After a few seconds more of solemn silence, Valkyrie sighs, but doesn't make eye contact towards Plantern.

...Your sailor companionn... givenn her my best regards. If only I hadden been fortere* to restorenn her, den... I...

---

*Faster

The door swings open, as Valkyrie Woman coldly walks in slams down her Defense Pellet on the counter, pulling out a conveniently approximate amount of refund Zenny straight from the register.

I no longr have any use forren disse itemme. It is vorthless to me.

After chucking what conveniently happens to be a total of 3K zenny at whatever poor shopkeeper who is on the receiving end, she grabs on to two Upgrade Abilities. No sooner does she emit two seperate shockwaves of energy, seemingly coming from her purchased items.

---

Valkyrie Woman feels something within her evolve...
Buster Charge undergoes a drastic change!

Inner Valor | Light/Weapons | No Damage | 100% Accuracy | No WE
The user uses their morale to recharge all their Weapons, and moderately raise the defense of three randomized allies without defense buffs by two stages.

---

Valkyrie Woman feels something within her evolve...
Valkyrie Spear undergoes a slight change!

Valkyrie Spear | Light/Swift | 15 Damage | 100% Accuracy | 8 WE
Does 3 hits, but the amount of hits multiply by the amount of Defense buffs held by the user. The buffs are then split between Attack and Speed.

---

Now outside of the shop, with one knee up and the other to the side, she curls up in one corner on the outside. Those extremely attentive can hear the slightest muttering of a single phrase repeated over.

Nei. Nei. Nei.

(THIS IS MY 3,000TH POST ON THE MEGA MAN RPG PROTOTYPE FORUMS!)

---

Two silhouettes seemingly face each other, with one standing tall while the other struggles to move properly. Their legs waver and quiake as they are casually confronted by the other figure in front of them.

GRRRHHH!!!
Looks like you've hit your limit. Sorry guy, it was kinda interesting... but now it's over.
Ghr... Shut your mouth, arrogant fool! I've yet to lose to--
Egh!

The weakened figure receives a casual punch to the solar plexus, stunning them in place as they are helplessly only able to gasp.

Sheesh. Learn to call it quits, already. It ain't matter what you do... you're a hundred years too early to challenge me.
O-over... is not... o--

The figure receives a brutal backhanded fist to the side of their face, bashing him with enough force to send him flying into a heap of shopping carts.

Chump. As long as you're at that level of strength, all you are is a waste of time.

The second figure nonchalantly walks away. They are then encountered by multiple other figures, of which this time they seem much less hostile and much more familiar with. They begin to converse...

---

♫ (Limbo Theme) Secret of the Forest ♫

With no visible objects or people in the distance, one lone individual lying in the blue-gradiented dimension suddenly snaps awake.

HUH! ...Huh. Seems I powered down in here... and I guess I had the right idea. It is kinda cozy, after all.

Soul sits upright.

I remember now... It was after an accident with the damn cops. She got mad at me, and told me off. And I went here to let things cool over.
Honestly, why the hell does she make a big deal about it!? It's not like I walk around like a thug looking for skirmishes! She's definitely got it backwards!

Dusting herself off, she stands back up, albiet with some slight trouble.

This damn sissy body... still not used to it yet.
...Heh, like it matters. I could get turned into a cell phone and I'd still kick ass.

A wormhole is summoned through limbo, presumably on the path to somewhere within Earth.

(Opera might be ticked at me still. So she's a no-go...)
(...But the runt's not busy. At least, probably not... I should pay that kid a visit.)

Soul rather smugly strolls through the wormhole, which closes as soon as she has left.

SKIIIP.

Valkyrie Woman uses Valkyrie Spear on... I don't know, man. Zircon? I don't know anymore.

The surroundings seem to all be restored to their default state. Two streaks of energy soar through the atmosphere, each colliding into each other separate times, one blue and one yellow.

Aw, man! This rocks!


The yellow streak suddenly accelerate multiple times, spiraling around the blue one while firing off an extra surplus of Ki Blasts, all of which trail the blue one!

Heh! Catch me if you can!

The blue trail maneuvers through the lavender sky, aileron-rolling through the gaps of the Ki Spheres, and then descending downwards on the nearby trees and mountains, all the while the forcing bursts of energy to mistakenly hit their surroundings.

After all the Ki Spheres have been moved deflected, the evader skids fowards, coming to a screeching halt before fully stopping in his tracks.

Phew! I thought I'd get hit a couple of times the--

Before he can finish speaking, a blazing red blur from above charges straight downwards towards him, aiming a fiery fist hailing from midair


(Crap! Can't dodge in time, what do I do!?)

A dome-like, expanding red explosion engulfs the area. and the impact leaves a strong shockwave traveling away. When the collision is revealed, however... Beat is shocked to see that his surprise attack is warded off by two forearms above his target's head!



Beat, right...?
Not bad at all! A stalwart guy like you really gets me goin'!
Beat is noticably taken aback.




Beat pauses.




Beat hesitantly backs off, although is still floating.




A sparking red aura erupts from Beat. Walter seems rared by it.

Now, that's awesome. And I can still tell this is far from your real strength...
So come on, and show me what you've got!... I'm stoked to find out.

Silently, Beat nods. The two of them take up positions... and then--



The sudden yell breaks the two's distraction. A third party approaches the two.




Regretfully, Beat returns to normal.


(Ugh... I got too carried away, and forgot this wasn't just a normal fight.)

The man turns to Beat.




Beat pumps his fists in the air.

Huh. 'Grats!

---

Ki - An Artificial Element. Based off of the user's latent internal energy, which can be molded externally in several ways.

...
....

Valkyrie Woman shakes her head at herself for a few moments, and then, with a frighting lack of accent, she responds.

♪ Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia music - Barlowe Battle ♪

..No, no, no, no ma'am. Listen you worthless little brainless rat bastard. You should shut 'cho bum ass dumbass crusty ass dusty ass musty ass rusty ass babyface bitch ass wimpy ass sissy ass insecure ass weakling ass punk ass less-than-dirt ass blue bumblin' fool ass up. I ain't never see a spineless ass coward as pathetic as yo' crybaby cyan ass. You slapped my stats away so if I catch you in the streets I'm slappin the shit out you. Twice. You the least worth preserving in this hoe.
Got no swag, and you're calling me a... nautilus? Kid, yo' nerd ass dork ass yellow glasses head emote ass waterlogged "i-work-out-at-the-library" ass uglier than a dall-e picture ass ain't never ever spent a day outside. You the aquatic one 'cuz you deserve to drown. Yo' ego is twice as frail as yo' body, and I should know 'cuz I broke that bitch into pieces. Now shut the fuck up and keep yo' bowling ball headass in check.

....
...What the hellaalallLALALALALALAL SHE USES LIGHT SCOURGE AGAIN!

I am the one which your Walter conversed with..... his words gave me some pause.
Then there should be a purpose to your arrival here.
Indeed. Victory has been yours, and you have won... and I have a another order I shall restore. next is a life free from villains, free from antagonization, where you all can follow each of your destinies. No longer shackled by the burden of terrorization left unbeaten.
...Then....
...This really is the end.
Not for yourselves. Your lives will go own however way you which to pursue them. Rather, another place with conflicts shall rise. One with far less dangers...
Huh....
What do ya'll think...?
If it keeps the world safe, sure.
...What he said.
...

...I've done enough, it seems. Looks like it's time to hang up our boots.

...Go ahead.

---

It was the end this entire time... but not by this Omega... and not for the spirits of those in battle.
True. Where one tale ends, another tale shall rise... those who existed in the past shall once again be there as well. Different, yet same... connected, yet detached...

---

Very well...

The glowing ball of light rises higher and higher, as it's glow increases...

Then I shall make it so.

Valkyrie Woman takes notice of Garnet "Inbred" Hydraling and fires off more Valkyrie Spears in her direction.... but they all fly miss and hit Aquamarine instead.

...Hva faen??

♫ Persona 3 OST - Velvet Room ♫

The battle was won... but not without a heavy sacrifice.

...
...
...

Almost everyone who fought in that battle has showed up to his funeral. It was a different resting grounds isolate from the official funeral of "The President".

...Of all of the people I'd expect to kick the bucket... that guy was one of the last.
...
It... it takes a brave man to do what he did with no hesitatiion. I'm sure of it... the sacrifice he made will forever be immortalized.

But of course not everyone would come. After we were all rejuvenated, Proteus imposed himself on a self-exile. Though, after the past crimes he's committed, it's only natural. I doubt there'll be any second chances for him..

...
...

Looking back... perhaps this could've been solved if we had gone about things differently. Maybe if I never made that naive mistake in the past, MKII would have never gotten to the point where this would happen.

But we can't change the past. We can only influence our present, and our future. Burdening ourselves with regret... all that'll do is make things harder for us in the long run.

Woah... what's the special occcasion?

Everyone is immediately shocked at the voice from behind.

What in the name of--
Is it an impersonator!?

Immedaitely, drones begin to materialize from around the cemetary, all pointed towards the origin of the voice, who is...

Oh, woah, woah, woah woah! Wait! Don't shoot! You guys know me!
...
...Start with the how.

Walter sighs with relief.

For the sake of brevity, I'll skip over some parts, but... after I vanished, I met someone-- Or rather, something, if you will.
It sounds out there, but it turns out that was the incarnate of all our-- all your adventures, all your battles, and all your day-to-day lives.
We had a bit of a heart-to-heart... and later, he said to me stuff about "gaining closure", and told me I had been "granted permission to return to the living" or something like that. So for all intents and purposes, I shouldn't be here right now. But... I am.

Walter grasps his chin.

I dunno, that probably sounds confusing. Sory.
...One more question... what's that white ball of light standing next to you?
Ball of...? When I made my way here, I didn't see a--
Greetings.

Walter throws up jazz hands.

Sacred Revi--

---

His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done.
Disse igjen... at least, be mer original vidden your mantras.

Valkyrie Woman-- at least, the one standing alone, merely huffs.

To allowwen bodden yourren minds and forms to be held vidden soochen ease... you are no varriors. Only sheeppen. Alle of you.

Valkyrie Woman waves her sword.

Me? Erma different. Stride is my forte. I fight vidden indepenndence. Unlikenn you reddhares, I do notten requirenn him.
His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done. His will shalt be done.
Ah, knull meg.

---

The body twitches....

....Hands push against the ground, fully vaulting Valkyrie Woman from her stilled placage!

I have been downed, bootten notten bested!

Valkyrie Woman once again fires a salvo of Valkyrie Spears (at anyone other than Garnet "Inbred" Hydraling)!

U-UGH!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Still jammed into by Prototype's fist, MKII begins to glow...!

B-BLASPHEMY! YOUR FATES ARE TO END! I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE! YOU CANNOT DEFY WHAT HAS BEEN SET IN STONE!
DO NOT CONSIDER YOURSELF VICTORIOUS! I AM THE WILY OMEGA, EXISTENCE'S LAST! MY POWER IS ETERNAL!
I SHALL HARBOR WITH ME INFINITE PUNISHMENT, AND RETURN TO BRING DEFINITIVE MASSACRE! HEEED THESE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MKII is slowly erased by the power of Prototype's hope... and then vanishes entirely.

....And that's what this is all about.

Everyone else can only watch in shock and surprise as Prototype, the sole survivor, holds the arm used to strike MKII, still in the air.

...

It's over now, Walter... We did it. We won.

Like clockwork.
Woah... I was convinced we were boned.
(Dad!!)
He did it.... he really did it...
It still doesn't feel real to me...

...Heh.
(Looks like we managed to avenge Soul, after all...)

---

---

No... impossible.

Sacred Revival.

...

Valkyrie Woman seems to be withering away from the flames, albiet extremely slowly.

...

Not moving a single bit, Valkyrie Woman remains in her stiff, lifeless, helmet-pole position. Light Scourge emanates from her a second time, but this time the feeling is comepletely shallow, and more automative than controlled. Contrary to her Energy readings, she hardly seems to still be in tact.

---

---

(Locked within her subconscious...)

I feiled... bootten how? Vhy? Vhere didden I go vrang?
...Der timing vass perfekt! I hit vidden all my kraft! I vas fooly fokused!

ყₒᵤᵣ Բₐᵢₗᵤᵣₑ wₐₛ ₙₒₜ ₐ ᵣₑₛᵤₗₜ ₒԲ ყₒᵤᵣ ₒwₙ ꒝ₒᙢₚₑₜₑₙ꒝ₑ...

Den. Vhy!?

ყₒᵤ ꒝ₒᵤₗd ₙₒₜ ₛᵤ꒝꒝ₑₑd ᵦₑ꒝ₐᵤₛₑ ყₒᵤᵣ ₚₒwₑᵣ ᵢₛ ₜₒₒ ᙢₑₐgₐᵣ.

ₐ ₛₜᵣₒₙg ₛₚᵢᵣᵢₜ wᵢₜₕ ₐ wₑₐₖ ₐᵣᙢₒᵣ ᵢₛ ₛₜᵢₗₗ wₑₐₖ...

...No...erma strong! I pulverisered one, and dey bånded againstnsten me! Erma not veakken!

ყₒᵤ ₕₐᵥₑ ᵦₑₑₙ ᵦₒᵣₙ ₑყₑₛ, ᵦᵤₜ ყₒᵤ ᵣₑԲᵤₛₑ ₜₒ ₛₑₑ.

ყₒᵤ ₐᵣₑ gᵢԲₜₑd ₑₐᵣₛ, ᵦᵤₜ ꒝ₕₒₒₛₑ ᵦₗᵢₛₛ ᵣₐₜₕₑᵣ ₜₕₐₙ ₜₒ ₕₑₐᵣ.

Flurries of memory data return one by one to Valkyrie Woman, who can only resist.

ყₒᵤ ₐᵣₑ...

No.
No!
NO!

♫ 25 Mou Kako he ha Modorenai
...Hrgh.
Something... new?

Hades and Matter look at each other.

A future is now visible. The everlasting doubt has been lifted.
...Fate itself has changed... outside forces have turned the tide of this battle.
Indeed...

---

VICTORY IS MINE! YOU COULD HOPE TO STAND UP TO MY POWER!
SHUT UP!...
!?

MKII looks back to where he slammed Prototype... seeing nothing in it's place!?

This time, MKII is immediately drilled square in his face, as a fist's momentum borrows his fist into the ground!

...YOU IDIOOOOOOTTTT! IT'S GAME OVER FOR YOU!
(D-dad...)

MKII hastily rises just in time to avoid a foot stomp from Prototype. He prepares his shield and pounds it into Prototype's chest. Prototype is seemingly hurt from the strike... ...but he does not fall.

Thanks to Walter, your viral crutch is gone! You have nothing else to put your faith in!
MY FAITH IS NOT YOUR CONCERN!!

MKII spins around, and tries to swing a backhanded fist at Prototype, who uses two arms to block. MKII receives a heavy punt to the shin, which causes him to flinch, giving Prototype leeway for an uppercut, which forces MKII to tumble across the ground!

Unreal...
The hope I've inherited from Walter... the hopes of everyone who's fought against you... and the hopes we've polished across enemy to enemy.
That's why... Once more!

Prototype reels back his fist, and is soon after fully manifested in an aura of hope!

For the sake of everyone you've made suffer! For everyone you've murdered! I will fight..
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Now completely at a lack of composure, MKII runs towards Prototype, who does the same, the both of them firing punches of their own...

Prototype's hits first!

...
And beat you!

Walter grins.

You know, you actually spooked me. I thought you'd be some all-powerful entity for sure.
But clearly, I have nothing to worry about from someone as weak-willed as you. Taking the easy way out.

Walter glows...

Your spirit is baffling.... to proceed further? Yet, there is no point.
"There's no point"!? There's a point in everything! There stopped being a point when you made up your mind to back out!

That's the difference between you and me! I'll never give up or give in! Because when you commit to something... you've got to' see it through to the bitter e


...
...He resisted. Even after death.
Subject to such psychological terror, sadness, hopelessness, and humiliation... he soldiered on and charged forward nonetheless....
....Why, I wonder...

He looks back to the now gone remains.

I suppose I shall experiment further to see if there truly was any light to the tunnel he mentioned....

Valkyrie Woman is still dangling from an akward upside-down-helmet-ground-pole position. nonetheless Sacred Revival is used.

Valkyrie Woman's irises and pupils go blank white as her wings and aura vanish. Struck hard by the multiple attacks, she then soars downwards to the ground headfirst. Due to her velocity, her helmet ends up partially dug into the ground, with the rest of her body still spiked upwards.