Why?

Everything was bathed in dark crimson blood. It had crawled into the very cracks of the Earth ravaged by the behemoths colossal strength. Pooled around the numerous bodies of people and monsters alike that now laid cold on the ground - the majority mutilated beyond recognition. Their limbs were similar to minced meat that spread along the razed streets of what had once been a city. Their flesh a murky brownish-green that was unsightly to the eye - yet, before the Scourge, it could’ve been something more. Rather than an abomination of life that had it’s very existence be the source of nightmares - perhaps it was something before it had been infested. Before having been corrupted and twisted by it’s touch.

Why must it end this way? After everything I had finally amounted to… for finally being able to change!

The streets that would’ve once been bustling with life and commotion were deathly silent. There was only the exception of the buildings groans - it were as if they mourned the death of its people. The high rise buildings that once reached for the skies were now debris and ruins. Cars that drove people from place to place were still. Smoke and flames had now shrouded the streets as if to hide the horrendous sight of anarchy.

… I hate this… Why’s it so quiet… Why is everything so dark…

Veiled beneath the shroud of smoke and on the devastated asphalt road was a man. He was laid amidst the battle of the Scourge and bathed in blood. But that wasn’t the problem. He was scorched beyond recognition. A smoldering lump of flesh that had his skin burnt to a darkened crisp. The remnants of the car nearby had exploded during the fight and caught him in the aftermath whilst he recovered. Pieces of shrapnel had pierced his body as blood leaked onto the cold hard ground - dyeing it in a deep crimson shade of red, just like the many others around him.

I don’t want to be alone…

He was afraid. Scared. Terrified even. Yet, there was something more primal and horrible festering deep within his mind. The seed of hatred he had sealed long ago. It had now bloomed from the hate for the Federation. He had endured the tribulations of the tower - of the Federation - for this? This wasn’t what they had promised. They said they could become strong. That they could protect their homeworld. That they would provide as much assistance as needed. Yet, here he was, on top of death’s door. He hated that.

But then again… if only I had been a better person… perhaps something could’ve changed… or was it all rigged from the start? We had their leader - the Gravemind - we could’ve saved everyone… why would they just let it live like that? Why?!

His hatred consumed him in his reverie of the past. Of how he was before the arrival of the Federation. Whilst Earth had still been a peaceful and beautiful place - how he had taken everything for granted. He had thrown his life away in pursuit of his greed. He gambled, smoked, and drank - now that he had a chance to think about it, everyone had hated him. The family he had taken for granted, their faces were now nothing more than a faint memory. Even when the towers and Federation appeared he had wasted away his chance to acquire the strength to change - to grow for the better. He was regretful.

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Tears slipped from the rims of his eyes as he tried to gaze at the clouded skies. His vision was taken long ago by the flames, yet he still tried. If he could see, there would be no clouds, but instead the sky that had been infested by the Scourge that was a murky brown. It was warped and twisted from what had once been the beautiful blues he had once adored.

Beyond the anarchy and pandemonium that enveloped the city however, alongside the man materialized a lanky humanoid figure. It was tall, at a staggering 3 metres in height, it glanced over the mayhem with it’s dominant gaze. It’s eyes were soon laid upon the man, a smoldering lump of burnt flesh that had lost all energy to move. Pity had overcame the ethereal beings gaze as he towered over him. It’s voice echoed throughout the desolate landscape as he spoke to the man. It sounded sagely and wise, as if it had endured milleniums to come to this point.

“Luther… looks like our contract will soon come to an end… although, it’s not exactly what I would call a great farewell…”

The man, a lump of smoldering flesh, trembled as he tilted his head towards the ethereal being. He tried to speak, yet nothing could be heard.

‘You do not need to speak, Luther. We can communicate with our minds if need be, as heralded by the contract.’

Luther’s voice entered the beings mind abruptly. His voice was lively in deep contrast to his deathly state.

‘... I don’t understand… I don’t understand at all! How could this happen?!’

‘I’m sorry… I’m truly sorry…’

‘...’

‘Unfortunately, you’ll soon leave this world… I know you can feel it… Is there anything you would like to say? Perhaps a wish I could try grant for heralding the contract for this long?’

Silence ensued afterwards as Luther tilted his head to the other side. His voice was more subtle, filled with remorse and nostalgia as he tilted his head back towards the ethereal being.

‘I wanted to be… something better… a better person… Can you grant me that?’

The shadowy figure stood silently as he averted his gaze from the man. It was enough of an answer for Luther, even though he couldn’t of seen what it had did.

‘Hahaha… I thought so, not even a Star Lord could grant me that wish… I can never be something better… can I? It’s already too late for regrets, yet here I am…. Isn’t that funny... Jehuty...’

‘I am, once again, truly sorry…’

Heavy silence descended upon the battlefield. Luther’s head that was tilted towards Jehuty was now limp. Slumped along the cold hard ground, never to rise again. Jehuty’s hand reached out and closed Luther’s widened eyes, putting him to rest.

“It is regrettable, you had so much promise, so much potential… yet you were consumed by your greed… You could’ve had a chance to end this war once and for all… To save all of us…”

Wait...

Then an idea came to mind. It was something preposterous, and only a fool would do it… but if it was Luther, maybe a miracle could be born. Perhaps he truly could grant his wish. He had guided Luther during his days within the tower as his contracted Sponsor, and had tried to help him redeem himself. All in order to bring out the potential he had lost. Yet it didn’t work, not until he experienced sorrow and loss during his last days of the tower. By then, it had been too late, his growth was brought to a halt before the sight of the Scourge.

These emotions that Luther experienced at the very end…

Jehuty glanced over at the corpse, hints of hope could be traced from the Star Lord’s eyes.

Regret, remorse, a yearning to be something more… he could be triggered to change for the better during the first stages of the tower… But, these emotions would be hard to send through time… even if they do make it, it would be through a dream, and not the memories themselves…

Jehuty gave the body one further glance before making up its mind. It would take a great toll on him, but in order to end the Scourge once and for all, it was a small price.

“I’ll see you later… Luther…”

Reality warped and distorted, everything converged towards Jehuty as a blindingly great light enveloped everything in sight. Abruptly, darkness engulfed the light and brought everything to an end. What was left was the smile of the lanky humanoid. Its body was darkness in itself. It was everything and anything. All that could be heard was the reverberating joyous laughter of the darkened being as everything returned to what it once was.