Well, I am certain that I know these two, and they aren't my enemies.
The figure gives the group a bright smile.
Well, I don't doubt that they will be able to contribute to today's beautiful display!
Demyx's motion sickness has died down by now, but he's still left scratching his head at the whole situation.
Indeed, a landmark of the autumn season, a festival only possible through the cooperation of Rome and Chaldea*...
...my very own Nero Festival!

...
...of course, while Rome has been immortalized throughout history, even in this world...
(I'm just gonna let her stay clueless about that.)
...there is no Chaldea here, and with September already halfway through, I had to improvise on such short notice. Hence the smaller stadium...
But no matter! Even if we must start on a tight budget, we shall make the Nero Festival known here as it was known in my own world!
Cheering from two-thirds of the nine attendees drowns out the continued confusion of Demyx, Prop-Top, and Peterchy.

---

*Not as in the small ancient country, but as in the Chaldea Security Organization (Fate/Grand Order). I'll be honest, Fate lore is so heavy and weird that I decided I'd just take a "pick and choose" route for its version of Nero (and in general confine the series to its own little space of alternate metaphysics like I did with Demyx and Kingdom Hearts).

Demyx, Reverse Man, and Gilgamesh look up to find a small, round Mecha perched on a board jutting out the center pillar of the platform.
A festival's gonna be hosted here for people to square off!

Several other Mechas of various shapes and sizes come out of what were, in hindsight, pretty obvious hiding spots.
And anyone's allowed to join!

...well, was allowed to join, but the turnout was low...

Don't really know why, but the gal running the thing's still doing it even if it's just us, her, and the heavy red dude.

COUNTERARGUMENT: CHANCES OF UNITS "DEMYX" AND "REVERSE MAN" BEING INCLUDED AFTER OFFICIAL APPLICATIONS HAVE ENDED ARE SPECULATED TO BE HIGH.

I do hope if nothing else, you'll fight for the sake of the festivities!

And when you do, be ready to face the...


Gilgamesh claps at the team's coordinated entrance, while Demyx and Reverse Man just kind of stare in indifferent confusion.
Seconds later, a door under where Up'n'Down was perched opens, out walking a blonde figure in a red and white dress with gold accents...
Oh! Are these two friends of yours, Big Gilgamesh?

---

*An area from this part of Backstage of the Omniverse: Stories from the Void; I don't know where the RP stands as part of the greater MMRPG Omniverse (if at all), but if it isn't a problem with Exee, my new idea is that Peterchy came from there
†An image posted by MegaBossMan in the MMRPG Discord showcasing various ideas thrown around for what Star Man's matching Mecha would be, before deciding on the Novamite. Yes, I decided to have Dachone's backstory be he was from a brainstorming session most people don't know about, don't act like we haven't gone with weirder ideas.

---

NEW SUMMARY DATA

A tall, long-haired figure with flowing garments appears in front of Exdo.
Normally Libra would be the one to knock you down a peg, but he's not blunt enough for this.

You could have enough firearms to take up two posts just listing them all off and nobody would care. If you want to win a fight immediately, you ain't getting what you want.
Barbariccia vanishes, and if "Exdo" tries following her, I'm gonna need to talk with you in private, Mal.

As Reverse Man reaches the top platform of the fortress, slowing his flight, Demyx's scream gradually begins to fade out with a sound that kind of sounds like he's losing his voice.
Rev, gimme a moment, I think I gotta lie down for...I dunno, 30 hours...
You say that every time! C'mon, I wanna find-
Reverse begins to fly forward, but immediately bumps into something big and heavy.
Well, more accurately, as he realizes looking up at what he hit, someone with a tall, top-heavy physique, adorned with armor of red and grey.
Ah! Greetings, young dragon boy!

It's been far too long since we've met, hasn't it? Same for you, Mixerlydia!
Gilgamesh gestures to Demyx, who is weakly looking halfway up to eye level as he tries to support himself on the platform's railing.
And today, we can peacefully compete with each other, as opposed to hurriedly attacking crimson beasts†!
...wait, whad'you mean "compete"...?
The trio hears a voice from above...
What, haven't you heard?

---

*Reference: The Wily Castle from Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge (Known in Japan as Rockman World)
†Gilgamesh, Demyx, and Reverse Man were all present for the climax of the Beta Diablo Arc, which involved a big battle against several opponents, mainly Beta Diablo (hence him being the arc's namesake).

---

NEW SUMMARY DATA

Two figures - one tall, with a head of messy, spiked hair, wrapped in a coat, the other the size of a grade schooler, sporting draconic armor - are wandering the land aimlessly.
The figure in the coat glances over, and notices...
...hey, uh, Rev, y'know anything about...that place?

The small dragon child only looks for a split second, seeing a tall, wide fortress adorned with a skull shape on the front, and three femur bone shapes at the back. He loses interest in less than a second.
I know some dumb old guy built a bunch of those places. I guess this one didn't break before he left it.

Reverse Man starts to pick up the pace, flying higher.
I dun' care about that stuff, there's gotta be something cool...
Reverse Man slows himself as he notices something at the top of the fortress...
Wait...is that someone up there?
Reverse grabs Demyx by the arm without a second thought!
OkaynevermindIwannagoupthere
Rev please I don't wanna fly a trillion miles per hour agaAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIII
Demyx continues screaming as Reverse Man carries him to the top of the fort!

---

NEW SUMMARY DATA

(Event Theme) ♫ Freedom Planet - It's Brevon Time ♫
Willowarp stands at the door...somewhere, all his whimsy reduced to stress as he sees the figure at the other end of the room...
...uh...

Will you get in here already?! I don't have all day!
SORRY, sorry, sorry...
Willowarp rushes in, now standing just behind the figure. He twiddles his pointer fingers as he tries to speak up.
I...I apologize, but...well, the thing is...

Don't waste your breath, I already know you screwed up.
Sir, I-I really am sorry, I tried my hardest to-

No ya didn't! The butter knife was dying of boredom faster than he was dying from any trash you conjured! And with what you can conjure, that's a real damn embarrassment.
The figure turns around, a sharp limb grabbing Willowarp's cape, pulling the mortified pumpkin-headed specter a mere inch away from their face.

And the last thing I need is embarrassments. If you didn't save face at the end there, you wouldn't have been around to get them going to Murky Cave.
...
The figure throws Willowarp to the ground.

The Earth troop's gonna be here any minute to moan about how her monsters were being too scary. Before she does, do one thing right in your life before you're a waste of space.

Warp over to the Wind troop. Tell it that it's going to get more flunkies in the morning.
Okay...
Willowarp disappears.

Standing in front of a small campfire, Mack finds YuugenMagan Visage walking up to sit nearby, a makeshift tent behind them, Terumi sleeping inside.
Out like a light, huh?
As soon as I was staying near her. She was deathly afraid of being alone at night...
Minutes pass without a word before Mack turns to Yuugen-V.
Hey, Y.V.?
Mm?
Might be leaping ahead a bit, but...once we get these dumb Seekers out of our hair, how d'you think we can get the kid home?
Like, maybe she remembers the address, maybe we gotta rely on landmarks or something, and that's before getting into the whole ghost thing...
Mack quiets down as he notices Yuugen-V looking down, forlorn.
...what?
...
...as I was getting Terumi to sleep, I mentioned finding her parents without really thinking about it.
She didn't say anything, and she wasn't like it for too long, but there was this look on her face...
...Mack, I don't know if she can go back to her home.
Mack is silent, growing more concerned the more he pieces together just what Yuugen-V means.
I don't know if that's why or how she...well, turned to this, but if I had to guess, it just added to whatever made her so nervous by the time we found her...
Clearly she's needed to find someone she can trust for a while, and...well, she's found us.
Silence fills the night sky again, almost as long as the last time Mack thought to speak up.
...is it bad if I say this is all weird to me?
Yuugen-V looks over to Mack, a little confused, but mainly curious.
Like, ever since I was forged for the Smithy Gang, main thing I've known is fighting. I was given a pointer or two about others giving a hand doing the fighting but...
...well, being meant to create a world of weapons didn't give me a lot of pointers in stuff like life.
Maybe that's part of what got me to this point. Landing heaven knows where to find some sort of quest to accomplish...
...and figuring out what I actually want out of it besides beating people up.
...
...I mean, I don't know any more than you what you'll be ready to pick...
...but I heard some of when you were trying to keep Terumi safe right before Rottentest.
I'm not saying it's a good thing Terumi's become what she is, but...maybe you're figuring things out without even realizing.

(Character Battle - Vs. Rottentest WT) ♫ Rusty (PC-9801) - I'll Destroy Your Mind ♫
The fungal wall hands summoned earlier by Rottentest open up into claw-like gestures, dark energy charging on each palm...
...
...a barrage of shadowy spheres parried mid-flight by a mix of Star Flares and a Sword Rain!!
Your precious light will not save you!
Standing at the highest cliff, Rottentest leaps straight for Yuugen-V...
SUCCUMB TO THE FEAR OF YOUR UNTIMELY-
Without a word, Yuugen-V retaliates by launching the mutated wight into the wall behind her with a final Zan!!
GAARGH!!!
Rottentest drops to the ground!

Mack, YuugenMagan Visage, and Terumi gain 286 EXP!
Mack reaches Level 9!
YuugenMagan Visage reaches Level 7!
Level 7 upgrades!
YuugenMagan Visage learns Shoot!
YuugenMagan Visage learns Frei!
Terumi reaches Level 9!
Level 6 upgrades!
Terumi learns Fire Orb!
Terumi learns Soothing Winds!

CURSE YOUR SOULS!! EVEN AS I RETURN TO THE BARREN EARTH, KNOW WITH MY DYING BREATH THAT WE SEEKERS OF STRENGTH SHALL-
Yuugen-V simply walks up to Rottentest and smacks her, Rottentest being nowhere near as worse for wear as she claims.
...I hope you're happy with how much of a pain it is to strike fear in your hearts.
Explain to us why kidnapping a restless child's spirit is worth that.
Rottentest stands back up, nervously looking at Terumi.
I...I swear on our leader, that was truly not part of my plan. If the creatures beneath did that to her...
...one moment.
Rottentest "warps" past the trio, off into the lower floors.

As Terumi's passive confusion turns to dreariness, Mack and Yuugen-V notice the outside light starting to darken.
Wait, it's almost night?
Mack looks over to Yuugen-V and Terumi...
...y'know what, we ain't pulling an all-nighter. We can probably set up camp or something for the night and get a clear view next morning. The kid needs rest, anyway.

(Character Battle - Vs. Rottentest WT) ♫ Rusty (PC-9801) - I'll Destroy Your Mind ♫
Rottentest is now "warping" around so fast it's hard to focus on muh of anything besides the occasional Growth Shot. Rottentest herself begins to lose focus...
RAUGH!
...to the point where she "warps" straight under a descending Mack!!
You wanna watch where you're going?
...
Rottentest simply leaps a couple feet behind her.
...I will not be treated as a punchline by a mere tin man.
Rottentest plants a hand firmly on the ground...

...nearly catching Mack in a Thallus Web that Yuugen-V moves him out of the way of with a Zan!

---

Thallus Web: (Vital/Grapple) Rottentest surrounds herself with a cobweb-like network of mycelium, stunning any opponents caught in it. Stunned opponents will be further attacked by a flurry of physical strikes, ending with a slam attack.

(Character Battle - Vs. Rottentest WT) ♫ Rusty (PC-9801) - I'll Destroy Your Mind ♫
Rottentest rapidly zips around the area, forming back and forth from her full form to her compressed form each time like she's teleporting.
There are none who can predict when death shall strike!!
Hearing her croaking from behind, Terumi flies out of the way of a Growth Shot...and amidst her panic, a small crescent of energy strikes Rottentest from the side, causing her to stagger for a moment!
Before Terumi can wonder what she just did, she continues to distance herself from Rottentest as the zombie-like being feels the pain on her cheek, giving a furious glare as she "warps" out of Terumi's view.

---

(Previous three story posts:)
Page 74 (the "Jazz HQ" portion of Post #9, and the first two lines from Post #11)
Page 88, Post #20

What?!
Alert and concerned, Windaz re-reads the final paragraph of Missingno's paper several times, hardly even focusing on Missingno's vocal regrets...
Just a quick glance over to Lucina and Cyber-Lucina is enough before she speaks up.
Wait, but if Cyber-Lucina's connected to Lucina, but Lucina could die...if...
No, nononono, we can find a way to make them both okay, right? Can't we?!
As much as Windaz tries to argue an ideal outcome with her tone, she can't bring herself to look at anyone in the room without a face holding back tears, as if someone won't be there for much longer.

---

Growth Shot: (Vital/Earth) Rottentest creates a fungal growth on her hand, then breaks it off and throws it straight ahead.

Mirk: (Swift) The user summons a wave of Swift magic that strikes the opponent from a blind spot.
Variants: Mirkier (Power Level 2), Mirkidyne (Power Level 3), Ma- (All opponents; can be a prefix to any of the prior three)

As the wall solidifies behind Mack, YuugenMagan Visage, and Terumi, the three find themselves face-to-face with Rottentest...
I hope you understand there are none to blame for what's to come but yourselves.
I couldn't care less about "what's to come" when we have more than enough to blame you for by trapping a small child who died young.
Rottentest stumbles back a bit, looking over to Terumi confused before turning back to Yuugen-V.
...they truly did that?
Hey, it's your hideout, I don't see why you wouldn't be the one who kidnapped the kid.
...
Rottentest's body compresses to a small ball of hyphae, zipping up to a higher cliff before morphing back to her full shape.
...as I was saying...
You shall face your end at the hands of decay! At MY hands!!
(Character Battle - Vs. Rottentest WT) ♫ Rusty (PC-9801) - I'll Destroy Your Mind ♫
Rottentest raises her arms as mycelium in the shape of hands forms on the walls behind her, using one to cast a heavy stone at the trio, who just barely split up to dodge!

If she can, Sodoma uses Who Fights Monsters

Unpaused Konngara is forced to use her blade to prop herself up after recovering from the Steedslayer.
Before she can retaliate, a small flower blooms in front of her.
She looks up, backing away as a glowing figure descends to the ground.
...light, dark, good, evil...I don't know what I was truly born to be, nor what I am truly meant to be.
But I can't let my worries over the wrong choice paralyze me forever.
Whether I am protecting one who wields light and good will, or denying retribution to a tyrant of light, I will see it through to the end.
Sodoma switches in, and (if she can) raises a Cyclone Shield around Shieldy!

---

(OOC: Just a heads-up; last turn had a lot of unexpected modifiers, and while we haven't figured everything out, I may be Level 14 starting this turn. This is actually half the XP I'd have gotten, but since the alternative was around Level 18 I was fine with less to be fair; Overkill Backfire is probably going to be nerfed regardless, and the damage from it going off last turn won't go to my total at the end of the month.)

Unpaused Konngara freezes at the "true understanding" remark, a look of unease on her face even as she casts No Good Deed on Tyr.

Unpaused Konngara appears, eyeing Tyr as she empowers herself with an Attack Boost...
...

(Event Theme) ♫ Neopets: The Darkest Faerie - "SIST" (unused track) ♫
As Mack and Terumi rush through the mycelium maze, the fungal walls grow thicker and thicker, each one taking more Drains to burn through!
Quick, kid, how'd you do that ice thing?!
I-I...
Panicked, Terumi tries pretty much every gesture she can think of to no avail.
If you can't do it, fine, I can do this myself if I gotta!
YUUGEN, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, WATCH OUT THIS TIME!!
Mack resorts to a full-on Flame Wall to make a clearing in the mycelium, Yuugen-V escaping through one of the newly-opened holes!
Not ready to dwell on what they all have to say at the moment, the trio rushes through the newfound opening as mycelium pillars crash down behind them!!

Nukem, sir, show respect for officer* Limstella!
Corporal Smaplar's electric aura flares up a moment, before fizzling down as he lowers his voice.
...sorry, that was uncalled for.
It's just...I've been tasked with a lot of conflicts regarding the stigma recently. I don't even know what a "scrimblo bimblo" is...

---

*Using "Officer" as a gender-neutral equivalent to "Sir" or "Maam".

Unpaused Konngara quietly trades in one Coin for a Coupon Booklet, and the other for 500 Zenny. She then trades in 1125 of her 1337 Zenny for a Skill.

Overkill Backfire
If the unit is disabled with an attack that deals more damage to them than their remaining HP, damage will be dealt to the attacker equal to the damage they dealt minus said remaining HP.

---

Meanwhile, a faint sparking sound can be heard as a helmeted, spherical figure approaches the group, only up to maybe Pop Kid's knees or Kalinka's waist.
Rā purā, purā Zumapurā mapu... 〈Okay, Smaplar, you can do this...〉
Reporting for duty! I'm here on behalf of...uh...
...well, I've been told to check some reality disruption. That's the important part.

---

Circuit Shorter | Electric/Explode | 90% Accuracy), 4 WE?
Shorts the target, causing them to take a straight base 10 Electric-type damage for the next 3 turns.

Jewel Polish | Crystal | 100% Accuracy, 4 WE? (Pre-existing MMRPG Ability)
Removes negative stat changes from the user or an ally. If possible, will use up double the normal WE, but also remove any status effects they may have.

---

"Who?"
The Chaos Zone's destruction was enough of a concern to warrant additional recruits in omniversal military forces. Alas, such is a niche job, and one of the few who was both aware of an omniverse and willing to risk their life for it was a Smaplar, originally just one of many occupying one of the many forms of Plug Man's stage to exist in the MMRPG Omniverse.
What military faction Smaplar actually works for is deliberately nonspecific unknown, but he's incredibly dutiful, no matter if he only outranks the likes of Fleas and Tackle Fires.

Unpaused Konngara throws a final Damage Cutter at Star.