Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been 2 days since the disappearance of his bestfriend, Brandon. An unwelcomed surprise in Ozo's side, given the plans they had shared with their circle of friends. Yet, something felt off, a subtle gnawing in his heart. Even when he passes by Brandon's house, it looked pretty tidy, taken care of. So where could he have gone? Was he hiding from him? No, he couldn't have. After all, they shared many laughs together and even shared plans with or without their groups. Atleast, that's what Ozo wanted to believe.

Ozo sulks silently as the thoughts consume him from the inside, his steps faltering, eventually, it was nothing but him and the sound of his heart beating from his ears. His gloom wasn't left unnoticed, especially by Daniel. The ginger-haired boy's rambling falls ever so slightly, before he sighed and flicked the other boy's forehead, abruptly halting Ozo's train of thought as he winced.

"Ow...! What was that for??" He grimaced, yet that only earned a sigh from the older boy. "You're not great at hiding the fact you miss him, you know." Daniel exhaled exasperatedly, shaking his head, and Ozo could only huff. Seeing his friend still sulky, Dragon softens, and puts his hand on the other boy's shoulder. "I know it's been hard, since you were so... Close to him, but right now we can't do anything."

"You don't get it, Dan." Ozo pushes him away, no. He refuses to believe that there was nothing they could do to help them find Brandon. It was impossible he could just disappear so suddenly without leaving a heads-up. The ginger-haired robloxian could only let go with a frown. "Alright, whatever you say. But let's get to class first before we start investigating, all right?" He leaned to see a glance of the other's face, but Ozo only nods.

Daniel could only hope Ozo would understand, and not pull some wild stunt he did like last time. Ozo had always been stubborn. When he had his eyes set for something, everything else didn't matter. That's what always made Ozo difficult, to him anyway. But then again, this was his bestfriend in the question, he won't blame him for being so insistent to get to the bottom of it. 

The two make their silent walk to Robloxia High School, the gloom seeming to intensify. Ozo's eyes catch Brandon's house, seeing it so clean yet so... Empty. Was anyone even home? His steps falter as an idea comes to his head, which Dragon also notices and can make a closed eye guess of what he was about to do. Before he executes his plan, a gloved hand quickly stops him.

"No, dude." He'd only say. Ozo's eyebrows knit together in frustration. "Fine. Fine." Yet, his eyes find itself coming back to his house. It was so tempting. But he knew more than to be in detention again for being late all dismissal, so he begrudgingly lets the thought bury itself to execute itself later. The duo continue walking, while Ozo's eyes still followed Brandon's house until it was no longer in view, except the looming building of the campus. Another day, another class...

God damn it.

The halls were already bustling, even an hour and half for the bell to ring. Well, at least Ozo actually got to school early rather than oversleeping like four of his alarms. He'll thank Daniel for stopping by for that... Probably. Heading over to his locker, tinkering with the lock. As it swings open, chucking it inside and then grabbing some school essentials... Like pens, and all that. Unfortunately for him his first period was a stupid test. What a way to start the day. 

He solemnly shuts the door, only to see Daniel wave off to him as he heads to his own circle of friends. He barely just raises his hand to return the gesture before he heads to class. A bit early, but it'll be a nice change. Better than being stared at for being late by rows of other students...

As he opens the door the Chemistry class, it was just as he expected. It was quiet, empty, and there were rays of the sunlight peeking through the transluscent fabric of the curtains, the room in a light-orange hue. Ozo stilled for a moment, letting his gaze linger around the sight. Brandon would've like this. He then shook his head, as if to dilude the thought from his brain. Eventually, he finally enters, opening the windows to let the wind linger, as well as to let the sun embrace the room.

Ozo finally takes a seat at his desk, wrapping his arms around his head as he lets it rest on the wooden table. A little nap wouldn't hurt, it was still too early. His eyes slowly flutter shut, and slumber engrosses him bit by bit. As Ozo naps quietly, more students had come in, one of them being his friend, Sony. The diamond-head curiously loomed over the sleeping boy, quickly formulating a greeting...

Eventually, a light bulb lit up. Sony leaned close to Ozo's ear, debating his decisions, before-

"WAKE UP SLEEPY HEAD!"

"Gah!" Ozo jolts awake, frightened to the bones while Sony bursts out laughing. He frowned. "Not... Not funny, Sony..." Ozo disdains, still breathing heavily from fright.

"Goodmorning to you too, Ozo, haha!" He muffles between his giggling, plopping down the seat next to Ozo's. He just furrows his eyebrows as Sony kept on laughing clutching his stomach, as to Ozo who was clearly unamused. His frown only deepening. Sony then starts to calm down, trying to swallow any of his cackling.

"You didn't have to do that just to wake me up you know." Ozo huffed, adjusting his purple cap. The diamond-head only chuckled, before their attention strays to Brandon's absence. Usually he'd be the first to even come around, knowing he was the little goody-two-shoes type. Ozo noticed this, and only looked away. Sony seems to take the hint and decides not to ask.

"Did you study?" Ozo shook his head. He wasn't even able to sleep well either, so he's half-expecting to totally flunk the test. Sony glances at the clock— 6:23—There was still some time. "Want to review with me?" Sony offers, his handy notebook at hand. Ozo nodded, "Hopefully that's compensation for scaring me."

Sony smirked, though relieved Ozo took the offer, he can't help but remark "Hah. You wish."

Ozo dragged his chair to be closer to Sony, as Sony starts to flip through the pages to review his notes. "Oh, and by the way, these aren't mine. I stole these from Bkinger." Sony admitted ever-so casually. Almost as if fate had humor, the diamond-head suddenly gets whacked by none other than Bkinger herself. "So that's where my notes went." She smiled grimly, which Sony panicks and quickly shoved the notebook to Ozo's hands.

"What? No, B he's framing me!" He quickly accused, but she wasn't having it. She quickly took the notebook from Ozo's and huffed. "Ya know, if you wanted to review, you could've asked me." She furrows her eyebrows as she takes a nearby seat. Sony sheepishly scratched the back of his neck, as Ozo just chuckles at the predicament Sony had to find himself in. 

As Bkinger flips through her notes she couldn't help but notice Brandon's lack of presence. "Where's Brandon? Didn't he say he'd be off only a day?" She asked Ozo, stopping her motions to flip the pages. Ozo tenses up subtly, his gaze finding itself to his lap as he fidgeted, shaking his head as a silent I have no idea, either. Bkinger frowns, but seeing Ozo so down, decided not to push him for questions given she's also in the same predicament of missing the boy.

Bkinger finally gets to the section of the topics of the lesson featured in the test, and adjusts her posture. "Alright, here we go. Listen closely okay gang? This test has like 60 items!" Both Ozo and Sony rolled their eyes but listened carefully to her tutoring. She explains everything in great detail, even adding on facts that weren't in the book she sharply added to her notes. It was honestly a blessing on Sony's and Ozo's side, as everything for them started connecting and they finally understood.

"So that's how it goes..." Sony nods dumbfoundedly, leaning back on his chair. Ozo, on the meanwhile, his mood was a bit more lighter. The risk of failing now hindered by Bkinger's tutoring. She takes notice, and smiled to herself proudly. With that, the bell abruptly rings, and she's snapped out of her proud bliss- "Ah drat! I'll see you two later! Tell me how the test went okay?"

She bolts out, bumping into the door in the process where Sony giggled at. Ozo drags his chair back to his desk as the teacher enters the room with the pile of papers. Everything around him seems to turn to be muffled and his smile slowly fades, his gaze turning to the empty desk beside him. That indescibable hollowness in the pit of his stomach returned. He was so worried to where Brandon could have gone. He'll get to the bottom of it. He'll make sure of it.

Ozo lets both his arms rest on his desk, his head atop of it. He was still pretty sleepy, and with how he was awoken, he woulnd't mind taking another set of z's.

"Alright class! Before we start, let's go on with attendance. Say present if you're here."

I'm sure Brandon's Dad wouldn't mind me swinging at his place, right?

"Amanda?"

Hm, actually, I'm not even sure. That guy scares the shit out of me.

"Present!"

As much as I'd want to believe Brandon that his dad's nice, I just can't see it.

"Okay. Ann?"

Especially with that weird obssession he has with "sundowning".

"Here..."

Our hangouts get cut short because of it.

"Brandon?"

...

Ozo solemnly glances at the empty desk once more. "...Absent." 

"I see."

God damn it Brandon.

"Fern?"

You can't just disappear without a trace.

"Heeere."

You didn't even tell me,

"Finn?"

Bkinger,

"Present."

Sony,

"Ivan?"

Sparten,

"...Here, miss."

or Weegee.

"Katanas?"

...

I'm being selfish.

"Present."

Maybe he has a reason for not telling me.

"Ozo?"

It's still wrong to disappear without a trace, though.

"Ozo."

What could be so important for him to ditch school for like, two days?

"Ozo."

The teacher's voice snaps Ozo out of his daze, flinching him out of his resting position. He found all eyes on him, especially the teacher, eyeing him. Sheepishly and silently, "...Present."

She nods and reads the next set of students. Ozo winced at himself as he buried his face in his arms. Oh man, that was so embarassing. He was so absorbed in his thoughts he forgot about his own surrondings. This whole 'Brandon is missing' situation has been taking a toll on him, more than he'd like to admit.

Can't a boy miss his best friend who suddenly disappeared without a trace?

.

..

...

Here he was. Brandon's front door. Ozo had ditched lunch to get here, it would only mean it was gonna be worth it. If Brandon really was in danger, then he'd take every risk in the world to make sure Ozo was there in the scene to stop it. Nervously approaching, he knocks twice on the wooden door, waiting for Brandon's Dad to answer....

But... No one answered.

Weird. He knocks again, yet nothing... No, No one opened the door. He was about to start banging on it, but as he twists the doorknob it suddenly... Unlocks? This is getting more and more strange. Ozo invites himself in, looking around the desolate living room. But his attention is immediately turned to the slightly tattered poster...

Be a good Sundowner!

....Eugh.

He's not reading that. He has better things to do.

Ozo lets his guard up as he explored the dustless home, albeit had no people living in it. It felt so weird and melancholic in a way. He looks up to the stairs and heads to the second floor, there a door with a sign saying "Brandon". The door was wide open, as if, it was inviting him in. He was already deep into his investigation, so why not? He struts in ever-so casually,

"Don't you know it's rude to enter places you shouldn't be in?" 

He froze.

"D'aww, don't give me that. You wanna know more about what happened to your little friend, don't you?"

Ozo slowly turned behind his back, only to find... Nobody? Jeez, he really has lost it.

"Wrong. I'm right here!"

"GAH!" He jumped, losing his step and landing right on the carpet. Ozo groaned, furrowing his eyebrows and looking up to see a tall black robloxianoid with bird features. "H-huh? Who the heck are you?!" The figure chuckles, its feathertails brushing over the ground, their wings fluttering on their head. He got a better look at the stranger... Black wings on their head and lower back with golden tips. Is this person even a robloxian?

"My name is Telamon. I've sensed you want something. Direly and desperately." Their hood covered their face, but a signature wide grin could only be seen from the shadows that concealed them. Their wings droop as they spread their hands out, their sleeves rolling down. Ozo took notice of their claws and a black gradient that faded from each of their fingertips. "Today is your lucky day! I can grant your wish!"

Ozo's eyes lit up, but he quickly turned down that feeling as he realizes- There was definitely a catch. "Uh yeah? How do I know I'm not gonna get scammed?" He hissed bluntly, skeptical written all over his face. Telamon does not fortfeit their smile, however, and instead insists,

"Don't be such a downer!" Ozo grimaced. "Are you not interested where Brandon went?"

"I am, but... I'm not sure I should trust someone squatting at his home." Telamon frowned almost comically. 

"As if you're any better, trespassing is a real deal!" They quickly retorted, but Ozo only rolled his eyes.

"Whatever, whatever... What do you mean grant my wish?" He asked, curiosity showing on the boy's face. The winged robloxianoid's smile returns quickly, spreading out their wings as they declare- "It's simple!"

"I will grant you one wish, and in exchange, you'll become a Bloxxer." They explained, yet Ozo was still confused. Bloxxer? What could that mean? 

"You're probably wondering...'What is a Bloxxer?'" Ozo's eyes widen as he gets beat to ask. He nods, and Telamon only smiled wider. "Well, my friend, a Bloxxer is an amazing occupation given out by me- Telamon- right after I grant your wish. You fight anomalies and entities alike and even get the view to the Studio!"

"...So, like, what...? A superhero?"

"It's way cooler than that."

Telamon folds their hands behind their back, turning away from the boy. "So, what will it be? Do you want to become a Bloxxer?

In exchange, I will grant you the code to trace your steps to Brandon."

...

"I'll do it." Without hesitance. Telamon's smile grows grim, as they extend their hand out, a purple glow emitting from the palm. "Very well. Let us go on with this. Say your wish, then shake my hand."

Ozo stared at their hand, still doubting. But he did make his choice already, did he not? He picks himself up, taking a breath.

"I wish to find Brandon's whereabouts." He'll find him. He will find him. Ozo, without another thought, takes Telamon's hand, and like clock work, the world ticked to a purple hue, with that, Ozo felt the flame prints of his jacket suddenly emit the same color, and before he knew it that purple color engrossed his entire silhoutte, and a burning sensation across his body.

The feeling is numb at first, until his entire nerve system is lit aflame. An agonizing scream rips itself apart from his throat, his body acting on itself and recoiling, trying to escape Telamon's hand but they don't budge. The purple flames slowly swallow him whole, and as it did, it melts down into a small black block with a white flame print, same to the jacket he wears. As the ritual is complete, Ozo tears himself off the figure's hand and gasps for air, still trying to recover from the lingering sensation of flames under his skin.

"Ah. I forgot that was part of the process." Telamon only chuckled, drinking in the sight of the boy writhing in the ground, unable to handle the surge of codes he was given. Honestly, this was the most wildest reaction to the ritual they had ever seen so far. Their attention lingers upon the little cube disk, crouching down to pick it up.

It glowed a weak light purple, flickering in the same breaths Ozo took. How weak. Their grin doesn't fall as they turn around to him. "Listen well, because I won't be repeating this!" 

Ozo takes one final breath to calm his nerves down, his whole body quivering from the unbearable stinging pain. Clutching his chest tightly as he looked up to the winged person. "This is called the H.R.P, or locally HumanoidRootPart.

It contains your very essence, in exchange your body is very sturdy! But without this, more specifically, gets destroyed, so will you!" He shuddered, chills going down his spine. "I'm a very nice Admin so what will you name it?" Ozo gives a puzzled look, but before he knew it the small cubular disk had floated over to him, and a text box appeared.

...Well, whatever. Ozo starts typing- ozolog1_. 

"How original!" Telamon praised, as it's been input, the textbox disappears as well as the cubular disk, which expands into a... Rocket Launcher?

"What the-" He's given no time to react before the launcher falls into his hands, and because he expected it to be quite heavy, color him surprise when it was light as his backpack. He lets his hand roam on the launcher, it was no doubt the real deal. "This is... So cool..." He mutters.

"Your HRP is inside that very Launcher, so don't lose it!" Ozo nodded in understanding. Almost like he's done it before, he stores it on his back which straps behind him quite easily. "...So cool."

But by then, Ozo snaps out of his daze as he looked around- everything was still purple. "Uhh, are you gonna turn the world back to normal, or...?" 

"Oh, yes. However, one last thing before I leave you alone," Telamon crouches down, their wings curling around their head. "Your eyes have transferred to the Server Client. You'll see things ordinary Robloxians can't. Be aware."

Before Ozo could ask them, they snapped their fingers, and the ground beneath his feet split into white shatters, carefully spreading throughout the room, especially on Telamon's figure. "Also, they cannot see your Bloxxer form, do not worry about that."

"Wait-!"

The entire client shatters, and for a second, he was flashed into a blinding light. As he adjusts to his surroundings, it had already been.... noon? Yet, before he looked out the window, he quickly inspects his arms and body... No, he was still the same. The flame print had lost its purple gradient, as well that he couldn't feel the Launcher. He lets out a shaky breath, eventually, tiredly laid down the carpet.

...Maybe it was all a dream.

Yeah, that's still possible...

Ozo raises his hand up, staring at the palm puzzled. That burning sensation felt so real. He's pretty sure he could still feel the aftershocks of it. Agh, never again, please.

Somewhere...

========================

A new user has been added to the console.

>View user?

Username: ozolog1.

========================

He stared at the line of text dumbfoundedly. "Ozo?"

Chapter Text

Riiiiiing.....

...

Riiiiiiiinggg.....

......

The alarm relentlessly blares, yet Ozo still refused to be pried from his slumber. He'd suffocate the sound of the ringing using his pillows, but it echoed in his ears. Eventually, his patience runs thin, and he sprung up and stared at it, giving it a death glare as if it'd cripple into nothingness. Though of course, nothing happened. 

5:23... Twenty minutes of trying to ignore the alarm. It's still Tuesday, a day right after he turned into a 'Bloxxer' or whatever, but man he can't figure out anything. He laid again on the soft mattress of his bed, since it felt too early to get up and shower. He reaches for his chest, concentrating slightly... This is how it goes, right?

Eventually, the cubular disk solidifies in his grasp, at first engrossed in purple flames before it goes on to the same print as his jacket. It still felt... Weird. In a way. His body felt less tired and more restless, and he couldn't even feel the rock thrown at him by some bullies! Maybe he did turn into a superhero. Errr, Bloxxer.

As he admires it silently, suddenly a small ding! sounded from the disk, and out a hologram lit up from it. 

===========================================

DragonDudes3 sent a message!

[ Hello? ]

[ Dude it's me ]

DragonDudes3 < [ Daniel ]

===========================================

. . .Daniel's a BLOXXER?

Ozo immediately sat up from his bed, eyebrows furrowed, confusion and surprise all across his face. As the text begin to fade, he panics, and taps it. It automatically gives him a text box, same as the one where he could input his name. He squints his eyes and starts to type back...

===========================================

[ Daniel? Dude, you're a Bloxxer?? ] > ozolog1

 [ I'd ask you the same question. ]

DragonDudes3 < [ But I'm not here to give you a heads up on me being a Bloxxer ]

[ What do you mean ] > ozolog1

[ Ozo ]

[ But first ] 

DragonDudes3 < [ What was the item that came out of your HRP? ]

[ A rocket launcher why ] 

[ Are you gonna take it?? ] > ozolog1

[ what ]

[ No??? ]

DragonDudes3 < [ Dude I was gonna offer to help you ]

[ Oh ] > ozolog1

[ Since yours is a fighter-type item, I'll probably have to get Skeet on this... ]

 DragonDudes3 < [ Oh Skeet is the other Zach by the way ]

[ Wow how many of us are Bloxxers jeez ] > ozolog1

[ Well ]

[ Brandon was a Bloxxer too, you know. ]

DragonDudes3 < [ I guess he just didn't tell you ]

===========================================

Ozo stared at the screen blank-faced. Brandon? The Brandon, HIS bestest friend Brandon?  For a few seconds, Ozo remained speechless, his hands retracting from the holographic keyboard. But then a ding snaps him out of it.

===========================================

DragonDudes3 < [ Hello??? ]

[ Sorry ] 

[ I didn't expect Brandon to be one, too ] > ozolog1

[ Honestly I thought you'd know ] 

[ But then again, being a Bloxxer is kind of like... ]

DragonDudes3 < [ Top secret agency type #### ]

[ ...? ] > ozolog1

[ The other word for poop ]

DragonDudes3 < [ For some reason you can't swear... ]

[ lol ] > ozolog1

[ Anyway ]

[ That aside ]

[ You up? ]

[ I'll even show you some of the other Bloxxers, too ]

DragonDudes3 < [ There's a lot of us than you think ]

[ sure, why not ] > ozolog1

===========================================

Ozo left it at that, before he closed the tab and let the disk disappear in the palm of his hand. He looks over at his alarm and- 5:49?! Oh crap, he seriously has to move. He quickly sat up and started to go on his day. Right now, his main objective right now was to NOT get another detention over being late. Daniel just offered to help him with all the Bloxxing crap, and he doesn't wanna let it go to waste!

He dashes about and as he goes over to his closet, his eyes go over to the simple white button-up and a pair of light-blue jeans. Yeah, that should work.Of course, to let it match, he grabbed his blue cap to go with it. Quickly snatching the strap of his bag, he dashes out, almost slipping a step. Grabbing a singular Bloxy cola as he heads out.

Not an ideal choice for breakfast, but it'll work. He'll apologize to his mom for forgetting breakfast later. Right now, he's gonna focus on getting to school. As the buildings past, he manages to cross paths with none other than Daniel. But just like him, he's in a rush so no words exchange between the two except the possibility of being stuck in detention for being late.

As they reach the campus, surprisingly there's still crowds of students around the halls. It's already about 6:06 now, so why hasn't anybody come to class yet? Ozo takes deep breaths from all that running, but surpursingly he doesn't feel that tired at all. Talk about power-ups!

But something in the air felt... off. Daniel could sense it, Ozo? Not so much. Cut him some slack, he's just got on the job. Daniel drops his bag on the ground while taking a step forward towards Ozo, his hand on the other's shoulder. "Something's off." His other hand already holding onto his HRP.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Daniel had expected Ozo to be able to sense it, but then again, he had just been recruited, he still needed to get used to his newfound code. He was a rookie once too.

Upon closer inspection, the 'students'  in question were all gray, and had an eeriely wide smile, one where you know that thing isn't sentient. Ozo starts to sense the irregularities, and takes ahold of his own HRP. "I see what you mean now."

The both of them get engrossed in their own respective signature color, and Daniel gets surprised as Ozo gets lit up in flames for his. "Damn dude??"

"I'll get used to it..." He only sighed. But before they could get a proper look back, the floor shatters, only to reveal a red-saturated world. Every 'student' had become pitch black, their smile turned to a wide red grin.

"All right Ozo, your first fight! This should be— AGH!" Right before Daniel was hit, he luckily placed a wall infront of him to cushion the shot. Unfortunately, it didn't do much except shatter and throw him back to the start of the campus' halls. 

"Dan—!" He called out, but right on cue, another shot hailed directly towards Ozo, but luckily he had enough reaction time to rejuvenate his Rocket Launcher to block it. Because the HRP is part of their item, Ozo felt a clench at their very soul from that.

Fuuuuck... He winces, he had managed to block it, yet how did it still pierce through him? Now is not the time to think about that, as Ozo looks back up another beam was headed towards him. Daniel manages to get in between the fray and revitalize a wall to create a diversion. 

"Yeah— I don't recommend trying to block with your item." Daniel's voice was audible enough for Ozo to hear between the loud bangs the Anomalies were throwing. What a pain...

Daniel laid to his wall and placed his feet on it, the soles turning a bright green before he'd push with his legs to hurl the wall towards the other end of the hall, the impact causing it to crumble into a fog of debris. He picked himself up and threw his item, a hammer, just to catch it back on the other hand. Ozo's curiously glanced at his item, thinking Is the selection seriously that random?

Before Daniel charged into battle, he quickly looked over to the clueless Ozo standing with a rocket launcher at hand, he smiled awkwardly "Maybe for the meantime just watch me, okay?" 

Ozo just nodded, and with that, Daniel charges into the fog and single handedly takes down every Anomaly, yet in Ozo's view it just looks like those cartoon scenes with the smoke and some 'pow' around. 

In the meanwhile, a familiar face had quietly entered, putting their hand on the other at standby causing him to flinch. "Yawn... This is too boring." The stranger muttered, which Ozo looked over at confusion.

"Dan's using way too much of his code. All it takes is just one..." As they say that, they slowly start to charge their slingshot, the orb glowing a bright pink, the person pulling the string to its limits, "Clean... Shot!" And it releases into a surge of a light pink beam, right into the fog Daniel was currently at.

The beam had bounced at every Anomaly left that the other Bloxxer didn't deal with, not only that but cleared the entire fog down with just that. The other Bloxxer in question, looked dumbfoundedly at the other.

"Dude you could've hit me!" All the other Anomalies fade into red dust as Daniel marches over with a sour expression, perhaps from getting his spotlight taken. As all Anomalies disperse, domain bursts to put them back in the Real World.

"Well, it didn't, didn't it?" They shrugged their shoulders, letting the sling spin on their finger before letting it disintegrate into pink spheres. 

Ozo looked between the two, a bit mortified at the display of literal magic infront of his eyes. Eventually, he snaps out of it, "Wait wait, who's this guy?" 

The two looked at Ozo as he had finally spoke up, and Daniel's smile returns to his face "Oh! This is Skeet who I was telling you about!"

"Also the other 'Zach'." He'd finish for him, and Ozo nodded...  The other Zach. Well, there's probably numerous Zachs, but that's mostly in their batch. 

Skeet's eyes turn to the Rocket Launcher Ozo held on idly, and he can't help but feel envious. "Wow, a Rocket Launcher?" He inspected it closely, lips pursed as a tinge of jealousy spites him.

"Yeah..."

"And you don't know how to use it?"

"...Uhm... Well, I just became one yesterday..." Ozo scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. Skeet's expression of jealousy softens— just a bit. 

"Alright, alright, that out of the way..." Skeet narrows his eyes between the two of them. "How'd you two bozos forget today's a holiday?"

....Huh?

"Wait, wait, wait, a holiday? School holiday or are you just fucking with us?" Daniel squints at Skeet, as all their Bloxxer forms disperse and they turn back to their casual selves. Skeet, reciprocates his skeptical glare with a snarky grin. His hands out splayed as a shrug- which almost felt mocking in a way.

"Well I consider it as one! I mean, it's just some lousy culmination program so who cares?" Ahh. So that's why there's no one in. Well, there are, but they're probably in the gym most likely. At least there's time for some practice for the rookie! Won't that be fun?

"Oh, if that's the case then we have the entire day for ourselves!" Ozo's relieved. At least he doesn't have to deal with detention again. Daniel takes the lead and walks ahead of them, while Skeet and Ozo walked side-by-side. The raven-haired boy eyed the other curiously. The lingering envy was still there, but luckily the other was a bit too weirded out by his staring to notice.

"Is... There something on my face?" Ozo muttered a bit self-consciously, which Skeet quickly shook his head at. "No, I guess I'm just surprised the bird-guy recruited you." Ouch. Okay.

"Skeet, you seriously need to work on your friendliness." Daniel commented from ahead of them, a sigh following after. Skeet wasn't exactly one of the nicest Bloxxers, but he was also the only one from Daniel's classes. The mentioned one just lets out a huff, as if he was the one in the wrong. 

"We should just go hunt for an entity so he can see what it's like." Skeet suggested brashly, nudging Ozo with his shoulder and wiggling his eyebrows. Daniel disagrees, turning back to them as they walked.

"No, you know how powerful they've gotten ever since Brandon disappeared. Plus, Ozo's not exactly that.."

Ozo sighs, brows furrowed. "... You can say it, Dan." 

"... Strong..." Okay,  that stung more than he thought it'd be.

"We don't know that yet. Besides, you just made him watch you. With that sick ass weapon at hand, I'm sure he can reach levels Brandon achieved." These constant mentions of Brandon puts Ozo in a more confusing corner. It's like he never knew Brandon in the first place...

He pursed his lips and looked down at his feet as they kept walking. It's like the distance between them had continued on to turn more and more distant. He shouldn't think this way, he knows it. Brandon is his own person too. 

...But that's why he's here, to chase after him. To close back this distance that formed in just so few days. That was his wish, wasn't it? 'I wish to find Brandon's whereabouts.' Then again, he didn't even find a lead yet. Right now, he's just hearing that Brandon seems to be a powerful Bloxxer...

He'll take it as a lead, he suppose. From what he's gathered so far, Brandon is a powerful Bloxxer, so his disappearance must be tied to the Entities or Anomalies he must have fought. Worst case scenario, he could've passed because of them... But no, he won't think that way. Surely he's still alive, right?

Hopefully. 

"Ozo?" He's broken out of his mind, pulled out of the solace of his thoughts. He locks eyes to Daniel who was infront of him, HRP in hand that's flickering wildly. "O-Oh, did you guys find it? Sorry, I was thinking of something." 

Ozo looked around to see they were in an abandoned school facility, more notably in the locked door's cafeteria entrance. 

"Yeah, way quicker than I thought, honestly." Skeet admitted, already in his Bloxxer form. His own's flickering at the same intervals as Daniel's. "Guess it didn't run off too far." 

Whilst Daniel and Ozo get onto their Bloxxer forms, Ozo can't help but ask. "So like, how powerful are these things anyway?" He looked over at the two curiously. Just a heads up if he should jump in when he needs to or maybe just hide somewhere.

"It really depends based on how long they've been up." Skeet nods to Daniel's words, before he added his own words, "Defeating them drops a defunct. Or... Kind of like..."

"Bugs." Daniel finished. The trio look over at the warped entrance, leaking with red substance. Hopefully it's not what they're thinking of. Ozo deflates, the launcher at hand.

"Ready?" 

"Last one's a rotten egg." Skeet quickly dashes into the domain, leaving a perplexed Daniel and a clueless Ozo. However, both of them entered at the same time and are immediately flushed into the bloodied domain. As the world rendered in, Skeet was already in the process of exterminating the Entity's Anomalies. It's no sweat for a veteran like him. "I'll deal with this thing's Anomalies. Aim for the Entity." 

"Okay Ozo, now this is where your rocket launcher's put to the test!" Daniel grinned excitedly, just as interested as Skeet was to Ozo's item. The latter in the other hand wasn't ready at all. Sure, he's played Heli Wars with Brandon, but he'd usually support behind him while he did all the shooting. He fidgets with its front barrel as they sprinted across the labryinth to find the core of it all. 

Ozo twists the launcher's breech, revolving to another setting he's still quite unfamiliar with. "Am I doing this right?" He mutters to himself, eyes squinted as he puts his eye to the optical sight. To his surprise, it had shown an X-Ray of the labryinth, giving him the exact location of the Entity. The Entity in question, however, shows up as a malfunctioned chunk of glitches through the lenses.

"I've got it... Follow me, Dan!" Daniel nodded as he followed Ozo's lead. Using his item's respective abilities to cover for them. The labyrinth was no doubt large, and so much of an eyesore to Daniel's opinion. God, it hurts his eyes. The black void with stains and leaks of blood everywhere, especially words written in a language he quite can't make out of, but what he can make out of the scribbled messes were the numbers 6 splattered like guts. He can make a lucky guess it seems that every syllable was laced with malice... 

They come to a sudden stop, which leaves Daniel confused, but as he looks ahead, eyes widen to see a gaping abyss, in the center an entity weeping. There's broken fragments barely discernable at the moped atmosphere, platforms that granted a more closer vicinity to the entity. Words of profanity, yet those profanities were binded with betrayal exuded from the Entity's mouth like vomit. 

Daniel grimaced. The labyrinth itself was already so disturbing, yet as they got close to the core, that dejectedness amplified tenfold. "What are you waiting for, Ozo?" He grabs the other's shoulder and stepped forward, only to halt as he sees Ozo's eyes brimming with tears. It kept falling down his cheeks like waterfalls, but he was still in the position where he sees through the optical. His gaze was locked into the Entity's, and that's where Daniel figures out the source. 

Quickly, he threw his hammer down infront of Ozo for a wall to be summoned to get his sights off it, as he did it snaps Ozo out of the daze. He quickly gasps for air, falling to his knees and trying to regain his breathing. Daniel knelt down to Ozo's level, concerned for the latter. "Ozo? Ozo can you hear me?" He said softly as he puts his hands on his shoulder's trying to comfort the other. 

"Wh-... What the... fuck?" He sobbed, still breathing heavily. The Entity behind weeped more hysterically, drawing his sadness to amplify it's sick and distorted code. Ozo wiped his tears using the sleeves of his hoodie, trying to get back to stable ground. Daniel, on the other hand was more concerned for his wellbeing rather than the Entity. Friends come first.

Ozo looked back up at Daniel, still heavily tear-stained, he lets out a shaky sigh. "I.. I don't wanna talk about it." Daniel nodded, respecting the other's privacy. With how much tears he shed, it must've been something personal.

He picked up his rocket launcher, twisting its breech once more and aimed right at the Entity. But... With how he should avoid gazing at it, he'll just hope its gonna hit right at the bull's eye. Reaching for the trigger, pulling it, a purple orb started to wind up, and eventually BANG! Ozo, inexperienced, is thrown back by the recoil, as well as Daniel who's pushed back by the force.

The supposed grenade glided through the abyss and like a hawk, the Entity prey to it. The weeped looks up from its somber state to hear the loud clap from the launcher, only to see the beam right at it's face. It pierces right through it, before the Entity detonates and screeches, writhing in pain as the domain starts to crumble wildly. The screams of the entity stuns all the Bloxxers, as they covered their ears but it only echoed. Daniel quickly grabbed Ozo's wrist and started to dash out of the labyrinth, the cries barely fading behind them.

The domain shattered, flickering back to the torn world between the abandoned school they were in, before it finally broke, and the screams were gone. The warped entrance leaving nothing but a six-legged beetle, glowing corrupted red flickered weakly. Skeet picks it up, inspecting it, before he'd crush it. The red essence it oozed stinging his palm, but he had more things to worry about.

Skeet turned his focus over to the two who panted on the ground. "What took you guyz so long to take it out? It's familiarz just kept goin' and goin' dude." He complains, his Bloxxer form fading into snowflakes as he sat down next to them. 

"You should've seen it, Skeet...! Oh man, that was so epic." Skeet huffed at Daniel's words. Ozo and Daniel's own Bloxxer forms fading as they exhausted their code.

As the two chat, their voices  turn into ringing in Ozo's ears as he's lost in his thoughts, dazed by the afternoon's sky. His mind still lingering at the hallucination he was forced to face earlier. How it felt like that Entity lurked solely for him, to mock him in a way. He shook his head, surely not. He's getting ahead of himself here, the Entities are here for the Robloxians to suck the life out of 'em, or... Something like that.

He adjusts his position into something more favorable- putting his hands behind his head and eventually eavesdropping the two Zach's conversations. Right now, he'll take things lightly. A first step to this new life of 'Bloxxing'. His eyelids flutter close, taking a rest, because goddamn that shot exhausted him.

Maybe he should get used to this.

Behind the trees, a scarved figure stalks the three idly, their eyes set on the one with the blue cap. Their crown of thorns glowing faintly over their silhouette to secrete their presence. No, it was too early. They had promised to to step in if it were necessary, and now was not the time. Looking back at the terminal, they disappear into a clutter of dark-blue pixels.

"Yo, did you guyz hear zomething?" Skeet looked over, which Daniel shook his head. "No? What're you talking about?"

Skeet just brushes it off. "Ack.. Nevermind."

Chapter Text

Brandon blinks, and suddenly he found himself in an unfamiliar labyrinth, a grassy plains with a clear sky. There was little to no abnormalities he could sense, as of now currently. However, it felt all too peaceful. His wings hung low, cautious, as he starts to take some steps into the unknown space. The wind brushed over his figure gently, offering a tranquil atmosphere, yet he can't shake the feeling of unease.

"A new face in the Nilspace-" The unknown figure stops abruptly as Brandon points the muzzle of his shotgun towards them. Instinctively, the stranger raised their arms to show the other they meant no harm. "Woah, woah, hold it... I'm a Bloxxer, just like you." 

Brandon lowers the muzzle, feeling slightly eased, yet his guard was still up. "Oh, I'm... Sorry. Uh, where are we?" He quickly folded his wing infront of him to hide the shotgun from their view. He observes the person more sharply; They were quite tall, adorned by a blue scarf that dragged behind them, and strangely enough a symbol of the Respawn hovering behind them, as if it were sentient. 

"This is the Nilspace." They straightly say, which gives no ease to Brandon's concern. He's not supposed to be here, no- that teleport flunked him in a completely different location. He should seriously get used to his code. He checks through his disk, to find his location number, 79 84 72 69 82 66 79 88. It doesn't seem to fit the Studio decimal coordinates. He's certain it wouldn't even reach that high either. 

Brandon lets out a sigh, falling to his knees- But then, a heavy weight fell on his shoulders as those number of teleports had long exhausted his code. His body jitters between his Robloxian form and his Bloxxer form, his wings wilting behind his back. The mysterious figure walked calmly towards Brandon's writhing existence, kneeling down and taking his HRP. Blue pixels embellishing their palms, before the bugs crack and spill out of his cubular disk, purifying it.

"Th... Thank you..." He breathes heavily, looking up. "It's... Sean." They introduced themselves. Brandon clutches his chest, still trying to catch his breath. His Robloxian form disperses, his wings sprouting back on his behind. He picks himself back up, taking his HRP as well.

"I'm Brandon. I... I'm not sure I've seen a Bloxxer like you before." His wings fold behind him, looking up to Sean wearily. 

"Username's SeilDirectory. I've been a Bloxxer for a long time. I don't think newbies look back to the User Terminal... Ha-ha" They chuckled, because he themselves don't check on the User Terminal. Brandon was still quite skeptical. There were still things he needed done, he's not supposed to stay for long. "I'm sorry our meeting's quite shortlived, uh- Sean, but I need to go."

"I see. Have fun on your voyage, Brandon. I hope we'll meet again."

.

..

...12.

..

.

Brandon came crashing down the grassy plains, defeathered wings rendering him flightless. His landing was harsh, rough. He had never flew carrying another Robloxian- or moreso, another Bloxxer. The impact of his landing causes him to seperate from the other, which worsens the other's condition tragically. Brandon quickly picked himself up,

"Ozo! Ozo, please. Hold on longer... No.. No, not again...!" He sobbed, ignoring his own injuries as he tried to soothe his best friend. Ozo thrashed, tears streaming down his cheeks as his HRP by his side started to crack and flicker. Brandon started to grope his pockets, trying to find a Bug to purify the other's HRP, but he already knew full well Ozo was already too far off to be saved.

"Fuck... I'm... So... Sorry Brandon. I-I just... Didn't want to see you sacrifice yourself like that..."

Brandon curses as he tore the grass patch beneath his fingers. In the end? He couldn't blame Ozo to go off the plan to risk himself to save him. His cries grow more desperate and despaired as he could see his best friend's core flicker.

Eventually, the cubular disk shatters into shards. Ozo's body jolting at the same time before going completely still. Brandon stared in shock, as he witnesses the purple flame slowly die out. His best friend's body gets engrossed in his purple flames before it'd transform him back to his Robloxian form. "No... No! No no no no! You idiot! You weren't supposed to..."

He cried, wrapping his arms around the lifeless body and tightly embracing it, hopelessly grasping on to the hope it could bring that purple flame back.

Telamon watches idly as the boy clutches that corpse, hands behind their back. "You still have a job to do, Brandon."

.

..

...862.

..

.

The Necrobloxicon's pages turn in speeds unimaginable, its horrors spilling out like ink, staining Robloxia like a plague. But to Brandon, that didn't matter. This cataclysm- this cursed entity smearing its misfortune upon the world was no concern to Brandon. All he cared about was Ozo, his bestest friend Ozo, once again, once more, dying in his arms. His HRP's already in pieces. 

"How many times do you have to restart, Brandon?" Telamon asks with a bored frown, but Brandon doesn't move from his grieving. Telamon was sick of it. To witness the same outcome everytime, the same fate, yet Brandon was stubborn. He kept pushing. 

"Shut up." 

"Hmm?" 

Telamon wasn't given time to react before Brandon opens fire to them, the Admin given no time for reaction before they found themself dropped to the ground.

"I... I don't care. I don't care how many times... I have to restart." Brandon gently places Ozo's body down, taking his cap to cover his face over it. Even after every timeline, he still couldn't bare to see his lifeless expression.

"I promised... I promised to take him back alive. We'll- we'll even play Heli Wars by the end of all of this..." With how long he's been pushing, will they ever get to that result? Will that path finally open up to him, after so many resets? 

Yet, Telamon still couldn't understand his motives. Their regeneration was slow with how much holes that shot had, and watched emotionlessly as Brandon resets once more.

.

..

...

1230.

...

..

.

Ozo wakes up to an open field, tall grass and a clear sky. Which is odd, considering... Wasn't he just with Daniel in that freaky ass Domain? He immediately tries to move his body, but it seems like he's frozen in place. Oh well, he can't do much in this state he's in. However, luckily he doesn't have to wait long as someone emerged from the tall grass- that someone, being Brandon?

He could only stare dumbfoundedly, yearningly, even. Yet outside, his eyes held no emotion. Brandon pushes the grass aside, relief on his face as he finally saw his best friend. He was unable to hold himself before the tears came flooding in like a dam that held too much water had finally broke. Brandon sobbed and hugged him, yet, he could not hug back.

"Ozo...! I... I'm so sorry. I-... I couldn't find another way..." He cries, arms wrapped around Ozo like a vice, oh he begged his arms to shatter out of this paralysis to hug the other back. He was forced to become a spectator in his own body, watching the person he pursued right there, but he couldn't do anything. 

"Please... Please talk to me, Ozo." Brandon's body trembled, his wings drooping behind him as he started to embrace him harder. Ozo had so many questions, so many things to say to Brandon that's already right infront of him, yet he was still bound by a cage, stuck on the other side.

"I'm not sure you can talk to an NPC like that, Brandon." A calm, yet solemn voice said from behind him. Brandon only sniffled, taking a broken breath. 

"I... I failed again, haven't I?" He takes a step back, a tired gaze upon his frozen state. Although he looked physically exhausted, his determination never once wavered. 

No. No- you didn't, I'm... I'm here, Brandon.

"I-it's okay. I'll fix this." He wiped his face once more, his wings curling towards himself. Ozo could watch hopelessly as a golden light covered him, and-

6875934.

Ozo found himself in Brandon's room, a controller in his hands. Before he could register anything, the old TV suddenly blares "WINNER, OZO!" 

"Woah, you... You actually won against me...!" Brandon weakly laughed, but Ozo could only look between his best friend and his controller. And suddenly, nothing, except this moment, mattered anymore. Suddenly, everything Ozo had held up, all of his doubts, everything, fell apart. Without a moment to spare, he quickly tackled Brandon into a hug, breaking into sobs.

"Brandon..." Ozo snuffled, burying his face on the crook of the boy's neck.

"O-  Oh?" Brandon, though concerned, reciprocated the hug with much eager, albeit weak due to his condition. "Are... Are you okay, Ozo?"

"S- Sorry, I just... I just,- uh, missed you. Is all."

Brandon takes his word for it, rubbing the other's back to soothe him. Ozo was filled with so much relief, now everything from before felt like a cruel dream, and right now was where he'd awaken. It felt so real. 

Wake up, Ozo. Your job isn't finished.

"Ozo? Ozo can you hear me?" He'd hear the voice of Daniel, feeling his hands on his shoulders.

"Wh-... What the... fuck?" He sobbed, still breathing heavily. He takes notice that his eyes were brimming with unshed tears, for the entire time he was dazed by the Entity. He wiped his tears using the sleeves of his hoodie, trying to get back to stable ground. 

Ozo looked back up at Daniel, still heavily tear-stained, he lets out a shaky sigh. "I.. I don't wanna talk about it."

So. None of it was real.