The darkness between the stars stirred. In the wake of the erased colony, the
crystalline entities pulsed with the afterglow of devoured light, their fractured bodies
refracting the dying embers of stolen suns. They were not mere creatures—they were
harbingers, an intelligence beyond mortal comprehension, stretching across the void like
an ancient hunger. Deep within the compound, Hermes remained motionless, her mind
reeling. A Prophet. A being tied to the echoes of something so vast it transcended
lifetimes. It should have felt empowering, but instead, it felt like a chain tightening
around her throat. Zaiyal watched her in silence, his presence like a shadow unspoken.
He was the last Gate-Keeper, the seal on a cycle eons old, and yet, there was something
almost fragile in his stillness. "You don't believe in prophecy, do you?" he asked, his
voice even. Hermes exhaled sharply. "I believe in choices." Zaiyal studied her, his gaze
unreadable. "Then make one." Hermes replied: "Ok, you have to meet my friends first, If
I'm tied up in this. They deserve to know." Zaiyal and the others nodded in agreement. So
it was agreed Zaiyal and the others would meet Hermes and her friends the following day
at the University.
Far off, in the realm of the Demons, the abode of the Demiurge, Dreadmarch was
kneeling before the throne of Abraxtos who was impatiently tapping his chicken-like
fingers on the sides of his throne. Abraxtos ordered that Daniel join his old friends
including the traitor Daniel-02. After Daniel had agreed and left through a portal,
Abraxtos told Dreadmarch, "We need someone truly loyal to our cause to keep an eye on
them." Abraxtos called forth, "Uvia, COME FORTH!" A gray skinned woman, with long
white hair, palish-purple skin, red almost pupil-less eyes and pointy ears walked forward,
"Yes my liege." Abraxtos said, "Bring forth those five clowns you're so fond of, you can
keep an eye on them, with them as your surrogates, they can infiltrate the team." Uvia
blinked quickly, "You mean the Zaikat-Rangers?" Abraxtos slowly nodded, as he said
this five people dressed in helmeted-uniforms came out, one was dressed in red in the
front, the second was pink, the third was green, the fourth was black, and the fifth was a
large fat one who was dressed in yellow." The four who were actually human and based
in the mortal world announced, "Introducing YELLOW, I might be a big fellow but
I'm not even remotely mellow!" Yellow made a fighting pose, he was easily 6 feet tall.
"Give some praise for the greatest around. The one and only BLACK!" After Black
made another ridiculous pose, the third clown in green shouted: "How could one not be
filled with Envy before the almighty GREEN!" The fourth shouted: "And who could
forget the wife and life-partner of our glorious leader, PINK!" After Pink finished her
pose, the spotlight dropped on a single figure, a man dressed in a red uniform and helmet!
"AND FINALLY THE ONE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!! The one the
only, the incredible, a god among men, introducing the leader of the Zaikat Rangers,
the one and only, tremble before me ever-doers, RED!!!!" And finally: "And we
are... "THE ZAIKAT-RANGERS?!" As they said this they all made ridiculous poses
together as a collective. Abraxtos's eye twitched with cringe, "Well thank you, that was
great. In any event, you will be spying on these fools. You will join forces with them on
any of their future adventures, do you understand?! That way we can gather their
strengths and weaknesses. They're currently an unknown threat but as soon as it's over,
we will resume our conquest of the world of light. We must be ready." Uvia along with
the Zaikat-Rangers left through a portal to the mortal world. Abraxtos was left alone with
his thoughts, "Could we stand a chance?" he thought to himself.
The next day arrived with an eerie stillness. The sky above the University campus
was unnaturally dark, as if the heavens themselves recoiled from what was to come.
Hermes stood near the entrance of the main hall, her fingers curled into tight fists. She
could feel the weight of unseen eyes pressing against her consciousness. Zaiyal was
beside her, his presence both reassuring and ominous. The last Gate-Keeper had been
silent since their conversation the night before, but now, as they awaited the arrival of
Hermes' friends, he finally spoke. "So, how long have you known these people?"
Before Hermes could respond, the heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing
three figures—her closest allies. Alan, the only male in the homeroom, the leader of the
entire homeroom for that matter, an expert in xenolinguistics; Mira, a cyberneticist with
enhancements of her own [though they we're not externally visible]; and a female
Tobias, an ex-mechanic turned researcher. There were a handful of others including her
closest friends: Elena and Cassie. They had been with her since the beginning, before
the visions, before the prophecy, before the darkness had started whispering her name.
Ever since Hermes was reincarnated into this world. Mira was the first to speak, her
augmented eyes scanning Zaiyal with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. "So, you're one of
the ones who was on the news?"
Zaiyal offered a slow nod. "And you are the ones Hermes trusts." Alan adjusted
his glasses. "We prefer 'friends,' but sure." Before the meeting could progress, a sharp
crackle filled the air, as if reality itself was splintering. A portal tore open mere feet from
them, its jagged edges pulsing with unearthly energy. From within, Daniel stepped
forward, his expression unreadable. He was clad in dark robes, his presence casting an
unnatural shadow beneath him. Within a minute, five more figures fell from the sky and
emerged in a synchronized flourish—the Zaikat-Rangers. They struck their signature
poses, the sheer absurdity of their theatrical entrance clashing against the tension in the
air.
"Yellow, reporting for duty!"
"Black, standing tall!"
"Green, dazzling as ever!"
"Pink, ready to shine!"
"And RED! The leader, the legend, the unstoppable!"
Hermes blinked. "You've got to be kidding me."
Tobias ran a hand down his face. "What... am I looking at?"
Daniel sighed, possibly feigning ignorance. "Who are these clowns?!"
Zaiyal's eyes darkened as he took a step forward. "Why are you here?"
Before Daniel could answer, another presence made itself known. Uvia stepped
from the portal, her crimson gaze scanning the assembled group with calculated interest.
"A necessary precaution," she said coolly. "We are simply here to observe and assist.
Surely you wouldn't turn away potential allies?" Hermes' gut twisted. There was
something about Uvia that set her on edge, an aura of carefully disguised malice beneath
a veil of neutrality. Nova smirked, "Well, well, these are the Zaikat Rangers, I requested
that the Hero Association send them to help us but I thought they turned down the offer.
This is fantastic." Zaiyal grunted, "You know these clowns?" Nova smirked, "I know
they're GRADE S Heroes in the association, that's as high as it gets." Black laughed,
"That's right, and we're here to help!" Ungar walked up to Red, "Well I guess we're on
the same team then." Zaiyal exchanged a glance with Hermes, silent understanding
passing between them. The real game had begun.
Scott Greer interjected, "Yeah I heard all five of you are highly respected, but I expected a little less of the Insane Clown Party."
Red laughed, "Of course, citizen, we are the most highly respected heroes in the nation."
Scott said, "Huh? Perhaps I should do an IQ Supplement of the Zaikat Rangers." Scott
pondered, "Then again they're even biggest ICP fanatics that Hawkman for instance."
Ungar turned around, "More importantly, why should we trust you? You tried to
kill all of us. You betrayed us." Daniel smirked, "That's a laugh, you betrayed me first
Ungar, besides your immortal after all, you know that damn well." Zaiyal tsked, "How
low of you Daniel, you were the Gate-Keeper before me." Hermes was surprised: "Wait, I
thought he was the former Gate-Keeper, pointing to the bizarro Daniel." Ungar shrugged,
"It's a long story, he's another version of Daniel from an alternate-dimension more
amoral than the original." Zaiyal scoffed, "Ours has become immoral." Scott Greer said,
"More importantly, how can we trust the Uvia, isn't she from the realm of Gnosis?"
Everyone agreed except for Nova. Nova for his part said, "Well we can expect the forces
of the Demiurge to keep an eye on us not that its ideal, but at the same time we need all
the help we can get." Zaiyal relented, Scott took a deep breath and said, "Fair enough, it
sounds like your logic is sound."
The air between them thickened with tension, a silent battleground of unreadable
expressions and unspoken truths. The Zaikat-Rangers, for all their theatrical bravado, had
an undercurrent of controlled precision—this was no mere farce. Hermes could feel it, the
way their energy signatures pulsed in perfect synchronization, and each of their ray-guns
were made of high-tech nano-technology. Uvia watched the scene unfold with quiet
amusement, her crimson gaze flickering between the assembled figures as though she
were taking meticulous notes. Zaiyal narrowed his eyes. "The Hero Association never
mentioned sending reinforcements." In response Nova folded his arms. "That's because
they didn't. This was arranged through unofficial channels." Daniel scoffed, stepping
forward with measured arrogance. "And you trust them?" Red laughed heartily, his stance
unwavering. "Trust? Oh, Daniel, trust isn't given—it's earned. But consider this: we
wouldn't be Grade S heroes if we weren't the best." Yellow thumped his chest. "That's
right! And we're here to prove it!" Hermes pinched the bridge of her nose. "Alright, let's
cut through the nonsense. If we're working together, we need to know what's at stake."
Alan adjusted his glasses, his keen mind already picking apart the situation. "This isn't
just about prophecy anymore, is it? There's something larger at play here." Zaiyal's
expression hardened. "The cycle is shifting. The crystalline entities are not just harbingers
of destruction—they are catalysts. They unmake and reshape. If they have returned, then
something even older stirs in the void."
Uvia growled slightly. "So, the whispers are true. Some dark entity threatens the
demiurge." Tobias exhaled sharply. "Great. A cosmic horror. Just what this world needs."
Hermes turned to Zaiyal. "You said I have a choice. That means there's still a way to fight
back, right?" Zaiyal hesitated for the briefest moment before nodding. "Yes, but it will
not be easy. The old paths must be walked again, and the last Gate must be opened."
Daniel's eyes darkened. "You mean—" "Yes," Zaiyal confirmed. "The Threshold
of the First Dawn [The Secret Name of the First Seal of Revelation]." Silence fell over
the group. Even the Zaikat-Rangers seemed momentarily subdued, their usual exuberance
tempered by the gravity of the revelation. Mira tapped her fingers against her cybernetic
wrist. "If that's the case, we need to prepare. We need intel, weapons, and a way to
counter whatever Abraxtos is planning." Uvia's smirk widened. "Then perhaps it's time
to stop thinking like prey and start acting like predators." Hermes met her gaze, and for
the first time, she allowed herself to acknowledge the truth: the game had changed, and if
they were going to survive, they would have to change with it. Hermes's other friends ran
outside into the courtyard to see what was going on, this included: Hera, Agora and
Zora. Hera was a young teenage frog-girl with long black hair, Agora was a middle
age-elf woman with long white hair, and Zora was a middle-age elf woman with long
turquoise hair. There were a handful of others: Apollo: who was a young muscular
elf-girl with short light-blue hair and Helios, a young elf-girl with bright red hair that
was also relatively short. Finally there was Neptune: who was a girl with iguana features.
Alan introduced everyone in the homeroom but finally it was the turn of everyone else.
In order, "Zaiyal, Daniel, Uvia, the Zaikat-Rangers, Ungar, Nova, his 'Nova's'
daughter Qayyim, Tatu [the Golden Cicada], Sarai [the clone], Sir Rhyme (the
anthropomorphic bear), Martreya Narcis [the Martreya Buddha], Sun Wukong,
Erlang Shen, Cthulhu, Daniel-02, Talus, Tashkent, Sarah, Noah, Kai, Scott Greer,
The Green Wisp, and Red Ace." Ungar looked up in the air, "I guess we have
company." Three more individuals landed on the ground, they were the Princesses of the
house of al-Jihad who ruled over the entire planet, they were: Alexa Jihad: a beautiful
woman who resembled a cross between a lizard and a fish with dual-scythes, the second
was Agora Jihad, a beautiful young elf woman with long silk-like white hair, and finally
Beetrice Jihad a dark-skinned human woman of African origin, they were the adopted
daughters of King Jihad who ruled over the entire planet and the various warring
empires and city states of Planet Helios. All of Hermes' classmates immediately
prostrated themselves before the princesses, "declaring, our Imperial lieges, we do not
deserve to be in your presence."
As the Princesses of the House of al-Jihad descended, the air crackled with
unspoken power. Alexa Jihad's dual scythes hummed faintly, resonating with the same
dissonant frequency as the crystalline entities Hermes had glimpsed in her visions. The
difference shown by the homeroom students was met with a flick of Agora Jihad's
silk-white hair—a gesture both dismissive and calculating. "Rise," she commanded, her
voice like frost on steel. "We are not here for the ceremony. We are here for answers."
Beatrice Jihad, her dark eyes scanning the crowd, lingered on Uvia. "A servant of the
Demiurge walks among you," she said, her tone deceptively mild. "Yet you entertain her
as an ally?" The accusation hung like a blade. Uvia's crimson gaze met Beatrice's, her
smile sharp. "Even predators share hunting grounds when the prey is vast enough,
Princess." Before tensions could escalate, Alexa stepped forward, her amphibious scales
glinting unnaturally under the darkened sky. "The Threshold of the First Dawn," she said,
addressing Zaiyal directly. "Your plan to unseal it is folly. The First Seal was not meant to
be broken—it was meant to contain. My father's archives speak of a consumption, not a
rebirth." Zaiyal's jaw tightened. "Your archives are fragments. The Gate's purpose is to
restore balance, not perpetuate fear."
Narcis spoke up: "Erlang or Pilgrim Sun can correct me if I'm wrong, but I
remember Lord Tagatha, Nezha-Sama and Guanyin-Shen all referring to the first gate on
the farthest end of the crystal sea in the Other World. The first gate is in close proximity
to a portal that leads directly to Planet Solaris, the home world of Zaiyal's people." Sun
Wukong nodded, "I learned about that by reading the books in the Palace where I looked
after the Peaches of Immortality during one of my stays in Heaven before I rebelled
against the Gods of the East." Tatu interjected: "The first seal is undoubtedly the first
place these 'unknown-entities,' or whatever they are, will strike, reason suggested there
on their way right now. Whether that takes them days, months or centuries is another
question." Scott Greer interjects, "Before I do anything, we all need to take the Greerhead
pledge, and I gotta say a lotta great men here, they're not a great man shortage in this
area."
Zaiyal looked over at Nova, "So can you develop a ship that can take us to Other
World so we can make it to the first seal, is that correct?" Nova for his part said,
"Absolutely, it will take a few days but I can have such an endeavor completed. The
problem is the number of people it can hold. I can only create a ship that can hold no
more than 8 people. So we need to decide who should go on this first expedition."
Qayyim turned toward her father: "Nova (father), I can stay behind and help you make
the ship. As far as who should go, I would let Zaiyal and Hermes decide." Hermes said,
"as long as Alan and Mira go with us in the first ship that should be more than okay."
Zaiyal for his part said: "Ungar, Tatu, Narcis, and Scott," you'll be going with us.
That'll make 8 individuals." Uvia interjected: "I can take as many as 10 individuals not
including myself: "I'll take, "The Zaikat-Rangers, Daniel, Daniel-02, Ungar, Sir
Rhyme and Beetrice," with me as long as that's fine." Zaiyal nodded, "Talus are you
okay to stay behind and come aboard Nova's second ship." Talus nodded in excitement,
"Yes, and when I achieve my new form, I'll kill you as soon as this adventure's over. I'll
become the strongest warrior in the Cosmos."
The next day around 11:30 pm the government began to issue an ordinance under
martial law, "Excuses us, all citizens. Unfortunately we're here to inform you that the
Intergalactic Empire of Apollonia has declared war on the Galactic Federation. An
Imperial Draft across all Planets who are part of the Galactic Imperium will begin
effective immediately. The draft will begin immediately, go to the main room of your
University or Workplace to receive further instruction. Mira and Hermes were watching it
from their television, "Damnit, do you think we'll be called to fight. Nova hasn't even
finished his ship yet." Alan interjected: "I wouldn't worry about that." Mira raised an
eyebrow, "How so?" Alan chuckled, "Because, Nova is one of the leading government
contractors in the Qatari Empire, he since yesterday gave us protection from the draft, I
received the letter from the office just now [he pulled out his tablet], this homeroom is:
"exempt from the Draft and from being present at the Gymnesium today from special
permission of his Imperial Majesty and the government of Qatari." Mira breathed a sigh
of relief, "that's good, but still how terrible, God only knows how many innocents will be
killed in this terrible war." Hermes didn't tell them but she kept having these terrible
prophetic dreams, billions were snuffed out in a war that was truly unprecedented, a war
that would weaken the empires against this imposing threat. Hermes had another vision
that flashed through her mind, "it was of a little 10 year old boy spiky black hair, a
younger version of Qayyim, an older Tashkent, and a young elf boy with glasses being
protected by Talus from some hazy figure." The vision ended abruptly as it began. How
strange, she had been receiving visions like this more and more often.
Meanwhile... Nova was working on the ship while his daughter Qayyim was
taking care of her infant past self, that she picked up from the orphanage yesterday. Talus
was having a good laugh at the expense of these mortals,
"Hahaha..hahaha...HAHAHAHAHA! Ridiculous humans, have fun marching to your
deaths in your meaningless wars." Nova for his part smirked, "Apparently the King of
Appolonia, Emperor Apollo XIII is declaring that the Galactic Federation went back on
its treaty obligations. It's obviously a lie, his father and him have been trying to conquer
the entire Federation for years." Talus began to snickle, saliva dripping from his fangs,
"Nothing makes me smile more than infantile humans wasting their lives over trivial
nonsense." Zaiyal slammed his fist on the table, "You really are a piece of work, You're
really warring on my patience you little rat." Talus smirked, "Lucky for me, I've learned
to control my new Golden Form, and just yesterday I unlocked a new level of power.
Soon I'll be stronger than Tatu. But I'm confident I can take you space boy!" Zaiyal
began to shake with anger like he hadn't for over a millennia. "YOU WANT ME! FINE
MEET ME OUTSIDE!" Qayyim shook her head, "Boys will be boys." She quickly went
back to taking care of her past self.
Talus and Zaiyal met each other outside, Zaiyal transformed into his Ghost form.
Talus laughed, "How adorable, behold my new power." Talus began to scream at the end
of this he transformed into a green version of himself. Talus reverted back to the Golden
Form, which surprised Zaiyal. "I haven't been able to fully control my green form, but no
matter, I can defeat you with my Golden form no problem." Zaiyal and Talus began to go
to blows. They began their bout by going no less than thirty rounds. At one point Talus
unleashed an attack that would destroy the entire city Zaiyal blocked it in frustration and
fear, the attack lit up the sky. In that moment distracted, Zaiyal was knocked to the earth
as he was distracted by Talus's recklessness.
The sky above the University crackled with residual energy from Talus and
Zaiyal's battle. The once-dormant air now hummed with an eerie charge, as if the cosmos
itself had taken notice of their clash. The ground beneath them trembled slightly before
settling into an ominous stillness. Hermes could feel it—something beyond the mere
physical, something that stirred within the fabric of reality itself. Inside the compound,
Nova adjusted the calibration settings of his ship, the intricate machinery whirring in
response to his deft touch. His mind was divided. On one hand, the ship's construction
had to remain his priority—without it, their journey to the Threshold of the First Dawn
would be impossible. But on the other, the sudden escalation of tensions was an
unwelcome disruption. Talus's reckless display had attracted attention, and not just from
their immediate circle.
At the same time, Hermes's prophetic visions grew more frequent, more vivid.
Each night, fragments of time unraveled before her mind's eye—visions of a looming
conflict that eclipsed even the war between the Galactic Federation and the Empire of
Apollonia. A war fought not just among mortals, but among beings that defied
comprehension. She envisioned four children again: A little boy that looked Zaiyal with
black hair like fire, the next was a girl that looked like a younger Qayyim, following
that was a little elf boy with glasses.
These three children were being protected by an older Tashkent and a protective Talus. In one of her dreams Hermes saw a man sitting in
the middle of a pool of turquoise water in a serene waterfall mist that smells like sweet
perfume. She sat before him, the man scratched his beard and took a deep breath. "By
Him in Who's Hands my life is in, I have waited quite some time to meet you Hermes."
Hermes was deeply surprised: "How do you know who I am?" The man smiled:
"Because I am you, I am the former Prophet Talib. Ungar undoubtedly spoke of me, my
name is Abu Talib, my people referred to me as their Prophet but also as their Imam
(leader)." Hermes held her hands to her head, "sorry this is still a lot to take in."
Abu Talib threw dust that was on his feet in her face and in a flash she saw a vivid
image of what was to come. It was "Zaiyal, Hermes, Ungar, Tatu, Narcis, Scott, The
Zaikat Rangers, Daniel, Daniel-02, Ungar, Sir Rhyme, Narcis Martreya, Beatrice,
Alan, Mira, Talus, Qayyim, Nova and Sarai," fighting some bizarre blonde-haired
nymph with a triton that descend from the ocean. Even with all 23 of them together they
had a difficult time defeating this creature. They all charged up an attack at the same time
but it did almost no damage. And then something stranger, a being made up of cosmic
eyes descending upon the world and destroying everything in its path.
After Hermes woke up from the haze, Talib said: "You have the gift, you are
indeed a Prophet." Talib said, "You have some awakening to do, the first step will be to
drink the water of the Crystal Sea in the Other World." Hermes leant back as she heard
another voice behind her. The Prophet Talib introduced the man: "where are my manners,
this man is the Prophet Elvatorr, he served as the last Qadian Prophet before us."
Elvatorr was a tall green skinned man with pointy ears and red hair. His piercing blue
eyes could cut through the darkness nights, and his aura and essence was truly palpable.
As Hermes processed Talib's words, a strange, soothing sensation washed over her—like
ripples in time stretching outwards from the moment of revelation. The Prophet Elvatorr
stepped forward, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made the
air itself feel heavy.
"You are at the precipice," Elvatorr said, his voice resonant like a chorus of unseen
voices speaking as one. "What lies ahead is beyond mortal wars, beyond politics, beyond
the feuds of kings and empires. The threshold you seek is not just a gateway—it is a
trial." Talib nodded solemnly. "The Crystal Sea is more than a body of water. It is the
dividing line between those who see and those who remain blind. By drinking from it,
you will inherit memories—memories of those who came before, memories of battles
fought beyond the comprehension of even the greatest warlords." Hermes clenched her
fists. "And what if I refuse?" Elvatorr tilted his head, his red hair catching the misty light of the vision's surreal landscape.
"Then you walk into the coming storm unprepared. And
the world—no, the universe—will suffer for it." The vision wavered, flickering like
candlelight in a storm. Before she could question further, Talib's form began to blur, his
image dissipating into the mist. "Wake up, Hermes."
She jolted awake, her heart pounding. Back in reality, she was still in the
compound, the hum of Nova's ship engines thrumming softly in the distance. The battle
between Talus and Zaiyal had long since ended, leaving only scorched earth and lingering
arcs of residual energy as proof of their clash. Alan and Mira stood nearby, whispering in
hushed tones. Talus for his part was nowhere to be found. Hermes exhaled sharply. The
vision was clear—clearer than any before. The Crystal Sea awaited. But the greatest
question loomed over her like a phantom: Would she be ready?
Meanwhile, Talus found on the news some super villains who were terrorizing a
local mall. Looking at his wristed watch as he levelated and flew through the air at Mach
3, he listened to the report: "The criminals in question are She-Wolf (A large breasted
human woman with long black hair, Caucasian extremely dangerous), Loan-Shark a
giant hulking man-like shark and Jackpot a robot made out of a slot machine that is over
9 feet tall. All of them are extremely dangerous, everyone needs to let the hero association
take care of this." Talus laughed: "Who needs heroes, when you have a warrior with the
mark of the Demon Clan." He didn't realize it but Ungar and Sun Wukong we're tailing
him keeping an eye on him. Eventually at the mall, She-Wolf who had stolen a large
amount of merchandise was shooting energy blasts with her hands. Loan-Shark was
eating pieces of escalators and Jackpot was firing off blasts himself. A hero finally
arrived clad in armor with a helmet covering his face looking like a race-car driver with a
hawk symbol on his chest, by the name of "Hawkman:" "It's over criminals, a class S
warrior has arrived to take care of you rogues." She-Wolf cackled: "Well I guess they've
sent the calvary, what on earth could you want as a hero?" Hawkman was about to get
started when a voice was heard. "I found you." Talus descended to the ground his feet
touching the ground in front of Hawkman, not even acknowledging his existence.
Hawkman tensed, his grip tightening around the hilt of his energy baton. He had fought
countless criminals before, but something about Talus set off alarms in his head. The
warrior with the mark of the Demon Clan exuded an aura of pure confidence—no,
something more than confidence. It was as if he was already certain of the outcome.
She-Wolf, Loan-Shark, and Jackpot momentarily ceased their destruction, their
attention drawn to the newcomer. She-Wolf sniffed the air and grinned. "Oh, now this is
interesting," she purred, lowering her blaster. "You're not with the Hero Association, are you?"
Talus cracked his knuckles, the air around him subtly distorting from the raw
energy coursing through his body. "I don't care about your petty crimes. I came here to
fight." His gaze locked onto She-Wolf, then Loan-Shark, and finally, Jackpot. "You'll do
it." Jackpot's mechanical optics whirred, processing Talus' statement. His robotic frame
clicked and clanked as he took a step forward. "Probability of engagement: 99.9%," the
slot reels on his chest spun wildly before landing on three flaming skulls. "Initiating
combat protocol." Loan-Shark let out a guttural laugh, his jagged teeth gleaming under
the mall's flickering lights. "Bad luck, kid. We're not your usual punching bags." Before
Hawkman could intervene, Talus moved.
In a blur of motion, he closed the gap between himself and Jackpot, his fist
connecting with the machine's reinforced chest. A shockwave erupted from the impact,
sending Jackpot skidding back, his reels spinning chaotically. Sparks flew from his joints.
She-Wolf's grin widened as she lunged, claws extending from her fingertips. Talus
ducked under her initial swipe, his counterattack a brutal kick to her ribs that sent her
crashing into a nearby storefront. Glass and debris rained down around her as she
groaned, momentarily stunned. Loan-Shark roared in rage, his massive form bulldozing
toward Talus. But before he could reach him, something blurred past, cutting off his
advance. Talus' eyes flicked to the side. Ungar and Sun Wukong had arrived. "Hmmm,
they must be here to watch. Good I doubt they could keep up." When he wasn't paying
attention Loan-Shark shot a blast out of his mouth that landed directly on Talus,
Hawkman was sure it killed him, he exclaimed: "There's no way I could have taken an
attack like that head on, he's certainly dead." The smoke cleared and Talus stood there
unscathed.
Hawkman, still standing frozen, exhaled sharply. This was no ordinary fight—this
was a battle of titans. But it was becoming clear that the three villains we're on the
backfoot. Talus was killing bystanders without remorse or any care which startled
She-Wolf, who quickly interjected: "Wait you're a villain like us? Why are you killing
these people?" Talus let out a long irritating laugh which angered her. "I'm neither a hero
nor a villain, I'm only here for the fight; these peons mean nothing to me. I've killed
countless before. Now enough talk, behold my new perfected form!" Talus exploded with
power and in his wake was a weird form. It looked like a bizarre silhouette of green
energy like a being made of lightning with no concrete looks and deep yellow eyes. The
air around Talus crackled with energy, arcs of green lightning lashing out and scorching
the ground beneath him. His new form radiated an overwhelming presence, an unstable
force of destruction barely contained within the shifting silhouette of his body. His deep
yellow eyes locked onto She-Wolf, Loan-Shark, and Jackpot with something beyond mere bloodlust—an all-consuming hunger for battle. She-Wolf instinctively took a step
back, her usual confidence faltering. "What... are you?" she whispered, her voice barely
audible over the hum of Talus' raw power. Talus lifted a hand, studying his shifting
fingers as if they were unfamiliar to him. "Something beyond your understanding." His
voice was distorted, layered with echoes of something ancient and monstrous. "Now, let's
see how much you can withstand before you break."
Before anyone could react, he was gone.
No—he moved so fast that reality itself seemed to blur. In the span of a heartbeat,
Talus reappeared behind Jackpot. The massive slot-machine automaton barely had time to
register his presence before Talus' hand pierced through his metallic torso. Sparks
erupted as Jackpot convulsed, his reels spinning wildly, landing on three red sevens. A
burst of flames spewed from his chest as Talus ripped his hand free, tearing out
something vital. The robot collapsed, twitching, his mechanical voice glitching into
incoherence. Loan-Shark roared in fury, his massive muscles tensing as he lunged at
Talus. "You bastard—!" Talus met him head-on, his form flickering like an unstable
current of energy. His fist struck Loan-Shark's jaw with enough force to shatter the sound
barrier, sending the hulking mutant flying through multiple floors of the mall. Glass and
steel rained down in his wake, his body embedding deep into the concrete foundation.
She-Wolf was already moving, unleashing a rapid barrage of energy blasts from
her hands. Each shot was precise, aimed directly at Talus' shifting core. But the moment
they reached him, the blasts were absorbed into the green lightning of his body, devoured
like fuel. Her eyes widened in horror. "That's... not possible." Talus grinned, his form
flickering once more. "It is now." He appeared directly in front of her. Before she could
react, his clawed hand clamped around her throat, lifting her effortlessly into the air. Her
struggles were useless—his grip was absolute. Hawkman finally moved. The hero
rocketed forward, his energy baton igniting with radiant power as he swung at Talus'
head. "Enough!" Talus didn't even turn to face him. His free hand snapped up and caught
the baton mid-swing, stopping Hawkman's strike in its tracks. The force of the impact
sent out a shockwave, shattering the tile beneath them. "You're in my way," Talus said
flatly. He tightened his grip, and with a sickening crunch, the baton shattered in
Hawkman's hand. Before Talus could finish off She-Wolf, something slammed into him
from above—a golden blur moving at impossible speeds. Talus staggered, releasing
She-Wolf as he skidded backward. The moment of impact sent green energy flaring
outwards, the entire mall trembling from the sheer force.
A new figure stood between him and his prey. Tall, draped in flowing golden
robes, his eyes gleaming like twin supernovae. His long silver hair shimmered under the
artificial mall lights, and an aura of overwhelming calm radiated from his very presence.
Talus narrowed his eyes. "And who the hell are you?" The figure slowly unsheathed a
golden-bladed sword, its surface etched with intricate runes pulsing with celestial power.
"I am Ozymandias," the man said, his voice carrying the weight of a thousand battles.
"And you, Talus, have gone too far." Talus' laughter echoed through the ruined mall. His
lightning-like form crackled and pulsed with raw energy, feeding off his own rising
excitement. "Perfect," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "A real challenge." Ozymandias
raised his sword, his eyes locked onto Talus. "Then face judgment." But before the fight
could begin Ungar and Sun Wukong descended to the ground. Ozyamandias sensed the
good in them, and drew back his sword, "I sense nothing but good in you so I will not
fight. Ungar thanked Ozymandius and then turned toward Talus, "You've gone far
enough, Talus, we're getting really tired of your nonsense." Talus reverted to his original
form, "Oh please, I'm just having a little fun." Ungar stared at him deeply, "I know
what's going on, I could tell all along. You're acting out." Talus laughed again, "Why
would I feel the need to lash out?!" Ungar replied: "Because you know you're becoming
more and more like us, and you know it." Talus began to shake with anger as if
something struck a nerve. He laughed it off, "You don't know what you're talking about."
Ungar scoffed: "I am a compilation of every soul that has ever lived or ever will live in
this Universe as well as countless others, I'm not God not even closer, but compared to
you I might as well be. So please... don't lie, I know what your thinking." Talus' calm
composure ended again, "And what's that wizard?" Ungar replied: "That you know that
you're own words: "Our wretched softness and so-called meaningful enterprises are
rubbing off on you and destroying the old Talus, a cold cunning warrior. Face it, the
longer you spend with us the more you become like us." Talus became angry: "SHUT
YOUR DAMN MOUTH! I will never be anything like you clowns with your so-called
meanings and fairytales!... I guess I'm done here." Sun Wukong said: "Before you say
that you better convince yourself of that first." After a short pause Ungar said: "There's
more, the first ship is taking off, Zaiyal, Hermes and the others are leaving soon, maybe
you can at least say goodbye. Ozymandias, Hawkman you're welcome to come as well
any member of the Hero Association is a friend of ours."
Ozymandias: "Sure, Hawkman sealed up She-Wolf!" Hawkman captured Shewolf
in a small-ball, after this Ungar, Sun Wukong and Talus shot off towards Nova's
compound with Ozyamandius and Hawkman in pursuit. As they soared through the sky
toward Nova's compound, Talus remained silent. His mind churned, replaying Ungar's
words. Becoming like them? The thought disgusted him. He had spent his entire life sharpening himself into a weapon, a being without attachments or sentiment. And yet...
something in him stirred, an uncertainty he could not crush. Sun Wukong, flying just
beside him, grinned. "You really let him get under your skin back there, Talus. Old
Monkey has gotten under Master Sanzang's many times in the same way." Talus scoffed.
"I don't care what he thinks. I don't care what any of you think." Ungar merely glanced at
him, his red eyes glaring at Talus. "Of course you don't."
Ahead, Nova's compound came into view, its towering structures gleaming under
the alien sun. The first ship, as Ungar had said, was prepared for departure. On the
landing pad, a group of figures stood waiting—Zaiyal, Hermes, Tatu, Narcis, Scott, and
the others. Their expressions were solemn, some exchanging quiet words, others lost in
thought. As Talus touched down, Zaiyal turned toward him, his crimson eyes studying the
warrior carefully. "I wasn't sure you'd come." Talus crossed his arms. "I didn't come to
say goodbye." Hermes, standing beside Zaiyal, raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you
here?" Talus hesitated. He had no real answer. He didn't belong in their world, and yet
something compelled him to be here, to see them off. Nova stepped forward, his white
hair flowing in the breeze. "This mission is bigger than any of us. The war we face isn't
just between factions or planets. You felt it too, didn't you, Talus?" Talus clenched his
fists. Of course, he had. The battles they fought before were nothing compared to the
visions Hermes had seen. He had experienced echoes of it himself—an impending doom
that even he could not face alone. "Join us," Hermes said softly. "Not as a hero. Not as a
villain. But as who you truly are."
Talus looked at her, then at the others. For the first time, he didn't have a ready
response, no sarcastic remark, no challenge to throw in their faces. "What is this kind of
intervention?! Get real!!" said Talus to himself, but no words left his mouth. Ozymandias
stepped forward, arms crossed. "You have a choice, warrior. Keep running from what you
already know, or stand with those who will decide the fate of everything." Talus turned
away, his eyes narrowing. A storm brewed within him, a battle not fought with fists but
with something far more difficult—acceptance. "Do whatever you want," he muttered
before shooting into the sky. Sun Wukong chuckled. "He'll be back." Ungar nodded. "Of
course he will." As the ship began its ascent, heading toward the unknown, a single
thought ran through Talus' mind as he flew above them, watching from afar.
"Who am I becoming?"