ã€ŠMan&#x27;s Follyã€‹


 I: Hound

    The cold night breeze sent chills down Nathan''s spine as he stood in front of an old farmhouse, which was built on empty land. There was nothing for miles, not even any weeds or critters could be seen.

    The wind was strong enough to ruin his spiky hair, but one quick comb with his fingers fixed the problem. It was a freezing midnight, a silent one at that. He had his Letterman jacket to keep him warm, which had large green "N" stitched onto his black jacket. He could not do anything about the silence around him of course. But he had some company to help with that last one.

    With him was his closest friend in the world, Jonah Bloodfield, but don''t let the name scare you though, the guy was the nicest person Nathan had ever met. Jonah had a moppy hairstyle with a small ponytail. Nathan''s other friend was not exactly human like him and Jonah, she was a few feet taller than them both, she could not relate with the two with their human traits either. She looked more like a black silhouette than a person, thankfully she wore a large coat and cargo pants. Her face was just a smooth mask, a blank canvas that inspired her name, Ivory.

    The three stood right outside the farmhouse side by side, both men shared a quizzical look while Ivory stared with boredom. Clearly, she had no desire to be there in the first place, yet the two humans were ecstatic to be there. Jonah had even brought his lucky rifle for the trip. He was armed and ready for whatever awaited them.

    Nathan marched up the steps and towards the door which gave three solid knocks.

    "It''s empty," Jonah believed. "Doubt anyone lives here, it''s a bit¡­ broken."

    "The house looks like no one has lived here for decades, but no chance Scratch got the wrong place." Ivory argued. "Besides, it''s all we have right now."

    "So we should check it ourselves," Nathan added.

    But before anyone else could say another word, the doorknob turned. The three braced themselves for whoever it was that answered.

    From just a crack, they could see a golden eye that glared at them with hidden malice. "What business brought you here?" She hissed.

    "Oh!" Nathan scrambled to present himself properly. "Excuse me, madam! I am Nathan, these are my friends Ivory and Jonah. Our car broke down a few miles ago, and we were hoping that you''d let us use your phone."

    The woman stared at him for a second before she pulled the door wide open. Nathan had to take a step back as the woman exited her house just to reveal towering form. And that wasn''t the most harrowing detail, her neck consisted of seven human skulls all stacked on top of each other. It ended with the skull of an elk, the antlers stained with an unknown substance. She wore a robe that covered her body, but something irked Nathan greatly as he swore he saw another pair of hands peek out from under the robe.

    Her neck arched as she leveled the skull with Nathan''s eyes. "Who do you hope to deceive, Nathan White?"

    "White?" Nathan repeated, confused by the way she addressed him.

    And just from that, the strange woman was taken aback, surprised by his reaction. "Strange, I saw deception in your eyes, but now I see only truth? What game are you playing!?" The strange woman vanished for a second before reappearing in the open area behind them. "Who was foolish enough to send you after me, the Midnight Witch, Beatrix!?"

    With her introduction, Beatrix tossed her robe aside. What was revealed sickened Nathan. Her body was far more monstrous than her neck. It was like looking at a centipede and a human combined, the witch had exactly a dozen pairs of arms and another torso where it shouldn''t be. She was a horror that Nathan had not expected to see tonight.

    Jonah chuckled as he chambered a round into his rifle. "A little bird told us that you got the answers we were looking for. So it''s best that we just talk instead unless it''s a fight you''re looking for."

    "I want peace!" She bellowed, her voice alone shattered the windows of the house, whatever window remained that is.

    Nathan scoffed. He marched off the porch with a glimmer in his eyes. "Then tell us everything I want to know¡­" He reached into his jacket and brought out a wooden puppet, which had somehow fit inside his jacket. And before the witch could even question it, the puppet in Nathan''s hands started to shine. Once the light faded, Beatrix was shocked to find a massive sickle with an oddly designed handle in the puppet''s place. "Who am I!?"

    There was a minute of silence around them, the witch now had a confused look on her. Ivory and Jonah had taken their place on both of Nathan''s sides, Jonah with his rifle and Ivory with her fists. Even though she was outnumbered, Beatrix showed no concern for the fact.

    Beatrix allowed a chuckle to escape her teeth. "That explains it," She hissed. "but that doesn''t explain the sickle."

    "Just tell me what I want to know."

    The skull tilted to the side as if to mock Nathan, especially with how silent she was.

    "She''s not talking," Jonah scoffed. "Can I just blast her now?"

    "Very well," Ivory sighed. "if she proves to be difficult, then by all means, resort to violence."

    No word was said after Ivory''s approval, Nathan and Jonah simply jumped into action. The giant sickle created a long trench as Nathan dashed at his enemy while Jonah eyed the witch''s skull. A thunderous clap was heard as a bullet sailed through the air, but Beatrix saw the attack and reacted calmly. The bullet whizzed over Beatrix as she dodged to the side. But she landed right in Nathan''s path.

    Once he was sure enough, Nathan pulled the sickle out of the ground and produced a green crescent light that went straight at the witch.

    Beatrix summoned a wall of fire which was enough to stop the attack, but it left her open for Ivory to strike. Like lightning, Ivory crashed down upon Beatrix from above, and the ground shattered. Nathan would''ve thought that his friend had Beatrix now, but Ivory realized her mistake as the witch held herself upright. Her arms were like solid pillars, Beatrix was far stronger than anyone believed, and she managed to keep herself from being planted into the ground.

    And like the monster she was, Beatrix started to crawl towards Nathan with a speed that scared him to the core. It was like watching a centipede as Beatrix zoomed across the field. Only for a bullet to slam right against her skull, but it left no lasting damage. Though it did force Beatrix to miss her target just by an inch. Nathan took this chance and served several of her limbs with one clean swing. There was no sound, not even a gasp from Beatrix, she simply crashed down as she lost balance.

    And just like that, the Midnight Witch had been vanquished. Trapped under Ivory who had used her weight to keep Beatrix pinned on the ground.

    Beatrix glanced at her severed limbs and noticed that she bore no injuries. Her wounds did not bleed. "The Gluttonous Maw¡­" She gasped. "So I had already lost in the beginning."

    Jonah joined his friends so he could get a good look at their defeated foe. He took a small note that the heads¡­ neck? It was far more disturbing up close, especially when the neck stared at Jonah.

    "Alright, just ask her the questions you want, Nate, she''s giving me the creeps."

    Beatrix laughed.

    "Alright," Nathan scowled at the witch. His blade found itself against her neck. "Who am I?"

    The witch scoffed. "I''ve already said your name, boy, I will not speak anymore."

    "I can slice your heads off and you''d still be able to live."

    "But I wouldn''t be able to speak?" She said in a cheery tone.

    "Now she''s just playing games," Said Ivory.

    Nathan felt his patience grow thin, he was not a violent man, his friends know of this. So Ivory opted to interrogate their captive herself.

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    "I''ll give you five seconds to comply, or I''ll rip your arms off and feed them to you."

    "Your threats do not deter me, Sentinel. I''ve lived long enough to learn that my silence shall speak louder."

    "So you won''t, huh? Jonah put a bullet in her joints."

    "You''re the boss," Jonah complied blindly. He racked in a round and pressed it against one of the witch''s arms.

    "Yes, we have caught the Midnight Witch," The three froze as they discovered that one of the human skulls spoke, what frightened them more was the fact that it was Jonah''s voice coming from the head.

    "Your neck can speak?" Ivory said, completely caught off guard by the witch. What was worse was that the head spoke to a phone that was currently on call with the local authorities.

    After the moment passed, the witch tossed the phone aside and allowed herself to cackle. "You are foolish to return, White, sometimes it is better to sleep."

    "What do you mean?"

    "My fate shall be kinder than yours, Hound. Shame that you will forever be oblivious of your past, for I shall never answer. The choice is yours, Hound, allow the law to come for me or just end me now. Either way, I''ve lost the moment you showed up at my door."

    Nathan felt insulted. He had done this for one thing only, and it was to seek out the truth of his past. Beatrix mocked him, she knew that by withholding information Nathan would be left unsatisfied.

    "Let''s just kill her," Jonah suggested as he stared down his gun and straight at the elk skull in front of him.

    "Let''s just kill her." Beatrix mimicked Jonah once more.

    Ivory stepped in before Jonah could even pull the trigger. "The Midnight Witch has a bounty on her¡­ heads. Bringing her in alive pays more, so it''s best that we don''t do anything we will regret."

    "But I don''t have what I want," Nathan argued. "I''m willing to rip her apart for those answers."

    "You are free to do so," Beatrix said slyly. "You can even claim that my injuries were caused by our battle. But I will never free you from your little prison, Hound."

    "Why do you call me that?"

    For a moment, Beatrix was silent as if she was deep in her thoughts. It wasn''t long before she spoke. "Hound was the name given to you before you lost your memories."

    "And?"

    "You will have to discover the rest on your own, Hound."

    With that, Nathan had found a clue about his past despite the witch''s resistance.

    ******

    "Well, at least we got something out of her." Jonah commented as he sat down.

    The three had gathered in a small diner that they frequented, it was where they mostly go for breakfast and dinner. Some might even say it was their main hangout, they''ve spent time together in this diner more than they could remember.

    And as such they were regulars, so the owner already knew what Jonah and Nathan wanted, especially for dinner.

    "Chicken salad sandwich for Jonah, and burger for Nate. Enjoy boys, you two earned it."

    Nathan smiled as his food arrived before they could even order. "Thanks, Scratch, I''ve been starving since we got back."

    Pepper "Scratch" Cain was the woman who ran Cain''s Diner, and for decades she had run the place on her own without trouble. And as some might not believe, she was still in her prime. For in truth she was not human, her race was simply called Apex. This was apparent with her ash-gray skin and inverted-colored eyes. Their sclera was black and their pupils were white.

    As for Scratch, her main feature that Nathan would always remember is that her hair was quite curly, especially when she always tied it into a big bun on her head. Well, the second main feature. A common thing for the Apex that they shared is their oddly shaped mouths that reminded Nathan of a snake''s. Or a really big smile with a pair of two fangs, but in this case, those fangs were the same color as her skin.

    "All for my favorite boys! Can I get you something, Ivory?"

    "No thanks," Was Ivory''s simple answer.

    "The usual, I see." Scratch chuckled at her little joke. "So, how was your trip?"

    "Dead end," Jonah said. "she turned out to be the Midnight Witch, not only that, there was a hefty reward for her."

    "We did get something out of her, apparently I was called Hound," Nathan added.

    Scratch sighed tiredly. "So my leads still leave you in the blanks. But don''t worry, I''m sure someone knows who Hound is."

    "Thanks again, I don''t know what I''d do without you."

    "Live a normal life? Well as normal as you can get with that little parasite of yours."

    "Who you calling a parasite!?" Something had popped out from under the table.

    A wooden puppet in a green dress with a white apron, and an old-fashioned black bonnet. Her mouth was not painted to have lips, instead, rows of razor teeth that could tear a man apart. Her claws on the other hand would do just that, so her bite isn''t the only thing you have to worry about.

    "You better not mean me, or else I''ll bite a chunk out of your leg!"

    "Easy, Gluttony, she''s just joking." Nathan had quickly pulled the little imp away and held her still. "You did good today, I''m sure Scratch has some food prepared for you."

    "Oh, okay," Gluttony''s mood changed like a switch. "Hey, do you have any chicken? I like them whole and fresh."

    "There''s one in the freezer, go fetch it." Scratch answered.

    The four watched as the puppet scampered off questing for a meal. If one had to connect the dots, they would learn by now that this puppet who''s coincidentally named, Gluttony, is indeed the Gluttonous Maw. As the marionette searched for food, Ivory turned towards Nathan with a strange look, despite being faceless.

    "You should really stop treating that thing like a pet,"

    Jonah grunted in agreement. "The Gluttonous Maw is a bomb just waiting to blow up."

    "Those two are right, you know.'''' Scratch said as she stared into the kitchen where the freezer door had opened for a second. "Did you know Star Forged weapons consume their users if they grow too weak?"

    "And Gluttony here is recorded as the only weapon to take form and speak, like a living person." Nathan argued as he took a bite out of his burger.

    "It''s odd that this even happened, but honestly in this universe, I''m sure there''s an explanation."

    Ivory cleared her throat, and every head in the room turned to Ivory. "Well while someone else wonders why, I''m curious if you got some work, Scratch."

    The Apex grinned and revealed her rows of razor teeth. "You bet! Some real doozies for you bunch, very rewarding even. We got a bounty for the vice-president, commissioned by the president himself."

    "Wait, isn''t the vice-president a dog?" Jonah pointed out the details.

    Scratch shrugged her shoulders. "Apparently the president discovered an assassination plot being planned out by the dog, details on who told everyone is still unclear."

    "Next please." Ivory said.

    "Demonic ritual under the local fire department?"

    "That sounds better," Ivory then stood up ready for some action. She stretched her joints eager to get into the fight. "Let''s just hope we''re the first one there."

    Nathan sighed. "Can''t we do something easy and simple? Like painting a fence for the elderly?"

    "Now that you say it, I do have someone who needs a hand with some chores." Scratch informed him.

    Jonah on the other hand wanted no boring task, so he pulled his rifle from its place and held it with a prideful smirk. "Sorry, but I barely did anything today, so I''m very excited for some dangerous event."

    Seeing as his two closest friends had already decided, Nathan finished his burger and went on to join the two. Hands in his pockets, he followed Ivory and Jonah towards the exit. "Gluttony, we''re heading out!"

    Gluttony dropped from the ceiling and latched herself onto his back. "I''m already here, I can''t wait for a real meal, boss."

    Nathan simply smirked at his companion''s eagerness. Silently, he stepped out of the diner with a glimmer in his eye. And for whatever the future may hold, Nathan knew that his friends had his back no matter the challenge. And with their help, he was sure that he could unravel the mystery that is his past.

    This is only the beginning of Nathan White''s adventure, for it is like any story known to man, that danger always lurks in the shadows.

    ******

    The engine was the only thing Beatrix could hear as she sat silently inside the armored car. The authorities were transporting her to a secured prison where most of her kind belonged. Dangerous individuals who are far worse than the last.

    The car itself was just a van built and designed for prisoner transfer, also modified to prevent the escape of powerful entities such as Beatrix. Her hands were cuffed with a strange device that rendered her magic useless, she couldn''t even use her heads to speak the voices of the innocent to taunt those around her.

    "The Midnight Witch," A guard who sat across from her spoke, Beatrix took a note of his country accent and deep voice. She found it very familiar, yet she couldn''t tell why. "You sure are knee-deep in trouble, far more than I could''ve been. You know, if it was me, I''d just fight until I can''t even breathe."

    "You know nothing," She hissed, she wanted to glare into his eyes and cause panic, but the guard had his cap over his face. Was he too much of a coward to even look at her?

    "I know everything," He chuckled. "Kidnapping over a thousand people, organ trafficking, illegal body modification, and many more."

    There was a silence between the two as Beatrix took in his words. Though it was already cramped enough, Beatrix raised her head higher until her horns bent the ceiling.

    "All those crimes of yours would have gotten you a free ticket to Hades, but the Redeemers want you for your connections with the Bloody Tyrant."

    "Watcher¡­ so you''ve already arrived to finish me off."

    The car came to a full stop, Beatrix watched as the guard stood up to open the door. And as she feared, someone was waiting for her behind it.

    "Bea!" A female Apex with long gray hair. And it would appear that this mysterious woman was happy to see Beatrix. "So you got yourself caught, huh? Not good, Bea, not good."

    "Master, I can explain."

    "Watcher, can you go and clean up the rest? I''ll take care of this."

    Watcher only grunted before he went on to do her bidding. Beatrix would then hear countless shots, she presumed that the guards that were meant to keep an eye on her perished.

    "Shame he couldn''t bring his scarecrow costume," The Apex said. "So, anyway! You said you can explain. And don''t be so formal, we''re all friends here, call me Evie."

    "I have information¡­"

    Evie scoffed. "Beatrix, do you really think I''d keep you alive just because you know something?"

    Beatrix lowered her head, she knew that her end neared.

    "You will die, but not here." The witch raised her head as she heard Evie speak. "You can be defeated by some random hero wannabe, be caught by the cops, but dying is another thing. If I wanted you dead, we wouldn''t be here. You still have value, Bea, your methods are useful to me. And if I kill every single person that made a mistake, then I''d be alone to do all the dirty work."

    Beatrix walked out of the van just to discover the carnage that was caused to rescue her. There were others as well, familiar faces that Beatrix had not expected to see. They were Evie''s most trusted officers, people who worked for Evie far longer than Beatrix had.

    For Evie was no ordinary Apex, for she was the most dangerous creature on the planet. She was the Bloody Tyrant.

    A woman approached Beatrix, she wore an attire far fitting for colder climates. And oddly enough, her skin was blue as if she was an aspect of frost. She was notably scrawny as well, and quite short.

    "Jackie," Beatrix greeted the woman.

    The woman now known as Jackie said nothing, she simply froze the cuffs that prevented the witch from using her powers. Beatrix broke the cuffs with ease as it no longer dampened her abilities.

    Evie sighed as she sat down on the dirt. "So, I got an order for a dozen hunters, that means I need about 24 bodies by the end of the week. But before you start, I''m actually curious about the information you have that you believed would keep me from killing you."

    "Hound is alive," Beatrix was quick to answer.

    Once more, the dead silence took over as every living soul turned to face Beatrix. None said a word as they stared at the witch oddly. For a moment, a small smile cracked on Evie''s face.

    "Since when did you get a sense of humor?"

    But then her expression turned sour. Evie stood up, a scowl formed on her as she walked over to Beatrix. Despite being far taller than the Apex, Beatrix felt small in comparison. She knew her place, Evie was far stronger than anyone currently present. Evie had power and connections, an influence that could change the fate of many. And if she was blinded by rage, then it would be hell on earth.

    "Explain before I rip your heart out."

    ***

 II: Nathan White

    The sun shone and filled the room with its glorious light. Nathan welcomed the warmth as he rose from his slumber. With one swift movement, he launched himself off his bed and ran over to a large basket by the nightstand.

    It was where Gluttony slept, more importantly, where Nathan kept his clean clothes. Nathan shook the basket and awoke his partner, the puppet growled, displeased by the abrupt end of her sleep. But instead of complaining, Gluttony went after Nathan''s bed to continue her rest. Nathan sighed, he wanted to make a joke about how much of a sloth she was but opted to prepare for the day as there is much work to be done.

    After cleaning up, and a fresh set of clothes with his signature jacket, Nathan entered the main room of his apartment. Well, his and the others.

    The three friends all shared a one-bedroom apartment. Ivory doesn''t sleep, she simply meditates by the door, while Jonah had chosen to sleep on the couch. His reason is simply that he lost the only bedroom to Nathan through a game of checkers.

    So in the end, Nathan would count himself lucky. Jonah doesn''t complain, he owned the couch now and would always demand a tax for sitting on it.

    That is why Ivory preferred to stand while Nathan simply humors him.

    Speaking of Jonah, it would appear that he was nowhere to be seen. Nathan could only guess that Jonah had gone to the shooting range as it was Saturday, the marksman always went down to the range every weekend morning. So that meant it was just Ivory and Nathan today, Gluttony as well.

    "Morning," Ivory greeted Nathan as he entered the kitchen area where a bowl of cereal was waiting along with an empty one. Nathan presumed it was Jonah''s. "So, what''s the plan for today?"

    "Oh, the same thing I always do on weekends," Nathan answered. He took a seat, a wide smile appeared on his face as he took notice of the cereal box on the table. "Justice Crunch, my favorite!"

    "Well, I saw that in the store yesterday and knew you''d actually love it." Ivory started to clean up the kitchen while Nathan enjoyed his breakfast cereal.

    "Heck yeah, Justice Crunch is the breakfast choice of heroes! And best of all, their profits go straight to orphans all across the universe!"

    Ivory felt a little bit of doubt but she simply focused on her task.

    "Man, what I''d do to meet Justice himself."

    "Don''t you have a signed trading card from him?"

    Nathan sighed as he pulled out the item in question. "Yeah, but I don''t remember it."

    One of the few things Nathan had on him when he woke up without memories was a signed card of Justice. "To my loyal fan Nate" A small message that told him everything he needed to know about his hero. And Nathan even had watched all five hundred sixty-two seasons of "Justice and the Peacekeepers". A children''s show for some, but all episodes were based on Justice''s true adventures as the Sun God.

    Yes, you heard it. Justice was the deity of the sun. A fiery head, skin that looked like a dormant volcano, and an awesome tattered coat with faux fur around the neck. A cool vest that gave him a fancy look. And boy, Justice wielded the most awesome sword known to all, the Halo. A weapon forged by the same God that created the Gluttonous Maw.

    "Nathan?"

    "Yeah?"

    "Why did you go into detail about Justice''s history?"

    "Oh, did I?" He laughed. "Think I was just caught in the moment. Oh, right! Any news on the new neighbor?"

    "You''re the only one in this building that cares about that, but Miss Mabel said that they''d be here tomorrow. Why are you so excited for someone who could be a creep?"

    A smirk greeted Ivory as she faced Nathan. "There is a chance they''d be some gross alien, but there is also a chance that they would be a cool gross alien!"

    "Mortals and their enthusiasm." She chuckled at her friend.

    "Well, I''m done, I''ll be going now."

    Ivory picked up his empty bowl and waved him goodbye. "Alright, see you at Cain''s!"

    "I''ll be there! Gluttony, we need to go!"

    Ivory heard a thud coming from Nathan''s room, then the door flew open with Gluttony as she rushed out. She held a giant wooden box big enough for her to be carried in. Ivory knew the purpose of the box, simply to keep Gluttony away from curious eyes while Nathan walked around the city. It did not matter much to Ivory honestly, Gluttony was not her responsibility.

    Nathan and Jonah are.

    ******

    "Oh dear, it appears that I misplaced my puppet!"

    Nathan said aloud as he stood by a large fountain. Currently in the local park where plenty of people of different origins were out and about. The majority of these people were humans, plenty of other species, there were even some Sentinels. A few of these people had focused on Nathan as he stood there with a sorrowful look.

    "My, I''ve been such a klutz lately! I would lose my head if it wasn''t attached to me!"

    His little act caught more attention, which was what he desired as of now.

    Nathan turned towards an elderly woman who sat comfortably on a bench. "Excuse me madam, but have you seen my friend?"

    "Oh, poor thing! No sadly, but may I ask what they are like?"

    Nathan cupped his hand on his chin. "Well, my friend is a little empty-headed."

    "I am not!"

    All heard the voice of a woman coming from below the bench. The old lady reached down and discovered a large box. She would then hand it over to Nathan with a befuddled look.

    "Gilda, my friend! What were you doing down there?"

    To everyone''s surprise, and horror, Nathan opened the box to reveal a nightmarish puppet. Though her clothes were adorable, the skin-ripping teeth terrified some. Especially with how the puppet smiled in a way.

    Nathan then took a seat next to the old lady so the crowd that gathered could see Gluttony in a better light.

    "What was I doing? You''re the idiot who left me there!"

    That was when they realized that it was a ventriloquist that had graced them with his presence. "Aw, don''t be like that, I''ve simply forgotten!"

    Some were amazed by how talented Nathan was, but the truth is only known to himself and Gluttony. And it would seem the two were taking advantage of that little secret of theirs.

    "Well, either way, we have work to do, Gilda."

    "Work? I have no time for work, I have a show to catch."

    Nathan sighed. "This is the show, you and I are here to perform for these wonderful people."

    "Way to tell everyone how poor you are," Gluttony chuckled. "We''re sitting here with you making voices in the name of entertainment for others. Talk about mentally unhealthy."

    This earned the two a small laugh from the crowd. Some more had gathered out of curiosity. Many of them were curious as to how Nathan was able to speak with his lips shut tightly. If one was observant enough, one would notice the fact that Nathan was simply breathing, and nothing more. Gluttony continued to fool their audience, she even mechanically moved her limbs just to be more convincing.

    She had plenty of practice when it came to pretending to be an inanimate object. More jokes were said as the two went on at each other. Their audience laughed with every word that escaped the two. The idea of a very scary puppet no longer bothered them. Instead, they grew to love Gluttony and found her the funniest among the duo.

    Nathan had even done the famous drinking water while the puppet spoke, well Gluttony was simply singing as Nathan drank from a bottle. But some doubted him, he was too perfect, lips barely moved throughout the show.

    This of course was noted by a small group of people who eyed Nathan carefully, but their focus was more on the money he was receiving from the crowd.

    ******

    "Wow, that was a nice show!"

    Nathan closed the box where he kept Gluttony as well as the money he earned today. He made sure the box was locked before he turned around.

    "Thanks, though I still need to work on my material, honestly."

    Nathan took note of the group in front of him. Five teenagers, one was a girl. He didn''t like the way they looked, and they reeked of trouble. Yet Nathan kept his neutral expression.

    "From what I saw earlier, you sir, got what it takes to be the best."

    Nathan chuckled. "You really think so?"

    "Yeah, if you''d like, we can give you some second opinions to help you out." The boy did the talking, and Nathan assumed that he was the leader of this group.

    "Sure, I''m a bit busy right now though. This noon?"

    "Is that right?"

    Nathan grumbled softly. He noticed the others slowly take their position. Two were by his right, while one was on his left, the girl stayed where she was.

    "You are really robbing me in broad daylight?"

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    The leader gasped. "What gave you that idea?"

    "Listen, this is a bad idea for you guys, walk away."

    They only laughed at his threat, Nathan scoffed in return. He only wanted a peaceful day, but here they were, about to cause trouble.

    "I got it!"

    Nathan''s eyes bulged out of their sockets as he discovered a sixth member of the group. What was worse was that they had his box and were already on the run. One tried to blindside him, but Nathan saw the attack a mile away and simply ducked. He would''ve fought back, but he was far more focused on the one who stole Gluttony.

    The five teens could not stop Nathan as he jumped over the bench and ran after the thief.

    He had worked all night to prepare the jokes, and he would never allow anyone to ruin his day. The thief looked over their shoulder just to see Nathan right on their tail and was closing the distance fast. No matter how hard the teen tried to lose Nathan, he still pursued with a speed that they cannot match. In the end, Nathan followed the thief into an alley and a dead end.

    With no escape, the teen pulled out his pocket knife, but that proved useless as Nathan knocked the teen out with one single blow to the face. The box flew out of the teen''s hand as Nathan did so, but he caught it with ease in the air.

    "Right, now to deal with the rest of you." He said as he faced the mouth of the alley where the rest of the bothersome kids had just arrived.

    They came to discover the state of their friend, out cold and out of the game. "Why you, you''re gonna pay for that!" The leader claimed.

    It was pointless to say such things to Nathan, he was ready to defend what was his no matter the cause. And it would seem that these teens had their minds set on fighting him. So left without a choice, Nathan opened the box in his hand and reached into it.

    The teens that gathered widened their eyes as Nathan pulled out the Gluttonous Maw. With both hands full, Nathan charged forward, his blade carving the wall to his right. The group scattered as they realized that they were outmatched, but the leader was struck with fear and froze.

    The reckless teen watched as Nathan covered the gap between them with blinding speed.

    Their eyes closed shut as Nathan was upon them, then they waited. Nothing happened, they did not feel anything, not even the cold embrace of death. Their eyes cracked open, and there they saw the blade in their chest and Nathan in front of them.

    "Next time, you won''t get off easy." Nathan pulled the blade and instead used his box on the teen. One quick strike knocked them out before they could question anything. "Ugh, I wish I didn''t have to do that."

    "If you had just thrown me at him instead of summoning the giant sickle, I could''ve given him a beating he will never forget!" Gluttony said. "I can''t hurt humans in this form."

    "We don''t want to hurt them that badly," Nathan argued as he summoned Gluttony''s puppet form. "They were just being dumb."

    She scoffed at him. "You forgive people too easily."

    "And you lack compassion." He shot back.

    "Well, this is interesting¡­"

    The two tensed up as they realized that they were not alone. There, loomed over the unconscious leader of the group, was the girl from before. Nathan had thought that she left along with the others.

    "So the Gluttonous Maw can take a different form?"

    She was a red-headed girl, with a pixie cut hairstyle. She wore a varsity jacket like him but instead was red and white. Most likely the colors of her school''s sports team. Her eyes were a shade of amber, and it was something Nathan took notice of first before the others. Despite having the appearance of a normal teenage girl, Nathan smelled the stench of blood on her, as well as regrets.

    Then something about her started an alarm in the back of his mind. He had no clue honestly as to why.

    "What''s wrong, cat got your tongue?" She giggled softly. "Pun intended, Hound."

    Nathan was upon her as soon as she uttered the name, the puppet had transformed back into the giant sickle in a single flash. The girl stood still with a grin, unfazed by the fact that a blade had gone through her. And much to Nathan''s surprise, she was unharmed. Though he was quite unsure as to why he had even attacked. It was as if it was his natural response, the strangest part was the scribbles above her head.

    What really caught him off guard was the fact that she was human.

    "Wow, we haven''t seen each other in years, and this is how you greet me?" She clicked her tongue disappointedly. "Here I thought we were friends."

    Nathan lowered his weapon, but he did not drop his guard. The scribbles above her head started to grow clearer as the seconds passed.

    "Siren?" He muttered aloud.

    She smirked. She mistook the confusion in his voice for something else. "So you do remember me. I am Bella Smith, also known as the Siren of the Bloody Tyrant. Here to bring you in, Hound."

    He gasped upon discovering an important detail concerning her. The Bloody Tyrant. Known across the universe for their brutal methods and the monstrous crimes they committed in Eden. This is why the Bloody Tyrant held enough bounty on their head to buy a planet. That isn''t even an exaggeration. Going against them is literally high risk and high reward.

    "I''m not going anywhere, especially with someone who works for a criminal!"

    "You don''t have a choice."

    The two stood in silence as if Siren expected something to happen. Nathan''s eyes darted around for whatever scheme she had planned for him.

    "W-well? Come on then, the boss will want to see you." There was a stutter, and Nathan realized that something was amiss.

    "As I said; I ain''t going with you."

    Siren growled audibly. "Why isn''t it working?" She muttered to herself.

    The handle of Nathan''s weapon nearly blindsided her, the weapon sailed over Siren''s head as she ducked down. She gave him a quick flash of her smirk. Nathan failed to step back in time as she wrapped her hand around his face.

    "A direct exposure will definitely solve this."

    A blast of thick smoke erupted from her palm, and Nathan found himself blinded as he struggled to escape her grip. She was deceptively strong for her size. Without a doubt about it, this girl was no ordinary human.

    Soon enough, she released him once she was satisfied with her work. "There, that should do it." She said as she dusted her palms.

    Only to have her world flipped over.

    "What the heck was that!?" He exclaimed between coughs. "It got in my mouth!"

    Siren couldn''t believe it for sure. As she lay on the pavement with a bewildered look, a single thought ran through her mind¡­

    "How?"

    Nathan looked over at her, equally confused.

    "How are you not under my control?" She finally asked as she rose to her feet. "Those spores were supposed to take control of your brain function, it should have made you into my slave!"

    "Well, maybe I''m just too strong for your weird mind power!" He claimed.

    "Tsk. No matter, I''ll bring you in no matter what." She grinned.

    The two teens suddenly snapped back to life. It finally dawned on Nathan as he realized the situation. These two weren''t in their right mind and were under the influence of the Siren. So this was the grand scheme of it all. Just so she could corner Nathan in an alley.

    No matter, he still had the advantage.

    Unlike the two thralls, Nathan clearly had more skill than them. Though he''s just unsure how the two teens would even fight.

    One leaped towards him, the other simply dashed. Nathan ducked under the first and caught the next teen with the soles of his shoes and flung the poor kid at Siren. She dodged in time, but couldn''t escape Nathan''s grasp. His hand caught her by the collar of her jacket and was thrown off her feet. Where Nathan then brought down the handle of his weapon upon her exposed neck and pinned the girl down.

    "Call them off or else!"

    Siren frowned, she weighed her options. There was no way for her to tell if he was bluffing or not. So left with no other option, the Siren conceded. Her thralls collapsed with smoke coming out of their mouths.

    "There, you happy?" She hissed out.

    A prideful grin appeared on his face as he stared at her intently. "Very¡­"

    She thought he''d set her free, but the moment when he pulled his weapon away, a hand caught Siren by the throat.

    "I''ll be needing some answers, and you better behave." A hollow threat, but this was a chance for Nathan to discover more about his past.

    Sadly it just wasn''t meant to be.

    Something heavy slammed into his abdomen and the ground left his feet. He recovered in the air just as he was about to crash.

    A gasp escaped him as his eyes laid upon the culprit, the Midnight Witch, Beatrix. He knew that elk skull all too well.

    "Surprised to see me, Hound?" The head detached from the rest, it hovered menacingly in the air.

    Honestly, Nathan was surprised to discover the neat trick. Yet that wasn''t the end of it as the skulls that were purposed as her neck started to follow the example of the first. Rather than allow her to finish, Nathan opted to strike before any damage could be done. But his mistake, unlike their first encounter, is that he was alone this time.

    He was smashed against the wall as the heads slammed into him. He broke free in time as Beatrix spat out scorching flames that would''ve melted his skin.

    As he landed back on his feet, Nathan took a swing at the heads and managed to land a deadly blow. That was another mistake as the head simply exploded as Gluttony cut it in twain.

    "Beatrix! This is my mission, what the heck are you doing here!?" Bella had recovered from her defeat and was angered by the intervention of Beatrix.

    The elk skull swiveled its gaze toward her. "The master had decided to simply allow Hound to walk free, but we are to test his limits and knowledge. They are not pleased with your failure."

    Bella shrunk beneath the witch''s glare.

    Nathan struggled to stand, that blast had him dazed and confused. He could barely feel the concrete beneath his hand, the rough texture was strangely smooth to him. Suddenly, colorful scribbles appeared on the ground. He believed for a moment that the blast rocked his brain in his skull. But remembered that moment when he first met Bella Smith.

    "Dash forward." The scribbled instructed him.

    Without question, Nathan White dashed forward. A pillar of flames erupted from where he once was.

    As the shock left him, Nathan fixed his gaze on Beatrix, and his grip on the Gluttonous Maw tightened. He knew whatever this strange anomaly was, it gave Nathan an advantage.

    As he realized the truth, somehow the scribbles became clearer. They even adapted to use simple lines as if they wanted to guide Nathan. It was a plan, drawn in real-time. He analyzed the route given to him. Though it was the first time it ever happened to Nathan, he felt as if he could trust this anomaly.

    "We gotta run, Nate! She''s too much!" Gluttony suggested.

    "We''ve just started, G, she caught us by surprise." He reasoned. It was true, he was blindsided by the witch, and he did not expect the heads to explode like that.

    Though his partner had doubts now that they faced a worthy foe, Nathan was brave enough to follow through with this plan that was laid out for him.

    Beatrix commanded the heads to attack. The plan predicted this simple action, so Nathan dodged effortlessly. This surprised his opponent. Even more so when he started to make his way over to the main skull. She tried to fend Nathan off, but he avoided all attacks as if he was meant to.

    This was not good.

    Especially now that he was upon her, his blade raised to the sky. A shadow loomed over Nathan as he was about to go for the kill.

    Yet his eyes did not deceive, he was confident even now. "Pitiful." The words read just above the elk skull.

    Nathan reached out to the antlers and used Beatrix''s head as a weapon. He slammed her against the thing that casts the shadow, which turned out to be her own body that moved to protect herself. Yet everything went down just as planned.

    Bella watched as her superior was vanquished so easily. She would''ve thought that Beatrix had Nathan in a corner, yet he proved them wrong as he somehow won within a short minute. Though he was simply Nathan White, Bella Smith saw the image of Hound instead as he stood over Beatrix triumphantly. With that in mind, she ran. One would accuse her as a coward, but no one can blame her. She came in unprepared and suffered for it.

    Nathan would''ve finished Beatrix off, but something compelled him not to. "Do not kill her, or else they will attack."

    Nathan stared at the words quizzically, yet he did as he was told. It saved him from being burned, so it was best to follow its judgment.

    Unbeknownst to him, there was another soul present. High above all, on top of the roof. There stood the Bloody Tyrant, perplexed with a great amount of interest. She watched as Nathan ran off to safety. Her razor teeth revealed themselves as she smiled widely. The result of today was certainly something to write about.

    ******

    Nathan pushed through the doors, Scratch greeted him as he made his way over to his friends. Tired after a stressful encounter. And a chance that slipped away.

    With no one else in the diner, it was easy to find his friends, and he found both of them in a state the same as him. Jonah looked ragged and had bandages all over. He looked like he got back from a one-sided beatdown. Ivory on the other hand looked worse. What was once a clean white face, is now covered in ash and soot. There were even traces of blood. Most of all, her clothes were damaged and torn in many sides, so much that she was almost indecent. If she was bothered, Ivory hid her embarrassment well.

    Well, that didn''t matter much to a Sentinel.

    "What happened to you guys?" Nathan asked as he and Gluttony took their seats.

    Jonah slumped into his seat which earned him a scolding from Ivory. "Some guy in a Halloween costume showed up at the shooting range and caused trouble. Said something about a test and left me a broken mess."

    Ivory took the opportunity to explain herself. "A Thyvxen barged into the cooking class and nearly destroyed the place. Ran off before I could kill her."

    As they told Nathan what had transpired during the morning, the scribbles returned. Faded but readable. Above Jonah, the word "Watcher" was written. As for Ivory, it was "Scorch" above her.

    This thing was still with him, even if it was weaker than before.

    Well, either way, this entity knew who the two attackers were. Which only solidified a small suspicion within Nathan.

    "I think¡­ I think I worked for the Bloody Tyrant." He whispered the idea to his friends so that only they would learn about it.

    But this didn''t go unnoticed by the Apex, the plates shattered upon the floor just a few feet away from them. Her superior sense of hearing allowed Scratch to hear Nathan. Quickly, she rushed towards the entrance and flipped the sign at the front, and closed her diner. Then she marched over to Nathan.

    The three saw the fear in her eyes as she stood before them. They could tell that Scratch struggled to form any words. Finally, her voice was heard.

    "Nathan, you can''t- you can''t just say such things!" Her hands clamped down on his shoulders and Nathan was pulled closer to her. "Do you have any idea what would happen if someone hears about this? Redeemers will be at your throat, or worse, they drag you into Tartarus for questioning. Tell me that you''re just joking, please."

    He shook his head. "The Siren of Bloody Tyrant wanted to capture me and I would''ve learned more until the Midnight Witch showed up."

    All gasped upon learning that Beatrix returned.

    "I would''ve lost until something helped me." Nathan stared at his hand for a moment. "Words started to show up out of nowhere, even now I can see it. I just don''t know how it works. But it helped me beat Beatrix so easily."

    "That''s good I guess?" Jonah commented. "But, how did it happen?"

    "No clue," Was his simple answer. "If I want to find out about my past I need to know who else worked under the Tyrant. Scratch, can you bring me some names?"

    "Nathan, what you ask is easy to get. My issue is that you''re gonna get yourself in trouble if you go down this road. It''s best to give up now."

    Jonah slammed his fist against the table and silenced everyone in the room. "Now hold on a second, we spent far too long helping Nate just to stop now! And whoever attacked me needs to be taught a lesson!"

    Ivory hummed in agreement. "As much as I want to avoid conflict, I doubt this is the end. They''ll come back, but this time we shall be ready."

    Gluttony laughed proudly as she stood on the seat. "Yeah, they had the drop on us last time, but they better look out! Because I''m itching for a real fight!"

    Nathan smiled at his friends. They all had decided that this threat will not be ignored. They struck first, and the next encounter shall surely be to their advantage. Especially now that they are aware of the Tyrant''s presence.

    "Scratch, we want these guys to know that they made a mistake attacking us. Can you please give us a hand?"

    She was conflicted, that much was clear. Nathan knew not the reason. Only believed that the reputation of the Bloody Tyrant was too much for Scratch. Still, he was willing to fight even if it was against a powerful foe.

    She sighed once she finally made her decision. "Alright, fine, I''ll get you some names. But just promise me you guys won''t do anything until we know you can handle it. I don''t want to be worried every day."

    Gluttony puffed out her chest. "You don''t have to! With Nathan''s trick, Jonah''s skills, Ivory''s strength, and my power; ain''t nothing will bring us down!"

    Jonah cheered while Ivory simply grunted.

    As for Nathan, he pulled Gluttony off the seat and placed her on his shoulders. "Yeah, we''ll teach them not to mess with us!"

    Scratch watched as the group rallied for the future. All eager to pay the Tyrant back for the aggression. They were ready for another round and would show no mercy next time. And this also meant that Nathan was closer to the truth of his past.

    Despite his injuries, Jonah was just as confident as the rest. Even Gluttony felt her metaphorical blood boil with excitement. Ivory just wanted to protect her friends as the Sentinel of the group.

    As for Penny "Scratch" Cain, she was reluctant to follow through with Nathan''s request. But knew that she must as she is his friend. If anything, she owed him more than he does to her.

    And if Nathan was attentive, he would''ve noticed a final message before it disappeared completely.

    "She''s watching"

    ***

 III: Something Wicked This Way Comes

    "The day has arrived!" Nathan announced to his friends.

    The three gathered in their apartment, where Jonah sat on his couch and Ivory stood by the exit. As for Nathan, he was in the kitchen where he held a dramatic pose. With Gluttony by his side, of course. The two were inseparable as always.

    "Friends, the day is the day when this little apartment of ours receives a new neighbor!" He swapped his pose for something grand. "It is important for us to give them a good welcome and first impressions! Which means that we gotta be positive and all smiles!"

    "You''re pretty much the only one in this building that cares, well, Abe does as well, but still." Ivory commented.

    Jonah chuckled. "She''s right, I especially don''t feel like meeting someone new."

    "At least you guys get to go outside freely," Gluttony''s shoulders sagged. "I''m stuck in here until my costume is fixed."

    His friends weren''t as enthusiastic as he and his partner, but that did not deter Nathan. As he had made a plan ever since he heard of a new addition to the apartment.

    The building didn''t have many people who were eager to hang out with him. They all had their life and were just too busy. There were of course a few of them who would meet up with Nathan sometimes. One of them was of course Abe, and Nathan would attend Abe''s sermons every Sunday.

    And now he was given an opportunity to meet someone new, and he hoped that they would get to know each other.

    That was why he had prepared something special.

    Nathan took a short trip over to the fridge and procured a gift for the neighbor; a nice little cake to welcome them with.

    "Aw, man! That thing looks so good!" Gluttony commented as she set her eyes on the cake. She knew she couldn''t have a taste of it, all she could do was dream of a chance to do so.

    This caught the attention of the Sentinel, and she was not pleased with the sight of the sugary treat. "You bought a cake? Nathan, if you wanted one I would''ve baked you a cake."

    "Yeah, but I didn''t want to bother you much yesterday because of the attacks that happened." He reasoned.

    At the mention of the cake, Jonah bounced out of his seat and dashed over to Nathan. A hungry look in his eyes as he stared at the sweet treat. "I take it back, I''d love to meet the new neighbor!"

    Nathan smiled. He knew of Jonah''s true intentions but that didn''t matter much. Everyone will get a slice, Nathan was sure of that. "Alright then! We better get going and introduce ourselves."

    With the cake in hand and his two friends, Nathan ventured out of their apartment and strode over to the next door. And as expected, they weren''t alone as someone else was there as well.

    He was as tall as Ivory, with skin white as snow. Gray hair and eyes red as blood. Demonic in appearance, complemented with horns and bat-like wings. Despite that, he was dressed like a priest, as he was not a demon or so to speak.

    This was Abe, a Redeemer. A demon who still believed in the words of God and what is right.

    But that didn''t matter, also a story for another time.

    "Father Abe!" Nathan was quick to greet the priest. "Here to meet the neighbor?"

    Abe chuckled softly. "Good morning, Nathaniel. And yes, I am here to meet them as I did the same with everyone. I see you convinced the others to join you. Greetings, Mr. Bloodfield, to you as well sister."

    "Shut it, Abe." Ivory hissed. "Talking to you is already making my horns grow."

    A small side effect for Sentinels when they are around demons. Bumps were already growing on her head just from the presence of Abe alone.

    "I do apologize," Said Abe. "Well no point in waiting now, let us see what character is behind this door."

    "Of course, I can''t wait any longer." Nathan knocked on the door. He and Abe were eager to meet the new addition to the building.

    The four waited, and soon enough the door opened. What greeted them was an odd sight. Inside stood a short machine. She reached about half of Nathan''s height. A monitor screen with an adorable face stared at them. The main body was a box, and the limbs were tubes which gave the machine a cartoonish appearance. The clamps she had instead of hands really sold it.

    This tiny robot was practically from a cartoon.

    "Hiya!" The machine greeted them with the voice of a woman. "I''m Sally! It is great to meet you today!"

    She was truly the cheery one.

    "Greetings, machine. I am Abe, and these are my friends, Jonah, Nathan, and Ivory."

    Ivory would''ve argued, but held her tongue instead.

    "Well, it is a wonderful day to make friends!" Sally moved out of the way and invited the group in. "Please, come in so I can provide organic provisions!"

    "It''s alright, I brought cake!" Nathan showed off the cake to Sally.

    "Ah, I cannot stay sadly," Abe said solemnly. "I am needed elsewhere. But I will visit once I am free. Goodbye, friends."

    There was a sigh from Ivory as Abe departed.

    "Farewell, Abe!" Sally waved her clamp goodbye. "Please enter."

    The small machine led the three into a barren room. There was not much to say as it seemed to fit well Sally. She was just a robot of course, so the essentials are not required. There was of course a couch big enough for the three of them, four if Sally squeezed herself in. And of course, a coffee table to really help make the living room more¡­ living.

    The kitchen was surprisingly the same as theirs, strangely identical as well. Sally was busy with the fridge as well, and for a moment she pondered a bit. Soon she retrieved a few bottles of something she was sure they could ingest.

    "Forgive this unit as I have not prepared proper drinks." She said as she laid the bottles on top of the coffee table. "But my information has reminded me that humans can of course consume this brand of coolant."

    This caught Jonah and Nathan a little off guard, but both simply smiled as they accepted the drinks that Sally offered.

    They were reluctant to try, as it was the first time they heard of such a thing. Even if the robot assured them that it was safe to drink, the two humans had their doubts as it sounded outlandish.

    The name Cog was on the bottle, the brand that created an edible coolant. How or why was certainly a mystery for them.

    Nathan gave the cake over to Sally and requested that she may cut it into equal servings. She was happy to oblige and went off back to the kitchen.

    "Jonah, I think you should take one for the team and drink the coolant."

    Jonah scowled at Nathan. "I ain''t gonna drink, who knows what would happen to me. What if I''m allergic?"

    "Allergies are what concerns you?" Ivory scoffed. "The machine promised us that this coolant of hers is edible for you mortals, so I don''t see why you must fight over who takes the first sip."

    Sally finally found her kitchen knife and proceeded with the cake, oblivious to the conversation between her guests.

    "Easy for you to say, Ivory," Jonah raised the bottle to Ivory''s face. "You Sentinels don''t need to drink or eat. I bet you can down a whole glass of regular brand of coolant."

    "Yes, and I would not even falter."

    Jonah hissed at the taller and far superior being. Sentinels weren''t like mortals such as Nathan and Jonah. They were far more durable and immortal. Their bodies did not require sustenance, but the Sentinels were free to consume.

    "Nathan, I will give you free couch access for a week if you drink it first."

    Nathan''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "What, that is a deal. No take backs or anything."

    "That is if you drink the coolant first, Nathan," Jonah said with a smug grin.

    Determined to win that free couch access, Nathan popped open the bottle. He was attracted to the strangely sweet scent. To him, it was deceitful at best. The coolant was sickly green, which didn''t help give Nathan courage.

    But the idea of a pass for Jonah''s couch was something he desired. Especially when he could finally watch television comfortably, even if it is just for a week.

    So with his resolve, Nathan pressed the bottle to his face and took one sip.

    "By the holy¡­" Nathan gasped. It was at that moment when Sally returned with cakes sliced equally for several people. "Wow, this thing isn''t as bad as I expected."

    "Positive!" Sally agreed. "Cog products always helped this unit with mechanical issues. Though the coolant does not provide any nutrients to humans, it at least quenches your thirst."

    "Still weird¡­" Jonah commented. He tried out the coolant and discovered a tasty brand of drinks. Despite not being the target market. "People did make a healthier way to smoke nicotine, so who am I to complain?"

    The last issue now was that Nathan and Jonah were the only ones who''d be able to eat cake. And no way would Ivory allow the two to eat all themselves. She was quite the mother figure for the two. Also the responsible one of the group. Though she could also consume foods and drinks, it did not mean that she needed it as her body functions differently.

    At least Sally was able to drink the coolant along with the two humans.

    The small welcoming party chatted and bonded. It was revealed that Sally had moved from Eden. Which was quite strange as Eden could be seen as a paradise. Being where most Sentinels resided, as well as the home of the Great Pantheon which governed the planet, no one would ever pass up a chance to live there.

    Crime was almost non-existent there, the unemployment rate was below ground, and best of all, the land where the gods had the most influence.

    That place was practically a dream, yet Sally chose to live on a planet that might as well be at the edge of the universe.

    "Oh, since I''m new in town I would like to go sightseeing, gather information, and create a map of this place," Sally said. "Would you three like to join me?"

    There was no problem in accepting. Currently, it was Sunday, which meant that it was a free day for the three, with Ivory being quite the religious woman since she was a Sentinel. It was also the reason why Abe had to leave so early as he was busy for the day. Nathan would''ve followed the priest to the church, but sadly he wanted to meet Sally that he had forgotten.

    With the idea of shopping, Nathan excused himself and took the cake back to their apartment.

    "Hey, you''re back," Gluttony greeted him the moment he walked through the door. "Oh, cake! You guys didn''t eat the rest of it?"

    "Yeah, our new neighbor is a robot from Eden, so the cake is just gonna be for us."

    Her eyes sparkled the moment she learned the truth. "Does that mean I can have it all for myself!?"

    Nathan shook his head sadly. "Sorry, but we gotta go. Sally wants to go shopping and we''re going with her. So grab your box, I ain''t leaving you alone."

    Gluttony groaned tiredly. "Fine¡­"

    It wasn''t long before Gluttony was packed up in her box along with some money just in case Nathan needed it. The two grouped up with the others soon enough and they would then go off to see the rest of the town.

    Sally decided to take the group to the shopping mall.

    But something was wrong, Gluttony seemed restless in her box and Nathan tried his best to keep her quiet. She was acting up more than usual.

    The group arrived at their destination, as expected the place was packed and full of all kinds of people. The usual ones you''d see in town. Once Sally bought what she needed to make her home more organic-friendly, then Nathan and his friends could show her the rest of the town and what it offers.

    Something caught Nathan''s attention as they entered the mall. In the corner of his eyes, he noticed a very shady figure. He brought this to the attention of others but somehow it went under their radar. It made sense that they couldn''t find the figure, the mall was packed with hundreds of people. Sally only stared at Nathan strangely.

    Though they were skeptical of him, Ivory suggested being alert if something goes wrong. He made a mental note of the description just in case.

    Nothing eventful happened as they shopped. Sally asked for the opinions of Nathan and Jonah as they were the only humans in the group. So she wanted to know what kind of snacks they''d want if they ever visited her home again. She was so generous and kind. Of course, Jonah wasn''t one to pass up a chance for snacks. And though the robot wouldn''t mind, Jonah had offered to carry her things.

    It wasn''t long before the group exited the mall and started going for some sightseeing. Sally was greatly fond of the local park. Especially the small street performers. The small robot was practically in a trance as she watched them put up a show.

    A few of these were Nathan''s friends.

    He greeted them naturally of course. Good friends are hard to find.

    "Nathan!" A woman waved them over. She was a beautiful lady who dressed in pretty clothes. A sundress and a short-sleeved jacket to compliment it. Her hair was short with her bangs that covered one eye. "Are you here to perform again? I was worried that those ruffians scared you away."

    "Ruffians?" Ivory perked up.

    "Remember what happened yesterday?" Nathan said which was enough for Ivory. Then he turned towards the woman. "Nothing to worry about, Daria, Gilda and I will always show up for our weekend show!"

    Daria relaxed.

    She wasn''t exactly a street performer like Nathan, but she did earn money in the park, only differently. Her gimmick was she read tarot cards, and her place was by the fountain where a table was set up.

    "Well I hope not, you and Gilda are a riot." Suddenly her phone buzzed. "Oh, I''ll have to take this. Come by if any of you would like a fortune reading, I''m always open at noon."

    "Sure thing, we''ll drop by next time." The group said their goodbyes and went off to get some lunch.

    Daria watched as Nathan walked away. She contemplated if she should or should not follow through with her plan. The phone in her hand showed an image of Nathan. For what reason, time shall tell.

    The group of course knew the perfect place to have their lunch, and it was Cain''s. The one thing Scratch loved about Nathan and his friends was that they were loyal customers. And as usual, there was barely anyone in the diner. If anything, it''s a mystery how this diner even stayed afloat after all these years.

    Well none of them could complain, the fewer people meant the better the food for Nathan and Jonah.

    The two humans ordered their usual, with Jonah and his salad, and Nathan and his pizza burger. Ivory simply ordered a soda while Sally was given coolant. A different brand that Scratch had in storage, strangely.

    "So," Sally looked away from her drink as Jonah spoke. "Why did you leave Eden?"

    Sally panicked right after he asked a question. Her coolant spilled all over the floor as she sputtered. She may have been the smarter one, being an A.I. and all, but somehow one question caught the machine by surprise.

    "I¡­ I spilled my coolant! Oh dear, I must clean it up at once!" Sally hopped out of her seat and stepped onto the puddle of antifreeze. Before anyone could ask, her foot started to make a very loud noise. It was then they discovered that Sally also functioned as a vacuum. She sucked up the coolant but left some traces behind. "We require a mop!"

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    She marched off to find Scratch so she could inquire about a mop.

    The three friends were left unsure as to what had just happened. They suspected that Sally wanted to avoid the question at all costs, but knew not why.

    "Well, that was weird." Jonah commented.

    Nathan took this chance to open his box where Gluttony waited, and fed her the rest of his lunch. The little puppet was happy and ate it with gusto. "I''m curious about something, what kind of robot is she anyway?"

    He finally asked the others as they watched Sally converse with Scratch by the counter.

    "Some baby monitor." Ivory answered. "I saw them being advertised on the shopping channel a long, long, very long time ago. Now that I think of it¡­ kinda strange to see one here without an infant to watch over."

    Jonah raised a digit as if he figured out all the answers. "That''s it! Maybe that''s why she''s not on Eden, Sally must''ve made a mistake there and had to run. The question now is what she did."

    Suddenly Nathan froze. This caught the attention of the others as he stared ahead at the empty space.

    Without a warning, Nathan took hold of the air and slammed something onto the table. "Who are you!?"

    Confusion was shared by everyone. All were unsure as to what was happening, but Ivory suspected that Nathan caught someone invisible. And soon enough they saw the truth as a man appeared out of nowhere. Nathan held him down fiercely.

    The sight of this stranger''s appearance angered Jonah and Ivory. Not only was it the weekend, but this place was where the three came to relax. How dare this stranger disturb the peace.

    "How is this possible!" The man squirmed beneath their glare. "My presence should be non-existent!"

    "I told you guys this dude was shady! He followed us ever since we left the mall!"

    This only scared him, somehow Nathan saw the man despite his power. "You knew I was there!? I should be a ghost to everyone! Not even a Sentinel could''ve sensed me!"

    Ivory slammed her fist onto the table, just next to the man''s head. "Who are you and why are you following us!?"

    "That''s Jeffrey Stones," Sally informed them. A broom held tightly in her clamps. "He¡­ he''s a bounty hunter! Oh no, he must be here for me!"

    Jonah pushed Nathan aside and grabbed Jeffrey by the collar of his shirt. "A bounty hunter!? And you''re here for our friend Sally!?"

    Jeffrey raised his hand defensively. "What? No, I''m here for Na-" His words were caught in his throat as something slammed on his head which knocked him out cold.

    The four snapped towards the source and found a metal fist. Standing on top of the table was another robot. But this time it was far more intimidating than Sally.

    The machine was slim by design, and shiny as well. Its head was boxy and had one eye. While her torso and arms were human-like. But her legs looked like they could take several cannon shots. Bulky with a curved shell and double-jointed. Despite that, this machine was designed for speed and efficiency.

    This silver robot held a rifle in its left hand. And by the looks of it, it wanted a fight.

    The even bigger question was that this machine showed out of nowhere as well.

    Nathan and his friends retreated with Sally in Ivory''s arms. They knew a fight when they saw one. And it would seem that the bounty hunter was not affiliated with this robot.

    A battle was brewing on the horizon, and the patrons of this diner ran to escape the chaos. Nathan reached into his box and retrieved the Gluttonous Maw. While Jonah held his fists high as he had forgotten to carry his weapons. Ivory set Sally aside and cracked her knuckles in anticipation.

    "Oh¡­ no¡­" Scratch gasped as she laid eyes upon the machine. "Guys, run!"

    "If you have information, best to share it now, Scratch!" Ivory said.

    No one made a move yet, they dared each other to take the first step.

    Scratch panicked and hid behind the counter. "You guys don''t understand! You''re outmatched! That isn''t just a robot, that''s the Champion of Umbra! She is Wicked, the Phantom of Eden!"

    Sally watched as the courage drained away from her friends as soon as they learned who this robot was. And not only were they in the presence of a divine champion but one of the greatest bounty hunters of all time.

    Wicked chuckled. "Guess you finally figured out who I am." She placed her rifle over her shoulder and stepped off the table. "Where''s that bravado, flesh bags? Still, I can''t believe this maggot had the nerve to try and steal my bounty." She gently kicked the unconscious body of Jeffrey, clearly displeased with his attempt.

    "Sally, what the heck did you do!?" Jonah demanded to know as all bets were off now that they faced Wicked.

    "I''m sorry! I-I stole something important from my master! She wanted to scrap me so I ran, and now I have had a bounty ever since!"

    "How much exactly?" Ivory inquired.

    Sally trembled where she stood. "Please don''t turn me in!"

    Nathan gently placed a hand on her monitor head. "We won''t, right Ivory?"

    Ivory simply scoffed before she faced their opponent.

    "She''s worth 60 thousand creds." Wicked snickered into her palm. "Just give her up now, the fight won''t benefit you in the slightest!"

    "This isn''t about her." Ivory claimed. "This is about you coming in here thinking you can just do as you pleased. She might seem worth the trouble to you, but the fact that you, Space Walker, thought you''d get away with it!"

    Jonah popped his knuckles eagerly with a toothy grin. "Big mistake robot, you mess with Cain''s diner you mess with us!" Though there was confidence in his words, it was clear that he was still reluctant to fight.

    Nathan chose to let his action speak for him.

    Wicked was not expecting Nathan to clear the gap so quickly. The Gluttonous Maw sailed over her as she ducked down. The robot replied to his aggression with a swift kick which sent Nathan across the room.

    She then caught Ivory''s fist just in time and tossed the Sentinel over her shoulder. Wicked faced Jonah which was a mistake as Nathan returned with a vicious swing of his blade. His wrath did not relent. Nathan performed quick and clean attacks at Wicked, yet she was able to avoid any substantial damage. She wasn''t human in any way, so clearly the Gluttonous Maw would easily rend Wicked in two.

    The Star Forged blade was a powerful weapon, this one especially was crafted using the fragmented soul of Kalasraast, the Great Devourer, and the deity of the Apex.

    Sharp blades cut, serrated blades saw, but his? The Gluttonous Maw devours. The blade was imbued with the soul of Kalasraast which allowed it to eat anything in its way. That is why all cuts that Nathan left behind were clean and smooth as if he was a skillful blade master.

    The only thing that could rival his weapon would be¡­

    "Star Forged!?" Nathan exclaimed as his weapon let out a loud clang the moment he finally landed a hit.

    He really wished that the strange scribbles were back. But he had no clue how to even activate the power.

    "Nathan, get back!" Gluttony warned just as Wicked went for his throat.

    Luckily Ivory was there to the rescue. She pulled back Nathan to safety and delivered a heavy punch straight at Wicked''s one-eyed face. The robot staggered a bit but quickly recovered.

    Wicked may have been outnumbered, but she knew she still had the upper hand. It was time for her to be on the attack this round.

    The machine dashed side to side, it was hard for Nathan to keep his eyes on her as she was too quick for him. The others had it easier for sure, they could easily trace her movement around the room.

    Her two-jointed knees were like a piston that launched her off any solid surface. Wicked''s momentum grew as she bounced from one side to the other. She was like a damn flea, quick and annoying. The machine hurtled herself through the air to avoid their attacks.

    Nathan raised his weapon in time and blocked a burst of bullets. Ivory quickly pushed Sally behind her as Wicked fired more shots. And Jonah flipped a table over to use as a cover.

    This was their opponent, a champion of Umbra. Her exterior was made by the Star Forger which meant that Nathan''s weapon won''t be useful in any way. One rule the great weapon master had made is that his creations would never damage the other. This meant that Nathan might as well have a shield at this point as no physical attack could ever harm Wicked.

    He raised his weapon and felt the full weight of Wicked over him. His knees buckled but he held himself still.

    "You''re the bigger threat." She pointed out. Wicked then pushed herself away. "I''ll finish you first."

    A portion of her chest opened to reveal a red gem. It hummed like an engine booting up and then she vanished.

    "Where did she go!?" Jonah snapped around in search of the machine. "This isn''t invisibility!"

    "It isn''t a mind warp as well!" Ivory said. "I can''t even sense any traces of divine energy! I didn''t even sense any before!"

    "You know anything about this, Scratch?" Nathan asked the one who he believed would know. As she was quite informed of many things.

    Scratch raised her head over the counter. "Every champion is equipped with forged equipment that is made from a soul fragment of their deities. If I remember right, then Wicked owns the Void Shift. All I know about the Void Shift is that she could travel to another dimension which is mirrored to ours."

    "Great, that means she can pop out of anywhere she wants." Jonah let out a tired groan. "Now would be a good time to call your word friend, Nathan!" He really wished that he had not forgotten his gun back home. Though it wasn''t exactly legal to carry the big ones, he could''ve at least brought his handguns.

    "If I could, I would! Been trying to reach out to it but I don''t see anything!"

    "Flesh bags and their strange behavior," The end of Wicked''s rifle pressed against the back of Nathan''s neck. "If you humans took battle seriously then perhaps you''d make the perfect warriors." She chuckled. "Either way, it would certainly make you flesh bags bearable."

    Nathan spun on his heel and hooked Wicked with his massive sickle. Before she could get away, Nathan tossed her towards Ivory who caught Wicked by the wrist and slammed the machine into the closest table. But Wicked was far more nimble. She wrapped herself around Ivory''s arm and held the Sentinel in a lock.

    Then both vanished.

    "She took Ivory!"

    Wicked returned soon after. "I was meaning to steal you away, Nathan. But losing your strongest member will make things easier."

    An inhuman cackle erupted from Wicked before she propelled herself towards Nathan with an arm stretched out. It would seem she was determined to detain him and Jonah. Though she was a bounty hunter, it would seem that Wicked wanted to keep the damage to a minimum.

    And if Ivory is in Wicked''s dimensional plain, then she couldn''t easily retreat there.

    Wicked was stuck with them.

    This was an advantage Nathan was not willing to let go of.

    Just as she was a few feet away, Nathan tossed his weapon at her. She dodged it easily but had not expected the Gluttonous Maw to transform right in front of her.

    "Bamboozled!" Gluttony practically screeched as she grabbed hold of Wicked''s gun. She bit down on Wicked''s mechanical wrist and forced the rifle out of the champion''s hold. Despite her smaller size, Gluttony was just as strong as Ivory.

    Wicked was still registering what had happened as confusion nearly fried her circuits. This was completely new to her and had caught the machine by surprise.

    Quickly, before Wicked could recover, Gluttony scampered off toward Jonah and gave him the stolen gun.

    Jonah grinned widely. Now armed and not useless in a fight, he hopped out of his cover and stared down the sight.

    Wicked saw a growing threat that is Jonah Bloodfield. So she used her mechanical legs to be a blur once more. She couldn''t exactly use the Void Shift to become untouchable.

    What she had not thought of was that Jonah was a skilled shooter.

    He lined up his rifle and followed her with the sight. Jonah squeezed the trigger, and a wave of joy went through him as he felt the recoil.

    His aim was true, and his shot caught Wicked by the knee. The bullet lodged deep in her gears which caused the machine to slip up on her next move. But she wasn''t defeated yet. Her knee fixed itself and straightened out. Her legs could still function but if the bullet is not removed then she wasn''t able to dash properly. Of course, her left leg was still able to perform properly, so she could only achieve a single dash.

    With her attention on both of them, Wicked easily dodged any further damage from Jonah.

    But it was easier said than done. Being only able to make a single dash slowed her down greatly. Which allowed Jonah to land his shots if timed correctly. Wicked wasn''t faster than a bullet anymore.

    She wanted to avoid bloodshed but if it continued like this then she''d be backed into a corner.

    Blades extended out of her arms, they glimmered under the light. The edges are as sharp as razor.

    With one single push from her piston, she flew across the room towards Nathan. He managed to dodge in time as she flew past him. But not without cost. Finally, blood was shed as Wicked left a cut on his stomach. It wasn''t deep enough to be a threat to his life but harrowing enough to be concerned about.

    Wicked positioned herself better so she could launch herself once more. But Jonah had enough of it. His shots landed directly at her foot which caused Wicked to slip. She ended up going straight to the floor but the machine caught herself just as she was about to crash. Her blades sunk into the floor but were easily pulled back out as she flung herself toward Jonah.

    The marksman managed to duck out of the way. Only to have his face kiss Wicked''s metal knee.

    He would''ve died if it was a real attack as it was clearly an accident.

    Dazed and concussed, Jonah was left defenseless and unable to fight back.

    Wicked took this opportunity to grab hold of Jonah and activated the Void Shift.

    Once Jonah recovered, he was greeted by an odd sight. Everything looked like it was made of concrete, all gray and with jagged edges. It was like a terrible copy of Cain''s Diner. Bland.

    "Jonah," Ivory greeted the marksman.

    "Damn, it felt like I was hit by a truck. Where are we?"

    "No clue, but this is where she hid."

    Jonah looked around with his rifle held close to him. "Where''s Nathan and Scratch?"

    "No idea," A chair nearby fell over. "This place is accurate to the real world, but it doesn''t track us. Only objects."

    "Not even the robots?"

    Ivory shook her head. "No, it seems like this world doesn''t track machines either. Well, those who act like mortals I guess. Keep an eye out just in case she pops back in."

    "Got it, boss!"

    ******

    Nathan watched as Wicked returned. She stood confidently knowing that her troubles will be easier to deal with. All Nathan had was Gluttony, which was the only deterrent that kept Wicked at bay. He looked towards Sally who cowered behind a fallen table. He was the only one left to protect her.

    The machine was stronger, she wasn''t easy to vanquish. Compared to Nathan, she was superior in many ways.

    Her body is made by the same god that crafted Gluttony meant that his weapon was useless. She wasn''t human, her machine body allowed her to battle without rest unless she suffered substantial damage. Wicked''s reaction was quicker than his, so for Nathan to win he would need luck more than ever.

    "So¡­ This is the power of a champion of Eden." Nathan casually twirled his weapon. He even played with it in his hands. "Can''t say I''m impressed, honestly. Been really disappointing so far."

    She hummed strangely. It reminded Nathan that he wasn''t fighting a human or an organic being. A machine that would never feel remorse once it killed him. The way she hummed was so hollow it sent a chill through him.

    "You humans were the most stubborn flesh bags I''d ever met. You''re alone yet you still stand there as if you have a chance. Allow me to illuminate and tell you how you survived for so long. It is because I decided."

    She dashed forward, her blades retracted back into her arms as she did so. Her fist collided with his weapon which sent Nathan down on his knee.

    "I''ve allowed you to survive to test your capabilities!"

    Another punch. A resounding clang could be heard in the diner as metal struck metal.

    "So far I''ve been disappointed!"

    She used the weapon to pull Nathan up to his feet just so she could send him flying with another punch.

    "The other human is bound by his own weakness and was unable to fight because of it! The Sentinel truly believes her might is all she needs! And you, Nathan White, you disappoint me the most!"

    He couldn''t fight back as Wicked wrenched the blade out of his hands.

    "Mortals have no right to use these weapons! You''re nothing more than a battery that will soon wither away as it eats your very soul!"

    "Nathan!" Gluttony called out as she was tossed aside.

    She transformed just so she could help Nathan but Wicked easily dealt with Gluttony by tossing her toward Scratch''s kitchen.

    "Gluttony!" A scowl formed on his face. "You''re gonna pay for that!"

    "Your words are as hollow as your head, human."

    Nathan felt the ground beneath his feet leave him. Wicked held him close to her one-eyed face. And much to his fear, the eye started to glow intensely.

    "If I was not holding back, you would''ve perished before you even realized it, you little bag of blood and guts."

    He was out of options. Helplessly backed into a corner by someone far stronger than he. No doubt his own strength would be useless against Wicked. Nathan was alone, his friends were imprisoned elsewhere while Gluttony was indisposed. And he''d never seen Scratch fight before.

    Out of luck, he called out to the strange words that helped him before. If it saved him before then perhaps it could do the same now. Yet his prayers were met with deaf ears as Wicked held Nathan high in the air.

    Her arm stretched to the side so she had enough room to transform her limb into a roaring chainsaw.

    Just when he thought he was beaten, a divine intervention saved Nathan. Or in this case¡­

    "Machine! Release the boy. Now."

    Wicked glanced over her shoulder to see a bearded demon. His eyes burned red as he glared at Wicked with untold malice. A demonic intervention. It was Abe, Nathan''s friend, and neighbor.

    "Redeemer." Wicked scoffed. "You have no place here, leave while I am merciful."

    "You are the one who has no place here! Wicked, Champion of Umbra! A machine who believes that they could simply do as they please!"

    Nathan crashed onto the floor as Wicked turned to face Abe. Her chainsaw revved up fiercely. She took a step towards the demon with an aura of great malice. "Hold your tongue, demon. Or else I''d rip it out for you."

    If he was scared, Abe hid it well. But Nathan didn''t know what exactly was in Abe''s head as he stared down a powerful being such as Wicked. "Machine, if you truly have a soul¡­ then where is your compassion!? Your morality!? Your emotion!" Every word struck Wicked like a hammer, the room shook as this demon spoke to her. They weren''t equal, yet Abe stood there as if he was. "Please, the boy does not deserve your wrath, it is you who is at fault here."

    "They stood in my way, demon, and as of now, so do you." Her eye glowed so brightly, Nathan swore she could shoot lasers with it. "Do you wish to impede my business, and be squashed beneath my heel? Or do you still want to live your pitiful life of redemption?"

    "I am a pacifist," Abe claimed proudly. "But if you do not leave now, I shall remove you myself."

    "A hypocrite is what you are, you desire no violence yet you promise it."

    "If I am a hypocrite, then it means I am more human than you, machine." Abe caught Wicked''s wrist just as she was about to land a punch. "You pride yourself to be the first who has awakened and realized that you have a soul yet you still act like a cold and emotionless automaton."

    "You dare speak to me that way. I will see to it that you are to be thrown back into hell and forever be imprisoned there."

    Abe simply smiled. "To go against me is to go against the Redeemers. Your god will lose all of our support. We may desire to return home but our souls are still tainted with evil and pettiness. Let that sink in, machine."

    It was true, the Redeemers saw each other as family and valued each other more than anyone. If word got out that Wicked had assaulted a Redeemer, it meant catastrophe to the goddess, Umbra. A champion would never embarrass their deity. Abe threatened Umbra''s place in the Great Pantheon of Eden. Just one word could end it all.

    Earlier, Nathan was the one in a corner, now it was Wicked.

    Left with no choice, she backed away from the demon. "Very well, demon. I will take my leave."

    "Wait, what about my friends?"

    Wicked scoffed at Nathan before she vanished. Now left alone, Nathan walked up to Abe to thank him.

    "There is no need, Nathaniel. It is simply common sense to de-escalate the conflict. And do not tell her this, but I cannot find it in my black heart to ever go against Umbra. Wicked may be a cold and cruel machine, but the goddess is kind."

    "Oh, so you don''t mean it?"

    Abe shook his head. "No, I''d never harm anyone."

    "Nathan!" Both Sally and Gluttony called out as they approached. He was about to greet them but Gluttony slammed into his stomach and forced him to the floor.

    "Nathan! You''re alright!" Gluttony said as tears formed. "I thought she was going to¡­ So useless, I couldn''t do anything!"

    And much to Nathan''s surprise, Sally looked as if she was filled with regret. "I''m so sorry, this wouldn''t have happened if I just stayed in Eden."

    "Sally, it''s not your fault. We just did what we had to do." He said.

    Gluttony nodded and agreed with Nathan. "Yeah, we couldn''t just do nothing when two bounty hunters showed up! Gotta serve some proper justice around here!"

    The face on Sally''s monitor smiled. "Still, I caused all this pain just because of something I stole."

    Abe placed an assuring hand on Sally''s head. "You don''t have to be worried about such a thing. You may confess your sins to me and I will see to it that you are forgiven one way or another."

    "Thanks¡­" Sally felt better with the support of her new friends.

    Suddenly Wicked returned but had something different from her unlike before. It was her arm, it was missing. Ripped straight from her shoulder. And the culprit behind it of course was Ivory who held the limb like a weapon, ready to bludgeon Wicked for her crimes against them. Jonah was there as well, but the moment Wicked returned she tossed Jonah across the room.

    "This will not be the last you''ve seen me, and next time, I shall destroy you all." With that promise made, Wicked disappeared for the last time this day.

    Ivory relaxed a bit while Jonah pulled himself back up. "Thank goodness, she''s gone!" Jonah said, tired and drained of any enthusiasm. "She fought like a damn monster."

    "She was holding back," Nathan informed them. "Wicked could kill us if she wanted to."

    Ivory hummed a curious tune. "Yet she didn''t, even then, she fought ferociously."

    Jonah groaned tiredly as he realized the problem. "I''d rather get shot in the knee than face that thing again! If she wasn''t serious before then she might be the next time we fight!" He turned on his heel and started to march towards the door with his newest gun. "I''m going home! I had enough of this."

    "I think we all had enough," Ivory said. "You guys can go ahead if you''d like, I''ll help Scratch clean up the place. It''s a mess here. Hopefully Jimmy doesn''t come by and ask some questions."

    "Oh, allow me to help." Abe offered. "It is the least I could do for taking too long. If I had arrived earlier, then we could''ve avoided this pointless conflict."

    The Sentinel scoffed. "I''d prefer that you don''t, but¡­ I don''t see an issue with that, demon."

    Scratch left her hiding spot once she realized that the fight was over. "She''s gone? Oh thank the heavens, I was worried my diner would suffer even more."

    "Well, we better be off then," Nathan said as he gathered Sally''s groceries, well whatever was left of them. Some were destroyed in the scuffle, but the things she needed at least survived. "Let''s go guys, see you at home Ivory. Later Father Abe."

    ******

    It was quite a day, from a new face in the building to a new threat to their lives. Yet Nathan and his friends survived to tell the tale.

    Jonah had gone straight back home, as did Gluttony as she was eager to finish the cake. Nathan had opted to help Sally with her items. He tried to even help her with stocking but the short machine wanted him to relax after a terrible day in the town. No matter how much Nathan did to convince her, Sally was still defiant. So much that it seemed as if she was chasing him away.

    With the decision made, Sally closed the door in Nathan''s face. It was strange that she acted that way, she was quite friendly this morning. It made sense that Wicked''s sudden appearance had dampened everyone''s spirits. Heck, even Nathan felt drained from the whole ordeal. If anything, he needed more time to relax.

    Perhaps Ivory would be willing to allow the team to take a whole week off? They deserved it after two whole days of getting attacked.

    Sally tossed the groceries aside. A disgruntled face on her screen as she listened to Nathan''s footsteps. Once she was sure that Nathan had gotten home, Sally roared viciously.

    "How did this happen!?" Her screen turned red to visualize her rage. "The plan was so simple yet I barely made any progress!"

    Her clamps clicked together furiously.

    "How could I have been defeated by flesh bags and a demon of all things! They will pay for embarrassing me!"

    "You had him though¡­ Why didn''t you just steal him away?"

    Wicked appeared behind the intruder at Sally''s home. Her only arm transformed into a chainsaw and threatened this person who had the gall to enter the apartment unannounced.

    "Is this how you greet old friends, Wicked? Or should I call you Sally?"

    The small machine scoffed. "Miss Kalasraast, what do I owe the pleasure to?"

    "Please, call me Evie. That name suits my father more than I." Evie said. Unbothered by the fact a chainsaw could rip her throat at any second. "I was just watching the show you performed back at the diner and was honestly impressed. By Nathan, not you. He dealt with you so well that I cheered the moment he won."

    "He did not win, the demon simply threatened me. If I had stayed, then it could only bring the conflict to my master!" Was it Sally who spoke, or Wicked? Was hard to tell where the voice originated.

    Evie propped up her chin on her massive palm with her elbow on her knee. A smug grin mocked Sally. It was a sign that Evie was not threatened by the machine over her. Sally could tell that no matter what she did, the Apex in front of her wouldn''t care.

    "But you had Hound in your hand, you could''ve just run away and claimed that bounty."

    "Hound?" Wicked''s eye glared at Evie. The machine stored her weapon away. "He''s one of yours?"

    "Does it matter?"

    "No, it doesn''t. If anything, it inspires me to kill him instead. As for your question? I cannot go against a Redeemer. He may have lied, but it is a risk I cannot afford to make."

    "Those two seem like good friends. Perhaps it would be best to attack when Abe isn''t around?" Evie suggested smugly. That was obviously an important detail, Wicked knew that in order for her to capture Nathan she''d need Abe as far away as possible. "Say, what happened to Jeffrey Stones?"

    Sally scowled as the bounty hunter was mentioned. "That foolish human had ruined my original plan. I was supposed to isolate Nathan from the others but Stones showed up and placed them on the defensive. And he was about to reveal that Nathan White had a bounty placed upon him. But now that he is aware of my presence, I will never catch him off guard."

    "So if he knew he had a bounty, Hound would be far more difficult to take by surprise?" Evie chuckled. "Well, that does sound bad. That Sentinel would certainly be on alert. Wait, you didn''t explain what happened to Stones."

    Sally''s face became blank. Just a blue screen that had no emotion. "Bounty hunter, Jeffrey Stones. Current status: Deceased."

    Evie stared at Sally. "You killed him?"

    "He made the mistake of hindering me. So I dealt with him for his decision."

    Evie clicked her tongue as she soaked in the information. "Stones was one of my men, we called him Blindside. He was supposed to test a theory I had with Hound."

    "Your conclusion?"

    Evie stood up. "Sorry, I can''t share. Good luck next time, thunder thighs."

    And just as Evie was about to leave. She faced the machines one last time.

    "And Wicked? Please bring him alive, I''d rather not pay for a corpse."

    With that said, Evie left the champion of Umbra alone. Wicked was still hooked on Evie''s final message. Another thing that caught her off guard today.

    ***

 IV: The Bloody Tyrant

    The weekend was quite hectic. So much that it left Jonah and Nathan tired and drained of any motivation. So much that they could barely get out of the apartment. Jonah lazed on the couch while Nathan was just on the floor. Gluttony tried to pull her partner out of their room but Nathan was defiant and determined to stay where he was.

    Sally came to visit just to check on them, even Abe did as well. But they weren''t much of a help with the two humans.

    So left with no choice, and the team pretty much deserved it, Ivory gave everyone a week off. Monday would be the day they rest and recover. Ivory wasn''t like them so of course she''d allow them to laze about. But it only meant that she needed to pick up the pace in her daily routines. Though Ivory allowed them some time to relax, she wouldn''t skip training.

    The growing threat on the horizon meant that they needed to keep their skills and techniques sharp. Ivory be damned if she''d allow her friends to weaken all because they took a short vacation.

    If they become dull, it would be Ivory''s fault for allowing them to be.

    "We''re heading out!"

    Ivory looked away from her work just to see Nathan and Gluttony about to leave. "Where are you two going?"

    "Relax at the park, hang out with Daria. Probably go to Cain''s."

    "We are definitely going to Cain''s!" Gluttony promised to them. "I want some pizza burgers!"

    "Alright, G, I still got some cash for a couple."

    "You are not leaving without Jonah." Ivory said.

    "I am not going anywhere!" Jonah decided that he was far too tired to leave.

    Ivory folded her arms. "Nathan, you can''t go alone."

    Gluttony puffed out her chest. "He''s never alone! He and I are a one-package deal, now and forever!"

    "Boss, I''m not as tuckered out as Jonah. If anything comes up, I''ll give you a call."

    "Nathan, we just had our butts handed to us by an enemy I''d never expect us to encounter, much less make." Ivory expressed what concerned her. Not ever in her life would she foresee such a thing. They antagonized a champion of all things, and if you asked Ivory, she''d say her days are numbered.

    "Not like she''d go after me, and we did ask Abe to keep watch over Sally."

    Gluttony blew a raspberry at Ivory. "Listen, you don''t have to worry about us, we got this. We will definitely call you if we get attacked. To watch us pummel them!"

    "Eager for violence, as usual, G." Nathan laughed. "Well, see you guys, I''ll be back before dark."

    "Get me a slice of Eden pie from Cain''s!" Jonah requested just as Nathan was about to step out.

    "I''ll get you two!" Nathan said before the door closed.

    With that, Nathan and Gluttony ventured into town. With Gluttony in her box of course.

    Though it wouldn''t surprise many that a living puppet exists, Nathan kept Gluttony hidden so no one would doubt him as a ventriloquist. They needed some cash on the side if the jobs they took didn''t offer enough. Jonah and Ivory weren''t much for mediocre work like his. The two would rather hunt down wolves than some odd jobs that Scratch would offer.

    Nathan was but a simple man with few desires. He had one goal, and it was to find himself. The fewer risks he took made sure he''d see the day. So any job that was mundane for Jonah and Ivory would be perfect for Nathan.

    His goal for visiting the local park wasn''t to perform but to visit his friend Daria. He hadn''t gotten the chance to do so last Sunday, and he was hoping that she had some free time.

    The only thing in Nathan''s life to care about was his friends. His memories of his past were still a mystery to him. Some nights he wondered if there was a family he could return to or friends he''d forgotten due to his situation. Did he even go to school? What life did he live before now? Everything was just a damn blank to him. Nathan wanted to know himself, and he feared that he may become desperate one day.

    "Nathan!" Someone pulled him out from the depths of his mind. It was Daria Wolf, the fortune teller. "Didn''t expect to see you today. Are you here to perform?"

    "Sadly no, just wanted to know if you and I could hang out." He made his purpose known.

    "I''d love to, but I''m kinda busy today, Nate." She said with a dejected look. "I am behind on rent and I''ll need to work here until the end of the week."

    "I can lend you some money, not like I use it on anything other than food." He offered a hand to help Daria with her problem.

    Sadly, Daria Wolf was a woman with pride. She didn''t accept money that wasn''t earned. Nathan wanted to argue, but he knew it would fall on deaf ears as Daria had already decided not to take any charity. An idea did come to mind, and it wasn''t a bad one.

    He placed some creds on the table and simply asked Daria to read his fortune. And it wasn''t a charity in a way, it was simply a small job that Daria could perform.

    Silence reigned over them as Daria shuffled her deck around. Nathan watched as she performed a few tricks just to captivate him. Once satisfied, Daria was ready to reveal what fate had written for Nathan White. Three cards now laid on the table, three mysterious outcomes.

    An upright card, The Emperor.

    "Expect success and achievement of your goals: this is a time for fulfillment of your ambitions. If you trust in anyone of significance in your life, they will come up trumps for you. If you have been the victim of ill will, don''t worry, you will win in the end."

    The next card was The Lovers, upright like the previous one.

    "Love is coming into your life even if you really can''t see where from at this time. If you are on your own a new lover will soon enter your life. If you are in an unhappy relationship you have a choice to make- go with your heart, take the risk. Greater happiness is ahead of you."

    And finally, the last card. Nathan waited with bated breath, he was fully invested now in the reading. Daria moved her hand to reveal the secrets beneath.

    Daria teased him with how slow she moved the card.

    Finally, she revealed to him his fate! A coupon for a pizza?

    "Congratulations dear customer for winning the grand prize!" Daria announced gleefully. Nathan watched as she even slammed a flier onto the table which was about a small business that was recently opened. "You''ve won yourself a free pizza!"

    "Daria, what is this?" Nathan wanted his confusion gone. This was a little too much for him to comprehend.

    "I''ve partnered up with Trusty''s Pizzeria for some quick cash, he''s such a nice guy that he''s been giving me these coupons for free! Sometimes I even use it myself."

    "So it''s actually free? I can have anything I want or is it like only a few options?"

    "Just pepperoni, sadly, could also be plain cheese if you don''t feel like eating meat today."

    Though she was stuck inside the box, Nathan felt Gluttony''s excitement at the idea of a free meal. He couldn''t tell his partner no, so Nathan opted to simply follow Gluttony''s hunger and get themselves a free pizza. With that, Nathan gave Daria a short goodbye and went off to cash in the coupon.

    As Nathan left the park, Daria pulled out another card from her jacket, a pained look on her face. A reversed card of the Wheel of Fortune. Nathan White will have to prepare himself for the future. A dark omen is on the horizon.

    ******

    "Oh boy! Nothing tastes better than free food!" Gluttony spoke from her box. "How lucky were we to get a coupon! So we split it half right? I think I deserve more slices for all the hard work I''ve done."

    "Don''t they usually cut pizzas in equal eight portions? Well, you can have five slices. You''re right, G, you earned it."

    It wasn''t long before Nathan arrived at the place. It looked like any other pizzeria in town and seemed like it had a lot of customers today. But that didn''t put Nathan at ease. Something was wrong the moment he took a step inside.

    All eyes were on him the moment the door closed. That''s when it struck him like a hammer.

    "What are you doing here!?" The words returned. It demanded to know why Nathan was there at the pizzeria. As if he made the biggest mistake ever. "Run!" A single word repeated over and over all around Nathan.

    "Hound!" A pale blue woman rushed over to him.

    When the name was uttered, Nathan summoned the Gluttonous Maw and prepared himself for a fight. That is what would''ve been done if it weren''t for the gun pressed against his throat.

    His eyes met an Apex that towered over him. Whereas the blue woman was dressed in clothes meant for colder climates, this Apex was in a scarecrow costume. "Easy there kid," His voice had an accent that reminded Nathan of the countryside. "Don''t do anythin'' stupid."

    He swiped the box out of his hand, and with it, Gluttony.

    That was when names started to appear above them. Slowly, Nathan scanned the room and took note of every single one. This Apex was named Watcher, the man who attacked Jonah last Saturday.

    A strange creature was there as well. From the back, you''d believe it was a short-haired woman in a long black coat. But if you saw her face, you''ll be met with large rows of flesh-ripping teeth. This was a Thyvxen, the same creature from the attack as well. They were armless, so their race had evolved to have powerful legs. That meant there was no outrunning this monster.

    Even a couple of familiar faces were there. Both Beatrix and Bella Smith. The former looked very peeved off at the sight of Nathan. It would seem the witch was not happy with the result of their fight.

    Now, this posed a problem, he was unarmed and alone. Who knows what will happen under their mercy.

    When he was about to finish memorizing the names, his eyes landed upon a strange capsule. There was simply one word on it, not a name. "Me" It read. "It''s me."

    He felt himself pulled down as Jackie, the woman in winter clothing, had grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "You! Oh, I have been waiting for you, Hound! Time to get what''s coming for you!"

    "Easy there, Jackie, the boy ain''t goin'' anywhere." Watcher said as he held a firm hand on Nathan''s shoulder. Thankfully he returned his gun to its holster. "The boss won''t like it if you mess with him now, she wants a word first."

    "Who''s the boss?" Nathan inquired. Though he already knew the answer, he just hoped he was wrong.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Without a word, Nathan was pushed forward. But he resisted.

    "Wait!"

    The whole room was deathly silent, they awaited whatever pleas of mercy he would try to use, anything to weasel out of this situation.

    "I need to order a pizza," Nathan revealed the coupon from his pocket.

    Jackie groaned loudly while Watcher simply chuckled.

    Watcher then escorted Nathan over to the counter where a skeleton stood. An actual skeleton, all bones, and no flesh.

    "Hey, yeah, can I cash in this coupon?" Nathan asked.

    "Pepperoni or just cheese?" The skeleton asked in turn. Nathan felt like having a classic pepperoni. "Will do sir," The skeleton went off to the kitchen to prepare Nathan''s order. With that done, Watcher continued where he left off.

    Jackie followed the two as Watcher and Nathan walked to the back of the room. Right where the capsule was, and the source of these words. It was placed on the table, right next to the condiments and a basket of garlic bread.

    What Nathan didn''t realize was that there was someone seated at the table. Another Apex, and one with a very threatening aura. She was too busy on her phone to notice him. Or so he thought.

    "Hey there Hound!" She said without looking away from her device.

    There was no name, only the words "Danger!" written above this Apex.

    Once she was finished with her business, the strange woman placed her phone aside to face him.

    It was then the dread settled in. There was no doubt about it, this woman was the one and only, Bloody Tyrant. She was in arms reach, yet Nathan was powerless to do anything. Watcher had the box which contained Gluttony, and without it, Nathan was practically naked.

    "Hound, I''m so happy that you''re alive!" This earned Evie a chuckle out of the others. Even Watcher found her little joke humorous. "Anyway, I''m so glad one of my many traps has finally caught you! After what happened back at Cain''s Diner, I just couldn''t wait to meet you again!"

    "The boss got excited," Watcher said amused. "Had us all start up some promotions with a bunch of coupons. Who knew it would work considering you''re here now, boy."

    Nathan smiled awkwardly. "Hey, can''t say no to free pizza."

    Evie slammed her massive hands on the table, the whole building shook as she pulled herself just to move her face to his. A very toothy smile blocked Nathan''s vision. It was bizarre and inhuman, that Nathan assumed she was mostly teeth and not enough skull. She was so close for Nathan to realize her eyes weren''t like the normal Apex, they were just a blank canvas which alone unsettled him greatly.

    "I like the way you think, Hound!" Those damn hands are massive. A flick of her wrist could snap his neck like a twig. "Sit, Hound, we have much to talk about!"

    He did as he was told. That wasn''t a request for sure. Everyone knew the danger she posed, so it was a smart move to do as she said. He couldn''t risk anything and needed to bide his time.

    Evie wasn''t the only threat.

    There were the rest of her goons. Watcher was just by Nathan''s side with Jackie on the other. Beatrix and Bella were by the entrance, the former had her eyes on him ever since he entered the building. If the real Hound was there, he''d know who and what these people are capable of. The worst part was that the words were silent. Ever since he and Evie spoke to each other, the strange capsule had not said a single thing. As if it feared something.

    "Your encounter with Wicked was so amazing, I thought you would die when she showed up!" Evie looked away to address something. "Trusty! Get this man three more pizzas! He fricken earned it!"

    She then lifted the basket of bread.

    "Hungry?"

    "Sorry, I don''t feel like eating."

    "That''s too bad¡­ Anyway! I bet you''re curious about why I wanted to speak to you, Hound. Heck, I bet you want to know about yourself."

    That was true, if there was anyone who knew him better, it would surely be Evie. The Bloody Tyrant. The Horror of Kalasraast, the Mad Beast of Scalfos, and Scourge of Eden. A daughter of a god who chose to be an instrument of violence and death.

    She was a calamity made manifest.

    Compared to those around them, Evie was a walking disaster.

    "Yeah, I am very curious about this Hound character," Nathan said. "Unlike you guys, that name isn''t known to me. And please, call me Nathan."

    "As you have guessed, you used to work for me and was known as Hound. The name that was granted to you for your undying¡­ loyalty. You were quite eager to please and performed all your jobs without question. But¡­"

    She glanced around the room. It brought Nathan''s attention to the fact that everyone but Watcher had hidden malice in their eyes. All directed at Nathan. Hell, he could tell that even the Thyvxen hated him the same, despite the lack of eyes.

    "You didn''t exactly have a good reputation with the rest of the team."

    That was certainly a surprise. Never did he realize the possibility of having enemies. It didn''t cross his mind, not even once. Something he had not accounted for was that there were people who hated him even after all these years he had worked with Jonah and Ivory. They''ve fought a lot of characters before, and none of them ever came back for revenge.

    But now that he discovered the idea of unwanted attention, Nathan was just about ready to run for his life.

    "Yeah, you were quite the thug of mine!" Evie leaned against her palm. "These guys are far more loyal than you, but all of them have this thing called morality and standards! Like, boring! But you, Hound? So eager to please."

    That was wrong. That didn''t sound like him at all. These things she was telling him were contradictory to how Nathan was. The way she explained it, it sounded like Nathan was just as much of a crook as everyone here. Or worse.

    "I don''t really wanna bore you about Hound, I wanna learn about the new Nathan White. The one who''s sitting right in front of me!" Her grin grew wider, Nathan swore it would split her head open soon enough. "I mean, when I heard you were alive, I didn''t believe it at first. I mean, Beatrix was still breathing! Hound would''ve slaughtered her like a pig and chopped her up into pieces if given a chance! That really surprised me when she said you were still kicking."

    "I don''t exactly kill anyone unless I''m forced to."

    "You tried to kill Siren," Evie reminded him of his first encounter with Bella.

    "I did that out of instinct." He explained himself. "She was lucky the GluttonousMaw doesn''t harm humans."

    "I don''t remember that when it used to belong to me." Nathan held back a gasp. "Back then, it just cut things and shoot waves of energy that destroy stuff indiscriminately. Hey, bring me the puppet."

    Watcher opened Nathan''s box. And just as he did so, Gluttony pounced at Evie, claws ready to shred flesh. But Evie caught Gluttony with ease, and quickly, the puppet was slammed onto the table.

    Everyone froze as Nathan had a pocket knife at Evie''s throat within the second after Gluttony tried to attack her. They would''ve done something but the blade was already halfway in Evie''s neck.

    "Don''t touch her." Nathan waited for Evie to cough out a response, but instead, she laughed.

    "There''s the Hound I know!" Despite the knife in her throat, she spoke normally.

    Slowly, Watcher gently pushed Nathan back into his seat as the shock diminished.

    "How are you alive?"

    "Can''t kill a god that easily," Evie said.

    He watched her pull out the knife and tossed it aside.

    "You''d need bigger guns, sure, but not when you''re against me." A sense of dread overtook Nathan. He was met with an unstoppable force. "I can''t die, nothing in this universe can kill me."

    But even then¡­

    "Let Gluttony go."

    He was defiant.

    "Don''t worry Nathan! I got her!" Gluttony assured Nathan before she bit Evie''s hand.

    "Feisty one, aren''t you!" Evie found the little puppet entertaining. "So small, yet so vicious. The Gluttonous Maw. How did it become sentient exactly? I never experimented on it before, so I doubt I caused this, I didn''t even give it a body to morph into."

    "She was just like that when I woke up."

    Evie watched as Gluttony drew blood from her. She didn''t mind at all. If anything, Evie found it very humorous that something so small was so determined to kill. Slowly, Evie released Gluttony from her grasp. An action that surprised both Nathan and his partner.

    "I see," Evie returned to her seat bemused. The concept of Gluttony being alive was foreign to her. "Well, you certainly are full of surprises, Nathan. Tell me, what exactly happened the moment you woke up? And can you tell me if you remember the exact date?"

    Nathan recalled his first moments. The night he woke up in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the clothes on his back and Gluttony by his side. That was a day he would always remember.

    "If you don''t want to answer, that''s fine. I have other questions if you feel like it."

    "The year was 6,031 AA, the fourth of March. It was cold, yet my body was burning. The building I woke up in was some underground parking area filled with abandoned cars and other debris. I had no memory of the past and could barely talk properly. From what the others told me, I was like a child at first until I learned to speak right." The memory was so clear he could recall it perfectly.

    "Where was Gluttony?"

    "She was with me the moment I woke up. Between her and I, Gluttony was far more coherent and functional. She took care of me for the first few weeks as I was bedridden during that time. Barely could move, so she attended to some of my needs. Fed me, kept me warm, and protected me."

    The others paid attention, Watcher was curious as well as he focused on Nathan.

    "Protect you? From what?" Evie asked curiously.

    "Things that wanted to eat me, there were so many monsters in that parking lot that didn''t like things that were alive."

    The moment Nathan woke up, it was nothing but survival. He remembered the times Gluttony fought off beasts that dared to go near. He was lucky to have her there.

    "You managed to survive thanks to the Gluttonous Maw? Truly fascinating."

    Before Nathan could continue his story, the same skeleton from the counter returned. With him were four boxes of pizza all stacked on top of each other and ready to be taken home. Nathan felt like he should say something funny, or a pun, but kept his silence.

    The skeleton leaned down and whispered to Evie''s ear. "Oh? Appreciate the good work, Trusty. Well, Nathan, that''s enough questions, for now, I do enjoy our little talk but I have enough information for today. All I need now is a blood sample from you and then you can be on your merry way!"

    "Oh no, you ain''t touching him, you hear me!?" Gluttony lowered herself and prepared for a pounce. But before she could launch at Evie once again, Nathan caught her by the scruff of her dress. "Let me at her! I''ll show this broad how a real woman fights!"

    He was tempted to fight. Nathan had his hand on Gluttony now and he could just summon his weapon. All he needed to do after that was go for Evie''s neck. These gods claim to be invincible, but they still bleed. But even then, he was outnumbered. The stranger in that large capsule won''t be able to help either. Throughout this little interaction they had, she had not once made an attempt on his life. Perhaps it would be best to avoid any more violence. Well, earlier Nathan was just taken by his own rage which led him to use his pocket knife. Something that never happened before as he had always depended on the Gluttonous Maw in every fight.

    Never had he fought with that flimsy tool before, and by now, Nathan was pretty sure the blade was dull due to lack of proper maintenance. He never relied on such things or even other weapons. Jonah once tried to teach him how to use a gun, but Nathan wasn''t as enthusiastic as the marksman. In the past, all he needed was Gluttony and he doubted it would change anytime soon.

    "Just a blood sample right, then you let us go?"

    Evie chuckled. "No, there is still something I''d like to do before you go."

    "Well, how do we-" Nathan gasped as something pricked him on the arm. He looked to the side and found Beatrix with a syringe in one of her many hands.

    "Yes," Beatrix purred. "I did enjoy that."

    Nathan gave her a short scowl before he turned to Evie. "Alright, what else do you want?"

    "Well, I have two things to talk about. The first one is something you are familiar with. While the other I can explain after." She paused their conversation and called for the attention of another of her goons. Minion was her name, a human-like insect that could be described as an ant that stood on two legs. This bug gave Evie a folder that contained several pictures and papers which were written in a language that is alien to Nathan. "Thank you, Minion, feel free to get yourself a pizza. Anyway, Nathan. What I have for you is a mission off-world. A desolate planet called Vristan, and on it is a very annoying individual that has been a thorn in my side for a year now."

    "You want me to kill them?"

    "I doubt you can. I''ll pay you of course, but as a bonus, if you complete the mission, I''ll give you more information about Hound."

    The picture depicted a strange character. He wore a large black coat and a hood over his head. Armor plates decorated him with protection. It looked like a bullet wouldn''t put this man down, maybe something bigger would do the damage. The thing that caught Nathan''s attention was the white bird-like mask. If anything, this man resembled a plague doctor. And from the look of things and the information given to him, this man delved in chemical experiments.

    There were a lot of censors on the paper, most probably important details Evie was trying to hide. Black bars drawn all over sentences. The paper alone sent a shiver down Nathan''s spine. This man, whoever it is, was a threat to her.

    There was of course a single name to go by, "Crow" was written on one of the pictures. Seemed like it was his theme to wear that bird mask of his.

    "I''ll think about it," Nathan claimed. It was a job offered by one of the most dangerous beings in the universe. If she was not willing to send out her best meant this was a dangerous job.

    "That''s too bad," Evie sighed. "Hound would''ve taken it."

    "I''m not Hound, not anymore."

    She smiled. "Well alright, the next thing I want to talk about is that you''ll be hunted down like a dog."

    Nathan summoned forth the Gluttonous Maw.

    "Hold on now! I won''t let them go after you that quickly!" Nathan lowered his weapon, but not enough to allow himself an opening to all attacks. "Listen, I just wanted to play a game! I will have Trusty deliver your pizzas back to your apartment. As for the rules of this game, I just want you to run back home while everyone in this room goes after your head. Think of it as a little experiment. But with your life on the line."

    Nathan noticed the eager look in everyone, all but Watcher. Seemed like he wasn''t interested at all. Jackie on the other hand looked like she was about to just pounce on him with that shiv she made out of ice.

    "Well, you have the count of three¡­ one¡­"

    Nathan swiped back the box and shoved Gluttony inside much to her objection. The whole room watched him as he bolted out the door soon after. With their target gone, everyone armed themselves with their respective weapons and prepared for the chase. While the skeleton known as Trusty went off to deliver the pizzas that he made.

    As for Watcher, he simply sat down on the empty seat and grabbed himself some garlic bread sticks. "You sure he won''t die, boss?" He asked as he pulled down his mask.

    "Nathan had not disappointed me yet." She answered. "I doubt he''d just give up that easily. Besides, who''s to say he wouldn''t come back for a second time?"

    "The dead should stay dead." Watcher said as the others started to go after Nathan. "Pretty sure the King of Eden already knows about him. Can''t escape the patient hunter. Hell, we could ask him how Nathan is alive."

    "Ugh, and go back to Eden? Bad enough Sketchy wants me imprisoned, and I''d be damned if I see Umbra again. And besides, that''ll just spoil the surprise for me. I wanna find out how Nathan -Hound- White survived the wrath of the Bloody Tyrant." She gave the capsule a light tap. "If I can just get a breakthrough with my project, maybe the answers will come to me."

    ******

    The door slammed open as Nathan rushed into his home. There he found his friends by the kitchen where his friends were gathered. Even Sally and Abe were there.

    The strangest part here was that somehow the pizzas got there before him. That skeleton is truly the fastest creature on the planet.

    "Guys¡­ I had a run-in with the Bloody Tyrant."

    "What!?" Everyone exclaimed.

    Ivory was already upon Nathan, her hand grasped his shoulder and threatened to break his bones. "Explain."

    Time went by as Nathan explained what had transpired today. How he found out the true identity of the Bloody Tyrant. He purposely left out the few details about how he was some kind of thug or the fact he was practically called Hound because he was like a loyal dog. That part was an embarrassing fact.

    "So, the pizza that was delivered here is owned by a very evil person?" Jonah recapped the story as he took a bite out of a slice. "Wow, who knew villains could own a pizzeria."

    "That is not something I''d think about when we are faced with a terrifying foe," Abe said. "I must inform the Redeemers of this."

    "Wait!" All eyes fell on Sally as she raised her clamps high. A worried look upon her screen as she stared at them. It took a moment before she spoke her mind. "We cannot tell anybody of this!"

    "Why?" If Ivory had eyes, she''d narrow them at Sally.

    "Because¡­" Sally stalled for a moment. "Because this planet will become a game world for the Wizard King!"

    "That''s right," Abe said. "If we were to inform the masses that the dreadful Bloody Tyrant is on this planet, some unwanted attention will be received. Bounty hunters, thrill seekers, crooks, and bloodthirsty thugs. Those are the things that would surely come to this planet once it is deemed a game zone."

    "We would have to move," Ivory believed the only solution to that was to run. It was a grand idea as well. As much as Ivory wanted to get back at those who attacked them last weekend, this wasn''t their fight. That''s what she believed.

    In truth, Nathan was part of this. He couldn''t just flee, especially now that there was someone who could help him with his mission.

    "She knows who I am," Nathan announced. "We aren''t telling anyone, and we aren''t running."

    Ivory''s blank face stared at him. "You''re in over your head, Nathan. We shouldn''t care about what she knows, it could even just be lies. And before you talk, demon, the people of this planet aren''t our responsibility. The fate of this world shouldn''t concern us if that monster is on it."

    "Ivory, we have not seen eye to eye. But I truly believe that we mustn''t allow tragedy upon the people. The Tyrant had not yet done anything, other than attack Nathan. Hopefully, her attention does not go elsewhere."

    "My friend''s sacrifice is not on the table, Abraham." Ivory brandished a knife. "The fact she had not done anything yet, is concerning itself."

    "If it happens, then Eden will see. I doubt someone would make a mistake that would garner unwanted attention. Especially one from the most determined god in Eden''s pantheon, Justice."

    Their conversation would''ve continued if it weren''t for the unwelcome voice that expressed her opinion and thoughts. "Justice? Oh brother, that guy is such a damn bore! First time I met him he kept going on and on about morality and kindness. I mean, he''s like a damn paper copy of your clich¨¦d superhero."

    Jonah was quick to raise his rifle at the intruder, but his resolution was doubtful as his hands shook with natural fear.

    The Sentinel and the Redeemer simply froze while Nathan and Sally stared with disbelief. Right there on the couch was someone they might as well consider the devil. Evie the Bloody Tyrant.

    She flashed them her signature smile, jagged teeth and all.

    "I''m not done with you yet, Nathan. We have a business to attend to."

 V: Evie Kalasraast

    Fear is such a terrible word. The word itself left a disgusting taste on Nathan''s tongue.

    Sometimes fear alone could trap a man in prison within his own mind. A beast could stare you down and render you a useless husk if your resolve was weak enough. Nathan had faced many foes in his life, not once had he seen his friends hesitate. But here he was, a witness to Evie''s psychological siege.

    Ivory, the stoic Sentinel, frozen like a statue. Jonah, the swift marksman, was reduced to a quivering mess. He had a weapon in his hands yet he knew that a gun was useless against a god. Sally simply cowered. As for Abe, he simply stood there with his eyes focused on Evie.

    Nathan and Gluttony were the first two who encountered the Bloody Tyrant, as they all know at the moment, so it made sense for the two to keep their distance.

    The intruder to their home was just there, sitting on their couch as if she was at home. She wasn''t afraid of them, and they knew it. Their numbers didn''t matter, or their strengths. This wasn''t like a champion, this was a literal god that could not be rivaled by mortal men or divine and demonic power.

    Only one of them had any experience with battling a god, and it was Sally. Even then, she feared that her identity would be revealed if she intervened with whatever scheme Evie had. Her advantage could easily be lost if she stepped out of line. And Evie knew that as well. Hell, Evie showed the machine that she was powerless at the moment with a flash of her toothy smile.

    Nathan thought Evie was preying on Sally with that despicable smile of hers, so he took a step over to Sally and shielded her from Evie''s gaze.

    Evie simply found it humorous of him.

    "So, aren''t you gonna introduce me to your friends, Nathan? Well, I know their names but proper introductions are required. Don''t be shy, I''m not some fae. Maybe I am actually¡­ Who knows."

    "Doubt you''d care," Nathan spat out his words like venom.

    "You''re right, I don''t. Just want to have some semblance of style." Evie leaned into the seat and made herself comfortable. "It''ll be really boring if we just go straight into the action. Gotta spice things up, so some banter and junk couldn''t hurt."

    She waved a hand dismissively at the gun pointed at her.

    "You bunch don''t have to be so tense, I''m not here to slaughter you. No, I''m merely here to discuss some business." Slaughter. She said that word so casually that it wasn''t a threat, if anything, it was a promise.

    Jonah was reluctant, but he lowered his gun. Nathan jabbed an elbow into Ivory''s ribs and brought her back to reality.

    Freed from the fear induced by Evie, Ivory took a step closer. But before she could even utter a word, Evie raised an open palm.

    "If you''re here to beg for your life, it''s pointless."

    "No, that''s not what I wanted to do. You were talking about business?"

    "I do love your serious personality, but you don''t look fun at all." She raised a finger at Jonah. "This guy on the other hand seems to be the fun one of the three. You know what he did when I sent Watcher to test him? Bloodfield here shot Watcher''s gun and Watcher almost shot himself in the face because of it! That caught all of us off guard!"

    This was clearly an attempt to change the mood, sadly everyone was far too tense to even smile. As proud as Jonah was of his achievement, he wasn''t going to lower his guard around Evie.

    "Wow, you bunch sure don''t appreciate cool moments, especially done by your friend. Speaking of which, awesome name there Bloodfield, if you work for me I''d let you use it."

    "Can we focus, please?"

    Evie frowned. "What''s the rush? Fine, let''s not enjoy ourselves and just get to the business part. Can one of you get us some tea? Or coffee? Can''t do this without any warm drinks."

    Her question was directed at those who weren''t part of this little meeting, which was Abe and Sally. Abe obliged and started the task that was requested.

    For a short moment, the whole room was in deafening silence. If one were to drop a needle on the carpet, they would''ve heard it crash. That was how quiet it was, not even the streets breached their little soundless sanctuary.

    Nathan felt as if his heart was in his neck with how loud it was. He was sure his heart would''ve made him deaf with the help of the silence.

    It was only when Abe returned with some tea for everyone, except for him and Sally. Once everything was settled, Abe retreated to Sally''s side as this did not concern him, but he was ready for any trouble just in case.

    "Thank you," Evie made sure to flash Abe a smile. "Now, let''s all get down to business. Nathan, did you inform them about the job I gave you?"

    "No," He fished out the picture of the man who was dressed like a plague doctor. He showed the others soon after, and both Ivory and Jonah had mixed reactions. "I''m guessing this is about him?"

    "Right you are! I really need you to do this job as soon as possible and I can''t just send out one of my own. He''s too much of a threat and I cannot risk losing my guys. You and your group are expendable."

    "What makes you think we''d accept this job?" Ivory wondered.

    "You are free to decline," Evie''s arm shifted before their very eyes and transformed into a large blade made of flesh and bone. The group nearly jumped back but froze as Evie brought her sword arm to Nathan''s neck in just a blink. "But this would mean I''d have to get rid of you, if you don''t want to play then you''re out of the game."

    Ivory slammed her fist into Evie''s chest before anyone could make a move. "You don''t threaten my friend in my home,"

    But Evie was undeterred. "And you think you can stop me? Just say yes, and you won''t have to worry about me hurting anyone else. Much."

    "You aren''t giving us a choice." Ivory glowered. "Fine, give us a day or two to prepare. I will request more information about this job and wish to study it before we embark." With that, Ivory pulled her fist out. Everyone was surprised at the lack of blood as Ivory''s hand left a sizable hole in Evie''s chest.

    They all watched in horror as the damage fixed itself. Bones regenerated first before muscle and flesh. If they had not experienced gore before, they would''ve surely lost their breakfast.

    Once she was healed, Evie retracted her blade and shifted it back into her hand. "Like I said, love that serious side of yours. Just need a fun part and I''d like you even more."

    "Just get out of our apartment,"

    "I haven''t had a sip of my tea yet," Evie argued. Without any more distractions, Evie brought the cup to her toothy lips and drank her tea.

    With her example, Nathan decided to drink his as well followed by Gluttony. Jonah and Ivory simply remained motionless as they watched Evie with a careful eye.

    Satisfied, Evie placed the cup down and said her goodbyes to all. Much to their confusion, the goddess had chosen to exit through the door instead of disappearing as they had expected. Somehow she just showed up, but now that they had their eyes on her, she simply left the apartment normally.

    This only confused them more as she proved once again how unpredictable she was.

    Once they were sure she was gone, everyone released a sigh of relief. Even Sally who didn''t have lungs.

    Jonah''s arms collapsed to his sides, hands still shaking from the fear that Evie left in his heart. "I think I died¡­"

    "What makes you say that?" Ivory sneered. It seemed that the visit had also left Ivory rattled. Her voice was laced with sarcasm which failed her attempt to hide her fear.

    "I gotta go." Sally excused herself and ran out as quickly as she could. Abe simply nodded to the three as he knew this did not concern him. So he followed Sally''s example and walked out of the apartment.

    Now the three were left alone.

    Jonah and Nathan barely moved, but Ivory started to pace around the room. "The hell did we get ourselves into? Nathan, what did you do before all of this?"

    "I''m just as clueless as the rest of you. But why give us only two days? Not like we can handle whatever this guy is."

    "She wanted us to do this job as soon as possible, doubt she''d wait for a week. Think Scratch knows who this bird guy is?"

    "We can ask later," Jonah said. "I need to grab another slice." His hunger betrayed him and led Jonah back to the pizza. "I''d suggest we bring in our A game for this. Any job offered by a god is a job that''ll kill us."

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    The two were impressed by Jonah''s initiative. Ivory especially.

    "Jonah is right, if this man poses a threat to her then he''s just as dangerous as the Tyrant. Crow, huh?" Ivory examined the picture more. She memorized every detail about this man and made some small notes about his strange choice of attire. "Dressed like a soldier, wearing a mask of a plague doctor, and most likely isn''t for show. Expect chemical combat. Jonah, I believe that those armor plates he''s wearing won''t be much of a problem to this man, so you''d best bring a lighter gun. One that''s easier to move around."

    "Right, a bullpup rifle. I''ll see if I have one around."

    Ivory faced Nathan and Gluttony. "You two aren''t really flexible, so I''ll just ask you to bring in your best. Being a Star Forged weapon, the Gluttonous Maw will be our best trick."

    "You ain''t got nothing to worry about!" Gluttony said confidently. "I bet I don''t have to do anything! Just sit there and eat whatever is left of this bird guy!"

    "I''ll see what I can do," Was all Nathan could say.

    "You worry too much, Nate! You and I will be the MVP for this one!" She was as confident as ever. "Now come on, I''m very hungry and I''ve been craving for my share of pizza!"

    Ivory agreed. "You two certainly earned it. I''ll take this picture and head over to Cain''s and get some info about this guy."

    "Don''t want to have a pizza first?"

    She shook her head. "No, you can give the Gluttonous Maw my share."

    "Sweet!" Gluttony screeched as she rushed over to the boxes to claim what was hers.

    The other two gave Ivory their short goodbyes and wishes for safety.

    The Sentinel proceeded out the door and discovered a strange man in the hallway.

    He was dressed like some scarecrow, which alone told Ivory that this was one of Evie''s grunts.

    One large hat that fitted a witch better, a coat with tuffs of hay in every opening of his clothes. His lower face was hidden by a mask that covered his neck as well. Three guns on his belt for all to see. Despite having more of a scarecrow look, he resembled a cowboy more.

    Then it struck her, this was the one who attacked Jonah. The question was; why was he here?

    "Headin'' out?" He asked calmly.

    "Watcher, right?"

    "That I am."

    The two waited in silence until Ivory focused on the task. Watcher simply eyed her as she walked down the hall. Seemed like Evie assigned him to keep watch on them. Probably how he got his name.

    Still, their lives had been different ever since they got that lead from Scratch. How it all spiraled down to this after their encounter with the Midnight Witch.

    Back then it was simpler. Get a job from Scratch, do said job, then earn the pay. Even after Nathan was introduced to Ivory and Jonah, nothing changed. The only thing that did was their efficiency. With a wielder of a Star Forged weapon, every extermination was a breeze, especially when they had to get rid of some non-humans. A strange flaw for the Gluttonous Maw if you asked Ivory.

    Her trip to Cain''s was short, her visit was even shorter. Seemed like even the well-educated Apex had their limits. Crow was a mystery then, and even more so now.

    Ivory tried other connections and other information brokers. But they didn''t offer anything other than a word of warning. Seemed like the mystery of Crow was a frightening thought for many. The simple fear of the unknown.

    Something that scared Ivory a little.

    She didn''t fear for her own sake, she worried more about her two mortal friends. Humans of all things. Jonah and Nathan weren''t like other races, they were weak and squishy compared to most. The Apex was strong and patient like the King of Eden. Thyvxen were fast and deadly, especially if they caught you with their teeth. Even the small Martians were smarter than the humans.

    The only thing humans do have is that they were spiteful and determined.

    Humans could be found everywhere, it wasn''t much of a mystery as to why. God himself made humanity.

    Ivory took a pause and glanced at the sky. There was one big difference between a god and the God. One of them was that he was omnipresent, and only observed the lives of the galaxy. As for the gods of Eden? They were weaker in comparison, if He wanted it, then all will be purged by His angels.

    She once theorized that because of God, humanity stood on equal grounds with the rest of the galaxy. Outmatched in many ways, yet humans fought back. The invasion of Earth made everything evident.

    For a moment, Ivory paused in front of an appliance store where they displayed televisions. One was currently broadcasting the news and some recent terrorism on a planet called Plasma. For mortals, that would be frightening news as that planet was just next to them. But for Ivory, that meant a job opportunity. She took note of this recent news and would certainly ask Scratch if any people needed some freelancers.

    "The GCC is getting braver these days."

    Ivory glanced to the side and discovered Nathan''s friend, Daria. The young woman gave Ivory a small smile as a greeting.

    "Afternoon, Ivory. People these days are causing so much trouble, aren''t they?"

    "True, I still wonder why they aren''t doing anything about these cults. Eden could easily stamp out the problem from the roots."

    Daria shrugged her shoulders. "No clue, think they''re just busy with other things. You know how much work they do to keep our universe safe."

    "Right, Umbra and her little frequent maintenance on her Gates. Don''t trust those things even if they claim it''s safe. Don''t get me started with the Sentinel of Time. He got nothing but time. Last I''ve seen the guy, he was busy with those clocks in Eden."

    "You''ve met the gods before?"

    Ivory huffed. "All Sentinels knew Orion before he ascended. We all agree that he''s by far the best Sentinel just because of his achievement."

    "Is that a hint of jealousy I hear? Really, from a stoic woman such as you?"

    "I may envy him, but I promise you that I am satisfied with my life. Both the good and the bad, makes me feel mortal. How have you been, Daria?"

    "Money troubles," She answered tiredly. "Maybe I should do what you guys do and kill for money."

    "If you have the guts for it, and are not easily bound by your morality, then I say you can join us for a few jobs."

    "I''d appreciate that, and you may not know, but I''ve been in a lot of fights before. So, if I ever want to join, you guys would be alright with it, right?"

    "The more the merrier, Jonah says. Though that just means I''d have to keep an eye on another human." If she had a brow, Ivory would''ve raised it once she realized something about Daria. "You have experience in battle? That''s something I''d never expect from you. Tell me, what can you do and bring to the team."

    "Well," Daria puffed out her chest proudly. "I''ll let you know that I''m a powerful psychic, not just a pretty face."

    "Is that so?" Ivory said amused. "Hey, do you have any idea who this guy is? Our¡­ client isn''t telling us anything."

    Daria inspected the picture Ivory had pulled out from her pocket. For a moment, Daria stared at it with a furrowed brow. Suddenly, her face hardened.

    "You''re not gonna like this, but I do know who this is."

    ******

    Jonah let out a happy sigh. The boxes were empty and stacked by the trash can as they had served their purpose with everyone satisfied. With their stomachs full their fear no longer clouded their mind.

    Even Gluttony was content.

    The three were left alone by their leader, which meant they had some time before Ivory started the planning phase.

    A job like this required their full focus.

    "Last meal?" Nathan asked out of the blue.

    "Are you asking me if I want one last meal before the boring part of our job or¡­?"

    "What would you have if you got one final meal?"

    Jonah stopped to ponder for a minute. He thought about Nathan''s question carefully just so he himself was satisfied with his answer.

    "If heaven allowed me, I''d have some of ma''s apple fritters. You remember those? I brought some back after the last vacation."

    "Sure I do, your mother really kills it, I honestly like hers over Scratch''s."

    "That says a lot," Jonah chuckled. "Hope she doesn''t get jealous about that, or maybe she''d want to learn from my ma. How about you Nathan, what do you want if you get one final meal?"

    "Easy, honestly, you know I''d never forget Scratch''s pizza burger. My favorite thing in the whole damn universe. I mean, the sauce is just so good."

    "Well, that''s your favorite. But what about the first Nathan White? I''m kinda curious about the guy before you."

    Nathan paused as he remembered what had transpired earlier this day. A lot of things were said, and he was given a short window into his past. But what he learned was not what he wanted to hear.

    "Jonah¡­ am I a bad guy? Be serious, I kinda need to hear it right now."

    "Nate, buddy, out of all of us- even the Gluttonous Maw- you''re the nicest one here. Ivory doesn''t like people who aren''t exactly human, and I''ve been a very rude dude when it comes to some conflicting opinions. But you seem to be more forgiving, and always did try to do things peacefully."

    "Thanks¡­ I kinda found out that I wasn''t much of a decent fella back then. You know how I''m part of Evie''s group, right? Well, I have a lot of enemies there. One of them was a blue lady, and she seemed to have it out for me."

    "Yikes, sounds like you pissed off the wrong people. Guess, the Nathan in the past isn''t you in any way. If this is eating you up, buddy, just talk to us. Ivory especially, she''d definitely listen."

    "Thanks, man, I am glad to have you guys."

    "Nathan," Gluttony suddenly pulled Nathan''s face to hers. Despite the difference in size, Gluttony possessed the same strength as him. Wouldn''t certainly surprise him if she was stronger. "Buddy, pal, friend, you don''t need to talk to blank-face. I''m here for ya, and I bet you that Jonah here won''t know what you feel. Guy is probably only thinking about brass."

    "Guilty." Jonah said with a grin.

    "Besides, if you don''t want to talk with me, then there''s always Scratch. She got us out of the jam once, then she could do it easily for a second with you!"

    "Thanks, G, I''m just happy that I''m not alone in this."

    "No problem! Now, when''s blank-face coming back? We need our beauty sleep if she wants our full potential with this job!"

    "Planning can be done tomorrow, I''m sure we can all just sleep the rest of the day away." Jonah pushed himself up. "And that''s what I''ll do. Oh, before I do, you should check on the others."

    "Abe and Sally?" Nathan got a quick nod from Jonah. "Right, better see if they''re alright. Come on, G."

    The duo exited the apartment but froze as their eyes made contact with Watcher''s who stood in the hallway like a statue. Static and lifeless, the scarecrow eyed them curiously as the two walked out the door. Slowly, Watcher gave them a short nod before he remained still again. Only his eyes followed as they ventured deeper into the building. Both confusion and suspicion were shared between the two.

    The first door he went to was Sally''s, which was the closest to Nathan''s apartment. He looked back once more and found Watcher facing them. It irked him greatly as this Apex had managed to move without so much of a sound. Eager to get away, Nathan knocked on Sally''s door and was glad that she answered quickly.

    Strangely enough, the small robot had a large smile displayed on her screen. Seemed like she was very happy to see him and Gluttony. That is until she noticed Watcher behind them did her smile falter.

    "Hey, Sally! I was checking up on you to see if you''re alright."

    "You don''t have to worry about little old me! Hopefully, you come back soon after your job, Nathan. Who knows what Wicked would do if you weren''t around."

    Gluttony stepped up and gave Sally her biggest smile. Despite her limited facial structure. "Don''t you worry about a thing, as long as team Nathan and Gluttony are on the job, we''ve got this in the bag!"

    "Right, maybe you should get some rest then. Don''t want to be even more of a bother. And I''d rather not have the Apex here." She muttered the last sentence.

    "What was that?"

    "Nothing! Well, see you next time. And please come back, I don''t want to lose my new friend so quickly." Before Nathan could even give Sally a small goodbye, the robot had closed the door.

    With that out of the way, he visited Abe next. It took a while to get Abe''s place as he was on the first floor of the building. The first room as well. And Nathan couldn''t really miss Abe''s apartment as the door was covered in very impolite words. Someone had vandalized the poor thing, sadly Abe didn''t care about the ruined door and was focused more on important things.

    Nathan had offered countless times to clean the mess, but Abe turned him down every time.

    After a short moment of silence, Gluttony reached for the door and gave it a loud knock. As expected, Abe was there to greet them just after a second of waiting.

    "Ah, Nathaniel, I am glad to see that you''re alright."

    "Hey Abe! Just checking on you, after the whole thing. How you doing?"

    "No need to be concerned, I''ve seen many things in my life that could bend a mere mortal to his knees, and even now I feel the same fear they felt. But¡­ a diabolical goddess appeared before me. I don''t know if I should be ignorant to the dark tide on the horizon, or believe that the will of God requires me to stand against it."

    "It''s alright, the others and I are hoping she won''t do anything as long as we accept the job," Nathan assured the priest. "Listen, I know it''s too much of me to ask for, but could you pray for us? Something tells me this job is gonna be a tough one."

    "Of course, I will speak to our Lord that He may watch over you and your friends. Now, would you also ask something from me, little Gluttony?"

    "For one, stop calling me little. Also, you got any demon blood to spare?"

    Abe laughed. "I prefer to keep myself from harm, but if I ever shed a single drop, perhaps I could keep it for you."

    "Thanks, I''ve been craving for more after that demon incident."

    "Last week?" Nathan stared at Gluttony suspiciously. "Didn''t I tell you to stop that habit? You have no clue where those demons came from."

    "You say that, but I''m sure I won''t get sick from it. I''ve eaten worse things before." Gluttony argued.

    "Well," Abe caught their attention. "I believe you should rest my friend, troubled times are ahead and you will need all the energy."

    "Right, then we''ll see you once it''s all over, Abe! See ya!"

    The three said their farewells and went on with their own separate businesses. Nathan returned to their apartment quicker than Jonah had believed. He found Ivory there as well but something about her caused Nathan to feel a sense of concern. But that wasn''t important, it seemed like Ivory had a clue about who their target was. For now, they had to plan out an attack, especially once they received more details from Evie.

    This job was going to be a difficult one, but Nathan was confident with their abilities and skills.

 VI: Vristan

    The cold air of early dawn sent a shiver through Nathan. He stood amongst his friends and enemies as they waited for the arrival of a dangerous monster. The scarecrow kept watch on them from a distance, and no doubt he''d snap into action if Nathan and the rest made the wrong move.

    And Watcher wasn''t alone. By his side was a human who was strangely dressed in loose clothes. Her hair was tied in a long ponytail, and her expression matched Watcher''s hardened look. A sword in her off-hand, a katana to be exact. This mysterious samurai looked relaxed, but Nathan knew not to underestimate those that followed the orders of the Bloody Tyrant.

    They all gathered on an empty field, with nothing but grass and mountains around them. One could faintly see the city Nathan resided in if they looked hard enough. Would truly be a feat if you could indeed see it.

    As they waited, Nathan checked in on his friends. Jonah carried his rifle with pride, his appearance was different as he wore a vest that carried extra magazines for his gun. The marksman even brought extra firepower just in case they needed it. As always, Jonah was armed to the teeth, but with the price of his speed. Though he was far more athletic than Nathan, even Jonah had some trouble with carrying his gear.

    That was why Ivory did most of the heavy lifting. Her Sentinel origins gave her a superior level of strength, so she had with her all the essentials for Nathan and Jonah; food, water, ammunition, and others. The bag she brought was practically just as big as her, but to Ivory the weight was nothing.

    They were ready for the job, focused, and eager to be done with it. Now, all that mattered was their target: Crow.

    Crow, a name that was still a mystery to them. Though they had some semblance of his background, Crow was still an enigma. They knew little, which meant he was as dangerous as Watcher and the samurai. Maybe more so.

    "I''m bored, like, super bored right now," Gluttony told them. "We''ve been here for a full hour now! And that no good freak ain''t anywhere these eyes can see! I''m starting to think she stood us up!"

    "G, if she did just leave us to dry out here, then what''s their deal?" Nathan jabbed a thumb at two of Evie''s goons.

    "Maybe they just got done by their boss also. Hey, what if those two want to team up with us?"

    Jonah allowed himself a tired sigh. "I''d rather not work with the guy who nearly killed me."

    Gluttony grumbled at Jonah before she looked over to her partner. "Hey Nathan, give me your phone; I wanna play on it."

    "I forgot it back home." He admitted with an awkward smile.

    "How do you forget something important like your phone?" The little puppet clicked her tongue at him. "Honestly, we''d been prepping for this job and you couldn''t bring your most important tool in your life. What if we get separated and gotta call the others?"

    "We have radios," Ivory informed Gluttony.

    "Oh¡­ Well, I''m still bored!" In her quest for distraction, Gluttony thought up a grand idea. "Hey, Nate! How about we practice our act? We got a bunch of people here for a second opinion."

    "I don''t see why not." Nathan pulled Gluttony up and held her in his arms. "Say, Gilda, how was your weekend?"

    "It was great! Built a nice bookshelf. But my only problem back then was that I accidentally nailed myself to it."

    "That was lame!" Jonah heckled.

    "You know what isn''t lame? This amazing crowd! They''re all so brave for coming to watch a dummy talk. Right, Nathan?"

    Nathan scowled. "The dummy in this conversation better not be me, Gilda."

    "Of course not! You''re just the crazy guy who''s talking to a puppet."

    "People enjoy these?" Ivory wondered aloud. It seemed to be that Nathan''s friends weren''t easily impressed.

    "You guys don''t have any sense of humor, that''s what!" Gluttony said as she pointed her wooden finger at them both. Nathan simply chuckled.

    Jonah took offense at such an accusation. "I have no sense of humor? We all know I''m the comedian of the team, the funny guy who likes to make jokes and quips."

    "You guys are ruining our act! Nathan, tell them to shut up!"

    "G, I can''t just do that. Come on, you''re acting like a kid, don''t start a tantrum."

    "Tantrum!?" That was the thing that set her off.

    She pounced at Nathan and sank her teeth into his face. The two struggled, while the others laughed at Nathan''s pain.

    "Gotta give it to you both, this is hilarious!" Jonah barely finished his sentence as he couldn''t stop giggling like a maniac.

    Ivory shook her head as she calmed down.

    Satisfied with her work, Gluttony released Nathan and faced their audience with a triumphant glimmer in her eyes. "See? Nathan and I are the funniest ones on the team."

    "Quite the perfect duo!"

    Nathan and his friends went silent as soon as Evie spoke. When did she arrive? They don''t know. What they did know was that she had not come alone. There were armed soldiers with the goddess, all dressed in gray and armed with standard guns. Their identities are hidden behind a dark face shield. The strangest part of this group of soldiers was that they were all the same height. A fact that didn''t go unnoticed by the others as well.

    "Finally!" Gluttony hopped off Nathan''s arms. "You have any clue how long we was waiting for you? I think you should compensate us. Maybe a little extra pay for wasting our time? Sounds good enough."

    "Of course! That is if you all lived to see the reward." Her usual wicked smile flashed. "We must hurry now, I want this show on the road!"

    "Need us to come with, boss?" Watcher asked as he and the samurai approached.

    "It''s alright! The Scouts will be enough, not like I''d do anything. So how about you and Bianca go take a day off?"

    "Wait, who are these guys?" Jonah asked his own question as he went up to one soldier. "I thought we were expendable."

    "You all are, it''s just that you bunch aren''t as expensive as the Scouts. Don''t mind them, they don''t really talk much."

    "Do they?" Jonah smirked as he prodded the soldier with a finger. They did not react at all. Evie simply watched with that deadly smile of hers.

    Jonah was just too curious, so much so that he went after the soldier''s face shield. He recoiled as he unraveled a disturbing truth.

    "Alright, I had enough! Let''s get to work guys!"

    Evie would have laughed, but she preferred to move along as well. "Good idea, Bloodfield! Now, what I have in my hands is a portable Gate that will transport us to Vristan. We can''t exactly take the local Gate because Vristan isn''t connected to one, also I and my faction are banned from using them."

    She placed the device on the ground and soon after, it came to life. The machine unfolded itself to reveal a glowing core. Nathan felt slightly lighter as if gravity loosened its hold on him. From the device, a bubble of energy grew around them. Right before their very eyes the world shifted and morphed into another.

    It was Nathan''s first time going through a Gate, even if it wasn''t an approved version. It was strange. The experience was like a sudden shift of light.

    One moment the sky was clear and blue, the next it was nothing but gray. Even the grass beneath their feet changed. Everything was cleared out, not even weeds grew anywhere.

    It was like a wasteland. Signs of battle could be seen everywhere. Evie brought them to a cliff where they could see the vast empty world.

    "So, this is Vristan?" Ivory said as she took in the sight. "This place was famous for its beautiful skies and cities. Until the Goddess of War got her hands on the planet."

    "She had a whole planet to herself and she ruined it?" Jonah frowned at the scene. Nothing but destruction and ruins.

    "Auntie Callisto wanted a place to test her weapons and war machines, so she bought Vristan. Luckily for the inhabitants, they all migrated to another planet which was owned by Justice." Evie explained to them.

    "Tell me again why gods own a lot of planets?" Jonah asked the goddess.

    "Religion." She answered simply.

    With that done and their curiosity sated, Evie pointed over the cliff and down toward an intact building. Unlike those that still stood in the distance, this structure was cleaner and more stable. An incomplete fence surrounded it as if the owner did not care about intruders. The strangest part was that it looked abandoned. There was of course a single truck with a tarp over the cargo, but other than that, this place was as empty as the rest of the world.

    "That is where our little bird lives, Crow had been holed up in that bunker since a few years ago. And he was such an annoying pest ever since he moved in."

    Ivory stepped up. "And how do you suppose that we''d get in there? This base doesn''t look easy to get through."

    "Didn''t you guys read the blueprints I gave you? Wait, right, forgot to tell you about the other thing. You see, this building has a flaw; a ventilation shaft can be accessed through over there." She pointed at the trap door located near them. "We''ve managed to get through recently but it is only a matter of time before the damn greedy Crow catches wind of my plans. So it is best if you bunch to get to work."

    "This better be worth it, Tyrant."

    "Of course, Ivory, all of your efforts will be rewarded nicely."

    Ivory said nothing more as she led her team to the entrance of the tunnel.

    "What are you gonna do?" Nathan asked curiously as Jonah and Ivory disappeared through the trap door.

    "Oh, well I''m gonna go and talk to Crow. That way he will be focused on me instead of you guys. Your success rate shall increase that way."

    "Thanks, I guess. Anyway, I''ll be going now."

    "Good luck!" Evie waited until the trap door closed before she looked ahead. "You followed us?"

    ******

    "This place is kinda nice, wish we could live in a cool base also."

    "The moment we get millions of credits, Jonah, the first thing we will do is buy an awesome headquarters," Ivory promised them.

    "Yeah, and we''d finally get to have our own rooms!"

    Gluttony chuckled from her perch on Nathan''s shoulder. "Thought you love your little couch?"

    "I do, yeah, but I''m sleeping on top of all my ammo. I''d rather not wake up one day and find out I died from one little spark."

    Nathan gave Jonah a short glance. "Honestly, you should store those things somewhere else before that does happen."

    The group stopped before a fork in the road. The ventilation shaft led exactly in three different directions.

    Ivory suddenly flipped a coin. "Call it boys."

    "Heads," Nathan said before Jonah could.

    "Tails," Ivory told them. "Jonah gets to pick first, I''ll go last."

    "Then I''ll go right," The marksman decided.

    "Then I''ll just keep moving forward." Nathan said.

    So that meant Ivory was to go through the left path. "Remember, plant the bombs and make sure to check in every few minutes. Gas masks stay on until we''re sure that there isn''t any poison of any sort in the air. Keep the map on you at all times. If you get spotted, don''t fight, retreat to one of us."

    "Will do, boss!" Gluttony said as she and Nathan slowly lost sight of the other two. "Man, this is honestly exciting! Our biggest job yet! Maybe the reward is even bigger!"

    "I mean, it''ll cover the rent, and we won''t have to worry about the groceries." Nathan smiled at the idea of just relaxing for the rest of the week. He hoped that this job would give him more time to have fun.

    "And bet we could get a good brand of food this time! Kinda tired of buying knockoffs and cheap versions of junk food."

    "Nathan, you and the Gluttonous Maw doing alright?"

    They heard the radio come to life. Ivory was checking in on them. "Doing fine, just placed a few bombs on the objectives. I''m entering the prison now."

    "Watch yourself, Jonah and I haven''t encountered anyone ever since we separated. This place should be crawling with guards, so why aren''t we seeing any?"

    Jonah suddenly joined the conversation. "I even brought my suppressors! Wanted to do some top stealth kills but I feel robbed!"

    Nathan stopped as he noticed something in the distance. Immediately he lowered the volume on his radio and passed it over to Gluttony who held it up to his ear. "Guys, I see someone in the prison."

    "Do not engage," Ivory ordered. "If possible, try and avoid them. Is it our bird?"

    "No, they are far too short. A Martian? No, their head is weirdly shaped, I think those are horns. Hold on, actually, it looks kinda like a Mau. Those weird short cat things."

    "A Sentinel." Gluttony hissed. "The stench is just like Ivory''s."

    "Hold on, look closely, do they have five tails?"

    Nathan looked at the figure and analyzed them better. "Yeah actually, they look like snakes."

    "Do not engage and retreat immediately. That''s not just any Sentinel, that''s Lily Sunflower. I repeat, retreat immediately. Jonah, we need to-"

    The sound of something loud erupted from the radio.

    "Jonah!?" Suddenly everything went silent.

    "I''ll be honest, I don''t feel like fighting right now." Nathan nearly brought out the Gluttonous Maw. This Lily Sunflower had suddenly appeared before him. "What''s with the mask?"

    Funny, her face looked like a mask. The horns turned out to be ears now that he had a good look at them. And now that Nathan had a good look at her, she was almost as tall as Sally. She had red fur instead of a sleek raven-black skin like the Sentinel he knew, but the mask was as white as a clean sheet.

    The Sentinel wore only a tank top and cargo pants. She was far less fashionable than his friend, Ivory. Even her name was strange, Lily Sunflower. Despite that, Ivory was worried.

    But what caught his attention were the five tails which were indeed black snakes. All of them eyed Nathan curiously as they surrounded him.

    One thing Ivory wanted him and Jonah to avoid the most was battling a Sentinel. And if she was concerned about Nathan''s encounter with Lily, then that meant this shorty was bad news.

    "How about I escort you outside so you can leave? Please don''t resist, I really don''t feel like fighting today."

    There was no room to run, and it seemed to be a foolish idea to do the opposite of what she wanted. "Yeah, sure, I''ll follow."

    "Great," Was all she said before she started to walk away. "I''m Lily by the way."

    This could''ve been the chance he needed, but Nathan knew there was no point.

    "Really, you''re giving up so easily?" Gluttony was disappointed.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "Yeah, I''m with her in this one. Don''t really want to fight either."

    "Who''s that?" Lily asked about the puppet on Nathan''s shoulder.

    Before Gluttony could even introduce herself, Nathan quickly did so for her. "That''s Gilda, and I''m Nick."

    "Nick, huh? So what is she, some kind of possessed doll?"

    "Puppet, actually. And yeah, she is. Hey, Lily, my pal Sam seems to be caught. So can I ask that you let him go?"

    "Sure, I''ll go tell Henry to let him go. Fighting the daughter of Kalasraast has been tiring."

    "Henry? Is he Crow?"

    ******

    Jonah watched as the man placed a phone on the table. "Looks like it''s your lucky day, kid, my friend met yours and she wants me to be merciful."

    "Oh thank goodness."

    He was bound to a chair with his wrists tied together. The man that caught him was none other than Crow.

    Unlike the picture, he was far more imposing. A single red glow came from one black lens which glared at Jonah with indiscriminate hatred.

    "She asked me not to hurt you and let you go, she didn''t say when. I have some questions, kid." Crow pulled up a seat so he could be comfortable for Jonah''s interrogation. "Name, numbers, and plans. What are they?"

    "I won''t answer that!"

    "Nah, you will. I don''t like to hurt people honestly, and I''d rather not do so now." To show how serious he was, Crow unsheathed his boot knife. "I have plenty of ways to get answers, and going with the classics is way better than pumping you with chemicals."

    "Alright, that''s a convincing argument, we plan to plant bombs on important pillars that hold this base, there are ten of us, and my name is Hound."

    "Hound?" Crow twitched a little. "The Goddess of Destruction and Rebirth replaced the other guy?"

    "Wait, you knew him?"

    "Knew him? He was helping me with my research." A heavy sigh came from Crow. "What happened to him?"

    "Well, I''m not sure, but it sounded like Evie killed him."

    "I see." Crow returned his knife to his boot. "Well if that''s all, then I''ll just let you go."

    Jonah was tossed aside suddenly. He looked over and saw the furious Crow that towered over him.

    "I lied. My project needs participants, and you are healthy enough to be a test subject."

    "Wait, I thought your friend wanted me to go free!?"

    He laughed. "Yeah, nah. I may trust her, but sometimes I follow my judgment instead of others."

    Jonah was pulled back up, and the binds around him felt a little loose. So he opted to play things cool and hoped that he could break free before this man tortures him with whatever madness he prepared.

    The chair screeched as Crow dragged Jonah across the room. "You see, Hound, the daughter of Kalasraast, has been a thorn in my side for so long now. All because of my research. She wanted it for herself, but not enough manpower could take it from me, so I am guessing that''s where the bombs come in. I knew there was something wrong the moment she asked for some of my time earlier. Good thing I kept it short."

    "I guess? She hasn''t told me anything other than the fact that this job pays well." Jonah tried to keep the conversation going as he shimmied his wrists together.

    "Terrible choice, honestly. You''re better off flipping burgers than being some weird mutant."

    "Well I have the skills to kill, so I''d rather put that to use." Jonah was placed in front of a glass wall. Behind it was a curtain, and whatever was inside was something Jonah was about to find out.

    Crow clicked his tongue at that statement. "We all have some talents, but sometimes it''s just better to be boring. If I had a choice back then, I wouldn''t be here."

    "So, what''s this?"

    The curtain opened to reveal a strange creature chained to a wall. It snarled at them both and tried to attack, only to be pulled back by the chain as soon as it reached the glass barrier. It was difficult to describe. They weren''t human at least.

    "Holy moly! The heck is that thing!?"

    "A Sentinel. His name was Hex." Crow sounded proud, it painted a bad picture for Jonah.

    "What happened to him?"

    Crow placed a hand upon the glass, the supposed Sentinel went wild just from the small action. "This was my little project with Hound, he helped me retrieve some specimens, Hex was the last one before he went silent."

    "But what did you do? He''s¡­ feral¡­"

    "Under enough stress, a Sentinel has the chance to revert to what they used to be, but through my methods, they become more like animals. Mindless, hungry, and irredeemable. We''ve killed this Sentinel a bunch of times, yet when he revives, he''s still a beast. Makes things easier for me."

    "You¡­ Why the hell would you do something like this!?"

    "Blood," Crow answered calmly. "Their blood is what I need to complete this project of mine. But angels don''t just give those away for free, they are also very difficult to catch. So Lily and I thought by forcing Sentinels to return to their original forms we would be able to harvest their blood."

    Jonah felt his blood boil, he glared at the man with newfound hatred. "This isn''t right! What you''re doing is wrong, damn it! This guy is a person just like you and me!"

    "Your boss doesn''t care, she wanted what I have, but now that she can''t get it, she wants to destroy everything." Crow wrapped a hand around Jonah''s throat. "And before that happens, you will help me achieve the final step of this project."

    "W-what are you going to do to me!?"

    A dark intent flashed in Crow''s eyes. "You will be the first to be injected with the blood of an angel, and through you, project Babel shall come to fruition."

    Jonah broke finally free and his hand reached for his hidden pistol from his back. Crow couldn''t dodge quickly as he was shot right in the face. This gave Jonah enough time to remove the rest of his binds and escaped soon after. Quickly, Jonah ran for the exit.

    He had not realized that Crow had recovered and was already on his tail.

    "Guys, I need help!"

    ******

    Nathan glared at Lily. "I thought my friend was going free!?"

    Lily groaned tiredly. "Henry doesn''t listen sometimes, but it''s kinda weird he''d go after your friend. Maybe he said something Henry didn''t like?"

    "That doesn''t excuse anything." Nathan turned on a heel and started to march toward where he assumed his friend was.

    "Hey, don''t make me do something! Come on, I wanted to just relax for the day!"

    Nathan ignored her and simply kept walking further down the hall.

    As Nathan took another step, he felt the ground shake as something massive was coming. The wall crumbled as a tank drove through and into the scene. Nathan realized the situation and quickly armed himself.

    "I said I don''t want to fight." The Sentinel slowly walked toward him. With a monster on one side and a tank on the other, Nathan was trapped. "But if you wish to go against my friend, I will have to get rid of you one way or another."

    He said nothing.

    Nathan bolted into action and charged at the tank. One quick slash rendered it useless. A mistake on his part for he was left open to his real foe.

    One of the snakes had him by the ankle and Nathan was thrown into the wall. Surprisingly, he still stood after going through the concrete. The Sentinel rushed at him, he couldn''t get his weapon up in time as Lily slammed her foot on his face and nearly brought him down. But Nathan caught himself and countered by grabbing her by the ear. Thanks to the fact that he was larger, Nathan tossed the Sentinel aside which gave him enough room to activate the Gluttonous Maw''s attack. One slash after another conjured waves of energy. The crescent light sliced across the air like blades. But Lily was not one to be defeated so easily.

    She was quick and small. The Sentinel jumped through any gap big enough. Once she was in the clear, Lily dashed toward Nathan. The snakes threw several daggers as she ran. But only one managed to hit Nathan after he dodged the others. He would''ve been dead if it weren''t for the gas mask, the only issue was that the dagger embedded itself in Nathan''s right lens which blinded him on one side.

    He had no time to pull it off as Lily was already on him. Nathan made sure to keep her in his sight or else it would end horribly for our hero.

    A dagger nearly buried itself into Nathan''s neck, but he was quick enough to step to the side. The massive sickle then went for Lily''s chest only to be redirected by another dagger thrown right at his hand.

    "That''s the Gluttonous Maw!" She exclaimed. "You, you''re the Champion of Kalasraast!?"

    "Sorry I got your hopes up, but I''m not." Nathan said truthfully. "This is just apparently some goodbye gift from Evie."

    "The daughter? I see, so are you instead her champion?"

    He chuckled. "If I was then maybe I would''ve wiped the floor with you."

    "Then why do you wield this Star Forged blade as if it was an extension of your soul?"

    "No clue, all I know is that I have a job to do."

    Lily watched as Nathan swung his weapon around carelessly. He appeared to be showing off, but Lily knew his true intentions. He was gathering energy for another volley of attack. Quickly, she dashed to his blind spot, but he ignored her and continued slicing his surroundings.

    The Sentinel went all the way around to his back and prepared to bury a dagger into him. But the moment she was close enough, Nathan snapped toward her and unleashed a massive wave of green light. She couldn''t dodge in time, instead, the Sentinel was pushed into the wall and through it. Everything burned, but not enough to kill her.

    Nathan would''ve chased after Lily, but knew he had to prioritize his friend. Now free from the clutches of the Sentinel, he tracked down Jonah''s location and hoped he could get to him in time.

    "Jonah, where are you!?"

    ******

    "I''m in the cafeteria!" Jonah ducked behind an overturned table. "This guy is persistent!"

    Though he had been running for a while now, there was only ever one pursuer. The base was as empty as they had first believed. Even if there were more of them, Jonah was already having difficulties with Crow alone.

    "Stop running, I need you intact and healthy to get a good result."

    Jonah looked over his cover with a scowl. "Is that so? How about I shoot myself in the leg, what then!?"

    "Now you''re being stupid."

    "I''m not hearing a no!"

    "Funny, neither do I."

    Jonah went pale. Slowly, he turned to look behind him, it almost sounded like his neck creaked as he did so. Somehow Crow was behind him. And before Jonah could react, Crow had his hand around his throat.

    "You can''t run. You and your team lost the moment you joined the Bloody Tyrant. Now you will reap what you sow."

    Jonah felt a small prick on his neck. He was released after and Crow took a step back.

    "Don''t explode."

    This was bad. Jonah felt his blood boil in his veins. His vision became red and distorted. As he sat on the ground, he couldn''t help but notice something strange in the air.

    "What did you do to me!?"

    Crow held Jonah''s head still and peered into his eyes. "Strange reaction, this didn''t happen before."

    Jonah struck the hand off him. "You''re going to pay for this, I swear! I¡­"

    "You have bigger problems." Crow chuckled. "Tell me, anything different?"

    Jonah said nothing, his mouth clamped shut. Despite the strange experience he was having, Jonah was determined to defy Crow.

    Everything was red, no matter where Jonah looked it was the same color. That is until he noticed a strange white glow. A white light emanated from Crow.

    He couldn''t hide the strange stare he gave, which confused Crow. Until he realized why.

    "What do you see?"

    "You¡­ you''re burning." From Jonah''s point of view, Crow was engulfed with a burning aura. So intense, it was blinding.

    "The blessings, you can see the holy aura! My project is finally finished! Hell yeah! I''m finally done, I''ve perfected this damn serum!"

    Sadly his celebration came to an end when Jonah looked straight down.

    The ground below them crumbled and out came Nathan. The Gluttonous Maw was ready to strike. But Crow kicked himself off of Nathan just as he was about to land a hit.

    "And you must be the one who Lily found. What happened to her?"

    "Gone, I hope."

    "Man, you guys really brought gas masks, huh? Listen, I use poison to wipe out the battlefield, but I wouldn''t use it indoors since it stays in the air too long. Sometimes it leaves a weird stink everywhere."

    "Well, for a science guy, I expected a full-on accent." Nathan commented.

    Crow shook his head at him, clearly disappointed with Nathan. Being accused of a stereotype and such. "I didn''t get into this whole science garbage until twenty years ago. Hell, I still use my notebooks since I can''t remember everything."

    Nathan looked over to Jonah but kept his guard up. Strangely, Crow watched passively as Nathan tended to his friend.

    "You doing alright, J?" Nathan gasped as soon as he saw Jonah''s face. "Your eyes¡­"

    "What''s wrong with my eyes?"

    "A strange side effect!" Crow finally told him. "The serum changed the color of your eyes to gray."

    "Jonah, can you see me?"

    "Yeah, all the red is going away, but can you get that giant sickle away from me? It''s too bright."

    Nathan was silent. At first, he was furious that his friend was harmed. But then he realized that there was no point in being mad. Crow was an issue he couldn''t ignore.

    "Can you stand?"

    "Yeah, I can. So what''s the plan, Nate?"

    "We run, doubt we can take this guy on."

    "Run?" They heard Crow laugh. "You two aren''t going anywhere, I''ll need your friend Sam for further testing."

    "Beat it!" Nathan pulled Jonah to his feet and the two made a break for the exit.

    Crow shook his head disappointedly as he briskly walked after them. "You kids are about to learn why Evie had a hard time with me."

    The two bolted through the hallway, they knew that their life depended on it. There was no telling what Crow had in store for Jonah. He''d seen what that madman was capable of. A broken Sentinel. Such a thing was unheard of.

    They were always perceived as beings of defiance and strength. Hell, that was what they were famous for. Stubborn creatures that only wanted to do what they desired.

    Yet Crow managed to break them.

    Suddenly, the wall ahead of the two exploded, and out came another tank. This time, Lily was on top of it. All of her eyes glared at Nathan, she had not forgotten what he did and was fueled with vengeance.

    Before either Jonah or Nathan could make a quip, Lily pointed her gun at them both.

    The two split apart as she nearly got the both of them in a single press of the trigger.

    They went around the tank, but Nathan knew they couldn''t outrun it. And as they ran further into the base, they were followed by Lily and her war machine. This place was massive, yet empty. That was about to change as they realized that Crow was next to Lily.

    Something was different about him though, his red eyes burned through the dark lens of his mask.

    "Up ahead!" Jonah warned Nathan.

    The ground started to snap open, like rifts into another plain of existence. And out crawled skeletons with charred bones, all armed with a diverse set of weapons. Those with blades and clubs charged at them with a war cry said in a language alien to them. While those with firearms aimed.

    Jonah and Nathan were in a pinch.

    When the first skeleton came, Nathan swung his weapon across. Jonah took the chance and landed some shots on the farther skeletons.

    The marksman relied on his friend as he was exposed to any close-quarter combat. And Nathan relied on Jonah as well. They were swarmed by skeletons and it was up to Nathan to keep them off. Not to mention that they were still pursued by Crow and his henchwoman. And the damn tank.

    As they slashed their way through the horde, their momentum started to slow down. And at this rate, they would get sandwiched with bones and metal.

    "Ivory, do you copy!?" Jonah used Nathan''s radio to contact their friend.

    "What''s the status, boys?"

    "We really need a miracle! Crow summoned a lot of skeletons and we''ll be squished under his tank soon!"

    "What level are you? I''m at the entrance."

    "Ground floor!" Suddenly the army of the undead blew up. Jonah looked back and realized that the tank was aiming right at them. "We need help over here!"

    "I''ll hotwire the truck, get to me as fast as possible! The bombs are ready and we''d better get out of the blast zone!"

    "What''s the news, Jonah!?"

    Jonah glanced over to Nathan just as he tore a group of skeletons apart. "We need to get to the entrance, Ivory finished the job and we''re still here!"

    Another explosion consumed more skeletons.

    This only strengthened their resolve.

    Nathan had decided the best course of action was to go through this maze-like building. Wall after wall, the Gluttonous Maw tore through concrete and rebar alike. It was time-consuming and dangerous as it slowed them down greatly. But there was a silver lining.

    The tank stopped in its tracks as Crow realized that they couldn''t follow without further destruction to his property. So instead, they followed on foot with the army in tow.

    "Ready!" Gluttony told Nathan.

    This prompted him to turn on a heel, nearly snapped his ankle doing so, and faced the horde behind them.

    "Catchphrase!" He shouted as he pulled the full weight of the Gluttonous Maw across the air.

    A massive wave of energy decimated all in its path. Their enemies ducked but not the skeleton army which in turn was destroyed in a single decisive move.

    As Nathan ran, he noticed the strange look from Jonah.

    "Really, catchphrase?"

    "I don''t have one, and I wanted to make it fancy."

    "I agree with brass-head,"

    Nathan sighed. "Not you too, G. You''re not even helping me with this."

    The two were already out of the base. They didn''t waste any time and went over to the truck where Ivory was waiting.

    "Hold on tight, boys! I''ve never driven before!"

    Jonah had taken the passenger seat while Nathan climbed on top of the truck. He even looked under the tarp to see what was carried. It was certainly a frightening sight as there were warning symbols all over it. It was even more worrying that the cargo was made of glass which showed Nathan that it was filled with a strange liquid.

    He nearly fell off the truck as Ivory swerved to the side.

    "Watch you''re driving, blank-face!" Gluttony complained for Nathan.

    Before Ivory could even shout back at Gluttony, she noticed a little stowaway latched on the side of the truck. Jonah nearly screamed as five snakes wrapped themselves around Ivory. But Ivory held on to the wheel and did her best not to crash.

    "Ivory, been too long."

    "You know, I liked you better as a mass of rats!" Ivory snapped at Lily.

    "Nice to see you too, old friend!" She tried to pull her fellow Sentinel out, but Jonah held Ivory in place as best as he could.

    Ivory growled deeply at her foe. "Little help, Nathan!"

    Lily paused for a second. "Nathan?" She muttered aloud.

    Thankfully, Lily''s hesitation left her open for Nathan''s attack. Just as she uttered his name, Nathan drove his blade through her snakes which separated Lily from the truck.

    Ivory watched Lily crash into the earth through the mirror. With the help of Jonah, they got the snakes off her completely.

    "Nathan?"

    Nathan snapped around and discovered that Crow was at the other end of the truck. Hand tightly wrapped around a knife.

    "Am I correct that you''re Nathan White?"

    "How do you know that name?"

    "I was told by your friend that you died, but it looks like he was a liar. Where have you been, kid?"

    Nathan took off his mask just to show how confused he was. "You know who I am?"

    Crow stared at him for a second before he did the same action. The mask he wore let out a hiss as he pulled it off to reveal¡­ that he wasn''t human.

    His face was flat, and his skin unreasonably pale. Three sharp eyes that were as red as a crimson moon. His mouth was filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Finally, there was a thin line at the center of his face which started from the forehead and ended on his chin.

    "You don''t remember me?" Crow sounded a little hurt.

    "No, and I doubt I''d want to remember someone cruel like you." Nathan saw him in a terrible light. This was the man that harmed his friend, Jonah, and he was willing to do further harm as well.

    "I''m the cruel one? Wait, you''re not Nathan. Who the hell are you?" Strange, he didn''t frown, not even a scowl. Crow only smiled as he believed that the man in front of him wasn''t the real Nathan White.

    There was a partial truth in that. He wasn''t the real Nathan, simply someone else. The memory of the original was long gone.

    Crow chuckled deeply. "I don''t like looking at you. So how about we finish what we started?"

    He returned his mask and conjured a handgun from thin air.

    "You who wear the face of Nathan White shall now be a clear message to your demonic master." His weapon pointed straight down at the container. Nathan couldn''t stop him in time as Crow shot a few rounds through the glass. It did not shatter, instead, a thick white smoke started to spew out of it. "Listen well, you face me, the Whispering Crow, Champion of Callisto, Goddess of War!"

    "He''s a what!?" Jonah exclaimed from his seat.

    "Damn it¡­" Was what Jonah heard as Ivory cursed under her breath.

    "You knew!?"

    "I didn''t want you guys to feel discouraged! I needed you both at your fullest!"

    Nathan was hesitant. The last time they battled a champion, they nearly lost horribly. Once again they were faced with uncertainty with such a violent being.

    He wasted no time and went for a decisive blow. But his weapon couldn''t land as something blocked it. From out of nowhere, a man in a formal long black coat stopped Nathan''s attack with his sword at the handle of the Gluttonous Maw. The only part of Nathan''s weapon where it was safe to strike.

    Crow simply stood there as this new enemy fought for him.

    This swordsman was skillful in his craft. Nathan barely knew how to fight properly, and his enemy knew it. Like a clumsy fool, Nathan''s attacks were deflected every time. When he thought he had an opportunity to finally land a hit, Crow blindsided Nathan with a heavy punch.

    He staggered a little but managed to get his footing back, only to be rushed by Crow once again. Nathan couldn''t block the punch, and he nearly fell off the truck. Only to be caught in Crow''s hand. Held by the neck, Crow pulled Nathan close to his mask.

    "See, this is why you''re not Nathan, he can fight better than you do. And if he was the one using that farm tool you call a weapon, then maybe I''d have a harder time."

    Jonah tried to shoot from the window of the truck, but his bullets were deflected by the swordsman. "Nathan!"

    Crow pulled Nathan toward the end of the truck where the cloud kept spewing. "You see this? That, my imposter, is one of my successes. The white cloud would be mistaken as simple smoke, but in actuality, this chemical causes internal burns in your lungs. I''ve used this to clear out threats in bunkers and buildings. Pretty useful when I need to walk in then out of a job."

    Nathan tried to bring up his weapon, but Crow immediately grabbed his wrist.

    "Defiant," Crow hissed. "Well, I guess this is it. Can''t say I enjoyed your visit."

    Suddenly in the distance, a huge light flashed and caught everyone''s attention. Then it happened, a powerful wind slammed into the truck accompanied by a loud thunderous boom. Crow''s swordsman was tossed off the truck, but he was unaffected by the sudden shockwave. Even after the truck nearly fell over, Crow kept his balance.

    His grip around Nathan''s wrist loosened, which gave our hero the chance to break free. The Gluttonous Maw slammed into Crow and freed Nathan from Crow''s grasp. Before the madman could recover, Nathan was quick to follow up with another attack. His blade sailed over his head and down at his target. Only to bounce off the mask.

    Crow saw him stagger back, so he went for the kill. Only to be struck with something. Before Crow even knew it, he was pushed off by a mysterious force. Jonah cheered as his friend was victorious, Ivory even congratulated Nathan for dispatching a champion of the gods.

    Meanwhile, Nathan stood there slightly confused. His weapon bounced off of Crow''s mask, and that monster was about to punish Nathan for his mistake. Yet something got him in the end, and now Nathan was alone on top of the truck.

    He passed it off and believed that it was his luck.

    Soon after the little skirmish, Ivory had brought them to their destination where Evie and her grunts waited.

    "My, you''re all alive!" Evie said as she was proud of their work. "I knew I could trust you guys! Test results are quite promising today!"

    "Test?" Jonah scoffed. "First, I''m gonna stop looking at you since you''re very bright in my eyes. Second! What the hell do you mean test!? We almost got ourselves killed dealing with that guy, and you knew who he was! You and Ivory!"

    "Jonah," Nathan placed his hand on his shoulder. "I think you need to rest, whatever it was he gave you, it''s still in effect."

    Jonah said nothing, he scoffed at Evie one last time before he closed his eyes.

    Evie chuckled a little. "So you experienced what Crow does to his toys? Well, I can''t say I''m different. Hound would know."

    "Just get us home," Ivory demanded.

    "Sheesh, you guys are no fun at all!"

    "This isn''t over yet, Ivory," Jonah told her. "You knew who that freak was, and should''ve warned us."

    "I wanted to, but as I said, I needed you both to focus. Knowing who we were up against would demoralize the team."

    Nathan gave Ivory a soft smile. "It''s alright, but we still deserve to know. It could''ve helped us back there."

    "Right, guess I should''ve trusted you two. Better to go in knowing death is behind the door." Ivory patted both of them on the back for a job well done. "Anyway, boys, since we did amazingly, let''s celebrate!"

    Jonah wanted to stay mad but knew he couldn''t with Ivory. "Alright, but you''re paying this time. I still have to send stuff back home."

    "Let me," Nathan was quick to offer. "Right after we visit the hospital, your eyes need to be checked by a doctor as soon as we get home."

    Jonah went on to explain what had happened to Ivory. How his encounter with Crow almost changed his point of view.

    Meanwhile, somewhere in the empty plains of this planet, a tank rolled up to Crow''s body. Lily was quick to inspect Crow for any signs of life. Thankfully, he was alive and well despite his little tumble.

    "Where''s Nathan?"

    Crow scoffed. "That wasn''t Nathan. And they escaped."

    "You lost them!? How!?" Lily was surprised to hear the news.

    "Blame her," He pointed at seemingly nothing. Until the air warped just to reveal a mechanical ghost that took form. "Wicked, I thought we had a deal."

    "We did, but Nathan is my prey."

    "What did you say!?" Lily almost attacked Wicked, but Crow held her back.

    "You''re fighting for someone dead, Lily. He wasn''t Nathan." Crow dusted himself off and climbed back onto his feet. "What do you mean he''s your prey?"

    Wicked''s eye started to glow intensely. "A billion credits to the one who kills him. A little extra if you bring him in alive. Why, you interested?"

    "I''m no bounty hunter, but this is personal." Crow pulled out a gun from thin air and emptied it at Wicked. The bullets were of smaller calibers, so it was useless to the machine. "Huh, you placed flexible kevlar around your joints?"

    "You''ve met the human who favors firearms? He taught me a clear lesson, one that will be his downfall." She was shot at, yet Wicked continued their little conversation. "I''ve wasted enough of my time, I will need to prepare for my next encounter."

    "You''re not gonna apologize for shooting me? Falling off a speeding truck is quite a painful experience."

    Wicked only laughed as she slowly vanished from existence.

    "What do we do now?" Lily asked once they were alone.

    "You can do whatever you want. I''ll meet up with Tempest and tell her the bad news. See you soon, Lil''."

    Lily watched as Crow marched toward their ruined base. There was nothing to go back to but the monsters they created. Her mind lingered on Nathan, how she had not realized beforehand who he was. The gas mask kept her from learning the truth. Though Crow claimed that the man wasn''t Nathan White, she knew something was amiss.

    With the permission to do as she pleases, Lily set off in search of Nathan.

    ***

 VII: A Blizzard In The Horizon

    The marble halls echoed with every step. A strange man with sharp ears walked and furrowed brows. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles became pale.

    His focus was on the large doors ahead, and he showed no care if he were to bump into anyone in his way. With one mighty push, he threw the doors open and was greeted by several sets of eyes. Beings of all shapes and sizes seated around a large oval table. They gazed upon him with a curious aura.

    "Kalasraast," A woman spoke from the other end of the room. Where she was seated, it was clear that she ran the show. Even the way she addressed him sounded as if she demanded his respect. "You''ve finally graced us with your presence, oh Great Devourer."

    "Silence, Empress." He snapped at her. "I''ve heard that you were given a lead on my daughter''s whereabouts. I demand that you send me to find her."

    The room was deathly silent, the others did not interfere with the two. None even dared to speak up. Though they were gods, there was still a hierarchy in this pantheon. And none questioned the Empress, for she was the Goddess of Life.

    But Kalasraast did not care about the status and role of his peers. He simply wanted one thing.

    The Empress stood from the comfort of her seat and glared at Kalasraast. "You have been quiet all these years, still you have the guts to talk back to me with such an attitude."

    "Wouldn''t you do the same if it was your daughter?"

    "Yeah, I would. But no one is there to go against me. Now, if you have nothing else to add, go back to whatever hole you crawled out of. This only concerns us, not you."

    He growled. "She is my flesh and blood! Of course, she is of my concern! You either tell me what you know or else-"

    "Or else what!?" The room shook, no, the whole place felt the growing wrath of the Empress. "You have not contributed to Eden or our colonies! If anything, you and the Apex race haven''t even given us anything back! We''ve offered so much for your kind, yet you didn''t even pay a single debt!"

    Kalasraast was silent as she lectured him.

    "We allowed you to become part of our society. Shelter, food, and even knowledge! I am disappointed that you come here after years of hiding, just to make demands. You have no room to do so."

    She returned to her seat, eyes still glaring at Kalasraast.

    "I''ve given Justice the assignment. He is free to punish your daughter as he sees fit."

    "I will not stand idle and wait for Justice to bring her back. I will do it myself."

    The Empress sighed at his defiance. "Fine. But only for a price."

    "Name it."

    "Callisto''s rogue champion had been spotted in Titan 6. We''ve already sent people to retrieve him, with Callisto''s permission, of course. So I believe that if you help bring him back, then I will tell you of your daughter''s location."

    "And Justice?"

    "I''ll go tell him he''s off the job until further notice."

    "Very well, I will seek out the Champion of War and bring him back."

    "See that you do, our reputation is on the line and we''d rather not lose the support of our followers. Especially now with the Bloody Tyrant on the move."

    Kalasraast wanted to correct the Empress but knew the title of Bloody Tyrant was his daughter''s identity now and forever. With the goal in mind, he ventured off to hunt down Crow.

    "Well, with him gone," The Empress pushed herself to her feet. "I will be off now, still got a stream to start and a game to play."

    "But we haven''t talked about the growing demon sightings!" One god voiced his concerns.

    "And? Let the Redeemers and the Sentinels deal with them. We can all worry about that when it reaches Eden or an important planet."

    The Empress walked out of the room and entered a different hallway. A large window was to her right which gave her a grand view of the city below. Eden was a beautiful sight.

    But she had seen the city several times. There was nothing more for her to be awe at. It had been so long since she had first settled on the planet. A mirror caught her attention just as she was about to move on. With one quick step, she was already inspecting her reflection.

    She wasn''t human in any way. Her skin wasn''t pale, no, she was as white as snow. She ran a hand on her misshapen yet round head and caressed her horns. Despite being the Goddess of Life, her appearance did not fit her title. The only thing that was a different color was her green robes with golden accents. Aside from her clothes, she looked as if she came out of a sketch. Her outlines were as messy as the situation they were in. Some could even say that she belonged to a 2 dimensional plane.

    There was even a cross on her face which became a symbol in Eden and represented her.

    Once she was satisfied with some vanity, the Empress continued down the hall.

    ******

    Everything was quiet at Cain''s Diner. Jonah wore a look of disapproval which was focused on his friend, Ivory.

    "Your face is gonna be stuck like that if you don''t stop." Ivory wanted to lighten the mood, but she wasn''t one for jokes.

    "Now you''re worried about me? Couldn''t fool me."

    "Jonah, don''t be a child."

    "You know you could''ve trusted us, right? Listen, we all knew the risks and what was at stake, with Evie forcing us into the job. Hell, it was all one big test for her in the end."

    "I needed you boys to be at the top of your game, one small lie doesn''t hurt anyone, Jonah."

    "It hurts me," He said to her. "It really does, Ivo''. Nathan and I would''ve fought harder, and I wouldn''t have been caught. I was cocky and thought I had the jump on him."

    The two were silent for a minute before Ivory let out a small chuckle which turned into laughter. And Jonah followed her example soon after.

    "Don''t be so dramatic, Jonah. But you''ve convinced me, you and Nathan are responsible enough for me to trust and I was wrong to withhold information. You boys deserve to know what I know."

    Jonah smiled as he finally got through with her. "Glad to hear that! Man, if you weren''t listening I would''ve started to cry!"

    "Pretending or actually?"

    "Who knows? Hey, where''s Nathan, anyway?"

    "Nathan and the Gluttonous Maw wanted to get more information about his previous life. I told him not to go anywhere near the Tyrant, but he wouldn''t listen."

    Jonah glanced away dejectedly. "Can you blame him? Guy had been looking for so long. About three years now? Maybe more¡­ We wanted to help him, right?" He looked over to Ivory and searched for an answer. "I mean, what kind of friends would we be if we don''t help?"

    "I know we promised to help out in any way that we can, but this is the Bloody Tyrant we''re talking about. She paired us against Crow just to test us."

    "Which we aced, greatly!" Jonah added.

    "So I don''t want Nathan to get caught up in any trouble. I worry about him, okay? You, mortals, are frail and squishy, I don''t want to see the day I have to let you both go just yet."

    Jonah fell silent once again. Ivory''s words were heavy on his shoulders as he pondered about it.

    The diner was strangely silent despite it being noon. As usual, there was a lack of customers. But today, the whole place was empty with the exception of Jonah and Ivory as well as Evie''s two goons. The silent duo who had kept an eye on them ever since Nathan first interacted with Evie.

    Scratch also barely left her station. It was as if she was hiding in her kitchen and away from Watcher and Bianca. Seemed to be so.

    "How are your eyes?"

    Jonah was pulled out of his thoughts. "Oh, well, they come and go. Really hurts to look at you when it comes back."

    "What was the point of that?" Ivory wondered.

    "I can see gods, for one, even Star Forged stuff. Hey, do you know a Sentinel called Hex?"

    "I''m guessing that''s the feral Sentinel you told me about. Yeah, but I last saw him after everyone went their separate ways. Don''t really know him that well honestly."

    "You guys don''t die, right? What do you think that guy is doing in Vristan now?"

    "Him and what I assume several bunches of Sentinels are probably just roaming the empty planet. Good thing too, I don''t want to see them hurt anyone." Ivory said. "So they reverted to their previous form, huh? Damn shame."

    Something caught Jonah''s eye. "Hey, isn''t that Evie right now?"

    Ivory followed Jonah''s gaze and found Evie outside. But something was different. Her long messy mane was shorter and tied into a ponytail. She dressed more professionally with a skirt and a blazer. Even had a tie and a pair of sharp glasses.

    Evie held a clipboard in one hand and a pencil in the other. Jonah thought he could hear her scribbling away due to how silent the diner was.

    Before they could even question it, Nathan swooped down from above with the Gluttonous Maw out and ready. The two watched as their friend sliced through Evie with ease.

    Jonah and Ivory rushed out the moment Nathan attacked.

    "What the hell, man!?" Jonah exclaimed. "What did you do!?"

    "Oh," Nathan was out of breath and it took him a second to continue. "Hey guys, sorry about that, but she wanted me to take down as many as possible. Man, I hope Jimmy doesn''t throw a fit with this."

    "What do you mean!? You just killed someone out in the open unprovoked!" Ivory scolded.

    "Your friend explained it as clearly as the current weather." Their attention shifted over to Evie who was scribbling down on her clipboard.

    Jonah snapped back toward Nathan who towered over a corpse. Before anyone could ask, Nathan dashed over to Evie once again and rent her in two soon after.

    "That will be all, subject Hound." Another Evie appeared, but this time she wasn''t alone. With this Evie were a couple of her soldiers dubbed Scouts. "You''ve certainly earned your reward. And we appreciate you for allowing us to test your abilities."

    "The heck is going on here?" Jonah asked aloud. "Why were there so many of you and-" Jonah couldn''t finish his sentence as he watched the corpses crumble. As if they were never there, to begin with.

    "Ah, I see you are curious about this situation you are in." Evie adjusted her glasses. "I am Eileen, Research Class. I help with Evie Prime''s experiments and perform tests."

    "She''s a clone," Nathan said. "Evie has different kinds of clones with assigned jobs."

    That explained why Eileen was different in several ways. She was far more composed and professional than Evie. It was as if this clone was a whole different person.

    "Indeed," Eileen tapped her pencil against the clipboard. "We''ve assigned Nathan here to track and eliminate various Eileen clones spread throughout this section of the city. And we are truly baffled at how quickly he finished the task."

    "No kidding," Nathan huffed as he finally relaxed. "Now, give me the damn thing."

    Eileen snapped her fingers and one of the Scouts reacted. The Scout carried with them a large cylinder and handed it to Nathan. "As promised, for your outstanding results, we will allow you to have Phantom in your care until the order of their return is given."

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Once done, Eileen produced a pamphlet which she offered to Nathan and his friends.

    "Now, could I interest you in our Maids? Loyal, hard-working, and combat-ready. If you subscribe to our newsletter now, we will also add in our Tyrant Bundle which offers a personal Scout."

    "We''ll pass," Nathan said as he swiped the pamphlet from Eileen''s hand. "I''m going home."

    "Wait up!" Jonah called out as he went after Nathan with Ivory just behind him.

    "Nathan, what is that?" Ivory inquired about the cylinder.

    "It''s the words! I convinced Evie to let me borrow it for a small test. They call it, Phantom."

    Jonah quickly stole Phantom from Nathan and inspected it closer. "This? This was the tactical genius that helped you with the Midnight Witch? I don''t know, it seems ordinary to me."

    Suddenly, Jonah screamed and nearly dropped the cylinder on the pavement. Words started to appear in thin air. And the others saw it as well.

    "Glad you took me away from her, even if it is just for a short moment." It wrote.

    "Phantom," Nathan took back the cylinder. "Thanks again for helping me back then, I appreciate it. But I have some questions if you don''t mind."

    "Is this about your past, Hound? I can help if you''d like."

    "Yeah, I was hoping you would do that!"

    "Where do you want to begin? There are many things I know that would definitely help you out."

    "First!" Nathan pulled Jonah into view. "This is Jonah Bloodfield, the nicest guy I know."

    Jonah arched a brow. "Nicest? Nathan, I''m only nice to friends, I''m cruel to my enemies and passive to strangers. Calling me the nicest guy you know is kind of a false advertisement."

    "And the tall lady over there is Ivory, a Sentinel."

    "Pleasure to meet you, Phantom," Ivory said. She left no other comment.

    By then, the group had already gotten back home to their apartment. On the way, they were greeted by Sally who was as cheerful as ever. But the moment they were close, something bothered her and she excused herself. The three weren''t concerned about it. Lately, Sally had been in a hurry to be elsewhere. Especially when Watcher was around.

    "So," Phantom was placed on the kitchen counter by Nathan, who had then gone on to retrieve a folder.

    "Yeah, Evie rewarded us for that job we did for her, and she even gave me some information about me. I''m glad you could help me with this."

    Jonah and Ivory watched as Nathan struggled a bit with Phantom. Seemed that he realized that the cylinder had no eyes to see. But lucky for him, Phantom pointed out that they had cameras to help them see.

    "What do you know about these Gate schedules?"

    Nathan pointed at a series of lists of Gates and different timestamps as well as some locations Nathan had not heard of.

    "Some of those were missions off Scalfos. I should know, we were both partners before¡­ Well, before you wanted to pair up with Jackie. Other than that, I''m unsure what those are."

    "We worked together? Hold on, how come you don''t hate me like the others?"

    Phantom wrote ":)" for everyone. "We were friends, actually, if anything, we were like brothers."

    "Woah, really!?" Nathan was honestly surprised that he had at least one friend among his old crew. It placed him at ease knowing that he wasn''t as bad as they said. And above that, they discovered that Nathan had a friend within Evie''s group. "I am so sorry that I don''t remember you."

    "It''s fine, I''m just happy that you''re safe."

    "Hey," Jonah cut into the conversation. "What exactly did Hound do to Evie''s goons?"

    "What didn''t he do?"

    That sentence alone nearly shattered Nathan. He feared that his sins and wrongdoings would cause unwanted conflicts.

    "Nathan was always prideful, everyone else but Evie was below him. You even challenged most of them in a duel only to win in the shadiest way possible. Jackie comes to mind, I have no clue what you did but she obviously didn''t fight to win, just to lose. And in the end, she hates you the most."

    "Sheesh, Nathan really dug a deep grave for himself there."

    "Hound did." Nathan corrected. "Can I just¡­ talk to them, Phantom?"

    "Perhaps, but from what I witnessed back at Trusty''s, they would most likely freeze you to death."

    Jonah had noticed something. "Hey, isn''t it a bad idea for us to have Phantom, if he could tell us about Hound''s old crew? Heck, Evie would''ve been smarter to just keep him from us, but now we can ask for some of her secrets."

    "This is what she wanted," Phantom informed them. "Nathan, the tests don''t end. Evie will keep putting you in challenges again and again, and no doubt about it, she will throw one of her freaks at you."

    The way he described them, it sounded as if Phantom held a grudge toward everyone that he used to work with.

    "Say, I haven''t watched a movie in a long time now." Everyone stared at the cylinder. "You bunch have any? Specifically; any comedies?"

    "Oh, sure, we have a lot." Ivory went off to set up the television.

    "So, are you like an Awakened?" Jonah asked as he and Nathan walked to the cough with Phantom in hand.

    "He''s a what?" Nathan asked as he was unfamiliar with such a title.

    "You know, an Awakened? Like Sally." That didn''t go through to Nathan as he was still confused. So Jonah explained further. "Robots who got souls. I was wondering if Phantom was like Sally."

    "No, I''m not a machine," Phantom answered. "I used to be human, but due to an accident, I was placed inside this capsule. My body withered long ago, but my mind still lives."

    As if to confirm his story, the capsule started to break apart. First, there was a sharp hiss, then the center opened up for all to see. This large cylinder hid something none of them expected.

    A brain.

    Tubes and wires ran about inside, as the organ floated in an unknown green liquid.

    The two humans could not form any words. They simply stared with eyes widened as this revelation was revealed to them. A fate given to someone they met recently. And there was only one person to blame.

    "I see you guys are shocked to see me like this. It''s alright, most people would find talking to a brain a strange thing."

    "No, it''s fine," Jonah said. "We''ve seen a lot of weird stuff. Let''s just watch a movie."

    The four of them continued with their plans and set up a comedy for Phantom.

    Though it showed in their faces that the fact concerned them, the movie went on without a hitch. But Phantom had made a strange request at some point several movies after. Phantom wanted to be left alone by the window which faced East. It was worrying at first when they placed him by the kitchen window.

    But Phantom assured them that he''d be fine.

    It was already dark out, and dinner was uneventful.

    Nathan asked Phantom for his help when the group would investigate Nathan''s past tomorrow. Phantom was eager to do so which made our spiky-headed hero glad. For now, everyone needed to rest. Ivory usually meditated by the entrance, but she instead wanted to do so elsewhere. None of them knew where she went, and none of them worried much.

    With that, the two went to their respective beds, in this case, it was the couch for Jonah.

    ******

    Nathan awoke in the middle of the night. He realized that he had seen no sight of Gluttony ever since they got home. It was quite dim in his room, the only source of light came from his window. Slowly, he checked the places Gluttony would be but found no trace of her. She wasn''t on his clean clothes, not in the closet, and certainly not under his bed.

    He was beginning to be worried, so Nathan called out her name only to be met with silence.

    Step by step, the floor creaked. The only noise other than his breathing.

    Crept up to the door, Nathan realized the lights that slipped through under the door. Not just that, but a shadow went by every few seconds.

    It was strange, there was no sound from the other side, yet Nathan felt a dangerous presence. There was something wrong. With the idea of a threat within their home, Nathan burst through the door. Only to find himself somewhere else. This wasn''t his apartment, no, this was somewhere worse. A place he hated the most.

    Only darkness surrounded him with the only light coming from a nearby fire. The air was thick which was almost suffocating.

    The stench of iron assaulted him, and he felt the rust beneath his feet. This place, this was that prison he woke up in.

    Something brought him back to this parking lot beneath the earth. Where the sun could not reach, and monsters and beasts alike resided. Worse of all, he was unarmed.

    A sudden shift in the shadows caught his attention, which prompted Nathan to reach for his knife. Unlike then, he had sharpened it. But his skill with it was still questionable.

    The silence was painful, so much so that it felt as if he was already deaf.

    Only when this creature surrendered its safety in the shadows that a sound was made. A sharp gasp courtesy of Nathan.

    It was no beast, not even a mutant that lay hidden beneath their feet. No, the creature that escaped the shadows was himself. It was strange to see his own face not reflected in a mirror. And the strangest part was that deep scowl on him.

    "Who are you?" He asked.

    The man with his face did not answer. Instead, he rushed at Nathan with inhuman speed. Nathan dodged the imposter just as he was about to land a strike. Instincts kicked in and Nathan pulled his knife down at them.

    But the imposter proved to be just as quick.

    Luckily, it seemed to show them that Nathan was ready for a fight, so they backed off to the edge of the light. This time his scowl was replaced with a manic smile.

    They finally spoke. It didn''t surprise Nathan that it was his voice that came out of their lips. They did steal his face as well. What didn''t make sense was the gibberish that came out of them. It was as if they were trying to tell Nathan something. Once he was silent again, that scowl of theirs returned.

    With that, the imposter slid back into the shadows, and Nathan was once again alone. But once they were gone, the shadows started to crawl. For each passing second, the darkness grew. It was then Nathan realized that the door behind him was nowhere in sight, and he was cornered by the oppressing dark.

    It all caved in as he was consumed by the abyss.

    It was painless.

    Until the light slightly burned his eyes. There was no darkness, and he wasn''t back in that forsaken place. No, Nathan was home, and in his bed. And by his side was Gluttony who was curled up like a ball.

    It was a dream after all. So much had happened the past few days, and it would seem that the stress was getting to him.

    "Rust," Gluttony murmured as she stirred a little. "So much, rust."

    He smiled warmly and placed a comforting hand on her. A nightmare shared between them. Something he realized now was that by the end of it all, he was never alone.

    ******

    "You have reached your destination!" The intercom announced as the group exited the Gate train. "Welcome to Titus!"

    It was no different than their home, everything looked as if they had never left the planet. But despite that, Nathan and Jonah were in awe of the city before them. Everything and everyone was busy with their day. The place was as grand as any, and the population was practically crowded.

    This Gate station was packed with all sorts of people. From the smallest human to the biggest machine.

    And just as soon as they exited the trains, hundreds more entered. Before Nathan knew it, the train they rode in was gone. The Gate was an amazing invention which connected worlds across the stars. And it was all thanks to Umbra, Goddess of Space.

    "Titus¡­" Jonah muttered. "Hey, what is Titus famous for?"

    Nathan was there to illuminate, thankfully. "I''ve read that this planet imports the most lemons out of all the other planets. They produce over billions and only a small percent is kept while the rest is sold."

    "Well, that''s an interesting fact. Wait, how about Ivory''s home, Earth?"

    "No clue, I only know Earth through religion. Also, did you know Igneous, our world, is famous for the biggest statue of Queen Midas in the galaxy? Made of solid gold too."

    "Our? I''m not from Igneous," Jonah told him. "We aren''t sure if you''re from there either. If anything, you probably lived in Scalfos before all this."

    "That sounds terrifying." Nathan shuddered at the thought. "Who''d even live on that planet deliberately?"

    "I mean, to be fair, I heard the slaves over there had health care."

    "What are you two talking about!?" A Martian popped out of nowhere. It would''ve been strange for them to just cut into the conversation, but in truth, this was Gluttony in her disguise. Despite being greatly shorter than the average Martian, no one seemed to bat an eye. "Is it about my awesome costume? I am indeed a genius, and you both should praise me for it!"

    "I like your Teddy bear one better," Nathan commented.

    "Children kept trying to steal me with that one."

    "Why didn''t you bring the box instead?" Jonah asked.

    "I wanted to stretch my legs this time! I can''t always be carried, you know." To which Gluttony answered.

    Before they could continue, Ivory finally arrived with a couple of duffel bags.

    "Jonah, why the heck did you bring so many guns with you? I had to jump through a lot of hoops just to keep them. Bad enough they thought Phantom was a bomb, I almost got a visit from Darwin."

    "Who?"

    "Someone a Sentinel wouldn''t want to see ever again." Her claim was ominous enough for the two to question no further. "Anyway, please bring only one, especially if we''re carrying Phantom around."

    "Sorry if my capsule is oddly bomb-shaped."

    "You don''t need to apologize, Phantom." Nathan assured him. "We still got a day ahead of us, so let''s focus!"

    "I remember this!" Phantom wrote. "You were sent here to recruit a potential agent."

    "Guess we''re on the right path!" Nathan said as he felt triumphant.

    He had written down everything he needed in a notebook so he wouldn''t get lost. With that in hand and the help of Phantom, the group ventured off into the city.

    It was different from their home back in Igneous. In simpler terms, everything was cleaner. The air was fine and crisp, and the scene was almost picture-perfect. Bustled with life, the city felt alive. They noticed that a lot of street sweepers zoomed by every few minutes, which cleared both the road and sidewalk of any dust and litter. Perhaps that was one of the benefits of being one of the biggest producers of fruits, lemons specifically. Or simply that this city was far more determined for a better future.

    Now that they noticed it, there was far more police presence around. Which reminded them of Jimmy.

    "Oh, Jimmy!" Jonah exclaimed. "We didn''t explain what happened back at the diner."

    "Scratch can fill him in," Ivory reassured them. "He always knows who to ask first."

    "We''re here!" Gluttony announced to the world.

    A small building located just next to a restaurant. The name "Gerald''s Inn" was on top of the building, which matched the restaurant next to it, which was named "Gerald''s Resto". A little strange since they could have just made a single sign for both. But none of them commented on it since they were more interested in Hound''s activity. Not many people seemed to be around, but it was still early in the morning, which explained the lack of customers.

    The four then entered the inn. Jonah was at the front of the group, his duffel bag of guns rattled as he eyed the place. They were caught off-guard by the cozy aura of the lobby which earned it an impressed whistle from Jonah. It was as if they were in a cabin in the woods. There was even a fake window which displayed a nice and serene forest for them to immerse in. Ivory felt relaxed as well, it seemed that the decorations were effective with the Sentinel.

    "Excuse me?" Jonah rang a bell. "Hello?"

    From the back came a man older than Jonah and Nathan. He was short and round, with a bit of a receding hairline, but he had more hair on his face.

    "Hey there, welcome, I''m Gerald! Didn''t expect any visitors to my inn today! What can I do for you folks?"

    Jonah placed some credits on the counter. "Yeah, friends and I are looking for someone, and we''d like to ask you a few questions."

    One might have accepted the offered cash, but not this man. Gerald took a step back the moment Jonah tried to bribe him. "I don''t know what your deal is, but whatever trouble you''re carrying around, I don''t want any part of it."

    "Come on, we won''t cause any problems, just help us out here."

    Before Ivory could even add something, Gerald had just noticed Nathan by the entrance who was busy with a taxidermy of a beaver. "YOU!" He exclaimed with a finger raised.

    Nathan realized the attention was on him, so he briskly walked over to the innkeeper. "Hey, my friends and I are looking for-"

    "You have some nerve showing your face here, Lucas!"

    "What? No, I''m Nathan, Nathan White."

    "Is this some joke you''re playing!? Because I''m not laughing. Get out of my inn, right now! Or else I''ll call the police!"

    "Sir, we just need some ans-"

    "I said get out-" Gerald silenced Nathan, but he himself found that he couldn''t speak as well. The cause was simply that Jonah held Gerald at gunpoint.

    "Jonah!" Ivory scolded. "Put that damn thing down, now!"

    "Nah, shoot him!" Gluttony said. "He ain''t gonna give us the dough, so better off blasting through his skull!"

    "You, shut up!"

    Jonah smirked. "For once, the shorty is right, if he ain''t gonna talk, might as well move on."

    "L-Lucas, we can talk! We can talk!"

    "Jonah, that''s enough." Nathan told him before he faced Gerald. "Listen, I''m not Lucas, I''m¡­" There was a pause for a second, as Phantom had written a message to Nathan. "I''m his twin, Nathan."

    "You are?" Gerald''s voice cracked. "I¡­ What do you want?"

    "We''re looking for Lucas, he went missing a few years ago and we''ve been following his tracks."

    Once he was convinced, Gerald relaxed. "Twin, eh?" He huffed disappointedly. "I''m sorry for you losing your brother, but Lucas was a real piece of work."

    "I understand my brother was quite the character. He was here for a few months, so we kinda want to see if you know anything else."

    Gerald scowled as he crossed his arms. "I''ll tell you what I know. Lucas had my daughter all excited for her biggest day ever! We had it all prepared! The catering was paid for, the guests were seated, and my beautiful girl wore her mother''s wedding dress! But what do you know? Lucas bailed on her! He left my daughter at the altar, and was never seen again!"

    "Oh, that''s¡­ that''s definitely terrible."

    "Terrible, alright! We all loved him at first, but after that stunt, everyone in the family wants him dead! Oh, yeah, you better not leave yet so I can tell the others that you aren''t Lucas."

    "Well, let me just say that I''m very sorry for my brother''s actions and I would like to make it up for you if I can." Nathan said. "Oh, and also, sorry for Jonah threatening you like that, we''re just tired after a long search."

    "I get it, if it was my brother I''d probably do the same."

    "Anything else?" Ivory inquired. "Anything we can use?"

    Gerald cupped his chin as he was deep in thought. "Well, he and I were drinking one time, and he got a little too tipsy that he started talking about some gal. At first, I was worried, but apparently he hated her. Something about being a poor pick?"

    "Any names?" Nathan asked further.

    "Bell¡­ something¡­ Miss? Bell Miss?"

    "Bella Smith?" Jonah guessed.

    "Yeah, that''s it! He really hated her, and I have no clue as to why. Once that guy starts, he just goes on and on. Other than that, I have nothing else to add. Oh, wait! He used to teach in Midway High, just down a few streets."

    "Lucas? A teacher?" Jonah was amused by the fact. He gave Nathan a sly smirk along with Gluttony.

    "Thanks for the information," Nathan said as he ignored the mocking look the others sent his way.

    "Hey, if you ever see your brother, kindly give him a good punch in the arm for me." Gerald said.

    "Why wait? Nathan is already here." Jonah suggested mischievously. He suggested hitting Nathan now while Gerald had the chance.

    "Nah, you seem like a good kid, Nathan, better than Lucas. I''d rather not punish the innocent." Gerald was kind, and it made Nathan feel some regret for the actions of his past self. "Anything else you folks need?"

    "Yeah, do you have a room for three? The Glu-" Ivory caught herself before she uttered Gluttony''s true name. "Gilda could share a bed with Nathan."

    "Oh, yeah! Not many people would book a room around this time of the year. Drop by the restaurant if any of you are hungry."

    Jonah shivered a little. "Hey, can you turn down the AC? It''s getting a little chilly here."

    Nathan was about to agree when he noticed his own breath clouding up on his face. The air was so condensed that he could see vapor. The others soon realized that something was out of place. That''s when something collided with Ivory and slammed her against the counter.

    Ivory was quick to recover and retaliated. She caught the attacker by the throat, it was a small person, yet they were strong enough to stagger Ivory as if it was nothing. Before anyone could question it, Ivory tossed her attacker across the room where they crashed into the wall with a very audible splat.

    That''s when they saw her, Jackie, who stood by the entrance. Ice formed around her feet as she was motionless. A strange cold feeling crept up to them as time went on. As soon as the danger presented itself, Nathan and the others armed themselves for a fight.

    Jackie grimaced at them, with pale blue eyes glared at one man only. It seemed that whatever grudge she held against Hound fueled the fire within her frozen heart. And as Nathan and his friends prepared for a fight, Jackie herself started to pull her gloves off. Her hands were much bluer than the rest of them.

    A cold wind slammed into them and they felt the chills crawl up their backs.

    ***

 VIII: Absolute Zero

    A simple day like any other. The weather forecast said that it would be sunny all week. But everything was turned upside down as a massive snowstorm struck the city. Everyone was caught off guard by the sudden shift in temperature. And no one knew why.

    The skies were once clear, now layered with a blanket of dark clouds. Even then, none could see the sky as their vision was obscured by flurries of snow. Everything practically came to a halt as authorities tried their best to keep the populace from panicking.

    And all this chaos was caused only by one woman.

    It was so sudden. One moment, Nathan and his friends were investigating Hound''s past, the next, they were attacked by Evie''s minions. The inn was almost cold enough to freeze anyone into a statue, but somehow Nathan kept them warm thanks to the Gluttonous Maw. His weapon burned as it devoured the frozen particles in the air. In a constant motion of consuming and releasing the energy. Enough to keep the dangerous freeze at bay. But that wasn''t enough, soon they''ll have to face Jackie as they had no other choice.

    Gerald cowered behind the safety of his counter, but he knew that the danger would soon catch up.

    Then finally, the opportunity arose. It would seem that everyone has a limit. And Jackie couldn''t continue her assault for long. Once she stopped, the trio bolted into action.

    Nathan and Jonah flanked Jackie while Ivory simply ran straight to the target. Sadly Ivory had forgotten about that person she threw because they haven''t forgotten her.

    Just as the Sentinel was about to land the first blow, she was kicked off the ground and back to where they first started. This action caused Nathan and Jonah to falter in their attack.

    "I had that handled," Jackie claimed.

    "Did you?" Her masked associate doubted. "Listen, let a real woman deal with a real problem. You distract the other two."

    Jackie scoffed as she watched them go after Ivory. Now left alone, Jackie prepared herself for combat.

    Jonah was the first to strike as he took aim and shot at Jackie. But she simply summoned a wall of ice with a flick of a wrist and caught the bullet in the air. Soon after, Nathan covered the gap and made for a heavy swing. One issue, Jackie was human. The Gluttonous Maw went through Jackie as if she was a ghost. This gave her the chance for a quick attack. Though he believed at first that he got out unscathed, Nathan realized the cold feeling on his chest where a claw mark sported.

    The two glared at Jackie as she brandished her frozen claws that were placed upon her fingertips. Stained red with frozen blood. This didn''t deter them.

    The thing they learned from this small interaction was that Jackie was human, despite her bluish hue.

    With this in mind, Nathan conjured waves of energy one after the other. Jackie once again raised a wall of ice to absorb all the attacks, but she had forgotten about Jonah who had placed himself in a better position. Or so they thought. Once Jonah fired several shots, Jackie dodged the bullets before they could land. Soon it was known that the floor beneath her feet was covered in a layer of smooth ice, and Jackie was equipped with a pair of skates made from blades of ice. A recurring theme for someone who was an expert in her craft.

    Offended by the attempt, Jackie covered herself in a shield of ice and went after Jonah next. Nathan could not catch up due to the slippery floor left in Jackie''s wake, so he was left useless as he watched her zoom toward Jonah.

    Shot after shot, his bullets couldn''t penetrate Jackie''s shield as they weren''t the right caliber. His heart filled with a small hint of dread as the ice fiend was already upon him, the blade of her skate just a few inches away.

    Luckily Jonah had an angel by his shoulder as something prevented Jackie from connecting her blade with his face. Her partner returned and crashed into her like a corpse. Ivory had saved Jonah from a fatal cut and hadn''t stopped there. Ivory slammed into both Jackie and her partner and carried them straight outside.

    "Nathan, go help Ivory!" Jonah ordered before he looked over to Gerald. "Which room has a good view of the streets!?"

    Ivory tossed the two at a car, Jackie recovered just as she was about to hit it and landed gracefully on the snow. As for her partner, they crumpled like paper as she collided with the vehicle.

    Compared to the inside, the cold was far worse outside. Everywhere Ivory looked, she noticed hundreds of strange ice formations. Though she could hardly see, they were small, and some varied in shape. But soon Ivory realized that these weren''t a normal phenomenon. No, they were people. It was cold at first, but Ivory felt a burning flame within her chest as she recognized what Jackie had done. Fist clenched, and heart filled with hatred, Ivory launched off the ground and dashed toward Jackie.

    She tried to defend herself from Ivory, but that proved useless as every wall of ice she conjured was constantly broken down with just a single punch each. Ivory was relentless, she made no sound as she quickened her attacks. But it came to a stop as Jackie caught Ivory by the wrist, which then covered her whole arm in ice. Before Ivory could even pull back, Jackie slammed her palm into the Sentinel which then encased her body in a prison of ice.

    "Look up!" Nathan warned Jackie which didn''t help as he slammed his shoe in her face. "Give me the word!"

    "Path written!" Phantom said as he drew a plan for Nathan.

    Jackie didn''t see it coming. At first, it seemed that she had the advantage, but Nathan somehow got stronger, and faster. Perhaps even smarter. But that wasn''t the truth. It was all thanks to Phantom.

    She tried to block the attacks, but the Gluttonous Maw simply cut through her defenses, and when vulnerable, Nathan landed kicks and punches every time.

    "Step back!"

    He did as he was told, which saved him from Jackie''s icy grasp.

    "Duck!"

    Just as Nathan did so, a bullet buried itself into Jackie''s head. A lucky shot that could''ve spelt disaster if he had not listened to Phantom. Her body flipped over head first. A freezing wind pushed Nathan back as Jackie righted herself. Who now wore a protective layer of ice on her forehead which had a bullet lodged deep in it. Her frown now turned into a deadly scowl, Jackie retreated as she grew tired of the short fight.

    "Zero, get up! I need to recover!"

    The snowstorm grew even stronger, so they were caught off guard as this "Zero" person came out of nowhere. Nathan''s vision was obscured, but he quickly raised his weapon to block Zero''s fist.

    Jonah''s line of sight was limited as everything was just a blur to him. The sky was blocked out by the intense storm. So intense that ice formed around Jonah''s position. The weather was a disadvantage for the marksman, and he needed a way to see so he could help better.

    "Zero?" Nathan asked Phantom, just to be answered with the fact that Phantom had not met Zero before.

    This was bad. They had a chance when they fought Jackie, but this was a stranger to them, a mysterious enigma that seemed to come back no matter how hard they pushed her down.

    Ivory tossed Zero into a wall, at Jackie, and into a car, which was reduced to a broken mess to be in fact. Yet Zero still stood as if she was unharmed.

    Worst of all, it would seem that Jackie covered herself in a block of ice which surely repelled all small-arms fire. That meant Jackie was recovering her energy in there while Zero kept them distracted.

    "Miss your shot, aim to her right!" Nathan sent a wave of his range attack as Phantom had told him. Zero stared at him as the wave of energy simply passed her, but soon it was a mistake as she was shot at by Jonah.

    The light advertised Zero''s location for the marksman, but that only proved to be a one-time thing. When Nathan tried again, Zero simply avoided the light. The roaring snowstorm kept a curtain which covered their moves. With Ivory imprisoned in ice, and Jonah practically blinded, Nathan was left to fight alone.

    Zero dashed about the area as she knew she''d be preyed upon by Jonah who had not missed a single shot yet.

    Accompanied by the slight blindness, the wind was roaring into Nathan''s ears which prevented him from pinpointing Zero''s exact position.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Then it happened, a blazing star blanketed the whole place with a red light. Somehow, Jonah was smart enough and brought a flare gun to their trip to Titus. And that''s when Nathan saw it, Zero was upon him ready to strike. Before she could get wise, Nathan swung his blade right across the middle.

    It was done, the Gluttonous Maw cleaved through flesh and cloth alike. And Zero was separated from her other pair of limbs. Victorious, Nathan switched his attention to Jackie. Only to realize the hand on his shoulder. Zero was still alive and unharmed. Was she actually human? He was about to find out. Courtesy of a heavy punch to the face.

    Down on the ground, Nathan watched as Zero towered over him. She just stood there, as if she was examining him closely. Nathan did the same with her. There was a clear cut on her waist, which meant his blade did go through her skin. The question now was: Who in the world was Zero?

    His perception of her being some kind of immortal grew as Jonah landed several rounds into her, yet Zero was unfazed.

    "The Alpha wants you alive, but Frost and I have come to an understanding that you need to die. Nothing personal on my part, I just want that weapon of yours."

    "You''ll have to pry Gluttony from cold dead hands," He hissed. "Good luck, she''s just as stubborn as I am."

    "Thank you for your consent!"

    With that, the two continued where they left off.

    Nathan shot across the air and delivered a fatal blow. Yet Zero was left unscathed by the action. He dodged her punch in time and watched her fist sail over him. Jonah was reluctant with his shots as he feared he''d make a simple mistake. This Zero, shrouded in mystery, was another foe that they both knew they couldn''t handle. Especially now that Nathan realized that his attacks were nothing to her. His blade severed her limbs, or in actuality, that is what should''ve happened.

    He saw it for sure. The Gluttonous Maw sliced through her arm, but they reattached right after. An enemy that could recover from killing blows was an enemy beyond him.

    Zero laughed with glee. "This is awesome!" She seemed to be detached from reality as she saw their battle differently from Nathan''s.

    This was a matter of life and death, but Zero simply treated it as a game.

    "Hey, you''re not gonna hurt this guy, right?" Zero asked as she hid behind a frozen person. If she thought Nathan would be reluctant, then she was dead wrong. And as for his answer? He continued to attack with nothing to hold him back. "Oh, that''s good! Glad that you aren''t as boring as I expected!"

    Jonah couldn''t help as much, all he could do was slow her down with every crippling shot. And when he finally gave Nathan the chance, a roaring light burst from the Gluttonous Maw. Zero couldn''t dodge, and blocking was just as bad as her other options. She couldn''t move away in time as waves of energy tore her apart.

    Finally, the two felt accomplished as they defeated their foe.

    Or so they thought.

    From the aftermath, Zero leapt forward and slammed her fist into Nathan''s abdomen. Everything nearly went dark as he fell onto his back with empty hands. She succeeded and had Gluttony in her grasp. The only cost was just portions of her uniform and her mask. Her short and messy black hair shifted in the cold wind as she stood triumphantly over Nathan.

    "Finally! I have her!" Zero rejoiced as she held the Gluttonous Maw in her arms so that she wouldn''t try and escape in her puppet form. Zero was a dark-skinned human underneath who wore the most deranged smile Nathan had ever seen. And though they were the same, it was quite obvious that she was something else than human. "We are gonna have so much fun, I tell you!"

    "Put her down," Nathan groaned as he rose to his feet. Despite the pain that nearly knocked him out, Nathan was willing to save Gluttony no matter what.

    She held the giant sickle tightly and gave Nathan a crazed look. "Oh? How about we slice up your friend before we enjoy ourselves!? Come on, I know you want to eat his flesh!"

    "W-who do you think I am!?" Gluttony scoffed. "I''d never hurt my pal, and I''d never work with some broad who thinks she could just steal me away!" She tried to break free and transform but found that she couldn''t do so.

    Nathan pulled out his pocket knife and sneered. "Last chance, lady, or else Jonah and I will rip you apart!"

    "You did that already," Zero teased. "Split me in two, but I''m still standing. Honestly, that''s very disappointing."

    They say that when you are on the edge of death, you''d see the Grim Reaper watching over you.

    That''s what Nathan noticed as he stared down at his enemy. A dark shadow loomed over them, still and silent. As if it was simply a statue. It seemed that this was a sign that attacking Zero now was a fool''s decision. Certainly wasn''t new to Nathan since he was familiar with man''s folly. He wasn''t smart, only determined. And right now he wanted to get Gluttony back no matter what. He cursed at Death silently as he knew he''d be listening.

    "I am to assume that this whole thing was caused by one of you." A voice broke through the wind as the sound of crushed snow followed. "Good, it seems that these people are in some kind of deep sleep. Alive, but I do not know for how long. So I must hurry."

    "Who the hell are you?" Zero demanded to know.

    It was hard to tell since it was a tad bit blurry, but Nathan noticed a few interesting features.

    This man was tall and had a pointy set of ears. And as he approached closer, Nathan slowly got a clear view of him. He was hairless with eyes simply a white canvas. His long red coat was designed with an oversized collar that went around his lower face and neck. Though at first, he seemed to be a regular Apex that somehow survived Jackie''s first attack, there was something different about him. And it wasn''t long before everyone realized that this stranger was someone not to be trifled with.

    "You," The man pointed at Zero. "Your stench is strange. And I am led to believe that this was your doing. Or simply, that you are related to what caused this."

    "You¡­" Zero hissed. "Kalasraast!"

    Nathan flinched as soon as the man was named. A god was in their presence, and somehow he ended up caught in the situation. And strangely enough, it didn''t sound like she was worried. No, it sounded as if she was eager to challenge the newcomer.

    Before any of them could continue, Zero was at Kalasraast''s throat. The Gluttonous Maw was deflected from its path by a single hand. Kalasraast knitted his brows together. "I see now that you are foolish." He tugged on his collar and pulled it down to reveal the rest of his face.

    A skullish grin was shown to all. An Apex would have a few teeth on their lips that would help them catch their prey. But Kalasraast had a full set. And not just that, he opened his maw to reveal a second row of teeth behind the first.

    Before Zero could step back, Kalasraast lunged forward.

    She couldn''t believe it, the god was faster than mortal men. In a blink of an eye, he was already a few steps behind her. Not only that, the feeling of her left arm was missing. When she turned, it was then that Zero realized why. He was devouring it. Kalasraast was like a beast as he tore through the limb as if it was his first meal after years of starvation.

    This didn''t deter her. If anything, it fueled Zero with newfound determination. She laughed as she dashed toward Kalasraast, her missing arm started to grow back in a matter of seconds. It seemed this battle gave Jonah enough time to regroup with Nathan. But they were powerless now as the Great Devourer entered the game. Blood and gore flew about as Zero continued her assault. The god simply tore her into pieces as he realized that she wouldn''t go down so easily. This only served to irk him greatly. That''s when he realized something he had missed.

    When Zero swung the blade down, Kalasraast tore her arm right from the socket and stole the Gluttonous Maw from her.

    "That''s mine!"

    "This is mine." He said. "Made from my soul, to be given to my champion. And you dare disgrace it with your bloodlust."

    He held the weapon in one hand, and slowly, raised it into the air. Zero paused as she grew curious as to what he had planned. But her curiosity would be her demise. One single swing was all he needed.

    Nathan and Jonah didn''t see anything. One moment, Zero stood proudly before her enemy. The next? She was left with only half a head. They could tell Zero was still conscious as her eyes darted around as what was left of her fell to the snowless pavement. The only thing they noted was the distinct sound of a pop.

    "I will finish you off later, first I need some answers and you shall gladly give them." He directed his attention to Jonah and Nathan after. "As for you, humans, I need the same from both of you. Explain exactly what has transpired in this city."

    "No, we still have one more person to worry about!" Jonah warned.

    Just as he pointed out their last concern, something sped past them. And not only that but Zero was missing.

    "Damn it, she''s getting away!" Jonah pulled up his rifle, but the snowstorm kept him partially blind. "This damn storm!"

    "She''s too fast," Kalasraast said. "I cannot strike her with my attack."

    "Great," Jonah groaned loudly. "Live today, fight tomorrow! They''re totally gonna bother us next time."

    "Your concern is selfish," The god scolded Jonah and gave him a soft glare. "These people are frozen and require our aid. But seeing as we vanquished the culprits, I do believe the authorities could finally enter this area without a problem."

    "Excuse me?" Kalasraast turned to Nathan. "Hey, yeah, can I have that back? I''m kinda currently using it."

    "Oh?" Calmly, Kalasraast handed Gluttony back without question. "As long as you tell me everything. And do not run, you cannot escape."

    "Thanks,"

    They didn''t notice it at first, but Ivory finally broke free from her ice prison as it weakened the moment Jackie was long gone. "Greetings, Great Devourer," She bowed to Kalasraast with great respect.

    "Ivory!" The two were happy to see that their friend was safe after the whole encounter.

    Though the thrill of combat was still burning within them, the three were glad that they managed out of that conflict with little injuries.

    "So, will anyone please explain?"

    Ivory being the responsible one of the group stepped up to the god and explained from the start. She left out the reason why they were in Titus and simply told them that they were unsure as to why Jackie and Zero attacked.

    "I see," By the end of their short story, the sky started to clear out as the weather became stable. "Well, you lot were lucky that I was around. Don''t think you could''ve handled that Zero person. She was harder to kill than the Wizard King."

    "Yeah, I was glad that you got here in time," Nathan said.

    "Pardon me, but¡­" Kalasraast focused his attention on the Gluttonous Maw in Nathan''s hands. "How long has that weapon been in your possession?"

    "Three years I think," Nathan answered.

    "It was quite strange when I wielded it, as if there was something wrong and I couldn''t tell why." He must''ve noticed Gluttony''s presence. "It was heavier than I remembered, that I know."

    "You sure it isn''t because it''s been too long since you had it?" Jonah thought.

    "Perhaps," Kalasraast then turned away and started to walk down the street. "Still have things to do sadly, and I hope that we meet again in the near future."

    "Hold on, could you tell me how you did that? That trick you used on Zero." Nathan asked.

    Kalasraast shook his head. "Forgive me, but that wouldn''t be possible. Your mortal soul would be consumed if you even try to use that power. Unless you were aligned with a god, that ability is beyond you."

    The trio watched as the deity vanished around the corner. They finally relaxed once he was out of the picture.

    It was one ludicrous morning and a lot happened over a few hours. Attacked by Evie''s minions from out of nowhere, and their encounter with Kalasraast. By far this day was the most memorable one yet in their lives.

    Once they had their bearings and the thrill of battle left them, the group checked on Gerald. They apologized profusely for the damage and paid for it. It was lucky as well that Gerald still offered them a room. He was a generous and kind man.

    "Still can''t believe that we got our butts kicked by some freak," Jonah painfully remembered how Zero almost won. "Was she even human?"

    "No," Nathan answered. "The Gluttonous Maw doesn''t hurt humans, and you saw me cutting through her. She healed quickly, even catching her severed limbs before they could be tossed aside."

    "When I fought her, Zero was stronger than anyone I''d ever seen. We were lucky that Kalasraast was around to help out." Said Ivory.

    "Speaking of the guy, what was he doing around here?"

    Jonah shrugged his shoulders. "Heard the lemon soda is to die for, so I''d figure someone who is the embodiment of eating would enjoy the brand."

    "I''m just glad we all got out of that in one piece, especially the people Jackie caught in her power." Ivory sighed. "But I wish we didn''t have to be caught in this mess."

    "MPD!" A voice boomed through the streets. "Drop your weapon or we will open fire!"

    Jonah quickly discarded his rifle and raised his hands in the air. "I was forced, I''m innocent!"

    "I''m just a hostage!" Gluttony screamed.

    "You idiots!" Ivory shouted as she felt the urge to slap the two. This was a terrible move on her part as the police saw it as aggression.

    "Rogue Sentinel, immobilize her!"

    Before Ivory could even dodge, a heavy net caught her in a bind. This in turn caught Nathan as he was right behind Ivory.

    Jonah and Gluttony both froze still with their hands in the air as the police force surrounded them. It wasn''t long before they were apprehended for a crime they did not know. Or perhaps the four were suspected to be the cause of the sudden snowstorm.

    It was a terrible day for our heroes as the police took them away.

    "Guess I wasn''t needed." Wicked said as she watched the whole thing from the highest point in the city. "Why did I even bother?"

 IX: Four Is A Crowd

    The fire crackled and a loud creak could be heard. Windows shattered one by one and the situation got worse with every second. The heat was unbearable despite being outside and away from the danger. Nathan only smiled at his work as the fire consumed the building and the flames danced in the night. Though it roared fiercely as it burned, it could not drown out the screams.

    A soft chuckle escaped him.

    The stench of death reached Nathan, and yet, he was unfazed.

    He watched the destruction unfold as the darkness was chased away by the towering flames.

    "Enjoying yourself there, Nate?"

    "Well, this is my favorite part." He answered. "Having fun is important, and you can''t tell me otherwise. Did you find the guy?"

    The nameless man jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "Yeah, he really thought he could run. As expected from an idiot like him."

    Nathan grinned devilishly. "Is that so?"

    He walked over to a man bound in chains, the fear in their eyes was apparent as Nathan drew closer.

    "Gary! You missed the whole party, old pal! Why did you run, dude?"

    Gary couldn''t make an excuse thanks to the tape on his mouth. Even if he could, Gary was too scared of the two to even say anything.

    "Listen, I know what we did was a little extreme, but you and your pals should''ve listened to the boss. Heck, maybe after this the other gangs will be mindful of who they mess with. Honestly, it is a real shame that we had to end like this."

    Nathan ripped off the tape and nearly Gary''s mouth along with it.

    "Now, are you sorry for what you did?"

    "I didn''t know!" Gary stuttered out. "I didn''t know that she was Connie''s girl! They- I didn''t even know Connie had a family! I swear!"

    "Yeah," Nathan''s partner chuckled at the pathetic image of the man. "They aren''t the type to talk about us. But that doesn''t change the fact that one of your boys robbed and harmed my sister."

    Nathan turned his attention back to the fire. He heard Gary whimper and cry out in pain as his partner stomped at the bound man. As much as he wanted to watch Gary suffer, Nathan was too focused on the dancing flames.

    "Listen, Gary, Nate and I had to go all this way to clear out this little misunderstanding-"

    "That''s right! It''s a misunderstanding! We didn''t know, so please, let me go!"

    "As I was saying!" The man stomped once more, but something snapped this time. Gary''s screams filled the air after. "We didn''t mean to burn down all your hard work like that. But, everyone gotta learn that you don''t mess with us."

    "Wait, no!"

    With a flash of gold and a smoldering crater after, Nathan was alone with his partner. "Job is done," They said. "So, wanna grab some food before we go back?"

    "Sure- you''re buying, right?"

    "I paid last time, it''s your turn!" He sighed. "What about the fire? Don''t think we can just leave it like this."

    "As soon as we''re gone, the clean-up crew will make sure this doesn''t get out of hand. So we better hurry, or else the boss is gonna chew us a new one."

    The two walked away from the destruction they caused, Nathan didn''t look back but he did hear something collapse. All in a day''s work.

    "I heard you talked to my mom," His partner shot a suspicious glance at him. "What''s this about going to Stalfos?"

    Nathan sighed. "A really big job she wants me to do. We found a way to use that private Gate leading to Stalfos, and Connie wants one of us to infiltrate the Bloody Tyrant''s inner circle. I''m the guy she''s sending."

    His partner scowled. "And she didn''t think of sending me?"

    "Listen, kid, it''s not about being stronger, it''s about who is disposable. I just fit the bill. And don''t think Connie believes that you''re weaker, she just doesn''t want to lose someone as valuable as you."

    "Why can''t she send dad then?"

    "Because he''s doing a different job."

    "So what, is this our last job together before you get sent off the planet?"

    "Guess it is."

    "If that''s true, then we gotta have a party! Hell, we can invite your friends. Maybe even that girl you''ve been eyeing, huh?"

    Nathan chuckled. "Nah, I don''t want anything fancy like that, honestly. I''d rather spend the last few weeks preparing."

    "Come on, a few drinks and some pretty gals? Why would you pass up the chance?"

    A smile grew on Nathan''s face. But it wasn''t normal as it was accompanied by a murderous aura. "Because I am stoked to finally be away from that freak."

    His partner stuttered in his step. A worried glance was sent over to Nathan.

    "Don''t get me wrong, Connie has been fair all my life. But she''s been stuck on her high horse for far too long. Thinking that she is all that, it disgusts me." That dangerous smile was still present on his face. Yet he spoke with malice laced on his tongue. "When I''m gone, I''ll be glad that I''d be a few stars away from her. And when I''m ready, I''ll cut her down a peg."

    "Nathan,"

    "I''m just so fond of proving them wrong," Nathan chuckled with demented glee. "Watch me, when I get back I''ll be stronger than ever!"

    His partner sighed. "Nathan, calm down. I get that you and my mom don''t see eye to eye; but if you try anything, you know I''ll stop you, right?"

    "Yeah, I know." Nathan admitted. "So, what are you hungry for?" The mood changed like a flick of a switch. Nathan''s face removed that dangerous smile and adopted a soft smirk.

    His partner shrugged their shoulders. "Heard those instant self-cooking noodles are great, I think I want to try them."

    "Eh, sure, and we can even grab some sodas. Hey, you gonna miss me when I''m gone, pal?"

    "Well, yeah! If anything, the others will too!"

    Nathan chuckled. "I''ll miss you too, Ezra."

    "Who''s Ezra?"

    Nathan shot up with a jolt accompanied by a loud screech. Woken up from a strange dream, he was greeted by a strange masked man in a business suit. His mechanical hands clasped together over the table as he stared at Nathan for who knows how long.

    He finally remembered.

    Everyone was arrested after battling Jackie and Zero. Now he was seated in an interrogation room where the cops tried to get him to confess to a crime he didn''t commit.

    Or that would''ve been the case.

    The scene was something else. Instead of the cold gray concrete of the police station, he was met with a soft cream wallpaper and several tables. There were people, all mingled and chatted. A restaurant?

    "Where am I?"

    "Gerald''s Resto, you wouldn''t wake up so your friends brought you here. They are currently doing their own things that do not concern me."

    "Wait," His eyes widened. "You''re The Masked Lawyer! Hero of Titus and Defender of the Innocent!"

    "Please, call me Kam, that name is too much of a mouthful to address me every time."

    "Can I have your autograph!?" Nathan wasted no time and produced a small notebook. "You were awesome back in season 50 of Justice and The Peacekeepers!"

    "Didn''t take you as a fan," Kam said. "Well, let me just grab my pen and then we can talk business after."

    Nathan watched with bated breath as the hero signed his notebook with an inspiring message along with it.

    "So, Nathan, aren''t you lucky that I saw your case before they slammed the doors shut on you."

    Nathan arched a brow.

    "Ah, you''re confused. Tell me, are you a Christian? It says that you are."

    "Yeah?" He couldn''t tell where Kam was going with the conversation.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "It doesn''t paint you in a good light, honestly. No one exactly¡­ likes Earth religion on the count of¡­ well, the GCC."

    "Hold on now! The only reason I am is because of my friend, Father Abraham, he''s a Redeemer!"

    "Yes, and?" Kam sighed. "GCC isn''t just a human-only faction. Sentinels, Redeemers, and other non-human races."

    "They thought that I''m a terrorist?"

    Kam clasped his hands together again. "They have reasonable concerns. The GCC has been against the Great Pantheon for far too long now. And Titus had some bad experiences with the group. Luckily for you, your name is clean all thanks to my status and interest in your case. I just needed to walk into that police station and tell them I wanted to represent you. Then poof, they let you and your friends out."

    "That''s amazing! So they won''t mistake me as a guy from the GCC?"

    "Well, as long as you stay out of trouble. And I can''t exactly say that your friend Jonah is out of the woods yet. Seeing as he brought enough firearms to go on a rampage. I suggest that he should keep his choices to a minimum of two."

    "Excuse me!" Both looked down to see Gluttony with a tray over her head. Still disguised, thankfully. "Your coffee is here, Mr. Dorr!" She was still in her Martian disguise.

    It was a struggle, but Gluttony placed Kam''s order on the table along with an extra cup for Nathan.

    "Just the way you like it, Nate!" With that, she ran off back into the kitchen. And Nathan was left with a few questions.

    "Interesting," Kam muttered aloud. "That your friend there seems to be experienced with being a waitress."

    "Ah, well, she used to work at a diner. This is just natural for her." A partial truth.

    "I see." Kam placed a straw in the cup and pressed the end against his mask. "You don''t have to pay me, my service is free. But, if you ever got into trouble again, and you are indeed innocent, then do not hesitate to call me."

    Nathan simply nodded and drank from his cup. An iced latte to cool him off. Though he''d rather have something warm after his skirmish with Jackie and Zero. Still, he couldn''t deny his favorite class of coffee.

    "Give Gerald my thanks for this lovely drink." Kam gathered his belongings and pushed himself up. "Remember, don''t be shy when you need to prove your innocence. This is farewell, for now, Nathan."

    "Wait, I wanted to ask you about Justice!"

    Kam chuckled. "Why Nathan, all you can learn about him is available from the show!"

    Nathan watched as Kam made his leave. The lawyer gave Nathan a wave goodbye before he walked out the door.

    Nathan decided to enjoy his drink as he waited for his friends. As he did so, he kept an eye on Gluttony as she zoomed in and out of the kitchen like there was no tomorrow. It certainly was just natural to the puppet, as if she belonged in this place. And he couldn''t deny it, she was in her element.

    But there was still an issue he hadn''t dealt with yet. A name. Nathan couldn''t tell if it was just a dream or a memory. All he knew was that whoever Ezra was, they were very important to him.

    ******

    Crow felt the puddle splash against his coat. A disgusted growl escaped him as he shook his foot.

    But just as he was done, he snapped his eyes toward the end of a long alleyway. "They said someone from the Great Pantheon was after me. Never did I think Mr. Chompers is the one who they sent."

    "Crow, the Champion of War." Kalasraast stepped out of the shadows. "You have been left unchecked for far too long. We have reasons to believe that you are developing a weapon that could be dangerous to society."

    The man laughed at the ascended Apex. "If it was a weapon, I would''ve used it by now. No, it''s just a little project that''ll throw your socks off for sure."

    "And how, exactly?"

    Crow said nothing and simply raised his pistol at Kalasraast. But then his arm shifted around and pointed the weapon at another person. It was no coincidence that they were there with them.

    "I finally found you!" The woman with crimson red skin snarled.

    She was a strange woman. Dressed like a cheerleader yet wearing the gear of a football player. Some might even think that she was the sporty type, or simply that she tried too hard to be seen as one. Especially when she had a bat in her hands.

    "Devina, what are you doing here?" Kalasraast demanded to know.

    "To show Callisto who''s the best!" Devina pointed her weapon at Crow. "And pummel her champion into the ground!"

    "Sure you will," Crow chuckled. "You''re just a weak little nobody who wants to be at the grown-up table."

    "You piece of rodent carcass." She shook with immense rage.

    Kalasraast sighed as he sensed the growing tension. "I wanted this to go peacefully, but it seems that you will not surrender so easily."

    "With the freak around? I would''ve just talked this out with you, big man." Crow''s eyes glowed intensely. The ground beneath their feet snapped open and out crawled his skeletal pawns. "Today will be fun for sure. And I get to beat two gods in one session."

    ******

    The door flew open and slammed against the wall. Nathan strode in carelessly as his friends followed.

    Everything was dank and humid. The carpet spat out clouds of dust with every step. Cobwebs littered every corner of the room. It made Ivory sick in her stomach to see a room in such disarray.

    "This place needs fire to clean it up." Ivory noted as she stared at a mossy patch on the wall.

    Jonah nearly slipped on a glass bottle that was carelessly left in the center of the room. Gluttony noticed this and mocked him for it.

    "This is how your brother left it," The landowner said. A frail old man who looked like the wind could push him over. "I don''t know anything else, I''m sorry."

    "It''s alright, but how come you left this apartment alone?" Nathan asked.

    "You see, I am still receiving payment every month. So I assumed that Lucas still wanted the place. But seeing you here now, I am doubting it."

    That was strange, the old man still got paid for an unused place for at least three years.

    "I hope you can find your brother soon, he was a good man." Such lies are planted in their minds. Nathan wondered who else fell for Hound''s deceit.

    The group was alone to search around the apartment. Jonah and Gluttony were reluctant but scouted the place anyway. Ivory was already cleaning up the mess that was left behind.

    "Honestly, your past self is strangely addicted to these Lemon Blast sodas. I think there''s over a hundred of these bottles!"

    Nathan could only agree with Ivory.

    He couldn''t help but gag at the disgusting display. So much filth and dust, enough to choke a man.

    "You guys find anything?" He asked the other two.

    "Only a bunch more of Lemon Blast." Jonah scoffed after he opened a door. "Is this the bathroom?"

    "Hey, Nathan! I found some clothes! I think you can still wear them if you like!" Gluttony went straight into the bedroom where she was rummaging through Hound''s clothes.

    Nathan turned to the capsule. "Have you been here before, Phantom?"

    "No, but you did tell me about some hidden credits you left." Phantom wrote. "Behind the nightstand, a zip lock bag taped on the surface."

    He relayed the information to Gluttony and there was indeed some treasure behind the furniture. "Hey, there''s something else!"

    Gluttony rushed out of the bedroom. The promise of something worthwhile had caught everyone''s attention. In her tiny hands were indeed some abandoned cash, but also a strange note. She wasted no time and took it out of the zip lock for everyone to read.

    There was only strange writing on it.

    "Conquestum, sanguinem et potestatem?" Ivory read.

    Nathan''s eyes widened as much as they could. "Wait, what did you say?"

    "It''s Latin. Conquest, blood, and power. Hound is strangely fascinated by those three words if he kept a secret note of it."

    "That''s what he said¡­" Nathan muttered to himself as he recalled the gibberish from his dream. He tried to recall more of it, but couldn''t form the right words in his head.

    "Conquestum, sanguinem et potestatem." That was all he could remember from the strange dream. This felt like a vital piece of information.

    "Man, are we gonna find out that Hound was part of some cult?" Jonah grinned at Nathan.

    "I fricken hope not. Last thing I need now is some freaky cult looking for me."

    Ivory looked up from the note. "Technically, a cult is already looking for you, with the Bloody Tyrant."

    "The Bloody Tyrant runs her business more like a violent corporation." Their attention snapped toward the newcomer. Quickly, they armed themselves as a familiar face popped up. Wicked, the Champion of Umbra.

    "The hell are you doing here?"

    "I was on the hunt and noticed you bunch were here. So I was curious what you all were planning."

    Jonah laughed at her. "Don''t worry, we''re just planning to clean up and move here! Hey, while you''re at it, maybe you should help out!"

    "Let me at her! Let me at her!" The giant sickle struggled a little in Nathan''s hands as Gluttony displayed her lust for violence.

    Nathan did his best to calm his partner. "Easy, G, we don''t want to cause the landlord any trouble."

    "Stay your hand, I am not here to fight."

    They doubted the machine.

    "You are free to believe my words, but I will not leave, for it is my choice." They watched as Wicked walked in without a care in the world. She ignored Nathan and the others and placed her attention on a single corner.

    "Jonah, keep an eye on her." Ivory ordered.

    "Will do."

    The rest continued their search around the apartment but kept their guard up in case Wicked proved to be a liar.

    It was foolish to believe her, but they were still fresh from yesterday''s fight. Jonah was the only one who came out of it unscathed so him being the one to keep an eye on the machine was the best choice.

    But if she proved to be too much, Ivory was just an arm''s reach.

    "Hey, how do you know Latin?" Nathan asked Ivory.

    "It''s an Earth dialect, we Sentinels pride ourselves on knowing all languages of that planet. Especially after the Tower of Babel incident."

    Jonah voiced his curiosity about the tower.

    "Humans wanted to reach God and together they built a tall tower. But the Father didn''t like it, so He ruined their communication and prevented the completion of the Tower of Babel."

    They heard Wicked scoff with her distorted voice. "That story sounds foolish when you account for the rest of the galaxy."

    "Because I was there," Was Ivory''s claim. "I watched those humans build that tower brick by brick, and He knew their intentions."

    "That doesn''t explain why other star systems have such diverse languages."

    "That''s up to you to find out,"

    Ivory continued cleaning the apartment.

    Nathan entered the kitchen area. Now that he looked at it, this place reminded him of theirs. The layout was the same, and everything was almost familiar if it weren''t for the places of the furniture.

    It seemed that his friends hadn''t noticed the strange coincidence.

    He stopped as something caught his eye.

    A wallet, forgotten on the countertop just next to a moldy pile on a plate. There were no creds in it, only a driver''s license. His face- no, Hound''s smiling face looked back at him.

    There was more.

    A picture with three people in it, one of them was Hound, a nameless girl, and finally, Ezra.

    Ezra was younger, he had short hair and eyes red as crimson. It was somewhat familiar to Nathan and he didn''t know why.

    The boy wore what looked to be a uniform, with a green blazer and a yellow-striped green tie. There was a symbol on his chest pocket but was covered by Ezra''s thumb-up gesture.

    The woman almost shared a resemblance with Ezra. She was in a similar uniform as the former as well albeit having a skirt instead of pants. Were they related? Then it hit him, she was Ezra''s sister.

    Was that dream a memory?

    Before he could dwell any further, Nathan felt a dangerous aura behind him. If they could, they''d be breathing down his neck.

    "Take a step back, rust bucket." Jonah warned Wicked.

    She was right on Nathan. Her mechanical frame towered over his with deadly intent. Despite being caught by the marksman, Wicked kept her glare on Nathan.

    "Why?" The machine muttered, but it was loud enough for Nathan to hear.

    "Why what?" He shot back.

    "Why is the daughter of Kalasraast so focused on you? I''ve seen what you''re capable of, and it''s laughable. Don''t get me started with that human weakness that you proudly flaunt around." She moved just close enough for Nathan to see that malicious glint in her eye. "Yet she persists in throwing you in situations unfit for you to be in."

    "I don''t have the answer for that." Nathan said as he kept Phantom hidden from her point of view.

    "Yes, of course, you don''t." She pulled away but the tension was still high. "Tell me, how much has changed ever since you were targeted by the Bloody Tyrant?"

    "A lot, honestly. Are you trying to say something here? Because I don''t follow."

    "Do you even know about the bounty she placed on your head? Judging by the looks you all have, none of you were wise about those bounty hunters that went after you, Nathan."

    Jonah scoffed. "Now I know you''re making things up, I have not seen another bounty hunter after what happened in the diner."

    "You''re welcome." She said to Jonah.

    That was when Ivory finally joined in. "Wait, you said that Nathan has a bounty, and you''ve been dealing with those who wanted to cash in the kill? If so, why bother? Don''t think someone like you is in it for the money."

    "He''s my prey. Nothing matters more than the hunt. And if anyone''s going to bring him in, it''ll be me."

    "Aw, you love him." Jonah cracked out a joke at the worst possible moment.

    Nathan didn''t realize that he was worth more than enough trouble to garner the attention of the bad kind. He asked her how much was anyone willing to put in the effort just for his head, and the answer wasn''t good.

    It was a tempting price, and none knew what he was capable of so no one was discouraged in any way. The only thing they would know was that Jonah and Ivory were always around him as well as the Gluttonous Maw being in his possession.

    "So," Wicked sauntered up to Nathan. "After dealing with another hunter that dared to cross my path, I decided that the best way to make sure no one touches you is to be present. Once they see me, none of them will think twice about leaving you alone."

    Nathan raised a brow. "With all the resources in the world, couldn''t you just tell them that I''m off limits?"

    "I tried that, but it didn''t work. Now, you''ve asked your questions and I answered. Tell me why the Bloody Tyrant is after you."

    Jonah sighed as if he was tired of a child''s mischievous behavior. "We already told you, we have no freaking clue! Hell, all we do know is that she likes giving us tests!"

    "There has to be something more." Wicked argued. "I knew that girl since she was just a child. Once something catches her attention, one that really piqued her interest, she never stops until it is dead."

    "If you know how her head works, why don''t you give us a guess, huh?"

    Wicked glared at Jonah for a moment. "Because I do not have the clues to build a conclusion."

    "You want to know?" Phantom finally wrote. His words are visible for everyone to read. And Wicked had a look of bewilderment as she stared at them. "Because for once, Nathan survived the wrath of the Bloody Tyrant when no one did. She suspects that he is immortal. And he died once."

    Wicked couldn''t believe Phantom, but something deep within her did. She looked at Nathan oddly as she registered the explanation.

    "Carry on." Wicked retreated into a corner where she spectated in silence. The others couldn''t tell what she was planning exactly but knew there was no point in questioning.

    As for Wicked, she studied what she learned today to achieve a grasp of all this.

    To summarize, Nathan "Hound" White was terminated with Evie being the culprit behind his death. Yet the words claimed that Nathan somehow returned from the dead. And reasonably enough, Evie focused her attention on him for this strange turn of events.

    Wicked mostly kept an eye on Nathan as he wandered around the apartment searching. Though the tension was gone, none of them lowered their guard.

    "What''s the point?" Wicked wondered to herself. She could''ve taken Nathan away, but something about his situation confused her.

    Until then, she would make sure no one else went after him for that bounty.

    ***

 X: Strangely Human

    The screeching bell rang as people rushed through the halls, mostly young students in a hurry to get to their scheduled subjects. Anyone too slow would be swept away in the sea of students, taken far from their destination. Some books and pens were lost in the chaos as well.

    Nathan would''ve assumed that there would be a single casualty at least.

    He and his friends gathered by the entrance, safe from the raging tide.

    Though there was something out of place with the picture, a tall cloaked figure stood by them, a single red glow from the shade of their hood glared at the students before them.

    Wicked, against their will, had followed them in her "disguise" which was simply some cloak she found back at Hound''s apartment.

    Once the halls were cleared of any life other than them, Nathan and his friends walked freely without any obstacles. They did encounter an unlucky teen who was unconscious on the floor. None paid them any mind as they were too focused on the task at hand.

    "Mister Farburrow?" An old woman gasped with disbelief. "Is it really you?"

    This reaction wasn''t uncommon anymore, it made a lot of sense that Hound had a lot of connections despite having limited time on the planet.

    Just like before, Nathan cleared out any confusion about him and this Lucas persona. The old woman, who was a teacher, couldn''t help but feel distraught about Lucas'' situation. The way she talked about him was just strange. As if Hound was a Saint and not some sadistic monster that liked to play with his food.

    It wasn''t long before the teacher guided them over to someone who she knew could help, or in any way possible.

    The principal, one quick knock and they were already in the office.

    A feeling of unease shot through Nathan as he laid eyes on the school principal. She was demonic in appearance, to say the least. Three eyes and a single large curved horn on the left side of her head. One thin line at the center of her face started from the roots of her hairline and ended at the tip of her chin.

    With the ghostly white skin, Nathan could''ve sworn that she was but a corpse behind that desk. The last thing everyone noticed was that wide and vicious smile on her.

    "Well!" Somehow, her smile got bigger. It was disturbing and reminded Nathan of a certain tyrant. "This is certainly a surprise! I would say it is nice to see you again, but I doubt that you''re Lucas."

    Impressively perceptive.

    "I am Principal Park, it is truly a pleasure to meet you!"

    Common decency dictates that you should introduce yourself.

    So that was what they did. Though Wicked simply kept quiet, the introduction started with Jonah and ended with Nathan.

    "I''m Nathan W- Farburrow, and we are looking for my brother, Lucas."

    Park''s smile barely moved. "Oh dear, we haven''t seen him for three years now, not after the Midway High incident. He was such a nice man, it pains me that we lost someone like him."

    "The Midway High incident?" Jonah curiously said.

    "A tragic affair that happened years ago," Wicked answered before Park could. "I read about it when it hit the news feed on all frequencies. A fight broke out during prom night, the cause of it is unknown and the authorities couldn''t interrogate those who played a part as they were described as mentally unwell. The casualty was devastatingly high, and one person went missing who many believe was the culprit behind the chaos. Bella Smith, a student from this school."

    "Hold on, only Bella? What about Lucas?" Jonah pointed out the contradiction in the story.

    "Lucas," Park paused. "We do not know why he wasn''t mentioned. He was there the night it happened and everyone was distraught when he went missing. Lucas was a kind man, the students would always come to him for advice and he''d help them with anything they needed. The faculty was saddened by his disappearance, but the students were so devastated. Really left an impression on all of us."

    "That is indeed strange, knowing that everyone during that time was so close to him. Is it possible that whoever caused the incident, also prevented anyone from mentioning him?" Wicked speculated.

    "Are you saying that there''s something bigger at play?" If Park had a brow, she''d raise it. But of course, Wicked''s theory was reasonable to Nathan and the others.

    "That''s why we''re looking for my brother," Nathan stepped forward. "Whatever trouble he got himself into, I know we can get him out. If you know anything, please tell us."

    Park took a moment. "Well, I have nothing else to add, if I''m being honest. But, some of our faculty members are close friends of his, and the senior students knew him better than me. Feel free to ask around if you''d like."

    Nathan raised his hand to her. "Thanks again, Principal Park."

    "Yeah, thanks, weird lady!" Gluttony said.

    The group was taken aback when Park took Nathan''s hand in hers. The arm was disproportionately long, a slim limb that ended with a large hand and sharp fingers. She saw the look in Nathan''s eyes and the smile on her face simply grew.

    "Quite the handshake you got there," Nathan flinched as she held his hand in a painful grip.

    "Thanks," She said. "Now, best be on your way if you''d want to make any progress. And if you need me, I''ll be here!"

    The group continued their little investigation out in the hallway. The first visit was to the faculty room where some teachers were. Of course, their reaction upon seeing Nathan wasn''t surprising.

    They learned a lot about Hound''s influence in this school.

    He was a history teacher, and at the time, the youngest among his peers. Everyone had nothing to say but good things. Hound was helpful, caring, and approachable. He was just a ray of sunshine.

    It honestly left a disgusting taste in Nathan''s mouth. All of these people, deceived and most likely seen as nothing but characters in a cover story by Hound. None of the teachers told them anything new. But they did mention a couple of students who talked to him a lot of times.

    Speaking of students.

    The older ones kept glancing at Nathan, they whispered amongst each other as he walked by. Treated like a ghost, the teens dared not to approach. Those they wanted to talk to even tried to avoid him.

    "Next kid on the list is¡­ Abaal Sun? Huh, sounds foreign." Jonah said.

    "Hope this kid has something to say," Ivory voiced her disappointment with their findings.

    "Query: Why do you two bother with this?" Wicked finally asked them after an hour of silence. Of course, their attention was on her. "You two are surprisingly eager to follow Nathan around."

    That was indeed peculiar.

    Jonah chuckled. "I mean, we''re friends, why shouldn''t we be?"

    "Insufficient. Your relation should not direct you to such lengths, especially after all this trouble."

    "Spoken like someone who doesn''t have friends." Jonah teased the machine.

    "I do have friends!" Surprisingly, Wicked reacted reasonably.

    "Sure you do, I mean, why wouldn''t you hang out with them instead of following us around?"

    "This is merely work-related,"

    Ivory chuckled as she joined Jonah in his teasing. "Guess you''re as human as everyone. A loser one too."

    Gluttony couldn''t keep herself from snickering.

    "I will bisect you three." Wicked transformed her arm into a chainsaw and threatened them with it.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    "Getting pretty defensive there." Ivory pointed out, undeterred by the roaring engine.

    "Don''t make a scene," Nathan warned them as students looked their way. "Bad enough these kids are scared of us, and we don''t want things to get worse."

    "Fine." Wicked scoffed.

    "And Wicked? If you want a friend, I can be yours."

    The eye flickered pink for a moment. It seemed that she expressed emotions through the colors of her eye, and they assumed that Wicked was embarrassed. "We cannot be friends, you are my prey and nothing else."

    "Alright, if you ever change your mind, just ask."

    Suddenly, Ivory''s phone rang. "Well, this is a number I haven''t seen for a very long time now. Can''t believe he''s still in my contacts."

    "Who? Is it your ex?"

    She scoffed in disgust at Jonah''s conclusion. "Hell no, I''m not that kind of Sentinel. Lord Vanzyr, he''s an old boss of mine from¡­ Well, let''s just say he should honestly be dead by now. I''ll have to take this."

    Ivory wandered off looking for some privacy.

    "So, what race is this Abaal kid?" Nathan asked.

    Jonah paled in comparison with Nathan. "A Mau, she''s a Mau." He said after swallowing a lump in his throat.

    Nathan stuttered in his step.

    Their encounter with Lily Sunflower caused them to be fearful of the small feline race. Especially after Ivory explained what Lily was capable of.

    So it was no surprise if the two were wary of the Mau species as they developed a great distrust of them.

    "Your heart rate is rapid." Wicked noticed. "The mention of Mau triggered something. Is that fear?"

    "We had a run-in with a certain Sentinel called Lily Sunflower." Nathan explained, he hoped that it would answer any further questions from the machine.

    "Yes, the Faceless Chimera, I worked with her before. So your encounter with her in Vristan traumatized you?"

    "Wait, you were there?!" Jonah exclaimed.

    Wicked tilted her head to the side. "You''re welcome,"

    "You, you''re the one who saved me!" Nathan finally realized it. The reason they escaped Crow''s deadly grasp was because of divine intervention. The holy Champion of Umbra had shot Crow off the truck with one decisive bullet.

    "As I''ve mentioned before; you are my prey, Nathan White. I will not let anyone take the bounty. And they can surely try and oppose me."

    "If you''re desperate for a friend, how about try and talk to people?"

    "Bloodfield, you will make true to your surname as I leave your carcass for the scavengers."

    It wasn''t long before the students and teachers ignored them. Only a few ever gave the strange group a curious glance. Word went around the school about their little investigation into a missing teacher. And some of the older students who knew Hound were glad that someone was looking for him after years of silence.

    "You Abaal Sun?" Nathan asked the only Mau in sight who was among her peers.

    The small gal took a second look at Nathan. She heard that Hound''s twin was asking around, but still, Abaal looked as if she saw a ghost.

    As said before, she was short, just like the rest of her kind. But strangely, Nathan noticed that she was the tallest one he''d seen.

    "He''s really gone, isn''t he?"

    "That''s why I''m here." He wasn''t gone completely, only the mind was missing. "What can you tell us about him?"

    Abaal looked distraught. "Sir Farburrow was a kind man, I''m pretty sure everyone told you that already."

    "The guy is nice and sweet, it is giving me diabetes." Jonah received a quick jab for that comment.

    "Did he tell you anything else?" Nathan hoped for a good lead.

    "Well¡­" Abaal pressed a finger against her chin. "He is strangely addicted to Lemon Blast soda. Every time I''ve seen him he always has a freshly opened bottle on his desk."

    "We know about that," Nathan tried not to groan at that statement. Hound being addicted to some soda brand wasn''t new, but still, it was tiring to hear. And if anything, Nathan should avoid it.

    "Oh, wait, I remember something!"

    She waited until all attention was on her.

    "Igneous, he was really interested in the planet. Something about¡­ a museum?"

    Igneous, the last place Hound visited before¡­ supposedly dying. Nathan mentally slapped himself. Everything would always end there. Still, he needed a link to Hound''s past.

    "Yeah, he was looking for some old weapons, and I got a look at some sketches in his notebook." Abaal then rummaged through her bag for something. "Actually, I snapped a few pics of them because they looked cool."

    "Yeah, teach was honestly good with a pen." Abaal''s classmate commented.

    "I hope this could help, and if you''d like, I can send it to you."

    "Unnecessary." Wicked declared.

    Nathan''s phone buzzed in his pocket. The pictures of Hound''s sketches were sent into his device straight from Abaal''s. He said nothing as he faced the young Mau.

    "Well, I think that''s enough. Thanks again for helping us out, kid."

    "I hope that you''ll find him soon. I''m sure you''ve heard this all before, but he is an amazing man that many of us aspire to be as a person. Kind, caring, and fair."

    "I''m sure he''s closer than we all think." With that, the group said their goodbyes and moved on. One final implication. Nathan didn''t know why he said that, it wasn''t even meant to be a hint of hope.

    Despite Hound''s history, Nathan couldn''t fault these people anymore. They saw him differently than most. But that''s just a mask.

    Ivory was the one to inspect their clues.

    They were all well drawn. Talented in art, and talented in violence.

    "These are statues," Ivory claimed. "I''ve seen these before on the television. This one was the first champion, General Proudfang. Also known as the Stalwart Falcon."

    "Is this important?" Wicked questioned. "You''ve been told that White was a history teacher before his amnesia."

    "I agree with the toaster, for all we know, he was probably planning to go on a school trip." Said Jonah.

    To which Nathan disagreed. "I would''ve thought the same, but he''s just¡­ oddly fascinated with war."

    "A history teacher. Of course, Hound was interested in war, so he probably covered Callisto''s Crusade."

    "It does make sense," Ivory agreed with the idea.

    "Yeah, and if anything, we can ask that Redeemer lady, she was his boss."

    "You mean the principal? Park is not a demon, she''s a Drenz." Wicked corrected. "Also known as the Soldiers of Callisto."

    "Is that what Crow is? A Drenz?" Nathan asked out of curiosity.

    "Ugh, Crow." It honestly surprised them with how much emotion she expressed. Pure disgust.

    Jonah chuckled. "Not a fan? So are we."

    "Guess we have a lot in common after all!" Gluttony teased.

    "Continue at your own discretion."

    They ignored Wicked''s obvious threat and went back to Gerald''s Resto. It was still awkward to be around some of Hound''s forgotten connections, but Gerald''s family had gotten used to Nathan being around. Luckily, Gerald''s daughter was out of the city or else things would''ve been weirder.

    Lunch wasn''t eventful, the four just got some food to fill their bellies, yet Wicked stuck around. All she did as they enjoyed their meals was watch. She didn''t even show any interest in the television nearby which broadcast the local news. The little skirmish with Jackie and Zero was being reported, luckily, there was no mention of Nathan and the rest.

    "You know, not eating is kinda bugging me out." Jonah said. "How about you go sit somewhere else?"

    "You have no place to order me around."

    "Sure I do!" Casually, Jonah poked Nathan in the neck with a fork. "I mean, anyone can just claim the bounty, right? If I wanted to, Nathan would make me rich beyond my wildest dreams."

    "Don''t even joke about that." Gluttony hissed defensively.

    "Nate, bro, tell your guard dog to settle down- Hey, that''s mine!"

    "Should''ve finished your food instead of joking around!"

    "Nate, I will turn Gluttony into a tiny casket!"

    Wicked watched as the Gluttonous Maw argued with Jonah. The two nearly came to blows, but Ivory scolded them.

    Her attention switched to Nathan as she felt something against her armor. He held a strange bottle to her. Cog brand of coolant.

    "I was saving this for later, but you can have it if you''d like."

    Wicked stared at him for a second. She was surprised to see him having that around.

    Silently and reluctantly, she took it from him.

    The others stopped the moment she reached out to Nathan and eyed her curiously.

    Nathan watched with a small smile as Wicked began to use the coolant.

    Once the cloak was lifted, her chest opened to reveal the chassis beneath. The gang watched her as she worked. A small panel popped out and there they saw a yellow cap. It was fascinating to them with how she was built. It''s not every day you''d find such an interesting machine. There was another layer that protected the vital parts. Wires were neatly placed in single lines which gave plenty of room for weapons.

    If she was human, then both sides of her lower ribs were replaced with miniature rocket pods. Around the collarbone, there laid a row of cameras. Now that they looked at them, they noticed a few more eyes around her. It was clear that the red eye on her head probably wasn''t for vision. And of course, at the center of her chest was the Void Shift, her signature weapon to use in the field of battle.

    "Tell me," Wicked looked into Nathan''s eyes. "What do you hope to achieve in this mission of yours?"

    Nathan chuckled. "What''s there to question about? For a long time now, I''ve been just some nameless ghost until recently. White, my last name. That alone made me extremely happy. I finally got a clue of who I am."

    He was smiling, but then that went away.

    "The only thing bad about all this was the trouble that came along with it. Evie is practically breathing down my neck, and I have a bounty on my head."

    His eyes flashed with determination.

    "That won''t stop me. I''ll keep going, even if I had to walk through hell for it. And if needed, I''d kill just for one measly clue."

    The table went silent. His friends wore unreadable looks as they pondered his words.

    Satisfied with his answer and little speech, Wicked continued with her coolant. With the cap open, she poured the coolant into her system. Some tubes were visible, so Nathan and the others had the chance to watch as they filled up with the colorful liquid.

    "That capsule you carry, am I to assume it is a person in there?"

    "Oh, you mean Phantom! Well, Evie gave him to me as a reward for a test. Apparently, he was a friend of mine before the memory loss."

    "He is conscious. And dangerous." Wicked said.

    "Yeah, and you know, I thought he was an Awakened like you. But nope, just a brain in a jar."

    "He doesn''t meet the requirements to be an Awakened. Did you not think that the daughter of Kalasraast had given you Phantom as a way to track your movements?"

    Ivory sighed. "She has eyes and ears everywhere, wouldn''t surprise us."

    "You know, Ivy, the way you eat is kinda weird." Nathan believed.

    The Sentinel locked eyes with him, if she had eyes. Either way, as Nathan stared at the blank canvas that was her face, Ivory pressed a pineapple slice against the spot where her mouth would be, and the food sank into her.

    "How so?" A funny little joke.

    Nathan decided not to pursue it and continued with his lunch.

    "This just in!" All eyes snapped toward the television, and Nathan nearly choked on his food as well. "Massive wave of unknown entities have been spotted in Hollow Street. Authorities have ordered an emergency evacuation and warned all civilians to not approach the danger zone. On the scene is Jessica Ludwig. Jessica?"

    They couldn''t believe it, a familiar army of skeletons flooded the streets. Chaos and destruction followed their wake.

    The scene swapped to a bird''s eye view of the whole mess. "Samson, it appears to be an army of the undead has risen in the streets. And we received word that these aren''t ordinary skeletons, they do in fact belong to one of the deities of the Great Pantheon."

    Suddenly, a couple of silhouettes burst out of the ocean of charred bones.

    "Wait! It appears that within the chaos is¡­" The camera zoomed in. "The Great Devourer and the Goddess of Violence! It seems that the Great Pantheon had already sent someone to deal with the problem! But¡­ who is that!?"

    Another familiar face emerged. Armed with a heavy machine gun, Crow sprayed both gods down with a wall of lead.

    "A mysterious person has just entered the scene! Could they be the culprit behind this army of skeletons!?"

    "I think we should go home," Nathan believed it was an amazing idea. To which his friends agreed.

    They encountered Kalasraast already, the chances of being caught in their fight with Crow were definitely higher than they thought. None expected the rogue champion to even appear on this planet.

    Fearing for their safety, they gave Gerald one last goodbye before rushing to the nearest Gate station with Wicked at their tail.

    From where they were, the battle was visible despite the distance. Rockets, explosions, and some lights could be seen over the city. If they had stuck around and kept watching the news they would''ve been told that Kam joined the fight as well.

    It was an uneventful lunch until Crow showed up. Why he was there would be a mystery. All they knew was that they needed to get as far away as possible.

    Nathan was just happy that he was done with the investigation. Now they could move on. Hopefully, everyone could rest before anything big happens.

    "Hey, Wicked?"

    Wicked was stopped by Ivory as the rest ran.

    For a moment, Wicked expected Ivory to express some opinions. Instead, the Sentinel laid her hand on Wicked''s shoulder.

    "I don''t know why you didn''t attack Nathan after I left, so thanks."

    Wicked merely scoffed as she shrugged off Ivory''s hand and walked past them.

    Though she was as expressionless as the Sentinel, Ivory could tell deep down that there was a smile on the machine''s face.

    Strangely human of her.

 XI: Room 401

    "So, still got nothing?"

    Scratch turned to Nathan with a blank look. "Sorry, bud, all lines are dead ends. I asked around but it looks like no one knows who these two are. Not even off planet."

    She returned the picture to Nathan.

    "Whoever they are, Hound is a close friend of theirs."

    "That''s what my guess is," Nathan knew more than he led on. He hadn''t quite yet explained to everyone about his dream.

    Jonah was enjoying his breakfast while Ivory was conversing with Sally. Wicked had long disappeared after they returned to Igneous. But deep down they knew she was just lurking in the shadows.

    None cared as long as she didn''t cause trouble, and they doubted she would considering Abe was around. Speaking of the Redeemer, the demon was over at the counter enjoying a cup of coffee. His attention was focused more on the newspaper in his hands.

    "How about you, Sal'', seen anything?" Scratch asked.

    "Nope!" The peppy bot said. "You know, just because I''m a machine doesn''t mean I have any grasp of the internet."

    Nathan slumped in his seat. "Great, the only reasonable lead and it took us nowhere."

    "Well, at least that''ll give us some time to do jobs," Jonah noted. "You got anything for us, Scratch?"

    "A couple, are any of you up for some hunting?"

    "Yeah, you guys do that¡­" Sluggishly, Nathan rose to his feet and went off on his own.

    "Is he a little down?" Sally wondered.

    Ivory shrugged her shoulders. "I guess he was hoping too much from the trip. All we found were Hound''s addiction to Lemon Blast, and his previous occupation."

    "I mean, being a history teacher is an admirable line of work."

    Jonah sighed. "Still a dead end. Hey, I love the guy but I''m ready to give up."

    "Best not," Abe said as he walked up to them. "He has done enough to warrant your help, Jonah. All of our help."

    "Not mine, if anything, he owes me more." Scratch said smugly.

    "With Miss Cain''s situation different to ours, we have many reasons to owe Nathan. A man who is generous such as him should be repaid for his efforts."

    "I am curious," Sally pressed her claws against her chin. A question mark displayed on her screen. "What exactly did Nathan do to get such loyal friends?"

    Abe laughed. "Aside from being so kind to us, Nathan always gave his time to help with our community. Especially for the apartment building. You''ve probably heard this from the other neighbors, but he considers himself the Head of the Welcoming Committee. Despite being just the two of us. Hey, how about you join? There are always newcomers in the building and I''m sure our friendly faces would be helpful."

    "I''ll think about it. So, what about you three?"

    "It''s a long story," Jonah said. "But, let''s just say I wouldn''t be here without him."

    "At first it was simply business, but now I see the value in him as a friend." Ivory explained.

    Scratch held her head high. "Me? I found them of course! Got Nathan and the Gluttonous Maw back on their feet and even recommended them to Ivory."

    "How did that happen?"

    "Would you believe that I saw a walking puppet rummaging through my garbage?"

    As they were going down memory lane, Nathan walked aimlessly through the streets. His chest felt a little heavy, not because he was distraught. It was the fact that Gluttony clung to him like a sloth on a branch. Her little claws clenched around him as she hid under his jacket.

    "Excuse me, are you perhaps Nathan White?" If this woman had called him by Hound, Nathan would''ve lashed out blindly. These days they were so cautious, he would''ve attacked anyone who knew his old self.

    This stranger caught him off guard with her beauty. Her flaming red hair went past her shoulders. Eyes of emeralds that just sparkled under the sun. That smile she wore felt so calming. And her voice was like soothing music.

    "I¡­" He stuttered a bit before he could finally answer. "Yeah, I''m Nathan White."

    "I''ve been looking for you! What an interesting coincidence to find you here, Mr. White."

    "Guess so?"

    "Well, it must be God''s will for us to meet so soon!"

    "Yeah, He does work in mysterious ways. Can''t say I know what His plans are for me seeing what I''ve been through. You can call me Nathan. So what exactly do you need from me?"

    "Tell me, have you been accused of crimes you''ve never done?" An odd question. People are always in trouble for things they''ve never done.

    Nathan watched as she brought out a pamphlet from her bag.

    "More specifically, related to your beliefs? Hello and good morning to you, Nathan White. I am Samantha Byrne, a representative of the House of Adam."

    House of Adam.

    It was the first time he heard of them. Curiously, he read the pamphlet given to him.

    It was a church consisting mostly of Earth religions. Strangely, it sounded absurd that such people would come looking for him. Even more when the House of Adam sounded a bit more like paganism. Honestly, it disappointed Nathan a little that she wanted to see him about joining the House of Adam.

    "You guys are worshiping Adam, the first man?"

    "Why yes, the All-Father, made from the image of God Himself. We mainly give our thanks to Adam and celebrate our existence!"

    Nathan sighed as he realized what this was about.

    "How did you guys even learn about me? This just kinda came out of nowhere, honestly."

    "Because you''re a hero, Nathan, and we appreciate you!"

    A hero. That really struck Nathan where it counted.

    "We''ve heard about your battle with a dangerous individual. Proven to be in the right by Kam Dorr and Kalasraast. Everyone in the House of Adam knows of your heroic endeavor and how the authorities of Titus wrongfully accused you. We would love to have you join us!"

    "I mean, I wasn''t alone¡­ my friends helped me out with the problem."

    "The more the merrier!"

    Nathan took a step back. "I''ll think about it."

    "I hope you will call us soon. Oh, before you go, could I ask you for a favor? A member of ours lives around here and I need this letter given to them as soon as possible."

    Samantha took out a sealed envelope. Nathan took notice of the address and realized it was the apartment they lived in. One of his neighbors was a member of this church.

    He saw no issue with it; Nathan was going home anyway.

    "Thanks again for your time, great hero! We will be waiting for your decision."

    Nathan couldn''t help but smile when addressed as a hero. Even when Samantha left, he couldn''t help but feel proud of himself. For once it wasn''t trouble and impending doom in his mind. But the idea that he did something good for everyone.

    "Hero, huh? I like the sound of that."

    "Don''t let it get to your head," Gluttony said. "Can we hit Trusty''s for some cheese pizza?"

    "We can just order, I''m sure we''d meet Trusty back home. Guy is honestly super fast. Think he''s a speedster?"

    "Don''t know, don''t care, I just want my pizza."

    It didn''t take long before they got back home. The address written on the letter was for someone who lived on the next floor from theirs. The building was four stories high, with most of the tenants in the first three.

    People always come and go. Despite living there for a few years, Nathan couldn''t help but remember the names of every single soul in the building.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    As he climbed the stairs he greeted everyone he met along the way. Some greeted back, others only smiled, and a few ignored him. He can''t win them all.

    Once he reached the top floor, Nathan entered a dimly lit hallway.

    Despite having plenty of vacant rooms, there were only two that were in use. Which was new to Nathan since he only saw the ones from door 405.

    "Nathan!" A group of Martians greeted. They were a total of five who all lived in a small apartment. Of course, it was small to the standards of a human, but to the Martians it was decent.

    "Hey, girls! Where are you all headed?"

    One stepped up. Her name was Conn, the leader of her little group. Greenest one too. "We were planning to go to the movies to watch the new Shattered Crown film, maybe pick up some smoothies right after. Care to join us, big man?"

    "Can''t do, I''m actually here to drop off a letter."

    "Is it for me?" D''mym batted her eyes at him. "Oh, Nathan! You should use your words!"

    Conn jabbed D''mym in the shoulder. "Leave him alone will ya''. So, who''s it for, Nate?"

    "Your neighbor in 401. Are they home?"

    "Wait," Conn looked over to the door in question. "Someone lives there?"

    "I was surprised too, didn''t think there was anyone else on this floor but you five. Have any of you seen them?"

    One of them raised a hand. "Oh, I did! Thought it was Miss Mabel at first, cleaning some rooms and stuff. But thinking about it now, they were a little shorter than her. Couldn''t really see his face though, because they wore a hoodie."

    "Alright, thanks, Nal. Oh, hey! You girls are good with computers, right? I need a little cyber help with this." Nathan showed them the picture he acquired from Hound''s apartment.

    "I don''t know, Nate, is this legal?" Conn was a cautious one. She knew their limits and sometimes things are just too big for them.

    "I mean, I''m in the picture, so I don''t think there''s any problem with it."

    "Consent goes both ways, dude. I''ll have the girls do their magic tonight. We''ll see you later."

    Each gave their goodbyes and left Nathan alone with his task. The Martians were a nice bunch, but they mostly spent their time in their apartment. Nathan rarely had the chance to hang out with them as he was busy these days.

    Maybe tonight, not like he had anything in his schedule.

    The elusive room 401. It was the first time he heard that someone other than the Martians lived on the fourth floor.

    It was surprising as well. Abe hadn''t mentioned it at all.

    His hand reached for the door and gave it a few knocks. Nathan was curious about who would answer. Could''ve looked through the peephole but that would''ve painted a bad picture.

    So he waited.

    "Hello?"

    He heard some shuffling from inside.

    Nathan scratched the back of his head. They were there yet his call was still unanswered. So he knocked once more.

    "Excuse me? I got a letter for you! It''s from the House of Adam."

    That made things move along. Locks started to turn one by one. Then his face paled as this went on for a while. It was strangely terrifying how many locks this person needed. Was it paranoia that pushed them into purchasing an unreasonable amount? Well whoever it was, he''d find out soon enough.

    A small crack opened but it was still too dark for Nathan to see them.

    "Hello? Yeah, Samantha Byrne sent me."

    "Miss Byrne?" She spoke in a hushed tone.

    Nathan tried to push the letter through the gap, but that only caused her to shut the door in his face.

    "Whoops, sorry ma''am! Just trying to give the letter to you." She was very jumpy, which explained the locks a little.

    The door cracked open once more. This time, a frail hand reached out to him. Gently, he handed the letter to her. And that''s it. The door slammed shut and Nathan knew he overstayed his welcome.

    "Weird¡­" He said to himself as he walked away.

    "You got that right." Gluttony agreed.

    "What do you think? Ain''t she a tad bit too careful?"

    "Is she? I can''t see through your jacket, so I wouldn''t know."

    "Wait¡­" It was a whisper, Nathan would''ve missed it if it wasn''t for the fact he heard the door open again.

    Silently, he approached her.

    She then beckoned him in and it was that moment he saw her. The timid woman was just a head shorter than him. Looked a little too slim to be healthy. Casually dressed in a one-piece ankle-long dress with a pair of fluffy slippers at the end.

    Nathan walked into her apartment and noticed how dark it was. Barely any light at all. Especially with the fact that the windows were barred off with metal panels. The only source of light was a very dim lamp in the corner of the room. It''s a bit hazardous to walk around carelessly. One wrong step or bump, and it''s curtains for him.

    "Riley¡­"

    "What was that?"

    "I''m Riley¡­" She said loud enough, just above a whisper.

    "Nice to meet you, I''m Nathan. So, what do you need?"

    "Wait," Riley rushed through a steel door.

    Nathan stared for a moment as he just noticed it. On one side of the room was a metal wall. An odd thing to find in someone''s apartment. Everything about Riley only confused Nathan.

    Even her furniture was sparse. The television was on the floor and there was no couch or chair. Just a blanket right in the middle.

    There weren''t even decorations. The room was bland and it was a bit too minimalistic. If anything, that familiar opened envelope was the only piece of decoration in the room.

    She returned after a short wait with a small box in her hands. Before he could ask, Riley placed it by the door and hurried over to the television where she wrapped herself in the blanket.

    He took that as a sign to leave. But just as he was going to ask more about the box Riley waved him over.

    Nathan stood next to her but kept his mouth shut and eyed her carefully.

    And she did the same with him.

    Riley had a strange look in her eyes as she stared at him, and she didn''t stop shaking.

    "So, what''s the box for?"

    For a moment, she wouldn''t answer which made a very awkward pause. But when she did, it came out as a whisper.

    "Can you say that a little louder, please?"

    She repeated herself, but once again, he couldn''t hear her.

    Nathan tried to lean closer but that only proved to be a terrible choice as her shaking got worse.

    Without a choice, Nathan sat down next to her which thankfully calmed the strange woman a bit.

    It was hard to get some answers when she refused to speak louder. So the two just sat there in silence. Nathan needed a different approach, so he went with a terrible idea.

    "Hey there, Riley!"

    Luckily the walls were thick enough to keep sound from escaping. Because the blood-curdling scream Riley released nearly deafened Nathan. And the cause of it? Nathan''s idea of using a puppet to get Riley to talk confidently.

    The only downside of that plan was the fact the puppet was none other than Gluttony herself.

    All this taught him was that this method would be flawless if Gluttony looked more friendly.

    "Oh, don''t be like that! Hey, I''m Gilda, nice to meet you!"

    Riley only hid under her blanket.

    "Gilda, I don''t think this is working. It was definitely a dumb idea to begin with."

    "Well, you are the dummy of the team, you always have dumb ideas. Hey, Riley, I know I don''t look friendly with all these teeth, but I assure you! I''m just your friendly puppet, Gilda!"

    Still no progress.

    "Say, is that a TV? What kind of shows do you like? I and my porcupine-head of a partner here are fans of Justice and The Peacekeepers. How about you?"

    This got them a reaction. Riley had stopped shaking thankfully.

    Nathan studied Riley a bit. A woman her age was easily frightened by him and Gluttony. This little task of delivering mail was more than he thought. Now he was trying to comfort a stranger he just met.

    He smiled warmly as he held Gluttony closer to his chest. "I haven''t finished the show yet, but every single episode doesn''t disappoint."

    Slowly, Riley pulled the blanket back. She muttered something but was inaudible.

    "There''s Riley!" Gluttony practically sang. "Hey there, I''m Gilda! It is so very nice to meet you."

    Riley suddenly changed the moment she had a good look at Gluttony. "H-how did you do that?"

    "That''s a big secret on my part!"

    Fear made way for fascination as Riley slowly crawled up to the puppet.

    "Well, if you like that, then maybe you should see us at the park during the weekends! If you make us laugh, we will give you a coupon for a free pepperoni pizza from Trusty''s Pizzeria!"

    "If you have any doubts about that, trust in Trusty!" Nathan said.

    "Listen to the dummy, he''s smarter than he looks."

    Nathan whispered something to Gluttony. This idea paid off in the end and it seemed that Riley was warming up to them.

    "Say, Riley, what is my pal supposed to do with that box?"

    "It''s okay¡­ you don''t have to use the puppet¡­"

    "If you''re fine with that," Nathan tucked Gluttony back into his jacket. "Take your time, don''t have to rush about the box."

    At first, she didn''t answer. Riley kept her mouth pursed.

    "For Miss Byrne¡­" She finally told him. "You need to-to call her and follow the uh¡­ the instructions."

    "Well, alright, is that all?"

    For a moment, Riley had her eyes glued to the black screen of the television. She reached down to her side and brought up a remote.

    The silence broke as she turned the TV on. Nathan made to stand but Riley caught him by the hem of his sleeve.

    "Can y-you stay?"

    "I don''t know, I should probably get going now if I want to get that box to Byrne."

    "I can pay you¡­"

    Nathan nearly slipped on nothing by that offer. It just came out of nowhere.

    "You''re uh- a mercenary, right? You guys take money for anything? Three grand. I can give you t-three grand if you stay."

    That was a tempting offer. But the task for it doesn''t equal the pay.

    As he looked into her eyes he saw something familiar in them. She looked lost, with only just a hint of hope. As if an opportunity was brought to her feet.

    Nathan declined the offer and simply sat back down. "So, what you watching?"

    "Kira and Claire¡­"

    "Cool, what is it about?"

    "This actor guy, Kira, is-is trying to convince a shape-shifting witch to join his indie movie studio."

    The premise was easy to follow, and despite not starting from the beginning, Nathan understood the story. It wasn''t complicated, pretty straightforward.

    They didn''t do much after Riley''s show played. Not a single word was said throughout the episode, not even a peep. He did of course bring out Gluttony so she wouldn''t get bored. Riley gave him an odd look which turned into an amused one. Even giggled into her hand at how silly he was.

    It continued like this for a long while. The three just watched whatever was on television until Nathan decided to make some small talk.

    Albeit, he was mostly the one talking. It was somewhat bad since he felt like he was talking to no one. Yet he knew that whoever this woman was she needed some light shed into her life. A few times he''d ask questions she wouldn''t answer. There was of course a rare chance that she was willing.

    "Hey, where did you hear about me being a mercenary?"

    "The others talk," She was reluctant at first. But she answered, eyes still glued on the screen. "How everyone from apartment 307 is a bunch of killers¡­"

    Her head eerily swiveled so their eyes could meet. There was an emptiness in them which Nathan noted.

    "Everyone here knows that you three kill for money. But I don''t mind."

    His neighbors had some opinions, and he respected that. Nathan wasn''t a Saint, not even close. But he did his best to redeem himself for any sins he committed. Especially now that he knew who Hound was.

    "If it changes anything, I''m not a mercenary. I just don''t want to lose my friends."

    Many things mattered to him, but Nathan cared more about his friends. He didn''t want to lose the only people he could call a family.

    "It isn''t about the money, they''re the only ones I can depend on. And I have the responsibility to keep them safe because I can."

    "What if you can''t?" Nathan was blindsided by that question. "You''re just human, just like me."

    "If I can''t, then someone else will. As long as they have each other, then it''ll be fine."

    "Friends¡­" She muttered. "Would be nice to have some¡­"

    Silence reigned once more. Another hour passed before Nathan took his leave. He said his goodbye, but Riley only stared at him as he went out the door.

    He made sure to pick up the box and followed Riley''s instructions. A number was written on the package and one call later, Nathan was off to finish his task.

    For once, being a mailman was strangely relaxing. His time together with Riley was a bonus for sure. He met someone new, and she was a peculiar one.

    ******

    As he walked out of the building, Nathan couldn''t help but notice the lack of soul around him. The streets were empty, and not even a single car was in sight.

    "Nathan!"

    "Zero¡­" He answered her little call.

    An old foe stood before him. Her injuries from the last time they saw each other were gone. Zero looked as if she had just woken up from a good night''s sleep. Full of energy and ready to cause mayhem.

    And just like before, she wasn''t alone. This time though, she brought with her a squad of Evie''s Scouts.

    The Scouts surrounded him while Zero perched herself on top of a street light. If Nathan had to guess, she wore a very arrogant grin under her mask.

    He looked around to assess the situation. These Scouts looked all the same as the ones he first met. All weren''t armed with any sort of firearms. Instead, they held batons in their hands. One of them even had a shield. This looked like a bunch of riot cops about to gang up on one guy.

    "So, a hero, huh!?" Zero leaned forward. "That sure does have a good ring to it! Nathan White, the Hound! Wait, I can do better! You. Are. The Green Sickle! Catchy? Yes, it is!"

    "What do you want now?"

    She clenched her fist on her chest and gasped. "Oh, how could you act so impolite!? To a good friend, even!"

    "A liar and a pain in the butt, what else can you do?"

    "This!"

    Zero hopped off of her perch and landed gracefully on the pavement which ended a dramatic pose and a finger pointed at Nathan.

    "If you''re a hero, then I''ll be your villain! Call me Dr. Zero- Actually, no, Zero is good enough for a villain name!"

    "Where are you going with this?"

    "Listen, the Alpha really tore me to shreds for trying to kill you. So she wants me to not kill you this time. These Scouts are a new version and the Alpha has chosen you to test them. Although, the Gluttonous Maw will just make quick work with these things, so I don''t really see how this is a test."

    "Can we do this next time? I got a package to deliver."

    "Oh, what''s in the box? Man, I love that movie. Anyway! No, she wants it done now."

    Nathan brought out his weapon and held the box tightly against his chest.

    "Glad you understand the situation you''re in."

    The Scouts prepared themselves to attack.

    "Alright, get him."

    ***

 XII: Wolves At The Door

    "Another job well done, Hound!"

    Evie praised Nathan for his efforts.

    Both were surrounded by carnage and destruction. His foes lay broken beneath his feet with faces left mortified. Victims of a savage attack.

    Smoke came from the barrel of his gun from the amount of lead he unleashed. The stench of gunpowder still lingered in the air as the empty shells littered the floor.

    A mess like this would take too long to clean. But that was the least of their concerns.

    There was nothing but bloodshed all around the room. And Hound made sure not to give any of them a quick death. The process was slow and drawn out. He wanted them to know in their final moments that Death would meet their dying remains. And it started with a smile.

    "Was it necessary, master? Don''t think this was worth my time."

    Evie chuckled as she wrapped her massive arm around him. "Hound, this isn''t about efficiency. It''s about sending a message. The Owl Gang has been a nuisance to our operations and prevented expansion."

    "What message? Everyone here is dead."

    "Everyone?" Her form shifted and stole the identity of one of Hound''s victims. "It doesn''t matter who tells the story. All they need to see is the aftermath and me killing their boss."

    "You''re the brains of the whole gig, just tell me who to kill."

    "That''s what I love about you! All work, and no questions!"

    She started to walk away deeper into the building where more death could be found.

    "Oh, before I go! Your partner, Beatrix, she''s been complaining about the disrespectful way you''ve been treating her."

    Hound smiled deviously. "Is there a problem, master?"

    Her expression was unreadable as she examined him from a distance.

    "No, don''t think there is." She matched his wicked smile.

    Soon she vanished into the darkness and Hound was left with the carnage he created.

    Then Nathan''s eyes snapped open. Another memory that meant nothing.

    He found himself among the rubble and debris of some unlucky bookstore with an open hole in the ceiling. The worst part of that detail was the several floors he went through.

    "Everything hurts¡­"

    "Walk it off, slugger!" Gluttony told him. "We still got a bunch of toys to break!"

    "You know, I had this weird dream. Or a memory I guess."

    "No time, you ding dong! Start killing!"

    "I just hope Debra will forgive me for the mess¡­" He said as he made sure the box was undamaged. Thankfully, he had kept it in one piece despite going through solid floors.

    With the pain shrugged off and the adrenaline back, Nathan shot right out of the bookstore. He was greeted by a duo of Evie''s Scouts, so he met them with a wide slash across their abdomen. Dead before they could even land a hit.

    More came but all ended the same fate as the others. The Gluttonous Maw feasted upon their flesh and torched any that dared to strike when his back was turned.

    Many survived being rendered in two but were finished off by Nathan. He kept everything clean and the surrounding damages as low as possible. Bloodshed was unlikely as Gluttony devoured flesh, bone, and all.

    Gluttony could separate limbs from the body and cripple their foes. This would give Nathan a chance to execute them without difficulty. The science behind the little trick of theirs didn''t matter to them. All that mattered was getting out of this trouble with the least amount of injuries.

    "Aim above the belt! We''re trying to hurt him, not ruin his chances for a family!" Zero commented from the sidelines. She spectated the whole fight from the start, bored out of her mind. Now she sat upon a ledge high above and away from the chaos. "Man, when can I jump in and land a couple punches? I''m tired of just watching!"

    "Discipline is what you lack, Zero."

    "Alpha!" Zero straightened herself and made herself presentable to Evie. "I did not kill him; as you can see that he is currently breathing!"

    "Yeah, I can see¡­ How many of the Scouts fell?"

    "About two or three dozens. Could I ask why we''re bothering with this? Nathan could just cut them all down in one strike. Not like we''d see some results for the new Scouts."

    "It ain''t about the new Scouts," Watcher joined the conversation. "If you''re as dumb as you look, I can''t say I have confidence in Project Phoenix."

    "Watch it scarecrow, or I''ll shove the hay down your throat."

    Evie ignored Zero''s threat toward Watcher and instead explained the whole picture. "Last test with Nathan was about his tracking technique. He managed to take down all designated targets within a very reasonable time. Now we are testing his endurance. Faced with an unending tide of enemies, we will soon see how long Nathan can fight."

    Then she looked over to Watcher with a raised brow.

    "What can you tell me about the box? He''s protecting it with his life."

    He looked just as curious as her. "No clue, after some red-headed gal spoke to him, she went straight to me. Wouldn''t leave my hide be and kept pestering me from doing my job. She''s from the House of Adam. Some church that promotes unity."

    "Hm, I always did dislike the religious types. Makes my job harder when waves of them are protecting Eden with their undying faith."

    "Said the god amongst her abominations." Watcher commented.

    Nathan defeated another Scout with ease.

    "I demand loyalty, not faith." Evie scoffed. "A better motivator than blindly believing I watch over my followers. That''s what sets me apart from the Great Pantheon."

    Zero was amazed by Nathan''s determination. It had been an hour now yet he continued.

    Watcher sent a side glance Evie''s way. "Difference is¡­ you''re alone."

    Suddenly, a loud crack was heard.

    All eyes stared at a single Scout for a moment before she fell to her knees, a hole through her helmet and ballistic face shield.

    "I''m calling the Ogres, you tell Trusty that this''ll take longer than I thought."

    Back with Nathan, more Scouts were dealt with by an unknown assailant. Thunderous cracks echoed through the air as more fell to the ground.

    And from out of nowhere, Wicked crashed down upon another. In her wake was a broken soldier.

    "Glad you showed up, I was starting to feel tired." Said Nathan.

    "Inferiority well displayed."

    "Happy to see you too, bolt bucket." Gluttony would''ve grinned if she could.

    "You can take a break, I shall eliminate the rest of these."

    "By all means¡­" Nathan finally relaxed after a long battle.

    With permission from Nathan, Wicked equipped her chainsaw and ravaged her enemies with indiscriminate force.

    The weapon roared as it tore through flesh and armor alike.

    Nothing stood in her way which gave Nathan enough time to recover. But even then, it seemed that the endless tide of soldiers showed no sign of dying. No matter how many they gored, or how many of them butchered, the Scouts persisted.

    "Wicked!" Evie called out. "What''s with the team up, girl?"

    Wicked swiveled her head toward Evie, still fighting the Scouts. "Ah, the daughter of Kalasraast. I see no reason to answer your question. Simply know that this benefits me."

    "I see¡­ a bounty hunter not going after the big prize? No, I think I know who you''re after." Evie claimed. "But, you''ll have to go through my Ogres first!"

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Wicked was snatched away by the arm just as she was about to cut through her enemy.

    Nathan was shocked to find a massive humanoid being. It towered over them at least five meters high. Perhaps more. This was the Ogre that Evie told them about. The ones they needed to go through. Wicked tried to break herself free by running her chainsaw at the Ogre''s wrist, but they were far more heavily armored than the common Scout class.

    Left with no other choice, Wicked detached the limb and retreated far from the new foe.

    "Nathan, I require assistance!"

    "Saying please wouldn''t hurt ya!"

    These Ogres were like the Scouts in a way. But they wore long coats that reached their shins and heavy metal plates all over.

    Evie smiled. "Do you like them, Nathan? These are the Ogre class! Clones of mine which were made to be my very own armored division!"

    In other words, they were her tanks.

    Nathan could see it. All of Wicked''s basic attacks were nothing to the giants. Not even bullets did any harm to them. But both knew her plans with these Ogres, they were meant to slow Wicked down.

    Now the problem was evident as Scouts rushed past Wicked and went after Nathan instead.

    "Here we go again!"

    The first few Scouts were dealt with by a burning wave of light. The next was sliced into ribbons.

    Meanwhile, Wicked used her superior agility to dodge all attacks from the Ogres. The two giants couldn''t catch the small machine. She was like a bug amongst titans. An annoying mosquito that could not be caught.

    "I really wish I had Phantom right now!"

    "You rely too much on him, Nathan!" Gluttony stated. "We got this! Remember the old times? Just the two of us!"

    Nathan grinned.

    His confidence grew as Gluttony cheered him on.

    Though unlimited in number, the Scouts couldn''t contain Nathan and his progress toward the Ogres slowly grew.

    Only to be halted by Zero.

    She kicked him back a few paces and stopped his little charge. "Zero is finally in the game, so prepare for ultimate defeat! Your robot friend won''t help you here!"

    "Yeah, but you forgot something." Nathan discharged the energy stored within the Gluttonous Maw and landed a decisive blow at one of the Ogres. Specifically, the one who had Wicked''s severed arm.

    "Hey, that''s cheating!"

    Wicked wrenched her arm from the Ogre''s grasp and placed it where it belonged.

    "Your regeneration power is cheating!" To prove his point, Nathan severed her head only for Zero to recover from the would-be fatal attack.

    "Nuh-uh!"

    "Let''s see how quickly you''ll heal from this!" Wicked latched onto Zero and faced the wave of Scouts. Hatches opened around her lower ribs and Zero felt herself being torn apart as Wicked''s mini-rockets shot out.

    The horde was thinned out which gave Nathan a clear path to the Ogres. As he charged at the bigger targets, Wicked activated her Void Shift and discarded Zero''s upper half in the other dimension.

    With one of their dangerous foes dealt with, the two continued their onslaught upon the cannon fodder. It was expected that these soldiers were no match against Nathan.

    "She ruined the test," With lips curled into a snarl, Evie expressed great disdain upon Wicked. "Firearms are authorized. Ogres will only be allowed to use the anti-infantry 9mm machine guns."

    The remaining Ogres and Scouts swapped out their weapons, signaling a new phase of battle. Quickly, Wicked expanded out her outer layer which gave Nathan enough room to duck behind in.

    As expected from Wicked''s Star Forged body, the bullets were nothing but pebbles thrown against the broadside of a mountain.

    But that didn''t mean they had the advantage. The two were pinned down, primarily Nathan. Wicked could escape, but she would leave Nathan to this hail of lead.

    "Any ideas!?" Wicked said as she felt the wave push her back a step. The bullets continued to rattle her body and it showed no sign of dying down.

    "How about you take us to the other dimension with your Void Shift!?"

    "Reminder: I left Zero in there! So, any ideas!?"

    "One, but I don''t know if you''re gonna like it!"

    "I have one!" Gluttony interjected. "We could try that neat trick that Kalasraast did!"

    "I don''t know how to do that, and he said I shouldn''t even try!" Nathan argued.

    "Well if the weapon can''t give any other ideas, how about you just tell us what''s in your mind, Nathan!"

    "There''s this trick I have been practicing which I copied from Justice''s show!"

    "That does not bode well!"

    "You met some of his Peacekeepers, I''m sure! Specifically Nightburn!?"

    "She''s a foul one, yes."

    "Well, check this out!"

    Nathan tapped into the energy that Gluttony stored within her.

    In a flash, the giant blade morphed into Gluttony''s puppet form.

    He had been waiting for a real trial for his next trick. Finally, the day came and he''d see the result of all the practices.

    "Ready, G?"

    "Do we like jalape?o cheese?"

    With one arm around the box and the other around Gluttony, Nathan pulled back his hand.

    "You know it!"

    With a mighty pull, Nathan wrenched Gluttony over Wicked and sent her flying across the bullet storm. Right into the center mass of Evie''s army.

    The Ogres ceased their firing the moment they saw Gluttony flying toward them. But it was too late.

    Gluttony''s body glowed a brilliant green light as she slammed into the pavement. And every single one of Evie''s soldiers was vaporized by a powerful blast.

    The blast was so powerful that it devoured the whole street and threw Wicked away along with Nathan. It wasn''t the destruction that they had to worry about, but the force from the destructive power of Gluttony.

    The soldiers were wiped out from the face of the planet, their only evidence of existence was the massive crater left by Gluttony.

    "Yeah!" Gluttony celebrated with her arms in the air. The stench of ash and sulfur still lingered. "That was awesome! I can''t wait to do it again!"

    "That was not awesome, that was a hazard!" Wicked said.

    Evie stared at the aftermath, eyes filled with adoration. She was so awe-struck, that words failed her.

    If she could, she''d say that it was a beautiful performance of death and destruction.

    "Should I send in more, boss?" Watcher asked. But all he got was silence.

    After checking on the parcel, Nathan rushed over to Gluttony and picked her off her feet. "You did it, G! Think about all the other moves we can copy from the show!"

    "I don''t see why not! Hey, Evie, you fat-handed broad!" Evie was snapped out of her thoughts. The puppet called for her attention as Gluttony perched herself on Nathan''s shoulders. "Yeah, you! Listen up, we broke your little toys, so there better be a good reward!"

    "A reward? For that amazing show, I''ll make sure you get a reward! Nathan, you and Gluttony make an amazing team. Imagine what it could''ve been like back then if Hound had you, Gluttony." Evie approached Nathan and the others with Watcher right behind her. "I am offering you a free loyal Maid for the amazing work you did!"

    "Nah," Gluttony declined for the both of them. "What do we need a maid for? Nathan and I are upstanding adults that can take care of ourselves!

    "But! The Maid is the most loyal servant in the market! After the robot slavery and production ban, the value of my Maids skyrocketed!"

    She leaned forward accompanied by a wink.

    "And these gals won''t say no to any order."

    "Bah! Nathan doesn''t need any of your hussies! Give us something worth our time!"

    "Come on, G, maybe it''d be nice to have someone cleaning up our place."

    "Don''t argue with me, Nate! I will bite your hand!"

    Evie scoffed. "Fine, you can have all the free pizzas from Trusty''s to your heart''s desire!"

    "Now that''s a deal!" Gluttony extended out her hand. "Shake on it?"

    "Of course!"

    It was a mistake on Evie''s part.

    Before she could even act, Gluttony bit down on Evie''s hand, costing the goddess a finger.

    "That''s for the whole trouble you gave us."

    "Feisty," Evie smirked. "Alright then, I will be leaving now. Oh, and Wicked? You''ve landed yourself on my list now."

    Watcher retrieved Zero''s lower half, which was in the process of regenerating. It scarred Nathan a little with how Zero''s body constructed itself that started from the spine. It seemed that even without a brain Zero would always come back.

    "Don''t celebrate just yet, Nathan."

    Gluttony and Nathan turned toward Wicked.

    "There were far too many of Evie''s soldiers on this planet. There''s a Butcher''s Shop somewhere."

    "You don''t mean Tim''s¡­ are you?" He honestly hoped that she was talking about the shop just around the corner. But he knew there was a different meaning, especially with Evie in mind.

    "Let''s just say that I''ll have to get rid of it before it''s too late. And if you were smart, you''d keep an eye out."

    The two expected her to vanish, but Wicked launched herself to the top of the nearest building using her powerful mechanical legs. He had forgotten how fast she was with them. And before he knew it, she was gone.

    "Great, more problems¡­"

    "Yeah, but free pizza!" Gluttony did her best to lighten up the mood.

    "Did you not listen to Wicked? Evie has a shop somewhere and I don''t think it means what we think it does. Also, I wanted that maid¡­"

    "We are grown adults! We don''t need to be pampered and have our chores done by some servant. Now let''s forget about all that and go home."

    "Wait, we still need to deliver this box! What did Riley say again¡­? Oh, call Miss Byrne!"

    "Later, I''m hungry!"

    Both decided to drop by Cain''s Diner for some lunch where they met up with their friends just at the entrance. And Ivory had something to show them.

    "Is that a van?" Nathan asked.

    "Parked somewhere illegal, yeah¡­" Gluttony noted.

    The van in question was right at the entrance of Cain''s Diner. It made it somewhat difficult to get inside. Quite an inconvenience to the two.

    "Let''s slice it up," Gluttony suggested.

    "I heard that!"

    Both looked over to a nearby alley and found Ivory at the mouth of it. She wasn''t alone either, with her were the rest of the gang.

    "Don''t touch it," She told them. "I''m still trying to work things out."

    "Why exactly is there a van keeping us from the diner?" Nathan asked.

    "I''m not a good driver, okay? But! I bought us a van."

    "Why?" Both asked.

    Jonah only snickered as Ivory continued. "Right, remember when I drove that truck back on Vristan? I honestly like driving. So I bought us a van, which is a great investment seeing as we''ve been going around lately."

    Gluttony scoffed. "You bought a car with these gas prices? That is a lot of money down the drain."

    "You''re a puppet, what do you know about the economy?" Jonah said.

    "Enough to know that I''ll starve in a decade later unless we earn enough for us to retire in a mansion on Venus."

    Nathan gently caressed the van. Paint in two tones of black and white. Most likely to match Ivory''s palettes.

    This meant that when Gluttony and Nathan left, Ivory had gone to the nearest car dealership.

    He looked inside and gazed upon the interior. Certainly looked a little plain, but there was a lot of room, especially at the front. Three people could definitely sit at the front if they squeezed together.

    "I call shotgun!" Jonah claimed the passenger seat. And since they respected the rules of calling dibs, both Nathan and Gluttony were to be seated at the back.

    "Aw come on!" Gluttony snapped at Jonah. "You didn''t even give us a chance!"

    "Sorry, you snooze, you lose!"

    It took too long for Ivory to move their car properly. At first, she didn''t care about it, but a friend of theirs came by and gave Ivory a scolding. Jimmy was a man of the law, and the sight of such blatant disrespect to the law irked him greatly. The policeman even gave Ivory some pointers on driving, right after he discovered that she had no license. With a ticket and a bad-tempered cop after, the gang was having lunch at Cain''s Diner.

    The steps given to him by Riley were easy to follow. Before he knew it, he had already dropped the box off and said his goodbye. It was certainly an interesting experience. Nathan met a lot of folks with faith, and he wasn''t talking about Father Abe. But the people with Samantha Byrne were strange, unlike those he met from Abe''s sermons.

    Experiencing that made Nathan think twice about joining their church. Though he did enjoy being praised for his deeds on Titus.

    A hero they called him.

    May it be narcissism or anything closer to that, but Nathan felt motivated when he was called a hero. Made him feel like he was something more than¡­ a cruel murderer.

    The face of those Hound had wronged lingered in his mind. Gone were the sea of praises and worship. Replaced with that cruel smirk that Hound always wore like a badge of honor.

    "You alright, Nate?"

    Ivory brought him out of his thoughts. Gone were the shadows of his past, replaced by the warm interior of their brand-new van. He remembered now that the group was dropping by the convenience store for some snacks. His friend Jonah and Sally had already gone inside while he and Ivory stayed behind.

    "You''ve been staring at the floor for far too long,"

    "Well- it''s nothing¡­"

    "I''m right here if you need someone to talk to,"

    "It''s just that¡­ Hound is always on my mind. And I''m just ashamed of the things he did."

    "And? This isn''t up to debate, Nathan. Whatever he did isn''t your sin to carry. Hound was the one at fault, not you."

    He nodded his head at the idea. "Yeah, you''re right about that. But I can''t ignore what he did. So for every wrong thing he did, I gotta redeem myself twice as much."

    "Good luck with that," Ivory leaned back into the driver''s seat. "Hey¡­ If you need help with all that redemption stuff, just ask us. Not like we''re gonna leave you out to dry."

    A warm smile crept up on Nathan''s face.

    "Thanks, Ivy¡­"

    "Now that we''re off that topic, what was that with those¡­ House of Adam?"

    "Well, it started with the fight we had back at Titus. They heard about it and wanted me to join them¡­ I don''t know if that''s good of a reason. But anyway, she sent me to check on a member of theirs who lived in the same building as us, someone from room 401."

    "Someone lives on the fourth floor beside the Martians?" Out of nowhere, Jonah popped into the conversation as he returned from the store with Sally.

    "Yeah, some girl called Riley¡­ I should introduce you guys."

    "Sure that''s a good idea, Nate. She looked like she was about to die just talking to you." Gluttony said.

    "We can just ease her into the group! It wouldn''t be that bad¡­"

    ******

    "Is this normal!?" Jonah asked as the panic set in.

    "This girl is a little¡­ dramatic?" Ivory thought.

    Sally and Nathan could only watch as Riley broke down a shivering form on the floor as Abe tried his best to calm her down.

    Out of all of them, Abe was the one she reacted the worst to. Riley was now shaking on the ground and foaming at the mouth.

    "I told you¡­" Gluttony said. Good thing she didn''t take any pride in the fact that she was right.

    ***

 XIII: Gluttonous Mistake

    A bright and sunny day at the local park full of all kinds of people. Gathered together for a public event where all could join. The kind hosts, the people of the House of Adam, were so generous enough to provide for everyone''s entertainment. Plenty of activities to take part in.

    Free food, fun games. This attracted plenty of attention from curious folks and families who wanted to spend time together.

    Sweet memories.

    Nathan wondered what his family was like. Everything was still a blank. All he could see were the crimes he committed. He just hoped that he wasn''t a jerk to the ones he loved.

    He shook away the thoughts and returned to work. Despite games being present, Nathan wasn''t exactly there to have fun. No, the House of Adam wanted his help in some gardening. To help spruce up the local park with beautiful flowers. He wasn''t experienced in such stuff, but he was happy to help. Not only that, but he invited his friends as well. Even brought Riley with them.

    "Nathan!" Samantha called out to him as she brought everyone a nice cold lemonade. "I am so happy that you gave us the time to help out! We are grateful, very grateful!"

    "Anything for you, ma''am." Before he could even speak, Jonah rested an elbow on his head and spoke before him. "Honestly, a group as generous as you all should get all the help you need."

    "I''m glad you think so, Mr. Bloodfield!"

    "Please, Mr. Bloodfield was my father. Call me Jonah, or John."

    Nathan pushed Jonah''s elbow away as he stood up. "Since when do people call you John?"

    "Not once," He answered with a cocky smile.

    Nathan rolled his eyes at his silly friend. "Anyway! You''re welcome, Miss Byrne. I''m just glad we don''t have to do anything exciting. Think I got enough of that for a while."

    "Speak for yourself," Ivory scoffed. Her hands, though gentle with the flowers, trembled with a desire for violence. It seemed that this kind of work wasn''t for her. But she was doing well enough and drove off that thirst for action of hers.

    Samantha merely hummed a cheerful tune at the Sentinel. "I''m also impressed that you convinced Riley to come and help as well!"

    They looked over nearby where Riley was at. The girl just sat there with eyes wide as saucer plates. If one was to look closer, then they''d notice the slight quaking from her. Like Ivory, Riley didn''t also want to be here of all places. She looked out of place, like a silent crab on the highest mountain peak. The small gal just looked out of place among the happy crowd. Her aura was one of utter disquietude despite being as still as a statue, and it didn''t look right with the scene.

    Nathan chuckled awkwardly. "Convinced? More like dragged her out kicking and screaming. Sorry, Miss Byrne, I thought this was going to help her."

    "Well, it is the thought that counts! Soon enough, I''m sure you''ll crack her open like a nut, and a beautiful butterfly will emerge!"

    "Think it''ll happen now, but I doubt it will be a beautiful one." Jonah commented.

    The group watched as Riley slowly fell to her side. Her small form pitifully shook like a buzzing phone.

    "Anyway!" Samantha clasped her hands together. "Thank you all again for helping. If you need anything, just call."

    "Will do, ma''am!" Jonah gave his best smile as Samantha went back to work. "Man, talking about beautiful, I gotta say: she''s one heck of a gal."

    "Better focus, Jonah, or else I''ll bury you with these flowers." Ivory threatened. And to make a point, she snapped her trowel in two out of anger.

    "Hold your horses, boss. We live in a world of freedom, and I can work less as much as I want." He then raised an accusing finger at Nathan. "And if the Gluttonous Maw isn''t working, that means I have less rights than a giant sickle."

    "You keep her out of this," Nathan said.

    Jonah sighed. "Still, didn''t think you''d be called a hero. By some religious bunch, to be in fact."

    "Don''t let it get to your head, Nathan." Ivory advised. "Last thing we need is an overconfident corpse."

    Nathan arched a brow. "You say that like I''d be stupid enough to walk into a fight unprepared."

    "Anyway, I hope we can finish up soon. Lunch is rolling in, and I''d rather be at Scratch''s than here." Jonah said.

    "You sure? They got plenty of food here."

    "Yeah, but do you really believe that I''d skip out on Scratch''s cooking?"

    "Good point," Nathan stood up. "I''m going to check on Riley and talk with Miss Byrne after. I''ll tell her we will be out for lunch."

    Nathan walked over to Riley''s shivering form. It was amazing that no one tripped on her.

    She would''ve looked like some lawn decoration but Riley was shaking up a storm. If she could, she''d cause an earthquake.

    He leaned close enough to hear her better. "You doing alright, Riley?"

    "No," She answered.

    "Do you want to leave? Me and the others are going out for lunch."

    "Yes."

    "Alright, I''ll go talk with Samantha, and I''ll come back after."

    "You''re leaving?"

    Nathan nearly snapped around with the Gluttonous Maw but held back his hand. Samantha snuck up on him. It was quite a coincidence for Samantha to show up when he needed to talk with her.

    As if she was always on watch for him. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to pop in unannounced.

    Straightening himself, Nathan prepared to break the news to Samantha.

    "Going out for lunch, we will be back after."

    "Why leave? There is plenty of food around. Even games to keep you occupied."

    "Jonah is kind of a picky eater, especially when he could just walk over to Cain''s Diner. Other than that, I should take Riley elsewhere. She seems to be close to exploding."

    Samantha glanced at Riley then nodded at Nathan. "That is indeed a wise choice. You truly are hero material."

    He couldn''t help but smile at that comment.

    "Here, let me help Riley up for you."

    The redheaded woman gently grasped Riley by her arms and gently moved her upright. Nathan was honestly astonished at how well Riley reacted to Samantha''s touch. The smaller of the two women stopped shivering. Riley went still as Samantha helped her to her feet.

    "Remember, Riley," Samantha whispered to Riley''s ear. "Do everything that you can to convince him."

    Samantha then gave Riley a pat on the shoulder.

    "There! Best be off now, don''t want to miss the afternoon show!"

    "See ya, Miss Byrne! Come on, Riley, you''ll like Scratch. She is one friendly gal."

    Riley glanced back at Samantha as they walked away. Only she saw the smile vanish from Samantha''s face. Replaced with utter contempt. Riley didn''t risk another look as she kept her eyes forward. Too scared to even check again.

    It was a face that Samantha wanted hidden. One so full of disdain that it couldn''t belong to her even if you showed everyone the truth.

    The walk to Cain''s Diner was somewhat uneventful. Riley held on Nathan with dear life, especially after a few passerby that said hello to our heroes. She was jumpy and quite fearful of her surroundings. Nathan noticed how paranoid she was with everything. He couldn''t help but feel pity.

    With a knowing ring, their entry was announced to all in Cain''s Diner. That is, if it was a usual day. It seemed that the only patrons currently were Abe and Sally. Of course, there was also Watcher and that strange samurai girl, Bianca. But by now, Nathan and his friends simply addressed them as background characters in their life.

    "Couldn''t you guys at least do your job from out of sight?" Jonah complained to them.

    "Don''t worry, we''re off duty right now and just having lunch. Someone else is watching today."

    Ivory crossed her arms tiredly. "We''ll take your word for it. Enjoy your meal, scum."

    Watcher tipped his hat to them. "And a good day to you too, Ms. Ivory."

    Riley followed them to their usual table. Her eyes locked on Abe as she recalled the first time they met. The poor girl was so frightened by his appearance and no one could blame her. Abe may look human, but he couldn''t hide his eyes and horns. He was a demon in sheep''s clothing.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Once they were seated, Scratch came over to their table to take their orders. Riley couldn''t help but eye the Apex suspiciously. Her snake-like smile didn''t comfort Riley, and Scratch''s eyes didn''t help either. It was so white that Riley swore she was staring at a bright abyss.

    "Hey there!" Rows of serrated teeth revealed from one big happy smile. "You must be Riley! I''m Pepper Cain, people call me Scratch! Nice to meet you!"

    Riley was frozen still. Too fearful to even greet the owner of this fine establishment.

    "She''s not that good with people, so sorry about her lack of words." Nathan said.

    "Oh, that''s okay! Riley, just know that I don''t bite. If I was mean, then Nathan wouldn''t be here. Anyway, you bunch want the regular?"

    "You know it!" Jonah said. "I''ve been working my hands to the bone all morning, and only your food can really give me my strength back!"

    "Two, I''m¡­" Nathan glanced at Riley for a second. "I''m a little hungrier than usual."

    "Yeah, I''m actually in the mood for some food. I''ll have today''s special." Ivory said.

    Scratch grinned proudly. "Today''s special is a healthy bowl of salad with my signature sauce, and a side of grilled eggplants! What would you like today, Riley?"

    Riley''s eyes bulged out of their sockets. She wasn''t ready with her order yet. The poor gal was so occupied with the menu that she didn''t realize that all attention was now on her. Her lips quivered as she attempted to form a word, but utterly failed to even make a peep.

    She stuttered with her words in a form of muttering.

    "How about you give her the Scratch''s Opinion?"

    "That''s a good idea! I''ll bring two!"

    Before Riley could ask, Scratch returned with their order. It was astonishing with how quick she was. She didn''t even give them a chance to breathe.

    When Scratch placed down their respective plates, Riley stared at hers slightly befuddled.

    "Yo, how come there''s no one else around?" Jonah asked.

    Scratch sighed. "No clue, but if I had to guess, it''d be because of that thing going on in the park."

    "Ah, the House of Adam charity event." Nathan said. "Makes sense. How about you join us? Not like anyone''s gonna show up. Everyone in town is practically at the park."

    "Alright, don''t see an issue there. Let me go make myself something and I''ll join you guys for lunch."

    Like before, Scratch vanished for a second then returned with her own plate of food. It was merely soup. Aromatic and rich in color.

    "Is this the Scratch''s Opinion?" Riley muttered as she stared at her plate. A couple of grilled cheese sandwiches topped with melted cheese and chives.

    "Oh, you must be curious about that!" Scratch smiled proudly. "This is merely my opinion, but I think you''re a grilled cheese kind of gal."

    "I am?"

    Jonah chuckled. "Yeah, that''s how it is with Scratch''s Opinion. She takes one look at you and decides what type of sandwich you like."

    "Yeah," A soft sigh escaped Scratch''s lips. "The way I see it, Jonah is a chicken salad sandwich with sourdough kind of guy. He''s always quick like a rooster and always keeps an eye out for everyone. Like a sentry."

    As she explained, Riley noticed that Jonah was indeed enjoying a chicken salad sandwich. Then she looked over to Nathan. His was an odd and greasy looking burger stacked a little higher than normal ones.

    "Ivory?" Scratch continued. "She''s a bocadillo, with slices of chorizo and my special sauce. Tough, resilient, and the boss of their crew. Quite the reliable Sentinel if you ask me. Really holds the whole group together like a proper sandwich. As for Nathan?"

    They caught him mid bite of his burger. He could only smile sheepishly as his teeth sank into his food.

    "Well¡­ a pizza burger is¡­" Riley noticed something off. As if Scratch wanted to explain but couldn''t. "He just has a big appetite. Pizza and burgers are two of the most consumed products throughout the galaxy. They''re easy to make for food chains and franchises. And he could eat for two people. Maybe even three."

    In truth, the explanation would''ve been better if Gluttony was named as well. Because it would''ve fit the idea. See, Gluttony''s stomach was as bottomless as the void. Somewhat the same with Nathan. The symbolism of fast food and constant consumption.

    So Scratch decided with a combination of the two. Gluttony and Nathan were individual minds and personalities, but they were of one soul. Two peas in a pod even.

    "Anyway! You can try it if you''d like. Who knows, it might end up being your favorite!"

    "W-what about me? Why is it a grilled cheese?" Slowly, Riley started to grow braver when she was speaking with Scratch. She stuttered less than before. Still, Riley couldn''t look Scratch in the eyes.

    "You seem to prefer seclusion." Scratch thought. "A simpler life through your own way. Yet, you want something more."

    Riley stared at the plate.

    "Seems like you don''t want to be here. But something deep down does."

    She could only show sorrow in her eyes.

    She was far too occupied within her mind mulling over Scratch''s words, so much so that she didn''t realize that the whole diner went silent. Even Watcher and Bianca listened.

    "Hey," Riley looked away from her plate as Nathan called for her attention. "I''m glad you went with us to the charity event. I think you''re a good friend."

    A small smile appeared as she appreciated him.

    Without further distractions, Riley hungrily took a bite out of her sandwich. She was surprised to discover a series of flavors. It was a combination of different types of cheese. Pimento cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan. There was even a hint of onion and garlic in the mix. Scratch really went all out with the sandwich. And before Riley knew it, she was done with her plate. Nothing but crumbs were left.

    "I knew you''d love it." Scratch said. "I''ll take a wild guess and say it''ll be your regular order."

    Riley wasn''t sure if so. It wasn''t like she''d be at the diner a lot of times. And certainly, she would most likely try out the rest of the menu first.

    "This reminds me of Kira¡­" She whispered to herself.

    "Say, I need to make a call." Nathan informed the rest. "I''ll be back."

    Nathan walked by Watcher and Bianca. He made sure to wave at them as he went by.

    Though he didn''t know much about them, he assumed that they were a victim of Hound like everyone else. Nathan wanted to be in a good relationship, even with his enemies. There were some exceptions, of course. Particularly the Bloody Tyrant and the rogue champion, Crow.

    As he found a place secluded and far from prying eyes, Nathan lifted his jacket open and motioned a burger at Gluttony. "Come on, I know you''re hungry."

    But to his surprise, she simply looked away. This filled him with great concern.

    "You okay, G? It''s not like you to flat out reject food."

    She groaned a little.

    He was beginning to panic. It was the first he ever saw her acting that way. He even noticed how off she looked. A bit sick if he had to guess. Quickly and calmly, he rushed back to the table.

    "Hey! Could you keep an eye on Riley, Scratch? I gotta talk with Jonah and Ivory."

    "Sure, take your time!"

    "What''s this about, Nathan?"

    "I''ll explain later!" He answered Ivory.

    Seeing the concern in his eyes, the two followed Nathan into the diner''s kitchen.

    "What''s wrong, dude?" Jonah asked.

    He revealed to them a very pale Gluttony. Her head swirled drowsily. The sharp rows of teeth clattered for every second.

    "What the hell!?" Jonah exclaimed.

    Ivory scratched the back of her head. "The Gluttonous Maw is sick? How is that even possible?"

    "She must''ve eaten something bad¡­" Nathan deduced.

    Jonah shook his head. "She eats garbage and drinks demonic blood, I doubt there''s anything in this world that could make her feel bad."

    Then it hit Nathan. He remembered yesterday. After Wicked and Nathan fended off Zero''s attack, Evie congratulated them. And it was then that Gluttony took a big bite out of Evie''s hand, which cost the goddess a finger.

    "She ate one of Evie''s fingers¡­"

    "She what?" Ivory tried not to scream out the words. Or else they alerted the rest of the building.

    "Remember what I told you guys about yesterday? Well, Gluttony lured Evie close and chomped a finger off as payback. I¡­ I think that is why she''s not feeling well today."

    "What do we do?" Jonah asked. "This is honestly the first time the Gluttonous Maw ever got sick¡­"

    They were all stumped. It was indeed the very first. Gluttony was always an example of good health. Constantly running about and being as much of a help to everyone. It was a surprise to have her this way.

    "We gotta get Scratch, she might know what to do." Jonah suggested.

    "Nathan, you go back to the apartment." Ivory said.

    "What!? I can''t just leave Gluttony here!"

    "Someone needs to take Riley back to her place. And you''re the only one Riley is willing to follow around. We can call Byrne and tell her we have an emergency. This situation is gonna need all of our attention." She argued. "Don''t worry, Jonah and I can keep an eye on the Gluttonous¡­ Gluttony. You can trust us, Nathan."

    "I¡­ fine. Please, take care of her." He trusted them the most. He had nothing to be worried about. The only issue with the plan was that Gluttony and Nathan would''ve been separated for a period of time.

    The two were always together no matter where they went. She was either hiding in his jacket or sleeping in a box.

    He walked back to the table and noticed the awkward look Riley wore. The reason? Scratch was talking nonstop. Nathan couldn''t really understand what it was even about. The words flew over his head.

    "Hey, Scratch. Boss wants to talk with you for a moment. Also, I''ll be leaving with Riley now. So see ya later."

    "Sure thing! Bye, take care!"

    Riley eagerly followed Nathan out of the diner. "Where are we going? What about the others?"

    "They got a call¡­ from the Martians."

    "Martians?"

    "Your neighbors. They live in 405." Now that he mentioned them, Nathan should really check in on the green bunch. Yesterday, he asked them for help, but they haven''t come by to inform him of their findings yet.

    As they walked out, Nathan couldn''t help but feel worried about Gluttony. She was different from everyone else. She wasn''t mortal or fragile. She could fall from the highest building and still come out unscathed. But this moment of weakness¡­ It frightened him.

    "Excuse me, but where are we going?"

    "Oh," He was brought out of his dark thoughts. A moment of doubt gone thanks to her. "I''m taking you back to the apartment. Something came up."

    "Alright¡­" She didn''t argue. Riley was obviously happy with the plan and was eager to get home. So much so, that he saw a small smile on her pale face.

    As they approached the apartment building, Nathan recalled the event that transpired yesterday. Right at their doorstep, he was attacked by Evie''s minions. He remembered the slaughter he committed upon the endless wave of soldiers. Dressed in black, stained in red. Their black tinted face shield hid their identity, if they had one. Nathan felt no remorse for them. He knew what they were, they weren''t alive in the first place. Merely automatons made of flesh and bone.

    But their origins did interest him. He wanted to learn more, and perhaps he could simply consult with the internet. Or the Martians.

    Nathan noticed something else, the whole street yesterday was ruined from the battle. But it was as if it didn''t even happen. Never let it be said that Evie''s workers are inefficient.

    Something else caught his eye. At the steps of the entrance to the apartment sat a suspicious person. They were reading a newspaper as if they wanted to be inconspicuous. And as they approached, Nathan noticed the person tense up.

    He then recognized them.

    Casually, he pretended not to. But once Nathan was close enough, he casually greeted the person. "Afternoon, Miss Smith."

    "Afternoon, Sir!" Bella blurted out. Her words filled with enthusiasm. As if she was happy to see him. But that all changed when she realized what happened. Frowning, she glared at Nathan. "Don''t do that, ever."

    "Sorry, I just wanted to try it¡­"

    Seeing as how she was here being suspicious, Nathan could only conclude that Siren was the one watching him as of now. Evie always had eyes and ears everywhere, and nowhere is safe.

    "Hey, could you and I talk next time? Got something in my mind."

    "S-sure!" Though it was short, Nathan saw the fear in her eyes just for a moment. "What is this about?"

    "Next time¡­"

    He said nothing as he led Riley into the building. He didn''t want to waste time and needed to get back to the diner. So they went straight over to Riley''s apartment.

    "Right, you alright on your own?"

    "Yeah, I''ll be fine. Who was that girl?"

    "An old friend I need to catch up with. I''ll have to go now, Riley. See you soon."

    "Wait." Nathan stopped at the stairs. He turned toward Riley curiously and waited for her.

    She seemed to struggle for a moment, her eyes locked solely on the floor as she fiddled with her thumbs.

    Riley looked conflicted as she tried to form out a word.

    "Did you decide yet? Joining the House of Adam, I mean." He didn''t even get a chance to answer as she continued. "It''ll be cool! We- we can do lots of stuff! Have you been to Earth? It''s a great place! Plenty of things to do! Lots of places to see! S-so you should join us! I''d¡­ really appreciate it if you do¡­"

    He stared at her. Nathan was also conflicted. Truthfully, he wasn''t interested in the slightest. And it seemed that she saw the answer from his eyes.

    Riley panicked.

    "But¡­"

    "I''m sorry." He said. "I just got something else in my head right now. Joining a big group like yours isn''t a good idea as of now."

    Riley took hold of his hand. Nathan couldn''t see her eyes as she held her head low. "I don''t want to lose you too¡­"

    "I''m not going anywhere. We''ll always be friends, you know?"

    She said nothing. Her grip grew tighter. A sense of pity filled his heart. A small action of declining an invitation truly bothered her. But Nathan didn''t know what was at play. Busy with his own story, he didn''t know what Riley was going through. But he knew that she needed someone. A friend she could rely on. Still, Nathan had to keep his mission in mind.

    "Listen, I have to go now. But we can hang out later." He pulled away; though it pained him for doing so.

    She said nothing as Nathan smiled and waved at her goodbye. She didn''t dare look as he vanished down the stairs. There was silence. She couldn''t hear his steps anymore.

    Nathan didn''t waste any time. He went back to his apartment and swiped Phantom away without an explanation. Phantom was in the middle of watching a movie, and Nathan had forgotten to turn off the television, or simply perhaps, he ignored it.

    "Nathan¡­? What''s wrong?" Phantom wrote. But all it did was blind Nathan as he ran through the street.

    "Not now, buddy! We need to get back to the diner, Gluttony has a problem!"

    Phantom was silent after that. He knew Nathan needed to focus and obstructing his vision would be a bad idea. Especially when he was in a rush.

    Once he got back, Nathan almost tore the door off its hinges as he ran in. He even caught the attention of Watcher. And when he saw that Sally and Abe were in the kitchen as well, he thought the worst had happened.

    "What''s going on!? How''s Gluttony!?"

    "Nathan¡­ you gotta calm down." Scratch said.

    "Gluttony!?" He ignored her and pushed everyone aside.

    His blood ran cold the moment he saw her. Gluttony was lying on the countertop, as still as an actual puppet. Her glossy eyes stared at the ceiling, no sign or hint of an emotion. Mouth tightly closed as her body was as rigid as a corpse in rigor mortis.

    "We¡­ we don''t know what happened." Scratch told him. "One moment she was convulsing, then she froze."

    He took a step closer, hands shook as he reached for his partner. Nathan then leaned down to her chest and pressed it against his ear. Though she may seem like a puppet, in truth, she was far more on the inside. Like him, Gluttony had a soul. Life. And a beating heart.

    Nathan pulled away, a small thankful smile upon his face. "She''s okay, I can feel it. But I don''t know for how long.¡±

    ¡°How are you even sure?¡± Asked Jonah.

    ¡°Because, she and I are a one package deal. And whatever it is that''s got her like this, it isn''t life threatening.¡±

    Ivory stepped up. If she had a face, Nathan would see the lack of concern for Gluttony. ¡°Are you able to summon the weapon?¡±

    He would''ve been furious by her lack of compassion toward his partner, but Nathan knew that Ivory cared for both of them despite treating Gluttony as nothing more than an object.

    ¡°No,¡± He flatly answered. ¡°Whenever I bring out the Gluttonous Maw, there''s always a connection between Gluttony and I. Right now? That connection is blurry. Like, I feel her sleeping, yet aware of her surroundings. She can hear us, but can''t move¡­¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is, this must be related to the fact she consumed a piece of the Bloody Tyrant. Her body must be rejecting the piece of a goddess.¡± Abe theorized.

    ¡°Should we wait this out?¡± Questioned Scratch. ¡°I honestly don''t have a clue why this happened. The Gluttonous Maw is one of a kind as there are no other known sentient weapons made by the Star Forger.¡±

    ¡°Should we consult with the Goddess of Destruction?¡± Abe suggested.

    ¡°That ain''t a good idea, Mr. Priest.¡± A new voice joined in. All eyes would glare upon the unwanted guest to their private conversation. Watcher, Evie''s little goon. Loyal as he can be, and the deadliest shot on the planet.

    Jonah scowled as he caressed the handle of his pistol. ¡°This doesn''t concern you, buddy. How about you and your missus go on a honeymoon?¡±

    ¡°You don''t want her to know about this.¡± He told them. ¡°Listen, Nathan, I hated your guts like anyone else, but that was before. If you were the one called Hound, maybe you and I could''ve been good friends.¡±

    He chuckled.

    ¡°I still ain''t on the clock yet. So this will be between you folks and I. Don''t even have to worry about Siren and the Midnight Witch. If Evie so much as sees a weakness from one of you, she will bite down hard. Maybe she''ll even try and steal back the Gluttonous Maw. It did belong to her, you know?¡±

    Ivory scoffed. ¡°Then you got better suggestions?¡±

    Watcher paused for a second. Then he pulled out a notebook from his pockets. ¡°This belonged to Hound. Sadly, everything written in it might as well be gibberish. So maybe this''ll help.¡± He tossed it over to Nathan, who caught it gently in his hands. Then he checked on his pocket watch and made a click with his tongue. ¡°Well, just in time. Better start noting down everything for the boss. By the looks of it, y''all are just hanging out in the kitchen.¡±

    He turned to leave.

    ¡°Hey, thanks for the tip.¡± Nathan said.

    Watcher chuckled once more. ¡°Whatever do you mean?¡±

    With that, the scarecrow left.

    They still had a problem at hand, but hopefully, Hound''s notes would help them out. A solution hidden within the nonsense upon the pages. They silently thanked Watcher. Despite the fact that they were practically enemies, Watcher had lent a hand to them. For now, they needed to figure out the Hound''s secrets.

 XIV: A Path to Follow

    The Empress was absolutely bored.

    She sat with a distant look as another mortal begged for her aid. Upon the highest throne, which was carved out from a slab of marble, utterly bored out of her mind.

    In the far reaches of Eden''s territory was a planet called Whisk, of which the economy was in shambles. Pitifully on the edge of chaos.

    She rolled her lips and bared her metaphorical fangs. This man''s situation was supposed to be solved ages ago. Yet he kneeled before her and spouted promises after promises if she helped his planet.

    The Empress simply blocked him out and instead looked around the throne room. Seated to her left, an ordinary throne made of mahogany was Death. A tall figure hidden by the dark cloak he always wore. Under the hood, one could see he was nothing but shadows below the skull of his.

    As per usual, Death was silent. He merely spectated all that occurred in front of him. He gave no opinion or suggestions, and his calculating gaze was one many dreaded.

    For countless millennia, nothing ever interested him.

    Then she looked over to her right. A few steps below was her trusted scribe, Galea. A lesser goddess whose only strongest trait was to write down everything and able to remember the exact words that were said a month before. She was like a machine.

    Galea was quite short, the shortest among the Great Pantheon. Her blue skin was covered with words, a language of the long forgotten. Even she lost the translation to these words written all over her body. Other than those two interesting things about Galea, there was also the funny helmet she always wore proudly; the lesser goddess was as boring as a rock. She was easily forgotten as well, and only a few in the Great Pantheon even remembered that she exists.

    Other than Death and Galea, there were also the guards. All wore golden armor, blessed by the Empress. Warriors bred and trained solely to serve her and defend Eden from those who wish it harm. And one of the few good things Callisto brought to the table after her many mistakes.

    She mentally scoffed at the thought of the Goddess of War. For years, she helped Eden prosper, but within those years, Callisto brought war after war. Some of it started within Eden. But Callisto always redeemed herself. The breed of guards, now dubbed ¡°The Defenders of Light¡± were the best Callisto had ever created. Unlike the rest of the Drenz race, these guards had no thirst for war. Simply to do their duty.

    Sadly, her mind wandered over to the current issue, the rogue champion. The Empress ordered Callisto to revoke her blessings from this Crow person. But the Goddess of War was defiant as he had earned his place after vanquishing the previous champion of War. Tradition, Callisto said. Barbaric is what the Empress said.

    Displeased, the Empress gave the goddess a difficult mission. One that would surely make her suffer for a good century.

    ¡°Your Greatness? Excuse and forgive my rude behavior, but are you listening?¡± The mortal asked.

    ¡°I wasn''t,¡± She smirked. ¡°Now, be quiet while I figure out a solution to your mess.¡±

    She didn''t need to hear his pathetic words. It was the same as last time the man was in her presence. And back then, she gave him simple instructions to fix everything. Yet here he was, groveling and begging. It honestly sickened her.

    Suddenly, the doors flew open.

    And the Empress couldn''t help but smile. ¡°Justice! My amazing second in command, what brings you here this pleasant day?¡±

    An imposing masked man with a head of flames and skin black as volcanic rock walked in. His amber eyes glowed as intensely as the fire he carried within his heart. A heroic aura could be felt from the mere glance of him. This was Justice, deity of the sun. Hero of all. And most importantly, the most trusted advisor among the ranks of the Great Pantheon.

    ¡°Well, spit it out, old pal. What''s up!?¡± Some could even say that the Empress considered him a close friend. And they would be right. His loyalty was valued by her.

    He speaks, and she listens.

    Their relationship is one of respect for one another.

    ¡°Wait, let me make a guess! Is it my beautiful daughter coming to visit?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± He said plainly.

    The Empress frowned at the answer. ¡°Honestly, it has been decades since she was here¡­¡±

    ¡°Darkness is simply far too busy lately, you cannot fault her for focusing on her work.¡± Justice said. ¡°Greetings, Galea, Death.¡±

    The little goddess waved at him cheerfully. Death simply turned to meet his eyes. Justice was kind enough to give the mortal present in the room a greeting as well.

    ¡°Are you gonna greet the guards too? Come on, just tell me why you''re here today.¡±

    ¡°I''ve brought Kalasraast and Devina.¡±

    A sour scowl formed upon her face. With a deep guttural growl, she straightened herself in her throne. ¡°Bring them in.¡±

    ¡°S-should I leave, your Greatness?¡±

    One sharp glance silenced the feeble mortal.

    Without any more distractions, Justice ushered in the two gods that were sent to capture Crow, who went into hiding after their attempt.

    The two walked up to the lowest step of the stairs, then kneeled with their heads low. The Empress had half the mind to simply banish them for a decade but knew it would be a waste of resources.

    ¡°You disappoint me,¡± She said viciously. The world around them quaked as reality itself seemed to be warped all around them. ¡°I specifically sent you both to capture the rogue champion. As quietly as possible. But what do I get? Billions upon billions of people seeing your mess. Now we have different news channels trying to trick an answer out of me. You know how damaging it is to our image that one of our own lost control of their champion?¡±

    She rose to her feet. Devina and Kalasraast tensed up as they heard her walk toward them. Kalasraast clenched his fists in preparation while Devina shook in place.

    She earned her name and title for a reason. With so much life present across the universe, her power was beyond everyone''s level, only second to Death. Not only was she the strongest, but she was a vital point in the lives of all gods. Without life, there would be no soul. Without a soul, there would be no ideas. No one to think or believe. Without life, gods would cease to exist.

    She can not be denied, for her powers almost rivaled God himself.

    ¡°The other gods will see us incompetent. Galea here will have to add you both in Callisto''s long list of mistakes.¡±

    Suddenly, her hand wrapped around Devina''s throat. Only one dared to step in. Justice took hold of her wrist and stared deeply into the Empress¡¯ eyes. But one look told him that there was nothing to be worried about.

    Devina struggled as she tried to plead for her life. She attempted to bargain as well. But her words fell on deaf ears.

    ¡°Devina, I am sending you to solve this man''s problem. I want you to follow him back to his planet, and take over. As well as repossessing all his riches and belongings.¡±

    ¡°Your Greatness!?¡± He exclaimed. The mortal wanted to argue and claim it was unfair.

    But he was silenced by her glare. ¡°Years ago, I told you the solution to your problem was to lower your taxes. As well as revoking pointless laws that would harm the earnings of the poor. Yet you returned to me with your planet in shambles. It is clear that you never listened.¡±

    She released Devina and marched up to the cowering mortal. A murderous intent filled the air. Enough to suffocate a man to death.

    ¡°You will be stripped to nothing. All your possessions will be mine to use as I please. Your riches. Your family. And your soul. You wasted my precious time, one that would''ve been better used for when you report your success. Devina, as soon as you take what he owns, send him back to me. He will be sent to Deimos to work.¡±

    ¡°Please, have mercy, my Empress!¡±

    ¡°Fail to return, you shall be held accountable. And you lose the last thing you have left in your pathetic name. Your life.¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Which meant the alternative was death.

    ¡°Dismiss.¡±

    With that, Devina grabbed the broken man and rushed out to perform her latest mission with haste. Devina dared not to disappoint the Empress for a second time.

    The Empress then turned toward Kalasraast.

    ¡°Your mission remains the same. Find Crow, and bring him to me. This is your last chance. But there is a silver lining. Stealth is no longer an option, so you may let yourself loose if you wish. Just bring him in alive.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    She then dismissed him. The Apex still kept his head low as he left. Fists still clenched as he returned to his mission.

    ¡°Justice, you may take a break. I know you''ve been working yourself to the bone.¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°I cannot, Empress. I''ve been tracking down the Bloody Tyrant and found a lead on the planet Igneous.¡±

    ¡°Igneous,¡± She frowned. ¡°I have been meaning to send someone to investigate the strange surge of energy that I felt three years ago. So potent¡­ and familiar. Even so! Take a break. A week will be fine. Relax, tell the Wizard King to take you somewhere nice. I''ll even have Queen Midas fund your short vacation. Oh, almost forgot, send your friend the Masked Lawyer a reward for helping out with Crow.¡±

    ¡°If that''s what you want, then alright. If I''m needed, simply call.¡±

    With that, Justice made for the exit.

    Once gone, the Empress released a loud and tired sigh. She then sluggishly walked back to her throne but then collapsed on top of Death''s lap.

    ¡°This is all so exhausting!¡±

    ¡°This is no issue to you, my love¡­¡± Death spoke only in whispers. As if he was fearful that his voice could harm others.

    ¡°Yeah, but it''s like I only have one functioning brain cell in this whole mess of a universe. The rest are just doing their own thing, making an even more mess. I can''t be everywhere at once. They know that, yet they just don''t do as I say.¡±

    ¡°They are still free¡­ Their loyalty, of course, is unquestionable. But these gods have their own responsibility.¡±

    ¡°I know that! That''s why I formed the Great Pantheon! So we can help each other out. When was the last time I disappointed them? Never! They ask, and I give! But these people are always failing me. It feels like it''s just you, me, and Justice doing things right.¡±

    ¡°Your expectations are too high.¡± He said. ¡°Perhaps you should relax as well. Allow me to take over for once.¡±

    She was shocked at the suggestion. ¡°That''s new. Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Wow, you''re freaking awesome! Thanks, honey! You know what, I''ll go back to our room and start playing my games! My library has been untouched for far too long.¡±

    ¡°Take your time¡­ perhaps you can even stream it.¡±

    ¡°Aw, thanks again for stepping in. I love you so much.¡±

    A small snickering caught her attention.

    ¡°Galea, don''t you dare write those things down. Or else I send you to archive the whole history of the Great Pantheon.¡±

    ¡°Sorry¡­¡±

    *****

    ¡°What do we do? These aren''t making any sense!¡±

    Jonah could not help but whine and complain as they tried to decipher Hound''s journal. It was written in a language even Ivory didn''t know. Or simply, it was just gibberish.

    No, they knew better. Hound was a tricky man. There had to be some sort of clue that would lead to the answer.

    ¡°Nate, do you recognize anything?¡± Scratch asked.

    ¡°Nope, this is just as confusing to me. I mean, what do we even get from this?¡±

    Ivory was almost at the point of shredding the journal apart. ¡°Hound is so damn annoying, despite being practically dead. A few characters get repeated in one or two pages, and then everything changes. Whatever is on this damn thing, he doesn''t want anyone finding out.¡±

    ¡°You''d think someone as smart as him, he would''ve thought twice before double crossing the Bloody Tyrant.¡± Jonah said.

    Nathan sighed. ¡°If Gluttony could talk, she''d probably call him a dumb dog.¡± She would''ve laughed too, despite her being the one who made the pun.

    Gluttony was still limp in his arms. As lifeless as a real puppet. There could''ve been another joke made by her. But the thought only saddened Nathan as he worried for his partner. This was so different from their usual days. The small little puppet would always try and get everyone''s attention. To be in the center of it all. She always thought she was the brains of the two, which the others found strangely adorable.

    He promised her that he would find a way to cure whatever ailment she was in.

    But was there even a slight bit of hope? They weren''t making any progress with the journal. And deciphering it seemed impossible. The three older beings couldn''t comprehend the writings. Abe and Ivory swore it was not written in an old, forgotten language. Scratch, despite her vast knowledge, said it was beyond her understanding.

    Sally had not said anything since they started.

    When they tried to ask Watcher for some clue, he told them even the Bloody Tyrant was befuddled.

    But then, an idea came to Nathan. He and the gang rushed back home and ascended the stairs as quickly as they could. Even passed by the landlady, Miss Mabel, who scolded them all for making so much noise.

    It wasn''t long before Nathan brought them all to the one place he believed held the answer. The Martians. Luckily, they were at home.

    Sadly?

    ¡°This is a bad time, you guys.¡± Conn said. She looked absolutely haggard. And by the look of things, the others seemed to be on the same boat as her.

    Nal was staring at the computer screen like a corpse. D''mym looked as if she was fighting a losing battle with sleep. The rest of the Martian gang, Stev and Raze were already out for the count in their respective desks.

    Conn didn''t even question why the gang was there. Nathan caught the door with his foot just as she was about to close it.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Ivory asked.

    ¡°Jerry already sorted things out, don''t need to get involved.¡±

    ¡°Jerry?¡± Nathan tensed up as the police officer was named. ¡°Conn, what happened!?¡±

    ¡°It''s nothing, now scram, us ladies need to freshen up.¡±

    Jonah frowned. ¡°I know I ain''t the right person to say this, but this isn''t the time for jokes.¡±

    ¡°Dear friend, what troubles you?¡± Abe asked.

    Conn sighed. She glanced at her friends, who might as well be out for the count. Then she ushered the guests in.

    This wasn''t exactly the first time for Nathan to be in their apartment. It was quite spacious for the larger beings. One could describe the room as similar to a computer cafe with all the monitors and junk. The air was extremely cold as well, thanks to the number of air coolers they installed.

    They would''ve sat down, but all the seats weren''t the right size. Except for Sally, who was smaller than the Martians.

    ¡°Alright, something happened last night. We were working on Nathan''s request and- I''ll just tell you, we were so close to solving your stinking mystery.¡±

    ¡°Really!?¡± One piece of good news. Sadly, it just wasn''t meant to be.

    ¡°We lost it,¡± She finally said the bad part. ¡°Not just that, we lost everything. Someone broke in last night while we slept.¡±

    She walked up to her desk and showed them a single USB stick.

    ¡°This was plugged into our PC. All of our information and files were deleted completely. When Jerry left, we tried our best to recover anything. But as you can see, it''s all pointless!¡±

    D''mym howled in tears. ¡°My collection! Gone! I''ve spent all my life, and it''s been ruined!¡±

    ¡°Even our profiles have been deleted. We''re practically ghosts in the internet world!¡± Nal growled.

    It was then that Raze woke up. And she woke up crying.

    ¡°Jeez, this is just sad¡­¡± Jonah said. ¡°I get how they feel, like losing my guns in every mission, but this is just honestly pathetic.¡±

    ¡°Silence, human!¡± D''mym hissed like a feral cat. ¡°You are the pathetic one! You do not understand our plight! And I envy your primitive minds!¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Conn scolded. ¡°Like I said, this isn''t a good time, Nathan. You should leave.¡±

    ¡°But we need help, there''s something I think you guys could solve.¡±

    ¡°Oh no!¡± Stev returned amongst the living, an accusing finger pointed at Nathan alone. ¡°We helped you, someone broke into our home and ruined our life''s work!¡±

    Raze scowled. ¡°Yeah, the moment we got that picture, everything went bad for us. Luckily, whoever did us wrong took the picture too.¡±

    ¡°They what?¡± Nathan''s eyes widened. His only lead to his past life, gone. He would''ve been furious about it, but knew that the Martian girls suffered the most from this. He shook his mind clear. ¡°As long as you girls are alright, I can be without that picture. Still, I need help, and you''re the only ones we have left.¡±

    Before the others could even decline, Conn raised a hand. ¡°Galactic Love 3. Six copies. Not just that, you''ll come and give us a hand when we call you. That''s the price I''m putting up.¡±

    D''mym smirked. ¡°Guess you''ll be seeing us more than usual. We have a lot of stuff to fix.¡±

    Jonah shrugged while Ivory sighed. The two were going to have to share Nathan by the sound of it. Abe was a little out of the loop. Sally was just silent.

    ¡°What is Galactic Love 3?¡± Abe asked the machine.

    ¡°Some video game, that''s all I know.¡±

    Nathan then agreed to Conn''s terms, and they made it official with a handshake.

    ¡°You''re lucky that we''re friends. Now, what do you need help with?¡±

    ¡°This journal is written in some code. Scratch and Abe can''t decipher it, so I thought you five would be our best bet.¡±

    Conn perused the journal. The rest of the Martians stood behind their leader to help out as much as they could. The others watched with bated breath. The journal was skimmed through page by page. Once they got to the end, Conn would go back to the first page and repeat the action. They spoke in their native tongue, a language the two humans didn''t understand.

    They at least expected them to consult their computers, but it seemed that the Martians didn''t need it.

    Suddenly, Stev pointed at something. Their eyes all widened as something was discovered. Before they even knew it, Conn ripped a couple of pages out.

    ¡°What are you doing!?¡± Jonah exclaimed.

    ¡°We know how to decrypt it.¡± Conn claimed. But it just looked like they ruined a good journal.

    They watched as she placed the two pages on the floor.

    ¡°Whoever wrote this was very creative, mixing languages and junk. But they all seem like nonsense because of that. On the edges, there are these half-drawn Martian symbols. That''s when we notice a recurring message, which means ¡°unite¡± in our language.¡±

    It was then they saw the picture. Two halves of a single symbol now one. Which meant that there were more. Slowly, the answer dawned on them. Without any distractions, the Martians tore the journal apart and pieced it back together into the biggest clue they had yet.

    ¡°This was used during the war against Earth, actually, when the Crusade first started,¡± Conn explained. ¡°But usually it was supposed to make a bigger character instead of¡­ whatever this is. See, we Martians don''t communicate much with long sentences. A single word is all we needed back then. We''d carve half of the word for ¡°unite¡± or other words onto the edge of a brick. And once decoded, we scatter the message again for the next group. It was honestly a flawless method. Until the GCC took over Mars.¡±

    Once she was done with her little history lesson, they finally finished decrypting the journal. It wasn''t a giant letter of anything. No, it was something far more complicated.

    ¡°Though, I didn''t think someone would use it for a map¡­¡± Conn said, not just impressed by the result, but with how Hound used the Martian trick.

    It was indeed a map. All the scribble and mixed written languages finally made sense. Hound perfectly crafted a secret map, which looked like gibberish out of context. Not just that, it was a place they recognized.

    ¡°Midas City.¡± Ivory named the city just north of the town they''re in. It was a city that no one could miss as a massive golden statue of Queen Midas was built at the center. The most famous landmark of the planet Igneous.

    ¡°What''s he hiding over there?¡± Abe asked as his brows furrowed. ¡°There¡­¡± His hand pointed on the eastern side of the city, the docks. There was an English word written above the location.

    ¡°Home?¡± Jonah read. It was highlighted red as well. They wouldn''t have seen it without the help of the Martians.

    ¡°I''ve already taken pictures of the map.¡± Sally informed the rest.

    ¡°Good,¡± Ivory faced Conn. ¡°Burn it.¡±

    Conn was taken aback. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    Even Nathan was surprised by the order.

    ¡°We don''t want anyone to find this. Looking at it now, there''s more to it than we know right now.¡± She growled. It was a deep and guttural one too. ¡°Man''s Folly. The Fool''s Crown. Whatever Hound was doing on this planet, it doesn''t look good.¡±

    ¡°Who''s Hound?¡±

    ¡°Someone you don''t want to get mixed with. Now get rid of it.¡±

    ¡°Thanks again, girls. I knew you five would be helpful.¡± Nathan said.

    D''mym started to crumple the map together. Slightly disappointed that they were told to burn their work. ¡°Just remember Nathan, we will call you for some help with our games. None of us like playing the support class.¡±

    ¡°I''ll come running.¡± He promised them.

    With that settled, the two groups parted.

    ¡°Think that was a smart move?¡± Raze asked their leader. ¡°This seems dangerous. You know what kind of messes those guys get into. And I don''t want us to be a part of it.¡±

    Conn shook her head. ¡°A little too late, girls. That break-in is a clear sign that we''ll see more in the future.¡±

    ¡°Girls! I found a backup of our games!¡± Stev informed them.

    ¡°Stev, you''re a goddess!¡± Nal said as everyone rushed over to her desk.

    As they were preoccupied, they had not realized that the map was missing. If they completely checked every nook and cranny, they would have realized that whoever broke into their apartment¡­ was still there.

 XV: Midas City

    Watcher did as he always was told, he watched. That was his job as Evie''s loyal goon. Keeping an eye on what interests her. Unless she planned it herself, he ensured that nothing bad happened to her interests. Though he was still a person who respected the value of a life. Watcher wasn''t a cruel man. Every kill was a merciful one. He was better than Hound. He remembered the days when he was paired up with Hound on a few missions. He detested the man''s methods. Saw it as unnecessary violence. Upon discovering that Hound was still alive, his only desire was to complete the task his master had begun.

    Yet, when he met him. Watcher saw someone else.

    In some other time-line, maybe the two would''ve been good friends. As Nathan was someone Watcher would respect. Regretfully, they were on opposing sides of the board.

    He was aware of their current situation, but he felt no need to inform his master of it. For the first time in ages, Watcher was hesitant. It was information that Evie would undoubtedly find useful. But he kept his tongue and looked away. Perhaps there''s some honor left within him.

    Now he wondered what Nathan was doing back in the apartment. Both he and his partner Bianca waited just outside.

    Bianca, the human whose theme was based on warriors from Earth. Evie always enjoyed dressing up her followers and giving them silly names. The woman in baggy robes was just as silent as him. Both worked well together that way. An unspoken communication between the two which made them a powerful duo.

    As Bianca waited, she fiddled with a strand of her dark hair. Eyes locked onto a cloud in the distant sky. Although she might appear vulnerable to any attack, Watcher was aware that she was always prepared to defend herself. He checked his revolvers as they waited for Nathan. These weapons were specially crafted by Evie. A deadly weapon that only he could use.

    Forged with a metal from a distant planet. Heavy to many, yet light within his hands. It clicked as he turned the cylinder. The Apex checked his ammo and made sure it was full.

    The apartment building''s doors suddenly flew open. And Nathan''s gang flooded out and hurried to Ivory''s van.

    ¡°Welp, guess we will have to follow.¡± Watcher informed his partner as they watched the van speed away.

    ¡°Excuse me folks,¡±

    Both froze just before they could even take a step.

    ¡°Officer Jimmy,¡± A man in uniform flashed his badge at them. ¡°Can I ask some questions? If you don''t mind, that is.¡±

    ¡°Officer,¡± Watcher greeted calmly. ¡°We do mind, actually. Have business to attend and what not.¡±

    ¡°Just a minute of your time.¡± Jimmy said with his eyes sharpened. ¡°You see, there''s been a lot of commotion in this town recently. And I don''t think I''ve ever seen you two before.¡±

    ¡°We''re just here to attend the House of Adam''s charity event. Nothing special.¡±

    Jimmy then chuckled. ¡°Oh, that''s right, how can I forget. Those folks sure are an interesting bunch. Kind and generous. I honestly thank them for giving this town of mine a chance. Guess I''ll be on my way then.¡± He turned his back to them, but kept his eye on the strange duo. ¡°Oh, one more thing. Could I ask what you two were doing last night?¡±

    Watcher was silent for a moment. Then he answered. ¡°Cain''s Diner, a nice place with an amazing owner. When it closed, we then spent our time loitering outside the diner.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Scratch is an amazing cook.¡± Jimmy agreed. ¡°My wife can''t get enough of Scratch''s Eden pie. It''s the only place where you could find them in this town actually. Anyway, guess I''ll leave you both be.¡±

    They watched as the cop walked away. Watcher noticed how close Bianca''s hand was to her sword. He mentally listed off Jimmy as a threat. Someone they needed to avoid at all cost.

    Sadly, there was one more issue. He lost sight of Nathan and his group. The cop managed to hold them off long enough. But he wasn''t shy about it. Watcher pulled out his phone and told Evie about his issue as soon as they were certain Jimmy was out of earshot. It won''t be long before she sends someone to track Nathan down. But a part of him wanted Nathan to be left alone long enough to cure whatever ailment Gluttony had.

    *****

    Nathan sat in the back of the van, Gluttony held within his arms as they made their way to Midas City. Sally was sitting between Jonah and Ivory. Abe couldn''t come along as he had business to attend to.

    He wouldn''t be much of a use anyway. Abe had zero connections in the city, and was a proud pacifist.

    So now it was up to the four to find a way to help Gluttony.

    Our hero worried for his partner. Through thick and thin, they always had each other''s back. No matter the problem. It pained him to see her so lifeless. He started to miss her jokes. Both the bad and good. Heck, he even missed her nasty ones. A foul mouthed puppet. But that was part of Gluttony''s charm.

    Within the spacious room of the van, Nathan sulked against the wall. His hand caressed Gluttony''s cheek. Her wooden exterior was cold against his palm. Then he pressed his hand on her chest. The beat of her heart made him feel at ease. She was still there. Still, there was hope.

    ¡°You must be starving,¡± Nathan muttered. ¡°Been minutes since you ate anything.¡±

    ¡°Minutes? Feels like days!¡±

    ¡°Wait, did the Gluttonous Maw speak!?¡± Jonah exclaimed.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Nathan was quick to apologize. ¡°That was me, I didn''t mean to cause everyone a heart attack.¡±

    Ivory glanced at him through the reflection of the rear view mirror. ¡°You can mimic her voice?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I''m a ventriloquist.¡± He said proudly. ¡°I can throw my voice. But not just that, I can even¡­ speak like Jonah.¡± And just as he said, he mimicked Jonah''s voice perfectly. As if the gunman was the one who spoke.

    This of course surprised Jonah. He couldn''t hold back his smile after he heard his own voice coming from Nathan. ¡°Yo! That is awesome! Why didn''t you tell us that you can do this!?¡±

    ¡°If you two showed up for our performance at the park, then you would''ve known.¡± Nathan said with Ivory''s voice.

    The Sentinel nearly pressed her foot on the breaks. ¡°That¡­ that is quite a trick.¡± She herself doesn''t know if she gave a compliment or not. It was clear she was a little disturbed by his skill.

    ¡°Oh, do Abe!¡± Jonah requested.

    For the rest of the trip, Nathan entertained his friends with a series of voices they requested. Their little fun was short-lived as they soon approached the checkpoint into Midas City. Cars lined up, but they were lucky it was a short one. It wouldn''t be long before they get through. As they waited, Nathan took note of the new things he discovered. It was his first time visiting this place. Or to be correct, his first time in this life. Surely Hound once had been to this city. A man like him would''ve fit well.

    As he stared ahead, the massive and imposing statue of Queen Midas stood at the center of it all. Said to be made with pure gold. Her arm raised to the heavens as she touched the skies itself. Fingers that caressed the clouds shined brightly like a beacon. Somehow, the sun does not reflect off her golden exterior. Instead, it seemed to channel the solar light into her fingers. It was an awe-inspiring sight. More so than when he saw it in the distance. A massive statue built in the goddess of greed¡¯s honor.

    What Nathan noticed next was a list of names on the checkpoint. All in bold letters and easily read with pictures of grotesque demons. One in particular was his friend, Abe. When he brought it up to his friends, Ivory was the one who answered.

    ¡°They''re banned from entering.¡±

    ¡°But isn''t that Abe?¡± He pushed the question further.

    ¡°Redeemers aren''t exactly popular with people, especially to most gods. Despite the fact these gods value their support.¡± Ivory doesn''t seem to be bothered by the fact. If anything, she seemed so happy with the idea. ¡°See, they''re still demons, in and out. Especially when they invaded Earth during World War 2. Most of Asia lost their lives when they ripped open a portal in Japan.¡±

    ¡°But they''re trying to do good?¡± Nathan tried to argue.

    ¡°There are a total of 56 Redeemers at first. Then they lost two. Wanna know why? Because the two demons showed their true colors by opening a portal in Eden. I won''t be surprised if the rest of them start wreaking havoc.¡±

    ¡°Guys, we''re next.¡± Jonah told them.

    They pulled into the checkpoint and paid the entry fee.

    The city is by far different from the little town they lived in. Everything was far more lively. An ocean of people crowded the sidewalk. It would be easy to lose yourself in the current like one would in a raging river. Their previous conversation wasn''t forgotten just yet, Nathan still wondered why someone like Abe could be excluded from this city.

    Sensing the inner conflict, Jonah chose to bring up a question of his own. ¡°How come we don''t get jobs from this city? I mean, it is big enough that some people can be causing trouble somewhere.¡±

    ¡°We aren''t part of the local mercenary company yet, but I did send out our resume to them. Thing is, HIVE hasn''t really gotten back to us, and it''s been months.¡± Ivory explained.

    ¡°Lame! We literally have the best marksman in the galaxy, a Sentinel, and a ventriloquist! We should be hitting the right requirements for them to hire us.¡±

    Nathan chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I''m sure they need an entertainer more than cold hearted killers.¡±

    The rest of the ride was silent. Nathan took note of the city and how much advertisement covered the place. Everywhere you looked, you''d see billboards and screens which showcased their products. The sidewalk is even littered with vendors that were selling all sorts of stuff. One even tried to sell Jonah some ¡°religious¡± trinkets. When they parked the van and continued on foot, they were swarmed by vendors trying to make quick cash. They had run away from the hungry salesmen and women. They even almost stole Sally due to her small size.

    Luckily, they managed to lose them when something else caught their attention. Nathan''s view of this place started to shift further worse as the day continued. People were so persistent. Their deals sounded reasonable, but they knew not to fall for their traps.

    The city was as lively as they''ve witnessed. There times they nearly lost each other due to the hundreds of people walking about. This concrete jungle was certainly a new experience for Nathan. Somehow, Jonah was the only one that seemed to be in tune with the city. No matter how many times he separated, he always found his way back. As if the man was in his element. He even caught Ivory off guard, his short height helped keep him hidden amongst the crowd.

    As they traveled through the city, Wicked, the Champion of Umbra watched from the towering buildings. Her one single eye locked on Nathan.

    ******

    They looked upon the map provided by Sally''s memories as she perched herself on Ivory''s shoulder. It seemed that they finally reached their destination, but they only found themselves at the entrance of an abandoned docks.

    ¡°So, what exactly are we looking for?¡±

    ¡°Hound was looking into Star Forged weapons. If we want help with our current problem, we need to find out what he knows. Anything.¡± Ivory said.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Nathan looked down at his partner. ¡°And if we don''t?¡±

    ¡°The Bloody Tyrant is our only hope.¡±

    An idea they all detest. They wouldn''t beg for her to kill them. Calling her their last hope is unfitting. She was the plan at the bottom of the bin. So Nathan best pray to the gods that Hound would have the solution to their problem.

    The docks were walled off completely. Graffiti covered the surface as far as they could see. This place must''ve been a good spot for the unruly kinds of people. They walked around and sought out the entrance. But Nathan couldn''t help feeling that they were being watched. As they approached the gates, he stopped in his tracks. Jonah armed himself with his rifle as Ivory gently placed Sally on the ground. A fight could be brewing, and they needed to prepare for it.

    Suddenly, heads started popping out from behind the tall walls. People armed to the teeth with all sorts of guns. Jonah couldn''t help but smirk at the idea of ¡°liberating¡± these weapons from these thugs.

    Nathan couldn''t help but feel powerless. All he had on him was his pocket knife and it seemed that this fight was unavoidable.

    He counted them. There were a total of fifteen gunmen. However, there was something at the back of his mind that gnawed on him. As if he knew them somehow. Nathan took a moment to find out why. Like a flash of lightning, he realized why he felt as he did.

    ¡°The owl gang!?¡±He exclaimed.

    ¡°I got eyes!¡± One of them shouted as he focused his scope on the four. ¡°A Sentinel, a white guy, and an Asian!¡±

    ¡°Nathan is Asian?¡±

    ¡°Jonah, you''re Asian. Specifically Korean.¡± Ivory informed him.

    ¡°What!? I thought I was human!¡±

    ¡°Shut up, the both of you!¡±

    Every gun clicked as they aimed at them.

    ¡°Hold up!¡± A feathered hand raised in the air. All heads faced an owl-person. Despite the sense of respect these thugs had for this owl, he himself exuded a calm and relaxed aura. Or simply someone under the influence. ¡°Boss, is that you?¡± The owl asked Nathan.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Boss!¡± He smiled as he rushed down to meet Nathan. But everyone else had changed in emotion. At first they were ready to kill, but now fear filled their eyes as they realized Nathan was who they were about to shoot at.

    ¡°Hi¡­¡± Nathan greeted the owl as they took his hand in theirs and shook it. ¡°You are?¡±

    ¡°Cooper! Or feather brain, like you call me most of the time.¡±

    ¡°Cooper, can we talk somewhere private?¡±

    ¡°Sure thing, boss! We kept your room¡­ untouched.¡±

    Cooper led them into the compound. The owl gang members started to scramble around to make themselves presentable to Nathan. An action he found a little embarrassing knowing this was due to Hound''s cruelty.

    ¡°You have no idea how we missed you, boss! Everything was quiet, sure, but not much has happened ever since you left us a long time ago. Where did you go anyway?¡±

    ¡°I''ll explain everything later.¡± The four followed Cooper deep into the heart of the owl gang. A group Nathan had thought long extinct. Yet here they were, treating Nathan as if he ran the place.

    Despite the warm treatment, none of them lowered their guard. Jonah kept his rifle close, while Ivory watched out for the first sign of danger.

    Once they were in what they assumed was Cooper¡¯s place, Nathan was quick to tell the truth. He explained everything to the owl, from the day he woke up with Gluttony, up to the moment he fought Evie¡¯s lackeys.

    As he recounted his experience, Nathan couldn''t help but notice how much he grew as a person. He didn''t let his past weigh him down. No, Nathan used it as motivation. The decisions of the cruel man he once was only bolstered his determination to do good. Lessons Abe passed down to him. Wisdom and understanding.

    What pushed him to be better was Abe.

    He remembered when they first met. Just to be in fact, Nathan wasn''t one for religion. He didn''t care about worshiping or following the ideals of gods. But he enjoyed hearing Abe during his sermons. Back then, when he first met him, Nathan thought the man simply looked odd. He couldn''t understand why Ivory was so antagonistic toward Abe. Even now as well. Abe was one of the many people that helped build up Nathan into the man who he was today.

    And as Nathan ended his explanation, Cooper looked as if he was sober. The owl¡¯s eyes were as wide as dinner plates. As if he was as shocked as a thunderbolt.

    The gang member took a glass of water shakily and sipped. ¡°So¡­ the Bloody Tyrant, huh?¡±

    Seemed like he was traumatized. Made sense when she herself delivered the message, if memory serves right.

    ¡°Didn''t think¡­ didn''t think you worked for her. Especially when you came out of nowhere to help us out.¡±

    ¡°What did I do for you, bunch, anyway?¡±

    His friends listened closely.

    ¡°Boss¡­ I mean, Nathan. We didn''t do much for you. All you wanted was us to visit every corner of the world for every popular museum location. Gave us plenty of allowance too. After we were done, he started making us do a delivery business in Midas City. Owl¡¯s Pack and Parcel. Invested in it as well.¡±

    ¡°Don''t get it.¡± Jonah scoffed. ¡°Why did he even keep you guys around?¡±

    ¡°Money,¡± Sally suggested. ¡°Seem like OP&P are very successful.¡±

    Cooper chuckled. ¡°Sure is!" Then his shoulders slumped. ¡°Well, he also liked to play pranks on us.¡±

    The door flew open. ¡°Pranks!?¡± A man marched in as he revealed that the other gang members listened. ¡°Nathan didn''t do pranks, he was a sadistic monster!¡±

    ¡°He liked hurting us. Making fun of us.¡±

    ¡°Nathan knew we couldn''t fight back. We were and still are too weak.¡±

    ¡°Cooper only says that he did pranks because Cooper took the least punishments!¡±

    Nathan winced at every word. It felt like a knife on his back. And with every new complaint, the knife was twisted.

    ¡°I''m just¡­ not trying to hurt Nathan''s feelings.¡± Cooper argued.

    ¡°It''s fine.¡± Nathan''s voice silenced the complaints as they took a step back. It seemed that they still feared Hound despite being long gone.

    He rose to his feet and bowed toward them.

    ¡°I apologize for what he did, but I promise you that I''m nothing like that man. All I ask from you is to continue doing what you do and commit no crimes.¡±

    They were taken aback by his apology. What they thought to be the monster they feared was a man with humility and kindness. With his words still lingered in their minds and hearts, they looked at each other and wondered what to do.

    Should they accept his apology and move on? Or hold onto a grudge for a dead man.

    Instead, they chose to say nothing as they left one by one. Seemed like they felt regret, or simply knew that their hatred was pointless when there was no one to direct it at. The man who kicked down the door stayed, he said no word as he leaned against the doorframe.

    ¡°Cooper, there''s something I need from your boss. He was researching Star Forged weapons and we are wondering if you know.¡±

    ¡°Sure! Your old room!¡±

    With that, the stand-in leader of the Owl Gang- now formally known as the Owl¡¯s Pack and Parcel- led the four deeper into their hideout. Or the office.

    Despite looking as if it was abandoned, this docks turned out to be an actual office and warehouse. As they walked deeper, they could see how their business functioned. Dozens of gang members turned employees worked as hard as they could to keep the system flowing.

    There were some who glanced at Nathan warily here and there.

    It surprised them that they had such a complex and well working business. But that begged the question: Why need all those guns?

    As if he read their mind, Cooper spoke. ¡°It''s because we have competitors. Yes, I know you''re wondering why we all are so armed. Living in Midas City is one thing, but having an actual business here is like going to war. Every now and then some rival delivery company hires a different gang to ruin our business. You think we were the ones who painted graffiti on the walls? No, those were the Spider Gang.¡±

    Jonah scoffed. ¡°Wouldn''t your boss have done something to scare them off?¡±

    ¡°When he was around. But they know that he''s gone so they try their luck. Back then we wouldn''t be worried much since Nathan would¡­ make an example. Then that''s it.¡±

    They entered a room with a metal door. The door looked like it would better fit a bunker. A single red light on top glowed ominously. The wheel at the center had some black paint pattern of sorts.

    ¡°This was his room. No one can get in but him.¡±

    ¡°Great, a dead end.¡± Jonah groaned. ¡°Nath, go check if it''s one of those eye scanner things. Maybe a thumb print one.¡±

    ¡°It''s the best idea we have for now. Unless Sally can hack into it.¡±

    Sally shot a glare at Ivory. ¡°I may be a robot, but I''m not a technomancer. Stop assuming I can do all kinds of robot tricks!¡±

    Nathan walked up to the door and inspected it. As he reached for it, he heard a whisper. ¡°Don''t touch it¡­¡± He pulled away as quickly as he could.

    ¡°Something wrong, Nate?¡± Jonah asked.

    ¡°Right, I''m so out of it that I almost forgot. The boss didn''t like people going through his stuff so he trapped this door to deter us. But he honestly encouraged us to try.¡±

    ¡°You know what? I''m sure a jerk like him would do that.¡±

    ¡°How do we proceed?¡± Sally asked.

    ¡°Left frame¡­¡± The voice whispered again.

    Nathan ran his fingers down the side of the door. He felt something jutting out so he gave it a press. The whole door surface came alive with a layer of electricity. Nathan didn''t flinch unlike his friends. Despite holding one part of the door, it seems that Nathan was safe. So he held down the button longer until the red light on top went out.

    Now it made sense. The black paint on the wheel at the center of this door wasn''t painted at all. No, it was soot. Someone who was unaware of the trap must''ve touched it. Now their palms burned onto the metal completely.

    Once the light vanished, Nathan checked to see if there was still some electricity left. Thankfully, it was out of juice. Now the lock was left.

    Seemed like Hound was a man of puzzles. The lock looked like it came out of a video game and anyone with a brain could solve it.

    Sally came in handy as she finished the puzzle instantly.

    Only to find out another puzzle.

    An hour went by as Sally finished the last puzzle. It seemed to be purposely made that way in order to frustrate whoever wanted to go in. They would''ve tried to pick the lock, but Jonah was electrocuted as soon as he pushed his gun repair tools into it. Once again, Jonah cursed Hound in his grave.

    The door opened. Cooper and the gang member watched in awe as they finally could see what was within.

    Everyone cautiously entered, knowing there could be a final trick.

    The room itself was surprisingly decent. Unlike the apartment back in Titus, this place was in better condition despite three years of neglect.

    There were knives on display, books on the desk, and a fridge full of lemon blast. The bed, though dusty, was covered in expensive sheets. Jonah was quick to fold it up for him to take. Whether or not he was going to sell it, it was up to Jonah. Some spare clothes in the dresser. And a strange suit in a glass display.

    The suit seemed to be skin-tight, a series of sheath for knives all over. It was completely black. One might confuse it as some superhero''s tights.

    ¡°Pretty sure these all still fit you, Nate.¡± Jonah commented as he began taking some clothes.

    ¡°Stealing is wrong.¡±

    ¡°Nate, it is all technically yours.¡± Jonah argued.

    Ivory hummed. ¡°Didn''t expect him to wear something like this, though.¡± She said as she eyed the one in the glass display.

    Sally grabbed a knife. ¡°It seemed to be that he favored the blade. He must''ve been some kind of assassin then.¡±

    ¡°Knowing that jerk, he probably likes to keep it quick or slow.¡± Jonah said as he noticed some jewelry.

    As they looked around, the gang member was trying to open a safe while Cooper stared at the pictures on the desk. There were only pictures of everyone in the Owl Gang. All of which had some kind of ranking.

    ¡°Cooper, help me with this!¡±

    ¡°Leave it alone, Jared. We don''t know what he keeps in there, and I would rather not find out.¡±

    ¡°It could be loaded with cash!¡±

    ¡°Maybe. But it might have some dirt on us.¡±

    Jared glared at Cooper. ¡°That''s why we need to get it! Nathan probably knows where we''re all from.¡±

    While this happened, Nathan and his friends were gathered around the books. Each of them was searching for anything that could help. Sally skimmed through the books easily.

    Nathan walked up to the safe as the two members of the Owl Gang argued. The safe was locked with a keypad which had numbers and letters on them.

    As if the voice returned, Nathan recalled something from his dreams and Hound''s apartment. Conquestum, sanguinem et potestatem.

    With those words in mind, his hand moved instinctively as he typed in the words.

    Everyone froze as the safe hissed as it opened.

    All it contained was a collection of discs. In one neat stack was the name of various Owl Gang members. In the other was a series of dates with very interesting titles.

    ¡°You got a TV around here, Cooper?¡± Nathan asked.

    Everyone was back at Cooper''s office. Nathan placed a disc that dated close to his awakening. Two years before he woke up as a new man. As the tape came alive, they were greeted by Nathan.

    He was different, one could tell easily. Now they saw how he carried himself, the way he stood. Hound was walking around in that same suit from the glass case, but paired with some cargo pants. Covered in knives as well. Best of all, his face. Compared to Nathan''s relaxed features, it seemed that Hound¡¯s brows were locked in an eternal scowl.

    As Hound finished his short task, he faced the screen with a mischievous smile. ¡°Today, my oh so powerful mistress, Evie, is giving me two jobs. I must travel to Titus and seek out a potential ally to the cause. The other one is just research. As if she doesn''t have those scientist class clones running around.¡±

    The group listened intently.

    ¡°Bella Smith.¡± He showed the camera a picture of a teenager.

    She looked nothing like Siren. The girl in the picture seemed more like someone you''d see only in the background. Just another face to ignore. It seemed that Siren grew more throughout the years.

    ¡°This kid looks like that loser you''ll see the popular kids would pick on in those trashy movies.¡± Hound chuckled to himself. ¡°But that''s the reason Evie wants her. Part of the experiment. Sometimes I don''t understand gods. But even they get bored I guess.¡±

    Hound pocketed the picture and played with a knife.

    ¡°Other news, Beatrix requested a change of partners. Now I''m paired up with some chick named Jackie. Frosty, as Evie named her.¡± Hound tossed the knife at a target behind him. A frightening accuracy that hit the target dead center. ¡°An annoying fangirl of Justice. Ironic, fire and ice. Guess she''s stuck in her own little fantasy.¡±

    ¡°She''s a fan of Justice too?¡± Nathan gasped.

    Jonah snickered. ¡°Before you, to be in fact.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous. She even flaunts that damn card Justice signed. Makes me want to steal it and write my name on the card just to spite her.¡± Hound reached over to turn off the camera.

    ¡°This doesn''t help! Next one!¡± Jonah said.

    This time, it was a familiar scene. The apartment back in Titus. Hound was stacking books around. ¡°Right. I''ve made contact with the kid. She''s worse than I thought. Total doormat. Her peers just push her around like she''s nothing. Makes me a little mad. Only a little.¡±

    ¡°Guess he does have a heart.¡± Ivory commented.

    Hound pulled out a strange syringe filled with a strange liquid. ¡°Tomorrow, I''ll inject it into her arm. This is the next phase of the experiment which Evie entrusted me with. This little thing is apparently a mushroom. Made by she who is evil.¡± He sneered. ¡°Anyway. This thing will travel to Bella''s heart and grow on the outside. It''ll either clog up her veins with spores, or her body adapts to it like a symbiote. What it does, Evie hadn''t really told me. But I assume it''ll help our little wallflower here to bloom.¡±

    It ended as soon as it started. A quick recording.

    ¡°Spores. That''s what happened!¡± Nathan concluded. ¡°Siren uses spores to control the boys at her school. But she must''ve lost control of them and the incident happened.¡±

    ¡°Then they disappeared.¡± Sally finished.

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Jonah said as he stared at the screen. ¡°Note to self, don''t go near her.¡±

    ¡°When she tried it on me, I wasn''t affected. Maybe I have immunity.¡± Nathan said.

    They placed the next disc which took place back at his room. ¡°So the spores. They attack the brain and connect it to the fungus in Bella''s chest. Creating some kind of hive mind. Fascinating, that''s for sure. In other words! I''ve found it!¡± Hound was happy with himself. His pride brimmed brightly as he smiled viciously at the camera. ¡°When the whole thing went to chaos, I snuck into the school library and stole it!¡± He showed the camera a red rotary phone.

    ¡°That looks awfully familiar.¡± Jonah told them. ¡°Like I''ve seen it before.¡±

    ¡°Just look like an ordinary phone.¡± Ivory argued.

    ¡°If it''s important to the boss, then this must''ve been something magical.¡± Jared said.

    ¡°This little gem is the Voice! There were only two ever made. And its purpose is to call the one and only Star Forger! Funny, a god that can be reached via rotary phone. This is going to help me with my next research. Only issue is¡­ it seems to be out of power.¡±

    Hound gently placed it on his desk.

    ¡°Evie is entrusting to me the Gluttonous Maw, her father¡¯s weapon. To a mortal, this weapon is like a cancer that slowly takes your life. I''ve seen the corpses left by these Star Forged Weapons. All dried up husk of what they used to be. Not only do they consume the essence of life. But these weapons consume the soul. My exposure to these things must remain minimal or else I risk dying to it. No different to my current situation. Other news, I''m stuck with Bella, now known as Siren. Great. I rather not have her spores control my mind.¡±

    ¡°That''s it!¡± Nathan shot up from his seat. ¡°This is what we needed!¡±

    ¡°So Evie trusted Hound enough to let him do such an important job? I thought I was dumb!¡± Jonah smiled mischievously.

    ¡°We need to watch his research.¡± Ivory ordered as she placed the next disc.

    For the next few hours, they watched Hound ramble on and on. Sometimes he talked about his distaste of Evie''s lackeys. Seemed like their hate for Nathan was warranted. As they went disc by disc, they finally reached what they were looking for.

    ¡°I did it!¡± Hound cackled. ¡°I found out how to power the Voice! Everything led up to this moment! I am Nathan White! Greatest man in the galaxy!¡± He cleared his throat as he fixed his appearance. ¡°Let me explain. See, these weapons are made from a fraction of a god¡¯s soul. What some don''t know is that it becomes an altar of its own.¡±

    Ivory would''ve arched a brow if she had one. ¡°It can do what now?¡±

    ¡°With that said, you can practically pray anywhere and give offerings. But¡­ instead of the offerings giving power to the gods themselves, the weapons store it. I''ve already tested it a dozen times on the Gluttonous Maw. I was able to erase more than I should''ve. Such power. All you need is the proper ritual and the right offering. You can''t just throw a bread roll at a weapon and ask. You need to do it right. With this research, I''ll be able to contact the Star Forger and find out where Man''s Folly is!¡±

    Though they were concerned about that last part, they were ecstatic about their findings. Something to help bring back Gluttony.

    ¡°So that is it. We have to perform a ritual. But, how do we do one for Kalasraast?¡± Jonah questioned.

    Sally tilted her head. ¡°No clue. I haven''t really thought it''d be important. And worse of all, Kalasraast isn''t exactly one for followers. Especially when he lost them all when Evie took over Stalfos.¡±

    ¡°We will figure it out. Best get started then.¡± Ivory told them as she led them out of the room. ¡°Best start with the library.¡±

    As they walked out of the building, they noticed a strange gathering of the other members of the gang. They noticed something was frightening them. With that said, Nathan and the others rushed through the crowd to find out what made them restless.

    Standing at the gate was a woman in strange clothes. It was as green as Nathan''s sleeves. Her face, only half-visible, was extremely pale. Bug-like eyes served as lenses for the mask she wore. Despite sending fear through the Owl Gang, she herself shivered in fright.

    Jonah growled deeply as his eyes turned white. ¡°She has traces of godly magic.¡± He informed them as he gazed upon her soft glow with his altered vision.

    Nathan took out his pocket knife and Ivory cracked her knuckles.

    As the three prepared for a fight, someone else was interested in them.

    As this happened, a figure back in Cooper¡¯s office picked up the most recent disc. About three years ago. The moment Nathan experienced his change. This stranger placed it into the player and watched.

    ¡°Gods be damned!¡± Hound rushed around the room and gathered up the discs into the safe. ¡°Evie¡­ Evie knows! She found out I have been selling information to the GCC! My connections with the Immortal! Smuggling weapons to Venus 1! Everything! She knows that Tempest sent me! Whoever finds this, please, give it all to Crow, Champion of War! And please, tell dad I''m sorry for being such an awful son. I''m sorry, but I doubt I''ll make it out of here. And Tempest?¡± He grinned widely despite the situation he was in. ¡°I proved you wrong! I have Man''s Folly!¡±

    The video ends. The figure hurried to gather up the important discs but left the ones about the Owl Gang members. Thanks to the commotion outside, her thievery was effortless.

 Interlude I: Redeeming Qualities

    Abe watched as his friends exited the building. He prayed for their safety as he returned to his home. He would''ve joined them, but Redeemers are forbidden to enter Midas City. Despite the power they held, and their strong connection with the Sentinels, many gods still defied them.

    And they were still feared.

    It was evident with how Abe was treated. The door to his home had seen abuse throughout the years. Defaced with insults and threats. In time, their views on him mellowed. But he couldn''t blame them. He learned to forgive them for they didn''t know better. Such as the guidance of his lord. Abe was a devout Christian for hundreds of years now.

    As he opened the door, Abe froze as a chill crawled up his spine. A whisper, then a silence. As he entered his home, the room felt warmer than it should''ve been. No. It was getting hotter.

    ¡°Goliath. Old friend. Must be a special occasion to have you visit me today.¡±

    A hulking beast appeared over his shoulder. His stout figure dwarfed Abe greatly. Clothes torn and weathered, along with his armor. Goliath¡¯s right arm was a grotesque demonic arm that pulsed with hellish magic as bones protruded from his skin and acted as spikes. Upon his only shoulder pad, on his right, was a golden cross that burned itself into the metal. His horns were crooked yet sharp, and far more crude than Abe''s. His dented armor was warped, as if it saw eons of battle. A red pentagram glowed intensely upon his chest.

    His helm was torn by the mouth, which showed his rows of jagged teeth. Beneath the broken visor, only darkness could be seen. A void that stared back.

    This giant wandered about Abe''s room. It was sparsely decorated. A Redeemer didn''t need any form of comfort; a stark contrast to the Sentinels who wished to mimic the mortal. Redeemers simply had an objective they desired to fulfill at any cost. So Abe didn''t require much for his home other than the altar with numerous religious items. And the fridge was full of snacks and drinks in case Abe''s friends visited.

    Goliath was the de facto leader of their group, the demon that started it all. Long ago, they fought for the GCC. Now they were free to serve the Great Pantheon.

    The bigger demon approached the altar and seemed to be deep in thought. Despite his appearance, Goliath was a calm and critical person.

    His claws gently touched one of the many symbols that hung above the altar. It seared his hand with holy and righteous energy. ¡°You''ve been busy, Abraham.¡± Goliath spoke with a strange echo. His voice was a mix of different pitches and tones. But the deepest voice was the most notable one.

    ¡°Yes. A better use of my time I do believe.¡±

    ¡°A waste of time from my perspective.¡± Goliath stepped away from the altar, the symbol of Umbra upon his palm. Which slowly vanished. ¡°This profession is unsuitable for our kind. We are a being of darkness and chaos. War should be your concern. Not the schedule of your next sermon.¡±

    ¡°Are you merely here to lecture me, brother?¡±

    Goliath chuckled. ¡°No.¡± The giant marched around the apartment as he examined Abe. His massive claw left a trail behind him as he cut the carpet. ¡°You are the closest. So this responsibility falls upon you, brother.¡±

    ¡°I will see what I must do.¡±

    Without a second thought, Abe began to pack up a suitcase.

    ¡°That is not all.¡± Goliath informed him as he towered above Abe. ¡°There seems to be a disturbance on this planet in recent events. Do you know the cause of this?¡±

    ¡°I cannot say.¡±

    ¡°Lying is a sin.¡±

    ¡°Something I will only confess to a proper priest.¡±

    Goliath growled. ¡°Why must you aggravate me?¡±

    ¡°Because I have other concerns. We have many within our creed. So I believe you may call others instead.¡± With his suitcase packed, Abe began to head out. ¡°Tell our siblings that I said hello.¡±

    ¡°None of them care to even learn our new names.¡± Goliath chuckled. ¡°This will be farewell, brother. Do not disappoint.¡±

    As Abe left the building, he pulled out his phone and called a number. After a short wait, a police car drove up in front of him.

    ¡°Father,¡± Jimmy tipped his hat as Abe climbed into the passenger seat. ¡°Where to?¡±

    The car sped out of town.

    ¡°So, what''s going on with Ivory and the gang? Nathan called me earlier to stop a couple of strangers.¡±

    ¡°Some rival mercenaries trying to impede on their business.¡±

    ¡°You''re a terrible liar, Father.¡± Jimmy chuckled. ¡°It''s about Gluttony isn''t it?¡±

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°Perceptive as always, Jimmy. I am impressed by your skills.¡±

    Jimmy smirked. ¡°It''s what you taught me. So, what''s going on with the gang? By the looks of it, they''re going to Midas City.¡±

    ¡°Have faith, this problem will be over before we even know it.¡±

    Abe opted to simply watch the farm fields as they drove by, making sure Jimmy was kept in the dark. The priest wondered how Nathan was fairing. He was worried for his friends, and knew that this was their battle. He had his own problems, his own mission. He only prayed for them.

    Soon, the car stopped. Abe stared upon the house. It looked unkempt with one window on the second floor boarded up. Seemed like this place had seen worse, as if a storm recently ran through it. He reached his destination, and there was time to spare.

    Jimmy helped the priest unload his bags from the car. The two then walked up to the porch where a man and a woman stood waiting. Their eyes full of grief as they approached. He greeted the couple but the two were far too distraught to say a word. Instead, they merely nodded back in greeting.

    The two walked past them and into the house. The inside was just like the outside, on a brink of ruin. It was a mess everywhere they could see. Dirty dishes in the sink, scratches on the floor, and stains that seemed to hold a dark secret.

    ¡°Blood?¡± Jimmy questioned.

    ¡°Worse.¡± Abe said ominously.

    The two continued deeper into the house and ascended the stairs.

    Jimmy frowned. ¡°Father, it''s cold.¡±

    ¡°It''s to be expected.¡±

    The chill was coming from the door ahead. As they made their way over, Jimmy noticed more scratches and stains. He swallowed down the lump in his throat as he steeled his will.

    As Abe reached for the doorknob, Jimmy suddenly felt a cold wind rush through him.

    The priest wasted no time and opened the door.

    There on the bed was a woman, tied down. But Jimmy knew she wasn''t human. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were black as the void.

    The cop clenched his fist as he witnessed this tortured soul. ¡°She''s possessed.¡±

    ¡°One would think she is I''ll with disease, but you''re as perceptive as always.¡± Abe complimented. ¡°Set my bag down and lock the door. We cannot let her escape.¡±

    Jimmy did as he was told, then took his place in the corner of the room. His eyes never left the woman, and so did hers. She watched Jimmy like a hawk as moved about the room. It was disturbing how she never blinked as she stared deeply into his soul.

    Abe took his place by the bedside. His hands clasped together behind his back as he looked upon the bound woman.

    There was a long moment of silence before Abe finally spoke. ¡°Hello, old friend.¡±

    The woman grinned, her yellow teeth bared as black ooze ran down her lips. ¡°Abraham.¡± She whispered. Her voice was deep and guttural. Jimmy couldn''t help but step away from this woman. ¡°Abraham.¡±

    ¡°Why must you torture this poor mortal?¡±

    ¡°Why are you here to stop me?¡±

    Abe scoffed. ¡°This realm is not yours to walk.¡±

    ¡°Fool. We deserve this reality. You know it.¡±

    ¡°They owe us nothing.¡± He argued.

    ¡°They owe us everything.¡± The woman argued as she grinned wickedly. The black ooze began to crawl down her cheek from her eyes. ¡°We gave these humans free will! The apple of Eden! The succulent fruit that gave them their identity!¡±

    ¡°It was a deed not yours.¡± Abe scoffed. ¡°You were not the vile snake that condemned humanity.¡±

    ¡°Condemned!? Freed!¡± The woman cackled with her guttural voice. ¡°But you aren''t here to argue about that, traitor. Why must you deny me this? Why hinder my quest?¡±

    ¡°You have no place in this world.¡± Abe reminded her.

    Abe reached into his bag and took out a bottle. It was warm in his hand. He uncapped it and splashed the woman. Jimmy nearly flinched when she began to scream as the liquid burned her skin. Her back arched as she struggled with her binds.

    ¡°Return to the pits, old friend, free this woman from your hold. Free their daughter. Or suffer.¡±

    ¡°You are a fool, Abraham!¡± She hissed. But when she spoke, her voice was distorted as the holy water burned upon her flesh. It wasn''t physical damage, no. It was attacking the demon within her. ¡°These mortals hate us! Hate you! They despise you! Your efforts are in vain!¡±

    Abe remained stoic as he was verbally abused.

    ¡°You are weak! Pathetic! Allowing these mortals to treat you as nothing more than a plague! Can''t you see that they do not love you!? You are a fool! I have seen your world!¡±

    Abe''s apartment door flashed in his mind. Defaced and disrespected by those that feared him. To these mortals, he was no different from the beasts of hell. Yet¡­

    ¡°Leave this realm. And never come back.¡± Abe took out a wooden cross. Both it and his fingers burned, the smoke filled the room which only served to harm the demon possessing the woman.

    ¡°Don''t be blinded! You are one of us! Release me!¡±

    Abe pressed the cross upon her forehead. The demon screamed louder. Outside, the couple could only hold onto each other as they listened to the cries of the demon within their daughter.

    ¡°Abraham!¡± She began to struggle harder. Desperate to escape from this pain. A cruel irony. This demon tortured this woman for days, yet here he was, feeling the pain brought upon by his own kin. ¡°Traitor! I will have your eyes! Your skin! I will devour your precious friends! Starting with Nathaniel!¡±

    ¡°Leave!¡±

    Suddenly, she stopped. She went silent. Her eyes cleared out and her skin began to change back. Her body goes limp with a soft groan. ¡°What¡­ what''s happening?¡± She asked with the voice of her own.

    ¡°Is it over?¡± Jimmy questioned as he approached.

    ¡°Stay back!¡± Abe tried to warn him, but it was too late.

    The woman¡¯s arm broke free from the bind and she clamped his hand around Jimmy''s throat. Jimmy had faith in Abe, but lost sight of the threat far too quickly. He should''ve seen it coming by a mile, but he let his guard down.

    ¡°See, Abe!?¡± Her eyes turned black once more. ¡°Humans are weak! They deserved to be ruled by us! Release me, or I will break his pathetic neck!¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry about me! Finish the exorcism!¡± Jimmy tossed his self preservation away. Instead he cared more about the well being of this woman, this victim of this foul demon.

    ¡°Silence! He can''t do a thing as long as I have both you mortals within my grasp!¡±

    ¡°*****¡±

    The woman froze. ¡°No¡­¡± She weakened her grip, which allowed Jimmy to slip away. She glared at Abe and struggled much more with the remaining ropes. ¡°You dare!?¡±

    ¡°What was that, Father? What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Jimmy, leave the room. You must not hear this. Or else you would bring terrible things upon your own life.¡±

    Jimmy wasted no time and exited the room.

    The woman growled as she reached for the ropes. ¡°Don''t you dare, *****!¡± She froze completely.

    ¡°Abraham, you coward!¡±

    ¡°You''re the coward! Preying on the weak! Now you face someone of the same caliber!¡± Abe splashed her with more holy water and pressed the cross harder on her face. ¡°With your true name uttered, I command you to return to the depths of hell! Free this woman from your wrath! And never return!¡±

    ¡°Abraham!¡± She howled with the voices of hundreds.

    The demon within burned as he was forced out of the woman. He tried to cling onto her soul, but it slipped past his crooked fingers. The last thing he saw was the hate within Abe''s eyes as he was painfully thrown back down below. Back into the darkness. The moment his true name was uttered, the demon lost.

    Abe watched as the color returned to this woman''s skin. Instantly, she recovered from the pain. And her breathing returned to normal as the traces of the demonic energy vanished.

    He took this chance to douse the embers of the cross in his hand with the holy water; the combination of the two holy tools burned his hand greatly. But Abe fought through it. He then stored his items away. This was his struggle, but the fire within burned brighter than the one that harmed him.

    As he was about to leave, the woman stirred awake. Her eyes landed upon him and his demonic visage, so she screamed. Abe simply nodded and left immediately. He didn''t want to stress this woman any further. Jimmy said nothing when Abe walked out of the room, he simply followed the priest out of the house. Abe made sure to inform the parents that their daughter was safe. They thanked him of course. One would be grateful for the one who saved your family.

    Abe wished he was informed sooner and spared this family the moment of pain and sorrow. But he was glad he was able to do something despite being late.

    The ride back to town was silent, Jimmy didn''t question anything. He was just glad Abe saved the woman.

    It was a stressful event for the cop. He was nearly killed for it, but thanks to Abe, he lived to see his family another day.

    Jimmy stepped on the breaks once they reached Abe''s apartment. He even walked the priest to the steps. ¡°Glad you helped them out, Father.¡± Jimmy said as he sat down on the steps. Despite doing nothing the whole time, Jimmy felt tired from the whole ordeal. ¡°Guess we can trust demons like you.¡±

    ¡°No, don''t ever trust a demon, Jimmy.¡± Abe told him.

    ¡°Even you?¡±

    ¡°Especially me. There are those that would take advantage of your kindness by mimicking it. You shouldn''t trust demons for they do not see you as an equal. They are emotionless. And seek nothing but to destroy what He created.¡±

    ¡°I''m sure I can trust you, Father.¡± Jimmy argued. ¡°You did help raise me to be the man I am today.¡±

    Abe could only chuckle. ¡°For that, I am grateful for your trust.¡±

    Both noticed a peculiar van. ¡°Hey, does Ivory have a driver''s licence?¡± Jimmy inquired as the van approached.

    ¡°Don''t believe so¡­¡±

    Jimmy sighed. ¡°I''ll overlook it for now. But I will have a word with her.¡±

    ¡°Guess they''re done with Midas City.¡± Abe smiled. ¡°I wonder what tomorrow holds for us. And I pray it will be Sunny.¡±