Fresh New Antivirus

Ch. 87 - A Fated Encounter

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(TW?: soul gore maybe?

Anywho, high all. Time to beat up a big lady for the plot or something and maybe throw in a plot twist or something. Seriously, what is this plot?

Thank you everyone who have been patient with this story as its posting times have dwindled - stay Determined. This isn't the end yet.)

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It was Fated Mary Sue's turn now.

Red string dripped from her form but she did not unravel, a swirl of red spiraled outward over the area. Had they not been in a darkened Encounter, surely the very landscape would have been scared down to the code. As it was, the lashes cut slices into the Encounter itself and through them outside could be glimpsed as it was healed.

Through the short glimpses they could see a world still on fire, Players, Hackers, residents of the AU surrounding the Encounter shouting encouragement, sneaking in healing items from the gaps, or attacks at Fated Mary Sue, and continuing their support from the outside. The Sans of UnderHacked, Quart, could be seen from more than one rift in various colors and support roles; he had deployed his clones.

Fresh and the Mod Squad were forced to dodge with all their skill.

Congod was just stabbing the string, deflecting it using the True Knife and humming the tune 'Staying Alive,' turning back time with a Custom Save point to the start of the round if anyone died with a "Dormammu, I've come to bargain." Spiffy used their Green Soul trait of Encounter Manipulation to allow them to leave the Encounter Box entirely to dodge, focusing on support, healing those grazed. Zane was in a boxer's stance, bobbing and weaving and making use of the Orange Soul that reduces damage while moving - on the rare occasion he did. Ax3 managed to figure out teleportation in a Cyan poof after a close call where he froze and started aura farming, er, filling up the TP bar while posing. Snasy and Tiffa were running around screeching while supporting each other with Purple Shields and Blue Magic. Nick was still in spectator mode, occasionally firing off fake attacks, Spectral Arrows, to throw Fated Mary Sue off by dodging into attacks from outside, also while still hacking. Mostly whenever they came across a loading screen. Fresh was weaving through the chaos on his Skateboard and trying not to lose his hat.

After a long time in the loop, they made it through the attack - not unscathed - but in one piece.

And with all of the support from those outside these Encounter Walls, Fated Mary Sue's attack came back to hurt her in the end far more than it did when they stood together. Her health was less than half!

Chaos held up a 10/10 sign just out of reach of the Encounter.

Fated Mary Sue called them cheaters.

Fresh did some quick calculations and beamed. They should be able to make it next turn!

RA-D!!

"Gurls, guys and pal's," Fresh said, kicking his skateboard up and catching it, "Broski's of all ages and wages, I up and think we got this in the BAG yo!"

The Mod Squad cheered. And though the Encounter Walls had already healed, Fresh could swear he could hear them out there, cheering along with them.

Fated Mary Sue began to twitch - no - those were glitches. She muttered something.

Fresh felt ... uneasy. Something was Wrong. The glitches were getting worse.

???-???

"What was that, my un-broski?" Fresh said with more confidence than felt.