The stars themselves seemed to hold their breath.
Across the Amalgam Ω-Verse, the subtle hum of the System's power surged through Ethan's veins like electricity. The Merlin bloodline coursed within him, the Ultimate Carnitrix humming in perfect sync. Beside him, Jason's Hope Lantern ring cast a golden glow, while Sherlock's Compassion ring shimmered softly, weaving threads of calm amid the storm.
But the storm was coming. And it would not wait.
---
The Nexus Shattered
The trio's safe haven — the System's nexus — quaked violently. Walls shimmered and cracked as ripples of energy tore at its foundations.
"Incoming breach!" Sherlock barked, eyes glowing faint green. "Something's trying to tear the veil between realities."
Jason's lips tightened. "Outer Gods' forces. They've sensed our ascendancy."
Ethan's Carnitrix flared, swirling with every transformation at his command. "Let them come."
With a wave of his hand, Jason summoned a wall of Hope Lantern light that shimmered like a golden fortress. Sherlock's Compassion ring spread a protective aura over their position, soothing the chaotic energy and steadying their resolve.
---
The First Wave — Cults of the Shattered Veil
From the fracturing tear emerged a host of cultists — fanatics worshipping Nyarlathotep, Shub-Niggurath, and other Outer Gods. Their bodies twisted by SCP experiments and eldritch taint, they wielded arcane weaponry powered by corrupted SCP artifacts.
A towering figure led the charge — a once-mortal woman, her flesh fused with an SCP-682 scale armor graft, eyes glowing with alien intelligence and madness.
"She's the new Prophet of the Rootless Eye," Sherlock whispered. "One of Nyarlathotep's most dangerous vessels."
Ethan shifted through forms with fluid precision: a blend of Mechamorph's metallic resilience and BrainStorm's psychic blasts. Clones of himself materialized, surrounding the Prophet and her horde.
"Time to end this," Ethan growled.
---
Battle at the Breach
The battlefield erupted in chaos.
Jason's Hope Lantern ring emitted waves of pure hope, breaking through the cultists' madness and causing many to falter in their zealotry. Yet the Prophet's eldritch weapon fired blasts of antimatter-tainted darkness, ripping through Jason's shield.
Sherlock darted through the fray, his Compassion aura shielding allies and calming enemies long enough to strike with surgical precision. His Seraphimon fragment glowed fiercely as he unleashed bursts of radiant energy, purifying tainted cultists and healing wounds.
Ethan's clones coordinated flawlessly, one executing a lightning strike from Merlin's magic while another morphed into the adaptive Galvan form, shielding the group from a barrage of corrupted SCP weaponry.
The Prophet's voice echoed, maddening and melodic. "You cannot stop the coming unraveling. The Outer Gods will consume all."
Jason raised his hand, the Hope Lantern's light burning brighter than ever. "Not if we hold the line."
With a surge, he unleashed a wave of hope so pure it shattered the darkness, forcing the Prophet to stagger back, her form flickering.
---
The SCP Overseers Mobilize
As the cultists faltered, a new threat arose from the shadows — the SCP Overseers, led by the enigmatic O5-07, appeared through dimensional portals. Their weapons hummed with SCP tech far beyond conventional understanding.
"Containment protocols require immediate escalation," O5-07's voice was cold and unyielding. "This breach risks the fabric of the multiverse itself."
Sherlock approached, his Compassion ring glowing softly. "Your tactics will only escalate the conflict. We need cooperation, not war."
O5-07's gaze was steely. "The SCP Foundation is the only bulwark against Outer God corruption. Your power-ups make you a threat, not an ally."
Jason stepped forward, radiating Hope Lantern energy. "The multiverse is fracturing. We must unite or perish separately."
Ethan's voice cut through the tension. "We don't have time for infighting."
---
The Fractured Council
As tensions escalated, the Endless Council convened — fragmented by internal distrust and external pressure. Dream, Death, Desire, and the others argued fiercely over strategy, loyalty, and the mysterious "wild card" that was Ethan.
Despair scoffed, her voice dripping venom. "He is a ticking time bomb. Power without control leads only to ruin."
Desire smirked, eyeing Jason. "Perhaps the wild card can be tamed."
Death's presence silenced the room. "We must focus on the coming war. Our divisions will only hasten our demise."
Meanwhile, unknown to the others, a shadowy figure watched from the fringes — the traitor revealed in Chapter 5, biding their time, ready to strike when the moment was ripe.
---
Ethan's Resolve
Back at the breach site, Ethan clenched his fists, Merlin's runes glowing faintly on his skin.
"We need a plan," he said, eyes fierce.
Jason nodded. "We must secure alliances. The SCP Overseers must be convinced to stand with us, not against."
Sherlock added, "And the Endless must unify before they fracture beyond repair."
Ethan's gaze hardened. "Then we'll make them listen — one way or another."
---
A New Ally Emerges
Suddenly, the Carnitrix pulsed violently. A new presence — ancient, powerful, and enigmatic — broadcast a message into Ethan's mind.
> Voice: "Host, the time has come to awaken the dormant. Seek the Arcanum Codex hidden beneath the ruins of Avalon. There, your destiny will be forged anew."
Ethan's breath caught. Avalon — the legendary isle of Merlin himself.
Jason's eyes gleamed. "Then our next move is clear."
Sherlock's smile was sharp. "A journey that may decide the fate of all."
---
The Calm Before the Storm
As the battle-scarred multiverse held its breath, the three allies prepared to leave the nexus, their power and resolve shining like beacons.
But somewhere, deep within the shattered veil, the traitor's eyes gleamed with malevolent anticipation.
The war for the Amalgam Ω-Verse was no longer a distant threat — it was here.
---
End of Chapter 17