Mourning and Battle (G)

Mourning and Battle

So the two set out in search of others who would help them in this fight. It wasn't a certainty, but a theory that if they gathered people important to them, perhaps Thanatos would appear for another battle.

They went after their old companions, Genivaldo and José, who were still in Catolândia. When they arrived at a modest police station, José was waiting for Genivaldo at the door. Afonso and Sebastião stopped to tell him what had happened but chose not to mention the visions.

"Hello, José."

"Hey, Sebastião. Hey, Afonso. It's been two years since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"

"Yeah... I fell into a deep depression after my wife was murdered and my son was kidnapped. I can't even believe I'm still alive."

"Y-YOUR WIFE WHAT?!"

"She was murdered, and to this day, I don't even know why."

"THEN WE HAVE TO FILE A POLICE REPORT!"

"No… This… This isn't something the police can handle. Only we can."

Genivaldo emerged from a small office inside the station, calling for José. But upon seeing his friends at the door, he decided to walk over to them. He explained that they were still trying to solve the case of the explosion at a nearby laboratory. The police had yet to decipher what had really happened.

Genivaldo mentioned that some workers at a neighboring metallurgical plant claimed to have seen a metallic rat in the factories. This rat would shut down the electrical systems, and when the power came back on, many pieces were missing.

As all this conversation took place and Afonso was calling them to battle, Sebastião found himself unable to focus. He stared blankly at Genivaldo. He didn't know why, but something about his presence unsettled him. Maybe… Genivaldo wasn't who he claimed to be...

The four eventually set out to return to the battlefield where Afonso and Thanatos had fought last. As they climbed the hill, a silhouette made them stop to investigate. They saw a small rat with glowing metallic parts. Genivaldo and José remarked that it could be the same rat they had been searching for. They rushed toward it, but before they could get close, landmines exploded, blocking their path.

"You four, stop."

"Wait? The rat talks?" José asked.

"I'm not a rat, idiot. This is a marsupial. Nice to meet you. My name is Wladeírson. When my lab exploded, I implanted my consciousness into this body. Now, I share it with my pet, Pedro."

Afonso fainted.

After blacking out, they awoke in a white, empty plane. Looking around, they saw Thanatos, defenseless at that moment. Afonso considered attacking him, but an unseen force prevented him. Then, in that blank void, a voice echoed, counting down:

5:00

4:59

4:58…

Thanatos began walking toward Afonso. His steps were calm and light. Even as the embodiment of death itself, he carried no weight in that moment…

"WHERE ARE WE, THANATOS?" Afonso asked.

"We are in an alternate plane of Earth. I've been here before, many times. It's like a therapy room we don't fight here, we have no powers, no strength at all."

3:37…

"Time is passing, Afonso."

"What do you want me to do?"

"We need to set a date for a great war. Your army against mine."

"Agreed. What are the consequences?"

"If I survive the battle, the power within you and Sebastião will be mine. But if you survive, you will finally put an end to this era where I've caused countless people and civilizations to perish. And the prophecy of the Sacred Knights will be fulfilled."

"In 43 years, then?"

"2022… That works for me. You'll need plenty of time to gather an army, and more importantly… you'll be old. But I accept."

"My age won't be a problem, nor will recruiting people for my army. You judge us humans, but you have no idea that the ones I'll bring are just as powerful as you."

0:05

"BEFORE WE RETURN, WHAT ARE THE SACRED KNIGHTS?"

"Dante never told you? Then it's better this way. HAHAHAHA!"

0:01

"YOU SON OF A—"

Afonso regained consciousness and overheard his friends talking.

"You said he was drowning himself in alcohol, right?"

"Yeah, that was one hell of a hangover."

"It wasn't a hangover, Sebastião. I was in a completely empty white space… How did he describe it again? Like a therapy room… We were pure there. None of us had powers, and we couldn't attack each other…"

"A kind of Pure Dimension?"

"Almost. We set up a fight."

"A FIGHT?"

"Actually, in his words, a war."

"A W-WAR?!"

"He told us to gather our strength so the prophecy would be fulfilled. I'm going to train as much as possible until the day arrives. Sebastião, you should go back to your family, but keep training."

"I'll stick around for a while. Let's train together."

"Perfect. José, Genivaldo, I need you both to train too. And Wladeírson…"

"I'll improve myself. Thirty years is a long time."

They returned to the city. Afonso invited Sebastião for a drink, and they went to the same bar they had visited two years ago. This time, they knew that the disaster from before wouldn't repeat itself. They had time to prepare and more importantly, they had hope that the future could change.

Afonso found himself intrigued by their conversation.

"So, you had kids?"

"Yeah, hahaha. Maria and William."

"How old are they?"

"Five years old."

"Then I have to be an awesome uncle! Hahaha."

"You're my brother, man."

And now… what will happen to our heroes?