I Got A Bone To Pick With You

Wooden walls lined the sides with giant blue stone marbled balls that were glued to the ground around the room. A face covered in a black limestone color and huge eyes that glowed looked at him. The Great Sovereign appeared once again for Astro, however he did not know at this point what this thing was, nor did he care. He was still empty from what he had experienced and barely looked up.

She spoke to him.

Great Sovereign: “An unknown feeling to most. A darkness that corrodes the light, yet a light that can overcome even greatness with love. Do you not feel sorry for yourself? My knowledge can see even past your insecurities. Even though you do not admit it out loud, you yearn for it inside. Ah, well that is what I wanted to see you overcome. In your own selfish way, you have done this. So, ask away, but do be careful. You only get one question.”

Astro laid on the ground still unable to speak or move from the trauma. His breaths were shallow and his eyes flickered. The Great Sovereign spoke again, reassuring him that he would still receive his question, but that she would have to wait to see if Astro would prevail from death’s grip and his mind’s insanity.

Astro’s scythe began to trickle purple mana into his body to keep him alive. His mana was slowly draining from the stress he had experienced, and as his body shook to fight the high fever, the scythe released Hades Breath in order to provide Astro water.

In the grey smoke that appeared, the scythe specifically targeted the water droplets that occurred within, transferring it through his mouth. Visions of Emi and Silvia appeared in front of him as their voices called out, but only in illusions. The scythe released the smoke to prevent the carbon dioxide from spreading, lifted itself, and tapped the end of its blade on Astro’s chest.

This resulted in it to interfere with the visionary pathways that Astro was having. A new vision occurred behind his wife and child. A ghost-like little girl with long pink hair and a devil horn sticking out of her head. Her eyes gleamed red, but not in a way that was threatening. Her clothes matched that of a devil, and she screamed Astro’s name to get his attention. “Wake up!” she yelled as the other visions disappeared and Astro stopped shivering, waking up from a repeated nightmare.

He panted, gasping for breath before thanking his scythe that now sat there like a regular weapon like before. He looked around in the strange room until locking eyes with the blue head that ruled over this place. He waited for it to speak as he stared it down.

Great Sovereign: “Well? What is your question? Do be wise, you only get one.”

Astro: “Then I ask for two more questions. I got a bone to pick with you.”

Great Sovereign: “On a technicality, pity tactics like that won’t work. By asking that question, you are already asking for something. If I granted you 2 more questions, then that original question would have already been asked and me granting that wish would’ve signified the end of the question. I will be nice for a change and grant you this. Though, ask that again, and I will have you banished for trampling upon this sacred place. Just because I am a knowledge based being doesn’t mean that I do not understand emotional aspects of life.”

Astro: “Screw your stupid knowledge. First off, don’t you dare ever mess around with my family ever again. Don’t ever put those images in my head again. I made it here fair and square. You can show my past all you want, but don’t ever test me like that or you’ll be sorry. Second, where is Octavious? That is my first question.”

Great Sovereign: “Ah yes, the wise man that was with you. A very prominent figure in this world helped him pass this test or else he would’ve never been able to on his own. Do you know how many lives have been destroyed because of ignorant people that venture here? I can see them coming and yet I cannot do anything to stop them. It is the knowledge that I am granted. Those who cannot come to terms with their own reality are eventually destroyed if they cannot overcome themselves. To answer your first question, he has already been teleported away back where you came from. To your righteous birthplace in Ronkon.”

Astro remembered the conversation that they had before coming here. Octavious was to ask where Lucky was and he was to ask where Dante was. He couldn’t try any crap like before to ask more questions. This was the only shot he had. He asked it straight up and honestly.

Astro: “My question is…Where is Dante Retsu?”

Great Sovereign: “Dante Retsu, Dante Retsu, Dante Retsu…Of the 9 worlds of Protrations, Dante Retsu from the 7th world of Protrations was summoned to this 2nd world of Protrations via the Reaper Sword. The residue has exited his body and he has now converted inside of the man known as Isamu, a powerful swordsman that can alone destroy the 9 worlds of Protrations. However, a foe awaits his challenge that can destroy the 9 worlds as well. Dante Retsu’s soul resides within him underneath the Ruins of Mystical Chambers in a castle made solely from Isamu. I will provide you with a tracker marking where he is at, at all times.”

Astro: “Wait! Who is Isamu?! What the hell happened to him after Deceased Paradise?! He isn’t the same person?! Is he hurt?!”

Great Sovereign: “I’m afraid your question has been answered. Goodbye to you.”

Astro: “You Basta–!”

Astro was teleported away to Ronkon back with Octavious who awaited for him alongside Kanji.

Kanji: “Well? How did it go?”

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Yureth covered almost every city in a 10 mile radius within 3 days. He was proud of how fast he worked and the abilities that his sword provided him, allowing him to specifically detect threats that he believed to be true in his mind. Although he believed that he wasn’t great at fighting, his assassin skills and ability to escape when needed came in handy.

He didn’t get anything out of the ordinary and decided to work his way back to The Association. Everything further was not checked. A few more small towns, a large schooling area to teach kids about mana, and Moonshadow Village. Other than that, there was nothing else to check except the underground tunnels, which he had checked for the most part.

‘I wonder what’s going on here?’ he thought. ‘No bombs, no mana clusters, no secret weapons, no nothing. The way Iki described this to me is that they could only win if they had stuff like this in play. Is the man’s goal not to win? Is he truly blinded by the death of his sons? That’s not what I recall Lorenzo Cain being like. His reputation precedes him as a business man and a trickster. People don’t attack him because there really is no need to, and he even provides money to this land. For what reason, I have no clue, but that’s been shut off now according to Iki. Not like it’s a surprise, but is there really no other reason? It’s confusing. What is he up to?’

Lorenzo made his way back to The Association and started to scan, wanting to know what Iki was hiding, but the moment he tried, Iki sensed it and was holding a sword at his neck in the blink of an eye.

Yureth: “Hold your horses partner. No need to do that. I’m just doing the job you asked me to.”

Iki: “And I told you to stay away from here. That’s part of that job. Did you check the surrounding towns?”

Yureth: “You know, for a kid like yourself, you sure got a lot of cockiness waving that thing around at me. I’m like a whole 2 feet taller than you. Shouldn’t that give me some authority?”

Iki: “I don’t have time for this uncle. Do your job. I wish I could also sit in a trailer and sleep all day long, but the world doesn’t work like that.”

Yureth: “Touche. I didn’t think my family would be dissing me like that ever. Although, I guess our family ties are sort of at its end. Not many of us left with our last name.”

Iki stayed silent and walked away, expecting Yureth to continue his job. Tears ran down his face, but he made sure to stay quiet and go back inside where he couldn’t see his vulnerability opening up.

‘What a child,’ Yureth thought to himself as he continued what he was doing.