Chapter 74

The furry right hand that Aaron now possessed was awfully similar to the one that Isaiah received as backlash from the artifact. And upon getting a close view of his features, one half of his face wasn't actually his, but rather the face of another man, which I assumed was Maxwell.

"Hey, stop!"

I heard a familiar voice call out behind me, I turned around to see Raymond, Shinso, "me", Aizawa, Cattleya, Carter and Demetrius all ready to combat and suppress Aaron's sudden transformation.

Aaron let out a low roar, which was drastically unlike anything I've ever seen him do before. Maybe he was already corrupted by Maxwell's influence.

Shinso leapt at Aaron, drawing his handgun before slamming his elbow into his skull, sending his head back from the impact. But Aaron quickly recovered and clawed Shinso across the chest, before picking him up with his large hand and throwing him into a wall.

Everyone watched in terror as Shinso's body hit the wall, making a large dent in the bricks before his body fell limp, and he succumbed to unconsciousness.

Aaron's movements were erratic, as if it was 2 minds within the same body, but in this case it was true, Maxwell's influence had almost completely washed over Aaron, and due to Maxwell's Order 0 characteristics were too strong for any Seeker of a lower Order to comprehend, nonetheless even think about without losing control completely. So it was a miracle he was even still a portion of himself.

"None of us could combat a true god like him, it's almost impossible."

Demetrius took a few steps back, siphoning his cosmic knife he previously fabricated at the banquet, before slicing the air with precision, sending a wave of energy in Aaron's direction.

The wave of energy hit him, but strange chambers and flesh moved across his body following the collision. Strange waves of red energy engulfed his body, before all the cosmic residue was absorbed inside of him.

"He's casually absorbing attacks of my caliber?"

Raymond turned to look at him, his eyes puzzled while also having a glint of astonishment and playfulness.

"Of course, any True God with a given differential property can enact laws that counter any ability of a Lower Order!"

In the corner of his eyes Raymond saw an attack headed his way, but luckily he was able to dodge it and summon his book.

"Any Seekers within a 10 feet radius will be immune to damage for 5 minutes."

He quickly scrubbed down before blocking another attack headed his way, summoning a double of himself that mimicked his abilities and movements.

Raymond's boots started to glow a bright green as he suddenly phased through the floor, and managed to resurface in time to land a critical hit on Aaron's lower spine, sending him forward into the ground.

"You little shit!"

Aaron's voice was layered and gruff, having both his voice and Maxwell's overlapped inside of it. Aaron then turned around 180 degrees and slammed Raymond in the face with his large claws, but due to the books given rule it did little damage, but not none.

"Is the book wavering already?"

Raymond leapt back and wiped the tiny amount of blood over his left eye, before looking back at the book that hung in the air as it flashed with the illusory blue light.

Suddenly the book started to move, and its pages flipped on its own. Everyone watched as a new rule was exacted into its aged pages.

"Maxwell Hammers negates the rules in the book."

Raymond looked up with fearful eyes as the book was suddenly rewritten before him. 

"He's using his corrupted authority, a method of negating any given powers within the book. Being Order 0 of the Justice path, Maxwell could manipulate all sense of justice in his area.

"The book doesn't allow its holder to write rules, the book doesn't allow that anymore."

Suddenly Aaron leaped up and grabbed the book midair, before Maxwell reached his hand out and siphoned a few drops of Shinso's blood that leaked from his head.

They both gleamed down at the book and smirked, before Maxwell wrote in Shinso's blood.

"Maxwell Hammers will be rendered immune to all concepts for the next 10 minutes."

He then dropped the book and looked back at us, before a sinister smile played on his face.

"You fight like children!"

Maxwell snarled as he leaped at Cattleya. Cattleya dodged the attack and leapt over Maxwell with surprising agility, before summoning a purple chain made of energy that wrapped around Maxwell's body.

"For the lord's touch shall grace me, I repent of my wrongdoings."

Raymond murmured as he approached Maxwell, before reaching his hand behind his head and siphoning a sword made out of energy, ready to slice Maxwell down.

"You know you can't hurt me, the rule book states I'm immune to all damage."

Raymond suddenly smirked as he looked back at "me," who watched the scene with terrified eyes.

"Take him, now!"

I immediately took out the 4 armed statue from my pocket, before running towards Aaron and slamming it against his forehead. All my surroundings were instantly submerged in a blinding light, and then the divination ended.

I ended up back inside Aaron's lab and I could hardly comprehend what I just saw. 

"Was that the future?"

"It was, child."

I heard an illusory and powerful ring in my ears, it came from all directions and seemed to reverberate off the glass bottles and flasks in the lab.

"Y-you?"

I turned around, and I saw The Umbridge standing in front of me, towering over me. 

"How are you down here?"

I asked him, almost tripping backwards and into the table. The Umbridge didn't say anything as they flicked their hand and summoned the coin from my pocket to their palm.

"A divination coin?"

They looked towards me after glaring at the coin for a few swings, the wormholes that formed their eyes flickered with curiosity.

"Y-yeah, I got it from Anthony's coat after I murdered him.."

They sighed before flipping it into the air, before it landed into the formula I created with the ink, my blood and the raven's feather.

"Why did you attempt a divination to begin with?"

They then asked curiously as that titled their head to the side a little. I gulped and sat silent for a few moments before replying in a callous tone.

"I-I needed to see how it would play out, how it would all end. I don't want to hurt Aaron, not at all."

The Umbridge nodded slowly before picking up the coin which was now coated in the formula, and the crimson moon formed above their head.

"What are you doing, you might wake everyone up."

I whispered as the crimson moon glowed brighter. The Umbridge flipped the coin again, and the second it crossed with the moonlight, it exploded into a fit of sparks.

"W-why did you do that?"

I knelt down and picked up the pile of ashes that the coin once was, before looking back up at The Umbridge with an indescribable expression.

"I'll explain later."

They suddenly disappeared, and I was left alone in the lab with my own thoughts. Suddenly I heard the door open and Shinso stepped in, rubbing his bagged eyes tiredly.

"What the hell was all that noise?"

He grumbled as he looked at me. I didn't reply for a moment, rolling up the parchment paper with the ingredients laid on it before tossing it aside into the bin.

"I was just talking to myself."

Shinso's eyes narrowed at my claim, and he walked over to me slowly and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I don't believe you, it seems like you've been lying to me lately."

I suddenly looked down at the floor in shame, before speaking in a shaky voice.

"I know, but it's for your own protection, Shinso."

Shinso's violet eyes flustered only in the reflections of the flasks and bottles, before he planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Can you at least tell me why? That's a start."

His voice suddenly had a reassuring edge to it, and he gave me a comforting smile. I found it hard to resist that damn smile, and I figured I'd spill the beans a little without wandering into prophecy territory.

"I-I…"

I paused for a moment, and I could feel the atmosphere growing heavier around me like a blanket of feelings and gumbled emotions, and my words seemed caught in my throat.

"I…when I died, I ended up somewhere."

Shinso's expression suddenly lit up, as he leaned down closer to me.

"What was it like?"

He asked, a playful expression on his face. I looked at him and chuckled a little, his usually stoic face now having such a vulnerable emotion was almost infectious.

"It was weird as hell, I tell you. It was all foggy and it looked like an old palace to say the least. And there was this…"

I suddenly felt my blood run cold, but it wasn't due to fear or a sudden cold, but rather it was like I felt a pair of warm, clammy arms on my shoulders, squeezing a little.

"Right, I'm wandering into prophecy territory."

I then sighed and looked back at Shinso and smiled.

"Then I was brought back here."

Shinso then stared at the floor for a little while, before his eyes suddenly lost their feeling of comfort and instead washed over with pale confusion.

Shinso then glanced back at me and almost immediately backed away, putting his hands up in a defensive posture.

"W-who the hell are you? You're not him, I'm fucking dreaming."

It suddenly hit me that Shinso was now being undone by The Umbridge's influence, as he now thinks I'm still dead and inside the black hole.

"Calm down, calm down."

I stood up and approached Shinso calmly, before grabbing his arm and holding it tightly. Shinso's eyes widened as if he just saw a demon, and his lip began to quiver slightly.

"H-how?"

He didn't need to answer the question, as I already knew that he was going to ask. I suddenly wrapped my arms around Shinso, pulling the taller boy into a hug.

Shinso's body tensed up, as he hesitantly returned the hug, giving a tiny and palpable laugh. 

"You have a lot to explain, Isaac."

I looked up at him and smiled softly, I could still see some fear in Shinso's expression, but it was mostly washed over with a warm sense of comfort.

"I know, but I'm kinda tired as hell."

I then gave him an exaggerated yawn before lying down onto the makeshift bed I made in Aaron's lab. Shinso then looked down at me and chuckled.

"You're really sleeping in the lab? I don't think so."

He suddenly reached down and picked me up with surprising strength, and I felt my face immediately get flushed over with a large amount of blush by him doing so.

"S-Shinso?"

He looked up at me and chuckled dryly.

"It looks like you've never been picked up before, huh."

He gave me a playful wink before taking me over to his room, which was a little run down but it had a pretty large bed in the corner, along with a lamp, a bookshelf and some other things. 

"I didn't know you slept in here, I'm jealous."

I chucked as I laid back onto his soft bed, hearing and feeling the springs creak and moan under my weight. Shinso laughed a little as he watched me on his bed, before sitting down next to me.

"It's been quite a while since I've slept in my own bed, but this might just be as comfortable."

He patted the soft material do the mattress before lying down on the bed, and sliding under the thick blankets on the bed.

"And no, you won't be sleeping on the floor."

He said in a playfully stern voice, as he suddenly grabbed me by the waist and plopped me onto the bed next to him, wrapping his muscular left arm around my upper torso.

"I know we've had a thing for only a few weeks, but I think we should spice it up a little."

A playful smirk grew in his face as he leaned up and stared down at me like a predator, before placing both of his arms on either side of my body, ensuring I won't be able to move.

"You know what I think?"

His voice suddenly lowered to a husky whisper as he leaned in closer, his warm breath gracing my neck.

"Y-yeah?"

Shinso's eyes narrowed playfully as he ran his finger up and down my chest.

"I don't care if you're a zombie or not, you'll always be adorable in a way.

He suddenly leaned in a lot closer, and his lips connected with mine. I felt my blood rush lower as I closed my eyes and started to engross myself in this new sensation. 

Shinso's lips were warm and soft, and the feeling of his tongue against mine was an almost blinding feeling, I felt his breath get heavy as he removed his grip on me and raised his body so he was kneeling at my feet.

"I didn't know you were a good kisser, I enjoyed that."

His voice was husky and hoarse, probably from how late he stayed up. I looked back at him and smiled, before leaning up again and meeting his fiery gaze.

"I didn't know that either."

My voice also rang with breathlessness, as Shinso's sweat began to fill the room around us with a weird odor. Shinso quickly wiped it away before he lied back down and continued to stare at me as if he was in a trance.

"Something on your mind?"

I asked, raising an eyebrow. Shinso shook his head and chuckled breathlessly, running a finger through my thick brown hair.

"No, I don't think much when I see you anyways. Why did you think I kissed you so suddenly at the park a few weeks ago before we ended up here?"

He said, leaning in closer. I could feel him breath against my shoulder blade, and his hands begin to explore my body.

"What are you doing?"

I was a little taken aback by this action. Shinso didn't respond as he continued to trace his body along my tones and curves, before finally resting his hand near my groin area.

"I just wanna feel you more."

Our eyes both collectively narrowed in anticipation as Shinso pulled the covers over us, sealing us from the outside word.