V.I.R.A.L

Adam and Alton stood facing off against each other. Neither one moved as Adam looked around, shrugging his shoulders. "I would have never imagined someone with your adept nature would slave away working at this dump doing double shifts to make ends meets. But, my, my how far you fell and how much more you rose to the occasion. I'll be the first to admit you've surprised me. Caught me off guard; in fact, never did I imagine you would attack the heart of the Garden alone and kill one of the Gardeners. For that, I must thank you, if you weren't going to do it, I would have."

"That's quite enough." Alton groaned, slouching back. "I've had enough of hearing your tired story; we all know you have a God complex and think of yourself as so much more than the others, but seriously, do you ever shut up?"

"Very well. I suppose I have kept you waiting long enough, old friend. It's about time I end this. I'm not holding any punches this time." Adam exclaims as he looked at the sky, activating his long whisper. Alton was taken back, not expecting Adam to trigger something like that this early. It was clear from the get-go, Adam wanted to finish this right here and now. Holding his cards close to his chest Alton prepared for the unseeing attack as time stopped altogether as hundreds of copies of Adam appeared, his past, present and future colliding to kill Alton. This was his fail-safe and the guaranteed victory he looked for. Adam gave a disappointed sigh shaking his head. "While it would have been far more enjoyable and fitting for us to both have a battle to the death Alton. I'm afraid I can't go through with that risk. So I'm ending this once and for all."

****

From the highest point of the ruined city, the Gardener stood overlooking what she would have once considered thousands of years ago her home. Now, what remained was just a husk of her perfect memory. "Even after all these years, the humans never learned to overcome their primitive nature. I mean, what good comes from buildings that can reach the sky. What a waste of nature to cover your entire nation in metal and concrete. I remember when this entire nation was just grassland and forest. A much simpler time, perhaps."

"What should we do? Do we let the fight carry out?" Chloe questioned, sitting on the rooftop, legs hanging over the edge. "I fear the outcome might not be in our favour if that happens."

"And what is the desired outcome, Anxiety?"

Chloe froze, looking lost as she began stuttering on her words. "Oh, well, you know…. Getting the Stages back and freeing the Garden, right?"

The Gardener chuckled to herself, nodding. "You aren't wrong. That is the will of the Garden and what the Stages followed. But tell me my Anxiety, would you like to live here? Does this place echo much of a better life than the one you're used to?"

"Well, no, but? If we aren't here to take the Stages back, what are we here for?"

"The world is over. We lost every Stage to the enemy, and now we're are no longer the dominant race. So, therefore, we must align ourselves with aside. Which side do you believe will elevate us to new levels and carry on the logic of the one?"

"Who? Well, umm, with how one minded he is, Adam wouldn't be the pick. He only cares about saving his sister and not anything else…. Is that a bad thing?"

"Of course not; nothing is more important than family, after all. However, if the family is the only important thing that rules your life, then well. Your value is nothing more than the dirt under my boot." The Gardener hissed. "Go, interrupt this battle for the ages and make sure Adam isn't given a chance to escape."

"So, I'm siding with Alton?"

"You are not siding with anything. Your allegiance is to the logic and nothing else. Those who follow this logic are with us. So go Anxiety show them the true strength of your stage."

****

Adam walked through the streets, putting his hand on each of his variants discovering each future outcome. Some he would win but at a terrible cost. Others were his demise; Adam was looking for the perfect future. One where Eve would live, and he would achieve Salvation's Calling. This would seem nearly impossible after nearly 100 outcomes Adam had come up short. But he wasn't worried; it was quite the opposite. His long whisper was unstoppable. There was, in theory, an unlimited number of timelines, so the one he desired would exist. All he had to do was search.

And search he did until he finally found his goal. The future he desired. Slipping into the variant he chose as his own, he appeared before Alton penetrating his chest with his bare hand. Alton coughed up, blood staring down, trembling, his vision becoming blurry. Adam tore his arm out, letting the blood trickle from his hand as he snarled. "And that's the destiny of Alton Brantley."

Alton collapsed to the ground as the adrenaline was kicking in for Adam. His goal was mere footsteps away; everything he desired his rightfully. At this moment, Alice awoke coughing, seeing Alton dead before her. "Huh, that's impossible."

"I have no idea why Alton brought you here, Alice, but nonetheless, it didn't matter. You can be the first to witness history as I become the first to control all five Stages. Reaching down to Alton, his eyes widened as he leapt back as Alton's long whisper activated, confirming his worse fears. Slowly rising to his feet, Alton let out a scream of rage as the area was blown away. Adam covered his face, troubled. "Fuck! I should have expected Alton to have stolen the Stage of Anger too! That's why he brought Alice; her hatred for Ten taking her friend is driving her to keep Alton alive! Eve!"

Before Eve could spring to action, Adam was launched back by a single heavy blow as Alton pushed his hand forward, whispering. "Final Stance, Stage of Anger." Punching the air, nothing for a split moment happened before the second wave hit. Everything was destroyed as buildings were leveraged. Standing in front of the gas station Alton took serval steps forward, his arms freezing as he shook them, walking towards Adam. "Did you think I would come here without a plan, Adam Berry?! I understand your long whisper now. Death loop, am I correct? I just have to defeat you before you can use it again."

Bargaining lay in the rubble, losing conscience whimpering. "Damn it…. I can't fall here. Not yet. What is it with that boy and always getting in my way? You dare to come here wielding three Stages…. Well." Opening his hand, the Stage of Depression appeared floating in his palm, captivating him. "Two can play at that game."

Standing beyond the rubble, Alton covered his eyes as a shockwave of light rippled into the sky. Alton knew what this meant. Adam had accepted the Stage of Depression into him. Stepping back, Adam floated out, looking worse for wear. His appearance had detreated as his left eye had collapsed sagged over. His lip was torn and bloody, and he had a dead look in his eye of emptiness. "The Stage of Depression…."

Alton held his hand out, testing the waters, sending a barrage of ice ripping across the ground being sent at Adam. The moment it touched him, the ice melted into water in which began floating around him. Being sent at Alton, he smacked each attack out of the way, morphing the water into a spear as it was thrown back at the man. Adam caught it, freezing the weapon before shattering it. Floating higher into the air, wings began to tear from his back as he screamed in both victory and agonising pain at holding three major Stages at once. Looking to Alice, he held his hand out, stopping her from talking. "I understand you wish to still put an end to my existence, but can we hold off on that for a short moment. Assist me in stopping Adam, and I shall give you your Alton back."

Alice gave the nod as Alton lifted Alice to her feet. "I don't trust you, Ten, but this is a truce nonetheless."

Portals opened everywhere as chains emerged from them. But instead of coming from Alice, they came from Adam as Alice was wrapped up and ripped into a portal to Alton's disappointment. "I wish not to be interrupted! This fight is between Alton and me alone!"

More chains came at Alton as he constructed an igloo to block all the attacks until they were destroyed. Leaping from his broken defence Alton landed on an ice pillar, arms crossed. "It appears you are struggling to keep yourself together. What's wrong, don't tell me three Stages is too much for you? Aren't you meant to be taking all five?"

Adam raised his hand as a flaming ball appeared, melting away at the area around him. Using Memento's copy ability Adam was able to use as many skills as he wanted for a short period at his leisure. It wasn't as potent as Alton's inspiration, but it was enough to overpower the boy. Alton activated his Garden form, letting the blizzard run through him, knowing this was the final straw. As both went to attack, they all stopped landing behind each other startled. They weren't making things up. They were sure of it.

They could hear a long whisper.

This, to them, was impossible. Both had already used their meaning. There was a long cooldown before their bodies were able to go again. Alton turned around, finding Chloe walking down the street, scratching at her neck until it bled. The prime candidate was here. Falling to the ground, she began rolling around bleeding before her back snapped, and her eyes morphed into that of a reptile. Chloe's body began to grow and change as any sign or resemblance of her had died. In its place, a monstrous snake at least 50 feet tall stood towering over the fighters. Adam was less surprised only to see the Gardener watching. Turning to Alton, he grumbled. "I may not like to admit this, but we're being played. I suggest a truce."

"What makes you think I want to call a truce with you?" Alton snapped, smirking. "Don't tell me you're afraid."

"I don't think you understand. Anxiety is nothing to worry about. It's that!"

Alton leaned to the right, nodding. "Oh, I see. Well, that changes things. So, what you want to team up to take down Anxiety?"

"Even if a Stage is weak, their long whisper is nothing to laugh at. Even if I could defeat her, you would just kill me on the spot. Not to mention the Gardener."

"You're right." Alton lied. "Even if I took you out, the Gardener took to take advantage of my weakness and take me out. Very well, Adam. I'll join forces with you for now…."

The two nodded as Adam turned to Chloe hissing. "I don't know what you've got planned, Garden fiends, but I won't lose now. I'll burn it all to the ground before then, so come at me!"