FINAL CONFRONTATION

[metaloverlord]

Throughout this week, you all have been hard at work preparing for your final confrontation with the person behind all of this - Neo Metal Sonic. His fleet of ships has taken over the skies, and Tails has been working on a means to get you safely onto the correct one. Given that you've all been called into the workshop today, it seems like it's finally time.

"I've got the correct coordinates and we're ready to go. We'll all be joining you in this fight."

Sonic nods and continues, "Let's avoid a repeat of last time, yeah? I'm still going to try to keep his attention on me since the plan is still the same - you guys have gotta knock the Master Emerald outta him!"

"You all have had some practice with your powers and with what the Master Emerald can do, so you should be better prepared for this fight. Still, remain on guard!"

Tails flicks the device to life and a portal opens. Unlike the rings, this one doesn't show where exactly you'll be going. "Everyone ready? Let's put an end to this."

You arrive in the interior of one of those ships - the long hallway you're in is made of thick, dark silver steel, with absolutely nothing in the way of décor. The way behind you leads to a door - gated shut, with seemingly no way to open it from this side - while the path ahead of you leads up a small flight of stairs to what can only be described as a throne. It is simplistic in design and still made of that dark, practical steel without any adornments or embellishments, but it provides Neo Metal Sonic a height advantage to loom over you, something he couldn't really manage on most of you without taking to floating.

He sits in the chair now, red eyes fixed on all of you. One elbow is propped on the arm of the chair and his chin leans against his hand, giving off the air of "bored monarch" that he's probably going for.

"So you've arrived. You've kept me waiting."

He gets up then, rising to float as he had before, sparks of that familiar green Chaos Energy flaring to life around him. "Let's not waste any more time. I'll destroy you all here and now. And you," his eyes flick to Sonic, "will trouble me no further."

"Does it even really count when I'm not the version of Sonic you've fought before...?"

"Silence." Sonic shrugs and Neo Metal Sonic dismisses him, turning his attention back to you all. "You all have caused enough problems for me. Once I've crushed you all, nothing will be able to stop me."

NAVIGATION

Comments

PHASE THREE: METAL MADNESS

[metaloverlord]

ROUND 1

[metaloverlord]

[Super Neo Metal Sonic is taking a beating, and his own control over this power is quite literally tearing him apart. Eventually, the power simply leaves him. The golden light flickers out, and in an instant, he's back to his original blue.]

Pathetic! Even here, even now... even with all this power... Why am I not strong enough!? I will not be defeated again!

[Neo Metal Sonic calls on the emeralds' power once more, and that crackling golden Chaos Energy begins tearing away at the ship - starting along the walls and branching up into the ceiling, where other rooms start to become visible as the pieces rip apart and begin to gather around Neo Metal Sonic. This process is fast, and soon it's spreading across the floor as well, backing you all up toward the door.]

Well, that's not good.

Understatement of the year, hedgehog.

Good thing you all gathered more rings... Come on, we don't have much of a choice!

[Your companions usher you into the rings - you'll all reappear on the deck of a ship not too far away. You have a front row seat to Neo Metal Sonic consuming the ship you were just on - and then several others, just for good measure. The swirling vortex darkens into something impossible to make out, and it's only with a crack of lightning (or maybe it's golden Chaos Energy, sort of hard to tell) that Metal Madness emerges from the storm.

Dwarfing the size of the ship you're on and much of the fleet as a whole, Metal Madness lets out a roar that sounds more bestial than mechanical and swings his claws down on the opposite end of the ship you're standing on. Looks like those hoverboards might be coming in handy right about now - or those rings you've collected, if you don't trust your balance on a hoverboard. If you don't try to get out of the way, you will be flung up into the air - and good luck figuring out a landing.

Though there are still plenty of ships in the sky to hop between, Metal Madness has you on a timer. You're going to run out places to stand eventually, and your hoverboards don't exactly have infinite charge. Of course, there is another option... you can practically feel your shards calling out to one another, just begging you to form a bond with all seven colors. For this phase, all of you may activate your Super forms, regardless of the fact that we do not quite have a perfect number of characters for this seven-way bond. You're borrowing from each others' powers, after all. Super forms will allow you access to any of your shardbond powers at any time, including those of your shared colored allies, and grants you flight, increased attack and defense, and regeneration. You may still only act once per round, but once your Super form is active, it will remain for the duration of this phase until you willingly dispel it.

A flash of red light from Metal Madness' core (the one located in his center/his chest) deals damage you cannot dodge to everyone. Located around the core are seven familiar Chaos Emeralds.

It's time to put an end to this. Show him what you're made of.]

[ungratefuloz]

[Everything's happening all at once, and Dorothy's thankful their healing went a long way towards making things more bearable.

Of course, Dorothy's super form...she hasn't used this armor in months now. Eden's armor activates, but there's some very notable differences here.

First off; the entire dress is black, every white detail replaced by black and making her angelic wings look something akin to a raven's wings. It'a accented by a masquerade-looking mask with a beautiful amethyst in a three pronged design, that looks birdlike in nature to help sell the look. A lovely cravat with a purple gemstone rests atop her chest, and perhaps this once...

Though lacking the purity of her normal look, she somehow still looks every bit the Goddess of Victory that she's always wanted to be, and her purple eyes are aglow as her wings spread.]

Everyone! Put your all into every attack we send his way--the fate of the world rests upon our shoulders, and as we always have, it is time for us to rise to the occasion!

Hear us, Neo! We will put a stop to you, no matter what form you take--we will not stop until this world is back in the hands of the people, in a humanity that deserves a brighter future! One that you may soon see for yourself that even you can grasp!

On my honor as a Goddess of Victory, we will see this through, and drag you out of this madness by force!

[For right now at least (provided nobody wants to team up explicitly)--Dorothy is going to be sending a hell of a laser at Neo at minimum, while Dorothy draws upon the power of her friends.]

[reallyfishy]

[Before Raven can even begin to comprehend whatever the hell Neo Metal Sonic has turned himself into, he feels the floor give out from under him as he's flung into the open air.

Well, that's bad.

It can't end like this, though. He can't let himself fall now. He's got plans now! People wants to spend the rest of this second life with! He's not going to let Neo Metal Sonic trip him at the finish line.

As he thinks of those here he's formed tight bonds with, he feels the shards calling out to him and reaches out to that power with all of his might. The colors of the shards swirl around him and grant him a miraculous white-gold aura.

Most importantly, he's flying! Looks like this bird-coded old man has found himself some actual wings.]

Whew! Now that's more like it!

[He grins and whips out his bow, his eyes glittering gold.]

Let's give him a piece of his own medicine!

[He draws back the arrow and pours his newfound power into it. Ripples of water dance off the arrow and when he fires it, it homes in on Metal Madness. If it makes contact, it'll explode!]

[divinevoid]

[ Well, then.

Given everything that has managed to be what it has, Void Archives is nevertheless not exactly the type of person to hesitate in carrying out what needs to be done. Activating the super form feels incredibly instant, and the amount of power is extremely exhilarating. There are hardly many outward changes - which is likely to be lackluster, in a sense - though, the usual suspects are evident—Void Archives' eyes are a golden glow, and there is a further, ethereal glow apparent on their physical form.

From them is a thin flicker of gold, which spread outwards - something like the vague shape of something at their back - feathers that glow in the light. Wings.

Above their head, something akin to a white circular shape of some kind.

Oh, wait, and there is something else as well. Though, it may pale in comparison to the usual decorated sort that they so happen to wear.

Of course, there so happen to be many powers available to use, though Void Archives has always been a particular sort.

Chains appear once more, wreathed in gold, but this time, there is something else to them - they extend outwards towards the enemy, and combine into a singular one - a large golden spear aimed to pierce right into said Metal Madness - the core. Though, afterwards, it will shatter, and break, and the pieces that fall will aim then reform a chain that can hold on, in an attempt to hinder movement. ]

Your time to fall is now.

You, who is committed to his foolish way ahead. Who would rather bury himself in the sand and attempt to cry out, to justify the actions of a thoughtless fool, only to be revealed to be nothing more than a child.

One who knows nothing. And will be nothing.

Does it satisfy you? The sheer scope of your ignorance?

Does it please you? How far you will fall?

I wonder...if in the end, you will realize your error.

Will you then beg for mercy? I hope to see it.

Yes, I will enjoy it foremost of all...struggle in futility and be wiped from the face of existence!

[crosswired]

[He'd heard tales of this, in his time as a Toa. Of that ultimate for those with willpower - of Kaita.

This isn't quite it. Not the cumulation of many into one, but rather the energy combined. But it still touches on those energies that make a Toa a Toa, that makes them unique.

One set of eyes closes as Vakama lets himself fall through the rings, and multiple open in their place, behind a mask the sleeks back into gold, a form a little larger than before, a thing that shifts into less of Vakama and more the mix that unity brought, a touch of each of the bonds that swirl integrally and twists the body into that much further of a mix of mechanical and biological.

His mouth is covered, and every fiber of him flexes with the color that ties. The elements of their unity, the determination for their duty, the pull towards their destiny.]

We will not be broken.

[An echo of seven tied into one, with the same golden eyes Vakama always carried, as he immediately shoots forward in flight amongst the raining debris, using the power of his telekinesis to start shooting forward projectiles as a starting volley.]

[guffawsungraciously]

[...yeah. this is... something, huh? he wonders if he really should go for it.

...

you know what. yeah, actually. he's going to do it. time to power the fuck up, and hell yeah he's just a furry now. like the gem lodged in his chest is ruby instead of white. but.... you know... he has gone Full Furry and is just kind of... looking his hands over...]

...

Hahaha. Hahahahaha! Of course I would get to use this!

[time to DISAPPEAR INTO SHADOW and then TRY AND PUNCH METAL MADNESS IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD]

[plushes]

[ Percy's super form doesn't give him new armor or a brand new outfit. What it does do, however, is have the same blue flame that covered his weapons envelop his body instead. He gains a pair of blue wings, and alongside that...

A friend appears. It's large and life-sized, a little more realistic than a plush would be, but it's at Percy's side and glowing the same blue flame as him.

He smiles as a warm scarf covered in flowers wraps around his neck. The bear puts its hand on Percy's shoulder. ]

Proud of you, little bro!

[ This gives him pause, but his smile turns warm. He's trying his best not to tear up, but... ]

...Welcome back, sis.

[ And then he sends the bear towards Neo, with one of Percy's weapons - a hammer - to swing at him. ]

[hexalding]

[For some reason, he wasn't all that afraid. Of course he was, to a point--it would have been insane not to be. Viktor, despite everything he had become, was at his core just an ordinary person who had only ever wanted to help others. And he still could. He was sure, somewhere deep in the hollow shell that once held a living heart, that he could still save someone--if not Neo, then his friends who had joined together in a single common purpose. No matter what happened, no matter what it took, no matter how dangerous...he couldn't let them down now.]

[The back of his hand burned like the emerald crystal within it was overheating, supercharged with a current of energy that crackled and twisted around him in the form of some energy of every imaginable color at once--the same wild magic that reflected kaleidoscopic in Viktor's own eyes.]

[The anomaly cleared with a sweeping motion of a twisted staff, and the Arcane Savior floated in its place haloed by those indefinable colors. Iridescent and ethereal, Viktor was not quite wholly human, machine, or magic. His skin was patterned with a strange shimmer of the same myriad oil-slick shine, touched by the indefinable and chaotic arcane. Solidly gold eyes scanned the fleet and the monster that towered over it, calm and undaunted.]

[Viktor spoke, and his voice echoed with a reverberation that was no longer mechanical, radiating a primal force beyond true comprehension.]

Let us finish this together. Perhaps he will listen to reason once I dismantle this ostentatious mess like any other machine.

[The now spectral and bright Hexclaw raised its hand, firing off a massive firework in electric blue to rain down laser fire on Metal Madness.]

[holeful]

[As the shard bonds power everyone up, please imagine a full magical girl transformation for Fukuda as his outfit shifts to one that some people have seen before. I mean full magical girl. Glowy light, tapping the boots, hand outstretched as the rings materialize. Please imagine. He finishes by smoothing his hands over his face, skin being wiped smooth and hair falling back into place. But this is Fukuda's Super Form. Not Anaido! So with a final flourish, he taps his forehead and the hole reappears along with his piercings. Yay!

He then immediately ruins the cool look by ripping his heart microphone out again. Blood everywhere.]

Haven't you heard? The bigger they are, the harder they fall! And now, thanks to everyone working together, I have all the powers of a Brilliant Detective! [You do not have that.] And since there's no murder to solve, I suppose I'll have to make one, yours!

[Disses aside, he gets serious. This is really the final showdown, after all.]

The narrative dictates it's time for us to take you down, but you know, even if every detail was stacked against us, even if all the odds were suggesting we should lose, I'd still be standing here, trying to fight you. Even though I'm a coward, even though I've always rolled over and given up before. Do you know why that is? It's because people here have supported me. They've seen the worst, most wretched parts of me and still held out their hand. I wouldn't mind dying here, but because of them, I actually want to live! So that's why! You don't have any chance of winning.

[Take this huge fuck off Super Mode Truth Blade, Neo.]

[morningstud]

[Pretend I have been here the entire time as Lucifer takes one look at Metal Madness and decides this is far, far to much foe one day. But that doesn't stop him from transforming into an incredibly dapper suit, his wings on full display.]

I've had more than enough of you!

[Powered by the friends and allies he's met, he attacks with his bat, shielding the group as he attacks.]

[lavenfallen]

[ He shouldn't be letting his thoughts wander at a time like this, but... at what appears to be the end of the road, he wonders how Hune would've handled this journey. Would he have formed the same bonds as he did? Looked after everyone to the best of his abilities? Would he be standing here now, facing down an enemy that has endured so much pain, and feel ready to strike him down for the sake of their world?

Not that it matters. It's Gyles that did his best all these weeks, that'll face this end and whatever lies beyond it with his head held high - but it's a comfort to think about him now. Not as a "if only", but merely a source of strength. A gentle paw on his back, urging him on as his feet leave the ground.

His fur unifies in color, a wheat gold that provides contrast to a billowing blue cloak with decorative domino-themed trim. Though as he activates his duplicity, his copy's cloaks all take a different color: seven in total, to reflect all their shards. this does nothing special, i just thought it'd be cool flavor ]

... There's nothin' to say that someone else can't say better. [ He and his duplicates lift their right paws in unison, as their left touches the domino on their left ears. ] But we're not dyin' here.

[ He focuses his blasts at Metal Madness's core. ]

[accendio]

[ he hasn't had to use this form ever since that day.

but it seems appropriate, even if it isn't quite the Harmony that he is calling upon for his powers, but rather the power of the shards - it's all the different colours working together that enable this, no?

there is light.

there is light, and there is dominicus, wisher of the harmonious choir, overlaid over sunday's form. ]

You have done enough. But no more.

[ and with that pronouncement of judgment, Sunday sends his ghostly angel creatures after Neo, pummelling him with both music and also light based energy, right at where the chaos emeralds are supposed to be. ]

[is2g]

[ some people are flashy and some people are going to be understated, wolfwood is going to fit more into the second category. he has, and always will be, a man among gods and beings of immense power. at least, he won't be entirely "boring" as there will be an "angel wing" that will be protruding out from the right side of him. the long feathers and wrapping around him to form a sort of barrier.

( which iyky is very 🏳️‍🌈 )

hopefully wolfwood isn't going to step on void archives' ( or anyone else who uses light based attacks ) toes as he casually "borrows" their gimmick of being able to do light-based beam attacks to do a bit of that himself via some shots from his juiced up gun. i mean, sure he's able to do blasts from using his gem but what's the fun in that? and for anyone who is looking for even more of a boost to their attack, wolfwood is definitely here for that.

plenty of people will have their own snappy lines before they attack but wolfwood's just going to focus on aiming for neo's weak points. he's over this and everyone deserves a break. ]

[sacrificialpawn]

[Ever since that day, Oscar has been wandering aimlessly, searching for a place to die. Devoting himself to Claude had given him a reason to keep going, but even that came with an inevitable end: Claude would become a demon, Oscar would kill him, and then there would be nothing left. He's known this, and he's accepted this, welcomed it even.

And then he ended up here. For some reason he still can't quite understand, the people here have reached out to him with kindness again and again, have worried about his safety, told him to take care of himself, and reiterated that his life is important to all of them for more than just his ability to protect others.

Basilio, Lark, Viktor, Vakama, Wolfwood... they've all forced themselves in where he'd tried so hard to shut people out. And now, he's realizing that he wants to live alongside them rather than simply resign himself to what he'd thought was an unchangeable fate. He's not sure he deserves it, but he is sure that he wants to keep all of them safe no matter what.

There's a subtle shift, and suddenly in the light his hair looks like flickering flame, his eyes glowing a brilliant green... every bit the "battle god" that Claude had nicknamed him long ago.

Letting his own strength flow out to increase the power of everyone around him, he raises his saber and charges at Metal Madness with the intent of striking a fierce blow.]

[undoingdaughter]

[Beaten, battered, bruised, Jinx doesn't falter. She's come too far, witnessed too much, to ever let anything get the better of her now. Not her sister, not any of those zaun crimelords, not even the whole of Piltover or Noxus. Nothing could kill her. Jinx would simply keep going. And she would never lose anyone else, ever again.

The ruby in her hand burns with an almost familiar energy that crackles and twists through her veins. An almost grotesque web of violet that spreads up her arms, under tattoos that glow a vibrant blue and right to her eyes. There's a dangerous electricity there, leaving shimmering trails as Jinx starts to move with a renewed vigor.

Quicker, faster, the game's rules have shifted. And Jinx, maybe not free of her sins, is going to do her part to take this monster down like all the others.]

ROUND 2

[metaloverlord]

[This wouldn't be a proper final battle without cool transformations and equally awesome attacks, and Metal Madness shudders through those blows without sustaining any serious damage. The attacks at his core earn another roar and the Chaos Emeralds flash - you'll find yourselves drawn to your matching color. Metal Madness actually does block the attacks aimed at the Chaos Emeralds themselves; swinging wide wings in to take the hit before unfurling again.

But first you're going to have to deal with Metal Madness slamming his tail into a ship to break it and launch those pieces at you. After all, what could be more fitting than flinging more "rocks" at everyone? Even though you all have activated godmode, you do still need to roll to dodge pieces of the ship. Getting hit will hurt, but you still have access to your healing and you'll regenerate health every round, so you should be good to keep fighting!

...Which is good. Because that's immediately followed up by three rounds of undodgeable laser blasts from Metal Madness' core hitting everyone (x3). He certainly doesn't want you all getting close.]

[divinevoid]

[ Well. There's no point in backing down at this point, right? They're just going to go ahead and dodge the ship with ease and finesse (17) ]

Pathetic. You should start to beg for mercy already.

Or are you unable to so much as talk anymore?

[ Then after that, the lasers hit.

Which, well, are unfortunate, but...

But, they're going to strike back. Eat a rain of light from all around. Escape? What is that? They're going to try to corner him into submission, even if it'll be hard to do that for quite some time as of yet! ]

[ungratefuloz]

[Dorothy may not be able to dodge the laser blasts, but she isn't deterred--using those new wings to take a bit of those blasts, feathers and metal shrapnel falling from them as she dodges the piece of ship aimed at her. But those emeralds...!]

Perhaps we need to find our match...!

[But if nothing else, Dorothy's more than apt to go on the offensive--drawing upon a layered bond this time, the bright glare of the sun being sent at Neo as she attempts to attack him with that whirlpool.

Perhaps if they distract him, they can get a clean shot--they have power on their side. As long as they use it wisely, they won't lose.]

[crosswired]

[Telekinesis helps him avoid the debris (13), though multiple sets of eyes immediately dart to the Chaos Emerald of white that calls to him so urgently.]

Percy! Fukuda!

[Have you ever seen an enormous robot pull an enormous hammer out of nowhere? Thanks, Percy! Let's take a drive-by swing at that limb protecting the Diamond Chaos Emerald.]

ROUND 3

[metaloverlord]

[Despite the power behind your attacks, Metal Madness shrugs them off. His wings reform in a flash of golden light, the damage done to his limbs and body shaken off just as easily. Wolfwood's gravity well does not move him; though that isn't to say Metal Madness won't move at all, because he does, draconic form twisting through the storm clouds that have gathered, ominously flashing.

Which yes, means that Fukuda (x3), Percy, Wolfwood, Viktor, and Raven are being struck by lightning - if they can't dodge it, anyway.

The trio of Diamonds are going to immediately be intercepted by hoards of flying robots - seems like they came from one of the ships below you guys, and they are serving as obstacles to actually getting closer to Metal Madness. They're easy enough to defeat, but you'll need to spend this round cutting through them, and the ships below have plenty more of them. Oh, and they explode once they're defeated, which will cause a small amount of damage for each one defeated. You'll want to watch your HP.

And of course, here's another two waves of Chaos Energy hitting everyone (x2) for undodgeable damage.]

ROUND 4

[metaloverlord]

[Though you all are doing an admirable job cutting through the robots (and dealing with explosions)... there are more where those came from. In fact, there are a lot more. It seems like the supply from the ships below are near never-ending. Cutting through all of these - even with your powers - is going to take awhile, and probably not be incredibly effective when there are more waiting in the wings. Gyles' attack on the closest ship does a great job of disrupting some of the robots waiting there - there are five ships full of robots, each with one command center and a deck full of robots.

Not that Metal Madness is allowing you time to come up with a plan - lightning strikes from the sky again, hitting Mafuyu, Dorothy, Wednesday, Turo, Jinx (x2), and Gyles if they don't dodge. Two more waves of Chaos Energy hit everyone (x2), still unable to be dodged.

Speaking of the ships below... did you know they have laser cannons? Yeah. Look out, Jinx (x2 again), Viktor (x2), and Gyles! You can dodge these hits, assuming Avrae cooperates with you.]

ROUND 5

[metaloverlord]

[Raven, Wednesday, Fukuda, Void Archives, Sunday, Jasper, and Jinx take down the ships, leaving none left. While that does solve the problem of robot reinforcements in the future, there are still plenty to cut through now - five of you will be able to cut a path through... or if you come up with a particularly creative solution, that might free up more of you to do whatever you'd like when you can get close!

As for Metal Madness... well. Viktor, Dorothy, Vakama, and Ashley reach out to him, and though he struggles, fights against every single thing you say and feel and think, eventually the bond that connects your minds settles, almost as if some sort of understanding has been reached.

You feel anger, and hatred, and frustration - the desperate need to fight because that's all you know how to do. To fight, to grow stronger; to cut the parts of yourself off until you've found your weak points and made them something stronger. Something better. And yet you already know it won't happen this time either, that this too is destined to end in failure.

But what choice do you have? You fight, because that's all you know how to do.

How do you look to an uncertain future, when you were never given the ability to dream of it? How do you learn to trust in others, when you have denied anyone the chance to try to understand? How do you move forward, when there is no place to go but back to the same cycle of defeats and rebuilding?

And then, the connection abruptly snaps - closing your mind entirely to whatever all of that was. Metal Madness grips his head with both claws, roaring out in (pain? frustration? fury?) and shooting another wave of Chaos Energy at everyone. Like before, it cannot be dodged. Unlike before, it barely hurts. The Chaos Emeralds glow brightly around his core.]

ROUND 6

[metaloverlord]

[Metal Madness' tail thrashes behind him, smashing into some of those ships and scattering debris; he shudders, metal plates groaning from the way he's curled in tight on himself, as if to physically block out everything you all are verbally throwing at him. He says nothing - but he doesn't need to. You can feel it - that fury bleeding into uncertainty and fear, frustration into anxiety.

His wings curl around him as if to form a shield, blocking attacks but not regenerating from the damage done to them. With the robots successfully cut down, nothing stops you from approaching Metal Madness.

And... he doesn't attack.

The Chaos Emeralds continue to glow brightly from where they're hidden behind tattered, beaten wings.]

END OF PHASE THREE

[metaloverlord]

[Metal Madness doesn't move his wings, but he makes no move to attack either. Though a few of you may have to get a bit creative to cut through the wings or otherwise slip through them, eventually you have access to the seven Chaos Emeralds, still glowing brightly around Metal Madness' core. He doesn't move even with you this close, remaining completely still.

You can only touch the Chaos Emerald that matches your shard color; the others will give you a little zap if you try. Reaching out for the one that matches your shard color will see it dislodge itself from Metal Madness and float into your hands, where it will safely remain. Once all seven have been removed, Metal Madness shudders.

You might want to take a step back.]