The explosion of the reality eaters reverberated across the Ditivasi skies, creating a visual distortion—a glitched explosion that shattered the fabric of perception itself. It was as if the very essence of existence had briefly been torn apart and stitched back together in chaotic fragments. Zede, Diego, Kylan, and the other witnesses stood frozen, grappling with what they had just seen. The overwhelming sight left them with a sinking realization: Aayam was losing.
Zede's resolve hardened. He turned to Diego. "We can't just stand here. Diego, I need a mecha suit now."
Diego hesitated, his tiny form quivering with worry. "Zede, Aayam warned us. You're not ready for this!"
"Diego, do it!" Zede barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. Diego sighed and, with a flash of energy, materialized a mechanical armor around Zede's body. The polished steel glinted under the fractured sky, its angular design amplifying Zede's presence as he prepared to join the fight.
Aayam noticed this from his embattled position and shouted desperately, "Zede, no! Stay back! This isn't your fight!"
Zede froze for a moment, torn between Aayam's warning and his own instinct to intervene. But before he could act, a low hum resonated through the battlefield. A massive portal began to form behind Aayam, swirling with energy that distorted the very air around it. The portal widened, and from its depths emerged a colossal spaceship—its hull adorned with sharp, metallic angles, gleaming in an otherworldly glow.
Etched across the side of the ship in bold, ominous letters were two words: "DEEP STATE."
The ground trembled as the ship anchored itself in Aayam's reality. Zede, Diego, and Kylan watched in stunned silence, their attention drawn to figures descending from the ship. These figures were... familiar. A chill ran through Zede and Kylan as they saw them.
They weren't just strangers. They were alternate versions of themselves.
One Aayam stepped forward, his face unmarred and both eyes intact—unlike their Aayam, who bore the mark of his battle-scarred journey. Another Aayam wore a cowboy hat, his demeanor radiating rugged confidence. Alongside them was an alternate Kylan, but this Kylan was strikingly different—elegantly armored, yet unmistakably female. Diego let out a small chuckle, nudging Kylan. "See? You're not always a guy. I told you!" Some of them were strangers but all were equipped well to counter Yugasura.
Kylan rolled his eyes but kept his focus on the unfolding scene. "Focus, Diego. This isn't just about us."
The alternate versions began their assault on Yugasura, launching a coordinated attack that dazzled with precision and power. The sky lit up as bolts of energy, dimensional traps, and unknown weaponry rained down upon the towering entity. Yugasura roared, summoning his dark energy and black holes to counter their assault, but the alternate crew held their ground.
Amidst the chaos, Aayam called out to one of his counterparts—the cowboy-hat-wearing Aayam, who carried a calm but commanding presence. "Sheriff Aayam! Get those boys out of here. This isn't their fight! They don't belong in this reality!"
Sheriff Aayam tipped his hat, his piercing blue eyes locking on Zede and Kylan. With a flick of his wrist, he opened a localized portal near them. "Alright, boys, time to go. Y'all ain't safe here."
"No!" Zede protested. "We didn't join the Savior Society to run away! We came here to save lives!"
Sheriff Aayam's eyes softened, but his tone was firm. "You've got guts, kid. I can see why our Aayam likes you. But guts don't mean squat if you're dead. Now move it."
Reluctantly, Zede stepped back, feeling the pull of the portal opening beneath him. Kylan grabbed his shoulder. "Come on, Zede. Let's regroup and figure this out. We're no good to anyone dead."
As they stepped through the portal, Zede cast one last glance at the battlefield. He watched as the Deep State members battled Yugasura with all their might, their combined efforts creating a storm of destruction and energy unlike anything he'd ever seen.
Inside the Savior Society Headquarters (SSHQ), the air was tense as Sheriff Aayam walked briskly into the main operations room. Kaal, approached him, concern etched across his face.
"What happened out there, Sheriff?" Kaal asked, his deep voice commanding attention.
Sheriff Aayam adjusted his cowboy hat and sighed. "Yugasura attacked Ditivas. It was worse than we anticipated. We managed to counter him, but things got messy. The Aayam of this reality asked me to take Zede, Kylan, and Diego back here. They saw too much." Sheriff Aayam paused, his expression grim. "If they keep digging, it'll lead them to truths they're not ready for. I recommend we wipe their memories."
Before Kaal could respond, Zede, Kylan, and Diego, who had been eavesdropping from a corner, exchanged alarmed glances. Their eyes widened, and panic set in.
"Run!" Zede whispered urgently, and the trio bolted toward the exit.
But they didn't get far. A beam of pale blue energy streaked across the room, striking all three of them. It was Mendle, who stepped forward with his weapon still raised. The beam rendered them unconscious, their bodies crumpling to the floor.
Kaal knelt beside them, checking their vitals. "They'll be fine," he said, standing up and turning to Sheriff Aayam. "I'll handle the memory erasure. It's for their own good."
Sheriff Aayam nodded solemnly, tipping his hat. "I trust you, Kaal. Just make sure they forget what they saw out there. It'll only complicate things." He turned on his heel, heading toward a portal generator in the room. "I need to get back to Ditivas. The fight's not over yet."
Before stepping through the swirling portal, Sheriff Aayam hovered his hat in the air for a moment, a gesture of luck. "Here's hoping this time we can put Yugasura down for good." With that, he vanished into the portal.
Back on Ditivas, the battlefield was in chaos. The members of the Deep State, exhausted but determined, had managed to subdue Yugasura. The towering entity was now bound in the Holds of Yama, glowing chains of ancient power that shimmered with the force of multiple dimensions. The Deep State operatives—alternate versions of Aayam, Kylan, and others—stood in a circle around him, their combined strength keeping the dark entity restrained.
Sheriff Aayam materialized amidst the group, taking his place as the tenth member. He raised his hand, pointing upward, mirroring the others. The real Aayam, the leader of the ritual, looked around at his counterparts and declared, "Heaven's Judgment."