Flipping sideways to dodge over an incoming bulky piece of rock coming for him, the Reaper grunted at the sight before him landing right on his knees beside the pillar. Knowing that any part of that hardened column was dangerous enough to propel those huge things right at him from any angle, August saw to it that it would be exterminated. Facing right at it as the bottom portion of the balancer was destroyed instantaneously, the Four Eyes took control of everything, it was as if he could see everything with this strength. Sucking in through his teeth, his hands moved as if not even under his control, punching another to smithereens then backflipping over another just to land on it as it extended out further through the air before it was stomped on and turned to pebbles. Just then as it was obliterated, the incoming square-like part of the ground began to emerge from both sides of him ready to squish him to nothing but a bloodstain. Luckily enough, both tendrils of light and dark were able to form themselves at fists at the ends so they could turn each of them to nothing but nonexistent.
Wiping his knuckles against his fist with a clean attitude over himself, he breathed on his nails and smugly inquired of his black lipstick-wearing enemy with a loud yell imbued to the question,
"Come on, is that all you got?! A bunch of stupid rectangles made of rock?! You're like an earth bender who doesn't even know how to bend properly, show me some real talent, whore!"
Laughing audibly with a psychotic undertone to it, his eyes widened as the atone began to crumble and rearrange itself via her intentions slamming her foot down once more. Using his feet to throw himself into the air so he could dodge the spikes that'd popped out of the ground, beginning to get bigger and bigger so that the tips would point right at his chest. Knowing that this would be difficult not only for the way that these projectiles were insanely fast, but the sharp edges were drenched in Azazel's spilled blood from their earlier battle. Meaning, if one of them hit him... it'd likely burst through the rebuilt barrier of Shattered Limit and scrape then paralyze him, or even worse, kill him if she's going for a fatal blow. And seeing as how one of those things barely thrust up his chin from beneath him, August gasped and teleported out of the way higher above the lower level looking around below him. It was as if the whole floor had morphed into a dungeon, spikes protruding out from the ground at such an enormous size, remembering of the time he'd spent training with his grandfather in the astral Temple between time and space.
They began to fly right at him, with no time between but the movements he took for himself, the Reaper swiftly contorted and moved out of the way. Just as one of those flying spikes began to spread apart the cloud, it began to split apart and destroy before rearranging to another shape. Smaller and able to cut through his thicker layer of flesh because of the smaller size as they passed over the moon to head for his back. The tendril of light sliding out of his soul to surround his arm as he cut through one of the incoming spikes from the ground below with a simple overhead slash to cut it into two larger pieces.
Throwing his body with the slash so he could get further into the ground about to decapitate his female enemy with a sadistic smirk painted over both his lips. The Plague needn't even give her opponent a tilt of her head so she could stare into the heterochromatic pupils of her enemy before she kicked up her leg for a moment. The two chunks of stone that he'd managed to cut through hadn't even begun to descend toward the lower level of debris cluttered together then morphed back to the same lean sort of tendrils encircled around his wrists.
Pulling the Reaper back so he could fly further into the air and skies, August spun around for just a moment putting his hands to his side to catch his balance. The spikes punctured his rear with blood began to seep into his Omni cells, Rivera slammed into the air writhing in agony and pain. Scoffing then spitting out a tooth with blood following out from his throat, the demonic blood of his partner paralyzed him right then and there. The two contrasting converged against one another to keep their holder right then and there, Alex had sliced one of the regenerated pawns with his whip, sparks, and everything radiating out from the wound of his cut-off waist. Seeing no more of those underlings to mutilate and demolish, he heard the thud and crash, pebbles hitting the back of his skull to do clutter into his loose strands.
Cracking his neck so he could scan over the sight of his mentor stuck to the ground, the spikes were torn out from his advisor's tail end. The Reaper winced at the anguish experienced as his young underling ripped out those tipped weapons crunching them in his hands, the Judge watched as August began to rise slowly rubbing his shoulder gently so the pain would begin to cease. The life energy surging throughout his circular stab wounds so the blood would begin to disintegrate as the energy healed those injuries, the white-haired man stared up at her as she began to take a simple step off and descend, feet slamming into the hardened surface of the ground below.
The debris she destroyed from her landing rearranging to turn into a cube to propped her up, Alex simply snarled at the bitch as she began to rub at her chin closing her eyes as if comically thinking. Leaning back against, since it hadn't been destroyed so it could be reorganized into another shape, she inquired of these men before her,
"What do you creatures think you all are? Not human, no, I'm sure that much is clear to all of you. You erased that race when you committed that Purging, and for what? To gain the public's favor in some sort of pathetic way? You committed a cleansing of an entire race but because there was no bloodshed, you so-called officials believe you all did nothing wrong. Already, the sudden Wings of Darkness that appeared from out of fucking nowhere have put the public's trust in the Capital in a downward spiral to distrust. Oh, I know I may lose, both of you are powerful, especially more so than I am. But your words are filled with lies, the people will see that, even if I have to die; I'd have upheld the Crow's symbol... of justice," Pushing out her arm then clenching her fingers together to form a fist, she slammed her palm to the ground so the inured structures of rectangular squares against the floor could begin to rearrange. Contorting and monstrously snapping into the place she designed for these shapes, the Plague couldn't help but smile widely at the goal she had in mind for herself. Giggling sadistically staring straight ahead with a murderous look in the center of her orbs of vision, everything obeyed her neurons' will and intentions to bend and snap into a sharpened tendril with an edged tip circling her, "Now, you must perish, and become sages, teach those corrupt and filled with lies; the truth of this world!"
Back then, in the Between where Hell laid below in the fiery hills where everything was laid to waste. And Heaven rested above, the clouds and platforms repaired as the new souls lived their lives in fear of another attack from the humans on Earth, there they were. Standing as the water ran across her ankles and the wind from the air of this spiritual dimension coursed through her stream of brown strands, they all stood there, as if paralyzed in fear. Nevertheless, the one who took the first step was none other than the youngest one there, the Fool-turned-Emperor, the flowers of youth began to wash over the wrinkles he'd gained. Widening their eyes in surprise at the sight before them, he'd suddenly aged back to the way he was, when he was but a 16-year-old boy.
Her hands went to his cheek instinctively, pecking his forehead so he would feel the warmth of her embrace in the arms of this woman... Ben couldn't hold back and hugged her with all the strength he'd accumulated over these past 50-something years of his life. She couldn't help but smile at this sensation, the loving embrace of a child loving her, something she'd craved, waiting as if it'd been eons since she'd felt the slightest of human contact. Following Ben, it was Jason, and then, it was Madi, crossing the River; to the astral world. Rejoining and rekindling their souls together to fuse with this dead one, for now, they all embraced their mother as if they were children once again.
All that remained was him, as she began to open her eyes, she made out his face, taller than the rest, Jason could feel the signal to let go. Yanking his younger siblings away so they could watch from the sidelines, Uraku's face was as cold-hearted as ever when she began to step closer. Daring to even try and take her hand, she flattened her hand all the Ay so she could give him a deserving slap right across the face sending a shockwave through all of this beautiful realm. Mutters of the relatives began the enter the air amongst themselves as Jay started then Ben and finally Madi,
"I wanted to do that, lucky..."
"Asshole deserved that, heh,"
"Why is it that their hair is the same shape and everything, I've never realized that,"
The most shocking discovery was what the sister had managed to state, the brothers' grabbing at the tiny hairs on their chin examining their mother and father's features. Just then, it all came back to them, she always wore her hair down, it was so messy- it was such an obvious thing. Both of them turning their head as if to mock Madisyn who'd been crossing her arms over her chest with a satisfied look over their eyes, the brothers praised their female relative,
"I'd never noticed it before, you're so cool, Madi!"
"So fuckin' badass and pretty!"
Throwing her hair back so it'd slowly and dramatically flow with the wind, she pushed the tips of her fingers against her chin as if posing for some camera shoot she was doing. About to part her lips and respond to the two of them, it was as if reality had snapped backwashing over her conscience. Both of them hadn't even paid her any mind by turning their bodies completely to face her, they just side-eyed her from their forward-facing positions and asked her with the black-haired Hunter going first,
"The hell're you posing like that for? You look like a freak,"
Gasping in surprise as Ben held in his chortle at his big brother, they shared a secret high five behind his back so that Madi would only strangle one of them. But just then, HIS vocals reached out to the woman he'd been standing in front of, hands raising about to touch her once more... and as he spoke, they began to fall,
"It's wonderful to see you again, Jess. I... I've missed you. These past 70 or so years, I want you to know, I never stopped loving you. Every day, from the moment I'd made that stupid decision to leave you, and our children back on Earth... I couldn't stop thinking. About you, about our future, what could've been if I'd just stayed," Fists shaking, the quivering feeling sliding down from his arms to glide to every portion of his muscular frame... he squeezed his fingers into his flesh and sighed. The woman he was speaking to shook her head as she reached out to touch his hands and held them gently on his own, the look she gave him was one of complete encouragement. As she slid her thumb against his palm and caressed his emotions, he continued despite it, "But despite everything I can do, none of us can change time. Things go the way they go and we choose the path ahead. I regret everything up to this point but if this is the way Fate intended everything to go then... I have no choice but to accept it. So, I'm sorry, I have- no other excuse-"
Just then, she couldn't wait any longer, hands clasping at each side of his face to give him a gentle kiss on the top of his upper lip. Hands sliding to the back of her neck, he widened his eyes in surprise and confusion, before just going along with it and putting his arms above her waist. Kissing her back, the loving reunification lasted only a short moment longer as the female yanked herself back with tears in her eyes as she commented, vocals breaking,
"You talk too much... heh,"
The siblings to the back of their reuniting parents couldn't help but hold those proud smiles over their lips. Jason elbowing his breath in the arm so Ben could chuckle gently at the sight, Madi looked down to hide her soft smile at the scenery before them. And just then, their mother use the chest of the toned Uraku to push herself away for just a second then spooning her head so her eyes could meet her children's as she announced proudly,
"Let's get something to eat,"
One of those circular beams crashed apart, miniatures pieces of that stone and hardened material flying as it broke apart instantaneously from hitting the ground. Having simply jumped back seeing as how he'd been in the position where the structure had touched, August watched as it formed to another shape right in front of his very eyes. Raising his hand, he readied to cut it straight down the middle of a slide of plasma that would slice through it then leading further to cut the enemy right down the middle. Simply turning her head as the ground began to form a slab to the left side of her skull, Alex's fist had created a sonic boom, the radiating shockwave sending him back so he could find himself right in mid-air. Twirling back about to lose his balance, the Judge whip began to unravel from at his lower side, it contorting then entangling the opponent's left wrist has been undefended.
Widening her eyes at the marvelous feat he'd accomplished, the way he moved was too quick for even her to register, body stretching closer and further ahead as his fingers and limbs began to crackle with the signature spark of lightning. Knowing she'd use her feet as a way to reorganize the ground back into the slab, Amara had simply done the rational thing, once his face was right there; close to the square-like shape of the defense she'd created- his fist had simply crashed right through it. Infusing it with the Peace of Mind and obliterating right through so chunks would blast out from the destructive force he'd thrown into the punch, she couldn't help but stare right in disbelief. Losing her calm composure as she titled her head to the left about to direct her attention toward the long-haired boy, she was then kicked right across the right side of her face, courtesy of the Reaper, so she'd tumble to the left instead.
Snapping his whip so her fist would hit the ground and bounce back up so it'd hit her cheek, August smugly snickered in the slowness of the attack as her blood contaminated the air. About to land on his back after throwing that awesome kick, August warped right out of nowhere as the Requiem Judge landed flat on his feet, anything he did would knock her out so he was careful to simply flick her cheek with the slightest bit of Requiem energy pushed into it. And just like that, the flick had been dramatically exaggerated thanks to the newfound strength and resolution he'd found both mentally and physically for himself.
As she flew to the right of the building, Rivera reformed right beside his young partner patting his shoulder and then both of them breathing heavily at the new sight before them. The blood hadn't even touched the floor yet, and more to add, it was her very own blood, at that, so she could manipulate and reorganize it using the infinite power she was gifted to by the hands of her savior. The drop began to evolve at an exponential rate, and just then, a clone had been made. Aug then Alex glanced at one another as if silently and telepathically speaking with one another before they'd agree mutually... Rivera flipped right over the copy after getting a running start to charge his fist and slam right down at the ground in front of her. Discharging lightning from his knuckles so it'd take a mind of their own and tear off her skin, Natalia was smarter, as she'd already manipulated the ground further to rise a column from beneath her very feet.
A wave of rocks began to stop from the very wide peak of the pillar before they went right down to himself. Scoffing at the pathetic woman he'd seen right there, the Requiem Reaper hovered behind her as she turned around, and just then, she raised her arms to defend her, a simple bitchslap to the face sending her right through the remains of the Smithsonian so she'd crash right onto the ground of rubble. About to stand right up as she used one of her hands on the ground to utilize as leverage, Smith then gasped in surprise- she no longer had control of her ability!
At the same time as August had gone flipping over the copy's head so she could take on the duplicate, Amara dodged over an incoming punch to the face. Stepping back so he'd be on the defensive, she squared up to her fists, veins visible in her neck and otherwise glaring at her opponent with a specific glare in her eyes. Then going for a simple uppercut, he'd waved further out of the way than using a hammer kick to break the middle of her neck, as she screamed in horror and held what remained of her arm in terror- she gasped and panted heavily attempting to remain calm. Using his enhanced speed, he manifested behind her grabbing her by the hair and then slamming her face-first into the floor below so her blood would decorate the rocks to his soles. The gore splatting out from her nostrils and mouth began to break her teeth and nose as her bones began to crunch and his grip tightened. Seeing no use to torture her any further, the whip snapped and unraveled as if never before.
Tying around his wrist and then cracking with white lightning that surrounded the arena, he whipped it around circling it so it'd engulf the remainder of his frame. Meanwhile, right behind him, the Reaper had jumped down from the remnants of the roof with his palm right in hand glistening and thundering with the radiance of superheated plasma. The electricity coursing through every fabric of his corns so he could unleash the purest version of the Peace of Mind technique, Al and August needn't even share a stare to the other.
"Peace of Mind.."
The tip of the whip lodging itself to the front of her skull then gradually beginning to cut her in half, then, the blazing tips of his fingers cut right through the top of her head to slice her down the middle with no hesitation. The droplets splashed onto their face and those remaining pieces of their inner flesh drenched them in red so that August and Alex would simultaneously unleash the form as their attacks connected at just the same time. The energies touched together for just a split second in time so that the surging of electricity would begin to swirl together in the center of the Milky Way, their colored eyes began to brighten and illuminate the Universe itself as the Reaper and the Judge had distorted space itself announcing at the same time together telepathically with their mind's eyes linked,
"The Night Stars' Blazing Inferno!"
A rim of that energy began to circle them both, ripping their arms back from the hissing of steam as their flesh boiled from the heat they produced. Standing together in that protective layer of hotness, their backs against one another, August needed to take a step back, using just one finger to tap his friend on the shoulder so Alex would turn around and be met with a fist as the Reaper said sheepishly with a charming grin,
"We got 'em,"
Alex didn't know the truth behind this incident, not the full story, anyway, so part of him hadn't known that they'd avenged two people that day. He felt it right that they celebrate their victory right here without any worries, their knuckles meeting together with August shutting his eyelids over his discolored optics, Alexander scoffing at the old master he had and his corniness...
"What a mess..."
A few minutes later, they'd decided to stand at the former entrance of the location, to which the location had been demolished in the few short hours they'd ALL been fighting. August rubbed his chin while Amara just searched for survivors looking to see if they'd been trapped beneath any rubble. August went to work redecorating the place, flicking his wrist humming to himself, earbuds tucked in there as the sirens of the local law enforcement came along with search and rescue. Everything seemed to be going along quite well so far, so Alex couldn't help but wonder about that pathetic speech that woman had said... except for some scratches on mostly August, what did she have going for herself?
Were her motivations so lofty that they needed no further explanation, or where they just so downright empty that she was trying to convince herself she was doing something righteous to justify the fact she was killing innocent people? Casually strolling alongside the rubble with the Four Eyes searching simultaneously as he nonchalantly worked without a care in the world, August yelped then feeling the brush of fingers against his ankle. Just then, as he stepped back, he could make out one arm that belonged to a female- and wouldn't you know it? There she was, the last few parts she'd been able to repair before the end of her unfortunately short life span.
While she may have been a sinner and guilty of lots of crimes, so was his father, and he sure as hell wasn't the most righteous person either. Cauterizing the wound at the lower stump of her head, he kneeled and cleaned her with a wave of his hand giving her just enough energy and stopping time so they could share a conversation. There was no doubt that if she was able to talk there, her soul was preserved, meaning she had unfinished business left with the living. And it was time he'd helped her, just as he aided in Celine's passing all those years ago.
So, he transported both of their souls to the wasteland of the Void, both of them across from one another, he couldn't help but hold in his laugh as she quizzically darted her eyes from side to side of the room without a single idea in her mind of what the hell was going on. Beginning to stand, August simply put his hands behind his back, as if unintentionally mentioning or better yet, summoning the wiseness of his grandfather as Natalia loudly inquired,
"What the hell is this?!"
"The Void. It's the inner space between our mind and the soul. Usually, patients in mental hospitals experienced phenomena like this ever since getting their powers, more specifically, patients with DID,"
The mention of powers, reminding her of the Purge, the day the world changed and the Empire had risen.. gritting her teeth together, she couldn't help but begin to cry. Natalia grabbed at her face yet Rivera reappeared right beside her so he could embrace her gently, but his help was returned with a slap against the chest making sure not to damage his face. Seeing as how reserved she was, he wanted to explain, but instead, she sniffled, wiping her eyes with her palms so she could explain,
"I wanted... I wanted to be him, ya know? A Detective, like him. I wanted to prove myself to him, so he'd know that I was something more than just a rich little white girl. A spoiled brat... I wanted to be someone special, without having powers, I wanted to be just as successful as a human. And then, your stupid fucking father had to come in and ruin it all, didn't he? Curse me and make me this monster, the second I touch something, GONE! Because I'm such a demon that everything I touch has to be destroyed, I can't even remember the way skin feels because I always had to wear those stupid FUCKING GLOVES!! I just wanted to ask you... if you could tell him I'm sorry. I didn't want it to turn out like this, but the way the world turned out, I had to do a thing about it. Tell him I love him, and he was the only father I ever knew,"
August's eyes watered gazing at her, his hand on her shoulder, she didn't do anything to slap it away- though she looked away in shame. Sure enough, she didn't want to do what she did, though it's clear... She felt she had no other choice. With both the Wings of Darkness and the news of the Plague emerging as threats, the subjects will continue to lose their trust in the Capital quicker and quicker. The Reaper decided to lean in and press his lips against the girl's forehead, her eyes widening as she gasped in surprise for a second, just then she was just a kid for more seconds in the vastness of this time forever. August waved to her as the light began to engulf not only her but him... as well.
Shooting back to reality, August jumped right out of bed widening his eyes looking around feeling the electricity spark throughout his veins. Where the hell was he and how did he get here? Trying to register everything that'd happened between now and then, he quickly recognized the bed he was sitting in, throwing his legs right over the edge so he could begin to calm down. Usually, deep booming voices would help with that regard, but sometimes, they just manage to freak you out even more.
Stepping out as his clothes began to reform around him with the sleeves attaching themselves to his muscled limbs, August stood right there below... Him. The Almighty in all of His so-called glory standing at the top of a stairway with His throne to His rear began to clap. Each new clap His hands making as the palms touched manifesting a sort of explosion effect throughout the entire galaxy so that nearby stars would get the destruction treatment. Seeing no point in giving this Creature any semblance of respect, August scratched at his neck about to pop a fuse at the irritating loudness of his clapping- before he opened his mouth to yell,
"Ya know, for someone so godly and worship… able, you're such a fucking annoyance if I've ever heard one. That being said, what would you like from the resident most powerful creature in the multiverse?"
Bending this realm to his will so he could manifest a chair and sit right on it, Lucifer couldn't help but tilt his head- as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Cleaning their trident, all his attention was just then redirected at this man. Satan, knowing Moriah to be the human she was beneath her glowing body, raised their hand so she could stay still standing to the right of the Allfather's throne. The Author needed something from him, there was no other explanation for why he'd be called here, and despite August's loyalties to his father and the Empire; he couldn't help but be intrigued. The Embodiment of Evil deciding it best that they step forward to present the matter at hand, August rolled his eyes listening to this ancient evil as if it were nothing but an insolent child attempting to give off the chimera of being intimidating,
"{Be thankful you're being allowed into the very divine presence of the Incarnations of Total Obliteration. The Right Hand of the Angel and the Left Hand of the Demon have a proposition for thou. The insolent lambs of your planet are but pigs, waiting to be slaughtered and turned to livestock for the true power. The Absolute. You are meant to be ruled and decimated, you bore the ungodly will of the Almighty from your very own subconscious. The reason you move forward, the way you keep living and continuously go on and on, is an excuse to nothing else but life itself that thrives across every corner of every existing universe yet to be annihilated. Thousands of children will leak out their fluids as their bodies decay, the Devil himself will be there to tear open their throat and suck them dry as the Prince of Hell will burn those hollow shells to nothing but ash with the Hellfire from the depths of my Home. Do you truly believe you have any semblance of a chance of challenging us? Gods amongst men ruling over them, lambs to the slaughter,}"
The Requiem yawned at the pathetic illusion of their attempting, no chills had formed and he didn't heavily gulp or something. He wasn't scared like his father was when he was faced with these monumental giants, celestial gods, and entities. August scoffed, then grabbing his chair so he could try and have it meet the side of the Embodiment's skull.
Tendrils popping out from the shadowy cloak caping around their body, grabbing hold of the wooden material of the seat so Aug's hands would stop right in place. Without even needing to use a fist, Rivera fell flat on his face feeling the sharpness of pain enter his gut, the Reaper grunted holding his stomach while the pain began to fade. Satan took a simple step back pulling their arm back into their cape, the pentagrams over their horns changing their color from red to orange. Stepping away to go back to the Left of the Allfather, the Almighty's arms together, His foot slammed against the debris so some rocks would float away from the smashing impact to the ground.
"The forms you see before you are due to a psychic connection across the Beyond and Earth, I have tapped into your mind. September 1st, 2059, the new date of the Advent of Destruction has begun and chaos will reign down against the lands. The Blessed Emperor of Longing, The Lost Requiem across the Seas of Time... Obliteration will destroy every part of this world and the next. That is the destined will of the Law of Fate, causality wills it so- prepare your defenses. Happiness... will enact,"
Eyes shaking in fear for what to come in the future, the tears began to leak out from the edges of his eyes. The Reaper began to stand up straight, his lost consciousness thrown further away into the unknown so it could dart and bounce throughout last the stars of space before he grunted reappearing back on Earth. Holding his forehead with his very own palm, it began to throb, the memories of the past began to flash through his head as if a flashing bus had run past him across the street. He was through into that time; the relationships he'd made, the friendships and the protege he had, the younger him that he'd ensure would rise to the occasion and be better than he ever was. August clawed at his face and panted heavily as if he were running out of breath trapped in a metal underwater cell with no way to get out; everything seemed hopeless, and the world's air began to slowly fade away... until his name was called,
"August?" What? Did he dare around? Was this who he thought it was, rather who he... wished it were? The Reaper couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of that white-haired girl being there at his moments of turning to the opposite of his sane self. Then again, in this type of world, where even the slightest action or inaction could lead to thousands perishing at your hands.. why did it even matter? How dare she even come here, when she selfishly abandoned him when he needed her most- as he spun around..! There she was, in all of her innocent glory. Beautiful and her hair moving as it were snow itself, her crimson eyes blinking, mouth gape opened so she could move a bit closer and place her hands onto his cheeks. Their foreheads met, and just then, he'd realized... "I'll be waiting for you. Come home to me, loser-"
About to try and kiss her, his name was called again, yet this time; by a masculine one. The vocals deeper than he'd expected, it was unfitting of Alex's usual tone.
The Prince of Hell smirked at the sight unable to hold in his maniacal laughter, insolent and pathetic, specific to only humans. August's eyes began to bridle with the inner rage of his younger self and started to tear himself out from the hole in his heart saved for the girl he'd lost that day. With those besides Morningstar in the vague distance behind him, they all stood idly by watching as the Former Archangel began to make a blatant mockery of the man's trauma offering the true proposition that they'd been waiting for,
"Ahhh... isn't that fun? Women. Beautiful, kind, attractive, they're just amazing, aren't they? Their bodies, their personalities, and the way they act, personally, I couldn't let myself go with just one when I had those disappointments of daughters that couldn't even accomplish a single task. Women who have that power, MY blood running through their veins and they couldn't even manage to slaughter some overgrown toddlers throwing a temper tantrum. What, because their mommy died? Because his little girlfriend died or because his parents didn't love him? Well, if you're so desperate for that woman back, then do me a favor. All this bloodshed can simply be avoided if you bring him to me, your father. Bring to me the Emperor of Longing so I can finally show him true strength, and have a brother to share the wonders of destruction with. We are gods, or rather; Devils. Nevertheless, we hold immense power over every corner of the multiverse... and yet, we cannot control humans baselessly. They've outgrown our control, our influence, and we MUST put them back in our place to overtake our rightful throne at the center of the cosmos. All we need is that Rivera, give us that, and you can have your beloved back,"
Immediately, as if he'd already chosen the shameful option that was the offer Lucifer had just proposed. Laughing as if he'd destroyed the impossible odds he'd just been informed of before he managed to bring Aug back to the land of the conscience... what came next, would be expected. No doubt the King of Hell and the Almighty Ruler had predicted this shortcoming, every single one of those petulant children will be a thorn in the plans,
"I've just gotta.. do it, I guess, back then, grandpa was right. Never give mercy to your enemies, and because of that, I want you moronic excuses of living beings to know-" Rising his head from the hanging state it'd been in, August felt his hair poof up and move with the movements of his head. Bearing a signature forced grin that was grim with a wave of unbridled silent anger, the bloodlust in his eyes was so clear and so incredibly deep- he couldn't help but smirk as he finished his sentence with a chilling promise, "I'll kill you all, with my own bare hands. Rip you limb from limb and torture you by myself to make you all pay for what you did to my father, me, and Alex. I swear it."
Having gotten their answer just from that declaration alone, Lucifer scoffed as if irritated that his goading and manipulation techniques hadn't worked on the man. The Reaper's astral form was engulfed by the stars and rearranged so his consciousness would return to the physical plane, as Almighty took His seat at the Throne, Satan, standing to the left of the Allfather, decided it right to speak,
"Was that truly worth the effort of having him nearly obliterate us?"
The Author withheld a laugh, Moriah at His side playing with His very own wide locks of hair before then pulling back. Sitting up so one of the open strands would block out his left eye, the golden glow from the right one radiated out to shine against the darkness of the space and everything around it. Covering His mouth with His hand and knuckles, He admitted with another laugh,
"The time will come. The Emperor of Longing will obey our laws and join the Incarnations for the True Plan of Happiness. The children have grown outside of my control; all they truly need... is guidance,"
In the Between where the souls resided waiting to be dragged down to the fiery hills of the Hellish landscape below or the wondrous loving sight of Heaven above, they sat against the grass field. The sky changed colors from the usual bright afternoon or maybe late morning to something as if the sun were setting, the sun began to shine on the leaves, and the sky, usually blue, was overtaken by a sort of orange-pinkish shade with the star eating over the horizon for them. Having set out a big old table for all of them, they decided to dig right in and take bites of the abundance and differentiated amounts of food scattered alongside the length of the table. Jason furiously tore with his fangs at the meat circulating the inner bone, groveling and chewing loudly with no respect for table manners, akin to his teenager self physically. Ben had just been eating quietly yet messily as most of the crumbs just managed to fall from out of his mouth onto his lap or shirt, and then Madi… Madi was just herself. Uraku didn't eat anything, he just took some fries to himself as the saltiness slid itself against his teeth for him to chew on the crunchy exterior of the food. All that remained was her, sitting across from all of them as if the barrier of the wooden table had entrapped them once again from being near her. Cutting her steak with her fork keeping it down and her knife slicing it into a piece, she used her lips and vocalized loudly,
"So, you all still feel guilty about you four leaving me to die?"
And just like that, all of them stopped in their tracks to see what this was; the truth behind the encounter they were destined to see via the laws of causality. Uraku's eyes shakily glared with a hateful look, staring with murderous intent at the false spirit who'd pretended to be none other than his lost wife. About to leap over the table and choke her to death without mercy for whoever this soul was, Jason, without even turning his head to spare a glance at his siblings; wanted her to keep going. Casually eating and chewing on her food as she cut it into tiny pieces, her eyes, now being registered a normal shade a bit different than Madi and her father's… Ben used his hand to cover his lips. She spoke without mercy or regard for their feelings, some of her mouth filled with the juicy taste of the meat she'd sunken her teeth into, it was as if she'd never been there at all.
"Come on, now. We all know you could've saved me back then, any of you could have done the same thing. Ben, you could've just stopped time, Madi, you could've teleported behind me and Jason, you're super quick. Now let's recap everything we've gone through so far from this point forward. Jason, Madi, Ben… how do you all feel about my death? Oh- no need to answer, it's rhetorical, I'll explain for you.
Ever since little Jay Jay was a little kid, he was so reserved and kept away from the rest of the kids. Playing by himself, but then as he aged higher and higher, he grew to be more comfortable around certain people. Around the time you were 8, you started being interested in fighting, right? Getting into school fights and maybe even fighting to win money for weed or alcohol when you were in high school. And I suppose… right before the time of my death, maybe when I was getting diagnosed, you decided to distract yourself. Then even after you got your powers too, you kept fighting on and on, on the outside, you seemed so nonchalant and uncaring about me. You drown yourself in the fighting, in the blood, and everything because it distracts you from everything you've done wrong in your life, right? Like not being a good enough brother to Ben or Madi or not visiting me in the hospital, or better yet, not having the strength to save me. That's why you go along with Ben's sociopathic suicide missions, half of you just enjoy the thrill of a good fight and the other half is just hoping that one day… is the day you die and pay for everything you did or didn't do.
Next, we have Madi. Easy, with her; back then, she was sure I'd be okay, so she barely even visited me. She always went to the beach; trying to clear her mind even in some foggy or whatever weather, it didn't matter. She just kept lying and lying to herself hoping I'd be okay in the end when she knew nothing would get better. Continuously avoiding everything so she could have some pathetic belief that I'd be better in the future when she couldn't accept that things would go the way they did. And when I finally passed, and she didn't act; she was happy. She was free of all the depression and the sadness of having to worry about a somber ending to a life she'd always said she'd cared about. Part of me wonders why she's even with any of you, or better yet, why she considers herself your sister when she's such an irritating little shit who only cares about herself. It's all for nothing, isn't it? You do every Brit possible to try and die, time and time again,
And finally, the very worst of all, the so-called Emperor of Time. You know, Benny boy, you did everything right. You spent as much time with me as you could before I died and you came to me in the hospital. I suppose the thing is; why do you do the things you do, after I died, that fist drove into my chest and destroyed my heart instantaneously- you orchestrated it. Tell me something, but why? After everything that happened ever since I died, Ryder, Ella, Henry… August, what happened? You felt so guilty and then it just stopped. Is it because of something that happened deeper in the past that happened, or maybe it's because that the future you saw was so absolute and horrific that there was no point in sulking any longer? You dedicated your heart and soul to the fight against Heaven. After all, you knew that was the way Fate had intended, because you knew… and trusted it, it was the way to victory. Tell me something, every one of you children, did you even give a shit about me at all?"
"Of course we did. We all move forward with the intentions of the future. In 2013, we were thrust into this universe when Henry's doppelgänger activated our Omni cells and gave us those powers. Nothing else mattered from them on, because I needed to end it without a doubt, from the day you died; I promised myself that I'd vow to protect every one of my friends. To destroy those who were responsible for killing you, knowing that there were others behind it, the Empress mentioned 'Father' and not to mention The Outcast. None of us are the same kids we were back then, we live in a cruel world and we have to do anything and everything to live and avenge the people we've lost,"
Throwing his napkin onto the table, his beard began to reveal itself tearing off his glasses so he could hang them on his collar. Ben turned his back on the past, Jason and Madi followed right away, the former of the two holding a wide smile over his lips ear to ear. The gateway began to emerge as the space cut open back to their home, Madi turning back with her hands into her pockets, the Empress of Light smiling as Ben crossed a singular limb over his chest with his side turned toward the portal. Jay declared as the katana formed right in his hand squeezing the grip of the blade tightly, Rivera slammed it against his shoulder, shadow-shaded strands moved with the chilly winds soothing back his locks with the flow of the air,
"Back then, I can't deny that I did hate myself, distracting myself and hurting myself and hurting others on purpose to escape it all. But I can't keep thinking about back then and focusing on the past, I fight onward to avenge my mother and my friends but to reach the home I truly want to go back to. In the end, I truly do want to die.. just for the ones we've left behind to live and live long happy lives as they deserve. I don't feel guilty about your death anymore, I wish we could've spent time together before you died, but everything happens for a reason. And if Ben had to ensure that you died to secure the future and preserve the past, I do not doubt the road we walk down. Freedom awaits above the clouds and I will take it, no matter what,"
Just then, the sheath began to slide itself against the tip of the metal blade so that it'd touch the end of the cover inside, Jason attaching it to his belt and keeping that glare. Seeing no point in keeping quiet, Madi finally spoke up and took her spot to state with absolute confidence,
"We won't… be back. And we won't think about the past anymore, no matter what; we'll destroy those who torture us and the ones we love so that those we leave behind have a world worth living in. No matter who we have to sacrifice and what we have to do for the world we wish to have for our children and their children to sufficiently live… together,"
"We'll face ourselves and bring an end to this nightmare, even if we die, even after we die; we'll keep moving forward. To eradicate the enemy. I was tied down to fate and I'll be damned if I'll let it chain me down again. I meant what I said back then, I will never be just a simple 'soldier,'"
Ben continued off from what Madisyn had led with, Jay's coat moving with the wind, Uraku smiling as his eyes made out with his children had just done. He couldn't stay with her, as he simply waved his hand so she'd fade away and blow up in a series of guts, entrails, and intestines... the gore splashed on the invisible barrier of infinity between the outside around Uraku. Taking a step onto the carpet of the comfort room, the Watcher sat right back down onto the couch fingers touching together while the Emperor rubbed his chin to feel the stubble brush against his fingers... asking as he then rubbed his chin,
"Thanks... needed that, Dad,"
A test to see if they were truly over the death of their mother all those years ago, Ben knew there had to be a reason for them seeing her again. They needed to acknowledge it right then and there, that they were done with all forms of guilt or morning regarding her demise and that they were ready to move onward with the next step in their journey against everything. The memories of the events that transpired had begun to fill the void, and just then, Ben had disappeared.
Reappearing at the top of the castle, Jason and Madi turned their heads in surprise while they went to calm down and take a nap at home. The Emperor felt his suit flap in the wind, fabric every so often tapping against the platform, the stars had so magically aligned that day, and that was no coincidence, Ben saw it in the future as it flashes before his very eyes. Closing his eyes then opening them yet again as his hair moved with the flow of the air as well, he declared angrily,
"Come on, then...
You damn demons!!"
End to Mankind's Liberation arc.
Next Chapter - The Beginning of the End