-TERRARIA, NEXUS: AKUMA’S CAVERN-

Pools of lava emit high tempered steam that fills the cavern and enlightens it in a vibrant red coloration. Creating a warm and humid atmosphere. The large entity that was previously slumbering in this chamber was now coiled, its six legs keeping its serpentine body balanced, all while its head rose up like a snake.

The serpentine dragon’s eyes were currently closed as if in a meditating-like state. Then, a series of footsteps echoed out from nearby as a white-furred leopard/wolf humanoid hybrid came into view. The draconian opens its sapphire-colored eyes and gazes upon the werebeast.

“Snow… It’s good to see you again, cub,” The red dragon chuckles, “Although, given your current size and stature, it would seem ‘cub’ isn’t quite accurate anymore.”

During this time, Snow had finally approached the draconian and sat before the dragon on the floor by crossing his legs and placing his hands onto his knees. The werebeast chuckled, slightly hunching his back, and responds:

“You’d still call me a cub regardless,” He straightens his back and looks towards the dragon attentively, “Now then, everyone ‘upstairs’ is on high alert and are ready to combat The Underworld’s forces.”

The dragon nods, “Very good. Then I shall have no worries for when I must depart.”

Snow’s leopard-like ears twitch, “Depart? Will you not be fighting alongside us?”

“My battle is elsewhere, cub,” The dragon raises its right claw, keeping two of its four claws raised, “Two great battles will transpire simultaneously. The Ancients are about to collide with the forces of the GrimDark, all while they entrust the mortals of Terraria to face the demons.”

Snow nods, “I could feel both of these great evils rising when you warned me. Terraria is going to become a battlefield,” Snow smirks, “Then again, when is it ever not?”

The two share a small laugh together, but something within the cavern catches Snow’s attention as he notices certain symbols etched onto the walls. As he looked around, Snow assessed that each of these symbols represented various mythologies and entities. Each of these insignias glowed with a fiery aura and makeup, although some seemed to be ‘inactive’ as the werebeast turns back to the dragon before saying:

“These symbols… I recognize that Cross as the Christian pantheon. That one over there is for the Greeks, and the Norse pantheon is just beside that,” He turns his head to each symbol, even gazing upon the emblems that represented various Ancients such as Greed, Oblivion, Lucifer, Anubis, Athena, and the recently appointed Ancient, Silence.

“That’s a new one,” Snow comments.

“His name is Silence, the Ancient of Knowledge,” Akuma responds. “He only recently took on this role, but Terra had bestowed upon him that station with her blessing.”

Snow nods in response; taking in all that was around him. A thought comes to the werebeast, “Some of these are unlit… What exactly is going on here, Akuma?” He questions.

The dragon releases a rumble from his chest as he momentarily ponders on those words. Akuma finally breaks the silence as his deep voice responds:

“Those we’ll need for the fight against the Shadows of Abaddon.”

“I think I understand now,” Snow said as he narrowed his eyes towards each symbol. “The lit symbols represent Ancients who have awakened or returned to Terraria. Including various pantheons that are currently active. As for the unlit ones…”

“They are pantheons and ancients who haven’t returned, or been active as of late. However, I sense that the Ancient of Nature has just awoken, along with a very special Riolu, her greatest defender.”

As was mentioned, another symbol lit to life as it depicted a feline-like figure.

“M-Mew has returned?” Snow asks in shock. “I’ve always wondered about what happened to the Pokemon. They disappeared at the end of the Time of the Ancients, didn’t they?”

“Yes and no, Snow,” Akuma responds. “Yharim’s actions had a lasting effect on the world and Mew was forced into hiding. However, it wasn’t him who caused the Pokemon to disappear,” The dragon takes a deep breath as a surge of fire is let loose from his maw seconds after. The flames join together and form an entity that sits within Akuma’s right claw. The being that was portrayed is simply too chaotic to explain in full detail.

“It was Nyarlathotep,” Akuma continues. “The Crawling Chaos used its incredible prowess to capture the forces of light and dark. And, of course, the Pokemon were among these unfortunate captives.”

“Is that monstrosity some kind of reality warper...?” The werebeast questioned, his shock ever-present.

Akuma lets loose a rumble, “Nyarlathotep wasn’t just a reality warper, but the most powerful one Terraria had ever seen. The Ancients and Gods themselves could’ve learned a thing or two from that creature,” The dragon closes its eyes, “With but a simple thought, the Outer God wisped away countless entities. It didn’t matter if these beings were good or evil, mortal or immortal, the Crawling Chaos took them all.”

“But then, how could such a powerful being have been defeated? Many of the Ancients and Gods disappeared or died in the battle with Yharim. And those who were still around couldn’t stop Nyar, at least from what you’re telling me. So how did-”

“It was Terra,” Akuma interjects. “Although Shining Armor and the heroes of old delivered the final blow, it was Terra’s influence that weakened Nyarlathotep,” The dragon places a claw to its chin in thought, “However… I have a suspicion…”

“Do tell,” Snow responds with anticipating features.

“Now, this is only a feeling of mine… but I believe that the great All-Mother had help.”

“I mean, I’d assume so since the ancient heroes, gods, dryads, and other beings must’ve fought-”

“No, no, you don’t understand, old friend,” Akuma interrupts; much to Snow’s surprise. “An Outer God can only be defeated by another Outer God. The only way for any other being to defeat them is to receive aid from such an entity. In Terraria’s case, we have Terra to empower us against our foes.”

Snow nods, “She’s where all loot comes from after we destroy a powerful enemy, not to mention many of the ores that liter the world. Even lesser enemies can earn us various equipment. But, Akuma... What exactly is your suspicion? What are you getting at?”

The dragon moves its head closer to the werebeast as its fiery orbs gazed into Snow’s very soul, “I believe that Terra had help from another Outer God; possibly even more than just one. I have no proof of this, of course. It’s just a hunch,” Akuma lifts his head up high, “Then again, trusting my instincts has kept me alive for this long.”

Snow smirks, “Except for that one time you thought it was a good idea to flirt with Harmony in front of Oblivion. Where were your ‘instincts’ then?”

The dragon brings a claw to his face, “I never should’ve told you that story… you’ll never let that one go. Besides, I had no way of knowing she was already taken,” Akuma moves his claw away and sighs with annoyance, “I wish that imbecile didn’t allow Yamata to escape. But the past is the past, we must tend to the future.”

“Have you been able to sense Yamata as of late?”

“Sadly, no. My other half has hidden well. However, I’m concerned by what I felt the last time I sensed them,” The draconian shudders in a sense of fear, to which Snow also became concerned as he comments:

“I know that look, Akuma. If it’s enough to make even you quake with dread, then It can’t be good…”

The dragon regains their composure, “Indeed, little cub. The presence I felt alongside Yamata was none other than Yharim’s.”

“Of course,” Snow responds with a disgusted snort, “When is he ever NOT involved when shit hits the fan...”

The dragon uncurls his body and rises up onto their legs, causing the cavern to shake in response, “Let us put Yharim aside for the time being. I must join the fray that will transpire within Anubis’s domain. But before I do, I must make preparations for Akatosh’s return.”

“Akatosh?” Snow questions with growing interest.

“It’s an alias for the father of all dragons, King of the Aesir, and the Ancient who governs over time, itself... Odin.”

-TERRARIA-

The sun continued to beam down, and within a large clearing which consisted of lush grass and patches of dirt a kenku was sitting down with their eyes closed. A small forest could be seen nearby as its leaves fluttered about in the wind. From this forest, and hidden amongst various foliage, another individual could be seen observing the bird-folk from afar.

“I must be sure to move with the wind,” Statis comments as he sits on a large branch. “The sound of the trees moving and stirring with the cool breeze will mask my movements,” He narrows his eyes, “That sitting posture… very clever…”

As was observed; while it looked like the kenku was sitting down in the typical fashion, to the eyes of more experienced individuals this was, in fact, a technique. The positioning of Tori’s legs was very particular and while the right leg was crossed in the front, their left foot was positioned underneath and behind their buttocks.

“Fudoza, or the immovable seat,” Statis comments as the leaves all around him begin to dance with the sudden rush of wind; causing him to move his gaze away. “Wind’s picking up again. Excellent, I can use this to approach- wait, what?” A sudden surge of shock overtakes him as Tori was no longer sitting down where the bird folk once supplanted themselves.

In one swift motion and still using the wind as cover, Statis rapidly moves down to the meadow Tori was last seen in and cautiously draws his blade in one hand. He then manifests a Pistol from his inventory and aims it with the other hand while commenting:

“People have a misconception about us ninja. They believe we wouldn’t use firearms as it seemingly is a weapon we couldn’t incorporate into our arsenal,” He cautiously walks out into the meadow. “I’ll be the first to say: They couldn’t be more wrong.”

Statis’s senses were on high alert for his opponent wasn’t like anyone else he had ever faced before. While Yharim was indeed the most dangerous foe Statis had ever encountered, it was Tori who knew exactly how the demi-god’s current profession operates. Knowledge is always a trump card for most, if not, all confrontations. This was a conflict between two ninjas, two beings who were trained for the same--for lack of a better word--profession.

Unfortunately for Statis, not only did he already make a mistake… Tori was now the one watching him.

With gritted teeth, nervous sweat, and absolute caution consuming his body, Statis comments internally:

-I don't like this… I’m beginning to feel expo-- “Shit!”

[BOOM]

An explosion roars out from behind Statis which causes him to jump forward and roll in an effort to dodge. However, this momentary respite was short-lived as multiple other explosions followed afterward. The ninja demi-god was forced to zoom about to and fro, but what was most peculiar about these explosions was that they weren’t pre-placed in a similar fashion to a landmine.

“Where the hell is that kenku?! These explosions are coming from… ABOVE ME!”

Statis turns his head upward and spots something floating high above: A fairly large light-blue kite with a dark blue wooden frame. At least, this was the underside of the object.

“Shit! They weren’t just waiting for me to strike, the wind picking up was-” Statis suddenly gasps as a small sickled blade was placed to his neck region from behind. He looks over his right shoulder as Tori gazed back at him.

“You’ve lost, Statis,” Tori said in Braelor’s voice.

Statis sighs, followed by a chuckle, “Lost again…”

Tori removes the blade from Statis’s neck as the demi-god turns around to face the kenku. “Tell me, what was your first mistake?” Tori questioned, still imitating Braelor’s voice.

“Thinking back on it now, my approach was too hasty. I never should’ve walked out onto the mead-”

“Wrong,” Tori interjects. “Your first mistake isn’t about what you did, but what you didn’t do.”

“W-what…?” Statis questions in a shocked tone.

Tori looks up towards the kite that was beginning to lose some of its altitude, “That kite doubles as a dummy, meant to look like me while it was grounded,” The kenku looks back to the still stunned Statis, “I ask you once again: what was your first mistake?”

Statis began to ponder on those words, specifically when Tori mentioned the kite itself was also a dummy. Then, the kite falls before them and lands on the earth. But what Statis saw on the top portion of the kite sent a surge of realization and awe throughout his body: dark blue feathers, and the wooden frame would have easily been passed off as Tori’s beak.

“The kite was folded so that it would resemble you sitting down… and when the wind picked up again, you took flight with it,” Statis answered. “Thanks to your anatomy, the kite would indeed stay airborne and support your weight.”

“A good assessment, that is exactly what happened. But that wasn’t your first mistake.”

“What do you mean?” Statis questions, bringing a hand to his chin in thought, “I can’t think of any other mistake I might’ve made…”

“Tell me, Statis, what are dummies used for aside from how I’ve utilized them?”

“They are often associated with combat training, both for melee and ranged combat.”

Tori nods, “They can also be used for deception, as I’ve just shown you. But your first mistake was not shooting at it from afar.”

With those words, Statis felt a sense of stupidity overtake him as he conjured forth a ranged weapon from his inventory: a Sniper Rifle.

“I could’ve shot it right from the get-go… instead, I approached it like a novice,” Statis comments regretfully.

“I forced you into that situation and wanted to see how you’d react,” Tori responds. “Your best option was to shoot the dummy as I purposely planted it out on the field. The grass was too short to hide your larger frame, but of course, I do not share that issue.”

“That explains the unease I felt when I walked out onto the meadow. You were watching me from above via that kite. And I can assume that while I was running away from the explosions, you used that distraction to dismount the kite and hide amongst the grass once again,” Statis chuckles, “Incredible… I clearly still have much to learn,” He bows respectfully with a particular hand gesture.

“Thank you for giving me some insight, sensei.”

Tori was about to respond, but a sense of uneasiness overtakes the kenku as they begin to look all around them. Seeing this, Statis was momentarily taken aback, but he then felt this same sense of danger as he turned around to find himself back to back with Tori.

“Sensei… I can feel it, too.”

Tori narrows their eyes, “We’re being watched… and by someone I-” The kenku’s words were cut off as they hurriedly kicked away Statis in one swift motion. An arrow coated with a green substance flew past and between the two ninjas.

Both Tori and Statis--who was recovering from Tori’s actions--turned towards the arrow that was now etched into a tree.

“It was very fortunate that you saved him, Tori. That arrow was coated from the blood of the Plaguebringer Goliath,” A new voice comments, but one that was all too familiar to the kenku as it was also feminine. “I thought I’d use your sister’s voice… for old times sake.”

-It's that kenku from before...- Statis questions internally before shouting outwardly:

“Who are you?!”

Tori’s eyes widened in response to the kenku now before them, “Samyueru… you coward…”

“Sensei, who exactly is this kenku?” Statis questions with concern.

Samyueru chuckles, “Don’t be shy, Tori. Introduce him to your Otousan.”

“Otousan?!” Statis questions shockingly. “Y-your father…”

-TERRARIA, CAMELOT: CASTLE THRONE ROOM-

Queen Amore was seated upon her throne, Sweetie Gluttonia standing beside her, as various individuals stood before them. Their appearances screamed ‘individuals of great importance’ as some wore attire affiliated with military personnel, royal advisors, and prominent figures from the guilds.

“Thank you all for coming,” The Queen started. “Captain Flash Sentry, I want a full report on Camelot’s current evacuation status.”

A blue-haired terrarian wearing a set of golden armor walks forth as he bows respectfully towards Queen Amore, “My Queen, the evacuation efforts are progressing flawlessly. All of Camelot’s subjects have been transported to safety,” He rises up to his full stature, “The royal advisor can confirm this as well once he gets here.”

As if on cue, the large double doors to the throne room open wide as another individual enters the room. His hair was black further up, but towards the edges of the elder man’s hair which met his shoulders, it began to fade into a clear white.

The advisor performs the same respectful actions as Flash Sentry before saying:

“My apologies for the delay, your majesty. I, Royal Advisor, Neighsay, am here to give you my reports from the Order of The Guide.”

The Queen nods, “Has Twilight and those accompanying her left for The Underworld?”

“That is correct. They've left via an object called the Ice Mirror. In addition, your niece, Linn, has also accompanied them on their voyage.”

A surge of worry overtakes Amore’s heart, but hid it well behind a stoic mask as she says internally:

-Linn… please be safe, my dear niece.-

She nods once more before rising up to her full stature, “May the light of Excalibur watch over them all; may Daedalus himself bless us all upon this day,” She raises her right arm with a clenched fist, “And may King Arthur himself smile upon our combined might when we rage against the damned! Let our demonic foes crumble against our power! Rip and tear!”

Everyone within the throne room raises their fists into the air while chanting:

“Rip and tear!"

"Rip and tear!"

"Rip and tear!”

As the processions within the throne room continued, both Flash Sentry and the Royal Advisor, Neighsay, had excused themselves from the room. All while the war cries of Camelot’s defenders continued to chant.

“That chant is an absolute cringefest…” Flash said with matching features.

“Stop whining, Flash. Let us do our Queen’s will and check on Excalibur before moving on,” Neighsay responds.

……….

The duo soon found themselves before a closed pair of doors with two guards stationed on either side. Upon noticing the duo, the two guards salute in response before saying in unison:

“Sir!”

“At ease, gentlemen,” Neighsay commented, causing the two guards to adhere.

“Open it up,” Flash Sentry orders.

The guardsmen grasp either side of the doors and grunt as they follow their orders, parting the doors adjourn. There, floating above a large insignia and rotating clockwise in a similar fashion to the Crystal Heart was arguably the source of Camelot’s power. The legendary blade itself:

Excalibur.

My apologies for the super late chapter, things got pretty chaotic in the good old RL.

Character inventory/equipment:

Fluttershy: Statigel Armor(pony, equipped), Overloaded Blaster, Eviscerator, Crimslime Staff, Corroslime Staff, Slime Staff, Finch Staff, Snow Flinx Staff, Hornet Staff, Blood Clot Staff, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Healing Potion, Honey Comb(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, Staff Of Necrosteocytes, Purified Jam.

Rainbow Dash: Necro Armor(pony, equipped), Star Cannon, Minishark, Eviscerator, Aquatic Discharge, Bloody Rupture, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Healing Potion, Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Victory Shard, Slime Mount.

Zecora: Crimson Armor(zebra, equipped), Dune Hopper, Sausage Maker, Beenade, Tooth Ball, Aorta, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Various Potions, Rocket Boots(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Sand Cloak(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Bloodstained Gloves(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Skeletron Hand.

Starlight Glimmer: Meteor Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Starfury, Vein Burster, Purple Phaseblade, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Healing Potion, Victory Shard, Rocket Boots(equipped), Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Slime Mount, Book Of Skulls, Skeletron Hand.

Rarity: Meteor Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Hornet Staff, Snow Flinx Staff, Ice Mirror, Blood Clot Staff, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Angel Wings(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Slime Mount, Book Of Skulls, Skeletron Hand, Staff Of Necrosteocytes.

Applejack: Crimson Armor(pony, equipped), Vein Burster, Orange Phaseblade, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Rope, Metal Detector, Healing Potion, Angel Wings(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Flurry Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, Bone Glove, Skeletron Hand.

Twilight Sparkle: Meteorite Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Book Of Skulls, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Ichor, Victory Shards, Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Slime Mount.

Pinkie Pie: Crimson Armor(pony, equipped), Vein Burster, Blue Phaseblade, Bloody Rupture x2, Aorta, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Metal Detector, Angel Wings(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Flurry Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, The Blood Butcherer, Skeletron Hand.