DXL

For the level creator and musician, see NDXL.

Since you've arrived [HERE]...everything has been WRONG. I'm going to MAKE IT RIGHT. Regardless of what it'll DO to me.
- DXL, Beastmode

DXL is a character and boss created by DXL44. Initially, he appears as an ally character in Another World, but eventually turns on the player after being revealed of their true origins by someone else. Outside of Another World, DXL is used as DXL44's persona character, for example in the persona boss-rush Rampage.

History

Past

At some point before the events of Another World, DXL stumbled across the Beam Dagger and began to slowly learn how to use it. He was aware of legends relating to the Navigator Stars that had spread on his world.^[1]

Another World Chapter 1

Soon after the hero Hal entered Another World’s setting, DXL attacked them under the assumption that were an enemy. However, he lost and was unable to keep up with them.^[2] Afterward, DXL and Hal both realized that they were fighting due to a misunderstanding. Hal asked for DXL's help with directions to a location they were given by Sunrise and he quickly agreed, seeing this as an opportunity to use his powers for something meaningful. However, this was meaningful for all the wrong reasons, as it led to Dark Hal being accidentally formed. ^[3]

After Bond ambushed the hero, DXL reunited with the player after losing them in the night. Asking what had happened, DXL was told by Hal that they needed to go speak to “them” (Sunrise).^[4] Leaving the player to meet with the navigator star again and completely unaware of who exactly they were, DXL then returned after Purpura fought them. DXL took a head start on going to the location they found through her bounty paper,^[5] unaware that Hal had been held behind by a vengeful Bond.^[6] Once he arrived at the Powersound building, he went inside ahead of the hero and met Quinzoid before them. He would reveal Sunrise's existence and death to DXL. Taking advantage of DXL's own ambitions, Quinzoid additionally revealed Hal's status as a Hero sent by the Navigator Stars - framing them as responsible for Sunrise's death due to their inability to contain Dark Hal.^[1]

Another World Chapter 2

Following the player’s escape from the destroyed Powersound building, DXL returns. He turns on them, blaming them for Sunrise’s death alongside the rest of the chaos following their arrival. By breaking the dagger, he turns into Hyper DXL for the first time, and fights the player. However, he fails, and an overload of power from the Beam Dagger knocks him out at the end of the level. A blue-green orb similar to those Quinzoid has attacked with is seen carrying the Beam Dagger offscreen just at the end.^[7]

Description

Appearance

DXL is an orange cube with two outlines. One is a darker color of orange, while the other is slightly lighter. He has two eyes and a rectangular mouth with two visible fang-like teeth. In Hyper form, DXLs outlines turn white with energy, with cracks appearing on the edge of his body and dagger.

Personality

DXL is friendly, and generally tries to do what's right. Upon meeting the player, he was extremely eager to help them in their quest.^[8] However, he can act foolish, and has a tendency to be naïve or act quickly.^[9] He's always excited by the thought of a grand adventure, seeing it as an opportunity to put his power to good use - but this excitement allows him to be easily swayed if fulfilling this heroic desire is promised.^[10]^[11] Following the revelation that the player was chosen as a Hero rather than him, he appears to be distraught and lost.^[1]

Abilities

Almost all of DXL's capabilities are energy projection-based, rooted in a common type of raw energy.^[12]

Lasers/“Hyper Beams”
Energy pulses at a short-range
Slamming the ground to create a shockwave

The Beam Dagger

DXL wields the Beam Dagger, a knife-like weapon capable of shooting lasers and bullets. It is directly tied to all of his power and acts as both a channel and a limiter of it. He does not know much about how it works, except that it keeps his power in control as long as it's intact and nearby. DXL can also manipulate the Beam Dagger through a form of telekinesis, where he can move and levitate it in the air when it's nearby.

Hyper DXL

Hyper DXL is another form that DXL enters once the dagger is broken and creates an overflow of power.^[13] In Hyper form, DXL's outline color turns white, and both his body and the dagger have white cracks of power extending from it.

Gallery

DXL’s dagger.
DXL in Press Start.
DXL holding the Beam Dagger from 10000

Artwork

Official reference artwork
An old profile picture for DXL44 that featured DXL
Another old profile picture
Artwork of DXL in a community post on DXL44's channel
Hyper DXL in the thumbnail for Beastmode by chettodust
DXL in the thumbnail for Manic by Dukemz

Trivia

DXL was originally a Geometry Dash character created by DXL44 for use in animations. His design was reworked over time to resemble the game less, with it specifically being redone for Project Arrhythmia. In these animations, he was also a self-insert character, which led to him being rewritten entirely for Another World.^[14]^[15]

- The Geometry Dash version of DXL was based on Cube 73.^[14]
DXL's "hyper beam" attacks were originally named after the song Hyper Beam by MDK.^[16] He was originally going to have a level using this song as well, where Beastmode was placed in the story.^[17]
DXL’s design was changed starting with Press Start Remake to have a smaller mouth.
- It was changed again in Beastmode, with his face being moved down slightly.
DXL himself doesn't know much about his own Hyper form or the Dagger, only knowing that the Dagger is a limiter of sorts.^[8] The only time he has entered it is in Beastmode.
DXL makes a cameo as a background character in the Brostep Bugfest Friday Night Funkin' mod by Technado.^[18]
His actual name isn't DXL. However, he tells others to call him DXL because it "sounds cool".^[19]
His placement as an ally character in the story was mainly inspired by Flame and Nautilus, two popular side protagonists at the time Another World was created.^[20]
DXL's official humanoid design has a symbol on his shirt that resembles Creator. This symbol is a recurring element in all of DXL44's persona characters, including those outside of Project Arrhythmia.^[21]