Exciton and Fatal are hiding behind Exciton’s crystal wall.
Exciton: Do you see him?
Fatal: No, do you think he could have moved?
Exciton: No, look at the front of Iota’s compound. They’re under fire as well. They have us right where they want us.
Fatal: But he’ll never kill us at this rate.
Exciton: I don’t think he wants to.
Fatal: Huh? I get why you’d say that about me, but Ivan would love it if you were dead.
Exciton: Then why’d he shoot Disk Commander first?
Fatal: Hm?
Exciton: He had a clear shot to take any of us out before we could even react, and he chose the C-Rank hero? It doesn’t make sense.
Fatal: You’re right… but I can’t even think of a reason why.
Exciton: Me neither; that’s why we have to capture this guy alive.
Fatal: Well, I have some ideas on how to do that.
Exciton: I’m listening.
Emile has a sniper rifle and is scoped in on Exciton’s head. He’s hiding behind a wall of sandbags a large distance from the compound.
Emile: *grunts* I’ll never get through that crystal wall.
Emile hears chewing behind him.
Emile: *frustrated grunt* Chuck! I’m trying to concentrate!
Chuck has a picnic blanket and a Thanksgiving dinner in front of him.
Chuck: Oh, sorry, you haven’t shot in a while, so I thought we were clear.
Emile: I’ll tell you when we’re done here! And when we are, we won’t have time to eat!
Chuck: Aw…
Emile: Hand me the walky-talky.
Chuck tosses Emile the radio.
Emile: This is Emile to Marsh.
Marsh is hidden behind a similar setup as Emile, but he’s aiming at Evergreen’s vine wall.
Marsh: What do you want?
Emile: *walky-talky* Exciton put up a crystal wall; I can’t get through.
Marsh: And how is that my problem?
Emile: *walky-talky* Wh- You’re the sniper here! What should I do?
Marsh: You should have some explosive rounds with you.
Emile: *walky-talky* Huh? I do?
Marsh loads incendiary rounds into his sniper.
Marsh: Yeah, I put them in that picnic basket Chuck had.
Emile’s eyes widen.
Emile: CHUCK!
Chuck is eating the explosive bullets.
Chuck: This is some good chocolate; it’s got kind of a kick, though.
Emile: SPIT THOSE OUT!
Marsh adjusts his scope.
Marsh: This should put some fire under their butts… literally.
Evergreen turns to Boom.
Evergreen: We need to locate the sniper. Can your sound attacks do that?
Boom: Look, sound can travel far and wide, but I’ve got a maximum range, and I can tell you for sure he’s out of it.
Evergreen: Hm… we’ll have to use my vines to move towards him safely.
Boom: I thought we didn’t know where he was?
Evergreen: We have a general direction.
Boom: We do?
Evergreen points at the hole in Gunslinger’s skull.
Boom: Fair point… but shouldn’t we-
A gunshot goes off in the distance.
Boom: Huh?!
Evergreen: Don’t worry; these vines are too thick for his bullets to penetrate.
Suddenly, Evergreen’s vine wall ignites in flames.
Boom: WHAT THE FUCK?!
Evergreen: He’s got fire rounds! Get down!
Boom and Evergreen duck as bullet slices through the burning plants.
Boom: I should have just stayed at the school!
Evergreen: We need to find proper cover! We’re sitting ducks like this!
Silencer emerges from her rock hiding place and begins walking toward the sound of Marsh’s gunshots.
Silencer: (I need to remove this nuisance immediately.)
Evergreen notices Silencer.
Evergreen: Silencer! What are you doing?!
Marsh takes aim at Silencer.
Marsh: (This is too good to pass up.)
Silencer continues walking with no fear.
Boom: He’s done for!
Evergreen: Get down!
Marsh fires at Silencer, and the bullet whizzes toward the center of her helmet.
Marsh: Cya!
Suddenly, the bullet stops in midair before Silencer’s face, shocking Marsh, Boom, and Evergreen.
Boom: Is that… Silencer’s quirk?
Evergreen: I don’t know… I’ve never seen him use it.
Marsh is in awe. Yusuf is standing guard behind him.
Yusuf: Well, did you get him?
Marsh doesn’t answer.
Yusuf: Love our little talks…
Silencer snaps her fingers.
Silencer: (Returning fire.)
The bullet reverses and zooms toward Marsh at the same speed it fired.
Marsh: What the fu-
The bullet goes back up the barrel of Marsh’s sniper.
Marsh: H- how?
Silencer looks at Boom and Evergreen.
Silencer: This will only take a minute. You don’t have to wait for me.
Silencer starts walking toward Marsh and Yusuf.
Boom: Sounds good to me!
Evergreen: Boom, we have to give Silencer support.
Boom: I don’t know… it looks like he has things handled.
Evergreen: That might be the case, but if anything goes wrong, we’re to blame.
Boom: *sighs* Alright, let’s go…
The elevator containing Killian, Tobias, Alec, and Wes stops and opens to a massive atrium.
Wes: Oh god…
The atrium has no floor, creating a seemingly bottomless pit. The scaffolding above leads to a large metal platform.
Killian: Well, this is welcoming.
Alec: I like it!
Wes: WHY DO THEY HAVE A DEATH PIT ROOM?!
Tobias, Killian, and Alec start walking down the scaffolding toward the platform.
Wes: AND WHY ARE YOU GUYS MOVING WITHOUT QUESTIONING ANYTHING?!
Tobias: Relax, Wes. If they wanted us dead, we’d already be falling.
Wes: That’s not reassuring…
Killian: You can stay by the elevator if you want. You can make sure nobody attacks us from behind.
Wes: Don’t act like I’m strange because I’m not looking at a bottomless pit at face value!
Alec: If I had to guess, it’s where they execute people.
Wes: Why?
Alec points at a wooden plank nailed to the platform.
Wes: Oh…
Tobias: It makes sense. No bodies, no trace of their existence.
Voice: Not to mention, we can burn anything we want and leave no remnants.
Alec: That too- Wait, who said that?
Jagger, wearing a black trench coat, emerges from a doorway and steps onto the scaffolding.
Jagger: Don’t you three look eager.
Wes: HEY!
Tobias: I assume you’re here to stop us from progressing?
Jagger: I’m here to kill you. So, technically, yes.
Alec: Fat chance, I’m immortal, bitch!
Jagger: Look down, idiot.
Alec goes quiet.
Alec: Fuck.
Wes: Oh crap…
Killian: What are you whining about now?
Wes: Do you not realize what he just said? That means they planned to send us down here!
Killian: Wait, what?
Tobias: Wes is correct.
Killian: But we randomly stumbled upon that elevator!
Jagger laughs.
Jagger: I guess I got assigned to the stupid squad.
Killian: HEY!
Alec: Watch it!
Tobias: Explain yourself.
Jagger: You’ve just entered level 2 of our hideout and been assigned to the Echo Chamber.
Killian: “Echo chamber?”
Jagger: It’s one of four combat arenas designed to eliminate all who make it past Level 1.
Tobias: How many levels are there?
Jagger: Like I would tell you that!
Alec swings his scythe while Killian extends his claws.
Killian: Then I guess we’ll just have to beat it out of you!
Jagger rolls up his sleeves.
Jagger: Just try it. None of you are leaving here alive!
Wes looks confused.
Wes: (What’s going on? I remember this guy. He got his ass beat by Eve, Demetri, and Isaiah. I don’t think highly of Killian and Alec, but they clear that bar. Hell, Tobias might be able to take him on alone. Why is he so confident?)
Tobias holds his hand up.
Killian: Huh?
Alec: What’s wrong, Tobias?
Tobias: Let me fight first. If anything goes wrong, jump in.
Alec: What? Why?!
Killian: Yeah! We’ve got him outnumbered! Let’s take him down!
Tobias: Alec, Killian, trust me.
Alec and Killian hesitate before reluctantly taking a step back.
Tobias: (I sense something strange about this one…)
Jagger: HA! What happened to the big game you two were talking a minute ago?
Tobias: Enough!
Tobias extends the blade at the end of his cane.
Tobias: Step aside and let us pass.
Jagger: Never!
Jagger fires a barrage of poison needles at Tobias, but Tobias deflects each one with his cane.
Tobias: Pathetic.
Jagger: *scoffs* Wow, I’m so impressed!
Tobias: Why? You haven’t seen anything yet.
Jagger: Neither have you.
Tobias charges at Jagger, dodging a second barrage of needles in the process.
Alec: Kick his ass, Tobias!
Tobias swings at Jagger’s face, but Jagger catches his blade between his hands.
Jagger: You’ve got some spunk. That’ll make it more fun when I watch the life leave your eyes.
Tobias: I’ve never had life in my eyes, but that’s never stopped me from seeing through bullshit.
Tobias kicks Jagger in the stomach, knocking him back.
Killian: Nice, Tobias! Finish his ass!
Tobias slashes his sword toward Jagger’s heart, but his blade clanks against metal.
Killian: Uh… what?
Tobias: I had a feeling you were hiding something.
Jagger snickers.
Jagger: Yeah… your worst nightmare.
Suddenly, four long swords emerge from Jagger’s back and slash at Tobias.
Tobias: Huh!
Tobias deflects two swords, but the other two stab into his left thigh and forearm.
Tobias: AHH!
Alec and Killian: Tobias!
Jagger uppercuts Tobias, sending him flying back.
Jagger: Not so high and mighty now, huh?
Tobias: *grunts* What are you?
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Jagger removes his trenchcoat, revealing his entire torso has been replaced with a mechanical one. At the center of his abdomen is a circular green cannon.
Killian: Woah…
Alec: And I thought I liked sharp objects.
Jagger: Say hello to the Saiph Unit, aka the spider!
Wes gulps.
Wes: What the fuck…
Killian: So, you’re a robot now?
Alec: I think he’s actually an android.
Jagger: Wh- it’s cybernetics!
Alec and Killian stare at Jagger.
Alec and Killian: So, Android?
Jagger: *frustrated grunt*
Wes: (So Iota’s got Cyborgs now… great.)
Wes looks around the room.
Wes: (I’ve gotta find a way out of here. Jagger implied there’s an exit that will lead us to the heart of the Iota Movement. I need to locate it while he’s distracted.)
Wes starts walking along the walls of the room.
Jagger: Look, you fools… I’m not going to waste any more time on you. Master Iota ordered me to end anyone who entered this chamber, so it’s time for you…
Killian and Alec look at each other.
Jagger: To die-
Suddenly, Killian speeds toward Jagger and begins slicing him with his claws.
Killian: All Four Strike: 1,000 Claws!
Jagger: *grunts* That tickles!
Jagger attempts to stab Killian with his swords.
Killian: Too slow!
Killian dodges each slash with ease.
Jagger: What the hell?!
Killian: A machine can’t keep up with my movements! That was your first mistake!
Killian kicks Jagger in the jaw, sending him flying back.
Jagger: *pained grunt*
Killian: Your second was leaving me an opening! Get him, Alec!
Alec chucks his scythe at Jagger.
Alec: Take this!
Alec’s scythe stabs into Jagger’s upper thigh.
Jagger: AHHH!
Jagger crashes down on the scaffolding as Alec reels in his scythe.
Alec: Well, that was easy.
Killian: Yeah, you kind of suck.
Jagger slowly starts to get up.
Jagger: You two would have been much better off letting me kill you…
Killian: Yeah, well, tough titties! Now that Alec’s got your blood, you’re done for!
Alec: I’m gonna enjoy this…
Alec licks Jagger’s blood from his scythe. Jagger doesn’t react.
Tobias: Something’s wrong…
Killian: Nothing’s wrong, Tobias! We just kicked this minor-league villain around!
Alec: And now it’s time to finish him!
Alec stabs his scythe into his own thigh, reflecting the wound onto Jagger.
Jagger: AHHHH!
Jagger falls to his knees in pain.
Killian: Alright, bitch, tell us where the exit is, and we’ll make this quick.
Alec: Hey! Who said you get to make the threats! It’s my quirk that’s fuckin’ with him!
Tobias stands up.
Tobias: Stop arguing! Alec, finish him now!
Killian: But he needs to tell us where-
Tobias: We can’t let him live any longer. I have a bad feeling!
Alec: About what?
Jagger readies a batch of needles.
Alec: Killian! Look out!
Killian: Huh?
Jagger fires the needles in seemingly random directions.
Killian: Uh… what?
Alec: Your aim sucks…
Jagger smiles.
Jagger: I hit my targets…
Inside the control room, Signal scrambles at his station. Iota is gone.
Signal: We just lost surveillance of the Echo Chamber!
Zaire: All four cameras are down?
Signal: Yeah, we’re blind in there.
Zaire: (Jagger…)
Jagger gets to his feet.
Jagger: I think it’s time for me to have some fun!
Jagger raises his hand, and black fog emits from it.
Alec and Killian: Huh?
Wes notices Jagger, and his eyes widen.
Wes: Oh… shit… GET OUT OF THERE, KILLIAN!
Killian: What?
The fog begins to surround Jagger and Killian, creating a large circle.
Tobias: Killian!
Tobias runs through the fog, grabs Killian, and throws him out of the circle.
Killian: Tobias?!
The circle of fog rises into walls, forming a cylinder that envelops Jagger and Tobias.
Killian: What is that thing?!
Wes watches in shock.
Wes: Soulvania…
Tobias winces in pain as blood gushes from his wounds. Jagger laughs.
Jagger: Welcome to my web… said the spider to the fly.
Scarlett smiles from within her prison cell.
Scarlett: (Good luck, Jagger. I hope my power gives you everything you wanted, but don’t think I’ll let you have all the fun.)
Hayze, Silver, Fang, Ivy, and Lara are running through the halls of Iota’s facility when suddenly Hayze feels a pain in his neck and falls to his knees.
Hayze: *pained grunt*
Silver: Hayze!
Fang: Are you alright?
Hayze: Yeah… I think my neck just cramped up…
Fang: Are you sure? Let me see.
Hayze quickly stands up.
Hayze: No, we have to follow Luke!
Silver: I hate to say it, Hayze, but I think he’s gone.
Ivy: Yeah, he’s on a motorcycle; we can’t keep up.
Hayze: He wouldn’t run away. He’s waiting for me somewhere; I know it!
Silver places his hand on Hayze’s shoulder.
Silver: Hayze. Why do you care so much?
Hayze: Huh?
Silver: He’s just a bad guy who blames you for his mistakes. Nobody here thinks his hatred for you is justified. So, why do you care about allowing him to settle the score?
Hayze goes quiet.
Hayze: Friendship is easy to fake, but that doesn’t mean the memories before the reveal feel fake too.
A flashback begins.
Luke: So… are you gonna rat me out?
Hayze: I…
Luke: I should have known you wouldn’t get it!
Hayze: Wh- I-
Luke: I thought you would because we’re in the same boat…
Hayze: Wh- what do you mean?
Luke: We’ll never be heroes without great quirks, Hayze!
Hayze: But we’ve been training and-
Luke: And we’ll still get rejected by every hero school in the country, no matter what!
Hayze has no response.
Luke: The only way for us to become heroes… is by doing it ourselves.
Hayze: But… you could have hurt Amanda and…
Hayze has a look of realization.
Hayze: All those other times you…
Luke: Yeah… everyone thinks I’m gonna be a great hero someday because I gave them a reason to. It’s the only way for me to achieve my dream.
Luke turns to walk away.
Luke: You’ll never be a hero the normal way, Hayze. Face it.
Hayze: You’re wrong! We just have to work hard and-
Luke: And what?! Be told the same thing over and over?! “Your quirk sucks!”
Hayze is speechless.
Luke: I want to be a hero, Hayze, more than anything. I won’t stop until I am. I thought you were like me; that’s why I was going to tell you my secret eventually. If you want to tell everyone on me, then go ahead…, but I thought we could reach the top together… as friends.
Luke walks away.
Hayze (Naratting): I could have stopped him then. He would have gotten in trouble, but his chances of becoming a hero would have dropped to 0. His dream was in my hands, and… I couldn’t bring myself to betray him. I thought he was my friend. He was like a brother to me. If I had just put my foot down… I could have prevented what came next.
A few nights later, Hayze is in his room at his house when he’s awoken by a knock on his window.
Hayze: Huh?
Hayze opens his window, and Luke is standing outside.
Hayze: Luke? What are you doing here?
Luke: You didn’t tell anyone.
Hayze: No… I didn’t.
Luke: Does that mean you’re on board?
Hayze: I… I don’t know.
Luke: Well, here’s your chance to make up your mind.
Hayze: Huh?
Luke: Come with me.
Hayze hesitates, but then he follows Luke to their school.
Hayze: Why did you bring me here, Luke?
Luke: There’s a meeting with all the parents going on in there.
Hayze: Yeah… so?
Luke pulls out a homemade firebomb.
Hayze: What’s that?
Luke: My uncle taught me how to make napalm when I was 5!
Hayze: Why?!
Luke: I don’t know. I’ll ask when I visit him in Guantanamo Bay.
Hayze stares at Luke.
Hayze: Luke, what are you gonna do with that?
Luke: You mean, “What are WE gonna do with that.”
Hayze: Huh?
Luke: This is our chance to put our names on the map, Hayze! For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been sneaking balloons full of gasoline into the school and hiding them. With this thing, we can set the whole school on fire!
Hayze: What?! Luke! We can’t!
Luke: Yes, we can, Hayze! Once the fire starts, we run in and save everyone! We’ll say we were on a walk when we saw the fire. It’s perfect.
Hayze: This isn’t right!
Luke: Nobody is gonna get hurt because we’ll save them! That’s what heroes do.
Hayze is speechless.
Luke: So, do you want to be a hero?
Hayze doesn’t answer.
Luke: You’ll never be one if we don’t do this. People will take one look at your quirk and say you’re worthless. That’s all you’ll hear through high school, and when you finally realize nobody wants you… it’ll be too late.
Hayze: Luke… we can find another way.
Luke screams in frustration.
Luke: Look at this!
Luke pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket and throws it at Hayze.
Hayze: What is this?
Luke: That’s the brochure to the hero school I want to attend someday… United Academy, a.k.a. U.A.
Hayze examines the paper.
Hayze: They have a quirk test?
Luke: Yeah, and that’s just the test to see if you can TAKE the entrance exam.
Hayze trembles as he stares at the paper.
Luke: We’ll never make it unless we give them a reason to look past our abilities. If we show them we can be heroes in elementary school… they’ll have to accept us. So…
Luke puts his hand on Hayze’s shoulder.
Luke: Are you with me?
Hayze is quiet for a few moments.
Hayze: Yeah… yeah, I am.
Luke smiles.
Luke: Sweet! I knew you were my pal!
Luke turns toward the school.
Luke: I know the perfect spot to-
Hayze punches Luke in the back of the head, knocking him out cold. He looks at Luke with tears in his eyes.
Hayze: I’m sorry…
The flashback ends.
Hayze: After that, I ran inside and told everyone Luke’s plan. He got expelled, and I never saw him again… until today.
Silver: Hayze, he was deranged. That’s not your fault.
Hayze: No, Silver… I could have saved him. Luke was using me to validate his own selfish ideas. He thought if he had an accomplice, his actions would be justified. “How could I be wrong if someone else feels the way I do.” I should have realized, but I didn’t… and Luke suffered because of me. I could have saved him… that’s why I need to see this through.
Everyone stares at Hayze, speechless.
Scarlett: (That was a great speech, Hayze.)
Hayze’s eyes widen.
Hayze: That voice…
Fang: Huh?
Ivy: What voice?
Scarlett laughs.
Scarlett: (You still remember my voice after all this time, how sweet.)
Hayze: You’re still alive?
Silver: Who’s still alive, Hayze?! What’s going on?
Scarlett: (Now isn’t the time to reacquaint ourselves, Hayze. You must get moving.)
Hayze: (And why’s that?)
A flash of Tobias and Jagger inside a Soulvania enters Hayze’s mind.
Hayze: (What?! Was that a-)
Scarlett: (A Soulvania, yes. And your friend is trapped inside it.)
Hayze: (What do you want?)
Scarlett: (Oh, you’ll see soon enough, but I can help you save your friend.)
Hayze thinks for a moment.
Hayze: Show me the way.
Scarlett smiles.
Scarlett: (With pleasure.)
Silver: Hayze, tell us what’s going on.
Hayze: I’ll explain once we get there.
Ivy: Get where?
Hayze starts running.
Hayze: Tobias, Will, Alec, and Killian are in trouble! Follow me!
The rest of the group looks at each other before following Hayze.
Hayze: (This is definitely a trap, but I’m the only one who can save Tobias’ life.)
Zaire watches Hayze on the monitor.
Zaire: Why did they change direction suddenly?
Signal: I’m not sure, but they’re following a path directly to the Echo Chamber elevator.
Zaire: Block them.
Signal: Right away.
The door to the control room slams open. Luke steps in.
Zaire: Luke? What are you doing here?
Luke: Hey, Poindexter!
Vince looks scared.
Luke: You said these cybernetics would make me unbeatable!
Vince: It’s not my fault you didn’t knock out the girl who could control electronics!
Luke: WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?!
Luke charges toward Vince, but Zaire blocks him.
Luke: Get out of my way!
Zaire: Answer my question.
Luke: *frustrated grunt* I want Hayze alone.
Zaire: Now you do?
Luke: What does that mean?!
Zaire: You wanted your perfect revenge, but now you realize Hayze’s friendships are stronger than you thought, so you want him alone.
Luke: Shut up!
Zaire: Go back to your quarters, Luke. You’re not needed for the rest of this mission.
Luke: The hell I’m not!
Luke tries to punch Zaire, but Zaire catches his fist.
Zaire: You’ll have another chance at Hayze, but you’ll have to wait. If you have a problem with that, you can talk to Master.
Luke: *frustrated grunt* Whatever!
Luke storms out of the room.
Vince: Fuck that guy!
Zaire: Shut up.
Vince: Okay…
Outside in the aurora, Isaiah and Demetri fuse into Isetri.
Isetri: Yeah! Now we can kick this guy’s ass!
Meltman: Great work, Demeisaiahtri!
Lust: Why did you two fuse together?
Isetri: So we can kick this guy’s ass!
Lust: But… we don’t know where he is…
Isetri: Yeah? So?
Lust: Isn’t there a 30-minute time limit?
Isetri: Yeah…
Lust: So, wouldn’t it have made sense to wait until we see him?
Isetri falls to his knees in defeat.
Meltman: I taught him that move!
Lust: Wh- what?
Johan’s laughs echo throughout the aurora.
Isetri: This guy is so annoying!
Meltman: Yeah, like anal leakage!
Lust: Meltman, why don’t we play the quiet game?
Meltman: You sound like my parents!
Lust: I… I don’t feel bad.
Johan appears in front of the trio with six daggers.
Johan: Let’s have some fun!
Meltman: Just like Christmas!
Lust: What?!
Isetri: Ha! That will never work!
Isetri uses his ocular puppetry to paralyze Johan.
Isetri: Eat shit!
Meltman: Good work, Isimeahtri!
Lust: Uh… guys?
Isetri: I accept all thanks in the form of hand jobs!
Meltman: Alright, I’ll get my gloves.
Isetri: From females!
Meltman: Oh, okay!
Lust: Guys!
Isetri and Meltman: What!
Lust: He’s an illusionist…
Isetri: Yeah, so- oh…
Johan appears behind the trio and throws two daggers into each of their backs.
Meltman: AH! CHRISTMAS!
Lust: We need to destroy this aurora. It’s the only way to break free of his illusions!
Meltman: Don’t worry, I have a plan!
Lust: Meltman, I’m not sure I trust-
Meltman melts his sphincter, causing him to defecate his pants.
Meltman: And now we wait!
Lust: AH! What is that smell?!
Isetri: Meltman what did you eat?!
Meltman: Whatever the Hooters down the street from my agency couldn’t serve last night.
Lust and Isetri: UGH!
Meltman: It was all part of the plan.
Lust: Meltman, this will never work!
The aurora fades. Johan falls to his knees.
Johan: UGH! WHAT THE FUCK?!
Meltman: Gottem’!
Blair, Saige, and Blaze arrive at a dead end.
Blair: Huh, first one of these we’ve found.
Blaze: Should we turn around?
Saige: Nah, that’ll take forever. I say we take a page out of Aaron’s book!
Saige creates a rocket launcher.
Saige: *extremely high-pitched* MY NAME’S AARON. I BLOW STUFF UP TO COMPENSATE FOR MY PENIS SIZE!
Blair: SAIGE!
Blaze and Blair dive for cover. Saige fires a rocket at the wall, blasting it to bits.
Blair: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
Blaze: You know, this is probably gonna piss you off, but this is like the 3rd time I’ve seen her do this.
Saige: Look! It’s an elevator!
Blaze: I didn’t even know who Aaron was.
Blair: Saige, you could have killed us!
Blaze: Also, I was like 5 the first time.
Saige: I’m pretty sure we’ve all survived a missile attack at this point in our lives.
Blaze: She has a point.
Blair: *frustrated grunt* Just get in the fucking elevator!
Saige: Hooray!
Blaze: And the conversation ended on that exact word both times.
Zach and Daisuke descend down an elevator.
Zach: So, what happens after we get out of this elevator?
Daisuke: I don’t know.
Zach: Well, you said I fall into lava with Iota, so there can’t be many rooms that look like that around here. So, we just have to search around and see if we-
The elevator doors open to a lava-filled atrium with scaffolding above leading to a large metal platform. Iota is standing at the center.
Iota: Hello, boys…
Daisuke: Well, that was easy.