Bulwark

"I just hear save them, save them, over and over."

## Overview

***Bulwark (Xerox + Pious)*** is a corrupted Sonic Colors Ultimate EXE made by Alphy. Their current goal is to protect other EXEs from player interference.

## Biography

After players found out how unpolished Ultimate’s release was, they decided to see how far they could push the game before it eventually stopped functioning altogether. The most notorious glitch, dubbed “Infinite Colors" involves the player switching rapidly between planets while on the World Map. During one instance of trying to reproduce said glitch, the game crashed and permanently corrupted the player's save file, forcing them to restart entirely. However, not everything was erased while creating a new game save, and the corruption carried over onto the new file.

During the start of Tropical Resort Act 1, the player immediately noticed something was wrong with the game. Sonic’s model seems to have been duplicated multiple times over itself while also having a goal ring a few feet behind him, and was showing incorrect textures. The game wasn’t detecting any inputs from their controller either. Not wanting to restart the game due to being interested in Sonic's model glitching, the player decided to fumble with the external controller settings. After deciding the settings were fixed, the player returned to the game, only to find Sonic was gone.

Fed up with the current situation, the player decides to erase all save data, hoping to place the game back into a playable state. What the player didn't notice, however, was that during the corruption of the first save file, it had altered any “controllable” characters coding. Sonic (being the playable character) and Tails, (while not playable, does interact with Sonic during gameplay) both gain sentience. Neither Sonic nor Tails were able to escape the erasure of the first save file. They did, however, slowly experience themselves being torn apart and put back together. The stress the two were outputting was enough to save them from being completely modified, although corrupting them permanently.

Having regained consciousness during the creation of the second save file, Sonic decided he and Tails needed to escape immediately. Before he could run off and find Tails, he felt, something, watching him. Petrified, he remained motionless, trying to figure out why he thought he was being watched. After a while, the feeling disappeared. Sonic took his chance, he needed to find Tails and get out of here. Luckily Tails was already close by, hiding from whatever was watching the both of them.

Talking to each other, they felt the eyes on them one more time. and were terrified. Tails suggested that they hide behind the level's geometry to avoid being found. Once concealed, the presence they felt before disappeared, and they were relieved. However, as soon as relief came, it went away, as they realized again that the environment was changing. This time it was different. While the level in front of them was unloading, they were fine. Trapped in a dark void and unsure if they would be okay afterward. After some time, the level returned. They both decided to return to where Sonic first appeared in the area, to see if anything had changed this time.

Standing there was a seemingly intact, dead-eyed, noncorrupted Sonic. Before they could try and investigate the other Sonic, it sped off in the other direction, along with the uneasy gaze they felt before. Completely befuddled and horrified at this point, Sonic and Tails both agree that it's safer to stay behind the level geometry until they can find a way out together.

## Profile

### Appearance

Xerox is a 6'2 purple hedgehog with multiple limbs, muzzles, and 3 eyes. His 2nd set of arms and legs are backwards compared to his normal limbs. Floating above his head is what appears to be Yacker's antennae. He has multiple sets of quills protruding from his head, all of which have a single white stripe going down the middle of them. He has 2 normal back spines, and no tail. Behind him is a giant floating Goal Ring, which is somehow attached to his torso. He wears a bandana that matches Pious' fur color.

Pious is a 2'2 red fox/wisp hybrid with a large, single eye and 3 fox tails instead of tentacles. Protruding from his head are 3 striped antennae, with markings mirroring those on his tails. He has white facial markings which resemble cheek blush, and a yellow tongue which always sticks out , despite having no mouth. He wears a bandana that matches Xerox's fur color.

### Personality

Bulwark's personality is similar to that of a Normal Sonic and Tails, except due to their combined trauma, they are paranoid and easy to scare. They’re extremely protective of others like them, regardless of what they've done in their past, and constantly try and justify their actions.

## Abilities And Weaknesses

### Abilities

\*Software Access/Manipulation - Full access to any PC they're currently on.

\*Omniscience - Instant access to all knowledge stored on the internet.

\*Duplication - Able to create a copy of one another if the original is deleted.

\*Frenzy Mode - [Xerox Only] Xerox can semi transform with the power of a Purple Wisp.

\*Void Mode - [Pious Only] Pious can semi transform with the power of a Violet Wisp.

\*Fusion - Being part wisp, Xerox and Pious can fuse into each other, producing a “faker” form.

### Weaknesses

\*Player Interference

\*Paranoia

\*Manual Deletion - [Being deleted results in a bricked PC.]

\*Trauma regarding being deleted

\*Large bodies of water - [Xerox only]

## Relationships

### **Canon Allies**

\*Hush - [Dating Xerox]

\*Ryder - [Dating Xerox]

\*GodSpeed - [Adopted sibling]

\*0004 - [Adopted sibling]

\*Bobic - [They are friends]

### Fanon Allies

\*Kutsuu - [Besties in crime]

\*Coldsteel - [Married to Xerox]

## Trivia

\*Bulwark uses They/Them pronouns. Xerox uses He/Him + She/Her pronouns. Pious uses He/Him + It/Its pronouns.

\*Xerox is mentally 19 years old. Pious is mentally 14 years old. Physically they are around 3000+ years old,

\*After Xerox and Pious’ 1st corruption, they permanently gain the abilities of a RootKit.

\*Although Bulwark can be erased from a PC, you need to delete both Xerox and Pious at the exact time for it to be successful. If one is deleted, the other will create a new copy of the recently slain within a few milliseconds.

\*Xerox and Pious are considered one entity as their code is permanently intertwined, so if something happens to one, it will happen to the other. [Does not include erasure.]

\*Pious is considered “load-bearing”, and if he is deleted from a PC, Xerox will be forced into Frenzy Mode immediately, becoming increasingly hostile.

\*Xerox has a hard time controlling his balance in his Frenzy form and often stumbles over his multiple legs, significantly reducing his speed.

\*Xerox can not control himself while in his Frenzy form, and retains little to no memories from it.

\*Xerox and Pious wear matching neckerchiefs.

\*Despite neither of them having a mouth, they can both speak, albeit a bit muffled.

\*Being part wisp, they can both speak the wisps language perfectly.

\*Pious now floats instead of flying with his tails, however, he can still use them to gain speed.

\*The Goal Ring floating behind Xerox is actually linked to his torso.

\*Xerox's closed eyes are actually decorative, they do not open and have nothing behind the eyelids.

\*Xerox and Pious semi share the same vision, meaning they can see each others POV.

\*Bulwark was based off of the song I AM by CaseJackal.

## Gallery

Bulwark's Reference SheetBulwarks Faker Form/FusionBulwarks Frenzy Faker Form/FusionGuide for Identifying BulwarkBulwarks 1st Design [NonCanon]TGT Style XeroxBullwark Yipee Emoji By KillscreenBulwark Sketch By KillscreenCommission By CodeTrillogyBulwark Meeting Bobic