"Arcade Gamer…"
A cold, lofty voice sounded in the ears of the Outer God. Very few amongst the Outer Gods could call him, someone who was one of the 12 vassals of the King, by his name.
"What is it," he asked. "Disco Ball?"
"I may have been in touch with one of the people of this realm."
Arcade Gamer's eyes widened.
"What? Why would you do something like that?"
The other Outer God shrugged. "It seemed fun."
"Even though the King dislikes things like these?"
"Retro has informed me where that being is as well, since you are going anyway…"
The Outer God nodded his head at his superiors words.
"I'll have it crushed thoroughly."
"Have it?"
"I…" the Arcade Gamer grinned. "Will be going after the being that harmed the King."
"Is that so? Guess I will just enjoy myself in that world where those people jumped out of."
"You're coming too?" Asked Arcade Gamer.
"Eight of us will be moving. I think a few will follow you too."
The Arcade Gamer nodded.
"Going at it one after another, will just help the being grow."
***
"There was no other way."
In the dark banquet hall of the Vampire Progenitor's castle, his voice boomed out loud.
The ones sitting around quietly looked down at their dishes of fresh meat and cups full of blood.
There was… truly no other choice.
"It was foolish to think one could win against the Outer Gods. I had hope for a moment when Rathnaar killed seven of them, but…"
The other vampires and zombies lowered their head at their leaders' voice. They all shared the same opinion.
After all, even the ones Rathnaar had killed were still just at the bottom of the pile of Outer Gods. If beings many times stronger than even those existed, then there was simple no hope.
Even if they managed to hold it off, won't everything be destroyed?
They weren't wrong. That was what had happened in the first timeline.
The only way to survive, was to make a deal.
"And that deal, in return for all of their blood, we get to keep our own," the Vampire Progenitor said. "Enjoy this feast, from tomorrow, forget any other worlds exist. Just live like we had been before they showed up."
It was then, the door to the hall swung open.
The Count Dracula rushed inside the room and pulled everyone's attention along.
"My lord!" He screamed. "T-the gates! The gates to the World Trees have all been closed!"
The people sitting around stood up at once.
"What!? Did they catch on?"
"No!" The Vampire Lord screamed. "If they had, they would have rushed to this place!"
Panicked, the progenitor left his seat behind and ran to the door before the Earth shook.
The glasses clanked and the plates fell from the trembling tables. All of them stood up in a fluster as silence replaced everything once more.
The Vampire Lord gulped.
"Th-the sky…" someone yelped. "The sky… is cracking open…"
That day.
The world of the undeads.
Met its end.
***
I stretched my hands above my head as a fresh breeze brushed past my cheeks.
Now that I sat at the very top of the World Tree in a completely empty world, a strange sensation filled my chest.
I felt a sense of awe at the absurd fact that we had moved out the entire population of a world out to either fight or stay hidden. A sense of loneliness also filled me up at the fact that I was now the only one in this world.
Barring three more.
The chains around my neck, the partner sitting on my shoulder, and lastly…
"Why have you not left?" I called out to the small cat that had sneaked up behind me at the very top of the World Tree.
"You knew I was here?"
Standing behind me was my younger sister, Han Na-Ri.
"Of course, my senses can encompass the whole world."
Na-Ri chuckled as if my words were absurd. They were fairly absurd to most, but it was the truth.
She came over to my side at the enormous branch that resembled a ledge or a cliff more than tree as she sat down too.
"Won't there still be remnants here? I'll handle them for you."
"If there is any one place where victory is certain then its here. You should go fight where you are needed."
Na-Ri scoffed once more.
"You anyway have a post, don't you?"
She nodded.
"My post is with you, it was Albert's idea."
I looked back at her.
"He said you won't think much of leaving others in danger, but if I was here you would probably fight to the bitter end."
So she was supposed to be a catalyst that would make me a work machine. Did he think I would be beat up again like with the Invasion Navy?
"That was unnecessary." I looked at my sister once more.
Even Charlotte wasn't able to, and neither was I in a single go. The only reason I could mix Mana and Ki together was because of the regression that Eugene went through.
But… It was a different case for her.
She was talented in ways that I couldn't compare.
"You know, I think you might be able to do it."
"Do what?" Asked Na-Ri.
"Mix your Mana and Ki, make it the World's End."
She didn't say anything at my words except look at her own hands.
She must have heard long ago about how I could pull that off. While I had more experience than my age, she had the talent to compensate for it.
We remained in silence for a long while.
"Are you here to protect me then?" I asked.
"I thought I'll see how a weakling like you fights too, give you some pointers."
A chuckle left me. My senses heightened at once as a part of the sky seemed to be cracking open.
It seemed Na-Ri had still not noticed.
I patted my shoulder and left Titania with Na-Ri.
"Take care of her for me, would you? I'll handle this real quick."
In the next moment, the entire world started to tremble as a great presence made its way here.
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