Kalens pov
My words we childish. But i just couldn't help it, for as long as I could remember I had always wanted a big brother, someone strong and kind and wise someone to turn to when in trouble either for aid or advice and most importantly, some to call and handle the bullies in my stead
"Leave it to big bro"
Damien said confidently, I looked to him and despite the smile on my face in my heart I felt dread, Damien was strong, very strong but he was no match for the monster in front of us, he looked towards Elphius his eyes lacking a hint of the intent to back down before he smiled
"been a while old man"
Sam who was just about to inform Damien of the identity of the man in front of us got his words caught in his throat
"still dressing like a bachelor at your age, don't you know people consider grandpa's who do that perverts"
his grin spread even wider as if proud of his last comment. Elphius who had been sent flying into a corner of the now fading field slowly rose up, there were a few scuffs on his suit but he seemed none the worse for wear
"or are you still hoping to sire another disappointment in your old age"
at those words the former first Don released a storm of rage and pressure that had me wanting to flee, but before I could an equally tremendous force enveloped me and countered the storm of wrath, Elphius's aura suddenly spiked with a vengeance and I nearly lost my breath,
"ridiculous"
I heard from behind me as Sam sounded his words, his voice so deeply drenched in terror that I could scarcely beleived he and I charged who was likely the second strongest living thing together just a few minutes prior, what ever ounce of courage this man had was now a memory, and I couldn't blame him. Infinite, the teaching of the black empire claim that my ancestor the god of darkness possesed infinite power but I had never once believed it, I never even considered that infinite power could exist, until today. I kept scanning with my divine sense trying to tell myself that this was a lie, an illusion, but no. No matter how I hard I tried I could not sense the depths of this man's power, I observed the world around us shook with a start, the phenomena often observed when training realms break apart, world dissolution was happening right in front of us, only this wasn't a training realm, this was the real infinite universe and it was about to collapse due to the rage of one man, two men. A force equal to the one in front of us suddenly appeared to counter the former Don's wrath and despite my disbelief I had to acknowledge it, the second source of this power was Damien, I had always known he was stronger than me but both he and I agreed that we could at least be compared to each other but now, I couldn't believe I'd survive a casual attack from him.
"....To think you can use it to this level"
said Elphius, to Damien who just smiled
"but, your true might isn't even a thousandth of mine"
"yep, but how much of that might can you truly display without ending the multiverse"
'WAIT THE MULTIVERSE'
I cried in shock, Damien didn't take his eyes of his opponent while Elphius turned to look at me for a bit before facing back to Damien.
"what's the multiverse"
I heard Sam turn to Kannie and ask but the 4th Don didn't seem to know, that was when Langris spoke
"the multiverse is everything"
At this point I didn't know how to react, the multiverse is an ancient concept my people studied and no one other than us should have known about it, but here I was meeting three people in the span of a few days who knew about knowledge that should have been lost 200 years ago
"what like the world"
said Sam sounding slightly confused, no one took the answer him but i could sense both Langris and Elphius monitoring me,.... as if waiting for my answer, with a deep breath I spoke
'the multiverse is bigger than that, much bigger'
Samuel's expression made it clear that his understanding hadn't improved one bit. As I made to further my explanation Elphius spoke
"no need for bothersome topics"
he then turned to Damien and said
"If someone asked me the first place I'd expect to find you, I'd reply with 'an alley in some town struggling to get that last drop in a near empty bottle of wine' my next pick would be 'in a ditch with some herbs trying to make your own alcohol' and lastly, 'passed out in a tavern and getting spit on by it patrons lamenting the days you were better than this, as if you're the only one in this world to ever experience loss'"
it was clear from his tone that he wasn't fond of my adoptive older brother, but rather than the hatred he had for langris it seemed more like he held a mix of dislike and disgust. I looked to Damien who had a happy smile on his face, quite unlike one you'd find on a man who was just heavily insulted, he seemed less like he minded the words thrown at him but more like he wasn't the subject being discussed.
I had to admit even though the bulk of what he said was probably true, since he didn't need to rile up his opponents mental state to guarantee a victory his words were uncalled for. Damien had clearly changed from when i last saw him, he was clean shaven well dressed and only smelled faintly of booze, coupled with how he was dressed he was a perfect picture of the hero who the world sang his praises just a few years ago, plus I personally couldn't stand the comments on him made by someone who clearly knew what he went through, but before I could either attack or make up words to say, Damien proved that the bulk of his change was on the outside
"if someone asked me the same id say.....I'd expect to find you still being a disgrace of a father"
His aura exploded, and I unconsciously stepped back, he no longer looked like the former proud Don nor the warrior aiming to see what the next generation was capable of .....but a man drowning in both grief and rage
"as if you have the right to mourn"
said Langris with an uncharacteristically bitter expression on his face as he spoke, Elphius glanced at him before turning back to face Damien who replied with a careless shrug before saying
"don't look at me man, I'm not the one who killed your spawn"
Elphius face darkened even further at the mention of the word spawn before turning back to face Langris
"no you are not"
he said his voice drenched in murderous intent, his words shocked me out of my reveire, enough to allow me to realise one thing,...I needed Langris, he was annoying, mysterious unfathomable but mostly annoying, and although I was sure I wouldn't miss a wink of sleep I knew that if he died my plans would only get more difficult. I looked to Raine who's beautiful face was steeped in exhaustion before making my decision, I gently levitated in front of Langris with my sword raised as I said
'I assume you've been healing yourself'
'haven't you'
he said and from behind me I sensed a careless smile, my expression softened a bit knowing I wasn't fighting for an ingrate before becoming unsightly at his following words
"besides I didn't kill his son, he did"
veins were popping out of his face now as if struggling to burst free, I almost prayed they did as the fight would be a lot easier if he gave himself some injuries before we charged, despite death standing right in front of me I couldn't help but speak
'which is it, are you allergic to making things easier on yourself or you're addicted to making things harder on others, cuz you seem to do both in equal measure'
I heard a chuckle from behind me, with my sight trained on the man in front of me I fought back the urge to turn around and whack this bastard with my elbow, something told me that after today I'd always have problems seeing eye to eye with blonds for the rest of my life.
Elphius glowered at us for a full minute before turning back to Damien and his cocky smile.
"We will settle this another time"
he said solemly, calling what i was feeling at the moment shock would be an understatement from behind me I heard Samuel gasp in relief, I couldn't tell what Kannie was feeling neither could I for Raine but I could sense Damien raise an eyebrow at those words. As for Langris, on his face was a mask, for once in my life I could understand the feelings of those who interacted with me, his face was completely impassive, like he had absolutely no interest in the former Don's words, even though those same words would guarantee his life, if only for a time, his face so clear of emotion one could mistake him for a dead man, but caught it. A faint spark in the depths of his eyes, a mix of rage and hatred so dense I felt my heart go out for whoever he'd subject it too, he may have seemed disinterested but I could tell, Langirs held emmense amounts of loathing for this man and one day he'd act on it, and for a faint moment, within the depths of my heart I sincerely wished him luck, luck to at least survive his attempt.
Before leaving he made sure to act as a gentleman should, a wave of his hand was enough to fix all the damage caused by our brief clash another and the field disappeared completely, he then gave a short bow towards us but before he teleported I cried out
'wait'
he stopped and turned his expression containing the faintest traces of confusion as I continued
'I have to know,... who is it... who's stronger, you or the Don of Don's'
I felt the shocked course thorough Kannie and Sam, this monster was said to be second strongest man alive and if if he wasn't second by much to stand above this thing wasn't something we could fathom. He stared at me as if judging just how much this question meant to me before replying
"the reason why that man is known as the strongest is because I told everyone he was stronger than me, something I did only when I had definite proof"
he then turned, and he was gone.
For a while we floated there in silence, once certain he wasn't returning I immediately turned to my allies and began administering treatment, Raine woke up about a minute later and after taking one look at all of us present with a smile she said
"thanks guys"
before drifting back to sleep as Sam held her, once our injuries were no longer visible, we teleported back home, ending right above our city
"impressive"
said Kannie, his words were directed at the black dome surrounding the city, despite how hectic the fight was I had made sure the dome never wavered, a startling mix of ki mana and my Arcanum granted the city a defense greater than any castle
"what now"
said Sam in a listless voice
"now,..... we prepare"
said Langris.