The Reality Vortex: Red Reputations

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Lucifer followed Vegetto and Cayde, entering the city they called as “Rouge City”. He was quite unfamiliar of the scenery, indicating that Lilith and himself had never traveled to this part before. “This place is quite marvelous—not as technology advanced as the others, but I can see it as comforting for some people here.”

When Cayde boasted about the delicacy on their noodles, Lucifer chuckled a bit. “I’ll see to it myself to see if such title is actually true. I consider ramen bowls as the lowest form of food, but alas.” Before he can offer more of his thoughts on the matter, his eyes narrowed on five men, who formed a line in front of them indicating to block the Breakers from going any further.

Based on their attire, they clearly stood out among the others—and their intensity in their looks was something to not overlook either. Just from their posture alone, Lucifer can feel a great form of animosity surging around them. “Oh?” Lucifer said, forming a small, devilish smile as he gently rubbed Lilith’s head. “Quite a fan club you have gathered, Breakers?”

As Brask and Vegetto went back and forth, the former approached the Breakers with angry in his voice. He’d scorned the Breakers, urging them to leave due to their terrible reputation. Yet, Cross quickly managed to force Brask to his knees as he quickly requests Vegetto on a medical facility.

“Oh? Never thought I see such a side from you, Cross.” Lucifer observed. He’d stared towards Bage, Bernkastel and Spina levitating from the ground to be safe. Though just as quickly, he was quite disgusted when Brask spoke of justice initially, having grown tired of such speech due to Detective Goku and Avalon speaking at such repeatedly beforehand. The angel causally walks towards Brask, standing in front of him with a sinister smile on his face. “Those who barks the loudest usually do so to downplay their weakness. I think the Breakers is a bit pressed for time, so how about you be a good little dog and stay put? I’m sure your men will do the same, hmm? They’ll play with you later when they feel like the city needs some thrashing~” He’d joked at the last sentence.
 
Bage was in awe at the haven before them, his guard finally dropping in relief at being safe. He was a bit surprised when Cross offered his help, lifting him, Bernkastel, and Spina so they could rest. The detective wasn't completely opposed to it but at Brask's rash introduction and the Breakers' even more rash response, he quickly tried to get himself onto the ground to intervene. 

"Whoa! Wait wait-!!" Bage shouted out to the others, his body unintentionally twisting and turning in the air in his attempt to escape the floating spell. "Cross! Lucifer! We are here asking for help! Don't go picking a fight after we were saved by them. May I remind you half of us are completely depleted of energy! Show some courtesy and back down!" 

Once he regained his balance, Bage gave a sharp exhale, fed up with the Breakers shinanigans. 

"We are not going to come into a city that offered us shelter and act like we own the damn place! Have you learned anything from Reality Metropolis?"
 
Berserk glanced around their new surroundings with mild curiosity as they followed Vegetto, not looking concerned herself with the extreme weather changes. Though what made her eyes distinctly light up was Cayde mentioning a place full of seemingly sophisticated technology. Before she could ask him about the prospect of being allowed to go there after they eat and see all the gadgets, Brask and his entourage ended up crossing paths with them.

Momentarily stunned into a blank look by Brask's profane scolding and ordering them to leave, Berserk immediately narrowed her expression into a grimace. Placing her hands on her hips, she got ready to add onto the tension with her own colorful language but stopped when Bage forcefully reminded them they were guests in otherwise unknown territory. Grumbling to herself about Brask having started it first and crossing her arms, Berserk looked away and gave a loud sigh.

"Yeah, forget it. Dunking these geeks will make us look bad, it's like taking candy from a baby. I've got dignity and we've bigger problems to worry about than the welcome wagon," She said in agreement with Cross's urgency.

At a moment like this Bernkastel wouldn't have thought twice about responding to Brask's hostility in kind, but she didn't say anything at all. Instead she just levitated from Cross's spell with a confused and distracted expression on her face. Silently going over jumbled bits of vague information, trying to piece everything together. Spina looked dead, Gogeta tagged along in a jolly stride like nothing was wrong about that, the apartment-- and the city-- was apparently gone, Vegetto and some walking machine man were happily chatting about this strange city that was hidden in snow-capped mountains. 

Then a group of odd people she hadn't even seen before demanding they leave. That part she wasn't surprised by, but Brask mentioned that Vegetto specifically was supposed to have 'finished' the Breakers.

In other words, Vegetto was expected by these people to have exterminated them. Not bring them to this place he called his home.

Bernkastel's eyebrow twitched as her vexation grew. What the hell is this?
 
"Look, whoever you are," Brachi said to Brask, "we don't have time for any further problems than the one we just got out of for now. We're adults, so please have a piece of mind to settle this peacefully without the need to resort to violence for once. Or are you that blinded by some kind of deep-seated hatred for us that you don't want to give us a chance to tell our side of the story, no matter what we do to show we act in good faith?!"

"Brachi..." Jize said, but Brachi continued, clearly frustrated and tired of the whole situation.

"Look, I know what I am guilty of on my end and I wish for nothing more than the time and effort to make up for my mistakes, but how can we in general prove ourselves to show that we can make right our wrongs when we don't get the chance to do just that? Why does everything have to be so one-sided and difficult? If we would just get the time and chance to explain what has happened peacefully, then at least you would learn our side of the story. If you'd still reject us from all that after we explained ourselves, I completely understand, so once I am in better shape, I at least will take my leave as soon as possible, but for once, please, listen to reason!" Brachi said.

Majin Bara then promptly hugged Brachi, showing her infamous puppy eyes once again as she didn't like seeing her bestie upset. Brachi turned to her, weakly smiling before gently patting the Majin's head in gratitude.
 
The world of Rouge City that unfolded before Avalon did little to lift his spirits. He stared at the small community as a reminder of home, rural, and lack of technology. In a way, it was a cozy retreat from the city he was in. As he watched the people go on their merry way, he barely had time to register anything about ramen or food.

Fayimi...

Yet, his mind continued to haunt him about his actions and decisions. The fact that Rouge City reminded him so much of home, just with fewer trees, started to eat and tear the man apart. All he could remember was his family screaming for help.

However, once Cross spoke to him, Avalon perked his ears slightly in his advice. While his depression was still strong and his self-doubt even stronger, he nodded to Cross, acknowledging the words he said to him. A small smile formed on his lips but it was still a while before he would shake off the feeling of worthlessness. For now, he agreed with Cross in the fact that they need to get Spina to a hospital as soon as possible.

Yet, when Brask spoke to them and tried to start another fight, Avalon grew angry. He was about to say something but Brask was easily handled by Cross's magic. The ninja stared at the violent man and his group and how they spat about justice. He shot them a glare before shaking his head and holding back his words, even in his state.

No... just move on. It's not worth it... There are more important things at hand...

"I agree with Cross. We need to get Boss[Spina] to a hospital, and fast!"



Zenta, annoyed and humiliated that every tuff of fur had puffed into an afro-puff, kept his attention directly on Spina. He could barely see any energy left in his body as if he was already dead. Spina's condition caused him to hide a growl under his breath as he worried about Spina's fate. Upon being approached by Brask, his fur bristled, which only ended up making him look more like a sheepdog and less threatening. Thanks to Cross's magic, he exhaled greatly but then his attention shifted to Lucifer, who continued to make things worse.

Without saying much of a word, mostly to prevent Lucifer from getting them into more trouble, he yanked Lucifer roughly by his arm, away from Brask and his group.

"Enough, Lucifer. I suggest you refrain from provoking them any further," Zenta's grip tightens around his arm before pulling the young Angel close to eye level. Lucifer would be able to see his reflection on his visor. "No one is going to mindlessly destroy things at your pleasure and I am in absolutely no mood to listen to your anarchistic babble. Quit your childish bantering and focus on the main objective, child."

Zenta bared his teeth for just a moment until pulling himself away from Lucifer and shoving him towards the Breakers and facing Vegetto, completely ignoring Brask and his group.

"I will only ask once. Where can we heal Spina..?"

"H-Hey Zenta, uh, let's not get too hasty..." Avalon said in a voice just loud enough to be heard by the others. "We're gonna get Spina healed up in no time--"

Avalon immediately paused when Zenta slowly turned his head towards him, baring his teeth and gums like a feral beast. The only image on his visor was Avalon, almost as if he was locked onto the man. The ninja took a step back and lowered his head, not saying another word as Zenta turned back to face Vegetto.
 
Upon Cross' spell instantly hitting Brask, the man gasped and dropped down to his knees. The man grimaced heavily, struggling his best against the spell but made very little progress against it despite the fact that the magic was undoubtedly much weaker due to Cross' state of fatigue. The others of the group quickly rushed to Brask's aid, also meagerly attempting to hoist the man up against the weight of the spell.

Cayde immediately stifled a small half chuckle, watching the scene unfold with a small look of amusement. His eyes turned up, however, seeing Bage rush out in front to try and dissuade Lucifer's taunting. However, behind Bage, a couple of the men gathered rose to their feet with their own look of agitation and anger, balling their hands into fists and preparing to lunge out while echoing Bage's exact sentiment.

"Hey, you can't do that!! Let him go now!"

At this development, the city's normal hustle and bustle gave pause. The dramatic events unfolding drew the normal civilians to look on at the scene. The people of the town did not share the animosity of the soldiers towards the Breakers, but upon seeing the faces they had known for years that defended their town be so easily contained, stares of fear and worry could be seen on their faces. Each one looked back at the Breakers with deep concern, and Brachi's plea to be understood did little to sway the minds of the people due to the context of Cross' and Lucifer's actions. The agitation of Zenta's movements even further escalated their unsettled stares, some turning their eyes to Vegetto and Cayde for an answer. The android quietly moved around from behind the Breakers as the others spoke, moving up to Vegetto's right side and turning his eyes up while the Potara fusion met eyes with Cross and Zenta standing to his left once the latter had pushed Lucifer back towards the group.

The air had grown tense once more; another display of recklessness unfolding yet the usual culprit that had spawned most of the trouble remained eerily silent. Gogeta frowned in watching the display; no one had paid him any attention but even his simple mind would know that any input on his in would be the straw that broke the camel's back. His frown deepened, listening quietly to Brachi's rant at Brask and Bage's plea for the Breakers to learn from their mistakes in Reality Metropolis. For the first time, the weight of Gogeta's actions weighed on the man's mind in recalling his own destructive tendencies that morphed into a deep, selfish drive to procure dominance. Yet the prospect of being reunited with his only living family from his own universe had undone the drive for superiority, leaving him to see the full challenge before him of not only undoing the damaging reputation now borne from his efforts, but also, in restoring the friendships he had barely begun to build with the others.

The other fusion turned his head towards Bernkastel at that thought of friendship, a long and solemn stare in studying the witch while the events unfolded.



As Zenta repeated Cross' request in a near hostile delivery, Vegetto slightly narrowed his eyes in staring back at the two. Cayde's amused stare had vanished in the tension, leaning slightly towards Vegetto with a low voice that could be heard by strong listening from the others.

"Whatever happens...I got your back."

Vegetto seemingly paid no attention to Cayde's statement, where the Potara fusion simply straightened out his stance. His lips rose slightly, a warm smile soon forming on his face. The simple gesture had extensive similarities to Whis' light hearted nature in the intense times of the group's adventures, yet a heavy contrast that came to Vegetto's was in the air of cocky confidence that resonated in the slight curve that nearly formed a smirk. His eyes glanced off of Cross and onto Zenta's visor, the face of the man in a bright reflection on the glass-like material.

"There is a medical bay in our main tower that I'd like to have him treated at."

He only paused for a moment, before letting out a deep sigh.

"But it can wait; I'm seeing a more...pressing issue right here in front of me that needs to be addressed."

Vegetto's eyes narrowed slightly, a firm tone behind the dual voice as Zenta's own strong stance did little to sway from his own request.

"We're not going anywhere until everyone calms down. The detective is right; we're in this mess because you try too hard to control everything with your power."

His head turned a bit to Cross; the advice seemingly unclear in addressing either the Breakers or the Rogues.

"Let Brask go, and let him do whatever he wants to do. Trust me when I tell you that whichever side does what I ask and calms down, will be the one that will benefits. Just let things work themselves out on their own and everything will be better by the end of it."

Vegetto's smile lifted a bit, his stare softening as he tucked his arms behind his back in a similar mannerism to the angel once again.

"It took me a long time to learn that this place doesn't revolve around me, and now, I think all of you could use that lesson too."
 
Cross says a Politeness tone "I'd apologize for my actions, but we are short on time. You free to fight us after but that is after one our number is longer on the balance." Cross dispels the spell forcing Brask and goes on "however your free air out your grievances with us as we travel." Cross says to both Vegetto and Brask "Whatever you both are doing here is not prolonging medical attention for Spina. I trust I don't need to remind you about hasty choices Vegetto. If it at the tower then we must go there now." 

Cross says after Zenta forced Lucifer way form Brask "Despite the use of force on my part, we have no intention course harm. Do keep in mind what Lucifer is if he wanted to he would have already. Despite that Bage dos make a point; that fighting will not solve our problems in a way that we don't look like monsters. I well we are dammed either way, but at some point I think that common sense would dictate that tending to those in need takes priority over lessons or manners."
 
Lucifer was yanked away by Zenta, the latter scolding him for fanning the flames of a tense situation. Yet, despite the beast threatening him, Lucifer was not move. He maintained his devilish expression; his eyes narrowed as his blue eyes glow slightly. The angel was, in fact, enjoying Zenta’s anger towards him.
 
After being shoved away, Lilith was reacting in a manner to attack—since she warned Avalon earlier that if Lucifer was harmed in anyway, she will take matters on her own hands. Of course, Lucifer raised his hand in a calm manner, causing Lilith to not act. He looked at his arm, seeing bruise marks on his pale skin; his expression remains unchanged. “We’ll play your game, then.” He said, not giving any indication on what he meant by it.

As the Breakers and Vegetto continue their conversation with one another, Lucifer’s eyes rose towards Spina. Floating nearing Bernkastel, cracks on his body had started to chip away slowly—but there was something else that took his attention. But he didn’t say anything—instead, he remained quiet of his observation towards him.

Rubbing his arm, Lucifer spoke once more after Cross made his comments on the matter. “They are willingly to fight us, and Vegetto has full intention on letting this happen. So I supposed we can sacrifice Spina for this little charade. We’ll decide on the next leader afterwards.”
 
Berserk kept her thoughts to herself, placing a sympathetic hand on Avalon's shoulder hoping he wouldn't take Zenta's aggression too personally. That guy sure can be scary when he wants to... It was different to her initial first impression of Zenta but decided it was wise not to speak and do as Vegetto said. The question is who is gonna do that?... Neither side looked particularly relaxed at the moment.

Bernkastel's gaze intensified in its agitation when Vegetto stated his refusal to continue onwards towards the medical bay. How ridiculous. We don't have time for this!

He was the last person she wanted to hear any sort of lecture from-- but her increasing irritation from watching on just proved his point. Some of her group's moves to stop a potential fight only escalated the tension against their favor. Bern could feel the eyes of many concerned bystanders on them, glancing over her periphery to the motionless Spina; but she refused to gaze directly at either him or Gogeta. Letting out an incredulous huff at Vegetto's 'lesson', Bern shifted her glare between his serene pose and Brask's agitated crew. Closing her eyes, the witch then crossed her legs in a sitting position as she floated in midair for a few moments like she was thinking about something. 

Only when Bern opened her eyes again did the tension leave her face, staring ahead expectantly.
 
Bage gave a similar look of worry at the sight of the citizens' fear. As the others continued on with their smart remarks, however, he narrowed his eyes and took a step forward.

"You heard Vegetto. The quicker you all cooperate, the faster Spina gets healed." Bage retorted to the group's complaints of hurrying to the medical tower. He now stood before the Breaker with a much more firm tone. "I've had about enough of this attitude from you all! Look around you!"

The detective gestured toward the concerned crowd the pointing back to Brask. "This is what using force has gotten you all so far. Proving that soldier's point even further! That you're nothing but brutes demanding respect without ever returning it! You've done it with my investigation and you've nearly killed your own leader! It has never stopped. This is not some new territory to take over nor is it a game for you to be the victors! You are not the Breakers anymore, not here at least. You are guests in a foreign land that graciously allowed you to take refuge here. So, Cross, I think that common sense would dictate that you all either shape up or continue to let Spina suffer."

Finally, Bage crossed his arms, standing firm in his position to side with Vegetto and staring down the Breakers intensely. "The only ones holding up Spina's recovery is you, not Vegetto. So what will it be?"
 
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