Seed of Darkness - Dark Dimension Encounter

The setting for the final battle was made. Everything was in place. Within this world, he could have all the fun he desired and take the power of those who dared oppose him. Of course, he didn't need to fight himself, not yet. He had others to do that for him.

He raised a hand and he created another Omen. This one was different. It held the power of all Omens made before concentrated into one form. As a result, this creature was something incredibly different. A soulless, bloodthirsty fighter who merely wished to serve his creator. This is the birth of the Shadow Fighter.

"You should be more than enough for the beginning. All I need do is wait for the Drone to fulfill his end of this arrangement and bring them here." He could send Omens to bring them here as well, but that would take more energy than he was willing to let out. It had already taken quite a lot just to make this. But it would all be worth it. The rate of energy absorption would be must higher here than it would be fighting out in their world, and it would all be used to feed the Seeds within him directly.

Sera had tailed Jessie on the way to Shibuya, wasting no moment to catch up and deal with the problem that was supposedly there. Before they even reached the top of the steps, Sera could plainly feel the taint surrounding the once sacred place of prayer for many. He felt absolutely sick to his stomach, absolutely putrid.

"Gotta make you wonder what kinda guy would do this..."

Sera got to thinking himself.

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Standing at the top of the steps was Haruka with Yukino in his arms. It took only a few moment to make their way from the Espoir household to the shrine, and luckily for both of them, reinforcements were on the way. If Sera felt sick, Haruka felt like he was going to keel over at just the sight of the environment, let alone the vibe it gives off.

"Well... we're here."

He nodded, semi-confident, semi-terrified of what was to come.

Okuri had managed to quickly catch up to Sera and Jessie who had taken a bit of a head start over the group. As they approached the shrine at Shibuya he could feel something was noticeably off. When finally on the premises it was easy to tell what that was. Strange energy was everywhere. Not exactly visible but almost tangible. As he began ascending the stairs with the others Okuri could feel his illusion being distorted simply from the energy of the place and rather than try to fight it back into working properly he simply dropped it. He'd recently come to accept that he was going to keep encountering things it was useless to keep it up against. Jessie already always saw his real form, Sakuya had once, what did it matter at this point if a few more resistance members did so long as whatever was going on here was stopped.

"This place... it feels distinctly different than the Reapers. Yet still so..." he couldn't quite place the words. The Reapers made him feel as though the Earth was crying out in pain but this place only felt like the darkest of emotions were congregated from all nearby life.

Sakuya came up right behind Okuri, an angry look on her face. "Whoever is causing this, how dare they! Defiling the shrines with such evil..." She pouted quietly to herself, sticking close to Okuri as they pressed onward. She wasn't nearly as frightened now as she was of the Reapers, able to sense the darkness in the air with ease. If it had been a Reaper, Sakuya likely wouldn't have cared. But it wasn't, it was someone on their level of existence. And to think that someone could bring such darkness to a sacred place like Shibuya infuriated Sakuya.

Yukino relayed the alert to the Resistance, but noted that reinforcements already arrived early. Excellent. Her Reality Bangle was immediately active, as usual, and Alfred XIV's sword materialized under one of her hands, pressing it down firmly into the ground - mirroring the image of the card itself. Shining blades glaring at the evil entity before them that acted as gatekeeper: the Shadow Fighter. Every Paladin understood the silent order: "Trample it". Today, they were getting Dimension Police's vanguard back, and the Hero of Liberation to return to his best friend's side.

Jessie, in his recklessness to do something, wound up continuously charging until he blindly ran into the Shadow Fighter, falling backward upon colliding with the servant of darkness.

"Gah!" The boy cried out.

While most of the group had slowed their pace to comment on the state of affairs here at the shrine, Jessie had continued full speed into the middle of things. Hearing his cry as he ran into the Shadow Fight Okuri quickly turned to run to his aid. His tails almost whipped Sakuya in the face as he darted out and caught sight of just what Jessie had collided with. Hikari appeared to be in the area as well which was somewhat comforting to know.

The reality bangle at the base of his tail activated as several Great Nature units materialized to distract the fighter from the boy in front of his as Okuri continued running to his side. If he had to be the first offensive to keep Jessie out of danger so be it.

Carlos managed to get to the Shrine after Jessie, Okami and Sera. That was a great feat, given that he had half his brain functions on breathing and devising a plan to get to know better the mysterious girl. "First step, ask her name. Second step, ask her zodiac sign. This plan is absolutely flawless!". 

However, he wasn't able to ignore the bad energies surrounding the Shrine. "Woah!" He exclamed, realizing better where he was now. "What the hell is going on with this place!?". He turned to Sera and Okuri to calmly ask them if they knew anything about the state of the place. "What the hell is this!? What the hell is this!?". Very calmly. 

Then, as he turned to ask Jessie, he saw how he was knocked down by a strange looking person. Seeing his friend in danger, Carlos rushed to his side along with Okuri and helped him stand up. "Hey! Who's 'Lord Wickedness'? Because I got a question for you!". He remained silent for a moment, creating a dramatic pause. "Where's the girl!?".

Haruka and Sera joined at each other's side. They were forces to be reckoned with alone, but so much more when paired together. Probably because they're built from the same life, it makes them that much more compatible. Except Sera was basically about to pass out from the bad juju around here and Haruka needed to a second to catch his bearings after the venture cross-city.

After a moment of relief, they caught sight of a Resistance member, Jessie, making what looked like a desperate attempt to spear a huge ass statue. That was not at all what happened but they weren't watching.

"Jessie! Are you okay?!"

Sera turned on his heels, making a b-line for the comrade who just inflicted friendly fire on himself, doing a near power-slide across the stones to Jessie's side.

Haruka peered at the giant statue. Because you know. It wasn't at all a statue. It was... what the hell was it? He watched quietly, observing the area. Aside from the presence of this rather ominous subject, it seemed as though nobody else was here. Or at least, not detectable through the taint that blanketed the ornate shrine.

"We need to find Malice, but somebody has to dispatch this... thing," he mentioned to the group. Haruka took note of Carlos' intention to go after... a girl? What---

Oh please don't tell me he's fallen for Fuki.

After the past few days, Neo was preparing for what could happen but just then he had a bad feeling. He could feel as if something bad was about to happen so he walked toward this shrine and saw some other people already there.

"Is this the place of the bad feeling I got?" Neo asked himself.

Then he saw what looked like a huge monster and took a step back, but knowing Neo he wasnt about to back out now.

The Shadow Fighter looked down at Jessie, his face covered in a mask that resembled the bottom of a skull. It made his gaze that much worse as he looked at though he could kill the boy then and there, but he did not move. He was waiting for his master to give him a command before he acted.

Malice raised his hands as three screen-like monitors appeared behind him. They showed Darren, Ezel, and Super Dimensional Robo Daikaiser all in chains. "I see you all have come to our grand unveiling..." he said to them all, looking more specifically at Yukino as he knew what these images would do to her. He wanted to see her face of anguish.

"For those of you who are seeing me for the first time... yes, I am not a Reaper. However, I am soon to become even more powerful than the Reapers that you have seen until now. I picked the perfect place I could find for my going away party. Once we are done here, these three will be of no further use to me. I'll hand them to Harbinger so she can do as she pleases with them!"

It sounded impossible, but that was his aim. Once he had what he wanted, he would not need them to sustain his form. He would be free and he would let them all die if that was their fate. "So... heroes... are you going to take your last opportunity to stop me, or are you prepared to say goodbye to them and this world forever?"

Out of the crowd, he did notice one with a strange energy. She was a Seed, or at least she used to be. It was the same energy he had felt in Mirai but it was unfamiliar as well. It must have been someone Darren had never met. No reason to worry about it, if that is the case.

Jessie immediately regretted all of his life choices in the very instant the Shadow Fighter stared down at him. That mask was just adding to the nightmare factor, and he gulped as he thought the soldier would snap him in half. As luck would have it, help it on the way for his rash charge, and the malicious servant didn't move. However, the three monitors being summoned got his attention, but got Yukino's more. Naturally, she grew angrier at the sight of the boy, the hero, and the dimensional leader restricted by bindings. The Chosen Sword had an idea of how Malice would operate by toying with their emotions at this point.

He said he would become more powerful than the Reapers they've seen. Of course they can't let something become on par with even the strongest Deletors, and they DEFINITELY couldn't let him become worse. Yukino wasn't handing anyone else over to Harbinger either, growing even angrier at the sheer idea of it. "Asinine question", Yukino began. "Destroy his servant, then we'll get to him!"

Jessie was a bit frozen at the moment, taking some time to realize what he got himself into.

Three strange monitors appeared behind the presumed 'Lord Wickedness'. Two of them showed what Carlos thought were Cray Units. The other showed what appeared to be a young boy... Or a Unit he's never seen before. No, definitely a boy.

The enemy assured them that he wasn't a Reaper, something that didn't surprise the young cardfighter. "Of course you aren't, you lack the tentacles and some height" He thought. He then revealed that he planned to hand the units and the boy to some Harbinger. "Maybe he's talking about the boss of the reapers". He finished by challenging them to stop him from becoming 'more powerful than the Reapers that they have seen until now'. Now that was a problem.

"Ok, I'll beat you and your strange guy over there. Then, I'll make you tell me where's the girl!". He really knows what he wants. "Oh, and of course I'll make you release those Units and the boy".

Malice grinned wickedly as he saw their struggle. Just as he assumed, the masses were already fired up from the sight before them and the idea of how powerful he would become. Little did they know that their fire would light the fuse that would begin everything for him. He wanted them angrier, more determined. That way he could take even more from them.

"If that is how you feel then there's no need to delay!" He snapped his finger as the Shadow Fighter finally moved. He took a fighting stance, his had to his sword until he stabbed it down into the ground, directly in front of Jesse. The hilt opened up and a Fight Table was made with it. A deck appeared there as well but a thin wire was attached to the deck.

"I should also mention, since this is my world there is a special rule. Each blow your units take will be a blow to you. The Vanguard especially. Let's hope none of you die from the shock of feeling what your units feel each time they step onto the battlefield."

Malice enlightened the group as to his plans informing them he was to become stronger than the reapers with it. Okuri didn't understand everything he was saying but knew he couldn't allow it to go on. The Shadow Fighter stabbed his sword into the ground and Okuri jumped in front of Jessie in just in case. However a table formed instead. There were cardfights to be had. But with the condition that attacks to units would harm the user as well. Okuri nudged Jessie who still seemed to be in shock.

"Jessie you need to back up. I won't let him hurt you." Okuri said looking back briefly as he stepped up to the table, his sash producing his deck. "Or anyone else for that matter." he said challenging the Shadow Fighter in line with Hikari's orders.

Jessie whimpered and immediately backed up via hastened crawling, thankful to God this is just going to be a cardfight as a opposed to the mass destruction a Reaper battle usually entails. Where did that bravery against Gigaton go? Well, you see, it went with the monster's skull. There's none left in the face of a buff dude with an actual sword just fighting- Then Jessie realized why he's actually scared of Yukino.

"... Neo?" Yukino called out, noticing him. "Neo, is that you?!"

He was a bit late to the show, but a familiar red head showed up with his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. Both Garmore and Ezel flanked him on either side, almost like body guards as they materialized when he approached the area, glancing at the opponent they were currently against. Why was he even here?

"You can thank me later. After the incidents he almost opted to go home." Ezel spoke to Yukino for a moment, placing a hand on top of Aedan's head, which he quickly brushed away.

"You didn't need to tell boss lady that, it's pretty embarrassing ye know..." Aedan grumbled at the Incandescent Lion before turning his attention to the task at hand. Garmore seemed to be... Growling? What?

While watching the cardfight, Neo had noticed someone calling out to me and it was Yukino!

"Yukino its been a long time" Neo said

"I kinda left for awhile but I have returned. I found out whats been going on and what happened to everyone so I am here to help now!" Neo said to Yukino

"Good timing! We can use your help in the war! Right now, even!" Yukino's angry expression turned into a happy one, glad to reunite with her old friend, and more glad to have a valuable ally in the middle of calamity.

Haruka dashed up after the... dog? There was a dog here. Oh, that was Okuri apparently? Haruka had never met them face-to-face and now was probably not the best time for formalities. Haruka called on the aid of Lambros and Thavas, as well as the new Aqua Force units who recovered from their venture to the Dragon Empire recently.

"End this swiftly, Captain. We're running out of time."

Haruka nodded, making mental calculations before the fight even began. This was... troublesome. Watching the New Era Beast, Zeal tear Okuri's Vanguard to a Power of that even below 0. Not something he was particularly looking forward to himself.

Sera took the liberty of helping Jessie get to a farther destination that wasn't right in front of the Shadow Fighter's face. Or fist.

Okuri was sent flying back with the sixth damage to his legion of Researcher and Tester Fox. Their power had become less than zero somehow in the midst of that and there was no defense to be made. At the least the others were there to protect Jessie at this point so he'd done what he wanted. A thought flashed through his mind wondering if this was how he finally died and almost welcomed the opportunity. But only consciousness slipped from him at this point. The various damage inflicted had left noticeable and even serious cuts and bruises on his body. Skidding across the stones of the shrine floor as he landed Okuri eventually stopped moving somewhere nearby Jessie. He wasn't moving and seemed to be out cold as the fresh injuries generated a growing pool of blood beneath him.

They were a little late to the show, but Satoshi and Mizumi managed to make it to the shrines, only to see one of their own go flying backwards. Looks like his love already had business to take care of.

"Go check on him. I've got this." A quick shot of the Regalia put Satoshi back in action, his eyes glowing golden once more as he proceeded to sprint off to where everyone else was in the fight.

"OKURI!!" Jessie screamed, running back as the spirit flew past him and fell onto the ground. The boy, in a panic, rushed over and crouched down, placing his hands on Okuri's form just to ensure he could at least feel some kind of warmth. "H-hey! Come on man! Are you alright?! Okuri?!" He kept shaking at the bleeding entity - how did spirits bleed?! Okuri had to tell him! Right, he'll ask. He said his structure is like everyone else's, right? He has to ask to confirm. Okuri has to answer him. He'll answer. ANSWER HIM MAN. Jessie was in a clear panic as several other members of the Resistance finally made their way to the shrine, already seeing a casualty.

"Take this", Yukino gave Neo a Reality Bangle. "Put it on your wrist, and you'll be able to summon units into reality and simulate cardfights for combat in the face of danger only."

It had a safety precaution built in, can't let people run wild with this high tech.

Having a cardfight where you can feel what your Units feel? That sounded familiar... And a little bit ridiculous. However, once he saw all the damage that Okuri received, he started to see the problem with that rule. "... Oh". His friend was sent flying to nearly the other side of the shrine. He was... Bleeding way to much. "Okuri!!! That's it! Forget the girl, you're going down!".

He was prepared to fight that strange statue guy to avenge Okuri. He was building up anger to unleash after he saw Jessie's reaction, but Sera was faster and challenged the statue before him. However, he noticed something strange. "Wait, that's not Sera. He's over there... What?". Now Carlos was confused.

"... I'll just focus on fighting the guy after not-Sera" He thought. "Then I'll ask Sera what the hell is going on here!".

Neo took that reality bangle from Yukino and put it on his wrist.

"Thanks Yukino" Neo said

Neo was now ready to fight, and he wasnt fighting for himself on this day, he was fighting to save his friends and family and the world he cares about!