Poki eagerly pressed the interview forward, armed with her trusty phone and selfie stick.
"After such a splendid display of strength, do you have anything to say, your highness?"
Brandon paused, casting a thoughtful gaze toward the screen before locking eyes with the lens.
The selfie stick's camera whirred softly, as if bracing itself for the weight of his words.
"Citizens of New Earth, Since the day the Earth stopped spinning, the world we've known has spiraled into utter pandemonium. If you think these mutants are scary, I can tell you confidently that the nightmare has yet to begin. We're on borrowed time and need to organize and strengthen ourselves ASAP!"
The virtual airwaves burst into frenetic energy. Poki's phone nearly glitched from the incoming storm of comments, emojis, and reactions flooding her livestream.
[ What is he talking about? Why does it seem like he knows something we don't? ]
[ That "he" is the great King Void! ]
[ THIS IS NOT THE WORST?! IT'S LITERALLY THE END OF THE WORLD FFS ]
[ What about us normal folk?! Are we doomed?!! ]
[ !%^$@! If only my useless husband had been struck by that crimson lightning storm! ]
[ Uhhh… Harsh… ]
[ Understandable though… I'd give up anything to be an Enlightened One! That's what they're calling the people with super powers now aren't they? ]
As Brandon's words reverberated through the digital space, Poki glanced at her screen, her eyes widening at the avalanche of comments streaming in.
The atmosphere had changed; her audience was gripped by a mix of awe, fear, and a dash of existential dread.
"Wow, Your Majesty,"
Poki hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly around her selfie stick.
"That's... a sobering proclamation."
She took a deep breath, attempting to mask her inner turmoil as she recalibrated her tone to match the weight of Brandon's words.
"So… Umm… What's the plan? What should the citizens, especially the non-Enlightened, of New Earth be doing right now to prepare for this... impending nightmare?"
Brandon paused, his gaze momentarily distant, as if he were contemplating the vast tapestry of complications that lay ahead.
When he finally spoke, his words were both firm and unyielding, each syllable carrying the weight of a verdict.
" Whether or not you have awakened these powers, there will be a place for you in this world. Unfortunately, you have to be prepared… Toss away the status quo of the old world, most of you will be enslaved, the majority of you will starve."
Brandon inhaled deeply, letting the moment sink in for both himself and those hanging on to his every word.
"I want to make one thing very clear, I am a King not a Saint. My duties will extend to my Kingdom of Void and my people alone. That being said, we won't tolerate freeloaders! Extreme times call for extreme measures and there are limited resources to share…"
"You can make your way to Evermore, Capital or Providence City if you'd like to pledge your allegiance. Powers or not, I will take you under my wing if you're a hardworking contributor to my cause. But consider carefully; I'm neither running a charity nor a democracy. In my domain, my word is law, and breaking that law is a death sentence."
The virtual space erupted into further pandemonium, comments flashing across the screen in a kaleidoscope of emotion—fear, admiration, skepticism, desperation.
[ He's right. What's the point of complaining if we're not gonna do anything? ]
[ King Void for President! Oh wait, he's a king. ]
[ How can we help, Your Majesty? ]
[ We're with you, King Brandon! ]
[ KING VOID!!! <3 <3 <3 ]
Poki looked at the camera, then back at Brandon, her usual vivacity replaced by a momentary seriousness that seemed an odd fit on her usually buoyant face.
"You heard King Void, everyone. These are hard truths, but sometimes truth is the only way forward. Stay tuned ma' babies; Mommy Poki will be back with the latest updates straight from our Great Kingdom of Void! Until next time~ kekeke"
Poki blew a kiss toward her camera and ended the stream.
As Brandon finished his public service announcementi, the camera no longer rolling, his eyes shifted to a spectacle behind her.
Baph and Asmo, along with their respective battalions, were hauling large, shimmering cosmic cores into their specialized vehicles.
Each core emanated a pulsating energy that seemed to dance between colors as if undecided about its own nature.
"We're… surviving at least. That's a start…,"
Brandon murmured more to himself than anyone else, a subtle grin spreading across his face.
On the other side of the battlefield, Crystal, Ruby, the Void twins, and Crystal's assistant Lucy gathered around Sir Alex, their faces heavy with the weight of unspoken feelings.
"Father, are you sure you want to stay here? I can speak to Brandon if you…"
Crystal's voice was tinged with concern, her eyes searching Sir Alex's for confirmation.
"Yes, my dear. Brandon may be your future, but this Capital, this world, they've been my past and my present. It's my duty to guard them until I'm absolutely certain about passing the torch."
Ruby squeezed her sister's hand, as if to lend her strength.
"Don't worry, Crys. I'll stay to take care of the old man. Dad can handle it. Plus, you know how he is—stubborn as a mule."
Sir Alex chuckled, "A Winchester trait I believe."
The twins looked up, their faces a mixture of youthful curiosity and a dawning understanding of the gravity of the moment.
"Are we going to swee you soon, Grandpapa?"
"Sooner than you think, my little warriors,"
Sir Alex said, kneeling down to hug them.
Finally, Lucy, always reserved, stepped forward.
"I promise to take good care of them, Sir."
"I know you will,"
He said softly, offering her a warm, appreciative smile.
Turning back Crystal, Sir Alex's eyes filled with a complicated blend of longing, love, and the faintest hint of sorrow.
"Go," he said simply, tears welling in his eyes.
"Go. You're grown now, and you're the pride of our Winchester family. If you ever feel tired or miss home, just remember that we'll always be here, waiting for you."
As the battalion vehicles revved their engines, and as Brandon gave the order to move out, the Winchester family shared a final, lingering embrace—a tactile, heartfelt goodbye under the stars of a world teetering on the brink of profound change.