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The Gam3: Chapter 10

"Do you think he's mad?" Helios asked, moving his troops forward. The rook he had placed was now accompanied by a bishop, the two standing side by side and ready to take on the opposing troops.

"Undoubtedly," Liberty4U responded. "It was a... What do you call it? A dick move." She moved her own pieces, ready to meet Helios' paired opponents. She then reached over to his side of the board and moved some of his troops to be in line with hers. "He wasn't doing anything against the rules. I think we insulted him."

"He's the guy that writes realities and gave the guy who owns this one his book," Helios said with a wave of his hand. "You'd think after all he's done, he'd be used to being insulted like that."

"I'm sure he is but you know him." She smiled softly as she rested her head on her hand, gazing at the board absently. "I do believe we've already lost against him anyway. Somehow, I can't shake the feeling that this is _exactly_what he wanted us to do."

Helios took a piece from his rear line and moved it closer to his two pieces, not exactly next to them but a fair distance away. He then pulled his rook back. "You mean put the restriction that if he so much as says something incriminating to the others, he gets kicked out of The Gam3? That his involvement is completely eliminated? That was the agreement he signed on. He's to be a supervisor. No true involvement. No reality alterations, no building of worlds and he's not even allowed to create monsters for Events. He was subject to our judgement."

"You just love that for once you have more power than him," she accused with a smile.

Helios laughed and leaned back. "Actually, I'm a little scared. I honestly don't know how he handles it all the time." He waved at the board in front of him. "Plan all I want, move all my pieces as much as I desire but I _still_don't know where this will go. Yes, he has those eyes that allows him to see every possible outcome but it's always a question of what people will choose!" Helios shook his head. "I'm scared of how this will turn out. I don't know how he can handle that mystery."

"Maybe because it's not our choices that these people make. It's theirs. We've set the path. It's up to them to take it."

"Maybe," answered the man. "But we're not out of this yet. We can still make our voice heard. Oh and if you see him, tell him this wasn't an insult to his actions. It's... security against what he might do."

"That might just be worse."

******

Morning came with the deafening roar of a thunderstorm. Even with the air conditioner on allowing for a mild temperature, that didn't rid the space of the humidity. Such humidity clung to Ed's new fur, making it frizz out and stand on end. In a desperate attempt to cope with the humidity, he had decided to take a bath. Emerging from the shower, Ed found he missed the cooling touch of the water against his bare flesh. Most of the water was barred by his fur and didn't get down to the skin. It just made him feel a couple of pounds heavier and just prising himself away from the shower took a monumental effort.

He turned to look at himself in the bathroom mirror. The anthropomorphic tiger that stared back was so alien and yet so familiar at the same time. He was so used to seeing that tiger in the fantastical world of The Gam3 and not in the comparatively dull real world. He walked over to th bathroom mirror and reached for the towel which rested on the bathroom counter. For a moment, he paused as he regarded the rather expensive looking sink. Admittedly, with Tom's use of the Chaos Drives, the apartment was starting to look a little homier. The sinks, for instance, were made of a polished marbled rock he couldn't identify and the polished wood that broke the monotonous white and black was a nice touch.

Part of him wondered when other physical changes would start affecting Tom but from all appearances, he was still very much human. Almost everyone else was with the exception of Liam.

Thinking of the otter, he sighed. The former-Shapeshifter was right. They were effectively in the same boat now. Both of them were fur-covered beasts stuck in the real world. A world that would never understand his situation. Though he guessed people would be more sympathetic towards Liam who wanted to return to normalcy.

That, naturally, raised the question...

"What do I want?" he asked his reflection.

"How about some pants?"

Ed let out a yelp and spun around, instinctively putting his paws over his furry crotch. Liam sat a short distance away, his bare rump on the toilet seat and a newspaper in his paws. He was giving Ed a rather pointed stare.

"How long have you been sitting there!?" he exclaimed. "And dude, I was taking a shower!"

"Actually," Liam said, lifting a finger. "I was here first. You've been acting like a zombie for the entire day. You just wandered in here, all zombie-like, and took a shower. I'll admit, I was rather surprised especially after a tried throwing some toilet paper balls at you." To prove his statement, Liam pointed at the ground where several pieces of toilet paper lay in scrunched up balls. "Do you even know what time it is?"

Ed gave the otter an incredulous look. "It's seven in the morning."

Liam made a loud buzzing noise the likes of one would hear from a game show when one got an answer wrong. "Nope. It's seven in the evening."

"But the clock said..."

Liam shook his head and set his newspaper down on his lap. "I get it. It's surreal. You're covered in fur. The things you see, smell and feel are different because of your body. I bet having those leathery pads on your paws and feet are weird too."

Ed tried not to look at his paws.

"You're stuck like this and the only hope to fix it is to do the impossible, get to God's Studio and do who the hell knows what." He gave Ed a look filtering between pity and understanding. "Do you regret it?"

Ed opened his muzzle and said, "No. I knew the risks of what I was doing. I was the most far gone and I came up with that plan for everyone else. I did it for my friends and family... Like I've always done."

The otter rolled his eyes and gave Ed an accusing stare. "Why? Why are you constantly looking after everyone else and not yourself? Why don't you do something for yourself for once? I mean, you knew what was going on when you actively went around changing your life for your father's sake and even your friend's sake. Hell, you're their 'mother'. But what have you ever done for yourself?"

"I got The Gam3 for myself..." Ed began meekly.

"But since then? You've got a frickin' world-altering device at your fingertips and you used it to make people happy. I mean, okay you had some fringe benefits but it's always been for others. Why don't you do something for _yourself_for once?"

"Because doing something for myself gets me into your situation," countered Ed. "Bitter, full of regret and a little pessimistic. At least with the choices I've made, I have no regrets."

Liam stood up, showing off his furry sheath. "See, I don't believe that. I think there's some part of you that regrets having wasted this opportunity."

Ed looked at his paws, examining their enormous frames and the vicious claws that jutted out of their tips. Soft, glowing runes shimmered just over his stripes, nothing too visible but in the right light, they were there. On some level, he regretted going for a full-mage build. Something about Wilbur's analysis of his abilities rang true. He could go down with a single well-placed hit and looking at Pete or Tom made him a little jealous of their physical prowess.

"I don't regret anything," he answered adamantly.

"You keep telling yourself that," Liam answered, flushing the toilet. "I'm going to head back home to check on Ian. I didn't see him in The Gam3 and I'm not sure what he's been up to."

"Want a lift? My limo driver won't question how we look."

Liam paused for a moment and chuckled. "You know what? Sure. If you're not going to take advantage of all the good stuff you got, then I will."

That made Ed chuckle softly as Liam pulled up his pants and headed out. "Woah, hey, aren't you going to wipe?" he asked.

The otter cast a smirk over his shoulder. "I wasn't actually going to the toilet. I just like reading the newspaper on the toilet. Then you walked in."

"And the flush?"

"Just to fuck with you."

Ed shook his head in disbelief, letting out a soft chuckle. He dried off and headed out. After a quick call to his driver, he bid the others a good night. A few questions were asked but it was the middle of the night and it was stormy. No one would really bat an eye at a shadowy figure that _sort of_looked like a tiger.

True to his word, his driver didn't ask why he suddenly looked like a tiger and was accompanied by a guy with a surprisingly realistic otter tail and wearing a hood over his features. He gave the address and they rode in silence through town. It came as a little bit of a surprise when they began peeling away from the urbanised part of town and started heading into the suburbs. As the time flew, the houses grew more and more lavished with bigger front yards and evolving from single storey to two... and eventually three.

"Uh... Where do you live exactly?" he asked.

"I gave you the address," Liam grunted.

Ed's eyes boggled when they came to a large estate. Effectively a mansion, the three storey structure had maybe six or seven rooms and from the looks of it, a very large backyard. His own mansion was still bigger - easily a maze - but this place was still exceptionally lavished. Slowly, he turned to Liam with his muzzle wide open. He only caught sight of the otter's tail as Liam left and shut the door behind him.

Ed scrambled out after him.

"You live here?"

Liam gave him an exasperated look. "Yes. I thought that'd be obvious."

"Is this...?"

"What do you think?"

Ed moved in front of Liam, cutting off his escape. "What was all that about taking advantage of what I had if I wasn't going to appreciate it?" He swept his arms back. "You have all this!"

"I have 'all this'," hissed Liam, "and can't do shit with it because my parents can't see me like this and my brother hates me!"

"Oh boo-ho! Your parents love you enough to be worried about you and check on you! Mine barely knows I exist! At least you have both parents!"

Liam snarled at him and pushed past. "See? There's the self-pity I was looking for. Starting to regret all those wasted Chaos Drives yet, stripes?"

Ed opened his muzzle to retort but the truth prevented him from countering. It was true. Looking at what Liam had... he began wishing he had that. Loving parents, a little brother, a safe haven... He never got to say what was on his mind as Liam quickly leapt up onto the side of his home, clinging onto the windowsills. With surprising dexterity, the otter launched himself from window to window, heading straight towards one of the top windows that remained open.

Fury boiled inside of him; fury at being proven wrong and fury had realising that Liam was right. He had wasted several opportunities. Ed stormed into his limo and slammed the door shut, fuming angrily.

"Where to, sir?" asked his driver.

Something was odd about the driver's voice. He looked up and frowned. The woman sitting in the driver's seat wasn't his usual driver. His usual driver was a gruff, silent man. That and he had never once heard of a female limo driver. He was sure there were some out there but... he had just never seen anyone.

"You're not my usual driver."

"Jacob couldn't make it," answered the woman over his shoulder. "His hands are tied."

"Jacob...? My driver's name is Jacob?"

"I'm sure he'd be hurt to know he's been driving you around for months and you don't know his name."

Ed winced. "Please don't tell him... erm... What's your name?"

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm just a temp. But if you want, you can call me Victoria." His driver smiled knowingly. "So, where to?"

Ed shook his head absently. "I don't know. Anywhere but here."

His driver started the limo. "If you don't mind me offering an observation, sir?"

"Sure."

Victoria paused a moment as she began to pull out of the broad, circular driveway. "You and your friend share a lot in common."

"You take that back!"

"Consider it retracted, sir," she answered without a hint of remorse. "But you're both rich, you're both into furry content and - excuse my boldness - but you've both made mistakes. Big ones from all appearances."

"You can say that again..."

"But I think where you differ is that he clearly regrets his mistakes and is working to fix it. You, on the other hand, can't see your mistakes so you can't fix them." Before Ed could protest, the driver lifted a finger. "But he has been completely and utterly selfish which led to his errors in judgement but your mistake was not being selfish enough."

"Is there something bad about being selfless?"

"If you give everyone everything of yourself, there won't be enough of you to live. You've got to be a little selfish here and there if only for sustenance. On the same thought, you've got to be a little selfless or you'll just end up making a lot of enemies."

"Tell that to Liam... Out of the two of us, who's better?" Ed growled. "I'm the saint here! I gave my entire life for everyone! He exchanged everything he had for his own selfish reasons!"

"And yet you're sitting here wishing you were more like him."

"I do not!"

The driver gave him a pointed stare, a knowing smirk on her features with her strangely bright, yellow eyes sparkling.

Ed hated that he was proven wrong... again. "Shouldn't you be watching the road?"

"Not really. I've just been going around in a circle around your friend's driveway for the eventual moment when you realise that you could actually learn a little something from him if you just stop thinking you're a 'saint'. It's really not hard to drive around in a circle, you know."

Ed opened his muzzle to protest but then slammed it shut.

"If you want, there's some equipment underneath your seat that should allow you to hear the conversation your friend is having with his parents right now. They seem to have caught him."

He froze and scrambled for the equipment. It looked like one of those ridiculous radar guns that somehow amplified sound. He was dubious as to whether it would work or not.

His heart jumped to his throat when he realised that the driver was telling the truth. Liam had been caught.

"... Liam... what... What are you...? Is that really you...?"

"Son... Is this what you've been hiding from us all this time? Why you've been having your brother cover for you?"

"Stop the car!" Ed barked.

"Already parked, sir."

Ed jumped out of the car, throwing aside the equipment. He paused and turned towards the driver. "Tell Jacob thanks for picking such an awesome substitute. He was never this talkative."

His driver smirked. "Trust me. He knows."

Ed quickly charged up the steps to the front door and rang the doorbell with urgency. It only took five seconds before a maid opened the door and she let out a cry of shock.

"Hi," Ed said, waving at her. "Is Liam here? We're meant to be going out."

The maid nodded shakily, eyeing him with suspicion. She mentioned that she would get him and darted away, shutting the door. A moment later, the door sprang open again to reveal two well-dressed people, Liam's parents from all appearances considering how they weren't dressed as maids or butlers.

"You're looking for our son?" asked the man, giving Ed a suspicious stare.

"Yeah. We're meant to be heading over to the Furmeet in town. Is he here?"

"Ed?" came the shocked cry. Both of Liam's parents turned and watched as their otter of a son bolted down the stairs. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Ed made a show of looking surprised and then seemingly coming to an understanding. "Oh... You haven't told you parents about the secret, huh?"

"What? No! And don't you dare -"

Liam's father pulled his son back. "No, tell us. What is this big secret of yours? We want to know, Liam. We want to know what you've been keeping from us for months and have been getting your brother to lie on your behalf."

Ed briefly noted that Ian was standing a short distance away. Judging by appearances alone, he got a good idea of what Liam would've looked like if he wasn't covered in fur. "Well, the truth is -"

"Ed!" Liam protested, his eyes pleading. "Don't..."

"Sorry Li," he answered, shaking his head. "This is what's best for both of us." He took a deep breath and turned to Liam's parents. "The truth is..."

He paused for dramatic effect. Liam's mother looked like she was about to pass out.

"... we're furries."

Both parents stared aghast at Ed but their surprise was nothing compared to the pure look of disbelief on Liam's face. Ed gave the otter the smallest of smiles and just a tiny flick of his tail. The otter noticed and quickly composed himself, dropping his gaze in shame.

"Ed..."

"It had to be said," Ed answered adamantly. "It's not healthy for you to be sneaking around from your parents to hide who you are. Truth be told, you're an otter. You always have been. Accept it and even if the worst comes, you'll at _least_have your identity." Of course, he was just making up some oddly poetic lesson. It felt right though.

"He's right, son," Liam's father said, resting a hand on Liam's shoulder and squeezing it tightly. "We love you no matter who or what you choose to be. Though I must admit, this fursuit is surprisingly realistic."

His mother gave his father a puzzled stare. "Fursuit? Is that some sort of slang? And how do you know about that?"

For a brief moment Ed feared he had just started the path where the family would be torn right down the middle. His fears were eased when Liam's mother hugged him tightly while still giving the father a suspicious stare. It didn't help that her husband wasn't answering and was just offering a nervous laugh.

"Don't believe either of them!" came the furious shout from the stairs. Ian came bolting down, his eyes wild as he stared accusingly at Liam and then at Ed. "It's all a lie! They're not furries! They were just turned this way because of a videogame! They overused its privileges, were utterly selfish and wanted to change the world the _easy_way! Now they're like this!"

Liam was dumbstruck... and didn't know what to say.

Luckily, Ed was there. "Oh come on. So you're telling me that a wearing a super-realistic fursuit is less believable than a magical videogame?"

"Oh yeah?" Ian challenged. "If that's a suit, take it off!"

Liam gave Ed a horrified look, begging him for answers.

Keeping his cool, Ed said, "Erm... I'd really rather not. Do you have any_idea how hot it is in here? I don't exactly... _wear anything under except... well, you know."

Liam's father beamed. "I know exactly what you mean. Keep in on. And why don't you come in... Ed was it? Stay for dinner."

Ed beamed. "I'd love to."

He gave Ian a challenging stare with one message.

'Game on.'

*****

The world of The Gam3 was a buzz with activity. The latest Event was still well on its way and everyone was hastily competing to achieve the best possible results. The streets of Terminal were comparatively quiet to when an Event was not in the works. People were roaming the streets in small numbers, usually searching for some shop or heading to their own houses.

It made Tom wonder if any of them even knew that the quest to get to God's Studio was underway. He sighed and quickly opened a channel to Wilbur.

"Bur?" Tom asked, tapping at the contacts for his fiancé. "You here?"

"I'm at your house."

He was a little surprised that there was no imagery but shrugged it off. After a quick tap on his menu, he found himself being swept straight back to his own house in a flurry of lights. What he saw made him balk in shock.

"Bur... What the...?"

What had once been a small, wooden, one bedroom home had been transformed into a stunning three storey structure complete with a pole right down the middle that allowed for ease of access down from the top floors. The floors were still made of wood but instead of just the barren, unpolished planks, they were floorboards that felt like they were radiating heat. Plenty of natural light was also allowed into the home through various glass doors. Through one in particular, he could see the backyard complete with a pool.

He felt powerful arms wrap around his waist and he turned to find Wilbur smiling gently at him.

"What do you think?" asked the burly wolf.

"This..." Tom said, casting one more gaze at the large feature wall. It had running water streaming down its marble surface and delicate emerald leaves from a crawling vine drizzling down from the top. The water collected down into a small pool that was protected by glass. This pool led into one of the many streams cut into the floor itself - again, covered by glass - that gave the entire place a sense of movement.

"This is amazing!" he finished. "When did you find the time to do this?"

Wilbur gave him an absent shrug. "Time in The Gam3 runs differently to the real world, remember? It's probably just been a few hours for you but for me here, it's been a week since I last saw you."

"Been a day on my side, actually," Tom corrected. He wrapped his arms around Wilbur, all four of them holding his fiancé tightly. "I'm sorry... I forgot about that. I didn't mean to leave you for so long..."

Wilbur gently pushed him away, his lupine face splitting into an uncharacteristic grin. "Hey, it's fine. Really. Gave me time to make sure this place was damn good. Come on, let me show you the other floors."

The grand tour was simply breath taking. The second floor featured the bedrooms and there were enough rooms to fit all of their friends, even Liam. It was no surprise that most of them were occupied by king sized beds; certainly enough space should they decide to couple with one another. As with the first floor, there was a perfect mix of the artificial and the natural. Some of the walls were made purely out of glass and filled with thick foliage with an automated sprinkling system, essentially miniature greenhouses. The third floor was built solely as an entertainment area with its own bar, couches and even a pool table. A balcony allowed for a clear view into the backyard and the surrounding neighbourhood.

There was even a large smithy in the back were Wilbur could keep up his work.

"I wouldn't mind living here," Tom admitted, leaning against the railings of the balcony. His eyes followed the gentle curve of the pool below, admiring the glistening, crystal clear waters.

"Why don't you?"

The question caught Tom off guard and he turned around, surprised at Wilbur's cast-down gaze. "What do you mean?"

"We're going to have to make a choice when we end up at God's Studio. I don't know what it'll be but we might have to stop The Gam3 forever or choose it over the other world. I was just thinking... hoping..."

"That I'd choose to live here instead of out there?" finished Tom. "Is this why you built this place? To bribe me into staying in The Gam3?" His voice was rising, something he hadn't intended.

"Don't put words in my muzzle," Wilbur growled. His features softened. "This... This is so that whatever happens, whether or not you choose to live here or not, we'll at least have this short time in... in a dream home of sorts... before..."

Feeling his heart ease, Tom moved towards his fiancé, holding Wilbur tightly. "What makes you think I want to be away from you?"

He was shoved away roughly. "Because you only know Wilbur the Smith. You don't know who I was before I came here. The fat, pimple-scarred, _short,_wheezy, allergic, ugly antisocial jerk that takes three tries to get out of his seat..."

Tom gently gripped Wilbur's paws and rested a third hand on his fiancé shoulder. "I love you, Wilbur. No matter what you look like, I'll always love you."

"Will you say that even if you saw the real me?"

He gripped Wilbur's paws all the tighter. "Always."

Wilbur shook his head sadly, eyes unable to meet Tom's. "I'm just scared. I'll choose whatever you choose, Tom. I want to be with you even if it's in this world or the other one. But I'm just scared that if we choose to go back and you see me..."

"Look," Tom said, using his fourth hand to turn Wilbur's muzzle to face him. "I said I'd marry you. Not because you look amazing but because of who you are. I mean, let's face it, in terms of masculinity, Pete has you beat. My little brother even has all that hot fur on him. Ed is always so clean-cut, fashionable and those runes on his fur are very intriguing and even Liam has that bad-boy thing going for him."

"I'm a bad boy!" Wilbur exclaimed, finally meeting Tom's gaze.

"You're a grump but that's why I love you." He smiled as he said, "What I'm trying to say is that in terms of looks, you're really just a buff wolf. Okay, you've got those sexy scars but in terms of other things..."

Wilbur gave him a suspicious stare. "You're... into that sort of stuff?"

Tom waved a hand absently. "It's interesting. It's not a deal breaker. It never was. My point is that I don't care what you look like. I fell in love with you for who you are not what you are. Whether or not you're a wolf, a nerd, a kangaroo, a rhino or a dinosaur, it's the person inside that counts."

His fiancé had a strange look on his face. When Wilbur broke contact and took the fire pole down, he feared he had said something wrong. Tom took the pole down as well but overshot the second floor were Wilbur was. Cursing, he took the stairs back up to find the burly wolf hovering over a Form Grid.

"Remember how I analysed everyone's abilities and tactics and made them something to help compensate or improve?" Wilbur said. "Well... I'm a hell of a tank but in terms of magical strength, I'm not strong." He held up what looked like a Core FC. "I've got this thing. Got it a long time ago. It's the perfect balance between Physicality and Mentality, perfect for my build. It could give us the edge but..."

"But what?" Tom asked.

"It's... weird."

Tom smiled and waved his hands. "Look, I told you I wouldn't care what shape you took."

"Are you sure...?" Wilbur whimpered.

"Yes. Yes I am." Tom retrieved his own Form Grid from where it was strapped to his upper shoulder. "Tell you what? I've still got some sockets free on my FG. Why don't I change with you? It'll help give us 'the edge'."

Wilbur regarded his own Form Grid with a look of apprehension.

Tom moved towards him, sliding behind him, his lower hands gripping the Grid and the Core FC. "I love you, Bur. If you still have doubts, this'll be our test. If you change and I find you repulsive, then you'll have my answer. If I still love you no matter what, you'll know that no matter what shape you take, I'll love you."

The wolf smith grunted and turned away. For a moment, Tom thought Wilbur was going to back out but then he heard the derisive scoff and saw the faint glisten of moisture on the edges of Wilbur's eyes. "You're a damn sap, you know that?"

"It's what makes me so sweet." He leaned in and gently pecked Wilbur's cheek. As an automatic response, Wilbur turned back towards Tom and pressed their lips together. Tom's upper arms curled around Wilbur's chest, gently holding them together. His lower hands worked to pull out Wilbur's Core FC... and hand the new FC in Wilbur's paw. He gently guided Wilbur's shaking paw to the Grid... until he heard the soft click of the crystal being placed in the large, circular socket.

He heard further soft clicks and broke their kiss. His puzzled look at Wilbur was met with the gentle smile from the smith who held up another FG, Tom's FG. All the sockets were now filled.

Both of them suddenly jerked away from each other. Tom felt pure fire running through his veins and he staggered back when the molten heat caused his legs to temporarily buckle. He grunted, clutching his stomach tightly. Every muscle along the length of his abdominals tensed. The heat intensified between the top two rows of abdominal muscles. The fire injected itself there, growing more and more powerful, pushing the two slabs of meat beneath the soft yellow scales apart. Tom managed to peel his eyes open and pull his hands away just to watch a fresh slab of muscle grow over his already impressive eight-pack, giving him a definitive ten rows of solid, hard muscle.

His spine popped loudly, a fresh wave of relief washing through. Each of his vertebrae let out a loud pop, each little movement contributing to the growing length of his entire back. Not to be left behind, all the muscles across his already mountainous back grew and stretched, pushing against one another as the added some extra height to the four-armed dragon.

Tom's armour grew too tight and he hastily tore it off. Though in his loins became increasingly uncomfortable as his twin cocks began rising out of his sheath, throbbing with newfound length. He fell on his rear, tail thrashing with excitement. The impressive foot long members dribbled precum all over his chiselled, lean, muscular body. Every squirt was met with an equal growth in his legs, his thighs stretched and widening. His quads had never been more defined and every chord of muscle on his calves looked painstakingly sculpted out of pure steel.

A loud groan escaped his muzzle. He rolled onto his stomach, gasping loudly as his cocks were pressed against the heated floor and his thick, rock-hard abs. His pecs stretched and grew with each breath, making him groan in pleasure as it felt like someone was giving him a massage deep within his muscles. Tom began wildly humping the ground as his arms were temporarily paralysed with the deep massage that stretched and pulled at his muscles, causing every vein to pop, every mound to group and every scale on his body to bend and twist to fit the contours of his ripped, muscular form.

All too soon, the sensations ended and Tom was left feeling a desperate need for release. His more carnal thoughts were interrupted by the deep roar from his fiancé.

Wilbur was in his own world of pleasurable sensations. The smith had torn of his causal clothing and was doubled over a table, clutching his head with both paws. He threw back his head with a roar. Suddenly, his entire body jerked to the right abruptly. It looked like he was trying to stretch his neck away from his shoulders which were rapidly broadening. His entire body was growing wider and wider, packing on the muscles and growing in height proportionally. But the greatest transformation was yet to come.

A large mound of flesh bubbled up to the right of his head, a large dome of fur and flesh. Tom could only watch in awe as that mound continued to grow and grow. A thin line suddenly appeared about halfway across the mound and it sprang open, revealing a mouth complete with sharp fangs and tongue. When the large, black nose sprang up in front of the mound, Tom realised what it truly was. A pair of eyes sprang open quickly followed by the formation of the large, lupine skull.

The new head looked so similar to Wilbur's existing one and even panting in exhaustion in tandem with the first. The two heads looked at each other, their noses practically touching. Overcome by the lust of their thick, throbbing member, the two sides of Wilbur pressed their lips together, savagely lapping at one another while Wilbur's right paw stroked his huge thirteen inch member and the other paw went to tweaking his nipples.

Tom found himself growing increasingly around watching his finance literally pleasure himself. He rolled onto his back, his lower hands wrapped around his cocks and furiously bringing him closer and closer to release. He came close to the release he so eagerly desired but then Wilbur suddenly broke the kiss with his other half and let out a feral growl.

Another mound began springing up on Wilbur's left. Tom's eyes boggled and it took all his effort to hold himself back as the third head began to spring up, snapping and snarling, eyes wild with pleasure. Wilbur fell on his side, his right paw holding his right-most head against his neck. His right side eagerly lapped at his thick, corded neck while the left turned and practically lunged at Wilbur, their lips meeting in a furious kiss.

Tom could no longer hold it. Just_watching_ his fiancé in such a heated, throe of pure pleasure was just too much. He let out a roar as his cocks rocked and exploded, sending thick wads of cream all over his chest. He only got to shoot twice before two, hot muzzles wrapped around his throbbing members. He gasped as he was milked by his fiancé's muzzles while the third affectionately nuzzled his hard, ten-pack abs. His hips bucked, sending a fresh wave of cum deep into Wilbur's throats. Watching his fiancé swallow his load only trigger a bigger, thicker load and Wilbur was all too eager to consume it all.

He felt the warm splash of semen against legs and Wilbur's shaking shudder of release, giving him the signal to relax. His entire body slumped back against the heated floorboards, eyes half closed in euphoric pleasure. He was only dully aware of Wilbur crawling up to him and his arms instinctively wrapping around the broad Cerberus. His cocks remained perpetually hard as Wilbur's heads nuzzled him affectionately, all three of them

"You're not freaked out...?" Wilbur muttered. Tom was only barely aware that it was the left most head that said that.

"I jacked off to you transforming into the sex beast that you are. I still don't care what you look like. This is just a bonus." Tom yawned loudly. "That's the best orgasm I've ever had..."

All three of Wilbur's heads grinned. It was a little creepy but Tom loved it. "So you really don't care what I look like, huh?"

"Never did." He nuzzled Wilbur back. "I love you, Wilbur."

Wilbur nestled in against Tom's broad chest.

Then, all three of his heads said in unison, "I love you too."

******

Colin emerged from the shower and tossed his towel on the couch. Pete looked over his shoulder as his boyfriend slouched down naked beside him covered in all that godly body hair. He absolutely loved how the thick curls of dark brown hair gathered in the clefts of his thick, plump pecs and led down on a trail to outline his abdominals. Most of all, he loved how it playfully reached up to the chinstrap beard he had.

He never knew he was such a fuzz fag but Pete just thought Colin looked so goddamn sexy in all that hair. As Colin reached over the back of the couch, his arms stretched wide, Pete couldn't help but stare at the thick coating of forearm hair and idly run a finger through it.

"What are you doing?" Colin asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Just thinking how goddamn sexy you are," Pete responded with a smile. "You look so... butch."

Colin rolled his eyes and reached down, seizing Pete's cock. "Well you're just Herculean. Fuck dude, you're huge!"

Pete grinned and flexed his biceps, each one almost as big as his head. His pecs didn't even lose any definition from the movement. "All thanks to The Gam3." He lowered his arms, his grin wavering a little. "Though... I've got to admit... While this is all good..."

"It feels like something is missing, doesn't it?" Colin finished, running his hand over his chest. "I miss my claws and tail. I feel kind of awkward without all the fur and... now being human just feels... wrong." He sighed heavily and looked at where Tom was sitting while plugged into The Gam3, fully clothed unlike the other two but with a definite tent in his shorts. "Living in The Gam3 won't be so bad. I'm just worried about what Tom will decide..."

Pete grinned and slung a huge arm around his boyfriend, pulling him against his chest tightly. "Hey, Wilbur wants to stay and it's the two of us plus_Ed who doesn't mind if we go in _The Gam3. The only stick in the mud is Liam but I think Ed is working him over. Who's to say that by the end of the day, we can't convince them both to live in The Gam3 with us!?"

Colin chuckled and was about to reply when the door sprang open.

"I can't believe you did that!" came Liam's shout. The sudden movement and burst of loud noise knocked Tom from his session and he immediately yanked off his helmet, looking for the source of the disturbance.

Pete exchanged glances with Colin, both of them wincing as they turned expectantly towards entrance to the lounge room. He was surprised when Liam's arrival was preceded by a burst of laughter. The otter came walking backwards, waving his arms expressively with a big grin on his muzzle.

"I mean, that was insane!" Liam laughed. "I can't believe they bought it! I also can't believe that you ate that whole chicken wing; bones and all!"

Ed came into view, grinning. "Hey, these fangs were made for crunching bone. I thought I'd put it to good use." He shook his head absently. "Honestly, I can't believe your parents actually bought the whole 'we're furries in hyper-realistic fursuits' thing. Though I think your dad was a little jealous."

Liam cocked his head to the side. "You think?"

"I think he's secretly a furry. You might want to talk to him when this is all over."

The otter shrugged and slumped right next to Pete, still grinning broadly. "Yeah, maybe. Anyway, thanks for having my back there."

Ed offered Liam an absent shrug. "I look after everyone. I accept that. It's who I am. But..." He lifted a finger and wagged it Liam. "I'll concede that I need to start doing things for myself; just be a little selfish here and there. Only way I'll survive."

"And I'll have to admit that I've been too selfish," Liam responded with a nod. "There are good people out there that look after you and it isn't every man for himself. I get that now." He grinned back up at Ed. "So, what'll be your first selfish act?"

The tiger rubbed his chin thoughtfully and looked towards The Gam3. Before anyone could react, he suddenly lunged towards Liam, planting their lips together in a fierce, slobbery kiss. He even went for a grope, causing the otter's eyes to go wide like saucers. It was only for three seconds but it was enough for Pete to let out a loud 'Wooo'.

Ed pulled away and smacked his lips thoughtfully. "I don't know if this is just because I know I'm kissing an otter or the fact that you did have some salmon for dinner but you taste suspiciously like fish. Brush your teeth and we'll give it another try later."

Liam shrank back into the couch, his thick tail curling around his crotch. "There's going to be a later?"

The mischievous look on Ed's face said it all. He sat down in front of The Gam3 console and slapped on a helmet without giving Liam a response. Pete shook his head with a grin and moved to do the same.

"Wait!" Liam shouted as everyone else began logging on. "Was he serious? Come on! Don't leave me hanging like this!"

Pete plunged into The Gam3, quietly chuckling to himself as he traded the real world for the virtual one. He joined Ed and Tom who were already gathered at _Terminal's_central fountain. He balked a moment to see that Tom was about as tall as he was and brimming with new muscle. Nothing as large as him but still looking rather fetching. The true surprise was the three-headed wolf-creature that stood next to Tom with his paws intertwined with the dragon's hand. The shining, heavy armour gave away his identity.

"Wilbur, is that you?"

One of Wilbur's heads turned towards Pete and grinned. "Yup."

"What? How? Why?"

"His Form Grid was unlocked when he chose to live in this world, remember?" Ed said, a smile on his muzzle. "I'm guessing the fact that you have three heads actually increases your Mentality statistics, compensating for your pure brawn and defences. This'll make your abilities more powerful."

Wilbur tapped his central nose. "Should've known you'd get it, stripes."

Liam and Colin appeared a second later with Liam freezing at the sight of the Cerberus. "Wilbur...?"

"Liam," grunted the Cerberus.

Liam held out a paw. "Okay, quick question... Are there like... _three_personalities in there right now? Do I have to start worrying about you being a schizophrenic or something?"

"No," answer Wilbur just as another head picked up the rest of the response. "I'm still one person but it's like having multiple mouths. Same personality, same identity." The third head continued. "But I just have more processing power."

"And what about the whole looking through three sets of eyes thing?"

"I just see at a wider range than you do. It's the same way depth perception works. You have two eyes that form the one picture in your brain. I've got six eyes that just forms a wider picture." Wilbur shrugged. "Honestly, it's pretty neat. I can pick out details quicker and process things better. Hell, if I really pushed myself, it's like the whole world is slowing down to me and I get time to think."

Pete shook his head and padded over to the Cerberus, patting Wilbur's broad shoulders. "Well, you're still our bud. I say this is a good thing." He punched a fist into the air. "So, are we going the rest of the way or what?"

Naturally, everyone was still a little curious about Wilbur's new form and they asked a few questions. They talked all the way to Europa's Descent, making their way from where they had dropped their markers far away from Dandelion's tomb. None of them wanted to go back and check on the griffon.

The party trudged through the snow, relatively unhindered. Initially, a blizzard impeded their progress but thanks to Pete's amulet and their various abilities, they were able to make it through the howling winds and biting cold. When the air cleared, Pete could see that they were coming to the edge of the divide between the dreaded Thanatos Divide and Europa's Descent.

"Hold up," Tom said, holding up one of his hands. With the others, he pointed at the space in front of them. "The area in front of us is darker. It looks like we're heading into a PVP area."

Pete glanced to his left and right. The zone was huge and he guessed that it would take hours of trudging through the dangerous, icy wastes before they approached a PVE area that bordered Thanatos Divide.

"I say we just go through. Everyone is focused on the Event and no one really makes it this far anyway. There shouldn't be anyone playing in the PVP area."

He was met with agreement but they dropped markers on the edge of the zone just in case. Wilbur led the group with his hammer-gun at the ready. It was a clear, icy plane to Thanatos Divide so it wouldn't be difficult to spot any attackers if they came.

The closer they got to the Divide, the more the landscape took a more hellish appearance. Black spires of some strange rock interrupted the pure, icy planes and geysers shot heated water high into the air at regular intervals. Black smoke from the Divide_crept into the ice-covered landscape only to join the enormous, swirling storm that covered the entire _Divide.

"Look there," Ed said, pointing off to the distance.

Amidst the swirling mass of the Divide's storm, there was a single break of light. Now, Pete could actually make out the tall spire that jutted out of the ground and pierced the clouds. The city of Where Atlas Rests and its landmark tower that lead to God's Studio_was not so far away. Though he couldn't make out the true features of the tower, it was visible and he could see how it breached the _Divide's storm to let divine light in.

"We're almost there," he breathed. "It's almost over."

"It most certainly is."

That low, dangerous hiss chilled him to the bone. Just as he turned, an enormous_wall of ice sprang up to his right, tall enough to breach fifty, maybe sixty feet. Liam gave a shout of warning just as another wall erupted far to his left. Something slithered past him and he barely caught sight of the serpentine figure as it crossed into the _Divide.

"What the!?" he began. Standing on the edge between fire and ice, wielding a staff in two hands, two swords in two others and a pair of crossbows in a third pair was Cleopatra, the naga Shapeshifter.

"Cleopatra!" Liam snapped, drawing his daggers. "What the hell do you want?"

She offered them a dark grin and rubbed her swords together. "What anyone in my position would want." Her eyes obtained a dangerous edge. "I want to stop you idiots_from ending _The Gam3!"

"Why!? What business is it of yours!?"

Her crossbows suddenly snapped up and she pulled the triggers. Sharp bolts of light darted straight towards the otter. Wilbur was suddenly in front of the otter, sweeping his hammer over the bolts.

CLANG!

Wilbur gasped as his hammer was sent sailing far behind him from the impact. Pete followed its trail and watched how it landed directly at the meeting point of the two icy walls. He realised then that they were trapped. They were in a kill zone. The ground was flat and covered in ice making movement difficult and leaving no place to hide. The only way out was past Cleopatra and into the Divide.

"Because I don't want The Gam3 to end," she answered with a hiss. "I'm not an idiot. I know what it does to people who overuse the Chaos Drives. But I'm not stupid enough to let it go to my head and go overboard like you two!" He pointed accusingly at Ed and Liam. "And now just because you made a mistake, you want to spoil everyone else's fun!"

"This coming from the habitual cheater!" Ed snarled back. "You're spoiling The Gam3 yourself by constantly stealing from others!"

"The strong rule the weak. That is how it has always been." She positioned herself into a combat stance, her long, serpentine lower body curling defensively. "And when I stop you all, Helios promised me power beyond imagining! I might just make Admin!"

Pete drew his massive crystal sword. "You'd be stupid if you think anyone would make you an Admin."

"Who cares!?" she snapped back. Her crossbows twanged, twin bolts of pure energy zooming towards the party. Pete launched himself towards the ground, just barely avoiding being skewered. "You want to deprive everyone of this wonderful opportunity to change their lives! You want to take away the one shred of freedom we have in this goddamn world of ours!"

She let out a harpy-like screech, sweeping her two curved sword upwards in the air. The mere gesture sent a blade of wind shooting straight towards the party, kicking up snow as it passed. Liam acted the fastest. He flung his daggers at the approaching, screeching crescents. His blades cut through the winds, landing a short distance away. The otter quickly bolted for his weapons just as Cleopatra jammed her staff into the ground. Bolts of electricity crackled at the tip of her ornate weapon. The quickly shot towards Liam, forcing the otter to halt his advance.

"The Gam3 is a gift!" Cleopatra cried. "And just like any gift, there are those that would abuse it like you! Now, you're all trying to deprive us of the whole experience! We won't make the same mistake you did!"

"You think I want to stop The Gam3!?" Liam shouted.

Pete, just staggering to his feet, froze and keenly listened in on Liam's protest.

"I realise there are people who abused_The Gam3_ for selfish reasons," the rogue otter said, pressing a paw against his chest. "Of those people, there are those that are fighting hard to get back what they once lost and then there are those that have made peace with what has happened to them." He looked over his shoulder at Wilbur. "Then there are those of us who used the power of The Gam3 not for selfish reasons but for others." He didn't look directly at Ed but everyone knew who he was talking about. His eyes fixated on Cleopatra. "I don't want to stop The Gam3 entirely. Not anymore. I just want answers."

Cleopatra snorted. "Well then, why don't you just ask it?"

On some unheard cue, the air beside Cleopatra shimmered. Like space itself was folding and wrinkling to form a small opening. Then suddenly a loud tearing sound came from the rift as four red streaks pulled the opening up wide and from within Helios emerged, smiling wanly.

"You called?" asked the Grid dispenser.

"They want to ask you something," Cleopatra answered, hiking her chin at the group.

"Then ask it." Helios bowed to them almost respectfully. "I am at your disposal."

Pete could tell everyone else was at a loss. Wilbur looked both furious and ashamed which wasn't too hard with his multiple heads. Liam was just dumbstruck and even Ed was speechless. Tom and Colin were exchanging glances, searching for answers in one another.

Pete was the only one who could step forward and muster his voice. "Why?"

Helios chuckled. "Perhaps the smartest and at the same time, the hardest, question you could have asked." The man folded his arms, his lips twisting in thought. "Let me ask you this..." His eyes turned to each of the party members in turn. "Why are you so unsatisfied with your world? I can understand a need for self-improvement. It could be for a variety of reasons; health and safety amongst them. But why must you people constantly want to escape the rules and laws bound to your world in exchange for something else?"

"That's just a fantasy!" Ed snapped. "We all know it's not going to happen!"

"And yet you still wish it," answered Helios. "And when you're finally offered that escape in the form of The Gam3, it says a lot about your true intentions that the majority of you would jump at the opportunity to leave behind billions of years' worth of development and evolution for a virtual world where you have the slightest amount of control more than what you previously had."

The man chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "I guess that truly is what it is about, isn't it? Power. Power to change your shape. Power to control your destiny and the power to choose which world you want to live in." He sighed and angled his head back, staring absently at the sky. "He was right after all. It is all about choice."

Helios sighed heavily and turned back to the party, his smile all but gone. "The creator of your world grew tired of everyone constantly being dissatisfied with his work." He began pacing in front of Cleopatra. "There are hardcore fans constantly believing bizarre TV shows and deluding themselves into thinking they have superpowers. There are children_who want to leave behind their loving parents for some childish _wizard school because of a book. Grown men and women waste away in virtual worlds making believe they're some level 100 Orc Paladin that can use a Helm of Disintegration!"

Cleopatra waved at him absently. "Paladins can't use Helms of Disintegration."

The man rolled his eyes and stopped his pacing. "My point is, every one of you can never be satisfied with what you are given. Absolutes are just unacceptable to any of you. You're born with a ten inch cock. Still not big enough, you want a foot long! You've got the genetics to be a bodybuilder. Not good enough! You want to be like the superheroes or the legendary figures of old! You have a loving wife and kid but, for some reason, that's _still_not enough and you have virtual affairs with that slutty half-elf that makes you feel 'special' and buys you nice things because, for some reason, in that world you're the opposite gender!"

Helios threw his hands into the air in disbelief. "Nothing is enough and the Creator decided, if it's not enough, fine. He'll just blow everything up and start all over again. If she can't make a satisfactory world, it'll just scrap this one and try again."

Pete's heart froze. "So... this is the Apocalypse."

"Don't be stupid," Helios said, shaking his head. "The Gam3 is an attempt to save you people. We intervened. We couldn't let billions_of people, each with their own lives, stories and futures get wiped out in one go." He folded his arms again, staring daggers at the party. "We implemented _The Gam3 to judge people and stop the end. Those people the Creator wanted wiped out could live in The Gam3, away from his eyes and ears. Those that realised that they wanted to live in her world, gets to stay without further conflict, the lessons from The Gam3 taken to heart."

"And you want to end that!" Cleopatra screeched.

Helios held up his hand, immediately silencing her. "But on top of The Gam3, we set a challenge amongst ourselves. I voted that no matter what, all of you will prefer to take the shortest route to your destination. Millions have already taken this option. Instead of striving to solve the issue, instead of coming to God's Studio, they took my offer of either staying in The Gam3_or leaving forever. L4 said you'd all take the journey regardless because that is what is important. There is always at least _one that takes my offer."

He held out his hand, offering it to the team. "So here. Let me end all your suffering and strife."

Pete cast his gaze around the rest of the party, watching their expressions.

"Live here in The Gam3, forsake the world you so desperately wanted to escape... or end it now and return to the real world, leave_The Gam3_ behind and take comfort in the fact that your world will not end because of our intervention."

Pete felt Colin's gaze on him and they both shared the same thought. Here they were... on the precipice of living in The Gam3 forever. They could be happy together, away from the judgements of the world and in the skin that they felt comfortable in. Everything they ever wanted was at their fingertips and a world of adventure awaited them.

But...

"I'll admit," Liam said with a heavy breath. "I've always thought The Gam3 was evil. I can't tell if you're telling the truth or just trying to trick us... but I do know this..." He lunged forward and seized his daggers. He rolled and the moment he got back up, he threw his blades at Helios. The man just angled his head to the right, avoiding the sweeping weapons. "I'm going to make it to God's Studio! I'm going to find out the truth! My journey isn't over yet!"

"You know the guy who offers the easy way out is always the start of a bad decision," Ed chuckled, rising to his own feet. "That's a little cliché."

"I've come too far just to have it end like this!" Wilbur roared, all three of his heads speaking in unison. "I'm going to see this through to the end!"

Tom stood, holding Wilbur's paw and calming the Cerberus slightly. "And I'm always with you."

Pete smiled at his friends and then down to Colin. They both nodded and similarly rose up.

"Though I want to stay in The Gam3," Colin said, "I want to earn it. I don't want to just jump to the end. I already lost several years of my life because I jumped ahead and I regret that. I'm going to experience every second of this journey, every step of the way!"

Pete nodded and readied his own sword. "I lost years of my life too. I know how hard it is to suffer through it all. But honestly? That's what made me into the man I am today. I'm not going to take your offer."

Helios sighed heavily and lowered his hand. "Ah... so disappointing." Pete didn't like the smile he wore. He was right to distrust the man especially when Helios turned towards Cleopatra. "And what of you, my dear? Will you take my offer? All the power in the world could be at your fingertips."

Cleopatra's eyes widened. "I could be an Admin?"

The man chuckled. "Let's just start with World Boss, shall we?"

Everyone in the party balked, even Liam.

Helios flashed them a devilish grin. "What? Didn't you know? Every World Boss out there was just another player that took my offer, wanting power over all else. Oh they can shift in and out of their World Boss forms if they want but let's face it, nothing like crushing hundreds, maybe even _thousands_of players per day to really stroke the ego." He held out his hand to Cleopatra. "Sure I can't convince you all to join? No? Well then..." His eyes turned towards the Shapeshifter by his side. "My dear...?"

"Cleo! No!" Liam cried.

Cleopatra reached out and gripped Helios' offered hand. There was a sudden flash of light accompanied by her scream. Pete could only watch in horror as Cleopatra's serpentine form began to_liquefy_ and melt. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, her lips curling into a big 'o' like she was in the most intense pleasure imaginable. Her many limbs shook violently, her long tail thrashing.

Another scream escaped her lips but it was not one of agony or pain, it was of unbridled ecstasy. She toppled over, supporting herself on her five other arms while her sixth was still firmly gripping Helios. She dropped all her weapons, her body heaving. Her fingers lost all rigidity with every breath like her very bones had been sucked out of them. When one of her hands utterly collapsed, she staggered and raised the weakening limp to her surprised face.

A strange, silvery goo began dripping from the tip of her fingers. That same goo began springing from every pore on her body, even seeping out of between the scales of her lower body. The goo began raining down onto the hardened magma beneath her, forming a thick, greyish pool. Her eyes lifted to Helios as her hand lost all strength and flopped away from his hand. As it fell to her side, it became covered in the goo, melting away into her body before it too joined the thick mass pooling around her.

Perhaps the most horrifying sight of all was her look of utter victory as her entire body began to melt into the pool, her liquefied body melted between the rocks.

Alarm bells started ringing in Pete's ears. Big, red warning signs began encircling each of the party members alerting them to the approach of a World Boss.

The ground began shaking, a thunderous rumbling rising from somewhere behind and in front of them.

"It's always been about power," Helios chuckled darkly. "People are always eager to get the power to alter their reality or make a world for themselves. But does that mean they've earned their right to their own world?"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

On the border between Europa's Descent and Thanatos Divide, six enormous tentacles emerged. Each one had to at least be twenty storeys high, each one covered in black flesh like it was made out of dried lava. Shining blue light erupted through cracks between the dark skin. Two of the tentacles ended in enormous, curved blades. Another two looked like they had large hoses attached to the end. The last two ended in hard, metal spears.

"Does possessing the power to change your shape, your powers and even your entire mentality earn you the right to rule your own world?"

BOOM! BOOM!

Pete was thrown to the ground as the ground suddenly heaved beneath him. He spun around. A huge serpent erupted from the snow where the two icy walls met. Its massive, draconic head let out an enormous roar, the frills fanning out from its cheeks quivering. On the other side of the border of tentacles, a similar head erupted, its flesh covered in black scales just like its arms.

The words 'Cleopatra: Queen of the Crossing' appeared in front of him, replacing the warning signs.

Helios chuckled and turned his back to the party. "We'll just have to see, won't we?"

Cleopatra's closest head eyed them with bright, intelligent, blue eyes. Her serpent's lips turned into an evil smirk.

"RUN!" Wilbur roared.

Pete didn't need further prompting and leapt to his feet, scrambling away. Cleopatra's closest head snapped at them, throwing itself at them with her jaws wide open. She crashed a short distance away, upheaving the snow all around them. Pete didn't get to run far as one of her tentacles came crashing down at him. A powerful force slammed into his side, sending him crashing to the ground before a blade could cut him in half.

"Are you alright?" Colin asked, leaping to his feet.

"I've been better," he grumbled. His eyes widened as Cleopatra's second head, the one embedded in the fiery soils of Thanatos Divide, reared back and spat a fiery ball. Her tentacles made way for the flames, letting it smash near where Tom and Wilbur were. A burst of steam blocked them both from view.

Pete vaulted to his feet, wracking his brain for some way to get out of this mess. They were right on the border of Thanatos Divide. If they could just drop their markers... But then, who was to say Cleopatra won't just hunt them down?

"Look out!" Colin cried.

He bolted forward a few feet just as Cleopatra's head snaked towards him. She travelled along the icy ground, snapping at him as she went. Too late did he realise she had coiled herself in a circle around him. As the scaly walls began to compress around him, he desperately lashed out with his crystal sword. The blade bit into the scaly, black flesh but didn't even cause any bleeding. Pete tried to leap over Cleopatra's constricting coils but found himself quickly compressed by the huge snake, being lifted into the air with her body squeezing the breath right out of him.

The crushing force had him staring straight up at Cleopatra's vicious, snarling visage. Sickly, green venom dripped from her sword-long fangs, a dark hissing rippling from her throat as her forked tongue lashed out, tasting Pete's neck. Her tongue brushed the amulet around his neck just for the briefest moment and she instantly recoiled, hissing loudly.

For a second, Pete wondered what had caused such a reaction then his eyes fell down on the fiery piece of jewellery that kept him protected from the biting cold of Europa's Descent. Suddenly inspired, Pete wrenched his arm free of Cleopatra's coils and ripped the pendant from his neck.

"Take this you bitch!" he cried. Pete threw the amulet right into Cleopatra's open mouth and watched it go down her throat. She hissed in agony, thrashing her head back and forth as the amulet literally burned its way down. The grip around him loosened, allowing him to slide down her coils until he was securely on the ground.

Around him was total pandemonium. His party members were constantly being forced to dodge Cleo's many arms and her other head spouting fireballs at them. None of them had room or the time to launch their own counterattacks.

"What can we do...?" he muttered to himself. Without the protection of the amulet, he was already starting to feel the biting cold of Europa's Descent.

Then his eyes widened.

"The cold..." He lunged towards his crystal sword, swiping it off the ground. He stole a glance at his Form Grid and winced at the presence of the three Chaos Crystals there. This was going to cost him.

"Wilbur!" he cried. "I need that invulnerability!"

Swallowing hard, he lifted his blade and activated his first Chaos Drive - Whirlwind_just as the golden angel's wings of Wilbur's _Archangel Chaos Drive wrapped around him. He spun wildly in place, kicking up the snow around him and bringing a full blizzard rising all around him.

With a loud cry, he started making his way towards the border of tentacles. The various arms lunged at him only to be buffeted by the biting winds. One of the bladed ends came close but a glistening, silvery arrow came slamming into its side. Time itself froze and the tentacles froze in place while Pete's whirlwind raged past them and onto to the fiery planes of Thanatos Divide.

As he crossed the threshold, Pete could already feel the icy winds around him giving into the blazing flames of the Divide. He prayed that he would last just a little longer as he closed the distance towards the second head embedded into the flames. Time resumed just as the whirlwind engulfed Cleopatra's fire-spitting serpentine limb. She hissed loudly, thrashing back and forth as steam erupted from the length of her entire body. Pete watched in awe as the sudden touch of cold against her heated scales caused them to crack and break off, leaving behind pink flesh.

"They're of opposite temperatures!" he shouted, pointing at the writhing limb. "That one's vulnerable to cold and the other is vulnerable to fire! Use the environment!"

Hearing his words, Cleopatra began to panic. It was clear even she didn't know her own limitations as a World Boss. This panic crossed into her arms as they wildly thrashed and tried to protect the two vulnerable parts of her body but the two that also made her so menacing - her heads. However, the tentacles didn't have the reach to get to where the heads were based and the party quickly moved to the extremes of the stage.

On the icy planes of Europa's Descent, Tom leapt into the air and exhaled. A torrent of flames erupted from his draconic muzzle, pouring over Cleopatra's body and causing her to writhe and hiss. Colin drew back his bow. The words 'Chaos Drive - Chains of the Writer' erupted over his head. Massive, silvery chains exploded from all around him and wrapped around his arrow. The moment he let go, the chains followed suit. The arrow slammed hard into Cleopatra's form, the force of impact causing the chains to instantly wrap around her body and weigh her down. She slammed into the ground, barely able to move.

Tom, showing her no mercy, breathed flames all over her form, heating the metal and causing it to melt right into her flesh.

Pete grinned.

They were winning.

"You think you've won?" hissed Cleopatra, her remaining head hovering over him dangerously. "I am a World Boss now. I'll just keep coming. I'll hunt you down. I'll stop you from reaching God's Studio!"

"Yeah?" Pete replied, dropping his sword. "And every time we beat your ass, we get a shit tone of experience, awesome gear and maybe even more FCs to make us even more power. You? You'll just stay as weak as you always are and we'll get stronger!"

Cleopatra's eyes widened in horror.

"Congrats, bitch," he said, reaching for the bands of his armour and slowly unbuckling them. "You're now officially part of The Gam3. And you'll never change."

She hissed loudly and lunged at him.

Pete leapt to the side, removing his armour completely. "Someone blow this thing up!" he shouted and threw his cold-retaining armour straight at Cleopatra's form.

The armour bounced off her flesh -

Just as an arrow slammed hard into it. The force of impact, the power behind the arrow and the contact with Cleopatra's form all culminated in one result...

A titanic, icy explosion.

The burst threw Pete back, sending him crashing into the fiery ground. He heard Cleopatra's hisses as she was consumed by the burst of icy energy, the touch of cold tearing all of her scales from her body and breaking her flesh wide open. Her unholy screams filled his ears and he couldn't bear to look.

He just shut her out and closed his eyes.

In the distance, he heard Cleopatra's icy head give in. The sounds of clattering metal heralded the defeat of the World Boss. The nearby boom_told him that the fiery limb had also fallen. Daring a peek, he grimaced at the massive slab of peeling, broken flesh that lay in front of him. It made him sick and he turned away from the sight to see the rest of Cleopatra's tentacles collapse to the ground, defeated and offering passage into _Thanatos Divide.

He stood, taking a deep breath of relief.

The rest of the party came rushing towards him, Colin in particular throwing himself at Pete and hugging him tightly. He didn't even think twice when his lips met with the lion's until his nipples started to get hard and he was starting to feel his cum dribbling down his chest.

They broke the contact and turned towards the other, grinning.

"One hell of a strategy there, Pete," Wilbur chuckled softly. "You're not all muscle and cock after all."

Pete smirked and turned towards the distance, towards distant city known as Where Atlas Rests.

They were so close now.

"Almost there guys," he said, reaching down and picking up his crystal sword. It burned in his hands because of the heat from the Divide but he didn't want to ruin the moment. "Let's finish this."