Episode 0: Unveiling
[12 days ago…]
(Aiden stands on top of a cliff, glancing at a dark purple, expansive cloud in the distance… the now-stagnant Obitus cloud. A Xenos woman joins him atop the cliff, his guide through this area.)
Aiden: There it is. (to the Xenos woman) You’re saying that it hasn’t moved since the last two days?
Xenos Woman 1A: Yeah. It appeared out of nowhere and took over much of the Haven in the space of some hours, but then it suddenly stopped. Word spread out that it was some outsiders who stopped the cloud’s course, outsiders like you. I personally didn’t get to see them, but apparently, a lot of Xenos interacted with them. They say they’ve been really friendly. They even stood up against the Dominion.
Aiden: So there are some others stuck in this world as well? Interesting.
Xenos Woman 1A: Would you happen to know them, sir?
Aiden: Not sure. Guess I’ll have to look into that one myself. Anyway, in case the cloud continues its course, get ready to evacuate at once. We both know what happens when you get caught up in this cloud. Now return to your village. Thanks for your help. It’s much appreciated.
Xenos Woman 1A: (nodding firmly) Don’t worry about it, sir. Just take care. May I ask, though, how much do you know about this cloud? It seems like you have history with it.
Aiden: I do. And I’ll finish it.
(The Xenos woman gets off the cliff and heads off back to her own village, leaving Aiden to glance at the Obitus cloud in the distance. He promptly flies off to the cloud with his air shoes, wearing a firm, calm expression that betrays his turbulent thoughts.)
Aiden: (thinking to himself) The Obitus really are here. This could mean a lot. Did they really make it out of Zachary’s Resurgence Protocol? Did they really take over Zenith and all other worlds? How else would they end up here? What happened to Sean and the others? Where is Zachary? Did his Resurgence Protocol even work? I did stop it, didn’t I? For how long have I gone?! (grimacing) So many questions, so little answers. No, Aiden. Get a hold of yourself. It will all be revealed in due time. The plan is clear. I will acquire the Shockwave Cores and find a way back to Zenith, then I’ll figure everything out. Right now, I need to confront Strage.
(Aiden pulls out his helmet and puts it on as he approaches the cloud. Upon putting it on, he enters the cloud, finding himself in a pale version of Peril Playground, submerged entirely in the cold and dark Obitus cloud. He drops down on the ground and glances at his surroundings, looking for none other than Strage.)
Aiden: (yelling) Come on out, Strage! I’m Aiden! Show yourself! Face me!
(Aiden awaits for some sort of response, but after a while, neither Strage nor even a group of Obitus respond. Aiden doesn’t let that get to his head and continues to go around the area. As he keeps on walking around, he finds lots of Xenos and Dominion frozen in darkness in the cloud, their pupils having faded and their bodies having turned pale and colorless.)
Aiden: (gritting his teeth) I see that you’re up to your usual business, Strage. Taking out those countless lives on the mere whim. I may have failed to bring about your end last time, but I can assure you… I’ll end you.
(Aiden is startled when he suddenly hears a low, dark chuckle, and with a scowl on his face, he slowly turns around, finding Strage standing on a rooftop and watching over him with a dark grin. He suddenly starts chuckling loudly as he descends to the ground, standing opposite to Aiden, who takes a wary battle stance.)
Strage: (chuckling loudly) Aiden! Such a sight for sore eyes! Didn’t think I’d see you around, old man!
Aiden: (icily) Is that so? Neither did I.
Strage: (amiably) I don’t mean to make you feel unwelcome here, but I have to ask… what’re you doing in this world?
Aiden: (sternly) I’m not here to answer you, Strage. I’m here to ask my own questions, and for your own sake, you better give me the answers I need.
Strage: (his grin slightly faltering) Someone’s being uncooperative. Tell you what? I’ll answer all of your questions only if you answer mine in return. It’ll be nothing, really. Answering the single question I have will not benefit me nor harm you in any way. It’s just mere curiosity. As for you, I’m sure you have a lot of questions. I may not be able to answer all of them, but anything I say about them would surely be of much significance to you. I’m not in the mood to fight, and I’m certain you aren’t either. If you were, you wouldn’t waste any time talking to me.
Aiden: (incredulously) Not in the mood to fight? That’s a first.
Strage: Think about it, Aiden. If I was in the mood to fight, then why would I be willing to sit idly by in this stagnant cloud? Besides, as much as I’d love to finish you off, there’s a time and place for that. Now cool off, will you? Let’s indulge each other for this little while. And make it quick. It may not look like it, but time is of the essence for me.
(Aiden reacts with a scowl and glares at Strage with fierce eyes, and the latter merely reacts with his trademark wicked grin. The tension thickens between them for a few seconds, but then Aiden backs down from his fighting stance, apparently agreeing to Strage’s request.)
Aiden: (sternly) Then answer this first. What did you do to Zenith?
Strage: (baffled) Why’re you asking? Didn’t you arrive from your world?
Aiden: I didn’t, and judging by the fact that you asked, I can tell you were transported off Zenith as well. I somehow find myself trapped somewhere… some sort of barrier between reality and non-reality. That was right after I struck Zachary’s Resurgence Protocol. I don’t know how much time I spent like that, but after a long while, I was suddenly transported to this world. In fact, I’ve been trying to find my way around it for two days now, and according to the residents, you and your cloud showed up on that same day. This can’t be a mere coincidence. Something happened. Something huge. What did you do?
Strage: (firmly) Listen, I spent a long time trapped in some sort of realm of nothingness before a crack suddenly showed up in it. I got out through this crack and found myself in this world, so I just decided to get straight to business. If you want to ask about anything related to your world, how much time you spent away, and what exactly happened, then I don’t have an answer to that. What I know is that I probably wouldn’t give a damn anyway. I’ll just get done with this world and its inhabitants, and then I might return to your world and figure it all out myself. Oh, and thanks for answering my previous question.
Aiden: Now tell me… what’re you up to? Surely you can’t be merely resting?
Strage: (smirking) I think you’ll find the reason for that quite fascinating, Aiden. You see, not so long ago, some other young folks arrived into this world, too. They all appear to be casually utilizing Shockwave Energy for basic power boosts, but one of them intrigued me most: Abdo. This boy… he may just be my greatest adversary yet. He managed to tap into an unbelievable amount of Shockwave Energy at our last fight. He was even strong enough to single-handedly push away my cloud.
Aiden: Turns out it didn’t take long for you to meet your match.
Strage: (passionately) I think you’re right, Aiden, and trust me when I tell you… I haven’t felt this much excitement in my life! You just know I love a good challenge! It even forced me to start strengthening myself! By the time I finally reach the farthest limits of my power, I just need him to reach his own. Then… we’ll battle, and it won’t be any battle, no… it’ll be a battle for the ages, and I relish that sort of thrill! So why not wait a little for it? Soon enough, I’ll return, stronger than ever, and unleash hell upon this world! You’ll see it for yourself, Aiden… when we meet on the battlefield!
Aiden: I see. (turning his back on Strage) I think that’s all. I’ll leave you to it.
Strage: (chuckling darkly) You can try to link up with Abdo and his friends if you want to. I’m sure you can help them out. Anyways, thanks for the visit, Aiden. It really lifted my spirits.
Aiden: Is that so? Well, then. Just remember this, Strage… (glancing back at him) you’ll be defeated soon enough, either by my hand… or by someone else’s.
Strage: (smirking darkly) I look forward to seeing you all try.
(Aiden flies off, leaving Strage in his cloud. Strage watches with a wide smirk as Aiden leaves the cloud, then he turns around and flies off the other way. He lands on a small area surrounded by four dark purple pillars and stands in the center of them all, his smirk turning into a scowl.)
Strage: (scowling) You’re one of my better opponents, Abdo, but you better not think that you’ll surpass me. No one will ever surpass me!
(The four pillars glow up with energy and charge up Strage with energy. His dark purple aura intensifies, and his small white pupils glow as he places his full concentration on strengthening himself. With a scream of fury, he then dashes at a building in Peril Playground and turns it to dust with a powerful punch. He glances at his fist and clenches it tighter as he grits his teeth.)
Strage: (gritting his teeth) You’ll pay, Abdo. You’ll pay dearly for making me stoop so low that I had to train! As a punishment… your friends will be the first to suffer from my wrath, and after I’m done with them all before your very eyes, I’ll kill you myself… nice and slow.
[Present time…]
(Meanwhile, back at the Null, a portal opens at the void between dimensions, through which the suitcase containing the Shockwave Cores passes through, falling on a crystal. After a while, another portal opens, and Abdo and Enigma pass through it, tackling each other as they try to beat each other to the suitcase on one of the floating crystals. Enigma teleports to the location of the suitcase to grab it, but Abdo reappears in front of him and punches him in the face, sending him skidding back. He quickly grabs the suitcase and teleports with it, reappearing on another crystal and attaching the suitcase to his back. Enigma reappears in front of Abdo and lunges at him, and the two fiercely lock hands while gritting their teeth.)
Enigma: (gritting his teeth) You’re pretty stubborn, aren’t you?
Abdo: (gritting his teeth) Oh, yeah? So are you.
(They headbutt each other, sending each other skidding back. The two then repeatedly teleport and kick crystals at each other, and the crystals shatter as they collide. Enigma then kicks the fragments at Abdo, who punches through one of the fragments and kicks him in the face, sending him flying into another crystal. He reappears in front of Enigma for another blow, but the latter acrobatically jumps past Abdo and gets in behind him, all while charging up an energy beam. He fires the beam and lands it at Abdo’s back, sending him flying. This causes the suitcase to detach from his back, and it gets sent flying.)
Enigma: (smirking) There it is.
(Abdo tumbles down a crystal, and he sees the suitcase flying away, with Enigma setting his eyes on it. Seeing no other choice, he immediately charges up an energy beam, while Enigma teleports to the suitcase. While Enigma extends his hand for the suitcase, Abdo regains his footing on the crystal and fires the beam, sending it straight at the suitcase. Enigma finally gets his hand on the suitcase, and he reacts with a wide grin!)
Enigma: (grinning) Mine!
(The moment Enigma gets his hand on the suitcase, the beam lands on it, forcing it open. As a result, the Shockwave Cores burst out of it, flying right into the gateway leading back to the Haven. The seven cores scatter into several, separate locations across the Haven. Enigma’s face twists in furious disbelief at this sight, and he slowly turns to Abdo, who smirks after seeing Enigma’s reaction.)
Abdo: (smirking) Boy, you look pissed. I can relate.
(Enigma seethes in immense, unbridled anger. He clenches his fists and grits his teeth with a fierce look on his eyes, which darken even further as his aura intensifies. He dashes at Abdo with a scream of rage, and Abdo teleports out of the way, leaving Enigma to strike the crystal powerfully and turn it to ash. He hears Abdo clearing his throat and turns back to him, seeing him close to the Haven gateway.)
Abdo: (grinning) Sorry! I don’t need to stay around anymore! Outta here!
(Abdo heads for the gateway to return to the Haven, but Enigma dashes at him and kicks him in the back, sending him flying to the gateway and then entering as well. Somewhere in the Haven, a portal opens in the sky, and Abdo plummets from it, landing on the ground. Enigma soon follows, landing opposite to Abdo with a scowl yet a slightly calmer demeanor. The moment he sets foot on the ground, his Null powerup fades away, and he remains unsurprised by this.)
Enigma: (scowling, glancing at his palm) Of course. Since we’re no longer in the Null, I can’t maintain this form. (turning to Abdo) Quite an adversary you are, Abdo. The way you interrupted my perfect victory one too many times… it’s truly baffling. You really are a force of nature.
Abdo: (smirking) Force of nature? Nah. I wouldn’t really call myself that. I’m just your greatest hater.
Enigma: (with tranquil fury) Ultimately, though, it’s like always. Just a bump in the road. You… 2.0… the Dominion leaders… the Matriarch… you all combined can only manage to be a bump in the road for me. No one was able to defeat me. That has been the case. That will always be the case. The Haven… the Anjalverse… all worlds are mine. All worlds shall kneel to me… and only me.
???: (chuckling darkly) Oh, you’re sure about that?
(Abdo and Enigma shudder in a mix of shock and dread upon hearing this specific voice. Suddenly, the afternoon sky beyond the Shockwave Dome around the Haven is overwhelmed by a dark purple cloud, a cloud the two know very well. Even the heroes and the Dominion leaders back at Iridescent Island notice that very cloud surrounding the borders of the dome and put their fight to a halt, witnessing a sight they all recognize and fear.)
Vici: (shuddering in fear) I-Is that what I think it is?!
ABDO 2.0: (in shock) They’re… they’re back!
Lara: Right here?! Right now?!
Peril: (chuckling nervously) No need to panic, everyone! Maybe the guy with the cloud is just bored and watching our fight! This is the case, right? Right?
Aiden: (gritting his teeth) Strage has made it clear. He won’t be making his return… (clenching his fists tighter) unless he’s ready.
(Meanwhile, Abdo and Enigma glance at their surroundings in shock, and as they turn to the right, they find none other than Strage himself standing just outside the dome, that same wide, wicked grin on his face as he locks eyes with Abdo.)
Strage: (grinning darkly) Long time no see… Abdo.
Abdo: (scowling) Strage. You finally showed up. What took you so long, I wonder?
Strage: (chuckling) Nothing serious. I just needed some time to prepare for what’s to come next… and for you to get ready as well. Why’re you asking? Miss me?
Abdo: (sternly) No, I most certainly don’t.
Enigma: Whaddaya want, Strage?
Strage: (smirking) I think I’ve made that bit quite clear one so many times. Oh, and by the way, I can see you’ve been quite busy lately. You all surely had all the time you needed to have fun with one another. You two even fell out of the sky! Must’ve been quite the intense battle, huh? If only I was able to see it for myself. I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed it. But was that dome really necessary? I mean… if I wanted to ruin your fun, I would’ve done it in the past two weeks.
Enigma: I had to take precautions regardless. Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t for nothing. This dome is imbued with Shockwave Energy. You won’t get past it. I made sure of it.
Strage: (his smirk widening) Oh? That’s cute.
(Strage slowly approaches the Shockwave Dome with his trademark wide grin and places his palm on it, and Abdo and Enigma grit their teeth in anticipation. He charges up his hands with energy, and the Shockwave Dome starts to whir with energy as well, as if starting to destabilize.)
Abdo: (gritting his teeth) What’s he doing?!
Strage: (chuckling loudly) You really thought you’d be safe from us now, did you?! You couldn’t have been more wrong! Trust me… underestimating the sheer might of the Obitus will be your last mistake!
(As Strage chuckles hysterically, the Shockwave Dome slowly dissipates, to which Abdo reacts with a mix of shock and horror. This is noticed across the entire Haven, even at Iridescent Island, where both the heroes and villains react with dread. Countless Xenos watch from their villages as the dome, their only source of reassurance and their shield against the Obitus, collapses, and the horror on their faces is indescribable. The evacuated civilians of Caldris witness this moment back at Splendid Sakura, whimpering in fear, with the children latching onto their parents, seeking any sort of reassurance.)
Xenos Boy 1A: (whimpering in fear) M-Mom! D-D-Does that mean… the cloud is back?
(As the dome fully collapses, Strage raises his fist up and charges it with energy, and upon doing so, countless hordes of Obitus, now stronger than ever, materialize in the Obitus cloud and surround the entire Haven. Abdo watches in horror as Strage descends to his army while chuckling loudly.)
Strage: (grinning darkly) There it is, Abdo. Our true second coming! (turning to the Obitus) Obitus, this is our true second coming! Spare no one! (pointing at Abdo) And leave that boy to me!
(The hordes of Obitus all around the Haven oblige and dash onto the Haven, the Obitus cloud following. The horde in front of Abdo completely ignores him and simply goes past him, leaving him horrified and confronted by Strage, who mockingly motions him to come at him.)
Strage: (grinning) Now come at me, Abdo. Our final battle begins now.
(The Obitus are back! Strage is back! After much absence, the greatest terror reality has ever seen is back, and no one is ready for its return! More powerful than ever, the Obitus cloud begin its relentless sprawl across the Haven and beyond, and no one will be exempt from its cold embrace. This is no longer a fight for the Anjalverse or the Haven. This is a fight for survival, a fight for existence, a fight for everything and everyone. Enemies become allies. Everyone fights for the other. It’s up to Abdo and his friends to stop the Obitus once and for all and restore their world! Make sure you don’t miss the culmination of the Anjalverse Saga! This is Anjalverse Restored: Final Reckoning!)
