Another day had passed since the Unversed fell back, another day of tension throughout the entire armies on Earth V.
As the sun rose, Cao Cao had been sitting down near a table in a fairly decent sized room, with a view of the outside. He had been busy writing reports on several scrolls. Despite his now more obvious feelings of hate towards He Jin, he still had a job to do to maintain some order in this coalition.
And he knew a certain lad would come and find him, as he saw him open the door and enter. "Ah, Terra. You're more active once again."
Terra slowly nodded, as he closed the door. "Yeah. I'm as well as I can be...thanks for watching over me. Aqua told me you were there for some time when I was asleep."
"Hm. Come and sit down. I'm sure you want to talk." Cao Cao then went back to writing, as Terra grabbed the chair opposite of where Cao Cao was and sat down.
"...Is Zhuge Liang really Azrael?"
That made Cao Cao stop writing. There was silence between them for several seconds, before Cao Cao spoke, closing his eyes. "I should've thought about the fact you were in the room when I talked to him. But it was the best location at that time. This made her power to make you forget our encounter with her pointless now." He opened them again, sat back a little, and looked at Terra showing a look of seriousness on his face.
"Well?"
"Terra if I confirm what was said he will be aware. Unlike me, you are still a part of his realm."
"Cao Cao I heard enough for him to know I will figure it out! You may as well just confirm it!
Cao Cao placed his hands together for a moment, looking like he was going deep in thought, mumbling to himself, before finally answering. "... Yes he is. He is the creator god we know of."
"How, how is that possible? I mean, Azrael is always described and displayed as a giant owl yet Zhuge-"
"Is a man who's intelligence and ability to foresee not only our actions but of nature itself always seemed inhuman in the first place. He knows of every fighting art on our world, knew of the coming of the Galactic Federation and even revealed to them several new star systems from our, at the time, primitive world." He got up and walked over to the window looking out at Jie Ting. "He was always unique, but hiding with those in the Hero Base made him fade from view. Even I began to forget his special ability compared to those from other worlds."
"But why? Why hide with your people?"
"...That, she did not explain to me. But we were not his first hiding location. He hid in another Universe once under the name Zhuge Liang before, but when he came here she's been rooting him out from other worlds. Worlds that ceased to exist. He then decided to hide back as Zhuge Liang."
Terra seemed to think for a moment, before speaking again. "You said the name Ronni during your conversation with him. Is that The Lady's real name?"
"That it is. She is, was, his lover. She controls Chaotic Space, which consists of universes parallel to our own."
Terra was shocked. "Is, she a creator god like him?"
"Her power is only ever so slightly beneath his. So yes, I would say she is one. Now she wants to speak to him."
"Where?"
"At Wu Zhang Plains. I will take him tonight to meet her and begin the withdrawal of her forces."
"Of all the Unversed!? Just meet him!?"
Cao Cao nodded. "Indeed. But not all the Unversed are to simply...disappear. I have asked her to leave behind a specific amount for a mission of my own."
"A mission?"
Cao Cao got up from the table and walked over to window nearby, looking outside. "...This coalition is heading for disaster Terra. We must prevent it. The scroll I have on the table that is currently open, read it. It's a message I received from a spy of mine within the Han ranks. He intercepted the message when he discovered it was about me."
Terra stepped up to the table and moved around the scroll so it faced him and he could read it properly.
There was a long time of nothing but silence.
Then he finally spoke. "...They want you dead."
"It seems so. He Jin intends to get rid of like the five kings he had already dealt with. It appears they plan to assassinate me after the emperor makes his visit to decide the fate of Liang province."
"He Jin really is willing to go this far huh?"
"If he can't control it, he would rather destroy it. My refusal and actions towards him have no doubt made me very unfavourable to him. He knows I am a man who can lead people during Chaos. With me no longer on the tight leash he thought he had over me, he's afraid of what I can do."
Terra looked over at the other scrolls. "You seem be thinking of an idea though."
"Indeed. I intend to strike first. They have foolishly given me information to make the first move. The emperor plans to go through Fu Feng and Chen Cang. Once he has he'll make his way towards Qin Chueng, a fort that is the last point before Jie Ting...I plan to make sure he never makes it there. The land is vast between Chen Cang and Qin Chueng. Once isolated, there will be no towns or outposts to see what happens. By the time someone comes to check, He Jin, Empress He and the Emperor himself will all be dead."
"Won't they have guards though? Allies of yours?"
"That is what the Unversed are for besides stopping the escort. To distract them whilst I move in for the kill."
Terra turned to Cao Cao. "You'll be labelled a traitor, a monster to all of your men who help you in this endeavour."
"I'm willing to cover my hands in blood for the sake of what is right, as are they...what about you?"
"I followed you because you want to do what's right for your world. If it takes the death of an emperor and those close to him to achieve it...well, I'll help you."
Within Jie Ting, inside the basement of the castle building, were several stone slab tables. Around each of them were tall, white candles left lit all day and night. On each of these tables were people who were known officers or people of high rank on this world, waiting for their burial.
One though, simply had two weapons on it for now, left until Zelda reached a decision.
The Master Sword and Hero Bow.
Xiahou Yuan was standing before them, looking down at the items that reflected the candles light in this darkened place.
He was pissed off. He could have prevented this. He could've stopped this.
But he failed. Link died because he failed. His trusted bow failed him at a crucial moment.
"Damnit...I should have spotted you were in trouble sooner. If my bow failed then I could've ran towards you and saved your life at the very least pal. This world wasn't yours. You shouldn't have died here."
He only just heard the gentle footsteps coming from behind him, towards the table where he stood. "We have no home of our own. It doesn't matter where we fall." Zelda was now next to him, looking saddened. "But, we all know there's a possibility we'll die elsewhere, on an alien world. It's the choice we make when we decide to leave home."
"But Link didn't deserve to die...not to him. I don't get why though. Why did he target him? Is it because they look the same?"
"No." Zelda slowly raised her hand forward, the familiar glow of the triforce slowly appearing on the back of it, Xiahou Yuan looking quite surprised. "It is because Link carried a piece of the Triforce, a powerful artefact that grants power to those that bring it together. It has always been carried by three people. Those of the Hylian royal family, those of Links bloodline and those connected to a monster known as Demise on our world. When all three are combined, the one who brought it back together can be granted one wish by the goddess' themselves, so long as the person has a balance of courage, wisdom and power."
"...How does one achieve that kind of balance?"
"It is down for the goddess' to decide. They will judge the person before making the wish they ask for a reality...right now, Diamas carries two of the Triforce pieces."
"...So, what if I take down that bastard Diamas? If I deal with him and get those two and you lend me the third for a little while, I could revive Link?"
Zelda looked a little surprised at him now, before smiling a little, feeling a little warmed in the heart that he would use such a powerful item to bring back someone he only knew for a few years. "Yes. You could do. Or your could use it to end the chaos of your world, bring Cao Cao to become your planets leader, make others bow to him..."
"Nah he has that covered himself. Our lord knows how to deal with everyone here...I just want to make things right."
Zelda looked down to the Hero's bow. "You don't have to...Link knew the risk of coming to this world. He knew Diamas would be around..." She picked up the bow, and turned to Xiahou Yuan. "Here."
"Hm?" He looked at the bow, then at her.
"You may meet Diamas again. If you do, you will need a bow that is truly unbreakable. Take it."
Xiahou Yuan slowly reached out, and placed his hands on the bow, taking it off Zelda, looking at it's craftsmanship. "You...you sure on this? I mean would Link mind? I'm not gonna get haunted am I?"
"No..." Zelda then focused on the master sword. "Link is waiting in the Farplanes. He's already moved on. One day we'll all meet him again...until then..."
Xiahou Yuan placed the bow on his back. "Till then, we gotta keep ourselves alive. Defeat Diamas."
Zelda nodded...though in the back of her mind, something told her that her time was running out. Something told her she would too meet Diamas...
And tell him the truth.
Meanwhile, just outside of Jie Ting, heading off in the sky within one of the few transport ships granted to them by the remnants of the Galactic Federation were three passengers, He Jin, Yuan Shao and Sun Jian. He Jin had asked them to come with him to meet with the Emperor and whilst they were gone, inform their forces to be ready to meet them at Chen Cang.
Yuan Shao was fine going along with it, but Sun Jian wasn't so sure. "Forgive me lord He Jin, but would it not be more prudent for Yuan Shu or Liu Bei to handle this duty?"
He Jin turned his head to Sun Jian. "Yuan Shu must remain at the frontlines to keep an eye on the outsiders for me, and Liu Bei is still as far as I'm concerned a lowly peasant. You have more of a privilege then him, despite your kingdom's position in the state of affairs. Although that will no doubt change with the death of five kings...The emperor might see you in a favourable light and grant you some of their land and troops."
"I don't require either...an acknowledgement of those who died to stop the Unversed is all I want, as well as Ma Chao to reclaim his homeland."
"Hah, the fool is nothing like his father. To give him that dead land is pointless. I think he'll serve better as a vassal under the Han rule. Yuan Shao what do you think?"
Yuan Shao agreed. "Indeed. Ma Teng was a unique ruler, able to make a living from such a horrible landscape. Ma Chao is a warrior. Best he remain such."
"But sometimes a leader can come from another position. Ma Chao served his father well and knows the land they had." Sun Jian tried to argue.
"We will find another Sun Jian. Someone with a more noble position. A member of the Yuan." He Jin focused on Yuan Shao, giving the obvious hint.
Yuan Shao took this quite happily. Knowing he was going to be rewarded like this was always something he liked. Sun Jian looked at this in a negative manner mind. He knew He Jin was just buttering Yuan up.
The evening had come.
Chad was at the edge of the Liang River.
He was with several dozen other people. Some were members of the Hero Base, such as Starscream who was currently flying up and down the river to keep an eye out, and some were troopers under the GF.
There was no more fighting to be had for the moment. It seemed things had settled down. Chad guessed probably in a few days they'll go back to the Hero Base on Zebes and pretend they never met the GF to avoid any repercussion with the SF.
But right now he was focused on the other side of the river.
He noticed a figure standing there that, everyone else had noticed, but since it's been a good hour since it just stood there, they've given less attention to bar him.
The Symphony Master was standing opposite, looking straight at him with its hands behind its back.
"You know we probably would get bored and leave this area alone if you shoved off." Chad called out, looking annoyed.
The Symphony Master cocked its head a little.
"Yeah you asshole. I don't any other Unversed around here. Do you?"
It looks to the ground besides it, and suddenly appearing was a single flood, looking over at Chad now too.
"Oh for the-summoning them doesn't count!"
The Symphony Master looked back over to Chad and shrugged, before motioning a hand at the flood.
"Yes I know there is now another Unversed. Look why the hell are you even out here? Doing the same job we are?"
It shook its head.
"To plan an ambush on us?"
Again, shook its head.
"Then what?"
The Unversed pointed upwards.
Chad looked up, spotting the stars and moon in the sky, glancing around, expecting something.
Anything.
"...What am I suppose to be seeing-" A black shape, with what appeared to be angelic wings, shot over him in a blink of an eye, the air remaining undisturbed, no sound being made by it. "HOLY SHIT!" He spun around, trying to see where it went.
It was gone. "W-what in the hell was that!?" He quickly looked back over the river.
The Symphony Master was walking away.
"Hey! CHAOS CONTROL!" Chad disappeared in a flash of green and reappeared on the other side of the river. "What the hell just flew from your side to ours? Answer me!"
The Symphony Master stopped walking, slowly turning his head to the side to glance over at Chad...as Unversed started to appear all around Chad. Flood, Scrappers, Bruisers...dozens upon dozens of them appeared, focused solely on him.
"...okay I can clearly see I have gone step too far here, um...Chaos control?" He disappeared and reappeared back where he came from. The Unversed kept an eye on him for a few minutes, before starting to follow the Symphony Master.
What he didn't know was the figure who past him was none other than Ronni. She was heading to Wu Zhang Plains.
She could sense Cao Cao had arrived there.
The land of Wu Zhang always seemed slightly, alien, to this world. It always seemed to have a faint blue hue across the landscape, and high in the sky, no matter if it was night or day, a beautiful aurora was flowing freely. The land was mostly small hills with open plains, rarely any construction placed on it due to the strange anomaly of the objects disappearing the next day if no one is around.
Right now in the middle it, Cao Cao was there. Along with him was Zhuge Liang, who clearly was not happy to be here. Before them were three wooden chairs, and a round wooden table, having appeared by Zhuge's powers. The rest of the men Cao Cao had brought as an escort were ordered to wait outside this land. Alot of them quickly assumed he intended to murder Zhuge Liang or something.
Terra, who was with them, knew better and kept them quiet.
Cao Cao wanted the table to be the meeting point, so he can sit between them and act as a go-between if need be. Zhuge Liang is refusing to sit down though. "I have only entertained the idea of meeting her. You cannot expect me to sit with her as well."
"It may help you both in more ways then you realize."
"I am above you, Cao Cao. I see things entirely different. You expect us to rekindle a neutral relationship of some kind. You gathered that off her. Let me remind you that I am the creator of everything. I do not need to have any connections to her."
Cao Cao looked amused, as he stared up at the stars and auroras. "Yet she is a god also. She desires a connection."
"Her desires are no concern of mine."
"That honestly hurts me, Azrael."
Zhuge Liang naturally turned away, as Ronni landing close to the table, nodded to Cao Cao. "I see you brought him. Thank you Cao Cao. You know how to make a lady smile." She slowly sat down, looking over to the back of Zhuge. "Won't you join us at all, dear?"
Cao Cao now sat down, leaving one last chair. Zhuge Liang did not move. "I have no desire to be here, but Cao Cao says it will help get rid of your forces from my multiverse."
"Indeed it would. I would like to say it is just what I told Cao Cao, for you to look at me again...but to be plain, I merely wish to suggest something to you."
"..."
"I want to suggest you absorb the Azrael Core."
"That is out of the question." Zhuge Liang turned right around, looking straight at her, clearly angry by the idea of it as shown on his face.
It took him a second to realize what he just did. Ronni was looking quite surprised herself, and going a brighter blue in the cheeks as she glanced away. "I didn't think the mere mention of that would make you face me again."
Zhuge Liang glared, before trying to regain his calm look, heading over to the table and sitting down. The damage already been done about trying to avoid her. "You are not the first. Many have asked for that lately. I will not."
There was silence between them, as Cao Cao waited for them to talk again, and as a wind gently picked up across the plains.
"...So, how do I look?" Ronni suddenly changed the subject.
"No different from before I wanted you gone from my Multiverse." Zhuge answered, waving his fan back and forth slowly.
Ronni smiled a little, looking at him. "So I'm still quite attractive to you?"
"Do not mistake this favourable turn of events for you as something between us. I turned because I am tired of people wanting me to perform a task. Your appearance means nothing to me."
"Forgive my intrusion into this, but what is this 'core' you both speak of?" Cao Cao leaned on the table a little, to get their attention to remind them he is present.
Zhuge Liang didn't answer, but Ronni did. "It is where he contains most of his power. Whilst he can carry all of his creation power around if he so wished, he would never be able to contain it in this fragile mortal body he currently hides himself in. All of his false bodies would be useless, he would have no choice but to return to his true form."
"Do you have such an item?"
"I don't, but that is because this is my natural form. I have no need to disguise myself as anything to blend in. Humanoids have a strange attraction to alien women, so I don't stand out for the wrong reasons. I have given some of my power away though." She motions to her necklace, holding it slightly. "One other has a necklace like this, and carries the same stone...I have transferred a small fragment of my power to it."
"The second child." Zhuge Liang idly mentioned whilst looking away from both Cao Cao and Ronni.
"Her name is Andromeda Azrael. It would be nice if you used her name."
"She's a mistake."
Cao Cao was sure Ronni clenched up for a moment on hearing that, but soon calmed herself. "To you maybe, but she is our child."
"One you also despise."
Again Cao Cao was sure Ronni tensed up. "She is, problematic. But lately I feel she may be settling down. She seems more calm since she has spent time with her lover."
"A lover you forced to keep with her."
Cao Cao suddenly found the table shattered into small fragments after Ronni placed her hand down on it rather forcefully.
His beginning to wonder what he has truly got himself into.
"Stop it." Ronni seemed to be getting angry now.
Zhuge Liang stood up from his chair, and a gave a dry chuckle. "You like to act as if you're a fair maiden left in the lurch by her lover. But whereas I am not afraid to admit my scheming if asked, you try to keep up a much stronger facade."
Ronni stood up now. "You're no better than me on how we treat mortals though. No, I try to treat them more fairly, whereas you don't care for anyone or anything besides yourself and your ideas on where to hide."
"Don't even try to act like you're any better. I already saw your meeting with Cao Cao from his memories when he let his guard down. I at least have tried to help them, as I have done with Liu Bei and his excuse for a kingdom."
"That is only because the one in Universe 2 was eventually dissolved thanks to Sun Jian. You would have fled to Universe 4 if it wasn't for the busy work of the machines."
"Machines I command."
"Keep telling yourself that as they harvest all living life from that Universe."
"They are doing as I instruct."
"Then you care nothing for anyone around you!"
Zhuge Liang suddenly raised his spare hand towards Ronni, and firing from the palm of his hand was a small white beam, which Ronni easily sidestepped.
Ronni stared at where the beam went, then looked back at Zhuge Liang, with renewed anger. "You would even dare..."
"..." Zhuge slowly lowered his hand, looking calm once more. "You are annoying me to the point of losing patience. I believe we should move the topic on if you wish to continue any further discussions."
"...No. I feel the message you just gave is perfectly clear. It is to Cao Cao too."
Zhuge then glanced to the side of him, noticing Cao Cao was now there, sword ready, pointing towards him. "I did not bring you both here to destroy eachother."
The look the Shu advisor gave to the Wei king was one of utter despising. "You would even think of raising your sword to the god of all creation..."
"I raise my sword to the one who cannot control himself."
"I see." Zhuge Liang turned away from him and Ronni. "In that case, I shall end this meeting. I will return to Earth X's hero base and await the others to return once Earth V's problems are resolved. Which, I expect will now be soon with you two speaking."
"Earth X, why not Zebes-"
"Do not speak to me Cao Cao. I have grown weary of you." He started walking away, but stopped, as a blue crystal butterfly fluttered by his face. He watched it slowly fly upwards, towards the auroras, along with dozens of others.
"...It's like a distant memory, when we co-existed." Ronni spoke as she looked at them too, along with Cao Cao, who lowered his sword. "Every night, in my multiverse, I wonder if we'll meet at the end. Will we be able to talk then? Talk without anger, without malice? To be able to be as one and look to the stars, as they fade away?"
"You came to make me look at you again and give your suggestion. It is done. You may leave." With that, Zhuge Liang seemed to fade away little white specks of energy appearing around him, before he disappeared entirely. The butterflies seemed to slowly break apart and their pieces landing on the ground, slowly fading back to nothing.
Ronni gave a deep sigh, as the Wei king turned to her. "Are you alright?"
"I do wonder if he honestly knows how little time we have left..."
"Hm?"
"Do not worry about it." Ronni focused on him. "Now, we need to discuss our plans."
Within two days, news got around from the scouts.
Liang Province was accessible again, and the Unversed were seemingly gone.
Liu Bei and Grievous led a troop count of ten thousand men into Liang to make complete sure after Chad had told them he jumped over and noticed they didn't ambush him anymore. He went several miles around the place in his mobian form and confirmed they didn't appear at all.
Right now he was back at Jie Ting, sitting around in a tavern with Ridley having taken over it by force (The owner was quickly paid off by Yuan Shao to let Ridley have it for a few days.). He was around a table with Anna, Quickman, Roll, Shademan, Kei, Dark Rich, Light Rich, Ryu and Ken. It was around seven in the evening.
"So do you think we'll hear from four-armed robot and Liu Bei soon? Kinda wanna get back to training in the base now. This place was fun and all and the encounter with the Unversed was exciting but, ya know." Ken was leaning back in his chair, hands behind his head.
"I fear with the Unversed gone things may not be as simple as that for you all. Keaton is present, as is the Galactic Federation remnants. Can you honestly just turn a blind eye to them being here?" Kei asked them all.
"I can." Chad answered with.
Light Rich looked at him for a moment, frowning a little, before looking at Kei. "Obviously we can't. But Keaton might be hoping we can put him in Rufus' good graces for aiding us. If so I can't see why we can't take that chance."
Dark Rich gave a small chuckle. "Keaton wants you all dead. Now the Unversed are out of the way he'll focus on that."
"He can try, but we have the kingdoms of this world on our side." Anna pointed out.
Dark Rich was seen then glancing over to where, on another table, Eraqus, Aqua, Chaos, Richard and Xehanort sat. "I doubt you have them all on your side...there are some internal conflicts of interest." His focus being clearly on Eraqus, who noticed him for a moment, before being distracted by Aqua.
"Well once their settled, what's your plan from here miss Yuki?" Quickman said after taking a swig of his wooden cup of wine.
"Well, I was wondering if we could remain with the Hero Base Faction for some time. We need to properly organize ourselves before we set out to be our own independent group. We would love the help of the doctors to make sure our ship is up to date, and are willing to pay them for it...do you think you could put in a good word for us?" Kei was looking at those from the Hero Base.
Anna happily nodded, as did Roll and Quickman, whilst Chad look at her and smiled. "For you Kei, I'd do anything."
Anna normally would get a little annoyed with Chad and the way he was clearly looking at Kei, his eyes wandering away from her face to elsewhere, but right now she couldn't help but feel an evil joy welling inside of her. Once he finally knows...
That evil joy vanished when she suddenly heard her name being called. "Anna! Anna I got something for you! You'll love this!"
It was Ridley, and he was making his way over with a wooden jug and a small cup. "I just got it ready and Daxter thinks you'll enjoy it!"
Anna quickly looked at him, then at Daxter who was sitting at the bar with Pang Tong and Jak. He was clearly giggling.
Ridley was soon at their table, and placed the small cup down. "I personally think it smells rather divine and clearly is one of my finer drinks!"
Ken was clearly more interested then Anna, and quickly drank down the booze in his cup before motioning the empty object Ridley's way. "Hey I'll have a go too guy! Some of your mixtures are quite-"
Ridley was all too happy to oblige, and poured some of the...liquid, out.
It was a deep, dark red, and seemed to ooze out of the jug slowly, with clear signs it had small sliced leaves, bits of stone-like mineral in it and even clearly, some fragments of flesh, and bone.
Ken's face paled as his cup was filled. "-awesome..."
Everyone was staring at what he just received. Anna looked at it, then at her small empty cup.
Which soon enough, had the same stuff in.
Shademan could clearly smell it, as he placed his hand over his nose and mouth. Roll just stared in sheer horror, and Chad glanced into Anna's cup, his face filled with dread. "Oh by all that Blind Lo holds dear..."
"Well looks like I gotta go! I'll try a sample later Ridley!" Quickman shot out of the bar.
"You dirty coward!" Chad watched his Navi go, before focusing back on the drink, and Ridley. "...I might be joining you soon though."
Ryu grabbed Ken's cup, looking at the liquid with interest. "It's...unusual, even for you Ridley." He took a little sip.
"Well it's nowhere near as refined as I can get in the Hero Base. Lack of a blender, condenser, purifier, ya know the stuff I have in the back. So I had to go back to basics, crushing, smashing-"
Ryu reeled back and quickly placed his hand over his mouth. He quickly placed the cup next to Ken and looked for somewhere to go to, remove the stuff from his mouth. He got up and left the bar as quickly as he could.
"-using some of the weapons at one point. This place is so backwards in some ways. So it left a bit of an earthy texture to the drink this time BUT, once we get home I can make it several times better!" Ridley seemed to not acknowledge what just happened to Ryu.
Ken now dared to take a mouthful.
He regretted it the second it touched his lips. He wanted to spit it back out, but the texture was so thick and solid, it was already sticking to the inside of his mouth. It was literally like the liquid form of a rotting carcass, complete with the dirt the body was laying on.
He knew it was either going to take ages to come out, or just swallow it and hope to Azrael his stomach with tolerate it. He gulped it down.
"It's...got, flavour..." Ken managed to finally say, despite looking like he was about to vomit any second.
It was now Anna's turn. She could feel Ridley watching her as she got paler and paler. Her hands were shaking as she took the cup, slowly lifting it up to her mouth and...
"Ridley! Hey Ridley!" Samus was heard from another table.
Ridley turned towards her, looking away from Anna.
Chad wasn't ready.
Light Rich looked horrified.
Kei wished her brother wasn't here.
Dark Rich was even a little surprised.
Anna took this chance to shove the cup in someone else's mouth to make it seem like they took it from her.
Sadly for Chad, it was his. He instinctively grabbed it and pulled it away, only after some of the liquid went in.
He was heaving and leaning over away from the table, desperately trying to not vomit.
Ridley turned back as Anna licked her lips a little to pretend she had a drop. "Oh Chad you could've waited if you wanted to try it too!" She shrugged innocently to Ridley. "Boyfriends. Anyways, it's not too terrible. Needs alot more work on it to be one of your better drinks."
Ridley was stunned. "Seriously? You were okay with it?"
"Well...yeah."
"Well hot damn! Remind me to get it for you again when we get home! I just need to grab more horse carcasses!" With that, Ridley grabbed the jug and headed back to the bar.
Anna was, not entirely relieved, but was thankful she could avoid the horror for now. She looked to Chad in an apologetic way, ready to say sorry when she noticed he was actually being sick. "Oh god Chad! I'm so sorry!"
Chad soon managed to stop, a puddle of his vomit having formed on the ground. "Ugh, I'm, I'm sure you are."
The red mess mixed with the yellow bile was what Anna expected as she glanced down, and so did Roll and Shademan.
What they didn't expect was the dark purple strands of liquid that were residing in it...and moving. "What in the hell is that?" Roll had to ask.
While the others around the table decided to have a look, Dark Rich focused on the table where Richard was, and saw straight away he was looking over at Chad, clearly annoyed.
"Oh god did that drink have purple parasite worms in it!?" Ken felt his stomach churn heavily, and knew he was done. He too left the bar like Ryu.
Shademan looked a little closer. Meanwhile Dark Rich had noticed one of Richard's claws were aiming towards Chad. The mobian lad briefly went rigid, before shaking his head, and holding the side of it. "Man, that drink...That wasn't normal at all if this is what it made out of my insides."
"It isn't." Shademan looked at him. Before reaching out and picking up one of the trails of purple residue, which was still moving, ever so slightly as it dangled off his finger, whole. "I recognize it. It's small fragments of a Dark Soul in a liquid form. Normally organic beings produced this in during the Wily families experiment on it. Dark Souls effect all parts of the body. This was often seen as a tell-tale sign of which ones were infected with it. Regal would often make the creatures vomit to confirm they're still infected or not."
Richard looked pissed off. Chad clearly reflected this. "Don't you be like the others Shademan. I'm, not, infected, with a Dark Soul."
Anna stared at him, worried. "Chad...I think Darkmega was onto something when he said if Richard really had got rid of the Dark Soul or not."
"Anna please..."
"I don't want to doubt you. But, that-" She points at the purple residue, which Shademan allowed to drop back down into the puddle of vomit. "-Is raising some serious concerns here!"
"Hey guys, is there a problem?"
Behind Anna and Chads chair, stood Richard.
"Nah, nah it's all fine. They're just worried about what I made." Chad tried to dismiss it, whilst the others bar Kei seemed to be watching Richard closely. Kei was fully focused on Chad, clearly deeply worried about him at the moment.
"Oh that? Well...hm, looks like it might be the remains of the Dark Soul. I did make it detach from your body entirely, so it had to store up somewhere before it eventually came out. Should've guessed it would hide in the stomach." Richard explained it off.
Roll and Anna both glanced to Shademan, who clearly was not convinced. "...The remains?"
"Of course. I would know unlike you. I still carry Dark Souls remember? Come on Chad, you should walk it off, grab some fresh air." Richard placed his hand on Chads shoulder.
Two hands landed on Richard. One was grabbing one of his claws, the other his arm. Dark Rich had moved beside him without warning, looking straight at the one who gave him the blood to exist. "Father, I suggest Chad remains here."
Chad meanwhile, felt himself go dizzy; clearly showing it as he leaned over a little, groaning and mumbling about his head.
Richard gave the clone a murderous glare, and quietly mumbled "You. You know..."
Dark Rich wasn't so concerned about the others hearing. "I know which one you were using. Now, please. Leave."
"Uggh, my god can someone stop this room from spinning?" Chad now turned himself towards the table and leaned himself over it.
Roll moved closer to Chad, checking if he his alright...before spotting Richard looking at her with a look of complete hatred, before he looked back to the clone, giving a small smirk before taking a step back, the clone letting him go. "Alright. I'll leave. Chaos, a word." With that, Richard walked out of the bar. Chaos followed him, curious and amused by what just happened.
Dark Rich looked at Chad for a moment, before heading back over to his seat next to Kei. She was a little confused. "Dark, why did you-"
"-You are worried about the boy. I don't need you distressed if he leaves without being alright."
"You know it's not good to lie brother." Light Rich knew something else made him move.
"Come on Chad, we better get you to Medi so she can have a proper look at you." Roll suggested.
"Y-yeah, good idea." Chad managed to say.
Outside, within a small dark alleyway a few buildings away, stood Richard with Chaos leaning against the darkened walls. "So the clone managed to figure out how to block your connection."
"Unfortunately yes. It's a more direct one due to...what Chad is. Indirect would be nowhere near as effective. He would be able to fight back and resist, somehow. With it being inactive when I'm not around it allowed it to hide without him noticing." Richard was clearly not pleased with what just happened.
"Unfortunately you didn't count for the side effects."
"I didn't count on Ridley, his damned drink and Anna using Chad for her foil."
"These things happen. Also I must ask you something with what you just said. 'what Chad is'...what do you know?"
Richard stared at Chaos for a few moments, then gave a chuckle. "Why, his destiny as member of the Primus bloodline. It gives him unusual levels of willpower where others would fail."
"I see. Well, why did you want to speak to me now? We could've talked about this later."
"Because I know what Medi will suggest to them."
Chaos moved off the wall. "Medi? But that Navi wasn't-"
"They'll go to her. She'll figure it out fast enough what's been going on. She'll suggest Chad goes back to the Hero Base, sends Darkmega with him, Life Soul gets suggested by either Wily or Light or even Darkmega, and Chad is saved. We need to prevent that to prolong this charade. I'm going to deal with Darkmega."
"And the docs?"
Richard was smiling evilly. "Tell your friends at Shadowlaw to bomb the shit out of them."
"Attack the Hero Base?" Chaos shook his head. "No. The doctors would be able to scan the ships before the bombs hit. If the SF and others are aware we're active we'll have to hurry the Unicron plan along. The docs will tell Rufus we're here on Earth V before they get killed. I know them."
"Believe me if Chad gets sorted out that'll be the least of your worries." Richard noticed Roll, Anna, Kei, Shademan, Dark Rich and Light Rich leaving the bar now. "Just do it. Tell them."
"Chad is not that great of a threat."
"He is a threat enough that Zuo Ci is watching him closely!" Richard glanced behind him at Chaos. "You know who he is!"
"...I'm surprised you do." Chaos started walking away, heading down the alleyway. "Very well. I'll call Kel'Thurzard. But know this. I'm aware you're hiding something. I'm not a moron."
It had been a few hours since the bar.
Chad was now back in his room; laying in his bed, looking tired and exhausted. The room was lit up with several candles placed around.
Kei was sitting beside him on a chair, holding his hand with one hand, and a small wooden bucket with the other.
Anna and Light Rich were close by, talking with Medi about him.
Shademan and Roll had left only a few minutes ago. Dark Rich had remained outside Chad's door, keeping watch.
Chad's exhaustion was from what Medi made him do to check properly if it was the Dark Soul or not. If the purple residue was a one off, then it wasn't a dark soul infestation, if it wasn't, it was. She made him vomit several times.
Each time he produced them. The last time he vomited it was mostly the purple residue.
Kei was on standby should he vomit again thanks to what he's been through.
"So what now?" Anna asked the nurse Navi.
"Well it's clear he has a Dark Soul within him. With this worlds technology we can't do much. I want to send him back to the Hero Base. And suggest we have a word with Richard. It's clear he didn't sort this out like he claimed."
"Agreed. I'm worried my father may have deceived us." Light Rich looked over at Chad, who had his eyes closed and was wincing. "We should send Chad back with someone though. I don't think he'll be alright by himself."
"Well...why not Darkmega? It's clear he was right to be worried about Richard. Maybe showing we trust him with Chad will help with how I felt about the matter."
"Felt about it?" Medi looked to her.
"I, wasn't sure to agree with him, and I think it hurt his feelings."
Medi smiled a little. "Well I'm sure you letting Chad go with him will help mend things. Now let me just call him." She got on the com-link, while Light Rich walked over to Kei with Anna.
"Kei, how is he?"
Kei sighed a little, moving her hand away from Chad's hand and placing it gently on his forehead. "Since the bar he's been struggling to think straight. He often mumbles about feeling constantly dizzy and can't place things together."
"We don't know how long or even when the Dark Soul has been in control of him. He probably feels displaced thanks to blacking out while it took control. His mind is now trying to piece things back together...what about his thoughts?"
Kei focused on the boy. "...'dark and cold'; 'eyes in the dark'; 'alone'; 'can't feel him'; 'unexpected separation'. He keeps saying these in his mind and that's it-" She quickly looked up at Light Rich, whilst Anna stood there looking stunned. "-You know I'm psychic?"
"Brother Dark informed me when we first left the space station." Light Rich explained.
"Hold on! But if you are, then Chad must be too!" Anna pointed out.
"It's entirely possible. But I doubt his tried to use it or trained himself to do so. You see, on the ship after the Space Station he had some...thoughts that were not innocent." Kei went a little red. "I felt bad for not telling him as soon as possible."
"Dirty thoughts? About who?"
"Me."
Anna smiled a little. "Well this will make him finding out your related that little more funny."
"Anna, Kei, Light Rich. We may have a problem." It was Medi.
All three looked at her. "What is it?" Anna asked.
"I can't raise Darkmega. I called Roll to see if the com-link was working and it seemed fine, but during the call it went dead."
"How so?" Kei got up from the chair.
"Disconnection. Meaning it was her end."
Anna quickly thought of a suggestion. "Call Shademan. It might be a system issue due to being so this planet not having any signal enhancers."
Medi did so. "Shademan? Shademan do you hear me? ...Oh hey. Listen is Roll with you?...It's because her com-link went dead. Could you check her room to see if she's okay? Also Darkmegas. Both of them aren't responding. Thanks."
With that, Medi put away the com-link and was about to talk, when hers, Anna's, Light Richs and Chads com-links all went off at once in the room. "This is high minister Yuan Shao to all of my allies of the Hero Base and of Earth V that carry one of those communication devices! This is an emergency! The emperor is under attack! The Unversed have ambushed us at Chen Cang plains! My forces and Sun Jians have been separated from the Han! Send everyone you can! I repeat-"
Light Rich was deeply troubled by this. "We need to send everyone from Jie Ting. If the Emperor dies it could spell disaster. I suggest we ask the doctors to teleport as many people as possible."
"But what about Chad?" Anna looked to her lover.
"Don't worry. I'll stay put and watch him. Take Dark Rich with you and go!" Kei suggested, before looking to Medi, guessing what she wanted to say. " You need to go! They might need a medic out there!"
Medi could see the logic in that, and got in contact with the docs, whilst Light Rich called his brother in and told him what was going on.
The Dark clone was not impressed. "Fine. But Mr Match will guard the door with his Navi. Someone must keep an eye out."
Kei easily agreed to it and called Mr Match. A good ten minutes later he arrived and got himself in position outside the door with Fireman. All the others bar them, Kei and Chad were soon teleported away. Kei listened to the commotion outside. She soon noticed it was getting louder and louder, no doubt the officers of this world were quickly rallying men to mount a rescue.
Then it started to get quieter. And eventually, Jie Ting reached a point of being tense, yet silent. The armies had left in a rush, and the people were confused yet very concerned.
Kei was back in her seat, looking at Chad as he seemed oblivious to what was going, still seemingly struggling in his head. 'Why though?' she thought to herself.
It was after Dark Rich grabbed Richard's claw and his arm. Chad just seem to shut down...
The claw. 'Why did he grab it? The part he covered was mostly the tip, the part that can send signals with vibrations. Zerg Overminds used to be able to use specific vibrations to specific individuals to keep a high level of control on them, but those individuals have to be Zerg or at least infected...'
It clicked in her head. 'The Dark Soul! If Richard somehow infected it and taken control, then through that...' She looked her brother up and down. 'But then why is Chad like this Kei? Think. When Hojo once tested a separation in the midst of an Overmind controlling a subject directly, what happened?'
It took her a while, but soon the memory returned of the time she read his reports on them. How the subject that was separated in the middle of a control phase just got muddled and was unable to act for themselves until they were reconnected.
She finally clicked at what was going on. "Of course! Without him being around you can't think correctly! We need to get him close and make him separate from you normally!"
Chad groaned, and slowly opened his eyes. "T-thank god it's starting to ease off now..."
Kei stared at him, confused. "Wait...you're feeling better all of a sudden? But why would-"
She failed to notice the shadow looming behind her.
Emperor Ling sat inside his carriage, reading a scroll in the small candle light.
Outside he could hear carnage. The troops of He Jin were locked in battle, and Empress He and He Jin were nowhere to be found at the moment. The men were purely fighting for his sake.
He didn't mind. He had other important things to worry about.
Then, he started to hear rain, hitting against the wood of the carriage. He sighed. "Oh dear. Looks like when I arrive at Jie Ting I may get wet."
He just continued on reading, even as he heard a few of his man yell out that someone was approaching the carriage.
The candle went out. "Oh no, again? I must get He Jin to buy me several of these things for this carriage. I swear one isn't enough."
As he put the scroll down, the door to his carriage opened.
Standing there looking in at him, was Mephiles.
"Oh hello, what are you?"
Mephiles raised his hand towards the emperor, and in his palm a built up of red energy started to occur. "Your end."
The strange mobian had to stop though, as he picked up the sound of hooves, quickly coming towards him, and a voice he knew. "Get away from the emperor you monster!"
Mephiles quickly turned and jumped to the side, away from the carriage as the blade of Sun Jian just missed where he was, the horse managed to stop just at the carriage and turning towards the mobian, along with its rider Sun Jian. "Sun Jian...It's been a long time."
"Who are you!?" The leader of Wu demanded, pointing his blade towards him.
"You don't know me...?"
In the midst of the rain, Sun Jian looked carefully. The figure was similar, but where Shadow had red fur, this one was grey, and where he had red iris, this one had green. "You appear to be an imposter of one of the newcomers to the Hero Base."
"Newcomer?...Of course, Universe 3. It's hard to keep track at times. Whereas mine become an effective yet isolated ruler, you I don't know. I would try to destroy you as well, but I've been commanded otherwise, everyone else but those who support the man we work with."
"Whoever it was they shall pay for this betrayal!" Sun Jian charged in on his horse, ready to take down Mephiles, who merely chuckled and mumbled "Chaos Control." Before disappearing in a flash of red from where he was to much further away.
"You won't like who it is." In another flash of red, he was gone.
Sun Jian looked around, no longer finding any sign of Mephiles, rode his horse back to the carriage and jumped off, heading to the door of it. "My emperor, are you alright?"
The rain continued to pour down around him. In the carriage, it was still dark. Emperor Ling was obscured in the shadows, though it seemed he was still just sitting there, relaxing, when he spoke to Sun Jian he sounded usually serious. "Sun Jian. Will you end my life? Do you want to take more control then what you already have?"
Sun Jian quickly chose to bow. "N-no sir! I have come to save you!"
"...I may be just the emperor, but the position has many things to give. Before I set out, I spoke to my seers. The blue phoenix feels threatened by the purple dragon. It wishes to sour ever higher, beyond this world, looking to an ambition that is daring, and bloody in its path. The green dragon shall follow the blue phoenix, curious to where it will lead and will be doomed...or it will follow another to survive, a red tiger, who wishes nothing more than to secure whatever land it has been granted."
"I, I do not understand."
"You are the tiger...and soon, I shall meet the blue phoenix one last time."
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky.
"Now, I must face my destiny." Then Emperor Ling got out of the carriage calmly. "I had hoped to finish that story I was reading, but it will have to be missed." He began walking away from Sun Jian, to the middle of the open ground they stood on. Several dozen meters away, the military army was still in conflict with what remained of the Unversed.
"M-my lord?" Sun Jian followed him.
"Do not worry. I have accepted what is coming...can you hear it's wings?"
Sun Jian listened out...and heard hooves. Hundreds of them. He looked to the north, and coming towards him and the Emperor forces, was Cao Cao and a small part of the army of Wei. "Cao Cao!" Sun Jian ran to his horse and got on it, turning and heading towards the Wei force.
Cao Cao seemed to slow his army down, raising his hand, before he spotted the Emperor, idly looking up at the cloud covered sky. He readied his sword, and charged.
"Cao Cao! I'm glad you're here! The emperor may be in grave-" Sun Jian started to yell out as he rode close to the Wei king.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY! THE TIME HAS COME!" Cao Cao roared out, making Sun Jian halt his horse as the man sped by.
"Cao Cao what're you-"
Sun Jian turned, and saw him approach the Emperor.
"The Han dies with you, Emperor Ling!" Cao Cao raised his sword as he got close, the emperor closed his eyes, not even looking.
Cao Cao passed, swinging his blade.
Emperor Lings head tumbled across the muddy ground as he body, covered in blood, fell in a heap.
"NO!" Sun Jian was horrified beyond anything, as Cao Cao slowly turned his horse around to face the corpse, his blade splashed in royal blood.
"And so ends my obligation to the Han...now to deal with He Jin and his sister..." He started to ride his way back to his men, when he was intercepted, having to halt and come with face to face with Sun Jian, who had his sword ready now.
"Cao Cao! You! Why!? Are you working with the Unversed!? Did you betray us!? ANSWER ME!"
Cao Cao did not ready his weapon. Instead he firmly stared at Sun Jian. "...I wanted to keep us alive. The Han is doomed. I have merely hurried it's death to save what we can."
"By resulting to siding with aliens who wanted to destroy us? To ambushing the emperor and murdering him in cold blood!?"
"The Unversed here are the last. They are expendable as their ruler as retreated back to her realm. I have done what I deemed was needed. You know as well as anyone He Jin and his sister cannot be trusted, and the emperor was under their thumb."
Sun Jian slowly lowered his weapon, still enraged though. "We could've spared him. Killed them and made him stand down. It's pointless bloodshed."
"It is not. Without him the Han will begin to lose support. He has no children, and his main wife is the sister to a peasant who was made grand commander by her. It is not a favourable standing in the eyes of the others...This is for our independence."
In the background of them, some of the Han soldiers saw what Cao Cao did, and were already yelling it out to alert everyone. "CAO CAO HAS BETRAYED US! HE HAS KILLED THE EMPEROR!"
Cao Cao then slowly moved past Sun Jian, as the Wu Ruler did not respond, simply looking ahead. "...I know you will understand in time, Sun. Because if you don't, our fight may fail." With that, he rode back to his forces, as Sun Jian got off his horse, walking over to the emperors body... He hated He Jin, he hated Empress He, but Ling was a good man, and always welcomed Sun Jian to his home, especially the day he proudly returned the imperial seal to the emperor. He was given no worthy title, but the emperor had him stay for a few weeks in pure luxury and let him live in the room next to him for that time.
He fell to his hands and knees, wept in sorrow.
Without him knowing, another set of eyes was watching all this unfold. Zuo Ci was close by, holding his cards. He had visited the battlefield for a reason, but that reason was not present. He tried to sense it, then vanished in a blink of white light.
The deity had arrived within Chad's room. He was concerned about the boy. First no sign of him at the Hero Base on Zebes, then no sign of him at the battle. He sensed the lad was still at Jie Ting, and felt it was once again time to make a divine intervention. "Chad, I sense you are not alright, is there a-"
Only now did he stop and notice his surroundings.
The room was in the dark. The candles were all out. Chad was just sitting there on the side of his bed, looking down at the ground. Kei was nearby...laying over the shattered remains of a table she had, by the looks, smashed into before falling unconscious.
The door to Chad's room was open, and seen clearly, were the knocked out forms of Fireman and Mr Match.
Zuo Ci slowly walked his way over to Chad, who spoke to him. "Should've known you'd come sooner or later."
"What has happened here?"
Chad sighed, before looking up at the deity, looking annoyed. "I was angry. I lost control. I can't help it Zuo Ci."
"...The Dark Soul within you remains strong."
"So you knew what I had, and you didn't stop me sooner?"
Zuo Ci shook his head. "These trials Chad, you must face alone at times. I cannot guide you every step of the way."
"..."
"I can provide help Chad. It appears I must, if you are willing to accept it before anyone else gets hurt."
"I wonder...Can you see what I am? What you are dealing with?"
Zuo Ci, for once, felt confused. "I'm sorry I don't follow."
"...Well let me explain this clearly to you Zuo Ci...I'm not stupid." Chad slowly stood up, staring straight in the face of the deity who took a few steps back, on noticing something...Chads iris' were a shimmering purple. "I knew you would only act if it was clear no one else could. You waited for Darkmega, for Anna, for the docs to try, maybe even Roll. And yet none of them have. So you acted, as always. The last moment of hope when many others fail. Afterall, he is the boy of destiny, correct? It's your charge to make sure he does what his suppose to do."
Zuo Ci was now completely stunned. "Who, who dares use-"
"Can't you tell...or sense where I am? All deities are like Azrael right? You can sense lifeforms?"
Zuo Ci tried, but then noticed something new. Earlier he was able to sense Chad, right here in front of him. Now he couldn't at all. "W-what? I do not understand. How have you done this?"
Chad suddenly changed into a purple, liquid-like shapeless form, before transforming into Richard, smirking at Zuo Ci. "Hello, old man."
Zuo Ci certainly wasn't impressed. "Richard!"
"The Hero Base on Zebes will fall soon. Though, I'm sure you've already gave the docs a hint to prepare to escape. Either by Shadowlaw or the SF it was doomed and they have to go back to Earth X. But the docs will be busy with that. Darkmega, Roll, Anna and Kei were your next bets. Surely one of them can save him? But I placed him somewhere far, far away from this world, along with Roll and Darkmega. Anna is away at the battlefield, and Kei, well...she never saw me coming. Sure she'll alert everyone Chad is missing, but I'll play the part of the good guy again. I'll help them...eventually. But for now, without them, Chad can't be helped. I'm winning."
"Blind Lo would not want you to act without his consent. You path was created by him, your destiny is to fall to Chad, Richard!"
Richard laughed. "Hahah! Perhaps I should correct you on that! Ah...I'm not his chess piece. Blind Lo is worth nothing to me. I saw him die once."
Zuo Ci was now really worried. "Blind Lo? Dead?"
"I take it you don't talk to the other you's around the multiverse?"
Zuo Ci took a moment, then he pieced it together. "...No..."
"Heheh. This Richard was useful, speaking to him inside the Dark Wolf was amusing...but I knew during the battle with Chaos things were going down a path I don't want."
Richard got on his hands and knees to stand up, his nose, oozing out dark, dark red blood, and he was looking ahead…only to see Chaos already crouching near him, looking right into his eyes, those sunglasses refusing Richard to see into the eyes of his opponent. "Don't bother. You can't win." with that, he head butted Richard square on the forehead, with such a force, it knocked the Human Overmind right out, with him laid out on the floor, not moving anymore.
Chaos stood up afterwards, looking down at Richard in the middle of the Hero Base on Earth X. He heard the Zerg fleeing in sheer panic, but ignored them. They weren't what he wanted. "Zerg. Some go berserk with no control, others go and cower in fear…seems Richard had the latter. Now, let's get you delivered to someone who can eventually begin grabbing the attention of the new 'emperor.'"
With that, he picked up the Dark Wolf, putting it back into its casing on its masters body, before picking up the said body, and begin to leave the Hero Base…As the Dark Wolf was faintly glowing a dark purple, surrounding its casing.
"I knew then it was time for me to take over. I was done waiting and playing the advisor was no fun. I knew I would be separated from this Richard once we got to the Space Station."
Purple strands of energy slipped away from the Dark Wolf which ceased to emit any energy, and entered Richard's ears and nose. Chaos came to a complete stop, having seen it happen. He waited for something else to occur...
As nothing did, he shrugged it off and walked on. "Perhaps his blade tried to revive him. Unusual sword."
"I took over and whilst he slept in the chamber. I consumed his soul and took command of the body, becoming one with it. The Richard you knew, is long gone."
Zuo Ci quickly got his tarot cards ready. "Then, soul of the Dark Wolf, I shall destroy you myself!"
Richard was smirking, and gave a small sigh. "Destroy me? I'll give you one single hint destroys that notion...I've been to Oblivion. I've seen to the point of absolute destruction. I won't die."
Slowly, Richard seemed to melt, repeating the words "I won't die." Slower and slower, as his flesh seemed to melt off, showing a dark purple skeleton that started to dissolve away. Soon enough, nothing remained. There was nothing on the floor that showed he was even there.
Then Zuo CI felt the Dark Wolf impale him through his back and out of his chest, looking down at the blooded blade in sheer shock, his tarot cards fluttering to the floor.
Richard was now behind him. Zuo Ci couldn't sense him still. The boy spoke to him again. "I know deities can heal minor wounds rather fast, and mortals, they can heal quite a few fatal wounds. But when a deity receives one, they have to fall back to a dimension away from here to recover...You're not invincible. I'll see you again soon, hopefully as all else falls into place."
Zuo Ci knew he had to retreat, he focused his mind and in a flash of white, disappeared.
Richard stared at where the deity was for a few moments, before allowing Zerg veins to appear at his feet, rising up to cover him, and as they dispersed, he too was gone.