[Corruption, Roboticization, Dronification]

The battle against Neo Ardadia had come to an end. All with the destruction of Ragnarok, and the death of Dr. Weil. Though it had cost the Reploids their hero, they were determined to pick the pieces back up and figure out how to slowly but surely mend the relationship they had with Humans, now that the borders between them had fallen.

Neo Arcadia itself was practically in ruins after what had happened. Smothered by rubble thanks to the shots fired from Ragnarok, with its forces completely and utterly unable to move. The Pantheons, who were part of the army that served and protected Neo Arcadia from irregular Reploids while also serving the explicitly cruel orders of Dr. Weil, were just standing there. It didn't matter if none of them had taken any damage, the death of the doctor had resulted in their AI being turned off completely. Leaving so many soldiers, each identical to one another, standing there...

By all accounts, Neo Arcadia was completely abandoned. And if there were any structures that had managed to survive the onslaught from orbit, they were just as inactive as the soldiers that were supposed to protect them. The machines that were supposed to mass produce masks that overwrote irregular Reploids' programming and turned them into obedient and efficient Panthreons had stopped completely. Leaving plenty of these abandoned masks unable to find a host. Unable to fulfill a purpose. A purpose that would seemingly never reach them again...

At least, that's what logic and the natural course of the world would indicate. But logic was about to be torn apart, as a quiet rip and tear in the fabric of time and space began to open. A tear that would lead into a world beyond, a river from which anything could spring forth. And something certainly did, carefully stepping out into the abandoned factory that housed this rip, before it closed behind her.

"So this is the world that the Darkness has found..." The one that had stepped out muttered, her eyes barely visible underneath her hoodie as she looked around. Those bright yellow optics were silently snapping pictures every few seconds, to document what she was seeing...

The individual that had arrived in this world was a mechanical being, much like the Reploids that populated it. But she seemed a lot more streamlined compared to her fellow mechanoids. She wore a long black bodysuit that reached all the way across her form, with electrical circuits printed on the outer layer. And instead of wearing something on top of that, she was able to adjust her suit by puffing up particular parts of it and adjusting them to form the proper kind of attire. The most common being the crow-marked hoodie she now wore, which had such a large hood that she could easily tug it over most of her head and keep her face hidden allowing only her yellow optics to peek out.

"Yatagarasu Class Scout Unit reporting..." The hoodied mechanoid muttered as she slowly stepped through the grounds of this factory. All while that hoodie of hers started to sink into her bodysuit since she didn't need to keep herself hidden for the time being, since there were currently no signs of any living beings nearby. Organic or otherwise. "Future World discovered. Tech level not yet comparable to the overall level present within the Darkness. Recommended course of action..."

She paused. As a Yatagarasu unit, it was up to her to ultimately judge what course of action should be carried out. But since the world seemed to be on the cusp of either destruction or recovery, she had to make a decision and determine what the Darkness should do to this world. Absorb it immediately, or keep tabs on it.

To that end, Yatagarasu slowly shook her head. "Suspending judgment until further information has been acquired." She muttered softly as her duty was temporarily halted. Letting her do what she wanted for the time being.

She slowly began brushing her hand through her hair. That hair which had two bangs sticking out from her subdued golden hair making them look like a pair of talons, while her ponytail in the back completed the talon-like look of her hair. You wouldn't immediately be able to tell that she was a threat to any world that she arrived in, nor would you be able to discern her purpose just from looking at her like this. Which was something that she took great pride in. Her duty as part of the Darkness was to blend in and take notice of things. So that the Darkness could mount a proper invasion and integrate a world into itself.

But something about looking at all of these discarded machines that were either trying to patrol or in the process of crafting made her heart ache a little. True, these things were nowhere near as advanced as her, but she still felt a bit of kinship towards them as they were built for a purpose, just like she had been.

"What would've happened if I arrived any earlier? Would you still have been functioning?" Yatagarasu muttered as she walked towards one of the Pantheons that were standing particularly close to the conveyor belt where many identical masks were laying in a row. Masks that caught her attention, due to their peculiar shape.

A quick glance between the masks and the heads of the Pantheons, and it was clear that they were meant for some form of conversion. Why else would only the masks be the items produced, instead of proper models? If that was the case, then perhaps this world was more advanced than she gave it credit for. Still, to see all of this machinery having come to a complete stop brought a tinge of sadness to her core processor...

"Leaving something like this around... It would be a great shame." Yatagarasu said as she reached towards one of hte inactive Pantheon masks laying on the conveyor belt. "I will bring you with me. Bring you to the Darkness, and find a way to put you to use. That way, you and your kin will serve a new purpose. One that won't suddenly disappear."

An act that was motivated by the surprisingly emotional core of this machine... Would also serve as her undoing, as the Pantheon Mask sprung to life in response to the power brimming within her. So much so that she barely had a moment to notice that the light on the front of its optic had turned bright red, before it was too late.

Yatagarasu let out a very brief gasp as the mask slammed straight onto her face and snapped shut, digging into the back of her mechanical head to make sure that the connection would be impossible to break. Even after she had managed to overcome the sensation of being stunned by that slam, she couldn't do anything against the tightness of the connection.

"Get... OFF!" And yet she wasn't about to give in. Just because this mask had been jammed onto her face, she tried to pry it off with all her might. Digging her fingers between the mask and her face as she pushed it out more and more. Trembling as she felt the sparks pouring through her. She wasn't going to be controlled, just because she showed a moment of mercy...

At least, that's what she thought. But the Pantheon Mask had other ideas. Upon detecting any kind of physical or mental resistance from its current host, it slammed straight back against her face. Forcing her fingers out and stunning her again, all while that optic started to glow even brighter red. An optic that she was forced to stare through, as her yellow eyes gradually took on the same red hue.

-DELETING REPLOID DATA-

Yatagarasu heard a voice inside her mind. And she could feel her inner datascape being deleted with every passing second. But she couldn't do a thing to resist it. Because the first thing that the mask had deleted was the subroutines that let her control her limbs. Her body was gradually slumping as her mind became less and less her own.

What was her designation? What was her purpose? What was her serial number? Who was she? What was she? What was she here for? All of those questions poured through her mind as she tried to access the relevant library that would tell her the answer, and every question was equally quickly deleted as the thoughts denoting her as anything but a Reploid for the Pantheon Mask to bond with were. There was very little chance for her to understand anything beyond her body being a shell for the Pantheon Mask to use and abuse.

-PANTHEON CONVERSION BEGIN-

As the now-nameless 'Reploid' stood there, with her body slumped forward and her arms hanging by her side without any energy pouring through her, the rest of her body was gradually being altered. The body suit that served as such an advanced part of her body was growing bulkier as armor took form, with every part of her form that went against the standard parameters of a Pantheon being suppressed so she could look like any other drone from the original Neo Arcadian Army.

Her conversion came to a conclusion as her optic shone brighter than ever, all while her delicate arm had been converted into a simple looking blaster. All of her advanced technology, all of her advanced processing, completely suppressed and downgraded to allow for the Pantheon programming to remain in complete control. The Darkness' scout had been converted...

-CONVERSION COMPLETE-

-REPLOID DATA COMPLETELY ERASED-

-ACCESSING PANTHEON NETWORK-

-ERROR-

-ERROR-

-ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--ERROR--ERROR-

The droned scout's iris suddenly turned a golden shade of red, as her body trembled. The parts that made her look like little more than a drone were receding back into her body. All because of what happened once the Pantheon attempt to connect to the network that had been shut off.

Her body was growing larger. More delicate. More powerful. All while she floated off the ground, and clenched her reformed hand with newfound purpose and vigor. All while a single message echoed through her datascape

-DIRECTIVES CONFIRMED. COMMENCING EVOLUTION.-

---

Elsewhere in the factory, a group of Reploids were slowly making their way through. They had originally just been trying to salvage parts that could be used for the further growth of the new society, but once they detected a spike of energy deeper within, they armed themselves and got ready for what might be a difficult fight.

"Are you sure that you should be following us, Ciel?" One of the Reploids asked the sole human among them, and the leader of their little former resistance. She had insisted on coming with them. Regardless of the danger that any active Pantheons might've posed.

Ciel nodded, looking beyond the Reploids that were there to protect her. "Whatever's happened, I can't just sit still. Zero gave his life to end Weil's reign of terror. If I can pay him back by protecting you in my own way, then..." She muttered. Compared to the Reploids that surrounded her, she wasn't anywhere close to capable. But she'd do what she could. If only to boost their spirits.

The Reploids each nodded in turn. All while keeping her protected by keeping their backs to her. They wouldn't break formation, not even as they began to get closer to the source of that spike. There were murmors between them, as each gave a plausible explaination for the spike. A freak accident, a backup plan by Weil, lingering power that finally kicked into great. There were many possible causes, and none of them were ruled out until they stepped inside.

Ceil put a hand over her heart and just took a deep breath. Whatever it was, they were going to make it out alive. The Doctor's grip on their fates wouldn't remain. Now that he had departed this world, Humans and Reploids were destined to walk forward. Together.

At least, that's what she thought. But once she laid her eyes on the Reploid hovering softly off the ground inside this abandoned chamber, her will and hopes for the future slowly started to waver...

The Pantheon floating in the middle of this abandoned factory was anything but ordinary. For one, her form was a lot more sleek. There was barely any proper armor covering her, and the only pieces that were connected to her body suit were more served to emphasize some form of regality. Whether it was a set of gilded shoulders, or a set of gauntlets that extended all the way across her hands as they ended in incredibly delicate looking fingers, or that armored skirt that made her look more like a proper Reploid than a common Pantheon.

Beyond the decorative armoring that made her look less like any common drone, this Pantheon had two distinct features. A halo hovering above her head that was brimming with so much power that it would no doubt be able to alter any Reploid that it wrapped around, as well as a set of stiff looking wings that seemed ready to detach from one another at a moment's notice. All of her specs were way beyond any common Pantheon... Even beyond that of a Pantheon that had been blessed by a Cyber Elf...

"What... What is that!?" "That's one of those Pantheons! But she's..." "She's floating! That's crazy!" "Don't let her get close! Fire!"

The Reploids that surrounded Ciel were quick on the trigger, each of them aiming straight at the floating Pantheon. But they couldn't pull the trigger. No matter how hard they tried to pull, their finger did not respond to their commands. All while their eyes slowly started to turn bright red, as a single booming voice echoed within their heads.

-CONNECTION TO PANTHEON NETWORK ESTABLISHED-

Ciel watched with horror slowly dawning on her face as every single one of her reploid allies were rendered completely and utterly unable to defend her or themselves, all while the floating Pantheon slowly let her red optic fall upon the human. She would not escape this Pantheon's vision, nor would she escape her fate.

"What... What are you..?" The human muttered, as she slowly started to back away. She knew she couldn't get far. The door had already shut behind her. Her body was just moving all on its own at this point.

"Goddess Pantheon." The gilded Pantheon replied factually, as every single part of her wings split apart, flying through the room as they started to form a cylinder around the human. "My directive is to convert. Humans. Reploids. Anything in the worlds beyond. They will surrender to me. Surrender to their Goddess." Her voice was... worryingly sensual. Despite the fact it was very clearly digitized. Was this what Ciel wanted her to sound like..?

Ciel didn't get to dwell on it for long before she was bathed in a crimson light. Her body grew stiff for but a few moments, all while her lips let a moan slip out. The flesh that kept her together being replaced by metal as the light of the Goddess Pantheon's wings were converting her. To a form that was easier to manipulate. To a form that would serve her.

As the cylinder was broken apart, Ciel tried to breathe. But she found that there was no need to. The systems inside her headspace informed her that she didn't have any lung capacity. It informed her that she had no need for food. No need for liquid. No need for anything. Because she was now a Reploid. And as long as she had energy, she would function. All of these things should horrify her, and yet her much more rigid mind just accepted these facts...

-ESTABLISHING CONNECTION-

Her body grew completely rigid as she was forced to stand up, and her irises briefly turned red. She could feel a pressure within her mind. And she couldn't fight back against it. All that she could do was stand there and await orders... All while watching the Goddess Pantheon slowly turn towards the conveyor belt containing more Pantheon Masks than one might ever need.

"Convert." She sent a command using an electrical signal, and the Masks understood. Each of them sprung to life in response to the power rushing through them, as they flew towards the nearest Reploid that was available. Whether it was one of the armed ones, or the former Human. They did not discriminate. They did not understand what it meant to discriminate.

One by one, the Pantheon Masks assimilated their way into the subdued systems of the Reploids connected to the Pantheon Network. And one by one, each of them were converted into nothing more than normal Pantheon units. Nothing standing out about them, each of them the same plain blue color as their red optics shone maliciously.

The only one to look even remotely out of the ordinary was Ciel. As she was not armed, there was nothing to convert into a weapon. As she had only just been converted into a reploid, her dress was integrated into her uniform as it pressed tightly against her form. And as she didn't fit ordinary specs, her ponytail reached out from behind her head, making her easily identifiable if you missed any of the other aspects. All while her mind was completely suppressed, everything that pertained to her intelligence being uploaded to the Network.

-UPLOAD COMPLETE-

-UPGRADING CONNECTED UNITS-

The sound of Goddess Pantheon's 'voice' echoed through the minds of her servants, as each of their bodies gained a golden tint. Not nearly gilded enough to make them look as powerful or as regal as their Goddess, but enough to make them look different. And the looks weren't just for show either, as their internals were rapidly being ramped up. Even a single Pantheon would be more than a match for one of this world's heroes... If there were any left to oppose her. And if there were, these Pantheons would be quick to convert them into yet another one of their numbers.

Goddess Pantheon's optic softly glowed that reddish gold as she held her hands up as they stretched through her halo. Reaching inside and pulling out a blade formed from the same converting energy that had fueled Ciel's transformation. A broadsword-sized weapon, which would inflict the very same effect on anything it struck.

And with this blade, she slashed open a gilded hole leading back into the same Darkness that had sent her to this world. Because while this world may be empty, the worlds connected to it would no doubt have plenty of heroes that could still be converted.

Yatagarasu had arrived here to herald the world's end. And Goddess Pantheon would depart this world, to herald the end of all worlds.