What's with this small fry? Kotar stared incredulously at the man seated before "Him". Tall, with long silver white hair that fell down his pure white robe. His eyes remained closed, as if in deep meditation as he remained still on a couch.
What a weirdo, Kotar nodded at the girl who who had ushered the man in. Arianna. With a well fed body now brimming with seemingly endless energy, she bowed before closing the door behind her. Kotar could practically imagine her bouncing away across the still expanding Town's central chapel.
"He" returned "His" attention to "His" guest who had opened his eyes by now and deeply stared at "Him". Out of habit, this demonic wolf casually reclined "His" human form while examining the Spirit Body Threads emanating from the man. An intrusive thought almost drove "Him" to fiddle with them, but "He" quickly extinguished it. It was an ingrained habit "He" planned to eventually get rid of.
A demigod, is it? "He" concluded, but "He" sensed more. Seems to be carrying something quite interesting too— "He" abruptly ceased "His" analysis as the man's threads converged further into an intensely bright and dark realm. What the? Questions formed in "His" mind but "He" didn't dare probe again. This was also a deep-rooted routine "He" had drilled into "His" very being over "His" lifetime to not be led astray by curiosity and court Death!
Phew, you really can never judge a book by its cover. "He" shamelessly used an idiom "He" had picked up through "His" secret attendance in the newly established public school. "He" was The Fool's first angel after all, "His" pride couldn't allow "Him" to go in person to learn with the mob. A marionette insect would suffice.
Kotar's projection didn't show any outward reaction, keeping up with the staring contest. Eventually, the man broke the silence.
"I am a saint under God's light, sent ahead of my brothers as a representative."
There are others? Kotar merely nodded. "Angel of Miracles, Kotar."
While appearing nonchalant, "His" main body within the Fog of History reacted. "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era…"
Before "He" could state "His" situation, the fog deepened, a shadow loomed over the Astral World and cast its gaze on to "His" fragile figure. Kotar instinctively turned his head low, "He" explained. "A demigod under a great existence entered town thirty minutes ago. I had long noticed "His" casual pace towards us, and had notified Ama—the Dark Knight of his presence. Combined with my own investigations, I didn't see him as a threat."
A deep seated silence rang in his ears.
"I am aware," Kotar finally heard the Fool say. "Tingen will be serving as neutral grounds for the meeting between the human faction and the Giants."
!?
Kotar's exterior form showed no change, but the horror that gripped "Him" threatened to almost make "Him" lose control on the spot!
What!? "His" many minds immediately pictured a scene straight from the deepest carnage of the Divine War, only for 'Him" to stop "Himself".
Wait, I'm not a demonic wolf anymore! "His" fluffy tail shrinking behind "His" back told otherwise. However… I'm not under mas… The Annihilation Demonic Wolf anymore. I can't use the same logic here.
The Fool naturally picked up on "His" change, prompting him to elaborate. "I have reached an agreement with the Giant King. "His" court will arrive four months from now."
So that's how it is? No! This makes no sense! Kotar nodded in understanding anyways. Weren't the Giants bloodthirsty, thieves who didn't care about anyone's privacy? Well, it also seemed more of "His" deep-seated prejudice needed to be addressed.
"He" recalled the date given. "Then, about that human…"
"Treat him as you will an esteemed guest," the Fool stated, letting out a chuckle. "In this sense, actually learning a thing or two from the people will help."
At this, the fog retreated, leaving Kotar's large eyes blinking. Well, I can't hide anything from the Lord.
"He" circled around a bit before praying again. "The Dark Knight from a begone time; the Lady of Concealment; Herald of Misfortune; Mistress of Repose and Silence…."
"He" had barely finished uttering the honorific name before the fog moved and words formed.
"You already got an answer from him, why are you bothering me?"
"His" fellow demonic wolf had zero amount of kinship, nor respect left in her bones.
…
Stupid ass dog, Amanises huffed, bitting into an apple as she let her legs dangle from the tree branch she sat on. You already have someone beyond the sequence 0 level as your backer, and you still want my assistance? This is the type of greed talked about in Grisha's bible.
She shook her head, idly tying her long, straight hair into a ponytail while enjoying the scenery. The quaint forest seemed to blur around its edges, as if existing within the boundary of two worlds.
The Dark Knight has to maintain her streak, she wiped the fruit's juices smeared on her lips, finishing the apple—seed and stalk included.
Well now, she leisurely stood up, stretching, the darkness pooled at her feet—a dark sword slowly rose. Time to hunt some Bloody Archduke.
…
The world pulsed like a heartbeat. The animals, people, plants, and even non-living things coexisted in their natural habitat. Settlements sprouted, trees fell to sustain this growth as well as its people. The people in question thrived. Some more prosperous than the other, with the majority barely scrapping by, hunting and being hunted by a wild game of fate and madness. Their collective excrement polluted and fuelled the growth of the very environment they walked and breathed in. Fires and natural disasters came and went, ravaging all without care for status and living standards. But the people, the animals, the living things, Life persisted—their desire to live and propagate superseding them. Growing stronger by the day.
This desire permeated all, resonating with all, threatening to drag those it ensnared into the deepest, murky pits.
Farbauti!!!
All the mind, body, and environment resonated and fluctuated at the name. Blood seemed to coalesce within the oblivious ecosystem.
Again! You take everything!
The endless malice of "His" existence threatened to boil over and ravage "Him", but "His" Silent Instincts restrained it, only slightly reflecting on everything it infected.
One step! O-one step was all it would have taken! Yet, you ruined everything with your sacrifice!
Mutterings and whispers filled the environment. Spontaneous changes occurred everywhere: a herd of elephants turned into sheep, entire wells acting as the lifeline of some dyed with a crimson red colouration. Random areas of the domain shrivelled and lost all vitality, dragging all within its midst into a curse-filled fate.
And now you think you can use me to find that Abomination!? Laughable… Even you have your limits.
The blood fully shaped into a monstrous form born from collective desires and nightmares. A name formed in the ecosystem's mind…
Skuggi.
I'm at my limit again. I have to move— the thought had yet to ferment before "He" looked ahead. Gone were the myriad of perspectives born from the minds of "His" victims. Now, only perpetual Darkness enveloped "Him".
!
"His" reaction lagged. A slender arm pierced right through "His" back, its manicured and armoured fingers smeared with "His" heart. A soft voice sounded in "His" mind, bringing solace to "His" existence.
"An Archduke of the Abyss ought to rely less on "His" premonition, don't you think?"
There was no time to compute what was being said, the core of His being was falling straight into an Impending Doom!
Skuggi's shocked face morphed into a smirk as "He" dissolved. In "His" place, a blurry and boundless, pitch-black substance permeated by white fog, rose. Its surge spread towards the regal Knight, standing still with her bloodied and outstretched arm.
At the same time, gazes formed all around her, piercing deep. They all simultaneously narrowed at the golden Phoenix-shaped accessory which manifested before the Knight. The gazes perceived a faint connection between the item and the Knight which magnified, bringing a deep sense of stillness to not only the pitch-black surge, but also the blood beginning to act on the Knight's arm.
"Colour me surprise. You can actually summon this much?" The Knight spoke nonchalantly as the surge retreated and vanished, in its place, the stunned appearance of a being formed out of blood floated mid-air. The body possessed an uncanny appearance to a certain blurry figure the Knight could easily identify.
?
Distortion!
Skuggi, who had zero intentions of continuing the engagement, used the Abyss's projection through "His" deep connection to escape. However, "His" concealed intentions were not only revealed, but distorted, causing "Him" to replace the projection and charge at "His" enemy!
"His" body abruptly fragmented as it crashed before the Knight's feet, shocking "Him" even more. "His" End, inflicted at the start of the conflict had already arrived, consuming "His" everything at the worst possible moment. All this occurred without "His" mind registering anything—like it had entered a state of Disorder.
"Oh?" The Knight's jet black eyes stared down at "His" decaying form. "I haven't even moved from where I started," "He" blankly watched at the finger pointing at her ironclad and poised feet.
…!
There was nothing to be stated as "He" silently perished.
Amanises began to nod before she stopped as something deep formed within her.
Insolent!
It started from nothing—no, it had always existed. A seed which bloomed into a spiritual and mental Skuggi.
The instantyou stared at the Abyss, It stared back! Your everything is mine.
Her existence began to fall, but even this great peril didn't erase the smirk on the Knight's face. Now within her, Skuggi naturally sensed the anomaly. His 'eyes' widened at the Darkness surrounding them; it shifted and retracted, aiming to ensnare the Dark Knight.
I was wondering if I had become the Blatherer instead, Amanises's musings came naturally without any time interval, forming directly into Skuggi's mind. Oh that? She looked at the horrifying Darkness now embracing them. I forgot to tell you it has a thing about killing Its user for good. And since you just happened to resurrect in my body…
!
Beyond the infected ecosystem, the shadows formed by the sun's light on the area moved. It came together, forming a beautiful woman in a refined attire, her ponytail prominent as she flicked it before rubbing her ear.
"Good job insect Klein."
"I'm just insect-sized," the minuscule Klein braced his body against a strand of her hair, his tiny arm swatting away the gigantic fingers trying to pet him.
"…Can't even praise people for their good deeds these days," she shook her head, ignoring Klein's protest.
Of course, resurrecting from the Darkness would be impossible given the actual Darkness Uniqueness was the cause of death. Of course, nothing a high enough Deceit couldn't work around.
She focused on the ecosystem the Bloody Archduke hide within. The seeds of malice implanted in all within that domain was distorted into retreating with the Abyss's projection. After all, the Abyss existed in everything – how could these seed not follow with Its retreat?
"Devils," she muttered, turning to look south. "Especially the human-kind are the most elusive."
Klein nodded, mystical symbols forming in his eyes. The Devil had grasped certain details upon possessing Amanises, making full use of the retreating seeds of malice to survive death a second time.
"Even using a Planeswalker artifact," he stated. Convergence was quite the force.
Amanises nodded, her smirk turning to a mocking smile. "Yet, "He" will still meet "His" deserved End."
…
The Abyss or the source of Evil existed in both the physical world, and within the mind.
Skuggi collapsed into the grassy field, as a set of tattoos all over "His" body, shinning with starlight died down. "He" coughed, "His" restrained malice unleashed as the world around "Him" fluctuated.
"He" abhorred relying on "Him". But in this instance, "He" had no choice.
W-what s…acri…fice. N-now? "His" crumbling mind spewed a few thoughts, as "He" used "His" desire to reinforce the connection between "Him" and "His" Monarch to combat the End permeating "Him". The expected Degeneration appeared, but rather than further affecting the surroundings, they instead settled deep within"His" own body.
?
"His" blood shot eyes widened at the figures before "Him". Red, black, gold, blue eyes, all filled with varying levels of scorn, neutrality, pity, disgust, stared back.
The wandering angels led by the Deputy fixed "Their" attention on the Archduke of the Abyss.