Worldcore

[Namohysip]

Curio’s Energize III granted Owen 155 stamina!
Kate’s Strike II dealt 1214 damage to Suicune!
Kindle’s Soothe III reduced Owen’s Shadows by 60!
Support Burst was activated! Team Spectrum’s damage will be boosted by 25% this turn!
The Worldcore is boosting all damage by 50%!

Mellow Called Out to Cabot, Brisa, and Cynthian!
Mellow’s Helping Hand boosted Cabot!
Dave’s Helping Hand boosted Brisa!
Shiron Called Out to Cabot!
Vix’s Radiant Wax gave Owen and Brisa each a wax layer and boosted their Def/Res by +1!
Vix’s Umbral Ire burned away Cabot’s, Owen’s and Brisa’s wax and boosted their next attacks!
Icetales’s Brilliant Inspirit boosted Cynthian, Starr, and Owen!
Icetales’ Teatime let Starr use a Max Elixir!
Icetales’s Rejuvenating Heal Bell healed Koa, Saltriv, and Vix by 25%!
Icetales Called Out to Koa!
Saltriv Called Out to Brisa, Starr and Cabot, boosting their Evasion by 2 each!
Saltriv Called Out to True Darkwhite and Shield!
Koa Called Out to Brisa!

Dave's double Crunches dealt 1537 damage to Lugia and applied -500 to Defence! It’s Super Effective!
Shiron’s Silver Spike deal 109 damage to Suicune!
Cabot’s Forcible Annihilation Meteor, supported by Mellow and Vix, dealt a CRITICAL 12009 damage to Entei! It’s Ultra Effective and a KO!
Cabot’s double Reckless Annihilation Head Smashes, supported by Mellow, dealt a CRITICAL 14080 damage to Ho-oh! It’s Ultra Effective!
Koa’s double Pressurized Electric Echoing Hyper Voices dealt 2870 damage to Suicune! It’s Super Effective!
Brisa’s Overcharged Facade, supported by Dave, dealt a CRITICAL 2210 damage to Lugia! It’s Super Effective!
Starr's Power Trip, supported by Icetales, dealt a CRITICAL 5713 damage to Sword!
Starr's Flare Blitz, supported by Icetales, dealt 4823 damage to Raikou! Starr took 289 damage in recoil!
Starr's Leech Life, supported by Icetales, dealt 2430 damage to Raikou! Starr healed for 182 HP!
Brisa & Starr's Fusion Arcflare, supported by Dave, Icetales, Vix and each other, dealt a CRITICAL 18030 damage to Sword! It’s Ultra Effective! Starr took catastrophic damage in recoil!
Cynthian’s Technical Bullet Seed, supported by Icetales, dealt a CRITICAL 4542 damage to the Darkwhite horde! It’s Super Effective! She overhealed to max!
Cynthian’s Hyacinth Sludge Bomb, supported by Icetales, dealt a CRITICAL 1593 damage to the Darkwhite horde! It’s Super Effective!
Cynthian’s Hyacinth Leafstorm, supported by Icetales, dealt a CRITICAL 3533 damage to the Darkwhite horde! It’s Super Effective!
Cynthian’s Hyacinth Technical Bullet Seed, supported by Icetales, dealt a CRITICAL 4365 damage to the Darkwhite horde! It’s Super Effective!
Owen's Packrat Overheat struck in a wide flurry! First, to Ho-Oh went three, for 8848 damage total for a KO!
Two more went to Suicune for 8748 damage, dispelling the phantom!
Two went to Raikou for 8602 damage, another KO!
The final two went to Darkwhite for 9500 damage!

Darkwhite and Sword were both stunned and didn't follow through with their strikes!

The chaos was deafening. Owen could barely hear over it all. But, when the dust finally settled, and he could get a proper look at what all happened...

"Did... did we make it...?" He saw that the swarms of Darkwhite were stunned and trying to regroup again. But amid all the smoke and flames, as his body protested going any further... Ho-Oh's fizzling wings rushed toward him and his teammates, but he was too slow, too exhausted, to get anything out of the way. He was down instantly, finally, like it was a relief to rest.

Several units performed their Last Words!
Ho-Oh used Dual Wingbeat on Owen, Starr, and Cabot!
Owen: Dodged, and then a grazing 1531, KO!
Starr: Dodged!
Cabot: Protected!

Entei, Suicune, and Raikou used Blacklight Elements on Starr, Cabot, and Cynthian!
Starr: 721, KO!
Cabot: 726, Second Chance!
Cynthian: 520

Lugia used Shadow Blast on Cabot, Cynthian, and Brisa!
Cabot: Dodged!
Cynthian: Dodged!
Brisa: Dodged!

Lugia used Aeroblast on Cabot, Cynthian, Brisa!
Cabot: Dodged!
Cynthian: Dodged!
Brisa: Dodged!

Lugia used Dragon Tail on Brisa, Icetales, and Mellow!
Brisa: 78
Icetales: 0
Mellow: A grazing 59!

Brisa and Mellow were hit into L1!

The Blacklight Dragon used Spacial Rend on Icetales, Koa, and Vix!
Icetales: 0
Koa: 1622, KO!
Vix: 952, KO!

The Blacklight Dragon used Blacklight Destruction on the survivors of L2!
Cynthian Warded it off!
Icetales lost 1 Valor!
Cabot Warded it off!

The Blacklight Dragon delved into the darkness... It's preparing Shadow Force!

Alone in the other chamber, Regirock tried to strike Dave, but something about the Core was destabilizing. Regirock exploded outright! Thankfully, Dave was able to just barely get out of the way...

Regirock used Lock-On Rock Slide on Dave, dealing 223 damage!
Regirock used Explosion, but Dave dodged it!

Diyem wasn't able to hold Rayquaza off. He struck once, and then Rayquaza fled instantly, trying tocatch up with the invaders.

"How DARE you, I am the KING of--"

Rayquaza used Dragon Ascent on Diyem, dealing 240 damage!

Registeel used Charge Beam on Diyem for 126 damage!
Registeel used Explosion! Diyem took 199 damage!

Rayquaza relocated to L1, then L2!

"Ghhhh..." Diyem stumbled, unable to move much as he felt a horrible sense wash over him. His team. They were falling just as quickly as their opponents, weren't they? This hyper-offensive nature of the caves... It was a bloodbath.

Several of Team spectrum were revived!

Several on Team Spectrum were KOed! Diyem took 2540 damage!

Diyem relocated from M2 to F, and then from F to L2!

Diyem used Abyssal Thaumaturgy! His Defense and Resistance went up by 1! He gained immunity to defense-piercing effects!

"Pathetic..." Diyem laughed madly. He couldn't stop. It hurt to laugh yet he had to try. "To be pushed to my limits here. But I'm not done. Ohhh, I'm not done..." He stared at the team among him, still trying to recover. "Leave me be. Save Darkwhite. Do not think... that this body is all I have." He held his Shadow hammer, resolute. "I shall persist. Leave them to me. Do all you can."

Diyem sent a command to survive and save Darkwhite! He's fending off the phantoms!

The hyper-offensive nature of the atmosphere has subsided.
Now, all corruption amounts gained and lost is cut in half!
Enemies might use Blacklight moves more often!

And then, in the very depths of the Worldcore... Regigigas lumbered toward Saltriv, a layer of ice getting rid of the last of their Protect shields. And amid that chaos, it picked Saltriv up and crushed their body--

Regigigas used Icy Wind on Saltriv, but they blocked it with Protect!
Regigigas used Crush Grip on Saltriv, dealing 142 damage!

"No! Stop!" Darkwhite screamed, and suddenly, Regigigas let Saltriv go. Its fingers twitched and its whole body fizzled and frazzled. Something was wrong... It was moving faster. Loosening up. Getting limber. Had that happened when Shield was still alone... "Saltriv... th-that's your name, right? Saltriv... You shouldn't be here! Go! Just go! Close this cave... seal it forever!"

"Sword, please, we need to go," Shield said, grunting as he pulled and pulled, but the Worldcore wasn't giving her up. "Let her GO! She isn't yours! She's... she's with me! She's my PARTNER! She's my--"

Just then, it looked like the very air, all of reality, had collapsed into a horrid SNAP around Shield, crushing him with invisible hands before blasting him across the ground. His body looked broken and battered, and yet even as Regigigas was limbering up further, he staggered forward again. His body was far beyond the points where he should be walking around... yet he was.

Saltriv's Call lowered Sword's corruption by 20!
Shield called Sword! It lowered her corruption further...
The Worldcore rejected Shield, dealing 9999 damage!
But Shield refused to fall! He gained 1 HP!

"No, go away, go away!" Sword begged, luminous tears washing down her cheeks. A pink wave of energy washed over Shield, restoring some of his injuries.

"I'm not... losing you..." He grabbed Sword again, pulling her, and she tried to comply, but she was stuck.

Shield called Sword...
Darkwhite used Heal Pulse on Shield, healing him for 500 HP

The Worldcore struck back for 9999 damage!
Shield staggered back to Sword... He has 1 HP.

"Shield... please..."

"I refuse to give up on you," Shield said, his legs making noises they definitely shouldn't be making. Another Heal Pulse washed over him. "Focus... it's... going to be okay." He laughed weakly. "I'm here, now. I'm here for you."

"Shield, no... You'll die. You'll die and... and it'll be my fault..."

Shield... embraced Sword.

"It's okay," Shield breathed. Sword didn't understand. The Lucario's body was being held together by something far more than power, now. He shouldn't be there anymore. Yet he was. "It's okay. I won't die. We're here to save you."

"It won't let me go..."

"Just breathe... You can do it. You're halfway out, now. Remember when you were totally stuck? We can do this. Just... a little more."

"Breathe... I... b-but, Shield, I'm... s-so scared... I d-don't know what's going on. I s-see everything... I h-hate it... I don't... I don't want this anymore, I want to go home... Where's Pops... where's..."

"I'm here. Breathe... Breathe..."

SNAP! Reality crushed Shield, yet he persisted. He wasn't even knocked back this time.

Sword Focused. Sword Focused again.
The Worldcore struck back for 9999 damage!
Shield refused to let go. He has 1 HP.

Not many foes remain.

Rayquaza, Lugia, and the Blacklight Dragon are in zone L2 at good health.

Darkwhite transformed into a swarm of Orbeetle! They're hesitantly preparing a Gravity-like Eterna strike!

Swords look weak and thin in number, but they are still conjuring something... Countless stars swim in the air as they halfheartedly prepare a Starfall attack!

Regigigas' Slow Start has ended! Its attack went up dramatically! Its actions went up by 2!

 

[Spiteful Murkrow]

Amid the raging din of battle, Kate darted to and fro around incoming attacks, her attention settling on Suicune where Koa was engaged in battle. The Sneasel ducked an incoming blast of water, before blowing a puff of air up at her forehead.

"Right. That looks like a good place to help."

Kate ran forward, when from the corner of her eye, she spotted Starr lunging at Entei with shadowy trails covering her fists in an overpowering barrage. So that was the Power Trip she kept going on about.

"Oh, I've got to try my claw at that."

Actually... maybe she could try her claw at that. It was a bit of a risk since she was still inexperienced, but she had learned Mimic a while back. How exactly the move worked here on Cibus was somewhat of a mystery, something about it copying moves and lingering for a while from Aura or the elements gathering to copy a prior disturbance. But all that mattered was that Kate sharply exhaled and saw whitish light gather about her, which coalesced on her claws in much the same shadowy appearance as it did on Starr.

"Ah! It really does work!"

The Dark-Type lunged forward, throwing her blows forward in a flurry much the same as the Incineroar's. So much so that she wondered if it was really her using the move or Mimic's effects guiding her strikes. After her copied Power Trip found its mark, the Sneasel jumped back, when she noticed her body suddenly grow awash in light.

"Huh?!"

Kate's body grew enveloped in light, her limbs growing along with her body and her claws crowing larger and more prominent. Her head sprouted a crest of feathers as her ear feather drifted down and was joined by a second one on the other side of her head. The newly formed Weavile landed on the ground with a crouch, looking over her new body with a sense of unreality before a grinning smirk spread over her face.

"No Razor Claw needed in this world, huh? Near death-experiences aside, this day just keeps getting better and better!"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Just breathe... You can do it. You're halfway out, now. Remember when you were totally stuck? We can do this. Just... a little more."

"Breathe... I... b-but, Shield, I'm... s-so scared... I d-don't know what's going on. I s-see everything... I h-hate it... I don't... I don't want this anymore, I want to go home... Where's Pops... where's..."

"I'm here. Breathe... Breathe..."

SNAP! Reality crushed Shield, yet he persisted. He wasn't even knocked back this time.

Cynthian listened to them while she made her way into the room. Watching the two companions made her heart wrench into knots. The last barrage of attacks had left Cynthian feeling spent and fatigued, but she had to do something for them too!

"Shield, you're doing great! Don't let go!" Cynthian cried out in encouragement. She slipped past the Regigigas... not, Cynthian outright ignored its presence and leapt for Shield and Sword.

"We can do this together! We're so close!" Much like Saltriv did just before, Cynthian spread her vines and held onto both Shield - to help support him from behind -and used the rest of her tendrils to pull Darkwhite towards her. She could feel the others all helping in their own ways, and even a faint barrier from Dave surrounding her.

"Darkwhite... Sword! It's going to be okay! All your friends are here! We're all here to save you!! Keep fighting back and don't give in, please!!" Cynthian pleaded, tightening the grip of her vines and pulling using all her strength with reckless abandon.

Only a little longer, only a little bit more, and Darkwhite will finally be free once again.

 

[Flyg0n]

The last thing Koa saw was the looming figure of the Blacklight Dragon, its phantom head leering at him, twisted shape feeling as if it were consuming the entire room. Everything warped, hisvision spun, and a brief moment of agony as every fibre of his being felt as if it was torn apart and- Nothing.

Then a sudden rush of light and energy as his reviver seed kicked in. Koa blinked suck in a breath of air. His body shook and he could hardly stand, yet... He was alive. Barely. He could hardly stand, and the world around him seemed to sway.

Unacceptable. You let yourself faint. Stop getting distracted by apparitions!

Gritting his teeth, Koa summoned his strength to stagger forward. Press on, no matter what.

Come on. Faster.

Koa limped into the last room, only to see Regigas looming over the area. Oh fantastic.

But beyond that lay... A struggling Lucario, valiantly fighting beyond what any pokemon should be able to, to try and free his partner. Icetales was there too, ever calm, offering healing. Brisa. Saltriv. Starr. And the other members of Team Spectrum.

And you. A burden. Holding them back. Imagine if they didn't have to worry about you slowing them down.

His attention was drawn by the hordes of Swords and fake Darkwhite's, preparing another mass attack. A snarl grew in the back of Koa's throat. His gaze locked on the hordes of Sword's all around.

"Back off!" he roared. Shadows surged from him. "I won't let you hurt my friends!" And I won't let myself slow them down.

Still seething, he spun away from the horde and towards the real Darkwhite. The Lucario still struggled valiantly, trying to free her, and Cynthian had joined in as well. Struggling so hard, for a mon who'd hurt them, yet she hadn't meant to hurt them. All she wanted was to get out. Trying so hard just to escape...

That's enough, kid. No more of that, now. Y'ain't a monster. You're hurtin'. Just like me. Just like the rest of us. It's okay.

His heart wrenched at the sight.

"Darkwhite!" he shouted. "I know you're scared. I know how it feels to be afraid of hurting someone. To wonder if someone can ever forgive you. If everyone will hate you for what you are but-" his voice hitched, but he continued. "But we don't. It's okay, to be scared. But you can't give up, you can't give in."

His voice grew in intensity, every ounce of his belief seeping into his words. "We're all here because we believe in you. Because Shield believes. So you can't give up. If you want to save Shield, then you have to keep fighting! Fight for Shield, and we can save you both!"

Koa Called to The True Darkwhite!

 

[Dragonfree]

Dave watched as Shield clung to Sword, trying to save her from the place, weathering every onslaught. Something about it made it hard to look away, his chest tightening.

There wasn't any real point to him being here. He'd hated Darkwhite. Why would she want to hear him say anything to her? What a dumb fucking idea.

For most of the fight he'd been shielding Brisa, watching her attack alongside Starr. The two of them complemented each other, their attacks fusing together into something unique. What was he doing here, other than trying to support her somehow? Not much. He'd summoned every insufferable Shadow thought and felt his insides twist into the abyss as he tried to attack, but even that, even drawing on everything he hated, wasn't half as effective as what Brisa could do. Why even bother?

And yet, now, they were all calling on everyone to call out to Sword. To this person that, for all intents and purposes, he'd never even met. How was that going to help?

In there, Shield was desperately grasping her, to keep her safe, to pull her out.

"Just let him take you, Sword!" he yelled. "Stop being stubborn!"

 

[Cresselia92]

Every member of Team Spectrum was gathering in the final area of that accursed place, ready to help the one ‘mon they had been trying to rescue: Darkwhite, formerly known as Sword.

Icetales stared at Shield, struggling hard to try to pull the Mew out of the wall, and he was aided in the effort by Saltriv and Cynthian. He wanted to join in and lend a paw, but he saw that many members of Team Spectrum required some urgent healing. He shared some tea with Saltriv to energize them, so that they both could offer sufficient shielding and health for whatever attack was incoming next.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The soothing waves of the Heal Bell offered some comfort to Cabot, Starr and Koamaru. However, once more, the move seemed to react with whatever sonic phenomenon that was happening around the Manectric, and the Ninetales brought the remaining energy of the bell toward himself.

Didn’t that energy help cleanse the Radiance and Shadow from the lad’s spirit a while back? Hmm…

There was only one way to know.

Icetales gathered every single remaining speck of energy into the mostly empty bell and took it toward Darkwhite.

“I implore thee, Miss Darkwhite. Dost not give up!” he begged, holding the bell just above her head. “We are here for thee, and we shall not leave without thee. Hang in there! We have pulled off many miracles in the past,” he glanced briefly at Cynthian, before smirking at Darkwhite, “what is one more?”

The clear bell chimed.

 

[Phoenixsong]

Araun was the first of the pair to bound into the final cave, faster on three legs than Skara was on unsteady wings, and he barely hesitated before barreling straight toward the hulking figure that towered over Shield. "Get the fuck away from them!" the growlithe snarled, darting around the behemoth's legs, harrying it as best he could, a mosquito jabbing at an onix. It would almost be comical were it not for the determination seething in his voice. "Get away! Let him fucking help her, and help you!"

The familiar's efforts were admirable, if futile, but the thing was still winding up, the atmosphere still writhing as if a living thing trying to tear Shield away from his partner. Skara doubted there was a fog-damn thing to be done about the latter, but if there was any way to slow the regigigas down, any way to buy the others more time to help, to do what she'd been brought here to do, she was going to have to find it. She strafed around, spat webbing at its legs, hissed the words and struck it with paralyzing lightning. It was already so strong, too strong, had too much momentum built up for anything to hold it for more than a moment, but maybe a moment was all they needed, all Sword needed—

"Sword," Skara called, shouting to hear herself over the din and the growling of the electricity coursing down her jaws, "you're in control of this, if you just let yourself be. These manifestations—" she gestured at the revolving swarms of charmander and ever-shifting pokémon, the manic light in their eyes flickering as they hesitated "—are holding back because you want to hold back. Do what you want, like you've always done, not whatever you think 'has to happen' because of this stupid place! Do you want to be with Shield or not?"

"Let go, Sword!" Araun pleaded between lunges at the giant. "Let go of Regigigas, and the phantoms, and the hordes! Let go, and hold onto Shield instead!"

 

[IFBench]

"I'm not leaving you!" Saltriv shouted, even after the crush by Regigigas. They continued to pull along with Shield and now Cynthian, desperate to free Darkwhite.. "We're getting you out of here! No matter what!"

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa dodged blasts of shadow, then air, only to be thumped by draconic energy from Lugia's tail. The impact hurled her from the room; she rolled to a desperate landing, and grit her teeth against the pain. They were running out of time for this shit. She sprinted back along the tunnels of the Worldcore, ducking under Lugia entirely to get to the deepest part of the caverns.

The madding energy in the air faded, giving way to an eerie placidity.

Darkwhite. Where are you.

At the nexus of Cibus itself, she found them. The guardian golem, that stubborn lucario, and the one they'd come to rescue. As attacks started to rain down, and barriers went up, Darkwhite cried out, begging Shield and the team to get out, to leave her, to save themselves.

You'll die and... and it'll be my fault...

Darkwhite was giving up. Hence the despair in her voice. She couldn't imagine escaping to safety, so she was gonna let the Worldcore take her.

It all felt terribly familiar.

That Radiance she'd felt coming into the fight... she hadn't known what it was, just felt it was the exhilaration of a fight for fun. But it was something else. Something new. The desire to connect with her opponent on the battlefield... to understand them through combat. That desire was now a shining wish.

Darkwhite! Sword... I know you're scared! I know what it's like to be afraid of hurting my friends. I know how hard it is to feel like a danger to folks. But this ain't the answer! There's still a chance for us to save you! You have to have faith in us, you have to let us help you! Please, Sword! Trust me, like I trust you! PLEASE!

Darkwhite had responded to her in the desert when she'd made that connection. She'd halted her self-destruct attack she'd been so committed to. There'd been a chance where it looked like there was none. There'd be that same chance now, and she'd take it. Brisa would put herself between Darkwhite and every single attack she could if that's what it took. She'd stay there with Shield, with the team, until Darkwhite was free. She had no limit to her conviction. None at all.

Darkwhite's Max Flow struck Brisa for all her HP!
Brisa toughed it out to show her best side to Darkwhite! She endured with 1 HP out of sheer determination!

Her eyes blazed gold just like before, as tethers of pure light spun out from her body once again to connect with Darkwhite. Time slowed as she for the struggling heart inside all that anguish...

Dread. Guilt. People, trying to save her, no matter how she pleaded. Uncertainty. Fear. She didn't want them to be in danger, but they remained nonetheless. Didn't she have a choice? Did she have to watch her friends die?

...and poured out her own heart. Now, as before. As many times as it took.

Darkwhite, we won't leave you. We want you safe. I want you safe. Don't y'see how much we want you back? We've come all this way to find you. To rescue you. If you don't got the strength alone, we'll use all of ours, y'can count on it! So please . . . come back with us!

Brisa's body rippled with burning energy as she strained to pull Darkwhite free with her tethers of light. The pain didn't matter. The fatigue didn't matter. She'd make it out of there, and Darkwhite would too. She had to believe that. Darkwhite had to believe that. Surely, with everyone crying out to her, she would.

 

[Namohysip]

Nip’s Energize III cancelled Brisa’s forced rest and set her stamina to 200!
Cynthian’s Grassy Terrain healed Dave and Saltriv for 36 HP!
Icetales’ Teatime let Saltriv use a Max Elixir!
Icetales’s Rejuvenating Heal Bell healed Koa, Starr, and Cabot by 25%!
Dave used Shining Burden on Cynthian, giving +2 Protect to himself and Cynthian and +1 Def/Res to Cynthian!
Saltriv’s double Brilliant Autumns granted +2 Protect to themself, Koa, Cabot, Brisa, Starr, Vix, and the true Darkwhite! Their corruption was reduced by 10!

Starr's double Power Trips dealt 2100 damage to Sword!
Cabot’s Forcible Annihilation Meteor dealt 3181 damage to the Sword horde! It’s Super Effective and a KO!
Koa’s double Echoing Umbral Outcries dealt 837 damage to the Darkwhite horde and -1600 to Resistance! It’s Super Effective!
Brisa’s Shining Whiplash struck Darkwhite... but no matter how strong it may have been, it didn't seem to do any damage!

Mellow called out to Icetales, Dave, Saltriv, Brisa and Cynthian!
Saltriv called out to Mellow and Cynthian!
Cynthian called out to Shield!

Shiron called out to the true Darkwhite!
Owen called out to the true Darkwhite!
Cynthian called out to the true Darkwhite!
Vix called out to the true Darkwhite!
Starr called out to the true Darkwhite!
Cabot called out to the true Darkwhite!
Dave called out to the true Darkwhite!
Icetales called out to the true Darkwhite!
Koa called out to the true Darkwhite! His pure words reached her!
Mellow called out to the true Darkwhite! Her pure words reached her!
Saltriv called out to the true Darkwhite! Their pure words reached her!
Brisa showed her heart with Shining Whiplash and called out to the true Darkwhite!

"See?" Shield whispered, holding her close. "See? They're here to help. Please, hold on. A little longer. You can do it..."

"Please... st-stop attacking..." Darkwhite stared at the phantoms that she could still sense, still see, even as the Swords all disappeared, one by one, until their presence was just an insignificant wave.

Darkwhite's corruption went down by 75 from all the Calls, and an additional 30 by Saltriv and Brisa's Radiant strikes!

The Darkwhites used Max Flow! It ignored everyone's Protect!
Brisa: 107
Cabot: 124
Cynthian: 139, KO!
Dave: 146, KO!
Icetales: 77
Koa: 188, KO!
Mellow: 76
Owen: 4821, KO!
Saltriv: 43
Shiron: 71
Starr: 187
Vix: Wax!
Shield: 21, but he endured!
Diyem: 74

Regigigas used Icy Wind!
Several of Team Spectrum protected or dodged it!
Mellow: a grazing 31!
Shiron: A grazing 15!
Vix: A grazing 25, KO!

Regigigas used Bulldoze!
Several of Team Spectrum protected or dodged it!
Icetales: 85
Mellow: 89
Shiron: 80

Regigigas used Zap Cannon on Cabot, Starr, and Brisa!
Cabot: Dodged!
Starr: Dodged!
Brisa: Dodged!

Regigigas used Crush Grip on Cabot, Starr, and Icetales!
Cabot: Dodged!
Starr: Dodged!
Icetales: 107

But then, suddenly, the Worldcore seemed to fight back, striking at Dave, Saltriv, and Brisa! It seemed that interacting with Darkwhite in this way was still dangerous--the air around them SNAPPED and twisted the same way it had hit Shield.

Dave, Saltriv, and Brisa took 9999 damage from the Worldcore!

Saltriv went tumbling through the air, but something grabbed them. Powerful arms and a warm touch, but there was nobody there.

Hang in there, don't panic now. Keep going.

By some mysterious force, Saltriv was kept together! Saltriv has 1 HP.

Brisa skidded across the ground, body broken and battered. But then, shortly after Saltriv had come to a sudden stop after their attempts to touch the Worldcore's Darkwhite, Brisa was stopped from hitting the chamber wall.

You're fine, you're fine. This is nothing.

Something kept Brisa together! Brisa has 1 HP.

But Dave had already been badly injured. The further damage was even worse. For a brief instant, Dave felt weightless--and he would see his own body below him, getting stopped. And he was drifting. But then, something grabbed him roughly by the foreleg and pulled and pulled, shoving him into his own back.

You're not done yet, c'mon. Get in there...

Dave's body was stabilized! He's barely conscious, but cannot fight.

"I... I can't move..." Owen wheezed, unable to stand. His Protects had done nothing; he didn't know Darkwhite would be able to go through that sort of attack, and he was compeltely tapped out of energy. He'd done enough. He needed to rest. "Sword... please... You can do this... Just a little more..." He tried to get on his feet.

"Dad," Cal breathed. "No, don't move too much. I'll help, just--get on my back."

"Cal..." Owen winced. "Thanks. Just a little more..." He turned his attention behind him. "Diyem..."

--

"Well?" Diyem taunted. "Show me what you can do, phantom."

He wasn't going to enjoy this.

Rayquaza used Blacklight Gale!
Rayquaza used Blacklight Meteor!
Rayquaza used Dragon Ascent on Diyem, dealing 139 damage!

Lugia used Shadow Storm on Diyem for 56 damage!
Lugia used Shadow Fright on Diyem!
Lugia used Aeroblast on Diyem for 76 damage!

Blacklight Dragon used Shadow Force on Diyem for 226 damage! Diyem is down... but he's barely standing!

Diyem is down! Team Spectrum is at -1 Valor!

Blacklight Dragon used Blacklight Creation, gaining 2 Valor!
Blacklight dragon moved to zone F!

"Sword..." Shield held on, squeezing her tight. Just her hips and below were stuck in that strange place, and Sword was holding on more readily. Her grip looked so weak. Shield was doing most of the work.

"I'm killing them... g-go away..."

"You aren't. You aren't."

Shield called Sword.
Sword focused.
Shield took 5000 damage from the Worldcore, but it didn't do anything.

"I'm sorry... Why... Why did I have to do this? This place, this world, I... I'm going to ruin both worlds..."

"What?"

"It's all my fault that this is happening. I... I failed to save Telum. And now I'm destroying Cibus. Please... seal this place. Please, Shield. Go..."

"No. That's not true. You can't have the world on your shoulders. Just like you shouldn't be here in its Core. Come with me. It's okay." Shield jerked his head behind him. "We all came to welcome you home."

Shield gave Sword an encouraging pull.
Darkwhite took a breath...
Shield took 1000 damage from the Worldcore, but it didn't matter.

"We don't have a home anymore, Shield..."

"Home is where we make it," he replied softly. "It's going to be okay. I just want you back. That's all."

"I don't even look the same anymore, Shield... I'm not that Charmander you partnered up with. I'm just... this thing..."

Shield laughed. "And look how much I've changed." He pressed his forehead against hers. "But you're still you to me."

"I..." Sword sniffed. "I just want to go back to normal. I want to go to Serene Village with all the kids again. I want to play at the river or under the tree. I'm so tired..."

Shield embraced Sword.
Sword cried softly against Shield's shoulder.
The Worldcore stopped attacking.

"You're going to be okay. You'll get to rest when we go back."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's okay." Shield pulled her closer. "It's okay..."

Owen stood, barely, and saw that Wishkeeper was running to them. His body was still crackling, but he called out to the others, "Something's happened to the phantoms! Diyem is down!"

"...I don't think they can do anything anymore," Cal said, looking back.

The Darkwhite swarm drifted listlessly. They looked conflicted. They were fading rapidly, too, several of them falling toward Sword in Shield's arms before vanishing entirely.

The phantoms gained -12 Valor!
The remaining Darkwhites prepared Darkwhite Jab...

Regigigas lost its strange properties and collapsed! In other zones, the other golems started to return to normal...
The atmosphere is going back to normal.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"You're going to be okay. You'll get to rest when we go back."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's okay." Shield pulled her closer. "It's okay..."

Even after the attack that battered Cynthian's body, she hung on just long enough to see the Sword and Shield holding onto one another. Cynthian's eyes teared up and she lowered her gaze, her vision quickly fading out.

"Worldcore... If you really grant wishes, don't let these two lose each other again... please." Cynthian's taut vines unwound and snapped back into her flowers. Her fighting spirit burned out and all strength had long since left her. The world darkened around her and she stumbled backwards, unconscious amidst the quieting chaos.

 

[Cresselia92]

Icetales took many deep breaths to keep his mind cool and steady. Everyone was shouting their support to Darkwhite, making sure that she didn’t lose hope and that she held onto that last thread of faith.

But before he could try to summon the soothing bells once more, various startled cries came from behind him, and he turned around.

Regigigas was stomping in their direction, the imposing and menacing figure using various attacks to strike the team.

Owen. Dave. Koamaru. Cynthian. All of them went down, too exhausted to get out of the attacks. Then, the golem reached out for them with one of his massive hands…

“Get out of the way!” he shouted, bolting toward Cabot and Starr and getting in the way of the attack.

Then, the crushing grip. Icetales hollered in pain as he felt his lungs being compressed and his breath becoming shallower and shallower. He struggled in the titan’s grip and chilled his body, but that didn’t seem to do anything. His sight started to become dark…

“Let go of us, fiend!”

And just like that, Regigigas let go and Icetales fell with a thud. He took harsh breaths and coughed, before looking up when he gained enough strength.

Keo’Keo had assaulted the golem, his phantom fangs sinking into the giant arms and his movements speedy and vicious. Regigigas tried to get ahold of the dark fox, but he was way too slippery and barely tangible, which in turn made it hard for him to do any significant damage (if any damage). Despite this, he kept attacking and biting, ferocious like a childbirth of daemonic lineage.

‘Dost not stand like that! Go aid our teammates!’

Icetales blinked in realization — his darkness was buying him time! He had to make good use of it.

“Thank thee…” he whispered, even though he didn’t know if Keo’Keo listened to his words. Grunting, he stood back up and summoned some Radiance to close some wounds, before looking around the area.

To his shock, the Blacklight Dragon had stormed into the new zone, but something was… off about it. Its surroundings were twisting and distorting, almost as if it was losing grip with reality.

Then… that was the moment to strike!

Icetales peered at his surroundings, and to his relief he found out that Brisa, Cabot and Starr were still standing. Injured perhaps, but still fit for battle.

“My friends! Heed my words!” he shouted, his entire body glowing with a bright golden light. “We are so close. Let us push forward just a little more. We are almost there.” The energy flew toward them, bolstering their bodies with an invigorating power. “You know what to do. Show your prowess… and go check on Sir Diyem, too.”

 

[IFBench]

Saltriv kept pulling, even as the air itself tried to crush them.

They were saving Darkwhite, no matter what.

"You're almost there!" Saltriv shouted, as autumn leaves rained down around them. "We'll get you out in no time! It's going to be okay."

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Nothing existed outside of the fight. Battle trance. Pure intention, nothing held back.

There were no other ways to deal with the pain.

Instead, Brisa reached out for Sword once again, desperately, earnestly, resolutely...

Brisa used Shining Whiplash! Brisa opened her heart to Darkwhite!

...she looked to Starr, exchanged that glance that was becoming familiar, and screamed as she struck the Blacklight Dragon with all the darkness and lightning she could muster, the energies melding with Starr's light and flame...

Brisa used Void Arcstrike! It reacted with Starr's Brilliant Flarestrike and became Fusion Arcflare! It's Super Effective!

...and then, filling up with her corruption and with Darkwhite's, she let it loose. All the pain. All the light. All the shadow. All the fatigue. All her love.

Brisa used Blacklight Z-Burst! It's Ultra Effective!

Please. Please be enough. It has to be enough...

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot panted and winced in pain from his wounds as he looked around the cave, the atmosphere seemingly returning back to normal. Had... Had they done it? He and Starr had vanquished what remained of the Sword horde, and even the copies of Darkwhite were now slowly starting to fade...

The Rampardos glanced back at the tunnel he and his teammates came from earlier and noticed the phantoms were still there. It looked like despite everything Sword would make it out fine, but if Diyem was really down and surrounded...

"We need to help Diyem," Cabot said to Pleo.

“My friends! Heed my words!” he shouted, his entire body glowing with a bright golden light. “We are so close. Let us push forward just a little more. We are almost there.” The energy flew toward them, bolstering their bodies with an invigorating power. “Thou know what to do. Show your prowess… and go check on Sir Diyem, too.”

Cabot paused, Icetales' inspirational words and energy filling him with vigor. "Thanks Icetales! Let's finish this together!"

With some help from Shiron, Cabot and Pleo suddenly appeared in front of Diyem, their eyes instantly falling on the phantom Lugia before them. She seemed noticeably weaker than before, but that certainly didn't make her harmless. Cabot dug in his feet, and despite his injuries, turned to Pleo with a confident smile, who was offering Diyem a Reviver Seed.

"Let's show that fake what the real deal can do," the Rampardos said.

Pleo perked up and gave back a determined nod. "Okay!"

With that the two charged forward, shadowy wisps building up along the top of Cabot's head as he got ready to Head Smash Lugia as much as needed.

 

[Flyg0n]

Koa's legs gave out and he collapsed, broken, exhausted and in pain.

Failed again. Maybe if you'd prepared better this wouldn't have happened.

The words sunk in and he let out a shaky, defeated sigh. He lacked the mental energy to fight off the remarks anymore. They were right.

Ill prepared. Weak. You spent the whole time dragging the team down.

Koa cast his gaze weakly to the struggling Darkwhite, who was nearly free now. "Come on. Don't give in now... You're so close."

The words came out quieter now, tainted with weariness. By Arceus... He just wanted to go home. Get out of here, away from everyone. Stop thinking about everything so much.

More than that, he just wanted dto do something right. To save someone, to help. And Darkwhite needed their help right now.

He dragged himself forward a few inches. "Please."

His gaze shifted to the Worldcore. Supposedly, it could grant wishes. "Let her go. Give her back to us."

 

[Chibi Pika]

It just didn't end. No matter how many phantom Legendaries they tore through, more kept coming. Everything hurt. Even with the shadows to ease the pain, it still hurt. All she could do was will herself to tune it out. Pain was normal. Even if it fucking shouldn't have to be.

Owen's unholy frenzy of fire in all directions had bought them some time, taken down legends, kept the Darkwhites at bay. Starr and Cabot had teamed up to finally clear out the copies of Sword. But now the Blacklight dragon was advancing behind them, and the swarm of Darkwhites was regrouping and...

This wasn't her fight. Not really. Everyone else had more of a bond with Darkwhite than her. She didn't know what the hell she was supposed to say that would make anything better. She couldn't comfort people or ease pain. But right now power was what the team needed, so they'd get it. She turned back to face the dragon, alone.

...No, not alone. Brisa was still here, still standing, somehow, against all reason. That fact alone made everything feel lighter somehow.

Starr used Brilliant Flarestrike! It reacted with Brisa's Void Arcstrike and became Fusion Arcflare! It's Super Effective!

 

[Dragonfree]

The Darkwhite horde struck with a sudden watery barrage that passed right through his shields and brought him down in a soaked, aching heap.

And then, a rushing snap of air that twisted around him. He felt a blinding flash of pain as something crushed his body from all directions, bones snapping, and then abruptly nothing.

He was floating, watching the limp form of a Mightyena squeezed into an ungainly mess of fur and oddly-angled limbs and then thrown aside. He stared at it, transfixed. It occurred to him that Diyem was down. What did that mean? Was he--

You're not done yet, c'mon. Get in there...

And then, something yanked him, thrusting him back towards that mangled body, stopped by some minor mercy just before it could hit the wall and break even further. But I'm--

The world erupted back into existence, light and sound and pain. He groaned, attempted to move only to feel a stab of agony. Yeah, thanks.

Mia darted into view, leaning down in front of him, squinting at him. Her scythe moved to prod him, and he stifled a cry.

"Somebody needs to heal Dave. I don't think he can move."

 

[Namohysip]

"Somebody needs to heal Dave. I don't think he can move."

"I'll try," Owen wheezed, regardless of whether many others would be trying the same. He lent some of his energy to Dave as much as he could, still barely recovered himself, as Cal tried to prop him up. His arm trembled. It was a feeble attempt, but at least a few of Dave's injuries started to patch themselves up...

Starr and Brisa easily took down the phantasmal Blacklight Dragon, and it disappeared as if it had never been there at all. Cabot's barrage of Head Smashes left glowing holes where he'd struck, and the rest of Lugia disappeared the same way, but not before launching a volley of Aeroblasts, one of which managed to graze the Rampardos despite his rocky shields.

The last of the Darkwhite horde disappeared next, and Rayquaza, the final phantasm, was too slow and ineffectual to do anything else. Team Spectrum dispatched him handily.

"Urrggghhhh..." Diyem rolled onto his back. He was covered in wounds. Shadows poured from him like ethereal sand from a training dummy. "I assume we did well if all has gone quiet, and I did not go deaf..."

--

Shield was holding Sword close to his chest, ever careful that his spike didn't get in the way. Sword had her little arms wrapped around him, pushing into his fur, feeling his warmth, his pounding heart. He was so badly hurt, yet he was pushing through it all for her, and she had so many emotions flitting through her head that she didn't know how to feel it all.

The starry skies of the cavern flickered again, the red light concentrating in the top of the chamber before it seemed to siphon away into something else, like there was an invisible drain in the ceiling.

Truffle was the first to appear in the area, looking left and right for the injured. "The distortion's vanished--who needs healing?" he shouted, already conjuring his usual spells.

"Sword..." Shield pressed against her.

The color was draining from the corrupted Mew, and her fur was starting to look normal. Deep purples transitioned into a delicate pink. Her black eyes lost their darkness. The haze that surrounded her condensed...

"It's... so quiet," Sword said. "They're all gone... All of those... mes... are back to me. The phantoms... are gone. It's all normal again..." She smiled weakly, but could no longer hold onto Shield. "I'm so tired... I just want this all to be over..."

That was her voice.

It was like Nutmeg's, in a small way, but much more like Mew's. But it was aged. It felt like hundreds of years were beneath that high, airy voice that reminded Shield of the spring breeze.

"I caused so much trouble..."

"It's going to be okay," Shield said.

Sword grinned weakly, but there was a hint of sadness to it. "I don't... know."

"What?"

The haze was coming back. But it was different this time. Pink, a little white, a little cyan. The Mew's body wasn't stable, but now there was nothing holding it together. "Sword? What are you--"

Something clattered out of the Worldcore, slamming heavily into the ground.

Cal turned back and held her hands to her mouth, horrified. Something deep in her instincts were telling her to turn away, like she'd seen a horrible wound.

"No..." Owen stood up.

What came from that twisted haze as it finally solidified... was a core. Darkwhite's Core, split into several large pieces.

 

[Cresselia92]

…No. No. No!

Why? Just… why? Why couldn’t things just end in a good note for once?

A broken core.

Shadows cloaked around Icetales, who stared blankly at the scene. Keo’Keo was by his side, his eyes glowing like two small suns and the mane burning with fervor and rage. He roared and clawed at a wall, showing the anger that was bubbling inside of his host.

That was not fair.

A broken core…

That was so not fair!

The darkness grew stronger.

‘After sacrificing so much… after fighting so hard… was it all for nothing?! It can’t have been for nothing! I refuse to accept that! Not after coming so far!’

Unable to watch the scene anymore, Icetales summoned his Heal Bell and proceeded to heal the wounds of his teammates, while his Shadow kept cursing the Worldcore for failing to realize their desires to save Darkwhite.

The bells… were broken and off-key.