I can't tell you guys how sorry I am that this took forever to update, let alone get ideas for! I hit a major wall after chapter 16, plus life took a drastic turn as told by the important note, but the good news is, things have slowed down for me enough to get the way past updates done and posted before things go back to crazy busy in August and that includes the update for Nightmare in Gravity Falls. Plus, updated from my important note, my wedding day has been confirmed and set for next May so between working, school, and writing updates, I'll be in and out of meetings with different venues, florists, bakers, dress fittings, the officiate who will perform the ceremony, the works! But as already confirmed, I'll continue to be your authoress for as long as life (and my schedule) will allow me to be. :) So you're not getting rid of me so easily lol!

But I can't seriously thank you guys enough for continuing to fav, follow, review, and provide the 14K views for this fanfic despite its unexpected hiatus. That was real super of you guys, but to thank you all, have a long overdue update that is sure to please! Well hopefully it does lol! Enjoy!

Chapter 17: Virus Invasion!

'The team has entered level five and Gideon schemes to make Will the bad guy, playing his dark half against the team, but will his plan work?'

Previously

"Now there is one more thing I need to tell you guys before I send you off on your way." Will continues. "There are little ghosts on this level that I like to call Trick Ghosts as they will do everything they can to trick you into falling to your death and taking every point you earned to date."

The pictures of the ghosts appear on the screen, the forms of ectoplasms covering their eyes as they face the player on the screen.

"These little guys will appear to be afraid of you, but don't turn your backs to them as they will, as I stated, trick you." Will points out. "They come up behind you and create an illusion in front of you that will confuse and trick you into thinking that what you are seeing is real. The good news, they can be destroyed with a bright beam of light as ghosts can't take bright lights and will wither within the light. Don't worry, I have added a light gun and ectoplasmic detector goggles to each of your stats so you will have it on hand to use when you encounter these guys. They, next to level boss, are your biggest threats on this level. You will have other enemies as well, but nothing will be as terrifying as the level boss and these bad boys."

Putting his hands on both side of the projection screen, Will claps them together which makes the screen disappear.

"Ok, you guys have the free and clear to move on and just remember, I'll-" Will's thought is abruptly cut off by a large grey Gargoyle landing in front of everyone, it's crimson eyes shining it's vision on the team and Will. Getting a good look at the beast, the monster is wearing dark framed glasses, has large pointy horns pointing out of its head underneath its gray hair, and is wearing a grey suit with the luwian hieroglyph brightly shining through on his forehead. However, the beast isn't wearing any shoes as evident by its large feet talons gripping onto the surface of the level's entrance platform.

"If you want to go any further, you must pay the entrance fee!" The beast roars. "Gold coins and exact change only!"

Currently

Streams of binary flow along the walls, ceiling, floors of the raw multicolored digital space as bits of data flow freely within in it as if it were looking for a destination of sorts. Larger streams of binary peel away from the walls of the raw space and begin mingling in with the free flowing data, both forms mixing together like a cocktail drink to form a mixture, a mixture that is forming into a body frame. The data and binary continue mixing and stacking as the designated body frame is continuing to be built according to the data's code. Soon, the binary and data finish it's stacking and building process to complete the body frame, the color and detail quickly filling in so to give the data mix an identity. With the details and body frame complete, the eyes of the body frame open and is met with not only the digital space, but also-

"Bill?!" Dipper's voice shouts as his eyes nearly bulge from their sockets at seeing the dream demon floating before him.

"In the flesh or should I say, data!" Bill voices in his normal nasal laugh. "Ha! Data! Get it? Because we're in cyberspace and we're made of data? I slay me!"

Dipper narrows his eyes at the demon and crosses his arms.

"What do you want Bill?" Dipper dangerously demands as he keeps his arms locked across his chest. "What, are you here to destroy me or even worse, to tell me that Gideon has successfully married Mabel and has become king of the world or something?!"

"Calm down Pine Tree." Bill calmly says as he waves his right hand nonchalantly while rolling his eye. "Now isn't the time to fight, although if things were different, I'd take a good stab at ya, but that's not why I'm here."

"Then spit it out already so I can go end Gideon as fast I'm going to end you!" Dipper expresses with venom dripping in his words as he reaches for his sword to find it, surprisingly, attached to his belt along with the other weapons he gained while being in the game. Drawing the weapon, Dipper brings it into his vision and briefly gives the weapon an awestruck glance, but quickly averts his narrowed vision back to the demon.

"Fine, I'll give you the short version since you have such a hurry." Bill begins. "I'm no longer siding with Gideon. He broke the deal we had concerning your game, but most of all, his intentions for Mabel became stomach turning. He found out that I was planning on helping Mabel escape through a blue print of the castle that I made and tossed her in the castle dungeon, then has targeted your team in a major way."

"He did what?!" Dipper screams. "You have to put me back in the game Bill! Now! If he has so much as put a hand on Mabel-"

"Before you give yourself a short, I suggest you cool it." Bill calmly states. "Gideon hasn't put a hand on her as I've been making sure of that."

"Well what he has he done to the team?" Dipper asks in a slightly calmer tone. "Is everyone alright?"

"Everyone is fine, but I know what his next move will be and it involves another one of your team mates meeting their end." Bill continues as he takes his hat off, wipes along his right wrist, and places it back on his head while his gaze never left Dipper's. "But don't you worry about it, I have something for him; him and his new cohort Will (EXE)."

"Wait, who?" Dipper asks, cocking an eyebrow in confusion.

"That's right, you don't know about that yet." Bill voices. "Well as it turns out, Gideon duplicated the control board and he was who sent you rocketing to your death inside the Gideon bot once you destroyed the core."

"Wait, I remember-" Dipper begins as he shuts his eyes tight with the blurry images of his last battle inside the Gideon bot bouncing around in his mind, each of them coming in one behind another as if they were on a conveyer belt. The blurry images then tune in with every vivid detail of his last battle coming in clearly from when he entered the bot to when he destroyed the core after speaking his last words of endearment to everyone. Opening his eyes, Dipper faces Bill once more.

"Will (EXE), I met him, he gave us instructions on how to keep the robot from using its force field so I could get inside and destroy the core." Dipper voices the events in order. "He is the reason why I'm here and not with my team! You have to get me back in the game Bill! I don't care how you do it, just do it!"

"For the last time Pine Tree, chill before you blow a circuit!" Bill lightly raises his voice to Dipper, showing that his patience is beginning to thin with the young warrior.

"Wait, why am I even here talking to you about any of this?" Dipper lightly laughs with a hint of disbelief in his voice as he turns his back to Bill. "You worked with Gideon to get Mabel and I here when you were siding with him. Why should you of all people, things, care about what happens to us here?"

"Believe it or not Pine Tree, but us demons are allowed to have a change of heart." Bill says as he rubs his hands together. "Mabel didn't quite believe me either until our kissed after I became human temporarily while with her."

Dipper's eyes widen at what Bill just confessed. A vengeful demon put his lips to his sister while he wasn't present?! Feeling the anger rising within him quickly and his blood beginning to boil, Dipper grips the handle of his sword to the point his knuckles turn white and swiftly whips around towards Bill, but before the sword could come in contact with the demon's face, Dipper finds himself suddenly frozen in time while being surrounded by a blue aura. However that didn't freeze the player's glass cutting scowl though.

"You didn't let me finish my story." Bill sighs once more while rolling his eye. "After turning human temporarily, I did kiss Mabel and it was then that I truly realized that working with Gideon was the worst idea I had since working with him the first time we met when he summoned me. Somehow he found out my plan of working against him with Mabel and kicked everything up a notch. He linked her life to the Gidenbot's, but before it was taken down, I unlinked hers and put his in place of hers. I even linked up the contract of our deal to every level boss in this game which means when they go down, he will lose a chunk of his life each time one is defeated, thus erasing a part of him in the process. Considering he was smart enough to sign over his life as collateral for control of your game, I figured, I'd make good use of it, all thanks to Mabel. Bottom line, I know what's at stake here Pine Tree and while you have every right to not trust me, I think now is the time we put aside our differences and look at the bigger picture here, that being what needs to be done to overthrow Gideon and get you guys out of here."

The scowl that crossed Dipper's face has begun ceasing at hearing the demon's words. While Bill Cipher always acted as the antagonist in seemingly every part of their lives, never in his wildest thoughts would the demon ever act as an agonist by any means, especially when it came to him and Mabel. Could it be that Bill Cipher is finally becoming the good guy?

"And before you even think I'm becoming a good guy, I'm only doing what's right." Bill speaks up.

"Yea, only because Mabel has something to do with it." Dipper teases as a small blush appears on Bill's face.

"Anyway, back to the part that is of use to you and the team." Bill sighs, waving off Dipper's tease. "I've concocted a little scheme of my own that not even Gideon knows about and that is, there is a code that the team will use to skip ahead two stages after the original players of the game gets them to a certain point of level 5."

"Original players?" Dipper questions, a look of confusion crossing his features. "What original players? No one is playing this game but us."

"As much as I'd like to believe you, I'm afraid that's not true anymore." Bill replies as he places his palms together , but just as quickly pulls them apart as a projection screen comes into view in front of the two of them.

On the screen, Wendy and Soos are seen holding the player one and player two control pads while looking intently at the television. Dipper's eyes widen at seeing that Wendy and Soos discovered and are playing his video game, probably already coming to the conclusion that he and Mabel are in the game!

"Wendy?! Soos?!" Dipper screams in disbelief. "When did they start playing my video game?!"

"Not sure, but obviously it appears that since the old guy isn't around, they are taking their time getting to work." Bill speculates, his eye not leaving the projection screen. "I don't blame them though. That uncle of yours is a complete slave driver!"

"Wendy! Soos! It's me Dipper!" Dipper screams while trying to move his arms so to get their attention, forgetting that he is still frozen by Bill. "Guys! You have to listen to me!"

"Ice Bag and Question Mark can't hear you." Bill calmly informs him. "We are in what I would like to call, game limbo, a space separate from all the levels of the game. You're out of the game with the team, but still alive and am able to be brought back. Any player not in game limbo has suffered a permanent deletion so be happy you haven't been placed in that category. The only thing they can see are the level the other players are on and are vital in my plan to get the team to level eight."

"So when will I be placed back in the game?" Dipper questions to Bill as he averts his attention back to him.

"Patience Pine Tree." Bill voices with a light sigh. "You really have to work on that. Once the original players of the game get the team to the special code and they open the treasure chest containing the code, they will be skipped ahead to level eight where they will meet another ally that will help them defeat Gideon at the final boss level. The sooner they get there, the sooner you'll be back with them."

Bill snaps his fingers with the screen of Wendy and Soos disappearing and the special code in cyan, magenta, and white appearing in its place. The code number is 245687.

"The team has to reach that code in which I've placed in a chest mid-way through level five in order to be skipped ahead and the original players have to input it into the mainframe once it appears on the screen after the chest is opened." Bill points out. "Look at it as my apology gift to all of you for working with that little skunk in the first place! I should have known better than to make a deal with him the second time around, but I can't wait to see his face when he discovers the handy work I've done to this game. He'll blow a gasket after he finds out! It'll be a riot!"

"Wow, thanks Bill." Dipper expresses with a small smile. "But if I'm back with the team in level eight, what happens to Mabel and the boss for level five?"

"Don't you worry about any of that Pine Tree, it's all a part of my plan." Bill assures him with a small wink.

Level 12 (Control Room)

Releasing the joystick after having implemented his latest scheme against the team, Gideon breaks into a fit of hysterical laughter that echoes through the entire room with Robbie covering his ears from the ear drum piercing sound.

"And to think I actually needed Bill's help to twist this game to my liking!" Gideon menacingly voices as he turns way from the screen and controls. "I didn't need him all along as I've got everything under control and my latest scheme will surely shake things up now that their beloved leader is no longer guarding them! Since they are so use to finding useful items inside of the little treasure chests they find on the levels, I can't wait for them to uncover my little gift with the creaking open of one special little treasure chest. It will certainly be a treasure that they will never forget!"

With his latest scheme in place, Gideon calms his laughter and gains a blank expression as he stares around the control room, his lost vision landing on Robbie. The werewolf shrugs to the dictator as Gideon turns back to the screen, to the level the team is on. An idea then hits him with a malicious grin spreading across his face.

"While being the game master has its perks and working behind the scenes, I'd have even more fun if I joined in the action, up close and personal!" Gideon expresses as he rushes back to the controls and reaches under the keyboard of the main controls, his right hand feeling for and latching onto what he was hoping he would find. Pulling his hand out from under the controls, Gideon's deviant eyes scan over the light gun he is holding as his grin grows wider, spreading from ear to ear.

"Why work in the background when I can work my magic up close and personal?" Gideon manically laughs as both hands grip the barrel of the gun with him pointing it towards himself, his left index finger hovering dangerously close to the trigger of the gun. "I can't wait until they get a load of me, the man behind the master plan and you are going to help me do it!"

Pressing his finger firmly onto the trigger, a ghost white ray of light quickly spews from the barrel of the gun and slams right into Gideon, his entire body becoming engulfed by the light. Releasing his finger from the trigger, Gideon's entire form changes to a series of binary that is breaking apart bit by bit. Unsure of what to think of what his game master is doing, Robbie watches in confusion as the boy's form is broken down in a series of 01010101's, grunting at the sight.

In the blink of an eye, Gideon's binary form is transferred into the mainframe of the game, him now becoming one with his creation as his evil hallow laugh sings in the wake of his transfer.

With Gideon transferred into the mainframe, Mabel locked away in the dungeon, and Will (EXE) gone off to do his latest task given by Gideon, Robbie looks around and releases a grunt as he lowers himself to the ground, curling into a tight ball. It isn't long before the werewolf is happily snoring off in dreamland. With no tasks to do and not being bossed around by Gideon, the werewolf can finally get some time alone.

Castle Dungeon

Another hair pin breaks in two inside the lock that was attempting to be picked with the princess throwing it to the ground, her attempt to break out of her prison becoming more frustrating by the second. Reaching into her hair for another pin, Mabel sticks it into the lock hole once more only for that hair pin to break in two like the rest. Tossing that broken hair pin into the small pile below her, she sighs and leans her forehead against the door while heaving a hard sigh.

"Why did this lock have to be unpickable?!" Mabel voices in frustration. "Out of every lock I have ever picked, you have to be different!"

"I believe that only the locks in Gravity Falls are pickable!" Bill's voice booms from behind the girl, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. Mabel whips around to the demon to notice that he is in human form and is eating a green apple. "And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're not in Kansas anymore princess."

"Bill! Where did you come from and why are you human?" Mabel questions while giving the demon a once over glance as a blush covers the girl's cheeks.

"Surprisingly, after raiding the castle fridge, with what little was there, it turns out that if I sustain enough energy, I can use my new human body in the game." Bill answers Mabel while finishing off the apple and snapping the core into oblivion. "Which will be a huge asset when I join the team and help them defeat Gideon on the final boss level. While I love my triangular form, this form seems so much more convenient."

"Wait, say that again? You're going to join the team?" Mabel asks in confusion.

"Yep and maybe I should have told Pine Tree that as well before coming here to see you." Bill voices as he raises his right hand to his chin. "It's not like I can't go back and inform him of my decision. He and I both want Gideon's head on a platter so I'm sure he'll be fine with it."

"Dipper?! He's alive?! You found him?! Where is he?!" Mabel bombards the demon with questions as she runs up to him and pulls on the front of his jacket in demanding an answer from him. "I have to know! I thought he died in the robot when the core exploded!"

"Whoa, watch the merchandise Shooting Star, this form hasn't been broken in quite yet." Bill sternly says to the girl as he unhooks her from his jacket. "When making my changes to the game in the configuration board, I discovered his scattered data floating about in the mainframe so I rescued him and pieced him back together. He's currently residing in game limbo, a place that players go when they've been taken out of the game, but can be brought back. What Gideon didn't realize is that in this game, when a player has so many points and health stats, they end up in Game Limbo with a high probability of being revived back into the game under the right conditions. Your brother has over one hundred points and his health stats have been refilled all thanks to yours truly, therefore, once the team reaches level eight, he will be brought back into the game and lead his team to victory with Will and I alongside his team. His health stats were totally wiped out after that dive he took with the Gideon-bot, but somehow his points survived. Even his extra lives were wiped out after that dive. Everything was, including his weapon system"

"Just how did his points survive if everything else went down when the robot did?" Mabel asks in contemplation. "That is confusing."

"Well, in my book that is a blessing in disguise as your brother didn't suffer a permanent deletion so be grateful for that." Bill continues. "Now, in order for your brother to be brought back into the game, the original players of the game have to make the team reach the treasure chest that I placed mid-way through level five and inside contains a special code that they have to input in order for them to be moved forward to level eight. It is there that Dipper will be reintegrated back into the game."

"Original players? What original players?" Mabel inquires. "We're the only players of the game."

A realization then hits Mabel with her eyes widening at who Bill maybe talking about being the 'original players' of Dipper's video game.

"Wait, don't tell me that grunkle Stan and Soos is playing this game!" Mabel practically shouts.

A red buzzer suddenly appears in Bill's left hand with him slamming his right palm down on the red buzzer, it loudly buzzing to indicate that her answer is wrong.

"I'm sorry, but your answer is incorrect." Bill replies in a game show host's voice. "But because you've been such a good sport, I'll give you one more chance!"

With a wave of his right hand, a podium suddenly springs up in front of Bill, a scoreboard appears overhead, a panel of judges appears to Bill's right, and a cheering crowd appears behind him, completely changing the appearance of the dungeon to a game show setting. Mabel cocks an eyebrow in confusion at the scene that suddenly sprung up in the dismal dungeon.

"Ok Mabel, for a chance to win your freedom and one hundred extra life points, you must connect the context clues of the following sentences that I will be voicing to you!" Bill continues as a flashcard appears in his left hand. "The original players of Dragons and Evil are being played by the following people: He can be seen fixing everything he touches around Gravity Falls, sometimes using duck tape excessively and she prefers the easy life over manual hard labor any day while often leaving early, much to the dismay of her boss! These two people I just described are known as?"

The hints in the sentences Bill just gave immediately sunk in with Mabel quickly picking up on who he is mentioning.

"Soos and Wendy?" Mabel gapes. "Soos and Wendy are playing this game?! How did they discover it?"

"That is correct!" Bill cheers as the judges hold up flashcards with a ten on each and the crowd behind him cheering loudly at Mabel's correct answers. The scoreboard spells out the words 'Congratulations Mabel' as confetti falls from the sky, coating the entire floor and girl in shiny colorful shreds. "You are today's grand prize winner! Tune in next week when the game master takes the ultimate plunge and trust me, you wouldn't want to miss that! You can pick up your prizes on your way out! Thanks for playing Name Those Players! Goodnight everybody!"

The entire stage setting vanishes into the thin air with Mabel beginning to dust herself clear of the confetti and the scene of the dungeon changing back to normal.

"So how did they discover the game Bill?" Mabel asks the human demon as she kicks her feet free of any confetti that might have landed on her shoes.

"Your guess is as good as mine Shooting Star, but I'm assuming since Ice Bag likes to avoid work and Question Mark is easily persuaded, then that's how they stumbled across it." Bill assumes. "But they are vital to getting the players to the treasure chest so they can get to the code and skip ahead to level eight. Your brother will be revived back into the game on level eight, something I will make sure of."

"But what about me? I surely can't remain here." Mabel expresses as her eyes become dewy with a hint of sadness as she turns her vision to the ground. "It's great that my brother will be back, but I can't stay locked up in here forever until Gideon decides to do whatever he plans to do next with me involved."

Kicking her right foot out in front of her into the pile of confetti, Mabel's vision is then lifted towards Bill's in a gentle manner with him beaming a confident smile towards her.

"Now don't you go getting yourself worked up Shooting Star." Bill gently voices to her as his eyes pierce into hers. "I said I would take care of you and I mean just that. I haven't let Gideon lay a finger on you yet and I aim to keep it that way."

Feeling an onslaught of tears rushing to her eyes from the happiness swelling up inside of her, Mabel blinks them back as she returns the smile to Bill.

"Thanks Bill." Mabel voices barely above a whisper. "I really owe you one."

"No, I owe you one." Bill whispers as his eyes lands on Mabel's lips, his eyes tracing around the girl's mouth.

With no more words spoken, Bill immediately closes the gap between them with his lips gently pressing onto hers. Mabel's eyes slide close as she melts into the kiss, a sense of security washing over her while in the demon's embrace.

Level 5

The giant scowling gargoyle is eyeing the team through his thin framed specs as a smothering air of annoyance emanates off of him. Everyone shares a side eye stare amongst themselves, unsure of what to do or say exactly.

"The only way you can pass is if you pay the toll!" The gargoyle loudly barks, his scowl deepening. "And I want exact change!"

In an attempt to break the ever growing tension, Will clears his throat. Turning from the main group, the gargoyle focuses his attention on Will with a fang bearing smile coming to its face.

"Hey Will!" The gargoyle greets in an almost bark, which made the control board flinch slightly. "I almost didn't recognize you amongst these misfits and is that a spider?!"

"Well, I guess when one spends all of their time in the background, it's easy to get overlooked." Will lightly laughs. "And yes indeedy do. This is the team that will take down the game master on the final level. I would like to introduce you to Wyn, Princess, Saim, and Spider. There was a previous leader to this team, but he had an unfortunate accident on the last level."

"Don't remind me." Princess mumbles as she crosses her arms.

The gargoyle's smile drops as he looks amongst the gamers, his fierce scowl returning.

"Heh, he couldn't cut it as a gamer huh?" The gargoyle chuckles. "Not surprising. Kids as innocent as you all aren't cut out to be gamers!"

"You take that back!" Princess growls as she takes a step forward. "Dipper was a great leader and even better gamer! How dare you besmirch his name like that?!"

"Whoa, take it down a notch there your highness." Wyn calmly mumbles as she lightly pulls Princess back towards the group.

"Ok everyone calm down." Will voices as he steps in front of Princess. "I wouldn't quite say that, but as Princess said, he was quite the gamer and an even better leader. There is no way I can disagree with that."

"Well if they think they have a chance on this level, their sadly mistaken!" The gargoyle continues. "The enemies here will have them for dinner and still have room for seconds!"

"Well, that's why I was hoping that you could team up with them so they could-" Will's sentence is immediately cut off by the gargoyle's wings spreading and moving in motion while creating a fierce wind that whips around everyone's hair.

"I don't need these misfits slowing me down!" The gargoyle barks loudly as he lifts into air. "One of them already couldn't make it on level four so what makes you think they have a chance here?! I work alone! Do you hear me? I work alone so they are on their own!"

Changing the direction of his wings forward, the gargoyle shifts its body forward and flies off into the level, leaving everyone, minus Princess, confused and stunned as to what just took place. Spider lightly purrs and lowers itself on its front legs to display sadness due to being rejected.

"We don't need him anyway!" Princess scoffs angrily as tears stings the corner of the blonde's eyes. "I don't want to work with anyone who would have such bad things to say about Dipper! He was the greatest leader this team has ever had and with Wyn as the leader now, we can make it through without him!"

"Well guys, with as tough as this level is, I was hoping he would team up with you as he is your next ally." Will nervously expresses. "You will need him at some point on this level."

"Our next ally is a temperamental gargoyle?" Wyn questions. "No thanks."

"Yea, I forgot to mention that he can be quite testy, but once you get to know him, he's not so bad." Will happily chimes in an attempt to lighten the mood. "You should have seen how we met and how bad he treated me in the start. Ok, take that back, no you don't as I'm still trying to forget that experience."

"We will do this on our own!" Princess insists. "Who needs him?"

"Well alright, if you're sure." Will agrees. "But you have the light guns and ectoplasmic goggles in your stats so to detect the ghosts you will encounter, a couple of extra lives given by yours truly, and your array of weapons. So I bid you all good luck and remember, I'll-"

"Be watching you." Everyone says in unison, Spider raising its front legs in confirmation to what everyone else said.

"Now if you all will excuse me, I have a score to settle with an evil double." Will sternly voices, his demeanor changing from light hearted to serious. "No one steals my image and gets away with it!"

Tipping his hat to the team, Will vanishes into thin air, just leaving the team to face level five alone.

Arriving back at his cove, Will rushes to his fireplace and focuses his gaze on the many potions that he has sitting on the mantle. As a control board, even he has to expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything!

"Alright, if I'm going to deal with EXE, which one of you will I need as a proper power up so I can make this fight quick and to the point?" Will expresses as he continues looking through his many potions, his eyes now landing on the invisibility potion. "Ah! I pick you, my invisibility buddy, as you are going to give me the leverage I need to achieve just that."

"I was going to suggest that you give yourself somewhat of an edge as I wouldn't want the fight to end too quickly." EXE's arrogant voice speaks from behind Will. "I like a challenge Will and I believe you are just the opponent to give me what I'm looking for. Comfy furniture by the way. It's just so inviting!"

Grabbing the potion from the mantle, Will slowly turns around and spots his evil double sitting on his love seat while nonchalantly kicking his legs in front of him. Closing his hand around the vial, the invisibility potion vanishes and is added to Will's life stats instantly.

"Why don't we cut to the chase and get down to business!" Will sternly voices as he clenches his right hand closed and brings it into view, a golden flame surrounding the control board's clenched fist. "Because I don't have all day for small talk!"

"I was hoping you'd say that." EXE chuckles as he gets to his feet while bringing his clenched right fist into view, it becoming engulfed in a cyan flame.

Wyn is going over the final strategy for how they are going to get through the level without their newest ally.

"So when there is an area that we have to cross that needs a walkway like a small lava pit, Saim, that's when you will find anything sturdy that we can walk on and lay it across that area." Wyn instructs. "You are the strongest amongst the group so that will be your job, even using your torso cannon when necessary. Spider, when we get close to the portal that leads to the other side of the level, be prepared to carry us there while doing some running. We need to get to it before it decides to change direction and Princess, you will be the lookout for any enemies that will try to sneak up on us. We need to stay on alert considering how much will be coming at us at once here."

"You got it boss." Princess salutes.

"I'm on it." Saim agrees as he raises his charging arm cannon.

"Now that everyone has their instructions, let's move out." Wyn commands.

Just as everyone takes a step forward, a treasure chest appears right in front of them, the team gaining a look of confusion at the sight of it.

"Ok, where did that come from?" Saim questions. "That wasn't there when Will left."

"Maybe it's from Will." Princess voices as she takes a step towards it. "He is probably providing us with more potions, points, and weapons that we need to make it through this death trap since our newest ally bailed on us!"

Approaching the chest, Princess creaks it open only for her and the team to find it empty, the blonde raising her eyebrows in confusion at the empty chest.

"That's odd, Will would never—" Princess's thought is broken off by a replica of Gideon's head on a metal spring bobbing out of the chest and looking the girl right in the eyes. Everyone else jumps back in surprise at the dummy!

The replica opens its mouth and begins laughing maniacally as Princess jumps back from the chest. The bobbing head scans the group as it continues laughing maniacally.

"You all were too curious for your own good!" Gideon's voice booms from the head as it focuses its attention on solely Princess. "If you thought this level was going to be tough, you're in for a real surprise as you've unlocked the ultimate virus that will wipe you all out one by one! The rules have changed and it's elimination time! Starting with the weakest link!"

Princess's structural data is swiftly broken down as she is wiped from the level entirely! Her stats darken to indicate that she is no longer a playable character, thus only leaving the three remaining players to make it through level five!

"Princess!" Wyn screams as the bobbing head continues hysterically laughing.

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