Editing Forum:Shadowkeeper Apocalypse

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|place= [[Forum:Aincrad|Aincrad]] <br> '''[[Earth]]:''' [[Forum:Auradon|Auradon]]; [[Cosmodrome]], [[Old Russia]]; [[Old Chicago]]; [[Old Accra]]; [[European Aerial Zone]]; [[European Dead Zone]]; [[Forum:Isle of the Lost|Isle of the Lost]]; [[Plaguelands]], Old Russia; [[Mumbai Push]] <br> [[Moon]] <br> [[Venus]] <br> '''[[Mars]]:''' [[Phobos]]; [[Hellas Basin]]; [[Forum:Olympus Mons|Olympus Mons]] <br> '''[[Saturn]]:''' [[Dreadnaught]]; [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]; [[Cassini]] <br> [[Nessus]] <br> '''[[Jupiter]]:''' [[Io]]; [[Deep Stone Crypt]], [[Europa]] <br> '''[[Reef]]:''' [[Tangled Shore]]; [[Dreaming City]]; [[Distributary]] <br> '''[[Mercury]]:''' [[Infinite Forest]] <br> '''[[Unknown Space]]:''' [[Forum:Chinese Dead Zone|Chinese Dead Zone]] <br> [[Ascendant realm]] <br> [[Ascendant Plane]] <br> [[Black Garden]]

*Deaths of Kirito and Asuna, Kazuto and Stacia's evil doppelgängers

*Defeat of the Shadowkeepers and Shadow Army

*[[Forum:Vothriks’ Faction|Vothriks’ Faction]]

*[[Spider's Syndicate]]

|side2= '''Darkness'''

*[[User:Kirito Beater3|Nagihiko]]

*Rudol von Stroheim

'''Spider's Syndicate:'''

*[[Forum:Kirito, the Black Swordsman|Kirito]]

*[[Forum:Asuna, Kirito's Betrothed|Asuna]]

*Totomaru

*[[Forum:Eobard Thawne, Speedbreacher of Kirito|Eobard Thawne]]

*[[Forum:Malcolm Merlyn, Crystalline of Kirito|Malcolm Merlyn]]

*Damien Darhk

*Tobias Whale

*[[Forum:Reign, Heart of Kirito|Reign]]

*Leopold Fitz

*Anton Ivanov

*Hiram Lodge

*Morgana le Fay

*Zevon

*[[Forum:Fikrul, Armament of Kirito|Fikrul, the Fanatic]]

*[[Uldren Sov]]

*Djin

*Sasuke Uchiha

*Phoenixaro Uchihamaki

*Ruby Hale

*[[Forum:House of Dragons|House of Dragons]]

===Rise of Nagasaki===

{{Quote|For all of you innocent souls, I have come to this world with a singular goal: to save our world from a threat that seeks our destruction. Join us and we shall present to you a key to a special utopia I plan to unveil to the universe. For those who seek my death, I am here for another reason: to liberate my people from yours. You and your people... you all never had the right to be called "heroes." You thought that by killing me, you'd save your precious world... oh, you will have done it... but you will be too late. If you succeed, I will indeed die, but my legacy shall live on... and you won't live to see the birth of my utopia.|[[Forum:Nagasaki, Ender of Worlds|Nagasaki, Ender of Worlds]], revealing himself to the world.}}

During the 16th century, a notorious swordsman known as [[Forum:Nagasaki, Ender of Worlds|Nagasaki]] and his lieutenants led an army of orphans and outcasts in a harrowing series of battles to bring on the end of the age of heroes and transform the entire world into an utopia made in his image, seeking revenge against those who abandoned the lost souls of his homeworld and left them for dead. However, while most of the people would join his cause, he would be challenged by numerous heroes, whose lives would meet their end by his hands. While his fate is unknown, it is certain that he would go on to become the progenitor of the Apocalypse.

Between the events of [[Season of the Chosen]] and [[The Witch Queen]], upon accepting the Darkness's gift, after stepping out of their dimension and into the [[The Guardian|Guardian]]'s universe, Kirito and Asuna would go on to recruit various villains from numerous dimensions, including Totomaru, a former member of the Phantom Lord guild and the manipulator of the [[Solar]] element; [[Forum:Eobard Thawne, Speedbreacher of Kirito|Eobard Thawne]], the Reverse Flash and a speedster who murdered Nora Allen, the mother of Barry Allen; [[Forum:Malcolm Merlyn, Crystalline of Kirito|Malcolm Merlyn]], the Dark Archer and the man who orchestrated the destruction of the Queen's Gambit and played a role in Sara Lance's apparent death; Damien Darhk, the leader of HIVE and the man who murdered Laurel Lance; Tobias Whale, a crime lord and the man who murdered Jefferson Pierce's father; The Doctor, a Framework persona of Leopold Fitz and HYDRA's ruthless second-in-command; Anton Ivanov, the leader of the Watchdogs and a powerful mercenary known as Omega; Hiram Lodge, a powerful businessman and the leader of a notorious criminal empire responsible for the emergence of the Ghoulies; Morgana le Fay, the Mother of Monsters and a powerful wizard who was betrayed by Merlin and allied with Gunmar and his army in her quest for revenge on the Trollhunters; [[Uldren Sov]], the Prince of the Reef who was presumed dead during the [[Battle of Saturn]]; Djin, the leader of the Numeros and a former member of M.A.T.A.; Sasuke Uchiha, the lone surviving member of the Uchiha clan who acquired the Sharingan and the Rinnegan; Phoenixaro Uchihamaki, the leader of the Akatsuki and Kakashi Hatake's estranged brother; and Ruby Hale, the Destroyer of Worlds and the daughter of General Hale, who had been genetically engineered by HYDRA's leader Daniel Whitehall, forming a notorious organization unlike anything the world had ever encountered known as the Shadowkeepers. They would also resurrect [[Forum:Reign, Heart of Kirito|Sachi]] and [[Forum:Fikrul, Armament of Kirito|Eugeo]] by implanting the respective memories of Reign and Fikrul into their vessels' bodies.

At some point in time, Kirito and Asuna would also rally numerous enemies of both the Traveler and its Guardians, instilling into them a profound sense of freedom and purpose, promising them that they would be the one to save them and those cast out and left for dead by their own people from the Traveler's lies. During the course of the impending war between the Guardians and the Witch Queen's armies, many key leaders of various sects and factions would pledge their allegiances to the Shadowkeepers.

{{Quote|The Dragon’s Eye has awakened. It is on a little world. A human world. They would only wield its power… But our allies know its workings as they never will. They are ready to lead. And our forces will follow. The world will be theirs. The universe yours. And the humans, what can they do but burn?|An unnamed Taken commander, speaking to the Darkness about Kirito and Asuna shortly before Auradon would come under attack.}}

Some weeks after the Jewel-bilee, the Shadowkeepers and their newly-assembled Shadow Army breached the gateway to Auradon, eager to lay waste to its hierarchy and destroy everything that symbolized its kingdom. Being the first to respond to the civilians' evacuation from what appeared to be an escape attempt enacted by Maleficent, Zavala and Leafa would rendezvous with Ben, Evie, and Merlin to detain her and send her back; however, by the time they got to her, she was already killed by Mal, who became corrupted by the Darkness. Unbeknownst to them, the Ghosts of Nagasaki, led by [[Forum:Magda Peterson, Devilwalker of the Damned|Magda Peterson]], had already freed the son of Yzma known as Zevon from the frozen prison on the Isle of the Lost, which led to a full-scale assault between the Auradonians and the Shadowkeepers.

{{Quote|When I was a kid, I entered the world of [[Wikipedia:Sword Art Online|Sword Art Online]] to escape the cruel depths of reality. But now, as I look back, I remember the faces of those I saved from the death game. Klein, Agil, Silica, and Lisbeth, my old friends... may be gone, but they are with us now and always. As for you, my loyal servants, my new friends, my Shadowkeepers... I gather you today because the time has come to rain darkness upon Sol. For too long, the Traveler has prevented the universe from entering the true, final shape - that of Darkness. But now, this ends. Ever since you came to this world, you've helped me do what no one else has done: kill a Guardian. I have already slain the Guardians’ [[Vanguard]] Commander, the man they called Zavala. There could never be a better time to strike, now when their morale is low and they are susceptible to falling to Darkness. Go! Unleash chaos upon their people! Create fear in the hearts of those who follow the Light!|Kirito, addressing the Shadowkeepers and his elites.}}

Moments after taking over Auradon, Kirito and Asuna set up countless programs and [[SIVA]] networks from his computer that the Pyramids used to rebuild Aincrad as they saw fit and split up the Shadow Army into its six respective groups: the [[Forum:Shadowkeepers (Paradox)#House of Shadows|House of Shadows]], led by [[Forum:Kotrik, Bloodcrafter of Kirito|Kotrik, Bloodcrafter of Kirito]], a notorious [[Fallen]] [[Kell]] of Shadows who stole Guardian tech from [[The Last City]]; the [[Forum:Shadowkeepers (Paradox)#Shadow Swarm|Shadow Swarm]], led by [[Forum:Zharves, Shadowcaster of Kirito|Zharves, Shadowcaster of Kirito]], a surviving [[Hive]] [[Deathsinger]] who formerly served [[Crota, Son of Oryx|Crota]] and [[Oryx, the Taken King|his father]]; the [[Forum:Shadowkeepers (Paradox)#Shadow Divisive|Shadow Divisive]], led by [[Forum:Hydrax, Mindkiller of Kirito|Hydrax, Mindkiller of Kirito]], a massive [[Vex]] [[Axis Mind]] [[Hydra]] who possessed the ability to stop time; the [[Forum:Shadowkeepers (Paradox)#Shadow Legion|Shadow Legion]], led by [[Forum:Gha'arn, Crownforger of Kirito|Gha'arn, Crownforger of Kirito]], a powerful [[Cabal]] warlord who helped restore the Cabal Empire to its full glory; the [[Forum:Shadowkeepers (Paradox)#Reborn|Reborn]], led by [[Forum:Thu'urg, Blightmaker of Kirito|Thu'urg, Blightmaker of Kirito]], a [[Taken]] [[Cabal]] commander who helped ignite a new [[Taken War]]; and the [[Forum:Shadowkeepers (Paradox)#Cult of Shadows|Cult of Shadows]], led by [[Forum:Vayeriks, Fatesmith of Kirito|Vayeriks, Fatesmith of Kirito]], [[Fikrul]]'s right hand and a commander of the first [[Scorn]].

Hoping to further weaken the Traveler, they sent their forces across the system to launch countless waves of devastating attacks against its forces. On [[Earth]], the Shadowkeepers led a series of invasions against valiant heroes, including the Justice League, Simon Templar, Milo Murphy, and Legends of Tomorrow, and successfully managed to slaughter them and their fellow allies, including Cisco Ramon, who was killed by Tatsuyi, who fused his [[Necrotic Grip|gauntlets]] and [[Thorn]] with Vibe's metahuman powers. Across the Sol System, the Shadow Army attacked various factions, including the [[Forum:Dusk Splicers|Dusk Splicers]], the Houses of [[Forum:House of Emperors|Emperors]], [[Forum:House of Vipers|Vipers]], [[Forum:House of Dragons|Dragons]], and [[Forum:House of Time|Time]], and other enemy factions, which led to some of the members of these aforementioned factions to pledge their loyalties to Kirito and Asuna.

[[File:Shaxx cut off.PNG|300px|thumb|right|The Guardians, Frames, and Lord Shaxx, preparing to fight the House of Shadows]]

On the anniversary of the [[Battle of Six Fronts]], the Vanguard discovered that all of their outer defenses, satellites, and outposts went dark in the cover of a storm. In a sudden bombardment, the House of Shadows severely devastated [[Bannerfall]], but the Vanguard survived with the help of Ikora's [[Nova Bomb]], and mobilized against the invasion. As the House of Shadows's Ketch assaulted Bannerfall, a massive Skiff latched onto the tomb of Sofia the First, desecrating her corpse and soul. During the chaos, the Speaker's guards would be swiftly slain by the Shadow Splicers, forcing the Speaker to escape to another world, leaving the City and its Guardians questioning his whereabouts. Civilians were successfully evacuated, but the Vanguard was quickly overwhelmed.

===Ahnkra’s Campaign===

{{Quote|So, it seems that one of [[Forum:Viznoor, the Black|Vizzy]]’s precious servants turned traitor and joined up with that stupid brat and his boot-licking army. That rat bastard Ahnkra’s been tearing up the [[Tangled Shore|Shore]] with a resurrected army of brainwashed soldiers. A trick he picked up from [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xivu Arath]], I assume. Anyhow, the Shitkeepers are gonna be even more of a problem now that they have knowledge of the [[Forum:Stygian Brood|Stygian Brood]]’s special blend of necromancy, so....you know what to do. Time to take out the garbage.|[[UserWiki:Vothriks, the Lost|Vothriks, the Lost]]}}

Some time after the War of Dimensions between AJ and the Shadowkeepers, the [[Forum:Stygian Brood|Stygian Brood]] fell under attack by Kirito and Asuna and their army. While most remained loyal to [[Forum:Viznoor, the Black|Viznoor]] despite the damage they suffered, a few did defect to Kirito’s army, among them being [[Forum:Ahnkra, Devoted to Zharves|Ahnkra, the Desolate]], who viewed the swordsman as “the true pillar of strength.” Ahnkra pledged absolute loyalty to Kirito’s cause and the [[Forum:Zharves, Shadowcaster of Kirito|Shadowcaster]], and shared his knowledge of the Stygian Brood’s necromancy and the method they used to free themselves of their [[Worm]]s. Setting up a base deep within the [[Tangled Shore]], Ahnkra then began replicating [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xivu Arath]]'s method in resurrecting a wide array of previously slain foes from Fallen, Cabal and other sects of Hive and corrupting them into his mindless servants, effectively creating the Shadow Army’s sect of [[Wrathborn]], the [[Forum:Shadowkeepers (Paradox)#Shadow Ravagers|Shadow Ravagers]].

In the following days, Ahnkra would launch repeated strikes against the Stygian Brood while adding more to the Shadow Ravagers’ ranks from across the system. Furious, Viznoor rallied his brood to stage a counterattack on Ahnkra’s forces, leading to a violent large-scale conflict between the Shadow Swarm and the Stygian Brood amidst the Tangled Shore. Sometime after the skirmishes began, Ahnkra began preparing a ritual to infest the Tangled Shore with Darkness in Kirito’s name, which a Fireteam, led by [[Forum:Anna Blue|Anna Blue]]'s friend [[Forum:Zoe|Zoe]], would discover when they were sent to investigate the Hive activity. Working with Viznoor and his forces, they managed to break through the Shadow Army’s defenses; however, before they could have the chance to stop the ritual from being completed, Zoe and her crew would be slaughtered by Ahnkra, forcing Viznoor's forces to retreat. Moments after hearing about Zoe's death, Anna Blue went to her friend's last spot on the Tangled Shore and fought a harrowing battle against Ahnkra. However, just when Ahnkra was about to slaughter her, she is saved by [[Eris Morn]], who sends a series of brutal attacks against Ahnkra, who is forced to retreat, but not before vowing revenge on Eris. Awed by Eris's daring effort, she would eventually work under Eris's tutelage and help forge a powerful weapon of Light known as the [[Forum:Silent Scream|Silent Scream]], her personal [[Scout Rifle]] that combined [[Symmetry (weapon)|Symmetry]] with both [[Void]] energy and Hive runes, which she would soon use against the Hive.

Some time after helping Mal and her friends celebrate the Jewel-bilee, Cayde-6 would return to his own time and form his own Fireteam, consisting of himself, Petra Venj, [[Suraya Hawthorne]], and [[Banshee-44]], along with the other members of his crew - [[Jin]] and [[Nadiya]].

{{Quote|You can call House [[House of Devils|Devils]], [[House of Wolves|Wolves]], [[House of Winter|Winter]], and [[House of Kings|Kings]] the Fallen. But call the [[Forum:House of Flame|House of Flame]], the Eliksni.|[[User:Koriks, Kell of Flame|Koriks, Kell of Flame]], establishing an alliance with the Guardians.}}

{{Quote|There’s more to this than just enemies swearing loyalty to one person. This… Kirito… is the one who murdered Zavala. He has made the Traveler - and the Light - vulnerable to attack. If we are not careful, there may be a situation like the Red War in Danville… or worse. Across the system, multiple groups of our foes rally around his banner. The Fallen House of Shadows and their Shadow Splicers led by Kotrik, Bloodcrafter of Kirito, a master with weaponry who has stolen much Guardian tech; the Hive’s Shadow Swarm led by Zharves, Shadowcaster of Kirito, who is a surviving Deathsinger; the Vex’s Shadow Divisive, led by Hydrax, Mindkiller of Kirito, an immensely powerful Vex unit attempting to cast us into a dark future; the Cabal’s Shadow Legion, led by Gha’arn, Crownforger of Kirito, a powerful Cabal warlord; the Taken Reborn, led by Thu’urg, Blightmaker of Kirito; and the Scorn Cult of Shadows, led by Vayeriks, Fatesmith of Kirito, one of the first Scorn. We have also identified some of their leaders - the Shadowkeepers. They include the names: Uldren Sov; Fikrul - also known as Eugeo due to his current form; Ruby Hale; Totomaru; Malcolm Merlyn; and many others. I will send the full list to you, Guardian. One last thing. The overall objective of this is to save a certain high-value person - Mallory Bertha. She has been corrupted by the Darkness and made the Dragon Queen of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost. She must be saved from the Darkness. But we will have to defeat Kirito’s armies of Shadows in order to accomplish this. Around the system, your fellow Guardians are taking up arms and fighting these new foes. Go and join them, so that the Light may be victorious.|[[Forum:Luther Hargreeves|Luther Hargreeves]], addressing the Guardian.}}

{{Quote|You claim to be a defender of humanity, Guardian. But, in the end, you’re just a person… someone who will always fall into the dark. No matter how fast you run, how far you go, and how hard you try to fight, it will catch up with you. The Light thought it could make you soft and sensible, but you have yet to feel all the pain I felt when I lost my friends and family! And this time, the Traveler will die for Auradon’s sins!|Kirito, preparing to fight the Guardian.}}

{{Quote|[[Cayde-6|He]] didn't know that either, but I know [[Forum:AJ, the Relentless|someone]] who does.|[[User:Kirito Beater3|Nagihiko]].}}

====Scourge of Dreams====

{{Quote|For years, the world had been bound by aspects of a failed past, full of lies that the Traveler brought upon this universe. But, we knew the truth. In Light, there was only weakness. Only failure. Only subjugation. Only death. But where the Light took, the Dark gives. No longer will we be pawns of the Light's lies. No longer will we stand by and let those monsters and so-called heroes abuse our people. No longer will we watch the lives of those we care for be lost. In Darkness, there is only strength. Only power. Only victory. Only freedom. Only life. And we shall rise forever!|Kirito, bestowing the powers of Fusion on his forces of Darkness.}}

Moments after Kirito and Asuna arrived within the Dreaming City, they, along with Tatsuyi and the Shadow Army elites, rallied the Shadowkeepers and their Shadow Army and unveiled the powers of Fusion to them, promising that they would be the ones to save them and help usher in a new age of darkness.

 

{{Quote|I'm a proud servant of the German Army! I am prepared to do my duty! I would proudly give a few legs for the sake of the Fatherland and your Traveler! Do it now, Guardian!|[[Forum:Rudol von Stroheim|Rudol von Stroheim]] before being freed by the Guardian.}}

====Ahnkra’s Final Stand====

{{Quote|So, that [[Forum:Kirito, the Black Swordsman|Motherfucker]] thinks he can bring back Menkrodos eh? No matter, we can put him back into the dirt, and any “Shadow” that was in cahoots with that [[Forum:Menkrodos, the Dimensional Mind|son of a bitch]].|[[Forum:AJ, the Relentless|AJ]], learning of the Dimensional Mind’s Return.}}

{{Quote|You are finally here, Guardian. Monster slayer. Light avenger. All that strength, and you still have yet to fathom much more. You could be so much more... all you need do is wish it. This city within my vessel will challenge you in ways you have never thought possible. Come. Let’s enjoy ourselves.|[[Forum:Evangelion, Mastermind of Eternities|Evangelion, Mastermind of Eternities]], welcoming the Guardian to his ship.}}

 

====Return of the Witch Queen====

{{Quote|My loyal followers, with the Black Fleet gone, we can now rejoice upon the safe reconstruction of [[Osmium Court|this realm]] and celebrate the day that we take back the world for our people.|[[Savathûn, the Witch Queen]], rallying her armies.}}

Some time after the Guardian formed an alliance with Evangelion and his crew, Savathûn, her daughter [[Dûl Incaru, the Eternal Return|Dûl Incaru]], her nephew [[Nokris, Supplicant to Savathûn|Nokris]], and her [[Savathûn's Brood|brood]] would form an alliance with her sister [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xivu Arath]], her [[Xivu Arath's Horde|army]], and [[Xol, Will of the Thousands|Xol]] to rebuild the [[Osmium Court]] and establish a diabolical scheme to destroy all Guardians once and for all.

{{Quote|This footage is all yours to watch, because if what I saw was true, then I wish to God that I hadn't watched it.|[[Forum:Carlos de Vil|Carlos de Vil]], moments before dying.}}

[[File:Osiris and ghost.png|300px|thumb|right|Osiris and Sagira uncovering the truth behind Ben and Evie's betrayal]]

Moments after the death of the Witch Queen at the hands of the Guardians, Osiris received an encrypted footage from a mysterious stranger who warned him about a terrible catastrophe that would soon engulf the Last City. Skeptical about the sender's warning, Osiris had the Guardians travel to an abandoned frontier on Europa to decrypt the file and find out what the stranger was talking about. While approaching the defunct Clovis Bray facility, the Guardians were attacked by numerous waves of undead Auradonian soldiers infected by the growing influence of a mysterious mask, but were able to repel them and decrypt the footage.

 

Upon getting a closer look, the Guardians learned from [[Sagira]] that [[Forum:Carlos de Vil|Carlos de Vil]], a Villain Kid and the son of Cruella de Vil, lost his life because he found something that no one within the inner circles of Auradon wanted him to know. Osiris later revealed that Ben, Suguha, and Evie were part of a conspiracy that involved Maleficent and the Overtakers, her elite army of murderers, abusers, and monsters who sacrificed countless innocent souls in an attempt to preserve the timeline as it originally proceeded in the worst ways possible, even if it meant killing Mal, but Kirito and Asuna jeopardized and utterly wiped off the Overtakers' existence by saving Mal's life with the Darkness, before tasking the Guardians with investigating the apparent reappearance of the [[Forum:Stone Mask|Stone Mask]] and putting its victims out of their miseries.

{{Quote|Not only are you a traitor, but you are also a savage coward. We know who you are, what you did. For centuries, we've gone to great lengths to prevent those cowardly weaklings from being born. Turning that weak mistake for a girl's friends against her and freeing our glorious master Maleficent from that cage were all part of a plan... a plan to combat [[Forum:The Void|that wretched evil]]! But then, that wretched wench and his pathetic lover not only destroyed everything we've spent our lives on and slaughtered our masters, but also saved that stupid weakling from death! And you let that happen! By letting Mal live, you and your so-called people let loose a terrible evil into our world! At least killing you now will help us avenge our masters.|An Envoy of the Overtakers, accusing the Guardian of letting Kirito and Asuna take over Auradon.}}

Upon traveling to the ruins of an abandoned sector on the European Dead Zone, the Guardians aided Drifter, Petra, and Variks in hunting down the undead corpses of those infected by the Stone Mask and putting them out of their miseries in the hopes of ensuring that they would be able to die with honor and courage before approaching the last site of the Stone Mask. However, the Guardians would be forced into a harrowing battle against an Envoy of the Overtakers, who blamed them and their people for letting Mal live at the costs of the lives of Maleficent, Ben, Evie, Suguha, Zavala, Calus, Oberon, Gabriel Miller, the members of Laughing Coffin and Titan's Hand, the Auradonians, and the Danville civilians. Despite the Envoy's traumatic strength and powers, the Guardians were able to end its life before uncovering the main source of the Stone Mask's existence and the identity of the Traveler's [[Forum:The Void|true enemy]].

 

====Destroying the Mask====