Euphoric Escape XVII.

October 20th, 2022.

Reconstruction continued. It showed no signs of stopping, everyone's bodies, minds, it was like they all fused for this operation. The shapes of hearts and humans, combined for one goal; like a fantasy. Something like this was never before seen in the history of man. And yet, one man, the Reaper, made it work despite all the odds against him. However, an alliance like that didn't arrive without its shortcomings. One of those was courtesy of the Remnant World extermination.

Rightfully angered over the hundred dead Hybrid soldiers following the Extermination operation, a select group of Hybrids managed to negotiate a meeting with the Reaper. And right now, he exited the crimson curtains, emerging onto the stage. With the cool autumn air flowing through his fleeting snowy strands, August kept his anticipating gaze trainee on the plentiful Hybrids scattered about the rowdy crowd standing below.

Everything they'd done led up to this point, wielding signs with a cross over the Reaper's face, their arms dared to wobble. A man with a snake's tongue hissed, stepping forward with scaly skin. The only Hybrid of note from the fifty or so gathered here today while the weaklings cowered like insignificant extras.

"You," August called to the snake Hybrid, "what's your name and what're your demands or questions?"

To his surprise, the scaly Hybrid was oddly compliant. He didn't trip over words while speaking nor did he break out into cold sweat. This man was completely and utterly calm. What a rather convincing persona while the heart continued to beat at such a rapid rate it was almost on the verge of detonating.

"Sir Rivera, my name is Judas. Our demands are simply an explanation. How did the casualty amount rise from so little and expand to so much? There are only four survivors on the Extermination Unit! They know something, and they told you that something, I know it. So please don't be like the Head, withholding secrets and keeping the truth from us. No matter how hard it is to bear, we want it... please, sir."

"If that's all you wanted, you should've just said so. For privacy's sake, I'll withhold their name, but what occurred on September 30th was large-scale unprecedented obliteration. One of Azazel's subordinates lost control of their expanding power and produced a heat so hot it froze everything organic. In the process, the soldiers were lost, but the Remnants in the main hub of the monstrous World bordering the Capital were completely eradicated."

Surprised murmurs dispersed amongst the audience. Behind the scenes, Azazel stood with crossed arms leaning against the wall while the youth peeked through to spot August.

"While I do not condone these actions, it's clear to me that the power within the hearts of my students is strong enough to decimate anything. I realize my reluctance to share the truth has shaken your trust in me, I'll make for it by sharing my truth. For the past month, my son and Azazel's daughter have been scheming to implant my soul into an artificial vessel. The Extermination Unit will be sent out to slaughter the remaining monsters of the Remnant World in a clean-out operation. And by next year, early spring or the end of winter, we'll be done! Of course, there is still more to do, but... it's a start."

August raised a fist to the questioning masses,

"WE ARE ONLY A FEW STEPS AWAY! IN JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS, WE'LL BE THE STRONGEST SUPERPOWER ON THE GLOBE! NOW, WILL YOU STAND WITH ME AND THE STRONG?! OR WILL YOU FALL TO YOUR KNEES AND JOIN THE WEAK, TRAPPED IN CAGES, BEGGING FOR MERCY!?"

His yell rumbled through the streets, frizzling their hairs and leaving them idle. Just one cry from the Reaper, and the shapes that resembled clouds had simply been split asunder. There existed but one form of power in this world, and that was his influence, Rivera's angelic beauty gracing their eyes so beautifully. White hair, green eye, glossed lips. Even that sinister smirk that'd sent chills to the spines of his enemies, what more could they do but bow at the sight of such overwhelming domination?

"You're either with me or against me."

The question remained. They'd been four months without an attack. But who'd be the one attacking? With the Founder and Naraku missing, the Evolution Frontier disbanded, there only existed the variable of the Jester. Would it be just him, alone with unparalleled strength? It couldn't be. What laid beyond the curtains that he wasn't seeing? '

Beyond the realm of reason, what more laid behind the scenes of their mystical world? The suspicion would stay within him for months. Despite the looming threat of disaster stalking him like a spirit, he vanished behind the curtains, a relieved breath venting from his lips.

The worried youth composed of girls came crowding over him, leaving him to hold his temples momentarily, Azazel stepped forward from his nonchalant stance sending the children away. Just one word held the meaning of a thousand roars from an army amid a bloody war.

"What's wrong?"

An ominous pressure lingered, like an infection plaguing the air. The urge to puke was hard to resist, but he coughed into his fist, hitting his chest. Azazel awaited answers with that smoldering grimace, but before he could get any, his partner's hand attached to his shoulder.

"Not here..." Warned the Reaper, back turned to Katie; the others.

Azazel looked upon them all then sighed. Whether he liked it or not, he had to admit they were still kids. None of them, no matter how powerful they were, should be thrust into war, puppeteered by a master's strings to die on the battlefield. If that were the path they were yearning to avoid... to ensure they lived long lives and the generation would continue, he had to turn away.

While the rest of them were to walk back to their quarters, the men left, for the Reaper and the Crow reappeared in the rebuilt Tower, reconfigured for Riot. Behind those wide doors glued shut, Karlo cycled around a table and slipped his palm over the flatness. Pockets filled with his hands, August stared to the ground before starting to pace casually, as if nothing were unordinary at all.

"Alright then. Now that we're alone... you feel the same thing, don't you? There's something more we're not seeing and it's not accidental," Azazel proposed.

Silence dominated the glimmering room, the sun's shine leaking from behind the clouds above the heavens to illuminate half of Azazel's grizzled features. Particles of descending dust tinted golden from Sol, could be spotted as August leaned against that wall and stared at that window. The kingdom that formerly spread so far among the sky before it crumbled to the ground, so benevolent and righteous was that place.

Children with halos running around, kicking a ball. A fountain spewing life's energy into the air with risen spirits watching in awe at the statue engraved into the ground, carved of stone. A holy place righteously deserving of the 'Heaven' moniker.

Then he remembered when they entered the world. Just off in the distance, his father was there. Hulking in that galactic Titan form, singing at everything, reducing skin to ashes, damning benevolence to Hell forever. Just then, remembering Heaven's Repent, he turned... and spotted his face. That bearded man with those blues eyes, that spiky hair.

If he'd been more insensitive when he was younger, would he still be by his side? Maybe it was fate. Maybe it wasn't. Either way, out of the tens and thousands of friends and foes, there was but only one who could make him smile so genuinely. The anxiety Azazel held for the future—such an unfortunate sensation sent him to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Asked Azazel.

"Eheh… ah, it's nothing," August admired the setting sun disappearing behind the rocky horizon, "I just hope we're doing the right thing."

"Me too."

Reconstruction continued.

January 27th, 2023.

Snowflakes replaced lowering leaves, leaving the forest caked in a white shade, Katie reached out but one hand to feel it grace her skin. A single breath deemed visible with but one exhalation, the wonder of the winter environment sent a chill to her chest as she inhaled again. To think this wonderful place truly existed…

"Katie!"

She turned her head toward the voice's source, hidden between the plentiful branches concealing farsighted vision.

"Coming, dad!" She loudly replied to her impatient father.

And as she jogged to reconvene with the older man, her boots engraved the memory of her presence within the snow. Forever to be immortalized, the unwavering Katie Moon.

To Be Continued.