Chapter 102: The Reckoning Part 3: Strange Things

As Eris and the Legendary and Ancient titans made their way to Vakka, Helen and Azazel quickly teleported all over Solstice, gathering as much of the currency as they could. Not only did they steal lifeforce, they also stole the planet’s entire currency and quickly traveled to Nexus, where they could invest and exchange it.

Because they didn’t frequently invade planets, Earth was the last one destroyed thousands of years ago, the financial institution didn’t ask questions when Azazel and Helen showed up as a happy, wealthy couple looking to deposit their currency from Solstice into their accounts and exchange it to Exterian currency.

"Thank you both very much for your business. I will invest ½ as you wish and will take my usual 1% commission," their personal finance partner, Oscar explained.

"Lovely, make sure you give yourself another 1% tip off the total." Helen flirted a bit.

The two made the perfect cruel, evil couple. After they left their financial institution, they quickly teleported to the outskirts of Nexus and Helen opened a portal to Vakka.

They walked through and Helen began leeching the lifeforce from the dead. The Vakkan day walkers were killed via titan trample. Because they used the top two levels, their strength and power allowed them to simply walk and destroy everything in their path.

"There you two are!" Eris said, glowingly with power. "We’re almost wrapped up here."

Like clockwork, Azazel began teleporting and taking all the currency he could find.

While he was away, Helen and Eris decided to plan on how they’d share the power they’d already absorbed.

"I think it’s only fair the titan generals get some, so I’ll supply that. What you choose to give Azazel is your decision. Just make sure he’s never powerful enough to betray us. You know how I feel about regular beings." Eris said calmly.

"Yes, you hate them, I understand. But I love and trust Azazel. He won’t betray us, he has too much to lose. Plus, if it wasn’t for him, you’d still be rotting in Athena’s cell," Athena reminded Eris.

"True. I sent the titans home for a few nights off. We’ve already completed two in a day. What’s up with these other planets? Are they really so large that it’s going to take a year or two?"

"We’ve decided to ramp up the difficulty with each planet. I’m honestly surprised a phoenix existed on Solstice and that King flew away like that. I wonder where he went?"

"Not sure, you didn’t find him or any sign of the phoenix when you searched for the currency?"

"No, we didn’t. If I could teleport to Paradise, it’d be much easier, but I can’t exactly do that. Maybe Lox picked up on it or something. I’m not sure, it’s hit or miss what they see and don’t see with the time difference."

"That’s true. I can’t believe how much power we’ve gained, though. These daywalkers seem lazy and stupid but they sure had a lot of lifeforce. I feel SO MUCH younger and stronger. How about you?"

"Yes, I feel very powerful. I think I’ll split it 50/50 with Azazel. He’s still nowhere near my level, even if he pretends to be." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Aren’t all men like that?" Eris laughed.

"Not all, just most," Azazel said as he returned. He unloaded all the currency he found into a giant pile on the ground. "Your turn Eris."

He grabbed Helen’s hand as she opened a portal back to Exteria. They walked through and went into Azazel’s bedroom. Helen closed the portal while Eris shook her head.

’Typical bullshit, they act like I’m some useless third wheel. I’m the one with all the power here.’ she thought. Eris collected the currency Azazel left, stashed it away and opened a portal to Nexus.

She did the same thing Azazel and Helen did, with a different financial advisor. After leaving the financial advisor, she returned to the titans, where she called a meeting with her Generals. She distributed a large amount of money amongst the generals for them to distribute the warriors and their families. She also shared the power from the two planets with her 7 generals.

*****

Back on Exteria, Sora and Brie were playing with Xander when they started hearing strange voices in their heads. They were fragments and never fully got through to them. It started becoming a concern after Xander started sensing something wrong with his parents.

"I pray to Sora and Brie Lockheart in hopes this reaches them in time..."

"So someone is trying to pray to us?" Brie asked Sora, confused.

"I think we need Celeste for this. This is rather strange."

Xander opened a portal to Celeste’s room, where she was sitting in a comfy recliner reading a book.

"Xander no. That’s rude. We knock on people’s doors, we don’t invade people’s privacy." Brie said sternly.

"Sowwy mama," Xander frowned as he closed the portal.

"We’re not upset with you buddy, we know you’re trying to help! We just can’t invade people’s personal space like that. Imagine if Mama and Dada were going potty, and Uncle Levi teleported in! That would be weird right?" Sora explained.

"Very weird. I undystand." Xander said.

They walked over to Celeste’s room, and heard another prayer.

"I need to speak with you urgently. My planet has been destroyed and I know where they’re going next."

"Ok, this is definitely getting strange." Sora said to Brie as he knocked on Celeste’s door.

"Come in!"

"See Xander, now you can open the door and we can walk in!" Brie exclaimed.

Xander proudly grabbed the door handle and opened the door, and they walked over to Celeste.

"Aunty Cewwy!" Xander said as he sprinted to give her a big hug.

"Hey Xander! How’s my favorite little guy doing?"

"Sowwy for making portal. Next time I nawk." Xander said with a frown.

"Sounds good! I was just reading a book, what’s on your minds?" Celeste could tell Brie and Sora were uncomfortable.

"Well, it started a few hours ago. We started hearing a voice in our heads. At first, it was just incoherent, then words, but it became increasingly coherent. When Xander opened the portal, it’s because we heard someone praying to us, but couldn’t make out what they were saying..." Sora’s voice was a little shaky.

Celeste nodded along and listened.

"What Sora is trying to say is that the last one was very clear and it was someone saying their planet was destroyed and they needed to speak with us urgently." Brie explained.

"Well, that means the person is coming close. When you were in Paradise, did you finally see the extent of the actual Universe?" Celeste asked.

"Yes. I don’t know why we were so short-sighted. Obviously more planets exist if Azazel was stealing lifeforces from them and Sora came from one that was destroyed. I don’t know how we missed something like that." Brie said, feeling embarrassed.

"Seriously, I’m baffled that we didn’t consider that possibility. I’ve been so fixated on the goal Chronos gave me when I completed my soul, that I over-looked something so major." Sora admitted.

"Well, you two recently became god and goddess. As a half-god, you wouldn’t be able to pick up the bigger picture. If you’re hearing voices, someone is praying. Because you are not in Paradise, if it’s just words here and there, they are far away. If you’re hearing them more clearly, then they’re close." Celeste explained with a smile. "There’s no reason you should feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. We all miss things, even gods."

The doorbell rang, scaring the entire party. Everyone froze.

"Woah, no one ever rings that thing... how could someone find us here?" Sora asked.

"Go look at the security camera babe, quick!" Brie exclaimed.

Sora teleported and looked at his front gate. A humanoid man with flames covering his entire body stood at the entrance, patiently waiting for a response. Sora felt a shiver run down his spine.

’Those flames... they remind me of the day I lost my sisters. How is he perfectly fine like that?!’