Merci

Epiloguous "The question is: How hard will it be to finally end her delusions of grandeur?" At Lydia’s question, the sun goddess Itsu merely exchanged a solemn look with her before walking onwards. Indeed, whether it was through words or through brute force, there wasn’t going to be an easy pathway to victory. "No one is truly immortal." Kratos remarked, in the aftermath of a bloody victory. Although it wasn't her business to be involved, she used some of her energy to open a hole right beneath Kenpachi's cleaved corpse - the shinigami's body fell within, presumably never to be seen again, tidying the mess of that grim tragedy. Over the course of the past thirty minutes, the various warriors had made their decisions within this dreamlike, rainbow space in preparation. Some, like Hapshiel, had embraced the Power of the Past. Some, like Butler and Eria, had embraced the Power of the Future still. Others still, like Lydia, had opted to forge their own path onwards. Whatever the case may be, there was little doubt that they were now stronger, both physically and mentally, and prepared to take on their last challenge. In addition to the upgrades, they’d been given the opportunity to resolve any remaining feelings, to reflect on any lingering mysteries, and to speak their last farewells. After all, another chance may never come again for them, or anyone else. Afterwards, the remaining survivors of the Origin War - Counter Corps and Divine alike - watched Itsu as she made her way over to the center of Epiloguous. Each and every one of them now ready for the endgame. “Hello, everyone! It's your friendly neighborhood Sun Goddess here. Mind if I have all your attention one last time?” Itsu announced brightly, piercing the situation's tenseness with a booming, enthusiastic voice. “So… It looks like this is the final battle. Judging by those looks, I’m willing to bet you’re all ready. Or at least, as ready as you can be. I’m no Counter Guardian, but let’s do one last briefing." The goddess float upwards, moving higher above the rest of the warriors, until everyone was able to see her. "Now that Isamy has been restored to her prime state, winning will take everything we have. We’re talking about an overpowered lich with a saviour complex here. The result of two little girls encouraging and enabling each others’ behaviour. By now, you’ve all seen how far her obsession goes. Here’s the rundown on what she’s capable of.” A golden aura was radiating, or rather, leaking out from her body. For some reason, the level of power she had seemed to be dwindling with each passing second. “Isamy Maximus is an Omni, an immortal being with a soul frozen in time. She will have access to Shadow Magic and Psychic Powers, particularly her power of ‘empathy’, letting her read others’ emotions like an open book. Isamy also has Time Sense, giving her what may be described best as a heightened sense of time.” Itsu explained, summarizing as best as she could. “Most importantly, her newest and most dangerous power appears to be called ‘Void Inclusion’. I’m sure you’ve all had the misfortune of experiencing this. While I don’t fully understand it, Void Inclusion seems to involve tapping into the Key of Origin to overlay others’ existences over her own, granting her their powers and associated possessions. As long as she’s aware of them… anyone who ever fought and died in the Origin War seems to be fair game. Under certain circumstances, just like it was with Dorian, even different versions of the same being may be Included. But stay strong! These Void Inclusions are temporary, and she will only be able to use them so many times. Act according to your knowledge and instincts.” Even if any of it was flying over their heads, even if they wanted to jot down notes, they were racing against time now. There wasn’t enough time left to give a history lesson on her various capabilities. “Remember. Despite Isamy’s immortality and arsenal of abilities, winning is not impossible... As a matter of fact, two methods of victory exist.” With a gesture, she summoning twin lights, which proceeded to morph and shape themselves. “First, if she deems you guys enough of a threat to assume her true form, her soul will physically manifest. Although this grants an insane, nigh-cosmic level of power, this will also leave her soul exposed to all forms of attack, making it possible to end her. This was the first mission of the Counter Corps. Now, you will all have the opportunity to fulfill that mission.” The first light formed the shape of a teenage girl－one who was promptly overriden, torn to pieces by a mass of swords, bullets, and magical attacks. "Second, if you’re able to make her give up on her core desire, on her twisted need to give everyone else happily ever afters, her Omni Principle will collapse altogether. This will revert her back to being a powerless mortal or two, and have the added bonus of preventing another Omni from rising up in the future. I can’t say this will be any easier, only that the possibility is there.” The second light formed the same shape－but this time, the girl collapsed to the ground and started to weep uncontrollably, before disintegrating into dust particles. “In other words… Destroy Isamy’s soul, or force Isamy to change her way of thinking.” Both lights proceeded to fuse together, morphing to take on a new shape. The shape of a blank trading card, that is. “The Key of Origin we need is currently lodged inside her existence. Whether we crack open her soul or convince her to give up, the Key should be released in one piece. Either way, victory will be ours.” Itsu explained further, sparing no detail. Her eyes met with all the gazes of the incredibly stubborn warriors before her. “And then, uh, maybe this is thinking too ahead, but… If you take away the decision from Isamy, don’t expect a higher power to make the decision for you. Assuming you do get that far, just remember: The Key can only be used by a single holder. Hence, if you somehow find yourselves at the Door of Origin, victorious… It’ll be up to you guys right here to determine which warrior you’ll entrust with the fate of the multiverse.” On that note, the light promptly faded, and Itsu waved her hand about apologetically. “No pressure.” Indeed. The Key of Origin would be the prize of this battle, and there would be no Counter Guardians or Omnis to make the decision for them. Or rather, even if there were, could they possibly trust such an entity? To the Counter Corps, Arturia Pendragon seemed like she was on their side at first, she seemed trustworthy and seemed to know what she was doing, only for it to turn out that she was just using everyone. Meanwhile, the Divine had long since lost trust in any leaders. After everything the warriors had gone through and fought for, was there anyone among them who could be trusted to hold the Key? Anyone who wouldn’t go mad with power the instant reality was at their fingertips? Anyone who could carry out their every wish and fix everything? Would there be a clear winner at the end of it all, or would the various warriors come into conflict with one another once they no longer had a common enemy? But as the goddess stated, perhaps it was thinking too far ahead. “It’s almost time. In moments, you will be able to return to the Door of Origin. From there, it’ll be up to your powers alone.” After all, before even considering such a thing, they had a near-impossible battle with the Herald of Chaos and Entropy to take care of. As if to signal this, small tremors continued to spread all across the rainbow space of Epiloguous. “It may be late to say this, but once I send you off, I... My life is going to come to an end. Apologies for stalling as much as I have.” Itsu confessed, her smile staying as wide and radiant as ever. Although her shaking hands told a different story. Briefly, she gave Atsuko and Gabriel apologetic glances. “It’s taking the last of my spiritual energy just to keep existing here, so with this next act, my existence will cease to be. I thought I was ready… Guess I’m not as strong as I thought. This is a surprise. Even with reality at stake, I suppose it’s hard not to get a little nervous about ‘the end’, huh? After all this time, I’m still not prepared. Bet that doesn’t sound very godlike of me. But of course, I’m the only one who can do this, aren’t I? I’ll do what I must. Disappearing in front of a ton of strangers wasn't the way I imagined going, but oh well. Looks like it’s time for me to make the sacrifice play now." With those words, talking just to keep herself composed at this point, the former goddess could only stare up at the galactic sky with feelings that were difficult to describe. "Next time you see Isamy... end her suffering, alright? End... this war...” The sun goddess’s golden glow was beginning to intensify, until it became clearly apparent that this light was consuming her from the feet upwards. That she was disintegrating. Soon enough, only her upper torso was left, and as the light advanced, there was a distant, fearful, yet ultimately determined gaze in her eyes, fixated on an improbable dream far, far away. "Oh, too bad Dami-kun..." As her eyes vanished and brilliant golden light had finished overtaking the rest of her body, enveloping the remainder of her existence, the Interdimensional Troubleshooter's tone changed as she deliriously murmured her final words, "I activate my trap card-" And thus, after millennia of existing, the ancient Itsu Fudo ceased to be. Her vast, incredible history drew to a close, leaving only a sense that the multiverse had lost yet another great hero as a result of the Origin War. ... Once the sun goddess had vanished, all that was left was a brimming, fiery vortex in her place, the remnants of her energy having been converted into a gateway back to the Door. It stayed fixed in place, spinning with incredible force, and the warriors knew exactly what lay on the other side; their final enemy, now at full strength. In Epiloguous, all that was left now was the vortext, and with it, a solemn, silent atmosphere. This would be the last chance for the Warriors of the Multiverse to reflect on everything that had happened thus far. When thinking back from the moment they first entered the Origin War to this very moment at the end of the Pathway, they'd been unable to shake the feeling that years had passed. Whether it was as early as the Shadow Realm or as late as the Pathways themselves, there was the unmistakable sense that whoever they used to be before entering, those people had long since ceased to be. That they had changed forever. Was all this the effect of the Pathway to Origin? Was all this the cost they had to pay just to reach the fabled Door of Origin? In the beginning, so many hopeful warriors had embarked with them. But in the end, so many died. Too many. All their homes had been lost to the distortions. All their innocence had been crushed by a constant series of never-ending losses tragedies, and battles. And yet... ...here they were. One by one, the Warriors of the Multiverse entered the vortex. When they left Epiloguous and drifted across nothingness for what was now the third time, foreign memories seemed to be passing through their minds. Isamy’s memories, it seemed. Or at least, memories belonging to the two individuals who made her up. It wasn’t something they really needed to pay attention to. Perhaps this would contain the key to victory inside somewhere, somehow. Perhaps this would be a last bout of closure before their almost-certain deaths. Or perhaps this would simply turn out to be a set of meaningless stories. Regardless… let it be known that those stories were indeed told. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Now, at long last, let the finale of the Pathway to Origin resume. Upon exiting out the other end of Itsu’s vortex, the various warriors found themselves jettisoned out. Scattered across the realm, gravity pulled them to the ground, and only then were they able to take in their familiar surroundings. Finally, they had returned to the place they were meant to be at all along. “So you guys are alive. Welcome back, Warriors of the Multiverse.” A girl stood before the Door of Origin, greeting everyone with an unusually calm smile on her face. This grand location seemed exactly the same as the last time they were here, which must’ve been an hour ago now. It was an otherwise-blank realm, damaged by tears in space, with black spots permeating wherever the warriors looked to give their surroundings the impression of a deteriorated old film. Once bathed in warm, golden light, now this place was simply riddled in distortions, with that ugly hill of dark matter sitting within its midsts. In the distance, the Door of Origin maintained its dormant, simple ring-shaped form. Hence, it was probably safe to assume the Key hadn’t been used yet. Just like last time, the sight of that ring alone oddly invoked the feeling of ‘home’ in everyone. It was impossible to put aside the feeling that they had finally come home after a long, wearisome journey. This shouldn’t be a surprise. As the connection to Origin itself, every single one of them had originated from whatever lay beyond. However, between the warriors and the Door stood their most troublesome enemy. Isamy Maximus. And this time, she was in her original form. “Is it just me, or have most of you inexplicably grown stronger since the last time you met my Amy aspect? What’s with your stronger connections to Origin? Hm... No matter. Doesn't change anything.” Isamy wondered. She blinked in confusion as she observed them, but then proceeded to shrug. “You may not know this, but now my Amy and Isabel aspects have reunited. Hence, I’m feeling more refreshed than ever… It's like waking up from a long slumber. Now that you’ve survived my earlier tantrum, there’s a few thoughts I’d like to get off my chest, so listen up.” Exactly according to Itsu’s information, the two components Isabel and Amy had reunited, fused together, and as a result regained their former strength. The perfect, pearl-like form she possessed earlier had been sacrificed. Instead, those who served or encountered Isabella during the Origin War would recognise this appearance well. The heterochromatic eyes of blue and green, the radiant turquoise hair, the dark matter clothes and scythe, as well as the frail, youthful body of a seventeen-year-old teenage girl were all unmistakable qualities of the one who brought the multiverse to its knees. “You know, Ameliorer just wanted everyone to be happy.” Isamy spoke up, smiling, possessing a slight trace of bitterness. “On the other hand, Isabella just wanted to end pointless suffering. We both tried so hard. Though in the end… you guys denied us both. This reality denied us both.” Despite her youthful appearance, she seemed unworried by their presence, and the warriors knew all too well that they couldn’t underestimate her. “But hey… You know what?” If there were any attacks or assaults attempted upon her, she would’ve simply danced around them at great speed, all the while continuing her speech. “I’m not actually mad anymore! Hah… Ahahahah…” The more she spoke, the more delight seemed to flood into her words, the more her sentences broke off into uncharacteristic giggles, as though she’d finally been freed of a heavy burden. Or as if she’d she finally gone insane. “Ah, it all makes sense now. I get it! I was such an idiot, wasn’t I? You guys kept trying to tell me it’s impossible, but I didn’t listen. Believing that I could just make my vague wish come true, believing that I could just force everyone to get along… Stupid. So stupid.” Isamy continued to talk dreamily, staring into the distance. “I liked to think if I just entered the Door of Origin and wrote ‘everyone lived happily ever after’, it would just figure out an answer on its own. But if you guys made me realize one thing, it’s that… it can’t be that simple. Sure, the Door can grant all wishes. But because mine was so vague, there would’ve been no way to tell what would happen. You all heard the vagueness, and you all said ‘no’. Totally understandable.” Although her self-deprecating manner of speaking should’ve felt like a good thing, and although she was pointing out the flaws in her own ideology, it was instead coming off as creepy and ominous. “Well, don’t worry. I'm not a puppet anymore. Now I have my answer, my real answer. A proper way for all of us to have our happy endings…” Did she change her mind on her own, one might be wondering? Unfortunately, they had the feeling that wasn’t it. “Or at least the next best thing.” The complete Isamy rose up into the air, her dreamy smile beginning to transition into a giant, uncontrolled grin as she beckoned to the Warriors of the Multiverse. “Once I enter the Door of Origin..." "Yes…" "To give us all a 'happily ever after', I'll just have to kill everyone in the multiverse, won't I?" Those were her exact words. “With the power of the Door, I'll reach out to everyone in existence. I'll find the absolute happiest moment of their lives. Then, I'll make them DROP DEAD right there.” The Herald explained with outstretched arms, filled with a calm serenity as she revealed her reasoning behind absolute omnicide. “It’s brilliant, isn’t it? More than that, it’s perfect. This plan is practically foolproof, I'm sure. Past, present, future will all be covered simultaneously, so there'll be no need to worry about causing contradictions like killing off parents before their children are born. The contradictions of conflicting fantasies and desires will be resolved cleanly as well. EI'll target every world of every dimension and make sure their endings are beautiful. This way, everyone’s lives would still have meaning, and no one, and I mean NO ONE, will ever have to suffer unnecessarily again! it'll all build up to that one moment, and tragedies will never have the opportunity to take away from it! Just like that, we will have pragmatically granted reality the greatest possible HAPPILY EVER AFTER!” If there was any doubt that she had gone absolutely insane, it had crumbled in this very moment. If there were still any doubts that she was a danger to all of reality, they were all been thoroughly vaporized in this very moment. “Disagree all you like, Warriors of the Multiverse. This time, my mind is made up. No more doubts. No more regrets..." Itsu’s suggested path to victory, about reasoning with this girl, sounded even more unrealistic now. How the hell was that going to be possible with a mad psychopath? "Naturally, for the sake of peace of mind, there’s just one last thing I need to take care of. To ensure there’s no more weakness left in me... To ensure I won't hesitate when I do enter the Door... I'm afraid I'll have to finish what I was doing earlier.” Isamy started to rise even higher into the sky. "And that is... killing every last one of you." Her eyes closed. “I shall no longer hide from my destiny." High up in the skies of the Door’s realm, Isamy Maximus assumed a stance, raising her arms until they were precisely adjacent to her own body, forming the shape of a cross. It was reminiscent of the holy manner in which Ancient Egyptian deities once posed, and more than that, it was a pose Eria’s crew would vividly recognise; the same pose Protheus used when he assumed his true form. With this, dark wisps gathered around her; from the ground of Origin, from the skies of Origin, and from a plane of existence that existed beyond Origin. These wisps violently latched onto her flesh and clothing, rapidly spreading all over until she had been wholly encased in a co҉̶co҉̶o҉̶n of shadow. “I, the Herald of Chaos and Entropy, shall now strip off this useless shell just for you. It is time for me to reveal my soul, my true form... It is time to meet IZANAMI!” The co҉̶co҉̶o҉̶n “NOW” cracked “WITNESS A TRUE OMNIBOUND IMMORTAL” and as it opened, one could barely make out the outl̷ine of the Ḥ͇ẹ͎̞͙̼r͇a̻l͚d͎̪̺̱̪ as͘c͢en͢d҉i͢ng into҉̶ ạ͇̝̜͞n̖̦͕̮̹̰ ̧̪̬͍̺̻̺̙ẹ͉̙͔̺x̞̺̗̺i͏̘s͏̱͔̱͚̜t̶̻̯e̹̩͠n̢̫̻͈̹̥̮c͇͝ę f̓̂͛̌ͥă̵̲̽̓̈́͐̓ͧrͥ̉ͦ̓ ͚̮̤͌͐͌ͬ͟b͓̖̎̊̓e͚ͦ͌͂ͥy͔̥̬͓̹͌̋̔ͫȏ̖͔͇̞͍̜ͯn̟̰͎̫̦͕͉̈̈́͛d͍͇͚̝͚̤ͭͅ ̞ͭͨͤͬͣ̏ṱ̟͚̻͈̦̻ͫͭ͗h̖̉̐ͤ̐ͭͪe̝͙̜̝̯î̝r ͚ͯ̓̒c̠̾ͪ̄̆̉̾̏o̤̱̪̻͉͖ͯ̄̄̍ͣ̒̓m̪̊ͫ̓p̵̲̩̟r̸̞̣̱ͨe̜̪͚̖̻͕͛̏ͮͫ̌h̲ͬ̈̓̿͡e̛͚͎̳̋̄̂͆̎̂n̖͖ͬ̐̿̒́͊ͨ͝s̴͔̘̩͉͔̺̻̋i̤͈ͭ͌ͮͯ̿ŏ̮̳̳̼̓ͦ̆ͥ̊̚ͅn̼͔͉͉͇͕̒͛ͭ̃͞ͅ, . . . . . . . . . . Origin Cosmos As the transformation consumes you, you are violently enveloped in swirling crimson energies. Your very existence is being painfully eaten at, almost as if it intends to break you down for the rest of eternity. Yet, whilst this damning experience is going on, you resist. In defiance of this fate, everything that makes you ‘you’ rises up to the surface. Your memories. Your beliefs. Your feelings. And your drive to END THIS. …and then, you and your comrades burst out onto a giant flat platform, surrounded by a forcefield, suspended in an endless crimson cosmos. For some reason, you feel free here, as if the laws that once restricted your true power－on teleportation, on magic use, on sheer power output－no longer apply. If one were to focus on the surrounding cosmos with all their heart, they may be able to discern a bizarre number of things. Items, buildings, corpses both familiar and unfamiliar. Amongst them, there were things even more inexplicable. Mysterious sentences, passages, strings of paragraphs floating outside, describing eerily accurate events from both the Origin War and their own worlds… For that is the oblivion connected to Origin, where even the phenomenon called ‘P̴O̵͝S̴T̡́S̶’ may be visible. At the far end of the platform, just outside the forcefield, you see the unmistakable white outline of the Door of Origin. It is fixed in place, still awaiting the victor of the Origin War. In other words, this must still be the Door’s realm, only corrupted beyond recognition by the distortions. The absolute final location. Regardless, there was no time to wonder about all this. Around the battlefield are those who have conquered the same hardships as you, who came just as far as you. Be they Counter Corps or Divine, it doesn’t really matter anymore. In this moment, each and every one of them is your comrade-in-arms. All the while being in this realm that resembles Death, you may begin to feel what can only be described as a sense of existential dread. Somehow, you just know that, if you die here, you will be wiped from existence altogether. And just like that… IZANAMI manifests into existence. At the center of the battlefield, what can only be described as an eldritch abomation is summoned into existence—unholy, unstable, condensed into the shape of a little girl—towering a thousand feet above the Warriors of the Multiverse with rainbow-patterned markings all over and an appearance almost incomprehensible to the mortal mind. Composed entirely of Distortions, all but a select few of the warriors will find their minds straining, even hurting, only able to make out multicoloured light and breathing static, incapable of comprehending the absolute scope of her true form. Is she wielding a scythe? Is that her laughter echoing all across the Origin Cosmos? No one would blame you if you were to falter for a moment, wonder if this might just be a nightmare after all. However, there is no question about it. This is truly the embodiment of Chaos and Entropy, and this is truly the opponent you will be facing. You recall Itsu’s words, and understand that what you are looking at must be the true form of an Omnibound Immortal. IZANAMI, the Soul of Isamy Maximus. The Key of Origin lies somewhere within, and as you are well aware, two paths to victory exist: Destroy her soul or convince her to stand down. Your characters instinctively know what this is— The final stage. The last form of the ultimate boss. The only remaining obstacle on the Pathway to Origin. There are no more words left to be said. Therefore, go forth, and END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! FINAL BOSS BATTLE S T A G E E N D SO, THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN OMNIBOUND IMMORTAL. As someone once called 'Isamy', who denied the inherently demonic nature of her powers under pretensions of being a 'hero', not once has she ever dared to assume her true form before this very moment. Hence, to the Herald of Chaos and Entropy, this level of power is beyond imaginable... No, can it even be called power at this scale? Why was she so afraid of such a gorgeously godlike power for so long? Spacetime bends around her physical body, as if attempting to compensate for her existence, and it feels as though all the chains that once held her down have been released. The extent to which she is able to invoke her Void Inclusions, and the raw power with which victory is guaranteed... In this form, with her soul materialized in the physical realm for all to see, would it be an exaggeration to say that she has ascended to the status of God? ~ WHEN IT FALLS ~ The warped laughter of Omnibound Immortal IZANAMI finally begins to draw to a close, and her unstable mass turns to face the Warriors of the Multiverse. This entity beyond comprehension is floating merely a hundred meters away from them, so no doubt, there would be those who attempt to charge her right from the get-go. Hence, as though anticipating this in advance, "VOID INCLUSION:" "RENEGADE JOKER!" With the abrupt declaration of what may be the worst possible name, one some would recognise all too well, a blast of lightning strikes IZANAMI from beyond the Origin Cosmos. Just like that, IZANAMI finds herself adorned in hooded black cloak, and just as she did with her prior forms, she proceeds to invoke its powers. Using her newfound control of directional vectors, the final boss waits until the attacks connect with her－the instant they do, they are redirected in the opposite direction and jettisoned away at five times their initial velocity. So this is the power of the Tenshi no Tate (天使の盾 Lit. Angel's Shield), she wonders in awe. No wonder the Renegade Joker abused this ability so much. What greater shield could there possibly be? The character in question was one who once possessed the almighty arsenal of vector manipulation. While there were certainly many who wouldn’t recognise the name, the Renegade Joker was a former Divine member who had coldly murdered two shinigami, brutally injured many more of the Counter Corps, and even dared to challenge Isamy herself in front of all the Divine. Now, this being’s existence has been integrated directly onto her. Yet, immediately afterwards, IZANAMI spontaneously starts convulsing. Unexpected pain courses within her, threatening to destabilize her. Even in her true form, apparently this particular entity’s powers are proving surprisingly difficult to Void Include. It seems this is something she cannot simply abuse. In the meantime, she maintains her concentration, forcing the Void Inclusion to continue. With smart usage and enough determination, she is certain she can hold onto the Joker’s valuable powers for five minutes at most. “DON’T YOU SEE?” Regardless, simultaneously taking on everyone all at once is not a situation she intends to test. “IZANAMI IS DOING THIS" It’s time for them all to die. “BECAUSE SHE LOVES YOU ALL!!!" Before her opponents can mount another assault, she smashes her enormous scythe into the platform, accelerating its vectors with the power granted by the Joker’s ‘God’s Hand.’ Just like that, the sheer force causes cracks to rapidly spread across the land below the Warriors of the Multiverse. Perfectly controlled thanks to the Joker’s vectors, they find themselves forcefully separated from one another. After all, the platform has perfectly split into seven fragments. IZANAMI isn’t about to let them regroup either, raising her scythe high up into the sky with the declaration of a new power. If it isn’t enough of a nightmare already, it is most definitely about to become one. Spacetime warps, the giant eldritch abomination distorting in several different directions- “SPATIAL SHIFT" And just like that, the final boss herself splits into seven IZANAMI. They separate with a fraction of her energy, each one fifty feet tall, each one jumping onto a different platform fragment－and the instant they arrive, smaller distortion forcefields materialize around the platforms, trapping the respective casts within. ‘Spatial Shift’ is another one of the Renegade Joker’s abilities; it would ordinarily be utilized to displace their position in space and shift themselves to a new part of space. However, thanks to the unique properties granted by her own fluid true form, she is capable of simultaneously displacing herself and staying in the same location at the same time. While her clones are all linked together via Time Sense, and while neither her Void Inclusion nor Key of Origin could be replicated, these are perfect clones for all intents and purposes. What a beautifully strong character! How did he die so early on? In any case, the Warriors of the Multiverse have now been divided into seven eerily-specific groups. IZANAMI’s intent is obvious: To divide them and to murder them at full power. Six of the seven platforms are drifting further and further away from the Door, and on each platform, there is an IZANAMI familiar with their abilities, prepared to destroy them. They are all real, they are all linked to one another, and they all possess the power of the original… However, only one among them is composed of Isamy’s actual soul. Only one has the physical Key of Origin. It is clear that unless they somehow overpower the IZANAMI currently facing them and amass all their forces together for one last assault, victory may very well be impossible. ~ END OF THE UNKNOWN ~ Amongst this crimson Origin Cosmos, the characters seem to hear the music audibly changing in the distance to some sort of epic electronic battle theme, unaware of the fact that they shouldn’t normally be able to hear this. Yes. Let there be no mistake. This is it, Warriors of the Multiverse... WELCOME TO THE FINAL BATTLE. ~ ~ ~ PRIDE IZANAMI vs SUBJECTS OF KINGDOM: ~ ~ ~ LUST IZANAMI vs SUBJECTS OF BROKEN: ~ ~ ~ WRATH IZANAMI vs SUBJECT OF DAD: ~ ~ ~ ENVY IZANAMI vs SUBJECTS OF PHANTOM: ~ ~ ~ GREED IZANAMI vs SUBJECTS OF CHAOS, SIM, TALIM: ~ ~ ~ GLUTTONY IZANAMI vs SUBJECTS OF BAILAS: ~ ~ ~ SLOTH IZANAMI vs SUBJECTS OF NAI: The (Approximate) Status of Omnibound Immortal IZANAMI

Itsu Fudo, Epiloguous "I just have one last question. If we kill Isamy, what happens to the Omni Principle?" To that, Itsu only stared onwards. So the fact hadn’t escaped them. "From what Chardonnay told us, killing Protheus means that Isamy is the only Omni left now. So does that mean if she dies, there won’t be another Omni? Because I don’t think this war can truly be over if there’s even a chance that power can just go somewhere else. It doesn’t matter if it’s Protheus or Isamy. Whatever happens, the Omni Principle is what we need to destroy. Right?” Despite her promise for transparency, it wasn’t something the goddess had been sure about bringing up with the rest of the warriors. Was the concern regarding the Omni Principle something worth dealing with now, or risk leaving to the future? However, when she thought about it logically, there really was no point in keeping secrets. She promised honesty, so here it was. “Yes, Arthur. I’m afraid your logic is perfectly correct. When you overwhelmed and destroyed Protheus’s soul, the Omni Principle simply transferred over to its next successor. Hypothetically, if you do succeed in destroying Isamy’s soul, the same phenomenon will happen once more.” Itsu ultimately answered, affirming their speculation. “And unfortunately, I have a very good guess as to who would inherit the power next. A fanatic named Minerva Clearstream. Protheus’s firstborn son, calls himself the Tao King. To be honest, I’ve been able to sense him keeping tabs on the war up until our battle with the Madara. I suspect he’s been doing this because he expects to attain the Omni Principle as soon as Isamy is out of the way. Wish I could call him harmless, but considering his convictions, well.” Itsu hesitated. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that kid tried to seek out the Door of Origin too eventually…” Even in death, it appeared the Herald of Darkness had left quite a legacy for himself, with the potential for someone else as troublesome as Isamy to rise up. With their luck, chances were there were other candidates after Minerva as well. The sheer amount of background information that Itsu had been keeping quiet about up until this very moment had to be overwhelming to some extent. However, with everyone being at the end of reality, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that they deserved to learn this much. That they deserved the absolute, straightforward truth. “Alright.” ~ the truth, and only the truth ~ “I’ll tell you the secret to eliminating the Omni Principle once and for all.” Itsu focused her gaze on Arthur and the others. If the warriors were serious about doing this, if they seriously wanted to take extra responsibility on top of the grand final battle they were about to enter and end the One Master’s overreaching influence right here, in the worst possible location to do so, then they might as well learn the exact method. Then again, perhaps there was nothing to say. After all, between their epic battle in Remembrance and learning the prophecy, this team of warriors had already gained all the answers they needed. Perhaps they'd already figured it out. With one apology, Judgment may be no more- “Isamy... needs to change.” “An Omni’s immortality is held together by the intensity of their ‘core desire’. Once the holder gives up their core desire, the Omni Principle will vanish from existence－their souls will no longer be frozen in time, and just like that, they will revert back to being regular mortals.” “Isamy’s desire is to live for others and help as many people as possible." "It's the opposite of Protheus, whose desire was to live for himself and make the most of life. Despite wanting to be a good man, Protheus was simply too afraid of death to turn back on his own selfishness. Trapped in a paradox, he could only escalate his ambitions in an effort to keep his Omni Principle for as long as possible, clinging onto life right to the very end. His daughter's bound to be just as stubborn." "In other words, unless you make Isamy give up everything she stands for... ...the cycle will never truly end.” “For a seemingly nigh-omnipotent sorceress who terrorized the multiverse, ruined countless worlds and ended countless lives thanks to her distortions, you wouldn’t think the source of her ridiculous powerset would have such a simple flaw, would you? Unfortunately for the multiverse, she’s thickheaded.” Itsu chuckled solemnly. “Everyone may be better off trying to simply destroy her soul, and risk passing it on to the next successor. With the power you warriors have gained, that much might be feasible. If she assumes her true form, it’d put all your lives at stake, but at least you have a fighting chance - her soul would be left exposed, capable of being targeted and destroyed. ” While musing on the possibilities of how to defeat their final enemy, the goddess turned around and proceeded to walk away from the group of warriors. “Changing her mind though… It sounds straightforward, but you don’t gain those powers without having an extreme desire. I don’t know if she’ll listen to what anyone has to say. What would even change her mind? Is there some flaw she won’t acknowledge? Some memory, truth, or knowledge buried so deep they got past the Pathways? Personally, I don’t get Isamy that well, so I haven’t the faintest idea. I’m afraid I can’t offer you any real advice there.” Around them, the stars were beginning to dwindle and fade. In their place, tremors spread in intensity across all of Epiloguous. The end was nigh. “Beyond this, all I can offer is good luck. Whichever path you guys choose, the final battle will be far from easy. After all, Isamy is an Omni.” Itsu Fudo twirled her umbrella while approaching the rest of the warriors, as though the moment, the battle for the Door of Origin, was almost upon them. “Or should I say… ...an Omnibound Immortal?”

Itsu Fudo, Epiloguous "Why would you let that… that demon survive all these years? For all I know, none of this would have happened had you stopped him long ago. If you could, knowing everything that’s happened, do you think you made the right decision?” “Yes.” It was a simple answer. Itsu Fudo didn’t even hesitate. “I mean… I can’t say you’re wrong about many things, MirageGaogamon. I can’t say you’re not justified to feel the way you do. Although, even if I’m not sure how much you managed to see within the Library of Solace, I’m willing to guess there might’ve been a bit more than you had time to look through. I won’t apologise. But the least I can do... is explain myself. This one’s going to be a long answer, mind you.” The expression she had looking at MirageGaogamon was one that was difficult to decipher - there were a mixture of complicated emotions behind this simple conviction of hers. In MirageGaogamon’s eyes, she only a pure raged, barely restrained. “The first thing you should understand is that... I wasn’t always the hero, or the goddess, people consider me to be now. I’m far from innocent. If you think I’m guiltless, you gotta dispel notions like that now.” Around them, the floating lights briefly turned a crimson red. Some of them displaying scenes of horror - a android-like being standing above her opponent, torturing her opponent. A lady in white, laughing amidst a sky fortress while the city below her burned. “Believe it or not, the first time the Herald of Darkness and I met, really met, our positions were reversed. He was one of the heroes of ‘C3’, the Continuum Conservation Collective that would eventually become the Neighborhood Watch. On the other hand, I was at the head of the enemy forces. Did you see this in my Library? It was a disaster that would later be known as... the ‘Paradox War’.” They morphed again, showing a masked woman, standing still as she pressed a button; watching as several universes were caught in the fray of a superweapon, dragged in, absorbed. “The Paradox War: A destructive anomaly preceding the Origin War, a multiversal catastrophe of the worst proportions. There was a being named Paradox who rose up, seeking to replace the multiverse with a single, utopian universe for him to rule over. A Garden of Eden. From beginning to end, I stood by his side.” The lights showed scenes from the Paradox War. Across worlds, warriors from various universes were fighting one another, brutally engaging in combat. “Maybe Paradox wouldn’t have gotten so far if it wasn’t for my loyalty, my assistance... In fact, maybe I was the true villain all along. Thanks to us, the multiverse was nearly annihilated.” “How did you stop Paradox?” asked Eria. “Getting there.” Itsu said, smiling gently. “At the crux of the Paradox War, things seemed lost for our enemies. Our MacGuffin, a reality machine powered by my Emerald Eclipse Amulet, was preparing to activate. In a desperate, last-ditch attempt to end it all, C3 brought the battle to Paradox himself. A force consisting of their best fighters invaded the Malefic Station, and many fell in the ensuing conflict. Their leader Sarin, Princess Judaihime, and a weakened Protheus were the only ones left, managing to break into the throne room where Paradox and I awaited them. It was a simple confrontation at first, with us guarding the MacGuffin and them hoping to break through. Sarin and Paradox kept each other occupied. Meanwhile, I took on the other two in a card game, with Judaihime focused on a brute force strategy to whittle my life points down and Protheus focused more on corruptive attacks to invade my mind, weaken my ability to play. Naturally, both fights were futile.” The lights came together, forming a screen that recreated her description of the events. Amidst a mechanical recreation of paradise were two beings with broken masks on one side, and three exhausted warriors on the other. They recognised the war-torn Protheus and Judaihime among the warriors, but opposing them, Itsu was almost unrecognisable in that black regalia. It was truly a different era, totally alien and unfamiliar to them. “Sarin and Paradox critically injured one another, but Paradox’s immortality kept him going. Meanwhile, the duo’s assault on me was hard-fought, but ended in their loss. With that, the Emerald Eclipse Naughter - a hypergalactic MacGuffin capable of fusing or splitting spacetime - was fully charged. With no one left to stop us, I let Paradox climb the steps to take his rightful place. The first thing he did was point the weapon at me, and fire. After all, Paradox had no need for anyone to rule by his side, didn’t he? Just like that, my story should have ended-” An incoming flash of brilliant rainbow light. Be they men or gods, mortal or immortal, the light was a force beyond this reality. For all anyone knew, it guaranteed certain death for anyone who happened to be caught within, and here it was beaming towards a Itsu who possessed neither the effort nor the drive to resist. As it approached, her eyes had simply closed, as if to acknowledge ‘this is retribution for all my sins’, resigning to her end like the fool she was. Yet... it never came. Her eyes had shot open, and to her shock, an almighty force was taking on the entirety of the blast- No, it wasn’t a force... IT WAS A BODY?! But who- hold on- that silver hair- it- It… IT WAS HIM OF ALL PEOPLE?!?!?! “That madman... jumped in front of me. The man I’d dismissed as just another egotistical warrior, another villain too afraid of our utopia, had just absorbed the entirety of the blast. Of all people, that utter edgelord was saving me? There was no guarantee his immortality would’ve held up to such a ridiculous weapon, and yet, he didn’t even hesitate. It was reality’s sickest joke. I couldn’t fathom it. I really couldn’t. Seriously, who could?!” Indeed, there he was. Standing his ground, shielding her against the greatest force currently known in the multiverse, all the while letting out an evil, maniacal laughter, a booming sound that was all too familiar to the very Counter Corps watching on. Yet this time, in this one unique instance in history, the Herald of Darkness was doing the unfathomable: “Protheus took a direct hit from the Emerald Eclipse Naughter. Turned to me. And before his soul shattered into a thousand pieces, he spoke the dumbest line I’d ever heard.” Placing his life on the line for someone else. “You understand now?! LIVE FOR YOURSELF, IDIOT!!!” In the projection of those memories, they watched as the Herald smiled softly - an expression they had never once seen on the man. And with that, he was utterly overwhelmed by the light of destruction, sacrificing himself in a selfless act, as if to defy every single character trait assigned to him. “Why did he do it, I wondered? Why did that self-centered, overglorified Dark Signer variant throw away everything he stood for… for someone he ought to have despised more than anyone else? Him, of all people, was saving me, of all people…! It was so ridiculous!” As if those words alone were something worth dying for. “Up until that point, I had abandoned my memories for power, gave up on everything, and entrusted it all to another, following through with their desire for a Garden of Eden. Many people tried to reach out to me during the wars, and yet, the idea of atonement was simply too overwhelming to turn back. It’s not like Protheus was the first to try and reach out to me. And yet… His sacrifice was the tipping point that finally snapped me out of my trance. ‘Live for yourself’, he told me. If even someone like that decided to die to tell me something so simple, what does that say about the person I was? I must’ve been a sorry sight.” Itsu sighed, reaching the end of her recollection. “It was the last straw. With that, I finally came to my senses. I stopped Paradox before he could disassemble me as well, hijacked control of half of the Naughter. He tried to appeal to me－and when I refused, we ended it in a final, climactic duel to prevent the Convergence Point. Then, at long last, the Paradox War came to a close.” The light changed one last time, revealing an iconic image. A bloodied Itsu Fudo, having finally come to her senses and ended the war, resting on the floor amongst a severely damaged throne room. Awaiting the arrival of C3’s remaining warriors. Awaiting her own uncertain, yet hopeful future. “That was a point in time where I lost myself. It took countless universes to drag me out of that mess, but you know… They succeeded. I seriously didn’t deserve it, but rather than be imprisoned, I was being hailed as a hero of the Paradox War. All I could do was try to live up to it, dedicate myself to making up for my actions. It was the only thing I could do. To try and rediscover the hero I once wanted to be.” Itsu sat down before MirageGaogamon and the others, while the light of her memories faded. “Wanting to thank the man who saved me, I searched across the many universes and started putting the many pieces of his soul back together. It took a millennia of effort and time, but soon enough, we managed to bring Protheus Maximus back to life.” She carried on, letting out a tired sigh. “I mean, we didn’t get along straightaway. It became pretty obvious that Protheus blamed me for his ‘death’. He used some weird, circular logic to try and justify his hatred. And frankly, his aggressive attitude really annoyed me, especially at first! But eventually, I found out why he did what he did at the end of the Paradox War. Why he went against everything, why he sacrificed himself for me of all people... ...because he was just like me. Because he understood the terrible, insurmountable weight of my sins, and yet wanted to say ‘that doesn’t mean your life no longer has value!’. The idea that my feelings might still matter, despite everything I’ve done? The idea that I can still turn back, and earn the life I want? Precisely because Protheus was just as despicable as me, he could afford to tell me it was fine to carry on with my life. It’s the sort of thing only a villain would do, but... It let me become the person I am today... So just like the way he saved me, I wanted to save him, you know?” It must’ve been a lot of information flying over the heads of the warriors before her. She might’ve been shattering their perception of her as a ‘great hero’ more than a little bit as well. Even though she'd once been a terrible villain herself, she was essentially saying it was fine to live your life without the pressure of atonement. That it was fine to be a little selfish like that. “He was hard to deal with, sure. I know he had a dark past in his younger days. But that doesn’t mean that’s all there was to it. When we put him back together - I’m honestly not sure if I could call that man evil. You guys never met him. We butted heads, and we had our conflicts that escalated over thousands of years, but you know? He was starting to listen. He became a dear friend. And soon enough, he, I might even say he was on the verge of becoming a decent person like me. When our illusory Kugena City collapsed, when Pandora threatened universes on the Ringworld, when the comet Faust was about to crush my home... He was insane, arrogant, a Herald of Darkness through and through, but I found I could always depend on him. That’s the Protheus Maximus I knew.” The individual she was describing barely sounded like the sadistic monster they battled on the Lake of Remembrance. The Herald of Darkness they fought, that cruel terror, wanted to be good? “Despite all that... His fears caught up with him. He heard that prophecy, and proceeded to throw away everything we built away. He reverted to the villain he once was, kickstarted the Origin War, did what he did here. I didn’t manage to meet him even once. Just like that, it seems the prophecy was self-fulfilling, forcing his story to end exactly the way it was foretold.” Arthur shrugged. “That’s how prophecies usually work, don’t they? They tell you some horrible fate, and the harder you try to stop it, the more likely it’s going to come true. Understanding that is how we were able to kill him.” “Looks like it. Just like Oedipus, uncertain futures like prophecies are better left unheard.” Itsu responded, nodding in turn before turning back to the Digimon. “But yeah. MirageGaogamon, I let him survive for one simple reason. I’m not Arturia. I’m not the kind of person who thinks sacrificing someone is all you need to do to make the multiverse a better place. Because I’ve been Protheus, I know what it meant to be like him, and I know he had the capacity to become a good man. More than that, I’m certain he must’ve wanted to be one.” She stared up at the galactic sky, letting the lights surrounding them fade. “With one apology, Judgment may be no more.” Itsu uttered quietly. It was a line from the prophecy. The critical line, one which had originally terrified the previous Herald, as Arthur and MirageGaogamon had seen in their flashback. “In the end, Protheus Maximus wasn’t even living for himself anymore. He was just living for an idea of what Protheus Maximus is supposed to be like, too afraid to overcome his fear of atonement… and I failed to help him overcome it. If he only tried, maybe he could’ve been something other than Judgment. Maybe even something better. What a dumbass.” It was hard for anyone to believe, and yet, Itsu’s words seemed to be filled with nothing but honesty and understanding. “If anyone thought he was beyond redemption, then I deserve to be struck down just as much. That’s all there is to it, really.” With that, the former sun goddess stood back up, bringing an end to her long tale. “I hope I was able to shed some light on the Protheus Maximus I knew. I won’t apologise for my decisions. I also don’t fault you guys for doing what you did, not in the slightest. If anything... Your actions might've let him find some peace at least.”

Itsu Fudo, Epiloguous “It’s as real as the future can be.” Itsu nodded, noting the Staff in Eria’s hands with some amusement. “Obviously, the future is made of potential. Time is a flowing ocean, whether it’s here in this realm or out there in the multiverse. It’s not like things are guaranteed—otherwise, we may as well consider victory over Isamy Maximus to be guaranteed. Wouldn’t that be nice?” Eria’s smile faltered at that remark. “However, it’s the future you found. The future that the trials of the Pathway to Origin set you on, and the future that awaits you on your own current path. At least, assuming you survive. If you consider that to be real… Then yes. It’s real alright.” In response, the goddess raised her hands and materialized more wisps of light, at which point they proceeded to softly circle around the group. “Is this the answer you seek, Eria?”

Note: This is a roleplay imported from YCM! ~ YCM IC ~ ~ YCM OOC ~ ~ New NCM IC ~ ~ New NCM OOC ~ hosted by Merciful Idiot أنا لا يموت. أنا لا أعيش كل لها قصة. لدي جود فقط أن تكون أو لا تكون هذا هو السؤال أمشي الطريق إلى الأصل Far away... There is a conversation. Greater powers reflecting on previous events, on this out-of-control disaster called the "Origin War". The Illusive Sky Amongst the dreamlike Illusive Sky, with its rainbow clouds and strange properties, Nobody Isamy was proving to be extremely difficult to engage in direct combat. The warriors－Lydia, Hapshiel, Dorian, Jace, Chandra, Nero, Reimu, Alexander, Alister, Red, Bayonetta, Jeanne, and Ratchet－all fought hard, although their enemy was a cunning one. The Nobody gradually appeared to be gaining intelligence over time. Its Void Inclusion transformations improved, until it was apparent that it was invoking both the skills and the personalities of their loved ones, as well as their own past selves, evading their attacks at every turn. Separating the characters, engaging them one at a time, it was essentially playing mind games with them all... It was a mentally exhausting battle, and despite the damage and wounds they kept succeeding in inflicting upon it, there appeared to be no end in sight. However, as it progressed, the warriors may have noticed that time was beginning to slow down. Everyone’s movements, attacks, even speech were growing duller, gradually deaccelerating in intensity. "Oh.” When Nobody Isamy itself appeared to realise this, it suddenly ceased combat, returning into its original form. With a hint of understanding in that one eye, its calm gaze moved up, towards the heavens. "I’m sorry… I have done what I can, but it looks like this must come to an end.” The being looked sad, but also resigned to its fate. "Salvation… At last, salvation has arrived.” The Shadow Cavern Amongst the unforgiving Shadow Cavern, with its bloodstained earth and nightmarish design, Heartless Isamy was proving to be extremely brutal towards all who opposed her. The warriors－Butler-Ragnarok, Rhadamanthys, Darcy, Bel, Koishi, Satori, the short-haired Tenshi, Atsuko, Gabriel, and even Kyros－had to be constantly on edge due to the aggressive approach their enemy was taking. The Heartless did not shy away with her Void Inclusion, choosing the strongest targets to invoke the powers of, and abusing them as much as she wanted... The problem was only worsened by the presence of the last remaining Herald of Order, Finite. The man once known as Kenpachi. With both Killua and Gon murdered in a tragic turn of events, it was taking Kratos everything he had to hold the godlike Finite back - and if that Herald started backing the Heartless, then there’d be no hope for the others. It was a physically gruelling battle, and despite the damage and wounds they kept succeeding in inflicting upon it, there appeared to be no end in sight. However, as it progressed, the warriors may have noticed that space was beginning to warp. Everyone’s movements, attacks, even speech were taking far more effort, as though an invisible pressure were pressing back, harder and harder. “Ha… Haha…” When Heartless Isamy herself finally noticed this, her dracolich form momentarily paused the onslaught. With a hint of acknowledgment in that one eye, its piercing glare moved up towards the ceiling. “Finally. Finally. Finally she comes! Come over, Finite! Come, watch!” For the first time, the creature was delighted. She beckoned her servant to join her. “Our Happily Ever After! With this, it can all… It can all finally be… over...” Then, all of a sudden, the end came. Countless cracks in the fabric of reality, of time and space, formed abruptly, and proceeded to flooded everything within an instant. Physical distortion that ought to be avoided at all costs, high in the skies, below in the cavern, there was nowhere to run. Cracks were forming, growing everywhere, and they couldn’t be stopped as they spread further and further, widening into ‘nothingness’, threatening to consume anything and everything in their path. Gravity was fading away, and the very laws of physics were failing. It was almost like someone had picked up a divine sledgehammer, and slammed it into both worlds. There was nowhere to run, no exit to retreat into, and no way to resist. For all their power, surviving something like this would be utterly impossible. Those who’d been there in the Inner Periphery knew all too well what this horrific occurrence was－the dreaded feeling that one had when the very realm they existed in was about to break apart. Within that destruction, a few may glimpse of that otherworldly phenomenon, that Anomaly, tearing into the reality from outside. And just like that, both the Illusive Sky and the Shadow Cavern shattered. _____________NOTHINGNESS_____________ [INTERLUDE IN OBLIVION] [/INTERLUDE IN OBLIVION] . . . The many warriors of the multiverse started to awaken, finding themselves surrounded by absolute darkness. What had just happened? Only moments prior they’d been fighting for their lives, facing either the Nobody or the Heartless Isamy. However, after time started slowing down, and the realms shattered, everything after that was a blank. Even the memory of their conflict with the two Isamys were faint, wrecked, missing pieces. And now, with seemingly no solution, the warriors were drifting equally across oblivion. They were powerless, barely conscious. It felt like they were in a fading dream. Unable to move, unable to think, lacking the strength to defy their fates. Merely existing. Drifting. As the emptiness and nothingness dragged on, there was some innate understanding in each and every one of them that they were slowly fading away. That this was how they were going to perish. Still. In the far-off distance, the voice of some young, British-accented male could be heard, resonating across this empty, desolate space. His words were faint, strange, and may not have made sense to any of them even if they could discern what he was saying. Eventually, it seemed as though he had reached a point and concluded his statements with a positive, hopeful request. Surely this wasn’t aimed at them. ‘Years’? ‘Narrative’? ‘Grand Crossover RP’? Was any of that supposed to mean anything? . . . Then, When it was all supposed to be over, the oblivion was overcome by a bright light, a beautifully warm energy. A new sound emerged. An almighty sound, filled to the brim with an unparalleled radiance. The holy voice of an unusually-frustrated goddess－ Dammit Merci! You had one job. ONE job. All I wanted was to watch a good victory, and pass on peacefully… But how exactly am I supposed to have a nice rest when everything’s been left in ruins like this? Seriously, where’s Dan when you need him? Who’s gonna stop Isamy now, huh? Who’s gonna save these people from oblivion, HUH??!?!? This... This is cruel. It should’ve just been a squabble between me and that man. Isamy and her Divine, the Counter Guardians and their Corps－this wasn’t supposed to be their battle, their war. But they were forced out of their own lives, dragged and enticed into this mess, and now they have to pay the price. Is there really no one left? Thy really don’t have anyone else? … So, it’s just like Emiya said. Fine. Fine... I GET IT, FINE!! Then I guess I’ll just have to DO IT MYSELF!!!!!!!! With that declaration, golden light effortlessly pierced through the emptiness of this oblivion－and in an instant, they were all swept away. Epiloguous Moments afterwards, the warriors of the multiverse found themselves floating in space. Breathable space, in fact! When they looked around, they would see that all the other survivors of the Illusive Sky/Shadow Cavern were with them. Curiously enough, Team Eria was there too - looking like they came from a huge battle of their own. As a whole, it seemed like everyone had been gathered here. The warriors would feel as light as a feather, capable of moving about just by thinking about it. A colourful, rainbow nebula surrounded them, and although the stars looked so close that they could reach out and grab one, those stars were indeed light years away. It was a bizarre, yet majestic sight. Still, it must’ve been hard to tell what exactly just happened. For all they knew - particularly those who’d never heard that voice before - this was just the work of another enemy. That is, until a being materialised at the heart of this galactic realm. ~ La Roux - Bulletproof ~ There was no intense pressure radiating from her. No world-ending energy like there was with Isamy. Just this random, out-of-place lady. Her hair was a vibrant crimson, her eyes were heterochromatic, and she garbed in a kimono elaborate with gold and red designs mimicking flames that, with each movement, made them resemble a burning fire. Despite this relatively mundane stature, the being didn’t seem in the least intimidated by the massive assortment of seasoned warriors surrounding her. If anything, she was oddly calm for the situation. “Well, let’s on with it, shall we?” The woman said, smiling as she twirled her umbrella at the center of all these warriors. “Hi! I’m Itsu Fudo. Blessed Mother of Hearth, Divine Sovereign of the Ryuusei Cluster, and your friendly neighborhood Sun Goddess. If this is your first time meeting me, it’s a pleasure.” Itsu Fudo. The name of that divine woman, who'd been involved in the Origin War since the very beginning. For those who’d previously fought by her side, there had always been a sense that she knew far more about the war than anyone else - even the Counter Guardians. Yet, despite her vast array of knowledge and her personal connection to Protheus and Isamy, not once did she give away the answers. Then, when they entered the Pathway to Origin, she vanished just like that. Leaving her friends, her daughter, and everyone else. Just like that, she’d disappeared. “Of course, most of you probably already know me. I was a member of the Counter Corps from the start. My physical form went through a lot of changes though, so I don’t know what you’d remember me as - so I became this familiar, then got split in two, then got mashed together in this unstable form. That last one wasn’t stable though, ended up breaking apart in the Pathway to Remembrance. Kinda died. Embarrassing. Well, looks like I’m back for one last go…or at least I think I’m back.” The lady paused, a little confused about what to say next, but then proceeded to gesture towards her surroundings. “When I fell, my divine essence found its way here. The place calls itself Epiloguous. It’s a bit weird, kinda like a observatory. Some sort of secret location in the Pathway to Origin. I’ve got a bit of a link to Isamy, so maybe, maybe that’s why.” Glossing over that fact, she moved her hand, and screen materialized around her - they showed chunks of ice, and cherry blossoms, stone monoliths, all floating in darkness. The remains of the Pathways. “Basically. I’ve been watching you guys all this time. So no need to introduce yourselves or get me up to date. It’s been one hell of a time, huh? Your journeys, your fights, everything that’s been going on… I was powerless from here, but dear me, there are so many things that frustrate me... Those Counter Guardians especially! Damn I wish I could’ve decked that Arturia in the face myself, the hell was up with that?!” Snapping all of a sudden, she felt the need to punch the air, before calming down. “Anyway…” Itsu waved the screens away. With a sigh, she proceeded to start spinning, and her eyes started to go over the many warriors. Observing them, one by one, in a moment of silence. You’ve all had it really rough, huh?“ She said, gently. To Atsuko, she gave her daughter a smile. To Eria, Arthur, and their friends, she gave them a small, sad nod. To Nero, a thumbs up, telling him not to feel guilty over what happened. To Butler-Ragnarok and Darcy, a shrug, as if to say ‘guess you’re here too, oh well’. To Kratos… a silent look of apology. To Alister, Dorian, and Nanashi, her eyebrow raised with a certain level of intrigue at what they were. And towards Gabriel and all the others, a simple look of encouragement. Although she said nothing, it felt a bit like Reunion when they’d each been singled out and analysed. However, this time, there was a clear difference. “Hey. It’s okay. Between all that tension, all that adrenalin, it’s okay to relax for a little while. Give me a second.” This lady just genuinely wanted to make sure they were all okay. Raising out her arms, she chanted a small spell. A wave of high-level magic healing followed, proceeding to wash over the warriors of the multiverse. Their wounds, and their exhaustion, were refreshed. “It’s really easy to lose track of time in the Pathway, but at the end of the day, you’ve all been at it for seven hours now. Seven hours! Seven hours of travelling, personal introspection, and battling titans. Aren’t you guys exhausted?” Itsu pointed out the most the obvious fact in the world. ”Whether it’s been three days or several years, a war is a war. It couldn’t have been easy. I’m sure you lost many allies, and I’m sure there’s a lot for you all to process too.” Sure, there may have been warriors here and there with incredible amounts of stamina, with self-sustaining powers, with a degree of immortality. But the vast majority of them probably weren’t like that - they were normal, living people who just happened to know how to fight. Thus, without even noticing, they might’ve stretched themselves to their limits. They might’ve even strained themselves far beyond that. “Epiloguous is disconnected from the Door’s timestream, so as far as Isamy is concerned, time has frozen. We can’t chill here forever, obviously… But for a while, I’d say there’s no harm in one last break, you know?” However, as much as taking a break was a pleasant thought, there was an important duty to attend to. All of reality was at stake. Their greatest enemy had the Key of Origin in her possession, and without anyone to stop her, it was all but guaranteed that she’d rush to open the Door of Origin the instant she had that opportunity. They could relax for now, and yet, taking it easy was absolutely not an option. “Hey. Isamy needs to be defeated, that’s for sure. But I’ll be honest, considering what was about to happen out there… When you return to the battlefield, the very act of defeating her could be difficult.” Itsu stated bluntly. “Before you entered oblivion, did you see ‘that’? It’s an Anomaly made of distortions that entered Origin a little ago, and has since wrecked all the Pathways on its way here. I think... I think somehow, that’s the other part of Isamy. That is what’s left of Isabella, who led the Divine. That she followed us all here. It’s the only thing that would make sense.” The original Isamy had two components - Ameliorer and Isabella. Ameliorer split herself into the Nobody and Heartless in an attempt to hold everyone back, but ultimately, they were both still Ameliorer. As for Isabella, all the distortions she’d spread everywhere may have wrecked her very existence, but ultimately, she was still Isabella. “If I’m right and both components have met, your final enemy may very well be the complete, original Isamy Maximus. I struggle to imagine to imagine anything more dangerous than that.” From the beginning of the Origin War, right up to this final battle, the warriors had only ever had to face one half of Isamy. But now, “We’re talking about a Herald who surpassed Protheus long ago. She thinks of herself as a hero, but even before the Origin War, the Neighborhood Watch knew her as one thing and one thing only － an unstoppable catastrophe. I’m afraid she’ll be far tougher than any enemy, any monster you guys have ever faced in the war so far. With reality at stake, I can’t afford to be cheap about this. I’m sorry but… I’m not sure if it’ll even be possible to beat her. There’s a real chance you guys will lose in your current states.” Then, after a heavy, tense silence… “Of course… that’s just in your current states, anyway!” Itsu grinned, and clicked her fingers. Prepared to give them the opportunity of a lifetime. At first, nothing happened. “You know. I’m willing to bet there’s not a single person here who didn’t get some power-up since joining the war. Each of you have learned, and grown, and probably gotten a lot stronger too. But! Even if it feels like years, the Shadow Realm was only three days ago. The Desert Seth was two days ago. The Sphere Forest was yesterday. And again, despite its many trials and hijinks, we’ve only been on the Pathway to Origin for seven hours!” When she pointed it, it really felt ridiculous. Everything must’ve felt so long ago to the characters. “There’s only so much anyone can change in such a short, insignificant amount of time. The fact you all came so far in just three days in incredible.” Then, as if on cue, a single, shining star left the galactic sea around them, and it started to approach the group of warriors. Then another followed. And then another. They were like tiny wisps, leaving behind trails of light. Star-wisps. “If that’s the case, then imagine if you had months to hone your abilities? Years? A lifetime, even? You win the war, and live out the rest of your life, growing stronger and growing stronger - imagine you could skip all that time, and make that potential of yours real?” She said, raising out her arms. “Alternatively, I’m aware some of you are like me - people who were once gods, who have grown weaker - in which case, imagine if you could regain that former glory? Recover a level of strength lost to time?” The goddess proceeded to hold her umbrella up into the air, as if beckoning the star-wisps forward. “The power of the future, and the power of the past. It may not be much in the grand scheme of things, but I can at least do this much for you guys.” Itsu offered, before proceeding to explain. “I’m linked to Isamy due to...complicated circumstances that happened in the past. Thanks to that direct link to the Key of Origin, I can access its power to open miniscule holes within the Door—you probably know a bit about the power of ‘Void Inclusion’ she kept abusing throughout her battles. Well, that was her taking advantage of those gaps, invoking other people’s Origins. However, she doesn’t comprehend its true potential. I don’t think she ever will.” In moments, there must have been about forty of them wantonly zipping about, filling the air above the cast with hopes and dreams. For each character, one specific wisp seemed to be especially drawn towards them. “If you embrace it, you’ll tap into your Origin, and perform your very own Void Inclusion. Might feel funny, but you’ll momentarily transcend time and space. You can reach into your future and retrieve the power of your prime future self. Gain abilities that you have yet to hone, weapons that you have yet to obtain, a level of experience that you have yet to earn. You won’t have their memories, but everything will be yours to command. Or, if you want… you can reach into the past instead, and regain the power your past self once had. Whichever suits you better.” All of the star-wisps proceeded to fly down, at which point it was clear that there was one for every single character present. Each wisp stopped directly before their correspondent user. “Considering the amount of potential you guys have, and considering how strong I know so many of you already are, I can only imagine the differences it’d make. Of course, if you get weaker, don’t blame me!” She continued cheerily. “I know it must sound pretty scary. To change. To become someone different. Well, you know yourself more than anyone. I have no idea what your pasts were like, or what your futures are gonna be. At the end of the day, this is all totally up to you.” The stage was set, and an opportunity to level the playing field had been given. There was a good chance their enemy would be the original Isamy Maximus. The Isabella version alone had brought the multiverse to a standstill by spreading her distortions, and the cast had experienced plenty of the trouble that came with the Ameliorer, as a psychic ghost, Hollow, as well as Heartless and Nobody. One could only imagine how their experiences would combine, and what sort of terrifying force that would create. The mere thought of it was worrisome. Thankfully, at least, the majority of the cast could rest assured that they weren’t immediately launched into that battle after consecutively facing Isamy’s multiple forms. After some time, Itsu spoke again, now seeming drained as she clutched tightly onto her umbrella. “For now, time has been frozen. If any of you have any lingering questions, now is your final chance to ask. Questions about Protheus and Isamy, the history behind the Origin, and more are welcome too. I’ve been, well, quiet. About a lot of things. And you guys, you’ve suffered more than enough that you deserve this transparency. I won’t be cryptic. I promise I’ll answer everything to the best of my ability.” If anyone was paying particular attention to her form, then they might have noticed a certain that, from the feet up, it almost looked like Itsu was beginning to fade away. It was only natural. She hadn’t merely been offering some help, but actually used up what remained of her own power to make the smallest of differences, for the sake of the multiverse. Without drawing attention to it, she continued. “Once everyone’s ready... you’ll be returned to the Door of Origin. My essence can’t exist outside anywhere else, so ‘fraid I won’t be able to help much more than this. ” Itsu said sadly. “Whatever happens from here on out, let me just say this—” Finally, she took a step back, giving the warriors of the multiverse their own well-deserved space. “Only through change are we going to win this. Good luck.” This was Epiloguous—their last chance. Between the potential for power and the potential for answers, it was clear that this was it. The endgame. The place where they would determine the finale of the Origin War. The characters had no idea whether they would survive the final battle. Accessing their own futures may be possible, but the nature of time didn’t apply to the Pathways. And even if they did survive, they had no idea what would happen next, and whether they would ever see one another again. There was no telling what would happen. Hence, if there was anything they had left to say, anything they had to resolve, then it was clear this would be the final opportunity to do so. The characters may have any lingering questions, or may want any further information to prepare for the final battle. A lot of otherworldly phenomena had happened during the Origin War. Confusing plots, inexplicable events, and in just three days, a lot of things had happened to keep track of. Even when there’d been a supposed ‘guide of Origin’ in Byakuya, all his answers were mysterious and unclear. Hence, with Itsu Fudo making herself readily available, the goddess was in the best possible position to give those difficult answers. Finally, the characters had an opportunity before them. A star-wisp hovered by each individual, following them wherever they went. There was something about the star-wisp itself that was simply—beautiful. Captivating. Magical. To the point of eliminating all doubts. Something in their minds stirred, as though this were a part of them they never knew they had, and there was something so utterly amazing about it that drew anyone in. If they embraced it, they could attain the Power of the Future, or the Power of the Past. Yet, that was ultimately their own choice. They could go for it immediately, they could take their time and maybe talk with the others, or they could refuse altogether. That was the beauty of the freedom of choice. Warriors. It’s time to act. . . . IF EMBRACED:

Note: This is a long-running roleplay imported from the YCM forum~ ~ YCM IC ~ ~ YCM OOC ~ ~ New NCM IC ~ ~ New NCM OOC ~ . . . hosted by Merciful Idiot . . . The Grand Crossover RP The stars glinted through the darkness of space, displayed by a glass wall. A knight in red appeared to confront a young girl, who stood idly by the mechanical corridor. Although she didn't turn around, she already understood what kind of entity stood behind her. A Counter Guardian - defender of reality. “There have been plenty of people like you in the past who’ve tried to accomplish the same thing." Emiya said confidently, carrying falchions in both hands. "Hitler. Thanos. Paradox. They’ve all failed. What makes you think you’re any different?" “It's simple." Tapping her spacial scythe against the glass a few times, Isamy Maximus seemed quite confident. Prepared for a fight at any given moment, the knight gripped his blades tighter. "You see, unlike those poor excuses of life, I've walked through the Pathway to Origin and bore witness its end. As it seems, my dream is noble enough for the Door to acknowledge. Can you believe that?" Emiya stared in disbelief. She, of all people, managed to reach the Door? How was that even possible? And if so, how could she be here? But he wouldn't be getting his answer. Turning to face him, Isamy revealed a wide grin that looked unnatural on her otherwise-innocent face. "I think it's cute that you formed a team just for me, but my Divine will crush these Counter Corps of yours. At this point, I can no longer be stopped. I will find the Key, that Door will be opened, and I WILL rewrite the rules of this reality!" "You think you're a hero. But to me, and to the multiverse, you're nothing but a monster." Her heterochromatic expression seemed glazed over, almost as though she were watching something else, dreaming of a faraway place. "Give up now while you still have the chance, Counter Guardian." The knight remained silent for a moment. "We can at least try." ... Then, suddenly, Emiya took a step forward. "And if we win," He advanced, causing Isamy's eyes to widen in surprise. Confused, she impulsively stepped back. Refocusing on the warrior in front of her. As if this strange man had just gone off-script. As if he'd defied her every expectation. She could sense it - in that one action, he was opposing the very laws of time and continuity. "Wha-" "Isamy Maximus... Don't say I didn't warn you." PLOT: RP INFO (for catchup/reminders): Rules: Application: (TBA) Accepted Characters (Counter Corps / Divine / Other) My Characters + Tier List GCRP Arc Summaries There are tons of dead roleplays out there, but wouldn't it be cool if you could reuse those characters, the ones you poured your heart and soul into making? Wouldn't it be awesome if you could have them interact with characters from other roleplays? Wouldn't it be absolutely amazing to have them work alongside each other or battle against each other? There's so much potential to this concept. This is an RP, or to be exact, a Grand Crossover RP. A GCRP, created to achieve that simple purpose. Well, without further ado,Hope you guys enjoy this ride~! (Note: For any inquiries or comments, feel free to bring them up either here in the OOC or in the Skype/Discord group chats)

Sup! Merciful Idiot here. I've mostly come just to import the Grand Crossover RP to this new site, although you may see me in other places from time to time~ Honestly, it's still incredibly weird to think about YCM ending. But looking at the facts, it's gonna be hard to trust a forum that could disappear at any given moment even when it does come back up. At the end of the day, it's kinda like growing up, I guess. I've been on YCM since 2008, yet drifted away from the card game a loooong time ago - so how to put it? NCM? "Neo Card Maker"? No matter how I look at it, it just sounds more mature, and better, than "Yu-Gi-Oh Card Maker" in every way. Basically, this move feels very likely like it's gonna be a permanent one for many of us. Ofc, if I'm wrong , that's cool too~ Welp, hope everyone settles in alright. Here's to a new era!