WAKA-WAKA... WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA? (What the... Spooky... what the hell is this??!?)

The paralysis and blindness both wear off, as Pac-Man is now free.... however, the end result of such seems to be more painful for him then either of those status ailments.



Pac-Man's mouth immediately dangles open upon seeing the soulless Pac-Zombies inching towards him. Without a word, he drops onto his knees in sorrow.

WAKA... (No...)

WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA.... WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. (To utilize even Orson's own invention like this... not even he would have wished for it to be put to use in such a foul manner.)

Pac-Man tries to summon a Pac-lipser, but the paralysis cancels it out.

WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA.... (you decimated Pac-Land. Destroyed the peace we worked for. And threatened the ones I love most...)

---

---

WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. (This power trip of yours has gone on long enough. It all ends here for you.)

Pac-Man seems to be gaining more and more control of his body at an unprecedented rate, yet Spooky still has just enough time to attack before Pac-Man can move free from his location.

---

Pac-lipser (Energy/Shield)- Pac-Man summons reinforced Pellets which orbit him and take any oncoming attacks.

---

*We don't talk about Pac-Mom.

!?!?

The gigantisized bell stuns Pac-Man just as it did Toc temporarily...

WAKA-WAKA... WAKA-WAKA! (Agh... that's annoying!)
WAKA... (But...)

Toc-Man is suddenly surrounded by a Capture Pellet as Pac-Man gestures with his wrist, dragging Toc-Man over.....

WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA! (With these powers, I don't need to see you to know where you are!)

right as Toc-Man is about to crash into Pac-Man, Pac-Man hops upwards, pounding away at his mechanical counterpart with a strong pair of Super Pac-Pummels, one of his punches directed towards the Off-Key Speaker!

---

Capture Pellets (Energy)- Pac-Man creates a sphered pellet twice as large as him around a specific target. From then on, he can control that pellet to move anywhere he wants, as well as destroy it at will. Pac-Man can only make as many of these as he has ammunition from actual Pellets eaten.
Pac-Pummel (Impact)- Above the target, Pac-Man beats them down with a series of powerful yellow-streaked punches, before appearing below them and throwing them aside.
Super Pac-Pummel (Impact/Damage)- A stronger, faster version of Pac-Pummel which critical hits on top of doing squarefold the base attack's damage.

WAKA. (Oof!)
WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. (That won't stop me!)

Pac Man flies backwards into a Super Timewarp Space Holes, and hundreds more appear, each containing the own Titanium Super Pac-Man wich fires a Titanium Pac Beam directly at Spooky!

---

John Cena and Will Smith watch the ongoing battle...

Think The Pac has a shot at taking 'em?
Dunno... it's bad enough that he has to deal with Spooky on his own, but to deal with a Super Toc-Man at the same time? Even if he does pull through, he's gonna have his hands full...

---

Super Timewarp Space Hole (Space/Time)- Super Pac-Man creates a space-time warping wormhole which can duplicate, warp reality, and empower abilities by their efficiency squarefold.

Pac-Beam (Laser)- Uusing eaten Pellets as ammo, Pac-Man fires a laser beam from his mouth, doing moderate damage. This move bypasses any sort of immunities, affinities, or resistances while negating the use of defenses such as shields. When transformed, this is replaced with a variant of the same technique.
Titanium Beam (Electric/Laser)- A faster, denser, and much more powerful version of the Pac-Beam which supercharges the attack with Ionic radiation.

!?
...WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. (...The odds aren't as stacked against me as you might think.)

As Toc-Man is rising, he is suddenly struck clean by a Bell hidden between Galaxians, paralyzing him in the process!

WAKA! (Hmph!)

Surrounding himself in a green electromagnetic energy, Pac-Man empowers his fist as he flies straight for Spooky to ram it into his face

Pac Man World 2 Soundtrack Whale on a Sub

.... WAKA-WAKA-WAKA-WAKA... WAKA-WAKA-WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA! (This is almost unheard of... I thought for sure my Super form alone would be a match for Spooky!)
WAKA-WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA. WAKA-WAKA-WAKA-WAKA-WAKA-WAKA. (But somehow, he's stronger than ever before. Even so... I have to find some way to keep Pac-Land safe from him!)

Pac-Man suddenly pulls out a Galaga from his Bonus Fruit. Thousands more Galaga then appear from behind him as they all simultaneously shower Toc-Man and Spooky!

---

Bonus Item (Nature/Weapons)- Pac-Man holds out his hand, cycling through different items which are held. Once an item is selected, Pac-Man throws the item as a projectile, with each one having unique properties when thrown.

Cherry (Nature)- Bounces twice and lands for a moment before disappearing. Weakest fruit in terms of power output.
Strawberry (Nature)- Bounces three times and lands for a moment before disappearing. Travels slightly more total distance than the cherry.
Orange (Nature)- Travels in a straight line before disappearing. Knocks targets in a semi-spike angle. Has the least knockback.
Apple (Nature)- Bounces across the floor four times in quick hops before disappearing. Thrown at a strong diagonal angle downwards, useful for interrupting target movements. Has the highest base knockback.
Melon (Nature)- Travels slowly in a broad arc, and has considerable knockback. Can be used to stop approaches and KO moderately damaged targets.
Galaxian (Space)- Does a quick shuttle loop before continuing to fly off either straight ahead or in a 45 degree angle upward from the direction it was thrown. Inflicts the same amount of damage every time it connects.
Bell (Electric)- Travels slowly in a high arc before suddenly stopping short and falling straight down, passing through opponents. Causes paralysis if it connects, and bounces once before disappearing, which can also cause paralysis if an opponent touches it then.
Key (Cutter)- Travels at high speed in a straight line and deals high damage. Strongest fruit in terms of power output.

---

The physical portion of my training is solely so my body can handle that power. If I'm too weak, I will only cripple myself. Therefore... I need strength that allows me to handle such strain.

Pinky scratches his head.

The same thing goes for my mind. I need immense discipline and focus so that I can concentrate. Even a second without diligence could be punished harshly. Thus, the need for meditation as well.

In a chair, Koopenstein seems to be typing eagerly at some sort of program. An all too familiar bulky figure approaches him...

Jewel failed, but escaped the blast as well... do you really intend to leave this universe, and return to your original?
Of course. Otherwise, my work for this while would have been for nothing. Though, I NEVER said anything about changing my ways... which means I'll be free to do as I please without those three menaces.
I see.
And you? You did seem to have a hard time of it dealing with that meddlesome Somari. If you have any plans of revenge on him or Wario... then I have plenty of information and technology to back that up.
.....There was a time where I would have accepted such an offer without a moment's notice. But... I have had, a long, long while to think about my past. My plot. My life, these recent years. The entire time, I thought I was entitled to the revenge that I desired. I hated Wario like I hated no other man before-- and deep within me, I still might.
But... the entire reason it had come to that point was because of my entitled and selfish desires. I plundered a world for limitless currency, and thought nothing of reprecussions until I was on the receiving end. In short, I brought it upon myself.
Hmmm.
I let hate blind me... at the very least, until the late Crazy Miner said something to me.

---

---

Something in that Crazy Miner fellow certainly did change after fighting the likes of Wario... who knew that oaf had a way with words after all?
Wario was furious at Miner's defeat... and you could also say that part of his fight was as revenge as well... but the difference was he was fighting for what Miner would have wanted.
I do not know what fate lies within my future. But regardless of whether I live to fight another day, regardless of the role I am in....

Shake King shakes his fists... and stops.

...I REFUSE to let myself fall victim to the self-cycle of loathing once again. There will never, EVER, be another time where I indulge in such pettiness again.... or endanger the ones I fought with again.
I see. Well... I respect your choice nonetheless, so I'll leave it at that.

Koopenstein presses 'Enter' on the keyboard. A white, wormhole appears, and Shake King pulls out a golden USB-like device.

Hurry, up, brat! We're going home!

Waddling out of a room that slides open is Koopa Kid.

What? But I haven't even finished packing any stuff!
Who cares about that? There's plenty of "stuff" back at the ship, including most of your kiddie-games!
Koopenstein. Is he...?
...
....So what? I'm getting old, and it gets rather lonely.

Koopenstein grabs Koopa Kid's wrist, and they walk into the wormhole without looking back once.

Take care, Shake King. I won't forget the time we and others spent scheming... perhaps there's a day where we shall meet again.
...

So I did. Maybe we'll end up-a-fighting him again. But if he'll be stronger than-a-ever, so will Wario. And so will-a-everyone else who fought with us. So I'm not worried.
Besides... if what he went through last time means anything to-a-him... I doubt he'll do a thing like that.

Somari turns in the opposite direction, and starts walking away. Tailigee, Yoshles... and then Shadwari follow... their running turning to sprints.

Open Your Heart MJZ Mix (Instrumental)

TEN SECONDS.
...
...
(Run away? Sorry if that disappoints you, but that's not my style. And I doubt it's Shadwari's either.)
We won't lose, and we won't be blown to smithereens. That's what it means to fight on your own terms!
It makes no difference to me.

---

Somari and Tailigee come to a screeching halt, as they stop speeding meters away from the Koopa Lair.

How many seconds do you-a-think we have left?
By my-a-estimation...
Two.

An explosion covers the entirety of the base from head to toe, knocking Somari and Tailigee backwards and sending them tumbling down again.

We left without Yoshles and Shadwari.... we can-a-only hope they managed to escape in time.
If it was anyone besides-a-those two, I'd have some doubt... but they're not the type of people to lose to that-a-so easily.
So... I believe in them!
Yeah! Me-a-too...!
Naturally. You should've have suspected nothing else to be the end result.
Don't make me take that back...

Descending in the air is a rather worse for wear Shadwari, who also has an arm of Yoshles' over his shoulder.

We didn't "beat" him, before you ask. But we did manage to knock him out of the building and escape ourselves... though, perhaps you could call that something of a victory in of itself.
(Even if he was a Fake King, that guy still hits like three hundred torpedos....)

After touching the ground, Shadwari releases Yoshles, who manages to stand on his own.

A fake King... that-a-makes more sense. I was confused on why he was-a-there to begin with.
But... what was the purpose on laying that trap for-a-us? Maybe he wanted to separate us, but that clearly-a-didn't work. And of all people to get help-a-from, he chose someone who could act as-a-an imposter?

While Tailigee is going over the situation in his mind, Somari carefreely pats him on the back.

Ah, who cares? What matters is, I've already beat Shake King! All fourteen of them!

Yoshles gives Somari a funny look after hearing his response, and thus making him confused.

I said something weird?
(Yeah. Well, maybe. But... I thought there were fifteen Shake Kings? You had the original, and he used that Duracell power-thing to make fourteen others.)
Well, no. Wait. Yeah! Pretty-a-sure I beat him, too. Or however-a-many there were. Fifteen,-a-right?
Let's run a count based on-a-what we've seen and had you tell us.

---

---

Shadwari grits his teeth.

That adds up to FOURTEEN. Which means either Yoshles miscounted...
Or...

T-MINUS TWENTY SECONDS.

Somari and Tailigee run/fly through the base respectively at breakneck pace. Landmines begin to explode from behind them rapidly on their search, but their speed allows them to outpace such, so long as they don't slow down.

This was part of his-a-plan. He wanted us to split up in order to distract us long enough to force us into a situation like this.
It's more than just-a-that, Somari. Ever since we stepped foot in his-a-base, every action we-a-took was him leading us by the nose. We found him, but at the same time, we've been-a-played.... but all of this... what was the point?
Well, we can-a-dwell on specifics later. For now, we...
....
....

For the most split of seconds, Somari's eyes meet with Shadwari's as he is running, finding the room in which he and Yoshles are in, fighting against Black Jewel. After a minimal interval, Tailigee also notices the duo.

!?!?
...
....

After a sequence of slow-motion stares, Somari grabs hold of Tailigee's wrist, accelerating even further. Tailigee quickly struggles to convert his thoughts into words out of surprise.

What are you-a-doing, Somari!? We left to find Yoshles and Shadwari! And they were-a-right there! And that was--
The looks on their faces said it all.
Eh!?
'Don't waste your time worrying about-a-us. Find a way out as fast as possible.'... I dunno if they're-a-going to make it out in time or not... but they chose to stand their ground and fight. I'm going to-a-let them do just that.
I'd just-a-jump in anyway, but they'd probably get mad at me for being so reckless. Heheh!
Somari....

Shadwari dodges a series of calculated strikes, before ceasing the opportunity to leap away from Shake King.

*yawn*... Try as you like. You won't win, so you may as well run off. Not like I care. I'm only doing this because I thought it would be funny.

Taken aback, Shadwari takes one step backwards.

This... this should be nothing short of impossible. What on earth is that menace doing here again!?
(There's no need to worry.... well, not that much anyway. I fought this guy with the others we teamed up with... he's NOT the real Shake King... just an imitation by that jewel guy, and one not as powerful as the real deal was...)
That does no favors to us if he's so much as half as strong as the original was! It took everything I had before to do so much as injure him.
You're better off running. You can't defeat me in the time it would take you to evacuate with your friends.
T-MINUS THIRTY SECONDS.
(We don't have time to sit there and talk. Let's just hit him fast, and hard. Somehow, the Chaos Coins and Chaos Stars' powers don't work, so our only option is to push through.)
Fine, then.

Black Jewel raises an eyebrow as two brass knuckles hit the ground next to Shadwari. A barrier of energy forms around Yoshles, while Shadwari gains a yellow aura.

...
Hmph!

Yoshles dashes forward, clashing fists with the Black Jewel. Shadwari immediately teleports behind Shake King and kicks him in the calfs, causing him to buckle for long enough that Yoshles hits him with a spiraling uppercut to the chin!

Every second counts!

Shadwari attempts to leap into the air above Jewel and slam him down, but the latter blocks with Darkness Pending. Yoshles comes from the opposite side with a Red Roundhouse, But the worerrior moves aside and slams him down with an elbow, knocking him down to the ground!

If I recall, Yoshles, you have already used that ability on the original. Don't tell me you think I'm stupid enough to let you h--

Shadwari digs into Black Jewel from the back with a heavy kick, sending him flying all the way across the room!

You talk too much.
Hmm.

Quickly, both Yoshles AND Shadwari are forced to dodge in opposite directions to avoid immediate defeat by way of a Shinsakukō!

---

Darkness Pending (Shadow/Shield)- Black Jewel creates a powerful sphere of energy made out of dark magic. Can surround himself or others in it.
Red Roundhouse (Flame/Impact)- Amplified a powerful flaming aura, the user does a strong roundhouse kick.
Shinsakukō (Laser)- The user absorbs all their Shake Orbs before firing a gigantic blue laser of energy, multiplying in damage one-hundred fold for any Shake Orb absorbed, as well as dealing double damage to Affinities and Immunities. Cannot be interrupted, reflected, nor absorbed, and in several cases will OHKO. Always goes second.

---

Ah. Well,

Pinky Kong collapses, falling flat on his face after the smallest drop in concentration. Indifferent to such, he gets up with little hesitation, dusting himself off.

It's a strange thing to explain to someone without any prior knowledge of such... but there's a specific power I seek to master. And so I have a regiment dedicated solely to it.

Last chance. Knock off-a-the funny business.
Ah, ah. I'm not quite finished yet. There is more I have to say for myself, Somari....
Gh.

Somari looks as if he wants to stop, but Tailigee gives Somari a silent side eye, as if warning the latter to relax.

This is a very different, very random, world... none quite like I've ever studied. But it's also one infinitely more dangerous. Regardless of what I said about "Good" and it's perpetuating success... that doesn't change the fact that there are beings out there who can and will threaten your very existence.... or as a matter of fact, existence itself.

---

Galacta Knight attempts to catch The General by with several Multistab Thunderthrust attacks with the tip of his lance, but General evades all of them with his arms behind his back, spinning and then returning offense to Galacta with a roundhouse.

Is that all?
Blast!

---

So be ready for some of the hardest times of your foolish life, even if not by my own hand. Although, I can't really complain... now, nobody will interfere in my nefarious plans.
Nefarious...?

Koopenstein claps his hands twice. Tailigee, Somari, and Somatic all hear a blaring siren noise.

ALERT! ALERT! BASE OF OPERATIONS WILL DETONATE IN T-MINUS 60 SECONDS!
Huh!?
Hey! Cheap-a-trick!
Think of those words of mine as a final parting gift. As for moi... this may very well be the last time we ever meet again.... this chaotic zone has been a long enough vacation for me as it is.
!!
Ta-ta.
NO!!!

Somatic dashes with a V. Maximum Overdrive Attack in Koopenstein's direction... but as soon as he would have made contact... Koopenstein has vanished, leaving the robot in a state of panicked wrath. He flies directly upwards, on his way to exit.

Curse him... CURSE HIM!!!

Without anytime to spare dwelling on Somatic's departure, Somari and Tailigee turn to each othyer.

We have to-a-find Yoshles and Shadwari.
Yeah.

Somari and Tailigee quickly dash away, with no time to spare.

"Galaxy's Strongest" I see? Very well. I think I know of a way for you to escape this world. At least, if you follow these capable of this requirement, then you should easily suffice. But I warn you. One does not simply "pass over".
Tell me. What is this requirement you speak of? And speak the truth, lest I anger.

The General points his index finger in the air.

If you can land two... no, just ONE clean strike on me... I believe that could be enough to prove you deserve life on the surface.
Do you mock me? I asked for a way to leave this ungodly heap. I do not care for any of your games!
It's no game, small one. Your presence here is determined by your value. If you prove your value.. not necessarily to me... then you should easily be allowed a place back to whatever home you had.

The General stretches his legs and his neck, his back casually turned to Galacta Knight.

I won't use my aura like I did those three bums. That's why nothing happened to them even when they did start making contact. Be that as it may, don't think I'll let you have your way easily.
Hmph... fine. If that is the way it must be... I'll settle this quickly.

Galacta Knight is gone in a flash. The General hops backwards as a blur immediately crashes down on where he just was from below, and then quickly after does a high jump as another blur approaches from the side. Matrix-style, he soon after ducks his lower body, as a blur appears again in the same instant he touches the ground. Lance whizzing above The General in a slow-motion Drill Rush, the blur slows down enough so that it can be visible as Galacta Knight, as he decelerates shortly after being evaded.

...Tch.
That's good speed. Not near enough, but not terrible.
Don't patronize me!

Only as he comes to a complete halt in motion does he fires off five Knight Beams, which The General sidesteps to the right at the very last moment... at the same time, Galacta Knight raises his lance in the air.

(Wait. Those projectiles are aligned quite conveniently for me to dodge like this. And what's that midget doing...?)

And into a Rising Spine, which crashes down on The General from above!

Serves you well. The victory belongs to me!
Grh... ROFL! Just kidding.
!

Galacta Knight is surprised to see The General holding the lightning cast down on him, manifested into a ball in his hand, though quickly his alarm is overwhelmed by irritation.

I told you I wasn't going to make this easy for you, but you don't seem in the mood to take this completely seriously yet. How about a taste of your own medicine?

Shooting the electricity from the palm of his hand, Galacta Knight is this time literally shocked by his own now horizantal Rising Spine, zapping him cleanly!

Rrrrgh!

---

Knight Beams (Energy/Cutter)- Galacta Knight fires an ethereal ranged energy blade shaped akin to a sword. The more health the user has, the more damage it does.
Rising Spine (Electric/Swift)- Galacta Knight calls forth a mystical batch of lightning which rains down on the opponent. 33% chance of Paralysis.

Pinky Kong is at first confused after being called out to, but spots Lulu on the temple's other side. Still exercising, he delivers a thumbs up.

Indeed! My body must be as equally honed as my mind and spirit for all three to work in harmony.

Why are you so apalled? You came here with the intent to kill me-- and should the opportunity arise-- Somari or one of his friends.

Instantly as he hears this, Shadwari leaps a short distance away from Somatic.

I knew it. We should have turned on that rust bucket when we had the chance!
Gh...!
Yeah.... in hindsight, this-a-makes a lot of sense...
How dare you.... you knew my intents all along, and toyed with me still? Did... have you been leading me by the nose this entire time!? For how long!?
.....
....I planned your first "defection" as a bid to buy time as soon as I realized there was a chance Sonic and his friends could have beaten you.
That's...!! No! I felt my interface's limitations shatter... free will was mine! I was in control of my own power for the very first time!
Even if-a-what you say is true-- there's no point in telling us this! You're outnumbered... and besides, Yoshles has-a-the Chaos Coins! He'll be fine!
Really? If it were that simple, then you would think he'd be back by now. Funny how that works.

Somari and Shadwari exchange looks.

Shadwari.
Hmph.

Shadwari dashes away with urgent speed, disappearing in an instant. Somari looks back at Koopenstein.

I don't-a-know why you're doing this... but it's-a-not too late to walk away.
"Walk away"....?
"Walk away"? You all came here of your own volition aware of the risks, but ignored them. Act surprised once you realize this isn't your run-of-the-mill scenario. And you have the gull to ask me to "walk away"?

---

Yoshles is blasted into a hard, titanium wall, slammed backfirst befire sliding into a sitting position

(...Nuts... Seriously powerful. I can't let up for a second, or I'll be pulverized in the blink of an eye.)

Yoshles spin dashes and charges at the figure, shortly after leaping out and releasing a barrage of punches.

(I'll bet Koopenstein really is around, and that this is a trap.... I've gotta take him down and warn Somari and the others before it's too late!)

Koopenstein... what did you do!?
Nothing too important, my arrogant Adventurer. I only thought Yoshles might get lonely looking for anything significant in the process. After all, companionship is quite important... wouldn't you say that after your quest to defeat Shake King?
I promise you, Koopenstein... should he or anyone's life is at stake for this, you WILL be held accountable.
No. You're the ones that came looking for me, why should I be at fault for what happens to that gullible dinosaur? You reap what you sow.
What!?
This is beginning to become a farce. You have questions, I'm sure.

Koopenstein folds his arms behind his back, rather smugly. The four watch him intently as he paces back and forth, unbothered by the times his back is turned.

Where have I been all this time? Mostly just chilling. It's true that at one point, my ambitions were as clear as day... before I realized I was playing into your hands again... in which case, I dismissed the alliance I made.
You took the-a-coward's way out. Classy.
Don't talk to me about cowardice when the last time we were face to face, Somatic turned you into a bagel. Without your counterpart animal friends to cop you out, that would have been your end.
Besides. This formula is overplayed.
Formula...? What on-a-earth are you talking about?

Koopenstein grumbles at Tailigee's query.

Don't tell me even you haven't figured it out like your moron friends, Tailigee. Deep down, don't you have a strange sense of "it'll be alright in the end", regardless of how many times I or others threaten the world's well-being?
...!!
That's called-a-confidence, Einstein. And rightfully placed, at that.
Allow me to elaborate.... I have reason to believe that there's an... for a lack of a better term, let's call it an algorithm-- that allows conflict resolution for the side of "Good", to be a constant.
So now you're blaming all your losses on fate. Pathetic.
I don't believe in fate. It's literal science.

---

The data I possess on all of these events and more is supportive... But. If you yourself are destined to be defeated... then why deliberately lure those with the role of "Good" into this place? It contradicts the principles you claim to exist.
....Good question. People like them, against people like me? That's simply asking for diasaster.
...Precisely why I made sure you would tag along with the four of them.
What.

....

One hand on the ground, a returning Kong does steady but sure one-handstanding pushups.

813,694. 813,695. 813,696....
I've been training my mind and body nonstop, only taking breaks so as to not damage myself.... and my work is slowly, but surely paying off. With enough time, I'll be able to maintain Stage Two... but, that will leave an even further amount of questions....

Pinky Kong's pace slows down ever so slightly, but he doesn't waver in his exercise the slightest bit.

...How long will I be able to rely on that technique before it breaks both my mind and body? It's power is grand, but without perfect control, I could end up losing myself... especially in Stage Two.
And... *grunt* ... I heard about the legend of the Super Kong. For all I know, I could be working towards an inferior power.
813,724... I would talk to father about it, but... I'm not so sure how exactly to consult him. I hope he received that Father's Day card I sent.

Still pushing up, PK places his free hand under his chin.

...And come to think of it... I've never actually met with my brother since my return to the Island....
...Regardless... I won't get any answers I need by pondering... and I still have 186,250 push ups to go...

Pinky diligently continues his training...

Shadwari twitches. Koopenstein cuts him off.

Tsk, tsk! I know what you're thinking, Shadwari. You have no idea how many traps I could have laid around here. Do you really want to find out the hard way and miss the first chance you've gotten in so long!?
.....
How do we-a-know you're the-a-real Koopenstein? It's always possible you're a fake!

Koopenstein gets up from his throne, and starts stretching.

You don't. And frankly speaking, I don't care if you believe it's me or not. I'm not here for your sake.
Three hundred coins, Tailigee.
?
I told you he wouldn't-a-lose any weight from when we last saw him! That beer belly is as ripe as ever!

Tailigee tries to keep a serious face, but loses his composure at Somari's remark.

Pffft!

Somari...!
What!? For all the-a-Koopniks he's created, isn't it a tad strange he's never-a-bothered to make his own treadmill?
Hahahahah! |  Heh.
Somari!
What!?

Shadwari gestures at Koopenstein, who's simply standing there. Somari rolls his eyes, and clears his throat.

No, it's quite alright. Laughter is the best medicine, as said often... and I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect some form of this from my own nemesis.

Koopenstein pops his collar.

However, I wonder... if you two will be laughing the same way once you find out what happened to Yoshles!?

What's wrong? Somari? Tailigee? Neither of you are looking so jovial anymore...
Or perhaps... you're finally ready to take this seriously.

The combined triple threat of attacks leaves a heavy fog... but slowly, the loud of footsteps grows larger and larger. A hat, a cloth, and several other clothes hit the ground.

I'm not hurt physically, but that did take a blow to my pride. I really was the conceited one there. XD...
...."It's better this way"... So THAT was what he meant.

The general strolls from the shadows, looking more or less the same as before. He dusts himself off rather freely, rearranging his hat.

He was able to instantly take a look at me and notice something that not even I realized...
My battle prowess, my instincts, my timing... all of them are far weaker than before. If I was the same as my glory days... I would have punished them mercilessly for every action they bothered to take.

The general looks down at his arms and hands, balling the latter up into a pair of fists. Eventually, he relaxes again.

This won't do. No, no, no. Not at all.... I won't be of any use like this. I must hone and sharpen my abilities, polishing them to their most absolute. The Perfect Soldier won't be seen fighting like a fool....
...That's what I'd like to say. But too little too late... isn't that right?

The General glances above him, to his left. He side-eyes Galacta Knight, who merely stares back at him in return...

You tell me.
L0L! Don't act as if you don't know precisely you that I'm talking about.... You saw me wipe the floor with those scrublords... and while I'm certain they didn't look very strong against myself... they would be very, VERY, worthy opponents for most surface-dwellers.
....
....And then? I am not "most surface-dwellers" in the first place. To compare me to such would bring me great shame.

Galacta Knight points his lance at The General.

...A shame you could rival with your death. Should you refuse me a method to leave this... place.
I will never become obsolete. And I will reclaim my title as Galaxy's Strongest.