Chapter Two

Of Demons and Gods

Zebulon awoke the next morning groggier than usual for someone like himself. An overwhelming sense of tiredness plagued him from the moment he got out of bed, to when he put his shoes on to leave in the morning. He said goodbye to his mother and sister, and when he finally left the house, his mind kicked into gear.

"What… the hell was all that? I felt so… disconnected?" Zebulon wondered, glancing around the street a bit. He rubbed his head and blinked the tiredness away. In his mind's eye he briefly recalled some sort of dream. One involving orange light, pitch darkness, and a small, light pink flame in the distance. He shook it out of his mind and decided that heading to school would help him calm his mind. As he walked, he did indeed calm down a bit and his thoughts turned to what had transpired the day before.

Jesus… I really hope those four don't do weird shit like they used to. Gina used to show up randomly right when school ended to 'check on me'. I… I'm still not sure what Akeno was on about before I left yesterday, and it was her that got me in the shits with my sisters… Ah, best not to dwell on the what if. Oh, speak of the devil. Zebulon rolled his thoughts away upon sighting a familiar visage in the distance. Several, actually. They were all standing just inside the school gates as he approached. Throngs of students made way for the mountainous lad as he approached and put on a slightly tired grin.

"Morning!" Zebulon said as he approached the group. Rias and Akeno turned and looked up to see him blocking out the morning sun. The three others were the two girls and the one boy who he greeted inside the doors yesterday. It seemed Rias and Akeno were well acquainted with them.

"Oh, good morning, Zebulon. How are you feeling?" Rias asked with a warm smile. Akeno walked over and gave him a small hug around one of his massive arms. He blushed slightly as her soft exterior met his rock-solid frame.

"Ah, a bit tired if I'm honest. Maybe it's the schedule change. I usually head for the gym around this time, rather than to school. Back in the States, my private school let us take afternoon and night classes. Unconventional, yes, but it was actually quite a boon for slowpokes like myself." Zebulon answered and patted Akeno on the shoulder. She smiled and released him.

"Ah, I remember you! Godzilla!" the blonde boy exclaimed. He was then promptly slapped across the back of the head by the small girl in glasses. The taller girl simply sighed. Rias and Akeno giggled quietly.

"Saji, his name is Zebulon Crossworth. He comes from a very influential family, show some respect." The girl chided. Zebulon chuckled heartily.

"Oh, I don't mind one bit. My friends used to call me all sorts of different things due to my size." Zebulon said with a big grin. Saji grinned back and the two girls seemed a bit confused.

"Ah, have you met Souna and the Student Council, Zeb?" Rias wondered, watching the exchange with glee. Zebulon looked over the three and shook his head.

"Not officially. I did see them on my way in yesterday. Unfortunately, I was in a bit of a hurry and did not properly introduce myself." Zebulon responded. He bowed slightly and stretched out a hand.

"You're spot on, Zebulon Crossworth is my name, feel free to call me Zeb… Or Godzilla if you're keen on that."

"Souna Shitori. I am the President of the Student Council. This is my Vice President, Tsubaki Shinra… and as you now know this is Genshirou Saji. I see you're already well acquainted with Rias and Akeno." Souna said. Her visage never changed as she shook his hand. Zebulon noted how she glanced at his hand. It was the same arm Akeno had hugged. His right. It still felt oddly warm.

"Yes, I happen to be in the same class as them. They're very kind." Zebulon said as they parted. His words put a smile on the girls' faces and he did his best not to blush. He certainly did not want anyone else to know how close they decided to get to him. Though, Akeno's initial hug did not help alleviate suspicion.

"Zeb is also quite the sweetheart and a gentleman." Akeno said, bouncing back over to his side. She cheerfully rested her head on his frame for a moment. Zebulon did his best not to look at what else was bouncing as well. He succeeded his wisdom check. Barely.

"Hmm, I see. Well, we should make our way inside. Classes will start soon. Good talking with you." Souna said flatly as she eyed him. Zebulon did not flinch under her stern gaze. He was a businessman. One had to know how to keep their poker face in such an environment. Especially with the Japanese, as they were quite the shrewd and serious businessmen themselves. Akeno's teasing, however, was much harder to resist. He always rolled a one. Souna and he group broke off with a wave and Zebulon was left with Rias and Akeno.

"You know, despite the muscle, you're quite comfortable." Akeno said suddenly. Zebulon chuckled lightly.

"Oddly enough, you're not the first to notice that. Sydney often uses me as a pillow whenever we would watch movies or TV. I don't know how four hundred-odd pounds of muscle is comfortable but, so be it." Zebulon said. She sighed and stepped away as Rias bade them to follow her.

"Come on you two. Let's get to class."

So it was that Zebulon's second day of school at Kuoh started. He was still a bit uneasy about his new situation. It was very uncommon for other girls to approach him as Rias and Akeno did. He again blamed it on his appearance and most likely his all-too friendly yet neutral disposition. While he did try to date in the past, it was a futile effort on his end. It just never seemed to click. But as he entered the school, he was surprised to see many of the girls sneaking glances at him and giggling with their friends. The interesting part was that it did not seem malicious. As he continued towards the stairs, losing Akeno and Rias to a group of admirers, he felt his hand heat up again.

Ah, damn. Did that weird… orb have radiation or something? Where did it even go? It just… like a damn magic trick. Poof, gone. I didn't even hear anything. I should probably get this checked out. Though I doubt the school nurse would take my concerns seriously. Well, let me see if it gets a bit worse… Zebulon eventually entered his classroom and found his desk. He carefully sat down and started organizing his items for the day. Of course, he always brought his comically large pencil. Trusty and true. Akeno and Rias eventually showed up and took their seats just next to him. He gave them a grin as their teacher meandered into the classroom. Akeno winked at him and made a slight kissing motion with her lips. Zebulon blinked, somewhat shaken by her actions, and turned back to face the teacher with a blank stare.

Uh… alright then.

Thus, the day started. He feared it to be a long one.

Later…

Zebulon wandered around the corner into the gym, sighing in relief as his shirt was now far looser than his previous one. It looked ill-fitting, but he preferred them that way. He glanced around and saw the gym teachers lining everyone up and he fell in at the end of the line of lads. His towering presence made the others a bit nervous.

"Okay, we're doing volleyball. Split into teams, it's boys versus girls. Then each team does rock paper scissors for Crossworth, since he's a giant." Mr. Yamato said, gesturing to all the boys. The female teacher nodded along and gestured to the girls. The girls immediately split into teams, each vying for Rias and Akeno to join theirs. The boys split up and started gambling for Zebulon. He found the whole ordeal quite amusing. Any team he was on had an advantage due to his height. However, Zebulon was not quite as deft as they might thing. He was huge, yes, but his size was a slight encumbrance. After a few moments he joined a team full of boys who seemed to be the outcasts. It was fitting, given he was the ultimate outcast.

"Huh, alright then. Team Giant, you're up against these ladies." Mr. Yamato said, gesturing to one of the nets. Zebulon glanced over and felt his blood run cold. It was the team Rias and Akeno were on. They waved to him, bouncing in place at the front of the net.

"Hey, big guy, you should go up front. You'll block like, everything…" One of the boys on his team said as they formed up. Zebulon sighed and decided to do as suggested. He sooner expected to get a volleyball to the dome, rather than skillfully blocking it.

"Right then… hello again. I'll uh… try not to hit it too hard." Zebulon said as he stepped up to the net. He readied himself as Rias and Akeno smiled at him.

"Aw, don't worry about that. We're stronger than we look." Rias said with a wink. Zebulon shrugged and nodded. He was not about to doubt her. His time in the gym had proven to him that there were some seriously strong gals out there. In spite of their seemingly nimble frames, Zebulon could tell they were indeed stronger than they appeared. He noted their primed stances and the focus in Rias's eyes as she took position. They were serving to his team.

Here goes… Zebulon readied himself. The teacher blew the whistle and it was on. The girl in the back served overhand. Directly at him.

"Goddammit…" Zebulon whispered as he simply reached up and smacked the ball as it reached his side of the net. It slammed into the wood behind the girl in the center, just barely missing her head as it flew by. The ball rolled to a stop at the server's feet and the girls, aside from Akeno and Rias, stared at him in shock.

"Damn… those muscles aren't for show…" One of them whispered. Zebulon shook his head and waited for the next serve.

"You were saying?" Akeno wondered with a giddy grin. Zebulon shrugged and rolled his shoulder.

"I wasn't trying." He responded. His eyes narrowed and he stilled his thoughts. Akeno seemed surprised as the next serve came. At him. Again. He reached up and smacked the ball with even more force this time. It screamed through the air and slammed off of the floor just inbounds at the back and stopped dead, leaving a small dent in the floor. He breathed out and rolled his neck, popping his vertebrae a few times.

"Oh…" Akeno was staring at him now, completely enamored. Rias glanced back at the ball and then eyed Zebulon.

"He was not lying… that was impressive." Rias whispered, smiling coyly at him. Zebulon shrugged again and cracked his knuckles.

"Crossworth, don't break the gym." Mr. Yamato called. Zebulon waved to him and nodded.

"I'll try not to." He responded. The boys on his team were blistering with glee and fervor. Zebulon never mentioned he was good at almost every sport he participated in, a natural athlete. He may be slow, but that did not matter. The next serve came. This time it went to his right and another boy managed to tip it up into the air before him. The girls seemed ready for him this time. But he played to win. He smacked the ball slightly off center and sent it careening towards Akeno. She shifted to intercept it and Zebulon watched with a cheeky grin as the spiral he put on it made it curve towards where she was originally standing. Surprised, she still managed to dive back and intercept it. It bounced up to the girl in the center who set it up for Rias to spike it. She hopped up and smacked the ball with a surprising amount of force. Zebulon sighed as she aimed for him.

Dammit. He raised his hand and simply smacked it out of the air. It bounced off the floor where Rias had landed and she stared at him in shock. Zebulon let out a sigh as he started feeling a little looser now.

"That was a nice warmup." Zebulon said and readied himself again. He smiled as he glanced between Rias and Akeno.

"This is a lot easier since I'm not so stiff anymore."

It was a one-sided game.

Even Later…

"You son of gun… How were we supposed to know you were a natural?" Rias wondered as she walked next to Zebulon. Her and Akeno flanked either side of him as they left the school for the day. He chuckled and casually flexed a bit.

"Ah well, I wasn't trying to be deceitful… I just uh, never mentioned it. I prefer lifting over regular sports, though. When I wrestled, my best match was over in thirty seconds. I used to tank through the offensive line in football… the one I wasn't too good at was soccer. Baseball was a cinch, I usually hit homeruns." Zebulon bragged, though he did his best not to appear arrogant. He walked a little taller and his confidence was showing. Akeno giggled at him and wrapped her arm around his.

"I shouldn't be surprised. You can just feel the power in these muscles…" Akeno said in a sultry tone. Zebulon's confidence shattered, leaving glass on the floor behind him as he walked. He cleared his throat and tried not to blush as Akeno's hand gripped his bicep.

"Well… I try not to show off too much. It's more for my own sake… uh… A-Akeno?" Zebulon mumbled, stopping by the gate as the other students filtered out. He blushed hard as Akeno's light touch sent a shiver up his arm and down his spine. She stopped as well and looked up at him with her gorgeous eyes. Rias had stopped behind them and sighed.

"Akeno… Stop fondling his muscles. You're making him uncomfortable." Rias said, tapping her foot. Akeno glanced at her and then looked back up at Zebulon.

"Am I? I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself." Akeno said. Her eyes lost a bit of their glimmer and she went to release him.

"Uh… well…" Zebulon started. Akeno watched for a moment as he stared off in a random direction.

"It's not, uh, a bad feeling or anything. I um, I'm just not used to it is all…"

"Oh… So, is it okay? I promise I'll be gentle." Akeno said with a sweet yet playful smile. Zebulon glanced down at her and shrugged.

"I don't mind that much… If you like it… uh… um…" Zebulon felt his words getting caught in his throat and stopped talking. He saw Akeno's eyes sparkle and he was lost in them. A deep sea of velvety violet from which there was no escaping. He did indeed feel as though he was drowning, despite still breathing.

"Okay… As long as you don't mind." Akeno responded. She giggled a bit and ran her hand down his arm. She traced the curve around his forearm and ran over a vein. Zebulon shivered again.

"Akeno, we have club activities. Let the poor guy go." Rias called as she began walking away. Zebulon felt his anxiety rise as he realized she had left him alone with Akeno. He glanced over his shoulder at her retreating form and silently cursed.

Oh no… I don't… I don't know what to do. She… Akeno needs to go but… I don't want to be mean. Zebulon thought, feeling the onset of panic taking hold. Suddenly, the sound of Akeno's bag hitting the ground broke his train of thought and he glanced down to see her wrapping her hands around his. He calmed down slightly and his heart rate picked up. He shivered as Akeno traced the lines in his palm.

"Sorry, I know I should go, but I like hanging out with you. Maybe we could… hangout sometime. Just the two of us?" Akeno suggested, locking eyes with him. She did not use her pleading gaze, however.

She… huh? She's not… she isn't going to use her eyes to break me? That's… very kind of her.

"Uh… o-okay…" Zebulon mumbled, blushing harder than he ever had. Akeno's eyes lit up and she smiled widely. A thought occurred to him. He remembered her words from yesterday.

"I've been meaning to ask, though… what… what did you mean yesterday? Or, rather… what brought on that comment?" Zebulon asked. He managed some of his eloquence though his embarrassment. Akeno rose a curious brow before her eyes widened. She averted her gaze for a moment and clasped his hand tightly.

"Oh, I just meant what I said. You're perfect as you are. Shouldn't everyone feel that way? Appreciating who they are?" Akeno wondered. She shuddered a bit. Zebulon sensed her mood turning down slightly. Her grip loosened and it seemed she was about to release him. Zebulon reacted instinctually. He tightened his hand around hers. Akeno gasped silently and locked eyes with him. He smiled.

"I see. Well, I think you're perfect as you are, as well. I… look forward to getting to know you better, too. This may be a surprise… or not… but you and Rias are the only friends I have here. Aside from my buddy Heath, but he lives in Australia." Zebulon said and dropped his bag. Akeno smiled as she moved in to hug him and he gently pulled her close. She giggled into his chest.

"Thank you… I appreciate that. You're a sweetheart, Zebulon. I… I should catch up to Rias now. I'll see you later, okay? Don't go getting hurt or lost, now." Akeno said and stood up on her toes. She eyed him expectantly. Zebulon lost his grin as fear set in.

"Uh… you know, when I went home yesterday, I thought my sisters were going to beat me to death. They noticed your lip gloss on… my… face…" Zebulon trailed off, blushing and averting his gaze. Akeno stared at him a moment before bursting into a giggle.

"You poor thing… Tell you what, I'll wipe it off this time." Akeno said, releasing him and reaching for his head. Zebulon glanced between her and the concrete. She fluttered her fingers, still waiting. He sighed.

"Okay…" Zebulon gave in and leaned down. Akeno gently grabbed his head and planted a warm kiss on his cheek. She then quickly planted four more and giggled as he almost recoiled when she went for a fifth.

"Okay, okay! Sorry, here…" Akeno giggled and gently wiped his cheek off with her fingers. She eyed his face for a moment before licking her thumb. Zebulon froze as she wiped his cheek and left a wet spot that quickly cooled and dried up. He stood back up as she released him and grabbed her bag.

"Huh…"

"I couldn't help myself. You're so cute. Okay, for real this time. Bye, Zeb." Akeno said with a giggle and walked off. He half-heartedly waved to her and touched his cheek after she left. He then put his hand over his chest. His heart was beating so hard he thought it might fail.

Maybe… there could be the narrow possibility… that perhaps… Akeno might like me… a wee bit more than I might think. It is certainly… not impossible. However, it's not the most likely option. I mean, I'm not… an expert. I will continue to err on the side of caution for now… I guess… Zebulon thought as he began slowly shuffling out of the gates. He could not tell if he was in shock or simply confused. Probably both. The notion that, it could be entirely possible that Akeno liked him was certainly a surprising thought that he had. He continued to dwell on it a bit as he walked. He gripped his bag tightly.

"Ah shit… I can't have the girls interrogating me again… Maybe I can, hang out here a bit and blow off the scent. They're like fucking bloodhounds, I swear to God…" Zebulon muttered as he meandered out across the highway. He decided he would try and destroy the evidence by taking a slightly longer walk home than normal. He decided that the park might help. The quiet area might help him clear his mind. That, and as he entered, he spotted the fountain in the distance which gave him an idea.

Perhaps I can rinse my face a bit. It'll certainly help… clear my mind… Probably. Ah, why is my goddamn hand so warm? Zebulon thought as he walked through the picturesque park. He waved his hand a bit and eyed it as he rounded the bend. Suddenly, a cold sensation ran down his spine and the dying sunlight suddenly vanished. The sky became nigh-black and the stars were replaced with an odd, colorful pattern. He stopped and looked around. He did not hear crickets, nor did he see anyone, or anything else in the park. Did he perhaps fail his perception check? His hand suddenly burned and he dropped his bag, holding his wrist with his left hand.

"Ow, fucker… what the hell?" Zebulon grunted as he suddenly spotted a figure standing in front of the fountain. He rose an inquisitive brow and stayed put. He ignored his hand for a moment and eyed the figure. It was a woman, that was clear. Her interesting choice of attire made that clear. Her large chest was barely covered by the odd, leather outfit she wore. Her dark hair was long and flowed down past her waist. She watched him.

The fuck is up with this girl? What in the Kentucky fried fuck is she wearing?

"Um, can I help you?" Zebulon called out. He glanced around a bit. It seemed they were the only two around.

"Oh, yes. You have something I need, actually, boy. It would be a great help if you simply handed it over." The woman responded. Her sultry, yet somewhat threatening tone confused Zebulon. He narrowed his gaze and tried to assess her.

"What? Is this some sort of fucked up, Ren-fair robbery? Are you like… lost or something? I think there's one of those anime conventions in town. Did I walk into some… random magic show without knowing it? It was like, damn near sundown a few minutes ago…" Zebulon said, trying his best to search for a reasonable explanation the situation. He continued to hold his ground as the woman began walking forward, swaying her hips with each step.

"Aren't you the funny one? No, no… none of that silly. You have something powerful stowed away in you, and I intend to take it." The woman said, stopping just twenty or so yards from him. Zebulon felt his hand get hotter as she approached. Something was seriously wrong. The woman suddenly whipped out a jagged, spear-like, glowing stick out of thin air and pointed it towards him. Zebulon shifted his stance and felt his instincts kick in.

This freak is seriously going to rob me? Also, what the fuck is that stick? Zebulon thought. He tensed up and scowled at the woman.

"Look, I don't know what in the flying fuck you're on about… but if you're going to rob me, then you'd best have a gun instead of that… stick. I really, really don't want to have to hurt you. What is it that you want? Considering what you said, it can't be money." Zebulon said, bracing himself for anything. The woman sighed and twirled her stick.

"Your body harbors a powerful entity. I have to remove it before it bonds with your soul. Unfortunately, the only way I can do that right now, is by killing you." The woman said. Her words were still cryptic and unsettling to Zebulon. He rose an inquisitive brow, but before he could respond to her insane threat, she suddenly threw her stick at him like a spear. It was fast. Faster than he could dodge. Zebulon felt his life flash behind his eyes as he slowly raised his hand.

Oh no, no, no, no, fuck, no, NO! GODDAMMIT NO!

The spear approached. A second went by. Then, as it reached him and almost met his palm, a bright flash exploded from his right hand and blasted the spear back towards his assailant. She watched with horror as the orange light died down and Zebulon stared in awe at his hand. No longer did he see his skin, instead a black gauntlet covered his hand and forearm. It was somewhat jagged, with interlayered plates of black metal and flexible, almost elastic like metal on his palm that allowed him freedom of movement.

Huh, that looks familiar. What the fuck is this?

"Threat detected. Engaging Dragon Death Knight Armor. Protection of Host entity, priority code Alpha-1X, executing." A feminine, Scottish accented voice suddenly sounded from the gauntlet. Without further warning, the orb glowed brighter and Zebulon was engulphed in orange light. He saw nothing but orange light for a moment before a slight blueish, heads-up-display appeared over his vision. He could see the woman summoning another spear and threw it at him. But as it impacted, it bounced off of him with a metallic ping. He glanced at himself and saw similar armor plating all over his body. Zebulon was covered in armor from head to toe. Ridged yet oddly comfortable, black and orange accented metal plating covered his whole body. The flexible material covered his joints where the armor plating could not, such as his inner elbows, the back of his knees, and his armpits as well as part of his neck.

"Hello, Zebulon Crossworth. I am an advanced artificial intelligence program implemented in the advanced Dragon Death Knight armor created in collaboration between my Lord and the Technomancers of the planet Aventon-5. Do not worry, I have already assessed this threatening entity. She does not possess the power to break, damage, or injure you in this state. If you like, you may give me a name. Or, you can address me by my designation, AI-779. Would you like to erase this entity from existence?" the Scottish woman's voice said in his ears. Zebulon watched as what appeared to be highly advanced technology in his helmet and HUD evaluated the woman before him and locked onto her. He was completely speechless. Or so he thought.

"Alright, what the fuck is going on?" Zebulon wondered. The AI voice chuckled at him. Another spear bounced off his armor as the woman cursed and screamed at him. He did not hear her, for some reason.

"Oh, I apologize. I will explain in a moment, but this threat takes priority." The AI explained. Zebulon looked down at his armor and noticed it resembled something he once saw in a game. Something Heath once showed him. A suit called the 'Praetor Suit' if he recalled correctly. The crazed woman threw another spear and, with reflexes he did not realize he had, Zebulon caught it mid-air before it hit him.

"Sorry, but I'm not much of a fighter. But you said she can't hurt me. I think that gives me a significant advantage here, no?" Zebulon wondered, eyeing his shocked foe. With strength nigh tenfold his own, he snapped the spear in twain and tossed it aside.

"Your analysis is correct. You have the upper-hand in every aspect, speed, power, strength, and defense. Would you instead like to disengage and escape? I have already moved your book bag into the Armor's local pocket dimension." The AI said. Suddenly the back of the suit of armor moved and a pair of huge, black dragon wings popped out of the back from under the cape. Zebulon realized that, with a simple thought, he could control the wings. However, he was hesitant to try and fly all of a sudden.

"Right… well, uh, you. Weirdo lady." Zebulon said, pointing at the woman who had assailed him. She growled and yelled. He again did not hear her.

"My apologies." The AI said and suddenly his hearing came back to the outside world.

"-I WILL RIP YOU IN HALF!"

"Shut the hell up! Holy shit, can't you see that this is going out of control? Look, I don't know who you are, I don't know what's happening, and I don't know where the hell I got this armor, but I'm leaving. Don't follow me." Zebulon stated and tried lifting off. Conveniently enough, the wings seemed to compensate for his lack of knowledge on how to fly and he was easily hoisted into the air several yards. The woman screamed again and a pair of black, raven-like wings sprouted from her back and she took off into the air as well.

"You bastard! How did you activate that power!? You shouldn't be able to use something that powerful, you're just a regular mortal!" The woman shouted, throwing another spear. Zebulon batted it out of the air and scowled.

I'm so fucking confused. One minute I think I'm about to get killed by some BDSM cosplayer, the next I'm flying in… Dragon armor? Maybe I passed out after… No, I'm quite awake. Zebulon tried rubbing his head, but his gauntlet found a horn sticking out of the helm he wore. He sighed and flew up above the treetops. He looked around and found that whatever power this woman was somehow summoning still had him trapped. The woman pursued him and tried engaging him in close combat. Zebulon caught her weapon again and grabbed her by the shoulder.

"FUCK OFF!" He shouted and simply threw her back towards the ground. Zebulon cringed as the woman screamed and slammed into a tree. He shuddered.

G-Goddammit… I… I don't want to hurt her.

"Unfortunately, I do not think you have a choice, Zebulon. You were fated to find my Lord's soul, and with his power comes varying degrees of danger and many adversaries who wish to control my Lord's power." The AI said, seemingly reading his mind. Zebulon sucked in a quick breath.

No, I don't want to. Let's… go. Also, you can read my mind? Zebulon wondered as he took off into the air. Without trying, he sped up well over the sound barrier and a thunderous crack followed as he screamed off into the distance. Soon, the sky regained its dying sunlight and the orange-blue hues of the heavens loomed overhead. He arced up higher and broke through the clouds, though he did not have any trouble breathing. It was exhilarating, yet he could not appreciate his situation. He felt disgusting.

"I understand your aversion to violence, Zebulon. I can read your brainwaves and interpret your thoughts, memories, and emotions through the electrical and chemical signals. I apologize for doing so, but it is paramount for me to understand my Lord's host entirely in order to properly analyze the best course of action moving forward. Do not worry, he will be speaking to you soon enough. For now, we have significantly bypassed your place of residence, would you like to engage the Armor's internal global positioning system?" The AI said. Zebulon sighed and a small map appeared in the corner of his vision. He saw a blinking dot on it and his position as a small triangle in the center. He managed to slow down and turn in the air. He hovered for a few moments.

"What the hell just happened? Who was that? And who is this Lord?" Zebulon wondered, holding his head over the helmet. He felt slightly dizzy and took a deep breath. He needed to orient himself. Both physically and mentally.

"Yes, please breathe deeply. The Armor has an integrated oxygenation feature which will keep you breathing so long as it is fully charged. If you leave the atmosphere, it will only last for ten lightyears worth of travel." The AI said, apparently attempting to help settle his nerves. Zebulon felt his adrenaline dying down and he realized just how high up he was. He reeled for a few moments before his nerves settled and he felt his heart rate slow.

"O-Okay… okay. I think… I think I'm alright. But seriously, what the fuck is happening?" Zebulon wondered. He was still in disbelief. It seemed he was now a part of some layer of the universe of which he was unaware of until now.

"Allow me to elaborate. As I said, I serve a Lord. You will meet him soon. It seems you were unaware of the supernatural elements of your world, such as the Gods, Demons, and Fallen Angels, as well as the other cosmic forces of this universe. The creatures, beings, planes of existence, concepts, and entities that which many consider 'false' or 'fantastical' are quite real. According to my analysis, that woman who waylaid you was a Fallen Angel, a being once in service to the Abrahamic God, also known as Allah and Yahweh. But due to her sinful nature, she was cast out of Heaven and into the Underworld. Similar to Lucifer, though he became the first Demon or Devil. She is, however, a very weak Fallen Angel. You, however, are bound to the soul of my Lord, and thus are now his Host. Thus, the armor, my presence within it, and his presence within your being. You should be able to feel the powerful magic of which you now command." The AI explained. Zebulon stared at his hands. He did feel some sort of power flowing through him. Something different than regular physical strength. He looked up and his helmet's vision switched. He now saw colorful, flowing rivers of some sort of energy in the air, as well as radioactive particles and ultraviolet light.

"Whoa… magic? Gods? You've got to be shitting me…" Zebulon muttered. His vision switched back and he slowly descended. He stopped as he reached the cloud line. A thought entered his mind.

Wait a second, why haven't I been engaged by the armed forces? I'm basically a UFO. Zebulon thought, suddenly on edge as he listened for jet engines. He looked around but the sky was peaceful.

"This world's level of technology cannot detect your suit's stealth capabilities. To their radar systems, your cross-section is more or less a gnat. Simply put; you will not be detected as a foreign entity, if you are at all detected. If you are worried about uninvolved parties noticing your descent, I can engage the invisibility cloaking." The AI explained and suddenly Zebulon could not see his own extremities. He was translucent, though he could slightly discern his outline against the buildings below.

Well… shit… I need some time to think about this… uh, oh. I forgot to give you a name… um… how does Eva sound? Pretty simple, but easy to remember. Zebulon thought as he slowly descended again.

"Understood, I will respond to the designation 'Eva'. Would you like to give yourself an identity within the suit itself? If in case an outside being is able to discern your presence and possibly scan you or evaluate you with magic, this name will appear in place of yours, which will be encrypted behind the most advanced security designed by the Technomancers." Eva suggested. Zebulon was slightly comforted by the fact that his new, absolutely unbelievable suit of high-tech magic armor had so many features and levels of security.

I get it. Almost like a screen name or code name… kina. Uh, how about 'Titan'? It was one of my nicknames back in the day, but it's just ambiguous enough to be interpreted several different ways. Zebulon thought as he slowly approached the rooftops of his street.

"Acknowledged. Host designation 'Titan' is now set. I will fill you in on more details of your Armor's abilities as we familiarize ourselves with this new situation. I will also address you as Titan unless you ask to be addressed differently. Are these parameters acceptable to you?" Eva asked. Zebulon nodded to himself as he landed out front of his house. It was almost dark now and he could smell dinner being cooked inside.

Yeah, works for me… How do I uh… disengage things? Zebulon wondered, tapping his chest. Suddenly, the armor vanished and he was standing in the street in his school clothes with his bag in hand.

"You need only ask, or simply use your mind to do so. Do not worry, you will learn to control the Armor with time and practice. For now, I will reside as a small, undetectable magic orb in your mind so we may communicate and you will be able to use the suit's sensors and analyzing functions while remaining in your normal state. Please reach out to me if you need my assistance, Titan." Eva said and then went silent. Zebulon felt relatively normal, aside from being able to quite literally feel magic energy now. It was an odd sensation. It felt similar to the flow of heat, though it did not give off any. He likened it to a type of radiation. Or, possibly, similar particles which could only be observed in a massive hydron collider. He shook his head and faced the front door to his house.

Well… I'll think about that later. Time to whip out my best bullshit… Zebulon thought, unlocking the door and stepping in. He sighed as he slowly closed the door behind him.

"MY GOD, ZEB, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?"

That Night…

Zebulon sighed as his bedroom door clicked closed behind him. He slid down the door and rested against it. His mind teetered on the edge of what felt like insanity and an awfully disturbing calm. He continued to feel the energy he was introduced to, and the reality check he was fed did not go down easy. He simply could not grasp that this world was more than wood, rocks, water, fire, and flesh. It just did not sit well with him. He looked at his right hand. The back glowed with an orange circle. He sighed and stood up.

Well, there's nothing I can do now… I'm apparently stuck being a Host to a literal fucking god. If he's even an actual god. Or it. Oh whatever… Zebulon could not concentrate his thoughts. He took off his uniform and changed into some shorts and a tank top. He laid down across his bed and slapped the light switch on his nightstand. He figured some early rest would do him some good. He was mentally drained.

This doesn't make sense. I just… I wanted to just get my business degree and join dad's company. I was going to study… make grades, workout… now what? I have to… be a fucking comic book character? As if… I'm a non-aggressor. Damn… I'm tired… Zebulon slowly closed his eyes as he settled his mind. Or, as much as he could settle it. His mind's eye was swamped with visions of fantastical images. Everything from what he saw in movies, to games and then some. His thoughts were then slowly washed away in a violet sea, and he drifted off.

"Awaken, young one." A voice boomed. Zebulon blinked, but he saw darkness. He wondered if he was dreaming. He tried to fall asleep. Maybe he was already asleep.

"Five more minutes…" He mumbled. A deep chuckled resounded in the darkness, and an orange, reptilian eye snapped open in front of him.

"You will get your rest, Zebulon. I have drawn your conscious mind into my own. Now, bearer of my soul, listen well!" the booming voice rattled Zebulon's mind. Suddenly his vision was swamped with bright orange fire, burning brightly in a circle around him. Before him, however, was a formidable creature. One whom defied all laws of mankind. A dragon.

"What in the…" Zebulon muttered, eyeing the massive creature. Sharp teeth, solid black scales with dark orange ones running across its underside and coloring the skin of its wings. Two massive horns stretched back across its head. The massive orange eyes in the beast's sockets stared him down. Its four legs and tail were comfortably resting on whatever floor they were on. The flames raged on.

"I am Rakon, Dragon of the Void, Bringer of Destined Death. You are within my Void, the realm of which I am trapped yet rule. I speak to you now, as you hold my soul within your body. You are my Host. I welcome you, fair warrior." Rakon said, his voice slightly less disruptive now. Zebulon stared on in awe.

"Well… I guess… I can't really deny seeing another sentient being in my own dreams. I don't normally dream, and this is far too vivid to be a normal one. I can… feel my connection to you. So, what's… what the hell is going on?" Zebulon wondered. He could feel Rakon's power. He could sense it. Understood it. This beast's soul was connected to his own. He felt Rakon's immense strength, raw, unbridled power. It was intense. He felt himself.

"Ha… Well, to keep it simple, I am a God-like, cosmic being. Long ago, when the universe was born, the Fire of Life burst from the cataclysm of the Void from which all matter came. It's balance, it's opposite, the collapse of that matter, was also born. The Antithesis, Death. Destruction. That destruction was the heart of my brother, Solaris, Dragon of the Sun, Bearer of Life. You may see our titles as, hypocritical, or perhaps, ironic. But you see, young Zebulon, all life returns to death, and there is no creation without destruction. Thus, our opposing, yet harmonious souls were born to guard these concepts." Rakon explained. As the beast spoke, visions of what Zebulon could only think was the Big Bang, and the expansion of the universe appeared above them. He saw an image of two dragons, one white, guarding a green and blue enshrouded orb. The other, a black dragon, guarding a pink and orange enshrouded orb. From the black dragon burned black and red hued flames. From the white dragon, burned red and yellow flames.

Whoa… I… understand what he's telling me? Or is it more like he's pouring his knowledge directly into me?

"Yes, both. You are understanding the balance of the universe through me. As I said, Solaris represents the birth of life, yet also its destruction. All suns, the stars, one day will collapse into black holes which return all matter to the Void where it is destroyed. Unfortunately, my brother has gone mad, believing this universe to be a mistake, a blight upon the true, cosmic, and divine nature of true life. That being, only the immortal beings of pure magic should exist. Or, more accurately, only he should exist, ruling over the power of both Life and Death. Granting life only to those he deems worthy, dooming all others to an unfair death. But he is a fool… only those who truly understand life, can also understand death. This is where our story begins, Zebulon." Rakon explained, the images flashed overhead, showing a great, roaring battle. A battle between Rakon and Solaris. A battle which tore the very fabric of reality asunder. It seemed to him that, he was now caught in some sort of eternal, cosmic struggle that transcended reality itself. He barely fathomed the images before him.

"You two are fragments, yet essential parts of pure creation? Incredible… But I still don't get where I play into all this. I'm just a dude… a random person. Why am I suddenly caught in a cosmic war of unfathomable proportions? What does all this have to do with me? Why me?" Zebulon wondered. He did not want to believe any of it. But he could not reject it. A part of him, one he did not even know existed, knew it was real.

"This is… a lot to understand, but I believe you have the capacity. This conflict of ours, my brother and I, it drew various creatures all across dimensions, time, and space towards us. One such race sought to bring Solaris's inane dream to a reality and, during our battle, managed to split my power in two and seal me within that orb you found. But this blasphemous ritual backfired on them. My two halves were sent spiraling through the cosmos… for eons I landed, planet to planet, Host to Host, gathering resources and power to eventually find a Host powerful enough to withstand my power. The Technomancers, they made that armor. The Dwarves, they found my other half and forged it into a blade. But it was lost to time and space, as I was after the Technomancer's sun imploded. I cannot control the strings of Fate, and thus here we are…" Rakon trailed off. The images coalesced and vanished. Rakon eyed him. Zebulon stared back. He was in awe.

"But understand this; only I can stop Solaris's destructive rampage, and he will chase me to the ends of the endless universe to find me and kill me. You, Zebulon… now hold the fate of all Life in your hands. For it is you who now controls my power. I cannot escape this… seal from which I am locked in. You, Zebulon Crossworth, are the Dominator of Death. The Bearer of Life…"

"W-what in the fuck… WHAT!?"

Morning…

Zebulon sat bolt upright in his bed, holding his head, sweating profusely, and breathing hard. He shivered, staring ahead at the wall with panic striking each nerve he had. He slowly settled down. He glanced around. His room was normal. He felt normal. He looked at his hand, it did not glow. He glanced at the clock. He had awoken an hour earlier than normal. Birds chirped outside as the sunlight found its way through the curtains of his balcony doors. He picked up his phone and unplugged it. It was Wednesday. He sighed.

"Haha… hahaha… look at that… I… I knew it. That must have been a dream… some weird nightmare. There's no way… I'm not some… fated bearer of a fucking God… or some shit. I'm just Zeb… I have to go to class. I… I want to see Akeno again and give her a hug… That would be nice. No demons and dragons and Fallen Angels. Just… just a dream." Zebulon muttered, twitching nervously. He rubbed his forehead as he checked the weather and the news. He checked his email. Everything was just fine. Nothing was out of place.

"Good morning, Titan. You are well rested. I recommend you stretch and shower, as it will help optimize your human motor functions and relax your mind." Eva's voice sounded off in his left ear.

"Sweet merciful Buddha… I… I wanna go back to Pennsylvania."

Sup? Missed me? Sorry for the wait. Life is… messy. Hope y'all enjoyed this. I'm thinking on continuing this. I get this was a huge exposition dump, and it seems a bit out of left field, but the idea is that Zebulon is NOT ready for the shitshow heading his way.

By the way, check out the new cover image and you'll understand what his armor look like.

Anyway, remember to breathe. See y'all next time.