Shortly after the space distortion appears, a man steps out, gaze fixed on the Author with uncharacteristic coldness. His eerie, golden eyes are framed by round-rimmed glasses, his sandy blonde hair pulled back into a neat man bun. A white lab coat flutters in the wind behind him, revealing the absurdly chiseled physique beneath, wrapped in a tight, black turtleneck.
Seeing him, the Author sneers, his voice mocking.
"Long time no see, Azazel...to think the Great Deceiver would descend just for me." (Author)
Azazel's eyes narrow.
"Who are you? Identify yourself." (Azazel)
Seemingly ignoring the Author's jab, the god's voice cuts through the wind, blunt and commanding. Nothing like the mild mannered intellectual that once greeted Mizuki. However, the Author maintains an unbothered expression, apparently not keen on answering Azazel. Instead he begins walking forward, his steps casual, echoing softly despite his position floating in the air.
"Ahhh...not putting on airs anymore, hmm? Well, I'm glad we can be honest with one another. Of course, your meek, dutiful god routine would never fool me. For the rest of time, I won't ever forget what you truly are. How many of your own kind have fallen by your hand, I wonder? Betrayed, consumed by your ambitions. Of course, that's nothing compared to what you've done to the mortals under your 'care', is it?" (Author)
If Azazel is offended or moved by his words, it doesn't show. Instead, he senses aether begin to stir around the golden-eyed god, whose voice only becomes colder.
"Last chance...identify yourself. Trespassing here is a violation of the Accords. Or...do you serve him?" (Azazel)
The Author's steps halt. Alas, not from fear – confusion flickers on his face.
"Accords? Him? Interesting...well, no matter. I have no idea what you're talking about, and I don't care either. My mind was made up long ago. I might say it's the only thing keeping me sane, actually. Can't go changing my mind now, can I?" (Author)
Once again, Azazel shows no reaction to the words. He just continues to stare at the Author with a stern expression, aether swirling around him.
Then, it stops. Azazel releases an exasperated sigh, glancing away from the Author thoughtfully.
"I could have sworn I sensed something before, but...ah, I suppose I overreacted." (Azazel)
Seeing the reaction, the Author can't help but smile. He walks in front of Azazel, who seems blissfully unaware of his presence, and traces the line of the god's jaw, his finger hovering just above contact. All the while, his emerald eyes shine with a cold, unnatural light, full of bloodlust.
If Mizuki were here to witness the scene, he'd be shaken to his core. He'd realize that many of the assumptions he's made about the Author are truly flawed. It'd be apparent to him – he's wholly unqualified to deal with the mysterious entity.
The Author speaks again, his voice cracking slightly with something between rage and madness.
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, OH DEAR! Ohhhh, how I want to kill you, you awful, vile, terrible, deceitful, no good monster in a human shell! Ahhh..." (Author)
His green eyes flash with murderous intent...then he takes a step back, releasing a frustrated breath.
"...but I can't, unfortunately. Not yet. You still have a role to play, you see, and my plans have already gone more awry than I intended thanks to that moron. Oh, but make no mistake, Great Deceiver, I want to do it. I won't forget or forgive. Not because of what you've done to your own kind or even the mortals – I have no room to judge, really. I'd torture every man, woman, and child in this whole galaxy if I needed to. No, your sin is far graver...you got in my way.
"But oh! You couldn't manage to kill me when you still had the chance, and now things are not as they were. Fufufufu...now I can kill you! And I will. Oh believe me, I will. I promise, in fact, and if there's anything in this universe that I still hold dear, Azazel, it's a promise. So, I promise you, I give you my most solemn vow...soon, I will stand over your corpse, I will laugh, and only then might a fraction of your debt be paid." (Author)
The Author begins to laugh, a tortured, maniacal sound, exuding a dark mirth that can only accompany a true descent into madness. Then, he vanishes, leaving a completely unaware Azazel staring at the events of the Royal Announcement below.
Azazel's eyes fix on Mizuki, his earlier seriousness replaced with his familiar, clinical curiosity. His brow furrows, voicing his thoughts absentmindedly.
"A Nephilim, huh? How curious..." (Azazel)
With that final thought, Azazel disappears as well, leaving Mizuki and his friends to continue their evening none the wiser.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Far away, on Earth, around the same time...
{AN: see Chapter 0, "Dying Light", for refresher}
Inside a humble electronics store, in a city that Mizuki would recognize as his college stomping grounds, a teenage boy sits on top of the service counter, kicking his feet lazily. Letting out a deep sigh, he plucks nonexistent fuzz from his white tee-shirt, dusts off his black jeans, then hops off the counter. His strange eyes – like two pools of swirling mercury – sweep over the store interior while he runs a jade white hand through his raven black hair absentmindedly.
"What do you think, Bart? How should we bring in more business?"
His inquisitive eyes land on a glass box at the edge of the counter. Or rather, on the snail sitting within it, a void black shell with white speckles resting atop its ashen body. Its two stalks turn towards the boy, quivering slightly.
The boy's eyes narrow incredulously.
"What do you mean, 'hire someone competent'!? I'm doing just fine!"
As if to emphasize his point, he gestures at the wall behind the counter. It's lined with framed photos of the boy smiling smugly, each labeled 'Employee of the Year'. Oddly enough, there are more than thirty such photos of the boy, all resembling his current appearance, even though he looks no more than 17.
As if in response to the claim, the snail...Bart...turns one stalk to the wall behind him, while the other remains facing the boy. It quivers slightly again, and the boy's face jerks like he's been slapped.
"Of course it still counts! Just because I'm the only employee, doesn't mean I didn't earn it!"
Both of Bart's stalks face him once again, quivering emphatically. The boy purses his lips, then leans over, voice mocking.
"Well, too bad! I outrank you, so it's my decision!"
The boy taps the name tag on his shirt, labeled 'Manager', then glances meaningfully at the name tag glued to Bart's enclosure, labeled 'Assistant Manager'. Another inexplicable 'response' from Bart causes the boy's eyes to narrow.
"You better not be planning another mutiny, Bart, because there's a relatively new black hole waiting with your name on it."
Bart's stalks wave at the boy, as if defiantly. The boy blinks, standing up straight, then averts his gaze with a sigh.
"I suppose you're right...throwing you in a second time would hardly be original."
Before their argument can continue, it's interrupted by the sound of a bell chime. The boy's head snaps towards the store's front door, eyes shining excitedly.
'Customers!'
By the time two male college students shuffle fully into the store, expressions bewildered, the boy is already behind the counter again, a professional smile on his face. His speaks, tone overly enthusiastic.
"Welcome back, to theeee Radio Shack!"
The students direct their bewildered expressions at the boy, while nearby, Bart's stalks retract in a gesture that looks suspiciously like cringing. Seemingly gathering their bearings, one of the boys responds in a shocked voice.
"Holy shit...these still exist?" (student 1)
Irritation flashes in the boy's eyes, but the second guy interjects before it can flare, his voice genuinely curious.
"What do you guys sell here?" (student 2)
Pleased with the second student's behavior, the boy flashes a proud smile.
"Why, the best electronics in the universe!" (strange boy)
The second student raises his eyebrows, but says nothing, and begins strolling through the racks of random electronics curiously. Nearby, the first student's gaze passes over Bart's enclosure, then freezes, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Dopeeee! You guys have a snail as a store mascot!? What's his name?" (student 1)
Ignoring Bart's piercing 'glare' at the remark, the boy waves dismissively, his tone flat.
"Oh, that's just Bart." (strange boy)
Following the dismissal, Bart's entire body begins to tremble, to the point that the second student watching him notices. His expression turns equal parts confused and concerned.
"Uhm...is something wrong with him?" (student 2)
Noticing, the boy rolls his eyes, responding in exasperation.
"No, he's just upset that I didn't introduce him by his full name." (strange boy)
The student blinks, dumbfounded.
"Err, right...what's his full name?" (student 2)
The moment the guy voices the question, Bart's trembling stops abruptly, his stalks turning towards the boy. Seeing the 'expectant' gaze, resignation washes over the boy, and he responds in a resigned tone, clearing his throat like he's preparing to repeat something for the thousandth time.
"Ehem...you stand in the presence of Prince Bartholomew, Lord of the Cosmic Void, Devourer of Worlds, eldest of the eight True Immortals." (strange boy)
One of Bart's stalks slowly moves to face the dumbfounded student, as though watching for a reaction. The student tilts his head.
"Huh...nice." (student 2)
Bart's second stalk abruptly moves to face the student, and the guy feels a cold shiver run down his spine, his heart suddenly pounding for reasons he can't explain. Nearby, the boy waves dismissively.
"Yes, yes. But despite being eldest, he's ranked last among the True Immortals. So...you can just call him Bart." (strange boy)
Bart's stalks snap back towards the boy, quivering violently, and the flustered student feels the inexplicable pressure from before subside. He quickly straightens, backing away from the cage. Glancing at the boy, he responds absentmindedly.
"Oh damn...there's lore and everything? Who's ranked first?" (student 2)
The strange boy blinks, surprised by the question. He gives the student an amused smile, then looks away, head tilted slightly towards the ceiling, as though he's staring at something incomprehensibly far away that only he can see.
"Ah...that would be the Immortal Will..." (strange boy)
The student nods along.
"Dope name...what's he like?" (student 2)
The corner of the boy's mouth twitches in amusement.
"Oh, he died..." (strange boy)
The student's expression twists with confusion, no doubt wondering how a 'True Immortal' can die. But before he can voice the obvious question, the boy's face suddenly twists into a scowl, eyes narrowing, though he continues staring in the same inexplicable direction. More intently, in fact.
He speaks preemptively, voice chillingly cold.
"I'm sorry, dear customer...it seems I'll have to close the store for a while." (strange boy)
The second student blinks, flustered.
"U-Uhm...yeah, sure...you good?" (student 2)
The boy turns to face him finally, lips pressed into a thin smile.
"Oh yes...just need to deal with an uninvited guest, meddling in my business elsewhere." (strange boy)