It was a deep sleep. One that one might not wake up from.
Having drained all of his life force, he found himself on the boundary between life and death. Everything was utter silence, yet he could feel a cold gaze piercing through his very being. The look of a stern yet warm entity, taking care of him even after he would die.
For a moment he found it sad. Trapped here for eternity, watching over the dead and managing the living for all eternity.
This place he found himself in right now was not something new to him. How many times already had he risked his life? How many times did he survive against all the odds? Sometimes, he thought that one day he wouldn't be so lucky. Sacrificing himself for others was not part of his DNA not long ago. Not because he didn't feel like it, but because he was scared.
After all, who isn't scared of dying? Definitely not him, that's for sure.
Still, even in this place devoid of anything, even his thoughts, he couldn't die.
There was still something he hadn't repaired. Was it even possible to get back what they had lost? He didn't care if it was.
He would do it, no matter what it took.
That's right, fuck giving up. He had given up so many times already in his life, enough for the rest of it. Fuck the odds, fuck the hopelessness of it all. He couldn't care less for it.
All he wanted was to live. To truly live—spending his days with his friends, meeting new people, exploring the world, and savoring every moment until his time naturally ran out.
He held no grudge against anyone, not even the succubus that had caused a mess in his world, not even against the weapon he just erased from existence. His life was simply a balance between what was good for him and what wasn't.
Screw good and evil, they both don't matter.
Morality, he understood, was subjective. Sure, there were objective truths depending on context and perspective, but those were just frameworks. He would go to any length to achieve what he believed in. The lines between right and wrong blurred when measured against his resolve.
For him, moving forward—no matter what obstacles stood in his way—was what it truly meant to be human.
His eyes opened wide, and he found himself in an area comparable to the void of space. The person above pierced him with her purple eyes, her black coat floating as if part of the void itself.
"Where…" he began, his voice hoarse. His body was hurt everywhere and he could feel it almost break beneath its own weight.
To Reaper it was almost akin to a husked state, one similar to her Luka being dryfished.
"Oh, he is awake!" a familiar voice exclaimed. "He is alive Jessie!"
"And here I thought he was a goner," Jessie replied with a wry tone, her words laced with a mix of relief and bemusement. "Honestly, he looked as hollow as a Shedinja."
"Finally! You woke up!" Another voice that quickly grated on his nerves snapped his eyes back up.
There, the White Rabbit stood above him with a cheeky grin. "And here I thought I would lose you too!" she said, her smile unnerving.
"Wait… What do you mean 'too'?" he croaked while painfully trying to get back up.
Before the rabbit could reply, James's voice suddenly broke through, shrill with panic. "Everything is gone!" he wailed, his nerves clearly fraying. "One moment, I'm minding my business, and the next, this crazy rabbit drags me to this terrifying place! Now we're surrounded by all these weird people threatening to kill me!"
"Shut up," Reaper's voice cut through his rambling like a knife, her scythe gleaming ominously as she held it close to his neck.
"Aiiieee! Leave me alone, you!" James yelped, scrambling back on all fours like a startled animal. His gaze darted toward her scarlet hair, and he groaned dramatically. "Why are all redheads always crazy…"
"Hey!" Jessie snapped, delivering a swift punch to the back of his head. "Watch your mouth!"
James yelped again, clutching his head as he muttered something unintelligible, clearly regretting his outburst.
Lime, who was still there patted his hand gently. "It's okay, Puru puru~. Luka will save everyone!"
"Good grief…" Jotaro sighed.
"Okay, what's going on here?" SubLuka squinted, his gaze sweeping the area. Vinum, Daji, and Est were nowhere to be seen, and the only people left were himself—the hero Luka, a slime, the cute tentacle monster that helped him, Jessie, and James, accompanied by Meowth and Jotaro, Wrimbo, and the two laws who were keeping a close watch over them.
White Rabbit winced at his words, and she started explaining. "Adramalech and Sonya went a bit wild while you were unconscious and now the world is mostly swallowed by chaos. Those three companions helping you died trying to get you out of here."
"Wha—" SubLuka stared at her with wide eyes, barely registering what she had just said. "Even Miss Est? She was supposed to be—"
"Chaos is the primordial force of this world," Reaper interjected. "Not even her can escape death against it."
"The good news is managed to grab some people before the pocket castle was destroyed!" White Rabbit mentioned.
But Luka, the hero, shot her a glare that could kill. "And you chose to bring these three idiots?" he said, glancing at the team rocket trio.
"When I arrived they and Lime and Mister Jotaro over here, were all that's left. I guess it was their impressive luck that kept them alive," she then waved her finger at him and gave a reassuring nod. "Also I know that some others were sent to SubLuka's world. For example, Alma Elma, Granberia, Tamamo, and Alice are all there safe and alive. Also, that angel that kept screaming Palutena for some reason."
"Really?" Luka shot up from his shriveled state. "Why didn't you say this sooner?"
"Because they are under control of that other entity now," she replied with a sigh. "So they're likely enemies now."
"Right, Alma Elma was brainwashed the last time I saw her," SubLuka said, his eyes distant.
"And it's only a matter of time before chaos swallows this place too," Reaper added with a sigh. "Considering how much Black Alice is enjoying herself in the other two worlds, it won't be long."
"Also, I can't believe Vinum and Daji fought to protect me," SubLuka said.
"Oh they didn't, White Rabbit chuckled. "They didn't have the time at least. Wrimbo managed to grab you and come back here before he was killed too."
The swordsman shot a salute at him with a slight smile.
"Thanks, man," SubLuka said, his voice sincere.
"No problem," the man replied with an edge of weariness in his voice. "It was a losing battle anyway. The moment we defeated that weapon, the two apoptosis turned on us. Besides, it seems like it's getting easier to open portals now."
"Kyu, kyu!" Nuroku piped up from beside them, a soft trill of agreement.
White Rabbit chuckled again, this time with a hint of amusement. "Even you couldn't stop them, huh?" she teased. "I guess there's only so much the spirit of chaos can do."
"So," SubLuka finally stood up while brushing off dust from his jeans. "What's the plan?"
Reaper eyed him, her expression unreadable. "I'm surprised you still want to fight."
SubLuka met her gaze, unflinching. "If you've gathered us here, it's because you have a plan, right?"
"Exactly!" White Rabbit jumped to his side. "I knew I could count on you." she then rubbed his shoulders playfully.
"Get off me or I swear what I'm going to do to you will erase every last ounce of will you have in your miserable existence."
"Understood!" she shot back, backing off quickly. "Our mission is simple. We need to stop the being that is about to be born in your world."
"And how do you intend to do that?"
"I have no idea!"
At that, SubLuka's nerves finally snapped. He drew his gun in a swift motion, aiming it toward her. But before he could pull the trigger, Nuroku slapped his hand away, sending the gun off course with a small, reprimanding kyu!
SubLuka sighed deeply, letting his arm fall to his side. "Right, right, sorry… It's just… everything's her fault, you know? And she keeps being cheerful about it."
"I understand your anger but she is not a bad person," Luka said, looking apologetically.
"We could just throw him back to his world and start over here," Reaper suggested with a deadpan look.
White Rabbit shot her a sharp look. "I know how you feel, Reaper, but we can't do that. It is my duty to repair what I've caused," she explained with a small, determined strut. "That's why I'm asking SubLuka here to figure out a way to fix all of this. He must have an idea, right?"
"I mean I do but… I don't know how what we're dealing with anyway," he said with a frown. "From the beginning, we're fighting something and we're not even close to determining what it is or how we can defeat it."
White Rabbit's eyes gleamed with sudden excitement. "Actually, now I know what it is," she said, her smile returning, but this time with an edge of triumph. "All this time I've been investigating, and now I can say with certainty: the nature of our enemy is something similar to your dear friend Seris."
SubLuka's eyes widened in disbelief as his mind raced to process what she was saying. "You don't mean…"
"That's right!" White Rabbit beamed, completely unfazed by the tension. "It's an administrator, just like her. While she holds authority over the concept of dreams, this one holds authority over wrath. An enemy you were supposed to face in the end, but the scriptwriter decided to discard him because he was too powerful!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"So, since he was discarded as a forgotten villain, he got mad. And since I accidentally opened a portal in your world, his existence became possible thanks to the Multiverse theory. And since he was supposed to lose, he's quite determined to end you!"
"Could you please stop with these explanations, White Rabbit? It's clear they won't get it," Reaper interjected, bonking the rabbit on the head with the handle of her scythe.
"Ow!" White Rabbit yelped, rubbing the bump on her head as she looked up at Reaper with wide eyes. "But it's true though!"
"So you're saying that the final boss of all this is a guy throwing a temper-tantrum because he wasn't included in our world?" Wrimbo asked, bewildered.
"Yup!"
SubLuka let out a strained, almost hysterical laugh. "Ahahaha…" His face twisted into a mix of disbelief and exasperation as he stared at the two laws standing before him. "Okay, let's just get this over with. I'm already a thousand percent done with this madness."
He inhaled deeply, his shoulders rising as he steadied himself. Then his face shifted, a dark, unsettling smile creeping across his lips—a look that teetered on the edge of madness.
"Kukuku… If that's the twisted game of the Multiverse he wants to play, then I'll give him one," he said, his voice taking on a sinister tone as his smile became far too uncanny for comfort.
"Scary… Vinum rubbed off on him." Luka thought.
"Scary…" Wrimbo thought as well. He knew how much the man could be when he wanted to.
"White Rabbit, get me to that stupid world. And make sure it's a place without any radiations, if possible."
"The Team Rocket Trio, you will have an infiltration mission inside that stupid building. I suppose that thing is inside the building, right? Of course, he is."
"Y-Yes he is," White Rabbit nodded. "The ritual to awaken that thing is taking place there."
"Good… Then, I will give each of you a certain talisman," he pulled out a pack of blank papers and took out a pen from his pocket. With a click, he started writing on it and began chanting while doing so. After writing five talismans, he handed them over to each 'group'.
"The ritual probably uses magical reactors that are present in the building, otherwise he wouldn't do it there, it would make no sense," he said, handing over a talisman to Jotaro. "There are five in total in the building, I'll ask you to put those near them."
Jotaro took the talisman, his expression unreadable as he slipped it into his coat. "Understood," he said simply. "If that thing wakes up, there's no telling what it might do to other worlds."
SubLuka handed the second talisman to Wrimbo, who gave him a confident nod. "You can count on me, as always."
SubLuka allowed himself a faint smirk. "I know. You've never let us down. If you fail… well, maybe it was meant to happen anyway."
"Aren't you giving one to me?" Luka asked, confused.
He then turned to Luka and stopped in his tracks, his gaze lingering on the hero. His expression softened as he studied him, his thoughts clearly swirling with conflict.
Luka tilted his head, confused. "Aren't you giving one to me?" he asked.
SubLuka hesitated, then exhaled deeply, his voice quiet but sincere. "I… I'm sorry for your world. We've never even met before, and yet… you still saved me that time."
Wrimbo, remembering how the young hero found himself dead, tried his best to stifle a chuckle.
"Shut up, you," Reaper interjected by swiftly bonking his head with the flat of her scythe. Nuruko added a slight slap for good measure. "Don't mock the dead."
The swordsman winced, rubbing the spot where they hit him, but the faint grin on his face remained.
Luka ignored the antics in the background, shaking his head as he focused on SubLuka. "It's normal to help when others need it," he said softly. "Besides, none of us were expecting all of this either."
He took the talisman from SubLuka's hand and showed him a determined face. "Let's save everyone together!"
SubLuka's lips twitched into a faint, genuine smile. "Right."
Nuruko walked(?) toward Luka and stood beside him with a military salute. "Kyu!"
"You will help me Nuruko?" Luka asked. "Thank you."
SubLuka turned his attention to the Rocket Trio—or rather, the newly dubbed quartet now that Lime was with them. He strode toward them, his gaze steady as he held out the fourth talisman. "You four, this is for you."
Jessie crossed her arms, looking mildly offended. "Do you really think we need four people to handle one talisman? We're professionals!"
James tilted his head. "Uh, are we really the right team for this? I mean, reactors sound… dangerous."
Meowth slapped James on the back of the head. "Stop worryin'! Dis is our chance to prove we're da best!"
Lime joined happily. "Puru puru~! I'll make sure we don't fail!"
SubLuka sighed at their antics but ultimately handed over the talisman. "Just don't screw this up. Or else everyone's doomed. Including you three."
The group collectively gulped, their nerves betraying their initial bravado. Still, they nodded in agreement, though James's knees seemed to wobble slightly.
SubLuka turned his attention back to the remaining talismans. "I'll take the fourth one and…" His gaze shifted to White Rabbit. "Can you handle the fifth?"
White Rabbit gave a mock salute, her grin wide. "Leave it to me! I'll take care of it!"
SubLuka studied her for a moment, his expression skeptical, but ultimately he nodded. "Fine. Just don't mess around."
White Rabbit winked, her enthusiasm unshaken. "Who, me? Never!"
SubLuka let out a sigh and turned toward Luka. "Also, we'll need to take care of the weapon controlling your friends," he explained. "There are two types of mind control at play here, and I'm pretty sure one of them involves Weapon 7 being used."
He faced the entire group, crossing his arms. "So if any of you find the location where 7 is being kept, do whatever you can to stop it. Got it?"
James raised a hesitant hand. "Uh, why aren't we brainwashed?"
Jessie immediately puffed up, striking a dramatic pose and pumping her fists. "Because we're geniuses, of course! Team Rocket's intellect is unmatched!"
Meowth rolled his eyes. "More like you're too stupid for any mind control to stick."
"You're all stupid," Jotaro chuckled.
SubLuka rolled his eyes but didn't comment. Instead, he stretched his arms and announced, "Fine. Let's take a short rest—thirty minutes—before we move out."
"What?!" Luka exclaimed, his voice tinged with alarm. "But the ritual is already underway!"
"And I'm exhausted," SubLuka growled back. "That spell sucked me drier than a succubus would. So unless you want me collapsing halfway through, I need to replenish."
"Also try out a new technique…" he then muttered, his face serious.
He paused, his gaze darkening slightly. "Besides… I need to try out a new technique." His tone grew quieter, more serious.
The group exchanged glances, but no one objected further. SubLuka sat down cross-legged, on the edge of the platform supporting Hades. He pulled out a bunch of talismans and meditated with them to replenish his lost life force.
Reaper, who had been busy managing the souls of the dead walked close to him, accompanied by the White Rabbit.
Reaper glanced at White Rabbit and then at SubLuka, her expression unreadable. "Is this really the best time for a break?"
White Rabbit tilted her head slightly, her voice playful but with an undercurrent of genuine curiosity. "You sure you're okay, SubLuka? You've been pushing yourself pretty hard."
SubLuka's eyes remained closed, his energy flowing through the talismans as he meditated."I'll be fine. Just need a moment to prepare."
"You are already on the verge of dying, those talismans will only help delay that inevitable end," Reaper said coldly.
"I know. That's what you get for messing around with your life force so much," SubLuka sighed. "I bet Seris will be angry when she finds out…"
"That technique you were talking about," White Rabbit called him out. "Is it to open a portal to another world?"
SubLuka winced, unhappy to be found out by that damn rabbit. "What if it was?"
White Rabbit raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "That's impossible. You're just a regular human."
"A human who discarded his own fate," he pointed out. "My soul is so corrupted I'm not even sure what will happen to me once I die," he added with a somber face. "You might not know this, but someone managed to hop from timeline to timeline in my world. It required a tremendous amount of power, but it was possible."
White Rabbit, though still unconvinced, couldn't hide a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "So you think you can do the same?"
Reaper, who had been silently observing, added with an air of finality, "There's no way for a flesh-and-blood human to see through countless worlds. Luka is an exception, but even he is limited to parallel versions of our world." She looked at him with a cold gaze. "You're asking for something beyond your reach."
SubLuka stood silent.
"Can't you do it yourself, White Rabbit? Bring someone from another world?"
White Rabbit's grin faded, her expression growing more serious. "Do you want me to repeat the mistake I've made?" she asked, her voice soft but resolute. "It's better for me to stay in worlds similar to ours. Also, I can't see or predict what might happen when I step into a new world. The risks are... too great."
SubLuka's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "What if I were to disobey and bring someone from another world?" he asked, his tone taking on a defiant edge.
White Rabbit tilted her head slightly, her smile returning, though it was tinged with a hint of warning. "Well... You will either doom everyone or save everyone. There is no way to tell if your world can handle this person. Every place has its own laws."
"Thank you for your insight," he said, his voice now calmer. "You won't budge on your function even if I ask you, right?"
"That's right! My goal is to guide people." White Rabbit replied with a small pat on his head.
SubLuka chuckled softly, albeit bitterly. "Ahah... I guess so." He turned to Reaper, who had been watching him intently the entire time. Her gaze was piercing, and something in her posture suggested a deeper concern.
"Is something wrong?" SubLuka asked, raising an eyebrow.
Reaper stared at him for a moment before speaking. "Nothing. I will not help you."
SubLuka met her gaze evenly. "I know."
"But I'm glad someone like you watch over the dead," he then said, answering her concerned look with a smile. "It feels less… Scary now."
Reaper's eyes flickered for a moment, the hint of an emotion she rarely showed passing through her stoic exterior. She didn't respond immediately, but her expression softened just enough to show her acknowledgment of his words.
The man then stood up and slapped both of his cheeks to get pumped up.
"Alright, let's do this."
In his mind, it was a crazy gamble—something so stupid and insane it would have been dismissed as a child's incoherent rambling. But that's exactly what had happened in the last few days, wasn't it? A series of extreme events, the multiverse shattering as multiple worlds collided and merged.
Even if it was just a stupid, incoherent plan… maybe, just maybe…
"Stories are not always coherent or fair, aren't they? It inspires us, and gives us dreams that we couldn't imagine before. Stories of men are the same. They end abruptly, sometimes poorly, but they are still here, with one common trait to them. Hope."
The words of that green-eyed succubus that followed him through his first journey resonated within his mind.
" Every story needs to end. And eventually, you might even forget it. That's why just take your time and enjoy the moment…. "
"...Give your best, and…"
Enjoy the story until the end.
Those people gathered here, the people he met, the people that passed away, the people that he had yet to meet.
Even if it was just a simple dream… They would all get a happy end.