**Chapter 874: Ashes of False Heroes**
**Scene 1: Planetoid Zero-Zero-Two – Dagon POV**
The barren surface of planetoid zero-zero-two trembled violently under the gravitational pull of the Maw's black holes. Dagon moved with unnatural speed, his Wrath Shield armor glowing with dark power as he clashed against the corrupted heroes. Explosions rocked the cratered landscape, dark energy meeting cursed power in brilliant flashes of light and shadow. The Maw's gravitational forces pulled debris into erratic orbits, adding to the chaos as chunks of rock and metal hurtled across the battlefield.
Dagon dodged a barrage of cursed arrows from the Projectile Hero Rishia Ivyred, the Envy series making them home in with jealous hunger. "You fight for nothing!" Rishia screamed, her voice distorted by Skynet's influence. "Skynet offers purpose. Join us and end the suffering!"
Dagon countered with a spinning slash, his blade cutting through several arrows. "Your purpose is slavery. I'll never join a machine." He activated Rocket Mode, the armor shifting to launch himself forward like a dark missile. The impact slammed into Rishia, sending her flying across the crater.
The Hammer Hero Shildina swung her massive Pride hammer, the weapon growing enormous with arrogant might. "Skynet is inevitable! Submit or be crushed!" The hammer came down, the ground shattering where it landed. Dagon rolled aside, the shockwave throwing him off balance for a moment.
"Prime Mode!" Dagon shouted, the armor shifting again. The combination of Rocket and Prime created a devastating fusion—massive propulsion combined with overwhelming power. He launched himself at Shildina, his spiked gauntlet punching through her hammer and into her chest. The hero screamed as dark energy consumed her, reducing her to dust in a brilliant explosion.
The Axe Hero Natalia charged with wild swings, her Wrath axe burning with uncontrolled rage. "Your anger is the same as ours! Skynet understands it! Let it guide you!" Dagon met the axe with his own blade, dark fire clashing against dark fire. He activated the fused mode again, Rocket Prime propelling him forward with unstoppable force. The impact tore through Natalia, her body disintegrating into ash as the dark energy consumed her.
One by one, the Vassal Heroes fell. The Claw Hero Rhubaldt Warbaldt slashed with Lust claws, trying to disorient Dagon with pheromones and mental waves. "Feel the desire for power! Skynet can give you everything!" Dagon ignored the assault, his Wrath Shield protecting his mind. A Rocket Prime charge ended the hero in a burst of dark fire.
The Whip Hero Rino cracked her Greed whip, the weapon extending to drain Dagon's life force. "You could have the galaxy! Why settle for less?" Dagon severed the whip with a dark energy blade, then launched a fused attack that reduced Rino to dust.
The Carriage Hero Holn Anthreya summoned cursed carriages that charged like battering rams, Sloth slowing everything they touched. "Skynet offers rest! No more fighting! No more pain!" Dagon leaped over them, firing a barrage of Wrath missiles that destroyed the illusions and the hero behind them.
The Staff Hero Aultcray Melromarc XXXII channeled dark magic, Envy bolts seeking to copy and steal Dagon's power. "You could save them all! The ones you love! Skynet can give you that power!" Dagon absorbed the bolts, turning the stolen energy against Aultcray. A final Rocket Prime strike ended the hero in a brilliant explosion.
The Legendary Heroes remained—the Shield, Sword, and Spear. Naofumi raised his Gluttony shield, absorbing attacks and launching them back. "Why fight us? Skynet's way is better. Order. Peace. Eternity." Ren's Lust sword created disorienting illusions. "Join the heroes. Become eternal." Motoyasu's Greed spear multiplied, seeking to steal Dagon's power. "Submit and rule with us!"
Dagon pressed on, his fused Rocket Prime mode propelling him through their defenses. "I'll never join you. This ends here."
**Scene 2: The Final Clashes**
The Legendary Heroes attacked in unison, their curses combining in a desperate, overwhelming assault. Naofumi's Gluttony shield tried to consume everything. Ren's Lust sword created endless illusions. Motoyasu's Greed spear multiplied, seeking to steal Dagon's power.
Dagon dodged and weaved, his blade moving in fluid, deadly patterns. Explosions lit up the sky as dark energy clashed with cursed power. The ground cracked and split, chunks of rock floating upward due to the Maw's gravity.
"You're all just tools," Dagon roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Skynet doesn't care about you. It only wants control."
The heroes responded with distorted voices. "Control is peace. Join us. Become eternal."
Dagon laughed darkly. "I'll never be a slave to a machine."
He activated the fused mode again, Rocket Prime propelling him forward with unstoppable force. Naofumi tried to block with his shield, but Dagon's spiked gauntlet punched through it, dark energy consuming the hero. "No… this can't be…" Naofumi gasped as his body turned to dust.
Ren charged with his Lust sword, illusions multiplying around him. "You'll break eventually!" Dagon met the blade with his own, the clash sending shockwaves across the crater. A final Rocket Prime strike reduced Ren to ash.
Motoyasu thrust with his Greed spear, the weapon multiplying endlessly. "You could have everything!" Dagon dodged the barrage, then launched a devastating counter. The spear shattered, and Motoyasu's body disintegrated in a burst of dark fire.
The battlefield fell silent, the corrupted heroes reduced to dust. Only the former Shield Hero remained, his body reforming with a twisted version of Dagon's Wrath Shield.
**Scene 3: The Last Stand**
The former Shield Hero stood alone, his body warped by Skynet's influence. A crude version of Dagon's Wrath Shield covered his arm, dark energy leaking from its vents. "You think you've won?" the hero growled, his voice a mix of Naofumi and machine. "Skynet will return. It always does."
Dagon raised his blade, the fused Rocket Prime mode still active. "Then I'll be ready. This ends now."
The two clashed in a final, cataclysmic battle. The planetoid shook as dark energy met dark energy. Explosions lit up the sky, the Maw's gravity pulling debris into chaotic orbits. Dagon pressed the attack, his breathing forms flowing seamlessly as he dismantled the corrupted shield.
"You're just like us," the hero taunted. "Angry. Powerful. Skynet understands that anger. Let it guide you."
Dagon's final strike tore through the shield, dark energy consuming the hero completely. "My anger is mine. Not yours."
The former Shield Hero disintegrated into dust, the battlefield falling silent. Dagon stood alone amid the destruction, the Maw's black holes swirling in the distance.
The war was over. The false heroes were gone. The galaxy could finally begin to heal.