Chapter 1: Corruption

Over three years had passed. Everyone had split up, training hard, pushing their limits, and mastering new abilities. Each of them had grown stronger—but only one would rise above them all.

Error stood beside Virus, watching him. “Alright, it’s time to speed up your power growth.”

Virus remained silent as a red portal swirled open before them.

“To the multiverse,” Error continued. “Hunt your own kind. Kill different versions of yourself, absorb them, and your power will surge. This was always meant to be a last resort, but we can’t afford to wait any longer.”

Virus turned to Error, his glowing green eyes flickering. “This is exactly why I kept you alive all this time. Even when you pissed me off, I never got rid of you. You’re the only one with access to that chain.”

“I figured,” Error smirked. “This is the plan you’ve been hinting at for a while now.”

“My power is only at 50% after three years of training. That’s not fast enough. I won’t make the same mistake again.” Virus clenched his fists. “I’m not coming back to this universe until I’m at least 80% or 90%.”

Without hesitation, he leapt into the portal. Error followed closely behind.

Virus and Error landed on an unfamiliar world—one that felt like their own, yet different.

“Alright, Error. Stay here.” Virus hovered above the ground, scanning the area. “I’m going to absorb every last Virus on this planet.”

“You might like this,” Error chuckled. “The Virus race is still alive here.”

A sinister grin spread across Virus’s face. “Perfect. That should get me to 80% easily. Hopefully, there’s plenty of prey to go around.”

With that, he vanished, teleporting directly to the heart of the Virus race’s home village.

Gliding above the settlement, Virus took in the sight of his kind—living, breathing versions of what his race once was. But he felt nothing for them. He knew what had to be done.

He descended rapidly, his body splitting apart like tendrils of living energy, attacking each member of the Virus race one by one. No hesitation. No mercy.

Screams echoed through the village as Virus absorbed his victims, their bodies collapsing into nothing but dust. One after another, they fell, their existence fueling his strength. Hours passed, the slaughter relentless, until only one remained.

A child.

Virus hovered over the trembling boy, his transformation now nearly complete. His body had reshaped itself, his green hair now streaked with black lines. His right eye had turned completely black with a glowing green iris, while his left eye had reversed—green sclera with a dark, empty void where the iris should be. His skin had reconstructed itself, forming sleek, dark clothing that fit him perfectly.

He grinned. “Hello, kid.”

The child stumbled back, his breath ragged with fear. He knew there was no escape.

“I… I don’t want to die,” the child whimpered, turning to run.

Before he could take another step, green blood spurted from his mouth. He gasped, looking down. A sharp, glowing tendril had pierced straight through his heart.

As his body began to dissolve, Virus inhaled deeply, absorbing the last fragments of the child’s life force.

A surge of energy pulsed through him.

He laughed—a deep, victorious laugh that shook the very air around him.

“Finally! 80% power!” His laughter grew louder. “And it didn’t even take that long! This idea was genius.”

With his newfound power radiating off him, Virus teleported back to Error.

Error observed the change. “Well, that went smoothly.” He eyed Virus’s new form. “So, are we heading back to our universe now, or should we take care of one more?”

Virus flexed his fingers, green sparks crackling between them. “At 80% power… there’s no telling what I can do now.” His grin widened.

Error opened a portal back to their universe. “Then let’s go.”

Without hesitation, Virus stepped through.

Error followed.

As they landed back in their universe, Virus smirked, looking at his hands. "Well, Error, it’s time to check in on our young adults, don’t you think?"

Before they could set out in search of the seven Projects, a figure with a strange aura appeared before them.

"The last member of the Virus race… and the original timeline protector," the stranger spoke.

Virus and Error turned to him. "Who are you?" Virus asked.

"My name is Carnation. I specialize in bringing the dead back to life and using them like puppets, much like your friend here." Carnation gestured toward Error.

"Bringing the dead back to life? How does that work?" Virus asked, his aura snapping with curiosity.

"If I have even a single strand of DNA or a drop of blood from someone who’s dead, I can bring them back to full power. But with a twist—when I resurrect them, they become immortal and never run out of energy," Carnation explained, pointing his hand toward Virus and Error.

"So, you can essentially recreate what the Yulrok and Zenlith clans do," Virus muttered, analyzing the potential of this ability. He glanced at Error, realizing Carnation could be far more useful than him.

"And I’m going to add you both to my collection," Carnation declared.

"That’s a bold statement," Error scoffed, as strings started to emerge from his body.

"You’ll see," Carnation laughed.

Before anything else could happen, a massive blast from the sky sent them all flying backward. A masked figure landed in the center of the destruction, draped in a long robe.

Carnation stumbled to his feet, his confident smirk vanishing as the masked person turned toward him.

"You’d best leave before I kill you," the masked figure warned, their voice distorted by an electric voice changer. "If I hadn’t stepped in, you would’ve died just now."

Virus and Error rose to their feet, eyes locked on the newcomer.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Error muttered, preparing for a fight.

Virus, however, kept his focus on the masked figure’s aura. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—pure, overwhelming Rust energy. The air itself snapped and warped around them.

Error prepared to engage Carnation, but the masked figure moved faster than sight, driving a powerful punch into his gut. The force sent Error flying, crashing to the ground as he clutched his stomach. "Agh! The hell was that?!"

Groaning, Error turned onto his side, his vision blurring. That’s when he saw them—two glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. One eye shone an eerie blue, the other a deep purple.

"What the hell?!" Error shouted, firing strings toward the figure in a desperate counterattack.

Before the attack even launched, the figure grabbed his wrist.

"How…? How did you know what I was going to do before I even did it?!" Error gasped.

The masked figure ignored him, turning their gaze toward Carnation with an icy, unforgiving stare.

Carnation broke into a cold sweat before instinctively turning to flee.

Virus watched Carnation run but knew the masked figure wouldn’t let him through. He narrowed his glowing green eyes as the figure finally turned their full attention toward him.

"I would love to fight you," the figure said casually.

Virus frowned. That confidence... Whoever this was, they spoke as if they already knew how this battle would end.

"You sure are cocky," Virus scoffed. He lifted his hand, gathering energy before unleashing five blasts, each carrying the power of a nuclear bomb.

"You shouldn’t let your ego cloud your judgment," the masked figure replied.

Raising their hand, they stopped the energy blasts mid-air. Then, in an instant, they split the attacks into five separate orbs, infusing them with their own energy.

Virus’s eyes widened. "What…?!"

The figure's energy control was flawless—far beyond anything he had seen. Mastering both perfect energy manipulation and control would take at least ten years of brutal training… yet, from what Virus could sense, this person had only been alive for about twenty years.

For the first time in a long while, Virus took a step back.

"What the hell are you…?"

The figure ignored the question as they ascended into the sky. Virus narrowed his eyes, finally getting a clear look at theirs. That glow—he recognized it immediately.

Solaris Omnivision and Future Sight.

Virus instinctively leaped backward, analyzing the situation. "They're relying on Omnivision to win, but… the only ability I see active is Future Sight. Could they have perfected energy control on top of that?"

The figure calmly repositioned the stolen attacks, scattering them throughout the area. "I was told—no holding back."

Virus tensed. Told? That meant someone had given them orders. "Wait… you said you were told? Does that mean you work for someone?"

A faint glow pulsed from the figure’s eyes through the holes in their mask. "I work for myself. I’m only here because things didn’t go as planned."

Suddenly, their body ignited, flames engulfing them as they entered Flame-On state.

Virus's eyes widened in shock. That energy—it was eerily close to Death’s. "Death?! How the hell did you reach this state in just three years?!"

A quiet chuckle slipped through the mask. "Oh, please. Don’t ever compare me to that weakling."

Without hesitation, the figure launched all their stolen attacks. But rather than aiming directly at Virus and Error, the explosions erupted all around them, reducing the area to a massive wasteland. A mixture of Virus’s energy and Ra energy spread across the ruins.

"She missed on purpose," Virus muttered, moving his arms as he examined the aftermath. "But why?"

Error, attempting to strike, shot strings at the figure—only for them to effortlessly catch them. With a swift motion, they swung Error like a ragdoll, hurling him straight into Virus.

"You know, Error," the figure said coldly, "your abilities are weak. Your so-called ‘power’ is just your nervous system in string form."

Meanwhile, they quickly scanned the area—Carnation’s energy was gone.

"Now, if I were you two," the figure warned, "I wouldn’t go near Carnation again. Next time, I will kill you."

Virus and Error remained frozen, momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer difference in power.

Virus clenched his fists, his aura crackling with anger. "We’ll get stronger. Then, we’ll kill him."

The figure let out an amused laugh. "No matter how strong you get, I have Solaris Omnivision. You’ll never be strong enough to counter that."

Virus smirked. "You only have one, don’t you? That eye is useless without its pair."

"You’re right," the figure admitted, "but I didn’t bring the second set because there was no need for it."

Virus’s smirk faltered. "Then… how many do you have?"

"Two full sets," the figure answered, their voice dripping with confidence. "And three extra eyes with Omnivision. All ripped from their original owners."

Virus fell silent, his rage momentarily replaced with unease. He glanced at Error—completely unconscious.

"Now, I’ll be taking my leave," the figure said. Summoning the Divine Fire Sword, they slashed through the air, opening a time rift before vanishing into it.

Virus looked at where the figure was not understanding much about what happen all he knew that even if he got stronger he would of still fail, time to forget it, its best to rest, as error did get knocked up badly.

Dark walked back into the city, taking in the familiar sights. "Home sweet home, huh?"

His appearance had changed since he was 13—his black hair was longer, and he’d grown taller, now standing at 5’11". "I wonder if Pink and Nelani still hang out. Best to check on them." He smiled, thinking about all the new tricks he’d learned over the years. He also couldn’t help but wonder how the others had grown stronger in their training. How powerful had Death become?

As Dark approached Nelani’s place, he glanced up at the building. The hole in the wall he had made years ago was gone.

"Huh, that’s new. Glad they fixed it, I guess."

He took a deep breath, then knocked on the door, feeling a slight nervousness creep in. It had been three years—would they still remember him?

After a moment, a voice called out. "Don’t worry, I got it!"

The door flung open, and standing there was Pink.

Dark took a moment to take in her appearance. She had changed—her hair was longer, now with light blue highlights. She wore oversized white clothes that didn’t seem to fit her.

"Uh… hey?" Dark glanced to the side, unsure of what to say.

Pink stared at him, squinting slightly. "Hey?" she repeated. "Why are you here?"

Dark sighed. "It’s me, Dark. Remember?"

Pink froze, her eyes widening as tears began to well up. It had been so long that she barely recognized him.

Then, before Dark could react, she ran forward and hugged him tightly.

Dark stood there, completely caught off guard. "Uh… hi to you too."

"Dark, where the hell have you been?!" Pink mumbled into his shoulder. "I get that you went out training, but still!"

From inside the house, Nelani peeked her head around the corner. "Oh, it’s you. The one who just up and left."

Dark sighed. "I had my reasons. I can’t let Death outpower me."

Pink let go, wiping her eyes. "You feel way stronger than you were three years ago. I can sense it. You’ve got a ton of new tricks, don’t you?"

Nelani crossed her arms. "So… you’re staying for a while?"

"If you don’t mind." Dark shrugged.

Nelani turned and walked back inside. "Eh, I don’t care. But you’re sleeping on the couch."

Dark blinked. "What did I even do to her?" he thought.

As Pink walked in, dragging Dark by the hand, she turned to him with a smile. "So, how’s it going?"

Dark’s face turned slightly red. "It’s been fine."

Nelani leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You know, I was wondering… where exactly have you been for the past three years? Sure, you were training, but was that really all you did? No other adventures? Just training?"

Dark met her glare with one of his own. "Why are you even asking?"

"Oh, please…" Pink shook her head.

Nelani’s expression darkened. "Because every time you’re here, or anyone related to you shows up, somebody gets hurt. All because of what you are!" she snapped.

"Be nice, Nelani!" Pink shot back, stepping in front of Dark. "He can’t help it! You’re basically blaming him for being born!"

Nelani’s glare shifted to Pink. "I don’t know why you’re defending him. He left you when you were hurt."

The two locked eyes, tension crackling in the air as they slowly stepped toward each other.

Dark sighed, shaking his head. Before they could get any closer, he teleported right between them and unleashed a gravity push, sending them both flying backward into the wall.

"Are you two serious right now?" he muttered, turning toward Nelani. "Listen, I don’t care about you, and your opinion isn’t my concern. If you want me gone, I’ll leave. But if I do, my energy signal disappears too."

Nelani looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "Do what you want…" she whispered.

Pink groaned as she stood up, brushing herself off. She walked over to Dark, grabbing his arm. "I don’t get why you’re acting like this, Nelani. You weren’t like this for the last three years."

Nelani stood up, dusting off her clothes. Her voice was cold. "He left you when you were hurt."
"He had a reason," Pink grunted, standing her ground. "He left to protect us. He has the heart of a man, not a villain."

Nelani crossed her arms. "Fine. But if any of us get hurt again, he's leaving."

Pink’s face turned slightly red. "If he leaves, I'll leave too."

Nelani didn’t respond. She simply turned and walked to her room, shutting the door behind her.

Pink let go of Dark’s arm and sighed. "I’m so sorry about her, Dark. She’s not normally like this. I don’t get why she had to act like this now."

Dark repeated her words under his breath, "Heart of a man, huh…" before glancing down at her.

Pink awkwardly laughed. "Oh, it was just something I said. Don’t worry about it."

"I like it. Don’t worry, it sounded nice," Dark admitted, though his gaze briefly lingered on Nelani’s door, his expression unreadable. But as he thought about it more, he shook the feeling away. Why would he care?

Pink smiled. "Thank you, Dark. So, how was your training? Any cool adventures?" She plopped onto the couch, patting the seat next to her.

Dark hesitated for a moment before sitting down. "Eh, I had a few adventures. Some aren’t too important… though I did meet someone in a mask. It was a guy."

Pink locked eyes with him, her cyan gaze narrowing slightly. "You sure?"

Dark’s face reddened, and he quickly looked away. "I’m kidding."

Pink laughed. "Well, a masked figure does sound creepy. So, what’s your plan with Doom or Virus?"

Dark exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I’m going to kill both of them. It’s the only way to keep the peace."

Pink’s playful expression faded. "I see… so it’s come to that? Did you encounter him once during your three years away?"

Dark knew exactly who she meant. "Only once."

Pink tilted her head slightly, studying him. Then, out of nowhere, she blushed. "You know… you’re kinda cute when you’re like this."

Dark blinked, caught completely off guard. "Wait, what?" He turned back to her.

Pink giggled. "Oh, it's nothing." Dark sat there, completely confused. Did he just hear that correctly?