Gathered around the center of their forest hideout, everyone had been huddled together, some more than others, with Alex's head resting on the lap of his adopted mother, Madisyn, from the right. Her hands sliding back and forth through his loose strands of hair, Jason sharpening the edges of his chipped katana seated to the right of his nephew's student, eyes staring down at the bright coloration of the red weapon belonging to the katana. Next to him, Azazel was there, seated to the left of the Emperor, hands over his covered black blade, listening intently with his eyes carefully locked onto his face. Finally, August was to the right of his old man with Kristie seated to the right of him, head raged on his shoulder playing with his sunglasses, having them shade her discolored pupils. While all of these actions were happening, Ben was speaking to the group, informing them all of the dreams he'd fallen victim to, and the future yet to come,
"The last thing I remember is being amongst the clouds and cutting that… Griffith open. I remember hearing the whispers of the damned that I'd slaughtered in my head, cursing me eternally and swearing my life so I'd go to hell. From then on, I don't remember how, but I assume that either Satan or 'Grandpa' did it. They likely ran tests on me, put in that tube so they could experiment and see how Ben Rivera could be destroyed, for they were only truly interested in the other part of me holding that chunk of supreme godlike power. In the dream, it was like a rotation of people always asking me the same questions. Why I did what I did, and why I hurt so many people doing it. I suspect that this was my internal subconscious reprimanding me for my former actions or the Incarnations trying to get a rise out of me so I could transform into that other state," After saying all that, informing all of them of what he'd been through over the last few days, the last month since the erection of Acheron- Ben searched their faces for any reactions. About to interject by parting open his pink lips, Kristie and he turned his head to the next one who'd inquired about the following,
"After everythin' that's happened: the Kingdom's past, the Ambush on Heaven, the Empires' new appearances all over this country and Acheron, all of the souls that we helped send down below or up above… How do you feel? You told me once that you did what you did because there was no other choice, that we couldn't spend our time looking back on everything because we'd only feel more guilty. But that's not true, is it? More than anyone, you hated yourself for what you had to do, you've been putting on a mask for our sake, there was no other way, and while you hated yourself doing the actions the future foretold, you tried to encourage everyone else because you didn't want anyone to feel the same as you. Isn't that right… brother?" Curiously questioned Jason of his baby brother. Voice calm, devoid of any sense of harshness or cruel intent, it was clear that Ben had understood that it was a simple inquiry and nothing more. However, from the way that she turned her head, then expanding her pupils to a certain amount, Jay could tell that his younger sister had assumed he meant something wrong by the question.
August, meanwhile, was uplifting a brow in curiosity for his father's response with Azazel taking his eyes off the sword he'd been staring at. All of them awaiting what the Emperor of Time would have as a rebuttal to his Hunter of Justice sibling. Hanging his head for a brief moment, lips shut over his features, the Emperor thought for but a moment. Silence hovered over the group, the party patiently awaiting the time for when Rivera would eventually answer his brother, and when that time came, the following is what he had to say as a retort,
"More than anything, I wanted to protect and save people to make up for my weakness. I couldn't save Mom, Ryder, August, and I couldn't even train the next generation to fight. In the end, everything I did was useless. And I was the one chosen to end so many lives, the moment I saw the future when I touched Alex way back when it was everything I'd always dreaded ever since the Warrior ambushed us in 2013. Those chosen would perish by my hand, burn to nothing but ash and that'd be nobody's fault but my own. I tried changing the future, intervening in events that I didn't see so I could try changing the future. Saving Rose, telling Cecilia and the girls about August's return before it'd happen, but nothing ever altered. I knew I couldn't be the same soft guy I always was, writhing in self-hatred and agony, thinking about the what if's of another timeline. I enacted the events foretold reluctantly, I tried my best to make sure everyone was okay with doing it, I couldn't save Henry and Ella from dying, but I know they died without regrets. Sometimes, all a person needs is a bit of reassurance in this world, and despite everything that might happen in life, all you need is a worthy death to be proud of the person you were in life. The world is beautiful yet flawed, humans are beautiful yet flawed, as am I, as are you, everyone here has baggage about themselves; things they despise no matter what they say or think. But none of those things matter, in our final moments, we should who we truly are. Henry saved us right then and there, who he was truly… was a protector. Ella fought to the very end, no matter what, staying by the side of her son and godson to rid the world of the twisted children of God. She was a true protector, she laid down her life to helping you and August, Azazel. The new date for the Advent of Destruction is July 22nd. In 10 days, there shall be the reckoning of a new world, and I will bring an end to the nightmare we're living within. God and Satan sought to make me their puppet, but they enlightened me. Before I'd reached Griffith's kingdom, I wanted to kill myself for everything I'd done, and I wanted to do everything in my power to prevent that outcome; that horrific scenery. In the end, I never could but that's okay, I didn't set those events into motion. I… was born special. And I will bring an end to everything, without a shadow of a doubt, no matter what. I will protect everyone, that was the purpose I was born for," The words were that of an intense conviction, an iron will, usually, for someone like Ben, his voice, especially in his old and ripe age, would be deep and intimidating. But after his slumber, something had altered with his vocals, while there was a certain amount of depth to it, it was also soft, and calming. A surge of tranquility entered the hearts behind the ribs of the family of the Emperor, all of them had felt this compulsion to bow their heads, Jason and Madisyn the only ones without their foreheads to the grass field to the ground.
Just as August had foretold back when Acheron was being formed together by the absolute destruction of the bystanders that lived at that area, when the Superior Emperor emerged from beyond the bottom of the clouds to cleave through the Thunder God's ethereal form, Jason and Madisyn had formed that same cognition. Their eyes staring straight ahead, red with purple clashing against the azure tint of Ben's blue, Jay couldn't help but sniffle as the tears began to reveal themselves out from the inner workings of his eyeballs. Madi turned her head in shock with her optics expanding wider than before, she hung her head for a moment, scratching at the back of her neck… leaning onward so she could inform her brother of the suggestion she'd been offered.
"One of the Swordsmen of the Shinobi-Samurai Empire had come to us when we broke you out of that tube where you were healing. The higher-ups of that empire seem to destroy Acheron, but that's impossible, so they seek out the Superior Emperor. I didn't sense any hostility from any of them, they offered us a home, food, and a place to hone our skills. In exchange for information, it's a fair trade, don't you agree? So, what do you say, dear brother, if you seek to end this nightmare wholeheartedly and fully, then… we need all the help we can get," Everyone nodded after Madisyn had stated that to them, mostly Ben, if anything. All silently agreed, for all they needed now was the confirmation of their leader, the foreboding Emperor.
Breathing carefully with an exhale then followed with the shrinking of his chest, he sucked in the air he'd let out, before smiling brightly. Grin lengthening from ear to ear, he began to stand upright, then staring down at them up all with the gentle nature with his darkened orbs of sight,
"Yes, let's go, my allies. We will now embark on a new journey-
To meet our new comrades."
After all, having met up at that place, they gathered their things following orders of their Emperor, Kristina throwing her assortment of items she held close to her heart in the bag she'd brought with her at the start of this journey. August beside her, hands grabbing onto the collective parts he'd brought with him on this adventure, a hairbrush, a razor, toothbrush, earpiece, ring, phone, everything thrown in the bag, then double checking his pockets to ensure he didn't leave his shades on accident. Then feeling the shape of his sunglasses poking out from the inside of the pouched area, he let out a nod, grunting in affirmation before he was yanked back by the rear of his collar. Widening his eyes then yelping in surprise as his bottom met the grass field, the Reaper had quite literally fallen right on his ass, some of his vision blurry, he dramatically checked his face for any drawn blood or bruises. Gotta make sure his mother had a face to recognize when he came back to her, right? Unleashing out a sigh of relief from the interior of his throat, eyelids shutting over his colorful optics, he attempted to get up. What stopped him, you ask? Well, that would be none other than his ginger lover, Kristie, getting into the lap of her white-haired boyfriend, single braid moving with the chilly wind of the summer night. Blinking just centimeters away from locking their lips together, a blush appeared over the tanned cheeks of the self-proclaimed menacing Requiem Reaper, nervously chuckling. Orbs darting from side to side in the cages of his eyeballs,
"Uh… whatcha doin' there? K-kinda in the middle of something here, b-bab-"
"Shhhhh!" Interrupted Kristie of August, placing her finger over his pink lips, leaning ever closer, making herself a bit taller so she could gaze into the brightness of his ocular technique.
That which he'd previously named 'Four Eyes,' she'd overheard when Ben had stated their new name should be. 'Eternal Sight of Infinite Power,' and while, yes, that was a good name, it was too long, so she took it upon herself to give both the red and green different ones. Just so he could sound cooler when he'd cry out the names of either one when he was battling enemies, her extremity stuck out pointing to the left one then to right, naming with skipping a beat,
"Divergence. Convergence. Together, it makes Eternal Sight of Infinite Power. Now, tell me something, baby, what powers do your left and right eyes hold? Red holds Corrupted Bolt and Green with Orderly Thunder. But, there's more, right?" Quizzically questioned Kristina, who then led for August to scratch at his chin, fingers digging into some of his scruff left unattended.
"Idiots, come on! The Samurai sent the coordinates to Miss Rivera, we gotta go!" Azazel yelled over to the coddling couple flirting together with the girl on top of the boy, which is usually how their sexual encounters go, you can quote me on that. I digress, however. After the Detective had launchd a cry to the lovebirds, Kristina looked right over to her boyfriend's 'boyfriend,' sticking up a middle finger at him.
Shaking his head at the resilient response that he was given, Azazel rolled his eyes, stomping his foot into the ground, sole implanting into the green beneath his limb. Some of the emerald blades implanted into the ground stuck to the bottom of his shoes, turning around so he could begin his stroll forward and make his way to the opened gateway cleaved in space. Crazily contorting with quantum energy, it was essentially a slit in space, tendrils of plasma taking hold of every part of the Detective's body to yank him right in.
The ginger extended out a hand to help her boyfriend, which he gladly took as he was pulled right up so he could stand on two feet, wiping away some of the dirt from his shoulders. Flicking her man up the nose, she pecked his cheek, causing him to smile, eyes wandering as she stepped toward the hovering in space, awaiting their entry. Spinning her figure so her chest would face his front, she pushed up her ears and then smiled,
"I'm waitinggggg~" Teasingly stated Kristina with a sweet tone audible in her vocalization.
Shaking his head with a chuckle, he couldn't help but smile, but it was soft, he didn't grin from ear to ear like how he would when humiliating enemies. Part of it was an instinct of his to smirk that way when he battled those rivals that dared threaten the almighty Requiem Reaper, maybe a persona he put on to seem strong, but right here and right now, all he felt was the happiness of the world. Someone to love and cherish with all of his heart, the very thing he'd been waiting for ever since he'd left Celine; a fresh start. He would always love every part of their time together, but he wasn't going to wait until a time that might never occur just so he could be with her. Kristina was wonderful, she cared about him, the way she talked whenever they were just speaking about something serious or teased him whenever they were making jokes. They were adults, and they could have adult conversations, but, as he gazed in astonishment at every part of her wondrous features, he couldn't look away, it was like he was held there for eternity, chained down with this girl as they awaited that final moment.
And yet… he was okay with just her, forever, he could tell that she cared about him and he her, that was never in doubt. Part of him wanted to throw his body right on top of her so they could kiss yet again, and while that want was hard to suppress, he pushed it right down so it'd slide right back down his throat. Raising his hands right into the air so all of the joints beneath that layer of skin would let out a very loud POP! He then cracked his neck following that, placing his hands right behind his head and walking like that, passing Kristina making her run to catch up, hands behind her back. Fingers interlocked all on her own, she leaned on the left shoulder of her Reaper lover,
"The right eye, Convergence, you named it. It's mostly for defending and all that sort of stuff, ya know? I can control Omni and my own Requiem energy down to its cellular structure, so that when I utilize and unleash an attack that has a strong amount of energy, Convergence brings it all back together. Converging all the lost power back immediately so that whenever I actually unleash a technique, no matter how complex or intense it might be, the amount of power lost is about infinitesimally close to zero. That's the reason why I can activate Shattered Limit so easily whenever someone tries to throw an attack at me, Convergence knows the difference and turns it on immediately, sometimes it even pushes out a defensive attack which happens when Divergence senses an immense hostile presence. Back before I met you, when Azazel and I were fighting against our tormentor, Kuno, he punched the barrier around me, leading it to let out a quick diverge of energy that sent him and I back…" August had trailed off at the end there, both of their feet halting to the gateway right to their fronts. Turning his head so their gazes could meet, there was a certain sparkle in her discolored eyes that glistened as bright as the moon above.
Chortling nervously momentarily, August's eyes drifted away, searching around the hideout his uncle and aunt had chosen. However, Kristina didn't really have anything embarrassing about the way she stared at him, instead, she just smiled at his face even noticing that her lover had turned his head away from her own. There was something about the way he rambled on and on about the things he was clearly passionate about, it was so admirable and respectable, Kristina taking his hand on her own interlocking their fingers together. Leaning them up to her lips, she kissed at his knuckles, grinning from ear to ear with the sparkle of her white teeth. The way she parted her hair, one singular braid over her left shoulder to reach her bust, the Alchemist's body hued in the moonlight… something new and right. She truly was so magnificent. This time, the son of the Emperor didn't blush like a cliche anime girl being confronted by her 'bad boy' crush or anything, he smiled at the sight of her beautiful features.
"Let's go,"
"Yeah!"
Their feet had slammed into the concrete behind the gateway, the slice in space swirling around to slide right into the invisibility of light, camouflaged together so no one would see. They left that temporary hiding space behind, and with it, there was a memory, where they were all together, united against a common goal, to end the nightmare.
Unbeknownst to any of them, however, the spirit form of the Temple's Former Guardian manifested, sitting on his knee, a simple breath was all it took to put out the crazed flames moving from side to side beneath the chunks of wood. Placing his two fingers, index then middle, he brushed the extremities against the planks of timber, flashes of a future not yet to come streaming through every part of his physical form. Uraku stood upright, lengthy strands of brown hair moving with the chilly wind of the heard season, purple eyes he'd handed down to his daughter gleaming brightly, it had been foretold in the ancient scriptures,
"My sons, my daughter, there is nothing I can do to intervene in the coming times, do your best. End this nightmare, the next generation…
Relies on you!"
Exiting the gateway, their shoes slammed onto the concrete, shade of the dark from the blackness of night allowing some of their hairs to go indistinguishable, August's being the one to be the brightest and pop out in the set opposite of day. Both the opposite orbs, Divergence and Convergence, shone against the moon's lunar glow, the tides of the beach, calmed waves of the ocean controlled by that specific magnetic polarity from that Lunar body. At the top of the mountain, there stood a Temple of the highest peaks, where at the tip, it was painted white, a single cloud hovering over there… sitting beneath the roof of his abode, the Master sat. Knees pushed out, he played the flute with her lips against the instrument, for the volume of the music played to echo across the very Kingdom she ruled. Ben stood to the front of them all, blue eyes shining against the gold reflected off from the moon, Jason then Madi stepped up from behind him, each patting his shoulder.
"Pretty nice, this reminds me of somethin' from Ancient Japan, I dunno, it looks really cool, doesn't it?" Questioned Jason to his younger brother, shoulder ahead facing the Temple, for the strolling of a carriage was entering his eardrums, altering his posture so he could face right ahead.
"Huh, so this is old timey shit, pretty charming," Agreed Madisyn with her older brother, arms crossing over her chest and bust so she could stare at the carriage incoming towards them. It stopped a couple of inches right in front of the tips of the Emperor's toes hidden by his footwear, Ben smiling as he witnessed the door opening from the turning of a knob.
He who stepped out was none other than the Rival Moon Samurai of one of the higher ranks, his name unknown even now, he stood there with his wrist resting on the grip of his sheathed katana attached to his waist. He had grey hair, unlike that of August's white or Jason's black, it was tied up in a bun with a messy beard visible over his grin and lips. Two straps forming an X over his chest, reaching an eventual end to the belt over his waist, engraved onto the back of his gloves, there was the shine of crystal moons that had been carved into the leather material of the attire.
"It's nice to see you in the flesh, Emperor Rivera. And it's also nice to see you two as well, I'm sorry we got on the wrong foot, Hunter Rivera, Empress Rivera," Though both of them had realized that this subordinate in front of them both hadn't even been the Master or Head of the Empire, the triplets admired the respectable vocals of the Moon Samurai.
Bowing right in front of his face, August doing the same, Alex following that, Kristina and then Azzy as well. The blind eyes of the Swordsman were unable to notice whatever action they were truly taking, with the moon shining against the night's stars, all he could do was know that the tops of their bodies were hunched forward, backs arched.
"You need not bow to me. We are honored to have you as guests in our abode, the Master is waiting for you. Please, we will guide you all to meet with her,"
And so they did, they threw their things into the carriage, the driver getting out from the wheel to sort the bags and vases that had been placed in the backseat. The party walked past, Alex patting the shoulder of the driver so he would get a smile from the driver, who appreciated such a gesture filled with kindness. As another subordinate of this Empire went over to lift the carriage from the ground with their huge bulging muscles, the driver followed so all the workers in that division could walk and talk together. However- what none of them knew, not the workers, not the Rivera Party, and not the Master of this Empire, knew, was that there he stood, ripped cape moving in the wind, feet implanted onto the top of the tiled rooftop.
Finger to his pointed ear, the Prince's abs shone in the moonlight, horns pointed to the sky above, each of his four eyes gleaming with the brightest of bloodlusts, all he let out was a raspy declaration filled with an arrogant disregard for patience, as if he were on the brink of snapping,
"They've revealed themselves to me, my King… it'll be a massacre, without a doubt. Eeheheheheheheheah! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAGH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAGH!!!"
Heavenly Requiem Warrior: Training for Advent Chapter - Start!