PROLOGUE
Cold Blood
?'s P.O.V.
It was a wise choice for him to call me, especially after his plan had come together. I was unsure if he was going to he was going to acknowledge my existence now that he could pass between his captivity and the physical world at his will now. He knew that I was still a vital part of his plan, even if I was working in the shadows up until this point.
No matter; I'll be able to have my fun
I reassured myself as I stood in the Abyssal Void while spinning my favorite butterfly knife absently. I liked the ivory lines that were slightly raised over the cold steel.
Just as cold as my blood
I joked mentally and a second later, a smile manifested on my face. I was going to be a part of my own plan now! I hadn't seen anyone other than the Shadow Stepper and his team.
That is if I could call it one
I muttered mentally in anger as someone materialised in the Abyssal Void, right in front of me. In that instant, the cold eyes and the evil smirk was more than enough for me to deduce who this was.
"I think you know-"
He started, but I lifted my left hand to silence him and that moment, a chain wrapped itself around my wrist. The chain pulsed a Chartreuse color as I clenched my hand into a fist, which snapped the chain, which caused the Shadow Stepper to flinch.
"That you need me, even if you have all eight of the Claw Fragments!?"
I finished his statement angrily, which brought a chuckle from him. I didn't know why he was laughing, but I could make a guess based on the dully shining lights that were coming from his left hand. There were four that he had; Purple-Black, Metallic, Silver and a deep Purple colored one. The other two had been released, probably due to the Shadow Stepper's cockiness; it was going to be his downfall and I could count on that.
I just need to make sure that everything is manifested in order for me to take it all for myself
I thought tensely, and I must've let my evil grin get overcasted by my tension, because the Shadow Stepper suddenly lashed out at me. A normal individual should've been struck, but I was not normal, and he knew it as well. I easily shifted a little to the left and the Shadow Stepper must've thought ahead for once as a wall of wires formed behind me and he tried to get me on the backswing, which I dodged as well. The familiar sense of my "Driver" coursed through me and the area around us flashed the same Chartreuse color, which blinded him for a moment, which gave me enough time to slash the wires behind me with a single and simple backhanded upward motion. I launched from my place and backrolled gracefully and stood up to my full height. I met the Shadow Stepper's furious glare, squared shoulders and clenched jaw as the atmosphere around us grew even more tense. I thought it was hilarious!
"Face it; even though you have a great amount of power, I'm still your superior"
I said with a curt laugh that ended my sentence. He was EXTREMELY cocky and it was my guess that I had been in the shadows for so long that he forgot about me and continued to puff himself up. The Shadow Stepper growled deeply and DeathBringers formed around him. I looked nonchalantly at them, trying to figure out why they had wires wrapped around them.
"You're REALLY annoying, you know that!?"
He growled, clenching his hand into a fist, which started the DeathBringers into a crumbling mess. I could tell that he was infuriated, maybe with me or something else, but there was something that I wanted to hear from his mouth. I wasn't sure that he would say it, but I was going to wait however long it took. I had been waiting for over 3000 revolutions, which wasn't a long time for me since I was the one that presided over this place. He knew it and I knew it and it was then that a voice that was new to me started to speak, which broke me from my thoughts.
"Who's this? I've never seen him around before"
The voice stated with tension and confusion. I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and take in the image of this individual. It was a yoshi, but this one was Black-scaled and held three different entities in its body. It was muscular in its body composition and looked like it could be of use to me. However, it was not in the best of condition, as most of its body was covered in large cuts and seemed to be standing on the last of its wits, which was manifested in its shaky stance.
"He'll be of no use to you; he's a traitor"
The Shadow Stepper growled, binding this individual in less than a second with nearby wires. I sighed angrily and looked at the ceiling of this place.
"You've captured an individual that has both of the gene abnormalities in this species, an individual that is able to keep Energy Levels and have half of the Claw Fragments and are STILL not able to accomplish your task?"
I asked with the same level of mild annoyance as I looked back at his scowling face. I could tell that he was frustrated with something, but I didn't know what it was.
"What's keeping you from accomplishing your task; you have another stronger form that should easily be able to kill these reptiles, no?"
I pressed, hoping to evoke a reaction from him. He clenched his hands and jaw even tighter, which brought other wires from around him up to his ankles, wrists and neck. The wires started to glow softly as they started to heat up.
"You think that I can't do it by myself, huh!?"
He asked angrily and I knew at this point that I already had won. His short fuse was the key to his loss; it would cause him to make unconstituted decisions and keep him from thinking rationally, which would bring to whoever fought him many openings.
"Certainly not; if these creatures can consistently stop you, then what progress have you made?"
I said smugly with a smile of the same which sent him over the edge. His tense body went limp for a moment before he stood up to his full height slowly. He squared his shoulders, tensed his arms and legs and a shockwave of air went through the area as something I knew that would amuse me even more started to happen. This was his "Saiko Osama" form that he prized so much. I didn't understand why though, because his body would be in an even more unstable state. I saw the familiar symbol that I drew for him when we created this world together form in a Gold color in the center of the orb that had enveloped him flash once before another shockwave ripped through the area. I commanded the chains to form a barrier in front of me and not even a second later, there was a wall of chains before me. The shockwave moved the chains a little, but I wasn't hit by anything; not the air, nor the wires that streamed by me or the energy that dissipated quickly after he changed.
Does he not know that anything he does will be in vain?
I asked myself as I tipped the brim of my elegant hat over my face and started flipping my prized knife again. I heard him taking deep and angry breaths, but he wasted so much of my valuable time by now that I lowered my eyes to the floor and shook my head.
"You know that every attack you try to land will be for naught, right?"
I asked, not looking up at him; I knew that he wouldn't just transform into his other self for no reason and that what was coming was another useless barrage of attacks that wouldn't hit.
"If you're going to provoke me to this point, then you're going to regret it!"
He yelled in pure rage, launching at me once again. From the corner of my left eye, I saw something streak from the darkness and stand in front of me.
"You'll be broken if you try to take this attack"
I said to the figure when it stopped in front of me. In response, the individual laughed slyly and took a stance. The Shadow Stepper was so clouded with rage that he didn't see this individual and landed a punch square in this individual's chest.
A simple counter, huh?
I mused with a chuckle as the Shadow Stepper locked eyes with the Black scaled individual, which were consumed with rage. He only looked at him for a moment before turning his eyes to me.
"You really will use anyone, won't you?"
He growled and right after he finished his statement, he flew away from us and landed somewhere far away. Just as I was about to turn away and start on my next mission, the Black scaled individual started to speak.
"Who are you?"
He asked, which stopped me in mid-turn. I let my smug smile drop and put my "serious face" on. I turned back to him leveled my eyes with his.
"Why do you; do you have business with me?"
I stated evenly as more chains started to snake up my back and legs. This captured the individual's attention and I smiled slightly. I wasn't sure what was so amazing about the chains, but I guess it was enough for him.
"You have both of the gene abnormalities and can use Energy Levels efficiently and yet you are fascinated by these simple chains?"
I asked with mild annoyance as I tipped my hat down again so I could hide my eyes. I didn't need this individual knowing what I actually was. I wasn't sure if the Yoshi species had met a human, but this timeline was becoming unstable. It had become so unstable that some of the possibilities had merged and as a result, worlds had merged together.
Because of this, the Claw Fragments surfaced and the True ReBorn is about to surface
I thought as I heard a voice calling out to me. I shook my head slightly to get myself out of this thought and concentrate on the voice calling out to me.
"What!?"
I asked angrily, concentrating on the individual standing before me; it was him who was calling out to me.
But why would he? Doesn't he know that by submitting himself to me that he will get nothing in return?
I asked myself as he shifted uneasily. I could tell that he was nervous and he rightfully should be! Putting my arrogant thoughts aside, I shifted to the task at hand once again.
"You lost both of the Claw Fragments that you possessed; how are you still alive?"
I asked him with a minute trace of tension in my voice as I turned around and opened a hole in space so I could think. I heard his quiet and quick draw of breath as I smiled. I knew that I had struck a nerve, so I kept thinking about the Claw Fragments; I knew the Shadow Stepper wanted to return to the world so he could make it his own way, but I knew that he knew that I could halt his progress in seconds. If I really wanted to, I could destroy them with the snap of my fingers, but that would be incredibly boring.
"How about it?"
I prodded him as I inspected the images of the Claw Fragments. Just by looking at them, I could tell that he made these behind my back and in response, I waved my hand again and the images dissipated. I laughed curtly, which caused the individual behind me to sigh.
"Within the Energy Levels of my body, an individual resides in me"
He said slowly, which brought a speck of interest to me.
"Is it anyone important?"
I asked, looking over my shoulder at him and I met his tension filled gaze. He looked at the ground for a moment and sighed again.
"If this individual can support something like you for so long, then it's really something isn't it?"
I asked with a curt laugh as I commanded the chains around me to bind this blurred from the speed and I all I could seem him do before the chains bound him was his eyes widen in surprise.
"It's just a precaution unless you try anything"
I explained with a shrug as I took a thoughtful stance. He struggled for a moment before he went limp. Along with the sapping properties, these particular chains were able to sense and distinguish the properties of the bound individual that happened to succumb to them.
"I defended you from the Shadow Stepper and you still don't trust me?"
He asked quietly and I growled in frustration.
"You haven't answered my question yet!"
I said as composed as I could, but it came out as an outburst and as soon as I finished the sentence, I looked at the ground for a moment before shaking myself off. It was a property of this power and I wasn't sure now if I could keep myself from controlling it now since so much time had passed.
"I sense the amazing and abysmal hatred of life in your second Energy Level"
I marveled, looking back up at him.
"Something like that"
He responded breathlessly and at that moment I facepalmed; the chains were wrapped too tightly for him to breathe!
How am I going to get an answer from him if he can't breathe!?
I thought with amusement as I loosened the chains marginally, just enough for him to breathe somewhat so he could respond in an intelligible way. After he caught his breath, which didn't take long thankfully, he spoke.
"Mastermind; he's the one that resides in my second Energy Level"
He said with a marginal amount of fear in his voice that was completely understandable. Someone, which was no longer able to be called a person that could do the damage that it was capable of doing was something to fear. However, it wasn't scary to me, as I had served alongside this person when he was….alive. Nevertheless, I was intrigued and since he did, I decided to do him a favor. I took the butterfly knife out of my pocket, which caused him to narrow his eyes at me.
"What are you doing!"
Was all he could say before I slashed downwards slightly in front of his body. I hadn't done this in a while, but I knew that my knife had various abilities that I could employ and the one I was using was a special one: Energy Level splitting. I heard his pained cry rip through the area and in that instant, I knew that my idea was successful. I watched the compressed air cut his body in half; it was necessary for the Energy Levels to free themselves. I knew that he would be furious since all the power that he he gained would be lost, but what did I care? I was the ruler of this world and no one could stand up to me; not even him!
However, I can't seem to shake the thought that I had been too careless at one point
I thought as the halves of his body fell over. I saw something move behind his body and in an instant, my eyes focused and I let my face go emotionless.
"Back for more?"
I asked as I watched him look down at the halved individual on the ground. He growled deeply and stomped the ground hard.
"You're going to release the individuals inside him; are you insane!?"
He asked fearfully, which sparked anger in me, which I was barely able to control. However, I was barely able to keep it under control with the combination of my gritted teeth and balling my hands into fists.
"You don't know me then"
I said through gritted teeth, which silenced him, even if it was only for the moment. Instead of looking at him, I looked down at the bubbling mass of what the individual I had halved was. The mass separated into three bubbling mounds, which started to take shape as I thought of the individuals that were living as compressed energy inside this individual's soul. I was mildly interested in what form they would take; they couldn't be be normal and I didn't think for a second that I could base my guess on what they could be by the iris color either.
"This better be interesting"
I threatened the mounds as they continued taking shape. I wasn't sure if they heard me, but the middle one shuddered a little and started taking shape marginally faster than the other two. I watched the large face and eyes form with the familiar lights form in the middle of him, the long arms and legs were more than enough for me to understand who this was, and a smile formed on my face when the lights flickered on.
"I don't suppose you'll welcome me back"
He said with annoyance with twitches in his arms and legs that signaled to me that he actually had died! Putting this thought aside, I looked to the left a little and saw the individual that I split in half and to the right, something I thought I would never see again, which made my smile even bigger.
"I'm surprised; the very individual that brought the Devil Gene into existence for this world"
I said, mildly amazed by the fact that this individual was able to harbor and use the energy of this individual at will! I looked at the Red scaled individual as it looked at the floor with a blank expression.
"W-where-"
She started, but the individual in the middle spoke first, much to my amusement.
"I'm surprised that I would get a second chance at living, somewhat"
He said as he finally stopped the twitching, which brought some relief, which eased the tension that was tearing at me. I gave him a stern, yet inquisitive look that silenced him once again. I looked to the Red scaled individual again and I met its gaze. The first thing that stood out to me was its extremely Silver colored eyes; it seemed that its irises were made of mercury by how silver they were.
"You were sealed away by Master Keele, right?"
I asked it and in response, it cocked its head to the left and stared blankly into the space before something odd happened. The Silver color dissipated, leaving this yoshi's eyes completely White in color before it collapsed.
"The name is familiar"
The individual breathed while in a crumpled heap. I looked at him and he shrugged.
"You're the one running this show"
He told me with a series of head twitches that followed his statement. I nodded slightly and looked at the Black scaled individual. I could sense an energy from him that was familiar….REALLY familiar
"Who….are you?"
I asked slowly as more chains started to wrap around my body. The individual stiffened and leveled his gaze with mine, but he was focusing on something different. I looked away in confusion for a moment before the shuffling sounds started. I turned my head slowly to see where the sound was coming from and my sight fell on the Red scaled individual that was getting to its feet slowly. I was about to see what my actions had gotten me; for good or for failure, this was going to tell me if what I had done was in vain. It stood up to its full height and I locked eyes with this creature; they were still completely White, but when I blinked, the momentary action was all that was needed for its irises to return, and when I opened my eyes again, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"No way"
The Black scaled individual breathed as it started to breathe; at the same time, a symbol started to appear on its upper left arm.
This is going to be fun!
I exclaimed mentally as I stood up to my full height and took a deep bow.
"It's a pleasure to be in your midst, Lady Caliente"
I said with a huge grin on my face and I could feel the immense power coming from this individual! However, I was not sure why an individual of the opposite gender would be inhabiting one of the opposite; it was beyond me.
However, if it doesn't mean any more progress for me, then I'm not interested
I snorted to myself while returning to my standing position and took the most polite posture I could, but I still felt that I was lacking. Her eyes burned into mine and I could tell that she was staring straight in my soul, or rather my "Driver".
"It seems that you still haven't found your way out of this place"
She seethed, probably due to the fact that she was ripped from an Energy Level. I knew that it took some getting used to, but I didn't know that it was painful. However, I was still nervous because she could see into my Driver.
That means she really could kill me if she wanted to
I reminded myself, questioning myself again if this was a good choice. While I was thinking about this, Caliente had turned to him.
"It seems that being shattered across the dimensions has treated you well"
She mocked him, which sent the other individual into shivers. Since I was curious, I peered into his mind. After all, since I had created these beings in conjunction with a few others that I…..used to trust, I could since they were my property. It wasn't being cruel if it was boiled down to the simplest that it could be, right? With this, I found a memory and opened it.
So that's what makes this individual fear him then
I said with realization. Doing this was risky, especially since I couldn't see anything outside of the memory while I was in it. When I came back to reality, Caliente was waving her hand in front of my face.
"For being the 'All Powerful', you space out quite a lot"
She said mockingly with a smug smile. I pushed her away and took a couple of steps back. I had a plan, but I needed pawns, er a team that was willing to comply with me.
It doesn't matter if they want to be; they're all wrapped around my finger anyways
I thought tensely as I found myself looking at Caliente again and I jumped in response. The others chuckled and I could feel my face getting hot.
"Whatever"
I growled to myself as I watched the Shadow Stepper take a place next to the Black scaled individual. I was surprised that he was getting into line now; did he actually now understand his place in my plan!? I needed to think now; I was capable of doing this all by myself, but with the effort I had just expended, it would be a waste to destroy them all again.
"You; the Black scaled thing!"
I snapped at it, which caused it to flinch.
"What are you and what are my enemies weaknesses!?"
I asked again with the irritability that came from staying in the Abyssal Void for too long. I wasn't sure why this happened, but I guess it had to do with keeping my mass in place, because if I didn't I would end up like him, and being shattered across space and time with a mind like his being lost hardly deserved the title Mastermind. I heard Caliente growl to herself quietly and angrily for some reason and after that, the other one started to speak.
"I'm an individual of the Yoshi species and they all suffer from their past"
He said with a mild quiver in his voice. It was good to know that he understood the power that I possessed; it was going to prevent me from killing him. The plan could use him, but he was nothing more than a pawn to me!
"I'll need more than a plan"
I declared suddenly, which brought all of their attention to me.
"What do you need, smarts?"
The Black scaled individual retorted and not a second later, a chain wrapped itself around his mouth. The others looked at him for a moment before looking back at me. She had that familiar smile on her face now, which meant that I had her trust, after all, I brought her back from the depths of the universe and had spared her from pain, for the time being.
"I'll need a team; that's why I've brought all of you here"
I declared, rubbing my hands together with anticipation. Caliente and the Black scaled individual looked back at me in confusion, but the other two already knew what I was going to do; after all, this was not the first time that an event like this had come about.
"Each of you have a certain skill that you possess that's valuable to me; so tell them to me to make sure that my time isn't wasted choosing you"
I said nonchalantly with a hand wave as I yawned in tiredness.
"You already know mine"
He said, vanishing from my view and in that instant, I knew where he had gone.
"I picked certain subjects that could withstand the Devil Gene and am capable of extracting that power"
She said with that smile of hers that mildly annoyed me. My gaze then fell on... looked away quickly and I stretched absently.
"All you want to do is get out of here, right?"
I asked tensely, which caused him to lock eyes with me.
"Go; I don't need you anymore!"
I dismissed him angrily, waving my hand, which sent him away quickly. I then looked at the last one in line, who was looking at the ground.
"Of what use are you going to be to me?"
I asked him as Caliente walked off. I didn't know where she was going, but I felt that it had something to do with achieving my goal, so I didn't say anything.
"I'm able to keep Energy Levels at a stable condition within my spirit"
He murmured, continuing to look at the floor. I could tell that he had failed catastrophically at something, which was keeping him from recognising his true potential.
If that's the case, I just need to gain his trust, use his abilities and then discard him later.
I thought, dropping my gaze to the floor, trying to understand what he was looking at.
"The Shadow Stepper really isn't good at this whole 'ruling the world thing', you know?"
I said with a little laugh, which brought his gaze up to mine. We both reached eye level at the same time, his being cold and cruel and mine being a steely intimidating look.
"I lost my brothers and mother to this war; what can you possibly offer me that could change that!?"
He seethed, balling his hands into fists.
Not the reaction I was expecting, but I guess I could use that anger for something
I said mentally, and I immediately started to think.
It won't be easy for me to find their weaknesses, so I'll have to be close enough to witness them, but far enough for them not to understand what I'm doing
I reasoned with myself, coming back to reality to find that I was wasting time.
"Do you have a name?"
I asked the Black scaled individual and he sighed.
"I'm Abyss, but who are you?"
He asked and in response I squared my shoulders
"Others call me the Overseer, but I prefer to be called Serpiente"
I said professionally, taking a deep bow, which was seemingly automatic when I met new people
"Serpiente, huh?"
He confirmed to himself as I returned to my previous posture and extended my hand out to him
"It will be a great pleasure working with you"
I said with a sinister smile.