read and a good day and don't forget to voice your opinions. Make sure to favorite, follow, and comment so that I can see the feedback and improve!
Read and Review!
Arrivederi!