False host (undertale fanfiction)

Chapter 3: The Weight of Determination

"What's gotten into me? Why did I even do that?" Sans muttered under his breath, still panting as the last remnants of dust from the shattered Froggit swirled around him. The cheers from the crowd had long since died, replaced by murmurs of confusion and fear.

Sans stared at his hands, the eerie red particles dancing through the familiar blue aura of his power. He'd felt it during the fight—something off, something dark creeping into his mind. But now it felt too close, too real. His hands trembled slightly, his breath heavy, but before he could gather his thoughts, a voice echoed inside his head, sharp and unsettling.

"Because you enjoy it."

Sans froze. The voice was crystal clear, as if someone was whispering directly into his mind. His eyes darted around the arena, but nothing had changed. The dust from the fallen Froggit was still hanging in the air, and yet... something felt different. Suddenly, from the ashes, a figure began to emerge. A child, with a twisted grin that sent a chill down Sans' spine, stepped forward with eerie calm.

"What a crazy timeline," the child said, their voice smooth and cold. "Never thought I'd meet you... let alone fight alongside you."

Before Sans could react, the entire arena vanished. The crowd, the referee, the lights—all of it dissolved into nothingness, leaving only Sans and the child standing in an endless void. The child's eyes gleamed with an unsettling amusement as they locked onto Sans, their grin growing wider with every second.

"Is this your doing, kid?" Sans asked, his usual sarcasm layered with unease. "My head ain't a free hotel. I'd appreciate it if you disappeared and never came back."

The child circled him slowly, eyes glowing with something darker, more dangerous. "Oh, don't be like that, and my name's Chara, not kid" they teased. "We're going to be best friends, you and I. I just need you to feed me... and in return, I'll give you power. Incredible power."

Sans shoved his hands deeper into his hoodie pockets, his tone calm but strained. "Yeah, I'm good. I like my current state just fine."

Chara stopped directly in front of him, their face inches from his, and their smile unshaken. "Come on, Sans. Show me some determination." They glanced at the floating dust particles from the Froggit, their grin widening further. "That little Froggit was nothing to you. How about a real challenge?" They winked. "I won't die so easily."

Sans didn't hesitate. His hand shot out of his pocket, summoning one of his signature blasters in an instant. A beam of energy ripped through the void, slamming into Chara with the force of a tidal wave.

YOU GAINED 10 EXP.

For a moment, it seemed like the attack had connected. The dust settled, and yet... Chara stood there, completely unharmed. The twisted grin remained, somehow wider, more mocking.

"You'll need to try harder than that, partner," Chara sneered, dashing toward him with alarming speed.

Sans jumped back, extending his hand to grab Chara's soul. He felt the familiar tug, but Chara didn't seem affected, as if he gripped something else. His eyes narrowed, confusion gnawing at him. He had never faced anything like this before.

YOU GAINED 2 EXP

"You some kind of ghost?" Sans muttered, summoning a barrage of bones and hurling them at Chara. Each one passed straight through, as though they were striking air.

"Obviously," Chara replied, appearing in front of him again, their eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. A gleaming knife materialized in their hand as they swung it toward his head with a vicious slash.

Sans barely had time to summon another blaster blocking the strike. He pushed Chara back, forcing some distance between them, but they only laughed, eyes alight with excitement.