“Sorry mother, but you have debts to pay, and sadly I'm not the only one here to collect,” Gamodren stated flippantly as his form shimmered and various people appeared in the space around him.
“I’ve waited millenia for this. Stepmother oh sweet catharsis, doesn’t it drive you mad? Being away so long? I knew hedging my bets on that curiosity would pay dividends.” An older blond man resembling the ruler of Etravonia, and Maldain, only his eyes were purple swirls that spiraled into nothingness.
When Kyrion squinted he noticed the man’s ears were pointed like an elf, only each was in a different direction. A vague memory involving how he obtained his spirits played back in his memory and despite some minor differences, this was the man who gave him his spirits, and yet now, Kyrion could tell that he wasn’t just a spirit master.
“It’s been a while, cousin! Remember we need to share.” Stated the mad golden-eyed swordsman, that was Maldain.
Ten minutes prior, in the air the clouds covered in a field that redirected light and sound to make everyone aboard his back invisible. Gamodren transported a gaggle of monsters wearing the flesh of people. As each one had a screw loose.
A tired woman with wild blue hair sat atop a cloud and sighed. “Can you keep it down? I haven’t slept in… Oh has that day finally come? So is that little one Xander’s bloodline? Did he spot us?” She pointed tens of miles ahead to the top of a building where a figure had jumped into a window then quickly poked in and out as though confirming something, then bodies began to fly out the window.
“Both of them technically, though the big one is possessed.” Maldain nodded
“I knew it. He just has the same look in his eyes. Though I’d say, I didn't think you two were both involved, with this lesser world.”
An old man with a tired expression sighed. “Trash knows where to hide. Though it's odd seeing a mix of bloodlines like that. In theory he should be a corpse, though based on memory, someone must have altered time for this result. The Rion I know was nowhere near this strong this young.”
“You know how this goes. Monsters like him either die young or become one of us. Also, you need to start saying who you're talking about. Adjectives, nouns, use them so that people understand when you switch from one person or another” Stated a black-haired woman in a kimono, a third eye resting on her forehead as she watched the two of him.
“When was the last time we hung out like this, shame Xander is still in training for his new position. To think he’s stopped being a Renegade now of all times. Then there’s Time who is busy meddling with the rabble.” The blond man shook his head and sighed.
Gamodren sighed as he flew the people on his back towards the fighting.
“Why are you having a discussion that goes against my own organization's tenets?”
“Oh, you mean, They Who Document All? Don’t worry that the leader will be open to you becoming one of us, you even have the motive, means, and opportunity.”
“Yeah, but my fiance is also in that organization. I don’t intend to leave, over something so minor.”
“You can stay in that one if you intend to be a grunt forever. Offer stands but I won’t ask again.”
“Fine, why did my father even direct me to you guys anyway.”
“Well, that's simple kiddo. You see, your mother has angered a lot of people over the years.” The blue-haired woman sighed into her hand. “Time doesn't heal all wounds, it just makes drive more important.”
“And for one reason or another, we intend to wipe her out, soul and all.”
“Oh, so I take it you all are at least his level?” Gamodren pointed to Maldain.
“If anything, he was the youngest of us until we recruited from this world. The people here start young and get training quickly, and you fight all the time while remembering to practice what makes you different. Those few years drastically increase overall power and strength but can leave some mentally scared in various ways.” The blond man looked at his cousin.
“So, how long are we going to talk up here?” The old man asked.
“When mother makes her move we strike. I doubt that man is a bad pawn but his body returning where it belongs would inconvenience her current master. And unless he’s been increasing his range further than he had prior, it is unlikely that he saw us clearly.”
Maldain sighed before pulling a modified temporal coffin out of a ring and opening it up, to reveal a fully healed Damian who was very confused. The action was repeated three more times as Tiffany, Ander, and Chiyo also appeared.
The woman in a kimono looked at Chiyo in confusion. “Where did you kidnap someone like that?”
“Ask him, spatial magic eludes me. Why do we even need another universe?” Maldain pointed to Ander who was the first to come to.
“What?”
“Explain why your wife is here?”
“Oh that. Kyrion found a way to twist space enough to slip through to another universe and using his domain, allows him to take people along.”
“So he’s been to the lands of Abe?”
“I believe there was a ruler with that name some time ago. His face is still on money in the country my friend ended up in.”
“It’s likely a common name by now.”
“Probably. Now then, who, what, when, where, and do I smell a fight?”
“Not important. Can your friend go from one world to another at will?”
“He needs to reach the expert tier and that world is also in danger due to something similar in this world is happening there.”
“Ah, more reason to save it.”
“Can’t get there if he dies. Well you could, but I believe the trick he used once won’t work again, to get there after if he dies again.”
“What did he do?”
“He uses a time loop to split his soul from his body to train in the lost realm. Accidentally brought me with him as well.”
“That would explain why you are nearly at our level despite not having reached your world’s expert tier.”
“He brought me along first, which led to a blood oath of servitude being broken.”
“Ander what do you plan on doing after this?”
“Honeymoon, white beaches and no one trying to kill us. Then we need to return to earth during its transition to help out. After that aside from peace, I don’t know what will happen next.”
“What's with you young people, and getting married? I didn;t get married until I was two hundred and forty-five.”
“You’re forgetting your first wife? Must be getting senile old man.” Maldain sighed as he looked
“You’re only what six years younger?”
“Oh so now the six years matter.”
The two cousins looked ready to fight.”
“Shush, we’re here. I’ll drop the kids off now.”
“I’ll stay. I’ve been looking to feed my tiger a bit.” Black stripes appeared on Ander’s flesh as his eyes became catlike. In his hands, a halberd coated in electricity appeared. Swords were nice and hand-to-hand was interesting, but Ander loved polearms.
The blue-haired woman brought Tiffany Chiyo and Damian down while Ander stood up there a bit longer.
“This type of dragon grants power proportional to how much damage you deal to it. So don’t worry about hitting it last. Just hit it as hard as you can and maybe you’ll get 1%. Little one.” The old man smiled as he added the adjectives like he was supposed to.
A vein pulsed on Ander’s forehead and the essence he had leaked began to turn the sky black for a moment.
“Correction 10%. If you ever get tired of peace…”
“If I live to a hundred I'll likely consider it, though only if my wife is also allowed to join. She’s been practicing our magic for upwards of five months outside of time dilation.”
“Maldain? How good is that one?” The blond one asked.
“On par with me in my thirties.”
The blond man shivered a bit. “Though Ander is past that, by leaps and bounds. The other boy is about tied, but he’s spoken for. Time is better with music and weapon types.”
“So, does this mean we’re assisting in defending this planet during the incursion?”
“We can vote on it later. Ah, cousin, wasn’t this how Xander Incarnated. Outnumbered and out manned?”
“To be fair, he did succeed in his Oath.”
“He did say he’d destroy Limguard himself if the Beasts came knocking as it was the only way to keep their plague from spreading.”
“What about Ace?”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Ah look, let's put a pin in this conversation. Bertha has arrived.”
Ander had been lost in plenty of conversations. But a bunch of people tens of times his age were talking about world-changing events like the newest gossip at a book club. While people were dying.
“Live long enough and see someone you once knew or loved get reincarnated after a few centuries and you tend to care about the lives of regular folk. In three hundred years the old farmer who died to a boar attack will either be back there farming in the same place, or attempting to break out of the cycle. If you’re weak enough, sometimes you’ll be given a handicap and keep all your memories.” The old man stated,
“What is the purpose of it all then. Fighting? Getting stronger? Is it to survive.”
“Couldn’t tell you. But listen, if someone challenges me I fight them. If I challenge someone strong. They better be able to survive long enough to verbally surender. Tomato, potato. All the same. It’s rare when new souls join our cycle, always mixes things up and throws the seers for a loop. You are one of those curiosities, I can’t grasp how strong you are.”
“Oi focus, we have a fight co—”
“Die!”
The area went silent for a moment as the cousin jumped from the dragon’s back and made their move.
Then and only then did Gamodren reply. “Why don’t you try it? After sending so many of us to death, don’t you think it’s time to pay the piper their due?”
A smoking pipe was delivered to Gamodren’s mouth via serpents that soon returned to their place.
“Myriad world.” Gamodren stated a puff of some obscured everyone for the briefest of moments and as it faded, everyone in the fog was gone.
“Your dead!” The Beast Blood Emperor had nearly the perfect chance to sneak attack. Kyrion let his guard down for a window. Had he not talked, he might have caught Kyrion by surprise.
In the brief bellow, Kyra had moved forward and slammed two hands into his side.
“Expel Power!” The blow burned where it landed and vast amounts of mana, life essence, and D.E were all being sucked out at once the power of such a blow caused the Emperor's form to falter and shift. Before the fight could progress, another form arrived. This one is in the form of a young man Nearly Identical to Kyrion, save for porcelain white skin, and a crazed look in albino red eyes. Most of the hair on his head was red up to the halfway point where it became whiter than snow as well.
“So we finally meet in person. Didn’t expect you to cause my people so much trouble early on.”
“Meteor swarm!” Kyrie decided that he wasn’t going to wait.
From the sky, ten giant meteorites began to fall straight towards them.
“You’ll kill us all!” The supposed Gios panicked for a brief moment revealing that this one feared death. Which was normal, but not something Kyrion would expect from him.
Kyrion placed a hand on his chest causing wings of flame to erupt from his back, while a robe of water surrounded his body, the contrasting elements working together to form steam which shrouded his form. An Onyx crown then covered his head enhancing his motor skills past their already enhanced rate.
Kyrion felt his body react to the power building and guessed he had a good ten minutes before he had to shut it down. Still, he hadn’t quite finished yet as time ceased to function.
A grandfatherly figure in robes sitting next to a peach tree sighed. “So you know, breaking through the barrier limiting your spatial magic will cost you ten years of your mortal life. The cost of defying your world's deity should be harsher. Do you continue?
“I should be dead already, what's ten years sooner. Can you take off twenty and increase my power?” Kyrion pushed his hand to the side in irritation.
Then as though time hadn’t stopped, white lines formed on Kyrion’s heart and tightened, the life having been pulled out successfully. Oddly enough the pain wasn’t the most he’d felt but he could tell that some of his hair had gone stark white.
Space became linked as the connection between Imala and Kyrion had broken. Unbeknownst to him, he had stepped into the path of a Renegade. A being that could not be summoned by other deities from this universe. The incursion wouldn’t call him away if he reached the expert tier, as various limitations on his power that his spirits had placed, were freed.
Three voices spoke in unison as Kyrion appeared behind the next Gios clone and held both temples as he restored their brain to an unaltered state in a single touch. The strange man recoiled in pain, afterimages followed behind Kyrion as he slammed an open palm into the chest of the beast blood empire.
“Burning purification!” White flames erupted inside the body’s core and soul carving away at the parasite and crippling it in a single blow.
Screams from multiple voices erupted inside his body as various creatures died at once. He had been hoarding excess parasites in his body to work as a backup. Had meant by the time Kyrion finished the only parasite present was the first and it wouldn’t get the chance to return fully.
“Go home uncle. You need to fight him now.” Opening two bags within his domain, a soul slipped out and flowed into the inert body of the emperor.
Turning to leave Kyrion felt a familiar hand pass through his torso.
“I’m lucky I'm paranoid.” Kyrion grabbed the arm and began to squeeze as a smile hit his face.
“What are you going on about?”
“Well, the thing is. I’m a plant clone. We’re all plant clones. When those meteors hit you’ll be the only one affected. This is how I checkmate my opponents.”
“Open gates of the Netherworld. Regents into these lands come and serve me!” The parasite ordered as it fought with the atrophied soul of his uncle.
“The thirteen clans serve you master.” Said a horned creature dressed in regal clothes, the entity didn’t bother raising its head.
“I need you to kill this interloper and guard me from those meteors.
The Regent didn’t respond as Kyrion’s smirk returned.
“I would like you to offer the person next to me a beat down, get him close to death but don’t kill him. Got it?”
The speaker stepped up first and punched the lower jaw of the Emperor hard enough to unhinge his jaw.
The one stepped up, Beal, and injected various proboscis into the demon lord before retreating.
The next 10 demons stood up and impacted the bound man one by one tearing the skin off of him and regenerating him to the degree the ranking expert who had been weakened, collapsed.”
“Kyra, finish it.”
“Sacrificial Exorcism.”
Kyrion felt his life force poured into the spell as more years were taken from him to fuel the spell, he’d poured 30 years worth into it, causing half of his hair to go stark white from the ends and halfway across his form, and strength waning as exhaustion hit him. “Huh, just ten left eh? I can work with that.” Kyrion watched as the beast blood Emperor died and his uncle fully returned to his body after forty years of dormancy.
The Emperor had finally paid his debts and the beast blood empire would soon be much weaker. This fight should be over.
The clone part had been a convincing lie, truth be told he couldn’t find that other part of him that had been resting with Volain in the hospital. He’d reached out to that portion of his mind only to find it inert and vacant.
“Oh…That was an interesting play.” Kyrion looked to his three present shards though his eyes landed on Kyrie..
“What?” Kyrie asked, leaning on his halberd.
“So… I assume you knew Gios had taken over one of my clones.”
Kyrie sighed. “You really are quick on the uptake. Yes, unlike the other two, you didn’t exactly beat me yourself. Thus my allegiance is my own, I have nothing against you personally. Unlike you I don’t like betting on a longshot or sacrificing my lifeforce to win a fight. I have died and unlike you, my soul was trapped in darkness for years. Sealed there by your brother, I won’t fall into that darkness again and I won’t let your recklessness drive me down.”
“That is a good point. You need some punishment for this but I don’t hate you yet.”Kyrion sighed as that sentiment was similar to the despair he felt when he first learned that he was sick, even now he could feel that at most he had twenty years left in this body before it rapidly began to decay.
“You don’t?”
“Nope. I did do all those things which has greatly shortened your and collectively all our lives. It wasn’t only my choice to make so I didn’t exactly prove your explanation wrong. Just a question when did you become a traitor?”
“Neutral at worst. Only thing I did was not say anything when I noticed your clone wasn’t connected. Self sabotage, but you still have other fish to fry. Do you really want to chase that bastard down?”
“Where is he right now? Before I get angry.”
“He’s searching for your parents. He’s aiming to put them down, then do the same to everyone you love. More than likely, it’s what he did to Kiara and Birdface. I had my memories heavily altered, while this one isn’t from this world.”
“Oh. A lot less than I expected. I already knew about that.”
“He’s trying to make you choose between saving your parents or saving your cousin, and friends.”
“That's a dumb question, and the correct answer is neither as the second I leave this area he attacks and kills you guys then moves onto the injured Volain and my uncle.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“My parents are somewhat weakened, but not defenseless. I imagine fighting them won’t be easy.”
“Damn, so you knew I was here the whole time.” A slightly younger mirror image of Kyrion stood before him. Where Kyrion’s skin was a caramel tone, Gios was deathly pale. Where Kyrion’s eyes were green, Gios appeared to have orange pupils. Whereas Kyrion was tall and slightly broad-shouldered despite his flexible build. Gios was thin, lanky, and brittle-looking. Though his height wasn’t much shorter.
“Of course, you're a version of me that thinks like a coward. Despite being somewhat stronger than many of your enemies, you fight like your always weaker, using every bit of advantage you can get.” Kyrion smirked.
“What are you going on about? I can kill you in an instant.”
“If you could have done so, you wouldn’t have revealed yourself. You see, we have similar styles. Only I don’t fight like I’m weaker.” Kyrion’s speed seemed like teleportation due to the speed at which he seemed to close the gap, the only thing confirming that it was movement alone was a sonic boom that ripped half the roof off of the hospital as an enhanced fist met a barrier of magic that shattered instantly causing shards of mana to fly everywhere as the blow broke through and found jaw.
Kyrion watched as Gios lost his entire lower face in one instance, then watched it regrow a moment later.
“Why is your right hook so strong?” Gios coughed up some teeth and then moved into a more combative stance.
Gios copied Kyrion moving at a similar speed with one major difference. Gios traveled through multiple loops to build speed and momentum into a punch that should have sent his ribs, heart, and lungs flying off the building. Yet the fist was embedded in Kyrion’s, chest stuck.
“Why did you try the same trick as last time? Removing my heart isn’t that easy anymore. You are welcome to try again.”
“I got it!” Gios squeezed, crushing the organ with ease. The effect caused blood to flow from Kyrion’s eyes as yellow veins appeared on the black sclera.
“My heart, oh the pain. Imala if I see you in the afterlife, I'm taking you down a peg. I’ll rebel until my soul is destroyed you hear!”
Kyrion then fell to a knee as the pain was clearly too much and wailed as he rolled around in pain and exaggerated gesticulations. At one point he’d bent back so far his head touched the ground while his stomach pointed upward as though his spine was disjointed then, as though totally unaffected he stood straight up without using his arms fully unaffected.
.
“Did you really think that would kill me. You’ll need to squeeze harder than that.” Kyrion said with one would assume was false bravado.
Then suddenly a green heart was ripped right out of his chest falling to the ground immediately. As it’s hand caught fire. In moments the heart exploded causing hundreds of olive pits to shoot out and embed itself in everything it touched.
In a matter of seconds, a hundred olive trees grew like weeds causing a curious type of Chaos.
“What are these strange plants! I’ve never seen anything like these before,Oh look at the time.” Kyrion teleported to his dungeon half a second before Fire fell upon the elven capital burning down any newly grown tree in seconds while blue lightning hit three places simultaneously. Kyrion’s clone, Gios, and the spot Kyrion had been standing in were smoking craters with little more than ash in two.
The true Gios had been safely hiding among evacuating villagers when the bolt seemed to miss, causing a stone to shoot from the ground at an odd angle and tear out his right eye.
A swear came from Gios as the wound was one he couldn’t heal. Thus he decided to retreat. Despite all his efforts Kyrion hadn’t figured out everything and in time, Gios would be ready next time. The score had been tied which was fine, he’d overestimated himself and underestimated the craftiness of someone who’d known he was coming.
Opening up a purple gateway the thin Gios hopped through. His only good eye focused on escape. The limb was not his only loss in this fight. He’d also lost two of his strongest servants stationed on this planet in one go. Then there were the servants provided by the blue-haired one., both had vanished from the world simultaneously with no explanation.
“Was this an elaborate set up?” Was the last thought he’d voice on Imala this day.
“Fifteen years left. Does this make me middle aged?” Kyrion sighed as he looked at his arms and sighed. If he kept pushing himself then he wouldn’t have much life. The Vigor he consumed took its toll, causing a second hit to Kyrion’s body as his muscles tensed and contracted hundreds of times over a minute.
“Why did you break a binding from Imala?”
“It was that, or death. But that's what I get for being ill prepared.” Kyrion relaxed when a set of familiar pincers found themselves around his neck.
“Who are you?” Asked an older man.
"Its about time." Kyrion crossed his arms.