There they are!

Laser Joe moves three spaces up. Big Eye moves four spaces up. Junior moves three spaces up.

Ah, it's the extras.
I'm sorry. "Extras"?
In this case, the "wacky", hapless sidekicks that only exist to give their precious Leader a purpose, if you will, a secondary "MacGuffin". Out of the three of you, none show remotely anything worth interest. But, on the bright side... it leaves you three so undesired that no one cares enough to do anything to you.

Hmm. Tournament Threads are a much more infamous side of MMRPG's past, but I kinda wanna give this the benefit of the doubt since it's too vague to give any sign of how good or bad could be.

What was the purpose of this thread?

Alright then, "Missingno"...
This is a lot to take in, but if it means getting out of this virus, then I won't give it a second thought.

Prototype uses a Speed Capsule to move as far up as possible!

*outside of Prototype*

Commander!
You shouldn't have did that. Are you okay?
Hey, you might wanna get away from him, he's not exactly himself anymo--
Although those new colors sure are strange.. what did they do to you?
Thank you for asking. I am quite fine- No...
I have never been better.

BLAM!

Awww, crap. MKII, what was the purpose in that? Could you seriously not coexist with Prototype?
"Could I"? Definitely. But had it have been you who was trapped in an empty world and return to find an impostor, what would you have done?
Good point. Though what was the point of corrupting him? You have pretty much only scarred them even further. I mean, Look at Laser Joe, they're in hysterics!
All the more reason for them to give up where they stand. After all...
What better way to teach them that than to show them what happened to the one in charge?

Can't we just talk this out? I mean, I'm usually not really part of these shenanigans as a whole, and I'm also 100% no one likes dying. Anyway, I just create, the choices are entirely up to the ones who are made, so I think it's safe to say that perhaps this is a tad unfair? And if you have nothing else to prove other than your previous point, what is the purpose in this? Everyone has a "what's next" until they've actually done everything there is to do.

I hope you've made peace with your fate. It was sealed the moment I made this decision.



...Alright, no more. Who the hell are you? It's obvious you know at least one of us, or you wouldn't have have come after us specifically. Plus, you seem rather... informal with me. Spill.

Prototype moves one space down (Yes, you heard me, down) and uses Gate Block.

Oh, but I much more than simply "know" you. Rather, I know everything there is to know about you at an omniscient level.



And, before you let your pretentiousness get the better of yourself, I am NOT the one behind this "virus". Not the one you've heard of, anyway.

(Although my speed has been particuarly lacking, if things go the way they should, if things come to hit-for-hit, This is in my favor.
(If things are the same as they are for us, his Buster should be his main source of damage output. Which means...)
Prototype moves one space up. what? no, it always said up!
(..He should be fairly vulnerable once he expends all his WE. All I have to do is play it safe and let him deliver the first hit.)

Oh, please. If this "Zero" is anything like your past robots then it won't do you any good. We'll see. ... ...
That's just-- Red Bass.
You know what, let's just get this over with.that's it for now 'cause i'm sick (like 99.% sure it's not corona-related) and i don't feel like doin more

---

later that same day: more

...
..If that won't work, then guess I guess I'll have to borrow some other weapons! Power Gear! WHY...ISN'T...THIS...working!? I guess I'll just have to go through every other weapon I have!

Prototype moves one space down and does a Buster Charge of his own.
Why is it us you're after?
Of what use is the reason any use to you? The actions of dead men are of no concern.
Big Eye moves four spaces up, one space diagonally up and right, and uses Big Stomp on Beetle MKII.
You're right. After this, you won't be any concern to us. Because that's what you'll be.
Silence! Your idiotic prattle is of no more importance to me than a grain of sand in the oc--
Junior moves three spaces up to use Met Shot on Fake MKII.
...
...
...
Yes... this will do nicely.
I take it you are the erratic Sniper Joe who claimed this fickle helicoptered Metall as your child, correct? Now, since I know how fond you are of scrapheap-worthy uncouth, I have a bargain to strike for your team..
And why on earth should we play by your rules?
Oh, how silly of myself...
...Because it would be in your best interest if you care for this hideous hard-hatted riffraff.

...State... state your terms.
The rules are simple. Instead of a convoluted battle of eight, one of us from our respective team (me nominating myself), have a bout. if you best me, I, along with my others, automatically forfeit, and you can get back to playing "detective."
...And if we lose?
Worry not. The team members you care about will pay..with their lives, of course.
Careful now, should anyone interfere... the brat of yours will get to taste it's very first sample of Speed Buster.
...

...Deal.

Though I can't speak personally for any other team, we've come here to put ourselves head-to-head against others.
*approaches Prototype from behind* Excuse me. You're the leader of Team Prototype, correct?

Prototype, trying to remember if he's seen this person from somewhere, nods.

Perfect. I was beginning to think no one at the Academy was really in it to help, but for the rewards. Don't mind my associates here, they're the only ones I could find that would be willing to help.
I'll cut to the chase. You guys are looking for answers, right? We'll cooperate and give you all the info you need.
...On what condition?
None. As long as you're just as willing to cooperate as we are, then there's no reason we can't share anything we know.
(Though I will say... we can't let anyone else know what's going on. You're looking for a fight, right? How about it? That way we can tell you what you need to know without interference.)
Perfect proposal. We accept.

UGHHHHHH, THOSE GULLIBLE IDIOTS and I'm assuming along the way, Team MKII will be heading on over to the PvP section. What is the purpose? What did he do to you, MKII?

That felt largely gratifying. So, "Leader", where do we go next?
Well, if we're going to complete missions regularly, We'll not only need to get stronger, but also used to fighting all sorts of enemies, Academy or not. That said, the best place to go for that would definitely be Treble's Boot--
...!
?
I'm fine. We're going to T-Treble's Bootcamp.
(What.. what was that feeling just then? It felt like the most intense surge of intense animosity and malice. This might be a problem..)
I think it's a good idea. Let's go kick some butt!

Team Prototype leaves to go to town/Treble's Bootcamp first. Dah... that dumb colorswapping sonovagun is going to follow them, isn't he? Oh, well. Nothing I can do about it.

random what-if



Stop groveling, Wily. You and I both know you have something planned.

...
You know what? I'm done with you and and your temper tantrums.
For years you've been putting everything at risk, including the lives of innocent people. We gave you second-- and third-- chances, but it's clear you have no interest in using your mind for good. I was just too naive to see through that.
Dr. Light gave me hope-- no, he made me believe-- that anyone could be a good person if they wanted to change. And while I still believe that he's right, you have no desire to change, do you? This... this is the real you.
You are the absence of good in things. You are everything that is wrong with this world. A glorified terrorist who used his downwards spiral as a scientist as a scapegoat to reveal what he truly is-- a despicable human being.

"Protocol: Zero" Activated.

Friendly Fire-Prone Junior moves three spaces up and uses Met Shot.

Nrrrngh!
..Ha. Not one to give anything away, huh? Well, you were warned. It seems like you want to do things the hard way-- for you, at least.

Prototype releases his Shield Buster!

(Assuming Lightning Lord is still alive, Laser Joe moves two spaces right and uses their Laser Buster as well.)

I have a strange feeling that this "awakening" thing is going to become a theme and that we'd better get used to it.
Well then, it should be obvious whether we're with or against you, hence what we've come here to do. For your own sake, it would be best to comply.
You can start by identifying the ringleader of this ordeal.

Prototype, having been the butt of enough slow jokes to last him ten lifetimes, moves one space right and readies a Buster Charge. My guy, you have other moves you can use.

Junior moves one space right and down.

Big Eye moves one diagonal space up and right, and leaps two more spaces right.

Laser Joe, who has realized that this arriving floor formation will be a recurring thing, moves one space up and right and also does a Buster Charge

---

Deleted Scene:
Did... Did you just smile?
Pardon?
Oh my gods. He actually smiled.
This is groundbreaking news, even if it's just a cocky smirk. Before we arrived at this universe, you always had that 'hrrr durr, i'm so serious" expression on your face, to the point where we didn't think you could demonstrate an emotionally positive facial expression.
So, in your words, I was a huge "party pooper"?
D'aww, maybe, but my favorite party pooper regardless!
Touching.

EDIT: Yeah sure. Team Prototype accepts Tackle Fire. And to the unused character gallows it goes

@Entropy: Go to the Players Database and look for your team. Things such as your Team Member's items, weapons, etc. can be found there.

---

Laser Joe moves two spaces up and/or one space right and uses Break Laser on the Tackle Fire.

Fine, we'll carry through with this. But I'd rather have left at the first chance we had.
Why? What's so important that it has to be addressed ASAP?
While the other teams were somewhat..aloof in their intentions, I have a hunch that there's more to what's going on in this world than what can be told at face level.
The virus that Elec Man spoke of... the enigmatic destruction behind that sadist Sniper Joe at Intro Fields. Don't tell me you didn't think that was strange, either.
If things really are the way they seem, I'd say there's some underlying force behind both of those things.
Or you're just a huge worrywart and all of this is nothing to worry about.
I don't think so. There's a bigger picture to all of this.. And I want to get to the bottom of it.

Big Eye leaps four spaces down. Bye, Felicia.

Yup, okay that is 100% fair.

We went to Intro Fields and almost died there. We went to the Tower, and we didn't even make it to the last floor! And that isn't even mentioning how you guys did at the Ware.....ha...nevermind

Point is, I'm getting real sick and tired of getting the sloppy seconds around here. I say if we get robbed of OUR rewards by carefree freeloaders, we take something that was meant for them, too!

While I see the appeal to this course of action, that'd be a pretty petty thing of us to do. What do you think, Commander?

....Comander?







He's... not really listening is he?

Okay. We're actually doing this then.

Laser Joe moves two spaces down.

That's... weird? Hopefully this won't lead to any trouble.

Delta warily makes his way towards the door in front of it and slowly tries to open it.