《Master of Cards. *Reborn*》Chapter 20 : End of Marchen.
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The Marchen Royal family had their corpses on display. Their crimes were told to the people of Marchen.
'For the sins of using a Priestess of Water for greed and power. One must pay the price of those sins.'
'Using the Beast of Purification to suppress people against its will is a crime far greater than anything else.'
'If such things were to happen again, then I will return and destroy Marchen.' The Avatar of Destruction's warning was heard by all. Heck, it even became the talk of the entire world. Where many countries have decided to put the Avatar of Destruction on the terrorist watch list. The dangerous nature was also highlighted by the fact that Allensphere Metropolis had gone through some things as well as a result but with a figure that uses cards instead of swords. The conclusion that was made was it was a group of people working together.
There were people that garnered support as the Avatar of Destruction has left the trail in those countries. Exposing the crimes of Allensphere treating the homeless people like vermin and Marchen's enslavement of the Priestess of Water. Kael was not enjoying the attention and thankfully nobody would be none the wiser to his pressence as Kael Webster.
At the very least Kael Webster is an established figure in Matello, then leaving a trail of destruction as the Avatar of Destruction in Marchen and Master of Cards. Three identities yet with different goals. The Avatar of Destruction will leave behind a trail of destruction only while Master of Cards can act as a liberator of sorts.
Was it going to be perfect? No but at the very least he managed to do what he had set out to do. If the Donnis family did not use that barrier of the Priestess of Waters, Kael would probabbly not have destroyed the entire capital. It would just be a minor dispute but using Priestess of Waters like that once again? When he has seen the aftermath of the previous attempt?
It was better to quell it straight away rather than leave it for later. Kael observed the devastation when he took the bus ride from the outskirts of Marchen. It was a bus journey of 20 hours. He could not take a boat because the Beast of Purification and the Hydra had forbid anyone from moving close to bring the Priestess of Water to rest. Kael watched how news helicopters took note of the two beasts staying close to the Priestess of Water's body, the Beast of Purification was literally trotting on top of water. The two beasts were moving abreast to the Priestess's body.
Kael sighed, thinking about what it must have been like for the Priestess. She was alone and she was from his earlier lives. Within the early dozens, which meant she must have been here for a while. Kael needed to wait for things, he needed to wait for an answer from Lucius. Somethings are just tougher to deal with. This was one of it.
Kael was not as invincible as he thought, it may have been easier to get to him. The troubles of the world did not concern him unless there was a reason for him to be concerned. The Living Weapons are a cause of concern for him. So far nothing is too dangerous but if the other ones that were on his mind were present. It would lead to a lot of destruction and not the kind that Marchen suffered. Think of a weapon that could wipe out an entire nation just by imagining it. There were many Living Weapons but there was another problem.
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Kael closed his eyes, finding himself standing by the lake. Seeing Xuehua and Yueliang Hua arguing over who loves their sister the most.
"I care about meimei more than you!"
"No I care about our younger sister more than you, you androgynous prick!" Xuehua was shouting at Yueliang Hua while Baihua was standing beside Kael.
"Baihua... Why don't you go discipline your elder brothers?" Baihua hugged Kael then she readied her blade.
"Ah, turning our sister against us! You evil bastard!" Xuehua shouted.
"You ugly bastard!" Yueliang Hua added on as they both drew their blades.
"Hey, no calling my master ugly or evil!" Baihua went after them. Standing by the lake itself, Kael watched how then they made contact. The entire body of water splashed everywhere leaving nothing but the wet ground to their feet. Baihua was facing her two brothers and their strength was clearly superior. Baihua had the speed. Blocking Xuehua's piercing attack with her sheathe, then parrying Yueliang Hua's attack. Steering her brother's blade off course. Head butting him, then kicking Yueliang Hua back.
Xuehua went after his sister, going for a slash to the chest. Baihua rolled back, a kick to her brother's face.
"You're both so careless!" Baihua shouted as she went against her brothers again. Kael then turned to the other blades, seeing Scarlet Vow sleeping on a bed. Black Symphony stil nursing Radiant Sonata in another room. Kuro Hana was playing with a bunch of cats and Banshee was just looking at a photo of her husband.
The rooms behind Kael were unaffected by what was going on with the trio ahead of him. This place? Think of it as another realm. The realm for Kael's heart that houses them. They all have their own spaces for their own uses but the open lake area is where they spar against one another to compare skills and take notes of each other's weaknesses.
Kael headed back to the real world, the journey on the boss would take longer but that was just how things were supposed to be. He could use a teleport but that is not something Kael would want to use too often. The bus ride was a nice change of pace, the scenery outside was good to see. Fresh green sceneries are pleasant to the eyes.
Another 10 more hours, Kael closed his eyes to rest his head and his thoughts. Kael had a bottle of water for the trip. Taking sips of his drink just to make sure his lips are not dry. The bus trip continued to be uneventful, just the way Kael likes it. He'd rather not have it any other way. The bus made a few stops which Kael did not seem to mind. He just stayed in the bus, not even needing to use the toilet. Closing his eyes to sleep the fatigue away, waiting for the bus to arrive at the intended location. Then he got up, then moving out to search for a toilet to relieve himself.
At the very least, Kael should not be dealing with any sort of family trouble. Kael headed to Patriarch Webster's place, where he found Lucius smoking outside.
"Lucius?"
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"Hello Avatar. Sorry about the Priestess." Lucius said as he offered a cigar for Kael, then lighting it up for him.
"Was there a God behind it?"
"Yes, Avatar. There was.. I've dealt with it. Dealt with it the same way you dealt with it. That God has been dealt with." Lucius said as they both savored a good cigar. The cigars they had were velvety smooth, easy on the mouth and when inhaling the heavy smoke. They both did not let out a cough. A slight touch of mint to the tastebuds.
"Good cigars."
"Handrolled them myself, Kael. Enjoy it." Kael and Lucius stood with their backs turned to the gates to Patriarch Webster's place.
"I'll try and keep the Gods in line but if they make a direct move on earth. Don't bother talking, just do what you must." Lucius said.
"Some of the minor deities have been stepping over their boundaries. Some have descended to earth. I've killed a few on my way here. Saw the mess you made at Marchen. Seems like you showed a lot more restraint." Lucius complimented as Kael puffed out the smoke from his lungs.
"Seems like they really just want to bother me, huh?" Kael asked where Lucius took a deep whiff of the cigar, then nodding.
"Fraid so but I'm not worried since you're here. It's up to you to decide whether you want to trust the ones that came to earth or not. I also made it clear that the only power they have being here is power to protect themselves and to not die. Seems like a lot of gods are coming here for a vacation and having you around is a reminder that if they fuck up, they might be seeing you skin them alive." Lucius explained.
"You mean?" Kael knew what all this meant and he needed to hear those words from the Supreme God himself.
"Yes, Kael. The barrier between the paranormal and this one has shattered. So Gods and many deities just roam freely. Nothing much can be done since the Priestess of Water's soul was the key needed to break the seal. So don't be surprise if horrors or spirits roam freely. I've talked to some of the Chaos Gods that are trying to sort it out. Some of them may seek you out to do justice, but you can leave that to Nelista." Lucius said with a sigh.
"Sure. Then what's going on up there?" Kael asked Lucius as they both tapped their cigars to ash it.
"They asked me to come down for a timeout. Mitara... Well, Mitara's nothing but brain dead at this point. But he is still a deity that is worshipped and if he goes away, some other things will happen. He's been reduced to nothing but a drone. I broke his free will with some pages I took from your book. Ripping off the fingers then stabbing them with it. Then crushing the ribs into their own organs. Skinning them alive repeatedly... It seems human ingenuity surpasses that of the Gods in some areas." Lucius said with a smile to Kael.
"Asking you for a timeout.. You must have went on a rampage, up there."
"I put down 58 deities with my bare hands. All of them are mentally broken and are unable to even think. Apparently Aerith's salvation was not enough. Most of the other Gods are thinking I'm too much like you." Kael nearly choked on the smoke of his cigarette hearing that line.
"Isn't it supposed to be the ohter way around, Lucius?" Kael asked.
"Don't worry about any of the Gods. Even the Gods of War know when to steer clear of your path. I think all the Gods are trying not to step on your toes. I mean... We all did see what you did to the Supreme One. I did not know a head could twist that far... Or how a ribcage could be used as a weapon, or how you ripped off your right arm and beat him to death with it. You were just... Angry." Lucius said with a chuckle towards the end.
"There's always more trouble... But for the next 10 days. I'll try to make sure nothing otherworldly tries to mess with your family. Oh, I've asked the God of Luck to do you a solid. Your college might be burning down tomorrow and it might get rebuilt soon. So you'll have 10 days for a holiday." Kael was laughing when he heard that.
"You're joking, right?"
"You know me, Kael. I'm bad at humor. It was the dumbest Idea I've ever had but the other Gods thought it would be funny. No one will get hurt. I've had angels literally scare people away from the building." Lucius spoke with a serious expression.
"I understand, thanks Lucius."
"You are my avatar and I am your God. Originally I wanted someone to inform but wouldn't you know it? Turns out Mitara's bullshit has left me with more paperwork and talking to the Leading Gods of Chaos, Law and Order about how to sort this whole mess out. Then I got so angry and just beat all 58 deities into submission. The others are too spooked to talk to me and everyone is scared so I'm down here for a bit. I'm going to just move around and see what humans are like in this 10 days." Lucius said as they both finished their cigars. Throwing them into the nearby dustbin.
"Have a good rest, my avatar." Lucius said to Kael as he walked away while Kael headed inside. Seeing Blake being reunited with her mother, and seeing Nelista greeting him. His other weapons appeared to greet him as well.
"A 10 day vacation huh? Maybe I'll figure things out." Kael said.
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