Darkness.
Then bright white.
Darkness.
Bright white…
Dark…
I was standing on a black, shining surface that spread out infinitely... The surrounding universe transitioning from black and white… stars going from bright white to pitch ebony black. The change was gradual, almost imperceptible as black dragged into grey, grey into white, white into shining ivory to porcelain and beyond.
The reverse was true, too.
White turned to grey, which melted into graphite and transitioned like liquid into the darkening night. It ended in a black so profound the stars were blinding tunnels of light that shot out like lasers through the dark. The void trying to devour the white like ink bleeding into white fabric…
And on and on it went…
I stood there, peacefully, counting the stars and measuring how long it took for the change to happen. Unfortunately, this was impossible.
I was in a dream.
Time made no sense. It somehow felt instantaneous, and at the same time, it took an eternity.
I didn't die.
Not physically, at least.
But there were many deaths in life.
The one where your innocence dies and you are no longer a child.
The one where your sense of trust and stability dies and you learn to cope with uncertainty.
The one where your sense of total freedom and curiosity dies, and you're burdened with the terrible understanding of responsibility.
But, probably the worse was when your sense of importance died. Blessed are those who have it die early and soft, for the magnitude of knowing you're as insignificant to the universe as a microscopic piece isn't as soul destructive. You avoid the birth of an existential crisis and the realization you have no grander purpose.
You were not brought on to this earth for anything…
You live a numb life, one of cynicism and half-trying…
Then mortality. The understanding you die. The realization of the slow, imperceptibly insidious march of old age. The cracking and popping of bones and joints. The destructions of ideals, thoughts, and memories. The realization of how close everyone is, and will be, to death.
Absolute entropy.
Everything ends…
Some are lucky to have that terror realized at the moment of death. I had to deal with all of them early. Several times. A crippling, visceral understanding of death, the hopelessness and meaningness of it all. The impact it fell on the person when it crystalized in your soul. The fallout to the surrounding people and yourself.
Then there's the worst one, the one I found out about recently.
When you have the power to change the world. To ruin the world with a single mistake… what do you do?
The horrifying realization that you do matter. It isn't hopeless. It isn't pointless.
And everyone is relying on you…
I never wanted to be some sort of hero. Some white knight cutting down errant evildoers.
But I also never trusted people who jumped at the chance to be a hero, with careful deliberation, thought, and need to achieve glory; super or otherwise. There is a certain insincerity that comes with that, especially with those too innocent to understand the enormity of the task they just took upon themselves.
Then there was those like Spider-Man, Batman; hell, even Yusuke… Superman too, but he was just a dude who found out he was an alien. He wasn't perfect, but his love encompasses every person on the planet.
Kinda' like Jesus, except in blue underwear and cape.
All of them loved, unconditionally. Either something that was taken from them or they have something they care and want to protect. A hero has to love; otherwise it's a job and he or she will be corruptible.
Ya' know, a lot people trash on love… but ask anyone who genuinely loves something or someone other if they would do any harm to it or abandon it?
You'll get a big fat no.
That's where all talent comes from. The love to write, draw, sing, dance. The love that allows you to trudge through the monotony with a smile on your face. It allows you to do it without pausing and thinking. Once you think how hard or how much time you give to what you love, you're liable to say, "What the fuck am I doing with myself?"
I was born with this curse of being good. I love helping people. In a world that rewards efficiency, ruthlessness, and selfishness? When the world takes advantage of you for it?
Who is going to protect you and those like you from the evils of the human?
That falls into hero shit too because, let's be honest, that's what I now am. To my great chargin… I mean, I got a green suit…
…I'm the first category: I love my father with all my heart. To follow his words: Do things right and live life righteously. I ain't getting paid for it or rewarded. It definitely hits me square in the nuts more than happiness hugs me. Especially now, when I feel guilty at all the chaos that happened that I couldn't save. Or all the friends I lost.
I'm not gonna' lie though… I do love the power. The feeling of using Nen. The freedom of being a Hunter. Standing atop all the world…
And that's what's scary.
In the shadows, I saw moving forms of people that died. Of the 'little people' no one cared for. The causality of power.
I saw a woman pick up the phone to be informed her husband, Harold, had died.
I watched as her legs collapse from underneath her.
I watched as she repeats the word 'no' deliriously, as though the strength of her love could reject reality.
I watched as two children peer out of a corner, come to her and console her. Trying to be strong for the first time in their lives. And they would need to be for the rest of it.
I looked away because I wasn't strong enough to continue watching...
It felt so good to kill that man… he deserved it… l saved the day…
But now…
I stared up to see a dream, a vision, a murmur. A memory long locked away. Like dust in the sky.
A creature of black.
Infinite teeth, infinite black, infinite shifting eyes. A tar body made of an infinite void as it stretched endlessly, yet it was contained in the form of a human. It dripped and warped. A boney rib cage, a vicious smile. Thorny flesh and harsh horns covered its form. It ebbed and flowed. Rippled and shuttered.
A cascade of darkness.
It laughed with its innumerable mouths as it held Zhulong by her throat. A slithering, spiny tongue slithered and coiled down the creature's arm as Zhulong struggled. She turned into blinding light. She turned into the air itself. A flock of panicking birds. Into a blisteringly fast, creaking, growing tree. Into a massive thrashing green dragon.
The dark creature somehow held on. I can't explain how because I can't understand how. I just did. Its arm shifting and transforming to be part of whatever Zhulong was. Whatever she changed to, it held her by the 'neck'; it's black deformed 'hands' clinging tightly regardless of the impossibility of it.
Like tar…
The tongue slithered and dragged its spinney body into her ear. Her cry was supernatural, a scream that was a chorus of angels dying across the heavens. As the tongue snapped off and dug its way into her ear, tears streamed and her cries began weeping, sobbing painful squeaks.
It spoke. It wasn't a chorus of demons reveling across hell.
Its voice was unnervingly normal. Human.
Indignant
""You fuckers look down on us! Gods, fate, destiny. I hate you all. I will eat you all…"
For a brief moment, I saw its form flicker. A normal person. Pale skin, black hair, black leather jacket, jeans, and sneakers. A person around Leorio or Claudette's age.
His face was full of joyful rage.
Zhulong stuttered through sobs, "I-I didn't do anything to you… I never wanted this life..."
"No, you didn't. And I don't care. Someone like you did lord over me. Judged to a life of misery for being born different. Being 'off'."
And, just like me, he had no chains on him. A human without a fate…
A mortal with infinite possibilities…
God or bad.
The mirage disappeared like a dying dream.
I stared into the void… the dream… the thing that connected me to the gods. I looked down to see a crowd of glowing forms walking into the infinite black horizon of the night. A portal of light. I saw them turn into animals of all kinds. Birds, rabbits, and others…
Beyond it, I saw the giant tree that signaled Zhulong's domain.
It was all the people that died today…
I stared off into the distance as my eyes began to unfocused… my mind wandering off as I tried to… I don't know…
Trying to reason why I am here?… fighting off the ultimate survivors' guilt known to the universe.
I felt an arm pat me on the shoulder. I turned, my eyebrows shooting up to the top of my head as I saw someone I never would have expected. Hearing a voice, I never thought to hear again.
"'Ello there, kid, hehehe. Been o' wild while, ain't it? 'Ey, lookin' mighty spiffy ain't cha'! Built o' lot o' muscle too, gahaha!"
I turned to face him and chuckled, both hands in my pockets as I stared down at Quixote Panza. The person, or more like Nen Spirit, who trained me close to a year ago.
The first person to try and attack me with Nen. And…
"Heh, you're the first person MCP appropriated, huh? I guess your why I'm a ghost when I'm in Ghost in the Shell."
He smiled, his toothy grin still missing a few pearly yellows. His white furs covering his hunched over form as I remembered it.
"Right you are! Ain't cha' uh smart one, hehehe. Bet ya' didn't guess I was that furst monkey that saws ya'!"
I laughed, deep and bellowing. I can't believe I climbed a tree like a brute.
"Haaaa…. I mean, shit, does it matter if you were the first? The amount of noise I made climbing that tree was stupid. I thought I was invincible with my strength."
"Ya' still think that now'?" my other master said with a wry smile.
"Hell no. Bigger fish to infinitum, and beyondium," I said, sophisticatedly in my deep knowledge of Latin.
"Tch, still makin' them jokes only ya' gets… but your quieter. There's a… tiredness in your eyes. In your mind, body, and soul. Hard. Sharp. Tense. Ya've' been through a lot. Seen too much in too short o' time," he turned to the display in front of us, "seeing things ya' ought not to think about…"
He frowned, "Took yer first life, din' ya?"
I shrugged and turned to the changing sky. I felt numb, "Yeah. Probably the only person who fits my stupidly strict sense of morality."
"But sense it is. Like smell or touch. Balance. Time. Nen… taste… hearing… sight," he said tiredly. I turned to his cataract filled eyes, beaten nose, cracked lips, "Dullin' them makes the world a little less bright. A little less nice to be in…"
He stared at the infinite expanse. A single, sincere nod. As strong and solid as a mountain.
"That's why you're here… Ya' done good kid'"
It was a single cough. Then choking sound. A groan, then a sharp intake of air. That feeling when you try to hold it in, like holding your breath. I clenched my teeth and clenched my fists, but I couldn't stop it.
Droplets, followed by streams.
I cried.
Deep lumbering sobs that I had buried for months erupted from deep inside my body.
I felt patting on my hunched over forms, rough hands touching my shoulders.
"Ya' did good holdin' to your beliefs in the face of impossible odds. Being brave and bold when given proof to abandon them. If ya' wondering why you're 'here', that's why. A belief not to be worse, so deep it's in carved in yer soul…"
He sighed and continued, "Like ya' said, if ya's gonna' kill someone, might as well be that man. But I know the feeling, kid. That terrifying feeling of losing yourself. To let go and become a monster, even if ta' kill a monster... Hell, anyone gonna' knows about it, it's me…"
I don't know how he knew… he just did. I felt a horrible wrenching, twisting feeling as something inside me cracked. Like the snapping of a tight wire under tension.
All the fear. All the anxiety. All the horrors. All the exhaustion. All the doubts and uncertainty. The sadness and loneliness. The burden and weight on me. The façade I had to keep.
It all exploded out.
I dropped to my knees. The enormity of my situation and my dilemma when faced with my vision… the paths laid before me.
Killing Robere wasn't what was destroying me inside. It was how easy it had been. How easy it was to not care. To say, "Fuck it!" and justify it. If anyone was to die, it was him.
But what about the people slightly less evil than him?
Then after that?
Then that?
The slippery slope is a fallacy, but I was immortal. That's a long time to be whatever evil I could be. Briannaisa said I was similar to Evira…
So what if it starts like this? What if I end up even worse?
What if this was the start and, before I know it, the end? Where I've killed so many people just because I can justify it. I murder a family because the good outweighs the bad, or because I thought it was deserved…
Inflict the same pain on others that was inflicted on me growing up?
I felt Panza gently grip my shoulder and turn my blubbering mess toward him.
"Kid… ya' know why I'm here? Ya' know why I stayed here inside ya'? 'Cause I could have just left ya' at any time. Them monkeys were angry and scared enough fer' me to hop in? Ya' know why?"
I shook my head, I felt like fragile glass.
"'Cause ya' gave me mercy. Ya' gave me a chance. Ya' gave me understanding... Ya' gave me closure… I realized how stupid I'd been. Blinded by rage… I was so damn embarrassed ta' do that ta' ya… ta' try and do that to whoever fool enough was ta' come in the forest."
He sighed, smiled softly, and shook his head, "Inside o' ya' is a lot of love that never gots out o' the nest before life tried ta' strangle it. This goes fer everyone, but to you the most: just cause the world fears ya' and wants ta' hurt ya', doesn't mean ya' have to stop lovin' it and the people in it. Stop caring. It ain't ever gonna' be strong enough ta' stop ya, 'cause of that love,"
He placed a hand on my chest, followed by a tap to my temple, "That love for ya' friends and Master made ya' body strong, and that love fer you father made ya' heart and mind strong. Ya' just a kid who ain't had the chance to grow, man body o' not, but that don't mean ya' have ta' grow and accept ta' be crooked. Grow strong an' tall as any o' trees in that white forest o' mine."
He was a tiny man, Panza. No taller than five feet hunched over. Yet, at the moment, he was as big as a mountain to me. A squeak of a voice came out of me. Small, dismissive laugh…
"You make me sound like Jesus."
"Bah! Na, ya ain't Jesus kid... Ya' got what anyone has, but choose to throw away young when it doesn't get them what they want or need in life: To be good and right. Yer' like a kid stomping his feet and refusing to change his beliefs in front of bullies. Heh, ya' can beat a kid red, black, and blue, but you can't break their spirit if they know they're right - only their innocence. Makes 'em mad, gahaha….
"Well, ya' already learned them lessons, something most never do. It's the rest of the normal shit ya' forgot to learn, hehe…"
He sniffed, nodding in absolute certainty, "You was great the moment ya' resolved yourself ta' see this to the end. When ya' stopped running."
He grabbed my right hand and gently showed me the back of my hand, cradling it in his rough hands as if it were gold.
"Look at that,"
I stared through my drying eyes in surprise, my eyes as wide as plates.
The mark was gone.
"Ya' ain't no one's plaything now. Not the universe and not no god. Coursing through ya's is a power beyond mere mortal Nen, and your proclamation broke ya' free. Ya're not bound to do anything but what you want in life. Don't be scared of what may come, 'cause ya' got control now…
"Ya' ain't got no safety nets, but ya don't need it, do ya'?"
He pointed to his right hand toward the sky.
As I stared at the stars in the sky burned black and the universe turned brilliant white, I somehow saw the people that survived the assault on the Dragon's Head. People who, by all rights, should be crooks. They still shined with some light. I saw them pouring out of the buildings. Calling loved ones who had no idea what happened, thankful everything was ok.
I saw children who greeted haggard, beleaguered parents who decided to change their lives and quit. The light growing brighter.
I saw the Amori brothers slowly entering the destroyed entrance of our headquarters. Upon seeing the aftermath of the assault on the Dragon's Head, they decided to quit come after the Auction. Only now realizing how in over their heads they were.
Flickers of white embers grow bright.
I saw Mayer, Flole, Briannaisa, all staring at my passed-out form. My body was filled with countless cuts and old scars that were, at this point, starting to resemble the body of a shirtless Sensui for Yu Yu Hakusho. Several medical personnel were checking me over, banding my wounds, and assessing my state.
All three of them looked at my passed-out form with smiles of pride. Light shining bright as a blazing lighthouse in the night.
I saw the image change to Leorio trying to call my phone as he drove as fast as he could to the Dragon Head. Blinding.
I saw Gon and Killua training their asses off, their faces filled with determination. They squared off against Biscuit Krueger in the middle of a desert, doing a good job of keeping her on the back foot and forcing her to actually try.
A universe of light.
The image faded.
A forest appeared. Killua with yoyos of all things was beating the crap out of a guy with a fellow redhead with a heart tattoo on his forehead, a puff for a haircut. A long sleeve purple shirt, heart in the middle, jeans, and brown shoes. The shirt was turned to tatters with a hit of the yoyo…
I saw Gon fighting beating the crap out of a tall, lanky blonde man with glasses. Garbed in a white cloak, a blue ascot over his shoulders, and sharp glasses that hide the man's eyes with an ominous white sheen. The man was strong, fast, quick, deadly…
That meant nothing in the face of Gon. There was a fire, a determination, a promise in his eyes. The Green Machine was whooping his ass with a combination of punches and kicks in the middle of a forest...
The image faded.
I saw Kurapika facing off against four characters straight out of an RPG. A large chain flowing out of his right hand. Behind them was Pairo, directing them as he trained his Kurapika brethren in a mountainous forest…
Darkness surrounding that light… and it slowly consuming them…
The images on the horizon disappeared. I turned to Panza, who was fading away himself. Even though he was shifting off into colorful dust and passing on, I was happy.
Because he was smiling. He was at peace.
He left me with three words.
"You're ready, kid.'
With those words… knew what I needed to do.
I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
"Ow, my fucking… everything…" I said as I rested in bed, a week after my fight with the head of the Magi. Flole stood over me, measuring my temperature again for the second time today.
"Well, no one said eating aura would be healthy… and no one told you to fight the Magi… we found you barely alive... You lost close to seven pounds of fat. You fractured several bones, lost two quarts of blood, and damaged your muscles. Of course, you'd feel miserable!"
I stuck the tip of my tongue out between my lips in annoyance, staring at the ceiling. I sighed and replied.
"Can't you get Claudette or Briannaisa to help me? Can't you hit me with Stick? Thwack, thwack?" I said, stiff and motionless. Like a man doing his best impression of a mummy stuck in a sarcophagus.
Flole frowned, the hair on her head reminded me of a sheep, "No 'Thwack, thwack'. Briannaisa and Claudette are injured and exhausted themselves. When they finish healing, then I'll let them heal you."
"Why won't you use your power then?"
She raised an eyebrow, "Because, then people will ask why I don't heal them with my ability. The fact is, I'm speeding up growth. I'm aging you. And since we don't age, it heals you instead of kills you. It will bring everyone else forward to meet father time and his good friend the reaper."
Flole placed a finger on my fractured nose. Even that hurt tremendously. She continued.
"Besides, I told you not to push yourself. Using your Hatsu without any testing? In the middle of a fight with someone of that strength? You should have run!" her frown would have been cute if her eyes weren't burning with maternal rage.
I shook my head, "I told you, I couldn't. Activating End of you-know-what for the first time released some light that burned away Robere's fate. Someone like that with no limits? Out there in the world? Fuck that. Regardless of that, he needed to be stopped."
Flole sat in the same chair she sat so long ago, before the Hunter Exam. They had brought me to my room, since I was so fucked up and kind of a big deal being the heir, bringing me to the hospital was a no go. The building was still a fortress, even with walls dried with blood and the front door wide open.
She shook her head.
"That was your Specialist Hatsu triggering for the first time. It was such a drastic change to your body it interacted with the mark on your body," she pointed at the nonexistent symbol which, I was told, had faded away while I slept, "which protected you from changes to your body and mind. To reconcile the actions you took and the restriction it has, it had to 'loosen'. It seems, though, that you made an even bigger decision in the slumber…"
I raised an eyebrow, choosing not to understand her words, "And it burned away all the fate around me?"
She looked up toward the ceiling and made a groaning face, "Iiiit's complicated. If God made a rock that even He decides He can't lift, then He can't be lifted. If God turns around and says it can be lifted, then it will be lifted. The universe or the rock has to change. Well, the universe doesn't have to change, but the properties of the rock now change. That, temporarily, involves everything around it too. Do you understand me?"
I squinted at her intelligently and stayed sophisticatedly quiet.
"I guess not," she sighed, "the properties of the mark on you, and your body, changed to accommodate your Hatsu. There was a blowback of 'energy' and everything in the vicinity was affected," she said with a flourish of her hands, "Does that help?"
I shrugged. Ow, "Fuck it, sure! My head hurts! Heal me!"
She shook her head and got up, "No. From what you told us, he was happy enough to be free of fate. You might have convinced him to let you and Evira go. Instead, you took an undue risk. We'd have caught him, eventually."
I locked eyes with her. Conviction burning through me. It rang in my voice.
"No," I turned away and stared hard at the wall, accepting my situation. I continued, "I don't regret what I did. If that's how it is, then I'll lay on my back like this a thousand times."
There was silence for a moment. Flole's eyes moved to my hand before she answered.
"You'd risk your life just to prevent a madman like that from killing one more person, huh? Why?"
The silence stretched on when she ended as I withheld my reply. Just as it became intolerable, I answered.
"Someone has to care. Do things right and live life righteously. Those are hard words to follow. It may be selfish, but it's true: I won't ever have a guilty conscience for as long as I live. I won't ever regret a thing. And I won't have blood on my hand because I took a shortcut or didn't try my hardest…"
I turned to Flole. Her eyes looking at me strangely. I continued.
"Considering we live forever… it's important we can live with ourselves. Right?"
Flole had no words for me. She stared at me for a long time, analyzing my face. I turned away, stared at the ceiling, and closed my eyes to let sleep take me.
I heard a soft click as the door closed.
My mind drifting off to sleep.
A normal, restful one.
A few days later and I was good enough to walk around. When I was, I walked straight to Evira's office.
I didn't need an appointment. I was her nephew, after all. Besides, there was now only a handful of people that could stop me in a straight fight. I mean, I didn't want to fight them either, but they weren't gonna' stop me for a chat.
That's why the two guards stepped out of the way when I opened the door and strode inside her office in the condo.
A small thing of a room greeted me with a dark green carpet. The kind of thing you'd see in any big business office building. In the middle of it was a big 'ol wooden desk with a bunch of small legal books and notebooks, that metal ball thing that smacks together forever that is probably magic. A small mirror and pens.
Behind the desk, against the walls and pushed into the corners of the room, were large bookshelves that almost reached the ceiling. A collection of books filled the shelves to the bursting. Some of which were in languages I never learned, yet I could read as easily as pie thanks to MCP.
In between the bookshelves was a glass case with her wooden sword and an enormous bow. Tight, coarse string in between wood so thick it resembled something from Monster Hunter than what a human could conceivably pull. Old, black wood with a smooth finish on it reflected the light back at me.
Sitting in her big comfy looking leather chair was Evira herself. Her steel glare hitting my calm one. I noticed that the cut on her face had healed, probably small enough that a Nen-users natural accelerated healing could get rid of it overnight. She was in her green business suit that was like mine, except a darker green and embroidered with dragon designs.
Without waiting for an answer, I sat down in front of Evira's desk, to the chair to my right. We stared at each other in silence. Neither of us speaking. Each of us waiting for the other to speak first.
Just as my patience was thinning, and I was ready to get this over with, to my immense surprise, Evira spoke first.
"Thank you."
My face a blank mask. I really didn't know what to say. I didn't expect this at all. A show of gratitude? Damn, I must be supernaturally blessed.
Evira must have seen the surprise in my eyes or something because she chuckled, a small human smile gracing her face. She closed her eyes and replied, her voice casual and personable.
"I'm not a robot, or a monster, or demigod without any gratitude, appreciation, or emotion. I have to be strong and remorseless for what I come against, for who I am, and the role I play. Fact is, I've been in so many life or death situations that I've lost count. You saved my life, even when you had every chance and excuse not to. It'd have been easy to just pretend to let me die and no one would bat an eye or blame you. You were against impossible odds and still came out on top…"
She opened her eyes, "And… I'm sorry. I was wrong about you."
W-what? Who am I talking to right now?
I stayed silent, my eyes dancing around my sockets as I analyzed her face. On the off chance she were playing some type of game. I watched as she and Pariston fought verbal judo. I saw at the end of her manipulations once before. She could easily be doing it to me again.
And I was fully rested and fully capable of telling if she was manipulating me.
But I could tell she wasn't. And so could MCP, who I felt in the back of my mind shake his head.
I sighed and closed my eyes, "I accept your apology."
When I opened my eyes, her face looked like a marble statue. Her picture-perfect features were frozen, her thin eyes and tiny mouth caught slightly open. I don't think she expected me to be that forgiven that easily.
I smirked, but that smirk disappeared and I sighed.
"I saw the thing that… for lack of a better term, screwed with Zhulong's mind. That thing… it's like me, someone without fate? Someone even gods and universes fear, right?"
She nodded, her eyes growing soft, "Yes… your mother was like that too... The difference being I grew up with her, and got to see her prove herself to be nothing like that monster," she said with such venom that I took me off balance.
She shook her head and sighed, her shoulder-length red hair bobbing left and right. She continued.
"Here and there, there are people and creatures born without fate–that is, if the universe runs on fate. Most do. You want the things inside your body to function properly. If it doesn't, you run into issues."
I nodded, "Yeah, I remember Flole telling me that."
She nodded, a vicious frown covered her mouth as she replied. Ees narrowing, "That thing calls itself Malus, and it lived a similar life to you. Except for two things: that the universe couldn't kill it, and it was born with the power to absorb everything and anything. The sole 'superpowered' person in its universe."
She looked down, a sigh on her face, "Malus figured out, just like you, it wasn't supposed to exist. A defect outside fate. A life of misery and hate, a vendetta against existence, and far too much power for anyone. Let alone a mortal?"
Evira closed her eyes, "Its rage… It devoured its universe and made it its mission to take out everything considered divine."
I frowned, "What, a god killer?"
She shook her head, "More like cancer. It enters worlds, spreads, and devours. It has to continue finding power by devouring or else it'll wither away. Infinite potential for growth, but that needs infinite power. And it's trying to achieve that infinite power…"
She opened her eyes and stared right through me, "That's what happened to Mayer. He was trying to stop two reality jumpers who were causing chaos in Zhulong's territories. Malus took an interest in those boys and, yeah… like a fly against the ocean."
I stayed quiet. For a looooooong time. When I did speak again, it was slow and measured.
"Soo… I'm going to find Zhulong's brother, who is going to do the same thing to my birth universe… to heal her?" I said, trying not to be confused or outraged at the hypocrisy.
Evira sighed, unable to deny my logic. When she spoke, it was with resignment, "It won't make you feel better, but that happened to my universe, and all the other knights of Zhulong. We all came from a dead universe. So, welcome to the club!" she finished with a bitter arm raise, my eyes wide as plates.
I looked at her, more shocked at her unrestrained human behavior than anything else. She turned to me and twisted her mouth into a frown and continued.
"Look, do you blame the kid who kills their mother at birth? It's not their fault, it's just how these things go. We can be angry at the result. Complain about the unfairness. But it won't change anything, and we can't punish the baby. That's just how it is."
I raised the almighty finger.
"Ok, so why me? I know, conceptually why, but why not send an army to find the other people scattered from my world? Higher spirits or smaller gods? Angels?"
Evira turned to me like I was stupid, "Malus eats gods," she held her hand out like she was holding a box, then gestured it moving to her right, "that's like delivering a buffet to a starving monster. Are you even listening? We need someone he won't track. We need some people who can stay under the radar, power-wise, to teach and keep Zhulong's brother safe."
I frowned, "Don't you have any allies, you?"
She shook her head, "Zhulong is too young to have developed those kinds of connections. Regardless of the evil of that creature that has poisoned her mind, most gods and powerful beings are like that creature. Greedy. They want more power, infinitely."
Evira stopped, then narrowed an eye as she studied me, "I'm assuming you're still helping us. You're not bound to Zhulong anymore…"
I sighed, but it was more like a 'you got me' sigh. I ran a hand through my hair and answered.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't want anyone in a similar situation to suffer some shit. I'm guessing the other 'survivors' didn't get training or guidance like me? If so, mores the reason to help."
She looked me in the eye for a second, then nodded, "Noble of you. And the Auction?"
At that, my eyes turned hard, "Unfortunately, I'll be working by myself. I'll still be assisting you all, but I'm going to do it my way."
Evira stared at me for a long time. For a while, she looked like the person I was used to. The person who dissected and analyzed everything to see the best possible outcome. To gain as much as possible. She viewed me as a threat and a benefit, all in one.
That disappeared and she looked at me as a person. As someone who had finally gained her trust and was on her level.
She closed her eyes, turned down, and sighed. She adjusted herself in her seat and plopped a fist under her chin, then went back to staring at me.
"I understand. Even if I wanted to, I don't think I can stop you. You killed one of the more powerful people in this universe. More than enough to challenge someone like the Zoldycks or Zodiacs. You're more than strong enough to challenge the troupe…"
I nodded, my eyes narrowing, "I know, but not all together. Pssh, I doubt I could face the strongest members one on one. Even if I focused on training just my aura, I wouldn't add more than a few thousand 'kay of aura before the auction. That means I have to be careful. Especially against Nen-users who don't rely on aura constructs or projectiles…"
She nodded, her eyes registering she got it immediately, "Hmm, that means you're at a heavy disadvantage against Enhancers, Manipulators, certain Transmuters . Maybe some Emitters and Specialists, depending on if you can eat their aura like you're possessed body did."
I nodded, feeling powerful and fully understanding the limits of my abilities, "Yup. I can make Hatsus and turn myself into whatever category, but my limitations are my aura reserves and experience with said Hatsus. Those two I won't be able to make up for unless I had years."
She slipped her hand from under her chin and locked her fingers with her other hand. She nodded and answered.
"Nothing comes with without its price… But I wish you luck, James. If you can stop them before Mayer kills himself in revenge… along with your right authority as my heir, you will have whatever help you need…"
With a bitter sigh, she continued, "I cannot stop Mayer. I promised him his revenge… but he need not commit suicide to achieve it… he… has two children I rather prefer him to be a father than be martyr…"
I nodded back, my face set in determination.
"Agreed… Thank you. I'll stop them."
I have to… or a lot of people will die.
August came, and September was approaching. I sat in Buhara's restaurant, thinking as I stared at all the knick-knacks and pictures from all around the world. I had visited this place a lot ever since it opened, but I always missed one person.
And today of all days she was here…
Behind the bar counter was chef herself. Menchi. Of all the fucking times…
Said chef was cooking from a wok that sizzled with something that smelled godly. She hadn't stopped needling me over the fact I came to eat here. Which annoyed me, because it was Buhara who had cooked when she was traipsing around the world on Hunts for ingredients and stuff.
She was busy all the time. It's not like she's the one who brought me here with her cooking, though. It was big and cheerful…
I won't lie though… she could fucking cook. The smell alone blew Buhara's food away. From the cheerful smile on the big guy's face, I don't think he cared.
A chuckle made me brace myself for the oncoming storm of smugness.
"Well, well! Who'd have thought the cherry headed, cherry hunter, was such a fan of my restaurant?! Regretting giving me such a hard time during the Exam? I could have given you this food for free"
I steepled my fingers in front of my face as I measured my response like a chemist balancing ingredients to white phosphorus…
"Woman, I regret nothing but coming in today. Your presence is like fingers running against a chalkboard. That's not even talking about your hair, which ship captains look at with longing to take it for a spin…"
I leaned my head back as a Michael Myers knife flew past my face.
The murderous Menchi, yes, this was what I remembered.
I turned to my left to see her face sneering in a rage, a giant vein on her head with an even bigger wave of her fists.
"Who asked you to come here anyway?! You bastard! I'll kill ya'!"
I sniffed. Many an eon ago, I'd have been terrified by the One Star Hunter's death threats… but I was far past that now. The amount of shit I've been through from the first time I met them?
I felt my body tingle from thinking that.
It wasn't a good tingle. More like a dreadful premonition.
I frowned and sighed, "The reason I came by was to eat here before the Auction. It's a week away and… I won't be having much of this food in the future. For another reason too…"
Buhara came from stage left, staring at me with concern. We had become friendly, even friends in a way. Greeting me and feeding me with his cheerful smile. Having conversations about Hunters, the Hunter Association, York New City, and the world. He had a quirk of eating everyone's left-overs himself. Something that grossed me out, yet made him somewhat… endearing?
He was incredibly nice for a guy as big and astrong as a small elephant.
Menchi, on the other hand, I only just saw today. I had come in early in the morning when Buhara told me she'd definitely be here today. I wanted to see how much I've grown…
And yeah. I'm right…
I mean, I was more or less as strong as them. Give or take…
Buhara replied, shaking me out of my thoughts.
"What's wrong? I've seen you down a few times 'cause of work, but never like this!"
Menchi raised an eyebrow, her mouth an unimpressed frown. She pointed a knife at me, "Probably some Mafia stuff. You know how it is, Buhara. We stay out of it. So quit asking!"
I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Something like that..."
The jingling sound of bells signaled the morning rush of customers that would come in when Menchi was spotted like a shiny Pokemon. I stood up from my chair and pushed it back into the table. The two of them stared at me, surprised I came here and not ordered a thing. I turned to them.
"I recommend you two leave the city before the auction starts. Don't come back until it's done."
Buhara stared at me, his eyes furrowing as his kind eyes studied my face. He took my words seriously.
Menchi…
"Look: we're Hunters. We've had this restaurant for years," I could hear her almost want to say kid, even though I was an older and good deal taller than her, "a rookie Hunter, and baby Mafia-like you, may be scared of a bunch of Mafias. Not us. This is pretty standard stuff. You've gotten stronger, I'll give you that, but you lack experience."
I frowned. Almost scoffed, really. I forgot she was young. Strong and talented. Yet still young…
Buhara turned to her. He had talked to me for months. He had seen my change. The big guy knew I couldn't say much, but he understood I was serious. I was warning them.
As much as I could.
He looked down, before looking at his friend, "I think we should listen to him, Menchi."
She waved her hand dismissively before going back to cooking. I closed my eyes and turned my head down, her voice not even bothered as she replied.
"We got customers coming and I got to cook! So if you have nothing else, make room for the paying customers!"
I clenched my teeth, gulped, and slowly nodded my head.
The Phantom Troupe were coming… and if we were to go to war, they'd come after our friends, family, and allies… even people tangentially related. Buhara knew me enough to be considered a friend… if they retaliated or went for info… and Menchi wouldn't just let him die.
There was nothing I could do. Not without telling them the Troupe was coming and potentially having that info leak…
They were adults. They were Hunters.
But if I could kill them… the Troupe could too.
I felt Buhara stare at me as I walked past the arriving customers and out the door.
Leorio juggled one of Clyde's juggler balls as he sat in the center of them on our green couch.
Briannaisa and Claudette were in what they normally wear when not in their maid uniforms. Briannaisa a brown hoodie, jeans, and a long ponytail. Claudette in a yellow dress with her hair allowed to flow down her back like a river. I stood in front of them. They stood behind the couch, arms crossed.
All of them staring at me with various expressions. Some neutral, others angry, one confused.
The neutral one, Leorio, broke the silence.
"You don't want to work with the Tao Long? I thought it was your job to protect the auction," he said, his face not changing one bit.
I nodded, "It is, but we've lost… a lot people because of the Magi. A lot of security forces," I said as I turned to Briannaisa, frowning at me. She didn't hold back.
"That's why we need you for the auction. You're healed up because of me! We know the Phantom Troupe is going to strike, so we need every person possible!"
I frowned, "I already spoke to Flole. They'd want me stuck in the security room down in the sewers. Yeah, it's important, but I ain't gonna' do that. Not when I can stop them myself. Or, at the very least, repel them and get the two people that are worth a damn to me," I said as I turned to the brothers.
Calvin, to Leorio's right, was confused. While Kalvin was just angry. He announced as much.
"The arrogance… How dare you… James?… I can understand wishing to fight in person, but refusing to work with the Tao Long! Our father needs your help."
I maintained my composure, nodding back to him, "And he will. I want those two who ruined your lives dead, but no more. Your father might go off the deep end. I don't know what Evira's game is, but while she cares for Mayer, she cares for the Tao and her goals more…"
Calvin sighed, "Suppose you are right? My father is still second only to Evira, and he will order Mercutio and his Red squad to fight. No matter what, there will be battle. The Phantom Troupe deserves death."
I nodded, "There will, but I intend to capture the two people who killed your mother and stop them from ruining the auction. That's all. We overreach our aim and hundreds might die."
I barely kept my face together as I remembered how many people died because of the Magi. And that was only three fucking people.
Three people against thirteen?
Thirteen bastards who, while not as strong individually, are just about as tough and deadly as a human could get. My fight with Robere was a one-off thing. Unless the Troupe force-feeds me aura like Pacman pelts, my fight with the Magi is going to stay a one-off thing…
A guy who can use aura to create things… against a guy who could eat aura to become more powerful. A really bad matchup for that bastard…
Claudette, her face confused as well, stared at me with concern. Her reply was tentative and fragile, at odds with her bubbly personality.
"I agree… we should save as many people as possible… but wouldn't working together be best? If their goal is the auction merchandise… couldn't we move, delay, or stop the auction?" she said, her voice knowing it was impossible…
I shook my head and replied just to kill that idea dead.
"As we speak, Mercutio and Red Squad are escorting several convoys of merchandise across the continent. That's not even talking about by train, plane, and ship. He's only protecting the most important stuff, but still: this is already in motion. Evira isn't going to just stop the auction. It'd be a blow to her reputation, as would be all the merchandise getting robbed. Either option is unacceptable."
Leorio closed his eyes, lowered his head slightly, then sighed. His reply was a tired one, "Let me ask you this, what'd you think will happen? What is Evira's goal, even if you're just guessing?"
I closed my eyes. I had already spoken to MCP about this and came to a rough conclusion. Considering she is from a similar world to this and knows certain events will happen but not exactly what… she is trying to save this world, and recruit people from it….
…Kinda like a breeding ground for soldiers… conquest sounds most like it, but she can't do it overtly… all her potential enemies and rivals in the underground are coming to one spot… help the people she loves, kill the people she hates; obvious…
I'm no Kurapika or Pairo, but give me a few months to think things over...
I opened my eyes, "Most likely? She's going to kill the other Dons, the Shadow Beasts, and as many of the Troupe as she can. As many of her enemies as she can under the cover of the Spiders being responsible. This way she can be the sole power in the underworld."
Everyone became dead quiet. Leorio's eyes were as wide as possible. He leaned forward, touching his fingers together as a bead of sweat ran down his forehead. He replied, his voice shaking.
"That… that's not possible. If she killed the Dons, all the other families under them will declare war on the Tao Long. She isn't crazy, she can't beat everyone at once."
Brainnaisa's right eye twitched as a disbelieving smirk tugged against her face, "Y-yeah. Our mom's ambitious… but that's too much," she said as she fanned her hand in front of her.
The fact they were rejecting it without complete confidence… just proved how possible it was.
I inhaled from my nose and continued, "I doubt she would kill them and get caught. The Phantom Troupe can kill them, or she'd have Zelle's mind control them. If I can think of several plans, she has thought of dozens. Off the top of my head, she has four or five solid plans that'll work for her. Most likely? Some kind of ambush or replacement…"
An uncomfortable silence fell over the living room. It suddenly felt much smaller. Everyone was staring off, connecting the dots… and coming to the same conclusion.
Briannaisa closed her eyes, "Let's say her plan is to become the sole Don..." she opened her eyes, the glare deadly, "Are you saying you're going to stop her or something?"
I closed my eyes and shook my head, "No," I opened my eyes and locked them on hers, "I only want to stop unnecessary bloodshed. She may not like the Rohan brothers, but she certainly didn't stop them from raising hell when she went to war with the Five Families of Saherta. Hell, from what you told me, she doesn't stop them now. At the eve of ultimate control?"
Briannaisa turned away, "Well, we won't have to worry about those two for long. Mercutio's got dibs on them…"
I shook my head, "That leads me to another thing… Red Squad is only as loyal to Evira because they are loyal to Mercutio. Is he really going to wait until after this, when he could possibly die to the Troupe, to get his revenge? I bet he'll use the ensuing chaos to target the brothers…"
Briannaisa shook her head, her voice hard, "He isn't like that… I know him better than anyone else."
"And I know human motive and emotion. The Rohan brothers did something, probably murdered his family. No one joins the Mafia and spends his life serving the damn mob who has the man he wants to kill as bosses… only to not kill them when he has the chance."
She found it hard to look me in the eye. I guess my investigations and hunch were right… I'm positive Evira promised Mercutio the chance to kill the brothers when she said so. But he was twenty-five and worked forever to have a chance to kill the two.
But would he have superhuman restraint at the eve of total disaster and mayhem?
Fuck no.
I took a step forward, my mouth frown with contempt, "When shit hits the fan, and I feel it in my bones it will, I promise you he'll go renegade and attack the brothers before they can escape. And that's my point. The Tao Long are powerful, but that power comes from fear, reputation, and the unknown. In all my months here, I've learned this organization isn't monolithic…
I glared at all of them, "In the face of thirteen of some of the most powerful and dangerous people on the planet? That isn't going to fly."
Kalvin stood up, his muscles bulging against his white button-up. He pointed a finger right at me, "Yes, and this is why you are a fool! We need all the help we can get! Do you not see the opportunity to put these monsters down for good?!"
I clenched my teeth hard as I spoke through them, "People. Are. Going. To. Die. All for Evira's ambitions, your family's revenge, and a group of people's greed! You're not even part of the Tao Long, yet you talk as if you've been one."
"Death! Innocence! Life! People die James! Grow up!"
I locked eyes on him, unblinking. Half-lidded things of pure conviction against Calvin's blazing, angry ones.
He looked away first.
He waved his hand in the air in disgust. He stomped away, roaring as he did, "I am done with you! Done! After all, we have done for you! You refuse to help now!"
Kalvin walked to the front door. He opened it, paused, then walked through and closing it behind him. He didn't even say a word.
I turned to the rest. Clyde stood up and shook his head, "I agree with you that many people will die… but many more will die if the Phantom Troupe is free to continue killing. I am sorry my friend, but I must help my family," he finished with a sad smile, before following after his brother.
Claudette was next, her hands close to her chest as she rested her chin on them. She looked down, unable to decide. She spoke her thoughts.
"On one hand… I'm tired of fighting. I just want to live a peaceful life… but I won't go against my family…" she trailed off as she looked at her sister. Briannaisa, to her credit, looked at her younger sister with eyes that would accept whatever decision Claudette would make.
Claudette nodded, her voice full of doubt, "I think… I'm going to leave the city… I'm going to talk to Flole to see if what you say is true… but if it is… then…"
Briannaisa came to her sister and hugged her. She patted the shorter woman on the head with all the affection an older sister could give.
"It's probably for the best. Don't feel guilty… your Hatsu is painful. Better to live your life peacefully," she finished, before pulling her away and smiling down at Claudette.
Claudette nodded, a stray tear being wiped away by her hand, "Ok. Yeah. I'm going to get going then."
Briannaisa nodded, "Yeah."
Claudette waved to Leorio and me before walking across the living room carpet and exited the apartment.
I felt Briannaisa's glare. I turned away from the door and locked eyes with her. Those were the eyes of a person who had seen and delivered death. Conviction.
In the blink of an eye, her right foot was traveling at my face. A sidekick delivered with so much explosive power she left a dip in the floor, the carpet bending into the hole she made…
My outstretched left hand grabbed it and held her foot. Ryu surrounding it in an instant to stop the force of her kick. I looked past her outstretched leg and locked eyes with her. I felt completely calm.
A small smirk filled with pride slowly came across her face. She pulled back her leg and held it up like Chun Lee, before putting it back down on the floor.
"Hmm," she said with an eyebrow raised, "that was your bad eye too…"
Her face became neutral then replied, "You know I can't help you if you decide to do this…"
I sighed, "I already spoke to Evira. She acknowledged me and gave her support. As long as it doesn't interfere with her plans."
This time her eyebrow was questioning. I could feel Leorio, who had been watching the entire time in silence, give me a similar look to Briannasia's.
When she spoke, it matched her face.
"How do you know you won't be interfering if we're not working together?"
I chuckled and smirked, "I'm sure Evira will tell me. Or show me, forcefully."
She chuckled, before closing her eyes and sighing, "You're playing a dangerous game, James… but your mind is made up I can't stop you," she opened her eyes.
This time they were soft.
"Good luck."
That was all she said before leaving.
I turned down to Leorio, hw frowned and raised both hands up, "What? You expect me to leave too? I live here!"
I chuckled. Leorio did the same before standing up to his full height, a few centimeters taller than me. He stared down at me, a smirk on his face.
"I can't believe you're the only one that's being reasonable here," he said with a smirk, before it quickly disappeared into a disapproving frown, "Too many innocent people will be dragged into this if we don't do something. If you're telling me your plan will save more lives, then I'm in…"
He closed his eyes and put both hands on his hips, then sighed, "The one thing… I'm positive you have Gon and Killua somewhere in your plan."
I sighed myself, "Yeeeeup, I have to. If I don't, they'll just do whatever they please. They'll be in more danger than if I just let them help. Besides, my targets are the Samurai and Barbarian."
He opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow, "How do you intend to do that?"
"Well… if we capture one, we can figure out the rest."
Leorio frowned, his eyes tiny dots. His voice slightly whiney, "I take that back about you being reasonable…"
I chucked, "Don't worry, I've got more people than just us five… except Kurapika isn't picking up his phone."
Leorio closed his eyes rested his right hand against his head, "Figures… knowing him he's trying to avoid us getting involved. Probably so we don't ruin his plan or something…"
I cupped my chin, "Maybe… but I doubt it. Probably to avoid us from getting hurt."
He rolled his eyes, "Ok, so what now?"
I shrugged, "We wait. We have a few days before Gon and Killua arrive."
Leorio ducked down slightly, surprise and excitement on his face, "Wait, seriously?!"
I laughed, "Yup! They're coming by boat. We just got ready..."
And for the next few days we did just that.
Doing our best to keep calm and prepare ourselves off the oncoming storm…
Author's notes:
Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well and continue to do well!
Well, we are now at the end. Only thing is left is the auction.
Unfortunately, due to the coming holiday, personal reasons, and for the goal of making the last few ending chapters as good as I can make it, I will be switching to monthly updates. While I've been able to keep writing these chapters and updating weekly for close to a year, all things must end.
I hope you all enjoy the holidays and I wish you all a happy new years! As always, I wish you all and your loved ones are happiness, health, safety, luck, and success!
Thank you all so much and I'll see you all in the next chapter!
Rondo out!
