Chapter 2: Looming Collusion

Within the world of Staffverse, Staff!404 had been searching through Omniverse after Omniverse, only coming across one that he thought was the best option, Underprosthetic.

Staff!404 had witnessed the event that happened, with Cyberware and Exalted. He was interested in this 404, and after witnessing Cyberware’s attack, he knew the two had a common enemy.

Staff!404 focused the power of the cores in front of him, creating Stafferse's door, the door that allows anyone its creator chooses to be brought in.

Only after a few moments of its existence within Underprosthetic, two figures wearing pompous outfits had fallen out of it, Exalted and the King of Bruh's.

Staff!404, still in his butterfly, walked up to Exalted although he kept his distance.

"My search is over, finally. Sorry to drag you here unexpectedly, however, I have my reasons." Staff!404 said.

Exalted seemingly ignored Staff immediately pushing past him and investigating the world around him. "What a dump..." He said unimpressed.

Staff!404 looked to Exalted!William annoyed, although brushed it off knowing it's just how 404's are.

"Listen, I saw what went on in your Omniverse. that creature, that fusion, it attacked your Alphatale didn't it?" Staff!404 asked.

He stepped around KOB and got in front of Exalted!William.

"I know us 404's don't like each other, but this once I think you should hear me out!" Staff!404 continued.

Exalted stared at Staff with a careless expression as he stepped on Staff's foot. "Not my problem" he suddenly said with a shit-eating grin.

Staff!404 stepped away from Exalted, his butterfly wings flapped as he hovered above the ground. "I bet it is whenever your friends and family are at risk," he said. "you saw the damage that fusion did. We have a common enemy, you and I." Staff!404 held up a panel, showing the battle once again. "He got away and I assure you he will be coming back with reinforcements"

"Battle? Danger? Don't tell me how to protect my people. You're just another off brand version of me...DON'T COMPARE ME TO THE LIKES OF YOU COPIES!!!!!!!" he yelled as half of his face became distorted, becoming mutated with red flesh, a long black horn grafting from his skull.

Staff!404 backed away, he was surprised by the changes of this 404. "w-what the-" he said as he heard Chara and Alphas yelled

"WILL!!" they both screamed as they ran up to Staff!404. Chara grabbed 404's face and checked him for any bruises and marks as Alpha stared at Exalted. "We've been looking for you!" Chara said

"Who is this?" Alpha asked

"Another version of me I was hoping I could reason with." Staff!404 replied

As soon as Exalted heard the sound of Chara’s voice he skittered back attempting to cover his face. He plunged his horrific visage within the darkness of his hood as he simply seemed to stare at Chara.

Chara looked towards Exalted, with a concerned expression. Chara walked to Exalted!William who put his hand on his cheek, still unable to see his face.

"Listen... I know you are not my Will, but please help us. Our home is gone, and we don't know how long we can stay here." Chara pleaded

Alpha stood by Staff!404, the two stayed cautious because of past experiences with 404's and other Alphatales.

Exalted would continue to stare for a couple of moments, seemingly deep in thought as he stayed silent.

He'd grab Chara by the wrist gently, ".....alright" he spoke softly before staring back at Staff.

"Sorry to break the silence but-...I'm dying over here" Kob said coughing up blood

Staff!404 looked to Kob, he didn't seem so worried

"I can help with that. I just need you to show your soul." Staff!404 said

Kob looked at Staff with a wide expression as he slowly backed away.

"There's gotta be-" he didn't have a chance to speak as he felt his soul shatter.

A little while later He would awake, immediately sitting up and feeling his chest as he looked around rapidly.

"Where- how-" he stuttered absolutely in awe.

Staff!404 grinned as the code for his butterfly then flew back to his room, within the mansion that now floats within space. 404 died only to come back too.

"Welcome to staffverse. What you experienced was the power of the Cores. Which one of them was stolen." Staff!404 walked back to where he was and stood beside Alpha. Chara soon came over to Staff!404 and put his arm around them.

"So we need your help, and I'm sure you know who we're coming after, uh- Prosthetic!404? Or do you go by another name?" he asked

Exalted pulled his hood down, his face back to normal once again.

"William...I don't have any other name except that" he said, staring daggers into Staff!404.

Kob got up dusting himself off and repositioning his crown, "how about...Exalted?" He suggested.

Exalted stared at Kob, "Who are you?"

"Exalted isn't so bad it has a nice ring to it, 'Exalted!William.'" Staff!404 replied. "However we have bigger problems at hand, we'll get to know each other later." Staff!404 turned behind him and created a holographic panel.

The panel had shown Regal, Salazar, and Havoc who had attacked Staffverse earlier today, along with Cyberware who had just attacked Underprosthetic.

"Are those the fuckers who stole the core?!" Chara said in awe as he looked upon the ones who looked like his husband.

Alpha looked at Cyberware confused. “Who is that? He wasn't there when they attacked.” he asked

"A rat." KOB said, gripping his chest tightly where his wound had once been.

Exalted folded his arms and rolled his eyes, "The strange organism that attacked my world. Seems to be physically unable to be killed unless its eyes are taken out"

Staff!404 took note as he wrote what Exalted!William had said.

"Possible weakness then. It's a good start." Staff!404 said.

Alpha turned to Exalted!William and KOB, a confused expression on his face.

"So how come they attacked your world too? why take the core?" he questioned

Exalted gave Alpha a blank stare, "Seemed to be targeting me for reasons I fail to come up with" he sighed.

KOB would quietly drift off and out of sight of the group, taking a rest on a rock as he thought about recent events.

"Aren't I gonna have quite the story to tell you when I come back bruh" he said as he thought about someone.

Back with the rest of the group

"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough, they could come back for you, although I'm sure we have plenty of time before they come here." Staff!404 closed his holographic panel, turning towards the group.

"So what do we do now? we can't reach them, and we're just sitting here doing nothing!" Alpha exclaimed. He sat down on a nearby rock as well. Alpha moved his foot over the dirt, of which Alpha then touched the ground, his finger turning blue, creating a small Echo Flower as it soon grew to a normal-sized Echo flower.

“Going after them seems like an option” said a mysterious voice. It echoed throughout the void of planets and stars.

A ball of light shimmered down to the skeletons. Staff!404 looked at it annoyed while Exalted looked at it unimpressed.

“It seems both of your worlds are in danger. What a coincidence.” Said the creator.

“Fuck off we don’t need your cryptic shit.” Staff!404 said

“I don’t need to listen to this shit. I can take care of this all by myself. I don’t need to partner up with this copy.” Exalted said crossing his arms

“So why do you?” The creator asked

“None of your concern.” Exalted replied

“Well then what are we waiting for! Let’s go get the core back!” Alpha exclaimed.

As the light shimmered it lit up brighter than ever, making everyone put their attention on the creator. “You both could work together. A deal if you will. Exalted you wish to protect your universe of Alphatale. Maybe Staff here could help you with the cores and in return you help them get their world back. Sound fair? You scratch their back, they'll scratch yours.”

“Why should I care? I could easily take them out.”

“You severely underestimate them, William. These fusions have taken out some of the toughest Omniverses. They are not one to be messed with, your DNA and the cores would be possibly devastating for the other Omniverses. You’ve made alliances with others within your Omniverse. Having one outside it wouldn’t be bad”

Exalted took time to think about it, and after a bit he caved. “Whatever just don’t get in my way.”

“So it’s an alliance then. Good luck to you two.” The creator said as the light slowly dissipated and the Omniverse itself started shaking violently.

“What’s going on?!” Staff!Alpha exclaimed as he floated above the ground regaining his balance.

“It’s our reality. The core was stolen, now it’s slowly breaking down.” Staff!404 explained as the tremors stopped.

“We need to hurry then!” Staff!Chara said but Staff!404 stopped him.

“I can’t let you go. Sorry, Chara.”

“What! Why not!” Chara exclaimed

“I’m not going to let you get hurt. Adam take him back to the others and meet back here soon.” Alpha nodded and he took Chara to the others.

“Let’s hurry this up. I'd rather be home with my husband right now.” Exalted said as they all waited on Alpha to get back.

Kob stood up and kicked the dirt before regrouping with Staff and Exalted. He seemed to have a lot of things on his mind but he didn’t let it get to him.

“So, what's the hold up here? I wanna shut em down before anyone else gets hurt by these freaks...” He said clenching his fist hard enough to draw blood.

“We have to come up with a plan. We are also waiting on my brother.” Staff!404 said.

As hours passed the reality of Staffverse kept breaking down little by little. Even they could see reality collapsing all around.

“Why would they do this..? What’s their goal.” Staff!404 Questioned.

“Don’t know.” Staff!Alpha replied

“Does that even matter? Let’s just rush in and I’ll take care of them with ease.” Exalted said with a prideful attitude

“I'm with the narcissist on this one. Fuck sitting around!” KOB said as he took a sip from a wine glass filled with mountain dew.

“.....I still don't know who the hell you are” As Exalted finished his sentence a hammer fell down to the planet, landing right in the middle of them all.

Everyone turned to the hammer as they saw a skeleton float down and pick it up.

“Then you truly don’t know their power.” Said the mysterious skeleton.