KD-554 stood frozen in shock. A part of her understood her current position, but another part of her mind was still stuck in that exact moment in history. Amelia was just there a second ago, oblivious to the betrayal that's about to befall her. Yet, not only was there no Amelia now, but Kadyn was here, right behind her instead. Then, it hit her, her mind having finally processed the insane influx of information that had just invaded her psyche.
In a single instant, KD-554 experienced over 9 years of memories, then the two deaths she experienced under Krystal's blades. At last, all became clear. As KD-554 attempted to morph her body, she suddenly realized that this was the body she had had 9 years ago as well. However, it was too late as Krystal drove both of her blades into KD-554's shoulders before ripping both of her arms clean off.
[Krystal] - "Pay for Amelia! Pay for all the crime you have committed under this sky! "
Yelled Krystal before she kicked KD-554 on the back, knocking her down onto the floor.
As Krystal drove both her blades on each side of KD-554's face, a slight glimpse of fear finally appeared within those cruel red eyes. Krystal had not only defeated the beast, but she also made the monster feel fear for the first time; she made the concept of hatred itself feel fear toward her. As the slight hum of Krystal's blades echoed around KD-554's ears, she could help but still find defiance and hate on her opponent's face.
[Krystal] - "How many times do I have to teach you this same lesson? I won't quit until you are broken on every fundamental aspect of your existence! "
Said Krystal with spite in her voice.
[KD-554] - "You won't break me! Not the likes of you! Not the shit-stained traitor and weak worm you are! "
Yelled KD-554 in rage through her clenched teeth.
[Krystal] - "That's rich coming from you, you pathetic stain on the floor at my mercy. I could end it here, clean you up like some cat dropping... "
Said Krystal as she drew her blade closer toward KD-554's face.
Krystal abruptly withdrew her blade before it could cut KD-554.
[Krystal] - "But remind you, I'm not Kadyn. I'm the version of her you admired– the one that was so much more terrible than you were, so much more brutal and merciless. "
Said Krystal as her own crimson iris glowed with vengeance.
[KD-554] - "Heh! So what? Are you going to torture me until I break? Good luck with that, because it would take you an eternity! I was born in pain, so what's a little more? "
Screamed KD-554 with a confident smirk.
[Krystal] - "Haha... How primitive of you. Torture can mean more than just pain. And you were saying it would take an eternity to break you, huh? Well, eternities are all I've got. "
Said Krystal with a malicious smirk.
With a single swing of her blade, Krystal abruptly opened reality like a green screen, exposing a dark void so absolute that it might as well be the end of the universe. As KD-554 stared at the darkness, a sensation of fear finally began to grip her mind as the void seemed to be eying her despite not possessing a form.
[Krystal] - "Comic voids, sectors in space where nothing exists for millions of light-years. Specifically, the Boötes void, a region of space about 250-330 million light-years across. "
Said Krystal as she moved toward KD-554.
As Krystal kneeled to grab KD-554, she visibly resisted by pulling away, a disturbed expression visible in her hate-filled eyes. Yet, with one leap, Krystal grabbed KD-554 by the hair and pulled her toward the gap in reality.
[KD-554] - "Wha– What are you doing? "
Muttered KD-554 in a panic.
[Krystal] - "What? Scared? I thought you could resist any torture for an eternity. "
As Krystal pushed her prey's face toward the cold embrace of deep space, KD-554 could already feel the icy embrace of nothingness. The void, despite being empty, began to fill KD-554 with such terror that chills began to run through her back. For KD-554, whose identity was based on hate and revenge against a world that wronged her, such isolation would practically erase everything she is about. In nothingness, there is no target to direct her hatred, nor will there be a world to seek vengeance against. All there will be is a mind that will slowly erode into madness as the void robs it of purpose.
[KD-554] - "Stop this! Are you a fucking moron? I'll die from exposure before anything could even happen! "
Yelled KD-554 in protest.
[Krystal] - "That's the fun part. "
Said Krystal as she leaned in beside KD-554.
[Krystal] - "In my ability, you can't die unless I decide otherwise. "
Whispered Krystal with a grin.
As KD-554 looked back at Krystal, all that remained within her hateful red eyes was terror. Gone were the hate and rage; now, only pure primal fear occupied the same eyes that had cruelly stared down at so many dead bodies with indifference and pride. With one simple shove, Krystal pushed KD-554 into the void. While KD-554 screamed and struggled against the indifferent cruelty of space, not even her voice could reach Krystal as she closed the tear in reality.
When the last glimpse of light vanished before KD-554's eyes, all that was left was a darkness so absolute, she might as well be part of it. Then came the cold and the lack of an atmosphere and oxygen. Even as KD-554 began to freeze in deep ice and her eyes popped out of her skull, her body would simply never give up. Instead, it was paused at the exact moment before she was supposed to die, forever trapped in a world of agony as she drifted toward nothing. For the first time in her life, KD-554 wanted to cry, but her consciousness was simply trapped inside a broken body that would not respond to her wishes.
Meanwhile, Krystal leaped through another tear in reality back inside her Quantum Palace. As she moved up the steps toward her throne, she began to count the seconds under her breath. Finally, as she reached Mike on her throne, she joyfully leaped on him, where she sat on his lap.
[Krystal] - "21, 22, 23, 24... "
Whispered Krystal.
[Mike] - "Oh God, you're actually hurting me... "
Said Mike in agony as her tried to shift in his seat.
[Krystal] - "Huuuh? What does that mean? "
Said Krystal, a frustrated expression on her face.
[Mike] - "Your skeleton is made of liquid metal. Do you not realize how heavy you are and how painful it is when your bones strike me? "
Krystal abruptly sat up and flipped around, where she slammed her foot down right between Mike's legs, missing his crotch by barely a centimetre.
[Krystal] - "Someone's feeling quite brave today, making remarks about my weight... "
Said Krystal, her anger hidden behind a menacing smile.
[Mike] - "Am I supposed to be afraid? You're the one wanting kids, not me. "
Said Mike, unimpressed by Krystal's threat.
[Krystal] - "Aaaah! No! You're supposed to play along, you dummy! "
Muttered Krystal as she leaped against Mike and began to shake him playfully.
[Mike] - "It's been 52 seconds already. What were you counting anyway? "
[Krystal] - "Oh, right, thanks for keeping count. Looks like we've waited long enough. "
Said Krystal as she jumped off Mike and descended the stairs.
As Krystal sliced reality open, KD-554's frozen body abruptly fell out of the void, slamming onto the ground before sliding to a stop.
[Mike] - "You've been busy, I see. "
Said Mike as he stood up from Krystal's throne to get a better look.
[Krystal] - "Yeah. I was counting because of time dilation. Basically, every single second I counted here was equal to one million years on her side. So in all, she experienced a total of 60 million years in the void. "
On the floor, as the ice melted, KD-554's body returned to normal and healed from its injuries. However, as Krystal waved her hand in front of KD-554's empty eyes, there was simply not even a single response. Even as Krystal kicked KD-554, her body lacked a response as if she were in a vegetative state.
[Krystal] - "What a bloody hack. An eternity my ass! Barely 60 million years, an atom in relation to an eternity and you've already given up. Come on, get up already. "
Said Krystal as she kicked KD-554 in disgust.
[Mike] - "You're a menace, you know that? "
Said Mike as he stood beside Krystal.
[Krystal] - "Well, someone ought to serve a punishment fitting her crimes. "
Said Krystal as she pressed her hands against her waist.
Leaning down, Krystal reached forward and touched KD-554's forehead.
[Krystal] - "Fine, let me revert time back a little for her. I want to see if I managed to do it. "
[Mike] - "Managed to do what? "
Suddenly, as time reversed for KD-554, she jumped up in fright and crawled away from Krystal. On her face, a look of pure, soul-shattering terror was all that remained.
[KD-554] - "Get away from me! AH! GET AWAY FROM ME! You monster! "
Yelled KD-554 as she crawled on all four awkwardly like a helpless newborn.
[Krystal] - "Looks like even your hatred has a limit. What a fraud... "
Said Krystal, a pitiful gaze in her eyes as she looked down at the squirming prey.
[KD-554] - "Please! Mercy! "
Cried KD-554 in fear as she held her arm in front of her face.
As Krystal crouched down in front of KD-554, she analyzed her eyes one more time. This time, at last, KD-554 didn't even show a spark of hate as her expression was that of a terrified prey in the face of her natural predator. Like a crippled mouse at the mercy of a hungry cat, KD-554 could only mumble intelligible words as she wept in fear at the sight of Krystal's face. The once Goddess of Hate, now broken down to nothing more than a pathetic mess on the floor begging for her life.
[Krystal] - "Know this, KD-554. Wherever you might be, no matter in which body you get reincarnated in, know that a version of me will exist in the same world as you. As long as you draw breath, a version of me will hunt you down and break you. Stay in hell, and don't you ever dare exist in any form or capacity again. "
Said Krystal as she shone her blade in front of KD-554's face.
For the first time, KD-554's red glowing eyes reverted back to their original green colour in submission. With trembling hands and gasps of terror in her throat, she leaned toward Krystal's hand. Then, without hesitation, she ended her life by slamming her face directly into Krystal's blade. At last, KD-554, the butcher and monster that embodied hatred itself, ended her story here by willingly planting her face onto the blade of her sworn enemy.
Did KD-554 stop hating? No. But the simple thought of hating on Krystal was like hating on a comic horror or a God. It was just so impossibly petrifying and unthinkable that the hate twisted into existential fear. To KD-554, being the enemy of an entity destined to destroy her was simply too terrifying to accept. So, as a result, she chose defeat out of her own will. After all, only one path presents itself to KD-554– that of defeat and death.
As KD-554 fell limp onto the floor, Krystal thought for a moment about what she would do. By all means, it wasn't too late for her to bring KD-554 back to life by reverting time since her soul hadn't yet left her husk. However, Krystal refrained from acting on her intrusive thought by pulling her hand back; she had achieved her promise toward KD-554 by utterly and completely breaking her. For all the vengeful thoughts in her mind, Krystal is no sadist or psychopath.
[Krystal] - "It's done... Rest peacefully now, my friends, my sisters. "
Said Krystal as she stood up and tied her hands together.
As Krystal spent a solid minute in silence out of respect for all of KD-554's victims, her actions also translated into real life. Every physical or psychological injury suffered within Krystal's ability will be reflected in real life unless she decides to overwrite them through temporal manipulation. While time outside of her ability was still seemingly paused, KD-554's present body reverted to its original form before a massive split severed her head in half.
[Mike] - "It is done... "
[Krystal] - "It indeed is. But what happens next would require your intervention. "
Said Krystal as she turned toward Mike.
[Mike] - "Our next guest is Jagger, I presume? "
[Krystal] - "No matter if it is here or in reality, you know I'm not on your level when it comes to crystal combat. "
[Mike] - "The crystal obeys a user's soul. By bringing Jagger in here, my own crystals might still respond to my command. "
Said Mike as he crossed his arms.
[Krystal] - "That's exactly my idea. "
[Mike] - "However, if that theory proved to be false, we'll have more trouble than we could handle. "
Said Mike as he thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
[Krystal] - "What other choice do we have? As the vessel of Freedom, I can only alter the conditions and events leading to Fate. Yet, Fate will always be waiting at the end. So it is the balance of the universe. "
Said Krystal as she peered into the paused reality outside, where Jagger and Astroboy still remained, waiting.
[Mike] - "Don't worry, if anything, I'll be the Fate awaiting those two. "
Said Mike as he placed a hand on Krystal's shoulder.
Mike's confidence and assurance had always put Kadyn's heart at ease, even in the most dire of situations. For Krystal, it seemed to have the same effect, even in these uncertain moments.
[Krystal] - "Hehe, I know I could always depend on you. My Darling, my knight. "
Said Krystal with a cute smile as she touched Mike's hand.
After turning around to give Mike a little kiss, Krystal pulled away and began to move toward the gate that manifested in front of her.
[Krystal] - "I'd better get going then. I can't wait to have you back by my side. "
Said Krystal before she stepped through the void behind the gate.
As she walked, she passed first through Amelia's house, where she walked through the same spot where all the tragedies occurred. Yet, this time, these locations didn't haunt her memories. Instead, Krystal could almost hear Amelia and Julia's laughter echoing through the empty dimension. Two souls at peace, avenged and happily moving on toward their next life.
[Amelia] - "Hey, take what comes next seriously, alright? Being a mom isn't as easy as you think. "
Said Amelia as Krystal passed through the kitchen.
[Julia] - "Don't forget to live a little, though. Make sure to drain him regularly, you lucky little shit. "
Said Julia, just as Krystal reached the main entrance.
Krystal didn't know if these voices were real or just an invention of her nostalgic mind, but either way, she was glad to hear their voices for one last time. As she stepped out of the door, she walked through the same office where Oltevin met his end. For a fleeting moment, she saw Oltevin's ghostly form leaning against the wall, gazing proudly at her as she walked past him. She paused to look, but the figure had already vanished.
[Oltevin] - "Don't stop walking for an old friend, comrade. We've come so far, but I've reached my stop. Go on, finish this race for us. "
Said Oltevin with a proud tone in his voice.
As the dimensions began to open, exposing reality as the dark veil withdrew, Krystal marched through a hall where Voss and the other dead Marines who once knew her bowed their heads in respect. She was now more than just a figurehead to them; she carried their hopes and duties toward the future.
[Voss] - "Men, stand straight and salute! "
In unison, the Marines and thousands of soldiers raised their hands and saluted Krystal.
[Krystal] - At ease, soldiers. "
Said Krystal with a bittersweet smile.
"Across the endless land I walked, through the infinite cosmos I flew, below the boundless oceans I swam, and under the eternal skies I stood, I was blessed to have all of you as my friends, comrades and siblings. May the next life offer you the life you desire, free from pain and sacrifices. May the next sunlight you see never fall below the horizon, let it shine over you, forever illuminating the path forward. I'll forever hold onto these memories as the permanent zenith of my horizons. "
Whispered Krystal as her voice echoed through the stars.
As Krystal returned to real life, KD-554's face was instantly split in half as she collapsed onto the ground, her eyes still bearing the fearful gaze she died with. The lives lost could not be brought back as Fate had already taken its course. However, the future can still be altered and controlled by those who carry on the torch of those who have passed away.
As reality resumed its course, Astroboy paused in confusion as he watched KD-554 die a sudden and mysterious death before he could even strike her. As her broken body lay lifelessly on the floor, everyone around her recoiled in shock, except for Ari and Krystal, as they struggled to understand what had happened. Even Jagger looked confused for a second as he observed the strange and brutal death.
However, as Jagger got back on business and reached for Krystal, he noticed how she was not even a bit fearful of him. Just as his hand touched Krystal, reality collapsed around him as he fell into her ability. After a short fall, Jagger slowed his fall and landed within the hall of Krystal's Quantum Palace. On the other side, Krystal landed in front of her throne.
[Jagger] - "What? What is this? What have you done to me? "
Yelled Jagger as he turned and looked around in confusion.
[Krystal] - "I brought you to your judgment. "
[Jagger] - "Ha! My judgement? A little illusion won't save you! Now, quit playing around, my little slave, and I might show you a bit of mercy.
Mocked Jagger, unconvinced by Krystal's threat.
Suddenly, Mike stepped out of the shadow behind Krystal, his arms crossed as he looked down at Jagger. In that instant, Jagger recoiled a few steps as cold sweat dripped down his back.
[Jagger] - "Impossible! I'm still in his body! That's an illusion! You can't fool me! "
Denied Jagger in anger.
[Mike] - "You know, I was thinking... If crystals obey the soul of the user, then what would happen if I exist in the same place as my body? "
Said Mike as he raised his hand.
With a swing, Jagger suddenly felt a powerful force that sent him crashing into one of the crystal pillars. As Krystal saw Jagger getting bashed, she breathed a sigh of relief. After all, even Mike didn't know if bringing Jagger in here would allow him to take control of his crystals once again. However, with this theory proven, a huge burden was lifted off Krystal's shoulders. Aside from Mike, who else was more qualified to hand Jagger the ass-kicking he deserved?
[Mike] - "Sit down and relax a bit. I have some unfinished business with the bastard. "
Said Mike as he settled Krystal onto her throne.
[Krystal] - "Don't kill him, okay? I need to revive you later. "
[Mike] - "No promises. "
Said Mike as he descended the steps.
[Krystal] - "Hey! I'm serious! "
[Mike] - "Let me handle it. You just sit and wait. "
Assured Mike as he waved his hand at Krystal.
While Mike stepped toward Jagger, he began to crack his knuckles while his opponent slowly got from the ground. Jagger looked at the transparent flood leading to an endless starry sky below the palace in disbelief. This could not be reality, this must be a trick, a dream...
[Jagger] - "That's not possible! You're dead! "
[Mike] - "You'd be shocked to learn the truth. "
Before Jagger could even react, Mike savagely punched him across the face, his ability activating to boost his strike. As Jagger struggled to stand up with his face bashed and bloody and teeth missing, Mike kicked him effortlessly away like a rag doll.
[Mike] - "You killed someone dear to me and tortured my wife using my own body and techniques... "
Said Mike, before a grim and cold look appeared in his eyes.
[Mike] - "You're done for, Jagger. I'm going to savage you so badly, you won't be complete as a soul going into the afterlife. "
Said Mike as he walked toward Jagger.
It was a statement, coated under the icy promise of annihilation. Jagger could feel his fear crawl up his bones like a thousand fire ants desperate to tear his flesh apart.
[Jagger] - "This is a bad dream... This is nothing more than a bad dream. Nothing is real... "
Mumbled Jagger as he crawled away.
[Mike] - "Arm yourself. We have some unfinished business, you and I. "
Said Mike coldly.
Jagger suddenly caught a glimpse of light in his periphery. As he turned around, he saw a bow made of electricity manifest within Mike's hand, just like the one Athena once wielded. However, this iteration of Athena's ability by Mike was magnitudes more powerful than Athena's, as it carried not only power, but also vengeance.
[Mike] - "Guilt Extension: Champion of the Titanomachy! "
Jagger watched in dread as the lightning trapped between Mike's hands emanated a power so tremendous as if it were bestowed upon him by Zeus himself. The blue and white light was also beautiful and pure, a refined mastery of an ability that now carried Mike's signature. Though initially stunned, Jagger slowly activated his technique as well, the same one that he had used to execute Jerry.
[Jagger] - "Echoing Verdict: Jigsaw of Pandemonium! "
Muttered Jagger as he readied himself.
[Mike] - "Ready when you are, Jagger. "
Said Mike as he drew on an electric arrow.
To be continued...