The Wolf of Ursals.
A top-assassin dominating the 'dark web list' for a long time. Her missions have a success rate going as high as 90%. So long as there was enough money, 'she' would get the job done.
Little was known with her real identity, though there are some who surmised she came from huge forces that span across several cities. Even, there are talks of her whole identity being made up. It was done to create a good 'story' for the dark web.
With her greatest skill as an assassin, she had already eliminated dozens of high-value targets.
'That comic. Azure Waters. Honkai really is fucked up.'
Aleph looked at the unconscious girl lying on the sofa. He sighed at the intricacies of fate as well as the tragedies it sewn.
He could recall the time he was interested in Honkai's 'stories'. He had read somewhere about Bronya's life before being sent into Cocolia's orphanage.
Her father died during the second major eruption. Her mother died due to the complications acquired from that event. Bronya was then taken in by her father's childhood friend who was a mercenary.
She was taught how to handle guns, swing knives, and use whatever means at her disposal to kill. That was the life she was introduced with.
Bronya would not hesitate to kill child traffickers with her stockings.
It was precisely the darkness she experienced that made her cherish her experiences within Cocolia's Orphanage.
'To overcome tragedies… It's a perk of being stronger. I can influence more people.'
Aleph is not averse to tragedies or deaths. What he did not like was only experiencing tragedies.
People should have a way towards the light; that was exactly what Aleph wanted to give them.
"Fu…"
Aleph's complicated feelings were swept away by his sigh.
Just then, he heard someone calling his name.
"Thy chosen one."
"Albion? You are finally willing to speak?"
After a year and a half, plus the entire decade he was asleep, Albion had returned.
"The power that could sweep through all is troublesome." Albion replied. "It is somewhat similar in nature with the power that ended Earth."
"You mean, the White Titan?"
"Humu."
Aleph's vision changed into the familiar prairie. He was sent into Albion's mental landscape—the part of the Reverse Side it saw prior to its death.
"It is much more potent than the White Titan. I could not help but analyze it more thoroughly."
"..."
Turns out, the reason why Albion was inactive was due to its focus on research. Without any warning, Albion shut themselves off.
"Oh. I can see thee not need thine help. Pardon me for the inconveniences."
"No, it's alright."
Aleph saw that Albion genuinely thought it was 'freeloading' on Aleph. His current strength, even without the [True Dragon] authority, was strong enough to confront the oldest Gods.
The authority that once brought him much help became more irrelevant as time went. As such, Albion chose to do something that could potentially benefit Aleph.
"Are thee familiar with the Throne of Heroes?"
"Huh? Since when did you…"
"It exists in the past, present, and future. Being inside what's known as a "Lostbelt" does not hinder thine ability to sense it."
Seeing Aleph's understanding, Albion continued:
"That space is connected to the place known as The Root. It is the center of the world, the origin of all things. I could not help but make comparisons with that power."
"Terminus?"
"That is it."
Albion continued to explain everything it discovered for quite some time. Aleph had to use his authority on time to slow it down within his vicinity.
After an equivalent of an entire week, he was able to restore their flow of time back to normal.
'Dragons are particular with their pride.' Aleph thought. 'Might as well not bring it up.'
Originally, he wanted to bring up Metatron to help in Albion's analysis. However, he chose not to do it in the end.
Albion's sudden disappearance was related to a True Dragon's dignity. Albion would not accept being Aleph's freeloader. It wanted to do something to be useful. Even if it was stupid, Albion would carry on doing what it believed to be right.
It could be seen from Albion's actions when the Age of Gods ended. It refused to enter the Reverse Side to 'escape'. Albion faced death as a result.
In the fifth Lostbelt, Earth was destroyed by the White Titan due to the fae's negligence. Albion ended up with no Earth to stay on, and as such, it died trying to pierce through the barrier between two different textures.
Long story short, Albion is stubborn beyond stupid levels.
Just then, he had an idea.
"Albion. You have a lot of time, right?"
"Why is it so?"
"Do you want to explore new worlds?"
Aleph's proposal halted Albion's thought process.
"Thee want me to separate from thou."
"Isn't it interesting enough?" Aleph explained. "You know about the Aeons of this world. They send their emissaries, known as Emanators, to light up their Path on countless worlds."
Aleph's proposal directly eliminated Albion's freeloading option. It made the latter's eyes light up.
"For starters… how about going to a new world? I am talking about the planets of this world."
"...I concur."
Just like that, Albion graduated from his eleven and a half years of being a shut-in.
*****
Fight.
Kill.
Repeat.
That constituted everything in Bronya Zaychik's life.
When facing the possibility of a mission failure…
"Oh! She's finally awake!"
…she considers her life as forfeit.
That was what she thought when a pair of big blue eyes greeted her sight.
Momentarily, she was stunned. Then she remembered everything.
'The commission…'
Bronya recalled how she was jumped by a girl of her age. Her hands were akin to the strongest steel. Kiana's hold on her face was enough to knock her unconscious with the blanket.
She felt the sensation of her face being held by a huge T-Rex.
"Phew. I thought she won't breathe anymore!"
"If it was someone else, you might have broken a bone or two. You'll have to thank her for being a professional assassin."
"Ah?! Like Leon and Mathilda?"
"More than that. She's not just Mathilda."
Aleph clicked his tongue when Kiana enjoyed one of the movies he projected using his memories.
"She's Leon."
"Ah..?!"
Given Bronya's professional skills, it was apt to call her as such.
"It's not fun to eavesdrop on others, Miss Assassin."
Knowing she could not pretend any longer, Bronya opened her pair of gray pupils. Tension could immediately be felt from her, not because of anything but…
'What is he?'
To Bronya's eyes, Aleph does not exist in this world at all! No traces, no warmth, no subtle sounds…
It was extremely creepy, akin to a ghost.
Although, seeing a palm-sized robot floating around does seem to be unconventional to begin with
"I have a proposal here." He stated. "If you can win against this girl in a fighting game… you are free."
"Ah?"
"..."