Episode Seven: Fictor's play

[Next day...APR 16]

[Ability Deactivated] [Dreamless Sleep...End]

The rain pattered on the windows of the living room while a grandfather clock tick to ten O'clock. Sotokei lay asleep on the couch. Sudden lightning arced across the windows, illuminating the room and jolting her awake. She looked around with slight panic, seeing an unfamiliar dimly lit room.

Large fancy living room, with matted center on which were few couches and coffee table. The only light source was the open-facing kitchen, where a young woman with dark apricot color hair, beautiful fair skin, and wearing a casual shirt exposing her shoulder and light brown trousers. She turned around hearing the rustling, her eyes glowing softly golden. "Oh my, you finally woke up. Did you have a good sleep?" she asked softly.

[Ability Activated] [All-Knowing]

"Who are you?", Sotokei yelled quickly standing up. The woman narrowed her eyes in response, to Sotokie with a look of disappointment, "I don't like your attitude young lady, sit down!".

[Ability Activated] [Unfailing Garce]

Her voice vibrated through the air, towards Sotokie and as soon it slammed into her, wrapping tightly around her body and her mouth, knocking the air right out of her and forcing her to sit back down.

The woman then got up from her stool, holding her steaming cup of tea. While Sotokie couldn't even turn her head to look at her. "Honestly, I am disappointed in Sai. He failed to teach his daughter basic manners", she said placing the cup on the coffee table in front of her and sitting down on the couch.

She again looked up at Sotokie's confused face. "I have been told by Mr. Oliver to keep you here until now, she said waving her hand around, allowing Sotokie to open her mouth again. "Oliver? Who cares about him, let me go. I need to go now!", Sotokie said while trying her best to keep her voice low.

"That is a bit rich coming from a young lady who came very close to killing her own sister while throwing a tantrum like a child", the woman said as calmly as possible. "No, that was, I was not trying to. It's her fault, I told her to...", the woman waved her hand and Sotokie's mouth clamped back up.

"Shut it, I am not here to act as your consular. So you can keep "what" you were trying to do to yourself", she said taking a drawn out sip of her tea before continuing. "What I am here to do, is to inform you what has happened and what is happening. A few days ago, Conner, the King, passed down a foolish law because of a request, that whoever comforts the fragment of Imperium Tyrannus, will be exiled from the King's rule", her sentence ends as the lighting strict outside, illuminating the inside of the room.

"Seeking this opportunity, your father asked an associate of his to hunt down the fragment while evolving Akane, so that could lead to her exile. So now, around an hour and a half ago, that associate sneaked his way inside the Council's HQ and kidnapped Akane, and successfully he did, because Nola, the only one present there, did not remotely attempt to stop him. Forty minutes ago, Akane's friend, ran to Mr. Oliver to inform him about what had happened. Mr. Oliver, who was already prepared to go against the law of the King, went to the [Otherworld] to rescue Akane. And right as we speak, he is dealing with your father's associate", she said all that and snapped her fingers, releasing Sotokie.

Quickly finding her balance while sitting, her head snaps to her side, seeing the grandfather clock's needle hitting ten. "Oh look at the time, while I guess an ill manner cunt like should be on her way. I wouldn't want you to miss out on taking your anticipated revenge", the woman said with a big smile, again snapping her finger.

Immediately energy surges from beneath Sotokie and she falls onto the street with the rain pouring down on her. As she looks up, she sees a misplaced inverted Dream Wood doorway in the middle of the street, ready for her.

...

[One and Half Hours earlier]

[Sub Ability Activated] [Indotyphlops Creation... Braminus Strychnos Nuxtoxin]

Akane sipped from her steaming cup of Earl Gray while the room filled with a strong sense of Petrichor. The lighting shuffled across the dark sky with a boom, causing Gwen to look over the rain pattering against the window. The moon was barely visible with fast winds occasionally shaking the window frame.

"Hmm, How long will the downpour keep going for, I wanna get out of here", Gwen complained pushing aside her cup. "It will soon go away, don't worry. Maybe we should go see a movie after this, it might help to get your mind off him", Akane said with a precise tone and then yawned.

"Don't bring him into this, it was just rude to leave without saying anything suddenly", Gwen complained again, spreading her arms wide and laying her face on the cold table. "Why does his Lord get to call him like that. Maybe he wants to hunt down the Fragment too".

Akane Yawned again, covering her mouth before speaking. "That is very unlikely, every Lord is responsible for his family member. That's why everyone in the Hoyaga Academy has left and leaving us, unsupervised, and admit it you want him here", Akane said back with a smile and drowsy expression.

"No, you are imagining it, it's just the detention, I mean look at you, you are about to fall asleep. Everyone other than us is having fun out there, Tim is probably getting hammered somewhere and Igarashi is with Glenn, Mark is out trying to find Jackel and Edgar, and we are here having a slumber party with Nola", Gwen said crossing her and laying back in her chair. "Maybe Oliver might be here too, he seems like a rebellious type".

"What? no. He probably went home", Akane says quickly. "Well, I wouldn't hurt to check on him. If you keep this up things will only get more awkward between you too", Gwen said standing up and walking towards cupboards over the countertop. "Yeah..." Akane replies loosely, feeling calm talking over.

"Anyway, I think I bought some chocolate pretzels, you want some", Gwen said and heard silence in response before hearing a thud from behind. Looking around to see Akane weirdly slump out on the table. "Akane? Are you...", Gwen pauses seeing a small mud-colored snake slipping out of her teacup. Wiggling around before dissolving into purplish mist.

[Sub Ability Activated] [Reptile Creation and Manipulation...Pythonidae Swarm]

Before Gwen could act, the Council building rumbled, hearing something ramming through the walls, until breaking through the wall behind Akane. Multiple heads of purplish-green Python burst into altogether completely avoiding Akane and charging straight at Gwen.

[Activating Sub Ability] [Barrier Creation...Wall]

A neon blue wall appeared in front of Gwen, but the Python heads easily broke through the barrier, biting Gwen and pushing her against the wall. Her head rattles hitting the wall and air shots out her lungs. Expecting a sharp pain of fangs to come which didn't, only after realizing they were just gums.

Panic set in as she saw an extra set of Pythons coming in and wrapping around Akane, gently picking her up and pulling her out of the room. "Akane!... Let go of me!", Gwen yells, struggling against the Python's heads. Only after did Akane disappear out of her sight, the heads dissolved into mist, releasing her.

...

Outside, Joesph stood holding an umbrella with bodies of Pythons skunked back into the ground, finally holding the unconscious Akane in his arms. "I apologize for the mess, Lady Akane", Joseph whispered as rain fell on the umbrella.

The moment lasted short as sudden cold gripped the air and the rain turned into hail. Joseph sighed, his breath becoming visible in the cold atmosphere. Hearing footsteps approaching behind, scrunching against the frozen grass. He turned around to see a gray figure standing in arm's reach. Wearing a buttoned-up long coat and holding an umbrella of her own, her eyes burning sapphire blue.

"Ah, Nola", Joseph said with a smile, while holding Akane towards her. "Joseph", Nola replied with a nod. "Looking as cold as ever," Joseph said. "Thank you ever much for the compliment. Although I must say, it's an unusual pleasure finding an outcast, let alone one stealing from the Council", Nola said standing still. "Yes, it's sort of revenge", Joseph replied solemnly.

Lighting suddenly arced through the sky, illuminating the estate. Nola looked away from his eyes and began walking toward the Council office. "Be careful, Joseph. I know it's a habit of yours to play with fire, but today might not end up being a good day for you", Nola said walking past Joseph.

Joseph glanced at Nola passing by, finding it surprising how little they cared for the young lady in his arms. "I see, very ominous of you. Give my regards to your husband and the others", Joseph replied.

[Sub Ability Activated] [Heloderma dislocare]

The mist accumulated in front of Joseph, taking the form of a giant flat-faced front half of a dark and gray-skinned Gila. The Gila opened its mouth wide and Joseph began to walk inside, while the doors to the building swung open, as a bruised Gwen stepped out in the rain.

Seeing the stranger entering the mouth of the Gila as clamped down on him, then immediately dissipated into a purplish mist. Still shaken and confused she turned to Nola. "What are doing? that...guy just took Akane! what is happening?", Gwen choked out while Nola walked inside out of the pouring rain.

She pulled down the umbrella and turned around to meet Gwen's frightened look. "Things are not as convenient as they look, I have better things to do, so go help yourself", Nola replied, closing the umbrella. Gwen stared at Nola's calm and ignorant demeanor, "What do you mean?" before Gwen could say more, the gates closed between them. Leaving Gwen standing in rain, fuming to the verge of tearing.

[Activating Sub Ability] [Barrier Creation...Platform]

A neon blue platform appeared behind her and she quickly jumped on it, flying through the rain. She had no reason to, but she could think of one other person to go to. Flying over the buildings and street at a quick speed, the rain felt like needles and soon she began to shiver.

...

Nola stepped into Council's main office, taking off her coat and folding it around her arms. She wore a dark blue V-neck sleeve-less blouse with light brown dress pants, and her hair down. Only to see a peculiar man in the front seat, leaning back in the chair with his feet up on the table.

His long radiant white hair flowed back and with his face up to the ceiling and his eyes closed. He wore heavy pair of jeans and boots, a brown coat, and a black shirt underneath. "Oh, hello there. What might you be up to?", Nola asked walking up to the chair from the side.

"Waiting for him to act, no?", the man asked. Nola nodded in response, "It's amazing to see you being patient after all this time", she commented, coming behind in front of the incaved dome settled on a platform. Thick wire joined into all sides of the world map machine, waving her on top of it, activated it.

[Ability Activated] [Conjoined Senses]

A hologram of [Otherworld] appeared, showcasing extruding color pixels showing a purplish-black cloud-like mass spreading through the map. Nola touched the bottom and slid her hand upwards, rolling the pixel away from the storm, from very far through wood works, she saw another mass, smaller which was slithering towards the fragment.

Thinking of a comment to give, she looked back at Conner. A man who she had come to accept as her father figure after the passing of her own, depressed and silent, unlike his usual energetic self. "What is it? Conner. It's not like you to wallow in silence", Nola asked. "Hmm. Contrary to what you think, I am excited as all heck for him put his plan into action. But...", Conner stopped. "But?", Nola asked.

"Things are not as how they were supposed to be. Strangely the deities have sided with him and I am playing the role of a blind and dumb idiot. I can't anymore", Conner said and she thought of Tim's words. "What do you mean, blind and dumb?", Nola asked.

Conner sighed and leaned further back in the chair, "Let me tell you a secret Nola". Conner opened him and the words that came out caused Nola to freeze. He finished his telling of his plans and Nola couldn't contain her shock, "Wait! You can't do...". Conner's eyes opened, and deep crimson red stared back at her with his finger on his lips.

Nola immediately turned her eyes away, understanding the authority that the person in front of her represented. What he willed, no one had the power to defy. "I...I understand", Nola said turning around to the slither mass moving towards the storm.

...

Disregarding the cold and rain that felt like needles against her skin, Gwen kept moving faster, reaching Oliver's apartment complex. Dropping over the wall of the hallway, drenched and shivering with cold. Gwen immediately went to bash her fist against the door, only for it to open even before her knuckles could touch.

A warm towel fell against her face, grabbing and moving it out of her face, she found Oliver dressed in his suit, fixing his tie, "You look like you have seen better days, go get a shower before you catch a cold".

Tears began to stream down her face, as Oliver gave her a solemn look. "Akane she was... taken by a snake and...Nola, she did nothing, she just watched her get taken", Gwen blurted out between sobs while Oliver nodded and gently patted Gwen's head, stopping her before more tears would start streaming.

"Quite down, I am going to fix everything", Oliver replied as lighting arced through the sky. A door appeared in the hallway, inversed texture on the door, and a gem glowing in the middle. "Alright, my calling here, don't worry I will bring her back safely", Oliver replied and begin walking towards the do and only heard a faint "Thank you" from behind him amongst the rain.

Without saying Anything further, he stepped through the door and the door vanished from behind him.

...

[Otherworld]

A bubbling mass of black and purple moved through the sky towards the Flat Tops. While an ash-white Goliath Serpent slithered out from the Dream Wood forest, carrying Joseph and Akane in its gaping mouth. The Serpent came to a halt in front of a climb of the Flat Top mountains, sprouting 4 pairs of clawed feet, and began crawling upwards.

With each clamper and rumble, the Serpent reached the top, at the summit of the Flat Top range. A set of 6 gargantuan wide and flat-topped mountains made up of an outer layer of clay and granite, with an average height of 8000 meters and 601.9 km in width each.

Reaching the top revealed a climate of aggressive winds but no change in pressure in the atmosphere between the bottom and top of the mountain. The month of the Serpent lower onto the ground, allowing Joseph to walk out holding Akane. Facing the massive storm in the distance getting closer ever so slowly.

While the Serpent dissolved into a miss, Joseph stared at the thundering challenge slowly approaching. The roaring wind soon turned into white noise. As the explosions among the strong winds broke Joseph's disposition. His head snapped around, seeing the peculiar sight of Dream Tree top exploding into fires.

[Passive Ability Activated] [Apex Syndrome]

Joseph's pupils dilate, his vision reaching across the horizon, making out what looked like a suited person with fire erupting from underneath his feet. Moving towards him. Immediately, Pythons grew out of the ground and gently wrapped around Akane, taking her out of his hands.

[Sub Ability Activated] [Partical Metamorphosis... Gaboon Solenoglyphous]

Two horned Viper heads and bodies instantly grew out of shoulder plates and spiraled down his arm to his hand. Met at the end of his wrist and joined their heads, and created three feet long crescent fangs. Preparing himself for the incoming conflict. But the last explosion happen 100 feet far while the person appeared face-to-face with Joseph.

In quick time, Oliver brought his black Casanova an inch away from his face while maintaining eye contact with him. Confusion structured Joseph, seeing a person he didn't recognize disrupting his plans.

Out of reflex, his arm moved upwards in one-tenth of a second, while Oliver blinked out. Appearing behind him and laying his hands on unconscious Akane's exposed shoulder and teleporting away with her. Falling a few meters away, leaving Joseph shaken. As he turned around he saw the suited person lying Akane on the ground.

'Teleportation?", Joseph whispered under his breath, seeing this person's ability Immediately prompted Joseph to remember a rumor about the last remaining [Shifter] of the Locus family. Although that couldn't be since nothing much is known about the Locus, as he has been living under the Council's secrecy and Flames, on the other hand, didn't up.

"Pardon me? But who are you in the known world interrupting me?", Joseph said as Oliver stood back up and looked at him, seeing a sudden outline of golden light momentarily and the wound on his suit and his abdomen started emitting heat and stitched close.

"It's not important Joseph, what I need you to do right now is to leave", Oliver replied. "What?", Joseph said back, confused by this. Looking more closely at the child's confidence at addressing him. "I will take care of Akane and the matter with the fragment, you can get out of her and give your lord my regards", Oliver said, while Joseph began to lose his temper.

Causing him to chuckle, "I am sorry, did I miss something? Which hole did you crawl out of, you insolent shit!" Joseph spat back, grinning with his teeth at Oliver. Oliver shook his head in response, "It doesn't matter how you get lost from here, whether in pieces or otherwise", Oliver said with Darkness appearing in his hand and monstrosity peeking out of his eyes, the green tint staring right at Joseph.

A sudden rush of fear woke up Joseph. and he step a bit back. Realization, although little, confirmed that a person or thing was a danger.

[Ability Activated] [Weapon creation... Analyzation]

In a blink of an eye, Oliver disappeared from Joseph's line of sight and appeared behind him. Darkness up and ready to cut him down with a swing. But his sense heightened to the utmost degree and his movement was as quick as the wind.

As soon as Oliver took to space, Joseph snapped back with a clean swing cutting the air. Missing Oliver, who again appeared behind him, taking the purchase on the ground and completing the swing.

[Sub Ability Activated] [Partial Metamorphosis...Keratin Skin]

[Passive Ability Activated] [Regeneration]

Joseph sensed Oliver, instantly covering the side of his abdomen in Keratin. Which did nothing to stop the crushing weight of Darkness breaking into the Keratin. The force almost knocked Joseph off his own feet, his whole right bending around the blade of the Darkness. He gritted his teeth and turned his head around enough to look at Oliver.

[Sub Ability Activated] [Reptile Creation and Manipulation...Pythonidae Swarm]

Multiple Pythons grew out of the ground, and each of these heads whipped through the air, attempting to grab onto Oliver. While he teleported back, only get followed by these tumbling wrecking balls, breaking into the mountain with each miss. Creating a distance of a few feet, while rumbling and shaking the rocky base.

After the fourth attempt, Oliver appeared up in the air, immediately throwing the Darkness at Joseph. Python's head moved upward at the incoming Darkness, all of them joining in to grab the four and half-tone carbon-dense blade in the air. While Oliver started directly at Joseph, disappearing and appearing with his left hand on the hilt of the Darkness. Then again teleporting right into Joseph's face with Casanova on his right hand aligned with Joseph's face with a wide grin on his own.

[Flame Burst... Level 3]

Blinding light blinked through with an explosion rocking the whole mountain. Fiery hell blasted Joseph forwards, engulfing everything in front of Oliver.

[Keratin Skin]

Joseph's body got flanged backward, and in an instant, his body grew a thick layer of Keratin over his whole body which did little to help. The serious blast broke through the Keratin halfway, melting his skin off and burning off his suit. He tumbled on the scorching ground which peeled off upon every contact, until coming to a stop.

[Python]

[Weight...1.36 Tonne]

[Speed...390 mph]

[Force...237 kN]

[Reach 3.1 miles]

[Tensile Strength... 685 MPa]

Oliver teleported back with Darkness in his hand while peeking over his shoulder, making sure that Akane was safe.

[Ability Activated] [Phantasmal Metamorphosis...Reptilia Monstrosity]

[Passive Ability Activated] [Apex Syndrome]

Oliver sensed it immediately, the piercing glare of illuminating pair of hex eyes. His body began to Morph, and a large number of snakes grew out of the center of his chest and began slithering all over his body and melting into and replacing his skin, resulting in a light spiral pattern caused by the snakes. While Joseph's body deflated, becoming thinner and his mouth displayed rows of sharp teeth and claws growing out of his hands and feet digging into the ground.

[Sub Ability Activated] [Reptile Creation and Manipulation...Serpente Swarm]

Something flickered through the smoke, cutting through the air toward Oliver. Before his eyes could register what had happened, Serpent's head retreated and Oliver felt a sharp pain and thud of the Darkness falling to the ground with his severed arm squirting blood.

Oliver stared at his severed arm, then at the smoke dissipating and reviling Joseph standing back on his feet. Serpents grow out of his back with long and wide fangs growing out of their gullets. Ten in number pulling back and ready to strike. "I have underestimated you, I'll give that. Don't think for a moment you escape in one piece", Joseph grunted.

Oliver took his attention away from his stub, to sigh in response. "For crying out loud, I don't remember you being this irritating", Oliver replied.

[Ability Activated] [Battleborne]

The wind went silent, as a look of irritation disappeared from Oliver's face. His eyes took on a white glow and his body was illuminating a white haze. The color drained from the sky and everything around him. As new patterns made up of a wide spectrum of purple became visible,

Battleborne is an ability that allowed the user's mind to comprehend time and space with an absurdly heightened speed and mental processing. Paired with fluid and rapid speed to rival Bloodborne and strength to make use of that speed. Every afterimage was a possibility waiting to happen.

"How surprising, you are more irritating to look at than listen to", Oliver commented on the sheer amount of colors that littered the gap between Joseph and him causing an upset stomach and headache. A Mauve afterimage lighted up with flung Serpent head cutting through the air connecting to Oliver's neck.

Without any wasted breath, Oliver's right foot and head jerked and slipped back in sync with the Serpent's fangs, completely missing Oliver's skin by a centimeter. All the while he did not break his eye contact with Joseph and even smirked. Immediately multiple afterimages lit up The Serpent's head retreated and Oliver stumbled forwards, Darkness appeared in his hand.

A violet, lavender, and plum afterimage connects to Oliver's left shoulder, right knee, and right side of the abdomen. His left foot slipped back, dodging violet afterimage, while reverse gripping Darkness and using it to block lavender and plum string.

Joseph's eyes widen, not understanding the sudden change in this person's movements. Magenta, lilac, purple, grape, amethyst, mulberry, wine, orchid, heather, jam, eggplant, sarnie, boysenberry, periwinkle, and iris afterimage lighted, as continued with a barrage of Serpent heads.

The Darkness flew upwards in a crisscross manner, deflecting the first three, the next two, and the next four. Sparks flew, as Oliver pulled back his right side dodging the two aimed for his shoulder and side, and instantly pulled back his head and saw one go past his eyes. All while he never broke eye contact with Joseph, his smile only growing with the attack he missed.

Turning his head enough to glare into Joseph's eyes while seeing five serpents rushing for him. He shifted his weight to his left foot and appeared next to Joseph.

[Casenova]

Skunking Casanova deep into his side, his Apex recreation kicked in after the knuckles had made contact. "Don't!", Oliver said, Joseph's arm bulked up, with a set of fangs coming of his knuckles, slashing towards Oliver.

[Burst level 1]

The Flames incinerated his side, and cut through the Flames, hitting nothing. Oliver appeared on the other side, skunking Casanova into his kneecap, "Get!", Flame burst out, breaking and twisting it. Causing Joseph to grunt in pain and buckle down. His head snapped to Oliver, along with three serpent heads diving down to attack Oliver but only cutting through the smoke.

Oliver appeared above his head, readied Casanova smashing into the back of his head, and dropping Flames burst right at the top. "Cocky!", Oliver added, Joseph hunched down, his body instantly bulked up with hundreds of fangs jutting out his body, ultimately hitting nothing. He quickly looked up to see Oliver standing in front of him, both hands now in his pocket and a wide smile.

"Don't get cocky with either!", Joseph screamed as all Serpent heads went in all at once. a wave of 15 massive Serpents flew across right at Oliver. He sighed and eyed just one of them, "I have seen enough". He raised his hand while the wave crashed into him. His hand went towards one of the Serpent's heads, his fingers tracing the fangs, down to his gullet, grabbing them.

While the rest impaled him, like a pincushion, driving him into the ground. A wide smile appeared across Joseph's face, as he gave a chuckle.

[Serpent]

[Weight...0.24 Tonne]

[Speed...2,217 mph]

[Force...218 kN]

[Reach 3.1 miles]

[Tensile Strength... 48 MPa]

[Analyzing Complete]

[Activating Ability] [Weapon Creation... Materialization]

But that short-lived victory was cut short by light piercing out from the cluster of Serpents, covering one completely, and moving towards Joseph. Not knowing what it was, he pulled back his Serpents, severing the one held by Oliver. Pulling him onto his knee with the severed Serpent's head in his hand and blood pouring out of the large gashes all across his body, and the bloody smile that still found purchase on his face.

As the tail end of the severed Serpent fell on the ground and the light slithered out towards Joseph. In a panic, a few of his serpent heads jabbed into it and the light stopped, only for his essence to start seeping into the light. It took a moment too late to pull back before the light itself went back.

The body of the Serpent accumulated backward into Oliver's hand, and the pair of fangs melted into one 3,4 feet long single blade. While the rest of the Serpent formed the body of the weapon.

[Materialization Complete]

[Weapon Name: "Awaiting Name"]

Oliver finally looked back up at Joseph with a bloody smile. "What!? What did you do!?", Joseph screamed, not sure why but he was certain that this person had taken something from him. Oliver slowly climbed back onto his feet, heat vapors emitting from his body as the stitching began. "Thank you, Joseph, you have done enough", he said looking at a kind of dagger his hands made. The snakeskin and bone acted as the tattered hilt and the fangs melted together and bent into an outwarded crescent blade.

"A fine piece, I'll name it Libra", Oliver said.

[Weapon Name Awarded] [Weapon Name: Libra]

[Weapon Ability: Serpent Creation] [Weapon Ability: Python Creation]

[Weapon Passive Ability: Apex Sense]

[Weapon Creation Completed]