6 hours ago
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
My brother sighed.
"We are nearing the endgame, aren't we?"
"Yes, I do believe so."
"We've fought so much, defeated so much, but I still can't die."
"What?"
"I'm sure Rose has mentioned it, but I have died to her hands 6 times now."
"And in total?"
"50."
"…"
Callel looked at me, he seemed tired.
"Honestly, at this point, I just want to die…"
"Why?"
"Because I'm not supposed to be alive, I know it, you know it. The actions of the Author keep me here."
"What?"
"Oh, please, it's obvious when you think about it. There are few beings that can bring others back to life, and I have reincarnated several times too."
My eyes widened.
"I'm no Kala, but he's keeping me alive… as a joke."
"What?"
"Oh please. His name should make it obvious; he's writing a story. And what good story is there without a repeating joke."
"Are you saying…"
"All of my deaths was for… comedic effect. I'm just the humorous side character that dies over and over."
"So, you are just giving up?"
"What?"
"You are my brother, Callel, and you are giving up? You aren't going to just lay down and die when you get the chance."
"Dallel-"
"No, here's what you are going to do. You are gonna be as annoying as possible when we meet the Author, then we are going to beat the everloving **** outta him. You aren't going to just submit. You're tired of being comic relief, right? Then stop being the joke."
He blinked, then smiled.
"Thank you…"
"For what?"
"For reminding me, I am the great Callel, Legendary Sorcerer. I'm not going to back down."
I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Good man, now I'm gonna take you to meet your niece."
"I have a niece?"
"Yep, Doe married a dragon."
"… Why am I not surprised?"
"Because she's Doe."
_
Gabriel POV
"The Ruler has been lost in thought for a while."
"Indeed, it's almost offputting…"
"Do you think it's related to the massive burst of power?"
As the words left Cassiel's mouth, the Ruler roared in anger.
"Rose Hood!"
"What?"
"Gabriel, bring her to me, now."
"What's happening?"
"Do not ask questions you don't need the answer too."
I nodded and warped to Pandora.
"Alright, Rose, I'm going to need you to come with me."
_
I smiled; the presence shook everything. It was almost a day since my return.
"What is that?!"
"It seems the Ruler noticed my new weapon."
Milel looked at me in shock.
"Are you talking about the glowing mark thing?"
"Yes, it's quite powerful, and it seems to have made him quite angry."
Then, as expected.
"Alright, Rose, I'm going to need you to come with me."
"Let me guess, the Ruler is throwing a hissy fit again."
"I'd prefer that you show him respect."
"As soon as he gives me any."
"Just come."
"Fine~"
I walked along, smirking almost the whole time.
Then I ended up in the hall the moment I entered Heaven.
"Ooh, fancy teleport. What's got your panties in a twist?"
"You know exactly what I'm angry about."
"Oh, you mean my new toy-"
"That power is no toy…"
"Calm down, I can't access it for long before I collapse."
"For now."
"Of course, I will eventually grow stronger, but unless you antagonize me, you're safe."
"I do not appreciate your threats."
"What threat? Now end your hissy fit, it's scaring my people."
He glared at me in an uncontrolled fury, but he knew that he needed me… at least for now.
"*SIGH* Fine, for now I will curb my anger, but do not dare to access that power again."
"Oh, no, I'm definitely going to do that."
"THEN LEAVE!!!"
I was in the guild hall.
"Goodness, that ticked him off."
"What? Did you just warp in?"
"Nope, Ruler tossed me here in a rage."
"… Rose, why are you antagonizing the Ruler."
"Because it's funny."
"But he's way stronger than you, you shouldn't just."
"Please, we're untouchable right now. He needs our help to deal with Lucifer, because he can't access him. The most he'll do is give Michael a way past the barrier, and we have ways to beat them."
"… I guess."
"Yep, I'm guessing that Michael will be here rather soon, so we should prepare."
"Would Michael even accept the cheating part?"
"Oh please, he's fully aware that the Author will try to do things, so he assumes that will help him win, but, in his overconfidence, he will forget one thing."
Milel sighed.
"Pray tell, what is that."
I smirked, and Hades' eyes widened.
"You don't mean-"
"I do… the Author can't touch this world, because I took that from him, so unless I die, the Author can't do crap, and I'm almost certain that the Ruler will keep me alive out of necessity."
"So…"
"Michael is leading his men into a deathtrap, where I hold the strings to spring it."
"You… have this planned out, so nothing will go wrong?"
"Oh, no, one thing will, one of the Rulers will get kidnapped, the one I hold quite dear. And the one that can get out."
Milel's eyes widened.
"A bigger trap than even Michael would anticipate."
"Precisely, and if somehow they figure it out, and kill him."
My aura flickered, causing Milel to shudder.
"Well, let's hope they aren't dumb enough to try that. It's better for both my allies and enemies to go along with what I have planned."
Milel shook as she realized that I had Michael in a checkmate. A move that he could only escape if he forfeited the game.
"Michael is too prideful to forfeit, you know that right?"
"Precisely why I made that the only option for survival. I'm not ready to fight Lucifer, I know that, so I need Xp, and how do I get that?"
She started shivering again as I gave a smile.
"I hunt those foolish enough to antagonize me."