[center][hr][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/f5HcS88.png[/img] [b][color=a9a9a9]Mentions:[/color][/b] [@tipssyCalibrator] [hr][hr][/center] [b][i][color=40e0d0]"I am not the villain in this story..."[/color][/i][/b] The armored warrior launched forward with primal rage to strangle the mechanical antagonist with his bare hands, only to be lurched back into place via the plasma tethers attached to his body. Dr. Samuel Hayden's tech had done its job, both to the benefit and detriment of an enraged slayer of Hell. He knew well that he couldn't fully trust the CEO of the Union Aerospace Corporation. That's exactly why he considered to destroy the corrupt scientist the very moment he returned. But Hayden was one step ahead of him. It was clear to him who he was dealing with. After all, he bore witness to the wrathful Doomslayer's destruction, regarding the demons of Hell and his own personal tech. He - a man of logic and reason - attempted to explain to him - one who lacks the ability to negotiate - his reasoning for what he did. Yet he knew what his reaction would be, especially considering the item he just confiscated from him. [b][i][color=40e0d0]"I do, what I do, because there is no choice."[/color][/i][/b] . . . [b][i]"<:Rerouting_Tether_Coordinates_..._Complete:>"[/i][/b] The scientist paused briefly to hear the announcement before turning his gaze back towards his enraged captive. [b][i][color=40e0d0]"Our time is up."[/color][/i][/b] Hayden bluntly concluded as he shook his head, [b][i][color=40e0d0]"I can't kill you, but I won't have you standing in our way."[/color][/i][/b] Upon saying that, he ignited the item in his hand to reveal a crimson plasma blade that jetted from the crossguard-handle, ending with a twin-hooked blade. Inscripted upon the blade were demonic runes telling whatever one needed to know about it or how to use it. The Doomslayer needed no introduction for what the Crucible could do and utterly lamented the idea of how Hayden wanted to utilize it. Sure it can absorb large amounts of demonic energy and perhaps save the UAC after their temporary mercenary destroyed the only renewable sources of Argent Supply in the entire Solar System... But the marine didn't care. He knew better than to reap the benefits of such unholy energy that would inevitably cause malevolency upon Earth. But with Samuel Hayden's possession of the artifact, he can continue his work. And being chained in place, all the Doomslayer could do was watch helplessly as his newfound nemesis reaped the benefits of the Slayer's achievements [b][i][color=40e0d0]"Until we see each other again."[/color][/i][/b] the mad, mechanical scientist ominously finished before proceeded to walk slowly back into the dark, ruined, depths of a destroyed Mars. The armored warrior began to violently twist and turn in place, attempting to break the shackles and set himself free. But by then it was too late. His HUD confirmed the completion of the Tether's activation as he found himself floating in mid air for a few moments before his vision turned suddenly white. Silent screams rippled through the Slayer's body as he swore vengeance over Hayden and his diabolical scheme with Hell. When he returns... he will purge Hell 10 times over, and present the head of their false idol on a metal pike. [hr] After what seemed to be hours stuck within a bone-white purgatory, the Slayer found his vision quickly fade to black. At last, his consciousness had finally returned. When he arose, he found himself within a ruined metropolis, littered with the remains of once proud skyscrapers and covered in debris. He proceeded to look at his surroundings, inspecting every nook and cranny within his immediate vicinity. Then it slowly began to hit him. Was he finally back on Earth after being exiled away for eons? And if so, had the demons already overran the world in hellfire? Another wave of intense fury began to resonate within the Doomslayer's violent psyche. But just before he could take his fury out on the surrounding environment, his eye caught sight of another familiar object. [url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/snBBiUT7jcg/maxresdefault.jpg]A fairly large stone protrusion that sported a glowing green rune in its center.[/url] However, this was no ordinary inscription that was etched into the stone. It was a mark... [url=https://i.redd.it/3t9pnnab10m11.png]The Mark of the Doom Slayer himself.[/url] He slowly walked towards the ominous rune, his boots crunching against the debris underfoot, before raising an armored hand out to it. There it touched his mark, before a quick shock rippled through his arm. The Slayer did not feel pain however, other then the high of power surging through his limb, as he let it limp back to his side. But instead of power, the rune gave him information. A deep demonic voice then began to explain to the armored Hell Walker about the new world that laid in front of him within his suit's codex folder: [hider=In the first age, in the first battle...][b]1:[/b] When you enter the Crossroads, you are immediately given 5 poker chip-esque objects called "tokens". These tokens cannot be destroyed, they are completely impervious to any type of method used to destroy them. These tokens are able to be "spent" on the following things: [b]1(a):[/b] Spending 1 token will give you a 50/50 chance to have something either good or bad happen to you. Maybe you'll gain a super useful powerup, but maybe you'll spawn a large monster that you'll have to fight instead. This is performed by flipping the token on your hand as if you were flipping a regular coin. [b]1(b):[/b] Spending 3 tokens allows you to bring one person, place or thing of your choice from your home universe to help you. This can be anything from an ordinary knife to an entire military base, it's entirely up to you (as long as it actually exists within your home universe). This is performed by holding 3 tokens up in the air and saying the name of the item. [b]1(c):[/b] Spending 100 tokens grants you a single wish. This wish can be for anything, including a trip out of the Crossroads. This is performed by placing 100 tokens on the ground and saying what your wish is. [b]2:[/b] Other tokens are collected by gaining them from other token holders. A token is considered to be yours the second you touch it: [b]2(a):[/b] The methods of obtaining tokens are completely open ended and any method is allowed: beating/killing someone and taking their tokens, stealing them covertly, convincing them to hand them over, etc [b]3:[/b] You have the option to join together with one or more token holders to join a "pact". When in a pact, all tokens held by each member of a pact is pooled together, and is counted towards the token count of every other token holder in the pact (for example, if you had 5 tokens and joined a pact with someone who had 20 tokens, all of you would have 25 tokens after joining the pact). This means that joining pacts can lead to getting a wish earlier than you otherwise would alone. This is performed by shaking hands with one of the pact members (or the closest equivalent, if none of the relevant individuals have hands to shake). Pacts can only hold up to 4 members: [b]3(a):[/b] When joining a pact, your powers and abilities will all be less effective than normal. This effect is reversed as soon as you leave the pact. [b]4:[/b] It is permitted to betray a pact and take their tokens for yourself. However, this comes at the cost of 2 punishments: [b]4(a):[/b] The second you either attack or steal the tokens from any of your pact members (whichever comes first), only half of the other pact members tokens will be available to you, the other half will become completely intangible and impossible to touch for you. [b]4(b):[/b] Additionally, you will be branded as a traitor for an hour, signified by a giant red X on your wrist. If you encounter somebody in the Crossroads and you see that they have a red X on their wrist, you will know they are a traitor.[/hider] His initial assumption was apparently incorrect. He was not on Earth, or rather perhaps, not the Earth he once knew. He was stuck in a world forever stuck in between dimensions, each colliding with one another to form one crude unintended universe. It wouldn't be the first time the Doomslayer had traveled through dimensions, but this place was nearly nothing like what he'd seen thus far. Luckily, the world was fair enough to provide an escape route for those unwilling to stay. If the Slayer was to collect 100 of these... collectibles, he can wish himself back to his universe and continue with his intended goal. But to do so, he'll have to remain here for a while, ripping and tearing into hordes of enemies until he has enough of said currency. However, as what he was told, the Slayer would start out with 5 of these tokens, which were presented to him in a small case that laid beside the demonic ruin. Picking them up, the Slayer inserted them into a storage compartment within his suit. 5 down, 95 more to go. But just as he was about to plan his next objective, he would hear an angry cry coming from behind him. [quote=Dante][i]"What's a [b]half-demon[/b] gotta do to get a damn pizza?!"[/i][/quote] The Slayer froze for half a mili-second, his mind permeated by a particular phrase, before swiftly turning around and firing the first weapon that came to his hands - his trusty combat shotgun. From the range he was currently at, it was expected that he would miss his target, but that was merely just him making sure his weapons were at working condition. And indeed, his shotgun was at near-full capacity, ready to rip through demon flesh at a moment's notice. This would be the perfect candidate for the Slayer to release his pent up aggression on. [center] [hider=Time To Rip And Tear] [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6BbvCC0VI0[/youtube] [/hider] [/center]