Behind closed doors, in the Evolutionary Capital amid reconstruction, there they were. The room was subconsciously separated into two sections. While Azazel, Hana, Jefferson, and August stood on the right, each with differing poses strewn about the room, Katie, Ace, June, Kima, and Natalia were on the left. The children of Riot, including the leader, were informed of the truths the higher-ups had been withholding from them.
"We should prolly sit down for this," Jeff suggested.
"Everyone, let's take a seat and discuss this civilly," Azazel affirmed, stepping toward the table in the center.
Four seats on the right, four on the left. Plus one for Natalia. Still recovering from the experiment, Ace scratched his head, spinning his seat around and sitting on it backward. Facing them all, they awaited a deserved explanation. An answer to the age-old question asked just an hour ago.
'What was Retly?'
The silence wasn't getting any louder, the adults weren't getting older, and the children weren't getting any younger. If any of them were to start, it'd be now. And the one to do so would be none other than the white-haired Requiem Master seated beside August in the middle.
"I believe it's better if we start from the beginning..."
12 years ago. Following the destruction of New York and the construction of the Remnant World, after the nearby residents of the City were turned into Hybrids or Evolutionaries: 2011.
The world was in shambles. The only ones who dared to make any sense of the matter were across the sea on an untouchable Island that held unsurpassable power. The fragments of the United States Government declared the area surrounding the Remnant World contaminated. A nationwide superpower meeting was called with the surviving world leaders, none Hybrids, all Evolutionaries.
With two of their states off the map, one of them being of their own doing and the other a byproduct of their arrogance, the States was provided an offer to join a worldwide alliance. To rebuild with everyone's resources and quell the disarray of the masses, Congress saw no other choice, agreeing. Desperate times called for desperate measures, after all. From then on, reconstruction began. Pieces of society healing, conjoining together to make something tangible, an environment livable to all sorts of races. Of course, the reconstruction protocol not only called for economic repairs but security, too. Thus came the start of a new project headed by Japan's unit, and would be shared by all others.
'Project Takyr.' A cloning operation headed by Retly's Japanese base that would use Evolutionary abilities to transform humanity's evolution to the next level. Absorbing contents of hate from massive areas of despair, implanting them into a spiritual vessel without organs. A demon, if you will. Thus began the construction of the one and only Icarus Chrollo; The Jester King.
In a few years, society grew accustomed to the Evolutionary changes, and everything turned normal. As usual, the government returned to working from the shadows. During that time, Icarus was being tested, and when enough experiments were deemed successful, he was given a degree of freedom. To move about and explore whatever he pleased, under some surveillance. However, this decision would mark Retly's downfall.
After exploring the outside world with his little freedom, he would gain a sort of sentience. The hatred that formed his very being and served as his soul had grown to leak out the cracks of his being so much that it started to engulf him. No longer could he hold it back or deny the undeniable… he grew to despise humans. Including his creators.
Soon afterward, Icarus Chrollo slaughtered the whole of his development team in Retly's Japanese base. The operation was disbanded and the base was abandoned following the Jester's massacre. Retly's higher-ups across the globe discussed what to do about Icarus, reminding those in charge of security about their secret project located in Europe. Inevitably, Chrollo would gain wind of this, and instead of slaughtering innocent scientists, he set his sights on the masterminds.
Retly's higher-ups were destroyed and replaced by a public King to lead them all. To ensure no more remnants of Retly's old schemes existed, he slaughtered all remaining members and left no survivors in their homes. If only they'd never let Chrollo see the outside world.
The Jester completed the secret project Retly's old rulers were developing, and hid off from the world, leaving it in chaos without leaders. True freedom. And despite their inherent nature, humanity attempted to prosper, all Evolutionaries alike. But while that occurred beyond the scope of the Jester's eyes, inside a literal bubble, he learned. Flipping through endless pages, searching through bottomless wells, attempting to locate the secret of humanity's potential. Eventually, in 2019, would he be considered an 'adult', with the knowledge accumulated from books written by intelligent humans. And so, his hate for humanity turned to curiosity. Did there exist any more humans as knowledgable as these philosophers of old?
His curiosity would lead him to Riverton Island, where he would personally meet the Founder in his office... and kneel. The pinnacle of humanity, the Foretold Founder, houser of that eternal darkness deemed 'Naraku.' With his aid and perspective, not only did Retly's secret city develop further than ever before, but Icarus grew smarter and stronger. Humans intrigued him, but from what he saw atop the Founder's base, they were finite. Weak. Insecure. Cruel.
"I believe I'm starting to grow a conscience. I... believe I hate this world. Don't you?" Asked the Jester atop the building and seated just some inches below him, there was the deformed, scarred Callum.
"I do. However, I believe my way to be outdated. There are some things people just aren't suited for, no matter how hard they want to try. I'm one of those people. I'm turning ignorant—careless. I never should've formed this civilization, all I did was perpetuate that putrid cycle of endless hate," Confessed Callum in the past, starting to stand.
"What do you mean? Don't you thrive like this? To have such power over insignificant creatures like these... wouldn't that be enthralling?" Icarus pleaded to understand the Founder's words.
"No. You see, dear Chrollo, I didn't design Riverton to be my personal Kingdom. I don't want to oppress anyone or anything of the sort, at all! Truth be told, the one thing I've wanted to do from the start of my journey is reworking society's framework. Whether I was at the top or not didn't matter, but as long as others didn't suffer the way I did, I'd be fine with that. It was only a stroke of fate that the thing inside me decided to show me the future and set me down this path. The very thing beings like us should strive for is perfection. If we settle for anything less, then we're nothing more than the same as the tormentors that tortured us so. Don't you agree, Icarus?" Asked Callum, turning his head and smiling.
But opening his eye, the Founder was met with a chuckle, the Jester now seated as he sat at the summit of the building. The waves of the surrounding sea, the chatter of the ant-like townspeople moving about their drab lives, the birds chirping, the clouds' abstract shapes in tandem with the bright blue sky. To think such a world like this existed under the rule of beings such as humans. Then again, technically, he was only 9 years old.
"It seems there are some things about humanity I still don't know. Let us ally. There will come a time when we've both grown. If the future entails paths that we both wish to walk on without each other, we should use one another to attain those heights, don't you agree?" Icarus asked, piquing Cal's interest.
"Hm. What do you mean?" He asked.
"You told me that your 'other self' seeks the Requiem Artifact, right? And the key to obtaining it is none other than the Incarnated one living on this very Island... right? Well, I've recently discovered I'm not simply all 'talk.' I hold the potential to alter someone's life course and that includes their very technique. This 'Unlimited' barrier you speak about. Maybe I can help with that."
Back to the present.
"Alex mentioned something about him fighting Harbinger, but when he was about to kill them, a hand appeared from a black portal out their chest. It managed to bypass the Unlimited barrier and take some of his blood. Do you think..?" Kima asked her friends to the left, leaving them all with somber faces.
"So Icarus has been manipulating everything from the beginning. And none of us were ever the wiser," Katie said, scratching her chin.
And following the explanation, everyone was silent. It all pieced together so perfectly. Truthfully, they couldn't believe they were ignorant for so long. If the pieces were right there before them this whole time, how could they'd have missed it? The truth of not only this world but the one beyond it, too.
"Did you know?" June asked Natalia.
"No. I only joined up with him after he arrived here and formed the Deck. I replaced Griffith," She reminded her white-haired friend.
More silence. Then, it was Ace's turn. And differing from his many female companions who somehow dared to stay calm, his red eyes flared, not only with the usual crimson coloration... but his veins protruding out his skin said it all.
"How long have you all known?"
"Since August's presentation. After he and I left, we went to Hana, and she told us everything," Azazel informed.
"Why hide this from us? And for so long... did you plan to tell us at all?" Katie asked with a hint of betrayal in her voice.
"Oh, please. We'd tell you eventually, but withholding the truth was necessary. Icarus Chrollo's much stronger than most of you, and if he has an entire nation of Evolutionaries backing him, there's no doubt most of you wouldn't stand a chance against him. Don't overestimate yourselves. You're still children," While Hana and Azazel were both speaking respectfully to their younger allies, August ruined that by talking down to them without a hint of admiration in his voice.
"The hell's that supposed to mean?!" Ace yelled, pushing his chair back and standing tall.
"If you react like that, then August's right. Being a child is not a sin. But, presently, we have no other choice. While we had been preparing for this scenario, we didn't want it to come to this," Jefferson confessed staring June in the eyes, then turning to Hana, "Please, continue."
"Right. Icarus Chrollo's origin. Retly's existence. And Alexander's whereabouts. All three variables have accumulated into a single undeniable factor. Our enemy is simply not one man-- or demon, if you will. They're humans. A civilization, like Riverton. Or, you could even say... the world."
Everyone's reactions differed from either breaching anger in hissing snarls or confused looks as their eyes darted around the room. Whether it be the adults or the teenagers, neither of the allies wanted to believe the truth of the Master's words. To think the New Allfather's sacrifice would be for naught. Even in this New World, the cycle of hatred perpetuated with the second generation of fighters striving for freedom and betterment. What a horrendous timeline they were unfortunately confined to.
"The world, huh? If August and Dad had to come to you, Master, then how long have you known?" Katie asked her pink-eyed teacher.
"I've known since the day I was incarnated into the New World but China is outside the realm of Retly's jurisdiction. And before you ask me why I didn't tell you, the reason is the same as Azazel and Augustus's. You are still children," The Master reminded, but before anyone could say anything else, a fist cracked the table in two; leaving everyone stunned.
Steaming knuckles releasing scarlet sparks from his fist, a pant vented from his lips, glaring at their pathetic faces. Katie held no reaction to her cousin's actions, identical to Natalia's expression, while June and Kima worriedly looked to the ginger.
"What sort of bullshit is that?! We've gone to hell and back for the sake of our justices... I fought the Founder, for Christ's sake! And you old pieces of shit still dare to call us mere 'children'?!" Ace yelled with a cracking voice.
"You forget you nearly died. If he wasn't trying, he easily would've killed you!" Azazel loudly countered, now standing, too.
"Dad's right," Katie interrupted.
"Huh!?"
"The Founder could've easily killed me when I found him in that street, too. But, you're being hypocritical. You trust Ace and me with that experiment, Kima, June, and Natalia with the Extermination, where we easily could've failed and they could've died. Why's that any different from Retly?"
"Because none of you have fought Icarus and won. Hana and Natalia are the only two here who've battled him and come close to winning. But he escaped from both of them thanks to his innate technique. Long story short, if we plan an attack on Retly, then you all could be wiped out first," Azazel informed, knuckles sinking into his cheek.
Just before Ace could object any further, an invisible force pushed him into his chair, preventing their hairs from prohibiting their vision with a wind gust. There he stood, with that radiating Eternal Sight peering through everything—even the snowy strands of his hair, glaring at them.
"This discussion is irrelevant," August released the menacing aura he'd unleashed and sighed, "We told you and now you know; end of discussion. That being said, now we've confirmed that it does exist and is a threat, we need to discuss what we're going to do. Do we ambush them, or do we strengthen our defenses in case they do first?"
Everyone was silent, confined to the space of the awkward atmosphere courtesy of Ace and Azazel's arguing. Rolling his eyes at such childish pettiness, his palm slammed on the table with a thunderous roar, splitting the furniture in half.
"You two. Stand up," August demanded with his booming vocals.
Ace did so reluctantly but Azazel obeyed quickly. The table's fragments were kicked to the side while the Detective stepped back. Grabbing the ginger by his collar so he could stand right in front of him, August wiped the dust from his son's shoulders. Katie couldn't help but seem intrigued while June's face was painted with confusion. The Reaper's intentions turned clear as August gave his son the first command—it being,
"Try to hit me."
Ace didn't question it. Instinctively, he went for a right hook, crackles of electricity bursting out his fist as it guided to his parent's cheek. But even before he could touch the invisible aura shrouding his soul, August vanished. The redhead's Sight registered Rivera now crouching, but he was too slow to counter the inevitable sweep. And just before he could succumb to a descent, his father caught him by the shirt at breakneck speed.
"Too slow," August chopped his child's head, "You're dead."
Finally, Ace fell to his bottom and limped on over to his sister while comically whining. Chuckling at his son's stupidity, he shook his head and turned to them all.
"We can argue all we want and discuss politics all we want. However, the second the enemy dares to touch us while we're discussing what's our next move—we're done. To believe we have time and options while we continuously await for an attack that is sure to come is ignorance. Now that everyone knows, we must be ready and take the time we have to prepare. So, for the first and last time… what are we going to do?"
'We have time.' 'We have options.' That was the children believed, accustomed to this momentary peace threatened by the persistence of the Retly's very being. The Jester's power, succeeding that of the Founder and maybe even Naraku. Their lives bordered on a thread between order and chaos—while everyone wished for the order to continue, their very enemy was the outside world built over the last 12 years.
Everything they'd spent months reconstructing for the sake of lifelong peace and eternal order—if caught in Retly's crossfire—would surely perish. And to prevent that from happening, they needed to believe in their ignorance a little longer.
'We have time.' 'We have options.' How very desperate they truly were.
Euphoric Escape Arc - Fin.
To Be Continued.