Well, started finally working on this again about three months after the last update. The reason for the drastic plot change is that since this is a self-insert for the most part, I wanted a way (and a reason for the way) to age Lucas/Omega into my current age of 25 so that I could better write him as it felt kind of weird writing my 19 year old self. So be prepared for a serious tone change at some points.
This also served a more practical, in-story reason of breaking Lucas' down so that he can be put back together tougher than before. There's a massively far off reason for this but the more current one is simply accelerated maturation as a person and his role of Synapse's assault angeloid. The plot will have moments of upscaled battles that correlates to the new mindset of Lucas, that being of a now man filled with a sense of duty to the world and Synapse to counter the sins of his mass murder and the further decreased tolerance of naive people like Tomoki who doesn't appreciate who he has and doesn't quite give the attention and caution deserving to the ripples the angeloids' presence could create.
There was that one SnO story where an American agent is sent into the town after a video of Ikaros singing with her wings out during the school festival spreads across the internet, leading to things like Russian spies and doomsday plots and Washington D.C. burning from the battle with a hacked Ikaros. That's realistically more accurate to what can happen because of his group's careless handling and the private and superstitious nature of Japanese people. Lucas is born and raised American where such a thing is extremely rare, if not unheard of beyond an individual or small community level. His 'common sense' may as well be overblowing proportions to the 'common sense' of Japanese teenagers.
With that explanation out of the way, let's get on with this story.
Real quick: Play Chrono Cross 'Dream of the Shore Near Another World (extended)' for the beginning and when the darkness (you'll know what I mean) begins going away.
When Life and Death note a new music playing during the fight, look up and play Destiny 2 soundtrack 'Journey (featuring Kronos Quartet)'.
Master of Life and Death
Within the time dilation chamber, one would be awed or terrified if they just showed up in it. Those two choices would be understandable reactions to suddenly appearing in the ocean. Judging by the rich and vibrant life that inhabited the great expanse of coral reefs and the clear water bathed in shades of blue by the sunlight streaming in from above, such a reaction would be understandable to any who appreciated such sights they'd never thought to have seen.
It was drifting through the waters that three figures were intertwined, completely ignored by the sea life and unperturbed by a lack of any sort of breathing apparatus evident by how they seemed to easily drawn some kind of breath despite having no gills.
Unlike what some might think about the scene when the word 'intertwined' is used, the truth was completely innocent in nature. Two women different as day and night were wrapped around a man in the prime of his life. Life, the sister who looked like a beautiful, refined gothic lady had her arms wrapped around Omega's neck with her head resting against his own. Death, the vibrant sister who looked like a tanned Amazon was snuggled between his legs, holding his arms around her waist as if pulling him onto her back.
Both women looked calm as could be. Death lazily looked around at the life around them while Life's eyes were closed and she looked soft asleep. Her image was mirrored by the man between them. Omega's larger frame looked comically out of proportion compared to the two ladies but the positions looked as natural as a rock buried in the sands of a beach, their bodies unmoving after having slightly adjusted each part over the course of time to what felt the most comfortable with each other.
The man himself had eyes that were opened slightly but made no movement to show life. Throughout the ocean around them played music from every direction. It was soft and rhythmic, especially the keyboard. A violin would play a mesmerizing piece while the keyboard continued with the same beat. A string guitar played notes behind it all with an accompaniment of soft drums. The music had been playing on repeat at Omega's last voiced request, the song called 'Dreams of the Shore Near Another World' that debut on the Playing Station 1 game, Chrono Cross.
One might think the three would have gotten sick of it after so long but it truly was a musical score that seemed to never lessen in beauty and the environment around them had slowly formed to this song from nothing, a world created in unison by the three's imagination. The song was that divine and the two women knew they'd look more into Earth-based songs from games to spread across Synapse as a gift. Those people didn't know what they were missing. This wasn't the first song, of course.
Over the time inside here, the two girls had been introduced to a plethora of music that seemed to sprout from Omega's mind to fit the mood of his mental state. That had been a crazy time when they'd first arrived here.
The first environment had been a mass grave where he had made a headstone for each and every name he recalled from his brain; every single enlisted personnel he'd killed that night was remembered and carved by his finger into solid marble.
There had been sorrowful music as he'd eventually broke down and cried for weeks and months it seemed. Then, his mind took a gradual descent with fractures in his memory and heart. The land outside of the cemetery had changed into a battlefield as far as the eyes could see. In the air, on the land, nowhere was without explosions and the cries of soldiers fighting some desperate battle...and losing.
Omega had not reacted to this outside of trying to cause physical harm to himself. They had to double-team the larger angeloid to prevent damage and it was when the gravestones began receiving damage that he roared in rage and self-hatred before taking off at high speeds to fight the unseen enemy that surrounded their area. They followed, of course, and bore witness to just what kind of self-destructive nightmares his grief and self-loathing could fuel.
Abominations.
Conglomerations of abominations was the only way to describe them. Creatures beyond the rationality of any realm of natural order shambled while crawling while sprinting while jumping from over hills, beneath the ground and through the air with the intent to skewer/slash/strangle/bite/stab Omega, their bodies of many fangs, jaws, and human faces roaring curses of revenge and justice with eyes spitting orange fire like open puss wounds.
With his Sword of Mars, Omega flew into their ranks and left a rapidly increasing trail of repulsive, eldritch corpses in his wake.
The twins followed and laid waste where they could. At first, nothing they did could harm the creatures. It was as if they weren't even able to interact with the world they were in. This only changed when Death attacked a creature who tried to stab Omega in the back. He was turning around to face it but wasn't going to be fast enough. Her attack had hit true and the beast turned to ash from her power.
There was barely any moment of hesitation or even acknowledgement from their master before he was facing down the next creature. They came to the conclusion that they had to be within a certain distance of Omega to have any effect on the monsters but this wasn't true, they quickly found out when more attacks phased right through the monsters.
Another was killed before Omega could do the deed. Both sisters realized when he had a glimpse of acknowledgement that they could only attack the beasts when he had his attention on that. It all started to make sense to them. These abominations were born from his regret. At the least, they thought that much but it was much grimmer.
When Omega attacked head-on, he was intent on facing the beasts like a berserker. He never dodged any attacks unless they would be fatal, such as decapitations. The beasts weren't his regret, but his self-hatred and the insistence that he must atone for his sins. It wasn't just that either and the true reason brought a surge of amazement and grim determination from Life and Death.
The music had changed to more stringed instruments all around them. The song didn't come from any game Lucas had played but it seemed to be born not of his memories but of his journey. A song aptly named 'Journey'.
He fought them still when he could just stand there and take the hits but he didn't. He was accepting their vices, their curses and hatred but he was not going to accept giving his own life up as penance. He knew he killed those soldiers for their families' sake among the billions of others. He knew that he had the power to be more than he ever could have been and his humanity was a key component for pushing forward into the future, accepting the consequences of his actions but never letting it make his fate for him. As he had lived as a Human, he understood the grieving ghosts more than Life and Death possibly could. It wasn't a matter of intelligence but empathy, something the people and angeloids of Synapse lacked towards Humanity at large.
It was his own self-loathing personality, as infrequent and uncommon as it was to begin with, that cemented it all together. He could not continue living without punishment so if he just gave up, it'd all be for nothing. He forced himself one step at a time, knowing of and accepting the pain it caused.
As they fought beside him, they saw him take dozens, hundreds, thousands of blows. Nary did meaningful time pass after he healed from a wound did another take its place. Every time it looked like he would fall, his feet shifted to support his weight. Every time he fell to a knee, his arm would stop the rest from hitting the ground. He'd never allow his back to hit the ground so it was every time his face hit the blood and ash soaked mud and rocks that he got back up. When his recoveries took longer and longer after each fall, there was a certainty in his slow, shaky movements that even the monsters could understand; a certainty that even if it took him hours or days to do it, he was going to force himself up. To quit would be to assume that he's repented for his sins, which he couldn't accept, and to die would be to abandon the world he killed them to protect, something he couldn't do for the dead's sake.
Omega was subconsciously making himself into a martyr that he intended for the world to never know about..for to know his existence would be to know his sacrifices, something he felt unnecessary and undeserving.
Their own aid was finally noticed as well. Death understood it before Life did. He had been forcing himself to shoulder the burden on his own and it was only when they interfered/aided him in a manner he couldn't ignore with his tunnel vision that he began remembering that no matter where he went and what he did, they were always going to be there for him, even in the battles of his own soul. He couldn't escape them, to protect them from his own faults by simply ignoring them. He was a fool to think so and it was a 'fool' that he eventually muttered not to them but when he finally accepted that it was himself he was referring to.
When he realized this, their individual movements became coordinated a tiny bit more than before, which wasn't saying much. Together, they faced horrors that the minds of Synapse could never nor want to comprehend. Each new level of depraved visions he tormented himself with was a subconscious attempt to keep him from getting use to his newfound fortitude. Even when he accepted the consequences, the consequences- he felt- would never allow themselves to be accepted and so changed forms, sizes, and tactics.
Bum-rushing formations became wolf packs, then skirmishes, then air drops, then underground attacks, then weapon combat. Tentacles and claws turned to fists, to clubs and to guns and so much more. The variation was endless yet even as the challenges grew tougher, smarter and frankly more absurd, so too did their reliance on each other to cover their weaknesses. Whether they knew it or not, they had begun to instinctively make decisions based on foreknowledge of each other and the perceived enemies. There eventually became zero lag time between seeing a threat and knowing who would get it while who would cover the others' backs.
It was messy, grueling, and above all, it was almost calming, to their minds. Soon, they were fighting more because there was something to fight rather than protecting the other or repenting.
Life would later muse at how they became disciplined and calm battle junkies.
She would use the outside's computer logs in learning that they'd fought nonstop for 302 years as verification.
When the last enemy was felled by Death, Omega finally seemed to know that it was the last as he put his sword away. Not a piece of him was without scarring or open wounds but like magic, they'd disappeared. Of course, the chamber couldn't create creatures corporeal enough to cause real harm and that simply showed this was a battle of the heart and mind more than it was physical exertion and skill.
When they had returned to the cemetery, the twins had been in for a surprise when they found an army of human ghosts standing at attention. A glance at one's name tag showed he was standing in front of his tomb. likewise for the rest. The Brigadier General Omega had murdered was giving him a solid frown. Lucas felt a moment of guilt and regret before composing himself and giving the general a stone-faced look. It wasn't the face the man seemed to be looking at though. Some basic geometry in her head determined they were having an 'eye to eye' moment and after a minute, the general seemed satisfied.
He didn't smile.
He didn't hold his hand out.
He didn't say anything.
He simply raised his right hand in a silent salute that was mirrored by all the other ghosts. Omega raised his own crisp salute in return and dropped it after several seconds, followed by the army's silent return. The general was last to withdraw his salute.
Unlike, again, what the girls might have thought, the ghosts did not fade away. They simply stood there at attention before going into a 'Parade, Rest' stance and stared ahead. The only one who seemed to have any deviation was the general whose eyes kept locked on Lucas. It seemed that they mirrored his own self-loathing nature. They would not simply fade away because he's convinced them (himself) that he'll see his actions through to the end, consequences and all. Even if he gained their (his own) begrudging approval, they (he) would be here, standing in front of their graves, judging him with restrained hatred, restrained only by his will to see this through to the end.
They were a fitting piece in this world that mirrored his mind. Mirrors are often used for reasons of vanity. If one could not see themselves but only their sins in one, it was the perfect tool for someone as jaded and bent as their master. The twins had never felt a sensation such as 'being sickened' but going by the context, this phrase would describe their feelings at themselves for their own treachery.
It was with no signal that the music started coming to a stop and Omega began walking away. The two followed him for days, weeks, months; it really wasn't easy to tell how much time was passing. They might have tried counting on their own but they were more concerned about their master who was silent.
Nothing laid bare before them. The sun had appeared but even its light could not illuminate it. Heedless of the all-consuming darkness, Omega walked in with the girls on his wing tips. They walked and walked before he finally took a seat. It was dark and impossible to see, even with traditional visor settings, but their radar fed them 3D images as if from their eyes, allowing them to see the outline of their master taking a seat on his hunches. They joined him and the three stayed like that for who knows how long.
It was soft at first; the music but memory from Lucas of it let them know that it was his absolute favorite piece of music that he'd listen to every night to go to sleep. 'Dream on the Shore Bordering Another World' it translated to their language. It was quite the artistic name for a song. Any amusement they might have thought of it never grew out of their seeds when the tone of the song finally settled into their bodies.
They found themselves sitting their, listening to the different instruments and memorizing every little detail. Even when it played over, nothing but the three people there changed, becoming calmer...translucent, so to speak, like their bodies and minds were flowing outwards and intermingling with the area. There was no weight or wetness to warn them but when a source of sunlight started slowly breaking through and illuminating the area, they found themselves under the surface of a brightly lit ocean. Plants began blooming and sea creatures of thousands of shapes and sizes start venturing forth from the darkness of crevices and holes, recreating a cycle of nature while they watched like out-of-place gods, unaffected by anything while capable of affecting all that was around them.
The music played again and again and it never grew old or stale. The two women found themselves falling in love with the song in a time span that their minds felt like was alot longer than what their bodies felt like. It was weird in recollecting it so they stopped that and simply got comfortable alongside Omega.
Time moved on and on and when the moment came that Omega finally spoke to them, his words both surprised them and didn't.
"Life...Death...I love you. Please don't let me doubt that."
A strange choice of words but it was simple enough to understand. Life gave him a chaste kiss on the corner of his mouth. Death gave him one on the bottom of his left ear from where she'd been sitting up against him.
"We'll be with you until the end of Time, Master," the twins said in contentment.
With that, the trio fell into a quiet spell for a very long time.
"How long has gone by in there, Solara?" Reikoku asked in curiosity from his chair while having listened to reports from her guards and watching some of the human news. It's been several months since they'd stepped into that chamber and alot has happened.
"The computer logs says their minds have been in there for 32,028 years. Thankfully, that number is just mental years and not at all anywhere close to physical years, which would be just half a decade. Scanners show steady readings in that they haven't moved in quite the while. Even the song has been playing on repeat for most of those years. Must be quite the score. Anyway, some activity is showing so they might be coming out soon."
"Ah, speak of the devil," she spoke up, grabbing his attention for the ironic expression and then her meaning. "The sensors show everything powering down. Life has accessed the controls so they seem to be ready." What she didn't need to say, he knew she really meant Lucas. What she didn't tell Reikoku is that there was a strange reading about Lucas and to a slightly less extent, her girls as well.
Seeing as they were alone in the room except for the standard Royal Guard angeloids, she swiped across her wrist computer screen and pressed a button which opened up a rift in space/time. Seconds went by before the first to step through was Death, her golden skin radiating like a small sun and her green eyes sparkling when they landed on her mother.
Solara could tell the girl wanted to embrace her yet something restrained her usually energetic mood. She visibly held herself back and waited for the other two. They came together as one, her other daughter leading the young man she'd tricked by the arm. None of her daughters seemed to have changed at all though something did seem off about Lucas' body. The metal looked more weathered, the muscles a quarter percentage bigger than last she saw him, and his face has stubble on it. His hair was still cut in his usual JROTC manner. His shoulders had gained a few inches in width that made him seem several years older. He seemed to have also grown another three inches, making him around eighty inches tall.
Yes, she could see the difference now. Looking at his face, it seemed rougher and his eyes..his eyes looked so tired but unflinching as well, like some of the oldest architecture in Synapse that looked old and worn but have withstood thousands of years of time. That's what he reminded her of- an old, weathered column of granite. With her experience and knowledge, she knew this man before her was not like the young adult from just a few months ago. His very presence had gone from impressive to...intimidating. His form out-sized anyone or anything Angel/Angeloid in Synapse. He also felt cold..like he was waiting for something to activate him. He seemed more mechanical in his presence. Was this..what she had done to him with her manipulation? Would he ever laugh, smile or compliment her with that embarrassed blush?
Solara felt...dirty now that she's seen some of the results of her actions but what was done was done and it needed to be done. She had to have him at 100% commitment. Distancing him from Humanity by turning him into an Angeloid kickstarted the process. Fighting and experiencing actual combat helped guide his mind and heart into the mindset he'd need for the future conflicts. Killing over ten thousand of his former countrymen would speed his progress up. However, she didn't want him to completely remove his Humanity. That empathy and the unique thought processes of Humans are vital factors in his effectiveness- it was practically the theory she built her thesis off of to have his transformation agreed to.
Yes, she needed him to keep a connection to his former life so that was why she had him kill a base of American soldiers. If it had been a base of terrorists or even soldiers of a foreign country, he would have had an easier time feeling unattached but it wouldn't have been the same with killing his own people. He killed them, so he 'could' get the job done, and by sympathizing and mourning them, he kept a facet of Humanity that she secretly envied- that of their incredible traits of adapting to survive and never giving up. In order to redeem himself, he'd go to Hell and kill it as many times as he needs to, come back from the brink of death as much and as quick as possible to continue the fight. True, most humans would give up, roll over, and not want to even acknowledge the reality of their weakness but there were those legendary few who changed the world with their actions and visions. She wanted that trait in Omega and now, even looking at his aged form, she could stubbornly claim that yes, this act of betrayal was for his own good and she'd do it again and again, no matter how much it'd hurt her heart and his.
He was her Omega- her Seraph. He is Synapse's hope for true security and much more after that. She may like his compliments, his generosity and sincerity but she cared more about him than his opinions of her. It's like one of those 'so selfless that you're selfish' conundrums.
Solara would trek on with her duty, to serve Reikoku, Synapse and its remaining citizens, and guide Omega and her daughters the best she could.
Reikoku was of similar thoughts. He could tell this young boy had somehow aged to full maturity in both body and mind. Perhaps his mind had aged beyond the scope of modern human comprehension and his angeloid body was adaptive enough to help meet the needs best for the mind? It was quite a mystery to him and even Solara seemed curious though she would know more than he in this regard.
Anyway, Lucas had a look of carrying on a mission upheld by nothing more than sheer stubbornness, responsibility and conviction in his eyes. It was a look he's seen in very few humans and those were humans who had changed the world around them into their ideal dream or accomplished acts that inspired the creation of all those false deities with all of that 'for none but a child of [insert god/goddess] could possibly do what they did' foolishness: Gilgamesh, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Arthur Pendragon, Indrajit, Heracles, Achilles, Cuchulain, Alexander the Great, Oda Nobunaga, Napoleon of Bonaparte, Lu Bu, Jeanne D'Arc, Hannibal of Carthage, Theodore Roosevelt, Ivan the Terrible, Joseph Stalin, Douglas MacArthur, Adolf Hitler, Bruce Lee...and Chuck Norris.
Looking back, he could count Lucas' previous stalemate with the rogue First Gens as having Luck, Surprise, and Talent on his side. They all played a vital role in standing up to four angeloids of great power. They didn't know of his weaponry, capabilities, etc. and even though he'd injured the Uranus Queen, he'd been outnumbered quickly to the point not even his weaponry could overpower them.
This Lucas before Reikoku was obviously different, aligning with Solara's observations. The boy had seemed to finally overcome the shock of murdering so many people and was now mature and adapted enough to carry out his original mission with zero hesitation. While they may not have the element of surprise anymore, they would not be sending the same man into battle. The rogues would find themselves against someone who has seen and dealt with the consequences that their flippant treachery could cause and he would know what to expect of them as well.
When Solara brought this plan to his attention, Reikoku agreed knowing the consequences, both good and bad in the short and long term effects. Despite his authoritative nature, he was quite the genius himself and has been working on his own project ever since Lucas' first battle and seeing the sheer amount of firepower he'd be up against.
He would send Lucas and his companions to assault the rogues once more with side missions of his own alongside the main objective of recovering the Uranus Queen's Variable Wing core. He needed data on that core and an up and close confrontation that'd push Ikaros to her limits would suffice in providing him close-up data scans.
"Lucas, good of you to join us again. It's been three months since we've last seen you," he spoke up first, interrupting Solara's attempt at re-familiarizing herself. She could worry about that later.
To his surprise, the massive man bowed like he did the first time during his debut, taking a knee with both fists on the ground. Only difference between then and now was the presence of Life and Death who Reikoku still didn't know much of. His body also moved differently. There was almost a mechanical ruggedness in just the act of kneeling. Perhaps the weight of his duty and crimes actually affecting his physical capabilities? Disturbing but something that should wear off like rust. The women followed their master's lead and bowed as well with zero hesitation. It seemed they really have bonded deeply during Lucas' recuperation. It'd be interesting to see what Solara's greatest project is capable of now that their personal master seems to have fully matured into his role.
"Sky King, it has been a long time though it all passes in a blur if I recollect on it. I have stabilized my mind and truly come to terms with my role and the actions I have committed and will inevitably commit for the safety of Synapse and the Human Race."
'Ooooh?' Interesting, was what the leader of Synapse thought, namely the inclusion of the Human Race. What kind of loyalty did he still hold for the Downers? Also, that voice was deep enough to replace a few drums in a band.
"Care to explain the inclusion of the Downers, Lucas?"
The large man was silent for but a moment before speaking. "As much as the Human race is filled with negative aspects, they are also capable of positive ones. They are a contradiction that has somehow coexisted for as long as they have. I'd imagine the world would be a boring place if they were eradicated but they do have their roles in it as well. So, as the world is under the authority of Synapse, I would protect this place and its people from the Humans with my life, but I would also like to protect them from extinction or other cataclysmic situations. It's a goal I've settled on to balance the sins of my actions with the necessity of them. It...lightens the burden, Sir, even if that's just an illusion for my benefit."
Quite the honest person he's become as well. He has learned to cope with his actions in a way to benefit Humanity as well as Synapse to balance his guilt and conviction. He's even talked as if he's no longer Human, or have the right to be to further alleviate the burden. Lucas certainly seems to have grown up.
"Protecting Synapse and eradicating the rogues serve the same thing but protecting Humanity as well? And from itself if need be? Such a role may be accomplish by a single Angeloid but not be maintained. Where would the line be drawn that need crossed for you to intervene? How far would you go? You've eradicated a military base to protect a country and Synapse. What would you do if the consequences of failure or inaction are far greater?"
"I would...go as far as needed...as physically and mentally possible without betraying Synapse or the future of Humanity. I owe it to them, at least."
Reikoku's brows rose at 'them' but didn't comment anymore. For now, he was convinced by words. Now those words will need to be proven by action, and then consistency of that action if it was successful.
The road Lucas is choosing to travel, to protect both worlds, is one he can't do alone. Perhaps, if he can back those words up, Reikoku can make sure he isn't taking up this task with just himself and his two companions.
Solara had seen fit to simply watch the exchange, coming to her own conclusions as well from Lucas' words and the strong assurance he exuded when speaking them. Seeing him look different was one thing, but hearing him speak was another just driving the differences home for her. Now, like Reikoku, she'd need to see them in action.
"Very well, Lucas. While I believe you won't be able to keep that dream up for long, perhaps you'll convince me to help as well. Before this week is up, I want you to engage the rogues again. Focus on the Uranus Queen primarily but eliminate any of the others if the opportunity shows itself. Use your own judgement for how much you want to escalate the conflict. If you choose to lure them out far away from human populations, consider it approved. If you decide to attack them where they live, I approve it, even if the clash should destroy the country of Japan. If you can't kill the Uranus Queen and retrieve her core, then simply damaging it or exposing it for close-up scans will have to suffice. Knowing Daedalus, I wouldn't be surprised if she had built in some contingencies for those traitors should they be on the verge of death. Do be more careful than last time though. Do you understand your orders, Lucas?"
"Affirmative, Sir. Also, you don't have to call me by my human name if you don't want to. I've..grown content with 'Omega' during my recovery, Sir."
Another coping mechanism and sign of distancing himself from his human origins? Very well, it'd just make Reikoku and Solara more at ease.
"Very well. Now, spend the time you have this week to reacquaint yourself with the lands and people you're fighting for, plan your assault, train with your partners, and simply inform me or Solara when you're ready to begin. You're dismissed. I'm sure Solara has much to discuss with you before you go off somewhere though."
Reikoku simply rested his face against the back of his hand while Omega, Life and Death stood and left to the doorway on the left that led to Solara's lab. That woman had been busy these past few months so perhaps some upgrades and check-ups were on the table for Omega.
A/N: That's a wrap for this chapter. It would've been out a week ago but I got sick as fuck and couldn't focus on writing. Thankfully, I had finished the writing before I fell ill and only needed to proofread.
So, this chapter was to delve into the psychological torment Lucas suffered and a taste of what he'll continue to force himself to suffer. There's blood on his hands that he'll never wash off. He will forever try to redeem himself but he'll never see him worthy of it, so he'll never accept it when he's done more than enough, but than again, who can really be the judge of that. He can't judge if he's redeemed, only that he must try until he dies.
As for the time skip/not time skip, it was to catch him up to my age and size and mentality, though I'm obviously not as damaged as he is. His mind is OLD now. While 302 years was spent fighting like he was in the pits of Khorne against the spawn of Nyarlahotep, the rest of those tens of thousands of years was just spent slumbering, resting, relaxing, adapting, and being away from it all, so it's not like he's spent millennia studying/training/etc. to be this super-op OC. He's still gonna have some challenges by the rogues, and they haven't even used their own Pandora system yet. However, he is now a much more deadly opponent since he's up against kids who use most of their days stuck in school and not training, planning, etc.. They're gonna be in for a rude awakening.
