Chapter 18: Trinity 16
Tatsumi's Village
3 Days Later...
A brown-haired man welcomed his pink-haired girlfriend and the villagers were pleased, having moved on from the earlier incident with the attacker. Arriving were Ieyasu and Sayo as if nothing had happened. Things were going back to normal but with a new addition to their lives.
Najasho and Poney agreed to work under the Lord, who had been shaken by the revelation that the leader of the Revolutionary Army had been the Chessmaster who not only sent countless rebels to die for his whims but had a hand in corrupting the Empire from the beginning- playing both sides for his sick enjoyment. Dr. Plain continued to be a passive observer. Wave and Kurome decided that it was better to be with Murasaki for protection while Leone wanted to be near half her friend. Yomihime tagged along due to trying to find her own way. Lagie had left to tell her superiors about Solar-Flor's involvement.
The Elder talked to Murasaki alone away from the villages. He knew something
"And this Tatsumi...," he asked.
"Another one from a parallel life. As is Mine and the other two. We don't know how this all works, but we can't bring back the dead. This is the best we can do.," she explained.
"Don't let anyone find out about this.," he said.
"They don't want to be found out either. They have reasons to be happy here.," Murasaki replied seeing the subtle sadness in their eyes.
The Elder nodded, understanding the complexity of the situation.
"I'm just happy that we finally have peace.," he said with tears in his eyes.
She then walked away. While Tatsumi's conscious wasn't as present as Akame or Esdeath's- his will was there.
Capital
The Elite Seven and Group of Terror had arrived earlier just as Murasaki's group got there.
Wave was conflicted about the whole situation- Tatsumi was gone yet not gone, Najenda was gone yet not gone according to Murasaki's words, along with other people. And Murasaki was hard to figure out.
The Lord sensed her trepidations and wondered aloud-
"Maybe this phenomenon is why there was a rule that if Teigu users fought, it would cause one side to die."
This sparked an idea in her.
Berli
White King Meeting Room
Nerium the new White Plant King sat awkwardly around the others- Boxer the White Warrior King, Divination the White Divine King, Ignis the White Elemental King, and ten others-
A burly marlin-headed humanoid wearing a white fur-trimmed cape over his bare torso and a very tight white thong with segmented patterns.
Marli- White Sea Life King.
An entirely cloaked individual who wore a tall, white headdress, seemingly a type of mitre, with a thin, yellow pattern lined around the middle and downwards at the front, a ruby-like gemstone situated in the front, and an alabaster-white feather sticking out above it.
Viser- White Sorcerer King.
A blond woman with white feathery angelic wings, a white dress that was segmented, and golden iris eyes. Her hair was back-length.
Dove- White Avian King.
An average-sized man who had combed back white hair wearing a white business suit.
Feline- White Beast King.
A man in a white business suit with long, gray hair which usually covers the left side of his face.
Cyber- White Golem King.
A flamboyant man who wore a rather risque outfit consisting of a tight white suit with a corset-like front puffy, white with silver diamond-shaped shoulder sleeves, and a disturbingly scant crotch region that has a purple butterfly pattern along with ornate butterfly wings emerging from the back.
Papillion- White Insectoid King.
A red-skinned demonic man with two large black horns wearing a tight tank top exposing his upper chest and white segmented pants for his goat-like cloven-hooved lower half, having demonic wings on his back, and a barbed tail.
Satanick- White Devil King.
A thin, tall, and youthful man with very sharp features, giving him a skeletal appearance, and bears to ears length unusual silver hair whose eyes narrowed into slits. He also keeps his face set in a wide mocking smile. He wore a white robe with segmented patterns.
Serpentine- White Reptile King.
A tall, thin pale pale-skinned humanoid with razor-sharp teeth, having two prominent fangs, pointed ears, and long, wavy dark pink hair that covers their eyes wearing a stereotypical vampiric aristocratic attire.
Vlad- White Undead King.
And lastly, a regal-looking man with long, black hair who had his eyes always closed wearing regal white robes with two horns emerging from his forehead that protruded forwards before the tips edged to the back of the head. His lower torso was a purple equine creature that was somehow mechanical, plant-like, and organic at the same time.
Nessus- White U.L.F. King.
The group of elite kings sat around the grand table, each one representing a different aspect of the vast array of life forms that lived in the Center Continent. The tension in the room was palpable as they discussed the recent events.
"This sucks. We used to be able to rape and discard our fellows when Solar-Flar was in charge. Now he's aware and we can't even be subtle about it. How am I supposed to release my sexual tension?," asked Marli.
Dove scowled in disgust.
"To think he was merely a puppet to a weakling we could've crushed this whole time.," said Viser changing the subject.
"Serves him right for being a mongrel.," mocked Boxer.
"Can you not speak? Your yammering annoys me.," said Feline.
"HUH?!," asked the multi-armed man.
"The woman was able to use two of the 16 Grand Hell arts. This is a problem.," noted Divination.
"We allowed Solar-Flor to plant his garden, but he was snared by it.," Cyber noted.
"But Alba just killed the Incursio user. A shame since he was such a snack.," Papillion remarked.
"Who cares about your perversions. How can we corrupt the nation into one suitable for us again?," asked Satanick.
"We apparently don't need to sssssince Our "King" has a plan with the new recruitssss.," said Serpentine.
"But ve're losing our vital command over the masses.," Vlad remarked.
"So what's your take on it- Ignis?," asked Nessus.
Ignis leaned back in his chair, his eyes flickering with blue flames.
He then vanished to the shock of the other members.
"Hey! Ignis! Our side suffered a huge loss! We have to think about how to deal with the brats-," Marli shouted as he leapt from his seat. Nessus glared at him.
"They're our majesty's heirs. We were stagnating with Solar-Flor's schemes, but now we can finally press forward.," the centaur explained.
Marli sneered, his fin flipping agitatedly.
"You're too fixated on your primitive desires, Marli," Nessus admonished with a firm tone, his mechanical hooves clacking against the marble floor. "Why focus on trying to be the best hedonist kings on earth when we aim for the Heavens?"
Marli's sneer grew into a full-blown scowl, his marlin-like eyes narrowing as he pondered Nessus' words. "You mean to say that we should ignore the fact that these humans are a mere step away from finding out the truth about the First Emperor's Project? That the Teigu weren't meant to be sport to kill one another?"
Ignoring the other kings' protests, Marli slammed his fist on the table, sending a shockwave through the room. "Fine. If we can't indulge in the chaos we've always loved, then let's make some of our own!" He shot to his feet, his tail whipping around behind him. "I'll deal with the bitch who thinks she can mess with our control!"
Ignoring the other kings' protests, Marli slammed his fist on the table, sending a shockwave through the room. "Fine. If we can't indulge in the chaos we've always loved, then let's make some of our own!" He shot to his feet, his tail whipping around behind him. "I'll deal with the bitch who thinks she can mess with our control!"
He then vanished in a flashy display of a water spout as Satanick grimaced in annoyance for getting the area wet.
This spelled an abrupt adjourning as they got out of their seats and went back to their respective areas.
Serpentine turned to Centauri.
"We were terrified of their power, unlike those Black Faction idiots. So we relied on Solar-Flor's superior brains to find a way to have them turn against each other to lessen their threat.," he whispered, his narrow yellow serpentine eyes briefly opening.
Nessus nodded solemnly, his horns twitching slightly.
"Indeed, Serpentine. This situation is more precarious than we anticipated. If the humans discover the truth of the First Emperor's Project, it could indeed lead to a domino effect that could threaten all of us.," Centauri responded his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate with the very walls of the room.
As they began to leave the room, they encountered a surprising guest-
A lupine-headed warrior dressed in black shiny armor, Lupus the Leader of the Beast Army of the West Great One.
Lupus, the leader of the Beast Army of the West, couldn't hold his impatience any longer. He strode into the White King's meeting room, his fur bristling with agitation. While the West Army was always neutral with the Center Great One, the White Faction had always undermined the West Great One's armies.
"This council used to be sat by OUR side. When did it become YOUR meeting hall while we're forced to wait outside OUR own buildings?," the canine asked.
Nessus, the White U.L.F. King, folded his arms across his chest. "You're always welcome to join us, Lupus," he said, his voice dripping with false hospitality.
Lupus's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to the centaur. "I know that game. You think we don't see through your façade? Using the Black Faction as pawns to keep your hands clean? It's time we put an end to this charade," he growled, his fur standing on end.
"Wait, aren't Evil Beings supposed to not kill each other?," asked Serpentine with a forked tongue flickering in mockery.
"Hmm, yes. But, that's the Center's beliefs born out of a misplaced altruism alien to Evil Beings though pragmatically useful. A Great One is expected to be a tyrant even to their own people.," Lupus remarked.
"And that's why you've never progressed.," said another voice as they turned to the distance-
An ancient Great Grey Owl with tiny black spectacles and black bio-mechanical armor.
Bubo- Black Avian King.
"Cruelty can get results due to making one work heard, but compassion can inspire loyalty that can be answered back. Bonds are important.," the owl said as Nessus and Serpentine began to leave. They disliked the Black Faction even more than the West Army.
"We're only staying because the heirs need time to develop.," explained the owl.
Then a bald old man with black runes on the left side of his face appeared, he wore shiny black robes, a white beard that trailed to the ground, bushy eyebrows, and a straight wizard staff.
Warlock- West Sorcerer King.
"Oh Warlock-," said Nessus before he noticed Warlock subtly edging him out of the conversation by closing the circle to just Lupus, Bubo, and Warlock. Previously, the latter trio would be forced to bow. And this briefly opened Nessus' black sclera eyes with white irises in frustration with the implications.
Warlock smirked knowingly, which almost led to Nessus losing his cool before stomping out of the room.
"Finally, the intruders are leaving.," Lupus remarked, which also irked Serpentine.
As Serpentine and Nessus left, they began to converse.
"First the local Humans accuse us of having a superweapon that WE intended to use on them- creating it without their permission-," Nessus noted.
"That was Solar-Flor. To think he had manipulated Humans across the globe to-," Serpentine observed.
"And that's the issue. As much as of a vile Evil Being he is, as a Hybrid, he'll always gravitate towards Humans. We see them as cattle and only act hospitable because we were on the back foot. Instead of the situation improving, it's lessened our standing in their eyes, but also with the Black Faction.," the centaur argued.
"So we rely on Ignis and Marli's impulses?" asked the snake-man.
Suddenly, they saw Alba fly towards them from a distance.
"You don't have to thank me. The Tyrant is dead and the brains behind the operation as well.," the youth said with a self-assured smile, his masked face generating a jawed maw to do so as he bowed like a gentleman.
"We at least got something out of HIS loss-," Serpentine noted, not liking Alba, let alone that he was brazenly talking to them without being called to them.
"Our loss is also our gain. The Human who truly wields the power of the 16 Grand Hell arts is still at large. But with Solar-Flor gone, our paths are clear. We don't have to meander and place nice with the Humans now.," said Alba, his eyes gleaming maliciously.
"Looking back on it, Solar-Flor wasn't talented at all. He never truly displayed the power of Hubris. He was always playing both sides, wearing different masks.," Serpentine said with a dismissive tone.
"I should know. He once tried to have his way with me.," Alba remarked.
Alba's Past
Solar-Flor- the brunette had cornered Alba in an alley, not caring about the latter's royal lineage by Evil Being standards.
"Oh, come on. I've decided you'd be the 1 millionth rape victim. Don't be so resistant.," he said lecherously as his tongue licked.
"Hubris!," the winged being shouted simultaneously as the Hybrid.
Their mental inner spaces clashed and while Alba's was obscured, Solar-Flor's was...
Alba snickered as the domains scattered.
"You have no ambitions. You're just a mindless Id out to fuck everything metaphorically and it's honestly pathetic for your boasting, you're just a serial rapist.," the winged creature remarked.
Solar-Flor was too angry to lash out because Hubris reveals the truth of a user and a lack of clarity shows one has no greater ambitions than their base instincts.
"You get to live as long as you don't spill the beans.," spat Solar-Flor as he left.
Present
Berli
"I have some orders-," Centauri said before seeing Alba turning away.
"You know one of the Kingsssss issss commanding you-," Serpentine said in a way to sound approachable.
"Y'know. This is no longer your era. You didn't chide the weed when you suspected him because you knew that the heirs would lead to a change in the system. You're living on borrowed time.," Alba remarked bluntly as he flew away.
Both Serpentine and Centauri scowled in response.
They once balked and cowered in our presence. Now they talk back to us! Damnit., thought Centauri.
Capital Library
Murasaki opened a book while others waited outside.
Wave sat next to Kurome while Yomihime and Leone stood guard outside.
Poney and Najasho looked around and saw their friends of the Elite Seven in the distance, welcomed in by the Lord.
Suddenly, red flames emerged alongside a water spout as twenty individuals emerged.
At the same time, Murasaki saw something weird-
Three depictions of Teigu pointing towards a singular form. The Trinity 16 Project.
Next Chapter: Water and Fire I- Wave and Yomihime face off against Marli and Yomihime's forces after the latter duo manages to incapacitate them.
Author Notes: What Murasaki does is use the temporal powers of the Demon's Extract to manipulate time- in this case, pull others from another timeline.
The other White Kings will play future prominent roles, but this is just to emphasize the group dynamic. Some are more evil than Solar-Flor while others are in the middle with one notable exception.
I also showcase that each continent has its own Great One and a Divine One with its 14 Kings- with the Center being the oddity with its White and Black Factions- that take inspiration from Yin and Yang.
