Date's March 16th, 2053.
Been a whole year since it all… happened. The demons, that other world, those disgusting creatures- wish I'd never seen those damned things. To think that such a vast number of worlds exists beyond this universe, heh. I can't sleep, I doubt anyone else can either. But it's been like that for a while now… why do I even say that?
Tomorrow, everything returns to normal. I go back to school with the rest of those idiots, listening to their pathetic voices. Could never admit how much I care for those foolish brats, though.
I wonder if any of them have been taking this as hard as Ben. Oddly enough, he gained the most, and when he returned he was the one to seem like he lost everything. What the hell happened in that other universe anyway..?
Asking Jason and Madisyn doesn't get me any more answers either, if I could try Ben's son then maybe I'd get some answers. He seems so carefree I doubt he'd give a shit if I did anything about it. That vision I got in June, came true, I remember that. It was Ben hovering over those dead bodies, with that new long hair, too, resembling his father to a T. I get the idea he killed all those people there, but it didn't seem- like it was just that. He doesn't seem like the type of person to do something like that- so casually commit to the deaths of billions, knowing him, he'd feel bad about it. Maybe he's covering something up..? Well, whatever the case, I'm just wondering-
What happened over there that he turned into such an emotionless bastard?
Either way, tomorrow is a new day, the future awaits. And I hear we're getting a new girl in our new homeroom, too. Those damn pigs, malodorous wretches wielding the ugliest of faces… I can't wait to see them again. Hopefully, Rose dropped that boring Italian so I can steal her for myself… heh, if only. Though I see myself with Lynn more, maybe I'll do something. For us, if I'm not lazy. But most importantly, I hope I can punch you in the gut when I see you, Alex.
The end, for now, I guess.
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Hair tied up into a bun, the young man stared at himself in the mirror. The reflective glass showing his body, moist and wet from the shower. Finger brushing against his abs, Alex took a long breath out from his nostrils. Hand raising from his chest, the snowy-like tinted lightning sparked and moved throughout his veins, once more gazing into his ivory-tinted pupils. Inhaling sharply, he declared sharply,
"I'll keep fighting. Keep moving forward to the future ahead so we can secure a better tomorrow. Our salvation..."
The blue skies heard the birds chirping loudly outside the window, passing by the glass and heading deeper into the clouds. Passing by the entrance before ascending with a flap of their winds, Amara took a step outside. Without a reaction, there seemed to be no car outside for him to get into, there was no Rosalyn anymore. The life they once knew and grew to take for granted had faded, all that was left for the aftermath- with the fight ahead. Rubbing his eyes, he tightened the straps over his shoulders, the cries echoing from his ally entering his ears,
"Oi! Dickhead! Look over 'ere!"
Twisting his body, one foot stepping in front of the other, Alex chuckled at the sight of those idiots. Side by side, Myers, and Ed had called out to him, yet the only one who opened his mouth was the Hunger. Scratching behind his right ear with the tip of his index, Amara met up with the duo and formed the missing trio. Together, as the sun began to rise from below the horizon, twilight fading to nothing with the day overtaking the skies, they began to walk back to school.
March 16th, 2053. 6:30 A.M., Wednesday. The trip shouldn't take more than a few minutes, and even if it did take longer than they'd anticipated, none of them much cared for being late. All, in sync, taking bites of their bought breakfast sandwiches. Mixes of egg, cheese, turkey, and bacon slid down their throats. All taking collective sips of their bottled beverages before burping aloud. In character, Alex and Ed laughed together at the volume of their releasing of gas from their mouths, as Whitney just scoffed and wiped his mouth. Looking to the road to his right, Myers hid a smile from the group, to which Ed wrapped his arm around the Hunger's neck, yanking him closer with Alex on his right. The Star was clearly in the middle as he held both the Justice and Hunger in his arms. Squirming to be released before giving into the lock around his throat, Whit sighed as Al just shrugged and smiled. Declaring gently to his best friends,
"No matter what happens to us, including the girls, we'll always move forward together. Toward freedom. Right, Whit?"
Sighing calmly, he pushed Ed away, shoving his hands into his pocket, then rubbing the back of his neck. Eyes gazing to the concrete platform beneath him, Myers agreed,
"Yeah... cut the sappy bullshit and just follow,"
Myers demanded coldly, the smile in his voice audible though his face was turned away from his friends, Ed and Alex sharing a knowing look. Biting down on their lips to hide their mocking laughs at the Shadow Hunger's attempt to hide his smirk. Continuing to walk beside one another, Alex switched places with Ed, poking his friend on the arm repeatedly,
"Don't try to hide the smile, c'mon, you know you wanna let it out. It's okay, we won't laugh!"
"Is your brain as small as that lacking goatee of yours, Amara?"
Pupils shrinking and eyes widening at the comment, he rubbed his chin and nodded, with a shrug. Answering with a smirk, raising his arms,
"Just might be, Houston,"
"Urusai,"
"Who decided to name you Whitney anyway? What kind of father or mother wanted to get you bullied at school so badly?"
"Shut up, at least my mother and father liked me,"
"Low blow, Whitney,"
Reaching the front entrance to the Academy, there was a clear path that'd been renovated in the year they'd been out of school. Rising his eyebrows, Alex gazed at the trees implanted to the grass to his right and left. Whitney tilted his head back and forth to spot the leaves descending from the branches they were attached to, with the fall of those leaves- a flake of snow had begun falling from above the clouds. Soon thereafter, the singular alone flake of snow had been joined by its brothers and sisters, descending and landing upon their clothing. Yanking his glove off, a ball of fire surrounded his fist and warmed him up, Ed witnessing Alex and Whitney scooting over to him. Deadpanning as he stared ahead,
"I hate you both,"
"Put your hands in the air!"
The boys widening their eyes, Alex and Whitney jumped back, gasping and yelping. Al holding his chest as he panted heavily, Myers groaned as he slicked his black locks back. Swiping the snow off of his hoodie's shoulders, Rose snickered at the sight of them all, embarrassed and everything. Removing her palm from over her red lips, ginger locks moving with the frosty winds, the Lovers yawned tiredly as she stretched her arms into the air. Hazel sliding against the ground so she could inch closer toward her boyfriend, Alex wrapped his arms around her head and pushed it into his chest. A smile over his lips, Lynn punched Whitney in the arm, grabbing hold of his limb so they could walk toward the entrance. Hazel catching a glimpse of them in the corner of her eyes, Adams's arm stretched out to point at Sunni and Myers together,
"Lookie!"
"Oh, yeah. Those two are probably gonna fuck sometime this week,"
Rose commented, hands in her pockets, The Star putting his arm around her neck and kissing her forehead. Closing her eyes and giggling loudly, The Lovers walked with her lover beside the Hermit with her own, ahead, the Sun with the Hunger had been silently moving together. In tune, their movements as one, Sunni's eyes met the side of his face, her cheek on his arm as she pushed her body more against his own. A wave of harmony and calm washed over him, to the point where he sighed, hand patting her hair and hearing her whine for more attention, Whitney smiled,
"Sleeping better?"
Inquired the brunette, to which Myers sent a slow nod to the girl to his right. Though the look on his face said otherwise, Lynn decided not to stir things up and press her lips to his cheek for a moment. The awkward silence reigned over the duo of teens, to which the girl searched her memory for something she'd seen... but couldn't place her finger on it. Before she parted her lips to croak out the information she'd just gained, the spark in her eyes lighting visibly, he interrupted her. And as he began the second sentence, he turned down to her and smirked to show his knowledge and how he'd exceeded her slow pace of normal speech,
"The Homeroom Training Event is today. That's what you were trying to remember, right?"
A blush spreading over her cheeks, gradually overtaking the remainder of her pale face, Sunni waved him away chuckling nervously. Chortling at the Sun's flustered features, the Hunger ruffled her hair, Rose and Alex shared a common look. No doubt, they would probably get together in the future.
And far in front of both Whit and Lynn, there was none other than that familiar blue-haired girl that'd once attended the same class a year ago. Azure hair was tied into two buns that stuck out on two sides of her head, a satchel wrapped over her chest and attached to the bag hiding her essential items. Light blue jeans, a hoodie tied around her waist, and a pale cable knit pullover long-sleeved sweater. And finally, to complete the set, her resting bitch face. Headphones plugged to her phone into her left pouch, vocals humming along with the song playing to her ears, she seemed just as natural as anyone else. The Wheel of Fortune's representative- Arabella Nova.
Waiting in the darkness, there he laid, fingers together, screens powering on to reveal to him the forest sight. Spreading open to reveal the blue coloration of his pupils, illuminating the chamber, elbows resting against the wooden desk. The Headmaster's lengthened hair resting over each side of his face, Ben slid his fingers over them so they'd fall and slice apart. Lifting a singular strand from the desk below his chin, he glared despicably at it, strongly declaring at his voice edged, on the verge of rasping,
"Grandfather... the so-called Supreme Being. I promise to you, mother, I'll slaughter them all if it's the last thing I'll do,"
As usual in Homeroom, having replaced the Sonic Ability as the first class, there was now Samantha Smith who taught both Telekinesis and Homeroom to this specific class. The roster included as follows as she began to speak, listing off names of each student, those here announcing their presence soon thereafter,
"Alexander Amara. Rosalyn Karlo. Hazel Adams. Edward Singh. Whitney Myers. Sunni Lynn. Arabella Nova. Riley Kingston. Louis Rivera. Claire Rivera,"
Smiling after finishing reading off everything, Sammy bounced up and declared as bubbly as ever,
"Yay! Looks like that covers it! Now that we've got everyone here for the year- I'd like to welcome a special guest!"
"Oi, oi, oi, oi! I'm sure everyone knows who I am, no need for any specialities, Auntie,"
That voice..! Belonging to none other than the Savior of Humanity back in 2037, Smith giggled at the sight of her nephew, throwing herself on him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Holding him in her meek arms, August gave a kiss on the side of her head, as she reluctantly pulled back, the Reaper stretched his arms into the air. Sunglasses over his face, a yawn exiting his mouth,
"Alright, now that we're all starstruck at my presence; allow me to explain the reasoning for my being here,"
Sammy, sitting behind the desk, began typing away to begin the presentation over the screen behind her, August rubbing the back of his neck. Ruffling his hair to make it messier, the Reaper rose his head so his heterochromatic eyes could meet the snowy pupils of his teenage Requiem pupil to the right of the entrance. At the beginning of the highest row, his hand waving over to Alex. Bumping her friend on her arm, Rose teased,
"Ooh, how special you are, Al,"
"That's why your brother didn't want you until demons invaded the Earth,"
Their auras breaking out of their souls, Ed took a sip from the straw pushed into his soda can, rolling his eyes at their conflict. Slowly rising their hands so they could punch each other's face, two hands pushed down on their differentiated mops of hair,
"Oi, oi! Don't make me get Azazel, Rose. And Alex..."
Bending down so his lips could be close to the ear of his young protege, August patting his shoulder as he spoke quietly, though just loud enough for Rose beside him to hear the audio,
"Good job at annoying her,"
The duo of student and teacher chortling, Rosalyn glanced back to Hazel beside her, staring deep into her eyes. The blonde wrapped her arms around the Lovers' head instinctively, holding her and bringing her close to her shoulder, whispering as the Reaper had transported back to sitting on his aunt's desk,
"There, there,"
Purple pupils belonging to Whitney darting between the duo of Lynn and Ed he was squished between, he sighed. Pushing his skull between his arms, uttering gently as Singh patted his friend's back,
"I'm surrounded by a bunch of morons..."
After the brief moment of bonding, August jumped off from the desk, standing beside the shorter Smith aunt he'd been stuck with. Pushing him in the arm playfully, he put a thumbs up, pushing sunglasses over his heterochromatic optics so they'd be shadowed and hidden. Playing the presentation behind her as she began to speak, the teenager's escape from reality and disconnect from the truth of the world they inhabited had returned to them all,
"Following what occurred with the demons and all that last year, the Government had a private meeting with Ben Rivera, his son behind me, and Rose's older brother; Azazel Karlo. New policies have been put into place, as the Headmaster hadn't alerted the President, and by extension, of the information regarding the Key to Hell. As a result of that, Ben disclosed all information regarding Hell, Heaven, and Earth. Over the years, we've been attacked by several sleeper agents belonging to the God among the skies, who seek the True Happiness of Humanity. Throughout the vastness of this singular universe, we inhabit, there is a plentiful other amount- the number is truly infinite. I'm sure most of you know this as the Multiverse. Just last year, we were invaded by demons led by the doppelganger of the Headmaster, who demolished the city we inhabit and slaughtered thousands all over the world. The United Nations passed a law for all super powered individuals to register themselves with the Government, all those under the age of 10 will be placed into this Academy when they reach the age. Those over will be trained to be a part of the Specialized Angel Extinction Force, where some of our teachers have been moved into to train a new generation of protectors for Humanity. Approved by over half of the world, this is the only path for us now. From today on, I'll be training to indoctrinate you into the Extinction Force, so we can attack Heaven in the future and slaughter them once and for all. August Rivera and Azazel Karlo, once you graduate, will be your commanding officers. Though, most of you know this already. You wish to fight for your freedom forever and onwards, so you seek to exterminate those above who've oppressed and taken the lives you once knew. So, the Government and our ideals align, for once. No matter how long it takes, we'll take back our freedom and kill the Author. And it all begins with this!"
With a simple snap from the fingers of the Reaper, that smirk had turned into a mischievous tiny little giggle, witnessing the students in front of him transported. Anatomies warping across the world, the blocked out the sky was visible through the transparent barrier above them. Alex, now standing, quizzically stared around for some sort of information. Visibly confused, Rose had pushed her back against his own, their auras fusing, the glow in their pupils burning with Determination as they searched.
Meanwhile, Edward turned his head, an invisible question mark popping over the peak of his head. Both Alex and Rose had vanished suddenly, however, all of his questions were soon answered. Screens popping out from the insides of their metal desks, Whitney leaned forward with a happy laugh audible as the worry in Hazel's eyes grew. It wasn't just Sammy's class that was witnessing this event, it was all of the classes in every grade.
The plane beneath their feet was pure grass, the blades sticking to the soles of their footwear, an array of trees visible around them in the second layer of the barrier outside. At each corner of this circle, there were pillars, possibly about 15m tall. Hidden in shadow, as the sun shined on the duo of teens, Rose questioned her ally,
"Al, you got my back?"
"Do you even have to ask, Rosey?"
His trench coat flowing with the wind, the claws popped out as the gauntlets spread over his hands. Maniacal cackles echoing throughout the nearby forest, birds flapping their wings and fleeing the area in fear of the unknown enemy... there he was. Pushing out two fingers, Alex cried as the force exited his skin,
"There!"
The Crow mask peeling back, the dive in mid-air had been twisted, the invisible projectile of telekinetic energy puncturing the invisible barrier above Rose's brother. Scoffing as he jumped back, Rose used soundwaves to hover up as Alex rose a barrier. Azazel's claws scratched the invisible shield around Al, though, since the hit was filled with so much power and pressure- they bounced back as the Detective tumbled to his rear. About to fall, he thought with an impressed smile,
~That's new! And such a powerful shield, too, it might even rival Mei's normal barrier!~
Using the slowed time he had, whitened lightning surrounding his foot as he threw it forward, the chest of his enemy had been touched. Breaking the vest beneath the coat he'd worn, Azazel was sent flying thanks to this raw strength, about to hit the barrier before the back of his jacket was yanked. Twisting his arm, palm flat as it propelled telekinetic energy to his rear, manipulating the air around him, rapidly bouncing around the oxygen as it obeyed his command- he suddenly ground to an abrupt halt in the middle of the air. Throwing Azazel to the floor so the debris would fly out from the impact, platform shattering, Alex heavied his figure so he'd stay there for good. Pushing out his other palm so it'd rapidly heat, the white in his eyes shifted to a darkened grey. A ball of fire attempting to throw out from his fingers, Amara snarled, sucking his teeth and uttering,
"How weak..."
However, Rose had to act quickly, before her comrade's explosion could reach her 'opponent' for the time being as he stood there- heavy and still in the ground. His imprint was lifted, a bubble of sound encapsulating her relative, then throwing him forward. The sound from the explosion and ball of fire entering her palms as balls, as he was about to head for the ground once more- she threw the shockwaves into his back. Expanding them rapidly so they'd explode them, the older Karlo hitting the upper right corner of the shield they'd been surrounded by, a whip snapping around his ankle. Pulling him down from there, the Justice screamed, using the whip and yanking it forward with all of his strength. Seeing him bounce off the grass, continuously his bones breaking against rocks planted into the ground, Alex stretched out his arms. Side to side, Rose, bent over as she continuously huffed and puffed, witnessed the lightning surging throughout his body. His steady breathing as he steadily rose his chest up and down, a heartbeat in a continuous pace, Amara screamed aloud. Amplified soundwaves exiting his throat so they could throw Azazel back, the rear of his skull hitting the guard around this forest area. Rose following this strengthened energy attack she'd aided in with the following sound, influencing her brother's mind as the whispers morphed to screams,
"Stay... STILL!"
Limbs twitching in artificial pain, his bones reattaching, Azazel rubbed his chin snapping his unattached and cracked osseins into place. Raising slowly, Rose sucking back in her breath, the spell on her brother had been broken as he was finally able to stand again. Rubbing his wrists, his palm patting the red-headed girl on the top of her mop of red,
"That... (ow) is good, you've grown so much. And in only a year, too. No doubt the others have just as much or even more,"
Alex's smile growing wider, Azzy patted the young man on the shoulder before he rose his hand, which they slapped together to enjoy a touching reunion. That was only a taste of what was yet to come, with Karlo whispering to both his sister and her friend some instructions. Gradually walking, the duo ran over to stand side by side near the back of the bubble. Azazel standing a distance away, both his rival and the aunt of that rival had popped into the distance. Hands in his pocket, August's smug smirk stood over his mouth as he stared at the grown student he'd taken under his wing,
"Wipe the smile off your face and stay professional, Rivera,"
"Nah, I'd rather keep smirking so I can piss you off... honestly, though, it feels good. Being back here, with everyone, if I'd stayed with Celine... and spent the rest of my life in the Temple- I'd be trapped forever. I'd thought myself to be free there, free of all the oppression and corruption of the natural world. But, being here, fighting for everything, training these kids- I'm glad I let go of her. We're going to find our freedom together; no matter the cost,"
Smiling proudly at his friend's declaration, Karlo turned away his head, August, arms around the rear of his white-covered mop, quirking a brow. Curious as to what he was attempting to hide, he poked his rival continuously in his arm,
"C'mon, don't be such a loser- show me the smileee!"
"I wasn't smiling, shut up,"
"Aww, you don't have to hide it from me,"
"I will kill you,"
In the background as Sammy began to explain the rules and regulations of this event, the students could all see the argument play out behind their assigned elder. All of them chuckling at the sight of it, Smith took a quick step to the left so she could finish explaining. The dark determination in the eyes of the Justice brightening, the flames had been lit, Alex's wide smile and wide optics showed only one thing; hope. Declaring silently in the depths of his mind,
"I'll keep moving forward, no matter what- to protect those I love!"
Synopsis for Chapter 52: Teams are chosen, superhumans fight together and against one another in the Homeroom Training Event! Hopefully, they can get through this without any outside threats.
Next Chapter: Red Herring