《Apocalypse Step》Step 03: This is not funny!
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Floor 80. Haven City
This place could be called the City of Heaven because the dominant race living here are Angels and other angelic beings. There are many races could be seen walking through the street, no Demon could be seen.
The Demons live on Floor 70, however these two neighbor are in constant war at each other. The reason for this war has been lost in history. The Demons always bring their army up to fight the Angels, and the Angels simply defend themselves despite the advantage of higher ground.
Haven City. Canitia Castle. Queen Chamber.
The queen is laying on her bed, her figure is cloaked by the curtain. There is a huge open wound cutting across her chest, a remnant of a failed assassination attempt by the Demons. A Celestial like her is immortal, with her constitution, the wound doesn't pose a big threat. However, the poison has rendered her incapable of walking on her own.
She moves her slender hand to reach for a white object on the nightstand next to her bed. This is a present sent by her husband whom she hasn't seen in years. Because both of them are immortal, a few years of separation means nothing to them.
The queen slowly drags her index finger on the white object, pressing on the glowing surface in a specific pattern then press the object on her ear. After a long pause, a voice could be heard coming out of the object.
["Who is that?"]
Noooooooooooooooooooooo! This is not true! She called me by phone? Seriously? This is a Fantasy world! Why couldn't she use a communication magic or something? She ruined the setting!
Dad stares at me for a moment then grins. He pulls out from his pocket another smartphone then meddles with it and shakes it in front of me. On the phone, he is opening the contact list, showing the number dubbed "Wife" with a heart symbol. Even though my memory is not that good, I immediately recognize the number as the one who is currently calling me.
["Rex. I'm sorry for leaving you to your dad when you were young. I had to go, my people needed me.] On the other side, the woman who claimed to be my mother is speaking with a gentle but also weak voice. That reminds me, dad once said...
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"Are.. are you okay?" I say with a hint of worry. Although I have no memory of her, dad has confirmed it; furthermore, my human instinct is telling me that she is the one I need, the one who I will love like I love my dad.
["I'm a bit sick at the moment so I couldn't come to see you. Would you come and see me soon? I miss you so much."]
"I will…" I glances at dad as he smiles at me. Well, he is always smiling anyway. "But dad won't let me go alone, so it would take awhile. He want to find some suitable bodyguard."
["Bodyguard? It would be really hard to find someone who could escort you to this floor. I couldn't wait to see you…] She pauses for a moment. ["Give the phone to Zet."]
I give my phone to dad with some hope. I could easily imagine dad as someone who is on the weaker side of their relationship. Like giving all money to mom for safe-keeping, asking mom on what to buy and what to not…
Although I couldn't hear what she is saying on the phone but dad simply says something like "Aww" "Okay" or "I know". Sorry dad, but you would have to let me advent alone! I'm a bit worry about not having a cheat though, but someone like me always have 'plot armor'… right?
Before I know it, dad has put down the phone on the dining table and lets out a sigh.
"Dad, will you let me go alone now? I'm sure I could find some companion. It's not different than a group of bodyguard, right?"
"Rex, you see, this world is dangerous and the road to mom's place is long. Unexpected things can happen so I always want to make sure you have the strongest team escorting you." He says with a persuasive voice. However, seeing me with my unwavering eyes, he lets out another sighs. "It's dangerous to travel alone. I will give you something."
"A sword?" I involuntarily blurt out, imagining myself in green tunic, wearing a sword and shield and slashing at monsters.
"Huh? No, it's too easy to get stolen."
"Then a set of super armor?"
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"You can't wear it all the time. You need a super power, or 'cheat' as you call it."
"You can give me super power?" I totally didn't expect this when he says 'give'.
"Of course I can. I am the best dad in all worlds! So, what do you want." He says then intersect his fingers and uses the back of his hands to support his chin, showing a business smile to me.
"This is totally different from the script. Aren't this part supposed to be done by a God? Are you a God, Dad?"
Suddenly, his smile disappears like an illusion. He glares at me with a look that I haven't seen on him before. I have never known that Dad could be scary. He always dotes on me.
"I. AM. NO. GOD!" He says with a deep growl, a growl that I don't believe that is possible for a human.while speaking. It makes me unconsciously steps backward, knocking over the chair.
"Dad?"
"Oh?" Suddenly, the tense atmosphere disappears, as quick as when it came. The business smile reappears on his face. "Well, never mind that. Rex, which superpower do you want?"
"Eh… super strength?" I blurt out while picking up the chair. Although this power is pretty generic, I have spent countless night imagine how I could effectively use various different kind of powers.
"Okay, you will be so strong that anything you touch would turn into dust." The moment he finishes his sentence, the chair I was picking up suddenly collapses into a pile of dust.
"DAD! This is not funny!" I say while trying to keep my hands in check.
"Sorry, Rex, I can't give you anything weaker than that." He says with a smirk. I know he can be overly protective sometime, but this is too much!
"I don't need this power! How could I go on an adventure with this… curse?"
"Aww, so you think of it as a curse. I will give you another one then."
"Then give me super… Never mind. You would probably give me another ridiculous power slash curse. How about Fast Growth Rate?"
"Okay, you will be…" Dad says with another smirk.
"Wait! Don't give it to me yet. Just tell me what would happen." I interrupt him.
"Eh, you will grow so fast that you would turn into a monster…" He pauses. I lean my head closer to him as I feel like there is something more to it. "Eh… literally a monster."
"DAD! This is not funny! Just give me something that doesn't make me accidentally hurt other people!" I understand that he just wants me to be safe. However, Safe to the point of not getting close to anyone… then how could I build my dream 'har…' I mean 'team'.
"Okay then. I will awaken a fragment my power inside you." He says in a serious tone with a serious look.
"Your power… in me?" It would make sense if I think about it. Earlier this afternoon, I once thought that if my dad is not a human, then I wouldn't be 100% human. "What is that power?"
"Done." Suddenly his serious face disappears and was replaced by a grin. "Like father, like son. Now you are a walking Apocalypse. Well, sort of." He rolls his eyes at the last remark.
"Apocalypse? What are you talking about? Didn't I tell you I don't want to…"
"I know. This power is relatively safe. It was called Step of Apocalypse." Dad's words force me to keep my legs in check. I try to keep my feet on the ground and complain.
"How come something like that safe?"
"Well, it's not triggered by stepping, so you don't have to worry. Now sit down, I will tell you how to use it. Don't you trust me?"
"But this power…" Although on the outside I complain, I still like how OP this power sounds.
"Anyway, I'm going to sleep. It's the shop's first day tomorrow. The power is safe so you could test it anytime. Just imagine yourself stepping while saying its name in your mind." He says then stands up, gathering the bowls on the table and carries them away, leaving me standing next to the table, dumbfounded. "Good night, Rex… if you could sleep."
In the end, I didn't test it and go to bed. However, I struggle to sleep as I could not stop thinking about this power. Dad is such a tease!
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