Worlds in Ruin: A Time-Traveling Adventure

__TOC__
==Stats==
Mercuron 	Mercuron
Health: 7000 	
Defense: 90
Attack: 188 	
Speed: 200
Magic: 188 	Element: Time
The one who allows the group to time-travel. 21 during this story.	The one who allows the group to time-travel. 21 during this story.
Crone 	Crone
Health: 15000 	
Defense: 90
Attack: 72 	
Speed: 104
Magic: 220 	Element: Dark
The best spellcaster of the party. Has the ability to summon hellish creatures. Around 70 in this story.	The best spellcaster of the party. Has the ability to summon hellish creatures. Around 70 in this story.
Corona 	Corona
Health: 9600 	
Defense: 120
Attack: Special 	
Speed: 130
Magic: 0 	Element: Fire
Son of Umbra/Revelian. Uses a special weapon to attack, similarly to Umbra. He is 35.	Son of Umbra/Revelian. Uses a special weapon to attack, similarly to Umbra. He is 35.
Starbreeze 	Starbreeze
Health: 11000 	
Defense: 240
Attack: 70 	
Speed: 160
Magic: 196 	Element: Divine
Daughter of Astra/Kuipter. Essentially Crone-Lite. She is 50 during this story (although due to her being the daughter of a goddess, she looks about 30).	Daughter of Astra/Kuipter. Essentially Crone-Lite. She is 50 during this story (although due to her being the daughter of a goddess, she looks about 30).
Lazro 	Lazro
Health: Random 	
Defense: Random
Attack: Random 	
Speed: Random
Magic: Random 	Element: Random
The hairpin almost completely took him over over the years. Due to him following Alísceia, he had gained a sixth sense for sensing facts and fiction.	The hairpin almost completely took him over over the years. Due to him following Alísceia, he had gained a sixth sense for sensing facts and fiction.
==Chapter 1 - Preparations==
It's about 9 PM, and Mercuron is hanging around the library with Lazro and Crone.
Mercuron: How late is it?
Lazro: According to the narrator, it's about 9 PM.
Mercuron: But- augh, nevermind. Crone, did you find the tome yet?
Crone: I haven't. How peculiar, I could've sworn that I've left it right here.
Lazro (Devil): You mean this right here? I found it quite a fascinating book.
Crone: *Slightly annoyed* Yes, that one.
Mercuron: The portal should be opened by 12, right?
Crone: That is the plan.
Mercuron: Do you need anything before we can make the portal?
Crone: Not unless someone decided to take a closer look at the Brimstone Staff I'm supposed to be using to open the portal.
Lazro (Devil): Ah, yes. Here you go.
Crone: Ugh. I guess we're all set then.
Lazro: I uh, won't be able to come with you.
Mercuron: ... And you decide to tell us that now? Why not, might I ask?
Lazro (Angel): Isn't it obvious?
LAT: ... I guess. We'll need Starbreeze to prepare some Divine spells, though.
Lazro: I'll tell her that. Now, I'm off!
Lazro absconds.
bunp
Corona: Watch your fucking step.
Lazro (Angel): Apologies. We'll do just that in the future.
Corona: Ugh. Go through the door already, it's fucking freezing.
Lazro (Devil): Haven't you gotten used to that yet? It's been like that for about a year, you know.
Corona: Just. Go. Through. The. Fucking. Door.
Lazro (Devil): You're just like your dad, you know that? An asshole.
Corona: Talk about my dad and I'll fill you with lead. Now get out of my sight.
Lazro (Devil): Fine, fine.
Lazro has now left the building.
Corona: I brought my mother's special rifle, was I supposed to bring anything else with me?
Mercuron: Not really. Have you told Jast that we're going?
Corona: Yes, I believe I did.
Mercuron: Good. Well, when Starbreeze gets here, we're all set to go.
Corona: Are you sure that we shouldn't bring any pets?
Crone: Absolutely. We don't want them to attract monsters, now do we?
Corona: Good point.
About two hours later, Starbreeze enters the building.
Starbreeze: Evening.
Corona: Evening.
Starbreeze: So, Lazro is not coming with us?
Mercuron: Nope.
Crone: The portal is done. I'll need to stay here in case anything comes out.
Mercuron: Corona, you got your gun ready?
Corona: Yes. You?
Mercuron: Yes. Starbreeze, prepared some Divine spells?
Starbreeze: I have.
Mercuron: All right then, let's go in.
*Teleport Noise (Bamf)*
Mercuron: All right, this is the first safe zone. Astra didn't die too long ago, so she probably still is at Damned Road. We'll have to find her.
Suddenly, 2 Scarlet Golems attacked!
===Battle #1===
COMBAT ENGAGED
2 Scarlet Golems
Mercuron used Haste α.
Mercuron now is on 3× speed.
Mercuron used Blizzard Shot θ on Scarlet Golem #1. Scarlet Golem #1 took 4882 damage.
Mercuron used Slow δ on Scarlet Golem #2. Scarlet Golem #2 is now on 1/6 speed.
Starbreeze used Prismatic Shot on Scarlet Golem #1. Scarlet Golem #1 took 5413 damage.
Corona used Multishot γ. Scarlet Golem #1 took 4612 damage. Scarlet Golem #2 took 4631 damage.
Scarlet Golem #1 used White Flamethrower ε. Mercuron took 1430 damage. Starbreeze took 512 damage. Corona took 1043 damage.
Mercuron used Blizzard Shot θ on Scarlet Golem #1. Scarlet Golem #1 took 4863 damage.
Scarlet Golem #1 was slain.
Mercuron used Rapid Age on Scarlet Golem #2. Scarlet Golem #2's max health decreased to 7500.
Mercuron used Seven Bullets on Scarlet Golem #2. Scarlet Golem #2 took 1111 damage. Scarlet Golem #2 took 1042 damage. Scarlet Golem #2 took 1010 damage. Scarlet Golem #2 took 1245 damage. Scarlet Golem #2 took 1234 damage. Scarlet Golem #2 took 1337 damage. Scarlet Golem #2 took 1430 damage.
Scarlet Golem #2 was slain.
Mercuron: Well, that wasn't too bad. We just have to make sure not to face too many of them.
Starbreeze: Agreed. But what if they attack us by surprise? They do massive damage.
Mercuron: We'll just have to hope that that doesn't happen. Now, where is Astra?
Corona: Crone said that Astra would probably be hiding from us.
Starbreeze uses a spell called "Echo α". It pinpoints where Astra is.
Starbreeze: Got her. Come on, follow me.
She leads the group across the hellish area, and they soon find Astra. She sits on her knees, shaking violently. She's nude, with barbed wire wrapped around her body.
Starbreeze: M-mom...?!
Astra jerks her head towards them. Her eyes were wide and edged with madness.
Astra: Get the fuck away from me.
Mercuron steps towards her, fearlessly.
Mercuron: No, we need to know something.
Astra starts to convulse.
Astra: GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!!
Astra arches her head back and lets out a shriek. Suddenly, a grey demon materializes in front of them! It gains a red barrier, and prepares to attack!
===Battle #2===
COMBAT ENGAGED
1 Energy Demon
Energy Demon used Haste. Energy Demon is now on 2× speed.
Energy Demon used Ashes on Mercuron. Mercuron is now poisoned.
Mercuron used Haste α. Mercuron is now on 3× speed.
Mercuron used Rapid Age on Energy Demon. Energy Demon's max health decreased to 6000.
Mercuron used Cold Armor on Starbreeze. Starbreeze's defense was doubled.
Mercuron took 1000 damage from the poisoning.
Starbreeze used Prismatic Shot on Energy Demon. Energy Demon took 0 damage.
Corona used Multishot γ on Energy Demon. Energy Demon took 0 damage.
Starbreeze: Why aren't our attacks working?!
Corona: Must have something to do with that aura! Find a way to get rid of it!
Energy Demon used Cursed Flame on Corona. Corona took 930 damage.
Energy Demon used Black Thunder on Starbreeze. Starbreeze took 4930 damage.
Mercuron took 1000 damage from the poisoning.
Mercuron used Wide Angle on Energy Demon.
ENERGY DEMON
HP: 10,000
AT: 102
DF: 149
SP: 193
MP: 240
Element: Fire/Thunder
Barrier can only be destroyed with type THUNDER attacks.
Mercuron: Thunder attacks! Use electricity on it!
Starbreeze used Lightning Strike on Energy Demon. Energy Demon took 24 damage. The Red Barrier disappeared.
Corona used Groin Shot on Energy Demon. Energy Demon took 2012 damage.
Energy Demon used Dematerialize. Energy Demon is now immune to physical damage.
Energy Demon used Duoshock on Mercuron and Starbreeze. Mercuron took 2304 damage. Starbreeze took 1136 damage.
Mercuron used Crystalize on Energy Demon. Energy Demon took 1988 damage.
Mercuron used Glacier on Energy Demon. Energy Demon took 1970 damage.
Mercuron used Freeze Ray on Energy Demon. Energy Demon took 1985 damage.
Energy Demon was slain.
Starbreeze: Mother! Cease your aggressions!
Astra: Get away from me, you fucking traitor...!!
Starbreeze: What am I a traitor to?!
Astra: Your own fucking land... You refused to rule Pragma, and opted to abandon it to live a peasantry life with the rest of these fools...
Starbreeze: Why is that so bad?
Astra: You were the one supposed to raise the sun when I passed on!! Try to think about what you've done by denying the Pragmans their star!!
Starbreeze: But the sun rises without the help of someone else. I'll never believe in that religious nonsense!!
Astra: IT'S NOT FUCKING RELIGIOUS NONSENSE! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT PRAGMA IS LIKE NOW?!
Starbreeze: No, mother. I suppose I don't. I can only assume its not much different.
Astra grunts.
Astra: ... Here, I'll show you.
Astra raises her horn. It begins glowing. Starbreeze blacks out.
==Chapter 2 - Ruined Homeland==
Pragma is a planet enshrouded in darkness. A thick layer of ice covers the oceans. A thick layer of snow covers the land. All of society is completely ruined. There are very few survivors. Both the moon and sun are gone.
Astra: Do you see what you've done?! Take a cold, hard look at the world. It's a world of blackness. Discord. Destruction. All because you didn't serve your duty, calling it nothing more than "religious nonsense"!!
Starbreeze: Oh my lord... it... it's true... I... I've ruined this once-beautiful planet...!!
Starbreeze fell on her knees, looking at the carnage around her.
Starbreeze: Wait... what are all these... insect monsters... in the palace? They... they don't look a thing like normal Pragmans...
Astra: Indeed... These creatures would be ... Shapeshifting creatures who were originally defeated some time ago... Their ruler, Merynis, did have a child willing to take their throne... And since there wasn't anybody to intervene, it was like taking candy from a dead baby. The new queen of Pragma is Crescent.
Starbreeze's perspective changes. She now is in the throne room. Sitting on the throne was a tall, sickly-looking creature. Her eyes were a whitish color, and her skin was a strange shade of brown. She wore a large, black robe with blue shoulder guards, and wore a light blue shirt and pants underneath it. Her hair was also sickly and white, and she had a halo over her head.
Starbreeze: That... that's her...??
Astra: Yes. Disgusting, isn't she?
Starbreeze: Where... where are all of the other Pragmans??
Astra: They all had to hide away. The have a bitter hatred of us, especially after we defeated them and Merynis.
Starbreeze: So, our race is practically doomed to extinction?!
Astra: Exactly. Proud of yourself??
Starbreeze: ...
Astra: I thought so... Now... Want to know something about Crescent?
Starbreeze: What...?
Astra: She's your cousin.
Starbreeze: What? But she's not a Pragman! She's a !
Astra: Merynis... did some things... to your uncle.
Starbreeze: So, Crescent has Negative traits, just like me and Corona?
Astra: It would seem so...
Starbreeze regains consciousness.
Astra: Now, why the fuck did you people come here in the first place?
Starbreeze: We needed to know where a certain "Shenanigans" came from.
Astra: I'll be honest, I don't know too much about him. Perhaps you'll have a better chance if you find Kuipter and somehow get that information. Why do you even need to know that, anyway?
Starbreeze: He is the one who set the ruin of the world in motion. We need to go back in time to eliminate him.
Astra: Hmph. Well, that's none of my concern. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to suffer eternal damnation. Get the fuck out of my face.
Mercuron: What a way to talk to your daughter.
Astra: Go fuck yourself.
Astra absconds.
Mercuron: Now, where would Kuipter be?
Corona: Wasn't Kuipter resurrected? I mean, he did haunt my house a few months ago.
Mercuron: So, you think that he's still somewhere in there?
Corona: That's possible.
Starbreeze: Well then, let's leave this place.
The party goes back to the portal. A creature in the shadows watches them.
???: So, she managed to take over Pragma. I'm very proud.
==Chapter 3 - Darkness at the castle==
The party is back at the library again.
Crone: Did you three find out where it all went wrong?
Mercuron: Well, not really. Astra doesn't know where Shenanigans was. Only Kuipter knows.
Corona: We think that he has been resurrected. You remember the strange activities and the blood writings back at my house, right?
Crone: I do. But didn't we already decide that it was an impostor?
Starbreeze: Well, Kuipter was missing from Hell. If it was an impostor, it must've been quite a big coincidence.
Crone: Hm, you make a fair point. What's wrong with you anyway, Starbreeze? You seem to be shivering. Is the change in temperature too much?
Starbreeze: No, it's just that, I've been talking to my mother...
Crone: And she told you that Pragma was ruined?
Starbreeze: What? How do you know?
Crone: Haven't you noticed that I've only been using hellish spells lately?
Starbreeze: Well, yes, but what does that have to do with it?
Crone: My magic depends on whether or not certain artifacts are intact. At first, my magic came from the Pragman star. But ever since it got destroyed, I couldn't use it anymore. So, I stuck with the Infernal Ruby located in Hell.
Starbreeze: I see. Anyway, I'm really not in the mood to talk to another parent.
Crone: I understand. I'll go in your place, then. You can sleep in my house if you want.
Starbreeze: Thank you.
Mercuron: Let's get going. We have a world to save.
The party absconds. Starbreeze heads to Zachary's castle. A creature watches her leave from behind a stalagmite.
???: Hmph. This is almost too easy.
On the way to Revelian's castle, the party gets ambushed by three machines.
===Battle #3===
COMBAT ENGAGED
3 Cogbeasts
Mercuron used Haste α on Crone and Corona. Crone is now on 2× speed. Corona is now on 2× speed.
Corona used Multishot γ. Cogbeast #1 took 4607 damage. Cogbeast #2 took 4631 damage. Cogbeast #3 took 4623 damage.
Corona used Focused Shot on Cogbeast #2. Cogbeast #2 took 14543 damage.
Cogbeast #2 was slain.
Crone used B̋ͥͩ́ạ̪͈̬̙̃̽͗͆̊̓͠ͅń̘ͯ͑̾ͬi̭͍͚̍̌s͚̟̥ͦ͋ͦh͇̗͖̯ͭͩͦͣ͂ on Cogbeast #1. Cogbeast #1 was sent to another dimension for 1 turn.
Crone used H̽̏̾͗ͯ̀̀ě̪̖ͦ̅̒̎ͬͧl̂ͩ̂̿̃̈́l̵̻͔̝̞̳̗̓ͯs̩̚p͎̳̬̯ͦ͘i͒ͫ͌̉͞k̶͚̳̲͈̩̜e̘̦ͫ̃̇̔͋̚͞ on Cogbeast #3. Cogbeast #3 took 17542 damage.
Cogbeast #3 was slain.
Cogbeast #1 returned from the void.
Mercuron used Seven Bullets. Cogbeast #1 took 1023 damage. Cogbeast #1 took 1012 damage. Cogbeast #1 took 1034 damage. Cogbeast #1 took 1013 damage. Cogbeast #1 took 1022 damage. Cogbeast #1 took 1009 damage. Cogbeast #1 took 1012 damage.
Cogbeast #1 was slain.
¿¿¿: Cog dammit.
Mercuron: What the fuck was that about?
¿¿¿: I don't want you three to interfere with our project.
Corona: What are you doing with my castle?
¿¿¿: We're trying to catch the ghost that some people have been seeing.
Crone: Why do you specifically want that ghost? I can summon another one right now if you want.
¿¿¿: No, you don't understand. This ghost has been fucking with the entire area. We need to banish it.
Corona: You can't banish him! We need to know something from him.
¿¿¿: What? Why should I trust you three?
Crone: ...Dammit, we're the three least known protagonists, aren't we?
Suddenly, Lazro bursts out through a castle wall.
Lazro: OH YEAH
An awkward silence follows.
Lazro: ... I'll be off then.
Crone: Wait, don't. The people around here have to know you.
¿¿¿: Oh hey, you're Lazro. Jast has told me all about you.
Mercuron: You know Jast?
¿¿¿: Of course, everyone knows mister DeCurro.
===Battle #4===
COMBAT ENGAGED
Nazca Colony Drone #1288
Mercuron: Stand aside, this is my battle.
Crone: Are you sure about that?
Mercuron: Absolutely.
NCD: An honourable choice, Doctor.
Mercuron used Haste 'α. LAT is now on 3× speed.
Mercuron used Glacier. NCD took 1534 damage.
Mercuron used Freeze Ray. NCD took 1564 damage.
NCD used Haste. NCD is now on 2× speed.
NCD used Dispel. Mercuron is now on normal speed.
Mercuron used Crystalize. NCD took 1067 damage.
NCD used Green Dec. Mercuron can no longer use Magic.
NCD used Deathgen Arrow. Mercuron will perish in 3 turns.
Mercuron used Seven Bullets. NCD took 7321 damage. NCD took 7320 damage. NCD took 7323 damage. NCD took 7322 damage. NCD took 7318 damage. NCD took 7319 damage. NCD took 7324 damage.
NCD used Radio Wave. Mercuron was poisoned.
NCD used Shock. Mercuron took 3123 damage.
Mercuron used Focused Shot. NCD took 1423 damage.
NCD: ...Fuck.
NCD was slain.
Corona: Who was that?
Mercuron: An old enemy. It's a miracle that he survived the Reckoning, he was practically left for dead.
Lazro: Pills here
Mercuron: ... Anyway, we should head to the castle already.
The party walks up to the castle. Eerie sounds can be heard. The door won't open.
Lazro: Easily fixed.
Lazro (Angel): Undimension!
The door disappears.
==Important pre-story history==
It should be of note that many events that happened leading up to this have not been portrayed in the stories as of yet.
Fifty years prior to this story, Starbreeze, the daughter of Kuipter and Astra, was born. Also, Crescent was born as the daughter of Merynis and Revelian through the rape of the latter. Astra, Kuipter, and Merynis died in this year, and Starbreeze was adopted by Zachary and Karelia.
Fourty-two years prior to this story (And, coincidentally, the same year that Solaria, the daughter of Revelian and Umbra, dies.), The Reckoning occurred, in which the spreading of Necromancy (Which is noted to have likely been caused by Mori's actions relating to the Pet Revival Center nearly six years prior to this.) in this timeline had the unintended consequence of eroding the protective cloister formed by Chronos, allowing for outside deitic forces to freely invade the planet. It was during this time that Chaos killed Gaia, which turned to have many more negative effects on the residents of this universe. It was during this time that many of the previously known protagonists died.
Twenty-one years prior to this story, Corona, being born after the events of The Descent, is attacked by his mother, Umbra, for a second time, causing her to be sent to a mental hospital for the rest of her life. Revelian, no longer finding himself able to live without her, killed himself, leaving Corona to be raised by Zachary, who in the same year had mysteriously disappeared from the radar of the Ludusian people. These events were to be discussed in the now-deleted story of Shattered Family: The Final Story, which takes place three years prior to this story. Also of note is that after Umbra was sent to the mental institution permanently, the planet Pragma lost its Lunar cycle. 
Four years prior to this story, Crescent was able to take over the planet Pragma. In the same year, Mercuron arrived on Ludus, as well as Nazca Colony Drone No. 1288, who arrived on the planet in secrecy. This is also the year that the remains of the Troller (?) race had become extinct.
In the same year that this story takes place in, Jast becomes the emperor of Ludus.
==In-story summary==
In this story, Mecuron Kao has recruited Corona and Starbreeze in a mission to help fix the timeline. The group also has two other members, Crone and Lazro, who have appeared in previous adventures as protagonists.
The story starts out with Mercuron, Lazro, and Crone in Crone's library (Which had previously been noted in The Battle for a Universe: The Lost Relics), where Crone is busy looking for a specific tome, that, as it turns out, Lazro had the whole time. Mercuron asks Crone if 'the portal' is supposed to be opened by midnight, to which she says that it will. Mercuron also asks if there's anything that they need to open the portal, to which they respond that Lazro may need to take a look at their Brimstone Staff. Lazro says that he will not be able to come with them, but for whatever reason is unspecified. Lazro bunps into Corona before leaving, and Corona meets up with Mercuron and Crone. Corona asks why they won't be bringing any pets with them, to which Crone responds that the pets will likely attract monsters. Two hours later, Starbreeze shows up and the group to Hell.
The group finds themselves in the first Safe Zone of Hell, and Mercuron suggests that they stay on the Damned Road if they want to find Astra, noting that she will still be along here because '[she] didn't die too long ago,' before the group is suddenly attacked by two Scarlet Cross Golems. Mercuron notes the encounter went well and that the group should try to refrain from being met with more of these creatures later, hoping that more of them won't try to attack the group by surprise, as Starbreeze notes 'They do massive damage.' Starbreeze then uses a spell to find Astra and leads the group to her location, where Astra, who seems to be in a mentally unstable state, summons an energy demon to attack them. After they defeat the demon, Astra accuses Starbreeze of being a traitor to their people, to which Starbreeze responds that Astra is just going on about religious nonsense and that the sun and moon will rise on their home planet even without them. Astra, knowing this not to be true, says that she will show Starbreeze, at which point her horn starts glowing and Starbreeze then blacks out.
Astra then is able to show Starbreeze what has become of Pragma, and the planet is described to as follows: "Pragma is a planet enshrouded in darkness. A thick layer of ice covers the oceans. A thick layer of snow covers the land. All of society is completely ruined. There are very few survivors. Both the moon and sun are gone." Astra tells her daughter that this is the effect of not being there to continue the Lunar cycle, to which Starbreeze can only present denial and despair. Astra also shows her that the planet has been taken over by <<fairies?>> and their leader, Crescent, and that their race has essentially been doomed to extinction. Starbreeze regains consciousness after learning that Crescent's father is Revelian.
Now that Starbreeze is conscious again, Astra asks why the group had chosen to come to her, and Starbreeze says that they 'needed to know where a certain "Shenanigans" came from', and that Shenanigans is the one who put in motion the events that led to the way things are now. Astra recommends that they inquire Kuipter about him, and then absconds. Corona notes that Kuipter had been resurrected a few months ago and had begun haunting his house, and the group goes back to Ludus through a portal. Merynis, who had overheard the entire conversation, takes pride in the fact that her daughter is wreaking havoc in her place.
The group, now having returned to Ludus, discusses their next course of action, before they are attacked by NCD1288 and some Cogbeasts. They are able to defeat the Cogbeasts and NCD1288, when Lazro suddenly jumps in all Kool-Aid Man style and re-joins the group. They then get going to the castle, where the door will not open (Whether this is because it is locked, broken, something is keeping it closed, or because the door itself is only really a decoration is not specified.). Lazro uses a spell that causes the door to disappear, allowing them access to the building.
Category:Stories
Category:Alpha-Archaic Timeline