"Now Izuku." The Saint said as he walked in a circle in front of me. We were out in the open of The Nightmare just a bit after sunrise. "Do you know the classification of Gods?"
"There are many classifications of God's, ranging from Nature Gods to War God's, higher up like Creator God's or Destroyers, or…the real big end with Elder and Eldritch God's." I said, given both history, religion, games and books that I looked through both back on Earth and here, I had plenty of time to find the Divine Hierarchy and study it.
"That is true, but typically Gods fall into one of several major classes. Light, Dark, Chaos, Fallen, and the two most powerful, Elder and Eldrich. Can you take a guess as to what these mean in the end?"
"Well, Light and Dark are obvious, Holy and Demonic, technically Good and Evil cause if you get into extremes it's weird like that, Fallen Gods are beings that 'fell', were tempted by something they weren't supposed to do due to their Divine Abilities, like a God of Life killing, Chaos is…weird to say the least, and Elder and Eldritch are the strongest and can be literally any kind of God, just depends on time, strength, devotion, and other factors I'm not sure of." I explained in detail.
The Saint chuckled, still walking in a circle. "Actually, in the end the classifications can mean very little. A God specializing in war can be classified as a Light God. A god specializing in mercy and healing can be classified as a god of chaos. In the end the Classification system is more like a ranking system. The stronger you are and the more divine titles you acquire the higher chances you end up in the next classification. Every god starts off as a God of Light, depending on what you do as a God depends on if you move up this divine ranking."
"Right, so then why classify them as those things besides Elder and Eldritch in the rankings? Cause the classifications could be a bit misleading both in what a God could do and how strong they are."
"Because, the stronger the god the more they can do… and the more they are bound by their divinity." The Saint said, stopping as they turned and looked at me. "When one becomes a God, they are required to create an oath, this oath acts as a set of rules and laws they will follow as a god. Even against their own will the oath forces us to act. It is a promise and a punishment for becoming a divine being. The stronger you are as a god, the more powerful the oath binds you to its will, your promise as a god. In a sense, the classification system just tells people how much of a slave you are to your own promise as a god."
"So should I get ready for brand deals like All Might or just grab a ball and chain for this?" I managed to joke even though I…sadly understood the depths of what he meant and I really didn't want to.
"Now, there are several ways one can become a god. In this case we will be taking the easiest way."
"If you say 'eat my hair' like how other versions of me got OFA…" I joked, but shook my head. "What's the easiest way?"
"A divine gift. Or perhaps maybe a curse. Depending on how you look at it."
"And how does the Divine Gift work?"
"Several ways. In this case, you'll be taking some of my blood. This will act as a seed that under the right conditions will transform you into a fledgling god."
"That works." I nodded. "And when I do drink your blood…how does it work during the process?"
"You won't be drinking it." He said, walking up to me and raising my hand up to him, palm up. "For this to work properly you'll need to to receive the blood directly into your veins. I'm warning you know, it's gonna burn like you won't believe, but when it's over both a blessing and the seed of divinity will be planted within you."
"Right…" I said carefully. "Well…whenever you're ready I suppose…"
With a nod, the Saint pulled out a small knife, cutting along my palm. It stung, and made me flinch. He then cut along his own palm. His blood flowed out of the wound. He then turned his palm to the side, and let his blood drip into my open wound.
At first, I didn't feel anything… Then it hit. Like burning hot fire from the wound, spreading across my hand, to my wrist, down my arm. Thanks to Pyrokinesis, Half Hot Half Cold, I've gotten a lot of resistance to flames and heat… this felt like nothing Izukie could even create.
When it hit my chest I fell to the ground. Breathing felt like I was sucking air through an oven and everything was burning. It felt like it was burning. Melting. Memories of Izukie's death came to mind and as much as I wanted to flail around, scream, it felt like my nerves were shot and eventually… the burning ended.
Breathing began to feel normal again and I felt… better… and somehow… colder…
[Fallen God Blessing Received. Mortal Sun Blessing Active.]
"There. That blessing specifically will come in handy for you Midoriya." The Saint said as I began pulling myself up to my feet.
"Uh…y-yeah…I'm….I'm good…" I groaned in absolute pain.
"Now, I suppose I should tell you that when it comes to Gods and giving blessings, there are things that you need to know. Firstly, the different types. Miracle. Conjuration, and Bestowment."
"And…what do they do?" I asked weakly.
"Firstly, Miracle blessings act like granting a wish. You use magic and in exchange grant a wish to either a follower or someone you can help. That being said, it takes a high reserve of magic just to grant one Miracle Blessing. Conjuration blessings are as the name implies. If someone prays for say, medicine or food, you can just create it either from magic or from something in the environment. Lastly, Bestowment. This blessing is the kind I gave you. See, Bestowment allows me to link an aspect of myself to another. In this case, a legendary ability of mine with the same name as the blessing. You don't have it and at any time I can remove the blessing from you, but I figure you can make great use of this on top of your Copy Cat ability."
"And…what's the legendary ability?" I inquired.
"Mortal Sun. This is one of the few legendary abilities that can actually be gained by consuming a very rare item. Effectively, it allows me, and now you, to regenerate any injury. Lethal, atomization, your HP bar dropping to zero isn't something to concern yourself with as you'll come right back."
"So…I'm now a Phoenix?"
"Well, you do get it by eating a Phoenix egg, but sorta. You heal like one, but sorry, flying and pyromancy are off the table." The Saint chuckled. "It does come with one drawback however."
"What's the drawback?"
Rather than reply, the Saint quickly swung their hand up…
I felt a sharp sting in my head… then felt blood flow down my forehead, then the back of my head…
I collapsed. The hole in my head went straight through. The pain was agony. I felt my brains slipping out and my blood pooling out… how am I…
Green flames burst out of the entrance and exit wounds. The heat felt like getting the blessing. The fire burning as it felt like the blow was happening in reverse… When it ended, I was able to move again and I screamed, grabbing my head and tearing up… that…
"You remain conscious no matter the state of your body, and the healing process on top of the heat, the pain of the injury happens in reverse. This ability has been known to drive even veteran Armageddon locals to insanity. Not for the faint of heart."
"Oh…" I muttered. "Uh…that's…that's not good…"
"It is however one of the most powerful Immortality abilities. Now, you can break and beat your own body to hell in a fight… and it won't matter."
Immortality Abilities? Guess those are all Legendary and rare as rare can be…
"Well…good to know there's immortality abilities…but I fear that this will just destroy my nervous system and I won't be able to feel anything ever again…"
"Heh. We aren't that lucky. Any damage to your nervous system is healed also. Trust me… no matter how bad the pain is, you will always feel it. So, your first training to becoming a god is to become accustomed to the pain. Learn to take it, and work through it. Even with the agony you will be feeling, learn to stand up, think clearly and act without even thinking about it."
"Fantastic…" I groaned bitterly.
"You ready?"
"As ready as I can be for pain beyond my comprehension." I said honestly.
"Right. Just remember, when this training is over… you'll be stronger than you ever knew."
I walked through the hallway of my house… shaking. Each step felt… on edge. The phantom pains of the breaking bones… the ripping flesh… and the burning. My heart was racing and my sense of touch felt… heightened. I was afraid everything I bumped into was going to suddenly turn into pain, followed by the flames then more pain…
I felt something bump my leg. It took biting my tongue to not scream, but even that, my tongue heated up. No flames but the heat alone was there, removing the pain from the bite healing any bruise. Still, It made me cry and whimper. I looked down, seeing a very concerned Red.
"I-it's…it's alright Red…" I said slowly, trying to give them a reassuring smile.
I tried to take a step, only to trip on her. Falling to the ground I expected pain. I expected the heat… that agonizing heat… and began crying there on the floor.
I felt Red walk over and nuzzle next to me. Without thinking, I grabbed her, hugging the animal minded human girl as she seemed to comfort me.
"Th-thanks Red…" I said, trying to somehow wish away the pain, trying to think of something, anything to take the memory of pain away…
"Master?" I looked up, seeing Poppy there. She kneeled down next to me. "Are you well Master?"
"Y-yeah…I'm fine Poppy." I said, shakily reaching up and gently patting her head to reassure her.
"If you say so Master." She said. "Would you like to make use of me today?"
"N-no. Not right now…" I said, managing to get to my knees.
"Midoriya?" I looked up, and saw Delilah there. Her eyes went wide at seeing me. "Midoriya what happened?" She said, rushing over and… pulled me up. "What did the Saint do to-"
I reacted and… pushed her back. "No!" I screamed, hugging myself and almost curling into the fetal position. "D-don't touch me… please…"
"M-Midoriya…?" Delilah said. She looked at me with… so much worry and sadness. She kneeled down next to me. "What… what did they do to you?"
"Oh…ya know…I just have Mortal Sun now on loan…I'm immortal." I said weakly, even though the phantom pain came back so quickly… "So…n-no biggie right?"
"Immortal? I… I don't know that ability…"
"It makes me immortal. Nothing can kill me… but even if there's little to no body left… I'm conscious for all of it, and I feel the pain as it happens, when it heals it's like it's happening in reverse and… the heat it heals me with. The flames and… it's like being exposed to the sun directly…"
"Why?"
"Because…I need to be strong, I need to endure any and all pain and push through it…I can't be weak anymore…and the Saint is trying to help me through this…"
"Midoriya, how is torture helping you? You can't stand and this is just… this is just day one… can you even force yourself back there tomorrow?"
I swallowed…
"I…I have to…to become a God, I need to be strong…I need to endure anything…I need to make a Promise…"
"What promise?"
"A promise for when I become a God…an Oath…it's the rules and laws I need to follow when I become a full fledged God…whether it's by force or not, and this is just one step towards it…towards being strong enough to help people."
"What good is a promise to help people if you're broken inside?" Gently, I felt Delilah place a hand to my head. I flinched a little… but the gentle touch… I cried again. "You shouldn't have to torture yourself just to help others…"
"The Saint would beg to differ…"
"...Then you aren't doing this torture alone."
"No, I am, nobody else is going to go through this torture but me." I stated bluntly, immediately knowing where this was going and not wanting to hear about this.
"Yes. I am." She stated flatly. "In case you forgot, my Ability makes me immortal too. It's different from yours, but I still feel and remember the deaths."
"You shouldn't have to…" I said weakly. "Please Delilah…I…I can't let you or others get hurt like me…"
"And I can't stand seeing you in agony all for us!" She snapped. "Tomorrow, I'm joining you… you want to be a hero so bad, fine… it's your dream and I won't stop it… but I'll be damned if I let you go through hell alone."
"Delilah please…" I tried to find some argument to try and stop her from suffering like me…
"No Midoriya. No arguments. If you're going to be a stubborn ass then I'll be stubborn right back." She huffed. "You have a daughter, we have a daughter, Poppy is pregnant, and eventually the others all will have children too. I know you, and I know you don't want them to grow up thinking their father is weak or that you don't care about them. I know you Midoriya. If you do this alone, you'll eventually do something stupid and then what, we don't see you for X amount of years and you're a stranger to your own kids? No… Someone has to keep a level head on you, and if it's not me I know someone else will try to take that place. So just don't argue."
I tried to argue…but I sighed. "Fine…"
"Thank you… Do you think you can stand?"
"No…" I groaned. "Everything hurts…even if it doesn't, phantom pain is a bitch…"
"Can I… help you up?"
"I don't know…everything that touches me hurts…" I said weakly. "And…no, I can't get rid of my nervous system…it'll just regenerate…I'll forever know pain…"
"... Forever know pain huh?" She asked. I turned my head and looked up. She bent down and gave me a kiss. I didn't feel pain… I just felt… calm. "Did that hurt?"
"Shockingly no."
"Then the pain won't be all you'll know. It will pass. You are stronger than you think Midoriya. It will take time, but I know you can beat this. You can learn to beat the pain of this power and shake it off like rain water."
"One eighty on me being tortured now that you're involved…" I grumbled. "It's fine when I involve others, it's not fine when it's just me…" I sighed, not sure where this bitterness was coming from but I'm pretty sure it's because everything feels like it's still on fire even with that feeling of calmness.
"Because a person can only take so much when they're alone." Delilah said, holding out a hand for me. Shakily, I took it. Her touch felt… nice. "You need to learn that you don't have to shoulder everything alone. When someone you love and trust wants to help you… let them. I know you want to keep us safe, but that feeling goes both ways. So, who better than your immortal paradoxical kitten mama?"
I actually laughed at that.
"Well…you gotta point." I chuckled. "Thanks Delilah."
"I know. The fact it takes you so long to realize is proof you were born a man." She laughed.
Two Years Later
"Yeesh… how many times can you get eaten by a goat demon?" Delilah huffed as we walked back into the house.
The last two years she has kept her word. Every training day she endured the same hellish torture of pain I did… having her there though… while terrifying at first… helped more than I ever imagined.
I still felt the pain… the burning heat and the injuries… the strange healing… but I learned to… numb it. Push the bulk away and leave it to a dull ache. Mind over matter I guess…
"Too many times…" I grumbled.
"Well, at least that thing is dead and we got some good loot." She said, shaking the sack of still bleeding goat hyde she had slung over her shoulder. "Better to fight giant monsters than the endless death gauntlet we dealt with for a year and a half."
"Yes…literally anything is better."
"Have to admit, even if these monsters are curb stomping us into paste and mush… the immortality thing really makes a difference. Takes a while but we beat them and get good stuff."
"Yeah, and we get plenty of experience and skill points from killing such tough monsters." I said, which I did find very helpful that managing to beat monsters that were way above your level could give you bonus points.
"Bonus, the work outs are really showing." Delilah said, flexing her arm then patting her new six pack. "Was worried about the excess weight I put on when Daisy was born, but now I'm hotter than ever!"
"You're hot no matter what." I answered readily.
"Thanks, but I also like to enjoy my own view from time to time." She chuckled, placing the sack into the kitchen sink.
"Welcome home Master." Poppy said. She was here in the kitchen cooking, our son Rudy sitting in his high chair nearby playing with some toys. Sitting in a chair next to him, coloring in a picture book was Daisy. My little girl was growing so fast, already talking so much.
"Hey Poppy." I said with a smile. "How are you doing?"
"I am well Master. The children have been fed, and the residents within the Planet Room are building their new town at a quick pace." She stated.
"That's good." I nodded. "Glad things are going smoothly these past two years."
"All in all things have been very peaceful." Delilah nodded. "So, Poppy, Button make you a mama again?"
"Oh, yes, my pregnancy test came back positive last night." Poppy said. I blushed hard.
"Heh, so much for careful sex huh Midoriya~" Delilah teased.
"It's…been two years and I tried…" I said sheepishly. "It's hard to stay careful when you don't have protection."
"Heh, getting sloppy. Almost jealous." Delilah chuckled. "In any case, tomorrow we have to fight that one Blood Aligator… thing." She sighed. "Well, I'm gonna go shower." Delilah walked off. I sat down next to Daisy.
"Hey Daisy, how are you doing?" I asked with a warm smile.
"Hi pappa!" She said, giving me a toothy grin. "You and mamma bring back more stuff?"
"Yes we did." I said happily, so happy to see Daisy happy and healthy through all this.
"Did you fight a monster again?"
"Yes we did." I nodded. "Another big goat monster…cause for some reason we've been finding a lot of goats around here…"
"Does that mean more goat meat for dinner?"
"Yes, more goat meat." I nodded. "But it's still good food at least."
"It tastes like old grass…" She said, sticking her tongue out.
"You get used to the taste." I shrugged.
"Can't we have something else? Mamma Sonya said there's a lot of farms in the world room."
That is true, but at the moment even after two years the farms need to breed and raise enough pigs to slaughter. That still takes time. Even hunted meat from other animals is hard to find. Plenty of fish at least but the boats are all wood since proper fishing boats are kinda hard to find in The Nightmare. Even near lakes and other large bodies of water. Most are simple paddle boats. Or the shell of giant crab monsters.
"I know sweetie, but the farms still need time to prepare for us. Don't want to work it too soon so we'll have to wait longer."
"Awh…" She sighed, her little cat ears falling down.
"Da!" Rudy called out from his high chair.
I got up. "Hey there Rudy." I said with a smile to my adorable child.
"Da!" He said again. I picked him up, making the little guy laugh.
"Dad, I've been wondering." Daisy spoke up. "Why do I have so many moms?"
"Why do you ask that?" I inquired, gently cradling Rudy in my arms.
"Mamma Rin took me to play with some of the kids in the world room in a new park they made. Most of the kids there have two or one parent. Well, Ricky had four but that was three dads and one mom." I blushed. Go lady… "So why do I have so many moms?"
"Because I like women, and when I was helping clear out an entire Matchmakers guild I uh…well Delilah was happy for me to have a harem."
"What's a harem?"
Oh… Yeah this is gonna be… interesting…
"Well…technically, a Harem is supposed to be a separate part of a household for wives and the like in ancient times back on Earth…but a harem now a days means someone with a lot of spouses."
"Spouses means… parents?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
"Okay. So, why do you look like a mommy?"
Heh… kids really do ask all the questions… I remember when she first said momma…
"Well, that's a…very weird and complicated reason…but the short of it is that I got a Quirk from someone named Izukie, and due to me being so close genetically I just…kinda turned into both."
"Oh. Do you like looking like a mommy?"
Well… it does have perks… can't lie there…
"Well…I won't lie, it does have perks I will admit." I said honestly.
"What are perks?"
"It's a benefit, or a good thing." I answered.
"Oh. So what are the perks you like?"
Most are not appropriate for a child to hear…
"Not until you're older." I said, gently patting her head.
"Can I ask more questions?"
"Depends on what questions you have Daisy."
"Well, how come Mamma Poppy acts weird?"
"That's…a difficult question…" I sighed.
"She's nice but she doesn't talk or act like the other momma's."
"I know…some…bad people did a bad thing to her…so she's like this and doing her best." I said carefully.
"What did they do to her? She looks fine and happy all the time."
I sighed… I know one day she will learn. Either from me or from someone else… but not now. Not today.
"You'll learn when you're older."
Four Years Later
"I'm getting so sick and tired of dragons!" Delilah huffed. We were deep underground, having slaughtered a nest of demonic dragons and… well. Their fire doesn't hurt as much as the heat and flames from Mortal Sun, but it still sucks…
Why dragons are underground is a question I had answered when I learned they need to eat raw metal ores to incubate their eggs.
Wonder how many omelets we can make with forty two ten foot tall eggs?
"Hmm…actually, we should save a few of them, the good gobbo would probably have a blast raising dragons." I said honestly.
"Galla would get a kick out of raising dragons." Delilah nodded. "Would also make moving around in the planet room and out in The Nightmare a lot easier too."
"Alright…so should we keep all forty two or turn some of them into omelet's?"
"I mean, the chicken farms are producing more than enough eggs. We can probably let her hatch them all. I hear when Beast Tamers raise their tamed beasts from infancy the bond is stronger and they grow more powerful with age."
"Awesome, so all forty two then?"
"Sure. I think that was all the eggs anyway." She sighed as we emerged from the hole in the ground the dragons tunneled.
It was here we found the Saint sitting on a nearby park bench, calmly reading a book. "That was quick. You two have certainly improved."
"Yes, we have, and the pain is only a dull ache and haunts my nightmares constantly." I said.
"Yet here you stand." They said with a smirk as they closed their book. "You have grown much in the last six years. Strength and will."
"Glad to hear we're making progress."
"Considering that literal torture you put us through for over a year and all these errand runs which usually result in more than a few nasty deaths… we better have." Delilah huffed. "What is the point of all these anyway?"
"The beasts you have been slaying are amongst the stronger of The Nightmare's native beasts. Each new foe ment you both could fight on and battle stronger enemies without giving up. Even when underpowered and out matched. When one is immortal, the enemy strength means little, but your own drive to continue on means everything." The Saint said.
"That makes sense…but it's still tough."
"Were the power of a god easily obtained, everyone would be a god." The Saint chuckled.
"Yeah yeah, so what now?" Delilah asked.
"Now you two must overcome the fears that still haunt you, as well as learn to fight on the same level as your enemies."
"I mean…I already did?" I asked, gently wrapping an arm around Delilah to prove my 'fear' wasn't haunting me…as much.
"Heh. Tomorrow, meet me here, and we can begin the lesson." He said, opening his book back up.
Delilah and I shrugged.
The next morning we did come back. There were a few books next to The Saint… was he here all night?
"Welcome back." He said, putting his new books down and standing up. "Are you both ready to begin?"
"Were you here all night?" I asked.
"Yes." They nodded. "Now then, Delilah." He started, handing her a mushroom. It was a slimy, sickly black and dark red. "This is the Shroom of Agony. This is a native plant to The Nightmare, and consuming it will create an illusionary dream of all you fear most."
"... Does it taste as bad as it looks?" Delilah asked, taking the ugly shroom.
"It lacks flavor but does burn like liquor when swallowed."
"Guess this is my time…" She sighed, taking a bite of it and swallowing. She immediately looked tired and sleepy, then kneeled down and I grabbed her, helping her lay on the floor. She's out.
"Now then, Midoriya." The Saint started. "You and I first shall talk."
"What do you need?" I inquired.
"For the past six years you have been using the Blessing of Mortal Sun, and have become accustomed to its drawbacks. I figure it is time you receive the full ability, so you can truly achieve godhood and cut ties with me linking you to immortality, and obtain it for yourself."
"That…would be cool, yes." I nodded. "So…how is this going to work? Like…you just make me an omelet or something?" I asked, remembering that he said Mortal Sun was given by eating a Phoenix egg.
"Heh, no." He said, raising his Assistant. What appeared out of it was like a tiny sun and was blinding me badly. "This here is the type of Phoenix egg you must consume. The Sun's Birth Phoenix."
"Ah! Yes! I forgot on last week's Food Wars it involved cooking a literal god damn sun." I said, quickly covering my eyes at how stupidly bright it was. "I can't see shit…"
"You don't cook it either. You must swallow it whole."
Oh come on!
"Come the fuck on…" I groaned. "Why must I eat the sun whole?"
"It's just how this species of Phoenix is. Normally in nature they do not lay eggs, instead being born when a new sun is created. The larger and older the sun the more powerful the Phoenix. Should they outlive the sun that birthed them, they become twice as powerful." The Saint said. "These eggs exist as the only means of gaining their special immortality. I hear some try and hatch them, but that is rarely a successful endeavor."
"Right…" I said slowly. "Well…sucks that I have to take an unborn life though…"
"Oh… I wouldn't say that…" The Saint said, giving me the sun egg.
I frowned as I held it in my fingers. It was small, warm… not as hot as I was expecting.
[Blessing Removed. Mortal Sun Blessing Removed.]
I sighed, putting the 'egg' in my mouth and forcing it down in a large gulp.
Where… am I?
"Yo." I turned around and saw… Matilda.
We were both standing in a large empty place. Standing in maybe half inch deep water and everything around seemed to go one forever. Despite the darkness I could see myself and her clearly. Even our reflections in the water.
"Uh…where are we?"
"I have no idea. This is all new to me."
"Yeah…same here…" I said carefully, looking around the place. "Last thing I remember was swallowing the phoenix egg…"
"Huh. Last thing I remember I was sleeping."
"Well, I suppose that makes sense why you weren't making comments as often." I said honestly.
"Meh, your shit got boring and I can't leave. So I went into hibernation." She huffed.
Just then the water below us began to glow in one spot. Emerging from the spot was the Phoenix egg and after it rose up some, it burst in a huge explosion of fire that started off white then turned green. The Phoenix itself then flew out of the green flames. It's body also a similar green as my eyes and Pyromancy Quirk fire. It flew around for a while before landing in mid air, a branch growing out and down from the bird's mid air perch until soon there was just a green flaming tree.
"... Okay that was kinda cool." Matilda said.
"Yes, that was cool." I said honestly. "Uh…hi there." I said with a wave to the Phoenix.
The bird eyed me, its eyes glowing with a light green, almost white flames.
"Uh…how are you?" I asked nervously.
I felt it glared at me.
"Don't think it likes you very much." Matilda said.
"I mean…I get it…I don't like me either for what I had to do…"
"No idea what you even do with a Phoenix."
"Well…a Phoenix is an immortal avian of fire, where when it dies it burns to ash, before it bursts into flames and revives into a brand new life." I explained. "And…because I ate its egg before it hatched…I…got its Regenerative powers…"
"Hmm… that doesn't sound right…" Matilda said as she seemed to think that over.
"What do you mean? Cause the Phoenix regeneration has always been a thing, the Phoenix being the symbol for the cycle of Death and Rebirth for a very long time."
"No, not that. I mean… my guy you literally ate a Phoenix, and all you get is the regeneration? But the bird itself is right there." She motioned to the bird. "I just feel like there's something missing in all this…"
"Then the Saint needs to explain a lot more things next time." I frowned, looking at the Phoenix. "Hello?" I asked, using Anivoice to try and talk to the Phoenix and understand it.
It turned its head at me, still glaring at me. "Foul human." It said… oh boy…
"I'm sorry for eating you…" I sighed.
"My arrival in this place? Was it you? You who trapped me in the egg?"
Trapped in the…
"Wait what?" I blinked. "Okay, so I feel like I'm missing some major context here…I didn't keep you in your Egg, that was the Saint of Armageddon." I said. "I just…ate your egg…again I'm really sorry."
"What are you babbling about Saints and Armageddon? I was flying through nebulas amongst the stars when suddenly, I was caged in a prison like the shell of an egg. And now, I sit here before you, in the plane of souls…"
"Okay, so the Saint is just a title for one of the strongest people on the planet Armageddon, he's been training me to become stronger to fight against a lot of the worse things the planet has to offer…" I explained…but then my eyes widened. "What do you mean 'Plane of Souls'? Are…does that mean I'm like…dead dead?" I asked in growing panic.
"Fool. What you see here is the space from where your soul resides within your physical body. Neither physical nor ethereal. A form of purgatory where souls within a body reside. While amongst the living." The bird said. "You especially now hold three souls within the flesh you live within. That creature, myself, and you."
"... Yeah that figures…" Matilda sighed. "Thanks Midoriya, you can apparently absorb souls into you."
"Wh-what!? How!?" I asked incredulously. "That sounds like some massive power that normal people, like myself, shouldn't have, even if I have some 'divine spark'."
"This coming from the guy with a legendary ability that lets them copy almost any ability and power they witness in action? Including the species and genders of the target?" Matilda asked.
"That's different." I replied, waving a hand as a white board somehow appeared…not going to question it. "And I can prove how it's different from actually absorbing souls. Cause Copy Cat has technically been a thing since forever, it just being a phrase for Copying, but absorbing Souls…especially souls like this? That means that I could not only gain…another voice in my head cause why not…I could gain abilities and powers, experience and knowledge that Copy Cat can't and won't give me…"
"So, what? You didn't get my memories. Some of my abilities yeah, but I'm like ninety percent sure a Pheonix does more than just live forever."
"Because I didn't know I could do this." I said while motioning to everything. "I thought that with what we had it was more a symbiosis style of thing, you kept your consciousness and experience and a lot of other things, while I got some of your innate abilities like your perfect directions." I said. "This…this is a whole new ballpark…"
"Maybe it relates to you becoming a god or something?"
"I…maybe?" I guessed, unconvinced that that was the reason. "Cause remember, I apparently had this situation happen before I became a god with you Matilda…" I sighed. "Okay, existential crisis later, first, what is your name?" I asked the Phoenix. "And I'm sorry for not asking you this before."
"My kind have no need for the names of mortals." The Phoenix said.
"Well you're gonna be stuck in here for Mother knows how long, so a name would be nice." I said honestly, scratching my head as I still tried to fathom how the hell this happened or why it's happening.
"Don't bother human. I wish for no familiarity with the likes of your kind."
"What about me?" Matilda asked.
"I am unfamiliar with your kind."
"I'm a Hunter Shadow."
"Do you also despise the human race and their ignorance?"
"Among many other races."
"Then you I tolerate."
They're bonding over being hateful of other species… Well, I know why Matilda hates people… but why does this bird? There's clearly a lot I don't know…
"Okay, can I please get some explanation here cause I'm extremely confused here." I said. "You can get back to bonding over your hatred of me and just people in general later, but why do you hate people?" I asked the bird.
"In my many millennia I have come across the planet earth many times. Each and every time the same. Destruction. Slaughter. Genocide. A world so vast in magic and possibility, all ruined by the short lived humans and their endless greed and lust for superiority." The Phoenix said.
Well… that would and sadly sounds accurate.
"While that is…sadly accurate, humans are also capable of the same magic and possibility you saw in them…also, let's be honest, from what I've seen, it doesn't matter what race you are, being an asshole is a choice and anyone can do it."
"While true, so few races can claim so many sins across the species as humans in such short lived lifetimes."
"Not getting into this argument of 'well, they did bad things but they can do equally as good things'." I rolled my eyes. "But I understand where you're coming from…even though you've mostly seen negatives, humanity is capable, and has done, great things or even greater than our sins."
"Tell that to the brothers I lost to human prisoners. They flew to earth and never returned. I found one dead in the corpse of an abomination and the other forced into a different abomination where he had no freedom. Merged with a human. Sickening."
… So a Phoenix can die?
"I…didn't know you could die…" I said slowly. "Cause I've had a gifted version of your regeneration for six years…not fun."
"We can die by two means. The foul and unnatural Null Magics, and if we are twisted and fused into abominations like the ones my brothers were fused into… well… one of my brothers. The other while an abomination… was still perfectly aligned with our magic."
"I'm sorry you lost your brothers…" I sighed.
"Spare me the sympathy. Now I am trapped similar to how they were. At least here I am not completely bound to you. You may have my immortality, but my fire and my magic you can never touch. I would sooner throw myself into the Null than let a human use my fire and magic."
"That we know of." I said honestly. "Cause this is all sorts of new…and concerning…"
"So, what now?" Matilda asked.
"No idea." I shrugged. "I don't know how we got here, I don't know how to leave…and I'm a little annoyed that I have another being in my head that doesn't like me because of other people fucking up and deciding to murder me."
"To be fair you do have a very hateable face."
"I'd like to claw it apart." The Phoenix added.
I rolled my eyes and looked around. "And if either of you try to attack me, I will make you regret it." I said. "Now help me find a way back into some consciousness here."
There was a silence for a while, then Matilda whacked the back of my head. "Sorry, couldn't resist."
"Yeah yeah, very funny." I said, glaring at Matilda as I shook my head. "Now are you going to help me figure out how to get out of here?"
"How? It's endless in all directions."
"Perhaps the human could drown itself in the water." Phoenix said.
I don't know why…I really don't, maybe it's because of the six years of training, the pain, the aggravation of all the training or my own self hatred at being weak…but I grabbed the Phoenix by the neck. "Then let's test it out!" I shouted as I tried to shove the Phoenix's head underneath the water we were standing in.
They flapped and squawked… then went limp… Oh crap! I let go and suddenly in a burst of fire and boiling water the bird flew back up. "You- you actually drowned me!"
"I'll tally that into nine fucked up things you've done since I moved into your head." Matilda said.
"Can everyone just shut up for five minutes!" I screamed, looking down at my hands as I was lightly shaking…why…"Why…why did I do that? This…none of this makes any sense!" I screamed in anger…which…I also finally noticed…the pain is gone…all the pain…why didn't I notice that sooner? This…this place was the Soul? "This is the Soul Realm right?"
"Soul Plane." The phoenix stated. "There is a difference. This is technically a pocket reality within the living flesh, or in some entities case, false flesh, where a soul resides. Think of it like… the mindscape but for souls."
"Alright…" I said. "This…is our soul's talking…who we are at the end of everything…no lies when talking to a soul I guess…"
"Precisely. The true nature of one's soul can change and adapt over time, or most commonly be masked. But here, no such masks can exist. How your soul is at the time is how you act here."
"Wow. So greenie here is capable of murder then?" Matilda asked. "Well damn, and I thought you didn't have it in you." She added with a chuckle.
"To be fair, they are also aware of my immortality. Besides, as long as we all reside within this one, we all share one another's powers. But because the body belongs to them only they can control the body. For a soul to take control of a body that is not their own, the effects can render the body's original soul and the soul fighting for control to both be destroyed."
I…I can…"No…No I can't…I…" I shook my head, trying to deny this. "I can't…" I teared up at thinking about how wrong this truly is.
"Hey, mental breakdown later." Matilda said, whacking the back of my head again. "Besides, you forget that killing someone in this reality doesn't end them forever unlike myself."
"Other beings are immortal as well in this reality?" Phoenix asked.
"The Skin Devils, like this one here, yes, but beings like me, no. I mean, I am ageless but not immortal."
"Delilah is also immortal cause she has a legendary ability…there's apparently a lot of Legendary Abilities that can let you be immortal." I said honestly. "Delilah has Shchrodinger's Cat by the way."
"I am unaware of this magic power." Phoenix said.
"Abilities are basically bullshit that make Skin Devils all powerful." Matilda said. "They can get them for anything and everything and even win them in a battle, or buy them."
"Hmm. This new reality seems quite strange. Yet, intriguing. Perhaps it too can hold the key to unbind my friend from the human he has been forced to be imprisoned with for the last seven thousand years."
How long?!
"Excuse me, how long?"
"Seven thousand years. What? Is that hard for you to imagine, human?"
"I'm only…twenty one years old right now." I said. "Seven thousand is still a big number."
"He's a baby." Matilda chuckled.
"Hatchling." Phoenix added with a laugh.
"Really?" I pouted.
"We have little entertainment while here. We take what we can get." Matilda said.
"Regardless, perhaps I can find the cure to undo the imprisonment my friend was placed in. If I can…" Phoenix started. "Tell me human, what is this reality's potential of magic?"
"As far as I've noticed, the potential is only time and effort." I said honestly. "If you have the time, and you put in enough effort, you can do pretty much anything…which still reminds me that I need to figure out that whole bit with Jaku and OFA talking about me being able to become a low level reality warper…been so busy never decided to follow through with that."
"Hmm… I still do not like you, human." The bird said, flying back up to the branch of the fire tree. "But at the moment, we are stuck with one another. So, how about a compromise?"
"And what's the compromise?" I inquired.
"Find all you can on what the humans called… Nokori, and learn to undo the accursed fusion. If you learn this, I will allow you to make use of my fire. Find my friend and free them… and You can make use of my flight and magic."
"Your fire and magic are different things?" Matilda asked.
"This tree didn't make itself." They chuckled.
"I assumed that when you first created it." I nodded. "And Nokori? That's…new, never heard of them, is that a kind of Mutation Quirk or a species?"
"They were created by humans seeking power, or perhaps ascension. An artificial race combining humans, beasts and magic from either magical creatures like myself or magical artifacts. These creatures were forced to become what they are. Last I saw, they and the humans were… coexisting, but their beginnings were dark and filled with unjust murders and hatred. Ignoring the fact these Nokori were once human themselves."
"Some crazy people hate differences…" I sighed, remembering the many cults back home, the Creature Rejection Clan or worse Humarise…"But I'll try to find your brother…what's his name?" I inquired.
"We do not have names human. We can sense one another across the vast eternal reaches of space."
"That is actually very useful." Matilda said. "Speaking of deals though I'd like to add my own crap into this."
"And what do you need Matilda?" I asked.
"Since you 'unintentionally' got rid of the last two Hunter Shadows within the Nightmare, my old mate and I, I want you to try and find and save some. With me here, talking to them is possible. So basically fulfill your hero wet dream and rescue any of my people you find."
"Even with spite, you finally understand it was an accident…and technically there's still one Hunter Shadow left with me and you?" I said sheepishly. "But yes, I will be saving your race, and again it's not a 'wet dream' when I want to be a decent person and help people."
"I could care less about how you get your rocks off, I just want my people to stop being murdered."
I huffed… close enough.
"So we are in agreement?" Phoenix asked.
"So…compromise is me saving people? I suppose that's fair." I nodded.
"Well, save my people, learn some magic bs to save his brother." Matilda said, motioning to the Phoenix. "Then unfuse him and whoever he's stuck to."
"Fair enough." I nodded.
I sat up, feeling… good. Actually, I felt amazing!
"It would seem you have come to a form of compromise with the Phoenix within the egg." The Saint said as he helped me to my feet.
"From what they told me, you kidnapped them and forced them into an egg shaped cage." I said.
"Not me." He said simply. "I found the egg in the hoard of a dragon back in the Magma Zone. I have learned that the Phoenix birds within the eggs are, in fact, like yourself. They are by definition, Isekai, but they arrive here as a loot item, not as you and others arrive."
"Right…" I said carefully. "They still believed someone forced them into an egg and kidnapped them, better explain that…and I also got a compromise with Matilda, the Hunter Shadow in me as well…also why was the three of us in a Soul Realm?"
"Soul Plane. There is a difference." The Saint started. "And, simply put, there are three souls in your body. Yours, Matilda the Hunter Shadow, and now The Phoenix. As for why you were there, immortality abilities tie to the soul, and since this immortality is… borrowed, you had to meet the owner of it."
"Fair…and right now, her compromise is to save his brother by…somehow separating him from a human that formed a Nokori, if you've ever heard of them."
"Yes, actually." The Saint said. "They are a rare species, they can be born or created. An interesting Synthetic Race. They are of course organic in nature, but their origins are largely artificial."
"Yes, and currently he needs me to find his brother…said that I could sense him through…something."
"Hmm… That is, if they are in this reality."
"Well…time to test it out…" I said, trying to sense where her brother was with the Phoenix's help.
I could feel… a warmth… the Phoenix's fire. It wasn't like when I had Mortal Sun before… it was… like standing near a campfire. The closest one was with the Saint… and despite how far I could see I could feel farther… so far across the planet… I felt other Phoenix's. Some were like mine, others, different… I then saw it. Not a humble fire but a raging forest fire so far in the distance…
"Brother… He's here!" I heard the Phoenix say.
That… how strong is this other Phoenix? That fire…
"How fucking strong does he need to be for that fire to be that size all the way from here!?" I mentally asked incredulously.
"Brother is one of the oldest of us back home. He has seen more of the beginnings of the universe and all the origins, rise and fall of planets and life across the stars. Many of my kind are born from a sun's birth or even death. He. He was born from the birth of a galaxy. One of so few born from such raw primal power. How a human captured him and turned them into this… Devils…"
"That is very fascinating." I said honestly. "Now…where is he specifically?" I mentally frowned while trying to figure out where he was specifically instead of just the massive wildfire.
Try as I wanted to, all I could tell was that it was far away… Well, north east is at least a direction…
"The large flames right?" The Saint asked. "That has been here for the past four hundred years or so. They appear to be all the way in the Sunken Planets Zone. Nothing but sea for many, many lightyears. It's actually a very peaceful zone. So long as you don't run into sea monsters and the occasional lovecraftian god."
"Well, that's where his brother is apparently." I said honestly. "And it's…extremely far away."
"Yes, it is. By foot it can take over a million years." Awh crap… "If you had a light speed ship, the time could be cut down to just a few years. But those are hard to come by on Armageddon."
"Well…technically I have the best travel agency with Delilah. Her Legendary Ability makes her be everywhere and nowhere all at once."
"I suppose that actually does cut all travel times down."
At mentioning Delilah I looked down and saw her fidgeting in her sleep and sweating.
"Uh…is she going to be alright?" I asked worriedly.
"She's experiencing a hyper realistic dream of her worst nightmare happening. She will probably be traumatized but it will pass."
"That's not good at all…" I said worriedly, kneeling down next to Delilah and gently taking her hand, hoping it would somehow calm her down knowing I was in fact there for her.
"She must handle this on her own. You, however, still have your training to undertake."
"Of course…" I grumbled.
I stood back up and… the Saint was handing me a handgun. "Over the years, I noticed you have a near phobia of firearms. I've seen you use Crossbows, knives, all kinds of weapons… but never a gun."
"Can't blame me, I'm still Japanese after all, Guns aren't really my forte." I said honestly. "Now sure…when guns came out it was all the rage for the Samurai…but Guns feel…wrong."
Without hesitation, the Saint shot me, my head getting blasted apart as I fell to the ground and the flames of Mortal Sun regrew my flesh and bones. "You've been in this reality to know Nationality of your old world doesn't apply. You will come across many foes in this world. If you want to be a hero, you must understand all forms of combat." He said, throwing the gun on my stomach as I sat up, fully healed… that didn't hurt- well okay it hurt but nothing like before… "Otherwise, people you try and save may meet a sad fate."
"And many heroes don't need a gun to be a hero." I said. "And I don't have a phobia for guns, I just don't like using them."
"This Jaku you talk about has no issues, and are they not also you?"
"Jaku is a version of me created by All for One, a being that is different from me…a 'what if', which mostly relates to his overall confidence and willingness to use his mind for more…direct approaches." I said carefully. "Also he's a horny edgelord from what the original All for One told me."
"Yet, they come from you. Do you wonder what they are up to? What has happened to them since you all came here?"
"I've always wondered what they've been up to, and I hope their alright…Jaku and Toga were so happy when they moved in together and now…either they're still back home near where Candlelight was or…stuck in this hellhole."
"They are stuck here as well."
"And where is he? And how do you know that he's here?"
"I've known where he and Toga are for the last five years."
"And you never bothered to tell me!?" I snapped. "He's practically my brother and you just thought 'eh, let's only tell Izuku now where he is while he's still mentally panicking about his safety'."
"I didn't tell you because of what has happened to him."
"What happened to him?" I asked worriedly, already fearing the worst happened to him.
The Saint sighed. They snapped their fingers, and appearing in their palm was a doll shaped like Jaku. They tossed it to the ground and in a bust of smoke… Jaku was there, standing on all fours.
"J-jaku?" I asked worriedly. "What…what happened?"
There wasn't a response. I kneeled down to touch them, and they slashed at me. They were… growling and snarling.
"I found him and Toga in a Violence BOW laboratory."
"What…" I muttered…"What…did they do?"
"...The worst things." The Saint said. "Mentally, they've shattered him. Broken his mind and forced in serums, implants. Whatever they had to in order to make them more deadly a tool."
"That's not something I'm letting happen." I growled. "Nothing is impossible…and I think I have an idea on how to mend his mind." I said, believing that my 'genetic mind world' can help bring back Jaku to his true self…or as close to it as we can get due to me not knowing what horror's they actually did.
"Not now. Not here. You aren't strong enough yet." He said, snapping his fingers and in another puff of smoke, Jaku was once again a doll.
"How do you know?" I frowned. "I just need to bring back his mind through a combination of his DNA and parts of his memories that are still intact."
"I know because I've done it before. Yes, you share a bond with them, but even that will barely give you an edge. What Violence does to the people they turn into weapons is… a new level of cruelty."
"Then I best get stronger and stop those rat bastards."
"Then you best learn to hold nothing back." The Saint said, holding the gun for me to take again. "Because I can assure you, they will not hold back."
"Does a Gun really make or break this?" I asked, gently taking the gun and it still feeling…wrong to me.
"Aside from their BOW's, Violence is known for their weapons. Guns are so common in their stores and labs they will be everywhere. You might not need to, but why waste something they leave on the ground like dirt? Better to know how to use them when you must than not."
I sighed. "Fine…I'm not gonna like this though."