[ti]worldevent[/ti]HEARTEATER PT. 2 (RAID)

ZONE TWO ESCAPING TO ZONE THREE

It was a good sight to see she wasn’t the only one lagging behind the front lines of this raid, pale golden orbs flickered from player to player in an attempt to see if she recognized anyone. However, the mad dash to reach the next zone made it near impossible for her to fully register anyone at this point. And instead of searching for allies, Wolf focused on pushing to the next zone towards the enemy. As she did so, a red timer appeared and began to flashed counting down.

The final boss has been activated.

“If we’re supposed to be a team, why didn’t they wait for us at least a little longer?” The player blurted out in a grumbling growl, slightly annoyed that now she really needed to kick her new Bolter speed into high gear. Even as the red mist thickened and warnings of high density corruption buzzed in her pointed ears, the player pushed past it in order to make it to the final boss without being kicked from the raid. But as the group made their mad dash, the corruption in the air made it hard to breathe. And poor Ziryan, even more difficult with the helmet on his head. “Hold your breath,” the woman shouted to her team, “Try not to breathe it in.”

It was too late. While the braxien’s cheeks swelled from the sudden intake of air and Wolf’s chest expanded to hold hers, the type null was unable to hold it for long with the restrictions he was forced to deal with on his head. The further they pushed, the harder it was for him to hold it for longer and the more air he was forced to take. It didn’t help when a Guzzlord spotted her, eyeing her curiously and moved to block their path.

The same prompt from before popped up in her UI, offering her to befriend this one as well. Wolf hesitated, hard. Pale golden orbs widened at the sheer size of the ultra beast, feeling as though it would eat her otherwise in a single snack size gulp. Though, what harm could it do. Right? Right. Reaching out carefully and slowly, the plater place her hand on the creatures massive claw. She closed her eyes, trying to show the same memory she shared with the poipole

Much like before, the memory she wanted to share didn’t come up. And as such, the player backed out imminently and turned to flee. It roared with life, mouth opened wider as it lunged for them. “Poipole escape us,” she shouted, running towards the exit of this zone and entrance into the new zone. But as the order came out, the ultra beast froze once more unable to complete her request. The player rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her breath alone the lines of ‘serious game’.

The guzzlord roared, stomping after them at breaking speeds for such a large beast. “Zirya-“ Wolf started, only to see in the corner of her eyes that her the type null growling and whipped its head back and forth. It was almost like he was fighting his own demans or something. Mild panic filled her, unsure of what was really going on but knew they needed to get out of here or they were going to be guzzlord’s treat. She turned to her braxien, noting the concern look in her healers eyes but ignoring it for now. “Izumi escape us now!”

In the blink of an eyes, the team teleported to the next zone barreling scaling the snapping jaws of the ultra beast in hot pursuit. Of course, Wolf seen a chunk of crystal that gleams with brilliant light and had to snatch it last minute.

Type Null - Sweeper - 250/250 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: none
Action: none
Battle Log:
- Ziryan is now :: type
- healed by Braxien

Greninja - Sweeper - 235/250 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: n/a
Action: n/a
Battle Log:
- n/a

Braxien - Support - 140/200 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: Escape
Action: Flame Charge healing Ziryan
Battle Log:
- Braxien : 58 healed to Ziryan, -20 Strain

Poipole - Sweeper - 250/250 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: n/a
Action: n/a
Battle Log:
- didnt listen

ZONE THREE

Mist choked them out, pooling around her body no matter how badly she tried to push back against it. Hearteater was inside them now, it was infecting all of them, and the only thing they could do was put it down for good, unless it took further control.

"Pokemon are not Servants!" Ruby shouted back into the mist, even as her lungs felt like they were burning. Before she could continue yelling, however, Ruby's attention was drawn to the walking castle in the distance, fighting through the mist to see-

"Sarah!" She shouted once again, her fury only growing more and more. Never had she been so angry, the emotions almost overwhelming, heart pounding faster and faster as she glared into the fog with every ounce of righteous fury she had. Even when her own Ultra Beast spoke the Hearteater's hollow words, she continued to glare, one hand resting against the neck of her Celesteela.

The sudden guardian of a powerful Xurkitree caught her off guard, expecting to fight the Stakataka, the whips slashing against her and the Celesteela, leaving deep marks against her skin, and slicing the Celesteela's body.

"Don't worry!" Ruby shouted again loud, preparing to leap forth towards Sarah Lee . "I'm coming for-"

"You..."

Ruby's words felt like they were stolen from her, seeing the colorless Solgaleo. His red coating, gone. His heart, eaten. He was no longer his own.

And just like that, everything devolved into chaos once more. Player after player dived down into the depths of the cave, moves flying all over the place. She had no idea how to handle it, how any of them handled it. It was all new, it was almost overwhelming, and yet, seeing everyone swiftly working on the two major threats, trying to restore Solgaleo to his rightful form, her attention was drawn to the immediate problem for her.

Celesteela this time, could not even move. They took one single step, only for one of their arms to fall back entirely, slamming down on the ground, the Hearteater once again forcing its way into them.

"I'm here..." She'd speak softly, a hand gently brushing down their neck. "Focus, you got this. You can do this."

[tangent="Something grips my soul.
Not solely mist. but fear within.
The voice inspires dread."]"⌇⍜⋔⟒⏁⊑⟟⋏☌ ☌⍀⟟⌿⌇ ⋔⊬ ⌇⍜⎍⌰.
⋏⍜⏁ ⌇⍜⌰⟒⌰⊬ ⋔⟟⌇⏁. ⏚⎍⏁ ⎎⟒⏃⍀ ⍙⟟⏁⊑⟟⋏.
⏁⊑⟒ ⎐⍜⟟☊⟒ ⟟⋏⌇⌿⟟⍀⟒⌇ ⎅⍀⟒⏃⎅."[/tangent]

The Celesteela crumpled in on itself, struggling to resist, and finding themselves failing, over and over again. It was all they could do to even stand.

"I'm sorry, friend," Ruby would speak up, shouting up to her. "I used to live my life in fear. It... was terrible. Hiding away, being terrified, and never acting out for fear of ridicule from others. I never knew how to talk to people, and to be honest, I don't think I do even now. And yet, somehow, I found the strength to keep pushing- To get my Doctorate, to understand the mind. And all that I have learned?"

She'd smile softly, slowly jumping off the Celesteela and sliding down their front to land on the ground. "You don't have to do this alone. You never do."

The Celesteela finally stood up straight, twisting their head to look down at the trainer, a frown forming.

[tangent="You waste time with me.
The others need thy aid more.
No holding you back."]"⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⏃⌇⏁⟒ ⏁⟟⋔⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⋔⟒.
⏁⊑⟒ ⍜⏁⊑⟒⍀⌇ ⋏⟒⟒⎅ ⏁⊑⊬ ⏃⟟⎅ ⋔⍜⍀⟒.
⋏⍜ ⊑⍜⌰⎅⟟⋏☌ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏚⏃☊☍."[/tangent]

"... I didn't notice before. But you're rhyming. It's the same amount of syllables again, and again." She'd smile softly, reaching up to pat their fallen arm. "Stay with me, stay strong. I trust you, even if I barely understand you."

The Celesteela froze still for a few moments, as if deep in thought. Eventually, they began to move. Their one arm still upright reached over, pointing directly at the young trainer, and glowing with a soft light, even as mist swirled around them. True to her words, Ruby did not move, not even flinch at being on the weapon end of the rocket.

She truly trusted them.

The glowing grew, and grew, before one of their large digits finally touched Ruby's forehead.

[tangent="No holding you back.
Go and use my strength as yours.
Do great things, my Queen."]"⋏⍜ ⊑⍜⌰⎅⟟⋏☌ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏚⏃☊☍.
☌⍜ ⏃⋏⎅ ⎍⌇⟒ ⋔⊬ ⌇⏁⍀⟒⋏☌⏁⊑ ⏃⌇ ⊬⍜⎍⍀⌇.
⎅⍜ ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁ ⏁⊑⟟⋏☌⌇, ⋔⊬ ⍾⎍⟒⟒⋏."[/tangent]

Ruby suddenly felt a rush of energy flowing through her, glowing a bright yellow, like pure adrenaline flowing through her veins, or perhaps something impossibly stronger. She let out a deep breath, grinning almost madly. "I won't let you down, I understand. You truly are a good soul."

And with that, Ruby finally dashed out into the middle of the crowd of trainers, her body already transforming as she ran. Legs shifting into padded feet, her loud steps softening dramatically right away. A fluffy tail spread from her back, growing larger and larger, transforming into that of a larger than average Eeevee, dashing between people's legs. And then an absolutely massive amount fur sprouted from her coat around her neck, fluffing her up like a Lion's mane to rival Solgaleo's as she Mega-Evolved, energy radiating off her body in waves. Her new eyes glanced at Solgaleo, seeing their colors restored had them laughing with such genuine joy. The Xurkitree defeated, Stakataka no longer a prison, her joy spread even further.

And then she started to laugh. Louder and louder as she called upon her newfound power. Eevee, the Pokemon of Infinite Potential. All the while, in the back, the Celesteela was picking themselves back up, arms twirling as if posing to empower their transformed trainer's next move-

Extreme Evoboost.

They began to glow with a bright light powerful light, all while a small pocket-sized creature floated around Ruby, the Wishie Beastie. She had almost forgot it had been hiding with her since the start, tucked away in her backpack before. But with a laugh, she grinned and made a wish.

"I wish for the Moon to fall from the sky."

With a cry, a rainbow-colored pulse immediately erupted from her, the energy carrying out around the battlefield, lingering near certain Pokemon's feet, pooling around them, even as they move across the field.

Alicia Westfield 's Coalossal, a bright Orange orb comes into formation nearby, burning with the heat of a furnace, only to suddenly fire back towards the Eevee.

Kyukon 's Granbull, a Pink coloration shifting into solid energy, dances back in a twisting line as if it had a trickster energy all to its own.

Laguna 's Mr. Mime, a Cyan freezing cold energy being borrowed from the evolved Pokemon before they're recalled, and swiftly gliding back towards them.

Not just that, but a deep Purple color lazily twisted into shape as well, the orb drifting back through the air at a consistent, even pace.

Bergamot Gristleborg 's Luxio, just evolved and prime with potential, a sparkling ball of Yellow energy forms nearby, moving in quick, jittery bursts as it returns back to sender.

Kath Ulu 's Venusaur, bright Green energy swirled, blooming with the same might of their Mega-Evolved muscles.

orioncayge 's Golisopod, a deep Blue energy pounded with the might of the oceans, swirling with the force of a whirlool as it pushed back towards the Eevee.

A lone, mysterious Umbreon perched from above, like a vigilante ready to vanish into the darkness, summoned by the rainbow energy. They themselves swirled within an orb of dark Red, blasting the energy right back with such intentional desire before vanishing without a trace into the shadows.

The energies all returned right back to the Mega-Evolved Eevee, swirling as rainbow energy immediately radiated off their form, enhanced with the power of endless potential. Only, this power was not all for herself to keep, just enough. She cried again, and the intense rainbow energies blasted out once more, seeking out targets to embrace, guided by Ruby's Dreamer abilities granting it all a psychic strength, being drawn to the minds that recently experienced pain.

Waves of multi-colored light blasts across both Alicia Westfield 's Naganadel and Morpheus 's Poipole, the Poison Pokemon finding their strength restored with the power of potential.

orioncayge himself would find the energy restoring his wounds after battling himself, swirling around his fists to soothe and restore strength. His Buzzwole would also find a similar treatment, rainbow glowing around their fists to restore.

More rainbow energy would carry further, washing over Josh Devlin and his recently evolved Mega-Pidgeot, like an aurora that traveled through the sky as it lingered as the Pokemon soared through the red mist.

And finally, some energy still lingered on Ruby herself, restoring empowering her for what was to come.

"Come!" Ruby would shout as loud as her new vocal cords could, energy literally radiating off her body. "Hearteater! Your time is at an end!"

Therian Player: Mega Eevee - Support - 251/300 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: N/A
Action: Heal x6
Battle Log:
- Mega Evolved!
- Z Move: Extreme Evoboost !
- Made a Wish!

- Naganadel healed for 52 HP.
- Poipole healed for 55 HP.
- OrionCayge healed for 57 HP.
- Buzzwole healed for 57 HP.
- Pidgeot healed for 57 HP.
- Mega-Eevee healed for 60 HP.

-60 Strain.

Celesteela - Support - 191/300 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: None
Action: None
Battle Log:
- Failed Obedience Roll.
- Buffed +10.

ZONE 2 > ESCAPE TO ZONE 3

The tunnels of Hibernaculum were mapless, unchartable. They wove a spider's web through the underground world beneath Ostellia, and this world-web was filled with Ultra Beasts.

<Another one,> grunted Dodrio, veering sharply left and trekking down another tunnel. A Blacephalon had reared up to block their path. The serpentine clowns clustered at every entrance, every exit, flashing with lights that warned of impending destruction. As many explosions littered the halls behind them as did feathers from Dodrio, as did morpho-blue scales from Vivillon.

Respiro was just happy they were all together. It was as if the Midas Corp dungeon had never happened, as if the moment of distraction which had led to Dodrio's capture had all been a dream. All was forgiven. The way it should be.

<They're driving us somewhere,> said Vivillon grimly, sky-painted wings fanning up above him. <Further underground. Back towards the center.>

<Not a surprise. Hearteater's got them in its thrall, just like it had me.> Dodrio's clawed feet turned and its speed increased, leaving jets of red mist trailing behind them. <We'll lose them up ahead. I think I remember this place.>

Respiro remembered it too. He shivered as they moved through the Corruption, his Triple Bird mount careful where it put its feet. The memory of breaking bones crunched in his ears as a phantom of memory chewed at him, reminding him of his ugly encounter with Nidorino on the Steppes. The Corruption always made him think dark things. It wanted him to suffer.

Dodrio stopped.

<It's here.>

Respiro shivered. They were back at the pit of red mist. The eye of the storm. The threshold. Once you cross, you cannot return.

<Well, there's no turning back. We might as well give it a shot,> said Vivillon. Its wings fanned above the fog, stirring it. It formed shapes like clawed hands, fingers of smoke that snatched greedily at treasures and players alike. Dodrio was watching the tumbling loot—as one of the items rolled by, it darted out with its nearest beak like a heron, retrieving the item and dragging it back to level ground.

Respiro lifted the piece up, brightening, some of his unease fading. It was a helmet—no! A whole suit of armor! Not formed from iron or leather, but from the hard body of some kind of giant beetle. "!!" he said, to show how pleased he was.

<Thought you might like that. Now throw it on, we're headed down. I have a Tri-Attack with Hearteater's name on it.>

ZONE 3

Never was it said Respiro lacked a sense of action.

They fell as missiles did, gravity-hurled, accelerant. Fighting aura burst and flowed around him like superheated air around a rocket, plasma licking at his temples. He and Dodrio landed, sending surges of red mist billowing away before it flowed back in, insidious. Respiro breathed in the stale air of his mask, grateful for the barrier even as bloodred condensation stung his eyes.

Then he was running.

He ran up the side of a living fortress, its walls studded with glowing eyes. He caught a glimpse of a woman inside as he vaulted the head of the creature, passing on a memory of [tangent=On the day of the Book and the Rose, Miquel went looking for a book...]the girl in the yellow dress.[/tangent] His only friend, and friend he knew, for she had given him a yellow rose from the booth (like her dress!) and a special book from the back (he had returned it in time, for it was just a loan, like a promise.)

He landed on a swaying bridge, a massive band of black cables that shuddered and slackened beneath his feet. He sped along it, leaping at the last second as its owner crashed to the ground, buzzing with electricity. It reminded Miquel of Passeig de Gràcia at Christmastime, the star-shaped lights decorating the main streets of Barcelona. With clattering footsteps and image-thoughts he told it so, then vaulted into the air itself to spring towards scarlet Solgaleo.

He wheeled, a four-part barrage of grass-type strikes to power a grass-type beam. Sunlight collected in his aura as the strikes became spokes, tangible rays that trailed from Solgaleo like afterimages from his movements. Vivillon passed behind him like a shadow, raining shining dust from wings as blue-bright as the lion's eyes.

<You're doing it!> Dodrio flashed by to pick him up and the pair sped away again, the little fighter clinging haphazardly to its necks. <Hope you brought your sunglasses, because this one's gonna be bright!>

Respiro (player) - Sweeper - 260/300 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability:
Action: Fast Atk x4
Battle Log:
- Took 40 Strain
- on Solgaleo (110 DMG)

Vivillon - Sweeper - 220/300 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability:
Action: Fast Atk x4
Battle Log:
- Took 40 Strain
- on Solgaleo (immune)

Dodrio - Support - 166/200 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability:
Action: Grabbed Loot: Bug Armor (Bonus PKMN)
Battle Log:

ZONE 2 > MOVING TO ZONE 3

By the time Shalin and Nymris had arrived at the precipice to Hearteater's lair, many of her friends had already jumped down. With a light tug on his reins, the bug-type stopped at the precipice of the hole to Hearteater's lair, where many of her friends were waiting... including Altair . "Finally, a moment to catch a breather," she sighed, letting the healing wind from Nero 's YANMEGA twirl her long hair around.

Just as she was going into her Pokémon menu to make final preparations, Nymris' eyes turned red -- the same color as the mist. Possessed once again by Hearteater, the spindly insect turned around and started buzzing her broad wings. "He is my child, not yours!" Hearteater barked through the Pheromosa.

"Fight it, Nymris! Fight it!" Shalin pleaded, though only the Ultra Beast could clearly hear her, her model's resolution dropping gradually as the wings picked up the pace. "You remember where we saved Rumble, right? That park? That place is special to me! It doesn't exist just within UNOVR! It transcends both worlds! It's not just a part of yours! It's a part of mine, too! We both have a connection to that park!" That a park very personal to Shalin would show up as an Everworld trial ground for her was concerning. Was UNOVR evolving beyond Hydance's control?

The mist surrounding the Ultra Beast intensified, as did Hearteater's hold over Nymris. Faster the Pokémon buzzed, Shalin shaking madly as her model looked like one from a 1990s 3D game. Her polygon count was so low that newer players might not have even recognized her as a human. In her dizziness, she had noticed that her hands had slipped onto the bulbs at the end of his antennae. [tangent=Unclean! Unclean!!]"⎍⋏☊⌰⟒⏃⋏! ⎍⋏☊⌰⟒⏃⋏!!"[/tangent] Hearteater and Nymris shouted in unison.

Feeling her hands slip, she was very quickly launched upward from the extreme speed the wings were moving at. Seeing his trainer in danger, the white, nimble insect shook his head, a red sphere of mist dissolving around him. He leaped after Shalin and grabbed her bridal-style, landing on the opposite side of the gap. "So is that why you don't like your antennae being touched at the ends? Because they're sensitive to dirty things?" she asked the Ultra Beast, who set her down and nodded.

[tangent="Exactly. It wouldn't hurt to give them a wash every so often,"]⟒⌖⏃☊⏁⌰⊬. ⟟⏁ ⍙⍜⎍⌰⎅⋏'⏁ ⊑⎍⍀⏁ ⏁⍜ ☌⟟⎐⟒ ⏁⊑⟒⋔ ⏃ ⍙⏃⌇⊑ ⟒⎐⟒⍀⊬ ⌇⍜ ⍜⎎⏁⟒⋏,[/tangent] Nymris answered as the resolution of Shalin's model slowly returned to normal, the girl experiencing quite a bit of lag when she resumed navigating the Pokémon menu. The number of dropped inputs was starting to agitate her; by the time she was done, almost everyone had already leaped down to Hearteater's lair.

"It's not getting any better from here, and we'll get left behind if we don't get this over with. Balan, Nymris, let's go." Straddling the Pheromosa's wing, Shalin let Nymris lift her onto the camouflaged seat, the girl sliding her hands up the antennae a little farther than she did before with her newfound knowledge. With a flex of his legs, the bug-type leaped down the mist-laden chasm, Balan following closely...

Olivia the Buzzwole - Sweeper - 265/300 HP

NO ACTION

Balan the Liepard - Sweeper - 187/300 HP

NO ACTION

Rumble the Onix - Sweeper - 204/300 HP

NO ACTION

Reynir the Ponyta - Classless - 44/100 HP

NO ACTION

Nymris the Pheromosa - Sweeper - 44/150 HP

Control Roll (14 + 10 = 24)

HEARTEATER RAID: CYCLE 5

Because the world seems full of good men— even if there are monsters in it

Color returns to Solgaleo like he is an inverted prism.

A thousand minute variations on the idea of red all align flawlessly, merging to give new meaning to the word. There is the red at the heart of a gallant star. The color of protons heated hot enough to melt. The impossibly deep crimson of the last tint of visible light.

The red of blood is in there too, though this time it's given, not stolen.

Solgaleo shakes his sun-hearted head, showering the players in sizzling stardust. [tangent="My mind is my own again."]"⋔⊬ ⋔⟟⋏⎅ ⟟⌇ ⋔⊬ ⍜⍙⋏ ⏃☌⏃⟟⋏."[/tangent] His eyes are a brilliant blue now. As clear and deep as the other side of a wormhole.

He turns to Ruby, seeing through her temporary form to the Dreamer within. He pads forward on paws blacker than time's final shadow. [tangent="I knew you would come,"]"⟟ ☍⋏⟒⍙ ⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⍜⎍⌰⎅ ☊⍜⋔⟒,"[/tangent] he says.

The ring of blows across his metal hide resonate throughout the chamber singing a song of alignment. A tune of solar empowerment.

Each ringing note adds another layer of sunlight to Solgaleo's body. Lens after lens of brilliant, corrosive, roaring light. A dozen layers form within the creature's body, and with intense effort he folds the light, bundling it together into a cohesive ball that sizzles between his teeth. [tangent="...Just as I know you must go, heartless one. The feast is over." ]"...⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⏃⌇ ⟟ ☍⋏⍜⍙ ⊬⍜⎍ ⋔⎍⌇⏁ ☌⍜, ⊑⟒⏃⍀⏁⌰⟒⌇⌇ ⍜⋏⟒. ⏁⊑⟒ ⎎⟒⏃⌇⏁ ⟟⌇ ⍜⎐⟒⍀."[/tangent]

Solgaleo opens his mouth.

A flash of light like a flashbulb star tears through the den. Pokemon silhouettes are burned into the walls. Players are flash-tanned by the sudden explosion of sunlight.

World Event Boss: Hearteater takes 723 DMG from SOLARBEAM
Kyukon (Heartspawn) takes 361 DMG from SOLARBEAM
Kyukon has [tangent=Kyukon's Pokemon are automatically withdrawn. Any non-fainted Pokemon may be brought back into battle either upon being Revived or in 1 Cycle. You may choose which Pokemon you want to send back out.]Whited Out![/tangent]

Scoops of red mist cobble together like an inverted mud explosion. It clots, it congeals, it slithers along the floor in blobs. The air clears, the fog of Hearteater's mist lifting as it is forcibly drawn back into its ungodly body.

Josh Devlin, Kyukon and Ruby have seen it before.

It is old. Too old. A bloodsucking tic grown fat on centuries of rare items, Pokemon, and plentiful Corruption. Where Zapdos and Articuno waited out the eons in the Dream World, where Moltres was reborn and killed and born again, Hearteater aged. Hearteater endured.

From the bloated pile of cellulite, wings too small to even bear its weight, Hearteater rears its blind-eyed head and screams.

WORLD EVENT BOSS: HEARTEATER

HP: 6377/7100 IMMUNE TO:

ALL PLAYERS UNLOCK THE FOLLOWING CUTSCENE!

SPOILER: Click to show

{OSTELLIA, ONE YEAR AGO}A bizarre array of different lenses open up in front of your eyes, like a hundred simultaneous browsing windows. The pictures are hexagonal, distorted, like looking through the compound eyes of an insect— but in each kaleidoscope fraction is a different image, a different viewpoint. A different Ultra Beast.

This is how Hearteater sees.

And at the end of the summer of its XXXXth year, Hearteater sees humanity arrive for the first time in Ostellia.

Through Nihilego and Guzzlord, it sees the giant Zapdos coasting down over the harbor, the bird's back packed thick as ants with cheering players. Hearteater is surprised, intrigued. It has never seen humans before.

It wonders how you taste.

Through Kartana and Buzzwole, it sees the Thunderfall Shrine driven deep into the heart of the Nexus, staking it as new ground. Hearteater has a bad feeling, but it is cautious. Clever. It waits.

Through Blacephalon and Naganadel, it sees humans like Nero, Josh Devlin, orioncayge and Laguna join the Night Parade in a haze of delusion, dancing along through the desert towards the mouth of Hibernaculum. So close. So close…

But something prevents Hearteater's minions from simply snatching up the intriguing humans and bringing them back to the nest for the ritual feast. An invisible wall, an invisible rule; coded deeply into the game of UNOVR as a tenant from the very first Pokemon game, back in Red and Blue. Pokemon do not attack players. Not without permission.

Hearteater is frustrated.

Hearteater longs to taste you.

When it first came to this land through a magic door, it was together with Solgaleo, the wanderer of farthest-places. They found this world as they found many others, but this one was different. Blanketed by flavors they had never tasted, its life-forms infected by some mysterious blight.

And it was edible. Everything the moonlight touched could be drained, drizzled, guzzled. And it came back—the Corruption self-regenerated. Stored long enough, anything from this plane became Corrupted eventually.

Except them.

Solgaleo moved on, but Lunala stayed. It created wormholes to other worlds, summoning alien helpers one or two at a time. Hearteater was right: only the creatures of this world could be infected. For everyone else, they simply fed. It was infinite growth, infinite supply, and infinite demand. When its helpers grew weak and lazy, failing to bring sufficient tribute, Hearteater simply ended them and summoned more.

More, more.

And centuries passed.

Hearteater took your Pokemon to lure you here. It knew you had to come of your own free will. It knew it couldn't bypass the protections set in place by the game itself.

...But now that you have invited the vampire across your threshold, the monster is inside, the taste of Kyukon's heart still red on its lips.

Z-Energy flows out of the Ultra Beasts which ring the amphitheater like a captive audience, drawn out of their bodies with malicious force to feed Hearteater's attack. The invasive species sag, strength drained, but mind control also lifted. Hearteater is drawing on all of its resources just to survive: it has no time to puppet the hivemind.

[tangent=You will never kill me, cattle. I am undying!]⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⋏⟒⎐⟒⍀ ☍⟟⌰⌰ ⋔⟒, ☊⏃⏁⏁⌰⟒. ⟟ ⏃⋔ ⎍⋏⎅⊬⟟⋏☌![/tangent]

Its bulging white eyes swing around, scrawny neck bending like a ball on a string.

[tangent=You ignorant sheep call me Hearteater, but my true name?]⊬⍜⎍ ⟟☌⋏⍜⍀⏃⋏⏁ ⌇⊑⟒⟒⌿ ☊⏃⌰⌰ ⋔⟒ ⊑⟒⏃⍀⏁⟒⏃⏁⟒⍀, ⏚⎍⏁ ⋔⊬ ⏁⍀⎍⟒ ⋏⏃⋔⟒?[/tangent]

The word HEARTEATER draws itself in the air as if scratched by claws, glowing with phantasmal purple energy. As you hold your breath, Ultra Beasts scurry forward to rearrange the letters, forming:

A E AETHER RAT

[tangent=THAT'S NOT RIGHT!]⏁⊑⏃⏁'⌇ ⋏⍜⏁ ⍀⟟☌⊑⏁![/tangent] screams Hearteater, [tangent=DO IT AGAIN!]⎅⍜ ⟟⏁ ⏃☌⏃⟟⋏![/tangent]

HATE RAT REE

[tangent=What does that even mean?!]⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⎅⍜⟒⌇ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⟒⎐⟒⋏ ⋔⟒⏃⋏?![/tangent]

EAT THE REAR

[tangent=ENOUGH! It makes more sense in my language!]⟒⋏⍜⎍☌⊑! ⟟⏁ ⋔⏃☍⟒⌇ ⋔⍜⍀⟒ ⌇⟒⋏⌇⟒ ⟟⋏ ⋔⊬ ⌰⏃⋏☌⎍⏃☌⟒[/tangent] Hearteater shrieks, and the letters are blasted out at everyone in Zone 3, gaining dark mass and inertia like a surging tide. They tear through the ranks, and many Pokemon give their last gasp as they are scythed down by the outpouring of spectral malice.

HEARTEATER attacks with MENACING MOONRAZE MAELSTROM!

SPOILER: Click to show

{ZONE 3 DAMAGE LOG}

Alicia Westfield's Bayleef and Naganadel take 368 DMG from RECOIL
Bayleef and Nagandel have fainted!
Alicia Westfield's Coalossal, Hydrapple, and Guzzlord take 184 DMG

Bergamot Gristleborg's Kartana, Mudkip, Luxio, Piplup, Probopass take 184 DMG
Kartana and Probopass have fainted!

Morpheus's Snubbull, Flapple and Celesteela take 184 DMG
Morpheus's Poipole takes 368 DMG from RECOIL
Snubbull and Poipole have fainted!

orioncayge and his Buzzwole, Carvanha, and Golisopod take 184 DMG
Carvanha has fainted!

Big Bee's Nihilego and Granbull take 184 DMG

Kath Ulu's Venusaur, Treecko and Buzzwole take 184 DMG
Venusaur has fainted!

Josh Devlin's Ninjask and Mudsdale take 184 DMG
Josh Devlin's Mega Pidgeot (Normal-Type) takes 0 DMG

eddiecayge's Sprigatito and Stakataka take 184 DMG
Sprigatito has fainted!

Laguna's Onix and Bergmite take 184 DMG
Laguna takes 0 DMG from HOLIDAY SUBSTITUTE

Wolf's Braixen and Poipole take 184 DMG
Wolf's Type:Null (Normal-Type) takes 0 DMG
Braixen has fainted!

Ruby (Normal-Type) takes 0 DMG
Ruby's Celesteela takes 184 DMG

Respiro and his Vivillon and Dodrio take 184 DMG
Dodrio has fainted!

Sarah Lee (Normal-Type) takes 0 DMG
Sarah Lee's Xurkitree takes 184 DMG!

Solgaleo takes 0 DMG from SACRIFICE

All Players from Zone 2 are pulled down to Zone 3 for the Boss Battle!

More players and Pokemon rain down from the ceiling, sucked into the boss room by the surge of Z-Power. Ultra Beasts zoom forward and catch the falling humans before they hit the ground, lowering them safely.

Hearteater sees you: humans, Pokemon, and Ultra Beasts side by side. [tangent=United? Against me? A poor mistake. These blind insects will not kill me, and I will return to hasten your demise.]⎍⋏⟟⏁⟒⎅? ⏃☌⏃⟟⋏⌇⏁ ⋔⟒? ⏃ ⌿⍜⍜⍀ ⋔⟟⌇⏁⏃☍⟒. ⏁⊑⟒⌇⟒ ⏚⌰⟟⋏⎅ ⟟⋏⌇⟒☊⏁⌇ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⋏⍜⏁ ☍⟟⌰⌰ ⋔⟒, ⏃⋏⎅ ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⍀⟒⏁⎍⍀⋏ ⏁⍜ ⊑⏃⌇⏁⟒⋏ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⎅⟒⋔⟟⌇⟒.[/tangent]

A flap of dark red skin peels up like an emperor penguin revealing their egg. You realize this is Lunala's tail, almost hidden beneath the sheer abundance of flesh, and that it has been sitting on something.

The faintest hint of flute music whispers in your ears.

A marble casket with a unique ability, lost by one orioncayge in the depths of the harbor, currently serving as the bloated bat's footstool.

[tangent=You see, mortals, unloyal servants? I will be back.]⊬⍜⎍ ⌇⟒⟒, ⋔⍜⍀⏁⏃⌰⌇, ⎍⋏⌰⍜⊬⏃⌰ ⌇⟒⍀⎐⏃⋏⏁⌇? ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⏚⟒ ⏚⏃☊☍.[/tangent] Slimy, self-satisfied, Hearteater taps the casket with a golden claw that barely reaches over the broad curve of its belly. [tangent=Even if you slay me here, I shall rise again. I will live to devour you. And I will have your heart.]⟒⎐⟒⋏ ⟟⎎ ⊬⍜⎍ ⌇⌰⏃⊬ ⋔⟒ ⊑⟒⍀⟒, ⟟ ⌇⊑⏃⌰⌰ ⍀⟟⌇⟒ ⏃☌⏃⟟⋏. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⌰⟟⎐⟒ ⏁⍜ ⎅⟒⎐⍜⎍⍀ ⊬⍜⎍. ⏃⋏⎅ ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⊑⟒⏃⍀⏁.[/tangent]

Hearteater Pt.1 (Dungeon) | Season 2: Ostellia Info | World Event Signups

ZONE 3: HEARTEATER

The pinkette hero aspirant smiled as Solgaleo was restored. She cheered as Sarah Lee awakened and readied the Crucifix. She watched with glee as the solar attacks tore into the mist, forcing Hearteater into corporeal form. And what a grotesque figure the ancient bat cut. Without its servitors, it would undoubtedly be almost completely out of strength to fight with. Certainly it would have one or two more tricks up it’s metaphorical sleeve, but all that was left was to finish it-

And the ping of Kyukon whiting out made her double take. ”Oh jeez… I severely misread that. Anyone got a rez for him!?”

They would be interrupted by the cutscene that played. Revealing how Solgaleo and Hearteater got here. How the monster before them perceived the world. How Hearteater hungered in its horrible way. Almost feeling that hunger first hand. It sent shivers down her spine. It made her gut churn.

It almost made her feel sorry for how far the beast before them fell from grace. It was mighty once. It once flew on its own. It once was worthy of admiration. It was majestic once. And then its own greed and gluttony controlled it as much as it controlled the other Ultra Beasts. Now here it was, bloated, ancient, and crippled.

[tangent=“You truly are a wretch... You boast so much but you have almost nothing on your own. It's as I'd thought already, you are almost nothing without your minions and stolen souls. You don't even realize how far your gluttony has made you fall.”]”⊬⍜⎍ ⏁⍀⎍⌰⊬ ⏃⍀⟒ ⏃ ⍙⍀⟒⏁☊⊑... ⊬⍜⎍ ⏚⍜⏃⌇⏁ ⌇⍜ ⋔⎍☊⊑ ⏚⎍⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏃⌰⋔⍜⌇⏁ ⋏⍜⏁⊑⟟⋏☌ ⍜⋏ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⍜⍙⋏. ⟟⏁'⌇ ⏃⌇ ⟟'⎅ ⏁⊑⍜⎍☌⊑⏁ ⏃⌰⍀⟒⏃⎅⊬, ⊬⍜⎍ ⏃⍀⟒ ⏃⌰⋔⍜⌇⏁ ⋏⍜⏁⊑⟟⋏☌ ⍙⟟⏁⊑⍜⎍⏁ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⋔⟟⋏⟟⍜⋏⌇ ⏃⋏⎅ ⌇⏁⍜⌰⟒⋏ ⌇⍜⎍⌰⌇. ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⍜⋏'⏁ ⟒⎐⟒⋏ ⍀⟒⏃⌰⟟⋉⟒ ⊑⍜⍙ ⎎⏃⍀ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ☌⌰⎍⏁⏁⍜⋏⊬ ⊑⏃⌇ ⋔⏃⎅⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⎎⏃⌰⌰.”[/tangent] Alicia muttered. [tangent=“I honestly pity you, oh disgraced ruler of the moon.”]”⟟ ⊑⍜⋏⟒⌇⏁⌰⊬ ⌿⟟⏁⊬ ⊬⍜⎍, ⍜⊑ ⎅⟟⌇☌⍀⏃☊⟒⎅ ⍀⎍⌰⟒⍀ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⋔⍜⍜⋏.”[/tangent]

The fact that Hearteater seemed aware in someway of the coding restriction that forced it to move like this was also chilling. How much was UNOVR becoming its own world? If Hearteater could notice those protections… would the next great enemy be able to bypass them?

And then the Ultra Beasts, freed of mind control, oddly seemed to still heed the silent, expectant command. And then they showed just how far Hearteater had fallen. They made a mockery of the grotesque bat, having fun with rearranging its name enough to insult and befuddle it.

And then Hearteater exploded with rage, tearing at them all with it’s own Z-Move out if the power it ripped from it’s servitors. Alicia’s own heart froze, her eyes wide. The nightmare resurged again. Her own Ultra Beasts let out agonizing roars as they were crushed by the potent Ghost attack. Venex was forced back into his ball, meanwhile Guzzlord slammed into the far wall and toppled over, stilling.

They, as well as Fumar and Yggdril, were but whispers compared to Tikani’s agonized scream.

”TIKANIIIIIII!” The pinkette cried out, terror piercing her heart as the Bayleef once more laid still, her armor rent and burned.

”Yow! Batty’s ticked off!”
“Alright boss lady, what’s the play?”
“Wreck it back, ya?”
“… Alicia?”
“Hey, snap out of it!”

Alicia could barely hear Yggdril’s own words. Or the chaos of everybody reacting as they recovered from Hearteater’s retaliation. Again… again Tikani was dead, and this time it really was her fault because she pushed her too hard! She was so blinded in fury, wanting to cut through every obstacle between her and Hearteater that she hadn’t considered the danger she was exposing them-!

THWACK

Alicia reeled as a rocky limb slammed into her cheek, throwing her onto her back. She double took and stared as Fumar grabbed her by her shirt and hauled her back to her feet.

”Pull yourself together, child!” Fumar fumed, smoke escaping from his jaws as he spoke. ”She still breathes, we can still retaliate! Yggdril and I still have a few good attacks in us. Try to see if anyone can spare the time for the medical attention she needs.

Alicia grimaced and nodded, pulling her third Pokeball out. With a toss, Sylvene emerged with a screech. And in a moment’s leap, she was astride the fully armored bird. Her every wing flap caused the jingling and clanging of wrought steel as she benefited the most from Giyun’s molted carapace. Her talons and beak were armored and the edges thereof were serrated to aid in her ripping her foes apart.

Pulling a giant needle from a holster on the bird’s back, Alicia huffed. The coffin… the coffin had to be dealt with, but only one person here was allowed to interact with it if the tooltips were accurate. She pushed on Sylvene’s back, and the Pidgeot soared through the Lunala’s lair.

Finding orioncayge in the mass of Players, she directed Sylvene towards him. And as she did, she channeled her Spectral power into the giant throwing needle. Making it swell as phantom might coiled around it. While it might not have a mechanical benefit, it would be satisfying to see Hearteater dealt with as a vampire should be. ”ORION! TAKE THIS! IT’S ON YOU TO FINISH THIS ONCE WE ALL PASTE THIS BAT!”

And with that declaration, she threw the stake towards the other Ironsmith. She didn’t stay long enough to see if it impaled itself into the ground near the veteran’s feet or if her voice alerted him enough to snatch it out of the air. Sylvene was already pivoting on her wordless direction, looking towards the various supports they had in the Raid. ”Does anyone have a spare Revive for my partner? Tikani’s out cold from that and she’s the one who was going to get my Z-Power!”

She prayed that someone could help her friend in her time of need… that she wouldn’t be forgotten in the race to crush Hearteater…

Flavor Post

Bayleef - Sweeper - 0/350 HP

Link To Roll = N/A
Core Ability: N/A
Action: N/A
Battle Log:
- KO’d

Naganadel – Sweeper - 0/350 HP

Link To Roll = N/A
Core Ability: N/A
Action: N/A
Battle Log:
- KO’d, Returned

Pidgeot – Sweeper - 350/350 HP

Link to Roll = N/A
Core Ability: NA
Action: N/A
Battle Log:
- N/A

Hydrapple - Sweeper - 57/350 HP

Link to Roll = N/A
Core Ability: N/A
Action: N/A
Battle Log:
- N/A

Coalossal - Sweeper - 57/350 HP

Link to Roll = N/A
Core Ability: N/A
Action: N/A
Battle Log:
- N/A

Guzzlord - Support - 0/150 HP

Link to Roll
Core Ability: N/A
Action: N/A
Battle Log: N/A
- KO’d

Zone 3 Moving to Ass kicking city, population One bat in a trashcan. 

TW: Talks of revolution, mentions of political violence, allusions to past trauma, fatphobic comments aimed at the bat.  

Orion stared at the oversized, bloated fat cat of a bat sitting on HIS coffin, and felt the rage in his heart redouble. What had once been a raging inferno reached levels of heat that could only be found in the center of the very stars he was named after. The same power he’d once wielded to protect the people of this land had been subverted, and was potentially going to be used as a get out of jail free card, no matter what they did, no matter how much damage they dealt to this arrogant fat fuck, he would just get up and get away with it.

His choices once again would reap unintended consequences.

A scream was caught in his throat like a fly in a spiders web, and for a moment he stood there frozen, his mind roiling and boiling much too quickly for his body to even possibly consider acting. His heart was pounding in his chest, and each roiling pulse filled his eardrums with the rush of vitus as he searched for a way forward, searching for a way to deal with this creature. He had an option, destroy the coffin and its wicked power, robbing both he and the beast of its use like Solomon's baby, or to seal it away and condemn the bat to an eternity of imprisonment, which despite how cruel the creature was seemed like a betrayal of his Plasma values. There was only one logical answer, and it seemed someone had the same idea as him, the pink haired woman who’d been his fellow feller of the Xurkitree was approaching him.

“ALICIA!”

The word left his name as a harsh bark, his gaze turning to the heroine as he held and arm out to take the proffered weapon. “GOOD THINKING! I’M GOING TO HELLSING THE SHIT OUT OF THIS FAT FUCK!”

He’d made his decision, the words of his grandfather echoing in his ears, he could remember the scene well.
…

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Orion always hated visiting the Birdcayge.

It was a center of opulence, taking up prime real estate right on the vegas strip, the jewel of the new era of the town post Black Valentines riots. A shining beacon of light and festivity to drown out the darkest of memories from the darkest of days.

And it was a playground for the same fatcats that’d killed his mother, and manipulated the masses.

Yet it was…a necessary evil in the eyes of Southside, for the astronomical profits it reaped didn’t line the pockets of some mustachio twirling hyper capitalist who would use it to fund their third superyacht having a second helicopter pad installed, it went back into the city. It paid for small businesses to get the repairs they needed, it plugged leaky roofs, and fed the hungry. At least, so the story went, Orion had never seen the books so he never knew the whole scale of the operation, what profits went where to who or why was beyond him.

At least, for now.

He stood in his grandfathers office, dressed to kill in an expensive three piece suit that had been tailored to fit him perfectly at the age of eighteen, and once a year he was instructed to visit a tailor and have it refitted so he always had something to wear to family gatherings. On his wrist was a flashy rolex that he hated wearing and didn’t even have the time set correctly, something that he couldn’t stop fidgeting with as the time passed. He’d made an appointment to meet the old man for dinner an hour ago, and he’d been waiting silently and patiently in the dimly lit office, staring out the floor to roof windows that overlook the Las Vegas Strip. The hustle and bustle of the city almost looked small from here, the people reduced to ants, the cars like hotwheels rather than the two ton death machines they were.

His stomach churned.

Out of hunger or disgust with the broadband display of opulence, he could not tell. He’d never thought his grandfather to be a vain man, but what other reason could one have for windows like this? For an office positioned in such a way to give them the perfect view of the town they ruled over.

The soft click of the door alerted the young man of someone entering the room, and he turned to see the giant form of his grandfather standing silhouetted in the light of the hallway. Cayge men had always been large, Orion himself was around six foot two, his father had a few inches on him, but Thaddeus Cayge?

That man was a mountain.

Even in his advanced age he was every bit of seven inches taller than Orion, and his broad frame was undiluted from generations of Cayge men and their weaknesses for tiny women. Each step was a dull thud, accompanied by the not so gentle click of a cane large enough to support himself and his large frame, large enough to be used to bludgeon someone to death with ease.

“Mr Cayge.” The elder grunted, a soft smile on his face. “You clean up well.”
“Mr Cayge,” Orion replied with a nod. “I learned all sorts of manners from the best of teachers, looking sharp, eye contact, firm handshakes, punctuality…” A cheeky smirk escaped his lips as he took a few quick steps to meet his grandfather, arms wide for a hug that was quickly met as the grizzly bear of a man squeezed the life out of his grandson.

“You’ve got balls of steel talkin to me like that boy.” Thaddeus growled playfully.
“You’re the one who said your schedule was free.” Orion wheezed, wind leaving his lungs. “If dinner was gonna be an issue I could have picked a different time or different day.”

“Nonsense, I've always got time for my grandson just...something came up last minute.” Releasing the hug the old man motioned for Orion to take a seat on one of the nearby chairs. “Chef Ryan is working on some steaks for us as we speak, and my sommelier is currently picking out a nice whiskey from my collection for us to try.”

“I suppose I can find it in my heart to forgive you when you bribe me with steak and whiskey.” Orion flashed the old man a cheeky wink and took a seat as instructed, ensuring he sat upright and kept eye contact with his elder.

“How thoughtful,” The old man took a few shuffling steps and took a seat, his steely gray eyes scanning the young man over. “So, to what do I owe the honor of your visit? I must say, I envy the carefree lifestyle you’ve cultivated for yourself, though your lack of visits have been noted.”

Straight to business it would seem.

“You’re a busy man, and I don’t like bothering you unless I really need to.” Orion offered with a shrug. “And generally I tend to take care of my own affairs. It’s not like I’m avoiding you, I’m just…staying out from under foot.” The old man squinted slightly, twiddling his thumbs as he listened.

“Tactfully put,” leaning forward the man would frown, “but your words betray your intentions. You’re here for something?” The elder would scratch the well manicured beard that hung from his jaw quizzically. “That is very unlike you.” Orion fought the urge to avert his gaze, the patriarch of the Cayge clan HATED nothing more than cowardice.

“I…” he paused, and gathered his words. “Need some advice, and perhaps a little help, and I can think of no one else in the family who would be better suited than you.” Thaddeus nodded along silently, motioning for his grandson to go on. “As you’ve probably heard I’ve recently started dating someone.”

“Miss Gauthier,” Orion winced, of course his grandfather knew all about her already. He’d probably had his team run some sort of deeply invasive background check to make sure she wasn’t secretly a federal agent or some sort of…enemy to the family. “I assume she’s the motivation behind your recent spree of…public works projects?” Again, the old man refused to beat around the bush.

“Yeah.” Orion nodded and wished desperately that he had something to sip on to have a moment to justify his thoughts, something to hold so he had something to do with his hands. “I mean, it’s kinda hard to love someone when your hometown isn’t very…accessible to them.”

“A very noble thought,” Thaddeus nodded, righting himself as his hand continued to stroke his beard. “More could be done for societies most vulnerable peoples…”

“More should be done.” Orion agreed, leaning forward. “I…hadn’t ever noticed it before, which is horrible itself, but…now that I’m thinking about it more, about…” his mouth dried. “A future, I feel that it could be so much brighter if we focused some of our funds on increasing accessibility all around town, not just Southside.” Orion could feel his grandfather’s gaze narrow on him, he could practically see the cogs working behind his eyes before suddenly a loud and booming laugh erupted from the old man’s lips.

“Ha HAA you are…what do the children say now? Down bad?” Orion winced as the man lumbered to his feet and joined him on the same couch, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him close. “I must say, I am surprised. Given everything I know you should have no problem funding this yourself, although…” Looking his grandson over again the man frowned, mirth wiped from his face as quickly as a pendulum on a grandfather clock would oscillate from left to right. “I haven’t heard of you taking on any fights recently. Taking a break?”

“I’m…probably going to retire on the money fights.” Orion confessed looking up to his grandfather. “The last loss really…” he paused. “I can’t keep burning myself like that, and I know that Abby would freak if I told her so…” with a wave of his hands he banished the thought. “I’m done. I’m going to find myself…something else.”

“Oho?” The mirth once again returned to the old man’s face, the seriousness of his steely gaze cut with a mischievous twinkle. “You really are in love, you’re not envisioning just any future, Mr. Cayge, you’re envisioning a future with her.” Orion withered slightly beneath his grandfather's gaze, a large hand ruffling his hair as he did his best not to look like an indignant toddler.

“Is that so wrong?” He asked, turning to look at his grandfather.

“Not at all, in fact, I am proud of you. A man’s job is to look out for those he loves. If you’re sitting here, talking to me about her, and presumably the job you want me to give you, it means you’ve put aside your pride and are looking to make decisions based on not just yourself. You’re starting to see the bigger picture.” Orion paused, looking at his grandfather, opening his mouth to speak but no words left his lips.

“You’ve got a lot to learn still, young Hunter.” The arm around Orion was released and the older man stood up. “I knew damn well why you were coming here before you ever picked up the phone to call me.” Adjusting his tie, the patriarch motioned for Orion to follow him as he trundled over to the window that Orion had been peering out of beforehand. “When you live life like I have, you always keep one eye open and your ear to the ground.”

“Is that what’s up with the windows?” Orion asked, “Some sort of visual metaphor?”

“No, they look nice.” The old man tutted, shooting Orion a sideways glance. “Though they remind me of what I’m doing everyday, I look out these windows and I remember that my foes are lurking in the shadows plotting my downfall, and that the people I love are out there living their lives the best they can.”

“So it is a metaphor.” Orion reiterated.

“If you insist.” Thaddeus chuckled. “Either way, you’re starting to think about the big picture, but you still lack greater context. You know if you start working here things are going to change. There will be expectations placed upon you, the freedom that you enjoy will be tempered by the ever hungry call of responsibility. This isn’t joes, you don’t get to just show up when you feel like it.”

“I know that,” Orion protested. “I didn’t throw on the suit for nothing ya know, I understand this isn’t just something I chose to do on a whim.”

“This will put a target on your back.” Thaddeus warned. “I am at war, young man, with the powers that be. We dared to demand more for the little man and they responded with violence. They won’t just stop at trying to kill you…” his voice trailed off.

“They’ll get the ones we love…” Orion breathed. “Like my mom.”

“Like Abigaelle,” Thaddeus nodded, turning to face his grandson. “This world is built on an endless cycle of strife, and our society is built on the inequity of man. The haves revel in excess while the have nots are subjugated into providing for the fat cats at the top.”

“Feels a little hard to take a moral high ground when we’re about to have steak and fancy whiskey.” Orion protested, a sour taste in his mouth.

“Oh come off it.” The elder Cayge offered a soft slug to Orion’s shoulder. “We play within the rules of their game right now because that’s the only way to get more power. People won’t just abandon money and wealth right away. So we bide our time, gather our power, and then once we’re in position? We burn it all down.”

Orion’s stomach churned once again, and he was certain it wasn’t because of hunger.

“And you’re okay with what that’s going to cost…” Orion asked sheepishly. “People aren’t going to just…want to abandon what they know. You’re talking about a whole upheaval of…everything. That’s not just gonna happen, there will be a war waged over that. People will die.” His heart quickened, he didn’t like the nature of this conversation as the memories of chalk outlines from the alien vision beneath the bay flashed through his mind's eye.

“People have died, and will continue to die for this cause.” Thaddeus growled. “Every time a homeless man freezes to death in the winter, the death toll of this war goes up. Every time an orphan starves to death, the toll goes up. The working man has been losing this battle for thousands upon thousands of years, Orion, I will not mourn the deaths of my enemy when so many innocent have died.”

“That’s…” Orion paused, unsure how to answer.

“There are two types of people, Orion, Lions and Lambs. Lambs don’t have the stomach to do what needs to be done, they look to the Lion’s to lead them and forge the path ahead. They lay their lives at the feet of the powerful and hope that they don’t get taken advantage of. Lions are willing to make the hard decisions, they’re willing to bear their fangs and rip out the throats of their enemies. They’re willing to take the thirty two men who conspired and defrauded thousands of people out of their money and hang them in the town square for all to see.”

“And you just go to bed at night and sleep like a baby?” Orion asked, a scowl on his face. “That shit doesn’t haunt you at all?”

“No, their faces don’t haunt me at all.” Thaddeus turned to Orion and scowled. “The faces I see at night are your mother gunned down in the street, huddled over her only child who she died to protect. I see Alexander’s chalk outline, I see the faces of all the ones they’ve stolen from me, and do you know what I do?” He leaned down and met Orion’s gaze head on. “I count the bodies of my enemies like sheep, and sleep like a baby. If you want a job with the family you need to decide if you’re a lion, or a lamb Mr Cayge.”

…

That dinner tasted like ashe in his mouth, but it was a bitter medicine. Monsters like Hearteater existed in the real world, ruling over drones not with mind control, but with their tyrannical grip on resources. They put a fee on everything, bills for the roof over your head, bills for the food in your stomach, bills for the medicine you needed to live. Hell, if they could they’d find a way to monetize the air you breathe. It was an unapologetic parallel to the corporate fat cats that ruined the lives of so many people with errant decisions.

He would rip them out root and stem.

“ADZE!” He howled, “GIL!” He had no time to mourn for Morpheus or Poseidon, there would be words exchanged as they looked into the raid retrospectively, after all they were just fainted, not gone. “HELP ME GET CLOSER!”

“ON IT!” Gil barked, rising from the ground where Solgaleo and the lunar beam had put him, wiping some dust and crimson globules from his chitin. He let out a mighty screech and charged the bat on its perch. Each step building up his momentum as he lunged forward, rearing his right hand back like he was about to unleash the world’s most devastating right hook, and then brought an uppercut with his left fist suckerpunching the shit out the Bat-stard and sending them reeling backwards.

Adze dashed towards Orion, who wrapped the beefy bug up in a bearhug as the creature took flight towards their foe.

“My KING!” Adze barked, his grasp on their newly shared language emboldened by his enraged heart. “STRIKE TRUE! REMEMBER WHAT THIS MONSTER HAS STOLEN FROM US!”

Memories flooded Orion’s head, visions of a beautiful jungle filled with massive flowers. Swarms of Buzzswole flitting from petal to petal, their nests harmoniously grown into the stems of these flowers. Visions of a synergistic cycle swam through his mind, pollination beget a larger flower population, which allowed more and more Buzzswole to build nests, to drink of the flowers nectar. The more flowers, the more buzzswole, the more buzzswole the faster the flowers grew. A garden of eden despoiled by the greed of the Bat. A land without scarcity enslaved to the wheels of wanton consumption.

Orion’s stomach churned.

His heart yearned for a world in which he had never set foot, and as he looked upon the greedy creature all he could think was that such a blight, such an evil HAD to go, it had to be put down like the rabbid dog it was. Everything he knew, everyone he’d loved had told him so.

But why did he feel so uneasy.

“I need you to distract him!” Orion explained to Adze, “I cannot do anything to the coffin if his fat ass is blocking it! Pull him off!”

“Consider it done, my King!” Adze buzzed before taking off. Orion would have to talk to him about the King thing later, though he didn’t quite hate it. The muscle mon dropped Orion off a safe distance from the boss before dashing into it, slamming one fist into it.


[tangent=“You cravenous Glutton! You sit upon a gilded coffin and speak to me of being undying? It sounds like you've simply prepared your own coffin! My King will crush you beneath his boots like the worm you are!"]"/⊬⍜⎍ ☊⍀⏃⎐⟒⋏⍜⎍⌇ ☌⌰⎍⏁⏁⍜⋏! ⊬⍜⎍ ⌇⟟⏁ ⎍⌿⍜⋏ ⏃ ☌⟟⌰⎅⟒⎅ ☊⍜⎎⎎⟟⋏ ⏃⋏⎅ ⌇⌿⟒⏃☍ ⏁⍜ ⋔⟒ ⍜⎎ ⏚⟒⟟⋏☌ ⎍⋏⎅⊬⟟⋏☌? ⟟⏁ ⌇⍜⎍⋏⎅⌇ ⌰⟟☍⟒ ⊬⍜⎍'⎐⟒ ⌇⟟⋔⌿⌰⊬ ⌿⍀⟒⌿⏃⍀⟒⎅ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⍜⍙⋏ ☊⍜⎎⎎⟟⋏! ⋔⊬ ☍⟟⋏☌ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ☊⍀⎍⌇⊑ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏚⟒⋏⟒⏃⏁⊑ ⊑⟟⌇ ⏚⍜⍜⏁⌇ ⌰⟟☍⟒ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍙⍜⍀⋔ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏃⍀⟒!"
[/Tangent]
Adze used Taunt, it’s super effective.

The flyboi musclesquito laid a series of insults and hits upon the creature, some of which Orion understood from the fleeting bits he’d managed to gather over the raid. He imagined it would take a few more sessions sitting on a pickle bucket with his vape in one hand and his phone open on duolingo before he would be whispering sweet nothings in this language, but he would focus on figuring out the more alien language of French first.

Priorities, people.

Whatever it was, Adze had managed to get the bat to adjust it’s swollen form enough that Orion could get at the coffin once again. Stake in hand it raised it on high, ready to do what needed to be done. Whilst the beast wasn’t in the coffin, he could plunge this into the frame of the cursed shrine and deface it once and for all, banish what was left of the foul princess of the precipice and consign hearteater to oblivion alongside her. Yet as he raised his hand, he found himself faltering.

Why?

Why would he feel ANY mercy for this monster? This corrupt beast that had taken so much from SO MANY. His grip dug into the metal spike so hard it began to cut into his palm, blood dripping down from his hand and onto the coffin. Why couldn’t he do it? Why couldn’t he bring this creature to its end?

Was he a Lion?
Or was he a lamb?

His grandfather’s words echoed endlessly in his head. Would he one day end up like him? So enraged by the indignities of the world that he wouldn’t care what it cost to have his vengeance on the monsters that caused it? Would he set the world of UNOVR on fire just for the possibility that what came after it was better?

Was he a lamb in Lion’s clothing? Or a Lamb Hearted lion?

He grit his teeth, gripped the stake tighter, and as he was about to bring his spike down, he remembered.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}…
“GOD DAMNIT HELEN THE’VE GONE TOO FAR THIS TIME!” Troy, Orion’s father howled as he slammed his fist into the counter.

“Troy…” a woman, Orion’s mother, cooed as she found her husband by the kitchen counter. Orion, at the ripe age of ten, had escaped his room far past his bedtime in search of a midnight snack of some type to pilfer from the pantry. Oreos and a juicebox perhaps, maybe a glass of milk perchance, if he was feeling daring. He hadn’t expected either of his parents to be awake, let alone in the kitchen at this hour, so instead he lurked in the shadows unnoticed as the scene before him unfolded. Helen’s hands gently ran up and down the muscular arms of his father as she gently squashed him. “You’re going to wake up Rion…”

“I-” the man stammered. “You’re right I just…”

“I know.” Helen purred, her arms wrapping around her husband's waist from behind as she placed a single kiss on his shoulder blade. “You’re frustrated, you’re upset, and you want to get even.” Her arms tightened, “You think if you yell loud enough and punch hard enough you’ll get what you think we all deserve.”

“I don’t…” the man trailed off, turning to wrap his arms around his partner and pulled her into a kiss. “I don’t think if I yell loud enough things will change…the time for words has long since ended my love. The only thing these idiots will listen to now is action and we…” He paused. “We have to strike first.”

“If you strike first…” Helen chided, “You will just justify everything they’ve ever said about us. They will call you and the family lawless terrorists…they will call us extremists, communist rebels, every name under the sun to discredit you. It will do more harm than good, my love.”

“And if they strike first…” Troy whispered, so soft that Orion could barely hear. “Who will they take from us? Hrmm? I cannot sit on my hands idly while they decide which one of us to string up as an example for the rest of the rabble. What if they hurt you! Or Orion? I’m…”

There was a long pause.

“I’m not strong enough to face that darling. I…I can’t let them hurt you. I would sooner burn their entire camp down and salt the earth than lose either of you.”

“And the world wouldn’t be rid of any monsters…” Helen protested, cupping Troy’s face with both hands. “They would just shift in management, lead not by corporate fat cats, but a sexy man with nothing left in his heart but hatred.” Leaning up on her tippy toes she would steal a kiss and smirk. “You’re better than them, you’re not a monster. You’re not a lion or a lamb like your father’s dogmatic speeches. You’re a man, with a big heart full of love for your fellow men.” Her smile was so bright Orion swore it lit up the entire room.

“You’re right…” Orion’s father grumbled. “You’re always right…”

“Not always…” Helen protested. “You were right about the peanut oil pasta…that stank up the house for days.”

“You’re always right when it matters.” Troy corrected, leaning down and peppering his wife with a barrage of kisses. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Helen purred, her arms wrapping around her husband's neck. “I know that you’re going to make something beautiful, and one day the world will be a better place. But…we don’t have to burn everything down to get there. You don’t have to kill every bad guy you run into, and for the love of god.” She paused and looked the man in the eyes.

“If something does happen to me…don’t you fucking dare use it to justify lashing out. I would never forgive you…”

…

Tears rolled down Orion’s face as the sands of time uncovered a precious memory long since obscured by the delusion he’d manufactured to protect himself from his own grief. For so long he’d pretended his mother hadn’t loved him or his dad, he’d let himself believe a lie to avoid a painful truth. And now…

Now he realized that he’d spent his whole life doing the opposite of what she’d wanted for him.

Every breath he’d spent in the ring might as well have been another bullet in her bloodied corpse, every act of vengeance another shovel full of dirt over he casket. She’d never wanted anyone to get hurt, and their riot to avenge her had been the exact opposite of what she’d wanted for anyone involved.

He sucked in a slow and shuddering breath, the white knuckle grip on his stake loosening.

“MY KING!” Adze howled.
“BOSS!” Gil roared.

He wasn’t a Lion, or a lamb.
He was neither Judge, Jury, nor an Executioner.
He was just a man, a sad and broken hearted mad who’d used what’d happened to him over the years to justify lashing out whenever he felt like it.
Because it made him feel strong.
Because it made him feel safe.
Because it made him feel righteous.

But it didn’t make him strong, it made him undisciplined.
It didn’t make himself safe, it just made being around him dangerous.
It was all wrong.

But what could he do? There was no “right” answer to this. If he didn’t act this monster would run rampant with its stolen immortality. If they killed it, there wouldn’t be less monsters in the world, there would be more as all of the players succumbed to their own bloodlust. He would be no better than his grandfather lashing out in anger, hanging thirty two men in the street as a warning to any who would come after. That wasn’t justice, it was vengeance, it was a glorified lynching and he would have no part in it.

In an instant, Orion knew what he would do.

“ASS EATER!” Orion howled, driving the stake down into the side of the coffin, nailing it shut. His hand would rest on the coffin, filling it with his warrior spirit as he took all of his sorrow, all of his hate, and turned it into iron chains that wrapped around the coffin sealing it shut.

“BY THE POWER BESTOWED UPON ME BY QUEEN RUBELLA, I, THE DUKE OF SOUTHSIDE AM PLACING YOU UNDER ARREST.” The chains coiled tightly, and when he was certain the coffin was sealed shut he grinned. “YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SHUT THE FUCK UP, ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN AND WILL BE USED TO MOCK THE SHIT OUT OF YOU LATER. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR DAY IN COURT! WHEN TEMPERS HAVE COOLED AND WOUNDS HAVE HEALED, YOU WILL FACE JUDGEMENT BEFORE A JURY OF THOSE YOU HAVE WRONGED AND YOUR FATE WILL BE DECIDED THEN! UNTIL THEN.” He paused and took another deep breath. “I ONLY HAVE ONE THING LEFT TO SAY TO YOU, YOU FLIGHTLESS FATASS!”

“Boss!” Gil screeched triumphantly.
“MY KING!” Adze buzzed before hearteater swatted him from the sky, causing the bug to land in a large crater.  No movement escaping the hole.

“YOU CALL THAT A FUCKING MOONGHEIST BEAM? THIS IS A REAL MOONGHEIST BEAM.” Orion stanced up, taking another deep breath as he channeled all of his might into one last, mighty howl. Ironically enough, he would end up not using the previously announced move, instead he would find the surplus Z energy left over from the previous attack welling up inside of him. Twin phantoms manifested from the lingering mist, an angelic woman with blonde hair and radiantly blue eyes, the other an olive skinned young man in cargo shorts in a tank top. Each wordlessly set their hands upon his shoulder, and he felt the energy tremble and crackle through his body. All of the grief, all of the anger, all of the hate. He bundled it all into one last beam, and let go of the Never Ending Nightmare he’d let his life become, a brilliant beam of moonlight erupting from his lips.

This was the way forward.

He would seal away this evil, and when cooler heads prevailed they would hold court and decide the creatures fate then and there.  He was done lashing out in anger, he was down just reacting to stimuli placed before him.  He wasn't a meek lamb meant for the slaughter, he wasn't a mindless lion hunting and consuming any enemy he saw.  He was a just a man, with the memories of those he'd lost to preserve.  He would live a life that his mother and Alexander could be proud of, and if that meant giving up everything he'd ever known well...

Vegas was overrated anyways, he was done being cayged.  

Orion the Man - Sweeper - 30/400 HP

Link to Roll

Core Ability: Recoil

Action: 
Dealt 1160 damage to Hearteater

Battle Log:

- Took 120 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain

- Other (Healing, Buffs, etc)

Adze the Buzzswole- Sweeper - -43/400 HP

Link to Roll

Core Ability: Recoil

Action: 
874 Damage to Hearteater

Battle Log:

120 strain damage
+5 Bonus for sharing a memory
+5 for embracing the beast
+5 for a new nickname given to Orion (King shit)

Gilgamesh the Golisopod- Tank - 222/500 HP

Link to Roll

Core Ability: None

Action: dealt 170 damage
Battle Log:

- Took 10 DMG from Strain/Energy Drain

- Other (Healing, Buffs, etc)