[i][b]Alignment[/b] ascended the [b]Infinite Tree[/b] as a few of his students scattered across the sea of branches below him. While his students tore through the [b]Grand Colony[/b] machines that plagued the once sacred ecosystem, he focused on finding a key component to his plan. As he climbed higher and higher, [b]Alignment[/b] heard screeches of animals and a cacophony of mechanical noises that grew louder and louder. Though he was determined to complete his search, he believed that it wouldn’t take long to destroy a single robot that was causing chaos for the innocent animals that inhabited the tree. [b]Alignment[/b] stopped climbing when he found the source of the noises. A large, bulky droid with a black chassis laced with glowing blue lining stood on a thick branch. A massive drill took the spot of where its right hand would be and dug into the trunk of the tree, extracting the water and sap that hid beneath the bark. All the while, a group of injured monkeys were hanging on the same branch, screeching in pain. One crawled to the droid in a desperate attempt to attack it. The attention of the droid shifted from the tree trunk to the wounded monkey and it lifted up its foot, preparing to finish off the poor creature. Taking action, [b]Alignment[/b] grabbed his ball and threw it straight at the droid. The ball hit its head, causing it to slightly turn. Creaking metal could be heard from the impact. The droid then turned its attention towards [b]Alignment[/b], disconnecting its drill from the tree and jumping towards him. The machine thrusted its drill at the professor in an attempt to pierce right through him. [b]Alignment[/b] barely managed to dodge it, but the drill broke the branch he stood on, making him fall along with the droid. [b]Alignment[/b] retracted his ball and split it into four. He then arranged three of them close together and extended the fourth one from the group. A laser formed between the fourth ball and the group of three balls, making a sword configuration. [b]Alignment[/b] grabbed the weapon by the three balls and swung it at the droids drill arm, severing it. Before he could do the same to the other arm, the droid and [b]Alignment[/b] both fell on a branch below them. The sudden impact shifted [b]Alignment’s[/b] position from above to below the falling droid. The droid grabbed [b]Alignment[/b] by the shoulder and held him in place as they fell until they landed on a very thick branch. [b]Alignment[/b] took all of the impact on the fall and his back, along with several other bones, instantly broke. He screamed in agony, but was quickly silenced by the droid who put its large hand around his neck and strangled him. [b]Alignment[/b] was unable to breathe and his agonizing scream made his position worse. His vision was starting to fade along with his consciousness. Suddenly, a flash of golden light appeared behind the droid. Something then pulled the droid away from [b]Alignment[/b] from behind, allowing him to breathe again. In front of him stood the [b]Golden Gorilla[/b], who lifted up the black and blue droid and tore it in half. He threw the scraps of metal into the abyss of leaves and branches and approached [b]Alignment[/b]. [b]Alignment[/b] was barely able to speak through the pain.[/i] [b]Alignment[/b]: “Well... this scenario seems familiar.” [b]GG[/b]: “Be silent and open your mouth.” [i]The [b]Golden Gorilla[/b] extended his arm and from the palm of his hand appeared a golden fruit. He hovered it over [b]Alignment[/b] and squeezed it, causing a drop of golden juice to fall into [b]Alignment’s[/b] mouth. His body surged with energy and his bones instantly healed.[/i] [b]Alignment[/b]: “Wait, you willingly helped me out without any fuss? I thought you didn’t trust me.” [b]GG[/b]: “I don’t. Not completely, at least. I simply witnessed what you did for that monkey and believed that I should return the favor.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “Well, I do appreciate the assistance, which is why I feel greedy asking for another favor.” [b]GG[/b]: “What do you want now, fool?” [b]Alignment[/b]: “I need your help. We must exit the tree at once.” [b]GG[/b]: “In case your glasses aren’t working properly, the tree is swarmed with these filthy machines. I cannot abandon my duty as the guardian of this tree and all that live in it.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “I have already assigned a few people to deal with that. Besides, these machines are more of a symptom. The disease is what lies outside.” [b]GG[/b]: “And why should I listen to you?” [b]Alignment[/b]: “Because if you don’t, you’ll be seeing a lot more of these pests very soon. Look, I know that you dislike outsiders, but think about how much I’ve cared for this tree. I consider myself a guardian of it too. I want what is best for it and the animals that live inside. If you want the same, then I urge you to assist me.” [i]The [b]Golden Gorilla[/b] briefly paused and looked around the [b]Infinite Tree[/b].[/i] [b]GG[/b]: “Fine, foolish human. But all of the deaths that take place inside of this tree are on your hands.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “That’s a burden I’m willing to bear.” —————— [i]The giant room that contained the [b]Infinite Tree[/b] was riddled by the remains of countless [b]Grand Colony[/b] droids. On top of them stood [b]Alignment’s[/b] students who guarded the tree from the waves of enemies that entered. At the entrance of the room stood [b]Contrast, the Grand Leader[/b]. He stared at scraps of metal that littered the room and the people that had somehow infiltrated it. The very sight filled him with rage.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “Damn pests! All of you!” [i][b]Repetition[/b] was also present in the room. He lied on the floor under the foot of a student named [b]Giant[/b], who held a mighty axe above the neck of the droid. [b]Repetition’s[/b] chassis was scraped and torn and some of his wiring was cut. As [b]Contrast[/b] yelled in anger at the students, [b]Giant[/b] prepared to strike at [b]Repetition[/b]. Before his servant’s head could be severed, [b]Contrast[/b] extended his cane at [b]Giant[/b]. The blue stone on the tip of the cane glowed and the air that filled the space between the two opponents turned into ice, freezing the axe and its wielder. [/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “None of you deserve to be a part of the Grand Colony in any way! I’ll exterminate every last one of you!” [i][b]Contrast[/b] began to lift up his cane again, but immediately stopped as he saw something exit the [b]Infinite Tree[/b]. It was [b]Alignment[/b], along with his other students and a giant gorilla that appeared to be emitting a golden light from its body. [b]Alignment[/b] smiled at [b]Contrast[/b], filling him with even more anger.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “Alignment, you roach! You’re supposed to be dead!” [b]Alignment[/b]: “Nice to see you too, Contrast! Say, it appears that you’ve borrowed something of mine without my permission. I really hope you don’t mind if I take it back.” [i][b]Contrast[/b] aimed his cane at a pile of droid remains in the room. The stone on the cane glowed once more and the metal began to morph into hideous balls of meat with spikes for teeth and tentacles for legs. They all scurried past the students and straight towards [b]Alignment[/b], leaping high up in the air. Before they could land, the [b]Golden Gorilla[/b] struck all of them with its fists at blinding speeds. The creatures exploded as the [b]Gorilla[/b] punched them.[/i] [b]GG[/b]: “This is the fool that has been causing such trouble? Why have you not dealt with him yourself?” [b]Alignment[/b]: “If I’m going to do something, I have to do it properly. Not to worry. Pretty soon, he will no longer be a problem.” [i][b]Contrast[/b] cackled after [b]Alignment[/b] spoke.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “You act as if you stand a chance against me! What makes you think that you can defeat the Grand Colony so easily?” [i][b]Alignment[/b] backed up to the trunk of the tree and patted the bark.[/i] [b]Alignment[/b]: “Well, it’s because of something that you haven’t realized yet, my former student. Those who have their head in the clouds are more likely to be struck by lightning.” [i][b]Unity[/b], who had been standing behind the tree, uses her power. An enormous portal appears at the top of the room, hovering above the [b]Infinite Tree[/b] and [b]Alignment’s[/b] students. The portal lowers down the room, bringing everything it crosses to the other side until only [b]Repetition[/b] and [b]Contrast[/b] remain.[/i] [b]Contrast[/b]: “ALLO!!!” [i][b]Contrast’s[/b] scream echoed inside the empty room. The [b]Infinite Tree[/b] was gone. So was [b]Alignment[/b] and his students. [b]Contrast[/b] had suffered a major loss.[/i] [spoiler]Fades Away[/spoiler]