Abyssal Raid

Abyssal Raid was the first major arc in Gateway and can be considered one of the most important arcs. It was a huge turning point for Gateway and is what started the rise in the quality of characters and plot.

Plot
This arc was all about raiding Varia's base. The TRTDS recruited many people before the raid, including Ema Skye, Slayer, and Lu Menary. This is also around the time where Akechi and Akira raided Dust's palace. However, it is debatable if this can be considered canon, as it was when Gateway still took things from other games.

Before the raid officially starts, a strange creature is shown walking among the TRTDS. It's a glowing white creature. It reveals itself as Dust. When Dust meets it, he calls it "Trust". The TRTDS convinces it to stay in a capsule to be tested on.

After all of that, the group was ready to raid. Dust formed a small group to join him in the raid. It was Dust, Henry, Slayer, Lu, and Jaqcues. They entered the Abyss 3 times, each time being one phase.

Phase 1: Recon:
The group examined Varia's base so that they could plan the most optimal route. However, Henry messed up and alerted nearby guards. This made Varia know about their plan.

Phase 2: Infiltration:
The group planted explosions around the base to get inside. Lu had to stay outside to fight off the Followers of Varia. The group went inside to explore and ran into Parasitus. Henry ended up fighting them, and Dust went back to check on Lu and guard the base. However, Parasitus was simply stalling them while Varia was planning an ambush. The group then meets Lu again, but Slayer runs off to explore the Abyss. Jaqcues follows him to get him back. Henry and Lu run into a strange being. It claims to be their friend. Henry trusts it, but Lu doesn't believe the being one bit. Slayer and Jaqcues also come back. The being ends up being evil. The group eventually has to retreat, as it's too strong. Dust tells them that its name is 'Deceit.'

Phase 3: Secure and Capture:
The final time the group entered the Abyss for the raid. They flew to the entrance of the Abyss via an aircraft. Dust dropped them off and was going to provide air support. However, he was shot down and had to stay outside due to Followers attacking him. Everybody else went in headfirst. They were met with Deceit again. They ended up battling. Deceit was somehow able to tank all of their attacks. Lu then figured out that Deceit had armour around him. In an attempt to finish the mission, Lu does a self-destruct tactic. Deceit armour starts to crack, but it isn't enough. Eventually, Slayer ends up detonating a bomb. Slayer is killed, but Deceit's armour is close to breaking.

With Lu knocked out and Slayer dead, only Jaqcues could put up a fight. Henry felt like he couldn't do anything. A scythe couldn't do anything. It is then that Henry unlocked his Core. Slayer's soul was now apart of Henry. Slayer was one with Henry. Henry had complete control over Slayer's soul (for the most part). He could use anything that Slayer had used. After a short battle between Deceit and Henry, Akira steps into the battle. He had followed the group to investigate Dust, as ordered by Akechi. Akira decides to help out Henry, and Akira is shown using some sort of chemical to attack (later revealed to be his core). Eventually, the won against Deceit. Akira was about to finish him off, but Dust "fused" with Deceit before that could happen. He explained that he was ripped apart, and spread across into multiple fragments. Dust fusing with Deceit had given him the power of illusions. Akira, believing that Dust isn't as bad as he seems, wants to help them in the raid. However, Dust kicks him out of the Abyss, as he isn't ready enough.

Finally, Dust fights Varia. Dust won by making Varia mad and outsmarting him. Varia, in desperation, flooded his base to get the others out before they could find any evidence. Varia fled from the base, and so did the TRTDS. Once they went back to land, they were met by Steve. Steve had overheard workers in the Abyss talking about a war in 5 days (Steve was in the Abyss trying to find Negative). With doom approaching them, the TRTDS prepares for the war.

Characters
Steve Lstnam Dust Metzo Henry Xaxier Jaqcues Lu Menary Ema Fran Kuro Hikaru Goro Slayer (Death) Parasitus Deceit Trust Varia