The night within John's mind proved remarkably calm, a stark contrast to the escalating chaos of his waking world. He found himself once more inside his mindscape, spending hours in quiet rest and conversation with the various beings in his mind. There was a subtle undercurrent of concern about his actions and an almost casual dismissal about how Butcher and Carnage who had both been conspicuously absent the entire day. John, however, dismissed the thought with a wave reassurance; he trusted them, there was a bond forged in countless battles both internal and some external so he knew their reasons, whatever they might be where reasonable and probably had their own reasons for it.
This night's discussion among his mental inner circle centered around the new strategy and approach he was taking. The opinion of his choice was split down the middle; a shared sense of grim determination and resolve to kick the gods and their minions' teeth in led by Yami on the one side and on the other, led by Braedon where those who felt he was being pressured and needed to properly think this through, how his old path was the solid and steady path. His concerns were the most vocal and made it clear his worry was that their aggressive approach might provoke a direct intervention from the myriad gods overseeing their existence, potentially wiping them out wholesale before they even had a chance to grow enough to properly defend themselves or go through with there plans. The arguments flowed back and forth between both sides, Lesh having chosen to remain neutral and tried his best to keep the peace as the Yami and Breadon fell into a torrent of strategizing and philosophical debate. Eventually though Braedon, still visibly uneasy relented. The prevailing counter-argument that pushed him over the edge was when he highlighted that the gods' inherent arrogance and their preference for manipulating 'little pawns' and the 'Administrators' own stiff rules they had shown in regards to non-interference unless needed would they had some freedom to openly act now, as they had no other choice if they wanted to appease the gods, how they had to make use of what they now had and press forward with full steam rather than taking steps back. Humans, He added, were merely ants to them, just a form of entertainment to these celestial observers so they would rather take enjoyment in seeing how it progresses over getting their hands dirty, even now he expressed his doubt about them caring much how they would instead act through there pawns or administrators. From there a collective agreement formed: extreme care and caution would be their watchwords moving forward, but they would stop holding back and begin lashing out however they could using what they had, going from defensive to full offensive yet with a promise from John to still be ready to go snapping turtle if things went south, going back onto the defensive but still ready to lash out and attack anything that gets near.
Slowly waking up he felt the familiar, comforting pressure of the girls' bodies nestled against his sides and on his chest, a warmth he hoped would become a cornerstone of his future, if he were being honest with himself, it was something he didn't know he was missing, something he really enjoyed waking up to. He gently stirred, carefully wriggling himself from the tangle of limbs and eliciting soft murmurs of protest as he eased out of the bed, even though he wished he could have stayed longer. But as his feet touched the cool floor, a prickle of unease snaked its way up his spine. Something was undeniably off. His gaze, sharp and assessing, instinctively flickered to the far corner of the room.
There, leaning against the polished stone, stood a figure he hadn't invited yet annoyingly familiar with its theatrical, unnerving presence. With a sigh he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "I figured someone would show up after all the commotion I caused yesterday," John started, his voice calm and devoid of surprise, "I was more hoping for an imp though if I'm honest. But considering how much you've had your hands in things lately it makes sense for it to be you." His words where without any aggression but were sharp enough to slice through the lingering sleepiness of the girls and cause them to realize they weren't alone. Their eyes snapped open, instantly widening as they looked at the unwanted guest in their private space.
The clown girl, all painted smiles and unsettling cheer, tilted her head. "Awww, now that's kinda rude, don'tcha think?" she simpered, her voice dripping with fake sadness. She gestured grandly to an invisible audience. "I'm just doing my job well trying to work my way up to the big leagues especially as were getting plenty more views lately. Don't you all watching think it's kinda mean of him to talk to little old me that way?" Her gaze, though playful, held a razor's edge as she looked at him from the corner of her eyes as she pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears.
Ignoring her theatrical ploys entirely, he stretched slowly the subtle creak of his muscles a mundane counterpoint to her bizarre performance before glanced at the girls and giving a small smile before mouthing 'Play along,' before striding purposefully toward the door. The clown, clearly frustrated by his utter lack of reaction narrowed her eyes into dangerous slits, her painted smile tightening as she floated behind them. "Hey! It's rude to ignore your host! Especially one as beautiful as me!" she called out, a hint of genuine irritation now lacing her voice.
"Then follow along," John replied, perfectly casual, not even bothering to look back. He settled his heavily armored hand, a weight he was slowly growing used to over the hilt of the peculiar sword at his hip with a mental command mixed with some chains over it for effect, a gesture of almost unconscious readiness. "Also, I'm not ignoring you. I'm just heading to check some things. You're welcome to follow along and talk as we walk but I can't put everything on hold just for you, besides, me and the girls haven't even had our breakfast yet and that happens to be an important meal." He practically teased and joked at her expense well patting his stomach.
"You really have a lot of nerve, don't you?" she asked, her voice incredulous, a high-pitched, almost delighted cackle escaping her lips. "But that's probably why you're boosting my ratings so much! Oh, but fattening back up? That was a real bad call, no one likes a fatty! How did you do that by the way?" She teased, her eyes darting between him and the girls, clearly seeking a reaction.
John merely chuckled in a way that seemed to dismiss her entirely. "The girls here would probably beg to differ. And I'll have you know being chubby is awesome. A big guy knows how to eat, knows what's good tasting, always has snacks and often know how to cook! Not even mentioning how warm we get and our cuddly softness!" he countered, Ash and Saya each grabbing him on a side and pressing themselves into him as if to prove a point well giving her smug looks before continuing in stride as he led them through the sprawling, subtly humming base and town, heading directly for the colossal machines that dominated its central chamber.
"Sure, sure, believe whatever you want," she conceded, though her tone remained dismissive and annoyed at not getting the rise she wanted out of any of them as she looked around, seemingly taking in all the changes and people. "Rather, answer something for me. How did you do all of this in a day? Not just the many buildings that sprung up but also the various forces and people you now seem to have garnered! Most of the gods viewing are calling it favoritism from our end and have been complaining a whole lot about it. So, kindly answer my questions not just for me but those currently watching, if you don't, I might need to make you answer!" Her voice turned overly sweet, yet her eyes glowed with an undeniable, menacing intensity.
"Oh? I just had some sponsors give me aid." John replied, his hand leaving his sword to jerkily gesture vaguely at the surrounding infrastructure. "I made sure everything was kept within the rules. But you know what? How about if the Mad Dogs and others win this little war you all started; I give you all the answers you could want and more?" He proposed, a glint of challenge in his eye.
"Oh, tempting, very tempting," the clown purred, tapping a finger on her chin. "How about instead if we get things started early? I'm sure you understand that due to your little 'cheat,' the other side has to be been given a much bigger advantage now to try and balance things out. Their gods will get more freedom to power them up! Just to make things fair. Are you worried now? Are you sure you still want to be so cocky?" She teased, clearly trying to bait him.
John threw his head back and laughed, a genuine, booming sound as they walked. "Firstly, I didn't cheat and secondly let them come. I'm tired of playing now. One of my sponsors made it damn clear I've been playing your games and my way of doing it was wrong since I was just acting as a puppet with you all pulling the strings." His told her calmly as his smile widened, losing its casual amusement and gaining a dangerous edge. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping, though still audible as they reached the large machines in the center. "But tell me, do you currently have gods watching through one of those hidden viewer things on you right now?"
With a confused look, the clown slowly nodded, her painted smile faltering for a moment before snapping back into place, brighter and more manic than before. "Wow! It seems like our special little reject who should have died a long time ago has some kind of message for everyone! I wonder what it could be! Oh oh! Maybe his fallen for your beautiful clown host and wishes to try and romantically pursue her!" she announced to her invisible audience, her voice practically vibrating with anticipation and mockery.
John's smile grew slightly wider and predatory, thunder seemed to rumble low and ominous in the sky above the base as if it were a direct response to his burgeoning fury. "Send everything you can, your chosen and your beasts. We will kill them all! We will cut your precious pawns down as they come and you will all be unable to do a damn thing about it. We are done playing by your rules. We will be striking back and taking you all down step by step. We will be rebelling and I will be taking back all that you have taken from us with interest!" His eyes, fixed on some distant and unseen point beyond the clown's performance, blazing with an icy resolve. "Once I dominate this entire area and those barriers fall? Those chosen in those areas who don't submit or join will be next on my list for elimination. And after that I will collapse this level into the lower one and repeat it over and over until eventually we find a way to all of you, where I will take great pleasure in seeing each of you fall as I rip you to shreds and crush your ivory thrones. Along the way I will be harvesting your fragments, yes, I learnt about that and I've also learn't there rather valuable so why not gain even more from all of you for pain and suffering?" The girls stood firm beside him, their expressions mirroring his grim determination with their own taunting smiles, a silent unwavering wall of support of his declaration.
"My word, you're truly arrogant, aren't you?" She said with mock shock before her tone shifted, eyes narrowing as her voice became rougher. "You're just a fucken ant! And you would dare to even think of speaking like that to your betters!" She exclaimed, genuinely taken aback at first before growing angry, though a sick amusement still flickered in her eyes between the burning anger. "Clearly you're insane or don't understand the level of the beings you're messing with! Don't you all watching agree with me? He really must be stupid huh?" She paused, her eyes wide and glittering. "Saying things like that will cause at least one of them to act out you know! And I don't think I have reason to stop them, maybe turn my gaze away? It would definitely increase popularity that way. Any last words to those many watching? Please note the watch count is skyrocketing so you have a lot of attention right now!!!"
"We have only two words for you and all of them." John said, his smile growing as wide as possible, a chilling punctuation to his threat. He deliberately placed his metal arm onto the main control panel of the massive machine behind him, his finger hovering over the activation button as he took a deep breath, the air thick with tension.
Then, with a nod to the girls, John and the girls all faced the clown girl, there own predatory smiles matching his own as they yelled in unison, their voices thundering, "FUCK YOU!" As they delivered the defiant and universally understood gesture of the middle finger to the clown girl and those she claimed where watching. He slammed his armored finger down activating the machine. A low, resonant hum began to vibrate through the ground and it was rapidly escalating. A shimmering and translucent bubble of energy pulsed outwards from the base as ripples spread through the air distorting the light as it moved. After a pause the clown began to scream a high-pitched shriek of surprise and fear before collapsing to the ground as the ripple passed over her, leaving her spasming in pain as she clawed the ground. In the very next instant, a blinding flash of lightning that crackled with divine power impacted the expanding bubble, washing over its surface before scorching the ground as the bubble continued to expand till it covered his entire base. The lightning seemed to be a steady stream as it washed over the shield but no matter how hard it tried it failed to penetrate, failing to damage anything beneath the protective shield. With a final shimmering distortion, both the base and its defiant occupants vanished from the sight of the gods, leaving only an empty and thrumming silence in their wake. The base now only visible to them from outside, unable to be looked into as any attempt was met only with static.
"You! What did you do!" The voice ripped through the tense air, a guttural snarl that seemed to tear at the very fabric of reality in rage. The figure standing across from John, once a grotesque but recognizably human clown had begun a terrifying transformation. Her painted features, already distorted, stretched further; the wide, painted smile contorted into a gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth that snapped into existence like ivory shards. Her hands elongated, nails sharpening into cruel claws as her body, grew taller, her limbs extending with an audible pops and cracks. She was no longer just a clown, but a creature of nightmare, stalking slowly towards John with eyes that burnt with an unholy fury.
John met her gaze, his own unwavering. "What I felt I needed to do and I did warn you miss Pennywise." he taunted, his voice a calm counterpoint to the growing horror. "Now you can either go back and start this silly war so it can be over with already, or we will attack you here and now. And it won't be like when I had to face that damn imp. You may look all big, bad and scary but you don't have your bullshit powers in here anymore." A dangerous glint entered his eyes, a promise of swift and brutal action.
With a deafening shriek the transformed clown launched herself forward in a blur of unnatural speed and malice. But John's words had been a distraction, a move to stall her knowing she would snap and attack. Even before the creature's claws could connect Aria had slammed her hands onto the ground. The earth groaning in protest before it surged upward as a jagged rock pillar erupted from the floor directly in the clown's path, a defensive wall also forming around them as he sure to keep the clowns focus on him with taunts. The clown's claws impacted the stone with a sickening crunch as it rose in front of her to block the strike, momentarily halting her momentum.
That moment was all the opening they needed. John and Saya moved together perfectly, already circling the rising earth. Their swords, gleaming with honed edges each plunged into the clown's flanks easily piercing through her tough, leathery skin. A spray of dark, thick fluid erupted, but the clown barely flinched, its focus on freeing its claw from the rock that began to creep slowly across it and her arm keeping it in place. John's chains shot out directly after their strike, coiling around her legs before tightening quickly well digging into her flesh, attempting to bind her and for a fleeting second it worked, but the raw, monstrous strength of her form was too great for that to last. With a violent jerk, the chains snapped, fragments of metal scattering across the floor as she ripped her claws free sending a sharp pain to stab into his mind making him stumble for a brief moment.
It wasn't a lot but it was enough for Angel to make her move though, having been channeling her magic as they fought. A complex, glowing circle of intricate runes flickering with power had formed on the ground beneath the clown. As the final symbol flared the circle erupted, engulfing the creature in a pillar of opposing elements. Searing fire and biting ice twisted together and clawed at her. A high-pitched, agonized scream tore from her forming mandibles as she writhed within the elemental storm that consumed her.
Ash, observing the escalating battle and refused to be left out. Her expression was one of fierce determination. With a deep breath she released her limiter and felt a surge of power surge through her body. Two golden chains, there metal glowing brightly burst forth from her palms, their light intensifying with every passing moment. They whipped through the air, their sharp unyielding tips piercing deep into the clown's arms and legs before wrapping around her, securing her within the pillar of fire and ice well causing her to start reverting to her regular form. "The chains of Enkido," Ash declared loud enough for everyone to hear through a tight, strained voice, a testament to the immense power she was wielding as sweat beaded on her brow and a thin stream of blood starting to drip from her nose as she wobbled unsteadily, fighting to maintain control and to keep her own body from breaking apart. "Strong enough to seal even real gods."
The clown, now truly incapacitated began to thrash weakly against the combined assault. John, seeing his opportunity ripped his blade free from her leg and brought it down in a powerful, arcing slash. He aimed for a decisive blow to end her in one swift moment but somehow, even in her weakening state, the creature pulled back enough to avoid a fatal blow, the blade only managing to leave a deep, jagged gash from her shoulder to her hip.
It was then, amidst the flames, ice and golden chains that the monstrous facade fully crumbled as she returned to the previous clown girl form, her cloths torn, frozen and burnt. "Mercy! Spare me! I can be useful! I'm too young to die! Please! I'll do anything!" she began to beg, her voice a terrified whimper. The fear of death had finally overcome her her rage, stripping away her monstrous bravado. Her mask twisting from a snarling terror to that of a crying theater clown, crimson tears tracing paths down her cheeks, a chilling contrast to the grotesque features she had before.
"I can't trust you," John stated plainly, his voice devoid of emotion as he pointed his blade, now stained with her dark blood, towards her throat as the fire and ice began to lessen, Angel clearly exerting as much control as she could to avoid any of it from affecting him. "The second I do; you would just slip away or stab us in the back."
"I'll make a contract! I'll vow it! I'll make a blood oath! I will do anything just please don't kill me!" she sobbed, her body trembling uncontrollably as blood steadily flowed out of her.
"Make her do all three," Ash's strained voice barely carried over the crackling of the dying elements. "She might be useful for some information and she's clearly given up." John frowned, his blade pressing slowly, a thin line of new blood appearing on the clown's throat. But before he could commit to the killing blow, Saya's hand closed firmly over his, pulling his arm back.
"She's right," Saya reasoned, her voice calm and steady, drawing his gaze onto her. "You gave her and me a job and it's clear we're going to need to do it a lot sooner than expected. Spare her, but have her bound and tied to us. She could be a way in to the administration system. We won't know if we will ever actually get another chance to capture one of them like this, or an opportunity to have one serve us. Killing someone who had already given up in cold blood isn't you, it's something we could do but not you John." Her words cut deep and managed to break through his hardened resolve.
He stared at the terrified clown, then to Ash, seeing her strain then back to Saya, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Make the vow, then the blood oath, then you will make and sign a contract binding you to me. You have to the count of thirty to begin." His voice was cold and unyielding, leaving no room for argument as he began to count down.
"I, Clarica the clown of the void, swear upon my existence and essence to follow and serve John, the holder of Forever Second and pledge my existence to him. I will follow his every command and serve him to the best of my ability; his goals will be my goals and my existence will be only to him." As she spoke, the air around them shimmered, culminating in a bright flash of light. The golden chains of Enkido, no longer able to be maintained slipped away from Clarica as Ash coughed up a spatter of blood before quickly placing her limiter back on right before her legs gave out and she fell forward only to be caught in Johns arms, he may have been watching the clown closely but his gaze was also on Ash at seeing the strains he was under. Holding her softly his expression was etched with concern as he tried all he could to make sure she was alright.
"She overdid it." Saya explained as she gently taking her from him, laying her down gently and resting Ash's head on her lap, her voice softening as she continued. "Her class is powerful, but she pushed too far and hurt herself, its why she uses that self-made limiter, this is still mild though, just some fatigue. She will be okay after some rest, I promise." John nodded, a silent acknowledgment of her words, before turning to Aria. "Please Take her to the medical area." he requested, his voice laced with worry as Saya sighed as Aria came over and gently picked the girl up, knowing she needed to stay with John as he turned his attention back to Clarica.
"The blood oath now, 'Clarica'," John commanded, his tone sharp, leaving no doubt about the gravity of his words. "Or I will go through with my promise of ending you here and now. Restraining you already caused harm to someone special. And it better mention not being able to betray me or my own, how you can't harm me or those close to me intentionally and lastly, how my word is above anyone else's when it comes to you. and in regards to the contract, I will have someone I trust draw it up, but then you will bind it to your soul and to me, understood? I already know how it feels when one such as that takes effect so don't think you can worm your way out of it." He watched her closely, the weight of his warning palpable. Clarica nodded rapidly as she swore the blood oath, stammering through the ancient words as her face contorted in a mixture of terror and desperation wanting to live no matter the cost. A second, violent red flash followed by a loud, piercing scream that tore from her lips before she seemed to pass out, curling up on the ground as a faint red mist left her body. When the light faded, a new mark was clearly visible on her masked cheek, a dark and tribal looking pattern intricately replacing the gash John had given her at some point in the fight, a permanent testament to her new servitude status.
Looking over the unconscious clown girl, John let out a deep sigh, a ripple of exhaustion finally showing on his face as he sheathed his sword, a massive crisis averted for now as he carefully picked Clarica up. "Let's get her to the prison," he muttered softly as Says nodded, his gaze still on the unconscious clown, "and then we can go check on Ash. I don't like that she did something so stupid as to push herself so hard. We could have handled it. We were handling it. She didn't need to go so far…" He said, frustrated that she had pushed herself so far when she didn't have to.
"It's because she wanted to help." Saya eventually said, her voice soft but firm as they moved towards the prison. "She wanted to prove to you she's worth being at your side. I mean, it's pretty clear she's got feelings for you and even if you don't admit it out loud, I can tell you've began to have the same for her." She watched his reaction, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips as she noticed the faintest blush and stumble. "Can't really blame her for it either. You're a good man, John. And from what both me and her have seen, it wasn't hard to fall for you. She wanted to prove she could be useful, strong and worth standing at your side. Sometimes people just act stupid when they're in love ya know." She looked away as John's gaze fell on her, a blush rising on her cheeks, her words not just about Ash's actions but even her own thoughts.
John was silent for a long moment, processing her words, his steps slowing as they approached the reinforced prison cells. "I don't know what to actually say to that." he finally admitted, his voice low, tinged with a vulnerability he rarely displayed. "I've never been good with romance, hell, the last person I was falling for died by my own hand and the relationships I've had before that always ended messy, and even though she recently gave me permission and support to pursue the two of you, I'm still fucken scared. By the gods, am I fucken scared. I don't want to mess it up, waste your times when there's probably guys or even girls far better than me out there and I don't want to see you two hurt, broken or worse…" The raw honesty of his confession hung in the air between them.
Saya let out a small, gentle laugh, a sound that somehow eased the tension but didn't belong as a reply to such a heavy admittance. "It's a bit late for that last part. When this world changed, we both broke in many ways, not even counting what I had went through before." She admitted, nervously rubbing her arm. "But you've been a light for us in a way. So, if it's you, I don't think me or her would mind walking through hell with you at our side, if you will let us be at your side I mean." She paused, her eyes meeting his, filled with an unwavering warmth and loyalty. "If you don't know what to do, then trust it to us to take the lead. You won't mess things up okay? You have us and everyone else to help guide and support you and you have me and Ash, we refuse to let you be alone any longer. Just, Just put some faith and trust in us. You've been good for us, in ways you can't even begin to understand." Saya's voice was soft, laced with an earnest plea, "So please accept us, even if things aren't at that point yet, at least let us in and a bit closer. Allow us to take a chance while we still can."
Her words were met with a profound silence. John offered no immediate acceptance or rejection as they walked deeper in. They continued their path, locking the unconscious Clarica in a specially reinforced cell designed for special threats well securing her with additional wards. Only then did they head to the med bay to check on Ash in a silence that made Saya feel nervous, scared she had said something wrong or pressed to much. As John sat at Ash's bedside, watching her still and peaceful face. His gaze was thoughtful. "I don't know," he began, his voice barely a whisper, a stark admission of his inexperience as he looked between her and Saya. "Not about romance, relationships, or even what to do in this kind of situation or set up." He admitted once more, his tone and gaze showing a level of vulnerability she hadn't expected or seen before. "So, if we do this, I will be trusting you two to help guide me through it, just like how I trust you two to be my moral compass but in a far more intimate way, a far more personal way…" The words hung in the air, a quiet promise, a tentative step into a future uncertain but shared.