Arc 54 - Date?!

Sunday, 28th of July 2019:

“Let’s get this date started,” Lian said as she wrapped arm with Nazar’s and walked through the city.

“Just my rotten luck to be stuck with you...” Nazar muttered.

About an hour ago, somewhere in Milky Way Galaxy:

Nazar appeared in the middle of nowhere. All around him was nothing but darkness… but all of a sudden, a massive spaceship let down it's cloaking.

It was a spaceship, that was not as big as the ones that were used by the military forces of Vanaha Empire, but it was not very small either. It was 1 KM/0.5 KM/ 0.25 KM. The outer design of the spaceship was very simple. It did not have any special designs. It was painted white and there wasn’t anything else.

He moved closer towards the ship and its hatch opened.

Nazar entered through it and heard a familiar voice.

- Welcome aboard, Master. -

“Are they here?”

- Yes. -

Nazar entered the spaceship. When he entered through the hub, there was nothing around except for a narrow hallway.

As he moved through the hallway, he reached a circular area in the middle of the spaceship. In the middle of the spaceship, it was a circular empty space and there was a small table that allowed Solace to take a holographic form. There was nothing else in here.

A few people were standing in this circular area.

“Thanks for coming today,” Nazar said as he entered that small circular empty space. “So, what are your answers?”

“Nazar, you already know my answer, but I will say it again. I am in,” Kiet said. “As you said, we have lost too much and we need to be ready for what comes next.”

“I am in, too,” Hial said.

“Me too,” Lian said. “I just couldn’t pass the opportunity to work with you.”

She ended her sentence with a wink.

“...?” Nazar was confused. “I-I thought you were the more serious type?”

“She is serious when she needs to be. But normally, she is like this… and it's annoying.” Kiet explained.

“I am in,” Weq said. “The Death 100 escaped and we need to get them back. But my people are not soldiers, so we need your help.”

“Well, I don’t have anything else to do, so… I am in,” Reaper sounded displeased.

“I am in. I just need to do something to make up for what I have done,” Meltdown said. “I know it is not enough and sometimes I was not forced to do so… but I still would like another chance. If possible, that is.”

“What do you say Hial?” Nazar turned his gaze towards the new king of Duluria Empire.

“... I am okay with him being here if it means we can keep a close eye on him.”

“Okay, then we are set. We should meet regularly to see if anything like this comes up and prepare for it.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if we have a spy-type person in here too?”

“That’s a good suggestion, Reaper. We have three powerhouses… four if you include Solace. We have a genius. A tech master. A military genius? A magician. So, we need a spy-type person, too.”

“That is not going to be a problem.”

“Oh?”

“I am not just a magician. I have many other skills too. I have worked as a spy for Chochica Empire for a while now. I have done many missions for them.”

Nazar nodded.

“Interesting.”

“So, if we ever go on a secret mission, I will act as your girlfriend.”

“Ah?” Nazar said as he slowly took a step back. “You know what? I agree with you. It is pretty annoying.”

“Unfortunately, she is pretty skilled,” Kiet said.

“What the-- how? And can you stop clinging so closely to me?”

Before Nazar had noticed, Lian had moved a few meters and started clinging to Nazar’s arm.

“I am pretty skilled, you know?”

Nazar sighed.

“We should meet once a week, so we can stay up to date. Also...” A few small devices appeared in Nazar’s hand. “Use these to contact one another. And it can also teleport you to this ship wherever you are in the universe.”

“So, do we go after Death 100?” Weq asked.

“Yes. That should be our first mission.” Nazar looked at everyone. “Are you guys okay with that?”

They all nodded.

“We need to gather information about them. I suggest we go on a covert mission.” Lian said.

“Yes, that is a good idea,” Kiet said. “So, we should split into teams and go to the likely planets to gather information.”

“I can use my Nigh-Omnipresence.”

“Damn it,” Lian muttered.

“It is true you can use that. But we have to consider a time where you won’t have your power and you won’t have access to your AI. Then what will you do? So, we want to do this without using our powers. If we do, they might find out about it and we will lose valuable information on them.”

“You are not wrong...”

“So, I think this is can be a good exercise to gain extra skills that we can use later on. Power is not everything. You should know that by now, Nazar.”

“Okay.”

“We should split up into teams.”

“Oh, I should go with Nazar,” Lian, still clinging to Nazar’s arm, raised her hand.

“Why?” Nazar almost shouted.

“I need to thank you for saving us. I need to repay you the debt we all owe you… with my body, that is,” Lian said as she winked.

“Gah!?” Cold sweat dripped from Nazar’s face. “I am in trouble.”

“Well, it should be Nazar and Lian,” Kiet said.

“Damn it,” Nazar muttered.

“Yay!!” Lian cheered.

“Reaper and Meltdown should go.”

Reaper and Meltdown nodded.

“And we shall stay behind.”

“Why?” Nazar said.

“Because we have experience in this field and I will tell you what to do. I will manage the mission from here. And our appearance will cause a commotion. Plus, we are kings now and we cannot just go on a small mission.”

“Fine.”

“Nazar, you might want to change your nanites. Bloodlust can easily take control of it.”

“Okay.”

Nazar removed the nanite based clothes and replaced it with clothes he created using his powers.

They all went through the plan… except for Nazar. He was doing something and was not listening.

A few minutes later, the people who were going on the mission vanished into thin air.

Nazar and Lian ended up on an unknown planet. Well, it was just an unknown planet to Nazar.

“This is planet Kram. It is a planet that is full of Jabalot Empire rejects… or the criminals who did not want to work under the rule of that planet,” Lian explained.

“So, why are we here?”

“The energy signature of them ends up here. Of course, not all of them are here, but there is a high chance we will meet most of the big guns here. We were able to track down Darkness.”

“Oh.”

“Also, believe it or not, but most of the tourists in here are couples. So, you know what that means?”

“Tch. No.”

“It means it is one of the most romantic places in the galaxy.”

“And?”

“And it is just me and you.”

Nazar slowly increased the distance between him and Lian.

“I really liked you yesterday when we met. You looked like a decent person.”

“Ah. So you did like me?”

“Not in that way.”

After keeping the distance between himself and Lian, they reached one of the destinations. It was known the place for the underworld meet up. Of course, no one would know this, unless they had access to a great amount of secret intelligence.

Anywhere Nazar looked, he saw massive hotel-like buildings. He and Lian entered one of them and found out that it looked like a restaurant. The restaurant had a similar feel to an Earth-like restaurant. And… the people looked like humans and spoke in a human language?

Nazar looked around. He noticed some of the things around. There were Earth-based paintings around.

“This is not planet Kram, is it?”

“I was right. You were not listening to the briefing. But you said you could hear it properly. And I thought you would notice this as soon as we got here.”

“So, why are we on Earth?”

“This is where their energy signature ended up.”

“Then why did you lie to me?”

“I just wanted to see how long it will take you to notice.”

“Tch. Without my powers, I am pretty useless,” he said as he looked around the restaurant once more. “So, where are we?”

“Venice, Italy.” She looked at him with a puzzled expression. “How is it that you have Nigh-Omnipresence and not know this place? Shouldn’t you know all the places and everyone here?”

“Well, whenever I use Nigh-Omnipresence, I remove all my memories of it. I only keep the important ones.”

“Why?”

“Imagine never forgetting a face you see. Imagine never forgetting anything you see once. It just… get’s too much.”

“True. That might be a little too much.”

“But I do store all of them in my AI.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, she is pretty useful.”

The waiter in the restaurant approached them.

As he approached them, he had a welcoming smile on his face. Once he got close, his smile slowly vanished and was replaced by a little fear.

“N-Nazar?”

“Oh boy… here we go again.”

However, the waiter regained his senses.

Before he could say anything, he saw Lian wrapping her arm with Nazar’s.

“How about the most romantic table you have?”

“Certainly, Madam,” the waiter replied as he led the way.

“Are you seriously doing this?”

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Ugh… you are so lucky that you look like a human,” Nazar said slowly because he didn’t want the waiter to hear about Lian being an alien.

“Well, we are both created by angels and are both cosmic abominations.”

“Wait, why did none of the empires attack your empire instead of trying to attack my planet?”

“I don’t know that much. You should have asked Iket.”

“Well, it is too late now.”

Nazar and Lian reached the table that the waiter recommended. It was next to a window. From here, Nazar and Lian could see the beautiful view of the beach.

“I hate beaches,” Nazar muttered under his breath. “So, why are we in a restaurant?”

“I know they are in this city, but I am not sure where. Plus, I am hungry and I need to eat food.”

“If you wanted to eat food, we should have gone to London. They have the best chicken wings.”

“Well, I wanted to try this one. It looks romantic.”

“Remember, we are on a mission.”

Lian chuckeld.

“Until a minute ago, you didn’t even know where we were.” She took a small pause. “So, after the mission, we can go on a date?”

“How is that you know all these Earth terms?”

“Hehe… I might have learned it somehow.” She shook her head. “Just kidding. The translator is coming up with words that have a similar meaning in my language.”

“Why are we not speaking in your native language? I can pretty much--”

“We want to keep a low profile.”

Nazar sighed.

After eating food, that Nazar didn’t even know about, Lian got up.

“Finally. Can we get started on the mission?”

“Just five more minutes.” She started to walk off.

Then she stopped and looked back towards Nazar.

“You are coming too.”

“Huh?”

Nazar sighed once more and got up.

Lian was about 1.65 M tall. She had fluffy blonde hair and green eyes. She was wearing black jeans and a grey top, that had massive cleavage. It made Nazar uncomfortable.

She and Nazar approached the reception area. Nazar was beyond confused.

“We would like to book a room for tonight.”

“Huh?” Nazar shouted.

As he shouted, the clerk behind the desk noticed and started to sweat nervously.

“We are making a scene. People notice me everywhere,” Nazar whispered in Lian’s ear.

“It’s part of the plan,” She whispered back.

“What?”

“I will tell you later,” she said. “Anyway, you are paying for the room.”

“No shit Sherlock. I don’t think they accept your currency.”

Nazar paid all the costs of the restaurant and the room.

“Let’ go.”

“Let’s go where?”

“To the room we just booked.”

Nazar just froze in his place.

“I am just joking. We are going to go around the city.”

As Nazar and Lian walked out of the restaurant, Nazar noticed something. Earlier, they were both hidden from public view, but now they were not hidden.

“Um… why are you not hiding us?”

“Ugh… why did you not listen when we went through the plan?”

“Aha… well, I was doing something?”

Lian sighed.

“The plan is to let everyone here take your photos and upload to the internet. From there, Bloodlust will figure out that you are not a threat to them at the moment. So, if they do not focus on you, they will get on with their own stuff. It will give the others a chance to gather all information they can. For example, why are they here and how many of them are here.”

“Wait, how do you know about the internet--”

“Remember, not long ago, there was someone from Duluria Empire here? Well, he shared a lot of data with us. And when you were taken by Jabalot Empire, I came here a few times and ‘looked’ around. And I bought myself these clothes.”

“So, you were sent on a covert mission to Earth?”

“Basically.”

“So, why did you book a room? Aren’t you going back today?”

“No, I am not.”

“Wait, why am I not allowed to use my powers?”

“Professor Death has a lot of data on your powers. And the plan is to use Reaper and Meltdown to infiltrate them and tell them that you have lost your powers temporarily. So, when he checks your energy signature, he will find out that you have no power.”

“Ah?”

“So, we cannot have you randomly using your powers.”

“Okay.”

“Wait, please tell me you have removed your powers completely. And blocked the energy signature.”

“Don’t worry, that is what I was doing when you guys were going through the mission plan.”

“This does not make sense. Why on Earth would they believe Reaper and Meltdown?”

“Because we believe that they don’t know about Reaper’s and Meltdown’s betrayal. They were taken out before Reaper helped us. And Meltdown changed his mind yesterday. So, we can assume that Professor Death will believe them.”

“Professor Death, huh? It’s one badass name.”

“Anyway, we need to do something to attract people’s attention.”

“I mean, I can see all of them are looking at me. So, what else do you need?”

“We need to them to take pictures. So, Bloodlust can find out about it.”

“You know, this plan is confusing and it is not going to work.”

“It’s worth a try.”

“Gah!?” Nazar jumped a little. “Why are wrapping your arm with mine?”

“I said we need to get their attention. I heard in this planet, people care a lot about celebrity’s love life.”

“How is it that you know more about this than me?”

Lian just shrugged.

Nazar and Lian continued to walk close to the beach. There were a lot of people and most of them were looking towards them.

“Hehe… I have an idea.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Maybe, I should strip naked and that will get us more attention?”

“Please have a little dignity. And you might even get arrested.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. If I remember correctly, being nude in the public is illegal. I am not sure if it is the same in this country or not but it is in some.”

“This planet is no fun.”

As Nazar and Lian walked, more and more people took their photos.

“I guess its working?”

“Yes, it is. I just hope that Bloodlust can find it.”

“Who is Bloodlust?”

“She is a cyborg.”

“Nice.”

“Wait, you see how your AI was wearing maid uniform, right?”

Nazar gulped and slowly turned his gaze towards her.

“Y-yes?”

“Well, I deducted that you might be into dress up.”

“Ah?”

“So, if you want, I can dress up as anyone you want.”

“I really hate you, you know that, right?”

“Hehe…”

At the other side of the city and an hour later, Professor Death, Bloodlust, Darkness, Graviti, Brawn, Hurricane and a few others were in an abandoned bar. Technically, they had killed the owner and bartender two days ago when they arrived here.

“” Professor Death seemed surprised.

“” Bloodlust spoke in her emotionless voice. “”

None of them seemed to care about Nazar.

“” Reaper said as he teleported in.

Meltdown was with him.

No one was surprised once again.

“”

“” Professor Death said as he had a smile on his frog-like face.

“”

Darkness raised her eyebrows.

“”

“” Reaper might have sounded like his past self, but he was keeping his emotions under check.

“”

“” Reaper’s eyes turned red with energy.

As Reaper said that, Professor Death felt fear for the first time a long time.

“” Professor Death looked at the person behind Reaper.

“”

“”

“”

Just as Professor Death said that the remaining members of the Death 100 appeared in the room.

They seemed to have returned from somewhere.

“” Reaper said.

“”

“”

“”

Professor Death and Bloodlust went through the information gathered by others. He checked through them while the others chatted away. Reaper and Meltdown closely watched each one. They all seemed to be much weaker than they were.

After a few minutes, Professor Death spoke.

“”

(Ah. That guy.) Reaper thought.

“”

KRAKABOOM!!

“”

Most of them muttered the same question. It was supposed to be sunny today and the only person with weather control is with them.

After the Thunder settled down, something landed inside, breaking through the roof.

“I followed this 10-foot rock monster and found him here,” Norse God said as he landed in the bar. His eyes had been replaced by thunder. His whole body also released massive sparks of lightning.

(Oh, shit.)

Reaper tried to blend into the crowd and hide from Norse God. If he shapeshifted, his former teammates will be able to notice something unusual.

Next to Norse God, a few former superhumans of Internal Order showed up.

“Now, then, you alien scums...” Eddie’s face was ripped in half with a smile. “I will kick your ass.”

Just a few miles away from Reaper and the rest, Marco sits on top of a building. He is looking at the city beneath him.

His legs were hanging down from the ceiling. He was swinging them back and forth cheerfully.

“” A voice from behind said. It belonged to a man.

“ Marco replied cheerfully.

“” this time the voice belonged to a woman.

“”

“” the main spoke in a cold tone.

“” the woman said angrily.

“”

“”

“”

As Marco said that, he looked back and saw his parents? Those who should have been killed by Nazar.

He gave them a smile and jumped off the building. However, he did not reach the ground beneath him. He instead vanished into thin air.

The two figures vanished too. They did not teleport, instead, they just vanished. Like being turned into air particles.