Chapter 37: Alba of the God's Eye

Dove's Domain

The Great Ones were all starting to gather in the center palace under the king of the Center, Nefarious' direct command.

In the meantime, Dove, the White Avian Akujin Queen, sat in her avian-themed aviary mansion. It was inherited from her husband, Porcelian the first White Avian Akujin King. She looked at a portrait of her late husband, a tall male who resembled a fair-skinned man with wavy, white hair dressed in white armor, having white avian wings on his back. He was the father of Alba, her eldest son.

She scowled at the man, having hated him for years for being an abusive monster and making her feel like nothing for centuries. Her eyes searched the room for something to do, anything to distract her from the dread that filled her heart. Dove's hand brushed against a feather that had fallen from her wing. It was pure white and shimmered like the moon in the right light.

Dove is a blond woman of above-average height with white feathery angelic wings growing on her back, she wore a white dress that was segmented and had golden iris eyes. Her hair was back-length and she had talons for feet.

She then pulled out a smaller portrait of her true love, her other spouse, Onyx- a towering man with a brown complexion, yellow sclera eyes with red irises, and white shaved hair while wearing smooth black bio-mechanical armor. He was fight-loving like all members of the Black Faction, but he had honor and dignity. From him, he had her child, Necron.

Her thoughts grew distant, remembering the battles they had fought together, the whispers of love they had shared in the quiet moments of victory, and the painful secret she had kept for millennia. Dove had borne two sons from two different men, one from a political alliance and one from love. It was born of an alliance with both, but she leaned toward Onyx more. While both died during the war 1000 years ago, it was Onyx that made her saddened.

The doors opened to reveal her sons- Necron and Alba.

Necron is a blackish-gray 7'3 humanoid wearing sleek, streamlined black armor over his muscular body. His armor included: a black, transparent visor shaped like a beak that covered the top part of his head; two circular ebony shoulder guards of large size with the words Nemo dat quod non-habet etched in blood red, had beaked demonic faces on his respective elbows/kneecaps/wrists, a smooth breastplate armor with two vicious red eyes etched in the center, a raised diagonal grid shaped stomach armor, a skeletal pelvis shaped armor around his waist, upward pointed spikes on the sides of his arms/legs, two pitch black arched wings emerging from the shoulder blades on his back and a purple line that went down to the chin and to both sides of the head. His yellow sclera eyes with red irises stared from behind the visor.

Alba is an 8'5 winged avian-themed knight with vaguely angelic motifs. His small helmet had a purple ponytail and two purple iris eyes peered from behind the eyeholes of the featureless face cover. His feet had three talons while his hands were platinum fingerless gloves with mechanical-like fingers. Two metallic wings grew on his back with the wings made of purple energy.

Necron had an inherently honorable presence while Alba was known for being manipulative, unpredictable, and utterly insane.

"Mother," Necron spoke first, his deep voice echoing in the vast chamber. "The Great Ones have summoned us to the central palace. The king of the Center requires our presence immediately."

"I'm surprised you're associating with the White Faction. I thought cowards were seen as weak.," Dove remarked with light humor.

"Necron's a real momma's boy. Can't be helped," Alba remarked as his features briefly became chibified.

Dove glared at Alba with contempt, her feathers ruffling slightly. "Alba, stop pestering your brother."

Alba gave a trollish grin as he replied, "It can't be helped. He's a chivalrous friend to kiddies and gals. Unbecoming of an Akujin."

"Alba. We are now Royal Guards of our heirs. We are on equal ground. I am no longer your punching bag.," Necron replied, his voice a mix of firmness and disappointment.

Alba scoffed as he said, "The assassins are coming after the White Kings. They managed to not get Lord Viser this time, but Mom's on the chopping block. We have to be careful."

Dove felt her heart sink. Her gaze shifted to the portrait of Porcelain. The man had been a monster, but he was Alba's father. She had to protect her son, no matter how much she despised the man he was named after. "Alba, Necron. I want you to take the children of the White Avian Akujin faction away. They're only after me."

"Eh?," asked Alba, his grin faltering slightly. "Why would you want to do that, Mother? Surely, you can't think so little of us?"

"I hoped that we would eventually find a way to patch a bond between humans and the Anima- our race, but it seems like fighting is the only option. We need to think of the next generation," Dove replied.

"I think you're giving humanity a BIT too much credit. They're duplicitous, self-righteous, and so gullible. But to be safe, let's have the guards be the vanguard and have some of the humans scurrying around as bait. We'll lose nothing from that loss.," Alba responded as he gave a potential solution that was underhanded and reprehensible.

"People's lives aren't meant to be taken so slightly you tin can bird!" shouted a voice as Alba turned around to see the assassins-

The first one was a unique blend of three different beings She was a combination of Mine, Sheele, and Mine- having Sheele's slender yet curvaceous figure yet having a tomboyish and petite girly grace with long purple hair with Seryu's ponytail on the top and Mine's pink twin-tails on the side. She wore a combination of Sheele's revealing, sleeveless lilac cheongsam with detached lilac arm sleeves and white boots; Seryu's green scarf with metallic lower arms, and white leggings; and Mine's tied shawl with a high collar and pink shoes.

Misheryu- Human Saviors.

The second figure was a combination of a fairly muscular young man of above-average height with short, dark blue hair and eyes; and a bulky young man with tan skin, amber eyes, and pale lilac hair with bangs framing his face with a noticeable X-shaped scar on his face and a beautiful looking young man with fair blond hair and golden eyes. His attire was a combination of a white robe over a black shirt and pants, with a brown belt cinching his waist. A distinctive feature was the feather pin nestled behind his left ear, fluttering slightly with each gust of wind. The collar-like accessory around his neck was an intricate design that matched the blue leather jacket he wore over his shoulders, open to reveal a white shirt with a single blue line that ran down the center, a symbol of unity amidst the chaos. His scarf was a vibrant red, with an anchor emblem stitched into it, billowing dramatically as he flew, serving as a stark reminder of his unwavering commitment to justice. His lower half was clad in grey jeans, held up by a simple black belt, and he finished off the look with dark blue boots that complemented his jacket.

Wasyurun- Human Saviors.

Alba panicked as Necron stared resolutely while Dove looked on with reluctant acceptance.

"You can't stand on your feet. You've disappointed me, Grand Chariot user. Disappointed me.," Necron said.

"Your look's entirely different. You look even bigger and less messy looking.," Wasyurun remarked from his experience as Wave.

"I-I feel a little off. M-Maybe I need some fresh air.," Alba said nervously before noticing Misheryu grabbing his tassels.

"I agree. Let's go outside.," the fused girl said as she leaped out of the open room, dragging the dismayed Alba bawling as he was dragged despite being much bigger than the lady.

"I don't feel right about fighting when she could be hurt. Let's take this somewhere preferable.," Necron noted as he pointed off to the distance. Wasyurun nodded, this wouldn't be the same as the last time they fought back when the fusion was just Wave. They flew off and Dove watched as they vanished into the distance.

Misheryu's Fight

Misheryu tossed Alba into the ground of an abandoned street as she landed with grace. The buildings around them were crumbling, a silent testament to the battles that had taken place here. The sky was a murky shade of gray, with dark clouds looming in the distance, hinting at an impending storm.

Alba got up, being winded from the display of power as he observed his opponent. He saw the combined triad of Energy of the Soul of Misheryu that was in sync and was higher than his own. It was unnerving, but he had to be calm for the sake of Vile.

Damnit, that's why I told that weed, Solar-Flor to monitor them more. Now the Trinity 16 project is finally completed and I'm having to deal with your mess., he thought as he flapped his wings in frustration.

"I can understand why you're pissed off. You put us against each other so we wouldn't understand what the Teigu were for. How we're meant to fight as one- each complimenting the strengths and weaknesses of the other.," Misheryu said as she delivered a kick to the solar plexus, causing Alba to vomit out saliva before he could react.

"Don't lecture me. You were all so easy to lead astray. You're just cattle we feed on. That's all Humans are good for.," retorted Alba as he fired his metal feathers as projectiles, which Misheryu dodged with flair.

Misheryu rolled her eyes. "Spare me the villain monologue. Do you think we're just tools? We're not pawns in your twisted game," she said as she did a roundhouse kick, sending Alba skittering across the unpaved ground.

Alba proceeded to generate purple iris eyes on his shoulder armor, chest, wings, lower arms, back of the hand, middle of his forehead, groin, and legs as they flashed with a violet light. Misheryu would see their loved ones, their parents and friends blaming them for their failures.

Alba then smirked, only to be rapidly punched by Misheryu who seemed perfectly able to see him. "You think I don't know what you're doing?" she exclaimed. "You think you can manipulate us with your cheap tricks?"

"Our eyes are combined with Sheele's making her, who usually can't see a thing without glasses able to see clearly. Your illusions are half-baked anyway. We're resolved to fulfill the wishes of the fallen.," she told the avian.

She then kicked Alba into a building, the crumbling stones giving way to a cloud of dust. Alba smashed through the wall, his armor clanging against the debris as he hit the ground hard. He felt a sharp pain in his side and looked down to see Misheryu's foot imprint on his armor. He coughed, and with a snarl, he shot his mechanical wings outward, sending himself back into the air.

"Sheele. That Chank needs all the help she can. Especially with how inept she is in life.," Alba said as he morphed his fact into a very racist caricature of her people with buckteeth and closed eyes.

Misheryu's eyes flashed with anger at the derogatory remark. "It's racists like you that society needs to change and accept different cultures."

"Oh, the runt speaks. Clearly, you don't include the Danger Beasts. You just see them as food or materials for tools. And especially how you look down on half-breeds. Not like they deserve to live.," Alba commented.

Misheryu's eyes narrowed. "You have no right to speak of them like that. They're not 'half-breeds', they're individuals with their own worth," she retorted, her voice filled with a fiery conviction that seemed to resonate through the desolate street.

"W-well, we have differing ideologies that can't get along.," Alba said as he dashed away at light speed. He smiled smugly as much as his featureless face plate would allow as he thought to regroup with the other members to back him up so he could gang up on her.

To his horror, Misheryu was on his side keeping up with his light-level speed. "Warped Ideologies are just excuses for ignorance and hatred," she spat, her eyes flashing with fierce determination.

She then punched him into a wall before he could react, her fist leaving a sizable hole in the ancient stone structure. The tremor from the impact echoed through the desolate street, sending a flock of blackbirds scattering into the sky. Alba felt the force of the blow resonate through his body, and he could feel the beginnings of a bruise forming under his armor. He looked at Misheryu in shock, her eyes now burning with a fierce determination that seemed to pierce through his very soul.

"Akujin are the next step in evolution. We suppress our desires and they are the answer. No need to fear them. It is our salvation, let's not persecute or judge them.," said a crazed-looking man wearing the three-eyed symbol of Nefarious as he stumbled onto the street, seemingly at random.

Misheryu paused in her assault, surprised by the sudden interjection. Alba took advantage and lunged at the man, devouring him in a feral manner as Alba's Energy of the Soul skyrocketed.

"You humans with sins are nothing but food for us.," Alba explained. "That's why we corrupted you. It's like fattening livestock to be fed. It's simply the natural order."

Yes, provoking her and stalling worked. I should have the advantage., thought the white-armored warrior.

Misheryu's eyes grew wide with horror as she watched Alba devour the crazed man. Her anger swelled like a volcano about to erupt. It reminded one aspect of her of her crimes- Seryu would feed criminals to her dog Teigu Koro back when she was still ignorant of her own injustice.

"Don't think I'm alone!," Alba shouted as Misheryu realized that other members of his group were now ambushing her.

A blue-haired young woman with light-blue iris eyes wearing a white school uniform with segmented motifs.

Bluejay- 10th commander of Alba's Unit.

A tall crane humanoid with a white kasa and white kimono- both segmented.

Crane- 9th commander of Alba's Unit.

A young man with metallic-gray hair and steel-based wings on his back. He also wore a school uniform like Bluejay, but his attire was more loosely worn in comparison.

Stymphal- 8th commander of Alba's Unit.

An elegant young woman dressed like a swan-themed ballerina with a white tutu and white back-length hair, her movements as graceful as the creature she emulated. Her eyes, a piercing red, scanned the scene with a cold, calculating gaze.

Odette- 7th commander of Alba's Unit.

A humanoid duck wearing a white business suit and pants. He seemed to be very professional with his shirt tucked into his pants and his stoic nature.

Quack- 6th commander of Alba's Unit.

an afro-haired rooster-headed male Akujin wearing boxer-themed clothing. He was hot-tempered and gave nasty glances to Alba

Cockerel- 5th Commander of Alba's Unit.

A large, silver eggshell-bodied Akujin with two avian legs sticking from underneath the shell shook nervously where he stood.

Egghead- 4th Commander of Alba's Unit.

A flamboyantly, flamingo themed dressed tall male humanoid with short white hair; he wore a plain, open shirt with flamingo-shaped cufflinks, a silver belt, and light-grey striped silver pants; a pair of curved, thin white sunglasses, with dark grey lenses and silver dress shoes. He draped his silver, winged feathered coat on his shoulders instead of leaving his arms in the sleeves. He had a carefree and arrogant nature in his presence.

Flaming- 3rd Commander of Alba's Unit.

A dark-haired, red-eyed young woman with deranged facial features as well as large black wings on her back with her dark hair dragging to her waist, she wore a silver straight jacket with silver leggings.

Grebe- 2nd Commander of Alba's Unit.

And a regal-looking Ibis-headed Akujin who wore a white robe that trailed down to his feet.

Iblis- 1st Commander of Alba's Unit.

The new arrivals formed a semi-circle around Misheryu, their combined presence casting an eerie shadow over the dusty street. The tension in the air grew thick, each member of Alba's Unit poised for battle, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"Took your time getting here? Was the ass-beating worth it?," asked Stymphal referring to Alba's treatment by Misheryu. The metallic-gray-haired young man chuckled as he flexed his steel wings.

"Oi, oi. This is the future Akujin King you're talking about. Don't be dissin' him-," Flaming said before Alba glared at him. "It's Lord Vile who's going to be the King."

"What happened to you?," asked the white-haired male to his boss as he shivered. "I've come to realize it's better to serve the devil rather than be in his way."

Oh-oh, him. I can understand. Power always submits to the greatest power and the heirs have it. Better to kill this bitch before she can harm Lord Vile.," Flaming remarked.

Grebe chuckled darkly. "Such a delightful thought. Let's not waste any more time, shall we?"

Then Misheryu said in Sheele's voice, which shocked her components-

"Why do you have the same smell as me?"

Alba looked puzzled. "You must be confusing me for someone else," Misheryu responded by punching him in the face, cracking his face plate.

"I don't believe you.," Misheryu said, her voice now a mix of all three of her components. "Show me what you are."

As the mask broke, a sudden rush of memories flashed into Misheryu's brain as if recalling a long-lost memory.

Sheele's Past

Growing up in the low districts of the Capital, Sheele's clumsy nature caused many people throughout her life to often consider her useless, isolating her from nearly everyone. Only her family tolerated her, her parents and a young man with shaggy purple hair that obscured most of his face and opaque glasses that covered his eyes.

"Big Brother, Barbier.," the girl said as she looked with a blush at her brother. This young man was even clumsier than she was, but he kept her spirits high with his jovial nature. His eyes were hidden behind thick glasses, but she knew they were a gentle purple.

Present

Misheryu looked stunned at the reveal of the face- it was a fair, androgynous-looking youth with shaggy purple hair and opaque glasses. Resembling a certain someone from her past that she couldn't recall, yet she felt a sense of kinship with him.

"Why do you look like that?," she demanded.

The purple-haired youth now revealed as Alba's true form, smirked. "It's a long story, but let's just say I've got a flair for the dramatic.," he replied, his voice no longer the booming bass of the armored knight but a softer, more human tone.

Misheryu then clasped her head in pain as she recalled a repressed traumatic memory.

Sheele's Past

While walking back from shopping, Barbier and a younger Sheele spotted something bizarre-

A tall reptilian, purple-skinned dinosaur humanoid dressed in segmented garbs with metallic wings on his back. He was devouring a still-alive group of children, known for being brats. His yellow sclera eyes with pink irises relished in the deed.

Barbier shushed his sister and gestured that she'd remain hidden as he did the only thing he was good at- being a killer. His gentle nature became cold and he silently creeped behind the monster.

"Sorry.," the boy said as he drew a blade as he went to slash at the creature, but the creature used an unusual technique to make him float higher than Barbier could reach.

"I thought that since HE's in charge that I could get away with it. But it's just some human. What can it do?," asked the creature in a raspy, slithering voice.

To his shock, Barbier dashed and slashed him faster than his Trump Card of intangibility could allow, causing the being to be fatally injured much to his horror.

As it landed and bled purple blood on the ground, Barbier prepared the finishing blow. The creature snarled as it said-

"Death is unnatural and a cruel joke to beings like us. You took my body so in exchange till I recover. I'll take yours- Fraus!"

The creature turned into a shadow and forced itself into her brother, Sheele being forced to watch as the nightmare commenced.

By the end, Barbier would reopen his eyes and walked to his sister. She was crying in horror as he embraced her. "I'm sorry, Sheele. That must've been scary," he whispered, his voice strained and alien.

"You're lying! You're not my brother!," she cried. He then warped his face demonically as he transformed into his new and more iconic form as a result of the possession- an 8'5 winged avian-themed knight with vaguely angelic motifs. His small helmet had a purple ponytail and two purple iris eyes peered from behind the eyeholes of the featureless face cover. His feet had three talons while his hands were platinum fingerless gloves with mechanical-like fingers. Two metallic wings grew on his back with the wings made of purple energy

He then kicked Sheele unconscious. He then thought-

Solar-Flor wants her to be an assassin for his rebel group and will erase her memory of the boy. This will make for a nasty surprise when she remembers.

Alba, the identity of this monster, flew away.

Present

Misheryu then stood her ground, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "I remember now. Fate has given us a second chance. Give me back my brother."

The purple-haired Alba stepped back, his smile twisted into a sneer. "Your brother? I remember he was ditz like you. I didn't reveal this in order to avoid comments about justice, but be grateful I made better use of this insect than he could on his own."

The combined anger of Sheele, Mine, and Meryu surged through Misheryu. She felt a newfound strength and power that she had never experienced before. "You're going to pay for what you've done," she growled.

"Pay? You make up such nonsense. You act like you're so important, but you're just ticks that the universe ignores and doesn't even know exists. If I were to compare Akujin to humans, it would be humans to insects. An infestation. Everywhere I look, in fact. Nothing but undeveloped, unevolved, barely conscious invertebrates, totally convinced of their own superiority as they scurry about their short, pointless lives.," Alba remarked, his contempt is genuinely felt as he continued his tirade.

Misheryu's eyes were a maelstrom of rage. She could feel the warmth of the sun, the fiery passion of Sheele, the cold, calculating rage of Mine, and the burning hope of Meryu. "You're wrong. We're not just creatures to be stepped on. We have hearts, feelings, and most importantly, the ability to choose our own path," she shouted, her voice resonating with the power of three souls.

Alba then pulled out a familiar gun as his armor dissipated revealing a tailor-segmented white suit with coattails, silver shoes, a waistcoat vest, and white gloves. He fired at her head twice to put her down.

Misheryu's body moved on instinct. She dodged the bullets with a grace that seemed almost supernatural. "That gun...that's my father's."

"I forgot you're a hodgepodge of inane cunts. That justice Seryu with the stupid mutt. Yeah, it was the Revolutionaries that killed him, but it was I, acting as an agent under Solar-Flor who did him in. He was a double agent working for the rebels to take them down, but he was too good at his job so I was tasked to do him in." he gloated as he then laughed maniacally.

"I took over Sheele's stupid brother's body while she remained a clumsy dolt and I killed Seryu's righteously meddlesome dad. And I warped her ideology of right and wrong. I don't have anything against the Mine savage, but maybe I'll kill that Murasaki in front of her.," Alba spoke to himself, ignoring the group around him.

Misheryu's rage grew to uncontrollable levels. She couldn't believe the monster that stood before her had killed her father and corrupted her brother. "You're going to die for what you've done," she roared, charging at Alba with blinding speed.

"God's Eye!," he declared as his pupils altered into multiple pupils in his eye. His Trump Card allowed him to see everything that is to occur from the present moment into the far-flung paths of all possible futures at once/ act accordingly using the knowledge he has gained to anticipate and counter actions/ alter the future into whatever outcome is preferable.

Misheryu was suddenly in a bloodied heap on the ground as Alba proceeded to kick the downed girl as did his ten followers.

"You see, humans are just tools to be used. Whether it's to serve as a vessel for our kind or to simply die for our amusement.," Alba said as he took a deep breath, his chest puffing out.

Alba then generated an energy blade made of unsettlingly, unnaturally white light from his right hand as his ten flunkies backed away in apprehension, sensing how abhorrent it truly was.

"This is my other Trump Card- Whiteout. It can erase what it cuts from existence. You tried so hard and the moment you realized I was your archenemy, it didn't matter. Such a shame.," he remarked, sinisterly.

Misheryu looked up, her eyes blazing with determination as she coughed out blood. "Even you wipe me from existence. I'll come back. Justice will always find those who act against the people." she murmured, her voice strained.

"You're still on about that crap. There's no justice or divine punishment. You're just going fail and this time, you won't be reborn to pester us in another 500 years.," Alba said as his irises/pupils became interchanging rings of purples and whites highlighting his madness.

He brought the blade down, aiming to cut Misheryu in half, but she vanished in a flash of light.

"Eh? It actually worked?," Alba asked, looking up to see a well-endowed woman of above-average height with long indigo hair and heterochroma eyes with the right being red and the left being blue- both having cross-shaped pupils. She wore a dark overcoat over her dark bra and toned feminine body. She had silver draconic wings on her back and a silver tail emerging from her backside.

The fusion of Akame, Esdeath, and Tatsumi- Murasaki.

Murasaki- Human Savior Commander.

She was holding Misheryu in her arms as the latter looked up.

She was holding Misheryu in her arms as the latter looked up. "You're safe now," Murasaki whispered, her eyes filled with a fiery resolve. "I'll take care of things from here."

"Murasaki...I failed and-," the multi-haired girl cried before Murasaki kissed her to calm her down.

"I'll finish this in a moment.," Murasaki said as she gently put her down and floated down. The birds all panicking.

"I-It's the bitch who killed some of the White Kings! Let's get out of here!," Stymphal cried as he attempted to flee. Alba was dumbstruck and frozen in place out of sheer terror.

Murasaki then lunged at Alba, but her strike was blocked by an unseen warrior. Murasaki widened her eyes as she saw a startling revelation-

A tall, muscular young man with blue eyes and black hair that he usually wore in a combed-up, heart-shaped pompadour. But for some reason, he was wearing a white tank top with baggy pants with Xiuhua Xie shoes.

It was the mentor of Tatsumi, one of her components, Bulat the 100 Man Slayer. She inexplicably cried at the sight.

Next Chapter: A Real Demon- Murasaki is confronted with a ghost of her past when she gets unexpected assistance.

Author Notes: Dove is the sole White King that's actually a good person, which Necron inherited, but Alba...definitely takes after his father. I've always had a soft spot for Seryu and Sheele so I created an enemy that was truly personal for them going forward.

Lanza has been missing for a while and he might be connected to Bulat in more ways than one.