Mercer: Between Different Worlds

As Alex Mercer stood poised above the two Sternritters, the tension in the air was palpable. His body language alone signaled his dominance over the situation, yet there was a strange calmness to him, a lack of aggression that left Bazz-B and Bambietta wary. His cold eyes swept over the bustling cityscape below, the epitome of his power, his creation, and the underlying darkness of his intentions.

Bazz-B's eyes flared with fury as he surged forward, his speed a blur, a bolt of raw power aimed straight at Mercer's head. His intent was clear—kill or be killed. Mercer didn't flinch.

His body moved like liquid, sidestepping effortlessly and, with a fluid motion, he slammed Bazz-B into the ground with an immense force, pinning him down like an insect.

Before Bazz-B could react, a sharp, calculated attack came from the side. Bambietta hurled herself at him, her fist raised, channeling the energy of her Hammerfist to crack the ground beneath her. Her raw power left a trail of destruction, but Mercer wasn't impressed. 

Without hesitation, he shifted his arm into a solid shield just in time to deflect her strike. The impact reverberated through the air as she was sent flying back, crashing into the pavement with a powerful thud.

"Calm down, you nuggets," Mercer said, his tone almost playful, despite the carnage. "I'm not here to fight."

"Cut the crap! What the fuck did you do to us?" Bazz-B growled, his voice filled with disbelief and rage. The two Sternritters scrambled to their feet, their eyes narrowed with distrust.

Mercer sighed, clearly growing tired of their resistance. "Can I at least get some time to explain myself? I swear I'll answer all your questions," he said, his voice now tinged with annoyance.

With a slight movement of his hand, he exerted a trickle of his reiatsu. The sheer weight of it pressed down on them, suffocating, a reminder of just how outclassed they truly were. The two Sternritters instinctively backed away, their bodies shuddering under the force. 

This wasn't just any ordinary opponent—this was a force of nature.

"What the hell is this guy?!" Bambi thought, panic bubbling up inside her. Mercer's reiatsu was more than a weapon; it was a declaration that he was beyond anything they could comprehend.

Mercer finally let up, seeing that they had understood. "Thank goodness. I really didn't want to kill my newest recruits just after bringing you in. Now, who wants to ask questions?"

Bambi, still recovering from the overwhelming presence Mercer exuded, gathered herself and spoke, though her voice trembled slightly. "What… What are you? Where is this place?"

Mercer grinned slightly, an almost self-satisfied look on his face. "Ah, finally. It's been about a week since we last met, and I never got the chance to introduce myself. From my world, I

go by the name Alex Mercer."

"Alex Mercer... what a stupid name," Bambietta scoffed, her gaze skeptical, though her heart pounded in her chest.

Mercer didn't flinch. "For a girl whose name means 'helpless follower,' you're one to talk," he shot back, his voice carrying a sharp edge.

Bazz-B couldn't help but chuckle under his breath. Even Bambi flushed slightly at the remark. Though only the three of them were present, the tension could have been cut with a knife.

"Whatever," Bambi retorted, still nursing her pride. "What the hell is this place? This isn't Silbern, nor Hueco Mundo. The buildings... they're too tall. This isn't any realm I've seen before."

Mercer climbed onto a nearby ledge, his eyes sweeping over the city below. The horizon stretched out before them—towers of glass and steel, an ocean of people living out their mundane lives, oblivious to the reality-shattering conversation taking place above them.

"Welcome to New York Zero," Mercer said, his voice full of quiet pride.

Bambi and Bazz-B's eyes widened as they took in the sprawling city. The sight before them was a stark contrast to the ruins they had left behind. A living, breathing city that seemed to be thriving under Mercer's rule—an unsettling reality.

"You did this?" Bazz-B asked, disbelief creeping into his voice. "How the hell did you create all of this from nothing?"

Mercer turned back to face them, a slight smirk curling his lips. "It wasn't easy. Recreating a city from memory was… a bit of a stretch. But I found the power I needed in the Dangai."

"Dangai?" Bambietta repeated, her voice a mix of awe and skepticism. "You conquered Dangai? How…?"

"Not all of it," Mercer clarified, raising a hand dismissively. "I left room for passage. After all, the next phase of my plan is still ahead of me."

Bambi and Bazz-B exchanged looks, the weight of his words settling in. Conquering Dangai was no small feat, and Mercer spoke of it as though it were little more than a stepping stone in his plans. It was difficult for them to grasp just what kind of being they were dealing with.

"What did you do to us?" Bazz-B asked, the burning question still unanswered. "Why are we still alive?"

Mercer's expression darkened slightly, his tone turning matter-of-fact. "I infected you both with the Blacklight Virus. It's… keeping your organs working at a level far beyond their normal capacity. Right now, you're drawing on more than just your Quincy abilities—you've got enhanced capabilities. The virus replicates the cells of the creatures you've killed, integrating them into your own biology. In simpler terms, you're immortal now, and the more you kill, the more powerful you become."

Both Sternritters stood silent, processing this revelation. The same virus that had nearly killed them was now the key to their survival—and possibly their ascension to a power greater than they had ever imagined. The irony wasn't lost on them.

"But why?" Bambietta asked, still shaken. "Why save us if you're just going to turn us into… whatever you are?"

Mercer's eyes glinted with cold amusement. "You two impressed me with your tenacity during our fight. I don't let that kind of resolve go to waste. As for saving you… your comrades were coming for you, and they were planning a 'burial' for you. I couldn't let that happen. It was an easy choice, really."

A heavy silence settled between them, each of them reflecting on what had brought them to this moment. The Sternritters had been prepared for their deaths in battle. Yet, here they stood —alive, thanks to the man they had once considered an enemy.

Bazz-B spoke again, a new wariness in his voice. "What do you intend to do now? You've already hindered our plans to destroy Soul Society. You've killed Jugram, outmatched Yhwach, and destroyed six of us. What's next?"

Mercer's expression turned more serious, his voice tinged with a dark confidence. "That's something you two will have to figure out. The real question is, what are you going to do now?" He gestured expansively, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Are you going to leave this place and face certain death at the hands of your 'comrades,' or are you going to stay here, grow stronger, and become my equal?"

Bambi and Bazz-B exchanged a glance. They were at a crossroads, and Mercer had laid down the gauntlet. They were no longer the powerful soldiers of the Wandenreich. They were survivors, now facing an uncertain future under the control of the very being they had once sought to destroy.

Mercer's next words cut through the tension. "You have one week to decide. After that, I'll be taking my work to Soul Society."

"You're spreading your virus to the Soul Society?" Bambi asked, appalled. "Do you even care about the consequences? Innocent lives?"

Mercer's gaze hardened, but his voice was cold and detached. "Morality is not my concern. I'm only concerned with the results. And that's what you'll be focusing on, too."

Bambi's face flushed with anger, but she kept her thoughts to herself. She didn't agree with Mercer's lack of moral consideration, but she couldn't deny that his power was undeniable.

"So," Mercer continued, "while you're here, I want you both to get to work. I've released creatures with the same abilities I have. I want you to collect them, learn from them, and then… master the basics of your new powers."

He shifted his arms into weapons once again—his left arm transformed into a Whipfist, his right into a sharp, deadly Blade. "It's time for you to evolve. The virus is inside you now, and if you push yourself, you might just become as powerful as I am. But it won't be easy."

Bambi and Bazz-B nodded, a quiet resolve settling over them. They had been given a second chance, but it came with strings attached—strings that tied them to Mercer and his vision for the future.

As Mercer turned away, heading toward the edge of the building, he looked back one last time, his words laced with finality. "And get some clothes. You don't want to be walking around the streets like that."

With that, he leapt off the edge, gliding away like a bird, leaving them to contemplate their next move.

As Mercer's figure disappeared into the skyline, Bambi and Bazz-B stood on the rooftop, the wind gently brushing past them, carrying the scent of an unfamiliar city. They didn't speak immediately—words felt inadequate for the weight of what had just transpired.

The towering buildings of New York Zero loomed over them like silent giants, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch out forever. The city below was alive, a chaotic pulse of energy that seemed almost too normal for the surreal reality they now found themselves in. 

Yet in their minds, everything was starkly different. They were no longer members of the Wandenreich, no longer the warriors who once fought in the name of a ruthless cause. Now, they were refugees, with their very lives hanging in the balance, caught between two worlds.

Bambi's eyes narrowed as she gazed out across the sprawling city. Her mind raced, every thought a whirlwind. What Mercer had done to them—what he had offered them—was beyond anything she had imagined. The Blacklight Virus had turned them into something… other . She felt its presence, thrumming just beneath her skin, waiting for her to unlock its full potential. But the price of that power was unknown, and the consequences of embracing it were unclear.

"Do you really think we can trust him?" Bambi finally spoke, her voice low and filled with doubt.

Bazz-B's gaze was distant, his fingers drumming absently on the ledge. He was a man of action, not one for long contemplation, but even he couldn't shake the gravity of the decision they faced.

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice gravelly. "But what other choice do we have? The moment we step outside this city, we're dead. The Wandenreich will hunt us down, and Soul Society won't be far behind. Mercer's power…" His voice trailed off, as though he couldn't fully comprehend it. "He's not like anyone we've ever faced before."

Bambi glanced at him sharply. "You're seriously considering joining him? After everything he's done? He killed Jugram, Bazz. Jugram— our Grandmaster. The one who was supposed to lead us to victory. What makes you think we'll be any different? That he won't just discard us once we're of no use?"

Bazz-B exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not that simple, Bambi. You saw how he looked at us. He could've killed us back at the river, but he didn't. He's giving us a chance. A chance to become more than we ever could under Yhwach."

Bambi's lip curled in distaste at the mention of Yhwach's name. She had devoted her life to the power the Sternritter had given her, the same power she had gained through the grace of their Majesty . Yet, she couldn't deny the frustration she had felt under Yhwach's reign. She had always been second in command, always the one watching others rise above her, her abilities held back by the rules of the Wandenreich and the expectations placed on her. Now, here was Mercer, offering her a chance to break free from those chains.

Her eyes darted back to the door Mercer had opened for them. A way out. A way forward. "But this… this is Mercer we're talking about. He's a monster. And monsters don't care about loyalty. He doesn't care about anything but his own plans."

Bazz-B turned to face her, his expression hardened. "And that's what makes him different, Bambi. He doesn't need to lie to us. He's not asking for loyalty—he's offering power. The kind of power we can take and use for ourselves. It's not about morals. It's about survival. You said it yourself—he killed Jugram without hesitation. That kind of strength... that kind of power is something we've never had under Yhwach. And let's face it—we need it. If we're going to survive, we need to be stronger. Stronger than anyone else."

Bambi's mind churned with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, she wanted to hold on to the ideals that had guided her in the Wandenreich. Loyalty, duty, strength through unity. But on the other hand, Mercer had shown her a different kind of strength—raw, uncompromising, and limitless. And the truth was, her trust in Yhwach was fading. There was no certainty in his plans, no room for growth or improvement. She was just another cog in his machine. 

Bazz-B's words struck her deeply, though she hated to admit it. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. What had they truly gained by following Yhwach? They had been pawns in his grand design, led to believe in an ideology that now seemed hollow and broken.

The loss of Jugram was still a bitter wound, but perhaps… perhaps Mercer had given them a chance to rebuild themselves. To become more than they had ever been before.

"Is this really what you want?" Bambi finally asked, her voice quieter now. "To follow him? To become like him?"

Bazz-B didn't answer right away, his gaze turning inward as if weighing the decision in his own heart. "Maybe. I don't know what he's really after, but the truth is, Bambi, I don't care anymore. I've seen what he can do. I've seen what we can do with his power. If he's offering us that, I say we take it."

Bambi's eyes flickered toward the distant horizon. The city stretched out before her, a symbol of all the potential that lay ahead. She could already feel the virus within her, buzzing with anticipation, ready to be unleashed.

But was it worth it? Would she lose herself in the pursuit of power? Could she really trust a man who was as cold and calculating as Mercer? He had given them a second chance at life, but what was the cost?

Finally, Bambi let out a sigh and stood up straighter. "I'm not sure about this. But you're right about one thing. We can't go back. And if we're going to move forward, we need strength. Real strength. Maybe… maybe this is the only way."

Bazz-B nodded, his expression grim but determined. "Then we stick together. For now, we train, and we figure this out. But we make sure we don't become like him. We're still us. We just have to be smarter. Stronger."

The decision had been made. Though the uncertainty still lingered in the back of their minds, there was a resolve between them, unspoken but understood. They would stay in New York Zero, train under Mercer's guidance, and see where the path would lead them. The city below, with its towering skyscrapers and endless potential, would become their crucible. And when the time came to make a choice—whether to embrace Mercer's vision, or forge their own—they would be ready.

For now, the week of training awaited them. And with it, the power to reshape their futures. They jumped off the building together, landing gracefully in the streets below, ready to begin the first steps of their uncertain journey.