"And there I was, waiting for them to show up. In my head I was imagining myself coolly waiting while sipping tea. I think I said something cool..?"
The Assistant had their head on the table with a cup. Breaking sightline of The Host.
"Then they showed up and those two were 'what's happening?!' then waiting like two seconds I– uh, I– wait– right doing a cool moment separating the two souls for maximizing impact, then wham bam bippity bam! Soul invader exited this world in style! So when Salder walder and Val– …Val cheese were given an option, they decided to join! A telltale sign of the lowest reaching the top." The Host smiled and nodded, their hair flaying at their speed. "And that's how a munchkin was born."
"I suppose the two can be…" The Assistant murmured.
"Made from a reasonable judgement. Yours truly."
"..." The Assistant just avoided the face and eyes of The Host.
"Anywho, we're starting."
The curtains pulled back after the music stopped playing. The Host stood up as soon as the curtains were fully pulled.
"Welcome back to my show! Your host for the weekend, Kelsri adivanice!" The Host tipped their hat. "The week's gameplayer modifier is the newbs! Trash of hope with veterancy dreams! I mean I was trash too."
"The one on stage is from Valorie Division again."
"Right on Assistant!" The Host raised their hand to nowhere. "Since we only have one… we'll spin da wheel but..!"
"Twist again."
"Yup!" The Host gave a thumbs up to the Assistant. "We do it like this, my idea, or the wheel idea! But before that, three questions! Been a while after all."
Snapping their fingers, The Host posed for the camera.
"Don't take it too hard kid."
"...Does it show?"
On the other side where the player desks were, the emblem of a wing over the heart unfurled. Though the wing was smaller and extremely white.
"Been in this job for years. This?" the Assistant scratched under their neck. "You get used to it. If it was before–"
"Now." The Host clapped. "What do you want to know from our friend?" The Host tilted Their head.
Snapping, They sat down.
"Assistant."
The papers floated in a timely order. Spinning around the weary Assistant.
Cautiously observing each paper circling around them.
"Pick three and we'll see what it'll be."
The Host leaned Their chair.
The audience has yet to learn….
The sharp eyes focused.
….Anything.
The newborns clung to idealism.
— —
"Then what are we?"
"..."
The hollow eyes gazed at the newborn.
"It's boring. Boring boring boring boring."
The dark brown hair drooped with the pull of gravity as they picked up their gun.
"I am the sane. I am the insane. Bold words… ah did I say that outloud?" the listless face emboldened by the movement of such hollow eyes.
"But you. Special. Special. No need for such monikers to feel like it. That's wonderful. Inspiring."
They stopped speaking. Gazing imperceptibly at the struggling mute.
"Sure. This wasn't needed. But what are we? How should I know. I'm only me. Insignificant. Stupid. Swayed by emotion."
They tapped the white shirt.
"Look at this. Look at what I am. What am I?"
'The Progenitor.'
The hollow eyes slowly turn towards the newborn. Small gestures minute to anyone but Them.
"History doesn't change." They sighed. "Even in death…"
The mute could not understand.
"What are we then?"
"...I don't know."
They clicked Their tongue.
"I like spouting spoilers but not now."
The newborn lowered their eyes.
"What are we, what are we, what are we… You." They pointed the gun at the newborn. "Do you understand? Do you understand anything?"
"..."
The mute crawled towards The Progenitor.
"Do you understand my tone, my voice, my face, my existence? Do you know how many have the same reveal from me? How many understand "the progenitor" as merely the meaning? Do you think you can understand my actions?"
"...I– I can…"
"Give it back. Leave this time."
The mute grabbed the leg of ████.
"...No."
"Just give it back. You won't understand."
The newborn disappeared without a trace after tinkering with something.
"Pft." ████ smiled. "Your fault again."
The mute was desperate.
"Salder Salder! Val's gone and done it again. Though that is the entertainment…"
Like always, The Progenitor spoke. Carrying a light tone compared to before.
Something Val couldn't understand with The Progenitors actions.
From helping to immediately killing everyone before deadfishing Themself with a sticky apathetic gaze.
Then speaking and staring somewhere to the right.
"How'd I do?"
Small tears came out of Val's eyes.
"Mm well, figures. This is memory. But very interactive memory you see!"
They closed Their eyes.
"The call of the ocean is deep. You know it well Val."
Slowly Their eyes opened.
"Don't worry. Resolve it and all will go back. It depends on your choice of fate. Of destiny."
Something They said when They appeared at the beginning of the crack.
"However the ocean is deep. Go too deep and it will consume you."
The Progenitor turned Their head to the ritual site.
"What are we?"
""I am me.""
The Star full of blue reason stared at the dead mute.
— —
"Basic rundown friend!"
Their eyes rolled all over the place. Blinking before finally returning to the cheerfully smiling Host.
"..."
"..Aha. Assistant. Kindly help our friend out."
The Assistant suavely bobbed their head at the request.
"Valorie Division fresh wing specialist, 'Frontliner' Evan Paris."
"Wow, you still remember the titles?"
"...I'm not forgetful." the Assistant slowly said.
"Mhm. Classic bureaucracy. Doesn't matter too much! Probably."
The Host rubbed Their chin.
"Anywho, second question." The Host gestured rolling Their wrist.
"Specifically, what do you do?"
"Ah yes. The favorite curious george question."
The Assistant didn't even try. Simply just taking off the reading glasses and staving off the urge to yawn.
"...I fight."
The soft melody continued to play despite the accepting smile of The Host and the Assistants scoff.
The audience felt the lackluster of it.
The white haired needed more.
"We fight. True." the Assistant said.
"Can't force a player to speak their mind. So! Next question!" The Host clapped.
Putting the reading glasses back on, the Assistant read the chosen sheet of paper.
"What are you?"
"Straightforward!"
Evan Paris didn't say anything. The gears in that head thinking of something.
Looking at the game showified desk's clean surface.
"...Just a human descendant from a different world."
"Hard to say huh."
"One of a kind, son of a dime! Here's my question. Would you like to follow my plan for today orrrrrrr leave it to chance and get a random one? We can also…"
The Host thought for a second.
"Decide with the wheel."
The white haired noticed the lower tone of voice The Host had.
"I will leave it to fate."
"Quick eh?" The Host sweetly smashed the button on the desk.
The wheel rose from the depths. An array of words on it.
"Past present future?"
"What?" Evan Paris said belatedly.
"Choose."
"All's fair in war. So said I."
As everyone stood facing the unending might of those gifted with foreign power, They stood at ready.
On a chunk of red ice.
The smell of gunpowder was thick.
Yells of command echoed.
"Cover me!"
Quickly belting hot lead, the agent smiled.
"Get it! Get it you bas–"
"Stay down!"
As the agent with the machine gun was torn to pieces at the top, head shattering with an explosive fire, those nearby flattened themselves.
"These damn fanatics! Power grenade out!"
The scarred hurled the round cylindrical grenade at the forefront of their vanguards.
Several became nothing but chunks of flesh despite the blessings the foreign powers gave them. The ones not in complete range breathed in the rapidly oxidizing powder. Their lungs burning from it.
Choking and being charred from the inside. They died in extreme pain.
"Got only ten rounds left."
"Hah? Seriously?"
"Val's only got ammo for her pistol."
Val nodded quickly.
The scarred sighed.
"Where's Irin."
"I don't know. They're focusing on completely routing us. The barrier they set up separated the higher ranks. Including her."
"Can't get even a shitty break."
The newborn watched them. Looking down at the gun.
The new situation eroded any sense of normal sounds.
"Come on then! Show me what you got!"
The Progenitor jumped and twirled themselves onto the stage.
"We have a good chance with Them here."
"Their creed isn't complete help moron."
"..."
The red sword struck the ground. Spreading ice towards the knights of ██████.
"Start of a…. Path…."
The newborn barely heard anything from Their mouth.
Red ice slithered in lines. Those being touched by it, freezing their bodies completely.
"Hold steady! Magicians! Disrupt the earth!"
"Let's dance boys!"
The Progenitor left Their sword in the ground, spinning Their revolver before fanfiring all six shots.
Each sounding like the fierce roar of artillery.
All six utterly decimated anything in their trajectory. Alive or not.
"Feel alive yet?" They grinned.
The one in different armor, the knight commander stood forward.
"Complete our objective! I will hold until the end! For the grace of ██████!"
Finishing reloading the gilded revolver, they spun the cylinder before flicking it back in. Aiming directly at the knight commander.
"Deadlock."
The Star grew brighter as a result. And the knight commander charged straight at Them.
"Release."
Discharged, the bullet tore the air, the hue of it darkening to the assorted colour.
"Kngh–!"
The knight commander barely blocked it. The force behind the bullet quickly peels each binding of the blessing and the shields matter itself. Breaking through it and crumpling the new lump of metal.
Shredding the armor around the arm and lightly stopping in the flesh of the knight commander.
"Heh. Wait till I get virtue." the hollow eyes gazed with glee.
Dropping the once shield and plucking bits of metal and the bullet, the knight commander faced The Progenitor.
It cannot be a lie to say there's a high proximity of death.
For either.
And the newborn blankly watched.
"Sheeeee I should get my own sword! Whaddya say?" They snapped Their fingers towards the knight commander.
"Perhaps so."
"Well well. Let's get started shall we?"
"!!!"
The Progenitor suddenly appeared with a maniacal laughter and smile. Swinging the red sword with both hands to the knight commander's neck.
The knight commander's sword instinctually blocked it and countered. Sending the red sword flying backwards.
"Geez…" They stepped back and fired four shots in quick succession. "...Louise!" They then threw the revolver upwards.
"None shall pass!"
In response the knight commander raised a barrier with the sword's help.
Grabbing the red sword The Progenitor immediately ran in and clashed. Overpowered in less than a second with the knight commander's tempered force.
The swung red sword bounced out of Their hand again. However it was perfectly grabbed in a reverse grip. And with it they pierced the armor of the knight commander and tore the abdomen.
But it was left in there as the knight commander swung down. Sending debris everywhere. Though missing The Progenitor who jumped out of the way. Acrobatically creating distance.
"My my. Try harder!"
"As…you wish!"
A vertical slash sparked the mystical aura of the foreign. Racing towards The Progenitor.
The Progenitor threw Themself to the ground. The harsh air pressure causing Their jacket to flap and Their hair thrown back in it's wake.
"Tch."
"Got anything else?" They smiled knowingly.
The knight commander looked down and saw the red sword. And decided to rip it out.
"Krh–!"
"Aw no faaaaaaaair!"
The sword was blisteringly cold. It was too much. It started freezing the hand of even the blessing enhanced knight commander.
Ultimately dropping it before the ice could spread farther on the arm.
"What kind of weapon do you hold?"
"The epic kind."
With that The Progenitor dashed to the red sword. Grasping it once more. But that smile twisted into pain.
"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA–!"
They clenched Their missing right arm. Standing with a profuse bleeding.
"Who coulda guessed… Eye for an eye…" Their face struggling to keep that smile with small tears in one eye. "Tooth…for a tooth. Haha."
They let out a big sigh.
Even so, They remained undetermined. Racing and reaching for the red sword again.
Dodging the knight commander's vicious attacks with near gliding of the feet. Yet small cuts on the clothing and skin inevitably wound up on their face.
"The ocean is vast."
The Progenitor fell on the ground. Rolling to the left leaving Their jacket and the ground with newfound blood. And the sword of the knight commander struck the ground. Following that trail.
Pushing themselves upwards, the blade overhead missed Them barely. And with momentum bodyslammed the knight commander. Slightly staggering the endowed metallic hulk.
"My ha-haaaaand…! Whew… Heed my words."
Jumping backwards They gripped the red sword.
Appearing behind the knight commander, They struck downwards. Blocked only by the blade of the knight commander with a keen instinct.
This time the red sword did not leave The Progenitors hand.
Instead The Progenitor disappeared and reappeared at a different angle. Mercilessly attacking from every conceivable point.
In the air, The Progenitor nicked the shoulder of the knight commander. Low to the ground, they sliced the armor and flesh of the knight commander's calf.
The back received a sizable wound upwards. Each one freezing over. Slowing the knight commander desperately blocking the flurry of strikes.
"Bless this strike…"
The knight commander readied themself for the next attack. Cold steel stained with blood charged.
The Progenitor came at the right side of the knight commander.
"At the heart of the ordained enemy..!"
Swiftly, the blade dug into the chest of The Progenitor. Who's eyes widened in response.
Caught on the sword and thrusted forward due to the force they rolled.
Stopping in a pile of debris. Sword too far to grasp.
"...Got me…" They started coughing blood. "Pretty… Go… Pre…..od.
Yet despite wheezing for air, They tried standing up. Falling onto Their knees, Their eyes grew hazy.
Even more so with new and previous cuts of open blood tainted with dust.
The knight commander moved towards Them.
Cautiously but knowing it was won.
Now in front of Them, the knight commander raised their sword. Respect with this strike.
"...The Ocean will claim another."
Chains of blue slinked onto the knight commander. From the soles to the arms.
"What is…?!"
Constraining the knight commander and not allowing any movement.
"Deadlock."
The revolver landed in Their hand. Shoved right under the knight commander's chin.
The Star shined.
"Y–!!"
"Gotcha." They smiled.
–CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKK!!!!!
Anywhere near the head was gone. Armor twisted and flesh torn with nothing but rags and unrefined ends.
The Progenitor looked up. Gasping.
"Good…od..m…"
Jacket messy and face partially covered in blood, the dark brown eyes turn towards the agents.
Specifically the newborn.
Heaving still, They slowly made Their way towards the newborn. Ignoring everything else around Them.
A magic explosion rocks Them. Undeterred by it They still walk.
Reaching the cover the newborn is at.
"...Oi."
Those nearby say nothing.
Then They point the gun at the newborn.
"Get…kegh…the hell outta this time."
The blotch of blood trickles down Their collarbone. Turning the white shirt red.
–Click.
Their face scrunches as They keep pulling the trigger.
"...God…dam…it!" They hoarsely yelled. "Urgh..! M..y hea….y…..rt.."
They staggered to stay upright.
"Give it–! Ngh..! G…G….. hrrgh–!" They threw the gun weakly at the newborn. Struggling to hold on.
The newborn looked at the device. The shaky hand nearly touching it.
"I-I can't… not yet."
As the newborn backed away, They tripped over the rubble being used as cover. Still trying to reach it.
Now unable to even stand.
The newborn pressed something and vanished.
Leaving this battlezone.
Leaving the gasping ████ there.
The hollow eyes lingering for a few seconds before trying to place Their back on the now rubble of pillars used as cover by both agents and the newborn.
They slowed Their breathing and rubbed Their fingers together.
Letting out a big sigh, They addressed the others.
"Sucks to suck."
None of them said anything.
"But… how'd I do this time?"
"10/10 bullshittery." the scarred man said.
The Progenitor snorted with a newly gained smile.
The other two didn't say anything.
"Wouldn't you say with this kind of injury, that I'd be fine?"
"Yes."
"...No."
Val looked at the ground.
"Ah." The Progenitor exclaimed. "Heh. Lost all nerves below where I was hit. Can't breathe well, and my hearts pretty much dead."
"Tsk. Dead woman."
"Ha–! Kegh–! Dreams Come True When A Dead Man, or should I say A Dead Woman! Eh?"
"Doesn't have the same ring to it?"
"Brothers of a mother think alike."
The scarred man shook his head in disbelief.
The Progenitor turned Their head.
"Hey. You're all going to die."
"Tch." the scarred man already saw everything before the other two realized.
"What do you mean by that?" Aeternos asked.
"Make it painless."
"My responsibility."
In the eyes of the dead they see just a single breath reap everything.
"Don't worry too much."
The one scarred by the father won over by god saw a breaker of boundaries.
The one that regained their body saw a limitless end with no sense of what's too much.
The one battered and molded saw a complex web encased in self principled laws and understanding.
"I keep moving without regret."
The hollow eyes watched the light shower the place.
"The puppets of fate… My responsibility. For all of it."
Left observing the end caused by Themself.
For Themselves alone.
— —
"...Why do I…?" Evan Paris mumbled. "Need to choose…?"
"Leave it to the wheel." the Assistant halfmindedly said.
The Host raised a finger.
"The wheel is always right… indeed… The wheel shall choose!"
Evan Paris's eyes moved everywhere.
The wheel which had nothing now had the three choices.
The lights lit up and the decision was now left to chance.
With a snap from The Host's hand, it spun madly. The three colours of the three points in time blurring incongruously with the bright colours of everything else being close to yellow.
More looking akin to a blended vomit whilst spinning due to poor colour choice.
"Hey."
Great colour choice.
Slowing, the sound of the triangle wedge ticking from the white bars further enhanced the ensuing grating caused from it.
Now teetering between past and future. The wedge was nearly unable to pass over the hurdle. But by squeezing out the remaining energy, the white bar won this intense struggle of force.
"Well well. In the future I wish to be aaaaaall great and have the universe at my feet!"
The audience couldn't tell if it was a joke.
"With future! Uh. We shall see… things…"
The eyes of The Host avoided the camera lens focusing on them.
"Anywho, we'll use this thing that I borrowed from the Barren Rangers."
The Assistant raised an eyebrow to that. Despite having no eyebrows.
Evan Paris stared intently at it.
"Like the gracious me, the test run beginssss after we get the place. So!"
The wheel changed to names of places."
Evan Paris didn't even glance at the wheel. Eyes firmly on it.