Time to start the new year off with a bang! Here's the first chapter of the Trials Saga. Since this is linked with Souls of Light, I will be posting an alternate version of this chapter there, so stay tuned for that (you'll see the reason why later)!

Otherwise, enjoy!

Opening: Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

The Trials Saga

Chapter 5: Kill the First Opponent

It's a beautiful night at the outer walls of the Last City. The wind is howling like a wolf. The trees grow their leaves. Metal cranes, towers, pipes, and catwalks rust, untouched. Lights blinker on and off. On nights like these, it's the perfect time for a game of Trials of Osiris.

Three Guardians fall to the hands of assassins waiting within the smoke, revealing their Ghosts for revival. This ends the game with a score of 5-1, winners being Fireteam Raid, and what they've done was, inexplicably, the most unsatisfying technique they can pull off.

One and a half hours ago...

Fireteam Raid head off to Twilight Gap, the arena chosen for this current week of Trials of Osiris. This place is told to be on the outskirts of the Last City and is only being used for the Crucible and other reasons since its abandonment.

"So, who are we gonna fight today?" Leone asks as she sharpens the spikes on the Thagomizers and drinks coffee (a delicious delight).

Yesterday, The Titan tested out her new Exotic Gauntlets in the training arena with other Guardians, including her own fireteam members. However, they sent sparks all across the place and set it ablaze. Her friends and a couple of other Titans believed that those Gauntlets somehow released the seal holding her back from the Sunbreaker's powers.

Legends said that the Ouros, the most powerful Titans in the Solar System, wielded the Traveler's Light in very "blazing" ways. They've supposedly disappeared from existence only until a couple of recruits showed up from Mercury and the new one from yesterday.

Lubbock analyzes the pre-game summary and rotates his protruding pivots. "You want to hear the good news or the not-as-good news first?" he asks back. "Usually, people ask for the good news first."

"Uh, I'll take the good news first."

"Ok. It says here that this fireteam just formed around six to eight months ago, so they're relatively new and slightly unexperienced, I believe."

That's a good sign towards a victory in their team's first match. "Nice. What else?"

The Ghost sighs in discomfort. "You ever heard of Fireteam Ebott?"

WARNING: Undertale and Souls of Light References coming up real soon! I suggest skipping the rest of this chapter if you don't want spoilers.

Leone looks upward hearing that last word: "Ebott". "Now, that's a kicker in the brain,"she thinks.

Fireteam Ebott is the other team that spearheaded the regicide of Oryx and the Taken lieutenants. They are a unique bunch of Guardians.

Three of them are specified as Monsters, creatures from millenniums ago that were sealed underground in the depths of the mountain Ebott (hence their team name). They're considered the strongest Monsters by the City's standards.

The fourth member (yes, a fourth member), a human, is the Monsters' Messiah. They are a genderless child who doesn't like to fight a whole bunch. How they always get their strength and sadistic attitude during raids against the Darkness is something only they, the Vanguard, Shaxx, and the Speaker know. no matter the technique and character, they are a great asset to Ebott and Monsterkind.

"Yeah, I've heard of them; one of them, the fish one, we met when we blew up the training facility. What about them?" she questions.

"Uh, we're fighting them soon..."

Leone spits out her coffee like a tidal wave. "Oh, FUCK! Why did you tell me now and not earlier?!" Anger seethes through her veins, crushing them with the force of the Traveler's weight.

"I just got this right when you asked me, Lady Guardian! By the Traveler, you can be idiotic at times!" He turns his back(?) to her face.

And activates the team comms. "Anyways, we're close, everyone. Lock and load."

Already with her armor, the Titan of Raid only requires her weapons.

Nothing but her fists (and maybe a backup high-stability Judith-D).

At the outer edge of the Tower, the moon and stars shine upon the old machinery, pipes, and other Golden-Age doohickies. The wind flows through the corridors and shakes the trees. Banners signifying their ownership to Osiris sway along with each other.

The six Guardians land on either side of Twilight Gap, Fireteam Ebott starting indoors and Raid outside. They plan their respective attack strategies: Ebott decides to stick together, watching each other's sixes, while Raid will see how their enemy will attack and then completely solidify their game plan.

The speakers go live with a husky, booming voice. "Welcome, Guardians, to Trials of Osiris, Elimination!" Lord Shaxx introduces. "In honor of Osiris, the legendary Warlock of the Vex, we utilize the Crucible in his name." He gives a brief pause. "In the Alpha team, we have Fireteam Raid consisting of Titan Leone, Hunter Mine, and their leader: Warlock Tatsumi. They are a fairly new team, but I've seen the potential of them. I wish them the best luck has to offer!" Ghosts fly over them and summon fireworks and spotlights.

"Hey, at least the Ghosts acknowledge us as awesome," Leone comments.

Then, they head towards the other side.

"In the Bravo team," Shaxx continues, "we have Fireteam Ebott consisting of our own skeleton jokester, Titan Papyrus, the leader of the Underground's Royal Guard, Titan Undyne, and the human savior (or should I say, 'saviors'), Frisk and Chara in one mass of flesh and bone. Also under a year old, they are also a relatively new fireteam. However, they have assisted in the fall of the king of the Taken, Oryx, so I have high hopes for them as well." The Ghosts summon more fireworks and spotlights.

"UGH! That lazy bone. When will he ever fight in this awesome tournament?!" Papyrus exclaims.

"To be honest, I have no idea either, Paps," Frisk answers with a sigh of disappointment.

Again, the Ghosts fly out of their way and disappear into the digitized ether. Shaxx taps his microphone twice. "Now, with that said, the rules are simple: eliminate the enemy team first to win the match, and win five matches to win the game. Let the game begin!"

Fires blaze from the towers, signaling the start of the game.

The team of Monsters jump up towards the platform, but Frisk immediately gets sniped on the head by Mine.

"That's one of them down," said sniper expert comments.

"Human!" the skeleton exclaims. "Undyne, I'll shield us; get behind me, but first, we have to revive the human!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!" the fish remarks.

The two fall back and wait a few seconds for their revival to be ready.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena, Leone wraps her arm around Mine with a big grin. "Wow, nice one there! I guess you didn't get the title of 'Expert Marksman' for nothin'," she compliments.

The Hunter isn't liking it one bit. "Get off me, you dolt!" she commands.

Tatsumi, while the lady Guardians are arguing, decides to strike wings first into the battle, drawing out his sword and soaring high into the air. He attempts to strike from above, but his form wavers as he feels some sort of essence within him being thrashed around:

His Soul.

Frisk seems different; a dark aura surrounds the veil of two soulmates. Behind the Mask of the Third Man, a sinister smile gapes, and black tar leaks through.

They're no longer Frisk, because Chara has taken over!

"You think you can defeat us that easily? HAH! PATHETIC!" They scream.

The Warlock falls towards the side, taking immense damage from the force of gravity. That isn't the only sensation of pain he feels as a spear drives through his heart. He disappears in a spectacular of digital sparkles. The leader of Raid is eliminated.

The demon child throws Thanatos, their katana, at the girls who are both somehow lined up perfectly. it pierces through their heads like no problem, and they fall to their deaths.

"What the hell just happened?" Leone questions her Ghost.

"To be honest, I have no idea," Lubbock answers in her mind.

"Well, would you look at that. Fireteam Ebott is off to a good start!" Shaxx interrupts. "Point one to them! One minute 'til the next match."

The Guardians' Ghosts transmat their respective Guardians back to their starting points for the next round.

Fireteam Raid discusses their problems together and how to counter. "Ok, so they're determined to stick together, so some of group attacks like a whole bunch of grenades would be useful," Tatsumi suggests.

"That could do," Mine agrees, "but I think we can take it up a notch. I can use my Smoke Grenade to cloak us all and then hide within the pipes of the cargo-holding area. They have to look everywhere to find us, but we will be like hiding in plain sight."

Leone nods at their ideas. "Alright, I think we finally got our strategy. It's game time!" she exclaims.

At the other side of the arena, Fireteam Ebott agree that their plan of attack seems to be working.

"Two words: stick together. If you see their Titan summoning a Fist of Havoc, spread out as fast as you can to avoid it. Got it everybody?" Chara says.

Their two teammates raise their thumbs, clearly meaning yes. "I believe we can do this, human," Papyrus comments.

"Enough of the chit chat guys. We gotta go," Undyne commands.

The speakers go live once more. "You better be ready, Guardians, because the next round will begin now!"

Ebott speeds into battle with Papyrus as their Juggernaut shielding them. They survey the exterior area for any signs of their opponents, but no traces are found. "Uh, Papyrus, you think that they're inside?" Undyne suggests.

"Huh, now that you think about it, they might-"

*BOOM*

An explosion of Void engulfs the Monster Guardians and shoves Chara off the ledge. The fallen human will have fallen to their demise if they didn't cling on with a tight grasp.

"Chara! Hold on!" Frisk encourages.

"URG! I'm trying, man!" Chara retorts.

Suddenly, a foot crushes their hand, sending them off the edge, eliminating them, too.

"Huh, stealth does work well," the killer, Leone, comments. "But this seems familiar, too familiar..."

She gets knocked out of her trance when Shaxx once more interrupts the battle. "Just amazing! Fireteam Raid take this round's victory! One minute."

Raid jogs to their starting point talking about their win. "Nice job, you two," Mine compliments.

"Of course it would work," her boyfriend smirks. "They wouldn't expect us to bomb them from above."

The Titan, however, remains silent, contemplating over that shock she had. "Why did I think that would be familiar? I don't have any memories of my past life if I had one, so why?"

Ebott comes up with a new plan. "Ok, that happened," Papyrus says with a sigh. "What do ya want to do now?"

Undyne summons Chief who displays a map of Twilight Gap. "Ok, we can probably let Frisk and Chara flank around the outside while we act as bait. What do you think, Papy-"

"NO!" Chara hisses. Their scream manages to grasp gazes from their teammates. "We need to stick together no matter the circumstances, you hear me?!"

The fish Titan recoils back. "But... Chara... they'll obliterate us."

Chara's eyes glow blood red. "I DON'T CARE! I'M YOUR LEADER, AND YOU DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!"

A Ghost travels downward over Ebott's leader's head. It bobs left to right in disgust. "I thought you are better than this, Hive Bane. That is not how a true leader commands."

It's Shaxx's voice.

"You seriously saying that?" They chuckle rather loudly. "They've immediately caught up on us! We need to win these upcoming matches now before they do!"

"Which is why I am here now; Guardian, you must keep your mind straight. Never waver from your goals."

A moment of silence falls upon the four, and it gets broken when Papyrus grabs the genocider's shoulder. "The Crucible Handler is right, human! We will win this, and I am sure of it. Right, Undyne?"

"Affirmative!" she answers with a proud grin.

Even with all of that encouragement, they still groan in anger, in HATE. "That's easy for you to say. My Soul's corrupted with HATE, and there's nothing even Frisk can do to help me, so what can YOU do?!"

Suddenly, their Soul pushes them against the wall, disintegrating their shields due to the Mach-speed they were going.

"That's enough, Chara!" Frisk demands. "If you're that determined to win this battle, then focus!"

"Well, what makes you think you can change my-"

"It's because that's how I was when committing genocide against the Monsters, when I SAVED Asriel, when we slew Oryx. I was that DETERMINED! You should be too."

Those words brought Chara to their senses once more. They let out a disappointed sigh. "Ah, fine. Whatever makes you fucking happy."

The Ghost twirls in delight. "Splendid, because-"

After he turned on the speakers, a high-pitched screech resonates through them.

The whole of Ebott and Raid covers their ears from the sound.

The Ghosts try to cover their ears but realizes they don't have any.

"What the fuck Shaxx!" Leone and Chara exclaim.

It immediately stops. "Oh, I apologize about that. I meant to say 'START NOW!'"

Fireteam Raid is crushing it. The game is currently 4-1, obviously in Raid's favor. Fireteam Ebott tried every strategy they could think of on the spot: hinged gate, flanking, even death from above. Nothing worked.

Good thing that they keep coming up with more.

After an elongated talk about Chara's attitude, Papyrus, Frisk, and Undyne finally calm the killer down. Shaxx also called a five minute break to allow each team to truly finalize everything.

They're ready.

"Match point: Fireteam Raid. If they achieve victory here, they achieve victory for the whole game," Shaxx announces. "Let the next match commence."

Chara and the rest of their team advance onward into battle, watching each other's sixes. The Hunter holds a Smoke Grenade in their hand, ready for any assault.

Tatsumi and his teammates immediately dash towards the pipes of the cargo-holding area. Mine cloaks everyone around her and commands them to climb onto the pipes while she readies up for the perfect sniping position.

Ebott waits patiently for any signs of sniper glares, distorted visuals, and anything else that give away their position.

*BANG*

Mine fires a powerful bullet from her Sniper with pinpoint accuracy for the head. There should be nothing that can stop it now.

But just when she thinks she lands the shot, it does; it just hits a shield Chara emitted with Thanatos. The shield-bearer sends a wide grin at the shooter, revealing their tar-leaking eyes through a melted Celestial Nighthawk.

"Shit! Get them!" Mine orders.

Leone and Tatsumi jump down, uncloaking within the process. Just when they are about five feet above them, the Smoke Grenade in Chara's hand detonates, making Fireteam Ebott invisible for the moment.

"Crap, we lost-" Leone tries to say as Papyrus snaps her neck.

Undyne tries to go for Tatsumi, but somehow, a lucky shot (not really; there was distortion on the crosshairs) from Mine hits her forehead. "Got her!"

Suddenly, a sword slashes off the Marksman's head off clean. Disappearing into the digital world reveals the Fallen Child stained with her blood.

The sight of his girlfriend's death frightens him enough to literally drain him of his Light. Bulat feels agitated and weak from the lack of his strength of the Traveler. "What is this child? I sense some sort of dark power from... it," he stutters.

The Warlock draws his sword and backs off as the corrupted Soul of HATE approaches slowly.

"Wh... What are you?" he questions.

"Tsk, tsk," the child seethes. "I am the first child to fall into Mount Ebott. I started the whole battle between the Monsters and humans. I am the Soul of HATE!" The dark Hunter teleports in front of the terrified Warlock.

My Innermost Apocalypse (Binding of Isaac: Wrath of the Lamb)

"MEUM NOMEN EST CHARA!"

Thanatos almost comes into contact with Tatsumi's neck, but he is fast enough to block. He sends an uppercut to the chest to hopefully stagger Chara, but they phase out of the way and sends their sword to his hips. Another block intercepts it, and he materializes Forgotten Night, a custom-made Hand Cannon he made a long time ago specifically to alongside with his armor and sword. Equipped with specialized AP rounds, this is designed to shred through even Guardian's shields with one hit.

"If you really are an angel of darkness, then you shall see the true light."

Hoping that it will pierce through Thanatos's armor, he fires.

The bullet, as predicted, lands on the shield the child brings up. However, instead of bouncing off like normal rounds, it continues to spin, pushing against them with enough angular momentum.

"NO! I WILL NOT LOSE TO THE LIKES OF-"

They struggle to fight back, but it finally breaks through. It shatters Chara's skull with the force of a concentrated atomic bomb.

"Chara!" Frisk screams at the top of their lungs.

They fall to the ground. Game over.

Lord Shaxx has no words to describe it. He takes a deep breath. "I can't believe that. The Master Swordsman vs the twin Souls of DETERMINATION, and with Tatsumi left standing, the winner of this match and this game goes to Fireteam Ebott! Congratulations."

Everyone eliminated rises up from their graves. Tatsumi's teammates come to congratulate their leader as Fireteam Ebott grunts.

"Oh my god! Tatsumi! That was amazing!" Leone exclaims.

Mine presses her lips against his cheek. "You did well, Tatsumi!" she says.

Her boyfriend takes in a deep breath. "Yeah, thanks."

"Ah, we lost," Papyrus sighs. "Well, there's always next time, Ebott! Let's not drown in this loss!"

Undyne nods.

Chara takes time to fathom their loss. How did they lose? They have slain Oryx, the great king of the Taken. They have planned everything from the beginning. How can they not win against some newcomers?

"It's ok, Chara," Frisk's voice intervenes. "Like Papyrus said, we can do it again."

Chara groans in frustration but then smiles happily. The tar leaking from her eyes disappears. "Yeah, you're right, Frisk. Sorry about going mad in HATE."

The two leaders walk towards each other. "Hey, you did well, child," Tatsumi compliments.

"Psh, I'm no child anymore," Chara scoffs. "Just a demon kid who gets out of control, that's all." They give a hand to Tatsumi.

He accepts the handshake.

The fireteams head back to the Tower for another day of rest, but the child stands there. "Hey, Warlock."

The swordsman turns back towards Chara. "Yeah?"

"I can tell that it's only going to get harder from now on. You may have to fight Draco sooner or later, never never."

Fireteam Draco: one of the most elite trio of Guardians in the Tower. "You think so, huh? If that's the case, we'll be ready for the challenge!"

Chara smiles in joy. "Just one more thing: why are you competing in the Trials?"

The Warlock chuckles. "To ask Osiris about Malok. Yes, we're on the hunt for him as well, so he should have some answers."

The Soul of HATE goes wide-eyed "Really? Because we and Draco are also hunting him down, too! Huh, small crowd."

They both laugh lightly. "Yeah, good point!"

Chara grabs his hands tightly. "Just promise me." Their eyes glow red. "DON'T FUCK THIS UP, you hear me?!"

He gets surprised on why the child had to become red-eyed like that, but he nods anyways. "You have my word."

"You have my word."

Pace has been watching the whole match from start to finish. He tells Nolan to close the stream. "Yep, something tells me that we're having a bad time." He closes his eyes and views the timelines. "Yep, I was right this whole time."

PHEW! That took quite a long time to type out, but I got it done. I'll be changing the main intro for SoL sometime soon, so stay tuned for Ebott's point of view.

So, who will win: Draco, the fireteam of legends (and loot), or Raid, the fireteam of stealth?