Chapter 58: Poe Man's Dreams (His Vice)
4th Day of the 1st Fire Cycle[1], 2000 g.c.
Snapping the attention back to Velonica, specifically inside Talasi's mayor's office, where the mood was... complicated. The air was thick with tension—the kind that settled into the bones—while I sat with my hand pressed to Jojo King's forehead, forcefully skating through his mind like a thief rifling through someone's drawers.
[Telepathy] was never supposed to do this. Not really. It was designed for communication — words, whispers, maybe stray feelings if you pushed hard enough. But when you understood how the brain fired off those tiny electrical signals... And you had a little help from a quantum supercomputer moon deity living in your skull... You could bend that rule. [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] and I cracked that code back when I was a kid, turning [Telepathy] into mind-reading. With a little pressure in the right spot of the brain, you could force those signals to fire like a damn slideshow.
That's how my mnemonic crystals were born. Those little gems store more than data—they stamped memories into your head so clean, you'd swear you lived 'em.
And they had given me quite the practice with psions. That's how I had Jojo's mind wide open like an unlocked door, and I was walking through.
The inside of his head was… unexpected.
Loud. Stressful. Like being dropped into the middle of a storm with no umbrella and no boat. Waves of fear and exhaustion crashed against the walls of his subconscious, each one soaked in painful emotions and leftover trauma. His inner world reflected a man drowning. Drowning in faith that wasn't even his. But beneath that overwhelming storm, there was this weird… peace.
Aggressive, numbing peace. Like his mind had decided, "Well, I ain't winning this, so might as well lie down and enjoy the quiet before it all breaks apart."
Honestly? I was impressed. The dude's Soul Core was tense, wound tight with pressure and cracks like it'd been stitched together with hope and fear. His poor man's dream of freedom and peace from all that pain? They were the only thing keeping him from cracking wide open. A lesser man? He would've gone crazy by now.
"Let's see what else you got hidden in here…"
My eyes tracked through the shadows of his memories until—
"Hold up… I know that ain't who I think it is."
Tsukuyomi's voice echoed through my head like a calm whisper laced with amusement. "Seems the Hero's ending to his fight was a bit like yours, Master."
"You think?" I squinted at the memory unspooling in front of me like a hologram.
Belial's voice jumped in, rough and cocky as always. "Nah, nah. This dude was killed… then saved by his V-Skill. You? You were almost killed by your V-Skill, then saved. Big difference."
"Wait… what? Ignore him. Focus."
The memory crystallized. Jojo and Krystal. Together. Facing down Taurus. The hulking bastard radiated that same twisted divine energy I remembered. Their encounter did more than rattle Jojo—it broke him. His second death, served up on a silver platter by Taurus, burned into his mind like a scar. The trauma didn't ease up just 'cause it happened twice. It doubled down.
Watching it made me pause, reflecting on how damn lucky I was.
[Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] with my mind. [Midnight Star: Belial] with my spirit. I was more than surviving the madness of Gaia—I was thriving because of them. We were a well-oiled triune, and I'd been sleeping on how rare that blessing really was.
"You know, I truly appreciate you two. Bel, Tsuki… y'all pretty awesome, my niggas."
Tsukuyomi's smooth, serene voice warmed the space between my thoughts. "Thank you, Master."
"Are you smiling? It sounds like you're smiling."
Belial grumbled like a grumpy old dog that still enjoyed being petted whenever he did something good. "Don't go gettin' all soft and mushy, Boss."
"Aww, you don't like being praised? That's not what my Soul Core is saying. You dark softy."
That's when her voice floated in, soft and sultry with a playful twist. "What about me? Do you appreciate me, papi?"
A grin tugged at my lips. "A lot more than you'd believe, Omni-boo. If I'm being honest… I'm having a blast with life. And that's all thanks to you."
Omnia didn't say anything at first. But I felt her.
Warmth bloomed inside my chest like sunlight piercing through the clouds. Her emotions slipped through the spirit corridor connecting us, gentle and sweet like syrup on Sunday morning pancakes.
"Awesome! I'm going to collect on that later, papi."
"Collect? What are you talking about?"
But she didn't answer. Just smiled. I could feel her smile—bright and mischievous—as she floated through my mind's eye, humming like a schoolgirl nursing her first crush.
I chuckled to myself and let her be. She was happy. And I still had work to do. Jojo's memories weren't done revealing their secrets yet.
Digging deeper into the tangled mess of Jojo's memories, I stumbled onto something that made my stomach knot up—a meeting. The worst kind of meeting, though. This was Bohemian Grove—a real one. The shadowy cabal of high-ranking humans whispering about the downfall of every other species walking around Gaia.
It was like watching a snake pit dressed in fine silk and military medals. Plans on plans. Plotting, scheming—the Tournament rigging, the sneaky peace treaty sabotage from Nasti Ryco—layer after layer of treachery peeling back like rotten onion skin. The longer I watched, the hotter my blood simmered.
I wasn't surprised, honestly. I'd been human in my old life. Gaians weren't that different from Earthlings when it came down to it. Same species, same priorities — sex, violence, and domination with a thin coat of civilization painted over it.
But what really made my jaw clench was her.
Saint Sister Mary Magdala.
She sat among those plotting bastards like a dainty flower in a poison garden, but I wasn't fooled. Her presence within Jojo's memories felt… wrong. Off. It reminded me of Taurus. That same hidden weight of something far beyond human tucked under her skin like a concealed blade. I could damn near smell Paradiso on her from here.
And that Auburn Graham dude? Weird energy radiating off him, too — but Mary? She was the one setting off every alarm in my soul.
"I don't like that bitch."
[Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi]'s voice whispered through my mind, smooth and efficient as always. "Understood. Analyzing and documenting Saint Sister Mary Magdala of the Holy Madness."
Then [Midnight Star: Belial] chuckled low, the sound like smoke curling in my head. "Finally. Let the hate flow through you."
"Belial, shut up."
But the final straw—the thing that had me ready to burn their whole kingdom to ash—was learning the humans were behind the Trappers coming to Gaia.
That did it. If they weren't on my shit list before, the Church of Holy Madness had just catapulted themselves to the top. They'd slapped a big glowing target on my back before I even escaped the labyrinth, and now? Now I knew they were the source of way too many of my problems.
I wasn't just gonna stop at them. The whole damn Kingdom of Madness could go.
Driven by spite and curiosity, I pushed further into Jojo's mind, following the trails of suppressed, repressed, and straight-up buried memories like a bloodhound on a scent. That's when I found it—the real reason his soul felt cracked and overworked.
Nearly thirty years ago, the Church of Holy Madness got real bold. They experimented on Jojo's Soul Core, tweaking it in ways only the most reckless or arrogant would dare. They installed a modified Myth-Class Vessel Skill within him—[Miracle Star: Jesus].
But the Vessel Skill was rigged. Powered not just by Jojo's strength, but by the collective faith of humanity in the Church. His reputation became currency, funneling that belief into power, but with a leash. The Church had a built-in override on his life.
"Damn humans know how to alter Inner Gods within a soul… but their public technology level barely cracks 14th Century Earth. Talk about bad priorities."
Omnia's voice slipped in, honey-smooth but laced with concern. "From how his Soul Core is tampered with, it seems the Church may have reverse-engineered it. There are excellent unhealed cuts that show where some things were removed or replaced."
"That explains how they forced his evolution… and why his spirit's hanging on by threads."
"Star-titled Vessel Skills require a very strong spirit to wield," she added. "Even this artificial Star-title is more than most souls can handle."
My eyes narrowed in thought. "A Star-titled… were they trying to create a Sonata Core?"
In the background, [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] stirred, attempting to get my attention.
"Master..."
And that's when I caught it. The faint, almost invisible flicker in his Crest Link. A quiet severing. His connection to the Church's Crest was gone. His Blessings? Gone. They'd cut him loose, like tossing dead weight overboard.
But before I could even process that betrayal, Omnia's voice hit me with a gut punch.
"Moonlight… they're sending a kill signal to his soul. He's going to die in two seconds."
"What?!"
But I didn't have time to argue. I felt it. The abrupt silence. The violent shutdown of magick energy flooding his core. It was like the lights in a skyscraper going black all at once. His Soul Core cracked, and the overload and forceful shutdown fractured it like glass under a hammer.
If not for [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] hitting [Accelerated Mind Plus], I'd have been caught completely slipping. But the skill bent Jojo's perception of time into slow motion, syncing with [Telepathy] to stretch those final moments into a window wide enough for me to act.
And [Midnight Star: Belial]? My dark, cocky, passion-driven half? He was already moving.
[Absolute Domination] kicked in, forcing Jojo's shattered core to hold itself together by sheer authority. With that, Belial used the opening to slam my own Crest onto Jojo, stabilizing his V-Skill's out-of-control output like duct-taping a volcano shut. But even with that quick patch, his mind-space strained under the weight of it all, cracking and creaking.
I snatched control back, instincts guiding my next move. Using the [Crest Link], I hijacked his V-Skill outright, severing it from his Soul Core for a brief moment.
In hindsight? Maybe not my brightest idea.
The disconnect collapsed his mental psyche like a house of cards. His mind fractured under the weight of suppressed trauma, stress, and the sudden loss of divine power. But resolve? The man had plenty of that.
Even shattered, his will to survive showed itself.
The fragments of his psyche—three distinct pieces—began to stir.
One whispered with a timid, almost androgynous frequency. The second? A low, animalistic growl full of raw instinct. And the third… that was the Jojo I recognized. His original mind, bruised but familiar.
I had just watched a spirit give birth to schizophrenia.
And for the first time in this whole mess… I felt for him.
He reminded me of me, in more ways than I liked to admit.
"That wasn't just random fragmentation. Those voices… they'll be back. And they'll shape who he becomes."
"While you prevented his Soul from leaving his body," Omnia observed gently, "his brain didn't make it out unscathed. The forceful deletion of his memories and disconnection of his V-Skill created a lasting trauma. He may not be the same when he recovers."
I took a breath, rolling that thought around. "If so… I'll take him under my wing. Kinda my fault he ended up like this. And the Church? They gave his life over to me the moment they flipped that switch."
"Is it wise to give a former enemy access to new strength?" Omnia's voice held no judgment—just curiosity.
"I don't think we were ever enemies," I admitted. "He was just another victim. Some asshole with god-like power using him as a test subject… I see myself in him."
Omnia's laugh warmed my chest. "An asshole, huh? Fine. You're the master. I will assist where you want."
"Good girl."
Jojo was safe. For now. The Wolfpak just got itself a new member.
Definitely not how I expected this interrogation to go… but hey, life's messy like that.
After an hour and a half of skipping through the ethereal rabbit holes of Jojo's jacked-up memory lane, I finally brought my consciousness back to reality. It was like swimming up from deep water—the world blurring, sound filtering back in slow waves. The scent of the bacon Grandma had cooked earlier? Gone. Only the faint, crisp sweetness of baby blue roses lingered in the air now, mingling with the thick anticipation dripping off Luda's mana signature.
I exhaled, shaking off the weight of Jojo's memories, and turned to Luda.
The Star Lion of Braye sat there, cool as ever on the surface, but the tension in his aura told a different story. He was impatient—had been for a minute—but that royal upbringing of his? It taught him to never let that frustration crack the calm mask on his face. But the second he saw my arm lower and my eyes blink open, that kingly composure evaporated, replaced by his usual laid-back, cocky attitude.
"It's about damn time," Luda exhaled, running a hand through his twisted emerald locs. "Were you reliving his life day by day or something?"
I stretched my neck, letting a small grin tug at the corner of my mouth. "You funny. Next time, I'mma leave you with a pack of cards to play with."
"Shut yo' ass up and tell me what you saw. I bet the Humans were up to some bullshit."
I pushed off the floor, floating effortlessly into the air, taking a position that made it look like I was lounging on an invisible throne. "Of course it was some fuckery."
Right then, a familiar breeze of distorted space announced Steez's return. He reappeared on the couch like he'd been there the whole time, speed and silence wrapped into one smooth motion.
"You back? Bet," Steez said, casually reclining against the cushions. "Whut it look like?"
With Krystal and Jojo still floating in my magnetic bubble nearby, their bodies suspended like peaceful statues, I broke down everything I'd uncovered inside Jojo's head. I didn't dwell on the specifics of placing Jojo under my Crest—no need to dive too deep into that just yet—but I made sure to end the rundown with the most pressing detail: Braye's planned attack and the broken peace treaty.
Steez tossed out a few questions here and there, mostly to fill in gaps, but he soaked it all in with small nods and slight smiles. Steez wasn't one of those types who went looking for a fight, but when the time came? He'd ride for the clan. Ride for his big brother without hesitation.
Luda, though? Different story. I hadn't seen him this hyped in years. The grin plastered across his face was pure, unfiltered excitement. The news about Rhythmica attacking his homeland? It was like someone handed him an early birthday present wrapped in chaos.
One thing I'd learned about Luda after years of fighting beside him and trading blows in training? Deep down, that prince loved to fight. He just like me, for real. The thrill of the smoke? He craved it.
"If that old hag of a Queen thinks she's going to harm my mother," Luda's tone darkened slightly, but the grin never left his face, "she's severely mistaken."
"You know I got your back whenever you handle that," I said, levitating down to solid ground beside him.
"Same here, L," Steez added with a fist nod. "Just say word."
Luda's eyes softened for a moment, pride and brotherhood mixing in his expression. "This is why you all are my niggas. I appreciate it, fellas."
War on Braye meant one thing: another chance for humans to stir the pot. I wasn't gonna let them twist this into another 'Sociovores are barbaric monsters' campaign.
I leaned back against the edge of the couch. "The thing that also has my attention is this upcoming tournament in Babylonia. That King Diddler's trying to break the Sociovores' spirits by showing off the Humans' dominating might in Rap Battles. Are Human M-Cees really that strong?"
"From what I knew growing up," Luda began, "not many powerful Sociovores entered the Rap Battles. It made them easy targets. Get labeled a Legendary Monster, and Humans come for your neck when you get home. It's why I warned you about the Humans back in the labyrinth."
I snorted. "So niggas try to stay lowkey to avoid heat? Man, fuck that. I ain't duckin' no smoke. That just made me wanna enter even more."
Luda's grin widened. "Then that makes two of us, my brother."
"Don't know if I'mma enter yet," Steez shrugged, "but I'm going for backup."
"I know Alex is going," I added with a knowing smile. "That boy don't like to miss a fade."
At the mention of Alex, Steez's expression turned thoughtful. "Speaking of Cuzzo… what are you planning to do about the Illuminati? They and that Red Imp were behind his dad's death."
The air thickened slightly as I extended my hand. "I plan to finish my fight with them first. Let me see those glasses you took."
"Bet. Here."
Steez flicked the stolen glasses into the air. I caught them mid-flight with a portal ripple of [Midnight World], the shadows swallowing them whole as [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] began scanning the manaprint for any Arcane Threads or hidden traces.
"Xi, could you do me a solid?" Luda asked, stretching his arms. "Create me a portal to my castle. I wanna skip the long trip back home—I got a counter-ambush to plan."
"Say less," I replied with a small grin. "Just hit me through the Crest when you need me."
"The same, my brother." Luda stood, offering me a firm handshake and fist dap. "Until later, Steez."
"Be easy, folk," Steez nodded, fist bumping the prince.
With a flick of my fingers and a spark of indigo light, the portal snapped open beside Luda. [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] handled the coordinates, locking them onto the castle like a guided spell—smooth, seamless, no risk of a misfire.
With that, Luda stepped through, his presence vanishing into the swirling portal as he returned home to his family for the first time in years. Even with the news of a future war hanging over him, I could feel it—the excitement vibrating off him.
As he stepped through, his posture stayed cool, but his soul core? You could feel it buzzing. Home was unfinished business.
Steez made his own exit shortly after, saying he was heading back to the house to chill in his room. We dapped up one last time before he supersped out the door, leaving behind nothing but silence… and the faint afterimage of his form fading like smoke in the wind.
He moved so smoothly, sometimes I forgot just how deadly he could be.
And just like that, it was quiet again.
With the females of my family still tucked away in the back rooms, the house had finally fallen into a rare, peaceful quiet. Only the steady rhythm of my breathing filled the space now, mixing with the faint glow of moonlight peeking behind the edges of the window curtains. It was the kind of calm that didn't last long in my life, so I decided to enjoy it while I had the chance.
The weight of everything still lingered in my chest—wars brewing, enemies stacking, politics, betrayals, all of it—but for once, I could steal a moment for myself. I remembered as a kid, whenever the world got too loud or heavy, I'd escape into the pocket dimension of my Mana Art, Shadow Storage. I hadn't been back there since it evolved into [Midnight World]. Nostalgia had me curious, but I couldn't just leave the humans lying around in the living room like misplaced luggage. So, with a flick of my fingers, I created a small portal, scooping them up into a safe space first. Then, I crafted a portal under me, letting myself sink into my endless pocket of reality.
The shift hit me instantly, like walking into a dream painted by the cosmos themselves.
Gone was the endless, featureless black void I remembered. Now, there was a sky. One hell of a sky. The damn thing was cycling through all three stages of twilight at once. Faint red streaks bleeding into soft purples, which melted into deep, endless blue. And hanging above it all… a familiar indigo-colored neutron star, pulsating faintly like the heartbeat of the universe itself. The same star I saw when I first met Omnia's three animas—Red, Blue, and Noir.
The ground beneath my feet was soft with low-growing grass, and tall silhouettes of Janell Forest trees surrounded me, swaying gently. But behind me? Towering shadows of skyscrapers from Earth, faint memories etched into the landscape of my soul. And off in the distance? Snow. But not white. Violet flakes drifted down like soft, glowing embers.
It was trippy. Surreal. And yet, I'd never felt more at home.
"Wow…" I muttered under my breath, turning in place to take it all in. "This place is oddly beautiful. I love the weirdness of a midnight star."
"Since this place exists inside your soul, it's a direct representation of your magickal energy," came Omnia's soft, melodic voice from behind me.
The realization hit as I tilted my head toward the crimson moon orbiting in the distance. The planet beneath me… it was made entirely of mana. My mana. My magick had enough mass, enough density, to form its own damn star system. And from the twinkling pinpoints above? It wasn't just one.
"Well damn…" I chuckled, low and amazed. "Infinite mana is so stupidly overpowered."
That's when I felt her.
Soft breasts pressed against my back. Warm. Supple. Her arms slid around my torso, pulling me back into the gentle cradle of her embrace. Her skin shimmered with the colors of the sea, deep blues and emerald greens flowing in slow waves that pulsed to the rhythm of her heartbeat. Her twin tails danced around my legs, excitement hidden behind every subtle flick, while her fluttering fairy wings sparkled with tiny drops of iridescent mana that drifted through the air like stardust.
"Hi, papi," she whispered against my ear, her voice the sweetest temptation I'd ever known. "I missed you."
I smiled, leaning back into her touch. "Hey there, love."
"You're going to overstress yourself," she scolded gently, her chin resting on my shoulder. "When do you ever rest?"
"I have limitless stamina. I don't need to rest," I teased, grinning. "Besides… whatever move I make next needs the right amount of flair and dominance. Can't have the other countries getting bold."
"Mmm… unlimited stamina, huh?"
With a playful snap of her fingers, a grand-sized bed materialized behind us. Familiar. Opulent. The same one from her room back in Eden. Milky-white sheets so pristine and soft they practically glowed under the starlight. Before I could even react, she tugged me backward, teleporting us both onto the bed in one smooth motion. I hit the sheets, sinking into them, only for her to reappear straddling my lap, her legs on either side of me.
"Woah. Omni?" I asked, blinking up at her.
"Relax, Moonlight," she cooed, her hands trailing down my chest. "I'm just making sure you don't do something reckless from overthinking."
I sighed, letting my head fall back. "Well… a lot's happened these last two days."
"Then this is your first real moment to breathe," she replied, leaning down, her lips brushing my jaw.
I couldn't argue. She was right. Though my mind still danced with plans and strategies, my body… it wanted that. I needed that.
"Although…" I muttered, eyes half-lidded, "I still gotta deal with your momma at some point. I know she's not happy I stole Synga's sarcophagus… or that I blew up that world when I left the trials."
Omnia's laugh was music. Sweet. Seductive. Free. "Hah… who cares what she likes? I'll support you in whatever you choose to do, papi."
Those words settled deep into my chest, but they brought a question I couldn't ignore. I had to know.
"Omnia," I asked, eyes locking onto hers, "be straight with me. Why do you love me so much?"
She paused, her playful demeanor fading into raw vulnerability. Her slit irises shifted, glowing faintly, forming the simple yet powerful shape of hearts. No Kaleidoscope Eyes. No Goddess-mode. Just… her.
"You… well, Xero, was the only one who cared when I was alone."
Her voice was quiet, fragile, but her words cut deep.
"When I was born," she continued, tracing slow circles on my chest, "Destini used that moment to stash the Kiss of Twilight inside me… a key weapon the Archon of Order had begged her for, for eons."
I listened, my heart heavy as the truth unraveled.
"When my father, Volo, found out what Destini did… how she used me as a vessel to kill Xero… he wanted nothing to do with her and vanished. And Destini? She didn't truly want me either." Her lips quivered slightly. "Even when my sisters were born… we barely spoke. I was always alone."
No wonder she clung to me… I guess I could relate. Earth felt like that at times. Cold. Like I was alone in a crowd.
I frowned, reaching up to brush her cheek. "So… how were you speaking to an Outer God who was supposed to be dead? How do you even kill a God?"
"Almost dead," she corrected, a faint smile returning. "Xero was smart. He crafted a false, blood-like essence, packed with a backup of his consciousness. It stained the blade when it pierced him."
I blinked, awe striking me. "This nigga was amazing. What the fuck…"
She giggled softly. "That same essence… began to communicate with me. Comfort me. It filled the void. He taught me how to create the Noetic Operational Virtual Architect… the prototype copy of his mind—the potential you now carry within your Vessel Skills… his Superego and Id."
"So you love me… because I house his leftovers?" I teased, only half-joking.
"That was the case," she admitted, her gaze softening. "Until I watched you on Earth… as Jean Vinson, you didn't believe I existed. You didn't believe in anything. But… you still talked to me. Every moment you were happy, confused, tired… alone… You shared them with me."
"Omnia…"
"You secretly loved me before you even knew me," she whispered. "You hated the thought I didn't return it, that I didn't speak back… so you made yourself an atheist." She chuckled sadly. "And that's when… I fell victim to the strongest drug in existence."
I smiled faintly, my hand tightening around her waist. "At least I know you heard me now."
"Yes," she purred, eyes glinting with emotion. "And this time, I won't deny you that love."
Her finger pressed to my chestplate, and instantly, the Noir Empress liquified, melting away as if never there, leaving us both bare, skin to skin, warm and exposed. I looked down, catching the mischievous grin spreading across her face… and the fact that her slick, heated vulva was resting right on top of my rapidly hardening dick.
I trusted her, but being vulnerable? Fully exposed? That was still new… Still scary. But when her eyes met mine again… I let it all fall away.
She didn't flinch. Didn't tease. Just… smiled deeper, tracing slow, delicate lines across the crescent moon mark on my chest. Her midnight-raven hair appeared as if it was glowing in the starlight.
"I've always wanted to try this…" she whispered. "So… how about I be your first… this time around?"
My hands slipped to her waist, fingers pressing into the soft curve of her hips. Her skin was impossibly smooth, radiating a warmth that sent a shiver down my spine. Every inch of her felt like the manifestation of every fantasy I'd ever had—the girl of my dreams in literal form.
Even without her fairy wings visible, I couldn't help but chuckle internally at my taste in women as her tails curled around my legs.
"Losing my virginity to a Goddess…" I grinned, teasing. "Seems like a fantasy. And a bit cliché, don't you think?"
"Only if you think this won't be kinky and fun."
And with that, she leaned down, claiming my lips in a kiss that sent every coherent thought scattering like leaves in a storm. My arms pulled her closer on instinct as her tongue danced against mine, slow and intoxicating.
And just like that… Omnia made a man out of me—with hours of magick-infused, intimate fun. You'd be surprised how much mana enhances sex… but hey, I'll save those details for After Dark.
Until then, I'mma enjoy my Poe Man's Dream.
[Born Sinner] Activated.
[End of Chapter]
[End of War for Velonica Arc]
[End of Book Two]
[1] April on Earth