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angstylittleguy · 4 months ago

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The 53rd Day

Bennett is trapped in a time loop, one where Dalton experiences a growth spurt in public, leaving Bennett to scramble to try to prevent it. // Part 2

tw: blood and injury, anxiety, implied death

character context: Bennett frequently gets stuck in time loops and the only way to get the loop to end is for him to survive the day. Dalton is a size-shifter whose height is affected by his emotions.

word count: 2k

-> In Which Everything Goes Wonderfully Wrong masterpost link: Here

-> character introductions and moodboards: Here

Bennett jerked awake, gasping for air like he had been dragged underwater. His lungs burned in his chest and his head spun with vertigo. He was hot, his clothes sticking to his skin uncomfortably. He tore off his shirt as he tried to steady his breathing.

The sun hadn’t even risen yet. Bennett didn’t have to check the time to know it was 4:28 am. It’s always 4:28 am. It’s been 4:28 am every time he woke up for the past 53 mornings. It will probably be 4:28 am tomorrow. And it will be 4:28 am the morning after tomorrow. Bennett thought he was going to be sick.

He threw himself out of bed, slinging the bed sheet that still clung to his legs onto the floor. Bennett didn’t bother to shower, not yet at least. He was out of soap. He had been out of soap for 53 days. No matter how many times he went to the store, no matter how many bars of soap he bought, he would still be out of soap tomorrow.

The bathroom light was blinding, a harsh yellow against the darkness of the early morning. Bennett stared numbly at himself in the mirror, the black tally marks littering his arms like ugly stains. He picked up the sharpie he left by the sink and removed the cap with his teeth. He added another tally on the bicep of his left arm.

His stomach was twisted with knots. Anxiety gnawed at his flesh. Bennett didn’t know what to do.

He wished Josiah was here. Of course, his cursed time loop started the day after Josiah left campus to visit home. The universe had its own unique way of making him miserable.

The store didn’t open until 8:00 am and Bennett had four hours to come up with a plan. Nothing he’d tried thus far had worked, but he had to keep trying if he ever wanted to make it out of this alive. And he meant that quite literally.

He got dressed, putting on the same yellow hoodie that he had worn since the loop started. It never got dirty, so why not? The mud stains, the sweat, the spilled drinks, and the blood had always disappeared when the day reset. No one remembered the failures, the embarrassment, and the near-death experiences (or were they simply death experiences?) but Bennett, and he had nothing to show for all the horrors he’d been through.

Bennett just wished he could go back to sleep. The thought had occurred to him before, many, many times. But no, he couldn’t. He had something important to take care of.

Bennett had been sitting outside of Dalton’s house for three and a half hours before Dalton finally opened the door. He jumped at the sight of the Bennett sitting on his front step, instantly growing a few inches. He put a hand to his chest, trying to calm himself down before he could grow anymore.

“Shit, Bennett,” Dalton said, voice weak like he was out of breath. “What the hell are you doing here? And how long have you been here?”

“Since 4:30.” Bennett stood now, craning his head back to look Dalton in the eye.

“And you didn’t knock because?”

“I figured you needed your beauty rest.” Bennett patted Dalton on the chest. “And I needed time to think.”

“Okay, I don’t know what you’re up to, but I really don’t have time for whatever it is. I’ve gotta…” Dalton’s voice trailed off and he ducked back into his house.

Bennett followed him inside, closing the door behind him and lingering in the living room. Dalton’s voice called out from the bathroom: “Do I look too unnaturally tall to go out?”

“Yes,” Bennett responded, knowing that no matter what he said it wouldn’t change Dalton’s mind. “You’re like, six-ten right now, dude.”

Dalton groaned. “I don’t really have a choice; I need to go.”

He appeared from the bathroom, stalking down the hallway. “It’ll probably wear off after a while, I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Yeah, except it won’t,” Bennett muttered, watching as Dalton grabbed a faded backpack off the floor and slung it over one shoulder. “Where exactly are you going this early anyway?”

Bennett, obviously, knew the answer already.

“It’s nothing, just something for class.”

“Why won’t you just tell me you’re going to your art showcase?”

Dalton’s height seemed to waver with the question, his head nearly brushing the low ceiling now.

Bennett pinched the bridge of his nose. “Dalton, this is exactly why I’m here. Something is wrong with you. Something is wrong with everything. And if we don’t figure it out, we’re just gonna keep doing this dance until one of us—” He stopped himself, his voice catching. “Until one of us can’t anymore.”

Dalton turned back, his face tight with irritation but softened by a flicker of concern. “What are you talking about?”

Bennett hesitated. He hadn’t wanted to do this now, not before he’d had time to think things through. But there was no other way. “We’re stuck, Dalton. Or, I’m stuck. In a loop. Every day, the same shit happens—me waking up at an ungodly hour of the morning, you freaking out and growing in public—and every day, I have to start over like none of it ever happened.”

Dalton stared at him, his expression unreadable. Then he laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was.”

Dalton ran both hands through his hair, exhaling hard out of his nose. “I can’t just not go,” he finally said. “It’s worth half my grade.”

“Who shows up for school events on Saturdays anyway?” Bennett countered, trying to lighten the mood at least a little. “You should skip, I’m sure everyone will understand.”

“It’s not just about me. My group and I have been working on this project for months. They’re counting on me to be there. If I don’t show up, I screw over everyone else, too.”

“Look, I get it,” Bennett said after a pause. “You don’t want to let anyone down. But maybe—”

“No ‘maybe,’” Dalton interrupted, grabbing his keys from the counter. “I’m going. I have to. I can’t just stop living because of this… whatever this is.”

Bennett stared at him, torn between wanting to argue and knowing it wouldn’t do any good. “Fine. But I’m warning you. It’s not pretty.”

“Noted,” Dalton said dryly, already heading for the door.

The drive to campus was tense, Dalton practically vibrating with nervous energy. Bennett sat silently in the passenger seat of his car keeping an eye on him, half-expecting a sudden growth spurt at any moment.

By the time they parked outside the building, Dalton’s breathing was shallow, his grip tight on the steering wheel. Groups of students and professors were heading inside, some just milling around the entrance.

“Last chance to bail,” Bennett said quietly.

Dalton shot him a look. “Not happening.”

He climbed out of the car, slamming the door shut. Bennett sighed, leaning against the hood as Dalton disappeared into the crowd. He watched him go; shoulders stiff but head held high. Bennett gave him a moment—gave himself a moment—before he followed him inside, trying to prepare for what was going to happen.

...

Bennett stood at the back of the room, his gaze fixed on Dalton as he fidgeted nervously at the podium. Dalton’s eyes flickered toward the crowd, his face pale, a sheen of sweat already forming on his forehead. Bennett could tell he was barely holding it together. He’d seen Dalton like this before—flustered and anxious—but this time it seemed worse. The anxiety radiated off him in waves.

Dalton cleared his throat and adjusted the microphone, his hands shaking. “Uh, hi, I’m Dalton Richards. We… um.” His voice wavered.

Bennett’s heart clenched at the sight. He’d never seen Dalton this nervous, and they were all depending on him. But Dalton’s words were faltering. The audience watched, waiting, and Dalton seemed to shrink under the weight of their expectation.

The lights above glared down like a hot spotlight, making Dalton squint. He gestured toward the projected image of their mural, and Bennett could see his hands trembling. “Our work reflects transformation. And, uh, perseverance,” Dalton stammered.

Bennett’s stomach dropped. He wanted to do something, anything, to make Dalton feel better, but all he could do was watch.

Then, a faint cough echoed through the room, and it was like a switch flipped. Dalton’s eyes went wide, his breathing shallow. The sound of the cough ricocheted off the walls, and Bennett could see Dalton's face twist in discomfort. His chest heaved with each breath, and something in his posture changed.

Bennett swallowed, already knowing what was happening. His heart began to hammer in his chest. Dalton’s whole body was tense, his hands gripping the podium, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I—” Dalton’s words broke off as his chest tightened. The look on his face shifted, panic flashing in his eyes. Bennett’s pulse quickened as he watched his friend stumble, his knees buckling beneath him.

Dalton was growing. His limbs, his torso—everything about him was expanding, elongating in a way that defied reason.

“Are you alright?” one of Dalton’s groupmates whispered, their voice tinged with fear.

But Dalton wasn’t alright. His breaths were ragged, his body shifting uncontrollably as his height surged. The stage groaned under the strain, and the crowd murmured in alarm. Bennett could see the chaos spreading, whispers turning into shouts.

“Dalton!” Bennett called out, pushing through the crowd. His feet carried him toward the stage without thinking, his heart pounding in his ears. He had to get to him. He had to help.

But as he reached the front, Dalton's body surged again. He went down to his knees with a bone-shattering crash. The stage splintered beneath him, sending a jagged piece of wood flying toward Bennett.

Bennett didn’t have time to move. The wood struck him with brutal force, digging into his side. Pain exploded through him as he staggered back, clutching his ribs. Blood soaked his shirt almost immediately.

“Bennett!” Dalton's voice rang out, desperate and raw, but it was too late. Bennett felt his knees give way, the world spinning as he crumpled to the ground. The pain in his side was overwhelming, but worse was the look on Dalton’s face—horror, guilt, and fear all mixed together.

Bennett tried to focus, but his vision was blurry. The world around him seemed to fade as he felt himself slipping, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His hand pressed against the wound, but the blood kept flowing, too much too quickly.

The shrieks of the crowd were distant now, a faint blur of noise. All Bennett could focus on was Dalton, towering above him. His friend’s eyes were wide, panicked, but there was nothing he could do. Bennett couldn’t speak. He couldn’t move.

He just... couldn’t breathe.

Everything felt like it was happening underwater, the edges of his vision darkening. He couldn’t hold on anymore.

And then, everything stopped. The world went still. The pain, the panic, the crowd—it all slowed. Time seemed to stretch, and for a moment, Bennett felt weightless. It was like a second passed, or maybe an eternity. He couldn’t tell.

And then...

Bennett gasped, his chest jerking with a sharp intake of air. The sudden rush of oxygen burned in his lungs, but he was awake—alive. His hand still clutched his side, but when he pulled away there was no blood, no sign of injury. He was in his bed and the sun had yet to rise.

Part 2

tag list: @sandwichtheuhh / @gt-daboss / @kazuyumi1412 / @ewmoodboardblorbo / @isumietokyo / @litenmyra / @smol-n-smol / @thesillygoofygoober / @lady-bee-fechin/ @werifesteria20/ @liconich / @wadling-of-wadlimar / @chuuyas-height / @r0bi-n / @abygails

#wip: in which everything goes wonderfully wrong #Bennett haltiwanger #dalton richards #g/t #size shifter #superpower whump #size shifting #angst #giant/tiny #writeblr #abilities #whump writing #gt related #gt #gt writing #gt community #gtcommunity #sfw gt

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thesilliestrovingalive · 1 month ago

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Reworked Group #7: Ptolemaic Army

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death, sex slavery, SA, sexual exploitation, and pedophilia.

Overview

The cult of Ptolemaios originated after the discovery of the Rosetta Stone of the Avatar of Evil in the Soursop Jungle, sacred lands of the Nina Runakuna (“fire people” in the Quechua) within the Amazon Rainforest. This revelation stirred something profound within Ptolemaios, beckoning a new era of humanity where the pursuit of utopianism and eternal life reigns supreme. He quietly abandoned his role as the representative of Latin American tribes within the Earth Federation, driven by a calling to dedicate himself to the liberation of the Dark Lord and subjugation of all reality. After his sudden disappearance and resurfacing, he founded a mysterious, nameless cult skilled in his mastery of wizardry and dark magic.

Over time, their influence spread across South America, extending into the Amazon Rainforest. They recruited more followers with false promises, emotional manipulation, extensive brainwashing, and their distorted ideology. They also established a network of hideouts, each with its own specific purpose. Despite their growing presence, they continued to operate discreetly, attracting new followers to their ideology and gradually advancing their understanding and application of ancient technologies and mechanical innovations.

Believing it was time to officially cement their place in human history and make their presence known, Ptolemaios founded the Serapion Fellowship, while Anastasia assisted in restructuring the cult to better fit his ambitions. Anastasia informed Ptolemaios about a guerrilla force operating in Venezuela, comprised of highly skilled mercenaries and special agents. This group was involved in violent acts against citizens, raiding towns, and attempting to corrupt military personnel, while adhering to an extremist ideology influenced by Darwinism, sadomasochism, and militarism. Zoilo led the Theophylaktos Union, and his soldiers knew him as a fervent and outspoken follower of the Avatar of Evil. Seeing an opportunity to enhance the Serapion Fellowship's military capabilities, Ptolemaios discreetly met with Zoilo and formed a strategic alliance. This agreement enabled the integration of the Theophylaktos Union as the Serapion Fellowship's paramilitary force, substantially increasing their military strength and technological resources.

For the next few years, Ptolemaios and his organisation, or secret society as some called it, held significant influence over Latin America, shaping its political and religious landscape and contributing to its military and technological advancements. The Serapion Fellowship clashed with the Ikari Warriors, following Heidern’s decision to launch an attack based on intelligence from Clark and a group of mercenaries. This intelligence suggested suspicious activity in northern Latin America, including unexplained disappearances, assassinations of journalists, and the prominent presence of guerillas that had no ties to law enforcement and the military. The Serapion Fellowship was defeated and subsequently went into hiding, where they established a new compound, recruited more followers, and replenished their lost technology.

They became involved in weapons trafficking and formed an alliance with the Regular Army, which agreed to provide temporary support for their weapons development. As part of this agreement, the Serapion Fellowship received nuclear missiles, excavated Tuatha Dé Danann technology, hand explosives, and various firearms, marking the beginning of the Arms Deal Barrage. Once they formed an alliance with the Pipovulaj, their technological development skyrocketed, thanks to the expertise of Pupipi and numerous Martian technologists and roboticists. However, they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Regular Army's elite forces and a devastating betrayal by Rootmars. With no other choice, they returned to hiding, quickly reestablishing themselves as the Ptolemaic Army. Fortunately, they gained a formidable mercenary force, the Phantom Strike, and three powerful allies: Colonel Hilde Garn, Lieutenant Colonel Macba, and 1st Lieutenant Wired.

They were recovering from their significant loss and slowly expanded their influence to North America, South Africa, Europe, and East Asia. However, their military advancements suffered significant setbacks due to Eri's rebellion, which was supported by 30 members. Fortunately, with the aid of the Phantom Strike and Avatar of Evil, they were able to stop the rebellion, which was nearly decimated in the process. As a result of this rebellion, the Ptolemaic Army decided to adopt a low-profile strategy, biding their time until they were ready to implement their plan for global dominance.

During the Great Morden War, they formed a strategic alliance with the Amadeus Syndicate, which provided significant support in their recovery from the setbacks caused by Eri's unexpected rebellion. Following the Great Morden War, the Ptolemaic Army planted double agents, including Dilovar, within the Regular Army. They were tasked to gather crucial intelligence on their operations, manufacturing facilities, and other potentially valuable information that could aid their future plans.

The Ptolemaic Army operates with secrecy, keeping their true objectives concealed from outsiders. Despite possessing advanced technology, they prioritise achieving Ptolemaios' goals through supernatural means and mysterious practices. They specialise in espionage, sabotage, guerrilla warfare, incursions, and arcane disciplines. Due to their tendency to repurpose excavated, borrowed, and stolen technology, often branding it as "Ver. P.M." (Version Ptolemaium Mekhanos), they’re frequently referred to as a "scavenging army" by various militaries.

Insignia

It features a silver-white shield with a sharp, eared top and an angular bottom, all outlined in jonquil. At its centre, a downward-hanging, stylized jaguar paw is depicted with each toe tipped with a black claw. The paw is flanked by open, simplistic crimson bat-like wings. Above the shield's eared top, a turquoise sun rises from the horizon, emitting ten rays of red-orange light.

Cult Sects

Sect of the Celestial Serpents

Believers belong to the first established sect of the Ptolemaic Army: the Sect of the Celestial Serpents. They're enigmatic cultists who oversee the Ptolemaic Army's affairs and strategic operations from behind the scenes. The Sect of the Celestial Serpents is predominantly comprised of female members, and many of them seem to be entertained by the morally questionable actions of the masked soldiers.

They adhere to a dual deity doctrine, strictly worshipping both the Avatar of Evil and Sol Dae Rokker. They view the worship of only one deity as sacrilegious, believing both to be of equal importance in the universe. Those who fail to acknowledge both deities aren't tolerated. Instead, they're reassigned to either the masked soldiers or paramilitary forces. Reconciliation is possible, but only if the individual actively begins worshipping both deities and atones for their perceived mistake.

Unlike the masked soldiers, they're the most down-to-earth, yet coldly distant from the rest of the Ptolemaic Army. They primarily focus on their cult's activities and maintain distance from the paramilitary forces whenever possible. However, they'll engage with them if a critical issue arises that requires their attention or if they have a close family member serving within those ranks. They abstain from participating in booze-filled and intensely sexual orgies as well as the Ptolemaic Army's breeding program because of their adherence to a strict rule of celibacy. However, Anastasia and Ptolemaios only sanction sexual intercourse and breeding exclusively within the context of marriage where both partners uphold marital fidelity.

Sect of the Horned Beasts

The masked soldiers, also known as shamans, comprise the second and final established sect of the Ptolemaic Army: the Sect of the Horned Beasts. They assist believers in orchestrating key events that facilitate the Ptolemaic Army's objectives. Additionally, they oversee military expansion, the slave pens, and the breeding program, ensuring the legacy of the Ptolemaic Army remains robust and resilient. They serve as caretakers, responsible for training children born into or recruited by the Ptolemaic Army, indoctrinating them as cultists and soldiers. Additionally, they sometimes engage in procreation to produce new cultists and soldiers, which also serves to maintain their own sexual vitality. They rarely engage in combat, but will intervene when defending themselves or when the paramilitary forces are failing badly.

The Sect of the Horned Beasts is primarily composed of male members, and some appear to be embittered towards the believers, although the reasons for this are unclear. They strictly follow the Avatar of Evil, but they also recognize and respect Sol Dae Rokker, designating him as the serpentine and sunny aspect of their main idol.

They appear to be indifferent towards the paramilitary forces, but exhibit a friendly and affectionate demeanour when interacting with fellow cultists and their favoured fighters. Some cult members have been observed displaying a parental-like affection towards favoured fighters and newly indoctrinated recruits. However, most cult members are fervent in their beliefs, displaying brutal zealotry by slaughtering non-believers or subjecting them to flaying, which they justify as punishment for perceived willful ignorance.

They frequently participate in orgies characterised by binge drinking and uninhibited sexual activity. Notably, illicit drugs are strictly prohibited from these gatherings as they're seen as hindrances to both procreation and the social excitement that these events are intended to foster. They're strong advocates for fertility, believing that it's a sin against creation for individuals to reject sex and fail to contribute to the propagation of a new generation. Their ideology also holds that men are sexually superior to women, viewing women as vessels for bearing new offspring. However, they emphasise that both men and women share equal responsibility for raising and educating their children.

Uniforms

Believer Uniforms

Believers wear ground-touching, flowing robes with medium-length bell sleeves, a buttonless opening, and a triangular single vent. Their attire includes black fingerless gloves, silver-grey wristbands, and pristine gauze covering their forearms. They don a hood shaped like an eagle's head, complete with a short cape that has a central, split opening and reaches just below the breasts. The hood is secured above the collarbone with an eye-shaped, polished turquoise button featuring an amethyst iris, an obsidian pupil, and two decorative braided leather stripes tipped in silver aiguillettes. Their outfit is adorned with gold outlines along the hems of the hood, short cape, robe, and sleeves, while the eagle beak portion of the hood and the interior of their robes are crimson.

Women wear a sleeveless peplos, made from heavy wool and falling to their mid-thigh. The peplos is cinched with a jaguar fur waistband, paired with knee-length palazzo pants and azurite-hued paratrooper boots. Men wear a sleeveless, knee-length silk chiton cinched with a puma fur waistband, paired with ankle-length tobi pants tucked into malachite-hued paratrooper boots.

They wear dark metal masks with two half-shut openings that reveal glowing red eyes. Two golden lines run down the centre of each eye slit to the jawline. Wearing these masks grants the users unique psionic-based powers. They have the ability to quickly phase in and out for one minute, after which they require a physical recharge or they'll become dizzy and nauseous. They can generate a large, yellowish-white orb with their mind, which shoots lightning bolts at nearby enemies for 30 seconds. They earn a special ability called the Wall of Trials, which enables the user to summon a massive stone monolith from the sky to block attacks and crush enemies. They can easily transform into spiders, llamas or owls for five minutes. They possess pulse vision for target acquisition, allowing them to see the rhythmic beating of their heart and the disturbance in their aura. The mask strangely alters their voice, imbuing it with a sinister yet melodic tone when they speak.

Master believers are high-ranking members of the Sect of the Celestial Serpents, reporting directly to Anastasia and Ptolemaios. They assist with overseeing daily operations and administrative tasks. Only men have held this position. They don pearlescent white robes, a cochineal red chiton, and yellow ochre tobi pants. A Mexican coyote skin, minus the head and legs but retaining the tail, hangs from their right shoulder. They wield a high-powered Laser Gun, modified to emit a wider laser beam that increases its range and damage output.

Elite believers are high-ranking members who have earned their position through merit. They primarily serve as workers in the fields of medicine, science, and archaeology. They don Mayan blue robes, a lapis lazuli peplos and chiton, indigo palazzos and tobi pants, silvery leather sheath for their ceremonial dagger. A peccary skin, minus the head and tail but retaining the legs, hangs from their left shoulder. They wield handguns with a design similar to the .44 Auto Mag pistol (AMP), which fire floating projectiles called Curse Balls. These projectiles paralyse enemies for ten seconds and cause their skin to become covered in a black vein-like pattern.

Soldier believers are the common members of the Sect of the Celestial Serpents, and only the most capable can join. Despite being trained fighters and specialised spies, they also serve as record-keepers. They don jade robes, a grey-green peplos and chiton, sage-hued palazzos and tobi pants, and silvery leather sheath for their combat knife. They utilise a variety of special weapons, which they have either obtained or stolen from the Regular Army.

Guardian believers serve as the close protectors of Ptolemaios and his deputies, ensuring their safety and security at all times. Only women are eligible, and they undergo rigorous and extensive military training, making them the most skilled and formidable fighters compared to soldier believers. They don Spanish orange robes, a fulvous peplos, and cinereous palazzo pants. They wield sniper rifles resembling the Sniper Rifle from Metal Slug 3D, but with a modified design that fires explosive bullets, making them effective against enemy vehicles.

Masked Soldier Uniforms

All members wear a hood with a short cape that has a blunt tip. The cape falls to just below the breast in the front and above the waist in the back. They also wear ankle-length chalk white silk robes featuring long, bell-shaped sleeves and two slits that extend up to the hips. They wear a sash tied with a box knot near the left hip with the ends extending down to the knee. Additionally, they wear a gold-buckled leather belt positioned above the sash, cinched around the waist. It serves to secure a gun holster for their lightweight Martian ray guns, which shoot floating homing projectiles that vaporise enemies called Cursed Balls, and a sheath for their ceremonial dagger.

They wear simple pauldrons made of gilt-brass, secured by black leather straps with golden buckles that form an X-shape across their chest and upper back. They have two armbands: a left-side armband indicating their position within the Sect of Horned Beasts and a right-side armband bearing the Ptolemaic Army insignia. Their attire also includes midnight blue fingerless gloves and waist-length, camouflage-patterned cargo pants, tucked into spike-soled combat boots.

They all wear similar masks to the believers, but theirs are silver-white, lack gold lines, and feature a silver horizontal line crossing the upper parts of the eye openings. Like the believers, masked soldiers are granted psionic-infused abilities when wearing their masks. It enables them to summon two blue lightning bolts at a time to strike and incapacitate their enemies. They can manifest shadowy, bat-like wings from their backs, stretching twice their height, which grant them flight and swift evasion from enemy attacks. They can teleport behind any person of their choice to ambush them and camouflage by imitating the environment's colours for three minutes. Additionally, they possess two types of specialised vision: night vision for nighttime surveillance; and pulse vision for identifying and tracking down targets. The mask strangely alters their voice, imbuing it with a raspy yet eerily soothing tone when they speak.

The bloodied are standard members of the Sect of the Horned Beasts and frequently serve as pilots of Ptolemaic Saucers. They also act as superior military commanders, issuing Ptolemaios' military orders to the paramilitary forces. They wear a cardinal red hood and a Ptolemaic Army armband, accompanied by a vermilion sash, cinnabar combat boots, and cargo pants featuring a rosy brown, garnet, and redwood camouflage pattern. On their left arm, a rusty red armband bears a central horizontal reddish-black line.

The abyssal are elite members of the Sect of the Horned Beasts, serving as guards for their compounds and hideouts. They frequently accompany the bloodied and specialise in infiltrating enemy operations to steal machinery and harvest organs. They wear a gunmetal hood and a Ptolemaic Army armband, accompanied by a black bean sash, charcoal combat boots, and cargo pants featuring a taupe grey, timberwolf, and feldgrau camouflage pattern. On their left arm, a dim grey armband bears two central horizontal black lines.

The verdant are high-ranking members of the Sect of the Horned Beasts, renowned for their expertise in ancient technology. They possess advanced skills in modern computer science, enabling them to craft viruses that extract valuable data and execute sophisticated computer hacking operations. They wear an emerald hood and a Ptolemaic Army armband, accompanied by a viridian sash, phthalo green combat boots, and cargo pants featuring a celadon, olivine, and asparagus camouflage pattern. On their left arm, an apple green armband bears three central horizontal greenish-black lines.

The cursed are high-ranking members of the Sect of the Horned Beasts, responsible for rallying Ptolemaic Army troops during intense counter-offensives and defensive operations. Additionally, they serve as combat instructors and play a key role in initiating rituals dedicated to the Avatar of Evil. They wear a grape purple hood and a Ptolemaic Army armband, accompanied by a purpureus sash, palatinate combat boots, and cargo pants featuring a languid lavender, thistle, and periwinkle camouflage pattern. On their left arm, a Byzantium armband bears four central horizontal purplish-black lines.

Commander Uniforms

They're high-ranking officers who command the bulk of the Ptolemaic Army's paramilitary forces, coordinating airstrikes and ambushes. They work closely with the masked soldiers, executing military orders on behalf of Ptolemaios and his cult. However, they rarely engage in direct combat, typically retreating once orders have been issued. They primarily use their handguns for self-defense and aren't always the most skilled at melee combat. However, a few of them are equipped with Gatling guns, the same ones used by the Rebel Army. For mysterious reasons, they all seem to be durable enough to handle ten to twenty 7.62mm bullets and have enough stamina to perform multiple jumps in quick succession.

They wear a Cambridge blue jacket adorned with the Ptolemaic Army insignia embroidered on the back, gilded epaulettes, breast pockets, and a notched collar. The jacket has a bronze five-button front and blood red cuffs edged with metallic purple piping. They wear a gold-buckled black belt cinched slightly below the waist, equipped with a gun holster for their semiautomatic pistol and a sheath for their taser. Two tanned leather pouches, one on each side of the front area of the belt, hold ammunition for their choice of pistol. They wear a snow white dress shirt underneath their jacket, a navy blue cravat, and annatto gloves. Their attire is completed with Cambridge blue army cargo pants, which are tucked into muddy brown combat boots secured with bluish-black laces.

Guerrilla Uniforms

They're outfitted for field operations and often encountered outdoors. They prefer close-quarters combat and have access to knives, machetes, and riot shields. Their ranged arsenal consists of pistols, submachine guns, bazookas, mortars, and mines. The standard strategy is to set up ambushes, either quickly closing in for melee or saturating the kill zone with firepower. They're often seen piloting Jet Hammer-Yangs, Hover Units, and mechanized Units. Compared to Rebel Infantrymen, they have better combat experience, enabling them to handle more powerful equipment and even command ground troops when necessary.

All guerrillas wear an olive drab headwrap and a sleeveless serge shirt, featuring a black eight-button front, a sailor-style collar, and two breast pockets. They wear a Kevlar vest underneath their sleeveless shirt, battleship grey gloves, and black tactical goggles with clear lenses that strangely seem to obscure their eyes from view. They don two rust-colored bandoliers that form an X, holding ammunition for their pistol, submachine gun, or both. Their army cargo pants, featuring a U.S. Woodland camouflage pattern, are tucked into spike-soled raw umber combat boots. Their pants are held up by a greenish-brown belt with bronze snap-on buckle and a sheath for their combat knife.

Men wear crimson T-shirts and bandana face masks, while women wear navy blue ones. They wear a drop leg holster for their pistol and a cinereous armband featuring the insignia of the Ptolemaic Army. They carry greenish-brown load-bearing backpacks, which contain essential supplies for survival and outdoor operations, including food rations, camping gear, and tactical maps.

Bazooka guerrillas are required to carry a long-range bazooka, and have their backpacks packed with explosive ammunition and canisters that release a misty purple cloud to disorient enemy forces. When not using the bazooka, they're known for being capable of rapid and precise knife swings.

Mortar guerrillas are equipped with modified mortars, enabling faster and longer-range firing. When not using their mortar, they employ alternative tactics, including submachine gun fire, mine deployment or rapid, slashing attacks with their combat knife or machete.

Shielded guerrillas are required to carry sturdy riot shields made of light gray metal with a black bulletproof, one-way glass window. They prefer to use machetes for close combat and pistol fire for long-range engagements. They're known for harshly bashing their enemies and decorating their riot shields with crudely painted animal scratch marks.

Sniper Uniforms

They're unmasked guerrillas who are skilled in marksmanship and establish concealed firing positions to eliminate targets undetected. These positions are often hidden in bushes or beneath wooden crates. Typically working in pairs, they utilise headsets for long-range communication. Specialising primarily in assassination, they're frequently hired by commanders and the cult to eliminate high-priority targets. These guerrillas are adept at stealth, slowly inching forward to gain a better view of their enemy while remaining concealed. They're often seen piloting Hover Vehicles.

They wear the same attire as their field guerrilla counterparts, but with a sienna waist pack stocked with ammunition for their rifle, compensating for the lack of bandoliers. Notably, their rifles differ from those of Rebel riflemen, boasting a higher rate of fire and featuring modified scopes for enhanced accuracy. Their bolt-action rifle closely resembles a fusion between the M1903 Springfield and the Japanese Type 99 Arisaka. Their headwraps and sleeveless serge shirts are field drab, their T-shirts are mossy green, their combat boots are black, their army cargo pants have an Airman Battle Uniform camouflage pattern, and they wear no gloves and tactical goggles. They don an Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), which shares the exact same camouflage pattern as their cargo pants.

Special Forces Uniforms

They're outfitted for urban operations and often encountered indoors. Their attire allows them to blend in with their environment while psychologically intimidating their enemies. As masters of concealment and ambush, they frequently attack unsuspecting targets in choke points or strike from their hiding spots. As skilled engineers, they're frequently tasked with vehicle maintenance. However, when performing engineer work, they're unequipped for combat and will instantly flee if engaged. Their arsenal includes throwing daggers, pistols, grenades, rolling bombs, and mines. With a minimal loadout, they're able to sprint faster than other soldiers. They're also often seen piloting Hover Units and riding motorcycles.

They wear military-grade smoky black jumpsuits and gas masks, styled similarly to 1939 Finnish civilian gas masks. These masks extend to their collarbone and feature red-tinted lenses. They wear charcoal gloves with a jonquil-outlined hem, combat boots featuring crimson soles, and silver-grey elbow and knee pads. Their attire is completed with a silver-buckled slate grey belt, adorned with a sheath for their combat knife and four golden brown pouches (two on each side) containing grenades or rolling bombs and pistol ammunition. A wenge waist pack that's secured at the back of the belt holds mines. Their additional gear includes a drop leg holster for their pistol and a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) featuring a camouflage pattern of eerie black, Nardo grey, and charcoal, which houses their throwing daggers.

Special forces bikers are required to be skilled in motorised vehicles and operate the same Micka Horn and Thunder Moto motorbikes as the Rebel Army, but with a green, grey, and black colour scheme. Notably, the sidecar of the Thunder Moto is equipped with rocket turrets, rather than housing an additional soldier.

Special forces divers are equipped with specialised gear for underwater operations, including swimming suits, breathing apparatuses, and harpoon guns. Notably, their equipment bears a strong resemblance to that used by the Special Forces in Metal Slug 5.

Vehicles

Combat

Terrain Carrier (discontinued)

Tani Oh (discontinued)

Iwa Oh

Screamer

Metal Rear

Ptolemaic Slug

Black Hound

Units

D-001 Tanbal

Support

Ptolemaic Armored Truck

A.P.C.

Gaia Elephant

Land Blowfish

Rock Mole

Aerial

R-Shobu Ver. P.M.

Flying Tara Ver. P.M.

Eaca-B

Ptolemaic VTOL

Ptolemaic Zeppelin (discontinued)

Ptolemaic Blimp (discontinued)

Ptolemaic Rocket (discontinued)

Rocket UFO (discontinued)

Hover Unit

Hover Vehicle

Ptolemaic Saucer

Shooting Ray

Marine

Weapons Port

Ptolemaic Submarine (discontinued)

Vigilance

Sand Marine

Ptolemaic Train (discontinued)

Electromagnetic Crane (discontinued)

Big Bertha (discontinued)

Ancient Technology

Stone Turtle

Borrowed Tech

Girida-0 Ver. P.M.

Di-Cokka Ver. P.M.

MH-6S Ver P.M.

Nop-03 Sarubia Ver. P.M.

Landseek Ver. P.M.

Ptolemaic Mini-Sub 88

Augensterm Ver. P.M.

Jet Hammer-Yang

Special Weaponry

Borrowed Tech

Sensor Mine

Vigilance

Wall Drone

Ancient Technology

Quadro Jumper

D-Gu

Bioweapons

Cyclobster

Mutated Soldiers

Jellyfishes

Squids

Extra Information

Members of the Ptolemaic Army are commonly known as “Ptoles”, much to Ptolemaios’ displeasure because he finds the name diminishes the greatness of his followers.

When new members join, they are subjected to extensive indoctrination and love bombing by the masked soldiers. This process involves isolation from others for a short period, typically in the Soursop Jungle or one of their secret hideouts on the outskirts of society. Alternatively, new members may undergo brainwashing during thorough interrogation, but this method is only employed in cases where the Ptolemaic Army is desperate for recruitment. As part of the initiation ritual, new members are required to consume the raw heart of a deceased baby goat in the name of the Dark Lord and drink Ptolemaios' blood from a wine glass. Most cultists and soldiers undergo a blessing from the Avatar of Evil, granting them strong resistance to fear and extreme numbness to physical pain. However, deputies are exempt from this process because Ptolemaios believes their fearlessness and physicality already surpasses that of average mortals.

Only a select few are aware of Ptolemaios' true plans and whereabouts, including his deputies, devoted believers, masked soldiers, and high-ranking members of the Phantom Strike. Acting as Ptolemaios' messengers, the masked soldiers and deputies convey orders to commanders and their respective paramilitary units, outlining the actions they're expected to take.

All believers and masked soldiers must form a pact with the Avatar of Evil, sacrificing a body part to unlock a unique, psionic-infused ability. This ritual is believed to deepen their spiritual connection with their idol. They're also required to operate in hideouts that appear normal but serve as indoctrination and ritualistic sites. These sites are used to recruit new followers for the Ptolemaic Army and perform dark rituals involving chanting, sea salt, gemstones, and human and animal organs.

Every 16 years, a young masked soldier is chosen to be sacrificed, a tradition begun by Anastasia and sanctioned by Ptolemaios, to appease the Avatar of Evil and avoid catastrophic misfortune. Every 20 years, an older believer is selected for sacrifice, believed to bring blessings of success and fortune to the Ptolemaic Army.

The paramilitary forces are primarily divided between followers of the Avatar of Evil and Sol Dae Rokker. Although, there are rare instances where they reject both deities and instead pledge allegiance solely to Ptolemaios' rule.

There are palpable tensions between the cult and the paramilitary forces. While the believers generally keep to themselves and avoid interfering with the paramilitary's affairs, they will intervene when the masked soldiers' actions become excessively brutal. The masked soldiers, in turn, treat the paramilitary forces with indifference and disgust, often referring to them as idiotic cattle and even killing them when their requests are considerably reasonable. They show no restraint in desecrating the corpses, removing organs for use in twisted rituals, and committing heinous acts of sexual assault to assert their dominance or subjugate and perpetuate the Ptolemaic Army's legacy. The paramilitary forces either harbour great disdain for the inhumane treatment they receive from the masked soldiers or are absolutely terrified of them. Despite their desire for respect, they never dare to rebel against their oppressors, fearing a futile resistance would only lead to a dishonourable death.

They're involved in weapons, narcotics, and human trafficking to generate funds, indoctrinate followers, and advance military capabilities.

They own "slave pens" that hold adolescent girls and adult women, comprising both official Ptolemaic Army paramilitary soldiers and coerced individuals. These captives are exploited for forced breeding, aiming to produce children who can be moulded into future cultists and soldiers. In certain cases, these individuals may become members of the Ptolemaic Army, bypassing the standard initiation ritual due to their enslaved status.

Unlike most other militaries, they don't have a single, centralised base of operations. Instead, they maintain multiple bases that serve various purposes, including recruitment, rituals, and strategic planning. Within specific regions, they have established central hubs referred to as "compounds" (e.g. the Osaka compound).

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