[center][h3]Tora & the Master of Masters[/h3]
[b]Level 3[/b] – (5/20) EXP
[b]Location:[/b] Scrapyard – Endzone
[b]Word Count:[/b] 1817[/center]

Breathless, Tora watched as the Courier staggered his way over to the bright spirit left behind by Bastion. An awful lot of blood was pouring out of the guy for him to be moving so determinedly, but move he did. How was he withstanding those injuries? The Nopon's morbid fascination held him until the gunslinger released his hold on the pickaxe he'd tried to deck Bastion with, which released over him a flood of agony The noise that tore itself from the man's throat made Tora jump in surprise, crying out himself, but a few seconds later 6 seemed to get enough of a hold of himself to gasp out a few words to the spirits in his possession. However, his ensuing collapse prevented the bond from taking hold, leaving him at the mercy of his allies—though anyone interested in those particular spirits would need to pry them from his rigid, balled fists.

Fortunately, nobody else seemed quite so injured. Blazermate and Zer0 found their way toward the fallen Courier, one to offer him health and the other rather dubious condolences, though the former took a brief break from her patient to nab the other major spirit left behind by their battle. With her mind more fixated on her duties than what happened with Zer0 before, the Medabot did not prepare herself for the incredible surge of sensation that blasted through her systems the moment the Engineer spirit was internalized. Her metal body, gleaming with prismatic light, lost its texture and definition, the matter becoming clay for molding by ideas. No faint mote of a mindless machine, the culmination of unique being that was Dell Conagher, the Engineer, sculpted her essence anew. When the light faded and Blazermate regained form, a greater entity stood ready to work.

[hider=For Blazermate][center]Rare Spirit Devoured:
[b]The Engineer[/b]
Into Blazermate's chassis is integrated a durable yellow-orange hard hat, with room for her pigtails, as well as a pair of dark brown overalls. She also bears an unmistakable southern accent, and altered systems. This spirit confers the Power [b]Sentry Maker[/b], which allows her to spawn a toolbox that, when deployed, builds a stationary Sentry turret that automatically targets and shoots enemies. The turret is upgrade-able by two degrees, increasing its firepower and fire rate, including a quad-rocket launcher at level three. Only one can exist at a time, but it can be debuilt into a toolbox for moving, and if one is destroyed Blazermate can spawn a new toolbox after a minute. This spirit also inflicts the Weakness [b]Technoorganism[/b], which -thanks to having both technological and organic internal systems- removes her immunity to poison and requires her to both breathe and sleep, though not as much as a fully living being.[/center][/hider]

All the while, the Master of Masters hung not far away from Geno and Bowser's reunion. He watched with some curiosity as Din, prompted by Geno's willingness to explore her options, mentioned using a keyblade to free the mustache-bearing new arrival from Galeem's taint. When she mentioned him a moment later, he gave the behatted doll a cheery wave. “What's good?” An amused chuckle came not long after when the Dancer attempted to emulate Kirby's gesture from earlier. The young woman's forthright nature was a heartwarming thing to behold; it rather reminded him of Ava. To nobody in particular, he pontificated, “I'm sure it's gotta do with inner srength. Living, feeling, experiencing, forming bonds..all of these build up the heart, and if yours is big enough, it'll shine on those around you ...like a warm fireplace.”

He silenced himself to watch as Bowser made a spectacle of himself, pilfering Ratchet's weapon to set off some explosives in the moat. How exactly Bowser knew how to operate the thing, especially with such huge, inarticulate hands, baffled even the Master of Masters, but one could hardly argue with his results. The spirits of a few different kinds of fish floated to the surface, some of which Bowser seemed eager to grab. The rest, however, he left. The Master of Masters could only glance at Geno and Din, shrugging with his hands held up in amused befuddlement. Zer0, however, hurried to cash in on the Koopa King's catch.

[hider=For Zer0]You have Acquired:
[b][url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/warframe/images/c/c0/U10InfPrimary.png/revision/latest?cb=20130914111405]Synapse[/url][/b]
An organic rifle whose internal organs generate potent charges of bioelectricity to accurately fry enemies at close or medium range. It unleashes 12 jolts per second in a continuous stream, with 72 jolts per charge and 6 seconds to fully recharge, though it won't fire while recharging. The weapon does not need to feed, but it should be cleaned.[/hider]

Meanwhile, Tora had at last stopped staring at Blazermate in awe and found his way back to Linkle and Minako. Though still somewhat wounded, he seemed upbeat enough now that 6 was being cared for and Linkle's own injuries were alleviated. Poised to congratulate the girls on a job well done, he stopped short when Minako offered her ally not support but a stern reprimand. The distinct feeling that he was unwelcome came over Tora, but he swallowed and stood by to listen to what the redhead had to say. To be honest, everything she told Linkle made sense. Rushing out into the action without a plan, when one didn't have Tora's remarkable durability, was pretty much asking for a bad time. Her explanation confused him a touch, since entire armies being outclassed by one individual made no sense, but if true that did explain her rationale. When he looked back at Minako's face, Tora found less anger and more sadness than he expected. Was everyone hurting...?

Linkle seemed to regain some of her usual luster, and after promising to be more careful, moved to help Minako. The next moment, Tora pushed himself up under her other arm, his roundness perfect for leaning on. His wing fell across her other shoulder, where it lay on Linkle's arm. After a deep breath, he said, “Sorry you were hurt, friends. Tora is terrible, terrible tank without Poppi. Will be better next time.” Closing his eyes, he gave his most heartwarming smile. “But in mean time, am happy that friends still around! Even if have troubles, will get better together. That is Tora promise!” Together, the three marched toward their changed healer.

After helping Minako get help, however, Linkle broke away for a moment to head to the water's edge. There, she sifted through the currents with a certain spirit in mind. While it would have taken a massive amount of luck for the right mote to drift into her fingertips, luck wasn't the only thing at play. After only a couple seconds, a spirit popped out of the water to float before her. Within the rainbow light was the visage of Rabbid Luigi, downcast -no doubt due to his death- but clearly glad to see a familiar face. “Wahbwabwa?” came a whisper from it, far more cheerful than a newly-dead murmur should rightfully be.

Not everyone looked to be taking the situation well. Though he'd helped -arguably- in the battle moments ago, the portly masked man was now raising a ruckus. The Master of Masters fully understood confusion and anger given the situation, but continuing to threaten others, particularly when everyone else had been so obliging, was starting to grate on his nerves. Planting the tip of his keyblade in the ground, the Master of Masters leaned on it like a cane and told Roadhog, “Look, buddy. I know you want answers. Everyone does. And I get that you're a real tough guy and all, but are ya really gonna rattle the saber with more than a dozen heroes around ready to smack some sense into ya? I'll tell you what you wanna know, but if you don't pipe down, you'll be put down.” Perhaps intentionally, the ultimatum heavily contrasted his casual tone.

Din, however, stepped up to spare him the effort of an explanation, so he watched her attempt at pacification before she pointed at the seraphic entity far away, surrounded by a shimmering whirlpool of color in the sky, to begin her explanation. While looking at Galeem, the Master of Masters' eyes wandered to something else of interest in the heavens. “Huh. That's new.” As he watched, the two things began to grow closer and closer, until he came to the realization that they were headed his way. “Oh! Uh, everyone?” He picked up his voice. “Might wanna look out...?”

A moment later, the first of the two shapes became visible. Careening downward, leaving behind a thick trail of smoke, was some sort of spacecraft, but one would be off the mark in calling it a ship. More of an irregular, flying [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/a-hat-in-time/images/e/ea/Ship_Exterior.png/revision/latest?cb=20171030232831]house[/url] than any sort of sensible vehicle, it barely avoided falling like a sack of potatoes as it dove toward Peach's Castle. Tora yelled out in alarm for his allies to get to cover as the ship drew closer and closer, until after a few more seconds the ship kissed one of the Castle's towers and hit the great moat with a gigantic splash. A miniature tsunami rolled across the shore and bridge, soaking anyone in the way, as the heavily-damaged spacecraft slowed to a halt. It bobbed up in the water, its glass front revealing a large room made a mess of by the descent. A door in the glass, just above the water line, swung open, and out fell an exhausted, battered little [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/a-hat-in-time/images/1/14/Hat_Kid_Transparent.png/revision/latest?cb=20180708174745]girl[/url] in a top hat, bearing an umbrella and bleary sunset-red eyes. She slumped over the edge, too hurt and tired to move.

Barely could anyone respond to the very sudden arrival before the fallen ship's tormentor appeared. From above, in a blaze of awesome orange, a familiar shape swooped down. His rock-hard muscles shone in the sunlight; his brutal fangs and horns gleamed with wickedness. Behind him, great crimson wings unfurled, and digital power flowed across his scales. The ground shook as he crashed down in front of he castle doors across the moat bridge from the heroes, and with baleful yellow eyes, he examined them.

[center][h1][color=red]Warning! Boss Discovered![/color][/h1]
[img]https://www.maga-animation.com/media/works/protagonists/maga-animation-nintendo-mario-rabbids-e3-cinematiche-prota05.jpg[/img]
[color=orange][h1][b]Megadragonbowser[/b][/h1][/color][/center]

After a second or two, his maw broke into a crooked grin, and his bellow echoed through the landscape.

[color=orange][b]”SO, THESE ARE THE 'INTRUDERS' KAMEK TOLD ME ABOUT.”[/b][/color] His voice reverberated with an otherworldly power, shaking the bodies of those present. The heroes, however strong, could not find it in themselves to step forward, or to raise a weapon. Their undoubted enemy smirked, then continued [color=orange][b]”HE MADE IT SOUND LIKE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALL I SEE IS A BUNCH OF RUNTS. WEAKLINGS. LOSERS! NO WAY YA SHRIMPS CAME HERE TO MAKE TROUBLE. OH, I KNOW: YOU MUSTA COME TO PAY TRIBUTE. WELL, SPIT IT OUT! WHATCHA GOT FOR THE KING?”[/b][/color]

In a small voice and with an angry look, Tora muttered, “Have spiky drill for biggiepon stupid face when legs stop shaking.”