📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 21: Ashes of a Star
[Scene 1 – Opening Clash]
The corrupted Captain America slammed forward, shield wreathed in anomaly fire.
Neo met the strike head-on—Cocoon energy blooming into a crystalline barrier. The shield split it in half, leaving a jagged tear that bled sparks.
Velgrynd (fiery grin):
"Your defense won't hold. Strike first, Neo."
Neo's eyes flickered, dark motes dancing around his palm. The unstable whisper of Nihility/Turn Null coursed through him, a force meant for creation itself—now weaponized for destruction.
Neo (mutters):
"…Just enough. No more."
He thrust his hand forward.
The air folded inwards—an absence swallowing existence itself.
The corrupted Steve's shield dissolved at the edge, black flakes scattering into nothing.
But Neo staggered, chest burning.
Seraphina (urgent):
«Warning. Overuse destabilizing Cocoon-Dragon resonance. Limit output.»
Neo clenched his jaw.
"…I said just enough."
[Scene 2 – Velgrynd's Flames]
Velgrynd swept forward, her flames no longer red but white-gold, burning so hot they erased anomaly matter on contact. She slammed her fist into Steve's chest, the impact echoing like thunder.
Velgrynd:
"Pitiful shadow. You dare call yourself a warrior?"
The corrupted Captain roared, twisting free, shield reforming in his hand as anomaly threads re-knit his broken armor. His movements were no longer tactical—he fought like a beast.
Neo slid beside Velgrynd, sweat dripping from his temple.
Neo:
"He's regenerating faster than we're breaking him. This is no normal anchor."
[Scene 3 – Cutaway: The Others]
All around them, the battlefield churned.
• Kirito and Asuna moved back-to-back, blades flashing as they cut through swarms of anomaly minions that mimicked soldiers from Hydra's past.
Kirito: "It's like fighting endless raid mobs—except every one of them hits like a floor boss!"
Asuna (focused): "Then we fight like we always do. Together."
• Zhongli stood at the frontlines, golden pillars erupting from the ground to impale warped constructs. His calm voice carried even in the chaos.
Zhongli: "Stabilize your breathing. Let the enemy drown in its own false weight."
• Tony, in Celestial armor, rained down cosmic beams, muttering under his breath.
Tony: "Avengers aren't even here, and I'm babysitting multiversal swordsmen, a dragon bride, and Mr. Cosmic Annihilation himself. Perfect Tuesday."
[Scene 4 – Back to Neo + Velgrynd]
The corrupted Steve hurled his shield again. This time, Neo didn't block.
He slashed with Nihility, and space itself bent—the shield disintegrated midair, erased from existence in a silent scream.
The backlash scorched Neo's arm, the Cocoon pulsing to contain the runaway energy.
Seraphina (warning):
«Your body is rejecting the output. Adaptation incomplete.»
Velgrynd (glancing at him):
"You're burning yourself for this."
Neo smirked, despite the pain.
"…What kind of husband would I be if I let you steal the whole show?"
Velgrynd's cheeks flushed crimson—though her flames burned hotter in response.
Together, they charged—flame and void, storm and scorch—their combined strike colliding with the corrupted Captain in an explosion that cracked the zone's false sky.
[Scene 5 – Group Chat Reactions (Interlude)]
• Kirito (while slashing mobs):"Uh—did Neo just flirt in the middle of a boss fight?!"
• Asuna:"He did. And Velgrynd actually blushed. Oh my god."
• Tony (deadpan):"I'm fighting corrupted Nazi ghosts, and you're gossiping about dragon romance. Priorities."
• Zhongli:"…It seems even gods are not immune to the laws of companionship."
[Scene 6 – Final Exchange of the Chapter]
The corrupted Captain staggered but refused to fall, anomaly tendrils twisting his form into something less human and more monstrous.
Neo panted, raising his hand again, dark void energy swirling.
Neo (grim):
"…One more strike. That's all I've got before this burns me alive."
Velgrynd stepped beside him, flames wrapping around her body like wings.
Velgrynd:
"Then we finish it together."
As anomaly lightning split the sky above, both unleashed their powers in unison—Nihility and True Dragon flames fusing into a cataclysm aimed at the corrupted star-spangled shadow.
✨ End of Chapter 21 – Ashes of a Star ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 22: Shadows Unbound
[Scene 1 – Silence After the Storm]
The battlefield had fallen eerily silent.
The corrupted Captain America lay kneeling in the cracked ground, half his body burned away by Velgrynd's flames, the other half eaten through by Neo's Nihility. The false anomaly sky flickered, glitching like shattered glass.
Neo staggered back, clutching his arm. His body trembled as the Cocoon of the End pulsed violently, suppressing the Nihility recoil before it consumed him.
Seraphina (softly):
«Stabilization complete. You are alive… but only barely.»
Velgrynd caught Neo before he collapsed, her fiery hair dimming like embers.
Velgrynd (firm):
"Fool. Don't push so far for mortals you barely know."
Neo smirked, wincing.
"…Mortals… or not, they're people worth saving."
[Scene 2 – The Purification]
Captain America twitched, black tendrils wrapping tighter around his body, trying to rebuild him into anomaly's puppet.
Neo raised his palm again, but Seraphina's warning echoed.
Seraphina:
«Overuse of Nihility will destroy your existence. You cannot strike again.»
Velgrynd stepped forward—but Neo shook his head.
"…No. This isn't something I erase."
He pressed his other hand onto Steve's chest. From the Cocoon of the End, a pulse of white energy spread, mixing with Seraphina's resonance. Instead of annihilation, the wave purified—burning away anomaly corruption strand by strand.
Steve screamed, his body convulsing—until finally, the shadows shattered like broken glass, leaving behind a battered but human Captain America, unconscious but breathing.
[Scene 3 – Cutaway to the Group]
Kirito lowered his swords, staring in disbelief.
Kirito: "…He… he actually saved him."
Asuna's eyes softened, relief washing over her.
Asuna: "Not just defeated. Purified. That's… Neo."
Tony's armor retracted halfway, face grim but oddly proud.
Tony: "…Figures. Leave it to the guy wielding 'cosmic delete button' powers to choose the hard way."
Zhongli's gaze lingered on Steve, his tone solemn.
Zhongli: "He has not only cut the shadow, but carried the weight of mercy. That is the burden of a true sovereign."
[Scene 4 – Group Chat Interlude]
• Kirito:"Neo, you look like you're about to drop dead."
• Neo (typing weakly):"Haha, nothing new."
• Velgrynd:"Don't joke. He nearly erased himself."
• Tony:"Yeah, let's not make a habit of almost turning into a cosmic black hole, alright?"
• Asuna:"…Still, thank you. For saving him."
• Zhongli:"The chat group watches, and it remembers. Your choice will shape its judgment."
And then—
[DING!]
Chat Group Announcement:
"First corrupted Avenger purified. Mission progression 12%. Rewards multiplier remains ×25 due to anomaly's elevated threat level."
The group went dead silent.
Kirito:"…Wait. It's still ×25?! Not a bug?!"
Tony:"…Oh boy. I don't even want to imagine what the final payout looks like."
[Scene 5 – Closing Beat]
Velgrynd's hand lingered on Neo's shoulder as she whispered softly, just for him:
"You burned yourself for this… and yet you smile. What are you trying to prove, husband?"
Neo chuckled weakly, looking at the unconscious Steve.
"…That even shadows deserve a chance to walk in the light again."
The corrupted zone around them cracked, collapsing into Neo's simulated containment universe, shrinking away like a storm finally passing.
The first Avenger was free—but the war against the anomaly had only just begun.
✨ End of Chapter 22 – Shadows Unbound ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 23: Awakened Resolve
[Scene 1 – Steve Awakens]
The safe zone they had carved from the anomaly pulsed faintly, Neo's simulated containment holding steady.
Steve Rogers stirred, eyes fluttering open. The moment his gaze focused, he shot up, muscles tense.
Steve: "What… what happened? Where's… the enemy?!"
Tony placed a hand on his shoulder, armored gauntlet retracting with a click.
Tony: "Easy there, Cap. You were the enemy. Or rather… what was controlling you."
Steve froze. His eyes darted to Neo—standing at the edge of the field, still pale from recoil, Velgrynd beside him.
Steve (hoarse): "…You saved me?"
Neo (soft grin): "Took a bit of effort. Worth it."
[Scene 2 – The Truth About Corruption]
Seraphina's voice resonated in everyone's minds, calm yet sharp.
Seraphina:
«The anomaly does not merely control—it rewrites existence. Corruption spreads like a code, twisting will, body, and soul. What you call "you" becomes only data overwritten by it.»
Steve clenched his fists, the weight of the truth settling on him.
Steve: "…So if he hadn't stopped me… I'd have been gone for good."
Neo nodded grimly.
Neo: "That's why we can't hesitate. Each corrupted Avenger we fight is a rescue mission. If we can't purify them… then we put them down before the anomaly spreads."
[Scene 3 – Group Chat Reward Drop]
[DING!]
Group Chat Announcement:
"Partial milestone achieved. Temporary reward distribution initiated."
A cascade of light descended into the safe zone, materializing as glowing cards and artifacts before each member.
• Kirito/Asuna: A resonance blade set, forged to resist anomaly corruption.
• Zhongli: A stasis talisman, amplifying his geo constructs with anti-anomaly shielding.
• Tony: A modular AI shard, integrating anomaly data into his Celestial armor for predictive countermeasures.
• Velgrynd: A crystallized flame core, deepening her control over purifying fire.
Then, before Neo, a massive cocoon of starlight unfolded.
[Special Reward to Neo]:
"Adaptive Existence Frame – End of Time & Space Variant."
Seraphina whispered reverently:
«This is the same body type once wielded by Rimuru Tempest, adapted for Turn Null/Nihility resonance. It rewrites your vessel into a medium capable of enduring endless collapse and rebirth.»
Neo's body shifted subtly, skin shimmering like a void touched with rainbow veins. The Cocoon pulsed in harmony, no longer resisting him—but synchronizing.
Velgrynd's eyes widened.
Velgrynd: "…So he won't burn himself away anymore."
Seraphina (correcting):
«Not entirely. Adaptation will take time. But this vessel ensures he can endure.»
[Scene 4 – Steve's Resolution]
Steve pushed himself up, staring at the group.
Steve: "Then I fight with you. If my team is still out there… they deserve the same chance you gave me."
Neo extended a hand, which Steve clasped firmly.
Neo: "Welcome back, Captain."
[Scene 5 – Preparing for the Next Raid]
Tony projected a hologram of Earth, points of crimson light pulsing across continents.
Tony: "Multiple corrupted zones. Too many to handle at once."
Zhongli placed his hand over the hologram, resonating with Neo's simulated universe.
Zhongli: "We prioritize. Strike the strongest first, slow the spread of the weaker."
Kirito twirled his dual blades.
Kirito: "So who's next?"
Neo's eyes glowed faintly with Nihility's resonance.
Neo: "…Another Avenger. Strong. Familiar."
Velgrynd's flames licked across her shoulders, as though already hungry for the next battle.
Velgrynd: "Then let's not keep them waiting."
The group tightened formation, their resolve tempered by victory, their eyes fixed on the next corrupted shadow.
The war for Earth's soul had only just begun.
✨ End of Chapter 23 – Awakened Resolve ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 24: Forging the Void
[Scene 1 – Training Grounds]
The group had taken shelter in a secluded, anomaly-free zone outside New York. The air was calm for once, the skies clearing of crimson storms. Neo sat cross-legged in the center, his new body shimmering faintly with the rainbow-veined glow of Turn Null resonance.
Seraphina's voice resounded within him—gentle, precise, unyielding.
Seraphina (Manas):
«Analysis in progress. Current vessel stability: 72%. Adaptation cycle incomplete. Estimated time until full synchronization: uncertain.»
Neo exhaled slowly, feeling the unfamiliar density of his being. It wasn't just flesh anymore—it was a container that could birth and erase multiverses.
Neo (muttering): "So this is what it means to hold infinity…"
[Scene 2 – Nihility Experimentation]
At Seraphina's request, Neo extended his hand. Nihility/Turn Null energy pulsed outward, warping space like fragile glass.
Seraphina:
«Begin controlled test. Creation phase—commence.»
Neo clenched his fist. Space quivered, and before him bloomed a cascade of stars. A universe—compressed, artificial, yet complete. Galaxies spiraled, time unfurled. He released the structure and immediately began the opposite.
Destruction. The universe collapsed into a singularity, swallowed by the void.
Neo winced as his body shuddered. Seraphina recorded everything.
Seraphina:
«Test complete. Result: One thousand universes created, one thousand universes destroyed in controlled sequence. Efficiency 61%. Vessel strain: critical.»
Velgrynd crossed her arms, her crimson flames flaring with worry.
Velgrynd: "You're pushing yourself too hard. Even with this new form—you're not fully there yet."
Neo gave her a crooked smile.
Neo: "Yeah. Pitiful, isn't it? To wield the same energy that another Creator God used to build countless multiverses… and I can barely keep pace with training simulations."
[Scene 3 – Forging the Weapon]
Seraphina interrupted with a subtle hum.
Seraphina:
«Recommendation: compress a blank universe into a permanent medium. A vessel to channel your dragon factor. It will serve as a regulator and weapon.»
Neo closed his eyes, and in his hands formed a hollow sphere of condensed void—raw potential without time, matter, or energy. It pulsed, empty yet endless.
Neo: "So basically… my own blank slate."
He gripped it, pouring Dragon Spirit Haki—True Dragon Haki—into the sphere. The void shuddered, veins of incandescent flame and storm lacing across its surface. The blank universe solidified, evolving into a weapon core that resonated with his being.
Velgrynd whistled softly.
Velgrynd: "…You just made a universe-sized sword hilt. Or a cannon. Or both."
Neo (grinning): "I'll let it refine over time. For now… it's my edge against whatever comes next."
[Scene 4 – Group Rest and Strategy]
The group spent the evening recovering. Kirito sparred with Asuna, Zhongli meditated beside Tony's holographic console, while Steve tested the limits of his newly purified shield.
Neo rested, his weapon core floating beside him like a silent guardian. For the first time since arriving, he felt… stable. Not complete, but closer.
Group Chat Interlude [Highlights]:
• Kirito: "So Neo basically just forged a universe and turned it into a weapon? No big deal."
• Tony: "Remind me never to arm-wrestle him."
• Zhongli: "This is the weight of creation. Handle it wisely."
• Velgrynd (teasing): "Don't worry, I'll keep my husband from blowing himself up."
• Neo: "…I regret letting you all watch the live broadcast."
[Scene 5 – The Next Corrupted Zone]
The peace didn't last.
Tony's AI picked up new readings: anomaly signatures flaring across Washington D.C. The corruption had rooted itself in the heart of America's capital.
Steve's jaw tightened.
Steve: "Another one of us."
The hologram flickered, revealing the outline of a familiar figure cloaked in corruption's tendrils—his shield gleaming faintly even under the anomaly's distortion.
Neo rose to his feet, his weapon core orbiting his hand.
Neo: "…Looks like round two."
Velgrynd's flames roared alive, eager for battle.
The group assembled, resolve hardened. The war wasn't slowing—it was only accelerating.
✨ End of Chapter 24 – Forging the Void ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 25: The Capital Shrouded in Ash
[Scene 1 – The Road to D.C.]
The Quinjet roared low across the East Coast, carrying Neo and the group toward the corrupted heart of Washington D.C. Through the windows, the land grew sicklier the closer they got. Trees wilted into ashen husks, rivers turned black with sludge, and buildings crumbled under the pressure of an invisible weight.
Velgrynd looked out, her crimson-gold eyes narrowing.
Velgrynd: "…This isn't just corruption. It's hunger. Like the world itself is being devoured."
Neo's blank universe weapon core floated by his side, resonating faintly.
Neo: "Seraphina, analysis."
Seraphina (Manas):
«Observation complete. The corruption density exceeds that of New York's incident by 247%. Local spacetime distortion suggests the influence of a corrupted apex host—likely another Avenger. Probability of survival for unshielded civilians: <0.001%.»
A heavy silence fell over the cabin.
[Scene 2 – Reconnaissance]
The Quinjet cloaked and hovered just outside the corrupted zone. Below, Washington was unrecognizable: the White House a jagged ruin wrapped in black crystal, the Lincoln Memorial twisted into a grotesque effigy, and the streets crawling with constructs of anomaly flesh and steel.
Steve clenched his fists, his expression unreadable.
Steve: "…This was the heart of the country. To see it like this…"
Tony's HUD flickered with scans, his Celestial armor humming.
Tony: "Confirmed—central corruption spike. Signature matches… Thor. Or at least, what's left of him."
The group stiffened. A corrupted god of thunder.
[Scene 3 – Strategy Meeting]
They gathered around the holo-map projected from Tony's gauntlet.
Tony: "Here's the problem—Thor's storm radius has merged with the corruption field. Direct approach means we're flying straight into an electromagnetic hurricane. I can tank it with the armor. The rest of you? Risky."
Zhongli: "Then we must fortify. I will raise barriers, but they will not last forever against a god's wrath."
Velgrynd: "I can counter his flames with my own, but lightning? That's a different beast."
Neo tapped the glowing weapon core in his palm, his expression grim.
Neo: "If Thor really is corrupted this badly, we can't just overpower him. We'll need to bait him—separate him from the corruption long enough for Seraphina to analyze a purification sequence."
Seraphina:
«Affirmative. Direct application of Nihility/Turn Null energy in current state risks collateral annihilation. Recommend limited strike patterns only.»
Steve exhaled slowly, gripping his shield.
Steve: "So the plan is… distract, contain, purify."
Kirito (half-smiling): "Sounds like every boss raid we've ever done."
Asuna: "Except this boss is a thunder god."
[Scene 4 – Group Chat Interlude]
The chat flared alive mid-discussion.
• Chat System:[Corrupted Host: Thor identified. Mission update in progress. Difficulty rating increased. Warning: risk level—catastrophic.]
• Kirito: "Catastrophic? We're already in endgame territory…"
• Tony: "Well, silver lining is that catastrophic means the rewards multiplier's probably spiking again."
• Neo: "If it spikes more, I'll start to suspect the chat group is trolling us."
• Velgrynd: "Focus. We're not doing this for rewards. We're doing this because this world will break if we fail."
[Scene 5 – Insertion]
The talking was over.
Tony disengaged the cloak. Zhongli summoned his golden shields. Velgrynd's flames lit the sky crimson. Neo's compressed universe weapon pulsed with Dragon Spirit Haki.
The Quinjet dove, breaching the storm.
Thunder roared, lightning tearing the sky apart. And at the center, on the ruined steps of the Capitol, stood Thor—his hammer warped into a jagged mass of corruption, his eyes glowing with abyssal stormlight.
Thor (corrupted): "Intruders… mortals… all will fall beneath the storm…"
Neo stepped forward, his aura blazing against the storm.
Neo: "…Then let's see if your storm can handle a void."
The battle for D.C. began.
✨ End of Chapter 25 – The Capital Shrouded in Ash ✨