Everything was cold.
His body felt weightless, as if he was floating on calm water.
He could not move, no matter how strongly his mind wills it to be.
Darkness shrouded his vision, blurring the last sight of his loved ones.
This must be it
The end was coming for him. For his time has finally reached it's last.
Memories of his life flashed before his very eyes, the perilous journey he went through from beginning to end.
Yet he felt no fear.
He felt content.
He has done all he can in this life and made the best of it.
He had many mistakes, few that could've ruined him.
But he outweighed the bad with the good he has done and had in his arms.
That was enough for him.
And so, he took in these last few moments. To reminisce of what truly stuck close to his heart.
The sight of his beautiful wife and child, gazing upon him with such love and affection.
Such fortune he was blessed with. At times, he felt that he did not deserve such affections. Such gifts that came into his life.
Yet those close to him, his friends and his loved ones, would always remind him that he did deserve it. Their heartfelt words and gestures erased all doubts in his troubled mind.
'Truly, I am blessed.'
He accepted death's cold yet comforting embrace with a smile. His eyes shut forever.
=== Eagle Savior ===
Ezio Auditore was a man who did not fear death.
Not because out of sheer arrogance that none shall be able to best him nor thought himself invincible against all adversaries.
No, he did not fear death for he has accepted that death will come for him.
No matter how strong his body are, how wise and knowledgeable his mind be, or how respected he is by enemy and ally alike.; Just like everyone else, death comes for all eventually.
His only fear were the regrets in his heart.
'Farewell… My brothers and sisters, my friends, my family, my children… And to you, Sofia, my love…'
The old man shut his eyes from the world, feeling his heart beating slower and slower till it stops. He took his last breath before he felt himself passing on.
For a moment, he felt nothing; The cold darkness embracing his body but he did not shiver.
Yet all of a sudden, his still heart singular beat revived itself once more – It's rhythmic beats blasting loudly from his ear.
With a gasp and a sharp intake of breath into his lungs, the once-dead Ezio Auditore eyes open widely in a brief panic.
"Haa…!"
Putting a hand over his heart, feeling the organ's faint beats as he allows himself to take in deep breaths to let his earlier panic to settle down.
'I…I live? But I felt death's embrace…'
The old man looked over his wrinkled hands, as if he himself could not believe his own flesh moving infront of his very eyes. Eventually, he looked up with his mind shrouded in confusion over his current state yet his feelings were unsettled over one thing.
"Sofia…? Flavia…?" The small hope in his heart were extinguished as he not sees his beloved wife and daughter Infront of him but pitch-black darkness, only illuminated by blue glowing lines and dots intertwined with one another.
Looking around him, the same gold glowing lines and dots stretched everywhere his eyes could see, it's lines endlessly stretching for miles and miles without an end in sight. The darkness acted like a blank canvas for these strange lines and dots.
It was quite breathtaking, like an artistic painting made by his old friend; Leonardo. He took in the sights, his eyes wandering the empty landscape; Nothing yet this nothing is beautiful in its own way.
However, there was something that bothered him as he recognized these strange lines and symbols all over him.
'These look similar to the room where I first met Minerva…'
Does this mean he was back in a vault that contained a piece of the Apple of Eden?
No… He felt death took him. This only means that wherever he is, must be related to the Apple.
Standing up from where laid down, he looked down on himself to see he still wore the same clothing when he 'died'; A simple white linen shirt and pants with a dark grey robe over it, finished with a small red sash around his waist.
The same clothes he wore at the time of his death.
He gazes around the room once more, his voice calling out to the darkness.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
His calls were met with cold silence, making him frown at his current predicament.
Why was he here? Didn't he die on that bench back in Florence? But here he stands, alive and well; He could no longer feel the pangs of pain in his chest and every breath he takes felt rejuvenating.
Before he could ponder further; a bright golden light illuminated in front of him, forcing him to use his right hand to cover his eyes lest he gets blinded. This kept going for a few seconds as the light died down, allowing Ezio to lower his hand then gape in awestruck at the origin of the light.
The being that stood before him was one of the most beautiful, jaw-dropping women he has ever seen in his entire life. She stood at a height of around 5'6ft, a small contrast to Ezio's 6'0ft, with a plump and sexy body that is filled out just right; Her breasts perking to be a D-Cup with her shoulders exposed, emphasizing a subtle temptation to anyone who may see it
Her clothing appears to be a red silky chiton with two golden rose straps holding it up; One around her neck and the other set in her upper back. The Chiton reaches right below her knees with a slit on the left side, exposing a bit of her leg. The chiton is pretty much hugging her body, showing all of it in a clothed manner with a golden necklace around her neck and rings placed on her wrists and index finger, finally finished with gold dangling earrings with shiny purple amethysts engraved within them
Yet the most important feature of her body was her face; Her wavey silk-like chestnut brown hair reaching to her back with a simple red shining rose delicately decorating it.
What truly lured and made him focus his unblinking attention at her was her beauty. Her facial features looked as if it was sculpted to perfection, slim yet plump at the right amount. Her brown eyes with a barely noticeable golden ring in the inner sections with lips as red as blood, glisteningly just like everything else about her.
Her eyes looked at Ezio with clear intrigue in her eyes, making him almost take a step back at the piercing gaze being aimed at him as it gained a playful and lustful tone. She smiled as she sauntered towards him, her hips wiggling in a mesmerizing way.
Ezio stood mesmerized at this beautiful divine being before recovering quickly, although not quick enough as her eyes took notice at his previous state, smirking with clear satisfaction at making him awe at her only at a mere sight.
Truly, Ezio could put her right next to his beautiful wife on leaving him awe-struck. Though, she could never replace Sophia's place in his heart.
She stopped right in front of him, her unnatural golden eyes scanning his whole being from top to bottom, making the Assassin feel as if he was being assessed over.
The two stands in mere silence, Ezio still afflicted with shock and awe from his current situation that prevent him from starting a conversation and the mysterious woman that was seemingly content with staring at him with a half-lidded gaze.
Eventually, the silence came to an end as the mysterious woman initiated first contact.
"At last, you have arrived… " She spoke in a voice similar to Minerva's echoey voice but more... sultry and less strict as her words carried a sense of longing. Directed at him.
The old assassin was confused at such emotion that the woman was obviously emitting towards him, breaking his fixed trance on her as he stood guarded against the mysterious woman.
"Who are you and what is this place?"
She answered with an easy-going smile, her hands gesturing to the strange aesthetics plastered all around the room. "This is what we call 'The System' – A space, untethered to time for us… And as for me…"
One of her hands lowers itself down to her chest before introducing herself.
"You may call me Venus, or V if you wish to be more… intimate" Her god-like tone contrasted with the playful tone in her voice, a smirk replaces her smile as her half-lidded gaze bores towards Ezio.
Wide-eyed, Ezio could only mutter in disbelief "You are like Minerva… Another of 'those who came before'."
Hearing the name of Minerva, Venus lets out a content sigh and a look of nostalgia.
"Aahh… Mervy… How I miss that stuck-up woman…" Chuckling to herself as if amused at some inside joke missed by him, she nods in response "But you are correct; I am one of those whom came before"
Ezio stood in mute silence, absorbing the fact that not only has he met one of these god-like beings in his life but two? He could only blame fate or whatever cosmic being out there for landing him in such a situation.
Yet questions arose from his mind…
"…Why am I here, Venus? Have I not completed my role as a 'Prophet' and delivered the message?"
The man believed whole-heartedly that he has already fulfilled his role as the Prophet; A 'conduit' to deliver a message for a man named Desmond. A man with a face so identical to his own, whom he has only met once back in the vault of Masyaf as he concluded the end of his life-long journey.
He has done his part.
"Mhm! Dear Mervy was correct in that statement, although I didn't actually witness it since she forbade her kin like me from entering her vault without permission. Such a stickler, that one. And here I thought we were friends." Venus muttered the last bit underneath her breath.
'Mervy?' Ezio was amused at the little pet name "I see... But why did you bring me here? I've done what was asked of me, no?"
"You have, yes. In all honesty, you have done much in your life – You have suffered under conditions that could've broken a man yet you persisted. And in turn, achieved many feats through your perilous journey." Venus glorified his achievements, much to the man's solemn reaction.
Firm was his heart, Ezio only did what was seemed right at the time. From a revenge-driven youngster to a hermit-like retired master assassin that was content to work on a vineyard. He took little pride of his achievements, only viewing them as distant memories. Some more painful than others…
"I did what I believed to be right; To ensure humanity's freedom and the way of understanding one another to ensure the path to peace, was a goal worth fighting for. I've done what I can with the life I had and now I leave to the next generation after me to take up the mantle that I left behind."
Seeing such a dignified response on the old Ezio warmed Venus' heart, pleased at such humble disposition. This only made her convinced in her decision to bring him here was a correct one.
"Indeed… You truly are a exceptional being, Ezio Auditore… You deserve to rest, after all that you've done…" Venus' attitude took a somber turn, her playful and sultry demeanor now replaced one with sorrow and shame. "Yet here I am, forcibly dragging you from your deserved slumber after death."
Ezio could only look on with confusion at the somber woman, waiting for her to explain herself.
Taking a deep breath, Venus composed herself yet the somberness remains evident in her expressive golden eyes.
"I summoned you to this domain to plead for your help. To save a world that is not your own. A world that I have created with my own hands."
Ezio was silent at that request. Of course, why wouldn't he? It was not every day that a celestial being from a dead ancient race would come to you with a quest to save the world.
Such a scenario only existed in fantastical stories, of heroes and exaggerated shining glory.
Yet here he is, the 'hero' in that same scenario.
Suffice to say, Ezio was baffled and caught off guard for a brief moment before calming himself with a deep breath. Curiosity filled his mind at that point.
"Forgive me Venus, but… Can you explain to me on what you mean by 'To save a world that is not your own'? A world created by your hands?" He questioned, narrow eyes sighting on the woman that brought him here.
She smirks in response, even though the somberness remains clear in her eyes. "Then I shall explain in full, so you may have a clearer picture of what is at stake." Her body quickly dissipates to nothing, leaving only golden embers.
Before Ezio's very eyes, the room they inhabit began to change drastically. No longer were they confine to an endless void, with glowing golden and blue lines to contrast the pitch-black color.
Just like his time when he first met Minerva in that underground vault beneath the Vatican, the landscape around him resembled of what laid beyond the sky. Stars dotted everywhere, their light twinkling continuously. Planets that were described by scholars orbited around him, some far and some close.
Venus' voice sounded off around him, prompting Ezio to look around for the source "When your kind was created, I was part of the sub-members that was tasked to assist. Naturally, I obliged. While Minerva and the other head figures created your vessels, I was tasked with two important objectives that was as crucial if not more."
"And what were those?" Ezio stopped trying to find the woman, thinking it to be a worthless effort as she could materialize and de-materialize at will. Instead, he focused on listening to her voice, his interest over humanity's true origin rising. How could he not? Numerous scholars and religious figures have pondered over the question for as long as humanity been around.
"Your way of procreation. Humanity's way of ensuring that their species would not die out due to lack of numbers but rather multiply said numbers, was by my design. In basic terms; Sex."
Ezio raised a brow at that as he scratched his beard, not knowing what to feel about that.
Her mirthful chuckle echoes out around the space, apparently finding his lost expression amusing.
"However, the second objective was far more impacting to your species. Though your ancestors had the corrects tools, they lacked something. Something crucial… Then, a revelation came to me; The missing piece…"
Venus suddenly materialized infront of Ezio, making him take a step back at the sudden entrance before he felt the celestial being's hands gently upon his cheeks. A smirk on her lips as she whispered.
"Desire…"
"Desire?" Ezio was lost. What did she mean by that?
"Yes. Do you recall when Minerva told you about the purpose of humanity?"
Ezio nods with a somewhat uncomfortable frown, recalling a harsh truth many years ago "Minerva told me that we were meant to be slaves, built to serve your race."
Acknowledging the cold truth, Venus steps back from the man as she continues "Correct. Your first iterations were… imperfect, to say the least. You were more like puppets than actual sentient beings; Always needing guidance and instructions to function properly. It was displeasing to Minerva, who wanted more from you. But that changed when I introduced the factor of Desire into your next iterations."
Hearing Venus speaking of him, and in extension humanity, like some sort of scientific product made him feel even more uncomfortable than before. Though if what she and Minerva said to be true about his species, it didn't mean that Ezio's discomfort lessened.
"What was supposed to be a supportive factor to my first objective; To encourage you and your kind to procreate in order to bolster your numbers, suddenly evolved to something more. Something that I or Minerva never expected."
Venus began circling Ezio in the middle, staring at him with such intensity that made the Old Assassin guarded.
"From the desire to procreate became the desire to eat, to relax, to seek affection… To eventually, the desire for freedom."
The celestial being continued on, as if retelling a story that told many times before "That same desire is what sparked some members of your race to rise against us, your creators. They, unwilling to serve while we, unwilling to grant freedom eventually came into conflict."
Ezio was rooted in his spot, only listening intently to the story.
"As more of your kind rose to the same ideals and desire for freedom, this eventually gave birth to a rebellion that opposed us. A war that spanned for many years. A war that kept us blinded to a true threat that wiped out the old world"
Venus' fingers gestured into the space in front of her, golden wisps once again reformed the land around them into a city. Buildings were erected around them, numerous and tall. The architecture reminded Ezio of Greek origins. Ones that were similarly found in Rome or Ancient Greece.
More golden wisps then formed into human-like figures, creating them with such precise details. Human-like beings were scattered around them, as they fought other human beings but with some differences. White and blue lines were all over their bodies, from their back down to their limbs.
Ezio immediately recognized whom were the 'Ones before' and whom were his ancestors. Even though the beings were fake and merely an imitation, their presence still emitted the same one that Venus and Minerva possessed while those with the strange light marks lacked any.
Venus looked in with sorrow, watching the battle before them with silence. Even amidst the projected clanging's of weapons and noises of battle surrounded her, she remained composed.
"And so, we battled. While my kind was superior in all aspects compared to humanity, we were not invincible. Due to our slow reproduction rate, each life lost in the conflict was a heavy blow compared to how humans could rapidly reproduce to keep their high numbers. It always felt like we were outnumbered in every battle. Even with the Pieces of Eden in our grasp that can turn the tide in our favor…"
An individual stepped forward, a member of Venus' race, with a spherical object in their hands. A Piece of Eden, Ezio realized, glowed with power as the individual raised up into the air, shining brightly in the midst of battle.
Its immense power showed as golden lines originated from the Piece of Eden and connected with the humans across the entire battlefield, ceasing their actions as they struggled to fight back its control.
It seemed that the battle was beginning to turn into his creator's favor thanks to the assistance of the Piece of Eden. The individual shouted into the air and pointed forward with their spear, ordering their kin to attack.
Before suddenly, in the blink of an eye, another figure shrouded in a white cloak and hood appeared behind the individual then stabbing them in the back with a dagger in quick efficiency. This intervention ceased the Piece of Eden's power, breaking it's control over the humans which prompted Venus' kin to be pushed back even further.
The Old Master Assassin widened his eyes at the familiar sight in front of him, seeing and having done the same thing so many times.
"Those are-"
"Yes, your Predecessors. The First Assassins, you could say. Even now, their ideals and actions still somewhat resembled those of your current Brotherhood…" Venus interrupted Ezio, filling in as she explained the brazen scene that happened so fast in front of them.
Ezio noticed something peculiar in those few moments, right before his predecessor assassinated their foe…
"They're… unaffected by the Apple." Ezio stated out loud, noticing how the Piece of Eden's power had no effects on the First Assassin. Unlike the other humans whom were struggling to fight for control over their own minds, the First Assassin remained untouched by it's powers.
"Indeed. Your Predecessors had a bizarre immunity to the Piece of Eden's effects. This is due to the fact that we used some of our own DNA during your creation, as we built you upon our image. The same DNA that allowed us to be immune to it's effects as well. After all, the Piece of Eden was created to control humanity, not my kind. Minerva explained that your predecessors had both human and my kind's DNA within you, but the latter was far more powerful than the former; Allowing the immunity to still be in effect along with other strange mutations. Even now, the blood that ran in our veins is present within you, diluted it may be." Venus explained in great detail, unafraid to reveal the information related to humanity's creation.
Ezio suspected that it was to gain his trust, remembering her plea for help. It was in fact working, as he appreciates the transparency even though the information itself is disturbing at best for some.
"Dee N A?" The Master Assassin questioned, unfamiliar with the word and its meaning.
Venus hummed to herself for a moment before answering "In a way, I guess you could call it your bloodline. The DNA is what embodies this bloodline, hence why you see similarities within your family and those related to you, in terms of appearance or behavior. But enough of that, this isn't why I brought you here, Ezio"
Venus immediately looked up to the sky, signs of fear and foreboding present in her eyes. This prompted Ezio to follow her actions as he too looked above, before his eyes widen at the sight of it.
Greenish waves of color flash over them, covering the sky as it unnaturally moved forward in a rapid pace. The sudden arrival of this strange phenomenon prompted the other figures around him to stop fighting, their heads looking up at the sight of it all.
Dread and unease started to rise within him as the waves moved faster after each second with the wind beginning to pick up in intensity.
Suddenly, the rumbling of thunder boomed loudly as streaks of lightning strike down into the buildings and ground around them. The impact of the lightning destroying everything in its path, leaving nothing but rubble and ash.
With the display of Nature's wrath, both sides of the battle lost all motivation to fight and began fleeing from destruction happening around them. Screams and shouts filled the air as debris fell onto the streets and the people on them. Some attempted to rally their people only to be met with chaos and a flood of people, running for safety from the danger.
Yet the worst hasn't come, as the ground below them began to crack from inward before suddenly erupting into an explosion of flame and magma, spreading all across the land as more and more fell to their demise into the pits of lava that claimed their deaths.
Ezio could only describe it as Armageddon, horrified and despaired as he could only watch the death and carnage happening in front of his very eyes.
"This… is what happened?" Pure horror filled his voice as he watched the disasters of Nature devastate everything and everyone in its path. Young or old, men or woman; None were exempted.
"This is the Great Catastrophe, an event that has consumed the world and everything it held. None of us was able to foreseen it, for we were too engrossed in the war. Many died from this catastrophic event…" Venus explained in clear detail for Ezio with sorrow, her grim eyes re-watching the event that destroyed the First Civilization, her first home, along with killing many of her kin.
A bright and burning light erupted over the sky, covering the land in bright flames – Leaving the 'System' in blinding white at the intensity.
"…But not all perished." Ezio could not see Venus due to the white that blinds his vision, her voice was heard clearly. "As millions died from tragedy; Less than ten thousand of your kind survived… And far fewer of ours… But we carried on. At the end of all of this, both of our races united. Together. To rebuild. To renew…"
The golden wisps reformed two figures, a human and a member of Venus' species, faced one another. Instead of battling one another to the death, the two shook hands in agreement before disappearing.
Mirages of huts appeared as the society of both humans and their creators congregated as one. The first step to civilization.
"Time passed as we rebuilt all that was lost. Sadly, my kind eventually died out due to the slow birth rates. No matter how hard we try to circumvent that issue, we all succumbed to our fates in death. Some died naturally, others not so much. But we were recorded into history in the form of your mythologies. Marks and memories of our time together that was made by your predecessors." Venus finished as she seemingly willed the mirage constructed to disappear, leaving nothing but golden traces of their existence.
Ezio watched the traces of gold dissipate, finding the information of history from a relic of a bygone era fascinating. Leonardo would be gleeful to learn and write down the 'truth' if he were here… Yet…
"…As much as I appreciate the history lesson, this doesn't explain why I'm here or why you asked for my help." Ezio said to Venus, whom smirked in response.
"Of course, of course. This piece of history is only here to serve another purpose as to why you're here…" She mysteriously explained, leaving Ezio even more confused for answers.
Before he could even ask for clarification, Venus once again shaped the world around them to her will – Making them return to the place above the sky, where the stars and planets like the moon and Earth lingered.
A planet hovered in front of the two, looking so small that it made Ezio feel like a giant overlooking it.
"This is… my world, Ezio. A world that I have brought sentient life into." Venus stated out loud, grabbing his attention as he looked intently onto the land masses of said planet.
One thing immediately stood out for him.
"…There is no Europe." The land masses in front of him were unfamiliar. The continent of Europe and even the land of Italy were nowhere to be seen.
It truly is a different world…
"When my kind died out, I was one of the few that ascended into the state that I am now. Some remained in Earth, like Minera, watching over it. Others, like me, ventured out to places unknown to us. Eventually, I stumbled upon this planet void of sentient life. Only nature and beasts roamed it. So similar yet so different at the same time… In a twist of fate or some whim of mine centuries ago, I decided to introduce sentient beings to it." Venus said as she watched over the planet with a smile on her face, motherly affection clear upon her face.
"What? How?"
Venus was amused at Ezio's slight bafflement over her casual decision to recreate humanity on a different planet. It almost made her want to tease the old man more.
"Hehe~ I am not be at Minerva's level of expertise but I'm something of a scientist myself, especially after all those centuries of working under her employ" With a mirthful chuckle, Venus continued "Besides, I had help in my journey…"
The woman held up her hand, seemingly cupping nothing before a familiar item appears in her hand…
"An Apple of Eden!" Ezio exclaimed loudly, taking a step back at another artifact in the hands of those who created it.
Nodding, Venus stared into the metallic golden ball in her hand as she explained "This particular Piece of Eden was different from the others; It lacks the power to control the will of others but it instead stored knowledge within and the energy necessary to bring life. Thanks to this, I was able to replicate Minerva's work and create your species once more…" Venus proudly stated to the man, feeling accomplished for such a feat.
However, her eyes turned serious with a grim determination "Yet my world is not exempted from the danger of the Great Catastrophe. With the Piece of Eden, I have unintentionally seen a glimpse of it's coming future; A future of total annihilation, bathed in flames…"
Silence filled the room, Ezio wasn't about to interrupt Venus when the future of her own world was one filled with ashes and death.
Venus looked down her hands, seeing something beyond his vision "Hence I prepared a solution; A solution that was left unfinished by Minerva, distracted by the war between our people at the time. What was supposed to save our civilization in the past, will now save mine…"
"Something happened, didn't it?" Ezio asked.
Venus remained motionless before nodding slowly, a frown on her beautiful face – One filled with anxiety and disbelief. "Indeed… With the Piece of Eden in my hands, I built three temples scattered around the world – Temples that contain power derived from the Piece of Eden. Its purpose was to reverse the process of the Great Catastrophe, nullifying its construction. In theory; so long as those temples remained - The planet would be safe from its destruction indefinitely."
The Piece of Eden in Venus' hands, the same one that powered the temples she spoke of, vanished. She let out a sigh.
"But just as you said – Something did happen. An incident occurred in one of the temples, preventing its activation. What it was is unknown… But whatever it was, must be resolved and the temple reactivated once again. However, due to the fact that my people's technology was used… Its activation could only be triggered by the blood of my kind."
Venus looked straight into Ezio's wide eyes "The same blood that runs in yours…"
"T-That can't be… That's impossible…" Ezio muttered in disbelief, unwilling to believe her words.
"Did you not think it strange that Rodrigo Borgia wasn't able to open Minerva's vault, despite him having the Apple? Yet when you touched the Apple of Eden, the vault opened?" Venus immediately explained to Ezio, who could refute that evidence. That particular scene always did bother him. Why did it open for him yet not for Rodrigo?
"I see the understanding in your eyes… You know my words is one of credit. Trust me, the blood of my people is strong within you, Ezio… Hence why I chose you out of all." Venus strutted forward, prompting Ezio to act.
"Why can't you do it then? You have the power to create life; Couldn't you resurrect yourself and reactivate the temples that way?" Ezio asked, grasping at any options.
Venus depressingly chuckled, shaking her head with a brittle smile "Did you not think I tried that? Powerful, the Apples of Eden are, but even it can't resurrect a being such as I. No matter how hard I tried…"
Venus stopped in front of Ezio, who remained rooted in his position with an uncomfortable frown on his face.
Suddenly, Venus kneeled as she grasped his hands tightly as she looked at him with desperation in her eyes "Please… You are my only hope now. I know I am selfish, shameless even to ask of you for this, but I had no other option left… I beg of you, Ezio Auditore…"
"Please save my world…"
Ezio was stuck in place, staring down at the usually dignified woman whom played a part in humanity's creation. His old visage reflected in her unblinking eyes, refusing to break eye-contact lest she receives an answer.
Yes or No.
The Old Assassin pondered deeply, feeling all the more tired as he contemplated the choices that was now dropped in his hands.
To once again return to the life he lived as an Assassin, to safeguard humanity's freedom and safety. But to break a vow of leave he swore back in Masyaf to conclude his journey was over – To start a life of peace and let others continue where he left off.
Or to refuse and finally rest. He has seen enough for one life, a life filled with struggle and pain…Yet doom millions to a fate that has consumed his world before.
For a brief moment, a selfish thought appeared in his mind – Telling him that none of this is his business. To walk away and rest peacefully.
But would he really rest peacefully, knowing he's doomed millions for the selfish desire to rest?
No. The fire of Justice and the Principles of safeguarding Humanity burned brightly in his soul. Just like the time he was a lad.
'Fine then. One last task…"
Ezio kneeled down to Venus' level as he rearranged his hands over the woman's own, surprising her at his actions.
The heat of Ezio's hands warmed the coldness of hers. So firm yet so… comforting. It made her heart skip a beat.
What he said next only brought tears to her eyes.
"Very well. I accept."
BOOM. IT'S BACK BABY!
I hope you've read the last chapter I left on the previous iteration of this story cause hotdamn, I was just ready to abandon this idea altogether and move on with my life.
But it looks like my desires won me over, I guess I wanted this to continue after all - Finally got up my lazy and unmotivated ass to actually do shit IRL and this made me wanna pick up writing again.
However.
Don't expect Regular Updates though. I'm still in my 3rd year of University and that does not give me a lot of time to write, AT ALL. But I'll sneak in some writing sessions here and there when I have the free time in my schedule. This actually helps me reduce my stress by a bit, so pretty good for me.
Anyway, enough of my life and back to the story at hand.
As you've noticed, the first chapter from this reboot is a bit different from the past iteration. Instead of the world being corrupted by some asshole who wanted to fuck every woman in existence, I decided to make the stakes more HIGHER than this - Complete destruction of every life on Venus' planet.
So yes, I did decide to insert some actual AC lore into the world of Kuroinu. Makes things more interesting, ne? Who knows, maybe we'll see some more Isu lore and related events in Ezio's adventure to save the world from total destruction.
I've also rewritten Ezio to be more... Old and Jaded, in a way. What I've noticed from the previous iteration is that Ezio was all too eager to help, like your stereotypical shounen hero/isekai hero, ya know? The original Ezio pretty much gave up to be an Assassin so he can retire someplace safe, to be with his family and just rest. This Ezio, I feel, is close enough to the original in terms of accepting the plea for help in saving the world in according to his character. I just hope I can be persistent with his ideals and motivations. What do you think? Is this version of Ezio a bit more true to the original compared to the previous one?
That's all for now, folks. I'll see you again next time.