Loud

Just one day ago, on April 26th, 2022, Kima Myers publicly announced the revelation of truths unknown to the public about the secret affairs of the Bureau. In a panic, the MRG attempted to collect all copies of the books across the city's bookstores, however, they failed… horrendously. People were immediately drawn to the book because of the drama surrounding it, and from then on, the words engraved on those white paper pieces had infested the minds of the media like a virus.

On that fateful day in Spring of 2022, everyone was unable to shut their mouths, continually speaking about that one event they'd all witnessed. The mistreatment of victims of the justice system was deemed guilty from the start with just the tiniest trickle of evidence- from the get-go, maybe it seemed like a righteous idea. To better what the Founding Fathers created when they once made America the beloved country it formerly stood as. But, there loomed that great shadow, boundless in its size and unnatural in its presence, lurking with hands and nails as sharp as claws.

The remnants of the Old Government remained with the Head at the top, and the New World Order manipulating things behind the scenes. From that point on, it seemed the rivalry between the Order and the Founder had ceased, for Icarus, overlooking the disastrous riots he was the start of. This chaos… the way the fires roared, spheres of flame exploded out windows, bricks flew into glass windows.

"It is so… beautiful."

Eyes glistening with tears in the corners of his eyes, Icarus couldn't help but let his head drawback just the tiniest amount. As if God himself was gracing the world with his benevolent presence, he enjoyed the destruction he stood at the top of. Those ignorant pawns who lashed out at the revelation of their clear weakness, controlled by the most miniature leak exposed to the general public, were now literally in the palm of the Devil's hand.

The phantom of the beloved Evolutionary Capital had all but faded, with those responsible looking over the caused chaos with soaked in the sun's blessing, their hearts beating forevermore.

"Shouldn't we go and retrieve it already?" Rizia was casually standing to his right, one hand on their hip, the other scratching their head.

"Ah, yes. I forgot you're on a special mission from the Founder to allocate the Crow's abducted whereabouts. If I'm not mistaken: he's in the Nest, probably chained up somewhere. With that in mind, fly away, little bird," Icarus swatted them away like an irritating fly buzzing around his hair, not bothering to give them as he mocked them.

Even despite that, his words didn't reach them, rather they'd already vanished by the time he spoke the first word of his mocking sentence. Running along rooftops like a ninja would in the Sengoku period, the words their Founder gave as an order were like a virus, penetrating not only their hearing but reaching further to sink its dirtied fingers into what remained of their mind.

"When you go to the Capital to allocate the whereabouts of our beloved Crow, I'd need you to do me a favor. I have reason to believe that none other than our very own Icarus Chrollo, former Jester leader of his very own Deck of criminals and thieves… is sabotaging us. Do me a favor and sabotage him back for me, won't you?"

'Is it even a question at this point… do you even need to ask me?'

In due time, their insoles gracefully brushed against the Nest's inner floorboards, carved solely of wooden elements. It was like that of a centipede's stroll up the unsuspecting body of their victim, feeling every singular microscopic nanobot peel over their skin to replace what muscularity they'd previously revealed.

Harbinger had arrived, and needless to say, with no one to question their unrivaled Warrior's might, they… were the dominant personality. Or, rather, that's how it'd usually be. Until they heard that voice. It was like that from dreams, slumbering soundly; the desire of mankind. They want to be embraced by the one you love so much, the desire to spend however long your life span is with them. Even now, hardened assassin they were, trained to the utter limit by their samurai companion, they could feel the weakness stabbing into their heart.

"Took ya long enough. And here I thought you forgot about little 'ol me…"

It was like they could feel their ears ringing. Was this a transformation ability? A sub-power formed by one of the children's capabilities- maybe thanks to Ace? They weren't like the Reaper's kin, no matter how hard they thought, their eyes were naked with no unique specifications to halt the outer flow of time. Even without that higher power added to her arsenal, as his steps were gradual, descending those stairs to meet the Crow's New World partner.

The next thing they knew, the world's timing hadn't slowed, and now... He was at the bottom of the stairway. Azazel Karlo, just the sight of him sending them to tears mercilessly diving down their cheeks. There were no words. A person, damning both sexes to the ground to achieve the true self, a state of nirvana was anticipated once their own selves' phantom would end. How did it all go so wrong so fast? A world that rejected her, a mother and father that disliked her more than anything that 'her' is gone now. What more did 'she' desires than the love of people surrounding her in arms?

Now they were idle like a deer in headlights, illumination shone onto their almost-black pupils, nothing but a useless bystander… resonating in the spotlight.

"How… if you're awake, why didn't you leave? Why are you still here?" Kosuke's question wasn't shaky, it was calm, however, hesitant, like they were anxiously awaiting the answer like their heart would break. But if this question were unknown… why would their heart be on the brink of shattering?

'I know what you're going to say. When I first saw you… I knew…'

"I apologize, Riz, but my alliances have changed. Requiem energy is forbidden by the unspoken laws of the New World, hereby vowing that anyone who dares invoke its use will be damned to the Old World's shared haven. However, I never wielded that energy… I was half-demon. That white-haired Rivera brat, unfortunately for him, I- can exist. And I stand by my daughter. Against the Evolution Frontier."

The end of a prolonged time that had never existed, desired by a simple person, wishing to be embraced thanks to the rays of love. It was like it'd frozen over the heart, sinking to the bottom of their being, to be wholly consumed by the icicles of chilling loneliness. There remained nothing but the path ahead the Founder carved, for as they continued to sink below the depths, they could spot that red eye of his. No matter how menacing to the outside world, their chest tightened to their very core, as gravity had converged on that sole target.

"Is the Azazel Karlo I know- in there somewhere?" Harbinger could feel as though their heart was extending its reach, pushing out one palm for staff to emerge out the hand's core, elongating further so they adjust to a double-handed grip.

"He existed before, I have his memories. More respectfully I can say this, I… think you're a beautiful girl…"

'…What? What… is this feeling? This sensation coursed through my veins, stabbing into my heart. I can feel it not only there, but everywhere, like my whole soul is resonating the same tune! I'm not a… I'm not a girl, so… why do I feel this way?'

The two of them stood on equal ground, their gazes meeting the other's, staring into the differing-shaded eyes. For the first time in their life, those words had referred to them, and no one… no one else. Rizia was no stranger to fear, it was essential to being human, no matter what, at times, when faced with the giants of reality; there's nothing more you can do but stare ahead and quiver in your boots. But this was something more. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Like Hell had frozen over, the icicles protruding into their heart had all but faded, and the next thing they saw, their knees thunked against the carpet.

"That's… all I wanted to know."

Their arms weren't shaky, their eyes watery, a soft smile decorating their lips, the tiniest chuckle echoed out their mouth. It was clear, the second Azazel took another step forward from the former position he was locked onto, they had no intention of attacking. How dishonorable would it be to do the opposite of laying down his arms, to not only his surrendering opponent but to the memory of his new self? The Crow of Justice. Both had laid waste to the innocents of the world but even so, there remained an unavoidable continuation.

No matter what had occurred in the past with the symbol of that black mask, it inspired tens of thousands of generations to rise and fight against the enemy without faltering.

'That old man… would be proud.'

And so, expecting the death from the unknown soul inhabiting their beloved's body; it had almost felt like an hour passed. Accelerating without their knowledge to fly on past, abnormal dreams of a future distantly down a path waiting to be carved.

Their eyes opened, no damage done, for the world around them from the second they'd arrived was nothing more than a copy, the same one witnessed when they infiltrated obviously. They were… alive.

In the Capital's center, there remained the orchestrator of this widespread panic, building just big enough to pierce the skies intended to hold up the Heavens. Penetrated so deep within the clouds that the King himself couldn't help but feel shortness of breath. Whether the constructor's intention was purposeful or not, neither of the remaining members could tell.

Sitting against the rooftop in a crouched posture with arms residing over his knees, the most subtle gleam from Divergence resonated into reality. Like a shooting star passing by the outline of his scarlet pupils, Ace moved with a graceful slide as he turned his head gradually to the right. The way a scanner analyzed the area from wherever distance it was from the heavens to the earth, Ace tilted his head to the right.

"Something wrong?" Katie interjected, leaving Wilder to shake it his head, action accompanied by an elegant aftertaste.

"No… nothing is. Has June arrived yet?" Ace asked of his cousin, standing up at the sight of incoming good news heading their way. "Nevermind."

Having not seen your sibling after months, almost half a year, the way their face was shaped, that new hairstyle they'd adapted. Over a hundred thousand different things either encompassed into their way of life, the way they moved, or even the way they talked. These reunions were supposed to be happy, a joy of being together again you could never explain the excitement for. That was… what she was anticipating, coming in running like she were in the middle of a war movie arriving home to see loved ones after so long. But, even in a fantasy story where dragons roam the skies and griffins' beaks are polished daily, the arduous torment her brother endured over a week was insurmountable to the emotional journey she'd set her course on.

White highlights at the end of red spikes fitted with blood's coloration, bags under eyeballs to gift a tired look, but none of that was equal to the look within his pupils that said it right before her. It was not that of righteous resolve the way it was last November, rather… it was devoid of hope or reason. Like just staring into the scarlet eyes of Divergence would gift her a nightmare far beyond this world's rule of reasoning. All she could say in response to this is a simple,

"Ace… what happened to you..?"

But all he had was a shrug of his shoulders to reply, rolling his head around with fingers attached to his neck, the King stared off into the distance.

"Don't know whatcha mean… from my perspective, I'm free. That being said, I have a plan to announce. I need everyone's attention right now!" Ace cried to the other members surrounding this confined area.

Natalia and Kim turned their heads, June stepping back as she noticed the others behind her crowding around, Katie just standing beside him, the sheath of the Blade in hand.

"With the riots in place, the Bureau will go crazy with the MRG, attempting damage control and widespread broadcasts explaining the revelations. While taking advantage of the chaos, we'll infiltrate the Bureau's main tower, and eliminate the Head and his Order, once and for all."

Icarus could swear he could see the sight of bees whipping by, seated casually against a building's edge as the Capital's chaos raged on below him. One fist sinking into his cheek's skin as smooth as a baby's, Chrollo chuckled, shaking his head from side to side and raising his arms to the air.

"I guess I'll let 'em have this win for now. Ah, I can't wait… to tear them all apart."

As Riot was mere inches away from achieving their final victory, the Jester held his wildcard over their heads with a quiet threat. And even so, as the riot of his members entered at his command, the Scarlet King couldn't help but turn his head ever so slightly… maybe he was just seeing things?

Riot is composed of six members. Ace, Katie, June, Kima, Jefferson, and Natalia. Each of them battling the Bureau for their reasons, for the moment Moon's hand raised to the air with a flat palm, the millisecond it took for it to descend had awakened them all to the order.

"BEGIN!"

With that, the Extermination had begun.

To Be Continued.