Their present had been overrun, destroyed, and torn apart by those disgusting monsters that once called themselves human. And now, there was nothing there in this new world they'd visited that indicated that horrible reality the group had just been experiencing. Having arrived in an alleyway on the ground level, they'd decided to now meet on one of the rooftops they'd landed in between.
Rose pushed out her arms and felt the breeze flow through her arms, ginger locks moving with the wind, the girl giggling out happily as the jacket covering her body threatened to fly away. Alex came over and chopped on the top of her head, tying his hair back with a telekinetic boost as Rosey spun to see her best friend and boyfriend. Beckoning her to follow as the group together had been orchestrating a plan to locate the Key's approximation. A holographic map of this city, Manhattan, hovering amid the huddled-up team with the Emperor. Since everyone was even and they made up nine with three each, there needed to be specific assignments. Without any interest in spouting out useless dialogue, after another moment of staring at the image, Ben had tapped his elder brother on the arm. The duo disappearing to blue light and red lightning respectively, the streaks of energy were seen through the air with a trail of fire following the Hunter of Justice's feet as he continued down the path. Everyone had witnessed this together, but since they hadn't gotten their assignments to search, Madi was the one to step up in her brother's momentary absence. Though it was clear it was reluctant since the woman uttered, "I hate you two…" as if any of them could hear her. With a sharp inhale, oxygen entering her nostrils, she clapped her hands together, pointing with her index at the chest of the Requiem Reaper; this was while she explained. And after she did that, she went over and pointed to The Telekinetic Justice,
"My brothers and I formulated a plan, three of us in each tiny group so we could spread out and search as much land as possible for the Key… thing. Ben's the leader of our group, and we'll be searching the upper part of Manhattan. Meaning Harlem, Morningside Heights, all the works. You, August, will be working on the bottom sort of portion meaning Greenwich, Chelsea, Gramercy. And Alex, Abby's student prodigy over 'ere, will be searching with Rosalyn around the leftmost area surrounding Central Park. Ashton and Ed will search the right of that area, and then hopefully, we find that Key. Any questions?"
Silence dominated the teenage and the adult groups, Ash and Ed sparing glances at one another. The younger and more trustworthy of the two catching the device, which grew arms and legs of its own attaching around his wrist of its own volition. Ashton scoffed at the gesture, though he'd worked, put his body through hell for these people so they could save themselves along with their planet. Despite this, Edward's hand drove to his shoulder, squeezing through the globe that covered his extremities extending to wrap around his palm. As if silently pleading for them to flee to their assignment before he'd done something he would regret. The groups vanished before her eyes, Madisyn left alone as the air created from their leaving pushed her hair back. Spinning back so she could gaze upon this otherworldly realm they'd been dropped in, The Empress of Light caught a glimpse of a familiar woman beneath her as she crouched at the edge of the roof.
Glowing brown hair that shined in the sun, tanned skin, arms covered by sleeves. Curvy figure as she stepped through the street, there was no mistaking this girl. It was her adopted sister, but as she readied to launch herself and land to the rear of her relative's doppelgänger- a transmission interrupted her motion. Halting her at the last possible second as she hovered amongst the concrete sidewalk, Rivera warped to the nearby alley listening to her brother's vocal cords entering her eardrums,
"Hurry your ass over here, sis. No time to waste, ya know?"
Scoffing in annoyance, Madisyn agreed without hesitation though she had silently decided to keep track of Shadow before she could leave her line of sight. Attaching a tracker to her back in the middle of her warping, her figure briefly visible during the purple radiation. The plasma manipulating her movement, Madi was sent toward her brothers across the city and began the investigation. Unbeknownst to everything in her line of sight, as the energy engulfed the skin of The Light Empress, Shadow twisted her figure and queried a brow in confusion. Picking the tracker off her hidden spine, the metal wrapped around her fist as she scanned the device with an extended finger puncturing the technology. What was this?
As the tube spat out the food into his palm, the glove snapped off from the edge of his wrist as he admired the tastiness. Jason taking a whiff of the snack in his hand, Ben had been seated against the stairs of an apartment. Residents giving him dirty looks as they exited their abode, the Emperor's teeth sinking into the meat and chewing on the bread with that subsistence.
"Mmm…. tastes real,"
Shrugging his shoulders at the taste, there was nothing else he could do but eat while Jason was amazed by this sort of advanced technology. There wasn't even a stand with someone to pop out and ready the hot dogs! Even they haven't reached that pinnacle of advanced tech, and as the Justice sat beside his covered Ketsueki blade, he took a strong bite of the chewy meal in his previously gloved palm.
"HOLY SHITTTT!! This tastes so goddamn good, you must be fuckin' crazy to not be screaming in happiness right now, bro!"
"Eh... I guess they taste a little better than the ones we used to get from those vendors as kids,"
"OH! Remember that one time Mom didn't have any money for us to get one and we had to steal the materials from the guy and make them at home? Oh, she was furious, remember the punishment too-?"
"Heh, yeah, she beat our asses and we were all so upset. Yeah… we deserved that shit, though- {Jason: Eh, debatable} And then after that Madi snuck us like six hot dogs and we got super fat and fought over the last one…"
Taking a step forward and emerging from the crowd, hands in her pockets as she announced her presence to her siblings,
"And I got the last one and Jay was crying like a pussy too, right?"
Audibly inquired of the Empress with a happy grin across her lips as she remembered those times before everything else. Stretching out her arms and smiling as she caught the nourishment and took a bite, Ben audibly laughed aloud for a moment, the aftermath of the question he asked leading Jason to groan and scratch his beard,
"Hah! I remember that part, what was your excuse again?"
"Sweaty… eyes…"
The siblings all took a moment to reminisce and remember the past, long forgotten in an array of trauma and agony. That experience had been lost, adrift in a void of time, when they were but young teenagers… and now? Kids, demons, and so-called superpowers. Who knew such gifts would cause them such pain in a life that'd been promised to be filled with peace. In the abundance of people walking by, cars passing down the road, and indistinct chatter entering their ears, Madi, Ben, and Jason all sat together. Their past mother reminding them of the violent exchange that'd taken place eight months ago, Madisyn rubbing her chin with an irritated scoff. The Emperor snarled at the memory, hand rubbing his nape and resting his head on his sister's right arm,
"Sorry for kicking you upside the head,"
Uttered Ben shamefully, hating the way he'd acted that day and all others before it. And yet, it was necessary, as Ben took his sister's hand and interlocked their fingers, Madi pressed her lips against her little brother's head. There didn't even need to be an apology, and in this moment of harmony in a chaotic multiverse of threats, the noise drowned out. Silence…
….
The call of a once silent time engulfed by peace called out to them, to which the Emperor attempted to reach out with an open hand. Fingers stretching out, unfortunately... the past was the past, there was no way to change it, no matter how many universes he traveled between. There only laid the future, they had to keep moving forward, no matter the cost, you move forward. Phrasing beneath his breath to himself, loud enough for Madisyn to make out distinct words he'd quietly stated,
"Even if we die; even after we die. There's no way to win if we don't fight. So fight. Fight and win, you... you idiots,"
This was their life, and though they'd been accustomed to it for some time now, it took some getting used to. Jason stood himself up, the bottom of his sheath propelling him upward as the eldest Hunter instructed his younger brother and sister,
"C'mon, we have a Key to find,"
Walking the same way, Ben pushed his idiot brother to the side as he followed the directions on his watch, stepping down the sidewalk. Time seemed to pass normally, with the Emperor's relatives checking his six, and the uneventful stroll they were taking in the city searching for this relic. Though something was odd, as they reached the center of Harlem, they were seen running and flying in rocket-powered vehicles. Automobiles launching past his face, the Headmaster watched emotionlessly, oil spilling out from the exhaust and hitting the barrier around him. Eye witnessing the liquid splash onto the sidewalk beside him, the youngest Rivera Triplet there watched in confusion,
"Do you hear that...?"
There was something about the way Madi seemed so horrified, though her eyes lit up with the flame of hope, aura brightening with the radiation of her purple plasma. The energy seen flowing through her knuckles, the Light Empress threw herself forward from the ground, zooming down the street. It can't be, after all this time... he's...
Jason seen sliding across the street as his hand wrapped around his sister's wrist, Ben emerged from the azure warping he'd been known. The dust settling with a shockwave throwing it to the side, the lightning-sparked around his anatomy, swiping his katana out from the cover and slicing it horizontally, he watched as the car split in half. Yet, as he readied for another attack, Madisyn's fingers touched the steel of the blade, pushing it down as the siblings gazed in surprise. Once it all faded away and their face was visible, teeth gritted with tears flying out from the edges of his eyes-
"Motherfucker..."
As his artificial metal foot punctured the land to his Konpeki-infused soles, Ryder Karlo took a step forward. Inhaling sharply so his teeth would sink back inside of his mouth, he gazed upon them all, how old they'd become. Their surprised looks, the defenseless looks they'd shared over their features... parting his lips, it was seen in the center of his optics. Real and fake, emerald and greyed-out with an emotionless look in the right one, regret,
"I'm... sorry... Rivera..."
This was no time for sympathy, there was only the battle ahead, both the Emperor and the Moon saw that in their eyes. Stepping forward, he swatted away his brother and sister so they could flee, though the Hunter of Justice couldn't even take a second. Not to react or give a sarcastic-like response, the tip of the Ketsueki glistening as the sun's rays shined against the metal. Whispering out, the sounds entered the ears of the Empress, Ryder crying out as he stated strongly,
"Search,"
Against her own will, forced to obey his commands, Madi levitated upward and returned to the search for the Key. That was the best he could do to aid his former comrades, with Ben and Jason readying to fight. The honking of a horn blared throughout the street, the Outcast jumping up to lock fists with his Emperor rival, the Hunter cutting through the bulky vehicle easily. In mid-air, Karlo and Rivera's fists began to bleed, the duo groaning in unison before they copied their movements, speeding toward the atmosphere that bordered against the edge of Terra. A sonic boom radiating out from the Moon's feet, Karlo's material-like strengthened extremities took hold of the shockwave he'd just created from his quickened flight. Throwing it ahead of his rival with a grunt, it exploded in front of his face, the skin hiding his skull flapping back so he'd be thrown backward from the blow. Spinning back and raising his arms, a blow through his limbs broke those bones so they'd shatter and let out a thunderous CRACK-KOOM!
The arms going limp, life energy flowing through so he could heal himself continuously, the Outcast spun throughout the sky above the clouds. Now on the offensive, his arm transmogrified into a minigun ready to shoot miniature darts designed just to knock out his enemy. Snarling in annoyance for Ryder's manipulator, a vine extending out from a vein originating from Ben's arm hardened to a root, blocking his anatomy as his arms healed. Groaning in annoyance, he cracked his shoulders back into place against the roots, squeezing his fingers and warping out from the shadowed location. The vines and roots destroyed by a missile popping out from the peak of Ryder's arm, he turned around quizzically, gasping in response. Cut through his flesh, Karlo's remaining tie to humanity, his right arm, had begun its descent to the city below. Jason grunting as the blood splashed onto his face, his head twisting back as he fell to splatter on the road, Ryder screamed in anger. Bashing his head in with a fist, blood splattering, and a part of Hunter's skull showing, Rivera drove the tip of his blade to his attacker's gut. Gore squishing out from the pressure, Jason kicked his chest back, shoulder cut through by his younger brother as he cried out tiredly as the blow connected. Destined to fall with the Headmaster's brother by his side, they spared knowing looks to one another, Ben rubbing his wrist for a moment. It wouldn't end here, not this easily, anyway.
Warping to the rear of Ryder and intercepting his descent, Ryder twisted his spine and slapped the side of the Emperor's face with his fist so he'd fly and crash. Tumbling across the roof of a nearby skyscraper, barging in through the edged barrier that kept people from falling off the peak, Ben moaned in agony. With the Hunter somewhere on the road gradually healing back his flesh, Ryder's gentle landing began with a foot pushing against the concrete platform to the right of his 50-year-long rival. Light curls flowing with the winter wind, the arm reattached to the right socket of his figure, Karlo gazed at the setting sun. The coloration spreading across the skies, shifting it to a fiery orange and twisting together with a pinkish shade, Ryder sighed. A dejected tone audible in the breath he'd pushed out, all it took was a simple word,
"Stay down,"
His joints previously about to crack as he began to rise, the influence of Ryder's words and the shockwave that followed seeped into his brain. The toll of this day weighed heavy on the men, a brief moment of peace intercepting the battle, to which the Moon fell to his bottom and admired the colors of the sky,
"How's my son... my daughter?"
"They're... here... Ryder..."
Strained the Emperor out, and to the surprise of Ryder, he'd been standing and towering over him. His shadow engulfing the physically superior cyborg, the Outcast's eyes watered and shook with the vibration of a broken man. Extending out his hand, the Headmaster's lips parted, offering to his distant friend,
"It's not too late. Rebel against their chains as you did against the society's years ago, be a father to Rose and Azazel. And be a husband to Ella..."
Shaking his head as his palms sent him up, the duo of enemies stood and watched the sun begin its momentary hibernation. Arms on the edge, staring at Sol, a stray ray decided to shine against the face of Ryder's features. Interlocking his fingers, the wind pushed back his skin for a moment, staring up at a passing airborne vehicle. Karlo took a breath, remembering a time where he'd wished to be free of the chains he'd been bound by, he was shackled to. Ben watched from a distance, hiding the small grin over his lips, palm covering the bottom portion of the man's face. Hands sinking to the pouches his outfit was covered in, he nodded in understanding,
"This is how things have to be... huh?"
"You've seen the future, though. The world I inhabit will crumble, and I must thank you for that. There's no one I'd rather have free me besides you. The only thing I ask for; before I pass... send them to your father. Please- promise me, Ben,"
"I promise. I swear on my mother. I'll make sure you get to see them, one last time; before the end, Ryder,"
Karlo held a somber grin over his lips, the memories he'd made for a brief time with Ella, the trust he'd gained from his greatest rival. In a way, this was his greatest punishment for his worst sins. He sensed their presence; Azazel, Rosalyn, although, they had a job to do. He couldn't interrupt it, no matter how selfish he felt. Circling his rival, taking one step after another, the Moon and the Emperor gazed at one another with the wind seeping through their locks.
"Nothing personal,"
Throwing the first blow, pushing out a soundwave from his hand to disable his legs, the Emperor rolled to the right. Extending out his legs, bouncing from side to side, Ryder flipped back, witnessing the radiating fist of Ben's fist enter the concrete wall where his back once stood. Eyes brightening with a laser hue, each blast was counteracted with another originating from Ryder's emerald cybernetic replacement. Stepping back so his feet would push against an AC attached to the roof, Karlo caught the incoming fist of his attacker, throwing him off the edge. Tumbling and smashing through a cloud with a gust of wind, the Emperor faced the ground for a moment...
Fight. Fight and win, even if you die- even after you die.
Knowing Ryder would follow no matter what, metal fist closing as the fingers touched against one another, Ben's eyes closed as he faced the ground. As if he'd died in amid his freefall, the Emperor inhaled sharply, steam emitting from the interior of his throat. Hair overtook with a new snowy coloration, he pleaded for forgiveness from the blonde Priestess in the other world.
Sorry, Ellie. I can't hold back anymore; never again.
Eyelids lifting, ivory pupils visible burning with Dark Determination, the aura engulfing his body had shifted from the usual azure to the Requiem white. Twisting his body back, he charged his fist back, throwing it forward, a bolt of plasma disconnecting the Outcast's metal arm from the rest of his body. Widening his eyes in the surprise of the abrupt attack, a blow to his gut shattered his ribs with a single attack. Shoulders shattered, fists slamming them so a shockwave would disrupt the natural order of things, Karlo screamed in anger. The metal arm snaking around his throat, Ben's foot dug into his spine, and with a simple twist to the right- it'd shattered and broken wrenching apart. Paralyzed, the Emperor flipped in mid-air, crushing his rival through the building they'd been dropping from. And just like that, as he prepared to fall from the other side of the skyscraper, Ben Rivera caught a glimpse of the hole in the side belonging to this structure. Time scraping to a sudden standstill, Alex with Rose had suspended their relaxed stroll as they sought for this devilish relic. The car about to damage Ashton's knees had broken apart, the hood popping out as the driver's head was about to meet the center of his steering wheel.
Sighing, each step he took was a new one, entering the future as his feet took him further and further ahead. Workers unnoticing the Headmaster, the tears built up inside of him while the intensity only intensified, the Determination burning more luminous than the sun's surface. A tapered breath sent inside of him had flown in through his nostrils, the Emperor silently whispering as his fist cracked all of his uncracked bones. Fingers snapping into position, an edge sensory in his vocals as he stated to his hidden god-like capabilities,
"Absolute... CONCENTRATION!!" A pause during his concentration building up, that fiery flame in the center of his optics only illuminating more. The acceleration of his blood continuously flowing through his veins, he gritted his teeth in anger, the lightning throwing off his shoulders as he threw himself forward. The frozen world around him blind to the event about to occur, the rest of the declaration took place in the Void of his mind, "INSTANTANEOUS RELEASE--"
The blow sent to the core of Ryder's face had blown away any remaining flesh, his skin unwrapping around his bones as the Universe around him returned to its usual flow. Teeth visible as the thunder erupted in the skies above, azure lightning sparking around his clothing, burning into his flesh and bears, he growled in anger. A miniature black hole engulfed Ryder Karlo's body, the shockwave disrupting the eardrums of any nearby non-superhuman. Though the audio of the Emperor's agony echoed through the quietest of halls in this city. The metal collapsing to the concrete, all that remained of the True Moon, the Lunar Outcast, was a single card. Its form immaterial as it hovered amongst the man's smooth palm, emerald soundwaves booming out from the soul of his fallen rival. Though, no one is ever truly gone, as he'd never finished his declaration;
"Soul Aid. Take care of him for me, Dad,"
Squeezing his fist around the card, the Moon had vanished, and with that, he was left with... what? His brother, his sister, where had they gone? Perished, maybe? His best friend, now his greatest rival, who was next? His son again maybe, for real this time? Maybe his wife, or his sisters... all it took was a simple step into the darkness, a gateway swallowing him hole. Even if you die.
"Sayonara... Ryder..."
Surveying the area, a shockwave resonated from its origin point, bouncing out and entering buildings as the wind pushed back the trench coat he wore. Wielding the darkened cover in the cusp of his left palm, the Detective watched on, leg dangling off the edge of the roof, the Fool yawned out loud as the Strength to the rear of the partners was seen practicing. Practicing the multiple techniques his fathers had taught him over the years, so he could avenge the horrific murder of the Smoldering Chariot. Throwing a punch so it'd burn through the air, lighting it aflame before the fire was extinguished, Beau yanked his arm back. Wings flapping forward so the heated air would throw him back, wind pressure throwing to his front, seemingly to disorient his future opponent. Levitating upward, the fiery crimson energy around his soul grew apparent, illuminating to the shade of the setting sun to his rear. Whispering the phrase,
"Burn bright, let the heat of the sun engulf your heart- go beyond, blow away!"
Before the attack could commence, a tendril stabbed itself, penetrating his brother-in-arms flesh so he could halt his momentary practice. Edmund snarling as he ripped it out his skin, the tendril began its hibernation back to the Reaper's skin, reluctantly using that signal to survey the area. Crouching down, August ripped his hand out from the pocket of his coat, pushing out his pointer to a specific area in Chelsea. Though since his pointing seemed a bit unorthodox, his tendril slid out of his wrist, the edge morphing to a hand- index finger pointing down to the center of the area. Slipping off the trench coat, pulling up the sleeves, the rear end of his gloves covering the right-hand portion of his hand. Both Azazel and Beau rising, Karlo wrapped his scarf around his neck, as Edmund's knuckles cracked into place. Before they knew it, they'd leaped off, the Strength's fire pushing him forward with wings manipulating the air around his figure. The Fool jumping from roof to roof, spinning his katana's sheath, attaching it to his belt, launching to the sky as the winter airbrushed through his black locks. Eyes widening, he stuck out his hand, chain unraveling from his wrist and puncturing the side of a scraper. Sliding downward as he reached the roof, he grunted out, claws cushioning his fall, penetrating the walls to both of his sides as he made it through the hole. Rolling onto the ground, the World, August, had been seen throwing some fries into his mouth as the emerald energy reverted inside of his chest. Scoffing in irritation, as he turned around to search for Beau, an unseen smile was seen over his lips, the Flaming Strength landing between the duo. A wave of flames sent out from his feet, throwing away anything around him., With the trio together, they investigated the area around them, splitting apart so they could cover as much ground. Unfortunately, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, at least, not to August or Beau. However, as soon as Azazel had taken a simple step forward, there was this splitting headache that entered his skull.
Sucking in the air through a crack in his gritted teeth, the Detective snarled in agony, pulling his foot back abruptly- the pain had halted. He felt as good as new, though it seemed odd, bending so he could be in a crouched position, he swiped his gloved palm over the asphalt road. The cars hovering over his head, the whispers of the damned belonging to that underworld entered his eardrums, as the Fool admired its chaotic form, he smirked out and chuckled. The bottom of his sheath against the ground to his left, he stated aloud,
"Checkmate,"
"Oi, kid,"
Spinning his head to the right in surprise, boosting his sword, he was slapped across the face, body sent into the metal of a parked car. August's residual energy emerged out of his soul, tendrils popping out from his skin, bones cracking. Letting out a war cry, the attacker leaped back, the Detective watching as the sheath for his blade stood idly on the ground to his left. Pushing out his fingers to reach it, the chain hidden within his flesh unraveling from inside of him, a kick sent to the left of Azazel's skull had been directed to the front of the vehicle. Metal dented, Karlo's energy revealed itself, spiraling around his figure, he witnessed the demonic features his enemy held. Not to mention the purple dress she wore over her body and how tight it seemed, her breasts more apparent. The cleavage visible, the girl pushing together the dress so the end would turn to leggings instead of a short skirt. Claws popping out from her nails, she slashed at his legs and watched as he flipped to land beside his partner. Tumbling for a moment before catching his balance, sighing aloud as the other attacker revealed himself. Taking a step down, August wolf-whistled to the lady demon, though she was their opponent, he couldn't deny how,
"Damn..."
"Are you serious-? She could kill us at any moment and you're swooning over a literal monster?"
The tone in Azazel's voice held that of an unbelievable inquiry, her red skin sliding down her limbs, horns protruding out her forehead. Pushing out her hair and tying it into a messy bun, she smirked and giggled at the 'compliment' she'd received via the Reaper. Shrugging at his rival's question, a chortle spat out from his throat, a tumbling angel seen crashing down from space as it hit the earth beside the Rivera. Debris cracking out, flying toward the Daughter of the Devil's face, they burnt away as a pentagram cracked through it. The golden angel reverting to whatever main source of teleportation they used in Heaven, Beau gently landed down beside his friend as he cracked his knuckles. Growling with a mischievous smirk over his lips, witnessing the descent of General Angel, her wings then snaking back into her spine,
"Augustus Rivera, you're coming with me-"
A sharpened edge of his tentacle had invaded the General's flesh, swimming out of her skin and wrapping around it so her knuckles would aim toward her chin. Eyes widening in surprise, Charmeine was punched square in the face by her fist, her reactions too slow once attempting to block the blow. Imbued with the strength of her Father, it did mighty damage, destroying the left portion of her skull- whatever starry white fluids she'd held within flying out her mouth with teeth as well,
"Sister!"
Cried out the Lady Devil, hissing through her fangs as she directed her attention to the Requiem Reaper, however, there was quite a big surprise when she was charged into the air. Beau steaming with rage, Azazel revealed his sword, chain attaching to the side of a building and launching him into the air as he clashed with the Demon. Shaking her head out of the daze, her fingers rose, sparks flying as the metal touched her edged pincers. Stepping on her foot so he could remain airborne, the female's teeth parted, tongue wrapping around his arm and pulling it so she could chomp on his skin. Digging deeper so she could reach his bone, he groaned in annoyance, though those moans and grunts faded to crazed laugher. The mechanical crow claws forming over his hands and fingers, pupils shifting to a crimson shade, shrinking an exponential amount. The Crow's hand met the left side of her head, a shockwave burst out, the grip she had on his arm sending her with him. Above her for a brief moment, his right hand strengthened by metal barged into the front of her skull,
"USELESS WHORE!!!"
Her back meeting a rooftop's surface, she flipped back and rose her fists, panting in surprise for this human's abilities. Chaotic aura moving around like a rabid cur, pentagrams were seen emerging from the energy, damned whispers fueling her power. The fist of the Crow meeting the area between her feet, her leg lifted, knee meeting his chin so his head would fly back with blood entering the atmosphere. Warping from fire, she grabbed his hair and pushed it back, claws digging to the peak of his skull fore gore to drip out. Throwing a slash back, the tip of his blade barely cut her forearm as she returned to his front, continuously moving as he moved with her teleportations. Predicting every outcome, his right hand's glove peeling back to the watch over his wrist as he tightened it to a cracking fist, the more sounds she made with her warping entering his hand. A punch to the gut, he cackled in response, ribs broken, though he'd sliced her stomach. Hunched over as he held his gut, bones gradually reattaching, Azazel giggled maniacally as his spine was cracked down on by a flying knee. Her insane laugh echoing in the skies, time seemingly halting for a moment as his chain punctured her forehead. Slamming her down in front of him so she'd fall flat on her face, Azazel caught himself in mid-air with a handstand. Attempting to fly with her wings snapping out of her back like unnatural bones, Sirilla yawned tiredly as his foot stood over her head, locking her in position. His neck words influencing the movements her bones creating, he sliced a part of his face as he psychotically guffawed. Blood spitting out as he hunched over and his face, he cried out with his raspy edging vocals,
"GO TO HELL!!!"
A sound beam entered her spine, originating from his palm, a large scream audible from the way he cried out in anger. Descending downward through the pavement and dirt, she admired the scenery beneath the Earth, gasping as she felt the heated core of the planet to her bottom. Wings preventing her from melting alive, she held an impressed look over her features, eyes pointed upward as she flew back up. The Detective in a cradled position, wielding his chest as he panted repeatedly, ragged breathing audible, Sirilla landed beside him with her hands pulling down the border in her dress as a little snake snuck around his throat. Preventing his oxygen and way of speaking, Azazel didn't even have the strength to rip it apart as he weakly stared at her chest, though his attempts to gaze into her fiery eyes were met with a yanking of his head,
"Let your final sight be something wondrous, baby~"
Before he could perish at the hands of this Devilish Woman, she jumped back and pulled her dress back up, ready for another attack as the territory beneath her morphed. Representing a lava pool that burnt her ruby-skinned soles, Sirilla quirked a brow as she levitated gradually to the skies. Yet another ability of a superhuman, it seemed to her, spotting the capture of her prey and the burning of the snake she'd used to strangle him. Edmund's wings flapping out heated air, the pressure temporarily destroyed her skin for her flesh and bones to show. Hissing in agony, she giggled and held herself, enjoying the sensation yet curious as he disappeared to space above. Tapping her claw against her chin, she thought to herself,
~That must've been the offspring of the Chariot my nephew murdered- ooh, he seemed a bit angry. I wonder if he's open to a relationship, though, I hear he's a bit occupied with an Earthgirl, huh? Katie, Nikki, I think? Huh, what a shame. Too bad, too, if only it were the former. Now I have to finish Ashy's work and SLAUGHTER THIS KID MYSELF!~
Sirilla's sick cackles echoed through the Earth, a burst of fire sending her further to the skies and emerging from the clouds so they'd spread apart and be destroyed instantaneously. That sinister smirk on her face was seen for a brief moment in time before she'd realized something important, that Azazel had now been falling- before he disappeared from her line of sight. Recognizing this sight, the words that exited her mouth were,
"Karlo!"
In shock, she spun around, met with a blade through her mouth, steaming with lava as the rocks entered her bloodstream, spreading apart through her skeleton to burn through the bone tissue. Ripping the magma-infused sword out from her throat, the heated fluids hit his arm, Edmund pushing her back with a kick to the chest. Pushing out his arms, Sirilla held her throat, coughing out so the rocks could slide out of her tongue heading for the ground below. Seeing as how she recognized the power Karlos held over time, Beau realized something as well- this was one of the Author's goons. But to be more specific, from the pentagram over her forehead- Lucifer's daughter,
"Your father... orchestrated my dad's death... and you were my type too... I can't hold back anymore. No matter what, I can't let his death go unavenged. I have to help my friends, EVEN IF I DIE!!!"
She had no choice, it was either act like a puppy and die cluelessly or fight onward like a warrior. The edge of her tail acted as a projectile, shooting out to his throat, as her nails sent their way to his body- splitting apart into multiple pieces. Spinning around his fingers, the steam exiting out cracks in his mouth, the Strength whispered,
"Go Beyond Your Limits. Destroy all that remain... I'LL BLOW YOU AWAY!!!"
Widening her eyes, the sight before her was nothing less horrifying, his skin burning away so all that remained was a flaming skeleton. The aura and energy around his bones radiating brighter than the sun's rays as it blinded her flight momentarily, a tornado of fire sliding her into its movement- BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Imploding on itself, a nuke had gone off in the skies, singing away any sense of physical form she'd had over her body... Sirilla was destined to tumble to the ground, defeated. And burnt to a crisp.
Meanwhile, as Sirilla had flown back to the sky and Azazel had chased the girl, Charmeine had begun battling the Requiem Reaper. Her fist finished meeting the left of her skull, she caught her balance in the air, his hands remaining parked. Hidden in his pockets, snowy hair moving with the chilly gusts of wind manufactured by the winter. Snarling in annoyance, she gritted her teeth together, pushing out her arms- golden arrows imbued with pure Omni energy heading for his idle position. The tips of the enlargened projectiles puncturing the area, debris levitating upward before quickly descending, the Reaper's smug visible as he leaped up with a tiny laugh. Flat palm catching himself as he landed on the arrow, it began disintegrating to nothing as he swiftly began to close the distance. Growling as she witnessed this sight, a ginormous golden sword burning as bright as the setting sun slid out from the left. Using this to his advantage, he flew up, attaching his dark tendril so the weapon previously heading for him would blacken and turn to his control. The grip aiming for her head, she ducked for a moment, sliding around the invisible platform whispering, more arrows cracking out from her body heading his way. His feet landing on each of these platforms, more chuckles echoing out from his throat, his excitement audible as he attempted to throw a tightened fist to the front of her skull.
Knuckles touching another, the tips of her index fingers against one another, her thumbs forming a heart beneath the touching extremities. A cross manifested to the peak of her flowing yellow hair, she swiped her hand to the left, unleashing a wave of superheated Omni toward her enemy. Caught in mid-air, seemingly defenseless, his body was left in the cusp of her attack, and though she expected him to perish right then and there- it could never be that easy.
"Did you truly think it'd be that easy... teacher's pet? And here I thought you'd make me break a sweat, it seemed that maybe- your Father made a mistake when creating you,"
The Requiem Reaper coldly commented, feet touching the surface they'd been battling above, the emerald barrier swirling back to return to his soul. His half-aura was something to think about, Were there truly two souls inside of this man? Thought the General, copying his movements, though further away, she stood tall and confidently. Not letting her worry reverberate out from her mind, the sweat that did fall cutting in half before it could touch the surface below her. She couldn't take his words to hear, they were weak, nothing but empty sentences destined to hurt her so she'd turn crazy. Yet, she readied, crossing her arms so they'd turn into an X. Knives popping out from the cracks in her fingers, their golden hue visible even from the distance the Reaper was at, August scoffed at her silence,
"Not much for conversation, huh? Too bad, I was just thinkin' of trying to move on from my ex, too,"
The thrown daggers sharpened and, the Omni energy around them enlargening them so they'd grow larger and larger. Aimed right so they could hit his chest and destroy his insides, The Reaper cackled, tying around the red scarf he'd been gifted around his eyes. He didn't even need his eyes for this part. Curving his body to a ball so he could flip over the incoming projectile, he rolled out and kicked the other knife into the air for it to disappear and vanish. A shadow tendril unraveling out from his wrist, he sliced it right in half, it pushing out aiming right for the throat of his Angelic enemy. Blocking it with a golden shield, she threw it to the side, realizing that now he'd-
~He's gone..?~
Just then, she'd realized, arm infused with a glove encapsulating her entire limb, Charmeine's fist aimed for his chest. Easily, his tendril had snuck around her wrist, stopping her continuous movement. That smug grin still over his peached lips, the Reaper showed his teeth, ripping off the scarf for her to stare into his miscolored pupils,
"Are you really this weak, Grand Auntie?"
There was no point in controlling anything, this asshole needed to be eradicated, this WHOLE SPECIES needed to go EXTINCT! No matter the cost- The Reaper's head weaved to the right as she threw another punch. Slipping back with her, their knuckles collided, Charmeine crying aloud, loudly annoyed with her opponent. Spinning around, a kick about to aim for his face had been blocked by another mimic of her moves, their legs colliding. Using this as her opportunity, she aimed her flat palm to his chest, a burst of Omni energy hitting his chest, ribs supposedly fracturing to pieces. Declaring proudly,
"I win! BURN IN HELL!!!"
The smoke cleared, the cloud of residual energy slicing in half as her feet brushed against the rooftop. Stretching out her arms, ready to strip herself of her armor considering how bulky it was, there his voice was again,
"Who won again..?"
Turning around, there he stood, literally right behind her, the woman gasping in surprise readying to cut him in half. However, the tip of her blade had broken and melted before it could enter his body, the Reaper smirking at this feeble try,
"How..? How is this possible..?"
"It's simple. You can't touch me. In my time away from Earth, I'd learned a special technique, or better yet- I created it. Shattered Limit. All you did was hit my aura, made of plasma, the fourth state of the matter if you forgot. I channeled the light inside of my veins, letting it flow throughout my soul so it could protect my soul and by extension, everything around it,"
Widening her eyes, Charmeine was visibly surprised at the growth this mere mortal had been through, no doubt the training of a Requiem Soldier was agony. Yet, he pushed through, he kept moving forward. And... for what? Abruptly, the woman felt the tight grip of his fingers enter her hair, believing this to be some sort of human greeting. Maybe a pat on the head as some sort of approval or affirmation for her attempt?
"You may only touch me if I want you to, I'm in complete control,"
The energy building up, seen crackling up his veins, aiming for his heart, his plasma stance spreading apart his body and by extension- his soul. Inhaling sharply, he loudly declared with a smug smirk over his face, sliding his hand down from the peak of her hair, fingers spread over her entire face. Querking a brow for a moment, then widening her eyes, Char's wings spread out of her spine, realizing what was about to happen next,
"There's still more!!"
Pushing her face back, her body slid across the surface of the roof, heading for the edge before his leg met the right of her skull. Parts breaking apart left adrift in the hide of skin she'd adopted at the time, she was sent flying through the air. Spinning around, crashing through roofs, bouncing from concrete then heading for the sky blue skies- tendril sinking to her shoulders. Gradually melting her bones with the plasma-infused lengthy chains inside of her, Char gasped and held her face in agony. Her anatomy out of her control, his flat palm tilted to the right pushed the center of her gut- starry gore splashing out and burning against his plasma energy circling about his figure. Repeatedly clashing his palm with her body, breaking her ribcage, cracking apart her trachea, parts of the split-apart bones flying out from her skinned throat. Unable to spit out, a blow to the face had broken apart the front of her skull, the skin shedding apart, and without protection- there laid her bones. Giggling psychotically at the sight, Charmeine's body went limp, her skeleton in pieces, flying adrift through her blood. Entering a slice in space, the water entered her bloodstream, bones entering the lake below her.
Towering over her, the cherry blossoms descending from the branches they were previously attached to, August's foot detached her head from over her shoulders. A loud KRAKK entering the atmosphere, the Reaper catching the Key as it hovered out from her enclosed fingers. Repeating as if mocking his Detective partner,
"'Checkmate,'"
To Be Continued in Chapter 50