Slowly, Sero began to explain everything that had happened after they left the arcade bar earlier, watching as both Luna and Nala grew more distressed with every word.
"And now I guess you know that the alliance has split their forces to deal with the outbreaks rising in the north," he finished quietly, unable to meet their gazes. Amaya had held his hand the entire time, her grip reassuring.
For a long while, the only sounds heard was the succubus sobbing softly, whereas Nala continued to have an empty look. It was as if the Shadereaper had locked herself out of her emotions, unable to process what had just happened. Sero felt a stab of guilt, as if he had somehow failed them.
"Well... I'm just glad you two are okay," Luna finally stopped crying, taking a deep breath as she wiped away her tears. "I can't even imagine what you must be going through. If there's anything I can do to help, you know I'm here for you both."
Nala, still looking distant, finally spoke up. "Yeah... I'm here too. Whatever you need, just let me know." Her voice was barely audible, but it was clear she meant it.
Sero looked up at them with a grateful smile. "Thanks guys. I'm... Amaya and I have had some time to process it, but I know Casey was just as important to you two as well. If anything, I'm here if you guys need anything."
"So am I," Amaya added, squeezing Sero's hand. "Like Casey said: We're a family, and we'll get through this together."
Sero nodded, feeling a little of his burden lifted by their words. He glanced at Nala, noting the slight tremor in her hands as she gripped her chair. The Shadereaper had always seemed so calm, so composed, but now she looked... human. Vulnerable. He wasn't used to seeing her show so much emotion before.
"So, uh... what now?" Luna asked, breaking the heavy silence. "I mean, we can't exactly go back to the way things were before. Not with Culling and the outbreaks getting worse..."
"To paraphrase what Kaizo said... we just sit tight," Sero smiled dryly. "With no leads on Culling, all we can do is prepare ourselves for whatever comes next."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "As for the outbreaks, we can't let them stop us. We'll just have to be extra careful and double down on our usual protocols. The other night it happened, we managed to hold them off, and I don't see why we can't do it again."
"Technically Sero, you almost single-handedly held off the outbreaks we came across," Nala finally spoke, though she still seemed visibly shaken. "By the time that man Peter and I ran out of steam, you were still full of energy. If there's one thing I'm sure about, it's that I can rely on your strength."
"Thanks, Nala. But it's not just about me. We were a team, remember? I couldn't have done it without any of you." Sero smiled weakly, but it was clear he meant every word.
"Speaking of strength," Luna interjected, seemingly relieved to change the mood of the atmosphere, "You've become exponentially stronger since the tournament, Sero. The mana I'm sensing from you is incredibly dense. What the heck have you been doing?"
"I have?" Sero blinked in surprise. "It doesn't feel like I have."
"Actually, she has a point," Amaya added with a nod. "Your mana signature has been... off the charts, lately. You're much stronger than you were before the tournament. Of course, it might be due to the stressors that forced you to... you know." She trailed off, squeezing his hand gently. "But I mean, you did say you survived a match against Max, so that has to count for something, right?"
"Maybe," Sero said, shrugging. "But I honestly don't feel any different. Maybe it's because of all the skills I've copied so far."
"How many have you copied?" Luna asked, grabbing her can and taking a long swig.
"Uh... not including my own, I think nearly 50 or so," Sero replied, trying to recall the exact number.
"Fifty?!" Luna choked on her drink, nearly spitting it out. "Since the tournament?"
"Uh, yeah?" Sero replied, a bit taken aback.
"That's... incredible," Luna muttered, shaking her head. "I can't believe you've managed to remember all those skills. How do you even do that?"
"Perfect Recall, mostly. Copy just allows me to replicate it, analysis lets me understand the concept of it, and recall helps me remember how to do it," Sero scratched the back of his head.
"No wonder your mental state is in shambles," the succubus shook her head.
"Oh, don't worry about me," Sero waved her off. "I'm used to it. It's not like I can forget everything I've copied, you know?"
"Still, you've got to be the most well-rounded Ascendant in the city now," Luna mused. "With all those skills at your disposal, you could probably defeat Culling single-handedly."
Sero glanced down at his hands. He never thought about it, but Luna was right. The more skills he acquired, the easier his battles were becoming. It was like he had an endless arsenal of moves to choose from. "Well, I appreciate the compliment, but I think it's still too early to say that. I've only been using these skills for a short while, and I'm still learning how to properly incorporate them into my fighting style."
"Factoring in elemental spells, I don't think even Nala and I combined have as many skills as you do," Amaya mused, looking thoughtful. "But I'm sure we can all work together to find a way to take them down." She gave him a reassuring smile. "We've got this, Sero. You just focus on getting stronger, and we'll handle the rest."
"Thanks, Amaya. You're the best," Sero replied, returning her smile.
"Bleh," Luna made a face of disgust. "I didn't realize how mushy you two would end up being."
"Oh," Sero remembered the original topic. "Amaya and I aren't... official yet. I mean, yeah we've kissed a couple of times, but-"
"What?" Nala leaned forward. "You guys are already at that point? Why am I being left out of things?"
"Oh, come on, Nala," Luna laughed. "You know that's not true. Besides, you've always been more of a free spirit than Sero and Amaya."
"That's true, but I met Sero shortly after Amaya did," the Shadereaper sat back with a slight frown. "I just thought of us like the three musketeers or something. Now it feels like I'm third wheeling. I hardly ever see you two anymore."
"Sorry, Nala," Sero offered a small smile. "I'll make it up to you. We could go to a dessert place, my treat."
The Shadereaper's eyes brightened immediately. "Okay. I forgive you guys."
"Really? Sweets is all it took to convince her?" Luna teased, earning a glare from Nala. "Alright, alright. How about we all go to that ice cream place near the Ascendant Association? But you owe me too, Sero." She crossed her arms and stuck out her lower lip in a pout.
"Pardon? Why do I owe you?"
"You said you'd keep me safe at your penthouse."
"I- Are you still on about that? It's not safe at my penthouse!"
"So I assume Amaya hasn't been sleeping over then?" Luna countered.
"Er..." Sero couldn't think of a response. It was true that Amaya had been sleeping over at his penthouse a couple of times, but that was different.
The succubus waved a hand. "It's only because you got me addicted to the luxury of your penthouse. Not to say that your dad's home isn't nice, Nala."
"I liked Sero's penthouse, too. I was having fun playing games there." Nala picked up the bag of treats again.
"So what? You guys wanna move back into my penthouse?" Sero asked warily. "Not that you guys were paying the rent anyway."
"I don't know about Nala, but I definitely do," Luna winked, finishing her beer. "Besides, with Gregor and the other Janitors up north, both his home and your penthouse are just as risky, aren't they?"
"W-well, yeah, but-"
"Don't worry," the succubus gave a knowing smile at Sero and Amaya. "I won't interrupt you two if... anything were to happen."
Amaya made a tiny noise whereas Sero blushed and looked away.
"How about we all get going?" he managed to choke out. "I could go for some ice cream right about now."
----------------------------------------
The four of them ended up at the ice cream shop near the Ascendants Association, and Sero bought them all their favorite flavors, wincing at the damage to his bank account. They sat down at a table near the window, watching people stroll by as they enjoyed their treats. The atmosphere was light and relaxed, and it was a welcome change from the tension that had been building up lately.
"So, are you guys going to the association right after this?" Luna asked Sero and Amaya, watching as Nala devoured her sundae.
"Yeah... Dante allowed for us to come in late if it meant keeping Sero in check," the Spellblade smiled wryly, giving Sero a glance.
"Oh? Does that mean you're in charge of him?" the succubus purred teasingly.
"No one's in charge of me," Sero protested, glancing at Amaya nervously. "And I don't need anyone to keep an eye on me."
"Oh? You sure about that?" Luna raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. "Because from what I've heard, and what you've told me, you've been doing a lot more... reckless stuff lately."
Sero felt his face flush as he suddenly became interested in his cup of ice cream. "I've just been... stressed, I guess. There's been a lot going on." He took a bite of his ice cream, his gaze drifting out the window.
"As long as you're okay, that's what matters," Nala spoke up quietly, moving onto her second sundae. "I... we can't handle losing another friend."
The mention of friends seemed to hang in the air between them, and Sero couldn't help but glance at Amaya. She looked at him with a soft smile, reaching across the table to take his hand. The gesture was small, but it made him feel warm inside.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"Well, if anyone can handle Sero, it's me," Amaya said with a confident smile. "And I'm not going anywhere, you know that."
The four of them continued to enjoy their ice cream, laughing and chatting about various things. As the sun rose into the sky, Sero felt a wave of contentment wash over him. Granted, things were still looking grim, but he chose to focus on the moment, with his friends around him. He was grateful for their support, and he knew that they were all there for each other.
Sero suddenly caught sight of a crowd of Ascendants flooding out of the association. Among them were Dante and Meredith, barking orders at the others. The other three women noticed the commotion, glancing amongst themselves with worry.
"Ah... seems like we might be needed," Sero murmured, beginning to get up. "Luna, Nala, you two–"
"We'll stay at your penthouse," the succubus finished, standing up. "You and Amaya just make sure you're okay."
Sero wanted to argue against it, but bit his tongue. "Sounds good."
Leaving Nala and Luna to pay for the dessert, Sero rushed over with Amaya following close behind. As they caught up with Dante and Meredith, the Sin Reaper glanced at them, narrowing his eyes at the sight of Sero.
Expecting Dante to dismiss him, the Sin Reaper simply jerked his head at Sero, allowing him to stay.
"Nice of you two to join us," Dante remarked. "We got a sudden spike in outbreaks. All Ascendants on hand are being mobilized right now."
"What do you need us to do?" Sero asked.
Dante shared a look with Meredith, who shrugged his shoulders. With a sigh, the Sin Reaper turned back to Sero.
"As much as I want you to stay out and not cause trouble, I'm aware of how helpful you were in subduing the first outbreak incident. I'm giving you one last chance this time- Don't fuck things up."
Sero nodded, understanding what Dante meant. "I'll try not to."
"Meredith will act as recon and communications, connecting us with Enzo and Maximillian," Dante began. "I'll head to the higher ranked outbreaks. You and Amaya, help out with the lower ranked outbreaks and evacuating citizens."
Sero nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Understood."
As they split up to take on their assignments, Sero and Amaya found themselves surrounded by chaos. Citizens were running through the streets, screaming and trying to find safety.
Sero could feel his anxiety rising as he recalled the last outbreak incident, which led to Casey's kidnapping. He felt a soft squeeze on his arm, finding Amaya giving him a reassuring smile.
"Hey, it'll be fine. I'm here with you." Amaya said, giving him another gentle squeeze. "We've got this."
"Thanks." Sero could feel his body relax a fraction as he returned Amaya's smile. He casted his usual rotation of skills, summoning his dragon twins and the full face card court to help evacuate the citizens to safety as they came across their first outbreak portal.
The yellow-ringed black portal was spitting out a steady stream of what looked like fleshy tree giants, their bodies covered in leaves and branches. Sero and Amaya fought against the throng of monsters, their weapons flashing as they cleaved through the twisted forms. They easily incinerated the monsters with multiple Fire Blasts, quickly closing the outbreak within seconds.
As they caught their breath, they surveyed the area. A few dozen citizens were still nearby, cowering in fear. "Are you guys okay?" Sero asked, rushing over to them. "We need to get you to safety."
One of the elderly citizens stepped forward, his expression weary. "Thank you, my boy. You and your friend have been so brave. We're just grateful to be alive."
"Thank us after we get you to safety," Amaya smiled grimly, helping Sero escort them to the association building.
As they moved the citizens to safety, they came across another outbreak, this time a group of glowing red spheres spitting out fanged, razor-clawed creatures that resembled demonic insects. Sero and Amaya fought back-to-back, taking down the monsters with ease. As they closed the second outbreak, they glanced at each other, both relieved that they had managed to keep the citizens safe so far.
Their relief was short-lived, however, as they spotted yet another outbreak portal ahead. This one was much larger than the others, its obsidian surface crackling with arcane energy. The portal seemed to be spitting out massive, demonic beasts with glowing red eyes and enormous, twisted horns. A crowd of Ascendants were already engaged with the beasts, trying to contain them.
"Sero, go help them out; I'll get these people to safety!" Amaya shouted to him as she gently nudged him towards the outbreak. She hesitated for a brief moment before pulling Sero back and giving him a kiss. "Try not to die, okay?"
He smiled stupidly as he watched her dash off to escort the citizens, but then realized the gravity of the moment and turned to join the battle against the demonic beasts. As he ran, he drew upon the power of his dragons, feeling their strength flow through him as he summoned them to his side. When he reached the outbreak, he found himself face to face with the demonic beasts, their glowing red eyes fixing on him.
With a roar, Sero threw himself into the fray, swinging his sword with all his might. The dragons circled overhead, breathing fire upon the beasts while he fought on the ground. The battle was fierce, the monsters relentless in their assault. Sero could feel himself tiring, but he refused to give in. He drew upon his reserves of strength, summoning his court of cards to help confuse and distract the beasts, giving him an opening to strike.
In the back of his mind, Sero realized just how much of a difference it made for the Ascendants to have him join them as he and his familiars decimated the beasts with ease, leaving them to stand around and watch in awe. With the last of the demonic beasts slain, Sero assessed the area, noticing Amaya helping to escort the last of the citizens to safety. She glanced at him and smiled, giving him a thumbs-up. The relief he felt was momentary, however, as he noticed another outbreak forming, this one even larger than the last.
For a moment, everyone froze in place, their attention locked on the portal that split open with a thundering crack. A deep dark purple ringed the void, sending out tendrils of violet lightning that struck nearby Ascendants. Their screams were cut short as the lightning vaporized them in an instant.
It was the same feeling as before. Sero could sense an overwhelming weight of fear and dread, more prominent than when Malice appeared. The other Ascendants were also frozen in place, unsure of what to do. They exchanged worried glances, their eyes fixed on the portal as it continued to grow larger, its tendrils of violet lightning striking out at anything within reach. Amaya, still several meters away from Sero, took a step back, her expression pale.
Finally, a humanoid figure stepped out from the portal. Upon closer look, it was a tanned skinned man, with short, dark hair and a black stripe running down below each eye. He wore ornate, golden clothes and a golden neck brace. His chin was held high, his expression arrogant and mocking. Sero was faintly reminded of a pharaoh.
The pressure radiating off of the newcomer was unlike anything Sero had ever felt before. Compared to Malice or even Gregor, there was one thing that Sero knew for sure: Whoever or whatever this man was, he was incomparably stronger than both of them.
The man's dark violet eyes were drawn to Sero, and for a moment, Sero felt as if he was being physically pinned down by the man's gaze. "Ah, I see you've managed to gather quite the little group here," the man said, his voice booming through the air. "How quaint." He stepped forward, taking slow, deliberate steps towards the Ascendants. The air crackled around him, a sinister energy permeating through everyone there. It seemed like the world had darkened slightly despite the shining sun above.
Sero felt a chill run down his spine as the man approached. "Who are you?" he called out, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. "And what do you want?"
Instead of replying, the man simply gazed around, seemingly disappointed.
"It seems as though my welcoming party is less than subpar," the man said, his tone mocking. "I had hoped that the ones who were calling to me would prepare something more...grand." He paused, his gaze drifting over the other Ascendants. "But, I suppose beggars can't be choosers."
One of the Ascendants who were near the man finally broke, shouting a battle cry as he dashed forward. He raised his axe, preparing to swing down at the man.
"Wait... no..." Sero could only whisper as he watched the scene unfold before him.
With a chilling smile, the man's eyes flashed purple, and the Ascendant who charged immediately went up in violet flames. It was instantaneous, and the other Ascendants recoiled in horror, their hands raised in shock. The burning man collapsed to the ground, his screams echoing through the streets.
"That was a good start, but I suppose we can do better, yes?" The man raised a hand upwards to the sky. It was a simple motion, but everyone in the vicinity shivered as a wave of unsettling power washed over them. Even Sero felt his heart skip a beat as the man's energy coursed through him.
"I am the one who swallows the Sun."
A roaring wave of darkness erupted from the man, washing over everyone and everything. The shadows blossomed upwards, covering the sky in an endless field of black tendrils. It was as if the world was being swallowed whole by a massive, malevolent creature. As the darkness enveloped them, the man's form was briefly obscured, but his presence only grew stronger.
In mere moments, it seemed as if the afternoon had become night, as if the sun had never been there at all. The world had been swallowed by darkness, and the only light left was the man's own glowing eyes. Even the air felt different, heavier and more oppressive. The city around them was engulfed by an endless void of shadows and darkness. Sero could feel the pressure of the man's presence pushing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
"Sero..." Amaya came up to him, gripped his arm tightly. "He's a Catastrophe, isn't he?"
Sero couldn't respond, couldn't take his gaze from the man who had just covered the world in darkness. He had never felt such fear in his life, not even when he had faced Malice.
"Oh? So you are aware of who I am," the man grinned coldly. "I am not just any Catastrophe. I am Apep, the Chaotic."
"The... Egyptian embodiment itself?" Amaya squeaked, her voice barely audible over the howling wind that had sprung up from nowhere. Sero could see the fear in her eyes, the understanding that this was no ordinary being they were facing.
Apep laughed, a grating and malevolent sound that chilled Sero to the bone. "Yes, I am. I am the darkness, the chaos, the end of all things." He spread his arms wide, seemingly relishing in the power that flowed through him. "And now, I am here."
Still rigid in fear, everyone watched as Apep snapped his fingers, sending out a rippling ring of darkness that cleaved everything in its path.
Sero barely activated his Force Field in time, reinforcing it with all the mana he could muster as he managed to block the wave before it hit him and Amaya. Despite the strengthening, the green barrier shattered upon impact, blasting the both of them away.
"NO!" He screamed as he lost his grip on Amaya, watching her fly away from him. His Force Field had shattered under the onslaught of Apep's power, and now he was helpless. The city around him was a shadowy wasteland, the buildings and people blending together into a sea of darkness. He felt like he was drowning, like the world was ending all around him.
Out of all the enemies he had faced before, Apep seemed to be an unclimbable wall, the apex of power. Sero struggled to get back on his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. Corpses of Ascendants and civilians alike littered the ground, saturated with debris. Sero forced himself to look at Apep.
The Catastrophe leisurely strolled among the carnage, his movements almost lazy. He paid no heed to Sero, walking right past him. Instead, he stopped at the center of the city, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. "Ah, my little playthings," he crooned. "Your world is so complacent, so ripe for the taking."
Sero could only watch as Apep snapped his fingers once more, opening up several portals that spat out monstrous snakes. The creatures slithered out of the portals, their eyes glowing red and fangs bared. They immediately converged on Sero and the survivors, moving with unnatural speed and agility.
"And you call yourself an S-rank."
A golden staff swung near Sero, decapitating the first snake before it could reach him. A couple of red and blue beams of mana began raining down on the serpent army as a jade spectral reptilian swarm met them.
Sero shook himself out of his stupor, finding Liam, Elena, Kanna, and a bunch of other people he recognized behind him. Raul, Anya, Sal, Zioth... nearly every Ascendant Sero had met were now here, aiding the survivors.
"Sero! I've got Amaya!" Elizabeth called out to him, slinging one of Amaya's arms over her shoulder.
"W-what?" Sero breathed out. He couldn't believe it. It was like a dream, a nightmare from which he couldn't wake up. "You're all here?"
"I can't believe you beat me," Liam scowled, casting a combination of Hellfire and Hellspark to cover his body. "Of course we're here. The outbreaks everywhere else suddenly closed, and we felt a massive presence suddenly spawn."
"Although... that guy seems much stronger than Malice..." Elena remarked dryly, showing a hint of unease as she summoned her alligator familiar.
"What about it? We have Sero here," Raul grinned, stepping up and clapping him on the back. "Besides, with all of us here, I'm confident we can take that guy out."
Sero wanted to believe Raul's words, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There was a weight in his chest, a sense of foreboding that he couldn't quite explain. He looked at Apep again, who had begun to laugh, his body distorting as he did so. The laughter was chilling, inhuman.
"Yes, this is what I wanted," Apep cackled, his body shifting and twisting. "I wanted you all here, all in one place. Now, the real fun begins." The air around him seemed to distort, as if he was warping reality itself.
Sero and the others nervously exchanged glances as Apep's power rose even higher, pressing down on them like an invisible weight. "What do we do?" Sal whispered, his eyes wide with fear. "He's too strong."
"We do what Ascendants are supposed to," Dante suddenly appeared next to them, wielding his Rend scythe. Next to him, Meredith was holding what looked like a gigantic needle in one hand and rings of silver thread in the other. The Sin Reaper moved to stand in front, glancing back at the others.
"Protect this world. No plans. Just survive."