This is...weird. Death remarked.

"Just promise you won't jump around anywhere!" Og'drimun begged. "We can't afford to get split up."

The two of them were in a dark alley with just a single street light overhead. The old lightbulb flickered every few seconds, as if it was barely managing to hang on there.

Death scratched his skull. Almost feels like I've been here before.

"What're you talking about?" Og'drimun complained. "This is some weird stone cavern. Focus on getting us out of here, and not whatever this strange place makes you think of."

A man stumbled into the alley. He fell down onto his stomach. He looked completely bedraggled. His clothes were torn, his hair was torn out with only patches left.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

He slowly tilted up his head. His eyes grew in surprise. "You...it can't be. You're, you're actually back!" He started to tear up.

"Oh great, now this place is creepy and awkward," Og'drimun complained.

----------------------------------------

Narissa shook her head. "You're lucky I managed to stabilize everything so quickly."

"It's not really the kind of arena I'm used to here." Sentenza retorted as he rolled off to the side.

A portal appeared where he had been just a moment ago.

"Hhhheeee fffiiiggghhhtttsss sssttrrraaannggeeellleeelllyyy." Bakade agreed as she moved back. "Iiiitttt'sss hhhaaarrrddd ttttoooo gggoooo oooonnn ttthheee ooooffffffeeeeennnnnssssiiiivvveeee."

Narissa narrowed her eyes as she stared at the strange portal. "Yes. It seems a little troubling what all that machine is capable of."

The robot's smaller arms on its front held up broken bits of metal and started to twist it into a new shape. All while it stood and overlooked its three opponents.

VOOOSH!

The robot turned and held up its arms. The wolf had leaped back through another tear in reality. Unlike the portals made by the robot, this one was jagged, like it was a solid piece of fabric that a jagged knife had torn through.

The wolf's frozen sword slammed into the robot's arms. A shockwave flew out from where they collided, but the machine managed to hold its ground as the massive arms resisted being torn to shreds by the wolf's massive sword.

Narissa lifted up her hand and rested her fist just under her chin. "Okay, that is even more troubling." She conceded.