It was 8 AM when Yaxoc and Luna strolled through the bustling streets, their steps unhurried but their conversation far from mundane.
"Seen Marcus and Moonlight?" Yaxoc asked casually, his gaze wandering.
Luna rolled her eyes. "Don't start with that. They're probably off... dating or something."
Yaxoc smirked. "Good for him. At least someone took my horrible advice."
Luna scoffed, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, where's Yaxocara?"
"She's at my place, doing... something. No clue what."
Luna raised a brow. "You didn't think to check?"
"Nope," Yaxoc said nonchalantly. "I trust she's not burning the house down."
"Speaking of burning things down," Luna said, her tone more serious now, "have you noticed? No variants lately. That's not normal."
Yaxoc nodded slowly. "Good point. Too quiet. Almost like—"
Before he could finish, a figure erupted from a nearby alleyway—a glitched, distorted humanoid that launched itself at Luna with unnatural speed. Yaxoc reacted instantly, drawing his blade and blocking the attack with a sharp clang.
Luna jumped back, her eyes wide. "What the hell is that?!"
Yaxoc gritted his teeth. "A variant... and not just any variant. It's unstable!" He kicked the attacker away, sending it tumbling.
As the figure regained its footing, Yaxoc scanned it with his magic. His eyes narrowed. "No universe. Codename: Y4X0C. A glitch..."
The creature stood tall, its fragmented body flickering with digital static. Its half-glitched texture gave it a fractured appearance—gray jacket, black pants, hair streaked with purple and black, and no discernible facial features beyond its glitchy visage.
Y4X0C tilted its head, its voice distorted. "Interesting. You're... different."
Yaxoc's glare hardened. "And you're annoying. What are you gonna do, huh?"
Y4X0C's form crackled as it smirked. "Finish you."
The creature charged with alarming speed. Yaxoc braced himself but gasped as Y4X0C infected his blade with a digital virus, corrupting it instantly. Cursing, Yaxoc threw the weapon aside.
"Without your artificial magic, you're useless!" Y4X0C taunted, lunging again.
"Oh yeah?" Yaxoc snapped, summoning his Imagination Magic. "Guess I'll use my real power! Take this, trash code!"
What followed was a furious exchange—a blur of punches and kicks. Y4X0C weaved through Yaxoc's strikes, countering with a brutal kick to his jaw. Yaxoc, unfazed, grabbed Y4X0C by the face and slammed it into the ground.
"Imagination Magic: Blasts of Rain!" Yaxoc chanted as a thousand shimmering blasts rained down.
Y4X0C darted away, evading the barrage. Yaxoc teleported in front of it, delivering a devastating kick that launched the glitch skyward. The blasts converged, hitting Y4X0C with relentless force.
"Heh. Idiot," Yaxoc muttered—then froze as Y4X0C appeared behind him.
"Did you forget?" Y4X0C sneered. "I'm a glitch. I break the system."
Y4X0C's voice darkened. "Once I'm done with you, I'll rewrite this reality. Anyone who stands in my way? Dead."
Yaxoc's glare was icy. "Not happening." He elbowed the glitch's face, but Y4X0C retreated at blinding speed.
Luna, watching from a distance, gasped. "That speed... it's a Ċ+ rank..."
"Get back here!" Yaxoc yelled, giving chase.
"Yaxoc, wait!" Luna called after him, groaning in frustration. "Great. Guess I'll have to call for backup."
Luna burst into Yaxoc's house to find Yaxocara strapping on gear.
"What do you want?" Yaxocara asked bluntly.
"Yaxoc's in trouble! He's fighting a new variant!" Luna shouted.
Yaxocara's eyes widened. "WHAT?! WITHOUT ME?!" She grabbed her pot-shaped helmet and bolted out the door with astonishing speed.
Luna blinked. "She's faster than... a Ċ rank? What is she?"
Meanwhile, Yaxoc was locked in combat, trading blow after blow with Y4X0C. The glitch absorbed a massive blast from Yaxoc, its fragmented form glowing ominously.
"What the—?!" Yaxoc barely had time to react before Y4X0C turned the blast against him, sending him crashing through several buildings.
Yaxocara arrived just in time, her voice ringing out. "HEY, GLITCH FACE!"
Y4X0C turned to her, its expression unreadable but its tone mocking. "Another ally? This should be fun."
"Fun for me, maybe," Yaxocara shot back. "Let's see how you like this!"
She charged, her movements fluid. Y4X0C lunged, but Yaxocara countered with a spinning kick that sent the glitch skidding. She followed up with a flurry of sword strikes.
"Artificial Magic: Light Slash!" she yelled, unleashing ten radiant slashes.
Y4X0C dodged most but yelped as one severed its arm. It laughed, regenerating the limb almost instantly. "You can't defeat me! I'm a glitch—uncuttable!"
Yaxocara smirked. "Oh, I can defeat you. Your weakness is glaringly obvious."
Y4X0C tensed. "What are you talking about?"
She pulled out a USB drive. "You're broken code. All I need is this—an error-detection USB. Once I plug this into your head, you're finished."
Y4X0C's bravado faltered. "You wouldn't dare..."
"Oh, I dare." Yaxocara charged, aiming the USB at Y4X0C's head.
Panicking, the glitch narrowly dodged and bolted.
"HEY! GET BACK HERE, YOU COWARD!" Yaxocara yelled, chasing after him with unrelenting determination.
The streets turned into a blur as Y4X0C bolted with unrelenting speed, weaving through the city like a living glitch. Yaxocara was hot on his heels, her relentless pursuit leaving civilians gawking, unable to process what they were seeing.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Y4X0C shrieked, his distorted voice breaking into static. "I DON'T WANT YOUR STINKY USB!"
"TOO BAD!" Yaxocara yelled back, her voice carrying over the wind. "YOU'RE GETTING IT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!"
"YOU SOUND WAY TOO AGGRESSIVE FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD!" Y4X0C shouted over his shoulder.
"AND YOU'RE 16 AND TERRIFIED OF A USB? WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT YOU?!" Yaxocara snapped, leaping over a parked car as she closed the distance.
The argument carried on, with their insults growing louder and more ridiculous. Pedestrians dove out of the way as the duo sprinted past, their blinding speed leaving cracked pavement and flying debris in their wake.
"STOP TALKING AND START RUNNING FASTER!" Yaxocara taunted, her tin pot helmet gleaming in the sunlight.
"I'M RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN!" Y4X0C screeched, glancing back in panic.
That was his mistake.
With a burst of determination, Yaxocara jumped, closing the gap in a single bound. She landed on Y4X0C's back and, with precision born of sheer willpower, slammed the USB into his glitchy forehead.
"NOOOOOOO—!" Y4X0C's scream was a cacophony of static and anguish as his body seized up, flickering wildly.
In an instant, his form erupted into a chaotic explosion of glitchy fragments, the sound like shattering glass mixed with corrupted code. The fragments scattered into the air before dissipating entirely, leaving nothing but silence—and Yaxocara, standing victorious.
She dusted herself off, the tin pot slightly askew on her head. "And that's why you don't mess with me."
Behind her, a small crowd of civilians peeked out from their hiding spots, murmuring in awe and confusion.
"Who is that girl?" someone whispered.
"She's got a pot on her head..." another muttered.
Yaxocara smirked, adjusting her makeshift helmet. "You're welcome, by the way!" she called out before turning on her heel and walking off like nothing had happened.
In the shadows of their stronghold, Lucius and Ogamak watched the aftermath unfold. Screens flickered, displaying Yaxoc and Yaxocara's triumphant battle against Y4X0C. The energy of the USB-induced explosion dissipated, leaving nothing but silence on the battlefield.
"This is bad," Lucius muttered, his voice low and strained. "They've defeated all the variants we sent... We don't have any choice but to surrender."
Ogamak's fists clenched tightly, his eyes narrowing with fury. "Surrender?" he repeated coldly. "Not a chance, Lucius." He turned, his cloak billowing behind him as he began to walk away. "If our current forces aren't enough, then I'll summon my demons from other worlds."
Lucius hesitated, glancing at Ogamak's determined form. "What type?"
Ogamak's voice was resolute. "Type 3," he said. "And if that fails... Type 4."
Lucius's brow furrowed. "That level of summoning will tear apart what's left of this world."
Ogamak didn't respond, disappearing into the depths of the stronghold.
Lucius stood in silence for a moment, his mind racing. There's something more at play here, he thought. His gaze shifted as he muttered, "Although, I noticed something odd. There are others entering this universe. This 'Nitomaa' fellow… He might be more powerful than we realize."
As Lucius turned to leave, another figure emerged from the shadows—Yurgion, his expression grim.
"Apologies for my late arrival," Yurgion said, bowing slightly.
Lucius nodded. "It's fine. Did you manage to execute Luchis?"
Yurgion's face darkened. "Unfortunately, no. The memory fragment interfered. It struck me and sent me far away before I could finish her."
Ogamak, overhearing this, groaned in frustration. "That cursed fragment... Always ruining our plans."
Lucius exhaled sharply. "Perhaps it's for the best."
Ogamak spun to face him, his glare sharp. "What did you just say?"
Lucius crossed his arms. "Luchis wanted to change. I've known her past for a long time, Ogamak. She regrets this life, and honestly, forcing her to stay is more trouble than it's worth."
Ogamak scoffed. "Regret or not, she's a traitor."
"Maybe. But we have bigger plans to focus on," Lucius replied, turning to leave.
Yurgion bowed once more before following Ogamak. "Agreed. Let's move forward."
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The moon hung low as Luchis awoke in the alleyway, her head throbbing and body aching. She blinked, the dim light casting shadows across her surroundings.
"Am I… alive?" she murmured, slowly sitting up. The alley was silent, save for the faint rustle of the wind.
Steadying herself, she stepped out into the open. But the moment she did, a sharp sound echoed behind her.
"Here to finish the job, Yurgion?" she said, her voice cold as she felt the presence behind her.
Yurgion smirked, stepping forward. "You're sharper than before, Luchis. But it won't save you."
As he lunged, Luchis spun, her elbow striking his face with a brutal crack. Yurgion stumbled back, groaning.
"Still trying the same old tricks, huh?" she said. Her hands began to glow with dark energy. "Chaos Magic: Destruction Shot!"
A massive black blast erupted from her hands, colliding with Yurgion and sending him hurtling through the alley.
Groaning, Yurgion struggled to stand, but Luchis had already turned and walked away. Her voice was steady, filled with new resolve.
"I'm done with your games. I'll follow the path that memory fragment showed me… even if it kills me."
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Elsewhere, the air rippled with an ominous force. In the ruins of a forgotten battlefield, Dark Yaxoc stirred. His eyes opened, glowing with malevolent energy as he rose from the ground.
"Back in this wretched world," he muttered, a sinister smirk spreading across his face. "And this time, I'll destroy anyone who stands in my way. Tomorrow… the reckoning begins."
A deep voice interrupted his thoughts. "Is that so?"
Dark Yaxoc spun around, his expression hardening as he faced the speaker. The figure stood calmly, draped in dark clothing. A black shirt, gray pants, and an owl mask covered most of his face, leaving his smirking mouth visible.
"Who the hell are you?" Dark Yaxoc demanded.
"Black Bambon," the figure said, his voice smooth but condescending. "The one who brings justice. And you… you're just another fool who thinks they can bend the world to their will."
Dark Yaxoc sneered. "And what's that supposed to mean? Are you here to stop me?"
Black Bambon chuckled, casually resting a scythe on his shoulder. "Stop you? Don't flatter yourself. I'm just here to mock you."
Dark Yaxoc's fists clenched as he prepared to respond, but Black Bambon raised a hand.
"Save your breath. You'll need it for tomorrow. Behave yourself, or not—it makes no difference to me."
With that, Black Bambon turned and stepped through a swirling portal, vanishing into another universe.
Dark Yaxoc stared at the spot where the stranger had stood, his expression a mixture of confusion and anger.
"Weirdo," he muttered before stalking off into the shadows.