"The Benevolence of Darkness!"
That cried out, echoing out as it croaked from the guttural bellows of the Hunger's stomach. Monsters and creatures created from darkness, shadows leaking out from the soles on his boots. Hands clasped together, extremities interlocked- the werewolf howled with its claws on the floor, sinking into the metal of this materialistic chamber. Tapping her feet repeatedly, back and forth from left and right, his lover, Lynn, watched as the monstrous canine swiftly strutted toward their opponent. An impressed breath of air pressing out from his nostrils, he leaped back with a smirk over his lips to disappear in a veil of darkened energy. The wolf and Sunni ready to converge against one another, the animalistic creature charged right off their feet so they could tackle their female opponent. But the Sun had other ideas, ducking at the last possible second so their claws could catch a slice of her hair. But she was too fast, and if she hadn't trained the quickness of her body, maybe she would have lost.
'Get the killing blow on the enemy, but stop at the last second so that your opponent has no possible way to counter.' That was their objective, or as the Requiem Reaper, their friend's mentor put it- The Death Gambling game! Tripping the wolf so it'd fall to their back, they whimpered at the pain they experienced, jaw unhinging as their chest was held in pain. With no mercy, she stabbed right through their center, watching as they dissipated to liquid shadows- obeying the command of its puppet master. And as the curtain cleared, there he was- now standing tall, mere inches away from his head hitting the ceiling. Sitting at the edge of his pillar of blackness, all he could do was dangle their leg, the bottom of his boot hitting the side of this structure. Raising his right hand, extending out his pointer finger, pushing out his thumb as if pointing an imaginary pistol...
"Bang..."
With nothing to do but stare, he built it all up inside of his chest, the energy storing up as if a black hole at first before throwing out the gateway so the creatures would begin to flood out of this other world. A grin began to slide over her face, teeth showing as Sunni Lynn felt the chilliness of her bracelets morph as it peeled right over her arms. From the elbow to her fists, the Sun readied to burn right through the competition, to win- no matter the cost. They came running at her, some of them sloppy as they charged right at her face, the rumbling of their feet hitting against the metal floor. One of these monsters, made of molten rock and magma readied to pound their fist right down on top of her. But she was better than that, as she charged right through her enemy, their chest destroyed with the other parts of her arm-protecting gauntlet popping out guards for her face to hide behind. About to run in blind to the other monster, she widened her sun-yellow pupils, their mouth opening so a stream and blast of ice could come her way. Seeing as how she'd get frozen if she commenced the plan she had formed in her mind, her scheme was heightened as she threw off her gauntlet- jumping with her enhanced speech so the metal would collapse and enwrap itself over her leg.
In the middle of the air, with no way to propel herself, she stuck her still-covered arm behind her. Throwing a powerful punch with enough force to break anyone's ribcage in half, the gust of wind had sent her stuck-out leg to come into contact with the face of this ice creature so it'd smash to several pieces of frost sliding across the metallic platform beneath them. Scattering across the ground, she used this thing's face to send her upward, landing right in front of her boyfriend as she unleashed a heavy breath of air previously stuck within her lungs. The sweat dripping right down her face, the breasts part of her body rising up and down at a gradual rate so she could maintain her breathing cycle, Lynn stared him down. Sitting right at a newly-made throne of the damned's shadows, Whitney couldn't help but slouch on his face- gazing right back at his girl. He was defenseless, right there, but she had to be careful... then again, what else could he do? For more protection, both gauntlets converged on her dominant arm, and just before he had any chance to react to her incoming strike, a blow was thrown into her stomach.
Three ribs breaking as she spat out a minor amount of gore from inside of her, the gateway into another dimension began to shut. Wiping his hands, it was as if he'd taken out the trash with such ease, stretching his limbs to the air as he heard the bones within the duo of appendages crack from the lack of exertion. Just as Myers was about to turn around and head right for his chair, he'd realized... there was a wire attached to his chest. No time to sink into a portal, it'd just drag her into his domain and it'd be too unfair- so he was dragged right off of his wide shaft giving him the high ground. The lovers tumbled as they hit the ground, Lynn exerting out more blood as she began to roll on the floor, as Whit felt the snapping of his nose. Holding it for a mere second, he attempted to use his left fingers to grab hold of his nostrils and turn them back into place. However, it seemed he'd dislocated his very own shoulder so it'd gone limp.
Tending to their injuries, Sunni focusing the positive energy of her healing to repair the bone marrow of her ribs, Whitney twisted his nostrils back place. Banging his disjointed shoulder back into place, he couldn't help but scream so loud that it began to echo in this confined location. Chuckling at the pain while blood began to drip right down from his forehead in a small stream, the Hunger, manipulator of shadows, couldn't help but smile. That sadistic snigger engraved right over his lips so that the sharpness of his teeth could poke out from the rows of pearly tusks, Whitney raised his arms, loudly declaring without a care in his voice,
"FUCK IT ALL!!!!"
Laughing hopelessly, none of them knew what would happen next, the duo of lovers staring right down at one another as they gawked with nothing but determination in their eyes- Whitney could no longer stifle the laughter. One step from her.... another from him. Each new step they made drawing them further to their destined location- just so they could exchange blows and determine who would finally achieve; victory. But, right about to hit one another, maybe with punches, maybe with kicks- or likely a flat palm strike... however, who would win this battle was saved for the near future. As the familiarity of their friend's likeness appeared in the abrupt blur, his untied hair moving with the swiftness he was moving at, the uniqueness of his pasty lightning began to crackle around his fists. One blow aimed at her chin and another aimed at his throat, both of them were thrown away, the blurriness and hazy nature of his fuzzy body became clear.
The shadows ravening his anatomy for the rest of his features to remain in the dim atmosphere, his snowy optics remaining to illuminate in the secrecy of this menacing aesthetic, all he had to do was step out. Both of his friends moaning from their broken bones in the lower portion of her skull and right around his neck, Whitney moaned as he rubbed that part- back straightened, weakly stating with a rasp in his vocals, barely able to state anything,
"Yo... asshol... wont... abl to eat..."
Alexander couldn't help but giggle at the insult, seeing as Sunni got the lesser of the two evils- he tended to Myers. Arms in the pockets of his sweats, he began to inform the two of them, emphasizing the size of his audio expressions, some echos coming out from his speech,
"Sorry 'bout the hits! You two were just so into it that I couldn't really just say something for it to end, y'know..? But besides that, you're wondering why I even interrupted you two in the first place, most likely,"
Infused with enough remaining strength despite her broken chin, Sunni kneeled along as her brown-haired Justice ally did the same. His hand staying on his shoulder, the specialty of his Requiem energy transforming to the pureness of Omni, the positive of the demonic and Angelic variants... Alex hung his head. Whitney staring at him as Lynn raised a brow at his abrupt quiet attitude, Amara plastered another fake smile over his lips so he could finish his previous speech,
"Rosey and I got done with the meeting... things don't seem too good. We only have four months before the Advent, and that's hoping these Incarnation assholes don't change their minds suddenly. Mr. Rivera wants us to head home, says if we don't go there then we should at least go home to watch it,"
The feeling of the healing energy and new life surge throughout his throat, Whitney couldn't help but smile at the new feeling, standing up with a palm pushing him upward. The Hunger cracking his fingers as they stretched out, a simple tap from the tip of Al's index had repaired Sunni's lower skull to its former perfected glory. Lynn and Myers reunited together, the couple sharing a loving embrace as their arms wrapped around one another. Her cheek against his chest, Alex smiled at the happiness of his friends... missing the girl he loved with green eyes. Just as they were about to head for the platform to elevate them back to the surface, Alex reached out to get their attention,
"Whitney, Sunni!" Their heads turned to see the eyes of their friend solely shining in the darkness of this underground locale, Alexander's mood changed from the pure and happy it was moments prior. Shifting to the seriousness of the situation for the future, a signature rasp and edge in his voice became apparent as they snapped to face him. On an important note, this rasp only came out in his vocal cords near the end of his piece of advice... just for your imagination,
"Ensure you take this seriously, you two. Spend every waking moment of your life to this cause, devote your heart to this cause... you pair of lovebirds,"
Nothing else more to say, Whitney and Lynn, took his advice to heart, promising silently as they nodded to the Requiem of Justice. Pushing out his strands of hair, the platform beneath them began to lift them higher into the air, the leaking of individual parts of light from the sun began to cover. The basketball field covered with that piece of ground, Whitney spotting Rose on a bench taking a bite of a hot dog, she scrolled on her phone. Humming with one plugged earbud attached to the hole in her cellular device, the purple-eyed Hunger greeted the ginger friend he had,
"Rose. You just gonna stay there and ignore us like you weren't silently begging to see us again?"
Waving with her palm, she began to stand, going over to hug them, squeezing her comrades... leaving Alex alone in the darkness. No one with him, the eyelids shut at a gradual rate over his optics so he would be alone once more. Just with the darkness, which he relished in, and with this hairstyle? Nothing more than something disheveled and pathetic. Unfortunately, since he was away from his bathroom at the moment, there was nothing more he could do than use his stolen hair tie to push his strands together. Forming a ball, he now had his signature man bun, two strands over his hair curly and staying over his temples- the moment he had before the last of the sun leaked out before he was alone... he seemed to be content. With wherever he was in this world, and the feeling he'd experienced right then and there, dread, hatred, worry, maybe anxiety. He just wished... for their safety.
A flower was placed onto the grass, resting in front of the stone, sunglasses folding as they were hidden in a pouch on his pants. Pushing out his hand so his fingers could generate the shocking sensation of electricity, the dirtiness of the grave had faded away, burning so it could remain shiny and new. As if it'd never been forgotten by the sews of time, the bouquet of lilies began to move with the wind, the breeze pushing some of his strands of snowy hair. The weather fitted with the spring season, August couldn't help but smile, the reflection of his face in the shine of the material to his front.
'Celine Pierce. 2020 - 2035. Some life is gone too fast... we must relish the youth we saved. For we never know, when it might fade away, one day.'
Just as he'd promised, the heart and soul of the World had formed right then and there. His smile widening as he stared right at her, anatomy composing entirely of the Omni energy, pieces of light twisting together as she reformed and reincarnated into a new body. Marveled by this sight, the first time he'd tried this though he'd been told before this meeting... what more could he do but smile? Her eyelids began to lift, revealing the hue of her crimson eyes, pasty lengthy locks levitating with the wind as she stretched out her limbs. Widening her eyes with a soft gasp, she fell abruptly for a moment... August warping as quick as light to catch her before she could hit her head on the tombstone. His girl in his arms, she began to blink, processing everything. The sky, the sun, the clouds; all of it in front of her eyes once again. No longer a dream in another realm where she had no control over her soul, but a reality where she could stay- with him,
"Aug... ust..?"
The girl quizzically inquired with her hand on his cheek, weakly raising her limb so her fingers could caress against his skin. And just like that, he melted, eyes watering, on the verge of breaking out into tears that could spill out his eyes like a river- August chuckled. Nodding repeatedly, she scoffed at the sight, pushing out her legs, and with a smirk over her face, she greeted her long-lost lover. Arms ensnaring his neck, she began to sit up properly so her lips could be mere inches away from his own. Parting her mouth so she could greet him once again, all she had to say to break him was,
"What took you so long, dummy?"
One kiss was all they needed, to be cemented with one another once again. In the vastness of time, though there existed unlimited possibilities throughout every single corner of the Multiverse, none of them could beat this. Throughout the Heavens and Earth, he alone was... the Honored One.
"People come and they goooooo~ Some people may, stay with you thoughhhhh~"
The sweetness of the singer's voice had entered their ears, vocals smoothly moving with the calm atmosphere. Small chatter around this location from those already seated and those just entering to take a spot at a table. The couple closed their menus at the same time, August took Celi's, handing it to the waiter, including a flirtatious little wink as he thanked her audibly,
"Ce sera tout,"
To which Celine turned her head with a confused expression, an imaginary question mark appearing over her head before fading away, August then turning to Pierce poking her in the cheek twice with his pointer finger. Her skin squishing, Celi squeaked at the feeling as she held her face for a moment as Rivera decided to take her hands in his own, her pupils darting down then making eye contact. As he was ready to speak, she interrupted him, her hand on his cheek turning his head so she could examine the odd-one-out. The day she'd met him, he had brown hair and green eyes, now, since her soul had been infused with his soul some twenty-something years ago... white hair and a red left eye. Glistening in response to her crimson orbs, their glow sent a tightening feeling to their chests, spirits reacting to the connection they held through space. Unleashing a soft laugh from her lips she'd tried to stifle, Pierce's eyes looked from her mop of whiteness to the left eye he was gifted from when their souls were one- how fascinating,
"I like your eyes, uh... how'd that happen again? It's kinda cool, but it's sorta freaky at the same time?"
"Oh, I have no idea still. Had this thing for what, about 22 years? I don't even remember what my hair used to look like before I met you,"
The Reaper gave as a response to the girl he'd lost, reaching for her wrist- then, unfortunately, watching with a horrified expression as his hand fell through her fading limb. August's lips turned upward into a smile, nervously chuckling at the sight before him as he forcefully grabbed her limb to stare at it. Not much time left... sweat began to run down the side of his face, tears building up in the corner of his eyes. Another laugh managing to cough out from his throat, Celine gently smiling, both palms clasping each side of his skull so she could stare right at him. What he needed was a distraction, she saw that now, from the coming war, the future- every mystery it held and the events he couldn't account for. A God among men, the most powerful creature in the multiverse with power beyond this or any other world... and yet so powerless. How much time before she began to fade- before he could get to see her once again?
"Pierce..?"
That voice-! He'd heard it so many times by now, August couldn't mistake it for anyone else, Celi and the white-haired man's necks turning to face the Detective. Fitted with a suitcase after a hard day at work following the meeting at the Castle, Karlo couldn't help but smile at the sight before him. Having heard so much about this girl, he'd only been able to see her follow his rival but a fortnight ago, Azazel running close to greet her. Extending out his hand so he could greet her with a handshake or maybe a friendly hug... he examined it, her decomposing at a slower rate. It wasn't only Aug that needed reassuring, she could tell that from the look on the Fool Detective's face, they needed someone. To tell them that life was worth living, that it was worth moving forward so they could reach a verdict- peace. Finally,
"Keep fighting, both of you. Not just for the sake of the future, but for yourselves... so you can be happy with the peace you all created. Please, for everyone you care about and who cares about you, for every universe that's counting on you guys, keep moving forward,"
Those... were Celine Pierce's parting words, with the finale of that speech echoing through time, sending a soft kiss against the cheek of her Reaper lover. Just as he'd reached his hand out to grab hold of her, she'd disappeared- returning to nothing but the form of Omni she'd reincarnated into. Balls of that light flying out the window then curving out the door for Azazel to watch... powerless. Stepping over so his hand could be drawn to the shoulder of his friend, August laughed. Teeth against one another as the emerald pieces of lightning began to spark out from his wrists, both eyes shifting to the bloody palette of crimson, the Requiem Reaper was hysterical. Tears dripping from his eyes with a pained expression, all he could do was stay still. Celine, Ella, who else would he be so useless to save? August scoffed at the feeling, stomping out of the cafe, Detective Karlo's eyes widening as he went after his 'brother,'
"August! Don't leave, you idiot!"
~How charming...~ The World Arcana representative thought, rubbing his chin as he turned around, then yanking out his shades to cover over his heterochromia orbs of sight. The raven-tinted frames shielding the true colorful tint of his eyes, August turned to his partner with a confused and curious expression over his face, another invisible question mark emerging from the top of his head. The moment he'd turned around, the look was filled with... some sort of hidden rage, as if he'd kept it inside of him for centuries. And the oddest thing about it? The pure simper that'd been plastered over his lips.
Giving two impressions to anyone who wasn't a trained reader like the Detective, but Azazel knew better. He'd known him since he was a teenager, and he knew... the rage he was hiding. Not only for the Incarnations and the so-called Benevolent God He'd named Himself, but at his so-called infinite power he'd been told was limitless. "How noble..." Az couldn't help but think as he stared down his best friend, hands hiding in the pockets of his pants, giving him the information he'd missed after leaving the meeting so quickly,
"Your dumbass old man wanted you to know about the press conference. Either go to the Castle so we can see it live or we should head home to see what he's going to say,"
Luckily for August, he could use this to calm down, turn the situation calmer so that he wasn't his bitter self at the moment. Letting out a sigh of relief, he rubbed his nape for a moment then going with Azazel, walking with him down the streets of Paris so they could head to their home. Arms behind his back, the Law Enforcer just walked normally, one leg in front of the other repeatedly like any other human. Just as they'd been walking together for about 15 seconds without speaking, the loudness of August had interjected the enjoyable silence of his black-haired friend's mind,
"Can we get pizza? I kinda didn't get to have my food because... well, ya know,"
"Just shut up and order it, Rivera,"
"Yayy!"
After arriving at their abode, the box was thrown onto the table, the couch right behind it. Furniture holding the pie see-through and composed of glass, the Reaper propped up his feet against the counter popping open the crate with the greasy pizza. Taking a slice, dangling it over his widened mouth, he chomped the front of the food as Azazel took his slice hanging from the array of cut pieces. The Detective gently bit the food, the cheesiness of the top tearing off with his teeth with the Requiem Reaper doing the same as they both moaned at the taste. The voice of a woman entered their ears, their eyes opening and their pupils sliding against the center of the eyeball so it could turn to the left and stare at her.
None other than the Fool's wife and the World's young cousin, Rivera smiled at the sight of his relative before warping over to her. Standing to her back and wrapping his arms around her so he could hug her with his limbs entangled around her throat. Blaire laughing at the feeling as his lips pressed against her cheek, Azazel taking her hand that was at her side kissing her knuckles. Another peck against her forehead as he smiled at the sight of the woman he loved, the two shared a loving kiss, with August back on the couch. Taking another bite of the tip belonging to the greasiness of the unhealthy pizza, the TV powered on with but a snap from his free fingers. The channel switching to the News, Channel 72 had been preparing for the press conference his father was about to hold. While Karlo and Blaire were sharing their kiss with another, he called to them, mouth full with the extracts of the chewy content,
"Mmgh! Dad's..." He gulped, a fist against his lips as he burped into it with another sigh of relief from the stress on his stomach being lifted. Sighing at the relieving sensation he'd momentarily experienced, the second after finishing the pushing-out of gas, his index stretched toward the screen as he finished his sentence, "Blerghh, Dad's on!"
Saving the rest of their greeting for later, Azazel stood beside the couch with Blaire sitting beside her cousin, snatching the first of the final three slices. Karlo's resting on his lover's shoulder, moving it from front to back so she'd feel the calming event of a small massage. Knowing she'd probably make some sexual moan from the pleasure he was physically giving her, Azazel felt the sting of electricity against his palm. Wincing momentarily, August paid no mind as his cousin giggled at her way of protecting her, arm around her back. Carefully pulling her close, her head rested against her relative's arm while Karlo stood where he was. The male partners side-eyeing at one another for a second, they put aside their silly rivalry to watch as the newly-elected Emperor of the World began to speak.
Across the world, Ben's allies and family watched from different parts of the Empire. In Paris, Louis, his grandson, taking a step out from the kitchen with the sandwich he'd made with his mother. The black-haired Frosty Priestess producing ice cubes from her palm that dropped into the cup, the straw in between her lips sliding the liquid into her lips. Plopping to the right of his mother, he began to hand the sandwich that she'd asked for as he took a simple bite tearing the bread and contents of everything squished together.
In New York, every one of the Major Arcana watched with anticipation. The loft the three had rented mirroring the design Azazel's house had, Alex on the edge of his seat at the couch. Rose on the right chair seated in the lap of the Hunger, by chance, Whitney's hand around her bottom. Which, if you're questioning, it's because Rosalyn put his hand there and he doesn't know how to pull it back without it getting bitten.
Hazel laid flat on her back on Lynn's thighs, Ed had been seated on the carpet the furniture had been implanted against. The Star's back leaning against the right leg of the Sun, taking a bite of the apple watching it throw into the air. Spinning for a moment, the fruit that'd been propelled by an explosion from his fingers entering the air for but a moment before hitting his palm once again. Sunni using one of her hands to play with Adams' hair, Lynn used her right hand to slide her fingers back and forth through Singh's bunch of brownness.
Mei bent over the back of the couch, arms entangled around the neck of her best friend while Matt had the Priestess's sister, Genesis, right in his lap. Beau rubbing the wrist of the girl's right limb with a content smile, Johnson and Edmund couldn't help but send one another grins. Both of full happiness for one another, the Rising former Sun representative Mei smacking the Strength to the back of her friend's head. While Gen just gave a kiss to Matt's collarbone, the Magician winced at the surprise pleasure. After giving one another their affection and otherwise, they turned their heads forward, awaiting the Emperor of the New Era to show up.
Without any further ado, he'd showed up, the final step pressing his sole against the last print of the stairs. Now in the middle portion of the parting stairways that'd split to left and right, the mics had been set up, microphones aimed right at his mouth. Hands grabbing at the parts of the podium, the feedback had sent the reporters to cover their ears at the screeching audio of his vocals as they hit the sound-absorbers. Lips parting, as he began to speak loudly, he introduced himself to the mass media,
"Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Ben Rivera. But you all know me as Emperor Rivera. Today, you might be questioning why today, of all days, I've called this meeting to order. As you all know, there is the threat of the coming Advent that once again threatens the safety of the Empire. The date I was given was the start of next year, January 1st, 2060. No one knows what's going to happen, not even me or my son. We might be strong, but even the future is unpredictable. It's June now, eight months are remaining until January. We must be ready, time is moving faster than ever before, and we can't tell what might happen in the next few months. They might attack at any given moment, these Beings are not to be trusted, though they might have seemingly noble goals. Rahab, Moriah, Lucifer, Satan, Almighty. Apostles will rain and emerge right from the depths of Hell to destroy this Earth, just to take me. They won't hesitate to obliterate anyone or anything else that stands in their way. They will infiltrate and seep into the ranks of our home, tear apart our family for the sake of the only annihilation. To prepare for the threat of the Incarnations, Rivera Manufacturing will produce state-of-the-art weapons in the form of nanotechnology jewelry. Rings, necklaces, everyone registered will be given these artifacts just so we can tell the impostors from the true citizens. When evil comes knowing at our door- WE WILL BE READY! THE EMPIRE WILL STAND THEIR GROUND TO OPPOSE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GODS AND THE EARTH WILL STAND AT THE CENTER OF THE COSMOS, AT OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE AS RULERS! DEDICATE YOUR HEARTS TO THE CAUSE, MY LOYAL SUBJECTS!!!"
They roared with praise, arms raising as they charged their fists to the air battle-ready looks on all their faces. Ben had nothing but fear on his face, unable to even push up his smile as he began to revel in the feeling of this global applause. People all over the world, Subjects of his manipulation, cried following the loud announcement over the screens. Japanese, Russian, British, French, Mexican, everyone in the world cried for their beloved Emperor. The masses loved every part of him, the public was in his favor. Obscured out of view from the cameras locked onto him, Jason had leaned over the railing above his baby brother, head resting in the hide of his arms. Madi resting on his right shoulder aiding him by rubbing his back, their father standing in the background with his purple pupils glistening in the shadows. Uraku's back against the wall with Matt stretching his arms across the couch, legs crossed and eyes aimed toward the ceiling.
Who could tell what would happen in the future? Where would the streams of time take them, and what chaos would the Emperor's speech incite? As the sun began to set behind the horizon, the sky was blessed with a mix of pink-fiery tint as the stars began to twinkle above. The night began to leak out from the twilight, with the day ending so the next would arrive. Time was moving. At a continuous rate... forever.
To Be Continued!
Chapter 67 of the Angel of Death - The Wings of Darkness