Led by the Emperor through the labyrinthic corridors of the Tower, his sisters and Artemis followed behind, using their quick feet to catch up to him. Ever so often, one of them would catch his glance, to ensure they were all okay and they would all nod in response. That was, until the sudden widening of the hall, suddenly the youngest Rivera appeared in front of the Romero sister. Encasing her in his arms, while Madi protected herself with a plasma shield, and Artemis hid with her. Debris came from the ceiling, there was an intersection that led down four pathways, and the one that they were about to enter was now blocked by... another creature. Pushing her brother off of her, Ben slowly threw her into the wall, where she grunted, however, she didn't even touch the wall. Instead, her body flailed through a slice in space crafted by his design, dropping in front of her sister's pink boots.
"Well... played," Back with the other group, Ben and Madi's auras spread across their battle-ready souls, white and dark purple respectively. Artemis stepping forward to protect her creator, inquiring of him a question she had on her mind. Just from the look of this new 'demon' they had to fight, he reminded her of someone...
"Do you have any idea who he is, Father?" Upon her asking of this topic, Madi also turned to her brother, ready for an answer. As they expected, he gave them one, stepping forward to point, and specify what species this 'thing' actually was,
"This is a poisonous vampire, a subspecies of superhuman made by The Spread, this man here was an adult at the time of The Spread. Seems like he was working in an acid factory or something like that... his name is Corvo. Dubbed the Crow of Hell by bystanders, he was an infamous vigilante turned serial killer in Italy, he wore a black crow-like mask to conceal his identity when committing murders..."
"Heh... I see my reputation precedes me, then. My craving for blood had left me at a standstill, I couldn't kill innocent people, no- that'd be too horrific. I created that persona as an excuse, to feast on pathetic humans who are beneath our race, and frankly, I'm surprised you were with one just then," It seemed that their conversation, their 'calm before the storm' had been moving smoothly. That was, until, a gust of wind blew Corvo's long strands of shaded hair to the side. It could've been registered as a normal phenomenon, however, since there were no holes, Ben turned to stare at his right arm. Fingers wrapping around the sleeve of his suit's sleeve, he tore it up to see a vampire's signature bite marks. With a green liquid surrounding the limb, Rivera cried out,
"¡MIERDA! Cut off my right forearm!" Suddenly, an arm holding a mix of colors, between blue and violet appeared. Transparent, reminiscent like a spirit, the hand and fingers were straight. All extremities pushed together, the ghost-like limb sliced through the bone, cracking through all of it, the squishing and bubbling of blood heard as Ben's infected right forearm to the umbra-shaded floor. Panting heavily, the Emperor was easily able to prevent the poison, quick enough to destroy the limb that had been infected.
"What just happened?" Questioned the Empress, while Artemis gently tapped her Father's sister on the cheek, so she could examine the event occurring to the forearm on the ground. The skin cracking, pieces of it shattering as it fell over to reveal the bloodied bone. Only after it was revealed was Artemis able to inform Madisyn of Corvo's main ability,
"There are a million tiny organisms that live in the vampire's fangs, controlled by his brainwaves and neurons, like an extension of his fingers. They move at such extreme speeds and with vicious intent that they were able to destroy the skin over Father's skeletal interior," As she informed the two siblings of the poisonous vampire's power, Corvo snarled, he wasn't informed about this walking encyclopedia. Covering his eyes with his sharpened claws, he cackled gently under his breath, muffled by the plague-like crow mask concealing the lower half of his face. Tapping the tip of his right index finger against the veil,
"You're all infected. With the virus of mankind, I must rid you pathetic half-breeds of your mortal lineage. That way, our legacy will reign over the planet, and chaos... is all that will remain," CRAAAAKKKKK-SQUISHHH! There it was, just as he'd expected, with his new limb replacing the one on the floor, the Emperor stomped and crushed the skeleton under his heel. The younger Rivera siblings witnessing Jason wink at them, as the Justice slammed Corvo into a nearby wall, and then kicked him out of it. Straightened hair flowing in the wind from Manhattan below, Jason shoved his hands into the pockets of his black trench coat spinning to his brown-haired sister, revealing his signature black Desert Eagle out of the opening.
"Sis, help me with this fuckin' idiot. Ben, Arty, find the hentai monster at the top," Extending out his arm to Madi, the Empress of the Stars nodded to her brother and the android. Sharing a collective agreement, Jay held his sister on his back, quickly running toward Corvo as he free-fell through the clouds. Boots evaporating as a streak of fire formed under his soles, skin flapping backward, the Killer Vampire, as he was drawn to the street by gravity. Digging his claws into the side of the structure, sharp metal blades emerged from the heel of his military-like boots, attaching him like a spider to the side of the Tower. The hole in his chest slowly healing, Corvo, as he slipped a miniature glass container out of his back pocket was able to simply backflip over the incoming Justice with his sister in tow. Pouring a sample of the Emperor's blood down his throat, and screeching terribly in agony, cackling through the pain as his wound was slowly, but surely, healed. Blades popping out of his skin, testing the limits of his healing capabilities, even a tail slithered its way out of Corvo's rear. Hissing at the new taste of power, he spun to face Jason and Madi, standing perfectly still, however, ready for anything.
"Wrryyy..." The next thing to occur, Madi's hovering beside her brother with her purple aura shining around her soul, was a kick. Jay was quick enough to react, holding up his right foot, but the force was enough to slowly shatter Justice's arm. The creaking and cracking nature of the bone slowly breaking audible, Madi caught Corvo by the throat. Attempting to end this spat here and now, the Empress expanded her body heat to the point where it got so hot, Jason was starting to feel woozy. Still disoriented from the kick he took to his arm, Corvo cried out as a warrior on a beach fighting invaders,
"WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Utilizing a free arm, fingers turned into a fist, he punched the side of her head with ease. As she was about to lose control of her levitation, his claws seeped into her hair and stabbed the peak of her head. Blood gushing out of the wound, Jason used his left arm to punch Corvo right across the face. Sending him back toward the Earth's streets, the world around the eldest Rivera slowed, signature red lightning thundering through the air. With her weakened state, he was able to catch her before she could even fall one meter below her. Zooming down to the ground, using his vampiric healing nature, blood, to stitch the wounds on her head momentarily. As she was propped against the seat of a nearby bus stop, the Bountyhunter of Justice ran back up the Tower.
Time slowed, he was able to reach the Top, although briefly, and with all the force in the World- send himself back down. Fist ready to push itself into the skull of the Killer, Corvo's eyes locked onto Jason, and instead, a quick counterattack was formed. Their falling lagged as their speed increased, the fist of the Rivera inching closer and closer to destroy the Crow of Hell's face, Corvo used his flat right palm to catch the attack. With his newfound power in the blood of the Emperor, he transferred the force of the blow through his body, to his left fist. Where Jason met the terrible fate of being launched halfway across Manhattan, back snapping against the tip of multiple buildings, Madi's eyes widened. Cackling, he moved the stolen trench coat of the way, levitating down to finish off... her,
"That was easier than I thought. And here I thought all of you Riveras were actual threats, in the end, it seems you were no match for my utter genius. HahahahahahaAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!" Unable to move with her sustained injuries, remnants of ruby blood still gushing from her head, she fell to the concrete platform below her. Panting heavily, yelling out to the enemy,
"Bastard..!" She was met by a barrage of kicks to the stomach, shattering her ribs, cracks emerging from the flurry of blows. As he screamed,
"WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Upon the finishing of his attacks, the final punch to the gut sent her soaring down the street, back impaled a plethora of times. Her body was found to be beside her brother's, who was slowly healing, however, the way he was damaged, his skull peering out of his skin. It worried her, maybe he could beat them beyond the point of no return- especially with their brother's enhanced blood. He was nearing closer, she could sense his presence, this asshole had Ben's strength, that would be hard to beat, she already knew that about her brother. But, there was something else neither of them had, the Empress' hand, radiating with green healing radiation, placed itself onto Justice's right shoulder. Confused about what she had planned to do, there was a sudden psychic understanding between the related duo, about their mother.
How Madi awakened that night, to a new power, because of their mother. How Jason became better, using his powers for true justice, because of their mother. This was nothing, they had been through much worst, and they wouldn't let anyone try and destroy them now! At that exact moment, their souls lit aflame, darkened with the passion of their 'Dark Determination' to slaughter their opponent right in front of their eyes. Purple and red auras colliding, suddenly, Jason had turned to her, completely healed. Smirking vividly and confidently at his younger relative, a pulsing warping of a plasma beam, cracking of a fire in the fourth state of matter audible. Somehow, she'd been able to predict where he'd end up, and Corvo had a hole where his heart was. Unable to hover to catch himself, he panted heavily, blood leaking from his nostrils. A soft, "Wrryyyyy..." escaping the throat of the Murderous Monster, Justice's dark red aura continued to burn as bright as the shining sun.
On his back, gore leaking onto the silky feeling of the sand below him, Corvo whimpered as the oldest Rivera siblings towered over his pathetic decaying figure. Though he hadn't known, the gradual feeling he'd been experienced wasn't his death, instead, it was the symbol for blood at the bottom of the Ketsueki's steel radiating a bright ruby shine.
"What to do with you..." Lifting his hands to cover his face, Jay and Madi shared a collective dark thought, this journey would be the end for them. One of them would die or some way, shape, or form, the World as they knew it would grind to a halt. And decay slowly. Limbs evaporating into smoke, Corvo was dragged by his neck via a noose of blood. Tied around a lamppost, begging for mercy with whatever air he had left in his lungs, its heart gave out. Without any oxygen, Corvo Giovanni, the infamous Serial Vampire Murderer of Venezia, was hung to a lamp post in New York City. Where his neck snapped and died, avenging his victims, forever.
Everyone's running ground to a collective halt, some drenched in the blood of the pathetic henchmen they had to slaughter to get here, some clean, their feet pained from the continuous running. Together, they all readied to battle against their common threat, his back facing them, sitting carefully in his throne. Turning his head momentarily, the Incarnation of Chaos caught a whiff of the aura surrounding the Emperor's soul, and the pathetic look he sensed drenched with hate originating from Karlo's eyes. The Tower was reaching ever closer into space, without doubt, it would eventually reach a,
"Singularity point. Eventually, this structure will continue to grow so far into the black abyss of space that it will reach that of which is known as a singularity point. However, because the very thing we stand on was built by servers of Heaven and Hell combined, it will instead, use the vast majority of Takyr energy, and direct the singularity back to Earth. Where all life will be destroyed, and the World as you know it will simply fade away," The former Outcast thought to himself about this explanation, how this was his goal at one point in time, heterochromatic eyes looking to the floor. He was brought back by the soft touch of her hand, the Priestess' loving stare said so much without any words. He had no regrets... this was the path he was meant to take! Stepping forward, the Justice was the first to question the legitimacy of the Outer God's actions,
"Why? You want to destroy the World, but, for what purpose? All this chaos, this death, and for what? Some cliche supervillain motive of killing all life on Earth?" Chortling at the rebellious inquiry, Nyarlathotep paced around the roof of the Tower, seeing as how the Protectors and he came to a mutual understatement, they lowered their weapons. The Crawling Chaos psychically was able to project images in all of their heads, even the Emperor's, for them all to experience the same phenomenon as the Son of God informed,
"War exists across all manners of the Multiverse, for every Universe, there will be some sort of global conflict. Physical, political, and that is the issue. As long as war exists, there is corruption, the Governments of the World feed into it. You experienced it, Requiem... didn't you? How the Defense Secretary blackmailed you instead of doing the civil action, whatever that may be. As long as people in power exist, humanity will be influenced by their presence, obeying their every decision so that the World bends to their choices. It is how I was able to bend the media to my control so easily, how they so easily turned on you, with no evident supporters across the media. Even serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jefferey Dahmer did more horrific things, yet they have supporters. However, that is the very thing... they were able to be supported because of the power they held over others. It's what influenced them, it's what makes humanity like celebrities. Their power, though inconsequential compared to the inequities Governments use it for, is the very thing keeping mankind in line. My will is my Father's, I seek to destroy all living remnants of that way of thinking, and create a new universe where only happiness exists! No worries for anyone, no corruption, no hate, ANYTHING! My heart and actions are utterly unclouded. They are all those of justice and righteousness. Your very opposition is the sole thing preventing mankind's happiness and for that, I must eradicate every single one of you," A change from his usual psychotic persona, Ryder had never seen anything like this, he seemed... normal. Calm, the raspy crazy part of his voice had faded. And there was only the logical part of Nyarlathotep, the philosophy he'd gathered thanks to his Father must be something he'd had learned over these billions of years on Earth. The images of war, of blood, spilled over something as useless as telegraph poles, insanity built from mankind because they lusted for power and blood engraved into their heritage. This was the climax.
They ended soon thereafter, with the Crawling Chaos starting the battle ridding those unimportant with easy. Shoulders both colliding with the jaws of the two Romero sisters, they were thrown to the ground, cuffs emerging from the platform to pin them as they touched the floor. Now in a range of all of their attacks, Nyarlathotep warped backward, where Jason followed. Leaping from his usual spot, throwing swings from his blade, overhead, at the feet, then simply thrusting the tip of the steel into Nyarlathotep's chest. The attack was so bland and pathetic, that as it seeped into his ribcage, the Chaos backhanded Jason, feeling the twin natural elements crawling up his legs after the Justice was launched onto the floor. Ice slipping up his left one, and magma up his right one, with Ella throwing herself forward. Rapidly punching at his the Chaos' chest, wherefrom the slice wound he was given, tendrils slid out.
Black tentacle grabbing hold of her throat, he utilized her like a ragdoll, throwing her from side to side. Pushing Henry and Matt over, thanks to her superhuman build, she was the perfect candidate for this sort of thing. Witnessing Ryder preparing a sonic scream, Nyarlathotep stomped his foot into the ground, so alone slab of whatever material the Tower was made of could absorb the blast. Throwing it right back at him. The three, Chariot, Magician, and Moon were all pinned by cuffs to their hands. Finished with the useless blonde, she was pushed to the side, while Ryder attempted to shatter the metal surrounding his wrist with his enhanced vocal cords. Growling in annoyance, the back of El's head created a distinct CRACK! passing out from the hit, while Jonathan Hill took center stage. Jumping from the platform, he laid a good left hook across the Chaos' face, causing him to groan in annoyance, being riddled with bullets. Those that emerged from the tips of Artemis' finger, a rocket from her back pushing him into a barrage of fists coming from Hill. Spinning around to attempt and slice him in half, a shower of superheated light, enough to cut off the left half of someone's body, rained upon the Outer God's body. Finally, The Emperor drop-kicked their adversary into his spirit arm, fully transparent and resonating the same colors as Ben's eyes. The spirit manifestation ripped its hand out of Nyarlathotep's chest, evaporating with a magical sound of audio, the Chaos snarled.
The pain was new, exhilarating, and immense. He could feel it all over his body- there was nothing to pull out of his wound, instead, he just stood there. Gazing at the hole in his ribcage, he spoke through short inhales of oxygen,
"It seems you've perfected your astral form... impressive. I shouldn't have underestimated you all, it's clear you've grown in the months since we've last fought. Now, behold... THE TRUTH!" As if he could peer through the future, Nyarlathotep's fist collided with the sudden appearance of Jonathan behind him, breaking his nose so it twisted to the side. Screeching in pain, Hill was used as a meatshield, Ben, seeing right through this, waited to attack, and instead, watched. Though it hurt his soul to witness the actions about to occur to his family, he had to... to beat this demon. Jonathan's whole body was torn in half, intestines dripping from his guts, Candy screamed out in terror for her lover,
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!" Throwing the two pieces at Artemis and Madi, who were disoriented by his sudden brutal action, the android fell to her bottom. Chains snapping around her throat, pinning her to her ground, as she struggled to escape. Next, though the Empress was hit with the corpse of her vampire future brother-in-law, she didn't waver. Instead, she shook her head, wiping her vision of the blood smeared over her face, and attempted to blast where she believed he was. Wrapping a tendril-like whip around her throat, the Emperor growled in anger, manifesting his spirit self for a third time so four arms would appear. Two behind and two in front. Fists cracking against the bones Nyarlathotep hid within his disgusting slimy flesh, the Outer God screamed in annoyance, relinquishing his tight hold over Madi's throat. She collapsed, coughing, and reaching for the invisible substance wafting through the air, holding her esophagus,
"ENOUGH!" Through the flurry of blows, Nyarlathotep warped through Ben's figure so he would be towering over the Emperor's rear, wrapping more tendrils around the throat of this annoyance. Throwing him over the peak of his head, slamming him face-first into the surface of the Tower. Cheekbone shattered, the youngest Rivera attempted to use his arms to satiate the wound, however, just as the rest of them- he was pinned. Unable to use his powers to escape, just laying there, writhing in the agony gifted to him by the Tormentor above him. Was there any way to defeat such a powerful threat..?
"It seems as though you believed your powers equal to mine. I must admit, you were a mild annoyance, Requiem... but, in the end, you were just another meek weasel attempting to save the World. And perishing with your feeble dreams. Now, allow me to end this for you, and SEVER THIS BLOOD TIE THAT CONNECTS US!!!!!!!" Blood tie? What was he talking about? Blood dripping from his nose, Ben's head spun for a quick moment to see the evaporation of... of him. Long brown hair swaying in the winds, as the Tower shifted into nothing, the Emperor was back to sitting against an emerald-like seat. The birds chirping as a red-bellied creature perched on his mentor's shoulder, Uraku inching closer and closer,
"I can't beat him alone- even with this power, I thought I was strong enough... I can't make her proud," It hurt the very fabric of his soul, to see someone like him feeling as this... was this what his mother would have wanted? To see her baby boy pitying and blaming himself for his actions. Instead of taking action, and doing it himself, fighting through all the hardship,
"Your mother... she used to call her your 'Sunshine', did she not? With her dying breath of air in the rotten Kingdom filled with so much hate and despair, she filled you and your siblings with the very thing you'd been fighting for. 'Hope.' So stand up, and fight for her memory," How could he know so much about his mother specifically? This wasn't a coincidence, the aura that continuously surrounded him, engulfing his very soul with that stern presence Uraku resonated... there was a reason he tutored Ben on mastering his power specifically. There was a reason he had the same color aura as Madisyn's- and Uraku's vulgar-like speech pattern, at times resembled Jason's.
There was no special tap on the forehead, no gifting of a unique artifact to grant him special capabilities, instead, all it took... was a fatherly kiss on the forehead. It wasn't just for the Emperor, his brother and sister felt it too- across time and space. Their father had been right there, in front of them all along. Watching and protecting them. There were no words that needed to be said, the Emperor, Ben Rivera, knew what he needed to do.
"Dad.."
"If you seek Emancipation from the chains of guilt, of hate, of death, then you must free yourself. So... my sons, my daughter, Never Give In and defeat this corrupted evil that was formerly my brother. Once- and for all!" That was all he needed to know.
Ben's consciousness transitioned back to his body, skull about to be sliced in half. At the last second, Rivera's jacket was left behind, so he would be left in his suit vest. Fitting for an event this transformational- however, the sleeves were torn off, attire fit for mortals couldn't contain the power oozing from every inch of his body. The white aura was no longer just around his soul, only visible to superhumans, even Shadow and Candy could see it. Though their jaws had been shattered, the duo of sisters couldn't help but smile at the sight- the younger of which whimpering like a puppy. It wasn't just those two, though, Jason's previously jaw that hung from his head had been reattached by his vampiric healing, smirking at his brother's new potential. Artemis' eyes reflecting the radiation originating from her creator's body, where the footage was even sent to those in Japan. The lovers of these Protectors witnessed their world being saved, with Cecilia nodding with tears forming in her eyes as she held the infant Emma in her arms.
"What you're witnessing at the fruits of your labor. The truth- the very thing you believe to have control over, is beyond your reach. Your ability to see into the future is flawed, I'm assuming what you're witnessing with your foresight gift is... nothing. I have ascended that feeble plain of existence, and although the Earth might be destroyed in this final round between the two of us, the very evil manipulating the masses will have perished without a trace," Nyarlathotep's small white pupils widened, the thought that a mortal could even dare challenge his- His will was insufferable. He must vanquish this nuisance, no matter the cost! The former Pharaoh attempted to turn with a punch, to hit the Emperor, believing he felt his presence behind him. The Protectors and Outer God lifted their heads to the air, where Ben was hovering, hair flowing in the wind encased in the bubble of the Roof. The Tower ever rising to the Singularity point above his head,
"The fact that you were unable to see where I was immediately after I warped from behind you proves it. The truth...! It's in my hands, no longer will you be in control of our fates, EVER AGAIN! Controlling helpless superhumans that had been through trauma, corrupting the American Government with your pathetic influence... it all ends. This is Requiem's power!" The sweat dripped onto the floor, heating up and evaporating into steam as it touched the platform. The adults around the Outer God of Chaos couldn't believe their eyes, with Henry shaking his head at this... awakening.
"I don't know what the fuck is happening... I don't get any of this- but, I can feel it. Ben has full control of this situation, that is the truth I can feel in my soul..!" This was their savior, right then and there, hovering in the space. The Tower's evermoving flow ground to a halt, with the effect of the past Black Pharaoh glancing for his adversary. Blinks of his body were seen in a white blur momentarily, Jason and Ella together could witness him as their cuffs were sliced off by his fingers. The most surprising thing about this was- neither of the Emperor's siblings or family was first to be unleashed,
~This is impossible! He shouldn't have been able to master this power so easily! How could I have been so blind to this occurrence?! The future has already been written- HOW COULD I HAVE POSSIBLY FAILED TO SEE THROUGH HIS ATTACKS?!~ And there it was, as the final white blur, an afterimage of the youngest Rivera's body faded from his line of sight- he could see him. Ryder Karlo's metal fist, inching closer and closer, as Chaos' hand lifted into the air. A discharge of light emerged from the tips of his fingers, but Karlo didn't care, as his pushed-together fingers collided with the side of Nyarlathotep's face, he screamed while barraging him in a flurry of punches,
"MUUUDDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MMUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA UDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDAGH-!!"
To Be Concluded in Chapter 21