Pestilence feels a power surge through him as Frisk attacks. He avoides Frisk's strike, narrowly dodging blue and orange scythes with his soul and uses MERCY to flee towards Paper Cuts...

Pentale Frisk sighs and follows at a casual pace...

Meanwhile, Alphys goes to where the brush was broken and performs feild tests on the paint/ink.

"Odd," she thinks aloud, "this magic isn't possible by any monster. You'd need the strength of a human soul to do this. It's almost like... no. Humans can't use magic. Ink must have a human soul in addition to his own. Wait, seven. With Ink's soul, we have seven spares. We can save Asreil!"

Forgetting about how dangerous Edgar is, Alphy's rushes to request Ink's soul that he doesn't even have.

Meanwhile, Ink continues to search for Core First.

"Core!" He yells, "Oh wait, what am I doing? Omega Timeline! Just gotta think it, open a door and..."

Ink arrives in the Omega Timeline. Core Frisk seems to be introducing someone to it.

"Just sit down," Core Frisk calms the stranger, "you're safe now."

"Nowhere is safe," the figure replies, "not if they can see me. They'll kill me. They'll kill me again. No, I'll die for them again."

"Who's the new guy?" Ink asks, "I don't think he's from any AU I've made."

"I don't know," Core explains, "he just keeps mumbling. Something about being a king. My guess he's an Asgore, but..."

"I am not Asgore," the man states, "I am but their puppet. I make them happy, no matter what..."

The man begins to mutter.

"What timeline is he from?" Ink asks.

"Dead," the man interjects, "I was dead. Gone. Erased, like they wanted. I'll give them what they want as soon as I can..."

"He just sorta appeared in Swaptale," Core explains, "no one knows who he is."

"Ah," Ink replies, "he may have something to do with Edgar."

"Don't," the man interjects, "don't let him make Pentale. If he makes Pentale, all is lost. That Frisk must NOT die."

"So that's where he is?" Ink asks.

"DETERMINATION" the man continues his mad rambalings, "Edgar has it. That Frisk has one chance. They die, and we all die. I have nothing more to say to you."

The man rocks back and forward uneasily, dead silent.

"I need to get to Pentale," Ink explains.

"New AU?" Core asks.

"Well, according to Edgar, more of a way to gain publicity, but yeah. We have to hurry, bastard broke my brush."

"Holy- nope. Not gonna swear. We better move! Follow me!"

"Yes yes," the man speaks one last time, "run, run into the game. The game we can't win, only play."

"I'm just gonna ignore that," Ink states, "come on little buddy!"

The two enter Paper Cuts...

"Well then," Edgar smirks, "maybe I'll let them choose who replace the two skeletons. Well guys, take your pick!"

The readers at offered choices between several duos. You'll see their choice in the next chapter.