A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
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I clapped my hands to get their attention, then I smiled at Ohms Xirquit.
"We should have a threesome sometime. I can take you and Watts both at the same time."
Their jaws dropped.
"What the fuck?" Ohms Xirquit breathlessly cussed, "Are you out of your fucking head? Why would I sleep with my brother's woman?"
"Oh, stop. To fuck is to believe. I just know you'll propose to me as soon as you get a taste of me. You'd be behind me. Your brother is very weak, I'll have to ride him."
"ELYZENA!" Dryllivan angrily yelled my name, so my fun was spoiled. I kicked his manhood, crushing his balls and penis.
Then, I got a good idea.
"If you want me so bad, why don't you settle it with a fight? Against Watts, of course."
"Don't even try," Ohms warned with a very threatening glare, but I ignored him.
Hands pushed the Xirquits off Dryllivan. He get up and when he tried to get to me, Hands stopped him.
"If you win, I'll submit to you. You can do anything and everything you want. Give me orders, tell me to eat shit or lick your soles, I'll do it. And I swear this to my name and to the heavens. But if my husband wins..."
I crossed my arms and looked at him. I smiled even with my eyes.
"You can have him. Interrogate him, torture him---do whatever you want. He's not that important to me, so he's yours."
I stretched my arms up, "How about that? Pretty fair, don't you think so? For the terms of your fight, there's nothing. You can do any means as long as there will be a winner between you both. Exciting, right?"
Dryllivan pulled himself together. This must be his true nature. He probably thought I'd be the same Empress in distress, but he's wrong. I learned a lot from the pain I had to endure. I learned a lot from everything I had to go through. I created personalities that will both protect me and keep me sane. I strengthened my mind that it will never be broken nor bend to any whisper.
I am not the same stupid and foolish Azarese you know, Dryllivan. I've changed and you did, too.
Just because you're my paramour doesn't mean you're an exception. You played a part in my downfall twice. I know you did something before. Otherwise, you wouldn't suddenly rise from the skeletons of your dead families and hang on me like your life depends on me.
You played your games and I lost because I don't know the rules.
But not anymore.
Because I will change your rules and make mine. My rules will overrule the ones you made in the game you created and started.
I will win your game.
Watts Xirquit's POV
"I still know so little. I am angry. So angry that I can't even think of the most extreme words to describe it. So please, allow me to release everything in one go in silence. I will make him sorry for challenging me." I told him with my head laying low, lifeless.
My fury drained the energy in me. I didn't know hate sucks the life out of one, until I'm the one who's going through it.
Things have never been the same ever since I lost her. And now that she has returned, things became more complicated.
But I can manage. I will manage. No matter how distorted the future ahead of us gets, I will do anything to make it clearer.
They're surrounding me. They don't want me to fight. They're not ashamed of my capabilities. They have faith in me, but what worries and scares them is the unknown that Dryllivan Sacremore is.
He showed himself out of the blue, as if his disguise wasn't a disguise at all. He revealed himself all of the sudden what we didn't have the time to overreact to it and just said, "I fucking knew it," to ourselves.
Many things have happened and the day is just beginning, because the time inside the Academia is different from the time outside. Powerful archmages performed a spell to make the time within the Academia slower to make this last event happen in a rush. An hour here is just a few seconds outside. It is also by my orders so we can celebrate the after-party in the day of the Matriarch's Ascension tomorrow night.
"But you never had a proper fight. A sparring is not a fight. It's practice!" Mom cried out.
I smiled at her, but I could barely stretch my lips to because I am so hurt by everything I have seen.
"Please, just this once. Let me choose to be a monster. I am grateful for the life you have given me. Mom, Dad, thank you for bringing me to this world. But you're parents, too. A mother and a father. If you were in my position... Dad, if it was you and Mom is Elyzena, h-how would you feel? If it w-was me in her w-womb? How would you feel if you were to l-lose your husband and son at the same time, M-Mom?"
Mom's eyes widened as they glisten from the tears that are welling up in them, until she looked aside with her tightening jaw. She then pulled me for a hug and tiptoed to reach my face so she could give me a kiss.
"I'm sorry... This foolish mother of yours will never be able to understand your pain. But I at least know. I'm s-scared. What do we know about him? I know you're strong. You're my son. But he's a different being. He's not human and you are. And I'm so afraid. You're my precious and most loved son."
I saw Dad turn his back around while massaging his nape.
The Princess gave us time to prepare. Honestly, it is only I who's preparing. Sacremore is already inside the ring, waiting for me. Though he's obviously hostile, he's not exuding an over-confident charm. He's serious and I know he will kill me once I stepped inside.
We must kill each other.
And I, a feeble human being, is at great disadvantage to his disposal.
But I am not just some feeble human being. I am Watts Nikola Xirquit, son of the great Aloisia and Calamity, the youngest son of Warlock Empire's backbones, and their favorite. I could even tell that the Matriarch favors me, so I must not fail her expectations.
They didn't say anything anymore and leave me be. I turn to Wattroid,
"I will use it. Bring The Grey to me, Wattroid."
And he was rather shocked to hear my choice.
"M-My Lord, but The Grey is---!? Please, I'd rather you use me but that!"
My empty, cold stares took him aback.
"Are my words not clear, Wattroid?"
He looked down and summoned the doors to my office.
The Princess, who's sitting alone in a throne on our left side while the rest are on the right, shouted.
"That's so hot! Let's fuck~!"
M-My! How v-vulgar she has become!
No, I mustn't get distracted!
I entered the ring.
"Without anything? You must be wishing death to come upon you so easily."
This man...is behind everything. If not, then he played a part.
"I ask for your consideration. We still have time to stall before we begin. So, would you mind if we have a simple conversation?"
"Ah, your last words. You just have a lot to say. You go first."
"Does the Princess know about your sister, Dryfaeia?"
I truly intended to be that straightforward to catch him off-guard, and it worked. The slightest slight on his facial expression told me what I needed to know.
"I see. If she's alive, then you must be protecting her. Or you're looking for her. If both are not, then,"
What I said next made his face really dark.
"---you must be finding a way to save her."
"How funny. My sisters are long dead. You killed them, have you forgotten? I'm the sole survivor of the purging."
"Are you?"
His black eyes emitted smoke. It left a trail when he tilted his head to the side.
"You know things that I don't even know about. That adds to the reason why I must win. I'll have everyone's lives by my hands by then."
I nodded then changed the subject.
"Your Creator and our creator, God, used to be good friends. Our creator, whom we call God, made us from red clay. What came from dust returns as dust. Because that's how we were created. Therefore, that's how we must perish," I said. It seemed to be not to his interest, though. It's alright. Stupid people knows less.
"On the other hand, your creator made you out of stars, that's why you return as stars, too. You are greater than us. Stronger, more powerful, just better. We're of dust and you're of stars. We're mortals and you're immortals. But standing here before you doesn't allow me to think less of myself anymore."
"What the hell are you yapping about?"
I see Wattroid coming out of my office.
"That our God is a better creator than yours. God created us from his image, and everything your creator did manifested because our God inspired him. Your creator may have made you out of stars, but our God?"
I met and challenged his gaze courageously. I'd be damn, but I'll take them with me.
"Our God created us to either inherit it...or destroy it. Even if you are the universe itself, humans will find a way to contain you. It's in human nature to destroy what threatens them. But you're not even a threat to me. You're just one of the pebbles in my way."
He raised his eyebrow at me. A second later, he scoffed and then burst into laughter.
Now I understand why God never meddle into his creations' affairs. Even though my parents lost their faith in him, and I barely have, I know. I respect him.
And now I understand why he never gave us powers the way the Creator gifted his. In the end, the Creator regretted it when they used his gifts against him.
Wattroid placed the case before my feet. And he stayed below me on his knees, trembling.
"Please, my Lord. My master. Come back to us, soon."
You were just a robot I programmed, but look at you worry so humanly. I'm so glad.
We still have a few more minutes to waste.
Wattroid left with his shoulders down and head low.
I began unbuttoning my shirt.
"Can you fly, Sacremore?" I asked of him.
He smirked and he floated.
"Can you?"
"Good. We'll do it up there."
I removed my shirt left it on the floor and removed my shoes.
"SMASH!!!" The Princess shouted again, so I closed my eyes to keep my focus. I can't allow myself to be distracted. Or is she doing it on purpose?
I breathe in deeply and tapped the weights on me once.
"Sheath."
They may seem like a metallic piece of band to others, but they are actually more than weights to me.
Soon, my body was covered in blank, flexible lining. I stepped on the case and gave him a gaze that will haunt him even if he rise as the victor after.
"Powerhouse nanosuit, The Grey..."
My family welcomed Wattroid in their circle.
It's still not perfected, but I must use it.
"Wattroid, once I get past a kilometer, do whatever it takes to pull me back."
And I know my family will.
"Activate."
The case opened up and swarms of nanobots rapidly spread and swirled all over my body. Once it covered my body, it began to take form, which I took a lot from the Princess's pride as both Sun and Moon, the sole Third Lady of Heart, Her Imperial Highness Princess Holy Azarese.
Though I call it The Grey, its color is not Grey at all but black with gold accentuating it's details. The exposed spine on my back is for my House, as my parents were the backbones and spinal cord of Warlock Empire during their friend's reign. The upright horns on the sides of my helm represents the Princess when she was Moon and the gold details as the Sun.
I swing my hand back as I walk forward to close the distance between us. A sword artifact grew out of my hand.
I'm completely suit up.
"Wattroid, can you hear me?"
"Y-Yes, Master. Communication, clear. Status, normal. Analyzing The Grey's condition... 55% stable."
55%... That's better than the exact number of half.
"Fly, Sacremore." I informed him as my turbo wings take form behind me.
He smirked and flew first. I signed the archmages to open the barriers so we can pass through and it will remain open.
"Thirty seconds is all I will ever need, Wattroid. Activate Full Powerhouse."
"Y-Yes, Master. Activating Full Powerhouse."
I lift my head to see the skies I have always loved.
I raised my hand as if I'm trying to fit it in my hand.
My son, are you watching? Don't worry about me. I will make you proud. This is for you, too. For you and your Mommy, Zodiac. So, relax and sit back. And if your brothers are watching, if you're watching, Maximilien, I hope you will have mercy on Uncle Max and see us in a different light.
"A second is all it will take me to take that head, Watts Xirquit."
That is, if you can.
There, from his space storage, he pulled out a breathtaking sword. It's not from the Warlock Empire. Then it must be his. It must be from his.
A swordmaster.
I opened tiny portals around us. And as soon as we heard gong, the tiny portals breath out thick, black smokes. He's smiling at me, sure of his victory.
I must let him know that the humble gets to win most of the time.
When the second fell to five, we were completely surrounded by the smoke.
And on the second hit of the gong---
"Full Powerhouse Activated."
I did not regret everything.
Third Person's POV
Prince Maxigaufeas got his fingers crossed. His teary eyes are fixated on the smoke that's clouding over them, waiting for the next thing that will happen.
Everyone is holding their breaths. Their bids are on Watts Xirquit, but they wavered because he's against a Prince from a very secretive family. His Bloodline is not made known unlike the rest. What is Absorption even all about? How does it work?
Until something went past the smoke so fast that their naked eyes, no matter how gifted they are, didn't see it.
Their hearts gave out in happiness when a black, grappling hook with the golden details fell from the sky. It buried itself deep to the floor, so Wattroid ran to it.
"HELP ME PULL MASTER BACK! WE NEED TO STOP HIM BEFORE OR HE WILL GO STRAIGHT INTO THE OTHER SIDE!"
That's right.
The direction he's going to...is where the Other Side is.
And the ones closest to him and holds him dear all went to pull the strong rope back with all their strength, but an unstable The Grey at its Full Powerhouse is unstoppable.
So, it's now or never.
Ohms Xirquit left his post to go to the front. As he walk, he look at his mother who he passed by. His eyes met hers and she's crying. But when her eyes went down, and saw his sleeves rolled up, they widened.
He grabbed on the rope with both hands.
"Let go at once and scram."
Though they do not understand, Wattroid understood and initiated and guided everyone to stand aside.
The force is taking him, but it stopped at one point.
Watts, who's looking at the Other Side's transparent wall with fear, saw something past it that is also staring back at him.
An inch.
An inch and if he went past that distance, he will see a whole new world.
His horns touched the wall and the calm ripple spread throughout.
Ohms Xirquit's muscles almost burst when he pulled the rope, sending his brother back to him. Just like that, Watts Xirquit looked like a falling star. Perhaps a fallen angel.
"The Grey, case!" Wattroid sobbed and ran to his Master.
The Grey fell off of Watts Xirquit as a case and Wattroid caught it while sobbing his eyes out.
Ohms spread his arms wide and accepted his brother in them, but the impact and force that came after destroyed the entire ground, leaving an aftermath as if a tiny asteroid fell from above.
Vast and open, hundred meters down from the surface.
When the smoke disperses over them, none of them paid attention to it. Therefore, they did not see Dryllivan Sacremore's headless body in the air, in a position where he was just about to swing his sword.
And his lifeless head is in Watts Xirquit's hand.