Gravity falls : I am … Stan pines !

Narrator's POV

"What a strange place... I can't sense the astral plane since my arrival." The voice of the dignitary from the purgatory world was calm, but each of her words seemed to shake the heart of every life form present.

This was due to the Charm Law, controlled by Snake Dowager. Her beauty transcended races and genders, captivating anyone on the battlefield.

Of course, Snake Dowager wasn't speaking English or any earthly language. She used her spiritual energy to transmit her intentions precisely.

The fascination caused by Snake Dowager was suddenly interrupted when an electrical energy wave, emitted by Arlecchino, swept through the air.

She had literally paralyzed the brain part linked to excitement, thus neutralizing Snake Dowager's influence on her allies.

"Mother of all snakes, please avoid charming my allies." Although Stan knew this wasn't intentional, he wanted to prevent his subordinates from suffering damage due to the creature's terrifying charm.

Personally, he could resist thanks to a mental shield. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case for all his subordinates.

"Are you the sacrificer who summoned me?" Snake Dowager ignored Stan's request and addressed him directly.

Stan nodded in response. He knew that to this creature, he was nothing more than an insignificant ant. She had treated Leylin Farlier the same way for a good part of their relationship, until he managed to break free from her control.

Stan knew he could only gain this entity's recognition in one way: through force. But he didn't have that at the moment. So he had to negotiate.

While Stan was thinking, the Collector deployed a significant amount of magical energy to create a shield around him and Stan.

"I don't like this woman..." thought the Collector. He didn't know why his father needed her, but her presence made him uncomfortable.

"This child reminds me of the 'Heavenly Astral Race'... could he be a survivor or descendant?" Snake Dowager couldn't help but lick her lips while looking at the Collector.

She had responded to this summoning out of pure curiosity. She had already understood that the ritual wasn't performed in the purgatory world, but she didn't expect to find so many interesting things.

"I want to exchange all the items here for a promotion to Rank 6 Sacrificer and a Spirit Beast Magic Formation."

A silence colder than Antarctica settled after Stan's words.

"Hahaha." Snake Dowager's charming laugh finally broke the silence.

"You're funny. You're literally asking me to transmit an understanding of my Shadow or charm Law and upgrade your rank 5 magical Formation to rank 6?"

Stan's demand was incredibly audacious from Snake Dowager's perspective.

"I can provide knowledge to penetrate the World of Gods."

Snake Dowager's mocking smile disappeared abruptly when she heard Stan's words.

The World of Gods... This place held the solution to reach rank 9, the dream of all entities like Snake Dowager, stuck at rank 8.

"If you possess something so precious, I could simply take it from you, couldn't I?"

At Snake Dowager's words, all the shadows in the world began to stir under her Law's authority.

All serpent family creatures turned their gaze toward Antarctica, answering their mother's call.

Crack. Fissures began to appear on the shield around Time Baby and the Collector.

"Help!!!"

People not protected by Arlecchino started getting attacked by their own shadows.

"Master!!!" Arlecchino was overwhelmed. The titan blood energy in her was limited, unlike Stan's clone.

"Snake Dowager, do you really want me to activate the other magical formation?"

The Snake Mother immediately stopped using her Law and narrowed her eyes at the arrogant mortal before her.

"You dare threaten me with this filthy bird?"

The rune on the other sacrifice formation represented Nefarious Filth Bird, another rank 8 entity. Of course, Snake Dowager didn't have good relations with this being.

"I'm not threatening you. I'm simply asking you to establish a proper contract."

Stan had thought this through carefully. He knew that to absorb the soul of a rank 7 being like Time Baby, he needed to be at least rank 6, equivalent to a demigod, and use a rank 6 magical formation.

He could always improve the rank 6 magical formation obtained from Snake Dowager. As for why he believed the Snake Mother possessed such a formation, it was simply because of her rank and identity.

She was a dignitary of the Purgatory World and a rank 8!!

"For 10 minutes... no more no less, you'll be a rank 6 sacrificer who can use the charm or shadow law, but if you've lied..." she said nothing more.

After Stan nodded to show his acceptance of the agreement, a scroll appeared with an Eye on it.

There was clearly law energy on this scroll, and judging by the symbol, it was connected to the The trial eye another powerful entity.

'If theThe trial eye is the guarantor, then I'm reassured' Stan thought, using his spiritual energy to sign next to Snake Dowager.

The scroll burned, and the paper fragments entered the true soul of Stan and Snake Dowager.

*boom* A huge amount of energy burst from Stan's body.

His weak magical energy of a rank 1 acolyte began to rise rapidly until reaching rank 6 sacrificer.

There were several runes symbolizing Snake Dowager's grace on his soul, but no trace of a rune symbolizing his loyalty to this entity, as Leylin's memory had shown.

"Master, sorry!!" While he was fascinated by his new power and strange connection to shadows, Arlecchino's voice resonated.

"Don't be. You held on more than necessary." He smiled at Arlecchino, who was floating by Time Baby's telekinetic power before finally being crushed.

"No!!!" The Collector wanted to rush forward but was stopped by several shadows taking the shape of small arms.

"She's not dead. Her main body is destroyed, but her consciousness resides in cyberspace." Stan explained to calm his impulsive son.

He was the origin of the shadows currently restraining Time Baby.

"Oopsie, I forgot." The Collector began to blush with embarrassment.

"Old Man McGucket!!!" At Stan's signal, a giant robot emerged from Antarctica's icy ground.

"Finally, I get to participate haha" Without waiting, the robot gave a violent slap to Time Baby's face.

The action was so sudden that Time Baby couldn't protect himself with telekinesis or manipulate time to see it coming.

"Why are you helping him? Do you know the consequences of my disappearance on the Timeline?" Time Baby's voice was no longer as majestic as when he first appeared.

He was covered in various burns and cut marks. Arlecchino had been a real problem to manage, and the recent attack left the time giant wounded.

"Sorry big head, but I'm ready to do anything for a raise, even slap a baby. Haha" McGucket's hysterical voice frightened not only his enemies but also his allies.

'This dimension has an interesting path to power' The brute force demonstrated by McGucket's giant robot slightly surprised Snake Dowager.

She was literally observing a mortal with no real power putting a being who dominated a law in difficulty.

...

Stan's POV

It's regrettable that Arlecchino is out of service for now, but she has already accomplished her part in this war.

I observe Time Baby's soul floating before me while his body remains frozen in Antarctic ice.

I can't proceed with the ceremony while his body is still alive.

Immediately, I mobilize the shadows under my control to destroy his body piece by piece.

An infinity of shadows responds to my orders thanks to the shadow law obtained from Snake Dowager, making the surrounding atmosphere eerily sinister.

"At my signal, you'll help me break Time Baby's soul's resistance."

While speaking, I begin to infuse my spiritual and magical energy into the Spirit Beast formation.

Time Baby's soul suddenly acts with rare violence, but an energy wave from Snake Dowager reinforces the formation, stabilizing the process.

"Now!" I say to the Collector, my voice almost choked with effort. The giant soul of Time Baby continues to struggle violently as it begins to insert itself into the magical formation floating before me.

The Collector, true to my order, manipulates the soul's perception so it doesn't see me as a threat.

At first, Time Baby's soul resists fiercely, but under the combined effect of the Collector and the charm law I obtained from Snake Dowager, his spirit finally yields. His soul, now docile, is absorbed by the magical formation.

A few moments later, the infinity symbol inscribes itself on my chest as a tattoo.

The ceremony is finished.

"No... not now..." I murmur, feeling a crushing drowsiness invade me. This is the signal: my ascension reaches its final phase.

I must renounce the physical body and transition to a pure energy body like Bill Cipher and other law beings.

Snake Dowager, observing me as I resist, breaks her silence. "Before you fall asleep, tell me how to access the World of Gods."

Fighting against sleep, I gather my concentration to transmit the promised knowledge: the secret of Beelzebub's artifact, capable of piercing the barrier leading to the World of Gods.

A few seconds later, Snake Dowager smiles, satisfied. She takes the offerings and opens a breach in space to disappear.

"This place is fascinating. I'll come back to visit you. Until then, I hope you reach rank 7."

At first glance, these words might pass for a simple courtesy. But I knew the truth: it was a veiled threat.

If, upon her return, I haven't reached rank 7, I won't be her equal... but her prey.

I give her a smile as she disappears into the space breach, the offering ritual completed.

Nothing could maintain her presence in this reality.

"The strange men disappear!"

Cheers of joy resonate around me, but I don't share their euphoria. Things aren't over for me yet.

Time Baby from the future has disappeared with his men. His "death" in the present has obviously altered the future.

I can feel time has become unstable, a true chaos. I must repair it, even if my mastery of my new powers remains weak.

"Listen, Collector... I'm about to sleep... no, leave... well, both."

My mind is getting more and more muddled. I must act quickly.

"What are you talking about?" the Collector asks, visibly confused by his expression.

I gather all my willpower to respond, ignoring his incomprehension.

"I ask you to trust the Mystery Shack. And tell Arlecchino to obey Ford."

I clench my fists, mobilizing my last strength without waiting for his response.

"I worked so hard to get to this moment... This timeline is saved, and Giffany too, right?" I say my thoughts without realizing it.

In my hand, an object glows softly: a power capable of rewriting an entire timeline.

A temporary wish.

I activate it without hesitation. A blinding luminous burst invades the space around me.

"EMPEROR!!!"

"BOSS!!!"

"FATHER!!!"

Then, the void.