Angelo suddenly looked down when he felt something hit his heel then he saw the little ball the obviously tricked him earlier with a hologram but this time a certain duel avatar was being showed on it instead. Soon it started to talk to them about an interruption calling itself Ochre Technic Angelo growled a little when he saw that he was playing them and he was going to show hungry burst linkers his real life ID damn him! Now he wanted Angelo and his protégé to join in his stupid ass legion! Angelo cracked his fingers feeling the blood lust fill his body right at this moment he wanted the tricksters blood. Angelo looked over at the hacker and his protégé. He knew that joining his legion would mean that he would have the judgment call on them if they ever misbehaved. If they joined his legion they would be caught in a net they cant get out of right now Angelo wasn't sure what he could do other then fight. If he is even forcing their hacker to join in then that means that this was portrayed in a much larger scale. Angelo wasn't sure what do but he wasn't going to join or let his protégé join "whatever happens don't join the legion even if he has our information and he isn't bluffing the chance that he will use the judgment call once we join him is high. Its your choice join up with someone you know will backstab you or be ready to take on attacks in real life"

Lily was tired of being the mouse in the maze, never finding the cheese, the hamster on the wheel never going anywhere. Would they forever be hunted,forever have their identities used against them, this black mail? Would they forever be forced into links?

She planted her feet firmly, placing her hands on her hips, she let Moe's lead to slack, just slightly.

"Do it. Give my information out, because I'll never join someone who thinks blackmail is useful. Do it, because I'm tired of this game. Do it."

There was every bit of challenge in those two words.

"You can't pull me in. I was walking my dog, nimrod. I don't have my link with me"

That would enable her some semblance of control, but she had no doubt when she turned it on that she would be pulled in. The phones had given her some freedom from the link, and leaving it home had been a way of making sure that she wouldn't be pulled in, and that Moe therefore wouldn't be lost to her.

She didn't even know if the guy was nearby, but she suspected he would at least hear her words. "I'll run home, Angelo. I'll be there soon"

...3, 2, 1.



The world for the three Burst Linkers in the alley took a dizzying turn, as the cracked walls digitally circled around them then rapidly enlarged. Even the floor itself began to tilt steeper and steeper, as strewn trash bumped and rolled down the slope before disappearing into thin air. What awaited those who still stood was a gaping maw of pitch black darkness below, a Tartarus with an impossibly perceivable bottom. Yet this was contrasted by the top rim of the pit, where a clear sky sparks hope in those who attempt to climb upwards. Promptly, all Duel Avatars spawned in and unceremoniously started to fall.

The instigator of the match, Ochre Technic himself, made a grand flourish with his cape as he descended, and promptly glided to a standstill on the nearest ledge. "Your decision?" he boomed, the question echoing off the foreboding wall of their cage.

Angelo groaned as he started falling down the pit but his avatar had the wings and he quickly opened his wings from his back. As he noticed the hackers avatar didn't have The odd shape was surprisingly humanoid in nature with his yellow coloring. Angelo grabbed her and dropped her on a ledge then he did the same for lily putting her on a ledge nearby. Then Angelo heard the bastard ask what their decision was and Angelo didn't know what he could do but then a message appeared in front of their faces from the hacker saying that they were safe from their identities getting out as long as they promise not to hurt her afterwards. Angelo gave a little nod letting her know it was okay.

The hackers avatar soon spawned 4 arms and started typing faster then the human eye could see but Angelo didn't know what she was doing until he got message his name and information was completely changed he kept his name but his picture image was blank and his living info was gone. The hacker literally just got them off the hook from having the join the instigator. Angelo had something he wanted to say "no we wont join, and because you put us through this much trouble im going to rip your body parts one by one and im going to smile as I hear you scream" Angelo said cracking his knuckles ready to torture him...

Lily let out a cry, the thought of Moe being alone tearing through her, hoping that the puppy would be okay, she glanced about them, hoping to end this as quickly as possible. She wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but she knew she wouldn't be bullied into joining in whatever this weird guy wanted. Standing up staight, she shook her head.

"We will defeat you"

"Very well, a rash decision nonetheless. However expected, as there are other priorities in mind for me to accomplish right now." Ochre Technic menacingly flourished his arms and cape, directing everyone's gaze at the unexpected appearance of Scarlet Gunner, Yellow Beetle, and another bot wrapped in chains standing motionless on ledges above them. "Now that our most troublesome hacker has left her own playground and joined mine, I'd like to see how her creations work when they're turned against her."

Yellow Beetle's blank eyes suddenly lit up. The same azure light that bathed defeated Avatars coiled down from the sky and wrapped around Beetle; if one were to look closely the light would appear to be a matrix of flashing numbers resembling computer binary code. It coalesced upon the bot's back, slowly adding new structure to the appearance of its program. Insectoid wings sprouted forth, and Yellow Beetle took flight down the chasm, marking the course for its new master. "This is only a prototype that I've derived from the sample generously provided to me by your 'friend'; don't bother taking back control of your precious bot either until after our match. By the way, I wouldn't be surprised Gunmetal Fog has something similar up his sleeves; I suppose I've inadvertently setup a situation to test where these 'friendships' truly lie. Not that mere programs care."

Ochre Technic thrust a finger at the hacker's Avatar, and Yellow Beetle shot forward, firing off its special attack to disable its creator.

//

Kris hadn't uttered a sound since the beginning of the match, but that was because he wasn't exactly in his Avatar form. While Ochre Technic drew everyone else's attention, Gunmetal Fog stood silent on his own ledge. Suddenly, his figure distorted, red error signs popping up all around, and static electricity running across his torso. Then Gunmetal Fog slumped to the ground, its eyes flickering out and signature even dissipating into the air. Yet...no azure particles began to emanate as the sign of a defeated Avatar.

Kris shuddered and reopened his eyes. He was now standing on a ledge above his original position, looking upon the rest of the battle. The shoddy work he'd done on his program paid off, though he reminded himself to fix the error messages next time so his transfer didn't affect his nerves so much. He examined his newly acquired form, the nether chains wrapped around his arms ominously glistening. They beckoned him towards his immediate goal, noticing Yellow Beetle initiating combat. He gave his best impression of a Slasher smile, and hurled forward, chains unfurling to ensnare the hacker, Cyber Yellow.

Health:
Green Deer = -------------------- -0
Magenta Reaper = ------------------- -0

Special:
Green Deer = +0
Magenta Reaper = +0

Health:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = -------------------- -0

Special:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = +0

Health:
Cyber Yellow = ------------------- -0
Scarlet Gunner = ------------------- -0

Special:
Cyber Yellow = +0
Scarlet Gunner = +0

Health:
Ochre Technic = ------------------- -0
Yellow Beetle = ------------------- -0

Special:
Ochre Technic = +0
Yellow Beetle = +0

Angelo growled as he saw that bastard put changes to the yellow beetle and give it wings matching its name and that just made Angelo even angrier if that was possible. "deer make sure to protect our hacker ill go and do what I promised" Angelo said as he flew towards the Ochre Technic flying past the bots "this is my battlefield!" Angelo growled as he made his first slash with his scythe. While Angelo was the only avatar with the ability of flight he knew he taught deer just the way to handle someone who has his ability. Clip the wings and the bird cant fly was what he was always told deer and despite the fact that the beetle had bug wings the principle was the same...

Lily hesitated, not wanting to leave Angelo to fight by himself, but knowing that the hacker needed to be protected. She didn't like this, but they had won a rigged battle before.

She took a deep breath, and slid into a esy position to fight from, watching the battlefield, eyes darting about so that she wouldn't miss anything.

The hacker was unsure if what to do is been much to long since she had to be in actual combat by herself but she had to stay alive in this game and let the real fighters duke it out. So when the enemy was about to charge into her she quickly worked up a hack to create a shield around herself. To perfect from the chains. She wasn't a fighter but this was a game and like all games she could cheat her way to safety. As she started typing again and soon a staircase was made in the tunnel towards the top allowing her to run...

"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself, Magenta Reaper," chided Ochre Technic, unflinching in face of the infernal Avatar charging at him. He raised his cloak and deflected the first swing off to the side, then with his free hand took off his top hat. "A flying Avatar certainly isn't as unique as it used to be, the trick is to distract you from doing so." A cylinder materialized from above the hat, and anticipating the next scythe blow, Ochre Technic ducked and flung out his cloak this time. Powder the color of burnt sienna was sprayed onto Magenta Reaper's head section, meant to temporarily blind him. The pop of a pulled pin was then heard, and Ochre Technic casually tossed the cylinder in front, then took cover behind his cape for the 2.5 second time to detonation of the stun grenade.

//

Nyx's chains bounced harmlessly off Cyber Yellow's forcefield, but Yellow Beetle's special attack managed to be somewhat effective, causing the energy barrier to waver as the radiation continued to emanate from its body. Kris couldn't immediately capitalize though, instead redirecting his chains to wrap around the staircase and preventing his long fall downwards. He hung there and began to swing to regain momentum, while accessing the battlefield. With Magenta Reaper and Ochre Technic locked in a stalemate of two Level 5 Avatars, no other power players remained to interrupt his fight with the hacker. He was confused by Green Deer's passivity however, and hoped he wasn't interpreting that she would come to the defense of the hacker. But it was almost time for him to finalize his allegiances...

//

Scarlet Gunner, the lone forgotten bot, stood confused on the same ledge Yellow Beetle had dived off of and attacked their creator. Its primary directive in the case of the hacker spawning in was to protect her at all costs, but the exception of another bot turning traitor was against its secondary, less defined directive against attacking allies (ironically implemented after the first battle against Green Deer and Gunmetal Fog). While it motionlessly ran its processes over and over and failing to pass any actions, Cyber Yellow created her staircase in the hope of escape from this illogical battle. If Scarlet were to become self-aware at this moment, its first musing would be on how the stairs seemed to stretch to infinity...

Health:
Green Deer = -------------------- -0
Magenta Reaper = ------------------- -0

Special:
Green Deer = +0
Magenta Reaper = +0

Health:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = -------------------- -0

Special:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = +0

Health:
Cyber Yellow = ------------------- -0
Scarlet Gunner = ------------------- -0

Special:
Cyber Yellow = +0
Scarlet Gunner = +0

Health:
Ochre Technic = ------------------- -0
Yellow Beetle = ------------------- -0

Special:
Ochre Technic = +0
Yellow Beetle = +5 Radiation

Magenta reaper groaned as his face got coveted by what he could only assume powder meant to blind him and that just made him more annoyed. When he soon heard the pin being pulled he quickly believed it to be a drag grenade meant to do damage while he is blind. The reaper quickly stopped flapping and quickly dropped down a few meters away from the blast. While he dud that he was able to remove the powder from his face getting his sight back. "I'm called reaper for a reason you punk!" Magenta roared as he flew back up quickly and used his scythe to hit the wall and throw stones at ochre forcing him to use that cloak of his giving Magenta the chance to slice of his foothold forcing him to fall as Magenta chased after him in case he tried anything...

The hacker watched the battle while still climbing upwards and she soon saw that scarlet gunner was confused which meant a glitch in the program. She used that window to quickly regain control of scarlet. Once she had it she used it to give fire support and take on yellow beetle

Lily watched all that went on, thinking on why she had yet to be attack. Had something changed between the previous battle and this one? Watching, she moved, figuring for the moment they were all on the same side.

She didn't know what to do.

She watched Angelo, ready to jump in and help if need be, frowning slightly, she glanced towards Kris as well. She couldn't help but shake the feeling that there was something else going on here.

"What do I do?"

Ochre Technic was surprised at how quickly Magenta Reaper reacted to the grenade, but resumed his defensive stance against the counter attack. Shortly he felt the ledge crumbling beneath him as rocks rained down from above, so taking the initiative he dove off before he could lose his balance. His cape expanded to act as a glider while Ochre Technic dove for the next bit of ground to land on. He was still clutching his top hat, so hiding his hands from the opponent, he reached inside for his next weapon. Pulling out a white tipped ebony wand, Ochre Technic figured he had to give Magenta Reaper the man on man fight he wanted. Ochre Technic whipped his cape around as he landed to face once more, sending out a cloud of dust as a distraction. The wand he held in one hand extended into a two handed staff; he twirled it around then assumed his fighting stance.

In reply to Magenta Reaper's boast, he asked, "If you are the Reaper, then why aren't you attacking the hacker who cheats death in this game?"

//

Kris simply shrugged when Lily chose not to react to any of the attacks against the hacker, and begun his offense in full force. He swung forward, somersaulting backwards onto the staircase. As he released the grip of the chains, Nyx Chains spun his body to face Cyber Yellow, carrying the momentum to land blows on her weakened force field. A surge of dark energy ran across the links, further amplifying the powerful hits and shattering her futile defense.

//

Yellow Beetle was not discouraged by the hail of bullets Scarlet Gunner unleashed on it, and continued to radiate energy waves at Cyber Yellow. Its fortified insect carapace reduced the effectiveness of projectile damage, that would have been useful to counter its originally intended target. But the hacker now found her creations double edged swords...

Health:
Green Deer = -------------------- -0
Magenta Reaper = ------------------- -0

Special:
Green Deer = +0
Magenta Reaper = +0

Health:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = -------------------- -0

Special:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = +0

Health:
Cyber Yellow = ------------------- -0
Scarlet Gunner = ------------------- -0

Special:
Cyber Yellow = +0
Scarlet Gunner = +5 Bullets

Health:
Ochre Technic = ------------------- -5 Rocks
Yellow Beetle = ------------------ -5 Bullets

Special:
Ochre Technic = +0
Yellow Beetle = +10 Radiation

Cause your the one who blackmailed my protege!" Angelo yelled out soon flying towards the dust cloud and one mighty gust of his wings dispersed most of the dust showing him to see the enemy. Once he saw ochre he dashed towards him again and clashed with his staff. Once they were locked with their weapons Angelo used his momentum to kick ochre in the gut before he could pull away his staff he grabbed the staff and his scythe and punched him in the face. Once he did that Angelo dashed away knowing if he didn't then ochre would have puked something to regain the advantage...

It was the hacker who sent a message to green deer telling her "scarlet gunner is under my control take on yellow beetle then you can help reaper" the message said as the hacker kept firing at the beetle not bothering with the health since it was a bot anyways.

Lily couldn't do nothing, but taking the hackers orders was bitter sweet. Was the hacker simply doing this for her own good? Grimacing, she attacked the yellow beatle, charging forward, she didn't attack straight away, instead she ducked to the side and attacked the drone from the side

Ochre Technic grunted from the force of the blow against his gut, but since his back was already to the wall his stance did not fold. As Magenta Reaper released a hand from his scythe to grab hold of Ochre's staff, Ochre likewise did the same and grabbed Magenta's scythe. Then he shrunk the staff back into its shorter wand form, leaving Magenta clutching at thin air, and struck the tip against the ground to ignite a small flame. Slashing at Magenta's other hand, the flame ignited remaining powder in the creases of the mechanical appendages, causing a mini explosion that loosened its grip. Ochre yanked the scythe free of Magenta's hand as he flew away, and dropped it into the chasm before diving after it to block Magenta, whirling his staff and blowing more clouds of powder.

//

Yellow Beetle paid zero attention to Green Deer up until she struck him with her two swords. It sent the bot careening off into space as it struggled to regain flight and shut down its radiation power for good. Refacing its new opponent, its wings began to dangerously whir as it began to charge energy.

//

But the radiation had done its job; Cyber Yellow's shield was down and Kris took full advantage. Nyx's chains wrapped around the hacker's body and squeezed its sharp embrace as it trapped her limbs in place. A more powerful jolt of dark energy traveled along the length of the chain causing major pain and damage to the Avatar.

Health:
Green Deer = -------------------- -0
Magenta Reaper = ------------------ -5 Explosion

Special:
Green Deer = +10
Magenta Reaper = +10

Health:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = -------------------- -0

Special:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = +20

Health:
Cyber Yellow = --------------- -20 Chains
Scarlet Gunner = ------------------- -0

Special:
Cyber Yellow = +20
Scarlet Gunner = +10

Health:
Ochre Technic = ----------------- -15 Kick
Yellow Beetle = --------------- -20 Bullets + Swords

Special:
Ochre Technic = +20
Yellow Beetle = +30

Reaper groaned loudly feeling the explosion loosen his grip enough for his scythe to start falling. He growled setting that ochre tried to drop and grab it before him. Reaper quickly flew down but he knew he wouldn't get to it in time. The powder didn't deter him as he used his wings to blow it away because of this he knew he wouldn't get to his scythe first. When ochre did grab his scythe reaper didn't stop his dive as he punched ochre hard enough for him to loosen his grip when he did loosen his grip reaper grabbed his scythe back. Reaper flew back up letting ochre fall down the pit.

The hacker would have screamed loudly at the pain of the chains if she could speak. Her avatar was not built for combat like this so it was why he relied so heavily on her bots. She imputed q few commands using her fingers and had scarlet gunner point upwards and it shot through the chains allowing the hacker to escape. She then hacked herself a shield to avoid that happening again before she went back to climbing.

Finding her stride, Lily made to attack the Yellow once more, running, she moved from side to side to avoid any attacks, her blades held at the ready, she slashed with them when she was close enough to the avatar, seeking to deal as much damage as she could, before leaping back, out of the way. she would continue to do this, until she was stopped.

Ochre Technic had only faked lunging for Magenta Reaper's scythe, and as soon as Reaper dove to catch up with him, Technic drew back his hand and grasped his staff. Whirling around in mid air, he gave a sharp whack to off center Reaper's outstretched fist then an overhead strike to give him a splitting headache. He continued to parry and riposte whatever attacks Reaper threw at him, all while taunting him, "The Grim Reaper has lost his weapon of choice, does he have anything better to damn me into the pits of Tartarus with? Or will this exciting show conclude in disappointment?"

//

As Green Deer dashed back and forth in order to evade Yellow Beetle's lock on, the latter continued to charge energy until its wing movements became a lightning blur. When Deer finally lunged at it for another round of blows it suddenly finished charging. Panels extended down from its underside resembling a cross between a solar panel and radar dish. Immediately they fired continuous heat rays at Deer as her blade closed in, microwaving her body till she felt an excruciating burning sensation. Her attack still followed through and dealt equal damage to Beetle, but for each close range attack Deer made she would be burned again and again.

//

Kris tsked in frustration when Cyber Yellow's bindings were broken by Scarlet Gunner, and then when he confirmed the hacker now had an impenetrable shield unless Yellow Beetle became freed up again. He hesitated to fight Beetle's opponent however, so instead he faced off against Gunner. Tactically speaking to defeat the bot as soon as possible was the best path to end the Battle Royale in Kris's favor, but with Cyber Yellow unable to be touched (not to mention the hacker doesn't realize going up is pointless...) the rest of the Avatars were players he did not want to make enemies with...

He then had a brilliant, crazy idea. Less brilliant, more crazy, Kris dizzily thought as if going through with his plan on instinct, Nyx Chains launched itself at Scarlet Gunner. Before the bot could react, chains wound itself around Gunner's limbs and torso preventing it from pointing its gun at any other direction except downwards. Kris then reeled in his opponent, dragging Gunner's body across the ground before diving off the bridge with it in tow. As Nyx Chains free falled down into the depths, past Magenta Reaper & Ochre Technic's fight, he merrily said to himself, "I probably won't even have to take the choice of fighting Angelo or Lily this way."

Health:
Green Deer = ---------------- -20 Heat
Magenta Reaper = --------------- -20 Staff

Special:
Green Deer = +50 Heat + Swords
Magenta Reaper = +25 Staff

Health:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = -------------------- -0

Special:
Gunmetal Fog = ???
Nyx Chains = +25 Chains

Health:
Cyber Yellow = --------------- -20 Chains
Scarlet Gunner = ------------------ -5 Chains

Special:
Cyber Yellow = +20
Scarlet Gunner = +15 Chains

Health:
Ochre Technic = ----------------- -15
Yellow Beetle = ----------- -40 Swords

Special:
Ochre Technic = +35 Staff
Yellow Beetle = +70 Heat + Swords