Chapter 103

Arc 13- Public Enemy No.1 - Part 6

A long long time ago, on a large beautiful planet of Phanomia, there was a beautiful princess who was unhappy.

Cursed with unlimited strength and long life, she had lived for many centuries but there is one thing she never got to experience in these many hundred years.

Love.

She wanted love. True love, to be exact.

For centuries, lines of men queued up in front of her beautiful castle.

“O my beautiful lady, please join thee life with mine.”

The princess sighed after sighed.

“Why can’t there be a single man who is stronger than me?”

You see, this princess is physically the strongest woman in the universe.

“I once lifted the weight of the universe. Is no man strong enough to lift the weight of two universes?”

Her servant, a maid, smiled stiffly.

“But princess, many men-- Powerful men - who can destroy universes - proposed yet you still rejected them.”

The princess rolled her eyes.

“I want someone to be stronger than me, not someone who is more powerful than me. Powerful is interesting… but stronger is better.”

With her power, the princess can never step foot on any planet she is. Planets die the moment she steps on it. Which is why, she always floats a millimetre above anything solid - including her bed which she is “sitting” on at the moment.

“I-I see, princess.”

Many more years passed, and the princess was proposed to by many people. However, no one was able to pass her tests.

However, on a fateful day, the princess yawned on her balcony as she thought back to the long and lonely day, someone landed in front of her castle.

It was a white-haired man with big red eyes.

The moment she laid eyes on him, something changed within the princess.

Within her, she felt an emotion she had never felt before.

She felt a form of warmth she had never felt before.

“Is this...”

She ordered her maid to bring the man to her.

And so, the man came.

In her quarters, she asked him, “Are you strong?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” replied the man very quickly and with a lot of sadness hidden behind his comedic tone.

“Stronger than me?” the princess sounded nervous.

In return, the man replied casually, “Yes.”

She inhaled sharply.

“Can you…” the princess twiddled her index fingers shyly. “Can you lift that for me?”

The man followed the trail of her eyes.

Turning around, behind him, he saw a small spherical energy ball made of orange and white colours floating.

He looked at the energy sphere and squinted his eyes in a confused manner.

“Umm… Sure?”

He went near the energy ball and casually lifted it with one hand.

“Uh… What am I supposed to do with it now?”

The princess’ face blushed beet red.

“Will you marry me?”

He stared at her blankly.

“Sorry, I have eyes on someone else.”

“Oh...”

And so, the man left.

The only man who is strong enough to stand above her rejected her.

But she did not give up.

To attract his attention, she became a hero. In fact, she became the greatest superhero in the universe.

15 years later, she stood before the only man she ever loved and smiled.

Leaning forward, she kissed Nazar.

“?”

Don’t worry, it was a kiss on the cheek.

She moved her lips away from his face.

“You seem… happy. Happy considering the situation,” she said with a wide smile.

“I do?” Nazar said with a confused look on his face.

“Yes, you do. Did you find yourself a lover?”

Before Nazar could ask how she knew, she placed her index finger on her lips.

With her right eye, she winked and said, “Call it woman’s intuition.”

“Seems quite useful,” Nazar said jokingly. “Better than my Stats Vision, I guess.”

The Phantom Star laughed.

“Did you find the one you were looking for?”

Nazar nodded.

"Ah, that's good. But…"

She smiled bitterly.

"Will I ever get the one I have my eyes on?"

Nazar thought about it for a moment - or at least pretended.

"Don't answer it now," she said with a rather heavy tone.

Clearing her throat, her expression turned serious.

"I have been looking for the Dragon too, per your request. However, I have not found anything. Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Nazar said as he forced a smile on his face.

At that time, Nazar was doing everything in his power to find the being known as Ikeiss, the Eternal. He needed all the help he could get.

To ask the Phantom Star for help, Nazar solved one of her biggest issues; he placed a barrier around her that sealed away her infinite strength. She could walk on a solid surface again. She could flap her hand in the air again and not destroy worlds.

He made sure that she can tap into her sealed power whenever she needs it, but if she doesn't need it, she can live a little more normal life.

In return, she agreed to help look for the Dragon in her own way.

"Did you find anything?"

"No," Nazar shook his head. "But I will look for him myself. I wasted too much of your time, already. But... I will find him one day. By myself."

“I see...” she looked down.

“Anyway, thanks for the save today. But how can I help you today?”

She tilted her head in a confused manner.

"I can see the negative emotions overflowing within you. What's wrong?"

She bit her lip as she looked down.

"It's okay, I will take care--"

"You practically saved me right now. Gave me a chance to help you."

She raised her head with a depressed look.

"Remember Jina? She has taken my family hostage. I cannot seem to save them. She is moving from one dimension to another. It's hard to track her down."

Nazar's eyes widened.

"I can help you--"

"It's okay," she smiled kindly. "I don't wish to heavy the weight on your shoulders. I will figure it out myself."

He sucked in a breath.

"Then…"

Nazar's eyes lit up with white energy.

"They are in Universe 183."

"Th-thanks," her heart was filled with happiness and hope.

"You can defeat her, right?"

She nodded.

"Please leave the rest to me."

Nazar smiled as he waved his hand.

“Good luck.”

Near Phantom Star, a portal appeared.

Nodding, she flew into it.

He looked at Lian.

“Sorry...” she said nervously. “I thought--”

“You did great. As I said before, it’s better they learned from us. If they had learned from someone else, it could have been more...”

He looked around the courtroom.

“Damaging, I guess?”

She smiled nervously.

“I need to go. I have to check with Earth. Sorry, I will leave the rest to you two for now,” he said to Lian and Baros.

"I will take care of the rest. You go."

Smiling, he vanished into thin air.

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Earth:

Appearing above his parent’s house, Nazar narrowed his eye.

The barrier was still intact but noticing the armies outside, he started to worry.

He knew Aarin was here - an angel powerful enough to lay waste to a universe in an instant - but he still looked worried.

“Where have you been?”

Looking back, he saw Aarin standing behind him.

Letting out a sigh of relief, he smiled.

“Thanks.”

“Why did you not come here earlier?”

She karate chopped him on the head.

“I was… I had to do something.”

“More important than them?”

He looked down.

“...I tried reversing it. But it failed. So, I tried to use every power I have but couldn’t find her.”

“What are you…?”

“There is a form of “virus” - for the lack of a better term - within me that is stopping me from finding out who she is.”

Aarin let out a sigh.

“Can you not get rid of it?”

Nazar looked at her blankly.

“I don’t even know what this virus is. I can’t find it within me. So, I can’t “cure” it.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Are you sure you are not giving in to your masochist nature?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, you are finally able to feel pain again, have someone whom you can’t defeat with a single attack, and finally have a chance to feel some excitement.”

Although Nazar pretended that was not the case with his expressions, deep down, he couldn’t deny it.

“I told you, didn’t I?”

She placed her hand on his face.

“Don’t hold back on me. If you need help, just ask.”

“I know. It’s just...”

Nazar floated there for a few minutes and thought.

“Anyway, let’s get you home.”

Aarin snapped her fingers and both of them teleported out.

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“Wh-why are you guys here?” Emma said with her cheeks twitching as she entered the living room.

“Oh wow, that’s just rude,” Chris said blankly.

“Yeah, Emma, I thought you would be happy to see us,” Harry said jokingly. “Did you miss us?”

With her right hand, Emma swayed her hair backwards, “I would rather die.”

Hearing her cold tone, Chris cringed and said, “Ouch!”

Smiling warmly, Emma said, “Oh hi, Laura.”

“H-hi,” Laura replied with a stiff smile.

“Why does she get a warm welcome and not us?” Harry cried out.

With a cold look on her face, Emma said, “Shut up, maggot.”

Emma doesn’t hate them, but they used to annoy her, so she is always being cold towards them - mostly as a joke.

“Alright then,” Harry said with a deadpan face.

She looked around and for the first time in a very long time, the large living room was packed.

Aarin was standing in one corner with Solace.

Laura was talking with Aya, Nazar’s mom.

Angela and Aeron were talking amongst themselves.

Ashely was talking to a tall and busty woman with black hair and black eyes.

She wondered who it was.

Emma had met Ashley once before but it was her first time seeing Rebecca.

As she thought about who this girl might be, Aarin vanished into thin air, which surprised everyone.

“Teleportation looks so cool,” Chris said slowly to Harry.

“I know, right?”

“I want to teleport once.”

“If only we knew about his power sooner...”

Everyone gasped when two people appeared in front of them from thin air.

“!!”

Their eyes widened in fear for a moment.

They had never seen Nazar in such attire or with his hair not looking a mess.

“Wait, who are you?”

Nazar smiled stiffly at Emma.

“I mean, what are these… Whatever you are wearing. And that cape. And the… The sash? It looks kind of decent… But uh… Um… And the hair. Yes, the hair. It’s not messy at all.”

Emma thought she was looking at someone whom she had never seen.

“So, who are you?”

Nazar frowned.

The clothes around him changed. He was wearing his usual black jeans and a black shirt.

“Um...”

Nazar touched his hair and untidied it.

“Happy?”

Emma went close to him and hugged him tightly.

“Aww, the demon possessing you is gone.”

Nazar let out a sigh as he hugged her back.

“Where were you? Are you okay?”

“Just… doing something. And yeah. Yeah, I am okay.”

Nazar looked around the room and started to look a little confused.

“So, why have you all gathered here?” Nazar asked.

“Oh, they came here to check on their families. Laura was getting lonely, so I brought her here too.”

“Oh...”

Nazar was worried something might have happened to them, but he let out a sigh of relief when he found out everything was fine.

“They will be going home soon.”

Nazar looked around the room.

“I was wondering why everyone was gathered here. Glad it’s not something bad.”

However, that kind smile on Nazar’s face soon vanished when Solace told him something.

“You have been called before the UN. They need to speak with you. And judge you, I presume.”

He stopped hugging Emma and looked at Solace, who was standing in the corner.

“The UN...”

In this world, the UN - United Nations - was an organisation created by the demon Zerathos to carry out his personal missions. On the surface, he made it look like it was a peacekeeping organisation.

Underneath the Saint like face, it had roots darker than the Void.

“And those armies outside…” Nazar gritted his teeth. “I will--”

“Don’t. I have a plan,” Solace said in a serious tone.

“Spit it out.”

“Spit out what?” Solace said as she smiled a thin and seductive smile.

Everyone in the room looked at Nazar with a disappointed look on their faces.

Solace giggled before putting on a serious face.

“Anyway, I don’t think you should use force with them.”

Nazar frowned.

“Yes, you are right.”

“You need to go and use the history of the world against them. Since it’s going to be broadcasted around the world, that’s the best weapon you have.”

“Damn them!”

Nazar sat on one of the nearby sofas.

Holding his head between his palms, he thought.

“When?”

“Today.”

Nazar clicked his tongue.

“Another one?”

Besides Aarin and Solace, everyone was confused. They had no idea what was going on.

“I could come with you,” Aarin said, sounding guilty. “I mean, I am partially responsible for what the demon has done.”

Nazar looked down and thought.

“Wait, what is this demon you guys mentioning?”

Nazar looked at Chris who was sitting near him.

“Oh right. I never told you about Zerathos.”

“Well, you will find out soon anyway,” Solace smiled. “The world was fucked up.”

Nazar stood up lazily.

“Here we go again… I hope this one is as short as the earlier one,” Nazar said slowly to himself.

“You don’t have to do this, son,” Aya said, sounding troubled.

“No, it’s fine. Plus, I would rather these cunts leave you alone.”

He forced a smile on his face.

“None of you had anything to do with this.”

“Yeah, we really didn’t,” Aeron sounded angry. “We really didn’t yet it came to our doorsteps.”

“I know. And I am sorry. I am doing everything in my power to fix it.”

“Then try harder.”

"I am trying as hard as… I…"

Nazar's angry tone trailed off.

"Huh?"

Aeron smiled.

"No, no, no, no, no. I am not mind wiping the whole planet. What's done is done. I-I am-- I am not doing that again. Memories are important to--"

"I never suggested that, did I?"

"Ah."

Aarin smiled as she understood what Aeron meant.

Nazar glanced at Aarin and then Aeron in a confused manner.

"Bring him to justice, instead," Aeron said.

Nazar tilted his head in a confused manner.

"What--"

"Your God, I mean."

"Ah…"

Nazar looked down.

"I ca-- I will think about it."

Aarin held his hands and smiled.

"Don't worry, you are stronger than him. He can control you. You won't lose to him again."

Maybe strong wasn't the right word to use with him, Aarin wondered.

"I will be there with you. So, you don't have to worry about anything."

Nazar looked up at her.

"Okay."

He took a deep breath.

"Shall we get going?"

He nodded.

"But…"

“I understand,” Aarin said as she nodded.

Phasing through the ceiling, they flew away.

“Well, this is going to be interesting... In a bad way."

Solace said as she let out a sigh.

"Hopefully he doesn't make it worse..."

She looked at Aeron.

"I didn't know you had a nice side to you."

Aeron smiled stiffly.

"Right..."

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"You are in for a rude awakening, Nazar," said a man-- "Now, now, I can't let you do that. Let's leave it at that."*