Chapter 4

Arc 1 - You Lose - Part 4

Black Wing drew in a deep breath as he sat lazily on the bloodied golden and red throne.

He placed his right leg on the throne’s seat.

“This throne is very comfortable,” Black Wing was impressed. “I like it.”

His teammates stood in front of him awkwardly.

“So, what are we going to do next?” Soul Slayer was the only one who spoke. “You have taken over the world already.”

Soul Slayer and Black Wing are childhood friends. They became villains at the same time and worked together for many years. She is the only one who can openly question him and not worry about losing her life.

One reason is that she is his close friend and because she is more powerful than people think.

A few years ago, there was an alien villain who tried to take over the underworld of Alpha Scion, but Black Wing defeated him and restored “order”. He told the invader; “Only one person can truly hurt me, and that is her, my childhood friend.”

“Err… I haven’t planned that far.”

Everyone’s eyes twitched as their shoulders dropped in an ambivalent manner.

Sometimes they wonder why they are still following him, but looking at his carefree attitude, they know that he is the only one who can help them cause as much as chaos as they want.

There are many villains and most have their own factions, but most try to stay low and manipulate the world from the shadows. But Black Wing is different. He loves to be flashy when causing chaos.

This is why this small group has followed him for many years.

Although the team is small, they have made a big name for themselves around the world.

“I did not even expect to kill the heroes. Or the king now.”

He waved the sword playfully in his hand and scoffed.

“I never wanted…”

He let out a heavy sigh.

“Well, either way, now that we are here, let’s do our job properly.”

The sword vanished from his hand.

“Let’s wreak havoc, shall we?” he asked excitedly.

His teammates, however, did not look as happy.

“Uwah,” Green Storm stretched her arms as she yawned. “I am going to take a nap first. We can do that later, right?”

“But of course. Rest is important. So, do take your times.”

He waved his hand, gesturing to her to leave.

“We have allllllllllll the time in the world.”

Did anyone believe that they had all the time in the world? Perhaps not, but they took his word and relaxed a little.

Green Storm left the room with tired and complicated feelings.

“Alright, I shall find a fitting vacant room for myself in this castle,” Sad Barbarian spoke excitedly. He hates modern rooms, so he is looking for a cave-like place in the castle.

Slowly, all of them left.

Once they were gone, Soul Slayer stayed behind and spoke to Black Wing.

“Are you sure?” she spoke nervously.

“About?” Black Wing sounded confused.

“About this...”

Soul Slayer paused for a moment and looked around.

“This whole thing? Taking over the world… It’s all happening too fast.”

“Are you having second thoughts?”

His straightforward question caused her to pause and look down.

“No, I like what I do as part of this group. It’s fun. And I like that you are the ruler of this whole world, that was your dream after all. But...”

She trailed off slowly and Black Wing chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I won’t give you any extra work. You don’t need to give up your time to run a branch of the government, haha.”

She looked back up, her face brimming with happiness.

“Really?”

“Of course. I did not take over the world to rule over it. No… I took over it because I want to burn it with fire. The fire created by the hands of this world’s everyday citizens.”

“Oh great,” she let out a sigh of relief. “I look forward to how you accomplish that.”

“Heh, just you watch.”

VRRRR!

The sword vibrated.

A burst of golden energy shot out.

“What is it?”

Black Wing looked up at the ceiling.

“I found--” he shook his head. “IT found the strings of their network. Every network that was placed for protection has been removed.”

“What about the black organisations of the government, specifically 「Black Tower」?”

Black Tower was one of the few organisation run by the government to keep this world safe. This organisation was the first defence against cosmic problems, but if they failed, they would inform the heroes.

These organisations were hidden so the heroes took all the glory because they wanted the citizens to never worry.

"Hmm."

Black Wing took a short moment to think.

“I know of their location but I think we should keep them around. I don’t want to deal with a cosmic problem at the moment. I hope they will keep this place safe from those space mongrels for a while.”

”Great.”

Soul Slayer wanted to leave, but a question flashed through her mind.

“What exactly is that sword?” she pointed to the sword with her index finger.

“I… I don’t know.”

“Hmm,” Soul Slayer rubbed her chin. “Do you think 「Celestial Reader」 will be of any help?”

“Celestial Reader…. Ah! That old retired hero?”

She nodded.

“You didn’t kill him, did you?” his voice was stiff with worry and defeat. “Please tell me you did not.”

“...”

Black Wing stood up stiffly once he saw Soul Slayer looking away.

“W-wa-wait… I needed that guy. He-- He was--- There--”

“Pff.”

In return to his stressed and worried manner, Soul Slayer burst into laughter.

“Hahaha.”

Black Wing understood, so he let out a sigh of relief and fell back into the throne lazily.

He shook his head as he watched his friend laugh at him.

After a short while, she calmed down and said, “We killed every hero there is except for Cosmic Titan, the Celestial Reader and Heavenly Shaman, who is away.”

“Right. Him. The barrier I set up around the planet should keep him away.”

“Yeah,” she nodded. “If he was around, then we would have never succeeded.”

She smiled bitterly.

“More like YOU would have never succeeded. You did all the work anyway.”

She was disappointed in herself.

No, she is disgusted with herself and her group. How weak are they really? Is there worth less than a sword?

It was silly for her to think like that and she knew it was not a normal sword, but even then, she couldn’t help but consider herself worthless compared to this celestial sword.

“Aha...” Black Wing’s low bitter voice was not heard by Soul Slayer.

“Alright,” she threw away her thoughts and smiled tiredly. “I will get some rest too.”

“Sure.”

Soul Slayer smiled and turned away from him, walking out of the throne room.

“Ah, D’al.”

Black Wing called out to D’al Syn, Soul Slayer.

“Tell Red--Ser too,” he spoke nervously, “tell her to rest well. She earned it.”

D’al and Ser Mkran - Red Freak - grew up in the same orphanage and had known Lukace Gul from a very young age. However, Ser always hated him.

Lukace never tried to change her opinion of him.

“I am sure she will do the opposite,” although D’al’s tone was comedic, she was very serious.

“Then change around the words, as usual.”

She nodded, “Sure.”

Lukcace watched as D’al left the room.

The room was empty, full of dead bodies.

The stench of blood was intensifying, so Lukace clicked his tongue.

For a man who loves killing and causing chaos, he hates the smell of blood.

“...Someone should clean this place up.”

Golden energy swallowed him, vanishing into thin air.

┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ 〈 ⏣ 〉 ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈

D’al walked limply in the hallway.

Raising her hand to her forehead, she massaged it slowly.

“Ugh.”

She was feeling pain, which she was hiding until now.

You see, she can see ghosts. She can see their pain and sorrow.

Right now, she was hearing the wailing of hundreds of ghosts which were killed in the castle, by her and her group.

They screamed and screamed and screamed, projecting their pain at her.

DIE ALL OF YOU!

She screamed inside her head.

DIE! DIE! DIE!

Of course, they were already dead.

However, once a person dies, it is not the end.

Their ghosts - souls - wander the place between life and death until angels come in and take them.

Or at least that’s how the story goes.

In this world, only one person ever found out what happens to the souls after a while. It was a hero who called himself the Heavenly Shaman.

In any case, D'al slapped her head, trying to inflict physical damage upon herself, so maybe, just maybe, the other pain will become a little more bearable.

But if only things were that simple.

If anything, she felt more pain.

Of course, that was only natural.

SWOOSH!

She heard a faint sound as if it was the wind.

But she was not alarmed.

In fact, deep down, she was relieved.

“Ghosts again?”

Ser Mkran - Red Freak - was standing before her.

She reduced her speed, revealing a small woman of 25 years in a black leather suit, which looked a little big for her.

Ser’s costume was covering her entire body, except for her eyes, so she wore faint black goggles.

“Yes,” D’al nodded.

“I will take you to the orphanage, sis.”

They were not related by blood, but they were raised in the same orphanage, where D’al looked after her from a very, very young age.

“No, it’s-- Thanks,” she forced a smile at Ser.

Ser picked up in her arms, although with quite a lot of difficulty which she tried not to show on her face.

She moved slowly, but swiftly through the city.

After a short while, she left the city and reached an old, nearly destroyed building.

It was an orphanage, where they grew up.

When Black Wing came to D’al and Ser nearly 10 years ago, he destroyed this place, killing everyone else.

D’al and Ser did not like those people, so they did not mind. But they do seem to love this building, so they come here often.

Ser took D’al inside and placed her on a small and old bed on the second floor.

D’al smiled bitterly and said, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it, sis,” Ser pulled out a chair which was on the other side of the room and sat on it. “Rest for a short time, then you should be fine.”

Ser noticed that it was slightly cold, so she moved at super-speed and left the room, only to return a second later with a blanket.

She threw it on top D’al and said, “It’s cold, so you need to take care of yourself. I suggest changing your clothes.”

“But others don’t have sex appeal,” she pouted. “I am 28, not dead.”

Ser couldn’t help but laugh.

“Just hope Ibis doesn’t hear it, haha.”

“I mean… I do love him, but we are still new at this. We need to keep each other excited.”

Ser was not sure what to say, except put on an unhappy face.

“About that… When will we move away from Black Wing and form our own group?”

D’al’s happy expression vanished.

“I… I did promise you that. Black Wing said he will support us fully, but...”

Ser felt a little anger once she heard her uncertain tone.

Why is she always stuck to Black Wing?

Is she trying to break the promise they made?

These two girls made a promise to one another. They wanted to become a major name in the underworld.

However, if they stay with Black Wing, they will never be able to achieve it. His shadow is too vast, which covers everyone around him in darkness.

Only Black Wing is shining, but the others are unknown in this world which exists beneath.

“Isn’t it interesting to see where he goes?”

Ser’s eyes widened.

“We have never seen the heroes die… We have never seen the so-called villains win. And this...”

Ser found D’al’s excited tone shocking.

Has she given up on their dream?

“The battle royal of the 「Zeta Spirals」 will begin shortly.”

This world is made of fifty states.

Every state has one emperor of the underworld. These fifty emperors are called; Zeta Spirals.

“One Zeta Spiral against forty-nine… Doesn’t that sound exciting?”

Ser was not sure.

She wanted fame for herself and her sister.

But right now, she is not sure what to feel.

“We will never see something like this in this world. Ever again.”

D’al tried to sit up in excitement but Ser very carefully pushed her back.

“I see.”

“Plus, if we move out of Black Wing’s shadow, we cannot protect ourselves. We will be the target of everyone.”

Ser nodded with complicated feelings.

“Get some rest, please,” she forced a smile.

D’al smiled back before closing her eyes.

Ser let out a heavy sigh as she thought about what D’al said while watching her.

┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ 〈 ⏣ 〉 ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈

Back in the city, above a very tall building, Black Wing stood still and let out a sigh.

He removed the robe from his head, revealing a burnt face and missing right eye.

The skin on the face was completely burnt off.

At certain parts of his face, even the muscles were burnt off, revealing bones.

Black Wing’s face was burnt up years ago by Cosmic Titan.

Lukace Gul killed the hero known as Sora, so when Cosmic Titan faced him for the first time, he burnt off his face.

That damned hero...

He gritted his teeth as the cold breeze kissed his naked face.

Looking down at the city, he wondered, why did he not kill Cosmic Titan earlier?

If he had teamed up with the villain 「Vortex」or an alien, surely he could have killed their greatest threat, the Cosmic Titan.

But they never teamed up.

And Cosmic Titan stood triumphant.

Ahh, this is going to get complicated. The war between Zeta Spirals will tear apart this world.

He was excited about that, he really was.

However, he was worried about one thing.

He does not want the Zeta Spirals to kill Cosmic Titan, no matter what.

He will do everything in his power to keep him safe.

But why is that? The reason is unknown yet.

I will win.

Although he has the mighty sword, he felt uneasy and unsure.

What is this sword?

He produced the sword from under his robes and looked at it carefully.

What are you? Who made you? And why did you come to this world?

He chuckled at his own thoughts.

There was no way the sword could answer him.

And what is your name?

The sword could not speak.

He remembered what it was capable of.

The sword easily changed the world. It changed the reality of the villains and heroes.

And it will change the future of this world forever.

So, he came up with a name for this mighty sword.

I should name you…

“The「Sword of Unreality」.”